Welcome to Storyflo Daily Sports. I'm Sara. Today, the sports world is buzzing with controversy and change.
In a move that is being widely panned, the US Men's National Team notified players cut from the World Cup roster via email, a stark contrast to the personal touch shown by former coach Jurgen Klinsmann. According to a report from Awful Announcing, even former player Herculez Gomez expressed shock and disappointment at the practice, calling it "inexcusable." Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino's staff defended the decision, pointing to the lack of emotional attachment with the players involved. (Awful Announcing)
In cricket, England team head coach Brendon McCullum is vowing to get tough on player behavior, especially when it comes to alcohol use during away tours. The move comes after issues arose during England's winter tours of New Zealand and Australia. McCullum has promised to "use a firm grip" on his team's behavior, acknowledging that mistakes were made during the tours. (The Guardian Sport)
The sports world is also reeling from the news of several high-profile arrests, including that of Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who faces five criminal charges, including a felony count of strangulation. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur would not comment directly on the matter but stated that the team will let the process play out. Jacobs's attorneys, however, have denied the charges. (PFT alt)
For some teams, the focus has shifted to their rosters. With their offseason work underway, the New England Patriots are rumored to be looking to strengthen their group of wideouts, potentially in the wake of a possible trade for Arizona Cardinals receiver A.J. Brown. (PFT alt)
In the world of college football, the SEC is taking a step in the right direction by eliminating its "cupcake weekend" schedule, which saw top teams scheduling FCS or low-tier FBS opponents in the penultimate week of the regular season. According to Awful Announcing, the move comes after the conference expanded its schedule from eight games to nine, and the practice will be phased out by 2027. (Awful Announcing)
UFC fans, meanwhile, are eagerly awaiting a potential showdown between lightweight champions Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. However, according to a report from MMA Fighting, the promotion itself may be the reason why the fight is not happening next. Topuria has stated that the UFC doesn't seem interested in making the fight, despite his own desire to face Makhachev. (MMA Fighting)
Finally, New York and New Jersey have launched an investigation into Fifa's ticketing practices around the 2026 World Cup, focusing specifically on the matches due to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The investigation centers on fans who claim they were misled about the location of their seats and the inflated prices seen throughout the tournament. According to a report from The Guardian Sport, the joint investigation is being run by the state attorneys general. (The Guardian Sport)
Sara out.
