Neurological tests led Dario Franchitti to retire

Neurological tests led Dario Franchitti to retire

"A repeat of that kind of concussion could be serious," team owner says.

INDIANAPOLIS — Dario Franchitti couldn't risk another head injury, his IndyCar Series team owner said Friday.

"A repeat of that kind of concussion could be serious," Chip Ganassi said in a conference call.

Franchitti suffered a concussion in his Oct. 6 crash in Houston, and while specifics of his injury haven't been revealed, Ganassi said recent neurological tests in Miami led doctors to advise retirement.

Franchitti, who is in Scotland, has not been reached for comment. But he said in a press release Thursday that head and spinal injuries suffered in the crash — in which his car went airborne into a catchfence on the last lap and landed back on the track -- forced him to stop racing.

FRANCHITTI: Shocks motor sports world with retirement

INDYCAR: Suffers blow with Franchitti's retirement

Ganassi said Franchitti was "heartbroken" to give the news, saying that the telephone call he received from the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar Series champion sounded different than all other conversations he's had with him.

"His voice was different, his demeanor was different," Ganassi said. "He was certainly heartbroken. He's a bit of a realist about it, too. I went through all the obvious questions. He said, 'Look, I don't want to go forward. I'd never want to go forward and risk hurting somebody else or risk further injury, much less hurt somebody else.' He wouldn't dare risk giving a black eye to the sport or something by trying some sort of end around. That was out of the question. He respects professionals."

Franchitti had two surgeries on his broken ankle, one in Houston and one in Indianapolis, before traveling in the last two weeks to Miami to see IndyCar consultant Steve Olvey. The 40-year-old Franchitti then returned home to Scotland to continue his recovery.

He was in Scotland when he was advised to stop. Olvey, the associate professor of Clinical Neurology/Neurosurgery at the University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine, told RACER.com that Franchitti has suffered three concussions since 2002 and the one at Houston "was a big one, a significant concussion.

"He's got a higher risk for future concussions with less energy involved in a crash," Olvey told RACER. "And, as we've seen in pro football, repeated concussions can lead to early dementia, so he's got to think of his future. It's just too great a risk to take."

Ganassi said Franchitti will heal.

"Medically he has been told he'll make a 100 percent recovery, we've been told that from day one," Ganassi said. "These are all injuries that are recoverable. I don't want anybody thinking he's maimed for life."

11-15-2013 dario franchitti walker

In this photo provided by Team Chip Ganassi Racing, IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti, poses with his dogs, Shug and Buttermilk, in a photo taken by his brother, Marino Franchitti, at Memorial Hermann-

Texas Medical Center in Houston, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013.(Photo: Marino Franchitti, AP)

Continuing against the recommendation of experts "is not even close to his style," Ganassi said.

NASCAR: Mandates baseline concussion testing in '14

REPORT: Calls for action on concussions among kids

Baseline testing in NASCAR

Franchitti's retirement was still reverberating through the sport. Jimmie Johnson, who goes for his sixth NASCAR championship Sunday, said he feels horrible for his good friend.

"In one light, it shows just how bad his crash was. I'm just happy he is in good health," Johnson said. "My heart goes out to him from the perspective of having racing taken from him before it was time. That's got to be so tough to deal with. Everyone wants to walk away on their terms."

Franchitti's mentor, Jackie Stewart, said the four-time IndyCar champion is exiting on top and will be an asset outside of the car.

"There's not much more he could achieve in American motor racing," Stewart said at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin. "I think he's one of the real players in the business. He's got a strong future in front of him because of the success he's achieved in racing. Sad for motor racing because he's a great asset to us: A great looking guy, very eloquent and he's very fast."

Franchitti could also be the unofficial face of the importance of baseline concussion testing in racing.

NASCAR is mandating the testing beginning next season, in part because of the two concussions Dale Earnhardt Jr. suffered last year. Earnhardt Jr. missed two races while recovering.

NASCAR will use the ImPACT test to measure verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time, and determine if a driver is medically able to race following a concussion.

NASCAR President Mike Helton did not say Friday that Franchitti's injury validated NASCAR's decision to implement the testing. But he acknowledged the industry takes note when a champion driver has to get out of the car. Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has been out since August with a broken leg, and Denny Hamlin missed several races earlier this year with a fractured vertebra.

"I think it has a huge effect on all of the motorsports industry when a caliber of driver like Dario says he's not going to get back in the car," Helton said.

Defending NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski has been outspoken in his opposition of the testing, which has long been required in IndyCar.

"Doctors don't understand our sport. They never have. Doctors aren't risk takers. We are," Keselowski has said. "That's what makes our sport what it is. When you get doctors involved, you water down our sport."

While not asked specifically about Keselowski, Ganassi referenced his stance while supporting the testing.

"Let's just say I'm probably 180 degrees different than the current NASCAR champion feels about having doctors around, their input," he said. "That statement comes from experiences that I've had personally. To break a bone is one thing, or to have a surgical procedure is another.

"But when it comes to your head, I think it's important that everybody understands that's probably the least known area of expertise by any doctor, and certainly there's a lot of expertise out there. They're just in the last four or five years understanding what injuries and implications of those injuries are."

Who will replace Franchitti at TGR?

As for Franchitti's replacement in the Target-sponsored No. 10 car, Ganassi conceded that Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan, who was signed to the team before Franchitti's accident, will be a candidate. The team is committed to fielding four cars, he said, with IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon driving the No. 9 car and Charlie Kimball the No. 83.

Ganassi said hiring a young driver is something team officials will consider in the coming weeks, but he seemed more likely to follow the advice of longtime friend and former staff member Morris Nunn, who often said, "You need to take the best driver available and don't think about anything else."

"I would love the opportunity to give a young guy a chance," Ganassi said. "I think there are better places for young people to come into the sport than into that 10 car.

"Whoever fills that seat not only has obviously big shoes, if not the biggest shoes to fill in the sport, but you're also somebody that has to be a huge teammate and able to help Scott Dixon, as well, and Kanaan and Charlie.

One former IndyCar champion who has said he is not interested in replacing Franchitti is Sam Hornish Jr.

Hornish, who won IndyCar championships in 2001, '02 and '06, said Target Chip Ganassi Racing reached out to his representatives this week but he is committed to remaining in NASCAR. Hornish will battle Austin Dillon for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I expressed I was very grateful even for the call," Hornish said Friday. "A door opens and the reason still stands to not do it. It's just any time I've had a thought or thought about that at all, it's been like very minimal.

"I've said it a million times: I did everything over there that I wanted to do, and way more. The only goal I had when I started racing was to go to the Indianapolis 500. I look at that as a chapter in my life."

This story was compiled from Curt Cavin, who writes for the Indianapolis Star, and the Associated Press.

Source : http://www.usatoday.com/

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Jacoby Jones gets pummeled by teammate while fielding a punt [Video]

Jacoby Jones gets pummeled by teammate while fielding a punt [Video]

Jacoby Jones was the hero of the Baltimore Ravens' upset of the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs last year, hauling in a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco with less than a minute remaining to force overtime.

In the season-opening rematch between the two teams Thursday night, Jones barely got the chance to repeat his heroics.

After pulling in three passes for 24 yards in the first quarter, Jones was back to field a punt early in the second quarter when his night ended prematurely.

Just after signaling for a fair catch, Jones was plowed over by rookie teammate Brynden Trawick.

Jones left the game with a sprained right knee, and Trawick got a talking-to from Coach John Harbaugh.

“Tried to teach him that he's got to be willing to turn his head," Harbaugh said. "That's an experience problem. He's an inexperienced guy.”

Source : http://www.latimes.com/

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In a flash, Usain Bolt regains title in 100

In a flash, Usain Bolt regains title in 100

IVAN SEKRETAREV/ASSOCIATED PRESS

A wet track in Moscow and a great start by runner-up Justin Gatlin (left) didn’t deter Usain Bolt in the final.

s legs were hurting, the rain was pouring, and he was trailing late in the race.

Doesn’t matter. This is Usain Bolt.

And nothing gets in the way of him and first place, especially when he’s driven as he was Sunday night in the 100-meter final at the world championships.

Bolt blew by Justin Gatlin with about 30 meters to go and never glanced back. He also didn’t even crack a smile when he crossed the finish line because this took a lot more work than the world’s fastest sprinter usually needs.

Gatlin was second and Bolt’s Jamaican teammate Nesta Carter took third.

Of all Bolt’s titles, this one will have a special meaning, considering he false-started two years ago in the final to lose his crown.

Now, it’s his again.

‘‘It’s always great to get back your title,’’ said Bolt, who won in 9.77 seconds. ‘‘I’m happy with myself I got it done.’’

Like Bolt, Brittney Reese and Ashton Eaton were just as dominant. Reese won her third straight long jump gold, while Eaton now owns the world and Olympic decathlon titles.

Many of Bolt’s top rivals were missing. Gone were Tyson Gay (doping offense) and Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake, who was the reigning champion but skipped the worlds because of an injured hamstring.

Shortly after the race, Bolt sauntered around the track with his country’s flag tied around his neck like a cape. These days, he has to be the Superman of his sport. Given all the recent doping scandals, track needs someone to save the day.

For now, he will settle for blowing away the dark cloud over his country, a proud sprinting nation. Some of Jamaica’s most decorated sprinters have taken a fall: Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson, and Veronica Campbell-Brown all tested positive for a banned substance and weren’t at the worlds.

‘‘I’m just doing my part by running fast, winning titles and letting the world know you can do it clean,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘My focus is to continue doing what I do.’’

And that means running fast times, even on a drenched track.

What started as a steady drizzle turned into a downpour just before the gun sounded. So much so that Bolt clowned around when he was introduced to the crowd, pretending to open an umbrella.

Really, though, rain doesn’t bother him. Not in the least.

Neither does anything else, like falling behind early. He knew he might trail Gatlin at the halfway mark. Bolt has never been a good starter and may have been extra cautious considering what happened in South Korea two years ago.

In the lane next to him, Gatlin got off to a great start and thought he might have enough in the tank to beat Bolt, just as he did two months ago in Rome.

‘‘Then I saw these long legs coming up on my right side,’’ Gatlin said. ‘‘He’s great. He’s just great.’’

The two aren’t exactly the best of friends, but after the race, Gatlin congratulated Bolt, who had some kind words in return.

‘‘For him to say to me, ‘Hey, you’re the guy who pushes me to go even faster.’ I’m honored in that,’’ Gatlin said. ‘‘But I thought I had it for a second.’’

Only this is Bolt, the best finisher around. He sniffed the finish line and turned on the turbo jets. He did have to labor hard, though, grimacing as he crossed the line. Some of that may have been due to his legs, which he said were sore.

Even at less than 100 percent, Bolt is still downright difficult to beat.

‘‘I wanted to run faster, but after the semifinals my legs didn’t feel up to it,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘Don’t know what happened. I’m going to get it worked on. Hopefully I won’t have this problem in the 200 meters. Overall, it was a good race.’’

Mike Rodgers tried to get inside the head of Bolt after their semifinal matchup, staring up at the tall sprinter. Bolt got out to a big lead in that race earlier in the event and began loafing toward the finish line. Rodgers didn’t particularly care for that.

‘‘He thought he was going to slow down, like he could play with everybody,’’ said Rodgers, who wound up sixth in the final. ‘‘I guess he knows he can’t.’’

Perhaps.

Bolt still won convincingly — once he got up to full stride, that is.

‘‘I never look at things as easy. I put in hard work,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘That’s why I’m a champion. I keep pushing myself as a champion, no matter what. I push myself because that’s what it takes.’’

Source : http://www.bostonglobe.com

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Five thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles' preseason opener with the New England Patriots

Five thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles' preseason opener with the New England Patriots

1. Matt Barkley is nowhere near being an NFL quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles' 2013 fourth-round draft pick put on a pathetic display in the second and third quarters of the Birds' 31-22 loss to the New England Patriots in the preseason opener Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

His stats (11-for-22, 103 yards, 1 TD) look better than he did because he exploited the Patriots' third-string for a bit. But against New England's second unit, his decision-making was poor, his ability to see the field even worse and he lacked poise. Right now, if I were Chip Kelly, I'd keep Dennis Dixon as my No. 3 quarterback.

2. Kelly has been maligned by know-it-all media for spending too much time on special teams in practice, but that work paid off in Friday's game. Unlike Bobby April's confused, often clueless units of the end of the Andy Reid era, Kelly's units, coached by Dave Fipp, appear organized and efficient.

Special teams coordinator Fipp has a Patriot League pedigree: he first had the special teams job at Holy Cross in 1999. With the Dolphins in 2011 and 2012, his units ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the NFL. Given the sorry look of the Eagles defense, strong special teams could help make up for the defense's struggles a bit.

3. Tim Tebow isn't much of a quarterback, really, but he's still a legitimate celebrity. When the Patriots' third-string quarterback entered the game, he drew a roar almost equal to when the Eagles scored. Tebow could actually help some teams with his running skills when used on third-and-short read-option carries.

4. Want a dark-horse candidate to make the Eagles' roster? Rookie free agent linebacker Jake Knott wouldn't be a bad bet. The Iowa State product was always around the ball, showed better tackling skills than Eagles making a lot more money and had three tackles, a pass defended and a sack. He might stick.

5. Officially a bust: Eagles guard Danny Watkins. When a first-round draft pick in 2011 is relegated to playing in the second half of the first preseason game in 2013, things are not looking good for him. Then he drew a holding penalty. The clock is ticking on Watkins' stay in Philadelphia.

Source : http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/

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Riley Cooper returns, practices

Riley Cooper returns, practices

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper, who returned to practice on Tuesday after a brief stint away from the team, said that he's spoken with each of his teammates individually since a video capturing him using a derogatory racial remark went viral, asking them not to forgive him for his actions, but to judge him by his future.

"I talked to everyone individually," he said following the team's joint practice with the New England Patriots. "I told them, 'I don't want you to forgive me, because that puts the burden on you. I want it all on me.' I told them that and I told them I apologize. They could tell it was from the heart, they know I'm not that kind of person. It feels good to have support from the guys."

He added that he felt that 100 percent of his teammates were in support of him, something he sensed on the field in his return.

"It felt good to be out there with the guys and catching and running and making some plays and them coming up to you, supporting you, high-fiving you, chest-bumping you like Jason Avant did in the end zone when I had that TD," Cooper said. "It just felt good to be back out here with the guys."

The Eagles had excused Cooper on Friday and sent him for sensitivity training after video of his remark, made at a Kenny Chesney concert in June, surfaced last week.

His goal now is to earn the respect back from his teammates that he may have lost since the video surfaced. Running back LeSean McCoy recently said that he had lost respect for Cooper after the remarks.

"Absolutely, just by my actions," Cooper said of gaining respect back. "Don't judge me for the past, more so the future and just watch my daily moves and what I'm doing."

Fellow wide receiver Avant, among the team leaders spotlighted by coach Chip Kelly, said that the Eagles are over the situation as a team.

"I think you guys [the media] need the healing process more than the team," Avant said. "You guys got to cover it, so you keeping going, making the story go, but as far as our team, I think guys are definitely over it and we talked, we've had dialogue, we've accepted his apology. The only thing he can do is apologize. What else can he do? When a situation happens like that, there's not too many things you can do but apologize and be sincere about it. Now you guys have to get over it."

Asked whether or not a situation could arise where the team would part ways with Cooper due to the fallout from the situation, Kelly squashed the notion.

"I don't see that happening," he said. "After talking to our players, I think our players really understand the situation ... I don't envision that happening."

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement Tuesday that Cooper's slur was "totally unacceptable" but that the receiver was working to regain trust with the team and community. Cooper was fined by the Eagles after his slur became known last week.

"His words may have been directed at one person but they hurt everyone. Riley has apologized to the team and community and has made a personal commitment to work hard to try and gain their trust and earn his position on the team," Lurie said in the statement.

Cooper, a fifth-round pick of the team in 2010, remains hopeful that he has a future on the field in Philadelphia.

"I sure do hope, and I'm going to try each and every day to prove that and play as hard as I can and play my game," he said. "I want to stay here."

Regardless of his future with the Eagles, Cooper also understands that this is an incident that he's going to have to live with for the rest of his life.

"It's going to be tough, no doubt about it," he said. "I'm going to live with this every day for the rest of my life. It's one of those things, you can't let it affect your play on the field, and that's what I'm going to strive to do."

Kelly said that the decision for Cooper to return was a mutual one, while Cooper noted that he'll continue to seek guidance on the issue as needed going forward.

"I talked to Chip last night and this morning, and he asked, he said, 'How do you feel? Are you ready to come back?' and I said absolutely," Cooper said. "I love being out here on the field and I love being out there with my guys."

The training, Cooper said, helped him understand the severity of his remarks.

"We just talked about the situation and how big this is," he said of the training. "I realize that, and I realize how many people I've hurt, how many families I've hurt, how many young kids I've hurt, and that's what we talked about, the severity of it. I realize that and I take full responsibility for it."

While Cooper said that all of the players on the field were "great" toward him on Tuesday, he understands that he'll likely continue to hear about this situation from opponents and other players in the future.

"I know people are going to say stuff, but people have always said stuff," he said. "You have to be the bigger man and have to have thick skin, especially in this situation."

The Eagles may have to lean on Cooper more on the field in light on Tuesday's injury to Arrelious Benn.

Benn, acquired by the Eagles in a trade with Tampa Bay, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during practice. The team also released wide receiver Dave Ball.

Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report.

Source : http://espn.go.com/

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Greg Oden returning to the NBA with Miami Heat

Greg Oden returning to the NBA with Miami Heat

Free-agent big man Greg Oden, who hasn't played since the 2009-10 season because of debilitating injuries to both knees, wants to give it another shot, and the two-time defending champion Miami Heat are willing to give him that chance.

Oden reached a two-year deal with the Heat, a person familiar with Oden's decision told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal until it was officially announced. The deal is for the veteran's minimum, and the second year is a player option.

MORE: What to expect from Oden in return

Oden had a conference call on Thursday with his agent, Mike Conley Sr., and a team of advisors, including Bill Duffy, the chairman and CEO of BDA Sports, the agency for which Conley works. He reached a decision sometime after that.

In the last few weeks, Oden met with or talked with the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

It's a minimum investment with a potentially decent return. Oden is strong around the rim, and even if he provided a solid 10-12 minutes per game, he will be a worthwhile signing. At 7-0, 280 pounds, Oden gives Miami size and strength inside, if healthy.

One person who watched Oden work out told USA TODAY Sports that Oden was further along than expected when it came to agility, conditioning and jumping exercises. But the person also said Oden was limited in on-court basketball drills.

ANOTHER RETURN: When could Derrick Rose be back for Bulls?

The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the workout.

Oden, who has played in just 82 games, was the No. 1 pick in 2007 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, but missed the entire 2007-08 season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. Oden played in 61 games in 2008-09 and averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.

But injury struck again early in the 2009-10 season. In his 21st game, Oden sustained a fractured left patella (kneecap) and missed the rest of the season. He hasn't played since. He was off to a strong start, too, averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game.

Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in November 2010 and has rehabbed and worked out to get himself in this position — for another shot, perhaps his last, at playing in the NBA.

Source : http://www.usatoday.com/

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WWE: Mr. Money in the Bank is... Randy Orton?!?

WWE: Mr. Money in the Bank is... Randy Orton?!?

My initial thought was, "this is a joke, right?" 

As I watched Randy Orton climb a ladder and grab the briefcase to win the Money in the Bank All-Stars match, I was surprised. It was an impressive match, for sure. But Orton? He was my fifth or six choice of superstars who could win that match.

On Orton's win, I take two positions — one that is favorable to Orton and one that he probably won't like. 

While Orton has been one of the biggest names in WWE for awhile, he hasn't been a key player in the WWE Championship picture for quite some time. There are a few reasons for that — CM Punk's rise and long title reign, John Cena's continued dominance and The Rock's return. 

How long has it been since Orton last held the title? You have to go back to 2010. He won the belt at Night of Champions on Sept. 19, 2010. Two months later, he lost the belt to — wait for it — The Miz. 

So, I see this as a way for WWE to get him back in the title picture, at least for a short time. He has a good fan base and if I had to give a review of his recent performances, it would be a positive assessment. 

But there's another part of me that doesn't like this. I can sum up my disdain in a few questions. 

- Why not give the briefcase to your hottest talent, Daniel Bryan? Sure, he's won it before. But that hasn't stopped WWE in the past. Obviously, they have big plans for Bryan. (He's facing John Cena for the WWE Championship at Summerslam.) But giving him the briefcase seemed like the best way to go. 

- Why not give the briefcase to Rob Van Dam? Hear me out. He returned to a huge ovation at Money in the Bank. He's going to work, according to reports, a limited schedule. You know who else worked a limited schedule and was part of the title picture? The Rock. RVD doesn't have to be a permanent fixture in the main event scene, but letting him win the briefcase could have been a cool way to end MITB.

- Why not give the briefcase to Sheamus? Of the six men who participated in the MITB All-Stars match, he's the one that could use the boost. Right now, he doesn't have anything big going for him. No major storylines. No title chances on the horizon. Nothing. He could have used a victory in this match to give him that much needed boost. 

The point of this isn't to trash Orton. It's to point out that other superstars could have benefited more from winning the briefcase. He seems to have the least to gain from winning the briefcase. But maybe WWE has big plans for him.

Source : http://auburnpub.com/

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For AL and Rivera, All-Star Game pitch-perfect

For AL and Rivera, All-Star Game pitch-perfect

NEW YORK — It might have been Mariano Rivera's emotional going-away party, but after getting a first-hand glimpse of the dismal state of offense at Tuesday's All-Star Game, he may want to delay those retirement plans.

The American League suffocated the National League's offense in their 3-0 victory at Citi Field, giving up just three hits, the fewest since 2001, while ending its three-year losing streak, giving the AL home-field advantage in the World Series.

"They call it the year of the K for a reason,'' Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis said of the record-setting strikeout total in the first half, with 15 strikeouts Tuesday. "There's a reason for that. There's good pitching. It's good for baseball.''

As he departed Citi Field's visiting bullpen, Metallica's Enter Sandman rumbled through the stadium sound system to the delight of the crowd — and every All-Star.

"That's why I'm here," said Rivera, the last man who will ever wear Jackie Robinson's No.42 in an All-Star Game. "That's what I love to do."

He came out of the bullpen gate with his entrance song blaring on the speakers and stood on the mound alone. It was nearly a minute before anyone even came onto the field, with players from both teams standing on the dugout rail.

Yes, after four All-Star saves, he got his first hold in 11 years.

"Hey, I'm still not sold it's his last year," Boston Red Sox All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "He's dealing."

ALL-STAR GAME: Fan gets body-slammed after rushing field

NIGHTENGALE: MLB set for nuclear winter

Then again, so was every other pitcher Tuesday night, reminding everyone why the Home Run Derby is such a sensation.

It's the only time fans get to see anyone actually hit. The NL managed four baserunners the entire night, and they barely averted tying the All-Star record of fewest hits in a game.

WATCH: Matt Harvey pranks fans

"Now they get to see what we have to deal with,'' Detroit Tigers All-Star outfielder Torii Hunter said. "We've got to deal with that pitching all of the time.''

The AL's three runs will hardly be preserved on any highlight reel, but it was their biggest offensive output in four years, scoring just one run in the previous 23 innings.

The scary part for those baseball purists who like to see an occasional run, there's a good chance these same dominant pitchers will be around for quite a while. New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, 24, was the youngest to start and All-Star Game since Dwight Gooden in 1988, and seven All-Star pitchers were under 25.

"These guys are here for a reason,'' Minnesota Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer said. "It was just fun catching them. I just kept shaking numbers down there, and they kept saying yes.''

The AL pitching staff was so dominant that until Rivera's entrance in the eighth inning, the only real drama in this game occurred in the first inning when Mets starter Matt Harvey drilled Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano in the right leg. He was forced out of the game with a bruised quadriceps.

Source : http://www.usatoday.com/

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Carly Rae Jepsen's First Pitch at Rays Game Goes ... Astray

Carly Rae Jepsen's First Pitch at Rays Game Goes ... Astray

Carly Rae Jepsen is usually pitch perfect. But the "Call Me Maybe" singer's first pitch Sunday night at a Tampa Bay Rays home game needed a little work. 

As seen in a video that is currently trending like crazy, it all went wrong with the wind-up and release. 

As a result, once Jepsen pitched, the ball never crossed home plate. Instead, it slowly rolled across the first-base line before hitting a camera. 

Jepsen, 27, certainly had a great sense of humor about it, covering her face, laughing and throwing her hands in the air. 

She even posted a series of photos of the terrible toss on Instagram, stating, "A before and after. Me taking the mound. Me knocking the camera out of the photographers hands with the baseball. And me getting a sympathy hug from the catcher. Omg." 

To Jepsen's credit, the diminutive singer tossed a strike in April when she threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game, according to the Baltimore Sports Report. 

Despite the ominous start to Sunday night's game, the Rays went on to beat the Houston Astros 5-0.

Source : http://www.people.com/

Related searches: Carly Rae Jepsen

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WWE Money in the Bank 2013: 5 Losers Who Won Big

WWE Money in the Bank 2013: 5 Losers Who Won Big

Even though the focus seems to be on Damien Sandow, Randy Orton, John Cena and Alberto Del Rio, that does not necessarily mean that they were the only wrestlers to make it out of WWE's Money in the Bank 2013 pay-per-view looking good.

In fact, there are five other superstars who are in a much better spot in their careers than possibly ever before, despite the fact that they came out on the losing end at this event.

They may not have won gold or anything of the sort, but these following people stood out in some significant way that will pay off in the future. Let's take a look.

Cody Rhodes

The other half of Team Rhodes Scholars is walking out with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but the true star of this match ended up being Cody Rhodes.

Before this match took place, Rhodes was so far out of the limelight that the most he had done in the past few months was act as the loser sidekick to Sandow while he was feuding with Sheamus.

Sometime during this match, however, Rhodes became the fan favorite, surpassing even Dean Ambrose as far as the pops went. People started to buy into the idea that not only was Rhodes going to win the match, but that he deserved it as well.

The commentary team did a good job putting that idea over, as if the crowd reaction wasn't good enough to showcase it.

Look out for Rhodes to get a renewed push after he turns face, possibly on this next episode of Raw, which could lead to a United States or Intercontinental Championship reign, if not more.

Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler just can't catch a break, can he?

After two World Heavyweight Championship reigns that are nothing more than hiccups, many were expecting Ziggler to win here and start his true run.

Sadly, they were mistaken, which is causing a lot of people to think that this is a sign of WWE losing faith in the Show-Off.

I would argue that this is quite the opposite. The way Ziggler was booked in this match made him come off not as weaker or even equal to Alberto Del Rio, but better.

The only reason that he lost was because of the interference by AJ Lee, who will be dropped from association with Ziggler on Raw for sure. This will lead to a more solidified face turn that will help those fans who are confused about whether or not they should cheer for Ziggler and finally get on board.

Ziggler may end up winning the title at SummerSlam or perhaps even Night of Champions, but nonetheless, he will end up holding that strap once more. The reaction he gets on a regular basis was showcased once again at this event, as was his in-ring ability.

Del Rio may have won this match, just the same as he won their previous encounter, but both times, the only person being talked about is Ziggler. WWE can't ignore that.

Mark Henry

Just listen to the pop that Mark Henry received when he made his entrance. Now, in comparison, listen to the reaction that John Cena had.

That should not be a surprise, as Philadelphia is one of the areas that tends to support heels and Internet Wrestling Community favorites while also disliking Cena.

However, two things that are worth noting about this reaction are the energy and the message.

Fans were very excited when it appeared as though Henry would win. And they were excited from the beginning of the match, meaning that it wasn't just a response to a potential title change. Rather, the audience legitimately just got pumped with the idea of Henry himself winning.

Also, if Cena is being booed against someone that doesn't matter much to the crowd, you will normally hear the majority of the chants being directed against Cena instead of for his opponent. "Let's go Cena" will be the chant from his fans, while everyone else will cheer "Cena sucks."

In that scenario, the opponent isn't being cheered—he is just receiving a backlash positive wave from direct association of someone being booed. When fans are chanting for Henry, that's a different story.

Henry may not end up with the WWE Championship around his waist any time soon, but the success of this angle and the response he received at Money in the Bank will surely go a long way in convincing the powers that be in WWE to give him something significant to do after this—if not only to continue riding the momentum.

Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan may have been nearly everyone's favorite to win the ladder match and become a two-time Mr. Money in the Bank, but the results speak otherwise.

Still, Bryan continued to steal the show and defy the odds.

In a match that includes a popular wrestler's return in Rob Van Dam, a big brute in Sheamus, the best in the world in CM Punk and others, the smallest man in the fight was clearing house for quite a while.

Bryan had an entire section of the match dedicated to making him look strong, which is much more than someone like Christian can say for himself.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), rumors have circulated for some time that Bryan will face John Cena for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. If this indeed does take place, not winning the Money in the Bank contract means that Bryan will earn his title shot the hard way, which means that much more in the long run.

WWE Creative knows how bright Bryan's star is shining right now, more than ever after his performance in this match. It's only a matter of time before those fans who were giving him a huge reaction during his entrance are able to chant "yes" when he wins the big one.

CM Punk

CM Punk's big win at Money in the Bank is a combination of what we saw with Rhodes and Ziggler.

With Paul Heyman turning on him, this will solidify his babyface turn, allowing WWE to push him in a much clearer direction and in such a way that fans can get behind the "best in the world."

This will also undoubtedly lead to a match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. There's no step down from losing the Money in the Bank ladder match to being in the main event with someone who has only wrestled four matches since his return to the company.

Punk's storyline is going to be one of the biggest storylines going into what is supposed to be the second-biggest pay-per-view event of the year, so in a way, he failed upward.

Which people do you think had a good night, even if they were on the losing end of a match? Do you think Ryback is on his way back to the top now that he's won his first pay-per-view match in a year? Are The Usos a more credible tag team after their loss to The Shield?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Anthony Mango is the owner-operator of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment as well as the host of its YouTube podcast show Smack Talk. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook for more.

John Cena

WWE Champion John Cena certainly had his hands full with the 412-lb. "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry on Sunday night at Money in the Bank, but he may have truly met his match during a friendly sumo competition against former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan on Live with Kelly and Michael on Monday morning. 

Source : http://bleacherreport.com/

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Randy Orton stands tall at WWE's Money in the Bank 2013

 Randy Orton stands tall at WWE's Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank has become a destination pay-per-view for WWE fans, mostly because of how much can happen in both MITB matches.

Much like the Royal Rumble match, MITB has multiple participants, lays out upcoming rivalries and reveals the winner of a big stake.

Last night's event was no different.

The last image was Randy Orton standing tall, holding the Raw MITB briefcase. During the match, Paul Heyman turned on CM Punk, furthering along the highly anticipated Punk vs. Brock Lesnar tilt at Summerslam. Daniel Bryan was attacked by Curtis Axel, possibly leading to an Intercontinental title clash, which suddenly seems highly intriguing. 

Since John Cena defeated Mark Henry to retain the WWE title convincingly, perhaps the mood is right for Orton to cash in at Summerslam and see the first Cena vs. Orton matchup in a long time on PPV. Meanwhile, Rob Van Dam tore the house down, with the early part of the matchup resembling "Van Dam's greatest hits." I look for him to continue to make a large, immediate impact.

In the other MITB matchup, Damien Sandow pushed his tag partner Cody Rhodes off the ladder to claim the briefcase. Rhodes was absolutely the MVP of this match, becoming a house of fire and gaining the crowd's interest. Rhodes vs. Sandow seems like a great fit for the big August event.

In other news, Alberto Del Rio beat Dolph Ziggler by DQ, retaining the World Heavyweight title. This feud can certainly continue, even if Dolph Ziggler and AJ's relationships won't. Ziggler walked away, seemingly at a crossroads with love.

Other matches

** Curtis Avel defeated The Miz. It seems like superstar after superstar has been kicking out of the PerfectPlex, so that a new Axel finisher can be established and become important.

** Speaking of finishers, AJ's "Black Widow" has become the most dominant finish in the Divas division, and arguably one of the top moves in WWE today. She used it to defeat Kaitlyn again.

** Ryback defeated Chris Jericho by rollup. I'm not sure where Ryback is exactly right now in terms of interest. He has definitely lost a step, but beating Jericho is a step in the right direction. Jericho can lose 5,000 matches and still win the title the next night and it be believable -- he's that popular.

** In the pre-show, The Shield (Seth Rollins / Roman Reigns) defeated The Usos, though the fallout spilled over on PPV, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Source : http://www.baltimoresun.com/

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Quoted: Carolyn Moos on ex-boyfriend Jason Collins

Quoted: Carolyn Moos on ex-boyfriend Jason Collins

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Jason Collins while playing for the Celtics last year. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

“He’s being hailed as a pioneer, but I believe true heroism is a result of being honest with yourself and with those you love.”

Moos during her Stanford playing days. (Donald Miralle /Allsport)

– Carolyn Moos in a melancholy yet pointed essay for Cosmopolitan about her former long-term boyfriend, Jason Collins. The NBA player gave her no explanation when he called off their wedding in 2009, she writes; in April, he called her to explain that he’s gay before publicly coming out but she says she’s frustrated he hasn’t discussed it further with her (“I am sad that the media seems to be a higher priority”). In other news, the former WNBA player says she has finally moved on, including freezing her eggs — something she wishes she had done before but “had put it off because there was some seed of hope that Jason might come back to me.” Sooo, that’s going to be one heck of a “closure” conversation, if they ever have it. Read the whole 

Source : http://www.washingtonpost.com/

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Mets score on Crawford's error, edge Giants in 16 innings

Mets score on Crawford's error, edge Giants in 16 innings

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As the stragglers stumbled into the visitors' clubhouse, some New York Mets players hollered and high-fived teammates as they passed through the door.

This was just the kind of celebration that had escaped them before.

Eric Young Jr. scored on shortstop Brandon Crawford's fielding error with two outs in the 16th inning, and the Mets outlasted the San Francisco Giants 4-3 in a game that ended early Tuesday morning.

The Mets already had played three games of at least 15 innings this season -- and lost each one.

"I've never heard of anything like this. It's unbelievable," manager Terry Collins said. "At least we're used to it."

Young singled with one out and stole second to start the final rally. After he advanced to third on Daniel Murphy's groundout, lefty Javier Lopez entered and intentionally walked David Wright.

Crawford couldn't handle pinch-hitter Anthony Recker's grounder, allowing Young to score and handing New York the victory. The game lasted 5 hours, 26 minutes.

"We've played in some long games and we haven't always come out on the winning side," Recker said. "As soon as the 10th inning started, we were like, `Are we really going to do this again?' "

It was the longest game in time and innings the Giants had played since losing 1-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 18 innings on May 9, 2001.

Marco Scutaro walked leading off the bottom of the 16th inning, and Buster Posey hit a one-out single for the first five-hit game of his career. But Bobby Parnell regrouped to strike out Pablo Sandoval and retire pinch-hitter Guillermo Quiroz on a grounder for his 16th save.

Posey went 5 for 8, including a two-run homer and two doubles. San Francisco has lost 12 of 14 and is a season-high eight games below .500.

The Giants went 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 18 overall -- 13 in the last six innings.

"That's as frustrating a game as we've had," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Tim Lincecum and Matt Harvey each threw seven innings of three-run ball before the bullpens shut down the opposition. Harvey said a blister on his right index finger has been bothering him his last two starts but he doesn't consider it an issue.

"I'm just glad we won," he said.

Josh Edgin (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. George Kontos (2-2) allowed the one unearned run in 2 2-3 otherwise solid innings.

It was the 18th major league game to go 14 innings or more this season, two shy of last year's total, according to STATS.

The Mets improved to 1-3 in games of at least 15 innings. The last team to play that many in one season was the 2004 Minnesota Twins, who went 2-2, according to STATS.

By the time the final out was recorded at 12:42 a.m. local time, only a few thousand fans remained from an announced sellout crowd of 41,497. The ferry back to Oakland-Alameda had blown its departing horn at 11:30 p.m., and the final BART trains left about midnight.

The Giants even held a 14th-inning stretch for those who stayed. So many seagulls started to hover above the stands that the scoreboard operator asked fans to clap to try and scare them away.

Both teams had chances to end the game earlier.

With runners on second and third in the 11th, Crawford made a diving stop on Marlon Byrd's grounder at shortstop and recovered for a perfect throw from the outfield grass. In the 12th, Sandoval snagged Omar Quintanilla's liner at third and threw to first to get Kirk Nieuwenhuis for a double play.

The Giants blew a gift-wrapped opportunity when Posey doubled after his fly ball bounced off the glove of Murphy backpedaling from second while Byrd tried to make a sliding catch coming in from right. Sandoval was intentionally walked before Byrd caught Hunter Pence's slicing liner and Crawford flied out.

Brandon Belt, batting in the third spot for the first time in his career, was 0 for 8 with five strikeouts, including the final out of the 12th inning with two runners on base. Bochy said he expects to keep Belt in that spot Tuesday night.

Cole Gillespie broke his bat grounding out in the 13th with runners on second and third, and Gregor Blanco grounded out with the bases loaded in the 15th.

Posey's 13th home run put the Giants ahead 2-0 in the first.

Byrd singled leading off the fifth for the first hit off Lincecum, and John Buck's double sliced San Francisco's lead to 2-1.

Young tripled leading off the sixth, and Murphy followed with the tying single. Murphy advanced to third on Scutaro's throwing error at second base and scored when Ike Davis grounded into a double play to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Lincecum had a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk. It was the 33rd time Lincecum has had at least 10 strikeouts in a game and the first time this year.

But the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner was nowhere to be found in the Giants' clubhouse after the game. A team spokesman said he had already left to recover -- as did many of his teammates.

Other than Posey, Harvey had his way with San Francisco's lineup until late. He allowed three runs and six hits, striking out six and walking one.

Pence, who made a pair of diving catches in right field, tripled leading off the seventh. The ball hit the cement near the top of the right-field wall and ricocheted back onto the field.

Umpires reviewed the play and ruled that the triple stood, though the decision turned out to be an afterthought. Crawford immediately singled home Pence for the tying run.

"There's frustration," Pence said. "We want to stay as positive as we can right now. We've got to get it done. We've got to keep pushing to find a way to turn it around."

Source : http://www.cbssports.com/

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Miguel Cabrera And Chris Davis Are Chasing History And Each Other

Miguel Cabrera And Chris Davis Are Chasing History And Each Other

It's July 1, the effective halfway point of the season, so it's time to take notice of what could be the American League's closest and most historic race. Miguel Cabrera has his batting eye on the first ever back-to-back Triple Crowns in baseball history. In his way is Chris Davis, himself right on the pace of a mark formerly held by one Roger Maris.

Here's where things stand at the moment, with the Orioles having played three more games than the Tigers: Davis leads baseball with 31 homers, with Cabrera six back; Cabrera has the slight edge in RBI, with 82 to Davis's 80; and Cabrera's running away with the batting title, hitting .373, while Davis is a distant second at .332.

If anything, both are heating up as the all-star break looms. Davis is coming off a three-HR, six-RBI series, a sweep of the Yankees, including last night's effortless opposite-field flick.

Cabrera's weekend series was just as bountiful: 6-12 at the plate, and three home runs of his own, including this splashdown from yesterday from which the live rays in the tank in right-center are still recovering.

Davis isn't going to catch Cabrera's batting average; no one is. He's all but assured his third straight batting title, something achieved in the AL by only Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs. (As baseball's PED-era stat bloat subsided while Cabrera's numbers only got better, history is being forced to recognize that Cabrera is, "despite" his power, one of the greatest pure hitters the sport has ever seen.) Even compared to his Triple Crown and MVP 2012, Cabrera's OBP, slugging, and league-adjusted OPS+ are way up. Mike Trout's not far off his WAR-machine rookie pace, and he won't even be in the MVP discussion.

We expect Davis's average to fall off—his best is a .285 in his rookie half-season—yet he's still young enough that we can't point to his history to say the home runs are going to dry up. But baseball history says maintaining this power pace for another three months is unlikely. Here are the plate appearances per home run of everyone who's hit 60 or more, plus Davis (lower is better):

Barry Bonds (2001): 9.096 PA/HR

Mark McGwire (1998): 9.729

Mark McGwire (1999): 10.169

Sammy Sosa (1998): 10.939

Chris Davis (2013): 11.032

Sammy Sosa (2001): 11.109

Sammy Sosa (1999): 11.302

Roger Maris (1961) 11.443

Babe Ruth (1927): 11.517

Chris Davis is halfway to doing something historic—his .728 slugging percentage would be good for 22nd all-time—and the man can't get love. Part of it is a wait-and-see attitude toward the 27-year-old Davis, who's already nearly matched his previous single-season highs in homers, walks, and RBI. Part of it is residual fatigue from a steroid era that rendered power numbers cartoonish and inflated. And part of it is Miguel Cabrera's continued existence.

The Triple Crown's never been successfully defended. (Rogers Hornsby came the closest, winning two three years apart; Ted Williams did it five years apart, with three of those seasons lost to the war.) It'll make for a thrilling conclusion to the season, because as long as Cabrera keeps on keeping on (a safe-ish bet), the only thing that stands between him and history is Chris Davis's power. And if Davis is able to keep up the home run pace to deny Cabrera, he could very well make a little history of his own. Chicks do still dig the long ball.

Source : http://deadspin.com/

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