NPR Sports

Judge To Decide If O'Bannon Vs. NCAA Gets Class Action Status

Renee Montagne — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:34:00 +0000

A federal judge on Thursday hears arguments over whether a lawsuit against the NCAA should be expanded. The case was brought by former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon. He contends the NCAA unfairly benefits from student athletes by forcing them to sign away their licensing rights.

Heat, Spurs Headed To Game 7 After Stunning Game 6

editor — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:12:00 +0000

We'll let LeBron James do the talking. He said about the sixth game of the NBA finals between the Heat and Spurs:

"It's by far the best game I've ever been a part of."

And it certainly was a stunner: The Heat's Ray Allen hit a three-pointer with just 5.2 seconds on the clock to tie the game, denying the Spurs their fifth NBA title. The game went into overtime and remained airtight, but eventually the Heat prevailed 103 to 100.

ESPN has highlights:

Game 7 is in Miami and starts at 9 p.m.

Miami Heat Force Game 7 In NBA Finals

Mike Pesca — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:27:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

It sure looked like the NBA season was coming to an end last night. World champions San Antonio Spurs - no, not so fast. The Miami Heat were not ready to give in. After a thrilling improbable comeback, the Heat are still alive, pushing their NBA final series with the Spurs to the brink; a decisive Game 7 tomorrow. Last night, the Heat were down by five points with just over 20 seconds remaining. They came back, forced overtime, and won.

Tick Tock: Make The Serve, Pitch, Putt Or Shot

Frank Deford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:23:00 +0000

In Milwaukee, cartoon characters dressed up like various sausages race at each Brewers' game; in Washington, five of our beloved presidents do their own bratwurst ramble. But the character I want to appear at every baseball game –– and at a couple of other sports, too, is ...

tick-tock,tick-tock

... the crocodile from Peter Pan who swallowed a clock and shadows a terrified Capt. Hook.

Somebody has to scare athletes into playing faster. In baseball, golf and tennis in particular, we are being slowwwwwwly lulled to sleep before every pitch, every shot.

Home-Schooled Students Fight To Play On Public School Teams

editor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Legislative battles are being fought around the country over whether or not to let home-schooled students play on public high school teams.

Roughly half of U.S. states have passed laws making them eligible to play on the teams.

Boston Tops Chicago In Game 3 Of NHL's Stanley Cup

Korva Coleman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:00 +0000

The Boston Bruins have taken the lead in the NHL's Stanley Cup championships, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 Monday night in Boston. Interestingly, last night wasn't a tense, drawn-out reprise of Games 1 and 2 and did not require an overtime.

Boston's goalie, Tuukka Rask, playing peerlessly, had another shutout, letting the Bruins put it away in the second period.

San Antonio Spurs One Game From Winning Fifth NBA Title

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:26:00 +0000

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

The pendulum of this year's NBA finals has swung again. The first win in the series went to the San Antonio Spurs, the next to the Miami heat, then Spurs, then Heat. And last night, the Spurs won game five. That puts them one game away from winning their fifth NBA title, all with Gregg Popovich as their coach and all with Tim Duncan as one of their key players. But the series reverts to Miami tomorrow night. NPR's Mike Pesca will be there, and he joins us now.

The NFL To Your Purse: Drop Dead

Linda Holmes — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Last Thursday, the NFL announced a policy change in which only clear plastic bags would be allowed into stadiums — one per person. Nothing they can't see through.

Ginobli Awakens, Leads Spurs To Game 5 Win

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:15:00 +0000

With a 114-104 victory against the Miami Heat last night in San Antonio, the Spurs are just one win away from their fifth NBA title.

NPR's Tom Goldman filed this report for our Newscast unit:

"Manu Ginobili's NBA Finals slump is over and at the best possible time for his team. The Spurs' All-Star shooting guard scored a season-high 24 points and had 10 assists to help lead San Antonio to the brink of another championship.
"Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich decided to start the struggling Ginobili, who normally comes off the bench.

Rose Wins U.S. Open, Mickelson Loses Again

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:26:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

The U.S. Open concluded yesterday at the Merion Golf Club, just outside Philadelphia. And for American Phil Mickelson, this was another case of always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Mickelson finished as runner-up at the Open for a record sixth time, despite leading for most of the tournament. In the end, it was England's Justin Rose who took the prize, winning his first major tournament.

And for a recap of all the drama, we reached USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan, who covered all the action.