Cristiano Ronaldo likes and comments on @As_TomasRoncero's video regarding Messi's Ballon d'Or.

Tomás Roncero in a video: “Hello friends what we knew has happened, they were going to give another Ballon d'Or to Messi. He went to retire at Miami, but he was already looking like retired at PSG to prepare for the World Cup, he won the World Cup, yes, well, but with 6 penalties. The World Cup was 10 months ago, we're in November. Messi has eight Ballon d'Ors well, he should've have five, he has the Ballon d'Ors of Iniesta/Xavi, Lewandowski who won 6 trophies in one season and Haaland who was the top scorer of everything.”

I despise Ronaldo but maybe he's laughing at the assumptions in the video? As in he's on Messi's side?

Why would he like the video then?

First, him being on Messi's side? That would not have happened, that is impossible.

Second, this is not the first time he is liking or commenting something negative about Messi on SM. He could have simply ignored it instead of reacting on it.

!football what do you think? honestly why would anyone give a frick lol

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FLEX THE GAMES

Clay Travis thinks A good, State champion high school boys team would smoke the best team in the WNBA & is willing to bet $1M that the WNBA champions would lose to a high school team. pic.twitter.com/S3Gn78vgxf

— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) October 28, 2023

I'm going to watch Poch get the sack live next week

!football

@kaamrev wins!

@kaamrev

12 - 6 to @kaamrev at half-time with New Zealand's captain getting a

Female martial artists have come forward to reveal that male athletes claiming to be transgender have completely overtaken the women's categories of a major grappling association, leaving them fearing for their safety in many instances. One of the men, Corissa Griffith, took home four gold medals in the women's category during a tournament in Georgia on October 21.

The North American Grappling Association (NAGA) is the largest submission grappling association in the world, and facilitates standards and tournaments in various martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But while NAGA has provided competition categories for males and females since its inception in 1995, it has recently become the subject of controversy after a number of female athletes were found to have been matched up against trans-identified males.

The issue first received widespread attention in September after it was learned that a female Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete had not been informed she would be competing against a male. Taelor Moore posted a clip of her fight against James "Alice" McPike on her Instagram, noting that there was a 65lbs weight difference between them.

Following the clip going viral, NAGA was prompted to issue a statement clarifying its policies on the inclusion of trans-identified males in the women's category.

"NAGA does not require biological women to compete against transgender women. Instead, we give the choice to the biological women and if they decline, they compete in a division only with other biological women."

NAGA also provided a link to their official policy, which reads: "For those who chose not to compete with the transgender female, we will inquire if they have an interest in entering a separate division which includes the transgender female. This additional division will be offered at no cost to those competitors. However, if individuals decline this opportunity, the transgender female will be directed to compete with the males in their respective weight and skill level category."

But despite claiming to have had a policy in place that required female athletes to be informed, many are coming forward to reveal that NAGA has continued to pair women against trans-identified males without their knowledge and depriving them of the opportunity to opt out in many instances.

Speaking to Reduxx, professional martial artists Jayden Alexander and Ansleigh Wilk said that they were made to fight against a male with no prior warning from NAGA until stepping onto the mat.

"I honestly never thought this would actually happen in a contact sport, especially not MY contact sport," Alexander, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, said. "When I saw him, I was so shocked I didn't know how to respond."

Both Alexander and Wilk fought against Cordelia Gregory of Temporal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, who is one of many trans-identified males currently participating in NAGA women's tournaments. Both women describe that they were not informed they would be competing against a male until the it was too late during their July tournaments.

"I hadn't been notified. The only thing that brought it to my attention was my teammates. They kept asking me 'are you fighting a man' and I was honestly too focused on coaching the rest of the crew to really pay attention to my opponent," Wilk said.

"I realized very quickly I couldn't muscle them like most girls," Wilk, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and coach, added. "Well obviously, because it wasn't a girl! Then not long after, I had to do a second match of which Cordelia threw a tantrum saying [he] 'didn't tap [out].' I was sincerely scared [he] was going to punch me when I stuck my hand out to shake [his]."

Both women also note that the experience of fighting Gregory was distinctly different than fighting a woman.

"The fact of the matter is that he had a man's strength. I train with men and women and the difference is massive," Alexander explains. "After my match with Cordelia, I sat mat-side and cried as my teammates massaged out my cramping forearms."

But despite NAGA's claims that its policy was to inform female athletes if their competitor was a biological man, watchdogs have noted that no enforcement of the policy appears to be taking place, even since their September announcement.

"A rule is only effective if a federation will follow it and, most importantly, enforce it," says Marshi Smith, the co-founder of Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS). She noted that on October 21, a female grappler was "blindsided" into fighting not one, but two trans-identified males during a tournament.

Danielle Lenane, one of the only females involved in the competition, was made to fight Cordelia Gregory and Corissa Griffith, the latter representing Odyssey Jiu-Jitsu. Following the fight, Lenane asked for her record to be wiped clean of any indication she had fought either one of the men.

Smith said that during the October 21 tournament, there were more males participating than women in some of the women's divisions.

In the Women's No-Gi fight for the 160-169lbs weight class, only Griffith and Gregory participated and took home medals. On his Instagram, Griffith joked about the match, posting a scene from a Japanese "softcore" pornography series and suggesting the two women depicted represented him and Gregory.

Jayden Alexander says that she and other females were set to compete in the October 21 tournament, but dropped out after seeing how many males were involved.

"There was not just one, but two trans-identified males who were signed up in a bracket that me and several other women should have been able to sign up for but couldn't because we didn't want to go against the men," Alexander explains. "And for a man to be able to come in and sign up in the women's bracket and discourage us from even being able to compete at all is absolutely heartbreaking and honestly scary."

Ansleigh Wilk affirmed Alexander's sentiment, and added that most female participants feel unable to vocally protest the gender self-identification policies.

"The majority of the women feel scared to even speak out about this matter. They don't want to be labeled a bigot or transphobic," Wilk said. "There's so many girls just not signing up now because they are allowing this. Women's sports will cease to exist if this keeps up. Medals, belts, records, and money are going to be stripped right away from women."

Marshi Smith similarly notes that women have been self-excluding from the competitions, but that attempts to formally lodge complaints about being paired up against males have fallen on deaf ears.

"I have now spoken to four women who have all fought male fighters in the combat sport of Jiu Jitsu. They are extremely upset. They are self-excluding. They are emailing federation leadership and being dismissed. These organizations and teams that are encouraging this dangerous display of violence against women need to be publicly shamed into doing what is right for women or reap the outrage that comes with cowardice."

From CBS Sports:

The 2023 World Series begins Friday night with Game 1 between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. The D-backs eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series while the Rangers outlasted the Houston Astros. Both series went the full seven games. MLB was one win in each league away from its first World Series rematch since the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978.

Arizona won the season series 3-1 against the Rangers. They split two games in Texas from May 2-3, then the D-backs swept both games at Chase Field from Aug. 21-22. All but one game was close, however, including one D-backs win on a Tommy Pham walk-off double. Historically, teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 64% of the time. That's the odds boost on the line Friday night.

You can view the full postseason schedule by clicking here, and here's the 2023 playoff bracket. Now, let's get to the important stuff for the World Series

How to watch Game 1

Date: Friday, Oct. 27 | Time: 8:03 p.m.

Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas)

TV channel: Fox | Live stream: fubo (try for free)

Starting pitchers: RHP Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA)

Odds: ARI +137 | TEX -160 | O/U: 8 ?

Live updates: Follow along

Preview

Because the two teams played two regular-season series, Gallen has already faced the Rangers twice in 2023. He allowed three runs in five innings on May 2, then struck out 11 while allowing one run in six innings on Aug. 22. Gallen coughed up nine runs in 11 innings in his two NLCS starts. He's up to 232 1/3 innings in 2023. Could fatigue be setting in? As for Eovaldi, he did not face the D-backs during the regular season, and he is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts this postseason. Eovaldi has gone at least six innings in each of his four starts too. On paper, the Rangers have the pitching edge in Game 1, though the D-backs have been overcoming long odds all October.

Prediction

Eovaldi outduels Gallen and the Rangers get timely home runs from Corey Seager and Josh Jung to jump out to a 1-0 series lead. Pick: Rangers 4, D-backs 2

I'll try to make the post before game 2, but best I got rn. Discuss

!football what was your guess?

https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/free-kicks#types-of-free-kick

Ball enters the goal

if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal is awarded

if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded

if a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded

What was tweeted by his mayo (?) argentinian teammate

How the responded:

Bongs might still ban the mayo lmao: https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/17h05nb/alejandro_garnacho_is_at_risk_of_a_football

I don't know how anyone can think that someone would post something racist on a post celebrating his teammate just who saved a last minute penalty kick

!football

@Wojak lol did you nootice this drama? i haven't checked /r/soccer for a couple of days and missed it

Yoooooo this crazy 😭

According to court documents Dwight Howard admitted to meeting up with a guy & engaged in sexual acts

Documents also say Dwight performed nonconsensual oral s*x on the man pic.twitter.com/4R2J13ttWx

— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) October 24, 2023

Non-sportcels this is what he looks like:

I need dude on dude r*pe explained to me by Dave Chappelle:

Mase and Cam Ron react:

Anyone Else Avoiding The /r/cfb Main Page? It's Just Toxic Right Now

Anything remotely pro-Michigan is being voted down. Anything from a Michigan flair that isn't pure self-flagellation and apologies is being voted down.

/r/cfb has decided that the program is the "Houston Astros" of CFB despite other programs like Clemson or UGA being caught in similarly compromising positions.

I also find it funny that any fan of a top 15 program thinks they are operating 100% clean with no underhandedness going on. Are we supposed to believe the super-cutthroat SEC programs aren't breaking rules to get an edge? Give me a break.

!football !goomblers i'm literally shaking. 2023, and we still have gamblerphobia alive and well

Phillies fans are taking the loss to the D-Backs really well… https://t.co/cReEbN5svD

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) October 25, 2023

dana's ears about to spout fire

personally i didn't want to see stipe get put out to pasture so i'm ok with this, hope he retires

FINAL: Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 25, 2023

You can use the Rainbow Tape again, I believe.

Not sure about all the other potential things (jerseys, camo tape for vets/russkie flag colors on tape), but I think that's allowed too? But hey, if you ain't kowtowing to the NEW HOMO ORDER, you may as well be committing genocide, yeah?

It proved to be a humiliating weekend for Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson's Al-Ettifaq after they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Al-Riyadh in front of fewer than 700 supporters.

Khalid Al-Shuwayyi scored the winner in the 16th minute for Odair Hellmann's side as Al-Ettifaq slumped to back-to-back losses for the first time this season. The result leaves Gerrard's men in seventh and already nine points behind first-place Al-Hilal, who are still unbeaten from their opening 10 matches.

To make matters worse, Al-Ettifaq's defeat was played with just 696 people in attendance. This is staggeringly low for a top-flight match, though Al-Riyadh aren't one of the most well-backed sides in the Saudi Pro League. It isn't the first time Al-Ettifaq have seen a crowd this low, as just 976 fans turned up for their 3-1 win at Abha in September.

In comparison, there were more supporters (702) at Clitheroe's 2-1 victory over Newcastle Town in the eighth tier of English football on Saturday. Almost double (1124) were at Marine's win against Lancaster in the division above, while 2122 fans were in attendance for National League North clash between Hereford and Curzon Ashton.

This is a completely different environment for Jordan Henderson, who was often playing in front of over 50,000 fans at Anfield for Liverpool last season. Even in away matches, the lowest Henderson would have played in the Premier League was Bournemouth's 10,536.

It is similar for the other big-name players in the Al-Ettifaq squad, with ex-Everton winger Demarai Gray and former Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum in the XI against Al-Riyadh. Sweden international Robin Quaison led the line for Gerrard's side, while Scotland's Jack Hendry started at the back. Experienced forward Moussa Dembele is also at the club but he didn't feature over the weekend.

Jesse Lingard has been training with Al-Ettifaq in recent weeks but the club are unable to sign the 30-year-old due due to the foreign players' rule in the nation. The Dammam-based outfit would have to release two of their non-Saudi players by January to accommodate the midfielder.

Couple with Lingard's financial demands which are above what Al-Ettifaq are prepare to offer, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the ex-Manchester United star will sign for the club. Lingard played for Al-Ettifaq in a friendly earlier this month and took just four minutes to find the back of the net.

As for Gerrard, he lamented his side's performance as Al-Ettifaq's winless run stretched to three matches, having drawn against a star-studded Al-Ahli and lost at home to Al Fateh. "We didn't show what was required of us," the Liverpool legend said. "We weren't at the level we'd hope to be at. The opposition's plan was clear to frustrate and wait for the opportunities. The mistakes cost us today, we gifted three points to Al-Riyadh."

Gerrard's stock as a manager has fallen dramatically since leaving Rangers in November 2021 for the hotseat at Aston Villa. He won the Scottish Premiership title during his time at Ibrox, winning 125 of his 193 matches in charge, before deciding to take the top job at Villa Park.

Having started his tenure at Villa brightly, it quickly turned toxic between Gerrard and the club's fanbase, leading to his dismissal after a drab 3-0 defeat at Fulham which left them 17th on nine points from 11 matches. Unai Emery replaced Gerrard and Villa ended up finishing seventh under his leadership.

That, combined with his move to the Middle East, has dramatically reduced Gerrard's reputation as a manager given the lack of quality throughout the Saudi Pro League. He will be hoping to guide Al-Ettifaq back to winning ways, however, when they travel to Al-Wehda on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are not exactly missing Henderson at the moment. Jurgen Klopp started with a new midfield three against Everton, with Ryan Gravenberch playing alongside fellow summer arrivals Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister as Curtis Jones served the second of his three-match domestic ban.

!football

@jamal_ginsberg where you at. Garcia owns you. Shoulda banged those trash cans. Only way the team can win.

Arsenal have acknowledged a lack of diversity in their women's team and say they will work to deliver 'greater diversity' as a 'priority'.

The Gunners posted their women's squad photo earlier this week and there was criticism with not a single Black or ethnic minority player in the squad.

The club have now promised to deliver 'greater diversity' in their women's squad.

Arsenal's statement said: "We acknowledge our current women's first-team squad does not reflect the diversity that exists across the club and the communities we represent.

"Increasing participation among young women and girls from diverse backgrounds is a key priority for us at academy level, with specific measures in place to improve pathways and accessibility.

"Across all our teams, including our men's and women's academies, we're proud of our players from diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our history, success and culture.

"It's a priority for the club to continue to drive greater diversity and inclusion and create a sense of belonging for everyone connected to the club."

The lack of diversity in the women's squad is in contrast to the make-up of the Arsenal men's squad with Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, William Saliba, Thomas Partey, Gabriel, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus some of the players at manager Mikel Arteta's disposal.

Back in September 2002, the Gunners also became the first team in Premier League history to include nine Black players in a starting XI, with Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell, Lauren, Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Gilberto Silva, Nwankwo Kanu, Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord all included by then manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal Women player Jen Beattie told the Three Players and a Podcast: "The club knows it's not good enough not to have representation at the top level. The men's team have that, a lot of men's football has that. But in women's football, it's not good enough and it's not good enough for us at the minute.

"You see the likes of Rach [Yankey] on the side of the Emirates, Anita Asante and other top players, who have been a huge part our history of Arsenal so to not have that at the minute is disappointing.

"But it has to happen at grassroots level. Our academy are making steps towards that, in terms of allowing coaches and buses to come from inner-city London up Hertfordshire to allow girls to train as part of the academy to make it more diverse, make it more inclusive and more accessible for everyone.

"But it has to happen at both levels and for me, representation is even more important at first-team level."

Yankey added: "If you're a young kid now, you're able to switch on the TV, you're able to look at magazines and you're able to find information about footballers so you want to have a role model that looks like you and you can relate to in some sort of way."

However, the lack of diversity is a microcosm of the wider issue within women's football. Players from ethnically diverse backgrounds are often in the minority in elite squads and issues around access and opportunity are mitigating factors.

For example, all of England's starting XI at Euro 2022 were white and only three (Nikita Parris, Jess Carter and Demi Stokes) in the squad were from mixed-heritage backgrounds.

At the 2023 World Cup, Carter and Lauren James were used regularly, but were the only ethnically diverse players on Sarina Wiegman's squad.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has been among those to criticise the lack of diversity in the women's game, calling it a "middle-class sport".

"Women's football is quite a middle-class sport in my opinion," Hayes said. "In terms of the locations, the pedigree of player, they're often coming from suburban belts around the training grounds.

"They're not the Alex Scotts, the Rachel Yankeys, the Anita Asantes. They're not coming to our facilities in the same way and you've got to ask yourself the question: why?

"Look at the number of footballers that came out of south-east London and into the England men's team; an unbelievable number. Why aren't they in the women's side? I often ask that question [at Chelsea]. They're all from Surrey. They're the most talented kids in Surrey. But are they the most talented kids around? I beg to differ.

"Why aren't we going into London? Why aren't we hosting our academies right in the heart of London? Who in their ivory tower has been dreaming up this prawn sandwich girls football club?

"Girls don't travel. Boys in the academy game either have parents who will take them somewhere or they'll get on trains to do it.

"Families won't let their girls go to games [by themselves]. It's going to have to be parent-led and kids coming from the city, often their parents are working and might not have the same [opportunity].

"So our starting point should be...that if you want a diverse group involved with our game at an elite level then perhaps we should be travelling into the cities in a more profound way.

"But why are you going to do that if you don't have player protection, if you're investing into something where you could lose a player at any point? Both have to be supported."

!football

Manchester City dominates most of the next 100 years of pl until the 2100s, Everton has a brief dynasty in the 2080s, and Newcastle was the second best team with having won many titles, with Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham all having won titles within the next 100 years.

Real Madrid dominates La Liga, nothing interesting apart from Barcelona being relegated.

Bundesliga is surprisingly competitive.

Ligue 1 remains the PSG show.

!football discuss