Tom Gatto | Sporting News

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A's Bruce Maxwell kneels during anthem again; this time, he's not alone

Oakland's rookie catcher adds a band of supporters on his third day of taking a knee during the national anthem.

Tom Gatto

Josh Norman reminds us of America's most effective form of protest

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman is shocked by President Donald Trump's words. Norman can make a direct response every November through 2020.

Tom Gatto

Jets CEO backs coach Bowles, GM Maccagnan, denies tanking in progress

Progress, not results, is the primary criterion this year, according to Christopher Johnson. That can only help Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan, because Gang Green is playing like an 0-16 team.

Tom Gatto

Lions' Eric Ebron, Giants' Landon Collins beefing on Twitter; internet joins the fun

The Lions tight end and the Giants safety kept up the trash talk after Detroit worked New York on Monday night.

Tom Gatto

Joe Maddon, back at Trop, says Rays really need to be in Tampa

Cubs skipper Joe Maddon received a warm welcome back to Tropicana Field, a place Maddon made tolerable with his success as the Rays' manager.

Tom Gatto

Heat's $42M deal with Josh Richardson latest move in expensive offseason

Miami has committed $187 million to four players during the 2017 offseason. Josh Richardson became No. 4 when he and the Heat agreed to a $42 million contract.

Tom Gatto

Texans' Deshaun Watson, Cowboys' Dak Prescott share state, number and, now, NFL success

Deshaun or Dak? NFL fans in Texas should be able to debate that over the next three or four years.

Tom Gatto

Max Scherzer wants the ball in October, and he wants to keep it as long as possible

Nationals ace Max Scherzer threw 116 pitches in a game that meant little. He did that because he was getting himself ready to be the horse the Nats will ride in the playoffs.

Tom Gatto

Phillies win once, celebrate twice against Marlins

Philly thought it had won in the ninth inning, but replay said otherwise. They got to celebrate again in the 15th.

Tom Gatto

Colin Kaepernick's tweet supporting Jemele Hill draws well-worn responses

A lot of people flexed their Twitter muscles Tuesday night after free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick typed his support for ESPN anchor Jemele Hill.

Tom Gatto

Twins make MLB history with homers in seven consecutive innings

The ball left Target Field at regular intervals Tuesday night: every inning through the seventh.

Tom Gatto

Players see pitch clock's time in MLB is drawing near

The union and the commissioner are working on pace-of-play initiatives that could be implemented as soon as 2018.

Tom Gatto

Dodgers-Giants game delayed long enough for early risers get to catch a few pitches

Rain, thunder and lightning in the Bay Area turn a Monday night game into a Tuesday morning oddity.

Tom Gatto

Who is Sergio Dipp? Five things to know about 'Monday Night Football' sideline reporter

ESPN Deportes reporter/anchor Sergio Dipp had a rough moment on "Monday Night Football," but there's more to him than that live TV shot.

Tom Gatto

Rays eager to return to post-Irma Tampa Bay area after 'home' series in New York

The Rays were moved to Queens in anticipation of Irma causing major damage to the Tampa Bay area. The hurricane's eastward shift late Sunday essentially spared the area.

Tom Gatto

Wife of Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin wants to 'expose,' stare down author of racist letter

The Sumlin family seeks justice for the person who sent a racist, threatening letter to the coach's home.

Tom Gatto

The internet was so there to drag the Patriots after their opening night loss to the Chiefs

The Twitter patrol was ready after New England lost badly to Kansas City in the first game of the 2017 NFL season.

Tom Gatto

UFC 215: Johnson vs. Borg bout canceled because of illness; Nunes-Shevchenko new main event

Ray Borg reportedly is too sick to fight, so his flyweight title bout vs. Demetrious Johnson is off. Amanda Nunes gets a main-event fight, after all.

Tom Gatto

Aroldis Chapman in line for saves again; lefty an option for Yankees manager Joe Girardi

Aroldis Chapman was removed from the closer's role in mid-August. Recent outings have put him back into the ninth-inning picture.

Tom Gatto

Dombrowski's response to Yanks' claim of theft a sign it gave Red Sox a good laugh

Stealing signs was part of baseball decades before Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski entered the business in the 1970s. He seems to be laughing off the noise the Yankees made about his team possibly cheating.

Tom Gatto

Hurricane Irma forces Rays, MLB to discuss possibly moving series vs. Yankees

Hurricane Irma is projected to pass directly over Florida this weekend. That forecast has the Rays and MLB thinking about the club's upcoming series vs. the Yankees.

Tom Gatto

J.D. Martinez hits four home runs in game for Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

J.D. Martinez becomes the 18th player in major league history to go deep four times in a game.

Tom Gatto

WWE smacked Baron Corbin over showdown with NFL 'Concussion' doc, report says

Baron Corbin may have cost himself a title shot by having a public debate with Dr. Joseph Maroon during a WWE creative meeting.

Tom Gatto

Leonys Martin debuts for Cubs on mound because Joe Maddon just has to save relief arms

Joe Maddon wanted to save his remaining bullpen arms for a meaningful situation, so he put an outfielder on the mound in a blowout. Keep in mind, though, that Maddon had eight relievers available because of September roster expansion.

Tom Gatto

Sabathia mad about the Red Sox bunting on him; it's called playing to win, CC

CC Sabathia called the Red Sox "weak" and "scared" for not just hacking every time up. Dumb. It's called trying to win, CC.

Tom Gatto

Trade to Astros promises to keep Justin Verlander business booming

Justin Verlander helped keep his value high with a move to the Astros. He has a better chance to post good numbers with a good team than with the rebuilding Tigers.

Tom Gatto

Lane Kiffin convinced he would have gotten Alabama past Clemson in CFP title game

Lane Kiffin did not coach in the Crimson Tide's national championship game loss to Clemson. He's convinced the result would have been different if he had been on the sideline.

Tom Gatto

Who is Frances Tiafoe? Six facts about teen who almost upset Roger Federer at U.S. Open

Frances Tiafoe had a chance to knock out Roger Federer in the first round of the 2017 U.S. Open. That merits a closer look at the Maryland teenager.

Tom Gatto

Astros-Rangers series in Florida will be source of relief for Harvey victims in Houston

Proceeds from this week's games between Houston and Texas at Tropicana Field will go toward relief efforts. Fans will also be able to make their own donations.

Tom Gatto

Magic Johnson lauds late Jud Heathcote: 'He turned a young kid into a man'

Magic Johnson's college coach, Jud Heathcote, died Aug. 28, 2017, at age 90. Johnson praised the Michigan State legend for his caring and concern.

Tom Gatto

Houston's Kelvin Sampson sends out call for Harvey aid; colleagues respond in big way

The coaching fraternity bands together to answer Kelvin Sampson's call for clothing and gear for victims of Harvey.

Tom Gatto

Tim Tebow's drawing power in minors is still big-league-caliber

People love to watch Tim Tebow play baseball and have him mingle with them, and not necessarily in that order.

Tom Gatto

Bengals punter Kevin Huber clowns Redskins with Lucy move

Kevin Huber makes a heady play to avoid a punt block. He couldn't get the kick away, but so what? He pulled off a really cool move.

Tom Gatto

Kent State coach Paul Haynes to miss 2-3 weeks while on medical leave

Paul Haynes is temporarily leaving the Kent State program to tend to a medical issue.

Tom Gatto

Pedro Martinez supports Chris Sale's bid to claim one of his Red Sox records

Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez sees a bit of himself in Chris Sale, who is bidding to rewrite a page of the Boston record book.

Tom Gatto

Bristol comes up with an ideal retirement gift for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A scholarship in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s name fits with the 88 driver's desire to give back. "I feel like this obligation to turn it around and do something for someone else," he says.

Tom Gatto

Mets leaving Sandy Alderson with heavy cleanup work as mess widens

Sandy Alderson's main task is to make the Mets better for 2018. Before he can start on that in earnest, he has to play out the rest of 2017, a year that keeps getting weirder.

Tom Gatto

Chad Bettis' triumphant return is the Rockies' biggest win of the season

The Colorado franchise celebrated the return of pitcher Chad Bettis, who was first diagnosed with testicular cancer nine months ago. Bettis' performance can — should — inspire more success.

Tom Gatto

NBA schedule 2017-18: The games you can't miss this season

The league revealed the full 2017-18 schedule Tuesday, and there are a few dates basketball fans need to have marked down on their calendars.

Tom Gatto

Report: Ben Simmons, Sixers to play Knicks at MSG on Christmas Day

Philly will be in New York for the holiday game, according to multiple reports.

Tom Gatto

Disney/ESPN bid for MLB streaming is a power move, not power play

Disney's planned streaming service will include an ESPN component, and baseball games will be available on it.

Tom Gatto

'Hard Knocks' premiere: Welcome to the summer of Jameis

The HBO NFL documentary series "Hard Knocks" travels to Tampa, where fans can get a look behind the scenes at Buccaneers camp. Jameis Winston, naturally, is one of the stars of Episode 1.

Tom Gatto

LeBron James' subtweet leaves internet assuming swipe at Kyrie Irving

LeBron James breaks out the subtweet game, and immediately everyone thinks he's dogging Kyrie Irving.

Tom Gatto

Dale Earnhardt Jr. catches passes from Kirk Cousins during visit to Redskins camp

Dale Jr. can now say he beat Josh Norman one-on-one.

Tom Gatto

Noah Syndergaard roasted by dragon, Twitter commenters in 'Game of Thrones' cameo

Just like his team, the Mets' ace pitcher couldn't win Sunday night.

Tom Gatto

Sean Rodriguez's triumphant Pirates return means more than a win

Sean Rodriguez felt the love as he returned to PNC Park. He gave the fans a huge present, a walkoff homer. The hit was a definite inflection point in a challenging year for the veteran.

Tom Gatto

Matt Moore best option to replace Ryan Tannehill as Dolphins' No. 1 QB

Matt Moore is the next man up after Ryan Tannehill's knee injury. Moore did enough for the Dolphins last season to be the only man who should be up.

Tom Gatto

Diamondbacks can't get (or go) anywhere with brazen stadium shakedown

The Diamondbacks are open about what they want, but the chances of them getting it aren't good. Their threat to leave Phoenix shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Tom Gatto

MLB trade rumors: Finding the best August waiver-deal candidates

Major league clubs won't stop dealing at the July 31 deadline. SN identifies several players who makes sense as August acquisitions, assuming they get through waivers.

Tom Gatto

Doug Gottlieb's 'questioning' whether Adrian Beltre is on steroids sparks media Twitter brawl

Doug Gottlieb used the Fox Sports Radio airwaves to "ask the question" whether Beltre is just another Dominican player cheating his way to success late in his career.

Tom Gatto

Max Scherzer injury just mild irritation to Nationals

Put away the Kerry Wood-Mark Prior jokes. The neck spasms suffered by Nationals ace Max Scherzer can't be pinned on manager Dusty Baker.

Tom Gatto

Gio Gonzalez, Dee Gordon and '16' intersect on emotional night in Miami

Dee Gordon denied Gio Gonzalez a piece of baseball history by ending Gonzalez's no-hit bid at Marlins Park. Both men were being inspired by the memory of Jose Fernandez.

Tom Gatto

Felix Hernandez comes off mound, hugs Adrian Beltre for reaching 3,000 hits

Felix Hernandez interrupts his start to congratulate Adrian Beltre. The two played together with the Mariners for five seasons.

Tom Gatto

Who is Kyle Farmer? Fast facts about the Dodgers' newest hero

Kyle Farmer, who has big-screen experience, became a supporting actor in the Dodgers' summer blockbuster with his debut vs. the Giants. He delivered a Hollywood ending, because of course.

Tom Gatto

Hugh Freeze resigns at Ole Miss after school finds call to escort service

Freeze left Oxford reportedly after damaging information surfaced.

Tom Gatto

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie shows better hands than Mets' infield as he catches foul ball

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made it look easy at Citi Field. And then came the BEACH JOKE!

Tom Gatto

Stop watching the clock, baseball fans, and just take time to watch the game

Major league games take three hours to play, on average, but would people be so on edge about that if everyone stopped putting stopwatches on the proceedings?

Tom Gatto

Drama aside, the Lakers' Lonzo Ball deserves your attention

The dad, the shoes, the dad's shoes — put all that away for a minute. Focus instead on the actual basketball, something at which Lonzo Ball appears to be good.

Tom Gatto

NFL Draft 2018: Sam Darnold tries to discourage Jets, other teams from tanking

Sam Darnold has advice for teams trying to be bad enough to pick in the top three next year: Just. Don't.

Tom Gatto

MLB All-Star Game 2017: Rosters, starting lineups, how to watch live

Here are the preliminary AL and NL rosters for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park in Miami.

Tom Gatto

Son of ex-Braves player leaves hospital three weeks after devastating injury

Jason Lockhart, 15, was placed on life support at one point after being struck by a thrown ball during a youth tournament.

Tom Gatto

FIBA U19 World Cup: U.S. salvages bronze medal with rout of Spain

The Americans win by 24 in the third-place game in Egypt.

Tom Gatto

Veteran ump Angel Hernandez sues MLB, Manfred, claims racial discrimination

Hernandez claims he has been denied World Series assignments because of his Cuban heritage.

Tom Gatto

Report: Carmelo Anthony open to trade to Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets

Now Carmelo Anthony is reportedly willing to waive his no-trade clause if doing so gets him to Cleveland or Houston.

Tom Gatto

MLB All-Star Game 2017: Reds' Zack Cozart earns bonus — donkey from Joey Votto

Zack Cozart is an All-Star starter and Joey Votto is a man of his word, so a donkey will be heading to Cincinnati soon.

Tom Gatto

NASCAR at Daytona: Big One collects Kyle Busch, knocks out Joey Logano

The first big crash of the Coke Zero 400 spells bad news for a lot of big-name drivers.

Tom Gatto

Astros are winning at new, old numbers games

The Astros' data-driven front office has built a contender, but the construction has at times looked by-the-numbers in an old-school way, too.

Tom Gatto

Lonzo Ball bests Josh Jackson in MLB first-pitch duel

Lonzo Ball's floater is better than Josh Jackson's . . . whatever that was.

Tom Gatto

Baby-toting dad at Mets-Dodgers game snags ball; horrified mom snatches infant away

It's not easy being a Mets fan these days.

Tom Gatto

Why Puig's pimping, Dyson's bunting weren't worth getting mad about

Yasiel Puig and Jarrod Dyson made people mad Wednesday night because they sorta, kinda violated baseball's unwritten rules.

Tom Gatto

Mets fans respond predictably, perfectly to Zack Wheeler injury news

Zack Wheeler is expected to "miss one start" with a biceps injury. Mets fans figure that's code for "see you in a few months."

Tom Gatto

GM whose team trolled Tim Tebow sorry if anyone was offended

Dave Echols, who runs the Single-A Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs, didn't personally apologize to Tim Tebow, just to the people who were ticked off by the stuff Echols' staff pulled Friday night.

Tom Gatto

Anthony Rizzo, free from retaliation, leads off with HR for Cubs vs. Padres

Anthony Rizzo was at the center of a controversial play Monday night. Against some other teams, he might have had to wear a fastball for that play. Not against the Padres, though.

Tom Gatto

Freddie Freeman position change in play after Braves watch Matt Adams rake for month

The Braves may get creative with their infield when Freddie Freeman comes off the disabled list.

Tom Gatto

U.S. Open 2017: Tee times, pairings for Round 3 at Erin Hills

The tee times and pairings for Round 3 of the 2017 U.S. Open golf tournament at Erin Hills golf course show how odd the first two rounds were.

Tom Gatto

Twins rock the purple to honor rock royalty Prince

Minnesota's baseball team passes out purple umbrellas as part of its latest tribute to the musical legend, who died last year.

Tom Gatto

Giants' Jeff Samardzija punctuates home run at Coors Field with bat flip

The Shark enjoyed his third career roundtripper.

Tom Gatto

Roger Clemens on Hall of Fame: 'I did what I needed to do'

PEDs or no PEDs, the Rocket can point to his 354 career wins and 4,672 strikeouts.

Tom Gatto

Congress projects unity at D.C. baseball game day after shooting of rep

Politicians bond after one of their own, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., was critically wounded in an assassination attempt Wednesday

Tom Gatto

Ryan Blaney celebrates into the night with Dale Jr., Danica after first Cup win

Ryan Blaney had some friends over after his first NASCAR Cup win.

Tom Gatto

NASCAR at Pocono: Brad Keselowski returns favor, interviews winner Ryan Blaney

NASCAR symmetry: Brad Keselowski interviews Ryan Blaney in Victory Lane a day after Blaney interviewed Keselowski following a win.

Tom Gatto

Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cup; defeat Nashville Predators for back-to-back titles

Pittsburgh goes back to back after winning Game 6 of the series 2-0 in Nashville.

Tom Gatto

Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cup

Pittsburgh goes back to back after winning Game 6 of the series 2-0 in Nashville.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Stanley Cup Final schedule, TV info for Predators vs. Penguins

Here's everything you need to know about the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, featuring the Predators vs. the Penguins.

Tom Gatto

Stanley Cup Final 2017: Penguins win away from repeat after routing Preds in Game 5

Pittsburgh puts away Game 5 early at home. Now it's on to Nashville, where the champs will try to make it back-to-back Cups.

Tom Gatto

Cameron Johnson granted release by Pitt, headed for North Carolina

Cameron Johnson will be able to play for the national champion Tar Heels in the 2017-18 season, his father says.

Tom Gatto

Odubel Herrera can talk beisbol, so what 'barriers' are there, really?

The fact that English is Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera's second language won't prevent him from reaching his potential as a player.

Tom Gatto

Scooter Gennett's four-homer game among baseball's most improbable performances

Scooter Gennett entered baseball lore with a four-homer, 10-RBI performance that no one could see coming.

Tom Gatto

Who is Scooter Gennett? Look at Reds player who slammed four HRs vs. Cardinals

A quick sketch of Scooter Gennett, who went deep four times in Cincinnati.

Tom Gatto

Pedro Martinez keeps David Ortiz comeback rumor mill churning with tweet

Pedro says Papi isn't making a comeback, just that the retired Red Sox star is in "baseball shape" and, hey, the Sox could use another stick in the lineup.

Tom Gatto

J.J. Watt calls NFL Network's Top 100 a 'joke' after seeing where he's ranked

J.J. Watt points out the obvious: A guy who played in just three games last season has no business being ranked in the top 40.

Tom Gatto

Rex, Rob Ryan get tangled with bar patrons in Nashville

The twin brothers and ex-NFL coaches briefly get their NHL on at the site of the Stanley Cup Final.

Tom Gatto

NBA Finals 2017: Kevin Durant vs. Rihanna becomes juicy undercard for Cavs vs. Warriors

KD, it seemed, wanted to let LeBron superfan Rihanna know that the Warriors are about doing work in these NBA Finals.

Tom Gatto

Mr. Met can't take it anymore, flips off fan; club points worker toward door

The Mets' mascot finally snapped. He took out years of heartache and heartburn on some loudmouth in the stands.

Tom Gatto

Marlins draw tiny crowd even by their standards

Officially, Miami drew 15,000-plus for a Wednesday matinee. That figure was too generous by about 14,000.

Tom Gatto

Bartolo Colon running out of time to right himself in Atlanta

The Braves' 44-year-old starter suffered misfortune in an ugly inning against the Angels, but some of it was self-inflicted. He's not making it easy for Atlanta to keep him in the rotation.

Tom Gatto

Bryce Harper trades punches with Giants' Hunter Strickland, sets off brawl

Bryce Harper charged the mound in San Francisco after Hunter Strickland hit him with a fastball.

Tom Gatto

Bryce Harper has potential new workout partner: Katie Ledecky

Bryce Harper might have some down time soon. If he wants, he could spend some of it in Northern California with an Olympic champion.

Tom Gatto

Mike Trout injury: Angels unlikely to weather two months without game's best player

Mike Trout's thumb surgery could keep him out through the All-Star break. The Angels haven't shown they're good enough to compensate for that, and it will be very difficult to add talent that can be of help in the short term.

Tom Gatto

Coca-Cola 600: 'Logan Lucky' star Channing Tatum gets revved up

Channing Tatum, the star of the summer movie "Logan Lucky," did his part to promote the NASCAR-themed production before the Coca-Cola 600.

Tom Gatto

NBA Finals schedule, dates, TV times for Cavs vs. Warriors III

Here's everything you need to know about the 2017 NBA Finals, or Cavs vs. Warriors III.

Tom Gatto

Mets should commit to summer sell-off as season slowly slips away

New York is playing as though this will be a lost season. Rather than patch the roster, management should tear down a wall or two and renovate with young players.

Tom Gatto

Ichiro's arm shows its age in place where legend was born

RIP, Ichiro's cannon. It had a good run.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Senators edge Penguins, force Game 7 in East finals

Ottawa takes the Eastern Conference finals to the limit. Game 7 will be Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Tom Gatto

NBA playoffs 2017: When are The Finals? Schedule, TV times, matchup

Schedule and TV times for the 2017 NBA Finals.

Tom Gatto

David Ross to dance for 'DWTS' crown after perfect first night of season finale

The former Cubs catcher had the W flying during his freestyle dance.

Tom Gatto

Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather takes small step forward

Conor McGregor is doing his part to keep the hype train moving on this proposed fight.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Ducks tie series vs. Predators with OT win in Game 4

Highlights from Ducks vs. Predators Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Tom Gatto

Michael Bennett tells ESPN's Stephen A. Smith he's 'all talk and no action' on social issues

The Seahawks defensive lineman held back little as he escalated his feud with ESPN talker Stephen A. Smith.

Tom Gatto

Braves retaliate against Jose Bautista, then immediately pay for it

Julio Teheran defended his team's honor by plunking Jose Bautista, but he was terrible after that and the Braves found themselves in a big early hole.

Tom Gatto

Alex Rodriguez sidesteps question about Derek Jeter Night

A-Rod declines to give the New York tabloids a back-page story.

Tom Gatto

George W. Bush videobombs TV reporter prior to Rangers game

The 43rd president of the United States has a little fun before Wednesday's game in Arlington.

Tom Gatto

Derek Jeter celebration is certainly deserved, but plenty premature

The Yankees legend has his number retired in the Bronx. You'd have thought he was already inducted into Cooperstown, the way the media built up the ceremony.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Conference finals schedules, TV times

The matchups for the Eastern and Western Conference finals in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs are set: Penguins vs. Senators in the East; Ducks vs. Predators in the West.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Capitals sent home early again; internet responds accordingly

Washington's playoff hockey heartbreak just grows and grows. The internet is not sympathetic.

Tom Gatto

WATCH: Manu Ginobili saves Spurs with gutsy block on James Harden

Manu Ginobili finds the hops to dunk in the first half and make a game-clinching block on James Harden at the end of overtime. Those improbable events combine to give the Spurs an unlikely series lead.

Tom Gatto

NFL odds 2017: Patriots' over/under win total huge; Cowboys undervalued?

The sportsbooks have set the bar very high for the Super Bowl champion Patriots in 2017.

Tom Gatto

Cubs giving rest of NL Central slight hope after middling start

The world champion Cubs are barely above .500, and some of their current shortcomings were exposed in a marathon loss to the Yankees on Sunday night.

Tom Gatto

Marcell Ozuna powering way into improbable position as Marlins keeper

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is in position to outlast Jeffrey Loria in Miami. That seemed impossible a couple of years ago.

Tom Gatto

O's Kevin Gausman pays for umpire's poor read of Red Sox-Manny Machado feud

Kevin Gausman had his start Wednesday cut short because umpire Sam Holbrook was clueless about pitcher intent.

Tom Gatto

Vin Scully, voice still golden, talks yesterday and tomorrow on night Dodgers honor him

Dodgers Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully went through 67 years — and a bit of the future — in a 15-minute media session at Dodger Stadium. He, of course, made it all sound great.

Tom Gatto

Derek Jeter's tough day: Interview with A-Rod, reported setback on Marlins deal

Sometimes even the great ones don't have it so great.

Tom Gatto

Andrew McCutchen feeling centered again with Pirates, but shouldn't get too comfortable

Andrew McCutchen is enjoying his time back in center field. It's not a lock he'll stay at the position beyond midsummer, though.

Tom Gatto

'Pitch' out: Fox cancels show about first female player after one season

The series told the fictional story of Ginny Baker, who made history by joining the Padres.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Oilers fans succeed in hockey diplomacy

The U.S. and Canada are arguing over trade. Edmonton fans did a small, but significant, thing, to project solidarity.

Tom Gatto

Pitcher who gave up home run to Tim Tebow throws perfect game in minors

Domenic Mazza had a "Maddux" of a lifetime Tuesday for the Single-A Augusta Green Jackets.

Tom Gatto

Eric Thames hits two more home runs for Brewers, Twitter loses its mind again

The cry of "cheater" went up again after the Brewers first baseman connected for two home runs in as many at-bats Monday night.

Tom Gatto

MLB scores: Rays win on error, good juju after manager ejected

Kevin Cash gets tossed after a very close call. The Rays get a game-winning break on the next batter. Coincidence?

Tom Gatto

MLB highlights: Aaron Judge unloads monster home run into Yankee Stadium bleachers

Aaron Judge, the biggest of the Baby Bombers, does not hit cheap home runs.

Tom Gatto

CB Bucknor shows how bad an umpire he is with calls in Nationals-Braves game

The 20-year major league veteran's strike zone was awful and he blew a key call in the ninth inning. He was so bad, a member of the winning team berated him after the final out.

Tom Gatto

NHL playoffs 2017: Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski takes puck to face, Pens go on to score

The Columbus defenseman was left bloodied by a point shot. Worse for him and the Jackets, play was allowed to continue and the Penguins scored a tying goal.

Tom Gatto

St. Louis wants Rams to pay for dumping it; suit won't accomplish that

St. Louis fans are without an NFL team again. City and county officials claim in a lawsuit that the Rams and the league negotiated in bad faith before leaving.

Tom Gatto

Jeff Samardzija, Paul Goldschmidt know how to play by the (unwritten) rules

Baseball's unwritten rules called for Paul Goldschmidt to be hit by a pitch Tuesday because Buster Posey took one off the helmet the day before. The rules were followed to the invisible letter.

Tom Gatto

Watch Troy Tulowitzki's toddler son, Taz, mash in Blue Jays' batting practice

Taz Tulowitzki already has a better swing than a lot of big league pitchers. Oh, and he's only 3.

Tom Gatto

Bryan Bickell's dramatic final act as NHL player certain to endure

Bryan Bickell was forced to retire from hockey at age 31 because of multiple sclerosis. His team made his last moment on the ice as a player unforgettable.

Tom Gatto

Francisco Lindor progressing toward baseball's upper echelon

Francisco Lindor is already a core player for the Indians at 23. The Gold Glove shortstop is showing signs his game still has lots of room to grow.

Tom Gatto

LaVar Ball adds stereotypical nonsense to list of smack talk

Lonzo Ball's father chose to backhand the white athletes who teamed up with Lonzo to reach the Sweet 16 of this year's NCAA Tournament.

Tom Gatto

Now in a Braves uniform, Bartolo Colon shows Mets he hasn't changed

Bartolo Colon was back on the Citi Field mound, this time as a divisional opponent. Mets fans saw the Bart who was New York's steadiest starter over the past three seasons.

Tom Gatto

Joey Gallo's upper-deck home runs go a long, long way

The Rangers slugger put one halfway up the upper tank in Arlington against the Indians. Officially it went 443 feet, but we beg to differ.

Tom Gatto

NCAA championship odds: UNC among Vegas' top picks to win 2018 tournament

The Tar Heels had barely lifted the trophy when the Vegas odds for the 2017-18 season were released.

Tom Gatto

March Madness 2017: Updated betting lines, point spreads for NCAA Final Four

The Final Four matchups have clear favorites in Las Vegas, with Gonzaga and North Carolina the early choices to win.

Tom Gatto

N.C. to vote on HB2 repeal measure; will it be enough to satisfy NCAA, pro leagues?

North Carolina lawmakers will consider Thursday a compromise measure to repeal HB2, but would it even be enough to satisfy the NCAA and professional sports leagues?

Tom Gatto

Joe Mauer vs. Joey Votto: A tale of similarities — and big differences

Joe Mauer and Joey Votto are both highly paid first basemen, but Votto has a huge stat advantage. Mauer might soon gain the wins advantage, however.

Tom Gatto

Tony Romo rumors: Prime NFL/golf gig with CBS reportedly available

A chance to succeed Phil Simms as Jim Nantz's NFL broadcast partner? A chance to work with Nantz on the network's PGA coverage? That'll get a guy's attention.

Tom Gatto

Raiders' move to Las Vegas means another brothel for Nevada

The owner of the Bunny Ranch wants to capitalize on the NFL coming to Sin City in a few years.

Tom Gatto

March Madness 2017: Local weather preempts North Carolina-Kentucky finish in Ohio

Viewers sat through six agonizing minutes, and not just because bad weather was on the way.

Tom Gatto

March Madness 2017: Betting lines, point spreads for Elite Eight games

Both Saturday games feature large favorites, Gonzaga and Kansas. The Sunday games are seen as tighter.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Marcus Stroman savors championship moment

Marcus Stroman had a choice: Pitch for the U.S. or Puerto Rico in the WBC. He chose the U.S., to the dismay of PR fans. Stroman added to their agony by dominating on the mound in the final.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: U.S. routs Puerto Rico for first title; Stroman masterful

The U.S. wins the World Baseball Classic for the first time. The Americans blank Puerto Rico 8-0 at Dodger Stadium.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Ian Kinsler feeds into racial divide over players' passion (UPDATED)

The Tigers/USA second baseman helps keep the tired arguments going when he says he wants young fans to appreciate how American players suppress their intensity on the field.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Take note, MLB, after ugly extra-inning rule mars semifinal

Puerto Rico and the Netherlands were in the middle of a classic; then everything changed for the worse. Major League Baseball will laud the ending, but it shouldn't.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Yadier Molina's arm too strong for Netherlands

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is adept at picking off runners; he did it twice in one inning for Puerto Rico vs. the Netherlands.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Adam Jones saves U.S. at teammate's expense

Orioles and USA center fielder Adam Jones took a home run away from Birds third baseman Manny Machado, who was an opponent for a night. Just business as usual in the WBC.

Tom Gatto

March Madness 2017: Second-round betting odds, point spreads for NCAA Tournament

The numbers from Vegas for Saturday's portion of the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Tom Gatto

NIT 2017: City of Greensboro keeps it classy after Syracuse beats UNCG

Greensboro got a lot of mileage out of its reaction Jim Boeheim's bluntness. The ride ended in snowy Syracuse.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: King Felix, Drew Smyly make Mariners' night

Seattle rotation mates Felix Hernandez and Drew Smyly produced a mini-pitchers' duel during Venezuela-USA at San Diego's Petco Park. The M's could use big seasons from both.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Alex Bregman trolls Rougned Odor for admiring long single

Bregman (Team USA) gets on Odor (Team Venezuela) for admiring a drive that didn't make it out of the yard.

Tom Gatto

NFL trade rumors: Browns more excited about obtaining pick than Brock Osweiler

Team VP Sashi Brown devoted a short sentence in welcoming Brock Osweiler to Cleveland. That's kind a big sign the Browns will flip or cut Osweiler.

Tom Gatto

Alex Rodriguez-Jennifer Lopez rumors: JLo stays in AL East

JLo can check "Yankees" off her list, after the Red Sox and Blue Jays.

Tom Gatto

ACC Tournament: Wake Forest's Greg McClinton sinks 3 from beyond opposite foul line

Greg McClinton throws it 70-plus feet into the net for a buzzer-beating 3.

Tom Gatto

Rich Eisen's stock drops with slower 40-yard dash at NFL Combine

Rich Eisen ran. And ran again. And still couldn't get under 6 seconds.

Tom Gatto

MLB clubs with deepest position groups in spring training

You can never have too much of a good thing, at least not in baseball. These clubs prove that adage.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Top five free agents playing in tournament

For these players, the World Baseball Classic is a showcase as well as an international competition.

Tom Gatto

World Baseball Classic 2017: Schedule, times, how to watch, top players

Robinson Cano is back with Team Dominicana as it tries to repeat as champion in the international event. Sixteen squads will begin competing for the title March 6.

Tom Gatto

Mets already feeling the pain in spring training, and that can only hurt them

David Wright is down again, and he isn't the only one having issues in camp. There's a real threat of injuries derailing this team.

Tom Gatto

Darrelle Revis gets football reprieve with pending release by Jets

Darrelle Revis will be on an island at the start of free agency. Better for him that he was cast adrift; the Jets are going to have a sinking feeling next season.

Tom Gatto

Serena Williams surprises, challenges random guys at public tennis court

Serena Williams is between grand slam tournaments, so she needs to do something to stay sharp.

Tom Gatto

Oscars 2017: A's reliever John Axford is on fire with predictions

The A's reliever has the golden touch when it comes to cinema.

Tom Gatto

Twins minor leaguers assist Triple-A manager involved in brutal car wreck

Mike Quade's SUV was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling upwards of 50 mph. Quade and his girlfriend escaped serious injuries.

Tom Gatto

Time to take MLB pitchers — and DHs — out of the batter's box

Want to stop seeing Johnny Cueto and his fellow NL pitchers swing the bat? OK, but let's not replace them with even more one-dimensional players.

Tom Gatto

Padres' pitching is weak, but they're trying to compensate

San Diego is throwing numbers at the problem of so-so starting pitching. It can take some notes from a recent experiment by a division rival.

Tom Gatto

Padres' pitching is weak, but they're trying to compensate

San Diego is throwing numbers at the problem of so-so starting pitching. It can take some notes from a recent experiment by a division rival.

Tom Gatto

Derrick Rose addresses possible reunion with Tom Thibodeau

If Knicks point guard Derrick Rose is eager to reunite with his former coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota, he is doing his best to keep that desire to himself.

Tom Gatto

MLB gets it wrong — again — with change to intentional walk rule

Teams are now able to "give him four" all at once. Fans will be so grateful for those seconds saved.

Tom Gatto

Miguel Montero appears to have cleared air with Cubs manager Joe Maddon

Montero criticized, among other things, Maddon's communication skills even after the Cubs had won the World Series last year.

Tom Gatto

Texas freshman Jarrett Allen hits finishing move on power dunk

"Raw" was on the tube Monday night, so it's only fitting we put Jarrett Allen's dunk in a pro wrestling context.

Tom Gatto

WATCH: Giannis Antetokounmpo kept dunking on Steph Curry

The Greek Freak has no regard for a two-time defending NBA MVP.

Tom Gatto

Virginia Tech loses leading rebounder Chris Clarke to ACL tear

Clarke was injured during the Hokies' double-OT victory over rival Virginia on Feb. 12.

Tom Gatto

Aldon Smith likely done with Raiders if police probe moves forward

The Raiders have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence.

Tom Gatto

Adele's Grammys do-over leads to Falcons Super Bowl burns on Twitter

Adele stopped in mid-song when things were going south. No such luck for the Falcons.

Tom Gatto

Odd call by Big Ten crew DQ's two players from Purdue-Indiana

It's either a block or a charge, zebras. As Dick Vitale said, officials copped out instead.

Tom Gatto

MLB's idea to end marathon games is extra dumb

Baseball will test the idea of starting each half-inning after the ninth with a runner on second base and no outs. That's just wrong thinking.

Tom Gatto

To Mets' Zack Wheeler, working out of 'pen a bunch of bull

The right-hander, who has missed two full seasons because of Tommy John surgery, says he's a starter, period.

Tom Gatto

Kyle Shanahan adding familiar faces to first 49ers staff

Shanahan is retaining two San Francisco assistants and turning to coaches with whom he has history to fill out other positions.

Tom Gatto

Super Bowl 51: Patriots owner Robert Kraft zings Roger Goodell in trophy ceremony

The Patriots' owner didn't miss a chance to zing the commissioner.

Tom Gatto

Super Bowl 51: Patriots, Falcons in overtime; first OT in game's history

New England forced an extra period after a furious fourth-quarter rally.

Tom Gatto

Super Bowl 51: Patriots in range for epic rally after fourth-quarter score

Tom Brady and Co. make it a one-score game after a New England takeaway.

Tom Gatto

Super Bowl 51: Tom Brady falters in first half, helps put Patriots in huge hole

The Patriots quarterback throws a costly interception in the second quarter, the lowest light of an uninspiring 30 minutes.

Tom Gatto

Johnny Manziel is still money in Aggies Country

The Texas A&M legend traveled to the Houston area for a Super Bowl week autograph session. He encountered a friendly (and generous) audience.

Tom Gatto

Tiger Woods withdraws from Dubai Desert Classic; back spasms cited

Woods struggled to a 5-over 77 in the first round of the event. Observers said Woods appeared to be in discomfort on the course.

Tom Gatto

Carlos Martinez set to lead wave of young Cardinals starters

Carlos Martinez, 25, has a contract that could keep him in St. Louis for the next seven years. He might spend some of that time leading a group of kids who have a lot of potential.

Tom Gatto

National Signing Day 2017: Top five college football recruiting classes

CFP runner-up Alabama is still king of the recruiting hill. Najee Harris is one of the Tide's biggest prizes in their 2017 class.

Tom Gatto

Luol Deng expands on Donald Trump comments

Deng, a native of Sudan, was a refugee in Egypt as a child.

Tom Gatto

Raiders lose support of Sheldon Adelson in pursuit of move to Las Vegas

The casino mogul responded to the Raiders excluding him from negotiations with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

Tom Gatto

Super Bowl Opening Night: Arthur Blank name-drops Donald Trump on Robert Kraft

The opening part of the event formerly known as Super Bowl Media Day was uneventful. The owners of the teams had one of the more awkward moments.

Tom Gatto

Kirk Cousins shows off wheels, denies Aqib Talib TD in Pro Bowl

The Redskins (for now) quarterback decided to play real football after throwing an interception.

Tom Gatto

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, no longer Roger Goodell's BFF, trying to get past Deflategate

Kraft was once considered tight with the commissioner, but Deflategate appears to have changed that status.

Tom Gatto

Louisville, Rick Pitino signal fight with NCAA with response to allegations

The university and its men's basketball coach claim a former assistant kept everything hidden from everyone.

Tom Gatto

Paul Johnson still thinks ACC out to screw him, Georgia Tech after seeing schedule

The Yellow Jackets coach just needed to look at the 2017 slate for affirmation of his belief.

Tom Gatto

John Elway's big DC weekend: Photo ops with Tony Romo, superfan cabbie

Elway knows not to tamper with another team's player, but that isn't going to stop the football world from thinking something went down last weekend in Washington.

Tom Gatto

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