Santiago Castro releases first Roma interview: I wanted to come here as soon as possible.Santiago Castro is finally a Roma player. The Argentine introduced himself with his first interview with the club. I wasnt expecting such a welcome; it was wonderful from the moment I arrived in the city. You could feel the fans enthusiasm even when I came to play here. I thank the club and the club for placing their trust in me and giving me the opportunity to play for the team from the capital, he began, commenting on his arrival at Termini.Regarding the timing of the deal, he then clarified that he pushed to come to the capital: It was a short negotiation; from the very beginning, I pushed to come here. I had a meeting with the sporting director, where he explained what they wanted from me. I know what I can offer and how to help the manager, and as soon as I spoke to them, I chose to come here.Castro also spoke about Gasperini: I like Gasperinis style of play. Hes been doing well for many years at both Atalanta and Roma, leading them to the Champions League. Ill do what he asks of me; Im ready to play anywhere. Regarding his strengths, the Argentine said: Im a player who can improve; you can always improve. I want to help the team; I think its important to help the team with pressing or with an assist. I dont always focus on numbers, but on the teams well-being.Castro then commented on the bond between the Argentines and the capital: Seeing the history of the Argentines who have done well here is important to me. You can even see their photos in the training center; I want to do as they did.He scored against both Roma and Lazio, now Castro is aiming for the derby: You could say Im used to scoring at the Olimpico, I hope to continue like this. Here last time I scored and hit the crossbar, but I also scored twice against Lazio and were level. I want to score in the derby.Regarding the Champions League, he said: Playing in the Champions League is the dream of any child who starts playing football, it will be wonderful to hear that anthem. El Torito amazed everyone with his wolf tattoo: I have many tattoos, a bit of everything. My family is there and I also have the wolf. He then concluded by thanking the fans: I want to thank those who came to welcome me and those who wrote to me. Im happy to be here, Ill leave everything for this team and this place.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday officially unveiled the 12 host venues for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, confirming the cities across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia that will stage the 50-over showpiece when it returns to Africa for the first time in 24 years.The announcement was made during a grand ceremony in Johannesburg, where the ICC also revealed the tournament's official brand identity, 'Three Nations, One Heartbeat', symbolising the shared spirit of optimism, diversity and unity among the three co-hosts.The 14th edition of the World Cup will feature 57 matches and 14 teams, with eight cities in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe, and Namibia's capital Windhoek selected as host venues.The tournament marks Africa's first Men's ODI World Cup since the 2003 edition, which was jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.'A landmark moment for cricket'ICC chairman Jay Shah described the venue announcement as a major milestone on the road to the global tournament."This marks an exciting milestone on the road to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. The unveiling of the host cities and the tournament brand signals the start of a journey that will unite fans around the world and build anticipation for one of our sport's biggest global events," he said.Shah also highlighted the significance of bringing cricket's flagship ODI tournament back to Africa."The return of this prestigious tournament to Africa after 24 years is a landmark moment for cricket. We are confident that South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will deliver an unforgettable event, showcasing the warmth, passion and rich diversity that make this region truly unique," he added.ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said the event would celebrate both cricket and the continent's unique identity."The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup represents the legacy and spectacle of Limited Overs Cricket," he said. "It also marks the return of the pinnacle event to Africa after more than two decades and will celebrate a continent defined by extraordinary people, vibrant cultures, breathtaking experiences and deep love for Sport."Gupta added that the tournament's vibrant branding reflects the energy of the host nations while inspiring future generations of fans. ICC (@ICC) 'Ubuntu' philosophy and new tournament formatThe 2027 edition will be built around the African philosophy of 'Ubuntu' "I am, because we are" and the campaign theme 'Make the Circle Bigger', celebrating compassion, togetherness and cultural diversity across the region's 29 officially recognised languages.The tournament logo draws inspiration from the traditional African wire bowl, while its colour palette includes shades such as Zimbabwe Chilli, African Root, Fynbos Pop, Namib Dune, Harare Dawn and Two Oceans.The 2027 edition will feature a three-stage competition format. It will feature 57 matches and a three-stage format designed to increase competitiveness. Teams ranked 12th to 14th will first compete in a Super Series, with the winner advancing to the main tournament. The next stage will feature 12 teams split into two groups of six, each playing a round-robin. The top three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed side, will qualify for the Super 7. After 21 Super 7 matches, the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals before the final determines the champions.The launch ceremony was attended by several cricketing greats, including Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Hamilton Masakadza and Rudolf Jansen van Vuuren, as anticipation officially began for cricket's biggest 50-over spectacle returning to African soil.ICC ODI World Cup 2027 host citiesSouth AfricaWanderers Stadium (Johannesburg)Centurion (Tshwane)Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town)Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban)St Georges Park (Gqeberha)Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein)Boland Park (Paarl)Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly known as East London)ZimbabweHarare Sports Club (Harare)Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo)Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls)NamibiaNamibia Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

UNC football opened fall camp Thursday as the university confirmed its Office of University Counsel is investigating the circumstances surrounding general manager Michael Lombardis recent administrative leave. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: UNC football faces possible College Sports Commission investigationThe school said the matter involves confidential personnel issues and instructed coaches, staff and players not to discuss the investigation, according to WTVD. ESPN has reported the investigation stems from an HR dispute involving an employee Lombardi allegedly dismissed. The Tar Heels, entering their second season under head coach Bill Belichick, open the 2026 season against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 29.

NASCARs first-ever In-Season Challenge appears to have accomplished exactly what the sport and its newest broadcast partner hoped it would.TNT Sports released new audience data this week highlighting strong growth throughout its five-race stretch of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, pointing to gains across television, streaming and younger audiences during the inaugural tournament.The numbers offer an early indication that NASCARs newest midseason competition resonated with fans while helping TNT build momentum during its first year back as a Cup Series broadcaster.NASCARs inaugural tournament delivered growth across every platformAccording to TNT Sports, coverage across TNT, truTV and HBO Max reached 16.6 million total viewers over the five-race In-Season Challenge, marking a 43% increase compared to 2025.The network also reported its five Cup Series broadcasts averaged 2.0 million viewers. Excluding the weather-affected EchoPark Speedway race in Atlanta, which aired after a three-hour, nine-minute delay and produced the latest Cup Series finish in seven years, average viewership climbed to 2.2 million, an increase of more than 2.1 million viewers over the comparable races last season.One of the biggest highlights came at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19. TNT said the race averaged 2.4 million viewers, making it the second-most watched race under the networks current NASCAR media rights agreement. That audience represented a 22% increase over Round Four of the 2025 In-Season Challenge.The tournament concluded with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Corey Heim earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory. TNT reported the race also averaged 2.4 million viewers, while the broadcast peaked at 3.1 million viewers at 5:15 p.m. ET.Streaming and younger viewers also posted significant gainsThe audience growth wasnt limited to traditional television.TNT Sports said minutes watched per subscriber on HBO Max increased by approximately 50% compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting stronger engagement with both race broadcasts and additional NASCAR content.Practice and qualifying coverage also benefited from the new media package. Average audiences across truTV and HBO Max increased 17% year over year, including a 55% jump among adults ages 18-34, one of the key demographics broadcasters closely monitor.While NASCARs first In-Season Challenge generated plenty of discussion on the track, TNTs newly released numbers suggest it also succeeded off it. Strong television audiences, increased streaming engagement and growth among younger viewers provide encouraging signs for both NASCAR and TNT as the tournament heads toward its second season in 2027.

Alan Jouban has trained several times with Daniel Rodriguez in the past, so he knows the danger he brings as an underdog vs. Uros Medic in Saturday's UFC Fight Night 283 headliner.Longtime UFC desk analyst and veteran welterweight Jouban is quite compelled by Medic (13-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) vs. Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who meet in their first octagon main event at Belgrade Arena in Serbia (Paramount+).Both men bring three-fight winning streaks into the bout, where Medic is a sizeable betting favorite. "The Doctor" has a home-field advantage in Serbia and heavy hands that have proven capable of knocking out high-level fighters. Jouban understands why Medic is favored, but his history with Rodriguez, as well as studying his many fights, affords respect to the potential path to victory."D-Rod's got this thing, man I was training with him when he was young, before he got into the UFC," Jouban told MMA Junkie. "I used to bring him in to spar with me, and I just always remember he has this follow-up left hand that buzzes you. You see it in his fights. He'll be losing a fight, he'll get knocked down and people get a little overzealous and go for the finish. He always had a natural ability he's a southpaw, so a lot of people don't like to throw their power hand because it makes you put yourself more in danger and commit to the punch, whereas a check hook or something is a lot easier to stay away. Daniel has this natural ability to always finish a combination with his left hand, which is his power punch and his best punch, as well. It's natural. I've felt it. It buzzes you. He seems to get guys."That's what I'm going to be looking for in this fight with Uros Medic. He's a finisher, he smells blood, and he gets you out of there very quickly. Three-fight win streak, three knockouts for Uros Medic. If he hurts D-Rod, I expect to see this in the first round. I expect to see him hurt D-Rod. D-Rod's kind of got a history of getting hurt, and then hurting you after. What happens in that exchange? Did Uros do the film study? Is he able to control the emotions of not going for that finish that he's so good at? If D-Rod can find that left hand and change the course of the momentum of this matchup. That's going to be what I'm really looking at closely in this fight."The major intangible in play on Rodriguez's side, however, is that he recently spent eight months in a Mexican prison after being arrested with marijuana in his possession while trying to cross the border. He could not maintain his typical diet and training structures while behind bars, and admitted to MMA Junkie that it's been a challenge to get himself back into form for a five-round fight.Jouban has no doubt that's a serious factor, and tips the scales heavily into Medic's side. However, Medic has been brutally knocked out before, and Jouban doesn't discount Rodriguez's ability to land a shot during an exchange that leads to an upset."I think the numbers make sense in terms of, he not only just came out of a nine-month jail sentence in Mexico, but is also around 39 years old right now," Jouban said. "One guy is definitely still almost in his prime, Uros Medic, and then D-Rod is at that point where he's just doing the damn thing now and trying to provide for his kid. The numbers show that story, but D-Rod has that puncher's chance at all times."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alan Jouban names X-factor in Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Belgrade

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux following the teams second training camp practice of 2026.In speaking with reporters, Harbaugh raved about the ways Thibodeaux has impressed him with his ability to generate passes defensed in practice this summer after Thursdays session concluded.I like to see a lot of that, Harbaugh said of the hands he has seen from Thibodeaux in practice. Thats what you want to see. I mean, hes a pretty athletic guy. Hes aware. He does have good hands. The ability to rush the passer and also the awareness to bat balls down is massive.Thibodeaux is best known for recording 11.5 sacks in the 2023 season, but he has also put up solid numbers in passes defensed, particularly early in his career. The 25-year-old recorded five passes defensed as a rookie in 2022 and four in 2023.Following a down year in 2025 with New York, Thibodeaux will again be a heavily utilized member of the Giants edge rusher rotation under Harbaugh. That role will require him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks in the passing lanes next season.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: John Harbaugh raves about Kayvon Thibodeaux's ability to bat down passes