Monday, February 29, 2016

Bart Starr was victim of secret 'brutal' hazing incident at Bama

One more memorable moment for Favre, Packers at Lambeau
Bart Starr and wife Cherry Louise Morton attend a Brett Favre ceremony at halftime of an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. Favre's retired No. 4 and name were unveiled inside Lambeau Field during the ceremony. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
For years, we had heard the story about Bart Starr's college career at Alabama being derailed after suffering a back injury while punting for the school in practice. Turns out, he instead was the victim of a severe hazing injury.
Sixty years have passed, but the truth now has come out courtesy of Starr's wife, Cherry, whom he married at Alabama in 1954. She told AL.com the real story, after previously holding back on it, about her husband joining a student club for for varsity lettermen.
Starr no longer can reflect on his career, having been in declining health for years, but his wife wanted to set the record straight.
"He was hospitalized at one point in traction," Cherry said. "That was in the days when they were initiated into the A-Club, and they had severe beatings and paddling. From all the members of the A-Club, they lined up with a big paddle with holes drilled in it, and it actually injured his back."
The damage suffered in the hazing ritual was so bad, she said, it hurt him from that point on.
"His back was never right after that. It was horrible," she said. "It was not a football injury. It was an injury sustained from hazing. His whole back all the way up to his rib cage looked like a piece of raw meat. The bruising went all the way up his back. It was red and black and awful looking. It was so brutal."
The injury basically ended Starr's career at Bama after starting his first two years there, it made him "unfit" for military service and it affected him throughout his 16-year NFL career, spent entirely with the Green Bay Packers. Still, he turned in a Hall of Fame career, winning five championships (including two Super Bowls) and also coaching the team from 1975 to 1983.
Starr, 82, isn't seen much in public these days but was present at Lambeau Field for the jersey retirement ceremony for Brett Favre last summer.

Tom Brady signs through '19, about when he'd beat Peyton's records

There's no reason for Tom Brady or the New England Patriots to believe that their legendary quarterback is slowing down and now he's signed through the 2019 season, when he'll be 42 years old.
Brady agreed to a two-year extension that will run through 2019, according to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter and Dianna Marie Russini. That's notable for a few reasons, many of which concern Brady's age ... and some of Peyton Manning's records.
(AP) While contracts come and go in the NFL, this is an indication that Brady plans to play a few more years. That can't be great news for Jimmy Garoppolo, who was drafted to presumably succeed Brady. His contract is up after the 2017 season. Apparently Brady believes he might have four more years left at that point. At least four years.
And not that it's any surprise, but the extension virtually ensures Brady will retire as a Patriot. Again, contracts come and go — and hey, maybe 42-year-old Brady will hit the 2020 free-agent market. But for all practical purposes this means Brady will spend his entire career in New England.
It might not be a coincidence that the length of the deal gives Brady, if he plays through 2019, a good shot at breaking some of Peyton Manning's career marks. Brady is 13,912 yards behind Manning's all-time mark of 71,940, which he'd probably break sometime in either late 2018 or in 2019, depending how healthy he stays and how well he plays as he turns 40. That of course presumes Manning will retire this offseason and not add to his total. Brady is also 111 touchdowns behind Manning's mark of 539, and four more seasons should put him in range of that record too. If we assume 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns per season for Brady from 2016-18 (and that might be too low, though at some point he has to slow down, right?), then he'd go into 2019 on the verge of breaking Manning's biggest records.
Brady doesn't publicly talk much about legacy or comparing himself to other all-time greats, but it's naive to think he hasn't considered beating Manning's records, given the rivalry between the two. In the deflate-gate mess, some of Brady's emails that had nothing to do with the controversy were leaked and one indicated he thought his longevity would allow himself to pass Manning. That's probably true.
Brady has stayed relatively healthy in recent years and was an MVP candidate in 2015. He had 4,770 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions. If he keeps playing at that level, he might not even need to play in 2019 to beat Manning's records. The track record of quarterbacks maintaining their greatness into their 40s isn't good, but not many quarterbacks have ever played as well at age 38 as Brady did last season.
With Brady still as good as ever and the Patriots contending for a Super Bowl every season, Brady has a chance to blow away any greatest quarterback ever arguments with another ring (or two) and every major career passing record. If Monday's news is an indication, he and the Patriots believe he'll be around through the 2019 to add to his resume.
Heck, maybe he'll even be around longer than that. Until Brady shows some sign of decline, it's probably best to not bet against him.

Shelter dogs used to retrieve tennis balls at Brazil Open tournament


A dog picks up a tennis ball during the Brazil Open tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday Feb. 25, 2016. Four trained shelter dogs that once roamed the streets of Sao Paulo found themselves center stage at the ATP 250 Brazil Open tournament. The unusual initiative was made to promote the adoption of abandoned street animals.

Broncos to exclusively tag Von Miller, Jets will tag Mo Wilkerson

Two of the top defensive players eligible for free agency are not expected to hit the open market.
The Denver Broncos are expected to use the exclusive franchise tag on pass rusher Von Miller, according to the Denver Post. And the New York Jets are likely to use the regular franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, according to an NFL Network report.
The deadline to use franchise and transition tags is Tuesday.
The exclusive tag means that Miller won't be going anywhere. That designation would prevent other teams from talking to Miller, and he and the Broncos would have until July 15 to work out a deal. Otherwise, he'd be subject to play the 2016 season under the one-year tender figure of $14.129 million, short of him holding out.
Von Miller (AP) If the Broncos beat the deadline and get a long-term deal done with Miller, it would open up the possibility of using it on defensive end Malik Jackson, who otherwise would be a hot free agent. The Broncos also need to figure out what's going on at QB, where Peyton Manning could retire and Brock Osweiler is a pending free agent.
Wilkerson would be subject to a one-year franchise tender of $15.7 million in 2016, short of a long-term contract. Although other teams could talk to him if he's not given the exclusive designation, the Jets would have first right to match any potential deal or could opt to receive two first-round picks in return.
Now comes the fun part: If they do sign long-term contracts, just how much cheese are we talking about here?
Using comparable players for Wilkerson, which would include 3-4 defensive ends and 4-3 tackles, we're talking about a deal that could include guaranteed money north of $40 million. There's only one defensive lineman in the NFL with a deal that included less than $51 million and more than $34 million — Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn, at $41.17M — which makes the comps tricky.
Adding a layer of intrigue for the Jets is that they are strong on the defensive line already, having drafted Leonard Williams No. 5 overall last season to join Sheldon Richardson, and have free-agent nose tackle Damon Harrison also to take care of. Plus, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick can hit the market next week.
For the Broncos, Miller could be the highest-paid defender in football. The most guaranteed money given to a defensive player was $60 million to the Buffalo Bills' Marcell Dareus, and the most total money currently is Ndamukong Suh's $114.4 million with the Miami Dolphins.
Is a six-year, $120 million deal with $65M guaranteed too much for the 26-year-old Miller? That's elite quarterback money.
These two contracts are going to set the top of the market on defense, and that's not factoring in Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, also a free agent. Coming off a Super Bowl dominated by the Broncos' defense, all the money seems to be funneling to that side of the ball this offseason.

Bill Elliott, Brian France, other NASCAR notables endorse Trump

Just hours before the start of Super Tuesday, a series of presidential election primaries heavily weighted toward the South, NASCAR CEO Brian France and several notable drivers have pledged their support for Donald Trump as he seeks the Republican nomination.
"I've known Donald for over 20 years," France said at a rally in Valdosta, Ga. "I'm going to tell you one thing: you know about his winning and success. He wins with his family. Any of his children, you'd be proud to have in your family. That's how I judge a winner."
Also participating in the rally: Bill Elliott, his son Chase Elliott, Ryan Newman, and David Ragan. All but Newman are from Georgia.
It's a stark turnaround from July, when NASCAR announced that it would not hold its Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series banquets at the Trump National Doral Resort after Trump's controversial comments on immigrants. At the time, Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis wrote an open letter declaring that neither he nor anyone from Camping World would participate in any event at a Trump resort "due to recent and ongoing blatantly bigoted and racist comments from Donald Trump in regards to immigrants of the United States."
The letter continued: "Our company will not stand to support any person or organization that associates with such beliefs, and we feel strongly about distancing ourselves from any negative and discriminatory comments made against any gender, ethnicity, age group or so forth," Lemonis wrote. "I would hope that the entire NASCAR organization would agree with my sentiments."
"If the people that like and watch NASCAR vote for Donald Trump," Trump said at the rally, "they can cancel the election right now. Nobody [else] can win."

Broncos make Peyton Manning decision before he does

If Peyton Manning wants another shot at glory, it appears it will have to be outside of Denver.
As the world waits to see whether it’s seen Manning’s last act on the football field, a gritty Super Bowl 50 victory, or whether the legend will be back for another season, Denver is proceeding without him.
In discussing deals with free agents while mindful of the salary cap, the Broncos are acting as if Manning’s $19 million 2016 salary — and $21.5 million cap hit — will not be on their books, with the presumption being that if he does not retire, he will be cut, according to Fox Sports.
With Brock Osweiler — a free agent who showed potential in Manning’s absence last season — Denver is believed to be earmarking significant money for the 25-year-old over the draining cap commitment of 39-year-old Manning.
Of course, GM John Elway likely hopes Manning calls it quits and takes the team’s decision out of its hands. The Denver Post reported Friday what everyone assumed — that Manning would hang up his cleats — citing two sources saying he would retire by the end of this week. The Broncos quickly quenched that report, with the team’s VP of public relations denying Manning had made a decision.
 

Patrick Smyth
Peyton has not made a decision on his future. Plan remains for him to continue talks with the team this week.

The unofficial deadline for Manning would be March 9, when free agency begins and the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s contract would be guaranteed.
But the Broncos aren’t waiting around for him to make a decision. Now, the question is whether another team is penciling in a gaudy contract for the icon, who will turn 40 next month. Like the Rams?

Raptors to waive former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett

Anthony Bennett drives against Nuggets guard Sean Kilpatrick in February. (AP)The Toronto Raptors will waive former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett on Monday and sign veteran forward Jason Thompson for the remainder of the season, league sources told The Vertical.
Bennett, 22, played 19 games for the Raptors this season after returning to his hometown franchise as a free agent in September. In releasing Bennett and signing Thompson, Toronto will fortify its frontcourt depth and give Bennett an opportunity to seek an increased role elsewhere.
The Phoenix Suns may look into Bennett once he clears waivers, sources said.
Bennett, the first pick by Cleveland in 2013, has averaged 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 128 career games for the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Raptors. During his stints with Cleveland and Minnesota, Bennett – a former standout at UNLV – had injury setbacks.
He averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds this season, remaining professional in limited minutes and developing on a veteran-laden team.
Bennett had a strong summer for the Canadian national team before returning to the U.S. and completing a buyout with Minnesota.
Thompson was waived by the Golden State Warriors last week to create roster space for the signing of Anderson Varejao. The 6-foot-11 Thompson has averaged nine points and 6.7 rebounds in eight NBA seasons with Sacramento and Golden State.

Marques Colston's great Saints run ends, as team releases him

(AP)With four picks remaining in the 2006 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints were on the clock. And with the 252nd overall pick, a supplemental compensatory seventh-round pick, the Saints took a player who became the greatest receiver in franchise history.
We didn't know much about Hofstra's Marques Colston then, but he built a pretty nice legacy for himself over the next 10 years.
The ride ended on Monday. The Saints officially cut Colston, after he posted career lows with 45 catches, 520 yards and four touchdowns last season. He'll go down as one of the best players in Saints history, a part of a franchise renaissance that included a Super Bowl championship.
Colston made an immediate impact with 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie (and won a couple thousand fantasy leagues because he was listed as a tight end/wide receiver in Yahoo's fantasy football leagues ... told you nobody knew much about him back then). Colston ended up being one of the best big receivers in the NFL for a decade, with 9,759 yards. That's the most in Saints history, and Eric Martin is well behind in second place with 7,854 yards. Colston's 72 receiving touchdowns are 21 more than any other Saints player. His 711 receptions are also the most in Saints history; Martin is second with 532.
Colston might have a tough time continuing his career if he wishes, after his down 2015. He's going to be 33 next season with a long history of knee issues. But if this is it for Colston, it was a great run.
Not too bad for a 252nd pick out of Hofstra.

Donatas Motiejunas thinks Detroit's voided deal for him was a sham

Donatas throws one up. (Getty Images)Prior to the NBA’s trade deadline Houston Rockets big man Donatas Motiejunas has played just 14 basketball games in 2015-16. The versatile center/forward was felled with back issues, and it was a slight surprise that Detroit decided to send a first round pick Houston’s way for the rights for a player that could bolt as a free agent this summer without ever having suited up for the Pistons due to that same back injury.
According to Donatas, that brand of buyer’s remorse was the reason the team balked on the deal following a series of physicals spent focusing on his back woes. Motiejunas was sent back to Houston four days after the trade deadline after Detroit voided the deal citing injury concerns, and nobody seems happy about how things went down.
The player in question is first in the complaint line. From a translated interview with a Lithuanian newspaper, found by an enterprising Reddit user:
The medical examination is a funny thing. The team doctor simply says whether you pass or don't, although they may not even do any checks. Those 48 hours actually just let the team decide whether they want you or not. The Pistons announced I did not pass the medical, although I surely did pass it and played even before it. I just got ‘screwed'. The injury was a pretense to call off the trade. They changed their minds.
The Rockets were not giving me away for free, they got a high draft pick. A high pick is very useful, so I completely understand them. From my side, I see it as a business. I know they did not want to give me away and offered many other players to the Pistons, but the guys in Detroit wanted only me.
Now I will be talking to my agent and lawyers to clarify what to do next. The Pistons had access to my full medical history, so they shouldn't have done what they did to me. They decreased my value. The medical examination I ‘failed' was a joke. The Pistons will have some explaining to do why they did not want the trade anymore. We will see what happens.
“Pretense!” J’accuse!
We try not to be tinfoil hat-types here at BDL, but this is worth considering. Even before word came down that the Pistons were pulling back on the trade, we wondered about both buyer’s remorse considering the Motiejunas deal, and the idea that the Pistons (who managed to grab Tobias Harris from Orlando for what is expected to be two expiring contracts) could talk themselves into tossing a pick away for the scoring big regardless of his short-term health issues.
There were ample reasons to like and not like the deal, from Detroit’s side, especially when considering the context of the Harris transaction. Pistons coach and team el jefe Stan Van Gundy also seemed to be arguing away the idea of adding Donatas prior to the void:
“ […]you’re going to live with a guy having to miss three or four games every once in a while to get a guy of his talent.”
Motiejunas has talent. He can score in the post on either block over either shoulder, and under Van Gundy it was assumed that he could turn into the sort of stretch shooter that could either complement Andre Drummond, or effectively spell him off the bench.
We’re not here to toss accusations SVG’s way, or in the direction of Pistons general manager Jeff Bower. Both possess massive basketball brains that work alongside sound convictions. Detroit wants to win this year, they want to make the playoffs, and they wanted Motiejunas to be a part of that effort.
Houston – which played Donatas on Saturday night (two points, two turnovers and three fouls in nine minutes) for the first time since the last day of 2015 – does have a dog in this fight. His presence pushes the team back into luxury tax territory; not an ideal position for a squad stuck at 29-30, just a half game up in the race for the last seed in the Western playoff bracket.
If the Rockets make the playoffs, they’ll lose their first round pick to Denver. That outcome is a result of a much-celebrated (universally, mind you) deal that sent Ty Lawson to Houston for a seeming song.
What’s more important is Motiejunas’ remarks about how Detroit may have dealt a blow to his future chances at extended earnings.
Detroit was well within its rights to pass on Donatas following a series of physicals, but even in what will be a crazy offseason in the summer of 2016 (watch – some teams are going to make some lockout-altering mistakes), the idea that a win-now team run by a coach would pass on what seemed like a perfect fit in favor of a middling first round draft pick can’t help but re-shape the way teams approach the idea of “Donatas Motiejunas, Restricted Free Agent.”
This might be the offseason that sees Ryan Anderson get a max contract. This might be the offseason that watches as DeMar DeRozan lords over July. This offseason, with its extended salary cap, will be silly.
Donatas Motiejunas, despite his age (26, next September) and clear talent, might be left out of things. The restricted free agency hurts, but so will the idea that a desperate Detroit team passed on his presence for his work outside of those “three of four games.” There might not be a lot of legal precedence in this realm, but Motiejunas might be on the verge of making it.
In the meantime, Houston uneasily continues apace, while Detroit keeps its pick. And things are going to go absolutely haywire once the 2016 offseason hits.

Suns owner accepts blame for awful season in open letter to fans

So, here's this: The Phoenix Suns have won three games in 2016.
You can argue that other teams have been worse over the last three months — the Philadelphia 76ers have posted a more punchless offense, the Minnesota Timberwolves' defense has been more permissive, and the Los Angeles Lakers have been outscored by slightly more on a per-possession basis — but they've inarguably been one of the league's very worst teams since mid-December, as a season that began with playoff aspirations has spiraled out of control thanks to injuries and internal dissension.
What looked two years ago like one of the NBA's most promising rising teams has returned to its basement, leading managing partner Robert Sarver to issue a public apology to Suns fans in an open letter posted on the team's website. After acknowledging that the Suns haven't lived up to the "fair expectation" held by fans that the team "compete at a high level on a regular basis" and represent the city of Phoenix "with the utmost integrity," Sarver promises a renewed dedication to building and promoting "a culture of accountability, respect and trust."
Those all seem to have been in short supply in a season during which a coaching staff was fired in two increments and the utterly toxic situation involving Markieff Morris — a saga of displeasure over the trade of his twin brother Marcus, a trade demand standoff that resulted in fines, posturing, suspensions, scuffles and talk of betrayal before the two sides finally parted ways at the trade deadlne — and, most notably, Sarver's laughable January insistence that the team's problems (then a molehill compared to the mountain that they face today) stemmed largely from a "millennial culture" that has "a tough time dealing with setbacks."
 
Sarver continues:
I have also learned that in order to achieve success, you must take risks along the way. In time, certain risks will ultimately look like mistakes. It didn’t take long into my tenure as an NBA owner to understand that basketball decisions are not easy to make. It is my responsibility to hire the right personnel to make those decisions, and also to provide the financial resources and supportive environment to facilitate the success of our team. Our basketball decisions rest with Ryan McDonough, who I have full confidence in. Not every decision will be the right one, but he will continue to build our team around the young, talented players acquired through the draft and opportunistically in free agency. The best team in the NBA right now is a perfect example of that model.
That said, we will likely miss the NBA Playoffs for a sixth straight season this April. Many of you are disappointed in that lack of success, and for good reason. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed than I am, nor does anyone accept more of the blame. It’s important you know that we will not rest until we are competing at the highest level once again. In fact, we have swung for the fences once in each of the last two free agency periods, with my full support. While we have come up short, we have not compromised our goal of building long-term success with our young talent. Often that process takes more time, yet the rewards are that much sweeter and more enduring.
The journey back to the top certainly won’t be easy. It will come with its victorious moments and its frustrating ones. But it will come, just as it did shortly after I acquired the team, where we rebuilt from a 29-win season in 2003/04. Please know, that above all else, you have my word that we will do things the right way, and you and your family will be proud to be Suns fans.
Before we get too far afield: "we will likely miss the NBA Playoffs?" You own a team that's 15-44 and a full 14 games out of the eighth seed with 23 games left, and that went 1-for-February. "Likely" might be a bit too much of a hedge, sir.
The main takeaway, here, is that Sarver continues to have "full confidence in" McDonough. The general manager was largely lauded for orchestrating the roster reconfiguration that helped kickstart a 23-win turnaround between the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons, hiring Jeff Hornacek to lead the squad and dealing for Eric Bledsoe to pair with Goran Dragic in a two-point-guard attack. The fond feelings of a season that ended one win shy of the playoffs, though, have entirely dissipated.
After struggling to acclimate to playing off the ball, and at times as small forward, in two- and three-guard alignments hastened by the summertime addition of Isaiah Thomas, All-NBA guard Dragic eventually said he'd lost faith in McDonough and the front office and pushed his way to the Miami Heat. In the same trade-deadline reset, McDonough flipped Thomas to the Boston Celtics, a deal on which he recently admitted he wishes he had a mulligan, what with Thomas becoming an All-Star this season and all. Those swaps brought back Brandon Knight, who got injured shortly after his arrival, received a five-year contract and has frequently underperformed this season when healthy; they also sent out a golden-ticket of a draft pick, a first-round choice formerly owned by the Lakers that's top-three protected in the 2016 and 2017 drafts and wholly unprotected in 2018. Remember what I said earlier about the Lakers being one of the worst teams in the league this year, too? That means the Suns very well might have sent the 76ers a No. 4 pick — or, potentially, the No. 1 pick in two years — for the right to pay Knight $70 million.
McDonough followed those questionable decisions with the go-for-broke machinations that included shipping Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to Detroit, thus enraging incumbent top power forward Markieff, to open up cap space to sign Tyson Chandler (who has been a major disappointment this season) in a bid to woo prospective new starting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who spurned their advances in favor of joining the San Antonio Spurs.
The potential reward of landing Aldridge, one of the top free agents on the market and the sort of interior offensive focal point Phoenix has lacked for years, was great, but the risk — alienating Markieff and winding up with paying a potentially cooked 33-year-old Chandler on the books (and blocking 2013 lottery pick Alex Len) $52 million over the next four years, limiting your flexibility while compromising your chemistry and not actually getting any better on the court — was perhaps greater, and that scenario went south really quickly for the Suns. Given the bum run of moves that have helped put Phoenix in this predicament, and with Hornacek's staff since jettisoned, it would stand to reason that McDonough's head might be next on the chopping block should the losing continue. But for now, at least, he's got the vote of confidence from the guy who signs the checks.
While Sarver's not wrong that the franchise has pulled off significant turnarounds in the relatively recent past — the jump from 29 wins in 2003-04 to 62 wins in '04-'05, and the aforementioned 23-win leap from '12-'13 to '13-'14 — it's worth noting that the former involved the signing of Steve Nash, who had previously been at the helm of the NBA-best offense of the Dallas Mavericks and whose talents dovetailed perfectly with the system of newly installed head coach Mike D'Antoni to catch lightning in a bottle, and that the second leap has completely bottomed out inside of two years. All that probably means that Suns fans aren't necessarily feeling too much better about the state of things after this open letter intended at boosting morale.
Oh, well. At least you've got Devin Booker, Suns fans, and at least your owner — he of the draft-pick sales and meddling, of the lockout hardlining, of the post-lockout schedule complaining — starting to act like he feels sorry for something that matters rather than, say, the quality of the competitive effort offered by a preseason opponent. That's something, I suppose.

Baseball toughens up on chew as sky darkens for big dippers

Baseball toughens up on chew as sky darkens for big …
In this Sept. 20, 2013, file photo, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Dusty Baker was a big dipper. He's cut back his chaw over the years, but still might pop in a pinch when games get tight. The Washington Nationals manager won't get that choice at some ballparks this season. Big leaguers are now getting a reminder that smokeless tobacco is banned at stadiums in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston.
Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz spit some chew into a bottle at his locker, then dipped into the latest notice from baseball.
Big leaguers are now getting a written reminder that smokeless tobacco is banned at stadiums in Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
One-page letters are being put in clubhouse stalls throughout spring training, where there is no prohibition. The notes come jointly from Major League Baseball and the players' union.
So, will Buchholz quit?
''That'll probably happen,'' he said. ''If you get reprimanded for something, there comes a time where you're tired of paying fines for something you don't have to do or doesn't make you any better.''
''You've got to obey the rules or there's consequences to it. We'll probably learn more about that when we get up North,'' he said at camp in Fort Myers, Florida.
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker was a big dipper for a long time. He's cut back over the years, but still might pop in a pinch when games get tight.
''It's a bad influence for the kids. Big time. I'll say that. But also they're adults, too, at the same time,'' Baker said.
''We'll see,'' he said. ''My daughter used to put water in my can and put it back in my truck. Or my son, he has lip check - 'Get it out, Dad!'''
Local laws will prohibit the use of all tobacco products at Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium and AT&T Park this year, meaning players, team personnel, umpires and fans. The letter advises the same ban will take effect at every California ballpark in December.

''Major league players are citizens,'' Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week in Arizona. ''Municipalities pass laws. We expect that our players will comply with those laws.''
Said new Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: ''I support it.''
''I think that the intentions are there, and there's obviously going to be some resistance with players,'' he said.
''Like it or not, players are role models, and we have a platform as coaches and players. So if that's the law, then we definitely support it,'' he said.
Similar legislation has been proposed in New York City, and both the Mets and Yankees say they back such a ban at their parks. In Toronto, a city legislator said Monday that he plans to pursue a ban that would cover the Blue Jays' stadium.
The letter being distributed to players on 40-man rosters and teams this spring says: ''Please note that these are city ordinances and not rules established by Major League Baseball. However, the commissioner's office will be monitoring players and club personnel for compliance with the regulations.''
Smokeless tobacco isn't permitted throughout the minor leagues. There is no ban on dipping in the majors, and the issue is certain to be discussed in upcoming labor talks between MLB and the union on the contract that expires Dec. 1.
Going back more than a century, even before Bull Durham tobacco signs were plastered all over outfield walls, baseball was filled with pictures of players with a chaw in their cheek.
Buchholz did take a break, for a while.
''I stopped in the offseason and baseball, it goes along with the territory for me,'' he said. ''It's not a good habit.''
Over the years, in collective bargaining, MLB and the union have tried to lower that profile.
Players, managers and coaches now can't stick tobacco tins, cans or pouches in their pockets when they're on the field or in plain sight of fans. No wads stuck in the mouth during TV interviews, either.
In their letter, MLB and the union said it would provide ''nicotine replacement therapy products to those players who wish to use them as substitutes. A shipment of various products including lozenges, gum, and patches will be sent to each club free of charge in spring training, and throughout the 2016 season.''
Baseball toughens up on chew as sky darkens for big dippers
 In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, New York Mets third
baseman Juan Uribe uses chewing tobacco during batting
practice before the Mets played against the Miami
Marlins in a baseball game in Miami.
The letter included a reminder that Dr. Michael Steinberg, director of the Rutgers University tobacco dependence program, had previously been hired as a consultant to help players develop a treatment plan, if they wanted.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons applauded the effort to cut down on chaw. He quit a couple years ago after Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn - a career-long dipper - died at 54 of salivary gland cancer.
''I was a tobacco user for a lot of years. I'm not proud of that. I finally was able to quit. It's a dirty, filthy habit,'' he said.
''I wouldn't want my kids doing it. You hope in some way, they can eliminate it and wipe it out. I'm sure there will be some fights over that, especially in this election year. I'm sure that'll be brought up. But, hey, if you can get rid of it, I'm all for that,'' he said.

Yoenis Cespedes purchased an award-winning hog at a local fair

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is already involved in one of the wackiest spring training stories thus far. While seeing his strange car collection, or learning about his love for circular waffles is fun, this new anecdote promises to be the wildest thing we've learned about Cespedes thus far.
On Sunday, ESPN reporter Adam Rubin tweeted that Cespedes attended the St. Lucie County Fair in full cowboy gear. Unfortunately, Rubin wasn't able to get his hands on any pictures of that event initially.
That changed Monday. Pictures did emerge of Cespedes at the fair. Cespedes isn't decked out in a cowboy outfit, though. Normally, that would be a disappointment. In this case, though, it's overshadowed by Cespedes' reason for returning to the fair.
You see, Cespedes fell in love with a Grand Champion hog so much that he actually went back to buy it.

Adam RubinFeb 28
Heard Yoenis Cespedes was at the St. Lucie County Fair last night in full cowboy gear. Unfortunately, no photos.
Sandy Croghan
Yes I was at SLC Fair and he purchased my grandsons Grand Champion hog. Great guy and lovely family.

We're actually somewhat speechless here.
That's Cespedes at the county fair, and that final picture appears to show the woman's grandson with the award-winning hog. It's the type of thing you have to see in order to believe, and ... uh ... there's enough evidence here to believe that this may have actually happened.
As far as what Cespedes will do with the pig ... well, we have our concerns. Cespedes' now infamous showcase video ended with him roasting a whole pig over a spit (don't click the link if you don't want to see a dead pig roasting on a spit). Maybe award-winning hogs taste better than loser hogs? We're not sure.
There could be a happy ending here, though. Maybe the hog will become a temporary mascot for the Mets. A rallying point, not unlike the parakeet last season. Maybe we'll see pictures of the Mets gleefully celebrating with the hog in the clubhouse following big wins. Perhaps the hog will be dressed up in Mets gear.
Or maybe Cespedes will send the hog off to live with Mr. and Mrs. Mets farm. We're willing to believe anything as long as it distracts from the horrible truth.

Nolan Arenado and Troy Tulowitzki disagree on Rockies' atmosphere

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) You might think an opportunity to play for a winning franchise, compete in the playoffs and get at least a sniff of the World Series would be enough to help Troy Tulowitzki get over his bitterness about being traded from Colorado to Toronto last season.
Apparently not.
Tulowitzki still holds a major grudge against the organization he came up in and one of his recent comments inspired a retort from friend and former teammate Nolan Arenado.
Tulowitzki told USA Today on Monday, “I’ll never talk to him, never talk to those people,” in reference to Colorado’s front office led by GM Jeff Bridich.
But that isn’t the part that Arenado decided to respond to. Tulowitzki said he prefers going through his first spring training with the Blue Jays, who must take a bus 31/2 miles to the practice fields, to the Rockies’ five-star, 185,000 square-foot spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“I like this place a lot better than Arizona,’’ Tulowitzki told the newspaper. “That place was like a country club. Guys got comfortable because it was so nice.
“This place has a better feel. It reminds you of spring training. The way it’s supposed to be.’’
Arenado took issue with his friend’s characterization of the Rockies spring training atmosphere, even pointing out that even he believes Tulowitzki is just having a difficult time getting over his hard feelings toward the organization.
“I’ve told you that Tulo is my boy, and he still is my friend,” Arenado told the Denver Post. “But obviously, Tulo has some anger still. I don’t know if it’s the right way to be saying it in the media, but that’s his business and that’s how he’s handling it.
“But I don’t think it’s a country club here. I think it’s just a matter of guys putting their work in. I don’t agree with the ‘country club’ statement.”
While Tulowitzki might be roughing it when it comes to getting to the fields each day and having adequate room in the Toronto spring clubhouse and weight room, he’s quite comfortable off the field. He purchased a home on the water in Palm Harbor near the Blue Jays spring facility this year.

TODAY IN HISTORY - FEBRUARY 29TH

1504 – Christopher Columbus uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Native Americans to provide him with supplies.
1796 – The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations.
1892 – St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated.
1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (The California Ramblers, The Dorsey Brothers, and The Charleston Chasers) (d. 1957) is born.
1936 – Baby Snooks, played by Fanny Brice, debuts on the radio program The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.
1940 – For her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award.
1960 – The 5.7 Mw Agadir earthquake shakes coastal Morocco with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme), destroying Agadir, and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured.
1980 – Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
1988 – South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town.
2012 – Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist, and actor (The Monkees) (b. 1945) dies.
2012 – Tokyo Skytree construction completed. Now it is the tallest tower in the world, 634 meters high, and second tallest (man-made) structure on Earth, next to Burj Khalifa.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Jimmie Johnson wins at Atlanta, ties Dale Earnhardt's career wins

Jimmie Johnson still trails Dale Earnhardt by one championship, but he's now matched the Intimidator for total Cup-level wins.
For better and for worse, the drivers have now gotten the control they've always wanted over a NASCAR race. The result at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday was a chess match played on ice skates, a race where daring moves both on the track and in the pit box paid off huge for Johnson.
Most NASCAR teams have repeated the mantra that Atlanta's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 marked the "real" start of the season, since it was the first race at which teams would be using the new low-downforce rules that would give more control to the drivers. The result, at a rough old track like Atlanta, was a race in which soft tires ran out quickly and in-the-pack passing was plentiful.
Early on, however, drivers were almost tentative as they figured out the parameters of the new car. The race ran green for an astounding 210 laps from the start.
But then, the story changed. Inside 100 laps, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick engaged in one of the better green-flag battles for the lead in recent memory. Truex couldn't quite get the
With about 40 laps remaining, the race flipped on its head. Jimmie Johnson short-pitted about six laps ahead of the field, nine laps ahead of Harvick, and when the race remained green afterward, Johnson found himself a good 11 seconds ahead of the field. Harvick cut that lead in half but couldn't close, and Johnson was within three laps of victory.
Naturally, that was when everything turned sideways, starting with Ryan Newman. A blown tire sent Newman end-first into the wall, obliterating Johnson's lead and bringing Kyle Busch, who had started 39th after qualifying miscues, back into the picture. But Johnson was able to hold off Busch and notch his 76th career win, tying Earnhardt's mark.
"It's a huge void in my career that I never got to race against him," Johnson said, "but at least I got to tie his wins."

Jimmie Johnson

Earnhardt's namesake had high praise for the style of racing. "The fans probably thought it was a boring race," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second, "but we were sliding around driving the hell out of those cars."
Earlier in the race, the most dominant car suffered a curious penalty. Matt Kenseth was owning the long green flag laps when, on a pit stop, his gas man placed a wrench on the car's rear deck lid. NASCAR determined that was a fueling violation, and while Kenseth's team unsuccessfully appealed the penalty, Kenseth was unwittingly driving around ignoring a black flag. The resulting penalty put Kenseth two laps down and eliminated any chance he had of winning.

Scott outlasts Garcia to win the Honda Classic

Adam Scott won the Honda Classic and put to rest any notion that his career would suffer with a short putter.
In a tight duel with Sergio Garcia for the entire round Sunday at PGA National, Scott stayed out of the water and closed with an even-par 70 for a one-shot victory. It was his first title since Colonial in May 2014, and his first time winning with a conventional putter since the 2010 Singapore Open.
The timing of his victory also was a big statement for the 35-year-old Australian.
Scott won in just his third start since a new rule took effect that bans the anchored stroke typically used for the long putter that he had the past five years. Scott switched back for good at the Presidents Cup. This was his 10th start since then, and only twice has he finished out of the top 10.
Scott opened with a 10-foot birdie that settled him and led by no more than two shots until back-to-back bogeys around the turn. But it was a two-man race all day, and Scott seized control when Garcia missed a short par putt on No. 11 and Scott hit a fairway bunker shot to 2 feet for birdie on the next hole.
Unlike Saturday, when Scott took a quadruple-bogey on the par-3 15th with two shots into the water, he stayed dry around the treacherous finish at PGA National.
The only nervous moment was on the 16th hole when Scott had a one-shot lead.
Garcia hit a poor pitch and was headed for a bogey. Scott left his 40-foot birdie attempt 10 feet short, and the par putt stopped short of the hole to keep the margin at one heading to the raucous 17th, a par 3 over the water.
Scott's 7-iron covered the flag, and it was no small relief for him when he saw it hit the green. Garcia made another bogey, and Scott had a two-shot lead going to the 18th, where a par was enough for him to win for the 12th official time on the PGA Tour.
''I hit a lot of good putts that didn't go in. Fortunately, it was enough at the end,'' he said.
Scott finished at 9-under 271 and moved to No. 9 in the world, his highest in 10 months.
''He played really, really solid,'' Garcia said. ''I played with him the last two days, and he looked awesome. I know I can play better. That's the good thing. Without feeling like I was swinging that great, I still managed to have a chance, so I'm happy with that.''
Justin Thomas closed with a 69 and tied for third with Blayne Barber (70), four shots behind. Graeme McDowell had a 69 to finish another shot behind, while Rickie Fowler lost momentum on the back nine for a 71 and joined Vijay Singh at 3-under 277.
And in the final round, he appeared to be in control until failing to save par from a bunker on No. 9 and a wild tee shot on the 10th. But on one of the more daunting shots over water on the course, he fired at the right pin at the 11th. Scott narrowly missed the birdie putt, though it seemed to steady him.
He got through the late par 3s over water - Nos. 15 and 17 - without trouble, even if there were a few moments that made him pause. He was set up over his shot on the 15th when a small puff of wind in his face was all it took to make him back off.
The day before, Scott was leading by three shots when he made a 7 on the hole and lost the lead. This time, he settled himself and hit a safe shot to 30 feet, and Garcia looked back at him and said, ''Good shot.''
Scott became the first player since Phil Mickelson in 2009 at the Tour Championship to win on the PGA Tour with a quadruple bogey.
That turned out to be the only big blemish on what otherwise had been a flawless display from one of the prettiest swings in golf. The victory proved to be validation that he can still get around with a short putter. Scott won 18 times around the world with a short putter, including The Players Championship and the Tour Championship.
He switched to a long putter that he anchored to his chest at the 2011 Match Play Championship, and contended at the Masters two months later. Scott won seven times with the long putter, including the Masters in 2013 when he was the fourth winner in the six majors to use an anchored putting stroke.
 
DIVOTS: Scott's victory bumped Jason Dufner out of the Cadillac Championship next week at Doral. The top 10 in the FedEx Cup standings are eligible for Doral, and Dufner had been No. 10 going into the Honda Classic. ... Scott now has gone 18 straight rounds at par or better.

Loving's 25 points help Ohio State stun No. 8 Iowa

Loving's 25 points help Ohio State stun No. 8  …Marc Loving scored 25 points, including both ends of a 1-and-1 with less than 2 seconds to go, and Ohio State rallied from a late deficit to stun No. 8 Iowa 68-64 on Sunday.
Keita Bates-Diop added 19 points while Kam Williams added 11 for the Buckeyes, who ended the game on a 12-2 run.
After Bates-Diop preserved a two-point lead for Ohio State (19-11, 11-6 Big Ten) by blocking Mike Gesell's layup with under 5 seconds to go, Loving made the free throws to ice the game.
Williams gave the Buckeyes a 63-62 lead with a jumper with 2:04 left after Iowa led for most of the second half. He added a 3-pointer a little over a minute later to stretch Ohio State's lead to four.
Gesell and Jarrod Uthoff led Iowa (20-8, 11-5) with 16 points apiece while Peter Jok had 12.
Iowa led by as many as six points in the second half.
The Hawkeyes had a 62-56 lead after Gesell's layup with 4:07 to go, but Williams started Ohio State's comeback with a jumper on the next possession.
The Buckeyes won for the fifth time in their last six games and kept slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive by picking up their second win of the season over a Top 10 team. They beat then-No. 4 Kentucky in December but had no other wins over ranked opponents.
Iowa lost its third straight game and fell to 5-5 on the road this season.
The Hawkeyes have not won since beating Minnesota 75-71 on Valentine's Day.
Loving was 4 of 6 from 3-point range while Bates-Diop was 8 for 11 from the field and grabbed six rebounds.
 
TIP-INS
Iowa: The Hawkeyes had won in their last two trips to Columbus.
Ohio State: Before their home finale, the Buckeyes honored five senior students who have been part of the program in recent years, but none are active players.
UP NEXT
Iowa host No. 18 Indiana on Tuesday.
Ohio State plays at No. 6 Michigan State on Saturday.

Eric Staal traded to NY Rangers in NHL trade deadline blockbuster

 (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Eric Staal had a decision to make, and the Carolina Hurricanes had a decision to make about Eric Staal.
The star captain is in the last year of his contract. The Hurricanes sit four points out of the final wild card spot, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have three games in-hand. Keep him and contend? Or deal Staal to the only team for whom he’d waive his no-trade clause?
According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, it’s the latter: Staal has agreed to a trade that sends him to the New York Rangers, going from his brother Jordan Staal’s Hurricanes to his brother Marc Staal’s Blueshirts.
The Rangers will surrender two second-round picks (2016, 2017) and Finnish prospect Aleksi Saarela, a highly-rated offensive center/left wing who was taken in the third round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He’s currently playing for Assat in the Finnish Liiga, with 31 points in 46 games. He also had a strong showing at the World Juniors.
“Eric has been the face of this franchise for a long time, and we thank him for his dedication, leadership and many contributions on and off the ice over the years,” said Carolina GM Ron Francis. “We felt this was an important opportunity for us to continue our work in building an organization that can consistently compete in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”
One assumes the Hurricanes’ decision to retain 50 percent of Staal’s salary ($9.5 million in actual dollars, $8.25 million against the cap) is what snagged them Saarela along with the picks. That's a pro-rated $4.125 million cap hit for Staal.
It’s a nice haul for a team that only had one option in the trade market for Eric Staal, considering his no-move status. (Reminds us of another Staal trade, actually.)
Where he fits in the Rangers’ lineup will be interesting. One assumes Staal will remain on the wing with the Rangers having Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard as their top two forwards. Maybe a Staal-Stepan-Nash line, when Rick Nash returns from injury, bumping Chris Kreider down the lineup?
It’s an aggressive move from a Rangers team that needed to add a significant piece – although one could argue there was just as much a need on the blueline. Staal makes them a heck of a lot more dangerous offensively, and as the Rangers have shown, that extra goal in the playoffs is sometimes all Lundqvist needs.
Then, thinking to the future … well, we all know Staal is only playing in New York or back in Carolina next year, right? We'll see where this goes.

Ian Desmond agrees to deal with Rangers, will shift to outfield

With March right around the corner, the last remaining free agent who turned down a qualifying offer earlier this winter has finally found a home. According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Ian Desmond has signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Texas Rangers, which is roughly half the money he left on the table when passing up the $15.8 qualifying deal.
If that's not painful enough for Desmond, the career long shortstop will also be forced to change positions to fit into the Rangers lineup. With Elvis Andrus already locked in as the Rangers everyday shortstop and no other infield positions open, Desmond will head to the outfield. It had been reported Texas was pegging Desmond for left field if they signed him.
Now that they have signed Desmond, the Rangers will lose their first-round pick while Desmond's former team, the Washington Nationals, pick up a compensation pick. That was likely the biggest factor preventing Desmond from finding a deal sooner, and one more to his liking.
The qualifting offer system is something that will no doubt be reviewed during the next CBA negotiations, but the players know the risk they are taking by turning it down. Especially a free agent is Desmond's position, who was clearly a second tier free agent in a class with a loaded first tier. In his case, the risk clearly backfired.
Desmond, 30, is coming off a down year too, which didn't help his cause. He hit .233/.290/.384 with 19 homers, 27 doubles and 62 RBIs last season. In the three seasons immediately before that, Desmond hit .275/.326/.462 while averaging 23 homers, 32 doubles and 81 RBIs. Those numbers earned him three straight Silver Slugger awards in a league that also featured Troy Tulowitzki.
Desmond had set the bar high. His success was also a major catalyst in the Nationals success during that time, and it's no coincidence that their disappointment last season coincided with his. If Desmond can find that stroke again in Texas, he'll definitely help a Rangers team that's in need of some production. With Josh Hamilton out until at least May, Desmond will have a chance to show he can handle the job. By the time Hamilton returns, the Rangers are probably hoping he'll have a tight grip on it.
It will be interesting to see how things play out. From the Rangers perspective though, it's a pretty good deal. Giving up the draft pick isn't ideal, of course, but they're looking to contend right now. Adding a bat with Desmond's upside at a relatively cheap price could prove to be the move that completes their puzzle.

A leading candidate for biggest draft fall: Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche

Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, who one year ago was touted by analysts as the potential No. 1 pick in this 2016 NFL draft, may be the biggest name to face a significant draft day slide, evaluators from four teams surveyed at the NFL scouting combine told Yahoo Sports.
The reasons given for the potential fall were varied, from a strong defensive line group to on-field performances that didn't always match up with Nkemdiche's athleticism. All of the evaluators gave Nkemdiche positive reviews for how he tested athletically at the combine, but also said there is validity to the criticism that his testing numbers don't consistently show on tape. Perhaps more important, all shared a common concern: whether Nkemdiche can be trusted off the field, and whether he will distance himself from individuals who have negatively influenced him in the past.
"That's a guy that I could see having a little bit of a plummet," one evaluator said. "He's not in a weak class [at defensive tackle], and there is a lot of [off-field] stuff there to get through. … He may not end up being a first-round pick."
Robert Nkemdiche (Getty Images) Interestingly, by Sunday morning all of the evaluators had taken note of Nkemdiche's media session during combine week. It was an eventful period, including an admission that he occasionally was "lazy" on plays, leading to some of his mediocre stats (6½ total sacks in three seasons, average tackle totals and never forced a fumble). Ultimately, the Q&A session was punctuated by Nkemdiche's allegation that Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (the favorite to be the No. 1 pick) was present when Nkemdiche fell out of an Atlanta hotel window in December. Tunsil's camp denied that allegation to several NFL teams, further raising NFL eyebrows. Nkemdiche also insisted he was drunk – and not under the influence of drugs – when the fall occurred. He added that ensuing marijuana possession charges were a case of other people in the room not wanting "to take the fall" after police found the substance in the hotel room.
Asked how NFL teams had received his explanation of the hotel room incident, Nkemdiche said the reaction was positive.
"They believe me," he said. "It's the truth and it's what I'm going to keep moving forward with. I'm going to stick to my story. That's what it is. I'm going to keep moving forward, keep being in the moment and get ready to show out on Sunday."
Nkemdiche ultimately posted numbers that placed him near the top of the interior defensive linemen, and teased why his pass rush potential is so high at the tackle spot. At 6-foot-3 and 294 pounds, his 40-yard dash (4.87 seconds), bench reps (28 at 225 pounds), vertical (35 inches) and broad jump (9 feet, 8 inches) were all in or near the top percentile for defensive tackles. That will be enough to keep teams engaged, and has already resulted in nearly half the league setting up individual visits. Whether that translates into a first-round lock remains to be seen.
 
Other combine notes on defensive linemen
• The class of edge rushers seems to have lost some steam in Indianapolis. The class lacks a surefire game-changing player who is considered "can't-miss" status in the top five, multiple evaluators told Yahoo Sports. Good (but not jaw-dropping) workouts from Ohio State's Joey Bosa and Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence seemed to back that up. Oregon's DeForest Buckner has apparently fallen into that camp as well. The interior defensive line has seemed to excite teams much more.
• One scout whose team isn't in the market for a first-round defensive tackle said Louisville's Sheldon Rankins could end up being the best defensive lineman taken in this draft, and could end up as a top-10 surprise on draft day. The scout said Rankins' ascent will largely depend on how much bigger and stronger teams think the 299-pounder can get without losing his fluidity in pursuit.

Kris Humphries commits to joining Hawks

Kris Humphries (AP)Free-agent Kris Humphries has committed to sign with the Atlanta Hawks once he clears waivers, a source told Yahoo Sports.
The Phoenix Suns waived Humphries, 31, on Sunday. The Suns acquired the 6-foot-9, 235-pounder from the Washington Wizards in a trade on Feb. 18. The 12-year NBA veteran cannot sign with the Hawks until he clears waivers on Tuesday, which he is expected to do. He plans to sign a minimum deal for the rest of the season.
Humphries averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game while shooting 34.3 percent from 3-point range for the Wizards in 28 games this season. He played four games with the Suns, who now have an open roster spot.
Humphries will give Atlanta more depth behind All-Stars Paul Millsap and Al Horford.
The Hawks recently lost center Tiago Splitter for the rest of the season to hip surgery.

Seton Hall catches fifth-ranked Xavier flat, locks up NCAA bid

Seton Hall routs No. 5 Xavier in all but locking up NCAA bid
Xavier forward Jalen Reynolds (1) and guard J.P. Macura (55) jump over Seton Hall forward Angel Delgado (31) under the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Newark, N.J.

Five days after an emotional victory over the No. 1 ranked team in the country, Xavier endured a Villanova-induced hangover.
The fifth-ranked Musketeers suffered a one-sided 90-81 loss at Seton Hall that could damage their chances to earn a No. 1 seed.
Xavier surrendered the game's first nine points, trailed by 19 points at halftime and never mounted a serious charge in the second half. Too many first-half turnovers, too many ill-advised shots and too many missed box-outs doomed the Musketeers on the road against a rapidly improving Pirates team.
If Xavier had crept up to the No. 1 line on mock brackets after Wednesday's big win, this loss will send them tumbling back to the No. 2 line for now. The Musketeers (25-4, 13-4) probably need to win the Big East tournament to have a realistic shot at a No. 1 seed now.
It was undoubtedly difficult for Xavier to get amped up for a road game at Seton Hall after ending a six-game losing streak against Villanova earlier in the week, but don't sell the Pirates short. They've won eight of their past nine games to improve to 21-7 overall, to lock up an NCAA tournament bid and to validate athletic director Patrick Lyons' decision to exercise patience with embattled head coach Kevin Willard last spring.
In his first five seasons at Seton Hall, Willard never made the NCAA tournament or finished higher than a tie for seventh in the Big East. The 2014-15 Pirates lost 13 of their final 17 games after a 12-2 start, collapsing under the strain of locker room discord that led to the transfer of standout guards Sterling Gibbs and Jaren Sina.
Willard's expensive buyout and strong relationship with Lyons bought him a one-year reprieve, and he has made it count. Superior chemistry, a blossoming sophomore class and a renewed commitment to defense and rebounding has helped Seton Hall ascend to the point that it has a chance to earn a No. 7 or 8 seed in the NCAA tournament with a strong finish.
Desi Rodriguez and Angel Delgado were Seton Hall's stars on Sunday, scoring 44 points, ripping down 20 rebounds and creating numerous second-chance opportunities. Seton Hall's top scorer Isaiah Whitehead put up 22 points, but he shot just 5-for-15 from the field and committed eight turnovers.
That Seton Hall could win with ease despite a below-average game from Whitehead shows the growth of the program this season.
Xavier may have suffered a Villanova-induced hangover, but credit Seton Hall for taking full advantage.

Pitt finally claims a win over ranked team by dismantling Duke

While Pitt was completely dominating No. 15 Duke on Sunday to the delight of a large crowd at Petersen Events Center, some Panthers fans had to be asking themselves, ‘Where has this team been all season?’
Pitt earned its first win over a ranked team in impressive fashion 76-62 by absolutely hammering the Blue Devils with a 19-rebound advantage and never allowing Duke to establish anything resembling offense in the paint.
Pitt guard James Robinson (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)The Panthers already were thought to be one of the final major conference teams into the NCAA Tournament, but they couldn’t afford more losses, especially an ugly setback. By the midway point of the second half, that wasn’t a concern. Behind 17 points from Jamel Artis, 14 from senior James Robinson and a strong 11 points and six rebounds off the bench from Sheldon Jeter, Pitt ran away with the kind of easy victory rarely seen against any Duke team.
Pitt had been 0-6 against ranked opponents prior to Sunday, but the Panthers had collected six wins against the RPI top-100 and did not have a bad loss on its resume. Adding a win over Duke should solidify the Panthers as a tournament team, assuming they finish the season strong on the road at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
If Pitt played as well as it did on senior day more often, it might be in the mix near the top of the ACC standings and more concerned with seeding issues than simply making the tournament. Of course, the Panthers don’t get to play every game against a Duke team that played uncharacteristically poor defense and lacks a consistent post presence.
At one point late in the game, the Panthers had as many offensive rebounds (16) as Duke had total rebounds. Pitt finished with a ridiculous 39-20 rebounding advantage, highlighting how desperate Duke is to get Amile Jefferson back before tournament time.
The Blue Devils often made it easy on Pitt by settling for the 3-point shot. Duke made 11 of 32 attempts from behind the arc, but made just seven of 16 two-point shots. Marshall Plumlee had a double-double in a win over Florida State on Thursday and disappeared Sunday after getting two fouls in the first half. He finished the game with zero points and two rebounds in 28 minutes.
Duke was left to play a five-guard lineup for long stretches with freshman Brandon Ingram serving as the big man. Four months into his freshman season Duke forward Chase Jeter remains ineffective.

Man United 3-2 Arsenal: Rashford the hero as Gunners punished at Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford took “Theatre of Dreams” to a whole new level.
Manchester-born teenager Rashford scored a brace and Ander Herrera put the cherry on top, as an inexperienced Manchester United lineup shocked Arsenal with a 3-2 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
In what can only be described as a massively underwhelming showing by Arsene Wenger‘s side, the Gunners title hopes sit five points off Leicester City.
That’s not to discredit a spirited and inspiring performance from the hosts. United moves back into fifth with the win.
Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck scored for Arsenal.
David De Gea stopped Nacho Monreal point-blank in the sixth minute, and the Arsenal left back seemed to find himself in an awkward, casual position to strike.
The Gunners gave away a free kick on the left edge of the 18 when Marcus Rashford burst past Gabriel Paulista, but Petr Cech collected the low shot through traffic.
That’s when Rashford burst onto the scene with two goals in three minutes (to give him four in two matches!).
After a terrible giveaway from Theo Walcott — who compounded the mistake by standing idly by — Rashford hit a deflected shot past Petr Cech in the 29th minute.
Moments later, Rashford capped off an inspired bit of play between Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata by powering a header past Cech. Only in this season’s Premier League, right?
Arsenal then pulled one back from United alum Welbeck, who turned Mesut Ozil’s free kick past De Gea with his head.

OptaJoe
18y 120d - Marcus Rashford is exactly the same age that Wayne Rooney was (18y 120d) when he scored his first Premier League brace. Quirk.

The second half didn’t deprive anyone, aside from maybe the goalkeepers.
Herrera put United ahead two with a wide-open cutback goal, and then Ozil bounced a side-volley of sorts past De Gea. 3-2 with 20 minutes to play!