Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Cecil Hurt and Hunter Johnson do a deep dive on Alabama’s 2002 SEC title team, bringing fans a blast from the past.
Cecil Hurt and Hunter Johnson discuss John Petty and what Greg Byrne’s letter to fans could mean for Alabama Basketball. The two then do a deep dive on Alabama’s 2002 SEC title team, bringing fans a blast from the past.
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Showtime has released a clip from “Return to Boxing,” described as “a personal look at the role sports can play in healing a nation.”
Showtime has released an exclusive clip from “Return to Boxing,” which the premium network described as “a personal look at the role sports can play in healing a nation facing unprecedented challenges.
The piece, which will open the telecast in Showtime’s first post-lockdown card Saturday night, was written by executive producer David Dinkins Jr. and narrated by blow-by-blow commentator Mauro Ranallo.
The telecast will mark 141 days since the last live boxing event on Showtime.
“The squared circle has been a theater of thrills and metaphor for the struggle to overcome the odds,” Ranallo says. “While sport is not real life, it is a mirror of the human spirit.”
Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs) will fight Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs) for a vacant junior featherweight title in the main event of the three-fight show at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Here is the clip:
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from July 2020.
With another action-packed month in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from July 2020: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Fight of the Month” award for July.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.
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Rose Namajunas def. Jessica Andrade at UFC 251
[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) got the revenge she was looking for when she defeated fellow former UFC champion [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] (20-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in their anticipated rematch.
After Andrade took the strawweight title with a stunning slam knockout in May 2019, Namajunas emerged victorious in the rematch with a split decision win. She used superior footwork and striking to win the early portion of the fight, then resisted a late push from her Brazilian foe to secure the win.
Flowing through RD 2! ✌️
We are LIVE on ESPN+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/2F9xYFPYfP #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/K9ZFUG5BS9
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2020
Petr Yan def. Jose Aldo via punches at UFC 251
[autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) had moments when it looked like he might become a two-division UFC champion. But in the end, [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) may have brought about a changing of the guard in the lighter weight classes.
Yan became the UFC’s new bantamweight champion with a fifth-round TKO of former featherweight champ Aldo. Yan used pinpoint striking and a dangerous overall assault to overcome the moments where Aldo looked like he could successfully turn back the clock and began a new arena in the 135-pound division.
WOW!!! Cae Aldo, Yan busca finalizar!#UFC251 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/jT3DEbdcoW
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) July 12, 2020
Mounir Lazzez def. Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC on ESPN 13
[autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) proved that after two years away he’s still one of the most exciting welterweights on the UFC roster. Newcomer [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) just managed to shine a little brighter, though.
Lazzez made his UFC debut as a relative unknown, but did not leave that way after beating Alhassan by unanimous decision. The pair threw down for 15 minutes, with Lazzez standing up to the trademark power of Alhassan and taking over to claim his first octagon win in the “Fight of the Night.”
Throwing 💣s!
🇬🇭 @JudoRazak isn't wasting time in his return.#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi #UFCFightIsland1 pic.twitter.com/iQ9ZRAtkv8
— UFC (@ufc) July 16, 2020
Rafael Fiziev def. Marc Diakiese at UFC on ESPN+ 30
[autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) showed how different striking levels can be when he outworked a well respected standup artist in [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) over 15 minutes of lightweight action.
Fiziev was one step ahead of Diakiese in his unanimous decision win, using techniques that were just a touch more effective than what his opponent brought to the table. In the end, both men took home an extra $50,000 for “Fight of the Night.”
HE ENTERED THE MATRIX! 🤯 @RafaelFiziev with a move out of a video game. pic.twitter.com/dGURo2OpUJ
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2020
Mauricio Rua def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on ESPN 14
[autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] (27-11-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC) left no doubt he’s superior to [autotag]Antonio Rogerio Nogueira[/autotag] (23-10 MMA, 6-7 UFC) when he made it 3-0 over his longtime rival in their trilogy fight.
After “Shogun” picked up wins in the first two meetings in 2005 and 2015, Rua made it a clean series sweep over Nogueira with a split decision victory. They slugged it out in classic fashion, and although it seemed Nogueira might slide out with a win, the judges once again saw it for Rua.
Shogun looking sharp in R3! #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/B3aTfnsZJF
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 26, 2020
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The rematch between Namajunas and Andrade was well worth the wait – for both Namajunas and the viewers who got to witness a tremendous scrap.
In their first meeting, at UFC 237, Andrade took the strawweight belt from Namajunas via a memorable, second-round knockout slam.
Fourteen months later, the duo met again. Namajunas put together two stellar rounds, then showed great heart in withstanding a furious third-round onslaught.
Namajunas, competing for the first time since losing the title, eked out a split decision victor with the better end of two of three 29-28 scorecards.
Andrade make clear from the jump she planned on pushing a strong pace, using fast movement to dart in and out. Namajunas, however, didn’t need much time to figure out her range, and she began using a pinpoint jab, crisp straight hands, and solid counters on the occasion Andrade manage to break through.
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This continued for the better part of two rounds, but Andrade might have the heaviest hands at 115 pounds, and she threw them, like with a wicked body shot in the second, she landed.
And then Andrade turned it on in the third. Andrade threw everything but the kitchen sink at her foe, leaving Namajunas with her nose cut open and her left eye nearly swollen shut. Things looked bad when Andrade landed a strong throw to take her opponent to the mat.
But Namajunas got back to her feet, gritted her way through the onslaught, and got to the final horn to seal the win.
“She went into desperation and started really unloading and she caught me a couple times, obviously,” Namajunas said. “But I just stayed strong.”
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The two former Wolverines are going off in their first game back to action — with Burke in a Dallas jersey for the first time in years.
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Don’t call it a comeback. Actually, former Michigan point guard Trey Burke is a master at comebacks, so nevermind.
After being something of a journeyman in his NBA career, Burke has found a new team, now playing with the Dallas Mavericks — which happens to be the team his former backcourt partner-in-crime Tim Hardaway Jr. plays for. The two were briefly teammates with the New York Knicks, but in Burke’s first game with Mark Cuban’s team, he’s looking to make a statement.
But then again, so is Hardaway.
As the NBA is in its second night having resumed play in an Orlando bubble, both former Wolverines came out on fire, with each having scored 19-points in just the first half, helping Dallas put up 85 to Houston’s 75 — the most combined points in a half in an NBA game since 1990.
Trey Burke's first 11 MINS with the @dallasmavs!
13 PTS (5-6 FG, 3-3 3PT), 3 AST pic.twitter.com/89Dnm5UelD— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 1, 2020
While it’s impressive that both players are coming up big in their NBA return, given that Hardaway has been more of a known commodity in the pro league and a starter, that’s less surprising than Burke’s emergence, as he continues to come off the bench.
Burke hasn’t been completely quiet in the NBA, however. This very season, while with the Philadelphia 76ers, he managed 21 in a 141-94 victory over Cleveland — which was then lwd by his former Michigan coach John Beilein.
Jalen Hurts is on a mission to prove he’s not only worthy of being an NFL quarterback, but he’s an incredible one.
When the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 53rd pick, many wondered if Hurts would see any action on the field. Some even questioned during the NFL combine is he would even be an NFL quarterback. Hurts is on a mission to prove he’s not only worthy of being an NFL quarterback, but he’s an incredible one.
In a press conference earlier this week, Hurts had this to say:
“I’ve played quarterback my whole, entire life, and I’m here just trying to grow at that position. Trying to take steps and be the best quarterback I can be for this team.
“I mean, I don’t want to get into the semantics of those things. I’m just worried about improving. I’ve said it three times and I don’t want to come off or come across any way, I’m just trying to improve every day. I’m just trying to be the best quarterback I can be every day for this team.
“I mean, I don’t want to get into the semantics of those things. I’m just worried about improving. I’ve said it three times and I don’t want to come off or come across any way, I’m just trying to improve every day. I’m just trying to be the best quarterback I can be every day for this team.”
Even Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz is rooting for Hurts:
“I’m going to be here for him,. Help him to understand the ins and outs of the game and ultimately do whatever I can to help the team and that’s to help bring him along as well.”
Hurts finished the 2019 season at Oklahoma with a career-high 3,851 yards passing, as well as a career-high 32 passing TDs. He added a career-best 1,298 yards rushing and career-high 20 rushing touchdowns.
In his college career at Alabama and Oklahoma, Hurts recorded almost 9,500 passing yards and 80 touchdowns along with almost 3,300 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns.
Hurts won a national championship, SEC championship and Big 12 championship during his career. He was also named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year this past season, as well as the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year.
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Constant trade rumors last year derailed hopes for a successful season in 2018-19 for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and the Lakers.
On Friday, former Lakers assistant coach and current Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen talked with CBS Sports radio host Zach Gelb about the tumultuous 2018-19 season in Los Angeles. Madsen was apart of a coaching staff that traversed through LeBron James’ first season with playoff aspirations, trade rumors and an abrupt resignation at the end of the year.
It was those trade rumors that did the most damage. In the middle of the season, trade talks between the Lakers and Pelicans heated up to a degree that most assumed a deal was imminent. Possibly worse than being included in rumors, though, was that a trade was not completed and those Lakers included in talks, namely Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram, were left to finish out a season with the purple and gold.
A commonly-held belief amongst fans was that James saw the young Lakers not as future teammates but as trade assets. Madsen shot down that belief in his interview but also noted that the young Lakers needed to move past the trade rumors.
“I don’t believe that LeBron was scheming to get certain people out of there. I don’t. I don’t believe that that’s what happened. But of course there were efforts made to get AD, and as part of the business side of this profession, different names were discussed. But apart from a five- or 10-day period when that was happening, I think that ultimately guys have to get over it. Guys have to get over it because it’s a reality of this profession.”
Madsen was also quite complimentary of the young former Lakers turned Pelicans as well. Having served as an assistant with the Lakers from 2013 through 2019, Madsen was involved in drafting and developing each of the three players in Los Angeles.
“That trade was really a win-win trade. Lonzo Ball is just a great talent and he’s a tremendous human being. Brandon Ingram, both those guys are young stars. Ingram is a talent, Lonzo is a talent, and you put Zion out there and it’s a fun, young team to watch.”
The former Lakers have excelled in New Orleans this season, helping the Pelicans to the brink of the playoffs heading into the bubble. As Madsen noted, it was a win-win as the Lakers are atop the Western Conference with Davis as well.
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Stanford football schedule 2020 football schedule with the Pac-12 10 game season
Stanford football schedule 2020 football schedule with the Pac-12 10 game season
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With 23 points in Friday’s first quarter alone, Harden jumped the Hall of Famer for the No. 2 spot on Houston’s all-time scoring list.
With 23 points in just the first quarter of Friday’s opening game of the NBA restart, Houston Rockets superstar James Harden passed Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy for second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
Murphy scored 17,949 points for the Rockets over his storied career from 1970 through 1983. Harden still has a ways to go to catch Hakeem Olajuwon, who leads the Rockets with 26,511 career points in Houston.
Harden entered Friday leading the Rockets and the NBA with a 34.3 points per game scoring average, which is just the third time in over 30 years that a player has averaged at least 34 points in a season. (The other two were Harden’s 36.1 last season and Kobe Bryant’s 35.4 in 2005-06.)
With this stepback 3, James Harden passes Calvin Murphy for 2nd All-Time on the #Rockets scoring list.
Harden is COOKING…23 in the FIRST QUARTER right now. pic.twitter.com/YgUyqfvM8o
— Ari Alexander (@KPRC2Ari) August 1, 2020
Assuming he keeps his scoring average above 34 following the eight regular-season games of the restart, Harden will become just the third player in league history to average at least 34 points in two different seasons, joining Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
Over his eight seasons to date in Houston, Harden has earned All-Star honors in all of them while leading his Rockets to the playoffs. The future Hall of Famer was the NBA’s 2017-18 MVP and a three-time MVP runner-up, and he appears poised for another top-three MVP finish this season.
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The Clemson product and two-time PGA Tour winner grabbed the lead after the second round with +22 points.
Kyle Stanley looked hungry during the second round of the Barracuda Championship on Friday. He wasn’t alone.
Stanley, along with a giant black bear, stole the show at Tahoe Mountain Club’s Old Greenwood golf course near Truckee, California.
The Clemson product and two-time PGA Tour winner grabbed the lead after the second round with +22 points. Matthias Schwab, Robert Streb, Branden Grace were tied for second with, each with +20 points in the Modified Stableford scoring system.
Stanley scored 14 points on Friday and had an eagle on No. 12. He also had an eagle on Thursday.
“It’s kind of weird, the format out here, you’re kind of focusing more on points than you are what your score is,: Stanley, 32, said. “I’ve been driving it well. It’s kind of fun with this altitude, you can kind of swing away. We have some shorter par-4s out here so you can make a go at some of those, a little bit of risk-reward, and just kind of kept the ball in front of me and a pretty clean round of golf.”
Maverick McNealy and Troy Merritt were next at +19 points.
The projected cut was +6 with the top 65 players plus ties making it.
But there are not just sand traps and water hazards at Old Greenwood. A bear strolled across the fairway on No. 18 about 10 a.m. Friday morning, then wandered over to a pond on No. 10.
Kevin Tway, Pat Perez and Brendan Steele were on the fairway when the bear crossed.
The rules of golf allow for a pause and hold in play if there is a threat, which they did.
(Insert bear-a-cuda joke here) https://t.co/0h3OK74Pos
— Golfweek (@golfweek) July 31, 2020
Not many first-round first-round leaders hold on to win the Barracuda.
There have been four in the first 21 years of the tournament, previously known as the Reno-Tahoe Open.
The most recent was Matt Bettencourt, in 2010.
There have been three first-round leaders/co-leaders to win on the PGA Tour in 2019-20 The most recent was Collin Morikawa, who won the Workday Charity Open. He won the Barracuda in 2019 and is playing in the WGC this week in Memphis.
It’s not a stretch to say this has been a year of disruptions and changes for the Barracuda Championship tournament staff.
Last summer, it was learned the PGA Tour would not return to its home for the first 21 years, at Montreux Golf & Country Club in south Reno.
They eventually moved to a new location, Old Greenwood golf course near Truckee, where the tournament continues through Sunday.
Then the COVID-10 pandemic hit, postponing all sports and eventually changing the date of the Barracuda and all PGA Tour stops.
Then, it was announced it late June that no spectators would be allowed, also due to the pandemic.
Barracuda tournament director Chris Hoff said the date change was actually a good thing, as it gave him and his staff more time to prepare for the 22nd version of the PGA Tour stop in the region.
There is usually a quiet buzz and hum of electricity at PGA Tour events, even with the course officials telling everyone to be quiet
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It is much different this year.
Hoff not having spectators this year is a big drain financially for professional golf.
He could not go into details, but said the financial hit is significant.
He said fans, pro-ams and hospitality tents are the main revenue stream for the Barracuda Championship.
The pandemic caused a dramatic shift in planning for the tournament.
“Everything now that we do planning-wise, we have to take Covid into consideration,” Hoff said. “Everything from the portable restrooms we have out here and cleaning those on a regular basis, to shuttles for the volunteers. They have to be less than 50 percent occupancy, so we have to get more of those. Literally every decision we have had to make, Covid was the first question.”
He said there are about half the usual number of volunteers they have had in previous years.
Last year, there were about 400 volunteers.
He said Barracuda officials worked with the state and county to come up with the plan to hold the tournament.
Hoff said they learned from watching the first seven PGA Tour stops this summer and adjusted on the fly.
“Everyone asks what it’s like and it’s, it’s weird,” Hoff said. “We’re still very, very busy, but it’s a different busy.”
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Five positions where the Packers may need to add help before the start of the 2020 season.
Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has said, on many different occasions, that working to improve his roster is a never-ending job. Constantly shuffling the roster on the fringes has been a hallmark of Gutekunst’s tenure, and he hasn’t been afraid to add veteran players at need spots.
Here are five positions the Packers could look to improve before the start of the 2020 season:
The backup offensive tackle entering training camp is … Alex Light? Billy Turner? To be determined? The competition at swing tackle – generally an important position for any contending team – lacks depth and experience. Maybe the Packers would consider bringing back Jared Veldheer, who saved the day to end last season, if the young tackles aren’t good enough during camp. Finding a capable No. 3 offensive tackle has to be a top priority this summer, regardless of whether the answer arrives internally or from an outside addition.
Ideal option: Veldheer
This should be a prime position to upgrade, either during camp or after cuts. There are plenty of good veterans available right now, including Damon Harrison, Mike Daniels and Timmy Jernigan. Adding one at some point makes a lot of sense for a group that wasn’t good enough last season and isn’t all that different personnel-wise from the end of 2019. At the very least, adding a veteran makes more sense than banking on legitimate improvement from a disappointing player like Montravius Adams.
Ideal option: Harrison
Each of the last two summers, Gutekunst has had to make a move to add a starting inside linebacker. He added Antonio Morrison in 2018 and B.J. Goodson in 2019, both times after an injury to Oren Burks. This year, Burks will battle with Curtis Bolton (who is starting the season on PUP), Ty Summers and Kamal Martin for the starting job next to Christian Kirksey. If injuries strike again, or the young linebackers aren’t ready to play snaps, Gutekunst will need to make another move. Linebackers who can play a two-down role aren’t generally hard to find late in the summer. Maybe Clay Matthews would return to Green Bay and play it again.
Ideal option: Matthews, Nigel Bradham
Losing Devin Funchess to an opt-out this season hurt an already shaky depth chart at receiver. Davante Adams and Allen Lazard will likely be the top two, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a good bet to make the roster and a receiver like Equanimeous St. Brown, Jake Kumerow or Reggie Begelton could impress during camp, but this position could use a little spice. Can Gutekunst find a speedy or shifty slot receiver once cuts are made? A lot of receivers get cut as teams get down to 53 players. Don’t be surprised if the Packers GM shuffles the bottom of the depth chart here.
Ideal option: Taylor Gabriel
Can Chandon Sullivan handle the slot? And will a recent draft pick like Josh Jackson or Ka’dar Hollman step up and secure an important backup role? If the answers to these questions end up being no, the Packers may need to make a move before the start of the regular season. Teams don’t generally throw away capable corners, so it’ll be tough to find quality after cuts. The Packers just shouldn’t play games with cornerback depth. Bringing back Tramon Williams, who played the slot at a high-level in Green Bay last season, makes the most sense.
Ideal option: Tramon Williams
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