News sport : Mark Cuban finalized the Rajon Rondo trade at the 'Colbert Report' finale, per Keith Olbermann

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

In a rather swift and shocking December surprise, the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics moved quickly to negotiate and finalize a deal sending Rajon Rondo from Boston to Dallas. The timing of the transaction, pitched a good two months prior to the NBA’s trade deadline, was telling – Rondo is an odd player, and the Mavericks have forever been an intriguing (and winning) experiment under Dallas owner Mark Cuban; a man who mixes equal amounts basketball know-how and love for tossing himself in front of a television camera.


Cuban put those two loves together on Thursday night in typically busy and visible fashion. He was one of dozens of celebrities that gathered to sing Stephen Colbert’s “Colbert Report” character off into the televised sunset, but prior to the sing-a-long Cuban was furiously working to sign off on the Rondo deal, which sent Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, and a pair of picks to Boston for the mercurial guard.


ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann, no stranger to the camera himself, noticed as much:




(Courtesy http://ift.tt/oNUfkx)

Cuban is not the Mavericks’ head of player personnel; Donn Nelson has ably held that role for years, but no other NBA owner packs as much analytical and scouting punch as the Mavericks’ el jefe.


It’s true that his team’s franchise cornerstone, the legendary Dirk Nowitzki, was drafted a year and a half prior to Cuban purchasing the team, but Cuban has intelligently tossed himself into the world of basketball analytics while still encouraging his hired basketball men to do their job. It’s a delicate balance and the Mavericks haven’t been championship contenders since the team’s 2011 NBA Finals win, but the franchise has been in the championship mix routinely since 2001, and it’s hard to argue with Cuban’s approach.


The ability to work through salary structures, possible promises on contract extensions, and noise from all manner of scouts, coaches and Mavericks employees in real time on one smartphone also helps. This is an entirely different era than the one that, say, Boston general manager Danny Ainge was working in when he was dealt from Boston to Sacramento for Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney 25 years ago.


The Mavericks are taking a calculated risk with Rondo. The team boasts the league’s best offense by miles, and even the brainiest of NBA analytics swabbers can’t agree on whether or not Rondo works as some underrated basketball boffin, or a destructive me-first element that values gaudy assist totals over a seamlessly-churning five-man offense. Wright and Nelson were having fabulous years for the Mavericks, but their presence won’t be badly missed on this deep outfit, and the picks sent to Boston (likely a 2016 first rounder after restrictions are minded, alongside a second round selection) won’t likely tip the scales for this win-now outfit.


It’s a fascinating deal, true to Dallas’ team name. To watch it all go down in real time in the green room of a tiny New York City soundstage, even for someone as experienced as Keith Olbermann, must have been equally as fascinating.


(Hat-tip: Seth Rosenthal at SB Nation.)


- - - - - - -


Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1C9DPZS
Read More

Spurs pitch invaders banned

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Three men have been fined £155 each and banned from football stadiums for three years after their pitch invasions forced a Tottenham match to be temporarily suspended last month.


|||

London – Three men have been fined £155 ($242) each and banned from football stadiums for three years after their pitch invasions forced a Tottenham match to be temporarily suspended last month.


Nathaniel Thompson, 23, Helder Gomes, 22, and Daniel Jarvis, 26, were arrested following their incursions during the first half of Tottenham's Europa League win against Partizan Belgrade on November 27.


The match had to be halted shortly before half-time and the players from both teams left the pitch after the men ran on to the playing field in three separate incidents at White Hart Lane.


Gomes and Thompson were detained by stewards and Jarvis was grabbed by Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado.


All three men pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in north London to a charge of going on to a playing field without a lawful excuse or authority.


Although they were all wearing 'BassBuds' T-shirts, the court heard that the stunt was not sanctioned by the headphone manufacturer.


Defence lawyer Altaf Mohammed said the trio were handing out headphones to crowds outside the match as part of a promotion.


They were given tickets to the game and then made the decision to storm the pitch.


“They were basically doing voluntary work Ä it's only once they entered the stadium that they decided to do what they did,” he said.


He added that all three were “ashamed” of their behaviour.


The men are subject to football banning orders for three years, meaning they will not be able to attend games in England or Wales until 2018, but can apply to have these orders lifted after two years. – Sapa-AFP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1C6tTTR
Read More

Balotelli handed one game ban

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for one match, fined £25 000 ($39 176) and ordered to attend to an education course after making racist and anti-semitic comments.


|||

London – Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for one match, fined £25,000 ($39,176) and ordered to attend to an education course after making racist and anti-semitic comments.


Balotelli had already accepted a charge of an aggravated breach of Football Association rule E3, relating to references of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality or religion or belief, after his posting of an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram which included the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew”.


The Italy international did not request a personal hearing, but submitted written mitigation to an independent disciplinary panel, who handed out the punishment on Thursday.


Balotelli will now miss Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield after deciding against an appeal.


“Following the recent events related to my 'Super Mario' post, the FA decision has made clear that it was wrong,” he wrote on Twitter.


“I am sorry that my team-mates and supporters of Liverpool FC have to be penalised for something I did and now come to regret.


“It is my intention to comply with the decision of the FA and make sure it never happens again.”


Liverpool said they were awaiting the full written verdict from the panel but did not rule out further action against the player by the club.


“The club acknowledges the decision reached by the independent panel and due consideration will be given to the written judgement once we receive it from the FA,” a Liverpool spokesman said.


“Any further action taken by ourselves in relation to this matter is between the club and player.”


The day after his posting – which he quickly deleted – Balotelli apologised by writing on Twitter: “I apologise if I've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context (it) may have the opposite effect.”


But the former Manchester City and AC Milan star was unable to avoid a ban that added to a troubled first season at Liverpool for the controversial forward.


The FA said in a statement: “Following an independent regulatory commission hearing today Mario Balotelli has been fined £25,000, suspended for one-match with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, and warned as to his future conduct after he admitted breaching FA rules in relation to social media.


“The charge was that an image the Liverpool player posted on social media was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA rule E3(1).


“Furthermore, the posting was considered to be an “aggravated breach” as defined in FA rule E3(2) in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.


“Mr Balotelli has also been ordered to attend an education programme.” – Sapa-AFP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1C6tTDr
Read More

News sport : How does Rajon Rondo fit with the Dallas Mavericks?

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Nov 23, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) controls the ball during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) The first big NBA trade of the season is upon us. As reported by Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Dallas Mavericks have obtained point guard Rajon Rondo and rookie forward Dwight Powell from the Boston Celtics in exchange for big man Brandan Wright, forward Jae Crowder, point guard Jameer Nelson, a 2015 first-round pick, and a future second-round pick. It's a deal with many repercussions — for the West's playoff picture, the futures of several players who have thrived in Dallas, the growing gap between the two conferences, and a player who can be one of the best point guards in the NBA when in the right situation.


Let's get the Celtics' portion of the deal out of the way first, because it's the easiest to analyze. A quick glance at the deal might indicate that the Celtics didn't receive value for their ostensible franchise player, but he's a four-time All-Star in reputation more than effect, at least on a rebuilding team several years away from contention. After a torn ACL, a broken hand, and middling performances in recoveries from both, Rondo doesn't have the value he did in the immediate aftermath of the Celtics' playoff runs. He's also an unrestricted free agent after this season, which means his team-friendly deal is essentially a non-factor. Boston is also a team that doesn't have to assess the impact of every asset in every trade — they are trying to maximize options, not assemble a winner from spare parts.


While that analysis might paint Rondo as past his prime, the Mavs should feel extremely happy to have added a player of his quality. At his best, Rondo is a tremendous defender at the point of attack, a mad-genius facilitator, and a triple-double machine. He also happens to join the best offense in the NBA (top in points per possession, points per game, and shooting percentage), a squad with plenty of scorers who should minimize the impact of his bizarre status as a point guard who can't shoot at all. It's easy to imagine Rondo picking up a 12-point, 16-assist, 10-rebound triple-double in a big playoff game for this unit, perhaps with an assist on a Dirk Nowitzki game-winner to boot.


Yet there's reason to worry about Rondo's fit, because even a sizable improvement on his performance so far this season wouldn't push him up to his past levels. Rondo has never been a good outside shooter, but his career shooting percentages are impressive, with five seasons at 47 percent from the field or better. But the last two seasons have been downright horrendous — both at 40 percent — with a true-shooting percentage of 42.2 percent, the worst of his career by a wide margin. Rondo has always been a weird player who doesn't abide by common positional standards, but he has to serve as some kind of scoring threat, however atypical, for his passing ability to reach its peak.


Plus, it's not as if Rondo is entering a situation in desperate need of his facilitating talents. The Mavericks have thrived with Monta Ellis serving as a ball-dominating guard (particularly late in games) with versatile players like Chandler Parsons, screeners like Tyson Chandler (and the departed Wright), and the sui generis Dirk Nowitzki forming a fantastic offensive unit with many options. Unfortunately, Rondo is another player that needs the ball to thrive, which calls into question exactly how he and Ellis will work together. The Mavericks were not quite in need of even more offensive options. Anyone who watched last spring's first-round series against the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs saw a team that could not be stopped in any one way.


On the other hand, finding reasons that this deal will go wrong would seem to give the Mavericks too little credit. The most obvious factor in their favor is that Rick Carlisle, his staff, and these players built this wonderful offensive machine in the first place, which bodes well for their ability to work other players into the mix and reform the attack to fit everyone's strengths. Stressing about Ellis's ability to play with another ball-dominating guard is also questionable — he thrived in his first years with the Golden State Warriors next to a fully-bearded Baron Davis and did just fine on offense as Stephen Curry came into his own several years ago. If Dallas already had plenty of options, then they now have the potential to become an offensive juggernaut, the sort of team that causes lovers of aesthetics and numbers alike to join hands and sing tributes in a state of euphoria.


It's also true that Rondo gives the Mavericks something they didn't have before — a potential elite defender on the perimeter. In fact, this is where the pairing with Ellis becomes a clear improvement. Monta has always struggled to defend superior offensive players, but Rondo can guard the West's top guards — James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, et al. — better than most while allowing his backcourt mate to focus on his offense. Even if the Mavs' offense gets worse, they will still have a top outfit in that area while vastly improving their defense. Their biggest worry in this deal might be finding someone who can replace the production of Wright, a very effective reserve who helps considerably when Chandler needs rest.


Rondo is not a normal player by any means, so it can be difficult to project his role with a new team with especially high confidence. Yet he always injects his team with new possibilities, whether via his inversion of the court on offense, his versatility as a defender, or whichever extraterrestrial properties he imparts to his teammates by continued exposure to his existence. He is forever an enigma, but always a potential difference maker. The Mavericks clearly weren't content with being a fringe contender in the loaded West — they want to be a favorite. Rondo provides the best value of any player they could have added to get them to that level.


- - - - - - -


Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1zaagcv
Read More

News sport : 2014 Driver Reviews: No. 20 Austin Dillon

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we're turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we'll provide a summation of the driver's season in 150 words or less.


Name: Austin Dillon


NASCAR Experience: 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion. 2013 Nationwide Series champion. 2015 Sprint Cup Series champion?


Most recent team: Richard Childress Racing


Most recent season finish: 20th


2014 accomplishments: Completed more laps than any other driver in the Cup Series not named Jeff Gordon. Finished fifth at Daytona in July.


Most memorable moment: Winning the pole for the Daytona 500. You can't forget that the No. 3 was back, could you? And please promise to not tell Ryan Newman about the 500. He's still happy about finishing second and we don't want to rehash that.



Strengths: Only Greg Biffle has a shot at a three-peat.


2015 goals: A championship, duh. Look at the pattern. Though a Chase berth would be nice.


FTM's Take: For the flurry of attention that winning the pole at Daytona received, Dillon settled into relative NASCAR anonymity. And while it was because he didn't have many super-strong runs, it's because he was like his teammates. There were few brutally bad ones either. Maybe there's something in the water at RCR? We should have Carrie Underwood investigate.


No, it's not realistic that Dillon will win the 2015 title, but if the consistency carries over, there's no reason for Chase hopes to not exist into August. We've seen how avoiding bad finishes can pay off in the Cup Series, and if it's a skill, Dillon's showing that he has it.


Previous reviews: No. 21 Paul Menard, No. 22 Brian Vickers, No. 23 Marcos Ambrose, No. 24 Martin Truex Jr., No. 25 Tony Stewart, No. 26 Casey Mears, No. 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 28, Danica Patrick, No. 29, Justin Allgaier, No. 30, David Gilliland, No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1GW7lDr
Read More

News sport : Oregon CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu officially out for College Football Playoff

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Sep 6, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (14) runs down the field against the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium. (Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports) Oregon will be without its top cornerback in the College Football Playoff.


Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich confirmed on Thursday that senior Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is out for the Ducks’ semifinal matchup against Florida State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, though he did not offer specifics on the injury.



Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin reported Wednesday that Ekpre-Olomu suffered a serious knee injury during practice on Tuesday, though his status was unknown at the time.


Ekpre-Olomu, a first-team All-Pac 12 and first-team Associated Press All-American selection, registered 63 tackles, two interceptions and 11 pass deflections for the second-ranked Ducks this season.


In addition to fellow senior starter Troy Hill, senior Dior Mathis and redshirt freshman Chris Seisay will have to step up for the Ducks in Ekpre-Olomu’s absence against Florida State’s passing attack.


For more Oregon news, visit DuckSportsAuthority.com.


- - - - - - -


Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1zBbrzg
Read More

News sport : Priority Pickups: Hardaway Jr., D-Mo, Middleton and more

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Perhaps you, like me, now find yourself staring at a lineup mess like this ...



So many injuries

... and you're just hoping to limit the damage in the weeks ahead, waiting out injuries that have no timetables. If that's the case, then you're surely using all available weekly transactions, churning roster spots, working feverishly to prevent the 3-6 loss.


[Join FanDuel.com's $2M Week 16 fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 17,475 teams paid]


For those of you with multiple broken roster pieces, here are five dudes I've added in a league or three over the past few days:


SF/PF Donatas Montiejunas, HOU (32 percent owned) - In the month of December, D-Mo has been giving us the following stat line: 17.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 55.6 FG%, 0.9 3PM. Can you use numbers like that? Well, I can. Montiejunas has been playing 30-plus minutes per night, starting and mostly thriving in the absence of Terrence Jones (leg/nerve). Houston plays three games next week, then the team has four straight four-gamers.


SG Tim Hardaway Jr., NYK (20 percent owned) - As you might have heard, Melo has lingering knee issues, J.R. Smith has only one functioning foot, and Iman Shumpert is dealing with a multi-week shoulder problem. Thus, Hardaway has a green light to shoot, and he's getting plenty of minutes. He's attempted 27 threes over his last four games (not hitting nearly enough), reaching double-digit points in each. Hardaway will almost certainly become a drag on your team shooting percentage, but he'll score while piling up threes. He plays a pair of games over the weekend, then three next week.


SF/PF Khris Middleton, MIL (17 percent owned) - Jabari Parker's season ending ACL injury is simply ... well, it's an arrangement of words I never wanted to write. Brutal news. The injury drains a fair amount of fun from the current season. Let's hope his recovery is full, quick and setback-free. Ersan Ilyasova figures to benefit statistically when he returns from injury (he's 42 percent owned), and Middleton gets a bump as well. Middleton played 33 minutes on Wednesday, scoring 17 points and hitting four threes. He's also averaging 1.3 steals per game on the season, shooting tolerable percentages. As a short-term add, he has appeal.


PF/C Mason Plumlee, BKN (42 percent owned) - Brook Lopez is a giant man with a deep history of injuries, currently dealing with a back issue. We don't know exactly when he might return; we do know that presents constant risk. Additionally, we know that Brooklyn will be having an everything-must-go sale, from now until the trade deadline. Plumlee has scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games, while delivering various other fantasy goodies...



PLUMS!

His free-throw shooting is a known problem (55.5 percent career), so he's not for everyone. But he probably belongs on someone's roster at the moment in leagues of standard size/shape.


SG Jodie Meeks, DET (32 percent owned) - OK, here's another guy who probably isn't for everyone. Meeks has played four games since returning from the back malfunction and he's seeing 20-plus minutes, delivering steals (7) and threes (4). Those are the categories in which he can help, at least in a modest way. Meeks only plays two games next week and three the week after, so he's not going to give you much of a near-term boost. But in time, Meeks should have a significant and fantasy relevant role.






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/13h50ps
Read More

City out to add pressure on Chelsea

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Rejuvenated Manchester City can pile the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea for the first time this season if they beat struggling visitors Crystal Palace.


|||

London - Rejuvenated Manchester City can pile the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea for the first time this season if they beat struggling visitors Crystal Palace.


With Chelsea not playing at Stoke City until Monday, a City victory at the Etihad Stadium against a Palace side who have failed to win their last four Premier League matches would put the champions level on 39 points with Jose Mourinho's men.


Having trailed leaders Chelsea by eight points at one stage this season, City have won their last five league matches, with Frank Lampard's strike enough to give Manuel Pellegrini's side a 1-0 victory at bottom club Leicester City last weekend.


However, City will be without a recognised forward against 16th-placed Palace as Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko all have knocks, while captain and key central defender Vincent Kompany limped off at Leicester with a hamstring injury.


Despite a lack of attacking options, Pellegrini is confident his injury-hit squad can find the perfect striking remedy within their ranks against Neil Warnock's Palace.


“We'll work this week with the players that can play in that position,” Pellegrini told reporters. “At the moment we are trying to recover all the players because we have no strikers.


“David Silva, Samir Nasri and the rest of the midfielders can all score so we must see during the week which is the best way to play in the future until we recover our strikers.”


Chelsea, who beat visiting Hull City 2-0 last weekend, have no striking woes but, after allowing their healthy advantage over City to be cut, midfielder Cesc Fabregas has called on his team mates to keep improving in their quest for the title.


“You can always get better,” the Spaniard told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com). “We know that and we are trying to improve in training by doing what the manager tells us to do.


“Everyone is very focused and everyone is very professional. Now the next two or three weeks are really important in our season and we have to be up for it.”


Third-placed Manchester United, buoyed by a 3-0 demolition of arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend, travel to Aston Villa on Saturday when fourth-placed West Ham United host basement side Leicester.


On Sunday, Newcastle United fans will give Sunderland a hostile reception in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, before floundering Liverpool, perhaps lifted by their 3-1 Capital One Cup win at Bournemouth in midweek, host sixth-placed Arsenal. – Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1C6vqGC
Read More

News sport : Georgia's Leonard Floyd out for Belk Bowl

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Georgia LB Leonard Floyd, the team's leader in sacks, will miss the Belk Bowl against Louisville.


Per UGASports.com, Georgia coach Mark Richt said he had a procedure to "clean up" his shoulder and is expected to be ready for spring practices. A junior in 2014, Floyd said he planned to be back at Georgia in 2015 for his senior season.


Floyd had six sacks in 2014, or a quarter of the 24 total sacks the Bulldogs had. He finishes with 55 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss. Redshirt freshman Davin Bellamy, who had 17 tackles and two tackles for loss in 2014, is expected to take his place.


Georgia plays Louisville on December 30.


USC will also be without a member of its defense for the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska. Defensive tackle Antwaun Woods suffered a left pec injury and will miss the game. He posted this picture of himself post surgery to Instagram.



Woods has played in all 12 of USC's games this season and has 37 tackles and a sack. USC plays Nebraska on December 27.


For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.


For more USC news, visit TrojanSportsReport.com.


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1C68XJP
Read More

News sport : Michael Vick to the Redskins would be a 'dream come true'

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

This season hasn't exactly been a memorable one for Michael Vick, but then you could say that about pretty much anybody who's quarterbacked for the New York Jets for the last four decades. Vick's on a one-year deal with New York, and so it's no surprise that he might be looking elsewhere.


At the top of his list? None other than the Washington Redskins.


"That's home," Vick said, while "beaming like a child," according to Newsday. "That's home for me. Don't get me excited. Don't get me excited."


The idea of Vick playing for Daniel Snyder in the chaos that is Washington is sheer perfection. But on an on-field level, Vick might do well from a reunion with his old Philadelphia teammate DeSean Jackson.


"I know his speed, I know his acceleration path, I know when he's coming out of his breaks," Vick said. "There's nobody that knows DeSean Jackson better than me. I think he knows that, and we were just trying to position ourselves to be together again [in New York], but it didn't work out."


There are many steps between today and Vick in a Redskins jersey, certainly. But it's clear Vick believes he can continue to contribute, even as a backup, for a team in 2015, whether or not it's D.C. "I'm open to playing for anybody that wants to win," he said. "But obviously, going back home, I mean, that'll be a dream come true. But I would hate to get my hopes up for something that wouldn't happen."





____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1z8HRU9
Read More

News sport : VOD: Watch Arkansas DE Trey Flowers' 55-inch box jump

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers was already on the radar of NFL scouts coming into his senior season. After putting up 63 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks this year and earning second team All-SEC honors, Flowers gave the scouts plenty of impressive game film to watch.


Athleticism like this video posted by Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema helps, too.




The video shows the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Flowers executing an insane 55-inch box jump.


If this video is any indication, Flowers looks like a guy who will put on a show during the NFL combine.


For more Arkansas news, HawgSports.com.


- - - - - - -


Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/16w0XaZ
Read More

News sport : Federal judge rejects $75 million NCAA head injury settlement

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

(USA Today Sports) A proposed $75 million head injury settlement with the NCAA was rejected by a federal judge on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge John Lee of Chicago thinks the potential deal was “potentially underfunded” and wanted “both sides to go back to the drawing board.”


The settlement would create a $70 million fund to test current and former student-athletes with head injuries and would also contribute $5 million toward research. Additionally, standards for athletes returning to the playing field following a concussion would be toughened.


The intent of the deal was for the NCAA to settle a bevy of lawsuits that accused the NCAA of not properly protecting student-athletes from head injuries. Per the AP, the proposed testing program and renewed focus on player safety would “shield the NCAA from being hit with a single, blockbuster damages payout.”


While he believes the proposal is an encouraging step, Lee wrote in his 21-page opinion that there is still work to be done amid the settlement discussions.


From the AP:



"The court encourages the parties to continue their settlement discussions ... to address these concerns,'' Lee wrote. He added later that the proposal was ''a significant step in trying to arrive at a resolution of this highly complex matter."



With the inclusion of athletes from “non-contact” sports included in the deal, Lee wondered if the $70 million figure for testing would be enough. Additionally, Lee had questions about the NCAA’s promise to make its enforcement of return-to-play rules more stringent or if it even had the authority to make all schools adopt these policies.


Ten different lawsuits filed across the country were brought together in this case, led by lead plaintiff Adrian Arrington, a former safety at Eastern Illinois who says he suffered five concussions during his career.


Per filings from the plaintiffs, “tens of thousands” of athletes may need testing to see if they have long-term damage from head injuries. From 2004 to 2009, NCAA figures say that 29,225 athletes suffered concussions, plaintiff filings say.


- - - - - - -


Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1C5JNeh
Read More

News sport : 5-year-old boy tried to help UAB football with allowance money

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

The news of the death of the UAB football program reached far and wide. One person who heard the bad news, 5-year-old Bennett Williams of Dublin, Ohio, wanted to offer some help.


Though Bennett’s favorite team is Ohio State, he loves college football in general and asked his parents to print out logos of teams from across the nation. UAB caught his eye. When he heard that the program was ending, Bennett “was devastated” and asked his parents to send his allowance to the athletic department.


Per Al.com:



Bennett's parents tried to explain what had happened. Last week, Bennett asked his dad how much money UAB needed to save its football program. His dad told him, "More than mommy and daddy will ever see." Bennett asked if the dollar he just got as an allowance would help. His dad said he might be a few million dollars short, "but he insisted," his dad said.



The Williamses sent the dollar along with a handwritten note from Bennett to UAB’s athletic department. The note read:


“DEAR UAB. I LOVE OHIO STATE, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE FOOTBALL TOO. HERE IS ONE DOLLAR TO HELP! – Bennett”



A few days later, Bennett received a care package from UAB that included “an official game ball, two shirts, a hat, bumper sticker, some tattoos, buttons and a signed picture of the team mascot.”



He also got a thank you letter from Reid Adair, a member of the athletic department.


“The best thing he got was a letter written to him from the contact in the athletic department,” said Bennett’s father, Brad. “It thanked Bennett and said he made some people happy down there. He also went on to say they all agreed that Bennett was UAB's No. 1 fan in Ohio. This, in Bennett's mind, was better than any gift."


Adair followed up with an email that said Bennett’s note and dollar would be framed and displayed in the athletic department’s conference room.


Great job, Bennett.


For more UAB news, visit BlazerSportsReport.com.


- - - - - - -


Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/13gl5f8
Read More

News sport : Troy Aikman could have unretired to play for the Eagles

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

Troy Aikman. Troy Aikman retired a Cowboy in 2000, but he very nearly returned to the field as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.


Aikman, a longtime commentator for Fox Sports, told sports station KESN this week that years after he retired, he received a call from then-Eagles head coach Andy Reid after Donovan McNabb went down with an injury. This call happened to come in the middle of a game Aikman was calling in San Diego. (Aikman recalled it as 2003, but it was actually 2002.)


As Aikman recalled, he walked out onto the concourse at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to get cell service, and had the strange conversation with Reid about coming out of retirement to replace McNabb, who'd gone down with a broken leg. Aikman promised to think on it, and he did, consulting with friends and former coach Norv Turner.


"I got back to Santa Barbara," he said, "and this was around November or whenever it was, and I woke up and I’m thinking, ‘I can either enjoy the next couple of days in Santa Barbara, California, it’s about 65, 70 degrees, or I’m going to be on a plane flying to Philadelphia and probably going to be playing on Monday night against the 49ers. I called Andy and I said, ‘Hey, I’m honored that you’ve called me, but I’m going to stay put.’"


[Join FanDuel.com's $2M Week 16 fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 17,475 teams paid]


As it turned out, McNabb's replacement, Koy Detmer, also went down with an injury, but AJ Feeley was able to pick up the slack, and the Eagles finished the season 5-1. McNabb returned in time to take the Eagles to the NFC Championship game, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


So there you go. An unretirement that wasn't. It's probably better for everyone involved that Aikman stayed on the sidelines, though as good as Philly was in those days, he might have added another ring to his pile.


____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1sJtYdl
Read More

News sport : 2014 Driver Reviews: No. 21 Paul Menard

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,

After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we're turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we'll provide a summation of the driver's season in 150 words or less.


Name: Paul Menard


NASCAR Experience: Parts of 12 seasons in the Sprint Cup Series including eight full-time seasons. Brickyard 400 winner.


Most recent team: Richard Childress Racing


Most recent season finish: 21st


2014 accomplishments: Paul Menard doesn't like talking about Paul Menard and talks about Paul Menard in the third person. Brevity is big. Five top fives. Third at Las Vegas. 2011 Brickyard 400 winner.


Most memorable moment: 2011 Brickyard 400 winner. Was twice in the top 10 in points in 2014. Why do you want all this information?


Strengths: 2011 Brickyard 400 winner. Last name.


2015 goals: Attempt to go the entire season without an interview, which may be impossible if the Chase is made. This is a tough potential dilemma.


FTM's Take: The quietest driver in the Cup Series garage, Menard is not one for many public words. He's got the gig that many of us would love to have. He's self-funded, drives for a good team in the series and stays out of the spotlight. Of course, that's easy to do when you run mid-pack, but there's a lot of something to be said for never making headlines on the down side of the spectrum.


However, as mentioned in the 2015 goals section of this entry, Menard would have to put himself in the spotlight if he made the Chase. And given the expanded Chase field, it's not a crazy thought. He was 14th in points after Atlanta, but was the fourth driver out on points after Richmond and ended up 22nd. If he stays consistent and more drivers ahead of him win (and maybe even Menard himself wins), who knows?


Previous reviews: No. 22 Brian Vickers, No. 23 Marcos Ambrose, No. 24 Martin Truex Jr., No. 25 Tony Stewart, No. 26 Casey Mears, No. 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 28, Danica Patrick, No. 29, Justin Allgaier, No. 30, David Gilliland, No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1J8RYvf
Read More