(NEW YORK) — Lionel Messi and Barcelona have reached a new 5-year agreement for Messi to remain with the club according to an ESPN report. The report also says that Messi will be taking a significant pay cut to remain with the team.
The deal comes almost a year after Messi, widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, submitted a letter to Barcelona announcing his intentions to leave the team. He withdrew the letter shortly thereafter, but was unable to reach an agreement with the Catalan club to the point where he entered free agency on July 1.
Barcelona is facing a harsh financial reality at the moment with more than €1 billion in debt, likely the reason for Messi’s pay cut.
The Argentinian forward has played for Barcelona since entering their youth academy in 2000 as a 13-year-old. Messi made his first team debut in a friendly against Porto in 2003 and since then, has broken a number of club and international records.
Messi has scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for the team, leading the club in both stats. On top of that, he’s one of the most decorated players of all time. He won the Golden Ball award for the best player at the 2014 World Cup and has also won 6 Ballon D’Or awards given to the player voted as the best in the world.
Messi’s ascendance also ushered in a golden age for Barcelona as a team. He led the squad to 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, and 7 Copa Del Rey championships. The Argentinian also won his first international trophy this summer, guiding his home country to a Copa America title, Argentina’s first since 1993.
(NEW YORK) — Montreal has named Dominique Ducharme as the 31st head coach in franchise history, the team announced Tuesday.
The team promoted Ducharme to interim head coach on February 24 after spending two seasons as an assistant under Claude Julien.
“Dominique has managed to set his system in place and establish himself as a head coach in a very unusual season with challenging circumstances,” said Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. “While our team has gone through its fair share of adversity, he has shown a lot of control over the situation as well as showing calm and great leadership. These are important qualities that we look for in a head coach and he fully deserves the chance to lead our team and take it to the next level.”
He led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final, becoming the first head coach where they lost to Tampa Bay 4-1.
“You always think back to your past and your family. July 13th is an important date in our family,” Ducharme told reporters. “It’s the date our parents got married. It’s also five years ago to the day that my father was buried. It’s almost like destiny that this is happening on this particular date. It could’ve happened on the 12th or the 14th, but it all transpired on the 13th.”
Before he joined the Canadiens, the 48-year old was a head coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league and served as Canada’s World Junior Championship head coach in 2017 and 2018.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden stepped up the fight for voting rights on Tuesday, speaking in the nation’s birthplace of Philadelphia and invoking history, saying, “We the People began as a story that’s neither simple nor straightforward.
“But some things in America should be simple and straightforward. Perhaps the most important of those things, the most fundamental of those things is the right to vote, the right to vote freely,” he said in a high-profile speech at the National Constitution Center.
He wasted no time taking a shot at former President Donald Trump and his supporters, homing in on the 2020 election as the “most scrutinized election in American history.
“More than 80 judges, including those appointed by my predecessor heard the arguments. In every case, neither cause nor evidence was found to undermine the national achievement of administering the historic election,” he said.
“The big lie is just that — a big lie!” he declared.
“In America, if you lose, accept the results. Follow the Constitution. Try again. You don’t call facts fake and try to bring down the American experiment just because you’re unhappy,” he continued. “That’s not statesmanship — that’s selfishness.”
He called passing national voting legislation “a national imperative.”
“Republicans opposed even debating, even considering the For the People Act. Senate Democrats stood united to protect our democracy and the sanctity of the vote. We must pass the For the People Act,” Biden said to applause.
Biden also raised the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as a dangerous and unprecedented consequence of Trump’s “big lie” about the 2020 election.
“Because of the extraordinary courage of elections officials, many of them Republicans, our court system, those brave Capitol Police officers — because of them — democracy held. Look how close it came,” he continued. “We’re going to face another test in 2022 new wave of voter suppression and raw and sustained election subversion. We have to prepare now.”
He later said the even Confederate soldiers didn’t breach the Capitol and that “we’re facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War.”
“So, hear me clearly: There is an unfolding assault taking place in America today, an attempt to express and subvert the right to vote in fair and free elections. An assault on democracy, an assault on liberty, an assault on who we are as Americans,” he said.
His use of the bully pulpit comes as his administration wades more aggressively into the fight over ballot access at the urging of civil rights groups and Democrats as Republican-led legislatures advance new voting restrictions in places like Texas and Congress remains deadlocked over proposed legislation.
It also comes as Democrats in the Texas State Legislature have fled their state for Washington, D.C., the second such effort in recent weeks in an attempt to prevent a vote on legislation they say will roll back voting rights in the state.
The state lawmakers said in a press conference earlier Tuesday outside the Capitol that they’re there to pressure Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation and call for an exception to the Senate’s filibuster rule blocking Democrats from moving forward with a measure, they say, would stop GOP-led efforts to restrict voting in Texas and nationwide.
In March, House Democrats advanced the For the People Act, an expansive package that would transform federal elections, voting and congressional redistricting — but it has stalled in the Senate after failing to advance in a procedural vote late last month, over opposition from all Republicans.
In light of the GOP opposition, Democrats have pushed for the Senate to reform the legislative filibuster, with House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a key Biden ally and endorser during the 2020 Democratic primary, suggesting Democrats create an exception to the 60-vote threshold for election reform and other constitutional issues. Because of their opposition to ending the filibuster, Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona play a pivotal role in the ongoing congressional negotiations over a national voting rights bill.
Biden did not directly mention Manchin, Sinema or the filibuster in his remarks Tuesday.
Sixteen states have enacted 28 laws that would restrict voting access, out of hundreds that have been introduced throughout the country, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.
ABC News’ Alisa Wiersema and Libby Cathey contributed to this report.
(LOS ANGELES) — The Rams have unveiled new uniforms they are calling ‘modern throwbacks.’
The new uniforms honor the classic Rams uniform worn by greats like Eric Dickerson, Jack Youngblood, and the ‘Greatest Show on Turf.”
The uniforms “pay tribute to older design elements including ram horns on the capped sleeves, with newer features that weave in a modern look and feel.”
The uniforms can be worn four ways: a dark blue jersey with yellow pants; a dark blue jersey with dark blue pants; an off-white jersey with off-white pants; and a white jersey with blue pants.
The team will wear the uniforms on September 12 against the Bears, November 7 against the Titans, and November 15 against the 49ers. All three games are nationally televised, with the game against San Francisco on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
It is the second time in two years the Rams have introduced new jerseys. Last May, Los Angeles debuted a blue jersey with yellow gradient numbering and interchangeable blue or yellow pants and an off-white jersey and pant combination.
(TAMPA BAY, Fla.) — Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov played the Stanley Cup Final with a broken rib, according to general manager Julien BriseBois.
Kucherov sustained a non-displaced rib fracture after a cross-check against the New York Islanders in the semi-final round, according to BriseBois.
“He played with a flak jacket from that point on and also had a nerve block injection the day before every game,” said BriseBois. “It makes his performance during these playoffs both before the injury and post broken rib all the more impressive.”
Kucherov led the playoffs with 32 points on eight goals and 24 assists.
The star wasn’t the only player dealing with an injury during the playoffs. Defenseman Victor Hedman played with a torn meniscus while forward Barclay Goodrow and defenseman Ryan McDonough played with broken hands, according to the GM.
Forward Alex Killorn broke his leg blocking a shot in game 1 of the final before have a rod put in his leg a few days later. Two days after the surgery he was already back skating with the hope of playing.
“That’s how you win a Stanley Cup,” said a choked-up BriseBois. “All the competing through injury, it was outstanding and so inspiring to watch on a game-in, game-out basis.”
Tampa Bay won its second straight Stanley Cup Final beating Montreal 4-1.
(MINNEAPOLIS) — The Minnesota Wild has announced they have bought out forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Sutter.
Both signed identical 13-year, 98 million dollar contracts in July 2012.
“Zach and Ryan have been an integral part of the Wild’s success over the past nine years and we’ll always be grateful for their many contributions,” said general manager Bill Guerin. “There were numerous factors that entered into the difficult decision to buy out their contracts, but primarily these moves are a continuation of the transformation of our roster aimed at the eventual goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”
The buyouts will cost the Wild $1.66 million per year for the next eight years, according to CapFriendly.
Prior to today the #MNWild did not have any dead cap hits, this is how their dead cap hit section is now updated with the buyouts pic.twitter.com/YMl6gj4Az2
The moves save the Wild $10.3 million this season and $2.3 million next season.
Parise recorded scored 199 goals and recorded 201 assists in 558 regular-season games. He is the franchise leader in power-play goals and ranks third in goals and total scoring. This past season, Parise finished with seven goals and 11 assists in 45 games.
Sutter scored 55 goals and assisted on another 314 in 656 regular-season games. He is the franchise leader in assists and total scoring for a defenseman. Sutter finished with three goals and 16 assists in 56 games.
The pair will become unrestricted free agents on July 28.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne has announced his retirement from the NHL after 15 seasons with the team.
“For more than 15 years, I’ve been on an incredible, life-changing journey with the Nashville Predators that has taken me to more places than I could have ever imagined and given me more than I could ever hope to give back,” Rinne said in a statement.
The Finish-born goalie ended his career with 683 games, 369 wins, 2.43 goals-against average, and 60 shut-outs, all Nashville records. He finished his career with a 369-213-75 record.
In NHL history, he is ranked 19 for both wins and shut-outs.
In Finish history, he leads all NHL goaltenders with wins and shut-outs.
“For years, Pekka has been the face of our franchise on and off the ice,” Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile said in a statement. “The role he played in making the Predators organization into something so much more than just a hockey team cannot be understated, and what he means to our team and community makes him one of the most special players and people you’ll ever meet. It’s cliché of what you would want from your best players, but Pekka gave us a chance to win in every single game he played and led our team during the most competitive era of our franchise.”
Rinne was drafted 258 overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and made his league debut with a win against Chicago in December 2005. He became the starting goalie in the 2008-2009 season and finished fourth in the Calder Cup, the NHL’s rookie of the year award.
Rinne led the NHL in shutouts, second in wins and third in games played for the next 13 years
During the 2010-2011 season, Nashville won its first-ever NHL playoff series with Rinne backstopping them past Anaheim.
The next season, Rinne led the league with 43 wins, the first of three 40 win season’s in his career.
In 2017, he led the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh, losing 4-2. Rinne topped his single postseason Nashville records with 14 wins, two shutouts, and a 1.96 goals-against average.
The following year, Rinne won his first Vezina Award, given to the top goaltender in the league, after leading the league with eight shutouts and a .927 save percentage. He was a finalist for the award three other times.
This past season, he went 10-12-1 in 24 appearances and posted a shutout in the final game of his career. In June, he won the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy, given to the “player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
(LAS VEGAS) — The USA Men’s Olympic basketball team lost to Australia 91-83 in Las Vegas Monday night.
It was the second straight loss for the team after losing to Nigeria 90-87 on Saturday. Entering into Saturday’s game, Team USA was 54-2 since 1992 when professionals started playing.
Team USA has lost four of its past five games dating back to the 2019 World Cup, according to ESPN.
Portland Trailblazers guard Damien Lillard led Team USA with 22 points, with 18 coming on three-pointers. San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills paced Australia with 22 points.
Winning a fourth straight gold medal is going to be a challenge, according to Lillard.
“These other teams and these other countries just continue to improve, said Lillard, “These players, they get better, they get more confident and they also want to beat us badly. It’s definitely noticeable when you’re on the court.”
The Americans led 46-37 going into halftime and gave up just 13 points in the second quarter. The second half was another story with Australia scoring 54 points, including 32 in the third quarter.
“In the first half, we defended the way we wanted to defend, the way we did not defend against Nigeria. We were more physical. We sustained the defense longer. We rebounded better. We moved the ball better at the offensive end and had more pace,” said Team USA head coach Greg Popovich. “In the second half, we tired out and when that happens we got hit mentally a little bit too, and we didn’t sustain the boards the same way. The defense wasn’t the same. Our pace wasn’t the same.”
The team opened training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas following shortened offseason, a 72 game NBA season, plus playoffs series for several players.
“We got to get some guys that have to get their legs and rhythm back, but in general we need more conditioning, which is totally understandable,” said Popovich, also the San Antonio Spurs head coach. “We’re just sticking with the process to try to get better with every game, and we did that tonight. So, I was pleased with what we saw.”
With the NBA Finals underway between Phoenix and Milwaukee, Suns guard Devin Booker and Bucks guard Jrue Holiday and forward Kris Middleton have not joined the team.
The Americans face Argentina Tuesday afternoon.
Team USA begins its quest for a fourth straight gold medal on July 25 against France.
