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LeBron James Is Officially Starring In "Space Jam 2"

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Bron believes he can fly.

You remember Space Jam.

You remember Space Jam.

Y'know, the classic starring Michael Jordan that is pretty much universally loved by anyone who was a kid in the '90s. And yeah, Space Jam is also known for having basically the best website around.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Kevin Winter / Getty


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Leicester City Claims Premier League Title For The First Time Ever

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A 2–2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham on Monday meant Leicester City won the Premier League for the first time in the club’s 132-year history.

After starting the season with 5,000–1 odds, Leicester City was for the first time crowned Premier League champion on Monday, capping off a fairy-tale season that will go down in sporting history.

After starting the season with 5,000–1 odds, Leicester City was for the first time crowned Premier League champion on Monday, capping off a fairy-tale season that will go down in sporting history.

Rob Stothard / Getty Images

The club claimed the title after Chelsea and Tottenham had a 2–2 draw at London's Stamford Bridge stadium. Tottenham had needed a victory in order to stop Leicester City claiming the championship title.

The club claimed the title after Chelsea and Tottenham had a 2–2 draw at London's Stamford Bridge stadium. Tottenham had needed a victory in order to stop Leicester City claiming the championship title.

Reuters Staff / Reuters

With Tottenham leading 2–1 in the final minutes of the second half, a goal by Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard leveled the score, helping Leicester City clinch its first Premier League title in the club's 132-year history.

With Tottenham leading 2–1 in the final minutes of the second half, a goal by Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard leveled the score, helping Leicester City clinch its first Premier League title in the club's 132-year history.

Reuters Staff / Reuters


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The End Of Monday's Thunder-Spurs Game Was A Referee Shitshow, NBA Says

Women's World Cup Champion Abby Wambach Will Join ESPN As Analyst

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The soccer star retired from the sport in late 2015.

Stacy Revere / Getty Images

Recently retired soccer star Abby Wambach will join ESPN as an analyst, the network announced Wednesday.

Wambach, who was a member of the U.S. Women's National Team that won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, will begin her time at ESPN with assignments on Euro 2016 and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Wambach is also a two-time Olympic Gold medalist.

Wambach retired from soccer in late 2015 shortly after the USWNT's victory in the 2015 Women's World Cup. The soccer star was arrested for driving under the influence in Portland in early April. After her arrest, she posted an apology on her Facebook page.

In a release, ESPN said Wambach will not be limited to live event coverage, announcing an eponymous podcast and contributions to E:60 and ESPN's investigative reporting arm Outside the Lines.

In a statement, Wambach said: "My soccer career has provided me with a lot of different experiences that brings more than Xs and Os to the table. I'm excited to join ESPN and to have the opportunity to tell stories that transcend soccer."

ESPN says the deal announced with Wambach Wednesday is a multi-year deal.

Johnny Manziel Turns Himself In To Police On Assault Charge

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The former quarterback is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in January.

Highland Park Police

Former Cleveland Brows quarterback Johnny Manziel turned himself in to police Wednesday on a misdemeanor assault charge, the Highland Park Police announced.

Manziel was released on $1,500 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Dallas County on Thursday.

The former Browns and Texas A&M quarterback is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in January. In an affidavit, she accused him of rupturing her eardrum. She has a protective order against Manziel.

Manziel was dropped by the Browns in March after two seasons in the NFL. He had completed rehab for alcohol abuse in early 2015.

This offseason, Manziel has been dropped by two agents, both citing his reckless behavior.

The misdemeanor assault charge carries up to a year of jail time and a $4,000 fine.

Indiana Basketball Coach To Plead Guilty To Sexting 15-Year-Old Student

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Kyle Cox faces up to 14 years in prison for coercing a minor to send him sexually explicit messages and videos, prosecutors say.

Kyle Cox

Aj Mast / AP

A high school basketball coach in Indiana will plead guilty to exchanging sexually explicit images with a 15-year-old female student, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

Kyle Cox faces up to 14 years in prison on federal charges of coercing a minor into illegal sexual activity at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis, where he was a teacher and basketball coach.

According to the criminal complaint, Cox at one point attempted to convince the student to lie to her parents in order to have sex with him at his home while his wife and kids were away.

Cox began sending the girl photos of his penis last year, sometimes without prior warning, prosecutors said. He also began asking the girl to send sexually explicit photos and videos of herself to him.

During the sexting exchange, Cox gave her a role on the team, according to the criminal complaint.

Many of the images and videos between Cox and the student were sent over Snapchat, with Cox using the handle "bigsilkysmooth."

In addition to trying to get the student to have sex with him at home, he also attempted to have sex with her in a "restricted area" of the high school after a home basketball game, prosecutors said.

In November, the student's father discovered text messages and photos sent to Cox, but she said they were to a fellow student. The father learned it was Cox messaging his daughter in December when he read a text message discussing his grandfather's funeral.

After taking screenshots of the communication, the father turned the evidence over to Park Tudor High School officials.

It was then that Cox told the student via Instagram that she needed to lie about their relationship if she wanted him to stay at the school, and asked her to claim that she created both sides of all of the text messages, according to the criminal complaint.

Cox was fired by the school on Dec. 15, but received a confidentiality agreement that allows him to tell prospective employers that he resigned from Park Tudor at will. The confidentiality agreement was intended to prohibit Cox from having any communication with any Park Tudor students, but the day after he left the school, prosecutors say he texted a male student, telling him, "I've positioned myself to be marketable."

He also asked if it was making the girl "feel better to slander me."

Cox entered federal custody in February.

In submitting his guilty plea, Cox is waiving his right to appeal and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Read the court filing here:

MLB Moves Pirates-Marlins Series From Puerto Rico Over Zika Fears

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The series was scheduled to take place at Roberto Clemente Stadium on May 30 and 31. The games have now been moved to Miami.

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

A Pittsburgh Pirates-Miami Marlins two-game series in Puerto Rico has been moved to Miami amid player concerns about the Zika virus.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association jointly announced the decision Friday. The series was scheduled to take place May 30 and 31 at Roberto Clemente Stadium.

"After discussing the issue with all involved parties, and consulting with federal and Puerto Rican government officials at the highest levels, Commissioner Manfred decided that the players who objected to the trip because of their specific family situations should not be forced to travel to Puerto Rico," the league and union said in a press release. "Because too many regulars on both Clubs fell into that category, Commissioner Manfred had no choice but to relocate the games."

Earlier this week, when it was announced that baseball was considering moving the series, Rep. Angel Matos, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Industry, called it "an outrageous situation."

In a statement to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Matos said: "The reality is that this cancellation is unfair, disproportionate, and makes our country look bad. It's an act of touristic terrorism."

"Commissioner Manfred and the MLBPA fully understand the disappointment by those in Puerto Rico to the relocation of the games," the league and union said in a statement. "MLB and the Players Association did everything possible to adequately address the concerns raised by players and still play the games in Puerto Rico, but despite extensive efforts, they were unable to develop a workable solution."

As of May 4, there have been 629 cases of Zika contracted in Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. Two cases have been recorded in Puerto Rico that were contracted outside the country. In Florida, there have been 95 recorded cases of Zika, but all from travel elsewhere and none transmitted by mosquitos in Florida.

UAB Football Player Greg Bryant Brain Dead After Shooting

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham recruit was enrolled for the January 2016 season.

University of Alabama at Birmingham running back Greg Bryant was pronounced brain dead Sunday after being shot early Saturday morning in West Palm Beach, Florida, police told BuzzFeed News.

University of Alabama at Birmingham running back Greg Bryant was pronounced brain dead Sunday after being shot early Saturday morning in West Palm Beach, Florida, police told BuzzFeed News.

Bryant playing for his former team at Notre Dame in 2014.

Michael Conroy / AP

The 21-year-old football player and a passenger named Maurice Grover, 25, were found shot in a car on Interstate 95 around 4:45 a.m. on Saturday morning, police confirmed.

Grover survived with minor injuries, but Bryant was taken to a hospital and pronounced brain dead around 1 p.m. local time Sunday.

West Palm Beach Police told BuzzFeed News in a statement they had reclassified their investigation as a homicide.

A potential motive of the shooting was unknown, and so far no suspects have been identified.

Detectives are currently searching for witnesses, police said.

Bryant signed with Notre Dame out of high school but left after one season when he was ruled academically ineligible.

According to his UAB profile, the Delray Beach, Florida native transferred to ASA Miami in his sophomore season, where he played only one game.

In 2015, the University of Alabama-Birmingham signed Bryant, who was among the biggest names recruited to the team after the school had reinstated the football program.

Bryant was supposed to start playing in the 2017 season with UAB, when they planned to resume their program. He was allowed to enroll in January 2016 at UAB instead of having to wait another year to become eligible to play on another team.

"Coach Clark, he really did me a favor because I was living in hotels in Miami," Bryant told the Associated Press in February. "He said I could come in as soon as the semester was over. Any other school, I would have had to wait another semester and probably be enrolled by December. I just bought into what coach Clark was saying, and I got in with a 2.0 [GPA]."


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Can You Name These '90s MLB All-Stars?

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It might be harder than you think.

Riley Curry Is Back And Reminding Us That She Is Still In Charge

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“Wayyy up, I feel blessed.”

@benchwarmerdan / Via Twitter

Pointing at each and every single person in that audience, she reminded them all they are just pawns in her game of chess…

Pointing at each and every single person in that audience, she reminded them all they are just pawns in her game of chess…

@benchwarmerdan / Via Twitter

...each and every one of them.

...each and every one of them.

@benchwarmerdan / Via Twitter

She then turns back into a shy 3-year-old when she runs up to Mama Curry and gives a little wave to Papa Steph.

She then turns back into a shy 3-year-old when she runs up to Mama Curry and gives a little wave to Papa Steph.

@benchwarmerdan / Via Twitter


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Spain's First Openly Gay Soccer Referee Has Quit Over Abuse And Heckling

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“[It] hurts me more than anyone.”

This is Jesús Tomillero Benavente, a soccer referee in Spain. He made history in March when he came out as gay in an interview with El Español, making him the first out gay referee in Spain.

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Jesús Tomillero Benavente / Via facebook.com

The announcement alienated him within the Andaluz Football Federation and made him the target of homophobic slurs on the field.

Now, just two months after publicly coming out, Tomillero tells El Español he is leaving the sport he loves because the anti-gay insults have become too much.

The final straw was what unfolded during a game on Saturday when people began hurling homophobic insults at the 21-year-old referee.

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Jesús Tomillero Benavente / Via Facebook: 1595698080656025

Tomillero told El Español that when he called a penalty during a game between Portuense and San Fernando Isleño he was met with horrible abuse.

"That's the faggot referee who was on television!" yelled one of the people in the crowd.

"You can stick that goal up your ass, faggot shit," yelled someone on the visiting team.


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Seahawks Wide Receiver Ricardo Lockette To Retire At Age 29 After Neck Injury

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Lockette took a blindside hit in November 2015.

Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette is expected to retire Thursday following a November 2015 hit that caused a neck ligament injury that required season-ending surgery.

According to ESPN's Ed Werder, "Lockette is unable to rotate his head following neck injury and no choice but to retire."

Lockette entered the league in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in 34 games for the Seahawks in his career, and was a member of the Seahawks squad that beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

In a Week 8 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Lockette was on punt coverage when Cowboys safety Jeff Heath knocked him out with a blindside hit. Lockette remained down and had to be carted off the field. He underwent successful neck surgery the next day.

youtube.com

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.


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Youth Football Bans Kickoffs For Kids Under 10 One Day Before Congressional Hearing

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Brain specialists applauded the decision.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attends a Pop Warner clinic in 2013.

Tom Puskar / AP Images for NFL Network

Pop Warner announced a ban on kickoffs for its three youngest play divisions on Thursday — one day before a House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on concussions in youth sports in Washington.

The youth league said in a release "it will become the first national football organization to eliminate kickoffs. The ban, which begins this fall, "is aimed at significantly reducing the amount of full-speed, head-on impact in games."

Its three youngest divisions, Tiny Mite (5-to-7-years- old), Mitey Mite (7-9) and Junior Pee Wee (8-10), will instead begin a possession with the football on the 35 yard line. Pop Warner also said it will monitor the kickoff ban in its youngest divisions "as it considers implementation in older divisions."

The leagues will also reduce "contact time in practice across all divisions" from 33% of the time to 25% of the time.

"We are constantly working to make the game safer and better for our young athletes, and we think this move is an important step in that direction," Pop Warner Executive Director Jon Butler said. "We are excited to look at the results at the end of the year as we explore additional measures."

Friday's Congressional hearing will focus on the following issues:

  • Effects on children and the disproportionate lack of attention on this large population
    group;
  • Policies or guidelines for practice and game situations;
  • Educational and training policies for athletes, coaches, and parents;
  • The current scientific and medical knowledge around concussions in youth athletes and its effect on policy or rules development;
  • The role of culture in youth sports; and
  • Research related to youth athletes.

Dr. Robert Stern, a professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine led research teams in 2015 that published two studies about the influence of the age of first exposure to tackle football in cognitive and neurological development later in life.

In a study published in Neurology, former NFL players were surveyed on the age at which they first began playing tackle football. The research, which is far from definitive on the subject, found a "significant" difference between those who began playing tackle football prior to age 12, and those who began playing after age 12.

The second study, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, examined the same set of former NFL players, this time looking at the differences in the structure of the brain.

"What those two studies together suggested was that there's now some evidence that being exposed to repetitive head impacts during a potential window of neurodevelopmental vulnerability may lead to later life difficulties in cognitive functioning as well as the integrity of important structures of the brain," Dr. Stern told BuzzFeed News Thursday.

"What I mean by window of neurodevelopmental vulnerability is that there's lots of research [showing] this period between ages 9 and 12 in normal development during which there is tremendous maturation of critical brain structures. It's just such a striking period of key maturational milestones that it may make sense that receiving hits to the head during that time may result in later life difficulties."

"It is so critically important for our kids to be involved in sports and athletics because of the tremendous physical and psychological and social benefits," Dr. Stern added. "Football can be a wonderful way of fostering all of those benefits. But football for kids that involves hitting their heads over and over again may not make the best sense."

"There isn't adequate science yet to have definitive statements about what's safe and what's not safe, but there's also just common sense," Dr. Stern said.

Tom Puskar / AP Images for NFL Network

In recent years, Pop Warner has made deliberate changes in policies and coaching training to potentially increase player safety.

In 2010, Pop Warner implemented a concussion policy that requires immediate removal from the game and "written clearance" by a medical professional to return to "Pop Warner activities," along with forming an independent medical advisory committee.

Pop Warner also requires coaches to be trained in "safer approaches to tackling and blocking."

"In 2012, Pop Warner banned full-speed head-on, blocking or tackling drills in which the players line up more than three yards apart," the football organization said in its announcement of the new kickoff rules.

Pop Warner has settled two lawsuits in 2016 regarding former players.

In January, a lawsuit was settled with Donnovan Hill, a former Pop Warner player who was paralyzed in 2011 at age 13 when he dropped his head while going into a tackle and broke his neck. The lawsuit argued that Hill was taught to tackle with his head down, a dangerous tackling technique.

In February, Pop Warner settled with the family of Joseph Chernach, a former youth football player who played Pop Warner and in high school only, who killed himself at age 25. He was found to have CTE, the neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive sub-concussive hits to the head.


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This Stray Cat Ran Onto A Baseball Field During A Live Game

Rockies Shortstop Jose Reyes Suspended Over Domestic Violence Allegations

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The suspension will last until May 31.

Mitchell Layton / Getty Images

Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes has been suspended until May 31 by MLB following an investigation into domestic violence allegations from his wife, Katherine, in October 2015. He will not appeal.

Katherine told police in Maui, where the two were on vacation, that Jose had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her into a glass balcony door.

Reyes was arrested and charged in the alleged incident, but the case was dropped in March when Katherine declined to work with prosecutors on the case.

Reyes was put on paid leave by MLB as the league proceeded with its own investigation. He will repay the salary he took while on leave.

He will be docked in pay for 52 games, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, which will result in $7.06 in lost salary.

In a statement, Reyes said:

I want to apologize for everything that has happened. I am sorry to the Rockies organization, my teammates, all the fans and most of all my family.

I am happy to put this all in the past and get back to doing what I love the most, playing baseball.

My wife Katherin has remained by my side through everything and for that I will be forever grateful.

The league's new domestic violence policy does not require a criminal conviction to levy sanctions. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has broad discretion in issuing suspensions in domestic violence and cases related to sexual assault.

Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman was suspended 30 games at the beginning of the season. Chapman's suspension, which was agreed upon by the league and the MLB Players Association, was the first domestic violence suspension under MLB's new policy.

Reyes has played thirteen MLB seasons, and was traded to the Rockies in 2015 from the Toronto Blue Jays.


The Brazilian Men's Gymnastics Team Is Really, Really Hot

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BRB, coming to Brazil.

Ever since forever, or at least since YouTube comments, Brazil has basically been shouting at people to come to it.

Ever since forever, or at least since YouTube comments, Brazil has basically been shouting at people to come to it.

nightjesus.tumblr.com

For example, this is a skull playing a trumpet. A skull playing a trumpet cannot come to Brazil...yet there are hundreds of YouTube comments ASKING THE SKULL PLAYING THE TRUMPET TO COME TO BRAZIL.

For example, this is a skull playing a trumpet. A skull playing a trumpet cannot come to Brazil...yet there are hundreds of YouTube comments ASKING THE SKULL PLAYING THE TRUMPET TO COME TO BRAZIL.

Via thewhistlingflea.tumblr.com

It's all so fucking confusing.

It's all so fucking confusing.

diorc.tumblr.com

After years of wondering WHY exactly Brazil wanted us to come to it, I think I've finally figured it out.

After years of wondering WHY exactly Brazil wanted us to come to it, I think I've finally figured it out.

lord-kitschener.tumblr.com


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MLB Now Without Any Latino Managers After Firing Of Braves' Fredi González

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Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts and Dusty Baker of the Nationals, both hired this season, are now the only minority managers in the league.

Daniel Shirey / Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves fired manager Fredi González Tuesday following a 9–28 start to his sixth season with the club. Brian Snitker, manager of the AAA Gwinnett Braves, will serve as interim manager for the major league team.

González, who is Cuban-American, was the only Latino manager among the 30 MLB teams.

Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dusty Baker of the Nationals, both of whom are African-American and were hired by their respective clubs prior to the 2016 season, are now the only minority managers in the league.

A 2016 report on racial and gender diversity by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport noted that Latino players made up 28.5% of 25-man rosters on Opening Day 2016. That translates to about 214 players throughout the league.

African-American or black players made up 8.3% of Opening Day rosters this season.

MLB has in recent years made significant efforts to increase diversity in all aspects of the game. The league has invested heavily in youth baseball initiatives aimed to offer playing opportunities to more minority children who they hope will become lifelong fans of the game. The league hired recruiting firm Korn Ferry in 2015 to help bring in more women and minority candidates for baseball operations roles.

MLB has a version of the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for manager positions, but the rule can be skirted if a team decides to promote internally or has a single target in mind.

After the Brewers fired manager Ron Roenicke in 2015 and promoted Craig Counsell to the role of skipper, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred sent a memo to all teams reminding them to consider minority candidates.

Appearing on ESPN radio show Mike & Mike in 2015, Manfred addressed the need for a pipeline for developing minority candidates for top baseball jobs:

I think it starts with respect to entry-level jobs. We've been engaging with the clubs as they go through the fall and begin to rebuild front offices -- there's various people moving around and get promoted -- that there needs to be significant minority representation at entry-level jobs. And the reason I think those entry-level jobs are so important is it helps us build a pipeline of qualified diversity candidates -- male, female, African-American, Latino -- who are available to interview for top jobs. I don't think you can just start at the top.

For the 2016 season, there have been four minority general managers in the league: Jeff Luhnow with the Houston Astros; Dave Stewart with the Arizona Diamondbacks; Farhan Zaidi with the Los Angeles Dodgers; and Michael Hill with the Miami Marlins. None are Latino. Ruben AmaroJr., who is of Mexican-Cuban descent on his paternal side, was the general manager of the Phillies until the end of 2015. Amaro is currently the first base coach for the Boston Red Sox.

Arte Moreno, who is Mexican-American, of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, is the only minority with majority ownership of an MLB club.

Rougned Odor Suspended 8 Games By MLB After Punching Jose Bautista

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Odor clocked Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista in the face on Sunday following an illegal late slide into second.

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor has been suspended by MLB for 8 games following a brawl during Sunday's game between the Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. He will reportedly appeal.

A potential suspension for Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista has not yet been announced for his role in the brawl.

Sunday afternoon's game in Arlington, Texas, was the last of a three-game weekend series against the Jays — the teams had previously met this season at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Jose Bautista after hitting a home run in ALDS Game 5.

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

In the 8th inning of Sunday's game, Rangers relief pitcher Matt Bush — who was appearing in only his second game in the major leagues after serving 3 1/4 years in prison for nearly killing a motorcyclist in Florida while driving drunk — plunked Bautista with a pitch in the ribs. The Rangers were up one run, and Bush's hit by pitch, deliberate or not, put the tying run on base.

Two batters later, Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak hit into a double play to end the inning. While running for second, however, Bautista aggressively and illegally started a late slide that looked to take out Rangers second baseman Odor. The subject of late slides at second base has been one of much contention this season, following a rule change that in theory will make plays at second safer, but has mostly led to confusion.

Odor responded to the slide by punching Bautista squarely in the face. Bautista was held back by veteran Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, but players from both teams rushed the field and started pushing and shoving each other.

The next inning, Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez plunked Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder, again causing the benches to clear briefly.

The Rangers held on to their one-run lead to win the game.


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U.S. Investigation Reportedly Begins Into Russian Athletics Doping Scandal

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Lee Jin-man / AP

The United States is reportedly investigating whether Russian athletes or officials violated any U.S. laws amid revelations of a long-running doping scandal.

Federal prosecutors could seek conspiracy or fraud charges against Russians with ties to the scandal, the New York Times reported. Specifically, the FBI is looking into whether U.S. banks were used to facilitate doping practices, and if athletes using performance-enhancing drugs competed in the U.S., ABC News reported.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York said he could not comment on any potential investigation.

In November, the World Anti-Doping Agency recommended Russia be banned from international competition because of "widespread doping." The report also suggested the Russian government was aware of and approved the practices. Russia later accepted a suspension from international competition.

In March, one International Association of Athletics Federations official said Russia still had a long way to go to overcome a "culture" of doping. A New York Times report earlier this month detailed a state-run doping program that included dozens of athletes who competed at the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi.

In response, the Russian Ministry of Sport said in a statement it acknowledged a doping problem — though it also questioned the validity of the Times report.

"We believe we have already proved Russia's commitment to fight doping by inviting international experts recommended by [the World Anti-Doping Agency] to all key positions responsible for doping control and this guarantees independence and transparency of procedures," the statement said. "We have nothing to hide."

Earlier this week, a board meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency heard a status update on Russian testing that brought up some "limitations" of the program.

“There is clearly still a long road ahead for [the Russian Anti-Doping Agency]; and, this update indicates that much work needs to be done; however, now that [the World Anti-Doping Agency] has two independent experts in place, I feel much more confident that the issues we are currently facing will be addressed without delay,” president Sir Craig Reedie said.

On Tuesday, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced its plans to investigate Russian doping in Sochi. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is providing samples from athletes at the games — which have been kept in storage — and has also asked Russian Olympics officials to cooperate.

The IOC also announced on Tuesday it had retested 454 doping samples from the 2008 Beijing games. Based on results, proceedings have begun that could ban 31 athletes from 12 countries from Rio.

International athletics officials are expected to decide in June if Russia's track and field team will be eligible for the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Golfer Phil Mickelson Named In Federal Lawsuit Alleging Insider Trading

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He does not face criminal charges.

Jeff Gross / Getty Images

Golfer Phil Mickelson is named as a relief defendant in a federal lawsuit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday regarding insider trading.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges Mickelson sold stock in Dean Foods in 2012 after receiving information from sports bettor Bill Walters — a longtime friend of Thomas Davis, a Dean Foods executive.

"Walters communicated with Mickelson and urged Mickelson to trade in Dean Foods stock, which Mickelson did the next trading day in three brokerage accounts he controlled," the SEC complaint says. Mickelson allegedly made $931,000 from the transaction.

Mickelson is not charged with a crime. The SEC looks to order Mickelson, Davis, and Walters to relinquish profits made from the trade.

The SEC announced Mickelson has agreed to repay the $931,738.12 he made from the trading, "plus interest of $105,291.69."

Walters and Davis have been criminally charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan in a separate indictment.

The relationship between Walters and Dean started, as many other past alleged insider trading schemes have, with golf. Prosecutors said that the two had "a personal relationship and friendship founded on a shared interest in sports, golf, gambling and business" starting in the mid-1990s. In 2007, Walters solicited Davis for money and help "to purchase a number of golf courses" — although Davis did not end up investing with Walters.

Davis allegedly shared information with Walters that led to decisions regarding Dean Foods stock in 2008 while he began working on the Dean Foods board of directors.

Prosecutors said that the scale of Walters' trading in Dean Foods stock was massive — he had profits of $32 million on paper and avoided $11 million worth of losses. "On certain trading days, [Walters'] purchases or sales based on inside information amounted to more than 30 percent of the total daily trading volume in Dean Foods stock," prosecutors said.

In about a month in 2008, Walters made a massive investment in Dean Foods thanks to information he got from Davis in a March 2008 phone call, prosecutors said. He had bought over 500,000 shares, bringing him up to over 2 million. After the company announced its earnings and the stock priced moved up almost $1, he made $2.6 million in profits.

In July 2012, Walters convinced Mickelson to buy 200,240 Dean Foods shares, which he sold within six weeks to make $931,000. At the time, Mickelson owed Walters money.

In August 2012, Dean Foods began planning to spin-off subsidiary WhiteWave foods. In communicating that plan to Walters, the two men used "Dallas Cowboys" as a code word, according to the SEC complaint.

Walters was arrested Wednesday in Las Vegas. Davis pled guilty to the charges on Monday in New York.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: "Brazen insider trading continues to be a blot on our securities markets, and so the integrity of our markets continues to be a priority for this office. When the board member of a Fortune 500 company feeds inside information to a professional gambler who makes a fortune on well-timed trades in that company's stock, that is a form of corruption – the corruption of our markets."

The SEC complaint and the charging documents are below:


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