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The New England Patriots have cleared the linebacker room over the course of the 2022 offseason. The Patriots started by cutting linebacker Kyle Van Noy to free up salary cap space. New England proceeded to trade for linebacker Mack Wilson and elect not to pursue Dont’a Hightower or Jamie Collins, the two free agents from the Patriots.
So they’ll look to Wilson, Josh Uche, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Cameron McGrone and Raekwon McMillan, among others. It’s apparently a youth movement.
During a press conference, Belichick was asked whether he thought Uche might be able to play a role similar to that of Hightower. Belichick didn’t see it and cautioned against comparing anyone to Hightower.
“We’re talking about one of the best linebackers that’s ever played here,” Belichick said on Tuesday during a press conference.
So might the Patriots bring back Hightower?
“We’ll just talk about the players who are on the team right now,” Belichick said.
In the meantime, Hightower has spent the offseason mulling whether he wants to return to the NFL, according to The Athletic. Perhaps he has found the contract offers underwhelming and isn’t sure he wants to endure the beating. Perhaps he simply doesn’t want to return to the NFL.
Whatever the reason, Belichick clearly thinks highly of the linebacker. It’s just that he wouldn’t commit to leaving the door open for a 32-year-old who might just be in decline. The Patriots have done something similar in the past, where they kept around Jerod Mayo for an extra year, even when he wasn’t playing much. But Mayo acted as a players-coach. Hightower may want to either play — or retire.
Josh Uche seems to have a long way to go for a breakout season. But the Belichicks have faith.
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2022-06-01T14:57:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bill Belichick dodges question about a potential return for Dont’a Hightower
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-dodges-potential-return-140451748.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-dodges-potential-return-140451748.html?src=rss
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The Philadelphia Eagles were ranked No. 1 on Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) list of the top 5 offensive lines in the NFL.
PFF’s Mike Renner ranked the birds atop the list, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 2, the Detroit Lions at No. 3, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No.4, and the Green Bay Packers at No. 5.
Best bodyguards in the league 💪 pic.twitter.com/1v6ZZrEA63
— PFF PHI Eagles (@PFF_Eagles) May 29, 2022
Looking into a case study for the Eagle’s offensive front, Philly is ready to double back on the line that helped the running game lead the NFL in ground yards last season.
Veteran center Jason Kelce enters his 12th season, Lane Johnson is still at the top of his game, and a young Isaac Seumalo are just some of the elements of a masterpiece Hurts will be fortunate to play behind. (After all, this is a pivotal year for Hurts.)
Jordan Mailata, 25, is also among a boatload of young studs this offensive front will need to lean on this season.
The team selected center Cam Jurgens in the second round of the 2022 draft. It’s a pick many fans will be keeping their eyes on, as the former Nebraska pick will have to prove himself in a pool of talented guys on the offensive line.
The Eagles are given 10th in overall team grades for the 2021 season and ranked 12th in points scored.
PFF power rankings place 49ers in top 10 thanks to … Jimmy Garoppolo?
Jimmy Garoppolo's presence is a key reason the #49ers ranked 9th in the PFF power rankings.
A lawyer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign was acquitted Tuesday of lying to the FBI when he pushed information meant to cast suspicions on Donald Trump and Russia in the run-up to that year's election. The case against Michael Sussmann was the first courtroom test of special counsel John Durham since his appointment three years ago to search for government misconduct during the investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. The verdict marks a clear setback for Durham’s work, especially since Trump supporters have looked to the probe to expose what they contend was egregious bias by law enforcement officials who investigated the ex-president's campaign.
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2022-06-01T14:57:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles ranked No. 1 on PFF’s list of best offensive lines
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-ranked-no-1-pff-135122891.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-ranked-no-1-pff-135122891.html?src=rss
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The House Oversight Committee, in the course of their investigation into allegations of a hostile work environment within the Washington Commanders organization, has requested that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington team owner Daniel Snyder testify at a hearing before the Committee on June 22.
In a statement released to the media, the Committee indicated that the hearing is the “next step in the Committee’s months-long investigation into the Commanders’ hostile workplace culture and will also examine the NFL’s handling of allegations of workplace misconduct, the NFL’s role in setting and enforcing standards across the League, and legislative reforms needed to address these issues across the NFL and other workplaces.”
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, stated that “[f]or seven months, the Committee has been stonewalled by [non-disclosure agreements] and other tools to evade accountability. Mr. Snyder and Mr. Goodell need to appear before the Committee to address these issues and answer our questions about the pervasive workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders, and how the NFL addressed these issues.”
This request is the latest in a series of events surrounding the Washington franchise and Snyder himself. Last month, it was reported that there is increasing frustration among NFL owners about Snyder, with one owner telling USA Today’s Jarrett Bell that “we are counting votes.”
That vote-counting might continue given this recent news.
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2022-06-01T14:57:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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House Oversight Committee requests testimony from Roger Goodell and Daniel Snyder
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https://sports.yahoo.com/house-oversight-committee-requests-testimony-143415038.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/house-oversight-committee-requests-testimony-143415038.html?src=rss
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Not only was John Madden a Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster, but he is one of the biggest video game innovators of all time. Back in 1994, Madden along with EA Sports, created a football video game that would dominate the industry for the next few decades.
Madden appeared on the cover from 1994 to 2000 before the video game started to put current NFL players on the cover. Since then, an athlete (or two) has been on the cover of the game every year.
But that will change in 2022 as Madden will reappear on the cover of the Madden 23 game. Here is what the cover looks like via EA Sports:
Madden passed away at the age of 85 on December 28, 2021. He was nominated to the Hall of Fame in 2006 as a coach, but he might be even more famous for his broadcasting career and certainly his involvement with video games.
Needless to say, this is a perfect tribute to Madden and one of the best covers they’ve had in years. Congrats, coach!
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2022-06-01T14:57:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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John Madden will appear on Madden 23 video game cover
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https://sports.yahoo.com/john-madden-appear-madden-23-140946497.html?src=rss
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The Lions will wish to keep their budding star in Detroit, to keep the culture being developed, in motion. But just how much will it cost? Early rumors are that T.J Hockenson will likely demand Dallas Goedert’s contract (4 years, $57 million) as a starting point. A deal like that would likely propel him into the top three paid tight ends category, with an average annual value, or AAV, north of $14.2 million.
So if contracts have been in the works, one could assume a contract of 4 years, $70m would be the going rate for Hockenson at this point, just $5m short of Kittle for the highest-paid tight end. The Lions will ultimately need to overpay, as Detroit isn’t a destination for high-profile superstars, even if it is repairing its image rapidly. But even still, that contract for Hockenson wouldn’t make me lose sleep at night unless it was fully guaranteed because I truly believe that T.J. Hockenson is one of the best tight ends, or offensive weapons for that, in the entire league.
The Lions will look to get a deal done, as the 25-year-old is one of the franchise cornerstones, and a pivotal figure in the Lions’ culture change that will ultimately help lead the OnePride fan base through these dark times and into contention again. Here’s to hoping an “overpay” occurs soon, so whoever is the next franchise quarterback, Goff or a 2023 rookie, will have a heck of a weapon to throw to.
Who is the highest-paid NHL player? Connor McDavid, Artemi Panarin top list of highest earners
NHL stars Connor McDavid (Oilers) and Artemi Panarin (Rangers) are the league's highest-paid players when considering average salary.
Keith Pompey: Joel Embiid underwent surgery yesterday to repair his sprained right thumb, according to the #Sixers: Separately, a procedure was also performed to repair an injury to his left index finger. Neither procedure is expected to impact ...
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2022-06-01T14:58:12Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Lions and T.J. Hockenson negotiations: Where things stand
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https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-t-j-hockenson-negotiations-115848720.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-t-j-hockenson-negotiations-115848720.html?src=rss
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Derek Carr had arguably the best season in his career in 2021, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards and leading the Raiders to the playoffs. It wasn’t always easy, but he made the plays to get them in a position to win games.
One way that Carr stood out last year compared to his peers was due to his deep passing ability. On a number of occasions, he connected on deep throws, including one to Zay Jones to beat the Ravens in Week 1. He had another against Pittsburgh in Week 2 to Henry Ruggs that allowed them to upset the Steelers.
So where does Carr rank among the best downfield passers in the league? In a recent article by Nick Shook and the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, he ranked the top 10 deep passers in the NFL from the 2021 season. Not surprisingly, Carr was on the list, coming in at No. 9. Here is what Shook had to say about his 2021 season:
“In the face of persistent hardship, Carr stood tall in the pocket, racking up 806 deep passing yards from inside the tackle box. Against the blitz, Carr completed 50 percent of his deep pass attempts for the most deep passing yards (420) on such attempts in the NFL.
He was one of just six qualified quarterbacks in the NFL to post a completion percentage of 50 or better on such attempts and tied for the most touchdowns with four. His CPOE of 15.8 in this area was the fifth-highest in the league.”
Carr has always been one of the best deep-ball quarterbacks in the NFL, so it will be fascinating to see how he fits in Josh McDaniels’ offense that relies more on quick throws and precision.
Still, expect the Raiders to take plenty of shots down the field again in 2022 as Carr has proven that he is among the best in the NFL at connecting on throws over 30+ yards.
Reasons for Padres' optimism? A veteran manager, a solid closer, surprise hitting performances and doing it all without their best player
'RHODubai's Chanel Ayan Is Breaking Some Major Barriers
Chanel Ayan is one of the new Dubai housewives to take the stage in 'Real Housewives of Dubai.' Here's everything you need to know about the model and mother.
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2022-06-01T14:58:18Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Raiders QB Derek Carr ranked among best deep passers during 2021 season
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https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-qb-derek-carr-ranked-133318608.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-qb-derek-carr-ranked-133318608.html?src=rss
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Since being selected 45th overall in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has been an unstoppable force. Breaking off long runs and stiff-arming opponents have become regular occurrences in his highlight reel.
The Alabama product played in 30 games in his first two seasons, but had just four starts and played second fiddle to DeMarco Murray.
During the 2017 season, the two running backs split carries nearly 50-50, with Henry outrushing the veteran running back. During the offseason, the Titans released Murray, giving way to the former Heisman winner.
In his first year as the starting running back, Henry rushed for 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns in the 2018 season but still had to contend with Dion Lewis taking touches from him.
Over the next two years, the Yulee, Florida native fully took the reins of the rushing attack and ran through and over everything en route to a combined 3,567 rushing yards on a league-high 681 carries.
Watch: Titans' Jeffery Simmons, Derrick Henry post workout videos
Henry led the league in rushing yards in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, including a 2000-plus-yard effort and an AFC Offensive Player of the Year award in the latter campaign.
Going one step further, nobody in the National Football League has rushed for more yards than Henry since 2017, amassing 6,307 yards.
The next closest is Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott with 5,755 yards, and Dalvin Cook is in third with 4,820 yards. Here’s the complete list of top rushing performers and their respective yards since 2017:
Derrick Henry has been dominant for YEARS 👑 pic.twitter.com/De9BbIietY
Elliott and Henry were selected in the same draft class, but the former was a starter from Day 1, collecting a league-leading 1,631 rushing yards in 2016.
Both Cook and Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb were taken in the 2018 draft, so Henry has a slight advantage over them being drafted two years earlier. But, again, the Titans’ superstar running back waited two years to get the lion’s share of carries.
Either way, it’s an even more incredible feat for Henry when you consider he also had his 2021 season cut short due to a foot injury. He still finished in the top-10 in the NFL in rushing yards (937) despite not playing after Week 8 of the regular season.
Henry returned for the Titans’ postseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, rushing for 62 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
The Titans tailback is expected to be 100 percent for the 2022 regular season, and he will look to put up crazy numbers again in the face of doubt about his future viability thanks to the aforementioned injury.
Report: Titans' Treylon Burks 'labored' through some pre-draft workouts
Derrick Henry tied for best odds to win rushing title in 2022
Report: Titans open to extending Derrick Henry's contract
Fantasy Baseball: Last call for Aaron Ashby on the waiver wire
The Milwaukee Brewers have been dealing with injuries in their rotation of late. Luckily for them — and for fantasy managers who added Aaron Ashby — they've got some backup. Scott Pianowski writes on that and more.
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2022-06-01T14:58:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Where Titans’ Derrick Henry ranks in rushing yards since 2017
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https://sports.yahoo.com/where-titans-derrick-henry-ranks-115843430.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/where-titans-derrick-henry-ranks-115843430.html?src=rss
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The drivers won’t be able to see it. They’ll be too busy concentrating on the track in front of them to let their eyes drift to the St. Louis skyline. But as I rode shotgun in Kenny Wallace’s pickup at World Wide Technology Raceway, I had no obligation to watch where we were going, so I can report that the view of the Gateway Arch from Turns 3 and 4 is spectacular.
In advance of this weekend’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR, Wallace gave me a tour of the facility, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. As he drove, he said there’s no track like this one. With wildly different corners, both in banking and radius, it brings to mind Darlington. Turns 1 and 2 are similar to New Hampshire and 3 and 4 are reminiscent of Phoenix.
Wallace, the longtime NASCAR driver and personality who grew up in St. Louis and lives in Arnold, Missouri, a 15-minute drive from the track, narrated as we turned laps on the 1.25-mile layout.
“We’re going to come down this back straightaway …”
… I simultaneously listened and gaped at the Arch. I‘m fascinated by how different it looks depending on the angle at which you face it; from the side it looks like the Washington Monument … from straight ahead it looks like a croquet wicket …
… “You’re battling for position. I enjoy this …”
… Even after seeing the Arch hundreds of times, I still marveled at its perfect symmetry, even as that perfect symmetry stands in stark contrast to the oddly shaped track I was riding over …
… “I’m going to show you my groove. I would come right down in here,” and he put the left front tire of his Toyota on the apron. “I would drag my left front around this damn thing. This is an art.”
The track like no other will offer a view like no other in a season like no other.
And the city that Wallace calls home — a city with a personality as quirky as the track itself — is ready for it like no other.
Dilip Vishwanat | Getty Images
I have lived in St. Louis in two stints for half of my adult life. If there is one characteristic that stands out among St. Louis sports fans, it is the pride they take in being fans. They think they are good at it. They say they are good at it. They exult when others say they are good at it. They wear it as a badge of honor that outsiders have frequently called them the best fans in baseball, and they see no issue in repeating that honorific, and sometimes they drop baseball and just call themselves the best sports fans, period.
When the St. Louis — ahem, Los Angeles — Rams left town at the end of the 2015 season, fans seemed as mad that owner Stan Kroenke insulted them on the way out as they were that he moved the team away. When the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup championship in their 52nd year of existence, the fans reacted as if all of them finally, collectively and individually, reached an un-summited mountaintop. They love their teams regardless of the win-loss column, but they were overjoyed that love was finally rewarded.
“St. Louis is a great sports town,” says Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for Aric Almirola, who grew up in southern Illinois and cut his teeth on dirt tracks in the region. Blickensderfer remains a huge Cardinals fan. His dad pulled him out of school so he could attend World Series games in St. Louis in 1982, 1985 and 1987. “They support all the local teams.”
Having the big boys in town is going to be pretty neat. St. Louis brings out a crowd for their sporting events.
The city’s support for stick-and-ball sports was part of the reason NASCAR rewarded it with a Cup race, said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing development and strategy. “This is an important and strategic move for the future of our sport,” Kennedy told reporters and community leaders who gathered for the announcement that the race was coming. “The one sport you guys were missing was NASCAR.”
By NASCAR he means Cup. I covered a handful of Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races at WWTR in the 2000s. In one, I worked on the pit crew for Bobby Hamilton’s trucks team. I moved tires and fetched gas and tried to stay out of the way. During an Xfinity race, the sky turned green as a brutal storm rolled through. For safety’s sake, track officials ordered everyone in the pit area to gather in a concrete building.
Back then, a Cup race wasn‘t even a dream. There was no talk of it because the surrounding infrastructure couldn‘t handle it, there wasn‘t enough grandstands or parking, and the schedule was ironclad. But now, as NASCAR has reimagined its schedule in recent years, the sanctioning body has unshackled itself from the old way of making decisions.
Gone is a devotion to massive markets with pre-existing fully developed facilities. In its place is a “what the hell, let’s try it” schedule-making joie de vivre that suggests any idea is worth considering — even racing at a track that a decade ago was deserted and left to rot.
While putting a Cup race in St. Louis is not quite the big, bold swing that holding the Clash inside a football stadium in Los Angeles was, it still fits neatly in the “wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago” category. In this year of everything new — new car, new owners, new schedule — the sport is free to tap into new markets, too.
Before this race was announced, I would have said St. Louis was not much of a racing town. Wallace tells me I was wrong, and indeed, there’s a buzz about the race that I wasn’t expecting. Because of St. Louis’ passion for traditional sports, its status as a racing town is underrated, Wallace tells me. There’s so much talk about baseball, hockey and a soon-to-launch soccer team that there‘s room for little else. “Auto racing gets lost,” Wallace says. “However, this is one of auto racing’s best areas in America.”
History backs him up. In the early 2000s, four drivers at the Cup level grew up in the St. Louis area — the three Wallace brothers (Rusty, Mike, Kenny) plus Ken Schrader. Throw in Carl Edwards, who won 28 Cup races and grew up 90 minutes away in Columbia, Missouri, and Xfinity stalwart Justin Allgaier, who grew up 90 minutes away in Spaulding, Illinois, and the region’s bona fides get even stronger.
There won’t be any hometown drivers in this race, but that won’t blunt the allure. As much as St. Louisans talk about their fandom, they will see this race as a chance to show their claims have merit. By moving a race here, NASCAR showed confidence that St. Louis fans will turn out to support stock-car racing. Therefore, St. Louis sports fans will show up to prove them right, even if they aren’t already big NASCAR fans. St. Louis fans would be ashamed of themselves if TV showed empty seats.
“Having the big boys in town is going to be pretty neat,” says Blickensderfer, who as crew chief for Edwards won twice at WWTR in the Xfinity Series. “St. Louis brings out a crowd for their sporting events.”
Especially one like this — big, much-hyped, first. At the announcement of the race, Andrew Taylor, executive chairman of Enterprise Holdings and a key player in wooing both NASCAR and Major League Soccer to town, read a list of major events in St. Louis recently and asked: “How does it feel to be living in the best sports town in America right now?”
Every city loves an underdog, and that is baked into St. Louis‘s sports identity more than others. The city is forever jockeying for a place at the table, eager to prove it belongs in the conversation about major cities, whether the topic is sports or parks or philanthropy or zoos or great places to live.
But not pizza. Definitely not pizza. One day 11 years ago, as I waited to interview Dale Earnhardt Jr., I listened as he recorded a radio ad for a St. Louis-style pizza franchise called Imo’s that is woven into the city’s restaurant scene. I overheard him asking his staff how to pronounce the name — eee-mos or eye-mos? I interjected with eee-mos. I neglected to tell them that St. Louis-style pizza, from Imo’s and everywhere else, tastes like saltines soaked in ketchup and salt.
Anyway: The city’s two most beloved sports icons in the last 25 years both lived incredible underdog stories. Kurt Warner was stocking shelves at a grocery store before he became the ringleader of the Greatest Show on Turf and led the Rams to one Super Bowl win and another appearance in a Hall of Fame career. Albert Pujols was a little-noticed baseball player near Kansas City drafted in the lowly 13th round, and yet he emerged as not just a superstar but an all-time great with the Cardinals, winning Rookie of the Year in 2001, three MVP awards and two World Series. And the year the Blues finally won their first Stanley Cup, they roared back from having the worst record in the NHL as of Jan. 2 that season.
WWTR’s rise from shuttered to hosting the premiere racing circuit in the country is equally unlikely. Originally a drag strip, WWTR has been home to racing since the late 1960s. A road course was added in 1985, and in 1997, the Xfinity Series debuted on the oval track as it exists now. Trucks followed in 1998, but the downturn in the economy and subsequent drop in attendance hit hard. The track closed in 2010.
That looked like the end of big-time racing in St. Louis.
But Curtis Francois bought the track in 2013 with plans to revive it, plans that have become grander and more expansive as the track has found success. Early in his tenure as owner, he called Wallace to set up a meeting to pick his brain. “I was really honored,” Wallace says.
Wallace and Francois talked over lunch at a restaurant owned by broadcaster Joe Buck, who was raised in St. Louis and whose late father, Jack, was the Cardinals play-by-play man. The restaurant was near Busch Stadium, home of the Cardinals, and not far from a statute honoring baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial. That couldn’t be more of a St. Louis meeting unless they ate toasted ravioli while sitting atop Anheuser-Busch’s Clydesdales.
“They wanted to know everything I thought about this facility,” Wallace says. “I told them the race track is fantastic.”
As a track to drive on, yes. As a track to visit, less so. The facility needed work to make it a world-class facility; the track is working on $40 million in renovations. Officials believe the biggest problem — traffic — has been solved. In covering Xfinity and Truck Series races there, I waited in lines that were Cup-esque. To fix that, the track bought property to fit more cars, and the state of Illinois agreed to aggressive traffic alteration plans.
There are many reasons NASCAR tabbed WWTR to host its first Cup race. Big sports town. Strong regional racing legacy. Hard work by the owner, promoters and supporters like Kenny Wallace. And good old-fashioned creativity.
Since Francois purchased the track, WWTR has hosted trucks (2014-present) and Indy Car (2017-present), which now seem like auditions for the Cup Series. The key for WWTR was to make sure a) they nailed the auditions and b) the right people saw them.
That required subtlety, which, frankly, is not always this region‘s strong suit. This is a city where everyone asks each other, “where did you go to high school?” because they believe the answer tells them everything they need to know about the person.
Chris Blair, the track’s executive vice president and general manager, concocted a less ostentatious way to get noticed. Before an Indy Car race in 2018, Blair knew from ticket sales that he was going to have a packed house. He already was quietly lobbying NASCAR brass to pay attention to what was happening at WWTR. He knew that a packed house would impress NASCAR brass, and that NASCAR brass had to learn of that packed house on their own and not be told about it by him, because if he told them about it, he would no longer be quietly lobbying he would be openly lobbying.
Gateway St Louis Arch
Before the race, he texted driver Alex Bowman and asked him to tweet about the race. If Bowman’s tweet got retweeted and bounced around NASCAR‘s echo chamber, the right eyes would see it.
“We’re sneaky like that,” Blair says.
“You’re a promoter!” Kenny Wallace says.
“I’m a bull—- artist,” he replies.
Maybe 10 laps into the race, Bowman texted Blair to ask him if he still wanted him to tweet considering what Jimmie had said.
“Jimmie who?” he replied.
Unbeknownst to Blair, and without his having anything to do with it, Jimmie Johnson — NASCAR’s seven-time champion and one of the sport’s most followed voices on Twitter — saw the crowd and tweeted about it approvingly.
“It got a lot of people’s attention,” Blair says.
Mission accomplished even if the tweet that accomplished the mission wasn‘t even part of the mission. Later, NASCAR brass — Kennedy, Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy and Steve Phelps — toured WWTR. On the wall was a picture of the Indy Car race from the next year, just as full as the one that captured Johnson’s eye. They couldn’t miss it as they walked by.
“It was totally an accident that it ended up there,” Blair says. “I swear.”
And by “totally an accident” he means not an accident at all.
As Kenny Wallace says: “They’ve earned this by making NASCAR look and ask, ‘What is going on over there?’ ”
And now St. Louisans get to answer that question. They won’t be shy about it.
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2022-06-01T16:01:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Meet them in St. Louis
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https://sports.yahoo.com/meet-them-st-louis-100945547.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/meet-them-st-louis-100945547.html?src=rss
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NASCAR’s Cup Series is making its first trip to World Wide Technologies Raceway on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1) and there’s a familiar face as the favorite for the win.
Yes, Kyle Larson is once again the betting favorite ahead of the race. But Larson is far from an overwhelming favorite. He’s at +750 to win and there are seven other drivers at +1000 or better to get the win.
The track formerly known as Gateway has hosted NASCAR races since 1997 when it first hosted an Xfinity Series race. The Truck Series began racing at the track a year later.
NASCAR hasn’t raced at the track every year since the late 1990s, however. The Xfinity Series departed the track after 2010 and hasn’t returned. It races at Portland this weekend. The Truck Series also didn’t race from 2011-13 at Gateway before returning in 2014 for an annual weekend.
Kyle Larson is the favorite ahead of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Gateway. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There are six former Truck Series winners at Gateway in the field for Sunday’s race, though it’s doubtful those wins are going to mean too much. Kevin Harvick won in 2010, Bubba Wallace won in 2014, Cole Custer was the winner in 2015, Christopher Bell won in 2016, Justin Haley won in 2018 and Ross Chastain got a win at Gateway in 2019. Chastain is the only driver among the six who you can consider a favorite to win. He’s at +900.
Here’s what you need to know to bet Sunday’s race. The 1.25-mile track is egg-shaped with different corner radiuses at each end of the track. It’s a similar shape to Darlington, but Darlington has much more banking and the preferred line is near the wall. The two tracks aren’t much alike at all.
All odds are from BetMGM.
Larson continues his run as the weekly favorite and while we’re skeptical of Larson as the favorite, we’re also not sure who we’d have in his spot if he wasn’t the favorite. Hamlin and Busch finished 1-2 in that marathon at Charlotte, while Truex feels on the precipice of a win. Chastain led the most laps at Charlotte and Byron has been fast nearly everywhere this season.
Logano’s season has been a roller coaster with more downs than ups but he’s worth a flier here. With the playing field relatively level for everyone entering Sunday, Bowman feels like a sneaky good bet. Especially at these odds.
Aric Almirola (+3300)
We’d probably have Almirola in the next section if he was at +5000 or longer. But at +3300 it’s hard to find value in a driver who has just four top-10 finishes this season.
Brad Keselowski (+6600)
The season has been miserable for Keselowski so far. He has one top-10 finish and that came at Daytona to start the season. There’s been some promise in recent weeks, however, and maybe it all comes together this week. This honor was between Keselowski and Bubba Wallace (+8000) as Wallace continues to have speed but an incomprehensibly bad pit crew.
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2022-06-01T16:01:54Z
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NASCAR betting: Gateway odds, favorites, TV, start time
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The Kansas City Chiefs’ new 3-part behind-the-scenes series “Work to Win” debuted on Tuesday night.
In the first episode titled, “Free Agency” the team gave a quick yet insightful look into their offseason plan. Below you’ll find a few quick takeaways from some of what was revealed during the course of the episode:
The Chiefs targeted Justin Reid from Day 1
It seems like a big goal of this series wasn’t just to provide insight into the offseason plan for Kansas City, but to show that they executed said plan.
“This offseason, we certainly had a few line items,” Veach said. “We wanted to add more youth and talent on the defensive side.”
At times this offseason, the Chiefs may have suggested they had an interest in bringing back Tyrann Mathieu. In this series, they made it pretty clear that they had other plans from the get-go. Justin Reid was that plan on the defensive side of the ball.
“I think this year’s free agency was definitely a success because from the time we got to the combine from when we got back here from the time free agency started we had a definitive plan,” Veach said. “We stuck by it and Justin Reid was part of that plan right out of the gate. We were able to execute that.”
Chiefs' persistence sparked mutual interest from Justin Reid, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Speaking to the plan of action that the Chiefs had, they were extremely persistent with the free agents they wanted to land. That persistence came across well and played a key part in Justin Reid’s decision to sign with the team.
“Once teams were able to start putting cards on the table and who was interested, having a couple of offers,” Reid said. “But the overarching theme that I kept coming back to was how interested Kansas City was.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster echoed a similar experience. Brett Veach and the Chiefs had shown interest in the former Steelers wideout last offseason as well.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer, man,” Smith-Schuster said. “When K.C. comes after you two times in a row. It’s kind of like, ‘Man, just take it.'”
It feels good to feel wanted and the Chiefs clearly made both of these players feel that way, ultimately influencing their decision to join the team in free agency.
JuJu Smith-Schuster reveals something interesting about his role in Pittsburgh
We all know that Ben Roethlisberger was on his last leg with the Steelers last season. It seems that Smith-Schuster had a bigger issue with his role in the offense in Pittsburgh than he did with the declined play of his starting quarterback.
“I think the past couple of years, I’ve been out there in Pittsburgh and I haven’t been running the routes that I want to,” Smith-Schuster said. “I think coming here, playing with Pat (Mahomes), playing with Trav (Kelce) — all these guys around me who are all just weapons — I can learn as I still grow.”
Not only does Smith-Schuster see playing in Kansas City as an opportunity for an improved role, but he sees a pathway to continued growth as a player and teammate that he didn’t see elsewhere.
WATCH: Chiefs premiere Episode 1 of ‘Work to Win’
The #Chiefs' new behind-the-scenes series "Work to Win" premieres now, with the first episode titled "Free Agency."
Justin Watson has been a “pleasant surprise” for Patrick Mahomes
Justin Watson‘s signing with the Chiefs was under the radar when he agreed to a one-year, $1.035 million deal Feb. 4. But that was before the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. Watson will get a chance to earn playing time with the Chiefs, something he didn’t see much of in Tampa. He played [more]
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2022-06-01T17:56:51Z
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3 quick takeaways from Chiefs’ debut of ‘Work to Win’
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“Honestly, it’s one of those things my wife and I talked about the whole time we’re here because going to the Super Bowl in 2018, alright we’ve only really been here for two seasons,” Whitworth said. “Would we retire Rams if we win the Super Bowl, right? Then, I think as our time here expanded and really what we’ve become to this community and the ways we’ve been able to invest, I think it’s so special to us.”
Before signing with the Rams before the 2017 season, Whitworth spent 11 seasons with the Bengals. Despite not having much postseason success in Cincinnati, Whitworth was regarded as one of the best left tackles in the NFL, earning three Pro Bowl honors and an All-Pro nod during his stint with the Bengals.
Following his time in Cincinnati, Whitworth instantly became a fan favorite in Los Angeles and was a stalwart at left tackle for Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. The goal for Whitworth was to win a Super Bowl when he joined the Rams, and with the 40-year-old tackle achieving his goal this past season, he was content in walking away after 16 total seasons in the NFL.
Even though most of his career was spent in the orange and black stripes, Whitworth seems more interested in retiring as a member of the Rams when he officially signs his retirement papers, largely due to the impact that the Los Angeles has had on him and his family.
“That investment in this community and now pulling it off and winning a Super Bowl, I think that we would probably be leaning to retiring as Rams just because of what it’s become to our family and really what it’s become to us to be a part of something bigger than just us,” he said.
These are all the arena, amphitheater and stadium concerts happening in Milwaukee in 2022
Concerts in Milwaukee for 2022 include shows filling up arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums. The last full calendar year of shows was in 2019.
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2022-06-01T17:57:04Z
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Andrew Whitworth hints at retiring as a member of the Rams instead of the Bengals
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Roquan Smith has established himself as a foundational piece on the Chicago Bears defense. And entering a contract year, he’s expected to get paid.
Smith has emerged as one of the NFL’s best linebackers, and he’s coming off another impressive outing in 2021. Last season, Smith totaled 163 tackles (4th in NFL), 12 tackles-for-loss (4th among linebackers), 27 pass tackle stops (1st), had a 3.6 missed tackle percentage (2nd) and a 76.8 passer rating allowed (7th for LBs).
NFL.com’s Anthony Holzman-Escareno built an All-Paid Team of Tomorrow list examining the top player at each position who’s going to land a big contract. He singled out Smith as the top option at linebacker, projecting Smith will get paid north of $19 million per year.
Smith’s next up among traditional linebackers in line for new deals. The only player with over 150 tackles and three-plus sacks in 2021, the former top-10 pick is a foundational piece for the future of the Bears’ defense.
Smith and Darius Leonard are the only players with 500-plus tackles, 10-plus sacks, and five-plus interceptions since 2018. Smith, Leonard, Bobby Wagner and Fred Warner are the only players with 500 or more tackles over that span. Leonard and Warner are currently the NFL’s two highest-paid linebackers, while Wagner previously held the title.
Smith, like Lamar Jackson, does not have an agent. His fifth-year option sits at $9.7 million for 2022, but Smith should easily get a deal at or near the top of the positional market. The Bears have notably made Khalil Mack (since traded) and Eddie Jackson the highest-paid players at their respective positions in recent seasons. Smith will likely be next.
Smith has already expressed his desire to remain with the Bears, and re-signing Smith is a top priority for general manager Ryan Poles. Poles hopes to get a deal in place before the start of the regular season.
“I don’t know if that’s how we’re going to handle it, but I would like to,” Poles said earlier this offseason. “Obviously the earlier you get to that, the better. But also with a new staff, we may wait a little bit, too.”
Will Bears give Roquan Smith a second contract? - Powered By PickUp
Impressive Justin Fields stat shows why Year 2 leap could be coming
There's reason to expect big things from a Justin Fields-Luke Getsy offense.
Sienna Mae Gomez denied accusations of sexual assault against her former friend Jack Wright in January, and disappeared from social media until now.
Arizona Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch is the worst returning Power 5 college football coach according to one site's ranking.
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2022-06-01T17:57:11Z
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Bears LB Roquan Smith lands on NFL’s All-Paid Team of Tomorrow
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After three years of playing under a defensive-minded head coach in Vic Fangio with underwhelming offensive performances, the Denver Broncos reversed course and brought in offensive-minded Nathaniel Hackett.
Hackett brought with him his offensive scheme and his own staff, highlighted by offensive coordinator Justin Outten. Broncos general manager George Paton also pulled off a trade for quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason.
The new scheme and a new franchise quarterback should help Denver’s offense get back on track in 2022. It’s a complex system, one that’s meant to keep the defense guessing on every play.
“Every meeting that we have, we talk about confusion,” running back Javonte Williams said last week. “We want everything to look the same so that way the defense doesn’t know when a different play is coming. I feel like this is the most complex offense that I have been in, but I feel like it will be the best because you never know what’s coming at you.”
Hackett’s offense with the Green Bay Packers helped quarterback Aaron Rodgers win back-to-back NFL MVP awards, but they also featured their running backs enough for Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to combine for 2,306 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns in 2021.
A star quarterback leading the offense complemented by two talented running backs sharing the load. Sound familiar?
Denver’s offense is back.
Pinch-hitter Yonathan Daza doubled to drive in three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Colorado Rockies rally past the Miami Marlins 7-1 on Monday and give starter Ryan Feltner his first big-league win. The game also included the longest home run of the season in the MLB, a 496-foot shot in the second inning from Miami's Jesús Sánchez. It reached the third deck concourse at Coors Field.
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2022-06-01T17:57:49Z
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Javonte Williams says Broncos’ offense aims to confuse defenses in 2022
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In an offseason with nearly a complete turnover at the wide receiver position, the Tennessee Titans re-stocked through the NFL draft and trade.
General manager Jon Robinson used one of the picks acquired in the A.J. Brown trade to take Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.
In the fifth round, the Titans selected UCLA’s Kyle Philips, who has impressed thus far in rookie minicamp and OTAs.
According to Bleacher Report’s Ian Wharton, Philips will be the Titans’ surprise rookie gem in 2022.
Philips isn’t especially fast and is on the smaller side at 5’11”, 189 pounds. He has good quickness and fluidity to his motions, though, much like Hunter Renfrow of the Raiders. Trying to guard him one-on-one in space proved difficult for UCLA’s opponents.
He may prove to be a red-zone and third-down specialty weapon, but even that is a great role for a fifth-round investment. Tennessee has snaps to fill, and Philips has the most dynamic and reliable skill set of their candidates.
Philips amassed 739 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 59 receptions in 11 games as a senior. He was second in the Pac-12 with 67.2 receiving yards per game, and third in FBS with an average of 5.36 receptions per contest.
With 163 receptions in four years, the UCLA wide receiver finished fourth all-time on the career receptions list in school history.
Philips could have the opportunity to carve out a role as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver out of the slot, which is where he primarily lined up in college.
Aside from his skillset on offense, the San Marcos, CA native was outstanding on special teams, averaging 22.6 yards per punt return as a senior, including an 82-yard scamper to the end zone against Colorado.
Given the opportunities available in both the passing and punt-return game, it’s certainly not difficult to see how Philips could have an immediate impact in his rookie season.
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2022-06-01T17:57:55Z
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Kyle Philips predicted to be Titans’ ‘surprise rookie gem’
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The sharks continue to circle around Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.
He and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were asked on June 1 to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee at a hearing for the committee's investigation into the Commanders' hostile workplace culture and the NFL's subsequence response to it. The hearing is scheduled for June 22.
It could be a major turning point in the federal investigation that's lasted since Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) requested Goodell to turn over all documents related to the NFL's internal findings into Snyder and the Commanders this past October. It would mark the first time Goodell or Snyder have spoken on the allegations in a formal setting other than public statements since the initial Washington Post report on workplace misconduct in 2020.
The decision to ask Goodell and Snyder to testify also appears to be the final straw for the committee, as outlined in the letter.
Chairwoman Maloney:
Chairman Krishnamoorthi:
For seven months, the Committee has been stonewalled by NDAs and other tools to evade accountability. Mr. Snyder and Mr. Goodell need to appear before the Committee to address these issues and answer our questions about the pervasive workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders, and how the NFL addressed these issues.
It's just another twist in the very long and winding look into serious allegations against Snyder and his organization. This isn't even the only federal investigation with which Snyder is dealing. In April, the committee sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission which alleged the Commanders committed fraud against NFL franchises by withholding ticket revenue meant to be shared among the other 31 teams.
The NFL is facing its own federal probe as well after six attorneys sent a letter to Goodell in April that warned of an investigation into allegations of workplace harassment of women and minorities.
While neither Goodell nor Snyder has publicly responded to the request themselves, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy released a statement in response to Wednesday's letter from the Committee:
We received the Committee's invitation this morning and will respond in a timely manner. The NFL has cooperated extensively throughout the Committee's length investigation of the Washington Commanders, including by producing more than 460,000 pages of documents and responding to numerous questions in writing and in conversations with the Committee's staff.
What happens next could finally lead to some answers revolving around one of the most polarizing teams in the NFL that has been under scrutiny for almost two years.
A brief timeline of the NFL's and committee's investigations
July 16, 2020: Commanders (then called the Washington Football Team) hired attorney Beth Wilkinson to review the organization's protocols following the Post's allegations of workplace misconduct.
July 2, 2021: Wilkinson concluded her investigation and the NFL fined the Commanders $10 million after finding the team did engage in workplace misconduct. The league also recommended 10 changes Snyder agreed to implement to foster a better workplace environment. Snyder was not suspended or asked to sell the team but his wife, Tayna, assumed day-to-day responsibilities. The league did not release any of its findings for public consumption.
Oct. 21, 2021: The committee opened an investigation into the NFL's handling of the Commanders' hostile workplace culture and asked the league to turn over all documents from their probe.
Nov. 5, 2021: The committee asked the NFL and the Commanders to release all individuals from non-disclosure agreements preventing them from speaking out about the report.
Dec. 14, 2021: The committee asked the NFL to produce information on Snyder's possible interference in their investigation.
Feb. 3, 2022: The committee held a roundtable with former Commanders employees who shed more light on the toxic workplace environment and detailed the NFL's failure to address their concerns.
April 12, 2022: The committee sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, which alleged the Commanders committed fraud against NFL franchises by withholding ticket revenue meant to be shared among the other 31 teams.
June 1, 2022: The committee invited Goodell and Snyder to testify during a hearing on June 22.
Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder might be forced to testify in front of Congress. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sixers' Joel Embiid undergoes thumb surgery, has procedure on left index finger
Joel Embiid had surgery on his sprained right thumb as well as a procedure on his left index finger, the Sixers said. By Noah Levick
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder have been invited by the House Oversight and Reform Committee to testify on allegations that have been made against Snyder that his franchise has a hostile work environment. Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), the chairman of the panel’s Economic and…
Nine members of the Ravens personnel department will have new titles for the 2022 season. The team announced the changes on Tuesday. They include bumping David Blackburn from national scout to director of college scouting, which was the former title of co-director of player personnel Joe Hortiz. Hortiz and George Kokinis moved to that director [more]
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2022-06-01T17:58:20Z
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NFL: Roger Goodell and Daniel Snyder asked to testify
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The Tennessee Titans are reportedly adding another wide receiver to their training camp roster after a workout on Wednesday.
According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the Titans have signed wide receiver Juwan Green. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A former undrafted free agent signing of the Atlanta Falcons following the 2020 NFL draft, Green played his college ball at the University of Albany, where he tallied 106 receptions for 1,815 yards and 21 touchdowns in 23 games over two seasons.
Green spent parts of 2021 on the practice squads of the Falcons and Detroit Lions, but has yet to take a snap in a regular season game. Most recently, he had a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles in rookie minicamp.
Green will join a group of receivers in Tennessee that has several question marks. Despite that, he’ll have an uphill climb in making the roster out of training camp.
Adding as many options at the wide receiver position is important, but the Titans really need to explore adding another veteran to the mix, as the aforementioned group lacks experience overall.
Perhaps we’ll see Tennessee make a move in that area in the coming days, as Julio Jones’ money comes off the books on Thursday, giving the team salary cap relief in the form of $9.5 million.
Titans land in lower half of CBS Sports' Triplets rankings
Ranking NFL teams by their number of Twitter followers
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2022-06-01T17:58:58Z
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Report: Titans sign WR Juwan Green after workout
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According to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to work out three free-agent pass rushers this week. Here is what you need to know about the three prospects.
Wyatt Ray was a UDFA of the Cleveland Browns in 2019. In just three seasons, Ray has been on six different teams and has three career sacks.
Ifeadi Odenigbo was a seventh-round pick in 2017 by the Minnesota Vikings. He’s shuffled between the Cleveland Browns and Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. He has 10.5 career sacks.
Harris was signed as a UDFA in 2018. He’s spent time with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. He has two career sacks.
Jose Ramirez is on a pace to threaten Manny Ramirez's franchise RBIs record.
Everything you need to know ahead of the hugely anticipated men’s quarter-final
Panthers’ offseason questions begin with the future of interim coach Andrew Brunette
Three years ago, Andrew Brunette wasn’t even in coaching. A year ago, he still wasn’t quite sure whether being a head coach was even what he wanted.
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2022-06-01T17:59:05Z
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Steelers working out 3 free agent pass rushers this week
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After missing the first few days of OTAs, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has arrived at workouts for the second week, per Steelers beat writer Chris Adamski.
Johnson joins the team in the midst of a contract dispute. Coming off of his best season, Johnson enters the final season of his rookie contract and is looking for a contract extension prior to the team’s regular-season opener on September 11.
In 2021, Johnson topped 100 receptions and 1,100 receiving yards to lead the team in both categories. But it was wise for Johnson to swallow his pride and show up like he’s fighting for a roster in addition to a big new contract. The Steelers drafted two dynamic wide receivers in the 2022 NFL draft and all of them will be competing for snaps.
There’s no denying Johnson deserves a new contract. And a raise. The sticking point is going to be the money, as it always is. Hopefully, the two sides can come together on a number and Pittsburgh can have the foursome of Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens and Calvin Austin for a very long time.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson didn’t take part in the Steelers’ OTAs last week, but there won’t be any questions about his whereabouts this week. Pictures and video from Tuesday’s on-field work show Johnson in uniform and going through drills with the rest of the team. No reason was given for Johnson’s absence last week, but [more]
Sasha Stefanovic works out with Pacers
WRTV's Brad Brown talks to Sasha Stefanovic at today's Pacers workout.
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2022-06-01T17:59:11Z
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Steelers WR Diontae Johnson shows up for OTAs
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Maybe it is the fact Lovie Smith is on his third coaching gig. Maybe it is the fact Smith was the defensive coordinator in 2021. Maybe at 63 years old Smith is close to seeing it all.
Whatever the case, the new Houston Texans coach told reporters after organized team activities on Wednesday that there isn’t one aspect of the team that has surprised him to this point in the offseason.
“No, because I knew that our guys would come to work everyday,” Smith said at Houston Methodist Training Center. “I knew they would take coaching. I knew we had good football players, and I knew they were going to be excited about going through the process.”
Smith spent last year as the defensive coordinator under then-coach David Culley, which gave him a better idea of what type of talent was on that side of the ball. Houston also added younger pieces to the defense through the draft in cornerback Derek Stingley, safety Jalen Pitre, linebacker Christian Harris, and defensive lineman Thomas Booker.
The offense is also relatively the same with the club choosing to let second-year quarterback Davis Mills run the offense — at least for 2022. Mills’ weapons include familiar faces such as Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Chris Moore, Nico Collins, and Rex Burkhead.
The NFL adding a 17th game in 2021 didn’t help as Houston has been stymied at the four-win mark the past two seasons. Smith knows that it will take attention to detail and hard work in the spring to overcome the challenges that will manifest in the fall.
Said Smith: “There’s no miracle pill. We can’t skip a step or anything like that. So, that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Texans are hopeful Smith’s “seen it all” experience will help them take the next step towards completing the rebuild under general manager Nick Caserio.
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2022-06-01T17:59:18Z
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Texans have not held any surprises for new coach Lovie Smith
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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks hasn’t seen an ideal start to his NFL career.
The No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft has routinely been limited at practice because of apparent conditioning issues, and he was once again in and out of drills during the Titans’ second open session of OTAs on Wednesday.
After practice, Burks was asked about his early struggles with staying on the practice field.
“Everything isn’t perfect and I’m just going to keep attacking it like I know how,” Burks said, per Paul Kuharsky.
When asked if he’s currently in a ramp-up process, Burks said that is not the case.
“No sir, I’m just taking it one day at a time like coach Vrabel tells me,” Burks said, via Turron Davenport of ESPN. “Everything else will take care of itself.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel noted that Burks did “good work” on Wednesday but wouldn’t say if he did more or less than the last open session of OTAs.
#Titans' Vrabel: Says Burks had "good work" today. Wouldn't characterize it as more or less than the last OTA open to media.
On top of issues staying on the practice field, a recent report from MMQB’s Albert Breer stated that Burks had “weight issues” and labored through some workouts during the pre-draft process.
There is certainly reason to be a bit concerned about Burks, but it’s far too early to be hitting the panic button just yet.
Estate planning has long been challenging for African Americans. Estimates show that as many as 50% of Black people die […] The post Without a will, heirs’ property attracts land-grabbing predators, but an ex-USDA worker is helping protect Black farms appeared first on TheGrio.
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2022-06-01T17:59:30Z
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Titans’ Treylon Burks talks issues staying on practice field
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Texans' defensive backs including new corner Fabian Moreau (No. 3) @fabianmoreau10 @SPORTSTARSNYC pic.twitter.com/PhdzuRTSJr
Houston Texans cornerback Fabian Moreau didn’t take long to get to work with his new team — according to a video posted by the Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter.
The former Washington 2017 third-round pick signed with the Texans on May 31. To make room for Moreau on the 90-man roster, the Texans waived former Missouri receiver Damon Hazelton.
Moreau, 28, spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons after playing his first four seasons in Washington. The former UCLA Bruin started 16 games for Atlanta, collecting 61 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
The 6-0, 204-pound defensive back’s best season arguably was in 2019 when he logged 44 combined tackles, three interceptions, and five pass breakups through 12 games, seven of which he started.
Texans waive Damon Hazelton to make room for Fabian Moreau
Cornerback Fabian Moreau agreed to a contract with the Texans on Tuesday and that meant another player lost his spot on the team’s 90-man roster. The Texans officially announced Moreau’s signing and made room for him by waiving wide receiver Damon Hazelton. Hazelton originally signed with the Texans after going undrafted out of Missouri in [more]
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2022-06-01T17:59:43Z
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WATCH: New Texans CB Fabian Moreau takes the practice field
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There is still a long ways to go until the 2023 NFL draft next April but that hasn’t stopped analysts from releasing mock drafts. Heck, we haven’t even played the 2022 NFL season yet.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his updated big board including the top 25 players of the draft plus the top players at each position. North Carolina didn’t have a player in the top 25 but they did have someone in the top 10 at their position.
Defensive back Tony Grimes barely made the cut among defensive backs in 2023, ranking No. 10 at the position for Kiper Jr.’s big board. He joins Josh Downs, who was No. 4 among receivers, as the only two Tar Heels on the list.
Grimes has spent two seasons at North Carolina after enrolling early as a five-star recruit. He’s had his ups and downs so far but is a talented prospect that could hear his name called come April’s draft.
A solid season of improvement will go a long ways in Grimes stock as the year goes on.
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Where Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Tony Grimes among defensive backs
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Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his quarter final match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic - The 17-minute game that epitomises Nadal-Djokovic rivalry - REUTERS
Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's quarter-final singles match on day ten of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris - GETTY IMAGES
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men's Singles Quarter Final match on Day 10 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2022 in Paris - GETTY IMAGES
Gauff beat fellow American Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-2 at Roland Garros.
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2022-06-01T19:27:57Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The 17-minute game that epitomises Nadal-Djokovic rivalry
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Bryant's was a story of professional perseverance. He won his first PGA Tour event at 41, when he captured the 2004 Valero Texas Open in his 187th start. The following season, he won the Memorial Tournament and the Tour Championship.
Not only did Bryant capture a pair of the Tour's top prizes, he beat its biggest names to do so. He edged Fred Couples by a shot and beat Tiger Woods by four, to earn the Memorial trophy from Jack Nicklaus. He then cruised to victory at East Lake in '05, beating runner-up Woods by six.
Bryant, born in 1962 in Gatesville, Texas, went on to twice on the PGA Tour Champions, including in his first start in 2013. He was the circuit's 1,000th winner.
A look back at the three wins Bart Bryant earned on TOUR.
🏆 2005 @MemorialGolf
🏆 2005 @PlayoffFinale
🏆 2007 @ValeroTXOpen pic.twitter.com/1gMxZPSwmT
He is survived by wife Donna, daughters Kristen and Michelle and his stepchildren. His brother, Brad, was also a Tour winner. Bart Bryant was preceded in death by his first wife, Cathy, who succumbed to brain cancer in 2017.
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2022-06-01T19:28:10Z
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Bart Bryant, three-time PGA Tour winner, killed in car accident at age 59
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On the afternoon of June 30, 2019, Kevin Durant posted on Instagram that he would be leaving the Golden State Warriors. The next day, Kyrie Irving made it official that he would depart the Boston Celtics as an unrestricted free agent.
The destination for both: Brooklyn.
The NBA was abuzz, of course. Durant and Irving were considered two of the 10 best players in the league. Maybe top five.
Now they were united in making a so-called super team and possible champion out of a forlorn Nets franchise that lived in the shadow of the New York Knicks despite that franchise’s decades of playoff frustrations.
It was supposed to be just a matter of time before Brooklyn was competing in, let alone winning, the NBA Finals.
And, in turn, there were huge questions about what each left behind. Golden State’s roster was full of aging role players and an injured Klay Thompson. Boston had a bunch of promising young players but no leader – just two years prior, the Celtics traded three players and three draft picks to Cleveland for Irving.
It was a dark day for both teams.
The Warriors' championship run appeared over after Kevin Durant left the Bay Area for Brooklyn. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Well, a funny thing happened en route to the dynasty in Brooklyn and the rebuilds of the Celtics and Warriors.
The Nets have won a whopping one playoff series in three seasons plagued by injuries, vaccine debates and drama.
Meanwhile, Golden State hosts Boston on Thursday (9 p.m. ET) in the opening game of the Finals.
The reasons are varied, but you couldn’t blame either franchise for enjoying a bit of schadenfreude at the turn of events.
This really isn’t about laughing at KD, Irving or the Nets. These Finals are actually the story of an old — and often unfairly mocked — NBA adage.
“Players and coaches alone don’t win championships; organizations win championships.”
That was from the late Jerry Krause, who was the general manager of the Michael Jordan-led 1990 Chicago Bulls. The idea enraged and motivated MJ, but Krause’s theory, while perhaps clumsy in its utterance, was correct.
There was a measure of concern surrounding each franchise when its star players departed. Some fans may have even panicked.
Inside the front office of the Warriors and Celtics, there was resolve.
“We made a risk … I’ll never regret that,” then-general manager Danny Ainge said of trading so many assets for Kyrie. “ ... you just move on to the next deal.”
Ainge didn’t panic. No one with the Celtics did. They just stuck to the program and built around the young talent they had already drafted to support Irving. Maybe Kyrie headed to Brooklyn in part to play with a superstar in Durant, but he either didn’t know or didn’t care what he was leaving behind.
That includes Jayson Tatum (now 23), Robert Williams (24), Jaylen Brown (25) and Marcus Smart (27). Even as the 2021-22 season got off to a rocky start, the Celtics' front office, now led by former head coach Brad Stevens, didn’t alter the plan. Tatum became a superstar. Smart the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Celtics' Jayson Tatum as well as fans erupt after his basket at the buzzer defeated Kyrie Irving and the Nets on April 17, 2022. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Golden State general manager Bob Myers admitted he was “sad” when Durant left. He harbored no ill will though and, meanwhile, continued the team’s tradition of strong draft picks.
The Warriors plugged holes around the core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and a now-rehabbed Thompson. He drafted Jordan Poole in 2019 and traded for Andrew Wiggins and a future first-round selection that became Jonathan Kuminga. All three players are now essential pieces.
Six of Golden State’s top eight contributors in these playoffs (including big man Kevon Looney) were drafted by the franchise. None went higher than seventh overall. Golden State's average draft pick spot was 19.6.
The Warriors are older and more experienced — 123 Finals games to Boston’s collective zero – but both clubs are now set up to be contenders for the next few years. They are rich with talent, well-coached and represent extremely well-run franchises.
They are the antithesis of the super team concept that seemed to be taking hold in the NBA only to yield mixed results.
It was Milwaukee after all, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (the star the Bucks drafted 15th overall), who won it all last year.
And now it’ll be either a reboot of the Warriors' dynasty or the start of a potential new Celtics one this year.
One of these franchises will win a championship, just three seasons after they lost seemingly irreplaceable talent and simply shrugged it off.
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2022-06-01T19:28:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Warriors, Celtics bask in Finals sans KD and Kyrie
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https://sports.yahoo.com/finals-appeared-light-years-away-for-warriors-celtics-after-exits-of-kevin-durant-and-kyrie-irving-030141253.html?src=rss
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"It was nothing I hadn't said behind closed doors," Udoka told MacMullan. "But in this case, it was a player saying it publicly. And what Marcus was saying in that particular game was totally invalid. Jayson and Jaylen were drawing a lot of doubles and were making the correct pass each time -- including to Marcus -- who couldn't make a shot that night."
Udoka followed up with Smart that there were parts of his game that he needed to fix, too, but before addressing any of that, he'd need to make things right with Tatum and Brown, who didn't appreciate the public criticism.
"Ime told me, 'It's out, don't run from it,'" Smart told The Ringer. "'Those are your brothers and they feel hurt.'"
"We sat down as a team and got it all out there," assistant coach Damon Stoudamire told The Ringer. "Marcus made a statement, then the other guys said, 'OK, we hear what you are saying, but you need to be accountable too. You gotta take better care of the ball.'"
Change didn't come immediately, but it did come. Smart became a more focused facilitator. Brown and especially Tatum shared more readily. The Celtics recommitted to playing elite defense. By the time they won 28 of their final 35 games and roared into the playoffs, they were a completely different team.
"I had my own time frame in terms of changing habits and building a foundation," Udoka told MacMullan. "It wasn't the time to kick a chair or tip over tables a month or two into the season."
NBC Sports Bay Area had Warriors experts Monte Poole, Dalton Johnson, Kerith Burke and Grant Liffmann make their NBA Finals predictions, and they're not too kind to the Celtics.
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2022-06-01T19:28:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ime Udoka reveals fallout from Marcus Smart calling out Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown
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As famous investor Warren Buffett remarked, time is the friend of the wonderful business and the enemy of the mediocre one. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: FB), formerly known as Facebook, is the quintessential social media company that owns three major brands -- Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The company has built up a huge user base since its founding in 2004 with a total of 1.96 billion daily active users as of March 31, 2022.
(Bloomberg) -- Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended his government’s decision to subsidize gasoline and diesel prices, saying it’s necessary to tame inflation and that it can be financed with a windfall from crude oil exports. Most Read from BloombergElon Musk’s Ultimatum to Tesla Execs: Return to the Office or Get OutReady to Buy a House? Just Wait a Few WeeksJamie Dimon Says JPMorgan Is Bracing Itself for Economic ‘Hurricane’One-Third of Americans Making $250,000 Live Paycheck
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2022-06-01T19:28:42Z
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Lions had serious competition to claim DL John Cominsky
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Djokovic came up short in his pursuit of a third French Open title (AFP via Getty Images)
“He was a better player I think in important moments,” Djokovic said. “Started very well. I didn’t start so great ... I was gaining momentum as I was coming back in the second set, managed to win the second set, and I thought, ‘Okay, I’m back in the game.
Devin McCourty says Bill Belichick carries ‘same intensity’ at age 70
Bill Belichick began his NFL coaching career in 1975 and he doesn't seem to be slowing down.
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2022-06-01T19:28:54Z
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‘I lost to the better player’: Novak Djokovic praises Rafael Nadal after French Open classic
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The Phils had opportunities to win Tuesday night. They left the potential winning run on second in the ninth when Nick Castellanos grounded out. They left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th when former Phillie Jose Alvarez struck out Roman Quinn to end the game. The Phils left 14 men on base and were just 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position.
Evan Lee will make his Major League debut for Washington, while Carlos Carrasco (5-1, 3.98) will go for New York,
Mets demote Dominic Smith to AAA after early-season struggles
Amid struggles to start the 2022 season, Dominic Smith was sent down to AAA by the Mets on Tuesday afternoon.
The New York Mets have optioned first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith to Triple-A Syracuse amid a slow start to the season for the 26-year-old. The Mets announced Smith's demotion Tuesday and promoted right-hander Adonis Medina before a game against the Washington Nationals. “We needed a pitcher to try to keep everybody healthy down there,” manager Buck Showalter said.
Joc Pederson's two-run home run in the 11th inning helped power the San Francisco Giants to a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cubs place Seiya Suzuki on 10-day IL, cut Robert Gsellman
The Chicago Cubs placed rookie outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the 10-day injured list with a left ring finger sprain prior to the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers. Suzuki was injured in Thursday’s game against the Reds in Cincinnati when he he stole second in the third inning and jammed his hand on the bag. Suzuki is batting .245 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 41 games.
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2022-06-01T19:29:26Z
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Phillies lose game and second baseman, end miserable May with fifth straight defeat
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Luis Castillo and Joey Votto led the Cincinnati Reds to their first victory at Fenway Park since Game 7 of the 1975 World Series.
Low-priced stocks can help you capitalize on the amazing opportunities left by this market volatility, but you have to steer clear of simple mistakes. Brian Bolan highlights some of the common problems to avoid so you can confidently pay less for big returns.
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2022-06-01T19:29:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Rafael Nadal uncertain about future despite Paris victory over Novak Djokovic
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Tournament promotions celebrated Dustin Johnson's appearance at next week's RBC Canadian Open. He, apparently, had other plans.
It was announced Tuesday night that Johnson would be part of the first LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London, June 9-11. That overlaps with the Canadian Open, June 9-12.
This is the first Canadian Open since 2019 because of the pandemic. Johnson, who became an RBC ambassador in 2018, won the tournament that year at Glen Abbey. RBC released a statement after the LIV Golf announcement saying it was "extremely disappointed in his decision." RBC also sponsors the Heritage, which is played on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the week after the Masters.
Graeme McDowell, who is also an RBC ambassador, won the Heritage in 2013. He is committed to the first LIV Golf field as well.
On Wednesday, in a statement to ESPN, RBC reportedly announced that it was terminating its relationship with both players.
"As a result of the decisions made by professional golfers Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell to play the LIV Golf Invitational Series opener, RBC is terminating its sponsorship agreement with both players. We wish them well in their future endeavours," the statement said, according to ESPN.
Updated June 1 at 1:53 p.m. ET.
Players can earn spots into next week's inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event via this week's Asian Tour stop.
Located along the coast of St. Andrew Bay, "Delwood Manor" sold for $7.5 million, the highest ever for a bayfront home in the Panama City Beach area.
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2022-06-01T19:29:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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RBC reportedly terminates sponsorship with Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell
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“Anybody who needs to be reminded to have appropriate fear in the NBA Finals should just not show up,” Kerr told reporters on Tuesday. “Like, just go home. … There’s no such thing as appropriate fear in the Finals. This is the NBA Finals, so Boston’s one of the very best teams in the league, the No. 1 defense.
Kerr’s comments take into account the Celtics’ skill, and the term “appropriate” equates to the Warriors’ respect for their opponent -- but it's not something he needs to stress to his Finals-experienced team.
After Boston defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Celtics coach Ime Udoka cited his team’s efforts against Golden State during the regular season as his reason for feeling "very confident" headed into the Finals.
Giants hold on to win in back-and-forth contest, 7-4
Brad Stonebraker previews the upcoming Finals matchup, along with some injury updates, betting odds and news from around the league. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)
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2022-06-01T19:30:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steve Kerr's funny quip about right NBA Finals mindset for Warriors-Celtics
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Tyreek Hill is releasing a new podcast on June 10 and the teaser trailer for said podcast makes a wild claim about the Kansas City Chiefs.
The podcast titled, “It Needed To Be Said” will focus on money, football, culture and more. The first episode seems to have a big focus on Hill’s departure from Kansas City, with an interview with Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus.
The teaser trailer released on June 1 opens with a discussion between Hill and Rosenhaus — who says contract negotiations with the Chiefs picked up at the end of the 2021 NFL season. They seem to place a lot of emphasis on the fact that Hill wanted to be in Kansas City, with Hill even asking Rosenhaus to repeat it after he says it.
Hill’s co-host Julius Collins then follows up by suggesting that the reason things didn’t work out in Kansas City wasn’t because of his asking price in an extension. Instead, they suggest that the Chiefs “didn’t utilize” Hill despite knowing what he was capable of. Collins then goes on to ask whether Hill and Rosenhaus thought the Chiefs actively suppressed Hill’s stats in order to decrease his cost. The teaser trailer cuts out before Rosenhaus and Hill can respond.
This assertion is absurd for so many reasons, but let’s start with Hill’s usage and production. In 2021, Hill led the Chiefs in targets (159), receptions (111), receiving yards (1,239) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (9). That’s over 20 more targets than the next closest receiver, a career-high in receptions, and the third-best mark of his career in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Defense’s opted to play Kansas City differently, so Hill didn’t have as many downfield plays as perhaps he would’ve liked. That said, it’s easier to make an argument that Kansas City utilized Hill too much than it is to say they didn’t utilize him enough or in the right way. They made him an effective weapon despite teams actively working to take away one of the best parts of his game.
Beyond Hill’s production last season, why would a team competing for a Super Bowl actively sabotage themselves by suppressing the stats of one of their best players? The idea that they did it to shave a few bucks off of his contract extension is asinine. Why would an NFL team actively devalue one of their biggest assets? It just doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense.
I’m sure when the full podcast releases, Rosenhaus will do some damage control on this line of questioning. It’s curious why they even allowed this trailer to be released in the first place.
3 quick takeaways from Chiefs' debut of 'Work to Win'
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2022-06-01T19:30:23Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tyreek Hill’s new podcast trailer makes wild claim about Chiefs
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Auburn may have gotten a bit of a spark to the basketball team on Memorial Day. Former Auburn point guard Jared Harper took to Twitter to post a picture of an Auburn basketball locker with the caption, “(Jalen Harper) keep it in the family.” Hence, it suggests that Bruce Pearl and his coaching staff were able to land Jalen Harper (younger brother of Jared Harper). Jalen also included the Auburn men’s basketball Instagram in his personal bio. In all likelihood, he will be a walk-on on the basketball team.
Jalen signed with Florida Gulf Coast out of Pebblebrook High School. He would spend just one season with the Eagles. As a freshman, he averaged 2.9 points per game and 0.6 rebounds per game. Along with that, he also made two starts. After the season concluded, he transferred to Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He would average 4.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor.
His brother, Jared, spent three seasons on the Plains. He started in 104 games for Bruce Pearl’s squad. Harper averaged 13.5 points per game and 4.8 assists per game. After the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season, he would declare for the NBA draft. Harper went undrafted but ultimately got a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns. He has played for three different teams thus far — those being the Suns, Pelicans, and Knicks. Currently, he is on a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Birmingham Squadron (G-League).
It will be interesting to see how the younger brother develops at Auburn. He hasn’t seen exclusive playing time and likely won’t with the Tigers. However, he could very well carve up some minutes over time if the opportunity presents itself. We will have to wait and see.
Finally home 🧡🏠 https://t.co/uJuMJ3ZezT
— harp (@jalenharper20) May 30, 2022
The Celtics and Warriors boast elite talent, but how were they both able to build championship-level rosters? We break down each team's key contributors, their contractual status and their stats so far this postseason.
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2022-06-01T19:36:39Z
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Jalen Harper, brother of former Auburn Tiger, has joined the squad
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MILWAUKEE (AP) Justin Lewis has decided to remain in the NBA draft rather than return to Marquette for the 2022-23 season.
The 6-foot-7 forward issued a social media post saying, ''Thank you Marquette,'' on Wednesday, which marked the NCAA deadline for players who had entered the draft to withdraw from consideration and maintain their college eligibility.
Lewis made a huge leap in productivity in his second season with the Golden Eagles, averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Marquette sophomore Justin Lewis announces NBA draft decision
Lewis was named the Big East Most Improved Player after averaging 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals.
Marquette's Justin Lewis declares for NBA draft, but is maintaining his NCAA eligibility
NBA scouts have been intrigued by Justin Lewis' physical tools, with his 7-foot-plus wingspan and versatile offensive game.
A Massachusetts company promises to create 300 full-time jobs by 2028 if the incentive is approved.
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2022-06-01T19:36:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Marquette's Justin Lewis staying in NBA draft
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Who starts next to Ward at safety? 49ers to have open competition originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA -- Jimmie Ward is the undisputed starter at safety for the 49ers, but who plays alongside him is up for grabs.
Safeties coach Daniel Bullocks spoke to local Bay Area media last week, sharing that he is excited for what the new season brings.
“It’s definitely an open competition,” Bullocks said. “We feel like we got guys at the safety position that can come in and start, that have starter experience. They might not have been a full-time starter but they all started.”
The club signed special teams standout George Odum during free agency. The former Indianapolis Colts safety started seven games in 2021. Tarvarius Moore, who missed the 2021 season due to an Achilles injury, has started 13 games. Talanoa Hufanga appeared in 15 games in his rookie season, with three starts.
The club also signed two undrafted free agent rookies -- San Diego State’s Tayler Hawkins and Leon O’Neal from Texas A&M -- to add depth at the position.
Bullocks is impressed with what he has seen from his players after only a few days on the practice field. The improvement he has seen in Hufanga as he enters his sophomore season has stood out.
“Movement skills it seems like he’s quicker. Just a step faster, twitchier. Whatever he did in the offseason training, I know he trained with Troy Polamalu, it seems like it definitely paid off. He’s moving better and playing faster. I’m definitely excited about him.”
The 49ers were hoping that Moore would be ready to return towards the end of the 2021 season, but the fifth-year safety was not far along enough in his recovery from an Achilles injury. Bullocks knows that the veteran might not have recorded many starts, but his experience in the scheme will serve him well.
Bullocks’ goals for the group are simple: eliminate explosive plays through improved communication, and most importantly, increase takeaways into the double digits. The former Detroit Lions safety knows the 49ers left plays on the field last season and they are already working on techniques to change those statistics. For now, the evaluation of who sees the field for the defense has already begun.
Blazers targeting OG Anunoby?
The Trail Blazers remain widely expected to pursue trade scenarios with the No. 7 pick in order to add a complementary veteran alongside All-NBA guard Damian Lillard, and Anunoby is believed to be one of their primary targets along with Jerami ...
A national chlorine shortage, caused by damage from a hurricane, is expected to impact the summer pool season for the second year in a row.
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2022-06-01T20:34:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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49ers will have open competition to start with Jimmie Ward at safety
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The Dallas Cowboys are showing their support for the families coping with the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde as well as the larger community around the small Texas town.
The team, along with the NFL Foundation, has announced a $400,000 donation, with $200,000 going to the Robb School Memorial Fund and the remaining $200,000 being directed to the Uvalde Strong Fund. The funds will be directed to community recovery in the areas of mental health and trauma and will support the families of the victims, the survivors of the school shooting, and the Uvalde community.
Nineteen students and two teachers were murdered inside their elementary school by a teenage gunman last week. Funerals for the victims began Tuesday in the town located about 350 miles to the southwest of Dallas.
“Our hearts are broken for the families affected by the senseless tragedy that occurred in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th, 2022,” said Charlotte Jones, Cowboys executive vice president. “There are simply no words to describe the pain and sorrow that we feel for the Uvalde community. We hold them tight in our thoughts and continued prayers.”
The Houston Texans, who are based approximately 300 miles to the east of Uvalde, have also organized a sizable donation that was pulled together by the team’s players and then matched by owner Cal McNair. Texans head coach Lovie Smith made that announcement Wednesday.
DeMarcus Lawrence and Dak Prescott were among the Cowboys players who spoke openly about the tragedy last week.
Lawrence called on Texas governor Greg Abbott to do more to protect schoolchildren and appealed to NBA superstar LeBron James with a proposal to work together to provide better security to schools that need it.
Prescott admitted that the shooting made him fearful about the prospect of having children. He also helped lead a town hall bringing together Dallas-area youth, community groups, law enforcement officials, education leaders, and mental health experts for some much-needed, if difficult, conversations.
With only one season left on his contract and potentially another frontcourt piece arriving via the No. 3 overall draft pick, is now the time for the Rockets to move on from Christian Wood?
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2022-06-01T20:34:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Cowboys, Texans announce major donations to support Uvalde community
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Verone McKinley III
Following a massively successful offseason with numerous acquisitions and strategic contract moves, the Miami Dolphins put the icing on the cake with a slew of low-risk, high-potential undrafted free agents.
The 2022 UDFA class has 13 now-signed members who will fight for a roster spot or a place on the practice squad. The junior varsity group had been the starting point for a number of now full-time Dolphins, such as Nik Needham and Robert Jones.
This draft class for Miami was light thanks to the trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that netted the Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. While Miami only selected four players in the draft, they supplemented those picks with over a dozen free agents, some of who are expected to make a run at the 53-man roster.
On the top of that list, is a player that arguably should’ve been drafted – Oregon safety Verone McKinley III.
All he did in 2021 was tie the national college football lead in interceptions with six. He was also given first-team All-Pac-12 and first-team All-American honors.
McKinley was a collegiate teammate of Jevon Holland, the Dolphins’ second-year safety star. Holland had a glowing reference for his secondary defensive mate.
“His talent’s going to rise to the top,” Holland told Miami reporters during a May press conference. “He fits right in with the culture of the team.”
McKinley is similar to Holland in terms of playstyle, being equal parts hitmaker and pass-defender. Last season, he recorded 77 total tackles and six passes defended.
The former Duck is aware of his opportunity.
“Learning all the safety spots and just growing,” he said during OTAs. “Safety, nickel whatever. Just trying to be a sponge, essentially. Come in, learn the defense and learn special teams as well.”
There’s a lot of hype around McKinley’s potential, and he already comes in with a ready-made nickname, “The General.” Ironically, the nickname was given in 2020, the year Holland opted out of the college football season, and McKinley was the one to step into the leadership role.
These two are once again part of the same battalion, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them on the field together at one point during the 2022 season. McKinley could be an ultimate depth defensive back for Miami at safety, as Miami already has a number of viable options with Holland, Brandon Jones and Eric Rowe.
Regardless of the current group on the roster, his talent is too great to let slip to the open market, so with a draft class of only four players, it’s rather safe to just assume “The General,” is a de facto member of that squadron.
McKinley will continue trying to prove throughout minicamp, OTAs and eventually training camp, leading into a trio of pre-season games before the long haul of the 2022 season, a season that should see McKinley in orange and aqua as a member of the active roster.
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2022-06-01T20:34:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Dolphins player profile: S Verone McKinley III
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D-line coach Kocurek's solution to opposing teams holding Bosa originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA -- Defensive end Nick Bosa showed no signs of rust after missing the 49ers’ final 14 games of his second NFL season due to a torn ACL.
There were no glaring weaknesses in Bosa’s game in 2021. He registered 19.5 sacks in 20 games, including the playoffs, while also playing well against the run.
Now, it’s just a matter of tightening up his overall game, 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek said.
Bosa, 24, is such a handful for opposing offensive linemen that it seems the best method of containing him is for them to get a handful of his jersey.
Rarely do those possible holding penalties get called, which has been a source of frustration for Bosa, his coaches and for fans.
Kocurek’s solution is for Bosa to continue to fine tune his craft to make it even more difficult for linemen to be somewhat subtle while holding him. Bosa continues to work out with his personal trainer in Florida to gear up for the season.
“We can sit here and cry in our spilled milk or we can do everything we can to not let them hold us,” Kocurek said. “That call’s not in our hands. Obviously, there are times when I feel like he should get a few holding calls here and there, but we can’t sit around and pout about not getting the call.
“You have to line up and play the next snap, and do everything we can to not let him hold us.”
Bosa blasted on the scene in 2019 as the No. 2 overall draft pick. He registered nine sacks during the regular season and four more in the postseason. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The next season ended in Week 2 against the New York Jets when he crumbled to the ground in at MetLife Stadium with a severe left knee injury.
Bosa came back last season stronger than ever while appearing in every game. Now, this season will be even more difficult for him after establishing himself as one of the top defensive players in the league.
RELATED: Bosa surprised himself with monster 2021 after ACL injury
Kocurek said Bosa has to get better because opponents have unquestionably studied him this offseason to figure out more effective ways of dealing with him.
“When you’re a rookie and you got that blank slate and you’re just learning everything for the first time, you take really big jumps,” Kocurek said. “Then you become a player at the caliber of Nick, it’s small, minute details within your craft.
Corey Anderson was arrested and charged with "written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism."
Texans should take a chance on 49ers DE Dee Ford
The Houston Texans should take a look at San Francisco 49ers DE Dee Ford, who could be a June 1 cut this offseason.
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2022-06-01T20:35:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Nick Bosa being held by O-lineman has solution, 49ers' Kris Kocurek says
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Notre Dame has had very few players as impactful as Stephon Tuitt over the last couple of decades and it was no surprise when he turned into a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
On Wednesday Tuitt announced his retirement from the NFL.
Tuitt played in 91 regular season games for the Steelers since then, starting 79 of them and recording 34.5 sacks along the way. Tuitt also played a part on five different Steelers teams that reached the postseason.
Much speculation had been had about if Tuitt would return to the Steelers in 2022 after missing 2021 due to his brother’s untimely death and a back injury that showed up in training camp.
All the best in retirement to one of the best to ever do it at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame's First Round Draft Picks Since 2000
Georgia Southern Extra: Tough ticket to see Eagles, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, UNC Greensboro
Tickets were going fast for the Statesboro Regional hosted by Georgia Southern and including Notre Dame, Texas Tech and UNC-Greensboro this weekend.
This one pan dish is simple and packed with veggies The post This Teriyaki Shrimp with Noodles makes a quick hearty dinner appeared first on In The Know.
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2022-06-01T20:35:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Notre Dame great retires from NFL
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A lot of attention has been paid to Aaron Donald in the last few days after his somewhat surprising comments on the “I Am Athlete” podcast recently, saying he would be “at peace” with his career if he were to retire right now. He also indicated that if he and the Rams can’t come to an agreement on a new contract, he’d be done playing football after eight seasons – which is the number of years he set out to play when he first entered the NFL.
There’s some level of concern among fans due to the Rams’ inability to extend Donald yet, but Sean McVay doesn’t sound like someone who’s worried.
“We’ve had great dialogue,” McVay said Monday. “The goal all along has been to try to get this thing figured out, but also like I’ve said, if there’s anybody that’s earned the right to make the decision on their own terms after what he’s done, what he’s meant to me, to our team, it’s Aaron. Things are trending in the right direction. None of that is new news. We have regular dialogue with Aaron and the goal is to figure out how to get a contract done that he feels good about, that we feel good about and have him continue to do his thing for the Rams leading the way.”
Donald hasn’t been in attendance at organized team activities, which are completely voluntary. He’s not required to be there, and he’s not the only player skipping these workouts.
But when asked if Donald will be at mandatory minicamp next week, McVay said “I think so.”
“That’s the plan right now. So we’ll see. I sure hope so, so I don’t have to answer your questions next week about it,” McVay joked. “No, I think he’ll be here. That’s the plan.”
Donald still has three years left on his deal but he’s set to make just $14.25 million in 2022, so he’d like a raise for the job he’s done in the last few years since signing that deal.
Brad Johnson covers the latest closer and speedster news with an eye on Ryan Pressly, several committees, and a spotlight on Christopher Morel. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)
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2022-06-01T20:36:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Sean McVay: Contract talks with Aaron Donald are ‘trending in the right direction’
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Stephon Tuitt will retire from the NFL after eight seasons. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Veteran Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt feels compelled to move beyond football. Tuitt announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, citing his brother's death as one of the reasons Tuitt will step away from the game.
Tuitt, 29, announced the news in a statement on Twitter.
Tuitt cited his graduation from Notre Dame and his brother's death as reasons he's walking away from the NFL.
"After the tragic loss of my brother Richard, and upon completing my degree from the University of Notre Dame, I know I am being called to move beyond the sport of football," the statement read.
Tuitt's brother Richard was killed in a hit-and-run in Georgia last June.
The Steelers released a statement thanking Tuitt for his contributions. Steelers general manager Omar Khan said Tuitt "always handled himself with class maturity."
Stephon Tuitt spent eight years with Steelers
Tuitt was selected by the Steelers with the team's second-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Tuitt was a consistent presence on the Steelers' defensive line for seven seasons. Once he became a starter in 2015, Tuitt played in double digits games in five of his last six seasons.
Tuitt spent the entire 2021 NFL season on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury. It was uncertain when Tuitt would be able to return to the NFL. In late May, Tuitt's teammates said they expected him to return to the team for the 2022 NFL season.
NBA Rumors: Celtics' Jaylen Brown signs with Kanye West's Donda Sports
Celtics star Jaylen Brown has a very famous celebrity in his corner after reportedly signing with Kanye West's Donda Sports.
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2022-06-01T20:36:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Stephon Tuitt retiring after brother's death
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The Houston Texans are committed to fixing the run game.
Whether it is hiring a new offensive line coach in George Warhop, signing a starting guard in A.J. Cann, drafting another in first-rounder Kenyon Green, acquiring fourth-round running back Dameon Pierce, or giving former Indianapolis Colts runner Marlon Mack a change of scenery, the Texans are trying a bevy of solutions to improve their ground attack.
According to coach Lovie Smith, who met with reporters on Wednesday following organized team activities at Houston Methodist Training Center, Mack is doing well to blend in with the rest of the offense.
“Sometimes you need a change, change of scenery, a new team,” Smith said. “I know he’s fit in well with our group. We feel like we have a plan for him and we like the running back position, not just him.”
Mack played 47 games for the Colts from 2017-21, starting in 23 of them, and tallying 567 carries for 2,484 yards and 20 touchdowns. An Achilles injury in Week 1 of 2020 summarily ushered in the Jonathan Taylor era in Indianapolis, and the former 2017 fourth-round pick from South Florida found himself in a complementary role to Taylor.
Mack played in six games in 2021, collecting 28 carries for 101 yards.
Although the 26-year-old has hit the nadir of his career, Smith believes that they can help him revitalize his career.
The Texans have not had a ball carrier crest the 1,000-yard mark since 2019 when Carlos Hyde generated 1,070. Hyde was similarly a reclamation project as he was 29 years old and on his fourth team by the time he arrived in Houston during the final stages of preseason.
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2022-06-01T20:36:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Texans coach Lovie Smith says RB Marlon Mack has ‘fit in well with our group’
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Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie continued his rehabilitation from a torn ACL during organized team activities Wednesday at Houston Methodist Training Center.
The second-round pick from Alabama went through light drills while taking instruction from receivers coach and pass game coordinator Ben McDaniels — according to video posted to Twitter by Daniel Gotera from KHOU-TV.
During rookie minicamp on May 13, coach Lovie Smith indicated that Metchie wasn’t 100%, but he would be ready to go after the offseason program.
“He’s no 100 percent yet, but in time he will be,” Smith said. “I don’t have that timetable set yet, but in the upcoming weeks we’ll be able to tell that a little bit more. For us, he is going to play this year. It’s all, as much as anything, about the mental preparation, them catching up, getting in the playbook.”
Metchie caught 96 passes for 1,142 and eight touchdowns through 13 games with Alabama in 2021.
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2022-06-01T20:36:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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WATCH: Texans WR John Metchie continues rehabbing knee during OTAs
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NASCAR marked the start of Pride Month on Wednesday by admitting that its “recent actions” had not been in line with the sanctioning body’s public efforts for better diversity and inclusion.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) waved the green flag ahead of the May 22 All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. In February, Abbott called for state agencies to investigate gender-affirming treatments on transgender teenagers. Abbott’s calls for investigations came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said that gender-affirming treatments for minors could be considered “child abuse.”
NASCAR did not directly address Abbott’s presence at the race in its tweet celebrating the start of Pride Month. But it wasn’t hard to see how the tweet could be referring to Abbott’s role in pre-race ceremonies, especially as a reporter for the Associated Press tweeted that Abbott's presence at the track had been acknowledged as a mistake.
The sanctioning body has made public efforts to broaden its reach among fans and participants since the social justice protests in the summer of 2020. NASCAR admitted in the wake of George Floyd’s death that it could have done more to stop systemic racial injustice.
Abbott’s presence in the pre-race ceremonies was also against a pledge that NASCAR president Steve Phelps made in February. When Phelps was asked about a now-defunct political cryptocurrency that attempted to sponsor a lower-series car earlier this season, Phelps said that NASCAR did not want to “associate ourselves with politics, the left or the right.”
The pledge to be apolitical came after NASCAR has been friendly grounds for Republican politicians for decades. Former President Donald Trump spoke ahead of the 2020 Daytona 500 and his presidential limousine led the field on the pace laps before the green flag.
But that was months before the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests after Floyd's death. NASCAR addressed Pride Month for the first time on its Twitter account in June of 2020 and has formed partnerships with LGBTQ groups You Can Play and the Trevor Project in the last two years.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MAY 22: Greg Abbott, governor of Texas waves the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 22, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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2022-06-01T20:38:32Z
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NASCAR: 'Recent actions' haven't fulfilled inclusive mission
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Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) greets fans before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts trying to figure out why Darius Leonard's ankle isn't improving
Cuba on Tuesday lifted a mask mandate in place for two years following a successful vaccination drive that health officials say has contributed to a sharp drop in cases and nearly three weeks without a single death from COVID-19. The island, whose communist government has long sought to stand out by providing a free healthcare system that focuses on preventative treatment such as vaccinations, developed its own COVID vaccines and became the first country in the world to begin the mass vaccination of kids as young as age 2. Cuba has since vaccinated 94% of its population with at least one dose of its home-grown vaccines, according to a Reuters tally.
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2022-06-01T23:00:28Z
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Colts trying to figure out why Darius Leonard's injured ankle isn't improving
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Tim Patrick: It’s Super Bowl or bust this year originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
A week after a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, the Sioux City Bandits are giving away an AR-15 rifle as part of a Military Night promotion.
Gary Sánchez's three-run homer
Gary Sánchez tees off on a three-run homer to left field, upping the Twins' advantage to 6-0 in the top of the 3rd inning
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2022-06-01T23:01:25Z
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Tim Patrick: It’s Super Bowl or bust this year
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The Bears also released a statement of their own.
As a staple of Black culture in many communities, barbers have built immense trust among their clients and have long had their thumbs on the pulse of their neighborhoods.
Parent PLUS loans are "one of the riskiest" federal options, the Century Foundation found. The average borrower still owes 38% after 20 years.
"I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex husband," she said.
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2022-06-02T01:09:31Z
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Former Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber III dead at 38
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Cameron Burnett
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber was found dead Wednesday at the age of 38. Frisco police found the former star in his apartment. The cause of death is unknown and the officers are unable to provide any other information at this time.
Coming out of the University of Minnesota, Barber was selected by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. After a rookie season with over 500 rushing yards, the man donned “The Barbarian” led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2006 with 14.
Over the next four years, Barber remained a key running back for the Cowboys and made one of the most memorable plays in team history, escaping a sure safety 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage to actually end up gaining yardage.
Barber had a one-year stint in Chicago for the 2011 season before retiring, and he finished his career with 6,110 scrimmage yards and 59 touchdowns. Barber was 38.
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2022-06-02T01:09:37Z
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Former Cowboys RB Marion Barber found dead in his apartment
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Former Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber died at the age of 38.
He was found dead on Wednesday in his apartment.
While the cause of death is unknown at the time of writing, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported:
,,, according to a source, police responded to a welfare check at Barber’s apartment because someone had called about a water leak. Police forced their way in.
“Frisco Police responded to a welfare concern at an apartment believed to be leased by Marion Barber,” police spokesperson Joshua Lovell said. “Frisco Police along with the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating an unattended death at the location.”
Barber played for Dallas from 2005-to-10. He rushed for 4,358 of his 4,780 yards as a Cowboy. He was a fourth-round pick out of the University of Minnesota.
He ranks fourth on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,276 yards, second with 4,495 all-purpose yards, and second in rushing touchdowns with 35, one better than his father, Marion Barber Jr.
Barber finished his career in 2011 with the Chicago Bears.
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2022-06-02T01:09:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Cowboys running back Marion Barber III dies at 38
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marion Barber, former Cowboys running back, found dead at age 38
Why movie buffs have mixed feelings about legacy sequels
Pelé published a message Wednesday urging Vladimir Putin to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions. The 81-year-old Pelé, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, said he published his message to the Russian president on the same day Ukraine's national team beat Scotland 3-1 in a playoff that took it a step closer to the soccer World Cup. Ukraine will face Wales on Sunday for a spot in Qatar.
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2022-06-02T01:09:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber dies at 38
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The Minnesota Vikings have locked up their seventh rookie from their 2022 NFL draft class with the announced signing of linebacker Brian Asamoah.
According to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, it’s a four-year, $5.49 million deal with a $1.17 million signing bonus for the third-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma.
Even in his first year on the team, Asamoah will be an intriguing option for the Vikings behind Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks. The 22-year-old defensive player is chiseled physically like a Marvel superhero, and he lives up to the look on the football field with a perfect blend of power and athleticism.
He’s exactly the kind of player the Vikings had in mind when bringing in Ed Donatell to help reshape the defense.
It won’t be easy to get on the field right away with so much veteran talent at the linebacker position.
But assuming Asamoah’s development goes according to plan, he’ll be in a position to take on a more prominent role in the defense in the coming years with both Kendricks and Hicks slated to be 30 years old this season.
The Vikings can now turn their attention towards signing their last three remaining rookie draft picks Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans and Ed Ingram.
Weekend Recap: Top 5 for a LB, an OL lost and more
What do you need to know as the week gets started? The Panther-Lair.com Weekend Recap has everything.
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2022-06-02T03:13:19Z
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LB Brian Asamoah signs rookie contract with Vikings
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When we look at individual positions in the game of football, it is always the quarterbacks that come up first. After that, though, it’s hard to look past the players who line up next to them toting the rock.
While we’ve looked at where the QBs in the Pac-12 rank going into the season based on career production, we wanted to do so with the next position group in line, running back.
This is where a disclaimer needs to be made, though. In this ranking, we use career production — what the players have done in the past. For fans of the Oregon Ducks, it may be a humbling list. While Byron Cardwell, Sean Dollars and Noah Whittington may be a tantalizing backfield and could finish as one of the best in the conference, it’s hard to rank any of them among the top 10 players based on past production.
So with a small eye on the future but a strong emphasis on the past, here are our rankings of the 10 best running backs in the Pac-12 for the 2022 season:
Mar'keise Irving (Oregon)
It feels weird that the last player added to the Oregon Ducks backfield this offseason is the only Duck on this list, but what Mar’keise Irving did in his freshman season with the Minnesota Gophers was impressive. With 772 yards and 4 touchdowns, Irving also proved a valuable kickoff return specialist. He will add a real presence in Oregon’s backfield, alongside Byron Cardwell, Sean Dollars and Noah Whittington — all of whom are great players but don’t have the production to crack this list.
Alex Fontenot (Colorado)
While the Colorado Buffaloes were ravaged by the transfer portal this past offseason, they have a handful of really good players coming back in 2022. Fontenot is one of them. He rushed for more than 1,440 yards and 12 touchdowns in four years with the Buffs. He may not be the highest-rated Buffalo on this list, but Colorado should feel happy to have him for one more season.
Deshaun Fenwick (Oregon State)
The Oregon State Beavers were a really solid offensive team in 2021, and some of that was due to South Carolina transfer Deshaun Fenwick. After rushing for just over 500 yards and 2 touchdowns in two seasons with the Gamecocks, Fenwick fit right in with the Beavers and totaled more than 400 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. The arrow is pointing up in Corvallis, and we can expect another solid season from this star in the backfield.
Ramon Jefferson (Colorado)
We already gave our props to Alex Fontenot, but the Buffaloes added another star to the backfield through the transfer portal, getting Ramon Jefferson from the Sam Houston Bearkats. There is, of course, the question of whether or not Jefferson’s skills will translate to the Football Bowl Subdivision level, but the veteran RB had 1,155 yards and 13 touchdowns in three years before coming to Colorado. With him and Fontenot in the backfield, the Buffaloes could find some success in the running game.
Wayne Taulapapa (Washington)
Earlier in the offseason, we wrote an article about running backs we wanted the Ducks to look at in the transfer portal. Wayne Taulapapa was on that list. After an impressive four years at Virginia, where he ran for more than 1,300 yards and 20 total touchdowns, Taulapapa is looking for one last great year to boost his draft stock before leaving school. He found a potentially interesting offense in Washington and could help the Huskies find success in 2022.
Austin Jones (USC)
This is our first example of the USC Trojans seeing great players at other Pac-12 teams and wanting them for themselves. Austin Jones was a good running back for the Stanford Cardinal, with whom he put up 1,686 yards and 13 touchdowns in three years in Palo Alto. He entered the transfer portal and chose to take his talents to Los Angeles. Now USC will add him to the backfield — along with one other high-profile RB that Oregon fans are familiar with — and look to stack the deck at the skill positions. It could be dangerous, as long as that offensive line holds up.
Xazavian Valladay (Arizona State)
Tavion Thomas (Utah)
Tavion Thomas may not have the yardage total of someone such as Valladay, but what he did in the 2021 season is almost enough to put him at the top of this list. In his first season with the Utes — Thomas played two seasons with Cincinnati prior to that — he rushed for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns. In his college career, he has 1,804 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has proved he is among the best RBs not only in the Pac-12, but potentially the nation.
Zach Charbonnet (UCLA)
When you’re looking at the 2023 NFL draft and trying to predict which running back might go off the board first, Zach Charbonnet has to be mentioned. After a strong two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, Charbonnet landed with the Bruins in 2021 and rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has the prototypical frame for a bruising back — 6-foot-1, 220 pounds — and has proven what he can do on the field. This could be a big season for both Charbonnet and the Bruins.
Travis Dye (USC)
It feels fitting that Travis Dye, one of the best RBs to play at the University of Oregon, is listed at the top of these rankings. With almost 4,000 career yards and 29 touchdowns to his name, Dye will blow just about any other college player out of the water when it comes to production and longevity. Dye left the Ducks ranking No. 4 on their career rushing list. He set up shop closer to home in Southern California, where he will finish his college career. Here is to wishing him the best, as long as he’s not playing against the Ducks.
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2022-06-02T03:47:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Who are the 10 best running backs in the Pac-12 going into the 2022 season?
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Former Georgia Bulldogs redshirt sophomore offensive guard Cameron Kinnie has announced his transfer destination. Kinnie is a former three-star recruit out of Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia.
Cameron Kinnie is transferring to the UCF Knights. His transfer will help strengthen UCF’s offensive front. Kinnie joins another Georgia transfer, Divaad Wilson, on UCF’s roster.
Former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is the head coach at UCF. Malzahn was fired up to land a commitment from Kinnie:
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#ChargeOn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kinnie redshirted the 2020 season and did not appear in a contest during the 2021 season. Kinnie primarily played on Georgia’s scout team. He was projected as a depth player again in 2022.
The former Collins Hill star is looking for more playing time at UCF and will stay close to home. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive lineman has the talent to compete for a significant role with the Knights.
Kinnie signed with Georgia as a defensive tackle recruit in the class of 2020. He changed positions to the offensive line, but never saw the field. Georgia defensive tackles Nazir Stackhouse, Jalen Carter and Warren Brinson were also members of the class of 2020.
We wish Cameron Kinnie the best of luck at his new home. He thanked Georgia and announced his commitment to UCF via Twitter:
#ChargeOn 🟡⚫️ pic.twitter.com/5HtSzkrCyW
— Cam (@nokizzycam) May 30, 2022
The Panthers are back up to 90 players on their roster. The team announced the signing of defensive end Drew Jordan on Wednesday. They had opened a roster spot by waiving defensive end Joe Jackson last week. Jordan went undrafted out of Michigan State this year. He transferred to the Big Ten school for his [more]
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2022-06-02T03:49:06Z
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Former Georgia Bulldogs OL announces transfer destination
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Ah yes, the classic conundrum surrounding the quarterback position for the Scarlet Knights. It has been very bad in recent years. Rutgers is consistently one of the worst teams in the conference at the position.
Noah Vedral is back for one more season for the team, but it is unknown whether or not he will be the starter for the season. He has been one of the better Rutgers starting quarterbacks in recent years, but that really isn’t saying anything. This is the team that saw Artur Sitowski throw 18 picks to only four touchdowns in 2019. Vedral’s numbers are nothing to write home about: 16 touchdowns to 15 interceptions and a completion percentage around 60%, but he has the lockerroom’s respect and knows the offense.
Gavin Wimsatt is the future of Rutgers football, though. At least that’s what everybody in Northern New Jersey is hoping. The first four-star recruit since 2017, Schiano hopes he has his quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Wimsatt is only a redshirt freshman without any real game time. He entered school early and is still really young at 18. The 6-foot-3, 220 pound signal-caller might not be quite ready to start yet, and they might not want to risk hurting his confidence either. However, he does offer much more upside than Vedral. The Rutgers quarterback controversy is one to monitor heading into the season and might even change by week four.
The Rutgers passing attack has been dreadful in recent memory, but it hasn’t always been the fault of the receivers. Bo Melton showed enough potential to be drafted this past year and some solid contributors do return. Taj Harris, a transfer from Syracuse, is one to certainly keep an eye on. A prolific receiver for the Orange, with 733 yards and five touchdowns in 2020, Harris immediately projects to start for the Scarlet Knights.
Max Melton could be a breakout star for the Scarlet Knights in 2022. Despite some off-the-field issues, Melton showed some serious star potential with three interceptions in 2021.
The younger brother of new Seattle Seahawk Bo Melton, Max Melton is only in his second year at Rutgers, but he is currently listed as a freshman due to COVID-19 regulations. Recently, Melton was featured in RJ Young’s defensive breakout candidates.
The loss of running back Isiah Pacheco is a big one for Rutgers. While the newly drafted Kansas City Chief’s stats never jumped off the screen, a lot of this had to do with some poor line play.
He still led the Scarlet Knights in rushing over the past three seasons, and nearly equaled leader Raheem Blackshear’s total in 2018. Redshirt freshman Kyle Monangai appears to be the next in line for Rutgers, showing some serious potential in 2021.
A former three-star recruit, Monangai scored four times last year for Rutgers and has received a good amount of praise this offseason.
The offensive line will once again be a massive storyline this year for Rutgers. It has not been great and has severely hampered the Scarlet Knights’ offense.
They will be relying on a couple of transfers to start, including former Louisiana-Monroe Warhawk Willie Tyler and former Colorado State guard Mike Ciaffoni. Center Gus Zillinskas is a former three-star recruit and right guard Reggie Sutton is the only returning starter.
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2022-06-02T03:49:18Z
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Iowa Hawkeyes 2022 schedule breakdown: Rutgers
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The college football offseason got much more interesting a few weeks ago when Saban alleged that A&M “bought every player on their team” via name, image and likeness deals, prompting a fiery retort from Fisher. The Aggies head coach went scorched earth on his former boss, calling him a “narcissist” and saying Saban’s comments were “despicable” in a quickly arranged news conference the next day.
Saban didn’t back down from the overall sentiment of his comments, which were critical of the current NIL environment as a whole, but he did apologize for singling out A&M and a few other schools.
Fast forward to this week and Saban and Fisher were in the same room together with the rest of the SEC head coaches at the conference’s annual spring meetings in Destin, Florida. Fisher, who was an assistant under Saban at LSU from 2000-2004, previously said their relationship was “done.” On Wednesday, he acknowledged that the two had since spoken.
“It’s over with. We’re done talking about it,” Fisher said per Al.com. “We’re moving on to the future of what goes on and trying to fix the problems we have in college football. There are a lot more pressing needs than our arguments. We’re moving on. I have no problem.”
Fisher said he doesn’t regret anything he said about Saban, but added that he’s ready to “move on to the next thing.”
During that May 19 news conference, Fisher encouraged people to “dig into” how Saban operates.
“Some people think they are God,” Fisher said of Saban. “Go dig into how God did his deal and you may find out a lot about a lot of things you don’t want to know. We build him up to be this czar of football, go dig into his past. You can find out anything you want to find out or what he does or how he does it.”
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” after the Alabama coach made “despicable” comments about the Aggies using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes. Saban called out Texas A&M for “buying” players. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Nick Saban: 'I have no problem with Jimbo at all'
On Tuesday, Saban said he has “no problem with Jimbo at all” and again reiterated that he should not have singled out Texas A&M and other schools in his comments. He also added that he “didn’t really say that anybody did anything wrong.”
Saban has said multiple times that he is not against players earning money from the use of their name, image and likeness. However, he is leery about the lack of consistent regulations within the current environment around the country.
“I’m not against name, image and likeness. Our players made a lot of money last year. I told our players to get an agent, get representation and make what you can make,” Saban said on SiriusXM Radio last month. “I think the issue in college athletics in general now is the whole system of collectives and people raising money to basically pay players to come, whether it’s to come to their school or pay the players that are on their team.”
Multiple state-medal winners highlight the 2022 All-West Texas Track and Field Team
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2022-06-02T03:49:20Z
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NCAA football: Jimbo Fisher 'moving on' from Nick Saban beef
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Running back Jay Ajayi became a Pro Bowler in his second NFL season, generating 1,272 rushing yards with the Dolphins. A year later, he won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. A year later, early in the final season of his rookie contract, Ajayi blew out his ACL. He returned to the Eagles late in [more]
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2022-06-02T03:49:40Z
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LSU Tigers Top 10 Players: College Football Preview 2022
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And once again, YOUR Ohio State Buckeyes look to be well-represented. In fact, Kiper has three Buckeyes in his top fifteen of the top 25 big board (subscription required) for the next draft cycle.
We’re sure you can guess a couple of the players he has in the mix, and if you’ve followed other way-too-early mock drafts, you might have all three, but where does he have each ranked?
We’re ready to run through all three players for you, where Kiper has them ranked, and what he says about each.
Predicting every Big Ten football team's starting quarterback for 2022
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) calls a play during the first quarter of the NCAA football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Mel Kiper Overall Prospect Ranking
What Kiper Says
“It was Stroud, not Young, who led the FBS in Total QBR last season (91.6 to 87.6). Stroud had an inconsistent start to the season, but he finished on a tear, throwing 36 touchdown passes and just three picks in his final nine games. Can he improve even more in Year 2? He’s only scratching the surface of his talent, and he has a big-time wideout to throw to in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.”
This could be too low for Stroud. Taking nothing away from Bryce Young, but Stroud has more God-given ability and he’s a late bloomer. Once he decided to focus solely on football, his development has taken off at Ohio State. He’s got a great chance of assaulting some of the single-passing records in the Big Ten and should be even better with his reads and decision-making in year three of him learning the offense.
Ranking every Ohio State touchdown in the 2022 Rose Bowl vs. Utah
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba fends off Utah cornerback Kenzel Lawler as he races to the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Rose Bowl. Syndication The Columbus Dispatch
“Smith-Njigba led Ohio State in catches and yards, even on a team with two wide receivers drafted in Round 1 in April. He averaged 16.9 yards per reception, showing stellar burst and explosiveness. He’s a hands catcher who can run the entire route tree, and he can make defenders miss after the catch. Most of Smith-Njigba’s work came from the slot — all but eight of his catches came from when he was aligned there — but he’ll play more outside in 2022. He led the FBS in receiving yards per route run (4.0).”
Smith-Njigba is the real deal. He doesn’t have the top-end speed you see from other explosive receivers, but his quickness and burst get him separation on almost anyone, and his ability to make the simple move while still moving forward against defenders is the best we’ve seen in a while. We’re not sure about him moving to the outside because OSU has other receivers more suited for that, but he’ll get plenty of touches, yards, and publicity. He too has a chance to have one of the truly historical seasons any wide receiver has ever had at Ohio State.
Paris Johnson Jr, Offensive Tackle
Ohio State lineman Paris Johnson has article published - Buckeyes Wire
Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (77) against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2021 CFP National Championship Game. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
“Johnson was a stellar guard for the Buckeyes last season, but he’s going to move outside to left tackle in 2022. I think he could move all the way into the top 10. He has projectable traits and an ideal skill set for the position. He’ll also be helped by several really good edge rushers having left the Big Ten for April’s draft. I’m projecting Johnson to be one of the country’s top tackles this season.”
It’s true that Johnson is a star waiting to break out, and we’ve seen his name mentioned as a first-rounder in a slew of way-too-early mock drafts, but we’re not sure that breakout to a dominant force out on the edge happens until later in the year. Remember, he’s been inside so far in his Ohio State career, and while he was thought to be a tackle coming out of high school, it’ll take some time for him to adjust to edge rushers at the college level. By the end of the season, he’ll be really good, but we’re just not sure it will be in time to land inside the top fifteen. But hey, the talent is there, and maybe we’re wrong.
Giants’ Kadarius Toney released new music video, ‘Play With Me’
New York Giants WR Kadarius Toney, also known as "Yung Joka," has announced the release of his newest music video, "Play With Me."
With Demond Williams Jr. leading Chandler Basha to the Gotta Believe 7-on-7 title last weekend, the Bears are ready to make this the greatest summer.
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2022-06-02T03:49:52Z
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Mel Kiper names three Ohio State players in his top 25 for the 2023 NFL draft
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Since his arrival in Lincoln, Nebraska Cornhusker fans have waited for head coach Scott Frost to turn around their beloved program. After loading up his roster with the transfer portal, this could be the first step in the right direction.
Frost will have a new quarterback in former Texas Longhorns signal-caller, Casey Thompson. Not to mention they were able to get Ochuan Mathis from the TCU Horned Frogs. Those are just a couple of the newest Huskers to take the field in 2022. Could they be a huge reason for success this year? If so they could find themselves battling it out with another iconic team.
247Sports projects Nebraska to the Pinstripe Bowl
Husker fans have been waiting for a return to the postseason, something that has been lacking since the second season of the Mike Riley era. It wasn’t much of an era per se, more of a blip on the radar but you get the idea. It has been since the 2016 Music City Bowl that we have seen Nebraska suit up following the regular season’s conclusion.
Could this finally be the year in which Scott Frost leads his alma mater out of the doldrums and into a postseason game? Brad Crawford of 247Sports believes so.
Ah, the “Finally Here” bowl for the Huskers and Seminoles. After a multi-year hiatus, Florida State could be bowl eligible for the first time under coach Mike Norvell and match up here with Scott Frost, who’s in a contract year at Nebraska. Both of these coaches must show positive momentum this fall to extend their tenures. Nebraska tapped the portal for help, and Florida State hopes better play during the second half of last season carries over to 2022.
Both schools were once on top of the sport and are trying to climb back into the race at the top. Florida State-Nebraska has seen some memorable games including back-to-back Orange Bowl showdowns in the early 1990s. This game could bring back memories of a time when Tom Osborne and Bobby Bowden were patrolling the sidelines.
Which Husker coach is one of the worst hires of the past decade?
Nebraska stops by to see 2024 RB Williams
Nebraska was back out on the road today and stopped by Hannibal (Mo.) to check out one of their top 2024 targets. The Huskers were there to check in about running back Aneyas Williams. Williams visited Nebraska in April for the spring game and was planning on getting back to Nebraska again this summer.
Nate Clouse returns to the community he helped build for nearly a decade and will contribute to the Inside Nebraska team
Missouri softball will have a new hitting coach for 2023 after Michaela Transue's departure. What could the change mean for the Tigers?
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2022-06-02T03:49:59Z
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Nebraska meets an old adversary in latest bowl projections
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With the 2022 college football season under 100 days away, Clemson is primed to make a run in hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff (CFP) after missing out on it last season for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.
Although Clemson has the fourth-best preseason odds to win the CFP this upcoming season, there is no guarantee of a birth to one of the two semifinal games. For one analyst, he believes Clemson will miss out on the CFP but will still play in a prestigious bowl game.
Here’s why 247Sports’ Brad Crawford believes the Tigers will play in the Orange Bowl.
Projected matchup: Clemson vs. Wisconsin
Rarely do we see never-before-played matchups during bowl season in the marquee games, but that could happen this season if projected ACC champion Clemson falls short of qualifying for the College Football Playoff with a loss or two. It’s going to likely take an unbeaten team from the ACC to undoubtedly secure a final-four berth and the Tigers’ schedule has several iffy matchups. Wisconsin, as a division winner in the Big Ten at potentially 10-3 overall with a loss to Ohio State in the league title game, gets the nod here. Wisconsin underachieved last season and Paul Chryst’s veteran-led squad won’t let that happen again in 2022.
To Crawford’s point, Clemson will need to go at least 11-1 in the regular season to potentially earn a spot in the CFP. However, with an away matchup with Notre Dame and home matchups with Miami and North Carolina State, the Tigers may not have as easy of a schedule as in years past.
If Crawford’s prediction rings true, that would mean Clemson would play Wisconsin on Dec. 30 in Miami, Florida, at Hard Rock Stadium.
Clemson last played in the Orange Bowl in the 2015-2016 season when the Tigers defeated Oklahoma 37-17 to advance to the CFP National Championship. Head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers also defeated Ohio State in the Orange Bowl in the 2013 season.
In its six appearances, Clemson boasts a 4-2 record in the Orange Bowl, dating back to the Tigers’ first appearance in 1951.
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2022-06-02T03:50:19Z
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Orange Bowl predicted as likely landing spot for Clemson in 2022
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AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger received a contract extension and a $500,000 raise Wednesday after leading the Cyclones to the NCAA Sweet 16 and the third-best turnaround in major college basketball history. ''I'm grateful that we are able to reward that success with this extension,'' athletic director Jamie Pollard said.
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2022-06-02T03:50:26Z
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Penn State announces white out and stripe out games for 2022
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Dante Barone, an H-back recruit and a versatile athlete, is set to make his college choice on Wednesday night. The class of 2023 prospect was offered by Rutgers football last week.
Barone plays defensive line and tight end at The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.). He was offered last week by Rutgers football as an H-back.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Barone is ranked a 3-star according to 247Sports. He is the No. 19 player in New Jersey in the 247Sports Composite.
Last week, Barone talked to RutgersWire about the offer. It came after spending time on campus and interacting with the Scarlet Knights coaching staff.
“I love the program and everything that it preaches, I feel like Rutgers football is definitely going to be at the top of the Big Ten,” Barone said in his interview with RutgersWire.
Also last week, Logan Blake, a three-star tight end prospect, committed to Rutgers. Blake is another standout at Hun.
He became the fifth commitment and third New Jersey player committed to Rutgers football in the class of 2023.
Also from the Hun is Jacob Allen, a four-star offensive lineman who is part of the 2022 recruiting class. Allen was selected to the All-American Bowl and was the top player in New Jersey in the previous recruiting class.
This year’s top recruit in New Jersey, Chase Bisontis, has Rutgers in his final five. He broke down his recruitment in a recent interview with RutgersWire.
In final four loss, Rutgers men's lacrosse is eyeing a bright future
Barone was scheduled for an official visit to Illinois in early June.
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2022-06-02T03:50:46Z
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Rutgers football recruit Dante Barone set to decide on Wednesday night
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According to Inside Texas, five-star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has narrowed down his recruitment to five schools. Hill has official visits lined up with Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, USC and Texas A&M.
The Denton, Texas native is the No. 1 linebacker in the country for the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He is also rated the No. 2 overall prospect in the state.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound freak athlete is one of Texas’ priority targets for the 2023 cycle and the Longhorns will certainly have to put their best foot forward when Hill arrives to Austin for his official visit in June.
Will Anthony Hill Jr. commit to Texas? - Powered By PickUp
Texas' current seniors lost the 2019 NCAA title after predictions of severe weather pushed up the championship match tee times to just after dawn. The Longhorns are back in the title match, and this time they don't have to worry about tornadoes. Texas beat Vanderbilt 3 1/2-1 1/2 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the championship match against Arizona State, giving its seniors a second shot at winning a national title.
Martín Pérez made up his mind pretty quickly that he wasn't coming out of the game after taking a 97 mph liner off his right shin. The Texas left-hander didn't want to interrupt the best stretch of his career. Pérez retired all 16 batters after shaking off the shot to his shin, lowering his majors-leading ERA with seven scoreless innings in the Rangers' 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
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2022-06-02T03:51:30Z
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Texas among top schools for the nation’s No. 1 linebacker in the 2023 class
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DESTIN, Fla. (AP) The spat between Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher and Alabama's Nick Saban appears to be over -- at least publicly.
A jovial Fisher said repeatedly Wednesday that he was ''moving on'' from the war of words with his former boss that added some soap-opera drama to the Southeastern Conference's spring meetings this week.
Fisher said he and Saban had ''normal conversations'' during two days of meetings with the other 12 SEC football coaches. The coaches covered topics such as future scheduling models for the conference, transfer rules and how college sports can get a handle on the way athletes are compensated for use of their names, images and likenesses.
''It's over with. We're done talking about it. We're moving on to the future of what goes on and try to fix the problems that we have in college football,'' Fisher said. ''There's a lot more pressing needs than our arguments.''
''We're done. We're moving on. I have no problem,'' he added.
Fisher responded angrily, saying Saban's comments were despicable and calling the seven-time national championship winning coach a ''narcissist.'' Fisher denied is program did anything wrong while landing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2022.
''Things were said. We're moving on to the next thing,'' Fisher said.
''We've got to find some kind of uniformity for the betterment of the game,'' Fisher said.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne mostly sidestepped questions about the back-and-forth between two of the highest-paid coaches in the country, which included Fisher urging reporters to ''go dig into wherever'' Saban has been.
''I think Coach Fisher, he was fired up,'' Byrne said. ''I know we feel very good about our compliance and what we do at Alabama and that's been in the past and it's going to continue into the future.''
''We're moving on,'' he said with a smile. `We're moving on.''
Elvis Andrus' RBI hit ends no-no
Elvis Andrus gets the A's on the board, dropping a double down the left-field line and breaking up Justin Verlander's no-hitter in the 7th
Ryan Crouser can think of no better place to set the shot put world record -- again -- than at home. The Oregon native and two-time Olympic gold medalist is among the elite athletes eyeing the world outdoor championships this summer in Eugene. Crouser won the shot put at the Prefontaine Classic last weekend at Hayward Field, the same stadium where he set the world record in the event last summer.
First look: Alabama QB Bryce Young
Diving into the strengths of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
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2022-06-02T03:52:02Z
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'We're moving on': Fisher says public spat with Saban done
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Australia's Hindley wins Giro d'Italia to claim first Grand Tour
The Australian had a cushion of almost a minute and a half and rolled triumphantly past Verona's ancient Roman Arena after easily holding off his Ecuadorian rival to become his country's first Giro winner.
He ended the Giro one minute, 18 seconds ahead of 2019 winner Carapaz after losing just seven seconds in Sunday's time-trial on the Ineos rider and finishing 15th on the day.
"It's a beautiful feeling, really, a lot of emotions out there today. To take the win is really incredible." Hindley said after the race.
"It's really incredible man, I'm really proud to be Australian and I'm going to take this one home."
Australia already had a Tour de France winner in 2011 winner Cadel Evans but as yet has no winner in the Vuelta a Espana.
Hindley, 26, banished the memory of his gutting final-stage defeat in 2020, where his weakness in time-trials cost him the overall victory at the death.
Having taken the pink jersey also in that year's 20th stage he was pipped in the climatic time-trial in Milan by Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart.
However this year he had no such problems, his stunning display on the Passo Fedaia in the Dolomites on Saturday supplying him with enough room to relieve most of the pre-race pressure.
"I had in the back of mind what happened in 2020 and I wasn't going to let that happen again," added Hindley.
"It's an amazing feeling, I still need to recognise everything," Sobrero said.
French rider Arnaud Demare claimed the points classification for the second time in his career, winning three stages and asserting himself as the best sprinter in the peloton despite the presence of Mark Cavendish.
Dutchman Koen Bouwman won two stages and also claimed the mountain's classification blue jersey for his team Jumbo-Visma.
Trek-Segafredo rider Juan Pedro Lopez, who held the pink jersey for 10 days of this year's Giro, earned the white jersey for best young rider in front of Colombia's Santiago Buitrago.
Recently crowned Giro d'Italia champ confirms he will race Vuelta a Espana and 'raises hand' to make Australian selection for the world championship.
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2022-06-02T05:03:54Z
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Australia's Hindley wins Giro d'Italia to claim first Grand Tour
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Carapaz's mountain lieutenant Porte pulls out of Giro
Giro d'Italia leader Richard Carapaz suffered a setback to his title bid on Friday, with his key mountain lieutenant Richie Porte withdrawing during the 19th stage.
Ineos Grenadiers rider Porte was dropped from the peloton on the first climb of the day, the third-category Villanova Grotte, after 70km of racing.
Organisers confirmed the 37-year-old Australian had dropped out of the Giro, which finishes in Verona on Sunday.
Porte had announced this would be his final Giro, a race in which he finished seventh in 2010. He also finished third in the 2020 Tour de France.
Carapaz, the 2019 Giro winner, has a three-second overall lead on Australian Jai Hindley before the final three days in the mountains.
But Saturday's high-altitude affair will be the real showdown as it reaches over 2,000m above sea level three times.
jm/ea/jc
Louisville's Jack Harlow has released the music video for "Churchill Downs," featuring Drake, from his new album, "Come Home The Kids Miss You."
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2022-06-02T05:04:07Z
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Carapaz's mountain lieutenant Porte pulls out of Giro
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Hindley celebrates 'special' family reunion after Giro triumph
Jai Hindley had the sweetest of family reunions on Sunday, winning the Giro d'Italia in front of his parents after not having seen them since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Australian Hindley became the first man from his country to win the Italian Grand Tour by snatching the pink jersey on the penultimate stage before rolling into the final day time-trial in Verona to seal a memorable win.
The 26-year-old's family celebrated in the city's ancient Roman Arena when he lifted the trophy, capping a great victory for cyclist and country.
Before Sunday he hadn't seen his family since after the Sun Tour way back in February 2020, after which he was in his home town of Perth "for less than 24 hours" before heading back to Europe.
"I didn't know that was the last time I was going to be back home for a couple of years," Hindley told reporters.
"Then a few day ago I found out that my parents were going to be coming to the finish and I was really blown away, to not see your parents for two and a half years is unbelievable.
"To have them at the finish in the Arena today was special. Really special.
"I think at the end of the year I'll go home and savour every minute of it."
Hindley claimed his win by holding off Richard Carapaz in Sunday's time-trial, a skill which was once his weak point and which cost him victory at the 2020 Giro.
He said that he had worked on his technique with his team Bora Hansgrohe, and banished the memory of his painful last stage collapse in the time-trial two years ago when he conceded the Giro to Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart on the final day.
"I went to California, to this specialised headquarters, spent quite a bit of time in the wind tunnel trying to work on better positions on the new set up and I think it's helped a lot," he said.
Hindley said that he might take a stab at this year's Vuelta a Espana, and is also eyeing a place in the world championships, which are to be held in New South Wales in September.
"I think it would be a great event and it's not every day you get to do the worlds in your home country, especially when you're form Oz. So yeah I'm super keen to be in that team," he said.
"I think after today I'll take it easy for a bit, sink some beers, park up and just really savour the moment."
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2022-06-02T05:04:19Z
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Hindley celebrates 'special' family reunion after Giro triumph
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Hindley claims biggest honour in Italy, where rise began
Jai Hindley's Giro d'Italia win was earned in the country which gave him his start in cycling and led the Australian to becoming his country's first ever winner of the Grand Tour.
Some 13,000 kilometres separate Hindley's home town of Perth from Verona, where he made the jump to the highest ranks of cycling, but he has an affinity with the country.
The 26-year-old settled in the Mediterranean nation when he decided to make a go of professional cycling.
He owes his passion for the sport to his father Gordon, who fittingly was in Verona's ancient Roman Arena to watch his son lift the Giro trophy.
"I was six years old and I wanted to be a footballer. Then I saw the Tour de France on television and my life changed," Hindley said in 2020, when he lost the Giro in agonising fashion on the final stage.
"From that moment on I didn't want to be anything other than a professional cyclist.
"My idols were the great Australian riders, Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady, Cadel Evans... But it's not easy to leave your country to go to the other side of the world."
Just 18 when he left Australia, Hindley settled in Pescara on Italy's Adriatic coast with Umberto Di Giuseppe, who welcomed him into his home and let him run in his team.
"Jai is a very serious boy who has never given me a problem. He knew what he wanted to do," recalled Di Giuseppe.
Hindley says that he is stubborn and he scoured the Italian circuit for under-23 races he could take part in.
After a season in the reserves of Australian team Mitchelton (now BikeExchange), he convinced Sunweb (now DSM) to take him on and was introduced to the WorldTour in 2018.
He claimed his first major professional victory on home turf two years later, winning the Sun Tour in Melbourne and then unknowingly saying goodbye to his parents for the last time until Sunday.
He couldn't get back to Perth due to Covid-19 restrictions and only saw them at the final stage of this year's Giro, the crowning moment of his career up to now.
- 'Devastated' -
The year 2020 was the take off point of his career despite the pandemic, which squeezed the season into three months and cost him time with his family.
That October he won a Giro mountain stage then -- just as this year -- snatched the pink jersey in the penultimate stage, only to lose rather than win it in the climatic time-trial in Milan.
"I was devastated by it," Hindley admitted Saturday night.
"After 2020 when I so close to win and it was brutal to lose on the last day, it took me a long time to get over that.
"Coming into the arena (today) knowing that I'd won the Giro was pretty special."
The next step for Hindley is to make a mark outside of Italy, his home away from home and where he earned the biggest victory of his career.
"The Giro has opened a lot of doors for me as a rider," he said.
"This race opened my mind on what I can do as a pro cyclist. I'll save the moment for a long time."
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2022-06-02T05:04:26Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Hindley claims biggest honour in Italy, where rise began
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Jai Hindley on brink of Giro glory after snatching lead in Dolomites
Jai Hindley took a huge step towards winning the Giro d'Italia on Saturday after snatching the overall lead from Richard Carapaz in the final kilometres of the gruelling penultimate stage in the Dolomites, won by Italian Alessandro Covi.
Bora–Hansgrohe's Hindley all but ensured that he would win his first Grand Tour after a dazzling raid at the end of the mountainous, 168km 20th stage which left him one minute and 25 seconds ahead of Carapaz in the fight for the pink jersey.
The 26-year=old made his move with less than three kilometres remaining of the final Passo Fedaia climb and left Carapaz needing a miracle in Sunday's final stage time-trial in Verona.
"I knew this was going to be the crucial stage of the race. I knew there was a brutal finish and that you could make a difference," said the 26-year-old.
"We just stayed patient, saved our energy until today and, you know, actually it was perfect.
"I will die to defend the pink jersey."
The Australian, who has won only stage nine in this year's Giro, started the day just three seconds behind 2019 winner Carapaz and demolished the Ineos rider towards the summit of the Passo Fedaia.
Carapaz even finished behind Mikel Landa, who had appeared out of the running earlier in the day and is 1:51 off the pace in the general classification.
Hindley will be especially happy with the time gap between him and Carapaz as he struggles in time trials and lost the 2020 edition of the Giro on the final time trial stage.
- Covi finally gets his chance -
Covi had finished second in last year's 11th stage, and came in third at the top of Monte Zoncolan three stages later.
"Last year we went close a couple of times, this year I wanted to win a stage, but I had to help (Joao) Almeida so my chances for winning were few and far between," said Covi.
Hindley should seal his win on Sunday in Verona, where the race will climax at the famous ancient Roman Arena at the end of a 17.4km time-trial.
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2022-06-02T05:04:32Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jai Hindley on brink of Giro glory after snatching lead in Dolomites
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Cowboys just released a statement on the death of former RB Marion Barber, who was 38: pic.twitter.com/XT2A0I4zDG
Marion Barber - a one-time Pro Bowl selection - rushed for 4,780 yards and 53 touchdowns during his seven-year NFL career.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marion Barber mourned by former Dallas Cowboys after death
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2022-06-02T05:09:35Z
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'He made us all better': Former Dallas Cowboys coach, teammate remember Marion Barber
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The Baltimore Ravens signed cornerback Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal last week. He provides the team with a veteran presence that can play both inside and outside, which is extremely valuable for a team that suffered many different injuries in their secondary last year.
Fuller officially signed his deal with Baltimore on Tuesday and his jersey number was announced on Wednesday. Also announced were the details of his contract, which Field Yates of ESPN reported as a $2.5 million deal with a base salary of $1.12 million to go along with a $1.38 million signing bonus.
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2022-06-02T05:09:54Z
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Reported details of contract for Ravens CB Kyle Fuller released
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The Western Conference's third-seeded Golden State Warriors and Eastern Conference's second-seeded Boston Celtics meet in the NBA Finals. The Warriors and Celtics last met in a championship series in 1964, when Bill Russell registered the third of his seven playoff victories in eight tries against Wilt Chamberlain.
Golden State Warriors (53-29)
The Warriors started the regular season 18-2 and resembled the pre-Kevin Durant version of Golden State's dynasty through November, two months before Klay Thompson returned from consecutive season-ending injuries and weeks into the careers of lottery draft picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
When Thompson returned in January, Draymond Green suffered a back injury, and when Green returned, Stephen Curry sprained his left foot. The three pillars of Golden State's six trips to the Finals played only 22 meaningful possessions together during the regular season. Their absences allowed Andrew Wiggins to earn his first All-Star appearance and Jordan Poole to emerge as a Most Improved Player candidate.
The lineup inconsistency led the Warriors to limp into the postseason with a sub-.500 record after the All-Star break, but they coalesced once Curry returned for the start of the playoffs. Their offensive firepower made quick work of the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, who were respectively dependent on the singular greatness of Nikola Jokic in the first round and Luka Doncic in the Western Conference finals.
Golden State was tested only by the Memphis Grizzlies, who pushed the conference semifinals to six games despite losing All-NBA point guard Ja Morant to a right knee injury for half the series. The Warriors scored 113.5 points per 100 possessions — equivalent to a top-10 regular season offense — in their series against the Grizzlies and Mavericks, who owned the regular season's sixth- and seventh-rated defenses.
Offense has always been Golden State's calling card, but when the Warriors were winning championships, they played high-level defense, and they finished second in that regard over the course of the regular season (106.6 points allowed per 100 possessions). That figure has fallen to 111 in the playoffs, which would have ranked 13th during the regular season and is fifth among the last eight playoff teams standing.
Boston Celtics (51-31)
The Celtics owned an 18-21 record and placed 11th in the Eastern Conference after blowing a 25-point lead to the New York Knicks on Jan. 6. They were a .500 team during their 2020-21 campaign, and the chemistry between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was becoming sports talk-show fodder at the midway point of this season. Boston's two young stars met to affirm their commitment to playing with each other.
They responded, and the principles first-year head coach Ime Udoka had been emphasizing all season — passing up good shots for great ones on offense and switching everything defensively — fell into place. The Celtics' deadline trade for Derrick White extended the rotation to seven players who can move the ball on offense and stop it on defense. Over the final three months of the regular season, Boston posted the NBA's best defensive rating (104.9) by a wide margin and the league's second-best offensive rating (118.5).
Tatum made the All-NBA first team. Brown received votes for the third team. Marcus Smart won Defensive Player of the Year. Robert Williams III was the All-Defensive second team's center. Tatum, Brown and prodigal veteran Al Horford all earned All-Defensive votes. Holes in their rotation are few and far between.
Showing their collective growth, the Celtics swept Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving's Brooklyn Nets in the first round. They rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Khris Middleton, in seven games. And they beat Jimmy Butler's injury-plagued (but battle-ready) Miami Heat in another Game 7 on the road.
Facing three of the 12 best offenses during the regular season, Boston has allowed 105.1 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, besting their league-leading regular-season defense by more than a point. The Celtics scored 110.7 points per 100 possessions over seven games against the Heat's vaunted defense.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry lead their teams into the 2022 NBA Finals. (Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports)
The Warriors and Celtics split their regular season series, 1-1.
Golden State won the first matchup in mid-December, 111-107, with rookie Moses Moody starting in the absence of both Thompson and Poole. Curry and Wiggins combined for 57 points on 41 shots. Likewise, Boston started Romeo Langford without Horford or Grant Williams in the lineup. Tatum and Brown combined for 47 points on 35 shots in a rotation that was still a work in progress before the trade deadline.
Boston won the second matchup in mid-March, 110-88. Curry suffered an ankle injury 20 minutes into the game, when Smart dove for a loose ball at his feet. The play struck a nerve with Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who called it "a dangerous play." Tatum and Brown combined for 52 points on 37 shots in the victory. Poole and Thompson scored a combined 47 points on 44 shots in defeat. The road team won both meetings.
In the limited two-game sample size that saw the winning team lead by 20 points each time:
• Golden State shot 94 3-pointers (28.7 3P%) to Boston's 86 (37 3P%). The Warriors created 83 open or wide-open 3-pointers and shot below 30% on them. The Celtics shot 38.9% on 72 open or wide-open 3s.
• Boston scored 12 points (4-5 FG) off Golden State's nine live-ball turnovers. The Warriors scored 12 points (4-14 FG) off the Celtics' 17 live-ball turnovers. Boston outscored Golden State in transition, 22-20.
• Boston held a slight advantage in rebounding percentage both defensively (75.2%-73.5%) and offensively (26.5%-24.8%), although Golden State still managed to edge the Celtics in second-chance points, 22-21.
• Boston shot 80.6% on 31 field-goal attempts at the rim and scored 78 points in the paint. Golden State shot 73.9% on 23 field-goal attempts in the restricted area and scored 64 points in the paint. The Celtics also generated 37 free-throw attempts from field-goal attempts inside the 3-point line to the Warriors' 20.
Closing lineups
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has relied heavily on Curry, Poole, Thompson, Wiggins and Green at the end of close games. That group is +17 in 30 fourth-quarter playoff minutes together. Payton earned some run with that unit when it needed more defense. Kevon Looney and Otto Porter Jr. are also available if Boston's size proves too difficult for Poole to handle on either end of the court. Gary Payton II (left elbow), Porter (left foot) and Andre Iguodala (neck) have all yet to scrimmage with Golden State since the end of the conference finals.
Udoka has primarily closed tight games with Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford and an inconsistent Grant Williams. They have been outscored by eight in 47 fourth-quarter playoff minutes together. Boston has turned to White in place of Williams in a smaller version of that lineup more recently, and they are a more encouraging +25 in 31 fourth-quarter minutes as a quintet. Had Robert Williams not battled inflammation in his surgically repaired left knee throughout the playoffs, he also might have seen some clutch minutes.
This series will almost certainly come down to how well Golden State's offense performs against Boston's defense, so it stands to reason the matchup between the greatest shooter in NBA history and the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the Finals.
In the 45 minutes that Curry and Smart shared the floor together over two games during the regular season, Curry made only seven of his 21 field-goal attempts (5-15 3P) and committed 10 turnovers for a -15 rating. The two-time MVP finished 2 for 8 from the field and recorded a single assist against five turnovers in nearly seven minutes directly matched up against Smart. The Celtics are the only team with a winning record (9-7) against Kerr-era Warriors, largely due to their ability to counter Curry with exceptional perimeter defenders.
In the NBA's database of tracking statistics, Smart has defended Curry for 145 possessions over roughly 27 minutes since the start of the 2017-18 season, holding the Warriors superstar to 30 points on 11-for-30 shooting (6-20 3P) and three assists. Curry has drawn one foul from Smart and committed seven turnovers.
Like Smart, White possesses a 6-foot-8 wingspan and has also enjoyed some level of success defending the smaller Curry. Anything close to slowing Golden State's engine will give Boston a chance in the series.
Thursday: Boston at Golden State, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)
Sunday: Boston at Golden State, 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
June 8: Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)
June 10: Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)
June 13: Boston at Golden State, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)*
June 16: Golden State at Boston, 9 p.m. ET (ABC)*
BetMGM series odds
The better rested and more experienced Warriors in seven.
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2022-06-02T05:26:59Z
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2022 NBA Finals preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
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Warriors' other Big Three of leadership still impact winning originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO -- Six NBA Finals appearances in the last eight seasons. Three titles in a five-year span, and four more wins away from a fourth championship after a two-year playoff hiatus.
The Warriors are back, and they're still carried on the backs of their Big Three in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. They've been there for all the rings, the climb to the top and the return to Finals. But behind the scenes, the Warriors have another trio of leaders who have been there and done that.
Shaun Livingston was a key player for Golden State all three times the Warriors hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy. Zaza Pachulia was there for two, and Leandro Barbosa for one.
"It's been great having those guys there to be a part of the coaching staff, be in the front office," Warriors center Kevon Looney said Wednesday. "They just add that championship DNA. They still are an extension of the culture that we're trying to build, things like that.
"They're great role models and great veterans for our young guys who are veterans that's playing now. They still can go talk to them, lean on them. They've been great for us all year."
The third-year pro's story is earning a bigger spotlight by the minute after grinding through the G League last season and now giving the Warriors a third Splash Brother, along with Curry and Thompson. Since the Warriors drafted Poole near the end of the first round in 2019, he constantly has asked questions to the veterans, trying to find any edge to better his game. It's invaluable to have so many champions on one roster.
"I incorporate them with the vets as well, just because they have the experience, they've been here before, they've been in the Finals," Poole said. "Just being able to walk around the facility, locker room, ask those guys questions, is huge.
"It's a blessing. Being able to gain other knowledge from so many people who have been in this position, try to soak it all in, apply it when I have the chance."
He's the one that is seen the most out of the three, and has his nose to the ground as someone still on the court every day with the Warriors. Before games, he can be seen working with rookies and veterans alike, guarding Andrew Wiggins in the post and Curry well before the 3-point line.
Barbosa scrimmages with the Warriors in 5-on-5 and 3-on-3. He goes through drills with them at times, and has been huge for the young players and role players who aren't receiving heavy minutes, stepping in and joining open runs with them.
That's the kind of impact that Barbosa had as a player for the Warriors, a non-stop reliable spark off the bench. Now, he's having that same kind of impact as a coach.
"Gigantic," Moody said after that loss, when asked how big Barbosa has been for his development. "He's been in the game, I can take a lot from him, how fast, how he plays downhill and he attacks angles, transition defense, on-ball defense. So that's just the mental things I can pick his brain and talk to him about.
"But even more than that, he's out there playing with us in pick-up and -- on the pick-up, usually when you're not in the rotation playing, then you play in a lot of pick-up, 3-on-3, 5-on-5 on the off days, and that's where I've been for most of the year. So he's been great, being able to compete in times like that."
Looney even believes the 39-year-old Barbosa still could produce in the NBA today, and he's probably not wrong by any stretch of the imagination.
"LB, he's even been playing a lot, being on scout team," Looney said. "He could probably still go out there and get some buckets if we needed them. Having guys like that with that much experience, a wealth of knowledge that you can go ask, talk to whenever you want, has been great for us and great for our young guys."
As the playoffs have ramped up, all three of Livingston, Barbosa and Pachulia have been there every step of the way. They've worn rings as Dubs before, and are ready to make room for more hardware on the mantle.
It's just another example of the Warriors' championship DNA seeping through the walls here in the Bay Area.
D’Angelo Russell an option for New York?
As the Knicks work down the list of their point guard options, rival executives have pointed to Minnesota Timberwolves starter D'Angelo Russell as a potential lower-level trade target. Source: Jake Fischer @ Bleacher Report More on this storyline ...
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2022-06-02T05:27:44Z
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Leandro Barbosa, Zaza Pachulia, Shaun Livingston still impacting Warriors
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AS Roma teenager Felix Afena-Gyan, 19, scored as Ghana cruised to a 3-0 win over Madagascar on Wednesday and claimed the leadership of Group E as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying kicked off.
GLASGOW, Scotland (Reuters) -Ukraine kept alive their dream of reaching the World Cup finals by beating Scotland 3-1 in their playoff at Hampden Park on Wednesday in their first game since the Russian invasion of their country. Ukraine will now face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff with the winner taking a place at November's finals in Qatar. The loss means Scotland remain without an appearance at a World Cup since 1998.
<strong>Argentina 3-0 Italy: </strong>Lionel Messi made two of Argentina’s three goals in a clinical display against the Euro 2020 winners
Energized at Wembley by Lionel Messi's assists, Argentina's players threw their superstar teammate in the air after he inspired them to a second title in a year. Argentina collected the first Finalissima trophy on Wednesday by beating Italy 3-0 in a meeting of the South American and European champions, with Messi having helped Argentina win the Copa America last July for his first major title with the national team.
U.S. captain Christian Pulisic was critical of the level of American support from the crowd of 19,512 at TQL Stadium during a 3-0 victory over Morocco on Wednesday night in the first of four World Cup warmup matches in June. The U.S. had drawn a sellout crowd for its first match at the stadium, a 2-0 win over Mexico in a World Cup qualifier on Nov. 12. Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah scored midway through the first half and Haji Wright converted a second-half penalty kick in his international debut.
Brazil superstar Neymar could miss his side's friendly match against South Korea on Thursday after injuring his foot during training on the eve of the game.
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2022-06-02T05:27:51Z
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Messi sets up two goals as Argentina beats Italy in Cup of Champions (video)
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BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Before Jalen Green joined the Houston Rockets, becoming the highest-drafted Asian American player in the NBA, he'd already experienced close up how passionate the people of the Philippines were about the game he loved to play.
''The love and support from the Philippines ... that experience opened my eyes to just how much basketball means to the country,'' Green said. ''In the Philippines, they call me `idol.'''
''He's a competitor, and the sport isn't just a career to him, it's his way of life,'' Green said of the lessons he's taking from Pacquiao's approach to professional sport. ''That's the type of mindset you must have to be the best at what you do. That's the ultimate goal, to be the best.''
''I want to be an inspiration for the next generation of hoopers in Asia and elevate the game in the region,'' Green said. ''I see East Asia Super League as the gateway for Asian players to make it to the NBA.
''It's going to bring a different dynamic to the region ... this is something Asian basketball needs to get to the next level.''
East Asia Super League chief executive Matt Beyer said the collaboration with Green, who will feature in marketing, behind-the-scenes content and make appearances, would be ''highly synergistic.''
''Jalen Green is the top Asian heritage NBA star and holds a deep understanding of the marketplace, while being loved by fans in Asia,'' Beyer said. ''He also cares deeply about the sport and believes that helping elevate the game in Asia is part of his legacy. (He) now has a new way do that.''
Nate Laszewski pulls out of NBA draft to return to Notre Dame
Great news for the Irish.
Which Splash Brother will Derrick White guard in the NBA Finals?
Who do you think Derrick White will guard in the NBA Finals?
A little more than two hours before the midnight ET deadline, Nate Laszewski delivered to the Notre Dame men’s basketball program a much-needed dose of good news. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound forward was withdrawing from the NBA Draft process and returning for a fifth year at Notre Dame. Laszewski was one of the nation’s top 3-point shooters in the nation last season.
After starting 24 of 31 games as a freshman, John Butler Jr. will be FSU's latest one-and-done basketball player.
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2022-06-02T05:28:09Z
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Rockets guard Jalen Green partners with new Asian league
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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Mike Krzyzewski is savoring the first taste of life after a Hall of Fame coaching career at Duke.
''Eight of my grandchildren were there. And usually graduations can sometimes be long, but it was beautiful,'' Krzyzewski said Wednesday. ''I was driving home with my wife Mickie . and I said, `It was interesting. I only thought about that.'
''And for most of my life, wherever I was at, I was never completely where I was at. You're always thinking of something else. And I like that.''
''He's at peace. He's in a great spot,'' new Blue Devils coach and designated successor Jon Scheyer said, pausing to ask: ''Was he talking about his dog?''
''You're not thinking of everybody,'' Krzyzewski said. ''You're thinking of you and your family, and whatever responsibility that you want, not the responsibilities that you may just have to do. That keeps you fresh.''
After seven decades on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II is widely viewed in the U.K. as a rock in turbulent times. “When I think about the queen, I think about a sweet old lady,” said Jamaican academic Rosalea Hamilton, who campaigns for her country to become a republic. The empire that Elizabeth was born into is long gone, but she still reigns far beyond Britain’s shores.
The Indiana Area Junior High received a threat Tuesday morning, prompting school officials to search all students, according to a letter sent to parents.
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2022-06-02T05:29:40Z
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Coach K enjoying family, 'at peace' with coaching retirement
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Forward Kris Murray announced on Wednesday that he is officially returning to the Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season. It puts to rest any uncertainty about his immediate future with the Hawkeyes.
That was called into question after the 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward filed for early entry into the 2022 NBA draft on April 14. It looked and felt like a good sign for Iowa when Murray declined his invitation to the 2022 NBA draft combine in early May, but the door was still open for Murray to potentially try his hand professionally.
Now, Murray is officially back in the fold for Iowa for the 2022-23 season.
“These past two months have been a tremendous learning process for me. By going through the NBA Draft process, I believe that it will help me in the long run and this upcoming season at Iowa. I can’t wait to get back to work with my teammates and coaches to play for the best fan base in the world! Go Hawks,” Murray said in his social media announcement.
Naturally, Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery voiced his excitement about Murray electing to return to Iowa City.
“Everyone in our program is very excited to have Kris back. We are happy that Kris had a positive experience going through the NBA process. He gained valuable feedback through workouts and conversations with NBA personnel. Kris will be awesome next year,” McCaffery said.
Murray’s decision means that the Hawkeyes now return both its leading scorer and rebounder off the bench. Murray 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game also ranked fourth and third overall for Iowa last season.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, product also registered 31 blocks and 43 made 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes last year on 38.7% 3-point field goal shooting. Murray connected on at least one 3-pointer in a team-best 17 consecutive games from Jan. 22 through March 13, had multiple steals in 10 games and multiple blocks in nine contests.
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2022-06-02T05:29:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Forward Kris Murray announces return to the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team
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Zoe Brooks has been making some noise for quite some time, but one of the top-ranked girls’ basketball players in New Jersey isn’t slowing down, not even for the summer.
She is a name to watch as Brooks is a standout at Saint John Vianney High School (Holmdel, N.J.), one of the top programs in the nation. And Brooks is a major reason why her school is so dominant; she is a four-star recruit and the No. 33 player in the nation according to ESPN.com.
At 5-foot-10, she projects as a guard at the college level. She’s been all-state for three straight seasons and last year was named a junior All-American by MaxPreps.
Brooks has good range and can hit the intermediate shots as well as from 3-point range. She is a solid rebounder and outstanding defensively both on and off the ball. She handles the ball well and is comfortable scoring or playing provider.
Last season, Saint John Vianney’s final record was 32-1. They finished the season ranked fourth in the nation by MaxPreps.
Check out what Brooks had to say about her recruitment, where things stand with Rutgers basketball and her recent experience with USA Basketball!
Zoe Brooks on where things stand in her recruitment
“I have some schools who have been consistent throughout the process and others, because of coaching changes and things like that, who have really just started recruiting me hard.”
Zoe Brooks reacts to new Rutgers women's basketball head coach Coquese Washington taking over
“I live in Plainfield, which is very close to Rutgers. I had an offer from coach Stringer and throughout the years had become very close with the coaching staff. I’ve gone to Midnight Madness, and football and women’s basketball games and been on campus numerous times. I don’t know much about Coach Washington and I don’t have an offer from her.”
Zoe Brooks on the programs she is hearing from the most right now
“I have 10 schools that I hear from on a consistent basis. They are Boston College, Georgetown, Miami, Mississippi State North Carolina State, Penn State, Seton Hall, USC, Syracuse and West Virginia. Rutgers would be considered. It’s a good school.”
Zoe Brooks on her recent tryout with USA Basketball and what she took from the environment
“This is my third time going out to USA Basketball and each time is a little different. Last year I tried to show off my scoring and playmaking. This time I was focused on being vocal, my defense and my motor. It’s always an honor just to be invited and spend a few days competing against the best kids in the country and learning from quality coaches.”
Zoe Brooks statistics and notables
Scored 579 points last season, averaging over 18 points per game.
Averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.
Averaged 3.8 steals per game.
Through three high school seasons, has scored 1,260 points in 76 games.
Business trip ✈️ 🧳 🌞 pic.twitter.com/Eyrc0nbVk8
— Zoe Brooks (@zoebrooks35) January 5, 2022
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2022-06-02T05:29:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Four-star Zoe Brooks updates her recruitment, talks Rutgers basketball and Coquese Washington
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Ask a Trainer: How Do I Fit Strength Training Into My Busy Schedule?
Strength training is supplemental work to swimming, biking, and running that doesn't have to be long or complicated. These quick routines will help.
Here are three financial planning power moves that you can make to better position yourself for a prolonged bear market. An emergency fund is a liquid store of value that can be tapped into to pay for unexpected expenses. There are different schools of thought as to the best size for an emergency fund.
Dr. Jill Biden appeared on Scripps National Spelling Bee, Wednesday, where the First Lady shared with LeVar Burton a cautionary tale about her own spelling bee aspirations. “We had a spelling bee in my class and I won that spelling bee,” Dr. Biden said. “I was supposed to go to the next level but I was so afraid of speaking out in public, that the next day, I told my mother I was sick and I didn’t go to school and I never went to the spelling bee.” While Dr. Biden is now a teacher and outspoken supporter of education, when she was younger the idea of being outspoken about anything was intimidating. “Just getting on the stage just scared me to death,” Dr. Biden said. “And we have to learn to take risks, I think.” Dr. Biden doubled down on her own advice, when asked if she would’ve done things differently back in her spelling bee days. She said, “You know, I would say to her, ‘You know what? Take some risks, Jill. Have a little confidence in yourself and you'll be surprised because you can do it.”
Georgia health officials have reported that a man in the metro-Atlanta area has tested positive for the orthopox virus and a sample from the man is being tested at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab. CDC officials say that they are investigating a total of 17 confirmed U.S. monkeypox cases across 9 states.
The Bulldogs and the Bears meet almost two years after Baylor topped Gonzaga in Indianapolis on April 5, 2021, to win the 2021 national championship.
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2022-06-02T05:30:18Z
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Drew Timme will return to college basketball for senior year
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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) against Memphis during a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
''I'm back,'' Timme tweeted late Wednesday, which was the deadline to drop out of the NBA draft and return for his senior year.
Filip Chytil scored twice as the New York Rangers defeated the rusty Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.
Australia’s Socceroos have warmed up for next week’s World Cup playoff against United Arab Emirates with a 2-1 comeback win over Jordan. Mousa Al-Tamari’s powerful strike gave Jordan the lead in the 18th minute of the international friendly before Bailey Wright equalized in the 40th and Awer Mabil put Australia ahead midway through the second half. Australia’s head coach Graham Arnold rested five starting players and used 17 players in total to prepare for Tuesday’s Asian playoff against the UAE.
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2022-06-02T05:30:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Timme, Strawther, Bolton returning to Gonzaga next season
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WATCH: One-on-one with GG Jackson at USA Basketball
USA Basketball conducted their camp and tryouts for their U18 National Team this past week down in Houston, Texas. The team will be competing in the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Tijuana, Mexico.
The tournament will take place from June 6-12.
13 members make up the USA Basketball roster, including two UNC basketball recruits. Both 2022 signee Seth Trimble and 2023 five-star commit GG Jackson made the roster, which was announced earlier this week.
While participating in tryouts, Rivals’ Krysten Peek got a chance to sit down with Jackson. The 6-foot-9 forward is the No. 1 ranked player in both the 247Sports and Rivals rankings for 2023.
They discussed his commitment to North Carolina, the selection process for USA Basketball and the upcoming FIBA Americas Championship.
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2022-06-02T05:30:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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WATCH: One-on-one with GG Jackson at USA Basketball
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“Those guys have been great on the court,” Wiggins told reporters on Wednesday. “I feel like it comes to them easy. That's because they've been here for so long. They've been here and had success. So those guys are very, you know, confident, very calm in high-intensity situations. It's good.”
"Oh, for sure. You can see the level of intensity rise," Wiggins said. "Playoffs is very detailed, it's very physical. It's a different game. It's a game of adjustments, too."
The NBA Finals is a whole different monster, but if Wiggins continues to be as brilliant as he has been this postseason, his hunger will be satisfied -- for the time being.
Less than three years after Memphis basketball went with a bold aesthetic inside FedExForum, the school is turning the page again.
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2022-06-02T13:42:25Z
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What Andrew Wiggins takes away from Warriors' Big Three during playoffs
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None of that is going away, even after their unlikely 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday left them 12 1/2 games behind the Mets.
Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, and Bryson Stott celebrate after Schwarber's two-run home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Jarlin Garcia during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
That’s just one of the Phillies' problems. They're last in the National League in defensive runs saved, according to Baseball Info Solutions. The bullpen ERA is 4.17, among the worst in baseball.
The Phillie need Harper, just like they need Schwarber, Castellanos and Realmuto.
Philadelphia star Bryce Harper was a late scratch from the lineup prior to Wednesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants due to right forearm soreness. The news came hours after the slumping Phillies learned second baseman Jean Segura would be sidelined for up to three months.
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2022-06-02T13:42:46Z
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Did Phillies save their season after 'gut punch' injuries to Bryce Harper, Jean Segura?
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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal met for the 59th time at the French Open on Tuesday and served up another epic as Nadal triumphed in their quarter-final.
Teachers/school employees, union leaders/members, and other community organizations fighting for sensible gun regulation participate in a march in downtown Austin to Sen. Ted Cruz's Austin office.
Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final set a record for the largest audience to view the final in the U.S. on English-language television. Nielsen ratings show the game Saturday averaged 2.76 million viewers on CBS, surpassing the previous mark of 2.6 million for the 2011 final between Barcelona and Manchester United on Fox.
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2022-06-02T13:42:52Z
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Djokovic hails 'champion' Nadal but 'not surprised' by injury recovery
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Josh Donaldson said he was hurt after his New York Yankees teammates didn’t back him up following his “Jackie Robinson” comments directed at Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson.
Donaldson admitted that what he said about Anderson was wrong, but hearing his teammates bash him for it was disappointing.
“I think that was tough to hear, for sure, just for the simple fact that I pride myself on being a good teammate, and everywhere I’ve went, every organization that I’ve been a part of, minus Oakland, has offered me extensions, has wanted me to stay back,” Donaldson said during batting practice Wednesday, via The Associated Press.
“They’ve showed that they wanted me a part of their team. Obviously it didn’t work out that way. And that’s just the business end of it. And also everywhere I went, I’ve won. I think part of winning is having good team chemistry, and I’ve taken pride everywhere I’ve went I’ve aways tried to help people try to get better.”
Sounds like he's still missing the point.
Donaldson was suspended for one game last month after he admitted to calling Anderson, who is Black, “Jackie” during a game. That prompted the benches to clear during that game, and White Sox manager Tony La Russa said after the game that Donaldson made “a racist comment.”
Donaldson initially defended himself, saying that he was joking and referencing a 2019 Sports Illustrated interview Anderson did where he compared himself to Jackie Robinson.
Anderson didn’t find it funny and said a few days later that he warned Donaldson about calling him that back in 2019.
Donaldson’s comments drew plenty of criticism, including from Yankees manager Aaron Boone and teammate Aaron Judge. Boone said he didn’t think Donaldson’s comments were “the right thing to do there,” and Judge didn’t agree with it either, “joke or not.”
Many of Josh Donaldson's teammates criticized him for calling Tim Anderson "Jackie" last week, which somehow caught him by surprise. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Donaldson’s former teammate and current White Sox reliever Liam Hendricks slammed him recently, and said he was “not a fan.”
“I know Liam has come out a couple times and said some stuff about me,” Donaldson said, via The Associated Press. “It’s weird because I hear one thing and then when I see him it’s different. So it’s definitely been confusing for that. I’m not saying that every one of my teammates have always been best friends with.”
Though Donaldson has apologized, including to the Robinson family, he still thinks that Anderson might have “misinterpreted” his comments.
”I think everybody wanted to have a say. But they don’t know my heart,” Donaldson said, via The Associated Press. “I do feel bad that the Robinson family — I never wanted them to feel their name should ever be regarded in a bad light. That was why I issued the apology.”
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2022-06-02T13:43:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Josh Donaldson hurt Yankees didn't back him up after comments
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Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson calls a play in the huddle during OTA practice on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Berea.
“I don’t know what happened. You don’t know what happened. No one in this room really knows what happened, other than the people that were involved," Garrett said after Wednesday's organized team activity practice. "I can’t move one way or the other based on hearsay, so I just have to move with the character of the man that I know from day to day, and it’s a good guy from what I’ve seen, from what I’ve played against and from what I’ve see in the building.
Latest Deshaun Watson lawsuit first since joining Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson directs the offense during OTA practice on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Berea.
A huge development for Cleveland's defense: Myles Garrett happy Jadeveon Clowney is back with Browns: 'I told him to get his ass here'
Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Watson has immersed himself in work. He has taken all of the first-team reps in OTAs open to media and even reps with the No. 2 unit. He refused to play for the Texans all last season after requesting a trade in January 2021.
Meanwhile, the NFL is investigating Watson under its personal conduct policy and could suspend him. Last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he thought the investigatory period was nearing its end, but that was before the latest lawsuit and the mention of at least one more on the way.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson pitches out to a running back during OTA practice on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Berea.
Baker Mayfield staying away from Browns OTAs awaiting trade
Yes, the Browns have Baker Mayfield on the roster, but he's staying away from OTAs as he awaits a trade.
To be clear, playing Mayfield is not in the organization's plans.
"I hope the best for [Mayfield], and I hope he moves on and he does well for himself," Garrett said. "I'll never wish ill on anyone who I went up against or played with. He's going to land on his feet.
"[Watson] is a great playmaker. I think he has a little bit more depth in his game than Baker as far as his athleticism. But I think we can we can achieve a lot with working with each other."
"Everything comes full circle": David Njoku, Cleveland Browns happy to have future settled
The Browns just need Watson on the field, and, well, that could be complicated.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson hands the ball off to Nick Chubb during OTA workouts on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 in Berea.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: With new Deshaun Watson lawsuit, Browns coach cites research
Sports Mental Health Roundtable
Former NFL Tight End Brandon Bostick, UCLA gymnast Anna Glenn & Olympian/Sports Psychologist Dr. Robin Scholefield talk with Chris Hayre in this full roundtable about mental health & athletics in 2022
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2022-06-02T13:43:18Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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With new lawsuit filed, Kevin Stefanski points to research Browns did on Deshaun Watson
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“As communicated to our entire membership on May 10, PGA Tour members have not been authorized to participate in the Saudi Golf League's London event, under PGA Tour Tournament Regulations," the Tour said in a statement, via ESPN. "Members who violate the Tournament Regulations are subject to disciplinary action."
“I certainly don't think [the PGA Tour] should drop the hammer,” Rory McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Memorial tournament. “Look, they are well within their rights to enforce the rules and regulations that have been set. But there's going to be — you know, it's going to end up being an argument about what those rules and regulations are.
“Look, I have some very close friends that are playing in this event in London, and I certainly wouldn't want to stand in their way to — for them to do what they feel is right for themselves. I certainly — it's not something that I would do personally — but I certainly understand why some of the guys have went [to the LIV Golf Invitational Series], and it's something that we are all just going to keep an eye on and see what happens over these next few weeks.”
“I certainly don't think the field is anything to jump up and down about,” he said. “Look at the field this week. Look at the field next week in Canada. They are proper golf tournaments.”
Thought this was v interesting re/PGL, from an agent:
“Go look at the pictures of DJ holding the trophy in Saudi Arabia. See if you can find the RBC logo there on his sleeve.”
Left is Saudi trophy ceremony, right is Genesis (his next start). https://t.co/sAmEuRDUy1 pic.twitter.com/Ia7FMZcK9I
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) May 5, 2021
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2022-06-02T13:43:37Z
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PGA Tour taking hard stance against LIV Golf after DJ, others leave
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Filip Chytil has found his scoring touch and it's helping the New York Rangers get on quite a roll. Chytil scored twice in the second period and the Rangers routed the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. “I was working hard for the whole season,” Chytil said.
Lightning can’t shake off rust in Game 1 loss
NEW YORK — The Lightning have been here before, as recently as a month ago following their lopsided playoff-opening loss to the Maple Leafs. Everyone wondered whether that was the beginning of the end of their Stanley Cup reign, but the Lightning have shown since they have plenty of life left. But how will it end against the Rangers? The Lightning’s 6-2 loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference ...
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2022-06-02T13:43:43Z
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Rangers rout Lightning to open NHL Eastern Conference finals
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How trade with Warriors launched Celtics' Big 3 era, NBA titles in 1980s originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors are set to meet in the 2022 NBA Finals beginning with Game 1 from the Chase Center on Thursday night.
It's a matchup between two of the most successful franchises in league history.
The Warriors have won three championships over the last seven years (2015, 2017, 2018) and six total. The Celtics have won 17 titles, with the most recent triumph coming in 2008.
Boston would likely have fewer championships if it wasn't for Golden State. Why is that? Let's take a look back at one of the most consequential and important trades in basketball history.
The Celtics won 61 games in Larry Bird's rookie season and were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite nearly reaching the NBA Finals, the Celtics owned the No. 1 pick in the 1980 NBA Draft. They obtained the selection in a previous trade with the Detroit Pistons and then won a coin flip with the Utah Jazz to secure the No. 1 pick.
This pick was a great opportunity for the Celtics to build around Bird, who was named the 1979-80 Rookie of the Year.
It also was an era when teams coveted centers above all else. The game was played as close to the rim as possible, and the success of dominant big men such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and many others made teams prioritize finding elite centers.
Talented center Joe Barry Carroll was the top prospect in the 1980 draft. He had just finished an excellent season at Purdue with 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
The Celtics needed a young center and Carroll was the logical choice.
Celtics 75th Season: Golden State trades Robert Parish to Celtics
But Celtics general manager Red Auerbach had another idea. By all accounts, Auerbach really liked University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. But Auerbach knew he could get McHale later in the top 10 and didn't need to select him first overall.
So he traded the No. 1 and No. 13 picks to the Warriors for center Robert Parish and the No. 3 pick. The Warriors selected Carroll at No. 1 and Rickey Brown at No. 13. The Celtics took McHale.
How the trade worked for the Celtics...
The Celtics paired Parish and McHale with Bird to create the best frontcourt in league history. These three players played major roles in the Celtics winning five Eastern Conference titles (1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) and three NBA crowns (1981, 1984, 1986) before they left the team.
Parish was one of the most dependable players for the Celtics and the glue that kept the frontline intact. He didn't have to be the best player in Boston and settled into his role nicely. Parish averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over 14 seasons in Boston. He also played 78-plus games in 12 of those 14 years.
Parish had his No. 00 retired in 1998 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
McHale averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over 12 seasons with the Celtics. He is one the best low-post scorers of all time, constantly beating opponents with a robust repertoire of offensive moves. McHale won two Sixth Man of the Year awards, he was selected to six All-Defensive teams, the 1980-81 All-Rookie team and the 1986-87 All-NBA first team. He scored a career-high 26.7 points per game in 1986-87.
McHale had his No. 32 retired in 1994 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Both McHale and Parish were named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team earlier this season.
How the trade worked for the Warriors...
Carroll actually played pretty well to begin his career. He made the All-Rookie team in 1980-81 and averaged 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and one steal over his first four seasons. Carroll's impressive play didn't translate into team success, though, as the Warriors never finished better than third place in the Pacific Division during his six full seasons in Golden State.
The team made just one playoff appearance in Carroll's tenure. The Warriors defeated the Jazz in the first round of the 1987 playoffs before losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
Carroll earned the nickname "Joe Barely Cares" for what people saw as lackluster intensity/commitment. A contract dispute led Carroll to take his talents to Italy during the 1984-85 season. He returned to the Warriors the following season and was traded with to the Houston Rockets during the 1987-88 campaign.
The Carroll era in Golden State was ultimately a failure.
It was hard for Warriors fans to watch Parish and McHale dominate the 1980s and win titles with the Celtics while their team consistently missed out on the postseason entirely. Carroll didn't make the trade with the Celtics, but he couldn't escape being constantly compared to the two players who went to Boston in the deal.
Brown played just two-and-a-half seasons in Golden State and was out of the league by 1985. He never averaged more than 5.7 points per game as an NBA player.
Forward Jacob Toppin withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Kentucky basketball
The brother of Knicks forward Obi Toppin announced Tuesday he'll return to the Wildcats for another year.
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2022-06-02T13:44:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How trade with Warriors launched Celtics' Big 3 era, championships in 1980s
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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme on Wednesday announced that he will withdraw from the 2022 NBA draft and return to school for his senior year.
The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Timme, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in 32 games. He led the WCC in scoring and ranked 20th in the country in shooting among all Division I players.
He was among the prospects that participated in the draft combine, averaging 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and two assists in two scrimmage games. He measured in at 6 feet, 9.25 inches in shoes with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at the combine.
Timme was considered by some to be a second-round pick, but ultimately opted to return to school after receiving feedback from teams during the pre-draft process. He will now have the opportunity to improve his skillset next season.
With Timme back, the program will also return Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther next season as they each opted against the draft. The Zags now figure to have a strong chance to advance to the Sweet 16 for an eighth consecutive season with their top scorer back.
Timme had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw.
Arizona sophomore Dalen Terry to remain in NBA draft
Terry, who was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, averaged eight points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals last season.
DeAndre Williams will remain a Memphis Tiger for another season.
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2022-06-02T13:50:50Z
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Drew Timme will return to college basketball for senior year
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The Pittsburgh Steelers took another offseason blow on Wednesday when a longtime defensive starter unexpectedly stepped away. Stephon Tuitt, a fixture on the Pittsburgh defensive line for most of the last eight seasons, announced his retirement.
The team confirmed the retirement with a press release on social media, written by Tuitt himself. The 29-year-old cited the tragic passing of his brother in 2020 and his recent graduation from Notre Dame as inspiration to move on from his football life.
Tuitt did not play in 2021 after his brother, Richard, was killed in a car accident in June of that year. Before that, the former second-round pick had started 79 games in seven seasons. His final year, 2020, was Tuitt’s best: 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 TFLs.
Good luck to Tuitt as he begins his next chapter.
All-Pro safety Kevin Byard made clear at the start of Tennessee's offseason program that the Titans wanted to be the NFL's top defense. “I’m not going to necessarily put any great expectations, even though I said we’re trying to be the No. 1 defense,” Byard said Wednesday. The Titans earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season in large part because of how much better the defense played.
It’s the Houston Gamblers vs Tampa Bay Bandits this Sunday night at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Live coverage begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch/live stream the game. RELATED: 2022 USFL schedule Week 8 – How to watch/live stream this weekend’s spring football games Houston
Betting: 2022 AFC North Best Bets
Frank Schwab gives his best bets for the four teams in the AFC North for the 2022 NFL Season.
The Germany international will depart at the end of his contract this summer
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2022-06-02T13:51:01Z
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AFC North watch: Steelers lose defensive starter to early retirement
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After playing for the Bears and at the college level, Amber Tyndall is excited to coach the next generation of volleyball players at Gray's Creek.
Flyers don't sign Connor McClennon, lose the prospect's rights
The Flyers opted to not signgoal-scoring prospect Connor McClennon, making the 2020 sixth-round pick a draft-related unrestricted free agent. By Jordan Hall
Washington County Circuit Court Judge Dana Moylan Wright ruled to deny a petition filed by Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington, on Friday.
Michael Avenatti will be sentenced Thursday for cheating client Stormy Daniels, the porn actor who catapulted him to fame, of hundreds of thousands of dollars in book proceeds. At trial earlier this year, Avenatti represented himself, cross-examining his former client for hours about their experiences in early 2018, when she signed a book deal that provided an $800,000 payout. The book's publication came at a time when Avenatti's law practice was failing financially even as he appeared regularly on cable television news channels.
Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) hailed her as “the biggest star ever.“ The filmmaker was referring to Her Majesty The Queen, who on this day celebrates the seventieth anniversary of her being crowned sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Daldry made that comment to this reporter several years ago, during pre-production […]
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2022-06-02T13:51:06Z
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Aaron Rodgers finally found something that he’s better at than Tom Brady
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The importance of Sirianni keeping coaching staff together originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Change is inevitable, as the saying goes. But not every year.
Sometimes it makes sense just to keep things the way they are, and for Nick Sirianni it made sense to keep his coaching staff together for a second straight season.
And that's rare.
This is the first time in 17 years the Eagles have had no significant changes on their coaching staff from one year to the next.
Andy Reid had the same staff in 2004 and 2005, and every offseason since, at least one position coach or coordinator has changed.
It's not unusual for a Super Bowl team to keep the same staff simply because by the time its season is over in early February most openings around the league have been filled.
And in 2005, Brad Childress, Jim Johnson and John Harbaugh remained coordinators, Marty Mornhinweg, Pat Shurmur, Ted Williams, David Culley and Juan Castillo remained in place on the offensive side with Tommy Brasher, Steve Spagnuolo, Trent Walters and Sean McDermott on the defensive side.
This past offseason, three of Sirianni’s assistants were linked to possible promotions. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was up for head coaching jobs with the Texans, Broncos and Vikings; quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson interviewed for the Packers’ offensive coordinator position; and passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo was reportedly on the Bears’ radar for their offensive coordinator position, although he never actually interviewed as far as we know.
There’s a lot to be said for continuity, and a head coach bringing back his entire coaching staff for a second season is unusual but huge for returning players who don’t have to start over with a new position coach or coordinator. They don’t have to start from scratch figuring out what their coach is looking for in meetings and at practice, they don’t have to learn new ways of communicating on gameday, they don’t have to adjust to whatever methods of teaching every new coach is going to have.
The entire group can just pick up where they left off at the end of last year.
And it’s big for the coaches, too. As much time as they spend together studying film, crafting gameplans and teaching players, a second year together will only make that process smoother and more advanced.
It was clear by the end of last year that Sirianni had assembled a solid teaching staff and a group whose positivity and energy matched his.
To go from 2-5 in late October to the postseason speaks volumes not just about Sirianni but about his assistants. The Eagles became only the ninth team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after a 2-5 start and only the sixth to reach the playoffs with a winning record. That’s a direct reflection of what the coaching staff was able to build.
Now, it is fair to question the work of some of the assistants.
Aaron Moorehead has actually been here since Doug Pederson’s last season, and the performance of the wide receivers hasn’t been great, DeVonta Smith’s rookie year notwithstanding. But that could be more of a talent issue than a coaching issue. We’ll get a better feel for him this year now that he seemingly has a deep and talented cast to work with.
Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker’s unit seemed to underachieve much of the year, although Javon Hargrave and Josh Sweat did ultimately make the Pro Bowl as alternates.
And Michael Clay’s special teams group struggled in just about every area last year – in the return game, covering kicks and punts and obviously punting. He’s back for a second season as well.
But for the most part, this appears to be a good staff, and if the Eagles have another successful year, it’s going to be very hard for Sirianni to continue keeping them together.
Gannon is a lock for a head coaching job in the next year or two if the defense plays well, Johnson and Patullo are highly regarded offensive coaches who will likely have coordinator opportunities in the future, linebackers coach Nick Rallis, who’s just 27, will be in the conversation for defensive coordinator jobs in the next few years if his group plays up to expectations.
But for now, Sirianni is running it back with the same group, and considering the success the Eagles had last year, that looks like a pretty good idea.
Eagles rookies 2022: Facts about every member of the class
Here's a fun fact for every member of the Eagles' big rookie class. By Dave Zangaro
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen says there’s a special collection of talent on the field at Organized Team Activities. Allen said he’s the kind of competitor who always goes into a season optimistic about his team winning the Super Bowl, but that this year’s roster looks more loaded than ever. “Does it look different? Absolutely. [more]
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2022-06-02T13:51:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The importance of Nick Sirianni keeping Eagles coaching staff together
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https://sports.yahoo.com/importance-nick-sirianni-keeping-eagles-122303382.html?src=rss
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Leonard Floyd popped up on the Rams’ injury report a few times last season with an ankle issue, but he didn’t miss a single game. He played all 17 regular-season contests and was on the field for all four playoff games.
What most people didn’t know is just how severe the injury was. Floyd revealed on Wednesday that he had offseason surgery on his right ankle to repair the issue that he played through all year.
“I’m taking my time, coming back from a surgery. I’m looking forward to being back next week, doing a whole lot more,” he said. “I pretty much played the whole season, I had injured it in camp last year. Yeah, I battled through the whole season and got it cleaned up and I’ll be good to go this season.”
Floyd was still very productive for the Rams, recording 9.5 sacks and 18 QB hits. He likely would’ve put up even better numbers if he was fully healthy, which is why he’s looking forward to being back at 100% this season.
There were days last year when he could barely walk after practice.
“It’s a tough injury,” he said. “There was days after practice, I wouldn’t really be able to walk around the house. But you got to sacrifice if you want to win. We probably wouldn’t have gotten the Super Bowl if I didn’t play. So it’s part of the sacrifice and I’m glad I did it.”
Floyd has been a great addition to the Rams defense the last two years, recording 20 sacks, 37 QB hits, 18 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. His 20 sacks and two forced fumbles are more than he had in four seasons with the Bears.
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2022-06-02T13:51:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Leonard Floyd played through ankle injury all season, had surgery this offseason
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The Tennessee Titans are getting some much-needed salary cap relief on Thursday after the release of wide receiver Julio Jones finally processed.
The announcement of Jones being cut was made all the way back in March, but thanks to the move getting a post-June 1 designation, the money saved from cutting the veteran wideout didn’t officially come off the books until now.
Parting ways with Jones incurs a $2.8 million dead-cap hit for 2022, but it also saves a whopping $9.5 million, according to Over the Cap.
With that money added, the Titans have a healthy $13.5 million to work with, per OTC. Tennessee now ranks 13th in the NFL in terms of cap space.
So, what will the Titans do with their newfound money?
Well, for starters, there are two more draft picks that need to be signed in quarterback Malik Willis and cornerback Roger McCreary.
In addition to that, the Titans need veteran help at the wide receiver position, and it wouldn’t hurt to add more veteran competition for the two starting spots up for grabs along the offensive line at right tackle and left guard.
Whatever the case may be, the Titans now have some flexibility if they aren’t content with what they currently have on their roster, and we expect they’ll at least make a move at wide receiver.
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2022-06-02T13:51:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Titans’ updated cap space with Julio Jones off the books
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Linebacker Andre Smith from the Buffalo Bills has been suspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the infraction was performance enhancing drug (PED) related.
While suspended, Smith can still practice with the team during training camp and he can take part in Buffalo’s preseason games.
Once the regular season rolls around, the Bills coaching staff will then have to take Smith’s suspension into account.
Buffalo drafted the likes of Terrel Bernard (Round 3) and Baylon Spector (Round 7) at the 2022 NFL draft who might push Smith for playing time on special teams. Both Bernard and Spector are linebackers, however, with the nature of special teams, Smith will have to battle with depth players from other positions for a roster spot as well.
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2022-06-02T15:27:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bills LB Andre Smith suspended for six games
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Seeing a void at cornerback, the Los Angeles Rams brought back a familiar face this offseason by acquiring Troy Hill from the Cleveland Browns on the third day of the draft. Hill played well for the Rams in 2020 before leaving in free agency, and the Rams missed him in the secondary last season.
What makes Hill so valuable is his versatility, being able to play both outside and in the slot. It allows the Rams to move Jalen Ramsey around, too, knowing Hill can play any cornerback spot. Hill is at his best in the slot, however.
Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash ranked the NFL’s best slot corners in the NFL and Hill came in at No. 6 on the list. Treash notes that while Hill struggled with the Browns last season, he was excellent with the Rams when utilized in the slot. His 89.2 slot coverage grade in 2020 was the best among all players at that position.
He endured these struggles while watching his former team hoist the Lombardi Trophy. However, he was traded back to L.A. during the 2022 NFL Draft and will hope to be a key piece in the franchise’s title defense. While Hill’s versatility is important to the Rams, he should be playing most of his snaps on the inside and has the chance to get back to his previous elite standard in this system.
The Rams plan to move Hill around depending on where Ramsey lines up, using them almost interchangeably in the secondary. Having him back in the mix will prove beneficial for the Rams.
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2022-06-02T15:28:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Troy Hill ranked as 6th-best slot CB in NFL by PFF
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Hendrick Motorsports is returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the team announced Thursday.
The storied Cup Series organization will field the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in three Xfinity Series races this season, all at road courses throughout the summer.
Kyle Larson will pilot the car July 2 at Road America, Alex Bowman at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on July 30 and William Byron at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 20.
RELATED: Xfinity Series full schedule
“Our drivers are always looking for more opportunities to compete,” Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of HMS, said in a press release. “We believe the additional road-course experience on Saturdays (in the Xfinity Series) will translate well to Sundays (in the Cup Series). It will be exciting to see the No. 17 return to the race track for Hendrick Motorsports, and we‘ll do everything we can to take it back to Victory Lane.”
Hendrick has deep ties to the No. 17, fielding it for Darrell Waltrip from 1987-90 and claiming a Daytona 500 victory before running the same number in the Camping World Truck Series for Ricky Hendrick, the late son of team owner Rick Hendrick. The HendrickCars.com paint scheme used in Xfinity will be based on Ricky Hendrick‘s 2001 scheme from his rookie season in Trucks.
“It will be special to see the No. 17 back in action for Hendrick Motorsports,” Rick Hendrick said. “It‘s a great chance for Kyle, Alex and William to gain more time on the road courses to do even more with our HendrickCars.com sponsorship. I‘m looking forward to running the Xfinity Series again.”
Kevin Meendering will crew chief the part-time entry. Hendrick Motorsports has 26 Xfinity Series wins, winning its most recent race with Tony Stewart at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 80 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet.
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2022-06-02T15:45:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Hendrick Motorsports to enter three Xfinity Series races in 2022
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NASCAR returns to Sonoma Raceway for a June 10-12 weekend of racing, with a packed schedule awaiting fans visiting California’s wine country. The three-day festival includes events for the Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series West and a Cup Series main event — the Toyota/Save Mart 350 — on June 12 (4 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).
The weekend marks just the second road-course event of the year for the Cup Series so far, plus a return to a semblance of normalcy for the track after two-plus years of pandemic-related uncertainty. But it also marks a spot worth circling on the schedule as summer travel season approaches.
RELATED: Scenic views of Sonoma | Buy tickets now
To preview the race weekend, Sonoma Raceway executive vice president and general manager Jill Gregory sat down with NASCAR.com to discuss what to expect at the popular Bay Area facility.
2021 June3 Jill Gregory 1 Image
Q: Just for starters, this appears to be the first event back at Sonoma minus restrictions and COVID protocols and things of that nature. For those coming back, what’s new, and how ready are you guys to host fans back in earnest this year?
A: Well, I would say we’re not only ready, we can’t wait. I think that we all saw this in the past couple of years, that being in the live-event business whether you’re on the track side or on the NASCAR side, we missed that excitement of a full race weekend. And so for us, it will be the first one since 2019. So no events at all in 2020, and then at reduced capacity last year, and then the schedule itself was reduced even when we did have reduced capacity with fans last year. So we really haven’t gotten to take a crack at a full NASCAR weekend, and with all the kind of excitement and the fan experience focus this year, I think us being able to show off Sonoma Raceway to the fans and to the industry, we can’t wait. I mean, there’s a lot to do in the next several days, depending on which day you’re circling, but we can’t wait because it’ll be great to see everybody back here.
Q: When people do come back to Sonoma, they should be able to expect some familiar surroundings, but what’s new as well in terms of fan amenities? What else is kind of blending in with what’s existing?
A: So what we’re really trying to do is keep the things about Sonoma Raceway that everybody loves, which obviously is the setting, where they get to stay nearby and maybe taste some wine. But I think that we’re also kind of shaking the dust off a little bit, not having raced here for a while. There’s some things that needed some attention. So we’re going to bring back a lot of things that fans really loved about being here like the Patriot Jet Team air show, but we’ve got a little bit of a smaller footprint to focus on here. So we want to maximize everything that fans are going to get. We’re not only going to have a pre-race concert that has not been announced yet, but we’re going to have a concert each night. So we’ll have entertainment throughout the property.
We’re going to create different areas, so you know, if you’ve been out here before, you know that we’ve got a lot of ground to cover. So if you’re up on the hill in Turn 3, or you’re on Turn 9, it’s much different than what you see in the paddock. So you know, fans want to roam the whole facility, and they definitely can, but we’re also going to have entertainment and food and drink in each of those neighborhoods, if you will, so that if they don’t want to come down and they’re happy kind of hanging with their friends and having a cold one up on the Turn 9 terrace, that they have everything that they need right there. So I think we’re really trying to create an entire experience and not just have activities limited to the frontstretch or the grandstand. And I think that fans will see that probably as a big point of difference.
Carmen Mandato | Getty Images
Q: Road-course races tend to have a festival atmosphere, but some of what makes Sonoma a little bit different from other races seems to be how much of a destination event it is. There are a lot of surroundings to take in, but how do you describe it for someone who may not have been and is thinking about going?
A: It’s kind of the best of both worlds. You can have a racing-themed or a NASCAR-themed vacation, blended with what you might do on a normal three-day weekend. And you know, you get the best of both worlds because you can get your NASCAR fix on Saturday or Sunday, but then when you kind of return to your hotel or wherever you’re staying within the local community, you have amazing restaurants, you’ve got wine tasting, you can jump on a bike and ride around town in Sonoma or Napa, so I think that the race isn’t the only thing going on, which I think kind of gives fans a reason to circle it on our calendar, let alone the kind of the beautiful surroundings. What happens on track is always pretty exciting, but you also can kind of check two boxes by having a really nice non-racing experience.
Q: The Camping World Truck Series is back for the first time since 1998. What factored in to having that series make its return to Sonoma?
A: Well, we’ve always had a pretty standard schedule out here at Sonoma Raceway, and it did allow for a little more wine tasting during the Saturday afternoon hours. But we wanted to provide the fans with more content. We have a really robust group of fans camping who are very passionate, and they camp across the street in our campground called 50 Acres or up on the sides of the hills, which is great. So you know, they’re looking for content, and cars on the race track is what they want. So the Truck Series, the DoorDash 250 will be the first time that the Camping World Truck Series returns here since ’98 as you mentioned, but there are a ton of West Coast ties to the Truck Series and names like Hornaday and Harvick. Maybe some people don’t think of that immediately, but I thought when I got out here, wow, how great would it be to have the trucks out here. The racing would be incredible because a lot of those drivers — if not most, or all — probably were toddlers when this race was run here before. They’re gonna have to learn it on iRacing, and so how exciting is that going to be just kind of seeing them navigate this track.
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Q: Another returning feature is that the track is going back to the shorter 1.99-mile course layout with the chute there connecting Turns 4 and 7 as well. What went into that decision, and what also do you expect from that on the racing end?
A: It’s the fans, and we had a lot of feedback from them about running the longer course with the carousel. I think generally speaking, it was good, it was a novelty, it was something different. But overwhelmingly, there were requests for us to bring the chute back, and then we coupled that with some feedback from drivers. You know there will always be a differing opinion of each driver, depending on who you ask, but generally speaking, the drivers were interested in having the chute back also. So I think it’s something that provides more laps around the track, which means more opportunities for action in Turn 11, and action in Turn 4 with the new car going to test the limits up there at the top of the hill.
Q: Sonoma typically has some kickoff events in downtown San Francisco, and this has been a tradition since before your tenure started there. Why is it important to keep that going, and how has the city of San Francisco has really embraced Sonoma as a sports neighbor as well?
A: I think that was one thing that I looked at, having been an attendee at many of those San Francisco-based events in the past. I think that the connection, while Sonoma seems far away when you’re out here, we’re just 30 miles or so from San Francisco. I think being a part of the Bay Area sports community has been important for us. We’ve always been kind of a fixture on this weekend in the city, whether it’s been at Fisherman’s Wharf or at other key iconic locations. So we want to make sure to take advantage of that. and I think it’ll just be a great chance to kind of soak in the Bay Area before we head up to the track and the track surroundings.
Five fun facts about Elkhart Lake's Road America, Wisconsin's IndyCar and NASCAR racetrack
Here's a look at a few things that make Wisconsin's biggest racetrack interesting. Road America hosts IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA and more racing.
An estimated 500 guests from Hollywood’s cinematography community filed the DGA theater on Tuesday evening for the debut of leading motion picture camera maker ARRI’a Alexa 35, a 4K Super 35 successor to its popular Alexa Mini camera — and it has already attracted some leading cinematographers. This week three-time Oscar winning DP Robert Richardson […]
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2022-06-02T15:45:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Sonoma Raceway primed for NASCAR weekend: 'We're not only ready, we can't wait'
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https://sports.yahoo.com/sonoma-raceway-primed-nascar-weekend-092256000.html?src=rss
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Au Rev-Roy! Remembering the night Detroit Red Wings destroyed hated Colorado Avalanche
Editor's note: This story was originally published May 31, 2020, as the Free Press, to pass the time during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, wrote daily #FreepFlashback posts, paying tribute to iconic moments in Detroit sports history.
Eighteen years ago Sunday night, the Joe was rocking.
On May 31, 2002, the Detroit Red Wings rained seven goals on their nemesis, the Colorado Avalanche and goalie Patrick Roy, scoring six times on their first 16 shots en route to a 7-0 beatdown in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals at Joe Louis Arena.
The win catapulted the Hockey Gods into the Stanley Cup Final to meet the Carolina Hurricanes.
Detroit Free Press sports front page on June 1, 2002.
It was a shocking end to a fantastic series that saw three games decided in overtime. The Wings won Game 6, 2-0, in Colorado to force a seventh game on their home ice, and they did not disappoint.
Tomas Holmstrom scored 1:57 into the game, his first of two goals and one of four goals in the first period for Detroit.
Also scoring: Sergei Fedorov, Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull, Fredrik Olausson and rookie Pavel Datsyuk.
Roy left the net to jeers just 6:28 into the second period after allowing six goals on 16 shots.
Dominik Hasek saved all 17 shots he saw for the Wings.
The Avs were the defending Stanley Cup champions, and had owned the rivalry in recent postseason history:
2000 West semis: Colorado, 4-1
1997 West finals: Detroit, 4-2
1996 West finals: Colorado, 4-2
[ Mitch Albom flashback: Red Wings pound Patrick Roy, Avs to make 1997 Stanley Cup Finals ]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: On this date in Detroit Red Wings history: Au Rev-Roy!
Fox Sports, a few weeks after making a splash by announcing Tom Brady would be joining the network as an NFL analyst when his playing career is over, has confirmed its lead announcing talent for 2022. As expected, Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen have been named lead play-by-play announcer and analyst, replacing Joe Buck and […]
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2022-06-02T15:47:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Au Rev-Roy! Remembering the night Detroit Red Wings destroyed hated Colorado Avalanche
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https://sports.yahoo.com/au-rev-roy-remembering-night-133053793.html?src=rss
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