Monday, May 30, 2016

France's Bourdy leads 13 qualifiers into U.S. Open

(Reuters) - France's Gregory Bourdy led 13 players into the field for the U.S. Open golf championship next month at Oakmont Country Club in the International Sectional qualifier at Walton Heath in Surrey, England on Monday.

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Worried Gasol wants more Zika details ahead of Rio

MADRID, (Reuters) - Chicago Bulls and Spain basketball center Pau Gasol wants clarity on the Zika outbreak in Brazil before deciding whether to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

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Rain wipes out day's play at French Open; first washout since 2000

PARIS (Reuters) - Persistent rain showers accompanied by a flood warning washed out the entire day's play at the French Open on Monday for the first time since 2000.

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Sunday, May 29, 2016

Rossi rolls dice, hits jackpot with Indy 500 win

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Rookie Alexander Rossi rolled the dice on fuel and hit the jackpot winning the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, as IndyCar racing ushered in a new era with an American winner.

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Penguins and Sharks meet, finally, in Stanley Cup Finals

(Reuters) - The 2016 Stanley Cup Finals could be billed as the what-took-you-so-long championship series. The Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, which begin their best-of-seven series in Pittsburgh on Monday, were expected to meet in the final -- not necessarily this year, but six years ago to be precise.

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Wawrinka keeps up winning run to reach Paris quarters

PARIS (Reuters) - The weather was dull and wet but that did not stop a beaming Stan Wawrinka from having plenty of fun on Sunday as he enjoyed a mid-match rally with a ballboy before twirling 360 degrees on court to take a selfie-video with 10,000 French Open spectators.

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Hamilton wins Monaco showcase

MONACO (Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first win of the Formula One season in a crash-filled Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.

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NBA player Bryce Dejean-Jones killed in Dallas shooting

(Reuters) - Rookie New Orleans Pelicans basketball player Bryce Dejean-Jones died after being shot early on Saturday when he broke into a Dallas apartment, authorities said.

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Saturday, May 28, 2016

Rapids slowed down by late Union equalizer in MLS clash

(Reuters) - Colorado Rapids midfielder Sam Cronin and his Philadelphia Union counterpart Brian Carroll traded late goals as the Major League Soccer conference leaders ground out a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

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U.S., Peru, Mexico warm up for Centenary Copa with wins

(Reuters) - Teenage U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic grabbed the headlines by scoring his first international goal in a 4-0 win over Bolivia while Mexico and Peru also enjoyed wins in Copa America warm-up matches on Saturday.

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NBA-Thompson, Warriors shock Thunder, force Game 7

(The Sports Xchange) - Klay Thompson scored 41 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 108-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

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Ronaldo helps Real hand Atletico another final defeat

MILAN (Reuters) - Real Madrid handed Atletico Madrid another cruel Champions League final defeat when Cristiano Ronaldo's spot kick saw them beat their neighbors on penalties to win Europe's top club trophy for a record 11th time on Saturday.

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Russia says eight athletes positive in London 2012 re-tests

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Olympic Committee (ROC) said on Saturday eight of its athletes from three different sports had tested positive for banned substances in a re-examination of samples taken during the 2012 London Olympics.

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Timely Djokovic races into French Open fourth round

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic won his race against the clock when he beat Briton Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-3 6-3 to reach the French Open last 16 on Saturday.

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Rain halts play at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) - Play was suspended by rain on the seventh day of the French Open on Saturday.

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Murray aware of Nadal injury during practice last week

PARIS (Reuters) - Andy Murray knew nine-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal was struggling with a wrist injury when he practiced with the Spaniard during the build-up to Roland Garros.

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Vettel fastest in final Monaco practice

MONACO (Reuters) - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets in final practice for the showcase Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday with triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton close behind for Mercedes.

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WHO rejects call for Olympics to be moved due to Zika

LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday rejected a call for the Rio Olympic Games to be moved or postponed due to the threat posed by large outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil.

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Friday, May 27, 2016

King James targets six of the best for his Cavaliers

(Reuters) - LeBron James is planning to "appreciate" a sixth consecutive NBA Finals appearance after the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame the Toronto Raptors on Friday to seal victory in their Eastern Conference final series.

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NBA's Thunder targeted by deceased McClendon's creditors

NEW YORK (Reuters) - This weekend, the Oklahoma City Thunder stands one game away from clinching a surprising spot in the NBA finals.

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Spieth two behind leader Molder at weather-hit Colonial

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth made light work of the “Horrible Horseshoe” to surge into contention after his second round of the weather-hit Colonial tournament in Texas on Friday.

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Woods does not enter Memorial tournament, absence continues

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods will not play next week's Memorial tournament in Ohio after failing to enter by the deadline Friday afternoon.

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Nadal pull-out stuns French Open but show goes on

PARIS (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal went down fighting on his favourite battleground a year ago but this time his quest for an unprecedented 10th French Open title ended sitting glumly in front of a microphone.

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McEnroe to work with Canadian Raonic

PARIS (Reuters) - Seven-times grand slam champion John McEnroe is joining the coaching team of Canadian world number nine Milos Raonic, the American said on Friday.

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Indy 500 to supercharge Indianapolis economy

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 has supercharged the local economy, putting the event on track to cash in on what is hyped as the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing'.

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Former ball girl Rogers sends sleepy Kvitova packing

PARIS (Reuters) - A few years ago American Shelby Rogers was scurrying around court as a ball girl to the biggest names in tennis in her hometown WTA tournament.

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23 athletes from London 2012 positive in doping retests

BERLIN (Reuters) - Twenty-three athletes from five sports tested positive for banned drugs in re-checks of 265 samples from the 2012 London Olympics, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

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Nadal pulls out of French Open with wrist injury

PARIS (Reuters) - Nine-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal unexpectedly pulled out of the French Open on Friday because of a left wrist injury.

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Warriors shoot past Thunder, extend West finals

(The Sports Xchange) - Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes bombed in 3-pointers on consecutive possessions during an eight-point flurry that opened a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and the Golden State Warriors held on from there to stay alive in the Western Conference finals with a 120-111 victory over the Oklahoma Thunder on Thursday night.

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Soccer: Manchester United appoint Mourinho as manager

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United have appointed Jose Mourinho as manager on a three-year contract with an option to stay on until at least 2020, the Premier League club said on Friday.

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Bucket list ticked, Drysdale back to defend title in Rio

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Olympic rowing champion Mahe Drysdale's year off after his London campaign has not only refreshed him for his tilt at defending his single sculls title in Rio later this year, but also given him pause for thought about continuing until Tokyo.

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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Rust scores 2 as Pens beat Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals

(The Sports Xchange) - Sure, Sid and Geno still are around. Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang, too. But these Pittsburgh Penguins aren't just a team of big names, but one of guys still trying to make a name in the NHL, too.

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Glory days return as Indy revs up for 100th

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - A rich history and uncertain future will collide at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday when up to 400,000 motor racing fans descend on the famed Brickyard for a high-octane party over 100 years in the making.

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Indy 500 has a big place in F1 history

MONACO (Reuters) - Very few Formula One fans, even from the older generations, can name the first U.S. driver to score points, win a round of the world championship and lead the standings.

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Baylor removes Starr as president, will fire coach over rape cases

DALLAS (Reuters) - Baylor University has removed Kenneth Starr as president and will fire head football coach Art Briles after an independent report found administrators mishandled sexual abuse cases involving football players, the school announced on Thursday.

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NFL: League to talk with players named in Al Jazeera PED report

(Reuters) - Retired quarterback Peyton Manning and four other players named in an Al Jazeera America report that linked them to performance-enhancing drugs will soon meet with the NFL, according to a report on the NFL's website on Thursday.

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Mourinho agrees terms with Man United: Sky TV

LONDON (Reuters) - English soccer's biggest club seem to have secured the services of the sport's most colorful manager after Jose Mourinho, according to Sky TV reports, agreed personal terms with Manchester United on Tuesday.

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Sharks top Blues, advance to first Stanley Cup Final

(The Sports Xchange) - The San Jose Sharks are going to finish their silver anniversary season chasing that big silver chalice.

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Nadal and Djokovic march on at Roland Garros

PARIS (Reuters) - A dominant Rafael Nadal arrived at one career milestone on Thursday but the speed of the Spaniard's rampage through the early rounds of the French Open suggests his eyes are fixed firmly on another more significant one.

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Nadal downs Bagnis to notch up double century

PARIS (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal chalked up a double century of grand slam match wins by putting Argentine challenger Facundo Bagnis firmly in his place with a 6-3 6-0 6-3 demolition job in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.

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United and Chelsea haggle over Mourinho's image rights

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho is expected to be named Manchester United's new manager either later today or tomorrow, after the tangled issue of who owns his name - and, crucially, is licensed to exploit it commercially - is resolved.

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Hamilton fastest in Monaco after drain cover drama

MONACO (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace in an incident-filled opening Monaco Grand Prix practice on Thursday, with debris and a loose drain cover bringing an early end to the session.

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Bianchi family plan legal action against F1

MONACO (Reuters) - The family of the late French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi are planning legal action against the sport's governing body, his former Marussia team and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Group, they said in a statement on Thursday.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Cavaliers throttle Raptors, grab 3-2 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James had 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Kevin Love returned to form with 25 points as the Cavaliers dismantled the Toronto Raptors in a 116-78 win on Wednesday that gives Cleveland a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

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Patriots back Tom Brady in 'Deflategate' court appeal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New England Patriots on Wednesday urged a U.S. appeals court to reconsider its decision to reinstate Tom Brady's "Deflategate" four-game suspension, saying its star quarterback faced "unprecedented, unjustified and unsupported penalties."

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Indy 500 security revved up for 100th running

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The hundreds of thousands of spectators planning to attend Sunday's 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 should arrive early and expect to go through added layers of security, officials warned on Wednesday.

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Exclusive: Brazil investigating possible corruption at Olympic venues

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian investigators have expanded their probe into possible corruption around the staging of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August to include all the venues and services financed with federal funds, a lead prosecutor told Reuters.

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Parnelli's Indy 500 relevance knows no limits

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - As the oldest living winner of the Indianapolis 500, Parnelli Jones will occupy a special place of honor on Sunday when "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" celebrates its centennial.

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Murray takes long road again, Wawrinka keeps it simple

PARIS (Reuters) - Andy Murray survived a second close shave at the French Open on Wednesday, but his path towards what he hopes will be a maiden title in Paris is becoming so circuitous he may soon find himself hacking through trees in the nearby Bois de Boulogne.

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Tennis: Halep keeps her wits to reach round three

PARIS (Reuters) - Former finalist Simona Halep survived a first-set wobble to reach the third round of the French Open for only the second time in her career with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas on Wednesday.

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Tennis: Wawrinka makes smoother progress past Japan's Daniel

PARIS (Reuters) - Holder Stan Wawrinka avoided a repeat of his French Open first-round scare although the Swiss was still made to work hard for a straight-sets win over Japan's Taro Daniel on Wednesday.

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Tennis: An impressive Nishikori races into third round in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - Japan's Kei Nishikori maintained his impressive clay-court form to outclass Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3 6-3 6-3 in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.

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Tokyo 2020 payments probe team established

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese Olympic Committee on Wednesday established a team to investigate whether any illegal payments were made during its successful bid for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Wilting Warriors need to find quick fix for playoff problems

(Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors are fast becoming a pale shadow of the 73-win team that stormed through the regular season and there is no shortage of theories as to why the league's most dominant team are now on the verge of playoff elimination.

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Physics, engineering professors back Tom Brady 'Deflategate' appeal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Ivory Tower has thrown its weight behind Tom Brady.

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Penguins beat Lightning to force Game 7

(The Sports Xchange) - The Penguins stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals with a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 at Amalie Arena on Tuesday, setting up a series decider back in Pittsburgh.

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Baseball star Tony Gwynn's family sues tobacco companies over death

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The family of the late baseball star Tony Gwynn, a Hall of Famer who played with the San Diego Padres, has filed a lawsuit in California accusing makers of dipping tobacco of causing his death from cancer by getting him hooked at a young age.

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Beijing medals at risk for Russia after positive re-tests

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia could lose medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after 14 of its athletes tested positive for banned substances during re-tests conducted from eight-year-old samples, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) said on Tuesday.

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NFL selects Atlanta, South Florida, Los Angeles for future Super Bowls

(Reuters) - The National Football League on Tuesday announced that Atlanta will host the Super Bowl in February of 2019, followed by South Florida in 2020 and Los Angeles in 2021.

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Serena blazes into second round at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) - Serena Williams wasted little time in demolishing Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova as the world number one kicked off the defense of her French Open title with a 6-2 6-0 victory on Tuesday.

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NFL: Replay officials empowered to help referees avoid mistakes

(Reuters) - The National Football League on Tuesday broadened replay powers to allow the league office and replay officials in New York to help referees avoid mistakes on the field during games.

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Easy for Djokovic and Nadal, Murray suffers, Kerber out

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal sauntered to opening wins at the French Open on Tuesday but Andy Murray, one of their main title rivals, came perilously close to going home before joining them in the second round.

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Raptors hold off Cavs, even East finals at 2-2

(The Sports Xchange) - Kyle Lowry scored 35 points and DeMar DeRozan added 32 as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 on Monday to tie the Eastern Conference finals at two wins each.

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Flawless Nadal races into French Open second round

PARIS (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal started his quest for a record-breaking 10th French Open title in merciless fashion, demolishing Australian Sam Groth 6-1 6-1 6-1 on Tuesday.

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McIlroy may opt to skip Rio Games over Zika fears

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy took a long time to decide he would represent Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics but the 27-year-old world number three could now miss golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence because of concerns over the Zika virus.

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Monday, May 23, 2016

Van Gaal sacked by United, Mourinho poised to step in

(Reuters) - Manchester United sacked manager Louis van Gaal on Monday two days after the Dutchman led them to victory in the FA Cup final, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho widely expected to be appointed as his successor.

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Thunder demolish Warriors, grab 2-1 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 63 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Golden State Warriors 133-105 on Sunday to take a 2-1 in the Western Conference finals.

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Wawrinka survives Rosol scare at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) - Defending champion Stan Wawrinka diced with danger but managed to avoid an ignominious first-round exit at the French Open on Monday, scrambling past Czech Lukas Rosol in five sets.

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NFL's Brady to appeal 'Deflategate' ruling: lawyer to ABC News

(Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will appeal the federal court ruling reinstating his four-game suspension for "Deflategate" to the entire U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Brady's lawyer told ABC News on Monday.

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Rain delays start of day two at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) - Heavy rain postponed play on day two of the French Open with organizers saying no matches would start before 1130GMT.

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Sunday, May 22, 2016

Shooter Diamond charged for firearms offences

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Twice Olympic shooting champion Michael Diamond has been arrested for drink driving and charged with firearms offences, the Australian Olympic Committee said on Monday, jeopardizing his chances of competing at a seventh Olympics in Rio.

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Lightning take control with Game 5 win in Pittsburgh

(The Sports Xchange) - Tyler Johnson deflected Jason Garrison's wrist shot from the left circle into the net 53 seconds into overtime and the Tampa Bay Lightning seized control by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.

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Cleveland guard Jones suspended one game for groin hit

(Reuters) - Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones has been suspended for Game Four of the Eastern Conference final against the Toronto Raptors, the NBA announced on Sunday.

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Canada retain world ice hockey title with win over Finland

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Canada deservedly beat Finland 2-0 in the final of the world ice hockey championship on Sunday to become the first country since Russia in 2009 to retain the title. 

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Canadian Hinchcliffe earns Indianapolis 500 pole

(Reuters) - Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe on Sunday earned pole position for the 100th Indianapolis 500 motor race.

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Kyrgios lights up damp opening day at French Open

PARIS (Reuters) - Australian Nick Kyrgios did his best to enliven a damp and dismal Parisian day with some eye-catching play and colorful language as the French Open began without part of the usual furniture on Sunday.

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Murray and Wawrinka face Czech threats

PARIS (Reuters) - Wily Czech Radek Stepanek, the oldest player in the men's singles, will take his bag of tricks out on Philippe Chatrier Court against world number two Andy Murray as the French Open plays catch-up on Monday.

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McIlroy holds off Knox to win Irish Open

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy shot a closing 69 to win the Irish Open for the first time after a thrilling final-round duel with Russell Knox at the K Club on the outskirts of Dublin on Sunday.

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WADA chief Reedie says meldonium found in 47 of 49 failed Russian dope tests

LONDON (Reuters) - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Craig Reedie has disclosed that most of the Russian sportsmen and women who have failed drug tests in the last six months did so because meldonium was detected in their system.

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Red Bulls maul NY City FC to maintain derby dominance

(Reuters) - New York Red Bulls routed New York City FC 7-0 on Saturday to sour Frank Lampard's first match of the season and register their fourth successive derby victory since their rivals entered Major League Soccer last year.

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Proven winner Mourinho is right man for United: Neville

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho is a proven winner who is the perfect choice as Manchester United manager, the club's former defender Phil Neville said on Sunday.

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Saturday, May 21, 2016

Raptors get on the board with Game 3 win over Cavaliers

(The Sports Xchange) - The Toronto Raptors got their first win of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday with DeMar DeRozan scoring 32 points in a 99-84 Game 3 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Canada to play Finland in ice hockey world championship final

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Holders Canada reached a world championship final against Finland by beating the United States 4-3 thanks to Ryan Ellis' goal early in the third period of a pulsating match on Saturday.

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Brouwer, Brodziak help Blues even series

(The Sports Xchange) - Troy Brouwer and Kyle Brodziak each scored two goals to power the St. Louis Blues to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, evening the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series at two games apiece.

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Lightning hang on to defeat Penguins, even series

(The Sports Xchange) - The Tampa Bay Lightning jumped out to a 4-0 lead then gave up three goals in the third period before holding on for a 4-3 Game Four victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena on Friday to even the Eastern Conference finals series.

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Brother of Brussels suicide bomber set for Rio Olympics

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Mourad Laachraoui, the brother of one of the Brussels suicide bombers, has won gold at the European Taekwondo Championships and is now set to compete for Belgium at the Olympic Games in Brazil.

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I could not take things any further with Murray: Mauresmo

PARIS (Reuters) - Amelie Mauresmo ended her coaching relationship with Andy Murray because she felt she could not improve the world number two any further, the former world number one said on Saturday.

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Russia says financing extra doping tests for athletes going to Rio

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is financing an additional testing program for its track and field athletes who may compete in the Rio Olympics, a step to prove commitment to cleaning up the sport amid widespread doping allegations, the country's sports ministry said.

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Friday, May 20, 2016

U.S. relocate Puerto Rico camp over Zika concerns

(Reuters) - USA Swimming has moved a pre-Olympic training camp from Puerto Rico to Atlanta due to concerns about Zika but does not expect the mosquito-borne virus to keep them from competing at the Rio Games in August.

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Ex-boxing champ Taylor gets probation on Arkansas felony charges

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - Former world middleweight boxing champion Jermain Taylor was given suspended sentences by an Arkansas judge on Friday and put on probation for six years, avoiding prison after pleading guilty in three separate cases.

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Spieth in early tie for lead at Byron Nelson

(Reuters) - Hometown favorite Jordan Spieth was not at his best with his iron play but drained two lengthy birdie putts as he charged into a share of the early second-round lead at the weather-hit AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas on Friday.

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Bolt glides to easy victory in 100 meter in Ostrava

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Sprint king Usain Bolt ramped up his preparations for the Rio Olympics by pulling away to post a time below 10 seconds in the 100 meters at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting.

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Russia's Putin: We back investigations into doping allegations

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia supports investigations into allegations of widespread doping in sport, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, but he said he hoped the focus on Russia was not politically-motivated.

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Italy bestows honor on Leicester manager Ranieri

ROME (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri has received an honor from the Italian president after the soccer manager led rank outsiders Leicester City to the top of the English Premier League.

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Exclusive: Chinese buyers circle soccer 'super' agent Stellar Group

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Four Chinese investor groups are locked in a more than $140 million bidding war for one of the world's most powerful soccer agencies, UK-based Stellar Group, a source said, a sign that China's appetite for sport is outgrowing trophy club investments.

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Beckham asks Real to be patient with friend Zidane

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - David Beckham believes Real Madrid should give his former team mate at the club, Zinedine Zidane, time to succeed even if the French great fails to inspire them to victory in the Champions League final later this month.

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James' triple-double powers Cavs to rout of Raptors

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James recorded his 15th post-season triple-double as he moved past Shaquille O'Neal into fourth place on the all-time post-season scoring list in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 108-89 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

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Muirfield ban on women members tarnished golf's image: McIlroy

(Reuters) - World number three Rory McIlroy believes Muirfield's decision not to admit women members has tarnished golf's image and backs the move to drop the course from the list of venues for Britain's Open championship.

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Thursday, May 19, 2016

NFL to return $723,000 in 'paid patriotism' funds to taxpayers

(Reuters) - The National Football League has agreed to return more than $700,000 paid to its teams by the Pentagon for honoring American soldiers at sporting events in a so-called "paid patriotism" scheme, two U.S. senators said on Thursday.

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Hertl, Jones help Sharks top Blues

(The Sports Xchange) - Tomas Hertl scored twice and Martin Jones became the first Sharks goalie to record consecutive playoff shutouts as San Jose beat the St. Louis Blues 3-0 on Thursday.

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Spieth cards 64 to trail by one stroke at Byron Nelson

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth backed up his words with a six-under-par 64 to move within one stroke of the first round lead at the Byron Nelson in Texas on Thursday.

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Kaka highest paid MLS player, Lampard also in top 10

(Reuters) - Brazilian veteran Kaka is the highest paid player in Major League Soccer, with a 2016 guaranteed salary of $7.167 million, according to figures released by the Players' Union on Thursday.

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Adidas sets sights on football stars in big U.S. drive

BERLIN (Reuters) - Adidas wants to sign dozens of deals with U.S. sports stars in coming years, hoping that will provide a more lasting boost to sales than the current fashion fad for its retro sneakers, its North America head told Reuters.

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WADA seeks more independence for Sochi investigation team

(Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency named Richard McLaren to lead an independent investigation into allegations of a doping cover-up at the Sochi Olympics on Thursday following concerns about a conflict of interest.

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Canada hit Sweden for six, face U.S. in world semis

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Canada thrashed Sweden 6-0 to reach the world championship semi-finals and will meet old rivals the United States in the last four after the Americans upset the Czech Republic.

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Injured Federer to miss French Open

LONDON (Reuters) - Former champion Roger Federer withdrew from the French Open on Thursday, citing fitness issues, as his record run of appearing at 65 consecutive grand slam tournaments came to an end.

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Golfer Mickelson says returning Dean Foods trading gains

(Reuters) - Professional golfer Phil Mickelson said on Thursday he has agreed to return gains he made in 2012 from trading in Dean Foods Co stock and said he felt "vindicated" that U.S. authorities have not charged him with violating securities laws.

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Doping findings rough for athletics : Bolt

(Reuters) - Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt said the finding of 31 positive doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics marked a rough point for athletics, but backed the World Anti-Doping Agency in its effort to crackdown on drug use in the sport.

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Murray the form player but Djokovic the man to beat in Paris

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray has been the standout performer on clay for the past 12 months but world number one Novak Djokovic will be favorite to complete his set of grand slams at this year's French Open.

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Warriors even West finals behind Curry's surge

(The Sports Xchange) - Stephen Curry exploded for 15 of his 28 points over a 1:58 stretch of the third quarter, helping the Golden State Warriors pull away from the Oklahoma Thunder en route to a 118-91 victory that evened the Western Conference finals at one game apiece.

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Serena the figurehead as rivals struggle

LONDON (Reuters) - Challengers to Serena Williams' throne have proved as fickle as a Paris spring and as the year's second grand slam starts the veteran American is again seemingly in a league of her own.

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Sharapova may never play again after positive doping test - Russian tennis chief

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The situation of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is "bad" after she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and she may never play again, R-Sport news agency quoted Shamil Tarpishchev, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, as saying on Thursday.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

China rethinks its sporting obsession as Rio Olympics approach

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Change is unfolding at Shanghai's No.1 Children's Sports School Pudong New Area, a small cog in a state-run machine that has churned out Chinese Olympic champions for three and a half decades.

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Hornacek emerges as favorite for Knicks job: reports

(Reuters) - Jeff Hornacek has emerged as the favorite to take over as the head coach of the New York Knicks, though talks were still at a formative stage, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

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How an unexpected phone call put Biles on path to glory

LONDON (Reuters) - As she approached her 50th birthday, Nellie Biles had thought her days of dealing with stroppy teenagers and adolescent mood-swings would soon be a thing of the past as her two sons were getting ready to fly the nest and head for college.

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Spieth has score to settle in hometown event

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth returns to very familiar territory for this week's AT&T Byron Nelson in Irving, Texas, though he has a score to settle at the TPC Four Seasons Resort where he has finished no better than joint 16th in six starts.

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Nyquist draws third gate for Preakness Stakes

(Reuters) - Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist drew the third post for the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Saturday where he will seek the second jewel of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.

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Nicaraguan ex-FIFA official pleads not guilty in U.S. bribery case

NEW YORK/ZURICH (Reuters) - A former FIFA official from Nicaragua who was responsible for overseeing the soccer governing body's development efforts in Central America pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to U.S. charges stemming from a wide-ranging bribery investigation.

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Concussion lawsuit against NHL can proceed: U.S. judge in Minnesota

(Reuters) - A U.S. District judge in Minnesota this week refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by ex-players accusing the National Hockey League of failing to protect them from head injuries and withholding information about the long-term effect of concussions.

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Sochi doping allegations could show unprecedented criminality: IOC

BERLIN (Reuters) - Allegations of Russian doping at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics would represent a shocking new dimension and an "unprecedented level of criminality", if proven to be true, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday.

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Rosberg says Spanish GP crash is history now

(Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg has drawn a line under his Spanish Grand Prix collision with Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, saying their relationship will not be affected.

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Sharapova to face anti-doping hearing in London

(Reuters) - Maria Sharapova will attend an International Tennis Federation anti-doping hearing in London on Wednesday, British media reported, with the Russian facing a possible ban of up to four years for failing a drugs test at the Australian Open.

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Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Cavs crush Raptors in Eastern opener

(The Sports Xchange) - As 3-pointers fell at historic rates through the first two rounds of the postseason, LeBron James' message never changed: The Cleveland Cavaliers are not just a team of jump-shooters.

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Tokyo 2020 bid to be investigated after report of payment

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese official who led the successful bid for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics said on Wednesday the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) plans to investigate the bidding after questions were raised about payments by the bid committee.

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Bencic, Wozniacki pull out of French Open

(Reuters) - Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and rising Swiss talent Belinda Bencic have withdrawn from the French Open due to injuries, the WTA said.

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Sixers win top pick in draft lottery

(Reuters) - The Philadelphia 76ers landed their first No. 1 overall draft pick in 20 years on Tuesday at the NBA’s Draft Lottery. Philadelphia have endured a dreadful three-year stretch that was a part of a rebuilding plan to restock the franchise with top picks.

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Finland stun Canada, Czechs pip Swiss at worlds

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Finland stunned defending champions Canada at the ice hockey world championships on Tuesday with a 4-0 victory to finish the preliminary round first in the Group B standings.

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U.S. opens criminal probe into doping by Russian athletes: NY Times

(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into state-sponsored doping by dozens of Russia's top athletes, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the case.

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Thunder steal Game 1 from Warriors

(The Sports Xchange) - Oklahoma center Steven Adams converted an errant pass by team mate Russell Westbrook into two critical free throws with 1:01 left on Monday to short-circuit a Golden State rally and help the Thunder to a 108-102 Game 1 victory in the Western Conference finals.

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Dominant Westbrook steals Curry's thunder

(Reuters) - Russell Westbrook's refusal to bow down to league darling Stephen Curry helped Oklahoma City to stand tall and send a strong opening message in their Western Conference finals clash.

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Monday, May 16, 2016

Next generation ready to break out of the shadows in tennis

LONDON (Reuters) - Tennis fans should intoxicate themselves on the elixir still being served up by the best men's generation to grace the game before the well dries up and mere mortals take over, at least that's what the doom-mongers think.

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Crosby ends slump in OT as Pens even East finals

(The Sports Xchange) - Sidney Crosby scored his first goal in nine games 40 seconds into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday to even the series.

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Rangers' Odor expects suspension over punch, has no regrets

(Reuters) - Rougned Odor expects a suspension from Major League Baseball after punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista in the face on Sunday but the Texas Rangers second baseman says he has no regrets and was just trying to protect himself.

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Tiger says game coming around, puts three in the water

(Reuters) - Moments after Tiger Woods said he was "progressing nicely" from back surgery, the former world number one hit three balls into the water on a short par-three hole on Monday.

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Bolt bothered by hamstring, says coach

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt received treatment for "slight discomfort" in his hamstring following his 100 meters victory in Saturday's Cayman Invitational, his coach Glen Mills said on Monday.

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Euro 2016 security chief 'cool and confident' despite militant threat

PARIS (Reuters) - The job of keeping millions of soccer fans safe at one of the world's biggest sporting events would be enough to keep most people awake at night.

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Japan 2020 bid leader says firm at center of questions is legitimate

TOKYO (Reuters) - The leader of Japan's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics and other Japanese officials on Monday said the company at the center of questions raised about payments by the bid committee was a legitimate firm and not a paper company.

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Sunday, May 15, 2016

Blues hang on to beat Sharks in Game 1

(The Sports Xchange) - Jori Lehtera scored an unassisted goal midway through the second period to break a 1-1 tie and the St. Louis Blues hung on for a 2-1 win on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference final against the San Jose Sharks.

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Jason Day continues streak with four-shot Players Championship win

(Reuters) - World number one Jason Day drew comparisons with Tiger Woods after an emphatic four-stroke victory at the $10.5 million Players Championship in Florida on Sunday.

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Djokovic suffers rare loss as Murray takes Rome title

(Reuters) - Andy Murray punctured Novak Djokovic's air of dominance by beating the out-of-sorts Serb in straight sets in the final of the Italian Open in Rome on Sunday.

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Hayne quits NFL after one season for Olympic rugby sevens

(The Sports Xchange) - Jarryd Hayne announced his retirement from the National Football League on Sunday after playing one season with the San Francisco 49ers.

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Williams beats U.S. rival Keys for first title of season

(Reuters) - Serena Williams had to overcome a stubborn effort from Madison Keys to win the first all-American women's tour final for four years in straight sets and lift the Italian Open title in Rome on Sunday.

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Verstappen makes F1 history as Mercedes crash out

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Dutch teenager Max Verstappen made Formula One history as the youngest race winner on Sunday in a sensational Spanish Grand Prix that saw dominant Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collide and crash out on the opening lap.

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Mercedes in turmoil after Hamilton and Rosberg collide

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg's hopes of an eighth win in a row disappeared on Sunday after a collision with Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix.

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Russian sports minister apologizes over doping, pleads for Rio entry: Sunday Times

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has issued a plea for Russia's athletes to be allowed to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and apologized for the "deceptive" sportsmen caught doping in the past in an article he wrote for Britain's Sunday Times.

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Suarez the new leader of Barcelona's 'MSN' strike force

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona’s celebrated ‘MSN’ strike force of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had La Liga defenses at their mercy for much of the campaign but as Barca swept to the title by winning their final five games it was Suarez who led the three-pronged attack.

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Saturday, May 14, 2016

Knox rues 'epic fail' on day of disasters at Players' Championship

May 14 (Reuters) - On a day when golf's finest were brought to their knees by slick greens and tough pin placements at TPC Sawgrass, Briton Russell Knox lamented a disastrous nine on the short 17th hole that sent him crashing out of contention at the Players Championship.

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Rapids earn draw in Columbus to extend unbeaten streak

May 14 (Reuters) - - An early second-half header from Kevin Doyle gave Colorado a 1-1 draw on the road against the Kei Kamara-less Columbus Crew on Saturday, extending the Rapids' unbeaten streak to seven games.

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Rusty Bolt eases into Olympic buildup with Cayman win

(Reuters) - Sprint king Usain Bolt took his first stride toward the goal of an unprecedented Olympic threepeat at the Rio de Janeiro Games with a modest 10.05 second run and an easy victory at the Cayman Invitational on Saturday.

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Ice hockey: Canada stay perfect, Hungary get first win in 77 years

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Canada made it five wins from five with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Slovakia at the ice hockey world championships on Saturday.

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Day sets record to claim four-shot halfway lead at Players

(Reuters) - Jason Day broke the 36-hole Players Championship tournament record held by fellow Australian Greg Norman as he opened up a four-shot lead after the second round on Saturday.

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Murray reaches Italian final with easy win over Pouille

ROME (Reuters) - Andy Murray raced into his second major claycourt final in a week with a comprehensive 6-2 6-1 win over outclassed Frenchman Luca Pouille at the Italian Open semi-finals on Saturday.

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FIFA reformer Scala quits over loss of independence

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Domenico Scala, a Swiss businessman who led reforms to clean up scandal-plagued FIFA, quit his post at the global soccer body on Saturday, saying its independent watchdog committees had lost their independence.

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Motor racing: Rosberg fastest in final Spain GP practice

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg again kept Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton off the top of the timesheets with the fastest lap in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday.

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Russia anti-doping body unlikely to be cleared before Rio: WADA chief

LONDON (Reuters) - The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Saturday that Russia's anti-doping authority was unlikely to be declared compliant with world sports rules before the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

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Friday, May 13, 2016

No Game 7 return for Heat's Whiteside

(Reuters) - Injured Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside will not return for the Game Seven Eastern Conference playoff matchup against the Toronto Raptors, he said on Friday.

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Bishop injury clouds Lightning's Stanley Cup prospects

(Reuters) - Tampa Bay's road back to the Stanley Cup final became more treacherous on Friday as they watched goaltender Ben Bishop taken off the ice on a stretcher during their Game One win over Pittsburgh.

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Kyrgios asks fans to judge Olympic credentials

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The war of words between Nick Kyrgios and his national Olympic committee has continued, with the Australian tennis player launching a poll on social media as to whether he should be selected for the Rio Olympics.

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Reyes suspended until May 31 for domestic violence

(Reuters) - Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes has accepted a suspension without pay through May 31 for violating the Major League Baseball (MLB) domestic violence policy, the league announced on Friday.

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FIFA names outsider Samoura as first female secretary general

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - FIFA named an African woman with no previous experience in soccer administration as its second-most powerful official on Friday, part of moves by global soccer's ruling body to move on from a major corruption scandal.

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Knost and McIlroy go low at the Players

(Reuters) - While overnight leader Jason Day prepared for a late start on Friday, low scoring was once again plentiful for the morning wave as Colt Knost and Rory McIlroy both made big moves in the second round of the Players Championship in Florida.

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Bidding for 2026 World Cup must be bullet-proof : Infantino

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The 2026 World Cup bidding process must be "bullet-proof" after the controversy which has surrounded the hosting of the next two tournaments, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Friday.

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Spurs' Duncan, Ginobili ponder future plans after shock playoff exit

(Reuters) - Future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, who have been the heart of many championship teams with the San Antonio Spurs, are undecided on their NBA playing futures after an unexpected early playoff exit.

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Russian sportsmen named in doping scandal call claims nonsense: TV

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian skier Alexander Legkov and bobsledder Alexander Zubkov, named in doping allegations by the former head of Russia's drug testing laboratory, have rejected the claims as "nonsense and slanderous", Russia's Match TV reported on Friday.

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Sharks advance after dominating Predators in Game 7

(The Sports Xchange) - The San Jose Sharks advanced to the Western Conference final after routing the Nashville Predators 5-0 in Game 7 of their semi-final series at SAP Center on Thursday.

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Thursday, May 12, 2016

Doping bombshells rock WADA meeting as drug crisis deepens

MONTREAL (Reuters) - World sport is facing an unprecedented drug crisis as yet another in a string of doping bombshells dropped at the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) foundation board meeting on Thursday, shocking officials.

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Canada battle past Germany, U.S. beat France

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Canada were given their toughest test at the world championship before they overcame a spirited challenge from Germany on Thursday, winning their Group B clash 5-2.

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Sizzling Day shoots record-tying 63 to move two ahead

(Reuters) - Jason Day lived up to his status as the world's number one golfer as he charged into an early two-shot lead with a record-tying nine-under-par 63 in Thursday's opening round of the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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Canada's Montagliani elected CONCACAF president

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Canadian businessman Victor Montagliani was elected president of CONCACAF, the embattled governing body for soccer in North, Central America and the Caribbean, on Thursday.

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Curry scores 29 as Warriors eliminate Blazers

(The Sports Xchange) - Stephen Curry bombed in a 3-pointer with 24.9 seconds remaining on Wednesday as the Golden State Warriors held off the Portland Trail Blazers 125-121 to seal the Western Conference semi-final playoff series four games to one.

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Rousseff's departure won't affect Rio Games : IOC

BERLIN (Reuters) - Preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which begin in less than three months, will not be affected by the Brazilian senate's vote to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.

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Thiem's up for beaten Federer in Rome

ROME (Reuters) - Roger Federer's struggles continued when he was beaten 7-6 (2) 6-4 by fast-rising Austrian Dominic Thiem in the third round of the Italian Open on Thursday.

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Japan denies report on 2020 Olympics payment, says bid was 'clean'

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Thursday denied a report that its Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid team had paid 1.3 million euros ($1.48 million) as part of its efforts to host the Summer Games, saying it had won the bid cleanly.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

POCOG approve Lee as 2014 chief, await government green light

SEOUL (Reuters) - Former South Korea trade minister Lee Hee-beom moved a step closer to becoming the new 2018 Winter Olympics chief after the Pyeongchang organizing committee (POCOG) unanimously approved his candidacy on Thursday.

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U.S. TV networks take new risk by airing shows against Olympics

(Reuters) - The Olympics are such a television ratings juggernaut for NBCUniversal that rival U.S. networks have always watched from the sidelines, airing reruns and other cheap programs that are not going to attract many eyeballs.

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Backcourt guides Raptors to 3-2 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - DeMar DeRozan scored 34 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Miami Heat 99-91 on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-final series.

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Scherzer equals MLB record with 20 strikeouts against Tigers

(Reuters) - Max Scherzer equaled Major League's nine-innings record of 20 strikeouts on Wednesday, leading the Washington Nationals past Detroit Tigers 3-2.

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New doping allegations hard to prove, says former WADA chief

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Dick Pound, the former World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief who headed an independent commission that uncovered evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russia, says new allegations of a drugs cover-up at the Sochi Olympics may be hard to prove.

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Curry voted NBA's first unanimous Most Valuable Player

(Reuters) - Stephen Curry on Tuesday scaled heights never reached by NBA greats such as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James when he became the first unanimous winner of the league's Most Valuable Player award.

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Ovechkin once again left to wonder what could have been

(Reuters) - Still stinging after yet another disappointing early exit from the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs, Russian sniper Alex Ovechkin was forced to try and explain what went wrong for his top-seeded Washington Capitals.

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Fowler eyes unique second consecutive Players crown

(Reuters) - American Rickie Fowler heads into his title defense at this week's Players Championship on the ultra challenging layout at the TPC Sawgrass well aware that no one has ever won the prestigious tournament in consecutive seasons.

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Seven up, Rosberg aims for a famous five

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg will have Formula One history in his sights in Spain this weekend, even if Dutch teenager Max Verstappen seizes his share of the limelight.

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Poland's Zawadka gets four-year doping ban

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Polish swimmer Michal Zawadka has been slapped with a four-year ban for flunking a dope test in Sydney last September, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) said on Wednesday.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Penguins win Game 6, eliminate Capitals

(The Sports Xchange) - Nick Bonino scored 6:32 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame Washington's frantic three-goal comeback to win 4-3 and eliminate the Capitals from the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Tuesday.

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Westbrook scores 35, Thunder power past Spurs

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook scored 35 points, including a crucial three-point play in the final seconds, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-91 on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series.

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Royals hope rough patch turns to path back to Series

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Kansas City Royals are going through a rough patch, but leading hitter Eric Hosmer believes the humbling experience can help turn around the defending World Series champions.

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Ex-NFL players not at greater risk of suicide than general population: study

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former professional football players are not at a greater risk of suicide than the general U.S. population, according to a new study by the federal government.

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The cancer of slow play at professional level

(Reuters) - Rounds of golf that can take a total of five hours or more; players who are diplomatically described as being "methodical" or "deliberate"; inordinate waiting times on tee boxes for greens or fairways to clear.

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WADA to investigate Russian doping allegations relating to Sochi Olympics

MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is to investigate Russian doping allegations relating to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, WADA said on Tuesday.

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Curry returns as Warriors take 3-1 lead over Trail Blazers

(The Sports Xchange) - Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 40 points in overtime as the Golden State Warriors rallied for a 132-125 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at the Moda Center.

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Monday, May 9, 2016

Chapman sizzles on Yankees debut in win over Royals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cuban closer Aroldis Chapman is renowned for his breakneck fastball yet New York Yankees fans were forced to wait a month to witness his explosive pace before he made a winning debut on Monday after serving a suspension for a domestic abuse incident.

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Whistleblower still carries Olympic dream

(Reuters) - Even through all the turmoil that forced Yuliya Stepanova to flee her native Russia with her husband, the whistleblower has not given up hope of competing at the Rio Olympics in August.

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Heat hold off Raptors to win Game Four, tie series

(The Sports Xchange) - Dwyane Wade scored 30 points as the Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 94-87 in overtime on Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena to tie their Eastern Conference semi-final series.

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Andrelton Simmons set to miss two months with thumb surgery

(Reuters) - Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons will undergo surgery on his left thumb and is expected to be sidelined for at least two months, the Angels announced on Monday.

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Kyrgios defends Tomic, unperturbed by Games warning

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios has defended compatriot Bernard Tomic against allegations of failing to try during a match and said it was up to the Australian Olympic Committee whether the pair were picked to represent the country at the Rio Olympics.

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Kings hire Joerger as new head coach

(The Sports Xchange) - The Sacramento Kings named Dave Joerger as the team's new head coach on Monday, two days after he was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Platini to quit UEFA after losing appeal over ethics ban

LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Suspended European soccer boss Michel Platini will resign as head of governing body UEFA after losing a top level appeal against a ban for ethics violations, but he will continue to fight to clear his name.

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Canada and Finland stay perfect, Russia win on Victory Day

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Defending champion Canada thrashed Belarus 8-0 on Monday to remain unbeaten through three games at the ice hockey world championships while hosts Russia celebrated Victory Day with an impressive 4-0 win over Latvia.

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Russia defends transparency of Sochi doping controls

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's sports ministry said on Monday it was "certain" about the transparency of its doping controls during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and that independent observers had managed the testing operation daily.

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WADA seeks TV rights tax to help pay for anti-doping fight

(Reuters) - A tax on television rights holders and contributions from sponsors could provide new revenue streams for the cash-strapped World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as it looks to fund the fight against performance-enhancing drugs in sport.

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Murray splits with coach Mauresmo

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray and his coach Amelie Mauresmo have agreed to end their two-year working relationship, the British world number three said on Monday.

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Durant, Thunder surge in fourth, even series

(The Sports Xchange) - Kevin Durant tied a playoff career high with 41 points, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-97 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday that tied the Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2.

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Saturday, May 7, 2016

Stars singing the Blues as St. Louis grabs series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Robby Fabbri and Paul Stastny each had a goal and an assist and Brian Elliott stopped 27 of 28 shots for the St. Louis Blues in a 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series at American Airlines Center on Saturday afternoon.

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U.S. hit back after Canada loss to beat Belarus

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States struck back from their opening day hammering against Canada 5-1 to get their first points of the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship with a resounding 6-3 win against Belarus on Saturday.

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Friday, May 6, 2016

Fisher goal downs Sharks in marathon OT win

(The Sports Xchange) - Mike Fisher ended the longest game in Nashville Predators history with a rebound goal at 11:12 of the third overtime early on Friday morning, giving them a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks to tie the Western Conference semifinal at 2-2.

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No logo: Paralympians still face tattoo ban, main Games less strict

BERLIN (Reuters) - Olympic athletes with tattoos are unlikely to be barred from the Rio Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday after a Paralympic swimmer with his team logo inked onto his chest was banned from a race.

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Thursday, May 5, 2016

For Derby hopefuls, owning horse like owning team

(Reuters) - For many racehorse owners, it's the experience, more so than making money, that attracted them to the Sport of Kings but they face a tough task to get into the elite field for events like the Kentucky Derby.

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Coe under pressure to get Russia to Rio: former WADA chief

(Reuters) - Former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound believes world athletics chief Sebastian Coe is under mounting pressure to find a way for suspended Russian track and field athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics.

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Indian Lahiri sets clubhouse pace at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Anirban Lahiri took the clubhouse lead as Rory McIroy recovered from a poor start and a case of the hooks to haul his way back into a reasonable position in the Wells Fargo Championship first round on Thursday.

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Athletes can trust drug tests despite lab bans: WADA chief

(Reuters) - With four laboratories under suspension the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency moved on Thursday to reassure jittery athletes that they can have confidence in testing protocols ahead of the Rio Olympics.

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Penguins edge Capitals in overtime to open 3-1 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Patric Hornqvist scored 2:34 into overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins seized a 3-1 series lead over the NHL regular season champion Washington Capitals, winning 3-2 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Wednesday.

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I am The Thinkerman now, says Leicester mastermind Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri re-named himself The Thinkerman on Thursday as he reflected on masterminding Leicester City's improbable rise from relegation candidates to Premier League champions.

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Red Bull move for Verstappen was always likely

LONDON (Reuters) - Max Verstappen's sudden promotion to Red Bull will be considered as a slap in the face for Daniil Kvyat, the man he replaces, but it has more to do with the Dutch driver's potential than the Russian's failings.

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Quarterback Manziel set for Dallas court appearance on assault charge

DALLAS (Reuters) - Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is set to make his first appearance in a Dallas court on Thursday on a charge of assaulting his former girlfriend.

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LeBron tells Cavaliers to soak up record night

LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers team mates have bigger fish to fry but the superstar implored his men to enjoy their record-breaking night on Wednesday.

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Cavs take long-range approach to big win over Hawks

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James scored 27 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers made a record 25 three-pointers to pound the Atlanta Hawks 123-98 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Favored Nyquist draws lucky 13 for Kentucky Derby

(Reuters) - Unbeaten Nyquist was rated the 3-1 early favorite for Saturday's 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville after drawing the 13th gate on Wednesday for the Run for the Roses.

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Furyk back from injury as McIlroy defends at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - American 17-times PGA Tour winner Jim Furyk makes his comeback from injury at this week's Wells Fargo Championship, where Rory McIlroy is defending champion.

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Yankees place A-Rod on 15-day disabled list

(The Sports Xchange) - The New York Yankees placed designated hitter Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained right hamstring.

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Family, friends help Spieth process Masters meltdown

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth says he has come to terms with his shocking Masters meltdown with the help of family and close friends, and is ready to challenge for the year's second major, next month's U.S. Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.

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World championship could benefit if NHL snubs Olympics

(Reuters) - The ice hockey world championship may not have all the best players but with the National Hockey League non-committal about future Olympic participation the yearly tournament could be about to receive a boost in importance.

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Maturing Kyrgios knocks Wawrinka out of Madrid Open

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian Nick Kyrgios let his tennis do the talking against Stanislas Wawrinka as he knocked the fourth seed out of the Madrid Open with a scintillating display on Wednesday.

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My place in football history is assured, says Ronaldo

(Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is confident he will go down in history as one of the sport's best players helped by his status as the Champions League's all-time top scorer.

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Brazil's Olympic marketing campaign victim of government paralysis

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Images of Brazilian beaches, samba and soccer should by now be lighting up television sets and adorning metro stations around the world, tempting tourists to flock to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games in August.

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Blues batter Stars to take 2-1 series lead

(The Sports Xchange) - Alexander Steen and David Backes each scored twice and Vladimir Tarasenko scored one and assisted on two more to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series.

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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Raptors force OT at buzzer, but Heat pull out Game 1 win

(The Sports Xchange) - Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was impressed with his club's mental toughness on Tuesday.

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Predators turn tables on Sharks with 4-1

(The Sports Xchange) - There was no third-period explosion from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, only resolute play by the desperate Nashville Predators.

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Boyle strikes in OT to give Bolts win over Islanders

(The Sports Xchange) - Brian Boyle scored 2:48 into overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals at Barclays Center on Tuesday.

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NFLPA issues warning about contaminated meat

(The Sports Xchange) - The NFL Players Association is warning players about eating meat from China and Mexico that might be contaminated.

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Flame lands in troubled Brazil for 94-day relay to Games

BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Dilma Rousseff lit the Olympic torch in Brazil's capital on Tuesday and pledged that political turmoil engulfing her nation would not harm the first Games to be held in South America.

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Zika concerns could see MLB cancel Puerto Rico series

(Reuters) - A pair of Major League Baseball games scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico later this month could be relocated due to growing concerns over the Zika virus in the area, the MLB Players Association said on Tuesday.

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Murray sets sights on record fifth Queen's Club title

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray will be targeting a record fifth title at Queen's Club as organizers unveiled what they called the strongest ever lineup for next month's Aegon Championships.

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Rio's slum hostels offer alternative Olympic housing

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Stunning views of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, a sun-drenched patio nestled in the hills of Atlantic rainforest and rooms costing a fraction of nearby hotels.

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Leicester's Premier League fairytale makes papers worldwide

(Reuters) - Leicester City's remarkable Premier League triumph after starting the season as 5,000-1 outsiders to win the title made the pages of the press around the world on Tuesday.

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Seattle city council rejects street closing plan for proposed arena

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle's city council on Monday narrowly rejected a proposal that would pave the way for a new sports arena, dimming the hopes for the NBA to return to the city after the beloved SuperSonics moved away in 2008.

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Monday, May 2, 2016

Thunder outlast Spurs to even series at 1-1

(The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and handed out 10 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 98-97 on Monday in Game 2 of the Western Conference semi-final and tied the best-of-seven series at one win apiece.

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Murray makes his mark as Pens beat Caps

(The Sports Xchange) - Rookie goalie Matt Murray made 47 saves while standing up to Washington Capitals' avalanche of shots, and the Pittsburgh Penguins turned two goals a minute apart into a 3-2 victory on Monday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

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Cavs maintain dominance over Hawks, win series opener

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James scored 25 points and came up with two big steals late in the game as Cleveland continued their dominance over the Atlanta Hawks with a 104-93 victory on Monday to take a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

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Australia to host Basketball without Borders camp in June

(Reuters) - The National Basketball Association said on Monday its Basketball without Borders camp will be held in Australia for the first time later this year.

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Federer out of Madrid Open with back injury

MADRID (Reuters) - Former world number one Roger Federer has pulled out of this week's Madrid Open with a back injury.

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Leicester claims Premier League title as Spurs held

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City's Premier League title dream finally became reality as nearest pursuers Tottenham Hotspur squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 in a thrilling game at Chelsea on Monday.

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Stuard wins in New Orleans after playoff

(Reuters) - Journeyman Brian Stuard clinched his first PGA Tour title with a gripping playoff victory over fellow American Jamie Lovemark and South Korean An Byeong-hun at the weather-plagued Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Monday.

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Engine failures and reprimands add to Hamilton's woes

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - As if Lewis Hamilton did not have enough on his plate already, with two successive engine failures and Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg on a seven-race winning streak, the Formula One champion now has the stewards to worry about as well.

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Sharks go 2-0 up against Predators

(Reuters) - The San Jose Sharks did not win any style points on Sunday but they won a playoff game they probably deserved to lose.

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Sunday, May 1, 2016

Thompson pours in 37 as Warriors jump on Blazers

(The Sports Xchange) - If the Golden State Warriors miss Stephen Curry, they sure did not show it in their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. And here they go again in Round 2.

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Raptors advance after Game 7 win over Pacers

(The Sports Xchange) - DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers 89-84 in the seventh game of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Sunday night.

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Backes scores winner as Blues tie series with Stars

(The Sports Xchanges) - St. Louis captain David Backes scored a power-play goal 10:58 into overtime as the Blues edged the Dallas Stars 4-3 in Game 2 to square the second-round playoff series on Sunday at American Airlines Center.

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Dragic stars as Heat pound Hornets to win series

(The Sports Xchange) - Miami point guard Goran Dragic had a game-high 25 points as the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals by routing the Charlotte Hornets 106-73 in a deciding Game 7 on Sunday.

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Qatar investigates death at World Cup site as labor rights under scrutiny

DOHA (Reuters) - The organizers of Qatar's 2022 World Cup said on Sunday they were investigating the death of an Indian laborer at one of its sites but denied it was caused by working conditions which the wealthy Gulf country is under pressure to improve.

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Rosberg makes it seven wins in a row with Sochi victory

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg chalked up his seventh win in a row at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday with team mate Lewis Hamilton fighting back from 10th on the grid to seal a Mercedes one-two finish.

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Mayweather happy in retirement but hints at ring return

(Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather Jr is happily retired but the 39-year-old unbeaten American hinted in an interview on Saturday that a return to the ring could not be completely ruled out.

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Penguins pip Caps to level series

WASHINGTON (The Sports Xchange) - Eric Fehr scored the game-winning goal against his former team with 4:28 left to play and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday night, evening their best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

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Toronto win draft lottery, get first overall pick

(Reuters) - The rebuilding plans of the woeful Toronto Maple Leafs received a shot in the arm when they won the first overall selection in the National Hockey League draft lottery on Saturday.

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