Sports News from USA Today » Michael Katz

Proof Johnny Football could have been Johnny Baseball

Michael Katz — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:21:17 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Butler’s Blue II adorably graduates

Michael Katz — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:57:07 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Nick Saban dismisses Bob Stoops in the best way possible

Michael Katz — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:47:21 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Wyoming’s new football field: Now with 100 percent more mountains

Michael Katz — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:59:01 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Tommy Lasorda just can’t believe PSY dances like that

Michael Katz — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:56:32 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Bryce Harper homers for the wrong team

Michael Katz — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:34:45 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Kevin Durant concedes scoring title in nerdiest way possible

Michael Katz — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:28:30 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

This is how official NBA business is conducted in 2013.

Kevin Durant conceded the NBA scoring title to Carmelo Anthony on Instagram Wednesday morning. He did so with a screen shot of an iPhone note.

Durant posted on his Instagram account, @sniperjones35: “SITTING OUT TONIGHT’S GAME, if you disappointed I didn’t try to go for the scoring title, oh well!!”

This will be Anthony’s first NBA scoring title. Durant has won the award the previous three seasons.

Durant would need 70 points Wednesday night to secure the scoring title, which sounds outlandish but is not without some precedent. USA TODAY Sports’ NBA writer Jeff Zillgitt reminded me that in 1978, David Thompson went for 73 points in the final game of the season, but George Gervin put up 63 of his own to win the scoring title. The final margin: 27.22 to 27.15.

Boy, Carmelo vs. KD on the final night of the season would have been fun. In the words of Durant himself, “Oh well!!”

Update! USA TODAY Sports’ Scott Boeck reminded me that David Robinson ACTUALLY DID THIS. More, via NBA.com:

One of the most remarkable achievements of David Robinson’s career took place on April 24, 1994 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Entering the game trailing Shaquille O’Neal by 33 points in the race for the NBA scoring title, David scored 71 points on the Clippers and won the scoring title in the very last game of the regular season, averaging 29.8 points for the year. Shaq finished the season averaging 29.3 points. Only four other players have scored over 70 points in NBA history – Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, David Thompson and mostly recently Kobe Bryant.

Chicago Tribune honors Boston with beautiful tribute

Michael Katz — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:31:34 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Following unspeakable tragedy in Boston, inspiring displays of kindness and humanity have continued to sprout around the nation.

Take a look at the touching front page of the Chicago Tribune sports page this morning. It’s a tribute to the major professional sports teams in Boston.

Well done, Chicago Tribune. Camaraderie matters.

(Thanks to @BaxterHolmes for sharing this.)

Marlins fourth most expensive player is not human

Michael Katz — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:26:41 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

The 2013 Miami Marlins, summed up in one single fact.

The Marlins home run sculpture cost an estimated $2.5M to build. 22 of the 25 players on the Marlins roster make less than that.

Yes, the Marlins home run statue costs more than 88 percent of the club’s roster — or about as much as five (!) Giancarlo Stantons.

But can any of the Marlins do this?

Jeffrey Loria and I didn’t think so.

Thanks to SNY for calling this to our attention, and to the Marlins for existing.

Kevin Ware’s new, inspiring Twitter avatar

Michael Katz — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:21:29 +0000

Source: USA TODAY

Kevin Ware has a new Twitter avatar. It is kind of amazing.

There has been an outpouring of emotion on social media in the aftermath of Ware’s gruesome leg injury, much of it on Twitter.

The support has clearly meant a lot to the Louisville Cardinals guard. He has responded to well wishes from celebrities and fans, and tweeted a photo of his timeline — Twitter.com/_billionairebev — from the hospital bed.

Thanks to @MichaelHayes for calling this to our attention.