Sports
Romero Apologizes for Criticizing Tottenham Ownership
Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has apologized for his recent comments criticizing the club’s owners following the team’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea. In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Telemundo Deportes, Romero expressed frustration over the club’s lack of investment, stating, “Something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realize it.”
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the issue, stating that Romero acknowledged his remarks were not entirely appropriate. “He realizes a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn’t the right way of dealing with it,” Postecoglou said. “It shows he cares, but there’s a way to do it, and this wasn’t it.”
Romero’s comments came after a challenging match against Chelsea, in which Tottenham lost despite leading 2-0. The Argentine defender, along with teammate Micky van de Ven, returned to the lineup but both suffered injuries during the game. Romero was substituted in the 15th minute, while Van de Ven exited 11 minutes from the end.
Both players will miss Tottenham’s upcoming Europa League clash against Rangers at Ibrox, and their return timelines remain uncertain. “We’re still getting some clarity around the prognosis,” Postecoglou said. “It’s disappointing because we’re pretty thin on numbers and have been dealing with that for a while.”
Adding to the team’s challenges, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, currently serving a domestic suspension for a racial slur against teammate Son Heung-min, will be available for the Europa League fixture.
Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a historic 100th ATP title with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Gael Monfils in the Brisbane International round of 16. The 37-year-old Serbian star displayed clinical precision, securing his 20th career win against the 38-year-old Frenchman.
Djokovic capitalized on his sole break point in the opening set to build a 4-1 lead, wrapping it up in just 36 minutes. In the second set, Monfils faltered early with a missed forehand, allowing Djokovic to break serve and gain control. Holding serve consistently, Djokovic sealed the match with another break at 5-3.
Awaiting Djokovic in the quarter-finals is American Reilly Opelka, who edged past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a nail-biting encounter, winning 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-4). Opelka’s dominant serve was the highlight, delivering an impressive 25 aces.
The upcoming clash will mark the first meeting between Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, and Opelka. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Opelka has been injured and struggled a lot for a couple of years. My gosh, I’m going to have to probably step back a few steps for that first serve.”
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka also progressed to the quarter-finals, maintaining her strong form in the tournament.
Netflix made history this Christmas, setting a new record for the most streamed NFL games in the U.S. Nearly 65 million viewers tuned in to watch two thrilling matchups, marking a monumental debut for Netflix’s exclusive Christmas Day NFL broadcasts.
The Baltimore Ravens’ win against the Houston Texans drew an average of 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers closely followed with 24.1 million viewers. The audience peaked during Beyoncé’s dazzling halftime performance during the Ravens-Texans game, attracting over 27 million viewers.
“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria shared in a press release. She also credited their partnership with the NFL, exceptional on-air talent, and standout performances from Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
These games marked the start of a three-year deal between Netflix and the NFL to stream exclusive Christmas matchups.
NBA Also Shines on Christmas Day
The NFL wasn’t the only sports league celebrating. The NBA had its most-watched Christmas Day in five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game across its five-game lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ triumph over the Golden State Warriors led the way, drawing an average of 7.76 million viewers and peaking at 8.32 million. It became the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in half a decade.
The New York Knicks’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs also made waves as the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years, with an average of 4.91 million viewers.
Australia’s iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been marred by tragedy, with two participants losing their lives in separate incidents involving accidents with a boom, the horizontal pole attached to the bottom of a sail.
The incidents occurred aboard the Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, according to race organizers. New South Wales (NSW) police reported that the first incident was brought to their attention shortly before midnight on Thursday local time (12:50 GMT). The second incident was reported just over two hours later, at 2:15 a.m. on Friday, after attempts at CPR proved unsuccessful.
The Flying Fish Arctos was approximately 30 nautical miles east/southeast of Ulladulla when the first accident occurred. The second fatality aboard the Bowline happened around 30 nautical miles east/northeast of Batemans Bay, NSW.
Organizers expressed their condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with the crews, family, and friends of the deceased.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his sympathies, saying, “The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heart-breaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy.”
Despite the tragedies, the race, which began on Thursday, continues. The first yachts are expected to arrive in Hobart, Tasmania, by late Friday or early Saturday, though severe weather conditions have already forced several teams to retire.
The event, first held in 1945, has faced fatalities in the past, including the devastating 1998 race when raging storms claimed six lives, among them British Olympic yachtsman Glyn Charles.
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