Latest sports news: Karl-Anthony Towns’ mom has coronavirus, in coma; Clippers owner Steve Balmer to buy Forum

Karl Anthony- Towns mother battling Coronavirus 

Karl Anthony-Towns announced late last night on his Instagram account that his mother is in a medically-induced coma after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

“Sharing my story in the hopes that everyone stays at home!" Towns said on his Instagram account. "We need more equipment and we need to help those medical personnel on the front lines.” 

Towns said his mother first noticed symptoms last week and later got tested. She experienced a fever and other symptoms before starting to feel better. However, the symptoms increased as the pain returned and eventually forced her into a medically-induced coma. 

“This disease needs not to be taken lightly. It’s deadly," Towns said. "Me and my family are going to keep fighting this. My mother is the strongest woman I know.”

Clippers find new home in Inglewood

Steve Balmer has shown time and time again that he loves his Clippers. This time, he showed it with cash. Balmer decided to purchase the Inglewood Forum for $400 million dollars. 

The former Microsoft CEO purchased The Forum from the Madison Square Garden Company. The Forum is known for being the previous home of the Lakers from 1967-1999.

The new Clippers arena project is expected to be a state-of-the-art 18,000-seat basketball arena. It is currently under environmental review by the city of Inglewood. 

Mets pitching curse continues with Noah Syndergaard needing Tommy John surgery

Blink twice if you’ve heard this before: A star New York Mets pitcher will miss the season. 

Noah Syndergaard tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. It’s a situation where you just shake your head and say, only the Mets. 

I mean, where do we start? 

Matt Harvey was a Cy Young candidate in 2013. He missed 2014 due to Tommy John surgery and after a resurgent 2015 season (2.71 ERA), Harvey hasn’t had an ERA below 4.86. He’s currently a free agent. Syndergaard won a World Series game as a 22-year old phenom and followed that with a 2.60 ERA in 2016. He suffered a partially torn lat muscle in 2017 that limited him to seven starts, and his ERA has increased each season since. Zack Wheeler missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and now he’s pitching for the Phillies. And Steven Matz has battled elbow and shoulder problems since 2015. 

Those four and Jacob deGrom were supposed to form the most feared rotation in baseball for at least five seasons. Instead, it was a rarely seen group, and like so many times in the past, a curveball has been thrown into the Mets’ hopes of winning the NL East in 2020. 

Cam Newton is a free agent

Cam Newton’s departure from Carolina had been expected, but it was officially confirmed Tuesday. The former no. 1 pick and 2015 NFL MVP started two games in 2019 before suffering a left foot injury that required surgery.

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Newton’s skeptics have increased in the past two seasons, but he’ll have a chance to quiet them when he signs with a new team. He should be a starter at his next stop, and teams like the Chargers and Patriots could use him next season.

NCAA okays Trevor Lawrence

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the face of college football, but it’s only so much a collegiate athlete can do with the NCAA strict rules. Lawrence and his girlfriend attempted to start a GoFundMe to raise money for COVID-19 victims, but the page was temporarily shut down by Clemson compliance to make sure the NCAA was on board.

The NCAA later clarified that student-athletes could help raise money for charities.

SOURCE: The NCAA has reached out to Clemson about Trevor Lawrence’s fundraiser and told them the NCAA will allow university discretion on charities that support the community during this crisis.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 24, 2020

IOC postpones Tokyo Olympics until 2021

The International Olympic Committee has decided to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The games are expected to be held no later than summer 2021.

Philadelphia-area athletes and coaches gave their thoughts on what the postponement means for Olympic hopefuls.

The decision to postpone the 2020 Olympics was a difficult decision but the right one . Now is the time to support our healthcare workers , those in our community who are ill and those who are at risk !

— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) March 24, 2020

In case you missed it in Philly

The postponement of the Olympics was the no. 1 topic in Philly sports news for about an hour.

Harris Blitzer and Sports Entertainment, owners of the Sixers, decided to cancel its plans to cut at-will employees making more than $50,000 salaries by up to 20%.

“After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong decision,” HBSE founder Josh Harris said Tuesday in a statement. “We have reversed and will be paying these employees their full salaries."

Joel Embiid also decided to pledge $500,000 to help COVID-19 relief, and he was also committed to helping Sixers employees affected by the proposed salary reductions. 

In these trying times, I’m proud of the Sixers organization for reversing course and “doing a 180”. Let’s focus on beating this Coronavirus now. Let’s be responsible and Trust the Process!!

— Joel “Do a 180” Embiid??? (@JoelEmbiid) March 24, 2020

Article:
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Photo:
Clutchpoints 

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Steelers cut Kameron Kelly after charges for making terroristic threats, resisting arrest

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers cut Kameron Kelly after the safety was arrested outside a bar in Pittsburgh's South Side early Friday morning on two counts of making terroristic threats and one count of resisting arrest.

According to court paperwork, police say Kelly was being disorderly at Mario's South Side Saloon. When an officer told Kelly he had to leave, he became confrontational.

Per the complaint, Kelly had already threatened to knock out an employee at the bar after his music choice was skipped on the jukebox.

Outside the bar, according to the complaint, the arresting officer accidentally stepped on the foot of a woman, who began arguing. Kelly said the woman was "his girl" and pushed his chest against the officer's and threatened him, according to the complaint.

Kelly then resisted arrest, arguing with officers, and an officer punched Kelly in the face multiple times during the struggle, according to the complaint. Kelly was treated at a Pittsburgh hospital for a split lip and was then taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Other than waiving him, the Steelers have not commented on Kelly's arrest.

In Pennsylvania, the crime of terroristic threat is committed if a person communicates, either directly or indirectly, a threat to: commit a crime of violence with intent to terrorize another; cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly or facility of public transportation; or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience, or cause terror or serious public inconvenience with reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.

Kelly, a San Diego State product, started and played every defensive snap of a Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots and was the starter at free safety after Sean Davis' shoulder injury. After the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade following Week 2, Kelly primarily became a special-teams player and hasn't played any defensive snaps since getting one against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.

His last significant defensive outing came against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6, when he played 26 snaps. Kelly has 17 tackles and one interception this season.

In a related roster move, the Steelers promoted safety Marcus Allen to the 53-man roster.z

Video: Nikki Johnson of the Lingerie Football League has the hit of the year … so far

You may think that the Lingerie Football League is all about exploitation and silliness, and well ... yes it is. Let's not fool ourselves. But these ladies do love themselves some football, and if you think they don't take it seriously when they're in the arena, I give you this wallop laid by one Nikki Johnson of the Regina Rage.

[Video: Star NFL QBs that must rebound]

I'm not sure what the formation is here, but it's a standard quarterback option, and Ms. Johnson would not be denied. Veering around the left side in the direction of the end zone, Johnson took out defender Davine Burton of the Toronto Triumph to score with a hit that Cam Newton would be proud of -- if Cam Newton ran over scantily-clad women on an indoor football field. And we're not suggesting that he would.

Ms. Johnson is quite the passer in her league -- through five games in the 2012 season, she's completed 41 of 73 passes for 384 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. Her hero is Peyton Manning (at least that's what her Facebook page said when she played for the Las Vegas Sin), but we doubt that Peyton could put a crusher on Darrelle Revis like Johnson did on Burton.

And for that, Ms. Johnson, we salute you.

Fantasy Football video from Yahoo! Sports

Terrell Owens Gets A Second Chance! A Million Dollar Deal With The Seahawks!

Terrell Owens has another opportunity to have a career in the NFL…and to pay off his ridiculous debt thanks to back child support…as he’s just signed with the Seattle Seahawks for a one-year contract reportedly worth $1 million.

On Monday night he tweeted: “God is good. Thankful. Grateful. To ALL my new teammates & the “12th Man”… Let’s Do This!!”

His tryout went great.  But not everyone is happy for T.O.  The Seattle Times’ Jerry Brewer said:

“It’s like the Seahawks are determined to test the sturdiness of what they’ve built before the renovations are complete. It’s like they want their three-man quarterback competition to be as stressful as possible. Still, you have to wonder if any of Owens’ five former teams have exited the T.O. Experience feeling like his talent was worth the sideshow.”

Via:TheYBF.com

Gabrielle Douglas Makes History After Winning Second Gold Medal at the 2012 London Olympics

Gabby Douglas, the 16-year-old American artistic gymnast nicknamed the “Flying Squirrel,” earned her second gold medal during the 2012 London Olympics Thursday (Jul 2) … and made history all at the same damn time.

After winning the Women’s Individual All-Around final on Day 6 of the London Games, Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas became the first African-American Olympic (male or female) to do so, and also became the fourth American woman and fourth consecutive American to win the all-around, after Mary Lou Retton in 1984, Carly Patterson in 2004 and Nastia Liukin in 2008.

Gabby finished with a score of 62.232, less than three-tenths ahead of Russia’s Viktoria Komova, who reluctantly took the silver. Aliya Mustafina, also from Russia, won the bronze.

Douglas’ energetic floor routine brought the house down, and her U.S. teammates Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Kyla Ross excitedly jumped to their feet and cheered when she finished.

After sticking her landing perfectly, Gabby flashed a bright smile, and her coach, Lian Chow, lifted her off the podium before giving her a big hug.

Gabby Douglas left her family behind in Virginia Beach, when she was just 14 years old, to move to Iowa to train with coach Chow (who had coached the Olympic champion Shawn Johnson). And even though that big move was hard for her and her family, the two gold medals Gabby has earned so far proves that it was all worth it.

Douglas earned her first gold medal with the U.S. gymnastics team two nights ago at the London Games, alongside her teammates, who won the team all-around gold medal.

Gabby is also the first American female to win both the team and individual all-around competitions at an Olympics. She’s scheduled to take part in the finals of uneven bars next Monday (Aug 6) and the balance beam the following Tuesday (Aug 7).

Well done!

LA Lakers Forward Matt Barnes Busted; Allegedly Resists Arrest

July 31, 2012 By EurPublisher

*Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes got himself busted Monday night for an outstanding traffic warrant, and for mouthing off to the arresting officer, TMZ is reporting.

According to law enforcement sources, Barnes was busted by police in Manhattan Beach, CA for a misdemeanor traffic warrant, and we’re told he also resisted the arresting officer.

Barnes is currently being booked by Manhattan Beach PD for the traffic violation, and for resisting an executive officer … a felony.

According to our sources … Matt was walking in Manhattan Beach around 8:30PM when he was first approached by Manhattan Beach PD — and when officers ran a check on him they discovered a massive $26,000 unpaid traffic warrant for driving on a suspended license.

We’re told Barnes made threats against one of the officers — which is why he got slapped with the felony for resisting.

As of this posting, Barnes is being held on $51,000 bail — $26k of which is the unpaid warrant.

NFL Player Commits Suicide at High School Alma Mater

July 31, 2012 By EURpublisher02

*O.J. Murdock, who signed with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans last year, killed himself Monday morning in front of the Tampa, Florida, high school where he was a track and football star, reports the Associated Press.

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Murdock, 25, never played a game in the NFL because he had been sidelined with an injury since signing as an undrafted player a year ago.

“In his brief time here, a number of our players, coaches and staff had grown close to O.J., and this is a difficult time for them,” the Titans said in a statement. “He spent the last year battling back from an Achilles injury as he prepared for this year’s training camp.”

Titans head coach Mike Munchak, in his daily briefing with reporters Saturday, was asked why Murdock, a wide receiver, had not reported to training camp.

“He had some personal things come up,” Munchak said. “He called us, and we’re hoping to see him tonight.”

Murdock was placed on the “did not report” list over the weekend, but he was still on the roster, team spokesman Robbie Bohren said Monday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they try to cope with this tragedy,” the team statement said.

A Tampa police officer found Murdock “in his car in front of Middleton High School with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” at 8:30 a.m. Monday, a police statement said. He died two hours later at Tampa General Hospital, according to police.

Murdock was ranked among the top football players in Florida and the nation in 2005 when he was a senior at Middleton High School, according to his biography on the Titans website. He was also a star sprinter on his school’s track team.

His college career started at the University of South Carolina, but he transferred to Fort Hays State after playing in just four games as a freshman and being redshirted. He then moved to Pearl River Community College, where he was a criminal justice major