Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...
I Dig Sports

I Dig Sports

What you need to know about the Georgians

Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 23:38

On Saturday, Scotland become the first Tier One nation to play a Test match in Georgia, an emerging force in global rugby.

The Georgians have a hefty and raucous following, a monstrous pack, buckets of titles in Europe's second-tier competition and the billions of a former prime minister behind them.

In 16 years, they have played just seven internationals against top-tier opposition outside of Rugby World Cup pool matches, so these back-to-back shots at Scotland are opportunities they lust after.

So what do you need to know about the Georgians?

They are bankrolled by a billionaire

Former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has provided much of the finance needed to fuel the rise of Georgian rugby.

Forbes put his net worth at £4.062bn - a mere £1.47bn more than US President Donald Trump. He lives in a futuristic £41m house cut into the hills overlooking Tbilisi, where he reportedly keeps an art collection that includes at least one Picasso, a shark tank and an assortment of exotic animals.

Milton Haig, the Georgia head coach of seven years, says Ivanishvili is not a rugby fanatic but sees in the sport an opportunity to inspire and showcase his nation's people.

His investment has helped construct a high-performance base in Tbilisi that rivals the facilities on offer to any of the game's behemoths. The Georgians have access to a 27-room hotel, a commercial kitchen, swimming pool, gym, floodlit artificial pitch and a 14x14m wrestling dojo.

Georgia are ranked above Italy

The World Rugby rankings formula is a vexing beast, but as a general guide to who is performing well, they are about the only objective measure available.

Georgia have been relentlessly successful against their second-tier opposition and have beaten Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Canada and United States since the last World Cup.

That has kept them ranked 12th, above Italy, who have been relentlessly awful in the Six Nations, and only a little way behind Argentina, who have mustered only three Rugby Championship victories since 2015.

Their Under-20s just beat Scotland

Georgia and Scotland were drawn in the same pool at the World Rugby Under-20 Championships in June.

Both had heavy defeats against New Zealand and South Africa, but the Georgians beat the Scots 17-12 to finish third in the group. They also got the better of Fiji, another side to shellac Scotland amid a wretched campaign.

At the heart of Georgia's quest was fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze, who already has 10 caps for the senior team and has made himself Haig's first-choice pivot.

"He's got a huge future, probably the most natural 10 that I've been involved with for a long time - and that includes some of the New Zealanders I've coached," Haig said.

But they have hit a rugby 'ceiling'

For years, Georgia have been clamouring for a spot in an expanded Six Nations, a franchise in the Pro14, or at the very least, more regular cracks at Tier One opponents.

At the moment, there is no prospect of the Six Nations opening its doors and there have been no recent discussions of any substance with the Pro14.

The "huge worry" for Haig is that his players can only improve so much while they continue to reign supreme in the second-tier championship.

"If I can't get more Tier One Tests, I need to get my players into better competitions," he said. "We've got players in the Top 14 in France and that's OK, but we need to get more players playing at a higher level more consistently, so they understand how to deliver week in, week out, and to increase skillsets.

"We haven't heard anything about that. But you get to a ceiling and, until you can break through it, it's pretty hard to keep improving. That's where we're at."

Shane Stewart Departing CJB Motorsports

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 21:30

ALGER, Wash. – Shane Stewart will not return to CJB Motorsports following the conclusion of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season.

The news was confirmed in a press release sent out Wednesday by the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series previewing upcoming events in Washington.

“We weren’t meshing together,” said Chad Clemens, co-owner of CJB Motorsports. “It’s business. Shane knows the deal. We know the deal. He’s a great guy. Great family. But we’re not meshing as a team. When that happens you have to make changes and that’s pretty much what we chose to do.

“I felt like I gave him plenty of time, you know I didn’t hold it from him for another month or two or whatever and throw it on him. I gave him enough time, out of respect to him, to say, ‘Hey listen, we’re going in a different direction’ and that’s what we chose.”

Stewart joined CJB Motorsports this year after five years with Kyle Larson Racing. Expectations were high for the combination, but the results simply haven’t come for Stewart and CJB Motorsports.

The team currently sits seventh in the World of Outlaws point standings and Stewart has scored one win this year, which came in June at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in Tennessee.

Stewart recently lost crew chief Barry Jackson, who will be working with affiliated KI Crossbow-sponsored driver Kerry Madsen for the rest of the season. Jackson will still be available to help, especially when Madsen is racing with the World of Outlaws, Stewart said, but the it’s up to him and his crew to set up the car and figure out the shock package.

Jackson went off the road to get a head start on the 2020 season, Clemens said. The team felt working with Madsen and his team for the rest of the season would be a good test to try different things for next year. Jackson will be back with the CJB Motorsports No. 5 car next year.

CJB Motorsports has yet to decide on who will replace Stewart next year and Stewart has not landed a deal for 2020 as of yet either. A decision on who may replace Stewart at CJB Motorsports may come in the next 30 to 60 days, according to Clemens. The team is also exploring the possibility of a second car that may run about 60 races next year.

“That’s sort of just talk,” Clemens said about a second car. “Nothing etched in stone.”

For the remainder of the year, Clemens said he would like to see Stewart win races, be in the top-five and gain some confidence for himself.

“Hopefully we can finish the year strong and we can all kind of separate and go our own ways on good conditions, good faith and chalk it up as a good experience that we’ve all learned a lot from,” Stewart said.

“The thing is, sprint car fans, sprint car mechanics, owners, you’re only as good as your last race out here,” Stewart said. “My name hasn’t been mentioned too many times this year. And that’s one thing I’ve got to concentrate on and get good strong finishes. And get my name back up to where it used to be. And where it should be. And where it needs to be. That’s just one thing I’m going to try and focus on real hard and try to accomplish.”

LAFC's Vela agreed to join Barcelona in January

Published in Soccer
Thursday, 29 August 2019 02:54

LAFC forward Carlos Vela has said he had accepted a move to Barcelona in January, before the Catalan side opted for Kevin-Prince Boateng instead.

Boateng made the surprise move to Camp Nou during the winter transfer window as a back-up forward for the remainder of the campaign, but made little impact with only four appearances, of which just one was a victory.

- ESPN fantasy: Sign up now!

Since March, Vela has enjoyed a superb run of form, scoring 27 times in 26 appearances for LAFC, who are top of the Western Conference. The Mexico international is the league's top goal scorer with 19.

"I was really close [to joining Barca]," Vela told BS The podcast. "In the second month of my holiday, I had a pina colada in hand and my agent called me to say: 'Listen, Barcelona are calling you.

"They want you to play for four months and then you can go back to Los Angeles.' I said to him: 'Just say yes, I don't care about money or anything. I'm going to start training tomorrow. Give me two weeks to get my fitness up.'"

Barca went on to win La Liga but lost in the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semifinals.

Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd learn Carabao foes

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 15:25

Carabao Cup holders Manchester City will visit League One side Preston North End as the draw for the third round of the competition was held on Wednesday.

The draw was held after all second round matches were complete, which saw Everton survive against Lincoln City, Leicester City beat Newcastle United on penalties, and third-tier Sunderland shock Burnley.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also playing League One clubs in the next round, with the Reds travelling to Milton Keynes Dons and United hosting Rochdale.

Other fixtures include Arsenal welcoming Nottingham Forest, and Colchester United hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

Last year's runners-up Chelsea will play either Grimsby and Macclesfield who will play their second round tie on Sept. 10.

The third-round matchups will commence on Sept. 23.

Full list of fixtures include:

Preston North End vs. Manchester City

Milton Keynes Dons vs. Liverpool

Manchester United vs. Rochdale

Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest

Colchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea vs. Grimsby/Macclesfield

Sheffield Wednesday vs. Everton

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Reading

Oxford vs. West Ham United

Watford vs. Swansea City

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa

Sheffield United vs. Sunderland

Portsmouth vs. Southampton

Burton Albion vs. AFC Bournemouth

Luton Town vs. Leicester City

Crawley Town vs. Stoke City

There will be 32 teams in the hat for the UEFA Champions League group-stage draw.

When is the Champions League draw?

It takes place on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Monaco. The draw ceremony is expected to begin at noon ET / 6 p.m. CET. (4 p.m. GMT)

How long will the draw take?

It is likely to take around an hour, as a series of awards for last season's Champions League will be presented throughout:

- UEFA Men's Player of the Year
- UEFA Women's Player of the Year
- Goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward of the 2018-19 UCL season

What are the draw pots?

POT 1: Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Zenit St Petersburg

POT 2: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Benfica

POT 3: Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Salzburg, Olympiakos, Club Brugge, Valencia, Inter Milan, Dinamo Zagreb

POT 4: Lokomotiv Moscow, Genk, Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Atalanta, Lille

One team from each pot will be drawn into a group, making eight groups of four clubs.

When will the games be played?

Matchday 1: Sep. 17-18

Matchday 2: Oct. 1-2

Matchday 3: Oct. 22-23

Matchday 4: Nov. 5-6

Matchday 5: Nov. 26-27

Matchday 6: Dec. 10-11

What time will the games kick off?

Two games will begin at 6:55 p.m. CET / 12:55 p.m. ET, with the remainder following at 9 p.m. CET / 3 p.m. ET.

When will the fixtures be known?

UEFA will publish all group fixtures later in the day on Aug. 29.

When is the draw for the Round of 16?

It takes place on Dec. 16.

MORE:

UEFA Champions League home page

The European champions are No. 1 and have started the season in fine style. Meanwhile, are Atletico set for a return to the top in Spain?

Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.

WI women recall Anisa Mohammed for Australia ODIs

Published in Cricket
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 21:44

West Indies women have recalled offspinner Anisa Mohammed to the squad as they aim to bank on experience for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, which starts on September 5. Mohammed's last appearance for West Indies came against Pakistan women in February, and, after three wickets across five international games on that tour, she was left out of the squad for the England and Ireland tour.

Mohammed's return is expected to bolster a side without medium-pacer Shakera Selman, wicketkeeper-batsman Chedean Nation and batsman Shemaine Campbelle, who have been ruled out due to injury. Deandra Dottin, one of the side's batting mainstays, who missed the tour of England and Ireland due to a shoulder injury has not been included in the 13-member squad.

The squad included uncapped Guyanese medium-pacer Shabika Gajnabi. The 19-year-old, a three-time captain of the Guyana U-19 team, was rewarded for her all-round performance in Cricket West Indies' Women's Championship earlier this year. Another youngster, Karishma Ramharack, who made her international debut on the tour of England and Ireland, was retained in the squad. The two are expected to provide West Indies with bowling options, said Robert Haynes, CWI's Interim Chairman of Selectors.

"The panel selected the best available players from the camp in Antigua over the last month, as a result of most of our senior players being unavailable due to injury. We have included Anisa Mohammed and Kyshona Knight who have a lot of experience between them, which is required when playing against Australia, the top-ranked women's team."

The three-ODI series will be played in Antigua, with the first match being held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground and the remaining ODIs will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on September 8 and 11. The three T20Is will all be held in Barbados, between September 14 and September 18.

Serena tested by McNally, 17, but rallies in 3 sets

Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 22:07

NEW YORK -- Serena Williams avoided what would have been her earliest loss in 19 appearances at the US Open.

Williams came back from a set down in the second round -- the first time she had ever lost a set in the round of 64 -- at Flushing Meadows to beat 17-year-old American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in a match that ended as Wednesday turned into Thursday.

Williams didn't drop a single point on her serve in the decisive third set and won 24 of the 29 total points played. She did not face a break point over the final two sets.

"You can't win tournaments making that many errors,'' Williams said. "I knew I had to play better, and I knew I could.''

And so she did.

"Obviously, she's going to pick up her level. I knew that was going to happen,'' McNally said. "Next time, I just have to raise my level with hers.''

Williams improved to 38-0 in the first two rounds at Flushing Meadows. The only time she was beaten as early as even the third round in New York was in her tournament debut all way back in 1998 -- when she was just 16 herself.

The following year, Williams won the first of her six US Open championships. McNally hadn't even been born yet.

Now Williams owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles in all, and she showed off why while powering her way through a deficit, taking 16 of the final set's initial 17 points.

McNally had never won a match at any major tournament until Monday. She is ranked 121st and received a wild-card invitation from the U.S. Tennis Association for singles and for doubles, the latter with 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff.

play
1:17

Serena spaces out during interview after surviving McNally

Serena Williams rallies back to defeat Catherine McNally, and expresses how tired she is and the mistakes she made during her post-match interview.

Williams never looked comfortable early as McNally charged the net, serving-and-volleying and looking like someone who belonged on this stage.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, made louder than usual under the retractable roof that was closed all day because of showers, alternated whom it was pulling for, more than happy to cheer for either woman representing the United States at the country's Grand Slam tournament.

"She's young. It's her first time in a stage like this and only her second Grand Slam, so I think there's a lot to gain from it,'' said Lynn Nabors-McNally, Caty's mother, who also helps coach her. "It's a great stepping stone to a lot of things.''

So there was McNally, almost strutting to the sideline while waving her arms, trying to get the spectators to offer even more noise and more applause after she pulled out the opening set in impressive fashion. First, McNally converted her only break point of the match to lead 6-5. Then, she served out the set despite falling behind love-40, erasing three break points and hitting a 103 mph service winner to seal it -- and implored the fans to get loud.

They obliged.

"I knew I was playing against the greatest of all time. ... I walked out there and I had the chills,'' McNally said. "Super happy just to get a set from her. That's something that not very many people do.''

And for a bit of the second set, too, McNally stayed with Williams.

But Williams started to pull away, in part by dispensing with the serves out wide that McNally was handling well and in part by reducing her mistakes from 15 unforced errors in the first set to 11 in the second to two in the third.

"I want to be able to win matches where I'm not playing my best and then play players who are playing great and be able to come through, and I need to be tested, I guess," Williams said. "Honestly, I'd rather not be tested and win every match. That doesn't happen, so it's important for me to have those really rough, rowdy matches -- that helps a lot."

ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Melvin: A's 3B Chapman fine after HBP to head

Published in Baseball
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 20:27

Oakland Athletics All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman is feeling OK and not in the concussion protocol after being hit in the head by a pitch and exiting Wednesday night's road game against the Kansas City Royals.

A's manager Bob Melvin provided the update to reporters after the 6-4 loss.

Chapman was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Royals starter Jakob Junis in the first inning, then was checked by a trainer and initially stayed in the game.

However, after playing third in the bottom of the inning and making it through his second at-bat, he exited.

Chad Pinder replaced Chapman.

Orioles' tempers again flare in dugout incident

Published in Baseball
Thursday, 29 August 2019 01:45

The Baltimore Orioles' emotions boiled to the surface again Wednesday night, as reliever Richard Bleier and third-base coach Jose David Flores became embroiled in an obscenity-filled shouting match in the dugout and clubhouse tunnel.

In a fifth-inning incident shown live on the local broadcast of Baltimore's 8-4 loss to the host Washington Nationals, Bleier and Flores can be seen heatedly arguing about what was said to be the positioning of fielders.

"I think I just let frustration kind of boil over," Bleier said, according to The Baltimore Sun. "Some stuff about some balls that I thought maybe … defensive positioning, I guess. I probably could have done better for myself to keep my mouth shut, and unfortunately, I may have said something. You guys saw the rest."

Before being pulled, Bleier allowed three runs on four hits while recording one out.

"We're all adults," Bleier said. "It's not like I'm mad at anybody."

It was as Bleier exited that tempers then flared.

"I guess there was some disagreement about some positioning during his inning," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said, according to The Sun. "On the mound, he just left it a little bit too early for me, but I haven't talked to him, honestly since."

The incident followed two weeks after Chris Davis had a dugout confrontation with Hyde during a loss to the New York Yankees in which teammates and coaches had to restrain the first baseman.

That was also attributed to the frustrations of a struggling season.

"Right now, we're not thrilled with each other maybe," Bleier said. "But I'm sure we can move past this and get back to a healthy relationship."

Soccer

Spirit win NWSL Challenge Cup in PK shootout

Spirit win NWSL Challenge Cup in PK shootout

Aubrey Kingsbury made a crucial save in a shootout and the Washington Spirit beat the Orlando Pride...

How important is Neymar's return to the Brazil squad?

How important is Neymar's return to the Brazil squad?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAlmost a year and a half after suffering a serious knee injury play...

Dest set for PSV return after 11 months out

Dest set for PSV return after 11 months out

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnited States men's national team defender Sergiño Dest is set to m...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant happy to feel like the 'old Ja' in Grizz win

Morant happy to feel like the 'old Ja' in Grizz win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDALLAS -- Ja Morant turned toward the Memphis Grizzlies' bench, bal...

Fox cold in return amid Kings fans' boos, cheers

Fox cold in return amid Kings fans' boos, cheers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The country song "All My Ex's Live in Texas"...

Baseball

A's to wear Las Vegas patch in sponsorship deal

A's to wear Las Vegas patch in sponsorship deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLAS VEGAS -- The Athletics will play in Northern California for at...

Source: Yanks' Cole to have tests on right elbow

Source: Yanks' Cole to have tests on right elbow

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole is scheduled to undergo t...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated