0:09
‘Keep believing’: Arthur Fery sticks to tried and trusted for Wimbledon quarter-final
Arthur Fery heads into his first Wimbledon quarter‑final with confidence. He’s a British wildcard who’s surprised everyone with a deep run.
Fery says he’ll stick to the routine that got him here. He feels good about his preparation and refuses to tweak anything now.
The player emphasizes belief in himself, refusing to let go of
0:36
Report: 2030 World Cup rights could hit $2 billion
So the 2030 World Cup is already generating a lot of interest from big media companies. Disney, Netflix, and YouTube are all looking to bid on the rights, and Amazon might join in too. The price tag is expected to be huge, with companies budgeting between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for the package. That's a big jump from the $485 million Fox is paying for the current World Cup.
FIFA wants to bundle the English- and Spanish-language broadcasts for 2030, which could make it a more attractive package for bidders. Telemundo currently has the Spanish-language rights in the US. The 2030 World Cup is going to be a big deal, with games played on three continents and in six countries.
NBC is also interested in bidding, but they're not willing to pay $2 billion for the rights. This could get interesting, since the next World Cup coincides with the start of new NFL deals. Some companies might have to choose between the two, given the high price tags. It'll be worth watching to see how this all plays out.
1:39
Marcellus Wiley responds to divorce allegations
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Former NFL defensive end and ESPN/Fox personality Marcellus Wiley has found himself in a very public, and very ugly, divorce. It started over the weekend with his arrest for domestic battery and it continued on Monday, when his wife Annemarie filed for a divorce and sought a restraining order against him.
Her court filings made multiple allegations of rape against Wiley.
"I love my children with everything I am," Marcellus Wiley posted on Twitter. "My highest priority has always been protecting them and preserving the relationship they have with both of their parents. Because of the public allegations made against me by Annemarie, I have been forced to respond with evidence rather than emotion. More importantly, I owe it to my children to truthfully document what they and I have endured.
"To do that, I must address the lies Annemarie has told about me by telling the truth about her and our marriage. Over the years, I have compiled videos, photographs, text messages, emails, and other evidence that directly contradicts those baseless claims and provides a factual record of our family and the events leading to this unfortunate divorce. That record includes evidence of Annemarie’s repeated infidelity — including an affair with her pregnant friend’s husband —s erious and damaging parenting failures, a 'voodoo spell' she cursed over my family, as well as fans she claimed 'hated her' from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, along with many, many other unflattering documented events. To be frank, many friends, family members, and fans have opined that after she was kicked off The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she lost her mind! Unfortunately, I must agree.
"I never wanted my family’s issues and struggles to become public for any reason, including divorce leverage. But I unfortunately knew this day was inevitable. I was willing to endure anything — even hell itself — if it meant being with my children every single day. I am their hero, and now I am fighting to make sure the positive and real image they know of me is the one that endures.
"I am prepared to address these allegations and related matters through the legal process and with evidence. My focus remains on my children, my integrity, and the truth. Thanks for your understanding."
Now, the situation will play out in court, with two sharply different versions of reality. Regardless of who's telling the truth and who isn't, the situation is very sad for their children.
4:06
Darren Fletcher on Fox World Cup broadcast: ‘VAR is the bane of my life’
Darren Fletcher, play-by-play announcer for Fox's World Cup broadcast, expressed frustration with VAR during a round-of-16 match between Switzerland and Colombia. Fletcher felt the referee should have taken another look at a play where Colombia's Jáminton Campaz drew contact from Switzerland's Miro Muheim, which could have been a penalty.
Fletcher was "very surprised" the referee didn't review the play further, and he agreed with rules analyst Dr. Joe Machnik that it was worth another look. The VAR system has been a point of contention in the soccer world, with many, including Fox color commentator Rob Green, criticizing its use.
Fletcher's son even chimed in with a message saying the play was a "definite penalty," which only added to Fletcher's frustration. The VAR system has been criticized for its inconsistent decisions and overreach, and Fletcher's comments reflect the growing discontent with the system.
5:06
Sean Payton mused about stepping down for Bill Belichick, until he broke wins record
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A new article from Seth Wickersham of ESPN takes a look at Broncos coach Sean Payton's hectic week before the AFC Championship. While taking a look at it, one thing stood out.
After the Patriots fired coach Bill Belichick following the 2023 season, Payton (who had just finished his first year with the Broncos) "considered suggesting" to owner Greg Penner that Payton would step back to the position of assistant head coach, running the offense. Belichick would hold the job until he won 15 games, breaking Don Shula's all-time record of 347.
Belichick has 333 total wins, 14 behind Shula. (As regular-season wins go, Shula has 26 more than Belichick: 328 to 302.)
Wickersham explains that, "[i]n the end, it was too complicated — and maybe too fanciful."
It was, as we understand it, Payton simply thinking out loud. It would have been practically impossible, but he at least formulated the thought out of his respect for Belichick.
Ultimately, it may have been the only way for Belichick to catch Shula. With only one NFL interview in three hiring cycles (including a 2026 turnover that had 10 open jobs), Belichick's NFL door seems to be closed.
6:20
Egypt coach rails against FIFA following Argentina loss: ‘There’s no justice in this competition’
Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan is fuming after his team's 3-2 loss to Argentina in the World Cup Round of 16. He's pointing fingers at FIFA, claiming there's no justice in the competition. A disputed VAR decision cost Egypt a goal, with the call coming after a foul 100 yards away from the incident. The decision was widely criticized by Fox commentators and others, but VAR stood by it. Egypt scored again, but Argentina staged a late comeback led by Lionel Messi to win. Hassan's criticism doesn't stop there - he also blasted the start time of the match, saying it was poorly scheduled. He even went as far as to suggest that the outcome was predetermined, with Argentina receiving support at every level.
7:09
FIFA opens investigation into Argentina fans’ racist taunts toward streamer iShowSpeed
While broadcasting in-stadium for each of Argentina’s past two games in the FIFA World Cup, streamer iShowSpeed has faced racist taunts from the South American country’s fans.
Now, FIFA has reportedly opened an investigation into the fans’ behavior.
The most recent incident came Tuesday when, after Lionel Messi helped lead a thrilling comeback victory over Egypt, an Argentina fan seated above Speed’s staging area performed a monkey-like pantomime toward him while others shouted insults.
Last week while streaming at Argentina’s win over Cape Verde, a different fan told Speed, in Spanish, to “Go cry at the zoo.”
Speed, perhaps the most popular live-streamer in the world, is a Black American who came to fame in part because of his fierce love for the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, whose rivalry with Messi fuels much of soccer’s online fan culture.
Shortly before the Argentina-Egypt game on Tuesday, FIFA announced it had opened an investigation. The incident after the latest match would seemingly be addressed as part of this investigation.
“FIFA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms,” the organization said in a statement. “These actions have no place in football, at the FIFA World Cup, or anywhere in society.”
“The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity and respect,” FIFA added. “It brings together people, cultures and communities from around the world, and anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in our game.”
Racist taunts and online harassment are a constant problem for soccer across the world, especially toward Black players and figures in the sport.
Speed, who is partnering with Fox during the World Cup to simulcast games alongside his “IRL” (in-real-life) streams, has become well-known as an ambassador for soccer. He has welcomed FIFA president Gianni Infantino onto his broadcasts and partnered with several competitions and broadcasters to introduce his fanbase to the game. Though his love for soccer seemingly began with his support for Ronaldo, Speed engages with the Messi rivalry jovially and has streamed from several of Messi’s games.
Speed has not, however, publicly addressed either confrontation with Argentinian fans.
The post FIFA opens investigation into Argentina fans’ racist taunts toward streamer iShowSpeed appeared first on Awful Announcing.
9:33
There is reportedly ‘tension’ between Fox, NBC as Telemundo courts English speakers for World Cup
Telemundo’s effort to bring English speakers to the network for its World Cup coverage is reportedly causing some “tension” between Fox, the English-language rightsholder, and NBCUniversal, which owns Telemundo.
In a report outlining media companies interested in securing rights to the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, CNBC reporter Alex Sherman noted that FIFA may choose to package English-language and Spanish-language rights together, for one media partner, rather than splitting the rights in two. Sherman writes that packaging these rights together could help “eliminate some tensions between rival media companies airing the same games.”
The report goes on to explain that Telemundo has claimed “some unknown population of English speakers” who are watching the games via Peacock, which has “dampened” Fox’s potential World Cup reach. According to a recent report by NPR, 20 percent of Telemundo’s World Cup viewers say English is their “primary language.”
It seems Telemundo has been intentional about this initiative as well. The network tapped actor Owen Wilson, who is not Latino nor known to speak Spanish, for an ad campaign ahead of the World Cup. A Telemundo announcer even broke into English during a recent match, thanking non-Spanish-speaking viewers for tuning in.
The trend isn’t all that surprising, either. Viewers who consume content solely through streaming, rather than a traditional multichannel package or antenna, can purchase a Peacock subscription for $10.99 per month and access every game during the World Cup. Fox One, on the other hand, runs $19.99 per month.
Outside of price, there seems to be a cohort of English-speaking viewers that simply prefer Telemundo’s coverage to Fox’s, be that for the exciting goal calls, not cutting to commercial during hydration breaks, or avoiding Alexi Lalas.
To be sure, Telemundo has more than carried its weight from a viewership perspective this World Cup. Through the group stage, the network was averaging 4.6 million viewers per match, about half of which is coming via streaming on Peacock. Fox, by comparison, was averaging just over 5 million viewers per match through the group stage. If the one-in-five Telemundo viewers whose primary language is English opted to watch on Fox instead, Fox would stand to bring in millions more viewers throughout the span of the World Cup.
According to Sherman, this tension is, in part, why FIFA will look to sell both the English and Spanish rights together for its next two men’s World Cups.
The post There is reportedly ‘tension’ between Fox, NBC as Telemundo courts English speakers for World Cup appeared first on Awful Announcing.
12:14
Charles Barkley declined Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding invite: ‘It was going to be a crap show’
Charles Barkley was invited to the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, but he politely declined. He told a Philly radio show that he didn't think it was his scene, calling it a "crap show." Barkley said he loves Travis and Jason, but didn't want to dress up and hang out with the crowds. He's not a fan of weddings or funerals, and prefers to spend his time playing golf. Barkley's decision to skip the wedding didn't come as a surprise, given his reputation for being a straight shooter. It's worth noting that he did attend some of the wild celebrations outside Madison Square Garden when the Knicks won their championship.
12:59
Who is Arthur Fery? - Meet GB's Wimbledon wildcard hoping to go all the way
Arthur Fery, a British wildcard, is making waves at Wimbledon 2026. Born and raised in London, Fery's tennis journey began at a young age, with Centre Court being his childhood playground. He's spent countless hours watching the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but it's the game of Andre Agassi that truly inspires him. Fery's aggressive playing style, which includes a powerful forehand and sharp volleys, has drawn comparisons to the legendary American.
Growing up in the shadow of Wimbledon's iconic grounds, Fery's been able to hone his skills on the very same courts he now calls home. He's had a breakout year, with a string of impressive performances on the ATP Tour. Fery's determination and work ethic have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in British tennis.
As Fery prepares to face Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals, he's confident in his abilities. With a fearless attitude and a never-say-die spirit, Fery's ready to take on the best of the best at Wimbledon. This wildcard entry has already proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with, and he's not done yet. Fery's got his sights set on the ultimate prize, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Fery's path to the quarter-finals hasn't been easy, but he's shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. With each match, he's grown more confident, and his game has continued to improve. As he steps onto the court to face Cobolli, Fery knows that he's got the talent and the determination to make a deep run in the tournament. Will he be able to pull off the upset of the day? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – Arthur Fery is a name to watch in the world of tennis.
