Tennis will miss Bud Collins – and his fashion

In this June 30, 1993 file photo, NBC tennis commentator Bud Collins displays a pair of his brightly colored signature trousers as he sits overlooking the courts at Wimbledon. Collins died Friday, March 4, 2016 at home in Brookline, Mass. He was 86. GILL ALLEN The Associated Press

Dick Enberg only followed tennis casually before NBC sent him to Wimbledon in 1979 for the first live coverage of what would become “Breakfast at Wimbledon.”

A little nervous about tennis terminology, he quickly found a friend: Bud Collins.

“I might be rehearsing or maybe on my first take and he’d say, ‘No, no, that’s not what a tennis reporter would say. Here’s what you really mean,’ ” Enberg said Friday after learning that Collins, a tennis historian and American voice of the sport, had died. He was 86 and had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Enberg and Collins soon became one of TV sports’ most recognizable couples, with Enberg’s “Oh my” trademark line combining with Collins’ stunningly colorful pants and personality to make “Breakfast at Wimbledon” destination viewing.

And about those pants. Collins had them custom-made from cloth he collected around the world. Yellow, violet and burgundy were among his favorite colors. He added strawberry embellishments for Wimbledon.

“He was as colorful as his trousers, which were his signature. And yet it was really misleading to the average fan,” Enberg said. “That was his MO for television. In person, he was the quietest guy in the room. He laughed the most at somebody else’s comment. He always had a smilie and never dominated the conversation.

“It’s a nice legacy to leave for all of this, to give back and share. He was more than generous.”


Source : sacbee.com

Here’s the List of Sports Authority Stores on the Block

The Sports Authority Inc., which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, has earmarked about 140 of its 463 stores for closure or sale in the coming months, as well as two distribution centers.

Leases for 87 of those properties have already hit the block, 25 of them in Texas, according to a marketing document obtained by The Wall Street Journal. The retailer is also reducing its footprint in Florida and California, with eight and six leases up for grabs in those states, respectively.

Retailers often hawk leases in chapter 11 to raise money to repay creditors. These portfolios can offer value to buyers looking to pick up a handful of locations in one fell swoop. Sports Authority is working with real-estate consultant A&G Realty Partners to market the leases, according to the flyer.

The number of stores Sports Authority will close is still somewhat fluid. As it was preparing for bankruptcy, the company and its restructuring advisers identified “up to 200” underperforming locations it thought it might seek to close, according to court papers.

And the company’s bankruptcy financing package could force it to liquidate its entire footprint by the end of April if Sports Authority can’t find a suitable buyer for its core locations, The Wall Street Journal reported.


Source : wsj.com

UFC London Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping LIVE: Follow all the action from the O2 Arena

The UFC returns to London for the first time in two years as Michael Bisping finally faces former middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

'The Count' has been chasing a fight with the Brazilian legend since he first began fighting at 185lbs in 2008 and would put himself right in the title picture for a potential rematch with Luke Rockhold with a win.

For 40-year-old Silva the bout sees him return to London where he made his name on the local mixed martial arts scene looking for redemption as he works towards regaining the UFC belt he held for more than six years.

Elsewhere on the card former middleweight title contender Thales Leites faces dangerous veteran Gegard Mousasi while English welterweight prospect Tom Breese fights Keita Nakamura.

London's own Brad Pickett also returns to the Octagon looking to break a three-fight losing streak against knockout artist Francisco Rivera.




Source : dailymail.co.uk

Jeremy Conn: Big Points In Duke Vs. UNC

It’s one of the best rivalries in sports! Duke’s Blue Devils will travel down Tobacco Road to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels.

I believe we will see a high-scoring game as both of these teams can put the ball in the bucket. Carolina and Duke rank 1 and 2 in average points per game. Brice Johnson is averaging a double double for UNC and Grayson Allen is the leading scorer for the Blue Devils.

Something tells me that this is going to be one of those games where Marcus Paige drops about 30 points and throws in 10 dimes for good measure.

UNC is one of the best teams at scoring in the paint and Duke has one of the worst interior defenses in college basketball.  It’s Michael Jordan’s birthday today, so maybe the Tar Heels will have a little magic today to run the Blue devils off the court.

I like UNC to win 90-79. Yes, I see a lot of points.

Source : http://baltimore.cbslocal.com

Report: Hornets' Kidd-Gilchrist to have season-ending shoulder surgery

Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist wasn't expected to play this season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder to fix a torn labrum he suffered in a preseason game. Instead, Kidd-Gilchrist returned ahead of schedule on January 29, and played a span of seven games. Playing tough defense and averaging 12.7 points and 6.4 assists, Kidd-Gilchrist's presence helped the Hornets pick up five quality wins.

Sadly, his triumphant return got cut short.

Kidd-Gilchrist dislocated and re-tore the labrum in the previously injured shoulder on February 10 in a game against the Indiana Pacers. Kidd-Gilchrist did not immediately undergo surgery as the Hornets were going to reevaluate the extent of his injury after the All-Star break. But now according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Kidd-Gilchrist will have shoulder surgery for the second time in four months to repair his torn labrum and will miss the rest of the season.

After suffering another torn labrum, Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will undergo shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Kidd-Gilchrist re-injured the shoulder Feb. 10 in a win over the Indiana Pacers after aggressively rehabbing from October shoulder surgery to return much sooner than expected.

A bummer for the Hornets and Kidd-Gilchrist, who has been instrumental to Charlotte's success over the past several seasons. Via The Sporting News' Adi Joseph, Charlotte is 67-57 with Kidd-Gilchrist playing over the past three seasons, and 36-57 without him.
One of the better wing defenders in the NBA, Kidd-Gilchrist signed a four-year, $52 millon extension last summer and looked poised to lead an improved Hornets team into the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2015. Now Kidd-Gilchrist will unfortunately have to go through another exhausting round of rehab and recuperation before suiting up for the Hornets at the start of the 2016-17 season.



Source : http://www.cbssports.com