Tuesday's Sports In Brief – Miami Herald
NBA
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks player Thabo Sefolosha said Tuesday he is in “great pain” and blamed New York City police for causing a “significant injury” that knocked him out for the season.
The backup forward sustained a fractured right lower leg and ligament damage while being arrested with teammate Pero Antic outside a Manhattan nightclub while the Hawks were in the city to face the Brooklyn Nets last week.
Sefolosha won’t return until next season, costing the top-seeded Hawks a strong perimeter defender heading into the playoffs.
“On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case. Those questions will be answered by my attorney in a court of law,” Sefolosha said after practice, reading from a statement in his first public comments since the incident. “I will simply say that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury, and that the injury was caused by the police.”
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NFL
CHICAGO (AP) — While 26 draft-eligible players have accepted invitations from the NFL to attend the proceedings later this month, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are not among them.
The two most recent Heisman Trophy winners and highest-profile players in this year’s crop have opted to stay home with their families for the April 30-May 2 draft. The quarterbacks are projected to go at the outset of the draft, which has moved to Chicago from New York this year. It was last held in Chicago in 1964.
Agreeing to attend are such All-Americans as running back Melvin Gordon, defensive end Vic Beasley, offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, defensive tackle Danny Shelton and safety Landon Collins.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are the only NFL team without a logo on their helmets.
Now, they’re also the only ones with their nickname written down the sides of their pants.
The uniforms include “BROWNS” written on the pants, and “CLEVELAND” emblazoned across the front of the jersey. Also, the words “Dawg Pound” — a nod to the team’s rowdy fans — are stitched on the inside of the jersey’s collar.
Cleveland unveiled its new uniforms, featuring nine color combinations, on Tuesday night before thousands of fans who seemed to like the team’s new look following months of speculation and secrecy.
After nearly an hour of buildup during a program honoring the team’s past, nine current players walked onto the stage wearing large orange sideline jackets to hide the new, Nike-designed uniforms.
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BASEBALL
CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was treated at a hospital for a bruised jaw after he was struck in the face by a line drive hit by Chicago’s Melky Cabrera.
Carrasco was carted off the field Tuesday night after he was flattened by the first-inning liner that appeared to glance off his glove and right hand before smacking him on the right side of the face. The right-hander crumpled to the ground in front of the mound with his legs spread wide as manager Terry Francona and a trainer quickly raced out to check on him.
With his concerned teammates gathered around him, Carrasco stayed on the ground for several minutes. Cabrera, holding his batting helmet, came out to the side of the mound to check on Carrasco as well and White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton dropped to one knee at second base in prayer.
Carrasco was helped to his feet by two Indians trainers before walking slowly to the cart holding the left side of his face.
The Indians said Carrasco is not showing any signs or symptoms of a concussion or head injury.
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COLLEGE SPORTS
Thanks to the College Football Playoff, bowl games paid more than a half billion dollars to conferences and schools last season, the largest payout ever and an increase of almost $200 million from the final season of the Bowl Championship Series.
According to an NCAA report released Tuesday, the 39 postseason FBS games distributed $505.9 million to the participating conferences and schools. The schools spent $100.2 million to take part in bowl games.
The revenue figures were reported by the bowls and the College Football Playoff to the NCAA and the schools supplied expense reports for participation, said Damani Leech, the NCAA’s managing director, championships and alliances.
Total payouts from 35 postseason games from the 2013-14 season were $309.9 million while schools spent $97.8 million to participate. For the 2012-13 season, payouts were $300.8 million and expenses were $90.3 million.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Justise Winslow is entering the NBA draft after one season at Duke, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday.
The forward said in a statement issued by the school that “my dreams and aspirations have literally come true” while winning the national title in his only season in college.
He says he believes “it is time to take the next step on my career path and play at the highest level.”
Winslow averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while helping Duke win its fifth national title.
The announcement came less than a week after the same decision from teammate Jahlil Okafor, the first freshman selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year.
SOCCER
American defender Christie Rampone is on the U.S. Women’s World Cup roster for the fifth time, joined by goalkeeper Hope Solo and newcomer Morgan Brian.
Coach Jill Ellis on Tuesday announced her 23 picks for the tournament in Canada. Seeking their third title and first since 1999, the Americans open against Australia on June 8.
Rampone, who sat out a recent 4-0 exhibition victory over New Zealand, will turn 40 during the World Cup and is the oldest member of the team. Only four women have played in five World Cups: fellow American Kristine Lilly, Brazil’s Formiga, Germany’s Birgit Prinz and Japan’s Homare Sawa.
Solo was suspended for 30 days in January after her husband was arrested for driving under the influence while in a U.S. Soccer Federation van during a team training camp. Solo also was in the van.
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