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ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Jermahri Hill scored 18 points and Payton Sparks converted a three-point play with 15 seconds left as Ball State defeated Eastern Kentucky 63-61 on Monday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Jermahri Hill scored 18 points and Payton Sparks converted a three-point play with 15 seconds left as Ball State defeated Eastern Kentucky 63-61 on Monday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Jermahri Hill scored 18 points and Payton Sparks converted a three-point play with 15 seconds left as Ball State defeated Eastern Kentucky 63-61 on Monday. Hill added seven rebounds for the Cardinals (2-4). Sparks scored 12 points while shooting 5 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line. Mickey Pearson Jr. went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points. The Colonels (3-2) were led in scoring by Devontae Blanton, who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. George Kimble III added 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and six steals. Hill scored 12 points in the first half and Ball State went into the break trailing 36-29. Pearson scored nine points in the second half. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementENVESTNET INC. ANNOUNCES MAKE-WHOLE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES UNDER ITS 0.75% CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2025 AND 2.625% CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2027BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens might be getting some reinforcements soon after Patrik Laine practiced with his teammates Wednesday for the first time since suffering a left knee sprain. Laine skated alone before joining the team for the first few drills at practice. He wore a noncontact jersey and left the ice after about 15 minutes. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Malik Nabers says calling the Giants 'soft' was wrong but he doesn't regret speaking outAirports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecastsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will work with the Lebanese army to deter potential violations of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, but there will not be U.S. combat troops in the area, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Tuesday. The official called the ceasefire deal "a game-changer" that would show Hamas militants in Gaza that the conflict there and in Lebanon were delinked. The ceasefire will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier on Tuesday. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Eric Beech, Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chris Reese)Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli have one of the most promising young coaches in football with Matthias Jaissle at the helm. The 36-year-old German has built a strong reputation as a forward-thinking and dynamic manager with a bright future ahead of him. Jaissle is currently 17 months into his Al-Ahli tenure, having left Salzburg to move to Jeddah in the summer of 2023. He won two Austrian Bundesliga titles there and, at 33, became one of the youngest coaches to qualify for the Champions League group stage when Salzburg beat Brondby in the 2020 play-offs. Al-Ahli are one of four PIF-owned clubs in Saudi Arabia and boast the likes of Ivan Toney, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie. Yet when Jaissle initially took charge, he was inheriting a side that had only just gained promotion from the Saudi second tier and there was work to be done to put in place a football philosophy and infrastructure. “It was a huge opportunity at an ambitious club,” Jaissle told GIVEMESPORT. “I had two really successful seasons with Salzburg, and I was fully prepared for a third. Then Al-Ahli made a sudden approach. The timing wasn't great, but I grabbed the chance with both hands. It all happened very fast, so it was a tough couple of days as I made my final decision to leave Salzburg. “Al-Ahli set out a clear and long-term vision. They want to win titles. There was also the appeal of getting to know a new culture and league. And, I have to be honest, the money was a factor as well." "I also wanted to coach top stars, and I was lucky enough to manage some talented players at Salzburg as well. I think to be a good coach and leader you need to work with big names and know how to manage different egos. "The Al-Ahli role is complex and wide-ranging. We had just got promotion back to the Saudi Pro League when I joined, so it was about building a plan at all levels of the club – from the youth team to the first team. I was hired to implement a philosophy and I saw this job as the natural next step in my career.” Rangnick, Tuchel and Klopp Influence Jaissle Jaissle’s move into management so young was certainly not planned. He instead had aspirations as a player to represent Germany, having come through Stuttgart’s youth system under Thomas Tuchel before joining Ralf Rangnick's Hoffenheim in 2007. By February 2009, the highly-rated centre-back had won his first and only Germany Under-21 cap against the Republic of Ireland. But just a month later, and with Germany assistant Hansi Flick watching from the stands, Jaissle ruptured his knee ligaments against Hannover. Sadly, the injury proved to be the beginning of the end of his playing career, and after several setbacks, he eventually retired in 2014. “My knee injury was a shock,” said Jaissle, who made 68 appearances for Hoffenheim. “Probably the only advantage of it was that I could start management earlier. I am still young for a coach but have quite good experience already. I would still love to be playing, even at 36. I kick every ball when given the chance in training! I like to think I'd be in my last season now as a player if I was fit, but that’s life, and I am grateful for the next chapter and the opportunities I have had so far.” Rangnick was one of the first people to reach out to Jaissle after he hung up his boots. The former Manchester United interim manager was sporting director at Red Bull at the time and would set Jaissle on a path to management by enrolling him as a trainee in Red Bull's youth development programme, starting with a stint with Leipzig's Under-16s. Jaissle would go on to become assistant to Alexander Zorniger at Brondby, having befriended him when he was in charge at Leipzig, before returning to Red Bull to manage Salzburg’s Under-18s. He next moved to Liefering in January 2021, guiding the Austrian side to an impressive second-place finish in his half-season in charge. That feat didn't go unnoticed at Salzburg, who hired Jaissle in July 2021 to succeed Jesse Marsch. Jaissle went on to win back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles as well as the 2022 Austrian Cup before leaving for Al-Ahli. “I have had quite a unique coaching path, eventually leading me here to the Al-Ahli job in Saudi Arabia,” said Jaissle. “I have always tried to be authentic as a coach and find my own way. Of course, I have influences. Ralf Rangnick played a big part in developing my ideas because I played under him for most of my playing career. And in my youth, I had Thomas Tuchel, so I have followed his principles and career. "Then there's Jurgen Klopp – I often looked at the transitions he put in place with Liverpool. In possession, I like how Pep Guardiola finds structure and balance. And there's a lot to take from Roberto De Zerbi’s build-up as well. It’s a constant learning process. And in the next few years, I'm sure there will be a different coach to draw inspiration from. It’s not about copying other coaches, it’s just about being inspired by them. "Due to my past at both Salzburg and Leipzig, I have this identity in my blood to put stress on the opponent as high up the pitch as possible. I want my teams to play in a really intense and aggressive way. And I want to score goals from offensive transitions." "I am always refining my style, but essentially, and I know it’s easy to say, we want dominance in all phases of the game. So firstly, controlling the transition phases is important, but you also need to find good solutions in possession, especially now we are often facing a low block. "When our opponents ‘park the bus’, it’s about being creative and disciplined and finding a good structure to create as many chances as possible without being wild on the pitch. It's a never-ending process because you always need to develop your ideas as a coach without abandoning your roots. "At Salzburg, I played a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. At Al-Ahli, we use a 4-2-3-1 system. You have to adjust to the squad you have as well as the circumstances. For example, the temperature can be a factor. This was a learning process for me, to adapt without losing my principles. I don’t worry too much about the exact formation. It's fluid. "For instance, Bobby [Firmino] can be a No.10, a false nine or a second striker, and the way our wingers attack full-backs, it’s almost like the eights in a diamond midfield. So there are some small differences in positions compared to my team at Salzburg, at least on paper, but the principles remain the same." GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Matthias Jaissle has won 128 of his 189 matches in management, suffering just 28 defeats along the way Al-Ahli Targeting AFC Champions League Glory Al-Ahli are currently fifth in the Saudi Pro League, 13 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad with a winter break now ongoing. Jaissle has navigated a challenging start to the season following three losses in the opening six league games, and Al-Ahli suffered a shock exit to second-tier side Al-Jandal in the King Cup. As a result, Jaissle was under growing pressure heading into the Jeddah Derby, which Al-Ahli also lost 1-0 to Al-Ittihad. Al-Ahli's board chose to avoid any knee-jerk reactions and backed Jaissle to turn form around, a decision that has now paid off. Since that defeat to Jeddah rivals Al-Ittihad in late October, Al-Ahli have recorded four consecutive Saudi Pro League victories, including coming from 2-0 down at Al-Taawoun last time out to eventually win 4-2. “I was under some pressure,” admitted Jaissle. “It was a tough start to the season off the back of a difficult transfer window over the summer. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get our needs met in the market, and it has taken some time to find a solution. Thankfully, we have turned our form around after the Jeddah Derby. After that bad result against Al-Ittihad, even though it was only a tight loss, we have had a strong few months. "After the Jeddah Derby, we analysed everything in detail – on and off the pitch. We had a lot of internal talks and gave clear communication to the players. We stressed we must maintain unity. That was our main focus, and it's helped us get back on track. All credit to the players. We stuck together as a team and showed we can deal with adversity. As a coach, I am really proud of this. “In our last game, to come from 2-0 down against Al-Taawoun and win, that's a good example of the progress we have made. The two goals we conceded came out of nothing, and they shook us, but we kept our focus and stuck together. There was no bad body language, only pure belief we could come back and get three points. And to close the year in this way, it gives us momentum for when the league starts up again in January.” Al-Ahli are likely not title contenders this season, but they have high hopes of a deep run in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League – a tournament they finished runners-up in back in 2012. Al-Ahli qualified after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League in 2023/24 and have already qualified for the last 16 after winning their opening five group stage games, setting a new club-record in the process. “We are taking the AFC Champions League very seriously,” said Jaissle. “We are looking to stay in the tournament for as long as possible. The clear goal of Al-Ahli is to win silverware. That’s what we are working towards. In the short-term, it’s just all about improving, but in the medium- to long-term we want trophies. "We need to be realistic in the Saudi Pro League this season, and just climb up the table, but the AFC Champions League is a one-off cup competition and with the talent we have got, I think anything is possible in the knockout stage.” Toney Acclimatising and Dreaming of England Selection Al-Ahli already had an accomplished squad heading into last summer. Four-time Premier League winner Mahrez joined from Manchester City in 2023, and scored 12 goals last season, while club captain Firmino, highly-rated Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, ex-Roma defender Roger Ibanez, former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, Turkish centre-back Merih Demiral and ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy all arrived in Jaissle's first window in charge. Last summer proved far quieter. With Saudi Deadline Day approaching, only 21-year-old midfielder Alexsander had signed from Fluminense for around £8m. All that changed on a dramatic British Deadline Day, though, when Ivan Toney switched from Brentford for around £40m on a four-year contract. Toney had only returned to action in January this year following an eight-month ban for breaches of The FA’s betting rules, but in his last full season for Brentford he scored 20 Premier League goals in 2022/23. It was a frantic close to the window for Al-Ahli as dealmakers simultaneously negotiated for Toney and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, knowing only one of the two was possible unless a high-profile player left or was deregistered because Saudi Pro League clubs can only field eight foreigners over the age of 21. Toney is currently Al-Ahli’s joint-top scorer alongside Mahrez with six goals, but Jaissle believes the best is yet to come from the England striker. “We had the possibility to go for Ivan and add more goals, and hopefully we’ll have a lot of success with him,” said Jaissle. “The final few days of the summer window were a bit hectic as the club decided which targets they were going to go for. There was a lot of speculation, and it was a bit of a mad rush. “Ivan has already said how it’s always difficult to adapt to a new culture, country, league and playing style. It takes a bit of time. He's working hard, and we all hope he'll find consistency and his best performances in order to deliver the expectations we have for him.” Toney is still only 28 and was called up to England’s Euro 2024 squad. He came off the bench as England lost 2-1 to Spain in the final, and also scored a no-look penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out victory over Switzerland. Making Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup is by no means guaranteed, even if he scores freely in Saudi Arabia, but Toney is not giving up on selection just yet. "If people see me coming here as damaging my England chances, I can't really change that," Toney told GIVEMESPORT in October. "All I can do is focus on myself and play well, and who knows what could happen. If I was to get back involved in the mix on the international stage, then I'm ready for it. If not, it is what it is. "Of course, I'm targeting the 2026 World Cup. I've got to aim for those kinds of tournaments. This league is tough. Everyone has their opinion about it, but it doesn't mean it's always factual. Whatever will be, will be." “I don’t know how Thomas [Tuchel] sees it,” added Jaissle. “He didn’t reach out so far to me and ask about Ivan. Let’s see if he does. That’s something I’ll leave to Thomas. It's entirely up to him. My focus is just on getting the best out of Ivan. The only way to get picked for England is to score regularly for Al-Ahli. If he plays well for us, he’ll at least give Thomas a decision to make.” Al-Ahli Aim to Bolster Three Positions in January Despite Toney’s high-profile arrival, Jaissle was disappointed with Al-Ahli’s summer business and believes further reinforcements are required in January. The most pressing task is to replace Allan Saint-Maximin, who left for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce over the summer. Jaissle also wants to sign a midfielder and full-back. “Our needs were clearly communicated over the summer,” said Jaissle, who has ex-Chelsea head of scouting Lee Congerton as his sporting director. "We wanted a left-winger, to fill the void left by Allan Saint-Maximin, a holding six and left full-back. That's still the case now. "Of course, we welcome Ivan, and the goals he brings, and also Alexsander, but overall it was not the best transfer window. The last two, in fact, in terms of improving the squad in the way I wanted, have not been ideal. It’s never easy in January, but we will do the best we can to address key areas in order to find squad depth and balance.” Three Saudi clubs are interested in signing Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the January transfer window. GIVEMESPORT understands that Al-Ahli are one of the clubs considering a move for Marcus Rashford, but won’t move unless the Manchester United winger makes it clear he is open to relocating to Saudi Arabia. Rashford has to decide whether a 2025 switch to the Saudi Pro League might hamper his chances of England selection ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Al-Ahli’s fans, meanwhile, are calling for 2024 African Ballon d’Or winner Ademola Lookman – an ambitious target, and one who is not expected to leave Serie A leaders Atalanta in January. Firmino could potentially be a high-profile outgoing next month, but despite links with Fenerbahce, Jaissle is delighted with his captain. The ex-Liverpool playmaker struggled last season, scoring just nine goals in all competitions, three of which came on his debut against Al-Hazem. However, this campaign, the Brazilian already has six goals in 19 games. "Bobby has responded very well," said Jaissle. "It wasn't easy for him in the beginning. My door is always open, and I try to stay close to the players and find solutions both for and with them. I am happy with how Bobby handled a tough period last year. I put him on the bench a couple of times and he responded really professionally. Now he’s so important for us, on and off the pitch. "And for me, it's been a learning experience trying to get the best out of a big star like Bobby. All players, regardless of their stature, just have to understand my principles and know they have the freedom to be flexible and creative within them. It comes down to open communication, respect and trust. "I think it’s about building a bond. But big stars or not, footballers are really not too different once they have the ball at their feet, so in that respect, it was perhaps easier than expected dealing with this kind of situation, especially with a player like Bobby who is just a top professional." Al-Ahli are also expected to tap into the Saudi market in January. The club already has several Saudi national team players. Firas Al-Buraikan is one of the Kingdom's most decorated footballers, having won 47 caps for his country. He even got an assist for Saleh Al-Shehri's equaliser against Argentina as Saudi Arabia stunned the eventual champions 2-1 in the 2022 World Cup group stage. In the absence of a Saint-Maximin replacement, the 24-year-old is currently playing as a left-winger but could move into a more advanced or central position in the second half of the season. Goalkeeper Adbulrahman Al-Sanbi, 23, and 22-year-old defender Rayan Hamed have both received recent call-ups this year, and midfielder Ali Al-Asmari – who has been at Al-Ahli since 2017 – has won five caps for Saudi Arabia. For Jaissle, the job isn’t just about managing foreign players, but developing Saudi talent. “We are definitely not solely looking for, or reliant on, players from abroad,” said Jaissle. “We have plenty of Saudi players on our wish list, and we count on our Academy. This is the vision of both the club and the country – to raise the level of Saudi talent. “The top-notch foreign players can also help young Saudi players grow. Working with Academy talent, and trying to support their career path, is something I'm used to from my time at Salzburg. Along with a few established internationals like Firas, we also have a couple of Saudi Under-21 national team players in our squad – like Mohammed Sulaiman and Abdulkarim Darisi – and it’s exciting for me to watch how fast they are developing. The standard of Saudi players, and of the league overall, has definitely improved even in the relatively short time I have been here. It’s impressive how fast the Saudi Pro League is evolving.” Jaissle's West Ham Links and Long-Term Future Jaissle remains committed to Al-Ahli, but with his stock continuing to rise, it’s no surprise to see him linked with other vacancies. He has recently been discussed by West Ham United in case the Hammers choose to part ways with head coach Julen Lopetegui. Jaissle is viewed by West Ham technical director Tim Steidten as a potential fit, although no approach has been made to date. GIVEMESPORT also understands Jaissle is a possibility for Stuttgart if Sebastian Hoeness leaves this summer. “Being mentioned in relation to West Ham or any high-profile job is obviously flattering,” said Jaissle. “It makes me proud to be linked with top clubs. But I don’t focus on rumours like this. I have an agent who deals with any opportunities, should they arise, and my full focus is on Al-Ahli. This is the only job I can currently control and influence. I am committed to Al-Ahli, and I want to achieve something great here. “I do often think about my own development, and sometimes talk to my agent about the possible next steps and what I dream of. But I always reflect on my playing career, and how I made all these future plans, then suddenly the injury came and I had to cancel all my dreams. That's when I decided to stay in the present." "I am putting all my energy into doing the best job I possibly can with Al-Ahli. It's a big and special club, and it deserves 100 percent of my attention. Since arriving, I have really felt the love for football here. When you walk through Jeddah, you see how much Al-Ahli means to the fans. I hope I can bring titles and trophies here." Jaissle is clearly driven and highly intelligent but, above all, he is refreshingly humble and grounded. His ability to get the best out of both young and established names clearly makes him well-positioned to win Al-Ahli their first piece of major silverware since 2016. The belief in the industry is that Jaissle has the potential to be an elite coach for many years to come. And given his unique football upbringing and success to date, it's natural some of Europe's best clubs already have Jaissle on their radar. All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 27/12/2024
Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level Media
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Genesis Bryant scored 27 points, Kendall Bostic secured her third double-double this season with 12 points and 11 rebounds and No. 19 Illinois beat Maryland Eastern Shore 75-55 on Tuesday in the Music City Classic. Illinois (6-0) moved to 6-0 for the second time under third-year coach Shauna Green. Illinois scored the opening nine points of the game and took a double-digit lead for good with 2:11 left in the first quarter when Makira Cook made a 3-pointer to begin 13-2 run. UMES scored 13 straight points midway through the second quarter to get as close as 32-22, but Cook answered with a basket to end Illinois' three-minute drought. Bryant finished the first half with 14 points and Cook added 13 to help Illinois build a 43-26 lead. The pair combined to make seven of Illinois’ 14 field goals. UMES was 9 of 36 (25%), including 0 of 7 from 3-point range at halftime. Illinois also got 15 points from Cook and a career-high 11 rebounds from Brynn Shoup-Hill. Bryant, who reached double figures in the first quarter, scored 20-plus for the first time this season. Zamara Haynes led UMES (4-3) with 20 points and Mahogany Lester added 14. Illinois stays in Nashville to play No. 14 Kentucky on Wednesday. UMES travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, to face Georgia Southern in the Battle on the Banks on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
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U.S. Says Google Is an Ad Tech Monopolist, in Closing Arguments - The New York TimesHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last," Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania's highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. ___ Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter Marc Levy, The Associated PressNone
Majority of social media influencers share information without verifying its accuracy: UN report
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