Protesters out Again in Brazilian Cities

  Protesters out Again in Brazilian Cities

Scattered street demonstrations popped up around Brazil Wednesday as protesters continued their collective cry against the low-quality public services they receive in exchange for high taxes and rising prices. In one of several protests, about 200 people blocked the Anchieta Highway that links Sao Paulo and the port city of Santos before heading to the industrial suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb on Sao Paulo's outskirts. Another group of protesters later obstructed the highway again. In the northeastern city of Fortaleza, some 15,000 protesters clashed with police trying to prevent them from reaching the Castelao stadium where Brazil will play Mexico in the Confederations Cup soccer tournament on Wednesday. Riot police used gas bombs and pepper spray to keep protesters from advancing past a barrier some 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away from venue. A police car was burned by the demonstrators, who also threw rocks and other objects at the officers. The protest disrupted fans' efforts to access the stadium for Brazil's second match at the World Cup warm-up tournament.

NBA Finals: Recapping a wild Game 6

NBA Finals: Recapping a wild Game 6

The stage is set. Thursday night the Heat and Spurs will play for the NBA title but before we look ahead, let's look back at an epic Game 6. 1. Which play in Game 6 will you remember most? Kevin Arnovitz, TrueHoop: When Chris Bosh yanked the ball out of the air after LeBron's jumper caromed off the rim. Ray Allen was still in the paint. Tracking Allen, it didn't look like he'd have a chance of scampering back behind the line. If he had run toward the sideline instead of backpedaling, he wouldn't have had the space to turn, catch and shoot. But Allen took three perfect steps backward at high speed, never once looking down. A master of his craft. Andrew McNeill, 48 Minutes of Hell: Ray Allen's game-tying 3-pointer. The footwork to get himself in position behind the line has been drilled into him over so many years that it's second nature, and yet it's still so beautiful to watch. It was an incredible play.

Els knows this No rubber snakes this time at Merion

Els knows this No rubber snakes this time at Merion

ARDMORE, Pa. — One of the more memorable moments in the history of the U.S. Open and Merion Golf Club will never happen again, two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els said. First, because there most likely isn't anybody in golf who actually could pull it off. ADAM SCOTT: First major as a major champ We're not talking about Ben Hogan and his 1-iron from 1950. THE FEUD: Handshake for Tiger, Sergio We're talking about Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and a rubber snake in 1971. Trevino brandished the snake on the No. 1 tee before the legends began an 18-hole playoff, ultimately won by Trevino. Trevino was one of the game's best showmen, with a raucous sense of humor, in his prime. He also was among the game's best players: Six major titles (two U.S. Opens, two British Opens and two PGA Championships). Times have changed, Els says. "Imagine, there would be snipers coming out of the trees," Els said with a laugh, when asked what might happen if someone flipped a rubber snake at somebody on the first tee of an 18-hole playoff?. "There would be an investigation going on that — somebody might get shot. "I don't think just to get to where you guys are here now, took about 20 minutes from the practice range, through all the blockages in the road and the security and all that stuff. So that would be quite something." But seriously, Els said: "I don't like snakes. I hope they don't do it with me. I might have a heart attack.

News Source :  www.usatoday.com

Chad Johnson slaps lawyer's backside in court, gets 30 days in jail for probation violations

Chad Johnson

Chad Johnson was sentenced to a month in jail for violating his probation Its 30 days in the slammer for Chad Johnson. A judge sentenced the ex-NFL star to jail time Monday for violating his probation, reports TMZ. Johnson, 35, reportedly failed to report to his probation officer twice and didn’t show the required proof of enrollment in a domestic violence education class. He received 12-months’ probation after a 2012 conviction that involved ex-wife Evelyn Lozada and was required to take domestic violence intervention classes. The former Dolphins receiver was accused of head-butting his then newlywed wife during an argument in front of their home outside Miami and was then arrested and charged with simple battery and domestic violence. RELATED: CHAD JOHNSON BUSTED FOR PROBATION VIOLATIONS Their disagreement began on August 11, 2012 when Lozada, 37, confronted Johnson about a receipt she found for a box of condoms. She was later treated for a cut on her forehead. He appeared before a Broward County courtroom May 20 over the alleged probation violations when the judge ordered he be arrested and jailed with a bond set at $1,000. While a plea deal was in the works Johnson screwed it up by slapping his male lawyer’s butt during the hearing, which enraged the judge who asked him if he thought this was all a “joke.” “I had no intent to make this a joke,” he said, “because my life is in shambles right now.” In turn, the deal was tossed, the former pro athlete was kicked out of the courtroom and has now been sentenced to a month in lock down. In addition, his probation was extended to December 21, 2013 with 25 hours of community service and extra therapy sessions. 

News Source :   www.nydailynews.com

Djokovic mourns first coach and second mother

Djokovic mourns first coach and second mother

Last week world No. 1 Novak Djokovic wanted to win this year's French Open to complete his collection of grand slam titles, now he wants the trophy for a more pressing reason -- to honor the death of his "second mother". Jelena Gencic, who coached Djokovic for five years from when he was just six, died on Saturday. The potential impact of the 77-year-old's death on her Serbian compatriot was deemed to be so great that Djokovic's management team kept the news from him until after he had beaten Grigor Dimitrov in Saturday's third round. Djokovic's reaction backed up their assessment as the 26-year-old canceled his post-match news conference, issuing an apology to the media as he did so. On Monday, he paid tribute to his mentor shortly after seeing off Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 to reach this year's quarterfinals at Roland Garros. How Novak Djokovic stays on top Djokovic: 'My dreams came true' Secrets below Roger Federer's feet Secrets of a French Open umpire unveiled "She's one of the most incredible people I ever knew," he told reporters. "Jelena was my first coach and was like my second mother. "We were very close throughout my whole life and she taught me a lot of things that are part of me, part of my character today. I have the nicest memories of her and these will stay with me forever. "I think it was the right thing to give me the news after the match (against Dimitrov)," he added. "Regardless of the timing, it was still a shock." A beaten finalist in Paris last year -- when he lost out to Roland Garros record breaker Rafael Nadal -- Djokovic last saw Gencic in February, shortly before the start of the Dubai Open. Yet his last conversation with a woman who also helped develop the talents of grand slam champions Goran Ivanisevic and Monica Seles came far more recently. "I remember the last conversation we had two weeks ago about Roland Garros, and she told me, 'Listen, you have to focus, you have to give your attention to this tournament. This is a tournament you need to win.' "She was giving me this kind of inspiration and motivation even more. So now I feel in her honor that I need to go all the way. "But it's not about me only. There are so many great players still around in the tournament. It gives me that inner strength to push even harder." In a recent interview, Gencic said she spotted Djokovic's potential almost from the moment she first met him in Belgrade. She was giving me this kind of inspiration and motivation. So now I feel in her honor that I need to go all the way Novak Djokovic "When I met him I knew immediately that he was different. I told his father that he was an exceptional talent and that one day he will be a big champion," said a woman who represented the former state of Yugoslavia at both tennis and handball. After he won Wimbledon for the first -- and to date -- only time in 2011, Djokovic visited Gencic as part of his celebrations. And the world number one says Gencic, who was recently battling breast cancer, has inspired him to work with young tennis players in the future. "She was 77 years old, and before she passed away two days ago, last week she was giving lessons to kids," he said. "I hope to follow on from where she stopped. She gave so much knowledge and I feel I have a responsibility to carry on that work. "She never married, never had children. She was dedicated to tennis, the kids and coaching." In or out? Let Twitter decide French Open winners get replica trophy The first diva of women's tennis Beating the 'French Open curse' "I know that her spirit will be always with me and always on the tennis court, because this is what she always loved to do. It's her favorite place in the world and I'll make sure that her legacy continues." If the Serb is to provide his perfect send-off for Gencic by winning Roland Garros for the first time - and thus become only the eighth man to achieve the career grand slam - he must first beat Tommy Haas, who is also chasing history. When the number 12 seed beat Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, the German became the oldest man to reach the quarterfinals of a grand slam since Andre Agassi in 2005 and the oldest to do so in Paris since 1971. Once ranked number two in the world, Haas, 35, missed the entirety of the 2013 season after twice undergoing should surgery -- but is now one of four players over 30 in the quarterfinals along with Roger Federer, David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo. "I think we all just are smarter about how we train, about how we eat, about how we do recovery," he said. "The physical and fitness areas have improved a lot in sports in general. I think that's why you see maybe more people also in the early, mid-30s doing well." At least one man over the age of 30 will reach the semifinals, since Ferrer and Robredo meet in the quarters, while Federer will take on local hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a relative strapling at the age of 28. Age was also on the minds of those watching Rafael Nadal on Monday, with the Parisian crowd singing 'Happy Birthday' to a man who celebrated his 27th birthday in style. Bidding to become the first man in tennis history to win eight titles at the same major championship, Nadal won 6-4 6-1 6-3 against 13th seed Kei Nishikori, the first Japanese man in the fourth round since Fumiteru Nakano in 1938. "It's a very special moment," said Nadal of the crowd's decision to break into song. "Kei is a great player and he is getting better every season. But today I think I played my best match of the tournament."

News Source :  www.edition.cnn.com

Jason Kidd announces his retirement after 19 NBA seasons

 Jason Kidd announces his retirement after 19 NBA seasons

In a move that some Lakers fans probably hope prompts their aging point guard to re-examine his own future, Jason Kidd announced his retirement Monday after a likely Hall of Fame career that spanned 19 seasons. Kidd, who turned 40 in March, ranks second all-time with 12,091 assists, trailing only John Stockton (15,806). He had two more years remaining on the three-year, $9.3-million contract he signed with the New York Knicks last summer. “My time in professional basketball has been an incredible journey, but one that must come to an end after 19 years,” Kidd said in a statement released by the Knicks. “As I reflect on my time with the four teams I represented in the NBA, I look back fondly at every season and thank each and every one of my teammates and coaches that joined me on the court.” Kidd averaged lows for his career in points (6.0) and assists (3.3) last season for the Knicks, losing his spot as a starter. Those averages dipped even lower, to 0.9 points and 2.0 assists, during the Knicks' run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Kidd played for the Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets, winning a title in 2011 with the Mavericks. He had two stints with Dallas, spending the first two-plus seasons of his career there before being traded to Phoenix and eventually going back to the Mavericks during the 2007-08 season. The 1995 co-NBA rookie of the year (along with the recently retired Grant Hill), Kidd finished his career with averages of 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals. A 10-time All-Star, Kidd was an all-NBA first- or second-team selection six times and won Olympic gold medals with the U.S. team in 2000 and 2008. Kidd's retirement leaves Nash as the most decorated remaining point guard in the NBA. But Nash, 39, is coming off what was widely considered his worst season, averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 assists while missing 32 games during the regular season because of injuries. Nash, who has two years left on his contract with the Lakers, has said he intends to return next season.

News Source : www.latimes.com

LeBron James Carrying Heat reminds me of Cavaliers

LeBron James Carrying Heat reminds me of Cavaliers

MIAMI — LeBron James broached the topic without being asked directly. But it had been on the minds of anyone watching the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers play in the Eastern Conference finals. James' one-man performance-art show recalled memories of his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when James often had to do so much in order to win playoff games because he was not surrounded with enough talent. "I kind of just went back to my Cleveland days at that point and just said, 'Hey, let's try to make more plays and be more of a scoring threat as well," James said after scorching the Pacers for 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block in Miami's 90-79 Game 5 victory Thursday. FIGHT: Series was angry before Birdman shove GUARDLESS: Pacers backcourt fails in Game 5 With forward Chris Bosh and guard Dwyane Wade struggling offensively for two main reasons — Indiana's defense and injuries — James is proving he can carry Miami with limited help from the other two-thirds of the Big 3. He delivered a sublime third-quarter effort — accounting for 25 of Miami's 30 points in the quarter with 16 points and four assists. He snatched four rebounds, too. Now, the Heat lead the Pacers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, and Game 6 is Saturday in Indianapolis (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT). As good as Indiana has been, it faces a discouraging proposition: win consecutive games against a team that hasn't lost two in a row since January. When James wanted the ball, he got it. When Miami needed points, he got them. "Just try to figure out a way that I can, I don't know, just see if the guys would just follow me, and just lead them the best way I could," James said. "I was just in attack mode in the third quarter, look for my shot. And luckily I was able to make some. "I just saw how we were playing in the first half. ... We were in wait mode in the first half instead of going and getting it — just waiting for things to happen. I took it upon myself to stop waiting and just go. Just try to figure out a way to go and get it. I don't know. I just stepped outside the box a little bit." PHOTOS: LeBron James through the years LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six. In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat. After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals. LeBron and the Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals, James' first Finals appearance. Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics. South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. LeBron James' NBA destiny was confirmed June 26, 2003 when he was drafted No. 1 by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. On draft night, James wore white and shared a laugh with fellow lottery pick Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James finally got to celebrate his elusive NBA Finals championship in 2012 with the Miami Heat. Cavaliers fans in Cleveland, such as Josh Hall, left, Rob Hose, and Mike Adams reacted to LeBron James' announcement he was leaving the Cavs by setting fire to James' jerseys. Before he left for Miami, LeBron James (23), celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career. The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their  championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami. LeBron's jersey was retired at St. Vincent-St. Mary's at his final home game in 2003. Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent. Shaquille O'Neal, right, of the Miami Heat, and LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, dancing together during NBA All-Star basketball practice on Feb. 17, 2007 in Las Vegas. LeBron won the first of his three NBA MVP awards while with the Cavaliers in 2009. Here he poses with his mother Gloria during the award ceremony at his high school. Lebron and his St. Vincent - St. Mary's team frequently played on national television. LeBron's first sneaker, the Air Zoom Generation launched during his rookie year in 2003. Heat forward LeBron James (6) celebrates with teammate Dwyane Wade (3) after winning the NBA championship in Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. LeBron's senior year in high school was marred by controversy, notably when his mother Gloria bought him a Hummer. Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010. LeBron James lays the ball up past Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha during Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals. Miami won 104-98. Wearing glasses during postgame news conferences became the hip thing during the 2011-12 season, and LeBron James joined in the spectacle of spectacles. LeBron James and teammate Dwyane Wade are all smiles after their Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Miami Heat will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. LeBron James of the Miami Heat shows some emotion after knocking out the Boston Celtics in five games in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together. James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years. LeBron James not only took his talents to South Beach, he also took his pregame powder there as well. LeBron James (23) won back-to-back MVP awards with the Cavaliers in 2008-09 and 2009-10, after Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant won it in 2007-08. Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. With the Cavs becoming semi-regular participants in the postseason, James' face became a familiar one in sports marketing. Nike, which signed James to a huge endorsement deal just before he turned pro, ramped up its promotion of its young star, creating a multi-generational fictional family "The LeBrons" Next Slide Miami just might need more of that out-of-box play from James. Now, a tad surprisingly, there is some truth to the Cleveland comparison. During the regular season, James led the Heat in scoring at 26.8 points a game, but Wade wasn't far behind (21.2), and Bosh was his usual Miami self (16.6). But in the conference finals, James is scoring almost twice as much per game than Wade (28.4 vs. 15.4) and more than double Bosh (12.6). "The last two years, when they've gotten to the NBA Finals, there was a three-man consistency with Bosh, James and Wade. But that isn't the case anymore," TNT analyst Kenny Smith said. "Those guys (Bosh and Wade) don't take the challenge that they used to take. It might be because of injury or it might be because of matchups. Whatever it is, (James) is doing what he did in Cleveland, which is being a one-man wrecking crew on the offensive end." PUTBACKS: Pacers' odds on winning series are grim SCHEDULE: Eastern Conference finals times, TV info In the 2010 playoffs, James scored 29.7% of Cleveland's points in the playoffs, and he is at 24.7% for the playoffs and 26.7% in the conference finals this season. But this is not completely the Cavaliers' James. Truth is, he has more options around him this season, mainly because Bosh and Wade still are presences on the court, drawing attention from Indiana's defense. His supporting cast, especially with Mario Chalmers (12 points, six assists) and Udonis Haslem (16 points) playing the way they have in this series, is much better in Miami. "Well, we would love to be scoring," Wade told USA TODAY Sports late Thursday night. "That's what we've done all year. We put the ball in the basket. When we're not, it's a tougher game for us. We've had a few of those games in the playoffs. When that's not happening, we need timely buckets and we were able to have that tonight." PHOTOS: Ranking every player in Eastern Conference finals The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. 1. LeBron James, Heat small forward 2. Dwyane Wade, Heat shooting guard 3. Chris Bosh, Heat center 4. Paul George, Pacers small forward 5. David West, Pacers power forward 6. Roy Hibbert, Pacers center 7. George Hill, Pacers point guard 8. Ray Allen, Heat guard 9. Lance Stephenson, Pacers shooting guard 10. Shane Battier, Heat forward 11. Mario Chalmers, Heat point guard 12. Norris Cole, Heat guard 13. Tyler Hansbrough, Pacers forward 14. Udonis Haslem, Heat power forward 15. D.J. Augustin, Pacers guard 16. Mike Miller, Heat forward 17. Chris Andersen, Heat center 18. Ian Mahinmi, Pacers center 19. Rashard Lewis, Heat forward 20. James Jones, Heat forward 21. Gerald Green, Pacers guard 22. Jeff Pendergraph, Pacers forward 23. Sam Young, Pacers forward 24. Joel Anthony, Heat center 25. Ben Hansbrough, Pacers guard 26. Orlando Johnson, Pacers guard Next Slide That's another truth. Miami didn't get a lot from Wade and Bosh in Game 5 but got enough. Wade, bothered by a bruised right knee, finished with 10 points and four came in the fourth quarter. Bosh, dealing with a bum right ankle, had five of his seven points in the second quarter. Furthermore, the Heat are content to win any way possible, as they have done in previous series, including last season. It doesn't always have to be with the Big 3 leading the way every game. It is part of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's "Whatever it takes" philosophy. When two of Big 3 aren't scoring, Miami has learned to win with and trust in other players. There is no panic in those situations. "You develop that over the course of a year," Wade told USA TODAY Sports late Thursday night. "Obviously, most nights the ball could be in the three our hands most of the time. The guys on our team just play an unbelievable role when they have their opportunities. Throughout the year, they've stepped up big time. "They stay confident, and it's not an easy thing to do. You can't be a championship-caliber team without the guys like that. UD (Haslem) stepped up big-time. We will need somebody else to do it in Game 6." PHOTO: D-Wade celebrates birthday with his son FINALS: Why you should never bet against Spurs Spoelstra sensed early in the series the Heat might need this kind of performance from James to beat the Pacers, and it's playing out that way. If James isn't as dominant, the Heat struggle. "You're at the point where you understand that if you don't play the game you need to that you can lose the ballgame and be in trouble," Wade said. "Nothing is guaranteed to you but your effort and energy can always be picked up." 

News Source : www.usatoday.com

Defending champ Bradley Wiggins won't race in Tour de France

Defending champ Bradley Wiggins won't race in Tour de France

Bradley Wiggins will not defend his Tour de France title because of a knee problem forcing him to pull out of the cycling showcase. The British rider withdrew before the 13th stage of the Giro d'Italia two weeks ago because of a chest infection and has not been able to train properly. Team Sky said Friday that Wiggins also has an "ongoing knee condition" and he will not be considered for the race, which begins June 29. "It's a huge disappointment not to make the Tour. I desperately wanted be there, for the team and for all the fans along the way — but it's not going to happen," Wiggins said in a team statement. "I can't train the way I need to train and I'm not going to be ready. Once you accept that, it's almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time." Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour last year. In an astonishingly successful year, he also won the Paris-Nice stage race, Tour de Romandie, the Dauphine Libere and took the Olympic gold medal in dominant fashion in the time trial. "It's a big loss but, given these circumstances, we won't consider him for selection," Sky's team principal Dave Brailsford said. "It's incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour. But he's a champion, a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before." With Wiggins out of the Tour, last year's runner-up, Chris Froome, will become the undisputed team leader. Sky had already said that Froome would be its team leader at this year's Tour, although Wiggins had indicated he might try to ride for victory if he were in contention toward the end. Wiggins was looking to follow up his Tour success with a Giro win until his bid was derailed by illness. Although his chest infection has cleared up, team doctor Richard Freeman says there are still concerns over his knee. "However, further medical investigations on the knee injury that we were managing at the Giro showed the condition was more significant than we thought," Freeman said. "It has needed intensive treatment and, whilst it will be fully resolved, Bradley now needs to rest completely for five days before a gradual, return to full training over a period of two to three weeks." Wiggins had to withdraw from the 2011 Tour early on after breaking his collarbone in a crash. He has promised to come back stronger from this latest setback. "I've been through this before, when I broke my collarbone, so I know how it works. I'll get this sorted, set new goals for this season and focus on those," Wiggins said. "This team has so many riders in great shape, ready for selection and we set incredible standards for performance which shouldn't be compromised. We need to have the best chance to win." 

News Source :  www.cbc.ca

Player at French Open Takes Photo of Ball Mark

Player at French Open Takes Photo of Ball Mark

Angered by a line call, a tennis player pulls out his phone and uses it to snap a photo of the mark left in the clay by the ball. Maybe the sort of thing that would happen at a public court, if two pals got into a tiff during a match and one wanted evidence for later — except in this case, it was a professional who did it at the French Open. Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine set down his racket and briefly became an amateur photographer in his 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 loss to seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet of France in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament Monday. Stakhovsky plans to show the picture to the tournament supervisor in hopes of avoiding losing some of his prize money. "I'm now expecting a fine, actually, so I'm going to go and fight," Stakhovsky said. "I believe it was a bad call, it was a bad judgment. After all, we are playing on clay, where you should be clearly able to read the mark," he added, "and unfortunately, not all of our referees are able to do so." During the first set on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the 101st-ranked Stakhovsky hit a shot that landed right along a line. The ball was ruled out, but Stakhovsky was sure it was in. He argued with the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, who wouldn't change the decision. So Stakhovsky decided to gather proof for his case, getting his phone and walking over to where the spot in question was, then leaning over to get a close-up of the red clay. "It was just spontaneous. It's never thought through," he said. "When you see it, you get frustrated, because you saw the ball is nowhere being out and the frustrations comes in." Asked by a reporter to show the photo, Stakhovsky obliged, grabbing his phone from a pocket. "Everybody wants to see it," he said with a chuckle. Stakhovsky said it wasn't even the first time he'd done this: He pulled a similar stunt during the clay-court tournament at Munich last month. "Munich was a very close call which could go both ways, so I didn't really bother going to the supervisor and asking. But this one is in a Grand Slam, so first of all, the fine is actually there, possibly, (and) I don't want to get it. So I'll try to explain myself. I don't know if it's going to work." At a clay event in Rome this month, another pro, Viktor Troicki of Serbia, ushered a TV cameraman out onto the court to get video evidence of a ball mark he was sure showed a call was incorrect. "I saw that," Stakhovsky said, then offered a critique of the camerawork on that occasion, saying the angle was all wrong: "They came from the side, so you couldn't see the mark." Gasquet, for his part, agreed the call Monday was quite close and said he wasn't bothered a bit by Stakhovsky's antics. "It's funny. It's not a problem," Gasquet said. "He's a funny guy. I think he's one of the funniest guys in the draw. For sure, it's not usual to see that, but I can understand he's frustrated." 

News Source :  www.abcnews.go.com

Rafa Nadal survives bad day at office

Rafa Nadal survives bad day at office

PARIS - All seemed normal as Rafa Nadal walked on to Chatrier Court to begin his pursuit of an eighth French Open title but Germany's Daniel Brands ensured it was no regular Monday at the office for the defending champion who survived a huge scare. Nadal, as expected, took his place in the second round but his 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 win over the inspired German who had never won a main draw match at Roland Garros was fraught with danger as he flirted with the unthinkable. Related Photos: 2012 French Open at Roland Garros Photos: 2012 French Open at Roland Garros Pictures: U.S. Open 2011 Pictures: U.S. Open 2011 2011 U.S. Open tennis fashion 2011 U.S. Open tennis fashion Photos: Tennis Photos: Tennis Pictures: Wimbledon 2011 Pictures: Wimbledon 2011 See more stories » Ads by Google After a relatively thrill-free opening day on Sunday, fans flocked to the brick dust courts beside the Bois de Boulogne to feast their eyes on a line-up loaded with big names. Former women's champion Li Na began with a grafting 6-3 6-4 first round win against Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues while home fans dreaming of a first French men's champion here since 1983 cheered loudly as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned on the style. Russian powerhouse Maria Sharapova was set to turn up the volume later as she begins the defense of her title. However, it was claycourt king Nadal's struggle that created the buzz around the crowds thronging the grounds. The 26-year-old, looking to become the first man in history to win the same grand slam eight times, has been unstoppable in the build-up to the tournament he has dominated since winning the title as a teenager in 2005. Five titles on clay since returning to the Tour after a seven-month injury lay-off, and the incredible statistic of a solitary defeat in his previous 53 French Open matches, should have made his first-round clash with Brands a formality. When he banged the dirt off his shoes, performed the obligatory tug of his orange shorts and won the opening point with a dipping topspin forehand all looked well in Rafa World. Then things got complicated for the former world No.1 in his first grand slam match since last year's shock second-round Wimbledon defeat by Czech Lukas Rosol. Looking a sluggish and struggling to cope with the punishing, flat-hitting of 59th ranked Brands, Nadal double-faulted on a break point at 4-4 in first set and Brands seized his chance, claiming the first set with a forehand missile. It was the first time Nadal had dropped the first set of a first round match at Roland Garros and only the 15th he had surrendered at the home of French tennis. Since losing to Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009, Nadal had never lost the opening set of a match at the French Open and as Brands continued to show scant regard for Nadal's reputation a repeat of that shock looked possible. Especially when Brands held off break points at the start of the second set and dragged Nadal into a tense tiebreaker. With the capacity crowd glued to the action, Brands fired down two huge winners to take a 3-0 lead but just when the alarm bells began to ring loudly in the Nadal camp, the Mallorcan was let off the hook. A Brands backhand sliced low into the net gave Nadal a new lease of life and the Spaniard won seven of the final eight points in the tiebreak to level the match, roaring as much in relief as joy after dispatching a fizzing backhand passing shot on set point. After breaking the mighty Brands serve for the first time in the opening game of the third set, Nadal always looked the likely winner, although his performance will offer hope to those wishing to knock him off his perch. "He was playing unbelievable tennis and I was just trying to find my game and resist his great shots and I'm very happy to be through," a relieved Nadal said in a courtside interview after peeling off his knee bandages. While Nadal was toiling, sixth seed Tsonga was entertaining the crowd out on Suzanne Lenglen court, outclassing Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-2 6-3 with a performance of pace and power. Several women's seeds progressed, including China's 2011 champion Li, who made light of poor head-to-head record against Medina Garrigues to move through. Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, playing despite a painful shoulder, thrashed Israel's Shahar Peer 6-1 6-1 while former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki ended a dreadful recent run of first-round defeats to beat Britain's Laura Robson 6-3 6-2. 

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LeBron just keeps delivering for Heat

LeBron James

MIAMI -- There were times when LeBron James looked lost, the result of lockdown defense from either Paul George or Lance Stephenson. There were lengthy segments of the game when his scoring was nonexistent, such as the entire second quarter and, more notably, the final 4:30 of regulation and first 4:49 of overtime. And yet, there was James, mauled by giddy teammates after he saved the opener of the Eastern Conference finals for Miami with two layups in 10.8 seconds, including a buzzer-beating lefty layup that came with surprisingly little resistance from the Pacers. And yet, there was LeBron's ridiculous stat line -- one you noticed really only after the game because of all the tension and compelling plays throughout the final minutes: 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocked shots (the first such stat line in a playoff game since Ralph Sampson in 1986). It wasn't too long ago that performances like this one, complete with the last-second heroics, would elicit bold statements about LeBron, his team or his championship worthiness. Now, it hardly draws a shrug. In fact, LeBron barely reacted at all as his teammates rushed to congratulate/thank him. "I mean, I made a layup," James said, drawing laughs. "It's not like I made something from half court. I made a layup. I've been doing that since I was 8 years old. [+] EnlargeJames Chris Trotman/Getty ImagesLeBron James notched his ninth career postseason triple-double (30 points, 10 rebounds 10 assists) in Miami's Game 1 win. "I understand the circumstances a little bit. It happened to have been in the Eastern Conference finals." Perhaps it was smart of LeBron to save his energy, then. Because his coach believes this type of performance will need to be the norm for James in this particular series. "He has an all-everything role for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This may be what it takes to beat this team." The Heat know what kind of superhuman performances are necessary to beat the physical, large and defensive-minded Pacers. Last postseason, the East quarterfinal matchup between them included a 41-point, 10-rebound game from Dwyane Wade, a 40-point, 18-rebound game from James, a 32-point, 15-rebound from LeBron and another 30-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist game from his majesty, and it still took six games to dispose of Indiana. And this series wasn't supposed to be as taxing. Remember, Chris Bosh played in only one of those six games last postseason, and he would appear to be a matchup nightmare for the Indy bigs who prefer to plant themselves in the paint. And that Heat team didn't have Ray Allen or Chris Andersen, who was absolutely critical in Wednesday's series opener with 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting with three blocks. Well, that theory has been tossed out the window after just one game. Because David West can still dominate the Heat interior, as he did in the first half on his way to 26 points. Because George, even when he looks sloppy and turns the ball over six times, is a tireless, dynamic force who can hit both the ridiculously difficult shots and the most pressure-packed free throws. Because Roy Hibbert has found himself in these playoffs after an uneven regular season. And because Stephenson, a fixture on the bench last season, is a nearly uncontrollable bundle of energy who makes the Pacers an even better rebounding team. The extraordinary remains a necessity for Miami. LeBron responded to the request. Miami's biggest lead in the game was five points, and yet there were times when it felt like the Heat would eventually pull away. Moments like this one: With less than five minutes left in regulation and the game tied, Hibbert blocked a Wade layup attempt. Yet the ball somehow found its way to LeBron in the right corner for a shot clock-beating 3-pointer to give Miami the lead. The Pacers had to feel like it wasn't their night after a deflating play like that. Yet they never allowed the Heat any separation. And when Ray Allen missed a critical free throw and George followed with a 32-foot 3-pointer off a broken play, it suddenly appeared as if it would be Indiana's night after all. That meant overtime, which meant LeBron's work wasn't complete. It wasn't until the final 11 seconds of overtime that he truly went to work. After a questionable switch that left George Hill defending him, LeBron went straight to the rim to give Miami a 101-99 lead with 10.8 seconds left, his first points of the extra session. That bucket seemed like it would be enough. Especially as Norris Cole almost recovered a loose ball on a frantic Pacers final possession. But just as that loose ball found LeBron in the corner for a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, this one got to George, who took a desperate 3-pointer and was hit on the arm by Wade. George made all three free throws -- a feat he won't nearly get enough credit for doing in a conference finals with the game on the line -- putting the Heat in position to ask for more from LeBron. 2013 NBA Playoff Pages Follow all the NBA playoff action with our series pages. 2013 NBA Playoffs » James wasn't the only option in the play Spoelstra drew up. He just happened to be the best one. James actually badly wanted an inbound pass from Wade in the final 0.7 seconds of regulation. He had the smaller George Hill running at him, which would've made launching a 3 much easier for him than it was for Allen, who ended up with an impossible shot in the corner against a taller defender. This time, in overtime, LeBron would get the inbound pass from Battier. It could've been luck, a brilliant pass or that eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head vision LeBron often displays, but James immediately turned over his right shoulder past George, who was leaning the other direction. From there, it was such an easy path to the rim for the lefty finish that Wade, on the bench with six fouls, began celebrating the win before James was even in his shooting motion. "Once I got the ball, I was the only option," James said. "As unselfish a player as I am, I cannot, no way, try to make a pass at that point. "Shane definitely gave me a great pass. I peeked over my left shoulder. I seen Paul George was a little out of place. So I just took off. I knew I had enough time to do either -- I could either get to the rim or I could get one dribble in and get up a jumper." George said he regretted coming that close to LeBron at all. He said he should've given him space and made him a jump shooter in that spot. George, and everyone else watching, said Hibbert would've made a big difference on that play if he were in the game. 

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Playing partner says Tiger Woods took legal drop at Players

Playing partner says Tiger Woods took legal drop at Players

Chill out, Tiger Woods haters. He did not take another illegal drop, this time at The Players Championship. Playing on Sunday, Woods hit a ball into the water in the 14th hole. While Woods dropped his ball to take his next shot, NBC commentator Johnny Miller said he thought Woods may have made his drop too far forward. Woods’ playing partner, Casey Wittenberg, said after the round that that was not the case. “No, not at all. I saw it perfectly off the tee,” he said. “We talked to each other. He asked me exactly where it crossed. I told him I thought it crossed on the corner of the bunker right where he took his drop, and it’s all good. “There is no doubt, guys. The ball crossed where he dropped.” Of course, this comes on the heels of Woods' illegal drop during the Masters, when a viewer called in and reported Woods for taking an improper drop on the 15th hole during the second round. Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty then. But all was good on Sunday. 

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Heat leave Tom Thibodeau at a loss

Heat leave Tom Thibodeau at a loss

CHICAGO -- It's a miracle he lasted this long. There have been so many different moments that have tested the extremes of his patience. But finally on Friday night, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau reached his breaking point. In a no-luck season where the Bulls have manufactured a commendable run, Thibodeau has been the constant rock. He probably should not be blamed for cracking after the Miami Heat won Game 3, 104-94, to expectedly take control of the series, 2-1. You understand it, but it's still wrong. In the game's final moments, Thibodeau just stared down with an unflinching and accusatory glare at veteran official Joey Crawford, who stared right back at him. The slow burn continued when Thibodeau, who has an iron reputation for rejecting excuses, blamed the officials for his team's plight in the series. Watching the Bulls fight with their backups so vigilantly, pushing the Heat to the brink, it's easy to forget just how preposterously outmanned they are. [+] EnlargeTom Thibodeau Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesTom Thibodeau finds his Bulls team down 2-1. "We're not going to get calls, that's reality," he said. The Bulls have played like desperados in these playoffs, which is to say they're a bunch of desperate men. These may well be their last acts. Joakim Noah was out of line when he shoved the Heat's Chris Andersen in the first half after a hard but clean foul on Nate Robinson. Nazr Mohammed was out of line when he came at LeBron James and shoved him a few minutes later. And Thibodeau is out of line for letting his emotions get the better of him as he grunted his disgust at the refs. He knows better than that. "I see how things are going, I watch very closely," Thibodeau said. "We're not going to get calls, that's reality." Essentially, Thibodeau was hinting that the old fix is in. The officials and the league want the Heat to win, so that's what's going to happen. He said it knowing that's a taboo subject and probably will get him a fine. Maybe he said it in the classic manner of trying to set some sort of tone for the next game. But what a disappointing way to turn from the battle-axe coach who just got too caught up to realize he knows better. Unfortunately, that's not reality. Reality is the Heat have a massive margin for error against the Bulls, and it's so clear and so frustrating that it's driving a competition junkie like Thibodeau right out of his personality. James has only played about four good quarters in the three games thus far, and it's been enough to have the Heat in the driver's seat. On Friday, James only played like an MVP for 12 minutes, but they were the last 12 minutes and his 12 fourth-quarter points did the Bulls in. Eventually, James is going to have to rediscover the form he had during the regular season and first round against the Milwaukee Bucks if the Heat are going to repeat as champs. But against the Bulls he is getting by without it so far. Dwyane Wade has been nonexistent. He's shooting reasonably well -- when he shoots, which isn't much. He's in the midst of one of the worst playoff series of his career, averaging just 13 points. Wade has taken three free throws in three games, which is an unheard of ratio and raises questions about his health. It's arguable Bulls backup Marco Belinelli has generally played Wade to a draw so far, which is a big concern for the Heat going forward, but they're still ahead. Meanwhile, Ray Allen and Shane Battier can't hit a shot and Mario Chalmers is all over the place with his game. But the Heat are in control. That's because Norris Cole is playing fantastically and has hit all eight of his 3-point attempts. Chris Bosh is averaging a double-double and, in a mild surprise, more than holding his own against Noah. Bosh had one of his finest playoff games in a Heat uniform in Game 3, outdueling Noah with 20 points and 19 rebounds. That breakdown is why the Heat have a big margin for error, and that is often what defines playoff series. FOLLOW THE NBA ON ESPN Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA news, stories and analysis. Follow the NBA on ESPN on Twitter, Facebook and Google+: Twitter » Facebook » Google+ » Thibodeau was steaming because the Heat took 15 free throws in the fourth quarter. He was angry that Noah fouled out and especially angry with an over-the-back call late in the game when Noah raked the arm of Bosh fighting for a vital rebound. He was despondent that Jimmy Butler was called for two tick-tack fouls early in the game that took away his effectiveness. He's still upset that Udonis Haslem smashed Robinson on the first play of Game 2, one that looked suspicious. On some of these points Thibodeau is right. James got bailed out on a call or two Friday. The Butler fouls were cheap. But to blame officials is not becoming, and it's not Thibodeau. "From my angle, I saw a guy basically flop," Thibodeau said referring to James after Mohammed pushed him. "I don't think it warranted an ejection. I understand a flagrant foul, I understand that, but ejection, no, nope." How hard James fell was not relevant, and Thibodeau knows it. Not only did Mohammed earn the ejection, but there's a least some danger he'll earn a suspension. Escalating a situation is a major no-no in the NBA. Coming at a player, whether he's the MVP or not, in a series that has already been so testy, with officials on edge is simply not accepted. "I'm on my way out of this league," said Mohammed, a 15-year veteran. "And it's his league. You decide (if he would've been ejected had he pushed another player)." James was called for a technical on the play for elbowing Mohammed; the veteran official Crawford was on top of the play and nailed James quickly in an attempt to diffuse the situation. It was good officiating and made what Mohammed did all that much harder to believe. "I haven't been in a situation like that before," James said. "But if I get kicked out and Nazr gets kicked out at the same time, they win. It's that simple. " It is that simple: The Heat have James and they have the better team, and a call here and there is not going to change that. Derrick Rose isn't playing, Kirk Hinrich's calf is a mess and Luol Deng is recovering from a terrible health scare. 

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Alex Rodriguez reports to Yankees spring training complex in Tampa

Alex Rodriguez reports to Yankees spring training complex in Tampa

A-Rod arrived at the Yankees' spring training complex at 10:33 a.m. on Monday, rolling up in a black Cadillac Escalade and accompanied by a female companion and a driver. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Monday, May 6, 2013, 2:36 PM Updated: Monday, May 6, 2013, 2:36 PM 0 0 0 Print Alex Rodriguez speaks with reporters Monday afternoon in Tampa. The injured third baseman reports to the Yankees’ spring training complex to resume baseball activities for the first time since hip surgery in January. SCOTT AUDETTE/REUTERS Alex Rodriguez speaks with reporters Monday afternoon in Tampa. The injured third baseman reports to the Yankees’ spring training complex to resume baseball activities for the first time since hip surgery in January. Related Stories Alex Rodriguez cleared to resume baseball activities, will report to Yankees complex in Tampa on Monday Yankees are A-OK with A-Rod, they insist Fans skeptical of Rodriguez's rambling 'roid stories With Yankees aging and ailing, Robinson Cano becoming face of franchise as new contract looms Powered by Inform Alex Rodriguez is one step closer to taking the field, but exactly how many steps separate him from where he is now and the batter's box is the question.

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Mayweather proves time is still now

Mayweather proves time is still now

LAS VEGAS -- A 36th birthday, a year off -- two months of which was spent in jail last summer on a domestic abuse conviction -- would normally be the recipe for disaster for any fighter taking on a quality opponent. But Floyd Mayweather Jr., the pound-for-pound king, is not just any fighter. Instead, he looked the way he always looks: dominant. Mayweather easily retained the world welterweight championship with a masterful one-sided beatdown of interim titlist Robert Guerrero on Saturday night before a crowd of 15,880 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. [+] EnlargeMayweather-Guerrero Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY SportsFloyd Mayweather Jr. began timing Robert Guerrero after the early rounds on Saturday and, from that point on, landed nearly at will. Guerrero had called out for Mayweather to fight him for the past couple of years, and you know what they say: Be careful what you wish for. Mayweather appeared vulnerable in his previous fight, when he was tagged repeatedly in a unanimous decision win against Miguel Cotto last May, leading some to suggest that perhaps Mayweather's years of dominance were coming to a close. But after he took apart a man who was six years younger, physically bigger and unafraid to try to rough him up, forget about it. It was all Mayweather. All three judges, Jerry Roth, Duane Ford and Julie Lederman, scored it 117-111 for Mayweather. ESPN.com had it 119-109 for Mayweather. The fight was the first for Mayweather under a 30-month deal he signed with Showtime/CBS -- after dumping longtime TV home HBO -- that could see him fight up to six times and earn $200 million-plus. His next date is Sept. 14, also at the MGM Grand, and if Mayweather continues to perform as he did against Guerrero, it could be a deal well worth the investment, because "Money" dazzled -- and earned a minimum of $32 million, tying his own record for biggest purse in boxing history. Mayweather rarely got hit cleanly, a testament to his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., a defensive-minded trainer who returned to head his son's corner for the first time since a junior lightweight title defense in 2001. They have been estranged on and off for years while Floyd Jr.'s uncle Roger Mayweather served as his trainer. But with Roger increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes and Floyd Jr. realizing he needed to go back to his defensive basics, the match worked. "I was really happy to be back with my father," Mayweather said. "I knew after the Cotto fight, I was getting hit too much and my dad would help me get hit less. My defense was on point, and he told me just stick to your defense -- the less you get hit, the better -- and to box smart." Mayweather-Guerrero punch stats Mayweather Guerrero Landed 195 113 Thrown 476 581 Pct 41% 19% -- Courtesy of CompuBox Floyd Sr., who kept a relatively low profile during the promotion, was pleased with how his son fought. "I thought Floyd did a n excellent job," he said. "I helped bring back the defense because I thought he was getting hit too much. There was nothing he couldn't do in there anyway tonight. But after the Cotto fight, he came to me and said, 'Please train me. I feel like I'm getting hit too much.' Honestly, Floyd could have danced the whole fight, but instead he used his defense and I told him to steal him with the right hand. That was the shot [Guerrero] couldn't see." Guerrero had modest success in the first two rounds, but by the third, Mayweather had him figured out and began to crank up his straight right hand, which he landed often before moving out of the way. On and on it went as Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs), of Las Vegas, landed clean right hands against the southpaw Guerrero, who showed a great chin but little ability to land anything solid in return. He tried to corner Mayweather and impose his bigger body on him, but it didn't work. The elusive Mayweather moved his head or danced away. But for all the talk from Mayweather about defense after the fight, his offense deserved as much attention. He landed 195 of 476 punches (41 percent), according to CompuBox statistics, while limiting Guerrero to landing 113 of 581 blows (19 percent). Mayweather connected on an extremely high 60 percent of his power shots (153 of 254). Mayweather barely threw any left hands, beating Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), 30, of Gilroy, Calif., basically with one hand, which his father noticed. "I was hoping he would throw more hooks behind the right, but he hasn't fought in a year," Floyd Sr. said. "He did the majority of everything he could and he tried to do a lot of different things. He did a great job, and I am happy to be back in his corner." Mayweather landed a steaming right hand in the fourth round to rock Guerrero, who stayed up. Guerrero had been down only once in his career, and that was a flash knockdown against Joel Casamayor in a fight Guerrero easily won. Rafael: Flight To The Finish Rafael Abner Mares, in his move up to featherweight, sailed to a ninth-round TKO of Daniel Ponce De Leon and won his third world title in as many divisions. Story Mayweather, making the first defense of the 147-pound title he won by fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz in September 2011 -- he fought Cotto at junior middleweight -- opened a nasty cut over Guerrero's left eye in the eighth round and finished the round by rocking Guerrero with a clean right hand. Mayweather had a huge round, connecting on 23 of 33 power shots, according to CompuBox statistics. Guerrero, who made a career-high $3 million, plus a share of the pay-per-view profits, must have known he needed something dramatic to happen in the 12th round, but he couldn't do much of anything. That was just as had been the case for virtually the entire fight. And just before the final bell, Mayweather -- unsurprisingly -- landed a clean right hand. "Everybody was saying that because I'm 36 that I'm not sharp after the Cotto fight," Mayweather said. "Cotto is a [future] Hall of Famer. I've been in with the best. I keep wanting to give the fans exiting fights. I was looking for the knockout tonight, but I hurt my [right] hand midway through the fight. "He was pressing the attack, but I had good work for this fight: young, strong guys pushing me for this fight." When the fight ended, Guerrero had the audacity to raise his hands in victory, and his father and trainer, Ruben Guerrero, hilariously shouted at press row that all Mayweather did was "run like a chicken." But the fighter was classier in defeat. "He was barely squeaking by the punches; that's why he's undefeated," Guerrero said. "I'm still a winner, no matter what. God has a plan for me, but today it wasn't to beat Floyd Mayweather. But it was to be here in front of all these people to inspire them. "He was barely slipping by the punches. I landed some good shots but, you know, Floyd is a great fighter. He's got great defense, he's slick, he's quick. He came out and did his thing. He was a little better than I thought. I thought I was going to catch him, but he was on his game tonight. I'm going to keep fighting. Hopefully, before Floyd Mayweather retires, I'll get that shot again. Topics: Mayweather-Guerrero Mayweather-Guerrero For more on Saturday's fight, check our topics page. "I'm going to get back in the gym and re-position to fight him again before he retires." Guerrero, who won titles at featherweight and junior lightweight, plus two interim belts at lightweight, hadn't lost since a split decision at featherweight to Gamaliel Diaz -- which he avenged by knockout -- in December 2005. Mayweather hasn't lost since Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria beat him in a controversial decision in the semifinals of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and it doesn't look like he is going to lose again any time soon. His opponent for Sept. 14 is unclear, but that date falls on Mexican Independence Day weekend and the obvious opponent is Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, the unified junior middleweight champion. That's a megafight -- one that fans have been asking for. But Mayweather wouldn't address Alvarez specifically. "We don't know who we're going to fight now," he said. "Let me go home and rest now. Tonight I had a good tough battle with Robert Guerrero." There will be plenty of time in the coming days and weeks for Mayweather, still the best in the world, to think about who he will give the opportunity to knock him off that pedestal. 

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NBA Veteran Center Jason Collins Comes out as Gay

NBA Veteran Center Jason Collins Comes out as Gay

NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay. In a first-person article posted Monday on Sports Illustrated's website, Collins begins: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." Collins has played for six teams in 12 seasons, most recently as a reserve with the Washington Wizards after a midseason trade from the Boston Celtics. He is now a free agent and wants to keep playing in the NBA. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different,'" Collins writes. "If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand." Saying he had "endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie," Collins immediately drew support for his announcement from the White House, former President Bill Clinton, the NBA, current and former teammates, and athletes in other sports. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant tweeted that he was proud of Collins, writing: "Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others," followed by the words "courage" and "support." Jason Collins Comes Out.JPEG "We've got to get rid of the shame. That's the main thing. And Jason's going to help that. He's going to help give people courage to come out," said Billie Jean King, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame who confirmed she was gay after being outed in the early 1980s. "I guarantee you he's going to feel much lighter, much freer. The truth does set you free, there's no question. It doesn't mean it's easy. But it sets you free," King said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. The Wizards, whose season ended April 17, issued a statement from President Ernie Grunfeld: "We are extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly. He has been a leader on and off the court and an outstanding teammate throughout his NBA career. Those qualities will continue to serve him both as a player and as a positive role model for others of all sexual orientation." Collins' coach with the Celtics, Doc Rivers, drew a comparison between Monday's announcement and Jackie Robinson's role when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 as the first black player in Major League Baseball. "I am extremely happy and proud of Jason Collins. He's a pro's pro. He is the consummate professional and he is one of my favorite 'team' players I have ever coached," Rivers said. "If you have learned anything from Jackie Robinson, it is that teammates are always the first to accept. It will be society who has to learn tolerance." Collins says he quietly made a statement for gay rights even while keeping his sexual orientation a secret. He wore No. 98 with the Celtics and Wizards — 1998 was year that Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed, and the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization, was founded. Momentum has been building toward this sort of announcement from a pro athlete in a top league. NFL players Brendan Ayanbadejo and Chris Kluwe were outspoken in support of state gay-marriage amendments during last year's elections. President Barack Obama spoke about his support for gay marriage during his re-election campaign.

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Police name RCR crewmen arrested in assault on Piquet Jr.

Police name RCR crewmen arrested in assault on Piquet Jr.

Police have released the names of two Richard Childress Racing crew members arrested for an alleged assault on driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and one other individual at Richmond International Raceway late Friday night. Michael A. Scearce, 50, and Thomas F. Costello, 35, were taken into custody after a postrace incident spilled over to the driver/owner motorhome lot. The assault injured one of the two adult male victims, whose names were not released. But Turner Scott Motorsports confirmed in a Saturday afternoon statement that Piquet was one of the individuals involved. None Michael A. Scearce, 50(Photo: Handout) "Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team," the Turner Scott statement said. "TSM will have no further comment on the incident as the matter is an active case with the Henrico Police Department." Scearce and Costello are both members of RCR's No. 2 team, which fields cars for Brian Scott. Scott was kicked in the groin by Piquet following Friday night's Nationwide Series race. The crews also scuffled on pit road. PREVIOUSLY: Piquet Jr. gets it where it hurts INVESTIGATION: RCR looking into incident Scearce (two counts of assault) is listed as a mechanic on the RCR website; Costello (one count of assault) is an interior specialist. Both men were charged with misdemeanors and released early Saturday morning, according to Henrico County police Lt. Linda Toney. A court date for both will be determined at a later time. "I didn't witness what took place last night outside of the race track," team owner Richard Childress said in a statement. "Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation. "I am still learning all the exact details and, because it did happen outside of the track, local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter. We are now concentrating on winning the Sprint Cup race tonight." NASCAR spokeswoman Kristi King said the sanctioning body does not comment on police investigations. "As far as team members being involved, we are still in the process of gathering the facts and will address them once we get all of the information," she said. 

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Nova’s Injury Isn’t as Bad as He Feared

Nova’s Injury

The seemingly star-crossed Yankees, who have been hit with a glut of long-term injuries to start the season, received good news Saturday when a magnetic resonance imaging test on pitcher Ivan Nova revealed only inflammation of the right triceps. Enlarge This Image Adam Hunger/Reuters The Yankees placed Ivan Nova on the 15-day disabled list. Bats Keep up with the latest news on The Times's baseball blog. Go to the Bats Blog Major League Baseball Live Scoreboard Standings | Wild Card Stats | Injuries Yankees Schedule/Results Roster | Stats Mets Schedule/Results Roster | Stats Nova, who left his start on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning because of elbow pain, was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Yankees expect him to return once he is eligible to be activated. “First you think it’s something negative,” a relieved Nova said. “And this is negative, but it’s not that bad.” Nova is expected to rest for at least a few days before he throws a bullpen session. To replace him on the roster, the Yankees called up pitcher Vidal Nuno from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. David Phelps, who has been pitching in relief, will take Nova’s place in the rotation. Nuno, who had a 1.54 earned run average at Scranton this season, will become the Yankees’ long man in the bullpen. To make room for Nuno on the 40-man roster, the Yankees placed shortstop Derek Jeter on the 60-day disabled list. The team also said catcher Francisco Cervelli had successful surgery on his right hand to repair a broken bone. He was hurt in the first inning Friday when Toronto’s leadoff hitter, Rajai Davis, fouled a ball off his throwing hand. Cervelli is expected to miss at least six weeks. To replace Cervelli, the Yankees called up Austin Romine, a 24-year-old catching prospect, who was hitting .333 for Scranton. Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said Romine would split time with the veteran backup Chris Stewart, who was in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays. To help familiarize himself with the pitching staff, Romine caught bullpen sessions on Saturday morning with starters Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda. “It will depend on how he performs,” Girardi said of Romine’s playing time. “One thing about our jobs is that it’s performance-based.” The Yankees also received a boost Saturday when Kevin Youkilis, who had not played since April 20 because of back spasms, returned to the lineup. 

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Stephen Curry leads Warriors past Nuggets 131-117

Stephen Curry

DENVER — Stephen Curry had 30 points and 13 assists and the Golden State Warriors handed the Denver Nuggets their first loss at home in more than three months, a 131-117 stunner Tuesday night that evened their playoff series at a game each. Jarrett Jack added 26 points, Harrison Barnes 24 and Klay Thompson 21 as the sixth-seeded Warriors wrested homecourt advantage from the NBA's best home team as the series shifts to Oakland for Game 3 Friday night. The third-seeded Nuggets were an NBA-best 38-3 at home during the regular season but needed Andre Miller's last-second shot to beat Golden State by a basket in the opener and extend their franchise-best winning streak to 24 games. The Warriors became the second road team to win the postseason following Chicago's win at Brooklyn on Monday. With Golden State losing All-Star power forward David Lee to a torn hip flexor and the Nuggets getting top rebounder and energizer Kenneth Faried back from a sprained ankle, this one looked like a mismatch. And it was, only not the way the Pepsi Center crowd anticipated. Even without their All-Star, the Warriors outrebounded the Nuggets 36-26 and shot a sizzling 64.6 percent. The best anybody shot against Denver during the season was 54 percent, by the Los Angeles Lakers way back on Nov. 20, and the most points the Nuggets had allowed was 126 at San Antonio on Nov. 17. Ty Lawson and Corey Brewer each scored 19 points for Denver and Andre Iguodala and Miller both had 18. Lee led the league in double-doubles with 56 and had another before getting hurt in the fourth quarter of the series opener on Saturday. He was averaging 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. “We can't replace him,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson declared after the MRI confirmed fears of a serious injury. “He's an All-Star power forward who's had an incredible year. But we have some guys on our bench that can do some things to cover up his absence.” The Warriors were 3-18 without Lee over the last three seasons, but Jackson mixed and matched his lineup to make up for his All-Star's absence on this night, when Lee cheered on his teammates from the bench. The Nuggets were hoping the return of Faried would help them reverse their 10-point disadvantage on the boards in Game 1. But he was rusty and the same problems that plagued Denver in the opener — missing too many open shots, getting outmuscled on the glass and giving up open 3s — haunted them once again. Curry scored 15 points in the second quarter and hit four jumpers during a 14-5 run the Warriors used to grab control and take the air out of the Pepsi Center as they cruised into halftime with a 61-53 lead that would never be threatened in the second half. Curry swished another sweet jumper to start the third quarter and the Warriors opened up a 17-point lead they would stretch to 20 in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets pulled to 76-69, but Thompson hit a 3-pointer from the right corner and Curry a 3 from the left to make it 82-69. Both were wide open as Denver's defenders were again running ragged trying to keep up with the Warriors, who handled the altitude just fine. Every time the Nuggets made a run, the Warriors had an answer, whether it was Curry's jump shots or reverse dunks by Barnes. Denver got its deficit down to 115-105 but this time it was Jack's turn to make a wide-open 3 with the Nuggets defenders scrambling around. 

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