Jackson made an unusual call and had the Warriors practice at Oracle Arena for their playoff series against the Clippers, as opposed to their standard facility. So there I was, standing at half-court of Oracle when Lindsey Hunter sauntered up, flanked by a trainer. “I wanna see you outside,” he spat. Confused, I came back with, “Uh, what?” “I wanna see you outside,” he said, before storming off.
Once notified that he’d done this in …
Once notified that he’d done this in full view of other reporters, to a guy holding a hot mic, Hunter’s tack changed markedly. The night the Warriors were eliminated in Game 7 by the Clippers, Hunter approached me outside the locker room, this time with smiles and an apologetic tone. “I was just joking!” he said, unconvincingly.
Texans sign former Panthers, Bills defensive end Mario Addison
The Houston Texans have signed a familiar face for the coaching staff in former Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers DE Mario Addison.
The Houston Texans have added to their depth along the defensive line and brought in a familiar face to the coaching staff.
The Texans announced Tuesday the signing of defensive end Mario Addison, who most recently spent 2020-21 with the Buffalo Bills.
Addison, 34, was an undrafted free agent from Troy in 2011 who caught on with the Chicago Bears, then coached by Lovie Smith. Addison was released by the Bears after two games played, and landed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent 2011-12.
In 2012, he was signed off the Colts’ practice squad by Washington, who later waived him, and he was picked up by the Carolina Panthers. From 2012-19, Addison played under coach Ron Rivera, who was Smith’s defensive coordinator with the Bears from 2004-06. Addison collected 55.0 sacks with the Panthers, including 11.0 in 2017, the Panthers’ most recent playoff-qualifying season.
In Buffalo, Addison worked with current Texans defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who was the assistant defensive line coach.
Week 13 college baseball bracketology: Latest field of 64 projections
Week 13 college baseball bracketology: Latest field of 64 projections and who Tennessee is projected to play
The 2022 baseball season began Feb. 18.
Regular-season play will conclude May 21 ahead of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
The 2022 SEC Tournament will take place May 24-29 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. The top 12 teams in the Southeastern Conference standings will make the field.
NCAA regionals are slated to start June 2, while NCAA super regionals will begin June 9.
The 2022 College World Series will take place June 16-27 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
College Sports Madness released its latest 2022 NCAA Baseball Tournament bracketology projections Monday. Tennessee is projected as the No. 1 overall seed and would host the Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Below are College Sports Madness’ latest NCAA Tournament projections.
Where does Wisconsin land in USA TODAY’s post-spring college football top 25?
A look at where the Badgers stand in USA TODAY’s post-spring rankings
As spring turns into summer and we inch closer to college football season, a preseason idea of where teams stand begins to take shape.
For Wisconsin, there are legitimate questions on both sides of the football. The Badgers were one of college football’s elite defenses, but lost key starters, such as linebackers Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn, to the NFL draft.
Offensively, the Badgers failed to find their rhythm last season. Can Graham Mertz put it all together in year three as a starter? Will an unproven receiver room be ready to lead the charge? The running back room is the one sure thing in terms of skill positions as the Badgers return Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi to lead the way.
Where does USA TODAY’s post-spring college football top 25 have the Badgers? Here is a look at the complete rankings:
Greg Norman’s LIV Golf Invitational Series announces new events for 2023-2025
Ten events are scheduled for 2023, with more to come in 2024 and 2025.
The first year of the LIV Golf Invitational Series – the Greg Norman-led and Saudi Arabia-backed entity that plans to rival the PGA Tour – will feature an eight-event schedule in 2022 with plenty more to allegedly come in the next year years.
On Monday afternoon LIV Golf announced its 2023-2025 schedule, with 10 events planned for next year and 14 events slated for 2024 and 2025 in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and North America. Official dates and locations were not announced.
“We have a long-term vision and we’re here to stay,” said Norman, the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, via a release. “We’re going to grow the game, give more opportunities to players, and create a more entertaining product for fans. We believe in adding new experiences and energy to golf, and that includes building out our future schedule in more global markets. We’re creating an entertaining product that will increase golf participation and attract new fans across a broader global footprint. We realize it won’t happen overnight, and we’re excited for the opportunities LIV Golf will add to the game as we continue to grow.”
According to the release, “Schedules will never compete with the Majors, international team events or heritage events so players will always be able to make their own choices about where to play.”
The new series was announced in March and will feature 54-hole, shotgun start tournaments with $255 million in prize purses. The first event for 2022 is slated for June 9–11 at the Centurion Golf Club in London.
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Jaron Ennis: ‘I’m ready to take over this division”
Jaron Ennis said ahead of his bout with Custio Clayton on Saturday: “I’m ready to take over (the welterweight) division.”
Jaron Ennis doesn’t hide his ambition. The gifted, powerful Philadelphian plans to become the top welterweight on the planet, whether or not he has to beat Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. to get there.
“Boots” must tend to some important business first, however. He faces unbeaten Custio Clayton on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano II card Saturday in Carson, California (Showtime).
Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) understands that there is no room for slip-ups as he pursues his destiny.
“I’m looking to make a big statement come May 14,” he said. “I’m coming to win in dominating fashion and get the knockout. I’m ready to take over this division.”
He went on: “I’m feeling great. Camp has been going very well and I can’t wait to shine on May 14. I’m ready to rock and roll. We’ve been running a lot more sprints this camp and focusing a little more on conditioning each day, about a half an hour more every session.
“A lot of it are the normal things we do, like the underwater treadmill and chopping wood. We’re just working 10 times harder.”
Ennis had a big 2021, stopping durable Sergey Lipinets in six rounds in April and taking Thomas Dulorme down in less than two minutes in October.
He has knocked out 18 consecutive opponents, not counting a no-contest against Chris van Heerden in December 2020. And he said he expects to continue to improve.
“I feel like I’m getting better at taking my time and being more relaxed in the ring,” he said. “I believe that the better the competition I face, the better I’m going to be. We’ve been working on jabbing more and being even more alert and sharper.”
He plans to demonstrate his progress against Clayton (19-0-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday.
“This fight is everything to me,” he said. “This is a big stage and it’s time for me to shine. From here on out, it’s only getting bigger and better. After I do my thing on May 14, we’re just going to keep going up and up. I’m looking to show everyone everything that I’m capable of. My speed, power, defense, ring IQ and footwork.
“At the end of the night, I’m coming for the knockout. That’s what the fans are coming to see. I’m going to show them what I can do and close the show with a knockout.”
Then comes even bigger and better things.
Of course, no one knows how the 147-pound championship picture will look in the coming months. Spence and Crawford could end up fighting one another to unify all four titles. Ennis would then be a candidate to face the winner, although both Spence and Crawford have talked about moving up to 154.
Ennis’ mission is to be ready for whatever comes.
“It doesn’t matter to me if Spence and Crawford decide to stay in the division and face me,” he said. “I’d love to take the belts away from the champion, but if I have to fight for a vacant belt, I’ll see Spence and Crawford at 154 pounds. They can’t go too far.”
[lawrence-related id=25324,25320,25226,24898]
Jaron Ennis: ‘I’m ready to take over this division”
Jaron Ennis said ahead of his bout with Custio Clayton on Saturday: “I’m ready to take over (the welterweight) division.”
Jaron Ennis doesn’t hide his ambition. The gifted, powerful Philadelphian plans to become the top welterweight on the planet, whether or not he has to beat Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. to get there.
“Boots” must tend to some important business first, however. He faces unbeaten Custio Clayton on the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano II card Saturday in Carson, California (Showtime).
Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) understands that there is no room for slip-ups as he pursues his destiny.
“I’m looking to make a big statement come May 14,” he said. “I’m coming to win in dominating fashion and get the knockout. I’m ready to take over this division.”
He went on: “I’m feeling great. Camp has been going very well and I can’t wait to shine on May 14. I’m ready to rock and roll. We’ve been running a lot more sprints this camp and focusing a little more on conditioning each day, about a half an hour more every session.
“A lot of it are the normal things we do, like the underwater treadmill and chopping wood. We’re just working 10 times harder.”
Ennis had a big 2021, stopping durable Sergey Lipinets in six rounds in April and taking Thomas Dulorme down in less than two minutes in October.
He has knocked out 18 consecutive opponents, not counting a no-contest against Chris van Heerden in December 2020. And he said he expects to continue to improve.
“I feel like I’m getting better at taking my time and being more relaxed in the ring,” he said. “I believe that the better the competition I face, the better I’m going to be. We’ve been working on jabbing more and being even more alert and sharper.”
He plans to demonstrate his progress against Clayton (19-0-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday.
“This fight is everything to me,” he said. “This is a big stage and it’s time for me to shine. From here on out, it’s only getting bigger and better. After I do my thing on May 14, we’re just going to keep going up and up. I’m looking to show everyone everything that I’m capable of. My speed, power, defense, ring IQ and footwork.
“At the end of the night, I’m coming for the knockout. That’s what the fans are coming to see. I’m going to show them what I can do and close the show with a knockout.”
Then comes even bigger and better things.
Of course, no one knows how the 147-pound championship picture will look in the coming months. Spence and Crawford could end up fighting one another to unify all four titles. Ennis would then be a candidate to face the winner, although both Spence and Crawford have talked about moving up to 154.
Ennis’ mission is to be ready for whatever comes.
“It doesn’t matter to me if Spence and Crawford decide to stay in the division and face me,” he said. “I’d love to take the belts away from the champion, but if I have to fight for a vacant belt, I’ll see Spence and Crawford at 154 pounds. They can’t go too far.”
[lawrence-related id=25324,25320,25226,24898]
The Philadelphia Basketball Collection featuring ‘The Phantom of Philadelphia’ Joel Embiid shirts and hoodies, get yours now at breakingT
The Philadelphia Basketball Collection is here with Joel Embiid and James Harden shirts to support your Sixers squad, get yours now.
The 76ers have tied up the series and will look to take a 3-2 lead over the Miami Heat tonight. Joel Embiid was able to come back but to protect his face has been wearing a mask, and what better way to support the possible MVP than will this genius shirt.
You can show all your support with these brand new ‘The Phantom of Philadelphia’ Joel Embiid shirts and hoodies in blue and black as well as some others from The Philadelphia Basketball Collection. Click on any of the photos below to see all the Sixers gear.
The Final Piece of the Process is available now in Small – 3XL in shirts and hoodies including Youth sizing as well.
The Broad Street Beard is available now in Small – 3XL in shirts and hoodies including Youth sizing as well.
The MVPIID is available now in Small – 3XL in shirts and hoodies including Youth sizing as well.
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Nelson Agholor on sizable salary: I’m excited to ‘show why I’m here’
Nelson Agholor on 2022: “It’s behind us.”
The numbers don’t make sense when weighing Nelson Agholor’s production against his salary. The New England Patriots receiver finished with 37 catches for 473 yards and three touchdowns in 2021 after signing a two-year deal worth up to $24 million. He’s set to have a cap hit of $14.8 million with almost $10 million in new money in 2022.
So if he’s going to make that contract worthwhile for the Patriots, he’s going to have to provide a significant uptick in production — unless, of course, New England renegotiates his contract (or trades him). Agholor faced a question about that contract and whether something might get done to make the money better match his production.
“I don’t focus on that,” Agholor said with a smile. “You know, I’m here for a reason. And I love the opportunity that’s given to me to be a Patriot, to work hard. And the best part about it is in year two in the Patriots’ system is when guys really get going. And I feel comfortable, and I’m excited to have my best season with the Patriots and show why I’m here.”
That was Agholor’s resounding message throughout his meeting with the media through videoconference on Tuesday: he and the Patriots are more optimistic than last season about what they can accomplish. Quarterback Mac Jones is entering his second season in the NFL. Receivers Kendrick Bourne and Agholor and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry are entering their second seasons in the Patriots system. They have a better understanding of the playbook and of each other.
The offseason is a time for optimism, but the Patriots’ optimism is founded in some reality. New England threw for the 14th most passing yards (4,098), the 15th most passing touchdowns (24) and the fifth-most yards per attempt (7.7). That’s a decent foundation around which the team can build, and they added receivers DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton and running back Pierre Strong. Agholor, however, has a lot of ground to make up if he’s going to take on a bigger role after his lackluster 2021.
“Well, it’s behind us, but I would say that it went the way it was supposed to for me to grow,” Agholor said. “I can’t really look at it any other way. I needed to grow, I needed to adapt, I needed to be able to do what I wanted to do, and I think everything happens for a reason. I’m not gonna get upset about this or that because it’s in the past. What I do have in front of me is a really wonderful opportunity this year to be what I’m supposed to be and play the way I want to play, so I’m all right with that.”
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