Sunday, December 31, 2017
Hopman Cup 2018: Sunday Tennis Scores, Results and Updated Schedule
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Australia got their 2018 Hopman Cup campaign off to a brilliant start on Sunday, as Daria Gavrilova and Thanasi Kokkinakis saw the team to a 2-1 win over Canada.
Gavrilova got the home fans going early on with an accomplished win against Eugenie Bouchard. That was followed up by Kokkinakis, who won a fascinating three-set encounter with Vasek Pospisil.
The Canadian duo did manage to get a point on the board eventually, as they won the doubles contest in straight sets.
Here are the full results from Sunday’s action, the schedule for New Year’s Day and a reminder of how Australia got up and running.
Sunday Result
Australia 2-1 Canada
Daria Gavrilova (AUS) bt. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN), 6-1 6-4
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) bt. Vasek Pospisil (CAN), 6-4 3-6 6-3
Bouchard & Pospisil (CAN) bt. Gavrilova & Kokkinakis (AUS), 4-3 (1) 4-3 (4)
Monday Schedule
Belgium (Elise Mertens and David Goffin) vs. Germany (Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev)
Sunday Recap
Paul Kane/Getty Images
The Perth crowd turned out in force to cheer on the local stars on Sunday. Gavrilova and Kokkinakis responded.
The former was in action early on and faced a potentially testing match against the talented Bouchard. And while the scoreline was eventually lopsided in the favour of the Aussie, it was a match of fine margins.
Indeed, Gavrilova faced 10 break points on her serve throughout this contest and was crucially able to save nine of them. Bouchard simply wasn’t able to bring her best over the 80 minutes they were out on court.
As noted by tennis journalist Jose Morgado, the Australian was striking the ball much more cleanly than her opponent:
José Morgado@josemorgado
Gavrilova d. Bouchard 6-1, 6-4 to give Australia the lead.
With the match wrapped up, it was up to Kokkinakis to finish the job, although he was the big underdog against Pospisil; the Canadian, ranked 84th in the world, is 128 places ahead of Kokkinakis in the ATP rankings.
You wouldn’t have known it in the initial stages of the contest, as the two shared the opening couple of sets. Eventually, urged on by the home support, it was the 21-year-old Aussie who was the stronger in the decider, wrapping up the match for Australia.
Kokkinakis enjoyed a confidence-boosting win on Sunday.Will Russell/Getty Images
Afterwards, Kokkinakis spoke candidly about his recent injury woes and suggested he’s now feeling closer to full fitness.
“I feel good,” he said, per Justin Chadwick of AAP (h/t Yahoo). “It’s the best I’ve felt in a while. It’s pretty funny. When I see new people, or people I haven’t seen for a while, it’s not even, ‘Hey, how are you doing’. They say, ‘How’s the body?'”
As we can see courtesy of the competition Twitter account, he was pleased with his effort afterwards:
Hopman Cup@hopmancup
A well deserved and hard-fought win for #TeamAustralia’s @TKokkinakis.
Stay tuned for the doubles
#HopmanCup https://t.co/kD3pKDHyd0
With the match won for Australia, it was merely pride at stake when the four players in question took to the court again for the doubles showdown. Pospisil and Bouchard will at least take some confidence forward from it, as they earned a narrow victory.
The post Hopman Cup 2018: Sunday Tennis Scores, Results and Updated Schedule appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/hopman-cup-2018-sunday-tennis-scores-results-and-updated-schedule/
Orange Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Miami score, highlights: Badgers humble Canes at home
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The College Football Playoff was the goal for No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 10 Miami just a few weeks ago. But after both teams fell in their conference title games, a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game served as somewhat of a consolation prize.
Suffice to say, the Badgers are happy with their reward. With a 34-24 win over the Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl, Wisconsin completes its best season in program history at 13-1 and should be a preseason top-10 team moving into 2018. Coach Paul Chryst has now won 34 games in three seasons in Madison with three bowl victories to boot.
For Miami, the Hurricanes suffer their third straight loss and fall to 10-3 on the year. Here’s what we learned, plus what to look for in the future.
1. This was Alex Hornibrook’s best game of the season: To say that Hornibrook has been an enigma this year would be an understatement. He threw at least one pick in nine of his last 10 games, including four games with multiple interceptions. And yet, he could always give you five or six good, timely throws a game. This, however, was his most complete game: 23-of-34 passing, a season-high 258 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. Hornibrook, who won the Most Outstanding Player honor, didn’t just have a few key throws on Saturday — he had bunches of them, in particular over the middle of the field against the Hurricanes’ zone defense. You don’t want to read too much into a bowl performance but that consistency against an aggressive defense like Miami’s is a promising sign for the future.
2. Jonathan Taylor will be a force for years to come: The freshman sensation who finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting broke FBS single-season freshman rushing record, previously held by Adrian Peterson at 1,925 yards. Taylor had 1,847 yards coming into the Orange Bowl and his 130 yards puts him at 1,977 for the season. He also had one reception for 13 yards. The amazing part about Taylor is that he’s still so young and has a lot of room to grow as a pass protector and receiver out of the backfield. His best days are still ahead of him.
3. Wisconsin is going to be “that” team in 2018: The Big Ten East may still be loaded with Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State, but Wisconsin is going to be the early favorite yet again to claim the conference’s West Division in 2018. And if it does come down to one game again for the Badgers, playoff-or-bust might not be a far-fetched mentality. Taylor is back, as is Hornibrook and the entire starting wide receiver unit — which is arguably the best the Badgers have had in years. The defense will be senior-laden once again, and Chryst has one of the top defensive coordinators in the game in Jim Leonhard. Getting double-digit wins has become common practice for Wisconsin and that trend figures to continue next season. The question: Can it do just a little bit more?
CBS Sports was with you the entire way updating this post live with highlights, analysis and stats from the game. If you are unable to view the application below, please click here.
Thanks for stopping by.
The post Orange Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Miami score, highlights: Badgers humble Canes at home appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/orange-bowl-wisconsin-vs-miami-score-highlights-badgers-humble-canes-at-home/
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Why will the next 18 months test Indian cricket?
What’s the back-story?
It has been a season of ecstasy for Indian cricket while 2017 ebbs away into the sands of time. Largely in their backyard, Virat Kohli’s men have pummelled opposition and retained an aura of invincibility. During the few trips overseas, they finished runner-up in the ICC Champions Trophy in England and the jaunt across the Palk Strait into Sri Lanka yielded a garland of victories.
Across formats, India won 37 of 53 contests, a mind-boggling performance as New Zealand, England, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were forced to eat humble pie. India dominated on home soil and was hardly tested while breezing through immigration counters in foreign airports. It helped that in the immediate past, Kohli’s marauding bunch dropped anchor in the West Indies and in Sri Lanka, both cricketing units resting on past laurels and wilting with present defeats.
What lies in store?
Ever keen to present a sunny picture, the coach-captain combine of Ravi Shastri and Kohli have hummed a ‘we-believe-we-can-win’ chorus. A few months back under warm Colombo skies, Shastri said: “This team can do things which Indian teams of the past haven’t done.”
Later, on the same tour, Kohli mentioned that his troops look at every match as an opportunity to push for victory and would rather not term games as ‘home’ and ‘away’. The clichéd term ‘momentum’ is with Kohli’s men but the next year and a half may hold an unforgiving mirror to the true worth of the Indian cricket team, be it in Test whites or in the blue shade for limited overs’ jousts. New Year’s Day and the subsequent 18 months will usher in the challenging tours of South Africa (January-February), England (July-September) and Australia (November-December).
The 12 Tests and the surfeit of ODIs and Twenty20s will test the squad’s mettle and the acme would be the ICC World Cup in England from May 30 to July 14 in 2019. The global event often determines teams’ life-spans as the results influence captains’ tenures and the longevity or retirement of veteran players. And it might well prove to be M.S. Dhoni’s swansong.
What are the challenges?
Be it South Africa, England or Australia, India cannot bank on the home-template of posting an avalanche of runs and then allowing spinners to aggravate the initial breaches caused in the opposition ranks by seamers.
There will be a premium on runs and it is the fast bowlers who have to inflict all the damage while the spinners do a holding job. In Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, India possess the requisite batsmen with skill and heart.
Add Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan to this mix when it comes to dealing with ODIs and Twenty20s and you have an explosive combine.
There is a resolute wicket-keeper batsman in Wriddhiman Saha and the quartet of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar can pose tough questions to rival willow-wielders. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will lend balance and spinners R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have pedigree. Yet, despite all the right ingredients in place, the quest to maintain a winning streak in tougher terrain abroad could prove to be an arduous task.
Is India equipped?
The medley of world-beaters in the opposition flanks, A.B. de Villiers and Dale Steyn, Joe Root and James Anderson, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc, to name a few, and all of them playing in their respective countries, could derail India’s best-laid plans. It would be prudent to recall that after their glorious 2011 World Cup triumph, Dhoni’s men lost 0-4, 0-4 to England and Australia respectively in Tests. Those tours plunged a knife into Indian cricket’s heart and revived that derisive chant — ‘tigers at home, lambs abroad.’ Kohli and company get another chance at redemption when it comes to salvaging India’s overseas credentials. If they can flip the odds and walk towards the victor’s podium, greatness will be their second-skin.
The post Why will the next 18 months test Indian cricket? appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/why-will-the-next-18-months-test-indian-cricket/
Top Ten: The best stories from Plano-area athletics in 2017
With the book about to close on 2017, it’s time to look back on the year that was in Plano-area athletics.
This year was clad in noteworthy moments across all sports in the Plano area, including playoff success and championships won at the district and state levels.
The Plano Star Courier sports staff has compiled its top 10 sports stories of the year, concluding with 2017’s top five.
1. Coody goes for gold, Wolves seek silver
Tim Glaze: Plano West junior Parker Coody has earned several golfing accolades in his high school career, but the 2017 state medal will hang particularly well from his neck.
The University of Texas commit was crowned overall individual champion at the Class 6A state golf tournament with a two-day score of 139, narrowly edging Mathew Denton of Austin Westlake and William Moll of Houston Memorial (140) for the top spot. Coody shot a 4-under-par in Round Two and finished 5-under-par for the tournament.
Along with his brother, Pierceson Coody, and Andy Lopez, who both shot a 142, the Wolves finished in second place as a team with a total score of 579.
Under head coach Rick Hardison, West has been a mainstay at the state tournament, but 2017’s double-dose of medals was particularly sweet for the program.
2. Headley, Brockman medal at state
Matt Welch: Plano Senior was well-represented on the medal stand at the Class 6A state track and field meet last spring.
That included a gold medal for alum Alexandra Headley, who capped a banner high school career by winning the shot put with a throw of 42-7 1/4. Headley posted that mark on just her second throw of the meet, with only one other competitor clearing 42-0.
Meanwhile, alum Charles Brockman solidified his standing as one of the state’s top hurdlers by medaling in two races in his final high school meet. Brockman took second in the 300-meter hurdles (36.68) and third in the 110 hurdles (13.79).
3. PCA’s trophy case grows
Matt Welch: Another year, another bevy of state championships for Prestonwood Christian Academy.
The Lions hoisted state titles on the gridiron and basketball court in 2017, with both coming in dramatic fashion. In February, the Lions extended their championship streak on the hardwood to six consecutive years, edging Bishop Lynch, 45-42. The win was all the more gratifying for Prestonwood, considering it had been swept by the Friars during the regular season.
In December, the Lions’ football team orchestrated a memorable performance in erasing an 18-point deficit to beat Houston St. Pius X, 42-41, for its fifth Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state title.
The program also got a strong season from its girls golf program, which placed second overall at the TAPPS 6A state tournament and featured gold- and silver-medal showings from junior Julia Gregg and senior Mikayla Bardwell.
4. Hillyard takes 3rd at state
Tim Glaze: Plano Senior junior runner Ashlyn Hillyard had a cross country postseason to remember in 2017.
She started off with a District 6-6A championship, then rolled through regionals with yet another top individual score, easily qualifying for her second straight state tournament appearance. But after failing to finish in the top 10 as a sophomore, Hillyard dominated this year’s state circuit.
With a late push, Hillyard crossed the finish line in third place, earning a state medal to cap off one of the more successful cross country seasons in recent memory. With one more year of eligibility before she runs collegiately, Hillyard has set a goal of sweeping her senior year races with first place finishes at district, regionals and state.
5. West tennis back to state semis
Matt Welch: Despite a different roadmap than usual, the West tennis team once again found itself competing in College Station at the state tournament.
The Wolves shook off the heartbreak of the program’s first district loss in nearly 18 years, a 10-9 setback against Allen in September, and posted a 20-3 record prior to a 10-5 loss in the state semifinals to Houston Cypress Ranch.
West topped a who’s who of opponents along the way, including two wins over those same Eagles – the last coming in the regional finals – as well as Southlake Carroll and El Paso Coronado en route to the program’s eighth consecutive state tournament appearance.
Always a force to be reckoned with on the tennis court, West graduates just six seniors from this year’s state semifinalist squad.
The post Top Ten: The best stories from Plano-area athletics in 2017 appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/top-ten-the-best-stories-from-plano-area-athletics-in-2017/
2018 In WWE Will Be The Year Of Daniel Bryan
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Daniel Bryan is pretty much a lock to return to a wrestling ring near you. The only question regarding his once-improbable return is whether it will be in a ring anywhere near WWE.
WWE.comDaniel Bryan retired from WWE in 2016.
This caveat has already made Bryan one of the biggest wrestling stories of a year that has not even started yet, namely in September of 2018 when his contract is due.
Bryan, who insists he has been cleared by independent neurologists, has pounded the pavement in interviews, taken to Total Divas to show off a unique and presumably safer Capoeira style of wrestling, strongly teased an in-ring return on-air during WWE broadcasts and, most recently, ran ropes with Sami Zayn.
Every time the word "wrestling" comes out of Daniel Bryan’s mouth, he is covered giddily by industry media outlets as if he is one step closer to making it a reality.
And then there’s WWE.
Bryan was all but forced to retire in 2015 following a series of concussions. WWE doctor Joseph Maroon has advised he never compete in a WWE ring again, and the promotion is standing staunchly behind that advice. Since his retirement, WWE refuses to even condone Bryan taking a bump. This was most evident when the lights went out to moments before being "chokeslammed" by Kane last month, and again when fellow special guest referee Shane McMahon was used as a soft landing for Bryan at WWE Clash of Champions.
Credit: WWE.comDaniel Bryan is currently embroiled in a non-wrestling feud with fellow authority figure Shane McMahon.
The Daniel Bryan business would be a boon for a score of either national or independent promotions in 2018 and beyond, but at the moment, WWE wants nothing to do with it.
In trying to get cleared by WWE, Bryan has engaged in a series of innovative recuperation methods, most notably Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) which involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
Bryan touted the cutting-edge HBOT treatments, telling the New Jersey Devils All-Access podcast:
I’m doing these things called nuclear spec scans of my brain which is showing where the oxygen is going, how my brain is actually working in real time. And my first scan is saying, ‘Okay, you’ve got the brain of about anybody who has played college football.’ But not anybody who has had a lot of impact, but just played college football. And now I did some treatments that are hyperbaric oxygen therapy thing and now it’s way better than that.
In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted HBOT has not been clinically proven to cure or be effective in the treatment of cancer, autism, diabetes and a host of other diseases including brain injury. It went on to note HBOT "had not been proven to be the kind of universal treatment it has been touted to be."
A spokesperson with the FDA confirmed to me, via email, that the information from 2013 was still up to date as the FDA’s stance on the treatment has not changed.
It’s difficult to envision the FDA changing its tune anytime soon, but if Bryan does receive a miracle clearance by WWE’s world-renown, albeit controversial, doctor—a scenario which he admits is a "15 percent possibility"—it could represent a true blueprint in concussion therapy. Should Bryan work concussion-free for an extended period of time throughout an unlikely WWE return, many professional athletes in combat/contact sports could follow suit by exploring HBOT.
Elusive WWE-clearance or not, all signs point to Bryan leaving WWE to risk his health in the pro wrestling abyss. He might even be a shoo-in for the much-hyped Bullet Club event that Cody Rhodes believes will draw a record 10,000 fans to an independent wrestling show.
But if Bryan returns to WWE in-ring action without incident, the ballad of Daniel Bryan in 2018 will be bigger than pro wrestling itself. And it could very well become one of the many missing puzzle pieces of concussions and head trauma.
“>
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Daniel Bryan is pretty much a lock to return to a wrestling ring near you. The only question regarding his once-improbable return is whether it will be in a ring anywhere near WWE.
WWE.comDaniel Bryan retired from WWE in 2016.
This caveat has already made Bryan one of the biggest wrestling stories of a year that has not even started yet, namely in September of 2018 when his contract is due.
Bryan, who insists he has been cleared by independent neurologists, has pounded the pavement in interviews, taken to Total Divas to show off a unique and presumably safer Capoeira style of wrestling, strongly teased an in-ring return on-air during WWE broadcasts and, most recently, ran ropes with Sami Zayn.
Every time the word “wrestling” comes out of Daniel Bryan’s mouth, he is covered giddily by industry media outlets as if he is one step closer to making it a reality.
And then there’s WWE.
Bryan was all but forced to retire in 2015 following a series of concussions. WWE doctor Joseph Maroon has advised he never compete in a WWE ring again, and the promotion is standing staunchly behind that advice. Since his retirement, WWE refuses to even condone Bryan taking a bump. This was most evident when the lights went out to moments before being “chokeslammed” by Kane last month, and again when fellow special guest referee Shane McMahon was used as a soft landing for Bryan at WWE Clash of Champions.
Credit: WWE.comDaniel Bryan is currently embroiled in a non-wrestling feud with fellow authority figure Shane McMahon.
The Daniel Bryan business would be a boon for a score of either national or independent promotions in 2018 and beyond, but at the moment, WWE wants nothing to do with it.
In trying to get cleared by WWE, Bryan has engaged in a series of innovative recuperation methods, most notably Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) which involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber.
Bryan touted the cutting-edge HBOT treatments, telling the New Jersey Devils All-Access podcast:
I’m doing these things called nuclear spec scans of my brain which is showing where the oxygen is going, how my brain is actually working in real time. And my first scan is saying, ‘Okay, you’ve got the brain of about anybody who has played college football.’ But not anybody who has had a lot of impact, but just played college football. And now I did some treatments that are hyperbaric oxygen therapy thing and now it’s way better than that.
In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted HBOT has not been clinically proven to cure or be effective in the treatment of cancer, autism, diabetes and a host of other diseases including brain injury. It went on to note HBOT “had not been proven to be the kind of universal treatment it has been touted to be.”
A spokesperson with the FDA confirmed to me, via email, that the information from 2013 was still up to date as the FDA’s stance on the treatment has not changed.
It’s difficult to envision the FDA changing its tune anytime soon, but if Bryan does receive a miracle clearance by WWE’s world-renown, albeit controversial, doctor—a scenario which he admits is a “15 percent possibility”—it could represent a true blueprint in concussion therapy. Should Bryan work concussion-free for an extended period of time throughout an unlikely WWE return, many professional athletes in combat/contact sports could follow suit by exploring HBOT.
Elusive WWE-clearance or not, all signs point to Bryan leaving WWE to risk his health in the pro wrestling abyss. He might even be a shoo-in for the much-hyped Bullet Club event that Cody Rhodes believes will draw a record 10,000 fans to an independent wrestling show.
But if Bryan returns to WWE in-ring action without incident, the ballad of Daniel Bryan in 2018 will be bigger than pro wrestling itself. And it could very well become one of the many missing puzzle pieces of concussions and head trauma.
The post 2018 In WWE Will Be The Year Of Daniel Bryan appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/2018-in-wwe-will-be-the-year-of-daniel-bryan/
Aiming for the Olympics
Brett Perry
Brett Perry
On Wednesday, Midland’s Brett Perry will skate two and a half laps around the track at the Pettit Center in West Allis, Wis. — site of the United States Olympic trials for long track speed skating.
Two days later, on Friday, he’ll come back and skate a lap and a quarter.
And, if he finishes in the top three in either the 1,000-meter distance on Wednesday or the 500 meters on Friday, Perry will make the U.S. long track speed skating team for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from Feb. 9-25.
After having competed unsuccessfully in the Olympic trials for long track four years ago in Salt Lake City, Utah, Perry, 24, has devoted another four years of training in an attempt to fulfill his Olympic dream.
“I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can do,” Perry said by phone on Dec. 27. While his home base for training is Salt Lake City, he is now in West Allis to prepare for the trials.
“I’ve been skating really well the last month, and I hope to apply that (momentum) to this upcoming week,” he said.
Perry said that of the two distances he will skate at the trials, the 500 is the one in which he is most confident.
“The way I look at it, the 1,000 meters (Wednesday) will be more of a warm-up (for Friday’s 500 meters),” Perry said.
In fact, Perry’s personal-best time of 35.61 seconds in the 500 in a World Cup meet in Salt Lake City on Dec. 9, was also an Olympic-qualifying time for that distance. Now, he just needs to make the top three at the trials.
The 1,000-meter trial is at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, and the 500-meter trial is at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday.
Another skater from the Midland Speed Skating Club, Ryan Bedford, competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bedford finished 12th in the 10,000-meter race.
The post Aiming for the Olympics appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/aiming-for-the-olympics/
Friday, December 29, 2017
Serena, Murray, Raonic return from extended absences this week
Serena Williams will play her first match since the Australian Open final—and since the birth of her first child—in Abu Dhabi against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. (Tennis Channel)
The 2017 season saw some incredible revivals and fantastic breakthroughs, but a number of big names barely played even half the season. Or, in the case of the biggest name of them all, Serena Williams, barely played a month.
That’s because the Australian Open champion left the tour after winning her 23rd Grand Slam singles title to give birth to her first child. She plays her first match since then on Saturday, at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, against Jelena Ostapenko, last year’s French Open champion. Watch it live on Tennis Channel at 8 a.m. ET.
In addition to Williams’ comeback, three* other big names will return to action this week, each from injury-related absences:
1. Andy Murray, in Brisbane: The last tournament Murray played was Wimbledon, where—as the defending champion—he fell to Sam Querrey in the quarterfinals in a tough five-setter. He was ranked No.1 at the time, but has since fallen to No. 16, his lowest ranking since 2008, due to inactivity.
The Brit will make his comeback from injury at the Brisbane International, where the two-time champion is 9-0; he won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
*2. Novak Djokovic, in Doha: Like Murray, the last tournament Djokovic played was Wimbledon, where he also fell in the quarterfinals. The Serb retired against Tomas Berdych due to a right elbow injury that would eventually keep him out for the rest of the season. The reason for the asterisk? On Friday, Djokovic withdrew from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi with a recurrence of pain in his right elbow.
Djokovic started last season at No. 2 and finished it No.12. Should he play Doha, Djokovic will be returning to the game at one of his best tournaments—he’s the two-time defending champion in Doha, having beaten Rafael Nadal in the 2017 final and Murray in the 2017 final.
3. Milos Raonic, in Brisbane: While Murray and Djokovic started 2017 at No. 1 and No. 2 and fell out of the Top 10 by season’s end, the ATP No. 3 at the start of the year—Raonic—had an even tougher time with injuries, not just exiting the Top 10 but also the Top 20. He finished the year ranked No. 24.
Having already missed several big tour stops due to right leg and left wrist injuries, including the US Open, the Canadian had to end his season after Tokyo in September due to a right calf injury. He begins his 2018 campaign in Brisbane, where he won the title in 2016 (beating Roger Federer in the final).
Honorable Mentions: Stan Wawrinka, who’s been out since Wimbledon with a left knee injury, will return at the Australian Open, while Kei Nishikori, who’s been out since August with a right wrist injury, was scheduled to return this week in Brisbane but has withdrawn; his next scheduled tournament is in Sydney.
Then there’s Nadal, who pulled out of Brisbane on Thursday. The Spaniard didn’t miss any big chunks of the 2017 season—on the contrary, he played nearly the entire year. But he struggled with a right knee injury in the fall, withdrawing from Basel and then pulling out of both the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals, mid-tournament. Has his knee recovered in time for 2018?
JANUARY: THIS MONTH ON TENNIS CHANNEL PLUS
NEW SEASON, MORE TENNIS! Get Tennis Channel Plus now at BuyTCPlus.com
A LOT of tennis action will be played on Tennis Channel Plus from January through June
Starting with January … gear up for the Australian Open with 6 LIVE tournaments in the lead up to AO, exclusively on Tennis Channel Plus
- Mubadala – Abu Dhabi
- Hopman Cup
- ATP Sydney
- Fast 4 Sydney
- World Tennis Channel – Adelaide
- Australian Open Qualifying
- Australian Open (Best 20 Matches of AO will be on-demand)
The post Serena, Murray, Raonic return from extended absences this week appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/serena-murray-raonic-return-from-extended-absences-this-week/
From wooden sleds in a Texas garage to the Winter Olympics for Nigeria
‘Absolutely amazing’
The post From wooden sleds in a Texas garage to the Winter Olympics for Nigeria appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/from-wooden-sleds-in-a-texas-garage-to-the-winter-olympics-for-nigeria/
Thursday, December 28, 2017
NFL Mock Draft 2018: Examining Elite Prospects and Predictions for All 32 Teams
Chris Knight/Associated Press
As the 2017 NFL regular season winds down this week, 20 teams will be focusing on next year and the draft.
The 12 playoff teams will have most of their attention on trying to win Super Bowl LII, but they are also busy behind the scenes evaluating the next wave of talent that will be joining the league.
Looking at where every team stands right now and possible needs they will have, here is an early look at the first round of the 2018 NFL draft and what will happen as the player-evaluation process gets underway.
2018 NFL Mock Draft (Order Based on Current Record)
1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
2. New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, Georgia
4. Cleveland Browns (via HOU): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
6. Denver Broncos: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
7. New York Jets: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
8. San Francisco 49ers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
9. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
11. Oakland Raiders: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
12. Miami Dolphins: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
13. Arizona Cardinals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
14. Green Bay Packers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
15. Washington: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
16. Los Angeles Chargers: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
17. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
18. Buffalo Bills: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
19. Detroit Lions: Harold Landry, LB, Boston College
20. Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
21. Tennessee Titans: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
22. Atlanta Falcons: Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State
23. Baltimore Ravens: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
24. Carolina Panthers: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
25. Buffalo Bills (via KC): Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
26. New Orleans Saints: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
28. Los Angeles Rams: Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech
30. Minnesota Vikings: Arden Key, DE, LSU
31. New England Patriots: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Josh Rosen, QB (Projected No. 1 to Cleveland Browns)
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
Times are tough for the Cleveland Browns, losers of 30 of their last 31 games, though they have at least taken steps toward making legitimate improvements.
Hiring new general manager John Dorsey, who worked with the Green Bay Packers from 2000-12 and was the architect of the Kansas City Chiefs during his time as GM from 2013-16, indicates the Browns are serious about building an NFL team.
After selecting Myles Garrett first overall last year to anchor the defense, Cleveland’s first order of business this offseason will be to find a quarterback to build the offense around.
In terms of raw talent, UCLA’s Josh Rosen is as exciting as any quarterback in this draft. He’s listed at 6’4″, 218 pounds on the Bruins’ athletic website and has been groomed for this moment since being the top-ranked pro-style quarterback coming out of high school.
ESPN’s Todd McShay has stoked the flames around Rosen’s rising draft fire by ranking the UCLA product as his No. 1 overall player in the 2018 class with this assessment:
“This is still a close race between Sam Darnold and Rosen, but I watched the USC-UCLA game from the sideline and there is a gap between the two QBs right now. As I noted in our draft primer, Rosen is far superior going through his progressions and has a pretty deep ball. He’s a better QB right now, but that doesn’t mean he will be down the line.”
Hpwever, there are some concerns about what kind of player he’s going to be.
As B/R’s Matt Miller noted last month, one question being asked about Rosen by NFL scouts is how much he really loves football.
It’s not a requirement that every great player has to be 24/7 focused on football, but Rosen’s overall level of interest in being the kind of leader that playing quarterback requires and doing what is necessary to reach his full potential is already being called into question.
The best thing working in Rosen’s favor is he’s only 20 years old. He has plenty of time to mature into the athlete and person he’s going to become.
Another problem, specifically for the Browns, is ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting Rosen “would be hesitant” to declare for the 2018 draft if he thought Cleveland would select him.
This does cloud things for the Browns when making a mock draft, but until Rosen officially takes himself out of the 2018 class, he’s the best player on the board who fills the biggest need Cleveland has.
Saquon Barkley, RB (Projected No. 7 to New York Jets)
Chris Knight/Associated Press
Conventional wisdom would suggest the New York Jets need to go after a quarterback, but things don’t line up well for them to take one at their current draft position.
Rosen, USC’s Sam Darnold and Wyoming’s Josh Allen come off the board in the first six picks. Baker Mayfield will be the popular name because of his marquee value as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and rising draft stock.
But there’s something to be said for value, especially on a team that needs multiple playmakers on offense.
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley had an unusual 2017 season. He started as the early Heisman favorite, but talk around him faded because the Nittany Lions fell out of the playoff discussion and he only had four 100-yard rushing games.
Even though the rushing numbers don’t immediately stand out, Barkley is such a versatile player that he impacts games in multiple ways. He had 1,134 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, 426 kickoff return yards and 21 total touchdowns.
Miller broke down what makes Barkley such a special talent coming into the NFL, with this particular part of the scouting report standing out:
“Barkley is rare. As [former Penn State offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State head coach Joe] Moorhead told me, ‘He’s a five-tool guy. He can do it all. He has speed, power, can run through you or hurdle over you. You can put him in the slot. He can return kicks. And he’s worked hard to become a great pass protector.’
“If that all sounds too good to be true, you might think it’s just an old coach wanting to help out his former player. But when talking to an NFL general manager for this story, he asked me for the highest grade on my scouting grading scale. ‘A 9.0,’ I replied. ‘Put that by his name.'”
First-round running backs have made a comeback, in part because the recent wave of players at the position drafted that high have been special. Ezekiel Elliott transformed the Dallas Cowboys into one of the best teams in the NFC last year.
Todd Gurley leads the NFL with 1,305 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns and has a strong case as the 2017 NFL MVP for the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley has the potential to be that kind of game-changing talent in the NFL. Getting that player at No. 7 overall would make him one of the biggest draft-day steals in 2018.
Baker Mayfield, QB (Projected No. 15 to Washington)
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Since Mayfield is arguably the best-known player in college football thanks to his Heisman victory and emotional outbursts on the field, it’s only fair to think about what he will look like in the NFL.
The first thing Mayfield must do is convince teams his height won’t be an issue in the NFL. He’s listed at 6’1″ on Oklahoma’s official website, though it’s possible that’s a slightly exaggerated number.
For example, Johnny Manziel was listed at 6’1″ by Texas A&M before measuring in at 5’11 ¾” at the 2014 NFL combine.
If Mayfield really is 6’1″, it won’t be hard for teams to think of him as a quarterback worthy of being drafted in the top half of the first round. Russell Wilson‘s success as an undersized quarterback could still pave the way for the Sooners star to be a first-round pick, even if he’s shorter than 6’0″.
The Oklahoma superstar does have questions to answer about his personality and attitude. He was arrested in February and later pleaded guilty to three charges including public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
Mayfield’s attitude on the field has also gotten the better of him at times. He didn’t start the regular-season finale against West Virginia for making a lewd gesture directed at Kansas players during a Nov. 18 game.
After watching Mayfield lead Oklahoma to a 29-24 win over Texas in October, Miller went so far as to say the 22-year-old can be a franchise quarterback:
“He might not be a natural fit for every offense, but if you look at the most successful young quarterbacks in the NFL this season (Watson, Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott), we see offenses that have been adjusted to fit their strengths. You can do that with Mayfield. His underneath accuracy hasn’t shown up as a strength, but his mobility and toughness would work with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco or John Morton and the New York Jets. He’s athletic enough to run the scheme Tyrod Taylor runs in Buffalo. His downfield passing ability would even be a fit for Sean Payton in New Orleans.”
Of the teams on that list, the Jets and Buffalo Bills have the most pressing need for a quarterback. The New Orleans Saints will have to see what Drew Brees‘ future looks like before deciding what they want to do in the draft.
Jimmy Garoppolo has given the San Francisco 49ers more hope than anyone associated with that franchise since Jim Harbaugh was hired as head coach prior to the 2011 season.
Of the teams not mentioned by Miller, Washington stands out because it has a big decision to make about Kirk Cousins this offseason. He’s received the franchise tag each of the past two years, and a third one would cost Washington $34.5 million in 2018.
If Cousins decides he’s tired of waiting for Washington to make a long-term commitment, or the team decides it wants to move in a different direction after three straight years between seven and nine wins, Mayfield could come into play at No. 15.
It seems unlikely the first round will go by without Mayfield being part of it. By the time the evaluation process is finished, he could push himself into the top 10.
The post NFL Mock Draft 2018: Examining Elite Prospects and Predictions for All 32 Teams appeared first on HD Sports News.
source http://hdsportsnews.com/nfl-mock-draft-2018-examining-elite-prospects-and-predictions-for-all-32-teams/
-
#ndn-video-player-1.ndn_embedded .ndn_floatContainer margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; #ndn-video-player-2.ndn_embedded .ndn_floatC...
-
CHANGZHOU, China (AP) Andrey Sidorov scored in the last minute of extra time as Uzbekistan beat Vietnam 2-1 to win the final of the AFC U2...
