LeBron James announced last night that he would join the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency and sign a four-year, $154 million contract after four seasons with his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers. A four-time Most Valuable Player, he led the Miami Heat to two titles and added a third with the Cavaliers in 2016 - but despite playing in eight straight finals he's been frustrated as his teams have so often fallen short of the Golden State Warriors.
If Vladimir Putin only knew that football always gives you a chance. In his column this morning, Ken Early reflects on Russia's World Cup last-16 upset against Spain; "The old Spain could not have had a greater share of the ball, but they would have been more decisive with it. Now Spain looked like they were trying to remember a language they used to know but hadn't spoken for years." Today, Brazil take on Mexico at 3pm, while in the day's other last-16 clash Belgium face Japan. Following the exits of Germany, Portugal, Argentina and Spain, all eyes will be on Brazil and whether they can avoid a similar fate: "If Mexico can block out the noise, they may run Brazil close. For Tite's pack of wolves, though, negotiating their way through the pandemonium their presence brings to a major tournament should be second nature."
Malachy Clerkin looks at what Mayo's shock qualifier round three defeat to Kildare means for the Championship, and the future of this Mayo team. Can they come back from this or is their quest for Sam Maguire over? "July dawns and for the first time in eight years, being a Mayo football supporter means you're looking backwards instead of forwards . . . "
In his column this morning, Nicky English explains why Galway are no longer looking an unassailable prospect following their Leinster final draw with Kilkenny; "Kilkenny will feel that if they can improve they have a shot at winning the Leinster final replay while Clare, Cork, Limerick and Wexford will all believe, rightly, that Galway are no longer an unassailable prospect."
Francesco Molinari clinched his first PGA Tour title in style, an emphatic eight-shot romp at the Quicken Loans National in Maryland on Sunday as Tiger Woods finished equal fourth. Meanwhile Alex Noren staged a remarkable fightback to claim the HNA Open de France title. Shane Lowry was the best of the Irish as he carded a final round of 70 to finish tied for 16th at two under par and claim 90,860 much-needed Race to Dubai points.
