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Kevin Durant Pulls Out of Team USA and FIBA World Cup of Basketball - Big blow to Team USA on Thursday. NBA MVP Kevin Durant announced that he is withdrawing from Team USA and the FIBA World Cup of Basketball because he is fatigued and wants to be fully rested and prepared for the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In making the difficult decision, KD joins the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, who all made the same decision last month to pull out of the summer competition to rest for the NBA season. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Report: Philadelphia 76ers Third Team in Cleveland-Minnesota Deal - When news broke Thursday about the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves agreeing to a trade for Kevin Love, there wasn't any information about a third team being involved. Well, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Philadelphia 76ers will be that third team, as they are reportedly set to send forward Thaddeus Young to Minnesota and will land Anthony Bennett from Cleveland. If the rest of the deal pans out as reported, the Cavs will send 2014 top draft pick Andrew Wiggins and a protected first-round draft pick to Minnesota for Love and the All-Star power forward will sign a five-year, $120 million extension with the Cavs next summer. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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ESPN Suspends Personality for LeBron Billboard Stunt - ESPN has suspended personality Dan Le Batard for two days from his radio and television show after putting anti-LeBron James billboards up in the Akron/Cleveland area. The billboards show the 2012 and 2013 NBA championship rings that King James helped the Miami Heat win and says, "You're Welcome, LeBron" and "Love, Miami."(Photo: Billboard Spotter via Twitter)

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Ray Rice Receives Cheers From Baltimore Fans - Making his first on-field appearance since being suspended for two games for violating the NFL's conduct policy, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was cheered by fans in the team's home pre-season win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.  (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Maurkice Pouncey to Be Charged With Battery - According to a report, Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey will be charged with a misdemeanor battery in connection with a Miami nightclub assault last month. His brother, Mike Pouncey, will not be charged.(Photo: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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LeBron James Attends Cleveland Browns Practice - LeBron James surprised the Cleveland Browns by stopping by Thursday to check them out with his sons during their training camp. In addition to chatting with his friend and Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, King James also chopped it up with Browns head coach Mike Pettine, even taking a picture with his daughter.(Photo: Chuck Crow/The Cleveland Plaindealer/AP Photo)

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Raymond Felton Suspended Four Games by NBA - The NBA has suspended Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton for the first four games of the 2014-15 season in connection to his guilty plea in his New York gun case from earlier this year. The plea allowed Felton to avoid jail time. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

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NCAA Votes to Allow Autonomy to Five Power Conferences - On Thursday, the NCAA board voted to grant five power conferences autonomy in essentially governing themselves. According to ESPN, the NCAA voted to give that right to the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12.

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Metta World Peace to Change Name to The Pandas Friend - He's at it again. The ball player formerly known as Ron Artest is about to be formerly known as Metta World Peace. According to the Los Angeles Times, World Peace is set to change his name to The Pandas Friend in preparation for suiting up for the Chinese Basketball Association this season.(Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

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Cleveland Reaches Agreement for Kevin Love and Contract Commitment - For weeks we've been hearing heavy trade reports between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star power forward Kevin Love. Well, according to Yahoo Sports on Thursday, the Cavs have reached an agreement in principle to send top draft pick Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and a future first-round pick to Minnesota for Love. In addition, they've also reportedly reached a five-year, $120 million contract extension commitment from Love, in which he would first play the 2014-15 season with the Cavs before signing next off-season. The trade can't be finalized until at least August 23 because NBA rules stipulate that a signed rookie — in this case Wiggins — must wait at least 30 days before being traded. (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

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Tiger Woods Expects to Win PGA Title - Tiger is back on the prowl. After deciding to play in the PGA Championship tournament at Valhalla Golf Club on Wednesday, Tiger Woods says he is "pain-free" and expects to win the title. According to a report, Woods experienced some back pain until trainers tweaked his back, freeing him from experiencing any spasms. The tournament is scheduled to begin Thursday. Does Tiger, 38, still have what it takes to win a title? We will find out.(Photo: David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

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Blake Griffin Says Back Is Fine - Blake Griffin is at peace with his decision to withdraw from Team USA and sit out for the FIBA World Cup of Basketball tournament in Spain later this month. In retrospect, the Los Angeles Clippers' All-Star power forward believes that was the only way to fully recover from a small fracture in his back and be ready for the 2014-15 NBA season. “My whole thing is that I didn’t want to go into [Clippers training] camp and put myself in a worse position,” Griffin told the Los Angeles Times. Griffin says his back feels fine right now. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Drew Gooden to Rep Finland in FIBA World Cup - Born in Oakland and having played college ball at Kansas, Drew Gooden sounds about as American as it gets. However, the Washington Wizards veteran power forward will be suiting up for Finland for the upcoming FIBA World Cup of Basketball tournament in Spain later this month. That's because, according to the Washington Post, Gooden's mother is Finnish and that connection allows him to play for their squad under international rules. What's interesting is Gooden will see a bunch of familiar faces during Finland's opening game — against Team USA on August 30. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Hoyer to Start Over Manziel in Browns First Preseason Game - Johnny Football isn't going to be fully unleashed just yet. The Cleveland Browns have announced that Brian Hoyer will start at quarterback over rookie Johnny Manziel in the team's first pre-season game Saturday against the Detroit Lions. That being said, Manziel can still get the start nod for the Browns' second pre-season game against the Washington Redskins on August 18.(Photos from Left: Joe Robbins/Getty Images, Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)

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Shawn Marion Leaning Toward Cavaliers - The chance to play alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and possibly Kevin Love, and compete for an NBA championship, might be too much for Shawn Marion to pass up. According to Yahoo Sports, the veteran free agent power forward is leaning toward signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Indiana Pacers. Marion, 36, averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks this past season.  (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Michael Phelps Struggles in Comeback - Still on his comeback trail, Michael Phelps struggled to a seventh place finish in the men's 100 meter freestyle final in the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships at the Woollett Aquatic Center on Wednesday in Irvine, California. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

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Browns Gordon to Be Suspended for at Least Eight Games - The Cleveland Browns are bracing themselves for at least eight games — half an NFL season — without star wide receiver Josh Gordon, according to a Cleveland.com report. The report says that the looming suspension would be the best-case scenario for Gordon, who could still be suspended for the whole year. That is unless the unlikely prospect of Gordon winning an appeal on secondhand-smoke allegations occurs. The report also comes after Jim Brown says that the embattled wideout has to think about getting his life together as a human being over football. Gordon is facing a year-long suspension for failing another drug test. The NFL is likely to announce its punishment for Gordon within three weeks.(Photo: AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Spurs Make Becky Hammon Second Female Assistant Coach in NBA History - The San Antonio Spurs announced longtime WNBA guard Becky Hammon as their new assistant coach on Tuesday. With the announcement Hammon becomes only the second female assistant coach in NBA history behind Lisa Boyer, who served on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ staff during the 2001-2002 season. “Coach Pop made it clear to me that he hired me for my basketball IQ and that I am qualified for the position. It just so happens that I am a woman,” Hammon said during a press conference yesterday. Kobe Bryant also told ESPN that Hammon is a “very bright basketball mind.” (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Coach K Says Derrick Rose Has Returned to Elite Level - Ask Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and Derrick Rose is fully back from the torn ACL in his left knee and the shredded meniscus in his right knee that only allowed him to play 10 games the past two seasons. In fact, Coach K says the Chicago Bulls point guard is back to being among the NBA's elite. "The first defensive exchange in the camp, he was all over the ball handler, moving his feet, attacking him," Coach K said of Rose to ESPN. "There was a buzz right away because it was basically his saying, 'Look, I'm not just back. I'm back at a level that's elite.'" (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Vick Says Geno Smith Will Be Much Better - Expect an improved Geno Smith at quarterback for the New York Jets in 2014. Gang Green's other QB, Michael Vick, tells ESPN that the second-year Smith's overall game is more polished entering this season than it was during his rookie year. All that's left is for Smith to produce on the field now.(Photos from Left: Chris Trotman/Getty Images, Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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Bears Suspend Bennett After Practice Fight - Save that kind of intensity for the season. That was the message the Chicago Bears sent to their tight end Martellus Bennett on Tuesday, fining and suspending him for bodyslamming rookie cornerback teammate Kyle Fuller during a practice fight Monday. The length of the suspension nor the fine amount were disclosed. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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New MLB Commissioner to Be Voted In Next Week - Major League Baseball owners will convene next week to vote in Bud Selig's successor for the commissioner of the league, according to ESPN. The announcement comes simultaneously with the reports that more MLB players will be named in connection to the infamous Biogenesis clinic performance-enhancing drugs scandal.  (Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Jim Brown on Josh Gordon: "He's Got to Get His Life Together" - Jim Brown says that before Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon can think football, he simply has to think about getting his life together. The football legend told the Northeast Ohio Media Group, "We have to support him and educate him" and that "you can only do that though leadership in player engagement." Gordon faces a yearlong suspension for failing another drug test.(Photos from left: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images, David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images)

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College of Charleston Basketball Coach Fired For Verbal Abuse - The College of Charleston fired its men's basketball coach Doug Wojcik on Tuesday, citing that he verbally abused players, assistant coaches, and members of the school's athletic department. With the firing, the school will try to avoid paying Wojcik the $1.2 million owed to him on the final three seasons of his five-year contract. (Photo: Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

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Cleveland, Minnesota Make Handshake Deal on Kevin Love Trade - A trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves involving top draft pick Andrew Wiggins and All-Star power forward Kevin Love is pretty much done and sealed on a handshake deal, according to ESPN. The teams now have to wait until at least August 23 to execute the deal because NBA rules stipulate that teams desiring to trade a rookie must wait at least 30 days after he is signed to execute the deal. As it stands now, the Cavs would be sending Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, the 2013 top draft pick, and a future first-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Love. The same report indicates that the Philadelphia 76ers could be a possible third team involved in the blockbuster trade, as they could possibly re-route and land Bennett and send Thaddeus Young to Minnesota, but that remains to be seen. However it sh...

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Team USA Cuts John Wall, Bradley Beal - Not everyone can make the squad. Team USA formally announced the release of Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap and the Washington Wizards back court of John Wall and Bradley Beal on Tuesday. The point guard pool was particularly tough and deep for Wall to stick around, considering competition from the likes of Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry.  (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Dalton, Bengals Agree to $115 Million Deal - The Cincinnati Bengals shored up their future Monday, signing quarterback Andy Dalton to a six-year, $115 million contract extension through 2020. Though the Bengals are 0-3 in the playoffs with Dalton as the starter, the fourth-year quarterback has guided the Bengals to a 30-18 record during the regular season and threw a career-high 33 touchdowns last season. Under the structure of the new deal, Dalton, 26, is set to make $22 million within the first six months of this 2014 season. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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David Wilson's Career Over - After battling neck and spinal injuries through two years of his young NFL career, David Wilson’s career appears to be over. The New York Giants placed Wilson on injured reserve Monday after two doctors reportedly advised the 23-year-old running back to stop playing football. "I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me or pity me," Wilson said in the team's release, as reported by ESPN. "I lived my dream. A lot of people only get to dream their dream. I lived that dream. Now I have a chance to dream another dream and live that, too." Wilson had spinal fusion surgery in January. (Photo: Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

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Favre: "Always a Packer" - Brett Favre couldn’t be more excited to be inducted into the Green Bay Packers' Hall of Fame and have his No. 4 retired on July 18, 2015. "I was always a Packer ... and it's like borrowed time elsewhere," Favre said from his home in Mississippi, as reported by ESPN. "I played my heart out each and every year I played, and I'm proud of that. I was proud to say that I am a Packer and will always be a Packer and am honored that I've gotten the opportunity to do that.” Favre played 16 seasons with the Packers from 1992-2007, before continuing his career with the New York Jets in 2008 and Minnesota Vikings from 2009-10. Favre filed for retirement in 2011.(Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images)

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Sherman Cool With Peterson, Not Crabtree - Richard Sherman told ESPN on Monday that the back and forth verbal exchanges between he and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is “all fun” and the two are “friends.” However, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback can’t say the same about San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and nemesis Michael Crabtree. Thinking back to the NFC Championship game last season, Sherman says he probably wouldn’t have gone off on Crabtree with such a vociferous rant if the 49ers wideout simply shook his hand after the game.(Photos from Left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated,  Karl Walter/Getty Images)

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UFC's Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier Brawl at News Conference - A press conference to promote an upcoming UFC light-heavyweight bout between champion Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier got ugly Monday when the combatants started fighting each other. During a stare-down photo opportunity, Jones head-butted Cormier and Cormier shoved Jones back, before the champion went after the challenger with full-force punches. Eventually, MGM Grand Hotel security managed to separate the mixed martial arts fighters, who will square off in the octagon on September 27.(Photos from Left: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images, Aaron Sweet/Getty Images)

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Cavaliers Meet With Free Agent Shawn Marion - Could the Cleveland Cavaliers be experiencing "The Matrix” effect this season? According to CBS Sports, Dallas Mavericks free agent forward Shawn Marion was spotted in Cleveland sitting down with Cavs coach David Blatt and general manager David Griffin on Monday. Marion, 36, was very serviceable for the Mavs last season, posting 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. (Photo: Joey Rosen via Twitter)

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NBA to Talk Stars Playing in International Tournament After Paul George Injury - The NBA — and definitely the Indiana Pacers — suffered a huge loss Friday night in Las Vegas via Paul George’s ugly compound leg fracture. After the incident, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN that the league will re-open the discussion about the game’s biggest stars participating in international tournaments like the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup with Team USA later this month. That being said, Silver warned that he doesn’t anticipate a major shift in the NBA’s participation in such competitions, despite the somber mood after George’s nasty and very public injury. George suffered the compound leg fracture on what seemed to be a routine block attempt during a Team USA scrimmage.(Photo: John Locher/AP Photo)

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Wiggins: "I Just Want to Play For a Team That Wants Me" - Makes a lot of sense. In continuing to be the subject of trade reports, Andrew Wiggins, the NBA’s 2014 top draft pick, just desires to feel wanted. "I just want to play for a team that wants me. So whichever team wants me I'll play for," Wiggins told ESPN. The Cleveland Cavaliers' 6-foot-8 swingman has been named in a trade package with Anthony Bennett, the top overall pick in 2013, and a future first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star power forward Kevin Love.(Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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Tiger Woods Injures Back Again - After experiencing back pain yet again, Tiger Woods withdrew from the Bridgestone Invitational Golf Tournament on Sunday following his tee shot on the ninth hole. It's a setback for the golfer, who had just returned to action following back surgery.(Photo: Mark Duncan/AP Photo)

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Serena Williams Comes Back, Wins Title - Well, that was a successful return. After exiting her doubles match at Wimbledon due to equilibrium issues, Serena Williams roared back into the winner’s circle by defeating third-seeded Angelique Kerber, 7-6(1), 6-3, to capture the Bank of the West Classic championship Sunday. The top-seeded Williams was down 1-5 to start the match, before rallying to her WTA-leading fourth title of the year.(Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

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2014 NFL Preseason Begins - The New York Giants scored a 17-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the NFL preseason-opening Hall of Fame game from Canton, Ohio, on Sunday night. Giants rookie running back Andre Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Boston College, rushed for 48 yards and scored on a three-yard touchdown run. Giants wide receiver Marcus Harris (shown here) had four catches for 49 yards. Former Giants great Michael Strahan was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night. (Photo: Ron Schwane/AP Photo)

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Packers to Induct Favre, Retire Number - It’s only right and well deserved — the Green Bay Packers will reportedly induct former quarterback Brett Favre into the team’s Hall of Fame in the summer of 2015 and retire his No. 4 uniform that he wore for the squad from 1992-2008. This comes nearly six years after the Packers traded him. A Pro Football Hall of Fame for Favre will be the next honor for the Super Bowl-winning QB. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Bon Jovi Vows to Not Let Bills Fans Down - Jon Bon Jovi has a message for Buffalo Bills fans. “I know how much the Bills mean to the people of this region,” Bon Jovi wrote in a letter to the Buffalo News on Sunday. “So I want you to hear this from me: I’m not risking it all to let you down. If we are given the chance to be the next owners of the Buffalo Bills, I promise you that we will bring the same passion that you do every Sunday, every day.” The rock star leads a prospective ownership group that is looking to purchase the Bills franchise.(Photo: Tim Whitby/Getty Images)