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Megan Rapinoe: "We're Asking For A Baseline Of Respect" From U.S. Soccer

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Harry How / Getty Images

Megan Rapinoe, one of five star players who filed a wage discrimination complaint Thursday against U.S. Soccer, sharply criticized the organization for failing to provide a "baseline of respect" for the women's team, telling BuzzFeed News that it had "stifled" negotiations for higher pay after their third World Cup victory last year.

"U.S. Soccer has made it crystal clear that they have no intention of providing us with equal or even comparable pay," Rapinoe said. "We don't think that's right. We're asking for a baseline of respect in the negotiating rooms and on the field."

The women's national team is expected to take in $8 million more in revenue than the men's team in fiscal year 2017, and the women's World Cup victory, according to the complaint, propelled U.S. Soccer to a $20 million surplus last year.

Scott Heppell / AP

But data in the complaint, filed Thursday by Rapinoe, co-captains Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn, goalkeeper Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan, the team's promotional superstar, showed a yawning gap between how U.S. Soccer paid its male and female athletes, creating a situation in which a men's team that hypothetically lost all 20 of their annual friendlies would earn more money than a women's team that had won every one of its games. The inequality persisted even to details like the per diem allotted to women's players, which was $12.50 less than men received, and the amount that players were paid for appearing on behalf of sponsors.

"We literally maxed out our bonuses last year, we did as well as we possibly could have, and the pay gap is still in the hundreds of thousands of dollars," Rapinoe said. "That really gets me."

On Twitter, Landon Donovan, one of the foremost American stars of the men's game, suggested the sharp pay disparity highlighted in the complaint — which gave the men's team a higher bonus for a loss than the women's team received for a victory — was the result of poor negotiations by the women's team.

"Both [teams] negotiate deals themselves, [they're] not forced to accept them," Donovan wrote, in response to a fan who pointed out the disparity in bonuses.

But Rapinoe said it was “naive” for Donovan to expect that the women's team could have simply negotiated for a better deal. “There was a ceiling put up over our heads, and [U.S. Soccer] weren’t willing to engage."

Men's soccer superstar Tim Howard also suggested that negotiations were at the root of the pay disparity. On ESPN's SportsCenter, he said the women's team "should fight for their rights and fight what they think is just compensation," adding that the men's team also had to negotiate higher pay.

"We, on the men’s side, have been fighting that battle for a long, long time and we certainly know what it feels like," Howard said. "We felt underpaid for a long time and we had to negotiate our way to a settlement."

On Twitter, Donovan refuted claims that he was denying issues of systemic sexism within U.S. Soccer and internationally.

Elaine Thompson / AP

"I have a twin sister, I'm the furthest thing from sexist," he wrote.

U.S. Soccer also pushed back, saying the organization had long been at the forefront of women's worldwide soccer development. But Rapinoe said that "wasn't enough."

"They need to keep pushing forward," Rapinoe said. "People are watching our games, they're filling our stadiums — this is the next step in the evolution of women's football in this country, and they need to keep being the trailblazer."

"Times have changed," she added. "It may have been the case in the past that the men were making a lot more money, but now there are years — like this year — when we [brought in] more money than them."

AP


For Everyone Who Believes In The Syracuse Orange

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BLEED ORANGE.

For everyone who's emotionally invested in March Madness and is rooting for the Syracuse Orange...

For everyone who's emotionally invested in March Madness and is rooting for the Syracuse Orange...

Nate Shron / Via Getty Images

...for everyone who's watched Syracuse power through the first round, second round, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight...

...for everyone who's watched Syracuse power through the first round, second round, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight...

Jonathan Daniel / Via Getty Images

...this is the moment we've all been waiting for.

...this is the moment we've all been waiting for.

Brett Carlsen / Via Getty Images


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With Four Months Left, Half The Tickets For The Rio Olympics Are Still Unsold

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Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

Maybe it's time to pray to Christ the Redeemer.

With just over four months remaining until the cauldron is lit in Rio de Janeiro's Olympic stadium, Brazilian officials are grappling with some epically poor ticket sales.

A spokesperson for the Rio 2016 organizing committee confirmed to Agence France-Presse on Saturday that only 50% of tickets for South America's first ever Summer Olympics have been snapped up.

The figures are even worse for the Paralympics, with only 12% of seats sold.

Brazil's new acting minister of sport, Ricardo Leyser, told the Folha newspaper the government is considering buying tickets, especially to the Paralympics, that will then be distributed to local schools.

Officials are also brainstorming other ways to drum up local excitement and boost sales, said Lesyer, who only assumed the cabinet role this week amid the country's ongoing political turmoil.

"There is a perception that the Brazilian population has not yet woken up for the Games," Leyser told the newspaper. "We are going to work energetically on this because it's still not in people's heads.

"We need to sound an alert so that people remember this event and go and buy tickets."

The 2004 Athens Olympics memorably suffered from poor spectator attendance, with near-empty stands a fixture at many events.

A lone spectator sits in the empty stands during the women's football preliminary match between USA and Australia on August 17, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games Thessaloniki, Greece.

Sean Garnsworthy / Getty Images

The Rio Games are set to begin on August 5, but Brazil has been plagued by scandals and setbacks in recent months.

In addition to grappling with a recession, President Dilma Rousseff's government has been beset by allegations of corruption and mass protests demanding her resignation.

Further fears over the mosquito-borne Zika virus have forced the International Olympic Committee to work with local authorities to minimize the health dangers posed to pregnant athletes and spectators.

Pools of stagnant water will also be removed from areas near Games venues in a bid to destroy the mosquitos' breeding grounds.

LINK: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Brazil’s Crazy $3 Billion Scandal

World Cup Soccer Star Abby Wambach Was Arrested For An Alleged DUI

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The World Cup and Olympic star apologized to her “family, friends, and fans” later in a Facebook post.

Wambach, 35, was pulled over shortly after 11 p.m. local time after failing to stop for a red light, Portland Police announced Sunday in a statement.

After observing "signs that she was under the influence of alcohol," the officer gave Wambach sobriety tests, and later a breathalyzer test, both of which she failed, police said.

Wambach was handcuffed and booked into the Multnomah County Jail.

Police said she was released after processing, adding that she was "polite and cooperative throughout the investigation."

On Sunday afternoon, Wambach posted a public apology on her Facebook to her family, friends, and fans, saying that she takes "full responsibility" for her actions:

Last night I was arrested for DUII in Portland after dinner at a friend's house.

Those that know me, know that I have always demanded excellence from myself. I have let myself and others down.

I take full responsibility for my actions. This is all on me. I promise that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that my horrible mistake is never repeated.

I am so sorry to my family, friends, fans and those that look to follow a better example.

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women's World Cup Player of the Year.

She was on the U.S. women's national soccer team for 12 years before retiring at the end of last year.

Wambach's agent did not immediately return a request for comment.


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The Best Player In Baseball Is Finally Moving Out Of His Parents' House

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Unlike many young MLB superstars, Mike Trout is not flashy or known for his outgoing personality. His folks say that’s just how he was brought up.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

AP Photo/Nick Wass

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill


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Villanova Beats North Carolina In Buzzer-Beater To Capture NCAA Basketball Title

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Kris Jenkins swished a 3 at the buzzer, lifting the Wildcats to a 77-74 victory and shocking fans in one of the greatest ends to an NCAA tournament of all-time.

The Villanova Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 Monday night in a stunning buzzer-beater, capturing the team's first NCAA championship title in 31 years.

The Villanova Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 Monday night in a stunning buzzer-beater, capturing the team's first NCAA championship title in 31 years.

Villanova's Kris Jenkins shoots the game-winning three pointer.

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Via AP

The championship game, held at Houston's NRG Stadium, was close for much the night, with each team taking the lead. But with just 4.7 seconds left in the game, North Carolina's Marcus Paige sank a desperation 3-pointer to tie it up at 74.

Villanova's Kris Jenkins responded on the next possession, swishing a 3 at the buzzer, lifting the Wildcats to a 77-74 victory and shocking fans in one of the greatest ends to an NCAA tournament of all time.

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

The victory gave the Wildcats their second NCAA men's title, having won their only championship in a memorable 1985 final game when they upset Georgetown with a near perfect performance.

North Carolina had opened Monday as a 2-point favorite over Villanova at multiple Nevada sports books. The Tar Heels previously won the title five times in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009.


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NFL Will Stream Thursday Night Football Games On Twitter

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The social media platform will share rights with three networks.

USA Today Sports / Reuters

The NFL will stream Thursday Night Football games live on Twitter, the league announced Tuesday.

Twitter will share broadcast rights with NFL Network, as well as CBS and NBC, which have five games each.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell broke a nearly two-year hiatus from Twitter to announce the partnership on the platform.

In a statement, the commissioner said:

"Twitter is where live events unfold and is the right partner for the NFL as we take the latest step in serving fans around the world live NFL football. There is a massive amount of NFL-related conversation happening on Twitter during our games and tapping into that audience, in addition to our viewers on broadcast and cable, will ensure Thursday Night Football is seen on an unprecedented number of platforms this season."

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, whose platform has struggled to show growth of new users, said the partnership "is about transforming the fan experience with football."

"People watch NFL games with Twitter today. Now they'll be able to watch right on Twitter Thursday nights."

The league experimented with broadcasting a Buffalo Bills–Jacksonville Jaguars game on Yahoo last season, which the league deemed a success. It had been reported earlier this week that the NFL was in talks with Facebook to stream Thursday Night Football, but Twitter won out.

Thursday Night Football, which was added to the schedule in 2006, has been widely recognized as an inferior product to the Sunday slate of games. Players often have only four days to recover from the previous week's game, and coaches have less time to prepare for the matchup.


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NBA Player Sues NYPD Over Broken Leg

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Thabo Sefolosha was acquitted in October 2015 of misdemeanor charges related to the incident.

Jewel Samad / AFP / Getty Images

Atlanta Hawks player Thabo Sefolosha filed a civil lawsuit against five NYPD officers and the City of New York Tuesday after his leg was broken by police in April 2015.

Sefolosha was in Manhattan nightclub 1Oak with a teammate after playing the Brooklyn Nets when the venue was evacuated due to a stabbing outside.

While he was walking away, NYPD Officer John Paul Giacona began "harassing" Sefolosha, according to the lawsuit, while directing him away from the nightclub.

Sefolosha called Giancona a "midget" — Sefolosha is 6'6"; Giacona is 5'6" — after which Giacona and four other nearby NYPD officers swarmed around Sefolosha and used "excessive and unnecessary force," according to the lawsuit. The NBA player's leg was broken when an NYPD officer struck him with a baton.

Sefolosha was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors: resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstructing governmental administration. Sefolosha declined to accept a deal from prosecutors, and was acquitted of all charges in October 2015 after 45 minutes of jury deliberation.

Sefolosha said in the suit he was targeted "at least in part, because of plaintiff's race, as being a large black man wearing a hoodie."

Sefolosha missed the rest of the 2014-2015 NBA season and the Hawks' subsequent playoff run. "His basketball career has been jeopardized, his reputation and image have been damaged; images of the plaintiff in handcuffs appeared and still appear on the internet on a worldwide basis," the suit said.

"Plaintiff believes he has lost endorsements; plaintiff's basketball career has been shortened and his value as a player has been adversely affected since plaintiff is now 'damaged goods' in the sports world."

Sefolosha did not specify a monetary amount for damages. His attorney, Alex Spiro, had no comment on the lawsuit.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Law Department of the City of New York said, "All the allegations in the complaint will be reviewed once we are served."

Read the full lawsuit below:


Which Sport Were You Born To Play?

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Sports do not build character—they reveal it.

Johnny Manziel Released By Cleveland Browns Amid Domestic Violence Allegations

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The quarterback’s career in Cleveland is over after two seasons.

Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Quarterback Johnny Manziel has been dropped by the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Friday.

"The Cleveland Browns have waived QB Johnny Manziel," according to a statement released by the team.

The statement went on to list the quarterback's stats with the team and did not provide any additional context for the decision.

However, the move was expected. The Browns issued a statement hinting at it after Manziel was accused by his girlfriend of assaulting her in Texas in January.

"We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field. Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules," Browns Executive VP Sashi Brown said on February 2.

Manziel was dropped by his agent later that week.

The quarterback was accused by his girlfriend of hitting her at a hotel in Dallas, then forcing her to get into a car with him. Manziel then drove back to her apartment, where she says he continued to attack her. Manziel was not arrested at the time, but the Dallas Police Department has sent the results of its investigation to a grand jury.

Manziel was pulled over by police in Ohio in October for reckless driving and was accused by his girlfriend of attacking her in the car. They were sent home together by police; there were no arrests made and no charges filed.

Manziel entered rehab for alcohol abuse in early 2015. In early February 2016, Manziel's father, Paul, told the Dallas Morning News that he "truly believe[s] if they can't get him help, he won't live to see his 24th birthday."

The Browns drafted Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft. In two seasons with the Browns, Manziel appeared in 15 games.


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UC Berkeley Basketball Coach Fired After Trying To "Trick" Reporter Into Sex

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Yann Hufnagel, an assistant men’s basketball coach for UC Berkeley, was found to have sexually harassed a reporter.

Instagram: @yhufnagel

An assistant men's basketball coach at the University of California Berkeley was fired this week after a university investigation determined he had sexually harassed a reporter who covered the team.

Yann Hufnagel admitted to investigators that he had repeatedly made sexual comments to a reporter and attempted to "'trick her into going up to his apartment to have sex." Hufnagel then cut off contact with the reporter, making it impossible for her to do her job.

The investigation found that men's basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin had been made aware by the reporter of Hufnagel's inappropriatene behavior six weeks before university officials were informed.

In a redacted report, investigators found that "over a period of time from November 2014 through May 2015, Complainant received sexually harassing communications from [Hufnagel] on a bi-weekly basis in response to Complainant's attempts to communicate with Respondent for professional purposes."

The reporter told investigators that in early 2015 she asked Hufnagel to meet with her for coffee after a basketball game, but he insisted they go to a bar. The reporter agreed to go to Jupiter, a bar and restaurant near campus, but did not consume alcohol while Hufnagel did. Hufnagel told the reporter he was too drunk to drive — which she later told Martin she didn't believe — but he "insisted that she drive him to his residence. Complainant described that she told him "no" and suggested he take a taxi, but Respondent was insistent and Complainant ultimately acquiesced."

The reporter was unable to stop in traffic in front of Hufnagel's apartment, so he opened the door to his building's garage, and she drove in to drop him off. She said Hufnagel "directed her to park in a designated spot—an elevator-operated 'lift' spot which would have suspended her car above the ground."

"Complainant said she did not park in the spot and felt Respondent was attempting to control her ability to leave. She recalled telling Respondent that she was just going to turn around; to which Respondent responded, 'You're coming up.' Complainant said she said, 'No. I'm going to leave now,' but Respondent kept insisting. Complainant said she asked Respondent, 'Are you thinking that I'm going to have sex with you?' to which Respondent said, 'Yes.'"

She said they went back and forth for 15 minutes, during which "the garage door was closed behind them with her car inside and Respondent indicated that he did not intend to let her out of the garage."

Later that year, the reporter tried to meet up with Hufnagel — her only source on the small college basketball team — for coffee. In text messages included in the university's report, Hufnagel tries to steer the conversation toward her coming over to his apartment to "have a three-way."

After the reporter was given bad information by Hufnagel, which she told investigators she "believes [Hufnagel] provided her with this misinformation as retribution for declining his sexual advances."

In an interview with university investigators in October 2015, Hufnagel said that during the incident in his apartment building's garage, he was "trying to trick her into going upstairs."

In response to the text messages about coming over to his apartment and having a three-way, Hufnagel "said the text was inappropriate, but declined to characterize it as sexual harassment and described such a text as being indicative of the relationship he had with [the reporter] — a relationship he further described as being 'playful.'" He said the text message about a three-way "was a joke."

In an email, Hufnagel told investigators that "with no clear indication whatsoever from her to stop the behavior, it would be, truthfully, almost impossible to conclude that these types of 'locker room messages' were unwanted."

Instagram: @yhufnagel

In May 2015, the reporter reached out to head coach Cuonzo Martin on Twitter and "told him that she 'experienced sexual harassment'" from Hufnagel. Martin told the reporter he would talk to Hufnagel, and that he "[took] this very seriously." In a statement to investigators, Martin said the reporter did not "[provide] any details or [describe] anything as constituting sexual harassment."

In July of 2015, the reporter emailed Martin copies of text messages between her and Hufnagel, along with a follow-up request to discuss Hufnagel's behavior.

It was then that the UC Berkeley Athletic Department was made aware of the allegations, and then reached out to the "Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination."

UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof told BuzzFeed News Wednesday that the university is conducting a "review" of how mandatory reporting processes were handled with regard to Hufnagel. "Not because we think that there was anything wrong, but because we want to make sure there wasn't." Mogulof said they will review correspondence between Martin and the reporter, but asserted that it is a "review," not an "investigation."

The reporter told investigators in a follow-up interview "that she felt very beholden to [Hufnagel] because of the dynamic of [him] having the [REDACTED] information and knowing that [she] needed that information. [She] stated that she felt [Hufnagel] tried to explain that dynamic. [She] stated that [Hufnagel's behavior pattern was a problem for her. [She] acknowledged that she played along with [Hufnagel's] behavior because she did not see a viable alternative that would also allow her to do her job."

The university determined that Hufnagel had violated the university's Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Policy.

Hufnagel was fired by the university Monday. In a tweet Monday, he said: "Right now, the only focus should be on our basketball team! My time to exonerate myself of a fruitless claim by a reporter will come."

The UC Berkeley men's basketball team plays Hawaii in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.


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Tear Up Your Bracket: #15 Middle Tennessee Shocks #2 Michigan State In Epic Upset

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Middle Tennessee defeated Michigan State 90-81 on Friday in a stunning NCAA Tournament upset.

Michigan State's Bryn Forbes, left, lose control of the ball on his way to the basket as Middle Tennessee's Darnell Harris, center, defends Friday.

Jeff Roberson / AP

No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee beat No. 2 seed Michigan State 90-81, sending a heavily favored team packing in the first round.

The Associated Press described Michigan State's loss as one of the biggest upsets since the tournament began seeding teams in 1985.

ESPN blamed the upset on Michigan State's lackluster defense.

Middle Tennessee's Aldonis Foote, left, and Michigan State's Gavin Schilling reach for a rebound Friday.

Jeff Roberson / AP

On ESPN.com, only six people still had perfect brackets immediately after Middle Tennessee's win — a mere .000046% of the total, according to ESPN reporter Darren Rovell.


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Baltimore Ravens Cornerback Tray Walker Killed In A Dirt Bike Accident

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Walker, who entered the NFL last year, was 23 years old.

Baltimore Ravens football player Tray Walker died Friday night after a dirt bike accident in his hometown of Miami. He was 23 years old.

Baltimore Ravens football player Tray Walker died Friday night after a dirt bike accident in his hometown of Miami. He was 23 years old.

AP Photo

According to a report by Miami-Dade police, Walker had been riding his dirt bike in northeast Miami-Dade around 7:50 p.m. on Thursday "when he collided with a Ford Escape" heading in the opposite direction.

The Ravens team reported that Walker was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he spent Thursday night and most of Friday in critical condition until he succumbed to his injuries.

In a statement, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called the 23-year-old cornerback "a good man and a kind heart," adding that he loved his fellow players and being part of the Ravens' team.

"He always seemed to be next to me during the national anthem," Harbaugh recalled, "then we would give each other a big hug."


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Kevin Spacey Went To A Hockey Game In A Kevin Spacey Mask

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Spacey in Spacey at Spacey in Space.

House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey showed up to a Florida Panthers hockey game Saturday night, wearing a "Spacey in Space" sweatshirt and hiding behind a mask with his own face on it.

House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey showed up to a Florida Panthers hockey game Saturday night, wearing a "Spacey in Space" sweatshirt and hiding behind a mask with his own face on it.

Alan Diaz / AP


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Djokovic Said He Respects Female Tennis Players Because They Have To Deal With "Hormones"

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the crowd post his win.

Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images

Novak Djokovic believes male tennis players deserve higher pay than women – but insisted he still has enormous respect for female athletes because they have to deal with “hormones”.

The world No. 1 tennis player waded into a row sparked by Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO Raymond Moore on 20 March.

Moore, who later admitted his comments were “in extremely poor taste”, said that if he were a female tennis player he would “go down every night on my knees and thank god that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”

The CEO did not mention the 21 Grand Slams won by Serena Williams – compared to Roger Federer’s 17 and Rafael Nadal’s 14.

Now Djokovic’s comments have added fuel to the fire.

Speaking after his win over Milos Raonic in the BNP Paribas final, Djokovic said men should continue to be paid more “because the stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men’s tennis matches”.

This is despite the fact that last year the women’s US Open final sold out before the men’s.

But the Serbian player, who has won 11 Grand Slams, said he had “tremendous respect” for women’s achievements in tennis.

“Their bodies are much different to men’s bodies,” he told reporters. “They have to go through a lot of different things that we don’t have to go through. You know, the hormones and different stuff, we don’t need to go into details. Ladies know what I am talking about."

His comments have not gone down well.

Djokovic continued: “I have great admiration and respect for them to be able to fight on such a high level. Many of them have to sacrifice for certain periods of time, the family time or decisions that they make on their own bodies in order to play tennis and play professional sport.

"I have had a woman that was my coach and that was a huge part of my tennis career. I’m surrounded by women. I’m very happy to be married with one and to have a child."

He added: "I’m completely for women power.”

The issue of unequal pay in tennis has been long-running. Advocates of continuing pay disparity have pointed out that men play five sets in their matches while women play three.


Tennis Tournament Director Resigns After Sexist Remarks Spark Outrage

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Moore presents the second place trophy to Williams after the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California on Sunday.

Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images

The tennis tournament director who drew sharp criticism Sunday after saying professional women players "ride on the coattails of the men" has resigned, Indian Wells owner Larry Ellison announced Monday night.

When asked about the Women's Tennis Association during a press conference on Sunday, BNP Paribas Open Tournament Director Raymond Moore said that in his "next life" he would like to be reincarnated as someone in the WTA, "because they ride on the coattails of the men."

"They don't make any decisions and they are lucky, they are very, very lucky," said Moore, 69, while laughing.

"If I was a lady player, I'd go down every night on my knees and thank god that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were born," continued Moore, referring to two top male tennis champions, "because they have carried the sport, they really have."

Later in the media session, Moore referred to female tennis champions who he thought were "physically attractive and competitively attractive."

Ellison, owner of the BNP Paribas Open, said in a statement late Monday that Moore had decided to step down after the comments.

"Earlier today I had the opportunity to speak with Raymond Moore," Ellison said. "Ray let me know that he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and Tournament Director effective immediately. I fully understand his decision."

"I would like to personally thank all the great women athletes who fought so hard for so many years in the pursuit of equal prize money in professional tennis," Ellison continued. "And I'd like to congratulate them on their success. All of us here at the BNP Paribas Open promise to continue working with everyone to make tennis a better sport for everybody."

The resignation came hours after Women's National Basketball Association President Lisa Borders and other prominent figures in women's sports — including former World No. 1 tennis player Billie Jean King — condemned the sexist remarks.

“Female athletes are no different than their male counterparts," Borders' statement read:

They inspire millions of fans and work hard to be the best in their sports by competing at the highest levels, breaking records and winning championships. At a time when the physical and emotional benefits of athletic participation have never been more clear, we need to empower female athletes and promote opportunities for girls and women to play sports, rather than promote outdated, offensive and uninformed opinions.

Within a few hours, Moore issued an apology for his statements:

"At my morning breakfast with the media, I made comments about the WTA that were in extremely poor taste and erroneous. I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologize to all the players and WTA as a whole.

We had a women's final today that reflects the strength of the players, especially Serena [Williams] and Victoria [Azarenka], and the entire WTA. Again, I am truly sorry for my remarks.

Afterwards, Serena Williams, the top-ranked women's player, responded on ESPN, calling Moore's statements offensive and inaccurate.

“Obviously, I don’t think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that," Williams told press, contesting the concept that women tennis players "ride on the coattails" of men.

"If I could tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister, I couldn’t even bring up that number, so I don’t think that is a very accurate statement," she said, adding that she thought there were female and male players that were equally exciting to watch.

Williams also refused to believe that Moore's comments could have been taken out of context, as some reporters present suggested.

“Well, if you read the transcript, you can only interpret it one way. I speak very good English. I’m sure he does too," she said.

"Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not — we, as women, have come a long way," Williams concluded. "We shouldn’t have to drop to our knees at any point.”

LINK: Djokovic Respects Female Tennis Stars For Overcoming Their "Hormones"


Are You More Duke Or UNC?

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The rivalry is real.

No One Was More Pumped About Syracuse's Win Than Carmelo Anthony

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THEY DON’T WANT US TO WIN.

Last night, Syracuse University beat the University of Virginia in the Elite 8 round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The final score was 68-62.

Last night, Syracuse University beat the University of Virginia in the Elite 8 round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The final score was 68-62.

The victory was a pretty big deal considering Syracuse was ranked at a 10 seed, UVA was a 1 seed, and SU made a huge comeback in the second half.

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Same, Jimmy B. Same.

Same, Jimmy B. Same.

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

One of the Syracuse Orange's biggest fans happens to be Carmelo Anthony, who plays on the New York Knicks and is a former player for the Syracuse men's basketball team.

One of the Syracuse Orange's biggest fans happens to be Carmelo Anthony, who plays on the New York Knicks and is a former player for the Syracuse men's basketball team.

Via instagram.com

Anthony's got some pretty strong Orange roots 'cause he helped lead his team to winning Syracuse's only NCAA Championship title in 2003.

Anthony's got some pretty strong Orange roots 'cause he helped lead his team to winning Syracuse's only NCAA Championship title in 2003.

Craig Jones / Getty Images


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Former Lions Player Accuses NFL Of Hiding Brain Damage Risks In New Lawsuit

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Tracy Scroggins filed a federal lawsuit in Florida on Monday accusing the NFL of deliberately concealing the long-term effects of repeated head trauma.

Tracy Scroggins (59) in 1993.

Chris Wilkins / AFP / Getty Images

Former Detroit Lions player Tracy Scroggins filed a federal lawsuit against the NFL on Monday, alleging the league deliberately concealed the long-term effects of repeated head trauma.

The lawsuit, filed in Florida, cites the New York Times which reported that as many as 100 concussions were left out of a peer-reviewed report the NFL has touted for years.

The league issued an extensive reply to the article shortly after it was published, calling the report "false innuendo and sheer speculation" based on a handful of anecdotal references that were "twisted and contorted out of context."

In his lawsuit, Scroggins claims that he has been preliminarily diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy "as a result of related head trauma."

CTE, the neurodegenerative disease caused by repetitive brain trauma, can currently only be diagnosed post-mortem.

The NFL has only recently acknowledged the link between football and CTE.

During a congressional hearing, NFL executive Jeff Miller was asked if the sport and the disease were connected, to which he acknowledged, "The answer to that question is certainly yes."

During annual meetings last week in Boca Raton, Florida, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Miller's acknowledgement of the connection between football and CTE was "consistent with our position over the years."

The lawsuit brought by Scroggins alleges the NFL deliberately concealed "facts and information which caused all plaintiffs to become exposed to the harm referenced above."

Many football fans argue that players knew the risks of the game when they decided to play, which Scroggins' lawsuit appears to dispute.

The lawsuit also alleges civil conspiracy by the NFL, arguing the league "actively and deliberately conspired with its team members and/or independent contractors who were directed to continuously discount and reject the causal connection between repeated head trauma suffered...and the chronic long term effects of these injuries, including CTE."

Doing so, Scroggins argues, was "a proximate cause" of the
chronic injuries and damages suffered by the him and other football players.

Scroggins also claims extensive negligence on the part of the NFL and its handling of player safety. The lawsuit reads, in part:

The Defendant acted carelessly and negligently in its position as the regulator body for all the team members and the plaintiffs and the class members. The defendant knew or should have known that its actions or its inaction in light of the rate and extent of repeated head trauma reported in the NFL would cause harm to players in both short and long term.

The Defendant was generally careless and negligent by breaching the duty of due care it assumed for the benefit of the Plaintiffs and the class members, both generally and in the following particular respects:

a. Failing to warn of the risk of unreasonable harm resulting from repeated head trauma;

b. Failing to disclose the special risks of long term complications from repeated head
trauma;

c. Failing to disclose the role that repeated head trauma has in causing CTE;

d. Failing to promulgate rules and regulations to adequately address the dangers of repeated head trauma to minimize long-term chronic cognitive problems such as CTE;

e. Misrepresenting pertinent facts that players needed to be aware of to make determinations of the safety of return to play;

f. Concealing pertinent facts;

g. Failing to adopt rules and reasonably enforce those rules to minimize the risk of players suffering from CTE

The lawsuit filed by Scroggins is separate from a class action lawsuit brought against the NFL that was settled in 2015. The $1 billion settlement is pending appeal.

In a statement to BuzzFeed News, the NFL said Scroggins was a member of that settlement class and so expected his separate lawsuit to be dismissed.

"The complaint is barred by the concussion litigation settlement and we expect it to be dismissed. Mr. Scroggins is a member of the settlement class and did not choose to opt out.

He is eligible to pursue the benefits provided under the settlement agreement, but may not pursue any action in court, either on his own behalf or on behalf of other former players, more than 99 percent of whom have accepted the settlement."

Read the full lawsuit here:

This Little Kid Loves Carmelo Anthony So Much He Ran Onto The Court To Hug Him

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Awwwwww.

Carmelo Anthony, basketball player for the New York Knicks, is pretty beloved by his fans.

Carmelo Anthony, basketball player for the New York Knicks, is pretty beloved by his fans.

Via instagram.com

And he's ~definitely~ a role model to all of his younger fans.

And he's ~definitely~ a role model to all of his younger fans.

Alex Goodlett / Getty Images

Which is why it's not that surprising that a little kid ran out on the court last night and hugged Anthony in the middle of his game.

The New York Knicks were playing the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans.

youtube.com

What IS a little surprising, however, is that the kid actually got onto the court. But he did! And Melo hugged him back!

What IS a little surprising, however, is that the kid actually got onto the court. But he did! And Melo hugged him back!

NBA / Via youtube.com


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