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- “Turbo” places third in box office after first weekend in theaters
- Kyrie Irving 'happy to be a Cavalier,' will play some shooting guard
- Paul George: 'I'm happy in Indiana'
- Matt Kemp injury: Dodgers outfielder expected to miss series against Blue Jays
- Jonas Valanciunas named Las Vegas Summer League MVP
- Ryan Braun's teammates reportedly glad he was suspended
- Las Vegas Summer League 2013: Warriors take first Summer League championship behind Ian Clark's performance
- Jason Grilli injury: Pittsburgh Pirates closer leaves game with apparent arm injury
| “Turbo” places third in box office after first weekend in theaters Posted: 22 Jul 2013 11:05 PM PDT  The much ballyhooed DreamWorks film "Turbo" opened in theaters over the weekend and was the third highest grossing film behind "Despicable Me 2" and "The Conjuring." According to Yahoo! Movies, "Turbo" grossed $21.5 million over the weekend. This is good news for supporters of the movie as the film drew just $3.5 million less than "Despicable Me 2" which is a sequel to the widely popular original released in 2010. The winner this weekend was "The Conjuring," which grossed over $41.5 million. Forbes called "Turbo's" weekend "slightly face-saving" despite recording it as DreamWorks' lowest grossing weekend opener since "Flushed Away" in 2006 ($18 million). The website added that Turbo will benefit in having a potential "potential mascot character, the kind of protagonist who can be sold as a stuffed animal and show up as part of a theme park attraction." There are certainly worse things that could be said about something attached to the often-unstable Indianapolis Motor Speedway brand in recent years. The benefit for "Turbo" in the eyes of the IndyCar marketing department reaches far deeper than box office results. In "Turbo," IndyCar has a main character that can draw children to open-wheel racing at an early age and mold them into diehard fans. For a sport struggling to make waves upon a younger demographic, "Turbo" is invaluable. |
| Kyrie Irving 'happy to be a Cavalier,' will play some shooting guard Posted: 22 Jul 2013 09:56 PM PDT  Kyrie Irving shot down rumors that he wasn't excited about being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and apparently has his interest piqued by Mike Brown's plans to play him more off the ball going forward. Between the sudden firing of Byron Scott, which had Irving quite displeased at the time, and the general fact that Cleveland finished last in their division two years running, there was some talk that Irving wasn't quite thrilled with his current location -- and the Cavs have reason to be nervous after the last guy they drafted first overall took his leave from Cleveland. But the 21-year-old was quick to refute the chatter when talking to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, saying he was unfamiliar with the person who started rumors of his desire to leave. The interesting basketball portion of Lloyd's article featured Brown's plan for Irving to play sporadically at the two-guard spot while Jarrett Jack, who signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Cavs, handles point guard duties. The big bucks spent on a veteran guard like Jack seemed out of place, considering Irving is the future of the franchise and the team just drafted Dion Waiters with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 draft, giving them a pair of talented young guards who need playing time to develop. But it fits with Brown's scheme for Irving: already a polished scoring point guard after averaging 22.5 points and 5.9 assists, the new Cavs coach wants to see what Irving can do without the ball, coming off screens, allowing the 6'3 guard with tons of scoring talent to get lanes to the basket without doing all the work for himself. Irving certainly seems dynamic enough to wreak havoc if utilized properly away from the ball, but hasn't had the opportunity to do it much. The 2012 Rookie of the Year made the All-Star Game in just his second season in the league last year, and now will be joined by the 2013 No. 1 pick, Anthony Bennett, as well as Andrew Bynum, who could be a game changer for the Cavs if his knees allow him to play. Irving is currently at the minicamp in Las Vegas for players hoping to participate on the USA's 2014 World Cup of Basketball team, as well as potential Olympic squads down the road. He'll be trying out for his college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who is hoping to win his third Olympic gold medal in 2016. More from SB Nation:• Warriors win first Summer League championship • Ziller: Team USA needs a big to stop Gasol • Nuggets, Nate Robinson agree to two-year deal • Dwight Buycks: Summer League's breakout star • Team USA minicamp begins | DeMarcus Cousins's last chance This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Paul George: 'I'm happy in Indiana' Posted: 22 Jul 2013 09:16 PM PDT  It seems Paul George will be an Indiana Pacer for quite some time, as Marc Stein of ESPN reports that the small forward will reach a contract extension for the league maximum with the Pacers before the beginning of the upcoming NBA season. George, a Southern California native, has been talked about as a potential free agent target of the Los Angeles Lakers when his rookie deal expires next season. But George doesn't seem likely to end up in purple and gold. Last week it was reported that Larry Bird would match any offer for the 6'10 small forward, which the Pacers would have the right to do as George will be a restricted free agent. But now, it seems even that won't happen: they'd rather reach a deal with George now than even allow other teams the possibility of offering him a contract next year. Setting the Pace The story of how Paul George went from an unheralded recruit to a star in the NBA playoffs
More from SB Nation:• Warriors win first Summer League championship • Ziller: Team USA needs a big to stop Gasol • Nuggets, Nate Robinson agree to two-year deal • Dwight Buycks: Summer League's breakout star • Team USA minicamp begins | DeMarcus Cousins's last chance This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Matt Kemp injury: Dodgers outfielder expected to miss series against Blue Jays Posted: 22 Jul 2013 08:48 PM PDT  Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is expected to miss the entire series against the Toronto Blue Jays with a sprained left ankle, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stated that Kemp will probably miss all three games, and that a decision on whether Kemp will land on the DL would likely be made Tuesday. Kemp underwent X-rays on his left ankle Monday, which came back negative, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. More Dodgers: LA scouting Brewers relievers Kemp injured his ankle sliding into home plate in his first game back from the disabled list. The outfielder went 3-for-4 on Sunday against the Washington Nationals before the injury, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Mattingly told reporters after the game Sunday that he didn't expect Kemp to spend more time on the DL, but appeared less confident about his statement on Monday, writes Gurnick. The swelling in Kemp's ankle remained the same Monday as it did Sunday, despite Kemp spending most of the day receiving treatment. More from SB Nation:• Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season | Rob Neyer on Braun | Steven Goldman on Braun • A-Rod may be next superstar to be suspended • Cubs, Rangers complete Matt Garza trade • 50 baseball-related metal names | #HotCorner • MLB trade deadline: Why we might see less action than usual This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jonas Valanciunas named Las Vegas Summer League MVP Posted: 22 Jul 2013 08:37 PM PDT  Jonas Valanciunas earned credit for an impressive performance in Las Vegas, as the fifth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft earned the MVP of the 2013 Summer League. The 21-year-old Lithuanian was a monster in the four games he played: 18.8 points and 10.0 rebounds, fifth in both scoring and rebounding out of all the players in Vegas. The 7-footer was tough to stop from the field, shooting 56.1 percent, and missed only four of his 33 free throws. Valanciunas looked fine in his rookie year in Toronto, starting 57 games and averaging 8.9 points with 6.0 rebounds, but his domination of Summer League makes it clear he's a level above the fringe NBA talent that populates the majority of rosters in Vegas. SB Nation's James Herbert wrote a feature on Valanciunas' performance in Summer League last week, citing seemingly improved upper body strength along with the refined skills that made him an elite prospect before the draft:
Valanciunas is joined by Golden State guard Kent Bazemore, Charlotte Bobcats guard Jeff Taylor, Bobcats forward Cody Zeller, and Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson on the Summer League's first team. SB Nation had also written features on Henson, who played like a man amongst boys, and Bazemore, who looks primed to turn from a hype man to a versatile player with a knack for in-your-face defense. Bazemore a key role on a Warriors team that won the Summer League title. More from SB Nation:• Warriors win first Summer League championship • Ziller: Team USA needs a big to stop Gasol • Nuggets, Nate Robinson agree to two-year deal • Dwight Buycks: Summer League's breakout star • Team USA minicamp begins | DeMarcus Cousins's last chance This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Ryan Braun's teammates reportedly glad he was suspended Posted: 22 Jul 2013 08:27 PM PDT  Ryan Braun's Milwaukee Brewers teammates are glad that MLB suspended the outfielder, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. Braun asked for the support of his teammates last season and told them that he didn't used PED's, according to Passan. The Brewers are now mad that Braun lied to them about his situation. The outfielder gave an emotional speech following his discussion with his teammates last year. Braun offered a number of quotes to reporters that now appear dishonest. He said, "I truly believe in my heart and would bet my life that the substance never entered my body at any point," for example. Also: "We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side." MLB suspended Braun for the remainder of the season on Monday, a total ban of 65 games. A source familiar with the deal told Ronald Blum of the Associated Press that 50 games of the suspension were connected with Biogenesis, and the other 15 stemmed from Braun's actions during his overturned positive test in 2011. More from SB Nation:• Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season | Rob Neyer on Braun | Steven Goldman on Braun • A-Rod may be next superstar to be suspended • Cubs, Rangers complete Matt Garza trade • 50 baseball-related metal names | #HotCorner • MLB trade deadline: Why we might see less action than usual This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 22 Jul 2013 08:02 PM PDT  Led by Ian Clark's breakout performance, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Phoenix Suns, 91-77, to become champions of the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League, the first ever to award a champion by a single elimination tournament. Much like the Warriors' regular team, Golden State got their work done from beyond the arc. Clark tied a Vegas Summer League record with seven threes on ten attempts, Draymond Green added a pair of threes for half of his 12 points, and all in all, the Dubs went 11-for-25 from downtown. The explosion for Golden State came in the final period of play, as they turned a four-point lead after three quarters into a 14-point win. Clark, an undrafted guard out of Belmont, scored 33 points off the bench, the most of any player in any game in Vegas. He shot well, but also exhibited the ability to score off the dribble. Clark had led Miami's Orlando Summer League team in scoring, but had only averaged 9.0 points per game with the Warriors before Monday's championship game. He may very well have an NBA-level skill as a shooter, drilling 45.9 percent of his threes his senior year at college while taking nearly seven per game. His 18.2 points per game on a Bruins squad that won the Ohio Valley Conference earned him the mid-major league's Player of the Year honor. He added another piece of hardware to his collection Monday, as he was awarded with a Summer League Championship Game MVP trophy after the game. He described the performance as a "dream come true" after the game. Kent Bazemore, who was named to the Summer League's first team, scored 18 points with five assists. The top man for the Suns was Archie Goodwin, as the 29th overall pick played another solid game in Vegas with 18 points on 11 attempts. Marcus Morris had 17 points, but Markieff Morris shot just 3 for 11 from the field. The Warriors' defense, which has earned praise in Vegas, was once again on point, forcing 16 turnovers against just nine assists for the Suns. It was the first loss for Phoenix, as both teams entered the game 6-0. More from SB Nation:• Ziller: Team USA needs a big to stop Gasol • Nuggets, Nate Robinson agree to two-year deal • Dwight Buycks: Summer League's breakout star • Team USA minicamp begins | DeMarcus Cousins's last chance • Pierre Jackson's wild week in his hometown This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jason Grilli injury: Pittsburgh Pirates closer leaves game with apparent arm injury Posted: 22 Jul 2013 07:53 PM PDT  Pittsburgh Pirates closer Jason Grilli left Monday night's game against the Washington Nationals with an apparent arm injury, reports Brady McCollough of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pirates brought in Grilli to close during the ninth inning of a 6-3 game. The closer surrendered two runs in the inning, but managed to record two outs before facing Steve Lombardozzi with the tying run on second base. More Pirates: Pittsburgh interested in Hunter Pence Grilli threw a fastball to Lombardozzi, but immediately called for the trainers after the pitch and looked to be in significant pain, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times. Vin Mazzaro replaced Grilli, and forced Lombardozzi to hit a game-ending groundout. For the superstitious, Grilli appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week, the first Pirates player to appear on the cover in 21 years, according to the MLB PR Department:
Grilli has thrived in the closer role this season, as he entered Monday with 30 saves in 31 chances and a 1.94 ERA. Mark Melancon will likely serve as the team's closer if Grilli is forced to miss an extended period of time. More from SB Nation:• Ryan Braun suspended for rest of season | Rob Neyer on Braun | Steven Goldman on Braun • A-Rod may be next superstar to be suspended • Cubs, Rangers complete Matt Garza trade • 50 baseball-related metal names | #HotCorner • MLB trade deadline: Why we might see less action than usual This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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