US opens with win over France

Alex Morgan scored twice, Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd had a goal apiece and the U.S. women's soccer team rallied from an early deficit Wednesday to open its Olympics with a 4-2 win over France.

The Americans trailed 2-0 after 14 minutes, allowing more goals they had allowed in any game since the World Cup final loss to Japan last year.

But Wambach answered in the 19th, Morgan in the 32nd, Lloyd in the 56th and Morgan again in the 66th in an Olympic soccer tournament that began two days before the opening ceremony and 400-plus miles away from London. Soccer is one of two sports that starts early so it can play a full slate of games.

The Americans next play Colombia on Saturday. The French will face North Korea.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/us_opens_with_win_over_france/11297449

Toronto Raptors Los Angeles Clippers

Sather Now Turns Focus to Shane Doan

Although GM Glen Sather would not completely comply during yesterday's post-Rick Nash press conference and admit that the New York Rangers are heavily after free agent forward Shane Doan, the rumors that have made headlines the past few weeks do not deny the fact that the 35-year-old veteran is the next major target on Mr. Sather's list. While Doan is not entirely open to leaving the Phoenix Coyotes organization just yet, he has initiated talks with other teams around the NHL, and was out on the East Coast this past weekend taking a tour of the Rangers' training facility in addition to the city of Manhattan.�

But you would think the acquisition of Nash would now bring the two sides even closer than they previously were. Doan is ring-less in his 16-season career, and obviously would like to have a shot a winning a Stanley Cup before retirement rolls around and gobbles him up. That's not to say that the Coyotes are not a legitimate contender, but they haven't mad...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/sather_now_turns_focus_to_shane_doan/11287270

Los Angeles Clippers

Lakers Rumors: LA Must Move Forward by Ending Pursuit of Dwight Howard

The Los Angeles Lakers must officially remove themselves from Dwight Howard race this summer, and prepare for next season with the championship-caliber talent they already have.

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Orlando Magic "have told rival executives that they might not trade Dwight Howard after all." Broussard reports that some executives believe that the Magic could potentially wait until next February's trade deadline to deal Superman:

While the angst between the Magic and Howard is real and sizable, the franchise also realizes that Howard is fickle, impressionable and prone to changing his mind.

If Broussard's report is accurate, then there is no action left to take by the Lakers' front office, other than hanging up the phone permanently on the Magic.

LA has more than enough talent to win basketball games in 2012-13, and Howard wouldn't exactly fill a need for them considering they already have an All-Star at center. Andrew Bynum's production for the Lakers last season was stellar. He averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

The bottom line is that the Magic and Lakers are two teams headed in different directions. While it's no secret that Orlando won't be competitive in the NBA for some time now, LA has made a couple of excellent free-agent signings to make a perennial contender that much better. Basically, Orlando needs Howard a lot more than LA does right now.

The Lakers have more than enough stars to sell the franchise, and one of the greatest players the game has ever seen in Kobe Bryant. In the age of super-teams, the Lakers aren't looking too shabby. With the acquisition of Steve Nash this summer, LA now boasts a backcourt duo and frontcourt duo that can match up and contend with any in the league.

The pickup of Antawn Jamison was another big offseason move that will have fans excited for the regular season to start on time this year. 

LA must move forward with the solid pieces they have this coming season. They can compete with Oklahoma City now, and they have the plethora of size in the frontcourt to give the defending NBA champion Miami Heat nightmares down the road. 

Give up the chase on Dwight Howard, LA—you're already set.

 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1271708-lakers-rumors-la-must-move-forward-by-ending-pursuit-of-dwight-howard

Denver Nuggets San Diego Chargers

Alabama Football: Top 10 Out-of-State Targets for 2014

Alabama’s 2013 recruiting class is nearly full currently sitting at 18 verbal commitments, but while a few big fish still remain for Nick Saban and his staff, the Crimson Tide have already gotten a head start evaluating for 2014.

Saban's latest camp session featured some of the nation's best prep juniors from around the nation.  

With the state of Alabama possessing an unusually strong junior class, Saban can be more selective in recruiting targets that reside outside the Tide’s neighboring territories.  

Even though the long list of soon-to-be high school juniors still have two years to play on the prep level, Saban has already identified several top targets from across the country that are interested in playing their college football at the Capstone.  

Which of the nation’s top juniors should Tide supporters be keeping close tabs on?

Find out in this breakdown of Alabama’s top 10 out-of-state targets for the class of 2014. 

(List is in alphabetical order.)

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1271485-alabama-football-top-10-out-of-state-targets-for-2014

Carolina Panthers Phoenix Suns

Milton Doyle: NCAA Clears Kansas Freshman to Play this Season

Kansas and head coach Bill Self received some good news from the NCAA Clearinghouse over the weekend as incoming freshman Milton Doyle has been cleared to play this upcoming season. The 6-foot-4 Chicago-native was awaiting clearance while the NCAA investigated his credits from high school. Doyle has been enrolled in summer school at Kansas. For [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/milton_doyle_ncaa_clears_kansas_freshman_to_play_this_season/11289658

Boston Celtics Denver Broncos

10 impact freshmen to watch for in 2012

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Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/10_impact_freshmen_to_watch_for_during_2012_season/11282935

Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers

Howson likes current roster after Nash trade

Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson said he's comfortable with the current roster he's got heading into this season's training camp after trading Captain Rick Nash to the New York Rangers today in exchange for forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon and a first round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

"We'll see what happens the rest of summer," Howson added. "If we see something that's going to help us, we're going to do it."

The Rangers also received defenseman Steven Delisle and a conditional third round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft in the deal.

"There was a little bit of negotiating today," said Howson. "This is pretty much the deal we talked about on Friday; we just needed to have the weekend."

Nash, the No.1 overall pick in the 2002 draft to the Jackets, asked for the trade in January after he was told by management the club was going through a reshaping phase. Nash has a no-trade clause and therefore was able to choose which club he would go to in a trade. That tied Howson's hands a bit in terms of what he could get in exchange for the star forward, Olympian and All-Star.

"We talked to a number of teams. A number outside the list," Howson said, adding he was attempting to gauge the market in terms of value for the forward who has scored more than 30 goals in each of the last five seasons. "Ultimately, Rick was in control. It certainly limited the teams we talked to seriously."

But the Rangers were always interested, said Howson, and they got the deal done with a trade he said he's "pleased" with. Howson said today's trade brought the Jackets a good package, despite Dubinsky struggling some last season.

"I have no issue with Brandon bouncing back," said Howson, adding he believes Dubinsky can be a 15 to 20-goal scorer. "He impacted games every time he played."

Moving past the Nash era, Howson said he sees defense as the base of this team.

"We believe the strength of our team is defense," said Howson. "We think that's a very good blue line."

The new look of the club also has some size to it, said Howson, and speed.

"We think upfront we're going to be fast and competitive," said Howson, adding they've now got some size down the middle. "We think we have a more balanced, versatile group upfront. We think we have six to seven people who can get 15 to 25 goals."

And with that, said Howson, he expects to se some higher numbers in the win column.

"It's about winning right now, for sure," said Howson. "This is not a trade where we think, We'll be better five years from now.' We think we can be better next year and we think these players can help us do that."

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/howson_likes_current_roster_after_nash_trade/11281879

Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers