Bugaluu – Sports

Jerry Jones praised former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant on Tuesday. With no team over four wins, the Cowboys can still win the NFC East.

For Bundesliga players, the feeling of playing in front of fans was a “perfect” moment, despite crowds being reduced earlier this season. German clubs started the campaign with what they have called “ghost games” behind closed doors, before opening up the turnstiles to allow around 20 per cent capacity to keep safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have returned to playing in empty stadiums for the last month during a lockdown, with Dennis Geiger, the 1899 Hoffenheim midfielder, telling Telegraph Sport it changed the focus of players when they had a live audience. It is what players in England face this week when fans are allowed back into grounds with a maximum of 2,000 spectators for matches in Tier 2 areas. Geiger says even a small number is a motivation for teams after going so long playing behind closed doors. “We’ve had just two home games at the start of this season with fans,” said the Germany Under-21 international. “We had about 6,000 spectators who were allowed in the PreZero Arena but one of these games was our 4-1 win against Bayern Munich at the end of August. “The support was perfect — as we say in Germany: ‘Ein geiles Gefühl!’ which translates as ‘a great feeling’. It was a great feeling to hear them cheer you from up in the stands. “It’s a completely different situation than playing without fans. It pushes you and your team even when there are only a few thousands. It’s definitely better than without.” Geiger’s comments on the mentality of players in front of fans supports the view of sports psychologists that teams can “self-regulate” behind closed doors, while packed stadiums leads to going at full throttle. England and Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho was among those who insisted that players could not use the excuse of having less pressure with empty stadiums when results go against them. Other considerations for players include away teams having no supporters cheer them on under safety rules. Augsburg forward André Hahn was involved in a victory over Dortmund in front of 6,000 of his own fans, then drew at Wolfsburg when they went away without travelling support. Then Augsburg went behind closed doors again for a home defeat to RB Leipzig when their rates went up in their region. It is a scenario that English clubs could find themselves in as they move Tiers after reviews. “Obviously we were disappointed when we found out the news but the rates were going up so the authorities had to act accordingly,” Hahn said. “We know that our fans will be firing us on in front of their TVs when they are not in the stadium.” Dodi Lukebakio, the Former Watford midfielder, is among the players who are desperate for full stadiums to return. “The difference is so big, you know. When you see a big stadium with only 1,000 people, it’s nothing,” he said. “For us, of course, it’s something different to play with fans because it’s what makes football nice, so without them, it’s really sad. “It’s not positive for me, really. I like to give joy to people and it’s something nice to play with fans. Of course, there are positive things like you say, when you speak you can hear clearly who speaks but if I can choose, I choose the fans.” Before fans were allowed back in this season, German authorities agreed with Bundesliga that there would be a track-and-trace system for supporters, no away ticket allocation until at least the end of 2020, no standing areas and a ban on alcohol at stadiums.

Tyson Fury has demanded the BBC take him off this year’s list of contenders for the Sports Personality of the Year award, and implored his supporters not to vote for him. Fury was one of six athletes shortlisted this week for the award, alongside Lewis Hamilton, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stuart Broad, Jordan Henderson and Hollie Doyle. The world heavyweight champion wrote on his Instagram account: “This is a message for @bbcsport and their SPOTY award – please take me off your list as I’m the people’s champion and have no need for verification or any awards. “I know who I am and what I’ve done in the sport. I have the love of the people which means more to me than all the awards in the world. To anyone who supports me, don’t vote.” Fury was included on the shortlist for his dramatic, emphatic victory over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas in February to claim the World Boxing Council heavyweight title, and also for his reach during lockdown in giving daily public workouts from his home with Paris, his wife. Fury’s honesty in talking about mental health has also been far-reaching. The ITV documentary about the life of the 6ft 9in heavyweight also attracted a huge audience. Fury, a reformed character in many ways, could have been be a front-runner this year. Had he fought, as scheduled, on December 5, he may have won the award. The BBC’s annual award is already at the centre of a gender-equality row after only one woman — Doyle — was shortlisted for the prize. This is the first time in almost a decade there has been so few women in the running. Jamie Corrigan: If ever there was a year to cancel the award, 2020 was it

Dawid Malan has timed his rise to the top of the world rankings perfectly with a big IPL auction taking place in January that could see him earn the biggest deal of his career. Every three years the IPL holds what it calls a ‘mega’ auction in which teams clear their rosters and build again. They do negotiate and retain players already on their books, but there are still far more opportunities to pick up a buyer in a mega auction than in other years and the possibility of becoming the subject of a bidding war, driving up the value of a deal. If the IPL expands its number of teams for next year then there will be even more opportunities and Malan, who has never played in the IPL, will be in demand given his England form.

Mayfield had a good game against the Jaguars but it should have been even better

We were too focused on Denver last week to worry about the Saints’ quiet passing day.

Are the Red Sox on the shortlist of teams that could sign free-agent pitcher Corey Kluber?