Karim López is the new NBA Mexico player.

Erendira Palma Hernández

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 10, 2025, p. a11

Sonoran Karim López, an 18-year-old prodigy playing in New Zealand, is currently NBA Mexico's target to boost its brand in the region. While Raúl Zárraga, senior vice president and head of operations for the NBA in Latin America, makes it clear that they're not solely focused on the tricolor's career, he acknowledges that he has the skills to earn a place in the American league, the most media-friendly basketball league in the world.

We have many projects nationwide, particularly with Karim López; we're following him closely. We hope he makes it to the NBA; everything points to that. If he's chosen, we already have a plan, not specifically for him, but a strategy to work with Latin American talent , the executive indicated.

Basketball seemed like a path made for Karim. His father, Jesús Chino López, won a silver medal with Mexico at the 2011 Pan American Games, so his experience has been key in boosting his son's career, with training in Spain and then moving to New Zealand.

The choice to find a home in that country seems almost predetermined, as he signed with the New Zealand Breakers in 2024, part of the NBL's Next Stars player development program that gives him a greater chance of reaching the NBA.

López's rise coincides with Mexican-American Jaime Jáquez, who had a strong start to the season last year with the Heat, sparking significant interest among the Tricolor fans and being a magnet for the franchise's visit to Mexico.

–Would you seek to emulate this success with the team that recruits López to bring him to the country?

–Yes, it's something we've thought about, obviously we have to wait until it's official. Everything points to that being the case. Being able to celebrate the fact that there's a new Mexican in the league would represent determination and a high level of professionalism.

For now, the executive is focused on the November 1st game between Detroit and Dallas in Mexico City, so he won't venture to talk about a tricolor franchise or bringing more games.

Asked whether Donald Trump's tightening of immigration policy could affect Mexico's plans with the NBA, Zárraga noted that the league's priority is to develop the game of basketball, and the language of the sport is universal, regardless of any political tone or color .

▲ Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was powerless to stop his defense's errors and Parisians' offensive power, which led to the Spaniards' elimination. AP Photo

From the editorial staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 10, 2025, p. a12

While PSG was already a club with a global legacy, it seemed like it was lacking international titles to reach a higher level. Now, under the leadership of Luis Enrique, who knew how to put the pieces together to create a team that would make a difference, the Parisian side is one step away from achieving a double of trophies after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 and advancing to the Club World Cup final, where it will face Chelsea.

Just over a month ago, PSG broke away from the ghosts by celebrating their first European Champions League title , all under the guidance of a Spanish coach. The precision of their combative style, embodied by a brace from Fabián Ruiz (6 and 24) and goals from Ousmane Dembélé (9) and Gonçalo Ramos (87), has seen them reach the decisive duel for the Club World Cup, in the first edition of an expanded 32-team format.

Modric's farewell

The match also marked Luka Modric's farewell after 13 years with Real Madrid, with whom he won three La Liga titles, six Champions League titles , and five World Cup titles . To a standing ovation that recognized his career, the Croatian came on as a substitute in the 65th minute to wear the captain's armband, and although he led his team vigorously, he could do little to turn the score around.

In a match between the two recent European Champions League champions, Luis Enrique's experience was crucial in defeating a Madrid side whose longtime manager, Xabi Alonso, was on the bench. Alonso, one of his most renowned players, had only recently taken over as manager. Thus, the former midfielder was left without a clear chance of securing the title in his first role as manager of the Spanish team.

PSG celebrates reaching the final as a special feat, eliminating Real Madrid, the tournament's all-time champions, and eliminating Kylian Mbappé, who reached the top with the Parisians before leaving them to sign with Real Madrid last year.

It's always difficult to play these games. It's very hot, so you have to adapt your conditioning to put on a good show. We're having a great season and a special moment , said Luis Enrique.

Although the game was delayed 10 minutes due to traffic, the players did not disappoint. With an unexpected Parisian offensive that came out relentlessly onto the MetLife Stadium field in New Jersey, the match was settled in less than half an hour with eye-catching plays that delighted the thousands of spectators.

A mistake by Raúl Ascencio paved the way for PSG to break into the box with a pass from Ousmane Dembélé for Fabián Ruiz to seal the first goal in the sixth minute.

It would only take another three minutes for the Parisians to increase their lead, also taking advantage of a mistake by the Madrid defense that allowed Dembélé to beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a shot inside the box.

Achraf Hakimi would create the play that would lead to the third goal, running at high speed down the right flank to send a pass to Ruiz, who in just the 24th minute nailed the goal that unleashed euphoria on the PSG bench.

But a spectacular and emotional finale was still to come. Bradley Barcola held his own against the opposing defense and passed the ball to Portuguese Ramos (87) who scored and dedicated the goal to Diogo Jota, who died a few days ago in a car accident, an episode that still moves the fans on the pitch.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 10, 2025, p. a12

Madrid. Former Real Madrid manager and current Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was sentenced to one year in prison for tax fraud, the Spanish court announced yesterday. The sentence will not require him to serve time in prison as it is less than two years.

We have sentenced Carlo Ancelotti, as the author of a crime against the public treasury relating to the fiscal year 2014, to one year in prison and a fine of 386 thousand euros , reports the sentence of a Madrid court, on a case that occurred during the coach's first stage in charge of the Merengue team.

The judges found that Ancelotti had clear knowledge of the tax obligations arising from his tax residence in Spain in 2014 and a conscious intention to avoid paying taxes , the ruling states.

However, the judges acquitted the 66-year-old Italian of tax offenses committed in 2015, as he was not required to pay taxes in Spain after moving to London shortly before being dismissed by Real Madrid in May.

The prosecution had requested a four-year, nine-month prison sentence for the coach, alleging that he had hidden more than €1 million in image rights payments from the tax authorities in 2014 and 2015, during his first spell in charge of Real Madrid (2013-2015), to which he returned in 2021 (until 2025).

During his testimony at the trial held in April in Madrid, Ancelotti asserted that he never considered committing fraud. The coach stated that he had agreed to earn €6 million net per season and that it was the club that proposed that he receive 15 percent of that amount in image rights, with a different tax rate, which ultimately caused him problems.

When Madrid suggests this to me, I put the club in touch with my English advisor. I never get involved in this because I've never been paid like this , he declared in court, emphasizing that he was never aware that he was doing anything wrong .

All the players had it, Mourinho too , he said about one of his predecessors in the Real Madrid dugout, who also ended up with a one-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to tax fraud in 2019.

The ruling released yesterday states that Ancelotti knowingly evaded paying these taxes by using artificial mechanisms to create the corporate structure .

Since he has no criminal record and the sentence is less than two years, Ancelotti will not go to prison.