Pacers’ George denies comments were criticalPacers’ George denies comments were critical
Pacers’ George denies comments were critical
Day: April 19, 2017
Wizards’ Morris: Game 2 may be ‘double MMA’Wizards’ Morris: Game 2 may be ‘double MMA’
Wizards’ Morris: Game 2 may be ‘double MMA’
Conley: Griz players to pay Fizdale’s $30K fineConley: Griz players to pay Fizdale’s $30K fine
Conley: Griz players to pay Fizdale’s $30K fine
WATCH: Jayson Werth explodes at umpire after bizarre call at the end of Nats-BravesWATCH: Jayson Werth explodes at umpire after bizarre call at the end of Nats-Braves
Generally speaking, the winning team seldom gets mad at the umpire at the game’s conclusion. But then again, nothing about the end of Tuesday night’s Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game went by convention. Here’s our best try at summing it up: Nationals reliever Shawn Kelley struck out Chase d’Arnaud to end the game — or seemingly had struck out d’Arnaud to end the game. That’s because, despite handshakes and dugout retreats and encroaching groundscrew members and all the stuff that follows a final out, home-plate umpire C.B. Bucknor ruled d’Arnaud had fouled off the pitch in question. Replays, however, showed that d’Arnaud most certainly did not make contact. The two sides resumed their
Quick look at the Valero Texas OpenQuick look at the Valero Texas Open
THE OVERVIEW SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The last time Matt Kuchar came to Texas, he missed the cut. Or as the mathematicians might say, he suffered a statistical anomaly. Since 2010, Kuchar has played 182 events on the PGA TOUR and made the cut 167 times. That puts him at a conversion rate of 91.8 percent. Just two other players have a better percentage in that span – newly crowned Masters champ Sergio Garcia (93.2 percent) and Steve Stricker (92.7 percent). It’s reached the point now that Kuchar doesn’t concern himself with making the cut – nor should he, considering he’s ranked among the world’s top 25 players for most of that time frame. He’ll enter this week’s Valero Texas Open worried more about Sunday afternoon than Friday night. “Typically in my mind,” Kuchar said about making a cut, “I feel like it’s a given.” Tiger Woods once made 142 consecutive cuts from 1998 to 2005, the TOUR record. It’s doubtful any player will challenge that mark soon. Adam Scott got to 45 straight before a missed cut early in 2015. Brendan Steele holds the current active mark at 16. Kuchar once went a full year (2013) without a missed cut. For a player known for his consistency, 91.8 percent might be his most telling number. “I certainly played a number of Friday rounds where I worried about the cut, “Kuchar said, “knowing that I need to continue some good play or turn around some bad play to make sure I get to play on the weekend. “But when I show up to a tournament, I feel pretty confident I’ll be here four days.” However, it didn’t happen three weeks ago at the Shell Houston Open. Kuchar was a late commitment to Houston, deciding to add the tournament to his schedule because he felt good about his form and wanted additional reps before the Masters. Even though he shot 73-77 to miss the cut by six shots, Kuchar left Houston still confident he was on a positive path. The early dismissal also allowed him to travel to Augusta National for extra practice time on the weekend. It paid off, as Kuchar tied for fourth at the Masters, shooting a back-nine 31 on Sunday. It was his eighth top-10 in a major, his fourth at Augusta National. Morale of the story: Even after a missed cut, Kuchar made it worthwhile. “Packing up your bags on Friday afternoon is not fun,” Kuchar said. “I try to look at that as a blessing in disguise. … I would have preferred to play four days. It sure worked out OK as well.” As for this week’s Valero Texas Open? History says Kuchar will be here all four days. And he’ll likely be in contention. Since the tournament moved to TPC San Antonio, he’s never missed a cut in five trips – and he’s finished in the top 15 three times. “Love coming here,” Kuchar said. “This has been one of my favorite events. I can remember probably six years ago watching this event on TV, going ‘That’s a place I need to go to. That’s a place I need to go play.’ ” THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER VALERO TEXAS OPEN Since 2010, he’s 43 under par in this event. Next best total is 14 under. “Sort of mind-boggling,” he said. Revealed this week that he’s suffering from Lyme disease. Perhaps playing his hometown event will ease the pain. Has 14 pairs of cowboy boots in his closet, including the ones he got married in. Would love to add the pair that goes to the Valero winner. RANK PLAYER COMMENT THE FLYOVER A closer look at the 591-yard par-5 18th, which last year was the 10th hardest hole at the AT&T Oaks course, playing to a stroke average of 5.011. Charley Hoffman won the Valero Texas Open title on the 18th a year ago by rolling in a 9-foot birdie putt. It was his third birdie of the week on the 18th. THE LANDING ZONE One of the most difficult par 5s on the PGA TOUR is the 604-yard eighth hole at the AT&T Oaks course. In each of the last seven seasons, the eighth has ranked inside the top 10 of toughest par-5s, including second in 2014 and 2011. The stroke average in 2016 was 5.044, with players making 89 birdies – and 89 bogeys/double bogeys/others. Finding the green in two is nearly impossible; in fact, Harold Varner was the only player last year to successfully reach the green with his second shot. Into the wind, players must stay in the fairway in order to set up their third shots to a split-level green. Here is where all second shots landed in last season’s tournament. WEATHER CHECK According to PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner, dry weather is in the forecast for the first two rounds but a cold front with scattered thunderstorms is expected on Saturday morning. The winds, however, are the main issue, since it is the course’s primary defense. TEMPS: Warmer on Thursday and Friday, reaching the mid-80s, then dropping to the high-70s for the last two rounds. RAIN: A 30 percent chance on Saturday; otherwise, it’ll be dry. WINDS: Winds will reach 20-plus mph every day. The winds will come out of the south the first two rounds, but thanks to that cold front, will shift from the north for the final two rounds. The biggest gusts will be Saturday afternoon. For the latest weather news from San Antonio, Texas, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I think the biggest test is driving accuracy. I think when you get off-line here, you’re in — I don’t know if their oak trees or mesquite trees; I’m not sure exactly what they are — but you want to stay away from them. They’re big numbers.” ODDS AND ENDS 1. REED’S EQUIPMENT. Patrick Reed traces his struggles this year – he’s currently 92nd in FedExCup points – to his equipment being off. He said the lies and lofts of his irons were off 2 to 2-1/2 degrees, forcing him to alter his swing. He thinks everything is dialed in now. “I hate using that as an excuse,” Reed said. “No, it wasn’t me, the irons weren’t set-up where they needed to be, etc. But this was probably the one time that I could actually say my equipment wasn’t set-up how it’s supposed to be for me.” 2. WINDY PAR 5s. TPC San Antonio’s par 5s are not pushovers. The 604-yard eighth hole is annually one of the most difficult par 5s on the PGA TOUR, and the 591-yard 18th also plays to a stroke average over par. Meanwhile, the second hole is also 600-plus yards. Much of their defense is based on the wind. “(What’s) great about this golf course, no matter what the wind blows, usually two are going to play into the wind and the other two downwind,” said defending champ Charley Hoffman. 3. JUST LIKE HOME. 2016 U.S. Amateur champ Curtis Luck is making his pro debut this week. He said the AT&T Oaks course at TPC San Antonio is just like the ones back home in his native Australia. “It’s quite Australian in a sense, it plays firm and fast and I know it’s notoriously windy, so I guess I’m a little excited to play these conditions,” Luck said. 4. POULTER’S PUSH. Ian Poulter is making his 10th and final start on a major medical exemption. He needs a top-12 finish to keep his exempt status for the rest of the season. He tied for 37th in his only other start in this event in 2013. WATCH THE PREVIEW
Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Johnson Named Honorary Pace Car Driver for Go Bowling 400Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Johnson Named Honorary Pace Car Driver for Go Bowling 400
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, and one of the most recognizable athletes in Kansas City, Derrick Johnson will lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag as the honorary pace car driver for the Go Bowling 400 on May 13. “I’m excited to have Derrick be a part of the Go Bowling
Sources: Warriors mulling holding Durant outSources: Warriors mulling holding Durant out
Sources: Warriors mulling holding Durant out
Self-driving car hub in Sacramento? NBA team owner and tech mogul Vivek Ranadivé says yesSelf-driving car hub in Sacramento? NBA team owner and tech mogul Vivek Ranadivé says yes
The owner of the Sacramento Kings announced a new robot-vehicle initiative intended to make Sacramento a center for development and testing of self-driving cars.
One & Done: Valero Texas OpenOne & Done: Valero Texas Open
Admit it. You’re reading this only to learn if there’s a reason why you shouldn’t select Charley Hoffman at the Valero Texas Open. So, while I have your attention, I’m going to take advantage of it for the following important fantasy service announcement: Beginning with this week’s Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge and extending to next week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, gamers will be picking only one golfer in each two-man tournament. Possibilities for this week’s PGA TOUR Champions stop are included below. Getting back to the regularly scheduled advice column, as it concerns the field at TPC San Antonio, there are really only two pieces of chalk – defending champion Charley Hoffman and 2011 winner Brendan Steele. Hoffman’s track record here can stand up against any golfer anywhere else and hold its own. Think Luke Donald at Harbour Town where the Englishman recorded his fifth runner-up finish on Sunday. Zach Johnson at the John Deere Classic is another fair comp. Hoffman presents as such a no-brainer this week that the only anxiety you had was the since-fulfilled hope that he remembered to officially commit to the tournament. He is my play, just as he was last year when the message was similar. As for any concern with him missing the cut last week, don’t worry about it. After a stressful experience at the Masters where he led after the opening round and attempted to hang on – he finished T22 – he’s allowed an off-week to decompress. It also opened a couple of days to recharge and prep for his title defense of the VTO. While his record the week before his annual trip to TPC San Antonio is solid (five top 25s), it wasn’t the first time he missed the cut in his previous start, either. Hoffman placed T11 here in 2015 after missing the cut at the Valspar Championship. If you’re chasing, Hoffman is still the play if for no other reason than not to lose ground. However, Steele offers that 1a slide piece that could catch your opposition off guard. Since his breakthrough title six years ago, he’s added a T4 in 2012, a T8 in 2015 and a T13 in 2016. He’s also exhibited consistently above-average form all season. The next tier of choices includes Billy Horschel, whose course history can feel more coincidental than reliable because he’s streaky. He’s had pops of some form in the last two months. Jimmy Walker is the big name locally and he won here just two years ago. It’s fair to say that gamers expect more from the major champ than his active consecutive cuts made streak of seven without a top 10 — which is commendable given Wednesday’s news that he’s been battling Lyme disease for months — but it’s a tough week for us, so simply putting points on the board becomes priority one. That’s an excuse to holster the notable for a bigger event later. Daniel Summerhays is the enigma among the other horses. Full-season gamers have him on a short leash right now, but they’ll give him at least the Valero to turn his season around. For us, he’s the perfect tandem on a two-man lineup. Ryan Palmer has been grinding back into form after taking time away late in 2016 to be with his wife during her battle with breast cancer. With a T11 at Harbour Town, he’s suddenly a sporty option, but consider holding out until Colonial where he nearly broke through on his home course a year ago. While a two-man team of Hoffman-Steele is robust, Steele could be a timely investment at the Travelers Championship, so in addition to Summerhays as a Plan B this week, consider Ian Poulter, Luke List, Matt Jones or Sam Saunders. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2016-17. All are pending golfer commitment. Jason Bohn … Greenbrier Keegan Bradley … Byron Nelson; Memorial; WGC-Bridgestone; Dell Technologies Kevin Chappell … Valero; Dell Technologies Luke Donald … Wyndham; TOUR Championship Tony Finau … Byron Nelson; Memorial Branden Grace … U.S. Open; WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship Charley Hoffman … Valero (defending); New Orleans; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; Travelers; Canadian Billy Horschel … Valero; Memorial; St. Jude; TOUR Championship Zach Johnson … PLAYERS; DEAN & DELUCA; John Deere; Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Chris Kirk … Valero; New Orleans; DEAN & DELUCA Brooks Koepka … Byron Nelson; St. Jude; U.S. Open; PGA Championship Matt Kuchar … Valero; PLAYERS; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; Memorial; Canadian; WGC-Bridgestone Martin Laird … Barracuda Graeme McDowell … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; Wyndham Bryce Molder … New Orleans; DEAN & DELUCA; Greenbrier Ryan Palmer … Valero; Byron Nelson; DEAN & DELUCA; St. Jude Scott Piercy … John Deere; BMW Patrick Reed … Wyndham; Dell Technologies Scott Stallings … New Orleans Brendan Steele … Valero; Travelers; Barracuda (already eligible for concurrent WGC-Bridgestone) Kevin Streelman … Memorial Jimmy Walker … Valero; Greenbrier; PGA Championship (defending); Dell Technologies CHAMPIONS ONE & DONE POSSIBILITIES Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge Two-man team competition. Now in its fourth edition as a two-course funfest at Top of the Rock (a par-3 track) and Buffalo Ridge (a par 71), it’s the perfect week to sit all of the stars who you covet during the rest of the season. All golfers listed alphabetically below are scheduled to compete and have recorded a top-five finish in this tournament at the current host site. Rob’s serious considerations in bold. Michael Allen (Win, 2016) … PARTNER: John Daly Billy Andrade (3rd, 2016; Win, 2015) … PARTNER: Joe Durant Woody Austin (Win, 2016) … PARTNER: Mark Calcavecchia Brad Bryant (T4, 2016) … PARTNER: Tom Purtzer Mark Calcavecchia (T3, 2015) … PARTNER: Woody Austin Roger Chapman (2nd, 2016; T5, 2015) … PARTNER: David Frost Russ Cochran (T5, 2015; 4th, 2014) … PARTNER: Jay Don Blake John Cook (T5, 2015) … PARTNER: Joey Sindelar Joe Durant (3rd, 2016; Win, 2015) … PARTNER: Billy Andrade David Frost (2nd, 2016) … PARTNER: Roger Chapman Fred Funk (Win, 2014) … PARTNER: Jeff Sluman Bob Gilder (T5, 2015) … PARTNER: Billy Mayfair Jay Haas (2nd, 2014) … PARTNER: Fred Couples Hale Irwin (T4, 2016) … PARTNER: Wes Short, Jr. Tom Lehman (T5, 2015) … PARTNER: Loren Roberts Steve Lowery (T3, 2015) … PARTNER: Tim Petrovic Sandy Lyle (2nd, 2015) … PARTNER: Ian Woosnam Mark O’Meara (T4, 2016) … PARTNER: Tom Jenkins Corey Pavin (T4, 2016; T5, 2015) … PARTNER: Duffy Waldorf Tom Pernice, Jr. (T5, 2014) … PARTNER: Bob Tway Kenny Perry (4th, 2014) … PARTNER: Scott Hoch Loren Roberts (T3, 2015) … PARTNER: Tom Lehman Wes Short, Jr. (T4, 2016) … PARTNER: Hale Irwin Joey Sindelar (T5, 2015) … PARTNER: John Cook Jeff Sluman (T5, 2015; Win, 2014) … PARTNER: Fred Funk Craig Stadler (3rd, 2014) … PARTNER: Kirk Triplett Kirk Triplett (3rd, 2014) … PARTNER: Craig Stadler Bob Tway (T5, 2014) … PARTNER: Tom Pernice, Jr. Duffy Waldorf (T4, 2016; T5, 2015) … PARTNER: Corey Pavin Ian Woosnam (2nd, 2015) … PARTNER: Sandy Lyle Others to consider: Fred Couples … PARTNER: Jay Haas Miguel Angel Jiménez … PARTNER: José Maria Olazábal Jerry Kelly … PARTNER: Steve Stricker Scott McCarron … PARTNER: Brad Faxon Steve Stricker … PARTNER: Jerry Kelly
Pagan says he will not play this MLB seasonPagan says he will not play this MLB season
Pagan says he will not play this MLB season