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San Antonio Spurs Test the Waters with Derrick White

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San Antonio Sours test the waters

The San Antonio Spurs test the waters with their newest team-player, Derrick White

The San Antonio Spurs addressed the backcourt of Thursday’s NBA draft by choosing Derrick White from Colorado with the No. 29 pick. This and other selections came after a week during which the Spurs spoke with at least 3 teams, sources say, regarding a possible trade to get them up to the top half of the first round. This would be in exchange for LaMarcus Aldridge.

The San Antonio Spurs Test the Waters in Search of Co-Player

In regard to the San Antonio Spurs’ draft, their general manager, R.C. Buford said that it is what it is.

“So there’s always all kinds of discussions going around. You never know what’s real, and you never know where you’re gonna get.”, he added.

He later stressed the importance of the group, as it is well-shaped as it is. But, in his opinion, if they can make the group better, no occasion will be spared. And regarding LaMarcurs he said that he thinks that Aldridge will help their team win more tournaments and competition.

The San Antonio Spurs test the waters with LaMarcurs especially in the light of the uncertainty given Parker’s recovery from a torn quadriceps tendon, Patty Mills’ potential departure through free agency in July, and Dejounte Murray’s inexperience as a rookie.

Derrick White is eager to start playing with the Spurs. He has until now only played one season at Colorado, where he’s averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steal in the ’16-’17 season, which came after his three years at Division II University of Colorado—Colorado Springs.

So the San Antonio Spurs test the waters with their newest acquisition, Derick White, an experienced player, who, the Spurs hope, will help them win more tournaments.

White said in a statement that:

“Each time you have the doubters, you just put a little chip on your shoulder. It was humbling at the time. It just made me work to just continue to never be satisfied”.

Wide Receiver Reggie Wayne Not Returning to the Colts

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WayneIndianapolis Colts, wide receiver Reggie Wayne will not be returning. Grigson stated that Wayne, who wears the number 87 jersey, has a long history of greatness and that among the players who define the team, he is one of just a few.

By the time Grigson arrived in Indianapolis in 2012, Wayne was already well on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer. No one on the field or in the team’s building for that matter contributed as much as he did. As expressed by Grigson, Wayne was a key contributor to the growth of the Colts but also the team’s overall success.

During the team’s comeback against the Green Bay Packers in 2012, Wayne was the catalyst that kept the Colts motivated and fired up. Based on his performance and attitude for that one game alone, other team members quickly realized there was no obstacle that could not be overcome.

While his dedication and the way he led the team by example will be missed, Grigson and everyone associated with the Colts’ organization wishes him well.

In regular season games, Wayne is the franchise leader, having played 211 games and chalked up 143 wins. He also ranks number second with his 1,070 receptions, 14,345 receiving yards, 80 touchdowns, 43 100-yard games, and 134 consecutive games having completed a reception. In the history of the NFL, Wayne ranks seventh in career receptions and eighth for receiving yards.

Jim Irsay, owner of the Colts said that Wayne is without question one of the greatest men in history to ever wear the Colts’ horseshoe. For the past 14 years, he has been incredible to watch. While no one wanted to see the day come when Wayne would leave the team, owners and coaches new that one day that decision would be made.

While Irsay is sad to see Wayne leave, he also feels the decision is what is best for the team but Wayne himself. He will now have the decision of playing with another team if he wants.

He was drafted by the NFL in 2001 as 30th overall pick, chosen to play in six Pro Bowls, and in 2010, he was named Associated Press First Team NFL All-Pro. Wayne leaves behind an unrivaled legend with the Colts. His lack of presence on the field will be noticed.

Travis Kvapil Pulls out of Sprint Cup After Car is Stolen

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RacecarTravis Kvapil who drives for Team Xtreme Racing was forced to pull out of the Sprint Cup race because his car was stolen from the hotel where he and other team members were staying. The No. 44 Chevrolet race car was to compete in this coming Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway but after being taken early in the morning from the Drury Inn the team had no option but to withdraw.

The owner of the team, John Cohen, told reporters that Kvapil will still race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend. As far as the value of the supped up racecar, Cohen was unsure but according to the official police report, it has a value of $250,000.

Immediately upon finding the racecar was gone, Kvapil and others took to the social media to spread the word. At this point, the only lead law enforcements have is a surveillance tape that shows the unmarked dually trailer with the racecar inside being stolen. The only thing that was already at the racetrack was the hauler that contained all the necessary tools for race.

When asked, Cohen said the only information he has at this point is that someone drove up in a silver colored Jeep. One man exited the Jeep and pulled off with the trailer and car in tow.

Kvapil was trying to qualify for the race on Sunday in the car taken. While at the track, he received a text message from someone on the team advising him there was a problem with the car. He said he really did not give the text much thought and in fact, thought his guys were giving him a hard time. However, he soon received a number of voicemail messages and was told an hour later by his crew chief that the car was gone.

Kvapil stated that when he was told there was something going on with the car, he thought it had to do with NASCAR confiscating it or something technical but once he discovered the truth, he was sick.

Just last week, Team Xtreme qualified to race in the Daytona 500 with driver Reed Sorenson finishing in 32nd place. Because Sorenson was driving for another team this week, Kvapil would have driven the same car that qualified in Daytona.

Because teams had already tested at Atlanta yesterday, all of the other cars were inside the track secured. At the race shop are two Daytona cars, one destroyed during qualifications and run that ran the Daytona 500. The last car getting ready to run in both Atlanta and Las Vegas was the car taken by thieves.

The team had gone back to the track on Wednesday with the hauler in preparation for an incoming storm but the car was not yet ready. Working on the car until about midnight were up to ten crewman who had until 5:00 pm yesterday to get the car prepared. For that reason, the car arrived Thursday night on a smaller trailer.

Kvapil said that there is a lot of money inside the trailer, referring to the racecar, and that for the sake of the owner but everyone associated with Team Xtreme, he hopes it will be found without damage. Without the car, the team faces a major setback.

Charles Haley Says Brady Will be Haunted by Deflategate

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Tom Brady the recently crowned MVP of Super Bowl XLIX has four Super Bowls rings that tie him for second all time, but just one man, Charles Haley, has more.

Haley believes that the quarterback from the New England Patriots cheated to get his.

When Haley was asked to choose between Joe Montana and Brady, Haley did not hesitate. Haley won two Super Bowls with Montana and said Montana did not cheat.

He said he had lost all respect for Brady and added that when your integrity is question in football all four of his Super Bowls are in turn tainted.

Haley added that you have to figure this did not happen overnight.

The former defensive standout said he could be wrong, but he said 11 of 12 Pats balls had been deflated and the 12 used by Indy were not.

Haley, after winning his two Super Bowls with San Francisco, won three more with the Dallas Cowboys. Last week he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was in Arizona for the Super Bowl where Brady tied his former teammate Joe Montana with four titles.

However, the stigma of the Deflategate controversy has Haley thinking otherwise about the legacy of Brady.

Haley said that he believes that one day this will all come back to haunt Brady. He added that everyone is talking about it and nobody believes an accident took place.

Haley added that he would not take any of the rings Brady won away from him, but it is tainted right now in his opinion. The former sack specialist said he hoped the league would come out and tell everyone what really took place, then there will no longer be a mystery about it.

On January 23, the league announced that evidence had shown the Patriots had used footballs that were underinflated, in their 45-7 AFC Championship win over the Indianapolis Colts. The league said prior to the Super Bowl that no timetable existed for resolving the accusations of cheating.

Jury to Hear Aaron Hernandez Murder Trial Opening Statements

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Jurors in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial will hear opening statements from attorneys on Thursday on whether the former tight end of the New England Patriots who was once worth more than $40 million killed a semipro player.

Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the killing in 2013 of Odin Lloyd who dated Hernandez’s fiancées’ sister.

Two males who are alleged accomplices, Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, have also entered not guilty pleas and are to be tried separately.

Renewed attention has come to the case since New England is playing Seattle in this Sunday’s Super Bowl and since Bob Kraft the owner of the Patriots and Bill Belichick the coach are on the witness list for the prosecution.

Days following the slaying of Lloyd, which was on June 17, 2013, Hernandez visited Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play their home games and spoke to both Belichick and Kraft about the death of Lloyd according to members of law enforcement that have knowledge of the case.

Both of those meetings were face to face, later Kraft told investigators that his former tight end said straight out that he did not have anything to do with the death of Lloyd.

According to the Patriots head coach, the same applied and he told authorities he talked with Hernandez about where he was on the night Lloyd was killed. The day police arrested Hernandez, Belichick told reporters during a press conference that he had been shocked.

Since the arrest of the former NFL player in the death of Lloyd, there has been a big change in the case for the prosecution, seemingly in the favor of Hernandez, as the presiding judge barred certain evidence of the prosecutors, said legal analysts.

The judge barred a text message Lloyd sent to his sister only minutes prior to being killed. That message stated he was with NFL just so u are aware.

The ruling by the Judge said the message did not contain enough proof Lloyd thought he was going to be killed. Other testimony has also been barred, making the case much more difficult for prosecutors.

Seahawks Sad To Hear Targeting Claims From Former Player

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BrownerThe New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are slated to square off this coming Sunday, February 1st, in Superbowl XLIX and one former Seahawk is has said he is planning on telling his new Patriots teammates to target injured Seahawks Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas during the game.

These comments on targeting come from former Seahawk Brandon Browner and have saddened some of his former teammates, including Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright.

“I didn’t know he said that, but we don’t play like that,” Wright said Monday. “We don’t go out there and try to hurt guys. And I don’t care if they do have an injury. We’re not going out there trying to hurt people, and especially guys you’re close to. If he said that, it’s fine, but that’s not our main focus.”

Sherman has a sprained ligament in his elbow, while Thomas is dealing with a shoulder separation suffered in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers.

Browning acknowledged that both Sherman and Thomas are tough guys in an interview with ESPN, and they’ll both be in the Superbowl playing as hard as they can to try and get the Seahawks to become the first repeat champions since the New England Patriots in the early 2000’s.

“But at the end of the day, this is about the Super Bowl,” Browner said in that same interview. “I’m gonna tell my teammates, ‘Go hit that elbow. Go hit that shoulder. Most definitely. Try to break it if you can.’ You’re gonna be my best friend after the game, but I know you want the Super Bowl just as bad as I do.”

Wright hasn’t seen that interview, but says that that isn’t a tactic that the Seahawks would use or endorse.

“You just try to play ball and play hard. But as far as going out there and targeting certain areas, that’s unacceptable and shouldn’t be in football.” Wright said.

 

Lance Armstrong Would Use PEDs Again In Same Circumstance

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ArmstrongFormer professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his 7 Tour de France victories in 2012 and banned from professional cycling after it was found that he used performance enhancing drugs through his career in racing, has said that if he was in the same circumstances when he started racing, he’d use PEDs again.

“If I was racing in 2017? No, I wouldn’t do it again,” Armstrong told BBC Sport in preparation for a new documentary. “Because I don’t think you have to do it again. If you take me back to 1995, when it was completely and totally pervasive? [I’d] probably do it again.”

Armstrong first started racing professionally in 1992, and his career took off starting in 1999. In 1999 Armstrong won his first of 7 consecutive Tour de France titles, something that was unprecedented, and would still be had the titles not been stripped from Armstrong as a result of his PED usage.

While Armstrong now openly acknowledges that he used performance enhancing drugs during his career, he also claims that it wasn’t just him who was utilizing PEDs at the time, but rather the that PEDs were an epidemic in cycling at the time.

“Listen, if I go back to 1995 — and some started earlier, some a little later, but let’s take that as ground zero — I think we’re all sorry,” Armstrong told BBC Sport. “And do you know what we’re sorry for? We’re sorry that we were put in that place. None of us wanted to be in that place. We all would have loved to have competed man on man, bread, water, naturally clean, whatever you want [to] call it.”

Armstrong had long denied usage of performance enhancing drugs despite multiple allegations through his career, but admitted their usage in 2013 after more allegations had taken place.

While Armstrong does say in the same environment he would do it again, he seems to think the sport of cycling would go back and change the culture if they could.

Rafael Nadal Loses In Quarterfinals

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NadalRafael Nadal, the number 3 ranked tennis player in the world and winner of 14 career majors, was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open by Tomas Berdych in straight sets. Prior to this victory, Berdych had lost to Nadal 17 consecutive times.

Since last June, Nadal had played in only 8 matches prior to his appearance in the Australian Open. Nadal was so limited as a result of an injury to his right wrist he had to recover from, and appendix surgery he had to undergo in November of last year.

“It is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive,” Nadal said. “As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, comebacks are difficult. But without being at my top level of tennis, I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me.”

For Berdych, he has an impressive win under his belt over Nadal, and will continue on in the Australian. Berdych’s victory over Nadal marked the first time that Nadal had been defeated in straight sets since 2006 at Wimbledon, and this is just the 3rd time Nadal has been defeated in straight sets at a major tournament.

Berdych is now set to match up against Andy Murray in his semi-finals match and hopes to keep his quality of play up to par among the best players in the world who still find themselves vying to win the Australian Open.

Murray is pretty heavily favored to end up participating in the Australian Open Finals this year as both Nadal and Roger Federer, who were both on that side of the tournament draw, have both been eliminated.

In all likelihood the biggest obstacle standing in Murray’s way to win the Australian Open is Novak Djokovic who is favored to come out on top of his side of the bracket

 

College Football Playoff Dates Set For Next Year

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CFP logogThe organization behind the dates for the College Football Playoffs have been standing firmly in defense of  the dates that they selected for next season’s semi-finals and and finals despite resistance from both ESPN and the NFL in order because they believe the dates will result in lower ratings.

“We completely support the New Year’s scheduling connections for the College Football Playoff throughout our 12-year agreement,” an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement. “For the one year in 2017 when the calendar falls a certain way, the idea was to consider moving the games from Thursday, Dec. 31 to Saturday, Jan. 2 to allow for a more accessible, fan-and participant-friendly experience for all. It’s strictly a one-year concept.”

The point of view from ESPN is a very understandable one, as they own the rights to both the College Football Playoffs and Monday Night Football, and they would prefer to maximize their potential ratings for the amount of football being showed that week.

Those responsible for scheduling the College Football Playoffs are sticking with the formula that college football has been following for years. The standard at this point is to have the final major bowl games take place on New Year’s Day, while the National Championship game would be held the Monday afterward.

“We understand and appreciate their interest in this,” CFP executive director Bill Hancock said in a prepared statement. “The fact is that we have started a new tradition of back-to-back tripleheaders on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We’re not interested in changing for one year, then returning for the next 10. This event has been very well received and we are excited about the future and about enhancing the concept of a ‘holiday within a holiday’ on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.”

The NFL will likely fight to keep Monday Night Football unimpeded, but only time will tell.

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Expects Apology If No Culprit Is Found

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KraftThe New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has stated that he expects an apology from the NFL if no culprit is found responsible for the deflategate scandal within the organization.

Ever since the accusations of the Patriots using under inflated balls in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, the entire organization has been under the magnifying glass of the NFL ever since.

The investigation since that game has been one of the major media stories throughout the entire sports world. The investigation did in fact turn up the fact that 11 of the 12 game balls used by the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game were deflated outside of NFL guidelines.

Although the balls have been found to be deflated, the NFL investigation has yet to identify the individual responsible for the actual act of deflating the balls.

The investigation, being led by attorney Ted Wells, is still looking for a culprit and, unless one is found, there will likely be minimal punishment for the organization as a whole. That said, Robert Kraft still expects an apology from the NFL is no individual is found to be responsible.

“If the Wells investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure on the footballs, I would expect and hope that the league would apologize to our entire team, and in particular, coach [Bill] Belichick and Tom Brady for what they have had to endure this past week,” said Kraft is a statement.

Kraft vouched for the sanctity of his team and his organization, saying, “I want to make it clear that I believe unconditionally that the New England Patriots have done nothing inappropriate in this process or in violation of NFL rules.”

While there is still time for the investigation to turn up new results, focus will certainly be on the Patriots this week in the lead up to Superbowl XLIX.

 

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