The Phillies are banking on their new right fielder returning to his peak performance, but historically how likely is that to happen?
This week we highlight Chris Paul, Luka Doncic on D, quick-trigger techs and Hack-a-Shaq.
Phil Mickelson was in someone’s backyard, up against a fence and forced to swing right-handed. Yeah, you have to see it for yourself.
Bucks coming off back-to-back losses for the first time all season look to right the ship when the Pacers visit.
ORLANDO – First alternate Johnson Wagner wasn’t sure what the day held for him as he drove to Bay Hill Club & Lodge in the dark Thursday morning. He was in his car when the phone rang. PGA TOUR Rules Official Brad Fabel told him Davis Love III had withdrawn with a sore neck, and Wagner would get his spot if he could make a 7:20 tee time. He not only made it, he shot a 1-under 71. “I was just going to come in and wait on the tee,� said Wagner, 38, a three-time TOUR winner who has limited status this season. “My plan was to be on the range warming up at 6:30, before the first tee time at 6:45. If someone couldn’t go I was going to be available.� Wagner was fifth alternate at the entry deadline, but he already had to be in Orlando for a PGA TOUR Policy Board meeting on Monday. By then he’d moved up some, and he ascended all the way to first alternate when Talor Gooch withdrew Wednesday morning. He would have been crazy not to stick around. Playing with Daniel Berger (77) and Chesson Hadley (71) on Thursday, he tied for low man in the group. “I haven’t played here since 2013,� said Wagner, who missed the cut at The Honda Classic but finished T2 at the Puerto Rico Open before that. “I’ve always loved this place. I finished (tied for) 4th in 2012. “I got in 21 events last year and I’ll play 20 events, at least, this year,� he added. “I should’ve won in Puerto Rico. I was tied for the lead with two to play and hit a wedge into 17 and came up short and made bogey, and didn’t birdie 18. But my confidence is high, and I’m going to tear it up when I get in this year.� Wagner said he’d twice been first alternate on a Thursday, once in 2010 and once in 2015, but didn’t get in either time. He was certainly ready this time around, with the late, great Palmer’s trademark umbrella logo pinned to his hat and embroidered on his staff bag. “If I can go out there and rip it up tomorrow,� Wagner said, “get in contention, that would be a good story: first alternate to winner.�
Of the 123 major sports teams, 82 percent play in areas where it’s legal to purchase medicinal or recreational marijuana. The NHL has noticed. Who’s next?
As we prepare to unveil our top 100, we consider who was better (or worse) than last year’s ranking and predict what we’ll see in this year’s voting.
FBI wiretaps intercepted telephone calls between LSU coach Will Wade and aspiring business manager Christian Dawkins, in which Wade expressed frustration about his inability to close an offer for a recruit, sources told ESPN.
Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell explains how wealth of talent, camaraderie on the Tigers’ defensive line helped prepare him for the NFL, March 2, 2019. The free agent negotiating period opens Monday and the Detroit Lions have holes to fill on both sides of the ball. Here is the fourth in a series of
ORLANDO – Kevin Streelman had worked his way up near the lead when fate intervened in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. His driver cracked, leading him to play his last six holes in 2 over for a somewhat disappointing 70 that left him five off the early lead of Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello. “I had to hit 3-wood all the way in,� Streelman said. Things were going well as he saved par at the third hole, his 12th of the day, to stay at 4 under. Then he smashed his drive at the par-5 fourth hole, and it made a funny sound. “I looked down at my driver and there was a big, old crater in it,� Streelman said. “Which just is demoralizing. I’ve had that thing for like 15, 16 months, and it’s been my baby. We just did a renovation on our house, and I could name the renovation after this driver, it’s been so good to me.� Absent his driver, a Ping G400 Max, Streelman went with a 3-wood, over-swung, and fought a left miss as he double-bogeyed the fourth hole and bogeyed the sixth, both par-5s. “They’re two of the easiest holes on the course,� he said. “It really could’ve been a good day, even though 2-under is still good. This has never really happened to me mid-tournament before. I’ve got two other ones sitting in my locker; I’ve got to go do some testing now.�
