Sports
Protests prevalent in Milan ahead of Olympics' opening ceremony
Demonstrators take to the streets as part of a protest organized by Committee Against Winter Olympics on the day of the opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, in the neighborhood of Segesta, in Milan, Italy, on Friday. MILAN, Italy — Hundreds of protesters chanted slogans, blew whistles and set off flares at a rally on Friday to oppose the presence in Italy of U.S. immigration agents and the closure of streets ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Games’ opening ceremony.
The reported presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to protect Americans around the Olympics has galvanized protests, given their front-line role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation push at home.
“ICE OUT” and “ICE should be in my drinks not my city” read some of the banners held by the student-led demonstrators.
Blowing plastic whistles, which have become a symbol of anti-ICE rallies in the U.S., the demonstrators in Milan also urged visiting U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to go home.
“I thought that this was a good opportunity to show that the rest of the world is not OK with what’s happening in Minnesota,” said Katie Legare, a protester from Minnesota currently studying in Europe, in reference to ICE agents’ killing of two U.S. citizens in her home city.
“It’s not OK to just acquiesce and go with the status quo. But to say there’s something wrong that’s happening and to speak out.”
Italy’s government has said the controversy is unfounded, with ICE personnel not on the streets during the Olympics and only operatives from its Homeland Security Investigations in Italy working out of U.S. diplomatic missions.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has also said no agents from ICE were providing security for Team USA.
With the opening ceremony due on Friday evening, Italian authorities ordered schools in central Milan to remain shut and blocked access to some areas to bolster security and ease traffic disruptions.
In the afternoon, a separate demonstration was held in a square near the San Siro stadium, where the opening ceremony will take place.
A few hundred people — including a committee of public-housing tenants protesting against the high cost of living, and the Unsustainable Olympics Committee, which accuses the government of funneling public funds rather than supporting lower-income residents — marched against what they see as the social and economic impact of the Games.
Protesters say the Olympics are a waste of money and resources while housing prices are unaffordable and public meeting places scarce. Some demonstrators also chanted slogans criticizing Israel and expressing support for Palestinians.
On Thursday, environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest in front of Milan’s cathedral, protesting the role of Italian oil major Eni ENI.MI as a sponsor of the Games.
Later on Friday a torchlit march organized by a protest movement against the Games is expected in an area close to the site of the opening ceremony.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
Legendary Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez retires
Jul 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez after a tribute for his return to the booth for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre after receiving cancer treatment . Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images When the Toronto Blue Jays take the field this season, it will be without a longtime voice in the radio booth as broadcaster Buck Martinez announced his retirement Friday after more than four decades.
“After the World Series, my wife Arlene and I had plenty of time to think about the past and look forward to the future. After many heartfelt conversations, we both decided it was time for me to step out of the booth and enjoy the years ahead,” Martinez said in a news release.
Martinez, 77, finished his 17-year playing career as a catcher with six seasons in Toronto, retiring in 1986 and starting his broadcast career the following year as the Blue Jays’ color commentator.
He worked as both a play-by-play announcer and color commentator for most of the next four decades, calling more than 4,000 games, with a brief break to manage the Blue Jays from 2001-02.
“Buck Martinez is a legend in baseball,” Sportsnet president Greg Sansone said in the statement. “His voice is synonymous with summer, and his passion for the sport and dedication to his craft are unrivaled. It has been the highest honor for all of us who have had the pleasure to work with him.”
Martinez’ final call in the booth was Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings last November.
“It has been a fantastic journey with Sportsnet, the Blue Jays and the wonderful Blue Jays fans all over the world. Thank you all for embracing me and welcoming my family and me in a way that has made us feel like we are part of yours,” Martinez said.
“I look forward to continuing to root for the Blue Jays along with you, and you’ll always be in my heart.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
It takes two to tango.
And that’s exactly how the Milwaukee Bucks ruined the NBA trade deadline.
The Bucks had plenty of suitors lining up to trade for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. For weeks, it felt like the NBA world was growing closer and closer to seeing a blockbuster trade happen in-season for the second consecutive year.
But it didn’t happen.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst decided to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee despite plenty of interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Last week, Antetokounmpo informed the Bucks that he’s finally open to being moved after 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s main mission remains to stack NBA Championships while the 31-year-old is still one of the best players in the league. Unfortunately, the Greek Freak will waste away on the Bucks, who are going nowhere this season and have no real plan for the future.
Antetokounmpo on the Timberwolves would’ve helped Anthony Edwards significantly. Pairing Antetokounmpo with Stephen Curry in Golden State would’ve helped legitimize the Warriors. In the East without Jayson Tatum or Tyrese Haliburton, the Cavaliers would’ve instantly become title favorites with a core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Antetokounmpo.
But the Bucks decided to kill everybody’s fun.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Bucks could decide to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season since he was not traded.
Well, what’s the sense in that?
The Bucks will likely have the same suitors with similar offers for Antetokounmpo in the offseason. Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers can enter the picture, especially if LeBron James leaves them with a hole at forward.
But outside of that?
The Timberwolves, Heat and Cavaliers will still have the best packages. Perhaps the New York Knicks can get involved? After all, it felt like that is where Antetokounmpo was heading during the offseason.
One thing is certain, it’s beginning to feel like the Bucks are going to hold onto Antetokounmpo for too long.
It’s difficult to let a homegrown talent like him out of the building. But Milwaukee is accomplishing nothing with him as presently constructed. They are currently one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, but likely will not be bad enough to secure top odds at the No. 1 or No. 2 overall draft choice.
Holding onto Antetokounmpo feels pointless. Especially without much of a path to improve the roster surrounding him.
Sports
Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen dies at 91
Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Sonny Jurgensen waves to the crowd at the TimkenSteel Grand Parade on Cleveland Avenue in advance of the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died at age 91, his family announced Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” said a statement from the Jurgensen family, distributed by the Washington Commanders.
“We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the legends in Canton.”
Jurgensen spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year career playing for the Washington franchise.
A native of Wilmington, N.C., Jurgensen was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles out of Duke in 1957. He was the backup to Norm Van Brocklin when Philadelphia won the 1960 NFL Championship before becoming the Eagles’ starter the following season.
That was the only NFL title of his career.
In 1964 he was traded to Washington, where his No. 9 is retired. After his playing career, he became a longtime radio and television broadcaster for Washington.
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football. He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game,” Commanders’ managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement Friday.
Jurgensen is in Washington’s Ring of Fame and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
A first-team All-Pro in 1961, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the Hall of Fame’s All-1960s team.
Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times. His 32,224 career passing yards ranks 51st all-time.
He finished 69-71-7 in 218 games (147 starts) with Philadelphia (1957-1963) and Washington (1964-1974), throwing 255 touchdown passes. He added 15 on the ground and ran for 493 yards in his career.
–Field Level Media
Legendary Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez retires
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
