data-mm-id=”_s1jf9o1by”>The past decade of the WNBA belonged to Maya Moore. She racked up every possible accolade after winning two NCAA championships at UConn and going first overall in the 2011 draft. But when it's all said and done, any basketball accomplishments might be the second-most impressive part of her resume.In 2019, Moore announced she was taking a sabbatical from her professional sports life to help reform the justice system in America. She was inspired by a Black man named Jonathan Irons, who had been serving a 50-year sentence for burglary and assaulting a homeowner with a gun. He was 16-years-old when he was convicted, and there was very little evidence to support the case, but Irons was tried as an adult and found guilty. Moore first met Irons in 2007 and took off both the 2019 and 2020 seasons to support him in his attempts to overturn what he, Moore, and many others believed to be a wrongful conviction. They were successful in that endeavor, and in July of this year, Irons was released. Moore was there to greet him, and there was much rejoicing. WNBA legend Maya Moore took time away from basketball to help overturn Jonathan Irons' 50-year prison sentence. Today, he was finally released ?? https://t.co/RnXVMMHDZi(via @MooreMaya | IG) pic.twitter.com/mdS1zudMgH— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 2, 2020Moore and Irons appeared on Good Morning America on Wednesday to discuss their "Get Out the Vote" campaign. Before they got to that, though, they unveiled quite a surprise: the two had gotten married in the months since Iron's release. A Hollywood scriptwriter couldn't have dreamed of a more movie-like storyline. WNBA star Maya Moore reveals she has married Jonathan Irons, the man she helped free from wrongful conviction. Congratulations to the happy couple! https://t.co/XQgDH7hJAY pic.twitter.com/oattxmhhzO— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 16, 2020A heartwarming tale hidden in these difficult times. There was no previous mention of any romantic relationship in previous reports about Moore's work with Irons, so not only is it a story tailored for the big screen, it's an Oscar-worthy twist in a real-life story. One year ago, Irons was still in prison, battling for his freedom. Now he is not only free, but married to the woman who dedicated her time to helping him find justice. Hard not to root for that guy. Cling to this story with all your heart, because we might never see one like it unfold in real-time like this again.
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Sheffield United have completed the loan signing of Manchester City youngster James McAtee.
McAtee, an attacking midfielder, made five appearances for Premier League champions City in all competitions last season.
The 19-year-old will now spend this campaign at Bramall Lane, with the Blades having been keen to bring in a replacement for Morgan Gibbs-White, who impressed while on loan from Wolves last season, scoring 12 league goals in 37 appearances.
McAtee becomes the second City youngster to join the Championship club in this transfer window, after Tommy Doyle.
Throughout football, people know him as a big talent, said Blades coach Paul Heckingbottom.
We re excited to get him, and likewise, we re a good platform for him to come and learn.
The agent of out-of-favour Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, Mino Raiola, has revealed his client is happy at Anfield despite being left out of the squad to face Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup at the weekend.
The Italy international, 24, has started just two matches for the Reds since the New Year, and has failed to score in 12 English Premier League appearances in 2014/15.
Nonetheless, Raiola has insisted Balotelli, who joined Liverpool from AC Milan in a deal worth £16 million, is happy on Merseyside.
Yes, he is happy at Liverpool, said Raiola.
Nobody is happy to be left out but he reacted in a professional way.
Liverpool, winners of two straight in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Chelsea at in an FA Cup replay at Stamf…
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been released by Tottenham having last played for the White Hart Lane club in May 2013.
Tottenham released full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto from his contract with the club on Monday.
Cameroon international Assou-Ekotto joined Tottenham from Lens in 2006 and made 204 appearances.
But the 30-year-old has not played for the Premier League club since May 2013.
Assou-Ekotto spent last season on loan with QPR but has not played competitive football this term.
…
FIFA have made an excellent statement about racism. Racism has no place in football. Fifa is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination.
That is great as far as it goes but unfortunately they have backed it up with a paltry fine of £15,000 for the Croatian Football Federation. This was in relation to the ignorant monkey chants aimed at England striker Emile Heskey in the world cup qualifier earlier this month.
Croatia were also given a small fine during Euro 2008 for racist abuse from their fans during their game against Turkey. For a second offence, can anyone please explain to me how a £15,000 fine sends a strong message?
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Germany coach Joachim Low said on Sunday he would no longer select striker Kevin Kuranyi after he went absent without leave, disappearing from the stadium following Saturday s 2-1 win over Russia in a World Cup qualifier.
The Schalke 04 forward, who had not been selected for the 18-man match squad in the Group Four qualifier, watched from the grandstand as Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack hit first-half goals to seal the win on Saturday.
The 26-year-old did not show up for the team bus on their journey from the stadium here to their base in Dusseldorf and up until Sunday morning had no contact with the team.
Low immediately reacted by discarding him.
I cannot accept a reaction such as that shown by Kevin, and therefore I will no longer select him i…
Frank Lampard joked he would ask Chelsea to sign Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.
The Premier League side are able to sign players in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) halved their transfer ban.
While Lampard wants to have a say in Chelsea s transfer activity, he joked about signing three of the world s best attackers – Barcelona s Messi, Juventus Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain s Mbappe.
If I say I want Mbappe, Ronaldo and Messi for my front three I might get knocked back, the Chelsea head coach said.
I wouldn t say that, but it s obviously a balance where I can put forward a recommendation and have an open conversation with the owner and hope we move forward in the right direction. I m very open about that.
…
Manchester United versus Liverpool is the most decorated and prestigious rivalry in English football.
United s 20 top-flight titles to Liverpool s 18, eight European Cup/Champions League wins between them it is a rivalry steeped as much in history as it is animosity.
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In truth, it isn t much of a conversation. Manchester City s swashbuckling, goal-laden procession towards Premier League glory looks certain to be completed over the coming weeks.
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Juventus vice-captain Giorgio Chiellini insists his team will need to improve if they are to retain their stranglehold on Italian football.
The Turin-based giants were unbeaten during the 2011-12 Serie A season as they claimed their first top-flight title in nine years, while they also won the Coppa Italia during a wonderful campaign.
Antonio Conte s side have backed up their feat this season and although they have lost – a mere four times – they are nine points clear of second-placed Napoli in the Serie A table with just one match to play.
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Alan Hutton admitted he never thought he would play for Aston Villa again following his match-winning performance on Tuesday.
Hutton has not played a competitive fixture for Villa since Paul Lambert took charge of the Premier League club in 2012 spending time away on loan at Nottingham Forest, Mallorca and Bolton Wanderers.
However, the 29-year-old right-back is back on the manager s radar after scoring the only goal of the game as Villa downed Walsall 1-0 in a pre-season clash.
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Lionel Messi hopes the craziness never ends after scoring his 100th goal and ninth hat-trick for his country amid Argentina s homecoming World Cup celebrations on Tuesday.
La Albiceleste routed Curacao 7-0 in Santiago del Estero, with Messi s 20th-minute opener bringing up his 100th international goal, joining only Cristiano Ronaldo (122) and Ali Daei (109) in achieving that feat.
Messi became the first world champion to score 100 international goals, and he showed no signs of stopping there with further first-half strikes for a treble, taking him to 102.
The milestone came as Argentina rounded out their first two games back in their homeland since December s World Cup triumph with wild celebrations, initially in Buenos Aires for Thursday s 2-0 win over Panama.