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

In his latest BBC Sport column, Wales centre Hadleigh Parkes talks about World Cup preparations, rooming with 'The Lane Train' and getting ready for fatherhood.

It's been a brutal summer of training with Wales but there's a pretty big carrot at the end of it in the form of the World Cup.

We had four weeks of holiday at the end of last season so the boys who came into camp earliest have been here for 11 weeks.

We had three weeks here at the Vale in Cardiff then the training camp in Switzerland, which was intense but also a very scenic, beautiful place. There was still snow on the mountain tops but we were walking around in a vest because it was so hot.

The boys enjoyed it but it was tough. We were working hard, staying at altitude, training in the heat. The coaches said they'd push us and they certainly did.

As backs, we're pretty good to each other when we train but I've watched a few forwards' sessions and they look very tasty, so I'm happy to be a back!

We're just doing stretches and looking over to the pack as they do their driving lineouts and ruck drills and we're thinking 'wow!'

There's a bit of an edge and sometimes it can come to pushing and shoving, but everyone's still mates. It's all forgotten pretty quickly.

My roomie is usually Gareth Anscombe but in Switzerland I also had Owen Lane, also known as 'The Lane Train'!

He calls himself 'The Lane Train' so it's stuck. He's a good boy, I enjoyed rooming with him.

We had one afternoon off in Switzerland. We climbed right to the top of a mountain, where we had a barbecue, which was pretty nice as we could look out across the glacier. I think we were 2,800m up - the views were amazing.

We were in shorts and t-shirts while the hikers were in their full climbing gear. There was an option to have a beer if you wanted to but it's been pretty quiet on that front recently. It doesn't really help at the end of the day and everyone's working really hard for what's ahead over the next few months.

The World Cup means it's been a different sort of pre-season. Normally before a Test match we get a week to prepare, so it's been nice to get more time together.

When Sunday's first warm-up match against England comes around, hopefully we'll be in a really good place.

Renewing old rivalries

It may be a pre-season game at Twickenham but everyone wants to win and it's one of the oldest rivalries around.

As soon as you start worrying about getting injured, that's when it happens. Ultimately, it's a Test match and it's a Test match against England.

One thing I've learnt over the years is that the rivalry between the two countries over the Severn Bridge is very much intact. The boys who get the opportunity to play over the weekend will get the first chance to put their hands up for selection for the World Cup.

We want to go out there and produce a performance the fans can be proud of.

It's awesome the amount of depth we've built over the past few years, with the Argentina tour, the autumn and the Six Nations. The depth in the squad is really good and everyone's pushing each other in every position.

It's good to have that internal competition, as well as external competition.

Weddings and fatherhood

Everyone's looking forward to getting back to the action after a summer of intense training, but we've enjoyed our time off too.

During the holiday period at the end of last season, a good crew of us went over to New Zealand for Gareth Anscombe's wedding.

Lloyd Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Cory Allen and quite a few of the boys went over, so we had a good catch-up, played some golf and went to Waiheke for the big do.

It's also been a big few months for my wife Suzy and me because we've found out we're going to become parents for the first time.

We actually found out the Monday before we beat Ireland to win the Six Nations, so that was a pretty exciting week for us!

We had a short holiday in Lake Como last month and then, after we got back home, we had some friends around for a barbecue to celebrate the news.

We don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet - we're going to keep that a surprise - but the due date is 20 November.

Suzy and I are really excited and a bit nervous as well. It's a new chapter and we're very much looking forward to it.

There are a fair few dads in the squad, and they've been telling me to make the most of the sleep when I'm with Wales!

Hadleigh Parkes was speaking to BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard.

England's Nowell remains a doubt for the World Cup

Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 09:07

Winger Jack Nowell remains a World Cup injury doubt with England staff unable to put a time frame on his return.

The Exeter player flew home from the training camp in Italy last week for a "routine surgical review".

However, doubts linger over Nowell's availability, with boss Eddie Jones naming his 31-man squad on Monday.

England play four warm-up games in the coming weeks, before September's tournament opener against Tonga in the Japanese city of Sapporo.

"We'll see how he goes - he is a quick healer," assistant coach Neal Hatley told BBC Sport.

"We are not going to discuss what the specialist said, but he is going to put in a lot of work to make himself available.

"We will see how he goes over the next week or two and then we will make a decision."

Nowell was in outstanding form at the end of last season, excelling for England in the Six Nations and putting in an astonishing individual display for Exeter in the Premiership final against Saracens.

But he injured his ankle towards the end of the Twickenham showpiece and had surgery at the start of June.

"He is a key player for us and has played a lot under Eddie and this coaching group," Hatley added.

"He's not just a good player but a good person and a good bloke to have in the squad. He is part of the glue that holds the squad together."

England begin their warm-up schedule against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday, after spending much of the past two months in training camps, but don't need to submit their final squad until 8 September.

"It's the longest period we have ever had with the players, so from a preparation point of view it has been really good," Hatley said.

"The next few games are about making sure that when we get on the plane on the 8 September we are in the best shape we can be."

Meijer Partners With Front Row & Matt Tifft

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 11:15

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Meijer is partnering with Front Row Motorsports to serve as primary sponsor for the No. 36 Ford Mustang in this weekend’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway.

Meijer will also serve as an associate sponsor for Matt Tifft next month at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Midwest grocery retailer will now feature a line of Surface Sunscreen products hitting shelves just in time for race day.

Surface Sunscreen, maker of purpose-built sun care products designed with athletes and action sports in mind, is a season-long partner of Tifft and Front Row Motorsports.

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Meijer operates more than 245 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

“It can sometimes be a hassle to shop for everything you need at the track,” said Tifft. “Meijer is the ultimate source for getting everything on your list, which should always include sun protection. I’m excited to debut this paint scheme at Michigan and to have Meijer on the car again in Indy.”

Jason Johnson Classic Purse Gets Big Increase

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 11:45

ELDON, Mo. – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ return on Oct. 19 to Lake Ozark Speedway will see close to a $10,000 increase to the overall purse for the Jason Johnson Classic.

FK Rod Ends is adding a $410 bonus to every position in the feature – bringing the winner’s purse to $10,410 and making it a $1,210-to-start race.

That makes the overall purse of the race more than $57,000.

The event honors 2016 Knoxville Nationals champion Jason Johnson, who was killed in a racing accident last year at Wisconsin’s Beaver Dam Raceway.

Johnson and his wife, Bobbi, located Jason Johnson Racing in Rocky Mount, Mo. – just 15 minutes away from Lake Ozark Speedway.

“I am really excited to have a race in Jason’s name at the Lake,” Bobbi Johnson said. “Anyone who knew him recognized his love for Sprint Car racing, his family, the fans and he absolutely loved living near the lake here at Lake of the Ozark. To host the race at Lake Ozark Speedway brings all the things he loved together at one place again for the Jason Johnson Classic while we honor his passion and commitment for the sport and the area we called home together.

“Jaxx and I, along with Jason’s parents Craig and Debra, miss him deeply every day, but we are very excited for everyone to make plans to come out to the lake to honor our beloved hero at the Jason Johnson Classic at Lake Ozark Speedway.”

The stars of the World of Outlaws put on a spectacular show at the third-mile track in April, showing why the series is nicknamed The Greatest Show on Dirt.

Brad Sweet dueled with Jason Johnson Racing driver David Gravel in the late stages of the race. Gravel hunted Sweet down and passed him for the lead, but with four laps to go Sweet snuck underneath Gravel in turn one and charged back by him for the top spot.

On the final lap exiting turn four, Sweet slid up the track and allowed Gravel to close back to him, but it wasn’t enough. Sweet claimed the win with Gravel second and 10-time series champion Donny Schatz in third close behind him.

The win was Sweet’s second of the year at the time. Now, he’s collected 12 wins so far and holds the points lead over Schatz in second-place and Gravel in third.

PHOTOS: Southern Iowa Hosts WAR Sprints

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 12:00

Mobil 1 – the best choice for your Truck or SUV. Learn more about Mobil 1 Truck & SUV oil and enter for a chance to win a Toyota pickup or SUV at dirtgiveaway.com.

JGR Tabs Hawksworth For Mid-Ohio Xfinity Race

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 12:30

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday that Jack Hawksworth will make his NASCAR debut this weekend in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the organization.

Hawksworth will pilot the No. 18 iK9 Toyota Supra at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“I’m excited to be joining the Joe Gibbs Racing team and driving the No. 18 iK9 Toyota Supra this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” said Hawksworth. “It’s a fantastic opportunity in a completely different series, against completely different competition and in a different type of racing. From a personal perspective, I’m very excited to experience something new and to be challenged in a new way. It’s going to be very different, I’m sure it’s going to be difficult and there’s going to be a bit of a learning curve with it, but I’m going into it with a championship-winning organization so that gives me a lot of confidence.

“I look to get out there and do a good job and looking forward to getting out on the track.”

While this weekend will mark his first race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the Xfinity Series, the 28-year-old Bradford, England native is no stranger to the 2.4-mile course.

Most recently, Hawksworth competed at the track in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class, where he and teammate Richard Heistand piloted their Lexus RC F GT3 to the win in May.

The duo also captured a win this season at Raceway at Belle Isle Park in June and are currently tied for the lead in the IMSA GTD Sprint Cup Championship team standings, while also sitting fourth in the overall GTD points standings.

Since moving to the United States in 2011, Hawksworth has competed in multiple racing series. He first made his mark in the U.S. competing in the Star Mazda Series in 2012, where he won the championship and broke the series record for most wins, poles and fastest lap in a season. He then moved to the Indy Lights Series for 2013 where he earned three race wins, six podium finishes and two pole positions.

For the next three seasons, Hawksworth competed in the NTT IndyCar Series, finishing a career-best finish of third in 2014 in Houston, Texas and earning the Indy Car Tony Renna Rising Star Award during his rookie season. He also won the 2014 Brickyard Grand Prix in the IMSA Prototype Challenge class at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Hawksworth moved to the RC F GT3 in 2017, where he has competed the last two seasons.

“As we head in to the second road course of the season, we’re fortunate to have a veteran like Jack Hawksworth be able to come out of the Lexus program to help out the Toyota family and our team in the No. 18 iK9 Supra this weekend,” said Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for Joe Gibbs Racing. “He will bring a great deal of experience and a history of success to JGR this weekend. I think he’ll be a great asset to our team and be someone that both Brandon (Jones) and Christopher (Bell) can look to for advice on how to get around Mid-Ohio.

“Jack’s proven he can win at the track, and there’s no reason not to continue that this weekend with the (No.) 18 team.”

Hawksworth replaces Jeffrey Earnhardt behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota Supra.

Earnhardt was scheduled to drive the car this weekend at Mid-Ohio, but revealed on social media Wednesday that he has “parted ways” with sponsor iK9.

Earnhardt was scheduled to race the No. 81 Xtreme Concepts Toyota Supra for XCI Racing at Daytona Int’l Speedway in July, but the team withdrew their entry before the race.

A fourth-generation driver, Earnhardt earned a career-best finish of third at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway earlier this season in Xfinity Series action, one of seven starts he’s made this year.

BC39 Entry List Continues To Grow

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 13:30

INDIANAPOLIS – The entry list for the Driven2SaveLives BC39 powered by NOS Energy Drink at the Dirt Track at IMS has neared 40 entries as of Wednesday afternoon.

Among the latest stars to commit to the second running of the race, scheduled for Sept. 4-5, are the point leading and winningest team in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series this season, an international racing star, an electrifying talent, a Western States Midget champion and a car owned by the winningest driver in series history.

Clauson/Marshall Racing has entered their core group of four full-time USAC competitors for the event, including Tyler Courtney, Chris Windom, Zeb Wise and Andrew Layser.

Defending AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series champion Courtney leads all drivers with six USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature wins this year and has led the standings since the start of the season.

His CMR teammate, Chris Windom, runs second in the standings behind him after a strong showing during Pennsylvania Midget Week.

Windom, the 2016 Silver Crown and 2017 National Sprint Car titlist, has won his first two National Midget races over the past two months.

Wise runs fourth in the standings with two recent victories to his credit during Pennsylvania Midget Week. He was victorious in last year’s Stoops Pursuit race at the BC39.

Andrew Layser is in his first year for CMR and tops the series’ rookie points by a commanding margin. He seeks to make his first BC39 feature start.

Michael Pickens, the winningest driver from New Zealand in the history of the USAC National Midget Series with four wins, will roll with the RMS LLC team at the BC39 alongside teammate Thomas Meseraull.

David Prickett, the 2012 USAC Western States Dirt Midget champ, will drive for Neverlift Motorsports in his second BC39 appearance. Meanwhile, Trey Osborne – a veteran of Kenyon Midget racing and the Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway – will drive the famed yellow No. 61 for Mel Kenyon, a 111-time USAC national midget victor.

Those drivers join a talented list of entries which also includes 2017 USAC National Midget champion Spencer Bayston; 2018 Jason Leffler Memorial winner Tyler Thomas; USAC National Sprint Car feature winners Brent Beauchamp and Matt Westfall; and past USAC Western States Midget champion Shannon McQueen, among others.

Driven2SaveLives BC39 Entry List (as of Aug. 7)

1NZ MICHAEL PICKENS/Auckland, NZ (RMS LLC)
1ST TBA (Daryl Saucier)
2 RYAN HALL/Midlothian, TX (Mark Bush)
2x MATT LINDER/Hoschton, GA (Mark Bush)
3N JAKE NEUMAN/New Berlin, IL (Jim Neuman)
7BC TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
7u KYLE JONES/Kennedale, TX (Trifecta Motorsports)
7x THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA (RMS LLC)
8 RANDI PANKRATZ/Atascadero, CA (Wally Pankratz)
9 CHRIS BAUE/Indianapolis, IN (Chris Baue)
11L AARON LEFFEL/Springfield, OH (Chuck Taylor)
11T TBA (Chuck Taylor)
14H TBA (Mike Dickerson)
15J JEFF WIMMENAUER/Indianapolis, IN (Jeff Wimmenauer)
15s SHANNON McQUEEN/Bakersfield, CA (Broc Garrett)
15x CARSON GARRETT/Littleton, CO (Broc Garrett)
17 JUSTIN PECK/Monrovia, IN (Bus Racing Team)
17BC CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
19 SPENCER BAYSTON/Lebanon, IN (Brodie Hayward)
20 CODY WEISENSEL/Sun Prairie, WI (Kevin Weisensel)
21D JUSTIN DICKERSON/Pittsboro, IN (Mike Dickerson)
22Q DAVID PRICKETT/Fresno, CA (Neverlift Motorsports)
28 ACE McCARTHY/Tahlequah, OK (Jim Neuman)
39BC ZEB WISE/Angola, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
41 OLIVER AKARD/Ft. Myers, FL (Dan Akard)
43 BRENT BEAUCHAMP/Avon, IN (Kevin Arnold)
47BC ANDREW LAYSER/Collegeville, PA (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
50 TONY DiMATTIA/Malvern, PA (Tony DiMattia Motorsports)
54 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (Steve Bordner)
56A COLTEN COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Travis Young)
57A TBA (Bill Ecker)
57D DANIEL ROBINSON/Ewing, IL (McCreery Motorsports)
57K KEVIN STUDLEY/Plainfield, IN (Kevin Studley)
61 TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, Ohio (Mel Kenyon)
71s CODY SWANSON/Norco, CA (Marcie Campbell)
88 TYLER NELSON/Olathe, KS (Tyler Nelson)
91T TYLER THOMAS/Collinsville, OK (Brian Thomas)
97A AUSTIN O’DELL/Rochester, IL (Patrick O’Dell)

McIlroy's pace-of-play fix: 'Warning and then a shot'

Published in Golf
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 06:26

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Slow play has again become a headline issue in recent months thanks to Brooks Koepka’s outspoken take on the subject, but the world No. 1 is hardly the only player who believes it’s time to end slow play.

On Wednesday at The Northern Trust, Rory McIlroy agreed with Koepka’s assessment of the pace of play on Tour and said it’s a problem that flows from the top down.

“It starts at our level because people try to emulate us,” McIlroy said. “I've heard stories of college events and how long they take. There's no reason why it should take that long. It has to be addressed some way.”

McIlroy explained that slow play on Tour is the byproduct of a poorly conceived pace-of-play policy and he added that the fix is extremely straightforward.

“The guys that are slow are the guys that they get too many chances before they are penalized,” he said. “It should be a warning and then a [penalty] shot. It should be you're put on the clock and that is your warning, and then if you get a bad time while on the clock, it's a shot. That will stamp it out right away.”

McIlroy is confident that Tour pros can adjust to a more strict enforcement of pace of play.

“We are not children that need to be told five or six times what to do,” he said. “OK, you're on the clock. OK, I know if I play slowly here, I'm going to get penalized and I think that's the way forward.”

Tiger limited by stiff back, concerned about playoff workload

Published in Golf
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 06:48

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Tiger Woods put himself on a pitch count Wednesday at The Northern Trust.

Well, it was a pitch count at least based on how the 43-year-old normally prepares for a PGA Tour event.

Woods didn’t hit a tee shot after the seventh hole during his pro-am round at Liberty National and opted to only chip and putt over the final nine holes.

“Just feeling stiff, being smart about it. What I did pre-Augusta, where I chipped and putted for nine holes. Same thing,” explained Woods, who said he began feeling “stiff” early in his round. “This is kind of how it is. Some days I’m stiffer than others.”

The Northern Trust is Woods’ first start since missing the cut at last month’s Open Championship, where he was slowed by the cold and wet conditions. It was a similar story at the PGA Championship in May (missed cut) and the U.S. Open in June (T-21).

Some of Woods’ caution is likely rooted in his possible schedule the next three weeks. He’s currently just inside the top 30 at No. 28 on the FedExCup point list, and if he qualifies for the Tour Championship, which he won last year, that would mean he’d have to play three consecutive weeks for the first time this season.

“There is concern,” he said. “I'm trying to get myself where I'm in contention, where it takes a toll on you, and that's what I want to feel. I want to feel that type of tiredness where I have a chance to win, had a chance to win, had a chance to win. That's a good feeling.”

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Tiger Woods did some moonlighting this week at the playoff opener, and hosted a group of potential players for this year’s U.S. Presidents Cup team on Tuesday at Liberty National.

“The guys who came [on Tuesday night], it was fantastic to have them there. But understand that this is not the team, not yet,” Woods said. “We're still trying to earn our way on the team. There have only been a few guys who have locked up their spots.”

It was worth nothing that Woods used the phrase “our way” when referring to the list of potential players that currently includes Woods, this year’s U.S. captain. 

Woods is currently 12th on the U.S. points list and will need a solid finish at The Northern Trust or next week’s BMW Championship if he’s going to finish inside the top 8 and automatically qualify. Otherwise, he’ll need to be a captain’s pick, which creates a unique situation for Woods.

“I'm like all of them, all the guys in the room. Those guys who are in probably 50th, 60th in points can still win these two events and hop into the top 8, or play well with the nine events that we have and get a pick,” Woods explained.

Woods and International captain Ernie Els don’t need to make their four picks until later this fall (Nov. 4) which gives players who finish outside the automatic qualifiers plenty of time to make a statement and secure a spot on the team.

Soccer

Kane set to end trophy drought as Bayern eye title

Kane set to end trophy drought as Bayern eye title

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBayern Munich will secure the Bundesliga title on Saturday with a w...

Ancelotti scolds Endrick for 'clowning' vs. Getafe

Ancelotti scolds Endrick for 'clowning' vs. Getafe

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsReal Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has scolded Endrick after his mis...

Sources: Arsenal confident in Zubimendi deal

Sources: Arsenal confident in Zubimendi deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsArsenal are confident they will make Real Sociedad midfielder Martí...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Chippy series to Rockets' advantage, Udoka says

Chippy series to Rockets' advantage, Udoka says

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets' 109-94 victory over the Golden Stat...

Mitchell seizes moment, carries Cavs to 2-0 lead

Mitchell seizes moment, carries Cavs to 2-0 lead

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- A portion of the Cleveland Cavaliers' success this sea...

Baseball

Crow-Armstrong stays hot vs. hometown Dodgers

Crow-Armstrong stays hot vs. hometown Dodgers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- Most players are happy to be done facing the Los Angeles...

Twins say Oliva, Hrbek recovering from strokes

Twins say Oliva, Hrbek recovering from strokes

EmailPrintMINNEAPOLIS -- Two Minnesota Twins greats are recovering from strokes suffered days apart,...

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