News sport : Rick Ross got the Miami Heat logo tattooed on his face

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

It hasn't been an easy season for the Miami Heat, whose strong start to their first post-LeBron campaign devolved into a dismal 5-12 December amid injuries to the likes of top gun Chris Bosh, who missed eight games with a left calf strain, and offseason acquisition Josh McRoberts, who's likely out for the season after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Erik Spoelstra's club has ranked 21st among 30 NBA teams in points scored per possession since the beginning of December while posting the league's third-worst defensive efficiency mark during that timeframe — Miami has allowed 108.7 points per 100 possessions over the last 19 games, better only than the cratering Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks — and has dropped to 15-20, just 1 1/2 games up on the Indiana Pacers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.


In such trying times, fans can either succumb to the reasons why their support for the hometown team might waver, or they can choose to double down and reaffirm their devotion in a major way. Let it never be said that Rick Ross is a fairweather fan.


[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]



Yep, that's the Maybach Music Group mogul sporting some fresh ink of the Heat's flaming-basketball logo near his right eye after a recent trip to Farmingdale, N.J., tattoo shop Unroyal Ink. If this seems like a somewhat remarkable display of fandom for the girthy gruntsman, let's remember that he's already allegedly plunked down $100,000 on the proposition that the Heat will finish this season with a better record than LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers, who presently sit four games north of Miami at 19-16 and just added J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from the New York Knicks in a three-team deal aimed at bolstering their wing rotation for the remainder of the season.


And, since we're talking about LeBron and J.R., let's also remind you that we've seen some much more eye-popping displays of ink-related fandom in recent years, including this full-back LBJ tat and this full-throat J.R. homage, to say nothing of li'l brother Chris Smith's shoutout to his big bro. Comparatively speaking, Ross' face-flame seems downright demure.


Then again, y'know, it's on his FACE. Then again, given Ross' predilection toward accessorizing with large reflective eyewear, and the nearby presence of the logo of MMG artist/Dion Waiters pal Meek Mill's DreamChasers mixtape series, it won't be the only thing for folks to focus on when they sneak a peek at Rozay. Whether it serves as enough of an eye-catching motivator to get Dwyane Wade and crew back on track, propel them up the Eastern standings and keep Ross' 100-stack investment safe, however, remains to be seen. We'll have to keep an eye on Miami's Thursday night matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers; it's a good bet that Ross will be. (We're guessing it'll be his right one.)


Hat-tip to SI.com's Extra Mustard.


- - - - - - -


Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!



Stay connected with Ball Don't Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL, "Like" BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more.






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

News sport : Rob Ryan getting another season as New Orleans' defensive coordinator

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

(AP) The news that a defensive coordinator is staying with his NFL team usually isn't that noteworthy, but Rob Ryan staying with the New Orleans Saints is an exception.


The Saints' disappointing season had a few identifiable moments, and many of them included coach Sean Payton and Ryan yelling at each other on the sideline. They're both passionate, high-strung individuals. It worked in 2013 when the Saints had a shocking defensive turnaround from a terrible 2012 behind Ryan's schemes, when the Saints ranked fourth in yards allowed.


It did not work in 2014. The Saints tumbled to 31st in total defense. That's not all on Ryan. But with the public bickering between the head coach and defensive coordinator, it seemed like the relationship would be done.


Not so. Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that Ryan will return for another season, although there could be changes to the personnel on defense and the defensive staff as well according to Holder.


Like his brother Rex, who was just fired by the New York Jets, Rob Ryan's style is popular with most players.



"I don't want to play for any other defensive coordinator other than Rob Ryan," linebacker Curtis Lofton said last week, the Times-Picayune said.



But results will have to be better. Ryan's creative pressure schemes didn't have the same effect in his second New Orleans season. The Saints went 7-9 and were eliminated from the playoffs in a blowout loss to Atlanta in Week 16.


Either the Saints will get better, or you can probably plan on more sideline shots of Payton and Ryan disagreeing with each other.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/14oP0m0
Read More

Bafana in their element - Jordaan

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

SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan believes Bafana Bafana's superior form on foreign soil will elevate them to a successful Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign.


|||

Johannesburg – SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan believes Bafana Bafana's superior form on foreign soil will elevate them to a successful Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign.


“This team has dismissed the idea that you can't play to win when playing away from home,” Jordaan said at the team's send-off in Johannesburg on Wednesday.


“So when you go there to play, continue to show no fear. The team has made it this far and there is no reason it can't go further.”


Bafana had shown outstanding form since coach Shakes Mashaba took charge in August, with an undefeated record of five wins and three draws.


It was their performances away from home though which had been particularly been impressive. During their Afcon qualifying campaign, Bafana beat Sudan and Congo-Brazzaville in their respective countries.


The Safa boss said he had “all the confidence in the world” that the team would represent South Africa well.


“We have all the faith in the team that they will make us proud. The belief and pride we once had in the team has been restored.”


Jordaan said the team was not burdened with unrealistic expectations.


“We are not saying that you must go there and we want you to win the tournament. What is expected is for the team to go out there and show courage.”


Bafana Bafana were jetting off to Gabon for a pre-tournament camp and were also scheduled to play a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday in Libreville, before Afcon kicked off on January 17.


They take on Algeria in their first Afcon match at the Estadio de Mongomo on January 19.


Coach Mashaba's men were drawn in group C as well against Ghana and Senegal in what was considered one of the toughest groups in the tournament.


Mashaba thanked Jordaan for the support he had received in the five months since his appointment as coach.


“Mr President, we are where we are because of the confidence you have shown in us,” Mashaba said.


“The players in this team are willing to fight for the honour of the country, and much of it is as a result of your backing.”


The 23-man Bafana squad headed into East Africa confident and without fear of other nations after having held their own in the last few months, he said. – Sapa






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

News sport : Tyronn Lue is gracious to a fan reminding him of his literal lowest moment (Video)

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

Many in the NBA consider Cleveland Cavaliers associate coach Tyronn Lue to be the NBA’s next great head coach. A fierce bidding war over Lue’s services took place during the 2014 offseason, with the Cavs dogged in their pursuit to employ Lue as the NBA liaison between rookie head coach David Blatt, and the Cavs’ star troika of LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving.


That’s right. The Cavs basically tilted their whole franchise in attempts to let Lue do the unheralded and behind the scenes work for what they thought would be a 60-win championship team. He’s that highly respected.


He’s also the dude that Allen Iverson famously crossed over in the 2001 NBA Finals, leading to a startling Game 1 win for the Philadelphia 76ers.


That move led to the iconic image of Iverson stepping over Lue on the floor of the then-Lakers home Staples Center court, an image that eventually made it to someone’s t-shirt, which eventually made it back to Lue when the Cavaliers visited the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.


[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]


Lue was gracious enough to pose with the fan, watch:



Tyronn made nearly $22 million in his decade-long career, he’s won two championship rings, and he’ll run his own team someday. He can handle your shirt.


(Hat tip: Pro Basketball Talk.)


- - - - - - -


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/1BLKQQj
Read More

News sport : Bills GM blaming Manuel's struggles on coaching to prospective hires

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

The Buffalo Bills are not ready to move on from quarterback EJ Manuel.


That's at least the message that Bills GM Doug Whaley is sending to prospective head coaches that the team is interviewing. In fact, per the Buffalo News, Whaley is going so far as to say that coaching has been the reason that Manuel has not progressed in his two NFL seasons.


[Join FanDuel's $2M Divisional Round fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 17,475 teams paid]


Doug Marrone walked away from the Bills after two seasons, and it was clear that Marrone had little faith in Manuel after he benched him after four games this season, going instead with Kyle Orton, who joined the team in the preseason.


Moreover, Marrone failed to re-insert Manuel into the lineup for the season finale even when the Bills were eliminated from the postseason. Orton summarily retired the day after the season ended.


It's clear that the Bills want their next coach to work with Manuel, the team's first-round pick in 2013, and try to develop him into the team's starter.


The Bills have interviewed — or plan to interview — a slew of candidates, including offensive-centric coaches Pat Shurmur, Mike and Kyle Shanahan, Hue Jackson, Greg Roman, Frank Reich, Adam Gase and Darrell Bevell. But they also have spoken with or are scheduled to talk to defensive-minded coaches such as Jim Schwartz, Teryl Austin and Dan Quinn and have expressed an interest in Rex Ryan, too.


The Bills lack a first-round pick this year following the trade for Sammy Watkins in the 2014 NFL draft, so finding another starter-worthy quarterbacks — especially with a weak free-agent class at the position — could prove to be difficult.


- - - - - - -


Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!






from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/14owXw8
Read More

Gerrard to join LA Galaxy

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

Steven Gerrard will join the Los Angeles Galaxy in July after completing his illustrious career with Liverpool.


|||

London - Steven Gerrard will join the Los Angeles Galaxy in July after completing his illustrious career with boyhood team Liverpool.


The 34-year-old midfielder announced last week he was leaving Liverpool after the English Premier League season to move to Major League Soccer.


The Galaxy confirmed Gerrard as a designated-player signing on an 18-month deal in Wednesday's editions of the Los Angeles Times.


Gerrard told the paper that “one of the reasons I chose LA Galaxy was because of the success they've had recently.”


The Galaxy won the MLS Cup for the third time in four years in December.


Galaxy President Chris Klein told the LA Times that “Gerrard is the perfect fit with what he brings to us on the field and the character that he has off it.”


Sapa-AP






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Dl1Hx6
Read More

Bafana can win Afcon - Mashaba

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

Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba boldly stated that his team could claim the Afcon title next month.


|||

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba boldly stated that his team could claim the Africa Cup of Nations title in Equatorial Guinea next month.


“We are coming back after the 10th(February) after the final is played. We have packed our bags expecting for a long stay there,” Mashaba said in Johannesburg before the team's departure for Gabon on Wednesday.


“In 1996 we set the standard that we are championship material. With this team we are trying to revive that spirit and show that we are one of the best.”


Mashaba has set his sights on upsetting the number-one ranked nation on the continent Algeria, in their opening clash of the tournament on January 19.


“All the teams are equal. When they say the group of death it gives us motivation it will be good to beat the number-one team on the continent.


“I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior. The boys are ready. The players know why they are here and they know what it means to wear the Bafana jersey.”


Bafana would put their unbeaten streak under Mashaba on the line at the Afcon tournament starting January 17 in Equatorial Guinea.


Ghana and Senegal are the other two teams in group C which is considered one of the toughest in the tournament.


“In the next two matches will know what to expect and what we need to do,” Mashaba said.


“The matches will allow us to get familiar with the conditions, with the heat and with the atmosphere of the fans.”


South Africa start the tournament without Eric Mathoho and Reneilwe Letsholonyane who are not eligible for the critical opening game against Algeria.


Both players received suspensions as a result of the yellow cards they received in the final 2-2 qualifying game against Nigeria.


It was Mathoho's second yellow card in the qualifying stages while Letsholonyane was yellow-carded twice in the Nigeria match and red-carded in the process.


It would leave Mashaba with a difficult decision for the warm-up game against Cameroon, in Libreville, on Saturday.


The Bafana coach will have to decide whether to include the lanky, tough-tackling Mathoho and the tricky Letsholonyane against the Indomitable Lions or field a potential shadow line-up in preparation for the Algeria game.


The poser did not seem to worry Mashaba on the squad's departure, and the players shared his optimism.


“We have a great chance of winning this tournament,” said youthful Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo.


His teammate Bernard Parker said the team were starting to believe in themselves more and more.


“The coach has told us we are champion material, and we have come to believe him.”


SuperSport United's Thuso Phala said: “We are definitely not going to Equatorial Guinea as underdogs after remaining unbeaten in the qualifying rounds.”


Sapa






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

News sport : The Report Card: Banner day for Mike Anderson ends with big road win

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


DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 6


A — Arkansas


If Monday's SEC opener at Georgia was a barometer for whether Arkansas is truly the league's second-best team, the Razorbacks took a step toward proving themselves. They rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to post a 79-75 road win behind 21 points from forward Bobby Portis and 17 from guard Michael Qualls.


The road win against a solid opponent was a promising sign for an Arkansas program that has struggled away from Bud Walton Arena in recent years. The Razorbacks entered Tuesday night with a 60-6 home mark in four seasons under Mike Anderson but a 10-35 road record.


Arkansas' victory capped a great day for Anderson, who also received a contract extension through 2019 hours earlier. The Razorbacks are now 12-2 so far this season with a quality win at SMU and a bad loss at mediocre Clemson.


B- — Iowa State


To avoid a second straight loss against an unranked opponent, Iowa State leaned on Dustin Hogue during crunch time. The senior forward came through in a big way, scoring all 17 of his points in the second half and producing the biggest defensive play of the game to help the Cyclones thwart Oklahoma State's upset bid and escape with a 63-61 win.


Oklahoma State had a rare chance to win at the buzzer in Ames after Georges Niang turned the ball over with 23 seconds to go and Iowa State leading by two. The Cowboys waited an eternity to begin running a play, which led to Tavarius Shine rushing a 3-pointer that Hogue volleyball spiked into the crowd with 0.9 seconds left. Niang swatted away Phil Forte's ensuing prayer at the buzzer to clinch the win for Iowa State.


Tuesday's victory will fall under the ugly win category for Iowa State, not that the Cyclones care. They needed to get back on track after a listless home loss to Iowa State in which they shot just 35.1 percent from the field.


D — Minnesota


Minnesota was lucky to get to overtime against visiting Ohio State on Tuesday night considering it trailed by as many as 12 at halftime and it surrendered a point-blank go-ahead layup to Amir Williams at the end of regulation. Given new life when Williams somehow missed that layup, however, the Gophers failed to take advantage.


Marc Loving hit a 14-foot jumper with 5.6 seconds left to propel Ohio State to a 74-72 road win. Minnesota had one last chance on its final possession, but Shannon Scott tipped away DeAndre Mathieu's pass to an open Joey King spotted up at the top of the key and time expired before the Gophers could recover the ball and get off a clean shot.


The momentum from Minnesota's 11-2 non-conference mark is long gone now as the Gophers are off to an 0-3 start to Big Ten play. Granted losses at Purdue and Maryland and at home against the Buckeyes aren't unforgivable, but they're a sign that perhaps Minnesota's non-league record was inflated by a largely soft schedule.


D- — St. John's


The return of Rysheed Jordan from his leave of absence had little impact for St. John's against Big East favorite Villanova. The Johnnies' second-leading scorer missed all six shots he took and finished with only two points as the Wildcats dropped St. John's to 0-3 in Big East play with a decisive 90-72 road victory.


The difference in the game was that St. John's could neither prevent Villanova from scoring nor keep the Wildcats off the offensive glass on the off chance they missed. Darrun Hilliard scored 21 points and Daniel Ochefu made six of seven shots as the Wildcats hit 55.8 percent from the field and grabbed the offensive rebound on more than half the shots they missed.


St. John's looked like a real threat to contend in the Big East when it concluded an 11-1 non-league slate that included wins over Syracuse, Minnesota and Saint Mary's, but the Johnnies have dug themselves a deep hole now. They have an eight-day layoff before their next chance to earn their first Big East win comes at Providence and then at DePaul.


NOTES:


• Kentucky survived an overtime thriller in its SEC opener against visiting Ole Miss to stay undefeated and keep hope alive for an unbeaten season. To sum up my thoughts, the Rebels provided hope for the rest of the SEC by pushing the Wildcats to the buzzer but the experience of a close game like this will ultimately benefit a Wildcats team that hadn't faced game pressure in the final minutes yet this season.


• UCF's Brandon Goodwin went for 30 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in an overtime road win at Houston, but that doesn't begin to tell the story of his impact. His 3-pointer with four seconds left in regulation forced overtime and his 3-pointer in the final seconds of overtime clinched a one-point victory.


• In a battle between two of the MAC's best teams this season, Central Michigan went to Toledo and won on the road 65-62 behind 30 combined points from guards Rayshawn Simmons and Chris Fowler. The Chippewas are now 11-1 this season, though none of the victories except for a road win at Northwestern is especially eye-opening.


• Penn State has come rocketing back to earth now that Big Ten play has begun. The Nittany Lions followed road losses at Wisconsin and Rutgers with a 73-64 home loss to Michigan, dropping their record to 12-4 overall this season.


• Pittsburgh won a game it never led until five seconds remained in overtime Tuesday night. Josh Newkirk scored 15 points off the bench including the game-winning layup as the Panthers edged host Boston College 61-60.


• A huge second half from Winston Shepard propelled San Diego State to a bounce-back 56-42 home win over New Mexico in a battle between the Mountain West's two dominant programs the last six years. Shepard scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds just four nights after playing poorly in a stunning road loss at Fresno State.



- - - - - - -



Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


Follow @JeffEisenberg






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

News sport : Jameis Winston's dad reportedly says quarterback is turning pro

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

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston decided not to wait to make his pro intentions known after all.


Not long after Winston's father said the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner would wait until after Monday's National Championship Game to make an announcement on entering the 2015 NFL draft, Anoto Winston said Winston will declare for the draft.


According to ESPN, Jameis made the decision firm on Tuesday night.



Initially, Anotor Winston said his son planned to wait until after the College Football Playoff Game Presented by AT&T to announce a decision, but instead, Jameis Winston came to a firm decision Tuesday night that he was ready to enter the NFL draft.



Per Rand Getlin, Winston was seriously considering staying in school for another season. Winston had also previously said he'd play baseball in the spring of 2015 at Florida State. It's likely that he'll prepare full-time for the draft in the spring if he's not returning to Florida State.



Given the attention surrounding him the decision to leave school seems like an absolute no-brainer for Winston. By declaring he has an opportunity to stay out of the on-field spotlight and prepare for the draft over the next few months. And while you don't become anonymous when going to the NFL as Johnny Manziel can attest, the focus on Winston relative to others in the pro ranks won't be as big, at least in 2015.


Winston's stats were down across the board in 2014 compared to his Heisman-winning season. In 2013 he threw for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This season, he passed for 3,907 yards, and threw 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His yards per attempt was down more than two yards.


But despite the statistical drop, Winston will likely be one of the first quarterbacks off the board, if not the first, in May's draft. You can expect a lot of debate over the next four months surrounding Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota if Mariota decides to turn pro after the Ducks' game against Ohio State.


For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.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/1HN2CpX
Read More

News sport : Carmelo Anthony doesn't want to shut it down any time soon

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

Proof that Melo dressed somewhat normally at least once. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports) The historically woeful New York Knicks have little hope of salvaging anything this season. They boast an NBA-worst 5-32 record as of this writing, just traded away two rotation players from a roster that already lacked talent, and don't seem to have taken even moderately well to first-year head coach Derek Fisher's triangle offense. It's bad enough that the New York Times can openly mock the team's futility and earn positive attention rather than negative reaction for some presumed dereliction of serious journalistic duty.


It would not be surprising to see a team in such dire straits opt to spend the rest of the year tanking for top draft lottery position, and the trade of J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert would seem to indicate that Phil Jackson and the rest of the front office embraces this strategy. Yet there would be no better pro-tanking decision than to sit star forward Carmelo Anthony for the remaining 45 games of 2014-15. Melo has already missed the past three games as he rests a sore left knee, and Fisher has publicly stated that the move would make some sense.


[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]


However, Anthony himself is not shy about stating that he does not want to shut things down just yet. Yahoo's own Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted Monday that Melo does not want to stop playing yet despite some pressure from the front office. The face of the franchise essentially confirmed that report on Tuesday in a video for Bleacher Report (transcript via PBT):


“I’m all right, I’m not shutting it down for the season yet, just trying to take some time to get it right. I know there’s a lot of fans out there that are kinda upset, kinda down on the team, kinda down on the players right now, kinda down on the situation, but I will say it will be greater later. Just be patient with the team, with the organization, with the journey, with the plan, with what we’re trying to create, what we’re trying to accomplish. Greatness don’t happen overnight, but that’s what we’re trying to build here.

“As far as me, I’m rehabbing. I’m around the clock getting treatment, therapy, trying to do what I got to do so I can be at my greatest.”

Context is important here, because behind-the-scenes videos like this one often present the athlete as intensely devoted to his craft and committed to playing as many games as possible. There's no reason to think that Melo doesn't have the desire to get healthy and lead the Knicks to a playoff spot — not that crazy an idea given the state of the conference — but we must understand that such a video will not include much doubt or really any misgivings about the value of continuing a very frustrating season. So let's not take this clip to mean that Melo and the organization are at odds or won't eventually reach some kind of agreement on his status.


Instead, let's focus on the potential effects of not shutting down Melo. It appears a fairly irrational course of action at first glance, because the Knicks have little hope of accomplishing anything worthwhile and stand to hurt their draft position if their best player helps them win any games. On the other hand, the Knicks are 5-25 in games Anthony has played, which would still rank as the fourth-worst winning percentage in the league.


The real worry here isn't losing games as much as it is potentially causing a long-term nagging injury to a player in the first season of a five-year, $124-million deal without seeing any meaningful reward. If Jackson and Fisher see themselves as leading a rebuilding process, then keeping Melo in the lineup would be a dereliction of duty.


It's also possible that Melo is more interested in saving face than he lets on here. The Knicks are co-hosting All-Star Weekend with the Brooklyn Nets this February, and Anthony has been projected as both a participant in the big event and de facto "host" of the whole thing given his prominent media profile. It would not be terrific press for both him and the franchise if he were on the sidelines when that time comes, even if he just plays intermittently until then.


In other words, this could be another case in which the Knicks let their public image get in the way of what will help the team get better. Except this time it doesn't appear that they're especially committed to that particular course of action.


- - - - - - -


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/14nY0If
Read More

News sport : 2014 Driver Reviews: No. 9 Carl Edwards

♠ 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: Carl Edwards


NASCAR Experience: 10 full seasons in the Sprint Cup Series. 23 wins.


Most recent team: Roush Fenway Racing


Most recent season finish: 9th


2014 accomplishments: Two wins, seven top fives, 14 top 10s. Only had four finishes of 30th or worse all season. Scored four-straight top 10s from Phoenix to Auto Club at the beginning of the season.


Most memorable moment: Rain was a good thing at Bristol after the caution lights came on accidentally after a button got hit.



Strengths: One of the most marketable drivers in the Cup Series. Has finished second in the standings with nine wins in a season and second in the standings with one win in a season.


2015 goals: THe championship. Or, more realistically, do what Matt Kenseth did in 2013 at Joe Gibbs Racing.


FTM's Take: Edwards felt he needed a change of scenery and who are we to disagree with him? Despite wins at Bristol and Sonoma, it's evident the speed isn't there at Roush Fenway to contend for a title in 2015 barring a ridiculous turnaround.


And so he's now at JGR, where the four-driver lineup competes with any other team in the Cup Series. Kenseth truly is the benchmark here, because when he arrived at JGR, he was immediately fast. Even if it's a lofty goal, it's a realistic one.


But like Kenseth, it's probably too much to expect a title in Edwards' first year at Gibbs. Is it possible? Absolutely. But especially given the nature of the format, it's not a good bet. However, we're going to guess that Edwards has a win or two in the first 10 races of the year.


Previous reviews: No. 10 Kyle Busch, No. 11 Jimmie Johnson, No. 12 Kurt Busch, No. 13 AJ Allmendinger, No. 14 Greg Biffle, No. 15 Kasey Kahne, No. 16 Aric Almirola, No. 17 Kyle Larson, No. 18, Jamie McMurray, No. 19 Clint Bowyer, No. 20, Austin Dillon, 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/1FmVsuB
Read More

Gerrard confirms LA Galaxy move

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

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard confirmed that he will join MLS champions LA Galaxy in July on an 18-month deal.


|||

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard confirmed that he will join MLS champions LA Galaxy in July on an 18-month deal.


“The time's right for myself and my family for the change, for the fresh challenge,” the 34-year-old told the Los Angeles Times.


“I want to finish my career very strong. I want to add some more medals and trophies to my collection. So I think it's a match made in heaven, really.


“One of the reasons why I chose the LA Galaxy was because of the success they've had recently. But also the plans for more success in the future.”


Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday that he would have agreed to continue his long Liverpool career had the club offered him a new contract.


Instead he will now join a growing list of high-profile former Premier League players to cross the Atlantic in the latter stages of their careers, most notably David Beckham.


Former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane will be a team mate of Gerrard at the Galaxy while former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has signed for New York, although he is still in England on loan at Manchester City.


Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said the club's reputation was a factor in attracting Gerrard.


“We have a club now with a proven history of success,” he said. “All of those things go hand-in-hand in making LA Galaxy a very attractive team for players such as Steven Gerrard.”


Former England captain Gerrard has spent his entire career at Liverpool, making nearly 700 appearances and winning the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. – Reuters






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

News sport : USC's O.J. Simpson Heisman Trophy found 20 years after it was stolen

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

A duplicate of O.J. Simpson's Heisman Trophy was stolen in 1994 from USC's Heritage Hall. According to Los Angeles Police, it was recently recovered.


Simpson's Heisman was burglarized along with a jersey in July of that year while Simpson was set to begin the murder trial for the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.


Simpson was ultimately found not guilty in the trial.


From the AP:



Police would give no further details on where or how they found the trophy, saying the investigation was still open. They sought the public's help with further leads in the probe and any word on the location of the jersey, which remains missing.


The recovered Heisman was the duplicate that is given to the university of the winning player and not the one given to Simpson himself in 1968, police said.


It remained in police possession, and USC athletic officials had no immediate comment Tuesday night.



Simpson's trophy was seized after he was found liable for the deaths in civil court. He's currently in prison after a 2008 kidnapping and robbery conviction in Nevada.


He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 after finishing second in the voting in 1967. In 1968 he had 383 carries for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns. He went to the NFL the following season and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bulls.


- - - - - - -


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/1DkoKYS
Read More

News sport : Former Georgia DT Jonathan Taylor reportedly enrolling at Alabama

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

Alabama is gaining a former SEC player for the 2015 season.


Per TideSports.com, former Georgia defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor will enroll at Alabama on Wednesday. Taylor was dismissed from Georgia in July and spent the 2014 season at a junior college.


His dismissal came after he was arrested for aggravated assault after allegedly assaulting his girfriend at a dorm. Per police, the evidence and witness accounts in the incident showed that Taylor had choked her and struck her with a closed fist. According to Georgia's Clarke County court records system, the bench warrant in the case was dismissed on December 29.


The aggravated assault charges were Taylor's second run-in with the law at Georgia. He was one of the Georgia players who were accused of double-dipping tuition checks in the spring.


Taylor was a four-star defensive tackle in the class of 2012 according to Rivals and set to be a redshirt sophomore in 2014. He played at Copiah-Lincoln Community college in Mississippi this season.


- - - - - - -


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/1wpJ5V7
Read More

Barca coach’s future in the balance

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

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has found himself in the spotlight as the Catalan club struggles to keep pace with Real Madrid and his future could hinge on whether he can patch up his differences with the talismanic Messi.


|||

Barcelona - Senior members of Barcelona's squad met with Lionel Messi on Wednesday to discuss the Argentine's dissatisfaction with coach Luis Enrique, hoping to prevent their bust-up undermining the club's bid for trophies.


Luis Enrique has found himself in the spotlight as the Catalan club struggles to keep pace with Real Madrid and his future could hinge on whether he can patch up his differences with the talismanic Messi.


Xavi and other influential players met Messi before training in an attempt to smooth the waters.


There is no real surprise though that the situation has come to a head considering the domineering style of Luis Enrique and the way Messi, as Barca's most influential player, has been used to receiving privileges.


When former coach Pep Guardiola was in charge he resigned himself to allowing Messi to play virtually every match having faced the ire of the Argentine when he tried to rest him.


Other coaches similarly have concentrated on being pacifiers, notably Messi's fellow countryman Tata Martino last season who was quick to defend the player when his form dropped and he appeared to lack interest.


Messi has developed from an innocent teenager at Barcelona who was simply happy to play the game to a calculating senior professional who knows his value to the club.


The four-times World Player of the Year is believed to be unhappy with the no-nonsense style of Luis Enrique and his tactics this season.


Barca are second in La Liga, a point behind Real Madrid who have a game in hand. While still in a good position the team has failed to function smoothly and too often relied on individual talent to get them out of trouble.


Messi's conflict with Luis Enrique stepped up a level last Friday when they are reported to have almost come to blows during a training session and then the player was angry at being left out of the starting lineup two days later for the clash with Real Sociedad.


The player had only returned on Friday from his Christmas break in Argentina and the coach felt that he was not ready.


The decision to leave him and Neymar on the bench backfired with the team losing 1-0 and there is believed to have been another heated exchange between the pair in the dressing room after the match.


On Monday, Messi failed to attend a training session open to the public and a festive hospital visit to see sick children due to illness.


On the same day he started following Chelsea on social media site Instagram, fuelling rumours over his future. – Reuters






from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1tOo7Ef
Read More