Brian Urlacher is retiring from the NFL after spending 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. According to reports Urlacher turned down a $2 million, one season offer.

As a linebacker for the Chicago Bears Urlacher led a massive defensive squad that was largely responsible for the Bears wins amongst horrid offensive play over the last decade.

In a statement regarding his decision to retire Urlacher wrote:

Brian Urlacher Retiring After Turning Down $2 Million Offer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery believes that his club will beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on May 25.

The 30 year old winger is teeming with confidence ahead of the all-German encounter at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Ribery thinks that Bayern’s familiarity with its Bundesliga foe will prove to be the difference in the showpiece event on Saturday afternoon.

“We know Dortmund inside-out,” he began. “If we’re all willing and ready to give our all than we’ll emerge victorious.”

Bayern has made it to three out of the last four Champions League finals and lost out on penalties in front of its own fans at the Allianz Arena last year.

Ribery admits that they must not tighten up in the biggest game of the club soccer calendar.

“It will be crucial not to put too much pressure on ourselves,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever make the Champions League final again, which is why we want to give it everything we got to finally hoist the trophy.”

Bayern finished a whopping 25 points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga standings and Ribery believes his team is better but refuses to underestimate Jurgen Klopp’s side, which beat Real Madrid in the last four to advance to the final.

“Put simply, we are stronger. But Dortmund is a difficult side to play against. I was impressed with how they beat Real Madrid in the semis.”

Bayern advanced to the semifinals with an impressive 7-0 aggregate win over Barcelona and are seen by many as the favorites ahead of the crunch clash.

Bayern and Dortmund have squared off on four different occasions in the 2012-13 campaign, with the Bavarians winning two and drawing two.

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery hopes his team can add to its recent dominance of Borussia Dortmund with a win in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Franck Ribery In Confident Mood Ahead Of Champions League Final is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Pittsburgh Penguins took care of business on Wednesday night by thrashing the Ottawa Senators 7-3 in Game 4 at Scotiabank Place.

Sidney Crosby and company now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal and can close out the series in Pittsburgh on Friday.

James Neal and Jerome Iginla led the way with two goals each while Crosby, Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz also scored for the Penguins.

It was the Sens though that came out flying in the opening period and they took the lead just 2:29 into the game through Milan Michalek. Kyle Turris then restored Ottawa’s advantage less than two minutes after Neal had tied things up.

However, Pittsburgh stormed back with two goals from Kunitz and Iginla in the first 1:48 of the second period to take a 3-2 lead that it would not relinquish.

Crosby commended his team for not hanging their heads after the opening 20 minutes and said they knew the goals would come eventually.

“It would have been easy to get frustrated after the first period with how that went and the chances we created,” he stated.

“We trusted the way we played and ended up getting some goals. It’s always great to see your teammates have success.”

Special teams play then helped the Penguins pull away in the third frame as Neal scored his second of the game on the power play before Dupuis took the air out of the building with a short-handed goal.

Crosby and Iginla also found the back of the net before Daniel Alfredsson scored a consolation goal late in the final period.

Alfredsson wasn’t too concerned about the heavy defeat though and expects his team to exact a measure of revenge in Game 5.

“I know what we are going to do,” he said. “We are going to go out and play one hell of a game. That doesn’t worry me at all. We never quit and that’s not going to stop now.”

It remains to be seen whether the Ottawa Senators will stave off elimination when they travel to the Consol Energy Center to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.

Pittsburgh Penguins Rout Ottawa Senators in Game 4 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sergio Garcia didn’t chose his words wisely when speaking at a function for the European Tour’s BMW Championship on Wednesday, and he’s now facing pressure from his sponsors. The 33-year-old is in deep water after what looked to be a racist comment towards Tiger Woods, the world’s number one golfer who Garcia is obviously not too fond of.

When asked if he would invite Woods to dinner at the upcoming US Open, Garcia responded with a racist joke that may come back to hurt him.

“We’ll have him ’round every night,” Garcia said at the function, according to various media reports. “We will serve fried chicken.”

Using “fried chicken” as the main course in a jokingly manner doesn’t help solve his issues with Tiger Woods, and it will also cost him the support of many fans and possibly his sponsors.

Adidas criticized Garcia for his remarks towards Woods, and his multiple apologies aren’t going to save him this time.

“Sergio Garcia’s recent comment was offensive and in no way aligns with TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s values and corporate culture,” the company said in a statement.

TaylorMade is a golf equipment company that sponsors Garcia and is owned and operated by Adidas. The company’s statement doesn’t only express their disappointment in the Spanish golfer’s comment, but it also leaves room for further action.

“We discussed with Sergio that his comments are clearly out of bounds and we are continuing to review the matter,” the company added.

It’s obvious Garcia’s apology wasn’t enough, and the racial remark also didn’t sit well with Tiger Woods, who took to Twitter to express how he felt about the situation.

The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate…

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

The original dispute all started at The Players Championship when Garcia complained that Woods interrupted him while taking a shot. Woods’ disagreed, and the smack talk took over from there.

Tiger Woods’ didn’t say much, and he really didn’t need to as he went on to win the tournament and is currently off to one of the best starts in his career.

Do you believe Sergio Garcia will lose his sponsors after further review of his “fried chicken” comment?

[Image via Craig ONeal]

Adidas Responds To Sergio Garcia’s ‘Fried Chicken’ Comment is a post from: The Inquisitr

LeBron James to the rescue! The Miami Heat’s superstar beat the buzzer in overtime Wednesday night to beat the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals.

James finished with a triple-double, but his last second lay-up saved the Heat from an upset at home to start the series. The Pacers’ Paul George thought he would have the last laugh after draining a crucial three-pointer to send the game into overtime at the end of regulation, but James had other ideas as he stole the victory in front of a sold-out crowd at American Airlines Arena.

James finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the back-and-forth contest. There were a total of 18 ties and 17 lead changes in the game, which looked to favor the Pacers in the final seconds of overtime.

Paul George didn’t stop with his 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter as he made three clutch free throws with 2.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Pacers a 102-101 lead.

With Roy Hibbert on the bench for the final play, LeBron James took advantage and drove the lane for a last second lay-up that sealed the Game 1 win for the Heat.

‘Two teams fought hard,” James said after the game. ”We were able to make one more play.”

That one play could go a long way as the overpowering Miami offense has no plans of losing Game 2 at home. The Pacers would love to steal a game on the road before returning to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but James and company haven’t lost a Game 2 in the playoffs, or a Game 3, and don’t forget Game 4.

The Pacers left it all on the court Wednesday night, but it didn’t slow down the Heat as four-of-five starters finished in double figures. Dwyane Wade pitched in 19 points while Chris Bosh added 17.

Mario Chalmers finished with 10 points on four-of-seven shooting while Chris Anderson dropped 16 points off the bench. Outside of Paul George’s big night for the Pacers, David West managed 26 points and five rebounds in the the loss.

Game 2 is Friday as the Pacers will look even the series at one before returning home. Do you think the Indiana Pacers can slow down LeBron James and the Miami Heat as they battle for a spot in the NBA Finals?

[Image via Keith Allison]

LeBron James Saves Heat In OT Win Over Pacers [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Could Dwight Howard be headed to the Mavericks? If Mark Cuban gets his way, the answer could be yes.

Dallas is reportedly trying to swing a deal that would give away the team’s No. 13 draft pick in order to clear up space for the former Lakers center. The Mavericks have been looking for another star to complement Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwight Howard is the biggest name out there this free agent season (Chris Paul is also a free agent but expected to stay with the Clippers).

If the Mavericks can find a buyer for the first-round pick, it would free up about $1.65 million in cap space, according to Chad Ford at ESPN.

Dwight Howard said he wants to take free agency slowly, meeting with several teams to see which situation fits best, wrote Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. It would be much like the free agent strategy of LeBron James, who went into the 2010 offseason as a highly sought-after free agent and met with several teams before choosing the Miami Heat.

When free agency comes in six weeks, Dwight Howard will likely see interest from several NBA teams. Aside from Dallas he is also getting interest from Houston, which would have a good supporting cast and the cap space to bring in the All-Star center.

Howard had a short and disappointing stint with the Lakers. Brought in along with Steve Nash in an attempt to create the Miami Heat of the Western Conference, the team stocked with talent failed to gel. After a slow start, the Lakers salvaged the season and made the playoffs but were swept in the first round.

Howard was particularly disappointing. He struggled to fit in on the court and got into some behind-the-scenes drama with management and other players.

If Dwight Howard doesn’t go to the Mavericks, the team could still be in the hunt for another big player. Nowitzki told the team he would be willing to take a pay cut so the team has cap space to make more moves.

Dwight Howard To Mavericks? Mark Cuban Trying To Swing A Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kevin Durant’s massive back tattoo is done. The only problem is, the Oklahoma City Thunder player’s new inky may have a typo.

Durant’s tattoo obsession was first revealed two summers ago, surprising many of his fans. His self expression began with a series of tattoos covering his torso, but the latest ink covers the basketball player’s entire back.

The new tat has significant meaning to Durant and includes several things like an angel carrying a basketball, two hands depicting a three and a five, for Durant’s number, and the word “Maryland,” as a tribute to the star’s home state.

But the piece apparently wasn’t complete yet. Kevin Durant unveiled the latest addition to his growing tattoo collection on Instagram. Next to a picture of Jesus’ face, Durant has Scripture. Specifically, James 1:2-4. The Bible verse reads:

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Only one thing. Kevin Durant’s back tattoo appears to have a typo. The final sentence, instead of reading, “mature,” actually appears to say “mautre.” Despite the lessons Durant has had on and off the court, it appears he may have missed one — always spell check, especially on tattoos.

Fortunately, it appears the Oklahoma City Thunder player was able to get the spelling mistake fixed. After picking up on the chatter online about his misspelled back ink, Durant Instagrammed a new picture, captioning it, “I got mature spelled the right way lol.”

Along with getting more ink, Kevin Durant also announced this week his plans to donate $1 million to the victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado.

[Images via Instagram]

Kevin Durant’s Back Tattoo May Have Typo is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has recently been placed on the hot seat after his ball club’s slow start, but he made a gutsy decision Wednesday afternoon that seems to have paid off. The skipper decided to bench Andre Ethier to put his “most competitive” lineup on the field and the move must of sparked something, as the Dodgers went on to beat the Brewers 9-2.

Though Ethier is only hitting .264 on the season, he is tied for second on the team with four home runs and has produced in the lineup for years, making Mattingly’s decision a bit questionable, or did it? Scott Van Slyke, a 26-year-old with 27 games of experience coming into this season, replaced Ethier in the lineup on Wednesday and went two-for-four with two RBIs.

The Dodgers broke out to a 7-0 lead after three innings and Hyun-Jin Ryu took care of the rest on the mound. The star rookie from South Korea held the Brewers scoreless until the sixth inning when Ryan Braun hit a solo home run to deep left center.

The Brewers scratched across another run off a Jonathan Lucroy single in the eighth that ended Ryu’s day. The left-hander went 7.1 innings with four strikeouts after giving up two runs on six hits.

He was never truly threatened at any point, and it didn’t hurt when his teammates gave him a six run lead after a huge second inning. The Dodgers went on to add two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth when Van Slyke doubled in Matt Kemp and then scored on a double play.

Brandon League came in and finished off the Brewers in the ninth to take two-of-three games on the road at Miller Park. Mattingly’s decision to bench Ethier paid off after all, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see the slugger back in the lineup when the team goes home to face the Cardinals on Friday.

Do you believe Andre Ethier deserved to be in the Dodgers’ lineup for the rubber match against the Brewers on Wednesday afternoon?

[Image via Creative Commons]

Andre Ethier Benched In Dodgers 9-2 Win Over Brewers is a post from: The Inquisitr

A 66-pitch perfect game was tossed by St. Francis High School senior Michael Strem last Wednesday.

Strem and the top-seeded St. Francis Lancers defeated Monta Vista in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation Central Coast Section Division 1 playoffs. Strem’s perfect game in which he obviously retired all 21 batters that he faced in the seven-inning contest also included 48 strikes and eight strikeouts, so he averaged about three pitches per batter. It was also the first perfect game in the Mountain View, Calif., high school’s athletic history.

St. Francis won the game 2-0 on a sixth inning single by Michael Strem teammate Mark Cardinalli, so opposing pitcher Peter Stern also did a fine job in the playoff matchup. Stern allowed only three hits, walked three, and struck out eight in six innings. The Lancers went on to defeat Valley Christian-San Jose on Saturday by a score of 3-0 in the quarter finals, with Michael Strem notching a one-out save in relief of southpaw John Gavin. The St. Francis Lancers advance to play Palo Alto today in the CCS semi finals.

The senior’s perfect game is not necessarily what you might call a fluke. This season, Strem recorded a dominating 10-1 mark in 13 appearances with a 1.12 ERA and 71 strikeouts. The righty also has a .400 batting average with 40 hits and 17 RBI along with a .995 OPS and five stolen bases. He is reportedly heading to Boston College in the fall.

“It’s a pretty amazing, special day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Strem said of his 66-pitch perfect game. Added Strem: “It definitely helped that the game was close because I couldn’t lose focus at all. And this being a CCS game, we knew that tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed so we had to step up as a team. The important thing was to get the win.”

66 Pitch Perfect Game Tossed By California High School Ace is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Crabtree’s torn Achilles may force the up and coming wide receiver to miss the entire 2013 NFL season. The San Francisco 49ers lost the Super Bowl last season to Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens, and now they’ve lost their star receiver after the devastating injury.

Crabtree’s injury came during organized team activities (OTA’s) on Tuesday and he will most likely undergo surgery that could keep him out for the upcoming season, according to USA Today. The 25-year-old has shown signs of stardom throughout his first four seasons with the 49ers, but he now faces the biggest setback of his career before his fifth season comes to full swing.

Crabtree’s career wasn’t off to the greatest of starts after he was picked 10th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the 49ers, as his mediocre rookie season didn’t live up to expectations. In his first season in San Francisco, Crabtree appeared in 11 games and posted two touchdowns on 625 receiving yards.

He would fail to reach the 1,000 yard marker over the next two seasons, but he broke out last year as the 49ers gained momentum and made a run to the Super Bowl. The Texas Tech product started all 16 games last season for the first time in his career while going for 1,105 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Now Crabtree has a torn Achilles and might not see the field at all this upcoming season. Though some players have made quick returns from ACL injuries, the 49ers may take their time with Michael Crabtree to preserve his future in the NFL.

Up until the injury on Tuesday, skies were the limit for the talented wideout, and if the 49ers hope to have themselves a prominent athlete on the outside for years to come, they won’t push him while he recovers.

Do you believe Michael Crabtree’s torn Achilles will keep him off the field for the entire 2013 season?

[Image via John Martinez Pavliga]

Michael Crabtree: Torn Achilles Could Force Wideout To Miss 2013 Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

The St. Louis Cardinals have found their first road block after a great start to the 2013 MLB season, as starting pitcher Jaime Garcia is set to have season ending surgery on his shoulder. The 26-year-old visited Dr. James Andrews for an examination that revealed a small tear in his labrum.

Dr. Andrews described the tear as being about “30 to 40″ percent, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The left-hander won’t be back on the mound this season, and he could miss up to the beginning of the 2014 season depending on his recovery.

His shoulder problems aren’t a new issue, as he left Game 2 of the 2012 NLDS against the Washington Nationals with shoulder soreness and never returned throughout the rest of the playoffs. Many fans and analysts criticized Garcia for not returning, though it seems his early exit was the right decision.

Even with his shoulder problems, Garcia was off to a respectable start in 2013, as he managed a 5-2 record with a 3.58 earned run average through nine starts before visiting Dr. James Andrews. He’s also averaged seven strikeouts per nine innings this year, though he’s given up more home runs (6) than any other Cardinals’ pitcher.

Jaime Garcia was placed on the disabled list on May 18th and Tyler Lyons was called up as his replacement. Lyons is scheduled to start against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, and his stay in the majors may be a little longer now that Garcia won’t be coming back this year.

Garcia’s been worried about his shoulder for some time, as he was quoted by MLB.com this past Saturday for saying, “I’m very concerned, especially, the way I felt last night and the way I feel today.”

His concern’s were spot on, and Dr. James Andrews confirmed the bad news during their examination. Can the St. Louis Cardinals replace Jamie Garcia’s production in the rotation to continue their winning ways in the NL Central?

[Image via Barbara Moore]

Cardinals Pitcher Jaime Garcia To Have Season Ending Surgery is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jockey Eddie Ahern has been banned 10 years after the British Horseracing Authority found him guilty of corruption for throwing a race.

The 33-year-old jockey was found guilty of three breaches following a corruption inquiry, including failing to ride the horse Judgethemoment on its own merits in a January 2011 race. The BHA also found the Irish jockey guilty of passing on information about the race for reward.

Despite having a lead at the halfway point of the race, Ahern eased off on Judgethemoment and ended up finishing last of seven runners in the two-mile handicap. For that infraction the jockey was banned 10 years.

In his defense, Ahern said he misjudged the pace of the horse and others in the race. But the BHA panel found that it “could not accept that a jockey of Ahern’s experience, especially on the all-weather at Lingfield, could have made an error of such an extent”.

The jockey banned for 10 years said he plans to appeal the ruling. His lawyer, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said the jockey did not do anything wrong.

“Eddie Ahern is absolutely devastated by the BHA Panel’s findings,” Stewart-Moore said in a statement to Press Association Sport. “He did not breach the rules of racing as found by the panel or at all and he will be appealing both the findings as well as the very harsh penalties imposed on him.”

Ahern’s counsel in the proceedings, Jonathan Harvie, feels his client had been “hard done-by” but held off in criticizing the tribunal that banned the jockey for 10 years.

“Justice is an imperfect thing because people decide,” he said. “Some people say one thing, some people say another, and a decision is reached. History is littered with imperfect decisions.”

Though the jockey was banned 10 years, he actually came out of the ruling better off than a co-conspirator. Neil Clement, a 34-year-old former professional soccer player, was found guilty of teaming up with Ahern and others to bet on races that would be thrown. He was banned 15 years.

Jockey Banned 10 Years For Throwing Race is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Krzyzewski has agreed to coach yet another U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team.

Krzyzewski has been a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, leading the American men’s basketball team to three straight gold medals.

A source close to negotiations says Mike K. will announce his official decision by tomorrow afternoon. Coach K was originally expected to step down from his post but will instead hold a news conference at Duke University on Thursday to announce his return.

Coach K has led the U.S. Men’s Olympic team since 2005, taking them to three Olympics with dominating results. Krzyzewski also helped the US claim a world basketball championship in 2010.

Following the US Men’s Olympic team win in London Coach K said he was planning to end his coaching duties on an international level. Not wanting to rock the boat USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo waited until the Duke Blue Devils finished their basketball season before approaching  Krzyzewski for an answer about his future with the team.

Krzyzewski and his team of American basketball players will debut a new lineup next summer at the renamed World Cup of Basketball in Spain. A victory at that event will automatically qualify the US Men’s Basketball team with a spot at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil.

The anonymous source claims that Krzyzewski plans to add new names to his coaching staff. In the past NBA coaches associated with the Duke coach have included Mike D’Antoni, Nate McMillan and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.

No further details have been made available by Mike Krzyzewski or inside sources at this time. Rumors about the coaches return to international basketball have been circulating for days.

Do you think Coach K is still the right person to lead the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team to another victory.

Mike Krzyzewski Coaching US Men’s Basketball Team For Third Straight Time is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kevin Durant isn’t the only generous athlete. Los Angeles Dodgers outfield Matt Kemp donated $250,000 today to help Moore, Oklahoma rebuild after the devastating tornadoes last week.

This is the second time this week that Kemp has offered to help the victims in Oklahoma. On Monday, Kemp said that he would donate $1000 for every home run he hit from now until the All-Star break.

Some people criticized Kemp for the unusual gesture, saying that he was trying to turn the tragedy into some popularity boost, but the baseball player said that his heart is in the right place. Kemp said today that he would be donating $250,000 to the relief effort in addition to the home-run based donations that he has already pledged.

Kemp said: “Dear Families of OKC, On Monday, out of concern and emotion I committed $1,000.00 for every home run I hit until the All-Star Break. It was a quick and small gesture in advance of what I knew would be my greater contribution through your rebuilding process. I am keeping my pledge and in addition, donating $250,000.00. May God bless you through this and the many generous donations coming to your aid. -Matt Kemp #PrayforOklahoma.”

I’m giving $1000 for tonight’s HR and every HR until the All-Star break for the victims of my hometown in OKC. #PrayforOklahoma

— Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) May 21, 2013

Kemp also inspired a few other players to join the home run challenge.

I will join my Lil bro @therealmattkemp in his efforts to raise money for the victims in Oklahoma. I will donate $1000 for every HR I hit.

— Torii Hunter (@toriihunter48) May 22, 2013

News of Matt Kemp’s $250,000 donation comes a day after Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant announced that he was donating $1 million to the relief effort.

[Photo Via Instagram]

Matt Kemp Donates $250,000 To Relief Effort In Oklahoma is a post from: The Inquisitr

Brian Urlacher has retired just two months after the Chicago Bears announced they wouldn’t be re-signing their star linebacker. The 34-year-old made the announcement on his official Who Say account on Wednesday, and he ended the post by saying, “it was an honor to play my entire career for the Chicago Bears.”

The eight-time Pro Bowler spent all of his 13 seasons in the NFL at Soldier Field for the Bears. He is now set to retire after contract talks never amounted to anything more than a “good bye” in March.

“After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made the decision to retire,” Urlacher wrote on the account Wednesday. “Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that I could retire after 13-year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear.”

The five-time All-Pro couldn’t have said it any better, as his heart obviously still belongs to the faithful Bears’ fans. Now Brian Urlacher retires after putting together one of the greatest defensive careers in the franchise’s history.

The University of New Mexico product entered the league in 2000 after being drafted ninth overall in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Bears. It didn’t take long for Urlacher to make his presence known, as he started all 16 games in his first season and posted 125 tackles, 101 of which were solo, the second most in his career.

His best season came two years later when he made 153 total tackles, a Bears’ franchise record, which established him as one of the premier forces on the defensive side of the ball in the NFL.

Now, after 13 seasons and 1,353 tackles, Urlacher is calling it quits as he will always consider himself a member of the blue and gold. It’s truly an end of era at Soldier Field as Brian Urlacher retires, and he went on to say in his statement, “I will miss the great game, but I leave with no regrets.”

[Image via Mike Morbeck]

Brian Urlacher Retires After 13 Seasons With The Chicago Bears is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mario Gotze will miss the Champions League final after the Borussia Dortmund star was ruled out of the crunch clash with a thigh injury.

The news comes as a massive blow to Dortmund as they prepare for an all-German battle with Bayern Munich at Wembley.

The youngster was hoping to be fit for the final after picking up the injury at the end of April but will not recover in time for what would have been the biggest match of his career.

Gotze was understandably devastated with the news but believes his teammates will get the job done on May 25.

“Being fit for the final was my only focus and I fought really hard to get there in the last few weeks,” he said.

“I’m unbelievably disappointed not to be able to help the team in such an important game. But I have total confidence in the team and I will be there cheering them on from the sidelines.”

Gotze picked up the knock in the second leg of Dortmund’s semi-final clash with Real Madrid and was hoping to shake it off before his final match with the German club.

The highly coveted 20 year old is set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season, the same team that Dortmund will be playing in the final.

Bayern made a €37 million ($48 million) bid for Gotze, which triggered the release clause in his contract and he will officially join the Bavarians in the summer.

Another Dortmund star may miss the final as Mats Hummels is in a fitness race ahead of Saturday’s encounter but the defender is certain his ankle will heal in time.

“Nothing is torn so it’s not as bad as first feared,” he said. “I’m confident I’ll be ready for the final.”

However, the news is not so good for Mario Gotze who will miss the Champions League final in London, England.

Mario Gotze To Miss Champions League Final is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Atlanta Falcons were granted a $200 million loan on Tuesday from the NFL to build a new stadium. NFL owners approved the deal, though the team’s new home is expected to cost upwards of $1 billion.

Team owner Arthur Blank will commit to the majority of the costs, but it doesn’t hurt the Falcons’ owner to have the NFL throwing a hefty chunk of change his way. Another $200 million is in place through public bonds to help pay for the new stadium as well.

Blank commented on the NFL loan during the league’s spring meetings, and he said the decision to support the franchise with funds is an “important milestone” to get the project moving in the right direction.

“The NFL has supported new stadium construction through various means for decades,” he went on to add during spring meetings. “Our club owners understand that investments … are important to the long-term strength of the league, and we thank them for their support.”

The Falcons $200 million loan could go a long way, as the team desperately wants out of the Georgia Dome. The stadium in downtown Atlanta is one of the busiest in the NFL, as it regularly hosts other events from a wide variety of sports, including NCAA basketball and football.

Blank made it known that the new stadium’s design and construction will take place over the next four years, and that the team plans on opening the facility for the start of the 2017 season. If all goes to plan, the Falcons will finally move from the Georgia Dome, where they have been since 1992.

After the NFL agreed on the loan for the Falcons’ new stadium, they also set the site for the 50th Super Bowl. The San Francisco Giants new facility in Santa Clara, which will be named Levi’s Stadium, will host the 2016 championship game.

The NFL spring meeting’s always produce changes and upgrades throughout the league, but this year’s trend seems to be state-of-the-art, billion dollar stadiums.

Will the Falcons $200 million loan go a long way as they look to begin construction on their new $1 billion project?

[Image via Creative Commons]

Falcons Get $200 Million Loan From NFL, Will Finally Leave The Georgia Dome In 2017 is a post from: The Inquisitr

DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers “dunked” over ESPN anchor Charissa Thompson. See embed below.

Jordan made headlines in March when he posterized Brandon Knight of the Detroit Piston in an NBA matchup.

The hallway posterization of Charissa Thompson, the feisty Sports Nation host, was of course a satire of that event, but the potential for a workers’ compensation claim as a result of this bit was there.

Jordan even reenacted his famous “dunk face.”

Jordan’s memorable right-handed monster slam over the outstretched arms of Knight was even more notable in that the Clippers center is left handed.

According to Rant Sports, Charissa Thompson is a “good sport” for going along with the gag: “It may not be as close to the real thing, but Thompson once again took one for the team by pretending to take the fall as the victim to Jordan’s dunk. Props to Thompson as she showed us yet again why she’s one of the most entertaining sportscasters in the industry for performing a skit like this one.”

Thompson is reportedly jumping from the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” which implemented significant layoffs of rank-and-file employees yesterday, to Fox Sports. Thompson took over for Michelle Beadle (who herself moved to NBC) as co-host of Sports Nation of the summer of 2012, first with Colin Cowherd and now with former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley. In fact, ESPN moved the show from Bristol, Conn., to Los Angeles to accommodate Thompson.She also co-hosts the ABC diving reality show Splash with Joey Lawrence. Thompson earlier in her career co-hosted The Best Damn Sports Show Period and was a sideline reporter on the Fox Sports Network among many other television gigs.

Fox is launching its new sports network, Fox Sports 1, on August 17.

Watch Charissa Thompson get posterized by DeAndre Jordan:

DeAndre Jordan Posterizes ESPN’s Charissa Thompson [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Boston Bruins came from behind to beat the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday evening.

The win gives the Bruins a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal and also puts the Rangers on the brink of elimination.

The visitors fell behind 1-0 after Taylor Pyatt opened the scoring in the second period but Boston came roaring back in the final frame with goals from Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.

The Bruins hold a commanding lead in the series and can wrap things up Thursday night in Game 4.

Boston coach Claude Julien was pleased with the result and praised Paille and the rest of the fourth line for their contributions in the victory.

“They have scored some big goals for us in the playoffs,” he said. “We have confidence in that line. We’ve said it a million times. Tonight was no exception.

“They were on for both goals. You look at Paille’s speed, he puts defenses on their heels. We use them because they are good not because we have to.”

Things started off well for the hosts when Pyatt gave them a 1-0 lead but the scoreline was a bit deceiving as goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the game with some outstanding saves.

Gregory Campbell admitted the Bruins were frustrated by Lundqvist but knew that if they kept shooting they would score eventually.

“We wanted to stay the course, keep chipping away,” he said. “Lundqvist was on his game. We knew we were going to have to keep firing away and it wasn’t going to be easy.”

The Bruins finally beat Lundqvist early in the third period when Boychuk’s shot squeezed through traffic and flew past the New York goalie.

Boston then completed the comeback when Paille pounced on a loose puck in the crease to stun the home fans.

The Boston Bruins will have a chance to close out the series in four games when they meet the New York Rangers on Thursday evening at Madison Square Garden.

Boston Bruins Push New York Rangers To Brink Of Elimination is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tiger Woods has responded to Sergio Garcia’s seemingly racial reference.

The sparring golfers have traded barbs since the Players Championship two weeks ago, in which Garcia accused Woods of having bad course etiquette. Woods took a club from his bag during Garcia’s backswing in the third round, eliciting a cheer from the crowd and distracting Garcia.

Tiger would go on to say that he believed the course marshalls gave him permission to get his club, but that claim was denied by the marshalls themselves.

“He isn’t the nicest guy on tour,” Garcia after the incident.

Garcia added that the two men don’t care for each other too much off the course.

“He doesn’t make a difference to my life and I know I don’t make a difference to his life,” Garcia. “This is not just one thing. This has been going on for a long time.”

But the feud ramped up this week when Garcia made what appeared to be a racially insensitive comment. When asked if he and Tiger Woods had made peace, Garcia responded with a crude joke.

“We’ll have him ’round every night,” Garcia said, according to multiple media reports. “We will serve fried chicken.”

The reference seemed to hint at an African-American stereotype of eating fried chicken, one that’s been used toward Tiger in the past. After the 1997 Masters, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller joked that he hoped Tiger wouldn’t serve fried chicken at the next year’s champions dinner.

Garcia immediately apologized for his comment, saying his answer was “totally stupid” and “out of place.”

“I apologize for any offense that may have been caused by my comment on stage during the European Tour Players’ Awards dinner,” Garcia said. “I answered a question that was clearly made towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant in a racist manner.”

Tiger Woods responded on Wednesday morning.

The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate…

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

I’m confident that there is real regret that the remark was made.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

The war of words between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia may be over for now, but the golfers will soon meet on a big stage again.

Tiger Woods Responds To Sergio Garcia’s ‘Fried Chicken’ Comment is a post from: The Inquisitr

The San Jose Sharks downed the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game 4 at the HP Pavilion on Tuesday evening in the NHL playoffs.

Brent Burns and Logan Couture scored for the home team as they evened up the Western Conference semifinal at two games each.

Mike Richards scored the lone goal for the Kings who have seen their 2-0 lead in the series evaporate and they will now have to regroup ahead of Thursday’s pivotal encounter at Staples Center.

The Sharks dominated the early stages of the game with Joe Thornton leading the charge. He stole the puck from Slava Voynov before setting up Burns on his second attempt at 6:09 of the first period.

Thornton complimented Burns and stated he was confident the puck would start going in for his teammate sooner rather than later.

“Burnzie has been shooting the puck real well so it was just a matter of time until he put one in the net,” the San Jose captain said.

“After the first shot, the puck came right back to me. He was open again and I just made the pass.”

Couture made it 2-0 early in the second period as he was at the right place at the right time when Dan Boyle’s point shot hit his shin pad and beat Jonathan Quick.

The goal ended up being the game winner but Couture was quick to praise Thornton for his inspired performance.

“Joe was dominant tonight,” he said. “That was vintage Joe Thornton. Unbelievable, creating turnovers, making passes, skating. Skating like a young guy.

“He was flying. We need Joe to play like that for the rest of the playoffs.”

The Kings thought they had cut the deficit in half at 6:06 of the second period but a quick whistle nullified the goal, much to the chagrin of the visitors.

Richards did get Los Angeles on the board in the third period as they tried in vain to tie the game, despite outshooting the Sharks 14-2 in the final frame.

The San Jose Sharks held on to pick up a vital win over the Los Angeles Kings and the series is now tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 at Staples Center on Thursday.

San Jose Sharks Beat Los Angeles Kings To Even Series is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NBA Draft in 2013 has officially named it’s No. 1 overall pick recipient as the Cleveland Cavaliers have stolen the honor for the second time in three years. The Orlando Magic had to best odds to take the No. 1 spot, but Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert sent his son as a representative and it paid off once again.

The draft will take place on June 27th, and, thanks to Nick Gilbert’s luck, the Cavaliers will be the first to pick. In 2011, Nick took to the lottery to represent his father’s team, and, though he didn’t really have to do anything, the Cavaliers walked away with the top spot. They went on to draft Kyrie Irving out of Duke University with the first pick, and he went on to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award that season.

The 16-year-old good luck charm was back at this year, though he didn’t expect to be in the position in the first place. His father’s team was expected to improve on the court with Kyrie Irving controlling the point, but once again they failed to make a push in the Eastern Conference, placing them back in the lottery for the NBA Draft in 2013.

The Orlando Magic dropped one spot and received the second overall pick while the Washington Wizards made the biggest jump and managed the third pick, a five spot swing from their original eighth place starting position when the day began.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who recently announced they would like to change their name back to the Hornets, fell two spots and received the fourth pick while the Phoenix Suns rounded out the top five.

New Orleans, Sacramento, Detroit, Minnesota, and Portland complete the top 10 in that order. Now the Cavaliers are left to decide who they should draft with the No. 1 overall pick. Most basketball analysts have given that honor to Kentucky guard Nerlens Noel, though some believe Kansas’ Ben McLemore and Michigan’s Trey Burke should also be considered.

Who do you believe the Cleveland Cavaliers should pick with the first overall pick during the NBA Draft in 2013?

[Image via Deb Nystrom]

NBA Draft 2013: Cleveland Cavaliers Win Lottery For No. 1 Overall Pick is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jim Harbaugh has Indy 500 written all over him, right? Well, not exactly, but the San Francisco 49ers coach is set to drive the pace car at this year’s classic race nonetheless. Track officials at Indianapolis Motor Speedway made the announcement early Wednesday morning, much later than expected as the race is this coming Sunday.

Harbaugh is quite comfortable in Indianapolis, as he played for the Colts for four seasons from 1994-1997 and he’s since become a popular figure in the area. In 2005, he was named to the Indianapolis Colts’ Ring of Honor for his outstanding contributions to the team as one of the most popular and successful players during his time on the field.

Harbaugh will now lead the 33 racers onto the track for the green flag in front of an expected crowd of over 200,000. The 49-year-old shouldn’t be out of his element, as he is also a part-time owner of Panther Racing, which has three competitors in the field this year.

JR Hildebrand and Townsend Bell both drive for Panther Racing and will start 10th and 22nd respectively. Oriol Servia will also drive for the team, and he starts 13th in the 97th running of the big race.

Not too shabby for Jim Harbaugh at the Indy 500, who will sit behind the wheel of the pace car before spending the rest of the race cheering on his drivers in hopes of finding the winner’s circle.

Harbaugh called the honor a “tremendous thrill” in a statement by track officials on Wednesday. The Indianapolis Star first reported the news and even had the chance to speak with Harbaugh about his job for Sunday’s race.

“I’ve already had a dream about it,” Harbaugh told The Star early Wednesday. “I kept the car out on the track and won the Indy 500.”

As you can see, the 2013 Super Bowl runner-up, to his own brother no less, is getting a kick out of being the pace car driver for the historic race.

Will Jim Harbaugh’s Indy 500 racers find a way to win as their part-time owner brings them to the starting line on Sunday?

[Image via Michael Marconi]

Jim Harbaugh To Drive Indy 500 Pace Car For 97th Running On Sunday is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Trout has added another achievement to his ever-growing resume as he hit for the first cycle of his career in the Angels 12-0 win over the Mariners on Tuesday. The 21-year-old drove in five runs on the night while starting pitcher Jerome Williams put together eight shutout innings for his third win of the year.

The Angels jumped all over the Mariners early as birthday boy Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer in the first after Albert Pujols drove in Erick Aybar with a single. Trout struck out looking in the inning, but it would go on to be his only out of the game.

He singled in the third and hit an RBI-triple in the fourth to push the Angels’ lead to seven runs. Two innings later, he cleared the bases with a three-run double as the Angels continued to pour it on against Seattle.

Mike Trout capped of his night with a solo home run to deep center in the bottom of the eighth to complete the cycle and all but seal the Angels’ blowout win. Jerome Williams would’ve returned to the mound in the ninth to get the complete game, but his pitch count was at 107 and Angels’ Manager Mike Scioscia decided to take him out.

Mark Lowe came in to finish off the Mariners in the ninth, and he did just that with three fly balls to give the Angels’ their third straight win. It’s been a rough start for the Angels’ this season, and they lost three straight just before their current streak.

At 18-27, the highly powerful Angels’ lineup hasn’t reached expectations to start the 2013 season, or come anywhere close for that matter. The club is tied with the Blue Jays for the second worst record in the American League. The Astros can’t win on their best day, which rarely comes, and have fallen to the bottom of the league as they transition to the AL, just behind the Angels at 13-33.

The Angels will finish their short two-game series with the Mariners on Wednesday night before hitting the road for a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals. Though they’ve played better of late, the Angels are 10 1/2 games back in the AL West and sport the worst road record in all of baseball, outside of the struggling Astros team and the Miami Marlins.

Will Mike Trout’s big night in the Angels’ blowout be the much needed spark the team needs to climb out of the cellar and into contention in the American League?

[Image via Keith Allison]

Mike Trout Hits For Cycle As Angels Blowout Mariners is a post from: The Inquisitr

Seahawks QB Josh Portis was waived on Tuesday after the news of his Cinco de Mayo DUI arrest was revealed to the public on Monday. New details of the circumstance of the backup quarterback’s impaired driving arrest have emerged — and fans are beginning to complain about player antics on the troubled Seattle Seahawks team.

The May 5 DUI bust was a shocker because struggling QB Portis had been released from the Seahawks once before. He’d held a two-year contract potentially worth almost a million dollars for less than two months since the early April signing.

Portis practiced with the Seahawks Monday, but it was an already open question whether or not he’d make the backup slot against tough competitors Brady Quinn and Jerrod Johnson. The Seahawks would-be quarterback was probably in the battle of his life for his football career.

His agent JR Rickert was shocked too, taking to Twitter to blast the news media for reporting on the DUI. In a Monday night tweet that has since been removed, Rickert reportedly said: “[O]ur client #Seahawks QB Josh Portis: he was NOT arrested at all…”

CBS Sports reporter Ryan Wilson described the scene of the arrest in some detail, explaining that the Washington State trooper who pulled Portis over could smell alcohol and asked him to step out of the car.

In a move that echoes the recent Reese Witherspoon disorderly conduct arrest, his female passenger also got out of the car and began to scold the officer. According to the police report, she began to cry and told him that he was arresting a Seahawk: “[She] shouted at me and stated she couldn’t believe that I was from Seattle, and was arresting a Seahawk.”

It has been a bad couple of weeks for the Seattle Seahawks, with suspended player Bruce Irvin scheduled to miss the first four games for violating the NFL PEDs policy. Now this.

One blogger suggested that coach Pete Carroll could deflect some of the bad publicity by bringing in Tim Tebow. It would be a circus, sure, but it would sure draw attention away from Bruce Irvin and Josh Portis.

[Josh Portis photo by Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons]

Seahawks QB Waived In Josh Portis DUI Drama That Makes Passenger Cry is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jim Boeheim says Carmelo Anthony needs a lot more help if he’s going to take the New York Knicks to a championship.

The Syracuse head coach would know a thing or two about it. In 2003, he took a team centered on then-freshman Carmelo to win the national championship, and did so with a strong supporting cast around Anthony.

Boeheim has followed Carmelo Anthony as the former Orangeman star took over the NBA, but says it’s frustrating to watch Carmelo on the Knicks.

“Not on that team,” Boeheim told the Syracuse Post-Standard over the weekend. “He did what he can do. He played very well the final game. Everybody’s killing him, but Tyson Chandler just didn’t try to catch the ball.”

“He threw him the ball and Tyson Chandler went like this,” Boeheim said as he made a dodging motion. “He was wide open. He should have been looking for the ball right here. Kenyon Martin should have been looking for the ball.”

“They both went like this,”  Boeheim said and dodged again, according to the Post-Standard. “Carmelo gets turnovers and the announcers aren’t smart enough to even think, ‘Well, the guy should try to catch the ball.’ ”

The New York Knicks had a disappointing exit to the playoffs, falling in six games to the Indiana Pacers. After a season with 50-plus wins, the team’s best in years, the Knicks were expected to at least advance to face Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“It’s tough,” Anthony said after the Game 6 loss. “We all know what was the goal that we had set. Everybody wants to go to the championship, win the championship, that’s the ultimate goal. Unfortunately our run had to stop here.”

Boeheim thinks Carmelo won’t take the Knicks over the hump until he gets a better supporting cast.

“He can’t do it by himself,” Jim Boeheim told ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning about Carmelo Anthony. “And by the way, neither has anyone else … Go through the list and history. Every great player had a great player with him that’s won an NBA title. I think you can look pretty closely at that.”

Jim Boeheim: Carmelo Anthony Needs More Help In New York is a post from: The Inquisitr

It only took Michael Strem 66 pitches to achieve a perfect game.

According to Mercury News, Strem threw a 66-pitch perfect game this weekend to lead St. Francis High School over Monta Vista during the first game of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs in California.

It was the first perfect game in St. Francis history.

Strem told Prep 2 Prep: “It’s a pretty amazing, special day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life … I had all four pitches working today. I was getting ahead early so I was able to keep my pitch count down.”

Strem threw 66-pitches, 48 of which were strikes, and struck out eight batters during his perfect game. For anyone doing the math at home, that’s about three pitchers per batter.

Despite Strem’s 66-pitch perfect game, the St. Francis Lancers were only able to take the victory by 2 runs. Monta Vista pitcher Peter Stern was able to hold the Lancers scoreless through the first six-innings, but he would end up allowing three hits and two runs before the game was over.

Strem, who has committed to Boston College next year, added: “It definitely helped that the game was close because I couldn’t lose focus at all … And this being a CCS game, we knew that tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed so we had to step up as a team. The important thing was to get the win.”

St. Francis improved to 26-4 as they advance in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.

High School Pitcher Tosses 66-Pitch Perfect Game In California is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Los Anglees Clippers have parted ways with Vinny Del Negro after three seasons as head coach.

The handwriting was on the wall after the team’s ouster from the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of this year’s NBA playoffs. The Clippers won a record 56 games and finished first in the Pacific Division for the first time, but the early post-season elimination did not enhance Del Negro’s job security.

The NBA is a players’ league, and Del Negro reportedly was not popular with the players including superstar guard and free-agent-to-be Chris Paul. “There had been some belief that owner Donald Sterling — who has been fond of Del Negro — would decide to keep the coach, but ultimately the Clippers needed to do everything they believed necessary to re-sign Paul in July.” Del Negro was not under contract beyond this season.

Del Negro finished his Clippers tenure with a 128-102 regular-season record, which included a 17-game winning streak in the 2012-2013 season. A team executive said that “We would like to thank Vinny for everything he did during his three years with the organization. Vinny helped this team win a Pacific Division title and we greatly appreciate all that he and his staff helped us accomplish. This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward.”

Prior to joining the Clippers, Del Negro coached the Chicago Bulls for two years and an 82-82 record. He was let go by the Bulls in May 2010.

The former Clippers coach played college ball at North Carolina State and was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 1988 NBA draft. In addition to the Kings, he played for the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns as well as in for two teams in Italy. He averaged 9 points per game for his NBA career.

Clippers Fire Head Coach Vinny Del Negro is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NFL has given the Atlanta Falcons a $200 million loan to build a new stadium.

Yahoo News reports that the loan was approved today by NFL team owners at the league’s spring meeting. The stadium could cost as much as $1 billion and much of it will be funded by team owner Arthur Blank.

Blank said: “The NFL has supported new stadium construction through various means for decades … Our club owners understand that investments … are important to the long-term strength of the league, and we thank them for their support.”

Blank said that the “multi-purpose arena” will probably take about four years to build. The Atlanta Falcons plan on moving from the Georgia Dome, which they have played in since 1992, to the new stadium for the 2017 season. The Georgia Dome will be demolished after the new stadium is constructed.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said that much of the 2013 Spring Meeting dealt with the “stadium experience.” In addition to approving a $200 million loan for the Falcons, the league also said that there would be renovations at stadiums in Philadelphia and Carolina.

Goodell said: “We spent a great deal of time on the stadium experience.”

The league also decided that the San Fransisco 49ers, who are currently building a new stadium, will be hosting the 50th Super Bowl in 2016.

Focus on stadium experience at NFL Spring Meeting: on.nfl.com/12szGxO

— NFL (@nfl) May 21, 2013

Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank has issued a statement following NFL G-4 stadium financing approval: atlfal.co.nz/16LR2M1

— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) May 21, 2013

Atlanta Falcons Get $200 Million Loan For New Stadium is a post from: The Inquisitr

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was robbed this weekend.

According to USA Today, Rice’s Maryland home was burglarized on Friday night. The thieves took two guns and about $2000.

Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cpl. Cathleen Batton said that Rice was out of town for the weekend. A friend who was staying at his house in Reisterstown alerted police early on Saturday morning.

Rice released a statement, saying: “My family and I are fine, which is the most important thing … This is an unfortunate incident that I am dealing with through the proper channels.”

Batton said that the thief broke into the home through a window at the back of the house. The burglars “ransacked” the house before making off with a wad of cash and two guns.

No arrests have been made yet but Batton did say that the burglar was spotted on a surveillance camera outside of Rice’s home. It’s unclear if police were able to get a clear look at the burglar.

Rice, a three-time Pro Bowl running back, was drafted by the Ravens in the 2008 NFL draft. He has 5,520 career yards and 33 touchdowns.

Ray Rice Robbed: Crooks Steal $2000, Guns From Ravens Running Back is a post from: The Inquisitr

The United States Golf Association announced a big rule change today. Starting January 1, 2016, golfers competing under USGA/R&A rules will no longer be able to use anchored putters.

Rule 14-1b will prohibit players from using a putter anchored to their bodies. The USGA and the R&A approved the rule change today saying that it will “protect the fundamentals” of the game.

USGA executive director Mike Davis said: “This is about protecting the fundamentals of what the game has always been about.”

The putter ban has been a hot topic in the golf world for the last year. Several golfers have started using anchored putters recently (ESPN reports that four of the last six major champions were using anchored putters) and believe that a ban on the popular club would hurt the game.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We recognize this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf.”

Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley have all won majors with anchored putters in the last few years while golfers like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods say that the putter should be banned.

Woods said: “I hope they go with the ban … That’s something that I’ve said, that anchoring should not be part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs.”

PGA of America President Ted Bishop, said: “We are disappointed with this outcome … As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14-1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game.”

The PGA has not made a decision about rule 14-1b but PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem did say that it was very important for all governing bodies to adapt the same set of rules.

What do you think of the anchored putter ban? Will the PGA adopt the rule change?

Golf Rule Change: Anchored Putter Ban Approved By USGA is a post from: The Inquisitr

The New York Yankees have teamed up with Manchester City FC to acquire Major League Soccer’s 20th expansion club, New York City FC (NYCFC).  MLS commissioner Don Garber originally announced the league’s plans to create a 20th franchise in May of 2010, and after three years a deal is officially done.

New York City FC is expected to begin play in the MLS in 2015, thanks to both of the world-class organizations who have partnered to bring the 20th expansion club to the “Big Apple.”

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” commissioner Don Garber said in a statement on the league’s website. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country.”

NYCFC brings more football to the big city and it can only help the sport grow even more popular in the United States, as Garber added that “the New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”

The New York Red Bulls are one of the ten charter clubs in the MLS, and since it’s creation they have brought in top-notch players though they have yet to win an MLS Cup. That may change in 2013, as the Red Bulls are currently atop the Eastern Conference with 24 points.

Manchester City has had a connection with the Yankees well before their new partnership on Monday, as the club has appeared at Yankee Stadium for exhibition matches in the past. The Blues just finished their Premier League season this past weekend and they are now on a U.S. Tour that begins this Thursday.

City will face Chelsea FC in the “battle of the Blues” in an exhibition at Yankee Stadium after going to St. Louis for their first “friendly” match on Thursday at Busch Stadium.

Before the new MLS club can begin play, they will look for a temporary venue until a permanent home is set in place. Manchester City will be the majority owner, while the Yankees will continue to play an active role in ownership.

Do you believe the partnership between Manchester City and the New York Yankees will produce a powerful MLS club in NYCFC?

[Image via Creative Commons]

Yankees Team Up With Manchester City To Acquire MLS Expansion Club NYCFC is a post from: The Inquisitr

Memorial Day means that the 30 MLB teams will be wearing special camo caps to honor fallen United States service members. If you haven’t seen the baseball caps in question, which include a complete camouflage pattern this year, check out the tweet I’ve posted below for a photo.

According to USA Today‘s Nick Schwartz, the new camo hats are widely regarded as ugly. But in case that isn’t bad enough, a new rumor is flying around suggesting that players will be appearing in controversial camouflage-themed uniforms as well.

Paul Lukas of Uni-Watch, a site that obsessively follows sports team fashion, said that a reader tipped him to an interesting fact about the MLB team’s online shops. The stores are listing authentic camo jerseys with this fine print tagline: “As worn on-field Memorial Day May 27th, 2013.”

He’s right. The tags do say that, even though at the time of writing, the plans for MLB players to wear the special uniforms on Memorial Day haven’t been officially announced. By the way, they’re not full camo — but instead have touches like a camo pattern within the outline of the player’s number.

Lukas himself isn’t impressed, and he makes a strong statement about the rumored uniforms:

“Memorial Day is not a day for celebrating the military. It’s a day for honoring the military dead. A more appropriate gesture would be an MLB-wide black armband. An even better gesture would be a pregame moment of silence, without anything on the uniform.”

To Lukas, the new jerseys aren’t really honoring the fallen. They’re just another marketing opportunity for MLB shops.

David Brown for Yahoo Sports agreed:

“[M]y grandfather probably would agree [with Lukas]. He was among the Allied troops to risk life and limb on D-Day. He also knew the difference between Memorial Day and, say, Veterans Day. Grampa…didn’t even like people to applaud the playing of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ because it was not to be viewed as a performance, like some kind of top 40 hit…”

All @mlb teams to wear camo cap on Memorial Day; what do you think of the lids? buff.ly/YhFL0Z #sot #veterans twitter.com/PetsforPatriot…

— Pets for Patriots (@PetsforPatriots) March 29, 2013

Assuming the rumors are true, what’s your take? Are the new camouflage uniforms more crass creeping commercialism for Major League Baseball? Or are they a cool way for the MLB to acknowledge the fallen on Memorial Day?

[camouflage photo by Aaron Amat via Shutterstock]

Memorial Day: MLB Players Will All Wear Camo-Themed Uniforms [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ryan Vogelsong broke his hand in the fifth inning of a great outing against the Washington Nationals on Monday night. The 35-year-old was pitching a shutout through five innings before injuring his throwing hand on a foul ball at the plate.

Immediately after the ball made contact, Vogelsong jumped from the plate in pain, knowing his day was over. The San Francisco Giants went on to win 8-0 in the game, and Vogelsong still managed to receive his first win in seven outings after being taken out early due to the injury.

The Giants revealed that Vogelsong broke two bones in his right pinkie along with dislocating a knuckle during the at-bat. The 2011 All-Star hadn’t won a game since April 11th against the Chicago Cubs, but things were starting to turn around when it all came to a halt during his second at-bat of the game.

Vogelsong isn’t the best hitter, but he did drive in a run in his first plate appearance with a sacrifice in the fourth inning. On the mound, he was even better as he posted five shutout innings with two strikeouts on three hits.

The Nationals never got the bats going after Vogelsong broke his hand as the Giants’ relievers started right where their injured starter left off. None of the four relief pitchers gave up a hit the rest of the way, and San Francisco added three insurance runs before it was all said and done.

Now the Giants will be without one of their star pitchers for the next six weeks at the least, and the news didn’t come from the club’s front office. Nicole Vogelsong, Ryan’s wife, posted the news on Twitter shortly after the incident occurred.

Ryan has a dislocated joint in the pinky finger of his pitching hand. It’s broken above & below finger. Surgery tomorrow, out 6 weeks.

— Nicole Vogelsong (@nicolevogelsong) May 21, 2013

The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Giants, as they lost five-of-six games on the road before beating the Nationals on Monday.

Will Ryan Voglesong’s broken hand hurt the Giants as they look to regroup at home this week?

[Image via James G]

Vogelsong Breaks Hand At The Plate During Great Outing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Boston Celtics player Terence Williams has taken to Twitter to address an incident in which he was arrested for allegedly threatening the mother of his 10-year-old son with a gun.

As we reported yesterday, the 25-year-old NBA guard was taken into custody by police Sunday afternoon after he allegedly pulled out a handgun during an argument with the mother of his child.

The verbal dispute took place in a downtown Kent, Washington, parking lot.

Police located and arrested Williams a short time later.

The woman, whose identity has been kept anonymous, was keeping a scheduled visitation exchange with Williams and their child when things got heated.

According to police reports, the woman said that at sometime time during her verbal exchange with Williams, the athlete brandished a firearm and made threats.

Williams however had a different story to tell, as he explained to police that he felt threatened when the woman started kicking the front of his car after approaching with her boyfriend, adding that he sensed a third person approaching from the vehicle’s passenger side.

He admitted to grabbing his handgun and, but explained he simply held the weapon to his side, briefly stepped out of the vehicle, then eventually got back in the car and drove out of the complex.

A judge set Williams’ bail at $25,000 and he was released from jail Monday evening. According to the Boston Herald, the bail amount is half of what the prosecution wanted. Williams’ attorney requested that his client be freed on personal recognizance.

After being released from prison, Williams took to the web and posted the following tweet regarding his arrest:

A Million Stories Not One Thats TRUE…..Thanks To Those That Continue To Support Through Devil Testing Times…Those Thats Negative..THANKS

— Terrence Williams (@TheRealTWill) May 21, 2013

A former standout at Louisville, Williams inked a multi-year deal with the Boston Celtics in March that will carry him through the 2013-14 season.

Celtics Player Arrested: Terrence Williams Tweets About Domestic Violence Incident is a post from: The Inquisitr

Chelsea FC beat Everton 2-1 in their final match of the Premier League season on Sunday, but backup goalkeeper Ross Turnbull’s two-year-old son stole the show while the players shared their appreciation for their supporters after the match. Little Josh Turnbull was on the pitch at Stamford Bridge as Paulo Ferriera spoke to the crowd, and the youngster had himself a breakaway.

In one of the most adorable moment’s you will ever see, little Josh, not much bigger than the ball he’s playing with, dribbles his way to the net and scores with the crowd behind him the whole way. After willing the ball past the goal line, the crowd erupted into cheers and the little guy turned to the players and threw his hands up in the air.

You won’t see something like this too often, though baby phenom’s seem to run in the Chelsea family. Defender Branislav Ivanovic’s young son scored a similar goal two years ago, and he put together one healthy strike. The crowd in attendance was blown away, and so was dad, who slid in to hug his boy after the goal.

Ross Turnbull’s son was just as determined, and even a little tumble in the box couldn’t stop him from finishing the play. It may be time to sign him up, and the crowd agrees, as they broke into song immediately after the adorable goal.

Here’s video of two-year-old Josh Turnbull working his way to the net for one of the most precious goals you will ever see.

Here’s the video of Branislav Ivanovic’s son as he found an opening and took advantage for his first goal in front of Chelsea’s faithful supporters two years ago.

One thing’s for sure, Chelsea’s future is bright as long as these two youngsters follow in their father’s footsteps. Nevertheless, the adorable moment’s will suffice for now as Chelsea looks to improve this summer and contend for the Premier League title next season.

Is Ross Turnbull’s son the most adorable little striker you have ever seen?

[Image via Paul Hudson]

Ross Turnbull’s Adorable Two-Year-Old Son Scores As Chelsea Players Speak To Crowd At Stamford Bridge [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tiger Woods got the victory at The Players Championship a little more than a week ago and apparently doesn’t need any closure from his on-the-course spat with playing partner Sergio Garcia.

When asked if he sought out Sergio to address the allegations that Woods cheated by distracting Garcia during his backswing, Tiger Woods seemed to be over the situation.

“No,” Tiger answered tersely.

Woods and Garcia had an argument during the May 11-12 tournament. Garcia believed that Woods distracted him needlessly during the third round, pulling a club from his bag as Garcia was getting ready to shoot. The crowd let out a cheer when Tiger selected his club.

Tiger would go on to say that he believed the course marshalls gave him permission to get his club, a claim that was later denied by the marshalls themselves.

“He isn’t the nicest guy on tour,” Garcia after the incident.

Garcia acknowledged that the two men don’t care for each other too much off the course.

“He doesn’t make a difference to my life and I know I don’t make a difference to his life,” Garcia said Monday. “This is not just one thing. This has been going on for a long time.”

But Garcia had more criticism for Tiger while speaking at an event held by his sponsors.

“He called me a whiner,” Garcia said. “That’s probably right. It’s also probably the first thing he’s told you guys that’s true in 15 years. I know what he is like. You guys are finding out.”

“He can and will beat me a lot of times but he is not going to step on me,” Garcia said. “I’m not afraid of him.”

Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia have a chance to continue their growing rivalry at the next major, the US Open held June 13-16.

Tiger Woods And Sergio Garcia Continue War Of Words is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mario Williams said he never threatened suicide, despite what an ex-fiancee might say.

Locked in a court battle over an engagement ring from the failed relationship, Williams’ ex Erin Marzouki said last week that the Buffalo Bills defensive end threatened to kill himself in the period after their break-up.

Marzouki released a series of texts from Mario Williams at the time of their break-up. Issuing the texts through her lawyer after court-encouraged mediation effort failed, Marzouki painted Williams as unstable and prone to mood swings.

The text messages came from November 11, the day the Bills lost to the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

“No money in the world should leave me with suicidal thoughts,” Williams wrote during the exchange. He also wrote that he took three hydrocodones that morning and planned to take two more on the plane ride back to Buffalo.

Marzouki encouraged Mario to get help, writing: “Why don’t you talk to someone? Clearly you’re not happy & if your takin pills that’s bad”

Mario Williams on Monday denied that he was threatening suicide, saying the texts released by Marzouki’s lawyer were not in context.

“Obviously it’s just a tactic to cover up the point of the whole thing,” Williams said. “It is what it is. I could really care less. All it is (is) allegations and text messages and what not, whatever information blown out of proportion. I mean, it’s completely out of context.”

Williams also criticized Marzouki for making the private messages public.

“You sit here and text somebody who was supposed to mean this and that to you, and then this happens? No, it’s better off,” Williams said. “So I’m glad this is actually coming out.”

Williams is in a court battle over the $785,000 diamond engagement ring he gave to Marzouki. Williams claimed that Marzouki never intended to marry him and is only keeping the ring now in an attempt to get money.

Mario Williams signed a six-year, $100 million contract with the Buffalo Bills before the 2012 season, the biggest ever for a defensive player. The signing was considered a coup for the Bills, and during Williams’ three-day free agent visit to Buffalo in March 2012 he brought along Marzouki to look at houses.

Mario Williams added on Monday that he is not suicidal and, in fact, feels “completely fine.”

Mario Williams Denies Talking About Suicide With Ex-Fiancee is a post from: The Inquisitr

Real Madrid have confirmed that Jose Mourinho will leave the Spanish giants at the end of the season.

The Portugese manager has been in charge of the club for three seasons, but their President Florentino Perez has revealed that they have decided to go their separate ways after a poor campaign for the side.

Perez remarked, “We’ve decided to bring our relationship to an end. Nobody’s been sacked, it’s a mutual agreement.”

Madrid are 13 points behind Barcelona in the league with only two games of the season left, and they were even beaten by their city rivals Atletico in the Spanish Cup final last Friday 2-1.

Perez also added, “The club and manager agree the timing is right to bring our relationship to an end. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work. The team has improved in his three years and we wish him all the best.”

It is now thought that Mourinho will take the manager’s job at Chelsea, where he originally took charge of the team between 2004-2007, leading them to an unprecedented era of success.

After getting knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final, Mourinho told the press, “I know in England I am loved. I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one.”

Over the past 12 months, Mourinho has argued with a series of Real Madrid players such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, which has left Barcelona to reclaim the La Liga title.

Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Paris St-Germain, is thought to be Real Madrid’s number one choice for the position. The Italian has asked to leave the French side, stating, “I’ve asked to leave and I am waiting for their answer.”

Do you think Jose Mourinho will return to Chelsea?

Jose Mourinho To Leave Real Madrid, Set To Join Chelsea is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NFL will choose its 50th Super Bowl host this weekend after a league vote on Tuesday.

San Francisco is reportedly the favorite for the 2016 game but football’s biggest game may also be held in Miami. According to Yahoo News, the city that does not get chosen will compete with Houston for the 51st Super Bowl in 2017.

According to CBC, the 49ers have the edge going into Tuesday’s vote because the city is currently building a new stadium. Dallas and Indianapolis both hosted the Super Bowl shortly after unveiling a new stadium and many believe that San Francisco will be able to do the same.

Jerry Rice said: “I think with the new stadium … we can host a Super Bowl there … It’s going to be awesome. So I realize there’s a lot of history at Candlestick. To stay competitive in the NFL, this is something we have really needed for a long, long time, and I think it’s going to be awesome.”

The Miami Dolphins were also planning on building a new stadium but the city scrapped the plans earlier this month. The Dolphins have hosted the Super Bowl 10 times but without a new stadium it looks like the team’s chances are pretty slim.

Reporter Albert Breer wrote on the NFL website: “Following the Miami Dolphins’ failure to secure public funding for renovations … San Francisco sits in the driver’s seat.”

Still, Miami’s bid chairman Rodney Barreto said that he was optimistic that the 50th Super Bowl would be hosted in South Florida.

Barreto said: “We’re extremely optimistic that our bid is going to set a new level and they’re going to have a tough decision to make.”

50th Super Bowl Host: San Francisco Favored To Win 2016 Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Cleveland Indians powered their way past the Seattle Mariners on Monday afternoon for a 10-8 win in 10-innings. Young catcher Yan Gomes led the way with two homers on the day, including a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th for the Indians fourth straight win.

It wasn’t always pretty on Monday for the Indians, as starter Scott Kazmir gave up two runs in the first inning off back-to-back hits by Kendry Morales and Michael Morse. Cleveland quickly responded in the second inning when Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer and Gomes followed with a solo shot to make it 4-2 Indians.

Kazmir couldn’t hold it together, and he gave up another two runs the following inning as Morales got the best of him once again. The 29-year-old designated hitter drove in his second run with a single off Kazmir, and another crossed the plate on Morse’s double-play to tie the game at four.

Kazmir was relieved after giving up four runs on seven hits through three innings. The Cleveland Indians went on to trade runs with the Mariners over the next two innings to make it 5-5 going into the fifth.

The Indians regained the lead in the seventh, but Kyle Seager led off the eighth with a solo homer to deep right to tie the game again. After Eric Chavez hit his first homer of the year in the top of the ninth to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead, pitcher Tom Wilhemsen came into the game and blew the save after giving up a run on his own throwing error.

The madness continued into the extra innings, as Justin Smoak started the 10th with a bang, literally. Smoak launched a pitch from reliever Joe Smith into the right field stands to make it 8-7 Mariners.

The Indians were facing their first loss since last Tuesday against the Phillies, but Yan Gomes came through with the biggest hit of his short career to walk-off in style. With runners on first and second, Gomes turned on a pitch from Charlie Furbush, sending it over the left field wall to give the Indians a 10-8 win in one of the most exciting games of the early season.

The Indians are now two games ahead of the Tigers for first place in the American League Central. The Tigers have lost two straight games and will face the Indians on Tuesday to start a short two-game series.

Can the Cleveland Indians hold on to first place in the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers right on their heels?

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Cleveland Indians Top Seattle Mariners In 10-Inning Duel is a post from: The Inquisitr

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Josh Portis was pulled over and arrested around 9:30 PM on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, but the incident is only being widely reported now that his arraignment date is approaching on May 28.

According to The Seattle Times Seahawks Blog, Portis was going 80 miles per hour in a 60 mph zone as he exited the Mount Baker Tunnel. The officer who pulled over the Seahawks backup QB reported that he could smell alcohol.

Portis submitted to two blood tests, which gave contradictory readings. The Washington State legal limit for alcohol is 0.08.

One test came back 0.078 — just a tad under the line. However, the other reading was 0.092.

So far, Portis and the Seahawks have made no comment about the incident. They may feel that the conflicting results give Portis a case that should be first heard in court.

The Seahawks QB inked a new two-year contract with Seattle in early April. He previously made the team in 2011 but had been demoted to the practice squad and then released in November.

It’s widely believed that Josh Portis struggled to achieve the $480,000 a year deal he just reached with the Seahawks. One sports blogger said: “In theory, Portis is a very good fit as a backup to Russell Wilson – very mobile with a strong throwing arm – and it will be interesting to see how much he’s developed over the past year or so.”

Twitter weighed in:

Why am I seeing negativity on Josh Portis alleged DUI is more acceptable than Irvin owning up to PED use? Both did wrong and 1 is alleged.

— Brian(@Chawkz1215) May 20, 2013

“@elagergren: Seahawks QB Josh Portis arrested for DUI sbn.to/10gP42f via @sbnation // good one genius” why he is a back up

— Anthony Bettencourt (@AnthonyBett) May 20, 2013

Observers can’t help but wonder if the DUI Josh Portis arrest could derail the Seahawks QB’s second chance.

[Josh Portis photo by Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons]

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Arrested, Arraignment Coming Next Week is a post from: The Inquisitr

Manny Ramirez has a mean moonwalk.

The ex-MLB slugger, now a star in the Chinese Professional Baseball Leagues, was at bat in a recent game when he fouled off a tight inside fastball. In the process of swinging, Manny Ramirez lost his balance and moonwalked out of the batter’s box.

While he may not be mistaken for Michael Jackson anytime soon, Manny did have quite a spring in his step with the moonwalk. In fact, the aging baseball star has looked anything but washed up in his Asian stint. Manny has seven home runs so far this season and has shown a deft hitting touch reminiscent of his days with the Boston Red Sox.

This is not the first “Manny being Manny” story to come from his time in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Manny was also caught donning a Hulk custom as a possible nod to his spotty history with performance-enhancing drugs.

Manny’s team, the EDA Rhinos, reportedly asked players to wear Halloween costumes for a recent trip. Manny picked the Hulk, which may have been an innocent superhero adoration or a more subtle joke. In 2003 Manny was one of more than 100 major league baseball players who reportedly tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

In real time, it looks more like Manny just took a series of steps backward to avoid falling onto his backside. But the Taiwanese media liked to think that Manny Ramirez moonwalked instead.

A news report replayed the “moonwalk” over and over again, splicing the highlight in with clips of the real Michael Jackson doing the real moonwalk while “Billie Jean” played in the background.

Maybe Manny Ramirez should moonwalk more often. The slugger hit his sixth home run of the season on his next at bat.

Manny Ramirez Moonwalks Out Of Batter’s Box In Chinese League Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

Robinson Cano pulled off one of the most creative surprises you will ever see this past Friday as he surprised 13-year-old leukemia survivor Nick D’Annibale, with the help of MLB Fan Cave. The seventh-grader was given the opportunity to come play whiffle ball in the streets of New York City, but what came next he never expected.

An ice cream truck pulled up next to D’Annibale as he stepped up to the plate in the street’s of the Big Apple, and instead of getting a quick ice cream fix, out came Robinson Cano to surprise his biggest fan.

Is this not the best prop ever used by a big leaguer? It’s hard to top it, and it surely had it’s affect on D’Annibale. The youngster was shocked to see his favorite player, and after a quick introduction they went back to the game.

Cano threw pitches as D’Annibale took one big hack after another before the two switched places and Cano stepped to the plate. It’s one thing to get to meet one of your hero’s in Robinson Cano, and it’s even better when you get to play whiffle ball in the streets of one of the busiest cities in the world.

D’Annibale truly enjoyed the experience and Cano even went on to say, “whoa, you’re better than me,” after young Nick hit a ball off a building and rounded the bases.

Nick D’Annibale’s story is one of perseverance as he’s battled leukemia, and his father, John D’Annibale, said the treatments have been “really tough,” though his son has gotten better and is back in school.

The battle isn’t quite over yet as Nick may have up to two more years of treatment ahead. For one moment this past Friday, all the hard times throughout his battle disappeared as he shared a game with his favorite Yankee, Robinson Cano.

[Image via Keith Allison]

Robinson Cano Shows Up In Ice Cream Truck To Surprise 13-Year-Old Leukemia Survivor [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Calvin Johnson had broken fingers for most of the 2012 season, but said they didn’t slow him down too much.

That might be a bit of an understatement. Johnson turned in one of, if not the best receiving seasons of all time, setting an NFL record with 1,964 yards.

Numbers aside, Johnson was dominant on an otherwise dismal Detroit Lions team, virtually unstoppable at times.

And Calvin Johnson did it all with broken fingers.

“Yeah, I had a couple of things here and there,” Johnson said. “Pretty much trying to get them back straight, trying to straighten them things out.

“I had a couple of injuries but nothing that prohibited me from doing what I needed to do. The thing with a lot of football players, you have injuries, but unless you know about it you just think it’s something that hurts and you keep on playing.”

The busted fingers caused Johnson to miss a bit of practice time, but he says he’s all healed up now and ready for the 2013 season. Johnson said his goal is to top 2,000 yards in the coming year.

“I am feeling good,” he said. “This is the time to get the body strong and ready to go through what we are about to go through.”

But first and foremost, Johnson wants to win.

“I have talked to (retired Pittsburgh Steelers receiver) Hines Ward the last couple of offseasons because we share the same trainer,” Johnson said. “He told me, ‘You can have all the accolades in the world, but it don’t really mean nothing if you aren’t winning.’ I can get three touchdowns and 200 yards, but if you lose the game what’s it all for?”

The Lions begin OTAs on Tuesday, and Johnson said he’s ready to get to work after a disappointing 4-12 season.

“We know what we were last year,” Johnson said. “Very disappointing that we weren’t able to get back to where we were (in 2011), especially since we were so close in so many of those games. Everybody’s focus should be way more intense this year.

“But you can’t tell until you get on the field.”

At least this year Calvin Johnson won’t have broken fingers to worry about.

Calvin Johnson Played With Broken Fingers During Most Of Record-Breaking Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

J.J. Watt surprised one of his biggest fans this past Thursday, as 12-year-old cancer patient Cristian Beasley was watching his sixth-grade class from home. Beasley is currently fighting leukemia and the youngster uses a robot he named “Watt” to virtually attend class everyday.

KHUO-TV wrote a story about Beasley last week, and the Houston Texans’ star defensive end must have been watching.  While Beasley was participating in class through his robot, Watt snuck up from behind Cristian to give him the biggest surprise of his life.

Beasley named the robot “Watt” because the 2012 Pro Bowler is his favorite player. The young boy is one of 34 patients across the United States to use the VGo telepresence system, according to the TV station.

“When I heard the story that he named the robot after me and he was such a big fan of me, it was a no-brainer,” Watt told KHUO-TV. “To see the smile on his face when he realized I was in the room with him … there’s no better feeling.”

Once J.J. Watt’s surprise set in for young Cristian, they spent over two hours together playing in the backyard, which including a lot of football, some hacky sack, and a quick dancing session.

This isn’t the first time Watt’s gone above and beyond to produce a heartfelt moment, as he asked 6-year-old Breanna to be his pretend wife for the day in January after she told her mom she wanted to marry the NFL player.

On Thursday, Watt drove all the way to Spendora, Texas to visit Cristian Beasley, much to the delight of the youngster who nearly lost it during the surprise. The rest of Beasley’s classmates were watching, and J.J. Watt said his hello’s to the class before stealing his new buddy for the day.

Is there anyone in the NFL who appreciates their fans as much as J.J. Watt? Surprises or not, the 24-year-old has a connection with his fans unlike any other.

[Image via Jeffrey Beall]

J.J. Watt Surprises 12-Year-Old Cancer Patient At His Home [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A video of a wife as she douses her husband with beer at Wrigley Field has gone viral, but the couple have chilled out about the incident since the enraged woman dumped a brewski on her man during a recent MLB game.

The video in which the wife douses her husband with ballpark beer was a favorite takeaway of a recent Cubs game against the New York Mets — and it seems that the hubby was in a lose-lose situation.

The “wife douses husband” moment was caught on camera … and broadcast to viewers at home. The couple admits that they immediately began getting texts about the marital spat caught on cam after Travis Wood’s wayward home run went careening their way during the fifth inning.

The man explains he was “trying to protect” his “lovely wife,” and in the process, accidentally spilled a beer on her as he shielded her from the errant hit.

Was she grateful? So grateful she took the other beer and threw it in his face in anger — she later sheepishly admitted her reaction was one of frustration when MLB.com caught up with the pair after the game.

The wife who doused her man with a beer explains that she wasn’t thinking about a ball to the face after he accidentally poured a beer on her — she explains:

“I just got livid … And took my beer and splooshed it in his face. I figured if I’m wet, he might as well be wet too.”

As many have pointed out, the beer spat was not a cheap date — with prices per beer at about $7, it was a $15 total fallout after Wood’s hit went rogue.

But even as the “wife douses husband” clip circulates the web, the animosity was long gone. Before the pair got in the car, they were already laughing about their inadvertent viral fame.

Wife Douses Husband With Beer After He Protects Her From Ball [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is facing more trouble after 7 horses tested positive for steroids. British horse racing authorities (BHA) released a statement noting that they found stanozolol during testing with the horses, an anabolic steroid that improves muscle growth in animals and has also been used as treatment for humans with anemia.

The most notable horse in Al Zarooni’s doping scandal is the 2012 St. Leger winner Encke. The other six horses who tested positive are Energizer, Genius Beast, Improvisation, Stamford, Steeler and Zip Top.

This isn’t the first time Al Zarooni’s been caught for using performance enhancing drugs on his horses, as he’s currently appealing an eight-year ban from the BHA for 11 other horses who tested positive for anabolic steroids.

All the race horses are located at Godolphin Racing’s Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England where Al Zarooni got his start in 2010. Outside of winning the St. Ledger, he also won the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, with the British thoroughbred, Monterosso.

He was banned in April of 2013 and matters are only getting worse after his disciplinary hearing led to another visit and 7 more horses testing positive. Though the doping incidents continue to pile on top of each other, the BHA has stated that no separate actions of any kind would be taken “in respect of these additional positive results whilst Mr Al Zarooni’s appeal process is on-going.”

Blood samples of 391 horses were taken at the Godolphin stables of Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor in Newmarket. All of Bin Suroor’s horses tested negative, and he is expected to take control of the stables once he’s cleared by the BHA.

“Whatever the outcome of his appeal before the independent Appeal Board, the gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from control of the yard as quickly as possible,” the BHA said in a statement.

Do you believe Al Zarooni should be banned from British horse racing for life after 7 more horses tested positive for anabolic steroids?

[Image via Lostinfog]

7 Horses Test Positive For Steroids, Banned Trainer Facing More Heat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Joe Flacco won’t be using the “R” word ever again after slipping up before the Super Bowl last season. Which “R” word are we talking about here? During the 2013 Super Bowl media day, Flacco was asked what he thought about the idea of playing the 2014 title game at MetLife Stadium, which he responded, “I think it’s retarded. I probably shouldn’t say that. I think it’s stupid.”

As you can see, the rising Ravens’ star immediately corrected his statement during the press conference, and now he’s decided to completely erase the word from his vocabulary. Flacco wasn’t the only Ravens’ player who signed the pledge, as tight end Ed Dickson and center Gino Gradkowski also joined in.

Flacco has widely been considered a stand-up guy, and he even apologized again the day after correcting his slip-up that Monday.

“Obviously, it was a bad choice of words. I wish I hadn’t said it,” Flacco said during the second day of media at the 2013 Super Bowl, via Mike Garafolo of USA Today. “I have a great relationship with Special Olympics back in Baltimore and have had one for many years. I didn’t mean to offend anybody, but I definitely apologize for it.”

Nearly four months later, Joe Flacco has pledged to never use the “R” word again, and he signed off, along with his two teammates, at the Maryland Special Olympics’ offices in Baltimore. Interestingly enough, it’s the same location that he mentioned during his apology in January.

The Maryland Special Olympics posted a photo of the group, big smiles and all, on Twitter after they signed the pledge.

@teamflacco, @ginograd56, @eddickson84 of the @ravens sign the @r_word_campaign pledge to eliminate use of r-word twitter.com/SpOlympicsMD/s…

— Special Olympics MD (@SpOlympicsMD) May 19, 2013

Well, though they all seem to be smiling, Joe Flacco and Ed Dickson must of missed the countdown before the photo was snapped. Either way, Joe Flacco and the “R” word won’t be crossing paths ever again.

[Image via Keith Allison]

Joe Flacco Signs Pledge Against The ‘R’ Word To Correct Past Comment is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former NFL player Chad Johnson was arrested in Florida on Monday morning.

Johnson was arrested after a judge in Broward County determined that he violated his probation stemming from a 2012 domestic violence bust.

A warrant was issued for Chad Johnson earlier in the month after he failed to report to his probation officer on two separate occasions. Johnson also failed to show proof of enrollment in a required domestic violence education class.

Johnson failed to report to his probation officer on February 15 and March 15 and failed to show that he completed the court ordered Batterers Intervention Program.

Johnson was serving out his probation following a domestic violence conviction that involved ex-wife Evelyn Lozada. The six-time Pro Bowl player known as Chad Ochocinco was serving one-year probation in the case. Johnson and Evelyn wed on July 4, 2012 but filed for divorce in August.

Bail has not yet been set but is expected momentarily.

Chad Johnson turned himself into police and was arrested a short time later. It is still unclear why Johnson waited so long following the issuance of the arrest warrant to turn himself over to authorities.

Johnson has not responded to the new charges or arrest.

More information to follow as official police reports are made available.

Do you think Chad Johnson will be given a slap on the wrist and sent on his way or actually spend time behind bars for his failure to appear?

Chad Johnson Arrested In Florida is a post from: The Inquisitr