Pat Summitt family: "Past few days have been difficult" for legendary coach

Geno Auriemma on Pat Summitt"s Impact - SportsCenter (04-19-2012)

Dan Fleser, USA TODAY SPORTS NETWORK 2:29 p.m. EDT June 26, 2016

The legendary University of Tennessee coach stepped down as the Volunteers" head coach after being diagnosed with dementia. Video provided by Newsy Newslook

Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Pat Summitt in 2013.(Photo: Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports)

Pat Summitts family released a statement late Sunday morning regarding the health of the former University of Tennessee womens basketball coach, acknowledging: "the past few days have been difficult for Pat as her early onset dementia, Alzheimers Type progresses."

The statement from Erin Freeman of Ackermann Public Relations also said, "She is surrounded by those who mean the most to her and during this time, we ask for prayers for Pat and her family and friends, as well as your utmost respect and privacy. Thank you."

Five hours earlier, a source told the News Sentinel that Summitt was "struggling" and those close to her were "preparing for the worst."

"I dont think anybody knows whether she will last a day, a month, or a year," the source said.

Summitt announced in August 2011 that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers disease.

As of late Saturday, Summitt, 64, had not been moved from the retirement center where she has been living since late January, the source said.

Summitts family and some former players were with her during the weekend and preparations were made to make public statements on her condition when necessary. ESPN reported that Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker flew to Knoxville on Friday. Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings told the News Sentinel that she visited Summitt. She came after the Fevers game in Dallas on Saturday night and has returned to Indianapolis.

Social media was buzzing with prayer wishes for Summitt and her family. Among the well wishers was Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who tweeted early Sunday morning: "Praying for Coach @patsummitt and her family tonight!"

Incoming womens basketball freshman Kamera Harris also tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with @patsummitt and her family!#PrayForPat"

Later on Sunday, Lady Vols forward Diamond DeShields tweeted, "Shes The reason why Im even here man. #PrayForPat hang tight in there coach. We got your back."

Fellow Lady Vol Andraya Carter tweeted "My thoughts are with the greatest coach of all time and her wonderful family. Keep fighting @patsummitt!"

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley advised her Twitter followers "to lock hands and #PrayForPat."

Despite her diagnosis, Summitt coached the 2011-12 season before stepping down. She concluded her storied 38-year career with 1,098 victories and eight national championships.

Summitt, known for her icy glare on the sideline, was hired as the Lady Vols head coach as a 22-year-old in 1974. Two years later she was co-captain on the silver-medal winning U.S. Olympic team. In 1984 she coached the Olympic team to a gold medal.

Basketball factored into almost every aspect of her life, including the birth of her son, Tyler, in 1990. Even though her water had broken she finished a recruiting visit in Pennsylvania, then urged pilots not to stop on the way home so her son could be born in Tennessee.

Her all-time record was 1,098-208 (.840). She coached 47 percent of her games against ranked opponents and also had a .913 winning percentage at home (504-48).

The court at Thompson Boling Arena, where the Lady Vols and Vols play, is called "The Summitt."

The "We Back Pat" campaign began almost immediately after Summitts medical announcement. Fighting Alzheimers became her cause before her coaching career ended as well. In November 2011, Summitt and Tyler announced the formation of the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, with proceeds going toward Alzheimers research.

President Barack Obama announced she was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in April 2012.

ESPN recognized her accomplishments with the documentary "Pat XO" in July 2013.

In November 2013, the Pat Summitt Plaza, which included a statue, was dedicated on campus.

Dan Fleser writes for the Knoxville News-Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY SPORTS NETWORK

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2016/06/26/pat-summitt-tennessee-lady-vols-ncaa-championships-dementia/86402446/

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Jose Reyes comes full circle, returns to the Mets

Boomer and Carton: Will Jose Reyes be a Met again?

The Nationals couldn"t have this road trip end soon enough.

What was supposed to be a golden opportunity to pad theirdivision lead in a stretch that included struggling opponents like the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewershas instead turned into a season-high seven-game losing skid.

Luckily for the Nats, they"ll finally be headingback to D.C. on Sunday night after they try to salvage a win inMilwaukee. Butbefore they do, here are a few thoughts on Saturday night"s6-5 loss to theBrewers:

Gonzalez" struggles continue:Gio Gonzalez" season has started to spiral out of control, and he did nothing on Saturday to stop the bleeding. He allowed six runs on six hits over just three innings of work his shortest outingof the year and putting the Nats in catch-up mode the rest of the game.

When Gonzalez is struggling, his starts tend to follow a typical script: trouble with command he registered a walkand two hit batsmen and boutswithpitch inefficiency. Not only that, but he"s no longer throwing his changeup down and away to right handed hitters anymore, instead catching too much of the plate,as was the casein the first inning on Saturday when Chris Carter launched a three-run home run.

It"s all added up to an 0-6 record in his last seven outings with an eye-popping 8.44 ERA. Ouch.

Offense can"t complete comeback: Though Gonzalez put the Natsdown in an early 6-1 hole, theyfound a way to slowly climb back to make it a 6-5 game by the seventh inning thanks in part to another multi-hit game from both Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos. However, as has been in the case over the last week, that big go-ahead knock they needed never came. Washington had chances in each of the last three innings to level the game with the tying run on base, but came up short in each instance.

Unlucky seven: TheNats" seven-game losingstreak marks the team"s longest skid since the dark days of 2009, a season in which there were four different seven-game slides and the clubfinished with the worst record in baseball at 59-103. Of course, Washington"s come a long way since then.So while this current streak is sparking plenty of doom-and-gloom talk right now, remember that the Nats still own a two-game NL Eastlead over the New York Mets, who will travel to D.C. for a three-game set starting Monday.

Time to be concerned about Strasburg? As if thelosing streak wasn"tbad enough, Dusty Baker told reportersafter Saturday"s loss that Stephen Strasburg will miss Sunday"s start after feeling continued discomfort in his upper back. The scratch will make it two straight starts that the 27-year-old right hander has missed, so it"s fair to wonder just how serious this latest setback might be. Can Tanner Roark be the stopper the Nats desperately need right now?

Source: http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washington-nationals/jose-reyes-comes-full-circle-returns-mets

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Morning Briefing: Brandon Nimmo, Jose Reyes set for big days

Jose Reyes - Blue Jays/Rockies - 2015 Highlight Mix HD

ATLANTA -- There are a pair of games worth watching involving the New York Mets organization on Sunday.

At Turner Field, 2011 first-round pick Brandon Nimmo is poised to make his major league debut as the Mets face the Atlanta Braves at 1:35 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, Jose Reyes begins what is expected to be a week to 10-day tune-up in the minors when he starts at third base for the Brooklyn Cyclones at MCU Park on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.

In the major league game, Bartolo Colon (6-3, 3.00 ERA) starts opposite Braves right-hander Bud Norris (2-7, 4.69).

Colon departed his last start after only four pitches because he was struck in the right thumb on a sharp comebacker off the bat of Kansas Citys Whit Merrifield. X-rays were negative. Colon was diagnosed with a bruise.

SUNDAYS NEWS REPORTS

• The Mets made Reyes signing official Saturday afternoon. He will play for Brooklyn on Sunday and Monday, then is expected to move to Double-A Binghamton or Triple-A Las Vegas. Reyes will start at third base and also get outfield exposure during his minor league stint. Sandy Alderson met in person for an hour with Reyes after he was placed on waivers by the Colorado Rockies. Alderson said he came away satisfied that Reyes is remorseful for an Oct. 31 domestic violence incident involving his wife. Read more in the Post, Daily News, Times, Journal, Newsday, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.

• Michael Conforto was demoted to Las Vegas before Saturdays game. Conforto suggested that it might be beneficial to temporarily get out of the spotlight in order to reset. Alderson said Confortos demotion should be for a relatively short period of time. Nimmo will regularly play left field for the Mets, with Yoenis Cespedes remaining in center field. Read more in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.

• Kelly Johnson"s pinch-hit homer against ex-Met Dario Alvarez in the 11th lifted the Mets to a 1-0 win against the Braves on Saturday. Jacob deGrom again received no run support and remained winless since April 30. DeGrom tossed eight scoreless innings in a no-decision. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Newsday and at NJ.com and MLB.com.

• Columnist Mike Lupica in the Daily News concludes about the Reyes-Mets reunion: Reyes needs a job. The Mets need help, all over the field. Once, there would have been tremendous romance to this sort of homecoming. Maybe there still can be. For now its strictly about business. And a different kind of song, just a sadder one, for Jose Reyes.

• Citing the case involving Aroldis Chapman, columnist David Lennon in Newsday notes that fans are quick to forgive productive ballplayers.

• Roger Bernadina went 4-for-5 with two homers, five RBIs and four runs scored in Las Vegas" 16-8 win against Sacramento. Dominic Smith"s three-run homer lifted Binghamton to a 4-3 win against Richmond. Lednier Ricardos solo homer accounted for the lone run in St. Lucies 6-1 loss to Palm Beach. Columbia stranded Joe Tuschak on second base in the ninth and fell to Augusta, 3-2. Joe Marias RBI single provided Kingsports lone run in a 5-1 loss to Elizabethton. Joel Huertas allowed six runs in four innings and Hudson Valley beat Brooklyn, 6-4. Read the full minor-league recap here.

• Jim Hickman, an original Met, died Saturday at age 79, Mike Organ writes in the Tennessean.

• From the bloggers ... Mets Report looks at Cespedes brain cramps.

BIRTHDAYS: Jason Middlebrook turns 41. ... Luis Hernandez is 32.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

YOURE UP: How long should Conforto remain in the minors?

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/121002/morning-briefing-brandon-nimmo-jose-reyes-set-for-big-days

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Mother shoots, kills her 2 daughters, is killed by police

Houston Gun Advocate Christy Sheats Shoots 2 Daughters Dead On Father"s B-Day B4 Police Kill Her

FULSHEAR, TX (KTRK/CNN) - A mother shot and killed her two daughters before being killed by police.

One of the adult daughters was found dead in the middle of the street and the other was wounded nearby and flown to the hospital by Life Flight. She later died of her injuries.

Police identified the mother as Christy Sheats, 42. The daughters were Taylor Sheats, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17.

The women"s father was there when the shooting spilled out into the street, but was not hurt.

The mother, still brandishing the weapon, was killed by a Fulshear police officer.

"It would be too premature to give you a motive as to why something like this took place," a police spokesman said. "All we can do is the best we can to pray for the father and husband so he can work through this.

A neighbor spoke about the family, but asked to remain anonymous. He said the shooting shocked the neighborhood.

"Those parents are good. They are hard-working," the neighbor said. "I do not know how this happened, so I cannot believe that."

Source: http://www.kalb.com/content/news/Mother-shoots-kills-her-2-daughters-is-killed-by-police-384419191.html

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Argentina Vs Chile: Becky G To Perform Before Final Copa Amrica 2016 Match; Calls It "Special"

FINAL COPA AMERICA - ARGENTINA VS CHILE !!

Becky G is counting down the days for the Copa Amrica final match, where she"s confirmed to perform ahead of the highly-anticipated game between Argentina and Chile.

For the Mexican-American songstress, this even hits close to home."This opportunity is very special for me," said Becky, who is featured on Pitbull"s official 2016 Copa Amrica song, "Superstar." "I grew up playing soccer, my grandparents played soccer,my siblings play soccer, and there is never like acarne asadaor a family get-together where we"re not watching a soccer game. So it"s great to be part of this," she told Billboard of her upcoming gig.

If you"ve been following up on the tournament, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, by now you should know that "Superstar" is the only jam blasting on your small screen when the Copa goes on. Becky knows it.

Becky G performs on stage at iHeartRadio LIVE Move with the music powered by Degree with Becky G at iHeartRadio Theater on April 18, 2016 in Burbank, California. Rich Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

"It"s been surreal to turn on the television and hear our song in the backgroundjust as matches are about to begin," she told Billboard. "This is something very personal because soccer has always been a part of mine and my family"s life. I can"t wait to perform it during the final. It"s going to be dope. I"m already feeling the butterflies, because there will be tons of people at the stadium."

The "Showers" singer also recalled how she jumped on board Mr. 305"s festive track. "I was in the studio with a producer that works a lot with Pit, and he called him up not even knowing I was in the studio. Then they told him I was there. That"s when I heard the song for the first time, and I knew I neededto do this and amvery happy that they would take me into consideration to be on the track," she said.

The Copa Amrica Centenario closing ceremony will air live prior to the final match scheduled at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, June 26.

Source: http://www.latintimes.com/argentina-vs-chile-becky-g-perform-final-copa-america-2016-match-calls-it-special-391944

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Three reasons to watch USA vs Colombia in Copa third-place match

USA vs Colombia 0-1 Copa America 2016 Centenario Carlos Bacca Gol Goal

The USA was a bit humiliated in its semifinal matchup with Argentina, as La Albiceleste romped to a 4-0 win in Houston. It was assumed that the US would struggle against one of the greatest national teams in the world, but registering only one shot and conceding four goals shows just how out of their depth the Yanks were.

The hosts tournament isnt over, though. The US can still leave the Copa America Centenario with its head held high if it can put in a good performance on Saturday. It might seem like a useless formality, but US soccer fans have one more opportunity to see their team play in a top tournament.

Here are three reasons to tune into the third-place match at 5 p.m. Saturday, after the Sounders match against NYCFC:

1. Sweet revenge.

The Americansdidnt play poorly in their opening match against Colombia, despite the wretched result. If a few tiny things had gone their way, they could have at least eked out a draw in that match. Match against Argentina aside, the US has played well in this tournament and deserved to get as far as itdid. TheYanks willwant to show the world and their own fans that they deserve to be on such a stage, and revenge against Colombia will do just that.

2. The future and maybe a sendoff.

Im not sure how US coachJrgen Klinsmann will line his team up on Saturday, but I have a feeling it wont be business as usual. h**l want to mix things up a little, giving some younger and fringe players a shot against a team that his normal starters failed to beat. Hopefully well see Christian Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe especially, and Bobby Wood (who was suspended against Argentina) will likely be back in the lineup. Klinsmann also announced that hed be looking to the past for the match as well he named Tim Howard as the starting goalkeeper on Friday. Its just speculation, but some think this could be Howards final appearance as a United States international. Even if its not announced, hopefully the team and fans give one of Americas greatest ever players a great sendoff.

3. Clint Dempsey inches towards history.

The Sounders forward is only five goals away from equaling Landon Donovans USMNT scoring record (57), and including him in this match will give him a chance to get another onto his tally. Hopefully Dempsey will get more chances in the future, but squeezing in another goal or two in this tournament could help him get closer to breaking Donovans record. Sounders fans will also hope he gets back into a scoring rhythm before he heads back to Seattle, where hes had a pretty woeful season so far.

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.

Source: http://sports.mynorthwest.com/146163/three-reasons-to-watch-usa-vs-columbia-in-copa-third-place-match/

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George Will exits the Republican Party over Trump

Trump Was The Last Straw For George Will"s GOP Membership

Conservative columnist George Will has left the Republican Party over its presumptive nomination of Donald Trump.

Will, who writes a column for the Washington Post, announced his decision Friday at an event for the Federalist Society in Washington, the news site PJ Media reported.

"This is not my party," he told the audience, according to the site. He said that he has changed his voter registration from "Republican" to "unaffiliated."

Will has been an outspoken critic of Trump for months, and a major proponent of the "Never Trump" movement. In April, he wrote a column with the headline, "If Trump is nominated, the GOP must keep him out of the White House." In response, Trump called Will "a major loser."

Speaking with PJ Media on Friday, Will said that it was too late for GOP to nominate someone who isn"t Trump. Instead, he said, Republicans should just "make sure he loses," then "Grit their teeth for four years and win the White House."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/george-will-exits-the-republican-party-over-trump/2283145

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