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At the Masters, despite the bleak future outlook, Tiger Woods remains optimistic

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The red color of his shirt was the only reminder of Sunday’s many Masters performances. It was roughly 1:30 p.m. EST at Augusta National Golf Club, and the eventual winner, Scottie Scheffler, still had an hour left before the start of the final round.

But here was Tiger Woods, who was accustomed to playing late on Sunday afternoons, and he finished the day with a 5-over-par 77, good for last place amongst the 60 players who made it through 36 holes.

On Saturday, the five-time Masters winner – who has been scuffling with back pain – shot 82 in his worst round in 26 appearances in the first golf tournament of the 12 months. Still, he was determined to complete the tournament. Only Woods could draw such an enormous gallery where customers didn’t come to look at him fight for the green jacket, but only to rejoice who he was when he was the best golfer in the world.

As he climbed the 18th hole on Sunday, fans crowded around the green, creating an amphitheater for what could be the great player’s last appearance on that grand stage.

Tiger Woods waves his hat to the crowd as he walks to the 18th green during the final round of the 2024 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14 in Augusta, Georgia.

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The 15-time major winner has never looked worse in his injury-riddled profession. Woods hit just eight greens in Saturday’s third round, en path to two double bogeys, eight bogeys and two birdies. It was similar on Sunday. After making a birdie on the par 5 second hole, he scored six overs over the next 16 holes and had only one birdie in the round.

Still, he called the week a hit, showing defiance and optimism about the profession of a player with bleak future prospects.

“It was a good week all around,” he said. “I believe coming here after not playing a full tournament in an extended time, it was an excellent fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, yesterday not every little thing went as I wanted. “

Woods is set, if perhaps a bit delusional, to imagine he still has what it takes beyond 72 holes to win a significant championship or any tournament. But few athletes in any sport have shown as much commitment as he did to overcoming adversity and returning to the winner’s circle.

On Sunday morning, Woods woke up at 3:45 a.m. to undergo treatments to organize his body for the 9:35 a.m. game. Where he once set the standard for excellence on the golf course, causing players to tremble in fear in his presence, now players almost pity him despite the fact that they worship him as a god in sports.

“I don’t think anyone wants to catch Tiger at his best,” said Neal Shipley, a 23-year-old amateur who played with Woods on Sunday. “Nobody can win in the event that they play their best. I’m definitely rooting for him and wishing him good golf shots. I actually appreciate all the work he’s doing to organize his body to perform here. He really puts in the effort and puts in a variety of effort to be here for everybody.

Woods will inform you how hard he works. It is his nature to each do work and speak about it. Currently, he trains greater than plays golf. On Sunday afternoon, he repeated his mantra: “Keep the engine moving, keep the body moving, keep getting stronger, keep progressing.”

Tiger Woods makes a shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the 2024 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14 in Augusta, Georgia.

Warren Little/Getty Images

But what’s going to all this work do to his future as a serious contender for major championships?

Going into the Masters, many in the golfing world hoped Woods’ body could withstand the hills of Augusta National for 4 days. On Sunday afternoon, there was a sigh of relief on the faces of many in the gallery when he entered the 18th hole. There was also relief on his face. He couldn’t be satisfied along with his play, but the vicissitudes of life taught the 48-year-old to be thankful for more modest successes, corresponding to a day without pain or just ending a tournament.

By the time Woods finished signing his scorecard, Woods was already taking a look at the remainder of this 12 months’s major championship schedule. The PGA Championship shall be held in May at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2000 at Valhalla, Woods defeated Bob May in a three-hole playoff to win his second consecutive PGA Championship. This was Woods, who was in the strategy of winning 4 straight major championships.

He cannot be that player again and he knows it, but that doesn’t suggest he is not determined to get one other shot at the championship.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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NFL star Terrell Owens signs a contract with Michael Strahan’s talent agency

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Terrell Owens, NFL, Football


NFL Hall of Fame receiver and podcast host Terrell Owens has signed with a talent agency to further strengthen his claims within the entertainment game.

According to , Owens was signed by SMAC Entertainment, headed by host and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz has also joined SMAC Entertainment.

“We are excited to add TO and Jordan to the SMAC family. They are both at the top of their game and set the standard in their industry,” Schwartz-Morini said in a written statement. “TO and Jordan have already brought an infectious energy to our team, and we are excited to help them realize their vision for careers in media, business and branding.”

A five-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Owens played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. In 2018, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A member of the 2000 NFL All-Decade Team, Owens finished his profession with 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 touchdowns, rating third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Since retiring from skilled soccer in 2012, Owens has already made several moves. He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including “,” and in addition had his own reality show, “, on VH1.

He currently co-hosts the podcast with former NFL player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe.

SMAC Entertainment is home to stars similar to rapper and actor Common, Wiz Khalifa, Strahan, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and current NFL players similar to Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings an NBA championship desire with his Olympic experience

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The gold medal went to the USA Basketball team. Mission completed on the 2024 Paris Games. U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr just answered his final query during his final news conference on Aug. 10 after his team defeated France within the gold medal game.

However, before leaving the stage of the press conference in Paris, Kerr stopped to deliver an unsolicited message to media around the globe.

“Devin Booker is an amazing basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just desired to say that,” Kerr said.

The “underrated MVP” compliment meant so much to the Phoenix Suns guard.

“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his mind throughout the entire process. A 12 months ago I said what I desired to do for this team and what we desired to do for the country.

“It was a lot larger than all of us. Survival was something we’d discuss for the remainder of our lives.

The USA Basketball team was centered around NBA star icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. There has also been some discussion amongst media and fans in regards to the lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and, to a lesser extent, Tyrese Haliburton. Lost within the shuffle was the all-around, unselfish play of sharpshooter Booker wearing the armband.

Guard Devin Booker throughout the final men’s basketball game between France and the United States on the Olympic Games on Aug. 10 at Bercy Arena in Paris.

Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images

Booker was fourth in scoring for the U.S., averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and a couple of.2 three-pointers made early in all six Olympics, and likewise had the perfect plus/minus (plus-130) for an American. Kerr was impressed with Booker’s deal with a difficult defense, regardless that he is thought for his offense, ball movement and the way he has adjusted to not being one in every of the highest options on offense.

“I just understood what was at stake,” Booker said. “I’m proud to be from this country. I’m happy with playing basketball. Even though it wasn’t invented in America, we dominated for a very long time. Obviously the world is incredibly talented and the sport is growing, however it was just one other message to allow them to know who we’re.

Booker said he also learned in regards to the preparations from his all-star team, watching the preparations on and off the court. The 28-year-old added that he gained lifelong friendships.

“It’s cool to see that everyone has their own issues,” Booker said. “In my 10 years in the NBA, I’ve learned that you have to choose what you can use for yourself. But the level of detail, the attention to detail, the intensity – it’s all consistent across the board.”

As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the 2 Sun stars “is close and grows stronger every day.” They live about five minutes from one another within the Phoenix area and commonly spend time at home and on the road. Most recently, Booker had to steer the Suns without Durant, who was sidelined with an injury.

The amazing Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and three.4 assists, which were tops for the Suns. However, the 14-time NBA All-Star has been sidelined since November 8 with a left calf strain. Suns players Bradley Beal (calf) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) were also sidelined. The Suns are 1-5 without Durant, which incorporates 4 straight losses.

Booker and Suns sans Durant’s next rivals shall be the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Over the last six games, Booker is averaging 24.1 points, shooting 43.2% from the sphere and making 16 of 43 three-pointers. Suns guard Tyus Jones said there was numerous pressure on Booker offensively due to the injury.

“We’re asking a lot of Book,” Jones said after Monday’s 109-99 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic. “It’s numerous pressure for him. We are very focused on it. They are physical with him, holding him and grabbing him, throwing two or three bodies at him all night long. So he’s got so much on his plate and we just need to proceed to seek out ways to get him open within the moments we will and proceed to assist him when other players are taking shots and making plays.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (left) with Suns forward Kevin Durant (right) during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 31 on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Booker currently has two Olympic gold medals, 4 NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing from the Suns’ second-leading all-time scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they’ve yet to win a title.

After experiencing the joys of winning a gold medal, Booker as an NBA champion wants the gold Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy much more.

“Most of the guys that were there did it,” Booker said of his Olympic teammates who were NBA champions. “They were champions. This is standard for them. Anything lower than that, they need nothing to do with it. It’s contagious…

“That’s all I want. That’s all I want.”

Marc J. Spears is Andscape’s senior NBA author. He used to have the ability to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been capable of do it for years and his knees still hurt.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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New Unrivaled Women’s League Reveals Team Rosters and Coach Allocations

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After months of introducing the players and coaches who will participate in its inaugural season, the brand new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league announced its team rosters and coaching assignments on Wednesday.

Founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled consists of six teams of six players each. The league was created to offer WNBA players with a substitute for playing overseas in the course of the offseason.

Although initially announced as having 30 players, the league has since expanded to 36, which Collier attributed “above financial forecasts”. The league has announced 34 players publicly up to now.

The inaugural season of Unrivaled will begin on January 17, 2025, with all games going down in Miami. Here are the official teams for the inaugural season, as well season schedule.

Vinyl Basketball Club:

Arike Ogunbowale

Rhyn Howard

Aliyah Boston

Jordin Canada

Rae Burrell

Dearica Hamby

– Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Rose Basketball Club:

Chelsea Grey

Kahleah Copper

Angel Reese

Brittney Sykes

Lexie Hull

Azura Stevens

– Coach: Nola Henry

Mgła basketball club:

Jewell Lloyd

Dijon Carrington

Breanna Stewart

Courtney Vandersloot

Rickey Jackson

Aaliyah Edwards

– Coach: Phil Handy

Lunar Owls Basketball Club:

Skylar Diggins-Smith

Allisha Gray

Napheesa Collier

Natasha Chmura

Shakira Austin

– TBD: wild card

– Coach: DJ Sackmann

Phantom Basketball Club:

Jackie Young

Marina Mabrey

Satou Sabally

Tiffany Hayes

Brittney Grinner

– TBD: wild card

– Coach: Adam Harrington

Laces Basketball Club:

Kelsey Plum

Kayla McBride

Alice Thomas

Courtney Williams

KateMartin

Stefanie Dolson

– Coach: Andrew Wade

Mia Berry is senior HBCU author at Andscape, covering every thing from sports to student-led protests. She’s from Detroit (What’s up, Doe!), a long-suffering Detroit sports fan and Notre Dame alum who randomly shouts “Go Irish.”


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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