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Serena Williams Reached 700 Career Wins in Miami

Tennis number 1 Serena Williams reached her 700th WTA win at the Miami Open on Wednesday.

She is the second player who reached an important career mileston in as many days at the Florida tournament. She was offered a giant, brightly-colored cake, one day after Andy Murray reached 500 wins the day before.

World No. 1 Williams was in big trouble and seemed to be heading towards a surprising defeat against Sabine Lisicki, from Germany. Serena lost six straight games in the second set, after having won a tight opener.

The American managed to gather her strength and won against the 21st-ranked German 7-6 1-6 6-3 in a two hours long match.

“I had no idea about the milestone. I saw them bringing out a cake and I thought, ‘Whose birthday is it today?’ But I really had no idea”, said Williams, who last year won her seventh Miami title. She has raked in more than $65 million in prize money in her great career, winning a staggering 19-time grand slam tournaments.

Serena has not lost a single match in 2015 and she is the reigning Australian and U.S. Open champion. Even tough she got to 700 victories, the all-time record is almost impossible to beat. Martina Navratilova has 1,442 match wins — which is a record in both the men’s and women’s game.

In Thursday’s second semifinal, Serena Williams will play against world No. 3 Simona Halep, who the last player to win against her in October last year, in Singapore. Halep became the first Romanian to get a win against the WTA leader, triumphing in their group match at the WTA Finals. Williams got her revenge in the title match in Singapore.

Halep and Williams were supposed to meet again two weeks ago at Indian Wells, but Williams retired before that semifinal due to a knee injury.

“I’ll remember defeating her all my life because it was such a great match for me,” said Halep. The Romanian won her last match in Miami against young American Sloane Stephens. ” I just have to go out there and believe I have a chance. I have to believe I can win again against her. I have nothing to lose. Serena is the best player in the world”, added the 23-year old.

The winner of their semifinal will play for the trophy against either Spanish No. 12 Carla Suarez-Navarro or German ninth seed Andrea Petkovic.

Image Source: Miami Open

Palestinians Request FIFA To Suspend Israel From Football

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The Palestinian Football Association will request the FIFA Congress, the general meeting of the world soccer governing body, in May to suspend Israel, saying it continues to hamper its sporting activities.

Despite efforts by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to calm tensions, the Palestinians remain discontented at the current restrictions. The Palestinians claim that Israel interferes on the movement of their sportsmen between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Football Association also accuses Israel had placed restrictions on Palestinian territories on the supply of sports equipment and on visits by foreign teams and athletes.

In 2013, Sepp Blatter set up a task force which included the Israeli, Palestinian football officials, himself and the some important chiefs of the European and Asian football confederations to analyze the Palestinian complaints and to try to solve the issue.

But Palestine Football Association president Jibril Rajoub announced he has lost patience, and he has requested FIFA to show Israel “the red card.”

Israel defends itself by citing security worries for restrictions it imposes in the West Bank, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is in limited control of the region, but also on the border with the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas.

Israel says it has ameliorated travel for Palestinian athletes between the two territories, which can be made only by transiting Israel.

In December, Rajoub asked FIFA to sanction Israel after Israeli troops stormed the offices of the Palestine Football Association. An army spokesperson explained at the time soldiers were searching a wanted individual and were not on the premises because of its connections to football.

The Palestinian resolution requests Israel’s suspension because its measures “inhibit the ability to develop the game.”

The document also complains about racist behavior toward Arab athletes and footballers by some Israeli fans, as many Israeli football teams from Jewish towns have Arab players on their rosters.

The Palestinian Football Association added that Israel was breaking international law by offering places in the domestic league play to five clubs from Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Most nations regard settlements Israel has constructed on land it captured in the 1967 war as being illegal.

Reports in the Israeli press this month announced that UEFA President Michel Platini had advised former Israel Football Association chief Avi Luzon, who is a member of the UEFA executive committee, to help avert possible sanctions.

Image Source: Alyaexpress News

Mexican Wrestler Dies In The Ring; Match Continues

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Mexican professional wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez collapsed on the ropes of the ring, while the match continued for two minutes, before medics released he was seriously injured.

Ramirez, the son of a wrestling legend in Mexico, died on Saturday, after he received a blow in the ring. According to the Baja California state prosecutor’s office, Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known as Hijo del Perro Aguayo, lost his consciousness after he received a kick from Oscar Gutierrez, another wrestler known as Rey Mysterio Jr.. The match took place in the municipal auditorium in Tijuana.

The match went on for almost two minutes before the wrestlers and the referee realized Aguayo was gravely injured. He was taken immediately to the hospital, but died a few hours later, said prosecutor’s spokesman Raul Gutierrez.

According to the state prosecutor’s office, the cause of death was trauma to the neck and a cervical fracture. After the autopsy, the authorities have opened an investigation into possible manslaughter.

The Crash, the company that organised the event, couldn’t be reached for comment. The Tijuana Boxing and Wrestling Commission decried the death as an unfortunate accident, a sad consequence high-risk sports.

The match continued as Pedro Aguayo hung motionless on the ropes, commission President Juan Carlos Pelayo explained that people checked his condition immediately, adding that the doctor in charge was not at ringside, as he was offering treatment to another injured wrestler. Paramedics and a doctor who was a spectator offered medical support to Aguayo.

“The reaction for medical attention was quick,” Pelayo said in a press conference Saturday.

Mexico’s professional wrestling scene is known for its colorful costumes and characters. Wrestling is called lucha libre, amd fighters perform spectacular aerial maneuvers both inside and outside the ring.

Aguayo was 35 years-old. He dhd wrestled for 20 years and was the son of the legendary Pedro “Perro” Aguayo. His father is now retired and a member of the Hall of Fame of Aztec lucha.

Aguayo Jr. led a popular group called “Los Perros de Mal” – the bad dogs. He won the national pairs title with his father, and also a national heavyweight championship.

“I think the fans in Mexico, the United States and Japan must be in mourning, especially because of his youth. It makes me very sad,” the wrestler Hijo del Santo said.

Image Source: El Debate

Olympic Champion Dies in Helicopter Crash while Filming a Reality TV Show

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Camille Muffat had won the gold medal for France at the 2012 Olympics, when the swimmer set an Olympic record in the 400 m freestyle.

She was only 22 years old at the London Olympics. On Monday, her triumph was showed again and again by French media, after news emerged that Camille Muffat and seven other athletes died in a helicopter crash.

They were filming a reality TV show in Argentina. Champion sailor Florence Arthaud and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were also among the victims. The French athletes perished while filming an episode for the survivalist program “Dropped”.

The show involves contestants being left on their own in the wilderness and using their survival instincts and skill to find their way back to civilization.

Muffat only joined the reality show two weeks ago. She had retired from swimming last year, after a dispute with her coach, and since then she had participated in various events.

The accident happened while the helicopter was flying near Villa Castelli, more than 700 miles northwest of the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.

According to Cesar Angulo, the Secretary of Security of the region where the helicopter crashed, it is believed that they collided and after that a big explosion followed. The Argentine pilots also died in the accident, which happened near the place where the versions of the show for Switzerland and Denmark were also filmed. The causes of the crash are still unknown.

Florence Arthaud, 57, who was nicknamed “Fiancee of the Atlantic”, was the first famous women in the world of sailing. In 1990 she broke the record for the fastest solitary crossing of the North Atlantic ocean.

Another victim of Monday’s crash, Alexis Vastine, 28, won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing at the 60-64 kilogram category. His loss in the semifinal with Manuel Felix Diaz was surrounded by controversy.

French Sports Minister Thierry Braillard said that “the whole French sport is in mourning” after the loss of “three huge champions”.

It is the second tragedy in two years for a show aired by French station TF1. In April 2013 the medic who was responsible for the contestants’ health in the running show Koh-Lanta committed suicide after one of the athletes died. The competitor had complained of heart pains during one of the tests of the show.

Image Source: Master Swim

Recent Study Shows Yoga Is Among Top Complementary Therapies

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A study conducted by the American government on the subject of alternative medicine was released on Tuesday February 11. This recent study shows yoga is among top complementary therapies.
According to the survey, more than 21 million American citizens practice yoga. In comparison to 2002, the numbers doubled. The number of yoga practitioners aged between 45 and 64 years old has risen from 5.2 % to 7.2%. Also, a lot of people from the Latino community have started doing yoga.
Among the reasons for starting yoga practice were physical well-being, chronic pain control or in an attempt to lessen anxiety but also in order to and to increase mindfulness.
The authors of the study explained that yoga is also popular because one can practice it at home, without needing to invest in pricey equipment.
Children have also taken a liking to this Indian practice as public schools have started to include yoga in their fitness curriculum.
The study analyzed various forms of alternative medicine and supplements that have become popular amongst American citizens. Fish oil, due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, is still holding the lead amongst supplements as is has for the last 5 years. In 2012 there was an increase in fish oil usage to 7.8% from 4.8% (data recorded in 2007).
The study revealed that out of the total number of U.S. health consumer, a third of them are using complementary therapies, different from the traditional Western medicine. Complementary therapies refer to yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, meditation, massage and the usage of herbal products.
Indians, however, disagree with the way yoga is being practiced in the Western world. This opinion has become even more popular since the dawn of such derived practices as power yoga, hip hop yoga or hot haha yoga which are becoming more and more popular in the United States.
Hindus are not planning to rebrand the original yoga method. According to traditional practitioners, yoga has been diluted and modified in such a way that it no longer contains the essence of this 2500 year old practice. So nowadays, the poses we learn in yoga classes are just a small fraction of the whole routine.
Nonetheless, the number of American yoga practitioners is on the rise.
Image Source: Camel City Yoga

Jameis Winston Will Enter The 2015 NFL Draft

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According to his father FSU quarterback James Winston will forgo his final college eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL draft. Just yesterday, Antonor Winston said that his son would wait until after the College Football Playoff National Championship to announce his decision.

Antonor also spoke to al.com reporter Natalie Pierre on Wednesday morning, confirming the initial report.

Depending on who you talk to, Winston is either the top-rated or second rated quarterback coming out of college this year.

Winston wrapped up his redshirt sophomore season with a loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual. He was 26-1 as a starter at Florida State. Winston ranks fourth in touchdown passes (65), fourth in passing yards (7,964) and second in passes of 20 yards or more (124) since the start of the 2013 season.

Almost no one disagrees with his on the field ability, it’s his off the field issues that have raised the red flags of many pro scouts and NFL teams.

Stuart Scott, ESPN Anchor Succumbs to Cancer

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At just 49 years old, ESPN anchor, Stuart Scott, has passed away from stomach cancer. Although he had undergone multiple surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and even various clinical trials after begin diagnosed with cancer in 2007, he finally lost the battle. However, he never looked at his battle as losing.

While fighting for his life, Stuart made a profound statement that will inspire and encourage other people dealing with cancer for many years to come. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like hell”.

In 1993, Stuart joined the ESPN family, quickly reaching the top spot on the SportsCenter program. He was full of life, always enthusiastic and best known for his colorful phrases and descriptions of stories that pertained to sports. As explained by Dan Patrick, former ESPN anchor and sports radio host, Scott did not push the envelope but bulldozed it.

Since his passing, millions of people to include family, friends, celebrities, professional sports figures, and even government officials such as Former US President Bill Clinton and President Barak Obama, have expressed their sadness over this great loss.

Commonly referred to as “Stu”, he did not just report on sports but provided viewers with pure entertainment. Forever, he will leave a legacy of being an exceptional anchor but also for his many catch-phrases such as “As cool as the other side of the pillow” and “Boo-ya”.

Throughout his long career, Stuart covered a wide range of professional and college sporting events to include the Super Bowl, the World’s Series, the NBA Finals, and the NCAA Final Four, among many others. However, for many, it was also Stuart’s love for inner city kids that earned him so much respect.

Over the years, Stuart worked hard to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help organizations in their quest to find a cure for cancer. In honor of such an amazing man, both players and fans throughout the country stopped for a moment of silence on Sunday.

Tiger Woods summed up the emotions surrounding Scott Stuart’s death best when he said, “Stuart was not covering champions and heroes – it was the other way around”.

There is no question that virtually everyone in the world of sports lost an inspirational person and genuine friend. Even while going through difficult chemotherapy treatments, he never quit, walking out of the hospital to get back to the ESPN set or participate in mixed martial arts training.

Stuart leaves behind 15 and 19-year old daughters, a supportive girlfriend, his parents, two sisters, and one brother who together have thanked the world for their outpouring of kindness and love.

Cam Newton Upset After Fans Cheer Manziel Injury

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Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton took a vocal approach in complaining about how fans were cheering the injury of Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel in the Panthers contest against the Browns on Sunday.

Manziel went down with a late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. While Manziel was on the ground being tended to by the staff, some of the fans at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Panthers, were cheering.

Cam Newton was highly disappointed with the fans of his team, saying that, “I just think it was classless at that time. Anytime a person is hurt, you don’t celebrate. I’ve had that done in my career. It takes the integrity out of the game.”

Newton has also been on the receiving end of cheers after injuries. Such an incident happened earlier this year in the Louisiana Superdome when Newton went down in a game against the New Orleans Saints.

On the bright side for the Panthers, they did achieve a 17-13 victory over the Browns, helping keep the Panthers firmly in the hunt for the NFC South Playoff Spot. The NFC South has been a very weak division this year, and the results of yesterday’s games ensures that whoever does win the division, either the Falcons or the Panthers, will go into the playoffs despite a losing record on the season.

While the victory is something the Panthers ca be happy about, the attitude the fans displayed toward an injured player is a sad sight to see in the NFL today. No matter who a player is, or whether or not you like them, when somebody is injured it is important remember that the athletes on the field are people too. They have families and this is their livelihood. Whenever a player is injured it is a threat to that livelihood.

When a player gets hurt, no matter if they are a player for your arch-rival, or someone you just don’t like, treat them with the kindness and respect anyone deserves while injured. You never know when it’s going to be a career ender.

Boston Celtics Trade Rajon Rondo

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The Boston Celtics have dealt all-star point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks, officially cutting loose the last remnant of the Celtics most recent NBA Championship squad.

Rajon Rondo will be shipped to Dallas, alongside forward Dwight Powell as the Mavericks are looking to add one final piece to place themselves firmly in contention for the NBA Finals this season. in exchange for Rondo and Powell, the Celtics will receive Jameer Nelson, Brandon Powell, Jae Crowder along with a conditional 1st round draft pick in the 2015 draft, and a second rounder in the 2016 draft.

This move is significant for both the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. So far, the Mavericks have played to a 19-8 record in the Western Conference and the addition of a point guard the caliber of Rajon Rondo will only bolster their performance through the rest of the season. Adding Rondo to a team that features all star power forward Dirk Nowitzki will no doubt make an already strong Mavericks team even stronger and help forge them into true contenders for the NBA Finals.

This move, though in an entirely different direction for the Celtics, is equally as important for them as well. This move officially sends the Celtics into a complete rebuilding phase, as they have done away with the majority of their big contracts and as such are looking to move into acquiring young talent through the draft and even potentially through free agency.

Rondo took to Twitter to address his departure, “My time in Boston has meant so much…I’ve grown up with this city both as a basketball player and person. The love I have for the most loyal And supportive fans in the league is unmatched.”

Over the next 2 seasons, the Celtics now have an incredible 8 first round draft picks, more than enough to have a strong basis to rebuild their franchise. After trading away Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, coach Doc Rivers, and now Rajon Rondo, the Celtics have set the foundation for one of the most effective rebuilding processes in recent memory. Only time will tell if it was worth it.

Jay Cutler Done In Chicago?

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Yesterday the news broke that that Marc Trestman, head coach of the Chicago Bears, will be benching starting quarterback Jay Cutler in favor of back up Jimmy Clausen for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

This move may very well signal the end of the Jay Cutler era in Chicago, an era that has been largely marred by mediocrity and failure. During Cutler’s tenure with the Chicago Bears, the team has only managed to reach the playoffs 1 time, and received sub-par performances from Cutler when they did get there.

This season, which started with such promise for the Chicago Bears, has been embarrassing for the team, which has played to just a 5-9 record, despite having what, in theory, should have been the top offenses in the NFL with support from big time players like Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Matt Forte.

After throwing 3 interceptions during last Monday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, Cutler threw 3 interceptions, adding to his league leading count of 18 interceptions and 24 total turnovers.

This move seems to be in order to guarantee the health of Cutler so the Bears have the opportunity to trade or cut Cutler before they must pay his $10 million guaranteed for next season.

Not only may this move be signaling the end of the Cutler era for the Chicago Bears, but it may also signal the end of the Trestman era at head coach. Trestman was brought in to be an offensive guru who could finally help Cutler reach his full potential and lead Chicago into a new era of high powered offense. Though Trestman had an okay inaugural season as head coach, his offense, and team have fallen off this year. Under Trestman this season, the Bears’ offense has yet to break the 30 point barrier in a game, and their defense remains firmly entrenched at the bottom of the league.

Whatever the offseason will bring to the NFL, it is nearly a guarantee that Chicago will see an incredible amount of change before the 2015-2016 season gets started. The only question is just how much change the Bears will have to undergo to return relevance in the NFC North.

Marcus Mariota Wins Heisman

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Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy at the award ceremony on Saturday in New York City. He didn’t just win it either, Mariota ran away with the award.

Mariota’s play this year earned him the second highest percentage of votes in Heisman history, earning 90.92 percent of every possible point in the vote. That percentage is second all time only to Troy Smith 91.63 of the total vote in 2006.

“I had to give thanks to so many people because where I am today, it’s all due to all those people,” Mariota said. “It’s hard not to get emotional. It’s been a long journey. My emotions got the best of me.”

Mariota has some of the most impressive physical abilities of any quarterback in College Football, and his skills have helped him lead the Oregon Ducks to the 2nd overall seed in the inaugural college football playoffs, and will lead them against the Florida State Seminoles in the Rose Bowl national semifinal.

Mariota has a fantastic arm on him, and speed to rival some of the top receivers in the game today. Mariota came into this season as the early favorite to win the 80th Heisman Award, and his play this year didn’t disappoint the people who expected him to perform this way.

Mariota has accounted for 53 touchdowns this season, a record for the PAC-12, with 38 touchdowns passing, 14 touchdowns running on the ground, and even a receiving touchdowns.

In addition to the Heisman, Mariota has also picked up the Maxwell award alongside the Davey O’Brien awards, becoming the first player since 2010 to win all 3 of the awards when Cam Newton won them all.

Mariota’s win has broken the run of red shirt freshman winning the nation’s highest honor for college football individual performances, though Mariota did first become a starter as a red shirt freshman.

Mariota has a reputation for being a quiet, composed leader on and off the field, and that personality was evident as he accepted the award. Only time will tell if Mariota will have even more to hold his head up about in the coming weeks.

Adrian Peterson Suspension Upheld

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Adrian Peterson, the all-pro running back for the Minnesota Vikings had his appeal of his season long suspension denied by the NFL on Friday.

Peterson, who played his way to the NFL MVP award for the 2012 season, hasn’t played a down of football since week 1 of this season, having been indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child in Montgomery County, Texas. Peterson plead no-contest to the charges, and shortly after was issued a suspension without pay by the league.

This appeal was heard by arbitrator Harold Henderson, who came to the decision that Peterson had not provided enough evidence to indicate that the punishment he had faced at the hands of the NFL was were unfair, or otherwise disproportionate.

The NFLPA has already released a statement which read, in part, “The decision itself ignores the facts, the evidence and the collective bargaining agreement. This decision also represents the NFL’s repeated failure to adhere to due process and confirms its inconsistent treatment of players. Our union is considering immediate legal remedies.”

Coming into this season, Peterson was slated to make $11.75 million this season. Peterson will be able to keep the money he had accrued before the NFL levied any punishment, but once that had happened, Peterson essentially faces a total loss of $4.15 million over the remainder of the year.

Barring the success of any future appeals to higher courts, Peterson’s status will not come up for reevaluation until the spring following the conclusion of the 2014-2015 season.

The Vikings have certainly missed the powerful, consistent presence of Adrian Peterson on the ground and have played to just a 6-7 record without him. Had Peterson been able to play this season, there is a substantial chance that the Vikings could be competing for at least a spot in the wild card playoffs on the NFC side of the bracket.

Word from the Peterson camp seems to be indicative that the running back plans to appeal the decision to a federal court and try his luck there. Only time will tell what the final conclusion of this entire process will be.

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