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Source: Colts bring in vet QB Osweiler for visit

Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 12:39

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts had free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler in for a visit Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's Field Yates.

The Colts are looking for a veteran backup quarterback to play behind starter Jacoby Brissett following the surprising retirement of Andrew Luck last weekend.

The only other quarterbacks on the Colts' roster are Phillip Walker and Chad Kelly. Walker has never played a snap in a regular-season game and Kelly is suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Colts coach Frank Reich gave the indication earlier this week that they would look to upgrade the backup spot.

"Those are all really good things to consider -- that we are considering very strongly," Reich said Monday. "Phil [Walker] has been here for a while so we have a lot of belief and confidence in Phillip. He knows our offense. He knows this locker room. Those are going to be the decisions that we have to make in the next week to 10 days."

Osweiler, 28, went 2-3 as a fill-in starter for the Miami Dolphins last season when Ryan Tannehill was injured. He gave the fan base hope in a period dubbed "Brocktober," which began with him throwing for a career-high 380 yards in an upset overtime victory against the Chicago Bears, but his play leveled off in the following games.

What Osweiler did do, however, is re-establish his career from disappointing starter to reliable backup quarterback. He signed a one-year, $880,000 contract with Miami and competed to make the roster as a backup. Despite a rough training camp, the Dolphins kept Osweiler as their No. 2 QB and he kept them afloat when Tannehill got hurt early in the season.

In 2018, Osweiler completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1,247 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Osweiler's biggest NFL contribution came in a similar role. He went 5-2 as a starter in place of an injured Peyton Manning for the 2015 Denver Broncos, helping them earn the AFC's top seed en route to a victory in Super Bowl 50.

That season led to a $72 million contract with the Houston Texans, who traded him to the Cleveland Browns after one difficult season as the Texans' starter. The Browns released Osweiler just before the 2017 season, when he was again picked up by the Broncos and started five games.

Osweiler, who is entering his seventh season, was drafted by the Broncos in the second round (57th overall) of the 2012 draft.

ESPN's Cameron Wolfe contributed to this report.

Kobe: 'Nothin but love' for Shaq after drama

Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 12:28

Kobe Bryant says he has "no beef" with Shaquille O'Neal after comments came to light that Bryant thought he could have won 12 NBA titles if the dominant big man had Bryant's legendary work ethic.

Bryant tweeted Wednesday that their old feud remains in the past and there's "nothin but love" between him and his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate.

The duo that won three consecutive championships together were trending after a quote that Bryant made during an appearance at the PHP Agency convention in Las Vegas surfaced this week. On July 29, Bryant said he could have had "f---ing 12 rings" and that O'Neal would be "the greatest" had he spent more time in the gym.

"He'd be the greatest of all time, for sure," Bryant said. "He'd be the first to tell you that. This guy was a force like I have never seen. It was crazy. A guy at that size, generally guys at that size are a little timid and they don't want to be tall, they don't want to be big.

"Man, this dude was, he did not care. He was mean. He was nasty. He was competitive. He was vindictive. He was ... yeah, I wish he was in the gym. I would have had f---ing 12 rings."

When the video was posted by lakers24ever on Instagram, O'Neal chimed in twice.

"U woulda had twelve if you passed the ball more especially in the finals against the pistons #facts," O'Neal commented.

O'Neal added: "You don't get statues by not working hard"

But Bryant tweeted his clarifying remark and also retweeted a comment noting that he was complimentary of O'Neal throughout his appearance.

Bryant and O'Neal won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 and played together from 1996 to 2004 before O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat. Bryant wound up with five titles before retiring after the 2015-16 season.

O'Neal also chimed in on Twitter, though his comment may just stir up trouble with former and newly-signed Lakers center Dwight Howard.

Weltklasse welcomes Diamond League finalists

Published in Athletics
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 12:08

The first 16 IAAF Diamond League champions of 2019 will be crowned in Zurich

IAAF Diamond League action heads to Zurich’s Weltklasse meeting on Thursday as the first of the two finals takes place, with 16 champions to be crowned.

The annual Swiss test is set to become the sole venue for the final in 2020 and 2021 but for now it shares staging the showpieces with Brussels (on September 6).

READ MORE: Zurich to host single Diamond League final in 2020 and 2021

Dina Asher-Smith faces another world-class line-up in the 200m as the multiple European champion takes on Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the Bahamian athlete who won at the Diamond League in Birmingham this month, together with Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, Blessing Okagbare and Dafne Schippers.

There is big British interest in the men’s 100m, too, with Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes due to take on Noah Lyles, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin and others.

A couple of Britons also go in the women’s 1500m. Eilish McColgan and Jemma Reekie take to the Swiss track in a line-up that is
headed by world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba, Konstanze Klosterhalfen and Jenny Simpson.

British 5000m champion McColgan will be hoping to attack the four-minute barrier with Reekie also in fine form lately after her European under-23 double victory and runner-up result from the British Championships behind Sarah McDonald.

Another British 5000m champion, Andy Butchart, goes in his specialist event against Selemon Barega, Joshua Cheptegei, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha.

It is perhaps the strongest 5000m line-up of 2019 and Butchart will be aiming to crack the 13-minute barrier for the first time.

Laviai Nielsen, the British 400m champion, is in a tough one-lap field that includes Salwa Eid Naser – the Bahrain athlete who has run 49.17 this year.

The 400m hurdles promises a great clash, too, with world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad up against fellow American Sydney McLaughlin.

A tasty clash looks likely in the men’s long jump with Miguel Echevarria facing Luvo Manyonga, Thomas Montler, Ruswahl Samaai, Zarck Visser and Miltiadis Tentoglou.

In the men’s high jump Mutaz Essa Barshim is entered, while Yulimar Rojas leads the women’s triple jump field.

There is a great field in the men’s pole vault, meanwhile, with Sam Kendricks, Piotr Lisek, Renaud Lavillenie and Mondo Duplantis.

The men’s javelin sees Birmingham Diamond League winner Cheng Chao-tsun up against Germans Thomas Röhler, Andreas Hofmann and Johannes Vetter plus Estonian Magnus Kirt.

In the women’s shot put, Lijiao Gong faces Christina Schwanitz among others.

The men’s 800m features Kenyans Wycliffe Kinyamal, Ferguson Rotich and Emmanuel Korir, plus Nijel Amos of Botswana.

Beatrice Chepkoech, the world record-holder, leads the women’s steeplechase entries but world champion Emma Coburn is among her rivals.

Finally, Karsten Warholm, Kyron McMaster and Rai Benjamin are set for a cracking 400m hurdles clash in the last major event on the programme.

The action got under way the evening before the full programme, with the women’s pole vault competition taking place at Zurich’s main train station.

Anzhelika Sidorova won with first time clearance of 4.87m to break the meeting record and set an indoor personal best.

British record-holder Holly Bradshaw finished fifth with 4.72.

Entry lists can be found here.

Karolina Pliskova is through to the third round of the US Open after a straight-set win over Mariam Bolkvadze under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.

The 27-year-old third seed dominated to win 6-1 6-4 against Georgian Bolkvadze, ranked 202 in the world.

Czech Pliskova, the 2016 finalist at Flushing Meadows, hit nine aces in 66 minutes to maintain her bid to regain the world number one ranking.

She faces either Tunisian Ons Jabeur or Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich next.

Play was delayed on the outside courts on Wednesday because of rain in New York, with Britain's Johanna Konta set to face Margarita Gasparyan when the weather improves.

US Open 2019: Nick Kyrgios clarifies 'corrupt ATP' claims

Published in Tennis
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 10:48

Australian Nick Kyrgios said it was "not the correct choice of words" to claim the ATP was corrupt but said it was guilty of double standards.

The world number 30 clarified the comments he made on Tuesday after he was asked about the $113,000 (£92,580) fine for his behaviour at the Cincinnati Masters earlier in August.

"I acknowledge I've deserved fines and sanctioning at times," Kyrgios tweeted.

"But I expect consistency and fairness with this across the board."

Following his US Open first-round win over Steve Johnson, the 24-year-old was asked whether he had been affected by the fine and responded: "Not at all. The ATP is pretty corrupt anyway, so I'm not fussed about it at all."

In Wednesday's follow-up statement, he said: "It was not the correct choice of words and my point and intention was to address what I saw as double standards rather than corruption.

"I know my behaviour at times has been controversial and that has landed me in trouble - which at times is granted and valid - but my issue is around others, whether gaining the same, less or more media attention, doing the same or similar behaviour and not being sanctioned."

There were five separate incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct during August'd Cincinnati third-round defeat by Karen Khachanov, during which the Australian swore at umpire Fergus Murphy.

Kyrgios walked off court against the wishes of Murphy after losing the second set. He also slammed two racquets on the floor in a corridor and in the third set engaged in repeated disputes with the umpire.

The ATP is yet to decide whether he has committed a "major offence" in making those initial comments, which could lead to a further fine or suspension.

Regarding the claims made by Kyrgios on Tuesday, the governing body said they will be "assessed under the player major offence provision under ATP rules".

The statement added: "A determination will be made by Gayle David Bradshaw, executive vice-president, rules and competition, following an investigation as required by ATP rules."

A decision is likely to be made after the US Open.

In May, Kyrgios was fined after he kicked a bottle, threw down his racquet and hurled a chair before defaulting in the final set of a match at the Italian Open. A month later, he was fined £13,766 for unsportsmanlike behaviour at Queen's.

Back in 2016 he received an eight-week ban for his behaviour at the Shanghai Masters when his efforts were questioned during defeat by Mischa Zverev.

During Tuesday's match at Flushing Meadows, Kyrgios received a code violation for swearing and clashed with umpire James Keothavong for allowing spectators to enter the stadium while he was serving.

Inexperienced Mexican steals the show

A remarkable story, Mexico’s Claudia Perez Villalba travelled to Lima with the odds against her, after all she was competing in what was only her fourth professional tournament!

However, her lack of international exposure didn’t stop her from causing a storm in the Peruvian capital as she topped the women’s singles class 7 podium to seal her entry for next year’s Paralympic Games.

Success in Lima, Claudia Perez Villalba is certainly one of the standout names heading to Tokyo and will be joined on the plane by a whole host of international stars – Here are just a few names to note:

Melissa Tapper (AUS)

Australian superstar Melissa Tapper sealed her qualification after successfully retaining the women’s singles class 6-10 gold at the 2019 ITTF Para Oceanian Championships in Darwin with a straight games success against fellow compatriot Andrea McDonnell.

At Rio 2016 Tapper made history by becoming the first athlete from Oceania to qualify for both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games – she will be looking to make even more headlines at Tokyo 2020.

Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh (EGY)

At the 2019 ITTF African Para Championships in Alexandria, Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh beat Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle to men’s singles class 4 glory to qualify for Tokyo. A magnificent feat and a historic one too as he becomes the first African to reach the Paralympic Games for a fifth time!

Eid Saleh’s highlight Paralympic Games moment came in 2012, claiming the class 4 bronze medal in London and will be eyeing up more silverware in 2020.

Feng Panfeng (CHN)

Just over a month back at the 2019 ITTF Asian Para Championships in Taichung, China’s very own Feng Panfeng took home the men’s singles class 3 top prize with victory over Zhai Xiang at the final hurdle.

Paralympic Class 3 champion at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, Feng Panfeng is aiming to make to four in a row in Tokyo and now has the opportunity to pull it off after securing his spot at the 2020 Games.

Plenty of places still up for grabs

Overall 21 further players will add their names to the entry list for Tokyo 2020 at the upcoming 2019 ITTF Para European Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st September.

Alongside the 21 qualifiers from the European Championships, four players from Oceania have already sealed their tickets to the Paralympic Games with 14 from Africa, 21 from Asia and 15 from Pan America are also on the invitation list following the conclusion of the respective continental championships.

The remaining spots will be made up of successful athletes at Paralympic Qualification events in 2020, world rankings positions and wildcards – in total 208 athletes will be in action at Tokyo 2020 (174 male and 106 female).

Full details in relation to the qualification system can be found here.

Ben Te'o's decision to call time on his England career by moving to French side Toulon "stinks", says former England back Ugo Monye.

The New Zealand-born centre, 32, signed a short-term deal with the French Top 14 side shortly after being left out of Eddie Jones' World Cup squad.

It means Te'o, who was involved in an off-field altercation at an England camp earlier in August, cannot be called up as an injury replacement.

"I'm disappointed," said Monye.

"I think it is borderline disrespectful. For me, playing for your country is the pinnacle. It is something that millions of people dream of doing and only a few get a chance to do so.

"You can't come and swear allegiance to the country and then the moment things get a bit bumpy, catch the next flight to the south of France. It doesn't sit well with me at all."

Te'o switched from rugby league to union in 2014 and won his first England cap two years later.

Since then, he had been continually picked by Jones but the former British and Irish Lion is now reportedly set to play for Japanese side Sunwolves after his Toulon contract is finished.

Te'o was without a club after leaving Premiership side Worcester at the end of last season, but Monye does not think this excuses his behaviour.

"I know he doesn't have a club and he doesn't have finance, but I'm sure he could have offered his services to a Premiership club as a World Cup joker, he could have got a club," he added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly.

"There are those sitting on standby waiting for a phone call and keeping fit because the World Cup is something they all want to be part of. After the patience and investment that was put into him, to effectively stick his fingers up to the Rugby Football Union is not great.

"England have been great to him and my understanding is that he did not make a phone call to let them know he was off to Toulon, I think that is poor."

'Willi Heinz will want to be number one'

Te'o's absence from the World Cup squad came as a surprise to some, as did Gloucester scrum-half Willi Heinz's inclusion in the 31-man group.

England head coach Jones tried out several number nines as back-up for starter Ben Youngs and eventually settled on 32-year-old Heinz before the World Cup warm-up matches began.

And after Youngs put in a shaky performance during England's 57-15 win against Ireland, experienced England scrum-half Danny Care, who was left out of the squad, said Heinz "is not there to make up numbers".

"If he is in the best form as a scrum-half between him and Ben, he is gong to play," added Care.

"I think Ben would understand that. I think Ben would have to play quite poorly and Willi would have to play well when he came on for that to happen.

"But Willi Heinz will want to be number one. If Ben has another game like at the weekend, then you never know, Willi is knocking on the door and will be asking questions of the coaches."

Vunipola set to miss England's final World Cup warm-up

Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 05:44

Mako Vunipola is set to miss England's final Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Italy with a hamstring injury.

The prop suffered a small tissue tear against Ireland, shortly after making his long-awaited comeback from another hamstring problem.

He is only expected to be out for around 10 days which shouldn't affect his involvement in the World Cup.

Exeter's Ben Moon has been called up as cover ahead of the match at St James' Park, Newcastle on Friday 6 September.

Moon is part of the squad flying to Treviso on Wednesday for another warm-weather training camp, with Charlie Ewels, Matt Kvesic and Joe Marchant - who are not part of the World Cup squad - also involved.

Meanwhile England still hope wing Jack Nowell will be fit to travel to the World Cup, despite Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admitting he was "touch and go" for the showpiece in Japan.

Despite cautious optimism from the England camp, Nowell's recovery from the ankle injury suffered in the Premiership final in May has been far from smooth.

Earlier this month, the player admitted he pushed himself "too hard" in a bid to be fit for the World Cup.

England had expected him to feature in part of this month's warm-up schedule, but now accept he will only be available for the opener against Tonga on 22 September at the earliest.

With Ruaridh McConnochie also recovering from injury, Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga are the only fit wingers in the squad.

PHOTOS: Kokomo Smackdown VIII Finale

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 07:00

Unzicker Still Chasing Breakthrough ARCA Win

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 28 August 2019 08:00

DUQUOIN, Ill. – The Illinois boys – Springfield’s Kelly Kovski and El Paso’s Ryan Unzicker – are headed to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds to carry on their momentum from their last appearance in the ARCA Menards Series.

Both spent the entire day among the top 10 throughout the first of two annual dirt track races on ARCA’s 20-race schedule, with Kovski coming across the stripe sixth and Unzicker finishing ninth at the Illinois State Fairgrounds despite a last-lap spin off of turn four.

Both drivers are noted dirt track experts. Kovski has years of experience racing dirt modifieds in Illinois, while Unzicker is one of the Midwest’s top dirt late model competitors.

They know how to get around a dirt oval as well as anyone, but the fact that both are still hunting for their first series victory shows just how hard it is to transition from the purpose-built modifieds and late models to the heavier, bulkier ARCA cars.

It also highlights just how competitive it is at the front of the ARCA field.

“It is really tight at the front of the field for these ARCA races right now,” Unzicker said. “It doesn’t really matter if some of these young kids have any dirt experience or not. They are really talented and they’re going to pick up on it really quickly. Sometimes all they need is a 30-minute practice session and they’re set.”

ARCA’s two traditional dirt races have always been a challenge for those without a lot of dirt experience. Over the years, the dirt has allowed drivers who didn’t have a lot of success on pavement to find a path to victory lane.

Dirt specialists like the late Dean Roper, Billy Thomas, and Bob Hill have all scored victories on the Magic Mile at the DuQuoin State Fair.

But to prove Unzicker’s point, drivers like Parker Kligerman, Grant Enfinger, and Austin Theriault have scored wins in ARCA’s dirt races without a lot – or any – previous dirt track experience.

“It can be a challenge for them when the track is wet and heavy and we’re really moving dirt,” said Unzicker. “But come race time, the track has taken a lot of rubber and it has really slicked off. It’s almost like you’re on pavement then. You aren’t out there sliding around. You are driving it like it’s an asphalt car.”

Unzicker didn’t have the day he was looking for in his first ARCA Menards Series appearance of 2019 two weeks ago at Springfield.

However, that doesn’t temper his optimism for his next run at DuQuoin on Saturday night.

“We had a great car in practice,” he said. “We were the fastest by far all day long. We had made some changes that worked really well for practice and qualifying when the track was still tacky, but when the feature started they didn’t work at all. They weren’t anything we could undo on a pit stop so we were stuck with it. I think when we get to DuQuoin you’ll see what we’re really made of. I always had better results at DuQuoin than I do at Springfield anyhow.

“It’s only two weeks after Springfield so I am already used to the car and the driving style,” Unzicker added. “I don’t have to readjust to it after a year away from it.”

Unzicker recently won his 100th career late model feature and won the season championship at Fairbury American Legion Speedway.

With all that success, why does Unzicker take time away from his late model and continue to chase that ever-elusive ARCA Menards Series dirt victory?

“We’re missing a couple of big late model races to be at DuQuoin on Saturday night,” he said. “With Springfield being on a Sunday and DuQuoin having been on a Monday for so long, it was pretty easy to fit these two races into our schedule. We didn’t usually have to miss too much with the late model. But the move to Saturday night at DuQuoin means we’re going to miss a couple of late model shows we usually would have been able to make. I always want to broaden my horizons as a driver, though.

“I am really blessed to be able to race with my team and Hendren Motorsports. We’re competitive with the big teams,” Unzicker added. “We don’t have all the resources of some of those other teams. But I think we can do it.

“I really would like to think we can go to DuQuoin and pull one off.”

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