Yardbarker

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

EXPERTISE:

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, US Soccer, UFC

Report: Showdown talks between Lionel Messi's father, Barcelona go nowhere

Showdown talks between Jorge Messi, father of and agent for superstar Lionel Messi, and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu went nowhere after two hours of a back-and-forth conversation that was said to be tense. 

Clippers expect Patrick Beverley to play vs. Nuggets on Thursday

Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters he believes point guard Patrick Beverley will be able to feature versus Denver after the 32-year-old missed five straight outings due to a calf strain.

Sean Payton expects Alvin Kamara to play for Saints in Week 1

Kamara returned to practice sessions following a few unexcused absences.

Georgia QB Jamie Newman opts out of season to prepare for 2021 NFL Draft

After transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia, Newman was expected to start for the Bulldogs.

Shane Bieber, Yu Darvish earn Pitcher of the Month honors

Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that Cleveland Indians right-hander Shane Bieber won American League Pitcher of the Month, while Chicago Cubs righty Yu Darvish earned the National League honor.

Gareth Bale would consider Premier League return if Real Madrid will sell him

Bale left Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for Madrid in September 2013 and went on to hoist the Champions League trophy on four occasions with the Spanish giants.

Pirates to wear No. 21 on jerseys for Roberto Clemente Day

The No. 21 jerseys worn on Sept. 9 will be auctioned after the game, and all proceeds from those sales will benefit the Clemente Foundation and Pirates Charities.

Iowa State reverses course, announces no fans for football home opener

On Monday, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg explained that the local communities surrounding Iowa State and Iowa have both reported concerning increases in coronavirus cases since students returned to those campuses for fall terms.

Jay Wright not interested in 76ers job, staying at Villanova

Wright is the second big-name college coach to recently reject NBA opportunities.

Notre Dame-Wake Forest game relocated to Truist Field with no fans

Fans who held tickets for this contest can turn all or a portion of the purchase into a contribution, request a full refund, or roll the funds over toward a credit for the 2021 season.

Manchester United confirm Donny van de Beek signing

The young Holland international helped Ajax win the league and domestic cup double during the 2018-19 campaign, and he was a key figure in the club's underdog run to the 2019 Champions League semifinal that included upsets of Real Madrid and Juventus.

Serena Williams passes Chris Evert for most U.S. Open match wins

Tennis living legend Serena Williams makes history even when she doesn't produce a dominating victory.  

Nebraska athletic director says 'nothing to' Oct. 10 start date for Big Ten football

Rumors of the Big Ten reversing course and planning for a fall football season amid the coronavirus pandemic may have been exaggerated.

NFL finalizing policies for artificial crowd noise

European soccer leagues were the first to add artificial crowd noise to broadcasts amid the pandemic. MLB is pumping video-game crowd sounds into ballparks that can be heard by the players and those directly outside of the venues.

Andy Murray survives U.S. Open scare, comes back from two sets down

Andy Murray completed a 10th career comeback from down two sets and survived a match point to topple Yoshihito Nishioka in his U.S. Open first-round match.

Watch: Giants coach Joe Judge gets dirty in slip-and-slide fumble drill

Don't think for a second that new New York Giants head coach Joe Judge isn't afraid to get down and dirty with his team.

Lions' Taylor Decker signs six-year extension, agents claim

Decker missed eight games in 2017 due to injury.

L.A. Kings sign Austin Wagner to three-year extension

The Kings failed to qualify for the 24-team model to crown a Stanley Cup champion because they were ahead of only the San Jose Sharks in points among Western Conference teams when the NHL halted play on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Saints open to trading RB Alvin Kamara?

The Saints could retain Kamara's rights for the 2021 campaign via the franchise tag.

UFC boss Dana White would consider Brock Lesnar-Jon Jones superfight

Money talks, and it seems Lesnar, Jones and the UFC are all listening as summer comes to an end. 

Big Ten targeting Oct. 10 for start of football?

Big Ten football fans may have reason to believe member schools will play this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Report: NCAA considering multiple cities for basketball 'bubble' sites

An NCAA update on the states of 2020-21 basketball calendars is expected by mid-September, but that could be pushed back if the Big Ten is seriously reconsidering its decision to postpone football and other fall sports. 

Inter Milan out of Lionel Messi sweepstakes?

ESPN reported on Tuesday that Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, is flying for a Wednesday meeting with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to orchestrate his son's exit.

NFL, NFLPA confirm 10 positive coronavirus results in latest round of testing

The update suggests the league and union can move forward with plans to get the 2020 season underway on Sept. 10 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans.

Athletics-Mariners series finale Thursday postponed in wake of positive coronavirus test

The league previously called off the first two fixtures of the midweek series between Oakland and Seattle due to coronavirus concerns.