Tuesday 19 March 2024

HIGHLIGHTS | ROUND 4 | THE PLAYERS

2024 MARCH MADNESS: A FULL BRACKET BREAKDOWN OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT BY REGION | CBS SPORTS

2024 NCAA TOURNAMENT FULL BRACKET PREDICTION| CBS SPORTS


 

SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPS | FLORIDA GATORS VS. AUBURN TIGERS |ESPN COLLEGE BASKETBALL


 

$510 DODGERS JERSEY AND $150 CAPS. BEHOLD THE PRICE OF BEING AN OHTANI FAN IN JAPAN

AP Photo 


 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Mai Fukuo was gift-shopping for a friend. Hideki Chiba was in the same sports store in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo looking for something for his father-in-law.

They each picked up items in blue — Los Angeles Dodgers Blue, of course. This reflects the color revolution that's evident all over Tokyo in the last few months since Shohei Ohtani moved from the Los Angeles Angels — base color, red — to sign a $700-million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.

Angels caps have almost vanished in Tokyo. A Dodgers lid is the fashion item — a bit like designer-label goods.

“Ohtani just changed our store,” said Takuto Yamashita, a part-time worker at a shop called Selection, which boasts Japan's largest array of MLB gear for all 30 teams, and the 12 Japanese pro teams, too.

But there's one team that matters more than the rest in Japan. And only one player, which is why the Dodgers invested so heavily in Ohtani; not just for his pitching and hitting, but for his celebrity status to market the Dodgers as Japan's team.

“The place is completely different. It went from all red to to all blue," Yamashita added. "Without Ohtani in these last few months, the sales in this store would be so different.”

Fukuo eyed a traditional white jersey with “Dodgers” in script across the front. She lifted it off the rack — a quilt of Dodgers and Ohtani garb — and admired it for looks, size and texture.

“I'm thinking of buy this t-shirt for my co-worker because Ohtani is very famous — of course in Japan — and also all over the world," she explained. "He likes baseball and he likes Ohtani so I'm thinking of this.”

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Monday 18 March 2024

GIANTS AND PA ANNOUNCER RENEL BROOKS-MOON PART WAYS AFTER 24 YEARS

AP Photo 


 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants and longtime public-address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon are parting ways after the sides failed to reach agreement on a contract extension.

The Giants said Monday there were “extensive discussions” about a new deal after Brooks-Moon’s contract ended in December, but instead “they mutually and amicably agreed to part ways.”

Brooks-Moon was one of baseball's first Black female PA announcers and now will be the club's public address announcer emeritus, still representing the Giants in the community as a volunteer, activist and mentor.

The booth at Oracle Park will be named in her honor.

Brooks-Moon thanked fans and wished her successor well, along with new manager Bob Melvin as the team prepares for the 2024 season.

“As a Bay Area native, it has been the honor of my lifetime to serve on the mic, and in the community for the Giants for 24 years,” Brooks-Moon said in a statement. “My very first game on April 11, 2000, I shall never forget because the job has always been bigger than me. Representation matters, and it is my great hope that my time in the booth has inspired little girls, young women and people of color to pursue their dreams even if those dreams seem impossible, because impossible dreams can come true."

Brooks-Moon became the first female public-address announcer for a World Series in 2002, and she also was the first woman to work the PA mic for a championship in any major sport.

“Renel has been the familiar and inspirational voice for generations of players and fans at Oracle Park,” Giants CEO Larry Baer said. “As an ambassador for the organization and a respected leader, Renel has been a Giant voice in the ballpark and in the community, and will be a Forever Giant. It will be a fitting tribute to name the PA booth in her honor.”

MARCH MADNESS BRACKETS ARE HERE ARE HERE. HERE'S HOW TO PICK YOUR TEAMS

AP Photo 


 March Madness this year comes at a time of great uncertainty in college sports.

In addition to eyeing potential 5-12 upsets and trying to figure out which sleeper to put in the Elite Eight, fans also have to consider more existential questions about college basketball's future. How will realignment affect the makeup of Division I? How much will football-related decisions affect basketball? How long will the NCAA Tournament stay at 68 teams, and if it changes, what will that mean for the Cinderellas of March?

For now, this event looks pretty much the way it has for a generation. Don't take it for granted as you fill out your brackets — and if you need some tips, here you go. A Final Four with UConn, Houston, Gonzaga and Michigan State? Let us explain:


EAST REGION

First round winners: UConn, Northwestern, San Diego State, Auburn, BYU, Illinois, Drake, Iowa State.

Yale brings 7-footer Danny Wolf and an experienced supporting cast, but drew a tough first-round matchup against fourth-seeded Auburn. The Tigers are ranked No. 4 in the country by Ken Pomeroy.

Second round winners: UConn, Auburn, Illinois, Iowa State.

The Sweet 16 in this region could include the conference tournament champions of the Big East, SEC, Big Ten and Big 12.

Regional semifinal winners: UConn, Iowa State.

UConn is the betting favorite to win a second straight national title. The Huskies are also ranked No. 1 by Pomeroy, and although we're used to surprises it's hard to pick them to exit before the Elite Eight.

Regional champion: UConn. Iowa State had a case for a No. 1 seed, but there's a gap between the Cyclones and the Huskies.


SOUTH REGION

First Four: Colorado over Boise State.

First round winners: Houston, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Duke, Texas Tech, Kentucky, Florida, Marquette.

James Madison over Wisconsin figures to be a popular first-round upset pick — maybe a little too popular. Same with Vermont over Duke. The chalk holds in this region, for this round anyway.

Second round winners: Houston, Duke, Kentucky, Florida.

Kentucky's defense should be its undoing eventually, but the Wildcats beat Texas Tech in a clash of styles.

Regional semifinal winners: Houston, Kentucky.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in the South are being held in Dallas, so expect the Cougars to have plenty of support.

Regional champion: Houston. The Cougars should be well prepared after joining the Big 12 and facing a power-conference schedule. It's on to the Final Four for Kelvin Sampson's team.

SWIATEK DOWNS SAKKARI TO WIN SECOND INDIAN WELLS TITLE

USA TODAY Sports 

 World number one Iga Swiatek dominated ninth seed Maria Sakkari to win the Indian Wells final 6-4 6-0 and claim the title for a second time in the California desert on Sunday.

In a rematch of the 2022 showpiece, Swiatek's precise serving and speedy defence proved too much for her Greek opponent and the Pole reeled off the final eight games to close out a tournament where she never dropped a set.

"I'm really proud of myself, I'm super happy," Swiatek told reporters. "Even though this tournament looked like, the scores, maybe I had everything under control, it wasn't from the beginning to the end so easy.

"So I'm happy I could improve during the tournament. I felt really good on the last two matches, big amount of confidence. I'm really proud of myself."

Swiatek, who won her third straight Qatar Open in Doha last month, beamed a big smile on the sun-soaked stadium court after getting her hands on the Indian Wells trophy again.

"Right now I just feel I've done really good work," said the 22-year-old, who was upset in the third round of January's Australian Open.

"It hasn't been easy after Australia, and I've been working hard to play well and to handle everything mentally well."

NBA'S TOP 10 PLAYS OF THE NIGHT | MARCH 17, 2024


 

TEB BULL EMPLOYEE LODGES APPEAL AFTER COMPLAINT AGAINST CHRISTIAN HORNER DISMISSED - REPORTS


 The Red Bull Formula One employee who accused team boss Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour has lodged an appeal after her complaint was dismissed, the BBC and the PA news agency reported.

The move is likely to keep the subject as a major talking point in Formula One and continue to cast a shadow over the season.

The unidentified woman was suspended last week after an investigation carried out by a senior independent lawyer, who has also not been named, cleared Horner.

The 50-year-old team boss had denied the unspecified accusations against him.

There was no immediate confirmation from Red Bull GmbH, the Formula One champions' Austria-based parent company.

Red Bull GmbH said in a brief statement on Feb. 28, before the start of the season, that the complainant had a right of appeal after the grievance was dismissed.

The energy drink company also said it was confident the investigation had been "fair, rigorous and impartial," but there have been calls for more transparency with no details published.

Horner faced a barrage of questions at last week's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and can expect more when the circus arrives in Australia next week.

Horner has repeatedly called for the focus to be turned back on racing.

Red Bull have started the year in dominant fashion with two one-two wins led by triple champion Max Verstappen, whose future with the team has become increasingly uncertain due to the off-track events.

Verstappen's father, Jos, said after the opening Bahrain Grand Prix that the team risked being torn apart if Horner stayed in charge.

The Dutch 26-year-old driver has also indicated the continued presence at the team of 80-year-old Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko was a key to him staying after the Austrian feared he would be dismissed.

- Reuters 

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Sunday 17 March 2024

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW

CHELSEA VS. LEICESTER | KEY MOMENTS


 

BOXING GREAT ROBERTO DURAH RECEIVING CARE FOR HEART PROBLEM


 PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Boxing great Roberto Duran, 72, was receiving medical care for a heart problem, his family said Saturday.

Duran, who was a champion in four different weight classes, "has suffered a health complication due to an atrioventricular blockade," his family said in a statement on Duran's Instagram account.

"We are waiting for results so that we can provide more information on his health," the statement continued. "We thank our relatives, friends and all of his supporters who are praying for him."



WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a social media post that Duran was being treated in a hospital in his native Panama.

"His family is joined by the world in prayers for his successful and prompt recovery, he is a champion and will win this fight," Sulaiman said in the post on X.


BROKEN CLOCK, REVIEWS MAR FINAL MINUTES OF LAKERS-WARRIORS

AP


 LOS ANGELES -- The last two minutes of the game clock in the Golden State Warriors' 128-121 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night took more than 20 minutes of real time to play out thanks to a series of replay reviews and shot-clock malfunctions.

The delays began with 1:50 remaining in the fourth, with the Lakers trailing 124-120, when L.A. coach Darvin Ham challenged an out-of-bounds call that granted the Warriors possession while Lakers center Jaxson Hayes and Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins both went for the rebound.

While the officials were reviewing the out-of-bounds call, they determined that the corner 3-pointer LeBron James made on the previous trip down the court with 2:07 remaining did not count.

The Lakers ended up winning the challenge -- Hayes and Wiggins faced off for a jump ball -- but lost points in the process.

"I've never seen that be called before like that -- in that particular time," said James, who finished with 40 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds. "That was kind of weird. ... It took some momentum away from us."

The ruling was eerily similar to one from a December game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which a late 3 by James that would have tied the score was downgraded to a 2-pointer after review. Just like he did that night, James disagreed with the call Saturday.

"I didn't believe I stepped on the line, obviously," James said Saturday. "I knew how much space I had over there. And when I shoot, I shoot on my tippy toes, so it's kind of hard for me to have a heel down."

Crew chief David Guthrie explained the ruling in a postgame statement to a pool reporter.

"James' left foot is out of bounds as he begins to shoot," Guthrie said. "Yes, it is reviewable at that time. The rule is Rule 13, Section II(f)(3): Whether the shooter committed a boundary line violation, the replay center official will only look at the position of the player's feet at the moment they touch the floor immediately prior to the release of the shot. This can be applied during other replay triggers as well."

While the overturned 3 helped his team, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he would just as soon lived without the ruling.

"I also don't like the rule that you can go back and look at an out of bounds, or LeBron's 3," Kerr said. "That seems to happen once or twice a year. I'd love to see that rule go away. I think we're trying so hard to get everything just right, at the expense of the flow. I mean, who cares if a guy's foot is half an inch on the line? Is that worth going back 45 seconds and changing everything, with the unintended consequences? It's not my favorite rule, for sure."

James, however, defended the spirit of the replay rules.

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