Thursday, April 30, 2015

Bears take West Virginia WR White with 7th pick

Bears take West Virginia WR White with 7th pickThe Bears selected West Virginia receiver Kevin White with the seventh overall pick in the draft Thursday night, bringing cheers from fans gathered for the event in downtown Chicago.
New general manager Ryan Pace opted to go with a play-making receiver to replace the traded Brandon Marshall rather than address a defense that has ranked among the worst in franchise history the past two years.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound White, a junior college transfer, made a big impact in two seasons at West Virginia. He had a particularly strong senior season, finishing third in the nation with 109 receptions and sixth in yards receiving with 1,447.
Chicago also has one pick in the second and third rounds Friday (Nos. 39 and 71) along with a fourth-rounder (106), a fifth-rounder (142) and sixth-rounder (183) on Saturday.
Chicago made sweeping changes after going 5-11 last season, hiring Pace and coach John Fox to replace the fired Phil Emery and Marc Trestman. The Bears also have new offensive and defensive coordinators in Adam Gase and Vic Fangio, and they're switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.
Roster-wise, there was no shortage of holes on offense and defense.
The Bears came in needing a top receiver to team with Alshon Jeffery after trading the controversial Marshall to the New York Jets. They're hoping White will give them just that. He set a school record with seven straight 100-yard receiving games to start the season and established the West Virginia mark with 16 receptions against Texas on Nov. 8.
White joins a team facing plenty of big questions.
Quarterback Jay Cutler's future with the team beyond next season is in question. And the defense remains a big concern after getting shredded the past two years under former coordinator Mel Tucker.
The Monsters of the Midway gave up the two highest point totals in franchise history during that span. Last season, only one team (Oakland) allowed more points, and the Bears joined the 1923 Rochester Jeffersons as the only teams to give up 50 or more in back-to-back games.
Pace brought in free agents such as linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Antrel Rolle. But there still is plenty of work to do.

Buccaneers look to turn around sorry QB history with Jameis Winston

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston: 'I'm so happy to be here with my family'In the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three of their quarterbacks have a combined three Pro Bowl appearances: one each for Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia and Trent Dilfer. Exciting list.
That’s 39 seasons of mostly below average to flat-out terrible quarterback play. How bad is it? Josh Freeman is third all-time in passing yardage in team history. Johnson, by most statistical measures and for being the starting quarterback on a Super Bowl champion, probably has to be considered the greatest Buccaneers quarterback. (The best quarterback to ever play for Tampa Bay was Steve Young, but Young was never good for the Buccaneers in large part because of a terrible supporting cast.)
The Buccaneers hope their quarterback history started to change on Thursday night, when they made Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston the top pick of the 2015 NFL draft.
A lot more has been said about Winston the person rather than Winston the player, and there will be plenty of eyes on Winston to see if any of his off-field red flags hinder his NFL career. But there’s a reason the Buccaneers selected Winston, and that’s to become the greatest quarterback in franchise history, no matter how low that bar has been set over nearly four decades of Bucs football.
Winston gives the Buccaneers hope for the future, and a good reason to be optimistic about the present as well. Tampa Bay had plenty of problems last season despite a talented roster, and not the least of their problems was a really bad season by journeyman quarterback Josh McCown. Winston comes ready to start right out of the box, as a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion who showed plenty of pocket skills. Winston was a big reason the Seminoles were 27-0 with him as a starter before they lost Winston’s final game.
On the flip side, Winston is also seen by some as a possible Jay Cutler-esque player, too prone to mistakes and turnovers to truly unlock his physical potential. He’s not a sure thing like Andrew Luck a few years ago, though in fairness, few prospects are. He’ll be playing behind a bad offensive line. But there was never much doubt Winston would be Tampa Bay’s pick, and for good reason.
Tampa Bay could move up the NFC South in a hurry, considering last year the South was the second division ever to have a champion with a losing record. Tampa Bay has some very good players, especially at wideout, where Winston can throw to giants Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. There’s a chance Tampa Bay could get much better right away. A lot of that will depend on how well Winston plays as a rookie. He’s one of two freshmen in history to win the Heisman, so there’s a track record of instant success.
There was no other real option with the first pick for Tampa Bay, especially once the Bucs said they were comfortable with him off the field. Winston has a tremendous ceiling and he’s less of a project than Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. The Buccaneers, who have never had a quarterback make multiple Pro Bowls for them and have had one Pro Bowl appearance from a quarterback they drafted (Dilfer), are hoping that Winston was a historic pick. With even a little luck, he’ll be the greatest quarterback the franchise has ever had, for what it’s worth.

Dunleavy scores 20, Bulls clobber Bucks 120-66 to advance

Mike Dunleavy scored 20 points and the Chicago Bulls came close to an NBA playoff record, finally putting away the Milwaukee Bucks with a 120-66 victory in Game 6 to clinch their first-round series Thursday night.
The Bulls, who move on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, finished four points away from the NBA playoff record for largest margin of victory. Minnesota beat St. Louis 133-75 on March 19, 1956.
The game was over early, but it still featured plenty of the intensity and bad blood that marked the first five games of the series and Dunleavy was in the middle of much of the action. He drew the foul that led to the ejection of Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo for a flagrant 2 foul just before halftime.
Pau Gasol scored 19 points and Jimmy Butler added 16 for the Bulls, who started the series with a 3-0 lead before two straight wins by the defensive-minded Bucks put them back in position to tie it. Derrick Rose scored 15 points and all five Chicago starters were in double figures.
In an indication of Milwaukee's misery on offense, no Bucks starter scored more than ZaZa Pachulia's eight points. It was the biggest playoff loss in team history. The Bucks lost by 36 points at New York in 1970.
Antetokounmpo was ejected after a hard foul on Dunleavy during a 3-point attempt that sent him crashing into the front row of fans with 1:34 left in the second quarter. After a review, officials ruled it a flagrant 2. It may have been a reaction to a hand to the face that Dunleavy gave Antetokounmpo a little earlier in the game - an incident similar to contact between Dunleavy's arm and Michael Carter-Williams' face near the beginning of the game.
Dunleavy and Carter-Williams tangled again in the third quarter. Dunleavy bumped Carter-Williams, and Carter-Williams retaliated by swinging his left arm and sending Dunleavy to the court. Dunleavy was called for an offensive foul, and Carter-Williams earned a technical. Dunleavy played for the Bucks for two seasons before joining the Bulls in 2013-14.
It was a rough end to a successful season for the Bucks, who were the league's worst team in 2013-14 but turned it around to earn the No. 6 playoff season under new coach Jason Kidd.
The Bucks were never really in this one, though, trailing 34-16 at the end of the first quarter and 65-33 at the half.
TIP-INS
Bulls: F Nikola Mirotic finished second in rookie of the year voting, behind Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins. ''I thought he had a terrific year,'' Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''He has a very bright future and just has to keep working. I love the way he approaches things.'' . Despite the blowout, Thibodeau played his starters well into the third quarter.
Bucks: With 33 points in the first half, the Bucks came one point shy of tying their all-time franchise playoff low for points in the first half. Milwaukee scored 32 points in the first half against Detroit in 2004.

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo ejected for late hit on Bulls' Mike Dunleavy

The Milwaukee Bucks entered the NBA postseason with many fans excited to see the playoff debut of amazingly talented 20-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, it looks as if the budding star is leaving the first round under shameful circumstances.
Already down big to the Bulls in the second quarter, the Bucks lost Antetokounmpo for the rest of Game 6 (and likely a few more games) following a clear-cut ejection. With the Bulls up 58-28 with roughly 1:35 remaining in the first half, Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy launched and made a three-pointer from the left wing. As Dunleavy finished his follow-through, Antetokounmpo rushed at him and delivered a check to the midsection to send him to the floor.
Referees check replays to confirm that the foul did in fact have more in common with a late hit on a quarterback than a standard basketball play. Giannis received a flagrant-2 foul, triggering an automatic ejection. It is also likely that Antetokoumpo will see further suspension for the play, although it would have to be served whenever he is healthy and available next season.
The play requires some context, because Dunleavy did engage in some extracurricular activity with two Bucks earlier in the game. The most apparent was a push near the neck to send Antetokounmpo to the floor on the previous possession during a missed three-pointer from Ersan Ilyasova. He also delivered a shot near the face of Michael Carter-Williams to knock him down on a layup attempt in the first quarter.
Carter-Wiliams went to the locker room to receive attention and missed much of the first quarter before returning to the game. Such plays often earn flagrant-1 fouls in today's NBA, but they are usually not responded to with full-on tackles. It's most likely that Antetokounmpo was expressing his frustration with an incredibly one-sided game that should end a series that has otherwise been fairly competitive.
Dunleavy made his additional free throw to give the Bulls a 62-28 lead. They entered the halftime break up 65-33, nearly doubling up the host Bucks in a thoroughly dominant first half.
Yet the Bucks and Dunleavy continued to tussle in the second half even if the result was never in question. Roughly halfway through the third quarter, Dunleavy got his hand up near the throat of Carter-Williams again, causing retaliation from the second-year point guard in the form of this swim move.
Carter-Williams got hit with a technical immediately but was not assessed a flagrant upon review. Mercifully, this was the final incident before the Bulls finished off their 120-66 victory to win the series 4-2.

Carmelo Anthony marches in Freddie Gray protests in Baltimore, urges calm and patience

View image on TwitterIn the caption of the Instagram post, the New York Knicks All-Star forward — who was born in Brooklyn, but raiased in West Baltimore — extended sympathies to the family of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died on April 19, one week after sustaining a "significant spinal injury" while in the custody of Baltimore police after being apprehended on the morning of April 12 for reasons that remain unclear. He expressed frustration at how peaceful protests of the lack of answers from police as to how Gray sustained his spinal injury while in police custody boiled over into violence, looting and riots following Gray's funeral on Monday. He called for justice, for answers, for peace and for an end to the destruction of a community that had already suffered so much.
It was a thoughtful, conflicted response to a complicated and emotionally fraught situation that's hard to unpack. But it was also a caption on an Instagram photo; it was a message in a bottle, flung from afar.
Anthony traveled to Baltimore on Thursday, joining in a protest march through the streets of the city on the same afternoon that the Baltimore Police Department turned the results of its internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gray's injury over to prosecutors. CNN's Ryan Young spoke with Anthony as he marched about why he returned to Baltimore and what he hoped would come of his presence.
"This is my community," Anthony said. "This is not just my community — it's everybody's community. It's America's community. So for me to come back here and be part of a community where I grew up at, and really get a chance to kind of talk to the people and get a feel for what's going on ... I had to come. It was only right for me to come down here."
Anthony marched, evidently without much in the way of an entourage, alongside city residents, youth and demonstrators, telling CNN's Young, "I'm one of them."
"When I come back home, it's all love. Everything is cool. But I'm here for a different cause right now," he said. "I'm supporting my community. I'm here to talk to the youth about, kind of, calming things down in the city here, man. We shouldn't tear our city down. We've got to rebuild our city. We're going to get the justice that we want. It's going to take some time. It's going to take some time.
"So my message to everybody is just, calm down and be patient. I know that's easier said than done right now, to be patient. But we have to be patient in order for us to get what we want."
Anthony acknowledged that preaching patience in a situation in which nearly two weeks have passed since Gray's death in police custody without an explanation as to how it transpired might be a tough sell to some. Still, he said that demonstrations like Thursday's peaceful march show that "we care."
"I understand where everybody is coming from. Our community is fed up. They fed up right now," he said. "But there's different ways that you can go about it. I'm here to kind of, you know, lead that to the right path. This is a peaceful march, man. This is my community. This is people that I grew up with. So for me to come back right here and just show that type of leadership ... like, we're together.
"This is one Baltimore, man. And now it's about time to rebuild this city back up."
Anthony's willingness to make such a public statement in solidarity with those protesting police brutality will likely rankle some fans, especially in New York, where memories of the death of Eric Garner and the subsequent "I Can't Breathe" protests and clashes with police remain very fresh. It could seem, then, like something of a surprising decision for him to make, given his well-established desire to be one of the NBA's premier businessmen off the court both during and after his career — a decision that makes it easier for critics to bring up his "Stop Snitchin'" past and denigrate the man he's become.
But we now live in an environment in which athletes are increasingly comfortable taking political stands and making social statements, and that very much includes NBA players. From the Miami Heat putting up their hoods in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin, to the Los Angeles Clippers and Heat wearing their shooting shirts inside out to protest incendiary racial comments made by then-Clippers owner Donald Sterling, to James, Derrick Rose and the Los Angeles Lakers wearing "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts in solidarity with those protesting Garner's death, to Nicolas Batum wearing a "Je Suis Charlie" T-shirt to honor the victims of the terrorist attack at French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, NBA players are taking ownership of their position as public figures to do more than just promote products. They're promoting causes they believe in, offering signal boosts to leaderless movements in search of traction, showing empathy for the struggles of others.
In Anthony's case, he did more than just throw up a sign — he showed up, stood shoulder to shoulder, and walked the walk. He offered an in-the-flesh reminder to those in the community that raised him that, even in their darkest times, they're not alone. That might cost 'Melo some fans. It might also gain him even more.

Florida's Billy Donovan agrees to $30M deal to become Thunder coach

Billy Donovan (Getty Images)Billy Donovan has agreed to a five-year deal worth about $30 million to become head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
After 19 years and two national titles at the University of Florida, Donovan is leaving for the NBA.
The expectations for Donovan are immediate and massive: He must help convince Kevin Durant to sign a long-term extension with the Thunder, and push an immensely talented roster toward its first championship.
Durant, the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player, can become a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti has long targeted Donovan to replace the deposed Scott Brooks, and was the only candidate he pursued, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Durant reached out to multiple former University of Florida players in the NBA to gain insight into Donovan, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and became generally positive about the hiring.
Elsewhere on the roster, how much initial enthusiasm the hiring of Donovan will bring, league sources told Yahoo Sports. For a franchise chasing short- and long-term championship aspirations, some are uncertain about a college coach's ability to lead an immediate title push.
Donovan turned down offers to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves a year ago. He agreed to become the Orlando Magic's head coach in 2007, only to change his mind and return to Florida after signing a contract and holding a news conference. The NBA did not allow him to be considered for head-coaching jobs until the term of that five-year agreement ended.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 30TH

1887 - First game played at Broad & Huntingdon St Park
(Baker Bowl) in Philadelphia; Phillies beat Giants 19-10.
1905 - First official soccer game between Belgium-Netherlands (1-4).
1910 - Cleveland Indian Addie Joss wins 2nd no-hitter beating White Sox.
1916 - Chicago Cubs play 1st game at Weeghman Park (Wrigley Field) beat Reds.
1922 - Chicago White Sox Charles Robertson perfect games Detroit Tigers, 2-0.
1938 - The first televised FA Cup Final takes place between
Huddersfield Town and Preston North End.
1940 - Brooklyn Dodger Tex Carleton no-hits Cincinnati Reds, 3-0.
1946 - Cleveland Indian Bob Feller's 2nd no-hitter beats NY Yankees, 1-0.
1953 - Little-Bigger League changes its name to Babe Ruth League.
1958 - Ted Williams is 10th major league player to get 1,000 extra-base hits.
1961 - Isiah Thomas, NBA forward (Detroit Piston;
1990 NBA playoff MVP), born in Chicago, Illinois.
1967 - NY Met pitcher Tom Seaver wins hist 1st game.
1967 - Orioles' Stu Miller & Steve Barber lose 2-1 despite no-hitting Tigers.
1969 - Cincinnati Red Jim Maloney 3rd no-hitter beats Houston Astros, 10-0.
1970 - Cubs Billy Williams is 1st NLer to play in 1,000 consecutive games.
1971 - 25th NBA Championship: Milwaukee beat Baltimore Bullets in 4 games.
1976 - Muhammad Ali beats Jimmy Young in 15 for Heavyweight boxing title.
1984 - Strong winds cause a 30 minute delay in Toronto Blue Jays game..
1987 - NY Islander Mike Bossy plays his final game
1994 - Roland Ratzenberger, Austrian race car driver, dies in crash at 31.
2012 - Manchester City defeat Manchester United 1-0 in what is claimed
to be the biggest match in the English Premier League's history.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Andrew Wiggins wins NBA Rookie of the Year award

Andrew Wiggins (Getty Images)Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Andrew Wiggins will be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year during a news conference on Thursday, a source told Yahoo Sports.
Wiggins was the top overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he was dealt to the T'wolves in a trade for Kevin Love before the season. The four-time Western Conference Rookie of the Month averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 36.2 minutes while playing in all 82 games this season.
Wiggins appeared to be the frontrunner for the award from the start, with his competition in the injury-plagued rookie class limited to Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic and Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton.
The news conference to honor the former University of Kansas star will be on the main floor of the Target Center in Minneapolis and open to the public.

American Pharoah class of a class Kentucky Derby field

 During morning training hours at Churchill Downs last week, National Thoroughbred Racing Association publicist Jim Mulvihill stood by the backstretch rail and cheerily noted how injury-free this year's crop of 3-year-old Kentucky Derby contenders has been.
Jaws dropped and those near him recoiled in horror.
Mulvihill might as well have announced a no-hitter in the dugout in the seventh inning. In a sport steeped in superstition – and riddled with injuries – this was a bold flouting of the Derby gods.
Fortunately for all involved – including Mulvihill, who could have been thrown off the Twin Spires for such talk – the hex has not ensued. The horses have stayed healthy, and in the wake of Wednesday afternoon's post-position draw, we are looking at one of the most impressive Kentucky Derby fields in a long time.
"It's as strong as I can remember," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who has started 40 horses in the Derby in his career and plans to send four more to this year's race. "I don't recall a race as deep as this one."
There have been 22 major Derby prep races in 2015, and the winners of 20 of them figure to be in the field Saturday. The only defections on the arduous Derby trail have been Spiral Stakes winner Dubai Sky and Withers Stakes champ Far From Over.
Everyone else is here, including horses on winning streaks of six races (Dortmund), four (American Pharoah), three (Materiality and International Star) and two (Carpe Diem). Winners of the Santa Anita Derby (Dortmund), Wood Memorial (Frosted), Florida Derby (Materiality) and Blue Grass Stakes (Carpe Diem) are all present and accounted for – and none of them is the favorite.
"I think this is a hell of a crop," said legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who saddled his first Derby horse in 1981 and has won the roses four times. "Maybe as deep as any I've seen. There may be five of these horses, in any given year, you put them in the Derby and they'd be the favorite."
The horse that is the favorite in this classy field, Arkansas Derby winner American Pharoah, opened at odds of 5-2 – and will likely drop from there. He's drawing the kind of raves normally reserved for an animal that already has won a leg or two of the Triple Crown. Between his smashing spring performances and his final pre-Derby workout here Sunday, the hype train is rolling at breakneck speed.
But the most striking thing about the hype is where it's originating. From the mouths of people like the 80-year-old Lukas.
"I have not been that impressed with a horse in a long time,” said Lukas, whose Derby entrant, Mr. Z, was crushed by American Pharoah in the Arkansas Derby. "We came up to him, and when [jockey] Victor Espinoza just nudged him, he opened up four or five lengths on us. … That just breaks horses' hearts. That impressed the hell out of me.
"In terms of conformation, just standing there, he doesn't blow you away. But when he moves, goes full flight, he's got an amazing stride."
The horse that does blow you away standing there is Dortmund. The sculpted, towering son of 2008 Derby winner Big Brown is an undefeated Santa Anita Derby champion – which in a normal year would make him the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Instead Dortmund opened at 3-1.
Yet the colt that has thrown the biggest Beyer Speed Figure – a measure of a horse's actual speed vs. clock speed – of any in the race is neither American Pharoah or Dortmund. It's Pletcher trainee Materiality, who posted a 110 speed figure in winning the Florida Derby. The only knock on the son of 2005 Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex is inexperience – he has only raced three times, none at age 2, and the last horse to win the Derby without racing at 2 was Apollo. In 1882.
The second-highest speed figure in the race (108) belongs to the colt Materiality outdueled in the Florida Derby, Upstart. He also posted a 105 in winning the Holy Bull Stakes in January. Upstart's only hiccup along the path to Louisville came when he spiked a fever that delayed a workout earlier this month, but he performed well in his rescheduled work.
Pletcher has had his share of Derby heartburn, with just one win despite bringing a strong hand to the race almost every year this century. But there is reason for hope to spring anew. Materiality is not his only live shot this year; he also Blue Grass winner Carpe Diem – a well-bred, $1.6 million purchase with four wins and a second in five lifetime starts.
Then there are the two horses with Dubai-based ownership: Frosted, winner of the Wood Memorial, and UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij.
Frosted was beaten twice by Upstart earlier this year, but his performance in the Wood suggests a horse peaking at the right time for a Kentucky-native trainer (Kiaran McLaughlin) who would love to win this race. Mubtaahij has done all of his racing overseas – either in England or Dubai – and hasn't faced the rigors of this class on American soil. But my friend and veteran Derby observer Mark Coomes makes a case for that horse as a live longer shot.
Bad racing luck in a 20-horse field figures to complicate things for some of this magnificent seven. But the best antidote for traffic issues is the ability to maneuver a horse in and out of trouble, and a lot of connections are confident in that regard.
"I like horses with tactical speed," Lukas said. "The favorites all have it this year."
The favorites all have a lot going for them, starting with good health and good recent racing form. This Kentucky Derby looks too loaded to hex.

A silent day at Camden Yards as Baltimore residents struggle to be heard

Orioles make history in empty stadiumWith two men on, one out in the first inning, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis belted a towering three-run homer to Eutaw Street just inside of the foul pole. It was the 80th home run in the history of Camden Yards to reach the usually fan-filled avenue behind right field, the 31st by an Oriole and the sixth from Davis.
And it barely made a sound.
Because for the first time in Major League Baseball history, two teams faced each other without a single fan in attendance. The Orioles scored six in the first inning on their way to a 8-2 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox, anchored by that Davis moonshot. But the mammoth home run and the score could ultimately prove to be a footnote to how the game was played altogether. The silence in the ball park was a strange contrast to the noise three miles away, the epicenter of days of protests by Baltimore residents, demonstrating in the wake of 25-year-old Freddie Gray’s death on April 19 after spinal injuries inflicted by police here more than two weeks earlier.
“It made no noise. No sound. It was just quiet,” said Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones, who got out on a sacrifice fly the at-bat before the Davis homer.
Jones made a “pop” noise to imitate the only sound he heard at the moment, a crack of Davis’s bat. “It’s weird. It’s different. The guy at the plate has the whole entire dugout behind him. Everybody watching him, behind him. There’s nobody there. But they’re there,” Jones said.
It was so quiet in the press box that every reporter (and even viewers on the White Sox broadcast) heard Orioles’ play-by-play man Gary Thorne yell, “Good-bye!”
Jones said the weirdest part about Wednesday’s game was hearing everything he said: “During the game, you’re drowned out by all the noise, but you could hear everything, literally. I told guys you got to watch what you’re saying to the umpires because they’re going to hear everything in detail.”
O’s relief pitcher Zach Britton said the most bizarre part was hearing himself think, not just speak, perhaps a condition that plagued White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who lasted only five innings after giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits.
“You could hear a pin drop in there — it echoes in the stadium, off the warehouse and everything,” said Britton, who pitched the ninth inning in relief for the home team.
He said he thought it affected players, especially the Sox starter. “Samardzija’s a really good pitcher and that didn’t look like him at all,” Britton said.
The game lasted a mere two hours and three minutes — short by MLB standards — as walk-up music was ditched for the afternoon. Music played during batting practice and between innings, and players were announced over the public address system when they stepped up to the plate.
Pre-recorded instrumentals of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played at their regularly appointed times — to no one.
Dozens of fans, who were outnumbered by reporters at first pitch, stuck out the game just outside the centerfield gate, where they could see most of the infield. One fan, 37-year-old public defender Brendan Hurson stood in the crowd holding a “Don’t forget Freddie Gray” sign. Both of the letter “O”s in the sign were shaped like the Orioles logo.
Some fans got free Orioles hats from the few employees who worked the stadium during the game. One fan, 29-year-old Kristina Martin, who live in Baltimore and works at a restaurant here, said that at practice Tuesday, an Orioles staffer gave her one of Davis’s BP home-run balls.
As for Wednesday’s home-run balls — Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado also hit one — no one knew who retrieved them or when, but an Orioles communications aide said that a staffer would probably have to find them where they landed in lieu of the fans who usually take care of such tasks.
For those in Orioles nation who didn’t lurk at the gate, local bars, like the Pratt Street Ale House, tried to create a home for fans looking to watch the unusual and historic game.
But players here seemed to know that there were more important things than baseball and that the team had a role to play within the community. Before Wednesday’s contest, Jones said he wanted to help the city heal and emphasized that he has been talking regularly with community leaders who are actively involved with the protests here.
Orioles Manager Buck Showalter was also reflective, especially after the game played in silence, about what he wanted his team to mean to Baltimore.
“I want to be a rallying force for our city and that doesn’t even mean just playing good baseball,” Showalter said.
Martin, the fan who watched both Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s game from outside the parameters of the stadium, said that she and other fans were there for a simple reason.
“I guess we just want them to know that we’re here,” she said.
When Showalter was asked if he could hear the fans from outside the stadium, he said, “They were heard. They were heard.”
Not much else was heard Wednesday at Camden Yards — just the crack of balls against bats and gloves, players yelling directions at each other, reporters, whispering as if they were covering golf.
The silence was deafening, but it was quieter still knowing that Baltimore citizens outside the park are struggling to be heard.

Doc Rivers fined $25K after decrying 'brutal calls' against Clippers in Game 5 loss to Spurs

Doc Rivers complains to referee Scott Foster during Game 5. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)You can certainly understand the Los Angeles Clippers feeling frustrated after losing Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. It was their second loss in three games at Staples Center in this postseason, as they squandered the home-court advantage they worked so hard to gain during the regular season and regain in a Game 4 victory in Texas. It put them on the brink of elimination, staring down a do-or-die Game 6 at AT&T Center on Thursday.
They played well, led by as many as 14, and charged back from a seven-point deficit with 3:34 remaining to draw within a single point in the final 30 seconds. And yet, they came up short, thanks in part to Tim Duncan's somehow-still consistent brilliance, some bonkers shotmaking by Boris Diaw, and a too-early tip-in of a Blake Griffin floater by DeAndre Jordan that resulted in an offensive basket intereference call with just under five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Jordan's ill-timed putback wiped away what would have been a go-ahead bucket, keeping San Antonio ahead by one point. Any reasonable human person would be bummed out by coming out on the losing end of a game that intense, that well-played and that close.
“I’ll be frustrated all night,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after the game, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “I have no problem with guys being frustrated. They have 48 hours or whatever to get over it and we will.”
But before getting over it, Doc decided to get into it, specifically and thoroughly.
From Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk:
“I don’t complain much,” Doc Rivers said, in the quintessential line that tells you complaints are coming. “I thought we got some really tough calls tonight. Some brutal calls. The travel on Blake [Griffin], the goaltend on Matt [Barnes], which wasn’t a goaltend. You think about the playoffs, and they’re single-possession games. Those possessions those were crucial. J.J. [Redick’s] foul that got him [fouled] out, J.J. didn’t touch anyone.
“It’s not why we lost, but those were big plays for us.”
When you revisit the plays in question, Rivers – who was fined $25,000 by the league on Wednesday for his comments – certainly seems to have a point. (That's less true of his "I don't complain much" preface.)
The Clippers' first offensive goaltending call of the game went against Matt Barnes with 5:45 left in the second quarter and L.A. leading by five. Unlike Jordan's closing-seconds transgression, though, it sure seems like the ball was off the rim when the veteran swingman made contact:
The traveling call on Griffin with 5:01 remaining in the third also seemed iffy, given when he released the ball on his drive.
And J.J. Redick probably had legitimate gripes with at least a couple of the six personals he was assessed on Tuesday, as veterans Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili seemed to pick up some whistles due more to guile and simulation than through legitimate contact.
Beyond that, Rivers also mentioned the technical foul handed out to All-Star point guard Chris Paul with 4:48 remaining in the fourth and San Antonio leading by three.
It sure seemed odd watching it — was CP3 slapped with a T for making too crisp and demonstrative a chest pass to the ref after the Spurs bucket? As our Eric Freeman noted, though, Paul — not exactly a shy, retiring type in the "griping to the refs" department — didn't offer much in the way of complaint or disagreement at the time, suggesting he had perhaps piped up in disagreement as he dished the ball.
After the game, Paul would only say, “I thought, if anything, it was a delay of game.” Whatever the case, in a game played at this high a level with this much at stake, it seemed like the sort of moment where an official should just grit his teeth, swallow the whistle, and keep it moving.
Then again, it's worth noting that a rewatch of Game 5 could offer multiple calls that went in L.A.'s favor, too. I didn't exactly go over every second with a fine-toothed comb on Wednesday morning, but the third quarter alone saw Duncan hit the deck after body contact on a drive near the eight-minute mark; Jordan make contact with Kawhi Leonard's follow-through on a 3-point attempt less than a minute later; CP3 perhaps getting away with a technical-worthy swipe at the ball after committing a frustration foul on Leonard with seven minutes left; and Griffin getting Kawhi's arm on a short hook attempt with three minutes remaining in the frame.
A whistle on any one of those plays could have meant an extra point or two for San Antonio, just as the benefit of the doubt later on could have meant an extra point or two for Los Angeles. Because they came earlier in the game, though, we don't tend to pay as much attention to them.
We think of crunch time differently, elevating those who execute during it and excoriating those who fall short. This is why you might've heard at least some grumbling today about Griffin, who was a monster through the first three quarters (28 points on 9-for-16 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block) but struggled in the fourth (two points, 1-for-9 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, three costly turnovers), whether due to fatigue at having played tons of high-leverage two-way minutes, a hard fall on a late-third-quarter foul by Danny Green, or both. Contested plays and questionable calls late in games seem to matter more than ones that happened earlier because there's less time to make up for or overcome them. (It's even harder when Duncan's standing in front of you in the paint.)
In the end, though, games of this magnitude are almost never about one thing, and I liked the way Andrew Lynch put it:
Certainly "too bad" for the Clippers and their fans, but this is also the nature of competition against elite opposition in the crucible of the playoffs. Every play matters, from the 24 missed "uncontested" field-goals to the 14 turnovers leading to 23 Spurs points to the 16 missed free throws to the blown goaltend to the 50/50 calls that don't go your way. It's can be frustrating, but it's the way things are. Rivers' job now is to get his team ready to mount a repeat performance of Game 4, and leave Gregg Popovich and company trying to work through their frustrations late Thursday.

Hart Trophy Finalists: Alex Ovechkin vs. Carey Price vs. John Tavares

The NHL announced on Wednesday that forward Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and forward John Tavares of the New York Islanders are the three finalists for the 2014-15 Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." The award is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Sorry Western Conference!
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 24, during the 2015 NHL Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Obviously, this is Carey Price’s award with two other guys honored to be nominated. A goalie hasn’t won the award since Jose Theodore, also of the Canadiens, won in 2001-02.
Theodore played 67 games with the Habs that season, with a 2.11 GAA and a .931 save percentage. Devan Dubnyk played 39 games for the Minnesota Wild this season, posting a 1.78 GAA and a .936 save percentage. Clearly, his body of work wasn’t long enough with Minnesota for most voters, or else he’s probably a Hart finalist. Unless, of course, there just needs to be a goalie maximum of one.
Who wins the Hart?
Why Alex Ovechkin Deserves The Hart
From the NHL:
Ovechkin scored 53 goals to capture his third consecutive and fifth overall Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and also posted 81 points – his most since 2010-11 – to power the Capitals to their seventh playoff berth in the past eight seasons. He became the sixth player in NHL history to record six 50-goal seasons, led the League and set a career high/franchise record with 25 power-play goals and also paced the NHL with 11 game-winning goals (equaling a career high set in 2010-11). Ovechkin is a Hart Trophy finalist for the fifth time after winning the award in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2012-13 and finishing as a runner-up in 2009-10.
Some would argue that Nicklas Backstrom was just as valuable as Ovechkin to the Capitals, and it’s not a baseless argument. But Ovechkin is without question a catalyst for their success: 33 goals in 45 wins this season.
Why Carey Price Deserves The Hart
From the NHL:
Price captured his first career William M. Jennings Trophy as well as the sixth in Canadiens history to backstop the club to its best regular season since 1988-89. He led the NHL in wins (44), goals-against average (1.96) and save percentage (.933), becoming the first goaltender to pace the League in all three categories since Ed Belfour in 1990-91. In doing so, Price surpassed Jacques Plante’s 59-year-old franchise record for wins in one season (42), set in 1955-56 and equaled in 1961-62 and 1975-76. He is a Hart Trophy finalist for the first time and the first goaltender among the finalists since 2011-12 (Henrik Lundqvist).
The best goalie in the League, and the backstop for a Canadiens team that struggled mightily on offense during the first two thirds of the season.
Why John Tavares Deserves The Hart
From the NHL:
Tavares set career highs in goals (38) and points (86) to finish second in the Art Ross Trophy race and lead the Islanders to their best regular-season record since 1983-84. Tavares, who appeared in all 82 games, registered at least one point in 65.9% of his contests (54/82), including a four-game streak to open the season (2-7—9) and a six-game run to close the campaign (4-8—12). He also scored four overtime goals to establish a single-season franchise record and Islanders career record (8). Tavares is a Hart Trophy finalist for the second time after finishing third in voting in 2012-13.
We imagine some New Yorkers are wondering why Rick Nash's name isn't here...
What was impressive about Tavares was his play without linemate Kyle Okposo after his eye injury: Tavares scored 12 goals in the 20 games without him, and had 27 points.
Who Should Win The Hart: Price, and it’s not even close.
Who Will Win The Hart: Price, and it won’t be close.

Cubs cleared of tampering in hiring of Joe Maddon

(Getty Images)The Chicago Cubs did not break any tampering rules when they hired Joe Maddon in the offseason, Major League Baseball has concluded.
Maddon was hired by the club in October, just a few days after opting out of his deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. In the aftermath, reports surfaced that the Rays were convinced the Cubs enticed Maddon to walk away from his deal with Tampa Bay.
Shortly after the hiring, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein made sure to outline the team's process with Maddon. Epstein said the team did not have contact with Maddon until he had become a free agent, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.
“Last Thursday, we learned that Joe Maddon — who may be as well suited as anyone in the industry to manage the challenges that lie ahead of us — had become a free agent,” Epstein said.
“We confirmed the news with Major League Baseball, and it became public knowledge the next day. We saw it as a unique opportunity and faced a clear dilemma: be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization. In this business of trying to win a world championship for the first time in 107 years, the organization has priority over any one individual. We decided to pursue Joe.”
The Rays were unconvinced, and filed tampering charges with the league. It took nearly six months, but the investigation finally concluded Wednesday.
Had the Cubs been found guilty of tampering, the commissioner's office would have determined the appropriate penalty. The team may have been fined, or forced to give up a player in return for Maddon.
That, obviously, did not happen, and all sides will proceed as usual. The whole situation seemed a bit sketchy at the time given the speed at which all parties acted, but it was likely difficult for MLB to prove any charges. If Maddon says the Cubs didn't contact him early, and the Cubs remain adamant that they never broke any rules, there's really no way for MLB to contradict them without making the situation messier.
Now that the investigation is over, the Cubs can breathe slightly easier. Maddon can focus on managing his team, and won't have to worry about any fallout from his offseason move. The Rays are likely disappointed after losing Maddon, but Kevin Cash has them out to a surprising start thus far.
Both teams can focus on baseball now, and that's probably for the best.

Javaris Crittenton pleads guilty in 2011 shooting, gets 23 years in prison

Javaris Crittenton appears in Los Angeles Superior Court for an extradition hearing on Aug. 31, 2011. (Al Seib-Pool/Getty Images)Former NBA guard Javaris Crittenton was sentenced to 23 years in prison and 17 years of probation on Wednesday after entering a guilty plea on charges related to the 2011 shooting death of an Atlanta woman.
The 27-year-old Crittenton — who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards in a two-year NBA career and is best known by NBA fans for his 2009 firearms-in-the-locker-room confrontation with then-teammate Gilbert Arenas — pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm. Prosecutors dropped the murder charge against him as part of the plea agreement. Reuters has more:
Opening statements had been expected on Wednesday in the murder case against Crittenton and his cousin, Douglas Gamble, who were accused of gunning down Julian Jones, 22, a mother of four, in a drive-by shooting in August 2011.
Gamble, who authorities said drove the car while Crittenton fired the gun, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to three years in prison and 17 years of probation.
Prosecutors have said the shooting was gang-related and retaliation against a person Crittenton believed had robbed him.
Crittenton "made a tearful apology" to Jones' family in court on Wednesday, according to Atlanta's WSB-TV, calling her shooting "a horrible accident."
That seemed to be the assessment at the time, as laid out in this in-depth September 2011 look at the case by Steve Hummer of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
The barbershop on Cleveland Avenue was supposed to be a safe haven from the trials of the world, a familiar, old-neighborhood haunt where Crittenton had been getting shorn since he was a little boy and where the men accepted him as he was.
Yet, even there, he would come to feel like a target.
As Crittenton and a friend walked out of the shop late on the evening of April 21, they were ambushed by two young men who, at gunpoint, hustled them into Crittenton’s car and ordered them to hand over all they had. Crittenton reported to police the teens took a black diamond watch worth $30,000, a black diamond necklace worth $25,000, an iPhone and a small amount of cash.
Flash forward to the night of Aug. 19. As Julian Jones strolled with others near her home on Atlanta’s Macon Drive, a black SUV pulled up nearby. Witnesses say shots were fired from inside the car. One struck Jones, 22, in the hip. She died later at the hospital.
Upon issuing a warrant for Crittenton’s arrest on Aug. 26, police said that he was in the SUV and had recognized a young man with Jones as one of those who had robbed him four months earlier. The bullet that killed Jones allegedly was meant for him.
In January 2014, while released on bond and awaiting trial on the murder charge, Crittenton was also indicted in a federal drug investigation and "accused of selling multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and several hundred pounds of marijuana."
The downward spiral that culminated in Jones' death and Crittenton's sentencing reportedly coincided with the former first-round draft pick's years-long involvement with the Mansfield Family Gangster Crips, a Los Angeles gang whose members Crittenton befriended while with the Lakers during his rookie season.
“Javaris saw the glamour,” one Mansfield Crip told FOX Sports' Flinder Boyd last summer. “The way we move, people are attracted to that. That’s the powerful part."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. receives touching gift from Kevin Harvick on his dad's birthday

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
April 29 is a day to remember for Dale Earnhardt Jr. His father would have been 64 today. Junior isn't the only one who remembered the occasion. Kevin Harvick reached out to his fellow NASCAR competitor to give him a model car, signed by his late father.
It's unclear how Harvick obtained the car, but he's happy it's in the right place.

It's in the right hands now!

Former Duke guard speaks publicly for first time since dismissal from team

Getty ImagesLess than 24 hours after his team lost at Notre Dame in late January, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski made the decision to dismiss guard Rasheed Sulaimon from the program. It was a decision that caught many by surprise given the timing, not to mention the fact that it limited the Blue Devils to an eight-man rotation.
Sure enough Duke was able to ride that eight-man rotation to the program’s fifth national title, with a trio of freshmen (Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow) and senior guard Quinn Cook leading the way. Since Sulaimon’s dismissal neither he nor the program had discussed the situation until Wednesday, when the player spoke with ESPN.com about the situation.
Among the topics discussed was an allegation that Sulaimon had sexually assaulted two female students (on separate occasions), something Sulaimon vehemently denied. Sulaimon was never charged for either alleged incident, with an investigation into one of the allegations not even resulting in a student board hearing and the second not resulting a meeting between Sulaimon and Duke’s Office of Student Conduct.
“Me being dismissed from the team had nothing to do with this allegation,” Sulaimon said in his first public comments since being dismissed by coach Mike Krzyzewski. He did not specify what the reason was, though he said he was frustrated and could have handled the situation better.
“I have never sexually assaulted, not only anyone on the Duke campus, but anyone period,” he said. “It’s not in my nature at all. I have great respect for the role of women in society. I would never demean or do anything to a woman in this manner. No, I’ve never done anything like this in my life.”
Also discussed in the story was Sulaimon’s support of his former teammates during their run to the national title, as well as a phone call with his father following the title game in which the guard acknowledged that he “could have been a part of something that was bigger than me.” ESPN.com also reported that “more than a dozen” schools have reached out to Sulaimon this spring.
Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, George Washington, Houston, LSU, Maryland, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall, SMU, Texas, Texas Southern and Texas A&M are among the schools that reached out to Sulaimon according to the report. Still in school at Duke, Sulaimon expects to graduate in August and that would then mean immediate eligibility at his next school.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 29TH

1892 - Charlie Reilly is baseball's 1st pinch hitter.
1922 - George Allen, football coach (LA Rams, Washington Redskins) is born.
1930 - 123 runs are scored in 7 major league games.
1934 - Luis Aparicio, Venezuelan baseball player is born.
1934 - Pittsburgh is last major league city to play a home game on a Sunday.
1936 - First pro baseball game in Japan is played Nagoya defeats Daitokyo, 8-5.
1951 - Dale Earnhardt, American race car driver (d. 2001) is born.
1961 - ABC's "Wide World of Sports" debuts.
1963 - Mike Babcock, Manitouwadge Ontario, NHL Coach
(Anaheim, Detroit, Team Canada) is born.
1965 - Reggie Miller, Hall of Fame NBA player (Indiana Pacers) is born.
1970 - Andre Agassi, Las Vegas NV, tennis star (Oly-gold-96, US Open 1994) is born.
1981 - Phillie Steve Carlton is first lefty to strike out 3,000 batters.
1983 - Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears Quarterback is born.
1985 - Tony Tubbs TKOs Greg Page in 15 for Heavyweight boxing title.
1986 - Boston Red Sox Roger Clemens strikes out 20 Seattle Mariners.
1987 - Chicago Cub Andre Dawson hits for cycle.
1988 - Orioles beat White Sox 9-0 for 1st 1988 win after 21 loses.
1995 - KC Royal John Nonely is 70th to HR on his 1st at bat.
1997 - KC Royal Chili Davis is 75th to hit 300 HRs.
2003 - Barbaro, American thoroughbred racehorse (d. 2007) is born.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Kevin Love 'highly unlikely' to return during playoffs

Could David Blatt call Mike Miller from the end of the Cavs' bench? (AP/Brandon Dill)On Monday, we learned that Kevin Love would "be unavailable for" the entire Eastern Conference semifinals after suffering a dislocated left shoulder midway through the first quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' series-clinching Game 4 win over the Boston Celtics. On Tuesday, Cavs general manager David Griffin told reporters he expected the three-time All-Star power forward to be sidelined for a lot longer than that.
That timeline for Love's recovery from his shoulder injury — in medical parlance, an "acute anterior inferior glenohumeral dislocation with the corresponding ligament/labrum tearing and humeral head bone bruising," according to the Cavs' Monday evening update — obviously far exceeds previous reported estimates that he might miss a couple of weeks, and falls more in line with the dire picture painted by Jeff Stotts of injury-focused blog In Street Clothes:
The return to play time following shoulder dislocation appears to be dependent on the amount of damage to the surrounding tissues, particularly the labrum. If the tear is small and the instability is minimal, general rehab can improve the area with a focus on improving the musculature surrounding the joint. Surgery may still be warranted down the road but it can be delayed. Still the associated pain and swelling often requires time to heal. Additionally, even if this ends up being an option for Love, the risk for re-injury would be considerable for the remainder of the postseason. A significant labrum tear would likely require immediate surgery and force Love to miss a substantial amount of time.
Stotts' injury database, which covers the past 3 1/2 years, includes "18 in-season injuries classified as complete dislocations." Fourteen of those 18 players missed at least 10 games following their injuries, with eight requiring surgical repair. It sounds like Love's going to join their number.
Griffin wouldn't slam the door completely — “I still have a sliver of hope for something very late, but highly unlikely,” he said, according to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal — but that seems to be one awfully slim sliver.
As I wrote Monday night, the Cavaliers offense has been lights out with Love and middling without him this season. But due to his steady presence in the Cavaliers lineup this season — 75 appearances, more than 2,500 minutes, despite dealing with recurring lower back issues — there haven't been many opportunities for Cleveland to test-drive lineup combinations without him and find solutions that might minimize the loss of his spacing, rebounding and playmaking; Cleveland could well have some viable answers in-house that just haven't needed to be explored just yet.
One particularly enticing adjustment: four-time MVP LeBron James sliding from small forward to power forward, as he did so successfully during the Miami Heat's runs to the NBA finals. Small-ball lineups featuring James at the four necessitate deploying an additional wing player at the three, which helps replace Love's shooting and floor-spacing while allowing LeBron to work out of the post, hunt double-teams and orchestrate the Cleveland offense from the block.
But with starting shooting guard J.R. Smith suspended for the first two games of the second round after decking the Celtics' Jae Crowder during Game 4, Cleveland won't be especially deep on the wing entering the conference semis. Veterans James Jones and Mike Miller loom as experienced shooters who might be able to provide swing-spot punch in a pinch, but at this stage in their careers, neither should be counted on to provide much beyond a 3-point stroke or hold up defensively against strong wing scorers like, for example, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls.
Despite being no spring chicken himself, Shawn Marion represents a more versatile defensive and complementary playmaking option. But as a mostly non-threatening shooter — just 29 percent from 3-point land over the past seven years, with just one league-average long-range shooting season since 2003 — opponents would likely stray far from him in the half-court in order to gum up the works of the Cavs' more dangerous options. The same is true of reserve power forward Tristan Thompson, who's been a rebounding machine this season and who terrorized the Celtics on the offensive glass, but whom opponents can essentially ignore unless he's bulling his way to the backboard.
An awful lot, then, figures to be asked of reserves Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova, the most likely wing options in a LeBron-at-the-four configuration with Smith sidelined. Both players can make open shots, offer some active-hands defense while playing up a spot in the order, and keep the ball moving ahead of defensive rotations. But Cavaliers opponents are going to have to see them consistently make plays when the defense loads up against LeBron's post-ups and Kyrie Irving's drives before believing they should start paying more attention to them; if they can't, Cleveland could find itself in a precarious position by the time Smith returns for Game 3.
Whatever plans LeBron, Kyrie and head coach David Blatt come up with between now and the start of Round 2 next week, it's now clear that the Cavs will be forced to pursue the second NBA Finals berth in franchise history with a dynamic duo rather than a Big Three. As bad-news scenarios go, of course, that's far from a world-ender, but it's still enough for Griffin and company to look to reframe Cleveland's narrative heading into the second round.
On Sunday morning, the Cavaliers looked like they'd coast into their next matchup with time to rest, practice and prepare to hit higher gears as the playoffs proceeded. Now, they find themselves scraping for answers and considering themselves underdogs. Things sure can change pretty damn quickly in the NBA playoffs.

Kirk Gibson diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

(Getty Images)Kirk Gibson has long been known as one of baseball's tough guys — look no further than the indelible image of Gibson limping around the bases after his pinch-hit, walk-off homer in the 1988 World Series — and now he's facing a new fight: Parkinson's disease.
Gibson, who recently started working for Fox Sports Detroit, revealed Tuesday that he's been diagnosed with the disease, saying in a statement:
"I have faced many different obstacles in my life, and have always maintained a strong belief that no matter the circumstances, I could overcome those obstacles. While this diagnosis poses a new kind of challenge for me, I intend to stay true to my beliefs. With the support of my family and friends, I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavors in life. I look forward to being back at the ballpark as soon as possible."
Gibson, 57, had done one game for Fox Sports Detroit, providing color commentator for the Detroit Tigers, the team for whom he was a star from 1979-87. Previously, he'd been the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010-2014.
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder that essentially slows a person down — first, physically and later mentally. There's no cure, but medication can help control the effects.
In sports, Parkinson's disease is most closely associated with Muhammad Ali, who was diagnosed in 1984. Actor Michael J. Fox has brought considerable attention to the disease since his diagnosis in 1991. Both men are examples that Parkinson's can slow a person down, but it doesn't take away their fight.

Orioles make drastic schedule changes because of Baltimore riots

For the second straight day the Baltimore Orioles have postponed their scheduled game against the Chicago White Sox due to ongoing unrest in the city, but that was just the beginning of the changes.
The Orioles announced that Wednesday's game against the White Sox will be played, but it will not be open to the public.
 


The team also said this weekend's three-game series in Baltimore will be moved to Tampa, with the Orioles being the home team against the Rays.
Protests over the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African-American man who died April 19 from spinal cord and other injuries allegedly suffered at the hands of police, have been taking place in Baltimore since Saturday. The demonstrations turned especially violent on Monday following Gray's funeral, which led to the postponement of that night's game at Camden Yards about a half-hour before first pitch.
Monday and Tuesday’s postponed games will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 28.
The Baltimore Ravens have already announced they were canceling their NFL draft party scheduled for Thursday night at nearby M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore's mayor initiated a citywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Commissioner Rob Manfred, who happened to be in Baltimore this week on a previously scheduled visit, had suggested the Orioles could play elsewhere for the time being, like at Nationals Park in Washington.

La'el Collins sought for questioning in shooting death of pregnant woman

LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins (60) looks on during NCAA college football practice for the Senior Bowl, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AlaPolice would like to speak to LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins in the case of a shooting death of a pregnant woman last week, Baton Rouge police Lt. Jonny Dunnam told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Collins, who is expected to be a first-round pick in Thursday's NFL draft, is in Chicago but has been in constant contact with the lead detective on the case, according to Collins' attorney, Jim Boren. According to the report, Collins spoke with the district attorney on Tuesday and is using a private investigative firm to prove that Collins wasn't near the home of the victim, Brittany Mills, when she was murdered.
Police say Collins isn't currently a suspect in the shooting but that they want to see if he can assist with the investigation for the death of Mills, 29, who is believed by police to be Collins' former girlfriend.
"We took the investigation seriously," Boren told ESPN Tuesday. "We've tried to rule him out as a suspect. We're going to provide that information to the police, and ultimately [Collins] will sit down and talk to them. But the timing is poor."
It is not clear is Collins is the father of Mills' baby, who is still receiving medical treatment. Some NFL teams are aware of the incident and are trying to gather more information.
According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, investigators believe based a preliminary investigation that Mills opened the door of her house to someone who wanted to use her car. When she refused, police believe, she was shot multiple times.

Niklas Kronwall suspended for Game 7 vs. Lightning, as NHL gets it right

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall was suspended by the NHL for Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as a result of dangerous hit on Nikita Kucherov in Monday night’s Game 6.
Kronwall, one of the NHL’s most lethal checkers, had never been fined nor suspended in his 11-year career in Detroit.
The incident occurred at 18:55 of the second period, when Kronwall skated into Kucherov as the Lightning player was handling the puck. Kucherov was shaken up but not injured, and took regular shifts in the third period.
The NHL said Kronwall “launched into a hit” on Kucherov, that “resulted in significant head contact.” At issue: That Kronwall took several strides before going “up and in” on his hit, and that’s the double-whammy of charging and an illegal hit to the head.
That’s fine. It’s a penalty that should have been called but wasn’t during the game. But this isn’t the Department of Missed Penalties. It’s the Department of Player Safety. So what, exactly, is happening on this hit or with this player to necessitate a suspension?
According to the NHL, it’s “the force with which the hit was delivered and the significant head contact that resulted from Kronwall launching into it” and that Kronwall “elevates unacceptably, with his skates off the ice prior to contact.”
The video then gives us a little “History of Kronwalling,” attempting to differentiate this hit from previous demolitions in the same area of the ice, like the one on Jakub Voracek in 2012. He goes airborne earlier on the Kucherov hit, and uses his forearm/elbow to hit Kucherov in the head.
As usual, the NHL Dept. of Player Safety does an effective job of explaining its mindset here. It’s clearly charging. It’s clearly an illegal check to the head. It’s clearly not the same type of hit that didn’t rise to the level of supplemental discipline for Kronwall, or any discipline at all.
This one deserved at least a game; the only quibble is that there was no injury on the play, and the NHL has slavishly adhered to that guideline in determining suspensions this season.
Bottom line: The Red Wings will be missing their leader in ice time (21:35 per game) and a vital special teams player for their most important game of the season on Wednesday night.
But then this entire situation is one of bad timing ...

Baltimore Ravens cancel draft party amid riots in the city

The Ravens have announced that they are canceling their Thursday night draft party as a result of the riots that have engulfed Baltimore.
Authorities have imposed a citywide curfew of 10 p.m. every night this week, and the Ravens have announced that they will call off their party to ensure that no one attending is in violation.
“Out of respect to the curfew in Baltimore, the Ravens have cancelled their Draft Party, which was scheduled for this Thursday (4/30) night (7-11 p.m.) at M&T Bank Stadium,” the team said in a statement.
The Baltimore Orioles also canceled their Monday and Tuesday night home games at the request of local authorities.

Jags could make another surprise pick at No. 3 (Amari Cooper), triggering run on WRs

A year ago, it was the rare quarterback stunner at the top of the draft – the Jacksonville Jaguars grabbed Blake Bortles with the No. 3 pick, completing one of the more impressive personnel concealments in recent memory, and leaving quarterback needy teams (like the Minnesota Vikings) scrambling for other options.
One AFC personnel man – whose team is selecting outside of the top 10 picks – claims he saw the Bortles ruse coming a year ago, and thinks the Jaguars are primed to stun the top of the draft again.
"I think the third spot could shock people [again]," the personnel man said, referring to Jacksonville. "I think they like [Amari] Cooper more than they are letting on. You hear things and they have been pretty good about what's getting out there. It's a lot like it was last year."
That would be one pick higher than anyone has anticipated a wide receiver coming off the board, as most have pointed to the Oakland Raiders at No. 4 overall as being the prime spot for either Cooper, the Alabama Crimson Tide star, or West Virginia's Kevin White. It could also trigger a wide receiver run earlier than anyone anticipated, posing a legitimate concern for multiple middle and late first-round teams that are said to be looking hard at the wide receiver crop. But before we get to that, back to the AFC personnel man, who has a rationale on Cooper.
Heading into the 2014 draft process, he believed the Jaguars would seriously consider taking a quarterback at No. 3 overall – a player he believed would likely be Bortles. But he was puzzled when some of his connections in the state of Florida told him that Jacksonville wasn't showing strong interest in the UCF quarterback, despite meeting with him at the NFL scouting combine. All of which would make sense at a later date, when general manager David Caldwell revealed that he withheld his preference on Bortles from his own staff until almost the week of the draft.
That radio silence seemingly threw off most NFL front offices. But the AFC personnel man said Caldwell tipped his hand late on Bortles in an unexpected way – with a comment to the media just days before the first round kicked off.
"He said something about [Johnny] Manziel being the guy who was most ready to be a starter in the NFL – most ready to adapt or whatever," the personnel man said with a chuckle. "All of the sudden it's 'The Jaguars think Manziel is the best quarterback?'
"Now, [Caldwell] can be conservative in some respects. But to sell that with Manziel, I knew right then that he was full of [expletive]. The day I heard that, I told one of my coaches, 'I think they're on Bortles.'"
How that translates to Cooper remains to be seen. There hasn't been a lot of buzz about the marriage of the Jaguars and the Heisman Trophy finalist, largely because Cooper doesn't seem like a natural fit. The team already has three sizable young wide receivers in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. If anything, the Jaguars look more like a candidate for a slot wideout later in the draft. They also added tight end Julius Thomas and have many pressing needs on defense. This is why Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. has been the anticipated selection at No. 3.
But those realities didn't sway this particular personnel man, who believes the top priority of a team with a potential franchise quarterback is to find a dominant No. 1 receiver to grow with him.
"Which of their receivers has the potential to be elite at his position and how many of them were healthy?" the personnel man asked. "They were [31st] in passing [last season]. … Maybe Cooper is the best player in the draft. If that's the case, you make two positions better with that pick – and one of the positions you're improving is the most important in the game."
One thing is certain: If Cooper unexpectedly goes off the board at No. 3, it could trigger a wide receiver run that already appears to be taking shape. As it stands, the Raiders, Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams are three top 10 teams that all did a heavy amount of scouting in this wide receiver class. After that, multiple league sources have indicated that the Vikings (No. 11), Cleveland Browns (Nos. 12 and 19), New Orleans Saints (No. 13), San Francisco 49ers (No. 15) and Houston Texans (No. 16) have all taken serious looks the top end of the wide receiver class. The Cincinnati Bengals are also sitting at No. 21 and have been eying wideouts as well.
Of all the positions in the draft, the biggest first-round feeding frenzy is likeliest to occur at wide receiver. And according to the draft plateaus, once the top three guys are off the board (Cooper, White and Louisville's DeVante Parker), things could get wild with the next rung of talent (UCF's Breshad Perriman, USC's Nelson Agholor, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham).
Green-Beckham might be the name to watch out of that second tier of receivers. Most evaluators believe he has the talent to be among the first tier, if not for off-field concerns. But that hasn't stopped wideout hungry teams from bringing Green-Beckham in for a visit. Multiple sources have told Yahoo Sports that while he has been removed from a lot of draft boards, at least a few teams have done deep dives into his life that suggest they've got the green light from ownership to take him. Don't be surprised if he gets snapped up at Houston's pick at 16 or the Bengals at 21.