News sport : Bryce Harper throws out runner, draws ire of his manager

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Bryce Harper certainly has a flair for the dramatic, even in spring training.


The Nationals faced the Astros on Monday afternoon and in the fifth inning Houston outfielder Alex Presley hit a line drive towards Harper in right field.


Harper took a slow route to the ball, baiting Presley into thinking he had a chance at taking an extra base. When he made the turn towards second, Harper sprang into action and delivered a dart to nail Presley at second.


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After the game Harper admitted it was all part of his master plan.


"I came up slow on that on purpose, just to see if he’d round the bag or something like that," said Harper. "That’s something I want to play this year, something I really want to do this year. Coming up on the ball to try to take the extra bag, hopefully have a good throw to second base to get 'em out."


It was an exciting play but one that Nationals manager Matt Williams could do without. He would prefer his star right fielder take a more conventional approach in the outfield.


"I thought he shouldn’t have even attempted to go to second," said Williams. "[Harper] needs to get to that ball quicker, then the guy doesn’t even go. It’s a good throw, but if he pounces on that baseball, he doesn’t attempt to go."


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Williams let Harper know he wasn't thrilled with the strategy and according to the Washington Post, Harper understands.


He wouldn't be playing his game if he stopped pushing the envelope though. It's a big part of what made him a two-time All-Star before he even turned 21. They know it's a lot to ask, but in a perfect world Washington would like to see Harper, now 22, control his daredevil ways and be more consistent overall.


"Of course we know [Harper] has great talent, has the ability to do a lot of things. He brings special talents to the table. He can do a lot of things on the baseball field that will help us win," Williams told MLB.com's Phil Rogers. "But today he could have got on the ball quicker and stopped that guy at first. It was a great throw nonetheless, but we want to stop [the runner].''


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Israel Fehr is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter.






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Henderson’s goal lifts Liverpool

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Midfielder Jordan Henderson's fluke second-half goal gave Liverpool a win at Swansea City.


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London - Midfielder Jordan Henderson's fluke second-half goal kept Liverpool firmly in contention for a Premier League top-four finish with a 1-0 win at Swansea City on Monday.


Liverpool got lucky on 68 minutes when Jordi Amat slid in ahead of Henderson to try and clear but the ball ricocheted back off the England international and looped over Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski.


Victory took in-form Liverpool to within two points of fourth-placed Manchester United, who they host on Sunday. Chelsea lead on 64, ahead of Manchester City (58) and then Arsenal (57) and United (56).


Since losing to United at Old Trafford in mid-December, a defeat which left Liverpool languishing in 11th place, Brendan Rodgers' side have won 10 and drawn three in the league.


“It was a great pass from Daniel (Sturridge). It was a little bit fortunate, but you've got to be in the right positions to score,” Henderson, who scored for a third consecutive league game, told Sky Sports.


“It's a great result. We were very disappointed with our first half. The gaffer had a few words to say. I felt we passed the ball a lot better in the second and were solid at the back.”


Liverpool were indebted to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for keeping out Swansea in a first half shaded by the Welsh side and Rodgers praised the Belgian international, who was dropped for poor form earlier in the season.


“There's no doubt Simon Mignolet's back to his best. We needed him in the first half. He's been excellent. Clearly now, you see his confidence, along with the team's, he said.


Mignolet made a fine-one-handed save to deny Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis who was cleared to play following his collapse at Tottenham Hotspur in his side's last league game on March 4.


He was also equal to Gylfi Sigurdsson's curling effort but Liverpool improved after the break.


Phillipe Coutinho forced Fabianski to keep out his low shot from Raheem Sterling's cutback and after Henderson had scored Swansea never seriously threatened to equalise.


Sturridge went close to a second goal late on but rolled a shot against the post in stoppage time.


Reuters






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News sport : Terry Francona found himself on the wrong end of water balloon attack

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(Getty Images)

It's safe to say the atmosphere is pretty light at Cleveland Indians camp.


Less than a week ago, Indians manager Terry Francona played a great prank on pitcher Trevor Bauer to ease the mood following a rough outing on the mound. This time though, it was Francona that found himself on the other end of the joke.


Word is that Francona and his coaching staff had become fond of targeting members of Cleveland's front office they encountered between the team's training complex and their spring home, Goodyear Ballpark, with water balloons.


The front office decided enough was enough, and went to great lengths to exact their revenge. They devised a plan to set up Francona, luring him out in the open and striking when the bench boss least expected.


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According to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, it was a stirring success:


After Sunday's game, Francona and bench coach Brad Mills spotted Ross Atkins, the team's vice president of player personnel, and began planning their attack. What Francona did not know, as he leaned out of the gator with a water balloon in hand, was that Atkins was only the bait.

"All of a sudden, there were like 10 people with water balloons," Francona said. "I got smacked with one in the neck, and then they just soaked us."



Just like that the hunter became the hunted, but it isn't in Francona's nature to just sit back and take it.


More from Bastian:



Francona said this battle is far from over.


"We have three weeks left," the manager said with a smirk.

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Whatever Francona has in mind, odds are it will be creative and will keep the Indians' front office personnel on their toes until they report back to Cleveland for the start of the regular season.


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Israel Fehr is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter.






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News sport : Michigan starting OL Graham Glasgow violates probation

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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Bennett (63) is held by Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (61). (Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports) Graham Glasgow, a two-year starter on Michigan’s offensive line, violated his probation over the weekend, according to the Detroit News.


Glasgow was put on 12-month probation after pleading guilty to a DUI charge last June following his March arrest. He violated the terms of his probation by registering a .086 on a Breathalyzer test given on Sunday, per court documents.


From the Detroit News:


“According to the 15th District Court online records, Glasgow violated probation for a "failure to abstain from alcohol." The test was administered Sunday, and at "9:59 a.m. Mr. Glasgow admitted he consumed alcohol," the records state.”

At a hearing last June, Glasgow admitted that he drank “10 to 12” Natural Light beers at his house before driving on March 15, 2014. Glasgow, who was suspended for Michigan’s season opener after his arrest, told the court he started to drink at “around 4 p.m.” on that day.


Glasgow said he was driving to a pizza restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor when he was pulled over at 8:39 p.m. He registered a .11 BAC after being pulled over and a .13 BAC at the police station. He was originally charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, but agreed to plead guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while visibly impaired.


Glasgow started 11 games at guard for the Wolverines last season. He also started 13 games at guard and center for the team in 2013. With starting center Jack Miller deciding not to return to the team for his fifth season, Glasgow moved back to the top spot at center during spring practice


Michigan did not have a comment on Glasgow’s status with the team.


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 : The 10-man rotation, starring the reason Joakim Noah sat on Sunday

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A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.


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C: CSN Chicago. Joakim Noah didn’t play down the stretch of Chicago’s loss to Oklahoma on Sunday because he had already hit his 32-minute restriction mark midway through the fourth quarter. Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau knew about this restriction heading into the game, so the only explanation for running into 32 minutes with six minutes left to play in regulation either paints Thibs as a bad coach, or someone who is throwing a bit of a nationally televised protest in the face of his front office. Tom Thibodeau isn’t a bad coach, though, so draw your own assumptions.

PF: Sports Illustrated. The Utah Jazz have been a killer defensive squad, both in the paint and on the perimeter, of late.

SF: TrueHoop. Mike D’Antoni sits down with Amin Elhassan, who used to cut tape for D’Antoni in Phoenix, to discuss some of the players he’s enjoyed coaching the most.

SG: Knickerblogger. Recalling the time, late in his career, when Isiah Thomas was nearly traded to the New York Knicks.

PG: SB Nation. Paul Flannery (in his weekly must-read) talks to various Memphis Grizzlies, at a low point in their season, as they discuss their championship aspirations.

6th: NBA.com. The Cavaliers are frightening, truly frightening, and other thoughts in this week’s power rankings from John Schuhmann.

7th: SB Nation. Detailing the ungodly type of play that Anthony Davis came through with on Sunday night.

8th: Salt City Hoops. We already know that the Jazz have turned into a dominant defensive force, fine. The team’s offense has to spring from the ranks of the mediocre, Matt Pacenza writes, if the team wants to make the playoffs next season.

9th: New York Times. Scott Cacciola with a solid piece on those interwoven Atlanta Hawks. Cool read, this.

10th: Deadspin. Remember hearing about how the Milwaukee Bucks’ interest in including facial gesture studies as part of their plans for scouting players, and thinking it a little daft? That’s because it is incredibly daft. Good initial assumption, you.


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






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News sport : Adidas will not attempt to extend its apparel deal with the NBA

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It always seemed rather incongruous that Adidas would stand as the maker of the NBA’s official apparel, when all but a handful of NBA stars wore Adidas sneakers. The company, which announced on Monday that it would not look to extend its apparel contract with the league when the agreement between the two companies expires in 2017, failed to see any significant growth of its particular basketball brand despite its association with basketball’s top league, which played a significant part in its decision to walk away.


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Another significant shift came when the company was told by the NBA that the league would allow others to bid on the sponsorship when the current contract runs out after 2016-17. From Matthew Kish of the Portland Business Journal, who broke the story:



A source familiar with the bidding process said Adidas made the decision after it was informed last week that the NBA planned to open the competition to other bids. The source noted Adidas has fallen behind its competitors.



The move by the NBA likely meant Adidas would have been a longshot to renew.


Adidas signed a $400 million contract with the NBA in 2006, but after nearly a decade of putting company logos on all manner of jerseys, warm-ups and the like, only 70 NBA players currently wear Adidas shoes. Stars like John Wall, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, and Dwight Howard all wear popular-selling Adidas models, but that wasn’t enough to keep the company from being overtaken by Under Armour for domestic sales last year.


Both that company and Nike are expected to be in the running to vie for Adidas’ former position with the NBA in 2017, around the same time the league and its players will engage in heated labor negotiations as they attempt to split up the kajillions in revenue the league as glommed off of Joey Consumer. One that could threaten the 2017-18 season.


Adidas told the PBJ that the company isn’t getting out of the basketball business, noting that they’re “going to invest more money in basketball over the next five years than we ever have,” as it works with younger talents like 2014 top overall pick Andrew Wiggins.


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The move from one shoe company to another probably won’t change much regarding how the NBA does business. Both the league and that company were widely criticized for putting sleeves on some of the alternate jerseys that it asks its teams to wear from time to time, but it’s more than possible that any other apparel company could do the same thing at the NBA’s behest in an attempt to flood the market with more and more products to buy.


The same goes for the myriad other alternative jerseys (to celebrate environmental causes, the Chinese New Year, the league’s Latino heritage, its Christmas Day games, et cetera) that the league loves to pump out. The NBA’s ability to run out a half-dozen or more uniforms per team will continue unabated, regardless of the shoe company logo on the jerseys. And don’t think that NBA commissioner Adam Silver isn’t counting down the days until he could turn your son and daughter into a walking billboard, as other advertisements on jerseys aren’t far away.


The league is a moneymaking machine. And it will look slightly different, possibly a little swooshier, starting in 2017-18.


Assuming the NBA has a season that year.


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






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News sport : UFC legend offers to train Laila Ali if she really wants to fight Ronda Rousey

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Last week, female boxing great Laila Ali said that she could handle UFC champion Ronda Rousey in a fight. Of course, another non-MMA athlete saying they could dethrone the reigning bantamweight champ didn't play well in the MMA community.


The 37-year-old boxing champ retired from competition in 2007 with an undefeated record of 24-0. However, when Ali mentioned Rousey's name, she became another celeb/athlete to throw their name in the ‘I can take Ronda Rousey’ contest – a contest that has long since spiraled out of control.


Most dismissed the talk as nothing more than fodder. Ali was a boxer – a great one at that – but she couldn’t possibly step inside the Octagon without the proper time spent in a real MMA gym.Ronda Rousey laughs at a question during the UFC 184 post-fight press conference. (USAT)


Well, someone with a real MMA gym is willing to help Ali if she decides to come out of retirement. And he’s not only a gym owner; he’s a UFC hall of famer to boot.


“She doesn’t need a boxing coach, she needs a wrestling coach,” said former light heavyweight and heavyweight UFC champion Randy Couture.


TMZ asked for Couture's thoughts on a potential Ali-Rousey matchup. Couture, who runs the successful MMA gym ‘Xtreme Couture’ in Las Vegas, has decades of experience in the sport of MMA. He is also a three-time division I All-American out of Oklahoma State – so if wrestling is an area that Ali needs to work on, there would be few, if any, better suited than Couture for the job.


“Ronda Rousey’s not gonna box with her,” he continued, “she’s going to take her down on the ground and rip her arm off like she does to everyone else.”


So, who else better to show her the ropes (or mats) than a bonafide MMA legend?


“Sure,” replied the 51-year-old former champ when asked if he’d lend a hand. “She’s a great athlete. I have a lot of respect for her.”



The proposed matchup of Rousey and Ali is certainly the definition of water cooler talk. After all, Ali is 37 and she hasn’t competed in over half a decade. That said, neither has Gina Carano. And the UFC was looking to put that fight together not too long ago. Couple that with the fact that there has never been anyone in the UFC’s female division(s) who carry the stand-up credentials of Laila Ali, and the prospect of a potential showdown is, at the very least, fun to think about.


At 37, Ali is certainly not collecting AARP benefits just yet. So, the idea of a former boxing legend coming out of retirement to battle the “It” athlete of the moment is not really as far off as some might think.


And when you ask the man who once captured a major UFC title on the verge of his 50th birthday if age matters; well, you don’t need a crystal ball to predict his response, “I don’t think that matters,” he said. “She’s an amazing athlete. She has half the battle whipped, in the ability she has as a boxer and the intensity that she brings to the game. She needs to learn the grappling and the wrestling. How long will it take her to get up to speed is the big question.”


There are plenty of questions surrounding who Ronda Rousey will fight next. Let’s just hope we get some answers soon, because surely Rousey would like to focus on an actual opponent, and not all of the speculation.






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News sport : Denver is resting three starters against their wishes in order to lose a game, basically

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The Denver Nuggets are enjoying one of their better stretches of the season, winning six of eight games since interim head coach Melvin Hunt took over for the dismissed Brian Shaw. The team did well to play spoiler in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, downing the playoff hopeful in two overtime periods. Its three core starters – Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried, and Danilo Gallinari – are all presumably healthy and they would like to play on Monday night against a struggling Memphis Grizzlies squad. Because he would like to win the ball game, Melvin Hunt would also like to play that triptych of players.


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Those players will not play on Monday night, however. Via Pro Basketball Talk:




This is a clear edict from the team’s front office. Whether or not this is tanking is up to your definition of the term – the remaining Nuggets will likely plays as hard as they can against Memphis while attempting to win, but the Denver front office is making it very hard for the Denver Nuggets to win the team’s basketball game on Monday evening.


The Nuggets are currently 11.5 games out of the playoff bracket in the Western Conference, and in spite of the recent upturn the squad is still working with the eighth-worst record in the NBA currently. The team more or less punted away its season with a 2-19 stretch through the middle of the 2014-15, one that doomed Shaw’s tenure in Denver. This group, in bad need of a superstar, has no real motivation to want to continue piling up wins.


Thus, the benchings. It’s quite possible that Lawson, Faried, and Gallinari are just as tired as the starters (plus one) in Golden State that sat out their contest against these same (well, mostly) Nuggets on Friday evening, but each member of this triptych reportedly wants to play.


For good reason. Lawson’s season has been marred with injury and off-court troubles. Faried had been working through a frustrating year prior to Shaw’s dismissal, and until only recently Gallinari had looked like a shell of his former self as he worked his way back from a 2013 ACL tear. All three have been playing exceedingly well throughout this stretch, however, and all three would apparently like to keep things going.


On top of that, the interim coach (a man looking to stake his claim as a head man after years of being regarded as a top-flight assistant) is fighting for a gig. No matter, says the front office, as the next batch of Nuggets games are on the road, the punters in Colorado won’t be cheated out of a game, and nobody is driving from two states over to see Ty Lawson play in Memphis in the meantime.


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This is, sadly, the right move for the Nuggets. They don’t need wins, they need to move up in the NBA’s draft lottery to grab a star, and while Faried could use the reps oft-gimpy types like Lawson and Gallinari should be looking out for their dodgy ankles and knees.


This is where the NBA is at in 2015. And if you think the league badly needs to do something about this, understand that most Nuggets fans (in looking to improve lottery odds) will probably back the front office’s decision.


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






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News sport : Colorado starting DT Josh Tupou arrested following house party fight

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Colorado starting defensive lineman Joshua Tupou turned himself into Boulder Police last Thursday after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, criminal mischief, trespassing and reckless endangerment following an incident at a house party in February.


Jaleel Awini, a QB transfer from Air Force who is listed as an outside linebacker, and receiver Donovan Lee also were cited. Awini was ticketed for third-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree trespassing. Lee was cited for third-degree assault, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and second-degree trespassing.


According to the Boulder Daily Camera, police were called to a house party around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 after a fight broke out and it spilled into the street. When police arrived, no Colorado players were present, but several witnesses named Tupou, Awini and Lee as instigators of the fight.


More from the Boulder Daily Camera:


According to the affidavit, Tupou and Lee knocked a hole in the privacy fence at a house in the 1000 block of 11th Street where a party was being held, causing about $300 to $700 in damage.

Once inside the patio area, witnesses said Tupou then tackled one of the party guests, Christopher Tetreault, and punched him 3 to 4 times in the face before a woman started yelling at Tupou to stop.

Tetreault was transported to Boulder Community Hospital and suffered a broken nose and a broken bone in his right cheek.

Tetreault declined to comment when reached on Friday.

Tupou also reportedly kicked another man in the crotch and then punched a third man in the back of the head, according to the affidavit. Several witnesses at the party picked Tupou out of a photo lineup, police said.

Witnesses also said Awini and Lee were the two loudest and "in your face" instigators, and one man said he saw Lee throw a chair at someone. Lee told police that he helped break down the fence and did not see what Tupou did, but acknowledged things "went way too far."

Colorado officials told the paper they were waiting for the legal process to play out before any action was taken, however none of the three players participated in Colorado’s spring game Saturday.


Tupou is a three-year starter at defensive tackle for the Buffs. He played in all 12 games last season and recorded 42 tackles. Lee played in 10 games as a freshman receiver in 2014. He had 13 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.


For more Colorado news, visit BuffStampede.com.


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!


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News sport : Report: Cowboys negotiating with free agent Greg Hardy

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Maybe the Cowboys are the “mystery team” Drew Rosenhaus, the agent of free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, was referring to.

According to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, the Cowboys are currently “negotiating to sign” Greg Hardy, who only played in one game for Carolina in 2014. Hardy was convicted of assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend last year, but the case was dismissed on Feb. 9 after Hardy asked for a jury trial and his accuser refused to cooperate and failed to show for court.


Hardy played in Week 1 for the Panthers last year, but was deactivated the following week as his legal issues played out and heat surrounding domestic violence in the NFL intensified. On Sept. 17, Hardy agreed to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and he did not play for the rest of the season.


The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Hardy was extremely productive for the Panthers before his legal issues popped up in 2014. He combined for 18 sacks in his first three seasons before breaking out with 59 tackles and 15 sacks in 2013.


He would certainly provide a boost for the Dallas defense, but is his production worth all of the baggage? That’s a question the folks in the Cowboys’ front office will have to ask themselves.


On top of that, Peter King of The MMQB is reporting that there’s a “good chance” Hardy will be suspended for the first six games of the 2015 season. That’s another thing the Cowboys will have to look into.


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News sport : LeBron James shows off his acting skills in 'Trainwreck' premier

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AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 15: (L-R) Producer Kim Caramele, actress Vanessa Bayer, actor Bill Hader, actress Amy Schumer, director Judd Apatow and producer Barry Mandel arrive at the screening of "Trainwreck" during the 2015 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at the Paramount on March 15, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SXSW) Plenty of professional athletes attempt to take their talents to the big screen. Most of them fail miserably – but LeBron James, he's never been average.


King James proved it once again last night as his first film, Trainwreck, screened at SXSW in Austin.


Starring Amy Schumer as an anti-monogomy, sports-hating journalist and Bill Hader as sports doctor who she's assigned to interview, the film has everything needed to be this summer's blockbuster comedy. What was slightly surprising was how well James sells himself as an actor, and how many scenes he's in. Playing himself, his character is Hader's lifelong best friend, constantly giving him unsolicited dating advice.


The crowd loved every awkward moment, from James taking jabs at himself for being a cheap-skate (he makes Hader split the lunch tab, then realizes he "forgot" his wallet; he drives 40 minutes back to grab his sunglasses because he doesn't want to buy new ones) to him sincerely saying he needs to watch "Downton Abbey" so that he doesn't feel left out when his teammates are talking about it.


Screengrab There was even a crack at Cleveland in general, when he complains that Hader only visited him when he was in Miami. His timing was on point throughout, but never better than when he gets his chance to ask Amy what's going on between her and his bestie.


“When you look up in the clouds, do you see his face?” he says. “When you hear his voice, does it remind you of a song?” He completes the scene by staring into her eyes for a solid five seconds, making sure she knows that he's serious when he says she better not hurt his friend.


James isn't the only one playing a version of himself in the film. In an on-stage introduction, Schumer said she pulled on many of her own experiences as she wrote the screenplay.


“I sent the first script to Judd and I was all proud of it, and Judd said, ‘Why don’t you really take a look at what’s up with yourself?'” she said. “So this is really me looking at what’s going on with me.”


James couldn't make it to the screening as the Cavaliers were playing in Orlando Sunday night, but with the official release slated for July 17, long after the NBA season wraps, fans can expect to see him on the press circuit.


And, based on this screening, plenty of other film premiers down the road.



____

Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or find her on Twitter.







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News sport : Report: Eagles bring in Tim Tebow for workout

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Tim Tebow #15 of the New York Jets looks on as he warms up against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on October 8, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images) Could Tim Tebow be making his long-awaited return to the NFL?


According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tebow is working out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Tebow, who has been working as a college football commentator for ESPN, hasn’t been in the league since he was cut by the New England Patriots in August 2013.


Before his short stint in New England, Tebow was drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft by the Denver Broncos. He played in nine games and made three starts as a rookie, throwing for 654 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions while also running 227 yards and six scores.


Tebow began the 2011 season as Denver’s backup behind Kyle Orton, but was inserted into the starting lineup after the team’s 1-4 start. Though he completed only 46.5 percent of his passes, Tebow threw for 1,729 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions and added 660 yards and six scores on the ground and led the Broncos to a division title (with an 8-8 record).


Tebow then led the Broncos to a playoff win over the Steelers in the Wild Card round by throwing for a career-high 316 yards and hitting Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.



The Broncos were blown out by New England 45-10 the following week.


Following the season, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets after the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. The Jets mainly used Tebow in a wildcat role and released him after the season. New England then signed him a few months later, but he was released during the team’s final cuts.


Now, nearly two years later, Tebow may get another shot with Philadelphia. This is only a workout of course, so nothing may come from this. Still, it’s always intriguing to see Tebow’s name back in the news. He’s a unique athlete. Maybe Chip Kelly has a plan to put Tebow’s skills to good use.


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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 : VOD: It's a Utah spring football dance party

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Happy Monday, everyone.


In honor of all the teams going dancing in the NCAA Tournament this week, we thought we’d show off some moves on the Dr. Saturday readership courtesy of the Utah football team.



Yep, the Utes had a DJ spinning tracks while the teams held a dance-off on Friday. The video is four minutes. Not all of it is worth your time, but there’s some good breakdancing and cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah gets in on the dance party, too.


Just some good, wholesome spring practice fun to brighten your day from Dr. Saturday to you, our loyal readers.


You’re welcome.


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!


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Pellegrini’s days at City numbered?

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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini cannot grumble if the club's hierarchy already has his replacement lined up.


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London – With the Premier League trophy being so meekly surrendered and a season without silverware looming, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini cannot grumble if the club's hierarchy already has his replacement lined up.


That's the way City seems to operate these days and it can be seen as logical planning to ensure a smooth succession.


Managers are expendable for owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is still waiting after almost seven years for the team to become a consistent force to match the $1 billion-plus investment in players.


Rather than advancing from positions of strength, however, City always seems to regress. None of the trophies they have won in the last four years - the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup - have been retained.


And City's inadequacies have been particularly exposed in the Champions League. Unless a 2-1 deficit can be overturned against Barcelona in the Camp Nou on Wednesday, City will have failed to reach the quarterfinals yet again. Under Roberto Mancini, City was eliminated in the group stage in 2011-12 and 2012-13, and only went one better under Pellegrini last year by reaching the round of 16.


City is nowhere close to the global domination it craves. It isn't even one of the best eight teams in Europe, and in the FA Cup this season the club was even embarrassed at home by Middlesbrough, a team in the second division.


City couldn't even beat the most cheaply-assembled team in the Premier League: first being held to a draw at home by Burnley and then losing on Saturday to the promoted squad assembled for a few million dollars.


At Turf Moor, City looked bereft of ideas or inspiration, with Sergio Aguero and David Silva ineffective going forward. Pellegrini's tactical inflexibility enabled Burnley, a team battling against relegation, to grab a 1-0 win.


“You could see in that game how they don't track back as well as they go forward so we knew we could exploit that and we did,” said Burnley scorer George Boyd, who cost the northern club less than $5 million last year.


“Obviously with the bigger teams they've got world-class players who can cut you open in a second, but you find if you get in amongst them and press them they don't really like it because they're not used to being tackled.”


Pellegrini has eradicated the chaos and feuding that defined Mancini's reign, but the team hasn't been any more competitive since establishing a more harmonious atmosphere.


Although City can produce attractive, expansive football, faltering displays are prone to follow. Lacking the ability to consistently subdue opponents, City is six points behind Chelsea in the title race and has played one game more.


It's a familiar story.


Three years ago, Mancini delivered City's first English title in 44 years, but he then allowed Manchester United to run away with the 2012-13 trophy by 11 points before being dismissed by Sheikh Mansour.


This time, it's Pellegrini's job security that is looking increasingly fragile.


In May 2013, City was not only embarrassed by Wigan in the FA Cup final at Wembley but Mancini seemed to be personally undermined by a matchday leak that Pellegrini had already been approached to succeed him.


City didn't quash the report, and Mancini was left in the dark.


“I don't know why the club didn't stop this,” the Italian complained before discovering the reason days later when he was fired.


Mancini was of course hired in similarly murky circumstances in 2009, having been courted in advance of Mark Hughes being fired. Hughes took charge of a final game with the world already knowing he would be fired later in the day, conduct by City that then-Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson branded “unacceptable.”


City was riled by the criticism, with the most memorable moment of Mancini's first media conference being when then-chief executive Garry Cook became increasingly exacerbated, thumped his hand and insisted: “There is no conspiracy.”


Five years later, former Barcelona duo Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain run day-to-day operations while also overseeing a network of clubs, including Melbourne and New York operations.


But if the team ends the season empty handed, City has shown it is willing to act swiftly and brutally. Lose in Barcelona on Wednesday, and it is likely to be a matter of when, not if, Pellegrini is fired. – Sapa-AP






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Sunderland sack Poyet

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Sunderland parted company with manager Gus Poyet with the club facing a battle for Premier League survival after a crushing 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.


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London - Sunderland parted company with manager Gus Poyet with the club facing a battle for Premier League survival after a crushing 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday.


Sunderland are 17th in the 20-team league with 26 points, one place and one point above the relegation zone with only nine matches left to play. They have won only one of their last 12 league games.


“I would like to thank Gus for his endeavours during his time at the club, in particular last season's 'great escape' and cup final appearance, which will live long in the memory of every Sunderland fan,” chairman Ellis Short said in a statement on the club website (www.safc.com).


“Sadly, we have not made the progress that any of us had hoped for this season and we find ourselves battling, once again, at the wrong end of the table.


“We have therefore made the difficult decision that a change is needed.”


The 46-year-old Poyet, who had been in charge at the Stadium of Light for 75 matches since October 2013, saved the Black Cats from relegation last season when they won four of their last five games to escape from the bottom three and finish 14th.


He also steered them into their first major final for 22 years although they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup at Wembley.


But the Uruguayan has become the sixth Premier League manager to leave this season with Sunderland winning only four of their 29 league matches.


Defeats included an 8-0 loss at Southampton, the joint worst in their league history, while Saturday's reverse to Villa was their heaviest at home since 2007.


Poyet succeeded Paolo di Canio as manager with the team bottom of the Premier League and although their results improved slightly after his arrival they were still bottom of the table with five matches to play.


Unlikely wins at Chelsea and Manchester United, however, as well as home victories over Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion secured their top-flight place for an eighth successive season.


Poyet antagonised Sunderland's fans this season by saying they were “living in the past” and thousands streamed out of the ground as they went 4-0 down to Villa before halftime. Some angry supporters had to be restrained as they headed towards Poyet in the dugout. – Reuters






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