We live in a world characterised by inequality, poverty, economic volatility, globalisation, climate change and ambiguity. In my own country, South Africa, residents have to navigate socioeconomic and political instability, power and water cuts, homelessness, unethical governance and mediocre or no service delivery.

It is a far cry from what the country could be if we brought its best talent and resources to bear for the benefit of humanity.

Innovation will be key to any positive changes and research-intensive universities have a central to play in that innovation. As the University of the Witwatersrand (or Wits, as its commonly known) turns 100, my colleagues and I have been thinking a great deal about the inventions and breakthroughs that have emerged from the university in the past 100 years and what is coming next.

Great innovations have emerged from the work done by Wits researchers that have shifted the dial in sectors ranging from health to computing to quantum and nuclear physics. These rich seams of knowledge continue to inform policy and daily decisions and are the foundation of cutting edge research the institution continues to produce.

On 1 September 1939, Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. World War 2 was underway. Barely three months later, the first radar set was tested on Wits Universitys campus. Britain and its allies were looking for a way to detect enemy aircraft and ships. A group of scientists among them Sir Basil Schonland, Director of the Bernard Price Institute of Geophysical Research and another Wits engineer, Professor Guerino Bozzoli came together to harness the power of radio waves.

Almost a century on, the science of sensors has taken several quantum leaps. Professor Andrew Forbes and his team at Wits are encrypting, transmitting, and decoding data quickly and securely through light beams. He has just secured R54 million for the Wits Quantum Initiative which explores theoretical and experimental quantum science and engineering, secure communications, enhanced quantum-inspired imaging, novel nano and quantum-based sensors and devices.

The university has also come a long way on its computing journey. In 1960 it was the first university in South Africa to own an IBM mainframe computer. Today, in partnership with IBM, were the first African university to access a quantum computer.

Read more: New research proves the long-held theory that lasers can create fractals

As the Chair of the National Quantum Computing Working Group in South Africa, this is an area where I see immense potential for Africa. Classical computing has served society incredibly well. It gave us the Internet and cashless commerce. It sent humans to the moon, put robots on Mars and smartphones in our pockets.

But many of the worlds biggest mysteries and potentially greatest opportunities remain beyond the grasp of classical computers. To continue the pace of progress, we need to augment the classical approach with a completely new paradigm, one that follows its own set of rules - quantum computing.

This radically new way of performing computer calculations is exponentially faster than any classical computer. It can run new algorithms to solve previously unsolvable problems in optimisation, chemistry and machine learning, and its applications are far-reaching from physics to healthcare.

Innovative healthcare is sorely needed across the African continent. Here, too, Wits has been able to play a vital role in the research, teaching and learning, clinical, social and advocacy spheres. It was the first university to lead COVID-19 vaccination trials in South Africa.

Our researchers also developed technology to improve the accurate testing for tuberculosis. And the Pelebox, an invention to cut down the time that patients spend waiting for medication in hospitals.

Elsewhere in the institution, researchers have connected the brain to the internet, used brainwaves to control a robotic prosthetic hand and developed an affordable 3D printed bionic hand.

Research intensive universities in South Africa need to ask the difficult questions about their role in a changing society.

How do we serve as a catalyst for social change? How do we best use our intellectual dynamism and work with the public and private sectors to effect positive change? How do we create new, relevant knowledge and translate it into innovation? How do we best develop critical thinkers, innovators, creators and the high-level skills required to advance our economy, and the future world of work?

How do we quantify our social impact and ensure that it is contextually attuned? How do we influence policy change?

These questions are at the heart of the universitys strategy today. And theyre no doubt being considered across the higher education sector as universities work to harness their collective talent and the resources at their disposal to craft a new future and transform society for the benefit of all humanity.

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100 years of innovation and inventions: South African vice chancellor reflects on what's next - The Conversation

INDIANAPOLIS Jelani Woods has an easy smile, an affable personality, the wide-eyed elation of a rookie finally realizing his dream.

But he is not living a charmed life.

This was always the destination.

From growing up on the southeast side of Atlanta, through a position change at Oklahoma State and a risky graduate transfer to Virginia, Woods has made every decision with the NFL in mind.

With his family in mind.

Everything I went through, the adversity I faced my whole life, that pretty much sticks in the back of my head, Woods said. Trying to be the backbone of my family.

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Woods is the youngest of three boys, born into a tight-knit, sports-obsessed family in Ellenwood, Ga. that spent a lot of its precious free time going up to Atlanta to watch the Falcons (and now Colts quarterback Matt Ryan), both at training camp and in the Georgia Dome.

When he was five or six, Woods would walk around the house in shoulder pads and football pants, putting up a royal fit if his parents, Greg and Shaheerah, tried to get him to put on normal clothes.

We finally got him to stop wearing the helmet all the time, Greg said. Wed try to get him to take the shoulder pads off, but hed be screaming.

Woods grew up quickly.

He had to.

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As close as the family was, Greg and Shaheerah both worked long hours, Shaheerah on the business side of Childrens Healthcare Atlanta, Greg in refrigeration and air for Kroger. Because of his job, Greg was often on the road.

Woods and the middle brother, Jaleel, had to help out around the house, and with their oldest brother, Javaric.

Javaric is moderately intellectually disabled. According to Greg, his oldest son needs help with daily activities like getting dressed, getting meals and taking showers.

Hes pretty much not able to take care of himself, so the whole family had to pitch in, especially since my parents worked all the time, Woods said. That left me in charge at times in middle school, high school.

By their own admission, the Woods family did not have unlimited resources, but Greg and Shaheerah made sure their sons could focus on sports, on pursuing their dreams of earning a college scholarship. Their middle son, Jaleel, does not have his younger brothers 6-7 frame, but he had the athleticism.

A talent on the baseball and football fields, Jaleel seemed to be on the same track as his brother until an unusual revelation contributed to the end of his athletic career.

When Jaleel was young, hed often walk off the field after games looking a little uncomfortable, scratching at his arms; but it was never bad enough that it became an issue, not until a game in high school.

Jaleel felt sick on the sideline, started breaking out. By the time he got in the family car, he had hives all over his body.

He was allergic, Greg said. It was a pesticide, something they used on the grass.

A combination of the allergy, and a loss of motivation ended Jaleels athletic career.

That left the youngest son, the one who kept growing like an oak tree.

I was talking about this with my brother the other day, Greg said. My brothers 6-1, Im 6-2. My wifes 5-9. It has to be from somebody else down the line.

Because of that height, Woods initially thought hed pursue basketball his height made him a dominant force on the court growing up and he played all the way through high school.

But the attention Woods wanted started coming his way on the football field. Back then, Woods was a massive quarterback, a three-star recruit accurate enough to complete more than 60% of his throws as a three-year starter and lead Cedar Grove to the first state championship in the schools history.

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Woods knew he wanted to play at the next level, and he learned an important lesson from his high school coach, Jimmy Smith, who is now the running backs coach at Arkansas.

Be flexible.

There might be one goal but there is more than one way to get there.

My high school coach, he kind of wanted me to do both, be both pro-style and dual-threat at the same, tried to maneuver (to get as many offers as possible), Woods said. I was a quarterback who could play in any system.

A talented high school recruit might choose a college destination for any one of a dozen reasons.

A programs prestige. A relationship with an assistant coach. A desire to stay close to home, or alternately, a desire to get away from home and see a little more of the world.

Woods chose Oklahoma State for a reason that sounds a lot more like something from NFL free agency.

The offensive scheme, Woods said. They threw the ball a lot, thats kind of how I liked it. Their offense reminded me of my high school offense.

Woods spent most of his redshirt season in Stillwater as a quarterback on the scout team, wondering when hed get his chance to play. Before the Cowboys final game of the regular season, the Bedlam Series against Oklahoma, the coaches came to Woods with a request.

The Cowboys needed somebody to play Sooners tight end Mark Andrews now a star with the Baltimore Ravens in practice.

Woods had the size-speed combination they needed.

Then he went out and torched Oklahoma States defense in practice all week long, turning the wheels in the coaching staffs mind. Buried on the depth chart at quarterback, Woods might be able to help the Cowboys at a different spot.

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They asked him to move to tight end.

Hed always been a quarterback. Handed the same situation, a lot of players would have transferred, tried to find a school where they could play the games most important position.

But Woods had his eyes on the future.

The proposition they gave me was enticing, Woods said. They were like, If you want to make like $10 million in two years, we think youll be really good at tight end, and well really use you.' That kind of buzzes in your head a little bit.

The Oklahoma State coaches ended up being right though Woods had to leave Stillwater to make good on everything they promised.

Three years after making the switch to tight end, Woods had plenty of playing time under his belt, an extensive tutorial as a blocker and a degree in management.

A chance to catch passes was missing. An afterthought in Oklahoma States passing game, Woods had caught only 31 passes in three seasons. At 6-7, 260 pounds and as fast as some wide receivers, Woods knew he had the physical tools to make a run at the NFL.

But he needed the tape to show NFL teams he could be a weapon as a receiver.

That was the idea going into it, Woods said. I knew, going to the next level, I had to show a little bit of an ability to catch the ball at a high level.

Woods dove into the tape again.

When he watched the film of Virginias 2020 season, he saw former Cavaliers tight end Tony Poljan catch 38 passes and six touchdowns, and Virginia coach Robert Anae was telling Woods that the team wanted to expand the tight ends role in the passing game.

Woods believed he could be even better than Poljan.

When he showed up, it was apparent that there was an internal motivation thats different from the other guys sitting there, Anae said. It was clear to us: This kid is way motivated to become something.

From the moment he arrived on Virginias campus, Woods did everything right. The study, the strength and conditioning, the way hed try to make the most of every play and every tip the coaches gave him, acting every bit like a mature, driven player whod learned how to prepare like a professional over his years in college.

Except that the motivation the Cavaliers saw in Woods runs deeper than his age.

My experience is age is not a qualifier for that, Anae said. In fact, a lot of times at that age, youve already demonstrated who you are by that point in your career. Day 1, we had somebody whos very, very special.

Woods exceeded his three years totals at Oklahoma State in his only season at Virginia, making 44 catches for 598 yards and 8 touchdowns.

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The night before Woods ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, Steve Caric saw something special in the way Woods approaches big moments.

Caric, Woodss agent, has been in Indianapolis for a lot of 40-yard dashes. Nerves are common, almost expected.

Woods, on the other hand, had a deep sense of confidence, an unshakeable belief that he was going to turn peoples heads the next day.

Woods tore through the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.61 seconds, a remarkable time for a man who measured 6-7, 259 pounds, sending himself flying up draft boards in conjunction with his performance at the East-West Shrine Game.

Caric expected the physical numbers. An experienced agent who counts Zach Ertz, Dalton Schultz and Austin Hooper among his clients, Caric could tell Woods was a special kind of athlete for the position.

The self-confidence Woods showed was a revelation.

Its something I wish they all had, Caric said.

Confidence is critical in the NFL. Caric has seen too many players shaken by a loss of confidence, crippled by doubt.

Woods has always had it, a sense of expectation that hes going to make it at this level.

The Colts used a third-round pick on him, hoping to land the downfield threat at tight end that head coach Frank Reich has long coveted but he got off to a slow start in training camp. His confidence, however, wasnt shaken. Woods talks to his dad almost every day, and Greg admits that his son talked about how hard it was to absorb everything the Colts needed him to do, but Woods always believed hed get it eventually.

He was putting in the work. When he got back to the room he shared with fellow tight end Drew Ogletree, the two rookies spent the time going through the entire practice script for the next day, trying to make sure they were as prepared as possible.

Woods initially fell behind Ogletree on the depth chart.

His confidence, still, remained undaunted, supported by a family that had already seen Woods achieve a dream that could have gone wrong at several different points in his road to the NFL.

They know, Woods said. It might start slow. That doesnt matter. Im always going to overcome.

The Woods family had just gotten home from church on Sunday, settling into their seats, when the ball slipped through Kansas City punt returner Skyy Moores hands.

Greg saw his son go into the game.

The excitement started to build. A diehard Falcons fan, Greg and his sons had spent the last decade and a half watching Matt Ryan play, and he knew the Colts new starting quarterback likes to look for the tight end in the end zone.

When Woods made his first catch, a 1-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone, the Woods family exploded.

I jumped so far out of my chair, Greg said. I had people calling me, texting me, I was talking to my son, it was just unbelievable. My son just caught his first NFL touchdown, and it came from Matt Ryan?

Ogletree went crazy from his spot in the press box.

The rookie knows the playbook. When he saw his roommate go into the game, Ogletree immediately predicted Woods was going to score a touchdown, and he knew how much it meant to Woods, why the rookie tight end exploded in joy.

Honestly, hes here to prove everybody wrong, and also, the people in his corner, to prove everybody right, Ogletree said. Hey, Im supposed to be here. This is what Im supposed to be doing.

Woods made an even bigger catch later, beating Kansas City safety Juan Thornhill across the end zone on a crossing route for the game-winning touchdown catch with 24 seconds left. A jubilant Reich exploded in the locker room, excited about his rookie tight end.

Welcome to the NFL, Jelani Woods! Reich said.

Hes always believed hed be here.

Right where he always planned to be.

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Colts: Rookie Jelani Woods has the motivation to match this moment - IndyStar

When you get in from work and its the dark, or wake up to a chilly, drizzly morning, it can be difficult to find the drive to get some exercise in, whether its making your way to the gym, heading out for a run or going to a class.

With decreased serotonin due to the reduction in sunlight, and increased melatonin from the darker nights, you may be feeling groggy, tired and uninspired, but actually, getting out and exercising could help with this.

According to personal trainer and nutrition coach at The Rhi Club, Rhianna Crisp, "As the chilly, sometimes gloomy autumn days start to creep in, its common for us to lose our motivation as quickly as were losing sunlight.

"When it comes to our health and fitness, we cant always rely on motivation, but rather that drive, discipline, and habits youve built. Saying that, there are a few ways to help you re-light that fire in your belly and get you motivated to keep working on yourself."

"Its important this winter in particular to think about cost and safety, so prioritise group activities outdoors and free classes or exercise," says Crisp.

Regaining that motivation is possible with a few simple habits.

1. Make a plan

According to fitness expert and director of Geezers Boxing, Leon Bolmeer, "Following a consistent routine you enjoy will help create both a boost in energy and optimism, as well as a willingness to want to exercise. Try to make exercise into a habit and plan your social life around your workout plans. We advise you to plan sessions for when you are least likely to abandon the idea."

2. Give team sports a go

"Team exercise adds competition and the social element to exercise. Most of us are motivated by social interaction, and people often go to the gym or sports clubs because their friends are there, and its highly motivating," says Bolmeer.

3. Do what you actually enjoy

Keeping motivated is hard if you dont love the exercise you are doing.

Bolmeer explains: "This sounds obvious, but when it comes to exercise, its crucial you pick something you enjoy. Enjoying your exercise will increase the chances of long-term adherence. The best type of exercise is often a mix of activities you enjoy and are motivated to stick with. Some people get bored with the same exercise day after day, whereas others prefer a routine."

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4. Give group runs a go

Joining a running club or local event may encourage you to get out running with a focus on safety in numbers if they run at night, too.

Crisp is a big advocate for Saturday Park Runs.

"Dont let the word run scare you. Park Run is basically an entirely free event that happens every Saturday at 9am in your local park. For October and beyond, you can run, jog, walk, plod your way around having a chat with your besties, or meet some new people! Its a great way to get outside, get off your phone and get some exercise in. All you need to do is sign up on their website to get your personal barcode, which you scan at the end to get your time."

This could be the motivation you need to compete with yourself for a Saturday PB all winter.

5. Set a performance goal and write it down

Crisp knows how tricky it can be to stick with it.

"Back in the first lockdown winter, my gym closed for months, and I got myself into a right slump. I was looking for anything quick and easy to get me moving and motivated again. So, I decided I wanted to be able to do a handstand. Every evening, Id practise for about 15 minutes, ensuring I was pushing myself a little closer each day. Three weeks in, I got my first handstand. It could be anything from a 60-second plank hold to skipping for 20 jumps without getting tangled."

And hold yourself accountable.

"No matter how small or big. Write your goals down. Grab a bit of paper, or open the notes page in your phone and write down three things you want to achieve by Christmas." says Crisp.

6. Prepare everything in advance

"Make exercise as frictionless as possible by prepping everything the night before: plan your workout, your route to the gym, put your workout gear and work clothes out, your toiletries and even prep the playlist or podcast youll listen to. In short, the less you have to decide in the morning, the easier it is to get up and get out," says Matt Boyles, a personal trainer who runs Fitter Confident You.

Read the original here:
6 ways to find workout motivation as days get shorter and colder - RTE.ie

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) With four receiving touchdowns heading into week five, Caden Prieskorn ranks as one of the top tight ends in the nation.

When he scores, he points to the sky because he hasnt had the easiest road on his journey to crossing the goal-line.

It definitely brings joy to me, said Prieskorn. The last couple of years, like going through the struggles, the adversity, and like overcoming it this year. Its got to keep building on it.

Prieskorn had been a quarterback his entire life, prepping at Orchard Lake in Michigan before enrolling at Fork Union Military Academy.

Out of high school, I really didnt have nothing, you know, when I got to Fort Union I broke my foot. So, like, I was just like, I just want to play football. So whatever I can do. And then I just decide to do it.

And by do it, he means walk on at the U of M and transforming his body from that of a quarterback to a tight end, packing on 40 pounds.

It was the physicality that was the toughest hurdle to overcome, but he had Tigers greats Joey Magnifico and Sean Dykes in his corner.

He taught me a lot like like the position, a lot like the blocking the the route running, like because he played the position. I never even played it when I got here.

Seeing the people that like walked on here like the Calvin Austins, when I first got here Joey was a walk on so like seeing them do it gave me confidence. Like, maybe I can do that. And ever since then, I was just like, I want to, I want to get to what theyre doing. And I just cant believe it in myself and working every day.

And now Prieskorn has another motivator, his 13-month-old son Mack.

I like my little baby son, like hes my world now, said Prieskorn. So, like, I want him to I want to set a good example for him.

We always ask our guys, whats their why, Ryan Silverfield said during his weekly presser. And hes got a little bit different why now. And not that has changed the way he works, because hes always worked hard. But, sometimes when you know, man I have to do great I have to do things the right way.

Its definitely awesome seeing [Prieskorns son], like seeing him after the game. I try to look him before the game, but hes he doesnt want to sit still. So hes up there walking them. But yeah, its always brings joy.

It also brings joy to see his father, Jerry, whos battling colon cancer, able to watch him play even if he cant make the 12-hour trip to Memphis.

I feel like we keep him busy, like him watching me on Saturday and my brother on Friday, Prieskorn said. So, like, all that, he doesnt really think about the stuff going on. He just thinks about football and like, cause I have a little sister, another brother, so hes just thinking about us all the time. So we keep him busy, we keep him occupied.

Prieskorn has always envisioned the success hes having for himself. Hes hoping to give his dad a touchdown in his fourth straight game Saturday against Temple.

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From QB to TE, the motivation behind Caden Prieskorns success - WREG NewsChannel 3

For many students and teachers, the start of the new school year has added a new set of challenges to the big ones theyve already been dealing with for nearly two and a half years. And though it may be simple enough to switch on motivation to get things done in the short term, sustaining it throughout the entire year is a different matter, according to a researcher at the University of Alberta.

In school, things are more of a marathon than a sprint, says Lia Daniels, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology. Theres an undeniable structure to when the school day starts, when it ends, and what pieces are going to look like in the middle. Students and teachers have to figure out their motivation within that structure thats fairly non-negotiable.

To help prepare students and teachers for the year ahead, Daniels shares a few tips and tricks to strengthen motivation for the long haul.

When it comes to giving students a boost as they battle with their motivation during tough stretches, Daniels recommends avoiding phrases like, Youre so smart, noting that this kind of person praise can actually be damaging to motivation.

Sometimes when we praise people, it starts to become tied to identity and self-worth, she explains. This can cause issues if a student encounters a situation thats more difficult. Suddenly, they dont just doubt their ability to complete that task they begin to doubt everything about who they are, causing their motivation to plummet.

Instead, shift your praise to statements that focus on the process, such as, You worked really hard on that, or, I can see you invested a lot of time in this. These are more helpful for building long-term motivation.

As Daniels explains, people with a growth mindset believe their abilities and skills can grow and change over time, whereas those with a fixed mindset assume thats just not possible.

A lot of motivation exists in our heads. Its our thoughts, our thought processes, that influence the decisions we make, she says.

For example, a child who feels theyve never been and never will be good at mathematics may struggle in math class because of their fixed mindset. A child who is at the same general skill level at the start of the semester but who believes they have the ability to learn the concepts, even if in a different way or in a different time frame than their peers, will progress much more and be more motivated to do so.

We need teachers, parents and kids to all actually believe that growth is possible, and then to create conditions in which growth can happen.

That might involve something like creating worksheets at different levels, if whats given to the entire class is a bit too challenging for a particular student at first. It could also be something visual like a chart or sticker board where kids can see their progress even if its a small boost, like going from getting zero questions on a worksheet right to getting just one question right on the next.

You want to build success experiences so they see themselves getting better.

It may be tempting for teachers and parents to dangle treats, stickers or other rewards to motivate a student. But Daniels says intrinsic motivation is far more effective in the long term, and suggests its always the place to start.

Extrinsic motivation is anytime we bring something external to a student to get them to do something, she explains. If intrinsic motivation is there, you dont need a sticker box.

To build intrinsic motivation, three basic psychological needs must be met: competence, autonomy and relatedness.

Competence involves giving students an opportunity to feel like they are growing and making progress, having the right level of challenge.

Autonomy is a matter of cultivating an environment where kids have a choice, even if its something as simple as the colour of pants they wear to school on a given day. Motivation comes with us in our bodies when we show up in a classroom, explains Daniels, so these small practices done before a student even walks through the school doors can be beneficial for their motivation.

Relatedness is the process of teachers wanting to know more about their students and learn about who they are, something Daniels says comes naturally to most teachers.

Daniels notes that extrinsic motivation can be effective in certain scenarios when a little boost is needed, but should be used sparingly.

If the intrinsic motivation is not online, sometimes we need to use external things to trigger it, to bring it online, and then peel them back a little bit and replace them with this basic psychological satisfaction.

One reason external motivators are less effective is that were always weighing them to determine whether the reward is worth the effort and the goalposts often change because kids are really smart, says Daniels. One week, a single cookie might be enough to convince them to do their homework, but the price might go up to two cookies the following week.

This kind of weighing doesnt occur with intrinsic motivation, which is why its a more solid foundation for long-term motivation.

Whenever possible, try to find ways to involve kids interests in an area theyre struggling to find motivation in, advises Daniels.

The more you can attach whatever it is you have to do to something you actually like doing, the easier it is to stay motivated.

This is a space where students and teachers can really pull together, she adds. For example, if a class is doing a project on dinosaurs and a student is fascinated by the T. Rex, their motivation will likely skyrocket if theyre allowed to pursue a project on that particular creature, whereas they might struggle if assigned a random dinosaur they have little interest in. For older students, it could mean incorporating sketches and illustrations in science study notes if theyre more artistically inclined.

In a marathon, giving 100 per cent of your effort looks different at various points there are certain stretches where youll slow down a bit and others where you kick it into high gear, but such adjustments are a strength not a weakness of motivation. Thats also the case during the school year, according to Daniels.

Youre going to ebb and flow in your motivation. Its OK to have some days where youre not super enthused about things. Youve just got to not let it plow you over.

When youre struggling with motivation, sometimes its best to take a step back rather than trying to push through at any cost. Like everything, motivation is a finite resource. The cost of continuing to invest effort in something that is a really bad fit can take a toll in other areas. Giving yourself a break and some space is OK.

And in some cases, Daniels says, it may be best to strategically throw in the towel. That may not be possible with required school subjects, but if a student is finding it increasingly difficult to muster motivation for an after-school activity or elective theyve chosen, there comes a point where pushing through can make things worse.

If youve really given it your all in your cooking class or your elective, it is motivationally adaptive to know when you need to stop and say, I should re-engage somewhere else.

Continue reading here:
Six tips to stay motivated throughout the school year - University of Alberta

The "disrespect" that was directed at Jamaica Tallawahs spurred the team to go all the way and clinch the CPL title, their captain Rovman Powell has said. Not many gave Tallawahs a chance to qualify for the playoffs, let alone make the final, and despite losing key personnel at various stages, they rallied to beat favourites Barbados Royals in the final on Friday.

"I think adjectives are inadequate in describing how I feel," Powell told the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation. "The type of disrespect that we endured during the competition so the emotions had to come out now.

"I think we used the disrespect that we endured as a motivation, to be honest. The guys were very hungry, and everything just came out right [during the final]. After we were placed under pressure in the powerplay, the guys got off to a pretty good start. We have a lot of batters that are batting good, so if they make 180-200, we will try our best to get it."

After setting the early pace in the tournament, along with Royals, with three victories in their first four games, Tallawahs suffered a mid-tournament slump and just about scrapped to the playoffs with one more win from their final six league matches. However, they peaked in the knockouts, winning three in a row to seal their third CPL title and first since 2016. Powell credited Fabian Allen, Brandon King, Kennar Lewis and Shamarh Brooks for helping him hold the team together despite setbacks on and off the field.

"I think the backroom staff played their part but special mention to my 16 or 17 players here," Powell said. "I formed a leadership group with Brandon King, Kennar Lewis, Fabian Allen, Shamarh Brooks and they were integral part of my leadership group. They were integral in pushing our team into a particular direction and the overseas players who played supporting roles were tremendous. A lot of credit needs to be given to them. At some point in the competition, we seemed down and out, but those guys rallied around my captaincy, believed in me as captain, and now we're CPL champions."

"I think the first hundred that Brandon scored," Powell said. "You know it was in a losing cause, but it was a magnificent hundred. We keep telling the guys that is what big-match cricket is and CPL cricket is all about. The other night Shamarh sealed it with a fantastic hundred. In key moments, you want the big players to stand up and for us, our big players did that for us this year."

Powell also saw the CPL title victory as an important step in his growth as a leader. In addition to delivering under pressure with the bat, he often fronted up to bowl his yorkers in the end overs.

"I think it's a step in the right direction. I've captained a few teams before, I've captained my country Jamaica and I've captained franchises also, so it's a step in the right direction. I hope that I can keep on learning, and I think my family has been instrumental in guiding me and pushing me in a particular direction. Sometimes, I feel down and out because obviously I'm human, but they rallied around me."

Despite Tallawahs knocking out Amazon Warriors, the Guyana crowd came in droves at the Providence to support Tallawahs. Powell acknowledged that support from the Guyana crowd and dedicated the CPL trophy to the Jamaican fans.

"I want to say special thanks to the Guyanese supporters," Powell said. "After beat Guyana, they could've easily turned on us, but they came in and supported us. We feel it was a Jamaica crowd that came to Guyana. We look around and we have so much Guyanese supporting us. It warms our heart. To the fans in Jamaica, you guys stuck with us through the darkest of times and this one is for you guys."

Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Powell: 'The disrespect we endured was used as a motivation' - ESPNcricinfo

STILLWATER Super senior Brock Martin is a salty dude. I expect that out of a three-time state championship wrestler from Oologah and an All-Big 12 defensive end that is best friends with current NFL rookie sensation and Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. Martin is the kind of guy that tells it all and expects no sympathy and takes none. Tuesday after practice he was asked how life is off the football field.

Good, Great, except for I hit a deer last Monday, Cimarron Turnpike, totaled my car, Martin said matter of fact. Trying to get that figured out, other than that everything is great.

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Martin with the tackle and a forced fumble vs. Arizona State.

Dont worry, he has insurance. Although when I asked with concern in my voice. Martin said, You have to in order to drive. I agreed, but noted you only need liability and I hoped he had comprehensive. He grinned and confirmed. On the field Martin is off to a good start this season. Playing the Leo defensive end position where Collin Oliver and Trace Ford also play, he has the greater numbers with eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Overall, the trio have 16 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and three sacks. The hope is the numbers will go up Saturday in Waco when the No. 7/9 Cowboys visit No. 16/14 Baylor Bears. Not the same exact team, but close to it that beat the Cowboys 21-16 in the Big 12 Championship Game last December in Arlington, Texas.

I asked Martin how he processes the emotion from that loss and channels it into the best for his effort Saturday.

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Brock Martin

I try not to be motivated by things that happened last year or things that are out of my control, Martin started his explanation, I played in that game last year and obviously, had a little control over it. I try not to dwell on it. I dont dwell on it. Like Ive said many times before it comes up as a topic of conversation over the last few months. I try not to let a single event motivate me to play my best. I try to self-motivate. I try to think about the reasons that I play football as my motivator like my family, my son, and all that stuff, girlfriend. Those are the things that motivate me, not negative or positive things that happened in the past.

Martin may not use that result for better results in McLane Stadium, but his motivation is this is the Big 12 opener. Oklahoma State is one of three unbeaten teams left in the Big 12 and he wants to help keep the Cowboys perfect. He also has that saltiness, I spoke of. It was there when I asked about players, particularly defensive players that sometimes prefer playing on the road to playing in front of the friendly crowd at Boone Pickens Stadium. Bingo, we hit on something there.

Im the road guy, Martin answered quick. Dont get me wrong, I love to play in front of our crowd. We have one of the greatest crowds in all of college football. I like hearing the chippy-ness of the away crowds. Sometimes I feel like I play better in away stadiums. I think I enjoy the hostile feelings that they bring and kind of making it my own.

Hostile feelings, maybe some toward that deer he hit, maybe some toward Baylor, but mostly just a little hostility out there he can grab, make it his own, and use if to fuel a few big plays on Saturday. Whatever it takes to go with family and all that good stuff that motivates Martin.

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Martin Finds His Proper Motivation for Waco and Baylor on Saturday - Pokes Report

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay isnt content with being one of the NHLs best teams.

Three months after falling short in a bid to become the first NHL club in 40 years to win three straight Stanley Cup titles, the Lightning entered training camp eager to begin the quest to reclaim the crown they relinquished to the Colorado Avalanche.

Were getting ready for the grind to go get it back, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, entering his 14th NHL season, said.

Theres going to the doubters for sure, but this group has always found a way, Stamkos added. Its going to be difficult. Its not going to be easy. We saw that last year, but weve risen to that challenge every time, and thats the expectation.

Stamkos is not alone in believing the window for success remains open.

Despite trading veteran Ryan McDonagh because of salary-cap restraints and losing postseason standout Ondrej Palat to free agency, the talented core of Stamkos, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman return and aren't exhibiting signs of complacency.

The team came within two victories of becoming the first to win three consecutive titles since the New York Islanders claimed four straight in the early 1980s.

It sticks with you a while. It still stings a bit. Three in a row would have been unbelievable, said veteran forward Pat Maroon, who was seeking a fourth straight title, since he won with the St. Louis Blues before joining the Lightning for their back-to-back championship run.

I know we were two games shy, but nobody has any anything to hang their head about, coach Jon Cooper said.

But even when youve won before, it doesnt change the sting, Cooper added, noting the hunger for success is still there. Thats a good sign for us.

STRONG NUCLEUS

Vasilevskiy is one of the top goaltenders in the league, Kucherov, Point, Stamkos are potent scorers, and Hedman anchors a defense that been one of the keys to a decade-long stretch of success under Cooper, whos been with several key players since they were young minor league prospects. The departure of McDonagh and Palat will create more opportunities for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, and forwards Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel.

FRESH FACES

Although much of the roster looks familiar, there are some new faces in the locker room this season beginning with forward Vladislav Namestnikov. He was with the Lightning for four years from 2014 to 2018, then rejoined his old team after playing last season with the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. Defenseman Philippe Myers and forward Grant Mismash were obtained in the trade that sent McDonagh to Nashville, while defensemen Ian Cole and Haydn Fleury joined the team in free agency.

HEALTHY POINT

Point, the Lightnings leading goal scorer during their 2020 and 2021 championship runs, said hes healthy after missing much of last seasons playoffs due to a torn quad muscle. He was injured during Game 7 of Tampa Bays first-round victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs and didnt play again until the Cup Final. He appeared in Game 1 and 2 against the Avalanche before sitting out the rest of the series.

THE ROAD

Hurricane Ian forced the Lightning to relocate a portion of training camp to Nashville, and the defending Eastern Conference champions will spend most of October away from home, too, with the opening-month schedule calling for them to play seven of nine games on the road. The journey begins Oct. 11 at the New York Rangers.

___

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Tampa Bay Lightning using Cup loss as motivation to win - USA TODAY

The swearing, shouting and angry action on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins took a pause on Sunday night as former footballer Ashley Cain was brought in front of the trainers to talk about his aggression and told a shattering account of the moment he lost his eight-month-old daughter, Azaylia.

Cain spoke about his motivation for doing the show and how he was determined to push on the way his little girl fought throughout her short life. Azaylia passed away on April 24, 2021, when she was just eight months old following a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. Viewers of the show were in bits after Ashley spoke openly about his experience.

Read more: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans 'so happy' as one big part returns to normal

'I'm a family man. Always been a family man, that's what I'm about. I had a chance to start my own family and I had a beautiful little baby girl. Two months into my daughter being born we found out she had a really aggressive form of leukaemia," said the star, who's also appeared on Ex on the Beach. "She was incredible. She showed strength, she showed courage. She showed everything it takes for a person to get on in this world. And then she sadly lost her life on 24 April. She passed away in my arms and it's a moment I'll never forget.'

The former footballer said: 'One thing I will remember is every single day my daughter was fighting this disease, she smiled every day. She fought every day and she made the most of every single day. And that's a lesson I'll take through my life. She didn't have the chance in life that I've got, that we've all got and I definitely don't want waste mine. I want make to her proud. I want to show people that no matter what you go through in life, you can overcome anything.

'The day that my little girl was born was a moment that I'd been waiting for all my life. I couldn't have been a happier, prouder father and then all of a sudden things changed. When they told us that there was nothing more that they could do, it completely broke me.

'All I wanted to know at that point was that if she goes she will go in my arms and she will go peacefully. And at eight months old she passed away in mine and my partner's arms. I believe she had a peaceful transition to the other side."

Instructors Rudy Reyes and Mark 'Billy' Billingham were visibly affected by Ashley's account, as were viewers.

Claire Leeson wrote: "Sobbing at Ashley Cain talking about Azaylia." And Sophie tweeted: "I have nothing but respect for Ashley Cain" Shaz added: "What a man #ashleycain is absolutely sobbing right now."

Samantha Clarke tweeted: "So heartbreaking hearing Ashley Cain talk about his little baby, so much respect for him."

Another on social media said: "Ashley Cain recalling that tragic story is absolutely shattering." Matt Hayden added: "Ashley Cain talking about his daughter passing on SAS has absolutely shattered me."

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Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins viewers 'shattered' by Ashley Cain's heart breaking motivation - Wales Online

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