Best 15 Minutes in Sports-Thursday
…(Baseball)…
Angels….Closing statements in Tyler Skaggs-Eric Kay drug trial on Thursday…Case will go to jury in afternoon. Wednesday update:
..Defense called only 5-witnesses
..Eric Kay not called to stand to defend himself
..Trevor Cahill…not know Skaggs was drug user
..Andrellton Simmons..Skaggs did not leave hotel with other teammates
..Blake Parker admits he got opioids too from Eric Kay in Anaheim
Matt Harvey…Report MLB can suspend him for dealing drugs to Tyler Skaggs in Angels clubhouse.
Terry Collins…Ex Mets manager said Matt Harvey talked to him about ‘suicide thoughts’….Collins believed Harvey was doing drugs-Mets could not test him because of Union…Said ‘feeling in clubhouse that Harvey was a cocaine guy’…Collins offered to get Harvey help-it was rejected…Told ‘must clean yourself up’.
Angels…Say they released Harvey because of (7.29ERA)..had nothing to do at time with Skaggs death.
MLB..Day 77-of lockout..Union says it will make counter-offer on Thursday to owners..Unresolved issues:
..Luxury Tax Thresholds
..Steep tax-draft pick penalties for teams that go over camp in Years 2-3-4-5
..International Draft
..14-team playoff proposal
..Rookie Bonus Pool for Pre Arbitration players
..DH in National League
..MLB proposal to reduce from 180-to-150 players under contracts each team.
Spring Training Camps remained in lockout
Washington..OF-Juan Soto confirmed he turned down (13Y-350M) extension
White Sox..Ticket broker sentenced to 1-and-half years in prison for fraud..ordered repay (525,000) for obtaining ticket vouchers for Sox games and reselling them at profit….Two other employees cooperated following arrests.
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(Roster Moves)
Orioles..Sign FA-2B-Shed Long-ex Mariners.
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…(Football)…….
Rams…Super Bowl celebration at LA Coliseum…Coach Sean McVay…DT-Aaron Donald…Von Miller lead chant…’Run It Back’….’Super Team’….’Defend our Title’…indication all will return to team next year.
Dallas Cowboys…USA Today reports Cowboys paid (2.4M) out of court settlement for a ‘Voyeur Video’ filmed in changing room of Cowboys Cheerleaders…Report implicated longtime PR-Director Rich Dalrymple-who just retired.
Vikings…Press conference Thursday introduce head coach Kevin O’Connell…Ownership called him…’Strong leader..Great communicator…Understands organizational structure..Builds relationships…Develops QBs….Problem solver…High energy guy’
Cincinnati..QB-Joe Burrow has sprained MCL-does not need surgery
Saints..Ihterview Jay Gruden-ex Redskins for Off Coord job
Houston…hire former QB-Ted White as QB coach
Miami..hire Ty McKenzie-LB coach-ex Titans
Jets..hire Nathan Willingham-.qualify control..ex Broncos
Tennessee…Give QB-Ryan Tannehill vote of confidence.
Tampa Bay..DE-Jason Pierre Paul will test free agency
Seattle..QB-Russell Wilson reiterates-does not want to be traded
Colts..Reports may release QB-Carson Wentz in March-has 22M guarantees
Ravens..DT-Calais Campbell says he will play next year
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(Roster Moves)
Atlanta..Release LB-Dante Fowleer-4M cap savings
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(College Football)
Aztecs..Release very tough 2022 schedule
..Open new stadium at home with Arizona
..Road schedule..at Utah..at Boise..at Fresno..at Nevada
..QB-Jalen Mayben moves from QB to Safety in off season workouts
Boise State schedule:
..Home games with SDSU..Fresno..Colorado State..BYU…USU
Fresno State schedule
..Play at USC..at Boise..Home with Aztecs-Boise State
UCLA..DE-Mitch Agude-DE-Top pass rusher enters transfer portal
Baylor..Coach Dave Aranda-extension thru 2028.
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…(Basketball)…
Lakers-W-Utah (106-101)…LeBron James hits 4-shots in a row late in 4th quarter triggering a huge LA comeback….Lakers had (16-2) surge to wipe out 10-point Utah lead….Lakers finished with (24-9) burst…The Lakers lost Anthony Davis with a sprained ankle………..Wednesday game…LA (27-31)
Clippers-Houston…Thursday game…LA (29-31)
New Orleans…C-Zion Williamson facing possible 2nd surgery
Boston..G-Marcus Smart-sprained ankle
Philadelphia..Ben Simmons…’no one to blame for issues with Sixer….This is about my mental health..Did not talk to Joel Embiid when leaving
Adam Silver…’Players forcing trades is way NBA is right now…Wish it didn’t happen’
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(College Basketball)
Tubby Smith…resigns from head coaching job High Point University..2nd issue with Covid…Career record (642-310)…ex head coach Kentucky-Georgia-Tulsa
USD-at-Portland..Toreros (14-11)
UCLA-Washington State..Bruins (17-5)
USC-Washington..Trojans (21-4)
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…(Hockey)…
Ducks-L-Calgary (6-2)…..Elias Lindholm 2-goals for Flames…Calgary pounded 42-shots on goal……Wednesday game
Ducks-at-Edmonton..Thursday game
Gulls-W-San Jose Barracuda (5-1)….Game marred by 27-penalties…AHL action..Gulls (16-20-2)…Gulls have beaten last place San Jose 8-times this year.
Las Vegas..G-Robin Lehner-may have torn labrum
Flyers..D-Rasmus Ristolainen-back issue
Memorial Cup…dates moved back to June 20th-thru-29th because of Covid issues across Canada.
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…(General)…
Olympics:
..USA-Canada….Women’s Gold Medal game…late Wednesday start..
..USA-L-Slovakia (3-2)OT..US lost lead in third period…went (0-4) on power play in final period…let Slovakia tie game with (:43) left..lost in shootout.
..Canada-L-Sweden (2-0)..Canadians lost despite having Eric Staal and 1st round pick Mason McTavish on roster…1st time in 16-years Canada won’t be in medal play.
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USA Soccer Federation…Under fire for pay to coaches…Gregg Berhalter earns (1.3M)…Women’s coach Vlat Andonovski is paid just (357,000).
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LA Genesis Open…1st round at Riviera Country Club
Tiger Woods..Tells reporters ..Can only chip-putt….Cannot walk a course…Not doing any practice off the tee…Still working on walking.
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Indy Car…Driver Marco Andretti will race in Indy 500-as 5th car for Andretti Auto Sports team.
Daytona 500…Qualifying Wednesday night….for Thursday’s Twin 150-Qualifying races for Sunday’s Daytona 500
..Kyle Larson runs blistering (181.1) time to grab pole for 500
..Alex Bowman (181.05) will start on front row with Larson in 500
..Eric Almirola-Chase Elliott (180.9) qualified 3rd and 4th fastest.
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