mardi 31 mai 2016
Harbaugh fires back at Saban over satellite camps
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh fired back at Nick Saban's "lecturing" in a tweet Tuesday night after the Alabama coach called satellite camps "bad for college football" and compared them to "the wild, wild West" during Tuesday's SEC spring meetings.
After initially saying he would not discuss satellite camps, Saban went off in a five-minute rant during which he blasted the practice for incorporating third parties into recruiting, as well as the lack of guidelines.
"This is the wild, wild West at its best," he said. "There have been no specific guidelines relative to how we're managing control of this stuff. It's happening outside the normal evaluation window, which means we're taking time away from our players. We have to worry about our players doing the right things with the limited time we have them, but we're not going to do that because we have to be somewhere else to see someone else."
Saban, who has never been a fan of satellite camps, characterizing them as "ridiculous," went on to say it was "amazing to [him] somebody didn't stand up and say here are going to be the unintended consequences of what you all are doing."
Harbaugh, who has embraced satellite camps like no other coach, took exception to Saban's comments and responded on Twitter with an apparent jab referencing the Alabama assistant who recently resigned after alleged recruiting violations.
"Amazing" to me- Alabama broke NCAA rules & now their HC is lecturing us on the possibility of rules being broken at camps. Truly "amazing."
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 1, 2016
The SEC had banned its coaches from participating in satellite camps, and the NCAA followed with a satellite-camp ban. However, in April the NCAA overturned the ban and ruled that satellite camps would be allowed.
Saban said at Tuesday's meetings that Harbaugh "can do whatever he wants to do if he thinks that's what's best," but that there "needs to be somebody who looks out for what's best for the game, not the SEC or the Big Ten or Jim Harbaugh. But what's best for the game of college football."
Information from ESPN's Brett McMurphy and Dan Murphy was used in this report.
Harbaugh fires back at Saban over satellite campslundi 30 mai 2016
NBA players react to Warriors-Thunder Game 7
The Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, capping off an impressive comeback from a 3-1 series deficit in the process. The Warriors' resilience impressed their NBA brethren on social media.
Great series. Can't wait for the finals....
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) May 31, 2016
Great series w/ awesome performances by both teams. #NBAFinals here we come @Cavs & @warriors will be classic. http://pic.twitter.com/QxTWp64W1j
— Mike Miller (@MikeMiller_13) May 31, 2016
Man! What a series!! Much respect to both teams for leaving it all out there on the floor. #NBAPlayoffs
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) May 31, 2016
Well that was a great matchup between GS and OKC..... Had OKC in 6 and they almost had it #Almost
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 31, 2016
Steph 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard11) May 31, 2016
That was a great series. Congrats GSW.
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) May 31, 2016
add this to the legend of GSW
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) May 31, 2016
Great series to watch right there
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) May 31, 2016
Down 3-1.. Won 4-3 ..Wow.. Impressive..!!!!!!! #WCW #GSW
— Troy Daniels (@troydaniels) May 31, 2016
That's about as impressive as it gets ya'll.
— John Henson (@Johnhenson31) May 31, 2016
Needed that .....@NBA what a series.. Way to compete @okcthunder congrats to the @warriors #Game7 #NBAPlayoffs
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) May 31, 2016
Stephen Curry & Co. are now four wins away from a second consecutive NBA title, which would cap off a record-breaking season for the Warriors. They'll host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Thursday night (9 p.m. ET on ABC/WatchESPN).
NBA players react to Warriors-Thunder Game 7Sources: Baylor to hire Grobe as interim coach
Baylor has hired former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe on an interim basis to replace Art Briles, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Grobe, 64, takes over a Baylor program that has been rocked by allegations of sexual assault and other violence by several players. Last week, Baylor's board of regents suspended Briles with intent to terminate, and stripped chancellor Kenneth Starr of his title of university president.
According to sources, the Bears also considered former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary, a former Baylor All-American, and current defensive coordinator Phil Bennett for the job before settling on Grobe, who last coached in college in 2013.
Grobe, a native of Huntington, West Virginia, coached at Ohio from 1995 to 2000 and Wake Forest from 2001 to 2013. He had a 77-82 record in 13 seasons with the Demon Deacons and his teams played in five bowl games. In 2006, Grobe guided Wake Forest to an 11-3 record and an unlikely ACC championship.
Grobe resigned as Wake Forest's coach after a 4-8 finish in 2013, his fifth consecutive losing season.
Briles, 60, had eight years left on a contract that paid him nearly $6 million per season, which made him the Big 12's highest-paid coach. After inheriting a program that had endured 12 consecutive losing seasons before Briles was fired, he directed the Bears to at least a share of back-to-back Big 12 titles in 2013 and 2014.
Briles had a 65-37 record in eight seasons at Baylor, and his teams won 10 or more games in four of the last five seasons and played six consecutive bowl games.
In the fall of 2015, Baylor hired Pepper Hamilton to review its past treatment of sexual assault claims. Outside the Lines reported last week that some Baylor officials, including coaches, knew about incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence and other acts of violence involving football players, but most players didn't miss playing time as punishment.
In its report, Pepper Hamilton wrote: "There are significant concerns about the tone and culture within Baylor's football program as it relates to accountability for all forms of student athlete misconduct."
Two Baylor players accused of sexual assault were recruited by Briles after they were dismissed from their previous schools for off-field problems. In August 2015, former Baylor football player Sam Ukwuachu was sentenced to 180 days in jail after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a women's soccer player. Briles was criticized for accepting Ukwuachu as a transfer student after then-Boise State coach Chris Petersen dismissed him from the team for off-field issues. Ukwuachu's former girlfriend testified at his trial that he had struck and choked her when he attended Boise State.
Then, in April, former Bears star defensive end Shawn Oakman was arrested on a charge of sexual assault. A Baylor graduate student told Waco, Texas, police that Oakman "forcibly removed" her clothes, forced her onto his bed and then sexually assaulted her on April 3, according to an arrest warrant obtained by ESPN.
Oakman, the school's all-time sacks leader who wasn't selected in last month's NFL draft, told police he had consensual sex with the woman. Oakman was dismissed from Penn State after he allegedly grabbed the wrist of a female store clerk.
ESPN's Max Olson contributed to this report.
Sources: Baylor to hire Grobe as interim coachWR quits Washington to 'conquer' his depression
Washington receiver Isaiah Renfro announced Sunday that he was walking away from football in order to continue his recovery from depression and anxiety.
Renfro, a sophomore, didn't participate in the Huskies' spring camp for what coach Chris Peterson called "personal issues." Renfro said in a lengthy statement on Twitter that he was receiving treatment at a hospital during that time "in a special program for people like me, that taught me how to cope with my problems and what to do when I hit my lowest of lows."
Been debating on posting this but this is me taking steps in the right direction to becoming myself again.. http://pic.twitter.com/ptE1k9oKKJ
— Isaiah Woods-Renfro (@WaveGodZay) May 29, 2016
Renfro, who also said he would no longer attend the university as a student, thanked doctors and his close friends for helping him to get "out of a dark place before it was too late."
"Waking up in the morning got harder and harder, till it got to the point where I didn't want to wake up at all," he wrote, describing his life before he decided to get treatment.
Renfro, who caught 13 passes for 178 yards in his only season for the Huskies, said he now has a better outlook on life.
"This isn't the end of me, just the end of a certain chapter. I will conquer this, and not let this situation conquer me. I'm on a journey to find my happiness again," he wrote.
WR quits Washington to 'conquer' his depressionPau Gasol mulls skipping Rio because of Zika
MADRID -- Pau Gasol is considering not playing at the Olympics because of the Zika virus.
The Spanish basketball player said Monday there is too much uncertainty about the situation in Brazil and anyone going to Rio de Janeiro for the games should "think about" whether it's worth the risk.
He said other Spanish athletes have also expressed their concerns about the virus and are also considering skipping the games.
"It wouldn't surprise me to see some athletes deciding not to participate in the games to avoid putting their health and the health of their families at risk," Gasol said, adding that he was among the athletes making such considerations.
"I'm thinking about (whether or not to go)," he said. "Just like every athlete, or any other person considering going to Rio, should be thinking about it."
Without giving names, Gasol said he talked to other athletes who told him they may not participate in the games.
"Some of these athletes are planning to have children in the near future and this could affect them, it could affect the health of their kids and their wives," he said at an event for one of his sponsors in Madrid. "Their health should come first."
Brazil has been badly hit by Zika, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.
Gasol said officials involved in the games must come forward with "more clear information" about the risks athletes could be facing if they decide to compete in Rio.
"I hope the national Olympic committees and the health organizations can be as clear as possible about the risks in Brazil so athletes can decide whether or not to take risks," he said. "I don't think we've been told enough about it."
Gasol mentioned the call from 150 health specialists to consider postponing or moving the Aug. 5-21 Olympics, something the World Health Organization rejected last week.
"We need to understand the seriousness of the situation," Gasol said. "Even though there are some soothing words being said, we know that there are different opinions about the subject."
Gasol said he is being proactive and has been trying to gather as much information as possible about the virus and the risks it could pose for himself and his family. He said he has contacted experts in the area to try to know more about the virus.
"I feel responsible to know more about the situation and to inform everyone about it," he said. "It's important to talk openly about this. It's a very delicate situation."
Gasol helped Spain win the silver medal at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Pau Gasol mulls skipping Rio because of ZikaVIDEO: PGA Championship highlights
dimanche 29 mai 2016
Spieth wins Colonial National in Texas
VIDEO: Golf PGA Championship
England's Wood wins PGA Championship
Royals catcher Perez out 7-10 days, no DL now
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will miss seven to 10 days with a quad contusion, manager Ned Yost said Sunday.
The catcher's MRI exam showed no structural damage, Yost said.
Perez injured his left leg when third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert collided with him in the ninth inning of the Royals' 8-7 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, and the All-Star catcher needed to be helped off the field.
The Royals will not place the catcher on the disabled list, however, in case he is able to return within the team's estimated time frame for his injury.
The team recalled catcher Tony Cruz from the minors on Sunday and Yost said he will serve as the backup for Drew Butera while Perez is sidelined.
"Salvy is our guy. He's the leader of this team," Royals outfielder Eric Hosmer said Saturday. He's an All-Star. He's everything. When you see a guy like that goes down, it fires you up. You want to pick up the pace cause you've got to pick him up.''
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and left fielder Alex Gordon collided last Sunday while chasing a foul ball at Chicago, and both landed on the disabled list. Gordon has a broken right wrist and is out for three to four weeks, while Moustakas tore the ACL in his right knee and is likely out for the season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Royals catcher Perez out 7-10 days, no DL nowPGA Championship 'to stay at Wentworth'
samedi 28 mai 2016
Warriors-Thunder Game 6 brings out plenty of social reaction from NBA players
The Golden State Warriors pulled off a wild fourth-quarter comeback over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday to force Game 7 in their Western Conference Finals. Not surprisingly, the wild finish and the thought of a decisive Game 7 brought out plenty of reaction from NBA players on social media.
Wow. Great game. Klay was incredible
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) May 29, 2016
Game 7 will be one for the ages
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 29, 2016
Damn!
Memorial Day Game 7...
Don't get no better than that...OKC vs. GSW— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) May 29, 2016
What a game....
— Julius Randle (@J30_RANDLE) May 29, 2016
This game 7 is gonna be nuts!! 👀
— Nik Stauskas (@NStauskas11) May 29, 2016
We're seeing all time great Bball like Bird said...what Klay just did was "sensational"
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) May 29, 2016
You bet Memorial Day night will feature even more tweets from NBA players when the decisive Game 7 goes down.
Warriors-Thunder Game 6 brings out plenty of social reaction from NBA playersAgent: Pelicans' Dejean-Jones shot and killed
New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones has died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, his agent confirmed Saturday.
Dejean-Jones, 23, signed a three-year contract with the Pelicans in February after joining the team on consecutive 10-day contracts. He started 11 of 14 games before undergoing surgery for a broken right wrist and missing the rest of the season.
Dejean-Jones averaged 5.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.9 minutes over the 14 games last season.
Dejean-Jones played college ball at USC, UNLV and Iowa State before going undrafted in 2015.
Agent: Pelicans' Dejean-Jones shot and killedHend eagles the final hole to lead PGA
Jays place injury-plagued SS Tulowitzki on DL
The Toronto Blue Jays placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a right quadriceps strain.
Tulowitzki missed two straight games earlier this week with soreness in his quad before returning to the lineup for Friday's victory against the Boston Red Sox.
But Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that the five-time All-Star aggravated the injury Friday and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday.
The Blue Jays announced the roster move before Saturday afternoon's game against the Red Sox. Darwin Barney replaced Tulowitzki as Toronto's shortstop in the starting lineup, while left-hander Aaron Loup was activated from the 15-day DL to replace Tulowitzki on the active roster.
Tulowitzki, 31, had gotten off to a slow start this season, batting a career-low .204 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 46 games. He has batted just .221 in 87 games since being acquired by Toronto in last year's blockbuster trade with the Colorado Rockies.
Tulowitzki has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and has not played in more than 126 games in any single season since 2011.
Jays place injury-plagued SS Tulowitzki on DLThe golfer taking on his Everest
vendredi 27 mai 2016
Biyombo in line for suspension after flagrant foul
TORONTO -- Raptors center Bismack Biyombo was handed a flagrant foul 1 after official review Friday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals for elbowing Cavaliers forward Kevin Love in the face on a rebound clear-out attempt. Biyombo faces a one-game suspension for exceeding the postseason flagrant foul limit.
With his fourth flagrant foul of the postseason, Biyombo has exceeded the playoff total of three points, which results in an automatic suspension, according to NBA rules.
If this flagrant foul is upheld, Biyombo could serve the suspension if a Game 7 is necessary against Cleveland.
The foul occurred with 3:18 left in the first quarter, and the officiating crew called for the foul to be reviewed to see if it was flagrant.
In addition to grabbing a franchise playoff-record 26 rebounds in Game 3, Biyombo had a flagrant foul on LeBron James late in that Raptors' win.
Biyombo was also assessed a flagrant-2 upon review from the league office after hitting Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner in the neck early in the fourth quarter in Game 7 of the first round on May 1.
If there is a Game 7 between the Cavaliers and Raptors and Biyombo serves a suspension, Jonas Valanciunas would likely start.
Valanciunas, who missed the first three games of this series due to an ankle injury, also received a technical foul in Game 6 for elbowing Cleveland's Richard Jefferson in the chest in the second quarter. Jefferson and Raptors forward Patrick Patterson also received technical fouls.
Information from ESPN's Mike Mazzeo was used in this report.
Biyombo in line for suspension after flagrant foulOle Miss saga far from over thanks to Laremy Tunsil allegations
Friday was supposed to feel somewhat like closure for Ole Miss’ athletic department. And in a way, it was, as the school released its response to a NCAA notice of allegations and also self-imposed double-digit scholarship reductions for football.
Thirteen of the 28 total allegations involve the football team, including nine during Hugh Freeze’s tenure. Of those 13, eight are Level I (the most severe). But new findings involving star left tackle Laremy Tunsil mean the school’s dealings with the NCAA aren’t over.
Ole Miss’ football program, which self-imposed the loss of 11 scholarships over the next four years, will have this Tunsil/NCAA cloud hovering over it for the foreseeable future. In its response, the school asked the NCAA to remove this summer’s hearing with the the committee on infractions from the docket until Ole Miss can complete a joint investigation with the NCAA regarding Tunsil’s text messages released during the first night of the NFL draft.
It’s unclear what the NCAA or school will do as far as punishment going forward. The NCAA still has to hand out its final ruling on this current investigation before it can add -- or not add -- any extra punishment that could come from an investigation into Tunsil, who admitted on draft night to taking money from an Ole Miss staff member.
So the Rebels aren’t out of the woods.
While there were some damning allegations in Ole Miss’ response, most notably the academic fraud that involved former Houston Nutt staff members Chris Vaughn and David Saunders, there was no bombshell that could cripple Ole Miss’ football program, and Freeze likely won’t lose his job over this.
His reputation may take a hit in some quarters. He’s adamantly defended his staff’s behavior over the years, and now he’ll have to answer for these infractions. The impermissible transportation and lodging violations aren’t major violations in the grand scheme of things, but Freeze will need to clean things up moving forward. There should also be a more thorough vetting of anyone who comes around the program.
However, the academic fraud took place before he arrived, and most of the violations that did occur with this current staff involved Tunsil. Tunsil was suspended for the first seven games last season for his use of loaner vehicles from Cannon Motors in Oxford, Mississippi. Tunsil also spent two nights at the home of defensive line coach Chris Kiffin’s house and his stepfather -- Lindsey Miller -- received $800 from a booster, which is outlined in the NCAA's report.
The loss of scholarships will likely sting, but they aren’t USC-type losses. The program also wasn’t hit with the lack of institutional control label, and it was cooperative in the investigation, which could go a long way with the NCAA’s final verdict.
But the Tunsil situation will continue to weigh the program down. There’s no telling what will come of it, so Ole Miss coaches and administrators are left to wait even longer for a true resolution.
Ole Miss saga far from over thanks to Laremy Tunsil allegationsClarke names Ryder Cup vice-captains
Ole Miss self-imposes sanctions on football team
Ole Miss has self-imposed a double-digit reduction of scholarships for football, as well as an already served postseason ban for women's basketball, as part of its response to an NCAA notice of allegations that was released Friday morning.
In its 154-page response to the NCAA, Ole Miss officials said the school "accepted responsibility for the violations that occurred and self‐imposed meaningful penalties."
The Rebels received a notice of allegations from the NCAA in late January but have released few details of the investigation.
Among the other penalties self-imposed by Ole Miss, according to the report: "The termination of four coaches, including the only two involved head coaches still employed when the violations were discovered; the disassociation of every involved booster; a post‐season ban in women's basketball; a double‐digit reduction of scholarships in the football program; a significant reduction in off‐campus evaluation days and official and unofficial visits in football and track and field; violation‐specific rules education across all involved sports; and a $159,325.00 financial penalty."
"In every one of these situations, the University carefully weighed the appropriate range of penalties and erred toward the upper limits," the report said. The Rebels were accused of 28 NCAA violations, according to the report, including 16 Level I violations, the report said.
"The fact that all but one of the 16 Level I violations arose from intentional misconduct committed by rogue former employees or boosters outside the University's direct control acting in contravention of rules education provided to them by the University," the report said. "Although a post‐season ban may be imposed in a Level I -- Mitigated case, the University believes a ban is unnecessary here based upon applicable precedent and because the most serious allegations occurred years ago, involving staff and student‐athletes long‐since separated from the University."
Among the NCAA's allegations regarding the Ole Miss football program:
• Former assistant coach David Saunders arranged for fraudulent ACT scores for three prospects in the summer of 2010. Saunders and former Ole Miss assistant Chris Vaughn were also accused of unethical conduct related to the testing fraud, and they are accused of providing temporary lodging, meals and entertainment for recruits in June and July 2010. In its response, Ole Miss officials agreed that the testing fraud occurred.
• Vaughn violated the NCAA cooperative principle by communicating with witnesses of an NCAA enforcement investigation, even after being admonished on several occasions to refrain from having such conversations. The NCAA determined his conduct to be a Level I violation.
• Between August 2014 and August 2015, an unnamed booster provided football players with impermissible extra benefits in the form of complimentary vehicle use, which the NCAA determined was a Level I allegation. Additionally, in June 2015, the booster provided a player with an impermissible, interest-free car loan. The NCAA said the monetary value of the extra benefits was approximately $7,495.
• The NCAA alleged Ole Miss officials failed to monitor the activities of the booster, a Level II violation.
• On or around August 22, 2014, an Ole Miss booster provided a football player with $800 cash, a Level 1 violation.
• Between June 7, 2013, and May 27, 2014, an Ole Miss booster provided extra benefits to a football player in the form of free lodging in Oxford, Mississippi, a Level 1 violation. The NCAA said the value of the benefits was approximately $2,253.
• During the 2012-13 academic year, an Ole Miss booster assisted the school in the recruitment of four prospects by engaging in recruiting activities and provided them with recruiting inducements totaling approximately $2,250. The NCAA alleges assistant coach Maurice Harris knew of the booster's involvement and, at times, facilitated his involvement, a Level 1 violation.
In a letter posted on the university's website on Friday morning, Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork and chancellor Jeffrey Vitter wrote that the school has requested that its case be delayed in light of allegations made by former Rebels offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil at last month's NFL draft in Chicago.
Bjork and Vitter wrote that they've asked the NCAA that the school not appear in front of the Committee on Infractions this summer so it would have ample time to investigate whether or not Tunsil, a first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, received improper benefits while playing at Ole Miss.
"On the first day of the 2016 NFL Draft, new information came to light involving a former football student-athlete," the letter said. "That very night, the University and NCAA began a joint review to determine whether bylaws have been violated, and we hope this review will be concluded soon. To ensure fairness to all parties and pursuant to [Committe of Infractions] procedure, we have asked the COI to remove the hearing from this summer's docket until this review can be completed and closed."
Ole Miss self-imposes sanctions on football teamOle Miss sanctions women's hoops, football
Ole Miss has self-imposed a postseason ban in women's basketball and a double-digit reduction of scholarships for football as part of its response to an NCAA notice of allegations that was released Friday morning.
In its 154-page response to the NCAA, Ole Miss officials said the school "accepted responsibility for the violations that occurred and self‐imposed meaningful penalties."
The Rebels received a notice of allegations from the NCAA in late January but have released few details of the investigation.
Among the other penalties self-imposed by Ole Miss, according to the report: "The termination of four coaches, including the only two involved head coaches still employed when the violations were discovered; the disassociation of every involved booster; a post‐season ban in women's basketball; a double‐digit reduction of scholarships in the football program; a significant reduction in off‐campus evaluation days and official and unofficial visits in football and track and field; violation‐specific rules education across all involved sports; and a $159,325.00 financial penalty."
"In every one of these situations, the University carefully weighed the appropriate range of penalties and erred toward the upper limits," the report said. The Rebels were accused of 28 NCAA violations, according to the report, including 16 Level One violations, the report said.
"The fact that all but one of the 16 Level I violations arose from intentional misconduct committed by rogue former employees or boosters outside the University's direct control acting in contravention of rules education provided to them by the University," the report said. "Although a post‐season ban may be imposed in a Level I -- Mitigated case, the University believes a ban is unnecessary here based upon applicable precedent and because the most serious allegations occurred years ago, involving staff and student‐athletes long‐since separated from the University."
Ole Miss sanctions women's hoops, footballNadal pulls out of French Open with wrist injury
PARIS -- Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open with a left wrist injury, he announced Friday.
The left-handed Nadal made the announcement at a hastily arranged news conference, one day before he would have been scheduled to play his third-round match against Marcel Granollers.
Nadal, who became the eighth man in history to win 200 matches at Grand Slam tournaments with his second-round victory against Facundo Bagnis at Roland Garros on Thursday, said he an had an anesthetic injection prior to the match to numb the wrist.
A record nine-time champion at Roland Garros, Nadal has won 200 of 230 matches in majors, a winning percentage of .870. Only seven other men have earned that many victories at Grand Slam tournaments; Roger Federer, who is missing from this year's French Open because of injury, holds the record of 302.
The fourth-seeded Nadal, who turns 30 on June 3, has 14 Grand Slam titles, which is tied with Pete Sampras for second most behind Federer's 17.
This season, the Spaniard has been in better form in the buildup to the French Open, winning titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nadal pulls out of French Open with wrist injuryWillett out in 29 to take lead in PGA
McIlroy aims for repeat of summer 2014
jeudi 26 mai 2016
Willett trails by one shot at Wentworth
Lowry raises Olympic doubts over Zika
Silver: Reports show refs 90 percent correct
Commissioner Adam Silver says the NBA doesn't have a choice on whether to be as transparent as possible in determining whether key crunch-time plays were officiated correctly "with so many cameras focused on the action, with so many other kinds of services providing that same information to our fans or to the public."
Silver, speaking in an in an interview with ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth on NBA Tonight, said with the focus of much of this season's playoffs on the officiating and how it has affected the outcome of games, that the refs still get it right a "vast majority of the time."
"Roughly 90 percent -- they get it right," Silver said. "Now, of course, I'd like 90 percent to be 100 percent. And so would they. But what these reports also show, what fans already know is, human error is part of this game, and the best athletes in the world make mistakes. And coaches occasionally make mistakes. Officials do, too."
Game officials have faced compounded controversy as a result of bad calls or noncalls in nearly every series of this season's playoffs as the NBA's "Last Two Minute Report" confirms what has often been made readily apparent not long after a play through TV and Internet video, fueling a new round of headlines.
"My goal is for it not to be a story line. There's no question about that," Silver said. "And even if you ask our officials, their goal is to not be noticed."
The league releases a report on officiating after each game that has a margin of five points or less at the two-minute mark.
Among the highlights -- or lowlights -- of this postseason's LTM reports:
• A game-winning shot by James Harden in the Houston Rockets' series against the Golden State Warriors should not have counted; it appeared Harden pushed off Golden State's Andre Iguodala before converting a 10-foot, step-back jumper with 2.7 seconds to play.
• On two consecutive plays near the end of a Game 7 in the Toronto Raptors-Indiana Pacers, Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan should have been whistled for a defensive foul for pushing -- and then on the offensive side for traveling with 10 seconds to play, with victorious Toronto holding a three-point lead.
• In Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs series, five incorrect noncalls were called out in an LTM report, highlighted by an elbow on a throw-in by OKC guard Dion Waiters.
"Transparency is a key goal of mine," Silver said. And the nature of these LTMs -- these 'Last Two Minute Reports' -- is that it's information we have already been sharing with our teams. They of course want to know if a particular play in the league's view was correctly called.
"And in part, not even necessarily because they accept the league's view over theirs. But they want to understand the basics of why we're making certain calls. And my sense is, the media and the fans want to have that same understanding. And they want to see if we're being consistent.
"Teams that are also playing in the regular season or the playoffs want to know when is it a block, when is it a charge, uhm, how are we calling traveling, for example."
Silver: Reports show refs 90 percent correctmercredi 25 mai 2016
Maryland PG Trimble withdraws from NBA draft
Maryland sophomore point guard Melo Trimble announced Wednesday night that he will return to College Park for his junior season.
"I am really excited to return for my junior season at Maryland," Trimble said in a statement. "It's truly special that I get to continue to play in front of my family, friends and our amazing fans. I'm looking forward to working out with my teammates this summer and I am excited for what we can accomplish. I learned a great deal through this experience and I am committed to working hard in getting better each day.
"I'm appreciative of all the support that I have received from Coach Turgeon, my family and my teammates throughout this process. I look forward to continuing my education and building upon the success that we have had at Maryland."
The 6-foot-3 Trimble averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds this past season and was considered a lock to leave the program -- until he struggled the second half of the season.
Multiple NBA executives told ESPN that Trimble was expected to be selected in the latter half of the second round if he remained in the draft.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon will lose his four other starters. Jake Layman and Rasheed Sulaimon graduated, and Diamond Stone and Robert Carter Jr. both left early for the NBA.
"Melo informed me tonight that he has decided to return to Maryland for his junior season," Turgeon said. "After gathering information throughout this process, I agree that this is the best decision for him. Melo is a very special person. He is a winner and his impact on our program has been immeasurable. Melo has an extremely bright future ahead of him both on and off the basketball court. We are excited that he will continue to pursue his degree and build upon his legacy in College Park."
The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw is 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.
The only other player who declared and has yet to make a decision is Valparaiso's Alec Peters.
Maryland PG Trimble withdraws from NBA draftMiesha Tate, UFC champ, dated male wrestler who defeated her
UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate recently sat down with ESPN to watch some highlights from her career.
Some of the tape she'd never seen before, including a clip from high school, when she was a state champion on the wrestling team.
Among the most interesting revelations:
* Tate dated a male wrestler she defeated in the ring.
* Tate's first professional fight officially went three rounds, but there was actually a fourth round.
* One of Tate's amateur fights was in a venue that shared a wall with a Chinese buffet. She's come a long way since then.
Miesha Tate, UFC champ, dated male wrestler who defeated herMiesha Tate, UFC champ, dated male wrestler she defeated
UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate recently sat down with ESPN to watch some highlights from her career.
Some of the tape she'd never seen before, including a clip from high school, when she was a state champion on the wrestling team.
Among the most interesting revelations:
* Tate dated a male wrestler she defeated in the ring.
* Tate's first professional fight officially went three rounds, but there was actually a fourth round.
* One of Tate's amateur fights was in a venue that shared a wall with a Chinese buffet. She's come a long way since then.
Miesha Tate, UFC champ, dated male wrestler she defeatedMets not giving up: Harvey to remain in rotation
Despite his ongoing struggles, New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey will make his next start, manager Terry Collins said Wednesday.
Harvey, who lobbied to make Tuesday's start, saw his ERA swell to 6.08 after he allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings in the Mets' 7-4 loss against the Washington Nationals.
Collins, however, told reporters on Wednesday that the team will not give up on Harvey (3-7).
Prior to Tuesday's start, Collins acknowledged consideration needs to be given to at least temporarily bouncing Harvey from the rotation. A team official said it was premature to know whether Harvey would be sent to the minors, placed on the disabled list or reassigned to a non-starting role at the major league level.
Harvey's next scheduled turn is Monday against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field.
Harvey surrendered a career-high 20 total bases before departing Tuesday's game. Of the 90 pitchers to make at least nine starts this season, he is one of four to fail to reach the seventh inning at least once. The others are Michael Pineda, Wily Peralta and Shelby Miller.
The Mets had implored Harvey to fire his fastball more forcefully on Tuesday than in previous starts. And Harvey actually had his best velocity of the season in the early innings, registering as high as 96 mph with his fastball. But he missed on changeups to Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon, when they belted consecutive solo homers in the fourth. And his velocity dipped and he had a "different" delivery, according to Collins, while allowing three runs in the fifth.
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Vogelsong goes on 15-day DL with facial fractures
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with facial fractures.
The team announced the move Tuesday, one day after Vogelsong left PNC Park in an ambulance after being struck in the head by a pitch. The team said after the game he'd suffered an injury to his left eye, including the orbital bone, and was admitted to Allegheny General Hospital.
Batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Vogelsong had an 0-2 count when a 92 mph fastball from Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles rode up and appeared to strike Vogelsong's head under his visor.
Vogelsong fell to the ground and stayed there until he was attended to by Pittsburgh head athletic trainer Todd Tomcyzk. It was not clear whether Vogelsong ever lost consciousness. The Pirates' trainer finally got him into a seated position with a towel held to his left eye. There appeared to be blood coming from his nose.
A cart was brought onto the field, and Vogelsong was transported to the tunnel, where an ambulance pulled in to take the pitcher away.
Right-handed pitcher A.J. Schugel has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Vogelsong's place on the active roster.
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Ravens' Monroe urges NFL to end marijuana ban
The NFL needs to reduce the use of opioids and allow injured players to use medical marijuana, Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe wrote in a first-person essay for The Players Tribune that was published Monday.
"The NFL relies heavily on opioids to get players back on the field as soon as possible, but studies have shown medical marijuana to be a much better solution," Monroe wrote in an essay titled 'Getting off the T Train.' "(Medical marijuana) is safer, less addictive and can even reduce opioid dependence."
Monroe points out that the NFL and its players union, the NFLPA, ban any use of marijuana. He says it's time for that stance to end, and he calls for the league and union to:
-
Remove marijuana from the banned substance list
-
Fund marijuana research -- especially as it relates to the brain disease CTE
-
Stop "overprescribing addictive and harmful opiods."
"I'm not asking the NFL to prescribe players cannabis," Monroe wrote. "I'm calling on the league to remove its testing protocols for cannabis. It just makes sense."
Monroe is entering his eighth season in the league. He was a first-round pick of Jacksonville in 2009, and played there before being traded to the Ravens in 2013.
"How can a league so casual about the use of addictive opioids take such a hard line on a drug that might provide a safer alternative?"
Eugene Monroe, in Players Tribune essay
In the essay, Monroe details what he calls the extensive use of pain killers, specifically Toradol. Before games, he wrote, players line up in the "T Train" for their shot of Toradol. He estimates half the players in the NFL at some point in their career have used a painkiller.
He also details the excruciating experience an NFL player goes through with a concussion. His came in a road game last season, and was exacerbated by a long flight home from Oakland. He described how he "destroyed" his labrum in a game at Virginia, but felt nothing because he had taken a shot of Toradol.
"Football is pain," he wrote. "There's no way around it, and by no means am I complaining; it's the sport I love." He just advocates finding a better way to deal with pain.
"How can a league so casual about the use of addictive opioids take such a hard line on a drug that might provide a safer alternative?" he wrote.
Among his points:
-
On March 9, he advocated for the use of medical marijuana to treat chronic pain and head injuries.
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Every team that has won the Super Bowl since 2012 is in a state where the legislature has passes "some form of progressive marijuana legislation," yet the NFL and NFLPA list it as a banned substance.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services holds a patent that labels the cannabinoids in marijuana "as both anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective, two things that are crucial to the health of NFL players' bodies and brains."
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The hurdle: The DEA says that marijuana has no currently accepted medical use, which the NFL and commissioner base their position.
"I'm not here advocating for NFL players (or anyone) to get high and party while breaking the law," Monroe wrote. "What I'm talking about is the responsibility of the NFL to care for its players. Nineteen players were suspended last season for testing positive for 'substances of abuse,' and for some, their careers may be over. Why? For using something that can actually help people?"
Monroe has set up a website to educate athletes about the benefits of medical marijuana. He also has donated to research into its use at Johns Hopkins and Penn through an organization called the Realm of Caring.
He asks if the NFL will do whatever it takes to find solutions and answers.
"The answer can no longer be pills ... and more pills," Monroe wrote. "Every NFL player rides the T Train at some point in his career. But we need to be able to get off."
Ravens' Monroe urges NFL to end marijuana banlundi 23 mai 2016
Vote: NBA right in not suspending Draymond?
Draymond Green will not be suspended after his kick hit Steven Adams in the groin during Game 3 of the West finals. He received a flagrant foul 1 foul during the game, but it was upgraded to a flagrant 2, and he was fined $25,000.
Do you agree with the NBA's decision?
The Golden State Warriors go into Game 4 trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1, after OKC's stunning 133-105 blowout Sunday night. Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. The Warriors, who won a league-record 73 games this season, trailed 2-1 in two series last year en route to their NBA title.
Vote: NBA right in not suspending Draymond?LeBron will cover Jones' $80 fine for groin punch
TORONTO -- Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Dahntay Jones will have to stay away from the Air Canada Centre for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cavs and Toronto Raptors while he serves his one game suspension for his punch to Bismack Biyombo's groin in Game 3.
But at least he won't have to pay the fine associated with the suspension -- a whopping $80.17 -- thanks to LeBron James.
James told cleveland.com's Joe Vardon on Monday he would "take care" of the fine, which, in fairness, won't even cost James his full per diem of $127.
Jones' fine was determined by taking 1/110th of Jones' 2015-16 salary which was $8,800 as he was signed on the final day of the regular season.
"It is what it is, man," Jones told ESPN.com before the Cavs shootaround Monday morning. "Can't get too upset about it. It's unfortunate but it is what it is."
Jones said he was interviewed by the league as part of their investigation into the incident.
"They asked me what happened and I explained what happened and they told me it was a unanimous decision that I did it with intent, even though I didn't look," Jones said to ESPN.com.
Jones said the team was prepared to move past it.
"My teammates have all regarded it as just nonsense, but we won't let it distract us from what our overall goal is," Jones said to ESPN.com. "We'll sweep this under the rug and just proceed as if it's a normal business day."
James was asked about in incident involving Draymond Green and Steven Adams in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals and referenced Jones' suspension in his answer.
"I don't really have an opinion on it and you didn't ask me my opinion on Dahntay's play so I definitely won't give my opinion on Draymond's," James said.
LeBron will cover Jones' $80 fine for groin punchBucs' Vogelsong to hospital after pitch to head
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was taken from PNC Park in an ambulance Monday after being struck in the head by a pitch.
Batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Vogelsong had an 0-2 count when a pitch from right-hander Jordan Lyles rode up and appeared to contact Vogelsong's head under his visor.
Vogelsong fell to the ground and stayed there until he was attended to by training staff. It was not clear if he ever lost consciousness. The Pirates trainer finally got Vogelsong into a seated position with a towel held to his left eye. There appeared to be blood coming from his nose.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review posted a photo of Vogelsong immediately after the pitch impacted his face:
#Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong is hit in the face by a pitch during the 2nd inning against the Rockies today. http://pic.twitter.com/E7bIvx5huw
— Christopher Horner (@Hornerfoto1) May 23, 2016
A cart was brought onto the field and Vogelsong was transported to the tunnel where an ambulance pulled in to take the pitcher away.
Vogelsong had thrown two shutout innings, striking out two and was leading 2-0 when he left the game.
The Pirates Twitter account said that the team would have updates as it gets them.
In the bottom of the third inning, time was called again after home plate umpire Jeff Nelson had dirt inadvertently kicked into his left eye on Francisco Cervelli's slide. After trainers tried to clean out his eye, Nelson was escorted to the clubhouse. Ben May moved from first base to behind the plate.
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HBK on hand to watch Penguins' HBK line in Game 5
The hockey and wrestling worlds collided Sunday with former WWE star Shawn Michaels attending Game 5 of the NHL's Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh.
Michaels, who was known as the Heartbreak Kid (HBK) in his WWE heyday, recently acquired an interest in the NHL when the Pittsburgh Penguins' deep postseason run was buoyed by the play of the Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, Phil Kessel line -- also nicknamed HBK.
Michaels, accompanied by former Steelers DE Brett Keisel, made a stop at iconic Pittsburgh-based sandwich shop Primanti Bros, known for its french-fries-and-coleslaw-accented creations, before stepping into Consol Energy Center.
Getting pumped for the #Pens game with a #HBKSandwich & some sweet chin music @ShawnMichaels @bkeisel99 #letsgopens http://pic.twitter.com/Ab2NlfgR5t
— Primanti Bros (@primantibros) May 22, 2016
Suit up for Game 5. Let's Go Pens! http://pic.twitter.com/KzMgTyXcFE
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 22, 2016
We have entered the building!!! Pretty dang excited!! #Game5 https://t.co/BnuU3DGKqd http://pic.twitter.com/phMSWPwI2z
— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) May 22, 2016
Perhaps Michaels will bring the Penguins a stroke of luck as they attempt to take a 3-2 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
HBK on hand to watch Penguins' HBK line in Game 5NBA fines Raptors' Casey, suspends Cavs' Jones
TORONTO -- Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey was fined $25,000 for his criticism of the officiating, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones was suspended for Game 4 for his low blow on Bismack Biyombo.
The NBA announced the fine and suspension on Sunday.
Casey repeatedly referenced a disparity in foul calls during the Eastern Conference Finals following the Raptors' 99-84 Game 3 win. The Raptors have been called for 73 personal fouls, compared to Cleveland's 46 fouls in three games.
"I'm not trying to get anybody -- it's over with," Casey said Sunday when asked about the officiating. "I said what I had to say last night. I'm not trying to send a message. It was a comment about the game last night, and it's over with."
Jones struck Biyombo in the groin on the final possession of the game, with 17.6 seconds left, and that left Biyombo doubled over in pain on the floor in front of the Cavs bench even after the game ended.
"I got hit in an area that I wasn't supposed to get hit on, or a private area, so to speak," Biyombo said after Game 3. "Whenever the league has a chance, they probably want to take a look at that. That's all I can say on that one."
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Lue: I should have called more plays for LeBron
TORONTO - Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue believes he made a mistake by not calling more plays for LeBron James in his team's Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 loss to the Toronto Raptors. James said he believes the team will have a better game plan for Monday's Game 4.
The Cavs scored just 84 points in the loss, their lowest scoring output in 50 games. Kyrie Irving, who had been the Cavs leading scorer and shot-taker in the postseason, and Kevin Love both had miserable shooting nights, combining to go 4-of-28.
James scored 24 points but took just 17 shots.
"I think I should have called more plays to make (James) dominant," Lue said Sunday. "I think we continued to run plays that had been effective and working throughout the course of this series, knowing that Kyrie and Kevin could get going at any time. I should have put the ball in LeBron's hands a little bit more to let him create and let him draw double teams. So that was more on me."
Part of the reason the Cavs offense has been so potent in the postseason has been their ball movement. Much of it centered on using James more as a facilitator, either from the perimeter or with his back to the basket, than as much of a scorer as in the past.
James is averaging a career-low 23.5 points in the playoffs but before the Game 3 loss, the Cavs were averaging a whopping 109 points a game in the postseason.
"It's always a fine line, for sure. Obviously the ball, as far as me initiating offense, I don't handle it as much," James said. "With Kyrie kind of setting the offense and then [Matthew Dellavedova] coming in, the ball has kind of been taken out of my hands a little bit. I'm okay with that. But there is a point in time where some of the guys are not going, maybe let me see if I can get it going. But last night just didn't happen that way. We'll have a better game plan going into Game 4."
The Raptors made limiting Irving a major game plan point in Game 3 and they crowded him when he had the ball much more than in the first two games of the series. Irving ended up with just one assist in 38 minutes and his night ended early when he suffered a blow to the chest that knocked the wind out of him.
Lue, who has preached accountability since taking over the job in January, blamed himself for not reacting better to the strategy. Specifically not going to James in the post.
"I have to do a better job of putting them in positions to isolate and be productive," Lue said. "I thought we went away from posting LeBron where they had a double-team, and getting easy shots and easy three-point shots. That's on me."
James, though, made it clear he didn't want to overreact because Irving and Love had been such offensive weapons earlier in the series.
"We can't lose confidence in those guys, they helped us get to this point," James said. "We understand that in order for us to win every single night, we have to have our guys play well. It doesn't mean the ball is going to go in all the time, but we can't not go away from them just because it's not going in."
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Harper jersey from Papelbon fight up for auction
The jersey Bryce Harper wore when he got into a fight with Washington Nationals teammate Jonathan Papelbon is now for sale.
Online auction house Lelands is offering the game-used jersey, describing it as part of "the snapshot that best defined the dysfunction and disappointment of the Washington Nationals' 2015 season." The jersey is signed by Harper and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
The top bid as of Saturday morning was for $4,831.53. The auction runs through June 17.
Harper and Papelbon tussled Sept. 27, as the Nationals were playing out the stretch of a disappointing 83-79 season after officially being eliminated from postseason contention the day before. They exchanged words as Harper returned to the dugout after flying out in the eighth inning. Papelbon reached for Harper's throat with his left hand and shoved the outfielder toward the bench with both arms. Teammates then pulled the pair apart.
After that game, both said the issued was resolved and likened the fight to brothers fighting. Papelbon was suspended four games by the Nationals for his role in the altercation, and Harper was held out for one game.
Lelands is also auctioning memorabilia from Jim Craig in its Summer 2016 catalog, including the "Miracle on Ice" goaltender's gold medal.
Information from ESPN senior writer Eddie Matz and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Coach: Lowry didn't quit on Raptors by leaving
Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters Friday that Kyle Lowry didn't quit on his team when the two-time All-Star point guard went back to the locker room briefly to decompress and use the bathroom late in the first half of Toronto's 108-89 Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
"Kyle did not walk out on his team," Casey said. "He and Cory Joseph use the bathroom more than any two human beings I know during the game. ... I don't think he quit on his team."
Lowry faced criticism after he left the bench with 2½ minutes remaining in the second quarter. At the time, he was 0-for-4 from 3-point range and had committed five turnovers. Cleveland closed the first half on a 16-2 run to take a 14-point halftime lead.
"It's whatever. I think it's an overreaction, personally. I've done it countless times," Lowry reiterated. "Maybe I went to go to the bathroom. I've done it before going to the bathroom. It's just the magnitude of the situation, which makes it a lot bigger than what it really it is. So next time I'll clarify, 'Hey, I'm going to the bathroom,' or 'Hey, I'm doing this.' I'll make sure I'm clear on it so everyone knows."
Through the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, Lowry is averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists and 4.5 turnovers while shooting 28.6 percent from the field and 1 for 15 from 3-point territory. However, the 30-year-old veteran is confident that he will be able to pick up his play going forward.
The Raptors lost Games 1 and 2 by a combined 50 points. Game 3 is Saturday in Toronto.
Casey said center Jonas Valanciunas (sprained right ankle), who has been out since getting hurt in Game 3 of the team's second-round series with Miami, is doubtful to return in Game 3 of this series.
"It's wishful thinking but I don't foresee (Jonas playing) tomorrow night and after that we'll just have to wait and see," Casey said.
Coach: Lowry didn't quit on Raptors by leavingNo Hail Mary needed: Packers crush Lions on Twitter with one good tweet
The Detroit Lions tried to get creative Friday on Twitter. It might have backfired in a completely predictable way.
The person running the team’s Twitter account tweeted #NotAFacemaskFriday – a play on #FlashbackFriday – with a GIF of Devin Taylor hitting Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in slow motion but missing the facemask on the final timed play of the Thursday night game between the teams last season.
#NotAFacemaskFriday http://pic.twitter.com/Uwr3tRcDK4
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 20, 2016
Of course, Taylor was flagged for a facemask on the play, giving Rodgers and the Packers one untimed play. Pretty much everyone knows what happened next as Rodgers lofted a Hail Mary against a poor Detroit defensive scheme that ended up being caught in the end zone by tight end Richard Rodgers for a game-winning touchdown. It all but ended any Lions playoff hopes and kept the Lions from sweeping Green Bay for the first time since 1991.
Green Bay’s Twitter account fired back at the Lions.
#FlashbackFriday 😁https://t.co/ymPvJOZ8BG
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 20, 2016
That would have been enough. But they added another gut-wrenching play for the Lions for good measure.
#FavreFridays 🏈 http://pic.twitter.com/tWeX4CdxtE
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 20, 2016
The Packers lead the all-time series 96-68-7. It's 97 if you count the Twitter exchange.
No Hail Mary needed: Packers crush Lions on Twitter with one good tweet
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