The Becher Chase was introduced by Aintree Racecourse in 1992 and has become an integral part of the National Hunt calendar ever since.

Named in the memory of Captain Martin Becher - a well known jockey from the 1800's who subsequently had the famous Becher's Brook named after him, the race was upgraded to a Grade 3 in 2014, and understandably has become a natural trial for the Grand National itself.

The race is run over the Grand National fences over a distance just short of three miles and two furlongs, with trainers using the event to experiment with their horses over the National fences, with those that do well often returning in the spring for the main Grand National Festival.

No horse has won the Grand National directly after winning the Becher Chase, however, Amberleigh House took the Becher Chase in 2001, then tasted Grand National glory in 2004, while Silver Birch won the Becher Chase in 2004 and three years later won the National.

Earth Summit won the race in 1998 following his Grand National win the previous April.

Many horses from this December feature also go on to place in the National, or run well in the Topham Chase, which is also run over the unique Aintree fences.

Some horses even figure in the Cheltenham betting for the following season on the back of their showing at Aintree.

Popular Becher Chase Winners

The inaugural winner in 1992 was Kildimo, trained by Sue Smith.

The gelding, who had regularly broken the hearts of many punters in top staying chases, proved to be a reformed character on the day when winning at Aintree's first non-Grand National meeting for 20 years.

Hello Bud, who won the race for a second time at the grand old age of 14 in 2012, virtually brought the house down, while course specialists such as Black Apalachi, Oscar Time, Vieux Lion Rouge and Walk In The Mill were all extremely popular with the betting public at large.

Becher Chase Winners

• 2020 - (7:17.12) Vieux Lion Rouge 11-y-o 10-7 12/1 (Connor O’Farrell/David Pipe)
• 2019 - (7:03.10) Walk In The Mill 9-y-o 10-8 8/1 (James Best/Robert Walford)
• 2018 - (6:52.40) Walk In The Mill 8-y-o 10-3 10/1 (James Best/Robert Walford)
• 2017 - (7:18.90) Blaklion 8-y-o 11-6 7/4F (Gavin Sheehan/Nigel Twiston-Davies)
• 2016 - (6:51.10) Vieux Lion Rouge 7-y-o 10-9 8/1F (Tom Scudamore/David Pipe)
• 2015 - (7:09.20) Highland Lodge 9-y-o 10-0 20/1 (Henry Brooke/James Moffatt)
• 2014 - (6:54.40) Oscar Time 13-y-o 10-12 25/1 (Mr Sam Waley-Cohen/ Robert Waley-Cohen)
• 2013 - (6:56.30) Chance Du Roy 9-y-o 10-6 14/1 (Tom O'Brien/Philip Hobbs)
• 2012 - (7:22.20) Hello Bud 14-y-o 10-0 14/1 (Sam Twiston-Davies/Nigel Twiston-Davies)
• 2011 - (7:15.60) West End Rocker 9-y-o 10-10 10/1 (Wayne Hutchinson/Alan King)

Key Becher Chase Statistics

• Age: 9 of the last 10 winners were aged 9 or older. Vieux Lion Rouge was 7 when winning in 2016.
• Price: 2 of the last 10 favourites have won, 4/10 winners came from the top three in the betting.
• Last Run: Just 1 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Becher Chase, 9/10 winners ran within the last 54 days.
• Previous Course Form: 9/10 winners had at least one previous run at Aintree, 3/10 winners had at least one previous win at Aintree.

• Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least 5 previous runs over 3 miles or longer, 10/10 had at least 1 previous win over 3 miles or longer.
• Previous Chase Form: 10/10 winners had at least 13 previous chase runs, 10/10 winners had at least 2 previous chase wins, 9/10 winners had at least 3 previous chase wins.
• Rating: 8/10 winners were rated 133 or higher.
• Graded Wins: 7/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 9/10 winners had at least one run that season, 2/10 winners had at least one victory that season.

In the last 10 editions of the Becher Chase itself, 25% of starters have fallen/unseated and 19% have been pulled up.

Leading Trainers

The two leading trainers in the Becher Chase over the last 20 renewals are Paul Nicholls and Nigel Twiston-Davies who have both secured the race three times.

Paul Nicholls has scored with Silver Birch (2004), Eurotrek (2006) & Mr Pointment (2007), while Nigel Twiston-Davies’ winners were with Hello Bud (2010, 2012) and Blaklion (2017).

Other trainers with multiple wins in the Becher Chase are David Pipe (2 wins), Robert Walford (2 wins) and Sue Smith (2 wins).

Those trainers on the recent cold list for the Becher Chase include Peter Bowen and Donald McCain, despite their successes in the other races that are run over the Aintree fences.

Leading Jockeys

The two leading jockeys in the Becher Chase over the last 20 renewals are Sam Twiston-Davies and James Best who have won the race twice each.

Sam Twiston-Davies winners were with Hello Bud (2010, 2012) while James Best was successful with Walk In The Mill (2018, 2019).

At the time of writing Paddy Brennan is a jockey to avoid in the Becher Chase. He has had a total of ten rides in the race without recording any wins.

Becher Chase 'Trial' Races

Until 2021 there were no direct trials before the Becher Chase, however since the Grand Sefton Chase was shifted to an earlier point in the racing calendar, that race is highly likely to become a stepping stone to the Becher itself in the coming years.

Starting Prices

Looking at the starting prices over the last 20 renewals, the biggest priced winner was Amberleigh House at 33/1 in the horse racing betting for Donald McCain.

If you take a look at the statistics for horses at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals you will find that only four winning favourites have obliged in that time.

Our 2021 antepost NAP of the day is Mighty Thunder @ 12/1

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 16th November 2021

At 23 years of age, Cristian Romero is a starter for Tottenham Hotspur and the Argentina national team, a Copa América winner, and one of the most promising center backs in Europe. But at 17, he had reached a breaking point where he considered whether a football career was even worth pursuing.

 

Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Romero joined Belgrano’s academy in 2014 and made his professional debut on August 28, 2016 in a 1-0 defeat to Independiente. Romero found opportunities hard to come by with El Pirata, making just 19 appearances before deciding to head across the Atlantic Ocean and try his luck in Italy.

 

“At 17 years old, Belgrano’s own leaders… throwing so much shit at me...it has been tough,” revealed Romero in an interview with ESPN Argentina. “When Genoa came to buy me, Belgrano’s sporting director at the time told me that in three months, I was going to return to Córdoba to look for work. Those words remain with you... Today I enjoy where I am, what I am achieving and that remains in the past.”

 

““When I take that second to think about what I have achieved, I start to cry. I wanted to give up football and that all this is happening to me is something that I would never have thought. I try to do my best to continue being in the national team, to continue growing and adapting to Tottenham. I can't stop myself right now.”

 

Romero joined Genoa for €1.65 million in the summer of 2018 and after missing the start of the season due to work permit issues, he made his Serie A debut on October 20 against Juventus, delivering a resolute display in defense against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic and holding the champions to a 1-1 draw. Whilst he was sent off in the following match against Udinese, he immediately returned to the line-up in the following match, a 0-5 defeat to Inter. Genoa endured a chaotic season that saw them go through three different managers and sell top scorer Krzysztof Piątek to Milan in January, but they nevertheless stayed up thanks to the impressive performances of Romero in defense -- they finished with 38 points and a -18 goal differential, whilst Empoli, who were relegated, registered 38 points and a -19 goal differential.

 

It was enough to earn the attention of Juventus, who paid €26 million plus €4 million in bonuses for his services, signing him on a contract through 2024. However, like many other promising youngsters who join the Old Lady, Romero never actually played for Juventus and was loaned back to Genoa for the following season, in contrast to Merih Demiral and Matthijs de Ligt, two young center backs who joined that same summer for a combined fee of €103.5 million and were immediately brought into Maurizio Sarri’s squad. Romero logged 33 appearances for Genoa who, for the second straight season, went through three different managers and finished 17th in Serie A.

 

 

When Romero returned from his loan, he found opportunities hard to come by with De Ligt, Demiral, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele Rugani and Leonardo Bonucci vying for a spot in central defense, and elected to join Atalanta to get his first taste of European football. The Argentine quickly became a regular in the middle of Gian Piero Gasperini’s back three in a dream season for La Dea, who finished third in the league, lost to Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final, and advanced to the Champions League Round of 16 where they would lose to Real Madrid.

 

Romero reached a new level under Gasperini and it was little surprise to see him earn a maiden call-up to the Argentina national team, making his debut on June 3 in a World Cup qualifier against Chile. The following match, Romero opened the scoring after 130 seconds against Colombia, making it the quickest goal ever scored for Argentina in a professional match and surpassing Diego Maradona’s 36-year record. After starting La Albiceleste’s first two Copa América matches against Uruguay and Paraguay, Romero missed two weeks with a knee injury but rushed himself back for the Final in Rio de Janeiro, playing 79 minutes as Argentina defeated Brazil on their own turf and claimed their first major trophy in 28 years.

 

This naturally prompted a bidding war between some of Europe’s biggest clubs and at the end, it was Tottenham Hotspur who won the race. Four hours after Atalanta exercised their €16 million purchase clause to make the loan permanent, Tottenham signed Romero on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for €50 million + €5 million in bonuses. The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year contract that will see him earn an annual salary of €3 million in North London.

Cristian Romero Salary in Tottenham

 

It has been a bizarre start to the season for Spurs with the Harry Kane transfer saga, the wild goose chase for their next manager, and the brief, unsuccessful spell of Nuno Espirito Santo forming a dark cloud over the club. However, brighter skies are upon the horizon. With the appointment of Antonio Conte, Tottenham have a proven, elite manager whose traditional back three and aggressive style of play should fit Romero to a tee and take the club to the next level.

 

 

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• Megan Rapinoe is one of the most iconic female footballers on the planet

• According to estimates, Megan Rapinoe has a total net worth of around $3 million

• Rapinoe has campaigned tirelessly for equality in women’s soccer, playing a crucial role in the salary debate

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Arguably the biggest name in women’s soccer, Megan Rapinoe has gone from being an elite football player to a sporting and cultural icon around the world.

Rapinoe has been a major name in live betting throughout her professional career but she has received plenty of media coverage in recent times.

Whether expressing her views on political situations or campaigning for equality in elite sport, Rapinoe is a role model for aspiring soccer players.

She has worked hard to build a reputation at the top level of the game, becoming one of the highest paid female footballers on the planet after her exploits.

In addition, Rapinoe has joined forces with fiancée Sue Bird to expand into other business ventures – including but not limited to CBD company Mendi.

Without further ado, it is time to take a closer look at Rapinoe’s estimated wealth, her role as a sporting icon and her achievements both on and off the football pitch.

Megan Rapinoe Estimated Wealth

The salary figures for women’s football are considerably lower than the average male wage. However, that is a discussion that we will mention a little later on…

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Megan Rapinoe has an estimated wealth of $3 million. We can assume the bulk of these earnings came as a result of her soccer career.

Rapinoe’s salary soared after joining European giants Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, with an annual wage of around $168,000.

To put that into perspective, the average female soccer player was earning $25,000 per year in the United States during the same period.

The USWNT star was a huge hit at Lyon Women, helping the French side reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2013.

However, she opted to join Seattle Reign (now OL Reign) and has thrived in that area of the country – and Rapinoe and her teammates are now earning a much fairer wage.

Megan Rapinoe Equal Pay

As previously mentioned, Megan Rapinoe has been a passionate advocate for equal pay in sport for female athletes.

In March 2021, Rapinoe visited the White House with the United States women’s national team and declared in a speech that she believes she has been “devalued, disrespected and dismissed” because of her gender.

Rapinoe has been an iconic figure in female soccer for over a decade and her comments on equal pay are more than fair.

Soccer fans can find the full Megan Rapinoe equal pay speech online, with the USWNT icon earning praise for her impact and influence on sports fans around the world.

Megan Rapinoe Endorsements

With female soccer players wages lagging way behind their male counterparts, it comes as no surprise to hear that Rapinoe’s net worth comes predominantly from endorsements.

Rapinoe has attracted plenty of marketing deals due to her on-field success, with the likes of Procter & Gamble, Hulu, Samsung and Smirnoff joining forces with the USWNT star.

However, her biggest deal is undoubtedly with Nike. Rapinoe has been a leading figure for the company over the past few years and she is still regularly involved in the biggest campaigns.

In 2016, Rapinoe starred alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in one of Nike’s largest adverts of the year while also collaborating on their “You Can’t Stop Us” campaign in 2020.

While not a direct endorsement, Rapinoe released one of the best football autobiographies of 2020 – with “One Life” earning a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

Megan Rapinoe Wife

As of November 2021, Megan Rapinoe is engaged to WNBA legend Sue Bird. The couple started dating after meeting during the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Rapinoe and Bird have been pictured together at various events over the years and the duo regularly post supportive messages on each other’s social media channels.

Is Megan Rapinoe married? At this moment in time, no. However, Bird and Rapinoe may opt to keep any nuptials private – only time will tell…

Megan Rapinoe Instagram

With over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, Rapinoe is one of the most popular female football players on the social media platform.

If you look at her social presence across all channels, the United States legend has over 4 million accounts following her activity on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Rapinoe regularly posts images from her sporting career as well as giving fans a unique insight into her home life, with wife Sue Bird featuring from time to time.

In fact, the couple opted to announce their engagement on Instagram in October 2020 and that remains one of her most popular social posts to this day.

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FIRST PUBLISHED: 12th November 2021

• We’ve seen plenty of NFL mascots travel to the UK for the International Series
• As well as being an icon for the team, the role of an NFL mascot is to energise the home crowd
• 28 of the 32 NFL teams have an official mascot

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Mascots are part and parcel of the match day experience and that is no different when it comes to the National Football League.

As well as providing excellent marketing tools for each team, NFL mascots are tasked with hyping up the home crowd and adding a bit of fun to proceedings.

You won’t see mascots impacting NFL predictions but some have a bigger role than others, with some pulling pranks on the side-lines to keep fans engaged.

As of the 2021 NFL season, there are four teams without a mascot – the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New York Jets & Washington Football Team.

Ranking the NFL mascots certainly isn't easy. Some receive more airtime than others so we've taken that into account when putting this list together.

Here, we look past NFL odds and debate the mascot situation across the league. Who is the best NFL mascot in the sport? Have your say at 888sport!

28) Raider Rusher – Las Vegas Raiders

Despite the illustrious history of the Raiders franchise, ‘Raider Rusher’ sits at the bottom of our NFL mascot rankings.

He’s not got that cute, appealing nature of the animal mascots and you’d struggle to find many NFL fans putting Raider Rusher up the list.

27) Sir Purr – Carolina Panthers

The Panthers website claims Sir Purr’s favourite snacks are “birds, like falcons and eagles and seahawks” but Carolina haven’t been feasting on those for a while.

Sir Purr looks softer than your average housecat and he hasn’t had much to smile about in recent seasons – though that may change under Matt Rhule.

26) Rowdy – Dallas Cowboys

Rowdy wouldn’t look out of place in Toy Story – though we’re not sure whether that is a compliment or not.

He has seen the Cowboys win Super Bowl titles in years gone by but it’s been a while since Dallas were challenging in the NFL showpiece.

25) Sir Saint – New Orleans Saints

The Saints organisation tried their best to create an iconic figure here but saints and mascots don’t really go hand-in-hand.

Again, some of the ‘person’ mascots just don’t quite go down as well as the animal outfits and Sir Saint is relatively forgettable compared to some of his rivals.

24) T.D. – Miami Dolphins

A forgettable character at the best of times, T.D. hasn’t had as much airtime in recent years as Miami have struggled to build momentum.

The Dolphins could do with a rebrand when it comes to their mascot – but perhaps that is wishful thinking on our part.

23) Freddie Falcon – Atlanta Falcons

What’s better than a nerdy-looking falcon? Well, plenty of NFL mascots rank above Freddie on this list so that tells you everything you need to know.

While he fits the falcon profile, he’s hardly intimidating and rival fans won’t be too scared of Freddie when they make the trip to Atlanta.

22) KC Wolf – Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs made the decision to steer clear of a potentially complicated ‘chief’ mascot and the KC Wolf name plays on the ultras fan group from Municipal Stadium.

KC Wolf is cool and casual but he doesn’t exactly strike fear in opponents. He has witnessed the Chiefs defy in play betting plenty of times over the years…

21) Roary – Detroit Lions

The Lions switched Roary’s appearance in recent times, with a more relaxed Lion taking over as the NFC North mascot.

Considering the team haven’t advanced past the Wildcard round of the playoffs since 1991, Roary usually only works between August and early January.

20) Poe – Baltimore Ravens

Is the Baltimore mascot *really* a raven? It looks more like a pelican if we’re being honest – and Poe is a pretty imposing figure.

The Ravens are a force to be reckoned with on the field but Poe ranks as a ‘middle of the road’ mascot.

19) Steely McBeam – Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers mascot is similar to the 49ers icon, with a huge smile on his face no matter the occasion. Win or lose, the Pittsburgh mascot will be smiling.

Mike Tomlin and Steely are on a first name basis, with both now part of the furniture at Heinz Field. Could we see a coaching change if the Steelers fall short?

18) Sourdough Sam – San Francisco 49ers

Like most NFL mascots, Sourdough Sam is a happy character – with a big beaming smile all across his face.

He took the relocation to Levi Stadium in his stride but it’s a little strange how he is named after a type of bread.

17) Toro – Houston Texans

The Texans mascot is a big, rangy bull and he sums that area of the United States up to a tee. In terms of a stereotypical Houston theme, the franchise have nailed it.

Houston have failed to inspire confidence so far this season – Toro is one of their brightest sparks right now… and that’s saying something.

16) Pat the Patriot – New England Patriots

Named after a former center for New England, Pat the Patriot is a funny figure. The cartoon drawing of the Patriots mascot is arguably a better representation…

Reminiscent of a Muppet character, Pat the Patriot can be found patrolling Gillette Stadium at New England home games and he is certainly easy to spot.

15) Jaxson De Ville – Jacksonville Jaguars

UK NFL fans have seen Jaxson at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Jaguars mascot often diving off the arena roof.

One of the most loveable mascots in the NFL, Jaxson is renowned for crazy stunts and general tomfoolery on the Jaguars touchline.

14) Blue – Indianapolis Colts

‘Blue’ is a real character at Lucas Oil Stadium, entertaining Colts fans before, during and after games.

The Indianapolis mascot is the epitome of a happy chappy though the form of the Colts on the pitch means Blue may be set for an early end to the campaign.

13) Captain Fear – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay went from Bucco Bruce to Captain Fear – arguably a slight downgrade when it comes to talking about NFL mascots across the league.

He isn’t the most imposing mascot around but the team more than make up for that on the field. After all, Captain Fear is a defending Super Bowl champion.

12) Rampage – Los Angeles Rams

The Rams mascot is intriguing – he looks like a cross between a tiger cub and a mythical creature.

While he isn’t the most memorable NFL mascot around, Rampage grabs your attention and is a safe mid-table pick on this list.

11) Who Dey – Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals mascot ticks all the right boxes, with the ‘Who Dey’ catchphrase synonymous with the franchise taking primary importance in the name.

Cincinnati fans will see Who Dey causing mischief around the ground, especially when local rivals Cleveland Browns visit The Jungle.

10) T-Rac – Tennessee Titans

The Titans have a raccoon as a mascot… Yes, you read that right: the Titans are represented by a raccoon.

With so many other plausible options, it’s surprising to see that Tennessee go for this option for their mascot. A random but cool choice.

9) Swoop – Philadelphia Eagles

Philly is a hostile environment at the best of times and Swoop is exactly what you’d look for in an Eagles mascot.

The NFC East giants are in a rebuild with Jalen Hurts at quarterback so Swoop may need to wait a while until his next appearance at a Super Bowl.

8) Blitz – Seattle Seahawks

We’ve seen a lot of Blitz during the Russell Wilson era and newer NFL fans will have seen the Seahawks mascot on more than one occasion.

With so much focus on atmosphere at CenturyLink Field, Blitz is tasked with hyping up the 12th Man at home fixtures – and he does it perfectly.

7) Viktor – Minnesota Vikings

If Viktor was a player, he’d be selected for random drug testing most weeks. He is built like a monster but the Minnesota mascot has a forced smile on his face.

Viktor is a solid representation of the Scandinavian theme yet he is unable to break into the bracket of top NFL mascots in this list.

6) Staley Da Bear – Chicago Bears

With the historical reference to Chicago’s original owner, Staley automatically earns a spot in the top 10 NFL mascots. Sorry Packers fans!

Hitting the Bears colour scheme and offering a perfect marketing opportunity, Staley da Bear is arguably the most famous mascot in the league.

5) Billy Buffalo – Buffalo Bills

With some of the highest paid NFL players around, Billy Buffalo could be in for an exciting year. Josh Allen may be the quarterback to take the Bills to the Super Bowl…

Billy Buffalo is a monster. Yes, he is child-friendly but the Buffalo strikes fear in his rivals. The name isn’t exciting in the slightest but Billy is a top tier NFL mascot.

4) Bolt Man – Los Angeles Chargers

Bolt Man has been with the Chargers since their San Diego days and he has been a huge hit on the SoFi Stadium touchline.

Could we see the Bolt Man parading after the Chargers join the Super Bowl winners list? Only time will tell – he’s certainly one of the better NFL mascots around.

3) Miles – Denver Broncos

Always smiling, always happy and always excited – Miles is happiest when the Broncos are making plays on defence and scoring touchdowns on offence.

While his fluffy tail makes him look more cute than tough, the Broncos mascot is generally regarded as one of the elite NFL icons.

2) Chomps – Cleveland Browns

The Browns have one of the best mascots in the league and Chomps is a fan favourite at FirstEnergy Stadium – especially with the Dawg Pound faithful.

Let’s be serious, a dog mascot is the best kind of mascot. Yes, it’s a shame we’ve not seen him on the Super Bowl stage but we could be seeing more of Chomps soon…

1) Big Red – Arizona Cardinals

Big Red is one of our favourite NFL mascots – he is everything you want in a mascot. Fun, fierce and flashy and that is why he takes top spot in our NFL mascot rankings.

The Cardinals have one of the strongest teams in the league and Big Red is a mascot worthy of a successful franchise.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

• Sue Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in WNBA history

• With an estimated net worth of $8 million, Bird has made an impressive living from the sport

• Bird and fiancée Megan Rapinoe became the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESPN The Magazine

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Sue Bird has been a leading figure in women’s basketball for over 20 years and she will go down in history as an all-time WNBA great.

Given the discrepancy in NBA player salaries for men and women, Bird has made a healthy living for herself, with strong performances on the court and endorsement deals off it.

Team USA are always popular in basketball odds but Bird’s presence has helped USBWNT to dominate on the biggest stage of all for over two decades.

Born in 1980, Bird is now in her 40s but continues to play at a high level. The Seattle Storm legend has certainly lived up to the hype after she was selected 1st overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft!

Having spent time with Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Moscow Region and UMMC Ekaterinburg, Bird will be remembered as one of the greatest ever female basketball players.

The highest paid WNBA player for most of her career, Bird has a supportive fanbase and her tally of four league titles and five Olympic gold medals puts her in an exclusive bracket.

Juggling her overseas duties during the WNBA offseason was some feat – and that level of commitment is why Sue Bird has been so successful. Here, we take a look at her estimated wealth and life away from basketball…

How Much Is Sue Bird Worth?

Finding figures relating to Sue Bird’s estimated wealth is no easy feat but there are a few respected online sources that provide valuations on the WNBA legend.

Given her longevity at the highest level of the sport, Bird is likely to have built up a hefty net worth – with Republic World estimating her wealth at $8 million.

According to Spotrac, Bird signed a one-year deal with Seattle to play in the 2021/22 WNBA season and she will earn $221,450.

Off the basketball court, Bird is on the team of CBD company Mendi. Working alongside fiancée Megan Rapinoe, the WNBA star is likely to make a decent wage from this venture.

Sue Bird Endorsement Deals

It would be fair to assume that the bulk of Sue Bird worth has been earned from her career in basketball and the various marketing deals that are linked to the sport.

In fact, Bird’s endorsement deals are worth an estimated $1.5 million. The WNBA star has a contract with Nike as well as American Express and Symetra.

Nike have partnered Bird for the majority of her WNBA career but she has really upped the promotional side of her brand in recent years, especially with Mendi and Glossier.

Sue Bird Career Highlights

After a scintillating college career, Bird was touted as the ‘next big thing’ and it came as little surprise to see the Seattle Storm select her with the first pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.

Bird started all 32 games in her rookie season, averaging 14.4 points per game and earning a spot as the starter on the 2002 WNBA Western Conference All-Star team.

As previously mentioned, Bird has won four WNBA titles with the Storm. The first title came in 2004 while others followed in 2010, 2018 and most recently in 2020.

In addition, Bird has won four Olympic gold medals. Those who follow NBA predictions will know that Team USA were expected to win but Bird has still been key to their success.

Who Is Sue Bird's Wife?

At the time of writing, Sue Bird is not married. She is, however, engaged to United States national team star Megan Rapinoe.

The couple began dating shortly before Bird revealed her sexuality in 2017 and they have been inseparable ever since – eventually getting engaged in 2020.

Megan Rapinoe is one of the biggest names in women’s soccer, leading the USWNT to two FIFA Women’s World Cup trophies and an Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

Rapinoe has campaigned for equality over the years and her influence in the soccer world could see more national teams offer equal pay to male and female players.

Bird and Rapinoe defied bet odds to appear on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue”, becoming the first same-sex couple to make the front page.

Sue Bird Instagram

With over 630,000 followers, Sue Bird is one of the biggest female sports stars on Instagram. Since joining the platform in 2012, Bird has built a substantial social media presence.

Bird has a certified blue tick account, verifying her celebrity status. If you follow basketball betting tips, chances are you’ll know a little bit about her anyway though…

She is a funny character on the platform, posting hilarious trends and memes – including the Bernie Sanders image at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021.

You can follow Sue Bird Instagram updates via her handle: @sbird10. She is very active on her social media channel and regularly shares photos and video clips.

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• Most Chelsea fans recognise Stamford as the official club mascot

• Bridget the Lioness joined Stamford as a Chelsea mascot back in 2013

• The pair can be seen parading around Stamford Bridge at Chelsea home fixtures

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Mascots are an important part of a football club’s identity, with millions of fans around the world recognising these soccer icons.

More often than not, a club mascot will be based on the team’s nickname and history – and that is certainly the case with Chelsea.

The Blues are unique in some ways as they now have two official club mascots: Stamford the Lion and Bridget the Lioness.

Does having two mascots make them one of the greatest British football clubs? Of course not – but Stamford and Bridget have seen Chelsea win plenty of trophies in recent times.

Here, we look at the history of Stamford the Lion and Bridget the Lioness and the role they play as club mascots for Chelsea Football Club.

So if you know football odds but want to learn more about the west London giants, take a look at our Chelsea mascots profile.

Stamford the Lion

Stamford has been the Chelsea mascot for some time and he has been a roaring success in the wider football community for over a decade.

Dressed head to toe in a full Chelsea kit, Stamford is instantly recognisable around the Blues ground – and he is a huge hit with younger supporters.

In addition, Stamford the Lion has been pictured helping out at various charity events over the years. Whether local or national, Stamford is always willing to do his bit.

Pictured competing in the London Marathon in 2010, Stamford the Lion is a sporty mascot and he completed the circuit to raise money for a children’s charity.

Stamford the Lion’s antics on the touchline has fans in raptures – you may even say they are roaring with laughter!

Stamford The Lion Facts

• Name: Stamford

• Shirt number: 00

• Place of birth: Africa

• Position: Right wing

• Foot: Right-footed

• Favourite colour: Blue

• Favourite song: Blue Flag

• Favourite film: The Lion King

• Favourite Chelsea moment: John Terry lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time in 50 years (2005)

• Favourite player: All of the team!

Bridget the Lioness

Chelsea announced Bridget the Lioness as one of the new club mascots in July 2013, with the Blues talisman joining Stamford to form a mini pride.

Bridget and Stamford are now inseparable. If you see Stamford around the ground, chances are Bridget won’t be too far behind.

Both mascots are hugely popular with the Chelsea fanbase, with supporters looking to take images before games and shaking hands and generally interacting with matchgoers.

Could we see a baby cub join Stamford and Bridget in the near future? You won’t be able to find Premier League Odds odds on this but it wouldn’t be a huge shock!

Bridget the Lioness Facts

• Name: Bridget

• Shirt number: 00

• Place of birth: Africa

• Position: Striker

• Foot: Left-footed

• Favourite colour: White

• Favourite song: Blue is the colour!

• Favourite film: Madagascar

• Favourite Chelsea moment: Drogba winning penalty v Bayern Munich (Champions League Final 2012)

• Favourite player: All of the team!

Stamford and Bridget Tour

Back in 2018, Chelsea gave fans a fantastic opportunity to take the official stadium tour with Stamford the Lion and Bridget the Lioness.

Stamford and Bridget would accompany visitors throughout the Chelsea club tour, checking out the home dressing room, the press conference room and even going pitch side.

For some Chelsea fans, this was a dream come true. Five years after defying Champions League predictions to win Europe’s elite competition, Blues fans could see the trophy with both club mascots.

Most football clubs offer stadium tours but you don’t see too many offering an experience with a club mascot. Fair play to Stamford and Bridget for embracing the idea!

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FIRST PUBLISHED: 11th November 2021

• New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is the highest paid coach in the NFL
• According to online sources, the average NFL head coach salary is $6.7 million
• NFL coach salary figures are often private but many are public knowledge

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Player contracts in the NFL are often tricky to understand. With bamboozling clauses and bonuses relating to performance, it is almost impossible to calculate the average NFL player salary.

However, the NFL head coach wage bill is more straightforward. While performance-related bonuses still exist, figures don’t count towards any salary cap and it can be a brutal world if your team has struggled.

If you bet on NFL matches regularly, you’ll know about Jon Gruden’s resignation early in the 2021 season.

The former Las Vegas Raiders head coach was earning $10 million per year, which made him the third highest paid coach in the league.

The average NFL head coach salary is $6.7 million. However, this figure is slightly higher than the median NFL coach wage which is $5.5 million.

That is largely because of Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll on lucrative head coach contracts.

So, how much money do NFL head coaches make per year? Well, sports betting fans – we look at the financial figures and discuss the NFL coach salary situation in 2021.

With millions of dollars at stake, we could see plenty of coaching changes in the coming months…

NFL Head Coach Salaries 2021:

• Bill Belichick – $12 Million
• Pete Carroll – $11 Million
• Sean Payton – $9.8 Million
• John Harbaugh – $9 Million
• Matt Rhule – $8.5 Million
• Sean McVay – $8.5 Million
• Mike Tomlin – $8 Million
• Andy Reid – $8 Million
• Bruce Arians – $8 Million
• Ron Rivera – $7 Million
• Kliff Kingsbury – $5.5 Million
• Robert Saleh – $5 Million
• Joe Judge – $5 Million
• Matt LaFleur – $5 Million
• Vic Fangio – $5 Million
• Frank Reich – $4.5 Million
• Zac Taylor – $4.5 Million
• Mike McCarthy – $4 Million
• Mike Zimmer – $4 Million
• Kevin Stefanski – $3.5 Million
• Kyle Shanahan – $3.5 Million
• Mike Vrabel – $3 Million
• Brian Flores – $3 Million

*Note - unable to obtain NFL head coach salary information for: Sean McDermott, Urban Meyer, Matt Nagy, Brandon Staley, David Culley, Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, Arthur Smith and Rich Bisaccia*

NFL Coach Salary vs NFL Player Salary

While Belichick’s $12 million pay check looks modest compared to the money earned by the highest paid NFL players, he is one of only two head coaches to top the $10 million.

In fairness to the New England boss, Belichick is the greatest head coach in NFL history. He is first all-time for playoff wins and has six Super Bowl titles on his resume.

Now, it’s time to look at the 10 highest paid coaches in the National Football League, starting with Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera.

Top 10 Highest Paid NFL Coaches:

Ron Rivera – Washington Football Team

‘Riverboat Ron’ committed to a five-year deal with Washington prior to the 2020 season and he led the team to the NFC East title in his first year in the capital.

Previously, Rivera was with the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons and led them to the NFC Championship title back in 2015.

Bruce Arians – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arians has been a huge hit throughout his coaching career, winning the AP Coach of the Year with the Indianapolis Colts before a successful spell at the Arizona Cardinals.

However, his biggest moment came in 2020 as he teamed up with NFL legend Tom Brady to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl glory.

Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs

Reid was regarded as a ‘middle of the road’ head coach before finding Patrick Mahomes but he has adapted his playbook to maximise the Kansas City quarterback’s skillset.

The Chiefs head coach has led the team to three straight AFC Championship games and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. Write him off at your peril.

Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers

Tomlin is now in his 15th year with the Steelers and he has been a roaring success at Heinz Field, leading Pittsburgh to the playoffs in nine of his 14 seasons.

Joining the Super Bowl winners list in his second year as a head coach was some feat but the Pittsburgh faithful are beginning to ponder a switch in the Steelers hot seat.

Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams

McVay became the youngest ever NFL head coach when the Rams appointed him in 2017 and he has been a revolution since arriving at the helm.

Leading the Rams to the NFC Championship crown in 2018, McVay’s success has convinced other teams to follow suit by appointing younger, offensive-minded coaches to NFL head coach positions.

Matt Rhule – Carolina Panthers

Carolina went all in and splashed the cash to tempt Rhule away from Baylor University last year. And what a decision that could turn out to be…

Having signed a seven-year deal with the team, Rhule is in it for the long haul and a rebuild is already underway with the Panthers moving on from the Cam Newton era.

John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens

One of the NFL’s veteran head coaches, Harbaugh was hired by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009 and he has slumped to a sub .500 record just once during that time.

He led the Ravens to Super Bowl glory in 2013 and has since masterminded the offensive switch from pocket passer Joe Flacco to dual threat Lamar Jackson.

Sean Payton – New Orleans Saints

Payton is the second longest-serving head coach in the NFL and he is widely regarded as one of the most creative when it comes to opening up the playbook.

The chemistry with Drew Brees was sublime and the duo led the Saints to a Super Bowl title in 2010. Brees may have gone but Payton remains one of the top NFL head coaches.

Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks

Appointed by the Seahawks in 2010, Carroll has led Seattle to the postseason in nine of the last 11 years. That in itself is a phenomenal achievement.

Now the oldest head coach in the league, Carroll has made Seattle a regular feature in NFL picks straight up for over a decade – especially during the ‘Legion of Boom’ era.

Bill Belichick – New England Patriots

Belichick’s list of achievements is endless, with the Patriots head coach winning six Super Bowl titles in a head coaching career spanning more than two decades.

Well worth the top spot when it comes to highest NFL head coach salary, Belichick is one of the game’s great thinkers. He will go down in history as the very best.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th November 2021

• Gunnersaurus became Arsenal’s mascot during the 1993/94 season

• 11-year-old Peter Lovell’s design was selected after the club ran a competition to determine the new mascot

• One of the most popular Premier League mascots, Gunnersaurus has been in the news on more than one occasion in recent years

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When most football fans think of Arsenal Football Club, they think of Arsene Wenger, the Invincibles and the Emirates Stadium.

However, some think of Gunnersaurus – the official club mascot. While the presence of Gunnersaurus on the touchline is unlikely to impact your bets, he certainly makes himself known as Arsenal home matches.

It seems a tad bizarre that Arsenal’s club mascot is a dinosaur but we’ll get onto the reason for that later. Gunners fans won’t care though – he is one of the top talismans in world football.

Gunnersaurus has seen plenty of players come and go, and he may yet witness the next Arsenal manager in the Emirates dugout if the club part ways with Mikel Arteta.

Here, we look at the history of Gunnersaurus as Arsenal’s mascot – including how he was created and why Gunnersaurus has gained a cult following over the years.

Who Created Gunnersaurus?

Arsenal ran a competition amongst junior supporters to design a new club mascot, with the winning image being brought to life.

Peter Lovell is the man credited with designing Gunnersaurus and the Arsenal mascot has been a huge part of his life – even attending his wedding day!

So the general idea of Arsenal’s club mascot is unusual yes, but it was Lovell’s creative brain that came up with the Gunnersaurus design back in 1994.

Since Lovell’s creation came to life, Gunnersaurus has been a staple at the club – watching the Arsenal Invincibles run riot and paying tribute to legendary manager Arsene Wenger.

Why Is Arsenal Mascot A Dinosaur?

It’s a good question and one that has never really been answered. As Lovell was only 11 when he designed the Arsenal mascot, we can put it down to youthful creativity.

According to Arsenal fan website Daily Cannon, he came up with the Gunnersaurus concept as the dinosaur mascot embodied the level of ferocity that the club stands for.

For Lovell, it has been an emotional journey from design to watching Gunnersaurus Rex in the flesh. He admits that he sees the mascot like his son!

Gunnersaurus is one of the most famous mascots on the planet and he has been captured taking part in charity events, partying and even getting involved with online trends.

Who’d have thought that Gunnersaurus was going to be a worldwide star? The Arsenal mascot has had a tough couple of years but he is back to his brilliant best on the Emirates touchline.

Was Gunnersaurus Sacked?

If you follow Premier League predictions most weekends, chances are you’ll have seen the drama surrounding Gunnersaurus a couple of seasons ago.

With no fans allowed at matches in England during the unprecedented campaign, the club decided that there was no need for an Arsenal mascot on matchdays.

This meant that – after 27 years – Gunnersaurus was deemed surplus to requirements and Jerry Quy was relieved of his duties, along with 55 other employees.

The decision came under immediate scrutiny, with former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil offering to pay Quy his Gunnersaurus wage for the campaign.

The news shocked sports fans around the world, with famous Disney Pixar character Shrek even turning up a the Emirates to offer his support to the Arsenal mascot.

With so much negativity aimed at the club, the board were forced into a U-turn and we saw the beloved Arsenal mascot back on the touchline within a month.

• The Lakers and Celtics are tied on 17 titles apiece

• Only 11 NBA teams have won multiple Championships

• The Warriors, Lakers and Celtics are the only teams to appear in 10 or more Finals

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Talent and fortune are required to come out on top in NBA odds and win a title.

It’s a gruelling challenge to come through 82 games of regular season basketball with minimal injuries and enough energy to put up 16 more wins in the postseason.

The preseason basketball betting markets can make an estimation of the title favourites, but that can change quickly with breakout campaigns and injuries.

One bad landing can wipe out a team’s title chances. One smart trade can swing things in a team’s favour.

Six NBA franchises have never even made the Finals. Five other active teams are yet to win their first title. Here are the NBA teams with the most championships, starting with a trio on two.

Milwaukee Bucks – 2

While 11 franchises are yet to win a ring, no team with multiple championships has had to wait as long between titles as the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 50-point masterpiece to clinch the 2021 NBA Finals secured the Bucks’ second franchise championship and first in half a century.

As long as Giannis is in Milwaukee, the Bucks are going to be a feature in online betting for the NBA title.

Houston Rockets – 2

It’s hard going back-to-back. The arduous nature of the playoffs can take its toll on a roster.

The Houston Rockets got their two titles in consecutive years in the mid-nineties, however, with Hakeem Olajuwon playing some of the most dominant two-way basketball in league history.

Houston also reached two Finals in the 1980s, and they came close to a ring in recent years, particularly when James Harden and Chris Paul were together.

New York Knicks – 2

The New York Knicks are among the most valuable sports franchises in the world. They have also long been a running joke in the NBA, but that looks to have changed under the stewardship of Tom Thibodeau.

New York are still a long way off winning a third title, though they are heading in the right direction as they look to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time since the 1970s.

Only the Lakers have lost more Finals than the Knicks.

Miami Heat – 3

Founded in 1988, it’s pretty remarkable that the Heat have reached the Finals six times.

The Heatles were responsible for four of those, of course, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh going back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.

Their most recent trip to the Finals came in the Orlando bubble in 2020 as they shocked the league with their impressive run through the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Pistons – 3

The Bad Boys made three consecutive Finals appearances between 1988 and 1990, winning two. Detroit had already got two Finals losses on its record from the 1950s.

Since the days of Isiah Thomas and the controversial Bad Boys, the Pistons have fluctuated in and out of relevance.

Reintroducing their identity in the noughties brought a third franchise title, though, as they beat the Lakers in the 2004 Finals. That’s the last title won in the NBA without a truly elite player.

Philadelphia 76ers – 3

A true marquee franchise, the Philadelphia 76ers haven’t won a title since 1983.

They have made the Finals just once since then, thanks to an historic string of performances from Allen Iverson in 2001. Philly is as desperate for a title as any NBA city.

The Process is yet to reap the rewards Sam Hinkie had hoped for, but with Daryl Morey running basketball operations, the Sixers are in the mix for a title, and could add a fourth ring in the coming seasons if Joel Embiid stays healthy.

San Antonio Spurs – 5

It all started when the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan.

Pairing Duncan with David Robinson, and with Gregg Popovich in charge, San Antonio made their first ever Finals in 1999 and defeated the Knicks. More rings followed in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

A fresh iteration – still led by Popovich and with Duncan starring – lost to The Heatles in 2013, but came back to end Miami’s run in 2014 with Kawhi Leonard announcing himself on the biggest stage.

Chicago Bulls – 6

No other franchise with more than one title is undefeated in the Finals.

Thanks to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson and some timely performances from role players, that’s what the Chicago Bulls achieved in the 1990s as they went 6-0 in the season’s last series.

Jordan’s mid-career retirement flipped NBA predictions on their head. Chicago had already completed a threepeat. We’d likely be talking about seven or eight if he’d not taken up baseball.

Chicago has been through some difficult seasons since Jordan retired. They are still waiting to see a true title contender in the Windy City.

Golden State Warriors – 6

The Warriors won two titles when they were in Philadelphia. Their third arrived in 1975 thanks to a team led by Rick Barry.

Those titles aren’t what come to mind for 21st century NBA fans and the Warriors. The five straight Finals appearances under Steve Kerr are how many generations will remember the Golden State Warriors.

That’s not to mention the Splash Brothers, the controversial signing of Kevin Durant and blowing a 3-1 lead in 2016.

Boston Celtics – 17

A couple of the greatest NBA dynasties wore the iconic Celtic green. Bill Russell and co were unbeatable in the 1950s and 1960s.

Larry Bird and Kevin McHale led Boston to three titles in six years in the 1980s. The last of those three crowns began a long drought for the Cs.

A Finals loss in 1987 was the closest they would come to a ring until 2008 when a string of win-now moves formed a superteam of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

Boston lost the 2010 Finals to the Lakers and Kobe Bryant – they will hope it’s not such a long wait for their next title.

Los Angeles Lakers – 17

The Lakers were based in Minneapolis from 1947 to 1960. They won five of their titles in that period. These are still won by the same franchise and are included in the 17 tally.

Once they moved to California, the Lakers suffered a run of Finals losses in the 60s before beating the Knicks in the 1972 Finals.

Dominance followed in the 80s, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but the nineties was a barren period.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal teamed up to threepeat before Bryant and Pau Gasol went back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers to their 17th ring in 2020, tying them with the Celtics.

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