Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani: "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" - The Voice 2016
The new trend for celebrity parents-to-be has become sporting matching baby bumps. Credit for kick-starting the trend goes to eagerly expecting parents Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo, who posed for popping pictures, pointed out In Style.
Week 20 and Im finally popping! #impregnanttoo, joked Adam in his caption.
Adam wasnt content to sport his own pretend baby bump. After sharing the photo showing The Voice coach and singer posing with his pregnant wife Behati and his own matching protruding tummy, Levine persuaded his buddy and fellow coach on The Voice Blake Shelton to flaunt his own big belly pose.
His pal even matched Adam by sporting the same bump pose with Levines wife.
Met these two sweet pregnant ladies today, wrote Adam for the caption. Good luck @blakeshelton and @behatiprinsloo!
Its all part of the increasingly close friendship formed among Prinsloo, Levine, Shelton and his own gal pal Gwen Stefani. The quartet shared a backstage selfie sharing their #couplegoals recently. But does the new photo of Blake with Adams wife hint that Levine is encouraging his buddy to become a dad himself?
At 46, Stefani is on board with the plan and allegedly has been undergoing IVF, according to Hollywood Life.
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are closer than ever. [Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS]Rumors have swirled that she is already expecting twins because of IVF, which boosts the odds of having more than one baby. But a source quoted by Hollywood Life stated that she is not yet pregnant, but has made changes in her life in order to have a baby with her country music superstar boyfriend.
Gwens been told by fertility doctors that she needs to relax her strict diet and workout regimen as she hopes to become pregnant with Blakes child. Shes gained seven pounds in the past month and has already begun IVF treatments, which also cause weight gain because of the hormones.
Will Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani add a baby to their family? [Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS]In addition, the insider revealed that Stefani will do anything to have another baby. She has been advised that by choosing IVF, the chances of having twins are greater, and thats not an issue.
The odds of having twins increase with IVF, and she would be thrilled if that happens, added the source. This is a big adventuretheyre ready for whatever the future holds.
While Stefani already has three sons, Shelton will be new to the parenting game. But his buddy Levine just might help him get some experience, because the friendship that Adam and his wife have developed with the country music superstar makes him a great choice for godparent, points out E! News.
In addition, Shelton has been practicing to become a father, hanging out with Gwens sons. He also has shown he has a kid-friendly sense of humor, as shown when he hosted the Kids Choice Awards. A godparent who dresses up in onesies and is happy to get slimed? Put him on the babysitter list.
Blake apparently has influenced one of Stefanis sons, little Apollo, according to ET.
Although he is only 2-years-old, Apollo teamed up with his mommy to rehearse on Snapchat for her tour. And although he isnt the featured singer yet, Apollo showed hes got the courage and confidence it takes to become a future star.
Apollo did an adorable version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, sporting a nautical-themed scarf to show hes got style. But does the little boy also have potential as a drummer? Apollo added instrumentals to the show by banging two drum sticks together, giving his rendition some extra charm by chewing occasionally on a purple pacifier that was the perfect complement to his tiny blue jumper.
Apollos father is Stefanis ex-husband and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, so the little boy appears to have inherited some impressive musical genes. His brothers are 9-year-old Kingston and 7-year-old Zuma.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia]
Justin Bieber Lip Syncing At Billboard Music Awards 2016 - VIDEO
Sunday"sBillboard Music Awards broadcast often seemed like a battle for pop music"s very soul, as fake smiles and cheesy promo tie-ins vied with serious vocal prowess and displays of genuine emotion for three long, eventful hours. Rising stars like Shawn Mendes and Troye Sivan earned their places on the big stage, but it was the bona fide divas (Rihanna, Celine Dion and Adele, who didn"t even sing live) and always-welcome veteran Stevie Wonder who ultimately owned the night. Here"s who triumphed and tanked at Las Vegas" T-Mobile Arena.
Sidebar Billboard Music Awards 2016: Complete Winners List
BEST OF THE NIGHT: Rihanna Belts a Monster Torch SongBefore Rihanna picked up the fan-voted Chart Achievement Award, she issued a timely reminder that Beyonc isn"t the only superstar singer to release a major LP in 2016. The decidedly old-school "Love on the Brain" one of Anti"s surprisingly potent deep cuts is a passion-fueled torch song given a Rihanna spin ("I"m tired of being played like a violin/What do I gotta do to get in your m**********n" heart?" she sings on record). On Sunday night she fully leaned into the track, showcasing the raspy, gritty side of her voice. Her fiery performance showed not just how far she"s come since the "Pon De Replay" days but where she could potentially take her overflowing charisma and newly unearthed vocal nuance.
BEST: Kesha Covers Dylan, Takes High RoadAfter all of the past week"s backstage drama, Kesha quietly prevailed on Sunday. To recap: Dr. Luke"s label Kemosabe initially granted Kesha permission to perform at the BBMAs, then changed its mind, then finally relented when the singer denied the rumor that her performance would address her legal battles with Luke and his imprint. Striking in black bolo tie and white suit, Kesha delivered the tribute to Bob Dylan she"s said she always intended, backed by Ben Folds" piano and a stark violin accompaniment. Kesha"s version of "It Ain"t Me Babe" was understated and heartfelt; the singer turned Dylan"s steely ballad into a statement of quiet strength, suggesting her refusal to be defined by others. The standing ovation she received a long overdue moment of dignity for an artist whose musical dreams became real-world nightmares was anything but obligatory.
Kesha slowed down Bob Dylan"s "It Ain"t Me Babe" with Ben Folds at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. Watch here.
WORST: Ludacris Goes Full LechNo awards-show utterance is quite as seat-shiftingly uncomfortable as an attempted dirty joke that falls flat. To open the show, Ludacris announced that Sunday"s ceremony marked his third time hosting the BBMAs, calling that feat "My favorite threesome." His co-host, Ciara, doomed all night to play glamorously bland straight woman to Luda"s icky quipster, corrected him: He must have meant "threepeat." In response, Luda dropped the weak punchline, "You like threepeat; I like threesome." The host not only went on to introduce Heidi Klum as a woman who "likes being n***d on the beach," but brought back his initial failed gag to say of the three female stars of the upcoming movie Bad Moms, "Here"s another threesome I"m all about." Worse still, Luda"s creepily PG-13 attempts at humor overshadowed the one righteous dig he got in last night: "Unlike the Oscars, we actually have black nominees this evening."
BEST: Madonna and Stevie Wonder Lead a "Purple Rain" Sing-AlongSome viewers were unimpressed or even outraged at the modest scale of this performance BETtweeted shade afterward. But no star probably no stageful of stars could hope to embody Prince"s genius in a single performance, and maybe it was wise not to try to imitate him. After a moving Questlove speech Prince"s "departure," the lifelong Purple One fanatic said, "was an earthquake" Madonna was revealed, seated in an enormous purple throne that rotated to reveal her spectacular outfit: a silver suit with a Prince-like ruffled shirt. She set aside her trademark fierceness to sing an unshowy "Nothing Compares 2 U," as photos of the late superstar flashed behind her. Then, unannounced, Stevie Wonder stepped from the wings singing "Purple Rain." A duet soon became arena-wide sing-along just as it has in homes and bars and clubs and arenas around the world for the past month.
Madonna and Stevie Wonder paid tribute to Prince at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. Watch here.
BEST: Celine"s Heart Will Go OnCeline Dion"s 2016 has been full of tragedy and triumph in January, her husband, Ren Anglil, and her brother Daniel died within days of each other, and on Sunday night the Billboard Music Awards honored her with their Icon Award. After an emotional performance of Queen"s crashing ode to perseverance "The Show Must Go On," Dion received a surprise: Her oldest son, Ren-Charles, would be presenting her with her trophy. Dion dissolved into weeping and almost immediately apologized for crying, saying she wanted to be "strong for [her] family" and telling her son how happy he made her. "Music has been my passion since before I can almost remember," she continued. After tearfully thanking her mother (who penned her first song) and her fans, she paid tribute to Anglil, "who I know will continue to watch over me from up above." Dion"s ability to harness her feelings into moments that resonate widely was on full display here, and she likely inspired more than a few Sunday-night communiqus between loved ones.
Celine Dion paid tribute to her late husband with a cover of Queen"s "The Show Must Go On" at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. Watch here.
WORST: Meghan Trainor Displays Nah to the Ah to the N0, No, No CharismaTrue superstars have stage presence. Last night, Meghan Trainor had stage absence. Whatever you think of "No" let"s say, just for the sake of argument, that it"s the bona fide pop anthem of female empowerment it"s intended to be Trainor just couldn"t sell her hit onstage. First she was upstaged by the sea of glowing wristbands the audience brandished behind her. Then she was upstaged by her own multihued, spangly dress. Finally, when she strolled through the crowd, she was upstaged by the more charismatic celebrities she enlisted to sing along. The lyrics of Trainor"s anthem connote Janet Jackson-level badassery, but canned-seeming blandness was the best she could muster here. Just no.
BEST: Britney Spears" Big Top RoutineAs soon as Sunday"s show began, Britney Spears set the bar high and then literally back-flipped over it with an eight-minute medley of hits that included "Work b***h," "Womanizer," "I"m a Slave 4 U" and "Toxic," among others. With a little help from dancers dressed variously like Star Wars alien extras and S&M gimps, she performed an eye-popping choreography routine in which she swiveled, twirled, congaed, pole-danced and, perhaps most memorably of all, rode a giant guitar like a mechanical bull. It was a spectacle that got even Wiz Khalifa out of his seat for a better look. Spears ended it perfectly, standing in front of a wall of flame with a justifiably satisfied smile on her face.
BEST: Adele Says Hello From the Other Side (of the World)Adele couldn"t make it to the T-Mobile Arena on Sunday because of tour obligations (her Adele Live 2016 tour was finishing up a two-night stand in Lisbon), but given the blockbuster sales of her 2015 album, 25, she had to have a presence. Appearing via satellite to accept two of her five awards, she gave American viewers a crash course in British slang, saying she was "super chuffed" to be honored as Top Artist during a charming acceptance speech. While time differences erased the possibility of a trans-Atlantic performance, the video for Adele"s new single, the winking kiss-off "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," did premiere during Sunday"s show; the clip, directed by Grammy nominee Patrick Daughters, is a kaleidoscope dream where Adele, clad in a floor-length floral dress, shows off the spectrum of her post-breakup emotions. (Stankface is heavily involved.)
WORST: Wiz Khalifa"s Puth-less Acceptance SpeechKhalifa returned to Number One on the pop charts last year the first time he"s reached those lofty heights since 2011, the year of his breakout hit, "Black and Yellow." When the MC accepted an award last night, he proceeded to acknowledge the greatness of the other tracks in his category, and then he thanked everyone in the audience, the fans, labels, his management, G*d and more. But he neglected to mention one crucial figure: Charlie Puth, the crooner whose saccharine hook helped make "See You Again" such a success. The omission was heightened by the soundtrack as Khalifa strutted towards the stage to accept his trophy, it was Puth"s chorus that blared over the soundsystem.
Kevin Winter/Getty
BEST: Justin Bieber Keeps "Company" Low-KeyBieber"s live performances have earned notice lately for their world-weary quality, and in Las Vegas, he demonstrated why that might be a good look for him. "Company" featured some of the night"s most impressive visuals: initially an airstream motif, and later, bursting red comets that made the singer seem almost like an afterthought at his own show. Bieber"s backup dancers appeared to emerge from the floor; all wore white, as if they were on their way to a baptism, sticking with the redemption narrative that has characterized this singer"s most recent chapter. Bieber moved as much as he needed to and no more, acknowledging the activity around him with the studied disregard of a star who"s seen it all. Against all odds, he"s become the kind of performer who doesn"t need to resort to histrionics to command attention onstage. Only DJ Khaled broke through Bieber"s icy composure: The singer showed the most emotion when interrupting Khaled"s screen time backstage.
WORST: Ciara Curbs Her EnthusiasmCiara is no stranger to award-show purgatory, having spent the entirety of last year"s American Music Awards in the Music Freedom Lounge, essentially a T-Mobile-branded cell. On Sunday, she took on what seemed like a more liberating role, making her debut as BBMA co-host, but right from the start, her demeanor seemed strained. Even with her fianc Russell Wilson present to give moral support, the R&B princess muddled through an awkward evening, feigning enthusiasm during each painful appearance as she set about sapping once-meaningful adjectives like "amazing" and "incredible" of any kind of meaning.( The subversive quality that she demonstrated a month before the awards show, when she refused to say the name of a nominee for Top Rap Artist, her ex Future, whom she"s suing for $15 million for slander and libel, was nowhere to be found.) Ciara may have been outfitted in a slew of glittery, cleavage-baring gowns, including one metallic "n***d" ensemble, but nothing could distract from the fact that she continually repeated names and words a beat behind Ludacris, as if she was forever playing catch-up. It turned out to be Rihanna"s night to shine bright like a diamond, so Ciara just seemed like a disappointing glass bauble.
BEST: Demi Lovato Steamrolls Summer Tourmate Nick JonasIt"s been a rough year for Nick Jonas at awards shows: He flubbed a guitar solo when performing with Kelsea Ballerini at this year"s ACMs, and his duet with Tove Lo at the BBMAs last night was swathed in darkness and failed to generate the requisite heat. In contrast, Demi Lovato came out after Jonas with the force of a Mack truck. Her shirt depicted the gender neutral bathroom sign the singer recently opted not to play in North Carolina as a protest against the state"s discriminatory "bathroom bill" and she sang into a gleaming golden microphone as fireworks erupted behind her; everything was combustible and direct. She played a single from summer 2015, but fans were forgiving, and on a night dominated by lip-syncing, she finished with a lengthy bout of impressive melisma.
Kevin Winter/Getty
BEST: Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Bat EyelashesCountry"s first couple, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, split last year, but any tabloid will tell you that Shelton already has a new beau: Gwen Stefani, who served as a fellow coach on The Voice. Thomas Rhett gave the two his stamp of approval on Sunday when he introduced them as "a perfect match in real life and onstage," and the pair performed "Go Ahead and Break My Heart," which appeared Friday on Shelton"s If I"m Honest album. A jewel-encrusted Stefani joined Shelton onstage after the first verse and handled the low end of the harmonies. "How did you get me so into you?" she sang, throwing a big smile his way. The two singers they made up for their lack of movement by maintaining relentless eye contact throughout the whole performance, as if no one else mattered.
BEST: Ariana Grande Enters the Danger ZoneAriana Grande"s new Dangerous Woman is a leap into mature territory for the onetime Nickelodeon star, and her performance Sunday reflected that ambition. She started off with a bracingly odd solo take on the title track that felt inspired by an edgy after-hours club (she plunked out accompaniment on a synth and altered her voice with a vocoder while hot-pink smoke swirled around her) then jumped into her slinky new single, "Into You," as a phalanx of black-clad dancers and well-timed pyro underscored the song"s themes of dance-floor desire. As always, Grande"s formidable voice was the star of the show, handling complicated runs with an effortlessness that made her performance feel electric.
WORST: Zendaya"s History LessonBest R&B Song presenter Zendaya was given a tough assignment by the showrunners: explaining what R&B is. Her introduction to the category was pedantic "in the late 1940s, the term "rhythm & blues" was actually created by Billboard magazine to market the genre"s emerging artists" yet vague: "with a seamless blend of soul, funk, pop, hip-hop and even gospel, rhythm & blues is a category all on its own." Wiz Khalifa, her co-presenter, gave her little help, chiming in only to announce that singers like Stevie Wonder and Prince both counted as R&B. On top of that, three of the five entries in the category were songs by the Weeknd, so suspense about the potential winner was minimal.
BEST: Pink Takes FlightThese days, Pink can seem less like a pop star these days than an acrobat who sings at awards shows death-defying feats have become as much a part of her core act as impassioned vocals. While she performed her new single, "Just Like Fire," a rope apparatus yanked her above the stage and flung her out over the audience. Clad in a complicated outfit of black leather and tulle, and wearing her hair in a severe pink top-knot, Pink looked like a particularly fearsome Power Rangers villain especially during her finale, when she was lifted skyward again, this time by a pair of clock hands, and the gigantic timepiece behind her burst into flames.
Kevin Winter/Getty
BEST: Nick Jonas, Sibling SuperfanNick Jonas has no chill and it"s incredible to watch. When his big brother Joe"s band, DNCE, performed their hit "Cake by the Ocean," some audience members danced a little, some mouthed along, but Nick put his phone out at arm"s length, taking long, sweeping shots of his sibling as he swiveled and mouthed along with the song"s words. Demi Lovato, sitting next to him, simply smiled as he fanboyed out. Even when Joe traipsed through the crowd toward the end of the tune, most fans awkwardly smiled, but when the camera cut back to Nick, he was happily fist-bumping everyone in sight.
WORST: Lukas Graham"s Ballad Lasts 7 Years Something must be rotten in the state of Denmark, where pop group Lukas Graham call home. The band came out set up for an emotional performance of their schmaltzy hit "7 Years" with a stage in the round, a stripped-down, street-clothes look, and a singer Lukas Forchhammer willing to blink uncontrollably and emote so hard that his face turned tomato red. They even built the song up instrument by instrument, from its piano intro to a rocking outro. But they failed to hit it over the net, as the audience barely moved and cheered obligatorily at the end.
BEST: Shawn Mendes Stitches Together a HitHaving come up through Vine, a video-sharing service built on six-second clips, Canadian teen dream Shawn Mendes knows how to make pieces of songs work to his advantage. On Sunday night he showed off his ability to make parts of a track into something greater than its whole; he started his stripped-down performance of his Top 10 hit "Stitches" on acoustic guitar before heading into an adjacent room where a piano was set up. He finished off the song there, tickling the ivories while a guitarist added Edge-like riffing in the background. The performance, pause and all, allowed the song to breathe in a way that its peppy recorded version doesn"t.
Kevin Winter/Getty
BEST: Go-Go"s Rock Like Bad Moms Made GoodThe Go-Go"s reuniting to perform their sunny signature hit, "We Got the Beat," felt like a truly poptastic event, with lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle swaying while Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Abby Travis (the bassist after Kathy Valentine left the band) provided effervescent support. Taking the stage after a plug for the movie Bad Moms, this classic lineup of the all-female group known for epic in-fighting but looking legitimately bubbly on Sunday came off like actual brassy broads who haven"t lost their edge, especially when the camera cut away to Wiedlin, rocking out on guitar with a bright-blue bob, seeming as punk as ever.
Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani: "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" - The Voice 2016
No Doubtabout it Gwen Stefanis youngest son has the makings of a musical superstar!
The pop-rock star,46, took to Snapchat Thursday to share a few cute clipstaken during rehearsals for theupcomingThis Is What the Truth Feels Liketour.
Her special guest? Stefanis2-year-old son Apollo Bowie Flynn, who stole the show with his rendition of Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
Gwen Stefani/Snapchat
Want all the latest pregnancy and birth announcements, plus celebrity mom blogs? Click here to get those and more in the PEOPLE Babies newsletter.
Old MacDonald had a cow, E-I-E-I-O! he sang while standing atop a colorful platform.
Little Apollo was dressed in a dark-blue outfit, complete with a matching nautical-print bandana around his neck and equally color-coordinated pacifier. His shoes sported neon shades of green and pink, withhis adorable curls pulled back slightly.
#toddlerstyleonpoint, boastsone of the hashtags accompanyingthe cute compilation.
And asidefrom gracing the studios inhabitants with his singing, Apollo proved he might have a future in playing the drums. While his mom sang and the band played, he walked around banging drumsticks together, leaving viewers wondering whetherNo Doubt drummer Adrian Younghas had any influence on him.
Apollo is the third son Stefani shares with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale. Stefani and Rossdale,who were married for 13 yearsand whosedivorced was settledin April, are also parents to Kingston James McGregor, 10 on Thursday, and Zuma Nesta Rock, 7.
#baby Gx
A photo posted by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on May 9, 2016 at 7:08pm PDT
Stefaniwill hit the roadthis summer with Eve, whom she worked with in the past on the 2001 hit Let Me Blow Ya Mind and Stefanis Rich Girl, the second single from her debut solo album.
The This Is What the Truth Feels Liketour kicks off July 12 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
Joe Jonas & DNCE Talk Performing With Nick Jonas Billboard Music Awards 2016
Hailee Steinfeld rocks out with Joe Jonas at the 2016 iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party on Saturday (May 21) held at The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Fla.
The 19-year-old Love Myself singer joined Joe and his DNCE band mates JinJoo Lee, Jack Lawless and Cole Whittle for a set that included their duet Rock Bottom.
Just before the concert, Hailee was seen Snapchatting the view from her hotel balcony while soaking up some sun in a bikini.
Also attending the concert event that night were singer Tinashe and a shirtless Jason Derulo, who also performed for the crowd.
35+ pictures inside of Hailee Steinfeld and DNCE performing at the 2016 iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party
Sergio Garcia"s Best Golf Shots from 2015 BMW European Masters
NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Oklahoma City bested Golden State 133-105 to take a 2-1 series lead.
NHL:
In the NHL playoffs, Tampa Bay topped Pittsburgh 4-3 to take a 3-2 series lead.
Connor McDavid scored in the first period and Matt Ducheneadded an empty netter to give Canada a 2-0 win over Finland for the gold medal at the ice hockey world championship. Cam Talbot made 16 saves to help Canada to its 26th title, one short of the combined Soviet and Russiaa record. Canada becomes the first team to repeat as champ since Russia in 2009. Host Russia routed the United States 7-2 to win the bronze medal.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Boston beat Cleveland 5-2 and are now tied with Baltimore for first place in the AL East. Jackie Bradley Jr. has stretched his hitting streak to 27 games, but it was a Red Sox veteran who helped the team win the rubber match of a three-game series with Cleveland. Meanwhile the Yankees edged Oakland 5-4, Toronto won against Minnesota 3-1, Texas defeated Houston 9-2, Detroit beat Tampa Bay 9-4, the White Sox slid past Kansas City 3-2, and it was the Angels over Baltimore 10-2.
In the National League, the Mets beat Milwaukee 3-1, Washington topped Miami 8-2, Philadelphia blanked Atlanta 5-0, Arizona defeated St. Louis 7-2, the Dodgers won against San Diego 9-5 in 17 innings, and it was San Francisco over the Cubs 1-0.
In interleague play Seattle beat Cincinnati 5-4.
WNBA:
In the WNBA, Atlanta beat Chicago 87-81 and it was Minnesota over Seattle 78-71.
NFL:
Jacksonville has signed top draft pick Jalen Ramsey to a four-year contract, a deal expected to be worth more than $23 million and include a $15 million signing bonus under the NFL"s rookie salary slotting system. The cornerback sustained a small meniscus tear in his right knee during an on-field workout earlier this week. The fifth overall pick in the draft is scheduled to meet with renowned specialist Dr. James Andrews early next week to see if he"ll need surgery.
PGA:
Sergio Garcia ended a four-year winless drought on the PGA Tour when he beat Brooks Koepkain a playoff at the Byron Nelson. Garcia parred the first extra hole, while Koepka had a double bogey after wasting a three-stroke lead on the back nine. It was the ninth tour win for Garcia, which ties him with the late Seve Ballesterosfor the most by a Spaniard.
Rory McIlroy has finally shaken off his struggles at the Irish Open. McIlroy shot a 3-under 69 to win the tournament he hosts by three shots. The third-ranked McIlroy had failed to make the Irish Open cut since 2012, and his previous best was seventh place in 2008.
LPGA:
Thailand"s Airya Jutanugarn shot a nearly mistake-free 4-under 67 and won the Kingsmill Championship by one shot. It"s the second straight win for the 20-year old after her inaugural victory two weeks ago in Alabama. So Oh finished second after a closing 65, with Gerina Piller and Sei Young Kim sharing third, two shots back.
Swimming:
Ray Essick, the first executive director of USA Swimming, has died. He was 82. He died Saturday at a care facility in Colorado Springs, according to USA Swimming, which learned of his death from a family friend. No cause was given Sunday. Essick guided the sport"s U.S. governing body from its formation in 1980 until his retirement in 1997.
Soccer:
The United States prepared for the upcoming Copa America competition with a 3-1 exhibition win over Puerto Rico. Paul Arriola had a goal and an assist in his national team debut. Tim Ream and Bobby Wood also scored for the Americans.
IndyCar:
James Hinchcliffe has continued his remarkable comeback by beating American Josef Newgarden for the Indianapolis 500 pole. The Canadian driver earned his first IndyCar pole with a four-lap average of 230.760 mph, a year after a life-threatening leg injury forced him out of the race. Newgarden will start second in the May 29 race after averaging 230.700.
Horse Racing:
Now Power took command shortly after the start on her way to a 2 1/2-length victory Sunday in the $77,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Joel Rosario improved to 2 for 7. The time was 1:40.93 for the 1 1/16 miles. Now Power paid $13, $5.30 and $3.10. Dea rallied for second, returning $3.20 and $2.50. I"ll Take Charge paid $4.20 to show.
Full Salute won a four-horse battle in the deep stretch in the $42,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday, beating El Grande Rojo by a nose. Ridden by Paco Lopez and trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., the 3-year-old colt led for most of the race before he lost and regained the lead in the closing strides. Full Salute ran the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.79, winning for the fourth time in nine career starts. Full Salute returned $8, $4.20 and $2.80, while El Grande Rojo paid $5.40 and $2.80. D C Dancer finished a nose back in third and paid $2.60, while Mewannarose was a neck back in fourth.
Tennis:
Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova had to rally to win her first-round match on Day 1 of the French Open. The 10th seed won the last three games to defeat Danka Kovinic 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 on a rainy day in Paris. Last year"s runner-up, Lucie Safarova, made it into Round 2 with a 6-love, 6-2 win over Vitalia Diatchenko. Those were two of only 10 matches completed on Day 1 due to rain. Men"s fifth seed Kei Nishikori was leading his opening-round match 6-1, 7-5, 2-1 when it was suspended. American Jack Sock will start the fifth set of his first-round match on Monday.
FC Barcelona Copa del Rey Champions 2016: the Champions’ trip home
Barcelona have agreed an extension to their kit-manufacturing deal with Nike NKE which Spanish media reported was the most lucrative arrangement of its kind in the world.
The Spanish champions issued a statement saying details of the contract will be specified at their next general assembly.
For more on soccer, watch:
Barcelona-based daily newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo reported that the deal could be worth 155 million euros ($174 million) a season and would run until 2026.
FC Barcelona and NIKE, Inc. have extended their current sponsorship deal, which was due to end on June 30, 2018, Barcelona said on Saturday.
LeBron Jamess Nike Deal May be Worth More Than $1 Billion
The long-term agreement is a landmark in global football and builds upon a highly successful partnership.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu added: We are excited by this new agreement and are confident we will be able to celebrate continued sporting successes together.
FC Barcelona – Copa Champions 2016: Alba y Busquets valoran la victoria
FC Barcelona secured the Copa Del Rey for the 28th time after beating Sevilla 2-0 thanks to goals from Neymr and Jordi Alba. AFP
Jordi Alba and Neymar struck in extra-time as Barcelona completed a league and Cup double by lifting the Copa del Rey for a 28th time after a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a fiery game that saw three red cards on Sunday.
Javier Mascherano"s dismissal just before half-time for pulling down Kevin Gameiro put Barca on the back foot and they were further depleted when 59-goal top scorer Luis Suarez limped off early in the second period.
However, they resisted Sevilla"s pressure after the break and Barca"s numerical disadvantage was cancelled out in stoppage time when Ever Banega saw red for chopping down Neymar.
Barca dominated the extra 30 minutes, but needed just six to finally make the breakthrough when Lionel Messi"s sumptuous pass picked out Alba to volley into the far corner.
Neymar then slotted home a second in the dying seconds from another brilliant Messi assist after Daniel Carrico had also been dismissed for two bookable offences.
"It was a great intense and exciting final," said Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.
"It was a last push for the club to complete a magnificent season."
Sevilla were looking for a double of their own after winning a third consecutive Europa League by beating Liverpool 3-1 on Wednesday.
However, just as in a thrilling 5-4 defeat to Barca to open the season in the European Super Cup in August, they fell just short as Luis Enrique"s men claimed their fourth trophy of the season, having also won the Club World Cup in December.
"It has been a spectacular end to the season," added Barca boss Luis Enrique.
"The team has known how to compete marvellously despite the difficulties we have faced this season."
And Sevilla coach Unai Emery believes his side"s exertions in midweek robbed them of the energy needed to make their numerical advantage count.
"We lacked freshness. If we had have been fresher we would have been able to create more chances," said Emery.
"Barca didn"t have many opportunities, but they were efficient."
Neymar and Jordi Alba scored in extra time as FC Barcelona won a tense match against Sevilla. AFP
Anthem jeers
The political fallout over an initial ban on Catalan separatist flags by the Madrid authorities that was eventually overturned on appeal in the courts continued before kick-off as Barca fans jeered the Spanish national anthem.
The game appeared to swing Sevilla"s way nine minutes before half-time when Mascherano hauled down Gameiro just outside the box as he bore down on goal.
Banega nearly doubled Barca"s punishment as his sweet strike from the resulting free-kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Sevilla roared back from a goal down at the break to outclass Liverpool in midweek and started the second-half with intent once more as Banega"s low drive came back off the post.
Barca were then dealt another huge blow just before the hour mark when Suarez pulled up with a muscle injury before leaving the field in tears with his chances of representing Uruguay at the Copa America next month now in jeopardy.
Sevilla were camped in the Barca half for much of the second half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Grzegorz Krychowiak saw a deflected effort flash just wide, whilst Vicente Iborra"s appeals for a penalty after he clashed with Dani Alves were waived away.
Parity was restored in numbers on each side in stoppage time when Banega saw red for tripping Neymar on the edge of the area, but Sergio Rico tipped over Messi"s resulting free-kick to take the game into extra time.
However, the Spanish international was left flat-footed when Alba latched onto Messi"s ball over the top six minutes into extra-time and volleyed across goal into the far corner.
Rico kept Sevilla in the game with brilliant saves from Pique and Sergio Busquets, whilst Dani Alves also hit the post from distance as Barca threatened a second.
Sevilla"s hopes of an equaliser were ended when Daniel Carrico was also sent-off for a second bookable offence.
And Messi promptly teed up Neymar to round off Barca"s fourth Cup triumph in eight years in stoppage time.
