I know, I know. Everywhere I read, except for the colour, the Yonex Voltric Z Force 2 is the exact same as the Yonex Voltric Z Force 2 Lee Chong Wei edition. But what explains the difference in price?
I’ll happily play with a pink VTZF2 LCW for a $50CAD discount!
Before I buy, any reason not to buy this racket? (I love smashing birdies)
The US bracket finals of the AEW Women’s Title Eliminator Tournament finally arrived, and the event was accompanied by two non-tournament matches featuring four other female AEW talent.
We went to the first match of the show.
Madi flung one of Bates’ books at her opponent, and the Librarian wasn’t happy as she responded with a thrust kick.
Laves then sent Madi outside. The action moved back in, and Bates was on top with a few strikes and a suplex. She got a two-count with a Northern Lights suplex.
Madi gained control with a guillotine on Bates onto the ropes. She capitalized on it and scored a few pinfall attempts. Bates reacted with a few chops and kicks to the mid-section and the head. She followed it with a kick in the corner and a bulldog for a two-count.
Bates got a two-fall with a small package. Back on their feet, Madi drove Bates face-first into the canvas with a facebuster.
Madi ripped off a few pages from Young Bucks’ book. The referee prevented an infuriated Bates from using the book as a weapon. The ref turned his back, and it was Madi who used another book to deck Bates in the face.
Madi covered Bates and got her first win in AEW.
Result: Madi Wrenkowski def. Leva Bates
Grade: C
Alize offered a handshake, but Leyla was more interested in locking up. Both women tried to outwrestle each other, and it was Hirsch who took control with a side headlock followed by a shoulder block.
They exchanged arm drags. Hirsch rolled out of the ring, and Alize was on top with a knee to the face. She delivered a running elbow strike in the corner. Miranda kept up the pressure with shoulders to Leyla’s mid-section.
Hirsch turned the match in her favor with a dropkick, and she connected with a few forearm strikes in the corner. Leyla would also deliver a straight knee, followed by a brainbuster for a near fall.
Alize fought out of the fireman’s carry and pulled off a ripcord knee strike. Alize also executed an impressive corkscrew elbow drop for a near fall, and it looked pretty neat!
Alize seemed to attempt a cutter, but Leyla reversed it into a cross-arm breaker. Miranda was left with no option but to tap out in the AEW match.
Result: “Legit” Leyla Hirsch def. Miranda Alize
Grade: B
Youngstown State has banned director of player personnel Tim Johnson from the team’s sidelines after he initiated contact with an opposing team’s player on Saturday.
The school and the Missouri Valley Conference — the conference in which the Penguins compete — released a joint statement Monday saying Johnson wouldn’t be allowed on the sidelines for the remainder of the spring season. Johnson is a former Youngstown State All-American linebacker who racked up 401 career tackles and advanced to the NFL, spending six seasons in the league with the Bears, Raiders and Ravens.
He is in his first year in the role under first-year head coach Doug Phillips.
“I apologize to (the University of Northern Iowa), Youngstown State, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and our community for what occurred on Saturday,” Johnson’s statement read. “As a member of the YSU Football staff, my actions are held in high regard and that should have never occurred. Again, I deeply apologize to all who have been impacted by my actions.”
MORE: Eastern Washington denied field goal against Idaho in a series of errors
The incident occurred after Northern Iowa’s Quan Hampton (five receptions, 74 yards) caught a pass and advanced the ball past midfield; at the end of the clip, Johnson is seen bracing and leaning into Hampton, knocking the Panthers receiver to the ground. No penalty was called and Johnson stayed on the sidelines.
Here’s another angle of the contact, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports:
Northern Iowa won the game 21-0, advancing to 1-1 on the season; Youngstown State is now 0-2 after previously losing to North Dakota State.
By: Hans Themistode
We all knew it was going to happen, we just didn’t know when. That is, until now.
Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. will return to the ring on April 24th when he takes on fringe contender Chris Arreola.
No specific site has been revealed just yet, but their bout will be a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View.
It’s been a long time since anyone has seen Ruiz Jr. (33-2, 22 KOs) in the ring, one year and a half to be exact.
For a six-month stretch, Ruiz Jr. was on top of the world. His massive upset win over Anthony Joshua crowned him as the first heavyweight champion from Mexico. His enthusiasm for what he accomplished was taken a bit overboard as he spent most of his time partying like there was no tomorrow.
While it was fun at the moment, it caused him to slack in his preparation for their rematch six months later. During the night in question, Ruiz Jr. was thoroughly outboxed and his 15 minutes of fame were officially over.
His championship reign may have been truncated, but it was long enough for Ruiz Jr. to realize that he wanted a taste of it again. To help him in his efforts, he ended his relationship with former trainer Manny Robles and began working closely with Eddy Reynoso, trainer of pound-for-pound star, Canelo Alvarez.
By all accounts, their relationship seems to be going great as Reynoso revealed that Ruiz Jr. has lost 20 pounds since they began working with one another.
As for Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs), he’s spent a long amount of time on the sidelines as well. In his last ring appearance, the Los Angelos native almost pulled off an upset of his own against Adam Kownacki. Unfortunately for him however, he fell just short.
Following the loss, the now 39-year-old sat back and seriously considered retirement. Yet, with a chance to pick up a big win and an even bigger check against Ruiz Jr., this was an opportunity Arreola simply couldn’t say no to.
Vinicius Junior struck a late equaliser for Real Madrid on his 100th appearance for the club in a 1-1 home draw against La Liga rivals Real Sociedad.
The Brazilian substitute salvaged a point for Real Madrid by firing home from close range in the 89th minute after Portu had given the visitors a second-half lead.
But it was not enough for Zinedine Zidane’s side to leapfrog Barcelona into second place and they are five points adrift of leaders and city rivals Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand.
The hosts dominated the first half and twice hit the woodwork, but could not force that elusive first goal.
Mariano’s close-range header from Lucas Vazquez’s excellent cross and Raphael Varane’s looping header from the subsequent corner both struck the crossbar.
Casemiro flashed a 25-yard shot just wide and Toni Kroos’ effort was blocked after the German had ghosted past two defenders.
Luka Modric then forced Real Sociedad goalkeeper Remiro into a reaction save after the Croatian had nutmegged a defender on the edge of the penalty area.
But Real Sociedad were transformed at the start of the second period and – after forcing three-successive corners – they took the lead through Portu.
Former Manchester City winger David Silva orchestrated the move and from Nacho Monreal’s cross, Portu rose highest to send a superb header in off the woodwork in the 55th minute.
The visitors spurned a chance to extend their lead when Portu failed to pick out the unmarked Alexander Isak in the area.
Casemiro headed Vazquez’s cross narrowly off target and Rodrygo fired wide as Real Madrid chased an equaliser.
The hosts threatened again through Casemiro following substitute Hugo Duro’s cutback and with time running out they finally hauled themselves level.
Federico Valverde’s backheel sent Vazquez free down the wing and Vinicius Junior, a 61st-minute replacement for Isco, finished into the bottom corner.
Real Madrid poured forward in the closing stages, but Real Sociedad held firm to halt the home side’s five-game winning run.
