Latest news with #Bird
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Sam Bird: Pulse excited for the big stage
Sam Bird believes her London Pulse side are ready to embrace the big stage ahead of their major semi-final against Loughborough Lightning. Pulse finished top of the regular season table and come into Friday's clash at the Copper Box full of confidence off the back of four straight wins. Their last defeat came at the hands of Lightning, who have proved Pulse's nemesis in recent seasons. Pulse's last three campaigns have ended at the hands of Lightning, including defeat in the 2023 Grand Final at the Copper Box. But Bird believes her young squad have matured immeasurably since then and are now relishing the big matches. 'They are so desperate to show what they can do,' said Bird. 'It has gone from being nervous on that big stage to thriving on it. There's no arrogance, there's no complacency but it's an excitement to be involved in these games now opposed to being a bit scared.' Confidence is the watchword for Bird and her Pulse side, who have turned the tears of two years ago into an unwavering determination to achieve a maiden Netball Super League title. Twelve wins from their 14 matches this season, including a 77-51 demolition of Lightning away from home in March, has certainly helped. 'It does feel like we have momentum, and the squad is still developing and improving, we are still looking at growth at this point,' added Bird. 'The fact we have won the Super Cup and then league is a good confidence boost, and confidence is really important. 'We know this game is going to be tight on Friday, nobody is going to roll over, but we have confidence to know we can win and that really important going into the game.' The season has not been without its hitches either; a seven-game unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest in early May before Lightning won at the Copper Box two weeks later. The response, however, was exactly what Bird and her side needed in order to go again heading into the post-season. 'There was no finger-pointing, there was a lot of personal accountability both from the coaches and from players,' she revealed. 'We really recognised it was small things that contributed to those losses, and we were still the same strong roster.' Pulse's response on the court, four wins in a row to end the season, earned them top spot and a home major semi-final, meaning victory on Friday will send them straight through to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena. Bird is hoping home comforts can make all the difference, after reflecting that her squad may have been overwhelmed by changes to their routine ahead of last season's semi-final defeat to Lightning. 'It is really important to us to have this game at home,' said Bird. 'There is nothing better than playing at your home venue, an iconic venue like the Copper Box. It feels like we have done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position. 'Everybody is in their own bed, everyone is familiar with the venue. All our support staff are there; we have extra resource there to look after us. '[The major semi-final] is all new, so none of us as coaches have been through this process, so it is a new test for us. 'It feels less stressful to be in the major semi-final than a traditional semi-final, as that is knockout netball. It changes the mindset a little bit. We obviously want to win this game and then have a bit of recovery to peak for the final. That's the ideal route. 'It doesn't feel as edgy as when we played Loughborough last year in the semi-final, having beaten them twice in the league and then lost and it was all over. 'I genuinely feel like we couldn't have tried any harder this year, but just trying hard doesn't guarantee you anything.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
Scoop
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Donna Wilkins - 'Fan Support Means Everything' As Tactix Prepare To Defend Home Court
After falling to the Go Media Stars in Round 2 of the ANZ Premiership, the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix are preparing for Sunday's rematch at Wolfbrook Arean in Christchurch. The top of the table Tactix look to secure their fifth win in a row, sitting just one point ahead of the Mystics, but 13 points ahead of their weekend rival. Despite the northern rival winning only one out of six premiership games, the Tactix will not be underestimating their ability to turn-up the pressure on the court. In their first meeting, the Stars walked away with a 57-52 win in Auckland, dominating the Tactix from the second quarter with 7 intercepts and 12 gains, while Stars shooter Charlie Bell maintained a 91% shooting average. In preparation to face the one team that has walked away with a win against the Tactix this season, head coach Donna Wilkins said it is just another game with another worthy opponent. 'The importance of playing at home in front of our crowd is a big focus for us, and after last week's performance it is nice we have two (home games) in a row,' Wilkins said. Wilkins said the value of the home crowd cannot be underestimated, and the team felt the energy that came from the approximately 3700 fans that attended last week's game against the Pulse. 'One of our season goals is to defend our home court, having the support and such a big crowd last week was awesome to see,' Wilkins said. 'This is massive for the team and the support definitely makes it hard for other teams to come in and perform against us in our environment.' The Tactix have shown an ability to adapt and grow week to week and Wilkins believes avoiding injury or illness and having a full ten player squad has made a real difference. 'Being able to have everyone available for training during the week gives us more time working together and more confidence with our structures and game plans,' she said. That work has focused on improving week-by-week, with the Tactix looking to tap into areas of the game that need the most improvement. One on-court area that Wilkins will be pleased with is the performance of her shooters Ellie, Bird, Martina Salmon and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. Salmon was starting pick for goalshoot against the Pulse, and maintained a 90% shooting average, up from 84% when the Tactix took on the Stars in Round 2. Wilkins would not comment on who would be starting in the goal circle this weekend, with Bird, Salmon and Selby-Rickit all strong contenders.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Could big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet leave the Boston Celtics in free agency?
Could big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet leave the Boston Celtics in free agency? Could big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet leave the Boston Celtics in free agency this offseason? Both are unrestricted free agents, meaning that the Celtics can't stop them from leaving if they get a bigger offer from some other ball club in the NBA. But on the other side of that same coin is the fact that Boston holds the Bird rights for both Horford and Kornet, meaning they can match whatever another team offers them, which may dampen interest in both. But there is a very real chance a big offer beyond what Boston can afford gets thrown to one or both of the two integral bigs. What would the Celtics do in such a scenario, if it actually came to pass? The hosts of the CLNS Media "How Bout Them Celtics!" podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a deep dive into all the possibilities on a recent episode of their show. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Incredibles 3' is in the works, and Pixar has hired a director
Peter Sohn, a longtime Disney Pixar creative whose comedy 'Elemental' helped jump-start the Emeryville-based animation company's revival in 2023, has been tapped to direct 'Incredibles 3,' which continues the story of the superhero Parr family. Brad Bird, who directed the first two 'Incredibles' movies, is writing the screenplay and will co-produce, according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter. Sohn has worked with Bird since the late 1990s, when he worked on the animation for Bird's first feature, ' The Iron Giant ' (1999), for Warner Bros. Both moved to Pixar in 2000. While Bird established an illustrious directing career with 'The Incredibles' (2004), ' Ratatouille ' (2007) and ' Incredibles 2 ' (2018) — with the live-action ' Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol ' (2011) and ' Tomorrowland ' (2015) in between — Sohn has worked as an animator, storyboard artist and voice actor for several Pixar films. Sohn's first film as director was ' The Good Dinosaur ' (2015), which was generally well received by critics but became Pixar's first box-office failure. He got another chance as director with ' Elemental,' a personal story inspired by his youth as the son of immigrants in New York during the 1970s and '80s. The unlikely love story of water and fire at first seemed like another box-office bomb after Pixar's first theatrically released film post-pandemic, ' Lightyear,' tanked in the summer of 2022. But 'Elemental' became a sleeper hit, picking up steam after its June 2023 release. By mid-August, it had become a certifiable smash, pulling in nearly half a billion dollars at the global box office and was nominated for an Oscar for best animation feature. The first two 'Incredibles' movies have taken in nearly $1.9 billion combined at the global box office. Voice cast members returning for 'Incredibles 3' include Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson and Sarah Vowell. No release date has been set. Pixar's next film, ' Elio,' directed by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, is set for release on June 20.
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Bird and Spin Launch AI-Powered Rider Score to Improve Safety and Compliance
Atlanta/Denver, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bird and Spin, both operated by Third Lane Mobility, today announced the rollout of a new AI-powered feature called Rider Score, designed to improve how shared e-scooters and e-bikes are used in cities around the world. The goal is simple: promote safe, responsible riding and parking behavior that supports city goals and benefits everyone who shares the streets. The feature was first rolled out in Bird's Denver and Atlanta programs, and in several other cities shortly thereafter. 'We continue to hear from cities that rider behavior can be a pain point, particularly when it comes to sidewalk riding and parking. While we've come a long way from the early days of the industry, we know that work remains, and continued investment in new solutions is necessary,' said John Lankford, Senior Director of Partnerships and Policy for Bird and Spin. 'Rider Score has so much potential because for the first time it brings together multiple data sources to give us a transparent look at rider behavior on an individualized basis, allowing us to put in place the necessary incentives to reinforce good behavior, and necessary disincentives to discourage the bad behavior.' Rider Score uses advanced AI systems to analyze and score rider behavior based on vehicle telemetry and user-provided data, including: Parking photo review Sidewalk riding detection Double riding detection Reckless riding detection Geo-Location indicating rider adherence to zone-based riding restrictions Each factor carries weight, and scores are calculated with a recency bias to reflect ongoing habits and encourage consistent improvement. Riders with higher scores may unlock rewards, while those with lower scores may receive targeted education or operator intervention. 'Rider Score gives us a clear, AI-powered, data-informed way to promote safer streets and encourage good habits. It's designed to make it easier for riders to follow local rules and help cities manage shared mobility effectively,' said Björn Schefzyk, Principal Product Manager at Bird and Spin. Beyond safety and compliance, Rider Score also supports broader operational improvements. It provides visibility into real-time behavior trends via Bird and Spin's rider apps, CRM platforms, and internal dashboards, allowing for more targeted and effective responses at scale. 'Rider Score is more than just a feature – it's a glimpse into the future of our broader mobility intelligence strategy,' said Hunter Gray, Chief Technology Officer at Bird. 'By leveraging AI-powered infrastructure and machine learning, we're improving rider safety, increasing service reliability, streamlining operations, and helping cities become more sustainable. We're laying the groundwork to embed intelligence across the entire Bird and Spin platform to shape the future of urban mobility.' The feature began rolling out in select cities in May 2025 and is designed to scale quickly across markets, adapting to local regulations and community needs. About Bird Bird is a leader in the micromobility industry, transforming the way the world moves, one ride at a time. With a growing global network of shared e-scooters and e-bikes, Bird is making micromobility work for more riders—wherever they are and however they move. Through its More People, More Places, More Ways approach, Bird offers a cleaner, more connected transportation solution for riders and cities alike. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
