Day: February 11, 2017

Raiders reward coach Jack Del Rio with new 4-year contract (Sports Betting News)Raiders reward coach Jack Del Rio with new 4-year contract (Sports Betting News)

February 11, 2017| 3:27

The Oakland Raiders rewarded coach Jack Del Rio with a new four-year contract Friday, replacing the original four-year deal he received when he took the job in January 2015. Owner Mark Davis made the announcement Friday evening by saying the initial deal had been ”torn up” after Del Rio led the Raiders (12-5) to their first playoff berth in 14 years before a loss to Houston after quarterback Derek Carr broke his right leg in the second-to-last game of the regular season. Before Del Rio arrived in 2015, the Raiders had posted the worst record in the NFL the previous 13 years as they had a revolving door of coaches and quarterbacks.

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Raiders reward coach Jack Del Rio with new 4-year contract (Sports Betting News)Raiders reward coach Jack Del Rio with new 4-year contract (Sports Betting News)

February 11, 2017| 3:27

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The First Look: Genesis OpenThe First Look: Genesis Open

February 11, 2017| 3:16

• FULL FIELD: Genesis Open • COURSE: Riviera Country Club, 7,322 yards, par 71. From the days when Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin graced its fairways, Riviera has commanded its own star power since first opening its doors in 1927. Designer George Thomas pored over 15 possible layouts before settling on one that now features some of the TOUR’s most iconic holes. The par-3 sixth is famed for its bunker in the middle of the green, and No.10 is widely considered the best drivable par-4 in golf. The Los Angeles Open first arrived in 1929, and Ben Hogan’s three wins in an 18-month span – two L.A. Opens and the 1948 U.S. Open – earned Riviera the nickname “Hogan’s Alley.” This summer, the U.S. Amateur arrives for the first time. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. • CHARITY: The Tiger Woods Foundation becomes the tournament’s primary beneficiary this year, directing proceeds to the Earl Woods Scholarship Program and other TWF college-access initiatives in Southern California. • FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Jason Day returns to Riviera for the first time since 2012, joining FedExCup points leader Hideki Matsuyama and defending champion Bubba Watson in easily the best field since the calendar turned to 2017. … The lineup features eight of the top 10 in the world rankings and 16 of the top 25. … Spain’s Sergio Garcia, fresh off a win in Dubai, and Australia’s Adam Scott make their first U.S. appearances since last year’s FedExCup playoffs. … Woods will be limited to host duties this week, with his newest back woes scuttling plans to play his first Riviera rounds in a decade. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Lanny Wadkins (1985). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, George Archer (3rd round, 1983 at Rancho Park GC), Ted Tryba (3rd round, 1999 at Riviera CC). • LAST YEAR: Watson began the week with a kidney stone and ended it with a trophy, showing doggedness on both fronts to end his week with a one-shot triumph over Scott and Jason Kokrak. Two shots off the pace with four holes to play, Watson birdied two of his last three to push past the faltering Kokrak and stay a step ahead of Scott. The clincher came at the par-5 17th, when Watson belted a 334-yard drive and ripped a 2-iron to the back of the green that led to a two-putt birdie. Kokrak held the lead until he made bogey from the fairway at No.15, and Scott’s hot start cooled off in the middle before a closing chip-in gave him hope until Watson’s birdie at No.17. Watson’s ninth career PGA TOUR title was his first with a kidney stone as an added keepsake. • STORYLINES: Another victory by Watson would give him three in four years, the first to accomplish that feat at Riviera. Mickelson has come close, losing a playoff to Charles Howell III in 2007 before winning the next two. Fred Couples also finished second in 1993 after wins in 1990 and ’02. … The top 50 in the world rankings after the Genesis Open can make plans for next month’s WGC-Mexico Championship. European Ryder Cup breakout Thomas Pieters is on the bubble at No.50, seeking to move up at Riviera. … Kevin Hall, deaf since the age of 2, will play on the tournament’s Charlie Sifford Exemption created to promote diversity. Hall is a former Ohio State player who now competes on various developmental tours. • SHORT CHIPS: Fred Couples is a noticeable absence this year, as the two-time Riviera winner cuts back his plans. The 57-year-old pro made 34 starts in a 36-year span, but admitted this week that he’ll “probably never go again.” … Pat Perez hasn’t missed Riviera since he joined the PGA TOUR in 2002, but his perfect attendance at West Coast Swing starts is over. He sat out the CareerBuilder Challenge, ending a run of 57 straight West Coast events for which he was eligible. … With injury keeping Woods sidelined, Riviera shall remain the only PGA TOUR stop he’s played at least five times without winning. Woods has made 11 attempts, including two as an amateur. • TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS). Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ET (featured groups), 3-6 p.m. (featured holes). Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (featured groups). Sunday, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m. ET. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday, 1-7 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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‘An icon for our city & nation’ #RIPMrIlitch‘An icon for our city & nation’ #RIPMrIlitch

February 11, 2017| 2:56

The man behind the Tigers’ turnaround from American League also-ran to two-time AL champion has passed. Mike Ilitch, the longtime team owner whose investment of financial might into the team 13 years ago spearheaded his quest for a World Series title, died Friday at age 87.

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Fitzpatrick’s Jets contract voids, QB becomes free agent (Sports Betting News)Fitzpatrick’s Jets contract voids, QB becomes free agent (Sports Betting News)

February 11, 2017| 2:27

Fitz Magic has officially disappeared for the New York Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s contract was voided Friday, as expected, making the veteran quarterback a free agent. Technically, the contract was for two years, but contained language in which the second year would be automatically voided five days after the Super Bowl – meaning, Friday – if Fitzpatrick remained on the roster.

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Vikings dump 2015 starting guards Brandon Fusco, Mike Harris (Sports Betting News)Vikings dump 2015 starting guards Brandon Fusco, Mike Harris (Sports Betting News)

February 11, 2017| 2:21

The Minnesota Vikings have released Brandon Fusco and Mike Harris, the guards who started a combined 85 games for the team over the last five seasons. The moves were made Friday, one month before the start of free agency when the Vikings will likely seek some new offensive linemen after a rough year for their group. Fusco started 14 games in 2016 at right guard.

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Play of the Day – Wilson ChandlerPlay of the Day – Wilson Chandler

February 11, 2017| 2:19

Jameer Nelson finds Wilson Chandler for the poster dunk on Porzingis

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Spieth beats fog in Pebble BeachSpieth beats fog in Pebble Beach

February 11, 2017| 2:18

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Jordan Spieth knew the pin position on the ninth hole at Spyglass Hill as much by memory as by sight, which was a good thing considering the fog creeping across the Monterey Peninsula on Friday. The crowd behind the green couldn’t see Spieth, only a golf ball that landed behind the flag and spun back 3 feet below the cup. Spieth tapped that in for his eighth birdie of the round and a 7-under 65 that put him atop the leaderboard in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Spieth was at 10-under 133. Derek Fathauer was 8 under for his round at Pebble Beach and tied with Spieth at 10 under. Fathauer had to return Saturday morning to finish his round on the ninth hole. The bigger threat might be Jason Day, the world’s No. 1 player, who was 7 under through 12 holes at Spyglass when play was stopped. Day was at 9 under. Patrick Reed, who withdrew two weeks ago from the European Tour event in Australia next week because of a respiratory infection, was at 7 under and had one hole to play at Monterey Peninsula. Spieth mainly was thrilled that he finished just before the horn sounded to suspend play again, this time for fog. It’s hard to know where anyone stands until three rounds are completed, let alone when only 33 out of 154 players were done with the second round. Spieth only knew that his swing was dialed in and his putter — the most dangerous club in his bag — was coming around. “I didn’t feel any nerves out there, even though I knew I was toward the lead, just because so much could happen with three courses,” he said. “The first two rounds, it’s been easy. Tomorrow might feel a little different. But in my opinion, I’m at 10 under now. If I can try and just make two (birdies) a side at Pebble Beach each time, and make up for the bogeys with maybe another birdie, it may be good enough.” The sun, rarely seen this week, is supposed to be make an appearance this weekend. Spieth and Day will play Pebble the final two rounds, and it typically is the easiest when the weather is benign. What helped Spieth was going off in the third group at Spyglass and having what he considers the best greens on the rotation. He picked up birdies on both par 3s on the back nine, had a two-putt birdie on a par 5 and made the turn in 4 under to take the lead. Then, he started to get hot with the putter. Spieth rolled in a 12-footer on No. 2, a 25-footer on No. 4 and he saved par with a 15-footer after finding a bunker on the par-3 fifth. The most flush shot he hit all day might have been with the putter. Spieth barely reached the front of the green on No. 6, leaving him a 60-foot putt up the hill on a soft, spongy green, Dustin Johnson was right next to him after his approach pitched 3 feet from the hole and rolled all the way back. Johnson hit his putt so hard that he said, “I thought it was going into the crowd.” “Second row,” Spieth said in agreement. It was still 5 feet short. Spieth followed with what he thinks might be the hardest he ever swung a putter, and it stopped a few inches from going in. He wasn’t so fortunate from the front of the eighth green, a similar putt up a ridge that he left 15 feet short. It led to his only bogey. That birdie on the ninth was a good way to finish. Spieth had to wait to see how Day finished at Spyglass Hill. That was the mostly likely the only chance of anyone catching him going into the weekend. Day’s fortunes turned on the par-5 seventh, which began a streak of four straight birdies. Only the fog delay stopped him. Seung-Yul Noh was at 7 under with five holes, including a par 5, still to play at Pebble Beach. Pat Perez, who had to withdraw last week when he felt his surgically repaired shoulder acting up, was at 6 under at Monterey Peninsula with the par-3 ninth and its devilish green still to play. A pair of two-time Pebble winners were still in the mix. Brandt Snedeker was at 5 under with four holes remaining at Spyglass, while Johnson shot 69 and was at 4-under 139 heading to Pebble Beach with Spieth. Spieth will not tee off until noon, with plenty of players and footprints ahead of him. DIVOTS: Spieth and country singer Jake Owen were atop the leaderboard in the pro-am. Owen holed a 40-foot putt on the third hole, raising the putter in a pose made famous by Jack Nicklaus. … Phil Mickelson had three birdies and three bogeys in his round of Spyglass, leaving him at least nine shots out of the lead. … Torrey Pines winner Jon Rahm ran off six straight birdies through the seventh hole at Pebble Beach. He played the rest of the way with 10 pars and a bogey and shot 67. He was at 4 under.

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Oakland Raiders give Jack Del Rio new four-year dealOakland Raiders give Jack Del Rio new four-year deal

February 11, 2017| 2:05

The Raiders are doubling down on Jack Del Rio. The team announced Friday that they have given head coach Jack Del Rio a new four-year deal.

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Raiders give Jack Del Rio new four-year dealRaiders give Jack Del Rio new four-year deal

February 11, 2017| 2:05

The Raiders are doubling down on Jack Del Rio. The team announced Friday that they have given head coach Jack Del Rio a new four-year deal.

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