Women’s tennis legend Serena Williams is in no mood to stay put, even after retirement. She loves achieving milestones, and it is time for one more for the American legend. Williams is all set to achieve a historic feat as she gets ready to host the ESPYs awards in July this year. She will become the fourth woman in history to host the prestigious award.
The American legend, who herself won 12 ESPYs during her illustrious career, will now be hosting the prestigious event in July 2024. The ESPYS will follow the July 10 premiere of “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” an eight-part series chronicling her career that airs on ESPN+.
Williams shared her feelings about this monumental feat for her. The 43-year-old said that she is excited to honor the achievers from the past year.
This is a dream come true for me, and something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It has been a sensational year for sports and an unprecedented one for female athletes. I can't wait to celebrate everyone onstage in July. Serena Williams said in a satement. (H/T: ESPN)
Notably, Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and Russell Wilson co-hosted the 2020 show, which was virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Danica Patrick was the first woman to host solo in 2018, soon after her retirement from auto racing.
Just like any other award, Serena Williams dominated the ESPYs as well. She swept away the Best Female Tennis Player award almost every time she was nominated. Williams also won the Best Female Athlete award a few times.
The American tennis legend last won this ward in 2019. In 2022, Britain’s Emma Raducanu won the award for Best Female Tennis Player while Naomi Osaka won it in 2021. This year, Iga Swiatek looks set to sweep away with the award considering her performance in the 2023 season.
The Polish ace won the French Open and then ended the season with the WTA Finals title in Cancun. She also finished as the World No. 1 player and got back her throne soon after she lost it to Aryna Sabalenka. In the men’s category, Novak Djokovic might pip everyone for the fact that he won three of the four Grand Slam titles.
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The Houston Astros (72–58) are on pace to make the postseason for the ninth consecutive season, entering Sunday with a three-game lead in the AL West. A huge reason for the team’s success has once again been the face of the franchise, Jose Altuve. The 35-year-old veteran has been a driving force in the offense, posting a .278 batting average, .341 on-base percentage, .801 OPS, 22 home runs, and 64 RBIs across 126 games. His durability has been crucial for an Astros team that’s dealt with injuries to several key players—most notably left-handed slugger Yordan Alvarez, who’s been sidelined since May 2 with a fractured right hand. Yordan Alvarez Could Rejoin Astros During Upcoming Homestand On Sunday, an update surfaced on Alvarez’s potential return after he began his rehab assignment earlier this week. Manager Joe Espada announced that Alvarez could rejoin the big-league roster during the team’s upcoming homestand beginning Tuesday. "Presuming Yordan Alvarez comes out of today’s Double-A game feeling good, there is a “strong possibility” he rejoins the Astros during their homestand that starts on Tuesday, Joe Espada said," wrote The Athletic's Chandler Rome. Alvarez’s Return Creates Lineup Dilemma for Joe Espada This comes at a pivotal time for Houston, as they prepare for a playoff push and look to reinsert one of the most feared hitters in the league. Alvarez, a three-time All-Star, has gone 5-for-8 with three doubles and two walks in his first two rehab games for Double-A Corpus Christi. However, with Altuve primarily handling DH duties in Alvarez’s absence, Espada will need to decide who returns to the field full-time. Alvarez was already a defensive liability before the injury, making it unlikely he’ll see regular starts in left field. That would force Altuve back to second base full-time, which could be taxing on the aging veteran and potentially impact his offensive production. It would also push trade deadline acquisition Ramon Urias out of his current infield role, creating a ripple effect across the lineup. Alvarez’s return will undoubtedly inject power back into the Astros’ offense, but it also presents a challenge for Espada as he balances health, defense, and lineup continuity heading into October.
Deshaun Watson has become somewhat of a forgotten figure regarding the Cleveland Browns' unique quarterback situation that could involve the club having starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders on the roster for its Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. For an article published on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that Watson will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season after he suffered a torn Achilles last October and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. However, it sounds like the Browns haven't yet completely closed the door on Watson returning to the active roster before Week 18 wraps up. "He’s coming along well in his rehab from his re-torn Achilles repair and could be ready to go later in the season," Cabot wrote about Watson. "Whether or not the Browns will activate him remains to be seen, but they’ve been happy with how he’s attacked his rehab and how he’s helped the other QBs, especially Gabriel and Sanders." Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts with the Browns since he received a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract from the club in March 2022. He served an 11-game suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions to open his first campaign with Cleveland. His 2023 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder issue. He then lost six of seven starts last season before he went down with the initial Achilles injury. It was suggested earlier this month that Watson could essentially force the Browns to move him to the 53-man roster if he's cleared to play this coming fall. Such a scenario theoretically would result in Cleveland having to part ways with a different signal-caller. While the previously mentioned Sanders is clearly fourth on Cleveland's current depth chart, Cabot wrote that the Browns like the rookie "a lot and will continue to develop him." Cabot added that "the Browns have always planned to keep four quarterbacks and will only pivot if someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse." Pickett presumably would become the odd man out regarding such a potential trade. Still, he first needs to fully recover from the hamstring injury he picked up on July 26 that kept him from playing in any preseason games. Meanwhile, Watson will continue his recovery behind the scenes after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said earlier this year that Cleveland "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." The Browns reportedly could escape Watson's deal next offseason.
The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled overall during the past few seasons for various reasons. Still, Las Vegas has some of the best talent in the National Football League at more than one position on the field. Sooner or later, the Raiders' top talent will cost them more. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports analyzed which players have a contract on the horizon that could potentially make them the highest-paid at their respective positions. It undoubtedly appears that the Raiders have one of those players on the roster. Raiders second-year tight end Brock Bowers has already set history on the field. If he continues to do so, he could also set records at the negotiation table. At the very least, Bowers is arguably the league's best tight end after only one season and could one day become the highest-paid TE. "One year after Sam LaPorta had an instant impact as the Lions' top tight end, Bowers followed suit with an even more prolific rookie campaign in Las Vegas. This is an aging position with vets like George Kittle and Travis Kelce pacing the market. Bowers already represents the future, fresh off a rookie-record 112 catches for the Raiders," Benjamin said. Following training camp, Raiders quarterback Geno Smith praised Bowers' work ethic. The two have already built chemistry on the field, after only being teammates for a short period of time. The Raiders look to get the most out of the duo of Smith and Bowers. "Yeah, all these guys, all these guys, man. The thing about Brock is he's an extremely hard worker. When you have guys like that who are that talented, but the work ethic matches the talent, the sky is always the limit. So, I think we have a lot of guys like that. I think about Mike [Mayer] when I think about guys like that, Tre [Tucker] and Jakobi [Meyers], just really solid dudes, man, just great people, and then outstanding athletes as well. Yeah, thank God I'm here. I feel really good about it," Smith said. Bowers looks to follow up his historic rookie season with another productive one. While most players hit the vaunted sophomore slump, it does not seem like that will be an issue for Bowers. The talented tight end has had a solid training camp and looks like an improved player heading into the 2025 season. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and @EZTrez_SI and weigh in on this take. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss this take.
Another tough decision has been made by the Philadelphia Eagles with a guy who was going to be on the 53-man roster at the beginning of training camp, but now is looking for a new home. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Eagles are releasing second-year wide receiver Ainias Smith from the roster. The former fifth-round pick in 2024 caught seven passes for 41 yards and one touchdown in seven games. He battled through preseason and training camp to make the roster, as he was also a special teams returner. Smith finished the preseason with six receptions for 40 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two kickoff returns for 38 yards and four punt returns for 63 yards. His biggest play of the preseason came in the first game against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he got a 46-yard punt return late in the first half to set up a touchdown for the Eagles' offense. What happened with Smith's roster spot and what's next for the Eagles? There are multiple factors that impacted Smith's chances of making the roster. The Eagles trading for John Metchie III directly impacted Smith, as Metchie was seen as the number four wide receiver behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson. Another aspect is the emergence of undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper. It was clear that Cooper was one of the top receivers on the team and, by the end of training camp, had built a strong relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Smith's only shot of making the 53-man roster appears to have been through special teams. He had a great start with the big return in the first game, but struggled against the New York Jets with some miscues in the return game that might have hurt his chances to make the team. The Eagles are more than likely looking at Smith as a good candidate for the practice squad. He has performed well enough that if more injuries to the wide receivers happen, he could step in and help. Philly's wide receiver room is going to look much different in 2025 with Smith gone and Johnny Wilson out for the season to injury. The question is whether Cooper did enough himself to make the roster.
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