Sports

Ben Stokes, who played a key role in England's triumphant World Cup campaign, has been named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. He promptly thanked those who had helped him through a 2018 to forget. Stokes’ performances in the World Cup final, which England won on an unprecedented boundary countback against New Zealand, and the third Ashes Test helped him seal the public vote for the award, ahead of six-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and world 200-meter champion Dina Asher-Smith at Sunday’s ceremony in Aberdeen. In 2018, Stokes was cleared of affray charges following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September of the previous year.“Two years ago was a tough time for me in my life. I’ve had so many people help me through that,” the 28-year-old Stokes said as he accepted the award on stage. The award ceremony got off to a poignant start as former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir was presented with the Helen Rollason … [Read more...] about Ben Stokes named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year 2019

Gary Lineker admitted he "f***ed" up by declaring Ben Stokes as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner before voting had even opened. England cricket hero Stokes was eventually crowned as the winner at the ceremony in Aberdeen on Sunday evening, but Lineker had accidentally given it to him over an hour earlier. When introducing three of the stars who helped England win the Cricket World Cup - captain Eoin Morgan, batsman Jason Roy and all-rounder Stokes - Lineker blurted out that Stokes was the "main award winner" to the surprise of viewers. Manchester City footballer Raheem Sterling and Wales rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones were also on the shortlist for the main award, but they had already been introduced to the crowd as "contenders" for the prize. Mirror columnist Stokes didn't react to Lineker anointing him the winner, and the Match of the Day host soon apologised for his live gaffe. Some viewers claimed that Lineker's slip of the tongue was proof that Stokes - the hero of … [Read more...] about Gary Lineker admits he “f***ed up” after Ben Stokes Sports Personality of the Year gaffe

4:58 AM GMTDaniel BrettigAssistant editor, ESPNcricinfo CloseAssistant editor Daniel Brettig had been a journalist for eight years when he joined ESPNcricinfo, but his fascination with cricket dates back to the early 1990s, when his dad helped him sneak into the family lounge room to watch the end of day-night World Series matches well past bedtime. Unapologetically passionate about indie music and the South Australian Redbacks, Daniel's chief cricketing achievement was to dismiss Wisden Almanack editor Lawrence Booth in the 2010 Ashes press match in Perth - a rare Australian victory that summer.Follow on TwitterFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintWhen Alistair Dobson speaks about the effect that the Big Bash League has had on the Australian sporting landscape, he does so with the experience of having been a part of the rival sports impacted.Dobson was about halfway through a long stint at the AFL in various marketing and fan development roles when the BBL burst onto … [Read more...] about All sports in Australia look at BBL ‘with a degree of envy’ – Alistair Dobson

Texas Tech knocked off Louisville last night in a huge win for coach Chris Beard, and the first loss of the season for the No. 1 Cardinals and Chris Mack. With Louisville’s loss, 70-57, against the Red Raiders in the Jimmy V Classic, college basketball needs a new No. 1 team. The AP and coaches polls will not make a call until Monday, with arguments for multiple teams. CBS Sports, however, already has the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes on top. “Ohio State is now No. 1 at KenPom, KPI and Torvick, and I really don't understand the argument for anybody else being No. 1 right now,” writes analyst Gary Parrish. “The Buckeyes are one of just five remaining unbeaten teams -- and they have better, more convincing wins than anybody. So they were the only team under consideration for the top spot in Wednesday morning's updated Top 25 And 1. Another team in the conversation, Maryland, took a loss at Penn State yesterday, which makes the Kansas Jayhawks the top competition … [Read more...] about Ohio State takes No. 1 spot in new CBS Sports rankings

As you enter the American Express Elite Performance Centre, a look up at the stripped-back white wall on the right offers words of motivation for those passing through Brighton's training complex. "Improve yourself every day. If you put in the hard work, the results will come. You are making progress if each mistake you make is a new one."Echoes of Jose Mourinho's unveiling at Tottenham, but if you speak to any fan from this part of the south coast, they will tell you there's something special happening at Brighton, a club on the pulse and ready for the next decade. Live on Sky: Crystal Palace vs BrightonWatch Sky Sports now from £18 a monthPremier League Table | Fixtures | Top scorersAfter all, it's not often you come across a Premier League manager with a bachelor's degree in social sciences let alone a Masters in leadership and emotional intelligence. But the man in charge here has forged a career in management that breaks free from the conventional route taken by most of his … [Read more...] about Graham Potter focused on creating his own legacy at Brighton