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

After a monthslong back-and-forth with the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler was finally traded to a new team Wednesday night. He joins Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, with Butler immediately signing a two-year, $121 million extension, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

The multiteam trade includes Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Tucker (via the Jazz), Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick going to Miami, with Dennis Schroder heading from the Warriors to Utah, sources said. It also includes the Pistons, with the Warriors' Lindy Waters III and the Heat's Josh Richardson headed to Detroit, sources said. (Miami had hoped to move Anderson to the Toronto Raptors before that deal fell through, and it is actively working on a resolution.)

The Heat had suspended Butler three times since Jan. 3, with the most recent suspension beginning Jan. 27. He has not played since Jan. 21.

Does Butler immediately propel the Warriors -- No. 10 in the Western Conference at the time of the trade -- back into playoff contention? And what does this mean for Butler's former team in the East? Our NBA Insiders answer the biggest questions following the latest NBA blockbuster trade.

This trade is _____?

Tim MacMahon: A mediocre ending to a miserable saga in Miami. The Heat accomplished their major goal of not taking back any salary that stretched into summer 2026, when the Heat will be in position to persuade another star to take his talents to South Beach. It's a desperate swing by the Warriors to pair another star with Stephen Curry, but the desperation isn't evident in the cost.

Baxter Holmes: Certainly something! And the Warriors needed to do something splashy to help maximize Curry's window. The Warriors didn't give up a ton, all things considered, but Butler's fit will be interesting. The Warriors' culture starts with Curry, and Draymond Green provides the edge for this team. Butler, however, is accustomed to being the center of every team he has been on. But the move gives the Warriors a fighting chance in the Western Conference.

Chris Herring: Simply a trade. Getting Butler out of Miami was something the Heat desperately wanted to get done, given how big a distraction it had become. Miami received enough in return to be competitive, and Golden State got the established name it wanted so badly. But just because these teams had hoped to make something happen doesn't mean it will change their overall outlook for the time being.

Jamal Collier: A little lackluster. After the shocking and league-altering Luka Doncic-for-Anthony Davis trade, this one -- which we knew was coming in some form before the deadline -- is fine. The fit in Golden State next to Curry seems like a much better landing spot for Butler -- who gets an extension and gets out of Miami -- than replacing Bradley Beal in Phoenix would have been. Still, it doesn't seem like this trade will have any major implications at the top of the Western Conference.


Does Butler alongside Curry and Green make the Warriors contenders this season?

Collier: What does "Playoff Jimmy" look like next to Curry? If Butler is motivated to prove Miami wrong, that's at least more interesting than the situation Golden State was in before, especially considering the top of the conference is filled with young teams. Still, altering the roster so dramatically on the fly will be difficult to pull off, so it's hard to call Golden State a contender right away.

MacMahon: Does this deal make Golden State better? Yes. Good enough to contend in the loaded Western Conference? Probably not. The Warriors likely will still make the playoffs via the play-in tournament, considering the adjustment period of implementing such a major addition. And there will be some spacing issues with Butler and Green -- two players whom opponents are comfortable shooting 3s against -- as key cogs for Golden State.

Holmes: Butler makes the Warriors better, but being a contender means being up there with the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets -- and the list goes on. Right now, the Warriors are 10th in the West. They have a long way to go, and I don't see this as a transformational trade that suddenly vaults them to the top of the standings. It might have been different had they picked up Butler five years ago, but he's 35 now with plenty of mileage and a long injury history.

Herring: There's still a sizable gap between the Thunder and everyone else out West. I wouldn't have the Warriors in the second tier, either. But if Butler has the right approach -- seemingly more likely with the contract extension hammered out -- this move figures to make Golden State better, even if it isn't enough to push the Dubs into contender status by the end of the regular season.

Fact or Fiction: Golden State will be Butler's last NBA stop?

Holmes: If we use history as our guide, then it's safe to say this won't be Butler's last stop. For one reason or another, his tenures in Chicago, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Miami have all ended -- often in volatile fashion. There's an undeniable pattern, and it's hard to envision that breaking anytime soon.

MacMahon: If this trade deadline has taught us anything, it's to assume nothing -- except maybe that the ending won't be pretty with Butler, whether or not it is his last stop. That certainly has been a consistent theme.

Collier: Fiction, because I'm not going to make that bet for anyone right now.

Herring: Fiction. Unless this experiment goes swimmingly, the Warriors likely will find themselves in a position where they want to retool around Curry with another star before it's too late. That might require them to see what they can get for Butler if and when they determine he isn't the right fit. (Plus, as everyone has said, when have Butler's tenures ever ended in a pretty fashion?)


What is Miami's ceiling this season after the trade?

Herring: We've seen the Heat reach the second round as an underdog before, and it could happen again. Coach Erik Spoelstra has proved he is a fantastic coach, and the organization always will be known for its grit and willingness to turn any matchup into a fight. But advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs would seem more improbable this time around.

Collier: The Heat have a chance to stay out of the play-in tournament and reach the top six of the East, which would be a nice accomplishment after this ongoing saga threatened to derail their season. But it's hard to see a first-round matchup that would be favorable for the Heat to make any noise in the playoffs.

MacMahon: You have to give the Heat a sliver of a chance to get out of the first round, considering Spoelstra's track record. But Miami seems like first-round fodder. It's hard to envision the Heat beating the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks or Milwaukee Bucks in a series if any of those opponents' stars are healthy.

Holmes: I'm sure there will be a sense of relief in Miami now that the Butler saga is over, but it's hard to see the Heat going far in the postseason, even in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. At their best, I don't see them challenging Boston, New York or Cleveland. Maybe they could make some noise in the first round and extend a series a game or two beyond a sweep, but I'm not sure how much further they could go beyond that.


What should the Suns do to pivot after losing out on Butler?

Herring: It doesn't seem like Suns governor Mat Ishbia's M.O. at all, but remaining open to the idea of dealing Kevin Durant would seem wise. The organization isn't going anywhere with this group, so doubling down on it would make less sense than trying to build for the future around Devin Booker.

MacMahon: Take a deep breath and massage the egos of the stars they've been dangling on the trade market. "There's crazy things that can happen," Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said minutes before news of the Butler trade broke. "There's conversations that happen and then we're going to coach. All those guys [on the Suns], I love 'em. So, I think the vibes will be good if they're here."

Holmes: Don't do anything rash. Ishbia has proved since day one that he loves to take big swings, no matter the cost, and he has received criticism about compromising the Suns' future to do so. Right now, patience is the watchword. Take and make calls, but if there's nothing there, the Suns don't need to force it. They have a lot of talent on the roster as it is.

Collier: Sure, they probably should take a breath and keep going forward, but they are trending toward the play-in tournament after getting swept out of the last playoffs in the first round and are probably going nowhere. I'm intrigued by a Durant trade and don't think they should shut that door so quickly.

Sources: Alonso back to Mets for 2 years, $54M

Published in Baseball
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 20:22

Slugger Pete Alonso and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $54 million contract, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, ending a lengthy free agency with a return engagement to the only team for which he has played.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes an opt-out after the first season, sources said. Alonso will make $30 million this year.

The 30-year-old Alonso, whose 226 home runs since his 2019 debut are second in Major League Baseball behind Aaron Judge's 232, heads back to Queens to join a lineup that added outfielder Juan Soto on a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract this winter.

Though New York considered pivoting away from Alonso after discussions on a deal with him reached an impasse, talks resumed amid a market that did not value him similarly to the long-term deal he sought at the outset of free agency. First basemen in their 30s who hit and field right-handed are seen by teams as risky -- even ones who have consistently produced like Alonso.

After hitting a rookie-record 53 home runs in 2019, Alonso's consistent run production helped buoy the Mets through lean years and made him a fan favorite and franchise cornerstone. Alonso rejected a seven-year, $158 million contract extension from the Mets in the summer of 2023, hoping to strike riches on the open market, even when saddled by draft-pick compensation after turning down a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets.

A long-term deal never materialized, leaving Alonso with limited choices. Though the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays were among the teams that expressed interested in Alonso, coming back to the Mets was always the likeliest possibility, even as owner Steve Cohen publicly expressed frustration with the trajectory of negotiations.

Alonso's production declined over the past three seasons, with his OPS decreasing from .869 to .821 to .788. His FanGraphs wins above replacement dropped from 3.8 to 2.8 to 2.1, and his 34 home runs in 2024 were a career low for a full season.

Still, Alonso remained capable of special moments. With the Mets facing elimination, trailing 2-0 in the ninth inning of a wild-card series game against Milwaukee in early October last year, Alonso tattooed a changeup from Brewers closer Devin Williams to the opposite field for a three-run home run that held up to send New York to a series against Philadelphia. Alonso homered twice against the Phillies and once more in a six-game NLCS loss to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Alonso's postseason bona fides -- a .278/.429/.574 line in 70 plate appearances -- added to his allure for the Mets, who now can lead off star shortstop Francisco Lindor and bat Soto, Alonso and emerging star third baseman Mark Vientos in the 2-3-4 holes. The Mets' deep roster includes outfielders Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor, catcher Francisco Alvarez, second baseman Jeff McNeil, young infielders Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna and Brett Baty, as well as Jesse Winker (who re-signed as a free agent) and Jose Siri (acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay).

The Mets' also refashioned their pitching staff, re-signing left-hander Sean Manaea and signing right-handers Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning for their starting rotation, and bolstering their bullpen with left-hander A.J. Minter and right-hander Ryne Stanek.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.

USCS Kicks Off With 14-Race Winter Heat Series

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 12:04

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. The United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour Presented by Hoosier Racing Tire kicks off its 29th season with the 14-race Winter Heat Series for the months of February and March at six different tracks in three different states.

The USCS Winter Heat Series will pay a point fund to the top-10 drivers that compete in all 14 events.

The USCS Winter Heat Series will kick off with a pair of races at Hendry County Motorsports Park in Clewiston, Fla., on Feb. 7-8.  The Feb. 8 event will pay $10,000-to-win.

All events broadcast live on SPEEDSPORT.tv

The following weekend, the USCS Winter Heat Series moves to Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., for the next two weekends with four races on Feb. 14-15 and Feb. 21-22.

Hattiesburg Speedway in Hattiesburg, Miss. will host the next two USCS Winter Heat races on Feb. 28 and March 1.

Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. will be the host next two USCS Winter Heat stops on March 7-8.

Rounds 11 and 12 of the USCS Winter Heat Series will be held at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Ala., on March 14-15.

The final weekend of the USCS Winter Heat Series will take place at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. on March 21-22.

The final three weekends of the USCS Winter Heat Series at Deep South Speedway, North Alabama Speedway and Magnolia Motor Speedway will also be the first point races for the United Sprint Car Series Mid-South Region season.

The second edition of the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park kicks off the drag racing season in style Feb. 6-8.

Without points on the line and with a giant purse at stake, teams and drivers have embraced the all-star event.

Last year, eventual NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock kicked off his stellar season with a victory in the Superstar Shootout. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) also picked up victories during the inaugural event.

With the race weekend placed at the beginning of February, the offseason for teams has drastically shortened.

While that may tighten deadlines in a variety of aspects ahead of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which begins March 6-9 at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway, SCAG Racing Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley believes its more than worth having the opportunity to compete and test.

I think as racers, we want to race as much as we can, Ashley said. So, were grateful for the opportunity to compete in an event like this. The truth of the matter is, it does shorten our offseason, so theres not as much time to get everything together.

Whether thats agreements or wraps or decaling or whatever that may be. But at the end of the day, were going to spend a certain amount of time allocated toward testing before the actual season began. Now we have an opportunity to not only test, but while were there, compete for whats going to be the biggest purse in drag racing and compete in an all-star event against the best drivers and the best teams in the world that happens to be presented by SCAG Power Equipment, Ashley continued.

It certainly shortens the timeline a little bit, but its an opportunity that were certainly grateful for and an opportunity that we want to try and do everything we can to make sure we take advantage of that and if nothing else, put ourselves in a good position going into the regular season.

With testing beginning on Wednesday at Bradenton, it gives Ashley and his SCAG Racing team the chance to fine-tune their 11,000-plus dragster with the NHRAs Gatornationals looming one month following the Superstar Shootout.

Normally, wed go into the first NHRA race of the year still trying to get our feet wet and still trying to get everything underneath us, if you will, Ashley said. It felt like the season already kicked off, because we had the PRO Superstar Shootout already in Bradenton.

It kind of felt like when the NHRA season started, we all had a little bit of a head start. We understood a little bit better about where we were at as a team and where all the other teams were, relatively speaking.

I think it was just a good way to kind of kick things off and a good way to have some momentum and have some more data and information going into Gainesville to kick off the year.

Despite having plenty of unknowns entering last years first Superstar Shootout, it checked practically every box.

Held at a grassroots-type of track in Bradenton, Ashley believes that played a big role in giving the one-off event a special atmosphere for all involved.

I think probably what stood out to me at the event the most was just probably the fans and the excitement that surrounded the event, Ashley said.

It was the first time we did something like this. I think we were all eager to see the reception from the fans that would be there and the reception from the fans that would be watching on FloRacing. It was so overwhelmingly positive.

They all really enjoyed the experience. I think the opportunity to see Top Fuels and Funny Cars race together and race against each other at the same time, the opportunity to do a lot of night racing, to have a lot of events and concerts on the midway, to do a chip draw to have super good conditions with super fast race cars.

All of that added together, kind of a grassroots, specialty type of event that had a really, really positive response.

Inaugural Class of Trans Am Hall of Fame Revealed

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 13:43

CHARLOTTE, N.C. On Feb. 21, the inaugural class of the Trans Am Hall of Fame will be inducted during a celebratory dinner at Floridas Sebring Intl Raceway, where the series made its debut in 1966.

Eighteen legendary drivers and team owners will be among the first inductees into the Trans Am Hall of Fame, which was announced in November to honor the longest-running professional road racing series in North America.

The Trans Am Series, originally named the Trans-American Sedan Championship, debuted on March 25, 1966 with its inaugural race at Sebring, and has excited audiences for nearly 60 years with its combination of powerful American muscle cars and elite GT cars from around the world.

Members of the new Trans Am Hall of Fame will range from the series earliest winners and champions to influential figures who have shaped modern motorsports, as well as groundbreaking competitors still competing in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli.

I could not be more thrilled about the inaugural class of the Trans Am Hall of Fame, said Tony Parella, founder of Parella Motorsports Holdings. On the night of the induction ceremony, the room is going to be filled with so many of the most influential people in the history of the Trans Am Series and motorsports as a whole.

It will be my absolute privilege to honor them for their contributions to the series.

Below is the inaugural class of the Trans Am Hall of Fame, in alphabetical order:

John Clagett

Former President John Clagett acted as a caretaker for the Trans Am Series for nearly 40 years, beginning his tenure with the series when he served as the Vice President of SCCA Pro Racing from 1984-2000.

He was named Executive Director of the series from 2003-2006, at a time that was particularly challenging for road racing in North America. In 2009, he fought alongside Hall of Fame inductee Greg Pickett to bring the series back from dormancy, and was named President of Trans Am Race Company, LLC. Since then, the series has experienced exponential growth in competition, entries and fans under his watch. He secured a landmark title partnership with Pirelli, and sponsorship of the wildly successful TA2 class with the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series.

Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Known for his exceptional driving skills and charismatic personality, Wally Dallenbach Jr. made an impression in his debut season, earning the 1984 Rookie of the Year honors. Impressing legendary team owner (and fellow Hall of Fame inductee) Jack Roush and the Ford Motor Company, Dallenbach Jr. was brought into the Roush Mercury stable in 1985, where he captured five victories and the championship, edging teammate Willy T. Ribbs.

At 22 years old, he became what was then the youngest-ever Trans Am champion. He followed that up with another title the following season, winning the championship by a huge margin while racing a Chevrolet Camaro. Dallenbach Jr. would go on to excel in the GT categories in IMSA, winning the Daytona 24 Hours in 1985, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and the Sebring 12 Hours in 1985, 1988 and 1989. He continues to race in the Trans Am Series today.

Mark Donahue (Inducted Posthumously)

Mark Donahue was the driver to beat in Trans Am for four seasons, although the record books dont fully represent Donahues greatness as the series only awarded manufacturer championships until 1972.

Beginning his career in the series in 1967 driving for fellow inductee Roger Penske, he scored three victories that year. The following season he amassed 10 wins, including a victory in the Trans Am class in the 12 Hours of Sebring alongside Craig Fisher, securing Penske and Chevrolet the 1968 title. Chevrolet took the championship again on the strength of Donohues six victories in 1969. Earning three victories in 1970, Donohue brought Penske and new manufacturer AMC the championship in 1971 with seven wins. His record of 29 victories wouldnt be broken for more than 30 years, and applying the points retrospectively, he would have taken the drivers championship three times in four seasons.

Chris Dyson

The son of sports car racer and team owner Rob Dyson, three-time Trans Am TA class champion Chris Dyson has enjoyed more than two decades of success in road course racing. Dyson began his career in the American Le Mans Series in 2001, where he earned two titles. The talented and passionate driver made forays into sprint car racing and NASCAR, but found his home in the Trans Am Series in 2018.

Dyson finished top three in the points in his first three seasons of TA competition, and finally earned the coveted championship in 2021. He began a dynasty in the class, winning titles again in both 2022 and 2023. Dyson currently sits fourth on the all-time TA win list with 26 National Championship victories, and continues to race today in pursuit of wins and his fourth championship.

Ron Fellows

A 20-time winner in the Trans Am Series, Ron Fellows is often considered the greatest Trans Am driver to never win a championship. His first victory appropriately came at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in 1989 while driving for fellow Hall of Famer Jack Roush. With three victories in 1992, Fellows finished second in points, and he was a runner up again in 1994 after four wins.

He earned his third-consecutive second-place finish in the points in 1995 with five victories, and fell short of the title again in 1996 despite four wins. Following his Trans Am career, Fellows went on to race in sports cars, earning class wins at Le Mans, Sebring and Daytona, while also capturing an American Le Mans Series championship. The Ontario, Canada native is also beloved for saving the track where he scored his first Trans Am victory, then known as Mosport.

George Follmer

Renowned for his versatility, George Follmer is the only driver in history to win both the Trans Am and Can-Am championships in the same year. Follmer began his career racing for Bud Moore from 1969-1971, earning four victories. In 1972, he took the checkered flag four times, earning the series first-ever driver championship in the Over 2.5-Liter class, while scoring AMC its second-consecutive manufacturers title.

That same season, he filled in for an injured Mark Donohue in Penske Racings Can-Am program, scoring five wins and the title. Follmer went on to race in Formula 1, Can-Am and NASCAR before returning to Trans Am, capturing his second championship in 1976.

Ernie Francis Jr.

A prodigious talent, Ernie Francis Jr. won his first Trans Am GT class championship in 2014 at the age of 16, making him the youngest Trans Am champion at the time. He went on to win the GT title two more times and become the winningest driver in the class with 23 victories. In 2017, he moved into the TA class, winning the title four years in a row, and capturing wins in 24 points-paying races.

At just 22 years old, Francis Jr.s name was already in the Trans Am record books, holding the most combined National Championship wins and being the first driver to claim four-consecutive Trans Am TA class titles. Francis Jr. has since gone on to race in Indy NXT. At just 27 years old, Francis Jr. could continue to break records for years to come.

Paul Gentilozzi

Paul Gentilozzi has been a powerful force in the Trans Am Series as both a driver and a team owner. First joining the Trans Am Series in 1987, he earned his first victory in 1988. A constant presence on the racetrack, it wasnt until 1998 that Gentilozzi really hit his stride, tallying seven wins and his first Trans Am title. He backed it up the following season, winning the championship on the strength of six victories.

In 2001, he won the title after piloting to Victory Lane eight times, and repeated the feat again in 2004. His fifth and final title was earned in 2006, and he holds the record of the winningest driver in Trans Ams TA class with 31 victories. His team, 3GT Racing (formerly Rocketsports Racing), has remained a constant contender for wins and titles since Gentilozzi stepped back as a driver, and most recently captured the TA championship with Paul Menard behind the wheel. His contributions to Trans Am racing extend beyond the track, as he played a pivotal role in promoting and developing the series, ensuring its continued growth and success. Gentilozzis legacy in Trans Am is characterized by his dedication, passion, and unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Dan Gurney (Inducted Posthumously)

Dan Gurney was a legendary figure in the world of motorsports, renowned for his versatility and innovation both on and off the track. His illustrious career spanned various racing disciplines, including Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, sports car racing, and of course, Trans Am.

Gurney is perhaps best known for his pioneering efforts in designing and constructing racecars, founding All American Racers and introducing the Gurney flap, an aerodynamic device that revolutionized racing car design. Gurney scored a Trans Am victory driving Bud Moores Mercury Cougar at Green Valley Raceway in 1967.

Parnelli Jones (Inducted Posthumously)

1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones entered the Trans Am Series near the end of his illustrious racing career, which included numerous wins in NASCAR, USAC Stock Cars, ARCA and what is now IndyCar. Driving in the Trans Am Series from 1967 until 1971, Jones scored seven wins in only 29 races in the series.

His best seasons were behind the wheel of Bud Moore Engineerings Ford Mustang, scoring two victories in 1969, and five wins in 1970, which allowed Ford to capture the manufacturers crown.

Tommy Kendall

After winning three-consecutive IMSA GT championships, Tommy Kendall was recruited by Chevrolet to market the Baretta in the Trans Am Series. With six victories in 1990, Kendall scored his first of four titles in the series.

His next three championships were scored consecutively in 1995, 1996 and 1997, in the latter of which he scored a stunning 11-consecutive victories. Kendall ended his career with a total of 28 wins, putting him third on the all-time win list for the TA class.

Roger Penske

While the name Roger Penske may make many think of the team owners success in NASCAR or IndyCar, he once found great success in the Trans Am Series with his team, then known as Penske Racing. In 1967, the organization earned its first-ever major race win in the new Chevrolet Camaro with Hall of Famer Mark Donohue behind the wheel at Marlboro Motor Raceway.

The team would earn two more victories that season, and followed that up with 10 wins in 1968 to earn Chevrolet the manufacturers championship. Chevy earned the title again the following year on the strength of six wins from Donohue and two from Ronnie Bucknum. Penske made the switch to the AMC Javelin in 1970 after being recruited by the manufacturer, and by just the fifth event in the new marque, Donohue was in Victory Lane. In 1971, the title went to AMC, with Donohue racking up seven victories for Roger Penske.

Greg Pickett

Between the Trans Am National Championship and Western Championship, Greg Pickett has won a race in each of the last six decades. Earning his first victory in a Chevrolet Corvette in the 1978 season opener at Sonoma Raceway, Pickett went on to earn three more wins that year, taking the Category II title.

He continued to race in the National Championship until 2020, racking up 17 victories in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. In 2017, he joined the Western Championship and resumed his winning streak, to date capturing 13 victories in the 2010s and 2020s, as well as TA championships in 2017 and 2020. Pickett currently sits third on the all-time race start chart, racing in his 200th event last season.

Scott Pruett

Scott Pruett has found success in a variety of sports car, stock car and open wheel series, winning in some of the worlds most prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. For the remarkably determined and diversely skilled driver, the Trans Am Series was no exception, recording 22 wins and three championships in three different decades.

Pruett won his first title in 1987, piloting a Merkur XR4Ti to seven wins. He earned his second Trans Am title in 1994 with three victories, but it would be nearly a decade later when he would win his third championship in his career-best season while driving Paul Gentilozzis Jaguar XKR to eight wins.

Willy T. Ribbs

One of the most versatile and groundbreaking drivers of his era, Willy T. Ribbs started his career in Trans Am with a bang, winning five races and finishing second in the point standings while driving a DeAtley Chevrolet Camaro. In 1984, he joined fellow Hall of Famer Jack Roushs super team, piloting his Mercury Capri to four wins. His best season came in 1985, when he won seven points-paying races and earned one win in the Pacesetter Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, but fell just short of the title.

Ribbs raced part time in the series until 1992, then returned for a final season in the series in 2000. In total, he tallied 17 points-paying victories over the course of his career. Outside of Trans Am, Ribbs is known for being the first African American to test a Formula 1 car and to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Jack Roush

After forming Jack Roush Performance Engineering and providing parts and engines for dragsters, oval-track racers and Hillclimb cars, Jack Roush answered the call from Ford Motor Company to bring his talents to the Trans Am Series. Fords brands went from being winless in 1983 to the Roush Racing Protofab Mercury Capris winning 11 times in 1984 with drivers Tom Gloy and fellow inductees Greg Pickett and Willy T. Ribbs, while also taking the top-three spots in the standings and giving Mercury the manufacturers crown. The following season, Hall of Famer Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Ribbs tallied 12 victories, and in 1986, Roushs Mercury Capri and Merkur XR4Ti won the manufacturers title.

Fellow inductee Scott Pruett won the driver championship and manufacturers title for Roush in 1987, and Dorsey Schroeder won the 1989 championship in a Roush Ford Mustang. Roush sent Ford to the manufacturers title in 1994, 1996 and 1997, while Tommy Kendall won the driver championship with Roush in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Amy Ruman

Amy Ruman is a groundbreaker in the Trans Am Series, becoming the first woman to win a Trans Am race and the first woman to win a Trans Am Championship. The daughter of Trans Am racer Bob Ruman, Ruman broke the glass ceiling with her first victory in the series at Road Atlanta in 2011.

Embarking on her first full-time season in 2012, she finished second in points on the strength of two victories. She finished fourth and third in the points the following two years, before experiencing an absolute breakout season in 2015, driving to Victory Lane in eight of 12 races and earning her first TA crown. She did it once again the following year, earning three victories to score back-to-back championships. Ruman continues to race in the Trans Am Series today, and has finished in the top five in points for the last 15 seasons.

Bob Tullius

Quite literally one of the first winners in Trans Am history, Bob Tullius drove to victory in the Trans Am Series inaugural event, winning the Over 2-Liter class alongside teammate Tony Adamowicz in a four-hour event at Sebring International Raceway. The same duo won again in a 12 Hour event at Marlboro Motor Raceway, and Tullius then drove to victory in the 1967 season opener at Daytona (Fla.) Intl Speedway.

Tullius is perhaps best remembered as one of Americas finest representatives of British cars. In 1977, he scored six wins in the Jaguar XJ-S to win the TA championship, and went back to back to win the championship in 1978 with seven victories. The following year, he won three events in the Triumph TR9, and the last of his 21 victories came in 1981.

NHLPA appeals Hartman's 10-game suspension

Published in Hockey
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 16:54

NEW YORK -- The NHL Players' Association said Wednesday it has filed an appeal on Ryan Hartman's behalf after the Minnesota Wild forward was suspended 10 games for roughing.

Hartman had 48 hours from the league's ruling Monday night to decide whether to appeal the ban for slamming an opponent's head to the ice with his right forearm, the longest for on-ice conduct in more than six years.

The initial appeal goes to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who has regularly sided with the Department of Player Safety and disciplinary decisions made by its vice president, George Parros. If Bettman upholds the suspension, Hartman has the right to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

Hartman is forfeiting $487,805 in salary as part of his fifth career suspension and fourth since 2023. He would get more than $48,000 back for each game it is reduced by, if at all.

Washington's Tom Wilson recouped six games worth of salary when his 2018 suspension was reduced from 20 to 14 on appeal to an arbitrator jointly appointed by the league and union, even though he had already served 16.

Hartman, 30, was initially ejected with a match penalty for roughing Ottawa's Tim Stutzle late in the second period of the teams' game Saturday night.

"Hartman contends that he is attempting to use his hand to regain his balance, using Stutzle for support and that their fall to the ice is accidental. We disagree," Player Safety said in a video announcing the suspension. "With Stutzle bent low and focused on winning the draw, Hartman chooses to take advantage of a vulnerable player in an unacceptable fashion. Hartman intentionally uses his forearm and body weight to drive Stutzle's head directly into the ice from a height, which makes this play inherently dangerous and unacceptable."

Carlo 'happy' as young stars step up in Madrid win

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 15:56

Manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Real Madrid's youngsters after they helped the team to a 3-2 win at Leganés -- with Gonzalo García, 20, scoring a 93rd minute winner -- in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday.

A much-changed Madrid side, which included young defenders Raúl Asencio, 21, and Jacobo Ramón, 20, as well as attacking players Arda Güler, 19, and Endrick, 18, went 2-0 up at Butarque thanks to goals from veteran Luka Modric and Endrick, before a brace from the hosts' Juan Cruz tied the game at 2-2.

Garcia -- who has scored 19 league goals for Madrid's reserve team Castilla this season -- then came off the bench to head the winning goal from Brahim Díaz's cross, to assure Madrid of a place in the semifinals.

"It was an even, competitive game. We suffered at the back. Jacobo was a bit nervous at first, and then he started to get things right. Gonzalo is in good form for Castilla. We have to be happy with what the youngsters did," Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference.

"They can make mistakes, but they contributed to the team. We need them, it's a difficult moment. We have to get through it with games like today, where we suffered."

A defensive injury crisis has left Madrid without all three of their senior centre-backs -- Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba -- at an important stage of the season.

Real host local rivals Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in LaLiga on Saturday, before visiting Manchester City in their Champions League knockout round playoff first leg.

"Those who work below us [in the academy] are doing well, creating players who are well prepared," Ancelotti said. "There's Raul [Asencio], Gonzalo, and Jacobo, who's had a long injury. For three months, he couldn't play. He's still lacking something. But we're aware that we can count on them."

Ramón was making his first start of the season, having appeared as a substitute in Madrid's 5-1 win over Salzburg last month, and had some nervous moments, including conceding a first-half penalty.

"Jacobo isn't the player who played today," Ancelotti said. "He's a very good player, a good defender. He'll be with us until the end of the season. He'll play better than today, I'm convinced of that."

Ancelotti admitted his team selection against Leganés had been conditioned by Madrid's upcoming fixtures.

"We took into account the next two games, obviously," he said. "[We didn't want] to tire the team too much, because we have an emergency at the back. We have to give the youngsters we have -- Arda, Endrick, Jacobo -- minutes to find their rhythm, so they can be useful in the coming games."

Guimarães on Newcastle's Isak: 'The best around'

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 15:56

Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães has hailed forward Alexander Isak as the "best striker around" after the Sweden international helped propel his team to the Carabao Cup final with a 4-0 aggregate win over Arsenal.

Isak scored both of Newcastle's goals in the 2-0 first-leg victory and excelled once again on Wednesday, seeing a goal disallowed for a tight offside decision in the opening minutes of the game and playing a big role in the Jacob Murphy's opener.

Isak spun Arsenal's centre-back William Saliba with some smart combination play with Anthony Gordon before lashing a powerful strike that bounced off David Raya's post and into the path of Murphy, who placed it into the empty net.

"For me he's the best striker around," Guimaraes said of his striker. "Nobody is performing better than him. We are lucky to have him and I hope he can keep it going."

The comfortable aggregate victory means Newcastle have reached the final of this competition for the second time in three seasons as they look to end a trophy drought that dates back to 1969.

"It would be a dream to lift a trophy and put my name in the club's history," midfielder Guimarães said of the chance to go one better than in 2023, when they were beaten by Manchester United. "It would be amazing in my first season as captain."

Head coach Eddie Howe also talked up the prospect of ending the hoodoo and building on that painful experience.

"The first Wembley was brilliant, a bit unexpected, but we need to be there regularly," Howe said. "We need to feel like we're there on merit, it's not a surprise. We are there on merit, our run has not been easy this year, we've faced four Premier League teams, so we have done the hard yards."

Newcastle will face one of Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the final at Wembley Stadium on March 16. Spurs hold a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg, which takes place at Anfield on Thursday.

Newcastle ease by Arsenal to reach Carabao final

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 15:56

Newcastle United reached a second League Cup final in three seasons as they overwhelmed Arsenal 2-0 at a feverish St James' Park on Wednesday to complete a crushing 4-0 aggregate win.

Moments after Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard wasted a chance to halve the deficit, Jacob Murphy tucked away a rebound in the 19th minute after Alexander Isak's shot hit the woodwork.

Arsenal, surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home in the first leg, suffered another off-night and their fate was sealed when Anthony Gordon punished a defensive error in the 52nd minute to put the hosts in cruise control.

Newcastle, who have not won a major trophy since 1955, will play either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the Wembley final next month when they hope to go one better than 2023 when they lost in the final to Manchester United.

Tottenham hold a 1-0 lead ahead of Thursday's second leg at Anfield.

Of the 32 previous occasions that a team has lost the first leg of a League Cup semifinal by two goals or more, only once has a team recovered the deficit to reach the final.

Anthony Gordon celebrated with a scarf thrown from the crowd after scoring Newcastle's second goal.

PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images


Based on the evidence of their crushing 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, it seemed entirely feasible that Arsenal might buck that trend and ruin the Geordie party.

In the end it was a night of unbridled joy on Tyneside as the club's long-suffering fans scent another shot at silverware.

As it turned out, the outcome of the tie was probably decided just before the midway point of the first half.

Had Arsenal skipper Ødegaard taken a golden opportunity instead of slicing a shot hurriedly against the outside of the post, Newcastle might have been consumed by anxiety, especially as they had already had an Isak effort ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offside decisions.

A minute after Ødegaard's miss, the marauding Isak went through on goal again and his curling shot ricocheted off the post to Murphy who stayed ice cool to steer the rebound home from a tight angle.

"I was very happy (Ødegaard') missed it," Newcastle's Brazilian skipper Bruno Guimarães said. "That was a big opportunity for them and then I think less than two minutes later we score. It was a game changer.

"I felt anxious before the game, big game, Arsenal a top, top team but when we play like that we become an amazing team. Play like that and we can dream big."

Arsenal suffered another blow when Gabriel Martinelli left the pitch with a hamstring injury before halftime and their evening was to get even worse early in the second half.

The visitors' defence was unusually nervous and William Saliba was lucky that Gordon failed to score from distance after dispossessing him and catching keeper David Raya off his line.

But Arsenal failed to heed the warning and minutes later Raya's casual pass out was nicked by Gordon who then dispatched a first-time shot past the Spanish keeper and inside the post.

With the pre-match tension lifted, Newcastle were able to cruise through the rest of the game against an Arsenal side who will now have to dust themselves down and focus on trying to chase down Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Newcastle's path to silverware is clear, Arsenal's is not

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 15:56

NEWCASTLE, England -- The "never" men beat the "nearly" men. Newcastle United now stand a Carabao Cup final away from ending their interminable 56-year-old wait for a major trophy while questions grow about Arsenal's ability to cap their progress with silverware.

There was an irresistible determination about Newcastle from the outset on Wednesday. Buoyed by a 2-0 lead from the first leg, St James' Park filled to bursting point under the lights with supporters desperate to free themselves from the burden of almost six decades in darkness.

Alexander Isak tormented the normally unflappable centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Newcastle switched systems, defended in numbers, and looked lethal on the break.

The combination overwhelmed Arsenal, as Newcastle swept them aside with goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon to win 2-0. This sets up a Wembley showpiece against either Liverpool or Tottenham when the chance to win the trophy that eluded them in the 2023 final against Manchester United will again be within their grasp.

The Gunners started the season eyeing bigger prizes but getting this close to success only to be denied yet again adds to the body of evidence against them being capable of getting over the line.

Twice they have pushed Manchester City all the way in the Premier League and twice they were denied. Mikel Arteta won the 2020 FA Cup in his first season with the club but such has been the dramatic overhaul during his time in charge that only one player from the starting lineup that day -- Kieran Tierney -- is even still at the club.

This current group have become proper Premier League heavyweights and they may still win the title or even the UEFA Champions League. But the sense they are missing something -- even with a full list of players once Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus return from injury -- only grows on nights like this.

The club's decision not to sign a striker in January was a judgment call: The right player either wasn't available or too expensive. Sources told ESPN that they made a bid for Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins of around 40 million when the asking price was 60m.

They decided not to return with another offer and with longer-term targets including Benjamin Šeško at RB Leipzig and -- whisper it quietly -- Newcastle's Isak unavailable, they decided to go with what they have. That is a judgement call that will ultimately define their season. Watching Isak torment Arsenal's backline here was a painful reminder of what they are missing.

Just days after Gabriel and Saliba marshalled Erling Haaland -- who admittedly still scored -- to great effect in a 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City, the pair looked incapable of handling Isak's mixture of intelligent running and technical quality.

The high line had something to do with it. Arsenal felt they had to make the running given the first-leg deficit and Newcastle knew it, changing to a 5-4-1 shape without the ball for the first time this season to invite the visitors onto them and hit on the break.

It was broadly the same game plan with a different system which earned them two 1-0 wins over Arsenal in their last two league visits here and, yet again, invites scrutiny over whether the Gunners are just a touch short of match-winning class in the final third. An injury to Gabriel Martinelli will only exacerbate those concerns as Arteta confirmed afterwards the Brazilian will undergo a scan on his hamstring on Thursday.

Arteta would point to August's Community Shield triumph to counter accusations of a lack of silverware and they can of course recover from this, starting with a warm-weather training break in Dubai which will feel a lifetime away from the February northeast chill.

"We need to swallow this one, it is a tough one," said Arteta.

"We had a lot of expectations. We knew the difficulty of the task because of the result we brought from London. but there is nothing we can do right now. What we could do was on the pitch a few minutes ago, now we have to look forward.

"First of all, I think this is going to be a painful one. While we are in Dubai, recharge and go again because we still have a lot to play [for]."

But this was nevertheless a chastening night. The rivalry between these two sides has escalated in recent seasons and evidence of that could be seen in the ferocity of the contest, while it lasted anyway.

Isak had the ball in the net after four minutes with a sumptuous finish ruled out by a tight VAR call for offside. The tie turned in the space of a minute or so as at one end, Martin Ødegaard hit the post when he probably should have scored, and then at the other, Isak raced clear. His sublime left-foot effort hit the post but Murphy found enough stretch within his frame to steer the rebound in via a flick off the opposite post.

Gordon put Newcastle 4-0 up on aggregate after Arsenal made a mess of playing out from the back, with goalkeeper David Raya under-hitting a ball to Declan Rice which Fabian Schär intercepted for Gordon to finish smartly.

Then the party started. "Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball," sang the gleeful Newcastle fans, in reference to Arteta volunteering the different football used in this competition as a possible reason why Arsenal's finishing let them down in the first leg four weeks ago.

But no quirk explains the outcome here. Newcastle fully deserved to advance for another crack at glory, summed up the stadium announcer greeting the final whistle with the words: "Book your trains, book your hotels, we're ga'an to Wembley."

Newcastle's path to silverware is clear. Not for the first time, Arsenal's looks complicated.

Soccer

Lyon boss gets 9-month ban for confronting ref

Lyon boss gets 9-month ban for confronting ref

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nine months by the...

Neuer's celebration injury mars Bayern UCL win

Neuer's celebration injury mars Bayern UCL win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMUNICH -- Manuel Neuer is a major doubt for Bayern Munich's Champio...

Alisson on heroics vs. PSG: Best game of my life

Alisson on heroics vs. PSG: Best game of my life

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAlisson Becker has said his outstanding display in goal that helped...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pritchard has 43, White 41 for short-handed C's

Pritchard has 43, White 41 for short-handed C's

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- Payton Pritchard and Derrick White have been mostly glue...

Red-hot Cavs first to earn playoff berth: 'Special'

Red-hot Cavs first to earn playoff berth: 'Special'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Darius Garland had...

Baseball

Source: Mets hero Iglesias to sign with Padres

Source: Mets hero Iglesias to sign with Padres

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsVeteran infielder Jose Iglesias has agreed to terms on a minor leag...

O's SS Henderson dealing with intercostal strain

O's SS Henderson dealing with intercostal strain

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Baltimore Orioles are "very, very hopeful" that star shortstop...

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