Archives for January 2023

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has laughed off claims he bullied Alejandro Garnacho during a training session as he praised the youngster who can go on to be “one hell of a footballer”.

McTominay caused some controversy during a training session ahead of a Europa League clash with Real Sociedad back in November. The Scot was filmed removing Garnacho’s woolly hat from the youngster’s head and kicking it away.

The footage went viral online, with some hasty accusations being made that McTominay was bullying the teenager.

McTominay has now cleared the incident up, telling The Athletic : “I had a lot of people saying that was bullying! That was just a bit of a joke. But he needs to keep his feet on the ground and keep working hard and he can be one hell of a footballer.”

Erik ten Hag turned to McTominay regularly at the beginning of the season, before Casemiro eventually went on to displace McTominay in the middle of the park. The academy graduate opened up on his own development as a footballer, as he revealed what the Dutchman wants from his United team.

He said: “I like scoring goals and being in the box, but I like the other side of it too. I like a bit of everything, the horrible side of the game. I need to start doing it all. He [Ten Hag] likes to fill the box with players. He wants players in the box ready to score goals. If you don’t have enough players in the box you never are going to score goals, because a striker can’t beat four players by himself.”

After United’s sobering 4-0 defeat by Brentford in August, Ten Hag made the headlines after it emerged that he had organised a training session after the loss to put the players through their paces off the back of a lacklustre display. The former Ajax manager came under some scrutiny for the decision, with some pointing to the potential injury concerns involved in further strenuous activity after a high-intensity match – yet McTominay has now cleared up what actually went on after the match.

“It wasn’t really a running session,” he said. “It was more a case of, ‘Get your running trainers on and do a few laps.’ It wasn’t like people were dying after a game, because it’s unsafe. It was to flush the legs, run around, and he joined in as well, because when we lose, we all lose together, that was part of the process behind it.”

When Prabodh Malhotra took his seat at the SCG, he could have been excused for taking his time to get up.

The retired Melbourne economist, 71, on Wednesday walked the final steps of a 1000-kilometre, 52-day trek between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Glenn McGrath previews the Pink Test at the SCG.

Watch, Stream & Catch Up with Australia’s Home of Cricket on 7plus >>

His “crazy” idea to trek between the two great cricket grounds came this time last year when he saw a group of men walk 150km between Newcastle and the SCG for the same breast cancer charity.

“I thought if they can do it and raise $1000 per kilometre, I should be able to raise the bar,” he told AAP on Wednesday.

“I thought for a day or two and then before the end of January, I’d signed up.

“My friends thought I’m crazy.”

They pointed to the paucity of footpaths and adequate road shoulders and the danger posed by trucks, buses and cars zooming by.

But Dr Malhotra was undeterred.

“If something happens in the process of doing something good for the country, I’m more than happy to go – more than happy,” he said.

With the help of friends, he set a course through Shepparton, Jindabyne, Canberra and Moss Vale, rotating through four pairs of shoes, including a now-rundown pair of Hokas.

Dr Malhotra said he was taken aback by the generosity of people along the way.

Traders and accommodation providers declined payment and often donated to the McGrath Foundation when they discovered his charitable cause.

He was joined by the Newcastle group, known as the Big Three Trek, and breast cancer nurses on his final, short stint on Wednesday.

The group was greeted on arrival by McGrath Foundation president Glenn McGrath and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“To walk 1000 kilometres up from the MCG at the age of 71, just proves you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it,” McGrath said.

“It’s an incredible effort.”

The Test cricket legend said funds raised by both walks and during the SCG’s Pink Test would help fund nurses for 2100 families going through breast cancer in 2023.

Meanwhile, Mr Perrottet praised the trekkers and their supporters, committing $50,000 from his Premier’s Discretionary Fund to the McGrath Foundation.

One question remains: Will Dr Malhotra trek again in 2024?

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Donations can be made on the “Walk from MCG to SCG” page on the McGrath Foundation website.

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Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner played three songs from their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention

A spunky 3-year-old in Kentucky is drawing comparisons to the late comic actor Leslie Jordan with her hilarious reaction to a manicure mishap.

In a TikTok video that has been seen more than 6 million times, Adaline Catron is giving her mom, Kayla, a bright pink manicure. The fact that she’s standing on a towel to catch drips is an indication of how it’s going.

“Oops, you got it on my finger,” Kayla says.

“I’m trying my best, honeeeeey!” Adaline exclaims in a thick southern drawl. The little girl then adjusts her pink glasses and grins. Her comedic timing is flawless.

“She reminds me of the actor Leslie Jordan. Sounds exactly like he would have said that,” one person wrote in the comments.  

Added another, “Fear not my friends!!! Leslie Jordan has been sent back to us.” 

Jordan died in a car crash in October 2022 at the age of 67. The Tennessee native won an Emmy for his role as sassy socialite Beverley Leslie in “Will & Grace,” but he also found fame on social media with his hilarious and self-deprecating humor. 

The openly gay star, who stood 4 feet, 11 inches, was beloved for being unapologetically himself.

Kayla hopes her daughter, Adaline, who just turned 3 last month, will continue to spread joy like Jordan did. 

“People are drawn to Addy,” Kayla, 28, tells TODAY.com. “She’s sassy and opinionated — she’s like an old soul. She’ll just tell you how it is.” 

But Kayla says she hesitated to share Adaline with the world. Adaline has undeveloped optic nerves and is legally blind.

“When we’re out, grown adults will come up and ask, ‘What is wrong with her?’ And ‘Why do her eyes do that?’” Kayla reveals. “So I was worried to put her on the internet. My husband actually had to convince me. He was like, ‘We need to do this. She’s going to make people smile. They’re going to love her.'”

Adaline’s dad was right about that. 

As one fan wrote on her manicure clip, “She’s a Super Star already!!!!”

“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Kayla tells TODAY.com. “She really is a star.” 

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