Tuesday was the most recent demarcation line for the New England Revolution. That day's practice session was Bruce Arena's first since being named sporting director and manager on May 13, although when he'll coach in an actual game is still to be determined.

"I'm about 1 percent of the way there in this project," Arena told reporters on Tuesday. "It's a lot to learn, a lot of things to evaluate. I've patiently tried to get a better feel for things here. I'm getting there, but it's going to take some time.

"Will I be on the field [on Sunday against the LA Galaxy]? I don't know yet. If I think I'm going to be a distraction to the team, I won't do it."

Yet Arena's hiring, at least in the short term, was intended to be just that: a massive distraction, be it from a team that has struggled on the field all the way through an organization that hasn't kept pace with the rest of MLS.

The task Arena is undertaking is enormous. Sure, the Revs recorded a 1-0-2 record under interim manager Mike Lapper, but they're still stuck in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, four points out of the seventh and final playoff spot. Is a playoff spot still achievable? Thanks to a playoff format that is even more forgiving this year, of course it is, but it will require more than just a new coach bounce.

Arena's remit involves arresting a death spiral now into its fourth year. It's one that has spanned two head coaches and witnessed an exodus of talented players since the team's last MLS Cup final appearance in 2014, from defender Jose Goncalves to midfielder Lee Nguyen to forward Krisztian Nemeth. The previous decade saw the likes of Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst and Andy Dorman depart.

The talent drain points to a philosophy emanating from owners Kraft Sports + Entertainment that is borne out of the "Patriot Way" that the Krafts have used with their NFL franchise, one that basically consists of "Come here for less, play with Tom Brady (who has also taken pay cuts), play for Bill Belichick, and win." But it's one thing when a league like the NFL has a salary cap of $188 million. It's quite another when the MLS "salary budget" is $4.24 million.

Granted, the practical cap in MLS when Designated Players and the various forms of allocation money are thrown in is higher, with data from the MLS Players Association pointing to an average spend of around $7 million. Still, when players are scraping for dollars that need to last well beyond their retirement age -- in their 30s at best -- the Revolution's approach does little to engender any loyalty to the organization. It's also made it difficult to attract players from within the league.

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"Tom Brady, he's an anomaly, he's the best player, he takes a pay cut and he wins Super Bowls," said one source familiar with how the Krafts run their sports teams (no Revs executives were made available for this article). "That's what they're measuring off of. They think everyone should fit into that mold. In MLS, that's impossible."

Sources have also detailed how team president Brian Bilello -- who is still with the club -- and now-former GM Mike Burns had different styles of operating, with Bilello more inclined to be the good cop, and Burns the bad cop. That approach can still work, but in the Revs' case it didn't result in success.

"The culture wasn't simplified, it could be conflicted a little bit," said one source.

That grinding approach to player salaries nearly robbed New England of its biggest acquisition in the past decade, that being midfielder Jermaine Jones. Multiple sources have confirmed that when Jones initially came on the market, he was immediately offered to the Revs only for Burns to pass on the opportunity due to Jones' multi-million-dollar salary demands. It was only when word finally filtered up to Revs investor/operator Jonathan Kraft that the Revs dove back in. By then, Jones was nearly in the arms of the Chicago Fire, but the Revs were saved by the much-reviled "blind draw" that ultimately placed the midfielder in New England. A trip to the MLS Cup final followed.

The team has enjoyed little in the way of success since, and it's not a mystery as to why.

"I think it mostly comes down to players," said Chris Tierney, who retired last year after spending 11 seasons with the Revs. "When you compare the squad we had last year, and the squad we have this year compared to other teams in the league, they just aren't as good. I think it's as simple as that. I'm not sure Jose Mourinho could have gone into New England and gotten that much more out of the squad that was in place."

The introduction of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) -- and New England's reaction to it -- has done the most to leave the Revs behind. Gone are the days when one acquisition -- like Jones in 2014 -- can transform a team. It also requires hitting on multiple foreign acquisitions. Under Burns, that didn't happen with nearly enough frequency.

The infusion of $4 million per team in TAM (including discretionary TAM) puts a premium on having a robust infrastructure in place, something the Revs still lack. They hired Remi Roy as a full-time scout prior to the 2018 season, and later added another in South America. Yet, it was Roy's first foray into that role, having previously served as an assistant coach. Time is needed to settle into such responsibilities.

One source familiar with the Revs' setup described it as, "the tip of the iceberg," in terms of what is needed.

All of this puts New England in a place where the margins are impossibly thin, and little problems can become bigger ones. One example is winger Cristian Penilla, whose drop in form coincided with the denial of visas for some family members. The Revs were counting on the 28-year-old to provide service for new forward Juan Fernando Caicedo, and the absence of Penilla's contributions is one more reason for the Revs' sputtering attack.

The situation is exacerbated when ownership opts to hire coaches with little in the way of previous experience. Former manager Brad Friedel's biggest strength coming into the post -- his first at the professional level -- was his vast playing experience in Europe during a career that lasted into his 40s. But beyond the fact that playing and managing are two completely different jobs, Friedel's experience also became a weakness.

Friedel, who declined to be interviewed for this article, complained more than once about how he found it difficult to motivate his players because unlike in Europe, there is no promotion and relegation and that the players "don't have fans waiting by their cars" and "losing doesn't hurt enough," despite the fact that such issues related to the country's soccer culture are things he had zero control of.

He criticized the players' mentality in 2018 as well, although Tierney stated that Friedel's comments weren't as big of an issue as those outside the club tried to make it.

"The truth is we hadn't been doing well," he said. "I think we as players felt like we didn't have a lot of ground to stand on in terms of complaining about trying something different. Brad had a very specific, very regimented way that he went about things. I think at times, especially some of the senior players in the squad, I think that we thought we were being micromanaged a little bit, and didn't necessarily feel like were treated as respected, experienced professionals.

"At the same time, he was trying to change the culture and had to make some significant statements to make that happen. I think that was part of his plan, to say and do things that made us think and made us react. Whether it worked or not, the evidence points to no, but I understand where he was coming from."

Now it looks like the Krafts are finally ready to tweak their philosophy. Arena has a lengthy track record of success in MLS. His ability to connect with players has long been his strength. It remains to be seen if the same will be true of those above and beside him. The former U.S. manager will also have total control of the technical side. He'll have to coexist with Bilello, but one gets the sense that he'll have more say in terms of getting things done, much like he did with the LA Galaxy while working with team president Chris Klein.

Arena will also have the benefit of a new $35 million training facility, which will at least help the Revs operate more out of the shadow of the Patriots. It will no doubt help with player recruitment. As would a reported new soccer-specific stadium within the confines of Boston, although it remains to be seen whether such a project will ever come to fruition.

But the success of Arena's tenure will depend on the organization's willingness to invest in human capital. One source said Arena's departure from the New York Red Bulls in 2007 was due in part to New York's inability to provide him with the off-field resources he felt was needed to succeed. In New England, a narrative has emerged that is along the lines of "Arena wouldn't have taken the job without assurances he would get money." Arena's plans are unclear at the moment, but the organization needs to grow quickly and smartly. And it will take some time for those investments to pay off.

"I think the perception in the media is that the Krafts are less involved than they actually are," said Tierney. "For someone who has been at the club for a long time, these guys are heavily invested, not only in this team, but in this league. I think it's just a matter of timing. I think that they have a very specific plan of how they want to treat the club, and the training ground being the first sign of them beginning to make more and more of an investment. Bringing in Bruce is another sign."

But all of that is a way of catching up to rest of the league. Having a training facility isn't as unique as it once was. The same is true of having a robust scouting operation.

Making those investments won't guarantee success, but it will increase the likelihood that the Revs can make a clean break with the past.

This is the first World Cup where people walking into the stadiums will have scorecards - in which you tick off runs scored - running up to 500. Teams have invested in batting depth to give their main batsmen the freedom to try to turn ODI innings into 50-over T20s. Fielding restrictions have never amounted to less. Middle overs have never been busier. Totals have never been more unsafe. Those looking for balance between bat and ball are dreading going to Taunton and Nottingham. There is one team, though, that is not getting carried away.

At least twice in the lead-up to this World Cup, India have publicly spoken about the importance of old-fashioned cricket with the bat. These are telling statements by India's captain and batting coach.

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"What makes the Indian team unique is that it's consistently playing risk-free cricket," Sanjay Bangar told Mumbai Mirror before departing for the UK. "And that's because we emphasise on the ones and the twos. As a batting group, we are not obsessed over the number of boundaries we've hit. But we discuss strike-rotation a great deal. Which is why we're able to eschew risks."

ALSO READ: 'Not obsessed with the number of boundaries we hit' - Bangar

Inherent to this batting ethos is appreciation that ODIs haven't yet become longer T20s. They find backing for that in data. Since the last World Cup, 54.22% of the runs in T20s (internationals and the big leagues) have been scored in boundaries. In ODIs, the number drops down to 45.5%. What's more the contribution of boundaries to a team total in ODIs has stayed pretty much similar for a while. Between the 2011 and 2015 world Cups, 46% of runs came through boundaries.

General wisdom suggests that sides scoring more runs through boundaries end up winning T20 matches. This is where you will see the value of boundaries rising, though. Since the last World Cup, 79.29% of T20 matches have been won by sides that have scored more runs in boundaries. The number in ODIs is marginally higher, at 79.62%. And it is a jump from the 74.5 mark it straddled for the last eight years.

India might not obsess about boundaries, but they do end up hitting them organically. In the period leading up to this World Cup, they have scored fewer boundary runs than their opposition in only 32 of the 86 matches they have played. The number for England is 29 in 88. They have won only 10 each of these matches. It is clear: whether you obsess over them or not, the role of boundaries is becoming increasingly important even in ODI cricket, especially in high-scoring venues in England.

ALSO READ: Kohli hails Archer's X-factor

If India and England score more boundary runs than their opposition, they win nine times out of 10. For Australia that number goes out to 7.5. It shows they are not able to complement the boundaries with other runs in the middle overs. India and England remain the two pre-eminent batting sides in the world, but their methods are completely different. England, on the other hand, are blessed with the coming together of wonderfully attacking batsmen who still score at a high average. Because there are so many of them - they have a possible five to eight of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes - they can afford to keep going and start sooner than most.

Rate the 50 highest run-getters in ODIs since the last World Cup by their strike rate in the first 20 balls they face, and India's first representation is at No. 14: Shikhar Dhawan. Virat Kohli is at No. 20. Indian batsmen who are quick off the blocks - Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya - haven't played enough matches to be able to make this list, but they will be there at the World Cup. Each of the top six in England's first XI is in the top 20.

And yet the top two run-getters in ODIs since the last World Cup are Indians: Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Dhawan is at No. 9. These three bat long enough and accelerate enough to make up for their slow starts. Batting approach should only be judged when teams are batting first because when they are chasing they bat according to the target. It is in judging and then getting to a par score that these two sides are different.

England race off the blocks; India take time. England's average 10-overs score batting first is 55 for 1, India's 44 for 1. India then tend to make up ground in overs 10 to 30, but here is a number: at the 30-over mark, India have gone at better than a run a ball only once in 11 innings; England do that once every four digs. They again take lead in overs 30 to 40 while the finishing kick tends to be similar.

There is a flipside to so much intent. Batting first, since the last World Cup, England have been bowled out once every three efforts. India have been dismissed only once every six matches. This is where India want pragmatism. They don't want to be over ambitious. With their uncertain middle and lower order and not much sting in their tail, they risk losing the game in the first 25 overs if they go too hard. Yet, within themselves they have started to change things up since the Champions Trophy where they lost to Sri Lanka despite score 300.

There has been a clear change in intent in the middle overs and especially between overs 30 and 40, just before the extra fielder is about to go out of the 30-yard ring. The last-10 overs numbers have come down, but they will hope the return of Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav will address that concern.

Most importantly, though, neither side is obsessed: neither India with individual centuries and hence slow starts nor England with bringing up the first 500. It is their assessment of what a par total is. India believe they have reason to not aim too high because of their bowling attack. England think they need to aim higher because they don't have the out-and-out wicket-takers. In the middle overs, defending a total, India take a wicket every 37 balls against England's 41, concede 5.39 an over to England's 5.89, and have superior death bowlers to boot.

India tend to go with least premeditation about what a par score should be, and are thus able to adjust their game should the pitch not be a pancake. England risk getting bowled out on slightly different surfaces - although underestimate their Plan B at your own peril - but on flatter pitches they do tend to end up with a score that wins them the match.

It is a fascinating coming together of two different extremes of batting approaches; all other teams fall somewhere in between. India have already thrown in the added mind games. Sitting next to other captains in the pre-tournament press conference, Kohli didn't want to leave any doubts as to whom he was talking about when he said: "They seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else. They smash it from ball one and for the full 50 overs. It could be pretty high-scoring, but 260/270 is going to be as difficult to get as chasing 370, 380 in a World Cup.

"I don't see too much high-scoring in the later half of the tournament. Some teams might get on a roll, but you'll see 250 defended as well as because of the kind of pressure that comes with it. When you get closer to the knockout phases, that is going to bring greater pressure and no one is going to go gung-ho from ball one. Generally teams will find a way, but I see pressure playing a massive role."

JOHANNESBURG -- Caster Semenya has appealed against the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold testosterone regulations for some female athletes in track and field.

The two-time Olympic 800-meter champion's lawyers say she has lodged an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, Switzerland's supreme court.

Under the IAAF's new rules, upheld by the Switzerland-based CAS this month, Semenya is not allowed to run in international races from 400 meters to one mile unless she medically lowers her natural testosterone levels.

She said after the CAS decision that she would not take medication and repeats in Wednesday's statement announcing her appeal that "the IAAF will not drug me or stop me from being who I am."

Semenya's appeal was announced by her South Africa-based lawyers. They say Semenya's appeal "focuses on fundamental human rights."

Renowned golf instructor Hank Haney apologized for insensitive comments he made about LPGA players during his SiriusXM radio show on Wednesday morning.

When Haney's co-host, Steve Johnson, asked him about the 74th U.S. Women's Open being played at the Country Club of Charleston this week, Haney joked that he was going to predict that a Korean would win and added that he couldn't name six players on the LPGA Tour, except for those with the last name Lee.

"I'm gonna predict a Korean," Haney said.

"That's a pretty safe bet," Johnson replied

"That's gonna be my prediction. I couldn't name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour," Haney continued.

"Yeah," Johnson said.

"Nah, maybe I could," Haney said. "Well, I'd go with Lee. If I didn't have to name a first name, I'd get a bunch of them right. I don't know. ... Lexi Thompson. ... Michelle Wie's hurt. I don't know that many."

Haney's comments were quickly criticized on social media, including a pair of tweets from Wie, who isn't playing this week because of a wrist injury.

As a Korean American female golfer, these comments that @HankHaney made disappoint and anger me on so many different levels. Racism and sexism are no laughing matter Hank....shame on you. I don't ever do this, but this must be called out. https://t.co/P18JByTosN

— Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) May 29, 2019

Wie wrote in another tweet: "Too many of these girls, Korean or not, have worked countless hours and sacrificed so much to play in the US Open this week. There are so many amazing players in the field. Let's celebrate them....Not mock them. @HankHaney"

Shortly after Wie criticized Haney on social media, he issued an apology on Twitter.

"This morning I made some comments about women's golf and its players that were insensitive and that I regret," Haney wrote. "In an effort to make a point about the overwhelming success of Korean players on the tour I offended people and I am sorry. I have the highest respect for the women who have worked so hard to reach the pinnacle of their sport and I never meant to take away from their abilities and accomplishments.

"I've worked in this game with men and women players from many different cultures and I look forward to continuing to do so."

Haney, 63, is mostly known for working with Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara. He also hosts the Haney Project on Golf Channel and has worked with celebrities like Charles Barkley, Ray Romano and Adam Levine.

The Boston Red Sox have put their leading home run hitter this season, first baseman Mitch Moreland, on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain.

Moreland has not played since Saturday, and the IL move is retroactive to Sunday. The 33-year-old is hitting .228 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs this season.

The Red Sox also optioned right-hander Travis Lakins to Triple-A Pawtucket. Lakins took the loss against the Indians on Tuesday when he allowed two earned runs as part of Cleveland's five-run ninth inning in the 7-5 game.

Right-hander Colten Brewer and left-hander Josh Taylor were recalled from Pawtucket. Brewer has a 5.32 ERA in 20 appearances this season; Taylor is getting his first major league call-up.

Juan Miguel Echevarria, Mike Norman, Dina Asher-Smith and Laura Muir are among the athletes in action as the Diamond League moves on to Sweden

A venue that has seen 83 world records will be hoping for more in the third Diamond League meeting of the series on Thursday, thanks in part to the appearance of Juan Miguel Echevarria.

It was here at the BAUHAUS-galan meeting in the 1912 Olympic stadium last year that the Cuban jumped a magnificent 8.83m, which was just 12cm below Mike Powell’s long-standing world record, albeit with a marginally illegal wind assistance of 2.1m/sec.

The @BAUHAUSGALAN long jump pit is now #Echevarria proof and WR ready ?#DiamondLeague #StockholmDL ??#RoadToTheFinal pic.twitter.com/JDNp6rtnak

— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) May 29, 2019

In March, he soared out to 8.92m, aided by a wind of 3.3m/sec.

Hoping to challenge him in Stockholm this year are Olympic champion Jeff Henderson, world champion Luvo Manyonga and European champion Miltiadis Tentóglou.

Mike Norman could also get close to Wayde van Niekerk’s 400m world record of 43.03 in the one-lap race, and beat his Diamond League record of 43.62, with the American having opened his season with a time of 43.45 in California last month and followed that up with a 200m PB of 19.84 in Osaka.

The 21-year-old will go up against his training partner Rai Benjamin, Bralon Taplin of Grenada and Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe.

A world-record holder goes in the 100m hurdles as Kendra Harrison, who ran a world-leading 12.47 earlier this month, goes up against Sharika Nelvis, Cindy Roleder and Nadine Visser.

The women’s 200m looks set to be an exciting affair as it features Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, Netherlands’ world champion Dafne Schippers and Britain’s triple 2018 European champion Dina Asher-Smith, who ran a 22.26 200m in Doha.

The men’s line-up includes Turkey’s world champion Ramil Guliyev, Alonso Edward of Panama and Canada’s Aaron Brown.

In the high jump, world champion Mariya Lasitskene will be hoping to stay dominant against a top field. Among them will be Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the 17-year-old who became the youngest winner of a Diamond League event in Doha, and Olympic silver medallist Mirela Demireva. The men’s pole vault includes world gold medallists champions in Sam Kendricks, Pawel Wojciechowski and Raphael Holzdeppe, plus Olympic champion Thiago Braz.

Double European outdoor champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will highlight the men’s 1500m with brothers Henrik and Filip, plus Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot, Elijah and George Manangoi, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri stars in the women’s 5000m alongside Britain’s recent Vitality Westminster Mile winner Melissa Courtney and Eilish McColgan.

The Ingebrigtsens’ fellow Norwegian Karsten Warholm goes in the men’s 400m hurdles along with Britain’s Seb Rodger and Jacob Paul, while in the men’s discus, Olympic champion Christoph Harting takes on Diamond League champion Fedrick Dacres and the in-form Daniel Stahl. The women’s event sees Sandra Perkovic open her season.

The women’s 800m features Americans Ajee Wilson and Raevyn Rogers, plus Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu, Kenya’s Nelly Jepkosgei and Britain’s Lynsey Sharp. Following the introduction of the IAAF’s new rules on female classification, the field is missing two-time Olympic and three-time world 800m champion Caster Semenya, who is set to race 2000m at the Montreuil Meet on June 11.

Looking ahead to the Stockholm 800m, 2012 European champion Sharp said: “It’s a bit of a different field than we have had over the last couple of years so it will be interesting to see how it’s run, whether people have different tactics or whether people are a bit nervous because they might have to lead which they haven’t had to do for a few years. So I think it will be a really interesting race and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Interview with Lynsey Sharp in Stockholm as she speaks to @stuartweir about tomorrow’s @BAUHAUSGALAN 800m and her coaching switch to David Harmer in Loughborough. @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/9iIkkw8op8

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 29, 2019

Non-Diamond League events include the women’s 1500m, where British record-holder Laura Muir returns to track action after her third place at the Westminster Mile on Sunday.

She will be joined by four fellow Britons – Jemma Reekie, Sarah McDonald, Amy Griffiths and Kerry McAngus.

A timetable and entry lists can be found here.

Gloucester have extended head coach Johan Ackermann's contract just days after their Premiership semi-final defeat by Saracens.

Ackermann has just completed his second season at Kingsholm, guiding the Cherry and Whites to third place in the table.

And they have moved quickly to tie the 48-year-old down on a "long-term basis" despite losing in the play-offs.

"We've made progress, but the job is far from complete," said the former South Africa lock.

Ackermann is now contracted to the club for the next three seasons.

"We are only a certain way along the journey and I'm confident that, if we all pull together, work hard and remain true to our beliefs, we can do great things for the club, its supporters and the city of Gloucester."

Ackermann, who spent a brief period at Northampton Saints during his playing career, previously coached the Lions Super Rugby side for four seasons.

He joined Gloucester in 2017 and led them to the European Challenge Cup final in his first season.

The exact length of his new deal with the club has not been disclosed.