Yahoo SportsRobin Lopez with an and one vs the Los Angeles Lakers
Robin Lopez (Washington Wizards) with an and one vs the Los Angeles Lakers, 02/22/2021
Robin Lopez (Washington Wizards) with an and one vs the Los Angeles Lakers, 02/22/2021
Team success has engendered another individual accolade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ross Atkins told reporters Thursday that it was "heartbreaking" that the proper channels were not in place in Cleveland for those facing harassment to seek support.
Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe had a great attitude after being on the losing end of a dunk for the ages.
Big Ben will return to the Steelers for the 2021 season.
Leon Draisaitl had an appropriately sarcastic response waiting for a reporter after getting swept by the Maple Leafs.
Get ready for "Space Jam: A New Legacy."
Bruins rookie Trent Frederic was itching to scrap Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, but Ovi had another type of combat in mind.
It's difficult to determine intent but San Jose Sharks forward Joachim Blichfeld could be facing a suspension for his hit on Nathan MacKinnon.
It’s an exciting week ahead in the Premier League as the battle for Champions League qualification spots heats up.
Is a new third-line centre in the plans for the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Jalen Ramsey and Deshaun Watson share a connection.
The Toronto Raptors are once again severely short-handed heading into Thursday's game against the Celtics in Boston. For the second straight night, the Raptors will be without five players, head coach Nick Nurse and six other members of the coaching staff due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Starters Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby will not be available, as well as Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw. Without the key players and members of the coaching staff, the Raptors were thumped 129-105 by visiting Detroit on Wednesday with assistant coach Sergio Scariolo in charge for the second straight game. Meanwhile, Jalen Harris has returned to Toronto's G League affiliate, Raptors 905. Harris and Donta Hall were added to the Raptors from the 905 squad Wednesday. Thursday's announcement was expected. General Manager Bobby Webster said in an availability Tuesday that it was unlikely that any player or member of staff who missed Wednesday's game would be available for the contest in Boston. The NBA goes into its all-star break after Thursday's action, which will offer a welcome respite for the Raptors. Toronto's next game is March 11 against Atlanta. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. The Canadian Press
Quebec mogul king Mikael Kingsbury is calling for the return of sport in schools. In an open letter on Wednesday to Quebec Premier François Legault, the reigning Olympic and world moguls champion says urgent action is needed amid the COVID-19 restrictions. "I am worried about the situation of young athletes," wrote the 28-year-old freestyle skiing star. "The health of thousands of young people is at risk." Inspired in part by his own experiences growing up, Kingsbury is lending his voice to the efforts of a 16-year-old high school student, Isaac Pépin, who has been urging the provincial government to show flexibility in its approach to sport in schools. Kingsbury recently returned to action after sustaining a back injury in November prior to the start of the freestyle season. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Kingsbury told CBC Sports in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the plea is something he understands all too well. "Having grown up skiing and playing baseball with my friends, sport is a motivator. a source of meaning," he said, adding that sport was a big part of what helped keep him coming back to class. For the 28-year-old native of Deux-Montagnes, Que., it's also a question of mental as well as physical health. "I am worried that young people are lost. That they are abandoning sport in favour of screens," Kingsbury wrote in his letter to Legault. This is why Kingsbury supports Pépin's calls for the resumption of supervised sport. 'I got dizzy' "I stopped this week and wondered what I would do if I was this young man deprived of sport for a year in a period of a pandemic," Kingsbury wrote. "I got dizzy! I wouldn't have had the capacity to survive a full year without my passion. I tell you very simply: I would be adrift. I am convinced that sports clubs, sports organizations and federations have the capacities, the means, but above all the determination necessary to protect young people and their families. Before, during and after sports practice." And Kingsbury feels it the time to act now. "It's been a year where people across Canada, but especially in Quebec, have not been able to play collective sports," he told CBC Sports. "It's like a year the kids are losing and will never get back again." Legault said he understands the frustration, but also the importance of sport on mental health during a COVID-19 update on Wednesday. "People who know me know that I do a lot of sports," Legault said. "Sports is important. There's nothing better to decrease stress levels, and it's important for mental heath. But we all agree that certain sports, at the very least, we might get too close and bring about contagion." While discussions with sports federations are still ongoing, Legault will offer more of an update next week and acknowledged that "as of March 15th, everywhere in Quebec will be able to start outside school activities." Meanwhile, Kingsbury – who only recently returned to action in February after fracturing his T4 and T5 vertebrate in November prior to the opening of the freestyle ski season – is in Kazakhstan gearing up for freestyle skiing world championships in Almaty. WATCH | Kingsbury reflects on consecutive World Cup victories: He says the passion that Pépin and fellow organizers have exhibited for sport has given him extra motivation to win. "[They] are only asking for one thing: to breathe new life into young people by allowing them to reconnect with their passion." Kingsbury won't be able to stand with protestors at a planned rally in front of the provincial parliament on Sunday, but remains hopeful activities will open up when he returns to his home province. "On behalf of all athletes in Quebec, amateurs and professionals, I hope that when I return home in mid-March, sport will find its rightful place."
Here are the fighters with the most to gain from a great showing Saturday, as well as those with the most to lose.
Republicans in the Tennessee Senate want to stop college athletes from protesting at games after ETSU men's basketball players kneeled during the national anthem.
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says it was a "failure" on his part that he was unaware of any incidents of sexual harassment by former pitching coach Mickey Callaway during their time together with the Cleveland Baseball Team. Atkins told reporters in a video conference Thursday that it was "heartbreaking" that the proper channels were not in place in Cleveland for those facing harassment to seek support. "As a leader it's our responsibility to ensure that our staff feels safe, supported, and I deeply apologize to anyone who ever faced harassment or didn't feel comfortable to come forward," he said. "This is the type of behaviour that should not be tolerated and something that we need to work harder on in the game and the industry and this world to ensure that it doesn't happen." Atkins' comments come after a report published Tuesday by The Athletic that said several former Cleveland employees had come forward in the last month to say the team's front office was aware of Callaway's conduct. One employee told The Athletic that Callaway’s behaviour was “the worst-kept secret in the organization.” Atkins joined Cleveland's front office in 2001, and five years later was promoted to director of player development, a position he held when Callaway was hired in 2010. Atkins was promoted to vice-president of player personnel after the 2014 season before joining former Cleveland president Mark Shapiro in Toronto in 2015. Callaway was with the team until 2017 — serving as the pitching coach for five years — before he was hired as manager of the New York Mets. He has been suspended as the Los Angeles Angels pitching coach, pending the outcome of Major League Baseball's investigation into the sexual harassment allegations. When asked about being part of the front office that hired Callaway in 2010, Atkins said Cleveland's vetting process "clearly was not good enough." "We have always been process-focused and values-driven in how we hired," he said. "Respect is a huge part of our values and always has been a huge part of Mark's, but we didn't have a good enough process at that time." Atkins said during his time at Cleveland, as a player, coach and executive, that he felt drawn to the team's "inclusive nature." "Although we failed, that those allegations occurred and we didn't have the right channels for people to come forward, I did at the time feel very good about all the people that were leading me and the culture that Mark created there," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. The Canadian Press
Check out our latest fantasy hockey waiver wire pickup suggestions for Week 9.
The MVP odds shifted after Joel Embiid put up 40 points and 19 rebounds in a come-from-behind victory over the Utah Jazz.
Don't expect to see the universal designated hitter make an appearance in 2021.
HALIFAX — The International Ice Hockey Federation has confirmed the postponement of the women's world hockey championship in Nova Scotia to May 6-16. The tournament was originally scheduled for April 7-17 in Halifax and Truro, but the provincial and federal governments have yet to approve hosting the tournament amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and no quarantine exemptions have been granted. The 2020 world championship in the same communities was cancelled because of the pandemic. The nine visiting countries have all said they'll participate in a May tournament, according to the IIHF, which is kicking in more money because of decreased ticket revenues and the higher costs of travel and accommodation. “We know how important this event is in the women’s ice hockey calendar, especially considering that we could not have a tournament last season and now with the Olympics on the horizon,” IIHF president Rene Fasel said Thursday in a statement. "Our member national associations expressed concerns over the associated costs that come with operating a tournament in the current global environment, and I am glad we were able fill the gap and ensure the women’s world championship can take place with all 10 teams.” The IIHF says a limited number of fans may be able to attend games. "Going to Nova Scotia, the world's best national teams in women's ice hockey will play in a region that is one of the least affected by the pandemic among the big hockey nations," the IIHF said. "There is currently an active case rate in Nova Scotia of under four per 100,000 inhabitants." Canada didn't reach the final for the first time in the history of the women's world championship in 2019, and earned bronze in Espoo, Finland. The Canadian women's team has played just five international games since then, all against the United States. Alberta's government approved Hockey Canada's plans to host the world junior men's hockey championship Dec. 25 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton. A champion was crowned, although some players missed games because of positive tests for the virus and extended quarantines upon arrival. "Our organization knows it will have strict support from all participating federations as it relates to adhering to the final health and safety plan that will focus on quarantining, COVID-19 testing, single-room isolation, masking, proper hygiene and social distancing," Hockey Canada president and chief operating officer Scott Smith said in a statement. "Hockey Canada and the host organizing committee are committed to working with the appropriate health authorities and listening to the direction of medical experts to build a safe and strong hosting plan. "We understand the disappointment of having the event cancelled last spring and delaying the start of the IIHF women’s world championship this year, but we know the extra time to prepare will help us provide a world-class experience for the participants while maintaining the health and safety of all participants and the community at large." The Canadian women's team is currently in Halifax for a 35-player camp concluding Sunday. “The cancellation of the 2020 IIHF women’s world championship was very difficult for our athletes, coaches and staff, and although the 2021 event is scheduled to start later than usual, our team is grateful to the IIHF and Hockey Canada for their commitment to hosting a world championship this season under difficult circumstances," said Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada's director of national teams. "This event is critical for our preparations for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and we look forward to competing for a gold medal.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2021. The Canadian Press