Sunday, April 30, 2017

Motor racing: The first win is the hardest, Lauda tells Bottas

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Valtteri Bottas waited 81 races for his first Formula One win to come along but it will get easier for the Finn after Sunday's success in Russia, according to former world champion Niki Lauda.

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Golf - Nomura beats Kerr at sixth extra hole at Texas Shootout

(The Sports Xchange) - In her first career playoff, Japan's Haru Nomura beat American Cristie Kerr on the sixth hole of the sudden-death playoff to take the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, on Sunday.

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Major League Baseball roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - New York Mets ace Noah Syndergaard left his start in the second inning Sunday against the Washington Nationals with an apparent injury to his right side.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley was fired Sunday, one day after the seven-round NFL Draft ended.

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Highlights of Sunday's NBA games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Sunday's National Basketball Association games:

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Nadal eases to 10th Barcelona Open title

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal won a record-extending 10th Barcelona Open title on Sunday by thrashing Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-4 6-1, collecting his second claycourt title in a row.

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Soccer: Chelsea on course for the title as Spurs beat Arsenal

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea remain on course for the Premier League title after a 3-0 win at Everton left them four points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who beat local rivals Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday.

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Joshua set to go global after thrilling Klitschko triumph

LONDON (Reuters) - Anthony Joshua was hailed as "the biggest star in British sport and the biggest star in world boxing" after his exhilarating world heavyweight title triumph over Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday sky-rocketed him into the global sporting elite.

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Bottas takes his first F1 victory with Russian win

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Finland's Valtteri Bottas seized the first Formula One victory of his career at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday after jumping both Ferraris at the start and then holding his nerve over the tense closing laps.

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Exclusive: Motor racing-Singapore secure, no Interlagos purchase - Ecclestone

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One will not miss the Malaysian Grand Prix when it drops off the calendar after this year's race because neighboring Singapore is set to stay as the region's showcase, former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Sunday.

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Asia Olympic chief quits FIFA role over bribery scandal

(Reuters) - Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the FIFA Council member who also runs the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), said on Sunday he was resigning all his posts in football after being drawn into the latest bribery scandal to hit the game's governing body.

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At 41, Klitschko belatedly finds acclaim in defeat

LONDON (Reuters) - It never happened in the decade when the prosaic nature of his heavyweight domination quite underwhelmed boxing but, at the age of 41, Wladimir Klitschko belatedly earned proper appreciation for his greatness on Saturday.

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Saturday, April 29, 2017

Fit-again Kaka scores for Orlando on emotional return

(Reuters) - Kaka made a triumphant return from injury with a goal in Orlando City's 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer on Saturday.

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Highlights of Saturday's NHL games

Jean-Gabriel Pageau's fourth goal of the game 2:54 into double overtime gave the Ottawa Senators a 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - The San Francisco 49ers acquired running back Kapri Bibbs from the Denver Broncos on Saturday for a 2018 draft pick.

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'Stifle Tower' Gobert important to Utah hopes in Game Seven

(Reuters) - Utah center Rudy Gobert has hobbled his way in and out of the Utah Jazz first-round playoff series and his shaky health could leave the team vulnerable in the Game Seven decider against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

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Cycling-American cyclist Young dies five days after crash

(Reuters) - American cyclist Chad Young died on Friday evening in hospital in Tucson, Arizona, five days after crashing during the Tour of the Gila, the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team announced on Saturday.

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Sunderland down as Hull hold on for point at Saints

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Sunderland's 10-year stay in the Premier League ended on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth, leaving them 13 points adrift with four games remaining after Hull City held on for a goalless draw at Southampton.

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Gutsy Mladenovic ends Sharapova comeback at Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Stuttgart Grand Prix semi-final in her first event back after a 15-month doping suspension, losing to France's Kristina Mladenovic 3-6 7-5 6-4 on Saturday.

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Chinese snooker world watches idol Ding with high hopes

BEIJING (Reuters) - At the World Snooker College in Beijing, students train eight hours a day and the green felt tables rarely fall silent.

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Vettel keeps Ferrari on top in final Russian practice

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One frontrunner Sebastian Vettel kept Ferrari ahead of champions Mercedes in final Russian Grand Prix practice on Saturday.

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Friday, April 28, 2017

Joshua heavier than rival Klitschko

LONDON (Reuters) - IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua weighed in more than four kgs heavier than challenger Wladamir Klitschko ahead of their title fight in London.

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Golf: Blixt/Smith lead Zurich team event by a stroke after a 62

(Reuters) - Sweden's Jonas Blixt and Australian Cameron Smith, liberated by Friday's Four-Ball (best-ball) format, combined for a 10-under-par 62 to grab the halfway lead at the Zurich Classic team tournament at TPA Louisiana.

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Tennis-Smooth Sharapova cruises into Stuttgart semis

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised into the Stuttgart Grand Prix semi-finals on Friday, extending her winning comeback from a doping suspension with a smooth 6-3 6-4 victory over Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit.

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Browns make DE Garrett top pick, Bears bag QB Trubisky

(Reuters) - The Cleveland Browns selected defensive end Myles Garrett with the first pick of the National Football League Draft in Philadelphia on Thursday before the Chicago Bears made a stunning call by trading up for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

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Athletics: London Marathon unveils new half-distance mass race for 2018

LONDON (Reuters) - London Marathon organizers have announced plans for a mass participation half-marathon next year as part of a campaign to encourage the city's communities to interact.

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Bolles and McKinley make it emotional Draft night

(Reuters) - Selection in the first round of the NFL Draft is a huge step toward financial security and the realization of a lifelong dream for the players, and their reactions were quite on the expected lines on Thursday.

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Thursday, April 27, 2017

NBA: Injury to Warriors coach Kerr runs deeper than basketball

(Reuters) - The back pain that threatens to keep Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr out for the rest of the NBA playoffs is a setback for the team, but colleagues on Thursday said they were more concerned about seeing someone they admire suffer so much.

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Golf: Spieth/Palmer share lead New Orleans team event

(Reuters) - Jordan Spieth and fellow American Ryan Palmer birdied three of their final five holes to grab a share of the lead after the opening-round foursomes matches at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Thursday.

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Nadal, Murray advance to Barca Open quarter-finals

BARCELONA, (Reuters) - Third seed Rafael Nadal remained on course for a 10th Barcelona Open title after reaching the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Kevin Anderson on Thursday.

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'Cheater' Sharapova should not be allowed to play again: Bouchard

(Reuters) - Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has lashed out at the WTA for giving Maria Sharapova the chance to compete in tournaments after serving a 15-month doping ban and said the Russian is a "cheater" who should never be allowed to play again.

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Defeat nothing to be scared of, Klitschko tells Joshua

LONDON (Reuters) - Wladimir Klitschko told IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeat was "nothing to be scared of" at a packed news conference ahead of their sell-out title fight at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

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First African-born MLB player gets hit in debut

(Reuters) - Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Gift Ngoepe became the first African-born player to appear in a Major League Baseball game on Wednesday and marked his debut by getting a hit in his first at-bat.

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Soccer: Pachuca lift CONCACAF title after 1-0 win over Tigres

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A late goal from Franco Jara gave Pachuca a 1-0 win over Tigres on Wednesday and helped the Mexican side to their fifth CONCACAF Champions League title with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

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Real Madrid, Barcelona still neck and neck after big wins

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Real Madrid thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-2 to stay level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Wednesday after the Catalans crushed Osasuna 7-1, condemning the minnows to relegation.

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Sharapova marks comeback from doping ban with win over Vinci

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova made a winning comeback to the tour on Wednesday following her 15-month doping ban, beating Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix.

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Nadal wins on own court to reach Barcelona Open third round

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal saw off Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-1 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Barcelona Open, while Andy Murray advanced after opponent Bernard Tomic withdrew.

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Lynch set to join Raiders after trade from Seahawks

(The Sports Xchange) - Marshawn Lynch is coming out of retirement after the Seattle Seahawks agreed to trade the running back to his hometown Oakland Raiders.

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Murray advances in Barcelona Open after Tomic pulls out

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Andy Murray has advanced to the third round of the Barcelona Open without playing a stroke after opponent Bernard Tomic withdrew on Wednesday.

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Boxing: Well-trained Joshua ready to shine against Klitschko

(Reuters) - Anthony Joshua has said his 13 weeks of preparation has pushed him to a whole new level ahead of his world heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley on Saturday.

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WTA chief Simon defends Sharapova's wildcard entry

(Reuters) - Women's Tennis Association Chief Executive Steve Simon has defended the wildcard entry awarded to former world number one Maria Sharapova for the Stuttgart Open following her 15-month doping ban.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Athletics: Ennis-Hill not expecting Chernova apology after doping ban

(Reuters) - Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill does not expect to receive an apology from Tatyana Chernova after the Russian heptathlete was stripped of her 2011 world title for a doping violation but she is eager to get her hands on the gold medal.

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F1 to ditch 'halo' protection device in favor of screen

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Formula One is set to abandon plans for a 'halo' head protection system in favor of a transparent screen that could be introduced for 2018.

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AFC to investigate Guangzhou fans' 'British Dogs' banner in HK

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande face an investigation after the club's fans unfurled a banner in an Asian Champions League match on Tuesday describing Hong Kong's independence movement as "poison" and carrying the words: "Annihilate British Dogs".

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Nadal to meet Dutra Silva on his own Barcelona court

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Resurgent Spanish great Rafael Nadal will have the rare privilege of playing on a court named after him when he meets Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in the last 32 of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

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Chelsea extend Premier League lead with 4-2 win over Southampton

LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Buoyant Chelsea extended their Premier League lead to seven points on Tuesday, as goals from Eden Hazard, captain Gary Cahill and two from a buzzing Diego Costa earned them a 4-2 win over Southampton.

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Defensive players figure to dominate at NFL Draft

(Reuters) - After months of study and speculation, teams will desperately try to land a knockout punch when they replenish their rosters with the best college players at this week's NFL Draft on the beloved "Rocky Steps" in Philadelphia.

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Lawyers for ex-NFL star Hernandez seek to toss murder verdict post-suicide

BOSTON (Reuters) - A week after one-time National Football League star Aaron Hernandez killed himself in his prison cell, lawyers asked a Massachusetts judge to vacate his 2015 conviction for murdering an acquaintance.

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Golfers get relief from armchair judges

LONDON (Reuters) - Golfers will no longer live in fear of a minor infringement being picked up by eagle-eyed armchair fans, after the Royal & Ancient and USGA agreed to limit the use of video evidence on Tuesday.

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Crosby and Ovechkin set to again take Stanley Cup spotlight

TORONTO (Reuters) - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin again have the hockey world buzzing as the two best players of their generation prepare to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals into a Stanley Cup second round showdown.

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Muguruza confirmed to play at Birmingham grasscourt event

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza will prepare for this year's Championships on the Birmingham grass courts after confirming she has entered June's Aegon Classic on Tuesday.

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Motor racing: Earnhardt Jr. to retire at end of NASCAR season

(The Sports xchange) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to retire from the NASCAR Monster Cup series at the end of the 2017 season.

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Tennis: Serena fires back at Nastase for 'racist' comments

(Reuters) - Serena Williams on Monday called the alleged comments about her unborn child made by former world number one Ilie Nastase "racist" and applauded the International Tennis Federation for launching a probe into the remarks.

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Monday, April 24, 2017

No decision on Nastase for at least two weeks: ITF's Haggerty

BERLIN (Reuters) - Romania Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase will have to wait for at least two weeks to discover if he is to face further action after he was provisionally banned from all ITF events following his verbal abuse of British players last weekend.

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Funeral set for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez

BOSTON (Reuters) - The funeral of former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez will take place on Monday, five days after he was found hanged by a bed sheet in a Massachusetts prison in what state officials have ruled a suicide.

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Canada, Germany deliver shock World Relays wins

(Reuters) - Canada survived a scary moment in the heats before going on to deliver a stunning win ahead of the United States and Jamaica in the men's 4x200 meters at the IAAF World Relays on Sunday.

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Tennis: All eyes on Stuttgart as Sharapova poised for return

LONDON (Reuters) - Not much phases Roberta Vinci after 16 years on Tour but the maelstrom swirling around her opening match in Stuttgart against Maria Sharapova will test even the Italian's vast experience.

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Sunday, April 23, 2017

Warriors coach Kerr ill, may miss remainder of playoffs

(The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Sunday he will not be on the sidelines for Monday's Game Four against the Portland Trail Blazers, and he might be out for the rest of the playoffs.

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Chappell finally wins on PGA Tour in 180th career start

(Reuters) - Kevin Chappell ended a frustrating run of near misses when he clinched his first PGA tour title with a one-stroke triumph over fellow American Brooks Koepka at the Texas Open on Sunday.

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Europe becomes a new destination for American women soccer stars

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - For years it was assumed that if professional women's club soccer was to truly take off it would be the United States that would provide the home for an elite competition.

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James scores 33 as Cavaliers sweep Pacers

(The Sports Xchange) - When the Cleveland Cavaliers limped into the NBA playoffs with a four-game losing streak to finish the regular season, some wondered if the reigning champions were vulnerable.

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Highlights of Sunday's NHL games

Clarke MacArthur, who fought a two-year battle with concussions to come back to the NHL, scored on a power-play rebound 6:30 into overtime as Ottawa won their first-round playoff series with Boston in Game Six.

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Highlights of Sunday's NBA games

LeBron James scored 33 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:08 remaining, and Cleveland completed a four-game sweep of Indiana in their NBA playoff opening-round series.

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Soccer: Messi's 500th Barca goal sinks Real Madrid in thriller

MADRID (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored his 500th Barcelona goal with the last kick of the game to snatch a stunning 3-2 win at Real Madrid and put the two teams level on points at the top of La Liga.

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Highlights of Sunday's NBA games

LeBron James scored 33 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:08 remaining, and Cleveland completed a four-game sweep of Indiana in their NBA playoff opening-round series.

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Nastase suspended after verbal abuse allegations at Fed Cup

(Reuters) - Romania Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase was provisionally suspended from all International Tennis Federation (ITF) events on Sunday after being thrown out of the tie against Britain for verbally abusing opposing team members and the umpire.

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Wielgus, long-time USA Swimming executive director, dies

(Reuters) - Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA Swimming for nearly two decades, died on Sunday in Colorado Springs of complications from colon cancer, the organization announced. He was 67.

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Nadal claims record-extending 10th Monte Carlo title

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal claimed a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Masters title as he geared up for his beloved French Open with a 6-1 6-3 victory against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos on Sunday.

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Gatlin, U.S. romp to victory on night of miscues

(Reuters) - Justin Gatlin and the United States roared to victory in the men's 4x100m relay as rivals Canada and Jamaica dropped batons at the IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas on Saturday.

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Wanjiru holds of Bekele in London

LONDON (Reuters) - Kenyan Daniel Wanjiru held off a late charge from Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele to win the London Marathon on Sunday in two hours five minutes 48 seconds.

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Kenya's Keitany breaks women's only world record at London Marathon

(Reuters) - Kenya's Mary Keitany broke the women's only world record en route to her third London Marathon gold medal on Sunday, finishing in a time of 2:17.01 hours to beat Paula Radcliffe's time of 2:17.42 set in London in 2005.

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Saturday, April 22, 2017

Warriors coach Kerr ill, misses Game Three

(The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr will miss Saturday's Game Three of the Western Conference first-round series against the Trail Blazers in Portland due to illness, the team said.

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Golf: Chappell survives gusty winds to lead Texas Open by one

(Reuters) - American Kevin Chappell moved closer to an elusive breakthrough victory when he survived windswept conditions and an error-strewn front nine to earn a one-stroke lead after the third round at the Texas Open on Saturday.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - The Kansas City Chiefs have released defensive lineman Jaye Howard, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

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Motorcycling: Marquez on pole in Austin for fifth year in a row

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez took pole position at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin for the fifth year in a row on Saturday with fellow Spaniard and overall leader Maverick Vinales alongside on the front row.

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Nadal reaches Monte Carlo final after controversial umpire call

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal stayed on course for a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Masters title when the Spaniard beat David Goffin 6-3 6-1 in the semi-finals after the Belgian was denied a key point in controversial fashion on Saturday.

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Clippers' Griffin to miss rest of playoffs with toe injury

(The Sports Xchange) - Los Angeles Clippers star forward Blake Griffin will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs because of a big toe injury, the team announced Saturday.

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IndyCar drivers welcome Alonso's Indianapolis bid

LEEDS, Alabama (Reuters) - IndyCar drivers will throw out the welcome mat for Fernando Alonso on his Indianapolis 500 debut next month but have warned the double Formula One champion not to expect any support on the track.

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ITF launch Nastase investigation after Serena Williams comments

(Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has launched an investigation into Romania's Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase after the former world number one allegedly made a derogatory comment about Serena Williams' unborn child.

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Wiesberger holds his nerve on day three in China

(Reuters) - Austrian Bernd Wiesberger held his nerve to card a three-under-par 69 in the third round of the Shenzhen International on Saturday and will take a three-shot lead into the final day's play at the Genzon Golf Club.

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Sharapova should not get French Open wildcard, says rival Radwanska

WARSAW (Reuters) - Former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova should not be fast-tracked into next month's French Open as she returns from a doping ban, insists Polish rival Agnieszka Radwanska.

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Friday, April 21, 2017

Ex-NFL star Hernandez's family wants death scene evidence preserved

(Reuters) - The family of former National Football League star Aaron Hernandez will ask a judge on Friday to order prison officials to preserve evidence collected after he was found dead in his cell on Wednesday from an apparent suicide.

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Fallen FIFA boss Blatter says met U.S. Justice officials, but is not a suspect

ZURICH (Reuters) - Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Friday he had met lawyers from the U.S. Justice Department but was not a suspect in their corruption investigations.

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Ex-Costa Rican soccer chief banned for life by FIFA

(Reuters) - The former president of the Costa Rican Football Association, Eduardo Li, was banned from the game for life by FIFA's independent Ethics Committee on Friday, the organization said on Friday.

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James leads Cavs to record second-half comeback win over Pacers

(Reuters) - LeBron James engineered the NBA playoffs' biggest second-half comeback as the Cleveland Cavaliers overturned a 25-point deficit at half-time to beat the Indiana Pacers 119-114 in Game Three of their series on Thursday.

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Tiger undergoes back surgery, could be out six months

(Reuters) - Former world number one Tiger Woods said on Thursday he has undergone further surgery to help alleviate pain in his back and leg and could be away from competitive golf for another six months.

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Super Bowl champion Patriots to play Raiders in Mexico City

(Reuters) - The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots kick off the season against the Kansas City Chiefs and will travel to Mexico City in November to play the Oakland Raiders, the National Football League said on Thursday when it released the new schedule.

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Dispute emerges over release of ex-NFL star Hernandez's brain

BOSTON (Reuters) - A lawyer for former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez on Thursday accused the Massachusetts' medical examiner's office of reneging on a deal to turn over the athlete's brain to a Boston laboratory a day after he was found dead in his prison cell.

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Brady, Kaepernick named to Time most influential list

(The Sports Xchange) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James were among seven sports figures named to Time Magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people, which was announced Thursday.

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Motherhood no obstacle for Serena's return, says Court

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Motherhood may do little to slow Serena Williams's pursuit of grand slam success but more hungry opponents, if they emerge, could yet deny her the all-time singles record, the women who holds that distinction told Reuters.

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

NFL Patriots meet Trump without Tom Brady, some teammates

(Reuters) - While some players stayed away in protest, the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Wednesday made the traditional visit to the White House where team owner Robert Kraft lauded his longtime friend, President Donald Trump, and likened his long-shot victory to the Patriots' own.

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Ex-NFL star Hernandez hangs self in prison; family seeks probe

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez hanged himself on Wednesday in a prison cell where he was serving a life sentence for murder, prison officials said, and his family called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances.

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Tennis great Serena Williams appears to reveal pregnancy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tennis superstar Serena Williams on Wednesday appeared to reveal she is pregnant, posting a photo of herself in a bathing suit on Snapchat with the caption "20 weeks."

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Murray back from layoff to reach Monte Carlo round three

PARIS (Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 7-5 7-5 to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters as he made his return from a five-week injury layoff on Wednesday.

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Fit-again Murray eyes first Monte Carlo final

(Reuters) - World number one Andy Murray has recovered from an elbow injury and is keen to reach the final of the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time, the Briton said ahead of his opening match against Gilles Muller in the second round on Wednesday.

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Djokovic survives shock to reach Monte Carlo round three

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - World number two Novak Djokovic came close to an early exit at the Monte Carlo Masters but finally emerged triumphant with a 6-3 3-6 7-5 second-round victory against France's Gilles Simon on Tuesday.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Golf: Woods hits first public shots in months, no date for return

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods took his first public golf shots in over two months during an event to announce his first public course on Tuesday but the former world number one remained noncommittal about his return to competitive action.

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NCAA returns to North Carolina after transgender bathroom law repeal

(Reuters) - The National Collegiate Athletic Association on Tuesday formally reversed course and scheduled championship games in North Carolina, returning to the state after previously stripping it of events to protest a law on transgender use of public bathrooms.

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Monday, April 17, 2017

California drops rape charge against former NFL player Ray McDonald

(Reuters) - A felony rape charge against former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald was dismissed on Monday because his accuser did not want to testify, prosecutors said.

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Tennis: Kvitova enters French Open draw

(Reuters) - Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has entered the draw for next month's French Open four months after suffering a serious hand injury, she said on Monday.

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Thomas plays for Celtics a day after sister's death

(Reuters) - Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas made an emotional return to the court on Sunday, a day after his sister Chyna had been killed in a car crash.

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Sunday, April 16, 2017

2018 Games torch relay to begin in November

SEOUL (Reuters) - The torch relay for next year's Winter Olympics will begin in South Korea in November and travel 2,018 kilometers around the country before arriving in Pyeongchang to mark the start of the Feb. 9-25 Games, organizers said on Monday.

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Vettel wins Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton

MANAMA (Reuters) - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel forged seven points clear at the top of the Formula One standings on Sunday after winning a Bahrain Grand Prix thriller that saw Lewis Hamilton penalized for underhand tactics.

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Jet-lagged Johnson limps to Houston clay court victory

(Reuters) - American Steve Johnson literally limped to a 6-4 4-6 7-5(5) victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the final of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday.

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Bryan wins Heritage by one stroke from Donald

(Reuters) - Wesley Bryan completed a bogey-free back nine to break out of the pack and win the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Sunday.

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Two eagles see Molinari storm to title in Morocco

RABAT (Reuters) - Edoardo Molinari came from four shots behind at the start of the final round to win a European PGA Tour event for the first time in almost seven years when he edged Irishman Paul Dunne at the first playoff hole to take the Trophee Hassan II on Sunday.

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Two eagles help Dufner soar to Heritage lead

(Reuters) - Jason Dufner took advantage of two eagles and a run of three consecutive birdies to take a one-stroke lead over Canadian Graham DeLaet in the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Saturday.

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Coric wins first ATP title after saving match points

(Reuters) - Croatian Borna Coric claimed his first ATP title when he battled back to beat experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the final of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech on Sunday.

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France clinch men's Madison, Barker win first individual gold

HONG KONG (Reuters) - French duo Benjamin Thomas and Morgan Kneisky edged out Australia's Cameron Meyer and Callum Scotson to win the men's Madison, while Elinor Barker claimed her first individual world title at the track cycling world championships on Sunday.

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Saturday, April 15, 2017

Dodgers unveil statue to trailblazer Robinson

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a statue on Saturday honoring trailblazer Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first African American player.

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Major League Baseball roundup

(Reuters) - Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi left Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox after throwing his first pitch of the second inning.

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National Football League roundup

(Reuters) - Former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals tight end Todd Heap accidentally struck and killed his 3-year-old daughter while moving a truck in the driveway at his home in Mesa, Arizona.

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Tottenham roll on, now seek a helping hand

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur remained a worrying presence in Chelsea's rearview mirror after a second successive 4-0 victory cut the gap in the Premier League title race to four points on Saturday.

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Bottas ends Hamilton's pole run in Bahrain

MANAMA (Reuters) - Finland's Valtteri Bottas took his first Formula One pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday with a sizzling lap that ended Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton's bid for a seventh in a row.

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Ricciardo looks to second half of the season

MANAMA (Reuters) - Daniel Ricciardo is an optimist but even optimism has its limits.

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Former NFLer Heap kills daughter in accident in Arizona: media

(Reuters) - Former NFL star player Todd Heap hit and killed his 3-year-old daughter on Friday while he was moving his truck in his driveway at his Arizona home, media reported.

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Friday, April 14, 2017

Ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez cleared of 2012 double murder

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Boston jury on Friday found former New England Patriots football star Aaron Hernandez not guilty on of murdering two men outside a Boston nightclub in 2012, following what prosecutors described as a dispute that began over a spilled drink.

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MVP candidates square off as NBA playoffs get underway

(Reuters) - One of the fiercest MVP debates basketball has seen in years will add another chapter when the NBA Playoffs open this weekend with award frontrunners Russell Westbrook and James Harden meeting face to face.

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Vettel puts Ferrari on top in Bahrain practice

MANAMA (Reuters) - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was fastest in Bahrain Grand Prix practice on Friday with the joint Formula One championship leader comfortably quicker than his Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton despite problems in the second session.

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Brazil graft probe scrutinizes six soccer World Cup stadiums

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - At least six of Brazil's World Cup arenas, including the Maracana stadium where the final was staged in 2014, are under scrutiny in a wave of new political corruption investigations launched by the country's Supreme Court this week.

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Major doubts about letters claiming Islamist motive for Dortmund attack: media

BERLIN (Reuters) - German broadcaster ARD cited a report commissioned by investigators as saying there were "significant doubts" that letters claiming responsibility for an attack on the bus of soccer team Borussia Dortmund were written by Islamists.

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Sharapova blames ITF for failing to warn her on banned substance

(Reuters) - Five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova has criticized the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for not doing enough to make her aware that meldonium had been added to the list of banned substances last year.

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Steelers owner Rooney passes away at 84

(The Sports Xchange) - Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney died on Thursday, the team announced. He was 84.

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Sizzling Heat miss playoffs despite record rally

(Reuters) - The Miami Heat completed a stirring second half to the NBA regular season by setting a new milestone on Wednesday but their brilliance was not rewarded with a playoff berth as the growing trend of resting players took on extra significance.

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Highlights of Wednesday's NHL games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Wednesday's National Hockey League games:

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Islamist arrested over soccer bus attack was IS member in Iraq: German prosecutor

BERLIN (Reuters) - German prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant against a 26-year-old Iraqi man who was detained in connection with an attack on a bus carrying players of a top soccer team, saying on Thursday they believe he was a member of Islamic State.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

St. Louis sues NFL for more than $1 billion over loss of Rams football team

(Reuters) - The city of St. Louis and other regional groups on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the National Football League and all its teams and owners, claiming the league violated its relocation guidelines when it allowed the Rams to leave the Midwest city.

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Drogba, career no longer rising, will end career in Phoenix

(Reuters) - Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has agreed to join second-tier United States team the Phoenix Rising in an effort to help them join an expanded Major League Soccer (MLS) competition before he takes an executive role with the team when he retires.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - The city of St. Louis is suing the NFL over the Rams' relocation to Los Angeles 15 months ago.

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Alonso's Indy move is also a consequence of failure

MANAMA (Reuters) - McLaren's decision to let Fernando Alonso miss the Monaco Grand Prix and race in the Indianapolis 500 is an extraordinary step that, while triggering a rush of excitement, is also a reflection of the team's current predicament.

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Germany detains suspected Islamist over soccer attack

KARLSRUHE/DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - German authorities arrested a suspected Islamist on Wednesday in connection with what Chancellor Angela Merkel called a "despicable" attack on a bus carrying players of one of the country's top soccer teams.

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Kuchar tries to turn Masters rally into Harbour Town win

(Reuters) - Matt Kuchar will try to build off his strong finish at the U.S. Masters when he tees off in the first round of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Thursday among a field featuring several recent PGA Tour winners.

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Defiance and shock as Dortmund and Monaco face off after attack

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) - Singing, munching Bratwurst sausages and swilling beer, Borussia Dortmund fans put on a show of defiance on Wednesday as they poured into their home stadium for their match against AS Monaco, postponed after an attack on the team bus a day earlier.

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NHL: Stars to bring back Hitchcock as coach

(The Sports Xchange) - The Dallas Stars plan to bring back Ken Hitchcock as their next head coach, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

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Weight named Islanders coach

(Reuters) - The New York Islanders confirmed on Wednesday that Doug Weight would return as head coach, removing the interim tag he had held since the firing of Jack Capuano.

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Klitschko to use Joshua sessions as homework for bout

(Reuters) - Former champion Wladimir Klitschko has said sparring with Britain's Anthony Joshua a few years ago has given him an idea of what to expect ahead of their world heavyweight title clash at Wembley Stadium on April 29.

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Highlights of Tuesday's MLB games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Tuesday's Major League Baseball games:

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Highlights of Tuesday's NBA games

(The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Tuesday's National Basketball Association games:

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Tuesday, April 11, 2017

National Basketball Association roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James will sit out when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the visiting Toronto Raptors in their regular-season finale on Wednesday.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Former St. Louis Rams standout James Laurinaitis announced his retirement on Tuesday, stating he can no longer physically play the game.

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Athletics: Series offers chance for sport to grow in U.S.

(Reuters) - American athletes will no longer need to travel to Europe to find high quality competition, organizers of an expanded U.S track and field series said on Tuesday.

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Soccer: North American trio seek to avoid rival World Cup bids

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The three-nation North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup is asking FIFA to fast-track its proposal without a competitive bidding process.

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Hope renewed for Canadian clubs in Stanley Cup playoffs

(Reuters) - After last year's shutout, when no Canadian NHL team reached the Stanley Cup playoffs, five clubs from the birthplace of hockey made the 16-team tournament this season with much to prove.

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Athletics: Seven more Russians cleared to compete as neutrals

LONDON (Reuters) - Seven more Russian athletes, including world champions Sergey Shubenkov and Mariya Kuchina, have been cleared to compete in international competition as neutrals after meeting the IAAF Doping Review Board's exceptional eligibility criteria.

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Soccer: Player injured in Borussia Dortmund bus blast - club

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) - At least one person has been injured by an explosion on the bus taking the Borussia Dortmund soccer team to their Champions League quarter-final first-leg match against Monaco on Tuesday, the German club said.

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Monday, April 10, 2017

National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - A group of NFL players who participated in an arm wrestling event at a casino in Las Vegas will be disciplined by the league.

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Major League Baseball roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Otis Nixon, who was reported missing Sunday, was found Monday morning.

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Soccer: U.S., Mexico and Canada announce 2026 World Cup bid

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States, Mexico and Canada announced on Monday that they were making a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. soccer chief said would produce the biggest financial boon ever for FIFA.

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Northwestern University rower missing after falling overboard

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Authorities were searching a channel in a north Chicago suburb on Monday for a Northwestern University rower who fell overboard during morning practice, officials said.

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Soccer: Kindred spirits Zidane and Ancelotti set for Champions League reunion

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane will be reunited with his former mentor and kindred spirit Carlo Ancelotti when the Spanish club visit Bayern Munich for their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.

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Sunday, April 9, 2017

Final match-ups determined for Stanley Cup playoffs

(Reuters) - The final two match-ups for the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs were settled on Sunday when the Anaheim Ducks beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime to clinch the Pacific Division for the fifth straight season.

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Schwartzel sizzles, Scott sputters at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Two former U.S. Masters champions saw their fortunes diverge on Sunday as 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel rallied to finish third while 2013 victor Adam Scott slipped to a tie for ninth.

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Hamilton beats Vettel for Chinese Grand Prix win

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton mastered Shanghai's changing conditions and stayed clear of squabbling rivals to win the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

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American big guns Spieth, Fowler fail to fire

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler were supposed to lead the American charge in the final round of the Masters but the U.S. pair fluffed their lines while Sergio Garcia delivered a storybook ending to the first major of the year.

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Tennis: Goffin sends Belgium into semi-final against Australia

LONDON (Reuters) - David Goffin sent Belgium into their second Davis Cup semi-final in three years on Sunday with a decisive victory over Italy's Paolo Lorenzi in Charleroi.

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Motor racing: Ricciardo and Perez reprimanded for anthem breach

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Mexican Sergio Perez have become the first Formula One drivers to be reprimanded under a new rule requiring timely attendance at the pre-race national anthem ceremony.

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Saturday, April 8, 2017

In-form Kyrgios sends Australia into Davis Cup semis

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios overcame a shaky start to down Sam Querrey 7-6(4) 6-3 6-4 and send Australia into the Davis Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over the United States in Brisbane on Sunday.

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Fowler, Hoffman edge ahead at sun-drenched Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Rickie Fowler and Charley Hoffman birdied the second hole to head the U.S. Masters third-round leaderboard at a sun-kissed Augusta on Saturday.

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NHL: Bolts beat Canadiens to stay in playoff hunt

(The Sports Xchange) - Yanni Gourde scored twice to help the Tampa Bay Lightning stay alive in the playoff race with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday at the Bell Centre.

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Sock gamble keeps U.S. alive in Davis Cup tie

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States kept alive their hopes of reaching the Davis Cup semi-finals when doubles pairing Jack Sock and Steve Johnson came from behind to beat Australia's Sam Groth and John Peers 3-6 6-3 6-2 2-6 6-3 in Brisbane on Saturday.

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'Animal' Alonso unleashes wild side in Chinese GP qualifying

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Twice Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso unleashed his inner animal on Saturday as he dragged his misfiring McLaren Honda past the opening phase of qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.

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Horse racing: One For Arthur wins the 170th Grand National

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - One For Arthur, ridden by Derek Fox, won the English Grand National, the world's greatest steeplechase, with a stunning late burst from the final fence at a sun-drenched Aintree on Saturday.

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Motor racing: Lauda loses money after betting against own team

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - It is hard to imagine Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda being too happy about losing money, but there is one wager he must have been delighted to lose at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.

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NBA: Thunder's Westbrook clinches triple-double average

(Reuters) - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook became the second player in the NBA, and the first in 55 years, to average a triple-double over an entire season on Friday.

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Friday, April 7, 2017

Golf: McIlroy rues cruel ricochet that leaves him five back

(Reuters) - A shockingly unlucky break cost Rory McIlroy probably two strokes at the final hole on Friday, leaving him five strokes from the halfway lead at the U.S. Masters.

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Experience produces Masters magic for Couples

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Playing in his 32nd U.S. Masters, evergreen Fred Couples knows all the tricks and spots where bits of golf magic can be conjured up at Augusta National and on Friday pulled another great round out of his hat.

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Golf: Rose looking forward to faster course on Day Three of Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Justin Rose said a couple of key mistakes kept him from having a run at the lead in Friday's second round at the U.S. Masters and expected calm weather and faster greens to play to his strengths this weekend.

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NBA: Charlotte eligible for 2019 All-Star game, says commissioner

(Reuters) - The National Basketball Association said on Friday it will consider Charlotte, North Carolina, as the host for its 2019 All-Star game after the state replaced a law viewed by the league as discriminatory against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

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Kyrgios and Djokovic on form in Davis Cup

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios put Australia in a commanding position against the United States and Novak Djokovic made a winning return to action for Serbia on quarter-finals day in the Davis Cup on Friday.

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The Masters Golf Tournament up close

AUGUSTA, Ga. (Reuters) - Golfers from around the world teed up for the 81st U.S. Masters tournament this week, after six-time winner Jack Nicklaus took the opening ceremonial tee shot on Thursday.

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Sumgong saga to delay naming of marathon series champion

LONDON (Reuters) - The Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) will hold back on naming a women's champion until after the conclusion of the doping case involving series leader Jemima Sumgong.

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Exclusive: CONCACAF close to agreeing new 'League of Nations'

LONDON (Reuters) - Plans for a new league competition for national teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean are set to be agreed on this weekend, the region's football chief has told Reuters.

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Thompson stuns Sock to give Australia 1-0 Davis Cup lead

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Jordan Thompson fed off a rowdy home crowd to upset Jack Sock 6-3 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4 for the biggest win of his career and give Australia a 1-0 lead over the United States in their Davis Cup quarter-final in Brisbane on Friday.

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Thursday, April 6, 2017

Masters first round whips up something different

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Fred Couples is not surprised by much at the Augusta National after teeing it up at 32 U.S. Masters, but Thursday's opening round whipped up something that even he had never experienced before.

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Tebow homers in first at-bat in minor league debut

(Reuters) - Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow answered some skeptics about his foray into professional baseball by hitting a two-run homer in his first at-bat of the season on Thursday for the Class A Columbia Fireflies.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Free agent running back Adrian Peterson has set up a visit with the New Orleans Saints, the NFL Network reported.

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Rio Olympic marathon champion Sumgong fails drugs test: IAAF

LONDON (Reuters) - Jemima Sumgong, who last year became the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic gold in the marathon, has tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in an out-of-competition test carried out by the IAAF, the sport's governing body said on Thursday.

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Lawyer for ex-NFL star Hernandez calls murder witness a liar

BOSTON (Reuters) - An attorney for former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez on Thursday challenged prosecutors' case that his client had shot dead two men outside a Boston nightclub in 2012, and said all aspects of the prosecution's case, from the alleged motive, were untrue.

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Mercedes have to raise game to meet Ferrari challenge: Hamilton

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) - Formula One triple champion Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes will have to raise their game if they are to beat a resurgent Ferrari in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

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Arnie's Army salutes Arnold Palmer one last time

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Arnie's Army was out in force one more time on Thursday, storming the first tee at the U.S. Masters in a final salute to Arnold Palmer, their fallen leader.

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Pacquiao to fight Australia's Horn in July

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against unbeaten Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane in July after a bout with Amir Khan fell through, local media reported.

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World number one Johnson doubtful for Masters after freak fall

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson's participation in the U.S. Masters this week is in doubt after he injured his back in a freak accident, his manager David Winkle said on Wednesday.

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Wednesday, April 5, 2017

National Hockey League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will undergo surgery for a herniated disc in his neck, the team announced Wednesday.

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National Football League roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Marshawn Lynch visited the Oakland Raiders' facility on Wednesday, with ESPN's Adam Schefter citing an undisclosed source as saying that a deal between the retired running back and his hometown team "eventually will happen."

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Horse racing: Florida race ups the ante to world record $16 million

(Reuters) - The world’s richest horse race just got richer, with organizers on Wednesday announcing a $16 million purse for the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in Florida.

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Olympics - Surfing and canoe bodies in stand-up row over paddling

AARHUS, Denmark (Reuters) - The rapidly growing popularity of stand up paddleboarding (SUP) has led to an unlikely battle for control, with surfing and canoeing both claiming it as an off-shoot of their own sport against a backdrop of possible Olympic inclusion.

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Masters Par 3 contest called off for first time

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The traditional U.S. Masters Par 3 contest was called off on Wednesday for the first time in its 57-year history with heavy storms forecast in the Augusta area.

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Djokovic seeks Davis Cup spark, Australia count on Kyrgios

LONDON (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic hopes the spark he has been lacking so far this year will return as he pulls on his Serbia shirt for this weekend's Davis Cup quarter-final against Spain in Belgrade.

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Doping - IOC strips three more medals from 2008, 2012 Games re-tests

AARHUS, Denmark (Reuters) - Uzbeki wrestler Artur Taymazov was stripped of his freestyle gold medal from the Beijing 2008 Olympics 96-120kg category following a positive doping sample in re-testing, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

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Athletics - Former WADA official to head new Athletics Integrity Unit

AARHUS, Denmark (Reuters) - Former senior World Anti-Doping Agency official David Howman was appointed on Wednesday as head of the newly established Athletics Integrity Unit to battle doping and corruption amid a drop in the sport's popularity.

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'Best ever' Hamilton faces resurgent Ferrari

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton has raised his game but whether the Mercedes driver can deny Ferrari a second successive win of the season in China this weekend remains to be seen.

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Amazon scores streaming rights for NFL's Thursday Night Football

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc will live-stream games for the U.S. National Football League this year, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday, marking a high-profile push by the online retailer to attract fans to its Prime shopping and video-playback club.

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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

National Basketball Association roundup

(The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant may return for Saturday's home game against the New Orleans Pelicans provided he doesn't experience any setbacks after missing at least 17 games with a left knee injury.

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Spieth makes easy work of return to scene of Masters collapse

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - It may have only been a practice round but Jordan Spieth proved on his return to the site of his U.S. Masters collapse that he has moved on from the disastrous sequence that cost him a win.

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Bad weather, good news for Mickelson at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Bad weather is good news at the U.S. Masters for Phil Mickelson, who will tee it up for the 25th time at Augusta National, better prepared he thinks than most to handle whatever Mother Nature throw at the year's first major.

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Johnson to launch Masters title bid with Watson, Walker

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson will launch his bid for a maiden U.S. Masters title in the company of twice champion Bubba Watson and PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker, in groupings announced on Tuesday.

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Tony Romo expected to trade gridiron for broadcast booth

(The Sports Xchange) - Quarterback Tony Romo plans to pursue a career in broadcasting even if the Dallas Cowboys release him as expected.

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NCAA again weighing North Carolina as host after bathroom law repeal

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - The National Collegiate Athletic Association said on Tuesday it will again consider allowing North Carolina to host championship games after the state replaced a law that it said discriminated against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

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Missing Miami title defense was refreshing, says Djokovic

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Sitting out last week's Miami Open was rejuvenating for Novak Djokovic although it meant missing the chance to win a record seventh title in the tournament, Serbia's world number two said on Tuesday.

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Late run lifts North Carolina to NCAA title

(Reuters) - North Carolina made up for last year's title-decider heartbreak by putting together a late run to overhaul Gonzaga 71-65 in the final of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament on Monday.

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Fired up by team spirit, Kyrgios says in 'best' mental shape

(Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios is relishing being in the "best" mental shape of his career and credited the camaraderie of Australia's Davis Cup team for his ominous form during the U.S. hardcourt swing.

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NHL decision on Olympics regrettable, says IOC

AARHUS, Denmark (Reuters) - The National Hockey League's decision not to take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics is regrettable and will come as a big blow to the world's best ice hockey players, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

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Monday, April 3, 2017

NHL will not participate in 2018 Pyeongchang Games

(Reuters) - The National Hockey League will not take part in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, saying on Monday that it would finalize its 2017-18 season schedule without a Winter Games break. It declared negotiations "officially closed".

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IAAF says medical records compromised by Fancy Bear hacking group

ZURICH (Reuters) - The governing body of global athletics (IAAF) said on Monday it had suffered a cyber attack that it believes has compromised information about athletes' medical records.

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Financial adviser pleads guilty to defrauding NBA star Duncan

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A prominent wine industry businessman and financial manager pleaded guilty in federal court in San Antonio on Monday to stealing millions of dollars from retired National Basketball Association superstar Tim Duncan.

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Motor racing: Giovinazzi replaces Wehrlein for Chinese GP

LONDON (Reuters) - Italian Antonio Giovinazzi will race again for Sauber in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix as replacement for German driver Pascal Wehrlein, the Swiss-based team said on Monday.

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Top-ranked Johnson, Spieth, McIlroy three to beat at Masters

(Reuters) - Dustin Johnson returns to this week's U.S. Masters a different person than a year ago, more confident and comfortable, a golfer with greatness in his sights but some Everest-like mountains still to climb.

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IOC says no sign of significant abuse in clenbuterol cases from Beijing

ZURICH (Reuters) - The IOC said it had not detected any significant abuse of clenbuterol after finding "very low levels" of the banned substance during re-testing of samples from the Beijing Olympics.

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Team USA must be wary of fired-up Kyrgios, says Courier

(Reuters) - Australia's number two Bernard Tomic will be absent from this week's Davis Cup quarter-finals but the United States will still have a fight on their hands in Brisbane due to the impressive form of Nick Kyrgios, U.S. team captain Jim Courier said.

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Sunday, April 2, 2017

Thompson hit with penalty, loses ANA in playoff

(Reuters) - A tearful Lexi Thompson credited her caddy and fans for helping her get through an emotional roller coaster in the final round of the ANA Inspiration on Sunday after she was hit with a four-shot penalty then lost in a playoff for the title.

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Ryu wins ANA in playoff after Thompson hit with penalty

(Reuters) - Lexi Thompson was denied a major victory in the cruellest of fashions at the ANA Inspiration on Sunday after she was hit with a four-stroke penalty with six holes left, then lost to South Korean Ryu So-yeon in a sudden death playoff for the title.

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Knee injury sidelines Knicks' Rose for remainder of season

(The Sports Xchange) - New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose will miss the rest of the season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee, the team said on Sunday.

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Federer beats Nadal in straight sets in Miami Open final

(Reuters) - Roger Federer clinched his 91st career title when he beat rival Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-4 in the Miami Open final on Sunday.

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Golf: Soggy Augusta boosts McIlroy's bid for elusive Green Jacket

LONDON (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy's bid for an elusive first U.S. Masters title and the grand slam of golf's major championships has received an unexpected boost from the long-range weather forecast.

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Cubs on new mission, Indians, Red Sox re-load

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The World Series champion Chicago Cubs are on a new mission in 2017, aiming to end another drought by repeating as Major League Baseball's best with another Fall Classic crown in the season starting on Sunday.

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Saturday, April 1, 2017

Konta beats Wozniacki in straight sets in Miami final

(Reuters) - Johanna Konta won the biggest title of her burgeoning career when she beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 in the women's final at the Miami Open on Saturday.

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McGrady, Self and Lobo headline Hall of Fame class

(The Sports Xchange) - Two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self and women's star Rebecca Lobo headline the Class of 2017 for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Woods says will miss Masters, no timetable for return

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods will miss next week's U.S. Masters due to his troublesome back and has no timetable for his return to competitive golf, the former world number one said on Friday.

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Figure skating: Hanyu dethrones Fernandez to win world title

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu's exquisite all-round skating skills allowed him to overhaul a massive 10.66-point deficit as he struck gold to end Javier Fernandez's two-year reign at the world figure skating championships on Saturday.

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