In a statement on Twitter, the 15-time Major champion thanked Nike for the company’s support since signing with the brand in 1996 in a deal that earned Woods a reported $500 million over the next 27 years.

“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods said.

“The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever.

“(Former Nike CEO) Phil Knight’s passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way.”

Woods did not give details on any new sponsor, but hinted of being able to reveal “another chapter” at next month’s Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.

“People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter. See you in LA! Tiger,” Woods wrote.

Woods and Nike became synonymous over the course of the 48-year-old American’s career, from the moment he announced his professional debut in 1996 with an acclaimed Nike ad campaign where he declared simply: “Hello World.”

Initially, Woods’ partnership with Nike was limited to clothing, but the sporting goods giant later went into the manufacture of balls and clubs, in part driven by Woods’ success in broadening golf’s global appeal.

– ‘Hell of a round’ –

Nike on Monday saluted Woods for his achievements, with an Instagram post headlined: “It was a hell of a round, Tiger” above a photo of the player wearing his signature ‘Sunday red’ Nike shirt.

“Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking,” Nike said in the post.

“You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge we’re grateful.”

In a separate statement, Nike said Woods, the son of an African-American father and Thai mother, “broke barriers for all of sport.”

“We watched him set records, challenge conventional thinking and inspire generations of people around the globe,” Nike said. “We are grateful to have been a part of it. We wish him the best in the future.”

Nike remained a steadfast supporter of Woods throughout the company’s partnership with the golfer, most notably in 2009 when his career was upended by the sex scandal that shattered his clean-cut image.

While other sponsors walked away, Nike, who from the get-go viewed Woods as the same sort of generational talent as NBA superstar Michael Jordan, stood firm.

Woods in turn repaid that loyalty even after Nike moved away from the golf equipment business in 2016, continuing to wear the brand’s clothing.

However signs the partnership was drawing to a close began to emerge following Woods’ horrific 2021 car crash in California that left him with serious injuries and almost led to an amputation of his right leg.

Woods has worn Footjoy shoes since the accident, stating that they offered greater stability for his ankle, fueling speculation about the status of his Nike deal.

Speaking at the PNC Championship last month, Woods was coy when pressed by reporters about whether his most recent 10-year contract with Nike — which expired in 2023 — would be renewed

“I”m still wearing their product,” Woods said at the time.

The post Golf legend Tiger Woods says Nike partnership ending appeared first on Digital Journal.

That fanbase has grown because of the NFL’s International Series. The league created this set of regular season games in 2007 to expand the sport’s reach in countries outside the United States. The series kicked off in London with the New York Giants beating the Miami Dolphins 13-10. Since then, 36 games have taken place in the U.K., including three matchups in 2023. Other games have occurred in Mexico and Germany.

OLBG compiled a ranking of the most popular NFL teams in the U.K. using data from YouGov as of the third quarter of 2023. Popularity is defined by the percentage of survey participants that indicated they like each team. Ties were broken using each team’s fame score, the percentage of survey participants that said they had heard of the team.

The team that’s played in England the most did not make this list: the Jacksonville Jaguars. They played back-to-back weeks in London in 2023, pushing their total to 11 games on British soil.

Elsa // Getty Images

#5. New England Patriots

– Popularity: 17%
– Fame: 56%

Fans love a winning team, and during the 20 years quarterback Tom Brady spent with the New England Patriots, they reached the playoffs 17 times and recorded six Super Bowl victories, picking up countless fans across the pond. Other British fans jumped on the bandwagon because the team’s name includes “England.” The Patriots haven’t played in London since 2012, but they have a 2-0 record on British soil.

Justin Setterfield // Getty Images

#4. Miami Dolphins

– Popularity: 20%
– Fame: 67%

Many British fans started rooting for the Dolphins in the 1980s when superstar quarterback Dan Marino led the team. Their massive U.K. fanbase, however, hasn’t had much to cheer about when Miami comes to town—it has a 1-4 record in London.

Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images // Getty Images

#3. New York Giants

– Popularity: 22%
– Fame: 65%

The Giants kicked off the International Series in 2007 with that victory over the Dolphins at a rainy Wembley Stadium packed with more than 80,000 fans. The game was ugly—New York quarterback Eli Manning threw for just 59 yards—but it marked a win for the eventual Super Bowl champs.

Jack Thomas // Getty Images

#2. Chicago Bears

– Popularity: 22%
– Fame: 69%

The Chicago Bears have had British supporters since at least the 1980s when legendary running back Walter Payton awed fans around the world. After their Super Bowl XX victory in 1986, the Bears played the Dallas Cowboys in London in the American Bowl, an exhibition match the Bears won 17-6. Chicago has a 1-1 record in the International Series, with a 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 and a 24-21 loss to the Oakland Raiders in 2019.

Charlie Crowhurst // Getty Images

#1. Dallas Cowboys

– Popularity: 25%
– Fame: 73%

“America’s Team” has one of the biggest fanbases in the world. Though the Cowboys played preseason games in London prior to 2007, they’ve contested only one International Series game: a 31-17 win over the Jaguars in 2014.

OLBG

The Chicago Bears are particularly popular among the UK’s younger demographics

Most of the popular teams in the U.K. had standout years in the 1980s. Not only have Brits remained loyal to their first teams, but they’ve also passed down that fandom to their children.

Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on OLBG and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post The most popular NFL teams in the UK appeared first on Digital Journal.

The NFL talent pool includes Europe and Africa. Europe has been a hotbed for the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being one of the most popular franchises on the continent, per Time2Play. Four European countries belong in the top 10 for the most active players from outside the U.S.

OLBG compiled a ranking of the countries outside the United States with the most active NFL players using data from Pro Football Reference. A player’s birthplace was used to determine their country of origin. Ties were broken using the countries’ total past and present player count.

Europe isn’t the only part of the world boasting NFL talent. A handful of African countries have produced NFL players, while Australia and the Caribbean also have athletes who have reached the pinnacle of football. The talent pool will continue to diversify as the NFL expands its reach.

Michael Owens // Getty Images

#5. Jamaica

– Active players: 3
– Total players (past and present): 42

Jamaica has frequently been represented on NFL rosters. The Caribbean country is the birthplace of three active players, including New York Giants offensive tackle Matt Peart, three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers cornerback Corey Ballentine. Hunter, who was born in St. Catherine, has represented Jamaica as one of the league’s best defensive players with 81 career sacks. Ballentine has made a name for himself as an NCAA Division II prospect out of Washburn.

Justin Casterline // Getty Images

#4. Germany

– Active players: 3
– Total players (past and present): 88

Germany has produced NFL talent for quite some time. The European nation is currently represented by Indianapolis Colts safety Marcel Dabo, Las Vegas Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson, and Washington Commanders defensive tackle David Bada. Each has made the NFL a reality despite going undrafted. Dabo received his opportunity in 2022 through the league’s International Pathway Program.

Christopher Mast // Getty Images

#3. Australia

– Active players: 9
– Total players (past and present): 21

The Land Down Under is known for elite kicking specialists. Australia-born NFL players include the Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Dickson, Houston Texans’ Cameron Johnston, San Francisco 49ers’ Mitch Wishnowsky, and New Orleans Saints’ Lou Hedley—all punters. The country has also produced talent in the trenches, including Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Adam Gotsis, and Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Daniel Faalele. Mailata, a rugby player who was drafted in 2018, has solidified his place in the league without having previous football experience.

Scott Taetsch // Getty Images

#2. Nigeria

– Active players: 11
– Total players (past and present): 34

Nigeria has been consistently represented throughout NFL rosters. The African country is the birthplace of defensive stalwarts including ends Joseph Ossai of the Cincinnati Bengals and Emmanuel Ogbah of the Miami Dolphins. The Giant of Africa is also responsible for Ravens wide receiver and Super Bowl LII champion Nelson Agholor. The University of Southern California product, who was drafted in 2015 with the 20th pick by the Eagles, has amassed 4,470 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in his career.

Eric Espada // Getty Images

#1. Canada

– Active players: 21
– Total players (past and present): 131

The Great White North has generated some of the NFL’s best talent, including Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. Canada, which has its own professional football league in the CFL, produced Dolphins safety Jevon Holland. The British Columbia native burst onto the scene in 2021, being named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team. Canada is also the birthplace of Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer. Both players were also selected in the 2021 draft. Other notable Canadian players include Ravens defensive end Brent Urban and Dolphins receiver Chase Claypool.

Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on OLBG and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post Countries with the most active NFL players appeared first on Digital Journal.

The playoff gives squads the opportunity to directly vie for a national title, something the sport lacked from its first days until the Bowl Championship Series’ inauguration in 1998, when human poll averages, computer poll averages, and strength of schedule decided which two teams would clash for a national championship. Before that, champions were symbolically crowned by various groups, most prominently the Associated Press, which chose Minnesota as its first titlist in 1936.

As this year proved, perhaps better than any other, the landscape changes continuously. The selection committee caused an uproar by tabbing Alabama to compete with Michigan, Washington, and Texas instead of Florida State, which completed an unblemished season despite a season-ending injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis.

ATS.io compiled a ranking of the teams with the best championship seasons in the modern era—or since 1978, when the NCAA split Division I football into what is now the FBS and Football Championship Subdivision—using data from Sports Reference. Programs were positioned according to Sports Reference’s simple rating system, which considers the average point differential and schedule strength. For seasons before 2014, any club that finished at the top of a national poll was considered.

Jon Soohoo // Getty Images

#5. Miami Hurricanes, 2001

– Record: 12-0 (7-0 in Big East)
– Rating: 26.17

Led by first-year head coach Larry Coker, the 2001 Hurricanes are considered one of the most talented teams ever and fielded an astonishing 38 NFL draft picks. They featured NFL legends such as defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, running back Frank Gore, and Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.

The Hurricanes secured the BCS National Championship with a 37-14 win over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. Their campaign included a 61-0 victory over Rutgers, one of three games in which Miami held its opponent scoreless. The Canes avoided a blemish on their record with a nail-biting 26-24 win at Virginia Tech to conclude the regular season.

Bernstein Associates // Getty Images

#4. Washington Huskies, 1991

– Record: 12-0 (8-0 in Pac-10)
– Rating: 26.22

The 1991 Huskies, led by legendary head coach Don James, had the nation’s second-most potent offense, averaging 38.4 points per game with star split end Mario Bailey. Washington was stout on defense, too, holding opponents to 8.4 points per game, also second in the country, behind a group that featured Dave Hoffman and the late Jaime Fields at linebacker, cornerback Dana Hall, and future NFL defensive lineman Steve Emtman, who was the No. 1 pick in the 1992 NFL draft.

The Huskies started the regular season with a 42-7 win at Stanford and ended it with a 56-21 victory against rival Washington State. They earned the right to call themselves national champions with a 34-14 win over Big Ten foe Michigan in the Rose Bowl—though Washington shared the title with Miami, which also finished 12-0.

Ezra Shaw // Getty Images

#3. Clemson Tigers, 2018

– Record: 15-0 (8-0 in ACC)
– Rating: 26.45

The 2018 Tigers became the first major-college team in 121 years to finish 15-0. Head coach Dabo Swinney guided a prolific offense that scored more than 40 points nine times, including a 77-16 win over Louisville. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished the season with 3,280 passing yards and 30 touchdowns against four interceptions.

The 2021 NFL draft’s No. 1 pick leaned on wide receivers Tee Higgins and Hunter Renfrow, among others, and running back Travis Etienne Jr.—a group that has also been successful in the NFL. The Tigers’ defense gave opponents fits thanks to stars A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Simmons in the secondary. That unit also featured talent in the trenches, including linemen Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence.

Mike Powell // Getty Images

#2. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 1995

– Record: 12-0 (7-0 in Big 8)
– Rating: 26.86

The 1995 Cornhuskers entered the season with high expectations following a ’94 national championship and just one loss in the two years prior. Nebraska built on that success under the tutelage of longtime head coach Tom Osborne. The Cornhuskers had a well-rounded team led by an offense that scored 49 or more points in eight games.

Quarterback Tommie Frazier threw for 1,362 yards and 17 touchdowns with just four interceptions and ran for 604 yards and another 14 scores. Running back Ahman Green rushed for 1,086 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Nebraska showcased an elite defense by holding Missouri and Oklahoma scoreless.

That unit featured outside linebacker Jared Tomich, a young Grant Wistrom, and cornerbacks Tyrone Williams and Michael Booker, the No. 11 pick in the 1997 NFL draft. Nebraska capped the season with a spectacular 62-24 win over the Florida Gators in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the national title.

Kevin C. Cox // Getty Images

#1. Alabama Crimson Tide, 2020

– Record: 13-0 (10-0 in SEC)
– Rating: 30.26

Led by head coach Nick Saban, the 2020 Crimson Tide had one of the most talented rosters of all time. The offense was sparked by quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith—winner of the Heisman Trophy. Alabama also sported a star-studded defense featuring lineman Christian Barmore, linebacker Dylan Moses, and cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

The Crimson Tide dominated the Southeastern Conference, including a 52-24 win over Texas A&M, a 41-24 triumph against Georgia, and a 42-13 victory versus rival Auburn. Alabama beat Florida 52-46 in the league championship game before dispatching Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl, a CFP semifinal. The Crimson Tide then routed Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post Most dominant national champions in modern college football history appeared first on Digital Journal.

After arriving at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid just before 10:00 am (0900 GMT), the 33-year-old went to testify before Judge Francisco de Jorge, who is investigating Rubiales on allegations of sexual assault and coercion.

“At the end of her declaration, she ratified the statement made at the public prosecutor’s office that the kiss was completely unexpected and at no point was it consensual,” a judicial source told AFP.

During the incident on August 20, the then head of Spain’s RFEF football federation held her head in both hands and forcibly kissed her on the lips after Spain won the World Cup in Australia.

He has said the act was “a consensual peck” but Hermoso has insisted it was not.

She filed a lawsuit against him in September and told the judge she had come under pressure to defend Rubiales, both on the flight back from Australia and on a subsequent team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.

“After the event, the situation experienced by the victim, both on the flight back to Spain and during her stay in Ibiza was one of constant harassment by the parties under investigation, which disrupted her normal life, causing her anxiety and distress,” the source said, quoting Hermoso’s testimony.

Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault — a criminal category that groups all types of sexual violence.

Penalties for such a kiss range from a fine to four years in prison.

The 46-year-old Rubiales, who is subject to a restraining order banning him from being within 200 metres (yards) of Hermoso, is also accused of “coercion” for allegedly pressuring her to justify his actions, which were broadcast live round the world.

The kiss provoked widespread outrage and prompted his suspension by world football governing body FIFA.

Rubiales appeared in court on September 15 and in October.

The judge quizzed three others over allegations they also pressured Hermoso — former women’s coach Jorge Vilda, men’s team director Albert Luque and RFEF marketing boss Ruben Rivera.

Numerous other witnesses have testified in court over the pressure faced by Hermoso, among them two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and two other Spanish teammates.

The post Spanish star Hermoso testifies about Rubiales’s World Cup kiss appeared first on Digital Journal.

Speaking from the gardens of the Elysee Palace, with the flags of the Olympic nations behind him, he promised a civic and economic “rearmament” for the country.

And evoking the memory of former European Union leader Jacques Delors, who died on Wednesday, he said voters would have a decisive choice to make in June’s European elections.

They would have choose between “continuing Europe or blocking it”, he said.

“We will have to make the choice of a stronger, more sovereign Europe in the light of the legacy of Jacques Delors.”

Macron was speaking at the end of a troubled year in which his government forced through deeply unpopular pensions reforms and faced summer riots over the police killing of youths.

More recently, the government passed a controversial immigrations bill with the backing of the far right, creating divisions within its own ranks.

And Macron himself came under fire earlier this month for comments he made supporting film icon Gerard Depardieu, who is charged with rape and facing a litany of sexual assault claims.

He has also faced criticism for his handling of the crisis in the Middle East that followed Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli response.

France would not forget the hostages held by Hamas, he said Sunday, or the 41 French citizens killed during their attack.

But his call last week for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far fallen on deaf ears.

The post Macron calls for unity as France prepares to host Olympics appeared first on Digital Journal.

The Heisman has also served as a springboard to NFL careers that will be remembered by generations of fans. Winners have experienced team success such as Super Bowl victories and added to personal accomplishments that were mythologized with the highest honor: gold jackets and busts for members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Stacker compiled a ranking of the most successful Heisman Trophy winners in NFL history using Pro Football Reference’s weighted career approximate value, which quantifies a player’s overall impact by balancing peak production against raw totals. Heisman winners since 1960, which is as far back as the approximate value stat goes, were considered. Ties were broken by NFL games played.

Focus on Sport // Getty Images

#10. Vinny Testaverde

– Position: Quarterback
– NFL games played: 233
– Weighted career approximate value: 97

The #1 pick in the 1987 draft had ample NFL success following a career at the University of Miami during which he threw for 6,058 yards and 48 touchdowns with 25 interceptions in four seasons. Testaverde’s NFL career spanned 21 seasons—tied for eighth on the all-time list. The New Yorker played for seven franchises and was selected for two Pro Bowls. He finished with 46,233 passing yards, 275 touchdowns against 267 interceptions, and a 56.5 completion percentage.

Bettmann // Getty Images

#9. O.J. Simpson

– Position: Running back
– NFL games played: 135
– Weighted career approximate value: 98

After Simpson reached the peak of football with the University of Southern California and in the NFL, he was found liable for the wrongful deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman in a 1997 civil lawsuit. He was later convicted on unrelated charges of kidnapping and armed robbery in 2008.

He began his college career at the City College of San Francisco before spending two seasons at USC, where he rushed for 3,124 yards and 33 touchdowns. He matched his success in the NFL by being named an All-Pro five times and Most Valuable Player in 1973. Simpson, who played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, rushed for 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns in 11 seasons and became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1985.

Bettmann // Getty Images

#8. Roger Staubach

– Position: Quarterback
– NFL games played: 131
– Weighted career approximate value: 104

Known as “Captain America,” Staubach found favor with fans early in his college football career as a leader for the United States Naval Academy. The Midshipman threw for 3,571 yards and 18 touchdowns with 19 interceptions and rushed for 17 scores in three seasons. He is the last player from a service academy to win the Heisman and served in the Vietnam War after graduation. Staubach entered the NFL as a 27-year-old in 1969 and spent his 11-season career with the Dallas Cowboys. He compiled 22,700 passing yards and 153 touchdowns with 109 interceptions, plus 2,264 rushing yards and 20 scores, and was part of the 1985 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Sporting News // Getty Images

#7. Marcus Allen

– Position: Running back
– NFL games played: 222
– Weighted career approximate value: 104

Allen was one of the best running backs of all time. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from San Diego amassed 4,682 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns in four seasons at USC, including a senior Heisman campaign in which he rushed for 2,342 yards and 22 scores. The #10 pick in the 1982 draft won Super Bowl XVIII with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1984 and was named the game’s MVP. Two seasons later, Allen had the best year of his 16-year career, rushing for 1,759 yards—109.9 yards per game—and earning the Offensive Player of the Year and MVP awards. In 2003, Allen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bettmann // Getty Images

#6. Tim Brown

– Position: Wide receiver
– NFL games played: 255
– Weighted career approximate value: 105

The Notre Dame graduate thrived in South Bend, Indiana, stockpiling 2,493 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, plus 442 rushing yards and four scores, in four seasons. Brown was just the second wide receiver to win the Heisman after Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers in 1972.

He carried over that success to the NFL as a member of the Raiders and, for one year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 17 seasons, Brown recorded 14,934 receiving yards and 100 touchdowns on 1,094 receptions. The dynamic Dallasite also collected 3,320 career punt return yards with three scores and led the league in kickoff returns as a rookie. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Focus on Sport // Getty Images

#5. Tony Dorsett

– Position: Running back
– NFL games played: 173
– Weighted career approximate value: 107

Dorsett became a household name in college by leading Pittsburgh to the national championship in 1976. That season, during his Heisman campaign, he ran for 1,948 yards and punched in 21 touchdowns, upping his career totals to 6,082 and 55, respectively.

He was the #2 pick in the 1977 draft by the Dallas Cowboys and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dorsett also became a Super Bowl champion that season. His NFL tenure spanned 12 years, including one with the Denver Broncos. The dual-threat—he had 398 receptions for 3,554 yards with 13 touchdowns—was selected to four Pro Bowls and was part of the 1994 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. He ended his career with 12,739 rushing yards and 77 scores.

David Madison // Getty Images

#4. Carson Palmer

– Position: Quarterback
– NFL games played: 182
– Weighted career approximate value: 107

The third USC Trojan on this list, Palmer’s illustrious college career—11,388 passing yards with 71 touchdowns and 49 interceptions—featured a comeback from a collarbone injury. The 6-foot-5 Californian threw for 3,942 yards and 33 scores against 10 picks as a redshirt senior to propel himself to the Heisman.

His ability to orchestrate an offense made him the #1 pick in the 2003 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he helped turn the franchise around with two playoff appearances in seven seasons. Palmer also spent time with the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals and was selected to three Pro Bowls. He overcame multiple serious injuries and threw for 46,247 yards and 294 touchdowns with 187 interceptions in 14 seasons. In 2019, Palmer was inducted into the Cardinals’ Ring of Honor.

Kelly Kline // Getty Images

#3. Cam Newton

– Position: Quarterback
– NFL games played: 148
– Weighted career approximate value: 115

Newton began his college career at the University of Florida before a stint at Blinn College in Texas, and then he earned a scholarship to Auburn University. During his junior year, he threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions and led the offense with 1,473 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns—one of the best seasons of all time.

Newton, the #1 draft pick in 2011, led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl 50 appearance with a 15-1 record, which included a 14-game winning streak to begin the 2015 season. Newton was named MVP as well as Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his 11-year career with 32,382 passing yards and 194 touchdowns to 123 interceptions. He also rushed for 5,628 yards and 75 touchdowns, figures that rank second and first all-time, respectively.

Doug Pensinger // Getty Images

#2. Charles Woodson

– Position: Defensive back
– NFL games played: 254
– Weighted career approximate value: 115

Woodson is the only cornerback on this list, as he is still the first and only defensive player to win the Heisman. The former Wolverine also helped Michigan on offense and special teams. Woodson collected 16 interceptions and scored five offensive touchdowns and one punt-return touchdown in three seasons.

He was the #4 pick in 1998 by the Raiders and sandwiched 11 seasons with the team around seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Woodson was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and two seasons later won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers. The nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time interceptions leader ended his career with 1,220 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, 65 interceptions, and 13 defensive touchdowns. Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Bettmann // Getty Images

#1. Barry Sanders

– Position: Running back
– NFL games played: 153
– Weighted career approximate value: 120

The Oklahoma State product played his entire career with the Detroit Lions after three college seasons. At OSU, Sanders rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games as a junior. His productivity made him the #3 pick in the 1989 draft—and he became the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sanders’ career reached new heights with 1,100 rushing yards and a Pro Bowl selection in each of his 10 years, and he captured the rushing title on four occasions. The 1997 MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, and six-time All-Pro is considered one of the best to ever play the game. He ranks fourth all-time with 15,269 career rushing yards, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

The post Most successful Heisman Trophy winners appeared first on Digital Journal.

Participating in school sports is not only correlated with high achievement but also high graduation rates. In Baltimore public schools, students in the graduating class of 2019 who participated in sports all four years of high school had a graduation rate of 98.5%. Their counterparts who did not participate in sports had a graduation rate of 62.9%. The significant difference between these two groups could be due to the discipline and leadership skills school sports teach, as well as the community connections and mentorship opportunities sports bring.

Considering the proven benefits of participating in school sports, Study.com examined data from the National Federation of State High School Associations to examine how girls’ high school sports participation compares with boys’. The data source was collected with a binary breakdown of sex and gender, which excludes information on transgender participation in high school sports.

Beyond academic success, participating in school sports also opens up a wealth of higher education opportunities. Students who seek collegiate sports opportunities have greater access to scholarships. The federal law known as Title IX requires colleges to award athletic scholarships proportionally to the participation rate in sports for each gender at the university. If, for example, 65% of an institution’s athletes are male, approximately 65% of the total allocated awards should go to male athletes. But schools are not required to provide the same number of scholarships for men and women, nor to give scholarships of equal value.

With this financial landscape in mind, it is worth exploring how athletic opportunities for women compare to those for men. Even among professional leagues, women’s sports viewership and attendance lags behind men’s—there are fewer professional opportunities for women athletes.

Study.com

High school sports participation hasn’t reached parity among girls and boys

After the passage of Title IX in 1972, girls sports participation skyrocketed. But that growth started to plateau around 2000. Five decades after Title IX, the National Federation of State High School Associations reports there are still 1.3 million fewer school sports participation opportunities for girls than for boys.

The federation recommends ensuring schools take equity measures to increase girls’ participation in school sports. Specifically, it suggests all sports in a school get equal publicity, support, and announcements. Schools are encouraged to perform a Title IX self-audit, create a gender equity committee, and ensure that coaching personnel receive training to empower their teams’ athletes.

Study.com

The most popular sports

While football dominates male athletics, girls’ participation is much more even and varied across different sports. NFHS recommends schools offer a wide range of sports for girls to choose from and consider offering sports that the state’s athletic association may not currently sanction.

Another barrier to girls’ participation in school sports may be the material opportunities available to them. Women’s Sports Foundation reports that many girls do not have access to the same quality athletic facilities that boys enjoy.

Given the lower levels of female participation in school sports, schools must allocate resources to quality coaching, equipment, and facilities for their female students. Doing so will improve academic results and contribute to teaching and coaching confident, empowered girls and women.

Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.

This story originally appeared on Study.com and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post Girls high school sports participation is up from a decade ago, but still lags behind boys appeared first on Digital Journal.

Coe, who was chief organiser of the 2012 London Olympics, said in a conference call with news agencies including AFP that he was concerned athletes’ families could miss out on the greatest moment of their careers at next year’s Games.

“It is my responsibility to make sure our sport is delivered in as good an environment as possible and that the French organising committee do everything they can to fill those stadiums even though the ticket prices are, as we know, expensive,” Coe said.

“We have to accept for all sorts of reasons that Paris will be the most expensive Games both for the international federations but also for the fans.

“Our concern will always be that we want fans in the stadiums watching the events that are at affordable prices and that allow us to grow our sport, and particularly when it comes to the athletes themselves and their families,” he added.

“It think it is important that families are considered when those athletes, in whichever sport, get to a major championships.

“It is what we have always tried to do as best as possible in World Athletics.”

The most expensive tickets currently available for the athletics sessions at the Olympics are priced at 980 euros ($1,070), though tickets for other sessions are available for 90 euros.

Coe said organisers faced a complex balancing act to ensure that the Olympics, which start on July 26 and end on August 11, were safe but not conducted in a security “lockdown”.

“I want the Games to be successful, and as somebody who has delivered an Olympic Games I am critically aware that it is a very complex piece of project management that demands the collective work of a whole range of stakeholders, including government agencies and intelligence services. It is complicated,” said the double Olympic gold medallist.

Coe said he wished Paris chief organiser Tony Estanguet and his team “the very best of luck”.

“Ultimately we want the Games to be safe and secure and not delivered in a lockdown atmosphere,” Coe said.

“These are the challenges of an Olympic Games. I am sure Paris will be the equal of all those challenges.”

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Atal, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, shared the video on his Instagram account, which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7 in which 1,139 people were killed.

In an extract of the footage seen by AFP, the preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, at first talked about the plight of children in Gaza.

Prosecutors said they also identified another extract in which he called on God to “send the Jews a black day”, and “steady the hands” of Gaza inhabitants if they should “throw stones”.

The 27-year old defender, who quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, was suspended by his club while prosecutors probed the incident for suspected “justification of terrorism”.

But they dropped that line of investigation after watching the video and questioning the player, instead charging him with “incitement to religious hatred”.

Two associations, the International League against Racism and anti-Semitism (Licra) and the Jewish Observatory of France, have brought civil actions against the player.

If found guilty, Atal could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined 45,000 euros ($49,000).

He has been under judicial supervision with a ban on travelling abroad except to play professional football.

His club quickly suspended him “until further notice” after the post, while the professional football league banned him for seven matches.

Some of Atal’s Algerian team mates argued for leniency, saying he had apologised and not actually watched the video until the end before posting it.

The deadliest ever Gaza war began with unprecedented attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7, when the group killed 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250, according to updated Israeli figures.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said some 19,000 people have been killed in Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

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