Vegan food brand backed by Chris Smalling smashes crowdfunding target – Man United News And Transfer News

4

A vegan food brand backed by former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, alongside others including ITV, has smashed its crowdfunding target.

The Englishman, who now plays his football in Rome, famously switched to a plant-based diet in 2017 and has not looked back since.

Speaking to PETA on his decision to radically change his diet the United man who made 323 appearances for the club claimed, I realised how brutal [animal agriculture] is to animals, how unnecessary it is to us, and how damaging it is to the environment”.

“Ultimately it’s the animal welfare that kicked me on to make sure that this is my lifestyle now”.

However, the defender has also spoken out on how he feels his new eating habits have transformed his injury history and recovery time.

“I think it is a blend of a lot of things and I think my diet is a big factor in that. I think it helps me to recover quicker and the fact we play every two or three days, I did feel fresher”.

“I had a lot of tendinitis in my knee, and then once I went fully vegan, all those symptoms just dropped away”.

Now the Roma player has made it his mission to help spread the word of veganism and has successfully backed a new company THIS, based in London.

CityA.M report that the company “has secured more than £1m so far through its Seedrs campaign, with just under a month left to run”.

“The vegan-focused food company had originally targeted to raise £750,000 and has now secured the backing of over 1,300 investors on the platform”.

“Former Manchester United footballer Chris Smalling invested in THIS in 2020 as part of a number of backers who put £3.5m into the business. Other backers include the likes of ITV, BGF, CTP Capital and ECG Venture Capital”.

In 2022, THIS posted a turnover of £13m.

Smalling has also been involved in financially backing other vegan products across the world, as he invested a six figure sum in Catalan plant-based meat company Heura.

Speaking on the former United defender’s involvement, Heura co-founder Marc Coloma stated, “we are thrilled to have Chris on board and look forward to working towards a plant-based future together – one which is better for our planet and our health”.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Monty Williams: I love the way that Simone Fontecchio plays basketball

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams discussed the all-around skillset of Simone Fontecchio after Tuesday’s 118-110 road loss vs. the Miami Heat (22 points/4 rebounds/2 assists/1 steal/7-16 FG/5-12 3-PT/3-3 FT).

(via Bally Sports Detroit):

James L. Edwards III: “Simone played the entire fourth quarter, obviously had the hot hand tonight. He’s spent a lot of time with the starters as well as coming off the bench, just how great has it been to have somebody like that who’s been able to fit any unit and of course knock down those shots?”

Williams: “I just love the way he plays the game.

Continue reading Monty Williams: I love the way that Simone Fontecchio plays basketball at TalkBasket.net.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Jeff Teague: James Harden is top 3 shooting guard of all-time

In a recent episode of The OGs with Udonis Haslem & Mike Miller Presented by Playmaker HQ, former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague made a bold claim, asserting that James Harden deserves recognition as one of the top three shooting guards of all time, surpassing Dwyane Wade.

Teague highlighted Harden’s remarkable individual achievements and impact on the game, emphasizing his dominance during his tenure with the Houston Rockets.

“Harden is the #3 shooting guard of all-time,” Teague said.

Continue reading Jeff Teague: James Harden is top 3 shooting guard of all-time at TalkBasket.net.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Paolo Banchero leads Magic to victory over Hornets

Paolo Banchero scored game-high 22 points as the surging Orlando Magic (36-26) defeated the Charlotte Hornets 101-89, extending their winning streak to nine in 11 games.

Cole Anthony’s 14 points, including 12 in the second half, were instrumental in securing the win for the Magic.

Wendell Carter Jr. added 12 points and nine rebounds, while four of Orlando’s reserves scored in double digits – Anthony, Moritz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac and Anthony Black.

Continue reading Paolo Banchero leads Magic to victory over Hornets at TalkBasket.net.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Manchester United want both Jason Wilcox and Dougie Freedman – Man United News And Transfer News

7


Manchester United crumbled in front of a much superior Manchester City and the 1-3 defeat only served to emphasise the gulf in class that exists between the two sides currently.

Manager Erik ten Hag went on to claim after the game that his team played well which could not be further from the truth. INEOS, the new co-owners, have a lot of work to do if City are to be knocked off their perch anytime soon.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has worked quickly since his minority stake was ratified with Omar Berrada set to join as the CEO from Manchester City in the summer.

Dan Ashworth is set to become the new sporting director but Newcastle have been adamant in their attempts at not letting the former Brighton chief join without a hefty compensation package.

Two targets not one

If problems persist with the Magpies regarding the tenure of the gardening leave, Dougie Freedman could come in and with his versatility, could plug multiple gaps in the structure for the time being.

That is what The Peoples Person relayed while also claiming that an official approach is likely to be made to Crystal Palace this week.

Now HITC Football have claimed that the former Nottingham Forest manager is not the only remaining target as the Red Devils also want to bring in Southampton’s Jason Wilcox.

Wilcox is expected to come in as the technical director with Darren Fletcher currently occupying said role. The Southampton official’s position will include overview of the club’s academy.

SAF’s recommendation

Ratcliffe, since coming in, is said to have spoken to legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has reportedly recommended Freedman’s name to INEOS. Both were neighbours at one stage.

“United are still keen on bring in Wilcox alongside Freedman, HITC understands. Southampton’s Wilcox is being lined up for a technical director role with an overview of the club’s academy.

“HITC understands that Freedman has been recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS – United’s new minority owners – by Sir Alex Ferguson.”

Wilcox’s eye for talent has been explained in detail here while Freedman’s claim to fame at Palace includes stockpiling talents such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi despite operating on a shoestring budget.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Michael Owen lauds Rasmus Hojlund’s contribution, urges Manchester United to buy him some help – Man United News And Transfer News

19


It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Manchester United’s season, its success or failure, relied upon Rasmus Hojlund adapting to his new club.

It has proven to be true, with United struggling when Hojlund couldn’t buy a goal in the league, then thriving when he started scoring, then went back to struggling after his injury.

Still, considering the full picture, the Dane has blown past expectations as a 20-year-old playing only his second season in a European top-five league.

As a similarly precocious teenager who burst into the scene in thrilling fashion, Owen’s endorsement of Hojlund’s performance will come as music to his ears.

In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person hosted by Betideas, Owen said that Hojlund got thrown into the deep end in less-than-ideal circumstances, but has navigated well.

He said: “With the state of affairs at Manchester United, Hojlund has come in and played all the time. He’s expected to be the superstar and score all the time.

“He’s still a young player learning the game and he’s not a full package. It’s not easy at Manchester United at the moment for any player at any position.”

A huge criticism levelled at United after the summer was the same, that Hojlund as the first-choice might be contentious, but him as the only choice was extremely poor planning. Owen subscribes to that point of view, recalling the peak United teams that had an embarrassment of riches up front.

He said: “I suggested in the past that you should have a great striker and then you would bring Hojlund in to complement him, to learn from him and play a little bit for a season or two.

“Currently, you’re playing a player who doesn’t even want to be playing there (Rashford as a striker). You look at the great Manchester United teams, the likes of Yorke, Cole, Sheringham, and Solskjaer, and you’ve got four amazing players, all of whom offer something different.”

While Owen acknowledged the fact that football has changed, and teams rarely play with two strikers anymore, having only one option going into the season was not a wise move, as can be seen in Rashford’s struggles up front this season, something which Owen went into in detail here.

Ultimately, Ten Hag also technically acknowledged this error when he revealed that the club tried hard to get a striking reinforcement in the winter window.

However, the January window is even tougher than the summer and the club had to hedge all their best in Hojlund’s favour.

It might be a gamble that ends up costing Ten Hag his job, turning another Michael Owen statement prophetic.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Marc Guehi: Crystal Palace exploring replacements for defensive star as Man United circle – Man United News And Transfer News

3


Crystal Palace are reportedly exploring options to replace defender Marc Guehi who is looking increasingly likely to leave amidst heavy interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.

Reinforcing the defensive department is understood to be a high-priority issue for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS ahead of the summer transfer window.

This season, injuries to key members of the backline have played a huge part in preventing United from attaining a consistent run of results and performances.

All the defenders on the club’s payroll except Diogo Dalot have been injured at one or more points in the campaign.

At the moment, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are all on the sidelines.

There are also question marks over the fitness of Jonny Evans after Erik ten Hag confirmed the veteran played through the pain barrier during the defeat against Manchester City.

Alongside Guehi, the Red Devils have also been linked to Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Jean-Clair Todibo (OGC Nice), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) and Leny Yoro (Lille) just to mention a few names.

Last month, a report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that United could go head-to-head with Liverpool for the services of the Palace star.

Incoming sporting director at Old Trafford, Dan Ashworth, is thought to be a fan of Guehi and was plotting to take him to St James’ Park.

It’s entirely possible that Ashworth could now pursue the Englishman, this time for United.

According to The Telegraph, Oliver Glasner’s side are firmly aware of the mounting interest in Guehi and are already planning for life without him.

“Crystal Palace are compiling a list of centre-back targets for the summer transfer window, Telegraph Sport understands, in another sign that England international Marc Guéhi is likely to leave the club.”

“Palace are understood to be showing early interest in central defenders in European leagues, with targets currently being lined up for potential summer moves.”

“The expectation is that Guéhi will cost more than the £50 million fee – a club-record sale – that took Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Palace to Manchester United in 2019.”

“United’s interest could depend on whether proposed sporting director Dan Ashworth, an admirer of Guéhi, is appointed at Old Trafford in time for the summer window.”

The newspaper adds that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also admirers of the 23-year-old.

This summer will see Guehi have two years remaining on his Selhurst Park deal, which means it could be Palace’s last chance to demand for a significant fee for their star man.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Andrew Wiggins returns to the Warriors

After a four-game absence due to a family matter, veteran forward Andrew Wiggins has rejoined the Golden State Warriors. ESPN’s Kendra Andrews shared a video of Wiggins at practice, confirming his return.

Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic initially reported Wiggins’ return to the Bay Area and his Tuesday reporting to the team after addressing personal family matters.

The Warriors are scheduled to play against the Milwaukee Bucks at home on Wednesday, and head coach Steve Kerr mentioned on Twitter, through Andrews, that Wiggins is expected to be active for that game.

Continue reading Andrew Wiggins returns to the Warriors at TalkBasket.net.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Author Andrew Maraniss Latest Work is for Every Generation of Hoops Fans

The game has long been a sport engrained with history, ankle-breaking pioneers and moments that have endured the test of time. From Michael Jordan’s infamous last shot to thrill of the 2016 NBA Finals and the iconic 3-1 comeback, these will forever be written into basketball lore.

But there are also other stories that need to be told. From Perry Wallace, who was the first Black basketball player to compete in the SEC to the social justice work led by WNBA players and protests that took place across the W and the NBA in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, author Andrew Maraniss is here to tell them all.

Maraniss, a New York Times bestselling author and a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics, is a pioneer in his own right. He’s just released four books, including a new 10th-anniversary edition of Strong Inside (for adults), the paperback edition of Inaugural Ballers (for teens/adults) and the first two books in a new series for first and third graders called Beyond the Game. Get your copy here.

SLAM recently caught up Maraniss to discuss the inspiration behind his work and writing books for the next generation of sports fans:

SLAM: Let’s start with the first book you published. What inspired you to write Strong Inside?

ANDREW MARANISS: Growing up like you I was really into sports writing. I always saw sports and reading and writing as connected. My parents said I learned how to read by reading the back of baseball cards when I was a little kid.

In my sophomore year, I was taking a Black history course I was a history major. And it just coincidentally happened to be the same year that Perry Wallace was invited back to Vanderbilt to be honored as the Jackie Robinson figure of the SEC.

[It was] just a coincidence that he comes back at the same time I’m taking this course and there’s an article in a student magazine about his experience as the first black player in the league. Not growing up [in Tennessee], I had never heard Perry’s story before. And so it immediately grabbed me as something that I was interested in…so I called Perry out of the blue. He was a professor in Baltimore at that time, and I wrote a paper about him when I was 19 years old…And 17 years later, I emailed him and said, Hey, do you remember me wrote a paper about you and time ago? I’d like to write a biography about you.

SLAM: Your two books from your new series Beyond the Game are written for first and third graders. In which ways was your approach to writing a book for younger audiences different?

AM:  One piece of advice that I’ve gotten from my editors working on these books, not only for these little kids, but also for teenagers is to respect the audience and not dumb things down. And so what I’m trying to do is just tell a story in a clearer way, which I would be trying to do whether I was writing for elementary school kids or high school kids or adults…The major difference is the length of the books…[And] on the back, they have a glossary of terms that they might be unfamiliar with. They have sort of a call to action, like what have you learned from reading the story that could guide the kids and their families as they read the book.

The reason why I wrote [Beyond the Game] is that these issues are things that matter to families that a lot of families are actually experiencing…Maya Moore and LeBron James are fighting for the same values that these families have, and that they would like their kids to read about, at a time when there’s a lot of pressure on libraries and school districts and teachers from others in the community…And so I understand that these books are coming out at a time when they couldn’t be seen as controversial by some people.

But for me, that’s all the more reason to write them.

SLAM: This is a lot like making you choose a favorite child, but which of your four books is your favorite and why?

AM: Yeah, that is exactly like asking for your favorite tallies. And I’ve used that analogy before. With that caveat, I would say that Strong Inside being my first book, with it being the book that took me eight years of my life to write, and also because of the relationship that I was able to form with Perry Wallace himself while he was alive, will always be the most special book to me.

And even while I was working on it, he was becoming a real father, figure, mentor, favorite professor, type of figure to me. And I feel so fortunate that I was able to spend so much time around him and to learn so much from him about life and racism and courage and toll of pioneering. I saw him on his deathbed, you know, and he asked if we could play in the memorial service for him here at Vanderbilt.

SLAM: Even compared to other major sports, basketball has been a big player in advocating social equality. What makes basketball special as a platform to discuss societal injustice and promote equality amongst different genders and races?

AM: That’s a really interesting question. I think the answer goes back to the very beginnings of basketball. In Inaugural Ballers, I write that [basketball] was an international game…The first players were students from around the world, we actually have a sketch of the very first basketball game ever played. That was done by a Japanese student at that school. So from the very beginning, it was international, right, which I think is unusual in sports…Because there are only five players on the court, they’re not wearing helmets, it’s a very personal game and the players are visible. In that way, it gives them a platform that’s a little bit different than football even in visual ways.

Basketball has been a place where women and African Americans and other groups that are marginalized often have found success. Today’s game has enormous platforms…so with that comes an opportunity to use that platform to speak out for civil rights or human rights, women’s rights. And it’s been really impressive, I would say, to see how these basketball players are using that platform to try to make the world a better place for all people, not just for themselves.

SLAM: Now that your four books will be coming out in a couple of days, what’s next for you?

AM: Oh, well, the Beyond the Game series continues beyond these first two books that will come out on March 5. So the third book will be on Pat Tillman. You know, the NFL player who enlisted after 9/11 was killed by his fellow troops from friendly fire. And then the army lied about the circumstances of his death. So again, you could call that a heavy topic for first, second and third graders, but it’s a really interesting story.

The fourth book, which I’ve written will come out in six months. The fourth book, I’m just beginning now will be about a Native American distance runner named Jordan Marie Daniel, who raises awareness of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. That’s her advocacy through their sport. So yeah, that would be the other things for people to know.


You can purchase Andrew’s books here.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Author Andrew Maraniss Latest Work is for Every Generation of Hoops Fans

The game has long been a sport engrained with history, ankle-breaking pioneers and moments that have endured the test of time. From Michael Jordan’s infamous last shot to the thrill of the 2016 NBA Finals and the iconic 3-1 comeback, these will forever be etched in basketball lore.

But there are also other stories that need to be told. From Perry Wallace, who was the first Black basketball player to compete in the SEC to the social justice work led by WNBA players and protests that took place across the W and the NBA in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, author Andrew Maraniss is here to tell them all.

Maraniss, a New York Times bestselling author and a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics, is a pioneer in his own right. He’s just released four books, including a new 10th-anniversary edition of Strong Inside (for adults), the paperback edition of Inaugural Ballers (for teens/adults) and the first two books in a new series for first and third graders called Beyond the Game. Get your copy here.

SLAM recently caught up Maraniss to discuss the inspiration behind his work and writing books for the next generation of sports fans:

SLAM: Let’s start with the first book you published. What inspired you to write Strong Inside?

ANDREW MARANISS: Growing up like you I was really into sports writing. I always saw sports and reading and writing as connected. My parents said I learned how to read by reading the back of baseball cards when I was a little kid.

In my sophomore year, I was taking a Black history course I was a history major. And it just coincidentally happened to be the same year that Perry Wallace was invited back to Vanderbilt to be honored as the Jackie Robinson figure of the SEC.

[It was] just a coincidence that he comes back at the same time I’m taking this course and there’s an article in a student magazine about his experience as the first black player in the league. Not growing up [in Tennessee], I had never heard Perry’s story before. And so it immediately grabbed me as something that I was interested in…so I called Perry out of the blue. He was a professor in Baltimore at that time, and I wrote a paper about him when I was 19 years old…And 17 years later, I emailed him and said, Hey, do you remember me wrote a paper about you and time ago? I’d like to write a biography about you.

SLAM: Your two books from your new series Beyond the Game are written for first and third graders. In which ways was your approach to writing a book for younger audiences different?

AM:  One piece of advice that I’ve gotten from my editors working on these books, not only for these little kids, but also for teenagers is to respect the audience and not dumb things down. And so what I’m trying to do is just tell a story in a clearer way, which I would be trying to do whether I was writing for elementary school kids or high school kids or adults…The major difference is the length of the books…[And] on the back, they have a glossary of terms that they might be unfamiliar with. They have sort of a call to action, like what have you learned from reading the story that could guide the kids and their families as they read the book.

The reason why I wrote [Beyond the Game] is that these issues are things that matter to families that a lot of families are actually experiencing…Maya Moore and LeBron James are fighting for the same values that these families have, and that they would like their kids to read about, at a time when there’s a lot of pressure on libraries and school districts and teachers from others in the community…And so I understand that these books are coming out at a time when they couldn’t be seen as controversial by some people.

But for me, that’s all the more reason to write them.

SLAM: This is a lot like making you choose a favorite child, but which of your four books is your favorite and why?

AM: Yeah, that is exactly like asking for your favorite tallies. And I’ve used that analogy before. With that caveat, I would say that Strong Inside being my first book, with it being the book that took me eight years of my life to write, and also because of the relationship that I was able to form with Perry Wallace himself while he was alive, will always be the most special book to me.

And even while I was working on it, he was becoming a real father figure, mentor, favorite professor, type of figure to me. And I feel so fortunate that I was able to spend so much time around him and to learn so much from him about life and racism and courage and toll of pioneering. I saw him on his deathbed, you know, and he asked if we could play in the memorial service for him here at Vanderbilt.

SLAM: Even compared to other major sports, basketball has been a big player in advocating social equality. What makes basketball special as a platform to discuss societal injustice and promote equality amongst different genders and races?

AM: That’s a really interesting question. I think the answer goes back to the very beginnings of basketball. In Inaugural Ballers, I write that [basketball] was an international game…The first players were students from around the world, we actually have a sketch of the very first basketball game ever played. That was done by a Japanese student at that school. So from the very beginning, it was international, right, which I think is unusual in sports…Because there are only five players on the court, they’re not wearing helmets, it’s a very personal game and the players are visible. In that way, it gives them a platform that’s a little bit different than football even in visual ways.

Basketball has been a place where women and African Americans and other groups that are marginalized often have found success. Today’s game has enormous platforms…so with that comes an opportunity to use that platform to speak out for civil rights or human rights, women’s rights. And it’s been really impressive, I would say, to see how these basketball players are using that platform to try to make the world a better place for all people, not just for themselves.

SLAM: Now that your four books will be coming out in a couple of days, what’s next for you?

AM: Oh, well, the Beyond the Game series continues beyond these first two books that will come out on March 5. So the third book will be on Pat Tillman. You know, the NFL player who enlisted after 9/11 was killed by his fellow troops from friendly fire. And then the army lied about the circumstances of his death. So again, you could call that a heavy topic for first, second and third graders, but it’s a really interesting story.

The fourth book, which I’ve written will come out in six months. The fourth book, I’m just beginning now will be about a Native American distance runner named Jordan Marie Daniel, who raises awareness of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. That’s her advocacy through their sport. So yeah, that would be the other things for people to know.


You can purchase Andrew’s books here.

Illustrations by DeAndra Hodge for the James and Moore books.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version