Sports Buzz: Oregon, Ohio State Advance to National Title Game
Plus, LeBron James expected to miss two weeks.
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Oregon Demolishes Florida State, Ohio State Upsets Alabama - All the hype didn't result in a competitive Rose Bowl game after all, as Marcus Mariota and Oregon demolished Jameis Winston and Florida State 59-20 on New Year's Day. Mariota threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Ohio State scored a 42-35 upset of No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl behind Esekiel Elliot's 30 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns. No. 3 Oregon will now face fourth-ranked Ohio State for the national championship on January 12.(Photos from left: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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LeBron James Expected to Miss Two Weeks - Trouble in Cleveland. LeBron James is expected to miss two weeks of action due to left knee and lower back strains, according to ESPN. "First and foremost, we want to make sure LeBron is well and completely recovered," Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt told the Northeast Ohio Media Group on Thursday, as reported by ESPN. "The season is long and our main objective is that he will be well and strong for the rest of the season." The Cavs start the new year with an 18-14 record.(Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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Reduced Kobe Bryant Minutes Working for Lakers - Byron Scott wants to continue with his minutes experiment for Kobe Bryant. After Bryant rested for three games last week, he returned and looked fresh in his two games back, including Tuesday night's triple-double against the Denver Nuggets. "So far, the experiment is working," Scott told ESPN. "We're just going to keep at it and see how it turns out." Bryant played about 32 minutes instead of the 37 he was averaging earlier this season.(Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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Rex Ryan to Interview With Falcons, 49ers - Rex Ryan's name still holds coaching value in the NFL. After the New York Jets fired Ryan on Monday, CBS Sports is reporting that the veteran coach will interview for both the Atlanta Falcons' and San Francisco 49ers' open jobs.(Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
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LeBron James, Stephen Curry Lead NBA All-Star Voting - The top two vote-getters for the NBA All-Star Game shouldn't come as a surprise. The latest totals point to LeBron James and Stephen Curry leading the way with 775,810 and 755,486 votes, respectively, according to the Associated Press. Fans will be allowed to vote through January 19 with the All-Stars expected to be announced on January 22.(Photos from left: Elsa/Getty Images, Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Carmelo Anthony Says Derek Fisher Keeps Knicks Believing - Carmelo Anthony says first-year NBA coach Derek Fisher shouldn't be blamed for the New York Knicks' dreadful 5-29 record this season. If anything, Melo thinks the rookie coach is the only one equipped for this kind of disappointment. "I think if it was anybody else in his position, I think this probably would've crumbled already," Anthony told ESPN. "I think he's doing a great job of keeping everybody focused on the task at hand and believing in what we're trying to do."
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Kobe Bryant Becomes Second Oldest to Notch Triple-Double - Kobe Bryant keeps adding to his legend. On Tuesday night, the five-time NBA champion had 23 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to become the second oldest among active players to notch a triple-double, according to ESPN. Only Tim Duncan, who was 38 when recording a triple-double on December 5, is older than the 36-year-old Bryant. His stat line helped the Los Angeles Lakers score a 111-103 win over the Denver Nuggets.(Photo: AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Ravens' Director of Security Faces Sex Offense Charge - Senior security director of the Baltimore Ravens, Darren Sanders, was charged Tuesday night with a sex offense, stemming from an alleged incident that took place December 14, ESPN is reporting. A hearing in the case is scheduled for February 9 and details are limited as of press time. "We are aware of the situation and have been investigating thoroughly," the Ravens said in a statement, as reported by ESPN. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Jim Harbaugh Promises Excellence at Michigan - Two days after parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers, an excited Jim Harbaugh was formally introduced at the University of Michigan on Tuesday. "Throughout my life, I have dreamed of coaching at the University of Michigan," Harbaugh said in his press conference, returning to his alma mater, as reported by ESPN. "Now I have the honor to live it. Top to bottom, Michigan is about excellence, is about greatness, and you have my pledge that I will carry forward the tradition of excellence." Harbaugh will have the task of turning around a Wolverines football team that finished 5-7 this season.(Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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Nets Snap Bulls Seven-Game Winning Streak - Brook Lopez picked the right time to break out with a season-high 29-point performance Tuesday night, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a big 96-82 road win over the Chicago Bulls. With the victory, the Nets snapped the Bulls' seven-game winning streak.(Photo: UPI/Brian Kersey /LANDOV)
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Blazers Win Overtime Thriller Over Raptors - What a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. It took 26 points and nine assists from Damian Lillard, 23 points and 13 boards from LaMarcus Aldridge and an overtime period for the Blazers to hold off the Raptors 102-97. The game marked the Blazers' fourth straight victory.(Photo: AP Photo/Don Ryan)
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Al Jefferson Out Four Weeks - Bad news for the Charlotte Hornets. Their star center and leading scorer and rebounder, Al Jefferson, will be out for a minimum of four weeks with a strained left groin, according to ESPN. Jefferson was averaging 18 points and 8.2 boards per game before being injured. The news of his absence marks another tough blow to an already-challenging season in which the Hornets have sputtered to 10-22 after making the playoffs last year. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Is David Blatt Getting Through to the Cavs? - There's a growing level of concern, sources tell ESPN, about the ability of David Blatt to get a response from the Cleveland Cavaliers. That concern was heightened after the Cavs' embarrassing loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. "We just didn't play well (Sunday). I don't think it was an issue outside of that," Blatt told ESPN. A couple games ago we were (17-10). I know some other pretty good teams in the NBA that didn't have that record." LeBron James insists that he doesn't have a problem with the first-year NBA coach at the helm of the team and that there's no divide between Blatt and the Cavs players. "I think my relationship with the coach continues to get better and better every day," James said. "This is two months of us being together. I don't know him fully. He doesn't know...
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Skip Bayless Calls Johnny Manziel an 'Alcoholic' - ESPN personality Skip Bayless ripped into Johnny Manziel on Monday, calling the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback an "alcoholic" and "liar," according to reports. Bayless's comments come after Manziel reportedly threw a party Friday night and he and teammate Josh Gordon failed to make the squad's Saturday morning walk-through in preparation for the Browns' game Sunday. Manziel was fined by the team and the Browns suspended Gordon. On Monday, Manziel denied he threw a party, but seemed to express regret for his name coming up in a negative light yet again. "It's about action," Manziel told ESPN. "It's about being accountable and doing what I'm gonna say instead of looking like a jackass."(Photos from left: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Paley Center for Media, Rob Carr/...
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Texas A&M Assistant Banned for Hitting West Virginia Players - There was a crazy incident Monday at the Liberty Bowl when Texas A&M sent staff member Michael Richardson home early for hitting two West Virginia players during the first half of Monday's game, according to ESPN. Video shows Richardson hitting cornerback Daryl Worley in the back of the head and pushing running back Andrew Buie. Texas A&M won 45-37 and Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin said he'll deal with Richardson afterwards.(Photo: ESPN via Bleacher Report)
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Michigan Alum Tom Brady Excited About Harbaugh Hire - With the University of Michigan scheduled to formally introduce Jim Harbaugh as its next head football coach on Tuesday, one Wolverine alum is very excited. "To have a great coach like that lead a program is awesome," New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told TMZ Sports.(Photos from left: Jim Rogash/Getty Images, Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Derrick Rose Says Bulls Can Make Title Run - Derrick Rose has seen enough from his Chicago Bulls early this season to think they can win the NBA title. "I think we can," Rose told ESPN on Monday. "I don't want to jinx ourselves, but I think we can really make a run for this [championship] this year." The Bulls extended their winning streak to seven games via a 92-90 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. Jimmy Butler had 27 points and Rose added 17. (Photo: David Banks/Getty Images)
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Royals Sign Pitcher Edinson Volquez - The Kansas City Royals strengthened their starting pitching rotation Monday, signing Edinson Volquez to a two-year, $20 million deal, according to ESPN. The right-hander went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates this past season.(Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Rockets-Wizards Delayed by Crooked Rim - Strange start to Monday night's Houston Rockets-Washington Wizards game, which was delayed by 30 minutes after it was discovered that one of the rims was crooked and needed to be replaced. The game, though, was worth the wait, as James Harden and Bradley Beal each dropped 33 points in a Wizards 104-103 win.(Photos: AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
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Jets Fire Coach Rex Ryan and General Manager John Idzik - As expected, the New York Jets fired coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik on what’s known around the NFL as “Black Monday,” the first Monday following the end of the regular season. The Jets were dismal all season long, before putting an end to their 2014 season on Sunday with a 4-12 campaign. The news puts an end to Ryan’s entertaining, but not always productive, six-year tenure with the Jets, finishing with a 50-52 record. Idzik was only with Gang Green for two seasons. The Jets expect to immediately conduct searches for both a head coach and general manager. According to the New York Daily News, Ryan is expected to accept a job at ESPN or on TV. (Photo: CSM /Landov)
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Bears Fire Coach Marc Trestman, General Manager Phil Emery - After a disastrous 5-11 season, the Chicago Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery on Monday, according to ESPN. In his second season as Bears coach, Trestman couldn't turn an offense with firepower such as running back Matt Forte, tight end Martellus Bennett and wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery into a winning team. He also had no answers for the slumping play of quarterback Jay Cutler. (Photo: REUTERS /JEFF HAYNES /LANDOV)
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Mike Smith Out as Falcons Coach - The Atlanta Falcons didn't need to see much more of Mike Smith following the team's 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and their 6-10 finish this season. On Monday, the Falcons fired Smith after being part of the organization since 2008.(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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Jim Harbaugh and 49ers Part Ways, Accepts Michigan Job - It was rumored all season long and on Sunday it came true. The San Francisco 49ers issued a statement following the team’s 20-17 season-ending win over the Arizona Cardinals, confirming that they are mutually parting ways with coach Jim Harbaugh. "Jim and I have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest to move in different directions," Niners CEO Jed York said in the statement, as reported by ESPN. According to several reports, Harbaugh will be accepting a coaching job at the University of Michigan. A press conference to announce the new hire will come on Tuesday. (Photo: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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LeBron James: 'We're Not a Very Good Team' - After losing to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, LeBron James was brutally honest about the state of his Cleveland Cavaliers. "We're not a very good team," James told ESPN after the game. "As far as on the court, we're still trying to find our way as well. We've won some good games, we've lost some games. But right now, we're just not very good in every aspect of the game that we need to be to compete every night." Through 30 games, the Cavs are 18-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Police Question Cubs Starlin Castro About Shooting - Chicago Cubs star shortstop Starlin Castro was questioned by police in the Dominican Republic in connection with a nightclub shooting early Saturday morning, ESPN is reporting. The shooting left six people injured, one of those in serious condition. Spokesperson for the Dominican National Police, Jacobo Mateo Moquete, told ESPN that Castro, 24, was interrogated, but that police believe people close to him participated in the shooting. Castro’s agent said his client talked to the police voluntarily. Castro hit .292 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs last season.(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
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Seahawks Wrap Up NFC No. 1 Seed - The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are right where they want to be entering the playoffs. The Seahawks scored a dominating 20-6 home win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have home-field advantage through the playoffs. Seattle will host the winner of the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers game on Saturday, January 10 unless the Detroit Lions upset the Dallas Cowboys in Wild Card action this weekend. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Bryant, Murray Break Cowboys Records - Another memory to an already-solid Dallas Cowboys 2014 season. On Sunday, running back DeMarco Murray and wide receiver Dez Bryant broke team records on back-to-back plays. First, Murray’s 32-yard run in the first quarter broke Emmitt Smith’s team record of 1,773 yards from 1995. The very next play late in the first quarter, Tony Romo connected with Bryant for his 16th touchdown catch of the season, breaking the franchise record held by Terrell Owens. The Cowboys finished the season with a 12-4 record, including Sunday's 44-17 win over Washington. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Ravens Nab Final AFC Wildcard Spot - They just made it. With a 20-10 home win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens (10-6) secured the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC. They’ll now visit their AFC North division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Wild Card action on Saturday night. (Photo: Larry French/Getty Images)
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Packers Win NFC North Title - Aaron Rodgers threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 30-20 home win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The win gave the Packers (12-4) their fourth straight NFC North division title and earns them a bye in the playoffs. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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Panthers Take NFC South - It wasn’t pretty, but the Carolina Panthers made it to the playoffs. The Panthers — despite a 7-8-1 record — secured the NFC South title by thrashing the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 on Sunday. The Panthers will now host the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card playoff game on Saturday. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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