Saturday, April 30, 2016

Draft ends with Titans naming 253rd pick

(The Sports Xchange) - One of the most dramatic drafts in NFL history wrapped up in Chicago on Saturday with the team that started the spectacle ahead of schedule by trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams two weeks earlier.

Read more

Lightning beat Islanders 4-1 to even series after two games

(The Sports Xchange) - Tyler Johnson scored two goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-1 in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference second-round series on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Florida.

Read more

Monday finish on the cards in weather-hit New Orleans

(Reuters) - Third-round play at the weather-disrupted Zurich Classic of New Orleans was suspended for the day after just 75 minutes of action on Saturday, setting up the possibility of a Monday finish at the TPC Louisiana.

Read more

Woods books accommodation for Memorial, say sources

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods has made accommodation plans for the Memorial tournament in Ohio, sources have told Reuters, suggesting the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event could mark the former world number one's PGA Tour return from back surgery.

Read more

More misery for Hamilton, Rosberg on pole

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg seized pole position for the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after a power unit failure piled more misery on Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton.

Read more

Trail Blazers down Clippers to clinch series

(The Sports Xchange) - Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 46 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 Friday night at the Moda Center.

Read more

Friday, April 29, 2016

Faksa scores winner as Stars beat Blues in series opener

DALLAS (The Sports Xchange) - Radek Faksa had a goal and an assist and Kari Lehtonen stopped 31 shots for the Dallas Stars in a 2-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their second-round series on Friday at American Airlines Center.

Read more

Sharks strike late to open series with win over Predators

SAN JOSE (The Sports Xchange) - Joel Ward's tiebreaking goal at 11:49 of the third enabled the San Jose Sharks to rally for a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Friday night.

Read more

Pacers beat Raptors 101-83 to force Game Seven

(The Sports Xchange) - Forward Paul George had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers used a dominating second half to beat the Toronto Raptors 101-83 in Game Six, tying the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series at 3-3.

Read more

Brilliant Wade lifts Heat to win over Hornets in Game Six

(The Sports Xchange) - Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and hit two clutch shots in the final minute, and the Miami Heat forced a decisive Game Seven with a 97-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series on Friday.

Read more

Lovemark and Vegas set early pace in New Orleans

(Reuters) - American Jamie Lovemark produced sizzling form on the greens as he charged into a tie for the lead midway through the second round of the weather-disrupted Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Friday.

Read more

Walton new head coach of Los Angeles Lakers

(Reuters) - Luke Walton will be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the 16-times NBA champions announced on Friday.

Read more

No Quail Hollow for Woods, who is 'sick' of being sidelined

(Reuters) - Media speculation that Tiger Woods would make his PGA Tour return at next week's Wells Fargo Championship proved false when his name was not included in the official field for the event after Friday's deadline.

Read more

Perfect Piller piles on birdies for second-round Texas lead

(Reuters) - American Gerina Piller continued her sizzling recent form with a ball-striking clinic, hitting every green in regulation on her way to the second-round clubhouse lead at the Texas Shootout in Irving on Friday.

Read more

Ryder Cup captains both hope Woods can make U.S. team

NEW YORK (Reuters) - United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III says he will cheer on assistant captain Tiger Woods to give him reason to put him on the team as a player once the former world number one returns to competition.

Read more

Vegas in tie for lead at weather-hit New Orleans

(Reuters) - Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela surged into a share of the lead at the weather-hit Zurich Classic of New Orleans when the thunderstorm-delayed first round was finally completed on Friday.

Read more

Furyk to make PGA Tour return next week in Charlotte

(Reuters) - Jim Furyk will end a wrist injury absence of nearly eight months when he returns to competition at next week's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, the PGA Tour announced on Friday.

Read more

FIFA ethics panel bans Bahamas' Havens for five years

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA's ethics watchdog on Friday banned former Caribbean Football Union executive Lionel Haven from soccer for five years for failing to disclose information related to cash payments at a CFU event in 2011.

Read more

Platini appears before top tribunal to appeal six-year ban

LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini appeared before sport's highest tribunal on Friday to appeal against his six-year ban from soccer and said he was optimistic he would win his case, with FIFA ex-president Sepp Blatter among the witnesses.

Read more

Celtics' Swede Jerebko finishes season strong despite loss to Atlanta

(Reuters) - The Boston Celtics may have crashed out of the playoffs after being pummeled by Atlanta on their home floor, but power forward Jonas Jerebko is not too down-hearted after finally getting a chance to show the Boston crowd what he can do as a starter.

Read more

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Touted Tunsil falls to Dolphins after controversial video

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Top NFL draft prospect Laremy Tunsil tumbled down the list on Thursday before being selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th pick of the first round following a controversial video posted on his Twitter account.

Read more

Oshie scores OT winner as Caps edge Pens

(The Sports Xchange) - It took half an overtime to settle the back-and-forth playoff series opener between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Read more

Daly set for Champions Tour debut after turning 50

(Reuters) - Long-hitting John Daly celebrated his 50th birthday on Thursday, the official stamp of approval to earn him a spot at next week's Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands in Texas for his debut on the over-50s Champions Tour.

Read more

F1 drivers fear another wrong turn with 2017 rules

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One drivers expressed concern on Thursday that the sport was heading in the wrong direction with its plans for a 2017 rules revamp.

Read more

Lance Armstrong asks U.S. judge for summary judgment in lawsuit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has asked a U.S. judge to decide a more than $100 million lawsuit against him by the federal government without holding a jury trial.

Read more

Hornets push Heat to the brink with Game Five win

(The Sports Xchange) - Courtney Lee did it again. From virtually the same spot on the floor and for the second game in a row, Lee grabbed a crucial long rebound off the offensive boards.

Read more

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

No Curry, no worry as Warriors eliminate Rockets

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors did not skip a beat without key point guard Stephen Curry, routing the Houston Rockets 114-81 on Wednesday to seal a 4-1 series triumph in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Read more

Ducks down and out after Predators win series decider

(The Sports Xchange) - Colin Wilson and Paul Gaustad scored in the first period as the Nashville Predators eliminated the Anaheim Ducks from the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 2-1 Game Seven victory in their Western Conference quarter-final series on Wednesday.

Read more

Quarterbacks figure to rule at NFL Draft

(Reuters) - Quarterbacks are expected to once again command the spotlight at the National Football League Draft in Chicago on Thursday.

Read more

Prince of Isles scores twice in win over Bolts

(The Sports Xchange) - Shane Prince scored twice in the final three minutes of the first period, and the New York Islanders held on for a 5-3 road win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of their second-round series on Wednesday at Amalie Arena.

Read more

Michelle Obama keynotes 100-days to Rio Games NYC party

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. first lady Michelle Obama launched a 100-days from the Rio Olympics street party on Wednesday featuring more than 75 Olympians in an interactive carnival on two blocks of teeming Times Square.

Read more

Former champion Liukin calls Biles 'the best'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Nastia Liukin said on Wednesday that fellow American Simone Biles is the best gymnast she has seen and predicts the petite dynamo will be the darling of the Rio Games.

Read more

Brazil receives Olympic flame for Rio Games

ATHENS (Reuters) - The Olympic flame that will burn in Rio in August for the first Games in South America was handed over to Brazil on Wednesday in the marble stadium that hosted the first modern Games in 1896.

Read more

Exclusive: Wimbledon to focus on out-of-competition drug tests

LONDON (Reuters) - Players competing at Wimbledon are set to be drug-tested more than ever before in the build-up to this year's championships as organizers focus resources on out-of-competition testing.

Read more

Quarterback Manziel to appear in Dallas court next week on assault charge

DALLAS (Reuters) - Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been ordered to appear in a Dallas court next week after being charged with assaulting his former girlfriend, according to court records released on Wednesday.

Read more

Eaton finds the edge in pursuit of decathlon supremacy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Olympic decathlon champion and world record holder Ashton Eaton is gearing up for a title defense at the Rio Games, but figures to swallow some humble pie along the way.

Read more

Cities around the world light up buildings 100 days before Rio

LONDON (Reuters) - From the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg to the London Eye in Britain, cities around the world are lighting up buildings and landmarks in the yellow and green colors of the Brazilian flag on Wednesday to mark 100 days until the Rio Olympics.

Read more

Athletes chosen in NFL draft need to plan for the long game

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Every year, the National Football League draft makes a number of strapping young men very, very rich.

Read more

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Raptors top Pacers to take series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Dwane Casey's decision to go with a mixed-bag group on the floor in the fourth quarter paid off on Tuesday as the Toronto Raptors erased a 13-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 102-99.

Read more

Publish my drug test results, says Nadal

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has asked the International Tennis Federation to publish the results of his drug tests following an accusation of doping by a former French cabinet minister.

Read more

Clippers lose Paul, Griffin for rest of playoffs

(The Sports Xchange) - The Los Angeles Clippers were hit with a double whammy on Tuesday.

Read more

Nowitzki keen to stay with Mavs, but no interest in rebuild

(Reuters) - Picturing Dirk Nowitzki playing for anyone other than the Dallas Mavericks would take some getting used to and the German forward hopes he never has reason to slip out of the silver and blue.

Read more

Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption

LONDON (Reuters) - The Wimbledon championships will protect its squeaky clean image with enhanced anti-doping and anti-corruption measures for this year's 130th tournament, organizers said on Tuesday.

Read more

Venues ready, but many challenges remain for Rio Games

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil has long been known as a country that can throw a great party as long as the guests do not mind a location that still has the builders in it.

Read more

With Olympic cleanup canceled, Rio resigned to dirty bay

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Visitors flocking to Rio de Janeiro for this summer's Olympic Games will find both dramatic landscapes and polluted, junk-filled water in the finger-like inlet that forms the city's shoreline and harbor.

Read more

Dallas grand jury indicts football's Manziel for domestic violence

DALLAS (Reuters) - Former U.S. football star Johnny Manziel was charged on Tuesday with hitting his former girlfriend, the latest in a string of setbacks for a quarterback whose erratic play and partying prompted the Cleveland Browns to cut him from the team in March.

Read more

Clippers reeling after Game 4 loss, Paul injury

(The Sports Xchange) - The Los Angeles Clippers did not just lose Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at the Moda Center. They lost their point guard, leader and best player, too.

Read more

Monday, April 25, 2016

Westbrook responds in style to 'not-superstar' jibe

(Reuters) - Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban declared that Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook is "not a superstar" and then watched as the point guard eliminated the Mavs from the playoffs on Monday.

Read more

NHL-Blues best Blackhawks, eliminate champs in Game 7

(The Sports Xchange) - All that mattered to Troy Brouwer was that the red light went on and the puck went in the net.

Read more

Thunder roll to series win over Mavs

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined to score 69 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and a five-game series win in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Read more

Hornets go inside, beat Heat to even series

(The Sports Xchange) - The Miami Heat effectively shut down the Charlotte Hornets' vaunted three-point shooting. However, the Hornets adjusted, and now they are making the Heat pay in other ways.

Read more

Dallas grand jury to indict former quarterback Manziel: lawyer

DALLAS (Reuters) - A Dallas County grand jury is expected to indict former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel on Tuesday on a charge of misdemeanor assault with bodily injury after he allegedly struck his ex-girlfriend, Manziel's lawyer said.

Read more

Golf-Tiger registers for US Open but return date still unknown

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods has registered to play in June's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania but has not set a timetable for his return to the PGA Tour.

Read more

Athletics: Suhr, Blake among Rio contenders to compete in Boston

(Reuters) - Rio Olympic medals contenders Jenn Suhr, Meseret Defar, Yohan Blake and Nick Willis are among top athletes expected for the inaugural adidas Boost Boston Games on June 17-18, organizers said on Monday.

Read more

NBA: Warriors' Curry to miss at least two weeks with MCL sprain

(The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is expected to miss several weeks after an MRI Monday morning revealed a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his right knee.

Read more

U.S. basketball to play five-game pre-Rio Olympics exhibition

(Reuters) - The United States men's basketball team will play five exhibition contests, including games against gold medal rivals Argentina and China, in the buildup to the Rio Olympics, USA Basketball said on Monday.

Read more

Nadal files suit against French ex-minister over drug test allegations

LONDON (Reuters) - Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has begun legal proceedings against former French cabinet minister Roselyne Bachelot after she alleged that the Spaniard had failed a drug test.

Read more

Cavs edge Pistons to complete sweep

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving is off to a great start in his effort to make up for lost time in the playoffs.

Read more

Joshua to make first defense against American Breazeale

LONDON (Reuters) - Anthony Joshua's first defense of his IBF world heavyweight title will be against unbeaten American Dominic Breazeale on June 25 at London's O2 Arena, the Briton's camp said on Monday.

Read more

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Celtics rally to beat Hawks, square series

(The Sports Xchange) - Evan Turner called Boston Celtics teammate Marcus Smart the best player on the court on Sunday at TD Garden.

Read more

Rebuilding Lakers part ways with coach Scott: reports

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly fired coach Byron Scott after he oversaw the two worst seasons in franchise history, clearing the way for a continued rebuild after the retirement of all-time great Kobe Bryant.

Read more

Curry injured again as Warriors rout Rockets 121-94

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors overcame the absence of guard Stephen Curry in the second half to rout the Houston Rockets 121-94 in Game Four of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Read more

Stars edge Wild to advance to second round

(The Sports Xchange) - For the Dallas Stars, the drama and the highs and lows, if they result in a playoff series win, are all part of the process.

Read more

Hoffman sinks nine-foot birdie to win in Texas

(Reuters) - Charley Hoffman, ice-cool on the back nine, took advantage of a last-day collapse by fellow American Ricky Barnes to clinch his fourth PGA Tour victory by one shot at the Texas Open in San Antonio on Sunday.

Read more

Spurs beat Grizzlies 116-95 in Game Four to sweep series

(The Sports Xchange) - The San Antonio Spurs had stars and depth as they swept the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies in their first-round Western Conference series.

Read more

Trail Blazers get back into series with Game 3 win

(The Sports Xchange) - Guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined for 59 points to lift the Portland Trail Blazers past the Los Angeles Clippers 96-88 Saturday night at the Moda Center.

Read more

Kerber ends Siegemund fairytale to defend Stuttgart title

STUTTGART (Reuters) - World number three Angelique Kerber beat qualifier Laura Siegemund 6-4 6-0 on Sunday to defend her Stuttgart Grand Prix title and end her opponent's sensational run.

Read more

Brilliant Kipchoge and brave Sumgong light up London

LONDON (Reuters) - Eliud Kipchoge produced the second fastest run in marathon history to successfully defend his London Marathon title while his Kenyan compatriot Jemima Sumgong showed remarkable courage after a fall to win the women's race on Sunday.

Read more

Jemima Sumgong wins women's London Marathon after fall

LONDON (Reuters) - Jemima Sumgong, of Kenya, won the women's London Marathon on Sunday after picking herself off the ground following a heavy fall near the end of the race.

Read more

Thunder close in on semi-final spot

(The Sports Xchange) - The Oklahoma City Thunder are a step away from the Western Conference semi-finals.

Read more

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Hornets break through while cooling off Heat

(The Sports Xchange) - After dismal performances in two opening losses, the Charlotte Hornets knew they needed to regroup quickly in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Miami Heat.

Read more

Blackhawks stave off elimination, beat Blues 6-3

(The Sports Xchange) - Dale Weise scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and the Chicago Blackhawks staved off elimination with a 6-3 comeback win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

Read more

Pacers beat Raptors in Game Four to even series at 2-2

(The Sports Xchange) - The Indiana Pacers never trailed en route to a 100-83 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday that evened their Eastern Conference series at 2-2.

Read more

Ducks deliver 5-2 win over Predators

(The Sports Xchange) - David Perron and Sami Vatanen each had a goal and an assist to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators in the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Western Conference quarterfinals Saturday.

Read more

Barnes moves one stroke clear in Texas

(Reuters) - American Ricky Barnes, a former U.S. amateur champion seeking his first PGA Tour victory, birdied four of the last eight holes to grab a one-shot lead after the third round of the Texas Open in San Antonio on Saturday.

Read more

Penguins beat Rangers to win series in five games

(The Sports Xchange) - Bryan Rust scored two goals and set up another and the Pittsburgh Penguins overwhelmed the New York Rangers with their youth and speed, closing out the first-round series with a 6-3 rout in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Read more

Spurs finish strong, put Grizzlies on brink

(The Sports Xchange) - Despite lopsided wins by San Antonio in the first two games of the Western Conference opening-round playoff series against the injury depleted Memphis Grizzlies, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili knew Friday night would be different.

Read more

Nadal storms into final as he chases Vilas clay record

BARCELONA, (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Barcelona Open for the ninth time by beating German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-3 on Saturday.

Read more

I want to win 'granddaddy of them all' says Redskins' Norman

(The Sports Xchange) - Reaction poured in after the Washington Redskins landed All-Pro linebacker Josh Norman, who said on Friday night he wanted to win "the granddaddy of them all".

Read more

Friday, April 22, 2016

Boston breathe new life into series with Game 3 win

(The Sports Xchange) - Breathing life into their playoff chances, the Boston Celtics blew a 19-point third-quarter lead but held on for a wild 111-103 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Read more

Cavs take 3-0 lead over Pistons

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and LeBron James supplied 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series by downing the Detroit Pistons 101-91 on Friday night at The Palace.

Read more

UFC 200 goes ahead without McGregor, says White

(Reuters) - Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has ruled out any possibility of Conor McGregor fighting on the UFC 200 card, despite the Irish fighter backtracking on his 'retirement' and saying he was still training to face Nate Diaz.

Read more

Flyers still alive with Game Five win over Caps

(The Sports Xchange) - Michal Neuvirth made a playoff career-high 44 saves and Ryan White scored a second-period goal that deflected off the skate of a defenseman as the Philadelphia Flyers stayed alive in their first-round series against the Washington Capitals with a 2-0 victory Friday.

Read more

Speculation mounts over Tiger's possible PGA Tour return

(Reuters) - With Tiger Woods hitting golf balls at a juniors clinic in South Carolina earlier this week, media speculation has been mounting that the former world number one could make his PGA Tour return within the next month.

Read more

Blue Jays' Colabello banned 80 games for doping

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball said on Friday.

Read more

Steele one ahead after weather-hit first round in Texas

(Reuters) - American Brendan Steele parred his last five holes to card an eight-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead when the weather-delayed first round of the Texas Open was completed in San Antonio on Friday.

Read more

Calm Harden fires Rockets past Warriors in Game Three

(The Sports Xchange) - The frantic, final moments nearly undermined all the Houston Rockets built in scratching out a double-digit lead, but James Harden took advantage of the disarray by doing what he does best.

Read more

Refugee amputee swimmer a torch-bearer for Rio Games

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Syrian amputee swimmer, granted asylum in Greece, will be a torch-bearer for the 2016 Rio Games and is to run with the Olympic flame through a refugee camp in Athens on Tuesday.

Read more

Raptors edge ahead in series with stingy defense

(The Sports Xchange) - The Toronto Raptors have a reputation for being one of the NBA's best defensive teams and it is that defense that has allowed the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed to regain control of its first-round series against No. 7 seed Indiana.

Read more

Kane keeps Blackhawks alive with double overtime winner

(The Sports Xchange) - Duncan Keith needed only three words to describe the importance of Patrick Kane's goal 3:07 into the second overtime on Thursday that propelled the team to a 4-3 win over the St Louis Blues.

Read more

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Lightning strike to dump Red Wings from playoffs

(The Sports Xchange) - For 58 minutes Thursday, a scoreless tie persisted at Amalie Arena, and then with 1:43 left, the Tampa Bay Lightning caught a loose puck behind the net as Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek went back to clear it.

Read more

Durant drives Thunder to 2-1 lead over Mavericks

(The Sports Xchange) - Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder responded from an uncharacteristic showing in impressive fashion.

Read more

Pens smash Rangers to take 3-1 lead in series

(The Sports Xchange) - Center Evgeni Malkin had two goals and two assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins demolished the New York Rangers 5-0 in Game 4 of their first-round series at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Read more

Wizards agree terms with Brooks to become coach: reports

(The Sports Xchange) - The Washington Wizards agreed to terms with Scott Brooks to become their new coach, according to published reports on Thursday.

Read more

McGregor ends retirement speculation, hits out at UFC

(Reuters) - Two days after announcing his retirement, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Conor McGregor said he has not quit at all before taking aim at the media circus surrounding the sport.

Read more

American Wilder eager for 'Rocky' moment in Russia

(Reuters) - It may not be the same plot as the Cold War-themed "Rocky IV" movie but Deontay Wilder is deterimined to emerge victorious when he becomes the first reigning American heavyweight champion to travel to Russia to defend his title.

Read more

Oosthuizen is latest top golfer to skip Rio Games

(Reuters) - Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on Thursday became the third high-profile golfer to withdraw from this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, citing family and schedule issues.

Read more

Rio Games countdown starts with Olympia torch lighting

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) - The official countdown to this year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics began with the lighting of the torch at the site of the ancient Games on Thursday and organizers hoping to shift attention away from Brazil's political and financial turmoil.

Read more

Russia's Olympic athletics slot to be decided in June

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's participation in the Rio Olympics' athletics program is likely to be decided on June 17 after the International Association of Athletics Federations announced its next Council meeting for that date, in Vienna.

Read more

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Cavaliers tie three-point record in win over Pistons

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James scored 27 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers tied an NBA playoff record with 20 3-pointers in a 107-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday in Game 2 of an NBA Western Conference playoff series.

Read more

Flyers stave off elimination with win over Capitals

(The Sports Xchange) - A change in goaltenders, some special teams success and a pair of goals from defensemen ignited Philadelphia to a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, helping the Flyers stave off elimination.

Read more

ESPN fires Curt Schilling after anti-transgender comments

(Reuters) - Sports network ESPN fired former baseball player Curt Schilling after reports of recent anti-transgender comments on social media.

Read more

Eagles trade for second overall pick in 2016 NFL Draft

(The Sports Xchange) - The Philadelphia Eagles acquired the second overall pick on Wednesday in the upcoming NFL Draft in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, who get five selections over the next two years.

Read more

Blackhawks' Shaw apologizes for 'insensitive remarks'

(Reuters) - Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw apologized on Wednesday for "insensitive remarks" he made during his team's Stanley Cup playoff game when he appeared to shout a homophobic slur at officials.

Read more

Susie Wolff defends Ecclestone after women racer remarks

LONDON (Reuters) - British racer Susie Wolff has defended Bernie Ecclestone after he doubted whether women would physically be able to drive a Formula One car fast and in any case would not be taken seriously.

Read more

IOC says 'confident' Rio safe for athletes despite pollution concerns

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) - The Rio Games will be safe for athletes despite concerns over polluted water, the head of the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

Read more

Ducks defense comes good to shutout Preds

(The Sports Xchange) - Whether it was a change in goalies or just better defense overall, the Anaheim Ducks came up with the result they needed to produce their first win in their Western Conference quarterfinal with the Nashville Predators.

Read more

Swiss crack down on bribery as 'Lex FIFA' set to take force

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland enacted new rules, dubbed by Swiss media "Lex FIFA", on Wednesday cracking down on bribes paid to private individuals as part of a fight against corruption in sport.

Read more

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Korver breaks out of slump to lead Hawks to victory

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyle Korver busted out of a shooting slump and buried the banged-up Boston Celtics with a barrage of first-half 3-pointers in an 89-72 Atlanta Hawks win in Game 2 Tuesday at Philips Arena.

Read more

Blues rally to beat Blackhawks, lead series 3-1

(The Sports Xchange) - Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues rallied for a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Read more

Palat's power-play goal lifts Bolts over Red Wings

(The Sports Xchange) - Ondrej Palat's power-play goal with 2:59 left gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena and a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference first round best-of-7 series.

Read more

Exclusive: More Olympic projects under investigation for corruption - prosecutor

CURITIBA, Brazil (Reuters) - A sweeping investigation into corruption in Brazil is targeting more infrastructure projects for this year's Olympic Games than previously made public, a federal prosecutor told Reuters, citing testimony from construction companies and executives.

Read more

Pens take 2-1 series lead over Rangers

(The Sports Xchange) - Center Matt Cullen scored a tie-breaking goal 4:16 into the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Rangers 3-1 in Game 3 of their first-round series at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Read more

F1 boss draws flak for comments about women drivers

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone caused a social media storm on Tuesday when he said women racing drivers would not be taken seriously in the sport and dismissed the contribution of immigrants to Britain.

Read more

Warriors shrug off Curry absence to beat Rockets

(The Sports Xchange) - With Stephen Curry out of action due to an ankle injury Monday night, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was comforted knowing he had Shaun Livingston in reserve.

Read more

Van de Velde returning to scene of Open heartbreak

LONDON (Reuters) - Charismatic French golfer Jean Van de Velde is preparing to revisit the spot where millions of TV viewers watched his British Open victory hopes die a watery death in 1999.

Read more

FIFA's Infantino: Russia gave pledge that crisis will not affect World Cup

MOSCOW (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday he had received assurances from the Russian government that the economic crisis convulsing Russia will not affect preparations for the 2018 soccer World Cup.

Read more

Rio Olympics chief shrugs off power failures, political worries

LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro's Olympic chief Carlos Nuzman on Tuesday brushed aside complaints over power failures and other problems revealed during a gymnastics test event and also played down concerns over a deepening political crisis in Brazil.

Read more

Monday, April 18, 2016

Raptors square series with Game 2 win over Pacers

TORONTO (The Sports Xchange) - The Toronto Raptors are best known for their All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

Read more

Kings come up trumps in overtime

(The Sports Xchange) - Tanner Pearson scored at 3:47 of overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center Monday night.

Read more

NFL's $1 billion concussion settlement upheld by U.S. appeals court

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the National Football League's estimated $1 billion concussion settlement with thousands of retired players, calling the agreement imperfect but fair.

Read more

Haula makes the difference as Wild beat Stars

(The Sports Xchange) - One game later than expected, the addition of Erik Haula to the Minnesota Wild lineup was a difference-maker.

Read more

And they're off! Boston Marathon elite begin course

BOSTON (Reuters) - An elite field of runners from 11 countries began racing on Monday morning in the 120th Boston Marathon, the world's oldest continually run annual marathon.

Read more

Mrazek, Wings blank Lightning, cut series deficit

(The Sports Xchange) - The Detroit Red Wings turned up their intensity and got back into their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Read more

South African 'Blade Runner' Pistorius faces June sentencing for murder

PRETORIA (Reuters) - Disgraced Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced in June for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, after his original conviction was upgraded from the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Read more

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Blues beat Blackhawks to take 2-1 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Jaden Schwartz scored the winning goal with less than seven minutes left and the St. Louis Blues held on for a 3-2 decision over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Read more

Hickey's OT winner gives Isles 2-1 series lead

SEOUL (Reuters) - Thomas Hickey scored with 7:29 left in overtime Sunday night as the New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Barclays Center.

Read more

Spurs dominate Grizzles in opener

(The Sports Xchange) - Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points as the San Antonio Spurs dominated the middle two quarters and romped past the Memphis Grizzlies 106-74 Sunday in Game 1 of the two teams' Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series.

Read more

Deng, Heat overpower Hornets in opener

(The Sports Xchange) - Luol Deng will have pleasant memories of his first playoff game with the Miami Heat.

Read more

Amazing Grace wins Heritage title by two strokes

(Reuters) - South African Branden Grace delivered a final-round master class to clinch a long expected first victory on the PGA Tour by two shots at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Sunday.

Read more

Top-seeded Cavaliers outlast Pistons in Game One

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James had 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a hard-fought 106-101 victory by the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Detroit Pistons in Game One of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Read more

Nadal sees off Monfils to end four-year Monaco wait

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal ended his four-year wait for a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title by defeating Gael Monfils 7-5 5-7 6-0 on Sunday in his 100th career final.

Read more

Nets appoint Hawks assistant Atkinson as new head coach

(Reuters) - The struggling Brooklyn Nets on Sunday appointed Atlanta Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach, a position he will fill once his postseason commitments are over.

Read more

Dominant Rosberg extends win streak in China

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg claimed a dominant win in an action-packed Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, who battled up toseventh with some feisty driving after starting last.

Read more

Olympics should be mixed matchplay event: Reid

LONDON (Reuters) - European Solheim Cup player Melissa Reid believes Olympic organizers missed a trick by not opting for a mixed matchplay event when golf returns to the Games in August following a 112-year absence.

Read more

Le Clos focused on Phelps, Rio schedule blurry

DURBAN (Reuters) - South Africa's Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos remains undecided on the intensity of his Rio de Janeiro Games schedule ahead of a much-anticipated showdown with idol and rival Michael Phelps in Brazil.

Read more

Nothing artificial about Drogba's goal as Impact win

(Reuters) - After sitting out the first five games of the Major League Soccer season to avoid playing on artificial pitches, Didier Drogba marked his 2016 debut with a goal as Montreal Impact beat Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday.

Read more

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Sharks hold on for 2-1 win over Kings

(The Sports Xchange) - Logan Couture's goal in the second period was the difference, and the San Jose Sharks held on for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night at Staples Center to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal at Staples Center.

Read more

Stars take 2-0 series lead with win over Wild

(The Sports Xchange) - Jamie Benn scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period and goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped 25 of 26 shots for the Dallas Stars in a 2-1 win against the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series on Saturday night at American Airlines Center.

Read more

Horford to the rescue as Hawks beat Celtics

(The Sports Xchange) - The Atlanta Hawks were melting down, their 19-point lead over the Boston Celtics long gone. Al Horford wasn't going down like that, though.

Read more

Capitals dominate on special teams, beat Flyers 4-1

(The Sports Xchange) - Braden Holtby made 41 saves, Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Saturday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their opening-round playoff series.

Read more

Rangers beat Penguins 4-2 on road to even series

(The Sports Xchange) - J.T. Miller set up three New York goals in slightly more than four minutes of the second period that unnerved the Penguins and their backup goaltender and the Rangers tied up the first-round playoff series, winning 4-2 in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Read more

Golden State victory over Houston clouded by Curry injury

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors built a big early lead and overcame an injury to point guard Stephen Curry to thump the Houston Rockets 104-78 in the opener of the Western Conference first-round series in Oakland, California on Saturday.

Read more

George scores 33 points as Pacers upset Raptors in Game One

(The Sports Xchange) - The Toronto Raptors came out tight in the opening game of their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and it played right into the hands of Paul George.

Read more

Donald leads by one at Harbour Town

(Reuters) - Former world number one Luke Donald, hunting his first tournament victory since late 2013, ground out a two-under 69 in tough conditions to take a one-shot lead after the RBC Heritage third round in South Carolina on Saturday.

Read more

Nadal sinks Murray to reach final with Monfils

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal continued his resurgence with a thrilling 2-6 6-4 6-2 victory over world number two Andy Murray on Saturday to set up a Monte Carlo Masters final against Gael Monfils.

Read more

Golden girl Hull has mixed views on major near miss

LONDON (Reuters) - Charley Hull has mixed feelings about her second-place finish at the first women's major championship of 2016, describing it as a "missed opportunity" but also viewing her performance as a sizeable confidence boost.

Read more

Scott expects to remain coach of the struggling Lakers

(The Sports Xchange) - Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott expects to be back with the team next season despite a franchise-worst 17-65 record in 2015-16 that followed a 21-61 record the previous season.

Read more

Controversial calls go Blackhawks way in win over Blues

(The Sports Xchange) - Joel Quenneville's decision to make a coach's challenge Friday night might have turned the opening-round series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.

Read more

Friday, April 15, 2016

Forsberg winner lifts Predators over Ducks

(The Sports Xchange) - Filip Forsberg scored with 9 minutes, 35 seconds to play to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the first game of the Stanley Cup Western Conference quarterfinals Friday night in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 17,236 at the Honda Center.

Read more

Solid Luongo leads Panthers to Game 2 win over Isles

(The Sports Xchange) - Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad ignited the offense and Roberto Luongo keyed the defense as the Florida Panthers defeated the New York Islanders 3-1 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night at the BB&T Center.

Read more

Lightning take 2-0 series lead over Red Wings

(The Sports Xchange) - For the second game in a row, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn combined for a go-ahead goal in the third period, sparking the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night at Amalie Arena and a 2-0 lead in the opening-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Read more

Defiant Blatter regrets he did not reform FIFA

BASEL (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter acknowledged on Friday that he failed to reform the scandal-ridden world soccer organization but asserted he was not responsible for corruption in its regional organizations.

Read more

Kobe's retirement a dark day for his fans in China

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While Kobe Bryant will be sorely missed by Los Angeles Lakers fans after he ended his stellar 20-year career in the NBA, his departure will leave a gaping hole for his legions of supporters in China.

Read more

League approves rule to put ads on jerseys starting in 2017

(Reuters) - National Basketball Association teams will be able to sell advertising space on their jerseys starting from the 2017-18 season, the league said on Friday.

Read more

No clear favorites for Boston Marathon in Olympic year

BOSTON (Reuters) - When Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa returns to the Boston Marathon starting line on Monday he will race for his third title but a clutch of fast competitors, including two other previous winners, make for an evenly matched field with no clear favorite.

Read more

Warriors look to cap magical season with title run

(Reuters) - When the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls set the former record of 72 wins in one season they coined an accompanying phrase: "72-10 don't mean a thing without the ring."

Read more

Perennial contending Spurs content outside spotlight

(Reuters) - While the NBA season has been dominated by the record-setting Golden State Warriors and Kobe Bryant's retirement tour, the San Antonio Spurs have quietly played in the background plotting to steal the final headlines.

Read more

James wants to make his own NBA history with Cavs

(Reuters) - LeBron James admired the Golden State Warriors' record-setting season but he is more focused on a burning desire to make his own mark in title-starved Cleveland and those same Warriors could stand in his way.

Read more

FIFA President Infantino to visit World Cup host Russia, Qatar

ZURICH (Reuters) - Newly elected FIFA President Gianni Infantino will visit the next two hosts of the World Cup, Russia and Qatar, next week, the global soccer body said on Friday.

Read more

Kennedy blown away by regal glove work of Royals

April 14 (Reuters) - The Kansas City Royals continue to display the defense that led them to last year's World Series title, even turning new team mates into amazed fans.

Read more

Raikkonen leads the way for Ferrari in China practice

SHANGHAI, April 15 - Kimi Raikkonen set the pace ahead of Sebastian Vettel in Friday practice for the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix as the Ferrari pair dislodged the dominant Mercedes duo.

Read more

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Pavelski scores two goals as Sharks beat Kings

(The Sports Xchange) - Joe Pavelski scored twice, including the go-ahead goal early in the third period, and the San Jose Sharks earned a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of a Western Conference quarter-final series on Thursday.

Read more

Benn leads from front as Stars record Wild win

(The Sports Xchange) - Captain Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists and Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots for the Dallas Stars in a 4-0 win against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their Western Conference first round playoff series on Thursday.

Read more

Capitals' Holtby thwarts Flyers in first game

(The Sports Xchange) - John Carlson and Jay Beagle scored, Braden Holtby stopped 19 shots and the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series.

Read more

Okposo, Strome goals seal tight game for Islanders

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyle Okposo scored the tie-breaking goal with 17:27 left in the third period as the New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday.

Read more

League's 2016 schedule opens with Super Bowl rematch

(The Sports Xchange) - The 2016 NFL season will kick off with a Super Bowl 50 rematch between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Sports Authority Field in Denver.

Read more

MLB suspends Phillies' Stumpf 80 games for doping

(The Sports Xchange) - Major League Baseball on Thursday suspended Philadelphia rookie left-hander Daniel Stumpf for 80 games for violating the policy against using performance-enhancing drugs.

Read more

Murray survives Paire scare to reach Monte Carlo quarters

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Andy Murray avoided following Novak Djokovic out of the Monte Carlo Masters exit door after surviving a scare against local favorite Benoit Paire to reach the quarter-finals with a 2-6 7-5 7-5 victory on Thursday.

Read more

Struggling Kings fire head coach George Karl

(The Sports Xchange) - The Sacramento Kings fired coach George Karl one day after the franchise completed its 10th consecutive losing season.

Read more

Sharapova still faces meldonium hearing, says ITF

(Reuters) - Maria Sharapova still faces a hearing after testing positive for meldonium, despite the World Anti-Doping Agency issuing fresh rules for athletes who tested positive for the banned substance before March 1, the International Tennis Federation has said.

Read more

Alonso given provisional clearance to race in China

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, who fractured ribs in the Formula One season's first race, has been given provisional clearance to race in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, the governing International Automobile Federation said on Thursday.

Read more

Bryant built Hall of Fame career with tireless work ethic

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For 20 long seasons, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant lit up the National Basketball Association with a work ethic and closing ability matched by very few until he finally ended his stellar career on Wednesday.

Read more

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Warriors earn record-setting 73rd regular season victory

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors earned a National Basketball Association record-setting 73rd regular season victory on Wednesday with a 125-104 blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Read more

Bryant hailed as 'greatest' Laker by Magic before final game

(Reuters) - Moments before starting the final game of his stellar 20-year career in the NBA, Kobe Bryant was described as "the greatest" ever to wear the purple and gold by fellow Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson.

Read more

Zatkoff brilliant as Penguins beat Rangers

(The Sports Xchange) - Jeff Zatkoff stopped 35 shots in an unexpected and brilliant playoff debut, Patric Hornqvist frustrated New York at both ends of the ice while scoring three times and the Pittsburgh Penguins finally found a way to beat the Rangers in the post-season, winning 5-2 on Wednesday.

Read more

LA buzzing ahead of Bryant's league farewell

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With Kobe Bryant set to end his stellar 20-year career with the Lakers later on Wednesday, Los Angeles was buzzing at the prospect of seeing one of the all-time National Basketball Association greats bow out.

Read more

Hamilton hit with five-place grid penalty for Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton will be hit with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's Formula One Chinese Grand Prix due to a gearbox change, his Mercedes team confirmed on Thursday.

Read more

Infantino continues to deny wrongdoing in TV deal

(Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino has again shrugged off any wrongdoing for signing a contract with two businessmen indicted in the United States, describing allegations in the Panama Papers documents as a "non-story".

Read more

Do not feel sorry for Spieth, urges caddie Greller

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth’s caddie urged fans not to feel sorry for the Masters runner-up on Wednesday despite his final-round meltdown at Augusta.

Read more

Rosberg takes a dig at Ecclestone's 'windbags' jibe

(Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg enjoyed dinner and a dig at the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday as drivers put on another show of unity before Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

Read more

Djokovic exits Monte Carlo as Vesely scores biggest career win

(Reuters) - Defending Monte Carlo champion and world number one Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest tournament defeat for three years when 55th-ranked Czech Jiri Vesely beat him in the second round of the Masters tournament on Wednesday.

Read more

Fury says Joshua will be easy pay day, after Klitschko

LONDON (Reuters) - Tyson Fury has labeled new IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua a 'pumped-up weightlifter' and said he would be an easy pay day once he had defended his own titles against Wladimir Klitschko in July.

Read more

PM Cameron wants UK parliament to consider criminals doping

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers should consider making doping in sport a criminal offense, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday, after a series of scandals that have raised the issue's profile high on the political agenda.

Read more

WADA announces meldonium amnesty

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The presence of less than one microgram of meldonium in doping samples in tests conducted on athletes before March 1 this year is acceptable, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Wednesday.

Read more

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Loaded handgun found inside car of slain NFL star Will Smith

(Reuters) - Slain retired NFL player Will Smith had a fully loaded handgun in his car when he was shot dead over the weekend in New Orleans by a motorist who had rammed his vehicle into the former football player's car, police said on Tuesday.

Read more

Returning Federer coasts into Monte Carlo third round

PARIS (Reuters) - Former world number one Roger Federer returned from a 10-week layoff with a 6-3 6-4 second-round victory against Spain's Guillermo Garcia Lopez at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

Read more

Blackhawks, Kings hungry for another Stanley Cup run

(Reuters) - The defending National Hockey League champion Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have applied a Western Conference stranglehold on the Stanley Cup in recent years and both are fixed on pinning down another title.

Read more

Willett aiming to give 'Big Three' a run for their money

LONDON (Reuters) - Having snatched an unlikely and spectacular first major victory at the weekend, Danny Willett's next target is to give Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy a run for their money at the top of golf's world rankings.

Read more

Rockets home in on playoff zone after early turbulence

(Reuters) - Houston Rockets scripted a stunning turnaround to stand one win away from salvaging their once-shaky playoff hopes following a tumultuous season.

Read more

Romanian runner Lavric tests positive for meldonium

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian athlete Mirela Lavric has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, joining a long list of athletes, including tennis champion Maria Sharapova, to do so.

Read more

Alonso taking nothing for granted before China medical

LONDON (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso hopes to be racing for McLaren at this weekend's Chinese Formula One Grand Prix but the Spaniard says he is taking nothing for granted ahead of a fitness test at the Shanghai circuit.

Read more

Rockets home in on playoff zone after early turbulence

(Reuters) - Houston Rockets scripted a stunning turnaround to stand one win away from salvaging their once-shaky playoff hopes following a tumultuous season.











Read more

Double Olympic relay champion Wright quits after missing Rio ticket

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Double Olympic relay champion Melanie Wright has retired from competitive swimming after failing to make the Australian team for the Rio de Janeiro Games later this year.


Read more

Monday, April 11, 2016

South Korea woos economy class golf lovers in image makeover

SEOUL (Reuters) - If the government has its way more South Korean golfers will be carrying their own clubs, walking between holes rather than riding in a cart, and there will be more public courses.











Read more

Mercedes expects extreme tire strategies in China

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One teams might adopt aggressive strategies for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix because track conditions could lead to heavy wear of the supersoft tire that has not been used in Shanghai before, Mercedes technical head Paddy Lowe said on Monday.











Read more

Ryder Cup debut on cards for Masters champion Willett

LONDON (Reuters) - Danny Willett's surprise victory at the 80th Masters has almost certainly secured him a rookie appearance for Europe's Ryder Cup team in September.


Read more

Study finds evidence of brain injury in living NFL veterans

(Reuters) - More than 40 percent of retired NFL players tested with advanced scanning technology showed signs of traumatic brain injury, a much higher rate than in the general population, according to a new study of the long-term risks of playing American football.


Read more

Can Spieth rebound from agony of Masters meltdown?

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The ecstasy of Danny Willett's three-shot victory at the Masters on Sunday will forever be linked to the eye-popping agony of Jordan Spieth's stunning collapse on the back nine at Augusta National.


Read more

Iovu competes for third nation and claims gold

A weightlifter who won an Olympic medal for Moldova, and then had a positive doping test while competing for Azerbaijan, seized European Championship gold on her first appearance for Romania on Monday.











Read more

Formula One approves qualifying change

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's governing body formally approved on Monday a decision to ditch its new qualifying format and revert to last year's version from this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.


Read more

Ex-FIFA vice president pleads guilty to U.S. bribery charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former high-ranking football official in the Americas pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that he participated in bribery schemes uncovered in a U.S. investigation of corruption in the sport's world governing body, FIFA.











Read more

Renault hoping for third time lucky in China

LONDON (Reuters) - Renault are hoping to be third time lucky and score their first points of the Formula One season in China on Sunday after narrowly missing out in the season's opening two races.


Read more

NFL decides against live stream of London games next season

(Reuters) - The National Football League has decided against live streaming its three London games next season, choosing instead to focus on streaming its Thursday night games on Twitter, a spokesman told Reuters.











Read more

McEvoy magnificent but 'Missile' misses Rio target

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Cameron McEvoy will head to the Rio Games brimful of confidence after storming to the Australian 100 metres freestyle title at the Olympic trials on Monday but former world champion James Magnussen failed to book his ticket for the blue riband event.


Read more

Kenya will beat Wada deadline, says president

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya will beat a May deadline to comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and avoid sanctions that could include a ban from the Rio Olympics, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Monday.


Read more

Ex-tennis ace Nieminen not Finn-ished as floorball calls

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Retired Finnish tennis player Jarkko Nieminen is rekindling his competitive flames by turning pro for a second time in a different sport.


Read more

Japan's Hagino plots Rio downfall of Phelps, Lochte

(Reuters) - Confident Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino said he was targeting a hat-trick of gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and was looking forward to a showdown with American idols Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.


Read more

Japan's Momota to miss Rio after casino visit: report

(Reuters) - Japanese trailblazer Kento Momota will miss this year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics after being given an indefinite suspension by national badminton bosses for visiting an illegal casino, Kyodo News reported on Monday.











Read more

Borchers own goal hands Galaxy draw with Timbers

(Reuters) - Portland defender Nat Borchers turned the ball into his own net with six minutes left as the defending Major League Soccer champions were held to a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.


Read more

Warriors top Spurs for record-tying 72nd win

(The Sports Xchange) - There are records and then there are monumental records.











Read more

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Masters victory may be just tip of iceberg for Willett

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Danny Willett was one of the last players to arrive in Augusta for the 80th Masters and he will certainly be the last to leave.











Read more

England has a week to remember at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - An English invasion at the 80th Masters marked the 20th anniversary of Nick Faldo's third and final Green Jacket victory in fine fashion on Sunday.


Read more

Spieth's Masters meltdown leaves his peers shocked

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - World number one Jason Day was "absolutely shocked" while Lee Westwood pointed to the fine line between success and disaster at the Masters after Jordan Spieth's astonishing collapse in Sunday's final round.


Read more

Spieth stunningly surrenders lead to Willett

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth, bidding for a second consecutive wire-to-wire win at the Masters, suffered a stunning meltdown after the turn as he tumbled out of a commanding lead to drop three shots behind Englishman Danny Willett in Sunday's final round.











Read more

Willett wins Masters after stunning Spieth meltdown

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Englishman Danny Willett took advantage of a stunning meltdown by defending champion and runaway leader Jordan Spieth after the turn to win his first major title by three shots at the Masters on Sunday.


Read more

Spain out of handball event for first time in 40 years

(Reuters) - Spain will miss the men's Olympic handball event for the first time since the 1976 Games in Montreal despite beating hosts Sweden 25-23 in a qualifying tournament on Sunday.


Read more

Marquez dominates in Texas for fourth year in a row

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Honda's MotoGP leader Marc Marquez won for the fourth year in a row at Austin's Circuit of the Americas on Sunday while his bitter rival Valentino Rossi was one of several riders who crashed out.











Read more

Veteran Hayman denies Boonen to take Paris-Roubaix win

ROUBAIX, France (Reuters) - Australian veteran Mathew Hayman deprived Tom Boonen of a record-breaking fifth Paris-Roubaix title when he won the Queen of the Classics on Sunday after the leading favorites got trapped behind a big crash.











Read more

Former Saints player Will Smith shot dead in New Orleans

(Reuters) - Former NFL athlete Will Smith was killed and his wife injured by a gunman who shot the retired football player several times after ramming into his car in New Orleans, police and a local media report said on Sunday.


Read more

Pacquiao beats Bradley in farewell fight

(Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in the rubber match between the fighters on Saturday, prevailing in what the Filipino has said is the final fight of his career.











Read more

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Dallas hold San Jose after Bernardez own goal

(Reuters) - FC Dallas came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in a Major League Soccer Western Conference clash on their home turf.


Read more

Millsap sparks Hawks fightback against Boston

(The Sports Xchange) - In an intense game with major playoff-seeding implications, the Atlanta Hawks were down 12 to the visiting Boston Celtics in the third quarter. That's when Paul Millsap took over.


Read more

Holtby ties NHL record for wins in season

(The Sports Xchange) - Washington goaltender Braden Holtby tied the record for most wins in a single season with the Capitals' 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.











Read more

Ruthless Joshua claims IBF world heavyweight crown

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Anthony Joshua lived up to his billing as the new superstar of heavyweight boxing when he stopped Charles Martin in the second round with a demonstration of brutal power to claim the American’s world IBF title on Saturday.











Read more

Horschel a victim of golf's unyielding rules

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Billy Horschel was the victim of a bizarre incident when his ball blew off the green into a pond as he prepared to putt at the 15th green at the Masters on Saturday.


Read more

Spieth anchored top leaderboard at windswept Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth remained anchored at the top of the Masters leaderboard while Rory McIlroy was laboring in gusting winds as the marquee pair reached the third round turn at blustery Augusta National on Saturday.











Read more

Stephens to face Vesnina in Charleston final

(Reuters) - Sloane Stephens reached her third WTA final of the year when top-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany retired in the second set of their semi-final at the Volvo Car Open in South Carolina on Saturday due to a viral illness.











Read more

Marquez on pole in Texas for fourth year in a row

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Honda's MotoGP leader Marc Marquez took pole position at the Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas for the fourth year in a row on Saturday.


Read more

Expect shots we don't normally see at windy Augusta: Price

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Golf fans can expect to see havoc, water balls and shots "we don't normally see" at the Masters in Saturday's third round because of strong winds at Augusta National, says former world number one Nick Price.


Read more

Popovich set to field full strength Spurs for Warriors

(Reuters) - The San Antonio Spurs chose to rest their standouts on Friday night but plan to return to full strength when they face the record-challenging Golden State Warriors in two days.











Read more

Bengals coach Lewis given contract extension: report

(Reuters) - The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to extend coach Marvin Lewis' contract until the end of the 2017 season, NFL.com reported on Friday.


Read more

Friday, April 8, 2016

Crawford three-pointer lifts Clippers to win over Jazz

(The Sports Xchange) - Jamal Crawford scored 30 points and hit a game-winning 3-pointer with less than a second remaining to lift the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers to a shocking 102-99 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday.


Read more

Japan's Kitajima misses out on fifth Olympics, set to retire

(Reuters) - Four-times Olympic breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima is set for retirement after missing out on qualifying for a fifth Olympics at the Japanese swimming trials.











Read more

Three double bogeys cost Mickelson cut at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson lamented his poor course management after compiling his worst ever score at Augusta National, a seven-over 79, to miss the cut after the second round at the Masters on Friday.


Read more

Charging McIlroy shuts out grand slam thoughts

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy used a fast start and a strong finish to charge into contention for the Masters on Friday, but was doing his best to shut out any thoughts of completing a career grand slam of the majors.











Read more

Day survives brutal conditions to hang tough at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jason Day was buffeted but not broken by the wind as he eked out a respectable one-over-par 73 to remain in contention for a second consecutive major after his second round at the 80th Masters on Friday.


Read more

Embarrassed Els salvages pride with solid second round

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Ernie Els, a proud professional, was embarrassed in front of the world when he six-putted the first green at the Masters on Thursday, but he proudly persevered a day later and held his head high in the second round.











Read more

Lee high on leaderboard despite bogey, bogey finish

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Danny Lee lamented three-putt bogeys at the final two holes but was generally pleased with his second round at the Masters in difficult conditions on Friday.


Read more

NFL receiver Marshall cleared in civil trial of punching woman

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall was found not liable on Friday following a trial in a lawsuit brought by a California woman who alleged he punched her in the face outside a Manhattan nightclub in 2012.











Read more

Political angles swirl over Pacquiao-Bradley rubber match

(Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring nearly a year after his mega-fight loss to Floyd Mayweather for a rubber-match clash with Tim Bradley in Las Vegas on Saturday against a swirling backdrop of politics and legacy.


Read more

Spieth stays on top at Masters as challenges stall

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth watched from atop the Masters leaderboard as the early second round starters, including world number one Jason Day, failed to close the gap on the defending champion on Friday.











Read more

Weightlifting could hand doping control to WADA

FORDE, Norway (Reuters) - Weightlifting took a significant step on Friday toward becoming the first sport to hand over control of its governing federation's anti-doping program to WADA, after enduring six months of relentless bad publicity.


Read more

Jaguar Land Rover in talks to lease Silverstone

LONDON (Reuters) - British Grand Prix track Silverstone is in talks to lease the circuit's property to Jaguar Land Rover, the owners of the Formula One site said after a vote of its members authorized the board to continue discussing the deal.


Read more

IAAF rejects former Kenya chief Mwangi's ban appeal

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The IAAF's Ethics Committee has rejected former Athletics Kenya (AK) chief executive Isaac Kamande Mwangi's appeal against his provisional six-month ban for violating anti-doping controls.


Read more

Fury's camp confirm Klitschko re-match in July

LONDON (Reuters) - British heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury will defend his titles against Wladimir Klitschko, the man he deposed, in Manchester on July 9, according to his camp.











Read more

Belgian coach Hoferlin dies at 49: public broadcaster

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Julien Hoferlin, a former Belgian Davis Cup captain who also helped coach the British team, died on Friday at the age of 49 following treatment for cancer, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF said on its website.











Read more

Wozniacki ruled out of Istanbul tournament

LONDON (Reuters) - Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki will miss this month's Istanbul Cup tournament after suffering an ankle injury.











Read more

Brazil's Rousseff scraps Rio Games torch lighting trip

ATHENS (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has canceled plans to attend the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics torch lighting ceremony in Greece's Olympia later this month, Greece's Olympic Committee (HOC) said on Friday.


Read more

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Rockets' playoff hopes dim after loss to Suns

(The Sports Xchange) - James Harden wore a somber expression in a virtually empty locker room late Thursday night, a scene that painted the perfect picture of the Houston Rockets' season-long struggle with failure and frustration.











Read more

China warns again on sports corruption, lust for gold

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's sports establishment must learn the lessons from a corruption scandal involving a former deputy sports minister, continue to root out graft, and curb a win-at-all costs mentality, the country's top graft-buster said on Friday.


Read more

Fowler cannot Master gusting winds cards 80

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - While most of the favorites were making strong starts to the 80th Masters on Thursday, world number five Rickie Fowler was an exception, stumbling to an eight-over 80 and free-falling to the bottom of the Augusta leaderboard.











Read more

Masterful Spieth moves two ahead at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - This week's Masters always had the makings for being something extra special and it lived up to expectations on Thursday as reigning champion Jordan Spieth seized a two-shot lead after the opening round.


Read more

Princeton fires lacrosse coach after video shows he hit player

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Princeton University's men's lacrosse team was preparing on Thursday for the rest of its season under a new interim coach a day after the Ivy League school fired its head coach for elbowing an opposing player during a game last week.











Read more

Schippers to tune up in Birmingham on road to Rio

LONDON (Reuters) - World 200 meters champion Dafne Schippers will use Birmingham's Diamond League meeting as a testing ground ahead of her bid for an Olympic sprint double in Rio.











Read more

F1 teams want return to 2015 qualifying

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One is set to retain its unpopular qualifying format at next week's Chinese Grand Prix after teams rejected a compromise backed by the governing FIA and called for a return to last year's version.


Read more

Arnie's Army comes out to salute the 'King'

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Crowded around Augusta National's first tee, 'Arnie's Army' was out in force to salute their leader on Thursday as Arnold Palmer's ceremonial first shot to open the Masters was limited to an honorary appearance.











Read more

Up to 40 players are Masters favorites: Langer

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Twice champion Bernhard Langer believes that up to 40 players are genuine contenders for this week's Masters, with another 30 quite capable of winning the year's opening major championship.


Read more

Hungarian swimmers stand by coach Kiss despite 1961 rape case

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The Hungarian Swimming Association said it stood by national swimming team coach Laszlo Kiss, 75, who has come under fire for his part in the 1961 gang-rape of a young swimmer, a crime he admitted to and went to prison for at the time.











Read more

WADA gives Kenya another month's grace: source

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya has been handed a one-month extension to comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and thereby avoid future sanctions, an official told Reuters on Thursday.











Read more

Argentina top as South America dominate FIFA rankings

ZURICH (Reuters) - Argentina moved top as South America dominated the monthly FIFA rankings on Thursday with five teams, half of the continent's total, in the top 10.


Read more

I almost quit, says del Potro

LONDON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said he almost quit tennis after a succession of wrist injuries but still hopes he can regain his former powers.


Read more

U.S. woman fights for her dream in Japanese pro wrestling

TOKYO (Reuters) - Forget cherry blossoms and delicate slices of raw fish. The Japan on which Kris Hernandez has pinned her dreams is the thud of body slams, sweat, and garish costumes - the world of professional women's wrestling.


Read more

Around 40 Russian athletes under investigation for meldonium use: Ifax

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A total of around 40 Russian athletes are currently under an investigation for using the banned meldonium substance, Interfax news agency on Thursday quoted Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko as saying.


Read more

Fantasy sports are illegal gambling in Tennessee: attorney general

(Reuters) - Fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling under Tennessee law, the state attorney general said this week in an opinion about a multibillion-dollar online industry that has been challenged legally in several states.











Read more

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Barea delivers again as Mavs top Rockets

(The Sports Xchange) - J.J. Barea added another clutch performance to the best stretch of his career Wednesday night and the Dallas Mavericks secured a crucial 88-86 win over the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center.


Read more

Former doubles champion Bob Hewitt expelled from Hall of Fame

(Reuters) - Disgraced former grand slam doubles champion Bob Hewitt has been expelled from the International Tennis Hall of Fame due to his 2015 conviction for rape and sexual assault in South Africa.


Read more

New York City bans chewing tobacco at Major League ballparks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City on Wednesday banned the use of chewing tobacco at sports venues such as Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, joining other cities in discouraging Major League Baseball players from a habit with deep roots in the game.


Read more

Venus powers on, Bencic upset in Charleston

(Reuters) - Venus Williams avoided another early exit with a routine win over fellow American Alison Riske at the Volvo Car Open in South Carolina while Swiss second seed Belinda Bencic was ousted by Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina.











Read more

Player ace lights up Par-3 contest as Walker triumphs

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Gary Player kicked his right leg into the air, hugged his granddaughter Alex and grandson Paul and received congratulations from playing competitors Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. No, this was not the 1978 Masters, when Player won his third and final Green Jacket with a one-shot victory over Watson and was four better than Nicklaus.


Read more

Chaplet puts Costa Rica on Masters map

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - It would not have seemed odd had Paul Chaplet caddied for one of golf's greats at the Masters Par-3 contest on Wednesday but the 16-year-old turned a few heads when he reached for a club and teed it up


Read more

Masters special in prospect as Day tops stellar cast

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The 80th Masters, which starts on Thursday, shapes up as one of the best in recent memory with world number one Jason Day heading a list of high-profile players in superb form over the past three months.


Read more

Strong winds forecast for first three rounds at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Expectations of a fiery Augusta National have been tempered by the prospect of rain before Thursday’s opening round at the Masters.


Read more

Ferrari in line for bumper F1 payout

LONDON (Reuters) - Ferrari will be paid much more than any other Formula One team this year despite finishing runners-up to world champions Mercedes last season, according to figures published on Wednesday.


Read more

Swiss police raid UEFA as Panama Papers scandal spreads

ZURICH/REYKJAVIK, (Reuters) - Swiss police raided the European soccer body UEFA on Wednesday to seize information about a contract disclosed in the Panama Papers that was signed by Gianni Infantino, now head of the global soccer body FIFA.











Read more

McIlroy needs to rein in aggression to win Masters: Levet

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy may need to dial back his aggression and play more "Nicklaus-like" to taste victory at Augusta National, according to former British Open runner-up Thomas Levet.











Read more

Infantino says Cross Trading contract 'properly conducted' by UEFA

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a contract he signed for the sale of broadcast rights to Ecuador when he was working for UEFA had been "properly conducted" by European soccer's governing body.











Read more

Els, back with Leadbetter, in fine Masters fettle

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Ernie Els, his confidence flooding back after a return to health and a reunion with his old coach, sounds more enthusiastic than in years as he prepares for the 80th Masters starting on Thursday.











Read more

Cabrera-Bello texts former Masters winner Olazabal for tips

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - In a perfect world, Masters rookie Rafael Cabrera-Bello would have played three practice rounds with two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal this week to prepare for his first tournament at Augusta National.


Read more

Toronto manager ignites baseball backlash with 'dresses' comment

TORONTO (Reuters) - The manager of the Toronto Blue Jays faced a backlash on Wednesday after saying players might have to "wear dresses" because umpires in Tuesday's game enforced a new slide rule designed to take deliberate contact out of baseball.


Read more

Swiss police raid UEFA headquarters to examine contract

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss police raided the headquarters of the European soccer body UEFA in Nyon on Wednesday to gather information about a contract signed by Gianni Infantino, now head of the global soccer body FIFA, that was reported in the Panama Papers.











Read more

Augusta National masters art of minimal sponsorship

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Sports sponsorship deals, even multi-million dollar ones, follow a pretty basic process. This applies nearly everywhere, but not at the Masters golf tournament.











Read more

'Blade Jumper' Rehm running out of time for Rio

BERLIN (Reuters) - Amputee long jumper Markus Rehm is running out of time to make the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August as the world athletics body has not yet set the criteria for ruling if he can compete with his prosthetic leg.


Read more

Force India waiting on 2017 rules in EU complaint

LONDON (Reuters) - Force India are waiting for Formula One's 2017 rules to be finalised before taking the next step in their complaint to the European Union about how the sport is run and revenues distributed.











Read more

Role reversal for Campbells as Bronte struggles with injury

(Reuters) - Not all world champions could count on sympathy from a rival after suffering a shoulder injury but it is not only sororal love that has Cate Campbell consoling sister Bronte heading into Australia's Olympic swimming trials.


Read more

Reeling Grizzlies end skid with win over Bulls

(The Sports Xchange) - In the quiet of the Chicago Bulls' locker room Tuesday night at FedExForum, point guard Derrick Rose tried to explain how a virtual must-win game for his team turned into a 108-92 loss to the reeling and hobbled Memphis Grizzlies.


Read more

NBA: Timberwolves stun Warriors in OT

(The Sports Xchange) - The Minnesota Timberwolves stalled the Golden State Warriors' pursuit of history Tuesday night, riding a fourth-quarter comeback and Andrew Wiggins' nine points in overtime to a shocking, 124-117 victory.











Read more

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Rose reckons he has the right stuff to win Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Here’s a quick quiz question. Without doing an Internet search, who finished second at the 2015 Masters?











Read more

Kerber advances in third-set tiebreaker

(Reuters) - Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber was pushed to a third-set tiebreaker by 80th-ranked Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena before winning 6-2 5-7 7-6(3) and advancing to the third round of the Volvo Car Open clay court event in South Carolina.


Read more

Memories of the 1986 Masters never gets old for Nicklaus

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jack Nicklaus called the embrace with his oldest son Jackie, after his magical ride through the pines at Augusta National 30 years ago, perhaps the most memorable moment of his legendary career.


Read more

Spieth aims to keep low profile as Champions Dinner host

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Last year's Masters winner Jordan Spieth will be the youngest player in the room when he hosts the Champions Dinner at Augusta National on Tuesday and plans to keep his own talking to a bare minimum.


Read more

Infantino 'dismayed' after name found in Panama Papers

BERNE (Reuters) - Recently-elected FIFA president Gianni Infantino was "dismayed that his integrity was being doubted" in media reports about a contract he signed several years ago, the global soccer body said in a statement on Tuesday.











Read more

Mickelson believes in his new swing method

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - As he prepared for his 24th start, three-times Masters champion Phil Mickelson wished the injured Tiger Woods well, but also delivered a message for those such as his former nemesis who have been hindered by golf injuries.











Read more

Patriots fans sue NFL over lost 'Deflategate' draft picks

BOSTON (Reuters) - Seven New England Patriots fans sued the National Football League on Tuesday, asking a judge to reverse a decision by the league to strip the team of a first-round pick in this month's draft over allegations of underinflated footballs.


Read more

Masters runner-up finish in 2011 turned Day's career around

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - A disillusioned Jason Day arrived five years ago for his first Masters but he was hardly full of eager anticipation about the prospect of finally playing Augusta National competitively.











Read more

Twitter to stream Thursday night NFL games in 2016 season

(Reuters) - The National Football League said it had chosen Twitter as its exclusive global partner for streaming its Thursday night games during the 2016 regular season.











Read more

Old man Scott feels clock ticking as he chases more majors

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Adam Scott is not exactly an old man, but he feels the clock ticking as he attempts to add to his single major victory this week at the Masters.


Read more

NBA's LeBron tops Power 100 list for third straight year

(Reuters) - LeBron James and Stephen Curry grabbed the top spots on the Horrow Sports/MVPindex Power 100 as the NBA dominated the rankings released on Tuesday with 24 players on the list that evaluates an athlete's brand and marketability.


Read more

Platini's Panama account was declared in Switzerland: lawyer in Le Figaro

PARIS (Reuters) - Banned UEFA President Michel Platini's Panamanian bank account was declared to the authorities in Switzerland, where he lives, his lawyer said in an interview published by French newspaper Le Figaro on Tuesday.











Read more

Dramatic buzzer-beater earns Villanova NCAA title

(Reuters) - Kris Jenkins buried a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift Villanova to a thrilling 77-74 upset victory over North Carolina in the U.S. college basketball championship game in Houston on Monday.


Read more

Monday, April 4, 2016

Gatlin coach to remain as U.S. relay boss for Rio

(Reuters) - Sprinter Justin Gatlin's trainer will remain as U.S. relay coach for the Rio Olympics after officials decided to delay implementing a new policy for the job, USA Track & Field (USATF) said on Monday.











Read more

Aces high in Masters practice for grand slam hungry McIlroy

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has grand slam ambitions in his sights at this week's Masters and he thrilled the fans with a hole-in-one during practice at Augusta National on Monday.


Read more

Taylor delights in his Masters return after lean times

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - A year ago, Augusta resident Vaughn Taylor attended the Masters as a fan with his wife and young son, not sure if he would ever return to the iconic venue as a player because of his poor form.











Read more

Stenson has aggressive Masters plan for Augusta

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Swede Henrik Stenson exhibited his usual quick wit when he was made aware a European has not won the Masters since Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999.


Read more

Olympic gold medal winners in Rio to get major exemptions

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Golf's major championships threw their support behind the sport's return to the Olympics on Monday, offering exemptions for men's and women's gold medal winners this year to all grand slam events.











Read more

Herman living a dream with unlikely Masters invite

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jim Herman is living the American dream and on Monday the journeyman still was not quite sure if he had woken up after securing a last-minute Masters invite with his first PGA Tour victory.


Read more

Ferrari have yet to show true colors, says Rosberg

LONDON (Reuters) - Ferrari are closer to Mercedes than results have suggested in this season's two races and look like posing a real challenge, according to Formula One world championship leader Nico Rosberg.


Read more

Testing agreement delaying Pirelli F1 tire contract

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's new tire contract with Pirelli from 2017 has yet to be signed off with the sport's governing body, despite being agreed in October, as the Italian firm wants specific targets and testing guarantees written in.











Read more

Zoeller's ex-caddie recalls how Woods broke the ice

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - With the Masters' Champions Dinner just one day away, Fuzzy Zoeller's former caddie has disclosed a remark made by Tiger Woods that broke the ice after his employer's controversial comment had put their relationship in the deep freezer.


Read more

Shaq, Iverson, Yao lead Hall of Fame class of 2016

(The Sports Xchange) - Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tom Izzo and modern-day basketball pioneers Yao Ming and Sheryl Swoopes headline the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class announced Monday.











Read more

Remember the 'Rope a Dope', Hamilton reminds Rosberg

MANAMA (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has no concerns about Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg's five-race winning streak or his own poor starts this season.


Read more

Bad back knocks Couples out of Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, withdrew from the year's first major citing back problems on Monday.











Read more

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Curry pours in 39 as Warriors trounce Trail Blazers

(The Sports Xchange) - The Golden State Warriors play so well after they lose, it makes one wonder why they don't do it more often.


Read more

Sharapova positive test sparks renewed vigilance in NZ

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Athletes in New Zealand have become more vigilant about the medication and supplements they take in the wake of Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova's positive test, Drug Free Sports New Zealand (DFSNZ) said on Monday.











Read more

Former short track world champion Noh dies aged 23

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's former short track world champion Noh Jin-kyu has died of cancer, the Korea Skating Union said on Monday. He was 23.











Read more

Ko wins second LPGA major with Mission Hills triumph

(Reuters) - New Zealand's Lydia Ko became the youngest player to win two LPGA major championships when she birdied the par-five 18th to clinch the ANA Inspiration by one stroke in Rancho Mirage, California, on Sunday.


Read more

Without Irving, Cavs hold off Hornets

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James said it felt like playing three games in three nights, yet as the Cleveland Cavaliers have for most of the season, they passed the test.











Read more

Marquez wins in Argentina to take overall lead

(Reuters) - Spain's Marc Marquez won the Argentine Grand Prix for Honda on Sunday to take the overall lead in the MotoGP standings after a shortened race overshadowed by concerns about tyre safety.


Read more

FIFA ethics committee investigates one of its own members

ZURICH(Reuters) - A member of the ethics committee responsible for rooting out corruption in soccer's governing body FIFA has himself been placed under a preliminary investigation, the watchdog said on Sunday.











Read more

Herman comes up trumps with Houston Open victory

(Reuters) - American journeyman Jim Herman earned a last-minute invitation to the Masters when he secured a one-stroke victory at the Houston Open in Texas on Sunday.











Read more

Vandoorne proves a point on his Formula One debut

MANAMA (Reuters) - Belgian debutant Stoffel Vandoorne handed McLaren their first point of the Formula One season in Bahrain on Sunday while the team's two champion drivers looked on from the sidelines.











Read more

Grosjean keeps Haas on a high

MANAMA (Reuters) - After finishing sixth on his debut in Australia with the new U.S.-owned Haas Formula One team, Romain Grosjean went one better in Bahrain on Sunday to continue a 'crazy' run of success.


Read more

Djokovic beats Nishikori in Miami for 63rd career title

(Reuters) - Top seed Novak Djokovic continued his domination of men's tennis with a 6-3 6-3 win over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the Miami Open final in Florida on Sunday, before quickly turning his thoughts to the upcoming clay court season.


Read more

Ex-Heisman winner Troy Smith arrested on DUI and drug charge

(Reuters) - Former pro football quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith was arrested early on Sunday on suspicion of marijuana possession and driving under the influence, police said.


Read more