NFL

Subterms

    More stories

    • 275 Shares109 Views

      in Boxing

      I served four years in the military before playing American football… but I gave up my NFL dream for boxing aged 30

      by

      GERALD WASHINGTON left behind a life in the military and dreams of the NFL to start chasing a boxing career at the age of 30. Now 41, the former world title challenger remains a fixture in major heavyweight fight nights.
      Gerald Washington had NFL hopesCredit: Getty
      But he turned to boxing instead aged 30Credit: Getty
      He returns at the O2 Arena on Saturday night against Derek Chisora as his remarkable life tale readies for another chapter.
      Washington told SunSport: “I’ve been riding a beautiful wave of life.
      “I turned professional, worked my way up to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.
      “Was I ever expecting that in my life, to be able to start at 30 and be able to fight for a championship? No.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “But I was able to and I’m still in the game, competing at the highest level.
      “I’m grateful to be here and it’s going to be an exciting fight on Saturday.”
      Washington enlisted into the US navy at 18 and served four years.
      He worked as a helicopter mechanic, stationed in San Diego, California and also served on a support and rescue squadron.
      Most read in Boxing
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      Washington credits his time in the military for helping pave the way for what was to come later on in his life.
      He said: “I was in during 9/11, it was a very hectic time, a lot of chaos going on.
      “It was a very disruptive time in the world in that particular time when I went in.
      “But I was able to learn a lot, take a lot of life experiences from that and I was able to apply that to my life.”
      Washington was then recruited to play college football and was an NJCAA All-American tight end. 
      From there he spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills practise NFL squads – before realising his future lied in the ring.
      He said: “After I went to college, I signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2009.
      “I was able to go over there to OTAs (organised team activities) and stuff like that.
      Gerald Washington trialled in the NFLCredit: Instagram @gwgallonegro
      “But soon after that I started boxing, doing some training and I decided that I wanted to pursue boxing instead.
      “I liked the one-man aspect of it, everything falls and ends on me on the work that I put in and I was willing to work.
      “I chose boxing, I boxed as a kid and I’m glad and grateful that I was able to grow into this beautiful body of mine, 6’6 and 250lb.”
      Washington boxed briefly as a boy with ten amateur bouts to his name but he realised his talent and passion for the sweet science in sparring.
      He revealed: “Boxing was always in my heart.
      “I played football because I was able to run fast and have fun with it. But boxing was my sport, that was always in my heart.
      “I grew up watching Julio Cesar Chavez, I watched Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, I grew up watching a lot of the greats and I always wanted to go out there and see what I could do.
      “When I was doing football training, I started boxing, I sparred a couple of time put a couple of guys down and I felt what it felt like to be in the ring and I wanted to do it more.”
      Deontay Wilder beat Gerald Washington in 2017Credit: (AP Photo/Albert Cesare)
      Washington had four more amateur bouts before turning professional at 30, winning his 2012 debut by KO.
      Just 20 fights and five years later, he found himself challenging for Deontay Wilder’s WBC belt.
      It ended in a fifth-round stoppage loss and Washignton would go on to become one of the most recognisable faces in the division.
      He faced Jarrell Miller, Adam Kownacki and Anthony Joshua’s Saturday night opponent Robert Helenius.
      And he also sparred the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, AJ, Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk and even Chisora, who he fights on Joshua’s undercard.
      Helenius, 39, has filled in for Dillian Whyte, 35, who was taken off the bill due to a failed drug test.
      Washington was considered but later overlooked as a substitute – although the American vowed to get his chance eventually.
      He said: “We were ready to go. We’ve been working for a long time now and we was ready to go to put it together.
      “But, they chose Robert Helenius and we’ll get him next time.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Deontay Wilder with former opponent Gerald WashingtonCredit: @gwgallonegro
      Anthony Joshua with former sparring partner Gerald WashingtonCredit: @gwgallonegro
      Derek Chisora fights Gerald WashingtonCredit: Getty More

    • 300 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m Britain’s most loyal football fan… I haven’t missed a game in 50 years & it ended my marriage – I have no regrets

      by

      BRITAIN’S most loyal football fan who hasn’t missed a match for 50 years says he has no regrets – despite his obsession costing him his marriage.Birmingham City supporter Rob Shannon has watched his side more than 2,300 times in a row – first going to see them beat Derby County in 1974.
      Dedicated Birmingham City fan Rob Shannon has not missed a match since 1974Credit: SWNS
      But he admits the Championship football club could be to blame for his divorce from his ex-wife, who was a fan of their West Midlands arch rivals Aston Villa.
      Rob said: “She used to say, ‘You love Blues more than me’.
      “I always joked, ‘I love Villa more than you’.”
      The dad-of-two, 64, loyally follows the Blues both home and away – having attended his first game as a four-year-old boy during the 1962-1963 season.
      Read More On Birmingham City
      He has seen them play in all four league divisions – including several stints in the Premier League – as well as all League Cup and FA Cup games over the past half a century.
      Only the Covid-19 pandemic kept him away from their St Andrew’s home ground, when lockdown restrictions forced football clubs to play behind closed doors.
      He said: “My mum and dad took me down when I was a boy around the 62-63 season and I’ve loved going ever since.
      “It’s become a bit of an obsession – I just follow them through thick and thin, although it’s been more like thin and thin.
      Most read in Football
      “People say you must have seen all the ups and downs and I joke it’s mostly downs for Blues.”
      Stand-up comedian Jasper Carrott, another Birmingham City fan, has previously joked: “You lose some, you draw some.”
      Yet Rob, from Sheldon in Birmingham, did get to enjoy a day of glory at Wembley for the match he says is his most cherished.
      City, then managed by ex-Scotland international Alex McLeish, clinched a surprise last-minute 2-1 victory over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the 2011 Carling Cup final.
      Rob said: “My favourite game was without a doubt the Carling Cup final – it was the best day of my life, and the European games that followed were really special too.
      “But any game that we beat the Villa is also my favourite.
      “I’ve also seen a couple of wins at Anfield and Old Trafford, which doesn’t happy very often for us.”
      His favourite player was former Birmingham and England striker Trevor Francis, who became Britain’s first £1million footballer when moving to Nottingham Forest in 1979.
      Rob was saddened by Francis’s death last month at the age of 69 at his home near Marbella in Spain.
      Rob said: “I was devastated when Trevor Francis passed away.
      “I got to know him and his sons – he is still my favourite player.
      “I’m proud to now volunteer at the club as part of their Former Players Association – I get to arrange for ex-players to come back to the club for games.”
      He is also an admirer of ex-City star and England international Jude Bellingham, who came through Birmingham’s youth ranks and this summer joined La Liga giants Real Madrid for £115million from Germany’s Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
      Rob named his son Andrew, 32, after the club’s St Andrew’s stadium – and even once discharged himself from hospital to attend an away game at Swansea City.
      He now hopes the club can return to the Premier League having been away since relegation in 2011.
      American NFL legend Tom Brady sprang a surprise last week by revealing he has become one of the club’s joint owners.
      Brady, recently rumoured to be dating Kim Kardashian, has “entered into a partnership” with Birmingham’s new owners Knighthead Capital Management LLC.
      Rob said: “There have been some good times really but it has been a bad few years – although the new owners sound like they really mean business and are very ambitious.
      “Getting the likes of Tom Brady on board can only be a good thing so I think the future is bright and I certainly have no intentions of stopping.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I’d resigned myself to the fact I would probably never see Blues in the Premier League again but hopefully we can get back there under these new owners.
      “It’s the hope and anticipation that kills you, though – but I guess that’s what being a football fan is all about.”
      Rob’s most cherished memory is of Birmingham winning the Carling Cup in 2011Credit: SWNS
      He was club mascot for a match as a seven-year-old, leading the team on to the fieldCredit: SWNS
      Rob’s home in Birmingham’s Sheldon district is packed with Blues memorabiliaCredit: SWNS
      Rob got on well with Birmingham legend Trevor Francis, who died last monthCredit: SWNS
      A more recent favourite has been England international midfielder Jude BellinghamCredit: SWNS More

    • 188 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Gisele Bundchen shows off her incredible abs as ex Tom Brady invests in Birmingham City

      by

      GISELE Bundchen doubles up her denim after being unveiled as the face of Colcci’s latest fashion campaign.The Brazilian model wore hot pants and a jacket with a white crop top and also showed a pair of thigh-high denim boots.
      Gisele shows she suits blue in new modelling shots for fashion firm ColcciCredit: Capture Media Agency
      Gisele’s ex Tom Brady has emerged as a shock investor in Birmingham CityCredit: Instagram @bcfc
      Gisele, 43, was unveiled as the brand’s latest big name signing yesterday after working with them on and off for over a decade.
      It was her first big job after her ex-husband, NFL player Tom Brady, revealed he was the co-owner of Birmingham City.
      Worth a reported £400million, Brady will work directly with the club’s board after “entering into a partnership” with new owner Knighthead Capital Management LLC.
      The ace, who recently retired from NFL after a stunning 23-year career and seven Super Bowl wins, admitted he has got “a lot to learn” about the English game.
      READ MORE TOM BRADY
      Since their split last year, Tom, 46, has now moved on with supermodel Irina Shayk.
      Gisele said of their split: “Sometimes you grow together; sometimes you grow apart.
      “When I was 26 years old and he was 29 years old, we met, we wanted a family, we wanted things together.
      “As time goes by, we realize that we just wanted different things, and now we have a choice to make.”
      Most read in Football More

    • 263 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      Everyone at Birmingham’s buzzing that Tom Brady has invested but I’m scared I’ll be kicked out of fantasy league for him

      by

      THE messages on the Birmingham WhatsApp group were going mad yesterday morning.Imagine this. You’re in a highly competitive workplace NFL Fantasy Football competition and there’s an announcement that Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl winner and the greatest quarterback in history — has joined your company.
      Tom Brady is involved in a group that has taken over BirminghamCredit: Instagram
      Tom Brady is widely-regarded as one of the best NFL players everCredit: EPA
      Troy Deeney played for the club last seasonCredit: PA
      Because that’s exactly what’s happened for those Blues players and staff.
      I’m still in that Fantasy Football competition despite leaving my home-town club this summer and, frankly, I’m worried I’ll be kicked out of it.
      As one of the boys messaged: “Who’s going to make way for Tom Brady?”
      There are 12 of us in the competition, eight players and four staff members — and it’s great because if you choose one player in the draft then no one else can have him.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      I don’t really want to give him any credit because he was not a gracious winner but striker Lukas Jutkiewicz won our fantasy league last season.
      And he’s so sure of himself that he probably thinks he will beat Tom Brady at it, too!
      Brady has become a minority owner of Birmingham City as well as chairman of the club’s advisory board.
      The boys are absolutely buzzing about the prospect of meeting Brady, who will apparently be passing on advice on fitness and nutrition to them as well as working on commercial projects.
      Most read in Championship

      DREAM TEAM IS LIVE – JOIN NOW TO BATTLE FOR THE £50k TOP PRIZE
      Brady addressed Blues fans in a video, stressing he can’t wait to get excitedCredit: Instagram @bcfc
      There was already real optimism that the club would move in the right direction under the new American ownership of Tom Wagner’s Knighthead Capital Management.
      But the involvement of Brady, one of the biggest names in world sport, has added to that.
      If I tell you a little about playing for Birmingham over the past two seasons, you will understand the scale of the transformation at the club.
      It’s 100 per cent true that if Blues hadn’t had the right manager, John Eustace, we would have been relegated last season.
      Sometimes we were going into training not knowing whether the old ownership had signed off the purchase of footballs for us to  practise with.
      If you wanted an ice bath, it was often broken. Players were chipping in with their own money for things.
      On match days, two stands were closed and the playing surface was terrible because the women’s team and the Under-23s were playing all of their matches on it.
      The job Eustace did in leading the club comfortably clear of relegation was outstanding and I hope he gets the time to advance his philosophy and playing style under the new owners.
      Brady is the latest celebrity from American sports and entertainment to buy into English football, after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over Wrexham.
      Another Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan investing in Bournemouth and Major golf champions Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas joining the new ownership at Leeds.
      The success of Wrexham — promoted back to the Football League and enjoying a high-profile US Tour on the back of the club’s Disney documentary — has got a lot of Americans interested in English football at lower levels as well as the Premier League.
      For these Americans, it’s not necessarily about the wealthiest or most successful clubs, it’s about great people.
      So it would not surprise me if Birmingham have a Netflix or Amazon documentary made about them as well.
      Those projects, as well as the investment of someone like Brady, are not just PR gimmicks. They say a lot about a club’s direction.
      Some of the Leeds lads have watched the Full Swing Netflix documentary about the PGA Tour and will be excited about the involvement of Spieth and Thomas.
      It all adds glamour to the new Championship season, which starts with newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday against newly relegated Southampton.
      Playing in the Championship is relentless and unpredictable. It’s two games per week, so it’s hard work but also immense fun.I’ve experienced both ends of it.
      At Watford, we were still being run like a  Premier League club when we were promoted back to the top tier . . . staying in the best hotels, flying to away games and no expense spared with facilities.
      At Blues, it was very different . . . wondering if we had enough footballs, staying in average hotels and spending hours stuck on buses in motorway traffic jams on Friday afternoons.
      All that may change for Birmingham now but in such a competitive league, a top-half finish would still be good — but I fancy them to make the  play-offs.
      My time at my boyhood club came to an end this summer but it was a great honour to captain them for two years.
      Read More on The Sun
      And even though I’ve left, the arrival of Brady has excited me, just as it’s excited the rest of that WhatsApp group.
      Please don’t kick me out of the Fantasy Football, lads!
      Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen were married for over 13 years before their divorce last yearCredit: Getty
      Tom Brady played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay BuccaneersCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

    • 188 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona thump Real Madrid 3-0 in Texas-sized El Clasico as Carlo Ancelotti critiques ‘sleeping’ stars

      by

      XAVI’S Barcelona has walked away from Texas with their second-straight El Clasico win on US soil.Barca and Real Madrid faced off in front of over 80,000 Texans in attendance at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
      Dembele was one of the stars of the show on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      England star Jude Bellingham (R) hit the woodwork before being subbed for Joselu in the 73rd minuteCredit: Getty
      The game may have technically been little more than a friendly, but you would have been hard-pressed to notice as much in the first half.
      Both Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti sent out full-strength sides for the first 45 which had the feeling of a true El Clasico.
      After just three minutes, former Southampton man Oriol Romeu hit the woodwork for Barca before Real came close to taking the lead thanks to Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
      After fourteen minutes Ousmane Dembele gave Barca the lead.
      Read More on Football
      This came courtesy of a well-worked free-kick routine which saw ex-Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan clip the ball back to Pedri who slipped it in neatly for the Frenchman who snuck behind Madrid’s defense unnoticed.
      But just five minutes later, Real were handed a golden opportunity to even the odds with a penalty following a Ronald Araujo handball.
      Unfortunately for Los Blancos fans, Vinicius Jr. slammed the crossbar.
      The end-to-end game continued with tensions clearly rising as halftime drew nearer before a Frenkie De Jong foul led to a clash between players in the center of the park.
      Most read in Football
      By comparison, the second half was relatively tame, feeling far more like a prototypical friendly as the game began to slow.
      Two late goals ultimately sealed the deal for Barca with Femin Lopez netting an excellent volley in the 84th minute while Ferran Torres chipped Thibaut Courtois en route to the game’s third goal just six minutes later.
      The game was far from as one-sided as the scoreline would suggest, with Vinicius Jr. in particular having come close on multiple occasions.
      Unfortunately for him and Madrid, the woodwork was their best friend and worst enemy on the night as they failed to find that much-needed clinical finish.
      Reflecting on the loss, Ancelotti said after the game that he felt “we played really well for most of the time.”
      However, he also felt that “we were sleeping in some situations…in the free kick when we conceded the first goal, and at the end, we didn’t have the balance that we needed in that kind of situation.”
      A true El Clasico in the first half, and a relatively tame second, both have plenty of positives to take away from an enthralling afternoon in Texas.
      Both Dembele (L) and De Jong (R) impressed at AT&T StadiumCredit: AP
      Ancelotti’s response to their loss was mixedCredit: Getty More

    • 213 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      NFL star JJ Watt’s Premier League investment goes wrong as Burnley snub him for new kit launch

      by

      NFL star JJ Watt’s Premier League investment has gone wrong after Burnley snubbed him for their new kit launch.Watt owns a minority stake in the club after investing with his wife Kealia in May.
      JJ Watt was snubbed for Burnley’s kit launchCredit: instagram / jjwatt
      JJ Watt thought he had been given the first look at the kitCredit: instagram / jjwatt
      However, he was overlooked for the launch of the club’s new home shirt.
      After receiving a package from the club, Watt filmed himself opening what he thought was the new strip and shared the video to social media.
      In the clip, captioned: “Burnley Kit Reveal 2023/24,” the former Houston Texans defensive end can be seen wearing a Burnley baseball cap.
      As he opens the package, he explained: “Alright, I just got this package in the mail, so I think I know what this means. Kit reveal time.
      READ MORE ON BURNLEY
      “Pretty excited to be the first to unveil the Burnley 2023/24 kit. I know you guys have all been waiting. Everybody’s been waiting so let’s check it out.”
      As he opens the box, though, he is met with a t-shirt and a note reading: “JJ, we knew we couldn’t trust you with the kit before we officially revealed it because you would have tweeted it to your followers. So here’s one of our new t-shirts instead.”
      Watt sees the funny side, though, as he admits: “They’re not wrong. Guess I’ll see it with the rest of you.”
      Burnley have since unveiled their new home kit, which has a blue collar alongside their traditional claret and blue colours.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      JJ Watt was instead sent a grey t-shirtCredit: instagram / jjwatt
      The strip will be worn for their return to the Premier League, with the Clarets kicking off the campaign at home to Manchester City on August 11.
      Watt and his wife, footballer Kealia, invested in the club following their Championship title triumph.
      The couple even jetted to the UK for the celebrations, with Watt joining fans on a pub crawl through the town. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Veronika Rajek wows in busty Italian-inspired outfit as Tom Brady admirer swaps NFL for Europa League final

      by

      TOM Brady superfan Veronika Rajek has swapped the NFL for a very different kind of football. The Slovakian stunner, 27, wowed in a daring Italian-inspired outfit as she attended the Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma in Budapest, Hungary.
      Veronika Rajek declared her allegiance for Italian side Roma in the Europa League finalCredit: Instagram / Veronika Rajek
      The Slovakian model, 27, soaked up the atmosphere pre-match in BudapestCredit: Instagram / Veronika Rajek
      Rajek is a huge fan of the NFL but is currently back in Europe for the summerCredit: Instagram/veronikarajek
      Veronika made no secret of where her allegiances lay as she donned a red, green, and white outfit to support Italian side Roma.
      The Slovakian model paired knee-high red boots with a teasing green crop top as she took her seat at the Puskas Arena.
      Soaking up the atmosphere, she posed for selfies as the players warmed up in stifling Hungarian heat.
      Veronika shot to fame last fall after watching Brady play at Raymond James Stadium during his final NFL season.
      READ MORE ON VERONIKA RAJEK
      She revealed her “love” for the newly-single quarterback, while declaring her own body “too dangerous for social media”.
      Rajek has previously opened up on her childhood love for soccer in an exclusive interview with The U.S Sun.
      She explained: “My childhood love was David Beckham and I think he’s the best football player ever. I grew up in his era and admire him.
      “From the new age, it’s really tough to choose Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi because they’re both amazing but different.
      Most read in Football
      “I don’t watch football that much but I think they’re both GOATs.
      “When I was living in Milan, I had a friend Juraj Kucka who played for AC Milan so I watched them.”
      Rajek is hitting Europe after a whirlwind tour of the USA over the past two months.
      Usually based in Cancun, Mexico, the stunning model toured California, Nevada, and Florida during her sport-filled trip.
      Since arriving in Europe, she’s undertaken a glam makeover and showed off her new silver hair in her latest snaps on Instagram.
      The Europa League is the second-tier soccer competition in Europe, ranking just below the Champions League.
      It sees 58 clubs from around the continent fight it out in a tournament separate from their domestic leagues.
      Sevilla are targeting a record seventh title this season, while Roma has never won the competition.
      She shot to fame after watching the GOAT play for the Buccaneers last seasonCredit: Instagram/veronikarajek
      The Tom Brady superfan has almost 5m followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram/Veronika Rajek More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Harry Kane wears full NFL gear including helmet and pads but fans make cheeky jibe about Tottenham star switching sports

      by

      FANS could not resist making a cheeky jibe as Harry Kane went NFL crazy in a new Instagram post.Kane is a huge fan of American Football and even has his own limited edition NFL jersey – and previously revealed he would love to try himself as an NFL kicker after retiring from football.
      NFL nut Harry Kane has gone all-out as he posed in full American Football attireCredit: Instagram
      Fans could not resist a cheeky jibe in the photo comments of the Spurs and England aceCredit: Instagram
      The star is an ardent New England Patriots supporter and in 2019 went to the Super Bowl in Atlanta to cheer on his team as they battled it out with the LA Rams.
      In his latest show of love for the sport, the NFL UK’s Instagram channel shared a number of snaps of the star kitted out in full NFL gear.
      But football fans couldn’t resist taking the chance to have a cheeky dig – suggesting he should make the switch to the NFL in order to finally win some silverware.
      One wrote: “Time to try for a trophy… in the NFL”.
      READ MORE ON HARRY KANE
      Another said: “Might win a trophy with this new career venture @harrykane.”
      While another commented: “He should get a switch, might win a cup at NFL.”
      The Spurs ace, who has never won a trophy, previously revealed how he could see himself making his NFL debut one day as a kicker.
      He said: “That’s real. Something that in ten or 12 years I definitely want to try.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      “It goes back to that drive to be the best. Even if I download a game on my phone, can I be the best in the world?
      “If you play in the Premier League and the World Cup and you then play in the NFL, would you then be considered one of the greatest sportsmen ever?”
      And he added that NFL legend Tom Brady inspired him to become the football superstar he is today.
      Kane added: “I started watching him on YouTube, we’ve had a similar path being doubted when we were younger. Maybe not being the best athletes as kids.
      “It was quite a big inspiration. Not many people thought he’d become that good, or even play in the NFL, and he went on to become the best ever.
      “At the time, it gave me a real boost to say, look, anything is possible. If you have that self-belief and that drive and that hunger, you can do it.”
      The striker overtook Wayne Rooney to become the second-highest Premier League goalscorer on Saturday.
      Tottenham’s all-time top scorer, 29, headed in to earn a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
      That was his 209th strike in the Premier League, moving him one clear of Rooney on 208 and the current Three Lions captain, who is also our country’s all-time top scorer, is now just 51 goals behind Alan Shearer’s all-time record of 260 goals.
      Read More on The Sun
      Manchester United have made the star one of their top summer transfer targets as Kane’s future remains in the spotlight with just over a year left on his contract.
      It has been another year of disappointment for him at club level and he will end this season without landing that first trophy.
      Harry Kane has admitted he would like to make the switch to NFL after retirementCredit: Reuters
      The England captain previously revealed how he was inspired by NFL legend Tom BradyCredit: Getty More