So far in the past 12 months, the Washington Redskins have seen a total of six quarterbacks take snaps under center, be it in game action or at practice. After an array of injuries plagued the 2018 season, Bruce Allen decided to trade for one QB while drafting another, hoping to drum up a competition between the two. However, there may be one more QB in the locker room who wants to slow the notion that he's no longer in the running to start. Colt McCoy has his hat in the ring, still. He hasn't played a snap since going down with a broken leg in December of 2018, but his recovery is nearing completion, and once he gets back to taking meaningful reps, some around the team expect him to put some added pressure on both Keenum and Haskins. "We would love for him to take some reps, but obviously his health is more important right now than anything, and that is the most important thing for him," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said, via NBC Sports. "When his time comes it will come quickly. He will be ready." McCoy had some name recognition after coming out of the University of Texas, but it's easy to forget about his career in the NFL. Through eight years, the 32-year-old has started just 27 games, with a career 60% completion rate. in 2018, McCoy played in three games for Washington, throwing for three touchdowns and three interceptions. He may not have the skillset of Haskins or the veteran experience of Keenum, but at the very least McCoy will be able to add a few extra years of experience to the QB Room, as well as pushing the competition level up a few notches for that starting spot. As the future of the Redskins, Haskins will eventually have the position to himself, even if it is not realized to start the season. If Keenum gets the nod, it will be his spot until he is no longer deserving. If McCoy is crowned the winner, fans and media members alike will be scratching their heads, questioning how it happened. It may seem like a long shot, but don't think of it as impossible - the Redskins don't. MORE: Warriors and Kevin Durant Could Reportedly Work Out Wild 'Delayed' Sign-and-Trade with Knicks Everyone had so many LeBron jokes about the reported 'Space Jam 2' cast Five potential Kevin Durant landing spots in free agency Browns have several single-season records that could fall in 2019 Reggie Bush takes shot at Lions, calls them cheap


To mark the centenary of both Bentley and Pebble Beach, the 2019 Concours d'Elegance is preparing for a British invasion. During the marque's centennial year, Bentley will take center stage throughout the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. A single glance at the event poster   featuring a 1931 Bentley 8 Liter   makes the British presence very clear, courtesy of renowned modern impressionist Alfredo De la Maria. More Bentleys! This Is The Oldest Surviving Bentley In The World How To Buy The Perfect Bentley Turbo R Classic collector Bentleys will constitute nearly a quarter of all concours competitors, filling a total of six complete classes; including several special groupings. Offerings will range from the earliest surviving 3 Liter to a plethora of racing icons and lashings of superlative postwar machines. As for the car on the poster, well, that just happens to be the most coveted 8 Liter on the planet. Originally ordered by Captain Vivian Hewitt   a Welsh aviator and Brooklands racer   and paired with a short chassis, lightweight body, insane power (check out the side exhaust), and large Le Mans-style fuel tank and gauges; this was the sporting machine on which all others have since been judged. Hewitt piloted the Bentley for a whisper under 7000 miles in the 1930s, before parking the vehicle in a barn. It didn't move for a further 26 years. Now owned by Daniel Sielecki, the 8 Litre remains an unrestored original. "In past years some spectacular Bentleys have gathered here particularly our 2009 showcase of Bentley team and race cars that included Old Numbers 1, 2 and 3, as well as Birken Blowers 1 through 4 but I can confidently say the Bentleys headed our way on this occasion promise to surpass past displays," said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. Walter Owen Bentley, who preferred the simple moniker of 'W.O', founded his namesake company on July 10, 1919. His pioneering attitude towards mechanicals and engineering served his time at the helm with great success, before the financial stress of the Great Depression forced the company's sale to rival firm Rolls-Royce. "W.O. made an indelible mark on history," said Peter Hageman, a Concours Selection Committee member who has been involved in gathering the Bentleys for the coming event. "He created heroic cars that were driven to glory by heroic men and women. Their stories fueled the imaginations and desires of a host of early automotive enthusiasts, and they continue to inspire us today." The Bentleys that drive onto the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links on August 18 will meet a place marking a centennial of its own. As W.O. was creating his company in England, Pebble Beach Resorts was being carved into the West Coast of the United States under the guidance of Samuel F. B. Morse. For a century now, it has served as home to major competitions and great champions. The last time any Bentley received a Pebble Beach accolade was back in 1965. Hopefully, both institutions can celebrate 100 years with the decoration of historic Bentleys. Motorious will update you on the results as they happen.


The federal government is the one wild card on Wall Street that is wreaking havoc on stocks, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday. President Donald Trump campaigned on business-friendly promises to cut red tape, but federal agencies led by his appointees have "declared war" on Big Tech and it's a "rude awakening," the "Mad Money" host said. "After today, this White House is clearly not as friendly to big business as I know I thought. The days of corporations getting a free pass is over, unless they happen to be in Republican-friendly industries like coal and oil," he said. "That is a major shift, it's not getting enough attention." The Justice Department on Tuesday initiated an antitrust review of Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google-parent Alphabet on suspicion that their business practices limit competition. Their shares fell in after-hour trading following the announcement, while the stocks of Apple and Alphabet traded in the red on Wednesday. Whatever comes of these investigations could lead to rules, such as those placed on Facebook, that stifle their innovation, Cramer said. While he sees the issue on both sides of the coin   anti-competitive behavior is anti-competitive, even if consumers benefit from lower prices   Cramer thinks it's an abrupt about face. "It was shocking because the regulators have been laser-focused on consumer prices as the key antitrust barometer for ages," he said. "But it's been unenforced for so long that I'm indignant on Apple's behalf. While we need antitrust law, [it's] a little jarring when the whole regulatory regime changes over night from a Republican president who is anti-regulation." Facebook, which has been embroiled in years of data privacy issues, felt the wrath of the Federal Trade Commission in a settlement that was announced Wednesday . The $584 billion social media giant was slapped with a $5 billion fine, but the most critical part was the agency's orders that the company place independent directors on its board to monitor CEO Mark Zuckerberg and that privacy decisions be handled by an independent privacy commission, Cramer said. "This was a brutal decision. In a way, Facebook had it coming, but [FTC Chairman Joseph] Simons nailed them harder I think than if he had taken them to court," he said. "These are real restraints to the point where I think [it] will actually hurt their ability to make money, hurt their ability to be creative." Two FTC members, however, felt the $5 billion fine was not enough, with one going as far to say that the settlement "gives Facebook a lot to celebrate." Shares of Facebook initially fell after the announcement, but managed to climb more than $2 during the session before posting second quarter earnings and revenue numbers that topped estimates . The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 80 points on the day. The S&P 500 rose 0.47% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lifted 0.85%. From here on out, investors must consider how much government interference companies could face from the Trump administration, Cramer said. Many people have been concerned about what a potential President Elizabeth Warren or President Bernie Sanders would mean for stocks, but the issue exists here and now, he added. It all began with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's "rookie mistake" last fall in proposing multiple interest rate hikes along with Trump's directionless trade fight with China that has been a drag on the market, he said. "The tariffs and Jay Powell's missteps have created quite a thicket for corporate America. I think the stock market would be substantially higher without these two albatrosses around our necks." Click here to read more from CNBC's Jim Cramer Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of Facebook, Amazon and Alphabet.


First-year head coach Vic Fangio surprised Denver Broncos players on Thursday by giving them the day off from practice. Among the highlights of the team playing hooky was the presence of general manager and president of football operations in a dunk tank. Thursday was supposed to be the Broncos' final day of minicamp practices, but Fangio cleverly revealed no on-field efforts would be happening. Instead a "Field Day" was planned, as explained by safeties Will Parks and Justin Simmons. That moment when Coach cancels the final practice of minicamp for Field Day‼ @PhillyWill11 & @jsimms1119 break down how it happened pic.twitter.com/Ect2oOST8Q   Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 6, 2019 Activities planned for the off day included a home run derby, remote-control car races, basketball shootout, water-balloon toss, a dunk tank, shaved Italian ice station, golf-chipping contest and watermelon-eating contest, as first noted by The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala . The highlight of the festivities, though, had to be how Elway got in on the fun by subjecting himself to some time in the dunk tank, something the Broncos made sure to document on Twitter. The only appropriate response when you dunk the GM is "apologies" pic.twitter.com/2afcDI5bIC   Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 6, 2019 Good times, indeed. It's safe to say Fangio's day-off gambit was a real hit with Broncos players. Even Elway, despite a good soaking, seemed to be enjoying himself.


Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off the exhibition season on Friday night and found a way to squeak out a 30-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh was minus most of their top starters on both sides of the football, but it didn't change that fact that this was exciting football with plenty of great moments. Here are our four big takeaways from the game: James Washington is for real After a grossly disappointing rookie season, it appears Washington has come back with a vengeance. Washington hauled in an easy four receptions on five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. Without Donte Moncrief and Diontae Johnson in the lineup, Washington shone. Devin Bush is even more for real Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Speaking of shine, the star on defense was Bush. The rookie linebacker was everywhere in the first half. He finished his time with 10 total tackles, seven of which were solo. He dropped into coverage and had a pass breakup, and he rushed the passer, nearly getting a sack. Mason Rudolph is really pushing Joshua Dobbs (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) Dobbs won the backup position outright in 2018. But if this game is any indication, he's going to have a hard time holding off Rudolph. This isn't to say Dobbs had a bad game, but you can really see how far Rudolph has grown as a player in the offseason. His passes have more zip on them, he's keeping his head up and maintaining his poise, and he's doing well with his progressions. How about Ulysees Gilbert III? (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) We know it was late in the game, but Gilbert showed that speed is the great equalizer and he has plenty of it. In limited action, Gilbert got three tackles, 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble. It's going to be great to watch him progress as a player during the preseason. MORE: Four potential Carmelo Anthony landing spots in free agency Yankees' Brett Gardner gets ejected while sitting quietly, erupts on umpire Studs and duds from Saints preseason opener vs. Vikings Studs and duds from Packers' 28-26 win over Texans in preseason opener Seahawks 'working on' adding a QB while Geno Smith is out


There will be over three dozen draft hopefuls at the NBA G League Elite Camp later this month (May 12-14) at Quest Multisport in Chicago. The players will participate in five-on-five games as well as strength and agility drills. After the event, the league will invite " a select number " of the draft-eligible players to the NBA Draft Combine from May 14-19. Based on our aggregate mock draft , we have included brief scouting reports of the players most likely to draw attention in Chicago, which could lead to another opportunity for them to showcase their talent in front of NBA decision-makers. Below are some honorable mentions before we introduce the top-eight most draftable prospects. Honorable Mentions NBA execs viewed DaQuan Jeffries as the best prospect at @PIT_Basketball , per @Sam_Vecenie . He averaged 20 points + 9.4 rebounds per 36, shooting 7-for-17 (41.2 percent) from 3. He has a 7-foot wingspan and ranked 84th percentile near the basket during the regular season. #PIT19 pic.twitter.com/svXgTIFciW - Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) April 30, 2019 DaQuan Jeffries, Forward (Tulsa) - As one of the best prospects at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, he is a viable 3-and-D player and has one of the most impressive wingspans for his size. Justin Robinson, Guard (Virginia Tech) - He shot 41.8 from the three-point line during his junior year and could be a fantastic spot-up shooter in the NBA. Tyus Battle, Guard (Syracuse) - The former Syracuse standout ranked Top 5 in points per game in the ACC two seasons in a row. His sophomore season was not as strong as his first, but his upside remains impressive. Jalen Pickett, Guard (Siena) - He had a strong freshman campaign as the MAAC Rookie of the Year, ranking Top 5 among all NCAA players in assist percentage. Pickett was one of the most prolific prospects out of the pick-and-roll. He is testing the waters, so he could go back to college next season. James Palmer, Guard (Nebraska) - The 6-foot-6 guard took home All-Big Ten Tournament First Team honors and ranked third in points per game among all players in the conference. Sagaba Konate, Forward (West Virginia) - While he was limited during 2018-19 action, he had the sixth-best defensive box plus-minus (9.2) in the NCAA during his 2017-18 campaign. He also had the best block percentage (15.6) among all college players that season, earning him a Big-12 All-Defense selection. 8. Justin Wright-Foreman, Guard (Hofstra) (Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports) Current AMD Rank: No. 84 overall The two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year was one of the most productive scorers in school history. He averaged 27.1 points and 3.1 three-pointers per game as a senior. Wright-Foreman was tremendously productive out of the pick-and-roll for his squad, trailing only Markus Howard (who is returning for another season at Marquette) for most points scored on this play type among all D1 players. Perhaps his most attractive trait is his ability to create off the dribble. He averaged 7.3 points per game on jump shots after dribbling, which ranked in the Top 3 last season. The guard was efficient on these looks, too, averaging 1.19 points per possession (96th percentile) off the dribble. After four years in college, he currently projects as a second-rounder by both ESPN and The Athletic . He has reportedly scheduled pre-draft workouts with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers before his trip to Chicago. 7. Aubrey Dawkins, Wing (UCF) (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Current AMD Rank: No. 83 overall The son of former Duke star and Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins is a 6-foot-6 wing who made a name for himself during March Madness. He had a spectacular 32-point performance against his father's alma mater in his final NCAA Tournament appearance, connecting on five three-pointers. Dawkins averaged 1.16 points per possession (90th percentile) on his jump shots, showing productivity shooting off the catch and coming off the screen. NBADraft.net currently projects him to be selected as a late second-rounder. Already 23 years old, his development might be a bit limited, but he could be one of the more pro-ready prospects eager to earn a shot at the next level. 6. Tacko Fall, Big (UCF) Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 81 overall Standing at 7-foot-6, the UCF big man was certainly hard to miss if you watched his team. His 8-foot wingspan would become the longest in the NBA, beating out Orlando Magic big man Mo Bamba's measurements from last year's Combine. Fall averaged 2.6 blocks per game, which ranked Top 10 in the NCAA last season. He had the best defensive rating (85.6) among all college players during the 2016-17 campaign, while also leading his conference in defensive win shares (2.8). His defensive rating (90.7) ranked as the best in his conference this season as well. Don't expect him to finish many possessions in transition but if you feed him near the rim, he can be tremendous due to his size. Fall connected on 139-of-174 (79.8 percent) attempts at the rim, per The Stepien . 5. Zylan Cheatham, Forward (Arizona State) Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 72 overall The former Arizona State wing earned All Pac-12 First-Team and Pac-12 All-Defense honors. He led the conference in total rebounds while also finishing Top 5 in both defensive rating (96.1) and defensive win shares (2.2) last year. Cheatham is a fairly efficient finisher around the basket, which is where more than half of his field goal attempts came from during his collegiate career. On half-court sets near the rim that were not post-ups, the forward averaged 1.32 points per possession (83rd percentile) for the Sun Devils. He has a great build and physique, which will help his measurements at the G League Elite Camp. His competitive energy can help during scrimmages, too, but his upside may be a bit limited until he improves his jump shot. 4. Terance Mann, Wing (Florida State) David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 68 overall The 6-foot-7 wing is one of the more versatile offensive prospects who will be competing at the G League Elite Camp. He was effective when finishing possessions in transition, spotting up and as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll actions. He averaged 1.31 points per possession (92nd percentile) when accounting for his assists, which ranked Top 10 among high-volume contributors in the ACC. Mann was 18-for-47 (38.3 percent) on three-pointers from NBA range, per The Stepien . During the 2018 NCAA Tournament, he was awarded All-Region honors in the West. This year, he was named All-ACC Tournament Second Team too. He also looked good at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where he averaged 7.9 rebounds per 36 minutes. 3. Chris Clemons, Guard (Campbell) Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 66 overall Clemons improved his draft stock by earning the MVP award at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He led all participants with 18.3 points per game, as well as 3.0 three-pointers. He took home the Big South Player of the Year award in 2019 behind an NCAA-best 30.1 points per game. According to Basketball-Reference, his offensive win shares (6.1) ranked second-best among all college players while his player efficiency rating (33.0) ranked Top 10. During the regular season, the guard scored 6.6 points per game when tasked with finishing possessions as the primary ballhandler in the pick-and-roll. This ranked No. 12 overall among all D1 players, via Synergy Sports. His jumper was his most valuable tool, ranking third-best with 12.2 points per game off jump-shots However, the main concern is his size since he stands at just 5-foot-9. 2. Robert Franks, Wing (Washington State) Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 64 overall After winning the Pac-12 Most Improved Player award in 2018, Washington State wing Robert Franks made All-Conference First Team this season. During his last collegiate campaign, Franks had the second-best three-point percentage (39.9 percent) in the conference. He averaged 1.35 points per possession (94th percentile) off the catch, which ranked No. 12 overall among D1 players who had at least 100 opportunities. His offensive box plus-minus (5.4) and PER (24.1) both ranked Top 5 in the Pac-12. Standing at 6-foot-9, there is a lot to like about his fit in the NBA. Franks has also showcased his ability as a triple threat in the pick-and-roll, flashing moments of brilliance as the ballhandler as a scorer and a passer and occasionally as the roll man. Franks is projected to go No. 51 overall in the latest mock draft from NBADraft.net . 1. Tyler Cook, Forward (Iowa) Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Current AMD Rank: No. 62 overall Iowa forward Tyler Cook ranked Top 10 among Big 10 players in effective field goal percentage two seasons in a row. As a three-year starter, he scored 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Back in December against rival Iowa State, Cook put up 26 points on 12-for-16 shooting with 11 rebounds. SB Nation's Matt Reisener recently wrote about Cook's potential ( via SB Nation ): "[He] projects as a borderline late second-round draft pick who may very well hear his name called on draft night but could also find himself trying his luck as an undrafted free agent. Cook may be asked to spend a few years in the G League developing his game before getting a real shot to be an NBA contributor, but he has enough upside that he will likely get the chance to do just that." He appeared on CBS Sports' latest big board and he was projected to go No. 49 overall by NBADraft.net . MORE: The full story from the guy who got Danica Patrick a drink at the Bucks-Celtics game NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players There's still room for Josh Jones in the Packers defense 3 Raiders players who could have breakout seasons in 2019 Richard Sherman: 'The secondary wasn't the issue last year'


A new study says thousands of tufted puffins are dying because of climate change.


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Even without full use of his powerful right arm, Shohei Ohtani possesses one of baseball's most diverse skillsets. It all showed in a memorable performance Thursday night. Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 after a delay caused by a power outage. "You need some power to hit the home run, some speed to accomplish a triple," Ohtani said through a translator. "To be able to do that at the major league level is going to lead to a lot of confidence. The important thing now is to try to continue this tomorrow." BOX SCORE: ANGELS 5, RAYS 3 Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning and completed the feat with a single on a 3-2 pitch in the seventh. It was the Angels' sixth and final hit of the game. "I wasn't necessarily trying to hit a single," he said. "I was just trying to get on base, whether it was a base on balls or any other way because it was still a close game." After a triple in his third at-bat, Ohtani's cycle quest became the focus of the game. "People were talking about it. It's not like a no-hitter when no one mentions it," said Angels manager Brad Ausmus, who was most impressed that the left-handed hitting Ohtani got his first three hits off a left-handed pitcher. "We forget how young he is," Ausmus added. "He's in a new country, his second year here. He's 24 years old. He carries a lot on his shoulders, but he still stands pretty tall." Ohtani is the eighth Angels player to hit for the cycle and the first since Mike Trout on May 21, 2013. "There's been so many other great Japanese players before me. Being the first to accomplish it makes me very happy," he said. Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels, becoming the sixth player ever with 200 home runs in each league. He hit 445 in 11 seasons with St. Louis and has 200 in eight years with the Angels, including 12 this season. Ohtani's homer came on Ryan Yarbrough's 10th pitch of the game after a double by Tommy La Stella and a walk to Trout. It was Ohtani's eighth homer of the season and sixth in 11 games. He led off the third with a double and tripled in the fifth before Pujols' home run. A two-out single in the seventh completed the cycle in just four plate appearances, and fans at Tropicana Field gave him a standing ovation. The game was held up 36 minutes by a power delay in the fourth with the Angels leading 3-0. The power outage was caused by a fire at a nearby substation. "I don't think I've ever seen that happen before," Yarbrough said. "Of all things, it was kind of cool when everyone turned their (cellphone) lights on. It kind of looked like a little concert and then people got energized into the game after that. That was kind of cool." Tommy Pham had two hits and drove in two for the Rays, who have lost three straight. Yarbrough (5-3) gave up five runs and five hits (all for extra bases) in six innings, striking out four. Angels starter Tyler Skaggs (5-6) pitched five innings, giving up three runs and seven hits while striking out five in the Angels' third straight win. Cam Bedrosian pitched the ninth for his first save. OHTANI BACK ON A MOUND SOON Ohtani won't pitch again until next season, but he might be on a mound again within a month. Relegated to a DH role while recovering from Oct. 1 Tommy John surgery, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year might be throwing off a mound before the All-Star break. "I won't say it's probable, but it's possible," Ausmus said. TRAINER'S ROOM Angels: INF David Fletcher was a late scratch due to left shoulder soreness but entered the game at 3B in the eighth inning. ... SS Andrelton Simmons (sprained left ankle) will face live pitching next week and will probably be activated before the end of the month. Rays: INF Joey Wendle (fractured right wrist) will be activated Friday. ... INF Matt Duffy (strained left hamstring) might be ready to resume a rehab assignment next week. ... INF Christian Arroyo (right forearm tendinitis) was put on the 10-day IL. UP NEXT LHP Andrew Heaney (0-1) will make his fourth start of the season for the Angels on Friday night against LHP Blake Snell (4-5). Snell's win at Boston on Sunday was his first since May 6. ------ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP--Sports Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock went 7-of-11 for 34 yards in Denver's 14-10 win over the Falcons in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday evening. The second-round draft choice finished the day with a 68.0 passer rating, not exactly a sign of a good showing. "I was hoping for more, but [I'm] not surprised," Broncos coach Vic Fangio said after the win. "He's still got a lot of work to do. I thought his accuracy wasn't clean all the time along with his reads, but that's to be expected. "We've got four more games and we've got to get him ready, more ready than he is right now." At the moment, Kevin Hogan looks like the clear choice to be the backup quarterback. As Fangio noted, though, Lock will have four more games this month to show improvement. "I think that's what you can expect from an opener - couple ups, couple downs," Lock told reporters after the game. "I think it's good that we can look at it - there's a lot of things that we can work on, especially myself, and go on and get ready for the next one." Up next for Lock is a road game against the Seahawks on Aug. 8. MORE: This Patrick Mahomes throw from Chiefs practice can't be real Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency Dez Bryant: Saints will get first opportunity to sign me Packers WRs Jake Kumerow, Trevor Davis shine at Family Night Scrimmage Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers didn't sign S Tre Boston


Wide receiver Tyler Lockett, heir apparent to the number one receiver position for the Seattle Seahawks, has a simple message for children everywhere: 'You can do anything that you want.' On June 28, Lockett worked to spread that sentiment at the University of Tulsa's H.A. Chapman Stadium, hosting over 250 children from ages 7-18 at the Tyler Lockett Football ProCamp for a day of games, instruction, and drills. This was Lockett's first time hosting a camp in his hometown of Tulsa, after the success of his youth football camps in the Seattle area. Lockett was inspired by his childhood memories of attending his own father's youth camp, during which he was able to meet and learn from Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. "A lot of people my age still remember that day, still talk about it," Lockett said. He expressed his desire to give the attendees their own memorable experience, encouraging the children to "have fun, just get out there and enjoy yourself." All of the attendees received signed photos from Lockett, along with a plethora of Seahawks gear. Lockett is not the first member of his family to play football at the highest level; both his father, Kevin, and his uncle, Aaron, spent time in the NFL. Both of the older Locketts have since demonstrated a commitment to give back to the Tulsa community, a desire which manifested strongly in Tyler. "(He) just wants to have a big impact in Tulsa because he knows there were a lot of people who did the same for him when he was growing up here," said Kevin Lockett. Lockett is pleased with the results of his efforts, but not fully satisfied: he has bigger dreams for 2020's camp. "It's days like this that kids remember, and it's days like this that make kids want to do more, to be better," he said. MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook


Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco has plenty of doubters - he's a bit of a punchline in some circles of NFL fandom. But even the fans that mock Flacco and his stats can't say anything about his arm strength. The veteran quarterback can still sling a football. "He has a cannon," cornerback Bryce Callahan said of Flacco after practice Tuesday. "I'm getting good looks every practice. That's a good thing." Practicing against Flacco every day will help Callahan and the rest of Denver's secondary prepare for big-armed QBs they will face during the season. "You have to get some keys pre-snap and know what you're going against - down and distance and what tenancies they like to do," Callahan said of going up against strong-armed QBs. "Just little things that help you play your position better. You have to then make plays on the ball." It's a great situation for Callahan to be because it will only make him a better player. "[Because] the ball is getting there quicker, you have to be a little bit faster," he said. The Flacco signing seems to already be paying off for the Broncos. MORE: Tommy Boy is Almost 20: Here Are 20 Fun Facts About the Film Steph Curry thought it was weird to see his mom cheering for him in Trail Blazers gear Bills were not going to draft receiver at 2019 draft NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players NBA Draft Lottery results: Celtics stay at 14 but get good news


The Kansas City Chiefs recently signed third-year kicker, Harrison Butker, to a five-year contract extension . Butker's total contract makes him one of the highest-paid kickers in the league and locks him to the Chiefs through the 2024 season. This provides some Long-term stability at the position for the Chiefs that it hasn't recently seen. The team has rostered three kickers during Andy Reid's tenure as head coach: Ryan Succop, Cairo Santos and most recently Butker. Here's a look at the extension base salary, signing bonus and cap numbers courtesy of Spotrac : Year Base Salary Signing Bonus Cap Dead Cap 2019 $645,000 $700,000 $1,450,000 $6,490,000 2020 $2,345,000 $700,000 $3,195,000 $5,145,000 2021 $3,090,000 $700,000 $3,940,000 $2,100,000 2022 $3,350,000 $700,000 $4,200,000 $1,400,000 2023 $3,550,000 $700,000 $4,400,000 $700,000 2024 $3,690,000 - $3,840,000 - Starting in 2020, Butker receives $50,000 in workout bonuses and $100,000 in roster bonuses yearly through 2024. The structure of this deal works out nicely for the Chiefs. Each consecutive season sees the dead cap number go down, with 2024 culminating in a season where the Chiefs can get out of the contract. In 2024 there is no dead money attached to the deal and the Chiefs can walk away with $3.84 million in cap savings. If Butker's play starts to decline at any point 2021, the Chiefs could move on from Butker with minimal dead money. Butker's deal has the top dollar amount in the NFL over the course of the contract, but he doesn't enter the top 10 in the league in terms of cap dollars until the 2021 season . Overall this contract is rewarding for Butker and affordable for the Chiefs with several out points throughout the course of the deal. Butker saw a big decline in field goal attempts, but a sharp increase in extra points in 2018, with Patrick Mahomes throwing for 50 touchdowns. Moving forward accuracy and consistency will be a big emphasis for Butker if he seeks to remain in Kansas City for the length of the deal. MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best RB NBA Depth Charts Eagles earn $274.3M of a record $8.78B revenue split between all 32 NFL teams


Baker Mayfield is in his second training camp with the Cleveland Browns, and his circumstance has changed quite a bit. Last year at this time he was a greenhorn rookie and backing up veteran starter Tyrod Taylor under head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. This time around, Mayfield is the unquestioned starter and leader of the offense under coach Freddie Kitchens and coordinator Todd Monken. Even with the radical changes, Mayfield is a lot more comfortable this time around. "Everything is not moving as fast," Mayfield said Thursday. "Camp moves really fast for you (as a rookie), especially at the quarterback position. There are a lot of things flying." One of the big changes for Mayfield has been handling the increased responsibility, He feels like he's got a good grasp on the balance needed between being the leader and still having some fun. "I think I had to grow up fast, just being in the spotlight, having to play early in college and then also just having to deal with media early on," Mayfield said. "I think you learn how you need to conduct yourself. Not that I have been perfect by any means, I am definitely not saying that, (but) having to deal with it early on." Mayfield and the rest of the Browns take to the practice field again on Friday morning. MORE: UFC's Thiago Santos shares brutal update on injuries suffered in loss to Jon Jones Roundup: Orange is the New Black's Final Season; How Tall is Peppa Pig; Let's Move Halloween Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, coach Matt LaFleur building relationship, offensive philosophy Ravens training camp report - Day 2: Slow start for QB Lamar Jackson Giants' Jabrill Peppers tired of being overlooked part of Odell Beckham trade


TAMPA, Fla.   The hearing on whether to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was to start at noon. But Judge George Greer, always punctual, wasn't there. Hours before, he and his wife had packed up their Yorkie, Mr. Bailey, and gotten on an airplane. The Pinellas County sheriff was that worried about Greer's safety. Schiavo, 41, had been in a vegetative state for 15 years. Her husband felt it was time to let her go. Her parents and siblings thought she was still in there. It fell to Greer to decide whether she lived or died. After his plane landed somewhere in Florida (he still won't say where), he got in a car wearing a bulletproof vest. He pulled out his cell phone, dialing into the hearing at the old courthouse in Clearwater. It was March 18, 2005. He was about to deliver his final say in one of the most widely disputed end-of-life cases in history. Greer knew how he was going to rule. That wasn't the hard part.     Thousands of words have been written in law reviews, bioethics journals, newspapers and books about the fight over Terri Schiavo. In 2006, her parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, brother Bobby Schindler and sister Suzanne Schindler Vitadamo published "A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo   A Lesson For Us All." The same year, Michael Schiavo, her husband, wrote (with help from Michael Hirsh) "Terri: The Truth." More books followed by a group of bioethicists from the University of Pennsylvania; lawyers for the Schindlers and Michael Schiavo; even Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles detective who investigated O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. But it's taken years for Greer to tell his story. He recently wrote the first chapter in "Tough Cases," a book that features the reflections of judges who don't often get to speak openly about their decisions. In the book, and a subsequent interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Greer explained some of what had gone on that wasn't reported as the court drama played out. Terri Schiavo's case provoked action from the governor, the president and the pope, and almost resulted in a constitutional crisis. It drew anti-abortion, end-of-life and disability rights protesters to the road outside her hospice window. It changed Greer's life. Greer grew up in Dunedin, then got his bachelor's degree in 1964 from Florida State University, where he lived for a semester in a house with Jim Morrison before the singer found fame with the Doors. He earned his law degree from the University of Florida and became a zoning and land-use lawyer in Clearwater. He served as a county commissioner from 1984 to 1992, when he was elected circuit judge, which was his dream. In 1999, he shifted to the probate division, which handles wills, estates and guardianships. A few months later, Michael Schiavo's petition ended up on Greer's docket. Greer realized quickly that his job was to figure out what Terri Schiavo would have wanted. Essentially, he had to become her.     Terri had grown up in a Roman Catholic family in the Philadelphia suburbs. As a teenager, she wore her hair feathered, had a high-volume laugh and weighed as much as 250 pounds. By the time she met Michael in a community college class in 1983, she'd dropped about 90 pounds with dieting. They married a year later and in 1986, moved to St. Petersburg. Terri got a job with Prudential Insurance Co. and dropped more weight. Michael worked as a restaurant manager. They were trying to have a baby, but she stopped getting her period regularly. When she collapsed on Feb. 25, 1990, on the floor of her apartment, her collarbone and ribs protruded as the paramedics tried to kick-start her heart with defibrillator paddles. She weighed about 110 pounds. At the hospital, doctors discovered a potassium imbalance, a symptom of bulimia nervosa. The eating disorder combines binge eating and vomiting. It seemed to offer an explanation for Terri's heart stopping, as well as her weight loss. But it would never be determined with medical certainty. About two weeks later, Terri's neurologist concluded that she was in a persistent vegetative state and would remain essentially unconscious and unaware for the rest of her life. But Terri's family had seen her open and close her eyes, cry and smile, hold up her head and turn it, follow their voices. Was she really gone? Michael took her to California for experimental brain stimulation that didn't work. He sued Terri's fertility doctors for failing to detect her low potassium levels and, after paying the lawyers and court costs, received a $300,000 settlement for his loss and more than $700,000 for her care. At first, he and his in-laws lived together to save money and made joint decisions. But their relationship deteriorated when Michael transferred Terri from a rehabilitation facility to a nursing home in Largo and refused to split his portion of the settlement with the Schindlers. On Valentine's Day, 1993, they exchanged words at Terri's bedside and stopped talking.     Five years later, when Michael petitioned to have the feeding tube removed, he said he was trying to keep a promise to Terri, who hadn't wanted to be kept alive by artificial means. He'd also met someone else. The Schindlers asked Michael to let them take over Terri's care. He refused. Their feud steamrolled toward Greer, a Republican who had attended the same Southern Baptist church for 35 years. He had never before been asked to withdraw life support. Greer first had to figure out if there was any likelihood of recovery. At the trial in January 2000, a neurologist pointed to a CT scan that revealed Terri's brain had atrophied. The ventricles were nine times the size of a normal brain, the doctor said, and filled with spinal fluid. He called her condition irreversible. Ten years before, the Florida Supreme Court had decided in another case that someone with brain damage holds "a fundamental right to the sole control of his or her person" and is not required to accept medical treatment or be force fed. Terri left no living will, so the law required Greer to figure out what she would have wanted based on what she told family and friends. Michael Schiavo said that while watching a show involving life support, she specifically told him she didn't want to be kept alive that way. Terri's mother recalled discussing Karen Ann Quinlan with her daughter. Quinlan, 21, collapsed one night in 1975 after dieting and consuming sedatives and alcohol and slipped into a vegetative state. Her parents wanted to disconnect life support, but the doctor refused. Terri's mother recalled that Terri didn't want Quinlan to die. Greer felt Terri's expressions to her husband as an adult held more weight, and Florida law gave Michael more decision-making power than her parents. On Feb. 11, 2000, he granted Michael Schiavo's request. Lawyers for the Schindlers appealed, so the tube remained in place. The legal battle would stretch on for another five years. An appellate court ordered Greer to hold a second trial, to consider whether new medical treatment might have changed Terri's mind. Over and over, in October 2003, Greer watched a two-hour video that showed Terri's mother and one of the medical experts hired by the family attempting to coax responses from Terri. She opened her eyes and closed them, moaned or grunted, seemed to track a Mickey Mouse balloon with her eyes. Greer counted 111 commands and 72 questions and only a handful of responses. Several doctors said Terri's brain stem, which controls sleep and wake cycles and breathing, was still functioning. But her upper brain, which controls purposeful movement and thinking, no longer worked. So what people saw were only her reflexes. In the end, Greer decided, again, to let Terri die. That's when Jeb Bush got involved. Terri's father had pleaded for the governor's help. The Florida Legislature passed Terri's law, which provided the governor with "the authority to issue a one time stay to prevent the withholding of nutrition and hydration." Six days after Terri's feeding tube was pulled, Bush signed an executive order to reinsert the tube. Half a year later, in May 2004, a circuit judge overturned Terri's law, saying it was unconstitutional because it violated Florida's separation of powers rule and her right to privacy.     In March 2005, Greer ordered Terri's feeding tube pulled out for the third time, from that car after his plane landed. Hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the courthouse and Terri's hospice in Pinellas Park. One car pulled a life-size statue of Jesus on a cross. Others carried large wooden crosses and signs with the Ten Commandments. Later, some protesters would be arrested for trying to bring Terri water. They called Greer a murderer. More than 100,000 sent emails condemning his ruling. "There were all sorts of emails and phone calls with people saying, 'you will not live through this' or 'you should be dead,' " recalled Ron Stuart, the former public information officer for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Around this time, Greer's pastor wrote him a letter, suggesting he resign from the church and hoping that he would "find a way to side with the angels and become an answer to the prayers of thousands." Greer disappointed a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee, which had sought to intervene and delay carrying out his decision. He told a congressional lawyer: "This is not your issue." That afternoon, a priest sprinkled holy water on Terri, and the tube was removed one last time, the wound closed. By then, her hair was flecked with gray. The following Monday, at 1:11 a.m., President George W. Bush signed a law passed by Congress over the weekend that allowed "in certain cases" for a federal court to review a final state court decision. But a federal judge denied the request by Terri's parents to invoke the new law and keep Terri alive, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take the case. Two weeks later, on March 31, 2005, Terri died from dehydration.     On a warm day in late May, Greer opened the opaque glass double doors of his Island Estates waterfront condo. His wife was in the bedroom watching Seinfeld. A Yorkie mix named Gator hopped around the room with a view of the Intercoastal Waterway. Greer is 77 now, retired after 18 years as a circuit judge. His other notoriety came when he presided over the Hulk Hogan divorce. He still works as a mediator and drove to Broward County last year to play a judge in an upcoming movie called Waves, starring Sterling K. Brown. He knows his decision in the Schiavo case has come to define him. As one expert put it, Greer was the fulcrum, the person most responsible for controlling the chaos, and it was a difficult job. Three shifts of deputies stood watch over him and his wife every day for half a year; boats patrolled the water in front of their condo. He pulled out the bulletproof vest from the back of a closet. For six months, he wore it every time he went outside, even to walk the dog. Someone paid a florist to deliver dead flowers to his wife with a note: "no food … no water." The FBI arrested a man in North Carolina for writing an email that offered a $50,000 bounty for "the elimination of the judge who ruled against Terri in Florida." He was asked to remove himself from the case seven times. He said no each time. Sitting on his pale blue sofa, Greer looks like he could handle all this and then some. A balding man with an angular face, he says what appears on the surface is not what's below. "As a judge, my job is to keep calm," he said. But then he observed: "I don't remember being under stress." He did recall a spark of fear when he saw then U.S. House Majority leader Tom DeLay on TV calling Terri's death a murder and Greer "barbaric." For a second, he worried if federal marshals would take him down to Guantanamo. That moment made him think about how an "overreaching" government can make a man feel very small. The Schiavo case, Greer argues, was not only an emotional debate about a brain-damaged woman's life, but "an epic test of our country's separation of powers." It also illustrated for him what can happen when one party has all the control. For Greer, it was not about faith, and it stung to be ostracized from his church, Calvary Baptist in Clearwater. (The church declined to comment.) He had taught Sunday school and coached his church's basketball and softball teams. He'd been married and baptized there, as had his wife and twin sons. The Bible was written thousands of years before life support, Greer said. God's law is "a higher law," he said, but God gave humans the power of self-determination. "We determine as mankind and as a nation how we should conduct ourselves," he said. Terri's case was about the right to control your own destiny, Greer said. "I couldn't figure out why anti-abortionists cared about the Schiavo case," Greer wrote in Tough Cases. "There's no unborn person here. None of it added up, until a few years later." In 2004, Greer was presented with another petition to withdraw life support. This time, it was for a male lawyer who was, like himself, married with two kids. When Greer ruled in favor, the courtroom was almost empty. "Right at the same time the whole world seemed to be focused on Terri Schiavo, no one made a peep," he said. Dr. Robert L. Fine, who has written a number of journal articles on end-of-life cases and is clinical director of ethics and palliative care at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, said Schiavo became the cause célèbre for those who believe you should always fight for life. Jay Wolfson, Terri Schiavo's guardian ad litem, said he was struck by the challenge facing Greer, a devout Christian and political conservative with a job to do that was perhaps in conflict with his own beliefs. "He did what the judicial system is supposed to do," said Wolfson, now a senior associate dean at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. "He independently applied the law." David C. Gibbs III, an attorney for the Schindlers, did not respond to requests for comment. But he criticized Greer in his 2006 book, Fighting for Dear Life. "For reasons I still do not understand, Judge Greer refused to go and meet Terri Schiavo, watch her interact with her mother or call her as a witness in his courtroom   even though he was assigned with the task of deciding Terri's ultimate fate," wrote Gibbs. Greer said he knew he wouldn't have been able to assess her condition, so instead, he relied on videos where the experts worked with Terri. But Greer said making the decision was not hard. The law required him to do what Terri would have wanted. Her autopsy revealed that her brain tissue had largely been replaced with spinal fluid. Her optic nerve had disintegrated. To Greer, this was affirmation that Terri was not actually seeing that balloon or her mother. But he has thought a lot about life after a catastrophic health event. Once, when he went to accept an award at the Boston University Law School, Greer spoke with a professor in a wheelchair who was on a respirator. The man said he never thought he'd want to live that way, but he had changed his mind. It didn't make Greer question his rulings in the Schiavo case, but it did make him ask himself: "what do we really know on this side of tragedy?" Six years ago, Greer's wife, Gail-Patricia, developed sepsis and went into a medically induced coma. He sat by her bedside for five weeks. Doctors couldn't tell him if she would live or die. "I've been in control virtually my entire adult life," he said, "and in this situation, I was out of control." He was frightened. He thought about Terri and her family. Then, on Day 36, his wife opened her eyes and said his name, and he felt relief.     (Tampa Bay Times senior news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.)     ABOUT THIS STORY Information in this story came from interviews with Greer, his wife and his friends; William L. Allen, associate professor of the program for bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida; Chief Medical Examiner Jon R. Thogmartin's autopsy report and State Attorney Bernie McCabe's report on Terri Schiavo sent to Jeb Bush; the 2003 report of Jay Wolfson, Schiavo's guardian ad litem; the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Terri Schiavo project collection; news reports and several books, including A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo   A Lesson For Us All by the Schindler family, Terri: The Truth by Michael Schiavo and Michael Hirsh and Fighting for Dear Life by David C. Gibbs III, attorney for the Schindlers.     ©2019 Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Visit the Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) at www.tampabay.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


FARMINGDALE, N.Y.   After all the talk, the PGA Championship's move to May is here and major championship golf has returned to Bethpage Black for the first time in a decade. So, who will win, who will disappoint and what will the headline be late on Sunday? Our team of writers in New York share thoughts. WHO WILL BE THE BIGGEST SURPRISE? REX HOGGARD: Tommy Fleetwood . Although he's 16 th in the world the Englishman doesn't exactly fit the power mold we typically expect from contenders at Bethpage. But Fleetwood ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: off-the-tee, which includes both length and accuracy, and last year's runner-up showing at the U.S. Open was a valuable learning experience. RYAN LAVNER: Francesco Molinari. For once, he won't contend in a major. The Italian stallion has three consecutive top-6s in majors (and six straight top-25s overall), but there are a couple of factors working against him this week. For the first two rounds he's grouped with Tiger Woods, who chipped away at Frankie's legendary status with his comeback victory at the Masters. And Bethpage Black isn't conducive to Molinari's skill set   he's short by today's standards (132 nd on Tour) and could have trouble holding some of the elevated greens when he's coming in with more club. WILL GRAY: Jason Kokrak. You have to go all the way back to The Open in July to find the last time Kokrak missed a cut, a run of 21 straight starts. That includes a runner-up in Tampa in March and three other top-10 finishes. He's a bomber off the tee, averaging more than 304 yards per poke, and he tied for seventh the last time the PGA Tour came here back in 2016. JAY COFFIN: Xander Schauffele. A top-10 player playing well in a major shouldn't be a surprise and, in this case, perhaps it wouldn't be. The point is that his name hasn't been mentioned here all week. Not once. It's DJ, Tiger, Brooks, Rory. They've rightly dominated the conversation. But Schauffele hits it plenty far, and he has four top-six finishes in majors the last two seasons, including a second-place tie last month at the Masters. He's quickly figured out how to play well at the biggest events. Your browser does not support iframes. PGA Championship: Tee times | Full coverage WHO WILL BE THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT? HOGGARD: Tiger Woods. Despite the wildly elevated expectations following his victory at the Masters, Woods' game will likely not be a perfect fit for Bethpage. He has won on the Black Course before but the demands on his driving will prove to be too much. LAVNER: Jordan Spieth. On the cusp of capturing the career Grand Slam, Spieth is talking a good game   that he's not frustrated, that he's no longer in a slump, that he's playing better than the stats suggest. And maybe that's true. But we have absolutely no evidence to suggest that a breakthrough is imminent. No skill is as paramount this week as long and straight drives, and Spieth is literally one of the worst drivers of the ball on the PGA Tour this season (202 nd in strokes gained: off-the-tee). He'll figure it out eventually, but this ain't the week. GRAY: Tiger Woods. I'm not expecting any Augusta-like performances from him. Yes, he won here back in 2002 when he was dominating the game, and he gained untold confidence from last month's Masters. But Bethpage will be unforgiving when it comes to some of the stray tee shots that Woods got away with at Augusta National, and after playing only nine practice holes this week I'm wondering how much gas is in the proverbial tank for what is sure to be another long and grueling week. COFFIN: Tiger Woods. Hope I'm wrong, crazy wrong, but I don't think I am. The Masters victory was obviously historic, but it's a tall task to expect Woods to be in similar form 32 days later, which is how long it'll be between shots hit in competition. Wayward driving could be a problem too. At Augusta National it's not an issue, but here at Bethpage Black, foul balls will lead to bogey at best. So, a month later, he'll need to hit it better than he did off the tee at the Masters? That's not going to happen. WHO FROM OUTSIDE THE TOP 20 CAN WIN? HOGGARD: Adam Scott (27). At 38, the Australian has proven that he's not finished contending in major championships. He finished third at last year's PGA Championship and checks all the right boxes with his length and accuracy off the tee and a putter that, although still streaky, is no longer a complete liability. LAVNER: Sergio Garcia (26). Save for his clunker at the Masters, it's been a steady if unspectacular spring for Garcia. He has six top-10s this calendar year, and that includes a tie for fourth in his most recent start at Quail Hollow, which always has a major feel to it. He also top-10'd in both of his U.S. Open starts here. Expecting him to contend again here, too. GRAY: Sergio Garcia (26). It would be nothing short of poetic for Garcia to add a second major on a course where he came so close 17 years ago. The New York crowds weren't exactly kind to the re-gripping Spaniard back then, but time has softened the stance on both sides. What remains sturdy is Garcia's game, with his Masters missed cut a lone blip in an otherwise solid stretch that includes a T-4 finish at Quail Hollow. His other performances here (T-10 in 2009, T-3 in 2012) speak to his affinity for the Black Course. COFFIN: Gary Woodland (25). This totally can happen. Length, length, length and length are the main reasons. He hits it miles, ranked top-10 in both driving distance and strokes gained: off-the-tee and last year at the PGA Championship, his sixth-place tie was his best career major finish. Someone who hits the cover off the ball is going to win this week. Woodland fits that bill. THE SUNDAY EVENING HEADLINE WILL BE…? HOGGARD: Black and Blue at Bethpage. There was plenty of uncertainty in the buildup to this year's PGA Championship, the first held in May since 1949, but Bethpage Black will prove it's the same beast regardless of the season. The winning score for the last two majors played on the course was 4 under and 3 under. Expect something in the same neighborhood on Sunday. LAVNER: Take That, Brandel!: Brooks Bashes His Way to Another Major. In form, motivated and facing a brawny course that will eliminate many of the other would-be contenders, Koepka is the best bet this week. A stud baseball player when he was younger, Koepka is about to be batting .500 over his last eight majors. GRAY: King Koepka. At this point I have no reason to doubt Koepka, the defending champ who has become a big game hunter when it comes to majors. His consistency in these events (12 top-25s in his last 13 major starts) speaks to the consistency of his game on the most difficult venues, and the challenges presented by a long and soggy venue play right into his strengths. Fresh off a T-2 finish at the Masters and a fourth-place showing in Dallas where he wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders, he'll add to his quickly-expanding list of achievements. COFFIN: Bryson Bullies Bethpage, Claims First Major. No one is saying a peep about Bryson DeChambeau this week, and maybe there's a reason for that. He hasn't played well in majors yet and he hasn't played since the week after the Masters, where he missed the cut at the Heritage. But anyone who has a voice this week has said the winner will be someone who drives it long and straight. DeChambeau is sixth in strokes gained: off-the-tee and he's third in total driving, which, although is a stat used from yesteryear, still combines the averages of those who drive it both long and straight.


With an even more wide-open Western Conference than was previously thought possibly, teams are shoring up their rosters to take a stab at reaching the NBA finals next season. In that vein, and with the relationship between James Harden and Chris Paul reportedly disintegrating in the Houston Rockets orbit, the Rockets are exploring trades but were denied by the New York Knicks in a recent attempt. Knicks refuse trade offer to get Paul: report The Knicks are working with a significant amount of cap space this summer while the Rockets are not. It set up a trade offer that the Knicks notably refused. From The Ringer : The Rockets recently explored trading Chris Paul into New York's cap space, but the Knicks refused, according to league sources. Trading Paul would have positioned the Rockets to be a Clint Capela or Eric Gordon trade away from freeing up the cap space to sign Jimmy Butler, who league sources say they plan to pursue. The 34-year-old Paul has the Rockets' highest contract, with more than $124 million remaining on the books through 2021-22 . His salary next season is $38.5 million   $2 million more than the Knicks current team payroll of $36.1 million for next year. Paul has missed 24 games each of the past two seasons with injury and is in the midst of a performance dip in the court. It was widely rumored during the second half of the season that the Knicks getting Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant was all but a done deal . That's in doubt now after Durant's Achilles injury and the Knicks are looking other places, including at NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. Rockets 'aggressive' in pursuit of Jimmy Butler The Rockets are reportedly ready to trade anyone on the roster as they try to get through the road block and win the Western Conference title. They'll have to if they want to bring anyone in since they're over the salary cap and Paul has already reportedly asked out . According to the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith, the Rockets are trying to clear room for Jimmy Butler. Rockets are expected to pursue Butler and be aggressive in their pursuit. Seen as an ideal fit on both ends of court, and in helping push Rockets to the top of the wide-open West.   Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) June 19, 2019 Butler intends to decline his player option with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes last week . The four-time all-star is seeking a max contract and has until June 29 to opt out. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring the star. More from Yahoo Sports: CP3, Harden relationship deemed 'unsalvageable' From mid-major to NBA draft: Morant's historic rise Coach K on Zion's NBA potential: 'He's a gift from God' Why D-Wade supported son at Miami Pride


A former University of Maryland basketball player accused of having sex with a drunk woman without her consent was acquitted Thursday of all rape and sex offense charges after two hours of deliberations by a Prince George's County jury. The case against Damonte Dodd, 25, turned on whether the 18-year-old he met at a College Park bar on Halloween two years ago was too drunk to agree to have sex with him. Dodd, who recently played professional basketball in Poland, testified that although the woman had been drinking with him earlier, she was having coherent conversations with him and never explicitly said "no" to him before they had sex. "There are no crimes on the book for having drunk sex," Dodd's attorney, Thomas C. Mooney, said Thursday in closing arguments. The woman, who had taken cocaine and had several drinks the night she met Dodd, was vomiting on and off before they had sex, prosecutors said during the four-day trial. Dodd should have seen she was ill and lacked the capacity to agree to sex, they said. The woman also told Dodd she was too drunk to have sex, prosecutors told jurors. "She did not have the mental capacity to consent, and that is rape," said Melissa Hoppmeyer, an assistant state's attorney for the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office. "He knew how drunk she was and he just didn't care." Dodd was charged with second-degree rape, third- and fourth-degree sexual offense and second-degree assault in the encounter that started the night of Oct. 31, 2017, and went into the morning of Nov. 1. After the verdict, Dodd said he is in between contracts and will now focus on his basketball career. "I've patiently waited to tell the truth and have my voice heard in court," Dodd said. "It's been a challenging 20 months living under a cloud of suspicion." Dodd graduated from the university in May 2017 and played for the Terps from 2013 to 2017. Three months after his graduation, Dodd and his friends went to a bar on Halloween night. There, Dodd and the woman met, danced and drank before returning to the nearby apartment of a friend of Dodd's. The woman had used a fake ID to get into the bar, Mooney said at trial. Dodd testified the woman was "throwing signs" at him all night indicating her interest in him. She was dancing suggestively with him at the bar and was the one who said they should go to the apartment, Dodd testified. "She could not give her consent," Hoppmeyer said. Dodd said the woman had vomited during the evening but appeared to him to have recovered and said that the two had had a conversation for at least 45 minutes before they had sex. Mooney questioned the credibility of the woman's allegations, saying she had initially told a sexual assault examiner she hadn't taken any drugs that night but later admitted to police that she had taken cocaine. "She misrepresented a very material fact to that examiner and that may have been fatal in a case based solely on credibility," Mooney said after the verdict. Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy said her office has successfully prosecuted many sex assault cases, which are challenging. "We have the courage to take them on because we believe our victims," Braveboy said in a statement. "We will continue to seek justice on behalf of all victims." At the apartment, Dodd testified, the woman was grabbing him and at one point as they began to have sex she said, "I don't know if we should be doing this on the first night." He said he got up and stopped, but that shortly after that she grabbed his shirt and drew him toward her again. On the witness stand, the woman told jurors she had told Dodd she was "too drunk" and didn't want to have sex, as Hoppmeyer summarized during closing arguments. The woman was stumbling in the street after leaving the bar and later ran into a wall on the way to the apartment, Hoppmeyer said. Dodd should have taken these as clear signs that she was too incapacitated to consent to sex, the prosecutor said. Later, after leaving the apartment, a security camera in the lobby of the building captured an image of the woman walking out in tears.


The Pirates announced today that they have activated right-hander Trevor Williams . To open an active roster spot, the club optioned fellow righty Mitch Keller . Williams ended up missing just over a month of action with a side strain. Before going on the injured list on May 17, the 27-year-old Williams pitched to a matching 3.33 ERA/3.33 FIP with 7.0 K/9, 1.67 BB/9 and .67 HR/9 in 54 innings. Williams, Joe Musgrove and the currently injured pair of Jordan Lyles and Jameson Taillon have been the Pirates' most productive starters this season. Lyles, out since June 10 with left hamstring tightness, will make a minor league rehab start Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com tweets. Pittsburgh turned to Keller, 23, in hopes the premier prospect would help provide answers for an injury-laden rotation. Instead, Keller has allowed 14 earned runs on 21 hits and six walks through 12 innings and three starts thus far. But Keller was fairly effective in a loss to Detroit on Tuesday, when he yielded two earned runs (four total) on four hits and two walks in five innings, and has already notched 15 strikeouts in his big league career.


LONDON  The passage of Alabama's strictest-in-the-nation abortion bill has renewed calls to overhaul Northern Ireland's abortion regulations, which are among the most restrictive in the developed world. Under the Alabama abortion legislation, signed by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday, doctors who perform abortions could face up to 99 years or life in prison, but a pregnant woman would not face penalties. In Northern Ireland, both women who have abortions and those who assist them can face up to life in prison. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post "The law in Northern Ireland is considerably more restrictive than Alabama," said Fiona de Londras, a law professor at the University of Birmingham. "This is not an instance where criminalization is just on the books. There have been charges," she added. In one high-profile case currently in the courts, prosecutors in Northern Ireland brought charges against a mother who bought abortion pills online for her then 15-year-old daughter, who was in a physically and mentally abusive relationship. After the pregnancy was terminated, the mother shared the information with her doctor, who in turn referred her to the police. The mother has challenged the decision to prosecute her, and a judgment is expected imminently. Pro-choice campaigners here have pledged solidarity with their counterparts in the United States and are calling for the liberalization of British laws that date back to the 19th century. Emma Campbell, co-chair of Alliance for Choice, an abortion rights group in Northern Ireland, said that it's surprising to see people in Britain who are "flabbergasted at what's happening in Alabama but have never mentioned Northern Ireland, which in effect has a worse law than what is being proposed in Alabama." Her organization wrote a letter of warning to activists in Alabama. "You and the people you help might actually get arrested, you might have your homes searched and your workplaces raided. Maybe a GP will inform the police of your illegal behaviour, or a flatmate … either way you really have to know who you can trust with the information about your medical procedure, if you access pills at home because you cannot travel," the letter said. Stella Creasy, a Labour lawmaker, said those in Britain outraged at Alabama should also look to their own backyard. She tweeted : "Hey uk progressive gents   women in Northern Ireland AS WELL as doctors facing life imprisonment in the UK for an abortion. [Alabama] terrible and our own country reprimanded by the UN for our own human rights abuses. Speak out at home as well as against trump & co." Creasy successfully campaigned for Northern Irish women who travel to other parts of the United Kingdom to have access to funded terminations. Before that change in 2017, a Northern Irish woman who had made her way to England was charged about $1,150 for the procedure. Since the Abortion Act of 1967 , abortion in Britain has been legal in most circumstances up to 24 weeks, as long as it's signed off by two doctors. That law applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but it does not extend to Northern Ireland, where the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 still prevails. Polling by YouGov, conducted shortly after the Republic of Ireland overturned its abortion ban last year, found that 65 percent of people in Northern Ireland say abortion should not be a crime. Support for a right to choose an abortion rises further when a woman's health, rape, incest or fatal fetal abnormality are at issue. But those who want to change the law in Northern Ireland have run into multiple obstacles. The devolved, power-sharing government that is supposed to lead Northern Ireland fell apart more than two years ago and has not been active since. In its absence, the Conservative government in Westminster has rebuffed efforts by lawmakers to repeal sections of the 1861 act, which would decriminalize abortion across the U.K. The Conservatives, who argue that the issue is one for Northern Ireland to decide, are propped up in government by Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which opposes changing the abortion law. Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UK's Northern Ireland campaign manager, said her group was "horrified by what we are seeing in the U.S., which is a terrifying rollback on reproductive rights." But she said the United Kingdom is "no better" and called on the British government to "lead on this issue, not lag behind." karla.adam@washpost.com


A new round of funding for children and youth programs in Baltimore has been pushed back, the 11 News I-Team has learned. Several unexpected factors have resulted in a delay in distributing $12 million from the Children and Youth Fund , which is funded with tax dollars. A year ago, the first round $12 million was being distributed. This year's allocation has been pushed into next year. The new Children and Youth Fund was popular with voters and approved in the 2016 election. It devotes $12 million to children and youth programs in the city's annual budget. From last year's budget, more than 80 organizations were awarded grants. This year, no applications are even being accepted, even though a new pot of $12 million is in the city's current budget. Consultant Dayvon Love said the ransomware attack on the city's computer networks and the investigation into former Mayor Catherine Pugh have delayed the ability of the fund to manage new applications. The fund's grants are under audit . The scrutiny is all the more intense because the fund's fiscal agency, Associated Black Charities , bought Healthy Holly children's books, which are part of the Pugh investigation. "It will show there was no relationship between the mayor's dealings and the Youth Fund, but because of the increased scrutiny, the way it has been drug in, it has created a dynamic of increased the burden of work," Love said. The intent of the fund was to operate outside city government and to get more money to community-based organizations. A small team manages the fund's operations. "They have been sucked away to deal with the audit, which has gotten in the way of our ability to execute our plan to get dollars out more quickly," Love said. The needs of youth remain front and center. Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, touring the city's Otterbein neighborhood Monday night, heard complaints about squeegee kids. He answered that he's looking for alternatives to arrest unless actual crimes are committed. "We're seeing officers going out arresting them, for the ones that are being violent and the ones that are committing other crimes," Harrison said Monday night. "Given the climate that we are in, there is a real urgency to make sure that dollars get out. Our hope is, eventually, we can move to a cycle where it is not just a yearly cycle," Love said. Love hopes a new round of applications for money from the children's fund will be accepted early next year. He also wants a permanent oversight entity to take the place of Associated Black Charities. In the new budget for 2020, another $13 million will go into the fund. READ MORE: New round of funding for Children and Youth Fund pushed back CHECK OUT WBAL: Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.


Fourteen condo units in Harrison have been evacuated due to a landslide. After the heavy rains this weekend, the slipping earth crept closer to the residences. Yellow tape now surrounds the buildings and residents have been asked to call fire department if they want to retrieve their belongings. Signs are posted on the door of each unit: "Do not enter" and "Not approved for occupancy." Dave Reinhart lives next door to the now-empty homes. "They never should have never built there," Reinhart said. "Everyone knew it was slipping back there." The property backs up against a gravel mine. Reinhart believes this is contributing to the problem. Gravel can be seen in the washed out hole behind the homes. More: Cincinnati weather: Heavy rain, flooding expected More: Areal flooding vs. flash flooding: What's the difference? The condo association is holding a closed meeting Tuesday night to discuss what to do. Home Owners Association President Dave Jantzen declined to comment on the situation until after the meeting. Reinhart said the association paid to fix a prior landslide, but he argued they should have forced the builders, Fischer Homes, to correct the issues. He wants the association to do that now. "Fischer should do the right thing and fix the problem," he said. Fischer Homes said in a statement Tuesday it is in "constant contact" with the condo association. "Fischer Homes does not control the Legacy Condo Development and hasn't since the HOA took over in September of 2010," the statement said. "That severely limits what Fischer Homes can do to assist them on this issue. Still, Fischer Homes is providing and will continue to provide technical and other assistance to the degree possible." Harrison Mayor William Neyer said the area where the landslide occurred is a newer section of the Legacy condominium development. There have been comments by residents about erosion, he said. But nothing like this has happened in the area. The overall development was approved many years ago by the city and appropriate geotechnical studies conducted at the time, Neyer said. At this point, the developer, property owners, and the HOA are the parties who have to figure out where they're going to go from here, he said. The Harrison Police Department is doing rounds to check on the area. The fire department is also monitoring the situation. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, the Metropolitan Sewer District has received 376 reports of potential sewer backups. So far, 94 have been confirmed as a sewer backup from MSD's public sewer and referred for cleaning by the sewer district, a spokeswoman said. But there are still more than 100 issues to investigate. The rest are either related to overland stormwater flooding or issues with the property's private building sewer, a spokeswoman said. According to MSD, the hardest hit areas were the west side   including Westwood, Cheviot, Delhi Township and Green Township   and the Mount Washington area. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Harrison residents evacuated after landslide, MSD investigating sewer backups


PayPal today announced a new peer-to-peer service that aims to make it easier for users to request and receive money. The service, called PayPal.me, allows users to request money through personalized links that can be sent through email, text message, or social media. Recipients can pay from their own PayPal accounts by clicking on the link, selecting an amount, and hitting send. The idea, according to PayPal, is to avoid the awkwardness that many feel when requesting owed money from friends and family. After creating their profiles, users can request specific amounts of money by adding a number to the end of their links, Engadget reports. A link that reads "paypal.me/username/20" would correspond to a request for $20 (or in local currency). PayPal.me is one of several peer-to-peer payment services to launch in recent months, including Square Cash, Google's Android Pay, and PayPal's own Venmo, which is currently limited to the US. PayPal.me launches today in the US, UK, and 16 other countries.


Looking to add a new companion to the family? There are dozens of furry felines up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Detroit, so you won't have to look far to find the perfect fit. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of cats available for adoption near you. Read on to meet some friendly, furry locals. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Baxter, domestic shorthair mix Baxter is a male domestic shorthair mix currently residing at Fortunate Feline Adoption League . Baxter is ready to make friends, and he'll get along great with children, cats or dogs. He's already house-trained. He's already neutered and vaccinated. Here's what Baxter's friends at Fortunate Feline Adoption League think of him: Baxter is a very affectionate cat who invited himself into my house one day. He purrs loudly while wrapping himself around my legs. He is not bothered by the other cats, although he does look at them a little strangely when they try to play with him. Baxter is a very gentle cat who just wants lots of love. Apply to adopt Baxter today at Petfinder . Simba, tabby and domestic shorthair mix Simba is a male tabby and domestic shorthair mix staying at Fortunate Feline Adoption League . Simba loves other cats. He's vaccinated and neutered. He has mastered his house-training etiquette. Simba is a special needs pet, so please inquire about his specific care requirements. Notes from Simba's caretakers: He went into a foster home where he did not receive the kind of attention to help him learn to totally trust humans. Consequently, he is still somewhat shy and reticent around humans. He chooses when he wants attention. When he does, he will come and sit or lay by you and at times wrestle with you. He leaves no doubt that he wants attention. Read more about how to adopt Simba on Petfinder . Twix, Dilute calico and tortoiseshell mix Twix is an adorable female Dilute calico and tortoiseshell mix currently residing at Fortunate Feline Adoption League . Twix likes to socialize, and she gets along well with other cats. She's been vaccinated and spayed. She's already house-trained. Twix is a special needs pet, so please inquire about her specific care requirements. Here's what Twix's friends at Fortunate Feline Adoption League think of her: Twix is a survivor. Her spirit has continued to flourish. She's very laid back but still very playful, likes to cuddle and purr in your ear. Apply to adopt Twix today at Petfinder . Clarice, domestic shorthair mix Clarice is a female domestic shorthair mix currently residing at Michigan Humane Society - Detroit Center for Animal Care . She is spayed and she has all her shots. Notes from Clarice's caretakers: Clarice is very shy and unsure of new situations. She tends to not want to rush in to any situation. She likes to be petted but is low key about it. Quick movements and noises startle her. She may not be a good fit for children. Clarice also did not get along with the dogs in her previous home. Read more about Clarice on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A former Michigan state trooper was sentenced Monday to 5-to-15 years in prison after he was found guilty of causing the crash that killed a Detroit teenager. Mark Bessner was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter for the August 2017 death of 15-year-old Damon Grimes. Bessner was in the passenger side of a patrol car that was pursuing Grimes, who was being chased while on an all-terrain vehicle. Bessner, who said he believed the teen was reaching for a gun, fired his Taser at Grimes, causing him to crash into a parked pickup truck. Grimes ultimately died of his injuries. OHIO STATE TROOPER'S 4-YEAR-OLD SON DIES AFTER ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTING HIMSELF USING WORK-ISSUED GUN Judge Margaret Van Houten slammed Bessner during Monday's sentencing, saying he exhibited poor judgment and, in doing so, "abused the public's trust." "It is the few officers like you who have caused the distrust of police officers that plagues our community in Detroit, the state of Michigan and throughout the country," she continued. Bessner, who quit the force following the incident, has a history of misconduct involving his use of a Taser. Two months before Grimes' death, an arbitrator had cleared Bessner of misconduct in how he used his Taser while chasing a crime suspect in a different incident. State police wanted to suspend him for 10 days. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Bessner apologized to the family in court for what he called a "tragedy," adding he wished he could step into a "time machine" and change what happened. "It is a no-win-situation for police out there." Bessner will serve at least five years before he is eligible for parole. The Associated Press contributed to this report.


The Lakers are emerging as a legit contender in the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times, who reports that an increasing number of league insiders   as well as oddsmakers in Las Vegas   view the Lakers as a " significant " threat to sign the NBA Finals MVP. As we relayed on Friday , Leonard's camp is lining up at least one meeting with the Lakers. That may end up turning into more than one meeting due to the fact that former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and still-technically-a-Pelican Anthony Davis aren't permitted to represent the Lakers on a formal basis in a free agent pitch. Leonard's free agency has long been viewed by insiders and experts as a two-team race. The Raptors, having just won a title with Leonard leading the way, are still considered a strong contender for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and are expected to get the final meeting with him next week. Meanwhile, the Clippers   who will also meet with Kawhi next week   have been regarded all season long as Los Angeles' biggest threat to recruit Leonard back to his hometown. However, now that the Lakers have created nearly enough space for a maximum-salary offer for Leonard, Stein suggests that the Clippers will have to beat out not just the defending champions but also their cross-town L.A. rivals. According to Stein, the Clippers' best route to winning over Leonard might be convincing Kevin Durant to choose the Clips as well. We still don't know exactly what Leonard's thinking, and it's probably premature to classify the Lakers as the front-runner to sign him, but it certainly seems as if there are at least three viable landing spots for the star forward, rather than just the two that have been mentioned for much of the season.


The Arizona Cardinals will be without star cornerback Patrick Peterson for much of the first half of the 2019 season. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Peterson has been suspended six games under the league's policy for performance-enhancing drugs. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the report. The suspension was originally for eight games and he appealed. According to Schefter, Peterson dropped the appeal and the league reduced the suspension to six games. Arizona's eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson is being suspended the first eight games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, league sources told ESPN. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 16, 2019 Actually six games. Patrick Peterson dropped his appeal. Six games. https://t.co/8eSyrkIfSh - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 16, 2019 Peterson has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL. Things have not gone well with him and the team recently, though. He requested a trade last season before reconciling things with the team, yet he has not participated in voluntary offseason practices because of a reported disagreement with the front office. With this news coming out, it is very possible the conflict or comment from someone in the front office was related to the suspension. Peterson and the Cardinals would have known about this for a while because Peterson had the opportunity to appeal. Now without Peterson the first six games of the season, veteran Robert Alford now becomes the No. 1 cornerback and second-round pick Byron Murphy now will likely start. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Report: Browns rookie RB LJ Scott decides to quit NFL after just 2 days Zion Williamson still has options if he doesn't want to play for the Pelicans NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Jamie Collins' return to Patriots is complicated on many levels Cowboys News: Prescott's circle of trust questioned, Kris Richard RKGs


NASCAR.com will live stream first practices for both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series at Michigan International Speedway on Friday, and Gander Outdoors Truck Series qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday. All the events will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com/live on Friday. The Xfinity Series will get things started at 1:05 p.m. ET with the series' opening practice from Michigan. Monster Energy Series first practice will immediately follow at 2:05 p.m. ET. Bookmark NASCAR.com/live and don't miss any of the action. RELATED: Full Michigan and Texas schedule Then, in the evening, action shifts to Texas Motor Speedway and Gander Outdoors Truck Series qualifying at 5:35 p.m. ET. Commentary from MRN will be available on the live stream. To recap, here is the full schedule of on-track activity being streamed on NASCAR.com:   1:05 p.m. ET, NASCAR Xfinity Series First Practice   2:05 p.m., ET: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Practice   5:35 p.m., ET: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Qualifying The Gander Outdoors Truck Series' SpeedyCash.com 400 at Texas will be broadcast on FS1 on Friday starting at 9 p.m. ET. Coverage shifts back to Michigan on Saturday with the Xfinity Series' LTi Printing 250 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The Monster Energy Series' FireKeepers Casino 400 will be broadcast on FS1 Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. ]]>


Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has claimed that Divock Origi is the perfect man to have in the Liverpool squad, after the Belgian put in a brilliant performance against Norwich on the Premier League opening day. Origi started for Liverpool last night after Sadio Mane was deemed not ready after returning late from the Africa Cup of Nations. However, the Belgian proved to be more than an adequate replacement for the Senegalese. The striker was a real livewire all night, setting up the first goal with a wicked cross before tucking away a neat header for Liverpool's fourth of the night. Neville, speaking before the match on Sky Sports, was keen to explain why he believes Origi is now a crucial member of the side. "There's a real difficulty for Liverpool," he said, "as they have three great strikers and any striker coming here for £50m or £60m would look at them and think I might not break through. Origi is happy to play second fiddle and if one of them is injured or needs a rest he will play anywhere across the front. He does a brilliant job and he is perfect for Liverpool. "He challenges the space behind, he is a bit scruffy at times and isn't the finished article like the other three, but he never will be. You won't get another player like those front three sitting on the bench and being happy." Liverpool got their Premier League campaign off to a thumping start with a 4-1 victory against Norwich - despite looking shaky defensively at times. With a long season ahead and the Merseyside outfit fighting across four fronts, Origi will have a pivotal part to play if they are to go one step further this season and get their hands on their first Premier League trophy.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.   Stepping to a makeshift stage a short walk from the ninth green, Tiger Woods did not mince words following his second round at the U.S. Open. "I'm a little hot right now," Woods said. "I just signed my card about a minute ago. So need a little time to cool down a little bit." Following a day with plenty of promise and scant results, Woods had reason to feel the steam building under his collar. While his opener at Pebble Beach was somewhat a product of smoke and mirrors, draining putts and saving pars to keep the round on track by the thinnest of margins, this was a stroll along the coast where birdie chances were in high supply. The consistency that eluded Woods with his irons and wedges the day before made a decided turnaround, helping him find 13 greens in regulation   four more than Thursday's 1-under 70. But the 11-footer he rolled in for birdie on No. 11, his second hole of the day, proved to be a rare bright spot and the lone birdie in an otherwise frustrating round. The rest of the round was a slow bleed, as Woods time and again was unable to capitalize on the type of controlled ball-striking many in the field would envy and eventually signed for a score that was two strokes higher than the day before. U.S. Open: Full-field scores | Full coverage Pars are usually welcome sights in a U.S. Open, and Woods made 14 of them in a row. Going back to the opening round, he had a run of 29 holes without a bogey   a longer stretch than even he had en route to that 15-shot romp in 2000. But with Pebble's teeth scaled back amid calm winds and soft conditions, Woods was stuck in neutral while Justin Rose showed him that pars aren't the only thing on the menu this week. "Overall, I kept leaving myself above the hole," Woods said. "And unlike yesterday, when I missed it and I missed it in the correct spots below the hole, today I never had that many looks from below the hole. And the one I did have, I made at 11." Woods' self-assessment speaks to the small margins that make Pebble a demanding championship venue. Already boasting the smallest greens in tournament golf, summer conditions can make them play even smaller and make an uphill 30-footer more desirable than an 8-footer back down the slope. But when he looks back on where things went awry, Woods will surely focus on his second nine Friday. After each of the first two rounds he has hammered the importance of capitalizing on Nos. 1-7, then "hanging on" over the subsequent 11 holes. He did just that Friday morning, starting on the 10 th and making the turn at 2 under for the week. The stage was set for him to bury a few putts and move firmly into the mix, perhaps reaching the 4 under plateau currently enjoyed by Matt Kuchar and defending champ Brooks Koepka, among others. TT Postscript: Woods (72) can't buy a birdie, stumbles late Instead he missed three birdie putts from inside 15 feet before the course bit back, per his forecast, on Nos. 8 and 9 where bogeys dropped him out of red figures for just the second time all week. Staring at a seven-shot deficit against an accomplished former champ, and with more than two dozen other contenders between him and the top spot, Woods said all the right things and failed to give up on his chances for a fourth U.S. Open title and 16th major championship. "Right now, I'm still in the ball game," he said. "There's so many guys with a chance to win. We've got a long way to go and, you know, we'll see how it shapes up for tomorrow." But barring another flash of that 2000 form, Woods' realistic chances to win may have come and gone. While this event usually separates wheat from chaff with squares of all sorts on the scorecard, Woods' primary issue hasn't been an inability to limit the errors. Instead, it's been about creating ample chances and having little to show for the effort. Woods spoke often about the "grind it out" aspect of this tournament, one of its annual hallmarks. But this week, with verdant grass around every corner and coastal conditions relatively calm, idling by has left him chasing a decorated lead pack. And it won't get any easier to find the gas pedal over the weekend. Related slideshow: Best of the U.S. Open (Provided by imagn)


If you're a high school school age girls soccer player is there a better way to spend parts of your summer than traveling overseas to play some different competition, visiting some historic tourist sites and checking out a few Women's World Cup games? Thirty girls from the Elco United/Myerstown Soccer Club team are about to find out. The group, comprised mostly of Elco High School girls soccer players is headed to France and Belgium June 11-22 for all of the above, highlighted by a chance to see the U.S. women take on Chile on June 16. It's the latest effort by the Elco soccer community to provide overseas soccer and educational opportunities for the boys and girls players that compete for Elco United/Myerstown Soccer Club. Elco girls soccer coach Derek Fulk, who also took a group to Italy in 2015, is leading the trip, two years after the boys visited Germany. "The gist of it is it gives the girls and boys opportunities to go overseas every four years," Fulk said. "The last time we went was to Italy in 2015, and the boys went to Germany in 2017. Now this year it's our turn." The trip will begin in Caen and Normandy on June 11 and 12, and also include a visit to the Eiffel Tower, time spent in Rheems, France, a side trip to Belgium, two games against local competition and a second World Cup game, South Korea vs. Norway. A last stop in Amsterdam is also on the agenda before the group returns home. "Obviously we're going to play some games over there, but it's always different going to other cultures and seeing how people in other countries live," Fulk said. "I think it can be eye-opening for some kids. We have plenty of sightseeing we're going to be doing so it's not just a soccer trip. That being said, the main reason we chose France is because the Women's World Cup is there. It'll be a great experience for our kids, and the fact that we'll get to see the U.S. one of those games is fantastic." Fulk is also hopeful that the trip will bring his players closer together, while also giving them a new appreciation for the soccer opportunities they have at home. Parent chaperones will be going along, but the players won't be residing with them during those 11 days overseas. "It's almost like a team trip," Fulk said. "The kids all stay together, they don't stay with their parents. They get to bond with their teammates. Hopefully from that aspect it brings us closer together. Just being in a different country, hopefully they'll appreciate what they have here." But obviously the highlight of the trip will be seeing the U.S. women play in person. "I think our kids will love that," Fulk said. "There's a lot at stake. The U.S. women are the favorites, so there's a lot of pressure on them. I think it will be a great experience for our kids to see that." This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Fun, educational opportunities await Elco soccer players headed to France