The Guardian

40-year-old plays in first NBA game in seven months James finishes with 11 points and 12 assists LeBron James certainly didn’t look like he had been away from the court for nearly seven months when he began his unprecedented 23rd NBA season on Tuesday night – even if his burning lungs told him otherwise. After reaching another landmark in what is now officially the longest career in league histor…

Ukrainian gives up undisputed heavyweight title status Fabio Wardley becomes sixth Briton to hold WBO crown Fabio Wardley has been upgraded to WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk elected to relinquish the title – and his undisputed status – rather than defend it against the unbeaten Briton. Wardley wrested the interim title from Joseph Parker via a dramatic 11th-round stoppage last mont…

Lisa Benn says she unfairly lost international status Steve Child ‘manhandled’ Benn at VAR training event A leading official has told a tribunal that a football referee coach “forcefully pushed her” and that his behaviour was influenced by her gender. Lisa Benn, 34, claims she was harassed and unfairly lost her position as an international referee after raising a complaint. The Women’s Super Leag…

Steve Clarke’s history-making team has a ferocious work ethic that should typify what Scotland stands for It was not a time for calm reflection. Kenny McLean had just lobbed Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line. Limbs. Unbridled, unfiltered joy. On one outrageous Hampden Park night McLean, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay relegated Archie Gemmill’s stupendous solo effort against the Netherla…

Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner denies the allegations, which prompted a recently-concluded MLS investigation that could not corroborate them Read a summary of our investigation here From a box above the field at PayPal Park in San Jose, Ernst Tanner looked on. It was 10 June 2023, and his Union team were losing a physical match 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes. Jamiro Monteiro, …

Bazball has been infuriating at times but never forget how bad England were before the Brendon McCullum era Nobody talks about the last ball of the Ashes. It’s the first that’s famous. That wide that flies to slip, that cover drive for four, that wicket, bowled him! Last balls? I had to look them up. Moeen Ali slicing a drive behind to finish an innings defeat in a dead rubber in 2015; Boyd Ranki…

The Arsenal and England forward is backing new global campaign because talent and teamwork should decide the game – not the climate I’ll never forget stepping out on to the pitch in Switzerland for the Euro 2025 tournament. The air felt heavy – not with pressure or expectation, but with heat. It was more than 30C (86f) that day. It makes your lungs sting, makes you feel like you’re running throug…

Club plan to sell PSLs to help fund new £2bn stadium Model to be outlawed by proposed government legislation Manchester United’s plans to sell personal seat licences to supporters to help fund the £2bn redevelopment of Old Trafford has been put under threat by the government’s clampdown on ticket touts. The Guardian has learned that the proposed PSL model being considered by United permitted seat…

Organisers claimed proposed ban on reselling tickets for more than face value would dent investment in complex, says report Business live – latest updates Wimbledon will be given an exemption from the clampdown on ticket resales for its “debenture” tickets, according to a report, in what would be a victory for the organisers of the annual tennis tournament. The championship organisers, the All En…

The New York Giants quarterback has become everyone’s favorite goofball. But it’s a jarring status given his history Hear the term “national treasure” and odds are you think of someone like Dolly Parton, Betty White, Simone Biles or Tom Hanks. They are comforting, widely admired and have uncontroversial histories. And then there’s Jameis Winston. Continue reading...

Plus: chants celebrating old memories, Trevor Wood from Jersey and ‘a Genghis Khan-like thick moustache’ Mail us with your questions and answers “England qualified for the World Cup in perfect style, winning all eight games without conceding a goal,” writes Charlie Wilson. “How many teams have done this?” This isn’t the first time England have qualified for a World Cup without conceding a goal. T…

History shows that surprisingly random factors can have an impact on whether England or Australia lift the urn Contrary to what you may have read in some other publications, Josh Hazlewood’s hamstring injury is a massive boost to Australia’s hopes of victory in the first Test in Perth. The 34-year-old, you see, has proven beyond all doubt over an 11-year international career that he is a terrible…

Tiny Caribbean nation hold on for crucial point in Kingston Haiti also book improbable place at next year’s tournament The tiny Caribbean nation of Curaçao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup, as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the Concacaf qualifying campaign saw Curaçao – with a p…

Spain defender on embracing a new city, the wrench of leaving Barça and her group of fellow Spaniards “The excitement is always bigger than the fear,” says Jana Fernández as she tries to explain a summer of upheaval when she left Spain and Barcelona to move the UK and London City Lionesses. “I didn’t know it was going to be this soon, but I knew I was going to come here. I’m someone who wants to …

Eight-time world champion accepts season-long WSL wildcard In her absence a new generation of surfers has emerged Stephanie Gilmore may have achieved more than any other woman in surfing, and has spent recent years on sponsor-funded wave odysseys, playing guitar at gigs to adoring crowds, developing apparel collabs and launching her own tequila, but she will turn back the clock in 2026. The 37-ye…