Father Time has held Andy Murray firmly in his grasp for years now, but the three-time major champion has refused to go gently into that good night. Until now, that is.
Following constant injury struggles, Murray is ready to conclude his Hall of Fame career and enjoy what life has in store for him post-tennis. He is set to retire after competing in the Paris Summer Olympics, but emotions have been particularly high during his last stand at Wimbledon.
The British athlete is one of the most beloved payers to take the grass court at Church Road, a love affair that is forever bonded by his momentous championship victories in 2013 and 2016. Despite devastatingly being forced to withdraw from the men’s singles draw after undergoing surgery on a spinal cyst only a couple weeks ago, the 37-year-old is sharing one final Wimbledon experience with his family, friends, peers and legions of supporters.
Murray competed in doubles with older brother Jamie Murray on Thursday, falling in straight sets in the opening round. He was honored with a touching tribute video post-match, which featured the best of his era– Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams also paid homage to him, while sister Serena Williams, arguably the greatest women’s player of all-time, shared her own message for Murray on Friday.
“Congratulations to you Andy Murray for such an incredible career,” she said in a video posted on X. “I have to say, I’ve always enjoyed watching you. One of the main reasons is because you were one of the few players who would be more angry than me on the court, which is a very hard thing to do…But to me, it was the most exciting thing to watch.”
Williams recalled the time she spent on the court with Andy Murray at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, as the two advanced to the third round of mixed doubles play in 2019. She called the experience “one of the highlights of my life.” Additionally, the 23-time major champ made sure to spotlight Murray’s commitment to women’s rights.
“I also hold a special place in my heart to you because you always speak out so much for women and everything that women deserve,” Williams said. “You were the leader in that. The things you said about myself and Venus, so many things about how we were always so inspiring and what we meant to you, it really went such a long way in my heart.”
@andy_murray pic.twitter.com/Gp56oiyDVt
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 5, 2024
The lasting impact Murray had on the game can often be overshadowed due to the legends he battled, and the prolonged decline his career endured. He consistently suffered defeat at the hands of The Big Three, embodying the phrase, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” for so long.
Andy Murray caught the bouquet, eventually, though, and did so in grand fashion on more than one occasion. His 2013 Wimbledon win mercilessly ended a 77-year drought for men’s British tennis, as a whole country erupted in elation and tearful joy. Now, it is the former world No. 1 who is shedding tears for the outpouring of love he is receiving from London, England.
After hoisting the trophy twice and winning an Olympic Gold Medal there as well in 2012 (also won gold in 2016 Rio Games), Murray is eager to seize one more Wimbledon moment. He and 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu will be in mixed doubles action on Saturday, with a packed crowd sure to be in attendance for the Brits.
The outcome of the match will likely be of secondary importance to the overwhelming amount of gratitude that will be expressed and reciprocated.
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The Miami Dolphins need to make an attitude adjustment after their joint practice with the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall on Friday. Per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, the Bears' defense came out aggressive at the practice and took multiple cheap shots at Dolphins offensive players like wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, running back De'Von Achane and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Kelly claimed the Bears' defense tackled Tagovailoa multiple times on Friday, which goes against how most joint practices are conducted, where quarterbacks are protected. Kelly thinks the Dolphins coaching staff didn't stick up for their offensive players because they were afraid they'd help perpetuate their stigma of being soft. "What you gonna do ... You gonna cry about it and say, 'Hey, you're hitting me too hard.' Like, what do you do?" Kelly said on an episode of "Dolphins in Depth" on Saturday. "But it was dirty. It was, without a doubt. Tua was hit multiple times, put on the ground multiple times practice ... What are you going to do when you know your team's reputation, you know the world, the league perceives you as soft, and here you go." Kelly didn't like how the offense responded to the Bears' bullying of the offense, accusing Miami of folding before practice ended. "Now what I didn't like is, as you know if you're a Dolphin(s) fan, they get punched in the mouth, they fold," Kelly said. "They got punched in the mouth, and you watch them fold during the 11 on 11 periods in practice." The Dolphins needed to respond with likewise energy against the Chicago defense. Miami's coaching staff should be concerned the offense didn't want to fight back after watching Tagovailoa suffer multiple hits at a joint practice. By not complaining about the cheap shots and instead deciding to fold, the Dolphins chose to continue adding to the list of evidence that head coach Mike McDaniel's teams are soft.
The Dallas Cowboys have not been able to come to an agreement with Micah Parsons on a long-term contract extension, but that does not mean the team has any plans to shop the star pass-rusher in trade talks. Parsons, who is making just over $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season, publicly requested a trade from the Cowboys on Aug. 1. There have now been questions about whether he will report to work before Week 1. While Parsons has refused to practice in training camp, he traveled to Los Angeles with the Cowboys for their preseason game against the Rams on Saturday night. Before kickoff, Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones said he was pleased with Parsons' decision to join the team. Jones also said the Cowboys "have no intention of trading Micah." It is a positive sign for the Cowboys that Parsons chose to be on the sideline for Saturday's exhibition game. The 26-year-old has also been with his teammates at training camp, though he has not been practicing. From a contractual standpoint, Parsons has very little leverage. He would have to forfeit game checks if he were to skip regular-season games, and his contract would eventually toll and carry over into 2026 if he were to sit out long enough. The Cowboys also still have the franchise tag available to use on Parsons in both 2026 and 2027. All Parsons can do is create a headache for the Cowboys, which has been a successful strategy for many players in the past. For what it's worth, a different Dallas star who had a contract standoff with the team last year believes the situation will eventually be resolved. Jones and his father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, have made it clear that they will not entertain trade offers at this time. Parsons had 12 sacks in 13 games last season, so there is no question the team is better with him on the field. He has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games and is arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL when healthy.
Los Angeles Lakers big man Maxi Kleber hasn't been viewed favorably by the team's fan base this offseason. While a few loyal fans have shown support for him, he has primarily been perceived as a trade chip. This hasn't deterred the 33-year-old from working on himself. With the promise of a better performance in the upcoming season, Kleber posted a video of himself showcasing elite athleticism, providing a taste of what Lakers fans can look forward to. Given that Kleber only suited up for the Purple and Gold once, fans weren't sure what to expect. After viewing his explosive dunk and shredded physique in this latest video, however, the fans were in awe. With several fans sharing their reactions on social media, we check out some of the best ones from X. "This video can't be recent... if so, Jaxson, get ready to learn benchwarming buddy," joked one fan. One faithful user defended Kleber and said, "Don’t start hyping him up now after y'all wanted him traded." "He windmilling now?" added one fan, still in shock. "That contract year will have players acting different," responded another. "Bruh, I didn't know Kleber had bounce like this," stated one user. "I may be in the minority... I want to see Maxi stretch the floor," added one fan, presenting their strategies. Another faithful user shared, "Lakers better hold onto him." "He better do that s**t during the season," joked another fan. "Ain't no way what?" said another surprised fan. "I'm good with Maxi Kleber staying on the team," stated one user, convinced of the big man's abilities. Although Kleber hasn't had the opportunity to showcase the extent of his abilities with the Lakers, there's reason to believe that he could be a valuable contributor on the team. Given his experience of playing alongside Luka Doncic, the veteran big man already positions himself as a capable option with established chemistry with the Lakers' superstar. His athletic ability, along with his shooting skills, have kept defenses honest, creating gaps on the floor for his teammates to exploit. Apart from the tangible skills, Kleber is also presented as a high-IQ player, with Lakers head coach JJ Redick even raving about the big man's intelligence. This could also be a vital aspect of ensuring his place in the rotation. The only challenge for the 33-year-old is that he is simply a good player in a complex situation with the Lakers. The Purple and Gold have title aspirations, and to fulfill this, the team has made necessary moves to improve its roster strength. To continue with this process, the Lakers could make upgrades by leveraging their trade assets, and Kleber happens to be one of them. As an expiring contract worth $11.0 million, the Lakers could package Kleber along with some other pieces to acquire another key rotation player. While this may not favor the veteran, it is a move to satisfy the team's immediate roster needs. Regardless, it is apparent that Kleber has value. Should Los Angeles choose to retain him, they will have a solid contributor off the bench to shore up their big man rotation.
Miles Norris is coming off his rookie season in the NBA where he appeared in three games for the Boston Celtics. The 25-year-old had averages of 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 22.2% from the field and 28.6% from the three-point range. On Sunday, the Celtics announced that they had waived Norris. Via Bobby Manning of Celtics on CLNS: "Surprised to see Miles Norris go after a strong finish to last season with Maine. Could really shoot the ball. #Celtics betting on a more rounded game in RJ Luis, whose upside flashed at St. John's before a rough combine left him undrafted. Luis is 23 this season." Norris had a very strong year in the G League where he averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.5% from the three-point range in 30 games (27 starts).