Day: September 8, 2017

Kevin Durant backs Tracy McGrady being in Hall of FameKevin Durant backs Tracy McGrady being in Hall of Fame

There are some fans — people stuck in some variation of the silly “ringzzz/playoffs� argument — who have an issue with Tracy McGrady getting inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend. That despite a stretch where he was arguably the best player in the game — there were years before his knee injuries

Click here to read the full article

NFLPA statement says league office continues to have “lack of integrityâ€NFLPA statement says league office continues to have “lack of integrityâ€

The National Football League Players Association issued a statement after Judge Amos L. Mazzant III ruled in Ezekiel Elliott‘s favor, blocking his suspension pending the outcome of the litigation filed by Elliott in Texas. The NFLPA’s statement reads: “Commissioner discipline will continue to be a distraction

Click here to read the full article

NFLPA statement says league office continues to have “lack of integrityâ€NFLPA statement says league office continues to have “lack of integrityâ€

The National Football League Players Association issued a statement after Judge Amos L. Mazzant III ruled in Ezekiel Elliott’s favor, blocking his suspension pending the outcome of the litigation filed by Elliott in Texas. The NFLPA’s statement reads: “Commissioner discipline will continue to

Click here to read the full article

Hornets’ Clifford supportive of Kidd-GilchristHornets’ Clifford supportive of Kidd-Gilchrist

Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hornets coach Steve Clifford emphatically threw his support behind Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on Friday, saying the often-criticized small forward is a significant contributor and will continue to start. The five-year NBA veteran has been widely criticized for his offensive

Click here to read the full article

Report: Heat would sign Wade if he accepted bench role, $4.3M exceptionReport: Heat would sign Wade if he accepted bench role, $4.3M exception

Dwyane Wade suited up for 855 games over 13 seasons with the Miami Heat, coming off the bench on just 10 occasions. Should the Chicago Bulls buy the 35-year-old out of the $23.8 million remaining on his contract, the Heat would be interested in bringing him back to South Beach, but only if he agrees

Click here to read the full article

Bulls’ Dwyane Wade says he wants to compete for another title before he retiresBulls’ Dwyane Wade says he wants to compete for another title before he retires

Earlier in the offseason, one of the bigger storylines was whether or not Dwyane Wade would opt out to the final year of his contract with the Chicago Bulls and become a free agent. Wade ultimately chose to opt in, because, well, who would turn down $24 million?  Now, however, with the Bulls having sent

Click here to read the full article

The First Look: BMW ChampionshipThe First Look: BMW Championship

• COURSE: Conway Farms Golf Club, 7,208 yards, par 71. Opened in 1991, the Tom Fazio design will serve as the penultimate FedExCup Playoff stop for the third time in a five-year span. Carved from farmland in Chicago’s North Shore outskirts, Conway Farms first gained prominence on the amateur stage, starting with the 1997 NCAA Division I championship and 1998 U.S. Junior Amateur. Later came the 2009 Western Amateur and 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur before the PGA TOUR arrived in 2013. Jim Furyk’s 59 highlighted that event, though Zach Johnson won, and Jason Day claimed his second FedExCup Playoff victory two years ago. Conway Farms membership includes former world No. 1 Luke Donald, who played a key role in bringing the club and TOUR together.  • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 2,000 points. • CHARITY: The Evans Scholars Foundation, an arm of the Western Golf Association which awards college scholarships to caddies across the country with limited financial means. The foundation currently supports more than 800 caddies attending college. • FIELD WATCH: Justin Thomas, who made the Dell Technologies Championship his fifth win of 2016-17, joins FedExCup leader Jordan Spieth to headline a full 70-man lineup set to begin the FedExCup Playoffs’ second half. … Six rookies remain alive in the FedExCup postseason, with Mackenzie Hughes and Xander Schauffele just outside the cutline to reach the finale at East Lake. … All 12 members of the U.S. Presidents Cup team are entered, but only 10 from the International squad. Adam Scott and Branden Grace were eliminated in Boston. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 262, Tiger Woods (2007 at Cog Hill G&CC), Jason Day (2015 at Conway Farms GC). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 59, Jim Furyk (2nd round, 2013 at Conway Farms). • LAST YEAR: Dustin Johnson set a Crooked Stick course record with a second-round 63, then held back Paul Casey’s gallant challenge to notch his third significant victory of the summer. Johnson and Casey never shot anything worse than a 68 all week, but Johnson’s success with a new putter proved valuable. He needed just 23 putts in an opening 67, then eagled twice on the way to his second-round 63. Casey tried to put a little heat on Johnson with an eagle at the par-5 15th, but Johnson matched it to restore the cushion as both parred their way in. Johnson’s FedExCup Playoffs victory came after his first major win (U.S. Open) and first in a World Golf Championships event (Bridgestone Invitational). Casey’s runner-up finish was his second in consecutive weeks, having finished behind Rory McIlroy at TPC Boston. Charl Schwartzel claimed the final spot of 30 advancing to the TOUR Championship, nosing out Rickie Fowler by 0.57 of a point.  • STORYLINES: While Spieth, Thomas and Johnson are locks for top-5 positions at East Lake, putting their FedExCup hopes into their own hands, the chase remains to learn who joins them. Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm have inside track. … The spotlight also falls on No. 30, where Bill Haas is on the bubble to advance. In each of the past two years, four men have played their way into the finale after starting the BMW outside the top 30. … Phil Mickelson, who tied for sixth at TPC Boston, will become the all-time leader in FedExCup Playoff starts when he tees it up for his 41st postseason event. That breaks a tie with Bubba Watson, who didn’t advance from Boston. • SHORT CHIPS: The BMW Championship has its roots in the old Western Open, which dates back to 1899. That makes it the third-longest running event in professional golf, behind only The Open Championship (1860) and U.S. Open (1885). … Not only does the TOUR Championship await the top 30 in FedExCup points after Sunday, but automatic entry to all four majors in 2018. … Next year takes the event to Aronimink GC outside Philadelphia, part of an ongoing plan to alternate the event between Chicago and other top venues. Aronimink previously staged two editions of what’s now the Quicken Loans National. • TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, noon-2 p.m. (GC), 2-6 p.m. (NBC). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-7 p.m. (featured holes). Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

Click here to read the full article