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NBA Taking Steps In Right Direction For Resuming Its Season

Tyler Melito — Wed, 13 May 2020 22:38:07 +0000

Prior to the NBA season being suspended on March 11, the league had just a few more weeks in its regular season, and we were about to know who would hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the champion of the NBA for the 2019-2020 season. Obviously, because of the coronavirus pandemic, fans have been eagerly waiting for the return of basketball. It appears though that the NBA is making strides toward a return.

On Tuesday, league commissioner Adam Silver spoke with the NBA Board of Governors, with those on the call saying that there were steps in the right direction for restarting the season.

One of the main focuses of the call was examining how other sports leagues, both in the United States and abroad, are trying to resume their respective seasons.

The league has thrown out the idea of playing the remainder of its season in a bubble city with Disney World appearing to be the leading candidate for that( Disney has come out and said that they would be willing to host the NBA and its players for it to finish the season). It has also been reported that if the league were to restart, teams would need about three weeks to have a mini training camp to get back into playing shape. Teams have begun to reopen their facilities for players to partake in individual, socially distant workouts, but not all have jumped on to the bandwagon.

There seems to be a split among players about restarting the season, with players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others saying that they want the season to start soon. While others are still a little skeptical.

There are still a lot of questions that would need to be answered, one of which includes testing. The NBA has come out and said that they would need a significant number of tests, something that is not available as of right now. Granted things could change in the coming weeks, but if the NBA wants to come back sooner rather than later, there is still a lot of work left to do, but the foundation is set.

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English Premier League Given Green Light By UK To Resume Its Season Starting June 1 – With No Fans

Tyler Melito — Mon, 11 May 2020 22:27:28 +0000

The English Premier League has had its season suspended for almost two months. That could all change very soon as the Premier League has received the green-light from the United Kingdom government to resume its season, behind closed doors, starting June 1.

Players have been allowed to return to their respective clubs’ facilities for training purposes for a while now, all while being forced to practice social distancing.

In a 50-page document released by UK Prime Minister Boris Jonson, who himself had his battle with COVID-19, he detailed the various things that need to occur if the EPL wants to resume its season. Such things include “permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind-closed-doors for broadcast while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.” None of this can happen however until June 1.

The league’s 20 clubs are supposed to vote on how to resume the season in the coming days, including voting on possibly playing games at neutral sites rather than at the home stadiums of certain teams to limit the spread of all parties involved.

Some details still need to be ironed out and released to the public, but the one thing that is for certain, is that there will be zero fans permitted at any match should the Premier League come back.

If the Premier League wanted to complete its 2019-2020 season, there are still 92 games that would need to be played.

Any decision that needs to be made needs to be approved by 14 of the Premier League teams. The EPL will be the second European soccer league to return as the Bundesliga in Germany is set to resume its season this coming weekend.

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Steph Curry Says He Will Need Second Surgery But Still Plans On Playing This Season

Jake Dianno — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:05:54 +0000

Last week, a report surfaced claiming Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry could miss the rest of the season. However, the Warriors were quick to refute this claim.

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On Monday, Curry addressed the media for the first time since breaking a bone in his hand. He emphasized that he expects to rejoin his team on the court before the end of the season.

“I definitely expect to be back and playing,” said the three-time NBA champion. “I don’t know when exactly but sometime in the early spring.”

Curry also revealed that as a part of his rehabilitation plan, he will need a second surgery in order to remove the pins that were placed in his hand to aid recovery.

“I’ve never really broken anything or had a hand injury or anything like that before.” Curry said, before revealing that the injury included some nerve irritation. “That’s kinda why it took so long for the diagnosis because I had to go through so many tests. With nerves it’s kind of tricky, I can either come back quickly or be out a sustainable amount of time with the surgery and swelling of the injury… Obviously when you’re dealing with hands, that’s where it gets tricky in terms of your feel and all of that.”

In the meantime, however, six-time All-Star Curry avows that he has been working on bettering himself to ensure his effectivity upon his return to the hardwood.

“I’ve been kind of treating it like a mini offseason, work on your body, get some rest, build a new foundation for what type of player I want to be when I come back from injury, not miss a beat, maybe being better than before,” he added.

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Some downtime for Curry could be a good thing for him personally, as it could allow him time to recover and get stronger. The Warriors as a whole, however, have struggled so far this season. Nevertheless, Curry was quick to point out that recent struggles do not define Golden State as a team or as an organization.

“I just love the fight. I think Coach (Steve) Kerr mentioned it,” said Curry. “You’re not just going to sit and be OK with losing or whatever the narrative is. They’re out there fighting every single night.”

If one thing is for certain here, it is that the Warriors organization, fans and Curry himself are all eager to see #30 return to the court and sport the blue-and-gold jersey.

“I love to play basketball, have fun. I know Klay [Thompson] does, too,” the two-time NBA MVP added. “We’re some caged animals ready to get unleashed back to what we do.”

As of now, Curry can be expected to return roughly in the early spring. However, that timeline is certainly subject to potential changes between now and then.

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Wide Receiver Josh Gordon To Miss Browns Training Camp In Order To Focus On Treatment Plan

Mike Conn — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:46:19 +0000

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon has announced that he will not be attending the team’s training camp in order to abide by a “health and treatment plan” as he returns for what he hopes will be his first full season since 2013 following several substance-abuse violations. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Gordon is seeking counseling in order to fully treat the mental health issues with which he has been dealing over the past few years. The receiver indicated that he used marijuana and alcohol in order to self-medicate and treat his anxiety.

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Gordon made the announcement himself via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/JOSH_GORDONXII/status/1021398682619572225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1021398682619572225&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2F

The Browns have responded with nothing but support for Gordon, as they indicated that they will welcome him back to the team whenever he feels ready to return. Via a statement, Browns general manager John Dorsey said, “We will continue to support Josh as he receives the care needed to maintain his progress. We are going to respect his privacy while he is away from the team.”

Prior to his series of substance-abuse suspensions, Gordon had a monumentally dominant season in 2013, in which recorded 1,646 receiving yards (best in the NFL) and 9 touchdowns on 87 receptions. What makes this even more impressive is that he was thrown to by the likes of Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, and Brian Hoyer.

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Gordon clearly has a ton of talent, and is primed to be one of the NFL’s best receivers should he stay on the field. The Browns are looking to make quite the splash in the AFC this year, acquiring a pair of Pro-Bowlers in quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills and wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins. Perhaps even more important, though, is the development of the 2018 first overall pick, quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Browns clearly view Mayfield as the future of their franchise, and the presence of a dominant wide receiver will be seriously beneficial to his progression into stardom.

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Reuben Foster Returns to 49ers Following Dropped Domestic Violence Charges

Mike Conn — Fri, 25 May 2018 21:08:10 +0000

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster has officially returned to the team after domestic violence charges brought against him by ex-girlfriend Elissa Ennis were formally dropped by the court. After the ruling in favor of Foster was passed on Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch issued a statement in which he said that Foster would return to the team.

Foster’s charges were dropped following a tearful admission by Ennis last week in which she claimed that she “lied a lot” in her allegations against Foster. A Wednesday ruling by California Superior Court Judge Nona Klippen indicated that there was not enough evidence to bring Foster up on those charges in order for them to warrant a full jury trial.

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Foster was also facing felony charges regarding an assault weapon, but those have been dropped down to a misdemeanor for which he will face a pre-trial hearing on June 6. However, Foster’s marijuana charge stemming from a January arrest is still in effect, and he will in court for that hearing on June 20.

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The linebacker’s return to the 49ers is huge for the team from a football standpoint. Throughout his rookie season, Foster showed signs of being a great defender in the making, recording 59 tackles and 13 assists in 10 games, all of which he started. His play was good enough to earn him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2017, and at 23-years-old, he’s slated to become the core of the 49ers defense in the coming years. And it’s a good thing too, considering the vast improvement of division rival Los Angeles Rams during this offseason, as well as the potential for Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen to be a huge threat in the NFC West for the next decade.

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Rob Gronkowski Returning To Patriots In 2018, TE Says He Feels ‘Great’

Pablo Mena — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:57:42 +0000

Rob Gronkowski announced Tuesday on Instagram and Twitter that he will return to play for the New England Patriots in the fall.

Rob Gronkowski Announces Return For 2018 Season

“I met with coach today and informed him I will be back for the 2018 season with the Pats,” the veteran tight end wrote. “I have been working out, staying in shape and feel great. Looking forward to another championship run.”

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There had been some speculation in recent months as to whether the star player, known as ‘Gronk,’ would retire soon and pursue other opportunities, like working as a Hollywood actor or perhaps a career in professional wrestling.

Gronkowski, who will be 29 in May, has suffered several injuries, including a severe back injury that ended his 2016 season early. The five-time Pro Bowler has scored 77 touchdowns during his 8-year NFL career.

A horse named after him was set to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby, which will take place on May 5, but the horse pulled out recently due to an illness. Gronkowski tweeted about the news:

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According to ESPN, Gronkowski led the Pats in 2017 with 69 catches, and compiled 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.

Gronkowski has had three back surgeries since joining the NFL. He said after Super Bowl LII that concussions would not be the main reason he would retire from the league.

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Markelle Fultz Scores 10 Points For Sixers In Return From 68-Game Absence [VIDEO]

Pablo Mena — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:46:03 +0000

Markelle Fultz made his long-awaited return to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night following a shoulder injury, and he scored ten points for his team to lead them to a win.

Markelle Fultz Sixers return news

The 2017 top overall pick was 5-of-13 in shooting from the floor and also had eight assists and four rebounds. Fultz — who played 14 minutes in the Sixers’ 123-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets — received a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd upon entering the game.

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The fans at Wells Fargo Center were chanting “Fultz! Fultz! Fultz!”, although 19-year-old Fultz heard something entirely different at first.

“I thought they were saying ‘Nick Foles,‘” Fultz said of the Super Bowl MVP for the champion Philadelphia Eagles. “Then I realized it, and it was pretty dope. These fans are great, and I love them.”

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The Sixers (43-30, fourth in Eastern Conference) have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2012.

Fultz — who only played the first four games of the season — ignored questions about his shoulder after Monday’s game.

“He looked confident,” coach Brett Brown said. “I thought it was a real, sort of bold, gutsy effort that he made given where he was, now where he is.”

Fultz said his teammates meant the world to him.

“I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can possibly be,” the 6-foot-4 former Washington guard said.

Joel Embiid added 20 points and 13 rebounds — including a big one-handed dunk over Paul Millsap — and Ben Simmons had 11 assists for the Sixers.

Will Barton led the Nuggets with 25 points.

The Sixers next host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

One person who believed it was absurd for Fultz to avoid answering any injury-related questions directly was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith:

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Jason Garrett: Cowboys Uncertain On How To Use Ezekiel Elliott After Suspension

Pablo Mena — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:14:46 +0000

Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday after completing his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Ezekiel Elliott suspension return news

However, coach Jason Garrett has admitted he is unsure how his team should use the second-year running back.

Garrett said his message to Elliott was to “get back to work” and that the 22-year-old “looked good.”

On Tuesday, Elliott and the full team will be together for the first time since the Cowboys — who are on a three-game winning streak — defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5. Dallas (8-6, second in NFC East) next hosts the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Elliott ran for 93 yards and a touchdown against Kansas City.

The Cowboys removed Elliott from the reserve/suspended list and cut running back Trey Williams to make room for Elliott on the active roster.

Garrett was not prepared to state with certainty on Monday in what capacity Dallas will utilize Elliott in their final two games.

“Just have to wait and see,” Garrett said. “Got to see how he is [Tuesday], got to see how he practices as the week goes on.”

In the first eight games of the season before his ban for domestic violence, Elliott put on an impressive run. He ran for 783 yards and seven touchdowns on 191 carries and had at least 93 yards rushing in each of his past four games.

Earlier this year, the Cowboys worked defensive tackle David Irving back into the lineup following a four-game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. Defensive end Damontre Moore, currently a free agent, also returned from a two-game suspension.

Elliott — an Ohio State product who was the NFL’s rushing yards leader as a rookie in 2016 — reportedly spent his suspension training in Cabo, Mexico, and appears to have gained some muscle.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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Aaron Rodgers Says On Instagram He’s Cleared To Return To Packers [PHOTO]

Pablo Mena — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:22:10 +0000

Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared to return from his broken right collarbone.

Aaron Rodgers injury recovery news

The veteran Green Bay Packers quarterback posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Tuesday night, ahead of his team’s game at Carolina on Sunday.

“It’s been a long road from that day to this, but I’m happy to say I’ve been medically cleared to return,” Rodgers wrote in his Instagram post. Thanks for all the love, support, prayers, and well wishes over the past 8 weeks and a big thank you to Dr McKenzie and our incredible training staff. #riseagain #”

One day earlier, Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed Rodgers underwent tests to assess how much his surgically repaired collarbone had healed.

“It is now in the evaluation stage,” McCarthy said late Monday afternoon. “Dr. McKenzie is reviewing it. There’s a number of medical opinions that will be involved in a decision, so at this time, I do not have a clean decision for you or an update. That’s where it stands.”

Rodgers broke his collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15, when Anthony Barr struck him and landed on him after a pass. He returned to practice on Dec. 2, his 34th birthday.

Clay Matthews joked that Rodgers looked so great during the rehab process that there was no reason Green Bay should have put him on injured reserve.

“Well, if he comes back, like I’ve been saying, arguable the best quarterback in the league, back to your team, everyone is going to get better,” Matthews said after Sunday’s overtime win at Cleveland. “Not only him being out there, but also the shot in the arm as we talk about him coming back.

“Watching him in practice and what he’s been able to do these past couple weeks, getting more and more reps in practice and throwing on the pads, I think it’s a good sign. I’m not going to speak on his behalf, but we sure hope he’s ready and if he is, we’re going to expect the Aaron of old.”

Though he played just five weeks this season, Rodgers led the NFL in touchdown passes (13) and had tossed just three interceptions.

The Packers (7-6, 3rd in NFC North) lost at Minnesota when Brett Hundley replaced Rodgers, but Green Bay remains in the playoff race.

“My No. 1 thought going into it was keep our hopes alive to make the playoffs, and we’re still in it,” Hundley said.

Rodgers previously missed seven games when he broke his left collarbone in 2013, and the Packers went 2-4-1 in his absence. He did not undergo surgery that time and returned for the regular-season finale at Chicago. Green Bay won the NFC North after finishing the season 8-7-1.

ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass in the first half during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Serena Williams Has Entered 2018 Australian Open, Could Very Likely Defend Title

Pablo Mena — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:57:13 +0000

Serena Williams has entered the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley has said.

Serena Williams Tennis Return News

The 36-year-old — who had her first child, a daughter with fiancee Alexis Ohanian in September — won this year’s tournament in Melbourne.

Tiley added he believes Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, is likely to defend her Australian Open title.

“She’s got her visa, she’s entered, she’s practicing,” he said. “There’s no question she’ll be ready in our view.”

Williams has won the event seven times.

Australia’s Margaret Court, with 24, is the only player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam singles titles.

“She wants to break a record that is Margaret Court’s,” added Tiley. “It would be a pretty significant accomplishment for her to be able to do that.”

Williams would also break an Open era record with and eighth title in Melbourne.

The Australian Open is known for being a family friendly competition. Five-time winner Roger Federer has taken his family of four children there and to other major events several times.

Williams and her fiancee recently took vacations to several fun locations, including Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Serena Williams of the United States serves in her semifinal match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia on day 11 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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Genie Bouchard On Maria Sharpova’s Return From Doping Ban: ‘A Cheater’ Who ‘Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Play Again’

Pablo Mena — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 20:44:51 +0000

Eugenie Bouchard has criticized both the World Tennis Association and Maria Sharapova after the Russian tennis star, who has been serving a 15-month doping suspension, was permitted to return to play on Wednesday.

Genie Bouchard Slams WTA, Maria Sharapova After Return

Sharapova, who turned 30 on April 19, defeated Italian Roberta Vinci at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday. The Russian had originally been banned from tennis for two years after testing positive for meldonium, a drug prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in January 2016, at the Australian Open that year.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced Sharapova’s suspension to 15 months, stating she was not an “intentional doper” but “bore some degree of fault” for trusting her agent with regards to the list of banned drugs, which the agent evidently had an erroneous version of.

Bouchard lambasted the WTA, saying it had set a terrible example to young, aspiring athletes, and called Sharapova a “cheater” who should be banned from tennis for life.

“She’s a cheater and … I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” said the 23-year-old Canadian. “It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids: ‘cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms’.”

The 2014 Wimbledon finalist continued: “I don’t think that’s right and (Sharapova is) definitely not someone I can say I look up to any more.”

Bouchard last fell to Slovakia’s Jana Čepelová 6-0, 6-4 at the Istanbul Open on Tuesday.

Sharapova also beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-1 in the second round at Stuttgart early Thursday, and next faces Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the quarterfinals Friday morning.

The Russian star will find out in May whether she will be given a wild card for the French Open.

Caption: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada plays a forehand in her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Landon Donovan Returns From Retirement In Galaxy’s 4-2 Win Over Orlando

Pablo Mena — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 20:59:37 +0000

Landon Donovan hugged his wife and held his young son for the first time following a soccer game, enjoying the moment he longed for when he ended his 21-month MLS retirement.

Landon Donovan Returns From Retirement In Galaxy’s 4-2 Win Over Orlando

Donovan then handed off his son and ran directly toward the LA Galaxy’s locker room to jump on a treadmill. The 34-year-old former forward came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute of his team’s game against the Orlando City at Stubhub Center on Sunday, with the Galaxy leading 4-1.

The all-time leading scorer in both Major League Soccer and the U.S. men’s national team eventually helped lead the Galaxy to a 4-2 victory in Carson, California.

”I’m so far away,” Donovan said. ”I came into a game where both teams were exhausted, and I was the slowest player on the field. I need to get myself ready to compete in a real way. Bruce and the coaching staff need to know what when they put me in, it can mean something. So tonight worked out well, but I need to be able to contribute.”

Donovan surprisingly announced his return to the field on Thursday after nearly two years away from the game. He has committed to return for at least the remainder of this season, which he hopes will finish with his record seventh MLS Cup championship.

Donning a No. 26 jersey rather than his usual No. 10, the superstar received a lengthy standing ovation and thunderous applause from the crowd as he took the field late in the game, his first match since the 2014 MLS Cup final.

The Galaxy have suffered a long string of injuries recently, to Steven Gerrard and Gyasi Zardes among others. Thus, this provided an opening for Donovan to return to play with six games left in the stretch run before the playoffs begin.

”I was excited, but it’s just weird to be back in this role, because it’s real,” Donovan said. ”It’s really intense. The league, I think, has gotten dramatically better since I’ve been gone. When I looked at Orlando’s lineup, they have really, really good players all over the field. It’s just amazing to see how this league has changed. There’s no room to be not fit, not sharp. I’m got to be on it if I want to contribute.”

His teammates appeared to be in fine form on Sunday, nevertheless. Giovani Dos Santos scored two goals and Alan Gordon added another during a first-half bombardment for the Galaxy (11-4-14), who took sole possessions second place in the Western Conference with their second consecutive win. Captain Robbie Keane also scored as a second-half substitute while Los Angeles pushed its undefeated streak to five matches.

The Galaxy’s comfortable lead was the sole reason Donovan got the chance to play in his first game back.

”It’s going to take a while,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. ”We knew that. Probably no other circumstances would have allowed me to play him today, but I wanted him to get out there and reward the crowd for showing up and all, and it helps Landon see how far he has to go.”

The team’s fans started to sing for Donovan in the 70th minute following Keane’s goal.

Donovan hadn’t been training extensively before choosing to return, and his fitness was barely sufficient for a late-game run along the left side of the Galaxy’s formation.

”I think I had much more impact today in the locker room and helping out a few guys at halftime than I did on the field,” Donovan said. ”If that’s the way I contribute, that’s great.”

Dos Santos, the Mexican star who now wears Donovan’s No. 10, scored or assisted on every goal in a fantastic performance for the Galaxy, who have struggle to get their entire star-studded lineup healthy during a season marked largely by frustration despite their high place in the standings.

Donovan doesn’t know what role he’ll play in the final five games of the regular season, but he is eager to build on this tentative restart.

”I might have played five minutes or so, maybe completed one pass, and it really makes you realize that it’s a whole different level,” Donovan said. ”I’ve got to get myself going again so I can really contribute, because not every week is going to be a charity five or 10 minutes.”

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Landon Donovan #26 of the Los Angeles Galaxy enters the game against Orlando City FC returning from retirement at StubHub Center on September 11, 2016 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Dodgers Eager To Get Clayton Kershaw Back Friday Vs Marlins After LHP Suffers Lower Back Injury

Pablo Mena — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 21:29:27 +0000

Clayton Kershaw is set to return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday night following an 11-week absence due to a herniated disc in his lower back.

Dodgers Eager To Get Clayton Kershaw Back Friday Vs Marlins After LHP Suffers Lower Back Injury

Kershaw, 28, will do so as the Dodgers increase their National League West lead over the rival San Francisco Giants to a season-high five games with merely 23 left to play.

On June 26, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 4-3, at PNC Park. Kershaw took his second loss of the season that day. Three days later, he was diagnosed with a mild disc herniation in his lower back, and has not pitched in a major league game since.

He will be able to do so, however, on Friday night in Miami, when Kershaw starts the Dodgers’ three-game series opener against the Marlins.

“We’re excited for us as a team, but I think we’re excited for Clayton, too,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s been a season of highs and lows. For him to watch his teammates the last two and a half months, it’s been very difficult. So the anticipation to get him back on Friday, yeah, we’re very excited.”

Kershaw was 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA at the time of his injury. Since then, the Dodgers first trailed the first-place Giants by eight games in the NL West after the June 26 defeat in Pittsburgh.

Having thrown only 34 pitches in three dominant innings of work for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in his lone rehab start last Saturday, Kershaw will likely be held to 60 to 70 pitches in his upcoming matchup against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. The Dodgers hope he can stretch those pitches over five innings.

For a pitcher who has started an average of 32 games the last seven seasons, waiting proved to be the most difficult part. Kershaw hinted at that when he told the media on Sunday: “I didn’t really learn anything other than it’s not fun to not play.”

In private, the left-hander attempted to look happy for his teammates, although Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said, “you could tell that he felt that pain for two months.”

Physical or emotional?

“He’s an emotional guy,” Jansen said. “He tried to hide it. You could tell he wanted to be out there so bad to help us win.”

After Fernandez on Friday, Kershaw will face left-hander Rich Hill on Saturday and Kenta Maeda on Sunday.

The Washington Nationals lost pitcher Stephen Strasburg to injury yet again on Wednesday night, so that is also sure to affect the National League standings.

For more than a month, the Dodgers’ top three pitchers lined up only in their dreams. Now, they’re lined up to pitch consecutive games for the first-place squad in the NL West.

Said Roberts: “It’s starting to shape up the way we envisioned.”

Kershaw’s performance over the first three months of this season represented a new high with his 218 ERA+, 1.67 Fielding Independent Pitching and 16.11 strikeout-to-walk ratios over that span, all of which are career highs.

There is a strong reason to believe Kershaw could deliver yet another top performance in his return. Coming off the only other disabled list stint of his career in May 2014, after a trip to Australia and a strained teres major muscle behind his pitching shoulder, Kershaw striking out 18 in his first 14 innings while allowing just three runs and walking no one in two starts. He allowed more than three runs in just one of his remaining 24 starts and won Cy Young and MVP awards despite missing a month.

Since the Cy Young award was created in 1956, only two starting pitchers have won the award in non-strike years with fewer than 200 innings pitched. One was Kershaw in 2014, when he threw 198 1/3 innings. The other was Rick Sutcliffe in 1984.

With a player as amazing as Kershaw, a lot seems to be possible.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 26: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

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Ex-Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch Has Reportedly Told Teammates He Might Return

Pablo Mena — Fri, 27 May 2016 20:28:23 +0000

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has told two ex-teammates he is still thinking of returning for the 2016 season, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.

Ex-Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch Has Reportedly Told Teammates He Might Return

Cole’s report also states, however, that Lynch’s agent believes his client will not play in 2016.

Earlier this week, cornerback Richard Sherman said he wasn’t completely convinced that we’ve seen the last of Lynch on the field.

“I don’t put anything past him,” Sherman said. “He’s about as predictable as a pair of dice. So I don’t try to call his plays. But obviously, it’s going to be different. We got a little sample of it last year … I think we’re prepared for it in some aspects, but you really never want to be prepared for that. You really would hope he comes back. In the back of your mind, you hope he comes back and plays another year.”

Other Seahawks seem to think otherwise.

“Yeah, I think he’s done,” defensive end Michael Bennett recently told the Seattle Times. “He might make an appearance later on but I think he’s done for right now.”

The Seahawks placed 30-year-old Lynch, nicknamed “Beast Mode,” on the NFL’s reserve/retired list earlier this month. The RB, who has run for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns during his 10-year career, never formally announced his retirement. Instead, he posted this photo on his Twitter account during the Super Bowl:

Neck, back, calf and hamstring injuries all limited Lynch to just seven games last season, during which he posted career lows in both rushing yards (417) and rushing touchdowns (3).

Lynch is owed $9 million for the coming season, which Cole says could make the Seahawks reluctant to activate him from the reserve/retired list. Lynch was drafted as the 12th overall pick in 2007 by the Buffalo Bills out of the University of California. He played with the Bills for 3 seasons before joining the Seahawks in 2010. Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowler, also helped lead the Seahawks to a victory over the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.

PHOTO: SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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Bret Hart Set To Make WWE Return

Pablo Mena — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:36:23 +0000

Former five-time WWE Champion Bret “The Hitman” Hart will reportedly return to the company for the first time since successfully undergoing prostate cancer surgery in February.

Bret Hart Set To Make WWE Return

Hart will appear in the corner of his niece, Natalya, when she faces WWE women’s champion Charlotte, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, at Payback, WWE’s next pay-per-view event scheduled for May 1. The event will mark Hart’s first WWE appearance in about a year. Hart showed up on an episode of Raw in Montreal last May to introduce Sami Zayn.

Natalya is the daughter of Jim “the Anvil” Nedihart and Ellie Hart, Bret’s sister and the daughter of renown wrestler, promoter and trainer Stu Hart.

Hart and Neidhart formed “The Hart Foundation” tag team, which won the WWE tag-team championships twice before Hart went solo.

“Well, there’s always a chance it could come back, but it seems my cancer was contained within my prostate,” Hart stated. “I have to get checked every three months for the next couple of years, and eventually it will be once a year, and eventually, in 10 years, they’ll tell me that I’m cancer-free forever.”

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 08: Special guest referee Bret “The Hitman” Hart is introduced during the WWE Smackdown Live Tour at Westridge Park Tennis Stadium on July 08, 2011 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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