Author: Sunday Ngara
Despite a difficult 2023 season, Haas CEO Guenther Steiner believes his team can lead F1’s midfield battle in 2024. Haas had their best season in years in the first year of F1’s ground effect rules in 2023, finishing third in the team’s history with 37 points. That was good enough for eighth place in the Constructors’ standings, Haas’ best performance since 2018, but they were unable to reproduce their form in 2023. Guenther Steiner anticipates a significantly improved Haas in F1 2024. Despite some eye-catching qualifying results for Nico Hulkenberg, who placed second only to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in…
This week, the Washington Commanders start Jacoby Brissett instead of Sam Howell at quarterback. It’s the climax of a season that began promisingly but has now gone horribly off the rails. The Commanders are already out of the playoffs. Brissett, who is a well-known commodity as a veteran backup, has no upside. Despite Howell’s problems in recent weeks, continuing to let him grow would at least offer him the opportunity to make a strong impression on what is likely to be a new front office and coaching staff in 2024. Brissett appears to be aware of his and Howell’s intended…
Brock Purdy, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, had a forgettable night, throwing four interceptions in the 49ers’ 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Kyle Hamilton dived in front of Deebo Samuel to catch the first interception of the night as the 49ers were driving in the red zone. The interceptions continued to pile up after that, with two of the final three coming off of tipped passes. As Purdy’s interceptions mounted up, the game provided an opportunity for his detractors to speak out. Purdy must accept responsibility for his mistakes, but many were ready to dismiss what he’d accomplished…
With the rise of new stars in the United States and the broadcasting environment undergoing substantial changes, the previous 12 months in boxing have felt transitional. Nonetheless, it has been a year filled with memorable and great contests. Terence Crawford, who established his all-time great status with a one-sided knockout of welterweight opponent Errol Spence in July, was among them. In the category below, Teofimo Lopez returned to form with a brilliant performance to dethrone undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor in June. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, arguably the sport’s biggest star, had a mediocre year by his standards, with victories over…
Carlos Sainz has expressed his displeasure with the grid penalty he received at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which he blamed on factors beyond his and Ferrari’s control. The first practice session at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit was cut short after Sainz’s Ferrari collided with a drain cover, causing havoc underneath the car. While the damage was not caused by Sainz or Ferrari, their problems were exacerbated when the following rebuilding of the SF-23 resulted in a 10-place grid penalty. “It was such a disastrous weekend for me and the team and we lost such a good opportunity there…
The Miami Dolphins’ win over the Dallas Cowboys came at the expense of Jaylen Waddle, who suffered a high ankle injury during the game. This has been the narrative of Waddle’s season, as he has suffered with a number of injuries over the last few months, but the team is still unsure of the severity of this injury. High ankle injuries are no laughing matter, and we’ve seen players go down for several weeks as a result of them. The Dolphins must travel to face the Baltimore Ravens this weekend, and the challenge will be more difficult without Waddle in…
After Aston Villa’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day evening, manager Unai Emery reminded his players of the Premier League’s level, according to centre-back Clement Lenglet. Villa led 2-0 at halftime, but imploded in the second half, surrendering three goals to deliver United what appeared to be an unexpected victory. Two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund’s first in the Premier League clinched a remarkable come-from-behind victory for the Reds. Garnacho’s first goal of the evening ended United’s goal drought, which had lasted more than seven hours, but they were helped by Villa’s choice…
Anthony Joshua, the former two-time heavyweight champion, has a big 2023. Following back-to-back defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua rebounded to win three matches this year. Joshua had three fights in a single year for the first time since 2016. Joshua began the year with a twelve-round unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin in April. In August, he returned to defeat late replacement Robert Helenius in the seventh round. Then, last Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Joshua annihilated Otto Wallin in five rounds of combat. After the fight last weekend, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, declared that his boxer “was back”…
The Baltimore Ravens had a fantastic season in 2023, going 11-3 prior to their Christmas Day game against the San Francisco 49ers, looking like one of the most realistic contenders in the entire NFL. They established their championship worthiness even further with a thrashing of the 49ers, putting lumps of coal in their socks instead by frustrating Brock Purdy and company on route to a 33-19 triumph that wasn’t as close as the final score line might suggest. With two games remaining in the season, the Ravens now have the best record in the NFL. While nothing in…
Is this the best Christmas ever for the ravens as Paul Mancano and Jonas Shaffer of the Banner Ravens Podcast discuss the Ravens’ astounding 33-19 win over the 49ers in San Francisco, breaking down Lamar Jackson’s incredible day, reviewing the defense’s dominant performance, and conveying the latest news on safety Kyle Hamilton.