Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Greg Oden celebrate Heat win

If this isn’t about the oddest trio to take a photo together at a Miami Heat game, then I don’t know what is.

Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki both attended Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Heat and Pacers in Miami on Friday night and celebrated the series-clinching win by taking a photo with Greg Oden after the game.

Serena and Woz both were knocked out of the French Open early and have plenty of time on their hands to enjoy themselves, and they’re doing just that. Serena is a minority owner of the Heat, while Wozniacki has been a fan of the club for the last few years and even attended games with ex-fiance Rory McIlroy.

I have to say, what Serena is doing to lift the spirits of her heartbroken friend is pretty cool. Not only did she send a positive tweet to Caro last week, but the two hung out before the French Open and obviously are now hanging out together since they’ve lost. Nothing like going to a big-time Heat game and hanging with Serena to help you get over an ex.

Miami champs ! @serenawilliams #goheat pic.twitter.com/vwZZDv46ES

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) May 31, 2014

Backup Mark Sanchez believes he is entering the prime of his career

Give Mark Sanchez credit for having an optimistic outlook on his professional football career even though things haven’t worked out the way he would have liked.

The former first-round pick of the New York Jets went from being the hot young star with the team to being overpaid, underwhelming and released. He’s now a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he’s happy with his situation and — get this — believes he is entering the prime of his career.

Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin quoted Sanchez as telling her he feels he is “just entering the prime of my career.”

Sanchez believes missing last season because of a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason was actually good for him.

“Maybe this whole shoulder thing and relocation has just been a blessing in disguise,” Sanchez told Newsday. “Maybe that year off was exactly what I needed. Got a little rest for my legs, for my arm, and I feel great.”

Credit Sanchez for having a positive attitude about being in Philly. He thinks being on a team with so many great offensive players and coaches is a wonderful situation for him, and he’s probably right. But how could he say he’s entering the prime of his career if he’s going to spend it on the bench? Maybe we should cut him some slack and say at least he’s mentally prepared in case Nick Foles get hurt. Or should we sit here and laugh at what’s become of him? Naw, that would be too easy. I’ll opt for the former.

Helmet smack to Pro Football Talk

Anastasia Ashley on good and bad Instagram comments (Video)

Are you one of those guys who will just write anything that pops into your head as a comment on someone’s Instagram picture? Do you give very little thought to the things you say on social media? Anastasia Ashley says that’s not the way to go.

The professional surfer turned internet celebrity (read: she has a rocking body and loves to show it off) shared her thoughts on good and bad Instagram comments left on some of her ummm shall we say, provocative posts? The takeaway from her? The more detailed you get, the more creepy your comment.

Via Hot Clicks
Photo: Instagram/Anastasia Ashley

David Ortiz rips David Price for being a little b-tch

David Ortiz absolutely blasted David Price after the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday night, saying he has no more respect for the southpaw pitcher.

The issues between the two men go back to last postseason after Ortiz hit two home runs off Price in Game 2 of the ALCS. Price was agitated after taking the L in a 7-4 defeat and ripped Ortiz for admiring his homers. Price was in such a bad mood after the loss that he even took out his frustration on TBS’ analysts by going off on Dirk Hayhurst and Tom Verducci.

Fast forward to Friday and Price was making his second start of the season against the Sox and facing Ortiz for the first time (Ortiz only pitch hit in the last game between the teams that Price started). Price hit Ortiz with a pitch, which upset the slugger. Ortiz later exploded after Price hit Mike Carp with a pitch later in the game.

Following the game, Ortiz ripped Price.

“I have a lot of respect of the guy, man, but it’€™s over. I have no more respect for him,” Ortiz said via WEEI.com. “Last year we kick his a– in the playoffs, he went off, talking s— about everybody, Tom Verducci and everybody. Players. We kind of got to talk on the phone. We kind of straightened things out. He was kind of upset. Me as a veteran I kind of let him know how things go in this game. Later on he called me and apologized because he knows he was wrong. He apologized in public. He apologized to myself. Everything was cool. So first at-bat of the season against him he threw at me. I mean, it’€™s a war. It’€™s on. Next time he hits me he better bring the gloves. I have no respect for him no more.”

If you enjoyed those quotes, then cocky Papi was just getting warmed up. Check out this gem.

“I was going to let him know. I respect everybody in this league and I get the same respect from everybody,” Ortiz continued via WEEI. “If you’€™re mad because I take you deep twice, let me let you know, I have almost 500 homers in this league. It’€™s part of the game, son.”

“I have almost 500 homers in this league. It’s part of the game, son.” Seriously. Is that not just the best quote ever? Don’t get upset. I hit everyone, Ortiz says. How can you not love that?

And then came the money shot from Ortiz.

“I was surprised for a minute until I watched the video. I thought everything was cool. You can’€™t be acting like a little girl out there,” Ortiz said. “You aren’€™t going to win every time. When you give it up, that’€™s an experience for the next time. But when you’€™re to be acting like a little b-itch every time you give it up, bounce back like that and put your teammates in jeopardy, that’€™s going to cost you.”

Dang, so Ortiz straight up called David Price a little girl and little b-tch. It is sooooo on. We’ll eagerly be awaiting Price’s response.

For the record, Price said that he did not hit Ortiz or Carp intentionally.

“I’ve got to establish my fastball in,” Price said. “I’ve got six lefties in that lineup. It’s my favorite side of the plate to go to.”

The Sox felt differently, citing Price’s impressive control; the lefty had only hit two batters and walked eight entering the game. They also said after the game that they saw the Rays players high-fiving Price in the dugout after the first inning, which made the actions seem intentional in their minds.

As far as this debate, as a former pitcher, I almost always take their side. Nobody likes a guy who admires his home runs. But, as a pitcher, you shouldn’t give them up. And don’t hit a guy if he touched you up for a dinger; just get him out next time and give him a wink.

Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire wanted to meet Doris Burke (Video)

Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire is around some of the best basketball players in the world on a regular basis, but it’s not those elite athletes who really get him going. Nope.

Instead of mingling with some of Miami’s biggest celebrity fans or some of the players on the court, Zaire just really wanted to meet ESPN sideline reporter Doris Burke.

After the Miami Heat clinched their Eastern Conference finals series with the Indiana Pacers with a Game 6 win on Friday night, Burke made the interview rounds. She spoke with team owner Micky Arison, then LeBron James and then Wade. At the end of his interview, Dwyane signaled for his son to come over and embarrassed him on national TV by saying that the young lad wanted to meet Doris.

Doris was very accommodating and even gave him a hug. The bashful boy had a nice smile on his face afterwards:

Cute.

By the way, Zaire is also a top up-and-coming basketball prospect, too.

Video via @cjzero

Red Sox-Rays benches clear after David Price hits Mike Carp with pitch (Video)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox met on Friday in the second game of their three-game series and early on tempers flared.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, David Price came up and in on Mike Carp and hit him on the right arm. Carp took exception to the pitch and had a few words for Price and then James Loney.

Then, benches cleared and seemingly everyone had words for each other, including David Ortiz and Sean Rodgriguez, who were both involved in rather heated exchanges.

Acting Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo was ejected after the incident. Lovullo took over for John Farrell, who was ejected after Ortiz was plunked in the first inning. Brian Butterfield became the third Red Sox manager to be tossed in the sixth inning after Boston’s starting pitcher Brandon Workman threw a pitch behind Evan Longoria. Workman was also ejected.

Fairly uneventful night at Fenway Park, I’d say.

The Red Sox and Rays play each other 12 more times during the regular season.

Auburn paints path of Iron Bowl winning touchdown on field for recruiting weekend

During last year’s Iron Bowl, Chris Davis gave us one of the more exciting moments in the storied rivalry game between Auburn and Alabama when he returned a missed field goal 109 yards the other way for the game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.

This weekend is a big one for Auburn’s football program. 25 of their top 30 commitments and recruiting targets will be in town for a tradition that began in 2009.

Given the nature of the event, it’s a good time to relive college football’s play of the year in 2013. And that’s exactly what the Tigers football program is going to do.

As Auburn’s grounds crew shows, the path of Davis’ return has been painted onto the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium for Big Cat Weekend.

Tracking Chris Davis' return for Big Cat Weekend @FootballAU pic.twitter.com/u39yUuKb7C

— AU Grounds Crew (@AU_Grounds_Crew) May 30, 2014

Might as well use it to your advantage, right?

H/T For The Win

Udonis Haslem to Lance Stephenson: I’m going to f— you up (Video)

Lance Stephenson was busy being an irritant during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers as he had been all series, and Udonis Haslem decided he’d had enough.

During the second quarter when Stephenson was messing with LeBron James and gave Norris Cole a clothesline, Haslem issued a serious threat to Lance. U-Don could be seen saying to Lance, “I’m going to f— you up.”

You know he said it too, because you could tell how crazy the fans in the front row reacted.

You never want to mess with U-Don, Ghostface Killah or the Method Man. But mostly you don’t want to mess with U-Don. He will end you, chief.

Video via @WorldofIsaac

Lance Stephenson nails Norris Cole; Shane Battier retaliates (Video)

Lance Stephenson’s pest activities were out in full force in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday night in Miami. Lance Romance was messing with LeBron James from the start of the game, and LeBron played back. But things got extra heated in the second quarter when Stephenson nailed Norris Cole in the face, as seen in the video above.

A minute later, Shane Battier retaliated:

At least Stephenson was rightfully called for a flagrant foul on the play.

Here were some other Lance vs. LeBron moments from the game:

(more…)

Donald Sterling filing $1 billion lawsuit against NBA

Donald Sterling is planning to sue the NBA for over $1 billion in damages over his lifetime ban and terminated ownership.

A few days after an audio recording of Sterling making racist comments was published by TMZ, new NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined Sterling the maximum amount of $2.5 million, banned him from life from the NBA and said he could not be involved with the Clippers. Silver also said the league was moving to remove Sterling as owner of the Clippers.

That part was completed this week when Sterling’s wife, Shelly, agreed to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Thursday for $2 billion.

As of now, Sterling is not suing to block the sale of the franchise, though he could decide to do that. The reason why the team was allowed to be sold is because Sterling was declared mentally unfit to make decisions, which made Shelly the 100-percent controller of the Sterling Family Trust. That gave her the power to transfer ownership of the team.

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski says the NBA believes it can stave off any lawsuits from Sterling and make Ballmer the team owner.

Asked source involved w/ Clippers sale process if Sterling has any legal avenue to stop Ballmer ownership, "No. He is totally boxed in."

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 30, 2014

Sterling may be awarded some money in damages, but I think this sale of the franchise is going through.

Photo via @bubbaprog