>Fox Sports will broadcast the NFL draft this
season
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Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , along with the NFL¡¯s usual television
partners of ESPN and NFL Network.A person familiar with the decision says Fox
will show the same feed as the NFL Network. The person spoke on condition of
anonymity because the league and Fox haven¡¯t announced the decision.ESPN will
still air its own draft feed but the person said the current rights deal for the
draft allowed for the inclusion of another broadcaster.Pro Football Talk first
reported the deal.Fox won the rights to broadcast 11 Thursday night football
games in a deal with the NFL last month, taking over a package that was
previously shared by NBC and CBS. Kevin Durant became the 44th player in NBA
history to score 20,000 career points, finishing with 40 as the Golden State
Warriors had their five-game winning streak snapped along with a 12-game
unbeaten stretch in the Clippers rivalry with a 125-106 loss.
Durant reached the milestone on a pull-up jumper from the left wing at the
1:41 mark of the second quarter. The Warriors announced his accomplishment on
the main scoreboard and Durant received a standing ovation, shaking his head in
acknowledgment while still very much in game mode.
By late in the fourth quarter, that crowd was making its way for the exits
with the game out of reach.
The NBA Finals MVP returned from a three-game absence due to a strained right
calf and scored 25 points in the first half against the Clippers ¨C KD¡¯s biggest
half of the season and the exact number he needed for 20,000.
Durant, who had a four-point play during the second quarter on the way to 14
points in the period Josh Jackson
Packers Jersey , is at 29 the second-youngest player behind LeBron
James and first to reach the 20,000 mark as a member of the Warriors.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ¨C Golden State star Stephen Curry was out for the
Warriors¡¯ home game against the Clippers after he slipped during the shootaround
and re-sprained his troublesome right ankle.
The Warriors updated their injury report to include Curry¡¯s status. It¡¯s the
same injury that recently sidelined him for 11 games, though coach Steve Kerr
said ¡±I don¡¯t think it¡¯s serious.¡± No MRI or X-rays were scheduled for now
though Curry was sore and the Warriors won¡¯t take any chances.
NEW YORK (AP) ¨C The NBA has suspended Miami Heat forward James Johnson and
Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka one game apiece for throwing punches at each
other.
The punishment was announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league¡¯s executive vice
president for basketball operations.
The fight began with 7:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Heat¡¯s 90-89
victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night in Toronto. Ibaka and Johnson started
shoving each other while waiting for the ball to be inbounded under the Miami
basket. Both received technical fouls and ejections.
PRO FOOTBALL
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) ¨C The Fritz Pollard Alliance called for the NFL to
investigate whether the Oakland Raiders violated the ¡±Rooney Rule¡± when they
hired Jon Gruden as coach.
Fritz Pollard Alliance counsel Cyrus Mehri and N. Jeremi Duru said they were
concerned that Raiders owner Mark Davis came to an agreement with Gruden before
the team interviewed any minority candidates as required by the NFL since
2003.
¡±As soon as we learned of the reports, we formally requested that the NFL
thoroughly investigate the matter to conclusively determine whether the Rooney
Rule was violated ¨C and if it was violated, to impose an appropriate
punishment Denzel Ward
Browns Jersey ,¡± they said.
The Fritz Pollard Alliance is dedicated to promoting diversity and equality
of job opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of NFL
teams.
Davis said Tuesday at the news conference introducing Gruden as the team¡¯s
new coach that he had been trying to make the move for six years and finally
believed it would happen after a meeting in Philadelphia on Christmas Eve, the
day before Gruden worked a game between the Raiders and Eagles on ESPN.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) ¨C What¡¯s expected to be an offseason makeover for the
Seattle Seahawks is starting with its coaching staff.
The Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line
coach Tom Cable. Bevell was in charge of calling plays, while Cable was
responsible for a run game and offensive line that failed to meet
expectations.
It was a stunning sweep for head coach Pete Carroll, who has been immensely
loyal to his assistants during his tenure.
Carroll¡¯s only other significant firing was offensive coordinator Jeremy
Bates following the 2010 season, Carroll¡¯s first in Seattle. Most times when
assistants have left, it¡¯s because they¡¯ve received promotions elsewhere.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
HOUSTON (AP) ¨C Scott Frost has one final award to share with the University
of Central Florida.
The former UCF coach and new Nebraska boss received the Paul ¡±Bear¡± Bryant
Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday night.
Frost is first since former Boise State coach Chris Petersen in 2009 with a
non-Power 5 program.
This completes the awards season for Frost. In the past few weeks Rashaad
Penny Jersey , Frost also claimed the Home Depot Coach of the Year,
American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, AP Coach of the Year
and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year awards.
UCF rolled past Memphis 62-55 in the American Athletic Conference
Championship game, and beat Auburn 34-27 in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl to finish
13-0. UCF finished ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll of the season, receiving
four first place votes.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK (AP) ¨C Jay Bruce and his proven bat are headed back to the New York
Mets.
The free-agent outfielder is set to return to the Big Apple after agreeing to
a $39 million, three-year contract, according to two people familiar with the
negotiations. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is
pending a physical and no announcement had been made.
A three-time All-Star, Bruce hit a combined .254 with 36 home runs and 101
RBIs for the Mets and Cleveland Indians last season. After falling out of
playoff contention Jaire
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on Aug. 9 for minor league pitcher Ryder Ryan.
Bruce, who turns 31 on April 3, fills a hole in the outfi.