Play Of The Day: Eric BledsoePlay Of The Day: Eric Bledsoe
Eric Bledsoe nails the half-court buzzer beater as time runs out in the first half.
Day: February 15, 2017
Fritchie field boasts five last-out stakes winnersFritchie field boasts five last-out stakes winners
Fritchie field boasts five last-out stakes winners
Back spasms force Woods to cancel news conferenceBack spasms force Woods to cancel news conference
LOS ANGELES — Back spasms not only kept Tiger Woods from playing at Riviera, they forced him to withdraw from a news conference. Woods, the unofficial host of the Genesis Open, pushed his new conference back until Wednesday and then canceled it. The tournament said in a statement that after getting daily treatment the last four days, Woods was advised by doctors to limit all activities. “He flew out here and got to see one of his doctors,” Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, said Wednesday. “Based on the work they did the last couple of days, they advised he just stay horizontal. It’s best to listen to the doctors. The ultimate goal is to get out and play.” Woods has not played Riviera, his hometown event, since 2006. When Genesis Motors signed on as title sponsor last year, it picked the Tiger Woods Foundation as the chief charitable beneficiary and the tournament host organization. That assured Woods playing, and even when back spasms surfaced in Dubai two weeks ago and forced him to withdraw, he still flew to California on Saturday with hopes of taking part in various tournament activities. Instead, he has stayed in his hotel. “The hope was the spasms would calm down,” Steinberg said. “And they haven’t.” It painted a dark future for Woods, at least immediately. He already was out of golf for 15 months recovering from three back surgeries, and his return was promising in the Bahamas the first week of December because of the freedom in his swing and the 24 birdies on his scorecard. But he missed the cut at Torrey Pines, and then Steinberg said the spasms arrived late Thursday night in Dubai after Woods opened with a 77 and walked gingerly, particularly climbing out of the bunkers. Woods had said after his opening round there was no pain in his back, even though that didn’t look to be the case. Missing a news conference only fueled speculation about when he might play again. Steinberg said he was aware it looked bad that Woods was in no shape to sit for 20 minutes and take questions, though he’s not sure how much substance a media session would provide. “It would have gone like many of them has gone the past several weeks — a lot of questions and no answers. Frustrating for him,” Steinberg said. “But he has given full, maximum effort to get back out here.” Woods also withdrew from the Honda Classic next week in Florida. His next most logical chance would be the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, though Steinberg said the conversations he’s had with Woods do not involve golf at the moment. “The goal is to get everything to calm down, have it calm down for a while, continue to get treatment and get back to a place where he’s chipping and putting and hitting balls,” he said. “We’re not talking about an extended break.”
Embiid out of All-Star events, replaced by Jokic and Abrines (Sports Betting News)Embiid out of All-Star events, replaced by Jokic and Abrines (Sports Betting News)
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid will not participate in the Rising Stars Challenge or the Skills Challenge at All-Star weekend in New Orleans because of an injured left knee. Oklahoma City’s Alex Abrines will replace Embiid on the World Team for Friday night’s Rising Stars game. Denver’s Nikola Jokic will take Embiid’s spot in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night.
Indians’ Brantley to miss start of Cactus LeagueIndians’ Brantley to miss start of Cactus League
Indians’ Brantley to miss start of Cactus League
Back spasms force Woods to withdraw from news conference (Sports Betting News)Back spasms force Woods to withdraw from news conference (Sports Betting News)
Back spasms not only kept Tiger Woods from playing at Riviera, they forced him to withdraw from a news conference. Woods, the unofficial host of the Genesis Open, pushed his new conference back until Wednesday and then canceled it. The tournament said in a statement that after getting daily treatment the last four days, Woods was advised by doctors to limit all activities.
Woods cancels news conference due to bad back (Sports Betting News)Woods cancels news conference due to bad back (Sports Betting News)
(Officialsportsbetting.com) – Tiger Woods was supposed to hold a news conference on Wednesday at the Genesis Open but canceled the event after doctors said the former world number one should limit all activities while he battles back spasms. Woods pulled out of Feb. 16-19 Genesis Open last week but the 14-times major champion was still planning to be at Riviera this week as the tournament’s host. “After receiving daily treatment the last several days on his on-going back spasms, Tiger Woods has again been advised by doctors to limit all activities and will not hold a press conference Wednesday.
Arrieta hopeful of landing new contract to stay with Cubs (Sports Betting News)Arrieta hopeful of landing new contract to stay with Cubs (Sports Betting News)
Jake Arrieta is hopeful of working out a new contract that would keep him with the Chicago Cubs before he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2017 season, yet he also realizes this could be his final year with the club if talks don’t materialize. The ace right-hander and 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner landed a one-year deal for $15,637,500 last month to avoid salary arbitration. As the reigning World Series champions geared up for the first pitchers and catchers workout, Arrieta insisted Wednesday at the start of spring training that he won’t allow his future to be a distraction.
Arrieta hopeful of landing new contract to stay with Cubs (Sports Betting News)Arrieta hopeful of landing new contract to stay with Cubs (Sports Betting News)
Jake Arrieta is hopeful of working out a new contract that would keep him with the Chicago Cubs before he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2017 season, yet he also realizes this could be his final year with the club if talks don’t materialize. The ace right-hander and 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner landed a one-year deal for $15,637,500 last month to avoid salary arbitration. As the reigning World Series champions geared up for the first pitchers and catchers workout, Arrieta insisted Wednesday at the start of spring training that he won’t allow his future to be a distraction.
Jaguars re-sign QB Chad Henne, DT Abry Jones (Sports Betting News)Jaguars re-sign QB Chad Henne, DT Abry Jones (Sports Betting News)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed quarterback Chad Henne and defensive tackle Abry Jones.