Cavaliers vs. Warriors 2016 final score: LeBron James brings a title back to Cleveland in thrilling Game 7 win

Cavaliers vs. Warriors 2016 final score: LeBron James brings a title back to Cleveland in thrilling Game 7 win

Cavaliers vs. Warriors 2016 final score: LeBron James brings a title back to Cleveland in thrilling Game 7 win

In the end, it was LeBron James. One of the most dominant individuals in NBA history overcame one of the league’s most dominant teams, when the Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the Golden State Warriors on the road in a thrilling 93-89 win in Game 7 to win the NBA Championship, the first in Cavaliers history.

James and the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to come back from a seemingly insurmountable 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, winning the final three games of the series over the 73-win Warriors thanks to a streak of superiority from one of the NBA’s greatest players. Kyrie Irving hit the three of his life to give the Cavaliers the stunning win.

James had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the clincher, after going off for 41 points apiece in Games 5 and 6. It was the third Game 7 triple-double in NBA history. After leaving Cleveland for the Miami Heat in 2010 and winning two titles, the Akron native returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 to deliver a title to the Ohio city that hadn't seen a championship in any major sport since the Cleveland Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship. He came through in his second season back in Cleveland, leading the Cavaliers to an improbable title over the Warriors.

After winning the most games in regular season history, the Warriors came up short in the Finals, losing three consecutive games for the first time all season after dominating the Cavaliers through the first four games of the series to the tune of a 3-1 lead. Stephen Curry had 17 points in Game 7, but struggled throughout the series, failing to live up to his back-to-back regular season MVP awards.

Oracle Arena roared from the opening tip as both teams came out firing. Festus Ezeli started for the first time all postseason in place of the injured Andrew Bogut, and the Warriors avoided a repeat of their slow start in Game 6 thanks to five three-pointers in the first. James had six points and six rebounds to lead the Cavaliers as they took a 23-22 lead into the second quarter.

James and Draymond Green took turns taking over in the second quarter. James was a block machine on the defensive end and Green couldn't miss a shot. Green was 5-of-5 from deep on his way to 22 first-half points. The Warriors couldn't pull away from James and the Cavaliers, though, as Irving gave the Cavaliers a boost on the offensive end of the court. The Warriors hit 10 three-pointers in the half and took a 49-42 lead as the Cavaliers went 1-of-14 from deep.

J.R. Smith brought the heat to start the second half, hitting two threes to lead an 8-0 Cavaliers run that tied the game at 54. Then, after the Warriors went on a 5-0 run, Irving took over. He led the Cavaliers on an 14-2 run as the Cavaliers threatened to pull away. The Warriors weren't going to roll over -- they haven't all season. They stormed back with a 15-7 run to end the third quarter and took a 76-75 lead heading into the final frame.

Neither team could gain an edge early in the fourth, but a Curry bomb from deep and a Klay Thompson bucket from the corner gave the Warriors an 85-83 lead with 6:15 to play. The Warriors took a four-point lead, but James drew a foul on a three and then hit his first three of the game to give the Cavaliers an 89-87 lead with 4:53 to play. The Warriors tied it on the next possession, but neither team scored over the next 2:30, setting up a final 2:00 with the teams tied at 89.

James had the block of the series on a Warriors fast break with 1:45 remaining, but missed a shot in the lane with 1:25 left. Curry missed a three on the following possession, and it was tied with 1:00 to play.

Then, Irving shimmied his way to a three to give the Cavaliers a 92-89 lead.

Curry missed a three on the following possession, James hit two free throws and that was it -- the Cavaliers were champions.

3 things we learned

What else can you say about LeBron James?

James is the NBA's greatest player. There's no doubt about that. He was too overpowering, too fast, too good for the Warriors.

There was nothing the Warriors could do but throw their best back at James and the Cavaliers. James followed up his 82 points, 24 rebounds and 18 assists in Games 5 and 6 with another masterful performance in Game 7. No matter his Finals record, he's one of the greatest the NBA has ever seen.

Stephen Curry never found a rhythm

The back-to-back MVP had a forgettable NBA Finals. Aside from his 38-point outburst in Game 4, he was a disaster compared to his regular-season self. He had 17 points in Game 7 and 30 in Game 6, but he was a mess on the defensive end and had multiple mental lapses that led to sloppy play. In two possessions early, Curry turned the ball over attempting a fancy dribble behind his back on a fast break and then complained about a foul call instead of getting back on Smith, who snuck free for an easy fast-break bucket. James got in Curry's head, and it was the difference as the Cavaliers shocked the Warriors.

Go nuts, Cleveland. Go nuts

James came back to Cleveland to deliver the city a title, and it's exactly what he did. Now, Cleveland can celebrate a title for the first time in Cavaliers history. It's a momentous moment for the city and the franchise -- not only did they come back from 3-1 down, they beat the greatest regular season team ever, defying the odds to deliver an unbelievable title.

It was a season for the ages capped off by a comeback for the ages and a Game 7 for the ages. In the end, it was LeBron James and Cleveland on top.

Portugal vs. Austria: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

Portugal vs. Austria: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

Portugal vs. Austria: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

 

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a late penalty as Portugal were held to a scoreless draw in their Euro 2016 clash against Austria on Saturday night, leaving their chances of winning Group F in serious doubt.

Austria held out for 78 minutes before Martin Hinteregger hauled down Ronaldo in the penalty area, but the Portugal captain could only strike the base of the left post with his effort from 12 yards.


Ronaldo's spot-kick attempt was the first missed penalty of this year's European Championships and perfectly summarised Portugal's tournament thus far, filled with so much promise but little by way of effect.
It was another limp night from Portugal and Ronaldo, with football writer Michiel Jongsma pointing him out as just one of the star names at Euro 2016 struggling to live up to expectations:
Manager Fernando Santos knew only a win would do for his side following the embarrassing 1-1 draw against Iceland last Tuesday, and Portugal started Saturday's assault by taking a firm grip of possession.
That being said, the Group F favourites had to be wary of growing complacent even if momentum was on their side, considering that was the theme for their Icelandic disappointment.
The forward pairing of Ronaldo and Nani in particular took little time to enforce themselves in front of Austria goalkeeper Robert Almer's net.
And it was Nani who had the best of the early chances on the half-hour mark, when Austria's defence left him wide open before thudding his headed effort off the post, per Unibet:
Austria were struggling to mount any pressure in the Portuguese half, but when they did, it was the likes of Stefan Ilsanker and Marko Arnautovic pulling the strings.
For all their solidity at times, however, coach Marcel Koller's men also showed their senseless side, particularly when defender Hinteregger and stopper Almer got their wires crossed with Nani lying in wait, per Match of the Day:
The underdogs managed to keep their foes at bay until the halfway mark in a clash that had illustrated Portugal's profligacy more than Austria's rigidity as such.
Ronaldo had his chance to nudge Portugal ahead early in the second period with a free-kick from 35 yards out, but his attempt couldn't even get past Austria's wall, leading Bet365 to question his set-piece proficiency:

NCAA College World Series: What time, channel is Miami vs. Arizona? Live stream, how to watch online (6/18/16)

NCAA College World Series: What time, channel is Miami vs. Arizona? Live stream, how to watch online (6/18/16)

NCAA College World Series: What time, channel is Miami vs. Arizona? Live stream, how to watch online (6/18/16)

Arizona players celebrate after defeating Mississippi State 6-5 in 11 innings during an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, June 11, 2016. Arizona meets Miami in the College World Series. (AP Photo | Jim Lytle)

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By Ryan Hatch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on June 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM, updated June 18, 2016 at 12:04 PM

Miami (50-12) meets Arizona (44-21) in the first game of the NCAA College World Series for both teams on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
The tournament is a double elimination format.

College World Series TV schedule

The College World Series begins Saturday, June 18, 2016, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, as UC Santa Barbara plays Oklahoma State and Arizona faces Miami.

Here's what you need to know:
Who: Miami (50-12) vs. Arizona (44-21)
What: College World Series
When: Saturday, June 18
Where: TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Neb.
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN2
Livestream: WatchESPN
Thirteen pitchers who will be in Omaha were taken in the first 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft, with No. 1 national seed Florida leading the way with six, including five in the first four rounds. There are the high-quality freshman and sophomore arms sprinkled throughout all eight teams.
Throw in the fact that the wind usually blows in this time of year at the spacious TD Ameritrade Park, and conditions are ripe for dominant pitching.
Big 12 pitcher of the year and third-round pick Thomas Hatch (8-2, 2.04) and seventh-rounder Tyler Buffett (8-3, 3.15) have been a formidable 1-2 combination for Oklahoma State in the national tournament. Miami has impressive depth, and UC Santa Barbara has been led by a fourth-round pick in Shane Bieber (12-3, 2.84).
ESPN college baseball analyst Kyle Peterson said the raw talent level among college pitchers is significantly higher than it was 10 to 15 years ago.
"There are more kids who throw harder," he said. "You see it in the major league draft, you see it in the major league bullpen. There's more velocity in the game."
Some of the hardest throwers are freshmen.
TCU closer Durbin Feltman touches 97 mph, Arizona's Cody Deason hits 93 and Coastal Carolina's Jason Bilous regularly is in the low 90s after having Tommy John surgery in 2014.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal might be cursed

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal might be cursed

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal might be cursed

By Evan J. Davis on Jun 18, 2016, 5:23p 2

Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

CR7 has shot 20 times in the Euros so far. He’s got a donut to show for it. 

Cristiano Ronaldo put on a show against Austria Saturday night. Austria’s messy, disjointed display meant that the world’s best pure scorer could do everything he loves to do. Portugal fired off 23 shots, and Ronaldo took 10 of them, including a penalty attempt. And somehow, some way, Portugal left the pitch with a 0-0 draw. Come on, you knew this was coming:

How is this possible? Is Ronaldo hot garbage now? Is he being played out of position? Nonsense. The dude bagged 51 goals for Real Madrid last year at the age of 31. (He hasn’t scored less than 50 goals in a season since 2009-10.) Even though he’s moved more centrally as he’s gotten older, he’s become an incredible No. 9. His movement to create space for himself is impeccable. He peels off defenders’ shoulders, stretches them out, and takes excellent shots. His performance tonight was superlative, and yet, he couldn’t find the back of the net once.

This curse stretches back to the Iceland draw, too. Ronaldo’s taken 20 shots across both games, and he’s scored exactly none of them. He turns, spins, and sees his shot go just wide of the post. He sees his free kicks (obviously) sky the bar. When he drills the ball on frame, keepers like Austria’s Robert Ulmer make insane saves. Even when Ronaldo steps up to the penalty spot, he whacks the woodwork. Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t suddenly bad; rather, the very fabric of the universe might be tearing itself apart.

Now, Ronaldo wasn’t solely responsible for Portugal’s rotten luck. The team has shot 50 times across both games in the tournament thus far, and only have a Nani goal against Iceland to show for it. Ricardo Quaresma started against Austria to give the side more attacking spark out wide, and the midfield absolutely ran rings around Alaba and company, particularly in the first half. It was all for naught. The entire starting XI had a WTF performance tonight.

We all know, however, that as goes Ronaldo, so goes Portugal. The best pure scorer in the world came up mystifyingly short today. That doesn’t mean it will happen when they face Hungary on Wednesday, nor if they advance to the knockout stage. CR7 may erupt and bag a double hatty, send Portugal through to the next round, and this weirdness might be forgotten. If not, we may have to suddenly realize that we are living in the darkest timeline of the European Championship.

Who Won the Argentina vs. Chile Match in Copa America?

Who Won the Argentina vs. Chile Match in Copa America?

Who Won the Argentina vs. Chile Match in Copa America?

Argentina cruised through their opening match at Copa America Centenario, disposing 2015 champions Chile 2-1 at Levi’s Stadium.
La Albiceleste were without Messi in the lineup, as the Barcelona star is recovering from a back injury. Gerardo Martino’s squad started slow, albeit hitting the crossbar in the first few minutes.
After getting over the poor turnovers that marred the first half, Argentina’s execution improved after halftime. Angel Di Maria scored easily after a Chile turnover in the first minutes of the second half, and Argentina controlled from there. Banega put the game away for good minutes later, as Argentina repeat the result from when these teams met back in March.
Argentina take the Group D lead with three points, but Chile are not out. With Panama and Bolivia forming the rest of the group, Chile will have ample opportunity to climb into the second position in the group.
Both teams return to action on June 10th, when Chile meets Bolivia and Argentina take on Panama.

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Chile Get a Late Consolation Goal

Fuenzalida gets one back for Chile in extra time. Not going to change the outcome, but something for Chile to build on in their next two matches.

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Banega Doubles the Lead For Argentina

Argentina continue to prove why they’re the world’s top-ranked team. The offense comes from everywhere. This time Ever Banega rips a shot on goal, only for it to take a deflection and sneak past Bravo for the second goal.  

Di Maria Breaks the Silence With an Easy Finish

Argentina got on the board early in the second half with this classy finish from Di Maria. Chile pay for their careless turnover, and now they lead early in the second half. 

Who Is Mark Hunt, the Man Challenging Brock Lesnar at UFC 200?

Who Is Mark Hunt, the Man Challenging Brock Lesnar at UFC 200?

Who Is Mark Hunt, the Man Challenging Brock Lesnar at UFC 200?

After a weekend of breathless speculation and casual fascism, Brock Lesnar’s return to the octagon is set. On July 9 in Las Vegas, the champion college wrestler turned WWE upstart turned Minnesota Vikings training camp participant turned UFC lightning rod turned WWE elder statesman turned UFC elder statesman will fight a one-off against … [drumroll, please] …

Yes, the man you see in photo at the top of this post is a professional mixed martial artist. In fact, he’s quite accomplished, having made Sherdog’s All-Violence Third Team in 2014, which sounds prestigious. He may put the “heavy” in “heavyweight,” but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover.

So what else do you need to know about Mr. Hunt before he takes on Lesnar at UFC 200? Here are some FAQs:

How did he get into fighting in the first place? According to Fox’s Marc Raimondi, Hunt was a natural from the start. He supposedly began kickboxing “because a trainer saw him beat up a bunch of dudes while he was bouncing at a bar,” and before he inked a multimillion-dollar contract with the UFC, he was happy to fight for a six-pack of beer.

Wait, this guy was a kickboxer? Indeed. He enjoyed an illustrious career in K-1, and didn’t make his UFC debut until 2010. He has a 12–10–1 MMA record — defeating the likes of Roy Nelson (for which he won Knockout of the Year at the 2014 World MMA Awards), Antonio Silva, and Frank Mir — and is the eighth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC.

Does he have a cool nickname? No — he has two. Hunt’s main nickname is the Super Samoan, but he’s alternatively known as the Doctor, though it’s unclear whether he has an MD or a PhD.

What are his measurables? Hunt is 5-foot-10, 265 pounds, and compared to Lesnar’s shredded frame, he resembles a pastry chef.

Can you rate his Twitter account on a scale of 1–10? Unfortunately, we’d need to use negative numbers here. Hunt’s Twitter timeline is a mix of dubious Facebook and Instagram links, goofy selfies, and half-formed thoughts.

Does Hunt happen to be a wildly successful author? You bet he does! His aptly titled 2015 memoir, Born to Fight, boasts a perfect five-star rating on Amazon, besting the likes of Moby-Dick, The Great Gatsby, and even Lesnar’s Death Clutch.

Is he married? Per Wikipedia, my go-to source for WAG news, Hunt met his wife, Julie, at a reggae club, which is incredibly romantic.

Is he outspoken about any political views? Hunt made headlines last year after sharing an animal cruelty video on Facebook and commenting, “I’m going vegan, hate this.” This appears to be the extent of his publicly known political opinions.

Can I watch him knock some dudes out? That’s why we’re here, right? Take a look at this compilation of Hunt’s five most brutal knockouts, courtesy of YouTube user Damdin Sodnomov, whose taste in background music is phenomenal:

Damn, it looks like Lesnar is going to have a tough fight on his hands. Does he stand a chance against the Super Samoan? Despite his doughy frame, Hunt is certainly intimidating. But if anyone can take him down, it’s the self-proclaimed “modern-day Bo Jackson.”

Mexico show title credentials in thrilling Copa win over Uruguay

Mexico show title credentials in thrilling Copa win over Uruguay

Mexico show title credentials in thrilling Copa win over Uruguay

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Two late goals from Mexico helped the CONCACAF nation to a 3-1 victory over Uruguay in its Copa America Centenario Group C opener.
Goals from Rafa Marquez and Hector Herrera handed Mexico a vital three points, with Diego Godin having leveled in the second half, after Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira had given Mexico an early lead with an own goal.
Here are three quick takes from a memorable game at University of Phoenix Stadium:
1. Marquez helps Mexico take the spoils
If there was a sense that the Copa America needed a match to really spark it into life, it got it on Sunday.
Only four goals had been scored over the first five games in the tournament, but Mexico's victory over Uruguay showed exactly what this combined CONCACAF/CONMEBOL tournament can and should be.
The selection of Rafa Marquez in Mexico's squad had been criticized ahead of this tournament, but the 37-year-old -- Mexico's most successful player in terms of titles in Europe -- was the star of the show.
Marquez played an inch-perfect ball out wide for Andres Guardado to cross for Pereira to put into his own goal for El Tri's opener and netted the vital second himself in the 85th minute.
With this game billed as the battle for top spot in Group C, El Tri came racing out of the blocks, suffocating Uruguay's attempts to start attacks and threatening consistently during the first half. Things went from bad to worse for Uruguay when Matias Vecino was sent off for his second yellow in the 45th.


At that point, it seemed that Uruguay wasn't so much missing Luis Suarez as lacking any idea or philosophy, as if it was a hastily put-together team and not one of the favorites for this tournament.
Few would've given 10-man Uruguay serious hope after halftime, but the 2011 Copa America winner showed exactly why it is considered a contender for the cup by wresting control of the game from Mexico.
Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin did what he has done so often for club and country and rose to head in from a free kick to level the score, with Mexico also going down to 10 when Andres Guardado was sent off for the foul that led to the goal in the 74th.
Had Diego Rolan netted an easy chance earlier on the hour mark, things could've been very different for Uruguay, but Mexico refused to back down.
Marquez proved to be the unlikely difference-maker in a very good game. In the end, this was a huge win for Mexico and one which leaves the path open for El Tri to finish atop Group C and avoid Argentina in the quarterfinal stage, should the Albiceleste finish first in Group D as expected.

2. El Tri realistic title contenders, but must improve
Mexico's first-half display was something to behold and that is no exaggeration. Head coach Juan Carlos Osorio once again employed a 3-4-3 (diamond) formation, and the side not only stifled Uruguay, but also looked sharp going forward, especially down the flanks through wingers Javier Aquino and Jesus "Tecatito" Corona.
The players looked full of confidence, as should be expected when a side extends an undefeated streak to 20 games (one off of El Tri's all-time record). The triangles between the back three, the four midfielders in front, combined with the two wingers and Javier Hernandez seemed to confuse Uruguay, whose players didn't seem to know who they were supposed to mark at any given point.
This was a Mexico team recycling the ball at pace, playing out from the back boldly, dominating possession and exciting the fans in the stadium. It was exactly the type of football they had paid to come to see and the kind of performance Pep Guardiola would've loudly applauded.
The question then is this: What happened after halftime?
The introduction of Alvaro Gonzalez strengthened the Uruguay midfield and the South American team, even playing a man down, pressed forward with much more conviction, but Mexico wilted.
There were nervous moments from set pieces and from goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, who was sharp in saving from Edinson Cavani in the first half, but out of position from crosses on occasion in the second.


What we saw overall suggests Mexico is a realistic contender to win the Copa America -- especially with the fervent backing of the fans in Arizona -- but the second half was a reminder that Osorio still has work to do and absolutely nothing should be taken for granted, even in the supposedly easier Group C games to come against Jamaica and Venezuela.
The real positive though was the reaction from the Mexico players after Uruguay leveled and El Tri went down to 10 men. And leading it all was captain Marquez, who is still an important cog in Mexico's side.
3. Uruguay in need of Suarez with no room for error
With only three games in this competition's group stage, Uruguay can't afford to slip up against Venezuela in Philadelphia next Thursday and may also have to win the final match against Jamaica to advance.
This was a strange performance from Uruguay. At times in the first half it was completely outplayed and even the center-back partnership of Jose Maria Gimenez and Godin -- the rock of Atletico Madrid and Uruguay -- seemed shaky.

The good news is that Suarez is likely to return in one of the next two group matches, bringing not just one of the world's very best players, but also the inspirational leader and standard bearer for Uruguayan football. The whole squad and nation will get a lift when the doctors give him the green light.
On Sunday, the Barcelona forward could be seen giving out instructions on the touchline, and it isn't a stretch to suggest it would've been a different result had Suarez played, given the chances Uruguay created in the second half.
The Uruguay team seemed to thrive in adversity on Sunday, with the crowd against it. Indeed, it played its best soccer while down to 10 men and facing Mexico's 11, before Guardado got sent off.
But there is no other way of categorizing Uruguay's night as anything but a failure. The good news is that it is still likely to advance from a relatively weak group. And there is nothing to suggest it won't be a handful in the knockout rounds, especially with Suarez back.
Tom Marshall has been based in Guadalajara since 2008 and has written about Mexican football ever since. Find him on Twitter @MexicoWorldCup.

Serena Williams’s Toughest Rival, This Time, Isn’t Herself

Serena Williams’s Toughest Rival, This Time, Isn’t Herself

Serena Williams’s Toughest Rival, This Time, Isn’t Herself

PARIS — Serena Williams versus Serena Williams is supposed to be the internal conflict that decides Grand Slam tournaments in this long-running, top-heavy era in women’s tennis.

But on Saturday, with the French Open on the line, it looked very much like a fair fight between Serena Williams and Garbiñe Muguruza.

A tall and elegant Spaniard who is 12 years younger than Williams, Muguruza has serious stage presence: shoulders back and chin held high. She now has the major title to match, and with her handling the moment and Williams’s big-occasion aura as well as she did on Saturday in her 7-5, 6-4 victory, it is hard not to imagine her managing another such moment with similar aplomb in the near future.

 

 Serena Williams on Saturday during the French Open final, which she lost to Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza, 7-5, 6-4. Credit David Vincent/Associated Press

“We’ve been saying Serena always beats herself, but today maybe she didn’t play her best tennis but she didn’t play badly either,” said Martina Navratilova, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion. “She lost to somebody who stood up to her and did not play not to lose. Garbiñe played to win. It’s nice to see.”

There were many moments when the upset bid could have unraveled; many occasions when she needed to display strength and resolve to keep Williams from shifting the momentum.

There was the fourth game of the match, when Muguruza fought off a break point with an ace. And the final game of the first set, when she rallied from 15-40 with more clutch serving.

There was her response after she made three of her nine double faults in a single game to lose her serve and a 1-0 lead in the second set. The response was a flurry of big-bang tennis that allowed her to break Williams straight back.

Above all, there was the way Muguruza responded after failing to convert on four championship points on Williams’s serve at 5-3 in the second set.

Many a Williams opponent would have taken the hint and the runner-up plate. Muguruza served out the match at love, pushing forward and attempting to resolve the conflict instead of hoping it might resolve itself.

“She didn’t shrink from the pressure; she embraced it,” said Navratilova, a great champion who needed time to learn how to manage her own nerves on the biggest occasions. “It would have been so easy to just bag it after she had those four match points.”

The memory of upsetting Williams, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the French Open in 2014 almost certainly helped. The experience of facing Williams in last year’s Wimbledon final most likely did, as well.

Wimbledon was Muguruza’s major final debut, and Williams won in straight sets to claim her 21st Grand Slam singles title and complete her second Serena Slam by winning a fourth consecutive major.

But nearly one year later, Williams is still chasing No. 22, while three women have now won their first Grand Slam titles: Flavia Pennetta at last year’s United States Open, Angelique Kerber at this year’s Australian Open and now Muguruza.

“I think it’s great that there are new faces and that players now know that it is possible to win, to defeat Serena,” Muguruza said. “I think it’s a breath of fresh air.”

It looked like a downbeat year for Spain when Rafael Nadal, the nine-time men’s champion, had to withdraw after two rounds with an injury to his left wrist. Instead, Spain got to celebrate twice on the final weekend as Muguruza and then the Spanish men’s doubles team of Feliciano López and Marc López won titles on Philippe Chatrier Court on the same afternoon.

Nadal sent a congratulatory message to Muguruza, who said one of the first thoughts she had afterward was to wonder how on earth Nadal managed to win nine French Opens.

For now, she seems delighted with one, which makes her the first Spanish woman to win the singles title since Arantxa Sánchez Vicario won the last of her three French Opens in 1998. Sánchez was in the front row of the president’s box on Saturday.

“I opened the way for Spanish woman to win here,” said Sánchez. “But I’m delighted that Garbiñe has reopened it now. She has a great future in front of her.”

It was a victory for Spain but also for Venezuela. Muguruza is a dual citizen who was born in Caracas to a Venezuelan mother and a Spanish father. She feels her dual identity very strongly and chose to officially represent Spain in 2014 only because the Fed Cup and the Olympics made a choice necessary.

But her roots in Spanish tennis run deep. After moving to Spain at an early age, she trained near Barcelona at the Bruguera Tennis Academy, which was founded by Lluís Bruguera, a remarkable coach and the father of the two-time French Open men’s champion Sergi Bruguera.

Muguruza’s flat-hitting, go-for-broke game bears little resemblance to the more patient, topspin-heavy approach of Sergi Bruguera or Sánchez’s domestic rival Conchita Martínez. But Muguruza has the power and the charisma to start a new Spanish school, and though she is hardly a steady flame at this stage (this was her first final of the year), she would appear to possess the sort of internal drive that serial Grand Slam champions like Williams require.

This after all is the young woman who, when she missed half the 2013 season because of foot surgery, chose to bring a chair out to the practice court and continue hitting balls from a seated position.

Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident

Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident

Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident

Vanderbilt pitcher and Clarksville native Donny Everett drowned at a Coffee County lake on Thursday night, but the Commodores have opted to still play their NCAA Regional versus Xavier at 7 p.m. Friday.

Everett, 19, tried to swim across Normandy Lake while fishing with two Vanderbilt teammates and two other friends. He made it halfway across but was pulled under and never resurfaced, according to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department.
On Friday afternoon, Vanderbilt baseball tweeted a tribute video to Everett with the simple message, "Love you, Donny." And the NCAA is holding a moment of silence in honor of Everett at all 32 regional games across the country Friday, an NCAA representative confirmed.
Vanderbilt players' parents have urged Commodores fans to wear black and gold ribbons in honor of Everett at Friday's game.
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin met with players and coaches late Thursday night to inform them of Everett’s death and then again Friday morning to decide whether to play their game against Xavier as scheduled. NCAA site representative Bob Jones said the NCAA office, along with the other three regional coaches from Xavier, Washington and UC-Santa Barbara, agreed that Vanderbilt could put the regional on hold at least one day if the Commodores were not yet ready to play.
“They decided to go ahead and play to honor the young man,” Jones said. “They could have delayed it a day. I talked to the other three coaches, and they were all on board with whatever would be best (for Vanderbilt). They had heartfelt sympathies for the Vanderbilt family.”
Vanderbilt coaches and players spent the afternoon in Clarksville grieving with the Everett family. Vanderbilt will not hold a press conference until after the conclusion of its game Friday night.
COLUMN: Commodores will play in wake of tragedy
RELATED: Baseball community mourns Vanderbilt’s Donny Everett
RELATED: Clarksville-area coaches remember Everett
Corbin began informing athletics department personnel of Everett's death Thursday night. And on Friday morning, athletics director David Williams issued a statement before returning to Nashville from the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla.
In the statement, Williams said: "We learned last night of the tragic death of Donny Everett, an outstanding young man who exemplified the best of our university. As you can imagine, the team, the athletic department and the university are trying to come to terms with this tragedy. His parents and loved ones are on our minds and in our prayers as we share in their grief.”


Everett just finished his freshman year at Vanderbilt. He was one of the nation’s top high school pitchers and a projected first-round pick in last year’s Major League Draft. But Everett balked on a signing bonus of up to $2.5 million in June 2015 to instead play at Vanderbilt, according to CBS Sports baseball reporter John Heyman.


“My heart just sunk, and my heart goes out to his family,” Clarksville Northeast High baseball coach Dustin Smith said. “Everyone knows Donny and loves him because he’s the most successful pitcher to come out of Clarksville, and they knew that his future was so bright.”
David Chester, who owns a farm next to the Everett home, saw Vanderbilt's bus pull into the Everett's driveway Friday. Chester has known the Everetts for several years, and he remembers watching Donny practice pitching against a backstop along the driveway that led to the family home.
“I sure miss hearing that baseball hit that backstop every day," Chester said.

The two Vanderbilt teammates and two friends with Everett when he drowned have not been identified.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s report said Everett was on the west side of the bridge with one of his friends when he tried to swim across the lake to the east side to join the other three friends.
“Everett got about halfway across the waterway when he began asking for help,” the Coffee County Sheriff’s report said. “All four individuals stated that they thought Everett was ‘just joking around’ because he was smiling and did not seem to be in distress. One person did enter the water and pulled Everett several feet but stated that he is not a good swimmer and was struggling to stay afloat.
“He stated that Everett did not seem to be struggling,” the report continued. “The friend stated that he let go of Everett and swam back to shore still thinking Everett was ‘joking.’ He stated that when he looked back, Everett had gone under and did not re-surface.”
Everett is the second Vanderbilt student-athlete to die in a drowning accident in just over a year. In May 2015, former Vanderbilt basketball player Dai-Jon Parker, 22, drowned in Indianapolis.
Heartfelt messages poured out on social media Friday morning. Dansby Swanson, a former Vanderbilt player and No. 1 draft pick, tweeted, “My heart is completely broken. There are special prayers being said for the @VandyBaseball family. May you rest easy in heaven, Donny.”
Everett was a popular and humble player for the Commodores. As a high-profile high school player and the 2015 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year, he had relationships with some Vanderbilt teammates long before enrolling at the school.
Jerry Snider, father of Vanderbilt sophomore pitcher Collin Snider, called Everett was “a polite and humble young man with a smile that would light up a room. His size could be intimidating, but he was a big teddy bear.”
Roger Wright, father of Vanderbilt sophomore pitcher Kyle Wright, said teammates affectionately called Everett, "The Donald." He added, "The Donald was a great kid and a great friend to my son. Our hearts are broken for his parents."
Everett, a 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who clocked a 97 mile-per-hour fastball on his first pitch at Vanderbilt in mid-April after sitting out the first half of the season with an injury.
Everett was among the top signees in Vanderbilt’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class a year ago. He pitched well once he recovered from his injury and took the mound, logging a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings.

Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong hospitalized after beaning

Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong hospitalized after beaning

Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong hospitalized after beaning

Related Press 

PITTSBURGH (AP) — With reliever Ryan Vogelsong making a spot begin Monday in an amusement rescheduled from the day preceding, Pittsburgh Pirates supervisor Clint Hurdle realized that he was going need a couple of innings from his warm up area.

Things took a startling turn, in any case, when Colorado Rockies starter Jordan Lyles hit Vogelsong in the head with a contribute the base of the second inning of an amusement Pittsburgh went ahead to win 6-3.

Subsequent to stacking the bases, Lyles was ahead in the number 2-0 when his 92 mph fastball struck Vogelsong in the left cheek. The Pirates right-hander was taken from the field on a truck and was later admitted to a doctor's facility for wounds to one side eye.

Wilfredo Boscan (1-0) supplanted Vogelsong on the hill, pitching four innings of alleviation. He was making only his second major class appearance, and doing as such in the wake of watching his colleague leave the field was a test for the youthful Venezuelan.

"That is a major circumstance," Boscan said through a mediator. "Right then and there, rationally, I began addressing myself and getting myself prepared. I began working considerably harder in the warm up area, so when I turned out, I could rule."

Boscan permitted two keeps running on two hits and struck out two players. He likewise contributed with the bat, hitting a RBI single in his first vocation plate appearance in the base of the third.

"We really surrendered him a heads that he would get included today. Clearly, (it came) sooner than anybody expected," Hurdle said. "He could blend his pitches amazingly well."

Vogelsong pitched two scoreless innings before getting hit, holding Colorado to two hits and getting two strikeouts. The group expects a further overhaul on his status on Tuesday.




Repulsively, the Pirates constructed a major lead on Lyles (1-2) in the second and third innings and never thought back. They scored every one of the six of their keeps running over those two casings, however the greater part of the harm on Lyles was self-exacted. The 25-year-old right-hander strolled three, permitted two stolen bases, tossed a wild pitch and surrendered six keeps running more than 2 1/3 innings. The Pirates had six singles from five distinctive hitters in that extend, heaping up the keeps running with no additional fair hits.

"It's all a player in your offense being finished," Hurdle said. "Possibly you don't get balls that you can crash into holes for additional bases. You need to take what you can get, shoot some openings, get some singles, get a few men on base and utilize that kind of activity."

Mark Melancon pitched the last two outs of the ninth to gather his fifteenth recovery of the season.

Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez snapped a 0-for-17 streak at the plate. He completed the evening 2 for 4 with a couple of singles and scored on a D.J. LeMahieu fielder's choice in the ninth.

Home plate umpire Jeff Nelson left the diversion after a bit of flotsam and jetsam struck him in the eye amid a play at home. He was supplanted behind the plate by a respectable starting point umpire Ben May.

MAKING Arrangements

With Sunday's diversion put off as a result of downpour after one inning, chiefs Clint Hurdle and Walt Weiss veered on the destiny of Monday's beginning pitchers. Weiss will send Chad Bettis to the hill on Wednesday, while Hurdle chose to send Juan Nicasio back to the end of the line.

"I figure you can call it a silver coating from yesterday, I figure, that (Bettis) just tossed eight pitches," Weiss said. "We get the chance to bring him back again on this street trip."

Weiss picked Wednesday for Bettis as the day that made minimal destruction on whatever remains of his revolution. Obstacle's choice depended on restricting innings for Nicasio, who has effectively tossed 42 1/3 innings this season, in the wake of tossing 58 1/3 in all of 2015.

"I think the respite will really help him," Hurdle said. "We're really helping him construct his perseverance at this moment through the initial six or seven weeks of the season."

Preparing ROOM

Privateers: 3B Jung Ho Kang was held out of the beginning lineup for the second continuous day with a left hand harm. He squeeze hit for Boscan in the 6th inning, flying out to left-focus field. He is relied upon to begin on Tuesday.

Rockies: Reliever Jason Motte (shoulder) is proceeding with his recovery with Triple-An Albuquerque and is planned to toss on consecutive days surprisingly tonight. That is the last stride to him being reviewed, which Weiss said could happen amid the Boston arrangement.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa (1-3, 10.18 ERA) is relied upon to fall off the debilitated rundown to begin a three-amusement arrangement against the Red Sox in Boston. De La Rosa has been on the rack with a crotch harm since April 26.

Privateers: Francisco Liriano (3-3, 4.63 ERA) will take the hill hoping to shake off consecutive misfortunes. His last one was of the unfortunate turn of events assortment, as he pitched seven innings and surrendered just two keeps running against the Atlanta Braves on May 18.

Frank de Boer linked with Everton post after leaving Ajax

Frank de Boer linked with Everton post after leaving Ajax

Frank de Boer linked with Everton post after leaving Ajax

Frank de Boer declared himself ready for "something else" after leaving his role as Ajax coach in the wake of their dramatic failure to regain the Dutch Eredivisie title on Sunday.

The 45-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Everton, saw his side fail to get the win they needed at lowly De Graafschap, handing rivals PSV Eindhoven their second straight crown.

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In a statement on Ajax's official website, De Boer said: "I began to realise more that it was time for something else.

"This is better for me and also for Ajax. What I will do? I don't know yet - a year without a club is also an option. I'll see what comes my way."

De Boer's availability could spark interest on the blue half of Merseyside, where Roberto Martinez left his position as Everton manager on Thursday afternoon .

The Toffees have yet to drop any hints about their long-term plans to replace Martinez, with David Unsworth and Joe Royle taking charge for Sunday's final game of the season against Norwich.

But De Boer has emerged as the bookmakers' favourite for the post, ahead of the likes of Mark Hughes, Ronald Koeman, Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes.

The former Barcelona, Rangers and Holland defender, who is seen as one of the top continental coaches having led Ajax to four consecutive Eredivisie titles prior to their recent disappointments, added: "I have had a fantastic time here, first as a player and also in the past decade as a coach.

"After winning four league titles in succession last season was a disappointment. We wanted to rectify last season but it was not what we hoped or expected."

NHL playoff scores 2016: Suspensions, not stars, highlighting Penguins vs. Capitals series

NHL playoff scores 2016: Suspensions, not stars, highlighting Penguins vs. Capitals series

NHL playoff scores 2016: Suspensions, not stars, highlighting Penguins vs. Capitals series

Another game between Pittsburgh and Washington, another possible suspension.

 Remember when this Penguins-Capitals series was being billed as a showdown between the league's biggest stars? After three games, it's been more of a suspension show than anything else.

It's no surprise that this series -- featuring division rivals in the second round of the playoffs -- would toe the line. Considering the history these two teams have in the playoffs, with the Penguins knocking out the Capitals in seven games in the 2009 conference semifinals, you'd expect a bit of animosity.

However, twice in two games there have been blatant late, high hits delivered by both sides and those have stolen the story. Brooks Orpik went stubborn Olli Maatta in Game 2 to earn the Capitals defender a three-game suspension. Then one game later, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang put his shoulder into the face of Marcus Johansson late, which might just earn one of Pittsburgh's best players a suspension.

And well it should. The contact is made after the 0.6-second threshold the NHL scrutinize lateness of hits, and Letang leaves his skates in the follow-through. It's a textbook definition of the type of plays the NHL wants gone from the league. Yet, the unreliable reputation the Department of Player Safety has with handing down discipline is well-known. Add that to the fact that Letang escaped suspension for chopping Rangers forward Viktor Stalberg in the neck in the foundation, and people aren't happy to say the least.

A one-game suspension seems likely for Letang, which budding a blow to the Penguins for Game 4. The defender is the backbone of Pittsburgh's defense with an average of 32 minutes played per game in this series.

It's a loss the Penguins will likely ised responsible for take, and it might just act in response to haunt them should the Capitals rebound.

Scores

Penguins 3, Capitals 2

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3 things we learned

1. The big names on each side are still (mostly) silent

We mentioned it before, but through three games, the Penguins' and Capitals' biggest stars are still scoreless, for the most part. Sidney Crosby has yet to register a point. Alex Ovechkin finally broke through with a huge goal that sparked the Capitals' failed comeback, but it's been the secondary players who have made the most noise in this series.

2. Matt Murray has been outplaying Braden Holtby

A big reason why the Penguins are leading their series is due to the goaltending of young Murray, who's stepped into the spotlight thanks to various injuries to Pittsburgh's goaltending core. Holtby has been on the bad end of some pretty awful bounces and dreadful defense from his teammates, but his counterpart across the ice has been garnering the most attention so far through three games, and for good reason.

 

What time does Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft start?

What time does Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft start?

What time does Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft start?

 By Dieter Kurtenbach
The first two days of the NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago are complete. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns were among the winners of the first round, while Rounds 2-3 had a ton of big names left over.
On Saturday, the draft concludes with Rounds 4-7. Here's what time to tune in and where to watch:

Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft starts at 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network.

You can stream the NFL Draft online or on a mobile device by using the WatchESPN app.
The last four rounds will move a little faster, as teams now have only five minutes to submit their picks.

By Dieter Kurtenbach

The Jacksonville Jaguars are no longer a laughingstock

The Jaguars picked up the two best defensive players in the 2016 NFL Draft and didn't sell out their bright future to do it. 

By Dieter Kurtenbach

 The Jacksonville Jaguars —€” punchline of the NFL for the better part of a decade (if not longer) —€” are no longer a joke.

They might even be competent.
The Jags might have gone 5-11 last season, but that was a two-win improvement over 2014. More important than the record itself, the team showed promise on the offensive end.
Defense —€“ especially on third down —€” was a problem.
Well, the Jags addressed that problem with their picks in the first three rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft, and€” you'd be hard-pressed to argue that any team better filled its needs or accrued more talent than the Jaguars.

Jalen Ramsey

With the No. 5 pick, the Jaguars didn't overthink it and selected Jalen Ramsey, the defensive back out of Florida State.
There was concern about Ramsey's position —€” was he a cornerback or safety? It doesn't matter. He was the best defensive player in the draft, and if you can't find a spot for him to play and make an impact on the game, you should draft a new coach.
The only player that could give Ramsey a run for his money as the most talented defensive player in this year's draft was Myles Jack, the UCLA linebacker. So when injury concerns —€” Jack said he might eventually need to have microfracture surgery on his right knee —€” pushed the uberprospect out of the first round, the Jaguars pounced, trading a fifth-round pick to Baltimore for the right to move up two spots to No. 36 to select him.

Myles Jack

Ramsey and Jack are two prospects who could be the future of the NFL at the safety and linebacker positions. If not for the NFL's collective thirst for quarterbacks and Jack's injury concern (he'll play in 2016, by the way), the two might have gone 1-2 in this year's draft. While the Rams and Eagles mortgaged their futures to land Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, the Jaguars needed only to leverage a fifth-round pick to draft the nucleus of an elite defense.
Then the team bolstered that defensive core by grabbing one of the best pass rushers in the draft with the 69th overall pick.
Maryland defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is a one-trick pony, but that one trick is valuable —€“ he gets to the quarterback. Even if he plays only on third downs, Ngakoue will be a key addition to a defense that allowed opponents to convert on 46 percent of third downs last year —€” the second-worst rate in the NFL.

Blake Bortles

Given the current state of the AFC South —€” the Colts don't look like an 8-8 squad, the Texans are counting on Brock Osweiler, and the Titans certainly aren't going to win many games —€” the Jaguars might have set themselves up to head to the playoffs this season.
And if this isn't the year they make the leap, with Blake Bortles at quarterback, two of the best young wide receivers in the league in€” the Allens (Hurns and Robinson), T.J. Yeldon at running back, an offensive line with promise, and Dante Fowler on the defensive line, the Jaguars should be expected to be in playoff contention, or better, for years to come.

Who knows, maybe they'll add more impact players Saturday. The Jaguars still have four more draft picks —€” a fourth-rounder (No. 103), two sixth-round picks (Nos. 181 and 201) and a seventh-round selection (226) — in this year's draft.
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