FINAL: REDS – 4 METS – 0

NEW YORK – Mike Leake pitched three-hit ball for seven sharp innings and the Cincinnati Reds parlayed star third baseman David Wright’s early error Tuesday night into a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets.

Devin Mesoraco homered as the Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games. They scored three times in the first inning after Wright let a bases-loaded, two-out grounder skip through his legs.

Leake (4-2) struck out four, walked two and became the latest pitcher to shut down the Mets at Citi Field. New York has lost 10 of 12 at home, rarely scoring many runs.

Leake escaped his biggest jam by retiring slumping Ike Davis on a grounder with runners on second and third to end the fourth.

The 25-year-old righty has never pitched a shutout in the majors, and was pulled for reliever Sam LeCure to begin the eighth.

LeCure and Logan Ondrusek each threw a hitless inning to complete the shutout.

Jonathon Niese (3-5) wasn’t charged with an earned run, but he hurt himself with continuing control troubles. He walked three, all on full counts in the opening inning.

Niese set down the first two batters of the night before Joey Votto walked, Brandon Phillipslooped a single and Jay Bruce walked.

Todd Frazier followed with a hard grounder right at Wright, and the ball bounced under his glove and let two runs score. Earlier this season, Wright ran his errorless streak to 77 games, a team record for third basemen.

Donald Lutz then beat out an infield hit that reloaded the bases and Mesoraco drew another walk that forced home a run. Niese struck out Leake to end an inning in which he threw 48 pitches.

Mesoraco hit reliever Collin McHugh’s first pitch in the ninth for his second home run.

Votto extended his hitting streak to 10 games while Bruce’s string ended at 11.

Game notes:

Reds SS Zack Cozart returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a stomach illness. … Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo got a day off. … Mets ace RHP Matt Harvey (5-0, 1.55 ERA) starts Wednesday afternoon vs. RHP Mat Latos (4-0, 2.91). … The win made the Reds 146-145 all-time when visiting the Mets, including games at the Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium and Citi Field. … Niese struck out seven. He has walked 27 and fanned 31 this season. … The Mets have scored three runs or less in nine straight home games.

For a third time in 10 years, and the second time in three, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won the draft lottery.

Nick, the son of owner Dan Gilbert, was the Cavs representative at the lottery, just like he was in 2011 when the team won then and used the pick to select Kyrie Irving. They used it in 2003 to select LeBron James. So the Cavs have a pretty good history with the No. 1 pick.

“It’s huge for us,” said Dan Gilbert. “This is our third year in a row in the lottery and hopefully it’s our last for a long, long time. I knew he was lucky. We’ll take two out of three.”

“Last year we didn’t let him out of his room for about six weeks,” Gilbert joked.

The draft is June 27 in New York.

Here is the full first-round draft order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Washington Wizards

4. Charlotte Bobcats

5. Phoenix Suns

6. New Orleans Pelicans

7. Sacramento Kings

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

10. Portland Trail Blazers

11. Philadelphia 76ers

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Utah Jazz

15. Milwaukee Bucks

16. Boston Celtics

17. Atlanta Hawks

18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets)

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers)

20. Chicago Bulls

21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors)

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. Indiana Pacers

24. New York Knicks

25. Los Angeles Clippers

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis Grizzlies)

27. Denver Nuggets

28. San Antonio Spurs

29. Oklahoma City Thunder

30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)

 via: CBSSports.com 

Less than 24 hours after a massive  EF-4 tornado struck the town of Moore, Oklahoma, Kevin Durant pledged a huge donation to the victims of this tragedy.With two elementary schools and nearly the entire town leveled by a storm that had winds up to 200mph, Durant is giving back to his hometown.

Durant donated $1 million to the Red Cross in their relief efforts to help survivors and victims and to help the town move forward from the disaster. Durant’s thoughtful donation speaks for itself — it’s a remarkable gesture.

The Thunder have also donated a million dollars to the relief fund.

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Imagine Sean Payton holding up a Surface tablet instead of a cardboard playsheet on the sideline.

Envision Peyton Manning sitting on the bench and dissecting the last series from a variety of camera angles on his hand-held device instead of looking at still photos. Or sitting at home and pulling up real-time highlights on a Sunday afternoon.

It’s coming.

The NFL and Microsoft, through its next generation Xbox device, are combining to upgrade interactive TV viewing of pro football games in a multiyear agreement announced Tuesday. The next step after that, perhaps as early as 2014, will be bringing technology to the sidelines on tablets.

The deal is worth $400 million over five years for the NFL, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial details have not been made public.

“When you think about the sidelines, what is most important for us is how you make the game of football better, make what the coaches and players do better, using technology but preserving the competition,” said Brian Rolapp, chief operating officer of NFL Media. “The challenge is how to bring technology to make it a better experience for them and for the fans.

“You can start with how we communicate with each other, whether it’s game officials or coaches. Coaches can look at formations as they develop. We’ll look at how do you do the still photos better, get more into real time? Is there a more efficient way to give replay officials a way of doing reviews better through technology?”

That’s for the future, albeit the not too distant future.

Fans will get new television viewing innovations including the ability to watch games, Skype video chat with other fans, view statistics, access highlights in real time, and gather fantasy information about players and teams — all on a single screen. For those who prefer multiple screens, fans can get an even deeper experience on mobile devices and tablets with SmartGlass technology.

“From the use of instant replay to the yellow first-down line that has become an important element of the at-home television viewing experience, the NFL is committed to leveraging technology to improve our game for coaches, players and fans,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We’re thrilled to be teaming with a true innovator like Microsoft to shape the future of the NFL game experience both on-field, and in the living room.”

Such technology is expected to keep fans not one step but several strides ahead of what’s being presented live on TV now.

Consider that a Bears fan in Chicago could be watching his team take on the Giants at Soldier Field while conversing visually with a friend in New York on the same screen. Also on that screen could be all pertinent statistics for the game, access to NFL Red Zone and to replays from the Giants-Bears matchup.

Plus — and perhaps as significant as anything to the NFL given the popularity of fantasy football — real-time updated stats from around the league. Call it seamless fantasy integration with the real product.

“This partnership will redefine NFL experiences through exclusive and interactive content that you will find only on Xbox,” said Don Mattrick, president of the IEB Division at Microsoft. “For fans, the NFL on Xbox will provide the most complete way to enjoy live football by bringing the first fully integrated fantasy football experience to the TV.”

Branding of Microsoft products on the hoods of the referee’s on-field instant replay station and other sideline areas will begin this season. In coming years, coaches or coordinators figure to have Surface tablets to aid in-game planning and for play calling.

The prospect presents enough competitive challenges that the NFL’s competition committee will discuss guidelines for their use before making any recommendations to the owners next year or beyond.

“Anything we do will go through the proper approval processes,” Rolapp said. “Whatever we do, it’s of paramount importance it enhances the competition. We have some gospel points we will not break.”

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Embarassing Athlete Endorsements

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Via Complex.com

Lucas Matthysse. Remember that name, because he’s proven to be one of the most lethal boxers in the game right now. Out of his 34 wins, 32 of them (94 percent) has come via knockout.

The 32nd knockout came last night against Lamont Peterson and happened because of a split second difference. Patterson went in for a left hook, but Matthysse’s was just a little bit quicker.

The result: Matthysse’s fist meets Peterson’s face and Peterson’s back meets the ring. Matthysse knocked down his opponent one more time a few seconds later to seal a TKO victory in the third round.

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Jim Boeheim doesn’t think Carmelo Anthony can lead his team to a national championship.  Here’s what Boeheim had to say and it’s tough

“Not on that team,” he said. “He did what he can do. He played very well the final game [against the Indiana Pacers]. Everybody’s killing him but Tyson Chandler just didn’t try to catch the ball. [Carmelo] threw him the ball and Tyson Chandler went like this (Boeheim dodged in a chair in his office in the Carmelo K. Anthony Center). He was wide open. He should have been looking for the ball right here. Kenyon Martin should have been looking for the ball. They both went like this (Boeheim dodged again). Carmelo gets turnovers and the announcers aren’t smart enough to even think, ‘Well, this guy should try to catch the ball.’”

He also had this to say about Smith and Felton

“Those guys weren’t great players were they were and now they’re asking them to be second and third options,” he said. “In Miami, the second and third options are Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Your fourth option is Ray Allen, who is still in good shape. Your fifth option is Shane Battier, who is still a good player. The New York Knicks have who?”

How does that feel Knicks fans?

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Worst Team Names in the NBA!

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Leon Hall tore a ligament in his thumb

Bengals cornerback Leon Hall missed OTAs last season as he recovered from an Achilles injury and he’s going to miss at least a portion of the team’s organized team activities again this year.

Geoff Hobson of the Bengals website reports that Hall tore a ligament in his thumb while lifting weights. As a result, Hall is going to be on the sideline when the team starts this year’s set of OTAs on Tuesday.

According to the report, Hall is expected back at some point during OTAs so this isn’t nearly as serious an injury as the Achilles issue from last year. Given Hall’s status as a veteran foundation of the defense and the team’s need to keep such a player in the lineup, it wouldn’t be surprising if he took things easy until at least the team’s mandatory minicamp next month.

Dre Kirkpatrick, who also had injury issues in 2012, isn’t expected to do any team drills until training camp as he rehabs from knee surgery performed in hopes of keeping him on the field this season. Should everyone be healthy at cornerback come the start of the season, the Bengals secondary should be better than it was last season and that should keep them in the hunt for a third straight playoff berth.

The Hottest Female Athletes Of All Time Pt. 1

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NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees are going into the soccer business.

The Yankees are partnering with Manchester City to own Major League Soccer’s 20th team, which will be called New York City Football Club and plans to start play in the 2015 season.

Manchester City, owned by Sheik Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will be the majority owner of the team.

While MLS has been negotiating with New York to build a stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, near the home of the New York Mets, NYC FC will start play at an interim home and will consider other sites for a stadium.

The new team is intended to spark a rivalry with the New York Red Bulls, who play in Harrison, N.J.

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Alexis Normand “sings” the American National Anthem in the 2013 Memorial Cup game between the Portland Winterhawks and the Halifax Mooseheads.

Is this the worst rendition you’ve ever heard?

FINAL: REDS – 4 METS – 3

NEW YORK – Jay Bruce hit a tiebreaking homer and drove in two runs to back Johnny Cueto’s wild but effective return from the disabled list, and the Cincinnati Reds beat theNew York Mets 4-3 Monday night.

Brandon Phillips had a two-run single for his first career hit off Shaun Marcum in 13 at-bats. Phillips also made two sparkling plays in the field to help the Reds bounce back from a stunning 3-2 loss to the Phillies in which closer Aroldis Chapman gave up two home runs.

Chapman, the Reds’ fifth reliever, struck out two — one on a 99 mph fastball — in a perfect ninth for his ninth save. He had blown his two previous save chances.

Cueto (2-0) started for the first time since leaving his outing April 13 in the fifth inning with a strained left upper-back muscle. Making his fourth start of the season, the Reds’ ace gave up three hits and three runs with eight strikeouts in five innings. But he walked four, including one in the third, when Marlon Byrd touched him for a three-run homer.

After the homer, Cueto struck out four in a row with a fastball that reached the mid-90s.

His counterpart, Marcum (0-5), rarely reached 86 mph in pitching at least six innings for the second straight start after failing to finish five in any of his first three starts with the Mets. Still, he remains winless in his first season in New York.

Slumping Mets first baseman Ike Davis slid deeper into his monthlong funk, going 0 for 3 and being called for interference in the field when he was clipped at first by Joey Votto, who was making a turn toward second base in the Reds’ three-run first inning.

Davis was lifted in a double switch after striking out in the sixth, his second strikeout of the night. He has two hits in his last 36 at-bats, and only one RBI in May.

Marcum appeared headed for another early exit after a 20-minute top of the first. He walked Shin-Soo Choo leading off. After an out, Votto, the NL player of the week, hit a smash that ricocheted off first base and into right field. As he made his turn at first, Votto nudged Davis, who was nonchalantly standing near the bag, watching the play. Votto was tagged out at second but Davis was charged with an error for interference and Votto was awarded second.

Phillips followed with a two-run single and Bruce doubled in a run, extending his hitting streak to 11. Marcum struck out Todd Frazier and Xavier Paul, and walked off to mock cheers.

The right-hander changed that by not giving up another hit until Paul singled with two outs in the fourth.

Bruce broke the tie with a line drive into the right-field seats leading off the sixth.

Mets manager Terry Collins took a chance on putting strikeout-prone Rick Ankiel in the second spot in the order because he was 7 for 16 against Cueto, and Ankiel led off the third with a single. David Wright walked and, after Lucas Duda struck out, Byrd sent a drive to left field for his fourth homer this year.

Byrd came in 6 for 11 against Cueto.

The Mets loaded the bases in the first on two walks and a single by Duda, bringing up Davis.

The scoreboard operator urged fans to cheer on Davis, and many of the 23,038 in attendance made some noise. Davis hit a sharp grounder toward second, but Phillips dived to his right to stop it and then threw out Davis.

Phillips then showed why he’s a three-time Gold Glove winner in the fifth, making a long run into center field for a basket catch with his back to the plate. It was a very difficult play, but he made it look easy.

Collins and reliever LaTroy Hawkins were ejected by plate umpire Tom Hallion after the top of the seventh for disputing a call that Phillips was hit by a pitch. Collins and Hawkins appeared to insist the ball hit the knob of the bat and not Phillips’ hand.

Game notes
The Mets signed RHP David Aardsma to a minor league contract. He requested his release from the Miami Marlins organization Wednesday. The former Seattle closer missed all of 2011 and made only one appearance late last season with the Yankees. He will report to Triple-A Las Vegas. … The Reds sent INF Neftali Soto to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Cueto. … The Mets will host military appreciation night on Sunday. The Mets have given out more than 3,800 tickets to military personnel and their families for the game against Atlanta.

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