Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Murray against wild cards for drug cheats

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray is against giving wild cards to players returning from doping bans but the 29-year-old understands why tournament organizers make an exception for "big names".

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Vikings decline 2017 option on Adrian Peterson

(The Sports Xchange) - Adrian Peterson's days with the Minnesota Vikings might be over.

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Phelps urges U.S. lawmakers to push for anti-doping reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michael Phelps urged U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday to push for a reform of the global anti-doping effort in sport after a career in which the Olympic great said he was never confident he was competing against clean athletes.

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Warriors' Durant exits game with hyperextended knee

(Reuters) - Former NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors' prized offseason acquisition, left Tuesday's game after hyperextending his left knee during the first quarter, the team said.

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Cycling: Discussion on reducing peloton size still ongoing - Tour boss

LA ROCHE SUR YON, France (Reuters) - Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said on Tuesday that discussions on reducing the number of riders per team in grand tours were still ongoing.

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Former FIFA Secretary General Valcke appeals 10-year soccer ban

ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has appealed against his 10-year ban from all soccer related activities, the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Tuesday.

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Motor racing: Hamilton goes faster and further on second test day

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton went faster and further than anyone else as his Mercedes team again led the way in pre-season testing on Tuesday while some others struggled to get into gear.

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Caps add coveted defenseman Shattenkirk

(Reuters) - The Washington Capitals made a huge statement in their pursuit of a first Stanley Cup by adding highly prized defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

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Tebow reports to Mets Spring Training

(Reuters) - Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow reported to spring training with Major League Baseball's New York Mets on Monday, eager to continue his quest to make it in professional baseball.

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Cavs debut newly-signed Williams in win over Bucks

(Reuters) - The Cleveland Cavaliers signed free agent Deron Williams on Monday then debuted their new guard in a 102-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Knicks' Noah expected to miss rest of season

(The Sports Xchange) - New York Knicks center Joakim Noah will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss the remainder of the season, according to multiple reports Monday.

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Federer returns with easy win over Paire in Dubai

DUBAI (Reuters) - Roger Federer breezed back into action to reach the second round of the Dubai Open with a straightforward 6-1 6-3 win over erratic Frenchman Benoit Paire on Monday.

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Kurt Busch wins Daytona 500 demolition derby

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Kurt Busch steered clear of the chaos to win a crash-filled Daytona 500 on Sunday as the Great American Race was transformed into the Great American Demolition Derby.

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Motor racing: Horner says new F1 cars let down by 'shark fins'

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One has put aerodynamics before aesthetics, with the new-look 2017 cars let down by "shark fins" resulting from a change in the rules, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

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Formula One relaxes social media rules for teams

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One's new owners signaled a break from the Bernie Ecclestone era on Monday by giving teams and drivers greater freedom to engage with fans on social media from inside the circuit confines.

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Motor racing: Mercedes pile on the laps, McLaren and Red Bull sidelined

BARCELONA (Reuters) - World champions Mercedes pounded out the laps while Ferrari went fastest and rivals Red Bull and McLaren hit immediate setbacks as Formula One's new crop of cars made their test debuts on Monday.

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Busch drives past controversy to Daytona victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Kurt Busch survived a demolition Daytona 500 on Sunday and much like he has throughout a controversial 18-year NASCAR career came away a winner, albeit with a few bumps, scrapes and dents.

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Tennis: Sock wins Delray Beach final in walkover as Raonic withdraws

(Reuters) - Canadian world number four Milos Raonic pulled out of Sunday’s Delray Beach Open final in Florida, handing American Jack Sock the title by walkover.

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Golf: Fowler closes deal, wins Honda Classic by four strokes

(Reuters) - American Rickie Fowler flirted with a late disaster before clinching a four-stroke victory at the $6.4 million Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday.

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Back in Venezuela, 'world's worst skier' proud of his performance

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan skier Adrian Solano may be the butt of the world’s jokes after hapless slips and falls in the Lahti Nordic World Ski Championships last week, but the 22-year-old cook who had never seen snow and practiced the sport on wheels is delighted with his “marvelous” adventure.

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Farah coach used prohibited drug infusions, says newspaper

(Reuters) - Alberto Salazar, the coach of Britain's Olympic champion Mo Farah, has been accused of using prohibited infusions of supplements to improve the performance of his runners, the Sunday Times reported citing a leaked United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report.

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NFL: Baltimore player arrested on multiple drug charges in Miami

(The Sports Xchange) - Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam was arrested on multiple drug charges early Sunday morning in Miami.

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Golf: World number two Day out of WGC-Mexico Championship

(Reuters) - World number two Jason Day has pulled out of next week's World Golf Championships (WGC) event in Mexico City due to illness, the Australian announced on Sunday.

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Pacquiao to fight Britain's Khan in 'super fight'

(Reuters) - Multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight Britain's Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan on April 23, both boxers said on Sunday.

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Transgender teenage wrestler wins Texas state championship

(Reuters) - High school athlete Mack Beggs, a teenager who is transitioning from female to male, won his 110-pound weight class in the Texas girl's state championship on Saturday, according to media reports.

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This may hurt, says Hamilton as F1 gets back on track

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton is expecting to feel the pain, no matter how much he has worked out over the winter break, when Formula One's first pre-season test starts on Monday.

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NHL: Vermette 10-game suspension upheld by commissioner

(The Sports Xchange) - National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the 10-game suspension given to Anaheim Ducks forward Antoine Vermette for slashing an official with his stick during a game last week, the league announced Saturday.

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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Raonic overcomes Del Potro in Florida, meets Sock in final

(Reuters) - World number four Milos Raonic of Canada overcame a battling Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6(6) on Saturday to set up a Delray Beach Open final against American Jack Sock.

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Kipsang misses world record in Tokyo Marathon win

TOKYO (Reuters) - Wilson Kipsang of Kenya missed out on the world record but ran the fastest time ever on Japanese soil to win the Tokyo Marathon in two hours, three minutes and 58 seconds on Sunday.

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Golf: Fowler zooms four clear of Hatton at Honda Classic

(Reuters) - American Rickie Fowler set himself up for his first victory in more than a year, grabbing a four-shot lead after the third round at the Honda Classic in Florida on Saturday.

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Tennis: Svitolina gatecrashes top 10 after Dubai title

DUBAI (Reuters) - Seventh seed Elina Svitolina overpowered former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-2 to claim the Dubai Open on Saturday, the sixth, and biggest, title of her career.

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Cousins rips Kings, calls trade to New Orleans 'coward move'

(The Sports Xchange) - All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins lashed out at Sacramento Kings management, terming Sunday's trade to the New Orleans Pelicans as "a coward move."

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Tennis: Tsonga beats Kyrgios to reach Marseille final

(Reuters) - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stayed on course for a second successive title as he beat Australia's Nick Kyrgios 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 to reach the final of the Marseille Open on Saturday.

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Alpine skiing: Vonn crashes in Crans Montana super-G

(Reuters) - American former Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn suffered a crash in Saturday's super-G World Cup race in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana but escaped serious injury.

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Teenage wrestler takes transgender rights to the mat in Texas championship

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - High school athlete Mack Beggs and many of his opponents want him to wrestle against boys, but the transgender boy on Friday wrestled in a Texas championship for girls because of state sport regulations on gender.

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Injured Aussie Simmons ruled out for season by 76ers

(The Sports Xchange) - The Philadelphia 76ers officially ruled out forward Ben Simmons for the remainder of his rookie season after tests revealed his broken right foot was not fully healed.

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NASCAR ponders how to make Great American Race great again

(Reuters) - NASCAR launches a new season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, pondering ways to make the Great American Race great again amid a gloomy backdrop of an aging fan base and declining attendance and television ratings.

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IOC pledges changes to bid process after Budapest exit

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) pledged on Friday to make changes to the bidding process following the withdrawal of Budapest from the race to host the 2024 Games, leaving just two candidates.

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'Let the games begin' at MLB's Spring Training

(Reuters) - Cries of "Play Ball" warmed the hearts of Major League Baseball fans on Friday as big league teams squared off for the first time in 2017 on Spring Training diamonds in Arizona and Florida.

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Cleared Russians to miss European championships

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Defending pole vault champion Anzhelika Sidorova and sprinter Kristina Sivkova will miss next week's European indoor athletics championships despite being cleared to compete by the IAAF, Russian news agency TASS reported on Friday.

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Hungary's Olympic dream "killed" by political upstarts, says PM Orban

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary had to withdraw its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games to avoid a humiliating defeat in the race with Paris and Los Angeles after a local political movement "killed the Olympic dream", Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Custis, first black starting quarterback, dies at 88

(Reuters) - Bernie Custis, the first black starting quarterback in professional football, died on Thursday aged 88, the Canadian Football League said on Thursday.

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Djokovic back on court at Acapulco

(Reuters) - World number two Novak Djokovic will make his return from a shoulder injury at next week's ATP tournament in Acapulco, the Serb said on Friday.

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Three Russians cleared to compete in indoor championships

LONDON (Reuters) - Three Russian athletes, including the women's pole vault defending champion, were cleared on Thursday to compete in next month's European indoor athletics championships under a neutral flag after proving their anti-doping credentials.

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Cavendish wins crash-hit opening stage of Abu Dhabi Tour

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Britain's Mark Cavendish won the opening stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour, outsprinting his rivals to snatch the overall lead in a crash-marred climax on Thursday.

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Hamilton hails 'awesome' new Mercedes

SILVERSTONE, England (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton declared his new Mercedes "pretty awesome" on Thursday after lapping a blustery Silverstone circuit in the car he hopes will secure him a fourth Formula One world championship.

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Budapest 2024 snub highlights need for Olympic changes, insiders say

(Reuters) - Budapest's withdrawal from bidding for the 2024 summer Olympics, a process already marred by a string of exits, highlights the need for changes to the Games model, insiders say.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

NBA trailblazer Yao elected CBA president

(Reuters) - Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was elected president of the Chinese Basketball Association on Thursday.

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Hungary to withdraw Budapest's 2024 Olympic bid: government

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's government announced on Wednesday it would withdraw Budapest's bid to host the 2024 summer Olympics, citing a lack of political and national unity behind the application that it blamed on the opposition.

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Hungary to withdraw 2024 summer Olympic bid: government spokesman

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary will withdraw its bid to host the 2024 summer Olympics, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told Reuters on Wednesday, after a meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos and the Hungarian Olympic committee.

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Raisman keeps eye on Tokyo during 'crazy' downtime

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - American gymnast Aly Raisman has been caught up in a whirlwind since helping the United States to its golden haul in Rio and the triple Olympic champion is waiting for her world to stop spinning before setting her sights on the 2020 Tokyo Games.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Lakers trade guard Williams to Rockets

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers, who named Magic Johnson as their new president of basketball operations earlier on Tuesday, have traded guard Lou Williams to the Houston Rockets, according to multiple media reports.

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Possible Mayweather-McGregor bout 'a joke' - Alvarez

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A possible bout between Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is getting lots of buzz but two fighters that are getting in the ring said the crossover tilt would be a black eye on boxing.

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Exclusive: Facebook in talks to live stream one MLB game per week - sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Facebook Inc is in talks with Major League Baseball to live stream one game per week during the upcoming season, which could be a key win as the social media platform works to offer more live sports, according to two people familiar with the situation.

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WADA suspends Bogota laboratory for non-compliance

(Reuters) - Bogota's anti-doping laboratory has had its accreditation suspended for up to six months after it failed to comply with international standards, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Tuesday.

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Divac says Kings traded Cousins after better offer

(Reuters) - Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac said on Monday that the team moved quickly to trade All Star DeMarcus Cousins after receiving a better offer two days earlier.

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Renault aims for fifth place in 2017 championship

LONDON (Reuters) - Renault unveiled their 2017 Formula One car on Tuesday and said it targeted fifth place in the championship and possible podium finishes after struggling among the backmarkers last season.

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Monday, February 20, 2017

McIlroy plays with Trump, tunes up for comeback: reports

(Reuters) - World number three Rory McIlroy, eyeing a comeback next week from injury, continued his tune-up with a round with U.S. President Donald Trump in south Florida on Sunday, it was reported.

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Former Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic dead at 21

(The Sports Xchange) - Former Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Charismatic died unexpectedly over the weekend.

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Cousins in blockbuster trade from Kings to Pelicans

(The Sports Xchange) - The Sacramento Kings made official on Monday that center DeMarcus Cousins is heading to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster trade involving five players and two draft picks.

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Laver Cup will be tough, not an exhibition, Federer says

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Tennis's answer to golf's Ryder Cup will be as competitive as other global tournaments, 18-times grand slam champion Roger Federer said on Monday, dismissing concerns that players might treat the event, which launches in September, as an exhibition.

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Exclusive: Admit women or lose Tokyo Games golf, IOC tells club

SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - The club scheduled to host the golf at the 2020 Tokyo Games must allow women to have full membership or organizers will have to find another venue, International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president John Coates told Reuters on Monday.

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Motor racing: Hamilton has "zero problems" with Bottas

LONDON (Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton has clarified comments about not wanting to share data with Formula One team mates and says he has "zero problems" with new Mercedes arrival Valtteri Bottas.

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Motor racing: Sauber aim for return to midfield with new F1 car

LONDON (Reuters) - Sauber presented their new Formula One car on Monday, celebrating the Swiss-based team's 25 years in the sport with golden lettering but little in the way of sponsorship branding on the blue and white machine.

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Egypt's top court upholds 10 death sentences over soccer violence

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's top court upheld death sentences for 10 men on Monday for their part in Egypt's worst violence at a soccer stadium, in which more than 70 fans were killed in February 2012.

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No defense allowed as West beats East in All-Star game

(The Sports Xchange) - In the full-court layup drill and three-point contest otherwise known as the 66th NBA All-Star Game, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis set an All-Star record with 52 points and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook added 41 points to carry the Western Conference to a 192-182 victory over the Eastern Conference on Sunday night in New Orleans.

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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Boxing: Klitschko packing experience for Joshua fight

(Reuters) - Wladimir Klitschko is counting on experience to help him regain the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles when he faces Britain's Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in April.

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Golf: Johnson cruises to five-shot win and No. 1 ranking

(Reuters) - Dustin Johnson secured the world number one ranking in style when he smoked the field for a five-stroke victory at the Genesis Open in southern California on Sunday.

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Motor racing: Elliott claims second consecutive Daytona pole

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (The Sports Exchange) - Chase Elliott edged teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Sunday to claim the pole for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500 for the second straight year.

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Tennis: Dolgopolov upsets Nishikori to win Argentina Open

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Unseeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov upset favorite Kei Nishikori 7-6(4) 6-4 to win the Argentina Open on Sunday and lift his first title in five years.

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Biathlon: Russians sing anthem alone as organizers play wrong tune

HOCHFILZEN, Austria (Reuters) - Russian biathletes sang the correct version of their national anthem without any musical accompaniment after the wrong version was played out at a medal ceremony on Saturday.

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Tennis: Tsonga beats Goffin to win Rotterdam title

(Reuters) - Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga claimed his first title since 2015 as he recovered to beat David Goffin 4-6 6-4 6-1 in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament final in Rotterdam on Sunday.

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Dominant Hirscher takes Alpine skiing slalom gold

ST MORITZ, Switzerland (Reuters) - Favorite Marcel Hirscher of Austria provided a spectacular climax to the alpine skiing world championships by storming to victory in the men's slalom on Sunday to claim his second gold medal of the event.

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Dahlmeier queen of the biathlon worlds after mass start win

HOCHFILZEN, Austria (Reuters) - German Laura Dahlmeier claimed her fifth gold medal in six races at the biathlon world championships when a strong finish earned her the title in the 12.5-km mass start event on Sunday.

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Robinson lights up All-Star Weekend with sizzling slam dunk

(The Sports Xchange) - Indiana Pacers guard Glenn Robinson III won the Slam Dunk title over Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr. on Saturday night by leaping over teammate Paul George, the Pacers mascot and a Pacers dance team member for a reverse slam that merited a perfect 50 in the final round.

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Rumford wins first World Super 6 golf title in final shootout

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hometown hero Brett Rumford nailed his final drive to beat Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai 2&1 in the six-hole matchplay final to win the inaugural World Super 6 title in Perth on Sunday and claim back his European Tour card.

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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Golf: Johnson takes Riviera lead, closes in on top world ranking

(Reuters) - Long-hitting Dustin Johnson closed in on the world number one ranking when he took the second-round lead at the weather-plagued Genesis Open on Saturday.

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Athletics: Farah bows out indoors with European record

LONDON (Reuters) - Mo Farah ended his indoor career with a new European record, winning the 5,000 meters at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday in a time of 13 minutes 09.16 seconds.

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Tennis: Nishikori battles through to Argentina final

(Reuters) - Top seed Kei Nishikori survived a tough slog against unheralded opponent Carlos Berlocq before winning his semi-final match at the Argentina Open on Saturday.

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Tennis: In-form Pliskova wins second title of the year in Qatar

(Reuters) - Karolina Pliskova stormed to her second WTA title of the year, beating Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-4 in the Qatar Open in Doha on Saturday.

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Dominant American Meyers Taylor clinches bobsleigh world title

KOENIGSSEE, Germany (Reuters) - American Elana Meyers Taylor clinched the women's bobsleigh world title for the second time on Saturday in a nail-biting finish.

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Alpine skiing: Immaculate Shiffrin wins slalom gold for U.S.

ST MORITZ, Switzerland (Reuters) - Mikaela Shiffrin won a record-equaling third successive world championship women's slalom title with two blistering runs on Saturday to secure a first gold medal for the United States at this year's event.

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Shipulin holds off Fourcade to give Russia biathlon relay title

HOCHFILZEN, Austria, (Reuters) - Anton Shipulin was too strong on the skis as he held off great rival Martin Fourcade of France to give Russia the gold medal in the men's 4x7.5km relay at the biathlon world championships on Saturday.

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Golf: Home hero Rumford claims top seeding at Perth

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Local favorite Brett Rumford shot a four-under-par 68 in the third round of the inaugural World Super 6 in Perth to claim the top seeding for Sunday's final round match play knockout.

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Cycling: UCI lax on TUE use, says Boardman

LONDON (Reuters) - Cycling chiefs must do more to erase suspicion over Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), according to Britain's former Olympic champion and Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Chris Boardman.

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Friday, February 17, 2017

Spurs' Gasol elected to Players' Association executive board

(Reuters) - Six-times NBA All-Star Pau Gasol of the San Antonio Spurs claimed another honor on Friday when he was elected to the National Basketball Players Association's executive committee.

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Ventura toxicology report treated as private

(Reuters) - The toxicology report on Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura following his fatal car crash will be released only to his family and attorneys, leaving the Major League Baseball (MLB) club wondering if they are obligated to pay the rest of his contract.

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Warrant issued for New York Jets' Darrelle Revis on assault charges

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police in Pennsylvania have issued an arrest warrant for New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis on assault and other charges stemming from a confrontation with a group of men in Pittsburgh last weekend, authorities said on Friday.

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Wrestling: Putting politics aside, Iran beats U.S. in World Cup final

(Reuters) - Iran defeated the United States to take the gold medal in wrestling's World Cup on Friday, winning a match that politics almost prevented.

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Budapest 2024 bid could face referendum: paper

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian political movement Momentum has collected more than 200,000 signatures on a petition against Budapest's 2024 Olympics bid, raising the prospect of a referendum, daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet reported on Friday.

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

CONCACAF to mull joint World Cup bid; Trump wall no concern

MIAMI (Reuters) - CONCACAF will discuss a possible joint bid for the 2026 World Cup and the governing body's president said on Thursday a planned wall along the U.S.-Mexico border would not present an obstacle to co-hosting the event.

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Warrior Green slams Knicks owner over Oakley treatment

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green blasted New York Knicks owner James Dolan over his treatment of Charles Oakley, which resulted in the former player's temporary ban from Madison Square Garden.

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Johnson, Mickelson near the early lead at Riviera

(Reuters) - Big-hitting Dustin Johnson made a strong start in his bid to claim the world number one ranking this week by firing a five-under 66 that left him two shots off the early first-round lead at the Genesis Open at Riviera.

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Quick-fire Bailey storms to individual biathlon gold

HOCHFILZEN, AUSTRIA (Reuters) - American Lowell Bailey pulled off one of the biggest upsets in biathlon history as he took the gold medal following a thrilling spurt to the finish to the men's 20km individual race at the World Championships on Thursday.

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Fans call shots in futuristic football league

(Reuters) - The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles take flight on Thursday as the normally low profile Indoor Football League offers a glimpse into the future of interactive sports.

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Olympics - Tokyo launches mobiles-to-medals recycling campaign

TOKYO (Reuters) - Members of the Japanese public lined up to donate unwanted mobile phones that will be recycled into medals for the 2020 Olympic Games, as a project aimed at promoting sustainability was launched on Thursday.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Knicks' Anthony replaces injured Love for All-Star Game

(Reuters) - New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was named on Wednesday to replace injured reserve Kevin Love in the NBA All-Star Game.

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Trump declines ESPN invite to fill out NCAA bracket

(The Sports Xchange) - Bracketology in the Oval Office is ending under President Donald Trump.

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Knicks retain top spot as Forbes' most valuable NBA team

(Reuters) - The New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable team for the second consecutive year despite having been shut out of the playoffs since 2013, according to a Forbes poll released on Wednesday that showed the average team value rose 9 percent.

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Woods cancels news conference due to bad back

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods was supposed to hold a news conference on Wednesday at the Genesis Open but canceled the event after doctors said the former world number one should limit all activities while he battles back spasms.

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Only five players make trip to Israel

(The Sports Exchange) - Only five NFL players arrived on a sponsored trip to Israel after six players decided to skip the goodwill tour due to human rights concerns.

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Canadiens fire Therrien, name Julien as new head coach

(Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens have fired head coach Michel Therrien and hired Claude Julien as his replacement, the National Hockey League team said on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Cavs' LeBron not fretting about loss of Love

(Reuters) - LeBron James may take on a heavier workload down the stretch to make up for the absence of All-Star Kevin Love and the added wear and tear could prove costly in the Cleveland Cavaliers' quest to repeat as NBA champions.

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Sharapova deserves second chance, says Becker

MONACO (Reuters) - Boris Becker believes Maria Sharapova has paid her dues and deserves a second chance when she returns to tennis in April at the end of her 15-month doping ban.

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Double-murder trial for ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez set to begin

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former National Football League star and convicted killer Aaron Hernandez is due back in a Boston courtroom on Tuesday for his second murder trial, this time on charges that he shot two men dead outside a nightclub after a dispute over a spilled drink.

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Knicks lift ban on Oakley after arrest

(The Sports Xchange) - Charles Oakley's ban from Madison Square Garden lasted less than a week.

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Magic trade Ibaka to Raptors for Ross, first-round pick

(The Sports Exchange) - Serge Ibaka is headed north of the border after the Orlando Magic agreed to trade the three-time All-Defensive First Teamer to the Toronto Raptors for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick, The Vertical reported Tuesday.

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Pats' QB Brady says Super Bowl comeback not his best game

(Reuters) - Tom Brady set several records as he rallied the New England Patriots to an unthinkable Super Bowl win but on Monday the quarterback said his play in the NFL's title game was far from the greatest of his stellar career.

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Monday, February 13, 2017

Commissioner, Jordan mediate in Oakley row

(Reuters) - NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Michael Jordan tried to ease the tension between New York Knicks owner James Dolan and former player Charles Oakley during a conference call on Monday, the league said in a statement.

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U.S. suit seeking $100 million from Lance Armstrong heads to trial

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday cleared the way for a U.S. government lawsuit seeking nearly $100 million in damages from disgraced former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong to go to trial, according to court papers.

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U.S. wrestler in Mexico channels hatred of Trump in the ring

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - An American wrestler working in Mexico is tapping into anger at Donald Trump, whipping crowds into a frenzy with an act as a supporter of the locally loathed U.S. president.

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Olympics: 2016 refugee team wins Laureus award

MONACO (Reuters) - A refugee team that competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics with 10 athletes from countries including Syria and South Sudan was named on Monday as winner of a Laureus Award for sporting inspiration.

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Rosberg warns Bottas about Hamilton rivalry

MONACO (Reuters) - Retired Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg has warned his Mercedes replacement Valtteri Bottas not to expect an "easy ride" from team mate Lewis Hamilton.

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Toni Nadal to quit as Rafa’s coach after this season

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal's uncle, Toni Nadal, will step down as his coach after this year's ATP Tour, as he feels he has been sidelined by other figures in the player's entourage, he told an Italian tennis magazine.

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Golf: Spieth wins emphatically by four shots at Pebble Beach

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth focused on "boring golf" and shrugged off an unexpected birdie drought in the final round as he clinched his ninth PGA Tour victory, by four shots, at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California on Sunday.

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Sunday, February 12, 2017

NBA: Knicks end tumultuous week with win over cold-shooting Spurs

(The Sports Xchange) - The New York Knicks ended a tumultuous week filled with off-the-court distractions by posting a spirited 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

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Tennis: Czechs make light of Kvitova absence to reach Fed Cup semis

(Reuters) - Champions the Czech Republic made light of the absence of Petra Kvitova as they eased into the Fed Cup semi-finals for a ninth year in succession with a 3-2 defeat of Spain on Sunday.

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Tennis: Confident Dimitrov downs Goffin to win Sofia Open

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov gave the roaring partisan crowd plenty to cheer about as he beat Belgian David Goffin 7-5 6-4 to win the Sofia Open for the first time on Sunday.

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Slovenia's Stuhec wins Alpine skiing women's downhill gold

ST MORITZ, Switzerland (Reuters) - Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec blasted to victory in the women's downhill at the Alpine Skiing world championships on Sunday as American Lindsey Vonn had to settle for third.

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Germans outraged as U.S. plays wrong version of their anthem

(Reuters) - German tennis has responded with outrage after the United States Tennis Association made the embarrassing error of playing the Nazi-era version of Germany's national anthem during a Federation Cup tie in Hawaii.

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Latvala sweeps to victory in Rally Sweden

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala swept to a stunning victory in Rally Sweden, winning the final three stages on Sunday in his Toyota Yaris to claim his fourth victory in the race and climb to the top of the World Championship rankings after two events.

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Usain Bolt fires 'All-Stars' to Nitro Series win

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Usain Bolt fired his team of international 'All Stars' to victory in the inaugural Nitro Athletics Series in Melbourne on Saturday, capping the glitzy event with a dominant win in the 4x100m relay to pip hosts Australia in the final standings.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

Olympics: Speed skaters revel on fast ice at 2018 test event

SEOUL (Reuters) - With the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics less than a year away, athletes at the World Speed Skating Championships in South Korea have been impressed by the Gangneung venue which will host the event next year, said organizing chief Lee Hee-beom.

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Golf: Spieth seizes six-shot lead at Pebble Beach

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth putted superbly on Pebble Beach's bumpy greens to surge six strokes clear after the third round of the weather-hit AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Saturday.

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Athletics: Host of 2017 bests and a wedding present at Millrose

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Olympic women's pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi got back on track, while Rio gold medalist Shaunae Miller celebrated her nuptials with a stunning victory in the 300 meters at the NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday.

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Home favorite Dimitrov sets up Goffin final in Sofia

SOFIA (Reuters) - Local favorite Grigor Dimitrov brushed aside unseeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1 6-3 on Saturday to set up a final clash against David Goffin at the Sofia Open.

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Neuville extends lead ahead of final day of Sweden Rally

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Hyundai's Thierry Neuville stretched his Rally Sweden lead to 43.3 seconds while Kris Meeke crashed into a snow bank on Saturday when one stage was canceled due to safety concerns.

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NFL indicates Texas 'bathroom bill' may affect Super Bowl hosting

(Reuters) - Texas lawmakers could hurt the football-loving state's chances to attract a future Super Bowl if they adopt a measure that restricts access to bathrooms for transgender people, a National Football League spokesman said on Friday.

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Friday, February 10, 2017

Raiders head coach Del Rio handed new four-year deal

(Reuters) - Head coach Jack Del Rio has been handed a fresh four-year contract by the Oakland Raiders after leading the National Football League team to the playoffs last season, the franchise announced on Friday.

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Golf: Spieth holds clubhouse lead at weather-hit Pebble Beach

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth delivered a putting masterclass on the way to setting the clubhouse lead in the weather-hit Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Friday before second-round play was suspended due to thick fog on the Monterey Peninsula in California.

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Rio pole vault rivalry renewed at Millrose Games

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eleven Olympic champions feature in Saturday's NYRR Millrose Games including women's pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece, who will renew her Rio rivalry with U.S. silver medalist Sandi Morris.

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Alpine skiing: Gut suffers season-ending knee injury

(Reuters) - Switzerland's Lara Gut will miss the rest of the season after injuring her knee during the women's combined event at the world championships in St. Moritz on Friday, the Swiss Ski Federation said on its website (www.swiss-ski.ch).

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Under Armour-sponsored athletes oppose CEO's pro-Trump comments

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Professional ballet dancer Misty Copeland and wrestler turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson joined National Basketball Association star Stephen Curry in opposing comments made by the chief executive of their sponsor Under Armour supporting U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Golf: Wiesberger grabs lead after birdie blitz in Malaysia

(Reuters) - Bernd Wiesberger reeled off nine birdies in a row in a superb second round of 63 to grab a one-shot lead over Masters champion Danny Willett at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

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Motor racing: Pirelli end tire test a day early after Vettel crash

MILAN (Reuters) - Pirelli had to cut short a Formula One wet tire test at Ferrari's Fiorano track in Italy on Friday after four times world champion Sebastian Vettel crashed into barriers the day before.

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Kenya's Jepchirchir breaks half marathon world record

(Reuters) - Peres Jepchirchir set a world record in the women's half marathon on Friday, the Kenyan clocking a time of one hour, five minutes and six seconds in the United Arab Emirates as runners from the East African nation swept the podium places.

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Thursday, February 9, 2017

'Cultural' change needed in Russia to lift ban: Coe

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Russia still needs to demonstrate a "cultural shift" in its commitment to clean sport if its track and field athletes hope to compete under the nation's flag again, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said on Friday.

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Kushner family in talks to buy Miami Marlins baseball team: reports

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Kushner family, relatives of President Donald Trump through son-in-law Jared Kushner, is in talks to buy the Miami Marlins baseball team, media said on Thursday.

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Revived Clement eyes third hurdles world title

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Kerron Clement's run in the mixed 400 meters relay at the Nitro Series would be unlikely to make his career highlights reel but he was glad to take a modest step towards London where he will bid for an unprecedented third hurdles world title.

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Hickey replacement elected by Olympic Council of Ireland

(Reuters) - The Olympic Council of Ireland has elected Swim Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane to replace Pat Hickey, who stepped aside after being charged in Brazil over an alleged scheme to sell Rio Games tickets illegally.

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Maradona given FIFA ambassadorial role

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has been handed an ambassadorial role by the game's global governing body FIFA.

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Murray to return to Davis Cup action against France

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's world number one Andy Murray will play against France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in April after missing the first-round victory against Canada last weekend.

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Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open to rest

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Rotterdam Open after being advised by doctors to rest, he said on Thursday.

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Brazil's Olympic legacy far from fulfilled at idle Game venues

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Less than six month after Rio de Janeiro hosted the first-ever Olympics in South America, game venues sit idle and already in disrepair, raising questions about a legacy that organizers promised would benefit the Brazilian city and its residents.

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Referee mishap at Nitro Series leaves headliner Bolt fuming

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The second installment of the Nitro Athletics Series ended in farce in Melbourne on Thursday, with a referee error that initially awarded the Australia team top ranking for the night by mistake, leaving headline athlete Usain Bolt fuming.

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Pyeongchang marks one-year countdown to Winter Games

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Pyeongchang has waited a long time to host the Winter Olympics, suffering two failed bids before securing success, but on Thursday the South Korean alpine town's dream came a step closer with the one-year countdown to the 2018 Games.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

I will never feel great again, says Woods

(Reuters) - Former world number one Tiger Woods has accepted that he will "never feel great" again after suffering a number of back and knee injuries in recent years.

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Vonn says duct tape holding title hopes together

(Reuters) - Lindsey Vonn, who has limited movement in her right hand from an injury suffered last November, said on Wednesday duct tape may be the key to success for her at the world championships in St. Moritz.

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U.S. college athletics league cuts Baylor funds after sex scandal

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Big 12 athletics conference decided on Wednesday to withhold a portion of the revenue due to Texas' Baylor University as it checks reforms implemented at the world's largest Baptist college in response to sexual assaults by it athletes.

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Lady Gaga tells bodyshamers 'I'm proud of my body'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lady Gaga hit back at cyber bullies who made fun of her body during her spectacular halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl.

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Snow, confetti mix as Boston celebrates Patriots Super Bowl win

BOSTON (Reuters) - Falling snow gave way to clouds of confetti as hundreds of thousands of New England Patriots fans decked out in team jerseys and knit caps packed Boston streets for a parade to celebrate their team's fifth Super Bowl victory.

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Heated exchange with Durant a tactic, says Green

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green downplayed his recent blow-up with team mate Kevin Durant and called the verbal exchange "a tactic" on Tuesday.

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Blazers' Turner fractures right hand

(Reuters) - Portland Trail Blazers swingman Evan Turner broke his right hand on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks and is out indefinitely.

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Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Japan chief questioned over Tokyo bid payment: report

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo prosecutors have questioned the president of the Japan Olympic Committee over controversial payments made to a Singaporean consulting firm during the bidding for the 2020 Summer Games, Kyodo News agency reported on Wednesday.

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Harper-Nelson banned after not checking medication properly

Beijing Olympics 100 meters hurdles champion Dawn Harper-Nelson has been banned for three months after she tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Tuesday.

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Brady's wife urged him to retire after Super Bowl comeback

(The Sports Xchange) - If Gisele Bundchen had her way, Tom Brady would have called it a career after winning his record fifth Super Bowl championship on Sunday.

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Falcons at crossroads after Super Bowl meltdown

(Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons were left to wonder what might have been and what will be of their future in the aftermath of their Super Bowl collapse on Sunday.

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Despite overtime finish, NFL Super Bowl draws lower TV ratings

(Reuters) - Fox Television's broadcast of Super Bowl LI on Sunday night drew 111.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by the network on Monday, the smallest audience for the National Football League's title game in four years.

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Shanahan named 49ers head coach, a day after Super Bowl loss

(The Sports Xchange) - The San Francisco 49ers officially named Kyle Shanahan as the 20th head coach in franchise history on Monday.

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Kings' Cousins faces suspension after 16th technical foul

(Reuters) - Sacramento Kings power forward DeMarcus Cousins is facing a suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul of the season on Monday against the Chicago Bulls.

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Monday, February 6, 2017

Super Bowl sets gambling record at Nevada sports books

(Reuters) - Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were not the only ones breaking records at Sunday's Super Bowl as gamblers in Nevada set a new mark for betting on the NFL's championship game.

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Super Bowl ads score eyeballs with political football

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With Americans' attention more finely tuned to the political climate under U.S. President Donald Trump, brands that dove headfirst into that conversation generated the most reaction from viewers during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

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Ex-NBA star Rodman gets three years probation on driving charges

(Reuters) - Former pro basketball star Dennis Rodman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years informal probation on Monday on charges that he drove the wrong way on a California highway, forcing another car to swerve into a concrete dividing wall.

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Many Patriots heroes, including White and Edelman

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Record-setting quarterback Tom Brady got the hardware as Super Bowl most valuable player but there were many heroes in the New England Patriots' amazing 34-28 come-from-behind, overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

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Athletics : IAAF puts freeze on transfers of allegiance

MONACO, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The governing body of world athletics (IAAF) has put a freeze on changes of nationality by athletes, saying the system has become open to abuse and that rules are being manipulated.

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Sunday, February 5, 2017

Falcons 'ran out of gas' in painful Super Bowl loss, says coach

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons came agonizingly close to winning their first Super Bowl title on Sunday, and head coach Dan Quinn admitted the 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots was hard to take.

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Lady Gaga soars over Super Bowl stage with bow to inclusion

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Standing atop the roof of Houston's NRG Stadium with drones illuminating an American flag in the night sky behind her, Lady Gaga kicked off her Super Bowl halftime set on Sunday by singing "God Bless America" as a subtle message of inclusion and unity in a deeply divided United States.

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Pats' Brady named Super Bowl MVP after record comeback

HOUSTON (Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl on Sunday after leading his team on a record comeback over the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League's championship game.

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GB qualify, but Davis Cup champs Argentina must wait

(Reuters) - Britain qualified for the Davis Cup quarter-finals in bizarre circumstances on Sunday but reigning champions Argentina must wait another day to decide the outcome of their tie against Italy following an afternoon of rain delays in Buenos Aires.

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Matsuyama defends Phoenix Open title with playoff win

(Reuters) - Japan's red-hot Hideki Matsuyama maintained his sizzling run of form, successfully defending his Phoenix Open title with a gripping playoff victory over American Webb Simpson at the TPC Scottsdale in Arizona on Sunday.

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No tailgating, but no lack of partying at Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Despite the absence of tailgating, there was no shortage of partying for Sunday's Super Bowl, as what has grown to become a virtual U.S. national holiday was set to kick off at Houston's NRG Stadium.

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Matsuyama and Simpson in Phoenix Open playoff

(Reuters) - Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and American Webb Simpson headed to a sudden-death playoff after finishing regulation tied at the Phoenix Open in Arizona on Sunday.

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Calm before the Super Bowl storm for Patriots, Falcons

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons enjoyed an easy day ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl, paying separate visits to NRG Stadium on Saturday to get acclimated with the site of the title game.

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Saturday, February 4, 2017

Tomlinson, Jerry Jones lead 2017 Hall of Fame class

(The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and longtime Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley were selected to the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis, Jason Taylor, Kurt Warner and Morten Andersen.

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Falcons QB Ryan named league's Most Valuable Player

(Reuters) - Quarterback Matt Ryan was named the National Football League's Most Valuable Player on Saturday after a landmark season in which he led the offense-minded Atlanta Falcons to an 11-5 record.

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Butler did it last time, hopes for another Super success

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Malcolm Butler saved the day for the Patriots in the Super Bowl two years ago as an unheralded rookie, and hopes his next big moment comes in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Brady good for several more seasons, say science experts

(Reuters) - Tom Brady has a good chance of becoming the oldest starting quarterback ever to play in the National Football League, according to a consensus reached by sports science experts interviewed by Reuters.

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Falcons seek to land first Super Bowl with win over Pats

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons will try on Sunday to remove their name from the list of teams never to have won a Super Bowl while the New England Patriots seek to rewrite the record book as the National Football League kicks off a new era with a vintage matchup.

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Friday, February 3, 2017

Belichick, Brady at core of Patriots' remarkable run

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots are at it again, appearing in their record ninth Super Bowl, and the AFC champions are as excited as ever for another run at National Football League glory.

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A crystal ball look at Super Bowl's international potential

(Reuters) - Picture the scene: it is 2025 and the National Football League's London Monarchs are battling against the Green Bay Packers in Texas for honor and glory in the Super Bowl.

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Quinn, impressed by All Blacks, incorporates rugby tackling

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn will look just about anywhere for a winning edge ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl in Houston, and said he has been hugely inspired by the extraordinary legacy of the New Zealand rugby team.

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Guards' Super Bowl sick call blitz threatens to lock down Chicago jail

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Employees at one of the largest U.S. jails would rather watch the big game than the big house, raising concerns with a Chicago-area sheriff that an annual problem with Super Bowl fever could force a lockdown on Sunday.

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Olympics: Storm clouds gather around LA24 call to Follow the Sun

(Reuters) - Los Angeles submitted its final bid book to host the 2024 Summer Games to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday as storm clouds gathered around the bid's call to 'Follow the Sun'.

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Vegas bookmakers hope Falcons top Patriots in Super Bowl

(Reuters) - Las Vegas casinos are the latest to see the New England Patriots as villains since their share of what is expected to be a record-setting year for Super Bowl wagers will increase if the Atlanta Falcons prevail.

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Motor racing: New McLaren F1 car name to break with the past

LONDON (Reuters) - McLaren's 2017 Formula One car will be a break with the past, and the era of now-departed boss Ron Dennis, the team said on Friday.

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Thwarted machete attack clouds Paris Olympic bid

PARIS (Reuters) - The Paris bid to host the 2024 Olympics suffered an untimely setback on Friday when a French soldier wounded a man armed with a machete as he tried to enter the Louvre museum.

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Olympics: Budapest puts finishing touches to 2024 bid as opposition grows

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's bid organizers for the 2024 summer Olympics in Budapest plan to engage the public in dialogue to quell a growing popular movement opposing the campaign to host the Games.

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Woods withdraws from Dubai Desert Classic with bad back

DUBAI (Reuters) - Former world number one Tiger Woods has pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic ahead of his second round because of a back problem, the European Tour said on Friday.

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Cardinals ink Martinez to five-year deal

(Reuters) - All-Star pitcher Carlos Martinez has signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals worth a reported $51 million, according to multiple media outlets on Thursday.

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Steelers' Brown says Falcons supporting cast is key to victory

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Antonio Brown knows what it's like to face the New England Patriots defense, and said the Atlanta Falcons must rely on their supporting cast to keep up with the AFC champions in Sunday's Super Bowl.

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Companies hope for Super Bowl boost with creative ads

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons face off in Sunday's Super Bowl, it will be one of the most-watched television programs in the United States.

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Will be true to my beliefs during Super Bowl show, says Gaga

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Lady Gaga revealed few details on Thursday of what viewers can expect from her much anticipated Super Bowl halftime show, but the outspoken singer assured she would remain true to her beliefs and passions.

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Cards' WR Fitzgerald to return for 14th season

(Reuters) - Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald announced on Wednesday he would return for a 14th NFL season, ending speculation he was set to retire from the game.

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Djokovic the exception as he clocks in for national duty

LONDON (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic will be a notable exception this week after clocking on for Davis Cup duty for Serbia when a host of other big names are resting up after their Australian Open exertions.

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Cycling: Grivko out of Dubai Tour after hitting Kittel

PARIS (Reuters) - Ukrainian rider Andriy Grivko of the Astana team has been disqualified from the Tour of Dubai after punching German Marcel Kittel in the face during Thursday's third stage, organizers said.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Goodell says NFL 'moving on' from Deflategate drama

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Roger Goodell is happy to let Deflategate go but it was clear on Wednesday some others are not yet ready to move on as the NFL commissioner was grilled about his motives around the deflated football scandal.

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Goodell building bridges to Mexico, silent on Trump

HOUSTON (Reuters) - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reaffirmed the league's goal of building bridges, not walls in announcing a Mexico City game next season but steered clear of taking a stand on President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

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Falcons' Shanahan keeps eyes on prize amid 49ers distraction

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Kyle Shanahan has all but been announced as coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but before he tries to turn that team around the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator is focused solely on upsetting the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

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Patriots' Brady, Belichick bask in another Super Bowl trip

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The usually tight-lipped Bill Belichick has loosened up this week as the New England Patriots coach and quarterback Tom Brady prepare for a record seventh Super Bowl appearance together on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Garoppolo impression helps Patriots prepare for Falcons

HOUSTON (Reuters) - At the start of the season New England Patriots Jimmy Garoppolo was the man in the spotlight doing his best Tom Brady impersonation.

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Leonard outduels Westbrook as Spurs beat Thunder

(The Sports Xchange) - If all anyone expected was a duel in the Alamo City between two of the NBA's erstwhile MVP candidates, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, they might have been disappointed by the way the Spurs' 108-94 win over the Thunder on Tuesday at the AT&T Center played out.

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Lady Gaga takes Super Bowl spotlight, but how will she use it?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - As Lady Gaga prepares to take America's biggest stage at the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, much of country is speculating whether the outspoken singer will grab the opportunity to speak out on women's rights, immigration or U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Falcons' Matthews honors family name in hometown Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Riding a fast track to the NFL's showcase game, Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews is proud to be representing his storied family in Sunday's Super Bowl in his hometown of Houston.

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Tiger takes another comeback step, glad he can take any

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods will take the next step on his comeback this week at the Dubai Desert Classic, a step that just a few months ago he was not at all sure he would be able to take.

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Russia lose London Games 4x400m women's relay medals over doping

ZURICH (Reuters) - Russia was stripped of their women's 4 x 400m relay silver medal from the London 2012 Olympics after Antonina Krivoshapka tested positive for drugs in the re-testing of her sample, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

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Super Bowl teams give Trump silent treatment

HOUSTON (Reuters) - While much of the world is talking about U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders, including travel restrictions on seven Muslim-majority nations, players and coaches at the Super Bowl remain silent.

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