USA Olympians Justin Gatlin and Jeff Demps spoke with David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida about the NFL and US Men’s track. Demps commented on how hard it is to be two-sport athlete (NFL and track). Gatlin weighed on where or not he got a fair shot in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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NHL & NHLPA REACH AGREEMENT WITH IIHF FOR PLAYER PARTICIPATION IN SOCHI

NEW YORK/TORONTO (July 19, 2013) –

NHL players will be available to the 12 participating IIHF Member National Associations for the men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament (February 12 – 23, 2014). This will mark the fifth consecutive time dating back to Nagano 1998 that NHL players have participated in the Olympics. More than 120 NHL players are expected to compete for their respective nations in Sochi.

“The National Hockey League features the most international player population in professional sports, and our outstanding athletes take tremendous pride in representing their homelands on the global stage,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “The decision to participate in the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in many ways a difficult one, but one that we know will be well received by our Players and, most importantly, by the vast majority of our fans and sports fans everywhere.”

“The Players are very pleased that an agreement has been reached that will allow the world’s best hockey players to compete at the Winter Games in February,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director. “Having the opportunity to wear their nation’s sweater in Sochi is something the players look forward to.”

The NHL will break from the 2013-14 regular season schedule on February 9 and return to play February 26 to allow for participation in the Games.

As part of the IIHF-NHL-NHLPA agreement, seven NHL referees and six NHL linesmen will be integrated into the IIHF on-ice officials’ crews that will work the men’s tournament. The Olympic ice hockey tournament will be played according to the IIHF rulebook on international sized rinks, 60 x 30 meters.

Click here for the schedule and groups of the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments. Twelve teams in three groups will participate in the men’s event (February 12-23), eight in two groups in the women’s (February 8-20).

NBCUniversal, the Olympics rights holder in the U.S., and CBC/Radio-Canada, the Olympics rights holder in Canada, will present coverage of the Olympic ice hockey tournament in their respective countries. Schedules for each network will be released at a later date.

Source: NHL Media

MIKE BABCOCK NAMED HEAD COACH OF CANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S TEAM; KEN HITCHCOCK, CLAUDE JULIEN, LINDY RUFF NAMED ASSOCIATE COACHES

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, along with Canada’s National Men’s Team management group, has announced that Mike Babcock (Saskatoon, Sask./Detroit, NHL) will be head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team. Hockey Canada also announced three associate coaches: Ken Hitchcock (Edmonton, Alta./St. Louis, NHL), Claude Julien (Orleans, Ont./Boston, NHL) and Lindy Ruff (Warburg, Alta./Dallas, NHL). Hockey Canada will nominate this coaching staff to the Canadian Olympic Team for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games this fall.

The coaching staff was named by Canada’s National Men’s Team management group, comprised of executive director Steve Yzerman (Nepean, Ont./Tampa Bay, NHL), along with Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./St. Louis, NHL), Ken Holland (Vernon, B.C./Detroit, NHL), Kevin Lowe (Lachute, Que./Edmonton, NHL), Bob Nicholson (Penticton, B.C./Hockey Canada) and Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, B.C./Hockey Canada).

Babcock, Hitchcock and Ruff were all members of the Canadian men’s hockey coaching staff at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., where Canada won its eighth Olympic gold medal.

The 2014 Olympic Winter Games run from Feb. 6-23, with the men’s ice hockey tournament going from Feb. 12-23.

“Canada’s coaching staff has a great deal of international and professional experience for the challenge that awaits us in Sochi,” said Yzerman. “Mike did a great job setting the foundation for our gold medal win in Vancouver, and I know that with Ken, Claude and Lindy working with him, our team will be very well prepared.”

“I am extremely proud to represent my country and coach Team Canada,” said Babcock. “To have had the opportunity to share the Olympics with family, friends and all Canadians in Vancouver was something very special. To win gold in Canada was a dream come true. In February, we will have a whole set of new challenges with a new group of players and staff. I am very excited to be working with Claude, Lindy, Ken, the management group, support staff and players to defend our Olympic gold medal.”

“On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to thank this group of coaches for accepting this great challenge,” said Pascall. “Under the leadership of Steve, Mike and Bob, Canadians can be assured that nothing will be left to chance in preparing this team for Sochi.”

Mike Babcock, 50, led Canada to gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, making him the first coach to earn membership in the IIHF Triple Gold Club, having won Olympic gold, an IIHF World Championship gold medal and a Stanley Cup. This will mark his fourth time as a head coach with Canada on the international stage. The native of Manitouwadge, Ont., who grew up in Saskatoon, is in his eighth season as head coach of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, becoming the third-fastest coach in NHL history to reach 400 career wins, achieving the feat in his 699th game. Prior to joining the Red Wings, Babcock coached the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for two years. Babcock led the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008, and a Western Conference championship in 2009. Internationally, Babcock also coached Canada to gold at the 2004 IIHF World Championship and 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Ken Hitchcock, 61, was an associate coach under Babcock at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, winning his fourth gold medal, and fifth medal overall in international competition with Canada. The native of Edmonton was also a member of the coaching staff for Canada at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Hitchcock has just completed his second season as head coach of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. He was previously a head coach in Columbus, Philadelphia and Dallas, leading the Stars to their first and only Stanley Cup in 1999. Internationally, Hitchcock has coached Canada on the international stages a total of seven times, including three Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010), two IIHF World Championships (2002, 2008), one World Cup of Hockey (2004) and one IIHF World Junior Championship (1988).

Claude Julien, 53, is in his sixth season as head coach of the NHL’s Boston Bruins, leading the team to its first Stanley Cup in 39 years in 2011 and winning the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach in 2009. Julien has served on Canadian coaching staffs on four previous occasions, as an assistant coach at the 2006 IIHF World Championship, winning a bronze medal as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2000 IIHF World Junior Championship, a silver medal as an assistant coach at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championship and a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 1997 Three Nations Cup. Julien has also served as an NHL head coach in over 700 games, including stints with the Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.

Lindy Ruff, 53, was an associate coach under Babcock at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, winning gold. He was Canada’s head coach at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, winning a silver medal, and at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The native of Warburg, Alta., was hired as head coach of the NHL’s Dallas Stars on June 21, 2013 after spending more than 15 years as head coach of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, becoming the winningest coach in franchise history. Ruff ranks second all-time in NHL history for most games coached with one franchise and most wins with one franchise, trailing only Al Arbour of the New York Islanders in both categories. Prior to joining Buffalo, Ruff was an assistant coach with the NHL’s Florida Panthers for three seasons. As a player, Ruff appeared in 691 regular season games, including parts of 10 seasons with Buffalo and three seasons with the New York Rangers.

Hockey Canada also confirmed there will be a National Men’s Team orientation camp from Aug. 25-28 in Calgary. Details of the camp will be announced shortly.

Source: Canada Hockey Media

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEF’-skee) was fully convinced his Olympic duties were over. Team USA had just won its second straight gold medal in London, and he said he was done as coach.

But Jerry Colangelo, the managing director for USA Basketball, says Krzyzewski started showing signs of possibly returning just a few weeks after the London Games. He made it official in the spring and is in Las Vegas this week to begin early preparations for one more run.

The Americans are holding a four-day camp this week with a roster filled with young players who have no Olympic experience. But with no competition until next summer, there’s plenty of time for grooming.

Source: Associated Press

Two more players got invitations Tuesday to participate in their countries Olympic Orientation camp in hopes of representing their country at the Sochi games.

Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas and forward Ondrej Palat were added to the Czech team roster for their orientation camp, according to the Lightning.

With those additions, the Lightning currently have seven players and prospects scheduled to participate in orientation camps in hopes of making team rosters for the Sochi games. The Lightning also will be sending equipment manager Ray Thill and head athletic trainer Tom Mulligan to work with Team USA.

Here is the updated list of Lightning players scheduled to take part in Olympic camps to this point, as announced by the team:

Canada: Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis

Czech Republic: Radko Gudas, Ondrej Palat

Sweden: Victor Hedman

Finland: Valtteri Filppula, Sami Salo

The U.S. hockey team’s Olympic orientation camp next month is expected to be full of newcomers.

Winning at the 2014 Winter Olympics is still the goal, but the U.S. is willing to give younger players a chance.

Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens, Jake Gardiner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets will at least get a taste of Olympic life next month, even if they don’t make it to the final roster for the Sochi Games in February

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild were those young players in Vancouver in 2010, and now they’re expected to be two of the best players on the team.

Of the group invited, 16 players were born in the 1990s, replacing some veterans who might be phased out as USA Hockey looks toward the future.

The idea, general manager David Poile said, is to reward success of players who have participated internationally, like Galchenyuk and Anaheim Ducks goaltending prospect John Gibson, who won a bronze medal with the USA at the most recent world championships.

It also means some from the 2010 silver medalists stand a good chance of being left out this time. That includes Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who will be at camp but could need a strong start to the 2013-14 NHL season while competing in a group that includes Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, Cory Schneider and Gibson.

Poile made it clear the U.S. isn’t trying to make any roster decisions now and players who weren’t on the list of 48 invited to camp in Arlington, Va., next month still have a chance.

“It’s not the team, it’s just a start,” he said.

Source: Associated Press

LeBron James’ days of playing for Team USA have likely ended.

James, 28, will not play for USA Basketball during the 2013 world championships in Spain and is doubtful to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, a source close to the Miami Heat forward told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo also confirmed to Yahoo! Sports he doesn’t expect James to play next summer – and doesn’t plan to ask him.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

CALGARY, Alberta — The NHL’s top player didn’t shy away Sunday when asked about Russia’s anti-gay law being adopted for the Olympics in February.

Team Canada superstar Sidney Crosby isn’t on board with the Russian government’s stance, underlining his support of gay athletes and their right to play.

“For me growing up in Canada, my view has always been that way,” Crosby said during a news conference Sunday to kick off Canada’s Olympic camp. “I think that everyone has an equal right to play and I think we’ve been supportive of that. With the Olympics and the controversy around that I think those decisions and those laws aren’t necessarily something that I agree with personally … their laws and their views.”

Source: Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is apparently not all that concerned with the ongoing events in nearby Syria as he is leading Istanbul 2020′s delegation and heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina where he can genuflect before a real important international body—the International Olympic Committee—and beg for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Erdoğan is going from a G20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia to throw himself in front of these very important people. He is merely following in the footsteps of  England’s Tony Blair, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, America’s Barack Obama and Brazil’s  Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and others who have done the same.

The IOC, loaded with aristocrats and earls and barons, doesn’t accept second best. You sent your leader or you get slammed.

It’s silly time for Prime Minister Erdoğan, Spain’s Prince Felipe of Asturias (the heir to the throne) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe  who will be in Argentina and will await the vote of International Olympic Committee delegates after making last minute presentations. The IOC’s choices are very flawed but that shouldn’t bother the aristocrats who will make the selection.

The three countries have major problems. There were riots in May and June in Turkey protesting the Erdoğan regime. Spain’s unemployment level is reaching historic levels and radioactive material is still leaking out of the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. But all three countries are acting as if getting the 2020 Summer Olympics will be the panacea the country needs to rectify anything that ails the country.

The unrest in Turkey was sparked by a plan to develop a portion of Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park in May. The protests eventually spread nationwide with some of the aired grievances railing against Prime Minister Erdoğan’s policies which seemed to include a crackdown on the freedom of the press, the freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly, and the government sanctioned scaling back of secularism.

During the June protests, Prime Minister Erdoğan canceled his speech at the opening of the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin. There were problems with ticket sales and distribution and eight Turkish weightlifters were accused of doping. The eight athletes are facing six months to two year bans from competition after failing drug tests. None of them were arrested for allegedly taking illegal or banned substances.

The Istanbul bid will be considered by the IOC delegation despite the protests and deaths of protesters and the other problems.

Meanwhile, Madrid, Spain is once again trying to host the Summer Olympics. The capital of Spain has lost out to other cities in the past including London for the 2012 Games and Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Games. Spain’s financial problems are well documented. Unemployment is more than 25 percent, children aren’t moving from their family homes until the age of 29 because of economic conditions. Child poverty is on the rise. Spain has bailed out the country’s banks. Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy has had questions swirl about his role in corruption allegations and the suggestion he received up to €42,000 annually from the slush fund, including when he was minister of public administrations and minister of education, between 1997 and 1999.

There were some small protests against Rajoy in Madrid during July.

Economists think it will be years before Spain’s unemployment rate will drop below 25 percent. The International Monetary Fund also announced that in the IMF’s estimation that Spain would continue to be in a recession until 2015.

There is one other problem as well. Catalonian independence as that northeast region of Spain may eventually breakaway. Some Catalonians would like to separate from Spain and there could be a “referendum” type vote in that part of Spain on the question of separation in 2014. Catalonians said yes to separation in two “referendums” in 2009 and 2010. The biggest city in Catalonia is Barcelona and, ironically enough, Spain is selling the 2020 Summer Olympic bid for Madrid based on the 1992 Barcelona Games, claiming that the 1992 Summer Olympics “legacy” is more tourism to Barcelona.

There is a slight chance Barcelona won’t be a part of Spain in 2020.

Then there is Japan. Japan’s economy has shown some modest growth recently but Japan is in an earthquake zone and that has become a major concern since the damage from one earthquake and tsunami caused a disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 11, 2011. The Japan government has struggled with the clean up following the earthquake and tsunami which caused massive damage to the plant which is still spewing out radioactive material.

The Games would take place in Tokyo three hours (225 kilometers or maybe 130 miles) away from the stricken power plant. Radiation levels near a water table storage area by the plant are 18 times higher than previously reported and that level of radiation could kill a person within four hours.

Japan’s Olympic bidding committee sees no problem with a stricken nuclear plant which is still spewing out radioactive material. The committee recent a statement saying that Tokyo’s radiation level is fine.

Prime Minister Abe is expected to also be in Argentina to get on one knee and beg the IOC delegates for the Games.

Much has been made of something called “legacy” which is a code word for what local taxpayers are spending for a two week, oversized corporate bazaar that happens to feature some athletic events. The 2014 Sochi, Russia Olympics take place in February and already there is the slight overestimated cost of the event. Sochi organizers felt that it would cost $10 billion in America currency. The estimate now is $50 billion.

The London organizers of the 2012 Summer Games won’t even release a financial statement on the Games but claim it was worth the cost for those living and paying for it in England, Scotland and Wales. A small section of the east end of London which was grim and still showed the damage from German bombing in World War II has been revitalized. But the price tag remains hidden because someone doesn’t want people to know just how expensive the party was.

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Games is in the same boat. The IOC’s legacy in British Columbia may also include the banning of free speech at public libraries. Local libraries could not invited speakers to the facilities if they criticized the Vancouver Olympics or the IOC or the local host committee. There is no real money account.

There will never be an official account of the Beijing Games. China won’t release the actual cost of the Games.

Then there is the 2004 Athens Games. It would be grossly unfair to pin the Greece financial meltdown on this event. But the 2004 Athens Olympics didn’t help the Greece economy and cost billions of Euros. If there is any thought that the Olympics is an economic generator for any host city, a review of Athens is must reading for any politician who has illusions of grandeur thinking that hosting an Olympics is worth the effort and expenditure.

Salt Lake City local businesses saw a downturn in business during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Australian is still paying for venues that have not been used since the 2000 Games. Montreal, Quebec and Canada finally finished paying down the debt of the 1976 Games in 2006.

There is nothing wrong with athletic competition. There is much wrong with the Olympics from the demand that local taxpayers pick up the cost of overruns in building venues to the constant surveillance and suspicion of athletes doping.

According to media reports, American skier Lindsay Vonn was drug tested by the moral guardians of sport during a fashion award show at Lincoln Center in New York in June. World class athletes have to sign a paper handing their rights to privacy away. The moral guardians closed one of the bathrooms at Lincoln center (which may be more offensive to patrons using the various areas of the facility) for a brief time to drug test the skier.

This is sports today. Guilty of “cheating” which really is breaking a law using controlled substances until proven innocent.

The 2020 “winner” of the 2020 Games will be announced on Saturday. There will be a celebration in whatever country that “wins” the bid and then the realization will set in. The money abyss. The “losers” are winners in this case. Billions of dollars will be allocated elsewhere for better public use in those countries.

Evan Weiner can be reached at evanjweiner@gmail.com. His e-book, “The Business and Politics of Sports, Second Edition” is available at Amazon.com and his e-books, America’s Passion: How a Coal Miner’s Game Became the NFL in the 20th Century, (https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/americas-passion-how-coal/id595575002?mt=11),  From Peach Baskets to Dance Halls and the Not-so-Stern NBA (https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/from-peach-baskets-to-dance/id636914196?mt=11)  and the reissue of the 2005 book, The Business and Politics of Sports (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/business-and-politics-of-sports-evan-weiner/1101715508?ean=2940044505094) are available at www.smashwords.com , iTunes, nook, versent books, kobo, Sony reader and Diesel and in India, flipkart.

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The International Olympic Committee has dismissed concerns over Russia’s law banning gay propaganda. The chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission, Jean-Claude Killy (zhawn klawd KEE’-lee), said the IOC doesn’t have the right to discuss the laws that are in place in the country hosting the games, “so unless the (Olympic) charter is violated we are fully satisfied.”

Russia has come under scrutiny as the next host of the Olympics because of the law passed this summer outlawing “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors,” which many worry may apply to gay athletes and visitors to the games.

Source: Associated Press

Hockey fans may want to circle Jan. 7 on their calendars. It appears that will be the date for the official announcement of Canada’s men’s hockey team for the Sochi Olympics.

Hockey Canada said it will “most probably” be Jan. 7 after reports surfaced on Tuesday.

For more on this article visit: Olympics.cbc.ca

Six-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni has retired from swimming.

Soni made the announcement Thursday, saying she plans to launch a new lifestyle company and blog.

The 26-year-old Soni won the 200-meter breaststroke at the last two Olympics while taking silver in the 100 breast. She also was part of medley relay teams that won gold in Beijing and the silver in London.

Soni is best known for becoming the first woman to break 2 minutes, 20 seconds in the 200 breast. At the London Olympics, she set a world record with a time of 2:19.59, a race she says “really put a storybook ending on my career.”

She will launch her new company, The Atlas Ventures, in the spring.

SOURCE: Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At the beginning of last year, Oscar Pistorius was a globally admired athlete, the first double-amputee to run at the world championships and the Olympics. That sparkling image dissolved on Feb. 14, 2013, a year ago on Friday, when Pistorius fatally shot his girlfriend and was charged with murder and other firearm-related charges.

South Africa is gearing up for the trial of Pistorius, which starts March 3 in the capital, Pretoria. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day after an argument; he says he shot Steenkamp by mistake believing she was a nighttime intruder in his bathroom.

Steenkamp’s mother, June, plans to attend the trial. No members of Steenkamp’s immediate family have attended any of Pistorius’ previous court dates.

SOURCE: Associated Press

NBC extends Olympic deal through 2032 for $7.75B
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — NBC has secured the U.S. broadcast rights to the Olympics through 2032 in a record six-games deal worth $7.75 billion.

NBC already holds the rights through the 2020 Olympics in a four-games deal signed in 2011 for $4.38 billion.

The latest deal was announced Wednesday after secret negotiations between the IOC and NBC. There was no auction or open bidding this time, with only NBC making an offer.

The negotiations were led by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

Bach says “this agreement is excellent news for the entire Olympic Movement as it helps to ensure its financial security in the long term.”

The post IOC: NBC Secures Rights To Olympics appeared first on .

During the trial involving Oscar Pistorius and the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, he claimed he was mentally ill when the shooting happened.

According to NBC News, psychiatrists found that Pistorius did not suffer from any type of mental illness when he shot his girlfriend. They found that he could clearly determine right from wrong.

After a defense witness testified in May that Pistorius suffers from anxiety, he spent about a month at a hospital for evaluation. It was during that time that doctors learned about Pistorious’ mental state.

For more on this story visit: NBC News

The post Medical Experts: Oscar Pistorius Did Not Suffer from Mental Illness appeared first on .

Oscar Pistorius was being portrayed as a “poor victim” ahead of his sentencing for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the chief prosecutor said Tuesday.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel was cross-examining Pistorius’ agent, Peet van Zyl, on the second day of a sentencing hearing in South Africa for the double-amputee Olympic runner who was found guilty last month of culpable homicide by Judge Thokozile Masipa.

The judge has wide latitude when deciding on a sentence. Pistorius, 27, could receive a fine and a suspended jail sentence or as many as 15 years in prison.

Another defense witness, social worker Annette Vergeer, recommended against prison time for Pistorius, saying South African jails are violent and overcrowded and that the athlete would be under particular duress because of his disability and fragile mental state following Steenkamp’s killing. Additionally, Vergeer said, Pistorius has the potential to be a productive member of society again and a sentence of house arrest that includes periods of work at a school for disabled children would be more appropriate.

Prison “will not assist him but will break him as a person,” she said. “The exposure of the accused on his stumps to inmates will have a severe effect on him.”

Agent van Zyl was called to testify by Pistorius’ defense lawyers, who are arguing that Masipa should be lenient on the multiple Paralympic champion, who they say has suffered emotionally and financially after the shooting. Van Zyl testified Monday regarding what he called Pistorius’ extensive charity work before the Feb. 14, 2013 shooting death of Steenkamp and said that Pistorius had now lost all his product endorsements because of the killing.

Cross-examining van Zyl, Nel said “You view Mr. Pistorius as a poor victim of this case.”

Van Zyl denied that.

Nel also questioned Pistorius’ motives for getting involved in charity work, saying it was a smart career move for athletes to lend their names to good causes and that he was obligated to participate in such activities for their sponsors.

“They market themselves by being involved in charity,” Nel said. “It’s merely an advancement of your career to become involved.”

Van Zyl said it could be perceived that way, but added: “I think that a lot of sportsmen really want to make a difference and to contribute.”

Nel challenged van Zyl after he said “maybe there would still have been some opportunities” for Pistorius were it not for alleged inaccuracies in media reporting on the case. Van Zyl said that, since the killing, he had received some invitations asking Pistorius to address audiences and share his life story.

“The legacy that he’s left behind is still relevant today,” he said.

The prosecutor appeared incredulous at van Zyl’s remarks, suggesting Pistorius’ manager was blaming the media and others, including prosecutors, for the predicament of a man who had killed a young woman by firing four hollow-point bullets through a toilet door. Masipa found Pistorius not guilty of premeditated murder and of murder for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door in his home in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day 2013. He testified he mistook her for an intruder about to attack him and denied prosecution assertions that he shot her during an argument.

Pistorius’ sentencing hearing is expected to last around a week.

Defense lawyers have also called a social worker, who testified that correctional supervision for three years with periods of house arrest would be a suitable sentence for Pistorius. Prosecutors have insisted he should go to prison for killing Steenkamp.

Pistorius in 2012 became the first amputee to run at the Olympics.

The post Prosecutor Says Pistorius was Portrayed as Victim appeared first on .

This past year has been full of ups and downs in sports. From Super Bowl madness, on-camera interviews gone wrong, and the implosion of the NFL, sports never fails to bore us.

Here is a list of the five most significant sports moments of 2014.

Sochi Disaster

We totally saw the invasion of Crimea coming but were distracted by KGB ploys #sochiproblems #betterciatweets pic.twitter.com/FC6mfYFca8

— Marshall Frith (@marshallfrith) July 14, 2014

Remember when #SochiProblems was trending on Twitter? During the Olympics in February, there were tons of photos that were tweeted out showcasing the disaster of Sochi as a whole. From the lack of toilet stalls, to dirty water in hotel rooms, people will forever be too scared to go to another Olympics event in Russia.

Donald Sterling’s Fall

It wasn’t too long ago that former Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling fell from his owner’s seat and lost the team because of racist remarks. The NBA completely rid of Sterling and now, Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, is in charge.

Super Bowl Woes

Okay, so the woes only come from one side of the ball. If you are a Denver Broncos fan, chances are you remember Super Bowl XLVII very well. What was supposed to a good battle between Seattle and Denver, turned into a stomp-fest by the Seahawks.

Luckily, there’s one of these things called a Super Bowl every single year.

Florida State

The name of the team is pretty much all you need to know. They won the National Championship against Auburn. Their 18-point deficit was the largest ever overcome to win the BCS championship. Also, FSU’s win ended the SEC’s seven-year winning streak. To continue their reign, the Seminoles are still undefeated and have been that way for two full calendar years.

LeBron Goes Home

He had a nice 4-year run with the Miami Heat but King James decided it was time to pack up and head home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. His homecoming was something that will be hard to forget, but the Cavs’ run so far isn’t exactly something to brag about, just yet.

The post The 5 Most Significant Sports Moments of 2014 appeared first on .

Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps has pleaded guilty to drunken driving in Baltimore almost three months after he was arrested.

Phelps entered his plea to a charge of driving under the influence in Baltimore City District Court on Friday morning. He was sentenced to a year and a half of probation.

Michael #Phelps pleads guilty to DUI. 1 yr suspended sentence. 18 months supervised probation.

— Lowell Melser (@MelserWBAL) December 19, 2014

The 18-time gold medalist was arrested on Sept. 30. Documents show that the 29-year-old Phelps was leaving the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore when he was pulled over for speeding and crossing the double yellow line while driving in a tunnel. Police say Phelps registered a .14 percent on a blood-alcohol test. The legal limit to drive is .08 percent in Maryland.

A week after his arrest, USA Swimming suspended Phelps for six months.

Phelps entered a six-week treatment program in October. This is his second DUI conviction. Phelps pleaded guilty to drunken driving in 2004 in another Maryland county.

The post Michael Phelps Pleads Guilty To Second DUI appeared first on .

As the year 2014 comes to a close, it’s important to reflect – to take time and look back at the good, the bad, and, well, you get it.

This year did in fact remind us, not-so-subtly, that athletes are not all the perfect beings we make them out to be. In fact, much of this year’s sports headlines revolved around domestic violence scandals. Luckily, there is more to sports than the indiscretions of players.

January:

Sochi Winter Olympics Terrorist Threats

The terror threats thankfully never materialized. The gripes about unfinished hotel rooms and yellow tap water… http://t.co/pQL3wDL7ms

— Imocha Singha (@ImochaSingha) February 24, 2014

On January 11, the United States State Department warned that the medical facilities in the Winter Olympics’ host city of Sochi, Russia were untested and that terrorist threats had been received. Luckily, nothing ever became of the threats – the worst complaints about the experience had more to do with a lack of suitable hotel accommodations.

February:

Super Bowl XLVIII

Maybe you rooted (to no avail) for the Denver Broncos, maybe you rooted for the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe you bet first-borns on the game. Maybe you just sat down to watch the commercials (if so, what are you doing on a sports-dedicated website?). Nonetheless, while some fans celebrated and other fans grieved, this Coca-Cola commercial mustered attention for featuring “America the Beautiful” sung in foreign languages. What’s a big game without some controversy?

March:

Prince Harry Launches the “Invictus Games”

Prince Harry gives Helen Rollason Award to Captain Dave Henson & competitors of The Invictus Games (via @BBCSport) pic.twitter.com/iMPex9ajJg — Cindy Stockman (@RoyalCentralEd) December 14, 2014

The Invictus Games is an international event held in London where wounded, injured or sick armed forces personnel compete in a series of sports. Ninety-eight American wounded soldiers took part in the event. Although Prince Harry set the plans into motion in March, the actual event took place in September.

April:

Boston Marathon

Proving the resilience behind #BostonStrong, more than a million people gathered at this year’s Boston Marathon to celebrate the lives of those lost during the previous year’s bombing.

May:

Adam Scott Replaces Tiger Woods’ Ranking As Number 1 Male Golfer

Tiger Woods is known to have held the number 1 ranking for the most consecutive weeks (totaling 281) and the most total weeks (683). Rory McIlroy currently holds the number 1 rank.

June:

NBA Finals – San Antonio Spurs Beat Miami Heat

Everyone remembers how the Miami Heat went in for a 3-peat and came out minus one star player. After losing to the Spurs, Lebron James returned to Cleveland. This move upset many new fans and forced forgiveness from old fans as they welcomed their prodigal superstar back.

July:

Germany Wins FIFA World Cup Brazil

Panini FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Stickers pick any 10 from the list.. http://t.co/VLRcPV5wXl pic.twitter.com/uIUcVeIVSQ

— sumptuous deals (@huergopolicarpo) December 29, 2014

Remember these? These collectable Panini sticker books showed up everywhere in time for the World Cup. The other thing that showed up everywhere? Pitbull and JLo singing “We Are One” – it’s pretty forgettable though, it was no “Waka Waka.”

August:

Becky Hammon Becomes First Full-Time Female Coach in a Major U.S. Professional League

Check out ESPNW’s 2014 Impact 25 with Becky Hammon named Woman of the Year! http://t.co/7BHps2P840 via @espnW pic.twitter.com/bqd6gbBjPM

— GameChanger (@GCsports) December 27, 2014

After being hired by the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach, this WNBA star was named Woman of the Year for being the first full-time female coach in any of the four major U.S. professional leagues.

September:

Derek Jeter’s Last Career At-Bat

Even if you live in one of the 50 states that happens to hate on the Yankees, there is no denying the perfection of Jeter’s entry into retirement.

October:

San Francisco Giants Win World Series Against Kansas City Royals

Baseball fans watched in suspense as a game seven was forced to break the tie between the Giants and Royals. This series marked the eighth World Series championship for the Giants.

November:

Decision Made in the Case of Ray Rice

ESPN published the NFL’s official decision on the matter of free agent Ray Rice on November 28. This is pertaining to video footage (above) of Rice abusing his then fiancee (now wife).

December:

Kobe Bryant Listed as Third on All-Time Point-Scorer List

This ranking puts him above Michael Jordan. He surpassed Jordan’s score during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The post 12 Months of Sports – 2014 A Year in Review appeared first on .

BOSTON — Boston officials are celebrating the city’s selection as the U.S. nominee for the 2024 Olympics.

Now they begin work on convincing the IOC to send the Summer Games to the Hub.

Boston beat San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington on Thursday to be the USOC’s choice for the American bid. A day later, bid officials spoke to reporters at Boston’s shiny convention center along with Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Walsh announced the first nine community meetings to discuss plans with residents. He vowed to make the bid process the most transparent in Olympic history. Baker reminded residents that this is just the start of the process.

Bid chairman John Fish dipped into the local dialect, saying he is “wicked excited.”

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