News sport : A-Rod releases hand-written apology letter to baseball fans

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(AP)

We knew an Alex Rodriguez apology was coming. Some whispers said it could come at spring training in front of the media. He could have used Yankee Stadium for his grand mea culpa. There was even a rumor that he'd use Derek Jeter's Player Tribune website.


In the end, A-Rod went a different route, releasing a hand-written apology letter into the wilds of the Internet on Tuesday. In it, he says, among other things, "I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point." Give him one point for self-awareness.


Here's the two-page letter, via MLB.com:






Nice handwriting, dude. But if you don't want to bother reading cursive, here's a translation:



To the Fans,




I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. To Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans, I can only say I'm sorry.




I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point. I understand why and that's on me. It was gracious of the Yankees to offer me the use of Yankee Stadium for this apology, but I decided that next time I am in Yankee Stadium, I should be in pinstripes doing my job.




I served the longest suspension in the history of the league for PED use. The Commissioner has said the matter is over. The Players Association has said the same. The Yankees have said the next step is to play baseball.




I'm ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball.




This game has been my single biggest passion since I was a teenager. When I go to Spring Training, I will do everything I can to be the best player and teammate possible, earn a spot on the Yankees and help us win.




Sincerely,

Alex



It probably doesn't mean much at this point. Baseball fans feel how they feel about A-Rod and his apology — no matter what avenue it took or what it said — wasn't going to change that. But at least he's been doing and saying all the right things lately.


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Raouraoua withdraws from FIFA vote

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Algeria's Mohamed Raouraoua has withdrawn from elections to FIFA's executive and will lose his place on the powerful group in a dramatic fall from grace.


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Johannessburg - Algeria's Mohamed Raouraoua has withdrawn from elections to FIFA's executive committee and will lose his place on the powerful 25-man group in a dramatic fall from grace.


Raouraoua was elected as one of Africa's four representatives four years ago in a swift rise up the ladder of soccer politics that marked him out as a potential future leader on his own continent.


The 67-year-old president of the Algerian Football Federation was due to be one of four candidates for two places on the committee to be decided at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress in Cairo on April 7.


But he has pulled out, CAF said on Tuesday, leaving Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Tarek Bouchamaoui of Tunisia and Constant Omari Selemani of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the elections.


Anouma is an incumbent while the other two are attempting to win a place for the first time. Each of CAF's 54-member countries will vote in Cairo.


Raouraoua, a former head of Algerian television, was elected in 2011 to a seat traditionally held by a candidate from the southern region of the continent in a surprise flouting of previous convention.


Although it was not written into its statutes, CAF had previously chosen its executive committee members for world soccer's ruling body FIFA from various geographical regions with one seat automatically held by the organisation's president.


However, such was Raouraoua's initial appeal that this tradition was dispensed with.


The Algerian was touted as a possible successor to long-standing CAF president Issa Hayatou but has since been frozen out, according to African football administrators, and he felt it prudent to withdraw to avoid the possibility of a humiliating defeat.


In April, CAF are to formalise rules on the election of FIFA executive committee members.


From 2017 they will reserve one seat for the CAF president, one for a French speaker, one for a candidate from an English speaking country and one to be shared among the Arab-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries.


The pair elected in April will serve two years.


Reuters






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News sport : Jameis Winston, Bryce Petty prepare for NFL Combine with Jim Harbaugh (Photo)

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With the NFL Combine beginning in this week, flocks of prospects will head to Indianapolis to show their skills in front of scouts and GMs from across the league.


Before heading to Lucas Oil Stadium, two prominent quarterbacks – Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Baylor’s Bryce Petty – made a pit stop in Ann Arbor for some last minute tutelage from Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.



According to the Detroit Free Press, a Michigan spokesman said the two quarterbacks arrived in Ann Arbor on Sunday with quarterback guru George Whitfield, a friend of Harbaugh.


The two have been training with Harbaugh since Sunday and came to Michigan before making the trip to Indianapolis in order to “get acclimated to the time and weather, and throw in an indoor facility before going to Lucas Oil (Stadium).”


Winston reportedly hasn’t decided yet whether he will throw at the combine, with Whitfield saying “it’s a game-time decision.”


“He’s a very big believer in himself, so it’ll be interesting. He’s prepared to do it,” Whitfield told USA Today.


Quarterbacks are scheduled to throw on Saturday, so Winston still has a few days to mull his decision.


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News sport : Report: Eagles nixed Nick Foles-for-Josh Gordon trade in 2013

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Oh, how the 2013 NFL season had one proposed trade gone through.


The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly turned down a trade offer that would have sent Nick Foles to the Cleveland Browns for Josh Gordon, according to ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan.


Think about that one for a minute.


Foles started six games as a rookie for the Eagles in Andy Reid's final season in 2012, with uneven results. Gordon, also a rookie in 2012, was coming off a 50-catch, 803-yard, five-TD season but was facing a two-game suspension to start the 2013 campaign. Neither player had yet to truly break out in the NFL.


Instead, the Eagles and new head coach Chip Kelly passed on the intriguing offer, and Foles had a tremendous statistical season with 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions in a 10-6 campaign. Meanwhile, Gordon led the NFL in receiving yards despite missing those two games, collecting 1,646 yards on 87 catches with nine scores.


The Eagles only had Michael Vick and Matt Barkley at quarterback. The Browns had Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden.


The Eagles had just released DeSean Jackson, not wanting his headaches, and were counting on Jeremy Maclin as one of their top wideouts. The Browns didn't have much else at receiver outside of Gordon.


What's fascinating is that you could argue that both the Eagles and Browns might still want to move on from Foles and Gordon, respectively. The Eagles probably don't dislike Foles, and he could end up being their starting quarterback again this season if, say, a trade doesn't materialize for Oregon's Marcus Mariota. The Browns certainly know that Gordon's value is as low as it's going to get, with an indefinite suspension likely wiping out his 2015 season barring some development in his situation.


A great what-if moment that didn't happen.


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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 : Power Rankings: Our 2015 Chase predictions (Hint: Take 2)

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Power Rankings are back!


The 2015 season is (officially) nearly upon us, so we figured there's no better place to break out Power Rankings for the first time this year than by making it the space for our official, unchangeable and definitely 100 percent accurate Chase predictions.


Here are the 16 drivers we think will make the Chase in 2015. The top four are our final four and the other 12 are who we think will be Nos. 5-16 after the season. Let's get to it.


1. Brad Keselowski: Title No. 2 for team No. 2? That's where we are leaning. Remember, he had the most wins in the Cup Series last year (6), one more than 2014 Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick (5). However, here is a possible reason to take caution. Other than Jimmie Johnson (three times), no driver since 2006 who tallied the most wins in a Sprint Cup season has equaled or improved his finish in the points standings the following season. Keselowski is in that group, as he and Denny Hamlin tied Johnson for the circuit lead in wins in 2012. Though, yes, it's hard to repeat as a champion.


If Keselowski gets to a final four, we like he and crew chief Paul Wolfe in a winner-take-all format. And we're going to go out on a limb and say while Brad may still be considered the antagonist in the Cup Series story at the end of the season, there won't be any prolonged public conflicts in 2015.


Bovada odds for the title: 8/1


2. Carl Edwards: Here's to the third straight year of a driver with a new team being a Chase contender. If Edwards gets off to a hot start in 2015 you're going to quickly lose count of all the comparisons to Matt Kenseth's 2013 with Joe Gibbs Racing. Will Edwards win seven races like Kenseth did in 2013? No. But he's going to be faster than he was last year, and we saw how consistent he can be.


Bovada odds for the title: 10/1


3. Jimmie Johnson: The six-time champion has had his two worst Sprint Cup seasons in the past four years. Is Johnson in the midst of a career swoon? Pardon us as we giggle from typing a low-grade television news teaser there. No, he's not. Yeah, 2014 wasn't a good season for Johnson as his Chase finish would have been (relatively) porous with either the old or new format. But we're not going to say it's the sign of any sort of trend.


Bovada odds for the title: 13/2


4. Kevin Harvick: Can Harvick be the first non-Johnson to repeat as champion since Jeff Gordon? We don't dislike his chances. But just ask Joey Logano about the crazy stuff that can happen to take away your title shot in a one-race format. If these four drivers make the final race, it's truly a toss-up between the four.


Bovada odds for the title: 15/2


5. Jeff Gordon: What's a bigger storyline at Homestead? Gordon's possible final race or the championship? Sure, they're married together if the four-time champion is in the final four, but if he's not, he'll be a close second to the title chase, especially depending on the drivers racing for the championship. Bold prediction time. Gordon wins at least one of the following: the Daytona 500, All-Star Race, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, Southern 500 or the Sprint Cup title.


Bovada odds for the title: 15/2


6. Matt Kenseth: Yeah, this was the only JGR team that didn't get a win in 2014. But it was also the only JGR team that kept the driver and crew chief together. Why? Because Kenseth had 22 top-10 finishes, four more than Denny Hamlin and seven more than Kyle Busch. Expect more of the same in 2015, except with a win or two.


Bovada odds for the title: 10/1


7. Joey Logano: Being eliminated from the cahse before the final race shouldn't be seen as a step backwards for Logano. Unless he struggles all year and doesn't make it out of the first round. If he gets to round two or round three and has a win or two in 2015, it's a continuation of the foundation that was built last year. Logano is going to win a title, and it's going to happen sooner rather than later.


Bovada odds for the title: 9/1


8. Kyle Busch: Is Logano taking the "is going to win a title, and it's going to happen sooner rather than later" mantle from Busch? It's a fair question to ask, though title expectations have also been heaped on Busch without steady consistency. He's finished in the top five of the standings twice, and those finishes happened six years apart. If the new rules package mimics the way the Xfinity Series cars drive, don't be surprised if this is the year Busch is a true challenger for the title.


Bovada odds for the title: 10/1


9. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin snuck through the Chase more than Ryan Newman did. He was the guy who was the epitome of avoiding bad finishes throughout the Chase. Can Hamlin be in the final four again? Yes. Can he be the guy who finishes fourth among the Gibbs cars? Yes to that too. But you can answer yes for any of the four JGR drivers to that question. How the team adapts to an extra car in 2015 will be a focal point, especially if there are struggles.


Bovada odds for the title: 14/1


10. Tony Stewart: Smoke back? He's the pick for the 2015 Daytona 500, which would guarantee a spot in the Chase. He's back to being ornery (see the weight issue during Unlimited practice) and aggressive (he had a point to prove in the first part of the Unlimited and ran near the front before being crashed). Stewart is going to win a race in 2015. Will week-to-week consistency follow?


Bovada odds for the title: 22/1


11. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: If Junior finishes outside the top 10, it's got to be the crew chief change, right? Sigh. Even if it's not, it'll be Junior Nation's most overanalyzed aspect of the 2015 season. Junior's going to be good again and he's going to win a race again. It's just a matter of not having a misstep int he Chase.


Bovada odds for the title: 10/1


12. Kurt Busch: 2015 sleeper? 2015 sleeper. Busch's partnership with Tony Gibson was fruitful at the end of the season and don't act surprised if he's a serious contender for the title. The wild card, of course, is any pending action from the Delaware attorney general's office, but we won't assume anything at this point. Busch's 2014 roller coaster evens out this year.


Bovada odds for the title: 25/1


13. Kyle Larson: If we're presuming that Larson wins a race this year, where does it happen? We'll take the easy way out and say Auto Club Speedway, where he won his first Xfinity Series race last year and closed in a hurry in the Cup Series. The worn out pavement suits his driving style as he can wheel the car up near the wall and zip around everyone, a la Kyle Busch did in 2013 to win.


Bovada odds for the title: 16/1


14. Kasey Kahne: Will Kahne once again be the fourth car in terms of performance at Hendrick. Will he need to win to get into the Chase or sneak in on points? Will Keith Rodden's return to the team be the magic elixir the No. 5 needs? Notice how one of the questions we're not asking is about Kahne's long-term future at Hendrick Motorsports. That's a big positive. He finished fourth in 2012 but the big year for Kahne at HMS could still be to come.


Bovada odds for the title: 25/1


15. Clint Bowyer: At Daytona media days, Bowyer said he figured consistency would be enough to get in the Chase in 2014. It didn't happen, so now he's all about the wins. The truth is somewhere in the middle, and Bowyer likely knows it. The No. 15 was consistent last year, but consistently meh. If Bowyer ups the performance without a win, a Chase berth isn't impossible.


Bovada odds for the title: 40/1


16. Ryan Newman: What's more indicative of Ryan Newman's chances in 2015? His first 26 races of 2014 where he top-15'd the field like crazy and made the Chase or his final 10 where he was a serious contender for the title despite not winning a race? If it's the latter, move Newman up seven or eight spots in this ranking.


Bovada odds for the title: 40/1


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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!







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News sport : The 10 burning questions for the NFL's offseason

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The NFL scouting combine is a big week in the offseason.


Draft prospects work out and meet with teams. Teams see agents and get a better idea what free agency will hold for them. General managers get reacquainted and feel each other out for future trades. A lot of seeds are planted in Indianapolis this week.


So with the NFL’s offseason getting into full swing this week at the combine, it’s also a good time to look at the 10 biggest questions in the NFL with free agency and the draft coming up faster than you think:


Will Ray Rice play in 2015?


Considering Rice, who was involved in a domestic violence incident that has become synonymous with commissioner Roger Goodell’s tenure, has been free to sign with anyone for a while, it’s possible the answer is no. Maybe he’ll be more attractive during a second wave of free agency when teams find they didn’t land anyone viable at running back in the first wave and there aren’t many great options left over. Rice is not helped by the fact that the last time we saw him play in 2013, he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. Rice might resurface but he has to be concerned he won’t get that second chance.


Where will Adrian Peterson play in 2015?


Unlike Rice, Peterson is still considered an elite talent. The ice seems to be thawing in Minnesota, with Vikings officials saying they’d welcome Peterson back despite the incident last season in which he pleaded no contest in an incident in which he disciplined his son with a switch. Something may need to happen with his $12.75 million base salary, which is a huge amount for a running back in this era. The best guess is something works out with the Vikings. If not, he'll play somewhere (and no, I'm not buying it being the Dallas Cowboys).


Most likely landing spot for Darrelle Revis?


Assuming the Patriots don’t pick up Revis’ massive option for 2015 ($25 million cap hit), where does the All-Pro cornerback land? Well, how about New England? The Patriots have expressed a desire to bring Revis back on a long-term deal. One has to assume winning a Super Bowl with the Patriots was a fun experience for Revis. Coming back to New England makes sense for everyone.


If not Revis, who will be the biggest free agent to switch teams?


Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to the Oakland Raiders seems like a reasonable fit. The Raiders have a ton of cap room (again) and general manager Reggie McKenzie can’t afford to strike out completely in free agency (again). The Lions will clearly try to resign Suh, but they better get it done before free agency starts. If he hits the market, some team is going to break the bank for him.



Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota at No. 1?


The only thing that seems for certain is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take a quarterback at No. 1. If they don’t, cutting Josh McCown will look really dumb. So who will it be? If you’re just looking at film, Winston might win because Mariota didn’t run an NFL-style offense at Oregon. But Winston has off-field questions. I’d bet on Winston but that could change before the draft in late April.



If Peyton Manning returns to the Broncos, how good will he be?


From various reports, Manning wants to come back to the Broncos and the Broncos want Manning back. Perhaps there’s a holdup over money, but it would be an upset if he’s not back under center with the Broncos for another season. But after Manning slipped last season, can he still be elite? The best guess is he’ll be managed more, like he was at the end of last season. He had 47 or more attempts four times in Denver’s first 10 games, and that’s unlikely to happen again with Manning turning 38 next month. Then maybe he’ll be fresher in December and January. He still had a 101.5 rating last year; it’s not like he’s going to fall off completely in 2015. If he returns, that is.


Who will be the opening day starting QB for the Browns?


The Browns probably have little choice but to try to retain free agent Brian Hoyer (if he wants to come back to Cleveland, of course). Johnny Manziel is working on things off the field, in a treatment facility, and he’s no sure thing on the field. There’s nothing in free agency; Hoyer is the top quarterback option by far. There’s no easy fix for the Browns in the middle of the first round, where they have two picks. They’ll probably overpay Hoyer because the unknown at quarterback is a scary place.


What will happen to Jay Cutler?


It has been a while since we heard anything about Cutler being traded. Again, when teams face the unknown at quarterback they don’t always make good choices. Someone would probably offer the Bears a get out of jail free card and take on Cutler’s horrible contract in a trade (there are a lot of desperate teams at quarterback), but that means the Bears would be rebooting at quarterback. Mediocrity at quarterback is better for job security among coaches and front office personnel than starting over. So it seems Cutler will be back.


Will Marshawn Lynch play again?


It seems like we’re going to get Lynch retirement rumors every offseason until he actually does it. Will this be the year he walks away? The Seattle Seahawks say they don’t know. There was a report that the Seahawks would offer Lynch an extension that would pay him $10 million in 2015, and while it would seem that would be enough to lure Lynch back for at least another year, you can never be sure with him.



Do the Cowboys retain Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray or both?


Two of the Cowboys’ big three on offense are free agents. It seems impossible to believe Bryant hits free agency. It would be a shock if he doesn’t receive the franchise tag if a long-term deal isn’t worked out. Murray is trickier. He is coming off an All-Pro season but he unfortunately finds himself in the “we won’t invest in running backs” era. It’s hard to believe that after such a successful season that Jerry Jones wouldn’t want to run it back, but it’s no guarantee Murray will be back.



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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 : Earnhardt or fighting? What was the greatest Daytona 500 moment ever?

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The Daytona 500 is a marquee event every year, but every so often, the race achieves transcendence. Today, Yahoo Sports' Kevin Kaduk (@kevinkaduk) and Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) kick around two classic moments: Dale Earnhardt's win in 1998 and the infamous 1979 fight in the grass. Plus: a ranking of the best tracks in NASCAR! Have your say on both topics right here in the comments or on Twitter at #kbarguments. Fire up!


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



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News sport : Kansas to use impact-sensing mouthguards to help monitor concussions

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Nov 17, 2012; Lawrence, KS, USA; A Kansas Jayhawks helmet on the sidelines in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Memorial Stadium. Iowa State won the game 51-23. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports In a contact sport like football, the risk of concussions exists on each play. New helmet technology has been introduced in recent years in efforts to combat this, and this spring, the University of Kansas football team will be among the first to try another new piece of technology: impact-sensing mouthguards.


According to the Kansas City Star, the mouthguards “let trainers monitor hits taken by individual players in real-time” and also “collect data to reveal trends across an entire season for the whole team.”


The mouthguards don’t diagnose concussions, but they do provide critical data to a team’s medical staff. From the Star:



To be clear, the mouthguards can’t diagnose concussions – that’s for training and medical staff to do. What they can do is measure impact to a player’s head and send a digital alert to coaches and trainers when someone’s taken a hit hard enough to cause a concussion. The mouthguards may be high-tech, but the good news is that football players don’t have to do anything they wouldn’t do with any old mouthguard. They pop it in and out of their mouth at will, Harper said, and the mouthguard does the rest – even sensing when to turn off and on.



Jesse Harper, the president and CEO of i1 Biometrics, the company that developed and sells the mouthguards, said “about 20 to 25 colleges” are ordering the product, with Kansas being one of the first.


Murphy Grant, Kansas’ assistant athletics director for sports medicine, told the Star he expects “about 80” players to try the mouthguards in spring practice.


“It’s going to be a very huge undertaking, but for us the safety and health care of our student-athletes is our number one priority,” Grant said. “If we can be a part of making the game safer – and keeping the game around – then we want to.”


If all goes well in spring, Grant said the program will keep the mouthguards when the season rolls around this fall.


The mouthguards use some pretty advanced technology. From the Star:



The mouthguards’ “ESP Chip Technology” measures the brain’s linear and rotational accelerations from impacts, according to i1 Biometrics. The mouthguards use an algorithm to measure, translate and wirelessly transfer data to a handheld mobile device used by trainers on the sidelines. The data can show the magnitude, location and direction of the impact. Trainers can use the information in real-time to, for example, pull out and physically evaluate a player who took an especially hard hit, Harper said.



The data evaluation continues after the game, too.



After the game, they can take a broader look at data collected for individual athletes – some of whom are affected differently by impacts than others – and for the whole team. Digital 3-D images can show the location and intensity of impacts on individual players’ heads, possibly helping identify trends such as improper hitting or tackling techniques, Harper said.



The data collected by the schools also gets sent back to i1 Biometrics for further evaluation from different teams (at all different levels) nationwide.


The end goal is simply to make the game safer moving forward – and this sounds like it could be a significant step.


For more Kansas news, visit JayhawkSlant.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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Booing won’t faze Kingston

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Supersport United striker Kingston Nkhatha will face his former club Kaizer Chiefs for the first time since his transfer in January.


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Kingston Nkhatha will probably walk on to the pitch with some trepidation tonight, unsure of the kind of reception the crowd at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane will afford him.


Now with SuperSport United, the Zimbabwean striker faces his former team Kaizer Chiefs for the first time since his shock move to Matsatsantsa a Pitori during the January transfer window period. Having scored on debut for the Pretoria outfit in the 2-2 draw with Free State Stars, Nkhatha sat out the weekend’s 1-0 win at Black Aces due to suspension.


But he is eligible for selection tonight and coach Gordon Igesund is experienced enough to know just how fired up players often are when facing their former teams and he will probably give the striker a start.


Nkhatha had endured a torrid time at the Limpopo capital where the Chiefs fans appeared to enjoy heckling him so much so that Stuart Baxter, the Amakhosi coach, even threatened to have the club no longer play their home matches there.


That threat seemed to work though as the Chiefs faithful changed their tune in the club’s last match there in December.


They hardly booed the striker who is prone to missing sitters and Chiefs won that league game against Free State Stars 2-0 with Nkhatha shining brightest by scoring one and creating the other goal in a man-of-the-match winning performance.


He went on to also shine in Amakhosi’s next match at the FNB Stadium against Black Aces as he created the solitary goal scored by Mandla Masango, leading to many a Chiefs fans changing their tune about him being a liability to the team. Then he left for SuperSport, a transfer so unexpected it didn’t make sense to some.


And you can bet there will be some in the crowd tonight who will bear a grudge against the striker for leaving their team in the lurch. And they will probably let Nkhatha know their feelings in the best way they know how, by booing and jeering his every touch.


Not that the striker will be bothered or affected. After all, he showed during his time at Chiefs that he has a thick skin, Nkhatha taking the heckling in his stride and sticking to his game and following the game plan set by the coach – often to great effect as he helped ensure Amakhosi remained unbeaten by creating chances for his teammates and keeping the opposition defence unsettled by continuously haranguing them with his runs from deep.


Tonight it will be the turn of the likes of Tefu Mashamaite and Erick Mathoho to be on their toes trying to keep Nkhatha quiet as they attempt to help Chiefs maintain their unbeaten league run.


For that to happen, Chiefs will have to lift their game a few notches up from what it was at the weekend against Botswana’s Township Rollers in the Caf Champions League. To say Chiefs were flat would be putting it mildly, the Glamour Boys needing an injury time scrambled winner by Mashamaite to put some shine on arguably their worst showing of the season.


Against SuperSport such a performance as Saturday’s one where a disjointed midfield display ensured the defence was almost always under pressure could prove very costly and Baxter is sure to have impressed this much upon his team. Igesund’s team go into the match fresh from a good win at Aces where New Zealander Jeremy Brockie scored on debut. Chasing a high finish, SuperSport will be fired up not only by their need to continue their climb up the table but the lure of becoming the first side to inflict Chiefs’ maiden league loss of the season. And Nkhatha must no doubt relish the prospect of being the man to deliver the goal that sinks Amakhosi.


In tonight’s other match, Moroka Swallows host Bidvest Wits eager to register their first win of the year following two successive losses since the restart after the Africa Cup of Nations break. A 4-1 hammering at Mamelodi Sundowns preceded the weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Polokwane City and Fani Madida will hope his team use home ground advantage to good effect against a Wits side that defeated Swaziland side Royal Leopards 3-0 on Sunday in the Caf Confederation Cup.


Both matches kick-off at 7.30pm. - The Star






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Van Gaal relishing Arsenal Cup tie

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Louis van Gaal says he is looking forward to facing Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Old Trafford.


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Louis van Gaal says he is relishing the chance to face Arsenal at Old Trafford after Manchester United earned a showdown with the holders in the FA Cup quarter-finals.


Goals from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney booked United's place in the last eight with a 3-1 win at Preston North End in the fifth round on Monday.


The third tier team took the lead early in the second half through Scott Laird but van Gaal's side ultimately proved too strong.


Their reward is a potentially classic home tie against Arsenal on the weekend of March 7 and 8 after three successive away ties against lower-league opponents.


“We have a draw at home, which is important in FA Cup matches,” van Gaal said. “I am pleased we can play against Arsenal and at home.


“Every game in the FA Cup is difficult to win because every team is giving everything.


“You have seen it also in this round, how many better situated teams have lost so I don't think that of course when you play against a lower team then the chance to win is always bigger.


“I am very happy we can play now against Arsenal and for the first time we play at home.”


United and Arsenal have both won the FA Cup on 11 occasions, with their last meeting in the tournament won by United in the last eight in 2011.


Arsenal's most recent triumph came last season against Hull City, while United have not lifted the trophy since 2004.


Van Gaal admitted he feared for his side's place in this season's competition when Simon Grayson's men went ahead through Laird.


Van Gaal's response was to introduce Ashley Young and switch formation and it paid off.


“Of course, when we conceded a goal, we have to fight again for the victory,” he said.


“In the first half we didn't create ourselves many chances so that is why I changed the shape. That was why I think we made the goals.


“I have to give to all the credit to the players because they have done again everything and the spirit in the team is unbelievable.”


After being relatively quiet in his role as a midfielder, Fellaini was moved further forward to partner Rooney in attack and the Belgian scored the visiting team's second goal with what van Gaal described as a “fantastic training goal”.


Van Gaal said Fellaini offered United an alternative way of attacking when opponents became difficult to break down.


“I have used a lot of times already Fellaini, more than ever and he scores more than ever,” Van Gaal said.


“He is a player that when we cannot beat the pressure with quality, we can always beat the pressure. That is a quality.


“Now I have played him for the first time in his position but we have a lot of players who can play there.


“The whole team did it well because they believe also that we could do it with this shape


“As trainer-coach or a staff you can change the system but your players have to believe in it and perform it and that is not so easy and they do it and not for the first time. That is fantastic.”


Van Gaal also revealed Robin van Persie would be available to face Swansea in the Premier League on Saturday after the Dutch striker missed the match at Deepdale through injury. – AFP






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Sherwood to crack the whip at Villa

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New Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has warned his underperforming new squad to expect some honesty.


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If he was, in his own words, the “supply teacher” stymied by a lack of job security in his attempts to wield authority in the Tottenham dressing room last season, Tim Sherwood anticipates no such problems as Aston Villa's new manager.


“I'm the headmaster now,” Sherwood quipped at his unveiling at Villa Park yesterday, when he warned his underperforming new squad to expect some honesty while also promising to deliver the exciting football missing for too long under Paul Lambert.


“Every club needs excitement, the fans pay their money and we need to give them that,” said Sherwood, who sees Christian Benteke as key and is hoping to have a similar impact on the Belgian striker as he did on Emmanuel Adebayor at Spurs. “It is [about] bringing that player back to life and also enhancing what is around him.


“When I took over [at Tottenham], the brief was, 'Can we be a bit more attractive and score a few more goals?' I ticked that box. I used Adebayor as the catalyst for that.”


Sherwood, whose first match is against Stoke at home on Saturday, said he would not hesitate to crack the whip with his new charges, just as he did at Spurs, where he accused his players of lacking character after a 4-0 defeat at Chelsea. “If I'm going to be guilty of something it will be being honest,” he said. “If they do well they will be told, if they don't do well they will also be told and told why. You have to be constructive.”


Sherwood, who admitted he was “close” to taking charge of West Bromwich Albion before Tony Pulis's appointment last month, dismissed arguments about his lack of experience by saying: “There are a lot of poor, experienced managers [but] I don't feel a point to prove.” – The Independent






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United, Arsenal set for FA Cup clash

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Manchester United beat League One Preston North End 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round and set up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Arsenal.


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London - Manchester United survived a scare to beat League One Preston North End 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday and set up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Arsenal.


Scott Laird's deflected 47th-minute strike gave third-tier Preston the scent of a huge upset but United regrouped and goals by Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney sent the Premier League side through.


“We showed an unbelievable team spirit,” United manager Louis Van Gaal told the BBC.


“We changed the shape and that was the solution. We scored fantastic goals, a little bit lucky also I think. I liked the second goal a lot, we have trained for that a lot.


“Marouane Fellaini has a body, he also scores goals. I played him in the position that he wants for the first time but I do not always have a position for him. The spirit was better.”


Preston manager Simon Grayson led Leeds United to a famous victory over Manchester United in an FA Cup third-round tie at Old Trafford in 2010 and his organised team worked tirelessly to give themselves a chance to emulate that feat.


They restricted United with disciplined defending and the visitors failed to trouble keeper Thorsten Stuckmann in the first half.


Laird's speculative strike, which burst through the grasp of United goalkeeper David de Gea, sent the home fans into a frenzy and Van Gaal's last realistic chance of winning silverware in his first season at United looked in jeopardy.


But the introduction of the livewire Ashley Young in place of ineffective striker Radamel Falcao revived the visitors and good work by the winger down the right set up the chance for Herrera to squeeze in a 65th-minute equaliser off the post.


Antonio Valencia's right-wing cross was powerfully met by Fellaini at the far post and the towering Belgian lashed home the rebound seven minutes later.


Rooney chased a through ball and narrowly won the race with Stuckmann whose clumsy tackle led to a penalty which the striker gleefully lashed home to register his first goal of the year and stay on course for his first FA Cup winners' medal. – Reuters






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Goalkeeper poser for Mourinho

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is undecided whether to retain goalkeeper Petr Cech or recall first-choice Thibaut Courtois for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash at Paris St Germain.


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Paris - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is undecided whether to retain goalkeeper Petr Cech or recall first-choice Thibaut Courtois for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash at Paris St Germain.


Mourinho rested a “tired” Belgian international Courtois as Cech produced several good saves in the 1-0 Premier League win over Everton last Wednesday.


“He (Courtois) doesn't know if he plays or not, so I can't tell you. He has to know from me, not from the media,” Mourinho told reporters on Monday.


“But I repeat. Chelsea have the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League. I'm very happy with both. Every time one plays, the team are very confident because they know that, behind, they have a top goalkeeper.”


Spain striker Diego Costa will start in Paris, although Mourinho said his top scorer was probably not in the “best condition” after serving a three-game domestic ban for violent conduct.


“Yes, I start him. But I don't think it's good for a player to be three weeks, or three matches, without starting a game,' Mourinho said.


“So I don't think he's in the best of his condition. But, at the same time, (Loic) Remy and Drogba have played in the last three matches. Obviously it is important for them to have minutes and confidence. I know that I have them both ready for the game too.”


Chelsea eliminated PSG in the quarter-finals last season but Mourinho said the French champions, with the addition of former Blues defender David Luiz, would be difficult opponents.


The Londoners lost 3-1 in Paris but went through on away goals after winning the return 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, going through after Demba Ba's late strike.


“I think Paris are a great team, basically the same team as last season with David Luiz. The same team basically, the same coach, the same dynamic, the same profile,” the Portuguese added.


“They have conditions to be better because they have stability. We have changed a bit some players and the identity of our game. We have changed the profile. I don't want to say if Chelsea are better or worse than last season but, tomorrow, Parc des Princes will see a different Chelsea to last year.” – Reuters






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News sport : Couple allegedly has Valentine's Day romp in Neyland Stadium press box

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A general view of Neyland Stadium prior to the game against the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers. (Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports) Oh, those crazy college kids.


According to The Tennessean, a photo of two people – presumably Tennessee students – getting frisky in the press box at Neyland Stadium circulated on a Snapchat account called “Volnationsnaps” on Valentine's Day. A screenshot of the Snapchat photo then reportedly made its way to Instagram, but has since been deleted.


The photo apparently had a caption that read: “Happy valentine from neylend stadium.” I’ll refrain from making any academic-related Tennessee jokes for the time being.


Anyway, The Tennessean isn’t sure how the two made their way to the press box, but there was “a lunch held Saturday in the stadium’s west club as part of the university’s Winter Family Weekend,” so that could have been their way to sneak in. Or, you know, they could have hopped a fence the old-fashioned way.


The University’s police department did not receive any reports of wrongdoing from the stadium over the weekend. Additionally, the university had no comment as of now on this ongoing mystery.


For more Tennessee news, visit VolQuest.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 : Georgia coach says he agrees with Roquan Smith's decision not to sign an NLI

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Roquan Smith (Rivals) Macon County High School linebacker Roquan Smith made national headlines earlier this month when he refused to sign a national letter of intent (NLI) with UCLA after he learned Bruins defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich lied to him about taking a job in the NFL.


It sparked a debate about the fairness of the NLI and whether players should actually sign them.


Smith, instead, signed scholarship and grant-in-aid papers with Georgia last Friday.


Macon County coach Larry Harold said one Georgia coach agreed with Smith’s decision to forgo the NLI.


“The UGA coaches were fine with Roquan not signing an NLI — actually one of the coaches said that if their son is good enough, they’re not going to let him sign an NLI either,” Harold told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


“I’m not going to say which UGA coach it was. You’re going to have to ask them. He was like ‘Coach, if my son is good enough and is in the same position as Roquan, I’m not going to let him sign an NLI. I understand exactly why you’re doing this.’ They get it. So I guess the buzz is going around.”


Smith is the first known high-level recruit to refuse to sign an NLI in favor of a grant-in-aid award. His actions could set off a trend of high-level recruits that more or less commit to school, but allow themselves wiggle room should circumstances change.


High school recruits are not required to sign an NLI to play college football. In fact, the NLI is more beneficial for the school than it is the player. It allows the school to lock in a player and gives the player no recourse should there be a change in his situation, a change in coaching or simply a change of heart.


Signing grant-in-aid papers means that Smith is guaranteed the same financial benefits of an NLI without the one-sided restrictions. In fact, Smith could opt to attend another school before he attends his first summer classes. But Harold said Georgia fans shouldn’t worry about that.


“He’s 100-percent Georgia Bulldog,” Harold told the AJC. “His recruiting is over. It’s finished. He’s ready to move on to the next chapter of his life. His family is ready to move on. It’s just a good day. Everything is finalized. He’s relaxed. Now he can finish out his high school days and report to UGA this summer.”


For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!


And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook






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