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I Dig Sports
A decade later, Glover recalls 'odd week' during '09 U.S. Open win at Bethpage
Published in
Golf
Monday, 13 May 2019 09:26
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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – It was not the start he’d hoped for. On the first hole of the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black Lucas Glover stumbled to a double bogey-6 and was faced with the kind of moment that often ruins title chances.
“Best thing about that for me was the 200-, 300-yard walk to the second tee. Luckily it was a long walk, I probably wouldn’t have been good with it if the second tee was right there,” Glover said. “Walking over there I was like, OK, it’s a U.S. Open, everybody is going to screw up. You’re playing good just go to it.”
Glover rebounded with three birdies before the turn and finished the day with a 1-under 69 on his way to a victory that seemed unlikely after his opening miscue.
In many ways that’s how the entire week went for Glover, who beat Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes by two strokes in the weather-delayed event that finished on Monday.
“It was just an odd week. Nothing about it was normal. I didn’t play at all on Thursday. Played like five holes on Friday. It was just weird,” Glover said. “Play until dark, go to bed, wake up and do it all over again. There wasn’t much time to think. It probably was a good thing.”
Glover said he remembered being excited when he qualified for the ’09 U.S. Open because the course fit his game, and this week’s PGA Championship is no different even if it has been a decade since he won his first, and last, major championship.
“It was motivating as something to play my way into,” he said. “It was in the back of my mind that I really wanted to get here.”
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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Justin Thomas has withdrawn from the PGA Championship with a lingering injury to his right wrist.
“My wrist is not yet fully healed,” Thomas wrote in a statement he posted on Twitter. “Obviously as a past champion this tournament is extra special to me. It consistently has the strongest field in golf and I’m disappointed to not be among those competing this year but I’m optimistic about a return in the near future.”
Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, last played on the PGA Tour at the Masters, where he finished tied for 12th. He has struggled with tendinitis in recent months and has been spotted wearing a brace on his right wrist.
Until Thomas’ withdrawal, the PGA field included the top 102 players from the world ranking. He was replaced in the field by Kelly Kraft.
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Young paceman Wes Agar has returned to South Australia after spending two seasons in Victoria as one of the few changes to the Redbacks squad for next season.
Agar, 22, the younger brother of Ashton Agar, had a rookie contract with the Redbacks in 2016-17 and played five List A games before returning to Victoria. He earned a rookie contract with Victoria in 2018-19 and played two JLT Cup games last season but has yet to play any first-class cricket.
He re-joins South Australia where he already plays BBL cricket with Adelaide Strikers.
The Redbacks scarcely made a change to their contract list despite not winning a single Sheffield Shield game last season and just two JLT Cup matches.
"We have faith in our experienced players but we need more consistency from this group and we also need the young players in our system to keep growing and developing if we are to build success at domestic level," South Australia high performance manager Tim Nielsen said.
Top order batsman Kelvin Smith and fast bowler Elliot Opie were cut from the main squad along with rookie Michael Cormack.
The Redbacks signed three new rookies, Jacob Dickman, Henry Hunt and Tim Oakley. Dickman has been rewarded for performances in SACA premier cricket while Hunt hails from Canberra and was the leading run-scorer in the Futures League last year. Oakley was the leading wicket taker in SACA premier cricket last season.
South Australia Men's 2019-20 squad Alex Carey, Travis Head, Adam Zampa, Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Callum Ferguson, David Grant, Jake Lehmann, Conor McInerney, Joe Mennie, Harry Nielsen, Patrick Page Jnr, Kane Richardson, Luke Robins, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Nick Winter, Daniel Worrall Rookies Jacob Dickman, Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Tim Oakley, Lloyd Pope, Ben Pengelley
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Worrall's Ashes hopes shattered by another back injury
Published in
Cricket
Monday, 13 May 2019 18:26
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Any hopes fast bowler Daniel Worrall had of making Australia's Ashes squad have been dashed after a stress fracture in his lower back ended his season with Gloucestershire.
Worrall, 27, has not played since experiencing back soreness during Gloucestershire's Royal London Cup match with Middlesex at Lord's on April 21.
Gloucestershire released a statement confirming that scans had found a stress fracture in Worrall's back.
"Dan had multiple investigations where the Gloucestershire medical team eventually diagnosed a stress fracture in his back, which will require a period of time on the sidelines before returning to bowling," the statement said.
Gloucestershire confirmed he would not play the remainder of the English season and the club is searching for another overseas bowler.
South Australia's sports science and sports medicine manager John Porter said: "Daniel's injury is a recurrence of a pre-existing stress injury and he will have the next 12 weeks off bowling. We are aiming for him to return early in the Australian domestic cricket season."
It is wretched luck for the injury-ravaged Worrall. He had his county stint last season ruined by a foot fracture that saw him miss the start of the Australian domestic summer with South Australia.
He returned with a bang taking 17 wickets in two Sheffield Shield games prior to Christmas to put his name in the mix for an Ashes call up. He then suffered another back injury that curtailed the start of his BBL campaign.
Worrall returned to play a big part in the Melbourne Stars run to the BBL final, taking 4 for 23 in the semi-final win over Hobart Hurricanes, before injuring his hamstring in another Shield game in March.
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Tiger, girlfriend named in wrongful death lawsuit
Published in
Breaking News
Monday, 13 May 2019 18:59
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Tiger Woods, restaurant manager Erica Herman, who is Woods' girlfriend, and The Woods restaurant in Jupiter, Florida, are being sued for the wrongful death of an employee, who after working a shift in December drank alcohol at the restaurant before being killed in a driving accident.
Nicholas Immesberger, 24, had a blood-alcohol reading of .256, more than three times the legal limit in Florida, according to the suit filed in West Palm Beach, Florida. The lawsuit says Immesberger lost control of his car on Federal Highway in Martin County and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene on Dec. 10, 2018.
The attorneys for Immesberger's family, who filed the lawsuit, are holding a news conference at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday.
Immesberger was a bartender at The Woods, and the suit alleges that Woods, Herman and other employees were aware that Immesberger had a drinking problem but regularly overserved him during and after his work shifts.
The lawsuit alleges that Woods and Herman were "drinking with him at The Woods bar only a few nights before the fatal crash of December 10, 2018.''
Woods and Herman returned home from a trip to Australia the night of Dec. 7.
"Tiger knew, or reasonably should have known, that Immesberger was habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages, and/or was a habitual drunkard,'' the lawsuit says.
It is unclear if Woods or Herman were at the restaurant on Dec. 10.
Woods is playing in the PGA Championship this week at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, and was at the course early Monday to practice. His agent, Mark Steinberg, could not be reached for comment.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It's not that Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco won't help rookie quarterback Drew Lock, it's that Flacco doesn't think mentoring the young passer is the biggest part of his job description.
"Listen, I have so many things to worry about. I'm trying to go out there and play good football. I'm trying to go out there and play the best football of my life,'' Flacco said Monday, after the Broncos' first day of organized team activities. "As far as a time constraint and all of that stuff, I'm not worried about developing guys or any of that. That is what it is. I hope he does it well. I don't look at that as my job. My job is to go win football games for this football team.''
Later Flacco added: "Listen, I hope he does learn from me because that means we're out there and we're slinging it around and having a lot of fun.''
In the end, Flacco said, he is learning a new offense as well and that Lock would glean more from offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello than anyone else during the process. The Broncos made Lock the second of two second-round picks -- the 42nd selection overall -- in last month's NFL draft.
The Broncos' decision-makers, including coach Vic Fangio and president of football operations and general manager John Elway, have repeatedly said Flacco is the team's starter and that Lock would initially compete with Kevin Hogan for the backup job.
Fangio said Monday he didn't think it was Flacco's job to make sure Lock was catching on quickly.
"That's on Drew to soak in and learn. Joe's learning a new system himself,'' Fangio said. "As we move along there will be a lot more interaction to get to know each other, but primarily it's on Drew to learn.''
Flacco said before the draft he hoped to prove to the Broncos in the early portion of the team's offseason workouts that they didn't need to select a quarterback in the draft, but that he would still consider himself to be the starter.
Ultimately, Flacco said, "it's out of my control.''
Flacco, who was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the offseason, suffered a hip injury last season and was ultimately replaced in the Ravens' lineup by rookie Lamar Jackson. Flacco has repeatedly said he tried to be "a good teammate'' to Jackson last season, but that he felt he could still be a starter for "a while.''
Asked Monday what he thought when the Broncos selected Lock, Flacco said, "Listen, I've told you guys how I felt about it. There really isn't much more that needs to be said. I told you that it's not really in my control.''
Asked if Lock's arrival motivated him, Flacco said: "I think I've talked about that before, too. That is probably along the lines of him being drafted, it's one of those things. There is definitely little things that motivate you every year. At the same time, I have plenty of other things that have kept me motivated throughout my career and will continue to keep me motivated this year. That won't be the single or the biggest thing.''
During this past weekend's rookie minicamp, Lock said he looked forward to working alongside Flacco and that he understood "that I have to do the work,'' as the Broncos roll through the offseason and into training camp later this summer.
"It will definitely be a different transition,'' Lock said. "... If I'm going through this transition I'm glad to be behind Joe and hear what he has to say, learn from him. I'm excited to meet him, excited to get in the room with him and learn from a guy who's won a Super Bowl.''
"I'm not a selfish person, I don't think,'' Flacco said. "There are times where you have to be selfish. But listen, Rich does such a good job in those meeting rooms. Drew is going to learn from listening to him talk and then us getting the reps on the field and seeing how we all do it as a collective group of quarterbacks.''
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Judge suppresses video in Kraft solicitation case
Published in
Breaking News
Monday, 13 May 2019 15:31
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Prosecutors cannot use secretly recorded video allegedly showing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft engaging in massage parlor sex, a judge ruled Monday, striking a serious blow to the case charging him with soliciting prostitutes.
In his 10-page ruling, Judge Leonard Hanser wrote that Jupiter police detectives and the judge who issued the search warrant allowing the secret installation of cameras at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter did not do enough to minimize the invasion of privacy of other customers, some of whom received only legal massages.
Kraft's attorneys are expected to file a motion to dismiss the case based on lack of evidence as soon as Tuesday. Prosecutors have the options of appealing the decision, dismissing the charges or going ahead to trial without the only evidence they've presented.
Kraft, 77, pleaded not guilty, but he has not denied the accusation that he received sexual acts for money at the spa. In his lawyers' arguments against the charges, Kraft has essentially admitted that he was caught on video receiving such services.
That could be significant when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell considers discipline. The NFL is not bound by court rulings, and a dismissal of criminal charges wouldn't mean Kraft is off the hook with the league.
During a hearing to consider the motion to suppress two weeks ago, defense attorneys hit hard on the idea that Jupiter police had not minimized the amount of surveillance they conducted with the video cameras, as required by law. That meant that people who were not violating the law were also caught on camera while disrobed. The lead detective on the case, Andrew Sharp, testified that he told officers to avoid looking at video when it was clear the client was not receiving sexual services. But he also testified that they never stopped recording, and other detectives said during cross-examination that they were never given instructions on how to minimize their surveillance.
"The fact that some totally innocent women and men had their entire lawful time spent in a massage room fully recorded and viewed intermittently by a detective-monitor is unacceptable,'' Hanser wrote.
Kraft's attorneys declined comment. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment, but they are likely to appeal.
Kraft's attorneys argued during a recent hearing aimed at throwing out the recordings that detectives lied to a judge to obtain the warrant. They also argued that the recordings violated Kraft's right to privacy under state and federal law and that officers did not exhaust less invasive means of investigating the spa. Additionally, they said Florida law allowing audio wiretaps says they can be used only for serious felonies such as murder or kidnapping, not lesser offenses such as prostitution. They argued that video should have a higher threshold.
Prosecutors argued that the warrant was aimed at stopping a felony-level prostitution operation and legally obtained. Neither Kraft nor the 24 other men charged in the county were specifically targeted.
Jupiter was part of a multicounty investigation of massage parlor prostitution and possible human trafficking that resulted in the arrests of about 300 men and the closure of 10 spas stretching 130 miles from Palm Beach to Orlando. The spa owners and some employees have been charged with felonies. Prosecutors have conceded that they found no evidence of human trafficking at the Jupiter spa, and no one has been charged with it elsewhere.
Hanser had already ruled that the Kraft videos cannot be released publicly until his trial is underway or the case is settled or dismissed.
NFL officials have said they are watching the case but have not disciplined Kraft. Under league policy, players, owners, coaches and other employees can be punished for "conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in'' the NFL.
According to police records, Kraft, a widower worth $6 billion, was chauffeured to the Orchids of Asia spa on the evening of Jan. 19, where officers secretly recorded him engaging in a sex act with two women and then handing over an undetermined amount of cash.
Investigators said Kraft returned 17 hours later and was again videotaped engaging in sex acts with a woman before paying with a $100 bill and another bill, police said.
Hours later, he was in Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game, where his Patriots defeated the Chiefs. His team then won the Super Bowl in Atlanta, claiming the Patriots' sixth NFL championship under his ownership.
Prosecutors have offered to drop the charges if Kraft enters a diversion program for first-time offenders, as some others charged have. That would include an admission that he would be found guilty if the case went to trial, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and attendance in a class on the dangers of prostitution and its connection to human trafficking. Prosecutors have said that the fine and community service are required by law and are not negotiable.
Hanser has ordered Kraft to appear in court for a May 21 pretrial hearing. It is unclear how Monday's ruling will affect that hearing.
ESPN's T.J. Quinn and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Kerr calls Currys NBA royalty ahead of West finals
Published in
Basketball
Monday, 13 May 2019 19:29
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- As Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry get set to become the first pair of brothers to play against each other in the NBA conference finals, Warriors coach Steve Kerr summed up how many in the league are feeling as they wait for the Curry family showdown to begin with Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday.
"The Currys are unbelievable," Kerr said after Monday's practice. "They have been flying all over the place, seeing both kids play in the NBA playoffs and then seeing them play against each other. They are like the royal family of the NBA. It's incredible. Steph and Seth having all this success. As parents [Dell and Sonya], they must be having the time of their lives. Actually, I know they are because I've talked to them about it. What a beautiful scene. I'm sure it will be conflicting for them, these next couple weeks. What a great story."
It's an experience that both Steph and Seth are enjoying, especially as they think about how much fun their parents, Dell and Sonya, are going to have the next few weeks.
"For them, it's family," Steph said. "And parents who support us all the way through the ranks. Now, to be in a situation like this, where it's technically a win-win for them, they're going to the Finals regardless. But it's kind of crazy to think we're on this stage and get to play in front of our family, and just the happiness and joy that comes from that is crazy."
That joy is something Steph's teammates and coaches with the Warriors are sharing with the family after getting to know the Currys well the past 10 years.
"Oh, it's awesome," Warriors swingman Klay Thompson said. "I'm happy for them. I feel like I'm a part of it. Just knowing Seth and Steph for a decade-plus. It's a split household -- I don't know who they'll root for -- but it's a win-win situation for them. It's pretty incredible."
Seth echoed those sentiments after the Blazers' Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets to set up the matchup with his older brother.
"It's gonna be a lot of fun, man," Seth said after Game 7 on Sunday. "Hard to believe right now. So many years I've watched Steph play in the Western Conference finals, the NBA Finals, being in the crowd. So it's gonna be fun to be out there on the court, competing, to get to that Finals. So, I mean, it's a dream come true for us too. But obviously, our families are going to have a lot of fun with it as well."
One of those family members is Warriors guard Damion Lee, who is Steph and Seth's brother-in-law. Lee, who is married to Steph and Seth's sister, Sydel, isn't on the Warriors' active postseason roster, but he saw some time with the team during the regular season.
"It will be cool," Lee said. "Just the environment in itself, being in the Western Conference finals and then, of course, having two brothers in Steph and Seth that grew up in the same household together and them being on one of the biggest stages -- in the NBA playoffs."
Steph said there won't be a bet between the brothers in this series like there was when the pair competed in the 3-point contest during All-Star Weekend in the Currys' hometown of Charlotte.
"Nah, it's just winner takes the Western Conference championship," Stephen said. "And gets to represent their team in the Finals. Don't need any extra novelty bet for this one. Stakes are already high enough."
The good news for Dell and Sonya Curry is that no matter who wins this series, they can't lose.
ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.
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Brett Brown will return as the Philadelphia 76ers' coach for the 2019-20 season, managing partner Josh Harris told ESPN on Monday night.
There had been some uncertainty about Brown returning for his seventh season, but Harris eliminated that doubt in a lengthy meeting with Brown and general manager Elton Brand on Monday that mostly centered on discussions about the franchise's plans for the offseason.
Brown has largely remained a popular figure in the Philadelphia sporting landscape and within the Sixers organization.
The Sixers were eliminated for a second straight year in the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing in a Game 7 to the Toronto Raptors.
The Sixers owe Brown nearly $15 million on a contract extension set to start next season, and management was determined to end speculation about his future and begin work on an offseason that includes decisions on retaining two prominent free agents, Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.
The NBA draft combine is underway in Chicago, and Sixers officials will be there preparing for the draft, held in June.
After his hiring to steward a full-fledged tanking campaign called "The Process" six years ago, pressure mounted on Brown to make a deep playoff run after in-season trades for Butler and Harris.
Brown had the support of key Sixers players, including franchise center Joel Embiid, who publicly endorsed Brown's return on Monday.
"I don't think he should have anything to worry about," Embiid said. "He's an amazing coach, a better person, and obviously I've got a lot of love for him. If there is someone to blame, put it all on me."
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CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon and Nate Jones will miss the rest of the season with arm injuries, leaving the rebuilding Chicago White Sox without two key pitchers.
Rodon is scheduled for Tommy John surgery to replace the ligament in his left elbow on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The left-hander started on Opening Day and made six more appearances before he was placed on the injured list on May 2 with elbow inflammation.
"Given that he has yet to undergo the surgery, it's still too early to give you a precise timeline in terms of his potential return," general manager Rick Hahn said. "However, in general, given the timing of the surgery, it is reasonable to expect Carlos to be able to rejoin us during the second half of the 2020 season."
Rodon was selected by Chicago with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 amateur draft. He has shown flashes of brilliance since breaking into the majors in 2015, going 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA during one stretch last year, but he has struggled with injuries.
Rodon missed the first three months of the 2017 season because of left biceps and shoulder inflammation. He had shoulder surgery that September, and the resulting rehab pushed back the start of his 2018 season.
"I think he is at peace with it in terms of the road ahead of him," Hahn said. "He knows it's not going to be, necessarily, an easy rehab, but at the same time, it's one that has a very, very high likelihood of success and one that should put him in a position to continue on and have a very, very promising career once he returns."
Jones had surgery Monday to repair a flexor mass tear in his right forearm. The 33-year-old right-hander also has been hampered by injuries since he had a 2.29 ERA in 71 appearances in 2016.
While Rodon and Jones have been ruled out for the year, top prospect Eloy Jimenez could return to the White Sox before their seven-game trip begins next week. Hahn said Jimenez will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Jimenez has been sidelined by a high right ankle sprain since he crashed into the wall in left during a 12-11 victory over Detroit on April 26. He is batting .241 with three homers and eight RBIs in 21 games.
"He's been looking very good," manager Rick Renteria said. "All the stuff that he's been doing both here and then on the road. He's going to be heading out and put himself back in game-type situations, and hopefully he'll be going through that in a positive way and be able to rejoin us."
The injury trouble for the White Sox extends into their highly regarded minor league system.
Hahn said outfielder Micker Adolfo will have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Tuesday but is expected to be ready for the start of next season.
"This is an unfortunate side effect sometimes of Tommy John in terms of the scar tissue buildup as well as issues that develop with the nerve," Hahn said. "Both of these are highly fixable, so we remain very optimistic on his full recovery and returning to us without restriction."
Hahn said Zack Collins is asymptomatic after dealing with a concussion and will enter the return-to-play protocol with Charlotte on Tuesday. The catcher was selected by Chicago with the 10th pick in the 2016 amateur draft.
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