News sport : Deflate-gate report: 11 of Patriots' 12 game footballs were under-inflated

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As the NFL investigates deflate-gate, a report says that it wasn't just one under-inflated football that Indianapolis Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson happened to intercept.


A report by ESPN's Chris Mortensen said that 11 of the New England Patriots' 12 allotted game footballs in Sunday's AFC championship game were each under-inflated by two pounds of air per square inch, according to league sources. That's hard to chalk up as a coincidence, and now the Patriots will face some hard questions. According to NFL rules, the home team in NFL games makes 12 primary balls and 12 backup balls available for testing by the referee two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. In addition, the visiting team can bring 12 backup balls in games played outdoors.


Now the question is how 11 balls were under-inflated, each by a pretty significant amount. The ball is, by rule, to be inflated with 12.5 to 13.5 pounds of air per square inch and weigh 14 to 15 ounces. Two pounds of air per square inch is a lot, given those guidelines. It's actually surprising the officials, who handle the footballs throughout the game, didn't notice. Reports on Tuesday said after Jackson's interception in the second quarter, word got to NFL director of football operations Mike Kensil in the press box and he told the officials at halftime.


The NFL had no comment immediately on Mortensen's report, he said.


As the investigation is conducted by the NFL into how those balls were under-inflated, the Patriots' past will continue to be brought up. The Patriots and coach Bill Belichick are still are reminded of Spygate, the 2007 scandal in which the team videotaped opponents' signals. The Patriots were fined $250,000, Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was stripped of a first-round pick. If the NFL finds that the Patriots purposely deflated footballs against the Colts, which would have made them easier to pass and catch in the rain, the league could fine them, and there was a report the NFL could take a draft pick from New England.


The Patriots won the AFC championship game 45-7, and under-inflated balls weren't the reason for that. But it will be on the NFL to find out how almost all of the primary footballs provided by the Patriots were under-inflated. Even if the footballs weren't the reason the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl, if they are found to have altered the balls after the referee's pre-game inspection, the NFL will presumably send a strong message. A source told Mortensen the league is "disappointed ... angry ... distraught" at the latest findings.


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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!






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News sport : Johnson, Gretzky welcome baby boy into the world

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Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky became parents on Monday, with the Great One's daughter giving birth to the engaged couple's first child, a son.


"Paulina and I are happy to announce the arrival of our baby boy, who was born in Los Angeles on Monday morning," Johnson said Tuesday night in a statement released by his management company. "Both Paulina and the baby are healthy, resting comfortably and in great spirits!


"We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received and plan to release further details in the coming days!"


As mentioned in the statement, no word yet on the child's name, weight, height and all of those usual baby nuggets. However, we should find those out soon.


In the meantime, this would seem to put Johnson on schedule for a return to the PGA Tour at either the Farmers Insurance Open in two weeks or the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am a week later.



Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.







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News sport : Auburn's Nick Marshall is all in on switch from QB to cornerback in NFL

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MOBILE, Ala. — Nick Marshall, who nearly led Auburn to a national championship as a quarterback two years ago, said he went up to the Jacksonville Jaguars' coaching staff before the first Senior Bowl practice and told them he wanted to play cornerback.


Simple as that. No urging from his agent, or family members. No second-guessing. He just woke up a quarterback, weighed in Tuesday morning as one and was listed on the Reese's Senior Bowl roster as one and ended the day as a defensive back.


No looking back.


"It's something I told the coaches I wanted to do before practice, and they said OK," Marshall said. "I believe that's the position I have the best chance at in the NFL."


Marshall led Auburn to wins in 20 of 27 games and came within a few minutes of knocking off Florida State for the 2013 championship. He was an ace runner and thrower in the Tigers' spread-option attack, though Marshall lacked ideal NFL measurables at 6-1 and 205 pounds.


In fact, his Auburn coaches — including head coach Gus Malzahn himself — pounded on the table of the Senior Bowl committee to let Marshall attend the game as a QB. So the switch came as a bit of a surprise to the Jaguars coaches and the Senior Bowl folks, who respected Marshall's wishes but had to act fast to find a replacement. He took the field wearing a QB jersey before disrobing and switching to a generic Senior Bowl shirt with no uniform number.


The move left the South team with only two quarterbacks for Tuesday's practice — Colorado State's Garrett Grayson and Alabama's Blake Sims — and forced a call to the bullpen, with Southeast Louisiana's Bryan Bennett being sent in. Barrett, who once backed up Marcus Mariota at Oregon, was not in Louisiana; he was actually out in San Diego training, so the logistics were a bit thornier.


"He made a decision for what he had to do, and I can't get mad at him for that," said Sims, who earned a few extra reps because of the switch.


Marshall knows he might have burned a bridge or two with his switch. But he feels it gives him the best chance to compete in the NFL.


"It's a change, definitely," Marshall said, "but I am a competitor and I am ready to compete."


The position is not entirely foreign to him. After playing corner and QB in high school, Marshall started his college career playing cornerback as a freshman at Georgia before transferring to Garden City Community College after beign caught stealing from a teammate. Marshall switched to QB there and scored 37 touchdowns — 19 rushing, 18 passing — in 11 games before ending up at Auburn.


Marshall got in trouble again, this time before the 2014 season, cited for marijuana possession and being benched for the first half of the season opener. So not only is Marshall changing positions, one he hasn't played in three years, but also faces character questions from NFL brass.


It's an uphill climb, but one Marshall says he's ready for.


"I know I have a lot of work to do," he said.


That was clear in Tuesday's practice. He was beaten a few times — once wickedly by Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett — and was third in the pecking order in terms of practice reps in what looks to be a so-so cornerback crop down in Mobile.


Auburn teammate Sammie Coates excused himself for laughing when he saw Marshall, who threw him passes in college, covering receivers in practice.


"I was like, man, what's my quarterback doing over there? He's in the wrong spot!" Coates said. "But if there's anyone who can do it, it's Nick. We're extremely tight, and I know he has trust and faith he can make this change."


"It's going to be hard, but after a few days I hope I can get more comfortable over there," Marshall said.


And, just so you know, this is it. As far as Marshall is concerned, he has thrown his last pass. He's now a cornerback — by hook and by crook — from here on out. If he makes it in the NFL, that's the position he'll do it at.


Marshall said he never considered playing any other offensive position, but he did say that the Jaguars staff does plan to feature him on special teams, maybe kick or punt return. He was one of the most dangerous players in college football the past two seasons with the ball in his hands, so the move is a shock. But he's confident he has what it takes.


"I like my chances," he said. "It's a challenge, but it's a position I know. I think it's going to come back to me."


Look at those physical measurements again. Small for quarterback, in this case, means just fine — even above average — for cornerback. Marshall also feels that playing quarterback has allowed him to see the game differently the past three seasons, giving him a new perspective on defense.


"I understand the route combinations better now," Marshall said. "I know the passing game better."


How much NFL itnerest will there be in Marshall? Tough to say.


"I haven't seen him yet," Senior Bowl director Phil Savage said. "I want to see how his speed translates, too. What his 40 [yard dash] will be, how fast he can run. He has the skills to do it."


Right now, Marshall said he's eager to watch the tape of Tuesday's practice and "see what I messed up on," so as to get better. After all, it's Day 1 (Part 2) of his new career.


"I'm just excited to see how I do," he said.


So are a lot of other people, considering just how rare this particular position switch happens to be.


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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!






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News sport : Former Minnesota QB Philip Nelson reaches plea agreement in assault case

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FILE - In this May 12, 2014, file photo, former Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson leaves jail in Mankato, Minn., with a towel on his head after posting bail. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Richard Tsong-Taatarii, File) Nine months after being arrested and charged with the assault of a former Division II football player, former Minnesota and Rutgers quarterback Philip Nelson has reached a plea deal.


Nelson was originally charged with two felonies following the May 11 fight outside a bar in Mankato, Minn., that left Isaac Kolstad, a former linebacker at Minnesota State, with a serious brain injury. Now, according to the Associated Press, Nelson will plead guilty to fifth-degree assault, which “carries a maximum jail sentence of 90 days.”


Nelson’s attorney, James Fleming, cited the reports of three doctors who determined that there was a “lack of medical certainty” if the kick delivered from Nelson to Kolstad caused the serious brain injury. Instead, “a forensic pathologist hired by the defense” concluded that a punch thrown by another defendant “most likely caused Kolstad’s injuries.”


With this testimony at hand, Fleming filed for Nelson’s charges to be dropped, leading to the plea agreement (in which both felonies were dropped).


Per the Minnesota Star-Tribune, Nelson issued a statement through Fleming:


“I am saddened by what happened on May 11, 2014. I still don’t remember what happened that night after I was hit in the head, but I recognize that I let down my family and friends by my actions. I offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved, and I wish Isaac Kolstad the best as he continues in his recovery.”


According to witnesses, the fight brief fight began when Nelson pushed Kolstad after mistaking him for a bouncer who had kissed his girlfriend.


From the AP:



Witnesses told investigators that Nelson shoved Kolstad, a 2013 graduate, after mistaking him for a bouncer who had kissed his girlfriend. Kolstad knocked Nelson to the ground, but as he walked away, a third man punched Kolstad in the head. Surveillance video shows Kolstad dropping to the ground and his head smacking the pavement. Nelson then kicked Kolstad in the head. Trevor Shelley, of St. Peter, is accused of punching Kolstad in the head and is charged with assault.



According to Fleming, Nelson suffered a concussion when he was knocked to the ground. He doesn’t remember delivering the kick, but “has reviewed the video and acknowledges what he did,” according to a Fleming’s statement.


Kolstad’s injury required emergency surgery and doctors were uncertain if he’d survive. He has since spent months recovering and has regained his ability to walk, run and form complete sentences. He returned to his home in Mankato after months at the Mayo Clinic.


Kolstad’s family declined to make a statement, but his attorney, Kenneth White, said the family is disappointed with the plea agreement.


“This case is not simply about a kick in the head. It’s a series of decisions Mr. Nelson made,” White said.


Nelson played at Minnesota for two seasons before transferring to Rutgers, where he never played a down before being kicked off the team following his arrest.


In two seasons with the Gophers, Nelson threw for 2,179 yards and 17 touchdowns while racking up 548 yards and six scores on the ground.


Nelson’s father Pat told the Star that his son hopes to resume his playing career.


For more Minnesota news, GopherIllustrated.com.


For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.


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







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News sport : Former Vanderbilt player testifies in rape case that teammate was 'amped'

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Jaborian McKenzie took the stand on Tuesday in a rape trial involving former Vanderbilt players and said his teammate was "amped" that he had an unconscious woman in his dorm room.


Jaborian McKenzie said then-teammate Brandon Vandenburg passed out condoms encouraging others and was excited that there was the woman lying on the floor of his dorm room. Cory Batey and Vandenburg are charged with the rape of an unconscious student in June of 2013. McKenzie and Brandon Banks are also charged, but their cases are being heard at a later date.


From the AP:



"He was like amped, demanding," McKenzie told jurors of Vandenburg's demeanor. "He was hyper, like he was coaching us to do whatever."




McKenzie testified that Vandenburg even tried to wake up his roommate, who was sleeping on the top bunk in a dorm room, to participate.




The roommate never got up, but McKenzie testified how his two best friends violated the female student. He said the alleged attack ended with Cory Batey urinating on the woman.



According to the AP, defense attorneys have told jurors that McKenzie, who was questioned about changing his story in cross-examnination, and Banks are testifying in the hopes of a deal involving lesser charges.


McKenzie said he and Batey and Banks were good friends and barely knew Vandenburg, who said he needed help carrying his date to his room. He also said he didn't touch the woman but he took pictures of her.


McKenzie briefly played for Alcorn State at the beginning of the 2013 season after being dismissed from Vanderbilt. All four players were dismissed after the alleged incident.


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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!







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News sport : Eagles might try to move up for Marcus Mariota? Good luck

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It's easy to link an NFL coach to drafting a player he had in college.


That's how more than a few mock drafts had the Buffalo Bills and Doug Marrone taking Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who Marrone coached in college, with the eighth overall pick of the 2013 NFL draft. Nassib went in the fourth round to the New York Giants.


So plan on a lot of speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles will somehow land quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota, Oregon's Heisman Trophy winner, played for Eagles coach Chip Kelly in college. And, it turns out, the Eagles are reportedly trying to move up to take Mariota.


NJ.com, citing "a person familiar with the Eagles' offseason plans," said the team will try to move up and get Mariota.


That's where it gets tricky.


The Eagles have the 20th pick of the first round. Mariota is expected to go in the top few picks, maybe first overall, which presents a problem.


In 2012, when Robert Griffin III was the second pick of the draft, the Rams got two first-round picks and a second-round pick to move from No. 2 to No. 6. That's three premium picks to move up four spots. The Bills sent a future first-round pick to move up five spots to No. 4 to draft receiver Sammy Watkins last year.



What will the Eagles need to trade to move from No. 20 to No. 1, the Liberty Bell?


"It's probably going to take moving up twice to do it," the source told NJ.com. "There's going to be some wheeling and dealing involved."



Expect this rumor to stay hot for the next three months leading up to the draft. It's a natural one, and Kelly has raved about Mariota before. But if the Eagles actually pull off a deal (deals?) to get Mariota, it will probably take so much it would make the RG3 trade look like the Redskins were shopping for that pick at the dollar store. And it might not make sense to trade away years of valuable draft picks and ruin the organizational depth for a quarterback when Kelly has already had relatively good success with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez playing quarterback.


So any Eagles fans who are hoping for Mariota might want to be careful what they wish for.


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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!






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News sport : Memphis suspends 12 unidentified players after Miami Beach Bowl fight

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Memphis has penalized 12 players after the fight at the end of the Miami Beach Bowl with BYU. However, none of the players issued various suspensions were identified in Memphis' announcement of the penalties on Tuesday.


The Tigers and Cougars fought at the end of Memphis' 55-48 win in double overtime. According to the school statement, the range of penalties includes a two-game suspension.



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News sport : Greg Cosell's Film Review: How the Seahawks came back

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We all know that the Seattle Seahawks staged an incredible comeback to win the NFC championship, but let’s take a look at how they did it.


First of all, the biggest play in the game was by the Green Bay Packers defense. With just over five minutes left, Morgan Burnett got an interception and had four blockers. The only non-offensive lineman in front of him was Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. He could well have scored. Why did Julius Peppers tell him to go down?


Take a look at how much room Burnett had to run:



(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)

Here's the end-zone angle:



(NFL.com screen shot)


That was the biggest play in the game. It helped set in motion Seattle’s comeback, and let’s break down the four big plays the Seahawks made.


Marshawn Lynch gained 26 yards on a touchdown drive on the same wheel route the Seahawks had called in the third quarter, right before their fake field goal touchdown. That ball in the third quarter was broken up by linebacker Sam Barrington. This time Barrington went with underneath split receiver Luke Willson (on the first one he went over the top of the receiver and was in position to defend Lynch) and was immediately in trail position. That’s easy pitch and catch for Wilson and Lynch.



(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)

Lynch’s 24-yard touchown to give the Seahawks the lead late in regulation came out of “11” personnel (one back, one tight end) with Wilson in shotgun and Lynch offset to the boundary. The Packers were in nickel playing “man free” with single high safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix dropping into the box at the snap. It was an inside zone with a great double team from center Max Unger (60) and left guard James Carpenter (77) on defensive lineman Mike Daniels and stacked linebacker A.J. Hawk. Hawk jumped inside reacting to Lynch’s initial downhill path and was easily blocked by Unger.



(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


In overtime, Doug Baldwin got a 35-yard gain on third and seven in overtime. The Packers played “man free lurk,” which they had done all game on third and long. Baldwin had great patience on his route, setting up cornerback Casey Hayward, who was playing with inside leverage. Wilson made an excellent throw to the Baldwin go route to make sure it was away from the safety rotation..



(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


Then came the game-winning play. The Packers were in “cover zero,” with no deep safety help, for the first time the entire game. Jermaine Kearse ran a deep post against cornerback Tramon Williams, and because of the Packers’ play call there was no safety in the deep middle. The coverage was excellent. But the throw was outstanding, and Kearse had the touchdown.



(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


(NFL.com screen shot)


The Seahawks weren’t great the entire game. They did not have an effective run with two backs the whole game. Wilson didn’t see things clearly at all through three quarters, left throws on the field with a lack of pocket patience and didn’t even made spontaneous improvisational plays with his legs because the Packers often utilized a defensive lineman to spy on Wilson to deter him from running.


But late in the game, after Peppers told Burnett to stop running for some reason when he might have scored, the Seahawks made the big plays they needed to make for the win.


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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.






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News sport : Jim Harbaugh once ate cereal with Gatorade instead of milk

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Jim Harbaugh, Michigan's new head football coach, addresses the media after after he was introduced on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Jim Harbaugh is known to be an eccentric guy and there are plenty of stories to back that up. So now that Jay Harbaugh, Jim’s 25-year-old son, joined the staff at Michigan as its tight ends coach, he provided another classic Harbaugh tale in a video interview with Michigan’s athletics website.


He was asked to share a story about his dad that others wouldn’t know. He offered this gem:


“This one time when I was a kid, we didn’t have any milk for cereal and I saw him put Gatorade in his cereal instead of milk,” he said with a smirk. “It was the weirdest thing I ever saw. I didn’t try it – for good reason. That’s not where Gatorade goes.”


Jay said that, in a weird way, the Gatorade story is an example of his dad just being who he is.


“That kind of says a little bit about him, he just gets the job done. He doesn’t really care what it takes. He’s not picky,” Jay said.


Never change, coach. Never change.


For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.


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







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News sport : Winnipeg Heritage Classic postponed due to cold weather concerns (Report)

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While another Winter Classic in another Northeastern city in another nondescript building appears to be gaining steam (yawn), an outdoor event that’s actually pretty cool appears to be on the outs for next year.


According to a report in the Winnipeg Sun, the Heritage Classic, which was hoped to be played in the great prairie city of Winnipeg next year will likely be postponed to 2016-17.


Says the report by Gary Lawless:


The NHL and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have struggled to find a date that works for all parties.


The NHL wants to play the game in late December while the football club is pushing for a February date.


The Bombers don’t want the game played that close to the Grey Cup while February won’t work for the NHL due to its all-star game and other soon-to-be announced outdoor games.


A January date was deemed unsuitable by the Winnipeg Jets due to weather concerns. January is the colder of the three months.


Cold weather in Winnipeg in January? Glad the Jets figured this out. Just look at these temperatures from climatemps.com. The average temp in December (all are in farennheit) is six degrees. In January it’s minus-1. In February it’s five degrees. Umm, so the difference is?


In all sincerity, this stinks. Considering Winnipeg’s fan support of its team since the NHL’s reintroduction to the city, this would have been a ton of fun. Also, Earl’s Main would have rocked!


Also, though the Winter Classic is the NHL’s ‘signature’ regular season event, the Heritage Classic has a cooler more rustic feel to it – probably because it’s based in Canada, and most of the environs are frikken freezing, which is exactly the type of temps you need to make ice. Wow, who knew?


There has been the idea – planted by yours truly – to have the Jets play in Iceland! But then again, what do I know.


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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


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Sterling keeps Liverpool in the hunt

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Raheem Sterling's magnificent second-half solo goal earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at a snow-speckled Anfield.


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Raheem Sterling's magnificent second-half solo goal earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at a snow-speckled Anfield on Tuesday.


With Chelsea leading through Eden Hazard's 18th-minute penalty, Jose Mourinho's side were poised to pull off a classic smash-and-grab when Sterling surged through their defence to equalise in the 59th minute.


The goal, Sterling's seventh of the season, was a demonstration of the 20-year-old England forward's quicksilver brilliance and was the reward for a committed and industrious display by Brendan Rodgers's men.


It also prevented Premier League leaders Chelsea from recording a third successive victory at Anfield, where they famously derailed Liverpool's title challenge last season.


Liverpool appear to have belatedly digested that disappointment, having now lost only once on their last 15 outings in all competitions.


But Chelsea's away goal means that Mourinho -- seeking to win the trophy for a third time -- will feel he holds the upper hand ahead of next week's return leg.


The winners will face either Tottenham Hotspur or third-tier Sheffield United in the English season's first major final on March 1.


Predictably, Mourinho's plea for Chelsea's fans not to sing their song about Steven Gerrard fell on deaf ears, with the visiting supporters quick to remind the Liverpool captain about his notorious slip in the London club's 2-0 win at Anfield last April.


But Gerrard almost silenced them in the 16th minute, letting fly with the kind of dipping 30-yard shot that was once his trademark, only for the recalled Thibaut Courtois to palm it over the bar.


It came after a spell of Liverpool pressure that briefly ignited the freezing crowd, but within two minutes, the hosts were behind.


After Cesc Fabregas darted past him, Emre Can stuck out a leg, and Hazard fell over it. Referee Martin Atkinson deemed it a penalty and Hazard sent his Belgium team-mate Simon Mignolet the wrong way from the spot.


It was the precursor to some meaty challenges in midfield, but Liverpool were initially unable to lay a glove on Chelsea where it mattered.


The ball appeared to strike Diego Costa's arm after he went to ground inside the Chelsea box in first-half stoppage time, but the hosts' animated penalty appeals were waved away.


Chelsea continued to resist early in the second half, Gary Cahill blocking from Sterling, but just before the hour Liverpool drew level with a goal of shimmering quality.


Receiving a pass from Jordan Henderson with his back to goal 40 yards out, Sterling span away from Nemanja Matic and then glided past Cahill before drilling home with his left foot.


Liverpool had their tails up and a second goal seemed imminent, with Gerrard curling a left-foot shot against the post and Courtois plunging to his right to thwart Philippe Coutinho.


Gerrard made way for Adam Lallana with 20 minutes to play, but the home side continued to pepper Courtois's goal with shots, obliging the giant Belgian to save from Henderson, Sterling and Lallana. – AFP






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Cameroon salvage point against Mali

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Ambroise Oyongo was the unlikely hero as Cameroon came from behind to draw 1-1 with Mali in Malabo in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations.


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Ambroise Oyongo was the unlikely hero as Cameroon came from behind to draw 1-1 with Mali in Malabo in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.


Oyongo struck six minutes from time to cancel out a second-half opener by Sambou Yatabare in a game that came to life late on having appeared set to drift towards a goalless conclusion.


The draw followed a 1-1 stalemate between their Group D rivals Ivory Coast and Guinea earlier in the day.


Cameroon may no longer be able to call on the services of the legendary Samuel Eto'o, while giant Malian striker Cheick Diabate is not at this Cup of Nations due to a knee injury.


However, there was still no shortage of attacking talent on display in the second game of the evening at the Estadio de Malabo, from Cameroon skipper for the day Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Bakary Sako in the Mali ranks.


In front of a stadium that was packed to the rafters, fans were treated to a thrilling opening half-hour in which Sako in particular was a menace on the Eagles' left flank.


He almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes at the end of a superb move involving veteran skipper Seydou Keita and left-back Adama Tamboura, but his shot was turned around the post by Fabrice Ondoa in the Cameroon goal.


Mustapha Yatabare, the elder brother of Sambou, then headed just wide moments later, while Sako had another attempt beaten away by teenage shot-stopper Ondoa, who belongs to Barcelona.


It was a difficult opening spell for Volker Finke's side, who also lost midfielder Eyong Enoh to a thigh injury after just 17 minutes, with Franck Kom taking his place.


Nevertheless, the Indomitable Lions did manage to create a couple of good chances of their own in the first half, with Choupo-Moting -- wearing the armband with captain Stephane Mbia suspended -- seeing his header turned over by Soumaila Diakite in the Mali goal.


The encounter struggled to get going again after the restart, with an Aurelien Chedjou free-kick that was blazed over the bar as close as either side came until 19 minutes from the end.


That was when Sambou Yatabare won a free-kick wide on the left and then, when the set-piece was headed on towards the back post by Molla Wague, the Guingamp player controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed home through the legs of Ondoa.


But Cameroon did not give up and got their reward six minutes from the end thanks to Oyongo.


His early run into the box was matched by a fine pass over the top by Raoul Loe, with Oyongo controlling and then finishing from close range.


That was not quite the end of the drama, however, as Sambou Yatabare found the net in stoppage time after Keita's free-kick had been saved, only for the offside flag to deny Mali a winner. – AFP






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Bafana will bounce back - Mashaba

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Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said the team was disappointed with their 3-1 loss to Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.


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MONGOMO, Equatorial Guine – Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said the team was disappointed with their 3-1 loss to Algeria, in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, but he urged them not to despair and said they will bounce back.


“We gave the game away. The best team lost after we created so many scoring opportunities in the first half,” he said in Mongomo on Tuesday.


“We allowed them back into the match and we got punished. Lift your heads up because it is not over yet Ä there are still six points to play for.


“We have a mountain to climb but we are still confident that we will do well in our next match.”


Bafana squandered a one-goal lead, missing a penalty and scoring an own-goal which allowed Algeria back into the game.


Everything went downhill after the missed penalty but until that point, they had done well, he said.


Things also got messy at the back after defender Rivaldo Coetzee was stretchered off the field with an injury.


“Algeria was lucky to come back, and we had already lost focus when they clawed their way back,” Mashaba said.


“We still have two games to go. We need to motivate the boys and bring them to their feet because understandably they are dejected.


“We lost our way at crucial times and the goals we let in were soft goals. The result has made our work more difficult because the remaining two games are must-wins.”


Captain Dean Furman admitted it was not the kind of start they had wanted.


“We had worked hard for maximum points so the next two games are very crucial for us,” Furman said.


“We have to lift our heads and go for a win and that's all we need. The good thing is that we played some outstanding football out there. We are just very disappointed not to come out with a win.


“We really played very well but did not convert our chances, something we will have to rectify before our next match.”


Eric Mathoho and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who missed the first game through suspension, would be available for the next group match which is against Senegal on Friday at 9pm in Mongomo. – Sapa






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News sport : Dion Waiters on why he's fitting in well in OKC: 'I actually, like, you know, touch the ball'

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Dion Waiters touches the ball, but only briefly. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) When the Oklahoma City Thunder imported Dion Waiters in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks earlier this month, an awful lot of us (myself included) wondered whether the shoot-first-ask-questions-later guard would struggle to make the sort of James Harden-level impact for which OKC's brass hoped when pulling the trigger. While there's certainly stuff to like about Waiters' game — his size at the two, his ability to create shots, his brashness and believe that he belongs on big stages at big moments, etc. — the issue seemed to be one of resource scarcity; if there weren't enough minutes, shots and scoring opportunities for Waiters to excel behind LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Cleveland, would there really be enough for him behind Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson in Oklahoma City?


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We're still a long way from a definitive answer, but the early returns have been promising. For one thing, at this point Waiters doesn't actually appear to be behind Jackson, whose declining play as a supplementary option and impending restricted free agency have raised all sorts of questions about his present and future in OKC. For another, Waiters has looked pretty good in Thunder blue over the past week and a half, bouncing back from a pretty brutal introductory outing (four points on 1-for-9 shooting in a blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings) with four strong performances.


The No. 4 pick in the 2012 NBA draft is averaging 17 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 28.9 minutes per game over those last four contests, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from 3-point land and even showing bursts of defensive urgency to help the Thunder win three of four, capped by a devastation of the Orlando Magic that has Scott Brooks' club back at .500 at 20-20, 3 1/2 games back of the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.


With a chance to make it four out of five when the Thunder take on the scuffling Miami Heat on Tuesday night, Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman checked in with Waiters to see what's been behind his uptick in form and why he's looked like a better fit in Oklahoma than he did in Ohio. Waiters' response was, well, perfect:


After a 16-point performance Sunday at Orlando in which he made seven of nine shots, Waiters was asked what he’s learned so far about where his shots will come from and how he fit into the offense.

He chuckled.

“Listen,” he said, “they give me the ball. Like, I touch the ball. Like, I actually, like, you know, touch the ball.” [...]

“I’m able to feel the game out, knowing when to take the shot, when not to,” Waiters said. “Like I said, we got a great group of guys on this team who’s very unselfish and they want you to be successful. So I think I came into a great situation.”

Well, the Thunder don't always let Dion touch the ball:



... which reminds us that not everything is different about Waiters' situation on his new team:



Interestingly enough, while Waiters clearly seems to feel more freedom in Brooks' offense, the numbers don't necessarily back up his claim.


Through 32 games in Cleveland this season, Waiters was averaging 35.6 total touches and 31.6 front-court touches in 23.7 minutes per game, according to the NBA's SportVU player tracking data. Through five games in Oklahoma City, he's seen more court time (27.6 minutes per contest) but a bit less of the ball, averaging 34 total touches and 30.4 front-court touches a night.


His total time of possession has dropped slightly (1.8 minutes per game in Cleveland, 1.7 in OKC) despite the extra four minutes of nightly playing time, too. And while he's tended to get the ball closer to the basket a bit more often through a handful of games with the Thunder than he did with the Cavs this season — he's averaging 0.8 "close touches" (defined as opportunities starting within 12 feet of the rim) per game in OKC, up from 0.5 in Cleveland — it's not a massive difference in terms of the shift in his offensive profile.


And yet, Waiters' offensive efficiency has jumped up a notch. He's gone from averaging .333 points per half-court touch with the Cavs, an unimpressive mark that nestled him snugly between Tony Allen and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, two wings known far more for their defense than for their scoring touch, to .474 points per half-court touch in OKC, a much stronger tally that would place just outside the top 10 among non-big-men in that department over the course of the full season. His True Shooting and Effective Field Goal percentages with the Thunder would both represent career highs, and his per-minute scoring's much more in line with what he managed during his first two NBA seasons than what he put up during a disappointing start to the season in Cleveland.


So what gives? Well, basically, he's just hitting jumpers more frequently.


Waiters shot 37 percent on 3.3 midrange jacks per game with the Cavs this season before the trade; he's up to 46.2 percent on 5.2 tries between the paint and arc through a handful of games with the Thunder. And while the increase in his above-the-break 3-point output isn't quite as large — 1.5 a game in Cleveland, 1.8 a game in OKC — the success rate is, as Waiters has improved nearly 30 points (from 14.6 percent to 44.4 percent) in long-range tries outside the corners since the move.


When you watch those midrange tries and above-the-break looks, it doesn't seem like Waiters is necessarily getting more open shots because of slick play design or the gravity of his All-Star teammates or anything. (Notable exception: His dagger wing triple against the Utah Jazz.) There's some nice in-rhythm work off the pick-and-roll, sure, but the tape shows lots of jab-steps, triple-threats, step-backs and pull-ups, the kinds of things for which Waiters has often been pilloried as a ball-stopper and shot-jacker in the past; they're just going in more frequently.


That's the thing: Waiters can make those shots — he's knocked down a solid (if not quite elite) 41.4 percent of his midrange looks during his three-year career, and he shot just south of 37 percent from 3-point land two seasons back. If his percentages tail off, though, it'll be up to him to prove more willing and able to contribute in other areas — specifically in terms of facilitating and defensive work — than he's seemed in the past.


Both Waiters and his new coach, for their part, feel confident that he can do so, according to Mayberry:


“I still think he’s picking up everything. It’s going to take him some time,” Brooks said. “And there’s going to be a stretch where he’s going to flatten out, and there’s going to be another jump where he’s going to pick some things up. But I think that’s always the learning curve with guys that we bring in. But I love his competitive spirit.”

“It’s just, like I said, about opportunity and being able to go out here and do what I do and that’s play basketball,” Waiters said. “I’ve always been confident in myself knowing what I can do. It’s about having the opportunity to go out there and be able to just play my game and have fun and enjoy it. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m having fun. I’m enjoying the fresh start. It’s a great organization. Great coaches. I couldn’t ask for a better situation than what I’m in.”

And as long as that enjoyment continues to translate into buckets, the Thunder figure to keep letting Waiters touch the ball and see what he can do with it.


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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!



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10-man Ivory Coast draw with Guinea

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Ivory Coast were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea with Seydou Doumbia sparing their blushes in their opening Group D Afcon match.


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Malabo, Equatorial Guinea - Ten-man Ivory Coast were held to a 1-1 draw by underdogs Guinea with Seydou Doumbia's equaliser sparing their blushes in their opening Group D match at the African Nations Cup on Tuesday.


Mohamed Yattara's first-half opener in an entertaining match had threatened a shock until Doumbia's 73rd minute leveller.


The Guineans might rue a missed chance to stun their more heralded rivals, but the result will have further boosted their confidence after they defied the odds to qualify for tournament.


Having overcome the ravages of the Ebola virus in their country which forced them to play all their home qualifiers at a neutral venue, Guinea stunned the Ivorians when Yattara fired them ahead with a superb strike.


Ivory Coast had forward Gervinho sent off for striking an opponent shortly before the hour mark.


Mali and Cameroon, the other two teams in the group, play later on Tuesday.


Ivory Coast's three-pronged attack featuring Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony struggled in the first half against a well-organised Guniea defence marshalled by centre back Florentin Pogba, brother of France midfielder Paul.


The tireless Gervinho nearly opened the scoring after one raid in the 17th minute but Guinea keeper Naby Yattara tipped his close-range effort against the crossbar.


Taking every opportunity to break forward, the Guineans delighted their fans in the Estadio de Malabo when Mohamed Yattara blasted an unstoppable shot on the turn into the roof of the net after an Ivorian defender miscued a deep cross from the right into his stride.


Bony, who signed for English champions Manchester City earlier this month, came close with a rasping half-volley from 20 metres shortly after the break.


When Gervinho was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident it fired up the Guinea side and they almost doubled their lead when Ibrahima Traore weaved his way past three markers and hit the crossbar with a delightful curling shot.


They paid a heavy price for that ill fortune when midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure found his soon-to-be team mate Bony with a defence-splitting pass and the burly striker laid it on perfectly for Doumbia to sidefoot home the equaliser.


Both sides threw men forward in search of a winner with Ivory Coast looking the more likely team to score but Guinea, clearly running out of steam, held on.


Reuters






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