American Sports Page

[PeteC]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Bruce Arians steps down as head coach

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/202 ... 648686581/

[Jack_Batty]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Bruce Arians steps down as head coach

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/202 ... 648686581/

I’m guessing Tom Brady put his foot down and said that he wasn’t playing unless Arians was relegated to a back office somewhere. I think Tom Brady will retire next year and Arians will move back. Or…Tom Brady will actually play for Miami this year, and Arians will still be the coach this year.

[PeteC]

Here is the full 2022 NFL schedule, 272 games:

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl- ... ease-date/

[pharvey]

Well, with the US hosting the 2031 RWC......: -

https://www.usa.rugby/

[PeteC]

[PeteC]

[PeteC]

[PeteC]

Kimi Raikkonen to drive in Nascar Cup Series in August

https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/61603470

Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will return to racing in a Nascar Cup Series event in New York in August.

The 42-year-old, who won the F1 title with Ferrari in 2007, retired from the sport last year.

He will drive a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Team Trackhouse, which is owned by ex-racer Justin Marks and rapper Pitbull.

"I wasn't looking to race again," said Finland's Raikkonen.

"But Justin came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program.

"This will be fun, but it's something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the Nascar Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge."

The race on the road course at Watkins Glen in Dix will take place on 21 August.

[PeteC]

Curry, Warriors storm to 7th NBA crown

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2328 ... -nba-crown





A dazzling performance from Stephen Curry powered the Golden State Warriors to a seventh NBA Finals crown on Thursday, securing a 103-90 victory over the Boston Celtics to clinch a 4-2 series triumph.

Warriors talisman Curry produced yet another masterpiece with 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as Golden State wrapped up their fourth title in eight years to silence Boston's raucous TD Garden.

The 34-year-old Curry was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after the victory -- the first time the four-time NBA champion has scooped the award.

"I'm so proud of our group, I thank god every day that I get to play this game with some amazing people," an emotional Curry said afterwards.

"This is what it's all about, especially after everything we've gone through in the past three years."

The win completed a dramatic journey back to the pinnacle of the NBA for the Warriors, who just two seasons ago had the worst record in the league as the franchise battled injuries and the departure of key personnel.

"At the beginning of the season nobody thought we'd be here - except everybody on this court right now. It's surreal," Curry added.

"We were so far away from it. We hit rock bottom with injuries and the long road of work ahead, trying to fill in the right pieces with the right guys.

"You never take this for granted because you never know when you'll be back here."

Delighted Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted the team's fourth championship of his reign had been the most unexpected.

"This might be the most unlikely one," Kerr said. "But I hang around superstars - and if you hang around superstars, good things happen."

- Fast start -

Curry, an ever-present throughout the highs and lows of the Warriors' journey since 2015, led a balanced offensive effort as Golden State became just the second visiting team to lift the trophy on Boston's home court after the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers.

Andrew Wiggins came up with 18 points, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a superb all-round display, while veterans Klay Thompson and Draymond Green chipped in with 12 points each. Jordan Poole added 15 from the bench.

Jaylen Brown led the Boston scoring with 34 points while Al Horford added 19 points.

A pulsating game swung decisively in Golden State's favor during the first two quarters.

The Celtics, trying to force a game seven, had opened with intent, racing into an early 14-2 lead against a Warriors side caught napping.

But Boston's fast start was the cue for a spectacular burst by Golden State, who tightened their defense to secure key stops and then began to find the target at the other end.

After cutting the Boston lead to six points at 22-16, the Warriors pulled away, with Green, Curry and Poole all rattling in three-pointers to put Golden State into a 27-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Two more Poole three-pointers in the opening moments of the second quarter helped the Warriors sprint into a 15-point lead, up 37-22 after a 21-0 run - the largest run in NBA Finals history.

The Warriors maintained the 15-point advantage up to half-time, leading 54-39 at the break.

Curry ominously looked increasingly comfortable from beyond the arc, and a step back three from 28 feet put the Warriors into a 72-50 lead - a 22-point margin their biggest lead of the night in the third quarter.

But Boston refused to surrender, and Horford brought the Garden crowd to its feet after a layup and a free throw got the Celtics to within nine points of the Warriors at 74-65.

Green settled the Warriors nerves with an ice-cold jumper from 21 feet to help ensure the Warriors would take a double-digit advantage into the final quarter, leading 76-66.

The Celtics again chipped away at the Warriors lead, but every time they got to within single digits, Golden State managed to find a big play to extend their lead.

A key passage came midway through the fourth. A Brown three-pointer shrank the Warriors' lead to just eight points at 86-78, but Wiggins then rammed in a corner three to make it 89-78 and Green followed with a dunk to put the Warriors 13 clear.

That margin held as the Warriors celebrated their seventh title.

[PeteC]

Colorado Avalanche beat Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 to win first Cup in two decades

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NHL/202 ... 656298310/

https://www.bbc.com/sport/ice-hockey/61948300

June 26 (UPI) -- The Colorado Avalanche came from behind Sunday night to win the Stanley Cup, their first in two decades, dethroning the reigning two-time champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1 in Game 6 of the Cup Final...............

[Bamboo Grove]

They were showing all the finals here in Finland live on tv. Unfortunately the timing, starting 3. a.m. wasn't suitable for me, even though I'm on vacation now. Great series for Colorado.

[handdrummer]

The idea of ice hockey in Florida is strange. It's like ice hockey in Thailand.

[PeteC]

The idea of ice hockey in Florida is strange. It's like ice hockey in Thailand.

Who would-a thought huh. They've been on ice so to speak since Covid began.

https://www.icehockeythailand.org/mens-national-team/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand_ ... ockey_team

[migrant]

I was in Los Angeles when Wayne Gretzky joined the team. Before the attendance was minimal but the first game he played in (I was there) the arena was full, lot's of Hollywood types. Since then both the Los Angeles team and the other So California team, the Ducks, have been wildly popular.

[PeteC]

The summer heat always does this to some guys.

MLB suspends 12, including interpreter, for Mariners-Angels brawl

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/202 ... 656415712/

June 28 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball issued a dozen suspensions, including an interpreter, for their roles in a brawl between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners.

Michael Hill, MLB senior vice president of on-field operations, announced the disciplinary measures Monday in a news release. Players and coaches from both teams erupted into the skirmish for nearly 20 minutes in the second inning of the Angels' 2-1 win Sunday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

Six players and managers Phil Nevin of the Angels and Scott Servais of the Mariners were ejected from the game.

Nevin received a 10-game suspension for "intentional throwing by pitcher Andrew Wantz while warnings were in place," the MLB said. Mariners outfielder Jesse Winker received a seven-game ban for actions that "caused the incident and for fighting."

The league suspended Angels third-baseman Anthony Rendon for five games for his role in the melee and for "leaving the dugout while on the injured list." Rendon will serve his suspension when he comes off the list. He also is banned from sitting on the Angels bench for the next seven games.

Angels assistant pitching coach Dom Chiti and Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford also received five-game bans. Wantz was given a three-game suspension for "intentional throwing at Jesse Winker."

Angels pitchers Ryan Tepera also received a three-game suspension. Angels pitcher Raisel Iglesias, Marlins outfielder Julio Rodriguez, Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery and Angels interpreter Manny Del Campo each received two-game suspensions.

Angels hitting coach Bill Haselman was suspended for one game. Nevin, Chiti and Del Campo started their suspensions Monday night. Montgomery and Haselman will serve their suspensions when Chiti returns from his suspension.

The second-inning incident appeared to be a continuance of tensions from Saturday's game between the Angels and Mariners. Mariners relief pitcher Erik Swanson threw a 95-mph fastball that nearly hit Angels star Mike Trout during that game. Trout criticized Swanson for that pitch in comments to the media after the game.

The Mariners and Angels received warnings Sunday after Wantz threw a fastball behind Rodriguez in the first inning. Wantz settled in against Winker to lead off the second. The right-handed pitcher threw a 91.1-mph fastball, which drilled Winker on his right hip and prompted the skirmish.

The Angels will meet the Mariners for a two-game series Aug. 5 and 6 in Seattle. They will also play a three-game series Aug. 15-17 in Anaheim and a four-game series Sept. 16-19 at Angel Stadium.