5 h. ago ‘An absolute privilege’: Australia’s octogenarian basketball team know it’s never to late to don the green and gold

For over-80s at the world championships, the game is played on a smaller court with extended shot clocks – and in this age category, competition can sometimes feature courtside defibrillationOscar Carlson describes himself, rather self-deprecatingly, as “just an old bloke that does stuff”. Only doing stuff – in this 84-year-old’s case – extends to representing his country on the international sporting stage.Last month, Carlson was a member of the Australian 80-year plus men’s team at the World Maxibasketball Championship in Switzerland. The Boomer Boomers, if you will. The championships feature national teams in age categories from 35-plus and upwards; games are played under ordinary basketball rules, with minor modifications for older age categories – including an extended shot clock and smaller courts.Coach Adrian Hurley (top left) addresses the team during a timeout in a game Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Late tweaks to Trump tax bill create green power winners and losers

Companies that build industrial-scale wind and solar hit hardest while those in residential solar rally

Politics

3 w. ago Senegal women’s basketball team denied US visas, prime minister says

The visa denials come amid a push by the Trump administration to have countries improve vetting travelers

Politics

3 w. ago Senegal women's basketball team members denied US visas, prime minister says

The Senegalese women’s basketball team has scrapped plans to train in the U.S. for the upcoming AfroBasket tournament in the Ivory Coast next month after several players and team officials had their visas denied

Politics

3 w. ago ‘How did I get here?’: GB basketball captain Temi Fágbénlé’s journey from shy London teen to WNBA

Britain’s driving force on EuroBasket prospects, playing alongside Caitlin Clark and the importance of a team mentality at the highest level“It’s great to be back with Great Britain,” Temi Fágbénlé says, her voice carrying the quiet confidence of a seasoned international basketball player. “I come from the WNBA but I’m glad I was able to make both work.” For the captain of GB’s women’s basketball team, balancing the demands of the world’s premier league with national team duties is a familiar tightrope walk. “I’m thankful teams see European competition as a priority for some of us. They’ve accommodated where they could.”EuroBasket, a biennial competition, is one of the biggest international tournaments in the game. It is also a qualifying metric for the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. With the 2025 edition under way, Fágbénlé’s presence is crucial as one of the leading WNBA players choosing to play in an international tournament during the season. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The $10bn LA Lakers sale proves sports have outgrown billionaires

The Lakers’ record sale underscores how owning elite sports franchises is increasingly beyond even the wealthiest individuals, shifting power toward corporate consortiumsThe sale of the Los Angeles Lakers is many things.First of all, it is a record. The glitziest team in basketball is changing hands at a valuation of $10bn, the biggest ever for a sports franchise. Second, it is probably an excellent deal for the buyer, even at that astonishing valuation. And third, the shift in majority ownership from the Buss family to an investment group led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, is something else: inevitable. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago The $10bn LA Lakers sale proves sports have outgrown even most billionaires

The Lakers’ record sale underscores how owning elite sports franchises is increasingly beyond even the wealthiest individuals, shifting power toward corporate consortiumsThe sale of the Los Angeles Lakers is many things.First of all, it is a record. The glitziest team in basketball is changing hands at a valuation of $10bn, the biggest ever for a sports franchise. Second, it is probably an excellent deal for the buyer, even at that astonishing valuation. And third, the shift in majority ownership from the Buss family to an investment group led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, is something else: inevitable. Continue reading...

Economics