LONDON — In European soccer’s relentless search for growth and new revenues, Spain’s La Liga has been among the most aggressive of the continent’s top leagues. Under a plan hatched and pressed by its chief executive, Javier Tebas, La Liga has planted its flag across the globe, opening offices in far-flung cities — not just […] More
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A year ago Sunday, while the N.F.L. elite were competing in their conferences’ championship games, the San Francisco 49ers’ staff traveled to Mobile, Ala., to coach at the Senior Bowl. In keeping with that game’s custom, only the league’s worst teams receive that opportunity, but the 49ers were unbowed. At dinner […] More
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The inside of a typical N.F.L. stadium is inundated with pennants and banners celebrating landmark championships of all kinds. But at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, there is only one such decoration visible. Fluttering from a flagpole at the west end of the stadium’s upper deck, beneath an […] More
The Tennessee Titans were lovable underdogs, but their luck ran out on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, who beat them, 35-24. The Green Bay Packers found some balance on offense in their first season under Coach Matt LaFleur, but they were crushed by the San Francisco 49ers, 37-20, in a game that was nowhere […] More
LIVERPOOL, England — The smile that became so familiar in those first few months has long since disappeared. The sense of awe and wonder that he was allowed to be here, at the club that meant so much to him and in the job he never dared dream of holding, has gone, too, melting away […] More
A misdemeanor simple battery warrant for the Cleveland Browns wide receiver and former Louisiana State star Odell Beckham Jr. has been rescinded, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed on Saturday. The warrant was issued on Thursday as video posted on social media appeared to show Beckham swatting a security officer’s buttocks during L.S.U.’s locker room […] More
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The timing couldn’t have been any better. After years of turmoil and losing, the San Francisco 49ers, who face the Green Bay Packers in the N.F.C. Championship game on Sunday, are one victory from returning to Super Bowl. There is no better way to drive demand for tickets, jerseys and support […] More
Enjoying this newsletter every week? Forward it to a friend and tell them to sign up at nytimes.com/rory. A few hours after Danny Drinkwater joined Aston Villa in the first week of January, a friend asked if he wanted to go watch his new club in action. Aston Villa was playing at Leicester City in […] More
