Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...
I Dig Sports

I Dig Sports

Former NFL WR Cherry wins Oscar for short film

Published in Breaking News
Sunday, 09 February 2020 18:56

Former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry won an Academy Award on Sunday for his animated short film "Hair Love."

Cherry, who was a star at the University of Akron, spent about three seasons in the NFL on the practice squads and rosters of several teams before walking away in 2007. He later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of working in Hollywood.

Cherry wrote and directed "Hair Love," a seven-minute animated short that chronicles an African American father's attempt to do his daughter's hair for the first time.

"'Hair Love' was done because we wanted to see more representation in animation, and we wanted to normalize black hair," Cherry said during his acceptance speech.

At the end of the speech, Cherry dedicated the award to Kobe Bryant.

Morant posts first triple-double as Grizz drop Wiz

Published in Basketball
Sunday, 09 February 2020 18:12

WASHINGTON -- The Memphis Grizzlies believe their resilience helps them overcome rough shooting nights like Sunday.

Having Ja Morant helps, too.

Morant had 27 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double, and the Grizzlies shook off their 3-point woes in a 106-99 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Memphis remained eighth in the Western Conference while improving to 27-26. That's one victory more than some sportsbooks projected the Grizzlies to earn all season.

"I feel like we all here just have a chip on our shoulder," said Morant, who is now those same sportsbooks' favorite in the NBA Rookie of the Year race. "Like I said before, they had us picked to win 26 games this year. That's a chip right there, and we just passed that tonight. But the chip won't leave."

Morant scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter for Memphis, which closed the game on a 22-8 run after trailing for most of the second half.

Kyle Anderson added 16 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 14 to go with 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who won despite shooting 5 of 32 from beyond the arc.

Jonas Valanciunas had 18 rebounds, part of a 62-50 edge the visitors held on the boards.

"It took some gutsy stuff out there," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. "This is, I like to think, kind of a defining moment for our guys having to kind of fight through one of the toughest offensive nights for us."

Bradley Beal scored 26 points for Washington, which led by as many as 12 early but shot 4 of 26 in the fourth quarter.

Rui Hachimura had 12 points and 11 assists as the Wizards dropped three games behind Orlando for the final playoff spot in the East.

Moritz Wagner had 19 points off the bench, while Davis Bertans added 15 on a night Washington shot nearly as bad as Memphis beyond the arc (7 of 33) and worse overall (34 of 101).

"Sometimes we come down and we can't get stops, and we can't make shots either," Beal said afterward. "So it's like, something's got to give."

Morant was the instigator throughout the Grizzlies' late run. He found Anderson underneath for a layup to tie it at 93 with 5:33 remaining before hitting two free throws to give Memphis its first lead of the half 26 seconds later.

Clarke's 3-pointer on his only attempt behind the arc stretched the lead to five before Morant found Anderson inside again to make it 102-95.

Morant's 3 from the right elbow with made it 105-96 with 44 seconds remaining, sending much of the Washington crowd to the exits.

"That guy is young, but he plays like a five-year All-Star," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said of Morant. "He just controls the game. ... He's a problem."

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Missed their first seven 3-point attempts. ... F/C Jordan Bell and C Gorgui Dieng were available, but did not play. Memphis picked up Bell from Houston and Dieng from Minnesota at the trade deadline. ... Jackson recorded his third double-double of the season.

Wizards: Traded from the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, G Jerome Robinson's first points since came on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave Washington its largest lead 30-18 at the end of the first quarter. ... Hachimura's double-double was the third of his career.

VOLUME SHOOTERS

Washington and Memphis each had more than 100 shot attempts. The Grizzlies' total of 102 was one shy of a season high.

WAITERS WAIVED

The Grizzlies waived G Dion Waiters on Sunday, three days after acquiring him from Miami Heat in a three-team trade also involving Minnesota.

Waiters had been suspended three times by the Heat this season, including a 10-game ban following a drug-related incident on a team plane.

The Grizzlies also received F Justise Winslow from Miami and Dieng from Minnesota, while sending F Andre Iguodala, F Jae Crowder and F Solomon Hill to the Heat.

UP NEXT

Grizzlies: host Portland on Wednesday.

Wizards: host Chicago on Tuesday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Iguodala makes Heat debut vs. Trail Blazers

Published in Basketball
Sunday, 09 February 2020 17:38

PORTLAND -- Nearly eight months after his last NBA game, the deciding Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Andre Iguodala made his 2019-20 debut Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers -- three days after the Miami Heat acquired him in a deadline-day trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, who had agreed not to have Iguodala join the team this season pending a deal.

Iguodala entered late in the first quarter.

"The guy's a freak. Six percent body fat and he's been off that kind of time? He looks incredible," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame. "That's not basketball shape, we get it. So how do you get somebody in basketball shape? You play him in a basketball game, and you start that process. We didn't bring him here just to hang out."

The Heat traded guard Dion Waiters and forwards James Johnson and Justise Winslow on Thursday as part of a three-team deal that brought back forwards Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from Memphis. All three players were inactive for Friday's Miami loss at Sacramento, as the trade was being completed with physicals, but were able to participate in a practice Saturday in Portland.

"It was good that we were able to have practice yesterday," Spoelstra said. "That's not going to get everybody on the same page immediately, but we want to start this process right now. There's been enough talk about why we brought them in. Now everybody's ready just to get started. It will obviously be a big test for us tonight, but there's no time like the present to get after it."

On Friday, Iguodala said the trade had reinvigorated him.

"I kind of got excited about basketball again," Iguodala told ESPN, when asked about how he fits with the Heat. "Playing with [the Golden State Warriors], we go to the Finals every year, and the media scrutiny behind every single move -- you get exhausted. You've had a good break, but then you kind of see where the game's trending, you don't know, it's like, 'Where do I fit in?' And it's kind of a blessing in disguise, like this is the perfect spot. I can do a lot of different things here. A lot of different things. It doesn't have to be just defense or just passing. Or just in the corners. It's going to be good. It's going to be good. I'm going to do a lot of different things."

It looks like Mookie Betts will -- finally -- be flying west for spring training. The three-way trade that was to send Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers is now a two-team swap between Boston and Los Angeles, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The new trade removes the Twins and pitcher Brusdar Graterol from the equation due to Boston's concerns about Graterol's medical reports. The Red Sox will instead send Betts, Price and cash to the Dodgers for outfielder Alex Verdugo, shortstop prospect Jeter Downs and catcher/infield prospect Connor Wong. The Dodgers and Twins completed a separate deal that sends Kenta Maeda to Minnesota for Graterol, a lower-level prospect and the 67th pick in this year's MLB draft.

Let's look at the new ramifications of one of the biggest offseason blockbuster trades in history.

What changed since Tuesday's version of the deal?

Simply, the Red Sox wanted out on Graterol after reviewing his medical reports. The hard-throwing right-hander missed the 2016 season after Tommy John surgery and missed time in the minors in 2019 because of shoulder problems, but his electrifying fastball got him to the big leagues in September. His fastball averaged 99 mph in 10 relief appearances, and he earned a spot on Minnesota's playoff roster. With the Twins unable to replace Graterol in the deal, the original part of the trade that sent Maeda to Minnesota was removed, and the Dodgers sent Downs and Wong to Boston in place of Graterol.

How did the Dodgers and Twins rework their part of the trade?

Maeda will still go from the Dodgers to the Twins, in exchange for Graterol, outfield prospect Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 draft. The Dodgers will also send cash to the Twins. Maeda makes $3.125 million in 2020 and is signed through 2023, with performance bonuses based on how much he pitches that could push his annual salary past $10 million if he pitches as much as he did in 2010 (26 games started, 153 innings).

Who is Jeter Downs?

Yes, he was named after Derek Jeter, and he's the better prospect of the two players the Red Sox acquired. The Reds drafted Downs 32nd overall in the 2017 draft out of a Miami high school, and the Dodgers nabbed him (and pitching prospect Josiah Gray) in the Yasiel Puig trade last offseason. Downs had a breakout season in the minors in 2019, hitting .276/.362/.526 in 107 games at Class A and 12 at Double-A, showing a well-rounded offensive game with 63 extra-base hits, 24 steals and 60 walks while keeping his strikeouts in check, with 107.

Here's a report on Downs from ESPN prospect expert Kiley McDaniel:

"Downs showed flashes of everything early in his career, but his in-game power took a step forward in 2019, when he hit 24 homers across High-A and Double-A. He's a fringy runner and defender at shortstop who probably fits best long-term at second base or third base, but he now projects to have above-average hit and power tools, so his bat will profile anywhere on an everyday basis. He could be ready for the big leagues as early as the second half of 2020."

The Red Sox also picked up Wong, a third-round pick in 2017 out of the University of Houston, who started 80 games at catcher between Class A and Double-A while starting 21 games between second base and third base. He hit .281/.336/.541, including .349 in 40 games at Double-A Tulsa, with 24 home runs, albeit with a poor 143-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

ESPN Daily Newsletter: Sign up now!

Kiley on Wong: "This versatility was something the Dodgers have sought as a way to stretch roster spots with Austin Barnes, Will Smith and Kyle Farmer. Wong doesn't have big raw power but has learned to lift the ball well enough to do damage, with below-average contact skills and mostly average tools across the board. He profiles as a utility-type role player who could be ready as early as 2021."

Is Downs an equal prospect to Graterol?

This seems like a fair-value replacement, and depending on how you value talent, Downs might be the guy to prefer. In a general sense, Graterol is a riskier prospect due to concerns about his health and the possibility that he ends up in the bullpen, but he has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter. Downs probably has the higher floor, though his value is diminished a bit if he doesn't have the ability to stick at shortstop.

Again, from Kiley:

"Executives I polled just after the deal broke agreed that Downs is marginally more valuable than Graterol, without considering the confidential aspect of Graterol's medicals. My top-100 prospects list for ESPN is still in progress, but right now, Downs would be in the middle third of the top 100 and atop the Red Sox's prospect list. Graterol would be in the back third, along with first baseman Triston Casas, the top Red Sox prospect before this trade. Wong is a nice utility piece who somewhat uniquely plays multiple infield positions and catcher and could contribute relatively soon, but his value is dwarfed by Graterol and Downs. The Red Sox, according to most I've spoken with in the industry, upgraded their return in the reworked deal."

For what it's worth, MLB.com rated Downs No. 44 and Graterol No. 83 on its top-100 prospects list. Baseball America rated Graterol No. 60 and Downs No. 86 on its list. It seems the Red Sox did pretty well here, other than having to sub in a position player for a pitcher. Downs has to pass the Double-A test, and Rancho Cucamonga, where he played the bulk of last season, is a good hitting environment, but Downs' across-the-board results in his age-20 season were impressive.

What does this mean for the Joc Pederson trade to the Angels?

That deal apparently was a casualty of all the maneuvering, though details as of why aren't clear. The Dodgers still might want to move Pederson, who will make $7.75 million in his final year before free agency and who is a bit of a spare part now. But he hit 36 home runs in 2019.

Does this change your opinion of the deal?

I actually like it a little more for the Red Sox, as I view Downs as a valuable asset. Even if he ends up at second base, it looks like he's going to hit, and the Sox don't have a long-term plan at second. Plus, I'm always wary of pitchers with Tommy John history and shoulder problems at age 21. Graterol threw 102 innings in 2018 and 71 in 2019, so we have no idea if he can hold up with a starter's workload. Still, he has dominant closer potential, and given the Dodgers' need for relief help, it will be interesting to see if they simply decide to stick him in the bullpen for 2020.

As much fun as it is to acquire Betts, it's worth noting that the Dodgers lost some of their depth from 2019. Gone from the rotation via free agency or trade are Hyun-Jin Ryu, Maeda and Rich Hill. That's 68 starts to replace, coming from a group that will include Price, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and perhaps Graterol.

Still, much like the original three-way trade, this seems like a win-win-win: Everybody still got what they wanted. The Twins can now line up a top-four rotation of Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, Maeda and Homer Bailey, with Michael Pineda returning from suspension in May. The Red Sox get under the luxury tax while adding a solid outfielder in Verdugo and long-term depth with Downs and Wong.

And the Dodgers? Well, they get Mookie Mania coming to Hollywood.

Mistake to add teams to Six Nations - England coach Jones

Published in Rugby
Sunday, 09 February 2020 14:00

England coach Eddie Jones believes increasing the number of teams in the Six Nations would be a mistake.

Reports have suggested South Africa could join the competition in 2023, but there has also been speculation that an eight-team event might be introduced.

"It's called the greatest rugby tournament in the world and I think it is," Jones insisted.

"So why would you want to add other teams that are going to decrease the level of competition?"

There has also been a suggestion that Fiji would also like to join and could play their 'home' games in France.

The last change to the structure of the event was in 2000 when Italy became the sixth nation.

Since then they and Scotland are the only teams not to have won the title.

"You want the best teams playing against each other," Jones added. "There's something about the Six Nations - because of the history of the relationships between the nations, it makes it more outstanding.

"Someone was giving me a history lesson on Scotland and the number of different things that have happened in the rivalry with England. So there's a lot of meaning to a lot of people for a game like this.

"The competition is much harder contested than the World Cup. It's become a lot more physical and it's only going to get more so.

"You don't want this type of game every week, but southern hemisphere coaches certainly admire the Six Nations."

Jones drew parallels with Super Rugby, the southern hemisphere competition for club teams which began with 12 sides but increased to 17 before settling on its current 15.

"I can only talk from experience. Super Rugby was the golden egg of rugby - brilliant, 12 teams, competitive. As soon as it had gone to 14 and 15, it had lost its allure."

Haley & Gaughan Lock Into Daytona 500 On Speed

Published in Racing
Sunday, 09 February 2020 11:00

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Justin Haley and Brendan Gaughan represented two sides of the same coin at the World Center of Racing on Sunday afternoon during Busch Pole Qualifying.

Haley, 21, represented the youngest driver attempting to make this year’s field for the 62nd annual Daytona 500. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Gaughan was the oldest man trying to race his way into the show.

And while neither Haley nor Gaughan were among the frontrunners for the Daytona 500 pole Sunday afternoon, both still had plenty of cause for celebration at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

The duo ended the day as the fastest two non-chartered teams during Sunday’s time trial session for The Great American Race, guaranteeing themselves each a spot in the 40-car field on Feb. 16 as a result.

Haley, who ended up 31st overall among the 43 qualifiers, turned a lap of 47.364 seconds (190.018 mph) with the No. 16 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to lead the seven-driver Open contingent.

The Winamac, Ind., native – who won last July’s rain-shortened Coke Zero 400 at Daytona for his first Cup Series victory – is seeking his second win at NASCAR’s top level, but was happier on Sunday to realize his Xfinity Series team owner Matt Kaulig’s dream of racing in the Daytona 500 at long last.

“This is so awesome. It’s what we came here to do,” noted Haley. “Matt Kaulig had a dream to run the Daytona 500, and now we’ve locked ourselves into the show, which is what our goal was from the first day we announced this program. Now, not only that, but we were the fastest Open car, which is an awesome stamp to put on qualifying. It’s a big deal for us.

“I’m just really thankful that the Fraternal Order of Eagles, everyone at Kaulig Racing and ECR Engines all believed in me for this,” Haley added. “They all have done a great, great job. Everyone believed in me, from Chris Rice (Kaulig Racing president) all the way down. Chris called me in his office and told me he wanted me to run the Daytona 500, so it’s truly a blessing to make this happen for him.

“Hopefully we can go two for two here at Daytona, but if we can’t, it’s just awesome to get Matt Kaulig his first NASCAR Cup Series start next weekend.”

Brendan Gaughan will race in his fifth career Daytona 500 next weekend. (Jason Reasin photo)

Gaughan is embarking on the final four races of his NASCAR Cup Series career and was admittedly nervous after his qualifying lap of 47.633 seconds (188.945 mph) was a half-second slower than what he ran during time-trial practice on Saturday afternoon.

However, it held up against all the rest, and after Daniel Suarez couldn’t match the speed that Gaughan turned the Las Vegas native finally breathed a sigh of relief. His

“Mr. Beard, you can breathe again. We made it. We’re locked in!” an elated Gaughan exclaimed. “I can go dive now; I’m happy. I can relax. This is such a great feeling, to know it’s my last one, to know I’ve locked in and to know I’ve made it. I never knew when the last one was going to be, but now I know that this one is, and we made it. We’re here and I’m going to have a good ol’ time, I can promise you that.

“We lost a half-second from yesterday – and we knew it’d be slower, there was a lot more wind today, but the 16 (Haley) and us were within hundreds of each other yesterday and they got us by three tenths, so it didn’t look good at that point. That bummed me out then, but it all worked out in the end for us.”

With two of the four Open spots in the Daytona 500 confirmed, Reed Sorenson, Timmy Hill, Daniel Suarez, JJ Yeley and Chad Finchum will be the five drivers racing for two spots during Thursday’s Duels.

Erik Jones Triumphs In Chaotic Busch Clash

Published in Racing
Sunday, 09 February 2020 15:43

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a Sunday afternoon matinee that could have been called the “Busch Crash” instead of the Busch Clash, Erik Jones found help from a friend on the final lap and made his way to victory lane at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Jones, whose front nose appeared more fit for the junkyard than the Daytona high banks after he was involved in a myriad of late crashes, was in the right place during a third attempt at NASCAR overtime to get help from his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, who was a lap down.

The two then steamed through what was left of the lead pack coming down the backstretch, breaking away in the final two corners as Hamlin shoved Jones to his first win in the non-points exhibition event.

Jones celebrated in victory lane as virtually the last man standing, with only six cars reaching the checkered flag out of the 18 that took the initial green for the 75-lap race – which, by the way, was extended 13 circuits beyond its advertised distance due to the triple-overtime finish.

The Byron, Mich., native didn’t care how long it took, though. He was just glad he got the trophy.

“It was an awesome race,” Jones said. “I’ve got to give a huge thanks to Denny. He gave us a huge push that last run. It wasn’t the fastest car in the race, but we brought it home to victory.

“I think, honestly, it was so draggy it wasn’t too much for him to lock on and push us to the win,” added Jones of his destroyed race car. “Hopefully, next Sunday (in the Daytona 500) we can cap off another one.”

Sunday’s race – more akin to a demolition derby – was fairly calm until roughly 10 laps to go, when a secondary pack of drivers that pitted for fuel prior to lap 50 caught a pack of Chevrolets trying to stretch their gas to the end.

With Logano at the head of the field, three-wide racing quickly broke out after that, with Hamlin shoving Kyle Busch up to challenge for the lead in turns three and four on the 66th lap.

Logano first threw a block to the outside, and then when Busch ducked to the middle lane to try and draft past, Logano’s car got loose and the pair made contact that spun Logano in front of the field.

Among those collected were all three Team Penske Fords – Logano, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney – as well as the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson.

That incident set up a restart with three to go in regulation, where wheel spin on the green flag saw both Ryan Newman and William Byron get out of shape and go spinning, leading to another pileup that collected most of the contenders and forced a seven minute, 27 second red flag for associated cleanup.

Following the resumption, Hamlin jetted out to the lead on the first overtime attempt, clearing Aric Almirola with help from Chase Elliott.

However, a right-rear tire let go on Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry entering turn three, sending him spinning into the oncoming pack and ultimately seeing 11 of the 18 starters involved in the chaos.

A second attempt at overtime saw Elliott pit for a new right-rear tire, then link up with Kyle Larson after the green flag waved again in a Chevrolet tandem that sped to the lead halfway down the backstretch.

Unfortunately, Elliott’s push went awry as he tried to slide down the track and take the lead from Larson in turn three, getting Larson out of shape and sparking yet another crash – one that collected Jones for the second time and pared the field down to a scant six cars for the final restart attempt of the day.

Austin Dillon (3) leads the field on the final restart of Sunday’s Busch Clash. (Dave Moulthrop photo)

Austin Dillon led the field to green to kick off the final overtime run, the cleanest car on track at that point, but it was Ryan Newman who worked his way through the field to lead at the white flag.

That was about the point that Jones and Hamlin linked up, and once they connected it was game over for the rest of the field. Hamlin shoved Jones clear of the remaining few, and that was that.

Sunday’s victory was Joe Gibbs Racing’s record-extending ninth Clash win as a team, and Hamlin noted afterward that it was indeed that – a team triumph.

“I knew he was going to be in for a ride,” Hamlin said. “It was just a matter of whether he could handle it or not. That last lap, he needed to strap in, because I was going to push him. I didn’t care if I pushed him into a wreck — I was going to push him. Thankfully it worked out well for us.”

Dillon survived to come home as the runner-up, followed by Clint Bowyer, Larson and Newman.

Hamlin was scored as the last car running, one lap down in sixth, while Elliott ended up seventh as the last car to go behind the wall prior to the finish.

Keselowski led the most laps, 33, and was scored 17th after his involvement in the first major accident.

Sunday’s Busch Clash was also the first time since 1997 that the event – spotlighting pole winners from the previous season – ran under its original name, thanks to renewed sponsorship from Anheuser Busch.

That was something that Jones added made his victory a little more special.

“It’s a really cool race,” noted Jones. “It’s one that I grew up watching … and to have it back with its original name and to win it feels pretty good.”

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.

Baca Rebounds, Bests Arizona Dirt Track Tour

Published in Racing
Sunday, 09 February 2020 17:21

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Chaz Baca Jr. bounced back from an opening-lap miscue to pocket Sunday afternoon’s $2,000 IMCA modified winner’s share as the fourth annual Arizona Dirt Track Tour stormed into the three-eighths-mile Central Arizona Speedway.

While Baca Jr. took the big check, Cody Thompson and Ricky Thornton Jr. cashed in as well, with $750 triumphs in IMCA Sport Modified and IMCA Stock Car action, respectively.

Ninety-three cars filled the pit area for the third of six Arizona Dirt Track Tour events.

Baca’s triumph in the 25-lap IMCA Modified main event came after getting an opening lap reprieve, in which he spun from the pole position in the opening corner.

With the series rule giving drivers back their original starting position after a caution on the initial start, Baca Jr. took full advantage by snaring the early lead and pacing the field all the way to take the win.

“That was a rough start, I didn’t want that to happen,” Baca Jr. noted in victory lane. “If they didn’t have the rule that everyone gets their spot back, I would have been at the back. It wasn’t pretty, but it’s still a win.”

After another pair of aborted starts to the feature, including one that sent outside front row starter Ethan Dotson spinning off the top of turn two, Baca Jr. gunned into the lead and held off early pressure from Tim Ward.

Ward chased throughout but was unable to mount a serious charge on Baca Jr. as the laps clicked off.

“He was hitting three a little better than me, I was struggling there,” Ward explained.

Ward settled for second behind Baca Jr., while Ricky Thornton Jr. recovered from a heat race off-track excursion to rally from 17th to claim the show position.

Thornton Jr. gained 11 positions in the opening pair of circuits and then scratched his way up to third, falling two positions shy of claiming two wins on the day.

Jeff Taylor took the Modified checkered flag in fourth, with Casey Arneson recovering from an early incident to round out the top five. Collen Winebarger, Mark Carrell, John Hansen, Marlyn Seidler and Alex Stanford completed the top ten.

Sioux City, Iowa’s Cody Thompson proved to be the class of the field in the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified feature, sliding past early pacesetter Bo Partain to assume the point on the seventh round and leading the rest of the way to take the $750 winner’s share.

“I got a good run on the restart and pulled alongside door-to-door and caught the fast part of the track, then we were able to hold on the rest of the way,” Thompson said. “This place is a lot like my home track, that’s why I think I adapt to it pretty well.”

After slipping away from the field, Thompson weathered a pair of late-race restarts to preserve the victory ahead of Partain, with Tyler Soppe, Ty Rogers and 10th-starter Brian Osantowski rounding out the top five.

In the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car feature, Ricky Thornton Jr. took advantage of a second-lap miscue by Andrew Burg to take command and held the point the rest of the way for the $750 triumph.

Burg jumped into the initial lead only to slip off the top of the track entering turn three on the second circuit, handing the lead off to fourth-starter Thornton Jr.

“I think Burg kinda had the race there, I’m not sure what happened with him in three,” Thornton Jr. said afterward. “The track started to take a little rubber there, I was a little free at the start and then I was getting tight by the end.”

Behind Thornton Jr., Canada’s Brendon LaBatte took advantage of a lap-11 restart to take second away from Zach Madrid.

The Saskatchewan Roughrider guard held the runner-up position the rest of the way, with Madrid, Eric Lloyd and Aaron Hetrick rounding out the top five.

The finish:

1. 75jr-Chaz Baca Jr., 2. 4tw-Tim Ward, 3. 20rt-Ricky Thornton Jr., 4. 5-Jeff Taylor, 5. 2a-Casey Arneson, 6. C9-Collen Winebarger, 7. 27-Mark Carrell, 8. 8h-John Hansen, 9. 7-Marlyn Seidler, 10. 98-Alex Stanford, 11. 48k-Kollin Hibdon, 12. 19sb-Lance Mari, 13. 6-Casey Skyberg, 14. 45-Ryan Roath, 15. 23R-Russell Allen, 16. 5m-Zachary Madrid, 17. 18k-Jacob Pace, 18. 23n-Clay Norris, 19. 09-Kelsy-Ann Hayes, 20. 44n-Jason Noll, 21. 01a-Drew Armstrong, 22. 44-Christy Barnett, 23. 75-Spencer Wilson, 24. 175-Ethan Dotson.

Pereira claims first Korn Ferry Tour win in Bogota

Published in Golf
Sunday, 09 February 2020 07:12

With his win Sunday in Colombia, Mito Pereira just put himself in the mix for a PGA Tour card and maybe even a spot in this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Four back to start the final round, Periera fired a final-round 64 with a 72nd-hole eagle to win the Country Club de Bogota Championship by two over Ben Kholes.

The 24-year-old Chilean carded four birdies, two eagles and a bogey to steal his second professional victory, the follow-up to a 2016 PGA Tour Latinoamerica title.

Pereira played the KFT in 2017 and '18 before losing his status and heading back to the Latinoamerica circuit last year.  Now, following a T-3 finish in Panama and a win in Colombia, he's up to second in the Korn Ferry Tour points list, behind only Davis Riley.

Pereira jumped up 294 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking, to No. 678, on the strength of his tie for third and now figures to break into the top 325 with his win. He will be the second-highest ranked Chilean in the world, behind Joaquin Niemann, and will be in position to challenge for a spot in this summer's 60-man Olympic field. Argentina's Fabian Gomez, 244th in the world, currently holds the 60th spot in the IGF rankings, with the OWGR set to dramatically shift between now between the June 22 cut-off.

After an insane day around the greens on Saturday, Phil Mickelson showed some more of that short-game magic Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

After badly sailing the green from 127 yards out at Pebble Beach's par-4 13th hole Sunday, Mickelson left himself a seemingly impossible third shot – a TV tower between he and the hole, trees to the right, a green above and running away from him.

He was so far long and left – 42 yards to be exact – that his ball wasn't even in the frame on Shot Tracker.

But trailing leader Nick Taylor by three shots, Mickelson couldn't afford to play it safe. Instead, he reached into his magic hat, flopped it over the tower and onto the fringe, and sunk 25-foot putt for par.

While Taylor matched Mickelson's par, his wasn't nearly as magical.

Soccer

Suárez says Bielsa causing divide within Uruguay

Suárez says Bielsa causing divide within Uruguay

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLuis Suárez exposed what he called problematic working conditions i...

Angel City docked 3 points for salary cap breach

Angel City docked 3 points for salary cap breach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAngel City FC has been fined $200,000 and deducted three points in...

Fernandes sent off in 2nd straight Man Utd game

Fernandes sent off in 2nd straight Man Utd game

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBruno Fernandes was sent off for the second time in as many games a...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pels' Murphy (hamstring) to miss start of season

Pels' Murphy (hamstring) to miss start of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III is likely to miss the...

Rondo, eyeing coaching career, joins Bucks

Rondo, eyeing coaching career, joins Bucks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIRVINE, Calif. -- In June, when former NBA All-Star and two-time ch...

Baseball

Takeaways: Mets eliminate Brewers with thrilling Game 3 victory

Takeaways: Mets eliminate Brewers with thrilling Game 3 victory

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAfter the other three MLB wild-card series ended in sweeps, all eye...

Brewers' Williams accepts blame after fateful 9th

Brewers' Williams accepts blame after fateful 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMILWAUKEE -- The moment was precisely as the Milwaukee Brewers scri...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated