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Bryce Miller: Derailed world boxing champ Andy Ruiz Jr. faced hard questions on comeback road
SAN DIEGO — This is the beginning of the road back for Andy Ruiz Jr., the boxer who put the heavy in heavyweight on the way to a world championship celebrated from the office of Mexico's president to the gritty agricultural region surrounding his hometown of Imperial, Calif. The man labeled a "real-life Rocky" stunned the sport and then-champion Anthony Joshua by capturing four title belts on June 1, 2019, at Madison Square Garden. Ruiz sparked debates about body shape and convention, winning for the doughy among us to spite the sculpted and chiseled. He was the gargantuan underdog, in more wa...
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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Alex Andrejev: NASCAR pulling Jennifer Jo Cobb from Talladega might not be sexism, but it is confusing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After nearly two decades of NASCAR starts, Jennifer Jo Cobb will not make her debut in the sport's top series at Talladega. NASCAR said Monday that Cobb was not approved to race at the superspeedway event, counteracting an earlier announcement by Rick Ware Racing that the 47-year-old driver would start for the team in the Cup Series this weekend. That also means Cobb will not be poking her head through any glass ceilings previously shattered by women behind the wheel. She was slated to be the first woman to compete in the Cup Series since Danica Patrick in 2018, but the sanct...
The Charlotte Observer
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Sam Carchidi: For Flyers, it’s time to put the final 11 games to good use
PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers are virtually out of the playoff picture — nine points behind Boston, which has two games in hand — with just 11 games remaining in their disappointing season. So what can they accomplish in those 11 games? Get Carter Hart straightened out This, of course, depends on Hart’s health. If healthy, he should play most of the remaining games so he can try to regain his mojo — he looked like his old self in a 2-1 shootout win over Pittsburgh in his last outing Thursday — and take something positive into the offseason. Hart has a 9-11-5 record, along with a 3.67 goals-against...
The Philadelphia Inquirer
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Chicago Blackhawks drop to 6th in the Central Division after a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators
In a week featuring three games against the Nashville Predators that could make or break the Chicago Blackhawks’ season, they couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. The Hawks were undone Monday by back-to-back Predators goals in the second period and another in the third in a 5-2 loss at Bridgestone Arena. “It sucks,” said Hawks forward Alex DeBrincat, who scored the Hawks’ first goal. “We have a few breakdowns, about two minutes of poor hockey, and they score four goals. We’ve got to be better.” After each team scored in the first period, the Predators jumped back in front about five minu...
Chicago Tribune
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SF Giants pick up fourth shutout victory of April, Kevin Gausman beats Phillies with his splitter
The Giants are scoring the fewest runs per game of any major league team, but the starting rotation has been so dominant that the offensive struggles have hardly mattered. With six scoreless innings from right-hander Kevin Gausman, three more from a trio of relievers and a two-run homer from Brandon Belt, the Giants secured their second straight shutout win in a 2-0 victory in Philadelphia. After defeating the Marlins 1-0 on Sunday, Phillies skipper Gabe Kapler made his first visit back to Citizens Bank Park with the Giants and notched his 200th career win, bringing his managerial record to an...
The Mercury News
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Steph Curry scores 49 as Warriors beat 76ers
With his right arm extended in the air, Stephen Curry held the form of his shooting stroke and, when his clutch 3-pointer dripped through the net, strutted back on defense. The message was clear: The Warriors have found their swagger. Curry scored 49 points, the defense set the tone and the Warriors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-96 Monday night at Wells Fargo Center. After Saturday’s disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics that snapped a four-game win streak, Golden State could have teetered into a losing skid as it has so many times this season. Instead, the Warriors (29-29) responded with...
The Mercury News
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Dallas sneaks by Red Wings in shootout, 3-2
The Red Wings almost played the role of spoiler. Luke Glendening scored two goals Monday but the Red Wings couldn't overcome Dallas in the shootout, as the Stars won 3-2. The Stars won the shootout 2-1 in five rounds, with Denis Gurianov scoring the clincher for Dallas. Dylan Larkin scored the lone Wings goal in the shootout. The Red Wings (16-24-7) gained a point in the first of the four game series against Dallas this week, a definite scheduling quirk, with Game 2 right back Tuesday in Dallas. It was a big win for Dallas, which continues to be in a tight race for the playoffs. The Stars came...
The Detroit News
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DeJong, Cardinals capitalize in rematch with Nationals' righty Ross, win in a landslide, 12-5
WASHINGTON — Monday night, they feast. The Cardinals’ on again, off again, shutout again offense roared in its rematch with Washington Nationals righthander Joe Ross. Five games after Ross riddled the Cardinals and set the stage for a run of frustrating games against righthanded pitchers, the Cardinals answered with 10 runs against him on the way to a 12-5 thumping at Nationals Park. Paul DeJong hit a grand slam to chase Ross in the fifth inning and give the Cardinals a 10-2 lead at the time. DeJong finished with two homers and five RBIs to go with three runs, and it was his production in the ...
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Shorthanded Panthers take care of business against Columbus, gain ground in division race
The ultra-competitive Central Division will be won in the head-to-head matchups between the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, but it could be lost on days like Monday. While the Lightning and Hurricanes battled in Tampa, the Panthers kicked off a four-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. It was a prime opportunity to gain ground on a division rival and they didn’t waste, pulling out a 4-2 win in Sunrise. Florida (29-12-5) jumped out to a two-goal lead on the Blue Jackets (15-23-9) in the second period and ...
Miami Herald
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LaMelo Ball’s broken wrist is healed, a major step to him playing again for Hornets
Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball’s fractured right wrist has healed and he’s been cleared to start individual basketball activity. When Ball might play again this season is yet to be determined. Ball’s cast was removed and a CT scan confirmed the wrist has healed. He has been cleared to return to individual basketball activity, the team announced Monday night. Ball was examined in New York by Dr. Michelle Carlson, who did his surgery last month. Ball, who was having the top season in his rookie class, suffered a right wrist fracture in a hard fall during the March 20 road loss to the Los A...
The Charlotte Observer
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