ESPN host Michael Wilbon announced that he is taking a leave of absence because of multiple health issues. He said he hopes the break will not last long and aims to return to hosting Pardon the Interruption with Tony Kornheiser.
Key Facts
Wilbon announced his leave in a post on X on Monday.
He described his health concerns as multiple issues but did not provide details.
Wilbon said people close to him had noticed warning signs in recent years that he had largely ignored.
He said his health issues are not related to alcohol or gambling.
Wilbon's most recent appearance on Pardon the Interruption was October 26.
Wilbon and Kornheiser have co-hosted the show for 25 years.
Wilbon also appears on ESPN's NBA coverage.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Michael Wilbon is taking an extended break from ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” to focus on his health. In a statement on X, he said he was stepping away indefinitely but did not describe his health issue.
Key Facts
Wilbon is a longtime sportswriter and television commentator.
He is taking an extended break from “Pardon the Interruption.”
The show airs on ESPN.
Wilbon said he was stepping away indefinitely.
He said he was focusing on his health.
He posted a statement on X on Monday.
He did not give details about his health issue.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event held in Africa, with more than 2,000 athletes taking part. Organizers see the event as a test of the continent’s ability to host major international sports competitions, while Senegal faces economic challenges and the IOC reviews the cost of hosting future games.
Key Facts
More than 2,000 athletes from around the world are competing in the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The event is the first Olympic event held in Africa.
The games were postponed by four years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry called the games a milestone for Senegal and the continent.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye described hosting the event as a proud moment.
Some critics argue that Senegal could have spent the event’s money on other needs.
Coventry said the IOC is reviewing its direction and ways to reduce the cost of hosting games.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England have called up scrum-halves Ben Spencer and Harry Randall for the Nations Championship after injuries sidelined Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland. England open against Australia on 8 November, then face Japan and New Zealand; Fin Smith’s fitness is also uncertain.
Key Facts
Mitchell injured his hamstring during Northampton’s win over Gloucester and will have a scan to assess the injury.
McParland suffered a calf injury during England’s training camp but could still be available for the matches against Japan and New Zealand.
Jack van Poortvliet is expected to remain England’s first-choice scrum-half.
Fin Smith is dealing with a calf problem, leaving Marcus Smith and George Ford as possible replacements at fly-half.
Theo Dan has taken the third hooker place in the squad, replacing injured Bath player Kepu Tuipulotu.
Seb Atkinson and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso have been selected after returning from injuries for their clubs.
England’s first Nations Championship match is against Australia on 8 November at Twickenham.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sebastien Pocognoli is due to name his second Scotland squad ahead of the final two Nations League matches. Scotland need at least four points against North Macedonia and Switzerland to have a chance of finishing second, and would also need Slovenia to drop points.
Key Facts
Scotland lost its first two home matches under Pocognoli, according to the article.
Scotland faces bottom-placed North Macedonia at home and table-topping Switzerland away in its final League B1 matches.
A second-place finish could give Scotland a chance to reach the promotion play-offs, but it also depends on Slovenia’s results.
Scott McTominay, absent from Pocognoli’s first selection, is expected to be considered after returning to action for Napoli following minor heart surgery.
Scott McKenna is expected to miss the squad after Dinamo Zagreb ruled him out for two weeks.
Jack Hendry, Stephen Welsh and Luke Graham are regular starters for their clubs; Graham is pushing for his first Scotland start.
Right-back is described as a concern, with Colby Donovan the only regular starter among the options discussed.
Scott Bain’s performance in Falkirk’s win over Celtic could strengthen his case for Scotland selection.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Chinese sports channels did not air Real Madrid’s La Liga match on Sunday. The match remained off air despite Kylian Mbappe apologising for comments he called “ill judged” about a Mao Zedong meme that included his face.
Key Facts
Chinese sports channels did not air Real Madrid’s La Liga match on Sunday.
Real Madrid matches remained banned from Chinese broadcasts, according to the article’s headline.
Kylian Mbappe apologised for his comments about a Mao Zedong meme.
The meme included Mbappe’s face.
Mbappe described his comments as “ill judged.”
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
British ultramarathoner William Goodge completed 50 marathons in 23 days, finishing in New York City on Sunday. He spoke with “CBS Mornings” about what inspired the challenge and said it earned him a Guinness World Record.
Key Facts
Goodge is a British ultramarathoner.
He completed 50 marathons in 23 days.
He finished the 50th marathon in New York City on Sunday.
Goodge discussed the inspiration for the challenge on “CBS Mornings.”
The report says the achievement won him a Guinness World Record.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Shelton has hired Juan Carlos Ferrero, who coached Carlos Alcaraz to six Grand Slam titles, to join Shelton’s team. They will begin training in the United States during the off-season, with Ferrero expected to attend 10–12 tournaments next season, including all four Grand Slams.
Key Facts
Shelton is ranked fourth in the world and reached the US Open final this year.
Shelton lost the US Open final to Alexander Zverev after beating Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
Shelton has won seven ATP Tour singles titles, including two Canadian Open Masters 1000 titles.
Shelton’s team said Ferrero will work alongside Shelton’s father and current coach, Bryan.
Ferrero coached Alcaraz from age 15 until their split at the end of 2025.
Ferrero won the 2003 French Open as a player.
Ferrero is scheduled to cover 10–12 tournaments for Shelton next season, including the four Grand Slams.
The partnership will start with an off-season training block in the United States.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick says he is looking forward to Tuesday’s Champions League match against Roma despite United’s run of nine games without a win. United are 17th in the Premier League and 21st in the Champions League standings after three games, while Carrick and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo say they believe the squad can respond.
Key Facts
United have not won in nine matches in all competitions, their worst run since 1988-89.
United will host Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday in the Champions League.
United are 21st in the Champions League table after three games; the top 24 teams advance.
Roma’s only defeat this season came against Real Madrid in the Champions League last month.
Carrick said he does not doubt his players’ commitment, though he said they need to play better and make better decisions.
Defender Lisandro Martinez is available despite a red card at Chelsea.
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo returned from a four-match absence as a substitute against Chelsea.
Mainoo said he believes one win could change United’s season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli won his first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City race, becoming the sport’s youngest champion, according to the article. The race weekend also featured Ferrari losing a chance to win, clashes between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, and a super-license points problem for Cadillac prospect Colton Herta.
Key Facts
Antonelli secured his first drivers’ title shortly after turning 20.
The article describes Antonelli as Formula 1’s youngest-ever champion.
The Mexico City circuit sits about 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level, which can affect engine power and cooling.
Ten rookie drivers took part in the first practice session under Formula 1’s young-driver rules.
Colton Herta still needed one more super-license point after four successful practice appearances, according to the article.
Verstappen and Lawson collided during the second practice session and each received a one-place grid penalty.
The article says Ferrari lost a chance to win the race, with Red Bull taking victory.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Shaun Edwards says England head coach Steve Borthwick declined his offer to join the men’s coaching staff for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, saying he was happy with the existing staff. Edwards has since committed to Argentina through the tournament. He also described his brief consultancy with England’s women’s team and their 26-19 win over New Zealand.
Key Facts
Edwards says he offered to work with England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, even in a role as assistant kit man.
Borthwick told Edwards he was satisfied with England’s staff and how things were going.
Edwards left his role with France earlier this year and briefly worked with England’s women’s team.
Edwards has signed up to work with Argentina until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
England’s men’s coaching staff for the tournament includes defence coach Richard Wigglesworth, supported by Byron McGuigan and Joe El-Abd.
England’s women beat New Zealand 26-19 after making 310 tackles, according to Edwards.
England’s men ended a 12-Test winning streak with a loss to Scotland in February and then lost five matches in a row before recently beating Fiji and Argentina.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arsenal sit three points ahead of Manchester City and five ahead of Brighton, and the article argues their squad depth and ability to close out games put them in a strong position to defend the Premier League title. It highlights their draw at Liverpool, where Arsenal recovered from pressure and kept the hosts from registering a shot on target, while noting that the season is still at an early stage.
Key Facts
Arsenal are three points clear of second-placed Manchester City and five points clear of third-placed Brighton.
Arsenal denied Liverpool a shot on target for the second league game in a row.
Liverpool pressured Arsenal for about 20 minutes before half-time, but Arsenal controlled the match more comfortably after the break.
Arsenal have turned seven half-time draws into full-time wins this season.
The article credits Arsenal’s deep bench with helping protect leads and giving the team more options for rotation.
Arsenal lost to Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup last week.
Manchester City have lost successive league matches to Aston Villa and Brighton after a run of seven straight wins.
Arsenal were four points clear at the same stage last season, but their anticipated title procession did not materialize.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
ABC News reports that the Seattle Seahawks are helping children develop leadership skills and pursue their dreams. Reporter Kayna Whitworth delivered the report live from Lumen Field in Seattle on November 2, 2026.
Key Facts
The report focuses on the Seattle Seahawks’ work with children.
The effort aims to help children build leadership skills.
The report says the Seahawks are helping children pursue their dreams.
ABC News reporter Kayna Whitworth delivered the report.
Whitworth reported live from Lumen Field in Seattle.
The report was published on November 2, 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said speculation about his job would not affect preparations for the Champions League match against Roma. United have gone nine games without a win, and Carrick and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo said the players remain committed as the team tries to recover.
Key Facts
United are winless in nine matches, their longest such run in 38 years.
The club has one win and seven points from its first nine Premier League fixtures and sits above the relegation zone on goal difference.
United host Roma in their fourth Champions League league-phase match on Tuesday.
Carrick said the talk about his future would not influence the team’s preparation or the match.
Carrick said the players remain committed despite their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Lisandro Martinez was sent off and conceded a penalty during the Chelsea defeat.
United’s only win since August was a 4-0 victory over Sabah on September 10.
Mainoo said the players must support Carrick and fight together to get through the team’s poor run.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jake Paul is scheduled to fight MMA fighter Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round cruiserweight boxing bout in Dubai on December 24. Paul is returning after a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2025 that left him with a broken jaw requiring surgery.
Key Facts
Paul's promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions, described the fight as a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout.
The bout is scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 24.
Joshua knocked Paul out in the sixth round of their fight in Miami in December 2025.
Paul needed surgery after breaking his jaw in two places.
Paul fell out of the World Boxing Association's cruiserweight rankings after the loss.
Paul has won 12 of his 14 professional boxing fights since beginning his career in 2020.
One of Paul's wins came against Mike Tyson in 2024.
Doumbe is a Cameroon-born Frenchman, former kickboxing world champion, and current MMA fighter.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Formula One World Championship after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. At 20, he became the sport’s youngest champion and Italy’s first champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Key Facts
More than 500 people gathered in Casalecchio, Antonelli’s hometown near Bologna, to watch the race.
Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Antonelli’s third-place finish secured the season title.
Antonelli drives for Mercedes and replaced Lewis Hamilton on the team.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and tennis player Jannik Sinner congratulated Antonelli.
Bologna plans to award Antonelli the city’s Nettuno d’Oro civic honor.
Casalecchio’s mayor said the town would hold a welcome celebration when Antonelli’s racing schedule allows him to return.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Barcelona host Aston Villa in a Champions League league-phase match at Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday, November 2, at 20:00 GMT. Villa have won their first three matches, while Barcelona come into the game after a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a 6-1 win over Alaves.
Key Facts
The match is the fourth round of the Champions League league phase.
Aston Villa have scored 12 goals across their three wins in the competition.
Barcelona sit eighth in the league-phase table after losing to PSG.
Barcelona are top of La Liga after winning 10 of their first 11 matches, according to the article.
Barcelona have not kept a clean sheet in 18 consecutive Champions League matches, the article says.
Lamine Yamal scored and assisted in Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Alaves.
Aston Villa won the Europa League last season, beating Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul.
Al Jazeera plans to provide build-up and live updates from 17:00 GMT.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article examines why VAR did not award Liverpool a penalty after Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber grabbed Alexander Isak’s shirt during a 1-0 match. It says shirt-pulling is judged by whether it impedes an opponent, and argues that Isak’s lack of reaction may have influenced the decision while the incident did not meet the threshold for VAR intervention.
Key Facts
Bradley Barcola crossed the ball into Arsenal’s penalty area, but Alexander Isak did not reach it.
Sunderland’s board continues to back manager Regis Le Bris despite the club’s poor start to its Premier League season. Sunderland has won once in nine league matches but has earned three points across its first three Europa League league-phase games.
Key Facts
Sunderland lost 3-1 away to newly promoted Coventry on Saturday.
The club is prioritising stability and shared responsibility as it seeks to improve results.
Chelsea is due to visit Sunderland on the Sunday before the international break.
Le Bris joined Sunderland from Lorient in 2024.
In his first season, Le Bris led Sunderland to promotion after an eight-year absence from the Premier League.
The article says Sunderland finished seventh in the Premier League the following season and qualified for the Europa League.
Sunderland is scheduled to host Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days old. He clinched the title by finishing third for Mercedes in the Mexico City Grand Prix, which Max Verstappen won for Red Bull after a red flag and restart.
Key Facts
Antonelli won the Formula One world championship at age 20 years and 68 days.
He became the youngest world champion in Formula One history.
Antonelli finished third in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
He drove for Mercedes.
The race was stopped by a red flag and then restarted.
Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
