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Retired former Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is joining Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage for the 2022 season.
According to a press release, Fitzpatrick will work in the studio for pregame, halftime and postgame coverage, and will be flanked by fellow former NFL players Tony Gonzalez and Richard Sherman.
Prime Video announced today that NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will be joining its NFL pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage this coming season when the service presents exclusive coverage of Thursday Night Football. Fitzpatrick, who recently announced his retirement from the NFL, will join Tony Gonzalez and Richard Sherman on the streamer’s wraparound coverage of each TNF game.
“Amazon jumped out at me,” Fitzpatrick said about his new role, via Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. “In terms of it is something that’s fresh and new. It just made a lot of sense of what I was trying to get into.”
Also per Marchand, FOX Sports’ Charissa Thompson is expected to be hired as the host to work with Fitzpatrick, Sherman and Gonzalez.
Fitzpatrick, who retired earlier this month, spent one season with the Titans, one of nine teams he ultimately played for.
The Titans are set to have a pair of “Thursday Night Football” contests in 2022, with one coming against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, and another coming against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.
Titans OLBs coach: Pass rush's lack of forced fumbles in 2021 was 'embarrassing'
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2022-06-22T13:12:56Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ex-Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick joins Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ coverage
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-titans-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-124204984.html?src=rss
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Ahead of Wednesday’s House Oversight Committee hearing into the alleged toxic workplace environment created by the Washington NFL organization, the Committee released a 29-page report outlining the role that Washington owner Daniel Snyder played in creating that environment. Furthermore, the report details how Snyder worked behind the scenes to discredit the accusers and bury the findings of an investigation conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson.
In addition, the report indicates that the NFL “knew about these actions and failed to take meaningful steps to prevent them.” Furthermore, the league was briefed on the findings of an investigation 16 times, “including at least two personal briefings for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and four briefings submitted in writing.”
Regarding Snyder’s role in discrediting the Wilkinson Investigation, the owner “deployed an arsenal of tools to gather information about his accusers that were apparently used to build a dossier to discredit them.” The House Oversight Committee found that Snyder “abused the subpoena power of federal courts to obtain private emails, call logs, and communications in an effort to uncover the sources of the Washington Post’s exposes, undermine their credibility, and impugn their motives.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell is scheduled to testify before the Committee on Wednesday. Despite being invited to testify, Snyder declined, stating that he was out of the country on team business.
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2022-06-22T13:13:02Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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House Oversight Committee releases report detailing Daniel Snyder’s role in creating a toxic workplace
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https://sports.yahoo.com/house-oversight-committee-releases-report-123903273.html?src=rss
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Jalen Ramsey underwent shoulder surgery, should be ready before start of season
Jalen Ramsey was a first-team All-Pro and arguably the best cornerback in the NFL last season, and he earned those titles despite playing half the year injured. Ramsey revealed in March that he played half the season with two AC joint sprains, which can be painful injuries.
To repair the issue, Ramsey underwent surgery on one of his shoulders Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport. Ramsey shared a photo of himself with his daughters, and his left arm appeared to be in a sling.
The good news is that Ramsey is still expected to be ready before the start of the season, though a firm timetable wasn’t provided.
#Rams All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey had surgery on his shoulder today, source said. He played all last season with tears in both shoulders… and he should be ready before the start of the season. https://t.co/KnrgYNbayX
Ramsey played 16 of the Rams’ 17 games last season, intercepting four passes and breaking up 16 total on the year. For the second year in a row, he was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler at cornerback.
A Study showed Florida ranks as one of the country's least patriotic states, coming in at 47th with high ranks in military engagement but low ranks in civic engagement.
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2022-06-22T13:13:09Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jalen Ramsey underwent shoulder surgery, should be ready before start of season
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The Baltimore Ravens announced the death of 26-year-old defensive end Jaylon Ferguson on Wednesday morning.
The Ravens released no other details about Ferguson's death, including the cause.
Ferguson's agent, Safarrah Lawson, released a statement to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport about Ferguson's passing.
Ferguson, a Louisiana native, attended Louisiana Tech after graduating from West Feliciana High School. He redshirted as a freshman, and went on to have a record-breaking college career. His 45 sacks over four years remains an NCAA record, and it earned him the nickname "Sack Daddy."
In the 2019 NFL draft, Ferguson was taken by the Ravens in the third round. He played in 38 games over three seasons, starting 10, and totaled 4.5 sacks and 67 tackles. He was placed on the COVID-19 list twice in two years: once in Nov. 2020, and again in Sept. 2021. According to ESPN, Ferguson had participated in all of the team's offseason practices this year.
Ravens DE Jaylon Ferguson has died at age 26. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
An ongoing effort by the SD Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is looking to have regular showings of Spanish-dubbed films at Century East movie theater.
Russian strikes hit Ochakiv and villages in Mykolaiv Oblast: 1 dead, 6 wounded
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO - TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022, 16:53 One local resident was killed and six more were wounded as a result of Russia's attacks on Mykolaiv Oblast on Tuesday. Source: Vitalii Kim, the head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, on air on Channel 5 Quote from Kim: "Constant shelling, including today.
Trump-endorsed Katie Britt won the GOP primary runoff election for Senate against Rep. Mo Brooks, and will face off against Democratic nominee Will Boyd in November
We look at five potential explanations for the iconic artist's return to a more extended album rollout, after setting the industry standard for surprise releases in the '10s.
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2022-06-22T13:13:21Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL news: Ravens announce death of
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It’s been a full week since Tyreek Hill’s podcast, “It Needed to be Said,” debuted, and the show has certainly gained a lot of traction.
Hill’s comments explaining his departure from Kansas City and his comparisons between Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa were discussed on various platforms throughout the week with talking heads like Stephen A. Smith voicing their confusion.
With the second episode of the podcast released on Tuesday, the wide receiver explained that the disapproval he received from the media was nothing like what he heard from the general public.
NFL fans are passionate but this is over the line. A player speaking about his former team or comparing one quarterback to another should never result in something so serious and despicable.
“I just feel like a lot of people overreacted for no reason,” Hill said. “They really didn’t see what I said. A lot of people are just acting off emotion.”
Hill and co-host Julius Collins understand that discourse and disagreement are part of the game when it comes to podcasting and content creation, but they shouldn’t have to have people threatening them over their comments that, at the end of the day, didn’t hurt anyone.
Clark: Jeff Culhane taking over the mic from Gene Deckerhoff no easy task
Following a legend is not easy. After FSU made hires to follow names like Bowden and Martin, Deckerhoff has a successor.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed or damaged multiple buildings in Halifax, Dauphin County.
Former #Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick officially joins Amazon as NFL analyst:
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2022-06-22T13:13:28Z
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Tyreek Hill says he received death threats after first podcast episode
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NASCAR’s Cup Series is ready to make its run to the finish line.
The only off weekend of the 2022 season is in the rear-view mirror. Sunday’s race at Nashville (5 p.m. ET, NBC) is the first of 20 races on 20 consecutive weekends through the final race of the season at Phoenix on Nov. 6.
The 20-race finishing kick is made up of the final 10 races of the regular season and the 10 playoff races at the end of the season. It’s not a stretch to say the last 10 races of this regular season have a little more importance than they've had in previous years either given the number of winners so far in 2022.
Twelve drivers have won a race over the first 16 races of the season. Only William Byron, Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have won multiple races. And neither of them has won more than two races so far this season.
With 16 drivers in the playoff field, there’s room for just four winless drivers at the moment. And drivers like Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick don’t have a win yet. Blaney and Truex feel like pretty safe bets to get wins soon. Throw in a win by Harvick or someone like Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick or a surprise driver and there’s a chance that the playoff field could be solely comprised of winners for the first time since it expanded to 16 drivers in 2014.
Kyle Larson is the favorite for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville. He won the first Cup race at the track in 2021. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sunday’s race is just the second Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Kyle Larson won the inaugural Cup race at the track a season ago when he led 264 of the race’s 300 laps. You won’t be stunned to find out that Larson is the BetMGM favorite on Sunday.
The concrete 1.33-mile track is unlike any other track on the Cup Series schedule. No other intermediate track is concrete. While Nashville may have a similar shape to other 1.5-mile ovals on the calendar, its pavement type means it doesn’t have many commonalities.
Here’s what you need to know for Sunday’s race. It’s also the first race of the season for NBC. The broadcaster will televise the rest of the Cup Series season on its networks. NBC should be an upgrade over Fox by default, especially for those of us getting more and more frustrated by the week with Fox’s lackadaisical coverage.
Busch is one of the few drivers in the field who has an Xfinity Series win at the track. Busch won in 2009 and 2021 at Nashville. Logano won in 2009 at Nashville. Harvick and Brad Keselowski also have victories at the track in NASCAR’s No. 2 series. Chastain is the No. 3 favorite by virtue of Trackhouse’s all-around speed this season and his No. 2 spot in the points standings. Elliott should have a top-10 car.
Byron has been faster than his Hendrick Motorsports teammates at times this season and Sunday could easily be another edition. He finished third in 2021. Busch won at Kansas earlier this year and his 23XI team has showed that it has fast cars at bigger tracks.
Stewart-Haas Racing hasn’t had the speed that other teams have had at intermediate tracks this season and we’re not bullish on Briscoe being a contender for the win on Sunday.
Bubba Wallace (+10000)
Wallace’s team needs to get its act together. Wallace has shown speed at times in 2022 but hasn’t been able to put together solid results thanks to pit crew mistakes, loose wheels and other issues like the blown engine he suffered at Phoenix. If the No. 23 can figure it out, Wallace can contend for a win or two before the end of the regular season.
Whenever Disney or Universal Studios parks remove a ride or an attraction, it is always a big loss for fans.
Jimmie Johnson eyes possible Garage 56 entry with Hendrick, NASCAR
If he has his way, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson could be back behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports-built vehicle next summer. Johnson, now racing full-time in the IndyCar Series, is working to determine whether he will be able to participate in the 2023 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans […]
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2022-06-22T14:02:07Z
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NASCAR betting: Nashville favorites, odds, schedule, TV network
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Tommy Baldwin Jr. remembers exactly when he fell in love with Modified racing.
A teenager at the time, the younger Baldwin was traveling with his father Tom Baldwin Sr. to a race at North Carolina‘s Hickory Motor Speedway.
Age restrictions sometimes prevented young teenagers from entering the pit area. That wasn‘t the case this time at Hickory, which meant the younger Baldwin was able to get a first-hand look at what Modified racing was all about.
“Back then you weren‘t allowed in the pits until you were 16 or 18 in certain states,” Baldwin said. “We went down to, believe it or not, Hickory, North Carolina, to run a NASCAR race. It wasn‘t a Tour race; back then it was 100 races a year for points. I was allowed in the pits, and that‘s really when I got the bug.
“I still remember it to this day. That was kind of the turning point on me getting hooked.”
Fast-forward to 2022, and Baldwin remains infatuated with Modified racing.
His No. 7NY Modified has quickly become a fixture in Victory Lane with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this year, with Doug Coby and Mike Christopher Jr. both earning victories in Baldwin‘s equipment.
It‘s just a continuation of the success Baldwin enjoyed on the Tour before he eventually moved on to the NASCAR Cup Series.
“People forget that the year I left (the Tour), Steve Park and I won seven out the last 13 races and just missed the championship by three points over Tony Hirschman Sr.,” Baldwin recalled, referencing the 1995 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season. “I keep telling everybody I‘ve got over 20 Tour wins in my career, but I was gone for 20-something years, so it‘s kind of hard for everybody to remember.
“It‘s a great, great series. It‘s so competitive. It‘s no different than the Cup level as far as the competition goes.”
Doug Coby, driver of the #7 John Blewitt Inc during the Miller Lite 200 for the Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway on May 14, 2022 in Riverhead, New York. (Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)
After making a name for himself on the Tour as a crew chief, Baldwin eventually made it to the NASCAR Cup Series. He spent more than 20 years at NASCAR‘s top level, where he won five races as a crew chief with drivers Ward Burton and Kasey Kahne.
Included in those victories were triumphs in the 2001 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the 2002 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, both with Burton.
He eventually entered the ownership ranks in the NASCAR Cup Series, fielding his own entries for a variety of drivers including Michael McDowell, Geoffrey Bodine, Dave Blaney, Danica Patrick, David Reutimann, Michael Annett and J.J. Yeley, among others.
Success in the NASCAR Cup Series was limited for Baldwin, whose operation managed a best finish of third on two occasions.
Once Baldwin decided to walk away from the NASCAR Cup Series, he felt it was natural that he return to his family roots in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“I wanted to keep racing. I didn‘t want to stop racing altogether,” Baldwin said. “I just wanted to go have some fun. I didn‘t really pay attention much (to the Tour). It was a 22-, 23-year span of racing Modifieds. So I really I didn‘t really pay attention that much except for when my dad was racing.
“I got the bug again with these things, and now I‘m full bore.”
As is the case for so many others, Modified racing is a family tradition for the Baldwins.
The late Tom Baldwin Sr., known by many as “Tiger Tom,” was a fixture in the Modified division. Before the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was created in 1985, Baldwin raced Modifieds up and down the East Coast in pursuit of championship points in what was then known as the NASCAR Modified Division.
He would go on to win six NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events, with his last victory coming in 1996 at Connecticut‘s Stafford Motor Speedway. He continued to race with the Tour until his death in 2004 following a crash at another Connecticut track, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
Tom Baldwin Sr. competes in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Pennsylvania\
To this day, the Modifieds fielded by the younger Baldwin carry the No. 7NY, the same number carried by his father for so many years.
“My dad built the base for all of this,” Baldwin said. “He instilled the work ethic in me. It‘s my responsibility to, eventually, instill that in my kids to keep this going.”
Baldwin looks at the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as NASCAR‘s working-class series, where drivers and team owners who work nine-to-five jobs can go racing against the best Modified competitors in the country.
He thinks that is why there are so many familiar names and race cars competing with the Tour each season, including his own.
“You‘ve got to consider the NASCAR Modifieds as the working-class folk,” Baldwin said. “There are probably only two or three teams that have one guy full-time on it. All the car owners and crew members, they have real jobs, and they sacrifice a lot of time to come to these races and race.
“You grow up working on the car in your family‘s garage or family shop, and that shop and that business and that garage stay with you your whole life. As your kids get older, they take over, and as their kids get older, they take over from them. It turns out into a long history of cars and car numbers and people.”
So what does the future hold for the Baldwin family and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour? That‘s a great question.
For now, Baldwin will continue to field his own No. 7NY Modified for a variety of drivers. However, two of Baldwin‘s children are currently dipping their toes in the racing world competing in Legend Cars during Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We‘re having fun with that, getting them acclimated and doing some racing,” Baldwin said of his two youngest sons, Jack, 18, and Luke, 15. “They‘re learning how to drive those cars. They‘re really hard to drive. The next step would be getting them into a Crate Modified or an SK Modified.
“I don‘t know about going any further, but we‘re having fun with that. We‘ll see where they progress.”
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2022-06-22T14:02:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Tommy Baldwin Jr. continues family love affair with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
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The East Coast fans who clicked out of the Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky game on Tuesday night probably thought they weren't missing much. The Aces tore out to a league-record 41-point first quarter against the reigning champions, again besting their previous franchise record.
Those fans missed the largest comeback in WNBA history. The Sky (11-5) overcame a 28-point deficit to defeat the Aces (13-3), 104-95, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The previous mark was 25 points and had been done three times in the league's 26-year history.
"It's not something I want to do again," Chicago guard Allie Quigley joked, via ESPN. "But it was kind of weirdly calm. They're such a fast-paced team and so are we, there wasn't time to worry about the next play or even the score. It was just, 'OK, just keep chipping away, chipping away.'
"Obviously, looking back, it's unbelievable to be able to come back from that much and just shows what we're capable of and what we can do when we really put out minds to it and play the style of play we want to play."
The sides will meet again in the Commissioner's Cup championship game in July that has a $500,000 total prize pool. They have one final regular season meeting in August with the season-series tied, 1-1.
Vandersloot, 3s key Chicago comeback
Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) drives around Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Chicago (11-5) had 34 assists, which tied for third-most in league history, on 43 made baskets. Courtney Vandersloot scored 25 points with eight assists. She was 10-of-14 overall and made 3-of-5 3-pointers. The team was 57.3% from the floor overall and 48% (12-of-25) from beyond the arc, the biggest reason they were able to start climbing back into it in the second quarter.
The Sky fell behind quickly against the Aces' top-ranked offense that averages 91.5 points per game. Las Vegas dropped nearly half of that in the first 10 minutes alone, going up 41-18. It was their largest single quarter of the season and the most first-quarter points in WNBA history. Previously, the Aces scored 38 in a quarter and days later scored 39.
Las Vegas kept the offense going and built a 51-23 lead in the second with a 23-0 run, again the most of any WNBA team in 2022. It was also the biggest in league history against a defending champion, per ESPN Stats and Information.
and then what. https://t.co/KlmBsDymCd
But the Sky began hitting 3-pointers as the Aces defense lagged. They won the quarter, 33-21, and went into half down only 11 points, 62-51. They won the third, too, in a dominating 30-11 fashion to take an 81-73 lead into the fourth quarter.
“This one should hurt," Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. "They (the players) should lose sleep over it. I know I’ll lose sleep over it. But ultimately, these things happen … I think it’ll end up being good for us in the long run.”
Azura Stevens had 19 points on an efficient 8-of-10 day that included going 3-of-4 from 3-point range. She had seven of the team's 33 rebounds, all of which were on the defensive end. Emma Meesseman scored 17 points with six rebounds and six assists. Candace Parker, returning from a knee injury that kept her off the court last weekend, had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Quigley scored 13 points with seven assists. Julie Allemand had six assists off the bench.
Aces part of more records
The Aces had five players in double-digits by the halftime break, a WNBA record. Las Vegas heavily relies on its starters almost exclusively — they average 81.1 PPG, most in WNBA history — but this time it was four starters and a reserve who hit the mark.
Jackie Young, an early MVP and Most Improved Player candidate, scored a team-high 23 points with six assists and five rebounds. Kelsey Plum scored 22 points with seven assists. A'ja Wilson had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double and Dearica Hamby added 15 points on a 6-of-9 day with seven rebounds.
Chelsea Gray struggled, missing all six of her field goal attempts, but making all four free throws and dishing out seven assists. Theresa Plaisance scored 10 off the bench, going 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and Aisha Sheppard added five as the only other Aces player to score. They were 44% overall, 41.9% from 3 and assisted on 23 of 33 baskets. But after the hot first quarter, Las Vegas' shooting clip dropped to 35.8%.
There were plenty of records to fall in addition to the ones already listed. The combined 57 total assists are tied for second-most in a WNBA regular-season game (and fourth-most overall), per Across the Timeline. The combined 37 in the first half is a record for a half, via ESPN.
The six players with at least six assists each is a league record, per Across the Timeline. And the 17 3-pointers in the game are tied for a league record in a half. They cooled off to combine for eight in the second half.
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2022-06-22T14:19:51Z
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WNBA: Sky mount 28-point comeback after Aces' record quarter
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Game Recap: Lynx 84, Mercury 71
Auburn drops game to Arkansas, ending season in College World Series
A magical run came to a heartbreaking ending in Omaha on Tuesday night.
Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” will harken back to Peter Jackson’s original trilogy by relying predominantly on practical effects and prosthetics in bringing the Orcs of Middle Earth to life. Jackson’s three “Lord of the Rings” films earned acclaim for showcasing practical creature makeup and prosthetics work, but […]
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2022-06-22T14:20:36Z
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Game Recap: Lynx 84, Mercury 71
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The Phoenix Mercury looked energized Tuesday in the first half, but couldn’t sustain its start, falling 71-84 to the Minnesota Lynx at Footprint Center.
U.S. Open: Matt Fitzpatrick joins Jack Nicklaus in history books with exciting win
Matt Fitzpatrick joined Jack Nicklaus in the history books with his dramatic win in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline.
The 2022 NBA summer league is set to tip off on July 7. Here is the full schedule for all 30 teams.
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2022-06-22T14:20:55Z
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Liz Cambage with an And One vs. Washington Mystics
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Chris Corr
Today’s guest columnist is Chris Corr of Troy University.
When the Board of Regents at the University of Oklahoma and University of Georgia initially filed an antitrust suit against the NCAA in 1981, United States District Judge Lee Roy West recused himself immediately. The lawsuit—which served as a watershed moment in the history of NCAA litigation—concerned the association’s monopoly over television rights and would become the first case challenging NCAA authority argued before the Supreme Court of the United States.
As a native Oklahoman and graduate of the University of Oklahoma, West held no reservations about his inability to separate his loyalty to the school and his obligation to issue an impartial ruling. In an interview from April 2011, West detailed that his allegiance to OU began as a student there and grew due to Oklahoma’s success in football; his personal friendship with three-time national championship-winning Sooners head football coach Barry Switzer; and his close friendship with All-American and Oklahoma football team captain Norman McNabb.
Like most collegians, Lee Roy West had immense pride for his alma mater. Unlike most collegians, Judge West could alter the legal scales with his opinions and rulings.
West’s 1981 recusal underscores new findings by researchers at Troy University and the University of South Carolina’s College Sport Research Institute (CSRI), who examined the demographic backgrounds and collegiate connections of judges who have issued rulings in cases involving the NCAA.
Between 1973 and 2020, a total of 174 federal judges issued 234 rulings on the NCAA. Of those decisions, judges sided with college sports’ governing body 63% of the time.
Within this group of cases, the research found that judges’ demographic and educational backgrounds seemed to play a significant role. For instance, judges born in states home to a Southeastern Conference athletics program were 43% more likely to rule in favor of the NCAA than judges born outside the SEC footprint. Also of note: Judges who attended an NCAA Division I institution were 15% more likely to rule in favor of the NCAA, while those who attended a Power Five institution were 19% more likely to rule in favor of the NCAA.
Though analyzing the context and merit of each case requires nuance, judges born in SEC states appear to have, historically, exhibited greater deference to the NCAA and its practices.
Such acknowledgment can be found in the number of cases challenging the NCAA filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where Judge Claudia Wilken presides. Judge Wilken, a native Minnesotan who attended Stanford and UC Berkeley Law School, memorably stated that the acronym SEC made her think of the Securities and Exchange Commission, instead of the athletic conference. The audacity.
In 2021, SCOTUS unanimously ruled against the NCAA and its practices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a D.C.-born Yale grad, stated that “the NCAA is not above the law,” while adding, “nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate.”
Such fiery commentary exemplifies the questionable legality of many NCAA practices. Yet some judges may be unable to objectively render decisions concerning the NCAA due to the influential nature that collegiate athletics has on identity in the United States. Unlike Lee Roy West in 1981, most judges probably don’t view their fandom for “State U” as a legitimate reason to recuse themselves from a matter concerning the NCAA.
Recent history tells us this premise of conflict of interest may not be that farfetched. In 2009, an Alabama state court judge granted a request for delay in an upcoming January civil suit. Why? So attorneys could attend the BCS national championship featuring Alabama and Texas. In 2010, another Alabama judge delayed trial due to the BCS national championship featuring Auburn and Oregon. Again in 2012, a third Alabama judge granted a request for a delayed trial so attorneys could attend the BCS national championship game featuring Alabama and Notre Dame. Not to be outdone, a Georgia state court judge granted a delay in 2017 due to the CFP title game between Georgia and Alabama.
How about a 2018 study by economists at Louisiana State University that found judges issued harsher punishments after their favorite college football team suffered a loss or if the defendant is affiliated with a rival university? And don’t forget Chief Justice John Roberts, who in 2008, upon serving as a guest judge for a competition between University of Florida law students, made sure to stick around through the weekend to catch Tim Tebow and the Gators take on the Miami Hurricanes. I was there and met him in the President’s Suite. He stayed the whole game.
It’s not a crime to be a college football fan, but the potential consequences of such fandom should be noted. As the Troy/CSRI research shows, judges with deep ties to college football–or the geographic areas where college football resembles religion more than fandom–may have been the biggest opponent to legal challenges against the NCAA over the past four decades.
Litigators, take note.
Corr, a former college football staffer, is an assistant professor in the School of Hospitality, Sport, & Tourism Management at Troy University. More information on CSRI and their annual Adjusted Graduation Gap Reports can be found at www.csri.org.
Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing intends to purchase the former extended-stay hotel at 3535 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines.
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2022-06-22T14:22:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NCAA’s Southern Comfort: Judge Geography Affects Legal Outcomes
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https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa-southern-comfort-judge-geography-124550451.html?src=rss
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College football typically draws a very loyal fan base.
Texas Longhorns fans are some of the most passionate in the country and have consistently shown their loyalty through hard times. The program hasn’t experienced much success as of late, but their support has never wavered.
Many often compare Texas to the Dallas Cowboys or New York Yankees of college football. Fans either love them or love to hate them. The amount of revenue their football program brings in is among the highest in the country, and the national presence of their athletic program is notable. It helps that their logo is one of the most recognizable in the world.
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is also one of only eight stadiums that has a capacity of over 100,000. So, where does Texas land in terms of the largest fan bases in college football?
Strategy analyst Tony Altimore combined multiple studies to figure out the sizes of each college football teams fan base. To no surprise, Texas is near the top of the rankings. Here’s a look at the top 10 from Altimore’s study.
Total number of estimated fans: 4.46 million
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner / USA TODAY NETWORK
Total number of estimated fans: 11.26 million
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2022-06-22T14:22:18Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Where Texas lands in study of largest college football fan bases
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Nik Bonitto isn’t a finished product.
In Year 1, he won’t have to be because the Denver Broncos are loaded with depth at outside linebacker, led by Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory.
Bonitto will make an impact this season, but he’s unlikely to start initially, and that will give him time to grow and improve.
“He’s very fast,” Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones said of Bonitto on June 7. “He kind of reminds me of how Baron [Browning] plays. They both are very speedy guys off the edge. I see a lot of potential in him. There’s a lot more to go with just understanding the plays and understanding the system, but he’s going to be good.”
Chubb agreed with Jones’ assessment, and he’s willing to coach up the rookie pass rusher, as much as he’d like to be.
“His get off is crazy,” Chubb said. “He’s such a finesse guy. He moves around tackles and goes past them. It’s been fun to watch him grow.
“I’m just trying to teach him all the little things that helped me out. He can take it or leave it, but he’s already a good player. When the guys in that room keep working around each other, it’s going to be better for all of us.”
With so much depth at the position, the Broncos will aim to have a healthy, fresh OLB room this fall with waves of pass rushers rotating on game days.
Will Nik Bonitto win DROY? - Powered By PickUp
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2022-06-22T15:37:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Broncos defenders see ‘a lot of potential’ in Nik Bonitto
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https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-defenders-see-lot-potential-120037664.html?src=rss
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A full-circle moment, Russell Wilson landed with the Denver Broncos this offseason after playing minor league baseball for the Colorado Rockies for two seasons before deciding playing in the NFL was his calling in life.
After deciding to pursue football, Wilson attended the University of Wisconsin as a graduate student, with Melvin Gordon in the backfield. Ten years later, the duo links back up on the Broncos. Gordon can’t wait to share the field with Wilson again. This time, at the highest level of the profession, the NFL.
Here’s a better analogy: imagine becoming fast friends with someone in college, then you’re sad when graduation hits and you go your separate ways. Then, imagine both of you climbing the career ladder for the next 10 years to the point that you guys are reunited. This time, much wiser. That’s Wilson’s and Gordon’s relationship.
“It’s good,” Wilson said of reuniting with Wilson, via DenverBroncos.com. “The thing is it’s not just me who he wants to help. When I came in there earlier, he had some rookies in there. I think he wants everybody to learn it. He’s a true winner.
“Winners like that want everybody to be a part of that, and he’s bringing me along and he wants everybody to hit the ground running, not just me because he knows me — because he’s the quarterback and that’s his job. His job is to bring everybody along, and that’s what he’s doing.”
Broncos Country hasn’t seen a reunion like this since Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall reunited on the Chicago Bears. Speaking to the person Wilson is, it’s worth noting Gordon points out that Wilson wants to help the RB because it’s his job, and not just because of their friendship. Think about your workplace: not everyone is like that. Next season is shaping up to be a good one for the Broncos. Giddy up.
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2022-06-22T15:37:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Broncos RB Melvin Gordon eager to play with QB Russell Wilson again in the NFL
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The New York Jets officially lost out on defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi.
The defender previously had a free-agent visit in New York in May. It reportedly lasted two days, but Ogunjobi eventually opted to stay in the AFC North.
Ogunjobi, 27 visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. He went on to sign with the team, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Most recently a member of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, Ogunjobi began his NFL career in Cleveland with the Browns.
Ogunjobi was originally slated to depart the AFC North. He inked a deal with the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason. It was a three-year, $40.5 million deal with the Bears that included $26.35M guaranteed, but the failed physical voided the agreement.
Ogunjobi recorded a career-high seven sacks and 16 QB hits last season before suffering a foot injury that required surgery in Cincinnati’s playoff win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Jan. 15.
Watch: Jets RB Michael Carter was mic'd up during practice
What are South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler's preseason odds to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy?
With the 2022 NHL Awards handed out, here's who Justin Cuthbert picked to take home the silverware. (Getty Images)
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2022-06-22T15:38:18Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jets free-agent target Larry Ogunjobi signs with Steelers
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https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-free-agent-target-larry-143816164.html?src=rss
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It’s just one step of many for a rookie, but Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson passed the first test during the offseason workout program.
Albert Breer of SI.com heard Watson had a “real solid spring” in Green Bay during OTAs and minicamp.
There are obvious caveats in play: No one is in pads during the offseason workout program, and rookies like Watson are just learning the basics of the scheme. Practices are light. No one becomes a star in May and June. But the moment hasn’t been too big for Watson so far, and that’s encouraging with real football right around the corner.
The Packers traded up aggressively in the second round to get him with the 34th overall pick in the 2022 draft. The hope is that Watson’s performance during the spring helped create a strong foundation for training camp, which begins in late July.
In a receiver room that lost Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the Packers need Watson to hit the ground running.
“I definitely think I’ve been stacking days and getting better each and every day,” Watson said, via Packers.com. “Obviously, there’s ups and downs but I definitely feel like I’ve come a long way. Obviously, I still feel like I have a ways to go, but I feel like that’ll come with a couple weeks that we have off before training camp and I think I’ll be good.”
Watson said learning the intricate details of the offense is the next step. He needs to be at the right place at the right time on every play to earn the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers during training camp and get on the field during the regular season.
It’s a long, arduous process, especially for a rookie receiver, but Watson is off to a strong start.
Breer’s comparison for Watson was Vincent Jackson, a second-round pick from Northern Colorado who created six 1,000-yard receiving seasons and made three Pro Bowls. The Packers will hope Watson can contribute more than Jackson right away. As a rookie, Jackson caught only three passes. And he only caught 70 passes during his first three seasons combined.
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2022-06-22T15:38:47Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Packers rookie Christian Watson enjoyed ‘real solid spring’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-rookie-christian-watson-enjoyed-143355997.html?src=rss
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Henry Ruggs III
Damon Arnette
The 2019 draft was a bad one for the Raiders as they did not pick up any of the three fifth-year options for their first-round picks. However, they did get solid play out of Josh Jacobs and even Johnathan Abram has had his moments with the team.
The 2020 draft was far worse for the Raiders in Round 1 as both Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette were released midseason in 2021. Ruggs was charged with DUI resulting in death and Arnette had several incidents with the team on and off the field.
So who should the Raiders have selected with their first of two first-round picks in 2020?
In a recent article by Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, he re-drafted the entire first round from that draft. For the Raiders at No. 12, he gave them USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. over Ruggs. Here is what he had to say about that selection:
“Pittman took a clear step forward in his second season out of USC last year for the Colts despite inconsistent play at the quarterback position, raising his PFF grade from 62.8 as a rookie to 79.9 in 2021.
He’s an impressive route runner — particularly for his size — and is coming off a season where he caught 64.3% of his contested targets (second among wide receivers with at least 25 contested targets).
When the Raiders were on the clock at No. 12, they had their choice of any receiver in the class. But in this re-draft, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Tee Higgins were all drafted inside the top-10. Still, Linsey gave them a highly productive receiver in Pittman.
Pittman caught 88 passes during the 2021 season, totaling 1,082 yards and six touchdowns. He’s known as being one of the most physical receivers in the league and he could have a breakout season in 2022 with Matt Ryan now under center for the Colts.
With their other first-round pick, Linsey gave them Kristian Fulton from LSU. The Raiders really needed secondary help and many thought Fulton (or Trevon Diggs) would be options at No. 19. Instead, they reached on Arnette, who many viewed as a mid-Day 3 player.
Drafting is always easy in hindsight, but these were two picks that felt like major reaches at the time. And for very different reasons, neither ended up working out for the Raiders.
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2022-06-22T15:39:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Raiders select WR Michael Pittman Jr. over Henry Ruggs in 2020 NFL redraft
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https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-select-wr-michael-pittman-131538749.html?src=rss
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With Ben Roethlisberger gone, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a new leader on the field. It was easy when Big Ben was around because the entire team, especially the offense, rallied around him.
Now, head coach Mike Tomlin is working on making second-year running back Najee Harris that sort of leader and feels like he’s got a mindset similar to himself and veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Tomlin talked about Harris on The Pivot Podcast.
“Najee is a leader,” Tomlin said. “He was a born leader. He’s got good football morals. He sees the game the way we see the game.”
Harris joined the Steelers in 2021 and rushed for 1,200 yards as a rookie. With a new starting quarterback this season, Harris is the perfect guy to step in and take that leadership role. This is especially true considering the offense could end up being built around his skills as he once ahead powers the rushing attack.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday said it would complete processing this week all the original, error-free 2021 individual tax returns received last year, clearing a backlog of 8 million returns, but the agency still faces major challenges. The IRS said it has processed more than 143 million returns received in 2022, providing over $298 billion in refunds to taxpayers, but still had millions of paper returns to process because it started the year with a significant backlog. The IRS said it was on track to clear a backlog of business returns from 2021 soon, and would continue to work to resolve the few remaining 2021 individual returns that had errors.
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2022-06-22T15:39:20Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on Najee Harris: ‘He’s got good football morals’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-hc-mike-tomlin-najee-121321335.html?src=rss
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Why Jenkins says Eagles fans should trust Epps at safety originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best Eagles defenders of the past decade, a true Birds great with a Super Bowl ring to boot. He's forever a hero in Philadelphia.
So when he speaks about the state of the team, even now as a retired NFLer after 13 tremendous years in the league, fans tend to listen.
And this week on the Eagles Unfiltered podcast Jenkins had a message for anyone worried about the Birds' safeties:
MORE: Eagles’ thumping LB lands on list of most important players
Don't sweat it. Marcus Epps can do this job.
Which is good news, because the Eagles spent resources basically everywhere this offseason... except safety. They brought Anthony Harris back, they brought Marcus Epps back, and they added veteran Jaquiski Tartt on a 1-year deal. That's it. On a team suddenly dreaming of a deep postseason run, safety is the position most fans have questions about.
But here's why Jenkins thinks Epps is up for the challenge:
"When I was there, he was a player that was behind me and Rodney [McLeod] but was rising fast on the depth chart, somebody who's physically gifted and smart enough to understand defenses and where he needs to be in alignments and leverage. I think he's soaked up a lot of game, and that was one of the things I recognized about him early was, you know, he's somebody who wants to know how he can become the best player he can. He'd stick around late after meetings and ask questions and watch extra tape, and so for me I know that, just because of those things, he's going to be fine.
"Obviously he's gonna have a ton of expectations, and we know how Philadelphia feels about its safeties, so it's a daunting task. But like anybody, he's got to take the same approach and deal with the same stuff that even I went through, where you can't try to be Dawkins or myself or whoever - because you can't. I've tried, I've done that before, I've watched Dawkins' tape. I can't do what he does. That's why he is who he is.
"So he's gotta figure out what he does really well. I think he's got great ball skills, I think he's got range, he tackles well. As long as he can continue to develop his game and what he does well, and tries to be the best Epps he can be, I think he'll be fine."
You love to hear it!
Epps, 26, has appeared in 45 games but has just eight career starts to his name, all of which came in the past two seasons. He's notched 3 INTs and 9 passes defended since the start of 2020, solid numbers for a safety, and received a pretty solid 72.8 grade from Pro Football Focus for his play in 2021.
We still need to see more from the Wyoming product, but there do indeed seem to be bones of a player who can excel in a regular starter role.
I also love that Jenkins watched Dawkins tape during his time with the Eagles and concluded that he just couldn't do the stuff that Weapon X could so, so he blazed his own path instead. They were two distinctly great safeties, the two best in franchise history.
No one's saying Epps is in line to be the next legendary Birds backstop, but if he's got Jenkins' vote of confidence that's certainly a step in the right direction.
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2022-06-22T15:39:27Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Why Malcolm Jenkins says Eagles fans should trust Marcus Epps
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https://sports.yahoo.com/why-malcolm-jenkins-says-eagles-132743303.html?src=rss
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The Charlotte Hornets’ coaching search is a mess. The team fired James Borrego on April 22, got left at the altar by Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson last week and has now been rudderless for two months.
But there’s a solution to all of that, and she’s only 90 miles down the road in Columbia:
Dawn Staley.
Staley, who has won two NCAA women’s basketball championships at South Carolina and a bushel of gold medals in international play, would be an inspired choice to lead the Hornets as their head coach.
At 52, Staley is a leader, a former world-class point guard and a member of basketball’s hall of fame. She has deep Charlotte connections, having starred for the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting in the early 2000s back when that team was still around. And she wins, wherever she goes. For a Hornets team that hasn’t made the playoffs for six years, that’s significant.
You don’t make a hire for publicity, although it doesn’t hurt the cause. And in terms of obtaining national attention for a franchise that still struggles to get it, Michael Jordan couldn’t make a better choice outside of hiring himself. He won’t do it — Jordan was meeting with veteran NBA head coach Mike D’Antoni in person Tuesday, according to an ESPN report — but he should. When Staley did a Charlotte daily double in April by taking in a Charlotte FC and a Charlotte Hornets game on the same day, the ovation she received was deafening at both venues.
University of South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley has been at the school since 2008, winning two national titles.
Let’s state the obvious: A woman will be an NBA head coach someday.
Most people would have bet it would be Becky Hammon, who was a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach for eight years and interviewed unsuccessfully for several NBA head-coaching jobs. But Hammon recently took a WNBA head-coaching job in Las Vegas, and my money is on Staley being the one to break that barrier.
“Dawn is Philly tough,” said her former WNBA teammate, Charlotte Smith. And that’s true. Only 5-foot-6, Staley dominated larger opponents for years on the court — first at the University of Virginia, then professionally and while winning three Olympic gold medals as a player (in 1996, 2000 and 2004). Her teams at both Temple and South Carolina have taken on her persona — hard-nosed, talented and smart.
NBA coaches are pulled in a lot of different directions, but Staley’s time-management skills are ridiculously good. While still the Charlotte Sting point guard in 2004, she also played for the U.S. Olympic team and coached Temple. Not as an assistant to bring name recognition — as the head coach.
Dawn Staley poses for photographs with fans on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, during a celebration honoring the USC women’s basketball team for winning its second national championship.
I covered those Olympics for The Charlotte Observer, and remember that Staley was chosen by the 530 U.S. Olympians as the country’s flagbearer for the Opening Ceremonies. Can you imagine the respect you need to be picked for something like that?
“I was extremely nervous, but certainly proud that I had the honor of doing it,” she told me later. “It was exhilarating.”
Staley is also a pro at handling difficult situations. I covered a Sting game in 2004, just before those Olympics in Greece, and then-Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory was honoring Staley on “Olympian Sendoff” night. Three times in a row in a speech to thousands of fans, McCrory botched her name, calling her “Dawn Stanley.”
“It’s Staley! It’s Staley!” a number of fans started screaming by the third one.
But Staley handled the situation gracefully, simply giving McCrory a hug and not mentioning the mispronunciation.
“I saved him the embarrassment,” she said later.
She could save the Charlotte Hornets some embarrassment, too.
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2022-06-22T15:41:28Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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The Charlotte Hornets’ perfect solution at head coach? Dawn Staley, and here’s why
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https://sports.yahoo.com/charlotte-hornets-perfect-solution-head-135615897.html?src=rss
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Shortly after joining the women's rowing coaching staff at a deep-pocketed Power Five school, Sonya began to feel uneasy about an aspect of her new job.
She didn't like that women's rowing was required to stuff its roster with dozens of excess athletes in the fall and shed the unneeded newcomers by the spring.
At the start of each new school year, Sonya and her rowing colleagues would scour campus for tall, physically fit incoming freshmen who were interested in trying a new sport. Some years, women's rowing had to carry at least 90 athletes on its roster through its first fall competition, Sonya said. Other years, the minimum number was as high as 110. Either way, the bloated roster far exceeded the 23 athletes needed to compete at the NCAA rowing championships or the 37 required to vie for a conference title.
The purpose of bringing aboard so many novice rowers was never explicitly spelled out to Sonya, but she says, "It was very easy to see what was happening." The athletic department was padding the number of female participants it could legally claim, creating the illusion of gender equity even though many of the novice rowers would never actually wear school colors in a race.
Sonya says athletic administrators expected the women's rowing coaches to trim their roster to 60 or fewer by early in the spring semester. Only those athletes invited to continue training with the team received team gear, free meals at the school's athletic dining facility and access to athletic trainers and academic support staff. Those who quit on their own during the fall or didn't make the cut, Sonya says, "might get a T-shirt and a hat if they're lucky."
Sonya fears for her career revealing these details, so much so that Yahoo Sports is withholding the name of the school where she coached and using a pseudonym to protect her identity. And yet she feels it's important to talk openly about the tactics used to achieve Title IX compliance in hopes that it leads to future reform.
"The world needs to know what's really going on behind the scenes," Sonya says. "Even though we’re celebrating 50 years of Title IX, we still have a lot of work to do to reach true equality."
Coaches, administrators and attorneys who spoke to Yahoo Sports say the roster manipulation that Sonya described is common across college athletics. As the 50th anniversary of Title IX approaches later this week, many cash-strapped athletic departments with huge football rosters still resort to subterfuge to satisfy the federal law without eliminating men's sports or spending money to add new women's teams.
Dozens of schools take advantage of a loophole allowing them to count male practice players as female participants when reporting their numbers to the Department of Education. Last year, Penn State counted 21 male practice players across five women's sports. UConn, Michigan and TCU are among the schools whose women's basketball teams last year counted more male practice players than actual female players.
Double and triple counting female athletes who don't actually compete in more than one sport is also common. During the 2018-19 school year, Michigan State counted a combined 173 women on its cross-country, indoor and outdoor track teams. Last year, a lawsuit alleged that 66 of those athletes never participated in a competition for one of their supposed teams.
“These schools are weaseling out of their obligation to create a comparable number of opportunities for women,” said James Larew, an attorney who represented four University of Iowa swimmers in a Title IX lawsuit last year. “These aren’t bonafide varsity athletic experiences. They’re props to fill a quota.”
The difficulty in assessing Title IX compliance is that the public-facing participation data schools provide differs from what would be used to determine actual compliance with the law. It’s this public-facing data that is often the basis for lawsuits or the triggers for investigations. As a result, athletic departments have ample motivation to embellish their public-facing data in hopes of staying under the radar.
Athletic departments that resort to these sleight-of-hand tactics often go unpunished, as do those who remain out of compliance with Title IX. No institution has ever lost federal funding for failing to fully comply. Meaningful penalties typically require an alleged victim of discrimination to file a lawsuit and a court to award monetary damages or order specific remedies.
"We are so far from being where we should be because there is no oversight and no transparency," said Sue Enquist, the decorated former UCLA softball coach who now works as a Title IX consultant. "Right now, Title IX has no teeth."
Chris Ernst, headband in front, sparked a protest in 1976 at Yale that led to Title IX reform across the country. (Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The 37 words that reshaped college athletics indeed didn't eliminate sex discrimination in college athletics overnight. In reality, the struggle for gender equity was only just beginning on June 23, 1972, when Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law.
Pioneering female athletes of the 1970s encountered stark inequities in university support. In those days, women's teams often had hand-me-down gear, insufficient funding, inferior facilities and inconvenient practice times. In 1975, when Enquist became UCLA's first scholarship softball player, the Bruins didn't boast four sets of Nike uniforms and special-edition cleats like they do today. "Our game uniforms that year," Enquist said, "were the men's track and field team's old practice T-shirts."
The Rosa Parks of the Title IX movement was a Yale women's rowing captain who grew fed up with her university's neglect. Yale had dragged its feet on installing shower facilities for women at its off-campus boathouse. As a result, after drenching workouts in frigid weather, the women's rowers would shiver on the bus that took both teams back to campus while the men showered and changed.
On March 3, 1976, future Olympian Chris Ernst and 18 of her teammates marched into the office of Yale's director of women's athletics and stripped off their clothes to reveal the words "Title IX" written across their chests and backs. In the presence of a New York Times stringer, Ernst then read a statement that began: "These are the bodies that Yale is exploiting. ... On a day like today, the ice freezes on this skin while we sit for half an hour, then as the ice melts it soaks through to meet the sweat that is soaking us from the inside.”
The protest quickly got Ernst and her teammates their showers. It also drew national attention to the gender inequality in college sports and to Title IX's potential to improve those conditions.
What followed were decades of legal wrangling, policy shaping and halting progress. Especially influential was the 1979 introduction of a set of three Title IX compliance standards for athletics, any one of which an institution must meet.
The primary prong says that the number of male and female athletes at an institution has to be proportional to its enrollment. If an institution cannot achieve proportionality, it can only satisfy Title IX by showing either:
A recent "history and continuing practice of program expansion" for the underrepresented sex.
Proof that it has already fully satisfied the interests of female students. The Department of Education looks at a variety of indicators to assess that, including high school and youth participation rates in sports that a school doesn’t offer; sports offered by other area colleges and requests made by students to add sports or elevate club teams to varsity status.
In 1972, male high school athletes outnumbered their female counterparts 12.5 to 1. Today, nearly 43 percent of high school athletes are female. A similar phenomenon occurred in college athletics, where female athletes went from being outnumbered nearly 6 to 1 in 1972 to accounting for about 44 percent of college athletes today.
These days, women are running Major League front offices, coaching NBA teams and officiating the Super Bowl. The U.S. women's soccer national team negotiated equal pay with the U.S. men during the next two World Cup cycles. The best known women's college basketball stars are landing more lucrative NIL deals than top men's players.
It's remarkable growth, experts say. And yet it also serves as a distraction from how far away gender equity is.
The number of women's rowing programs at the university level has ballooned since 1993. (Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The football conundrum
In the early years of Title IX, many athletic administrators hunted for ways to sidestep the law’s most vexing issue: counterbalancing football’s 85 scholarships and 100-plus participants.
They tried introducing bills that would have made football exempt from Title IX. Those died in committees before ever reaching House or Senate floors.
They tried arguing in court that they were already meeting the interests of women who wanted to play sports. Typically, they lost those rulings.
They received a brief reprieve in 1984 when a Supreme Court ruling removed Title IX’s applicability to college athletics. That ended four years later when Congress passed a law overriding that Supreme Court decision.
Finally, when it was clear Title IX was going to have staying power, athletic administrators began considering new ways to satisfy the law while still protecting their chief revenue-producing sport. They needed a means of achieving proportionality without trimming their football rosters, slashing other men’s sports or busting their budgets adding new women’s teams.
They needed a single women’s sport that could reasonably carry big numbers.
They found their answer in women’s rowing.
In 1993, there were 30 Division I college women’s rowing teams with an average roster size of 34, per NCAA participation data. Only eight years later, there were 82 Division I teams carrying an average of 55 female rowers.
“Rowing was attractive because you could add large numbers of female athletes in a hurry,” said Janet Kittle, the former chair of the NCAA’s committee on women’s athletics when rowing became an emerging sport. “The supposed compensation for football was why so many institutions added the sport.”
As dozens of schools began elevating their women’s rowing programs from club to varsity status, the sport’s coaches made what attorney James Larew calls “a deal with the devil.”
Many enjoyed the credibility bump, newfound resources and other perks that becoming an NCAA championship sport brought. In return, they mostly stayed quiet and resisted questioning athletic department requirements that they pad their rosters by taking more walk-ons than necessary — dozens more in some cases.
For most of her career, UConn women’s rowing coach Jennifer Sanford says she was instructed to have a roster of at least 60 on the day of the Huskies’ first fall competition, the day that gender-equity reports are submitted to the Department of Education. That exceeded the number that Sanford preferred most years, but she said she “took the attitude that we’re just grateful to be here and have a rowing team.”
“I kept my head down and played the game,” Sanford told Yahoo Sports. “There were years where if I was thinking of cutting someone, I’d wait until after that first date of competition. You don’t question it because that’s what everybody does.”
When UConn announced plans to cut women’s rowing at the height of the pandemic, several of Sanford’s athletes filed a lawsuit claiming the school could not do so and remain in Title IX compliance. The federal judge said in her ruling that Sanford gave “credible testimony that she was required to keep a minimum of 60 rowers,” but UConn athletic director David Benedict insists that any assertion this has been his department’s practice during his tenure is “categorically false.”
“While I obviously cannot speak for all of the administrations during Coach Sanford’s long tenure,” the sixth-year UConn athletic director said in a statement to Yahoo Sports, “I can emphatically represent that I have never instructed a coach to artificially inflate their team’s roster size in this manner or any other. ”
In some ways, Sanford was lucky if 60 was her number. Other women’s rowing coaches at top college football schools had to inflate their rosters to twice that size in an effort to help their athletic departments satisfy Title IX.
Ohio State has reported to the Department of Education an average of 105 women’s rowing participants over the past five years. Michigan, Alabama and Clemson have averaged during that same stretch 113, 107 and 95, respectively. And those are all dwarfed by Wisconsin, which regularly exceeds 160 women’s rowers and reported a roster of over 200 in 2011 and 2012.
Since there are seldom enough qualified female rowers with high school experience to fill those oversized rosters, college coaches often hit their numbers by seeking out walk-on novices. Any woman on campus can typically come to a fall information session, though there’s a preference for freshmen who are at least 5-foot-8 with a long wingspan and prior experience playing other sports.
“No previous rowing experience is required! We teach a new group of Buckeyes to row and compete every year,” reads a post on the Ohio State athletics website ahead of this August’s information meetings.
At Texas, the bar is even lower. The online flyer for last year’s walk-on meeting reads, “If you know how to jog, you can try out for rowing.” The ability to swim apparently is optional. “You need to know how to float,” an answer in the frequently asked questions section says.
The key question is how many novice rowers at these schools actually receive the bonafide varsity athletic experience that Title IX promises.
On one hand, there are former novice rowers who didn’t pick up the sport until college yet went on to make the U.S. Olympic team. On the other hand, there are many more examples of women who were counted for Title IX purposes yet quit or got cut without ever competing in a regatta or having their photos and bios on the athletic department website.
“When someone says, ‘Oh yeah, rowing, that’s a huge sport,’ that’s because they’re thinking of the Olympic model,” attorney Felice Duffy said. “To win the NCAA championships, you only need 23 people. If the NCAA wanted to justify these large numbers, they should have gone with a model that supported them.”
Double and triple counting
Angelina Ramos stumbled into a thorny situation four years ago when she became UNLV’s new women’s cross country coach.
Her athletic director didn’t approve of how the previous regime embellished its Title IX numbers by padding the women’s cross-country roster with athletes who didn’t belong.
The federal government and the NCAA instruct schools to count cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field as three different teams despite significant roster overlap. As a result, these female athletes are potentially more valuable than their single-sport peers for Title IX counting purposes.
Schools often take advantage by loading their track rosters with more women than men and by being generous with how many female athletes they double and triple count. Duplicate counting added roughly 4,000 more to the Division I female participant tally last year than to the Division I male participant tally, according to a Yahoo Sports analysis of 2020-21 EADA data.
Forty-four Division I schools whose 2020-21 EADA participation data satisfied Title IX because of double-counting wouldn't have achieved proportionality if an unduplicated athlete count was used. The opposite was true for only five Division I schools.
For years, UNLV appears to have been among the schools who abused this rule. Former UNLV women’s track and field coach Yvonne Wade would assemble a roster of about 40 athletes. Administrators would then submit athletics participation data to the federal government triple counting many more athletes than actually competed for all three of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams.
Title IX allows athletes to be counted as participants without competing in any games or meets, but UNLV stretched that rule to its limits. During the 2009-10 school year, for example, UNLV’s online women's track roster included 41 athletes. UNLV counted 39 athletes for both women's outdoor and indoor track even though meet results indicate only 21 actually competed during the indoor season. In women's cross country that year, the discrepancy was even more glaring. UNLV counted 46 athletes even though cross-country meet results list just 11 as having competed.
The pattern of triple-counting women's track athletes continued until 2017 when UNLV hired Desiree Reed-Francois as its new athletic director. Reed-Francois, sources told Yahoo Sports, was aghast that UNLV had been counting anyone from shot putters, to triple jumpers, to sprinters as part of its women’s cross country roster.
“She was not going to accept that as a way to comply with Title IX,” Ramos said. “She wanted that addressed like ASAP.”
UNLV stopped triple-counting women’s track athletes across the board, but the school still needed to be able to report a high number of women’s cross country participants to come close to Title IX compliance. As a result, after Ramos was hired the following year, she said Reed-Francois tasked her with recruiting more non-scholarship distance runners than UNLV had ever taken before.
The target, according to Ramos, was to grow UNLV’s distance corps from 11 in 2018, to 25 by 2019 and to 35 by 2021. Ramos’ only complaint was that UNLV “did not equivalently increase our budget.”
“We were supposed to stay within the same budget and have the same number of coaches,” she said, “even though we just tripled our roster size.”
While Ramos scoured the country to find walk-on distance runners and only took those who she believed she had the potential to develop into contributors, she concedes that it was challenging to get the most out of each athlete. The coach-to-athlete ratio at practices was low. There was never enough money to fly the developmental distance runners to level-appropriate out-of-town meets. Eventually, it became difficult for some to envision a path to becoming a scorer in either cross country or track.
“You get comments from other coaches, like, ‘Oh, that person's there just to pad the GPA. They're not really in the fight for a conference title with us,’” said Ramos, now the cross country coach at Ball State. “You think that stuff doesn't get back to those athletes? Of course it does. I loved every athlete that I brought in. There's not a single athlete that I didn’t believe in. I just wish some of them had gotten more opportunities.”
It has become routine for some athletic programs to count male practice players as female participants in gender equity reports submitted to the Department of Education. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Counting men as women
Colton Purscell was struggling to earn playing time at a Division III school in Arkansas when he learned about another way to extend his basketball career.
Two former club teammates who attended Division I universities explained that they had been invited to practice with their school’s women’s basketball team.
“They told me they still get to play basketball and it’s fun,” Purscell said.
When Purscell transferred to TCU in 2014, he jumped at the chance to become a male practice player. The Frog Squad helped prepare TCU’s women’s basketball team for upcoming games by running the opponent’s plays, emulating opposing players and making practices tougher with their length, athleticism and physicality.
Purscell was surprised to learn recently that he helped TCU in another way during his two years as a male practice player. His alma mater took advantage of rules permitting it to count Purscell and other male practice players as female participants in gender equity reports submitted to the Department of Education.
TCU claimed to have 32 athletes on its women’s basketball roster last year, 14 women and 18 male practice players. The Department of Education database does not show exactly how many participants were male practice players in previous years, but TCU has claimed an average of nearly 30 women’s basketball athletes each year since 2013.
“That’s a big number,” Purscell acknowledged. “It kind of makes sense … but is it the best option? Maybe not.”
A TCU athletics spokesman did not return multiple emails from Yahoo Sports asking why the Horned Frogs needed so many male practice players. TCU claimed more male practice players as women’s basketball participants than any other Power Five school last year, but it’s important to note the Horned Frogs did not violate any federal guidelines by doing so.
The Department of Education instructs schools that “male practice players who are listed on the women’s team roster as of the day of the first scheduled contest should be counted as participants on the women’s team.” When asked by Yahoo Sports to justify this policy, the Department of Education did not respond.
Of the 65 Power Five schools, 18 counted male practice players in the 2020-21 gender equity reports they submitted to the Department of Education. Oregon, UCLA, Kansas State, Miami and Minnesota noted on their reports that they didn’t claim any male practice players last year only because COVID-19 prevented them from having any.
Among the women’s basketball powers that rely on male practice players but have never counted them on Title IX reports is Notre Dame. Retired Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, who led the Irish to nine Final Fours and the 2001 and 2018 national titles, was relieved to learn that her athletic department hasn’t resorted to that tactic.
“It seems like a way of trying to get around supporting women,” McGraw told Yahoo Sports. “It completely goes against the entire point of Title IX. It should be illegal.”
As Title IX’s 50th anniversary shines a spotlight on the ways that schools are satisfying the letter of the law but perhaps not the spirit, a growing number of women’s coaches are starting to come forward with their concerns. Those include basketball coaches unhappy with the resource gap between the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, track and field coaches tired of dubiously triple-counting female athletes and even a rowing coach who was once silent but has now found her voice.
Sanford has been vocal since UConn tried to eliminate her women’s rowing program, only to reverse course when a lawsuit revealed that the school was not in Title IX compliance. As part of the 2021 settlement, UConn awarded Sanford a three-year contract extension that she says provides her the financial security she needs to feel comfortable highlighting Title IX issues within her sport.
“It’s such a good feeling,” she says, “to be able to speak up for what’s right.”
Henry Bushnell contributed to this story.
High school basketball star Jada Williams is among a new wave of female athletes who are benefiting in the new NIL compensation era.
Title IX opened the door in 1972, but equity was not achieved with its passing. Now, 50 years later, we must keep pushing for equity in sports.
Fifty years ago, Title IX changed the landscape for women across the United States. To celebrate the landmark civil rights law, here are nine (or so) who paved the way for Title IX and have championed its transformative legacy,
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2022-06-22T16:07:59Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Title IX: Compliance often comes down to fuzzy math
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According to multiple players interviewed by Golf Digest after a mandatory player's meeting at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., the site of this week's Traveler's Championship, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told the assemblage that the events will be spread out over the season — which also will return to a calendar year format after the Tour went to a wraparound FedEx Cup schedule in 2013 that carried over to the next season.
Monahan is expected to release additional details at a news conference at River Highlands on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Golf Digest reported that players outside the top-50 will still have a series of Fall events that will give them a chance to retain their Tour cards or improve their status for the next season. It was unclear how that will affect current Fall events, such as the RSM Classic at the Sea Island Club in St. Simons Island, Ga., and tournaments in Houston, Las Vegas, Napa, Calif., and Jackson, Miss. — especially in terms of whether the winners will continue to receive invitations to the Masters.
The eight-event series is similar in some ways to LIV Golf, the breakaway tour that began two weeks ago and is financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, with the exception that the Tour’s events will be 72 holes, while LIV Golf is 54 holes.
• Only the top-70 players on the points list will be eligible for the FedEx playoffs, cutting the current number from 125. The playoffs will begin at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
• The top 50 on the points list after the first event will move on to the BMW Championship and also become eligible for three of the limited-field tournaments in the fall, which will be played outside the U.S.
• The top-30 in points after BMW will qualify for the Tour Championship.
• The fall would be used for players beyond 70th to secure cards for the following year, although AP research showed most inside the top 100 would be safe.
Nearly two dozen PGA Tour players either competed in the first LIV Golf event in London (such as Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Dustin Johnson and Charl Schwartzel, who won the first tournament) or have since announced their intention to play (Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer and Rickie Fowler), with reports that Brooks Koepka's announcement to play LIV Golf will come any day.
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2022-06-22T16:08:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Golf Digest report: PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan informs players of eight-tournament series for top-50 on FedEx Cup
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The Minnesota Vikings could be looking to beef up their defensive front even more with a report surfacing of the team reaching out to three-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
At first, the Las Vegas Raiders seemed to be the runaway favorites to land the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, but the Vikings are seemingly a surprise team that have suddenly emerged as a potential suitor, per Tyler Dragon of USA TODAY.
Not only have the Vikings reached out to Suh, but according to Dragon, the team has had multiple conversations with him. So it would seem like there’s serious interest there to potentially get a deal done.
Granted, it’s a two-way street, and there’s no certainty how close Minnesota is in comparison to Las Vegas on a contract coming together.
There is mutual interest between the Raiders and Ndamukong Suh, per a source. Another team to keep an eye on is the Vikings. The Raiders and Vikings have both had multiple conversations with the free-agent DT.
Even at 35 years old. Suh has still proven himself to be a productive player. He accumulated 27 tackles, six sacks and one fumble recovery last season with the Bucs.
The Vikings showing interest in him is proof that first-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is acting with a real sense of urgency in what is being dubbed as a win-now season.
Suh working in with Dalvin Tomlinson and Harrison Phillips is a terrifying possibility for opposing offenses that will already have to deal with Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith on the edges.
It would also be a step in the right direction for a team desperately looking to regain defensive relevance.
The Raiders have some competition for Ndamukong Suh’s services in 2022. According to Tyler Dragon of USA TODAY, Suh has also drawn interest from the Vikings. Dragon also notes the defensive tackle has had multiple conversations with both Las Vegas and Minnesota. But, Dragon reports, there’s mutual interest between the Raiders and Suh. Suh’s interest [more]
Running back Dalvin Cook is one of many Vikings getting used to life with a new head coach this offseason and Kevin O’Connell’s arrival has led to a lot of speculation about how the team’s offense will change in 2022. One change that could be in the works is where Cook will line up on [more]
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2022-06-22T16:08:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Vikings reportedly in the mix to land former Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh
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mountainwestwire
The Mountain West Conference for NCAA football will undergo drastic changes after the upcoming 2022 season.
In May, the conference announced that they’ll be scrapping the two-division format starting in the 2023 season. The conference is currently split into two divisions — the “Mountain” and the “West” divisions. The Mountain Division consists of Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming. The West Division features Fresno State, Hawaiʻi, Nevada, UNLV, San Diego and San Jose State.
Under the new format, the two teams with the highest winning percentage in the Mountain West will play for the conference championship.
“Our membership has been working on concepts since last summer, as part of our strategic planning for the future of the Mountain West,” Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said following the announcement. “A single-division approach provides maximum flexibility to adapt the Conference schedule as the landscape continues to evolve, while also allowing member institutions to play each other more frequently.”
At a later date, the Mountain West Conference will announce all of the details regarding a schedule model as well as tie breaking procedures.
With college football season inching closer, now is a good time for fans to check out the season betting odds at the sportsbooks in different states. For instance, new customers in The Copper State can take advantage of the many Arizona sportsbook promo codes.
There, Caesars is offering customers a risk-free bet of up to $1,500, and BetMGM is offering a risk-free wager of up to $1,000. Fubo is also offering a $1,000 risk-free bet plus one free month of fuboTV.
Sep 18, 2021; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos linebacker DJ Schramm (52) leads the team out prior to the first half of play versus the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier this month, DraftKings released the win totals and lines for each of the 12 Mountain West Conference teams. The Boise State Broncos lead the way with 9.5 wins.
Utah State won the 2021 Mountain West Conference Championship Game last season, soundly defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 46-13. Since the current format was introduced in 2013, the Broncos have won the most conference championships (2014, 2017 and 2019).
The 2022 Mountain West Conference games will commence on Aug. 27. There are four games scheduled for that date: UConn at Utah State, Wyoming at Illinois, Vanderbilt at Hawaii and Nevada at New Mexico State.
The final slate of regular season games before the championship game will run on Nov. 26: Air Force at San Diego State, New Mexico at Colorado State, Utah State at Boise State, Wyoming at Fresno State, Hawai’i at San Jose State and Nevada at UNLV. The Conference Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3.
Following The Footsteps Of Pac-12
The major announcement from the Mountain West Conference came just days after the Pac-12 Conference announced that they too were getting rid of the divisional format.
The change from Pac-12 was implemented after the NCAA Division 1 Council decided to ease restrictions regarding the conference championship game participants. The voting decision paved the way for each conference to come up with their own ways of deciding who would play in their respective championship games.
Unlike the Mountain West Conference, however, the drastic changes for the Pac-12 will take place immediately. Beginning this upcoming season, there will be no more divisional alignment for the Pac-12 Conference. And like the Mountain West, the conference title game will be played by the two teams with the best winning percentage.
The Pac-12 featured the “North Division”, which consisted of California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington State. The “South” division featured Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, UCLA and USC.
Utah won the final Pac-12 Championship Game under the divisional format, defeating Oregon 38-10 in the big game.
The 2022 Pac-12 season will open up on Sept. 1, with Northern Arizona visiting the inner-state rival Arizona State (10:00 p.m. EST). On Friday, the Colorado Buffaloes will play host to the TCU Horned Frogs (10:00 p.m. EST).
One game you’ll want to circle on your calendar: The Oregon Ducks’ road game against the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 3 (3:30 p.m. EST).
Sept. 3 will also see UCLA host Bowling Green, Arizona at San Diego State, UC Davis at California, Rice at USC, Utah at Florida, Colgate at Stanford, Idaho at Washington State, Boise State at Oregon State and Kent State at Washington.
The final slate of regular season games will run on the Nov. 25-26 weekend. 2022 Pac-12 season will conclude on Dec. 2, with the championship game taking place at Allegiant Stadium (home of the Las Vegas Raiders) in Paradise, Nevada.
In her fifth year at the helm of Beaver Area's softball program, head coach Amy Haggart added another WPIAL title to her decorated resume.
Pennsylvania Football: Top Returning Players - WPIAL A Big Seven
World's Strongest Man competitor Rob Kearney challenged CrossFit athletes Mal O'Brien and Jake Marconi to a deadlift ladder workout on Mat Fraser's channel.
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2022-06-22T16:16:16Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 Will Mark The Last Season Of Divisional Alignment For Mountain West Conference
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The seat vacated by Kay Adams on the popular NFL Network show “Good Morning Football,” will be filled by Jamie Erdahl.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported Tuesday that the CBS host and sideline reporter since 2014 will be stepping onto the panel, joining Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt & Co.
Most recently, she has been a sideline reporter for the network’s SEC Game of the Week in football, and also worked the sidelines for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Adams left “Good Morning Football” this past May after having been the host of the program since its inception in 2016.
Bruins release 2022 Development Camp schedule
At a time when the team's future seems uncertain, the Bruins Development Camp in July will give a glimpse into the potential future stars of the Boston Bruins.
The Mountain West Conference for NCAA football will undergo drastic changes after the upcoming 2022 season. In May, the conference announced that they'll be scrapping the two-division format starting in the 2023 season. The conference is currently ...
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2022-06-22T17:42:04Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jamie Erdahl replacing Kay Adams on ‘Good Morning Football’
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Jorge Masvidal is still gunning for a fight with Conor McGregor.
Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) and McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) have traded barbs on numerous occasions and “Gamebred” thinks a fight between them would be the biggest in UFC history.
McGregor is yet to return from his leg break which he suffered in July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, but is clearly not short of options for his comeback. Masvidal, who’s dropped his past three in a row, sees McGregor as easy money.
“Before this guy overdoses on cocaine and then the fight never happens and I don’t get to make all that easy money, I just want to break Conor’s face,” Masvidal said in an interview with BLOCK ASSET. “Let’s get that paycheck, let’s get that out of the way, sell the most pay-per-views ever before this guy does harm to himself or somebody else, and I just like boom, get that check real quick cause I got kids, right? I need the f*cking money.”
If not McGregor, Masvidal said he’s down to fight Gilbert Burns, who recently issues a respectful callout.
“Also, if I can’t get Conor I’m thinking probably Gilbert,” Masvidal said. “Gilbert’s a good fight for me. I like him as a fighter because he comes to fight. He comes in to either submit a guy or knock a guy the f*ck out. We’re gonna give the fans a f*cking bloody fight if that goes down.”
Masvidal is coming off a decision loss to arch rival Colby Covington at UFC 272 in March, which has spilt over to after the fight. Masvidal is facing charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief after an alleged assault of Covington outside a Miami steakhouse on March 23 and is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 31.
The former two-time title challenger is hoping he can compete before the end of the year.
“I would love to be there in December,” Masvidal said. “It’s a strong possibility, November-December. Definitely going to fight this year no matter what. I don’t want to talk too much about it, but as you know, I got some little problems and stuff that I got to deal with, but I’m gonna be in there. I’m in it to win it. I’m at the gym, I’m training, I’m working on new things, I’m working on all things.”
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2022-06-22T17:42:11Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Jorge Masvidal wants to break Conor McGregor’s face before he ‘overdoses on cocaine’
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WATCH: Moeller football talent includes Ohio's top running back recruit
Moeller football has a treasure trove of Division I talent including Ohio's top running back recruit, Jordan Marshall.
Teeing it up in one U.S. Open is challenging. Jim Furyk will complete the daunting USGA double this week. The 2003 U.S. Open winner will follow an abbreviated appearance at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, with defense of his title at the 42nd U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley Country Club's Old Course.
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2022-06-22T17:42:23Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steelers QB Kenny Pickett last unsigned 1st-round pick
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https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-qb-kenny-pickett-last-164815965.html?src=rss
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Baseball umpire from the United States
There's still an actual umpire behind the plate, but they're told whether the pitch is a ball or strike with a signal.
This genius TikTok product scientifically knows when you need to apply sunscreen
It's hard to avoid the skin-damaging sun during the summer. Here’s a way you can remember to protect your skin and reapply sunscreen all season long.
White Plains native and former Stepinac and Duke standout A.J. Griffin is a projected lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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2022-06-22T17:42:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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White Sox on winning end of one of MLB's worst-called games in 2022
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees and Aaron Judge are not going to get an answer about his 2022 contract on Wednesday, at least not from an arbitrator. Despite reports earlier this season that the sides would meet with the arbitrator on June 22, the hearing is now scheduled for Friday.
Before the season started, Judge turned down a contract extension offer that would have been worth over $230 million and would have included this season. The slugger initially set the opening-day deadline for negotiations on an extension and a 2022 contract. He and the team were $4 million off when they traded numbers to try to avoid arbitration. Because of the owners’ lockout, the arbitration process went into the season. Judge’s hearing is the last to be heard, according to a source.
The three-time All-Star slashed .287/.373/.544 with a .916 OPS, 39 homers and 93 RBIs in 148 games in 2021 According to Baseball Savant, Judge was among the league leaders in average exit velocity (95.8 miles per hour), max exit velo (119) and hard-hit percentage (58.4%). He led the Yankees in WAR (5.4) this season.
Overall, his six years in the big leagues has been exceptional, averaging .276/.386/.553 and a .940 OPS. He’s the 2017 Rookie of the Year, runner up to Jose Altuve in that same season and a Home Run Derby champion.
Knoxville Biz Ticker: Currents: Cirrus Aircraft delivers first United Aviate Academy Training aircraft
The Diamondbacks have decided to use a fifth starter this weekend, and left-hander Dallas Keuchel appears to be under consideration.
Archer-Daniels-Midland, W. R. Berkley, Marathon Petroleum, Continental Resources and Aspen Technology have been included in this Analyst Blog.
During the June 19 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Marlo Hampton shared new details about her charity, Glam It Up. "My foundation, Glam It Up, started off [in] 2011 as an initiative," Marlo said in an episode interview. "It got big — it got so successful and we kept having events. I'm like, "Hey, we gonna make this a nonprofit. We're gonna make this big and this is something I'm gonna do for the rest of my life.'" While speaking at The Ultimate Women's Expo in Atlanta during the episo
All remains quiet in the Atlantic Basin with no development expected in the next 2-5 days. The National Hurricane Center has issued it's last advisory on Post Tropical Blas which is now a remnant low well off the Baja Peninsula Coast. Tropical Depression Celia is expected to strengthen over the next few days, however it is moving west with no impacts to land.
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2022-06-22T17:42:36Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's arbitration hearing rescheduled for Friday
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The Buffalo Bills’ defensive line is highlighted by Von Miller, some young players on the edge with him like Greg Rousseau, and an emerging Ed Oliver.
But DaQuan Jones could be the most important factor of them all. Like Miller, he joined the Bills via free agency this spring.
The 30-year-old isn’t a flashy guy in the trenches like the previously mentioned ones. Think more like Star Lotulelei.
The Bills let Lotulelei go earlier this offseason. He was the under-the-radar player in the middle often defended by teammates and coaches as a space-eating player that allows others to make plays.
That’s now Jones.
In order to handle that responsibility, Jones doesn’t worry about the physical parts of the game. He revealed that being in the right place at the right time is what it’s about.
“It’s all mental. You get that mindset of knowing what you have to do. Stopping the run is all mental,” Jones told the Buffalo News. “You can try to be the most physical person in the room and try to go out there and bang, bang, bang. But if you don’t know what’s coming and how to stop it, it’s not going to matter.”
In 2021, the Bills defense ranked first in overall defense. The big reason for that was their top-ranked pass unit.
Buffalo’s run defense was middle of the pack at 13th. Games against the New England Patriots in tornado winds and the Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor were a few examples of the Bills struggling against the run on defense.
Not to mention another domination from the Tennessee Titans and Derrick Henry, who Buffalo faces again next season like the Patriots.
Turning this all around won’t only fall on Jones in the middle, but he’ll play a factor.
Anticipation for Jones is high from at least one person already: Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. He sees a place for Jones on the defensive front with the likes of Oliver and Jordan Phillips en route.
“Being able to get a guy like DaQuan Jones, I mean, having him in there lining up with Ed and Jordan, I think it bodes well for what we’re trying to do up front,” Frazier said via video conference.
Along with Jones and others on the D-line, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will also be under the microscope against the run. With the additions in the secondary the Bills made, it’s expected that side of things defensively will continue to churn out production.
It could fall onto the run defense to push the Bills to the levels they want to go in 2022.
In re-draft of 2019 NFL draft, Bills take then-popular pick
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2022-06-22T17:43:46Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Bills’ DaQuan Jones on run-stuffing role: ‘It’s all mental’
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When the New York Giants selected tight end Daniel Bellinger in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, many felt it was a bit of a reach. That was a common theme for most of the team’s mid-round picks.
However, throughout OTAs and minicamp, it quickly became apparent what the Giants saw in Bellinger. Not only was he studious, intelligent and sound as a blocker, he also possesses solid hands and quickly developed as a receiver.
Bellinger is also tough as nails, which is why Brady Hoke originally tried to recruit him as a defensive player.
“I think No. 1, his toughness,” Hoke told The Giants Huddle podcast. “We pride ourselves about being tough and physical as a football team on both sides of the ball and the kicking game.
“I tried recruiting him on the defensive side of the ball — part of that was the toughness that he has, his skillset as far as fundamentally and [the] techniques of blocking at the point of attack. We were a Big 12 personnel team, and he fit everything we needed from him, whether it be on the line or off the line.”
Hoke believes that Bellinger is just now scratching the surface of his receiving ability. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, he’s a big target and his toughness gives him an added edge.
“No. 1, it comes down to competitiveness and the competitor running correct routes, your release from the line of scrimmage,” said Hoke. “I think all of those things are things that goes back to Dan and Dan’s No. 1 leadership, his expectations and standards, that he has for himself. I’ve been coaching for a long time, and he’s one of those guys that you wish you had more of them over the years…
“He’s a competitor. He’s going to be physical. He’s going to have a mindset that those 50-50 balls, whatever you want to call them, he’s going to fight like hell to come down with the football.”
The Giants are thin at tight end and could really benefit from Bellinger’s potential emergence. He appears to be the odds-on favorite to start the season and is poised to contribute in a number of ways.
Giants' Darius Slayton entering prove-it year in 2022
I Think You Should Leave broke its rules against improvisation for Bob Odenkirk
The basic premise of Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin’s Netflix comedy show I Think You Should Leave is that each sketch is about—at the risk of being overly reductive—one weird guy who does weird stuff in an otherwise normal universe. A key to making that work is the writing for each sketch, which (at its best) hits on a very specific version of heightened weirdness that drifts between being vaguely familiar and so dramatically unhinged that there’s no way to know how anyone in this world is going t
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2022-06-22T17:43:52Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Brady Hoke: Daniel Bellinger will bring unparalleled toughness to Giants
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The New England Patriots knew they needed to add depth at the cornerback position following the departure of J.C. Jackson.
Bill Belichick didn’t go early in the draft, but he did select Marcus Jones in the third round and Jack Jones in the fourth round. Marcus is a utility player out of Houston that can do many different things on the field, ranging from punt returns to even playing some offense. Jack is a gritty cornerback that would’ve likely had a higher draft stock without some of his past off-field issues.
Jack played for two seasons at USC and eventually left after having academic issues and being arrested for breaking into a Panda Express. He later went to Arizona State and did a little better, but was suspended after a fight in practice.
His agent sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams with the ways that he will prevent off-field issues going forward. Belichick bought in and now has a solid cornerback from the lower rounds of the draft.
Herm Edwards was Jack’s college coach and he discussed his former cornerback while talking with ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“It’s a good spot for him, as there will be people there to keep the thumb on him,” Edwards said. “I told him, ‘You’re at a place now where you have to check all the boxes.’ He’s been a handful, but he’s a good kid. Loves football. Loves competing. Once he’s in the building, on the field, he’s all about football now.”
Jack spent some time in mandatory minicamp competing with the starters alongside Jalen Mills. He has real potential to land in the starting lineup as a rookie.
If Jack can avoid off-field issues, he could be a steal for the Patriots in the fourth round.
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2022-06-22T17:44:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Despite being ‘a handful,’ Herm Edwards says Jack Jones is in good spot with Patriots
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https://sports.yahoo.com/despite-being-handful-herm-edwards-151852151.html?src=rss
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Pat Patriot is returning to the field.
The New England Patriots unveiled throwback uniforms for the 2022 season on Wednesday, highlighting the return of the red “Pat Patriot” uniforms that the organization used for decades.
This fall, the throwbacks are making a comeback.
📷: https://t.co/lwePnbnpKE
In a piece posted on the team’s website, current players Kendrick Bourne, David Andrews, Matthew Judon and Matthew Slater modeled the red throwback uniforms, which included the red jersey with white and blue shoulder stripes, white pants with red and blue stripes, and the white helmet with the throwback “Pat Patriot” logo.
The Patriots used this uniform combination from 1961 up until 1992, before changing to the design lovingly referred to in the Boston area as the “Flying Elvis.” New England used the red throwbacks on a few occasions, starting with a 2002 Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.
When the NFL instituted a “one shell” rule in 2013, forcing teams to use only one helmet in a given season, the team was forced to put the Pat Patriot uniforms on the shelf. But with the league repealing that decision for the upcoming season, Pat Patriot has been cleared to return to the field.
As of now, no word on if quarterback Mac Jones will sport the neckroll in honor of former quarterback Steve Grogan.
#Bills' DaQuan Jones on run-stuffing role: 'It's all mental'
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2022-06-22T17:44:24Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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New England Patriots unveil throwback uniforms for 2022 season
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Way back in 1977, the final year in which NFL teams played a 14-game schedule, seven different running backs handled at least 300 touches. Lydell Mitchell of the Baltimore Colts led the league with 372, averaging 26.6 per game.
In 2021, the first year in which teams played a 17-game regular season, only four running backs reached 300 touches, led by Najee Harris at 381 (22.4 per week).
During the intervening years, we collectively witnessed — and eventually developed fantasy strategies in response to — something like a golden age of high-volume running backs. Between 1994 and 2007, 10 or more NFL players topped 300 touches each year, reaching a peak of 19 in 2000. (Nineteen! There haven't been 19 individual 300-touch seasons over the past three years combined.)
Back in the day, when you and all your league-mates opened your drafts with a pair of running backs in the first two rounds, followed by another pair in rounds 3-5, you weren't necessarily making some colossal mistake. Rather, you were making a reasonable choice given the availability and importance of every-down backs.
And then, of course, our dissatisfaction with RB-heavy drafting led to the increased popularity of PPR scoring and its various horrors, as we've previously discussed. That was unfortunate. However, today's purpose isn't to revisit old arguments about ridiculous scoring setups. Instead, our simple goal is to reach those of you who are still — despite all the available data and multi-year trends — firmly dedicated to RB hoarding in your drafts, regardless of format. It's always been a bad approach in full-PPR; it's become almost indefensible in standard-scoring leagues as well.
Of the 51 players who eclipsed 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season, 26 of them were actually non-running backs. Jonathan Taylor may have led the NFL in total yards (2,171), but the guys who finished second, third, fifth, seventh and ninth were all wide receivers. Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews finished 12th.
Jonathan Taylor led the league in yards in 2021, and it made him a fantasy superstar. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
We are simply no longer managing our fantasy teams at a time when RBs dominate the yardage leaderboard.
Running backs aren't the end-all, be-all anymore
If you've been a football fan since the prime years of Lydell Mitchell, then you've been around long enough to see the league's run-pass ratio flip dramatically. Back in '77, an average team attempted just 25.0 passes per game and ran the ball 37.4 times. Last season, NFL teams put the ball in the air 34.4 times per game while averaging 26.6 rush attempts. The final year in which carries outnumbered passes league-wide was 1983 — which also happened to be the season in which John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly were drafted.
Only three teams finished with more rush attempts than passes last year: Tennessee, Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Barring some unimaginable shift in offensive philosophy across the league, we are never going back to run-heavy offense. In fact, we're probably never going back to what many people think of as run-pass balance. As Mike Leach once astutely observed, "There's nothing balanced about 50 percent run and 50 percent pass, because that's 50 percent stupid." And, clearly, there's nothing particularly balanced about an offensive system designed to feed the ball to a single player 300-plus times.
If absolutely everything went according to the preseason script for every franchise in 2022 — no injuries, no suspensions, no disappointments — how many teams would even produce a 300-touch back? The full list probably looks something like this:
Indianapolis Colts, Jonathan Taylor
Minnesota Vikings, Dalvin Cook
Carolina Panthers, Christian McCaffrey
Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry
Pittsburgh Steelers, Najee Harris
Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Mixon
New Orleans Saints, Alvin Kamara
New York Giants, Saquon Barkley
Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott
Chicago Bears, David Montgomery
Los Angeles Rams, Cam Akers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Leonard Fournette
We're being generous with a few of those names, too.
Austin Ekeler just missed the cut, because he was shy of the necessary pace last season in a year in which everything went as well as anyone could have expected. Nick Chubb continues to have a Kareem Hunt problem. Josh Jacobs and Antonio Gibson are expected to find themselves in backfield committees. If either Javonte Williams or Melvin Gordon were to suffer an injury in Denver, then the other guy would be a strong candidate for a huge workload. But, again, we're thinking of best-case scenarios for each team.
So we're looking at no more than a dozen backs who could possibly have shots at full, featured workloads, assuming no health or discipline complications. It should go without saying, however, that there are definitely injuries and other issues ahead for several of these players. Kamara could be facing a suspension following his arrest in February. The only guys on the above list who didn't miss a game last year were Taylor, Harris and Zeke (who was widely viewed as a disappointment, a player in decline). Three of the players above — Henry, McCaffrey and Akers — appeared in less than half of their team's games.
The most likely outcome, once again, is that we're going to see no more than 4-6 running backs reach a workload level that used to seem thoroughly unspectacular. Fred Taylor handled 300 or more touches in four of his first six pro seasons — with a high of 393 in 2003 — and people referred to him as "Fragile Fred." (Easily the most disrespectful and unwarranted nickname of the era. Taylor was phenomenal.)
In the current era, if you're still chasing running backs with every early draft pick, then you're ignoring some very basic and obvious changes in the game.
Your odds of landing a high-volume every-down back with any pick in any round have never been worse.
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2022-06-22T17:44:30Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Fantasy Football: Here's why the workhorse RB is disappearing
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Wide receiver Terrace Marshall was a Panthers second-round pick last year, but he didn’t wind up making a big impact on the offense as a rookie. Marshall appeared in 13 games and caught 17 passes for 138 yards while playing on just under half of the team’s offensive snaps. Only three of those catches came [more]
UD Arena to host The Basketball Tournament bracket reveal watch party today
A watch party will be held at the University of Dayton arena today as The Basketball Tournament announces its bracket for the upcoming tournament.
Whit Merrifield led off the 11th inning with an RBI double, and the Royals overcame Ohtani's historic performance for a 12-11 victory over the Angels.
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2022-06-22T17:44:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Five takeaways from Oversight Committee hearing: Roger Goodell acknowledges Commanders' 'unacceptable' culture
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“This is just an amazing honor. Shoutout to my team, I couldn’t have done it without everyone doing their job on the field.” @Chrisodom98 reacts to winning the Inaugural Defensive Player of the Year award 🎲❤️ pic.twitter.com/68mUT5GBSK
The Steelers have not officially named a starting quarterback for the 2022 season, but they know that it won’t be Ben Roethlisberger and that knowledge alone means head coach Mike Tomlin is approaching this year very differently than he has any other in his tenure. During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Tomlin said that [more]
EA Sports NCAA Football was last released in 2013. Let's look at the Hawkeyes who didn't get a game that would be the most fun to play with.
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2022-06-22T17:44:43Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Former Packers OLB Chris Odom wins USFL Defensive Player of the Year
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The New York Giants are heading into the 2022 season with fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones under center. It is reportedly his last chance to display that he was worth the sixth overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft.
Many believe the Giants are wasting their time with Jones and should have moved on. Others see Jones as a player who is about to pop and become a star.
In recent ranking of the “NFL’s Seven Worst Veteran Starting Quarterbacks Entering the 2022 Season” from Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report, Jones comes in at No. 5.
There hasn’t been a lot to point toward in favor of Jones becoming an average passer beyond a few flashes. His rookie touchdown rate of 5.2 percent helped build optimism he could overcome the negative plays so long as he created more positive plays, like an early-career Carson Wentz or Jameis Winston. But his touchdown rate has plummeted to 2.5 and 2.8 percent over the last two years.
Wharton also points out that while Jones has reduced his turnovers, he still remains at the bottom of the league in yards per completion and completion percentage, even though he predominantly throws short passes.
New head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, two men who have been partly responsible for the success of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, along with a revamped offensive line should send Jones into an upward trajectory this year, but his track record could be too difficult to overcome.
“He has dealt with bad luck around him as much as any quarterback since he entered the NFL,” writes Wharton. “However, his baseline skill set is still low, so there needs to be a blend of self-improvement and better infrastructure for Jones to be an option for the Giants in 2023 and beyond.”
Florida's refusal to pre-order COVID vaccines for children five and under more right-wing cultural war than support of parental rights
Natalie Portman Keeps Her 2 Kids, Aleph and Amalia, Out of the Limelight
Image Source: Getty / Axelle / Bauer-Griffin Natalie Portman is best known for her iconic movie roles - which include Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars franchise and Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - but at home, the "Thor: Love and Thunder" star is mom to two kids, Aleph Portman-Millepied and Amalia Millepied, both of whom she keeps out of the spotlight. Portman shares her two children with dancer husband Benjamin Millepied, whom she married in an intimate outdoor celebration in Big S
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2022-06-22T17:45:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Giants’ Daniel Jones named one of NFL’s worst starting QBs entering 2022
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The Packers still have plenty of young talent on the roster besides Gary and Alexander.
Here’s a breakdown of the Packers’ five best players under the age of 25 entering the 2022 season:
(Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
C Josh Myers (23): He was the Week 1 starter at center as a rookie but missed a big chunk of the season with a knee injury. He’s a legitimate breakout candidate in Year 2.
LB Quay Walker (22): There’s a great chance he’ll be the starter next to All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell come Week 1.
QB Jordan Love (23): The talent is there, and he’s now in Year 3 behind Aaron Rodgers. Maybe it’ll finally come together this summer and show during the preseason.
DL Devonte Wyatt (24): He’s physically ready to step onto an NFL field and play a lot of snaps as a 24-year-old rookie from Georgia’s powerhouse program.
OL Royce Newman (23): He was a 16-game starter at right guard as a rookie and added weight this offseason to handle playing inside at a higher level.
No. 5: OL Jon Runyan Jr.
Runyan, a sixth-round pick in 2020, took over the starting job at left guard in Week 2 of last season and never gave it back. Counting the postseason, he played over 1,100 total snaps and allowed just 21 total pressures (two sacks) and committed just one penalty, per Pro Football Focus. Another jump in development in Year 3 could turn Runyan into one of the NFL’s best young guards. He looks like a long-term starter at either guard position.
No. 4: CB Eric Stokes
Stokes didn’t start in Week 1 of his rookie season but he was immediately thrown into the fire as a No. 1 cornerback when Jaire Alexander went down with a significant shoulder injury in September of last year. The Packers’ top pick in 2021 responded to the challenge. He was targeted 100 times but allowed just 6.1 yards per target and a passer rating of 79.1, per Pro Football Focus. The rookie played under control and with confidence, and his elite speed helped erase mistakes. Teams will be targeting him again in volume with Alexander back in 2022, but Stokes looks up to the challenge. His length and athleticism give him the profile of an elite corner.
No. 3: S Darnell Savage
Savage took a step backward during his first season in Joe Barry’s defense, but he’s flashed elite ability in the recent past and is now going into his fourth season as a starter in Green Bay. There’s a chance he’ll break out again (after playing like one of the best safeties in football over the second half of the 2020 season) during the 2022 season, especially if he’s more confident, playing faster and completing more plays in his second year in the scheme. Few safeties can match Savage’s athletic ability. He now just needs correct some of the small details and put it all together. Development as a young player at safety can sometimes be a rollercoaster ride (see: Nick Collins). The Packers will be elite in the secondary if Savage can bounce back and play like he did to end 2020.
No. 2: RB A.J. Dillon
The 247-pound Dillon broke out as one of the most intimidating and successful runners in football during his second season. The numbers weren’t overwhelming in 2021, but Dillon led the Packers in rushing (803 yards), caught 34 of 37 targets in the passing game and finished with 1,116 total yards and seven scores. He consistently churned out productive runs while wearing out defenses late in games. Expect more opportunity and more production in 2022. The Packers lost weapons on offense and will need players like Dillon to do more, meaning he should get more carries as a runner and more targets in the passing game. Dillon approaching 1,250 total yards and scoring 10 or more touchdowns wouldn’t be a surprise in Year 3. He’s the total package at running back.
No. 1: OLB Rashan Gary
The obvious pick for No. 1. Gary, the 12th overall pick in 2019, continued his ascent as a player with a breakout 2021 season. As a first-time full-time player, Gary produced 81 total pressures (third-most among edge rushers) and led the Packers with 9.5 sacks. He was the rare combo of productive and efficient as a rusher. Still only 24, Gary represents what every team wants at edge rusher: young and rapidly improving with elite athleticism and elite effort. He could be a star in the NFL for a long time.
Who is 25 or 26 years old?
Much of the team’s top talent is just reaching their prime years. The following players on the Packers roster are 25 or 26 years old:
CB Jaire Alexander (25)
DL Kenny Clark (26)
OL Elgton Jenkins (26)
CB Rasul Douglas (26)
WR Allen Lazard (26)
Wisconsin lands it’s eleventh commitment in the 2023 recruiting class:
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2022-06-22T17:45:06Z
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Green Bay Packers’ 5 best players under 25 years old entering 2022
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The Steelers have not officially named a starting quarterback for the 2022 season, but they know that it won’t be Ben Roethlisberger and that knowledge alone means head coach Mike Tomlin is approaching this year very differently than he has any other in his tenure.
During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Tomlin said that watching a quarterback with Roethlisberger’s talent “messes up your perception of what’s regular and what’s not” at the position and realizes that he enjoyed the comfort that came with that kind of consistency. Mitch Trubkisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph don’t bring the same comfort, but Tomlin said that he is “excited about being uncomfortable” as the team gets ready for the season.
“I just view the challenges of what lies ahead in that way,” Tomlin said, via Behind the Steel Curtain. “First of all, I’m looking forward to the anxiety associated with that uncertainty. To have to stand and deliver, to live out what we believe in — the standard is the standard. It’s like McDonald’s. You know what a No. 1 is. It doesn’t matter what corner of the globe, a No. 1 is a No. 1, and that’s what I want Pittsburgh Steelers football to be. So it doesn’t matter who puts their hands underneath the center, as far as I’m concerned. But, with all that cool stuff being said, it’s scary. But exciting.”
Roethlisberger’s last few seasons put some distance between the heights of his Steelers tenure and it’s final days, but the standard was a high one for nearly two decades and there’s no guarantees that the team will reach even his lower level when they take the field this fall. That’s a new feeling in Pittsburgh and the team’s results will likely determine how long Tomlin finds it an exciting one.
Mike Tomlin “excited about being uncomfortable” about quarterback originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
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2022-06-22T17:45:19Z
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Mike Tomlin “excited about being uncomfortable” about quarterback
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The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of new faces in the wide receiver room this offseason.
They’ve created a ton of competition in the wake of the Tyreek Hill trade, and with over 2,000 receiver snaps from last season lost, they’re going to need some players to emerge from that competition. One player who is seeing a bit of hype recently is a reserve/future signing that landed with the team back in February.
Responding to a tweet from former NFL QB Robert Griffin III about the depth of the Chiefs’ WR unit, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager named Justin Watson as “the one to watch.”
Watson, 84. He’s the one to watch.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) June 21, 2022
A fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of the University of Pennsylvania, Watson spent the past four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At Penn, Watson was a record-setting receiver. He set school records for receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33), and all-purpose yards (4,116). He also set Ivy League records for most 100-Yard Games (19), most consecutive games with a receiving touchdown (10) and most consecutive games with a reception (40).
In the NFL with the Bucs, Watson has recorded just 23 career catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns over his four seasons. He played 666 snaps on special teams compared to 461 snaps on offense during his time in the NFL. He was due for a big 2021 NFL season, but offseason knee surgery ended his year before it really got off the ground. It also ended his tenure with the Buccaneers.
So where exactly is the hype for Watson coming from with Schrager’s comment? It could be the fact that back in OTAs, when Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was asked to name a player who impressed him out of the new crop of receivers, Watson was the player he named.
“Watson has been a pleasant surprise,” Mahomes said. “That dude can roll. I remember he came down to Texas and I threw with him the first day. I called (Brett) Veach and I was like, “Wait, how fast is this guy?” Because he was running so fast that I was late on my throws. So he’s got out here these first two days and had two great days.”
It could also be the fact that Schrager is pretty plugged in with Kansas City. He was onto Trey Smith’s meteoric rise during the 2022 offseason in which the former Tennessee Volunteer became the starting right guard for the Chiefs. He could very well be onto something similar with Watson, who has notably taken some first-team repetitions during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Look for Watson to potentially be one of the stories to watch for K.C. during the course of training camp.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce accidentally insulted Miss Piggy on the set of ABC’s ‘Holey Moley’
A slip of the tongue had #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in trouble with The Muppets character Miss Piggy on the set of ABC's "Holey Moley." | from @EdEastonJr
Tyreek Hill says he received death threats over comments about Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes
Tyreek Hill also shared details on why it was so difficult for him to leave the Chiefs.
Here’s where Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun are expected to go in the 2022 NBA draft
The NBA draft 2022 is nearly here, and Kansas basketball should see a couple key pieces of its national championship team selected before too long.
Our UDFA spotlight continues with a look at South Dakota LB Jack Cochrane and his fit with the #Chiefs:
SEC summer size-up: What to know about Florida, Missouri's third 2022 conference opponent
With former head coach Dan Mullen gone, and Billy Napier in his place, here's what to know about the Florida Gators before the 2022 season.
Nets Daily: Woj on Sports Center. "Trying to stay disciplined on a Kyrie Irving extension but they also run the risk of alienating Kevin Durant, possibly leading to an unfastening." Source: Twitter @NetsDaily What's the buzz on Twitter? Chris Fedor ...
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2022-06-22T17:45:25Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL Network’s Peter Schrager says Chiefs WR Justin Watson is ‘the one to watch’
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Who do Panthers take in PFF’s 2019 redraft?
The Carolina Panthers pulled off a heist of Brian Burns with the 16th overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft. And that’s why they’re not even sniffing him in Pro Football Focus’ recent redo.
With the class now settled in past its third season, PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema ran the first round back this week. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the aforementioned Burns—who was just selected to his first Pro Bowl for his standout 2021 efforts—was scooped up by the Green Bay Packers at No. 12.
That left Carolina looking elsewhere, specifically on the other side of the ball. So with this 16th overall pick, the Panthers select . . . Jonah Williams, offensive tackle, Alabama,
“The Panthers got a steal in Brian Burns at No. 16 back in 2019,” Sikkema writes. “But with Burns long gone in this draft, they should have looked toward a position group they are still trying to figure out in 2022: offensive line. Williams was picked earlier than this in 2019, but when healthy, he’s still a solid young offensive tackle — one the Panthers could certainly use today.”
Williams, who missed his rookie campaign due to a torn labrum, has gone on to play each of his 1,678 career snaps at left tackle—and to some solid success. PFF themselves graded the 6-foot-4, 302-pounder out at a 70.1 in 2020 and a 77.1 in 2021.
But, considering what just went down in the 2022 draft, we’re willing to bet the Panthers are pretty content with what they now have on the blindside and with what they really got three years ago.
Will Brian Burns be an All-Pro in '22-23? - Powered By PickUp
Panthers DE Brian Burns lands on PFF's top 25 under 25 list
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2022-06-22T17:45:38Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Who do Panthers take in PFF’s 2019 redraft?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-pff-2019-redraft-142550092.html?src=rss
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A key role of the head coach of any NFL team is to cultivate and develop talent coming from college football. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin went on The Pivot Podcast from his basement and was quite insightful on this topic.
Channing Crowder, one of the hosts of the podcasts asked Tomlin about how long he tries to coach up players until he realizes they just don’t have what it takes to play in the NFL. And Tomlin gave the most Tomlin answer of all.
He admitted that there is no hard and fast rule for how much time he gives a player but he says, “when you’re out of time, we all know.” The player I kept coming back to as Tomlin talked about this was outside linebacker Jarvis Jones.
Jones had serious red flags about his NFL potential from the second the Steelers drafted him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Tomlin and his staff tried for four seasons to coach up Jones but it never worked. A case could be made that Tomlin gave Jones at least one too many seasons. Jones retired one season after leaving the Steelers, which really makes you think if Tomlin can’t turn you into a viable NFL player, no one can.
Greenwood hires Paris' Donald Hart to be its softball coach. He replaces Ronnie Sockey, who recently became Poteau's boys basketball coach.
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2022-06-22T17:46:22Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on coaching young players: ‘When you’re out of time, we all know’
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https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-hc-mike-tomlin-coaching-135305165.html?src=rss
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NFL analyst: Lance will be next 'superstar' like Mahomes, Rodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
James Jones believes 49ers second-year quarterback Trey Lance could be the next star QB in the NFL.
Even with only a limited amount of game film, the NFL Network analyst sees similarities between the young signal-caller and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Jones recalled what was said about the two star quarterbacks when they first started in the league, and believes Lance is receiving comparable reviews.
“I believe we are looking at a bonafide superstar like Patrick Mahomes, like Aaron Rodgers,” Jones said recently on NFL Network's "Total Access." “We had a small sample size of Aaron Rodgers but all you heard out of the locker room and around Aaron was, ‘Just wait. You wait and see.’
Lance couldn’t have scripted a better offseason for himself. The sophomore quarterback set up workouts with several of his wide receivers prior to OTAs to build chemistry while also showing his leadership traits. Lance intends to organize more practice sessions away from the team facility prior to the start of training camp.
During team drills, Lance appeared more in command of the offense taking all of the reps with the first team. The North Dakota State product not only appeared more at ease on the field but also in front of the media, having adapted comfortably as the leader of the offense in Jimmy Garoppolo’s absence.
“Everyone you talk to in the Niners organization, I know it’s having your quarterback’s back, but everyone is saying he has superstar written all over him,” Jones said. “There’s nothing he can’t do. He can make plays with his legs, really strong arm, Kyle Shanahan is going to put him in really good situations.”
During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Lance’s teammates spoke glowingly about their new leader. They shared that the quarterback has noticeably improved, especially with his finger finally recovered from an injury suffered in the 2021 preseason game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now with a year under his belt in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, the young play-caller is set up for success. Lance also has a significant number of veteran skill players at his disposal that will offer support as the season approaches.
“I think he’s going to be in that category,” Jones said. “I think he is going to have a hell of a year. In that category, years down the line, talking about him like we talked about Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. I think he’s that talented.”
The 49ers will reconvene in Santa Clara in mid-July for training camp.
A warning for parents on this first day of summer. A Texas family is in mourning after police say a mother left her young son unattended inside a car in the driveway of their Houston home, as temperatures approached 100 degrees.
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2022-06-22T17:46:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Trey Lance draws Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers 'superstar' comparison
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https://sports.yahoo.com/trey-lance-draws-patrick-mahomes-170000847.html?src=rss
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Although Clemson’s home schedule is marked with high-profile matchups with NC State, South Carolina and a few other ACC teams, arguably the most compelling game for the Tigers will be an out-of-conference matchup.
Playing in South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 5, Clemson will take on Notre Dame in a game that could dictate the College Football Playoff (CFP) chances for both teams.
According to 247Sports’ Matt Howe, that matchup is the ninth-best non-conference game in the 2022 season.
These two teams have met just six times in their history, with Clemson leading the all-time series 4-2. However, two of those meetings came in 2020 when Notre Dame joined the ACC for one season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fighting Irish won the first meeting 47-40 in the regular season but Clemson won in the ACC title game, defeating Notre Dame by a score of 34-10. Clemson lost Venables to Oklahoma and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to Virginia this offseason, two key pieces of their coaching staff in recent seasons. The Tigers will look to return to the College Football Playoff in 2022 after missing out last season, snapping a six-year consecutive streak.
The Tigers didn’t square off against Notre Dame last season, but DJ Uiagalelei has experience against the Fighting Irish. Filling in for Trevor Lawrence in the first meeting in 2020, Uiagalelei had the best statistical performance of his career. He completed 65.9% of his passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns, all while the team rushed for a combined 34 yards on 33 attempts.
Both Notre Dame and Clemson will play a few tough opponents before the Nov. 5 matchup. The Fighting Irish will play at Ohio State in week one, while the Tigers will host an NC State team that is expected to be a top-20 program. With the game in South Bend taking place well into the season, it could determine which team is still alive for the CFP.
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2022-06-22T18:01:37Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Clemson has one of the top 10 non-conference games in 2022
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The Longhorns are now trending for one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class.
Four-star offensive lineman Jaydon Chatman received a new 247Sports crystal ball prediction in favor of Texas on Tuesday. Horns247’s recruiting editor Hudson Standish entered the prediction at a medium confidence level.
Chatman is days away from taking his official visit to Texas, which is scheduled for June 24-26. The Harker Heights native has already taken official visits to Texas A&M, LSU and Oklahoma.
According to 247Sports composite, Chatman is rated the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in the country for the 2023 recruiting class. He checks in as the No. 38 overall prospect in the state of Texas.
The Oklahoma Sooners face the Texas A&M Aggies in the semifinals of the NCAA baseball College World Series on Wednesday afternoon in Omaha, Nebraska.
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2022-06-22T18:01:50Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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New crystal ball prediction entered for four-star OL Jaydon Chatman in favor of Texas
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This is a huge year for Tiger athletics and the fans are expecting bigger and better things from the football program. The expectation on the Plains is to compete for an SEC Championship each year and nothing less. It is essential to build the foundation of the program from the recruiting class along with the additions from the transfer portal. With an abundance of talent in the state of Alabama, coach Harsin should surely end with a great recruiting class.
Today, Auburn Wire will make some early predictions for Auburn’s potential 2023 recruiting class. Read along to learn about the possible future of the Auburn Tiger football program.
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Brock Glenn – The Tigers have made it clear to the Tennessee native that he is their top quarterback option in the 2023 class. The Elite 11 finalist has visited Auburn twice. He took an unofficial visit to Auburn on April 9th while his official visit took place on June 3rd. It is also worth mentioning that three 247Sports recruiting experts have predicted that Glenn will commit to Auburn. Once it is all said and done, I firmly believe that he will be a part of the Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class.
Jeremiah Cobb – The native of Montgomery, Alabama has taken multiple unofficial visits to Auburn as well as an official visit to the Plains this past weekend. 247Sports experts Keith Niebuhr and Steve Wiltfong both put in crystal ball predictions for Cobb to Auburn. The Tigers coaching staff is in love with his playing style and would love to add him to the running back room. I think he ends up signing with the Tigers.
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Karmello English – English has become the Tigers’ top overall recruit in recent weeks. The Alabama native took unofficial visits to Auburn on March 21st and April 9th. The product of Central High School released his top five but appears to be entertaining another school — Michigan. Alabama and Kentucky are also in the mix, but I firmly believe he will stay close to home and play at Auburn. He could easily be a day-one starter.
Semaj James – James is an interesting recruit. He received multiple offers out of high school from Baylor, Cincinnati, and Florida State. However, he chose to attend Fort Scott Community College where he has starred as a wide receiver. Last season, he hauled in 28 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he will attend Butler Community College. He hasn’t received an offer but has visited Auburn. When his recruitment is said and done, I think he ends up as a Tiger.
Khai Prean – The Tigers have been emphasizing the state of Louisiana ever since Bryan Harsin came to the Plains. He had his share of success in last year’s recruiting class as he landed two players from the “boot.” Now, he has his eyes set on landing some of the more promising prospects in the state. That is fitting for four-star wide receiver Khai Prean who has taken just one visit thus far. That visit was an unofficial visit to Auburn. I think the Tigers land the talented Louisiana native.
Nakai Poole – The native of Marietta, Georgia recently released his top twelve schools and the Tigers were one of the programs listed. Poole took an unofficial visit to Auburn on March 28th. The only other visit that he has taken was on April 8th when he unofficially visited Georgia Tech. With the opportunity to play in the SEC, I think that Poole ends up at Auburn. He’ll likely also have an opportunity to see early playing time.
Jelani Thurman – The Tigers have already landed one recruit from Langston Hughes High School in Terrance Love. Now, they are firmly in the mix to land another, and that is four-star tight end Jelani Thurman. The Georgia native took an unofficial visit to Auburn on April 4 and an official visit on June 10. It will be difficult to out-recruit schools like Alabama and Michigan State. However, the Tigers have produced good tight ends over the years, so that will help. Not to mention, he will get to play with a high school teammate in Auburn commit Terrance Love.
Stanton Ramil – The product of Thompson High School has taken an unofficial visit to the Plains. Although he has yet to take an official visit, the Tigers coaching staff is still high on Ramil. Other schools that have shown extensive interest are Tennessee and Michigan State. However, I believe that offensive line coach Will Friend will be able to keep Ramel in Alabama.
Bradyn Joiner – One of the two Tigers commitments thus far is from interior offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner. The hometown product has been working very hard to recruit other targets that the coaching staff is pursuing. Something to keep an eye on is the fact that Joiner is a cousin of Georgia commit RyQueze McElderry.
DJ Chester – The Tigers are certainly looking to bring in a slew of linemen and one of those linemen will be Georgia native DJ Chester. The coaching staff would welcome Chester. He has taken one visit to the Plains which was an unofficial one that took place on June 10. When all is said and done, I believe that Chester signs with the Tigers.
RyQueze McElderry – In perhaps one of the bolder predictions, I have the Tigers flipping the commitment of Georgia verbal RyQueze McElderry. Why? He is related to Auburn commit Bradyn Joiner and has taken several visits to the Plains thus far. It is certainly a stretch, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the class.
Connor Lew – It isn’t going to be easy to get the Georgia native to leave the state, but it is possible. Recently, Lew dropped a final four with Auburn, Georgia, Miami, and Clemson in the mix. The Tigers have heavily recruited Lew since he received an offer in December and it doesn’t look like they’ll give up anytime soon. I like Auburn’s chances in his recruitment and think he ultimately signs with the Tigers.
Joshua Horton – Well, we know that Auburn has one commitment from Langston Hughes High School, but there is a possibility that two more join him. Both tight end Jelani Thurman and defensive tackle Joshua Horton are being prioritized by the coaching staff. Horton has been to Auburn three times in the past six months which is more than any other school he has visited. It is evident that the interest is mutual and I think he ends up as a part of the class.
Anthony James – Ever since he de-committed from Texas A&M, the Tigers have been all-in on the Texas native. He is reportedly down to two schools: Auburn and Washington. He recently visited Auburn on June 17 and will visit Washington on June 24. It is possible that he makes his commitment in the near future. Nonetheless, I believe he ends up in the class.
Keldric Faulk – The native of Highland Home, Alabama has made four trips to the Plains since being offered in April of 2021. On several of those trips, he was joined by his brother, Keldric. The Tigers are extremely high on Faulk and I would be surprised if he didn’t end up signing with the Tigers.
Jaiden Ausberry – The Louisiana native is the younger brother of Auburn cornerback Austin Ausberry. He took his first official visit to the Plains on June 3. He has also taken official visits to Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and is planning to visit Michigan on June 24. However, there have been reports that he loved Auburn and is strongly considering the Tigers. In the end, I think he reunites with his older brother in Auburn.
Lewis Carter – The Tigers offered Carter during his junior season of high school. The coaching staff would love to add several linebackers from this class because the defense will likely lose Owen Pappoe, Eku Leota, and Derick Hall. On3’s RPM has Auburn favored to land him at 27.5%. I think he ends up as a part of the class.
Defensive Back (5)
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Avery Stuart – It won’t be easy for the Tigers to land one of the state’s more premier athletes. Since being offered at the beginning of his junior season, he has taken one unofficial visit to the Plains. The only official visits that he has taken have been to Kentucky and Florida State. Those two appear to be in the lead for his recruitment. However, I believe that things change before signing day. The Tigers need help in the secondary and want to keep Stuart in the state.
Ja’Keem Jackson – Auburn may have a little bit of lead way in Jackson’s recruitment. Why? He is the cousin of former Auburn defensive back T’Sharvan Bell. Not to mention, he recently took an official visit to Auburn on June 10. Other schools like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Penn State are receiving visits as well. That doesn’t make or break my prediction that he lands in the Tigers’ 2023 class.
Terrance Love – The Tigers have two commits up to this point in the 2023 recruiting class. One of those commits is safety Terrance Love. The Georgia native has been committed since April and appears to be locked in. Two of his teammates, Jelani Thurman and Joshua Horton, may also follow suit to the Plains.
Dale Miller – The Tigers offered Miller back in June of 2021 and appear to be the leader in his recruitment up to this point. Miller, formerly a player at Hoover High School, transferred to Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Oklahoma. He will spend his final season of high school there before making a decision for the next level. In the end, I think he chooses Auburn over North Carolina.
Jacorious Hart – Hart is from the small town of Loachapoka, Alabama, which is located on the outskirts of the Plains. The Tigers are one of the few P5 schools to have offered Hart. There is certainly interest between the two parties, and I believe that Hart stays at home to play for the Tigers.
The Longhorns are trending as the favorite for one of the top IOL in 2023.
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2022-06-22T18:01:56Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Early prediction for Auburn’s 2023 recruiting class
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After an official visit to Madison this past weekend, 2023 four-star cornerback Jace Arnold out of Marietta, Georgia has officially committed to the University of Wisconsin.
Per 247Sports, Arnold is the No. 33 CB in the country, and the No. 32 player in the state of Georgia.
The 5-foot-10, 168-pound CB chose Wisconsin over offers from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and several others.
As a junior, the Marietta High School standout registered 36 tackles, six pass breakups, and three tackles for loss.
Arnold is the eleventh player to commit to Wisconsin in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
The Georgia native announced his commitment to the University of Wisconsin via his Twitter account:
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2022-06-22T18:02:21Z
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Wisconsin lands a commitment from 2023 four-star CB Jace Arnold
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2022 NBA Draft Reel: Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin
Arizona men's basketball guard Bennedict Mathurin declared for the 2022 NBA Draft after being honored in the 2021-22 season as the Pac-12 Player of the Year. Mathurin averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from 3 and 76.4 percent from the free throw line for the Wildcats.
Michael B. Jordan has deleted all traces of ex-girlfriend Lori Harvey from his Instagram page following their recent breakup. Watch.
Plan remains for James Wiseman to play in Summer League
Anthony Slater: Bob Myers said the plan remains for James Wiseman to play some portion of summer league: "He's working out. No setbacks…He's going to start doing live stuff." Plan also remains for Kuminga/Moody to get in some summer league work. ...
Purdue star, potential Pacers pick Jaden Ivey speaks to national media
Purdue star Jaden Ivey was a consensus second-team All-American during the 2021-22 season.
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2022-06-23T00:30:40Z
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2022 NBA Draft Reel: Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin
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Briana Perez is UCLA's 2021-22 female Tom Hansen Medal winner
The 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, UCLA softball's Briana Perez has been named the Bruins' 2021-22 female Tom Hansen Medal winner. Perez is pursuing a master’s degree in education (4.00 GPA) after earning bachelor’s degree in psychology with history minor in 2021. She has also appeared in PSA supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and made hospital visits for pediatric cancer patients.
2022 NBA Draft Reel: UCLA's Peyton Watson
UCLA freshman guard/forward Peyton Watson declared for the 2022 NBA Draft after averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game in his lone season with the Bruins. Prior to attending UCLA, Watson was a top-10 recruit and McDonald's All-American.
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2022-06-23T00:30:52Z
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Myles Johnson is UCLA's 2021-22 male Tom Hansen Medal winner
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce teamed up with San Francisco 49ers tight end and former Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen to bring back “Tight End University” for the second year in a row.
It is a type of gathering for players of the positions around the league to be together and learn their craft.
Many tight ends around the league are confirmed attendees.
No Arizona Cardinals tight ends are expected to be there — no Zach Ertz, no Maxx Williams, no Trey McBride.
Ertz participated in the first one last offseason. However, things are different. He is in Arizona. His wife is pregnant.
Williams is rehabbing a torn ACL. McBride is a rookie.
Perhaps we will see Arizona’s tight ends participating next year.
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2022-06-23T01:18:56Z
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No Cardinals set to attend ‘Tight End University’
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Former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Tony Siragusa died at the age of 55 on Wednesday. Siragusa played for 12 years in the NFL, including five with the Ravens where he won Super Bowl XXXV with the team. He died in his sleep, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. Other details surrounding his death aren’t known at this time.
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2022-06-23T01:19:16Z
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Rest In Peace, Tony Siragusa
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Free agency is right around the corner in the NBA, so it is time for the Philadelphia 76ers to figure out how they’re going to take care of James Harden while putting the right pieces around him and Joel Embiid.
It appears the Sixers will offer Harden a two-year contract extension after he picks up his player option for the 2022-23 season. That will keep Harden in Philadelphia for at least three more seasons, but how much money will he make?
The prevailing idea is the Sixers will give him roughly $150.8 million over the course of the three years, but New Orleans Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum joined ESPN’s “NBA Today” and said he believes Harden should leave some money on the table to help improve the team:
This might be the smart route at this point in Harden’s career. The star guard is not the same player he once was, although he is still an All-Star, and the Sixers should be focused on taking care of him while bringing in some good pieces to help both him and Embiid try and win a title in the 2022-23 season.
It looks like James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers will come to an agreement on a contract extension.
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2022-06-23T01:22:17Z
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C.J. McCollum gives thoughts on James Harden’s new Sixers contract
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Bruton Smith, a key promoter and track operator and a pioneer in auto racing, died at 95, NASCAR reported and Speedway Motorsports Inc. announced Wednesday afternoon. Smith, a native of Oakboro, North Carolina, was born March 3, 1927.
Smith was executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates auto racing speedways across the country. He was named executive chairman in 2015 after serving as SMI chairman and chief executive officer since 1995. He was succeeded as SMI CEO by his son, Marcus Smith.
SMI's holdings include 11 racing facilities that currently host 15 NASCAR Cup Series events in 2022, including four of the series’ 10 playoff races.
Bruton Smith, one of the richest people in the United States, according to Forbes magazine, was known for his auto racing empire but also owned and operated automobile dealerships across the country under Sonic Automotive, launched in November 1997.
Smith began promoting dirt-track races in North Carolina as an 18-year-old. In 1949, he ran the National Stock Car Racing Association, a Georgia-based racing sanctioning body that was a rival to NASCAR, which Bill France Sr. had formed in 1948.
France and NASCAR won that competition, as the NSCRA faded. But Smith returned to the sport in 1959, joining driver Curtis Turner to build Charlotte Motor Speedway after he and Turner had announced separate plans to build tracks in the Charlotte area. The track construction costs ran well past budget, and Smith eventually lost control of the speedway in bankruptcy proceedings.
After building a successful chain of car dealerships, Smith re-entered NASCAR in the mid-1970s, buying enough shares in CMS stock to regain control of the speedway. He and former track president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler turned the track, actually located in Concord, N.C., into an auto racing palace, adding huge grandstands, condominiums and other innovations unheard of in racing circles at the time. The track was the first major speedway to host night races.
Bruton Smith founded Speedway Motorsports Inc. and built Charlotte Motor Speedway, formerly known as Lowe's Motor Speedway.
LEGENDARY PEDIGREE: Marcus Smith, son of SMI founder, crafts fan experience at Charlotte
Smith assumed control of several other tracks, including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and formed Speedway Motorsports, Inc. to run the facilities. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1995.
Through much of his auto racing career, Smith was at odds with first Bill France Sr. and later Bill France Jr., who followed his father into the NASCAR presidency. They argued about race dates, race purses, the expansion of the Sprint Cup Series and other subjects over the years.
Smith also played a heavy role in philanthropic efforts, founding Speedway Children's Charities in 1982. According to that organization's website, Smith wanted to help children in need and was moved to start the group as a legacy for Bruton Cameron Smith, a son who died young.
Although he battled numerous health problems in his 80s, Smith remained very involved in the operation of his automobile businesses and speedways, often declaring he would never retire. He often appeared at news conferences and in speedway media centers in the final years of his life to verbally spar with reporters and deliver praise or criticism to NASCAR officials.
Smith was inducted into NASCAR's 2016 Hall of Fame class. Smith led the voting with 68 percent of ballots cast; ironically, Turner also was chosen that year.
BRUTON SMITH: Tickled by NASCAR Hall selection, positive reaction
"It will truly be an honor to be remembered at the Hall of Fame along with people like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Glen Wood, Junior Johnson, Darrell Waltrip and so many others who helped build this sport," Smith said in a statement released by Charlotte Motor Speedway when he learned he was tapped in May 2015. "That's what I've tried to do my entire life. I'm a frustrated builder who had a knack for promoting races, and it's been fun to always try to push the sport to greater heights for the fans."
A few days later, Smith, sitting in the owner's suite as the Coca-Cola 600 took the green flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, told a small group of reporters he had all but given up hope of being chosen for the Hall.
"I had not thought anything about it, quite honestly," he said. "I think I gave up on it at least a year or two years ago. It's amazing the reaction about this, and I think that's very special."
In 2006, Smith also was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame and National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Contributing: Jeff Gluck
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruton Smith: NASCAR Hall of Fame pioneer, promotor dies at 95
Legendary track operator Bruton Smith, whose visionary ideas enhanced the fan experience at tracks, died Wednesday. He was 95.
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2022-06-23T02:30:02Z
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NASCAR Hall of Fame pioneer, promotor Bruton Smith dies at 95
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Bruton Smith, who helped grow the NASCAR fan experience at his tracks with visionary ideas, died Wednesday from natural causes. He was 95.
Smith founded the company that is Speedway Motorsports and owns nine tracks that host Cup races, including Nashville Superspeedway, which hosts the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series this weekend.
“For me, Bruton Smith passing away is like Bill France Sr. or Bill France Jr. passing away,” NBC Sports analyst Kyle Petty said Wednesday. “It’s the connection to the very, very beginning of the sport, a connection to guys who had a dream and a vision and believed in what NASCAR and auto racing could become. They put it all out there.
“It’s sad for me to see that generation go. We could sit down and talk with them and hear those stories, and now they’re gone.
“I think most race fans believe he owned Charlotte Motor Speedway and went head-to-head with Bill France, but he was so much more. He went back to the 1940s when he promoted races. The majority of fans see him as the titan of Charlotte and what he did in Texas and building speedways, but he was more than that. He was a pillar of the sport and part of the foundation.”
Smith’s tracks, which included Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, among others, used the slogan “fans first” in providing unique experiences for fans, whether it was special pre-race shows, mammoth video boards, or special food in the concession stands. He also added lights to Charlotte, making it the first 1.5-mile track to run races at night, something that has become common.
“I’ve told people before that he doesn’t do things to get awards,” Marcus Smith, Burton’s son, said of his father in January 2016. “He doesn’t really relish a victory as much as he does a challenge, and that’s probably something in common with a lot of Hall of Famers, I would guess.
“He’s certainly someone who just relishes the challenge, loves the climb and when he achieves a goal, he quickly moves to the next opportunity and the next challenge.”
“Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France. “Few knew this truth better than Bruton Smith. Bruton built his race tracks employing a simple philosophy: give race fans memories they will cherish for a lifetime. In doing so, Bruton helped grow NASCAR’s popularity as the preeminent spectator sport. His vision and legacy inspired many, and his fan-first mentality remains today through his son Marcus. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bruton Smith, a giant of our sport.
Smith entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2016, joining a class with Curtis Turner, Terry Labonte, Bobby Isaac and Jerry Cook.
“From promoting his first race prior to turning 18 to becoming one of the most successful businessmen in all of motorsports O. Bruton Smith did as much as any single person in creating the standard for the modern racetrack,” said Winston Kelley, NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director. “In 1959, he led the effort to design and build Charlotte Motor Speedway working alongside fellow Hall of Famer Curtis Turner. The track became the flagship of Smith’s company, Speedway Motorsports, which through his vision of taking SMI public in 1995 has grown to operate tracks across the country.
“Smith has always sought to focus on the fans and competitors and how he could make things better from their perspectives. His tracks were the first to add lights to a superspeedway and add innovative amenities such as officer towers, condominiums and high-end restaurants — all ushering in a new era of tracks.”
In 1959, Smith partnered with Turner and built his first permanent motorsports facility, Charlotte Motor Speedway. The track opened in June 1960 with a 600-mile race, the longest ever in NASCAR’s history.
“His mind is racing all the time; he’s done so much for the sport,” Rick Hendrick said of Smith in 2016. “He’s so brave to step out and try things that have never been tried before … He’s a sharp guy. He helped build this sport and it’s (Hall of Fame induction) well deserved.”
Smith, who founded Speedway Children’s Charities in 1984 also was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (2006), the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2007), and Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame (2008).
Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $61 million to local organizations across the country that improve the quality of life for children in need.
Smith, born March 2, 1927, was the youngest of nine children and grew up on a modest farm in Oakboro, North Carolina. Survivors include sons Scott, Marcus and David; his daughter, Anna Lisa; their mother, Bonnie Smith; and seven grandchildren. Information regarding funeral arrangements will be released at a later date.
Always kind to me. Made huge bets on growing the sport. He will be missed 🙏 https://t.co/J8s5fDoNGL
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) June 22, 2022
Anyone who made a living around the @NASCAR world, should thank Mr. Bruton for his vision, leadership, and dedication to the sport. I sure appreciate everything he has done for my family!
Thank you sir. https://t.co/O7ff6mP9pV
— David Ragan (@DavidRagan) June 22, 2022
Sad day…Bruton had a huge impact on our sport and had a huge amount of ingenuity. If you haven’t, you need to watch his @NASCARHall speech, there will never be another one like him! https://t.co/JKAMJPtUXm
— Cole Custer (@ColeCuster) June 22, 2022
I’m heart broken this afternoon my good friend Bruton Smith passed away, he helped me in so many ways, he was an icon in the sport he loved, RIP my dear friend!
— Darrell Waltrip (@AllWaltrip) June 22, 2022
Drivers to watch in NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville NASCAR viewer’s guide: Nashville Superspeedway Where to watch NASCAR: NBC, USA Network, Peacock schedule for Nashville
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith passes away originally appeared on NBCSports.com
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2022-06-23T02:30:08Z
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NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith passes away
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NASCAR Statement
“Race fans are, and always will be, the lifeblood of NASCAR. Few knew this truth better than Bruton Smith. Bruton built his race tracks employing a simple philosophy: give race fans memories they will cherish for a lifetime. In doing so, Bruton helped grow NASCAR‘s popularity as the preeminent spectator sport. His vision and legacy inspired many, and his fan-first mentality remains today through his son Marcus. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bruton Smith, a giant of our sport.” — Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO
MORE: Bruton Smith passes at 95
Bruton Smith, NASCAR Hall of Famer and visionary track operator, dies at 95
Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports and one of the most forward-thinking track operators and promoters in motorsports, has died. Smith, a native of Oakboro, North Carolina, was 95. Speedway Motorsports announced his passing Wednesday afternoon. With Smith at the helm, Speedway Motorsports became the first motorsports company to trade on the New York Stock […]
Stanford Cardinal Preview 2022: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Stanford season with what you need to know
The 2022 USFL Playoffs are set to begin this Saturday, June 25 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The New Jersey Generals take on the Philadelphia Stars at 3:00 p.m. ET on Fox followed by a Birmingham Stallions vs New Orleans Breakers match-up at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. The
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2022-06-23T02:30:14Z
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NASCAR statement on passing of Hall of Famer Bruton Smith
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On Monday, it was reported the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving were at an impasse in terms of agreeing to a contract extension, and that if Irving were to ask to be traded, the Los Angeles Lakers would be one of three potential suitors.
But now, it looks like they may have at least a slightly greater chance of acquiring the uber-talented but enigmatic guard.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said on Wednesday that the Lakers are the “most significant threat” to acquire Irving should he want out of Brooklyn.
Of course, acquiring a player as skilled and talented as Irving, especially when the Lakers would be offering someone as talented but flawed as Russell Westbrook in return, is always complicated, but it should never be ruled out.
“While some believe that accomplishing that tall task is nearly impossible for the organization, it appears that the Lakers are seen as the ‘most significant threat’ to land a certain superstar guard.
“That star is none other than Kyrie Irving, LeBron James’ former teammate.”
If such a trade were ever to see the light of day, it could be seen as an exchange of problems, as both teams are reportedly sick of their respective star guards.
However, if Irving has his head on straight (which is always a big if), he could single-handedly resurrect L.A.’s championship hopes.
The Nets may have no use for an aging Westbrook, especially since he will be owed about $47 million next season (assuming he opts into the final year of his contract). But if the two teams can include a third squad in a potential deal, perhaps everything could be worked out in a satisfactory manner.
Why are there only 58 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft?
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While the Clippers are reportedly in the "driver's seat" of negotiations, the Bulls are expected to have interest in free-agent forward Nic Batum.
Could the Hornets be the best destination for Russell Westbrook?
Forget going after Kyrie Irving - perhaps the Lakers should link up with the Charlotte Hornets if they want to get rid of Russell Westbrook.
J.D. Martinez's sac fly
J.D. Martinez lifts a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Jarren Duran, tying the game at 1 in the bottom of the 1st inning
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2022-06-23T02:51:46Z
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Lakers are considered ‘most significant threat’ to nab Kyrie Irving
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Oneil Cruz is MLB's tallest shortstop ... by a mile
“It's worth noting that Cruz isn't just going to be the biggest regular shortstop in MLB history, he's going to be the biggest by a wide margin,” Seidler said this week. “There's never been a regular shortstop listed above 6-foot-4. Cruz is every bit of 6-foot-7, which is the same height as Aaron Judge, and three inches taller than Seager, Tatis, and Correa. So that's just completely uncharted waters.”
“The industry expectation when he was in A-ball was that Cruz was going to lose significant range as he continued to grow, and indeed he's listed 45 pounds heavier than when he signed,” Seidler said. “But he filled out without losing any noticeable range or agility.”
“If he's an average or fringe-average shortstop but worse at third or the outfield,” Seidler said, “it might make sense to leave him at shortstop even if it is not in a vacuum ideal to sacrifice shortstop defense.”
What a rough night for Eickhoff.
Oneil Cruz is a 'must-roster' fantasy prospect
Christopher Crawford dives into what fantasy impact Pittsburgh Pirates rookie SS Oneil Cruz could provide and what to expect in the future.
The indie-pop artist also touches on her early influences and her musical partnership with Quinn XCII. Chelsea Cutler on Loving Taylor Swift, the Passage of Time, and Next Album Plans Consequence Staff
American League powerhouses square off when Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees host Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros in the opener of a highly anticipated four-game series. New York boasts the best record in the majors, and Houston is second to the Yankees in the AL standings.
The Red Sox already have called up a couple of their top prospects to help the major league club. Who will be next to make their big-league debut? Here's an update on some of the most intriguing players in the farm system.
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2022-06-23T02:51:52Z
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Oneil Cruz is the first 6-foot-7 shortstop you've ever seen. He might not be the last
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White Sox' Adam Engel injures hamstring, exits Blue Jays game
Tony La Russa's team seems to take one step forward towards getting healthy, then two steps back.
Steve Bisciotti: Tony Siragusa’s personality made an enormous impact on the Ravens
The death of longtime NFL defensive lineman Tony Siragusa has elicited responses across the football world, including a remembrance from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti. Siragusa played 73 regular season games over five seasons with the Ravens and also appeared in six postseason contests, including all four games the Ravens won en route to the team’s [more]
Former Ravens defensive lineman Tony Siragusa has reportedly passed away at age 55
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2022-06-23T03:02:02Z
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Why Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker are vital to Bears' defense in 2022
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If the Warriors don't end up trading the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft, one report claims that they would be interested in these three prospects.
The Athletic's Zach Harper reported in his latest Q&A column that Golden State is open to moving the pick in order to free up guaranteed money. If they end up keeping the pick, the Warriors are rumored to be interested in Michigan's Caleb Houstan, Kansas' Christian Braun and Ohio State's E.J. Liddell.
"The defending champs are apparently open to moving their 28th pick in the draft, and that could be tied to some guaranteed money causing them an even greater luxury-tax bill, although there isn’t a huge difference between a minimum deal and what the 28th pick would command," Harper writes. "If they do decide to keep it, the Warriors are thought to be interested in Houstan or Christian Braun. E.J. Liddell would be the dream scenario, but it’s hard to imagine him falling to No. 28."
Warriors general manager Bob Myers told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn't believe that money will factor into trading away the pick.
“I don't think the money is going to be a factor as far as whether we trade out or keep the pick," Myers said. "It'll be if it makes sense, so it won't really be a money decision. We've got like 15, 20 people up on the ninth floor right now watching film and getting the draft order and getting our board aligned."
RELATED: Why Warriors should offer Iguodala 'player emeritus' status
The Trail Blazers were reportedly interested in trading the Pelicans' first-round pick to the Pistons for Jerami Grant.
Oscar Gonzalez tied the game with a two-run single and scored on Owen Miller's go-ahead sacrifice fly as the Cleveland Guardians rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to beat the Minnesota Twins 11-10 on Wednesday night. Gonzalez homered earlier and finished with four RBIs for the surging Guardians, who have won the first two in a three-game series to take a one-game lead over Minnesota atop the AL Central. The teams also meet five times in four days next week in Cleveland.
Ian Begley breaks down Knicks' biggest needs and options in the 2022 NBA Draft | Begley's Mailbag
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley answers fan questions surrounding the Knicks' No. 11 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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2022-06-23T04:25:58Z
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NBA rumors: Warriors interested in three draft prospects at pick No. 28
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"Yeah, my experience is when you win a championship you get better the next year," Kerr said. "If you keep going after that, it starts to wear you out. That third year for us, trying to get a three-peat in '19 was brutally difficult.
"But whether I was a player or now as a coach, you win that first one, there's a freedom that comes with it. There's an excitement, and that carries over into the second year."
The Warriors weren't just all-in on making one final run. As long as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still around, Golden State anticipates continued success for years to come. Not to mention the handful of up-and-coming potential stars patiently waiting for their opportunity to shine.
"Given that we just had a two-year opportunity to refill our cups and reenergize, I think we'll be really motivated going into next year, and the guys will have a great chance to have a hell of a season again," Kerr added.
"James [Wiseman] hopefully will fit into that health-wise. That's the biggest thing. We will continue to work with him every day. He'll continue to develop, just like all of our young guys will."
Kerr and the Warriors know a thing or two about what it takes to return to the Finals as defending champions, so if they believe they have the talent to do so again, it wouldn't be wise to bet against them.
Bob Myers: I don’t think Andre Iguodala knows whether he’s retiring or not
Kylen Mills: "I hear he does want to play, he doesn't want to play. I don't think he knows." -GM Bob Myers is asked on whether or not Andre Iguodala plans to keep playing or if he's considering retirement. Myers says he doesn't know the answer. ...
Bob Myers explains Warriors' decision to trade or keep first-round draft pick
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2022-06-23T04:26:10Z
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Why Warriors will be even better in 2022-23 season, Steve Kerr believes
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It was 50 years ago on Thursday, June 23, that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was passed into law. That act changed the trajectory of women's athletics and will continue to shape the future of them.
The 37 words of Title IX prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities. It took years after the passage of the law for it to begin to take hold, but it eventually led to the rise of collegiate women's athletic programs and professional leagues. But while there has been great progress, there is also a long way to go.
This month leagues, athletes and leaders have honored the 50th anniversary of the law. Here is more on Title IX, women's sports to watch on Thursday, and how the sports world is celebrating the anniversary this weekend.
What to read on Title IX
From Yahoo Sports:
What is Title IX? An impactful law that's often misunderstood — Everything to know about Title IX, from the 37 words to the three-prong test to its limitations and if it is actually enforced.
As the only woman coaching youth basketball, here's why Title IX still has more to give the next generation — Yahoo Sports writer Cassandra Negley's first-person essay on coaching youth basketball and her hopes for the next 50 years.
Counting men as women? Inside the fuzzy math of Title IX compliance — Athletic departments often increase women's rowing rosters, double and triple count female athletes, and count male practice players to make it look like they're following Title IX guidelines.
Women's sports to watch for Title IX anniversary
Basketball/WNBA (Thursday): Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury (8 p.m., WNBA League Pass), Seattle Storm at Washington Mystics (10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network), Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky (10:30 p.m. ET, WNBA League Pass)
Softball/Athletes Unlimited AUX (Thursday): Team Zerkle vs. Team O'Toole (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU), Team Fischer vs. Team O'Toole (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
Tennis/Wimbledon qualifiers (Thursday)
WNBA, AU softball break out T-shirts
WNBA teams and coaches began wearing "50 years of Title IX" T-shirts in warm-ups and on the sidelines this week.
50 years of Title IX. pic.twitter.com/m6spA4udxL
Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball players will also commemorative jerseys with the roman numeral "IX" on their backs for the final series of the fantasy-like league.
Ahead of the AU doubleheader on Thursday that will air on ESPNU, nine Little League players from Pachappa Little League in Riverside, California, will throw out the first pitch. AU will also welcome and recognize Southern California softball legends Sue Enquist (11-time national champion as UCLA player and coach) and Stacey Nuvemen-Deniz (three-time Olympic medalist with Team USA). The games are being held at San Diego State University, where Nuveman-Deniz is currently head coach.
Victoria Hayward in AU's "IX" jerseys for the 50th anniversary. (Athletes Unlimited)
Twitter hosts series of Spaces to highlight change
Twitter is launching a day of Twitter Spaces conversations to "champion and shine a light on women’s rights, their voices and stories, and host important conversations."
It will begin at 1:05 p.m. ET with "Women in Sports Media, Covering Women's Sports" featuring ESPN's Elle Duncan, Sarah Spain, Holly Rowe and LaChina Robinson. ESPN is hosting the chat.
There will be two "fireside chats." The first is at 1:45 p.m. ET with "Women Changing the Political Game" and the second at 2:30 p.m. with "Women of NASA: Past, Present and Future."
The WNBA will host the final chat title "26 Years of the WNBA ... What's Next?" at 3:05 p.m. ET. It will feature Bleacher Report's Ari Chambers, Stetson University assistant coach and former WNBA player Barbara Farris, former WNBA player and coach Sylvia Crowley, and vice president of the Phoenix Mercury and Suns Ann Meyers.
According to Twitter, the conversation around gender equality in sports rose 7% year-over-year on its platform. The average number of tweets about NCAA women's sports has grown 127% over the past five years, per the site.
Big Ten hosting first Women's Leadership Summit
The Big Ten conference is hosting its first Women's Leadership Summit, a first for the organization, in concert with the Title IX anniversary.
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said in a release the event will bring together "some of the most exceptional women in collegiate athletics and underscores the mission of the Big Ten Conference to elevate women's sports."
“This event is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX and a reflection of our unwavering commitment to delivering transformational educational experiences and growth opportunities to our student-athletes.”
ESPN's Sarah Spain will deliver opening remarks to more than 75 student-athletes, coaches and administrators from the 14 schools. The attendees will have opportunity to network, learn and meet mentors. Guest speakers will cover the history of the law as well as trailblazers in women's athletics. They include Jackie Joyner-Kersee (four-time Olympian), Tierra Davidson (World Cup champion, Chicago Red Stars), Katrina Adams (former professional tennis player and CEO of the United States Tennis Association) and Jennifer King (assistant running backs coach, Washington Commanders).
Billie Jean King and Jill Biden are teaming up to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX at a celebration in Washington. The first lady and the tennis champ’s participation in the Wednesday event at Capitol One Arena was announced Tuesday by the White House. Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibited sex-based discrimination…
Title IX pioneers: Reita Clanton became Olympic star despite inequalities
Reita Clanton participated in all three Olympics hosted in the United States in the last 20 years. Clanton did all of this despite lack of opportunities growing up
Once Tina Sloan Green took over the lacrosse program at Temple University in the years after the passage of Title IX, the landmark gender-equity law, she never stopped thinking about the girls who weren't playing. At practices during the 1970s, Sloan Green, the first Black woman to coach a college lacrosse team, noticed neighborhood kids peering through the fences at her players as guards kept them out. "And that was — that was the reality that I had to face ... Title IX was a complete help for women in sports but in my mind, there were still disparities.”
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2022-06-23T05:30:35Z
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Title IX 50th anniversary: How sports world is celebrating
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Extreme heat is dangerous for more than children, elderly. How to know if you're at risk
Cincinnati is one of four cities identified by the CDC as having public health threats and increased death rates during periods of extended heat.
In April, the Phoenix Fire Department launched its new water safety campaign, Drowning Zero focused on community education to prevent drownings.
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2022-06-23T05:30:41Z
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Jonquel Jones with a 2-pointer vs. New York Liberty
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Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike among players selected as WNBA All-Star starters
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike controls the ball against the Chicago Sky on May 6. Ogwumike was selected as a starter Wednesday for the 2022 WNBA All-Star game. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Associated Press)
Joining Wilson, Stewart and Fowles in the frontcourt are Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones, the Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike and Chicago’s Candace Parker. The starting guards, in addition to Bird, are New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Las Vegas teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young.
Russian state-run news agency Tass reported last week that Griner’s detention was extended until at least July 2. Another American, Paul Whelan, has been held in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that he and the U.S. government say are false.
Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game
Will Virginia Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria’s service on the Jan. 6 select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol cost her re-election in November?
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2022-06-23T05:31:00Z
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Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike among players selected as WNBA All-Star starters
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WNBA announces All-Star Game starters, honors Brittney Griner originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The WNBA named the 10 players who will start in the 2022 All-Star Game.
Headlining the group are four co-captains: Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, Storm forward Breanna Stewart, Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles. Connecticut Sun center Jonquel Jones, Chicago Sky forward/center Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, Aces guard Kelsey Plum and Aces guard Jackie Young are the remaining starters.
Bird, who announced she will be retiring after the season, earned her 13th All-Star selection, the most in league history. Fowles, who also announced that this will be her final WNBA season, has the second-most All-Star nods among this year’s starters with eight. Parker and Ogwumike each have seven, while Stewart, Wilson and Jones each received their fourth All-Star nod. Ionescu, Plum and Young will be making their All-Star debuts.
Along with the 10 players who will be on the court to start the game in Chicago, the WNBA announced an honorary All-Star starter in Brittney Griner. The seven-time All-Star has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17.
“During each season of Brittney’s career in which there has been an All-Star Game, she has been selected as an All-Star,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a press release. “It is not difficult to imagine that if BG were here with us this season, she would once again be selected and would, no doubt, show off her incredible talents. So, it is only fitting that she be named as an honorary starter today and we continue to work on her safe return to the U.S.”
For the game, Bird will be a captain alongside Wilson and Stewart will be paired with Fowles. The two teams will draft from the remaining starters and reserves in an “All-Star Team Selection Special” on Saturday, July 2. The 12 reserves will be announced a few days earlier on Tuesday, June 28.
The All-Star Game will use the draft format for the third time since moving away from East-West. The first two All-Star contests featuring drafts occurred in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 event was canceled and the 2021 All-Star Game saw Team WNBA beat Team USA 93-83 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
The All-Star Game will tip-off from Wintrust Arena in Chicago at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 10.
Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game, being named an honorary starter Wednesday by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after authorities at an airport outside of Moscow said she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her bag. “During each season of Brittney’s career in which there has been an All-Star Game, she has been selected as an All-Star,” Engelbert said.
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WNBA announces 2022 All-Star Game starters, honors Brittney Griner
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Follow all of the picks, latest news and trades with our 2022 NBA draft tracker.
NEW YORK — The Orlando Magic have the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time since 2004 when they drafted Dwight Howard. It worked out pretty well for the franchise back then as Howard led them to the NBA Finals.
Prior to that, the franchise had the No. 1 pick in 1992 and 1993 and drafted Shaquille O'Neal and Chris Webber (traded to Golden State for Penny Hardaway), both Hall of Famers.
It's clear the Magic have had success drafting power forwards and centers with the top pick in the past, and the stars aligned this year with three great options at No. 1. All three prospects — Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren — are 6-foot-10 or taller and have tremendous skill off the block. There is no clear-cut No. 1 pick this year, and Oklahoma City and Houston should follow suit and select whoever is left on the board from these three options.
The Magic are set in the backcourt with Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and R.J. Hampton and are hoping to add some size to the roster to change the trajectory of the franchise.
Yahoo Sports takes a look at the projected top-three players and how they would fit with the Magic.
Making the case for the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft between Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren, Auburn forward Jabari Smith and Duke forward Paolo Banchero. (Graphic by Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)
Ht./Wt: 6-10, 220 pounds
BetMGM odds to go No. 1: -250
Smith is emerging as the consensus favorite to go No. 1 to the Magic. Orlando desperately needs a perimeter shooter and Smith fills that void, knocking down 43% of his shots from deep during his one year at Auburn. At 6-foot-10, Smith will add some size in the post defensively alongside Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba.
Smith worked out for the Magic on June 9 and according to him, it went well.
“I think I can fit in it really well,” Smith told reporters after the workout. “Seeing the guys and seeing the players, this is a young team, one of the youngest in the league. So, adding me would just add another young player who was hungry and got a lot left in the tank. So, I’ll add some energy and just another person wants to come in and work and get this organization where it needs to be.”
Ht./Wt: 7-0, 195 pounds
BetMGM odds to go No. 1: +400
Holmgren is truly a unicorn-type prospect. His coordination for a player with his lanky frame is incredible, and he has the ability to take guards off the dribble with ease.
Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 1.4 assists in 27 minutes over 32 games. The Minneapolis native led the WCC in blocked shots, rebounds and field-goal percentage (61%) and was fourth in the country in blocks (117). He has a decent outside jump shot and started stepping into 3-pointers confidently in transition at the end of the season, instead of taking a one dribble pull-up to collect himself.
"At the end of the day, Jabari [Smith] and Paolo [Banchero] are both great players, but I feel like any team that picks me is getting a great player who's conducive to winning and whatever is asked of me to help the team win," Holmgren told Yahoo Sports.
He could be reunited with his high school and AAU teammate, current Magic guard Jalen Suggs. The pair have logged countless games, dating back to sixth grade, and already have a point-center on-court chemistry the Magic can take advantage of right away.
"Me and Jalen talk a lot of basketball, we talk about life or whatever it may be," Holmgren told Yahoo Sports. "At the end of the day, the decision isn't up to either one of us, so whether we're wearing the same jersey or not, we're still going to support one another."
Holmgren could also fill a much-needed void in the paint and rim protection alongside Carter Jr. and Bamba next season as the Magic look to improve from their 22-60 record from 2021-22.
Banchero is the least likely to go No. 1 to the Magic because the other two prospects fit more of a team need, but there has been a late swing in the Vegas betting odds that are evening the playing field.
Regardless, there's a lot to like about Banchero's game, which was put on full display during the NCAA men's tournament. The point-forward has the best handle out of the trio and could adopt more of a LeBron James-type role at the NBA level with his size and versatility as a primary ball handler.
Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game during his one year at Duke and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ACC.
He also fills a need for the Magic with his NBA-ready body (the other two will need to add weight to bang in the post) and his playmaking ability off the pick-and-roll. Banchero is a plug-and-play guy the Magic can depend on from Day 1 who can impact winning. There's a lot to be said about players who can turn it on when the game is on the line, and Banchero showed he can be that guy during crunch time.
Banchero isn't as great of an outside shooter as Smith or Holmgren, and that might be one of the deciding factors after Orlando hit only 33% of its 3-point attempts and was one of the worst shooting teams last season.
NBA draft buzz: Jalen Williams getting lottery attention; Jabari Smith stress-free. Plus the latest intel
When is the 2022 NBA Draft? Date, start time, location, top prospects, more
From the date, location, draft order, top prospects and more, heres everything you need to know about the 2022 NBA Draft.
Rookie Wire took a look at the biggest draft busts for every team in the NBA over the years.
NBA Draft: Jared Rhoden on verge of completing meteoric rise
The Seton Hall grad has worked his way from fringe prospect to legit draft candidate. He sees himself as a role model for the underrated.
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2022-06-23T05:59:41Z
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NBA draft: Making case for No. 1 between Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero
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The Colorado Avalanche made two decisions before Wednesday night's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
They inserted Nazem Kadri into the lineup for the first time since he had thumb surgery during the Western Conference final and they went back to goaltender Darcy Kuemper after he was pulled in Game 3.
The moves paid off as Kuemper made 37 saves and started a play in overtime that Kadri finished off for a 3-2 victory. That gave the Avalanche a 3-1 series lead against the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Colorado can wrap up its first championship since 2001 with a victory at Denver’s Ball Arena on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Avalanche overcame two one-goal deficits with fortuitous bounces, and Kadri's goal wasn't announced right away after he got around Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and wristed a shot past Andrei Vasilevskiy (34 saves).
"I thought he might have had it," he told reporters, "so it was certainly a few seconds of confusion there. Then I saw everyone started bull-rushing the ice and that's when I knew it was confirmed."
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) scores in overtime against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
LIGHTNING: Coach Jon Cooper suggests OT goal shouldn't have counted
Kuemper gave up an Anthony Cirelli goal 36 seconds in, on a play on which he lost his mask, but he finished the first period with 16 saves as the Lightning pressed.
Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon tied the game in the second period on the power play with a deflection off his skate for his first goal of the series and 12th of the playoffs.
Kadri, usually a No. 2 center, didn't take any faceoffs in the game.
He's in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his career after suspensions derailed three previous playoff efforts. But the pending unrestricted free agent avoided controversy as he scored a career-best 87 points in the regular season.
He received threats in the second round after a collision that injured St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington then scored a hat trick in the next game.
He had missed 18 days after the Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane sent him crashing into the boards. Kadri had been slowly working his way back.
"I've been waiting for this my whole life," he told ESPN, "so I figured I'd stop waiting and try to join the party."
'A great job' by Avalanche's Kuemper
Kuemper had been pulled in Game 3 after giving up five goals. He got the Game 4 assignment after a chat with coach Jared Bednar.
"Our team believes in him. I believe in him," Bednar said. "I wanted to make sure he believed in himself, that he'd be able to go and bounce back and do the job. He sounded confident. I thought he did a great job for us tonight."
Two Lightning players leave game
Cirelli and defenseman Erik Cernak, who teamed up for the opening goal, both left the game in the second period.
Cernak was hit by a MacKinnon shot during a power play. With the Lightning unable to clear the puck, he had to stay on the ice and left after MacKinnon scored.
Cirelli appeared to be cut by teammate Alex Killorn's skate and quickly left the ice surface.
Cirelli skated a regular shift in the third period and overtime, though Cernak didn't play, leaving the Lightning with five defensemen down the stretch.
Anson Carter remembers watching in high school as some of his friends abandoned hockey for being “too white" as he forged ahead, eyes set on a pro career. As one of the few Black players in the NHL at the time, his presence during a career that spanned from 1996-2007 didn't go unnoticed to those friends in Toronto. “That makes me more proud than even playing in league myself because they’re like, ‘You played, so why shouldn’t my kids play?’” Carter said.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in two runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak against Cincinnati this season to six games, beating the Reds 8-4 on Wednesday night. Freeman, who tied a season high with five RBIs in an 8-2 win in series opener on Tuesday, has seven RBI in the series. “We backed up a really good offensive output performance with another one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
With the season on the line, Zack Morris recorded the three biggest outs of the year against the same team that chased him in the first inning just two days earlier. Arkansas was clinging to a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth when it called upon the left-hander to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam. “Just a great win for our team, obviously,” head coach Dave Van Horn said.
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2022-06-23T07:26:45Z
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Colorado Avalanche push Tampa Bay Lightning to brink of elimination with overtime win
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Whether it's other NBA superstars or kids at an amusement park, Steph Curry is ready to out-shoot anyone who challenges him.
Just two days after the Warriors' championship parade in San Francisco, Curry was spotted at a Great America amusement park, participating in a 3-point challenge, a game designed for ... literally anyone but Steph Curry.
Not even carnival games -- which oftentimes are intentionally difficult -- can stand in the way of the greatest shooter in NBA history.
It's safe to assume that Curry walked away with a prize, or two, or three -- just days after winning his fourth championship in eight seasons and his first Finals MVP Award.
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2022-06-23T07:27:03Z
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Watch Steph Curry hilariously dominate amusement park 3-point challenge
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Tributes are being paid to Tony ‘Goose’ Siragusa, as the Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman was reported to have died at the age of 55. Reports said teammates of the player, who won a Super Bowl title with the Ravens during the 2000 season, reported he he had died. There was no immediate cause of death.
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2022-06-23T09:33:05Z
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Teammates remember Tony Siragusa as a big-time player with a bigger personality
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Kerr: 'Locked in' Steph 'absolutely peaked' in playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
“I think he absolutely peaked in the playoffs,” Kerr said. “I think it's going to be harder for him next year at 35 and the following year to put together an 82-game season like he did seven years ago.”
“But in the playoffs, when you've got time off in between games and you're really locked in, this was the best I've ever seen him in terms of his two-way performance,” Kerr said. “His defense was spectacular. He's gotten so much stronger.”
“So Steph has never been better defensively, and like I said, in the playoffs when you get time to rest at 34, 35, 36, there's no reason why he can't continue to have playoff runs like this,” Kerr said. “But it's all out there for him, and we know he's going to work for it. It's fun to just be a part of it.”
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2022-06-23T10:32:35Z
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Warriors' Steph Curry 'absolutely peaked' in NBA playoffs, Steve Kerr says
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5 Eagles on offense with something to prove in 2022 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
We’re just about a month away from the beginning of training camp and the excitement surrounding the Eagles’ season is palpable.
The Eagles have added plenty of big pieces to their roster and many consider them to be serious contenders to win the NFC East and to make a run in the playoffs.
But there are plenty of players who have something to prove, for various reasons, going into training camp in 2022.
Here are five on offense, in alphabetical order:
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
The Eagles’ 2019 second-round pick is running out of chances. This offseason, JJAW officially switched positions from wide receiver to tight end. It’s not an easy transition but there were hints in how the Eagles used him last season. Arcega-Whiteside in 2021 played 170 offensive snaps but caught just two passes. His role was as a blocking receiver for the Eagles’ heavy-running attack. After the season ended, head coach Nick Sirianni called JJAW the “enforcer” among their receivers. So it was somewhat natural for him to change positions to tight end.
But none of that means his transition is going to be easy. Dallas Goedert is entrenched as the Eagles’ top tight end, they bring back last year’s No. 2 Jack Stoll and also drafted Grant Calcaterra in the sixth round. And they also have Richard Rodgers, Noah Togiai and a recovering Tyree Jackson (ACL) on the roster. So JJAW faces an uphill battle and his rookie contract no longer protects his roster spot the way it did last season. This training camp and perhaps during the season, Arcega-Whiteside will have to prove that he’s an NFL tight end. Forget about his being a second-round pick, this is just about him trying to find a roster spot in Philadelphia or elsewhere.
The Eagles have been pretty clear — at least publicly — all offseason that Hurts is their guy going into the 2022 season. But after that? Well, that’s what Hurts will have to prove this season: That he’s a real franchise quarterback. Hurts definitely did some good things last year, his first as a full-time NFL starting quarterback. But there are also plenty of areas that he needs to improve. If he doesn’t, then there’s a very good chance the Eagles won’t give him an extension and will likely look elsewhere to find their franchise quarterback. So there’s an awful lot riding on the 2022 season for the 23-year-old quarterback.
The Eagles have been impressed by Hurts’ work ethic and the approach he’s taken this offseason. They truly believe that Hurts will maximize his potential, but they might not know how good he can be. With the addition of A.J. Brown this offseason, Hurts has some impressive weapons (Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Miles Sanders, Quez Watkins, etc.) as well as an offensive line considered to be one of the best in the entire league. That also means there will be no excuses if Hurts can’t perform at a higher level in 2022. Of all the players on this list, he’s the most obvious.
The Eagles went into last season with some hope for their 2020 first-round pick. After all, he had some nice moments in training camp — including a couple of spectacular one-handed catches — and there were at least some reasons to believe he’d be able to show why the Eagles drafted him at No. 21 overall. It didn’t go very well. Reagor ended up having an even worse second NFL season that followed a disappointing rookie campaign. In 2021, Reagor managed to catch just 33 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also struggled as a punt and kick returner.
Coming into this season, though, expectations couldn’t be any lower for Reagor and maybe that’ll help. While he was the No. 2 receiver going into his second season, he’s the No. 5 on the roster right now behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal. He’s not a sure thing to make the roster but his contract situation will likely help him stick. He probably won’t see the field much on offense if the unit stays healthy but still has a chance to be a return man. Reagor will have a chance in camp and probably in the season to prove that he’s not a complete NFL bust. He’ll likely never live up to his draft status but this is about just sticking in the league.
When he’s on the field, Sanders has proven himself to be a productive NFL running back. Over the last two years, among players with 150+ carries, Sanders’ yards-per-carry average of 5.4 is second in the NFL behind Nick Chubb (5.6) and just ahead of Taylor (5.3). But as he enters a contract year, Sanders simply needs to prove he can stay on the field. If he does, he has a chance to cash in.
After playing in all 16 games as a rookie, Sanders played in just 12 in each of the last two seasons. Give Sanders credit for rushing back from a broken hand and surgery late last season to return for the playoffs game, but the amount of injuries is the concern, especially for a player at his position. In the last couple years, Sanders has had hamstring, knee and ankle injuries in addition to that broken hand.
After some struggles early in his career, the 2016 second-round pick settled down and became a pretty solid starting left guard for the Eagles in 2018 and 2019. But he managed to play just nine games in 2020 and suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 3 of the 2021 season. And once rookie Landon Dickerson got into that spot, he played extremely well and now the Eagles aren’t moving him from that position. They hope he’ll hold down the left guard spot for the next decade.
So that leaves Seumalo, 28, as the favorite to win the right guard spot as he comes back from a very serious injury. Not only does Seumalo have to prove that he’s capable of playing on the right side of the line, but he also has to prove that he’s worth his $5.65 million base salary. He also has to prove that he’s fully recovered from the Lisfranc injury and can stay healthy, something he hasn’t been able to do in recent seasons.
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2022-06-23T11:09:05Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Eagles 2022 season: 5 offensive players with something to prove
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A surprise safety lands on list of Eagles’ most important players originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
22. Marcus Epps
Marcus Epps didn’t give Jonathan Gannon a choice. The Eagles probably didn’t want to implement a three-man safety rotation in 2021, but Epps was too good to keep on the bench.
Eventually, Epps ended up playing 45% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps last year and is in line for an even bigger role in 2022.
Epps, 26, was initially a sixth-round pick of the Vikings out of Wyoming in 2019. When he was released halfway through his rookie season, the Eagles claimed him and he’s been climbing the depth chart the last two years. In the last two seasons, Epps has played in 30 games with 8 starts and he figures to be a full-time starter in his fourth NFL season.
This offseason, the Eagles re-signed Anthony Harris to a one-year contract but let Rodney McLeod walk in free agency. Based on McLeod’s deal with the Colts, that wasn’t about money. And even if the Eagles had made a big splash for a safety in free agency, don’t be so sure Epps is the guy who would have been sent to the bench. Because, despite his limited role last year, Epps was the Eagles’ best safety.
He ended last season with 62 tackles, 5 pass breakups and an interception. And he was ranked as ProFootballFocus’s 18th-best safety last year, well ahead of McLeod (43) and Harris (53).
The big question about Epps isn’t whether or not he was good last year. It’s this: Can he be as good in an expanded role? No one really knows the answer.
What’s the challenge for him as he takes the next step in his career?
“Just like any young player, a guy that hasn't been a full-time starter, is just consistency,” Gannon said last month. “He's played at a high level the times that he's played for us, and you have to be able to do that over the long-haul snap after snap. Really excited to see him play this year.
“That's just the thing is just one snap at a time and being a consistent football player and executing at a high level with everything that we ask the safety position to do.”
The fact that the Eagles were at least somewhat interested in some free agent safeties this offseason shows that they didn't love running it back with Harris and Epps. Recently, they added Jaquiski Tartt on a one-year deal and it’s unclear how he’ll fit into the defense. Tartt push for a starting gig and will at least provide some much-needed depth.
But that doesn’t mean the Eagles don’t like Epps. Heck, my guess is even if the Eagles signed a big-time free agent like Marcus Williams or Tyrann Mathieu, Epps still would have played. It’s just that without that big signing, it makes his role that much more important. And if you think Tartt is going to get playing time, don’t be so sure it’ll be at Epps’ expense.
“The coaches, they’ve expressed confidence in me,” Epps said this spring. “Obviously, I have a lot of confidence in myself. But just like any other year, man, I still have to come in and prove it. I still have a lot to prove.”
Epps this season is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract and has a base salary of less than $1 million in 2022. So if he has a big season, he’ll probably cash in as a free agent.
The Eagles will be rooting for him.
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2022-06-23T11:09:11Z
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Eagles 2022 season: Marcus Epps on list of most important players
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John Romano, Tampa Bay Times
Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS
“And I love that about the league. And that’s what makes it tougher … but this one is going to sting much more than others … just because it was taking on … it was potentially... I don’t know … It’s hard for me. It’s going to be hard for me to speak. I’ll speak with you (Thursday). You’re going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal. And my heart breaks for the players. Because we probably still should be playing.”
The Buccaneers are moving on from their veteran punter. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Tampa Bay will release Bradley Pinion on Wednesday. The move was expected after the Buccaneers drafted Jake Camarda in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Pinion has been consistent as a punter throughout his career, sporting a 43.7 [more]
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2022-06-23T12:08:24Z
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Lightning game ends in controversy. And now an era could end in heartbreak
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As it turns out, Monahan spoke for just over 40 minutes and outlined a new structure the PGA Tour plans to implement soon.
Here are five key takeaways from his news conference.
FedEx Cup playoff season gets revised for 2023
2021 Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay celebrates with Nikki Guidish and the FedEx Cup on the 18th green after winning during the final round of the 2021 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
At the end of this season, which concludes with the final round of the Tour Championship on Aug. 28, the players ranked No. 125 and better on the FedEx Cup point list will qualify to compete in the first tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs (the FedEx St. Jude Championship) and earn full exemptions on the PGA Tour for next season. But Wednesday, Monahan announced that the number would drop to 70 beginning in 2023.
There will still be three FedEx Cup playoff events, but the top 50 in the point standings will move on to the second round in 2023, and then the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship after round two.
Golfers who fail to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs will need to earn their exemptions for the next season by playing in a series of events in the fall.
The calendar-based season returns
2022 RBC Canadian Open
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2022 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke, Ontario. (Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Starting in the fall of 2013, the PGA Tour adopted a wraparound schedule that ended in the late summer of 2014, but Monahan announced Wednesday that the tour intends to return to a calendar-based season in 2024. That means the 2024 PGA Tour season will start in January and end in late August, making it more condensed.
The advantage of this system, especially for elite players, is golfers can enjoy an off-season and not worry about returning to action in a low FedEx Cup point position.
“Selfishly, for me, I would like an off-season,” Rory McIlroy said Wednesday. “I would like to not turn up in February and be 150th in the FedEx Cup point list because I just didn’t want to play in the fall and I wanted to take some time off and spend some time with my family.”
However, starting in 2023, golfers who make it to the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs will also qualify for a new series of up to three international events held in the fall. These events are expected to be held in Asia, Europe and the Middle East and have purses in the range of $20 million each.
Massive purse increases at eight events
Joaquin Niemann poses with the trophy after winning the 2022 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Californiat. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
Some of the most high-profile events on the PGA Tour will have significantly more prize money available to players starting next season, including the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Memorial Tournament. Those events will go from a total purse of $12 million to $20 million. The Sentry Tournament of Champions will go from $8.2 million to $15 million, the Players Championship will have a purse of $25 million, and the FedEx St. Jude Invitational and BMW Championship will jump to $20 million.
“One of the things that we’ve heard over the last several months from our sponsors is, ‘Please tell us what we can do to help,'” Monahan said. “So the changes that we’re making, which will be roughly $45 million in incremental purse, is coming from a combination of sponsor contribution, you know, ways to continue to sell more within those events themselves, and our reserves.”
No free lunch on the PGA Tour
2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Ian Poulter talks with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during a pro-am prior to the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The LIV Golf Series contracts players to compete in its events, then pays them more based on their performance and the performance of the team they play for that week. However, PGA Tour players earn their money based on how they finish at that week’s tournament.
Over the last few weeks, there have been murmurs that golfers who make it to the PGA Tour should be paid a set amount at the beginning of the season to pay for things like travel and coaching. Asked about that topic, Monahan did not say it was off the table, but did not say it was coming soon.
“The foundation of this tour, the meritocracy of playing on the PGA Tour, how hard it is to get out here, how hard it is to get at the highest level of the game, that is ultimately going to be the attribute,” Monahan said. “That is ultimately going to be the element that will continue to make this tour the greatest tour in the world.”
For players joining the LIV Series, there's no coming back
Brooks Koepka looks on during the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
On June 9, Monahan sent a letter to all PGA Tour members announcing that he had suspended the 17 members who played in the LIV Series event in London, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia. That made them ineligible to play in any PGA Tour-sanctioned events.
As he spoke, LIV Golf took to social media to announce that Brooks Koepka has joined the organization, confirming the speculation and reports that started circulating on Tuesday.
“I laid out on June 9 our position on the players that had signed up for that first event, virtually all of whom made a long-term commitment to play in that series,” Monahan said when asked if he foresaw a way for LIV Golf participants to return to the PGA Tour. “So one event has been played, more are to come, and I think our position there is very well-established as it relates to any players that are going to play in future events.”
Put bluntly, golfers who leave the PGA Tour and compete in LIV Series events don’t have a way back.
Oil extends falls as investors assess recession risks
A retreat in oil prices continued on Thursday as investors reassessed the risks of recession and how fuel demand will be affected by rising interest rates. Brent crude futures fell by $1.47, or 1.3%, to $110.27 by 0949 GMT, having dropped as low as $108.04 earlier in the session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down $1.48, or 1.4%, at $104.71 after touching a session low of $102.32.
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2022-06-23T12:08:30Z
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More money, schedule changes, no way back for LIV golfers: 5 takeaways from Jay Monahan’s press conference at the Travelers
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Rory McIlroy - Rory McIlroy blasts ‘duplicitous’ Brooks Koepka as LIV Series war of words escalates - GETTY IMAGES
Telegraph Sport revealed exclusively on Tuesday that Koepka, the four-time major winner, is the latest big name to have signed a seven-figure, four-year deal with LIV and will appear in next week’s $25 million tournament in Portland, Oregon.
McIlroy is not impressed after Koepka’s previously vocal opposition to the breakaway league.
“I’m surprised at a lot of these guys because they say one thing and then they do another, and I don’t understand,” McIlroy said on Wednesday. “I don’t know if that’s for legal reasons or if they can’t… But it’s pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing.”
When asked if was referring to what Koepka said a year ago or a month ago, McIlroy replied: “The whole way through, in public and private – all of it.”
Telegraph Sport has learned that, as recently as 10 days ago, Koepka assured a PGA Tour colleague that he would not be joining LIV and that chimed with his statements to the media.
Last week he accused reporters of casting “a black cloud” over the US Open, by asking him about LIV, claiming that his inquisitors were giving the series “legs” by continuing to cover it.
Previously he told Associated Press: “I have a hard time believing golf should be about just 48 players. Money’s not going to make me happy. I just want to play against the best. If somebody gave me $200 million tomorrow it’s not going to change my life. I have enough to retire tomorrow. I just want to play golf.”
Koepka, 32, also expressed doubt that playing in the LIV series would keep the players “sharp” for the majors. However, the up-front cheque from the organisers – believed to be more than £100 million – was clearly too much to resist.
Brooks Koepka - Rory McIlroy blasts ‘duplicitous’ Brooks Koepka as LIV Series war of words escalates - GETTY IMAGES
McIlroy has taken one of the hardest stances amongst those remaining loyal to the PGA Tour, calling Phil Mickelson, LIV’s de facto on-course leader, in February “egotistical, selfish and ignorant”. But now it seems as if there is wider anger within the PGA Tour and DP World Tour locker room and their players are beginning to turn on the LIV rebels in bigger numbers.
Justin Thomas, the world No 7, took a swipe at Koepka linking up with his long-time nemesis Bryson DeChambeau, posting a picture of the pair above a message saying “Couldn’t LIV without each other,” while Eddie Pepperell, the DP World Tour winner, admitted in an interview at the weekend that it has affected his friendship with Laurie Canter, who played in the first LIV event in Hertfordshire two weeks ago. Pepperell also said that “Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter don’t give a s---” about the impact this might have on the career of younger players.
Far from railing against this sort of infighting and the escalation of a civil war in the famously genteel sport, Monahan made it clear in a mandatory players’ meeting at the Travelers Championship on Tuesday that he wanted his members to “get off the fence and fight for your Tour”.
Monahan issued immediate and indefinite bans to the 17 Tour players who teed it up in Hemel Hempstead, and in an email to the players on Wednesday, Monahan cryptically said “invest in your organisation”.
With Koepka making it four members of the world’s top 25 on the LIV roster – Mexican Abraham Ancer was unveiled on Tuesday, with Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen in the inaugural event – Monahan’s angst is obvious as it is understandable. Of the past 21 majors, nine have been won by LIV golfers.
LIV finally made Koepka’s move official, issuing a press release on Wednesday afternoon, at the exact time Monahan was starting a press conference at TPC River Highlands. Monahan, who attended Koepka's wedding last month, did not hold back.
“If this is an arms race, and if the only weapons here are dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf,” he told journalists.
“We welcome good healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It’s an irrational threat.”
A fortnight ago, Monahan declared that LIV is “just money, money, money” fitting in with his plea for pros to think of their legacies and not their fortunes. However, the overhaul Monahan is introducing is transparently ensuring that the top players are better rewarded and hence will not be so inclined to run for the Saudi millions. Monahan outlined the changes, revealed by Telegraph Sport earlier this week.
Jay Monahan - Rory McIlroy blasts ‘duplicitous’ Brooks Koepka as LIV Series war of words escalates - GETTY IMAGES
First, there is a huge $54million increase in purses for eight chosen events, ranging from a $5million rise to $25million for the Players Championship and an $8million rise to $20million for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Second, there will be formation of a three-tournament Fall Series that will also boast purses in the $20million to $25million range and, more pointedly, only contain the top 50 players in that year’s FedEx Cup points standings. Lke in the LIV series, it will not have a cut.
Third, the PGA Tour season will no longer be a wraparound season, but instead run from January to August from 2024. The last months of the year will not only feature the Fall Series, but also tournaments in which players who did not make the limited events do battle to retain their playing privileges.
This will please those such as McIlroy, who has stated his desire “to have an off season”. However, how that will affect the DP World Tour’s Race To Dubai run-in from September to November remains to be seen.
This will be deemed the day when the PGA Tour hit back, but Monahan knows that in his mission to arrest the LIV drain, he needs the majors to back him and shut their doors on the rebels.
The R&A confirmed on Wednesday that every player who has qualified will be allowed to play in next month’s Open Championship at St Andrews. That means no LIV bans. But Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, who has made little secret of his views on LIV, made a thinly-veiled swipe towards Greg Norman’s enterprise in the statement’s concluding sentence.
“We will invest the proceeds of the Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf, which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now,” he said.
Norman, the LIV chief executive, later taunted Monahan. “The Tour today has made the case for LIV Golf,” Norman said in a statement sent to Telegraph Sport. “They have underpaid players for years, failed to innovate and today confirmed that LIV’s format is better... Instead of banning players, the Tour should now work on co-existing with us. After all, we are just getting started.”
Serena Williams’ competitive preparation for Wimbledon will amount to two doubles matches. A right knee injury to Williams’ doubles partner, Ons Jabeur, led to them withdrawing from the grass-court event in Eastbourne, the WTA said Thursday.
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2022-06-23T12:08:36Z
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Rory McIlroy blasts ‘duplicitous’ Brooks Koepka as LIV Series war of words escalates
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After two years of cancellations, music fans could experience a mixture of relief and anxiety.
"How do you move your body like that?"
She consulted her therapist and her sister on the perfect time.
13 of the most beautiful 'Bachelor' wedding dresses in the show's history
The "Bachelor" franchise has led to multiple weddings. We chose some of Bachelor Nation's most beautiful wedding dresses.
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2022-06-23T12:08:43Z
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U.S. Swimmer Anita Alvarez Blacks Out Underwater At World Championships, Saved By Coach
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American football player, quarterback, Pro Football Hall of Fame member
Wednesday was an extremely tough day for the Baltimore Ravens organization, as they learned about the loss of one of their active linebackers, Jaylon Ferguson, who passed at just 26 years old.
Then, hours later, it was announced that legendary Ravens defensive tackle Tony Siragusa had also passed away at 55.
After spending his collegiate days at Pittsburgh, Siragusa spent 12 years in the NFL, five of which were with Baltimore. He was part of the Ravens’ Super Bowl 35 win over the New York Giants.
After the announcement of Siragusa’s passing, Miami Dolphins special advisor and former Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino posted a tribute to his fellow Pittsburgh alumni on social media.
We lost a great one today and I’m truly devastated. Goose was the best. He made the most out of every moment, made sure everyone around him always had a smile on their face, and had a heart of gold. The Siragusa family is in our prayers. Rest In Peace, brother. pic.twitter.com/dVEfRRwSWV
— Dan Marino (@DanMarino) June 22, 2022
While Marino and Siragusa never shared a locker room, there was clearly a bond between the two that had likely been built up through their years in the league and post-playing media careers.
A day like Wednesday is another reminder to take be kind to one another and take advantage of opportunities to make memories with loved ones because they could be taken at any moment.
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2022-06-23T12:44:45Z
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Dan Marino posts heartfelt tribute to the late Tony Siragusa
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This weekend, NASCAR’s premier series returns to Nashville Superspeedway for just the second time.
The Cup Series heads back to the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Lebanon, Tennessee, for the Ally 400 on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) after the series’ off weekend.
Just 10 races remain in the regular season. The final stretch before the playoffs begins now.
GETTING REPS
Drivers will get a full 50-minute practice session to open their weekend on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN).
Nashville marks the fifth of six race tracks to host an extended practice session this year and the last until Championship Weekend kicks off at Phoenix Raceway in November.
Friday’s racing rehearsal will be followed up by single-lap, single-car qualifying on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. ET, USA, MRN). The fastest five drivers from Group A and the fastest five from Group B will advance to the second round of qualifying, where those 10 drivers will post one more timed lap. The fastest of those 10 will start Sunday’s race from the pole position.
RELATED: See this week’s qualifying order | Weekend schedule | Cup Series standings
NASCAR IN NASHVILLE
— Nashville Superspeedway’s 1.33-mile concrete oval layout sits 30 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee.
— The track opened in 2001 and was owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. until Speedway Motorsports purchased Dover and its properties in December 2021.
— Myriad series races at Nashville from its debut year forward, including the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, ARCA East and IndyCar. Xfinity races twice annually at the track from 2002-11. Trucks, meanwhile, competed once a year from 2001-09 and added a second date for the 2010-11 seasons after the closure of Memphis Motorsports Park.
— The track was put up for sale in 2012 after Dover Motorsports decided it would no longer sanction NASCAR races at the facility.
— Nashville remained available for private use and became a popular NASCAR testing facility and venue for commercial and film opportunities.
— NASCAR held its season-ending banquet in Nashville in 2019, bolstering the sport’s return to the area.
— The Cup Series made its debut at the track in June 2021, the track’s first NASCAR race weekend since 2011.
While there is plenty of “new” in 2022, NASCAR Cup Series teams enter this weekend with a good notebook on these tires, according to Goodyear.
The tire combination used this weekend is the same combination teams competed with at both Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, the left-side tire compound was utilized at Dover Motor Speedway while the right-side compound was used at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In a press release, Goodyear noted its minimum recommended air pressure for left-rear tires was “of particular importance” this week, re-emphasizing the higher loads impacting that corner of the car compared to the previous generation car. Setup components will also affect how the tires wear throughout the weekend.
“Every time we race on a concrete track, like the one we have at Nashville this week, we design our tires to specifically lay rubber on the surface,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear‘s director of racing. “Rubbering in the primary groove helps the racing by causing drivers to move around to find the grip provided by fresher concrete. As we come back from an off weekend for the Cup cars, having a full practice, it will be important for teams to find the right balance in their car set-ups on the left rear of the car. Having an established tire set-up they have run before should help them with that.”
NASHVILLE STORY LINES
— Kyle Larson is the defending race winner, leading 264 of 300 laps in last year’s inaugural Nashville race.
— Aric Almirola won the pole for last year’s race, which featured 11 cautions and an average green-flag stretch of 20 laps.
— Twelve different drivers have gone to Victory Lane in 2022, leaving just four playoff positions available with 10 races to go in the regular season.
— Four drivers (Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez) have collected their first career wins this year, the most in 16 races since 1950.
— Of the eight active Cup champions, only Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski have yet to win in 2022. They have combined for just six top fives.
— Harvick is in the midst of a 59-race winless streak, the second longest of his career.
— The longest top-10 streak this season is five (Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott).
— Michael McDowell’s six top 10s and 38 laps led this year are career-high marks.
With just one Cup race in the books at Nashville, there’s not a lot of data to rely on for this week’s favorites.
But it should come as no surprise Kyle Larson is BetMGM’s opening favorite at 5-1 odds after his dominant 2021 performance. Anytime one driver manages to lead 88% of the race and finish the job with a win, leaving them off your bet slip or fantasy team the next time around is a bad move.
Kyle Busch (7-1) has two Xfinity wins and a Truck Series triumph on his Nashville resume, but the two-time Cup champ finished 11th at Nashville last season. Chase Elliott (9-1) earned a Dover win in May, conquering the concrete in Delaware for his first win of the year. Will that translate to success in Nashville on Sunday?
Ross Chastain (8-1) earned a season-best runner-up finish at Nashville a season ago. Now a two-time Cup race winner, Chastain enters as a known threat for this week’s checkered flag.
RELATED: Betting odds for Nashville
Suárez vs. Chastain: Who wins in Nashville? - Powered By PickUp
The 2022 Fantasy Live points leaders are Chase Elliott (530), Ross Chastain (509) and Kyle Busch (506).
Mark Galloway Shootout at Evergreen Speedway: TV channel, live stream, schedule, more for 2022
The arrival of summer in the Pacific Northwest coincides with Evergreen Speedway’s first tentpole event of the season: the Mark Galloway Shootout. Dubbed “the Superspeedway of the West” by late NASCAR champion David Pearson, Evergreen Speedway boasts a proud history that dates back to its grand opening in 1954. The track hosted six NASCAR Camping […]
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2022-06-23T15:13:23Z
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Nashville 101: Story lines, qualifying format, history and more
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Stewart-Haas Racing has made changes to Kevin Harvick’s pit crew ahead of Sunday’s Cup race at Nashville Superspeedway (5 p.m. ET on NBC), the team confirmed.
The move comes following critical comments by Harvick about the pit crew in two of the last three races. The former Cup champion trails teammate Aric Almirola by seven points for what would be the final playoff spot. Ten races remain in the regular season.
“We need to win a race,” crew chief Rodney Childers told NBC Sports. “We kind of feel like if you don’t win a race, you might not get in (the playoffs). You can’t really give up a lot of spots on pit road and still try to win races.”
Daniel Coffey becomes the front tire changer for Harvick’s team. Brandon Banks is the team’s new jackman. Daniel Smith (rear tire changer), Jeremy Howard (tire carrier) and Evan Marchal (fueler) remain on the team.
Coffey and Banks both come from teammate Chase Briscoe’s pit crew. Briscoe has a win that puts him in a playoff spot.
Shayne Pipala, who had been the front tire changer on Harvick’s team, moves to Briscoe’s team. Stan Doolittle, who had been the jackman for Harvick’s team, moves to the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing team of Cody Ware. Stewart-Haas Racing supplies pit crew members for RWR.
One other change is that Matthew Schlytter takes over as jackman for Briscoe’s team. He had most recently been on the crew servicing Ware’s car.
Harvick’s frustration with his pit crew’s performance has been building in recent weeks.
His final pit stop at Sonoma was 22 seconds, according to Racing Insights. He had been running third before the final pit stop. After the pit cycle ended, he was seventh.
He also expressed his frustration with the crew after finishing third in the Coca-Cola 600: “We went to the back five times for bad pit stops. … after I hit the wall I got a lot tighter and then every time we’d make it up, we’d just fall on our face on pit road and go to the back again.”
NASCAR weekend schedule: Nashville NASCAR Hall of Famer Bruton Smith passes away Drivers to watch in NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville
Stewart-Haas Racing makes changes to Kevin Harvick’s pit crew originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, whose feature debut “Pamfir” premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section, and director and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov (“Rhino”) are among the Ukrainian filmmakers who say they’re “distraught” by the inclusion of a Russian film in the main competition at the Transilvania Film Festival. In a statement posted on Monday to the Facebook […]
McLaren isn't done with Felix Rosenqvist and on Thursday signed the Swedish driver to a multi-year contract extension. The team just didn't designate where Rosenqvist will drive. McLaren indicated Rosenqvist could be shifted to its new Formula E program when it launches in 2023.
Grandview Avenue between 1st and 5th avenues is regarded as one of the most popular dining and shopping areas in Columbus, but for many years it was ignored.
O. Bruton Smith, who emerged from North Carolina farm country and parlayed his love of motorsports into a Hall of Fame career as one of the biggest track owners and most successful promoters in the history of auto racing, died Wednesday. “You can't fight your mom and God, so I stopped driving.”
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2022-06-23T15:13:29Z
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Stewart-Haas Racing makes changes to Kevin Harvick’s pit crew
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Payne breaks down plan for Steph's offseason training program originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After a long and physically demanding NBA Finals run, Steph Curry will take plenty of time off to relax before he begins preparing for the next season.
His personal trainer, Brandon Payne, joined 95.7 The Game's "Steiny & Guru" on Wednesday, where he explained why Curry has been able to withstand the physical toll of the NBA for so many years and how growing into his body late in his career has extended his shelf life as a superstar in the league.
"We were able to collaborate and work closely with the Warriors' strength staff to create more of a 12-month approach as opposed to kind of an in-season/off-season approach," Payne said. "And through that, we've been able to get a lot more detailed and been a lot more focused on certain things. Yeah, he's added some strength, he's added a little bit of size, but some of it also has to do with the fact that he's coming into that grown-man body now and he's just doing it a little bit later than a few guys have. Most guys typically get into this grown-man body around 27, 28, 29. He just got to it around 33, 34. And that bodes well for his future, that tells you he's still got a lot left in the tank."
Curry battled and overcame injuries throughout the season, playing an additional two months on his way to winning his fourth championship in eight seasons and his first Finals MVP Award. His body needs a break and plenty of time to rest before ramping back up for a quick turnaround with training camp set to begin late summer/early fall.
"He'll take a significant amount of time off right now," Payne revealed. "He'll probably take the next two, three weeks and really not do much of anything before the Tahoe golf tournament. The Tahoe golf tournament kind of signifies the end of his vacation, the time I start heading up there and set up camp pretty much until training camp. He'll take the next few weeks.
"We have kind of a steady ramping-up period. We'll start the first week and we'll go four days and we'll go four days the first two weeks and then we'll probably add a fifth day around week three, week four. We might get to a sixth day around week five and then he'll take another two-week vacation where he'll take a family vacation and then when he comes back, instead of starting at a four-day work week we'll start a five-day work week, we'll stay there for about 10-14 days and then we'll ramp back up to a six-day work week."
Curry's year-round training has played a major role in his longevity and continued success on the court. And this offseason will be no different.
For now, though, he'll take all the time he needs to rest up before the grind truly begins later this summer.
Former Purdue basketball star Caleb Swanigan has died at 25, the Allen County Coroner's office confirmed Tuesday.
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2022-06-23T15:18:15Z
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Steph Curry to take 'significant time off' after NBA Finals, trainer says
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The Houston Astros are 43-25. They lead the AL West by 10 games. That's an amazing start.
They're still 7.5 games behind the New York Yankees for best record in the American League.
The Astros and Yankees start a series on Thursday. It's a showdown between division leaders, but it's hard to see both teams as equals.
The Yankees are 51-18, an absolutely incredible record as we near the midpoint of the season. The Yankees are -130 favorites over the Astros at BetMGM, and maybe that's not short enough odds. It's not like anyone is beating the Yankees lately. They're on pace for 120 wins. The 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners share the single-season record with 116 wins.
Obviously, the Yankees have been good to bettors too. Covers.com tracks how much money a team would make for a hypothetical bettor who bets $100 on every game, and the Yankees would have made a $1,414 profit for that bettor. That's the top mark in baseball, which is impressive considering that the Yankees are usually favored and often have to lay a large number. But they just keep winning, regardless of the odds.
Perhaps the Astros can slow the Yankees down. They are a good team, with Framber Valdez and his 2.78 ERA on the mound Thursday. But it's really hard to bet against the Yankees this season. Bettors have lost a lot of money if they've been trying.
New York Yankees' Jose Trevino tosses his bat after hitting a two-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Here's the first look at the sports betting slate for Thursday:
College World Series has a big game
Oklahoma has a spot in the final championship series of the College World Series. Ole Miss nearly joined them, but they couldn't tie Wednesday's game against Arkansas despite loading the bases in the ninth inning. Arkansas won, setting up a winner-take-all game Thursday. The winner goes on to meet Oklahoma for the CWS championship. Arkansas is a small favorite to beat Ole Miss again and advance.
WNBA has four games
There's a four-pack of WNBA games, if you don't love baseball. The best game is the Washington Mystics at the Seattle Storm. The Storm is a 2.5-point favorite.
MLB has 10 games
The biggest game among the 10 in MLB, other than Astros-Yankees, is the final game of the NL Central showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. The teams came in tied for first place, Milwaukee won the opener and then St. Louis won the next two games. The Brewers are a slight -115 favorite in the final game, which has big ramifications in the standings.
It feels square to take the Yankees, especially when they're favored just about every night. But when an MLB team is winning 73.9 percent of the time, it's OK to keep putting your money on them until they cool off. Let's go with the Yankees to keep rolling against the Astros.
Isaac Paredes homered in his first three at-bats and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 5-4 on Tuesday night, handing New York only its third loss in 20 games. Paredes combined with Harold Ramirez for back-to-back homers in the first off Nestor Cortes, then put the Rays ahead 3-2 in the third and added a two-run drive in the fifth on the first pitch after Clarke Schmidt relieved. It was just the second multihomer game for Paredes, who hit two against Detroit on May 18.
Muhammad to miss US trials, rest injury for World 400m hurdles defense
Dalilah Muhammad, the reigning 400m hurdles world champion and gold medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will miss the US trials with a hamstring injury that she expects to be healed in time for her title defense.
White Sox vs Orioles Betting Forecast for Jun 23
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Chicago White Sox host the Baltimore Orioles
Katie Ledecky broke the female record with her 21st career world swimming championships medal, a gold as part of the U.S. 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh won the women’s 200 butterfly for her first title at the world swimming championships on Wednesday before 17-year-old Romanian David Popovici claimed his second. Popovici won the men‘s 100 freestyle to add to the 200 freestyle he won on Monday.
Here's Auburn athletics record vs. every SEC school in 2021-22 across all sports
Auburn topped eight SEC schools in head-to-head competition in 2021-22. The Tigers had a winning record against rivals Alabama and Georgia, among others.
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2022-06-23T15:18:22Z
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The Daily Sweat: Red-hot Yankees face a tough Astros team
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NEW YORK — The day is finally here. The 2022 NBA draft is 8 p.m. Thursday and, if they keep the pick, all signs point to the Magic selecting Auburn's Jabari Smith at No. 1 overall.
"What makes him No. 1? For his size, he’s the best jump shooter I’ve seen in college in over 20 years," Pearl told Yahoo Sports. "He’s about as ready, as far as a one-and-done, than I’ve ever seen and he is going to make Orlando win."
Smith has been touted as the best shooting big in this draft with an impressive 42% mark from deep at Auburn. Orlando desperately needs help from beyond the perimeter, connecting on just 33% of their 3-point attempts last season.
"His approach to the game and his mentality is like nothing I've seen before," Pearl told Yahoo Sports. "You can’t be that good of a jump shooter without the mental toughness to want the shot, to take the shot and believe it’s going in every time it leaves your hand. It’s the same ball flight, it’s the same rotation every single time. And that’s what the great ones have."
Smith didn't enter the season with the same NBA hype as Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, but he was on scouts' radar. Pearl knew Smith was talented and knew he had a great player, but it was after a double-overtime loss to UConn at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament when Pearl knew Smith could go No. 1 in the draft. Smith finished with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
"That UConn game changed everything," Pearl told Yahoo Sports, shaking his head. "That’s when I knew and really had to tell myself, ‘OK, this one is different.’ All he did was build on it from there. Throughout the entire season, I had the best player on the court every single night in Jabari Smith."
If Smith does hear his name called first, he will be the first player to be the No. 1 pick in Auburn program history.
"Auburn was home for me and still is home so it would be a big deal to write my name in history forever," Smith told Yahoo Sports.
"When you walk into our locker room, one of the first things you see on the wall is a sign that says, 'Make history,'" Pearl told Yahoo Sports. "We put that up years ago because there has been great history tradition of Auburn basketball and I wanted guys to come to Auburn to try to add to that history. Making the Final Four in 2019, being the best team in the country this past season for a month. Those things are historical. Jabari, possibly being the first No. 1 pick in school history ... man, it's just what we're here to do. We're here to win championships and we're here to get the guys from here to there [the NBA]."
Pearl will be at the Barclays Center and will shine like the proud coach he is. Auburn center Walker Kessler is also projected to go in the first round, so it's a big night for Auburn basketball.
In years past, it's been a different SEC program and head coach who take the spotlight in the green room with multiple first-round picks and the potential No. 1 overall pick. John Calipari and Kentucky have had three No. 1 picks in the last 12 years. It'll be a quieter year with just one potential lottery pick in Shaedon Sharpe (who didn't play a single minute at Kentucky) and combo guard TyTy Washington, who's a projected late first-round pick.
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and forward Jabari Smith, who is the projected No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, during the 2022 NCAA men's tournament. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Pearl is never one to shy away from the cameras, but insists he's taking a step back and letting Smith's family enjoy the moment.
"I’m going to stay as far away from the camera as possible," Pearl told Yahoo Sports, while laughing. "For me, it’s always about seeing grandma and seeing mom and dad. His high school and AAU coach, you know? I really want to watch them enjoy it and honestly it’s about them, it’s about their family."
If Smith is selected by the Magic, he would be joining another Auburn player, Chuma Okeke, something Pearl is very excited about.
"I should be able to get a pretty good seat," Pearl told Yahoo Sports, laughing. "I guess I’ll call [general manager] John Hammond and say, ‘What do you think, John? Can you help a brother out?’ "
On Wednesday, Smith appeared very calm and relaxed. Something rare for a player about to be drafted to the NBA in less than 24 hours. "I'm ready and I'm excited," Smith told Yahoo Sports. "I feel good about wherever I go and I'm ready to get to work."
Smith followed up with Yahoo Sports senior NBA insider Chris Haynes, saying he'd be surprised if he didn't go No. 1. “It’s just my competitive nature mixed with my unselfishness and my ability to just shoot the ball, defend multiple positions and care about winning,” Smith said. vI don’t care about stats. I feel I can help any team right away. But I feel I’m the No. 1 pick.”
All signs point to the Magic taking Smith, and Pearl is confident he'll have a long, successful career in Orlando.
"Jabari is humble, he's hungry and he's an incredibly hard worker. He’s going to be an NBA All-Star," Pearl told Yahoo Sports. "It's the combination of confidence, preparation and toughness and desire to win that separates him from everyone else. And I mean everyone else. There's no one better in this class."
NBA draft pick: Making the case for No. 1 between Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero
Befimmo appoints new Chief Financial Officer
Befimmo is pleased to announce the appointment of Philippe Berlamont as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Click here to view the press release: Attachment Befimmo SA - New CFO - 230622 - FINAL EN
Mastercard Partners With Timbaland's Beatclub For First-Ever Music Album
Mastercard has made its way into the music industry.
Q with new Kansas State commit Kameron Sallis
New Kansas State safety commit Kameron Sallis speaks to KSO about why the Wildcats were the best spot for him.
Bre Tiesi speaks with ET about her pregnancy journey and expecting Nick Cannon’s eighth child.
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2022-06-23T17:09:42Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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2022 NBA draft: Bruce Pearl confident Jabari Smith will go No. 1 and 'make Orlando win'
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The Bills signed Tavon Austin earlier this month, adding a veteran receiver with significant experience.
It didn’t take Austin long to garner the respect of his teammates in the locker room, according to quarterback Josh Allen.
“When you have some of these young guys in here, they know Tavon Austin from his highlights on YouTube,” Allen said during his minicamp press conference. “I know that I watched those as a kid. As a kid growing up, his college highlights were unbelievable. So I know some of those receivers have so much respect for him already. So when he talks, they listen.”
Allen also noted that Austin had been a “true pro” in his attitude and work ethic since joining the team.
“He’s only been here a couple of weeks, but even in walk-through, how attentive he is — he’s right behind me basically listening to the play call, jogging out, and standing behind someone in front of him going through the play,” Allen said. “You guys saw him in warm-ups, he’s behind the guys catching punts — he’s right there behind them doing all the drills and making it game-like reps. He’s trying to get those reps without actually getting them. So, again, his attention to detail has been awesome.
“His whole approach to guys, how he talks to his teammates, the other receivers is awesome. He’s bringing those guys along. So it’s awesome to have a guy like that, who’s been around the league for a long time, that people respect so much.”
The Rams’ No. 8 overall pick of the 2013 draft, Austin never quite lived up to his draft status. His best season was in 2015 when he recorded 907 yards from scrimmage — 473 receiving, 434 rushing — and nine touchdowns. Austin has since bounced around, spending a pair of years with Dallas, part of the 2020 season with Green Bay, and the 2021 season with Jacksonville.
Last year, Austin recorded 24 catches for 213 yards with a touchdown. He also returned a pair of punts.
The Bills have talent at the top end of their receivers with Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. But Austin could find his way onto the club’s initial 53-man roster with a strong training camp.
Josh Allen: It’s awesome to have a guy like Tavon Austin originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Casey DeSantis, Florida's First Lady, announces a child protective services initiative at a news conference held at the Air Force Armament Museum
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2022-06-23T17:23:10Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Josh Allen: It’s awesome to have a guy like Tavon Austin
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Mac Jones was not the most prolific quarterback in 2021 during his rookie season. His year was, in fact, underwhelming when looking at his counting stats: 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 17 starts.
Had he not won 10 games, there might even be room for concern. But Jones led the team to the playoffs with a steady and conservative approach as a passer. He may not have the same luxury this year. With the Patriots defense looking less experienced and less talented, New England will need Jones to do more.
So that begs the question: How much more can the Patriots ask of Jones in 2022?
His efficiency was impressive, as noted by the graphic above with a 67.6 completion percentage (8th in the NFL) while putting up 7.3 yards per attempt (14th) in the NFL. The trick with getting more out of Jones will be increasing his number of passes attempted (slightly) while seeing a significant uptick in his yards per attempt. It wouldn’t hurt to see him score a few more passing touchdowns, too.
The team has made personnel moves with the intention of attacking the deep portion of the field — and the end zone. They retained tackle Trent Brown to help protect Jones from EDGE pressure. And while the Patriots lost two starting tackles, they have two starting-caliber replacements: Cole Strange (a 2022 first-round pick) and Michael Onwenu (who started the season at guard in 2021). New England also added a pair of bigger receivers in DeVante Adams and Tyquan Thornton, a 2022 second-round pick with blazing speed.
Every team goes the way of its quarterback. But last year, the Patriots were built to take the pressure off Jones. That’s starting to change in 2022. The offense is bringing him clearer into focus. New England is getting ready to ask more of Jones and so its preparing to support him through that growth process.
Christos Giagos expected to cross paths with Thiago Moises: ‘Stylistically it’s a great matchup for me’
Check out the full 2022 training camp schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This season, the Seminoles will look to have their first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019. Can Treshaun Ward, Lawrance Toafili, others meet the challenge?
We now know at least some of the players headed to Sin City this July.
EXCLUSIVE: Yellowstone co-creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan will direct the pilot of 1883: Bass Reeves, the six-part limited series starring David Oyelowo as the legendary Wild West lawman. Sheridan cleared room in his busy schedule after the pilot script came in and Sheridan was so impressed that he called Oyelowo, who sparked to having him get behind […]
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2022-06-23T17:23:29Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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How much more can the Patriots ask of Mac Jones in 2022?
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https://sports.yahoo.com/much-more-patriots-ask-mac-161123274.html?src=rss
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We have officially reached the slowest part of the NFL calendar. Minicamps and OTAs are done, but we're still about a month away from training camps opening up. While we don't expect much news from the NFL until training camp begins, there is a belief that we're nearing a decision on a potential suspension for Browns' quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson has not played since 2020, due to a combination of his dissatisfaction with the Houston Texans and what is now 26 allegations of sexual misconduct. The Browns decided that Watson's talent was worth the risk and subsequent PR nightmare, and traded for him in March. Just a few days ago, Watson settled 20 of his cases, but he's not out of the woods. It's not believed that settling his cases will have any impact on a potential suspension. Over the weekend, it was reported by the Washington Post that the NFL is seeking a full-season suspension for Watson.
While the Watson situation is much bigger than football and betting, there's no denying the impact any news will have on the field and with the betting market. Since the Browns acquired Watson, they've already dropped from 18-to-1 to win the Super Bowl to 25-to-1. They were once favorites to win the AFC North, but now they have the third best odds in the division. While the market has certainly adjusted due to the likely looming suspension, it's not too late to get in on some action. Here's two potentially lucrative ways to fade the Browns before the suspension news drops.
AFC North - Dual Forecast
While the AFC North may not be as hyped as the AFC West or the NFC West, it's still one of the very best divisions in football with four teams that expect to compete. The Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl last season. The Baltimore Ravens were 8-3 at one point before their injuries became too much to overcome. Mike Tomlin hasn't had a losing record with the Steelers since taking over in 2007.
Deshaun Watson should be suspended by the NFL in the coming weeks. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Even if Deshaun Watson was absolved and played all 17 games, you'd be able to make a very good case that the Ravens and Bengals are the two best teams in this division. If Jacoby Brissett starts a lot of games for the Browns this season, it's hard to envision a world where they can compete with two very good teams. He averaged 5.7 yards per attempt this past season with Miami in five starts. There is no downfield threat at all with Brissett, which will allow teams to stack the box and hone in on the Browns' run game.
Currently at BetMGM, you can bet that the Ravens and Bengals will occupy the top two seeds in the AFC North. This is the chalkiest bet in the market, but it still pays out at +175 which is more than good enough.
Browns to finish last in division
Last season, the Cleveland Browns finished the season with an 8-9 record, which tied them with Baltimore for the worst record in the AFC North. This season, the Steelers are prohibitive -190 favorites to finish the season in the basement of the division. The Browns are +400 to finish in last place.
Baker Mayfield played through injury from Week 2 on in 2021, which severely impacted his play and the Browns' ability to win. There were questions about whether Mayfield is a franchise quarterback to begin the season anyway, which is the main reason why the Browns went out and acquired Watson. However, even while playing with a torn labrum and other injuries, Mayfield is a better quarterback than Jacoby Brissett. So with the Watson suspension looming, it appears the Browns will play a sizable part of their season with Brissett under center. This would mean that rather than improving their biggest question mark, they downgraded.
The Steelers are the favorites to finish in last place, but they're coming off a nine-win season and a playoff berth. The combination of Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett can't be worse than the version of Ben Roethlisberger we saw last season. As mentioned above, Mike Tomlin's teams are always in the mix. We saw him coach a team with Duck Hodges to an 8-8 record a few years ago. If you're giving me Jacoby Brissett and Kevin Stefanski at +400 to finish below Mike Tomlin, I'm taking it all day long.
The Ravens finished last in the division in 2021, but it's really hard to envision that repeating itself. In fact, the Ravens are the current betting favorites to win the division at +165. They were 8-3 last season before injuries to Lamar Jackson and a boatload of other important players submarined their season. As long as Baltimore doesn't have another catastrophic season on the injury front, they'll avoid the basement.
A lot of people around the NFL expect the Bengals to take a step backwards in 2022, and that's not a terrible take. They did win the AFC last year; it'd be easy to take a step back from that. However, with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase another year older, I certainly don't expect them to fall into the basement of the division.
If we're banking on a lengthy suspension for Watson and a lot of Jacoby Brissett under center for the Browns this season, then +400 odds to finish last in the division seems like a good bet to make.
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2022-06-23T17:23:35Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL betting: Betting on a lengthy Deshaun Watson suspension
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From the start of the NFL draft to the end of it, only one division saw the favorite change in the odds at BetMGM.
The A.J. Brown trade was a pretty big deal.
The Tennessee Titans decided they didn't want to pay Brown, one of the NFL's most talented receivers, so they traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. They used the first-round pick they acquired in the trade to take receiver Treylon Burks, but we don't know if Burks can be anywhere near as good as Brown, especially as a rookie.
That's why the Titans moved from AFC South betting favorite to second in line.
Colts, Titans lead AFC South odds
The Indianapolis Colts took over the top spot in the AFC South betting odds after the Titans traded Brown. Here are BetMGM's odds to win the AFC South:
Colts +105
Titans +125
The Titans didn't slip too far, but it's still significant that they aren't favored anymore. Last season the Titans won the AFC South despite a ton of key injuries so you can't count them out, but they are thin in the passing game. Derrick Henry will be back, but it's worth wondering if last season's injury is a bad sign for a running back who has had an incredible amount of touches in his career and is now 28 years old.
The Colts had a disappointing 2021 season, missing the playoffs with an astonishing loss in the finale to the Jaguars, but they think they fixed a problem by swapping quarterbacks. Carson Wentz is out and Matt Ryan is in. The Colts have a good roster and if the quarterback change is an upgrade, they're a rightful favorite in the division.
Derrick Henry and the Titans are trying to repeat as AFC South champions. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Jaguars, Texans still building
Picking the AFC South is easier than some divisions because you can reasonably eliminate two teams.
Maybe you are a believer in the Jaguars, and that's fine. Trevor Lawrence was a generational prospect for a reason. Jacksonville has added talent in the offseason. The Urban Meyer hire was such an unmitigated disaster that perhaps all the bad things that happened last season can be attributed to a coach that has already been fired, and new coach Doug Pederson can completely turn things around. It still feels like any big jump for the Jaguars is a year away, but a bet on them at their odds isn't crazy.
It's a lot harder to talk yourself into the Texans being a big surprise. They were probably fortunate to go 4-13 last season with a severely undermanned roster, then fired coach David Culley to replace him with Lovie Smith. There wasn't a huge infusion of talent in the offseason. It would be a surprise — and likely an indictment of the direction the Jaguars are headed — if the Texans don't finish in last place.
Unless the Jaguars make a huge leap (again, Meyer was so bad that it's possible the Jaguars are six or seven wins better just by removing him), the AFC South looks like a two-team race. The difference in who wins might be the receiver the Titans shipped off to Philadelphia.
Nashville Predators owner Herb Fritch assessed state of the franchise on same day former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam addressed buying a majority stake.
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2022-06-23T17:23:41Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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NFL division betting: Colts, Titans vie for AFC South title
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Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon took a big jump as a second-year player in 2021, but his goal for improving in 2022 can be summed up in three letters: APB.
No, not “all-points bulletin.”
All-purpose back.
The 247-pounder wants to be a running back who can be on the field in any situation and contribute in every way possible.
“It’s definitely something I’m still trying to work on,” Dillon said earlier this month. “Coming in, I was always the big back, and still am to a lot of people, the big back, only good for third-and-short. I really want to be — and I see myself as — an ‘APB’, all-purpose back, no matter what the situation. Last year was a good start…I’m happy with the improvement, but obviously still working on it.”
To Dillon, becoming more well-rounded means improving as a runner, receiver and pass blocker. It’s about becoming more and more comfortable on the mental side of the game and striving to be perfect in all areas, including the passing game.
Last season was a strong step in the right direction. In 2021, Dillon led the team with 803 rushing yards, caught 34 of 37 targets in the passing game and finished with 1,116 total yards and seven total scores.
More opportunities in the receiving game could be coming. After catching 91.9 percent of his targets and averaging 8.5 yards per target, Dillon proved highly capable and efficient as a pass-catcher during his second season. He lamented the three missed targets and said he’s still working on his hands and route-running ability.
Dillon also said there could be more chances to get on the field with Aaron Jones as a tandem in 2022, and both running backs could get more targets now that the Packers have to replace the production of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Along with more production in the passing game, Dillon said he wants to improve in pass protection so he can be on the field in all situations.
“Also pass protection. At BC, I really wasn’t asked to do much in the passing game at all. So just really honing in on that, that’s why I talked so much about the mental piece of understanding defenses so it’s not, ‘Oh snap, he’s coming now!’ Dillon said. “It’s anticipating, if I see a coverage or see a safety move over, being able to anticipate those kind of things.”
Last season, Dillon was on the field for 476 snaps and received 221 total touches. Both numbers could go up, potentially significantly, in 2022.
Becoming an all-purpose back is a sure-fire way of getting on the field more.
“It’s a holistic approach. I’m trying to work on my game altogether,” Dillon said. “Pass protection, pass blocking, even running the ball. Not running straight up, if I ran behind my pads I could get an extra 2-3-5 yards, maybe even a touchdown. Just working on everything.”
Packers RB A.J. Dillon tabbed as one of NFLPA's '2022 Rising Stars'
Matt LaFleur says Packers RB A.J. Dillon is 'just scratching the surface of what he can become'
Football fans from Iowa, Texas, Indiana coming to Canton for USFL 'Super Bowl'
This isn't your dad's USFL. No Doug Flutie. No Herschel Walker. No Steve Young. But fans are thrilled to visit Canton for inaugural USFL playoffs.
What to know from Packers’ training camp schedule in 2022
All the important things to know from the Packers' 2022 training camp schedule, which was released Wednesday.
The Biden administration has pushed a series of policies to address high gasoline prices, but has stopped short of incentivizing domestic oil production growth.
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ bid to repeal the battleground state’s dormant abortion ban failed Wednesday after Republican lawmakers convened and immediately adjourned a special session without taking any action. Wisconsin adopted a ban on abortion except to save the mother's life in 1849, a year after the territory became a state. The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide nullified the ban.
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2022-06-23T17:23:48Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Packers RB A.J. Dillon wants to be an ‘APB, all-purpose back’
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The Houston Texans weren’t done adding veteran talent to the roster as offseason workouts kicked off. After the 2022 NFL draft, the Texans signed former Buffalo Bills defensive ends Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes.
According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, the Texans’ two-year, $10 million deal with Jerry Hughes — with $5.5 million guaranteed — ranked No. 24 in their list of top-32 contracts across the league this season.
The Texans brought in Hughes to help with the attitude of the defensive line. The former Sugar Land Stephen F. Austin High School product is appreciative of the opportunity to play in his home metro area and show the younger Texans defensive line how to carry themselves as pros.
“I feel like that’s something my game has been about my whole 12 years throughout the league,” Hughes told reporters after organized team activities on June 1 at Houston Methodist Training Center. “So just trying to show those guys that we can be a difference-maker on every down, really. If the offense is out there and we have four guys on the field, let’s just go out there and let’s hunt.”
The Texans and Hughes agreed upon a favorable contract that should allow the 33-year-old to go out and hunt.
David Poile: 'Something has got to give' for Filip Forsberg to sign with Predators
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2022-06-23T17:23:54Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Pro Football Focus lauds Texans’ contract with DE Jerry Hughes
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What a way to make an entrance.
In his first-ever tweet on his verified Twitter page, high school quarterback Arch Manning announced that he has committed to the University of Texas.
Arch is the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the son of Cooper Manning, who was a star high school football player before his career was cut short by spinal stenosis. Cooper’s brothers (Arch’s uncles), Peyton and Eli, each won a pair of Super Bowls as NFL quarterbacks.
Arch is entering his senior season at Isidore Newman, where he’s been starting since his freshman year. He’s scored more than 100 touchdowns over the last three seasons and he’s considered one of the top quarterbacks in high school football.
He’s got a long way to go before potentially becoming an NFL prospect, but Arch intends to continue the Manning football tradition. He’s getting plenty of help from his uncles — Arch flew to Denver last summer to work one-on-one with Peyton, who opted to stay in Colorado after retiring from the NFL in 2016.
The earliest Arch would be eligible for the NFL draft is 2026. First things first, he plans to play college football in Austin, Texas.
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2022-06-23T17:24:00Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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QB prospect Arch Manning commits to University of Texas
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The Indianapolis Colts have a big season coming up in 2022 as they look to fight for the division crown yet again with a new quarterback.
While we made our early predictions on how the Colts will finish the regular season, they will have to get through the gauntlet of quarterbacks on the opposing sidelines.
Here, we are ranking the quarterbacks the Colts will face on the 2022 schedule:
Mahomes is still the gold standard at quarterback, but it will be interesting to see what changes without Tyreek Hill.
Herbert is already on a historic pace to begin his career. That Week 16 matchup might be the biggest on the schedule, all things considered.
Prescott has come into his own as one of the most explosive passers in the game.
You could make an argument that Wilson will finish the year higher than Prescott, and I wouldn’t argue. It all comes down to how much the Broncos let him cook.
Carr is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league and now he gets an elite wide receiver in the form of his old teammate, Davante Adams.
Cousins may not be the most exciting quarterback, and he tends to shrink in the spotlight. But it will be interesting to see how he works in a more pass-heavy scheme.
Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Jones showed a lot of promise during his rookie season and now faces a big prove-it year as he looks to make a tier jump.
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders
Colts fans know the saga of Wentz all too well. He’s not a bad quarterback, but his volatile play can be difficult to contain. There’s no doubt that both sides have Week 8 circled on the calendar.
There was a time when Tannehill was viewed as one of the most underrated passer in the game, but that uber-efficient play fell back down to Earth in 2021.
It’s a big year for Lawrence, who will be looking to avoid the bust label entering his second season.
Mills showed some promise after stepping in as the starter, and the Texans are clearly giving him the chance to prove his worth.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Jones has all the tools to be a good quarterback in the NFL, and maybe new head coach Brian Daboll can unlock that. But after the team declined his fifth-year option, he’s on thin ice.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
It could be Mitchell Trubisky, but that doesn’t change much at all. The Colts should have the advantage at quarterback when these two teams meet in Week 12.
Chiefs’ Trey Smith motivated to make other teams regret passing on him in NFL Draft
The Chiefs’ offensive lineman also talked about playing with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill’s departure and what makes Andy Reid such a great coach.
'Their players couldn't stop him.' Jaden Ivey's road to NBA Draft began in South Bend
South Bend native and former Mishawaka and La Lumiere star Jaden Ivey is expected to a be a top-five pick in Thursday night's 2022 NBA Draft.
Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus are trying to fix a secondary that was torn apart at the seams last year. Enter: Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker.
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2022-06-23T17:24:07Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Ranking the QBs on the Colts’ 2022 schedule
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One of the biggest personalities that the NFL has ever seen has passed away as Tony Siragusa died Wednesday at the age of just 55. He’s remembered as a key part of the dominant Baltimore Ravens defense that captured Super Bowl XXXV. He started his NFL career with the Colts and was also a sideline reporter for NFL coverage on Fox.
Before his NFL career however, Siragusa starred at a rival of Notre Dame’s, as the Goose was a force for Pitt from 1985-1989 before signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Colts. While at Pitt, the Goose delivered an all-time quote that took a rib at Notre Dame and Penn State.
“If I wanted to learn a school song, I would’ve gone to Notre Dame or Penn State. I want to kill people on the football field. That’s why I came to Pitt.” – Tony Siragusa
Regardless of your thoughts on Pitt football, that quote belongs on a t-shirt at the bookstore.
RIP to a great player and all-time personality that went miles in making football fun.
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2022-06-23T17:24:13Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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RIP to Pitt and Ravens great, Tony Siragusa
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Nearly 50 civil and human rights organizations sent a letter to the White House on Wednesday urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to make a deal and bring Brittney Griner back to the United States.
"We join Brittney’s family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones in deep appreciation of your Administration’s ongoing efforts to secure her freedom," the organizations wrote in the one-page letter. "The U.S. Government has acknowledged that Brittney is essentially a political pawn in classifying her as wrongfully detained. While these have been critically important measures, we now urge you to make a deal to get Brittney back home to America immediately and safely."
The letter is signed by 42 organizations, including the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA), the Women's Sports Foundation and the National Women's Law Center. Also included are organizations focused on Black rights, LGBTQA+ advocacy, women's associations and national centers for civil rights. They noted in the letter that she represents the largest celebrations happening this month, including the 50th anniversary of Title IX on Thursday.
"This month our nation honors America’s diverse journey towards freedom, equality, and justice for all with the observation of the Juneteenth Federal holiday, the 50th anniversary of landmark Title IX legislation, and LGBTQ+ Pride. Brittney’s intersectional identity embodies this celebration of America’s strength and diversity. As a celebrated world-class athlete, she also demonstrates the uniquely unifying power of sports. Brittney’s ongoing detention threatens the sanctity of sport and the safety of all athletes traveling to compete internationally."
Griner's detainment reaches 125 days
A fan holds up a sign urging other fans to call and pressure the White House to free seven-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner from Russian custody during the second half of a WNBA basketball game between the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm, Sunday, June 19, 2022, in New York. The Storm won 81-72. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 when she flew to Moscow, Russia, to re-join her UMMC Ekaterinburg club out of the international break. The Phoenix Mercury center has played with the club in the WNBA offseason for a few years now, joining most of the league in supplementing their five-to-low-six figure salaries with ones five-times as large. She has won four Euroleague championships and seven Russian League titles.
"Like many WNBA athletes, Brittney plays abroad during the offseason both for the love of the sport and to supplement her income because of the significant pay gap even the best WNBA athletes face," the organizations wrote in the letter.
Russian custom officials alleged she had vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. She is under investigation for large-scale transportation of drugs and faces up to 10 years in Russian prison if convicted. The U.S. changed her status to "wrongfully detained" last month, a significant development that moved her case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Friends and family were then encouraged to talk about her case and the U.S. government can work on her release.
Her pre-trial detention was extended for a third time this month and now runs through July 2, according to Russian state media. Her case still does not have a trial date and she has been detained for 125 days as of June 23. An expert on Russian military and political strategy told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg he believes the legal proceedings are a negotiation tactic made to look legitimate. Experts have cautioned it could take months for Griner to be released.
Players, fans push for Griner's release
Griner, 31, was named an honorary WNBA All-Star starter on Wednesday, the league announced. The WNBPA shared a tweet of the news with the hashtag, "#WeAreNotThe144WithoutBG." She has been named an All-Star seven times prior and was named to the WNBA's 25th anniversary team last year as one of its 25 greatest players. Players continue to speak out about her detainment after games and on social media.
A wife, daughter, sister, teammate, competitor, community leader, Olympian, (and so much more) has spent over FOUR MONTHS wrongfully detained in a Russian prison. @POTUS @VP @WhiteHouse, bring Brittney Griner home. https://t.co/pDKBc1yn7L https://t.co/LlervjVVXk
— Natalie Achonwa (@NatAchon) June 22, 2022
Cities have held rallies to bring attention to her situation. Fans did so at the Footprint Center, where the Mercury play, this week as well as in Harlem, New York. Trevor Reed, who spent nearly three years as a Russian prisoner and was recently freed, spoke at a rally in Houston earlier this month and explained what conditions are like as a prisoner in Russia, particularly for a prisoner like Griner.
"A government that systemically discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual people under Vladimir Putin and those things obviously are going to make Brittney's time there a lot more difficult," Reed said at the rally, via ABC 7 NY.
The letter by the civil rights organizations identified Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, as an "American hero, wife, daughter, sister, friend, teammate, anti-bullying advocate, Olympian, and WNBA superstar" while noting she "continues to endure inhumane treatment, deprived of contact with her family."
Griner was scheduled to speak with her wife, Cherelle Griner, on Saturday for their four-year wedding anniversary but the U.S. embassy in Moscow was not at the desk to connect them, per the Associated Press. It would have been the first time they spoke since her detainment.
Court rules 6-3 along ideological lines to protect police officers who fail to read suspects their rights at time of arrest
An Arizona drag queen called Trump-endorsed GOP governor primary candidate Kari Lake a "hypocrite" for targeting drag performers, saying she attended his shows.
Sarah Owen has accused Boris Johnson of “spending taxpayers’ money on his girlfriend” as she attacked the prime minister in the House of Commons. The Labour MP made her comments after reports that Downing Street had pressured The Times to drop a story about Carrie Johnson. “This isn’t the first time we’ve heard allegations that the prime minister has sought to use hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ money on his girlfriends,” Ms Owen said.
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2022-06-23T17:57:57Z
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Brittney Griner: Human rights groups call on Biden to make deal
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Former Lady Vols’ basketball player Candace Parker has been selected for the 2022 WNBA All-Star game for the seventh time in her professional career.
Parker, who is in her second year with the Chicago Sky, was named an all-star for the second consecutive season.
The former Lady Vol began her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks and was selected to the All-Star game in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
She is in her 15th WNBA season and was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 WNBA draft.
Parker played at Tennessee from 2004-08 and was a two-time national champion.
The WNBA All-Star game will take place July 10 in Chicago, Illinois. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised by ABC.
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2022-06-23T17:58:03Z
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Candace Parker named to WNBA All-Star game
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As Women's Sports Push for Equality, Media Needs to Follow Suit
Candace Parker: I Wouldn't Be Here Today Without Title IX
Title IX Is Just a Start: Women's Sports Must Now Take On the Market
Thursday marks 50 years of Title IX, changing women's sports forever in the U.S.
"Celebrating Title Nine: How Washington State Sports Changed Forever" airs tonight on FOX 13+ after the Seattle Storm game.
The number of women competing at the highest level of college athletics continues to rise along with an increasing funding gap between men’s and women’s sports programs, according to an NCAA report examining the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The report, released Thursday morning and entitled “The State of Women in College Sports,” found 47.1% of participation opportunities were for women across Division I in 2020 compared to 26.4% in 1982. “It tells you schools are investing a huge amount of money in the moneymakers,” NCAA managing director for the office of inclusion and lead report author Amy Wilson told The Associated Press, referring to football as the primary revenue-generating sport along with men’s basketball.
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2022-06-23T17:58:09Z
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A Letter to a Future WNBA Player on the Anniversary of Title IX
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What Does the Next NBA Phenom Look Like?
Image via Getty/Mark Blinch
In what feels like no time at all, the future of the NBA is staring at us right in the face.
Scottie Barnes acts like the cornerstone of the Raptors. Jalen Green tore it up on the back end of the season at Houston. Cade Cunningham has a license to do what he pleases at Detroit. Miles Bridges can play both sides of the ball for Charlotte. And Josh Giddey throws rocket passes, drops floaters, and has positively changed the way Oklahoma plays.
The next crest of modern NBA players are emerging at light speed. They can hoop. They are armed with length, athleticism, speed, high IQ, defensive chops, long-range shooting. It sounds much the same as what we’re used to seeing in the NBA. But this next generation feels different. At some point, the next wave of young talent will take over from LeBron, Chris Paul, Steph Curry. It just so happens that the time could be now.
So what does the next NBA phenom look like and how will it shape the game?
Chris Walder, host of The Walder Sportscast and former sports writer for TheScore and Bleacher Report, recalls the start of the 2021-22 season when the Raptors picked Scottie Barnes over the much hyped and predicted Jalen Suggs—the latter was thought to be favoured in the post-Lowry era with defensive chops, good range, and smaller build.
Barnes came into his rookie year with an offensive weakness, but had a lot of other traits on his side: athleticism, length, multiple range of skills, size, and the ability to do a lot of different things when he’s on the floor. In his second game he broke out for a 25 point 13 rebound night with one triple. His best game was against the Lakers dropping 31 points 17 rebounds and six assists. During his first 20 games he went 5-from-18 from the arc. But the next three games following that, he went 10-from-21.
Scottie Barnes: 31 PTS, 17 REB, 6 AST vs Lakers.
Rookie of the year? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/TtGOys3IaV
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) March 19, 2022
“I thought it was going to take a long time for him to develop a jumper. This is exactly what Masai Ujiri wanted for this roster. Someone who can run the point but can also defend the center position if need be. Scottie Barnes brought that to the table,” Walder said. “When it was shown that he can bring the ball up the floor and everyone around him was the same size as him it became apparent that not only is this just the future of the Toronto Raptors—how they’re going to run their offense—it’s the future of the NBA.”
A glimpse of the future might arrive this week at the 2022 NBA Draft: Dyson Daniels, a 6-foot-7 point guard who is long with a developing shot. Jordan Lawley—an NBA trainer who’s worked with him, Klay Thompson, Julius Randle and Zach LaVine—says the new breed of basketball talent will most likely be bigger and longer: think Miles Bridges and Giannis.
“It’s hard to find a LeBron James because there’s so much talent now. It’s difficult for one player to single-handedly carry a team to the playoffs.”
If you look at the Top 10 projected draft picks on most draft boards for this week, seven of them are 6-foot-7 and above—most of them are forwards and guards.
“Dyson didn’t have the best shooting year last year but his mechanics are so pure,” Lawley said. “We can teach them how to shoot within one or two seasons in the league. So now there is a possibility for Dyson to make a huge leap.”
Image via Getty/Joe Buglewicz
Lawley notes that teaching a player to defend is harder than teaching a player how to discover his shot. He believes that defending is something that is bred. It’s borne from someone’s drive and own appetite to selflessly shut down someone else’s game.
“A lot of times that’s out of the hands of a coach. It completely falls into the lap of the player’s desire. There’s a lot of people that don’t have that dog mentality bred into them. It’s borderline impossible to teach,” he said.
With the NBA now quicker, with more threes, tighter defense, and a reliance on scoring off turnovers, Lawley has seen the mid-range shot come back. It’s the kill spot, he says. He tells me five years ago no one was shooting the mid-range shot. Offenses were either hitting threes or finishing at the rim. Even eight years ago when Lawley first started training NBA players, he was told “don’t ever teach someone how to do a floater.”
“I always thought it was a great touch shot. It’s the next level finish that everyone has,” he said. “Fast forward to now and everyone has the ability to shoot floaters—bigs, the point guards, the wings. It’s one of the shots that is positionless. It’s opening up areas for people to be able to score in different facets.”
Theodore Chan just spent three weeks in Europe seeking professional basketball talent at all levels. He consults as a scout for teams like Adelaide 36ers and the Ottawa BlackJacks and says it’s hard to define what common skill will be highly sought after as basketball at the highest level evolves.
“To play modern ball you need to be a specialist in three point shooting or defense or versatile—or you can be both,” he said. “There still needs to be balance. You can’t have five Scottie Barnes type players on one team. Still need to have players at different heights. You still need a better player maker than Scottie Barnes to be able to run your offense.”
Image via Getty/Jared C. Tilton
When elements of the game change, it forces sport scientists like Lauren Buschmann to tweak training programs. She works with the women’s national basketball team at the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and has seen the game shift as players move across multiple positions.
“We are seeing fours and fives out on the perimeter more where they have to be very agile. They have to be able to keep somebody in front of them when they’re defending. So that plays into how they need to be trained,” she said. “There are still going to be traditional centers who may not be coming out to shoot threes, or defending around the perimeter. It’s becoming less and less. It’s more trying to fit what that team style of play is and what the game is currently.”
The transition for players making that leap and taking on a non-traditional role—shooting more threes or defending an area on the court—Buschmann says there needs to be a familiarity that is built up in training before trialing it in a game. That part can take time.
“They are building strength in a variety of positions so that if they are put in that scenario on court it’s not going to be the first time they’re ever doing that movement,” she said. “Recovery is going to be critical. If you can nail the recovery aspect to allow the athlete to tap into their potential it seems like the natural area to focus time and attention.”
For his first eight years, Celtics center Al Horford didn’t attempt a three-point shot. Then he started averaging three shots a game.
“It just goes to show the evolution of the game,” said NBA skills coach and basketball clinician DJ Sackmann. “He didn’t grow up shooting threes. Now there’s a generation of players built like him working on the long shot from a young age.”
Sackmann sees the game continuing to funnel into a majority of players being able to shoot threes at a high level and the floor will continue to be spaced like it is.
Image via USA Today Sports/Jerome Miron
This season LaMelo Ball and Luka Doncic stood out for Sackmann in just how difficult they are to stop in the pick and rolls because of their size. “They just see over everybody,” he said. They are taller, longer, and shoot the three ball. He believes, because of their impact, it’s going to be more the ideal lead guard type in the NBA.
In his work with high school kids, Sackmann focuses on building as much skill as possible around fundamentals like ball handling, footwork, shooting. It’s all done at a high level. Putting them in positions is an afterthought. His mantra: “The more skilled a player can become at a young age the better you’ll be in your eventual position.”
Sackmann says, the next decade will continue to see players come into the NBA and shoot from deep, with also that hybrid player—three-pointer and mid-range shooter, like Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Even though Steph Curry is 34 and at the end of his career, he’s inspired a generation that is coming into the league now. They’ve watched him change the game.
“It’s hard to find a LeBron James because there’s so much talent now. It’s difficult for one player to single-handedly carry a team to the playoffs,” said Sackmann. “We’re going to see more team-oriented basketball play out like the Warriors, the Bucks. And that’s going to be exciting.”
Fred VanVleet on Why the Raptors Are Title Contenders and His Challenge to Drake
What Gives Scottie Barnes His Edge?
Scottie Barnes Is Officially a Toronto Mans After Calling Someone a 'Waste Yute'
Mike Conley on the block?
Other veteran ball-handlers said to be available for trade, in addition to the aforementioned Murray and Russell, are Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley, Charlotte's Terry Rozier, Pelicans point guard Devonte' Graham, along with Nuggets table-setter ...
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2022-06-23T18:01:40Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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What Does the Next NBA Phenom Look Like?
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In 2019, the week Brooks Koepka would lead wire-to-wire at the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black and capture a fourth major title in 23 months, he broke down why he believed he'd become the most dominant player on golf's biggest stages.
"(There are) 156 in the field," he said, "so you figure at least 80 of them I'm just going to beat. From there you figure about half of them won't play well. So you're down to about maybe 35. And then from 35, some of them just ... pressure is going to get to them. It only leaves you with a few more, and you've just got to beat those guys."
Koepka, the Palm Beach County native and Jupiter resident, recently has become one of those guys others believe, "I'm just going to beat." A non-factor in this year's majors and rarely in contention in the last year, Koepka, whether because of injuries, the distraction of planning a wedding or maybe just being past his peak, is leaving the PGA Tour to join Greg Norman's LIV Golf Series.
PGA Tour's response: Commissioner Jay Monahan rolls out scheduling changes, increased purses in response to LIV Golf
LIV Ban: LIV golfers banned from PGA Tour. Now what will Rickie Fowler do? | D'Angelo
More Golf: Playing LIV Golf series is a personal choice and for some it's understandable | D'Angelo
Brooks Koepka's announcement to leave PGA Tour for LIV Golf
Koepka, at 32, is a big get for the Saudi-backed series searching for credibility and attention, one whose events are shown on YouTube because it does not have a television deal. LIV's first event two weeks ago in London featured just two golfers who move the needle, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Add Bryson DeChambeau and Koepka for next week's event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland, Oregon, and now it has four.
All that matters are the checks hitting their accounts. Everyone from Palm Beach Gardens' Charl Schwartzel, who won $4.75 million for winning the individual title and being a part of the winning team in London; to Andy Ogletree, who took home $120,000 in prize money for shooting 24-over and finishing last in the 48-man-field, is in LIV for one reason.
In two decades as a pro, Schwartzel never won $3 million in a year, including 2011 when he won the Masters. Ogeltree's career earnings in four years of playing tour events is $38,186.
Koepka's decision certainly has to do with adding to that $38 million he's earned in prize money, plus millions more off the course, in his career. It also gives us a peek into the mind of a golfer who at one time was considered among golf's royalty, held the No. 1 ranking in the world for 47 weeks and was as feared as anyone not named Tiger Woods in recent history when it comes to the majors.
Now, Koepka has done something completely opposite of what he had become known for on golf's biggest stages - a steely, laser-like focused, ultra-competitive champion.
Injuries certainly have played a factor in his struggles, but he's been dealing with those - whether it be his wrist, knee, hip - for several years now. Perhaps Koepka just cannot handle his body not allowing him to be a consistent threat on the PGA Tour.
Or perhaps he's seen a group of talented players in their 20s - all about five years younger than Koepka - making their mark in the sport. Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Sam Burns, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris all have zoomed past Koepka in the world rankings.
What happened to the Brooks Koepka who said just four months ago it was "embarrassing" to be ranked No. 20 in the world? Currently he is No. 19.
Brooks Koepka, talking before the PGA Championship in May, made it official Wednesday that he's joining the LIV Tour.
And no one outside of Mickelson has handled this decision worse than Koepka. He will forever be remembered for calling out Mickelson for his "greed" comment, saying LIV would get their guys because "somebody will sell out and go to it," and insisting money doesn't matter and "I just want to play against the best."
On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy, who has been as vocal as anyone in his loyalty to the PGA Tour, said he was surprised with Koepka's decision, call it "duplicitous" because of "what he said previously."
But now he is unable to play PGA Tour events, including his hometown Honda Classic, which, to Koepka's credit, was on his schedule every year. The best golfer ever born and bred in Palm Beach County is leaving the best, most competitive league in his sport. Sure, his four majors were historic, something he will be — and should be — proud of the rest of his life.
Those trophies still shine sitting on Koepka's bookshelves. It's his reputation that has been tarnished.
Mack Brown and the UNC Football program have made the cut for this four-star defensive back.
Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper were the other home players to taste victory in Eastbourne.
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2022-06-23T18:23:24Z
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What was behind Brooks Koepka's decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf? | D'Angelo
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One of the best parts of social media is that it can bring fans into the worlds of professional athletes. One of the worst parts of social media is that it can bring fans into the worlds of professional athletes.
Either way, social media helps the 24/7 news cycle that has been made possible by smartphones and constant access to information. It leads to more conversations, more thoughts and more ‘what ifs’ than ever before but, now, on a more wide-reaching scale.
Former Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden used Instagram Wednesday night and started a conversation for Cleveland Browns fans. Via his IG story, Haden seems to be hinting at a reunion with the team:
Cleveland released the then-28-year-old cornerback after seven seasons with the team. Haden latched on quickly with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers where he enjoyed five more seasons.
At 32 years old, the former first-round pick is nearing the end of his career but may still have something to give the team. With Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams at the top of the CB depth chart, perhaps a transition to safety in returning to the Browns would make sense. John Johnson III and Grant Delpit are starters there with Ronnie Harrison returning on a one-year contract.
It is possible that Haden is just stirring the pot or had something else in mind but his post certainly has people talking.
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2022-06-23T18:23:37Z
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Joe Haden hints on social media of Browns discussions
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The Kansas City Chiefs will have an opportunity to wear their classic throwback helmets in 2022, but will they actually do it?
Last season, NFL owners approved the use of alternate helmets when worn with alternate uniforms. They’d previously banned the use of alternate helmets, citing player safety concerns. However, with vast improvements in helmet safety over the years, they decided to lift their ban. That change has paved the way for a number of teams to bring back alternate uniforms and helmets. Most recently, the New England Patriots announced that they’re bringing back one of their beloved uniform combos and a helmet featuring their throwback logo.
The Chiefs haven’t gone through too many uniform changes over the years and they’re one of the few organizations that maintain they won’t explore a rebrand in uniforms. Because of that, the team really only has one classic alternate helmet they can use:
Before the AFL-NFL merger, the then-Dallas Texans wore these helmets from 1960-1962. With little desire to compete with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, Lamar Hunt ultimately moved the team to Kansas City in 1963 and rebranded as the Chiefs. That’s when they made the swap to the current Arrowhead logo you see today.
The team hasn’t worn these throwback helmets since 2009. They wore them that year when they played the Dallas Cowboys in October, but they also wore them for the AFL Legacy game against the then-Oakland Raiders in November. That game against the Raiders would mark the last time the team wore these specific throwback helmets.
Last season, when the news of alternate helmets returning broke, Chiefs fans weren’t too thrilled about the idea. While fans do appreciate the rich history of the franchise, they’re very proud to be in Kansas City. We know that the team equipment department still has the decals for these helmets, which means they could bring them back, but it’d still be a rather bold move for this team.
Kendrick Lamar Performs “Savior” and “N95” in Crown of Thorns at Paris Fashion Week: Watch
The Compton rapper also tore through "Rich Spirit" and "Count Me Out." Kendrick Lamar Performs “Savior” and “N95” in Crown of Thorns at Paris Fashion Week: Watch Bryan Kress
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2022-06-23T18:57:30Z
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Will Chiefs bring back throwback Dallas Texans helmets in 2022?
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That’s what McCarthy is hoping will come as a result of officials’ increased presence in these early offseason sessions.
“I thought it was great to have the officials,” he said. “And really the biggest benefit that I’ve always felt when you have the officials at your practices is not as much having them on the field, but having them in your meetings: the ability to talk about the technique that we’re teaching, what they’re looking for. Because all of those guys- Bill Vinovich all the way through his whole crew- I thought they did a great job of communicating and interacting with our players and just telling them what they see. I think, like anything, group dynamics are about building relationships. Not that you’re going to build a relationship that’s going to benefit you with the referees as far as how they call it, but it does help you talk to them about… getting as close to the line as you can without getting a flag called.”
It’s perhaps worth noting that it was a Vinovich-led crew working with the Cowboys. Last season, his officiating crew threw the fewest flags in the league for the fourth time in five years. The Cowboys might have gotten more out of having the notoriously flag-happy Carl Cheffers, Shawn Hochuli, or Alex Kemp monitor the proceedings.
Still, the team has made an effort to better understand its penalty problem, including working with NFL supervisor of officials Gary Slaughter, who lives in nearby Allen.
“I think we’ve got a much better plan than we’ve had,” McCarthy said. “The fact that we can have him more involved, without the protocols, I think that clearly will be an excellent addition for us. His involvement as far as the communication and training of the local referees that we do use at practice, I think we’ll definitely be better served there.”
Players can expect to see an added presence from refs once they get to Oxnard, too.
“We’ll probably have the NFL officials at our training camp two different times, when we normally have them once,” the coach continued. “We’re going to be involved with practicing against the Broncos, so we’ll have two sets of officials there on both fields, no different than down there in Irvine against the Chargers. So I think our exposure to NFL officials and interaction with NFL officials throughout training camp is clearly the highest that I’ve ever experienced it in my career. I think there’ll be some benefits from that.”
But the benefits won’t be just for the men suiting up in helmets and pads on gameday. The coaches will also be able to improve their dealings with officials- on everything from calling timeouts to replay-review situations to the sometimes not-so-simple mechanics of what happens in between plays.
All were things that burned the Cowboys at some point in 2021.
“I get more out of the conversation with the officials off to the side or in meetings than anything else,” McCarthy offered. “You get to talk about situations. You get to talk about how we’re teaching game management situations and how they view them and so forth. We obviously talked about our last play against the 49ers. You get a chance to go back and review the mechanics, and they’ve obviously had a chance to review their mechanics. I just think it makes us all better.”
McCarthy remains reluctant to delve too far back into that fateful final play of the wild-card loss to San Francisco. The coach maintains that Dak Prescott’s designed run down the middle of the field with 14 seconds to go and no timeouts was a justifiably good play call, but also allowed that several things, obviously, went wrong as time ticked away without another snap.
“We’ve just got to be better at the execution, and I think the awareness on both sides of exactly what the umpire is trying to do or when the officials are coming to spot the ball or bless the ball,” the coach admitted.
In the end, though, that was last year. And all McCarthy and the Cowboys can do now is try to learn from the past so they don’t repeat it.
“‘We will be better’ is our focus. That needs to be the headline. We will be better, and that’s our focus.”
And if that means working more closely with one of last year’s biggest enemies- the officials- then so be it.
EXCLUSIVE: Australian actor Sam Delich, who is currently appearing in Netflix’s Joseph Kosinski feature Spiderhead, has landed a major recurring role on Disney+’s comedy-drama series Last Days of the Space Age. Details of his role are being kept under wraps, but we understand he will essentially play the villain of the piece, which is a tentpole of Disney+’s Australia […]
Villagers rushed to bury the dead Thursday and dug by hand through the rubble of their homes in search of survivors of a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan that state media reported killed 1,000 people. Under a leaden sky in Paktika province, the epicenter of Wednesday’s earthquake where hundreds of homes have been destroyed, men dug several long trenches on a mountainside overlooking their village. In villages across Gayan District, toured by Associated Press journalists for hours Thursday, families who had spent the previous rainy night out in the open lifted pieces of timber of collapsed roofs and pulled away stones by hand, looking for missing loved ones.
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2022-06-23T18:57:36Z
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‘It makes us all better’: Cowboys practicing with extra officials in effort to reduce penalties in 2022
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After enduring four ACL injuries, OSU wide receiver Kamryn Babb said the spring knee injury was a minor one and that he's ready for the 2022 season.
On his first visit to Las Vegas, a Hong Kong poker player won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament, earning a prize of $144,338. Chan participated in the fifth event of the 2022 WSOP series.
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2022-06-23T18:57:55Z
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Tyquan Thornton makes Patriots rookie contract official with Instagram post
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Shawntae Spencer
Why ex-49ers GM believes Castro-Fields is 49ers' best 2022 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The 49ers chose seven players before selecting Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields with the final pick of the sixth round.
But a well-respected talent evaluator believes that selection might end up as one of the organization's most impactful additions from the 2022 NFL Draft.
“I think their best bang for the buck was getting Castro-Fields,” former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said on the "49ers Talk" podcast. “I think he’s a bigger version of Shawntae Spencer. I think he’s going to play, and he’s going to play well.”
Spencer was a reliable player for the 49ers over the course of eight seasons from 2004 to 2011, where he started 72 games and registered 11 interceptions.
Castro-Fields (6-foot-1, 197 pounds) surprised many in the NFL world with his decisions to return to Penn State for the 2020 and 2021 seasons after a breakout campaign in 2019. That season he started 12 games and recorded two interceptions with 10 passes broken up.
He appeared in 52 games over five seasons at Penn State with 30 starts. Castro-Fields allowed just three touchdowns in coverage in his college career.
Castro-Fields has a nice blend of intelligence, size and speed, McCloughan pointed out. He clocked a time of 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
McCloughan said he believes Castro-Fields could also serve as a backup safety early in his career before settling into a starting role as a cornerback.
“There are some good receivers who came out of the Big Ten the last couple of years, and he’s a 50-50 guy,” McCloughan said of Castro-Fields. “He competes with them. He doesn’t back down from them.
“I thought where they got him, that’s a steal. That’s the best pick they had in the draft just because of where they got him.”
2022 NFL draft: All 32 1st-round picks now under contract
Kenny Pickett has signed his rookie deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, making him the final first-round pick to get under contract
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2022-06-23T18:58:01Z
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sports.yahoo.com
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Why ex-49ers GM believes Tariq Castro-Fields is team's best 2022 draft pick
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https://sports.yahoo.com/why-ex-49ers-gm-believes-172729285.html?src=rss
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https://sports.yahoo.com/why-ex-49ers-gm-believes-172729285.html?src=rss
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