Cormier defeats Johnson to win UFC light heavyweight title

LAS VEGAS » Daniel Cormier was clearly conflicted when he got the UFC's light heavyweight title belt strapped around his waist in the same Vegas cage where he failed to win it a few months ago.

While Cormier celebrated the biggest night of his career, the new champion also realized a bigger fight casts a shadow over this achievement.

"I have a message for one man," Cormier said. "Jon Jones, get your (stuff) together. I'm waiting for you."

Cormier beat Anthony "Rumble" Johnson with a rear naked choke in the third round, dominating on the ground to win the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 187 on Saturday night.

Cormier (16-1) controlled Johnson throughout the final two rounds to claim the title stripped from Jones, who was suspended indefinitely by the UFC last month after his arrest when police said he left the scene of a car accident.

Cormier lost a decision at UFC 182 in January to Jones, widely considered the world's best mixed martial artist. He returned to the MGM Grand Garden to replace Jones on short notice, but still gave a dominant effort against Johnson (19-5), ending his nine-fight winning streak.

Chris Weidman also defended his middleweight title in the UFC's hometown, stopping Vitor Belfort in the first round with a relentless series of punches on the ground.

Jones is expected to get an immediate title shot when he returns to the UFC, and Cormier realizes his cathartic victory over Johnson will ring hollow until he beats Jones.

Johnson floored Cormier with a huge right hand in the opening minute, but Cormier recovered and survived the round. Cormier then lifted Johnson off his feet early in the second round, dumping him onto the canvas and taking ground control for a dominant round that left Johnson blinking blood out of his eyes.

Cormier was clinical in his finish, mounting Johnson and getting control before forcing Johnson to tap out 2:39 into the third round.

"He did everything I thought he was going to do," Johnson said. "I have nothing but respect for him. Have you seen the size of his melon? I wasn't surprised he could take (the punches)."

Cormier unexpectedly got another shot at the title less than five months after Jones handed Cormier his first career defeat by a clear decision. The former U.S. Olympic wrestler was in training for a bout next month when Jones imploded, and Cormier eagerly accepted a chance to fill the vacancy.

Johnson has revitalized his career after he was dropped by the UFC in early 2012. He earned his title shot with a surprising first-round stoppage victory over Alexander Gustafsson in Sweden in January, and he didn't hesitate when Jones' arrest forced a change in opponents to Cormier.

Weidman (13-0) survived an early scare from Belfort and quickly took control of his third title defense, taking down Belfort and battering his head against the canvas until referee Herb Dean stopped the bout with 2:07 left. Weidman walked around the cage with an American flag on his back, celebrating his latest dominant victory.

The 38-year-old Belfort (24-11) briefly appeared to get Weidman in trouble, backing him against the cage while Weidman covered up. But Weidman landed a takedown and took control, mounting Belfort and battering him.

"He hit me with some good shots, but I've been there in sparring," Weidman said. "I was just covering, covering, covering, and I was ready to come back."

2014-15 NBA All-Star Team

NEW YORK — The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James headline the 2014-15 All-NBA First Team, the NBA announced today. Curry, the 2014-15 Kia NBA MVP, and James received First Team votes on all 129 ballots. This marks the first All-NBA First Team selection for Curry and the ninth in 12 seasons for James, who tied Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson for the third most all time.

Joining Curry and James on the First Team are James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies. Harden, who garnered 125 First Team votes, makes his second straight appearance on the First Team. Davis (119 First Team votes) and Gasol (68 First Team votes) earned First Team honors for the first time.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers, Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.

The All-NBA Third Team is composed of the Warriors' Klay Thompson, the Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, the Clippers' Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and the San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.

Curry helped the Warriors win a franchise-record 67 games by averaging 23.8 points (sixth in the NBA), 7.7 assists (sixth), a career-high 2.04 steals (fourth) and 4.3 rebounds. He made 286 three-pointers, breaking his own NBA record of 272 set in 2012-13. Curry, the leading vote-getter in NBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Sprint, shot 48.7 percent from the field, ranked fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (44.3) and led the NBA in free throw percentage (91.4).

James ranked third in the NBA in scoring (25.3 ppg) and seventh in assists (7.4 apg) as Cleveland finished with the second-best record (53-29) in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers were 50-19 in the 69 games James played and 3-10 in the 13 games he did not. The 11-time All-Star was one of only three players to tally 1,700 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 100 steals, joining Harden and Westbrook.

Harden finished second in the NBA in scoring (27.4 ppg) and ninth in assists (7.0 apg) while leading the Rockets to 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. He led the NBA in 40-point games (10) and 30-point games (35), and his four triple-doubles were the most by a Rocket since Hakeem Olajuwon posted four in 1989-90. Harden, who was named an All-Star for the third season in a row, also led the NBA in free throws made (715) and attempted (824), good for 86.8 percent.

Davis, according to NBA.com/Stats, led the NBA in Player Impact Estimate (PIE), which measures a player's overall statistical contribution against the total statistics in games he plays. He ranked first in the league in blocks (2.94 bpg), fourth in scoring (24.4 ppg), seventh in field goal percentage (53.5) and eighth in rebounding (10.2 rpg). Davis helped the Pelicans make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Gasol averaged a career-best 17.4 points to go with 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the 55-win Grizzlies. He scored 30-plus points five times after doing so just once in his first six seasons. He set career highs in field goals made and attempted, as well as free throws made and attempted. Gasol was named an All-Star for the second time, earning his first All-Star start.

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 155; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 70; Al Horford, Atlanta, 64 (1); John Wall, Washington, 50; Jimmy Butler, Chicago, 32; Damian Lillard, Portland, 22; Draymond Green, Golden State, 9; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 7; Jeff Teague, Atlanta, 7; Andrew Bogut, Golden State, 6; Nikola Vucevic, Orlando, 6; DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 3; Rudy Gay, Sacramento, 3; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 2; Gordon Hayward, Utah, 2; Kyle Korver, Atlanta, 2; Joakim Noah, Chicago, 2; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 2; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2; Carmelo Anthony, New York, 1; Tyson Chandler, Dallas, 1; Mike Conley, Memphis, 1; Brook Lopez, Brooklyn, 1; Kevin Love, Cleveland, 1; Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 1; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee, 1.

*** 5/20/15

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the 2014-15 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. He is one of three players to make his first All-Defensive First Team.

Leonard received 116 First Team votes and 242 points from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The NBA All-Defensive First Team also includes forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (229 points, 107 First Team votes), guard Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (207 points, 88 First Team votes), center DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers (187 points, 84 First Team votes) and guard Chris Paul of the Clippers (170 points, 67 First Team votes).

Green and Jordan, who finished second and third, respectively, in the voting for the 2014-15 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, join Leonard as first-time selections on the All-NBA Defensive First Team. Paul made the First Team for the fourth straight season and fifth time overall, while Allen earned his third First Team nod. 

Marques Haynes

Marques Haynes, whose dazzling ball-handling skills, exhibited for more than 40 years as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters and other barnstorming black basketball teams, earned him a place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and an international reputation as the world’s greatest dribbler, died on Friday in Plano, Tex. He was 89.

A spokesman for the Globetrotters, Brett Meister, confirmed the death. Haynes had lived in Plano.

Haynes was a stellar cog on the Globetrotter squads of the late 1940s and early ’50s, when the team was as competitive as any team anywhere, including those in the professional leagues that in 1949 merged to form the National Basketball Association.

Indeed, the Globetrotters were basketball’s biggest attraction, not only in the United States — where their popularity was a societal sneer at segregation and bigotry even though they were victims of it — but also around the world, where their signature mix of sport and showmanship made them ambassadors of American good will.

In two stints with the Globetrotters (his second was in the 1970s, a more showmanlike incarnation of the team), over decades with his own team, the Harlem Magicians (also called the Fabulous Magicians) and with a few other squads, Haynes traveled an estimated four million miles and played in an estimated 12,000 basketball games in 100 countries, give or take a few — in racially hostile Southern towns, in dim school gyms, on dirt courts in dusty African villages, in bullrings, soccer stadiums and emptied swimming pools, not to mention in Madison Square Garden, the Rose Bowl and other celebrated arenas all over the world.

Haynes was a brilliant player — a fine shooter, a tenacious defender and an expert passer. But as a dribbler he was nonpareil, and it was that skill that made him an ace entertainer.

Able to bounce a ball three times a second, to control it just an inch or two off the floor, to tease defenders with a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t legerdemain, he befuddled opponents and thrilled fans night after night with his dexterous displays — dribbling from his knees, lying on his side or sitting, and weaving in and out of court traffic, playing a solo game of keep-away within the larger game.

Once, at a game in Chihuahua, Mexico, when two teammates fouled out in the third quarter and only four men were left on the floor, he dribbled out nearly the whole fourth quarter to exhaust the clock.

Haynes often played against local teams around the world that could not match the Trotters’ skills, and against hapless opponents whose very haplessness was the point. But he also played in the Globetrotters’ victories over the all-white Minneapolis Lakers and their star center George Mikan in 1948 and 1949, games that helped prompt the integration of professional basketball. (One of the first black players in the National Basketball Association, Sweetwater Clifton, who joined the Knicks in 1950, came from the Globetrotters.)

And Haynes played on a European tour in 1951 that ended at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, where 75,000 people welcomed the Globetrotters and a special guest: Jesse Owens, who in 1936, in the same stadium, won four Olympic gold medals, to Adolf Hitler’s dismay.

UH hopes to offer stipends

The University of Hawaii expects to offer some form of cost of attendance stipends to scholarship athletes this year, UH-Manoa athletic director David Matlin told a Board of Regents committee.

"I think it is something that we need to do to compete and to show we're (serious)," Matlin told the Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics Thursday. "I believe it is in our best interests to start now, even if we have to start small."

Beginning Aug. 1 NCAA members may, for the first time, pay athletes the COA stipends intended to cover costs such as transportation, school supplies, cellphone, laundry and miscellaneous expenses. Full scholarships currently cover tuition, room, board, books and mandatory fees.

At UH, Matlin said, the average fully-funded stipend would be $4,085. If all 248 scholarship athletes received full stipends, the bill would be $1.1 million-$1.2 million, depending upon transportation costs, Matlin said. 

"I don't see us fully funded to begin with, but I think starting now is some fashion is important," Matlin said.

He said UH is looking at 12 different models with varying amounts within gender equity guidelines, some in which not all of UH's 21 teams would be initial recipients. 

"First we have to see what we can allocate budget wise and, then, how we divide it up to bring the best value," Matlin said.

The COA issue comes as athletics said it expects to finish the fiscal year June 30 with a deficit of $3.8 million-$4 million. A rough early draft for the fiscal year that starts July 1 projects a $4.7 million-$4.8 million deficit if COA is fully funded.

But Matlin told regents he is talking to some potential donors who he hopes might contribute significant sums to help underwrite COA and is also exploring some licensing and marketing possibilities. 

In the Mountain West, where UH competes in football, so far only one of the 11 schools (Air Force does not offer scholarships), Nevada, has said it will not offer COAs for the 2015-'16 school year.  At least nine have so far said they plan to offer COA.

In the Big West, where most other UH teams compete, there is a conference-wide agreement to offer some form of stipends for at least men's and women's basketball.

2014-2015 NBA All-Rookie Team

NEW YORK — The Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins, the 2014-15 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, headlines the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today. Wiggins was the lone unanimous choice, receiving 130 First Team votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

 Wiggins is joined on the First Team by the Chicago Bulls' Nikola Mirotic (128 First Team votes, 258 points), the Philadelphia 76ers' Nerlens Noel (125 First Team votes, 252 points), the Orlando Magic's Elfrid Payton (121 First Team votes, 250 points) and the Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Clarkson (74 First Team votes, 200 points).

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of the Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart (142 points, 28 First Team votes), the Timberwolves' Zach LaVine (135 points, 22 First Team votes), the Brooklyn Nets' Bojan Bogdanovic (107 points, seven First Team votes), the Denver Nuggets' Jusuf Nurkic (97 points, three First Team votes) and the New York Knicks' Langston Galloway (72 points, seven First Team votes).

The panel was asked to select five players for the First Team and five players for the Second Team, regardless of position. Two points were awarded for First Team votes and one for Second Team votes.

Wiggins averaged a rookie-high 16.9 points, the second-best mark by a first-year player in Minnesota history, behind Christian Laettner's 18.2 points in 1992-93. He appeared in all 82 games and ranked fourth in the NBA with a rookie-leading 36.2 minutes, the highest average ever by a Timberwolves rookie. Wiggins, the first Canadian-born winner of the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award, won Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors four times.

Mirotic also appeared in all 82 games, averaging 10.2 points in 20.2 minutes. He was the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December and March. Mirotic paced all rookies and the Bulls in scoring (20.8 ppg) in March, when he also led the NBA in total fourth-quarter points (136) and fourth-quarter scoring average (9.1).

 Noel led all rookies in rebounding (8.1 rpg), steals (1.77 spg, 10th in the NBA) and blocks (1.89 bpg, seventh in the league). He was the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 in both steals and blocks. Noel became the second rookie in NBA history to average at least 1.50 steals and 1.50 blocks; David Robinson accomplished the feat in 1989-90.

The NBA All-Rookie First Team is rounded out by Payton, the rookie leader in assists (6.5 apg), and Clarkson, who averaged 16.7 points in 28 games after the All-Star break and was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March.

Matlin chooses Ganot over Benjy

[5/17/15] Norm Parrish named as second full assistant

[5/16/15] The University of Hawaii said it will vacate 36 victories; reduce scholarships, practice time and tryouts; cut back the role of its operations director; pay a $10,000 fine; and place itself on one-year probation for violations of NCAA rules by its men's basketball program.

The self-imposed sanctions, contained in a 64-page reply to the NCAA on Friday, were immediately blasted by fired coach Gib Arnold's attorney, James Bickerton, who categorized them as "a typically shortsighted action, throwing students and their achievements under the bus to save their own okoles."

[5/12/15] Bryce Canda Q&A
[5/11/15] Ganot's first recruit is Bryce Canda

[5/1/15] Awards banquet and sendoff for Benjy
[4/29/15] Ganot yet to sign contract
[4/24/15] Ganot's first hire is Adam Jacobsen
[4/14/15] Isaac Fleming will stick it out

[4/10/15] Ganot sees it as a calling
[4/10/15] Ganot is out to build a culture
[4/9/15] Eran Ganot introduced as the 21st coach for Hawaii basketball

***

When Eran Ganot left the University of Hawaii five years ago, his avowed goal was to someday work his way back as the Rainbow Warriors' head basketball coach.

"Someday" arrived Wednesday when the 33-year-old Saint Mary's associate head coach signed to become the 'Bows' newest and youngest full-time head basketball coach of the conference era (1979-2015).

"Eran loved Saint Mary's but the No. 1 place he's always wanted to be — and be a head coach — was Hawaii," said Randy Bennett, the Gaels' head coach. "He's always talked about it, always been improving his craft working toward getting back to Hawaii. He even gave up a chance at the Chaminade job to wait (for UH)."

UH has scheduled a 9 a.m. campus news conference to introduce Ganot, who told Saint Mary's players about the job Wednesday afternoon before catching a flight to Honolulu. Ganot and UH officials have declined comment, pending the official announcement.

Ganot, a New Jersey native whose name is pronounced eh-RON gah-knot, was a four-year starter and two-time captain at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania who broke into coaching as a volunteer assistant at Saint Mary's (2003-06) before coming to UH.

At UH he served under the last three full-time UH head coaches, Gib Arnold, Bob Nash and Riley Wallace. He was director of operations for Wallace (2006-07), was promoted to an assistant by Nash (2007-10) and briefly assisted in Arnold's transition (2010) before returning to Saint Mary's, a highly successful mid-major program.

Along the way, Ganot has gained a reputation for persistence, painstaking attention to detail, a tireless work ethic and an ability to be a quick study. Ganot reportedly came to the favorable attention of ESPN, which owns the Diamond Head Classic, and incoming UH athletic director David Matlin, who operated the event, while handling scheduling for the Gaels, who appeared in the tournament twice.

"Believe me I was glad to get him back and, now, having seen the unbelieveable growth in him as a person and a coach, I'm happy for him to be going back (to UH) as their head coach," Bennett said. "He's definitely ready to be a head coach. You guys got a real steal. He has a chance to become a real star in this profession — and at a young age."

Bruce O'Neil was 27 when he replaced Red Rocha as UH head coach in 1973. Rick Pitino was 23 when he became interim head coach for the final six games of the 1975-76 season after O'Neil stepped down.

Ganot served as Saint Mary's interim head coach for two and a half weeks in the 2013-14 season, going 3-2, when Bennett was suspended for an NCAA violation. He becomes the fourth of Bennett's Saint Mary's assistants to go on to a head coaching jobs at a U.S. college. Two others achieved head coaching posts in Australia.

Bennett's coaching tree includes Columbia head coach Kyle Smith, who was a finalist for the UH job this time was well as when it went to Arnold in 2010.

Smith was one of at least four sitting Division I head coaches, including UH interim coach Benjy Taylor, who either applied for the job or talked to UH. New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies, with five NCAA Tournament appearances, was among them.

While it is unlikely UH could have afforded Menzies, who is making a reported $382,294, or Smith, who is at $420,000, people who talked to Ganot said they felt he was the best "all-around fit" for UH at the moment.

Ganot, who will receive a three-year contract, will likely have a salary $100,000 below Arnold's $344,000 base salary.

He is also expected to have less than the approximately $700,000 salary pool that went to fund the salaries of Arnold, three assistants and an operations director.

Ganot will be asked to consider members of the current coaching staff, but will have free hand to select his own assistants.

***

Twenty-two wins. A conference championship game appearance. Goodwill from a significant portion of the Hawaii fan base.

Nope. Not good enough to lock down "a moving target," the football that Charlie Brown could never seem to kick. It was all never going to be satisfactory.

That's what a disappointed Benjy Taylor concluded after the interim coach was passed over for the long-term Hawaii basketball job this week. Saint Mary's assistant Eran Ganot will be introduced at a news conference at the Stan Sheriff Center at 9 a.m. Thursday.

In a 20-minute phone interview Wednesday, Taylor vented frustrations about behind-the-scenes campaigning and what he felt was unfair criticism of himself and his players.

As fifth-seeded UH mounted its improbable Big West tournament run to the title game in mid-March, some speculated that if the Rainbows beat UC Irvine and made it to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, the permanent job would have to go to Taylor, the associate head coach who replaced the fired Gib Arnold just before the season's start. But UH fell behind the Anteaters in the final minutes and did not advance to a postseason tournament.

Taylor balked at the notion that his fortunes swung on that game.

"It wouldn't have mattered," he said. "The target, I never knew what the target was, and every time I thought that's where the target is, it was always moved. It was always moved. You know, I don't think it would have mattered. I'm not sure Sweet 16 would have mattered.

"Imagine if our guys don't get hurt in January and February and we win 25 games. It wouldn't have made a difference. What are you going to say, we go to the NCAA Tournament, they keep me? If we go to the Sweet 16, they keep me? OK, well they (administration) didn't think we were going to win eight to 10 games. ‘Just do the best you can, Coach. Just do the best you can.' We win 10. We win 12 before we start conference. Then we guaranteed a winning season. … In the conference tournament, twice in 13 years, (UH) won a first-round game? We do that. Then we won a second-round game. Then we go all the way down to the wire in the finals. And so, what, because we didn't win that game? We really want to tell the athletes that this is happening because you couldn't finish off the Irvine game? That's not the case. They wanted to go in a different direction."

*** [Reardon]

Unfortunately, a lot of fans don't get that the University of Hawaii does not exist solely for their sports entertainment.

If they did, their pea-brains wouldn't be exploding over Benjy Taylor not being retained as UH's basketball coach. Winning 22 games as interim coach is nice, especially commendable considering the situation he had to jump into right before the start of the season.

I like Benjy, a lot. He's fun to talk story with. He's witty, he can speak knowledgeably on a lot of subjects. He's passionate. But he's not the right person to lead UH basketball into the future.

***

Now, who stays, and who goes?

First, Ganot will have to assemble a staff of his own. He may consider elements of the current crew — Senque Carey, Brandon Loyd, Brad Autry and Jamie Smith — or bring in a totally new group from the outside. Associate head coach and regular assistant positions were posted on the “Work at UH” site on Wednesday.

Of course, player movement is a distinct possibility when you’ve got a regime change. You can bet that Ganot will make speaking to the team a top priority upon his arrival, and try to retain as much of the team as he can. UH has a young core that, as Taylor said many times, can do some really positive things if it sticks together for the long haul.

Well, it may be unrealistic to keep everyone.

Freshman guard Isaac Fleming gave the most overt indications that he may elect to move on. This is not a huge surprise, as Fleming was seen as incredibly loyal to Taylor, the coach who brought him into UH, and has a redshirt year to burn. Nothing is a certainty yet, however.

Many of you are not yet familiar with Ganot. He was the third assistant, and quite young, the last time he worked at UH under Bob Nash and through some of the transition to Gib Arnold. Those teams did not enjoy rampant success on the court, though Ganot was hailed for his tireless work ethic at the time. Jordan Coleman was to be one of his first signature recruits at UH, but Ganot landed softly at Saint Mary’s once Nash was dismissed. Coleman didn’t last long under Arnold, transferred to a junior college, and ended up having a productive three-year career at Valparaiso.

Now Ganot has a chance to build something in his own image. He’ll draw from his mentors, Riley Wallace and Randy Bennett, but things will inevitably take their own shape under this first-time head coach.

Romney goes two with Holyfield

SALT LAKE CITY » Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and five-time heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield squared off in the ring Friday at a charity fight night event in Salt Lake City.

Romney, 68, and Holyfield, 52, sparred, if you could call it that, for just two short rounds before Romney ran away from the boxer and threw in the towel, giving up a round early in the lighthearted fight that came amid several other fights by professional boxers and an auction.

The two barely threw any punches and largely just danced around, occasionally lightly jabbing each other in the midsection in what was much more of a comedic event than an actual bout.

[down goes Holyfield]

The black-tie affair raised money for the Utah-based organization CharityVision, which helps doctors in developing countries perform surgeries to restore vision in people with curable blindness.

Romney's son Josh Romney, who lives in Utah, serves as a volunteer president for CharityVision.

Corporate sponsorships for the event ranged from $25,000 to $250,000. Organizers say they raised at least $1 million.

"He said, 'You know what? You float like a bee and sting like a butterfly,'" Romney said after the fight.

Chris Webber and Jalen Rose

Prepare to have everything you hold dear ruined and your dreams crushed as it turns out not is all fabulous between the Fab Five.

Particularly former Michigan teammates Jalen Rose and Chris Webber, who are airing all their beef with one another this week. In public. For all the world to see.

The first shots were fired by Webber, who took aim at Rose's “The Fab Five" documentary, a 2011 “30 for 30” production about the iconic Michigan team that went to two straight NCAA Finals in 1992 and 1993.

NBA transactions/news 2014

5/12/15 - New Orleans fires head coach Monty Williams despite making the playoffs / Calipari anyone?
4/30/15 - Billy Donovan agrees to coach Oklahoma City
4/23/15 - Scott Brooks fired as Oklahoma City head coach after seven seasons
4/23/15 - Rondo done in Dallas (apparently)
3/21/15 - Steve Nash announces retirement
3/3/15 - Nuggets fire Brian Shaw
2/28/15 - - Anthony Mason dies at 48
2/25/15 - Philadelphia claims Thomas Robinson off waivers
2/21/15 - Chris Bosh out for season with blood clots in lungs
2/21/15 - Kendrick Perkins bought out, to sign with Cleveland
2/19/15 - grading the trades / NBA trade tracker
2/19/15 (and more as it happens) Knicks trade Pablo Prigioni to Rockets for Alexey Shved and two second-round picks
Houston trades Isaiah Canaan and a second round pick for KJ McDaniels
Tayshaun Prince returns to Detroit, Boston gets Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome
2/19/15 - Kevin Garnett will return to Minnesota, Thaddeus Young goes to New Jersey
2/19/15 - Kings trade Ramon Sessions to Washington for Andre Miller (which will reunite him with George Karl)
2/19/15 - Nuggets unload JaVale McGee and a first-round pick to Philadelphia for a 2015 protected first-round pick (maybe not)
2/19/15 - Nuggets trade Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee to Portland for Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, Will Barton, and 2016 first-round pick (lottery protected)
2/19/15 - Phoenix trades Goran Dragic to Miami for Danny Granger, Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton, a 2017 first round pick, and a 2021 first round pick.  Miami also gets Zoran Dragic.  John Salmons goes from New Orleans to Phoenix and Shawne Williams goes from Miami to New Orleans (and will be bought out).
2/19/15 - Phoenix trades Isaiah Thomas to Boston for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first round pick (via Cleveland to Phoenix).
2/19/15 - Phoenix acquires Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall from Milwaukee, Milwaukee gets Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee, Philiadelphia gets 2015 first-round pick (that the Lakers owe the Suns which is top-five protected, isn't this the pick the Lakers are trying to keep this year by like losing every game).
2/19/15 - Oklahoma City trades Reggie Jackson to Detroit and Kendrick Perkins to Utah.  Oklahoma gets Enes Kanter from Utah and D.J. Augustin and Kyle Singler from Detroit.  Jazz will buy out Perkins.  So Jazz wind up with nothing (but cap space) and more time for Rudy Gobert. (after Brook Lopez fell through)
2/18/15 - Jerome Kersey dies unexpectedly at 52
2/18/15 - Carmelo Anthony to have season-ending knee surgery
2/18/15 - Milwaukee to buy out Larry Sanders
2/17/15 - Knicks waive Amare Stoudemire, headed to Dallas
2/13/15 - George Karl agrees to become head coach of Sacramento Kings
1/16/15 - Austin Rivers traded from Boston to Clippers.  Reggie Bullock goes to the Suns.  Chris Douglas-Roberts, 2017 second round pick traded from Clippers to Boston.  Boston also gets Shavlik Randolph from Phoenix.  Clippers to release Jordan Farmar.
1/13/15 - Nuggets trade Nate Robinson to Celtics for Jameer Nelson.  Celtics reach buyout agreement to make Robinson a free agent.
1/11/15 - Celtics trade Jeff Green to Memphis.  Tayshaun Prince goes from Memphis to Boston.  Quincy Pondexter and a 2015 second round pick goes from Memphis to New Orleans.  Russ Smith goes from New Orleans to Memphis.  Austin Rivers goes from New Orleans to Boston.
1/5/15 - Cavaliers acquire J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from Knicks, send Dion Waiters to Thunder, Thunder send a first round pick to Cavaliers and send Lance Thomas to Knicks.  The Knicks also get Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk, and a 2019 second-round pick from Cavaliers.  Knicks waive Samuel Dalembert. (analysis)
12/26/14 - Rockets sign Josh Smith
12/21/14 - Josh Smith released by Pistons
12/19/14 - Corey Brewer traded from Minnesota to Houston.  Alexey Shved goes from 76ers.  Timberwolves get Troy Daniels from Houston, Sacramento's second-round pick in 2015, Houston's second-round pick in 2016 and cash considerations.  76ers receive Ronny Turiaf from Minnesota, Houstons 2015 second-round pick, and Houston's rights to Serhiy Lischuk.
12/18/14 - Rajon Rondo traded from Boston to Dallas with Dwight Powell for Brandan Wright, Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder and future first and second round picks
12/15/14 - Kings fire Mike Malone as head coach, Tyrone Corbin named interim coach

10/27/14 - Carmelo says he would have loved to play with Kobe.  But didn't.
10/23/14 - Steve Nash out for season
10/10/14 - Michael Beasley headed to China
9/22/14 - Eric Bledsoe resigns with Suns for 5 years, $70 million
9/22/14 - Wolves offer Eric Bledsoe max contract
9/12/14 - Danny Ferry takes indefinite leave of absence
8/24/14 - Kevin Love traded from Minnesota to Cleveland, Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett go from Cleveland to Minnesota, Thaddeus Young goes from Philadelphia to Minnesota, Alexy Shved and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute go from Minnesota to Philadelphia.  Philadelphia gets a first round pick from Cleveland.
8/1/14 - Paul George severely injures leg during scrimmage
7/31/14 - World Peace coming to China
7/28/14 - Mo Williams signs with Minnesota for 1 year, $3.75 million
7/28/14 - Lakers confirm Byron Scott as new head coach
7/28/14 - LeBron to wear #23 again
7/25/14 - Dallas signs Jameer Nelson
7/23/14 - Dallas signs Al-Farouq Aminu after voiding deal with Rashard Lewis
7/22/14 - Emmanuel Mudiay agrees to play in China for 1 year, $1.2 million
7/22/14 - Celtics sign Evan Turner for mid-level exception
7/19/14 - Milwaukee to claim Kendall Marshall off waivers
7/18/14 - New Orleans to sign Jimmer Fredette and Darius Miller
7/17/14 - Lakers win bid for Boozer (reportedly $3.25 million)
7/17/14 - Tracy McGrady retires from baseball
7/17/14 - Glen Davis re-signs with Clippers for one year, $1.2 million
7/16/14 - Rodney Stuckey leaves Pistons, agrees with Pacers for one year at the minimum
7/16/14 - Wizards acquire DeJuan Blair from Dallas in sign and trade
7/16/14 - James Jones to join LeBron in Cleveland for the minimum
7/16/14 - Lakers sign Ed Davis away from Memphis for two years, $2 million
7/16/14 - Hornets to sign Lance Stephenson away from Pacers for three-years, $27 million
7/15/14 - Rashard Lewis leaves Heat to join Mavericks for the minimum
7/15/14 - Kris Humphries signs with Wizards for three years, $13 million (sign-and-trade with Boston)
7/15/14 - Trevor Booker signs with Utah for two years, $10 million
7/15/14 - Mike Miller signs with Cavaliers for two years, $5.5 million
7/15/14 - Carlos Boozer amnestied by Chicago
7/15/14 - Dwyane Wade re-signs with Miami for two years, $31 million
7/14/14 - Nikola Mirotic agrees with Chicago for three years, $17 million
7/14/14 - Houston won't match Dallas offer for Chandler Parsons
7/13/14 - Paul Pierce leaves Nets for Wizards for two years, $5.3 million (first season)
7/13/14 - Luol Deng signs with Heat for two years, $20 million
7/12/14 - Anthony Morrow signs with Thunder for three years, $10 million
7/12/14 - Marvin Williams signs with Hornets for two years, $14 million
7/12/14 - Houston signs Trevor Ariza away from Wizards for four years, $32 million
7/12/14 - Pau Gasol agrees to join Bulls for three years, $22 million
7/12/14 - Utah matches offer sheet for Gordon Hayward for four years, $63 million
7/12/14 - Carmelo Anthony agrees to return to Knicks for five years, $120 million, make that $124 million
7/11/14 - Vince Carter to sign with Memphis for three years, $12 million
7/11/14 - Sacramento signs Isaiah Thomas for four years, $27 million then trades him to Phoenix
7/11/14 - Nick Young to return to Lakers for four years, $21.5 million
7/11/14 - Jordan Hill to return to Lakers for two years, $18 million
7/11/14 - Chris Bosh spurns Houston to return to Miami for five years, $118 million (!)
7/11/14 - Jeremy Lin and a first round pick traded from Houston to Lakers for cash and cap space
7/11/14 - P.J. Tucker returning to Phoenix for three years, $16.5 million
7/11/14 - LeBron coming home to Cleveland (the secret meeting) / for two years, $42 million (video)
7/10/14 - Chandler Parsons signs offer sheet from Dallas for 3 years, $45 million
7/10/14 - James Johnson returns to Toronto for 2 years, $5 million
7/10/14 - Steve Blake returns to Portland for 2 years, $4 million
7/8/14 - Cavaliers trade Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev to Brooklyn and Tyler Zeller and 2016 first round pick to Boston; Marcus Thornton goes from Brooklyn to Boston.  Cavaliers get cap space and draft rights with little value.  What did Boston give up?  A future second rounder to Cleveland.  Good deal for Boston.  And maybe good for Cleveland, but only if LeBron signs
7/8/14 - Charlotte gives Gordon Hayward max offer sheet, four years, $63 million
7/7/14 - Channing Frye agrees with Charlotte for four years, $32 million (really?)
7/7/14 - Heat to sign Danny Granger (two years, $4.2 million) and Josh McRoberts (four years)
7/7/14 - Knicks hire Kurt Rambis as associate head coach for four years, $4.8 million
7/6/14 - Jordan Farmar agrees with Clippers for 2 years, $4.2 million
7/6/14 - Boris Diaw remains with Spurs for three years, $22 mllion
7/6/14 - Spencer Hawes agrees with Clippers for four years, $23 million
7/4/14 - Thabo Sefolosha signs with Atlanta for three years, $12 million
7/3/14 - Alvin Gentry, Luke Walton, Jarron Collins join Steve Kerr's staff in Golden State
7/3/14 - Sebastian Telfair signs with OKC for the minimum
7/3/14 - Chris Kaman signs with Portland for two years, $9.8 million
7/3/14 - Darren Collison to Kings for three years, $15 million
7/3/14 - Dirk Nowitzki re-signs with Dallas for three years, $30 million (or $25 million?)
7/2/14 - Patty Mills re-signs with San Antonio with 3 years, $12 million
7/2/14 - Shaun Livingston to sign with Golden State for three years, (up to) $16 million
7/2/14 - Brooklyn to hire Lionel Hollins as head coach
7/2/14 - Kyle Lowry to remain with Toronto for 4 years, $48 million
7/2/14 - Ben Gordon signs with Orlando for 2 years, $9 million
7/2/14 - Kyrie Irving signs maximum extension with Cleveland, 5 years, $90 million
7/1/14 - Marcin Gortat remains with Wizards for 5 years, $60 million
7/1/14 - Jodie Meeks to sign with Pistions for 3 years, $19.5 million
6/30/14 - Jason Kidd leaves Nets to become Bucks head coach for two second-round draft picks
6/30/14 - Pistons won't pick up option on Chauncey Billups
6/30/14 - Orlando waives Jameer Nelson
6/30/14 - LeBron wants max salary
6/29/14 - Hawks trade Lou Williams and Lucas Nogueira to Raptors for John Salmons
6/29/14 - Jason Kidd to talk to Bucks
6/29/14 - Wade, Bosh, Haslem to opt out too
6/25/14 - Rockets trade Omer Asik to New Orleans for a future first round pick
6/25/14 - Knicks trade Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas for Samuel Dalembert, Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, and two second-round picks
6/24/14 - LeBron James headed to free agency
6/23/14 - Tim Duncan opts in for final year of contract
6/23/14 - Carmelo Anthony to explore options
6/21/14 - David Blatt agrees to become head coach of Cavaliers
6/10/14 - Knicks name Derek Fisher head coach
6/6/14 - Jazz hire Quin Snyder as head coach
6/6/14 - Flip Saunders assumes head coaching position in Minnesota
5/25/14 - Dave Joerger stays in Memphis
5/18/14 - Mark Jackson rejoins ESPN
5/14/14 - Steve Kerr spurns Knicks and agrees to coach Warriors for 5 years, $5 million
5/14/14 - Pistons name Stan Van Gundy head coach and president of basketball operations
5/13/14 - Cleveland fires Mike Brown again
5/6/14 - Warriors fire Mark Jackson as head coach (why?)
4/30/14 - Mike D'Antoni resigns as Lakers head coach
4/23/14 - Rick Adelman retires as Minnesota head coach
4/21/14 - Tyrone Corbin not renewed as Utah head coach
4/21/14 - Mike Woodson fired as Knicks head coach
4/13/14 - Joe Dumars not renewed as Pistons president and general manager
3/15/14 - Phil Jackson to head Knicks front office

Stephen Curry, MVP

NEW YORK — The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, who set a single-season record for three-pointers made and led the league's best regular-season team in scoring, assists and steals, has won the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, the NBA announced today. The 6-3 guard becomes the second Warriors player to win the award, joining Wilt Chamberlain, who was honored in 1959-60 when the franchise played in Philadelphia.

Curry totaled 1,198 points, including 100 of 130 first-place votes, from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, as well as the Kia MVP fan vote on NBA.com. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five points for each third-place vote, three points for each fourth-place vote and one point for each fifth-place vote.

Rounding out the top five in the voting were the Houston Rockets' James Harden (936 points, 25 first-place votes), the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (552 points, five first-place votes), the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook (352 points) and the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis (203 points).

Curry helped the Warriors win a franchise-record 67 games by averaging 23.8 points (sixth in the NBA), 7.7 assists (sixth), a career-high 2.04 steals (fourth) and 4.3 rebounds. The 27-year-old Curry made 286 three-pointers, breaking his own NBA record of 272 set in 2012-13. He shot 48.7 percent from the field and ranked fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (44.3). Curry also led the NBA in free throw percentage (91.4), converting a career-high 52 consecutive free throws from March 9 to April 4.

With Curry leading the way, Golden State became the 10th team in NBA history to win at least 67 games in a season. The Warriors scored 920 more points than they allowed with Curry on the court, the highest plus/minus for any player this season and an average of 11.5 points in his 80 appearances.

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather

[5/7/15] Pacquiao has shoulder surgery

[5/5/15] Vanel v. Pacquiao

[5/5/15] Freddie Roach considered postponing the bout

[5/4/15] Stephen A. Smith vs. Skip Bayless

[5/4/15] did Mayweather know about Pacquiao's injury?

[5/4/15] Pacquiao to undergo surgery for injured shoulder

Revenue expected to double the previous record

Sadness in the Phillipines

Evander Holyfield and Shane Mosley and others scored it for Pacquiao.

TheGuardian had it 116-112 Mayweather, giving Manny the final round.

Looking at the official scorecards, the judges agreed on 1 (M), 2 (M), 3 (M), 4 (P), 5 (M), 6 (P), 7 (M), 8 (M), 11 (M), 12 (M).  So 8-2-2 Mayweather.  The first two judges gave rounds 9 and 10 to Pacquiao and agreed on every round.  The other judge gave rounds 9 and 10 to Mayweather.

Yahoo had it 115-113 Mayweather.

L.A. Times: 115-113, 114-114, 115-113 / The three judges agreed on round 1 (m), 2 (m), 4 (p), 5 (m), 6 (p), 12 (m).  So that makes it 4 Mayweather, 2 Pacquiao, 6 even.  Not so lopsided at all.

Round by Round (AP scored it 115-113 Mayweather.)

[5/2/15] LAS VEGAS -- Floyd Mayweather stands alone.

Unified welterweight world champion.

The pound-for-pound best.

And king of the era.

Mayweather turned in a vintage performance as he outboxed Manny Pacquiao in a brilliant display to win a unanimous decision in one of the biggest fights in boxing history before a sold-out and star-studded crowd of 16,507 on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Judge Dave Moretti scored the fight 118-110, and judges Glenn Feldman and Burt Clements both had it 116-112. ESPN.com also had it 116-112 for Mayweather, who remains undefeated at 48-0.

The massively hyped fight, more than five years in the making, became a global event. While it was not the drama-filled battle many had hoped for, it was an impressive performance from Mayweather, the master boxer, who never allowed the more powerful Pacquiao to deliver any truly big punches as he pulled away in the second half of the fight.

Mayweather, who had many harsh words for Pacquiao over the years before the fight was finally signed in February, was gracious in victory.

"He's a hell of a fighter. I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao," Mayweather said. "Now I see why he's one of the guys at the pinnacle."

And while the fight took years to make because of the intense squabbling between camps that do not like each other, Mayweather said it was worth the wait.

"He is a true champion at heart, and we both did our best tonight. When the books are written, it will be a great fight," he said.

Perhaps history will not record it as a great fight, but it will go down as the richest. It generated a live gate of approximately $74 million, and the pay-per-view television audience -- at about $100 per buy -- is expected to shatter the pay-per-view buy record (2.48 million) and pay-per-view revenue record ($150 million) set by previous Mayweather fights. In all, organizers expect the fight to generate some $400 million, and it was so big that it brought together rival networks HBO, which has Pacquiao under contract, and Showtime, Mayweather's broadcast home.

Mayweather, already the highest-paid athlete in the world in recent years, is expected to earn an estimated $180 million from the fight and Pacquiao around $120 million.

[5/2/15] It's fight time.

[5/1/15] Experts pick: Mayweather 10, Pacquiao 6, 1 draw (closer than I would have thought), 5 boxers who fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao were asked.  4 picked Mayweather, including Juan Manuel Marquez who KO'd Pacquiao in their last fight.  Pacquiao has lost to five fighters in his career, but avenged his losses to Eric Morales and Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao is first and only eight division world champion, has won ten world titles, and is the current WBO welterweight champion.  Mayweather is a five divison world champion, has also won ten world titles, and is the WBC, WBA, Ring welterweight champion, and is also the WBC Super, WBA, Ring junior middleweight champion.  He has a record of 47-0 and is rated the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world.  Pacquiao is third.

A fight six years in the making

[4/23/15] According to TMZ's Anthony Dominic, every ticket for the event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was sold within the first minute after being made available to the public Thursday:

[2/20/15] Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced Friday that he's agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao in a welterweight bout May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. It's a bout the public has been calling for since late 2009 and pits the two finest boxers of their generation in a historic event.

[2/14/15] The deal is reportedly done. The biggest fight in boxing history is expected to take place May 2.
According to The Telegraph, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have finally come to terms in what will be the richest match-up in boxing history.

Mayweather is currently in New York for NBA All-Star Weekend, and some speculate he will officially announce the match in the coming days. There's also chatter the popular boxer could even announce it during the All-Star festivities. That would be the ultimate Mayweather move. On the other side of the spectrum, Pacquiao has signed and completed all things necessary.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be the setting of the epic bout. Both fighters have ties to the venue, with Pacquiao having five of his past seven fights there, and Mayweather having his last ten. There are two other possible dates, but May 2 seems to be the favorite.

The revenue breakdown for each fighter is almost evenly split with Mayweather receiving 60 percent to Pacquiao's 40.

[1/28/15] Floyd visits Manny in hotel room

[1/28/15] Manny and Floyd meet ... at basketball game

[1/13/15] The fight the world has wanted to see for the better part of six years -- a long-awaited summit meeting between welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, the two top boxers in the world -- is not done, but it has cleared a major hurdle.

Pacquiao and Top Rank, his promoter, have agreed to terms for a May 2 bout, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com on Tuesday night, although Mayweather has not yet agreed to terms and it remains to be seen if he will.

"Top Rank and Manny have agreed to the terms on our side. I don't know about the other side," Moretti said.

According to a source involved in the negotiations Pacquiao has agreed to a 40 percent cut of the revenue, leaving Mayweather with the remaining 60 percent of a fight most believe will shatter every boxing box office record, including the all-time pay-per-view buy record of 2.4 million (Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya), the pay-per-view revenue record of $150 million (Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez) and the all-time gate record of $20 million (Mayweather-Alvarez).

If the fight is finalized it would take place on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Moretti said. Mayweather has had his last 10 fights there and Pacquiao has had five of his last seven bouts there.

According to the Pacquiao side, everything was agreed to, including the gloves and drug testing. As far as the gloves go, each fighter would be able to select their own brand of 8-ounce gloves. Mayweather typically wears Grant gloves and Pacquiao fights in Cleto Reyes.

The drug testing protocol was the one open item that caused the fight to fall apart when it was first negotiated in late 2009 and early 2010. Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to submit to random Olympic-style drug testing and he declined to do the kind of testing Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), who turns 38 in February, wanted.

However, Moretti said that Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), 36, who has subjected himself (and his opponents) to random testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for his recent bouts, has gone so far as to agree to use the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which has randomly tested Mayweather (and his opponents) for years.

"I think that Manny agreed to USADA testing shows you his eagerness to make this fight," Moretti said.

Mayweather and Pacquiao have been on a collision course since late 2009. That is when Mayweather ended a nearly two-year retirement to easily outpoint Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009 and two months later Pacquiao knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round to win a welterweight title. Everything had been agreed to but the drug testing, including a 50-50 revenue split.

There have been various attempts over the years to try to make the fight, but it has never been as close as it was in 2009 as it is now.

Back then, Mayweather and Pacquiao were both associated with HBO, even though neither was under contract. In early 2013, Mayweather signed his contract with CBS/Showtime and still has two fights remaining with guarantees of at least $32 million per fight while Pacquiao is now under contract to HBO/Time Warner. Still, the networks are not an impediment to a deal.

Both networks have said that they are willing to work together for what would be a joint pay-per-view telecast, similar to what they did for another fight that had been demanded by the public for years -- the 2002 heavyweight championship fight between then-champion Lennox Lewis, who was under contract to HBO, and Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime.