Mandatory News

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Ex-NFL player Darren Sharper sentenced to 18 years in prison for rape

FORMER NFL STAR DARREN SHARPER SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPING WOMEN

NEW ORLEANS -- Former NFL star Darren Sharper has been sentenced to 18 years and four months in prison in a case where he was accused of drugging and raping as many as 16 women in four states.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced Sharper on Thursday, telling him she couldn"t understand how he did what he did, since he was college educated and obviously had grown up "in one of the most loving households."

"We can never ignore the damage you inflicted on those women and society at large," she said.

Sharper had pleaded guilty in federal court in New Orleans to drugging three women so he could rape them. He also has pleaded guilty or no contest in state courts in Louisiana, Arizona, California and Nevada to charges arising from allegations of drugging and raping women.

"I would like to apologize a thousand times," Sharper said. He looked at the floor as he said, "I"m still trying to figure out why I made some of these choices. ... I lived my life right for 38 years, then I took this path."

His voice thickened and broke as he said his parents hadn"t raised him to take such actions.

Defense attorney Billy Gibbens asked leniency because Sharper"s testimony helped get "late" guilty pleas from two codefendants who will be sentenced in October.

Sharper will be sentenced next Thursday in Louisiana state court, Gibbens said outside court. He said he believes Sharper will be sentenced next month in Las Vegas, and couldn"t recall the Los Angeles sentencing date. (See full story.)

Giants: Brown confirms domestic violence chargeEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants kicker Josh Brown has confirmed that an arrest on a domestic violence charge in May 2015 led to his one-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league"s personal conduct policy.

Speaking after practice on Thursday, the 37-year-old Brown said the woman whose wrist he grabbed in Woodinville, Wash. during a disagreement was his wife. He said the couple has since divorced.

Brown said the case was dismissed by the King County Prosecutor"s office five days after his arrest for fourth-degree domestic violence.

A spokesman for the prosecutor said in an email to The Associated Press that no charge was filed because of insufficient evidence.

Brown said he informed the Giants immediately after his arrest, and the team informed the league.

He was notified of his suspension in June. He appealed the decision and it was rejected. The league announced the suspension Wednesday.

Broncos: Siemian competing with SanchezENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Trevor Siemian, locked in a tight battle with Mark Sanchez for the Broncos" starting quarterback job, will get his turn to start on Saturday night, when Denver plays a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Sanchez, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia as a potential replacement for the retired Peyton Manning, started last week"s game.

Rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch also is in the mix, though the bulk of his work has been with the third team.

Siemian and Sanchez have split repetitions with the Broncos first-team offense throughout training camp and with the two waging a close competition for the job, coach Gary Kubiak decided Siemian should also get a crack at starting.

Kubiak said he would like to make a decision on a starter next week but did not rule out taking more time to finalize his pick.

49ers:Kaepernick resumes throwingENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Colin Kaepernick threw dozens of passes on the side during the 49ers" joint practice Thursday with the Denver Broncos, signaling the quarterback"s return from a sore passing shoulder.

The throws were the first on the practice field in a week for Kaepernick, whose competition with Blaine Gabbert for the starting job had to be put on hold after tightness in his right shoulder forced him to rest his throwing arm.

Kaepernick also took part in individual quarterback drills and conditioning. However, coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick would be eased back into full participation in practices and ruled him out for Saturday night"s exhibition game against the Broncos.

Panthers: OT Willie Smith signsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers signed 29-year-old offensive tackle Willie Smith to help bolster their depth on the offensive line.

The move comes after backup tackles Daryl Williams and David Foucault have struggled in training camp and the preseason. Michael Oher and Mike Remmers are expected to be Carolina"s starting offensive tackles again this season.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Smith didn"t play in the NFL last season, but saw action in 15 games in 2014 with the San Diego Chargers. Smith, who played at East Carolina, has started 11 games and played in 19 since breaking into the league with the Washington Redskins in 2011.

Carolina waived injured fullback Devon Johnson to make room for Smith on the roster.

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelphia-eagles/ex-nfl-player-darren-sharper-sentenced-18-years-prison-rape

Watch: Full "KAROLYI" documentary on Martha and Bela Karolyi ...

Bela"s champions.

A look atMartha and Bela Karolyi"sremarkable story that traces generations of gymnastics"most memorable tales, moments and champions

From Nadia ComaneciandMary Lou Retton to the Magnificent Seven,Fierce Five and Final Five, Martha and Bela Karolyi have played an immense role in the last 40 years of gymnastics and Olympic history.

With Martha preparing to retire after the Rio Olympics, NBC Sports Films looked at their early yearsin Romania, defection to the U.S. and building of an American dynasty. Narrated by John Benajmin Hickey, the full 51-minute KAROLYI documentary is available to watch now.

Belacoached Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton to Olympic all-around gold medals, while Marthaworked quietly behind the scenes. In 1996, Martha was named head coach of the U.S. women"sgymnastics team for the Atlanta Olympics, and in 2001 began her 15-year reign on the national team coordinator.

At Martha"slast Olympics before retiring, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez nicknamed themselves the "Final Five" in honor of the woman who propelledthem to Olympic gold.

Watch the full documentary here:

Before the 2016 U.S. Olympic team was selected, NBC Sports Films produced a documentary on "The Ranch," a look inside the Texas training center run by Martha and built by hand by Bela. Watch here:

"Im really not a sentimental person, honestly,"the legendary coachsaid. "Whats happening to me?"

Release Reminder: adidas NMD XR1 Triple White

How Comfortable is the adidas NMD boost? (Review + On Feet)

Detailed images of the new adidas NMD XR1 Triple White are featured, as this pristine pair is set to make its official debut tomorrow.

Comprised of breathable primeknit across its upper, the component is reinforced with a matching cage overlay across its side panels for superb lockdown support. A distinctive heel badge with Japanese branded pull tabs further detail its clean design, as the model is topped off with a tonal white boost sole unit with the recognizable NMD plug inserts.

You can find this immaculate pair at select adidas retailers worldwide starting Thursday, August 18th.

Images: atmos

Authors Take

Since its introduction, Ive been a fan of the model. This colorway is timeless and stylish, so you cant go wrong with a pair.

Source: http://www.kicksonfire.com/adidas-nmd-xr1-triple-white-release-reminder/

The Lid: Some Good News for Endangered GOP Senators

Donald Trump Confronted By Mexican Man ‘Did You Read the Statue of Liberty?’

Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethosStatues of a n***d Donald Trump popped up in a handful of U.S. cities on Thursday in what was just the latest example of something we hope never happens again after this election.

Get The Lid straight to your inbox each afternoon -- click here to sign up.

"16 from 30,000:

Here"s some good news for Republicans: Ticket splitting ain"t dead yet. Despite the increasingly polarized electorate, some Americans are still making voting decisions based on candidates and not simply casting ballots going by party affiliation, our colleague Dante Chinni writes. Chinni notes that in 2012, six states selected presidential and Senate candidates from different parties: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and West Virginia.

So why is this particularly helpful to Republicans? Well, the polls (Most of them. All of them?) have Donald Trump down in key states where GOP incumbent senators are facing tough re-election campaigns pivotal to Republicans maintaining control of the upper chamber. The most important races are shaping to be New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- each states where Hillary Clinton is currently leading. And the biggest issue each of the Republican senators are facing is how to navigate questions about their potential support for Trump. The fact split-ticket voters still exist is encouraging for the GOP, who will need support from voters who don"t back Trump if they want to win. And one thing to watch for, especially if Trump is unable to turn things around, will be Democrats ratcheting up their attempts to tie vulnerable Republicans to all things Trump. But because Trump is such a unique political figure, there is a chance some voters don"t even associate him with Republicans. For some, Trump is just Trump.

Programming Note: No Lid tomorrow. See ya back on Monday.

POPPING ON NBC POLITICS

FOR THE RECORD

"NYC Parks stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small."

-- New York City Parks Department response a n**e Donald Trump statue placed in Union Square on Thursday.

TOMORROW"S SKED

Donald Trump campaigns in Michigan.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/lid-some-good-news-endangered-gop-senators-n633966

LOOK: Olympic runner slams head into barrier during steeplechase

Emma Coburn wins 3000m steeplechase final, clinches Rio bid

You"re probably not familiar with the steeplechase, but it"s an incredibly difficult event.

It involves running and jumping -- repeatedly and over long distances. Because of this, there are occasionally nasty falls or missed obstacles.

One such fall happened on Wednesday, when Uganda"s Jacob Araptany tripped and slammed his head into the barrier that the runners are supposed to jump over.

Araptany was OK after the scary fall, but was forced to withdraw from the race. Kenya"s Conseslus Kirupto wound up taking the gold, while American Evan Jager won silver. Another Kenyan, Ezekiel Kemboi finished with the bronze.

Source: http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/look-olympic-runner-slams-head-into-barrier-during-steeplechase/

Glastonbury"s Donn Cabral Takes Aim At Steeplechase Medal

U.S." Coburn makes history with 3000m steeplechase bronze

In May, Glastonbury High graduate Donn Cabral shared a high school track in Glen Gardner, N.J., with a group of students making up a missed gym class.

Cabral, one of the all-time best American steeplechasers, was getting in an early afternoon workout and politely asked to use Lane 1.

His company will be a little different Wednesday in Brazil.

After four years spent training and preparing in relative obscurity, Cabral, who graduated from Glastonbury in 2008, will run in the Olympic 3,000-meter steeplechase final in Rio de Janeiro.

The final starts at about 10:55 a.m. at Olympic Stadium, where temperatures are expected to be in the 80s.

Cabral, 26, is trying to become the first American in 32 years to medal in the event, which includes running, hurdling and jumping over a water pit on the track. Brian Diemer won the bronze in 1984 in Los Angeles.

It is the second straight Olympic final for Cabral.

In 2012, he ran well, leading for portions of the race, but finished eighth with a time of 8:25.91.

On Monday, Cabral ran 8:21.96, the third-fastest time of qualifying rounds. He was the third automatic qualifier in the third and final heat, which was the fastest run.

All eyes will once again be on the Kenyans in the final. Kenya has won the last eight gold medals in the event and 10 of the last 12. In the qualifying rounds, Kenya"s Conseslus Kipruto had the fastest qualifying time of 8:21.40.

Ezekiel Kemboi, who won the gold medal in 2012 and 2004, qualified with the eighth-fastest time of 8:25.51.

Sport Illustrated predicted a sweep of the event by the Kenyans with Conseslus Kipruto winning gold, Kemboi taking silver and Brimin Kiprop Kipruto getting bronze. At the World Championships in Beijing last August, Kenya swept the medals with Kemboi going first and Conseslus Kipruto taking second. But the Americans enter the meet with their own piece of steeplechase history. It is the first time three Americans have advanced to the final in 80 years.

Hillary Bor and Evan Jager both made the final, each winning a heat Monday. Jager is considered a medal contender after finishing sixth at the World Championships last year. Bor ran 8:25.01 and Jager ran 8:25.86. Bor"s time was the sixth fastest and Jager"s was ninth in qualifying.

Mahiedine Mekhissi, who won the silver medal in 2012, will also be back after finishing 12th in qualifying in 8:26.32.

But Cabral enters the final with his own motivation and momentum.

He is coming off two of his best performances of the season.

After running 8:26.37 and finishing third in the final at the U.S. Olympic trials, Cabral returned to Eugene, Ore., about three weeks later and ran 8:20.72 to win the steeplechase at the Track Town summer series.

Cabral will be pulling on his experience from London in 2012.

In the final four years ago, Cabral mixed it up with the best, getting to the front of the pack early in the race. But on the closing lap, he wasn"t able to close the gap on the leaders. He enters Wednesday"s final more experienced and also healthy, coming off several weeks of training in Flagstaff, Ariz., where he ran at altitude.

Source: http://www.courant.com/sports/olympics/hc-oly-donn-cabral-steeplechase-advance-0817-20160816-story.html

UFC 202 news conference ends abruptly after water bottles, energy drinks get thrown

Fightful.com Podcast (8/18): Vince Russo On Summerslam, UFC 202 Predictions.

What started as yet another odd news conference involving Conor McGregor ended in complete chaos Wednesday at the MGM Grand.

McGregor arrived more than 15 minutes late, after UFC president Dana White began the news conference without the typically tardy Irish superstar, who will fight Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Once McGregor finally took his place on the dais, the situation quickly deteriorated.

Diaz, who appeared to be acting on the directions of his older brother and UFC star Nick Diaz, rose from his seat and walked off the stage in the David Copperfield Theater in the middle of McGregors response to a question just minutes after his arrival.

As Nate Diaz led his entourage toward the exit, he and some of his teammates held up their middle fingers and hurled expletives and threats at McGregor and his entourage, with McGregor firing back from the stage.

You will do (expletive) nothing, McGregor uttered several times. Get the (expletive) out of here.

Soon, more than words were flying through the air.

Water bottles were thrown in the direction of a group of McGregors friends and training partners, several of which were tossed directly back.

From the stage, McGregor grabbed an unopened can of an energy drink and lobbed it toward Diaz and his crew, which included UFC lightweight contender Gilbert Melendez and former UFC fighter Jake Shields.

UFC officials stopped McGregor from leaving the stage to physically confront Diaz, and hotel security and uniformed police officers kept the entourages separated.

An agitated White, who could be heard onstage instructing McGregor not to throw the can, quickly called an end to the news conference.

Sorry, guys. See you Saturday, said White, referring to the rematch between McGregor and Diaz, which will be contested at welterweight and tops a pay-per-view card that begins at 7 p.m.

Nobody appeared injured in the fracas, though several people were struck with projectiles, including rolls of tape.

Early on, it appeared the story of the day would be Whites decision to begin the news conference without the enigmatic headliner.

McGregor regularly shows up late for scheduled appearances, and his rematch against Diaz was removed from the UFC 200 card when McGregor decided not to fly to Las Vegas for a news conference, triggering a public spat between the featherweight champion and the organization.

He has to start respecting peoples time, man, White said of starting without McGregor. Yours, mine, (the other fighters), David Copperfields. Everybody.

Light heavyweights Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira, who will meet Saturday for the top contender spot, smiled through much of the drama onstage before they were whisked away by White.

It was not the first time there has been drama between the camps. Before the first meeting in March, a tense news conference in Los Angeles almost bubbled over into a physical altercation. During a staredown two days before the bout, McGregor took a swipe at Diazs hand and the two had to be separated.

Diazs camp also has a history of issues outside of competition, most notably a brawl on a 2010 Strikeforce card on CBS that was triggered when Jason Mayhem Miller entered the cage to challenge Shields to a fight and was violently beaten down by a group that included Nick and Nate Diaz.

The Diaz brothers also were involved in a skirmish with UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov last year while attending a World Series of Fighting event at Planet Hollywood.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.

Source: http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/mma-ufc/ufc-202-news-conference-ends-abruptly-after-water-bottles-energy-drinks-get-thrown