2018 High School Football

12/16/18 - Gabriel and Tuitele top All-State team
11/24/18 - St. Louis sacks Mililani 38-17 to win state championship
11/21/18 - Cal Lee was there in the early days
11/16/18 - St. Louis romps past Kahuku 49-22
11/16/18 - Mililani gets by Campbell 24-2 in Open Division semifinal
11/12/18 - Dillon Gabriel decommits from Army
11/2/18 - Mililani defeats Kahuku 27-7 to win OIA title
11/2/18 - Campbell defeats Farrington 42-26 for state playoff berth
10/27/18 - No. 1 St. Louis knocks out no. 2 Punahou 45-21
10/20/18 - Undefeated St. Francis forfeits season
10/6/18 - Campbell stuns Kahuku 28-27
9/29/18 - Kahuku stunned at home by Mililani 10-38
9/22/18 - Dillon Gabriel becomes career passing leader
9/8/18 - no. 3 Mililani taken down by no. 5 Punahou 21-43
9/7/18 - no. 1 St. Louis overwhelms no. 2 Kahuku 30-14
8/31/18 - St. John Bosco 52, Mililani 14
8/10/18 - OIA and ILH together again
8/2/18 - St. Louis is the team to beat (again)
8/1/18 - Stacked Class of 2019
7/22/18 - How the OIA-ILH alliance came about
3/9/18 - Randall Okimoto steps down as Farrington head coach
2/22/18 - ILH agreed only after pledges from Kurisu and Amemiya
2/13/18 - OIA and ILH agree to two-year pilot program of interleague play
1/23/18 - OIA will move to three tiers
1/18/18 - Kahuku names Sterling Carvalho as head coach, fifth head coach in six years

Willie McCovey

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Willie McCovey, the sweet-swinging Hall of Famer nicknamed "Stretch" for his 6-foot-4 height and those long arms, died Wednesday. He was 80.

The San Francisco Giants announced McCovey's death, saying the fearsome hitter passed "peacefully" on Wednesday afternoon "after losing his battle with ongoing health issues."

A first baseman and left fielder, McCovey was a .270 career hitter with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBIs in 22 major league seasons, 19 of them with the Giants. He also played for the Athletics and Padres.

McCovey made his major league debut at age 21 on July 30, 1959, and played alongside the other Willie -- Hall of Famer Willie Mays -- into the 1972 season before Mays was traded to the New York Mets that May.

McCovey batted .354 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs on the way to winning the 1959 NL Rookie of the Year award. The six-time All-Star also won the 1969 NL MVP and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 after his first time on the ballot.

"You knew right away he wasn't an ordinary ballplayer," Hall of Famer Hank Aaron said, courtesy of the Hall of Fame. "He was so strong, and he had the gift of knowing the strike zone. There's no telling how many home runs he would have hit if those knees weren't bothering him all the time and if he played in a park other than Candlestick."

McCovey narrowly beat out Mets pitcher Tom Seaver for the 1969 MVP award. McCovey led the NL in home runs (45) and RBIs (126) for the second straight year, batting .320 while also posting NL bests with a .453 on-base percentage and .656 slugging percentage. He was walked 121 times, then drew a career-high 137 free passes the next season.

When San Francisco opened its new waterfront ballpark in 2000, the cove beyond the right-field fence was named "McCovey Cove" in appreciation of all he did for the organization. There's a statue of McCovey's likeness on the other side of the water from where those splash hits land.

when Florida State walked off the court

By all accounts, the 1971-72 campaign was a banner season for the Florida State Seminoles. The team won a school-record 27 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament championship, falling to John Wooden and his vaunted UCLA Bruins, 81-76. Led by All-American forward Ron King, the Seminoles eclipsed the 100-point mark seven times that year, including a 134-65 home win over Valdosta State. In the NCAAs, they beat traditional powerhouses Kentucky and North Carolina on their way to the title game against the Bruins.

But they didn’t last 10 minutes with the Hawaii Rainbows.

brawl follows Khabib's win over McGregor

LAS VEGAS – A bout that was made when Conor McGregor attacked a bus ended with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov leaping over the Octagon at T-Mobile Arena after a brilliant performance in the main event of UFC 229 and brawling with Dillon Danis, a member of McGregor’s team, at cageside.

Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor with a rear naked choke at 3:03 of the fourth before a melee broke out at cageside.

According to UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan, Danis was taunting Nurmagomedov from cageside, though Rogan couldn’t hear what Danis said.

A huge scrum of people got together near the Octagon, including police officers, members of both teams and members of the Nevada Athletic Commission. It was against the fence where fans were seated. Nurmagomedov and Danis exchanged punches as people attempted to separate them.

After the scrum was broken up after about 10 minutes, UFC president Dana White said to Nurmagomedov in the cage, “People are going to get arrested tonight.” Nurmagomedov responded, “Put me in jail. No problem.”

White said to Nurmagomedov, “This is what I believe: If I put this belt on you, everybody’s going to start throwing s–t into the Octagon.”

Not long after Nurmagomedov went after Danis, a man in a black T-shirt got into the Octagon and threw a least one punch at McGregor. Then, a man in a red T-shirt jumped over the cage and landed four punches on McGregor. It did not appear that McGregor ever left the cage. According to White, three members of Nurmagomedov’s team were arrested.

Trump vs. the NFL (and NBA)

9/10/18 - Beto O'Rourke on NFL protests
9/4/18 - Nike ad campaign features Kaepernick / backlash / Trump responds / again / a hit?
8/10/18 - Be happy, be cool!
8/8/18 - Jim Brown says he'll never kneel / What Jim Brown was and is
8/4/18 - MJ supports LJ
8/4/18 - Melania states LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation
8/4/18 - Some NBA players respond
8/4/18 - Trump says LeBron looked smart
7/20/18 - Trump's solution to the national anthem debate
6/3/18 - Trump disinvites Philadelphia Eagles to the White House
5/24/18 - Steve Kerr comments
5/23/18 - NFL owners bow to Trump
3/3/18 - #stayinyolane
1/15/18 - NBA responds to Trump
11/22/17 - Trump calls LaVar Ball "poor man's version of Don King, but without the hair"
11/20/17 - Marshawn Lynch's mother vs. Trump
11/20/17 - Trump tweets that Marshawn Lynch should be suspended
11/19/17 - Trump's predictable response to LaVar Ball
11/18/17 - LaVar Ball comments on Trump's involvement releasing his son from China
11/17/17 - South Carolina women's basketball team won't be able to attend White House celebration
11/11/17 - Stephen Curry on the protests and veterans
10/30/17 - High School referees walk off the field to protest the protestors
10/29/17 - Houston Texans players protest owner's remarks
10/26/17 - Kennesaw State cheerleaders banned from the national anthem
10/18/17 - NFL won't force players to stand for anthem
10/17/17 - Popovich calls Trump a "soulless coward"
10/15/17 - Kaepernick files grievance against NFL owners for collusion
10/13/17 - Nate Boyer's open letter
10/10/17 - Goodell wants players to stand during anthem
10/8/17 - Pence leaves Colts game during national anthem / PR stunt?
10/1/17 - NFL protests in week 4 / Marshawn Lynch
9/29/17 - NFL wrestling on how to plot a path forward
9/27/17 - Rahm Emanuel (and others) think Trump's comments were a distraction and is dividing the nation
9/24/17 - Players who protested in week 3 (vs. week 1)
9/23/17 -  NBA players players respond / LeBron, Michael Jordan, Popovich
9/23/17 - Trump rescinds invitation to Golden State Warriors

9/23/17 - NFL responds to Trump / Tom Brady, Jerry Jones

9/23/17 - Goodell: Trump shows lack of respect for the NFL (and so on)

9/22/17 - Trump says NFL owners should fire players who protest

Ball in the Family

[8/24/18] Four months after LaVar Ball announced his sons LaMelo and LiAngelo were quitting Lithuania’s National Basketball League with two games left in the season because “I just didn’t get along with the coach,” the BC Prienai club and coach Virjginijus Seskus are firing back — and pulling no punches.

In a press release entitled, “Big Baller Brand tried to destroy the club,” the team claimed “the club and its goals were merely a joke to the BBB, who were there only to breathe life into their dying TV show.”

Yikes. Tell us how you really feel, Lithuania.

Prienai coach Seskus on Ball family: „When our relationship got worse, we saw they were unconcerned. It looked like they were cheering for opposing team. I respect Gelo a lot – he is a good kid. But his father disturbs them to go forward.”

Coach Seskus on LaMelo: "It will be hard for him if somebody won't push him to work. He is a talent, but they're lazy. In Prienai we tried to make them eat well & healthy but they did whatever they wanted. If we didn't watch them closely, they weren't making effort in exercising"

LiAngelo, 19, averaged 12.6 points on 42.5 percent shooting in 21.7 minutes per game, mostly off the bench, over 14 appearances for Vytautas, according to RealGM.com. The 16-year-old LaMelo appeared in just eight games, averaging 6.5 points on 26.8 percent shooting in 12.8 minutes, per RealGM. Prienai finished last and was relegated to the Lithuanian basketball league’s second division last season.

Hawaii wins World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. >> After striking out his 15th batter to end the game, Hawaii’s Aukai Kea pumped his fists and let out a shout for all to hear.

Within seconds, Kea’s teammates sprinted to the pitcher’s mound to congratulate their team’s ace, hugging and pounding on him. Hawaii shut out Georgia 3-0 and Kea’s complete game sealed its berth in the Little League World Series championship.

“I just pitched my heart out,” Kea said. “Did as best I could.”

About 60 feet away, the Hawaii faithful chanted “Hon-o-lulu!” in the stands over the first-base dugout. As his home state dealt with record rainfall from Tropical Storm Lane, Kea took full note of the fans’ energy.

“When I was on the mound, I could hear them and I was like, ‘That’s why we’re here. That’s who we’re playing for. We’re playing for home, playing for Hawaii,’ ” Kea said.

After claiming the U.S championship, Hawaii will face South Korea — which beat Japan 2-1 to win the International championship — at 9 a.m. today in the LLWS championship. The game will be shown live on KITV.

The Honolulu team won the United States championship thanks to Kea’s dominant performance. He struck out 15 and didn’t allow a runner past first base. Kea and Georgia pitcher Connor Riggs-Soper were locked in a pitcher’s duel before the local kids broke through for one run in the fourth on a two-out single by pinch hitter John De la Cruz that plated Hunter Nishina.

Clark Kent defeats Michael Phelps

SALINAS, Calif. — Clark Kent may be Superman, but a 10-year-old boy who shares his name has the powers of Aquaman.

At the Far West International Swimming Championship Sunday, Clark Kent Apuada placed first in all seven events he swam in. But in the 100 meter butterfly, he broke a record set by Olympian Michael Phelps at the same meet back in 1995.

"Most people just call me Clark, but now, when I beat Michael Phelps' record, they start calling me Superman," he said. "I thought to myself yeah if I had positive thoughts, positive things would happen."

Courmier KOs Miocic

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Daniel Cormier knocked out the UFC heavyweight champion, argued with a professional wrestler and left the octagon dancing with glee and perfect balance, thanks to one championship belt on each arm.

There will never be another Saturday night like it for the 39-year-old former amateur wrestler who stands on the pinnacle of the UFC.

Make that two pinnacles.

Cormier added the heavyweight championship to his light heavyweight title when he stopped Stipe Miocic in dramatic fashion during the first round of their superfight at UFC 226.

Late in a lively opening round, Cormier (21-1, 1 no-contest) abruptly flattened the UFC's long-reigning heavyweight kingpin with a right elbow out of a clinch. He finished Miocic (18-3) on the ground with 27 seconds left in the round, landing several shots to the defenseless champion's head.

Cormier became the second fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts simultaneously. Conor McGregor was the UFC's featherweight champ in 2016 when he took the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez.

"I was a heavyweight for a long time, and I left the division," Cormier said. "I never knew what I could become, but tonight I got the answer. I'm a two-division champion, baby!"

Cormier, a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion who moved down in weight to avoid fighting a good friend, has never lost to anyone except Jon Jones, the star-crossed former light heavyweight champion who beat him twice. The second victory last summer was changed to a no-contest when Jones failed a doping test, and he remains out of the sport.

Cormier is on top of it with less than a year to go until reaching his self-imposed retirement age of 40.

"I'm 39 years old, and I've been second many times," Cormier said. "But today, I have accomplished everything I ever wanted. From crying in this octagon almost a year ago, to leaving as the heavyweight champion."

After beating Miocic, Cormier engaged in a bit of clearly planned theatrics with Brock Lesnar, the professional wrestler and former UFC heavyweight champion. Cormier called Lesnar into the cage, and Lesnar shoved Cormier in the chest while the fighters traded insults to hype a potential future bout.

"Push me now, (and) you're going to sleep later," Cormier yelled at Lesnar. "Your days are in the past. In the stone age."

Lesnar, likely the biggest pay-per-view draw in UFC history, is widely expected to return to MMA early next year. White confirmed he'll book Cormier against Lesnar as soon as Lesnar has completed the requisite drug testing, but Cormier said he would like to defend his 205-pound title later this year before fighting Lesnar.

2018 NBA Draft

[6/21/18] OK, I got the NBA Draft playing on ESPN (YouTube TV on my laptop), ESPN2 (WatchESPN on my Fire tablet), NBA TV (YouTube TV on my ipad mini), Yahoo Sports (on my laptop), and CBS Sports HQ (on my laptop).  I guess I'm ready.  Shucks, I forgot to buy pizza.  ... Switch to the Roku and watch from the floor.

1. Phoenix - Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

2. Sacramento - Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke

Atlanta will trade the third pick to Dallas for the fifth pick and a future first round.  Atlanta will pick Doncic for Dallas.  And Dallas will pick Trae Young with the fifth pick if available.

3. Atlanta - Luka Doncic, G/F, Real Madrid

4. Memphis - Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State

5. Dallas - Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
6. Orlando - Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

7. Chicago - Wendell Carter, F/C, Duke
8. Cleveland - Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
9. New York - Kevin Knox, SF, Kentucky
10. Philadelphia - Mikal Bridges, G/F, Villanova

11. Charlotte - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky

Charlotte to trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Clippers for the 12th pick and two future second round picks

12. Clippers - Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
13. Clippers - Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College
14. Denver - Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
15. Washington - Troy Brown, G/F, Oregon
16. Phoenix - Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech

Philadelphia trades Mikal Bridges (no. 10) to Phoenix for Zhaire Smith (no. 16) and 2021 first-round pick.

LiAngelo undrafted

2018 NBA Draft Grades

[6/21/18] Consensus mock draft
1. Phoenix - Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

2. Sacramento - Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke

3. Atlanta - Luka Doncic, G/F, Real Madrid
4. Memphis - Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State
5. Dallas - Mohamed Bamba, C/F, Texas
6. Orlando - Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
7. Chicago - Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
8. Cleveland - Wendell Carter, F/C, Duke
9. New York - Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
10. Philadelphia - Mikal Bridges, G/F, Villanova
11. Charlotte - Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky
12. Clippers - Lonnie Walker, G/F, Miami
13. Clippers - Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M / Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
14. Denver - Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State

[6/21/18] Business Insider

[6/21/18] Yahoo 4.0

1. Phoenix - Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Sacramento - Marvin Bagley III, F, Duke
3. Atlanta - Luka Doncic, G/F, Real Madrid
4. Memphis - Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri
5. Dallas - Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
6. Orlando - Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Michigan State

7. Chicago - Wendell Carter, C, Duke

8. Cleveland - Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
9. New York - Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky
10. Philadelphia - Mikal Bridges, G/F, Villanova
11. Charlotte - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
12. Clippers - Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
13. Clippers - Lonnie Walker, G/F, Miami
14. Denver - Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
15. Washington - Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M /

[6/18/18] David Aldridge mock draft

1. Phoenix - Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Sacramento - Luka Doncic, G/F, Real Madrid
3. Atlanta - Marvin Bagley III, F, Duke
4. Memphis - Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
5. Dallas - Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C, Michigan State
6. Orlando - Collin Sexton, G, Alabama
7. Chicago - Mohamed Bamba, C/F, Texas
8. Cleveland - Wendell Carter, C/F, Duke
9. New York - Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri
10. Philadelphia - Mikal Bridges, F, Villanova
11. Charlotte - Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky
12. Clippers - Lonnie Walker, G/F, Miami
13. Clippers - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Kentucky
14. Denver - Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
15. Washington - Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M

Jim Leahey retires

Jim Leahey, who painted a vivid word picture of Hawaii sports for listeners over 60 years as the state’s most recognizable radio and television broadcaster, confirmed his retirement.

“Yes, it is official,” Leahey, 75, told the Star-Advertiser today.
Leahey first disclosed his intention over the weekend at a roast for long-time boss and broadcast partner Rick Blangiardi.

“I just want to quietly go away,” said Leahey, whose final segments behind the mic came as the play-by-play broadcaster for University of Hawaii baseball on KKEA radio last month.

“I enjoyed working with Josh Pacheco and Scottie Robbs, but I’m 75 years old now and don’t want to take a position from guys who are coming up and working hard,” Leahey said after conferring with his wife, Toni.

“It has been a lot of seasons, a lot of memories,” said Leahey, who began working alongside his father, Chuck, in the 1960s and later teamed up with his son, Kanoa.

In the course of a career that saw him alternate between radio and TV — and sometimes do simulcasts across both platforms — Leahey has appeared on KGMB, KIKU, KHNL, KITV, KHET and cable. He also did preseason NFL Seahawks games for a Seattle station.

When Blangiardi took over independent station KIKU (which became KHNL) and masterminded a deal to televise UH sports on a scale of more than 100 events a year, he hired Leahey to do play-by-play. “Some years I was doing as many as seven different UH sports a year,” Leahey said. “It was great.”

A highlight? “The 56-14 victory over Brigham Young (in 1989),” said Leahey said. “BYU came in arrogant, as always. After what was it —not winning for 10 straight years against BYU? — damn that was good. I think it was the best game that UH ever played. The sound, the excitement of that crowd, is something you’ll always remember.”

In his call of the game, Leahey exclaimed, “This is better than statehood!”

***

The Voice

***

[11/21/18] Jim Leahey - distinguished achiever

Bruno Sammartino

Bruno Sammartino, an Italian immigrant who was heavyweight champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation for a record 11 years in the 1960s and ′70s, long before the federation admitted that its matches were scripted and largely choreographed entertainment shows, died on Wednesday at 82.

His death was announced on the website of WWE, the organization also known as World Wrestling Entertainment, a successor of the World Wide Wrestling Federation. No other details were provided, but a family friend and former wrestling announcer, Christopher Cruise, told The Associated Press that Sammartino had been hospitalized for two months. Sammartino lived in Pittsburgh.

In an era when the sports world, except for some die-hard wrestling fans, knew that professional matches were staged dramatizations, with heroes and villains, story lines and beefcake actors shamming the violence, Sammartino was one of the most popular performers in the business. He wrestled in Australia, Spain, Mexico, Canada and Japan, and often drew gates of 20,000 at Madison Square Garden, where he had more than 200 matches.

Unlike many heavies on the pro wrestling circuits, he was a soft-spoken, gentlemanly connoisseur of grand opera, especially Verdi. And for one who had bench-pressed 565 pounds as an amateur, he was relatively small: under 6 feet tall and a trim 260 or 270 pounds, with bulging pectorals and biceps and a big head. He looked tiny beside giant rivals like Haystacks Calhoun, who topped 600 pounds.

He sometimes made $150,000 a year, headlining cards featuring the “bad guys” — Killer Kowalski, Hans Mortier, Waldo von Erich, Ivan Koloff, Gorilla Monsoon, Professor Toro Tanaka and George (the Animal) Steele. Feuds and insults fueled the publicity hype, and outrages in the ring sent crowds wild. Every wrestler had a gimmick: ethnicity or nationality, the personas of cowboys, lumberjacks or farmers, and sports reporters went along with the fun.

In 1959, Sammartino signed a $250-a-week contract with Capitol Pro Wrestling, owned by Mr. McMahon and Joseph Mondt, and wrestled in Pennsylvania, New York and other states. Mr. McMahon and Mr. Mondt later formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation and awarded its heavyweight title to “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers in April 1963.

A month later, Sammartino faced Rogers at Madison Square Garden for the title. Rogers was supposed to win. But in a story often told in wrestling circles, Sammartino broke the bad news to him in the ring.

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way,” Sammartino said. He pinned Rogers in 48 seconds, launching his championship career.

After his second reign ended in 1977, he wrestled on tours. He retired in 1981 from full-time professional wrestling, although he later appeared in exhibition matches. In 2013, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He had declined induction several times, dissatisfied with what he called lurid story lines, over-the-top theatrics and drug and steroid abuse by professional wrestlers.

NFL Draft 2018

[4/26/18]  The draft begins.

1.  Cleveland Browns - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2.  New York Giants - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
3.  New York Jets - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
4.  Cleveland Browns - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
5.  Denver Broncos - Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
6.  Indianapolis Colts - Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Buffalo Bills trade their first round pick (no. 12) and two second round picks to Tampa Bay for Tampa Bay's first round pick (no. 7) and eight round pick

7.  Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
8.  Chicago Bears - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
9.  San Francisco 49ers - Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Arizona Cardinals trade their first round pick (no. 15), third round pick, fifth round pick for Oakland's first round pick (no. 10) and pick...

10.  Arizona Cardinals - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
11.  Miami Dolphins - Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
12.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Vita Vea, DL, Washington
13.  Washington Redskins - Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

New Orleans trades first round pick (no. 27), no. 147, 2019 first round pick to Green Bay for first round pick (no. 14).

14.  New Orleans Saints - Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio
15.  Oakland Raiders - Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Buffalo trades first round pick (no. 22) and 2018 third round to first round pick for Baltimore's first round pick (no. 16)

16.  Buffalo Bills - Tremaine Edmunds, LP, Virginia Tech
17.  Los Angeles Chargers - Derwin James, S, Florida State

Green Bay trades with Seattle for first round pick (no. 18) and seventh round (no. 248) for first round pick (no. 27), third round (no. 76), sixth round (no. 186)

18.  Green Bay Packers - Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
19.  Dallas Cowboys - Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
20.  Detroit Lions - Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
21.  Cincinnati Bengals - Billy Price, C, Ohio State

Tennessee acquires Baltimore's first round pick (no. 22) and sixth round (215) for first round (25) and fourth round (125)

22.  Tennessee Titans - Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
23.  New England Patriots - Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia
24.  Carolina Panthers - D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
25.  Baltimore Ravens - Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

26.  Atlanta Falcons - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

27.  Seattle Seahawks - Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
28.  Pittsburgh Steelers - Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech
29.  Jacksonville Jaguars - Taven Bryan, DL, Florida
30.  Minnesota Vikings - Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
31.  New England Patriots - Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

Baltimore acquires Philadelphia's first round pick

32.  Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Bleacher Report grades

***

4/26/18 - La Canfora mock draft: Mayfield, Barkley, Darnold, Chubb, Rosen, Josh Allen, Derwin James, Quenton Nelson, Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds

4/26/18 - Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft:  Mayfield, Barkley, Darnold, Josh Allen, Quenton Nelson, Bradley Chubb, Derwin James, Roquan Smith, McGlinchey, Fitzpatrick

3/22/18 - PFW mock draft 1.0:  Baker Mayfield no. 3, Derwin James no. 4?, Saquon Barkley no. 7?, Josh Allen no. 12?

3/22/18 - CBS mock draft has Josh Allen no. 1, Saquon Barkley no. 6, Baker Mayfield no. 9 to Giants

2017-2018 Basketball All-America team

Oklahoma 's Trae Young took college basketball by storm, leading the nation in scoring and assists. Deandre Ayton played his one season at Arizona with power and athleticism few could match. Versatile big man Marvin Bagley III made his lone year a Duke a memorable one.

The talented trio made history Tuesday by being named to the AP All-America team, the first time three freshmen were named to the first team in its 70-year history.

They were joined by Villanova 's Jalen Brunson and Kansas guard Devonte' Graham on the team selected by the same 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25.

Tolu Smith is Hawaii basketball player of the year

Kameron Ng, the dazzling long-range shooter and playmaker with a penchant for crafty work in the paint, was voted No. 2 by coaches and media.

no. 16 beats no. 1

CHARLOTTE — And on the 136th attempt, the basketball gods relented.

A No. 16 seed has finally beaten a No. 1 in the NCAA tournament. And even if you could see it coming somewhere, some time, in the future, it wasn’t supposed to be this.

College basketball has never seen a bigger upset than Maryland-Baltimore County 74, Virginia 54.

But it happened Friday night in the South Regional, taking down a team that just last week completed a golden 31-2 season with both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles. And it was executed by team ranked 188th in the country according to the Ken Pomeroy efficiency ratings, a team that lost to the likes of Stony Brook and was beaten 44 points by Albany in the middle of its conference season.

It’s too improbable for words, except that it happened.

“Unbelievable — it’s really all you can say,” UMBC coach Ryan Odom said.

Wie wins in Singapore

SINGAPORE >> Michelle Wie holed a 36-foot putt from off the green on the final hole to win the Women’s World Championship by one stroke today and capture her first LPGA tournament since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

With four players in contention to win on the last hole, Wie managed to separate herself from the pack when she drained her lengthy birdie putt on the 72nd hole at the Sentosa Golf Club for a final round of 7-under 65 to finish at 17-under 271.

The 28-year-old from Honolulu, who led the tournament after three rounds a year ago before fading on the last day, leaped into the air and clenched her fist in celebration as the ball disappeared into the bottom of the cup.

But she still faced an anxious wait before being declared the champion.

“Winning is everything. I mean, there is no better feeling than when you think you sink that winning putt. It’s a high, for sure,” Wie said.

“You go out there, and it’s this feeling that gets you going. It’s this feeling that makes you practice. It’s that winning putt that makes you practice for hours and hours and hours, and even the hard times, it gets you going back. You know that good feeling is on the other side.”


It was Wie’s fifth LPGA Tour victory and the first since winning the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

NBA 2017-2018

2/8/18 - Tyreke Evans, DeAndre Jordan, Marcus Smart not traded
2/8/18 - Chicago acquires Noah Vonleh and cash from Portland for rights to Milovan Rokovic
2/8/18 - Jameer Nelson traded from Chicago to Detroit for Willie Reed (to be waived) and second round pick
2/8/18 - Elfrid Payton traded from Orlando to Phoenix for second round pick
2/8/18 - Nuggets trade Mudiay to Knicks who trade McDermott to Dallas who trade Devin Harris to Nuggets
2/8/18 - Cavaliers trade Dwyane Wade to Miami for second round pick (that will be sent to Sacramento)
2/8/18 - three-way trade:  Cleveland trades Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose (to be waived) to Utah and Iman Shumpert to Sacramento and get Rodney Hood from Utah and George Hill from Sacramento.  Joe Johnson goes from Utah to Sacramento.  Sacramento gets Miami's 2020 second round pick (from Miami) and $3 million.
2/8/18 - Cavaliers trade Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, first round pick to Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance
2/2/18 - Greg Monroe chooses Boston (and $5 million) over New Orleans (and $2.2 million)
2/1/18 - Nicola Mirotic and second round pick traded from Chicago to New Orleans for first round pick, Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson
1/29/18 - Blake Griffin, Willie Reed, Brice Johnson traded from Clippers to Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, first round pick and second round pick
1/22/18 - Bucks fire Jason Kidd
12/7/17 - Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, 2019 second-round choice traded from Philadelphia to Brooklyn for Trevor Booker
11/27/17 - Memphis fires Fizdale after going 7-12
10/23/17 - Phoenix fires Earl Watson after three games
9/29/17 - Westbrook decides to stay five more years with OKC for $205 million
9/26/17 - Dwyane Wade to rejoin LeBron in Cleveland for 1 year, $2.3 million
9/23/17 - Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, second round pick
8/22/17 - Cleveland trades Kyrie Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn's 2018 first round draft pick (and a 2020 second round pick)
7/25/17 - Portland trades Allen Crabbe to Brooklyn for Andrew Nicholson
7/25/17 - Derrick Rose signs with Cavaliers for one year, $2.1 million (the minimum)
7/21/17 - John Wall to agree to stay with Washington for four years, $170 million
7/21/17 - Kyrie Irving asking to be traded
7/15/17 - New Orleans signs Rajon Rondo for one year
7/11/17 - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to sign with Lakers for one year, $18 million
7/11/17 - Dewayne Dedmon to sign with Atlanta for two years, $14 million
7/9/17 - Toronto to trade Corey Joseph to Indiana for C.J. Miles
7/9/17 - Toronto to trade DeMarre Carroll to Brooklyn for Justin Hamilton, 2018 first round pick, second round pick
7/8/17 - Wizards match Nets offer sheet to Otto Porter Jr. for four years, $106 million
7/8/17 - Jamal Crawford to sign with Minnesota for two years, $8.9 million
7/8/17 - Hawks won't match Knicks offer to Tim Hardaway Jr. for four years, $71 million
7/8/17 - James Harden signs extension giving him a six year deal for $228 million guaranteed
7/8/17 - Jeff Green to sign with Cleveland for one year, $2.3 million
7/7/17 - Tyreke Evans to sign with Memphis for one year, $3.3 million
7/7/17 - Celtics to trade Avery Bradley and a 2019 second round pick to Pistons for Marcus Morris
7/6/17 - Tim Hardaway Jr. signs four year, $71 million offer sheet with Knicks
7/6/17 - Rudy Gay signs with Spurs for 2 years, $17 million
7/6/17 - Kings sign Vince Carter for $8 million
7/6/17 - Kelly Olynyk to sign with Miami for 4 years, $50+ million
7/6/17 - Dirk Nowitzki to re-sign with Dallas for 2 years, $10 million
7/6/17 - Clippers sign Milos Teodosic for 2 years, $12 million
7/6/17 - Andre Roberson to stay with Oklahoma City for 3 years, $30 million
7/5/17 - Nick Young to sign with Warriors for 1 year, $5.2 million
7/5/17 - Danilo Gallinari headed to Clippers, Clippers to send Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone, Rockets 2018 first-round pick, and cash to Atlanta, Atlanta to send Paul Millsap and Wizards 2019 second-round pick to Denver
7/4/17 - Gordon Hayward to join Celtics for 4 years, $128 million
7/4/17 - Nets offer Otto Porter max deal of 4 years, $106.5 million
7/4/17 - Miami waives Chris Bosh
7/4/17 - George Hill signs with Kings for 3 years, $57 million
7/4/17 - Kings sign Zach Randolph for 2 years, $24 million
7/3/17 - Darren Collison to sign with Pacers for 2 years, $20 million
7/3/17 - Kevin Durant agrees to accept a measly $53 million for 2 years
7/2/17 - Paul Millsap to sign with Denver for 3 years, $90 million
7/2/17 - Memphis signs Ben McLemore for 2 years, $11 million
7/2/17 - Kyle Lowry to return to Toronto for 3 years, $100 million
7/2/17 - Kyle Korver to remain with Cleveland for 3 years, $22 million
7/2/17 - Taj Gibson leaves Chicago for Minnesota for 2 years, $28 million
7/2/17 - Serge Ibaka to return to Toronto for $3 years, $65 million
7/1/17 - Andre Iguodala to re-sign to Golden State for 3 years, $48 million
7/1/17 - Joe Ingles to re-sign with Utah for 4 years, $52 million (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists)
7/1/17 - 76ers to give $23 million for J.J. Redick? / only $11 million for Amir Johnson
7/1/17 - New Orleans to retain Jrue Holiday for 5 years, $126 million (at least)
6/30/17 - Oh yeah? Steph Curry re-signs with Warriors for 5 years, $201 million
6/30/17 - Minnesota signs Jeff Teague (away from Indiana) for 3 years, $57 million
6/30/17 - Minnesota trades Ricky Rubio to Utah for top-14 protected first round pick
6/30/17 - Blake Griffin to re-sign with Clippers for 5 years, $173 million
6/30/17 - Pacers trade Paul George to OKC for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis
6/28/17 - Clippers to trade Chris Paul to Rockets for Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, 2018 first round pick (reactions) / Clippers also get DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hilliard, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Wiltjer and $661,000.
6/28/17 - Phil Jackson and Knicks part ways

2017 Free Agent Buzz

6/22/17 - Bulls trade Jimmy Butler and 16th pick (Justin Patton) to Wolves for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and no. 7 pick (Lauri Markannen).

6/22/17 - NBA Draft (grades, transaction tracker)
1. Sixers: Markelle Fultz
2. Lakers: Lonzo Ball
3. Celtics: Jayson Tatum
4. Suns: Josh Jackson
5. Kings: De'Aaron Fox
6. Magic: Jonathan Isaac
7. Wolves: Lauri Markannen [traded to Bulls]
8. Knicks: Frank Ntilikina
9. Mavericks: Dennis Smith
10. Kings: Zach Collins (traded to Portland)
11. Hornets: Malik Monk
12. Pistons: Luke Kennard

6/21/17 - Dwight Howard and 31st pick traded from Atlanta to Charlotte for Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli and 41st pick
6/20/17 - Lakers trade D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and 27th pick
6/19/17 - Jerry West joins Clippers
6/19/17 - Celtics trade no. 1 pick in first round to 76ers for no. 3 pick in first round plus first rounder in 2018 or 2019

6/19/17 - consensus mock draft (ranking)
1. Sixers: Fultz (1)
2. Lakers: Ball (2)
3. Celtics: Jackson (3)
4. Suns: Fox (4)
5. Kings: Fox (which means Tatum (5) I assume)
6. Magic: Jonathan Isaac (6)
7. Wolves: Markannen (9)
8. Knicks: Monk (8)
9. Mavericks: Smith (7)
10. Kings: Zach Collins (11)
11. Hornets: Donovan Mitchell (12)
12. Pistons: Luke Kennard (13)
13. Nuggets: Zack Collins (which means Frank Nitikina (10) I assume)
14. Heat: Donovan Mitchell (which means OG Anunoby (14) I assume)

5/17/17 - Mock Draft 1.0
1.  Boston: Markell Fultz, PG, Washington
2.  Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
3.  Philadelphia: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
4.  Phoenix: Jason Tatum, SF, Duke
5.  Sacramento: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
6.  Orlando: Dennis Smith, PG, North Carolina State
7.  Minnesota: Malik Monk, SG-PG, Kentucky
8.  New York Knicks: Jonathan Isaac, PF-SF, Florida State
9.  Dallas: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
10. Sacramento: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

NFL coaching changes 2017-2018

2/11/18 - Indianapolis hires Frank Reich as head coach
2/6/18 - Josh McDaniel spurns Colts and will remain with New England
2/5/18 - Detroit hires Matt Patricia as head coach
1/22/18 - Giants hire Pat Shurmur as new head coach
1/22/18 - Cardinals hire Steve Wilks as new head coach
1/20/18 - Tennessee hires Mike Vrable as new head coach
1/15/18 - Tennessee parts ways with Mike Malarkey
1/8/18 - Bears hire Mike Nagy as new head coach
1/6/18 - Gruden to return to Raiders
1/2/18 - Bruce Arians retires as Arizona head coach
1/1/18 - Bears fire John Fox as head coach
12/31/17 - Colts fire Chuck Pagano after six seasons
12/31/17 - Jack Del Rio out as Raiders head coach
12/4/17 - Giants fire Ben McAdoo as head coach

Keith Jackson

Keith Jackson, the folksy voice of college football who for decades weaved backwoods wit through Saturday afternoon ABC broadcasts, has died. He was 89.

Jackson died Friday night, according to ESPN and other media outlets.

In a 52-year broadcasting career, Jackson covered a wide-ranging array of sports for radio and TV, including a rowing competition in the former Soviet Union, but he was best known as ABC’s voice of NCAA football — and for the homespun phrases he used in reporting it.

To Jackson, linemen were not guards and tackles, they were “the big uglies.” Running backs didn’t drop the ball, there was a “fuumm-bull!” Of an undersized player, he might say, “He’s a little-bitty thing, a bantam rooster. But he’s young. If he keeps eatin’ his cornbread, he’ll be man-sized some day.”

And, of course, there was “Whoa, Nellie!,” his signature phrase.

Or was it?

Strangers in restaurants, airports, stadium parking lots and downtown streets would sidle up to Jackson and bellow, “Whoa, Nellie!” Jackson, however, always maintained that he might have — might have, mind you — used the phrase a time or two early in his career but that mostly it was the work of impersonators, primarily Roy Firestone, who were responsible for the spread of the phrase.
“This ‘Whoa, Nellie!’ thing is overrated,” he said frequently. “There were all kinds of stories going around. People said I had a mule in Georgia named Nellie. Well, we had a mule in Georgia, but her name was Pearl.”

Despite his protests, however, Jackson enthusiastically proclaimed, “Whoa, Nellie!” in a beer commercial late in his career.


So entrenched in college football was he, though, that ABC wouldn’t let him retire the first time he tried. He announced before the 1998 season that it would be his last, that, at 70, he was tired of getting on airplanes. But he was back in the booth in the fall of ’99, the network having lured him with a promise of keeping him close to his Sherman Oaks home by restricting his assignments to the Pacific time zone. He finally called it a career after describing the Texas-USC national championship game at the Rose Bowl in early 2006.

2017 NCAA College Football

1/8/18 - Tagovailoa leads Alabama over Georgia to win national championship
12/3/17 - College Football Playoff committee picks Alabama over Ohio State
12/2/17 - UCF 62, Memphis 55 in OT /  Scott Frost leaves for Nebraska for 7 years, $35 million
12/1/17 - Jimbo Fisher leaves Florida State for Texas A&M (for 10 years, $75 million)
11/26/17 - Texas A&M fires Kevin Sumlin after six seasons
11/26/17 - Florida hires Dan Mullen away from Mississippi State
11/25/17 - UCLA hires Chip Kelly after firing Jim Mora
11/25/17 - Nebraska fires Mike Riley
11/25/17 - no. 6 Auburn upsets no. 1 Alabama
11/25/17 - UCF escapes USF 49-42 to remain undefeated

Jon Gruden to return to Raiders

for $100 million.

The Oakland Raiders will sign Jon Gruden to one of the longest coaching deals in NFL history -- a 10-year contract likely approaching $100 million -- when it is made official Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.

The length of Gruden's contract is not unprecedented. The Dallas Cowboys gave Jimmy Johnson (in 1989) and Tom Landry (in 1964) 10-year deals as well.

The Raiders have called a significant news conference for Tuesday, at which time they will introduce Gruden as the team's next coach, a league source confirmed to ESPN.

Gruden, who coached Oakland from 1998 to 2001 and has been working as an ESPN analyst, is returning to the Raiders to replace Jack Del Rio, who was fired after the regular-season finale Sunday.

Gruden will work under general manager Reggie McKenzie, who has turned down a request to interview for the Green Bay Packers' GM opening and is expected to remain with the Raiders, sources told ESPN.

Gruden will become the 12th head coach since 1960 to have multiple stints with one team, and the 16-year gap between jobs with the Raiders is the largest in NFL history for a head coach with the same team.

He had a regular-season record of 38-26 during his first stop with the Raiders and went 2-2 in two postseason appearances prior to being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round picks, two second-round picks and $8 million in 2012.

He won Super Bowl XXXVII in his first season with Tampa Bay, and he has a career 95-81 record in the regular season while going 5-4 in the postseason.

Dick Enberg

Dick Enberg, the Hall of Fame broadcaster whose "Oh my!" calls rang familiar with so many sports fans, has died, his wife and daughter confirmed Thursday night.

He was 82.

Enberg's daughter Nicole said the family became concerned when he didn't arrive on his flight to Boston on Thursday and that he was found dead at his home in La Jolla, a San Diego neighborhood, with his bags packed for a trip to see his third grandchild for the first time. The family said it was awaiting official word on the cause of death but believed he had a heart attack.

The family "is grateful for the kind thoughts and prayers of all of Dick's countless fans and dear friends," according to a statement released by Enberg's attorney, Dennis Coleman. "At this time we are all still processing the significant loss, and we ask for prayers and respectful privacy in the immediate aftermath of such untimely news."

Enberg was one of America's most beloved sports broadcasters, with his versatile voice spanning the world on networks such as NBC, CBS and ESPN. In all, he covered 28 Wimbledons, 10 Super Bowls and eight NCAA men's basketball title games, including the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird showdown in 1979.

His work was celebrated with a host of honors, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award (2015), the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Rozelle Award (1999) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Gowdy Award (1995). He won 13 Sports Emmy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and UCLA named its media center in Pauley Pavilion after Enberg this year.

Most recently, Enberg had served as the primary play-by-play television voice of the San Diego Padres, retiring in 2016 after seven seasons with the team.

"Baseball," he said then, "has been in my DNA from the time I was in diapers."

2017 Hawaii Rainbows Warriors football

11/27/17 - A season of problems
11/25/17 - Hawaii 20, BYU 30 (3-9) / the Kafentzis who got away
11/21/17 - No. 19 Hawaii moves a notch below no. 20 BYU
11/18/17 - Utah State embarrasses Hawaii 38-0 (3-8)
11/11/17 - Hawaii dropped by Fresno State 21-31 (3-7)
11/4/17 - UNLV holds off Hawaii 31-23 (3-6)
10/28/17 - Hawaii run over by San Diego State 7-28 (3-5)
10/17/17 - John Ursua out for season with torn ACL
10/14/17 - Hawaii manages to get by San Jose State 37-26 (3-4)
10/10/17 - Hawaii debuts in bottom 25, Nevada drops from 5 to 17, San Jose State is 6, UMass is 5
10/10/17 - San Jose State no. 3 (in the bottom 10), 128th in country (Hawaii 109th, 113th in week 6)
10/9/17 - Hawaii isn't last in penalties
10/8/17 - Nevada defeats Hawaii 35-21 for their first win of the season (2-4)
10/7/17 - Chris Naeole resigns citing philosophical differences
10/5/17 - Chris Naeole apparently no longer on staff / no comment and comments
9/30/17 - Hawaii crunched by Colorado State 21-51 (2-3)
9/23/17 - Wyoming 28, Hawaii 21 (OT) (2-2)
9/09/17 - UCLA executes Hawaii 56-23 (2-1)
9/2/17 - Hawaii 41, Western Carolina 18 (2-0)
8/26/17 - Hawaii rallies to defeat UMass 38-35 (1-0)

Rainbow Warrior Football Preview
8/23/17 - QB - Dru Brown
8/23/17 - RB - Diocemy Saint Juste
8/23/17 - WR - Keelan Ewaliko
8/23/17 - OL - Dejon Allen
8/23/17 - DL - Penitito Faalologo
8/23/17 - LB - Jahlani Tavai
8/23/17 - DB - Trayvon Henderson
8/23/17 - Special Teams - Noah Borden
8/23/17 - Coach - Nick Rolovich
8/23/17 - Ferd Lewis predicts 7-5 / Hogue 6-6 (San Jose State missing in the article)

7/23/17 - A look at the Rainbow Warriors entering training camp
7/22/17 - Khoury Bethley commits to Hawaii
2/19/17 - Warriors to open spring training
2/17/17 - Attendance increased for the first time since 2012
2/10/17 - Legi Suiaunoa promoted to defensive coordinator to replace Kevin Lempa
2/2/17 - Hawaii signs 23, none from Hawaii