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Michigan finds itself in a quarterback controversy heading into fall camp between incumbent starter Cade McNamara and five-star sophomore JJ McCarthy.
McNamara led the Wolverines to 12-2 record last season while making it to Michigan’s first College Football Playoff appearance, where it lost to the eventual champion, Georgia.
Many people believe McNamara is more of a game manager type, but he put up solid stats last year for the maize and blue throwing for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Then you have the clamoring for the gun-slinger McCarthy to start the season. In spurts of playing time last year, the dual-threat quarterback threw for 516 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. McCarthy also showed off his running ability by rushing for 124 yards (4.6 yards-per-carry) and ran for two scores.
CBS Sports came out with an article on Thursday listing the top five quarterback rooms in the country. The Wolverines came in at No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State. Here’s what was said about the maize and blue.
The Wolverines are perhaps the only team in the country with three quarterbacks who could absolutely start in the Power Five. Cade McNamara led the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff with his reliable play but was later benched against Georgia after former five-star recruit J.J. McCarthy found success moving the ball. While McCarthy was primarily used in run packages, he threw for 131 yards and a touchdown in playoff relief. Strangely enough, that pushed former Texas Tech star Alan Bowman to third string. The Texan threw for more than 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns before transferring to Ann Arbor, and now can’t get off the bench. It’s an embarrassment of riches for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
As you can see, Alan Bowman was also mentioned in this article, but he has seen very little play in Ann Arbor. The former Texas Tech starter has thrown four total passes and has thrown for nine yards while throwing one interception.
Whoever starts game one against Colorado State will have earned the job, like Jim Harbaugh has said the best player will start. One thing that is certain though, the Wolverines are just fine at the quarterback spot, and Jim Harbaugh truly does have an embarrassment of riches.
The other two teams mentioned in the article were Georgia and LSU at four and five respectively.
Associated Press Maize and Blue Review has confirmed that Joey Baker will transfer from Duke to Michigan for his grad season. Jason Jordan was first to report on Twitter. BREAKING: Former #Duke wing Joey Baker will transfer to #Michigan for next season.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel detailed the state of his department's finances at a Board of Regents meeting Thursday afternoon.
The program, which opened last month, is free to attend with equipment also provided.
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2022-06-18T01:40:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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CBS Sports ranks the Michigan football QB room as one the best in the nation
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-ranks-michigan-football-165256594.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/cbs-sports-ranks-michigan-football-165256594.html?src=rss
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There’s a school in East Lansing that got rings for winning the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Pitt this past season, and put the score of its win over rival Michigan on the ring, as if it was meaningful. Turns out Michigan is following suit, to some degree, however the two scores the Wolverines included on their rings have a little more credence.
The maize and blue won the Big Ten for the first time since 2004 this past season, and they’ve finally been revealed. On the ring, it has the Big Ten trophy, the year, the name on the side, and the College Football Playoff logo on the other side. But near the top, it has the scores from the Big Ten Championship game against Iowa, and — you guessed it — the final of the Ohio State game.
Why is it more relevant? Because Michigan won the actual conference, rather than a bowl game against a team not playing its NFL-drafted quarterback, and beating Ohio State was the springboard that led the Wolverines to Indianapolis and then the College Football Playoff semifinal.
To some degree, this touches all the bases, gloating over a rival while celebrating a very meaningful trophy win.
The Young and the Restless - Digging Where There is Nothing to be Found
Summer and Phyllis discuss mending things with Diane.
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2022-06-18T01:40:44Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Michigan football unveils Big Ten championship rings, with a twist
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https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-unveils-big-ten-003721711.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-unveils-big-ten-003721711.html?src=rss
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Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon throws to first during a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics in March. Rendon hasn't lived up to his $245 million price tag. (Matt York / Associated Press)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani jogs on the field before Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Ohtani is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
Willson Contreras continues to try to uplift the Cubs amid a challenging season, and his presence benefitted Christopher Morel Friday.
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, interrupting his stellar season. Musgrove's 1.59 ERA ranks second in the majors, and he is 8-0 on the season, tied with four others for the major league lead in wins. Musgrove worked seven innings on Thursday as the Padres beat the Cubs 6-4 at Wrigley Field to complete a four-game sweep.
Trevor Story's two-run single
Trevor Story rips a single to right field, scoring J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts, extending the Red Sox's lead to 3-1
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2022-06-18T01:49:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Commentary: Anthony Rendon injury could complicate Angels' chances of re-signing Shohei Ohtani
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https://sports.yahoo.com/commentary-anthony-rendon-injury-could-003154143.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/commentary-anthony-rendon-injury-could-003154143.html?src=rss
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Draymond pinpoints how Kerr's coaching has evolved since 2014 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors have enjoyed resounding success since Steve Kerr became their head coach prior to the 2014-15 NBA season, but it hasn’t all been roses.
There have been struggles, too, and with Golden State back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019, his star forward Draymond Green reflected on how Kerr’s coaching style has evolved over the years.
“He’s continued to grow,” Green told reporters after practice on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Game 6 against the Boston Celtics. “I think the number one change I've seen in Steve is his trust in his coaching staff, I think that's continued to grow. And not that he didn't always trust his coaching staff because he has and it's always been an open-door policy since the day he's walked in here, but on a day-to-day basis, you can just see how he's delegated.
“The way he uses Mike Brown, the way he uses Kenny Atkinson, the way he uses Deckie [DeJan Milojevic], the way he uses Jama [Mahlalela] and CD [Chris DeMarco] and Jacob Rubin, and it's so on down the line.”
Golden State has won three NBA titles under Kerr, who turned to coaching and succeeded Mark Jackson as the Warriors’ coach after serving as an analyst for TNT. In his first season, Golden State went 67-15 and won more than 60 games for the first time in franchise history.
On the flip side, just five seasons later, Kerr and the three-time champion Warriors entered uncharted waters when they finished with a 15-50 record -- the worst in the NBA -- before the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The way Green sees it, Kerr’s experience through the tough times has allowed him to learn how to lean on those around him a little bit more these days.
“I think that is the growth and understanding, like, man, I am only as strong as this group that I have standing next to me, and the way that they built that group out, I think has been absolutely amazing,” Green said. “I think it's been a huge part to our run and I think one of my favorite things that he brings to the table, he's a guy that knows what he doesn't know.
“That's one of the best traits you can possess in this world, is being smart enough to know what you don't know and Steve is absolutely incredible at that. He leans on those guys for their strengths. I think that's huge.”
Brown joined Kerr’s staff in 2016, while Atkinson was a new addition prior to this season. Both will be gone next season, however, as Brown was selected as the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings and Atkinson will take the helm as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.
They certainly will be missed, because as Green pointed out, their insight has been invaluable to Kerr. But the Warriors coach has evolved on his own, too, into a calm and collected force of confidence and reason on the sideline -- huge traits for a coach who frequently finds himself in high-pressure situations.
RELATED: Kerr's funny reason for winning so many championship rings
“And his confidence in knowing we'll figure this out and we'll go make some adjustments and we're going to put you in the best position that we can to be successful, and just never being rattled,” Green added. “There are times where we get a little rattled as a team, and he's just right there, steady force, like hey, man, just calm down, settle down. And it wasn't always like that.
“It wasn't always where you never, ever see him rattled. He's just in these moments, that gives us so much confidence, when you walk in the huddle and when you walk into a team meeting and when you walk on the bus and he's just carrying himself with the confidence that he has, you feel invincible. That's a huge thing in our growth … you have coaches that give players confidence and you have coaches that don't, and I think he has really grown in that area where he just gives guys confidence and that's huge.”
The Warriors will need all the confidence they can get as they look to win their fourth NBA title under Kerr on Thursday night at TD Garden.
And no matter what happens, it’s clear that Kerr will use the outcome to grow for next season.
New Missouri Tigers men’s basketball coach Dennis Gates sets high bar in recruiting
Mizzou has contacted some of the nation’s top prospects about playing for the Tigers.
The in-season turnaround was improbable, but that doesn't take away from the sting of watching the Warriors win an NBA title at TD Garden Thursday night. Our Chris Forsberg shares his immediate reaction to what he just witnessed.
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2022-06-18T01:49:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Draymond Green on how Steve Kerr has evolved as Warriors coach since 2014
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https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-green-steve-kerr-evolved-170851407.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/draymond-green-steve-kerr-evolved-170851407.html?src=rss
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George Fant is going to be a fascinating storyline to watch going forward.
The New York Jets’ starting tackle had a solid 2021 season. He kicked from right tackle to the left side after Mekhi Becton’s injury and was a steady presence.
Fant, 29, is already looking to cash in.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of their top players, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, to a contract extension. The news hit Twitter, and Fant used his own account on the site to make his feelings known.
Responding to a message about Fitzpatrick’s deal, Fant replied: “Must be nice.”
Not exactly what someone happy would say:
Fant is entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed in New York. In April, Fant indicated his representatives and the team have had “some conversations” about an extension. It has yet to happen.
One potential holding up point might be Fant’s position moving forward. Fant had a career year on the left side but Becton is returning in 2022. Who will play where between the two?
According to Pro Football Focus, Fant recorded a a solid 71.1 mark last season with the Jets. That’s a solid grade from the football analytics outlet. In 15 starts, he only allowed one sack.
Former Iowa star Keegan Murray is expected to be the first Hawkeye drafted in the top 10 since Ronnie Lester in 1980.
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2022-06-18T01:49:33Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jets’ George Fant sends cryptic tweet regarding Minkah Fitzpatrick’s deal
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-george-fant-sends-cryptic-174932315.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-george-fant-sends-cryptic-174932315.html?src=rss
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Stephen A. Smith questions Tatum's 'Mamba Mentality' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
For the Boston Celtics to force a Game 7 vs. the Golden State Warriors and potentially raise Banner 18, Jayson Tatum needs to step it up.
The three-time All-Star has scored 20 or more points in four of the five NBA Finals games, but the point totals don't tell the whole story. He has yet to put together a truly dominant performance and his fourth-quarter struggles have proved costly. He's shooting just 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) in the final frame this series.
Ahead of Thursday night's must-win Game 6, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz with some criticism for Tatum. While he believes in the 24-year-old's superstar talent, Smith is turned off by a couple of Tatum's qualities.
"I have all the confidence in the world for him in the future," Smith said. "For this series, my number one problem with him is that he looks for the referees for help every play. Every single play. And it's gotten into his head. It's very annoying.
"Because you're looking at them and one minute he's shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. He's giving it to you. He can take you off the dribble. He's got a mid-range game. He's got a long-range game, He can finish at the basket. He can finish in the open court, plus he can defend. You know he belongs on the court with these guys. And then, he'll start off the game, he don't shoot for the first 10 minutes."
Host Michael Felger asked Smith whether he worries about Tatum's "killer instinct."
"Yes, without question," Smith answered. "I think he wants to have it, but talking about Kobe (Bryant) and the 'Mamba Mentality' is entirely different than being that dude.
"I have no doubt that he'll get there. Jayson Tatum is the future of this franchise, him and Jaylen Brown, and that's saying a lot because ya'll will be back here, make no mistake about it. Ya'll are that gifted."
Tatum will look to have his signature Finals performance in Thursday's do-or-die Game 6, which tips off just after 9 p.m. ET at TD Garden.
You can watch the full segment with Stephen A. Smith below:
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2022-06-18T01:49:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Stephen A. Smith has one strong criticism of Celtics' Jayson Tatum
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https://sports.yahoo.com/stephen-smith-one-strong-criticism-222800009.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/stephen-smith-one-strong-criticism-222800009.html?src=rss
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NFL Network to broadcast Jags’ preseason game vs. Falcons
However, that won’t be the only preseason game that is nationally aired with the Jags in it. They will also be on NFL Network for their Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons, which is their last preseason game.
The game will be an away game for the Jags as they will travel to Mercedes Benz Stadium. Kickoff for the game will be at 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The week leading into their game with the Falcons will be a busy one as the Jags will have joint practices with the Falcons heading into their meeting. The dates for those joint practices will be on Aug. 24-25, which is the Wednesday and Thursday before the game.
The Jags joint practices and game against Atlanta will be huge for the Jags’ evaluation process because final cuts are just three days after the game on Aug. 30. That means a lot of bubble players could be the ones getting looks in the game, though the practices could be used to help get the starters ready for the regular season.
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2022-06-18T03:34:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL Network to broadcast Jags’ preseason game vs. Falcons
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-network-broadcast-jags-preseason-022502469.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-network-broadcast-jags-preseason-022502469.html?src=rss
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The victory cigars hadn't been extinguished after the title-clinching win in Boston, the last celebratory bottles of Moet & Chandon hadn't been emptied, and the topic - can the Warriors win it again next season? - was already coming up. They have been installed by FanDuel Sportsbook as the favorites for the 2023 NBA title, and with Finals MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all back it would be foolish to think that their chance at a fifth championship in nine years isn't very real.
''It still has not been proven, that when we're whole, that anybody can stop it,'' Green said.
That's true, and that's why it makes sense for the Warriors to carry the burden of being favorites into next season. They know what it takes; they have as many championships in the last eight seasons - four - as the rest of the league combined. The last run that was better than this was put together by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, winning six in an eight-year span of the 1990's.
''They are all unique. They are all special,'' Kerr said. ''I think this one may have been the most unlikely just from the standpoint of where we've been the last couple years. A lot of unknowns.''
''And we ain't done,'' Thompson said early Friday while appearing on Green's podcast, The Draymond Green Show. ''That's the beautiful thing about it. We got these young bucks behind us and we got the same squad coming back? That's scary for the NBA.''
Green concurred. ''It is very scary,'' he said.
The Warriors had the NBA's worst record in 2019-20 in large part because of roster turnover - Kevin Durant, who was out that whole season while recovering from Achilles surgery, had just left for Brooklyn - and injuries. Thompson didn't play that season because of a knee injury suffered in the final game of the 2019 finals. Curry played in just five games. It was the reset year.
''You don't want to see us next year,'' Curry said when the 2020-21 season ended.
Thompson came back in January and the Golden State goal was clear - win it all, again. The Warriors have played 24 playoff series with Curry, Thompson and Green together in the last eight years. They've won 22 of them; the exceptions being the 2016 and 2019 finals, when injuries took a toll.
''I saw it in the beginning of season,'' Thompson said. ''People called me crazy. I said `Championship or bust' because I saw how we came out of the gate, 18-2. And playing just that Warriors brand of basketball that made us so successful, and then knowing I was going to be inserted in that, I knew we had a chance to do something special, and here we are. It's so incredible. Wow.''
It'll be just like old times. For many Warriors, it'll be a first. For the old guard, the core of four-time champions like Curry, Green and Thompson - plus Andre Iguodala, if he decides to postpone retirement for one more year - it'll be familiar territory.
''I think this one is definitely different because of the three years of baggage we carried coming out of that Game 6 in 2019,'' Curry said. ''I can say it now: I don't know how many teams could carry that as long as we have with the expectations of comparing us now to teams of past and make it to the mountaintop again.''
Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals was an exorcism for the Lakers, as they beat the Celtics in a Game 7 for the first time to win it all.
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2022-06-18T04:49:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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'We ain't done': NBA champion Warriors already looking ahead
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https://sports.yahoo.com/aint-done-nba-champion-warriors-201432948.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/aint-done-nba-champion-warriors-201432948.html?src=rss
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The Baltimore Ravens have built up a good amount of depth over the course of the 2022 offseason. After going through an injury-filled 2021, the team is making sure that they have plenty of quality playmakers at a plethora of different positions.
On Friday, the team announced that they signed linebacker Steven Means. The veteran was at Baltimore’s mandatory minicamp on a tryout basis, and clearly did enough to earn a roster spot and a chance to try to work his way onto the final team.
Means was a fifth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in the 2013 NFL draft, but was released following his rookie season. He then spent parts of 2014 and 2015 with the Ravens, and has also had stints with the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons.
Through seven seasons playing in the NFL, Means has totaled 107 total tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles.
Though protein and creatine supplements can help with muscle building, research does not show HMB and beta-alanine supplements to do the same.
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2022-06-18T05:04:57Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens sign LB Steven Means
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-sign-lb-steven-means-032401256.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-sign-lb-steven-means-032401256.html?src=rss
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He went down but eventually was able to walk off the field after manager Scott Servais and a trainer checked on him. Per the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish, Servais relayed that Upton "never lost consciousness and was talking (with Servais) and the trainers the whole time."
After the game, Lorenzen put the blame for the incident at the feet of Major League Baseball.
pic.twitter.com/Q3Xay1rCEa
"I don't know what Major League Baseball is playing with these baseballs, but that fully slipped out of my hand," Lorenzen said, via SoCal News Group's Jeff Fletcher. "It's just crazy man. As a kid you think Major League Baseball is the greatest thing ever, and you get here and you realize, what are they doing? All of a sudden they're going to change the baseballs...
"These baseballs are slick. They did get someone hurt. So that's on Major League Baseball for sure. I don't know what's going on. These baseball's are straight out of the package."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mariners' Justin Upton leaves game after being hit in helmet by pitch
Robbie Ray lost a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning on a grounder that bounced off his own glove in the Seattle Mariners' 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Ray lost his bid when Max Stassi hit a high chopper toward the mound that went right over the pitcher's head. Ray finished the seventh and came back out for the eighth, when Juan Lagares led off with a triple and scored on Andrew Velazquez's double.
Jesús Aguilar and Jesús Sánchez were placed on the injured list Friday by the Miami Marlins, who did not specify why. Manager Don Mattingly said he couldn’t talk about the medical issues of Aguilar and Sánchez,, who rank third and fourth on the Marlins in homers. Aguilar has played in a team-high 58 games.
LONDON (AP) — British health officials reported another 50 cases of monkeypox across the country on Friday, for a total of 574 cases. That makes the U.K.’s outbreak the biggest to date beyond Africa. In a statement, Britain’s Health Security Agency said most of the cases have been identified in gay or bisexual men, but…
Tell me again why she was shamed for doing things like changing her name, which half of Hollywood also does.View Entire Post ›
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2022-06-18T05:57:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Mariners' Justin Upton hit in helmet by pitch; Pitcher Michael Lorenzen blames MLB for slick baseballs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/mariners-justin-upton-hit-helmet-050918307.html?src=rss
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The Talk - 'Jurassic World Dominion': Bryce Dallas Howard on 'stunts'; Ditching 'dieting' and Laura Dern Scene.
Bryce Dallas Howard dishes on "Jurassic World Dominion" Thursday on "The Talk". Howard shares of her character, Claire, has changed since she stepped into the franchise in 2013. Quite a bit, because my character in the beginning of the franchise....she's pretty much a villain, and then goes through a significant journey and evolution. That's of course wonderful and great and exactly what you want to do as an actor. But for me personally, I'm a very physical person, and I love getting to do stunts, and I love having those kinds of physical goals where theres a skill set that you get to learn or something like that. And so, as more of these movies happened, they sort of tailored that more to me, which was really wonderful. And then something else which was so huge, is that between the first movie and the last movie I stopped dieting. I'll never diet again as long as I Iive. And so, I had nutrition, and you can do more stunts when you have food, and so I really felt by the final film, I felt kind of like my most empowered as a person. On her scene with Laura Dern, Howard says, "Getting to do this scene together where we're faced with a bunch of just very disgusting bugs it was so fun."
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2022-06-18T07:52:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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World Cup: Here’s a look at ticket prices for the event
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https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-look-ticket-prices-212210361.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-look-ticket-prices-212210361.html?src=rss
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Kerr jokes he'll hold Wiggs accountable for rebounds next year originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Andrew Wiggins has emerged as a big-game hero for the Warriors during their run to the NBA Finals, but there’s one aspect of his game in the playoffs that has surprised coach Steve Kerr.
Just two days removed from Wiggins’ critical double-double in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center, Kerr told reporters after practice on Wednesday that the 27-year-old forward has really stepped it up on the glass.
“Just the rebounding,” Kerr said when asked if Wiggins’ postseason run has surprised him. “Everything else, he’s always scored well since he’s been in this league, he’s been a good defensive player. He’s really established with us over the last couple years that he's a key defender for us. So none of that has surprised me.”
Before his Game 5 performance, Wiggins put up a separate two-way performance in Game 4 with what might have been an even more important double-double to help the Warriors tie the series at two games apiece.
His 16 rebounds in Game 4 were a career high, far surpassing his previous high of 11 rebounds.
In true Kerr fashion, he made it a point on Wednesday to poke fun at Wiggins for his newfound role as a bully on the boards.
“The rebounding surprised me. He's really turned it up in every series,” Kerr said before continuing with a smile. “I'm 100 percent going to hold that against him next year in the regular season. If he's not rebounding, I'm going to remind him he's proven it now, so there's no excuse.”
In the Finals, Wiggins nearly is averaging a double-double with 9.4 rebounds to go along with his 18.4 points through five games. Throughout the 2022 NBA playoffs as whole, he’s averaging 7.6 rebounds in 21 games.
RELATED: Steph happy to see 'shining' Wiggs rewrite his own narrative
After incredible showings in back-to-back Finals games, it’s clear that Wiggins has evolved his game to now serve as a threatening force on the glass.
And while Kerr appears to expect much of the same next season, Dub Nation certainly is hoping for another exceptional Wiggins performance Thursday night as the Warriors look to win their fourth NBA title in eight seasons at TD Garden.
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2022-06-18T09:21:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Andrew Wiggins' rebounding has surprised Steve Kerr in 2022 NBA playoffs
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https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-rebounding-surprised-steve-184541106.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/andrew-wiggins-rebounding-surprised-steve-184541106.html?src=rss
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White Sox Astros Baseball
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon needs surgery on his right wrist and once again will have a season cut short by an injury. The 32-year-old has played in just 155 of the Angels’ 384 games during the first three seasons of the $245 million, seven-year deal he signed before the 2020 season. Rendon batted .228 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 45 games this season.
Max Schrock was set to make the Reds' Opening Day roster after an impressive spring camp before he was derailed by a calf injury.
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2022-06-18T12:27:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Brantley's slam highlights 10-run 6th as Astros down Chisox
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https://sports.yahoo.com/brantleys-slam-highlights-10-run-031604366.html?src=rss
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Camping World Truck Series qualifying heat lineups for Knoxville
Before Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Clean Harbors 150 goes green at Knoxville Raceway, four qualifying heat races will set the 36-truck starting lineup for the main event. The first of the heats is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with the 150-lap headliner set for a 9 p.m. ET start time — all […]
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2022-06-18T12:27:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NASCAR Saturday schedule at Knoxville Raceway
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-saturday-schedule-knoxville-raceway-110043713.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-saturday-schedule-knoxville-raceway-110043713.html?src=rss
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If you're ever at a golf tournament, never ever pick up a golf ball lying on the ground, no matter how far from the fairway you may be. You never know when it might be a live ball.
Jon Rahm was putting the finishing touches on a strong-but-not-spectacular round on Thursday at the U.S. Open. On the 18th tee, Rahm's drive went wide left ... so, so, so wide left, so far that it ended up on the far side of hospitality tents, over near a pedestrian walkway.
Rahm knew he'd be dropping for a better shot. But when he arrived at the location of his shot, he found ... nothing at all. His ball was gone. And off in the distance, a couple of suspicious characters were apparently running away.
"I'm pretty sure I know who it was. I recognized the two kids that were running the opposite way with a smile on their face," Rahm laughed. "I am 100-percent sure I saw the two kids that stole it."
Of course, it was a lot easier to laugh after he managed to birdie the hole, thanks to a strong approach and a 30-foot putt. Rahm ended the day at -1, two strokes off the clubhouse lead.
And a couple of his fans went home with a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Jon Rahm of Spain reacts on the 14th green during round one of the 122nd U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club on June 16, 2022 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
A former vice presidential aide, Gregory Jacob, and a former US circuit judge, J Michael Luttig, testified on Thursday afternoon, June 16, before the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.In his testimony, Jacob said he advised Pence against delaying the vote count to certify the 2020 election, telling him he would be breaking the law. Jacob detailed how John Eastman, former Chapman University law professor, proposed the idea to delay the vote until the next day.“When Mr Eastman came in, he said, ’I’m here to request that you reject the electors,’” Jacob told the committee on Thursday. “So, on the 4th, that had been the path that he had said, ’I’m not recommending’ […] but on the 5th he came in and expressly requested that.”Jacob said Eastman encouraged Pence to delay the vote in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol. Credit: CSPAN via Storyful
Megan Thee Stallion Wants Her Alleged Shooter Tory Lanez To 'Go To Jail'
Hip-Hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion says she wants fellow rapper and former friend Tory Lanez, who allegedly shot her in July of 2020, to go to jail. “I want him to go to jail,” Megan told Rolling Stone in an extensive interview. “I want him to go under the jail.” Lanez, 29, has vehemently denied shooting Megan and pleaded not guilty to felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, personal use of a firearm and carrying an unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The trial is slated to star
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2022-06-18T12:27:30Z
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U.S. Open: Two kids run off with Jon Rahm's ball
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Running back Kareem Hunt is heading into the final year of his contract with the Browns and he’s hoping it won’t be his last deal with the team. Hunt said that his agent has spoken to the team “a little bit” about an extension that would keep him from hitting the open market in 2023 [more]
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2022-06-18T14:00:22Z
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Browns mentioned in multiple trade possibilities before training camp
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Beginning the 10th with a runner on second base, the Guardians scored on a sacrifice fly. The Dodgers had the speedy Trea Turner on second to start the bottom of the inning, but Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy and Justin Turner couldn't advance him to third let alone score him.
“We barreled a lot of baseballs in the first four innings and didn't have anything to show for it,” Roberts said. "After that, we just couldn’t string anything together. There were some situational at-bats where we weren’t productive. That was the difference in the game.”
Betts took a shot to the ribs on his right side Wednesday against the Angels when he collided with Bellinger while chasing a pop fly. Betts finished the game, but the pain lingered Friday and Roberts said he'll take a CT scan.
"I want to pick up where I left off," he said.
Many Dodgers players attended the gala with their spouses and partners. The event, which hadn't taken place the last two years because of the pandemic, raised $3.6 million.
"Everyone turned out," Roberts said. "Everyone was dressed to the nines, the concert was great and we made a lot of money for a good cause."
C.J. Cron belted a pair of two-run homers and Randal Grichuk crushed a three-run jack in the Rockies' 10-4 win against the Padres
Ty France's three-RBI night lifts Mariners to win
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2022-06-18T14:00:29Z
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Clayton Kershaw's sharp outing wasted by Dodgers' lackluster offense in loss
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The 70-year-old visitor had previously attended some services at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church before police say he showed up for a potluck dinner, pulled out a handgun and fatally shot three of the elderly participants, one of whom died in his wife's arms as she whispered words of love in his ear. Church members were spared further violence Thursday evening when one of them rushed the gunman, struck him with a chair and held him until police arrived, a former pastor said. The suspect, Robert Findlay Smith, was charged with capital murder Friday, the Jefferson County district attorney announced.
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2022-06-18T14:00:41Z
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NFL: Jets WR Garrett Wilson learns about Rookie Dinner
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It seems Penn State will be walking into a color-coordinated Michigan Stadium later this fall. When Penn State makes a road trip to Ann Arbor to face the defending Big Ten champions, they will do so in front of a maize out in Michigan Stadium.
Michigan announced its home game against the Nittany Lions on Saturday, Oct. 15 will be the school’s official maize out game for the 2022 season. The kickoff time for the game has yet to be announced, but Michigan fans are already expressing some of the same concerns as Penn State fans did recently with its White Out Game; this probably will not be a night game.
Michigan already has a primetime game in Michigan Stadium secured for a home game against Hawaii in Week 2, but there are rumors suggesting a second home night game will be used for a late October clash with in-state rival Michigan State. Considering TV networks essentially run the schedule at this point, the suspicion is FOX may pluck the Michigan-Penn State game for its lineup on Oct. 15, with the possibility of a Big Noon Kickoff entirely on the table.
The biggest game of the day in the Big Ten, arguably Wisconsin playing at Michigan State, is already locked into a 3:30 timeslot with a network to be determined. For FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, the Michigan-Penn State game is a strong candidate. The next best option for FOX would be in the Big 12 with Iowa State visiting Texas.
So it is looking very possible Penn State could be walking into a noon maize out and hosting a noon stripe out a couple of weeks later when the Buckeyes come to Happy Valley.
Penn State’s White Out game was confirmed for its home game against Minnesota on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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2022-06-18T14:15:45Z
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Michigan plans maize out against Penn State, but kickoff time could be early
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Penn State started the weekend with some good news on the recruiting trail. Tyriq Blanding, a Class of 2023 defensive lineman from New York, announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Friday evening.
Blanding appeared to be narrowing his search down to Penn State and Michigan. Blanding took an official visit to Penn State’s campus last weekend and was originally scheduled to make an official visit to Michigan next weekend. That official visit to Ann Arbor has now been canceled as Blanding has settled on his decision.
Blanding is a three-star recruit from New York who is ranked the No. 1 recruit in the state of New York by the 247Sports composite ranking (247Sports’ own ranking rates him No. 3 overall in the state).
The addition of Blanding to the Penn State Class of 2023 is a nice rebound after having a commit recently flip his commitment from Penn State to Georgia. Offensive lineman Joshua Miller flipped his commitment to the reigning national champions just days prior to Blanding’s announcement.
Blanding joins a Class of 2023 lineup that currently consists of four-star defensive end Jameial Lyons as the only other defensive lineman in the recruiting class to date. Penn State has also added to the defense with cornerback Lamont Payne and safety Conrad Hussey. Much of the effort in the Class of 2023 has been focused on the offensive side of the football.
Penn State’s Class of 2023 currently has 13 commitments and continues to be highly-ranked in the nation.
Clemson has hired Michigan's Erik Bakich to revive a baseball program that had missed two straight NCAA Tournaments for the first time in more than three decades. Bakich replaced Monte Lee, who was fired after seven seasons. The school announced Bakich's hiring Thursday.
From Eleven's arrest to Max's excellent skills of deduction, we've chosen the highlights and lowlights of Netflix's latest season of the sci-fi show.
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2022-06-18T14:15:58Z
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Penn State lands Tyriq Blanding to Class of 2023 haul
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Penn State got a jumpstart on a mid-June weekend feeling good. Class of 2023 defensive lineman Tyriq Blanding, one of the top recruits from New York, moved up his original commitment date to announce he has decided to commit to Penn State and cancel his scheduled official visit to Michigan. Not a bad way for James Franklin to head into the weekend.
The latest addition to the Class of 2023, which comes the same week the Nittany Lions had a commitment flip his decision to Georgia, resulted in a slight uptick in the national recruiting rankings. And, once again, Penn State sits atop the rest of the Big Ten in the Class of 2023 for the time being.
According to the updated 247Sports composite rankings, which were updated shortly after Blanding’s announcement, Penn State now owns the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation. Only Notre Dame (No. 1) and Texas Tech (No. 2) currently sit ahead of the Nittany Lions in the Class of 2023. Penn State jumped ahead of Cincinnati (No. 4) and Northwestern (No. 5) following the latest update to the composite rankings. Penn State was previously ranked No. 5 earlier in the week after losing Joshua Miller’s commitment to Georgia.
There was some other movement in the recruiting rankings within the top 10 just in the past few days. Ohio State moved from No. 6 down to No. 8 while Georgia moved up from No. 9 to No. 7. Clemson is sitting at No. 6 and Arkansas and Michigan State round out the current top 10.
Time will tell just how high Penn State’s recruiting class remains as the recruiting calendar continues to play out. As a reminder, there is a long way to go and there are some recruiting heavyweights who have yet to really hit their stride. For example, Alabama is currently ranked No. 47 in the updated recruiting rankings, below Illinois and Vanderbilt. That won’t stay that way.
But regardless, Penn State continues to look to be in a solid position to follow up a high-quality Class of 2022 with a very respectable Class of 2023.
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2022-06-18T14:16:04Z
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Penn State moves up in 247Sports Class of 2023 rankings after latest commit
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Following an offseason of change that saw the departures of key veterans, the Chicago Bears have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially for Matt Eberflus’ defense, which has historically succeeded with young players in place.
Eberflus told reporters last week at mandatory minicamp that he’s not afraid to play younger players, which is the antithesis of former head coach Matt Nagy.
“We’re not afraid to put young guys in there and let them go and let them play,” Eberflus said.
That mindset has to do with Eberflus’ system, which relies on fundamentals and techniques that puts young players in a position to thrive.
“If you look back at our system, we have played young players fast, and they have played very well,” Eberflus said. “That’s what the system does. It’s a system where we rely on techniques and fundamentals and the coach/player relationship, and that’s important to us. It’s a partnership, and we’ve been able to do that.”
The Bears have some key veterans in place, including linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson. But they also have plenty of young talent on the roster that’s going to be key to the success of the defense. That includes top draft selections cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker.
They Said It: Best sound bites from Bears minicamp
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2022-06-18T15:18:31Z
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Bears’ Matt Eberflus says his defense has led to young players finding success
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Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was initially scrutinized by fans after the team had an abysmal defense in 2019. Part of this was due to scheme issues, but more so a lack of talent on that side of the ball.
Since then, Joseph’s defense has continuously improved until at one point last season, they were easily a top-five unit in the league. When the Cardinals had a healthy J.J. Watt paired with Chandler Jones up front, the team was elite at taking the ball away.
Pro Football Focus released their top defensive playcallers in the NFL and Joseph did not make the cut.
Joseph is highly regarded in the league circles as he received serious head coach considerations by the Miami Dolphins prior to hiring Mike McDaniel. When healthy last season, his defense was one of the best. Still, he did not make the list.
Those included in this list included Leslie Frazier, Dan Quinn, Dennis Allen, Raheem Morris, Josh Boyer and Joe Berry.
Part of the defensive improvement since Joseph’s hiring is certainly the improved personnel. This year, however, the defense lost a few key pieces and the front office has yet to replace them. Joseph’s ability to maintain continuity without the likes of Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks and potentially Robert Alford.
Joseph’s main criticism from some fans has been his lack of using the team’s previous two first-round selections during their rookie years, those being linebackers Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons. In last year’s playoff game against the Rams, both were seemingly limited in playing time.
The Cardinals are going to need Joseph to help replicate the successes from last season, possibly without a No. 1 edge rusher and other question marks on the roster.
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2022-06-18T15:18:38Z
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Cardinals DC Vance Joseph not mentioned in PFF’s top defensive playcallers list
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A 2015 second-round draft pick (46th overall) by San Francisco, Tartt will immediately compete for a starting role opposite Anthony Harris.
Tartt’s addition provides a big boost to the depth chart and provides an interesting dynamic from a competition standpoint.
Here’s a breakdown of the added depth.
He’ll immediately compete with Marcus Epps for the safety role opposite Anthony Harris and it gives Jonathan Gannon another option in his hybrid scheme.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Eagles chose Harris over Rodney McLeod, re-signing the safety to a one-year deal.
A leader in the secondary, Harris finished the 2021 season with 72 total tackles, two for loss, three passes defended, and an interception.
Epps was one of the highest-graded safeties in the NFL last season while playing in a limited role and the expectation is that his production should increase with more snaps.
The addition of Tartt shows that Howie Roseman isn’t entirely convinced and wanted to add more value to the position.
The wildcard of the group, Wallace bulked up this offense and he’ll look to finally land a consistent spot on the depth chart.
A 2020 fourth-round pick, Wallace has started six games in two years while struggling to stay healthy and play with any consistency. A mid-round pick with no guarantees, he’ll need to flash that Clemson pedigree or risk being an early cut candidate.
(AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Chachere is returning to the Eagles, agreeing to a one-year deal with the veteran cornerback instead of tendering him as a restricted free agent.
He appeared in 16 games last season, making one start while logging 15 tackles on 56 total snaps. A special team’s dynamo, Chachere could find a role at safety in 2022, and a new deal heading into 2023.
A former Crimson Tide safety who entered the league with San Francisco, Mayden signed to the Eagles’ practice squad on October 26, making one appearance against the Giants.
The 6-foot, 205-pound Mayden comes from an athletic family, and at Alabama, he played in 36 games (11 starts) from 2016-19. In his final season on campus, Mayden started 11 of 12 games and hauled in four interceptions to rank second in the SEC.
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2022-06-18T15:18:50Z
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Eagles’ depth at safety gets a big boost with the addition of Jaquiski Tartt
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A lot of people out there are doubting Derrick Henry’s future viability after the Tennessee Titans star running back missed half the 2021 regular season because of a foot injury.
But Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson isn’t one of them.
Dickerson was recently a guest on “The Pivot” podcast and was asked to name his top five running backs in the NFL. Topping his list was Henry.
Here’s Dickerson’s complete top five:
There has been a ton of hype surrounding Taylor after having a phenomenal season and winning the rushing title in 2021, and so much so that many are labeling him the best running back in the NFL.
However, lest we forget that Henry was among the most dominant players in the entire NFL dating back to his late-season run in 2018, and he was well on his way to winning a third-straight rushing title and breaking the 2,000-yard mark for a second time before his injury in 2021.
In fact, Henry wasn’t knocked out of the top five until late December despite suffering his injury in October, and he still managed to finish No. 9 in yards even though he missed nine games.
Betting against Henry is a bad idea, and he’s well aware of the doubts about him going into 2022, something he uses as further motivation.
“I get motivated by anything,” Henry said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “Someone could motivate me and wouldn’t even know it… The doubters, whatever they want to be, I am definitely motivated and ready to go. We’re going to see.”
Until we see Henry’s downfall and sustained success from Taylor, we aren’t ready to cede The King’s crown as the best running back in the NFL. We fully expect him to bounce back and return to his dominant ways in 2022.
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2022-06-18T15:18:57Z
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Eric Dickerson isn’t sleeping on Derrick Henry ahead of 2022
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has had football running through his veins ever since he was born.
His father, Michael Pittman Sr., spent 11 years as a running back in the NFL playing the majority of his career with the Arizona Cardinals (1998-2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-2007). He also spent a season with the Denver Broncos in 2008.
Pittman Jr. knew he always wanted to play football but he didn’t realize how accomplished his father truly was until he was around high school age.
“I always thought it was what I was going to do because to me football was normal,” Pittman Jr. said in an interview with ESPN. “I didn’t think my dad was special because he played in the NFL. It was just there since I was born. I didn’t really appreciate it until I got around 14 or 15, and then it sunk in that my dad really played in the league for 11 years.”
While Pittman Jr. wanted to be a running back like his father, the latter saw where the game was headed in regards to the position, and suggested his son work at wide receiver.
“Junior was stuck on playing running back because that’s what I played,” Pittman Sr. said. “He was very good at running back, but seeing your child and where the game was going, he was going to be tall, so that’s why I told him he was going to be a receiver.”
The position switch turned out to be the right move, and Pittman Sr. made sure his son was surrounded by those who have lived the NFL life. It’s part of the reason why Pittman Jr. transferred from Valencia High School to Oaks Christian High School because former NFL wide receiver Mike Sherrard was a part of the coaching staff, according to ESPN.
Pittman Jr. is on the verge of another successful season now being able to work with veteran Matt Ryan. Having that NFL blood in his veins could help him continue to ascend up the list of premier wide receivers across the league.
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2022-06-18T15:19:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How Michael Pittman Jr.’s father helped prepare him for NFL
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Three of the top players on the team to miss most, if not all, of the season were running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, as well as offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Following the final day of Baltimore’s mandatory minicamp, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided updates on each of the three players, saying that they’re all doing great.
Yes, Ronnie [Stanley] is … I’d say they’re all on schedule, but what is the schedule? The knee injuries are a little tougher to say what the schedule really is. So, [if] you talk to J.K. [Dobbins], he’s the starting running back today, [and] he should have been practicing today, but he’s got work to do still, [and] so does Gus [Edwards]. But they’re both doing great. We’ll see how they look when they come back and all that. Ronnie [Stanley’s] ankle is looking great. Ronnie’s mission right now would be to get in the best shape of his life and get ready to play football, and that’s what he’s been working on.”
Dobbins and Edwards both suffered torn ACL injuries right before the 2021 season was slated to begin, while Stanley only played in one game last year due to the ankle injury he suffered in 2020. Baltimore’s offense missed each of their skillsets in a big way.
It’s important that each is able to return to the field at full strength and not be rushed back, and it seems as if the Ravens are taking the cautious approach, which is the smart thing to do. It sounds like the recoveries of Dobbins, Edwards and Stanley are going well, but Harbaugh said that although each has a chance to return for the start training camp, it’s too early to tell if any of them actually will.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shared his impressions of RBs Mike Davis and Tyler Badie
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2022-06-18T15:19:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens HC John Harbaugh shares updates on J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Ronnie Stanley
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The Tennessee Titans experienced a defensive revival in 2021, mostly thanks to a vaunted front four that was among the best in the NFL at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
The group was led by Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and Harold Landry, all of whom combined for 29.5 sacks. Bud Dupree also chipped-in three sacks, but it was clear he wasn’t himself until late in the season after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2020.
Going into 2022, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey ranks Tennessee’s defensive line at No. 10 in the NFL. Here’s Linsey’s take on Tennessee’s group.
With the Titans returning all but one starter on defense in 2022, they figure to be at least as good as last season, and the potential is there for the pass-rush unit to be even better if Dupree can return to form for a full season.
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2022-06-18T15:19:28Z
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Titans land in top 10 of Pro Football Focus’ defensive line rankings
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EXCLUSIVE: John Ortiz is set for a key recurring role opposite Vince Vaughn in Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence. He replaces Arturo Luis Soria who had been originally cast in the role. Based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel, Bad Monkey tells the story […]
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2022-06-18T15:36:01Z
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Bill Madden: Pitching and defense the reason Yankees on historic pace
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WHAT PAPA KNEW: Local sports-related people pay tribute to dad
The Golden State Warriors won their first NBA championship since 2018. Klay Thompson missed most of two seasons coming into this season.
The evolution of hockey fandom in Denver, including the city's first NHL team – the Colorado Rockies
The story of hockey in Denver is much longer than a franchise relocating from Quebec. We speak with Terry Frei, a longtime journalist and author who covered the first Denver NHL team – the Colorado Rockies – back in 1977.
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2022-06-18T15:36:14Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steph’s sizzle and LeBron’s lament: 20 things I learned from the NBA playoffs
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Larry Bird's 1981 Celtics featured in-season All-Stars Tiny Archibald and Robert Parish, and a 23-year-old Kevin McHale coming off the bench. Magic Johnson's 1982 Los Angeles Lakers boasted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Bob McAdoo, not to mention All-Star Norm Nixon, all aged 26-34. Tim Duncan and Dwyane Wade, respectively, shared the spotlight with David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal, both 33 at the time for the 1999 San Antonio Spurs and 2006 Miami Heat. That is the under-25 list in the last 50 years.
"We went from a below-.500 team, average team, to putting it together," said Al Horford, the only Celtic older than 30. "I want us to keep perspective on how much growth Jayson and Jaylen had this year. There's a lot of responsibility on their hands. They took it in stride. They made adjustments. They improved. They grew as players. But, as you can see, there's still a lot of growth and a lot of work for all of us. The Warriors definitely were on a different level. It's something that we have to accept, and we all have to grow."
"You can't afford to be in a tight situation, especially with Boston having some issues at times at the free throw line," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says.
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2022-06-18T15:36:33Z
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'We'll be back': Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the fuel of NBA Finals defeat
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Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal
With the youngest roster in baseball entering 2022, the Guardians knew they'd have to rely on young players stepping up if they expected to contend.
But perhaps nowhere has the Guardians' youth showed up in bigger ways than in the bullpen, a group that entered the year with a wealth of uncertainty.
Emmanuel Clase was locked into his role as the club's closer. But beyond that, a lot was left up in the air, particularly when James Karinchak went on the injured list with a shoulder strain.
The young pitchers in the bullpen have played a key role in the Guardians' recent stretch, which included Friday night's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Guardians have won five in a row and 14 of their past 17 entering Saturday's game. They sat just one game behind the division-leading Minnesota Twins.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase anchors what has been one of baseball's best bullpens in 2022. [David Zalubowski/Associated Press]
"That was one of the funner games," Francona told reporters in Los Angeles. "Again, it's good because you win. We went to guys in situations where we haven't. Hentges, Trevor Stephan, Anthony [Gose] — that was really something. ... I'm really, really excited for those guys."
A star's marketing: Why Guardians' MVP candidate Jose Ramirez will never be marketing gold
Gose hasn't been quite as solid but was Friday night, striking out two in his inning of work to lower his ERA to 4.11 [Gose is 31 years old, but considering he's still relatively inexperienced as a pitcher, he can be grouped in with the others]. De Los Santos has continued to carve out his role in the bullpen, closing Friday's game to bring his ERA to 2.45.
Combine that with Eli Morgan's torrid start to the season (2.21 ERA in a multi-inning role) and Clase (1.65 ERA, 14 saves) being one of the best closers in baseball in 2022, and the Guardians have brought together a collection of young pitchers that have propped up a rotation that hasn't yet lived up to expectations.
Following Friday's win over the Dodgers, the Guardians bullpen has a 2.84 ERA, the third-best mark in baseball. Only the Houston Astros (2.66) and New York Yankees (2.83) have been better. The Guardians also have the third-best left-on-base percentage at 76.4 percent, meaning how often inherited runners don't score.
That's without Karinchak, though it remains unclear, following his disastrous second-half in 2021, how he'll bounce back from the shoulder strain that has delayed his 2022 debut. Regardless, the grouping of Hentges, Morgan, Stephan, De Los Santos and Clase has formed one of the best bullpens in the game, a key factor in the Guardians push for contention.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians have had one of baseball's best bullpens
Richie Palacios' sac fly
Richie Palacios lifts a fly ball to center field deep enough for Owen Miller to tag up and score in the 10th
The fundraiser will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. and is open to the public.
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2022-06-18T15:36:39Z
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Young pitchers have lifted Guardians bullpen to one of league's best units
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Neal Anderson
Before the University of Florida became a quarterback school under the guidance of Steve Spurrier, the football program was well-regarded for the quality of running backs produced back in the 1980s. Among the names that graced the artificial turf in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are NFL veterans like John L. Williams, Neal Anderson, Lorenzo Hampton and Cedric Smith, but of course, there is one particular player that stands out from that era.
Emmitt Smith is unquestionably the greatest running back to ever wear the beloved Orange and Blue, and arguably one of the greatest Gators of all time. While he was a standout in college, he took things to the next level in the professional ranks providing a pillar for the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 90s. For his efforts, he earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, among many other accolades.
While few will argue that Smith was among the greatest to ever carry the ball out of the backfield, the question remains as to whether he had one of the top dominant seasons in league history. CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo recently ranked his top 10 greatest running back seasons in NFL history, which was predictably led off with a Barry Sanders entry. However, the pride of Florida football just barely missed the list but did manage to earn himself the lone honorable mention for his 1995 campaign, as DeArdo explains below.
The league’s MVP in 1993, Smith had an even better campaign in 1995. He ran for a league-high 1,773 yards while rushing for a then-NFL record 25 touchdowns. Smith, who also caught 62 passes during the regular season, ran for nearly 300 yards and six touchdowns in the playoffs as the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl of the ’90s.
It feels wrong to omit Smith from the top 10 given his dominance from 1991 to 1995, but he does face some very tough competition on the list. Nonetheless, the Gator Nation knows how special he was both in Gainesville and in the NFL, and the author showed respect by ensuring his name was mentioned. That is what matters.
Florida Gators legend, Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith talks one on one with Gators Wire
12:19 p.m. ET: Luis Aguilar’s 38-yard field goal attempt is good to put Philadelphia on the board. Generals 7, Stars 3 with 10:19 to play in the first. 12:10 p.m. ET: Jersey strikes first! Trey Williams runs 61 yards into the end zone for the Generals. Caden Novikoff’s extra point attempt is good. New Jersey scores
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2022-06-18T16:49:56Z
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Did Emmitt Smith make CBS Sports’ list of top-10 NFL running back seasons?
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College football fans have been without an officially licensed college football game for almost a full decade, but it looks as though Electronic Arts is hoping to end that drought a year from now.
According to information obtained through a FOIA request by Matt Brown, the author of the “Extra Points” college football newsletter, progress is being made on the anticipated revival of the dormant video game franchise. Multiple requests for information regarding the release date of the video game from developer EA Sports suggest on multiple accounts the game is being targeted for a summer 2023 release.
A summer release date for a college football video game would fall in line with the usual release window for previous college football titles produced by EA Sports. The college football game was traditionally released about a month prior to the release of EA Sports’ latest installment in the popular Madden NFL franchise. No matter when the game is ultimately released, college football fans with a modern video game console will be ready to dive right back into the action.
EA Sports announced the return to a college football video game franchise in February 2021 with a new working title of EA Sports College Football. The former NCAA Football franchise was put on the shelf as a result of the rising concerns over the handling of name, image, and likeness and lawsuits tied to the legal issues tied to them. But all of that is now a thing of the past thanks to the modern NIL era in college athletics.
Once it became possible for student-athletes to begin cashing in on their name, image, and likeness, it was believed to only be a matter of time before EA Sports returned to creating a college football video game. There may be more concerns and obligations tied to creating such a game now than ever before, but EA Sports is reportedly reaching out to schools to begin the work regarding rights to music and audio to create the authentic college game day experience.
From Brown;
This ask suggests that beyond marching bands, EA Sports is seeking to recreate the stadium experience as closely as possible for each school. So, hypothetically, if your alma mater played a specific song at the end of the third quarter, well, EA is trying to add that (if copyright allows for it) into the game. If your student section has a specific chant, well, EA is trying to get everything they need to replicate it.
There is a valuable market space to be seized with a college football game for a servant fanbase that has been playing the same version of the game for nearly a decade on a Sony PlayStation 3. For some, it is the only reason to still own a PS3!
If nothing else, old versions of NCAA Football 14 are warm reminders of BCS controversy possibilities of the past.
Good to know NCAA Football 14 had BCS controversy down. Like the FOURTH place team in the SEC West slotted to play for the national championship heading into the final weeks of the regular season… pic.twitter.com/qBKVxWof01
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) January 26, 2021
Are you looking forward to EA Sports College Football when it is officially released? What system will you be playing on?
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2022-06-18T16:50:02Z
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EA Sports reportedly targeting 2023 return of college football video game
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Thursday marked Phil Mickelson’s 52nd birthday.
Thursday also marked his first appearance in a professional event in North America since a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open.
And Thursday’s first round of the U.S. Open at The Country Club was Mickelson’s first major championship start since the 2021 Open (he shot an 80 in the opening round and missed the cut).
But judging by the enormous throng of fans struggling to peek their heads above a fence to see Lefty warm up on the range, they’re excited to have him back.
Over the last several months, Mickelson’s name and the LIV Golf Series have become synonymous with one another. Without getting into too much detail, he’s somewhat become the poster child for the Saudi-backed, Greg Norman-led, breakaway league.
He said a lot, and at the same time, said nothing at his Monday press conference earlier this week regarding his move to LIV, and many began to wonder what his reception was going to look (and sound) like from the fans.
On Thursday, many didn’t seem to care much about Mickelson filling his bank account.
“Who cares? He’s getting his money. I would’ve done the same thing,” one fan was overheard saying at the range.
“No brainer,” said another in Mickelson’s range gallery.
Mickelson’s deal with LIV is reportedly worth $200 million. In the league’s debut event last week in London, he tied for 33rd in a 48-man field and made $150,000.
Lefty’s first driver of the day was perfect, but his approach into the green was tugged left and finished underneath a spotter’s camp chair. He’d go on to make bogey.
Before you chalk his opening square up to nerves, his struggles didn’t dissipate after the first.
“It’s blood money,” one fan said just before the gallery erupted. “But the people love him!”
Fans follow Phil Mickelson down No. 12 at The Country Club. (Photo by Riley Hamel / Golfweek)
Fans surround the 12th green at The Country Club. (Photo by Riley Hamel / Golfweek)
If fans with weekend passes are hoping to see the left-handed golfer in person, he’ll need an incredible showing on Friday.
The tree roughly 50-feet tall cut his house in half, making it uninhabitable, and trapping Zach Blunk and his two-year-old son inside.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball starting pitcher Tanner Hall collected two more All-American honors on Thursday.
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2022-06-18T17:07:26Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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We followed Phil Mickelson on Thursday and just listened. The reaction? What you might expect
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How Klay's brotherly mentorship of Poole helped Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
BOSTON -- Each hug and each embrace was special for its own reason as the final seconds ticked off the clock Thursday night at TD Garden once it became official that the Warriors were champions once again, beating the Boston Celtics in six games during the 2022 NBA Finals.
One of the longest and strongest was Jordan Poole putting his face into Klay Thompson's right shoulder, the two wrapping their arms around each other. Ten years apart in age, an unbreakable bond and a lifetime of mentorship was displayed under the lights of a crowning achievement: The first championship for the 22-year-old Poole and a fourth for the 32-year-old Thompson.
"He's taken me under his wing and from workouts together, to text to talks and conversations in the locker room and calls, it was really special to see somebody who is as closed off kind of like to himself," Poole said after the postgame podium. "He's his own person, and for him to embrace me at such a young age and kind of take me under his wing, teach me his tricks and show me his blueprint is really special, and I'm glad to be part of that."
"Last interview of the night," he said. "Man, I hate interviews! But I'm happy to be here. Man, this is great!"
It's the last place they want to be at times. On Thursday night in Boston, they soaked it all up. As Poole said, Thompson can be to himself. He's happiest in the water or on the hardwood. They're both gym rats, though, basketball junkies always striving to take their game to levels that so many doubted they would reach at one point.
Steve Kerr tried to warn us in the offseason. After returning from the G League bubble in Orlando where he averaged over 22 points per game, Poole, the former No. 28 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, came back as a whole new player for the Warriors last season. He averaged 5.5 points before playing 11 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors, and 14.7 after. This past summer, Poole's second home was the gym.
As Thompson continued to battle his way back from his second of two grueling leg injuries that saw him miss two-and-a-half years of his prime, Poole stepped into his starting role seamlessly this season. In 32 games played -- 29 starts -- before Thompson returned on Jan. 9 from a 941-day hiatus, Poole averaged 17.5 points per game. He scored 20 points in the season opener, and reached that mark 11 times prior to Klay's return, including four games where he dropped at least 30 points.
"With him going down earlier on this year, just being able to step into that role, show what I'm capable of, and you know, essentially hold it down until he comes back," Poole said. "We went on an 18-2 start, and I think that just showed how talented we are.
"He's taught me so much."
The closer it came to Klay coming back, the more Kerr made it clear that Thompson wasn't going to come off the bench. He earned the right to hear his name called in the starting lineup. That also brought up false grumblings of possible jealousy from Poole and a problem within the Warriors.
The truth is, even if Poole wished to keep starting deep down like all true competitors, any feelings of animosity were far from reality. Because of Poole's rise this season, the dynamic between the two earned a brighter spotlight. This isn't something new for them, though.
"When it comes to Jordan, that's my rook," Thompson said to reporters after the Warriors won the Western Conference, beating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals at Chase Center. "I remember a couple years ago when he would go through a shooting slump, he would be so hard on himself. Reminded me of my younger self. I just kept telling him, it's going to pay off young fella, you're gonna play in the NBA Finals one day.
"I told him that on the bench, third game of the season when we were getting smacked. He was going through it as a 19-year-old rookie. Now for that to come to fruition, I mean, I'm so happy."
Upon Thomson's return, Poole was put to the bench. Well, at least half the time. Poole played 44 games after with Klay back in the fold, but the younger shooting guard still started 22 more games with the Warriors holding Thompson out from playing back-to-backs. And Poole only got better.
RELATED: Championship DNA, eager youth leave Dubs' title window wide open
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2022-06-18T17:07:32Z
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Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole's brotherly bond was secret to Warriors' success
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Nathan Han
Nathan Han/nhan@kcstar.com
Nine-year-old Journi Hill went to Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series to see her favorite player, Oklahoma softball superstar Jocelyn Alo, lead the Sooners to a national championship.
Nine days later, for her first pro softball game ever, Journi and her dad Chris drove two-and-a-half hours to watch Alo’s debut in the Women’s Professional FastPitch league at the Shawnee Mission Softball Complex.
Alo’s journey from her final college game to her first pro softball game was a little more rocky. The Hauula, Hawaii product caught a “bad case” of COVID after celebrating her NCAA title.
“My life just kind of hit a 180,” Alo said. “It’s been kind of hard to adjust, but I’m taking it day by day.”
But she was able to get back onto the field in time for the last of three games played by the WPF in Shawnee to kick off the league’s summer schedule.
At the Shawnee Mission Softball Complex, time seemed to stand still whenever Alo went up to bat on Friday. The packed crowd pulled their phones out to record and seemed to hold their breath as they waited for the all-time NCAA home-run record holder to flash her power.
“(Softball) has always been my outlet,” Alo said. “So just to be back out on the field, I feel like I just forgot about everything I have to worry about outside of this.”
In her first at-bat, Alo dribbled a weak grounder and reached base on an error by the opposing third baseman.
“I was very nervous,” Alo said. “I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s just another game, but I got a little antsy up there.’ But at least I didn’t strike out.”
Alo didn’t even record an out: reaching base on all four of her at-bats including two screaming liners for a double and a single.
The crowd groaned on her fourth at-bat as an opposing pitcher pitched around Alo on a four-pitch walk.
It wasn’t Alo that went deep first on Friday, however. In the first inning, former Texas Longhorns rival and now teammate Mary Iakopo smashed a three-run home run that just glanced off the glove of an opposing left fielder trying to make a grab over the fence.
The long bomb gave the Smash It Vipers a lead they would never relinquish, winning 11-4.
“(Alo) is one of my best friends off the field,” Iakopo said, “so it’s good to finally see her and now not ever have to pitch to her again. I’m glad she’s on our team, and we get to score runs for the same team.”
Alo joined the Vipers and the newly established WPF to much fanfare on Monday. While she wasn’t at the league’s inaugural opening day on Tuesday due to COVID, a contingent of faithful Sooner fans were still in attendance to support her, as well as another former Oklahoma softball star: Lauren Chamberlain.
The WPF commissioner, Chamberlain ranks second all-time in the NCAA in home runs behind Alo. Her work behind the scenes for the WPF convinced several players and coaches to come play in the league, including former UCLA star and Olympian Delaney Spaulding.
“When Lauren was explaining to me what she wants the WPF to be, I was bought in,” Spaulding said. “Just right after that conversation, I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”
Alo, the first pick by the Vipers, had her choice between WPF and Athletes Unlimited, another softball league now entering its third season. So did Iakopo.
The two both cited the WPF’s commitment to promoting players and putting players first in their choice to play for the newly-formed softball league.
“The commissioner and the people behind the scenes are always going to make sure that they have our best interests at hand as a person before as a player,” Alo said. “That’s what ultimately sold me to the WPF.”
Much of the crowd on Friday included youth softball league participants who had played earlier in the day at the Shawnee Mission Softball Complex. The WPF is playing a condensed, exhibition summer schedule that follows softball tournaments across the country.
It’s part of Chamberlain’s mission to “protect the dream” of playing professional softball and grow the sport beyond its college fame.
Mississippi State softball assistant coach John Johnson said he thought the “barnstorming, grassroots” style games being played is bringing important exposure to the league.
“I hear recruits talking about it. I hear parents talking about it,”Johnson said. “There’s a lot of interest here, and there’s a large fan base — we saw that with the (Women’s College) World Series. There is a fan base. We just have to tap into it.”
On Friday, most of the interest was geared toward Alo.
Call it the “Jocelyn effect,” as Chris termed it. He and his daughter Journi weren’t the only ones to make the trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series and then to Shawnee for Alo’s pro softball debut.
Madison Perez, wearing an Oklahoma shirt with Alo’s No. 78 on the back that had been signed by the former Sooners star, has played softball and been a fan since she was 5 years old. Watching Alo hit two home runs in Game 1 of the WCWS was her favorite softball moment ever.
On the opposite field of the complex Friday, there was another softball legend drawing attention from the crowd: Monica Abbott, one of the best pitchers in softball history who spent many of her professional years playing overseas in the Japan Softball League.
“I saw some really interesting expressions from my girls watching her,” youth softball coach Taylor Bartlett said. “I was like, ‘Wow, they’re really starstruck.’”
Alo is drawing the same reaction as she starts her pro career at 23. But Vipers head coach Gerry Glasco is hopeful that through the WPF, her fans will be able to watch her career here in the United States.
“For me, it was fun to see how much she means to the little girls up there,” Glasco said. “That’s their hero. So to be able to keep watching their hero on the field and watch her as she grows older is really special.”
But Alo isn’t setting any goals or expectations for her pro career.
“I just want to kind of soak it all up,” Alo said. “I feel like a little kid again, like a freshman out on the field again. I just want to enjoy it.”
This Fan-Favorite ‘Game of Thrones’ Character Is Getting a Sequel Series, According to Report
Though we’re anxiously counting down the seconds to the premiere of House of the Dragon (you know, the GoT prequel that comes out this...
The Texas Tech track & field team earned five Mountain Region awards from the USTFCCCA.
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2022-06-18T17:07:44Z
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Softball star Jocelyn Alo makes her pro, WPF debut in Shawnee to much fanfare
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The co-leaders in the U.S. Open are still four hours from starting the third round and no one is making a big run up the leaderboard. Only two of the 18 players on the course at The Country Club are under par for the third round. One is Sam Stevens.
Cameron Young provided one of the best highlights of the 2022 U.S. Open so far with a hole-in-one during Friday's second round.
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2022-06-18T17:07:51Z
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US Open golf 2022 live: latest score and updates from the third round at Brookline
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There were no shortage of storylines during the offseason program, which included some shakeups along the offensive line, the emergence of a number of rookies and a new culture set in place by head coach Matt Eberflus.
When looking at everything that transpired during the offseason program — between rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp –there’s plenty of questions still lingering ahead of training camp.
Here are 10 things we learned about the Bears this offseason:
The team is far from a finished product
With the Bears’ offseason program in the books, it’s clear that this team still has a long way to go before the 2022 regular season kicks off. Both the offense and defense are learning news schemes, but they’re not where they want to be right now. While the offense has been the main focus, Eberflus pointed out the fact that the entire team still has plenty of work to do.
“I would say that our whole football team needs to get better, right? We’re in OTAs, first year,” Eberflus said. “So we’re going into training camp, this is a building block. We built the foundation of what we want to be about, how we operate.”
The offense isn't ready yet, and that's fine
The Bears are learning a new offense under Luke Getsy, which figures to be an upgrade over Matt Nagy’s. But learning a new scheme requires rhythm and timing, things that are still a work in progress for Chicago’s offense following the conclusion of the offseason program. Quarterback Justin Fields pointed out that the offense isn’t ready just yet, although he promised they will be when the regular season kicks off.
“I’m not ready for the season to start,’’ Fields said. “I’m the type of guy that would like to know I’m prepared. So, right now, I’m just being honest. We’re not ready to play a game right now. And when that time comes, we will be ready. So, right now, no — not ready to play a game.”
The offensive line is still a work in progress
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
The offensive line remains a work in progress following the conclusion of the offseason program, which isn’t ideal considering the importance of a front-five needing to build chemistry. Eberflus said that they’d like to get the offensive line sorted out “the sooner the better,” but it’s something that will likely carry over into training camp when the pads finally come on.
The Bears have been experimenting with different offensive line combinations, which found former second-round pick Teven Jenkins working with the second-team offense at right tackle. Eberflus said “all combinations are open” on the offensive line, which could include a potential move to right guard for Jenkins or Larry Borom.
With that in mind, Braxton Jones is a legit contender to start at left tackle
Fifth-round rookie Braxton Jones has emerged as one of the surprise players to watch heading into training camp following an offseason that saw him promoted to the first-team offense for the final week of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp.
Sure, a lot has been made about Jenkins’ demotion to second team. But enough hasn’t been made about Jones making a strong impression on this coaching staff to give him an opportunity with the starters. Now, it appears that Jones is a serious contender for the starting left tackle job.
Everyone's going to have to earn their starting jobs
One thing that’s become clear during the offseason program is that every player — with the exception of maybe Justin Fields — is going to have to earn their starting job. It’s part of the standard Eberflus has brought with him, where players will have to earn their spots.
We’ve seen examples of this during the offseason, where cornerback Jaylon Johnson started with the second team after missing the beginning of the offseason program and Jenkins working with the second-team offense. It’s about bringing out competition to bring out the best in his squad. But the real test comes in training camp.
Justin Fields and Darnell Mooney have the potential to light it up
Justin Fields and Darnell Mooney have been virtually inseparable this offseason — pretty much since the day after the 2021 regular season finale, where they immediately started training for the new year. That continued into the offseason program and will continue during this six-week summer break. It’s clear that Fields and Mooney have developed a strong connection, something that has a chance to develop into something special on the field.
“He wants to take over the league,” Mooney said of Fields. “He’s already Justin Fields. He wants to be the best quarterback in the league. He’s taken the stride to be there. I’ve got unbelievable faith that he will be there.”
There’s no doubt Mooney is Fields’ top option, especially in an otherwise unproven wide receiver room that does feature some intriguing names in Velus Jones Jr. and Byron Pringle.
Chicago's rookies have been impressing
General manager Ryan Poles turned five draft picks into 11 selections, which includes plenty of players who have the potential to contribute immediately as rookies. And so far, Chicago’s rookie class has been impressing during the offseason program. That starts with top draft picks cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker, who already have a nose for the football.
Third-round wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. is also showcasing his speed and run-after-the-catch ability, which has teammate Darnell Mooney singing his praises.
“Velus, man — when he gets the ball, y’all are going to see. He can fly,” Mooney said. “He can be a playmaker for sure for us.”
While Chicago’s top rookies have made strong impressions, there are some underrated rookies who are also standing out. That includes fifth-round left tackle Braxton Jones, who has a strong chance to earn the starting job after getting reps with the first team over the last couple of weeks. Fifth-round edge rusher Dominique Robinson has been seeing starting reps alongside Trevis Gipson with Robert Quinn and Al-Quadin Muhammad skipping the offseason program. Running back Trestan Ebner has been impressing with his versatility, and even Zachary Thomas and Doug Kramer have seen opportunities to work with the starting offensive line at one point.
The entire offseason program has been a learning experience in itself. But Eberflus was asked about the most encouraging thing during the offseason, and he immediately pointed to the culture and team unity that they’ve developed.
“You have to have that as a team,” he said, “because you have to be close that way. Because you’re going to have adversity, and you gotta be honest with each other and look at it and step forward to the next step and keep taking the next step.”
Following the Matt Nagy era, this Bears team needed a culture makeover, and Eberflus has already done a good job in establishing that. Whether it’s setting standards for his team or making it clear that everyone needs to prove themselves. Trevis Gipson also pointed to the accountability that comes from Eberflus as a change that he’s loved, and it seems like the entire team has rallied around Eberflus.
Robert Quinn's future in Chicago is uncertain
Star pass rusher Robert Quinn was absent for the entirety of the Bears’ offseason program, including their three-day mandatory minicamp. Quinn is reportedly training on his own, but his absence has raised concerns about his future in Chicago.
“I don’t have emotion with that either way,” Eberflus said. “When Robert is here, I’ll talk to him. He and I will sit down and visit man-to-man, and we’ll go from there.”
There have been reports that Quinn wants out of Chicago and that teams have showed an interest in him dating back to the NFL draft process, but the Bears have made it clear they’re not trading him. Could that change? Especially given his trade value will never be higher than it is right now? It certainly feels like a real chance at this point.
The Bears aren't afraid to embrace their youth
It was apparent at times last season that Matt Nagy had no desire to give younger players an opportunity to get valuable reps, especially when the season was all but over. But Eberflus has a completely different mindset, as he’s made it clear that promising players are going to get an opportunity to prove themselves. And it’s certainly refreshing.
“[If] I have Player A that I think is on the rise, I’ll say, ‘OK, let’s put him against our best guy so I can see it,’ ” Eberflus said. “So he’s playing against a pro player, a really good starter. Now I can see what he can do. And we’ll match those up all the time.
“It’s not just roll the ball out there — ones vs. ones; twos vs. twos. No — lets’ match these players up so we can see them, because a lot of times what happens is if you have a rookie that was playing with the twos . . . he doesn’t get that exposure. He really needs to get that exposure and see where he’s at, and in the end it’ll [improve] his game and make it better by going against better talent. We’ll do that all the way through [the roster].”
Eberflus also pointed to the history of young players thriving in his defense, as there are opportunities to do so with fundamentals and techniques in place.
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2022-06-18T17:56:48Z
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10 things we learned about the Bears this offseason
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Steven Nelson has seen his share of offseason workouts across the NFL.
The former Kansas City Chiefs third-round cornerback was with the AFC West club through the 2018 season. After playing for Andy Reid, Nelson played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers coached by Mike Tomlin. Last year, Nelson was with the Philadelphia Eagles, led by rookie coach Nick Sirianni, who led the NFC East club to a wildcard berth.
The 29-year-old completed offseason workouts — including organized team activities and mandatory minicamp — with the Houston Texans, and had a positive review.
“By far one of the hardest otas/mini camps I’ve ever been [a part] of,” Nelson wrote on Twitter. “Can’t wait to see it all pay off.”
Coach Lovie Smith told reporters on June 14 that what made the offseason program successful to that point was the players’ willingness to be coached.
“When we started the off-season program, we asked the guys to show up every day and let us coach you up,” said Smith. “Let our strength and conditioning staff build you up. They’ve done all of that. Our program, the guys have bought into that, and they’re following.”
Official dates for training camp have yet to be announced, but the Texans are among the 28 NFL teams that can report no earlier than July 26.
The Cardinals are off until training camp. These are things that need to happen before then.
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2022-06-18T17:57:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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CB Steven Nelson calls Texans’ offseason program ‘one of the hardest’ he has seen
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Justin Flowe
Pro Football Focus pretty much confirmed what everyone familiar with the Oregon Ducks already knew.
In a preview of the linebacker position for the 2023 NFL Draft, PFF put out a ranking of the top LBs who will be draft-eligible next season, Oregon’s marquee defenders Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe were ranked among the very best in the nation.
Despite the fact that Flowe has only played in a couple of games so far because of injury, his status as a 5-star recruit on top of his unbelievable performance when on the field — Flowe had 14 tackles against Fresno State in the 2021 opener — he was ranked as a top-5 LB in the class.
We all know what Sewell can do after his already impressive career at Oregon get’s ready for one last ride, but it will be enthralling to watch him paired with both a healthy Flowe, and now under the tutelage of Dan Lanning, someone believed to be among the best LB and defensive coaches in the nation.
So where did Flowe and Sewell end up ranking according to PFF? Take a look:
First Up — LB Justin Flowe
No. 5 — Justin Flowe
According to PFF, Flowe is the No. 5 linebacker going into the 2023 NFL Draft, despite playing in just two games in his career. His performance last year against Fresno State may have had a lot to do with that, as Flowe put up a game-high 14 tackles with 1 TFL and 1 forced fumble.
Flowe is the second-highest recruit that Oregon has ever gotten, and when he’s healthy, he’s looked like it. Now we just need him to stay on the field. Here’s what PFF had to say about him:
Flowe is quite a bit different than any other prospect on this list because he has played a grand total of 67 snaps in his collegiate career — 65 of which came against Fresno State last season. And while he didn’t put together an all-world performance, he displayed some special physical attributes. The same physical attributes that made him the No. 1 linebacker recruit in the 2020 cycle.
After a torn meniscus in 2020 and a foot injury in 2021, Flowe simply has to stay healthy going forward to start shooting up draft boards.
Up Next: Noah Sewell
No. 2 — Noah Sewell
There’s not much more we can say about Noah Sewell that hasn’t already been said. He’s established himself as arguably the best LB in the Pac-12, and with another standout season, will be cemented as one of the best LBs in the nation.
In two seasons with the Ducks, he’s racked up 162 total tackles, 15 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 FF, and 1 INT. We will mention again that with Dan Lanning now coaching the Ducks, it seems like a match made in heaven, with one of the best LB coaches in the nation working with one of the best LBs around. Here is what PFF had to say about Sewell:
The last name should look familiar and so should the outright physicality Sewell plays the game with. The Oregon linebacker is a one-man freight train at the linebacker position — taking on blocks is child’s play for the 6-foot-3, 251-pounder. He earned an 88.6 pass-rushing grade last season with 34 pressures from 98 blitzing snaps. Give him a straight line to a ball carrier, and it’s a wrap.
Nonetheless, he’s still a work in progress in coverage. He only earned a 59.0 coverage grade last season and missed a lot of tackles in the open field. Those are two areas we’d like to see improved in 2022 to vault him into the first round.
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2022-06-18T17:57:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Rankings from PFF show Justin Flowe, Noah Sewell are best linebacking duo in nation
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Former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper is preparing for his eighth season in the NFL. He was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in 2015, was traded mid-season to the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 and was recently traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Cooper is quiet but extremely talented. His name may not be mentioned in the headlines as often as other top receivers in the league because he lets his playing abilities do the talking.
Now being a member of the Browns, he has a whole new system to learn and has to deal with the ongoing situation with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who the Browns also traded for in the 2022 offseason.
When speaking with CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, Cooper spoke about Watson and his abilities on the field. He also talked about quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who may be the starter if Watson is suspended at any point.
Cooper also discussed what it means to be a leader. He states that it’s a lot easier to lead when you have plenty of experience under your belt because everything the younger guys have gone through, he has gone through.
1-on-1 with #Browns WR Amari Cooper as soon as he walked off the field from the first day at mandatory minicamp for the team. pic.twitter.com/ypsVdylI4T
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Amari Cooper and other former Alabama stars in the NFL as the 2022 offseason continues.
As the U.S. House Committee on Oversight & Reform continues to explore the workplace dysfunction within the Washington Commanders organization, the chair of the Committee has identified two specific areas in which legislation would be useful, due to the lessons learned from the Commanders situation. On Friday, the Committee announced that Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduced [more]
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2022-06-18T17:57:19Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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WATCH: Amari Cooper talks about Deshaun Watson, leadership role in Cleveland
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Florida has picked things up since then and finds itself in the mix with Baylor, Kentucky and Tennessee down the home stretch of Thompkins’ recruitment. He wants to make a decision before his senior season begins so he can focus on football, according to 247Sports, and that puts a clock on things. Fortunately, Thompkins has taken enough of a liking to the most important man at UF when it comes to his recruitment, Billy Napier.
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2022-06-18T19:05:42Z
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Napier a big factor for this 2023 OL recruit leading up to official visit
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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain hasn't played his best baseball this season. The 36-year-old is hitting just .179/.231/.234 through 43 games. With the team bringing in Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe in the offseason, Cain's time on the roster was nearing an end.
But in waiting until Saturday to make the move, the Brewers actually did a classy thing. Saturday marked Cain reaching 10 years of service time in the majors. That's a momentous number in baseball. Once a player hits 10 years of service time, they become fully vested members of the union and earn a full pension from MLB.
Cain discussed his future Saturday. He didn't definitively say he was going to retire, but hinted at being done, saying, "The body is definitely ready to rest, for sure."
Cain also discussed the wear and tear he's put on his body over his 10 years in the majors.
If Cain is done, it wouldn't come as a huge surprise. He made similar comments to Andy McCullough of The Athletic earlier in June. Cain said there was a good chance he would retire from baseball during the upcoming offseason.
But if this is it, Cain should be proud of the legacy he leaves behind. Cain put up a career .283/.343/.407 slash line over 13 seasons in the majors. He played an excellent center field, winning a gold glove in 2019. He personified the 2015 Kansas City Royals, where Cain's ability to make solid contact and wreck havoc on the bases helped define the team.
Cain's career deserves to be celebrated Saturday. And the Brewers deserve at least a tiny bit of goodwill for letting Cain reach an incredibly rare baseball milestone.
On the same date that he reached 10 years of major league service, the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday designated for assignment two-time All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain. Cain, 36, hit .179 with one home run and nine RBIs over 43 games this season. “It just got to a point where it’s probably time,” Cain told a small group of Brewers’ beat writers.
Chris Gotterup became the first Jersey Shore native to make the cut at the U.S. Open in 63 years, entering the third round tied for 40th.
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2022-06-18T20:08:14Z
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Brewers designate Lorenzo Cain for assignment, but there's a catch
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Payton Sr. crashes Wiggs' interview to praise 'great D' after win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
When one of the greatest defenders in NBA history speaks, you listen.
After the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics on Thursday and won their fourth title in eight years, Andrew Wiggins joined the crew of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Live: Finals Edition” to talk about his outstanding performance throughout the postseason run that earned him the first ring of his career.
Wiggins averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds over the six games, but his lockdown defense captured the attention of many, including one of the most tenacious defenders the league has ever seen.
Gary Payton, known for never holding back his words, couldn’t help but intervene in Wiggins’ interview.
“He was the man. No, he was the one,” Payton said, as Wiggs and the crew laughed to his surprise. “He stepped up. It’s Wiggins time. Great D, baby. And go right back at ‘em. That’s what you do.”
Wiggins was dubbed “Two-Way Wiggs” for his effect on both ends of the floor, and it came to fruition throughout these playoffs, especially during the Finals.
While preparing for his first Finals appearance, he realized his biggest test lay ahead: Celtics’ young star Jayson Tatum.
And Wiggs understood the assignment.
The Warriors contained Tatum, who was primarily guarded by Wiggins, to historically low NBA Finals shooting. The 24-year-old struggled all series, and Wiggs came out to be his worst nightmare.
Wiggins’ efforts paid off, and were appreciated by Payton.
The Glove also witnessed his son, Gary Payton II, be a critical part of the Warriors’ postseason run and then come out victorious on the biggest stage in basketball.
Like Wiggins, Payton II got to add NBA champion to his remarkable story that is still being written.
They say defense wins championships, and Wiggins and Payton II helped prove that. Now, bring on the party.
“Congratulations, man. Good work, y’all deserve it,” Payton said. “It’s all been a good thing. Let’s go back to San Francisco and party.”
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2022-06-18T20:08:26Z
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Gary Payton crashes Andrew Wiggins' interview to praise 'great' defense
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The Charlotte Hornets' coaching search isn't over after all. Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson reportedly changed his mind and will not become the next head coach of the Hornets, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
It's unclear what changed between Atkinson and the Hornets. In mid-June, it was reported the Hornets agreed in principle to hire Atkinson. He would reportedly receive a four-year deal from the team, per Wojnarowski. Things apparently broke down after the two sides had "further conversations."
News of Atkinson spurning the Hornets comes days after the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. It was Atkinson's first season with the team, and his first championship as an assistant coach.
Prior to joining the Warriors, Atkinson spent multiple years as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks. He was hired as the Brooklyn Nets' head coach prior to the 2016-17 NBA season. After struggling during his first two seasons, the Nets turned things around in Year 3.
Michigan State recruit Isa Agrusso will play at her future home, DeMartin Stadium, on Saturday as Bloomfield Hills Marian aims for another state title
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2022-06-18T20:08:33Z
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Kenny Atkinson reportedly turns down Hornets to stay with Warriors
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Red Sox make trade with Phillies, acquire RHP James Norwood originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox have added another arm to their pitching staff.
They acquired right-hander James Norwood from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations, both teams announced Saturday.
Norwood is a 28-year-old who made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. He tallied a 8.30 ERA, 22 strikeouts, nine walks, 24 hits allowed and a 1.90 WHIP over 17 1/3 innings pitched with the Phillies this season.
Norwood, who had been designated for assignment by the Phillies earlier this week, was added to Boston's 40-man roster. He'll likely fill a reliever role.
The last time the Red Sox took a chance on a Phillies pitcher was in 2020 when they acquired Nick Pivetta. That deal has worked out quite well. This transaction is another low-risk move for the Red Sox that could pay some nice dividends. Some of Norwood's analytics are pretty solid.
Bryce Harper out of Phillies lineup with blister
Bryce Harper was out of Saturdays Phillies lineup after a blister on his left hand blew up on him overnight. By Jim Salisbury
As he preps for a rehab start at Polar Park next week, Red Sox hurler Chris Sale had some help from the WooSox' Grant Williams to take the next step.
Follow along as Arkansas opens up play in the 2022 College World Series against Stanford on Saturday.
Ukrainian Territorial Defence fighters shoot down Russian helicopter in Donetsk Oblast
FRIDAY, 17 JUNE 2022, 08:02 On 16 June, Ukrainian Territorial Defence fighters shot down a Russian Mi-35M helicopter in Donetsk Oblast. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Details: The General Staff has reported some successes for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
HONESDALE, Pa., June 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James O. Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwood Financial Corp (NASDAQ Global Market - NWFL) and its subsidiary Wayne Bank, announced that the Board of Directors declared a $.28 per share cash dividend, which is payable August 1, 2022 to shareholders of record as of July 15, 2022. The $.28 per share equals the per share dividend declared in the prior quarter, and represents a 7.7% increase over the cash dividend declared in th
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2022-06-18T20:08:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Red Sox trade for Phillies pitcher James Norwood in exchange for cash
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Former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson publicly maintained that he wanted to stay in Seattle, right up until he was traded to the Broncos. That directly contradicts what the front office told us after the deal was made. head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider claim that Wilson would not have agreed to sign another contract with the Seahawks, so they felt they had to trade him.
Wilson’s latest comments probably won’t sit well with Seattle fans who would have preferred he’d stayed. Russ is now saying that he wanted to go to a “city that wants to win.”
One could perceive that as throwing shade at his former team, which managed to get to the playoffs in eight of the ten seasons when he was their starting quarterback.
Wilson is now in the most competitive division in the NFL. His Broncos will visit Seattle Week 1 on Monday night.
The season may be over, but this is what Boston and NBA Twitter had to say about Game 6 before it did.
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2022-06-18T20:08:52Z
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Russell Wilson says he wanted to go to a ‘city that wants to win’
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Nance, a 6-foot-10 forward, averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and shot 45 percent from 3-point range last season. He mostly played at center for the Wildcats, but at UNC he’d likely play power forward in a frontcourt teamed with senior Armando Bacot.
Carolina returns four starters from last season’s team that lost to Kansas in the national title game. In his press conference on Wednesday, Davis said he liked the team he had even if they did not add another player. Rising junior Puff Johnson and sophomore Dontrez Styles are expected to have bigger roles after playing sparingly last season. Nance’s addition means Carolina won’t be forced to play small with Johnson or Styles splaying the 4 spot.
The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide $1.4 billion annually to states and tribes to assist threatened and endangered wildlife.
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to pass its version of the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), proposing to boost defense spending by roughly $45 billion over what President Biden requested. We’ll have more details on the bill, plus the Senate’s recent vote on a bill to expand benefits for veterans suffering health…
Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe puts stamp on defense bill as his long service on Armed Services Committee nears end.
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2022-06-18T20:08:58Z
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UNC basketball picks up key transfer from Northwestern to fill Brady Manek role
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BROOKLINE, Mass. — The day started on a weird foot for Justin Thomas. As he stepped to the tee, the announcer introduced him as “Justin Thompson.”
Not a great look to get the World no. 5’s name wrong.
The 29-year-old decided he was not in any danger (risking injury by playing the shot) and that it wasn’t obscuring his swing in any way. So, he played from where his ball came to rest. From a weird stance, Thomas laid the sod over a wedge into a bunker 50 yards shy of the green.
He wasn’t happy.
“That’s what pisses me off, because so many other people would lie about being able to hit that, but it’s just like, I’m not going to hit it. That’s bulls***, man,” Thomas said after the shot.
His third failed to reach the green, and Thomas walked to the 5th tee box with a bogey.
Thomas’ reaction
*Warning: Explicit language
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2022-06-18T20:09:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Watch: Justin Thomas goes on expletive-laden rant after not getting relief from drain at U.S. Open
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With the Miami Dolphins on break between OTAs and training camp, it’s important to look to the future.
The Miami Dolphins, due to the trade with the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, have two selections to make on the first night of the 2023 edition of the event.
Obviously, there’s a lot that needs to take place between now and then, but it would be smart to look at some of the prospects that might be of interest for the Dolphins when that time comes.
Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling recently released a mock draft for 2023, and the Dolphins used their selections on LSU edge defender BJ Ojulari and Texas running back Bijan Robinson.
In 20 games, Ojulari has recorded 70 total tackles (17 for a loss), 11 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Robinson, in 19 games, has put up 1,830 yards and 15 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per attempt. He’s also added 41 receptions for 491 yards and six touchdowns in the passing game.
Here’s what Easterling wrote about the two picks:
2022 will decide exactly which direction the team wants to go in this draft. If Tua Tagovailoa shows he can perform like a first-round pick with these weapons, Miami will likely keep adding more around him. If he can’t, the Dolphins may use those draft picks to acquire a quarterback, a rookie or a veteran in a trade.
The 5-day national show will feature several days of competition culminating in the announcement of "Best in Show" on June 22.
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2022-06-18T20:23:37Z
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Dolphins grab two impact players in Draft Wire’s early 2023 mock draft
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The Bulldogs, led by head coach Kirby Smart, were remarkably one of the best teams in college football history. Their defense was a force to be reckoned with. Other teams like Ole Miss and Kentucky showed some hope early in the season, but the two teams fell off towards the end of the season.
Auburn was never able to create any stability at the quarterback position which ultimately led to the Tigers’ downfall. Other teams like Mississippi State and Missouri were explosive on offense but couldn’t hold up on the defensive side of the ball resulting in the two teams having average seasons. Arkansas was a surprising team as head coach Sam Pittman showed promise for the future.
Both LSU and Florida finished with 6-7 records which ultimately led to the firing of Ed Orgeron (LSU) and Dan Mullen (Florida). In his first year at Tennessee, Josh Heupel was able to turn things around from a 3-7 season in 2020 to 7-6 in 2021. Surprisingly, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was able to turn the program around in Columbia. They went from 2-8 in 2020 to 7-6 in 2021. Lastly, Vanderbilt first-year head coach Clark Lea struggled to find any consistency as the Commodores finished 2-10.
Today, we will predict each team’s record for the 2022 season.
Alabama Crimson Tide: 12-0
After a devastating loss to Georgia in the national championship, the Crimson Tide will be out for blood in 2022. With only three starters leaving the defense, many expect the Tide’s defense to be one of the best in the country. Their schedule is fair and they should run the table. Edge rushers Will Anderson and Dallas Turner will both return after stellar seasons. Heisman trophy winner Bryce Young will be back for likely his final season in Tuscaloosa. Not to mention, Nick Saban and his staff added five transfers this offseason — Eli Ricks (LSU), Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech), Jermaine Burton (Georgia), Tyler Steen (Vanderbilt), and Tyler Harrell (Louisville). It is hard to see the Tide losing with the success they’ve had in recent years with as much talent as they have on the team.
Arkansas Razorbacks: 9-3
Arkansas has been an interesting team over the last few seasons. The coaching turnover from Chad Morris to current head coach Sam Pittman was questioned by many. However, it has seemed to work out fairly well for Hogs fans. Last season, the Razorbacks finished with a 9-3 record which was the first time since 2011 that the team had won nine games. This season I expect the same. The offense is poised to breakout with quarterback K.J. Jefferson returning and the addition of star-studded Oklahoma transfer Jadon Haselwood. The defense also returns its leading tackler in linebacker Bumper Pool.
Auburn Tigers: 6-6
Last season was rough for first-year head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag]. It took some time to become acclimated to the physicality as well as the elite coaching within the conference. However, many Tigers fans hope that things will change for the 2022 season. Unfortunately, things won’t be much different.
Yes, the Tigers should be better. Their schedule isn’t any easier, though. Specifically, it gets really difficult after the Tigers start the season at home for the first five games. The defense should be better with Derrick Hall returning and Owen Pappoe hopefully being one-hundred percent. That doesn’t change the fact that Auburn’s offense will have growing pains, specifically at the quarterback position. Auburn will upset Penn State and Mississippi State in Starkville. Their other wins will come against Mercer, San Jose State, Missouri, and Western Kentucky.
Florida Gators: 7-5
Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun-Imagn Content Services, LLC
Last season was a disappointing one in Gainesville. The Gators struggled to find consistency at quarterback from both Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. It just seemed like one would be good on one week and then play poorly the next week. Ultimately, it wasn’t just the offense but the defense that struggled as well. After the season ended, athletic director Scott Sticklin decided to fire head coach Dan Mullen. Soon after, Louisiana head coach Billy Napier was hired by the Gators. With key contributors like Brenton Cox, Anthony Richardson, and Rashad Torrence returning, Napier has some elite talent to work with. It will be an adjustment for Napier in 2022 which will result in numerous losses. Making a bowl game is an upgrade from the season the Gators had in 2021.
Georgia Bulldogs: 12-0
If you thought the barking was over, you’re wrong. Although Georgia had the best season in program history in 2021, they could very well do the same in 2022. The Bulldogs saw five of their defensive stars drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. However, there is still quite an abundance of talent that stayed back in Athens. Players like Nolan Smith, Christopher Smith, Robert Beal, and Tramel Walthour all decided to return for their senior seasons. The offense still has a lot of firepower as well. With players like Stetson Bennett, Brock Bowers, and Kearis Jackson returning, the offense is bound to show improvement. The Bulldogs’ schedule is very favorable as well, so they will likely duplicate last season’s success in the regular season.
Kentucky Wildcats: 8-4
Matt Stone/Courier Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Wildcats are always an intriguing team to begin the season. It always seems like the team is built for early success but can’t maintain that success throughout the season. With players like Chris Rodriguez Jr., Will Levis and Kavosiey Smoke returning on the offensive side of the ball, there is a sign of hope. I think it boils down to the wide receiver position and as of right now, I just don’t know if there are enough playmakers for Kentucky to repeat its ten-win season. The defense seems like it is always up to snuff, especially with leading tacklers Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square set to return while using the COVID year. The Wildcats will lose all of their games on the road and suffer its’ lone loss at home at the hands of the defending national champions — the Georgia Bulldogs.
LSU Tigers: 7-5
LSU had arguably one of the best seasons in college football history in 2019 under the reign of Heisman winner Joe Burrow. Ever since then, the Tigers have struggled to win, to say the least. Now that head coach Brian Kelly is in the bayou, the Tiger faithful seek better days over the horizon. The team will return the majority of its’ players on both sides of the ball in addition to some transfers. Several of the key names to keep an eye on are Arkansas transfer Joe Foucha and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels. The two will be very instrumental to the team’s success in 2022. Although the majority of their key contributors will return, I don’t know if it is enough to make that big of a difference in year one under Kelly. For that reason, I do see improvements. However, it won’t be much as they will finish 7-5.
Ole Miss Rebels: 9-3
There is reason to believe that the Rebels have one of the premier teams in the SEC from a roster standpoint. Head coach Lane Kiffin hauled in an abundance of transfers like UCF WR Jaylon Robinson, USC QB Jaxson Dart, USC TE Michael Trigg, and TCU RB Zach Evans. All of them are expected to play pivotal roles for the offense, but the question lies with the defense. Will it be enough? I expect the defense to be somewhat better but not to the point where I see the Rebels taking the conference by storm. For the most part, Hotty Toddy will be successful. However, there will be a three-game skid against Texas A&M, Alabama, and Arkansas towards the end of the season.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: 5-7
The Bulldogs are looking to improve off of a 7-6 season last year. They are led by the offensive guru Mike Leach. The team will return key playmakers in Will Rogers, Jaden Walley, and Rara Thomas. The future looks bright in Starkville, but it isn’t bright enough for the rest of the elite competition throughout the SEC. With that being said, the Bulldogs will have a down year in comparison to their 2021 campaign. The schedule is just too tough to handle this year for the Bulldogs.
Missouri Tigers: 4-8
Many Mizzou fans are holding out hope that Eliah Drinkwitz is the man for the job. Ever since Gary Pinkel left Columbia in 2015, there has been a downhill slide. The Tigers have managed to have just one eight-win season since then. However, many do think that Drinkwitz has the program headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case in 2022. The SEC West in particular is filled with talent and I think it is too much to handle for the rebuilding Tigers.
South Carolina Gamecocks: 7-5
JESSICA GALLAGHER/ Staff-USA TODAY NETWORK
South Carolina has been through the ups and downs over the years. It finally seems like they have found the right man for the job — Shane Beamer. Last season, the Gamecocks finished 7-5. This season will be somewhat different as they will likely upset some teams. With transfers Spencer Rattler and Antwane Wells Jr. coming into the fold, I expect the Gamecocks to be much-improved on the offensive side of the ball. The defense returns two graduates in R.J. Roderick and Brad Johnson. There will be improvements this season but also some losses along the way. They will upset Tennessee at the end of the season but lose to Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Clemson.
Tennessee Volunteers: 9-3
It has been hard for the Volunteers to live up to the standard that many fans expect over the last decade. However, if there is any hope for a turnaround, it is this season. The Vols return a potential Heisman finalist in Hendon Hooker and a slew of weapons with Cedric Tillman, Jalin Hyatt, and Ramel Keyton returning. In addition, the coaching staff brought in USC transfer Bru McCoy to boost the offense. On defense, the Volunteers will have their top three tacklers from a year ago back in Knoxville. The talent is there, but it is up to the players to showcase that this season. Tennessee will run the table for the most part with just three losses coming at the hands of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Texas A&M Aggies: 10-2
The Aggies seem to be on a high from last season’s impressive win against Alabama. Although the year has changed, the Aggies have just as much talent. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has made it clear that he wants to win a championship in the near future. The No. 1 recruiting class clarifies that. The Aggies finished last season with an 8-4 record and will easily win ten games this upcoming season if the cards play out right. Is that enough to be satisfied? Probably not, but it will do for now.
Vanderbilt Commodores: 2-10
The Commodores were expecting larger things from first-year head coach Clark Lea this past season. However, things didn’t pan out. The Commodores have struggled for quite some time and things just continue to decline in Nashville. As much as it hurts Vanderbilt fans, the same can be said for their 2022 season. With a difficult schedule and an ascending SEC, the ‘Dores will repeat with another 2-10 season. They will return their two leading tacklers and several weapons on offense. It just won’t be enough to make a difference in my eyes.
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2022-06-18T21:17:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Early 2022 SEC football record predictions for each team
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I genuinely have no idea what the Cleveland Browns are doing.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to move on from former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield. Nothing at all. It is a business, after all. However, the way the Browns have gone about this baffles me.
Mayfield played the vast majority of last season with a torn labrum. Should he have put himself through that? Probably not. Did the Browns handle wanting to move on from Mayfield properly? Definitely not.
Mayfield has said the Browns weren’t truthful with him regarding what they planned, and now they’re paying the price for what they did.
The Browns picked up the fifth-year option on Mayfield’s rookie contract, and he is due slightly less than $19 million dollars this season. That’s not an easy thing to trade, and Mayfield’s injury only makes it harder.
The Browns reportedly do not want to pay any of Mayfield’s salary, which is why it’s taken so long to find a trade partner.
The Carolina Panthers are reportedly trying to acquire Mayfield again after trade talks with the Browns fell apart during NFL draft week in April.
Here’s where things get tricky.
The Panthers are already on the hook for Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option, which is also worth a cap hit of just under $19 million. No one on the Panthers has a larger cap hit than Darnold for this season, and they have around $25 million in cap space.
So yes, they have the cap space to get a deal done, but they don’t want to have that much money tied up by two, at this point, unproven QBs. If the Browns want Mayfield gone, they’re going to have to eat some of this contract.
And now for Deshaun Watson.
Simply put, this situation is an absolute mess, fiasco and disaster.
After shipping off three first-round picks, a third-round pick and two fourth-round picks, the Browns gave Deshaun Watson the most player-friendly contract in the history of American Football: $230 million guaranteed.
With Watson’s legal situation getting worse by the day, the NFL isn’t going to allow this to go on much further. A long suspension is coming. While the Browns might be able to get out of this ridiculous contract, those picks are gone. They aren’t getting them back.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslem has said he’s not the one who originally wanted Watson, but, as the owner, he could, at the very least, have prevented this. He didn’t, of course, because he wants his team to win football games.
At what cost, sir?
The Browns have thoroughly torched their relationship with the best QB they’ve had since returning to Cleveland, and these legal troubles with Watson will not be going away anytime soon.
Since Baker likely will not play a snap for the Browns this year, the options head coach Kevin Stefanski have are Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs.
Don’t feel bad for the Browns. They did this to themselves.
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2022-06-18T21:38:23Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Browns have no one to blame but themselves for Baker Mayfield situation
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https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-no-one-blame-themselves-200031337.html?src=rss
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Ross Blacklock
Ross Blacklock has been a misfit commodity for the two seasons.
The Houston Texans drafted the former TCU product in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL draft — the draft that occurred during the COVID-19 lockdowns. After the NFL Scouting Combine, there were hardly any pro days, no 30 visits, and certainly no offseason workouts. Blacklock didn’t step on the practice field with his new team until August for training camp.
In 2021, the Texans switched from a 3-4 defense to a Tampa 2, kicking Blacklock inside to play the three-technique defensive tackle.
Despite the constant change with defenses and positions, Blacklock has endeavored to thrive in the NFL.
“Ross has shown some things here in the spring,” general manager Nick Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] June 16. “Ross is an athletic kid. He’s got good quickness. He runs well. He can kind of create some disruptive plays. So, I would say the most important thing is consistently being on the field, being available, and then just taking advantage of your opportunities when you get them. That’s the most important thing.”
Even though Blacklock has had the disadvantages wrought from COVID, he has displayed a “good attitude,” according to Caserio.
Said Caserio: “We’re in a lot of transition that he’s had to deal with, but Ross has some good attributes and I think the most important thing is showing up every day with the right attitude and just committed to getting better as a player, and you have to make the most of your opportunities when you get on the field.”
The expectations for Blacklock are the same for anyone inside the facilities at NRG Stadium.
“I think that’s the expectation and the goal for every player regardless if he’s going in his third year or he’s stepped in the building two weeks ago or we drafted him however many weeks ago,” said Caserio.
Blacklock generated 26 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 14 games in 2021, two of which he started.
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2022-06-18T22:43:39Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Texans GM Nick Caserio says DT Ross Blacklock ‘has good attributes’
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Jeff Schudel, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
Jun. 18—They don't make sports stadiums like they used to.
The stadium was partially funded by a "sin tax" on alcohol and tobacco in a vote approved overwhelmingly by Cuyahoga County voters (72 percent to 28 percent) on Nov. 7, 1995 — one day after Modell stood on a stage in Baltimore to announce he was moving the team. The sin tax originally was designed to renovate old Cleveland Stadium. But Cleveland city officials reached an agreement with the NFL that the team replacing the former Browns would be an expansion team rather than a relocated one if a new stadium was built.
Browns spokesman Peter John-Baptiste told neotrans that the blog site was "a little too far out in front of the story," but this development is not new. Dee Haslam talked about the possibility of a new stadium with a group of reporters at the team's training complex in Berea back in 2018.
While a state law passed last year allows for the limited lighting of fireworks on private property, communities are limiting or opting out of the law
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2022-06-18T23:08:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Report: Browns exploring sites for new downtown stadium
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Report: Kings, Hornets interested in free-agent Looney originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Kevon Looney caught the attention of the world in the best NBA season of his career with the Warriors this year, earning his third NBA Finals ring.
And as he enters NBA free agency, teams already have their eyes on the big man.
Among those teams: the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets.
The Kings, who hired Golden State assistant coach Mike Brown as their new head coach, are looking to get a familiar face to join forces with Brown in Sactown.
Meanwhile, the Hornets were trying to do the same.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Friday that Warriors top assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and Charlotte were “closing in” on a deal to make Atkinson the next head coach of the Hornets.
But Atkinson reportedly turned down the job to stay with Golden State, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday, citing sources.
Looney made the incredible accomplishment of playing in all 82 games during the Warriors’ 2021-22 season and started in 80 of them. He also played in 22 playoff games, starting in 13.
The Warriors' Iron Man was remarkable during Golden State's postseason run, having breakout performances in the Western Conference semifinals and the Western Conference finals.
Fans watching at home thought he peaked in Game 6 vs. the Memphis Grizzlies when he collected 22 rebounds, only for him to have arguably the best game of his career a few nights later.
RELATED: Kerr: Steph's MVP-filled season 'crowning achievement' of career
He even garnered "MVP! MVP!" chants at Chase Center when he finished with a career-high 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, 12 rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
Looney has proven he's full of surprises, and there's no telling what he'll accomplish next season, wherever he ends up.
Davidson basketball coach retires after 33 seasons + Reward increases for 2020 Juneteenth shooting info
TGIF! Hey folks, KJ here. I’m originally from the northeast, so this is my first time really dealing with the North Carolina heat. This week, for me, was about as hot as I thought it could get.
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2022-06-19T00:42:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NBA rumors: Kings, Hornets interested in Warriors' Kevon Looney in free agency
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Like a crafty fighter lulling an opponent into complacency, The Country Club punched back hard on Saturday, rocking the game's best and setting up a Sunday at the U.S. Open with no clear favorite.
Winds picked up into the high teens. Greens dried out and thumped. The rough, allowed to grow, swallowed wayward shots and held on. The field as a whole shot nearly a stroke and a half worse than Friday's average of 71.99, and the Friday night lead of -5 fell a stroke, to -4. At the beginning of the day, 23 players were under par; by Saturday evening, only nine were.
"This place is a beast," co-leader Will Zalatoris said afterward. "It's just so easy to compound mistakes out here, which, of course, you can do that in major championships in general, but especially this one."
Zalatoris, who began the day four shots off the lead, claimed the clubhouse lead at -4 with a 67, the low round of the day. Zalatoris has made a habit of playing ridiculously well in majors; in his last seven majors, he has five top-eight finishes, a missed cut and a withdrawal. He lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff in last month's PGA Championship, but has played himself right back into contention just four weeks later. But contention isn't a championship.
"Obviously, there's a ton of major champions on this leaderboard, and by no means is the job done," he said. "Not even close. But just keep doing what I'm doing. Make sure I just get myself on the green as fast as I can or at least minimize the mistakes."
About 45 minutes after Zalatoris took over the solo lead, Matthew Fitzpatrick (-4) birdied 14 and 15 to pull into a tie with Zalatoris, then birdied 17 to claim the outright lead. Fitzpatrick, who's spent a lot of time on "next to break through" lists, is one of the few players in the field with experience at The Country Club prior to this week, having won the U.S. Amateur at Brookline in 2013. He gave back a stroke on the 18th, but still heads into Sunday tied with Zalatoris.
"I certainly think [the 2013 win] gives me an edge over the others, yeah. I genuinely do believe that. It's a real, obviously, positive moment in my career. It kind of kickstarted me," he said. "To come back here and play so well again, it kind of just gives me growing confidence round by round."
Jon Rahm (-3), the defending champion, shook off some early jitters to channel some of his Ryder Cup mojo — three birdies over four holes — and take the lead at -5 with two holes to play. But a disastrous 18th — he took two shots to get out of a fairway bunker, buried his approach in a greenside bunker, and ended up with a double-bogey that cost him the lead heading into Sunday.
Even more stunning was the sharp descent of Masters champion Scottie Scheffler (-2). He eagled the eighth, holing out from 101 yards, to get to -6, the farthest below par reached yet this week. But he gave it all back and much more on the back nine, going five-over in the course of just four holes. With a victory Sunday, Scheffler would become the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2015 to win both the Masters and the U.S. Open, and some steady play on the final few holes kept him in position to do just that.
"The U.S. Open is very taxing, mentally and physically. I think that's all part of what this makes this tournament so fun. You're going to get tested all different kinds of ways, whether it be physically, mentally, whatever it is. This golf tournament is going to test you," he said. "That's why I show up here. I think that's kind of the fun of it. If every golf tournament was like this, it would be in for a long season for all of us. A few times a year I think it's a ton of fun."
The most disastrous round of the day belonged to Collin Morikawa (+2), the Friday night co-leader, who appeared to lose every bit of the touch that had generated a 66 on Friday. Two separate bogey-double bogey back-to-backs helped obliterate his card, leaving him +7 for the day and +2 for the week. Morikawa had been tinkering with a swing change coming into the week, and on Saturday, it finally caught up with him.
Rory McIlroy (-1) did pretty much everything he could to vaporize his chances early, bogeying three of the first six holes to fall as far as five strokes off the lead. But he stayed steady, at one point one-putting eight of nine holes, and kept himself within striking distance of the lead. Given that he's managed to detonate nearly every major in the last eight years with one bad round, the fact that he was able to hold together on Saturday could bode well for a run at a fifth major.
"It was one of the toughest days on a golf course I've had in a long time. I just needed to grind it out, and I did on the back nine," he said. "Just kept myself in the tournament. That's all I was trying to do. Just keep hanging around."
Also in close: Keegan Bradley (-2), the 2011 PGA Championship winner and a local Boston product. He threw out the first pitch earlier this week at Fenway Park, and walked up the fairway at 18 to a raucous Boston reception.
"Honestly, it was one of the most amazing moments of my entire life," Bradley said afterward. "I got to feel what it feels like to play in Fenway, to play in the Garden, to play in Gillette Stadium. I felt like a Boston player there. That was a moment I'll never forget the rest of my life, and I appreciate the fans giving me that, and I hope to have them cheer again [Sunday]."
The tight leaderboard allowed for cameo appearances from multiple players who happened to have a good hole at the right time. Adam Hadwin also finished at -2, and Patrick Rodgers, Keegan Bradley and Nick Hardy were among those who worked their way to within two strokes of the lead, even as Aaron Wise, Hayden Buckley, Joel Dahmen and Matthew NeSmith saw their strong Friday night positions wither away.
(Painful) shot of the day
How tough was it out there on the greens at The Country Club? Travis Vick was 12 yards from the pin. After this chip, which he could only watch roll, and roll, and roll, he was 75 yards away. He would go on to make a quadruple-bogey nine on the hole:
Score one for the course pic.twitter.com/mi7cx3QWmU
Sunday's conditions are forecast to be cooler and windier than Saturday, meaning that the U.S. Open is setting up for an even more chaotic final afternoon.
Will Zalatoris ended his day at the U.S. Open as No. 1. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Contact Jay Busbee at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee.
Sooners beat Texas A&M in College World Series opener
Oklahoma began its College World Series run with a 13-8 win over No. 5 Texas A&M in Omaha, Nebraska.
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2022-06-19T00:42:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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U.S. Open: Zalatoris, Fitzpatrick lead crowded field
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Gabby McCall
City Councilman Braxton Winston says he voted against a $275 million renovation and construction package for the Charlotte Hornets Monday because it’s a bad deal, and he wants to change the way the city approaches similar negotiations.
The deal extends the NBA team’s lease to 2045 and allocates $215 million from the city’s tourism funds to renovate the Spectrum Center. The remaining $60 million for the NBA team’s practice facility would come from whoever receives naming rights for the creation of a sports and entertainment district around the Spectrum Center.
Winston’s vote wasn’t a surprise. He spoke publicly for about five minutes and said how he intended to vote during his comments.
“This deal promises to achieve things around the arena that I don’t really think we have an executable plan to achieve,” Winston said.
Winston said the deal is “bad” because it’s demanding “extraordinary capital investments” for a “lame duck arena.”
The other 10 members of council voted in favor, saying they value the NBA team and fear the Hornets may choose to leave Charlotte if they struck down the deal.
“If (the Hornets) don’t negotiate with us, they negotiate with someone else,” Councilman Ed Driggs said shortly before voting to approve the funding.
CHARGE DROPPED: Councilman Braxton Winston no longer facing assault crime
The deal emerged publicly shortly after I started at The Charlotte Observer in May, coming from Greenville, South Carolina, and at the sixth public meeting I attended in my first two weeks. Two weeks later, the deal was approved, with the public getting a chance to comment on it just once.
I most recently covered housing, gentrification and county government for The Greenville News. I thrived holding Greenville’s government accountable and telling people-first, community stories. I plan to continue this watchdog reporting in Charlotte.
For this week’s CLT Politics, I talked to Winston about what changes he thinks are needed in deals like the Spectrum Center renovations and Hornets practice facility as well as when he first heard about the deal.
FIGHTING CHANCE: Why Charlotte Republicans might have a shot in the 2022 elections
Winston: Charlotte politics needs more transparency
Winston, who was first elected in 2017, didn’t know about the deal or renovations to the arena at all until negotiations began. He learned about it last fall when he attended the City Council retreat and found out it had been in the works for years. The city is contractually obligated in its lease with the Hornets to spend at least $173 million on Spectrum Center renovations.
I asked him why the public had only one opportunity to comment on a deal that included millions in taxpayer money.
“Unfortunately, this is the Charlotte way,” Winston said.
To bring more transparency to deals like this, Winston said he would like to see the creation of a committee made up of council members that specifically looks at contracts with pro-sports teams and other big tourism deals.
Then, deals with the Hornets, Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC are streamlined and handled the same way.
He says the city should continue to own land stadiums sit on, but the professional teams should maintain them.
“This municipality should be in the business of city building, not being a landlord,” Winston said. “Then, in the future when the life of this arena is done, the people still have the land.”
Winston said he supports the sports and entertainment industry, and wants to put Charlotte in a position where the city has the stadiums to hold more national events. Investing properly in the industry will bring thousands of middle class jobs to Charlotte, he said.
READ NEXT: 8 ways N.C. drivers can save money on gas
Was there a possibility the Hornets would’ve left Charlotte?
Despite hints the Hornets could leave Charlotte if a deal wasn’t approved Monday, Winston thinks the team would’ve stayed. The NBA team’s existing lease was set to expire in 2030, and he thinks city government could’ve worked something out before then.
“I always try to think in the largest of pictures and this is a great place and a great city for professional basketball, regardless of who owns the team,” Winston said.
He thinks the council needs to be more forward thinking — the new lease extends through 2045. What state will the Spectrum Center be in then?
“We have an average arena, but there’s nothing average about the Jordan name,” referring to basketball icon and team owner Michael Jordan.
With the deal approved, the city is likely to start on the next step of transforming the area around the Spectrum Center, Epicentre and transportation center into a sports and entertainment district. In the new district area, city officials floated the idea of occasionally closing down South Brevard Street for sports festivities and to “bring the excitement outside.”
OUR INVESTIGATION: Past federal review found problems in CMS after sexual assault reports
What do you want to see in local government coverage?
I introduced myself above, but here’s a little more about me.
I grew up just south of the Carolinas’ border in Rock Hill. My childhood included sweltering summer days at Carowinds (RIP Thunder Road) and begging my parents on the weekends to take me to SouthPark mall. We didn’t have a Hollister in Rock Hill.
I’m also a University of South Carolina alumna.
I’m interested in hearing from you. What do you want to see covered?
Email me at gcontino@charlotteobserver.com or follow me on Twitter @GennaContino.
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2022-06-19T01:17:06Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Charlotte Hornets’ renovation, practice facility package is a bad deal, councilman says
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Bob McKillop retires as Davidson coach after 33-season run originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Leanne Smith won gold medals in all seven of her events at the world para swimming championships, leading a U.S. team that finished second in gold medals.
Coach Andy Johnson has been busy since the day he arrived at Mesa Mountain View but he realizes it won't be easy following a legendary coach.
Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to right thumb soreness. Manager Terry Francona said Ramírez jammed the thumb during a swing about 10 days ago and then aggravated it during the Guardians' recent series in Colorado. Ramírez will have it checked out again Sunday before Cleveland travels to Minnesota to begin a three-game series on Tuesday.
Kenny Atkinson backs out of Charlotte Hornets’ head coaching job, AP source says
Kenny Atkinson’s tenure as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets is over before it started.
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2022-06-19T02:46:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bob McKillop retires as Davidson coach after 33-season run
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Eddie George
All-American college football player, professional football player, running back, Heisman Trophy winner
We’ve already looked at the quarterback position, and now we’re moving on to running back. It’s a position that’s often been considered the Cadillac group in the history of Ohio State.
We’ll keep voting up for five days, and at the end of it, we’ll reveal the winner of each. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to cast your vote from the nominees and write in a candidate if you think of another player.
Aug 1974; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) during the 1974 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Why he’s considered
The only two-time Heisman Trophy winner is an easy pick to have his lamb chop sideburns chiseled in stone on the Mt. Rushmore of OSU running backs.
At the time, Archie was the first true freshman to ever start at running back for the Buckeyes. Sure, it was the first year freshmen were eligible to play, but he blew the doors off the myth that freshmen weren’t ready for that level. He finished his career with 5,589 rushing yards, the most in Ohio State history and a record that will likely never be broken with most skilled runners being drawn to NFL millions. Archie also boasts a 3-0-1 record against TTUN.
Griffin had a less than stellar NFL career after being drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976. He played seven seasons with 2,808 rushing yards and only seven TDs. But hey, this is the Mount Rushmore of Ohio State running backs and Archie is royalty.
Ohio State football well-represented on ESPN top 150 players all-time
Oct 21, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Eddie George (27) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes beat the Boilermakers 28-0. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Who could forget the chants… Ed-die, Ed-die while sitting in the shoe or in front of your TV? The first time I witnessed Eddie George run the ball, he fumbled on the 2-yard line and it was returned for a touchdown. I wasn’t sure he would amount to much after that. Instead, he ended up being one of my all-time favorite Buckeyes.
George was just plain fun to watch. Those long strides made it look like he was moving in slow motion until you realized he was leaving everyone else in the dust. Eddie still holds the single-season rushing record with 1,927 yards and a whopping 148 yards per game average, along with the single-game rushing record of 314 yards at the time against Illinois in his 1995 Heisman-winning season.
Eddie had an impressive NFL career rushing for 10,441 yards and 68 touchdowns, especially considering the short shelf life of most professional running backs.
Ohio State to be added to EA Sports' Madden NFL 22 Campus Legends mode
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs past the Oregon Ducks defense in the first quarter for a touchdown in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
85 yards through the heart of the south – might be every Buckeye fan’s favorite memory. If not, it has to be pretty high on the list.
Elliott burst onto the scene as a sophomore, but he became a Buckeye legend in the postseasons of 2014-2015. Zeke carried OSU with 696 rushing yards in wins over Wisky in the Big Ten Championship, Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and the Oregon Ducks in the CFP national championship game.
At the time of graduation, Zeke has the No.’s 2 and 3 best rushing seasons by a Buckeye, gaining over 1,800 yards, and a combined 41 rushing touchdowns in each season as a starter. He also had five of the top 20 rushing performances in OSU history. Statistically speaking, it might be the best 2- year run of any OSU back ever.
Zeke had it all – speed, vision, hands and was great in pass protection.
It’s still too early to tell what Elliott’s NFL career will become, but it’s definitely off to an outstanding start. Here’s to hoping Zeke’s off-field issues begin to fade into the background.
Sep 1984; Columbus, OH, USA, FILE PHOTO; Ohio State running back (41) Keith Byars in action against the Washington State Cougars at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Photo by Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Keith Byars was a rare combination of size and speed. He was a bruising back who could cut on a dime, run by or through you — even while wearing just one shoe.
After an incredible ’84 season, Byars came into the next season as the Heisman favorite. Unfortunately, a foot injury kept us from knowing if he could live up to the hype in 1985. He ended his career with 3,200 yards on the ground. Byars also had 46 rushing touchdowns, good for No. 2 all-time among OSU running backs at the time, trailing only fullback Pete Johnson.
Byars enjoyed a 13-year NFL career but was better known for his pass catching than his running as a professional. He finished his career with 3,109 yards rushing and 5,661 yards receiving. He also threw six touchdown passes, which is the 3rd highest by any running back in NFL history.
Face of the running back position Twitter Poll. Vote!
When you think of the running back position historically at Ohio State, who is the first player that comes to mind? Is it @KAB41, @EzekielElliott, @EddieGeorge2727, Archie Griffin, or another? Vote! Write in another if desired. #OhioStateFaceOfThePosition #GoBucks
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2022-06-19T03:03:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ohio State football face of the position: Running Back
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During an unofficial visit to Madison on Saturday, Paul Chryst and his coaching staff extended an offer to 2024 three-star outside linebacker Sam Pilof out of Middleton, Wisconsin.
Per 247Sports, Pilaf is the No. 34 LB in the country, and the No. 5 player in the state of Wisconsin.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, the Middleton High School standout currently holds offers from Iowa State, Rutgers, and now Wisconsin.
As a sophomore, Pilof registered 98 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles en route to being named first team All-Conference.
The in-state OLB announced his scholarship offer from the University of Wisconsin via his Twitter account:
The crew was filming “The Chosen One,” a story about a 12-year-old boy who learns he is the returned Jesus Christ.
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2022-06-19T03:03:58Z
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Wisconsin offers 2024 in-state OLB Sam Pilof
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BROOKLINE, Mass. — The temperatures were dropping into the 50s, the weather was raw. This is June? More like October. The winds were swirling, wreaking havoc on the meticulous calculations of the best golfers in the world. Shots were flying everywhere but where they were intended.
“That was brutal,” said Will Zalatoris.
He was in the lead of the U.S. Open when he said that.
And that’s where he finished when all the three-putts and bogeys and errant shots into the gallery were over, and the third round had mercifully come to an end Saturday night at The Country Club.
A couple of youngsters, Zalatoris, 25, who finished second at the 2021 Masters and second again at the recent PGA Championship, and Matt Fitzpatrick, 27, who tied for fifth at the PGA Championship last month, tied at 4-under par on the eve of Sunday’s final round.
Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 18th tee during the third round of the U.S. Open. He shares the lead with Mark Fitzpatrick after three rounds.
But did they sound like leaders? No, they did not.
“I put my sun cream on before the round, and I was thinking, 'Oh, it's going to get nice and warm,'” Fitzpatrick said, “but it was quite the opposite by the end of the day. The wind was strong. The wind was really strong. It made it tough.”
It was bad for everyone, but perhaps even worse for reigning U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm, who was in the lead and playing the most consistent golf of them all when he found himself sizing up a relatively routine approach shot from a fairway bunker on the 18th hole.
Then he drilled the ball right into a tuft of long grass at the edge of the sand just a few feet away. The ball rolled right back to where he had been standing. His happy day had suddenly changed. He ended up with a double bogey. Instead of leading by one shot, he was behind by one at 3-under.
“Quite frankly, it was a little dark and it was hard to see,” Rahm explained later. “I tried to be a little too perfect with the shot. Maybe I was trying to get too cute, looking for another birdie. It is what it is. I think I got a little bit too cute with the shot.”
Every single man on the leaderboard was muttering about something or other when he walked off the course Saturday.
“It was one of the toughest days on a golf course I've had in a long time,” said Rory McIlory, who lost three shots in the first six holes, righted the ship and finished at 1-under, still very much in it. “I just needed to grind it out, and I did on the back nine. Just kept myself in the tournament. That's all I was trying to do. Just keep hanging around. I felt like I did well to get it in under par for the tournament at the end of the day.”
Joel Dahmen, who started the day tied for the lead, gave back four strokes throughout the third round but still was tied for seventh at 1-under.
“I knew it was going to be hard; I didn't know it was going to be that hard,” he said. “The wind flipped, made some of the easy holes really hard, and the first four holes were brutal. Then the back, a lot of those hard holes got a little bit easier as well. I wouldn't say it was a wash. It was way harder today. But it was a true U.S. Open setup, that's for sure.”
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler burst into the lead and reached 6-under par at one point, only to fall back as well and finish at 2-under.
“I think the U.S. Open is very taxing, mentally and physically,” he said. “I think that's all part of what makes this tournament so fun. You're going to get tested all different kinds of ways, whether it be physically, mentally, whatever it is. That's why I show up here. I think that's kind of the fun of it. If every golf tournament was like this, it would be in for a long season for all of us. A few times a year, I think it's a ton of fun.”
That’s one way to look at it. Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick, not surprisingly, were the only two to start out near the lead and steadily get better as the brutal day wore on.
“I think it took a lot of discipline today,” Zalatoris said. “I mean, we didn't aim at a single flag even with some wedges just because you really only have a foot or two to deal with on these greens in some situations.
“Normally guys out here when they have wedges in their hand, they're firing at pins no matter what the situation was, but it's just a lot of patience and giving myself as many 15- to 25-footers as I could, and obviously, a couple happened to go in today, and it felt pretty good.”
But when all was said and done, there was universal agreement on one simple concept: They are ready for more.
Said Justin Thomas, the PGA champion who stood at 3-over: “It’s very difficult. Par is a great score on a lot of holes. Bogeys aren't going to kill you. I said to Bones (his caddie) walking up 18, ‘This is how a U.S. Open should be.’”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Open: 'Brutal' conditions wreak havoc in third round
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2022-06-19T03:46:59Z
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'That was brutal': US Open conditions leave everyone muttering after third round | Opinion
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What emerged from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night wasn't their championship pedigree or vaunted ability to bounce back but frayed nerves and maybe a realization that the Colorado Avalanche are coming swiftly for their crown. This marked just the second time in Vasilevskiy’s 465-game NHL career that he allowed that many goals in a game. Captain Steven Stamkos was hollering and angling for a fight with the Lightning down 3-0 in the first period.
Mike Trout crushed a go-ahead home run in the 10th to lead the Angels to a 4-2 win over the Mariners in Game 1 of a doubleheader
The Colorado Avalanche have a big challenge in their hands against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The park's south loop will have limited service beginning Wednesday at 8 a.m., the park service said.
Sports stores were busy and hotel lobbies were packed on Friday, as the Colorado Avalanche prepare for game two of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday.
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2022-06-19T03:47:12Z
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Colorado Avalanche dominate Tampa Bay Lightning, take 2-0 lead in Stanley Cup Final
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The Baltimore Ravens have made plenty of solid additions to their roster over the course of the 2022 offseason. They’ve made sure to fill out most of their positions with quality depth, something that should help them combat any injuries that they may go through this year.
On Friday, the team announced that they signed linebacker Steven Means, a move that provides them with another depth piece on defense. The veteran was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, and spent parts of the 2014 and 2015 seasons with Baltimore. He’s also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and most recently the Atlanta Falcons.
Over the course of seven seasons playing in the NFL, Means has accumulated 107 total tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles in 64 games played. His production might not pop off of the box score, but he’ll try to earn a roster spot with the team for the 2022 season.
Means tried out for Baltimore at their mandatory minicamp, and impressed the organization enough to bring him in full-time. He’s a player that has been a leader during his NFL career, giving pre-game speeches and working hard to achieve his goals.
He also had positional versatility, as he can line up both as a stand-up rusher as well as move inside to play on the defensive line. The Ravens value players that can move around and play at multiple positions, and Means has plenty of experience at doing so.
Overall, Means isn’t someone that moves the needle in any sort of direction. He’s a low-risk, high-reward player that could potentially pay off in a big way if everything goes right. The signing of Means shouldn’t discourage Baltimore from signing another pass rusher with a more proven track record such as Justin Houston or Jason Pierre-Paul, but for now he’s a fine rotational piece that could turn into something more.
He's died before, and it looks as if he will return again.View Entire Post ›
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2022-06-19T05:52:35Z
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Grading Ravens’ signing of LB Steven Means
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When asked about where Steph Curry falls as an all-time great, he had a very interesting take: “This is going to be painful for me to say, but I think he passes Isiah Thomas as the greatest small guard ever.”
It’s easy to see where Barkley is coming from, Isiah Thomas was about as tough as they come. The 6-foot-1 point guard, who played for the Bad Boys Pistons, was one of the first score-first point guards to play in the NBA. In fact, shooting 3s was the only thing Isiah wasn’t great at. There are many differences between the two, but Barkley hit the nail on the head with this.
The greatest comparison is the grit and toughness both played with. Curry and Thomas displayed champion-level toughness in different ways, but both grinded for their teams. The other big comparison was how both looked to attack. Again, in different ways. Thomas was always looking to get downhill and attack the paint while Curry looks to attack the 3-point line.
It’s always hard comparing eras, but some comparisons are clearer than others. With his fourth ring, Steph has risen to another level. He was already the greatest shooter of all time. Now, at least to Sir Charles, he is the greatest small guard the league has ever seen as well.
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2022-06-19T06:24:21Z
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Charles Barkley ranks Steph Curry ahead of Pistons great Isiah Thomas
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"They've done a lot with the team, I understand they've done a lot with the stadium, and it's the only organization I've ever played in or been in," Koufax said at the time. "I came here with Jackie and Gil and Duke … and played with great people like Don and Tommy and Willie and Maury. … It feels good."
"I wouldn't do this anyplace else," Koufax said. "Anyplace else they said I was working with pitchers, I went to see friends, I wasn't working with pitchers. People would ask, could you do this [wear another jersey] … I said, I can't."
“I love you one and all,” Sandy Koufax said. “I’m done."
For former Nationals teammates, Ryan Zimmerman’s consistency stood out the most
Ryan Zimmerman was lauded by his former teammates and manager for bringing the same attitude to the ballpark every day.
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2022-06-19T06:24:27Z
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Plaschke: Sandy Koufax statue unveiling ceremony a time of gratitude and inclusion
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As far as Justin Tatum is concerned, his Father’s Day gift this year came early and was of the variety that simply cannot be bought in stores (no matter what anyone says about the Golden State Warriors‘ payroll), an accomplishment that can only be appreciated fully by a proud dad watching his child competing at the highest level of his chosen vocation.
In a touching Instagram post the elder Tatum penned to honor his son’s monumental season helping lead the Boston Celtics to within two games of winning the storied franchise’s 18th banner, All-NBA Celtics forward Jayson Tatum’s father explained to his son just how proud he was of his accomplishment.
“These past 2 months you gave me the best Fathers Day gift a dad can ask for,” said Tatum’s father in the post.
“Seeing you competing at the highest level and making history has been a dream come true,” offered Justin Tatum.
“I know the competitive nature in you feel defeated and that’s natural. But you won in my eyes. Leading the league in playoff minutes, being 45% of your team’s offense, and taking the Golden State Warriors to Game 6. Lil-J hold your head up kid. You won in every category except for the Finals. Now you know what it takes.”
“Love you son I’m soooo proud of you!” he added.
What lessons can the Boston Celtics take from their 2022 NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors? https://t.co/YAF7XKqN1t
Disappointing as the series loss may have been, particularly to Jayson, there were plenty of things to be proud of, and how hard the St. Louis native fought to get to the Finals is certainly among them.
And if that message didn’t hit you in the feels, put down your computer, tablet, cell phone — whatever you are reading this with — it might be time to take a break from the NBA for a while.
Is the Celtics’ season a success for making the Finals, or a failure given how close they got to winning it all? https://t.co/A9J2Y1yVSN
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2022-06-19T06:24:46Z
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Jayson Tatum’s dad Justin reacts to his son’s Finals loss with touching message
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Magic welcomes Steph to exclusive NBA club after Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Steph Curry will have to make some room in his trophy case after winning the 2022 NBA Finals MVP award on Thursday night.
And in doing so, he joined some ultra-elite company in the process.
Johnson even took the time to give Curry a warm welcome to the exclusive club.
Steph became the 7th player in NBA history to win four NBA Championships and multiple League MVP awards! He joins LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and some other guy that wore number 32 for the Showtime Lakers ðŸ˜
It has been a journey for sure, but to look at that list and realize only one other player is still playing in the NBA is absurd to think about what Curry could still accomplish.
In the 2021-22 NBA season alone, the Warriors superstar broke Ray Allen’s all-time 3-point record, was named MVP of the All-Star Game, the Western Conference finals, the NBA Finals, and won his fourth ring.
RELATED: Kerr's humorous quip about hole still left in Steph's resume
And he graduated college, an achievement Ayesha Curry doesn't want the world to forget.
Clearly, the sky is the limit for Curry. And there's no indication that he's slowing down anytime soon.
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2022-06-19T06:24:52Z
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Steph Curry welcomed by Magic Johnson to elite club after Warriors' title
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Jocelyn Alo is the greatest hitter in softball history. Full stop. No question mark.
She’s the 2022 Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player, a two-time national champion, two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, No. 1 all time in career home runs (122), No. 2 all time in career RBI (323) and has the highest career slugging percentage of all time (.990!).
Much has been said about her premiere performance and all its done to popularize softball. The game has experienced augmented growth in the glow of her stardom, although national interest has been consistently increasing for some time.
“I think that I've definitely left my mark,” Alo said after Oklahoma won its sixth national championship Thursday. “I've definitely enjoyed my five years, and I'm excited to see what the Sooners softball team does. And I'm just excited to see what little girl's gonna work hard out there to come and break my record.”
Over 1.3 million players annually participate in the USA Softball youth program. The first season of Division I softball (1982) included 2,532 athletes compared to 6,892 in 2021, according to the NCAA. ESPN’s prime-time broadcast of Oklahoma and Texas’ first matchup in the championship series (which fought Game 3 of the NBA Finals on ABC for eyeballs) averaged 1.4 million viewers. The title game on ESPN2 averaged 1.7 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.
Despite this, professional softball in America has yet to take off. What could Alo and her championship pedigree do to change that?
The answer: It’s complicated.
Jocelyn Alo celebrates with the national championship trophy after the game against the Texas Longhorns on Thursday. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Here's what is next for Jocelyn Alo
Yes, Alo’s profile can only enhance professional softball. But its main problem is a tale as old as women’s sports: Lack of investment and visibility.
Alo will play in Women's Pro Fastpitch on the Smash It Sports Vipers, she announced on Instagram Live Monday. She allowed the momentum to build over the weekend, after telling media Thursday night that she would continue to play softball but didn't specify which league(s). At the time of her announcement around 2,100 viewers tuned in.
“She's making decisions, and people are kind of waiting to see where she goes,” said Lauren Chamberlain, former Sooner and former NCAA home run record holder. “That's what we want for the sport. That's what the former players want. We want that attention around an athlete and a decision that she makes just like it would be for the men in the professional space that are choosing to go somewhere next.”
Chamberlain,played professional softball for four years in the National Pro Fastpitch. Now she serves as the commissioner of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF), a fledgling league that launches its inaugural two-team (the USSSA Pride and the Smash It Sports Vipers) exhibition season Tuesday and will stream games online.
"Jocelyn is the epitome of the modern female athlete," Chamberlain said after Alo's announcement. "The attention that she’s garnered is all deserved, and to see the world respond in a craze to a woman dominating her sport should be normalized. This is another big step for our sport and for women as a whole."
Savanna Collins is a digital reporter and producer for Athletes Unlimited, a fantasy style women’s professional sports league. She views Alo as the kind of talent who transcends softball. Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, sent Alo a direct message on Instagram to congratulate her on such a dominant career. Her story from Hau’ula, Hawaii, to Norman, Oklahoma, is all over sports media’s biggest outlets. Fans feel like they know her and want to root for her.
“It really is kind of a once in a blue moon situation where they're hitting all the marks that makes sports fans go crazy,” Collins said. “So I think she's going to be huge for pro softball whichever league she chooses. I know that that league will have a huge influx of fans. … I think she is famous and a fantastic athlete in a way that we very rarely see.”
While she’s a generational talent, she wouldn’t be the first collegiate softball player ESPN has fallen in love with during the WCWS and then abandoned. Take Florida softball alumna Amanda Lorenz or Michigan’s Sierra Romero for example.
Social media and the NIL age are helpful, relatively new developments that keep fans engaged. And AU’s deal with ESPN is huge. Kayla Lombardo, lead editor at Softball America, said Alo and other elite softball players are reaping the benefits of living and playing in a historically great time for women athletes.
“She's really the first superstar in our game who's going to have the opportunity to go from playing on ESPN in college at the highest level to then going and playing on ESPN family of networks at the professional level,” Lombardo said. “That's significant because that means that eyeballs will continue to be on her and that she has the opportunity to continue to grow her brand and help softball in general.”
Jocelyn Alo leaves Oklahoma as the all-time NCAA home run leader in softball. (Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports)
Pro softball’s challenges mirror women’s sports hurdles in general
As a society, we've been duped into thinking women's sports are worth less without really testing that hypothesis. You’ve heard of the question, “Which came first: The chicken or the egg?” When it comes to the business of women’s sports, it goes more like this: “Which should come first, interest or investment?”
Lombardo says investment.
“A lot of men's sports leagues were not profitable for decades, so it takes time for you to get a return on your investment,” Lombardo said. “But you need to be in it for the long run, for the long game and see the potential for the investment to pay dividends.”
The NBA saw a net loss of $15 million to $20 million in 1982, roughly 35 years into the league’s history. The NWSL is in its 10th season but came up on the graves of shuttered leagues like the Women’s United Soccer Association and the Women’s Professional Soccer league, which lasted three and four years, respectively. The WNBA is 26 years old and, even with the NBA’s backing, is struggling to get high-profile games broadcasted on national television. The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league folded last August after 17 years.
“Give us [women’s sports leagues] time,” Collins said. “Give us the same grace that men's pro leagues were given and continuously are given.”
Athletes Unlimited launched in 2020 with a five-week, 30-game softball season. Each week the rosters change, as top players become captains and draft new squads to compete for a championship.
Since 2020, AU has added volleyball, lacrosse and basketball to its repertoire. An abbreviated version of its championship softball season (three 12-game series over two weeks) called AUX premiers Monday. In April, ESPN announced a multi-year deal with AU to air pro softball and lacrosse games on the network’s platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and streaming on ESPN+.
“There aren't many leagues in just Year 3 that are already on linear TV with that amount of access,” Collins said of the deal. “And a big part of growing the investment from fans on that side of it, I think, is having access and ease to be able to watch the game. For Athletes Unlimited, being on ESPN was a big part of that.”
The reason for college softball’s popularity, Chamberlain said, has been investment from the NCAA and visibility from ESPN. She called these “nonnegotiables for success.”
NCAA softball games are available on ESPN or streaming all season long, and the sports’ postseason tournament gets Sunday matinee or prime-time treatment. Between steady exposure on one of sports media’s biggest platforms, social media and their newfound ability to profit off name, image and likeness, college softball players have plenty of tools available to craft a brand that resonates with fans. (On Alo’s Instagram, she has promoted a local car dealership and law firm, McDonald’s, Outback, Fabletics and her own line of merchandise.) But once NCAA eligibility is up, the spectators who’ve followed their journeys have few avenues for continuing to do so.
Chamberlain said professional softball leagues and superstar players should work together to elevate each other’s brands. A sort of help-me-help-you relationship, rather than leagues drafting off their players’ popularity alone. Instead of relying on dedicated college fans' ability to track athletes down, leagues should fight to guarantee athletes exposure in a way that boosts both parties' status.
“I've been in that same seat, and a lot of the women that are in professional softball still have made that choice to go pro and I don't think we're equally supported by the league,” Chamberlain said. “And that’s something that we [at WPF] are striving to do is provide a platform for them to continue so that it's not so much that professional softball rides on them, but that we can equally support and benefit each other to continue both of our brands.”
June's New Moon in Cancer Demands Some Self-Reflection
New moons are astrology's version of an emotional reset button. These lunar events occur roughly once a month, when the moon sits so closely to the sun that not even a sliver of the moon's surface is visible.
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2022-06-19T08:23:03Z
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Jocelyn Alo announces her post-Oklahoma plans in softball
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American basketball and volleyball player (1936-1999)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Lennie Rosenbluth, who led North Carolina to its first basketball NCAA title in 1957 with a victory over Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas in the championship game, died Saturday. He was 89.
That `57 Tar Heels team went 32-0, capping its run with a triple-overtime victory over Chamberlain's Jayhawks. Rosenbluth scored 20 points in the championship game but fouled out late in regulation.
Korda made an eagle on 18 to take a one-shot lead over Jennifer Kupcho headed into the final round
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2022-06-19T10:43:15Z
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Lennie Rosenbluth, star of UNC's '57 title team, dies at 89
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Elsa/TNS
As someone whose expertise centers around being descriptive, veteran broadcaster Ian Eagle has a certain way with words.
Eagle boasts decades of experience, often jockeying between his main job as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn Nets on the YES Network with national duties. He calls NFL and college basketball games on CBS on top of his other notable task — serving as a play-by-play voice on TNT’s NBA telecasts.
So Eagle’s viewpoint is far from the ordinary. He has been around more than his fair share of coaches over the years and that includes plenty of time with Kenny Atkinson, the Charlotte Hornets’ new head coach.
Eagle cited plenty of reasons why the Hornets should be excited to have Atkinson on board after choosing him as the person to lead them forward into their next phase.
“He’s very thorough,” Eagle said. “He’s had every job you can have as a coach, so I think it brings a unique perspective with how to deal with players, and understanding what they are going through and how to get the most out of them. That’s the one thing that has stood out no matter where he’s been — and that’s development.
“And what I’ve learned in covering the NBA for all these years, there’s this misconception that players don’t want to be coached or don’t want to be told what to do. If you can make them better, if you can unlock parts of their game so that they can reach their ultimate potential, they’ll listen. But you’ve got to have the goods. It’s obvious to me that when you know what you are talking about and you know how to articulate it you’ll be effective.”
Atkinson spent this season sitting on Golden State’s bench next to Steve Kerr, who just guided the Warriors to their fourth title in eight years thanks to beating Boston in six games, and got integrated into the franchise’s inner workings. That allowed him to have an up-close view of a championship blueprint.
It came on the heels of Atkinson’s one-year stint with the LA Clippers as an assistant.
“I think this experience the last couple of years with being around other teams and being around other coaches ...,” Eagle said, “to be around Tyronn Lue, to be around Steve Kerr, to be around guys that have been doing this for a long time and have been highly successful and have won championships, it’s going to add to the knowledge base that he’s already developed.”
Providing insight on the inner workings of the Hornets’ new voice, Eagle spoke with The Charlotte Observer about Atkinson, how the Queen City is a sleeping giant among the NBA landscape and Steph Curry’s place in history after another remarkable playoff run. Curry, who grabbed The Finals MVP honors, is having his Davidson jersey retired in August.
Roderick Boone: You kind of touched on it, but to expand on it a little, what do you think Kenny Atkinson learned under Kerr with the Warriors that he can bring to the Hornets?
Ian Eagle: Yeah, it’s not that hard to look back on guys that have won championships, that were a part of something at a different level of it. So Mike Budenholzer, NBA champion. All those years under Gregg Popovich. Erik Spoelstra, NBA champion. All of those years under Pat Riley learning about team building and how to handle situations and how to navigate.
And I think just the second time around as head coach for Kenny, looking back on what worked and what didn’t work and how to improve ... I know how driven he is. So when someone’s willing to put in the work and self-assess like he is, I just know that his going to come back even better as a head coach, and he was already doing a lot of the right things in his first stint.
RB: The Hornets are a young team with a young core featuring LaMelo Ball. How do you think Atkinson’s skills as a developmental coach will help them?
IE: That team is tailor-made to me from the outside looking in. His skill set and his experience should blend perfectly with what the Hornets are trying to do. They know they’ve got something. Anyone who watched this team over the last couple of seasons has seen that the pieces are there and now it’s all about blending it together, and do you have the right voice.
The other part that we’ve learned in the NBA is often the head coach is the public face of your team. He’s the one dealing with the media on a daily basis. If something’s wrong behind the scenes, it’s the head coach that often has to represent the team. And I think Kenny is an excellent representative of any franchise to sit up there, answer questions, explain the thought process behind certain decisions. He’s someone that is deep and thoughtful and analytical. And those are attributes that you need if you are trying to take that next step.
RB: How motivated is he to be a good coach and do his job effectively?
IE: He is eating and breathing basketball on a minute-by-minute basis, and I know he’s got good balance with his family and that’s probably helped him immensely in figuring out the important things of life. But when he’s locked in on the task at hand there’s no stopping him. He’s relentless in that pursuit.
RB: Is there a memory of Kenny you will cherish from the time you were around him or is there anything in particular that stood out?
IE: I think Kenny’s disposition is one of seriousness and focus and businesslike, but if you do get him in a more human moment there is a natural curiosity. He wants to know more about you. And when you see the person behind it, there’s a really good guy behind the exterior that you see. Good sense of humor. Likes to laugh.
Look, I think if you are going to relate to players there’s got to be another side to you. And Steve Kerr is the ultimate example of that, someone that can connect with anybody. Anybody. Doesn’t matter who they are and what their background is. He will find commonality. And I think that’s something that coaches should strive for, is being able to crack the veneer of not unjust theory players but themselves, where you can see the true person. Kenny has that. There’s no doubt it’s in him and I think he’ll be even better this time around.
RB: You’ve traveled to every NBA city. Some have referred to Charlotte as a ‘sleeping giant.’ What are your thoughts on that and do you agree?
IE: I think if you are just of a certain age, a certain experience level in the NBA, you remember what that stretch was like. When that city was going crazy over the Hornets, it was a legitimate home-court advantage. It swept through the town, they loved their basketball. Basketball is certainly a go-to sport in the state and it just felt like a perfect storm back then, that this market was going to be the real deal for a long time. And circumstances changed and ownership changes and the team leaves and comes back.
So I think it hasn’t been a smooth road, but the reason why you always hear the term sleeping giant is because we’ve all seen it. There is proof that it can work and if the team is really good the city will back them. It’s hard in this league. It’s hard to be a consistent winner. It’s hard to get to that level and there are a number of franchises that have experienced how difficult a mountain that is to climb.
There’s been enough momentum now that you can start to visualize it again, that if the Hornets can get to a point where they’re a perennial playoff team they might be able to build this thing back up and become one of those go-to cities in the NBA.
RB: The Hornets are actually building a new practice facility across the street from their arena and there is talk of making the area being developed something akin to Milwaukee’s ‘Deer District.’ How do you think that could go over?
IE: It just seems obvious that that’s the kind of city that would work. There are certain cities where you’ve got people that want to be festive, that want to come downtown and have a good time and make it a night — not just go to the game and leave.
Yeah, that’s pretty much where the next step of fandom has become. ‘I just don’t want to show up to the game and go home. I want the other stuff that comes with it.’ And Charlotte, they’ve got the infrastructure to do that. There’s no doubt in my mind, the city of Charlotte has it and just that whole area is still untapped in many ways.
RB: You’ve called plenty of his games. What do you think about Steph Curry’s run of four championships in eight years and where you think he stands in NBA history?
IE: He’s one of the most unique players the game has ever seen. He’s changed the game. I don’t know how many players you can say that about. You can count it on one or two hands. So as far as ranking them, as far as comparing eras, that becomes a fun argument at a bar or a morning hot-take show. But it’s inevitable. That’s what happens in sports. We are always going to have different generations talking about what they believe to be the best that they’ve ever seen.
I just know this: There are so many young players that have now seen Steph Curry’s career develop and they’ve emulated what he is and they’ve tried. The bottom line is that he is ridiculously skilled, and an incredibly hard worker and is dedicated to his craft. So it’s going to be hard to re-create this player in some form. And you put the genes into it, as well, that he’s the son of one of the best shooters in NBA history, he’s just a special talent. I think the Warriors have changed the game and Steph Curry is at the forefront of that change. Without him, none of this happens.
So the pieces are really important and the different iterations of the Warriors, it’s been fun to watch. But he is the common thread and I, again, don’t know where he is going to be ranked when it’s all said and done. I just know that we’ve witnessed greatness.
The inclination for some fans is, ‘Well, no, you can’t put him in that classification.’ No, he just does it differently. He chose a different path and to me the best part of it all is he has stayed true to his personality. He hasn’t altered to what the perception is of an NBA superstar. He has just done it his way.
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2022-06-19T10:47:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Veteran broadcaster Ian Eagle breaks down what Kenny Atkinson brings to Charlotte
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https://sports.yahoo.com/veteran-broadcaster-ian-eagle-breaks-100000661.html?src=rss
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Golf is arguably one of the most toxic relationships of all time. You love it one hour and hate it the next. Small mistakes can send you over the edge, and small wins have you bragging to your friends.
Golf can put a damper on your bank account, but is worth it when you stripe that shiny new 4-iron for the first time on the course… and then hit a high cut into the houses out of bounds.
We asked some fans at the 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts what they would change about golf. Take a look at what they had to say.
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2022-06-19T11:31:17Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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What would you change about golf? We asked U.S. Open fans at The Country Club
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https://sports.yahoo.com/change-golf-asked-u-open-214531015.html?src=rss
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Sam Smith, Holland Sentinel
BELMONT, Mich. — The crowd was roaring Saturday afternoon after Nelly Korda sunk a five-foot eagle putt that put her in the solo lead at the LPGA Meijer Classic.
It was nothing but smiles for last year’s tournament winner. Korda was feeding off the crowd’s energy all afternoon and seemed to flourish in the electric atmosphere as the fans rallied behind her.
Now leading the pack, Korda sunk three birdies and two eagles and was able to edge out Jennifer Kupcho by one. Korda shot 6 under for the day, ending round three at 18-under par.
For the first time this tournament, Kupcho will not be leaving the course at the top of the leaderboard. Irritated and upset with her performance, she tries to put the day behind her and focus on coming out stronger and better in the final round.
“I mean, I think I kind of just controlled what I could control, obviously I do want to win but I didn’t have it today, so was just trying to keep myself in it,” Kupcho said. “Obviously there was a lot of golf left starting today, so I kind of just tried to remind myself of that, that there is more golf tomorrow.”
“I think just going out there and playing my best I mean, she’s a really good player, the whole top of the leaderboard are all good players anything can happen, anything can happen on the back nine,” Kupcho said. “It’s really exciting. I think this is what we all come out here to play for, so it’ll definitely be a really exciting round tomorrow.”
Brooke Henderson went on a birdie barrage tallying five total for the afternoon including three consecutive birdies on the back nine. She shot 5 under for the day and moved into third place, sitting at 15 under for the tournament.
The former two-time champion of the Meijer Classic, Henderson has a lot of confidence playing on this course, but she feels honored to be able to play in the final group with the world’s most elite golfers.
“To be in those final groups, it’s just a lot of fun like I said, that’s kind of what we play for, is to get into those final groups and be in contention and feel that energy,” Henderson said. “Tomorrow I have nothing to lose. I can go out and be aggressive and try to make some birdies. But, I mean, Nelly plays very aggressively all the time and Jen is playing amazing and making a lot of birdies, so they’re not going to be easy to catch.”
Those final parings of the afternoon are stacked, with six of the top eight players in the world within five shots of the lead. Though win or lose, being able to play in the final groups has been exciting for Henderson, who is coming off her 11th career win last weekend. She has created a lot of great memories at the Meijer Classic and wants to focus on creating more and having fun playing the game she loves.
“It’s so much fun to be in the final groups on the weekend,” Henderson said. “That’s what we play for, and to be in contention and feeling the buzz from the crowd, that’s the best feeling.”
Defending champion Jon Rahm, Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy -- the world's three top-ranked players -- grinded out rounds Saturday to stay in contention at the US Open.
Auburn baseball vs. Ole Miss: Score, live updates in 2022 College World Series Saturday
Can Auburn baseball score a win against SEC West foe Ole Miss to start the 2022 College World Series? Follow for live updates.
The Reds have committed at least one error in nine consecutive games, the longest streak by a Reds’ defense since a nine-game error streak in 2006.
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2022-06-19T11:31:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Defending champion Nelly Korda grabs lead with eagle on 18 at Meijer LPGA Classic
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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Summer gave way to fall on Saturday as a front moved in on Beantown and left players in the third round of the U.S. Open at The Country Club scrambling to stay warm and struggling to stay relevant on the leaderboard.
After basking in sunshine and temps in the 70s and 80s most of the first two rounds, the sky turned gray; temps dipped into the low 60s; and winds were steady at 15 mph, gusts at 20 mph and there were occasional blasts exceeding 30 mph.
And come Sunday for the final round? It’s going to be wicked cold.
“This is how a U.S. Open should be,” Justin Thomas said after a 73. “It’s very difficult. Par is great score on a lot of holes. Bogeys aren’t going to kill you. We don’t do this very often, and I think it’s very, very fitting and totally acceptable to have this kind of test and this difficult setup for a U.S. Open, and it’s strictly because of conditions.
“The greens are getting firm. It’s windy, and it should be tough.”
There was a lot of turbulence on the leaderboard, too. When the day broke, 23 players were under par. When the final putt was hit, nine were.
The scoring average was just shy of 73.50; about 0.75 strokes higher that the first round and 1.50 higher than the second round. Some of the game’s best players took a beating, including Collin Morikawa, who went from the overnight lead to a tie for 17th with a 77. U.S. Open champion in 2020, Bryson DeChambeau, shot 76. Two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed each shot 75.
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. (Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
“That was brutal,” Will Zalatoris said. And he shot the low round of the day, a 3-under-par 67 to put him atop the leaderboard with Matt Fitzpatrick. “It took a lot of discipline today. We didn’t aim at a single flag even with some wedges just because you really only have a foot or two to deal with on these greens in some situations. Normally guys out here when they have wedges in their hand, they’re firing at pins no matter what the situation was, but it’s just a lot of patience and giving myself as many 15- to 25-footers as I could.”
Zalatoris said there were huge changes from the days before, pointing out that he had 312 yards to the green for his second shot on the par-5 14th in the second round and, because of the wind, had just 258 on Saturday.
“This place is a beast,” he said. “I think the biggest thing for me (Sunday), obviously, there’s a ton of major champions on this leaderboard, and by no means is the job done. Not even close. But just keep doing what I’m doing. Make sure I just get myself on the green as fast as I can or at least minimize the mistakes.”
The world’s best player wasn’t immune from the conditions as Scottie Scheffler went four consecutive holes without making a par or better for the first time since the second round of The Players in March. The Masters champion and winner of three other tournaments this year shot 71 and is two back.
“There’s a lot of trees on this golf course, and it’s gusty, as well. So it’s definitely unpredictable,” Scheffler said of the wind. “I think that’s what happens when you get these kind of foresty golf courses, and then with the gusts, I mean, that little golf ball is just getting thrown around all over the place.”
Fitzpatrick put on sun cream before the round.
“I was thinking, oh, it’s going to get nice and warm, but quite the opposite by the end of the day,” he said after his 68. “The wind was strong. Wind was really strong. It made it tough. You had to be switched on with the way you were hitting it, where you were missing it.
“I think that was why it was a great challenge, and really happy with my score.”
Anybody will be happy with a 68 in the final round. The high is forecast to be in the high 50s, winds will be steady and gusting with strength (making it seem colder) and sunshine is not in the forecast.
“You can’t play defensive on this golf course. You almost have to play aggressively defensive,” Zalatoris said. “You’ve got to be hitting a lot of shots towards the middle of the greens. Still no cakewalks. 9-, 8-, 7-irons into this place, you can make a mess real fast.
“It’s just going to be really tough tomorrow.”
While Deshaun Watson received a lion's share of first-team reps during the Browns' offseason, it may be Jacoby Brissett taking the most in the season.
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2022-06-19T13:03:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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‘That was brutal’: Harsh conditions batter players at U.S. Open and Mother Nature isn’t going to let up in the final round
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Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the first inning and the St. Louis Cardinals broke it open with a six-run sixth in an 11-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night. Nolan Gorman and Tyler O’Neill both had a solo shot for the Cardinals, who rebounded after losing the opener of the three-game series. Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman each had a two-run single during the big inning.
Of the NCAA's past 40 champions, only USC (1998), Oregon State (2006, 2018) and South Carolina (2010) won a title after losing their opener in Omaha.
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2022-06-19T13:03:46Z
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Jameson Taillon shuts down Blue Jays, Aaron Hicks delivers key hit as Yankees run win streak to 9
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Bears rookie safety Jaquan Brisker has garnered a reputation for creating turnovers during the offseason program. Which is exactly what this Chicago defense has struggled with over the last few years.
Brisker has a chance to make an immediate impact as a rookie, where he’s expected to start at strong safety opposite Eddie Jackson when the regular season kicks off. Brisker’s knack for takeaways only serves to help his cause.
For Brisker, he pointed out that forcing turnovers is the expectation and that it’s already ingrained in him.
“That’s the standard around here, so creating turnovers is what we do,” Brisker said last week. “And that was also in my DNA. I feel like I attack the ball. I attack the ball whether that’s forcing a fumble or whether that’s going for an interception. So I love being around the football and obviously getting it back for the offense.”
As the Bears break for the summer, Brisker has a list of things he needs to work on heading into training camp.
Next up: Winning the starting strong safety job as a rookie.
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2022-06-19T16:01:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bears rookie Jaquan Brisker says creating turnovers is ‘in my DNA’
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ERFAs are veteran free agents who have yet to accrue three seasons in the NFL. Their original team holds exclusive negotiating rights. If an ERFA is tendered a qualifying contract offer by his team prior to free agency, he is unable to refuse that offer. He can reach unrestricted free agency only if the team declines to extend a qualifying offer or pulls the qualifying offer.
Baker, who has accrued two NFL seasons, was expected to get a one-year deal worth $925,000. Salaries for ERFAs are typically very low, amounting to very little in terms of salary cap impact.
The Chiefs first signed Baker to the practice squad in 2020. He was promoted to the 53-man roster via standard elevation twice that year. Baker suffered a serious noncontact leg fracture in the final game of the regular season. He appeared in eight games last season, including a start in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. In total, he played a combined 238 snaps on defense in the regular season and postseason, recording 16 total tackles and a pass defensed.
Baker should be in the mix for more playing time in 2022. With injuries to Rashad Fenton, Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams, it’s possible that Baker works his way onto the first team early in training camp.
Chiefs release full 2022 training camp schedule
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2022-06-19T16:01:15Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Chiefs CB DeAndre Baker signs ERFA tender
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The Detroit Lions have their entire draft class of 2022 locked up with Friday’s signing of second-round pick Josh Paschal. The defensive lineman from Kentucky signed for four years and $8,419,466, a predetermined salary slot based on the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.
Per Over the Cap, the Lions have exactly $10,255,846 in available cap room now that Paschal is under contract. At Spotrac the figure is $9,364,590, a discrepancy based on incentive earnings calculations.
Both figures place the Lions 23rd in the 32-team league rankings for cap room. The Cleveland Browns have the most while the New England Patriots are the lowest at just under $2 million.
Detroit still has one roster spot open after the recent retirement of nose tackle John Penisini. Don’t expect them to use it until training camp, which kicks off in the last week of July.
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2022-06-19T16:01:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Lions salary cap: Where Detroit stands now that all draft picks are signed
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The Seattle Seahawks offseason minicamp has concluded and the organization has not made any moves for a quarterback yet. Names like Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield have been floated around, but it is safe to assume by now that Seattle will stick with Drew Lock and Geno Smith for 2022.
“They’ve been really impressive,” Carroll told reporters. “And it’s not been any one sequence here or one day here. They have just been solid throughout. We’ve shared a ton of reps. Geno has gone with the first group throughout, but they’ve had very close to equal reps in situational opportunities throughout. … They’ve done a terrific job so far. They look in control.”
Quarterback is obviously the primary position of concern for the Seahawks entering the 2022 season, but Carroll has repeatedly expressed confidence in both Lock and Smith for at least this year. However, he emphasized that this preseason will be instrumental in deciding who earns the starting job, as expected.
“We’re in good shape at the position and we just have to see what happens,” Carroll said. “The [preseason] games are going to be important, and everything will be important.”
Smith has been a perennial backup throughout his career while Lock has struggled to perform consistently in his three years in the NFL. Neither of them is a clear improvement over the other, so we can expect this to be decided after the preseason.
“It’s going to be a real battle,” Carroll continued. “It’s going to be really an exciting time for our team, for those guys in particular, and for our people watching. I’m pumped about it. I really am.”
Top Gun: Maverick has become Tom Cruise’s biggest earner at the worldwide box office, not adjusted for inflation. Through Thursday, the Paramount and Skydance movie has collected $806.3 million in worldwide ticket sales, including $422.1 million domestically and $384.2 million overseas. That’s enough to outrank Cruise’s previous top earner, 2018’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout, which […]
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2022-06-19T16:01:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pete Carroll: Seahawks ‘in good shape’ with Drew Lock and Geno Smith at QB
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https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-carroll-seahawks-good-shape-130011370.html?src=rss
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The Baltimore Ravens have explored many different options when it comes to adding talent to their roster over the course of the 2022 offseason. They’ve added stars, depth pieces, as well as players with plenty of potential as they look to bounce back from a rough 2021 season.
When listing out players in the USFL playoffs who deserve a shot in the NFL, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report named Baltimore as a potential fit for one of the stars of the league in wide receiver Jonathan Adams from the New Orleans Breakers. Ballentine talked about how Adams could be a good addition for a team looking for a big-bodied, contested catch wideout.
The 6’2″, 210-pound receiver has made the most of his second opportunity…Adams has been the most productive player on a Breakers squad that also features former NFL receiver Taywan Taylor and Ohio State product Johnnie Dixon. He has hauled in 30 receptions for 398 yards and three touchdowns in nine games…Adams could help out any NFL team looking to add a big, contested-catch receiver to its arsenal.
While Adams’ stats through nine games might not necessarily pop off of the page at the NFL level, he is currently fifth in the USFL in receiving yards as well as tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns. He has found a way to bounce back after a rough go of things in the NFL, where he went undrafted, signed with the Detroit Lions, got cut before training camp and then got suspended for six games by the league.
In his four seasons in college at Arkansas State, Adams caught 166 passes for 2,306 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a 79 catch, 1,111 yard, 12 touchdown season during his senior year.
New Jersey Generals hang on in the fourth quarter to defeat the Philadelphia Stars, 26-23. Today’s extremely physical game was a preview of the North Division semifinal playoff match next week in Canton, Ohio. The Generals are now 2-0 over the Stars, also defeating Philadelphia in Week 3, 24-16. This is the ninth straight win for
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2022-06-19T16:01:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens named as potential fit for USFL star by Bleacher Report
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In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will come to North America, with Mexico, Canada and the United States will all host games. Sixteen sites will host games in the tournament and 11 of those venues are NFL stadiums.
State Farm Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals’ home stadium, is not one of those 11 NFL venues to host a World Cup game. In fact, they will be the only team in the NFC West whose stadium will not be used.
Which NFL stadiums will be used?
NFL stadiums to host 2026 FIFA World Cup games
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Falcons)
Gillette Stadium (New England Patriots)
AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys)
NRG Stadium (Houston Texans)
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs)
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams)
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)
MetLife Stadium (New York Giants, New York Jets)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles)
Levis Stadium (San Francisco 49ers)
Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks)
Reds vs Brewers Betting Forecast for Jun 17
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Cincinnati Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers
Jerry Csaki works as director of youth and education at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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2022-06-19T16:01:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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State Farm Stadium will not host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, unlike many NFL stadiums
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Klay going 'full Michael Jordan,' pledging allegiance to Kerr originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
From here on out, Klay Thompson wants to play for Steve Kerr and only Steve Kerr.
After the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 6, winning the NBA Finals for the fourth time in eight seasons, Thompson joined Draymond Green's podcast, where he essentially pledged his allegiance to Kerr when asked if he was going to finish out his career with Golden State.
"Man I did tell Steve Kerr at the NBA TV podium, I told him ,'You know, I'm going full Michael Jordan.' I'm aligning myself with Steve, I ain't playing for anybody else but Steve," Thompson said on "The Draymond Green Show." "That's the plan and it would be weird to be in another uni, so I'm just grateful to be up here and to be mentioned with the Lakers, Celtics and the Bulls. Now we're there."
Thompson is referencing the time that Michael Jordan threatened to retire if the iconic Chicago Bulls did not bring back longtime coach Phil Jackson after the 1997-98 season, the coach with whom Jordan won six championships.
If Kerr eventually coaches elsewhere, it sounds like Klay will follow him, if not retire altogether.
Fortunately for both parties, it doesn't appear that will be happening anytime soon.
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2022-06-19T17:37:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Klay Thompson going 'full Michael Jordan,' pledging allegiance to Steve Kerr
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https://sports.yahoo.com/klay-thompson-going-full-michael-022816863.html?src=rss
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Good Luck To You, Leo Grande—from Australian director Sophie Hyde, with a script by Katy Brand—is the first great movie, in a long time, for the invisibles. Emma Thompson plays Nancy Stokes, a 55-year-old widow whose sex life did the trick for her in the conceiving-children department—she has two, now grown—but which has otherwise been distinctly routine and unsatisfactory. When Leo comes to the hotel room she’s rented, they spend a great deal of time talking—or, rather, Leo, one of those people who has a gift for putting others at ease, tries to tease her out of her fluttery nervousness, which carries more than a whiff of judgment about Leo himself.
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2022-06-19T17:51:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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College Football News Predicts Mountain West Bowl Games
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Wiseman: '90 percent chance' of playing in 2022 Summer League originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The NBA career of James Wiseman hasn't gone the way he or the Warriors had hoped through two seasons. But both sides are hoping he has turned the corner and can become a force in the rotation next season.
After missing the entire 2021-22 NBA season following surgery to repair a torn right meniscus and subsequent setbacks, Wiseman's first order of business is possibly playing in Summer League games in July.
Last Monday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that there was "optimism" Wiseman would play in Summer League, and the 21-year-old center addressed that report while talking to the media on Saturday.
"I'll most likely play in Summer League but we're just trying to get everything situated," Wiseman said. "It's kind of up-in-the-air but that's like a 90 percent chance."
Wiseman hasn't played in an NBA game since April 10, 2021, and there was hope that he would be able to return at some point during the 2021-22 season to provide front court depth for the Warriors.
The public hadn't seen much of Wiseman over the last few months, but earlier in June as the Warriors were playing in the NBA Finals, he started going through drills after practice while reporters were watching. Wiseman's jump-shoot looked good in the brief glimpses the team gave.
"I've been feeling great," Wiseman said Saturday. "I'm running now. I'm doing a lot of up-and-down stuff. I'm really doing a lot of regular stuff now. Just trying to get in shape and make sure everything is good in terms of my knee."
The Warriors are hopeful that Wiseman will be a big factor during the 2022-23 season. Kevon Looney is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and with a looming extension for Jordan Poole, Golden State might have to make a tough decision on Looney. Wiseman's availability might make letting Looney go more palatable.
But first, Wiseman needs to prove he's healthy and a nice showing in the Summer League could go a long way to easing concerns in the Warriors' front office.
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2022-06-20T04:23:34Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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James Wiseman says there's '90 percent chance' he plays in NBA Summer League
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“To have three runner-ups so far in my career in majors … I'd pay a lot of money for about an inch and a half,” he said in the minutes after his loss, still looking dazed. “I'd probably be a three-time major champion at this point.”
“I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing,” Zalatoris said. “I'm not afraid to be in the lead. I've got nothing to lose out here. So let's just keep doing what we're doing and eventually we're going to get one.”
“The comfort level being in these situations is just going to get better and better,” he said. “It's like I've got nothing to lose. It either goes in or it doesn't.”
On rehab assignment with the Clippers, both Franmil Reyes and James Karinchak were crucial to Columbus coming back from down 3-0 to win Saturday 4-3.
Role of Toto Wolff’s former adviser adds fuel to fire of ‘porpoising’ row with Red Bull rival Christian Horner
Longtime caddie Billy Foster captured the first major victory of his 40-year career with Matt Fitzpatrick's win at the U.S. Open.
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2022-06-20T04:23:53Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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U.S. Open: The agony of another Will Zalatoris near-miss
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When it comes to the Baltimore Ravens, there are many things to think of. From a tough defense to a strong running game, there are plenty of things that Baltimore has gotten right on a consistent basis. However, many don’t give credit to their wide receiver position, which hasn’t been the greatest of strengths for the team.
During the 2022 NFL draft, the Ravens traded away wide receiver Marquise Brown after he made it clear he wanted to play elsewhere. The team also lost veteran wideout Sammy Watkins in free agency and moved on from pass catcher Miles Boykin as well.
What Baltimore has left at the position are talented young players such as Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and James Proche II, Tylan Wallace and others. Each of those four have made plays in the regular season, even if there’s only a relatively small sample size.
In an article published by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, he ranked the receiving corps of each NFL team for the upcoming season. The wide receiver groups were ranked in four tiers, and the Ravens came in at last tier, titled “likely a weakness. Baltimore’s group finished at No. 29 out of all 32 teams.
Linsey noted the only thing keeping Baltimore from falling any lower on the list is their star at tight end in Mark Andrews.
Bateman appears to be the clear-cut wide receiver one on the team since the departure of Brown. Linsey believes Bateman needs to have a breakout year in order for the team to succeed in the passing game.
Regardless of who slots in where when the start of the season, Baltimore has plenty of candidates at receiver who are willing to put in the work and step up if their number is called. While the group might not be as highly regarded as others right now, there’s a chance that as the 2022 season progresses they will begin to garner some respect as quality, up-and-coming bunch.
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2022-06-20T05:37:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pro Football Focus weighs in on Ravens’ WR corps in rankings list
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The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of up-and-coming contributors that could make a huge impact during the 2022 season. One of those players is outside linebacker Daelin Hayes, who showed flashes in 2021 but lost most of his rookie year due to injuries.
Hayes has been making an impact during the early portions of 2022 practices, impressing in both voluntary organized team activities as well as mandatory minicamp. When Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was asked about his thoughts on Hayes and what he’s strung together so far, he had a plethora of praise for the second-year player.
“All those guys … Daelin [Hayes] is a great example of it, and all those guys, they’re flashing and they’re showing some good things. The next step will be training camp [and] getting to the quarterback, as much as we allow them to, when the pads come on, and then in the games and all that. But he [Daelin Hayes] has flashed. He knows the defense, he’s very confident out there right now, and there are a lot of guys like that.”
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2022-06-20T05:37:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ravens HC John Harbaugh praises OLB Daelin Hayes for practice performances
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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Players including Sergio Garcia who have joined the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf league will be allowed to play on the DP World Tour.
According to reports, players who played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London last week will be allowed to tee it up in this coming week’s BMW International in Munich, Germany. In addition to Garcia, that participation list could include Martin Kaymer, Bernd Wiesberger, Louis Oosthuizen, Laurie Canter, Adrian Otaegui and Pablo Larrazabal, all of whom played in London.
Commissioner Jay Monahan indefinitely suspended 17 PGA Tour members shortly after the first tee shots were hit in London. Several players including Garcia resigned their membership in the PGA Tour. Other PGA Tour members joining LIV Golf after the London event will also be banned from the Tour. That will include Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, who are scheduled to play in the rival league’s second event in Portland in two weeks.
After Monahan’s action, people were left to wonder if the DP World Tour would follow suit. It just might. Especially with next month’s Genesis Scottish Open, which falls the week before the Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Sergio Garcia of Spain looks on from the eighth green during the second round of the 122nd U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club on June 17, 2022, in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour; the two formed an alliance in November 2020. It’s unlikely the DP World Tour would allow LIV Golf players to play the Scottish Open considering the PGA Tour’s stance.
The DP World Tour will announce its course of action on June 23.
The R&A has not announced how it will deal with LIV Golf players for the British Open. The USGA said there wasn’t enough time to consider banning LIV Golf players from this week’s U.S. Open, so 15 LIV Golf players were in the field.
The LIV Golf Series, which will play eight events this year, rivals the PGA Tour. The second event in Portland will be played the same week as the Tour’s John Deere Classic. LIV Golf also faces considerable controversy because it is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The Saudi Arabia regime has long faced accusations of human rights violations and many consider the government’s entry into professional golf is considered sportswashing to cover up its human rights record.
Local High School Baseball Stars Set To Compete In Phillies Baseball Carpenter Cup
The finals are on Monday at 1 p.m.
Billy Foster grabbed the flag on the 18th green, pulled it toward his face and gave it a kiss. After four decades of caddying for some of the greatest in the game, Foster has his major title. Matt Fitzpatrick's U.S. Open win Sunday also marked a breakthrough for one of the most popular loopers in the game.
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2022-06-20T05:52:03Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Report: Sergio Garcia, other LIV Golf players allowed to play in DP World Tour events. For now.
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Draymond, Steph pushed for GP2's second 10-day in 2021 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
For any young player on the Warriors' roster, earning the trust and confidence of veterans like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson or Andre Iguodala can be the ticket to a long NBA career.
During "The Draymond Green Show," which was recorded at the NBA podium following the Warriors' Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Thursday night, Green revealed that he and Curry were the ones who pushed team president and general manager Bob Myers to keep Payton around at the end of the 2020-21 season.
"I remember his 10-day [contract] ended, and you know where that 10-day ended at?" Green said during the podcast, with Payton sitting a few feet away listening to the whole thing. "That 10-day ended here in Boston. And he's dapping all of us up like 'Yo, it's been great. I appreciate y'all.' I'm like 'What are you talking about?' And he's like 'My 10-day is up.' I'm like 'Dude, you'll be here. See you later.' And then I called Bob, Steph called Bob, we're like 'You can't get rid of GP. Like, you got to bring him back. You see what he's doing? You got to bring him back.' And that was the start of all of this."
"First and foremost, from me to you, I appreciate you and everything you did," Payton said to Green. "Went to bat for me through the summer and my first 10 days, whatever, you and 30 having my back and giving me this opportunity, believing in me, that alone just means the world. That's why I went to bat for you this whole year. I didn't do this for me. I did this for you and y'all's legacy. Y'all legacies bigger than my career, I'm proud of you and everything you've been through, how you got it out and I appreciate you."
That didn't guarantee Payton would be on the roster for the beginning of the 2021-22 season and just days before the start of the season, the Warriors waived him, along with Avery Bradley, Jordan Bell and Mychal Mulder.
At the time of those four roster cuts, The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II reported that Green, Curry and other Warriors veterans were upset the front office didn't keep Bradley as the 15th man on the roster.
RELATED: GP2's funny remark on winning NBA title before his dad
Less than two weeks into the season, Payton already was showing his value to the Warriors by playing lockdown defense, causing coach Steve Kerr to call the then-28-year-old a "great weapon."
Payton became such an important part of the Warriors' playoff rotation that his fractured elbow in the second round against the Memphis Grizzlies was seen as a big blow to their title hopes, though they got through that series and then beat the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, giving GP2 a chance to return for the NBA Finals.
Against the Celtics, Payton averaged the sixth most minutes per game of any Warriors player (18.6) and shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the field. In the Warriors' Game 5 win over Boston, he scored 15 points off the bench.
Now that "great weapon" is an NBA champion and heads into unrestricted free agency this season, though it's a safe bet Green and Curry will push for Myers and the front office to retain Payton.
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2022-06-20T07:26:14Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Draymond Green, Steph Curry pushed for Gary Payton II's second 10-day in 2021
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Strauss Mann could end up being a steal for the Sharks, who have many needs heading into the NHL draft. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks are at an uncomfortable middle ground. They are too good to secure an immediate difference-maker in the draft, and they’re also not good enough to challenge for a playoff spot. With a new general manager joining the fold this offseason, who they hire may determine what the next five years look like for the Sharks. They’ll either start selling veterans and plunge deeper into a rebuild or hope their young players blossom and that they can fill out the roster via free agency. Their prospect pool is improved from recent seasons but does not have the depth of other non-playoff teams.
William Eklund, LW: The seventh overall pick from 2021 saw a significant offensive regression this year in the SHL, but he was playing on a very weak Djurgårdens team that ended up in relegation. After Eklund started the season in the NHL, making the Sharks out of training camp, he was returned to Europe. Perhaps management wishes they had kept their top prospect in North America after the season he endured. Eklund is likely to play in the NHL next season and could have a breakout season like fellow Swedish prospect Lucas Raymond did as a rookie in Detroit, however, Eklund may also need stints in the AHL to ensure he’s playing important minutes. Eklund remains one of the top prospects outside the NHL.
Thomas Bordeleau, C: If Eklund isn’t in the NHL, it could be because Bordeleau took his spot. After plying his trade with the University of Michigan, which rostered a professional calibre forward corps this year, Bordeleau was excellent in split time between the NHL and AHL. In two games in the AHL, Bordeleau had three points and added five assists in eight NHL games. All of his pro points were assists, which speaks to his immense playmaking skills, not his lack of goal scoring ability. Bordeleau is able to make adjustments in the offensive zone to open passing lanes. Looks like a true threat to crack the Sharks’ roster now.
Strauss Mann, G: The only reason Mann wasn’t playing with an NHL organization this past season is his six-foot frame. It’s the same six-foot frame that let virtually no pucks through in the last three seasons. With the University of Michigan, Mann posted 1.85 and 1.89 GAAs, and .939 and .930 save percentages in his final two seasons. When he turned pro, Mann jumped into one of the best leagues in the world, Sweden’s SHL, posting a 2.19 GAA and .914 save percentage, and elevated those numbers in the post season. Tack on his solid performances at both the Olympic Games and world championships for Team USA, and it’s almost unfathomable it took this long for an NHL team to jump on Mann. A strong free agent addition.
At 6-foot-5 and scoring at a 1.63 point per game pace, it was hard to miss Brandon Coe this season in the OHL. The North Bay Battalion star finished his season among OHL leaders with 101 points. After playing 17 games in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda last season, Coe’s confidence was apparent this year, and when he steps back into the AHL as a 20-year-old next season, he will look right at home. By season's end, it would not be surprising to see Coe gain an audition in the NHL. The 2020 fourth-round pick is blossoming into a solid prospect and could end up well outplaying his draft position. Gannon Laroque looks like another later pick, 103rd overall in 2021, who could provide value. He had a solid WHL season and played a handful of games in the AHL as an 18-year-old.
Skill has never been in question with Ryan Merkley. He has above-average vision and soft hands. The intangibles to Merkey’s game and his ability to defend have been the concern over the years. Still, the 2018 first-round pick looks ready to make his step, and San Jose can deal with the risk versus reward factor in Merkley’s game while he figures the rest out. He got an extended look in the NHL this season playing 39 games. Save for a breakout year this campaign, he’ll also add good value on the blueline when his entry-level contract ends. Max Véronneau, a 26-year-old who scored 60 points in 51 SHL games last season, will also look to step in and make an immediate impact. He played 16 games with the Ottawa Senators before spending two seasons in Sweden, but it looks like the move overseas was an excellent choice developmentally.
While Adin Hill and Kaapo Kähkönen, both 25, are set to battle it out in net for the San Jose Sharks in the short term, a long term heir to the crease is needed. The Sharks’ top prospect in net heading into this season was Sarnia Sting goalie Benjamin Gaudreau, who struggled mightily in the OHL regular season. While he rebounded in the playoffs for the Sting, his body of work in the OHL to date has come with a 3.93 GAA and .890 save percentage. Signing Mann looks like the answer, but he’s unproven in the NHL, and security never hurts. Aside from their net, the entire Sharks depth chart is woefully shallow. For the first three to four rounds, picking best available should be San Jose’s route followed by grabbing a goaltender in the later rounds.
Liam Foudy, the Blue Jackets' 2018 first-round pick, signed a two-year contract extension Friday worth a total of $1.525 million.
Andre Burakovsky with a Goal vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Andre Burakovsky (Colorado Avalanche) with a Goal vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 06/18/2022
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2022-06-20T07:26:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NHL Draft: San Jose Sharks' biggest needs, top prospects
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https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl-draft-sharks-biggest-needs-top-prospects-165206811.html?src=rss
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Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr knows what it's like to win a championship in the NBA. After winning five as a player, Kerr picked up his fourth championship as a coach Thursday, giving him nine championship rings. If his comments Friday were any indication, celebrating championships doesn't get old.
Kerr admitted he partied pretty hard following his fourth championship with the Warriors. Upon landing back in California, Kerr let reporters know he was "hungover right now" during an interview.
Kerr didn't divulge too much about how the team celebrated on the flight, saying, "Everybody was in a great mood." He also said the flight felt long, "like we just flew in from Europe."
Kerr, however, did reveal his favorite part of the Warriors' celebration. He said it was pretty funny when the Warriors chanted "f*** you, Draymond" in the locker room after Game 6. The chant was a clear shot at vulgar Boston Celtics fans who tried to get under the Warriors' skin.
Steve Kerr has won many NBA championships
None of this is old hat for Kerr, who has won nine NBA championships. Kerr won five of those titles as a player, three with the Chicago Bulls and two with the San Antonio Spurs. After retiring as a player, Kerr went into broadcasting and spent a three years as the Phoenix Suns' general manager.
Kerr was hired as the coach of the Warriors for the 2014-15 NBA season. He won a championship his first year on the job. Kerr then won back-to-back championships during the 2016-17 season and 2017-18 season. Kerr's fourth title with the Warriors came after the team missed the playoffs for two straight seasons.
When asked how many rings he's won following the Warriors' latest championship, Kerr told reporters Friday he lost count.
Steve Kerr had a good time celebrating the Warriors' championship. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
One Rhode Islander, Tom Laferriere of Smithfield, will compete with 129 others in a rally to North Dakota for a $50,000 grand prize.
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2022-06-20T07:26:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steve Kerr celebrated hard after Warriors win: 'I'm hungover'
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Lightning center Steven Stamkos has four shots and no points through two games against the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final. (John Locher / Associated Press)
“We know as a team that we get rewarded offensively when we play our best game defensively. So for us, it's just coming to that kind of realization every single night,” he said. “Their players are going to find ways to exploit you and we just have to be ready for that. They're going to throw everything they have at us next game, so we just have to be ready, and ready to bring it back on them as well.”
Lightning coach Jon Cooper rejected suggestions his team’s struggles might reflect fatigue from three extended playoff runs. “Isn't that what you want to do? I'd rather be playing hockey than having a five-month summer every year,” he said Sunday before both teams traveled East.
“Not an ideal situation we're in, but it's not insurmountable. It just seems like it's been the playoffs of comebacks all the time. Our room, our margin for error's not as big as it was a few days ago, but I think we’ve got to get back to our basics and why we've had success and focus a little more on us.”
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, giving up a goal on a shot by Avalanche center Darren Helm, will be back in net despite a 7-0 loss in Game 2. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
“We can be better, we can be quicker with the puck. Turnovers. We can start playing north a little bit faster and once you start doing that we'll get back to our game,” winger Corey Perry said. “We haven’t played with the puck a lot.”
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2022-06-20T10:28:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Elliott: Their offense is great, but it's defense that gives the Avalanche the look of a champion
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Carmel’s Drew Kibler, who had qualified to represent US in the 400 free relay, was sidelined Saturday during World Championships at Budapest, Hungary.
Josh Donaldson's two-run homer
Josh Donaldson pummels a two-run homer to left-center field, his sixth of the season, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the top of the 3rd
Yankees vs. Blue Jays Recap
Hicks, Taillon lead Yankees to 4-0 win over Blue Jays
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2022-06-20T10:29:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Yankees blow 5-run lead to Blue Jays in 10-9 loss, win streak ends at 9
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Quez Watkins lands on list of Eagles’ most important players originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
If Watkins never played another snap, you could already consider him to be a successful sixth-round pick. But he’s still getting better and will still be a big part of the Eagles’ offense in 2022.
Watkins, who just turned 24 earlier this month, had a breakout season in 2021, his second in the NFL. He finished the year with 43 catches for 647 yards and 1 touchdown.
It’s crazy to think that this time last year, Watkins was presumably going to have to fight for his roster spot at training camp. By the end of last season, however, Watkins was the Eagles’ No. 2 receiver.
To begin the 2021 season, Watkins was the Eagles’ third receiver behind DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor but he finished the year clearly ahead of Reagor. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the year ended that Watkins was a legitimate No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
“He has big-time speed, and he has a knack to make plays,” Sirianni said in January. “Of course, you always want to get – the style of offense that we played this year didn't allow for Quez to get as many touches as he probably deserves, but we did everything we could do to win each individual game.
“So, Quez has big-play ability in him. I think out of the No. 2 wide-outs I've been around in the NFL, he can be one of the best No. 2’s that I've been around in the NFL because of his skill set and because of his ability to make plays.”
Last season, Watkins became the first Eagles player drafted in the 6th round or later to have 40+ catches and 600+ yards since John Spagnola in 1985. And he’s one of just five since the merger: Spagnola, Harold Carmichael, Harold Jackson, Gary Ballman.
The fact that Watkins put up those numbers in an offense that didn’t prioritize getting him the football is even more impressive.
The problem for Watkins is that he still won’t be a priority going into the 2022 season. The Eagles bring back Smith after his promising rookie season and also added A.J. Brown through a trade. So the offensive game plan, from a passing perspective, will be focused on trying to get the ball to Brown, Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. Still, the attention on others might help Watkins.
In 2021, Watkins played 68.9 percent of his offensive snaps from the slot. That’s notable because he had never really played in the slot before last year. While he performed well inside, it’s fair to wonder if he was able to utilize his 4.35 speed in there. This upcoming season, Watkins might get some more time outside.
Because Brown has played a decent amount of snaps in his three-year career from the slot and Sirianni will likely get him inside based on certain matchups. That will give Watkins a chance to use his burners outside.
Either way, Watkins is still just 24 and entering his third NFL season. He has ability and began to unlock it last year. It’ll be fun to see if there’s a lot more growth in Watkins’ future.
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2022-06-20T11:43:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles 2022 season: Quez Watkins on list of most important players
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Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird (10) drives against New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) during the first half of WNBA basketball game Sunday, June 19, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Sue Bird announced that the 2022 season would be her last. In her final game in her native New York, the fans honored her with a standing ovation.
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2022-06-20T13:02:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Sue Bird starts farewell tour with emotional win in New York
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The last time the Browns wanted a new stadium, it didn’t end well. The Browns reportedly want a new stadium.
A report from neo-trans.blog that was picked up by the News-Herald indicates that the franchise that returned to the NFL in 1999 with a new stadium may want another new stadium.
The question, as it often is with existing stadiums, is whether to renovate or replace. The Browns, per the report, are looking at local locations for a new venue.
Browns spokesman Peter John-Baptiste told neo-trans.blog that it is “a little too far out in front of the story.” As noted by Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald, co-owner Dee Haslam raised the possibility of a new stadium in 2018.
“The main thing is to start the conversation, at some point,” Dee Haslam said at the time. “I don’t know that we’re ready to start the conversation, but we are ready to get all the information we can about what’s possible. So I think it’s really important to find out what’s possible.”
The team’s lease at the current stadium runs through 2028. Which means there’s time to figure things out.
A new stadium would quite possibly include a dome or a retractable roof. This would allow it to be used for other events, especially in the colder months.
Like every other stadium project, the taxpayer contribution will become a major factor. The last time around, a lack of public funding resulted in the Browns becoming the Ravens. While it’s way too early to contemplate the Browns leaving Cleveland again, it’s not too early to realize that, when it’s time for a new stadium, the Haslams definitely won’t want to pay for it by themselves.
Browns reportedly are exploring sites for a new stadium originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Let your elected leaders know you want the Justice Dept. to prosecute former president for his role in Jan. 6 mayhem (Letters to the Editor)
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2022-06-20T13:31:45Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Browns reportedly are exploring sites for a new stadium
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Here's a look at Yahoo Sports' latest projections for the first and second rounds of the 2022 draft. Updates will be made with the latest intel and trades leading up to the draft on Thursday.
Ivey is the best prospect at No. 4, but he duplicates what they already have in De'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell. The Kings could trade down and have reportedly have been in talks with the Pistons, Pacers, Wizards and Knicks. If they decide to keep the pick, this could be an entertaining backcourt duo filled with speed, highlight after highlight in transition and crafty shots around the rim. Ivey brings a consistent outside jump shot and can add a lot of value to Sacramento, but if the Kings are looking for size in the lane, they could move down in the draft and get a lot in return.
Murray brings great size at the wing position and was arguably the best college basketball player last season. He isn't going to be the No. 1 option on the court for the Pistons but has an efficient midrange game and is a solid defender. He'll need to improve on his playmaking at the next level, but will be a great secondary ball handler with size that should alleviate some responsibility from Cade Cunningham.
There has been some top-five buzz surrounding Mathurin after strong workouts, and if he's here at No. 7, the Trail Blazers would love to add him to the roster alongside Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard. Mathurin is a plug-and-play guy from positions 1-3 and was the go-to scorer during his sophomore season at Arizona, which will complement Lillard and remove some of the pressure from the All-Star guard in crunch time or at the end of the shot clock.
If Griffin can stay healthy, he might end up being a steal at No. 11. He has all the physical tools to be an instant impact guy at the NBA level, but has struggled to consistently stay on the court due to nagging injuries during his young career. The spacing in the NBA will cater to Griffin because of how strong he is with the ball in mismatch situations, and he can add a lot of size to the wing on this Knicks team (if they keep this pick and don't move up).
Agbaji is the perfect example of what can happen when a player returns to school and continues to develop for the next level. He tested the NBA waters twice, listened to the feedback from teams, returned to school and now is a projected lottery pick. The Cavs could benefit from Agbaji's 3-point shooting, after averaging 41% from deep this past season. He's an older player in this draft class and can be plugged in right away.
Eason is an athletic wing who piqued scouts' interest with his defensive versatility and the way he plays above the rim in transition. He's a long, perimeter player who was productive on both ends of the floor this season. His shot selection will need to improve from the 3-point range, but there is a lot to like about Eason's upside as an NBA prospect.
Terry elected to stay in the draft after not participating at the combine, outside of his agency's media day. The Spurs have three first-round picks and can afford to take a player like Terry, whom they can mold the next couple years as a secondary option alongside Josh Primo and Jalen Duren (who we project at No. 9).
Chandler had a rocky start to his one year at Tennessee but closed out the season well and demonstrated his dog-like mentality and played at a high level in the NCAA men's tournament. He has a second burst that's tough to defend and a tight handle, and his passing improved as the season went on.
The Warriors don't need to add much to their championship-winning roster, but LaRavia brings great size at the swing-four position and shot 38.4% from 3-point range during his junior season at Wake Forest. LaRavia is a late draft riser and could sneak up a few more spots in the first with his high basketball IQ and relentless work ethic.
McGowens is Nebraska's first one-and-done in school history and is making a late rise after solid workouts with teams. McGowens is the next great prospect to come out of South Carolina and could be playing alongside another great player from the state, Ja Morant. McGowens is a long, athletic and slashing guard who has the ability to get downhill with ease and has a decent shot selection for his young age.
30. Denver Nuggets: G/F Caleb Houstan
Houston has a ton of upside at the NBA level and is a lights-out shooter, even if it wasn't put on full display during his one year at Michigan. Teams in the first round love his size and the way he can shoot over the defense with ease. He's not as athletic as other players his size but is far from a defensive liability.
Braun was an integral part in Kansas' championship run this past season. He's more than a 3-point shooter and has proven he has the athleticism to be an effective guard at the NBA level. Braun averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 34 minutes at Kansas.
Watson is one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. He has excellent upside as a 6-foot-8 shooting guard but didn't produce during his one year at UCLA. Watson only averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.7 minutes this season. The Raptors can afford to take a gamble on a player like Watson, strictly on his upside.
36. Portland Trail Blazers: F David Roddy (Colorado State, Junior)
Kamagate is a 6-foot-11 big man, and one of the most highly regarded international prospects in this draft class. He's very raw offensively, but has shot well for teams in workouts and could have a very productive career after a year or two of development.
The first thing every NBA scout and front office executive noticed when Foster walked into the gym was his improved frame. Foster lost 14 pounds, added muscle mass and looked incredible. His body fat came in at 6.2% and he moved much better on the court than during the G League season. His shot has improved, and he's more consistent in the pick-and-pop. During his pro day, Foster hit eight corner threes in a row and showcased his athleticism with his dunks and explosive first step.
47. New Orleans Pelicans: G Jean Montero (Overtime Elite)
Besson is a 6-foot-3 playmaker out of France who played the last year in Australia's National Basketball League. He's a solid shooter off the dribble and is strong in the lane when posting up smaller guards.
Diabate was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and didn't get the minutes during his one year at Michigan to showcase his talent. He's an athletic big who runs the floor well and can be a productive after a couple of years of development at the NBA level.
A big guard who hit multiple game-winners during his senior year at Rutgers. He's not afraid of the big moment and has a decent first step off the wing to get past defenders. Harper Jr. averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this past season.
Nzosa is a mobile and athletic center, standing at 6-foot-10. He's one of the youngest players in the draft and is a player a team can stash and develop for the next couple of years.
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2022-06-20T13:31:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Final 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Projections for all 58 picks ahead of Thursday's draft
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Toto Wolff - Role of Toto Wolff’s former adviser adds fuel to fire of ‘porpoising’ row with Red Bull rival Christian Horner - GETTY IMAGES
As the dispute between Mercedes and their rivals turns increasingly toxic, with Wolff alleged to have lost his temper during an angry team principals’ meeting here, the emergence of Rao’s role will only add fuel to the fire. Rao was appointed this month as the FIA’s interim secretary-general under president Mohammed bin Sulayem, arriving from Mercedes, where she established herself as one of Wolff’s most important confidantes. The Warwick-educated lawyer worked for the Austrian for 3½ years, initially as his general counsel and then as special adviser.
Even before she oversaw the directive aimed at eliminating porpoising – the jarring up-and-down motion that has particularly plagued Mercedes’ cars – there were worries at other teams about somebody so close to Wolff moving to a position at the heart of the sport’s regulator.
“Certainly it’s a concern,” said Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s team principal.
“It’s down to them to make sure there will be no conflicts of interest at all, to behave properly.” Wolff, for his part, has endorsed Rao’s credentials for the job, arguing: “She’s a lawyer and she is one about governance and transparency. This is what she will be trying to implement and that is good news.”
Wolff allegedly had a furious argument over the Canadian Grand Prix with Binotto and Red Bull’s Christian Horner, who both believe Mercedes should sort out their own issues rather than seek a rule change from the FIA. But Mercedes’ team principal was adamant that the regulations needed to be redrawn on safety grounds, accusing his opposite numbers of “pitiful” behaviour in opposing the move.
“This is a sport where you are trying to keep a competitive advantage or gain it, but this situation has gone too far,” Wolff said. “All drivers – at least one in every team – have said they were in pain after Baku, that they have difficulty keeping the car on track or blurred vision. Team principals trying to manipulate what is being said in order to keep their competitive advantage and trying to play political games is disingenuous.”
Wolff is similarly convinced that rival teams are briefing their drivers to underplay their concerns so as to discourage the FIA from moving more quickly on the matter.
“The car is bouncing. This is a joint problem we are having in F1. It’s a design issue that needs to be solved. We will have long-term effects that we can’t even judge and at any time this is a safety risk. Coming up with little manipulations or Chinese whispers is just pitiful.”
Stressing that several other drivers were unhappy, including Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez and Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Wolff explained: “Of course, people will question whether my position is sincere or not. That’s why I’m saying it’s not only our problem. A Red Bull driver is saying that you can lose your vision braking, not even being able to position the car properly.
“Then you listen to the words of Carlos Sainz, you listen to what Daniel Ricciardo has said, both our drivers. This is not a team’s problem. It’s not just a question of putting the cars up, because doing that doesn’t solve the stiffness of the inherent aerodynamic characteristics. This is a design issue of ground-effect cars that needs to be tackled before we have a situation.”
Max Verstappen maintained his hold on the Formula One championship fight by holding off a late challenge from Carlos Sainz Jr. to earn his sixth win of the season in a fairly easy Sunday drive in the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen won from the pole at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to extend his lead in the standings to 46 points over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who retired early with a gearbox issue. “It's still a very long way to go and I know the gap of course is quite big, but I also know that can switch around very quickly,” Verstappen said of his points lead.
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2022-06-20T13:31:58Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Role of Toto Wolff's former adviser adds fuel to fire of 'porpoising' row with Red Bull rival Christian Horner
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https://sports.yahoo.com/role-toto-wolff-former-adviser-212628529.html?src=rss
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San Diego Padres minor league players
Christopher Crawford
A reminder on how this works: This is a list for the 2022 season only. It is not a list of the top overall prospects, but the players who have the best chance of making a difference in 2022.
Also, it’s only a list of prospects who are currently in the minors/have prospect eligibility, so players on MLB teams do not count.
Those warnings out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who have a chance to make a fantasy contribution in 2022.
1. Oneil Cruz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
2022 stats: 55 G, .232/.336/.422, 9 HR, 11 SB, 30 BB, 56 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Well this has never been easier. As confirmed by the Pirates, Cruz is getting the call to join the Pirates beginning on Monday. The 6-foot-7 shortstops numbers here aren’t particularly impressive, but those of you who have been following along know that they’re not indicative of his talent, and that they are a vast improvement over his poor start to begin the season. Cruz can do a little bit of everything, and the fact he’s got that shortstop by his name just adds to the fantasy upside. He’s got star potential in his left-handed bat, and is absolutely someone fantasy managers need to add to rosters. Go get em, Mr. Cruz.
2. C.J. Abrams, SS, San Diego Padres
2022 stats: 30 G, .314/.367/.507, 7 HR, 10 SB, 8 BB, 25 SO at Triple-A El Paso; 20 G, .182/.270/.273, 1 HR, 1 SB, 4 BB, 14 SO at San Diego.
Alright, the top spot was easy. Everything else is muddled with so many quality prospects either in the majors, below the Triple-A level or hurt. Abrams gets that second spot, but to say I’m not entirely confident in this placement is an understatement. That’s nothing to do with his skills, and the 21-year-old added a pair of homers while stealing three bases and also seeing his average rise another 10 points. It’s just that we have no idea if Abrams is going to get another call anytime soon. All that being said, I’m a massive believer in his talent, and there’s just not enough of a sure thing to rank anyone above Abrams right now.
Update: Abrams is going to be recalled from Triple-A El Paso to replace the injured Manny Machado. Obviously, this changes quite a bit in terms of the write-up above. He's a must-roster in all eligible formats, and you could argue he belongs in the top spot above Cruz.
3. Josh Lowe, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
2022 stats: 36 G, .299/.382/.540, 6 HR, 6 SB, 18 BB, 49 SO at Triple-A Durham; 19 G, .188/.257/.344, 1 HR, 6 BB, 27 SO at Tampa Bay.
Lowe is on an impressive run as of late, and is showing off the power/speed combination that made him such an enticing prospect coming into the season. Since the start of June, the former first-round pick has hit an impressive .321/.441/.554 over 15 games with a pair of homers and also four steals without being caught. Yes, Lowe struggled in his time with Tampa, but that sample is small, and he’d be far from the first young outfielder to pick things up with his next chance. There’s risk involved with Lowe, but there’s plenty of reward as well. He’ll be worth an add in most leagues when Tampa Bay calls his name again. It could be relatively soon.
4. Nick Lodolo, LHP, Cincinnati Reds
2022 stats: 2 G, 4 IP, 6.75 ERA, 2 BB, 8 SO at short-season ACL and Triple-A Louisville; 3 G, 14.2 IP, 5.52 ERA, 5 BB, 19 SO at Cincinnati.
Lodolo is someone who should have been on the “next up” list over the past few weeks. We regret the error. The southpaw made a rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, and while he did give up two runs on four hits, he also struck out six while throwing 49 pitches. The southpaw has been out since April 28 with a lower back strain, and when he’s at his best he’s a southpaw who can throw three plus pitches and command them to all parts of the plate. He doesn’t have elite fantasy upside, but the stuff suggests he can be successful, and he can be more than just a streaming option over the second half of the season. You can do much worse, anyway.
5. Brayan Bello, RHP, Boston Red Sox
2022 stats: 11 G, 62 IP, 2.47 ERA, 24 BB, 84 SO at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.
Bello didn’t pitch this week, but moves up for a couple of reasons. First -- and arguably mainly -- because of the fact that we’re running out of prospects, but also because of what’s going on with Boston’s pitching depth. When your healthiest starters are Rich Hill and Michael Wacha, you know there are opportunities to be had, and Bello has looked outstanding in his time at the upper levels. There’s no guarantee that the 23-year-old is getting promoted soon, but based on his talent and the injury concerns facing the Boston rotation right now, he’s worth a speculative addition. The results could be quite fruitful.
6. Esteury Ruiz, OF, San Diego Padres
2022 stats: 60 G, .360/.484/.636, 13 HR, 48 SB, 39 BB, 53 SO at Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A El Paso.
I have been doing these lists for close to 10 years, the last six of them with NBC. I have never been asked about a player more than Ruiz. If you’re wondering why I get so many questions, look at the statline above. To be completely honest with you, my friends, I’m still pretty skeptical, but it’s impossible to ignore what he’s done, and especially in fantasy baseball formats -- and that’s why you’re here -- the stolen base potential is incredible. There is a load of volatility in this profile, and I’m unconvinced he can produce even a semblance of the numbers he’s put up thus far, as impressive as they are. There’s just too good of a chance for him to contribute in a few categories for him not to be on this list now. At the very least, we should all be very, very intrigued. I just want to caution everyone that these numbers are not representative of his fantasy upside.
7. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
2022 stats: 9 G, 40.2 IP, 1.77 ERA, 16 BB, 55 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 3 G, 11.1 IP, 3.18 ERA, 11 BB, 13 SO at Los Angeles (NL).
Pepiot was only able to go 4 2/3 innings in his last start, but he also allowed only a run while striking out six. Most importantly, the right-hander from Butler didn't walk anyone; the first time at any level that he didn't issue a walk in 2022. Pepiot's stuff is unquestionable, and he's shown as much in the majors. You just have to be cognizant of the fact that there are going to be free passes, so be prepared to take a hit in the WHIP when he's starting games for you. The loss of Walker Buehler could lead to more starts for him soon.
8. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, Kansas City Royals
2022 stats: 63 G, .278/.370/.586, 17 HR, 3 SB, 34 BB, 35 SO at Triple-A Omaha.
The hits aren’t dropping for Pasquantino like they were earlier in the season, and he also hasn’t had an extra-base hit in the last week. It’s tough to be too harsh on a player that still has ridiculous numbers on the 2022 campaign, and it hasn’t affected his approach with seven free passes over his last 10 contests. Pasquantino can flat-out hit, and represents a marked upgrade over what Kansas City is putting out there right now. Whenever the Royals do the right thing and promote Pasquantino, fantasy managers should make him a part of their roster, too.
9. Gunnar Henderson, INF, Baltimore Orioles
2022 stats: 59 G, .310/.458/.563, 10 HR, 13 SB, 54 BB, 47 SO at Triple-A Norfolk.
It’d be much easier to rank Henderson higher on this list if there was a guarantee that he was going to be promoted. In terms of just pure talent, he belongs in the third position, with all due respect to the names above him. He has more than held his own since his promotion to Triple-A with a slash of .300/.481/.526 in 12 games with two homers and a steal. He’s one of the most underrated prospects in baseball, and if the Orioles decide to give Henderson a chance this season -- unlikely, but possible since he’s a step away -- fantasy managers would do well to give him a shot, too.
10. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
2022 stats: 54 G, .321/.436/.651, 15 HR, 19 SB, 38 BB, 64 SO at Double-A Amarillo.
Take everything I said about Henderson, sprinkle in the fact that he’s two levels away from the majors, and put him in the top spot instead of fourth. Even with a pair of 0-for-4 games over his last three, the outfielder is still slashing a borderline stupid .395/.489/.763. There’s literally nothing Carroll can prove at the Double-A level anymore. If he does get the promotion to Reno in the coming days, he’s going to jump up this list. Deservedly so.
Next in line: Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox; Shea Langeliers, C, Oakland Athletics; Miguel Vargas, INF, Los Angeles Dodgers; Cade Cavalli, RHP, Washington Nationals
No Doubting Duvall
Jorge Montanez highlights Adam Duvall, Alek Thomas and others as he scours the waiver wire in search of category help. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
Margaret's Weather Photo June 20, 2022
Britain's 2018 Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas tuned up for next month's race with overall victory in the Tour of Switzerland after Sunday's eighth and final stage.
Star-Telegram readers sent in their favorite pictures of their dads. Here is a collection of those images.
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2022-06-20T13:32:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Top 10 Prospects: June 20
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David Culley was a strange hire by the Houston Texans in 2021, and it wasn't a huge surprise he lasted only one season.
The Texans went 4-13, though in Culley's defense they didn't even have four-win talent on the roster. Culley made plenty of in-game errors. He wanted to run the ball in a pass-first league. Culley was honest, maybe sometimes too much, like when he discussed how general manager Nick Caserio and senior advisor Romeo Crennel would talk to him on headsets during games, giving advice. He admitted he didn't understand why they were telling him to let the New England Patriots score late in a close game.
"I go back again to the New England game, I can remember just like it was yesterday that the conversation went, 'Let them score,'" Culley said. "I heard the conversation, and then all of a sudden it didn't compute to me at that time."
And yet, Culley being fired says a lot about the Texans' direction. The men in charge of the franchise hired him in the first place.
It was a curious match, a 65-year-old first-time head coach who had never been an offensive or defensive coordinator in the pros. The Texans should have known he wouldn't be a strategical wizard and would make rookie mistakes. He did OK, given the awful situation, and he got fired anyway.
"I think philosophically there were some things in the end that maybe we saw a little bit differently," Caserio said when Culley was fired.
The ordeal brings up a few questions: Why didn't the Texans understand those philosophical differences in the first place? How could they have expected much more than Culley gave them? And why should Texans fans have much faith in the team's brass making the correct decisions going forward?
Culley going one-and-done speaks to the state of the Texans, even as Caserio said "our situation right now is a lot better than it was" after firing Culley. The Texans went on a strange hiring process for the second straight offseason, seemingly enamored with Josh McCown — the former quarterback whose coaching resume consisted of being a volunteer high school assistant — but were ultimately unwilling to take that leap for whatever reason. Instead they gave everyone a big surprise by hiring Lovie Smith.
Like the Culley hire, tabbing Smith at the last minute was curious. Unlike Culley, at least Smith has experience. He's also 64 years old and has been a part of eight straight losing teams, between his time as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and University of Illinois, then as defensive coordinator of the 2021 Texans.
It's not the worst thing for a team to fire a coach right away if they don't believe he's the answer. It's also hard to think Smith was the home-run hire Houston needs.
Lovie Smith was hired to be the Houston Texans' new head coach. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Smith steps into a rough spot. The Texans didn't have one Pro Bowl player last season, and not many young players who look like future stars. They once had a superstar trio of Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins. They're all gone. Quarterback Davis Mills, a 2021 third-round pick, was a nice revelation last season but also far from a sure thing. The Texans' talent level should be better after a promising draft and some offseason additions, but it's still lagging behind the rest of the NFL.
This rebuild will take a while. It is being led by a 64-year-old head coach whose last winning season came with a 2012 Chicago Bears squad led by Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Houston's best players, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Brandin Cooks, will both be 28 years old on opening day. The best thing you can say about the Texans' 2021 season is they weren't the worst team in football, as they were expected to be.
Houston might be the worst team in football this season. And there's not a lot of hope for a dramatic turnaround in the next year or two.
The Texans didn't do much in free agency, signing solid vets like guard A.J. Cann, cornerback Steven Nelson, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and defensive end Mario Addison to fill in gaps. No free agent signed by the Texans got more than $4.5 million per year. The Texans had to be careful in part because they have a shocking $52.2 million in dead cap space. Deshaun Watson accounts for $16.2 million of that. Credit the Texans for getting a lot of value for Watson after they sat him out all last season amid his trade request and still-unsettled legal issues. Getting rid of Watson is looking better with each passing day. Houston sent Watson and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024, a third-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick in 2024. That draft capital has to be the foundation of the rebuild. In this year's draft the Texans took cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., a phenom as a freshman at LSU in 2019 who was limited to 10 games in 2020 and 2021 due to injuries, with the third overall pick. Stingley is a great talent but risky. After trading the first-round pick from Cleveland to move down a couple spots to No. 15 overall, the Texans took guard Kenyon Green. Safety Jalen Pitre, receiver John Metchie III, linebacker Christian Harris and running back Dameon Pierce were Houston's other picks through the fourth round. It's a class the Texans need to hit big, and it could.
Most picks used on quarterbacks past the first round are wastes. The bust rate is surprisingly high. But maybe the Texans found a good starter in Davis Mills with the 67th overall pick of the 2021 draft. The third-rounder improved as the season went on. The rookie who looked overwhelmed in an ugly four-interception game at Buffalo in Week 4 (Houston had -23 net passing yards at halftime, the fewest in a first half since 1999) looked a lot better by season's end. He was instrumental in a 41-29 upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. His 41-yard touchdown pass to Chris Conley in that game was a thing of beauty and showed his maturation. In a deep rookie class that had five first-round QBs, Mills' 88.8 passer rating trailed only Mac Jones among those who had at least 100 passing attempts. By the end of the season it was clear Mills deserved a shot to be the Texans' starter in 2022.
The Texans are tied for the lowest win total in the NFL at 4.5. That's better than last year, when it was 4. The Texans also have the longest odds in the NFL at BetMGM to win their division (+2500) and they are 250-to-1 to win the Super Bowl. No other team is longer than 150-to-1. It's fine to take the Texans over 4.5 wins because that's a low bar, but be prepared for a long season getting over that total.
From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "It would be dishonest to suggest Brandin Cooks didn’t miss Deshaun Watson’s talent last year. Cooks, after all, lost almost three yards per catch and two yards per target. But Davis Mills was surprisingly competent as a rookie, and Cooks proved to be a target hog in the Houston offense, drawing 134 targets, a whopping 74 more than second-place Nico Collins. Opportunity remains king in fantasy football, and Cooks was able to produce despite facing defenses that could focus on him from the opening snap.
"It’s odd to see Cooks on his fourth team, discarded by three of the most successful recent franchises, the Saints, Patriots and Rams. But Cooks has proven to be situation-proof and mostly quarterback-proof; last year’s respectable WR20 showing backs that up. Cooks is currently being drafted as the WR29 in Yahoo rooms and WR26 in NFFC contests. If he stays healthy, he should easily beat either of those acquisition costs. Fantasy football is largely about acquiring young players, but sometimes a boring veteran can be the right jam."
The Texans had one player (Brandin Cooks) who had more than 446 receiving yards. No running back averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry. Only one player (second-year end Jonathan Greenard, a rare bright spot for the future) had more than four sacks. Nobody had more than three interceptions. No offensive lineman on the current roster ranked higher than 22nd at their position in Pro Football Focus' grades last season. That No. 22 mark belonged to center Justin Britt; no guard or tackle ranked higher than 53rd. It's really hard to find building blocks on this Texans roster, outside of the 2022 rookie class.
Why Lovie Smith?
Of all the hires in the most recent coaching cycle, Smith was the most surprising. Smith was 81-63 with the Bears, though that seems like a lifetime ago. The hire also had some controversy given that Brian Flores' lawsuit against the NFL was filed when he was still being considered for the Texans' job. The hiring process went into February and there were reports that the three finalists were Flores, Jonathan Gannon and Josh McCown. Smith wasn't mentioned as a candidate until late in the process. He was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Texans last season, but nobody figured on GM Nick Caserio promoting someone from the staff of a 4-13 team. Smith wasn't the only 2021 Texans assistant to get a promotion: Pep Hamilton, the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for last season's Texans, was bumped to offensive coordinator. Frank Ross was retained as special teams coach.
Smith was a surprising hire, though that doesn't mean it's a bad one. It was just unexpected.
"Coach Smith is one of the most respected figures in the league," Caserio said. "He's well respected throughout the league. He's well respected in the halls of NRG. I think a lot of us were able to see that this year. As I worked through this and got to the end point, realized the best decision and the best opportunity for this organization to move forward was with the choice of Lovie Smith as the next head coach."
The good news is the Jacksonville Jaguars are still in the AFC South. Last season the Texans avoided last place because the Jaguars were an even bigger mess, and maybe that happens again. A good season for the Texans would consist of getting over that win total of 4.5, finding out Davis Mills is a keeper at quarterback and seeing some young players emerge. Also, not having to fire another head coach after one season would be nice.
The positive about having such low expectations is things can't really get that bad. If Davis Mills falls apart, the Texans will be in position to draft a prime prospect at quarterback. If Lovie Smith is one-and-done, it's not like the hire energized the Texans' fanbase in the first place. Nobody would be that surprised if they won fewer games than the four from last season. Again, this is a long-term rebuild, and there's no guarantee the step taken this season will be forward.
The Texans were battling hard late last season. The upset win over the Chargers was impressive and they almost beat the Tennessee Titans in the finale. The roster is likely better, not that it could have gotten much worse. It might take a few more years for the Texans to rise, once the draft classes after the Deshaun Watson trade bear some fruit. This year, getting to five wins with a competitive spirit all season seems to be feasible.
The Detroit Tigers looked like a different baseball team in Saturday's 14-7 win against the Rangers. The reality is one game doesn't change anything.
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2022-06-20T14:23:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 NFL Preview: Texans turn to Lovie Smith
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https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-preview-texans-direction-still-in-question-after-another-odd-offseason-123436018.html?src=rss
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