Gareth Bale has said being whistled by Real Madrid fans was "a shock" in the aftermath of the row over his "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order" flag celebration.

The forward has been noisily whistled on both home appearances since returning to club duty, with Real Madrid playing at the Bernabeu again this Saturday.

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"I think the first time it happened, it was a bit of a shock" he told BT Sport. "I didn't really know how to deal with it. But as I've got older, it's happened one or two times and you understand how to deal with it. Now I just shrug it off.

"Obviously I have to just keep working hard and keep proving to the fans what I can do. Eventually the whistles do stop and you get on with your career like normal."

Bale was pictured laughing and joking with teammates holding the banner, having featured in a Wales win over Hungary in Cardiff that confirmed their qualification for Euro 2020.

The player's agent Jonathan Barnett told ESPN the flag and celebration were "meant for the media" but the image provoked a furious reaction in Madrid, with the 30-year-old being accused of disrespecting the club and its fans.

Bale came off the bench against Real Sociedad in La Liga on Nov. 23rd to make his first club appearance in almost two months, having previously been absent with an injury also picked up on international duty.

His emergence from the bench was greeted with a torrent of whistles from an angry Bernabeu crowd, who continued to protest his every touch, despite an impressive half-hour cameo including creating Madrid's third goal.

Coach Zinedine Zidane called for supporters to get behind Bale and the team, but a similar reaction met his substitute appearance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last week, in which he hit the post with a last-minute free kick.

While Zidane has insisted that he expects Bale to be part of his plans "until the end of the season," there has been speculation about a possible move back to former club Tottenham to join up with new boss Jose Mourinho.

"Having Mourinho there is an amazing statement from the club," Bale said. "I think he's a serial winner. Tottenham want to win trophies and I don't think there's a better partnership than Mourinho and Tottenham."

U.S. women's national team captain Megan Rapinoe has urged male superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to do more to tackle issues such as racism and sexism in modern football.

Rapinoe, 34, won the female Ballon d'Or award -- only the second in history -- on Monday after winning the World Cup, Golden Boot and Golden Ball in July.

Speaking with organisers France Football after her Ballon d'Or triumph, Rapinoe challenged Ronaldo, Messi and Ibrahimovic to follow her lead and be more active against problems in the sport.

"I want to shout: 'Cristiano, Lionel, Zlatan, help me!'" she said. "These big stars do not engage in anything when there are so many problems in men's football.

"Do they fear losing everything? They believe that, but it is not true. Who will erase Messi or Ronaldo from world football history for a statement against racism or sexism?"

Rapinoe helped the United States to its second World Cup title during her era with six goals and three assists, with one strike coming in the final and four more in the latter stages. She picked up the player of the match award in the final.

She was also voted into the FIFPro World XI and scooped up FIFA's The Best women's player prize.

Rapinoe believes her success this year rewards her achievements as a player but also as an activist.

"This Ballon d'Or rewards both," she added. "On the one hand, I am a good player. On the other, my activity away from the pitch brings me support as people understand I am acting to find solutions to our society's problems. The idea is to empower others to speak louder."

Rapinoe recognised her privileged position to be at the forefront of tackling societal issues but admitted that it is taxing, and travelling has particularly taken its toll.

"I am lucky to have a bit of talent to lead these fights," she said. "I have no fear, so I say what I say. Travelling all over for conferences and meetings exhausts me, but you have to be on the front line to improve things in our world."

U.S. women's national team captain Megan Rapinoe has urged male superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to do more to tackle issues such as racism and sexism in modern football.

Rapinoe, 34, won the female Ballon d'Or award -- only the second in history -- on Monday after winning the World Cup, Golden Boot and Golden Ball in July.

Speaking with organisers France Football after her Ballon d'Or triumph, Rapinoe challenged Ronaldo, Messi and Ibrahimovic to follow her lead and be more active against problems in the sport.

"I want to shout: 'Cristiano, Lionel, Zlatan, help me!'" she said. "These big stars do not engage in anything when there are so many problems in men's football.

"Do they fear losing everything? They believe that, but it is not true. Who will erase Messi or Ronaldo from world football history for a statement against racism or sexism?"

Rapinoe helped the United States to its second World Cup title during her era with six goals and three assists, with one strike coming in the final and four more in the latter stages. She picked up the player of the match award in the final.

She was also voted into the FIFPro World XI and scooped up FIFA's The Best women's player prize.

Rapinoe believes her success this year rewards her achievements as a player but also as an activist.

"This Ballon d'Or rewards both," she added. "On the one hand, I am a good player. On the other, my activity away from the pitch brings me support as people understand I am acting to find solutions to our society's problems. The idea is to empower others to speak louder."

Rapinoe recognised her privileged position to be at the forefront of tackling societal issues but admitted that it is taxing, and travelling has particularly taken its toll.

"I am lucky to have a bit of talent to lead these fights," she said. "I have no fear, so I say what I say. Travelling all over for conferences and meetings exhausts me, but you have to be on the front line to improve things in our world."

The NBA season reaches its quarter pole this week, and a new world order has begun to establish itself. The Golden State Warriors are no longer juggernauts. The Los Angeles Lakers might be. The Zion Williamson era ... is on hold.

But amid all the tumult that has defined the 2019-20 season so far, there remains at least one constant: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Last season's Most Valuable Player is the early favorite to win the award for a second straight year.

ESPN asked 101 media members to participate in an informal straw poll of where the league's MVP race stands as the season moves into its second quarter. It was Antetokounmpo who stood above the rest. The Milwaukee Bucks forward received 48 first-place votes and was the only player to appear on all 101 ballots.

To make the balloting process as realistic as possible, ESPN sought to both balance the voting pool and have it conform to the way the league goes about it in mid-April, at the conclusion of the regular season. The pool of media members consisted of at least two people from each of the league's 28 markets, as well as national and international reporters. In the official vote, the NBA polls 100 media members and gives another vote to fans. Each of our voters put five players on their ballot, with players receiving five points for a first-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote, just like the NBA's system.

Despite fierce competition from the likes of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and James Harden, Antetokounmpo is in the early lead as the league approaches the quarter mark of the regular season.

Antetokounmpo is once again putting up absurd numbers. He ranks in the top five in points (30.8) and rebounds (13.4), is averaging a career-high 5.8 assists and has a player efficiency rating well north of 30. In a typical season, that kind of statistical profile would leave him with little to no competition for the award.

But this isn't shaping up to be a typical season.

James (29 first-place votes, 651 points, named on 100 ballots), Doncic (14 first-place votes, 569 points, 99 ballots) and Harden (nine first-place votes, 444 points, 97 ballots) have produced the individual achievements and team successes that could make any of them favorites in another season. As it is, that trio, along with Antetokounmpo, has separated itself from the rest of the pack in the eyes of potential voters.

James is on track to lead the league in assists for the first time in his career, and he has the Lakers sporting the NBA's second-best record, though with a relatively easy schedule. That was enough to comfortably place James in the ballot's second spot.

The Lakers have a backloaded schedule full of juicy matchups on national television. If they continue to win at nearly their current rate, they remain a top seed in the West and James continues to play this way beyond his 35th birthday (on Dec. 30), his candidacy could gain steam.

It is not surprising to see Antetokounmpo, Harden and James, who've combined to win six MVP awards, among this season's early favorites. That Doncic, in just his second season and not yet of legal drinking age, has already leaped into this conversation is a testament to his brilliant play. Alongside Kristaps Porzingis, he has transformed the Dallas Mavericks into a factor in the Western Conference.

Harden, meanwhile, is within shouting distance of averaging a staggering 40 points per game, a milestone that would give him a strong selling point to take home this award for a second time in three seasons. The Rockets' continuing to play well after an ugly start wouldn't hurt, either.

Beyond the top four, the most interesting subplot has been the contest for fifth. Another eight players -- Bradley Beal, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Pascal Siakam and Karl-Anthony Towns -- each got at least one vote. Three received significant support: Davis, Leonard and Siakam.

Siakam wound up getting the nod, finishing with 52 points to edge Leonard (49) and Davis (38). The fact that Leonard has missed several games (six of 22) was mentioned by a few voters as the reason he was placed fifth or left off the ballot, and Davis could suffer in some voters' eyes from being the second-best candidate on his team.

Meanwhile, Siakam has exploded for the Toronto Raptors, helping the defending champions storm to a 16-4 start and remain near the top of the East.

Rounding out the voting were Towns (nine points), Butler (six), Beal (three), Lillard and Jokic (one apiece).

Head coach Geordan Murphy is "hopeful" Leicester Tigers' can keep their in-demand England stars at the club despite interest in them intensifying.

Ben Youngs, a target for Northampton, and George Ford, reportedly wanted by Bristol and rugby league side Toronto, are out of contract this season.

Manu Tuilagi and Ellis Genge have also been linked with moves away.

"Every week a different one of our player is linked with another team," Murphy told BBC East Midlands Today.

Leicester's poor start to the season, which has left them second-from-bottom of the Premiership and only above Saracens because of their 35-point deduction, has led to questions about the future of some of the Tigers' biggest names.

Tuilagi, who signed a new deal in March, remains the subject of high-profile cross-code speculation after Toronto Wolfpack made Sonny Bill Williams a multi-million pound capture in November.

Scum-half Youngs, 30, fly-half Ford, 26, and 24-year-old prop Genge have all commenced contract negotiations with Tigers after returning from the World Cup in Japan.

Youngs, brother of Tigers captain Tom and son of former Leicester player Nick, is in his 13th season with the first-team, having made his debut as a 17-year-old in the 2006-07 season

"I'm sure Northampton would love a player of Ben's calibre and I'm hopeful he will stay with us at Tigers," Murphy said.

Ford, whose father Mike is attack coach at Welford Road, is in his third season back at Tigers have rejoined from Bath in 2017.

"Any contract negotiation is tricky and I don't want to say too much before anything is done, dusted and signed on the dotted line, but George is keen to stay and is integral to our plans and the way we have operated over the last few years and Ben is no different," Murphy added.

Former Scotland captain John Barclay is "unbelievably proud" to have "lived his boyhood dream" after announcing his international retirement.

The 33-year-old Edinburgh forward won 76 caps and played in three World Cups.

Barclay made his debut against New Zealand at Murrayfield in the 2007 World Cup and captained the side in his final appearance against Russia at the Japan showpiece in October this year.

"All good things must come to an end," Barclay wrote on Instagram.

"This isn't an easy decision to make; playing for Scotland is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication and undoubtedly one the best things I will achieve in my life. But for me and my family it feels like the right time.

"It has truly been a privilege to wear the jersey. Not many people can say they got to live their boyhood dream, but I was lucky enough to have that honour and it is something I am unbelievably proud of.

"Not the end of my rugby journey, but the end of one chapter. Thanks for the memories."

Hong Kong-born Barclay became an international mainstay during his eight years with Glasgow and was part of Scotland's renowned "Killer B's" back row alongside Warriors club-mates Kelly Brown and Johnnie Beattie.

He joined Scarlets in 2013, helping the Welsh side to the Pro12 title in 2017, before moving to Edinburgh last year. A ruptured Achilles delayed his debut until March but on his return to action he earned a place in Gregor Townsend's World Cup squad, starting two of Scotland's three Pool A games.

'Ability, class and leadership'

Former Scotland skipper Rory Lawson

"I've had a front row seat watching John's career develop. I played alongside him on the day he made his debut against New Zealand when he went up against the great Richie McCaw.

"He always brought a huge amount of ability, huge amount of class and real leadership. He was a top boy and gave an awful lot to that Scotland jersey."

It was a seemingly meaningless shot on goal, at least within the context of the St. Louis Blues' Western Conference finals Game 3 against the San Jose Sharks. It was Ryan O'Reilly, with a wrister 19 feet from where Martin Jones would turn it aside, for the Blues' third shot of the game.

It didn't produce a point for O'Reilly.

It produced 5,000 of them for fans who predicted it would happen.

During the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring, the Blues became the first NHL team to create a free predictive gaming platform for their fans called "Enter The Zone." Before and during each game, there were seven to 10 questions to answer, ranging from how many saves Jordan Binnington would make to the faceoff success between specific players to the first team to reach three shots on goal in the game.

Winning predictions earned fans points. Those atop the leaderboard at the end of games won prizes ranging from gift cards to signed merchandise. Fans atop the leaderboard at the end of the series had a chance to win prizes that included season tickets.

It was fun. It was popular. It offered a glimpse of the future of wagering on professional hockey.

"The big thing for us was starting to see what appetite our fans had for a predictive environment, as a prelude to where we think things are heading with sports gambling," said Matt Gardner, vice president for digital media and emerging technology for the Blues. "Knowing that it may very well one day be legalized in Missouri, we wanted to get a better understanding of what our fans thought about an experience like this and how it would serve a different type of second-screen experience during the game."

The results exceeded expectations: 70% of all users played the game at least twice, and 30% played in 12 of the 13 games in which the app was offered.

The NHL was watching.

"Fans playing in the arena, or at home, with the opportunity to win unique prizes that the NHL could provide them is really attractive. All these gaming companies want to talk to us about it," said Keith Wachtel, the NHL's chief business officer.

Same with the Blues. Gardner said he received calls from teams in every other professional sport after his team's successful test program. "Predictive gaming and sports betting are on everyone's radar right now," he said.

The Blues were contacted in the spring by a company called Tally, which was cofounded in 2017 by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Tally earlier partnered with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers on a predictive gaming pilot project and sought to test it in the hockey space.

The Blues told Tally that they were interested in implementing it if they got past the Dallas Stars in the second round of the playoffs. They ended up winning in seven games, which meant it was time for Gardner and his team to work quickly. "We had about three days to pull everything together -- a very short time frame to get it launched," he said.

One of the first questions that needed to be answered was when fans would play the game. A priority for the pilot program was not interrupting play, especially given the high stakes of the playoffs. The game would be launched several hours before puck drop and reactivated during intermission. Fans would have to lock in answers before puck drop.

"We tried to modify the questions so they made sense as the series went along," Gardner said.

If Binnington made a certain number of saves in the previous game, that could be the benchmark for the new wager. There were questions such as which team would get to five shots on goal first and questions about whether the Blues would have a multigoal player.

During the Western Conference finals, the Blues had a cumulative points leader for the series who won a pair of season tickets. For each game, there were three winners who received prizes ranging from playoff tickets to autographed merchandise.

But in the Stanley Cup Final, the stakes were a little lower. "We didn't have ticket inventory to offer up," Gardner said, "but we also wanted to see what a difference it would be for the players in the game if the cumulative prize wasn't as significant."

The prizes were autographed items and gift cards to the Blues' retail store. "It did not take away from the number of players who participated. It actually continued to grow," he said.

There were a few surprises in the numbers for the Blues. First was where the fans were playing: 17% of users were in the arena, either at a live game or at a watch party. Second was who was playing: What Gardner discovered was that the game was growing organically because of how competitive the fans made it. Friends were challenging friends, and families sitting together at games were battling each other.

It's that kind of experience that Gardner thinks could create new fans, especially if there were something more on the line than the chance to win a gift card.

"I think technology is going to play a pretty important role in that happening, providing real-time opportunities to bet on who scores the game-winning goal or in other pivotal moments when wagering can happen in a split second," he said. "It's going to be a unique and new way to engage with your audience."

The Blues' "Enter The Zone" was a prototype for what's to come: real-time, in-game wagering by fans during play.

"In-play proposition betting is going to be the most impactful marketing tool that the sports industry has seen from a fan engagement perspective," said Sara Slane, a consultant on sports wagering growth, "and that applies to hockey."

It's Slane's job to figure out the best approach for teams that want to use sports wagering as a marketing tool.

Slane is the former senior vice president of public affairs of the American Gaming Association. She worked on the push to legalize sports wagering across the U.S. before going into business for herself. She partnered with the NHL in July to "consult the league on sports betting and help hockey maximize its revenues from the gambling activity" during its expansion in the U.S.

"For all the sports, including hockey, it was new territory," Slane said. "There was a direct correlation between sports betting and fan engagement. We've looked at daily fantasy sports. We looked at March Madness brackets. People were consuming sports for a larger period of time."

It's no secret that hockey's slice of the gambling pie has never been that large. But the NHL believes that growth has been restricted by three factors: access to legalized sports wagering, the ability to wager on things that go beyond the final score and the ease with which fans can wager on real-time events in a game.

On that first aspect, the NHL was encouraged by what it witnessed in Las Vegas, as betting on hockey has spiked during the brief reign of the Golden Knights. The league is encouraged enough to believe that with more options and more access, that could be repeated elsewhere.

"It's not a sport that's been typically bet on in the past. But as the NHL looks at new technology, I think that will change," Slane said.

Part of that new tech is the advent of player and puck tracking, which NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expects to be rolled out by this season's playoffs. The data it generates, which was already at the heart of recent licensing deals between the NHL and sportsbooks, should create a plethora of new real-time wagers for fans.

But another part -- and perhaps the key -- is connectivity. The NHL views predictive gaming as a way to enhance the in-arena experience.

"We don't have the issue yet, and I don't think we ever will, of wanting to make sure we get fans to our arenas. The viewing experience has gotten so great at home that it's always a concern. Look at fantasy football and the NFL. The game-day experience is great, but there's always talk about watching multiple games at home and how amazing it is. Everyone is trying to figure out how to make the game-day experience even stronger," Wachtel said.

But the in-arena experience is going to be only as good as the current connectivity will allow.

"I think what you're seeing in most buildings is that connectivity is getting better," Gardner said. "Obviously, when 5G rolls out, the experience that's expected is going to be a game-changer, to provide real-time experiences like this with fan interaction. Teams have been wanting to do this."

Of course, the ultimate connectivity issue is the legal one.

"It's still so limited. We're talking about a fraction of the country, and a fraction of the fans, that can engage in that activity," Wachtel said.

Nineteen states have legalized sports wagering, plus Washington, D.C. Slane said that only eight states have yet to introduce some form of sports wagering legalization legislation. But things move quickly: Slane said she has never seen any kind of gambling legislation approved as quickly as sports wagering legislation has been. (Although she cautions that some important NHL states, such as New York, California and Florida, might take a while.)

"I don't think it's too far-fetched to say that by 2022, two-thirds of the country will have legalized sports betting," she said.

As successful as the Blues' foray into predictive gaming was, they hit an unexpected road block.

Tally was acquired by Nike a couple of months ago for another part of their business. Gardner said they're seeking to spin off their predictive gaming piece. The Tally deal also impacted the Los Angeles Rams, who made a splash in the NFL preseason with their predictive gaming activation and had to quickly change partners. The Blues are currently looking at the company that is in business with the Rams.

"We'd love to have our predictive gaming element live now, but we're actively looking at different partnerships that can build on the momentum we had during the playoffs," Gardner said.

He predicts that the game will return soon. Wachtel predicts that this new form of fan engagement -- either as trivial entertainment or as an entry point into wagering on hockey -- is part of the future of NHL fandom.

"We're going to try and figure out what the best model is for that. The teams in all sports are dabbling in it because sports betting is a great, new opportunity," he said. "And we think it's an opportunity to generate fans."

At this early stage of the 2019-20 NHL season, it's all about the defensemen when it comes to the quality of rookie performance.

Avalanche phenom Cale Makar has garnered the lion's share of the attention, which he deserves as the rookie scoring leader (third overall among all defensemen in the league). You'll occasionally hear about Quinn Hughes of the Canucks as well. He has gone about his business a little more under-the-radar, putting up numbers that we'd all be going wild over if not for the aforementioned Makar.

The fact of the matter is that both Makar and Hughes are putting together starts that we haven't seen by rookie defensemen in decades. Let's take a look at these two historic starts, or you can jump straight to our ranking of the 10 best rookies in the game right now.

Dueling historic starts from the blue line

Both Makar and Hughes got their starts last season. Hughes got into five regular-season games with the Canucks after wrapping up a two-year collegiate career at the University of Michigan. Makar burst onto the scene in the Stanley Cup playoffs by helping the Avalanche dispatch his childhood team, the Flames, after completing his two-year career in the NCAA at UMass. They both showed glimpses of potential brilliance, but you never quite know what to expect once we get into the teeth of a full season. Yet at the quarter mark of this season, brilliant does not adequately describe what these two are doing.

Going back to 1979-80, which is as far as hockey-reference.com's game-by-game tracker extends, only one defenseman had more points through his first 26 NHL regular-season games than Makar's 26: Larry Murphy with 29 in 1980-81. Four of the top five players on that list -- Makar being the fifth -- are already in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nicklas Lidstrom and Mark Howe each had 24 points in their first 26 NHL games, and Phil Housley had 21 points in that span.

Bringing it to more recent time by looking only at the salary-cap era (since the 2005-06 season), Makar's 26 points ranks 10th among rookies of any position in their first 26 career games played. There is only one other defenseman in the top 30 and four in the top 50 in that span. Eight of the nine forwards listed ahead of Makar are either perennial All-Stars or will be.

And Hughes? He trailed Makar by just three points heading into Tuesday, which puts him sixth overall among all NHL defensemen and keeps him in the company of Hall of Famers historically. Using that same 1979-80 cutoff, Hughes has the sixth-most points among rookie defensemen through his team's first 27 games to start a season. Murphy is the leader with 30 points, then it's Makar and Brian Leetch with 26, Lidstrom and Howe with 24 and Hughes one point ahead of Chris Chelios (who had 23 points through his team's first 27 games).

We're not going to use a 27-game sample to declare whether either of these players is Hall of Fame-bound, but putting it into this context shows just how special this is. You can qualify it any way you like, too, with Makar being on one of the best teams in the West and Hughes getting favorable usage on a deadly power play. But if it were easy, we'd see a whole lot more rookie defensemen with comparable numbers the past two or three decades. These are truly exceptional seasons by any measure.

OK, so we know who Nos. 1 and 2 are on the list, but who else makes our early December edition of rookie rankings? Here are the top 10 rookies so far this season. All statistics cited are from NHL.com, hockey-reference.com and Natural Stattrick and current through Dec. 2.

Top 10 rookies through two months

1. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 1

For all of the reasons listed above, Makar is the obvious choice at No. 1. The Avs have dealt with a lot of tough injuries this season and haven't stumbled in any significant way. Part of that is having a player such as Makar pick up the slack. He is second to Nathan MacKinnon among the team's top scorers, has been a power-play weapon with 11 points on the advantage and is averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game. One area in which he hasn't dominated is possession, as he is just below 50% in Corsi-for percentage, but the Avalanche are a percentage point better with Makar on the ice than off at even strength.

2. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 3

Hughes might be doing a good chunk of his scoring on the power play, but the Canucks are controlling nearly 55% of the shot attempts with Hughes on the ice at even strength -- and 7.3 percentage points more with Hughes on the ice than off. Coach Travis Green has done a good job of getting the matchups Hughes needs to have success, but really, they're just letting Hughes play. He's fourth on the team in average time on ice, and the Canucks simply generate more offense when he's out there.

3. Victor Olofsson, RW, Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 2

The early-season lull appears to be over for Olofsson after his hot start cooled to the tune of a nine-game goal drought. Getting back on track, Olofsson leads all rookies with 11 goals, with his past five coming at even-strength after he started the season with six power-play markers. That return to form and being able to produce at even strength have allowed the Sabres to count on Olofsson as a legit top-six winger and a formidable linemate for the red-hot Jack Eichel. Buffalo is in a playoff position in the very tough Atlantic Division and will need the 24-year-old Swede to play more like he has the past few weeks to keep pace.

4. Ilya Mikheyev, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 4

Mikheyev continues to be a versatile forward for the Maple Leafs, providing some heaviness and skill in one package. Now playing alongside John Tavares, Mikheyev is in a position to produce even more. Among rookie forwards, he is averaging the second-most ice time at 16:05 per game. Although he is fourth overall in rookie scoring, Mikheyev leads all rookies with 17 even-strength points. As an older player, he isn't sheltered by the Leafs, who are controlling shot attempts at nearly 54% at 5-on-5 when he is on the ice.

5. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers

Previous ranking: NR

It took Fox eight games to register his first point in the NHL. In the 19 games he played heading into Tuesday, Fox had registered 14 points, 12 of which were goals (five) or primary assists (seven). He needed time to figure out how to play his game at the NHL level, and it looks like he's a fairly quick study. Fox is never going to be lauded as a great defender, but what he does helps keep pucks at the other end of the ice. He leads all rookies with a 5.75% relative Corsi-for percentage, and though the Rangers have a pretty low bar to clear, Fox is driving positive play. His on-ice awareness and vision are advanced for a player with his experience. He is being rewarded with more ice time, having topped the 20-minute mark six times in the past month.

6. Ethan Bear, D, Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 7

The ice-time leader among rookies, averaging 21:15 per game, Bear has been a horse at even strength for the Oilers. He is second among all rookies with 53:18 total short-handed ice time so far this season. He is one of only five players on the Oilers above 50% in Corsi-for percentage at even strength, and he is second on the team with a 5.7% relative Corsi. He has given the Oilers a confident, poised defender who can chip in the odd point (four goals and five assists through 29 games this season). Edmonton needed to get more from its in-house-developed players beyond their top draft picks, and Bear is a shining example of a success there.

7. Martin Necas, C, Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 9

Prior to sustaining a lower-body injury over the weekend, Necas has been a good example of making the most of the ice time he's given. Averaging less than 14 minutes per game, Necas has managed to put up 16 points in 26 contests. He has made some spectacular plays with his high-end skill and is showing that he can be a future impact player for the Canes. Necas leads all rookies with 2.7 points per 60 minutes at even strength.

8. John Marino, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: NR

Drafted by Edmonton but unsigned, Marino joined the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent this summer after three years at Harvard. The Penguins have had their seemingly annual injury issues, and Marino has been a surprising constant on the blue line. He has 11 points through his first 25 NHL games and has seen his ice time rise steadily over the course of the season so far. A 19:20 average ranks fourth both on the Penguins and among all rookies. Oddly enough, the 11 points he has now match his point total from 33 games as a junior at Harvard in 2018-19.

9. Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: NR

Things haven't been going great for the Habs lately, but Suzuki has been a bright spot. He has rounded into a quality top-six winger who can contribute points and is gaining more confidence with the puck. Suzuki has 13 points, all of which are primaries (six goals and seven first assists).

10. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 5

With him now briefly sidelined by an injury, it has not been the easiest of transitions for Hughes. That said, he has 11 points and has shown more confidence with the puck on his stick. Five of his 11 points have come on the power play, and though the team has struggled mightily, it is better when Hughes is on the ice. Although his usage is favorable and a bit sheltered, the Devils are controlling shot attempts at a rate 6.6% higher with the rookie on the ice, which is the best relative Corsi on the team. The youngster also ranks second among all rookies with 10 penalties drawn, as his skating has been a challenging factor for opposing defenders. Let's not forget that the Devils are mired in a malaise that will make it very difficult for any rookie to put up big numbers.

Honorable mentions

Ilya Samsonov, G, Washington Capitals: Samsonov has appeared only in nine games, so I didn't feel right putting him over guys who have been more consistent contributors to their teams. But there's no question that he has been a big positive for the Caps. Samsonov had a very average AHL season in 2018-19 but has stepped into the big time and given Washington a chance just about every time out. In those nine appearances, eight of which were starts, Samsonov is 6-2-1 with a .914 save percentage. His even-strength save percentage is among the top 30 goalies in the league with at least 300 minutes played. As a backup, he won't make a ton of noise in the rookie race, but he has done especially well when called upon, albeit with a very strong team in front of him.

Kaapo Kakko, RW, New York Rangers: Kakko is improving, and I think we're starting to see his confidence grow. At this point, however, the analytics have not been kind: He is at or near the bottom in a lot of categories. You have to chalk a big chunk of that up to the fact that the Rangers are a team in transition. But Kakko is still just a teenager, and he has six goals so far, tied for third among all rookies. This season is going to be a slower build than Rangers fans probably would hope, but Kakko is already building.

Zinedine Zidane and the Real Madrid hierarchy remain at odds over the signing of Paul Pogba, with the coach "crazy" about the Manchester United midfielder but president Florentino Perez deeming him overpriced.

Madrid will look to strengthen their midfield next summer and Pogba has been a long-term target, with reports of a transfer resurfacing in the Spanish media on Wednesday.

Sources have told ESPN that Zidane is desperate to sign Pogba but United would expect a fee well in excess of £120 million and Perez deems that excessive.

Real Madrid remain interested in adding to their midfield despite the emergence this season of Fede Valverde. The 21-year-old Uruguayan's progression and energetic, box-to-box style has led some at the Bernabeu to argue that Pogba's signing is unnecessary.

While there is disagreement over Pogba at the club, there is unanimity in targeting Napoli and Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz. As reported by ESPN FC, an initial meeting took place in October to discuss the 23-year-old joining Real Madrid next summer. Fabian, 23, is three years younger than Pogba, would be cheaper at between £80m and £100m, and would favour a move to Madrid over Barcelona or Manchester City.

Other midfield alternatives being considered include Tottenham's Christian Eriksen and Ajax's Donny van de Beek. The Danish playmaker's Spurs contract expires in June next year, making him an affordable choice, albeit one that does not fit the same midfield profile. Van de Beek is the youngest option at 22 and a deal to bring him to Real Madrid was close to being agreed with Ajax this summer.

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Sources have told ESPN FC that Zidane is convinced by neither Eriksen or Van de Beek, though, and is pushing for Pogba or Fabian.

A January move would be unlikely as Zidane prefers to avoid the disruption of making midseason changes to his squad, with Real Madrid planning for the 2020 summer transfer window.

Just a day after Karnataka State Cricket Association president Roger Binny said his administration was striving to keep cricket "clean", a senior official of the state's managing committee has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into corruption in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL).

Sudhindra Shinde, a former Karnataka player, was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Karnataka Police on Wednesday for allegedly being involved in "match-fixing".

The 39-year-old Shinde, who played 19 matches for Karnataka between 2002-03 and 2007-08, has performed various roles at KSCA as part of the management and in a coaching capacity as well. He was the Karnataka Under-19 coach, a position he had to step down from after being elected to the KSCA managing committee this August.

According to Sandeep Patil, joint commissioner of police (crime), Shinde "fixed" a few matches in the 2019 KPL along with Belagavi Panthers' team owner Ali Asfaq Thara. Both Thara and his team have been suspended by the KSCA, which also recently put the KPL on hold till the police wrap up the ongoing investigation.

Patil said Thara had approached Shinde - who later became head of cricket at Panthers - in 2017 to sponsor the Social Cricketers club, which the latter ran in Bengaluru.

"Shinde was running a cricket club in Bangalore from many years," Patil said. "Around 2017, Ali came and joined the club and started to sponsor it. That is when Ali and Shinde came in contact and started this whole network of match-fixing. He along with Ali has fixed few matches."

The KSCA is yet to react to the latest development, including its possible action against Shinde.

On Tuesday, Binny had reacted for the first time after being elected KSCA president recently. Binny called the KPL corruption scandal as an "unfortunate turn of events", and that the KSCA would sanction the guilty appropriately.

"With the unfortunate turn of events with regard to the Karnataka Premier League, we would like to reaffirm that we are fully cooperating with the authorities to ensure that those who have wronged the sport will be subject to due process of law," Binny said. "Any player/official/franchise, who has brought disrepute to the sport/association due to their involvement in betting/match-fixing or any other illegal activity, will be suspended immediately, if there is a prima facie evidence."

Shinde's arrest came on the back of several other people, including cricketers, being interrogated and even apprehended by the police in the past few months. Apart than Thara and Bhavesh Bafna, who played the drums at the grounds during KPL matches, the police recently took into custody former Karnataka captain CM Gautam and spinner Abrar Kazi. Both had represented Bellary Tuskers in the last season of the KPL.

Among other players who have been called for questioning are fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun and spinner KC Cariappa.

The KPL corruption scandal followed the alleged approaches made to players during the last edition of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).

The BCCI's anti-corruption unit launched an investigation into the TNPL controversy, too, and recently anti-corruption head Ajit Singh said that the KSCA had been "amply warned" about some of the KPL matches being possibly "compromised" if adequate safeguards were not put in place.

On Sunday, Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, said that anti-corruption in domestic T20 leagues within India was a concern and the board was keeping a close eye on the developments.