Sports Buzz: Kobe Bryant Rips "Soft Like Charmin" Lakers
Plus, Carmelo won't drop no-trade clause with Knicks.
1 / 33
Kobe Bryant Calls Lakers 'Soft' During Practice - Kobe Bryant ripped into his Los Angeles Lakers teammates during practice Thursday, according to ESPN, yelling, "Now I see why we've lost 20 f**king games. We're soft like Charmin!" The toilet-paper brand hilariously tweeted a response: "You know, in terms of toilet paper, saying you're as soft as Charmin is a good thing. In basketball? Not so much." At 36, Bryant regularly doesn't attend practice to rest his body and Thursday marked his first team session in a month. The 6-16 Lakers visit the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Bryant needs 31 points to surpass Michael Jordan as third on the NBA's all-time scoring list. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
2 / 33
Carmelo Anthony Won't Drop No-Trade Clause With Knicks - Despite a New York Post report saying that Carmelo Anthony will consider waiving his no-trade clause with the New York Knicks if president Phil Jackson is able to find a team that the All-Star forward would play for, Melo's agent says he isn't going anywhere. "Carmelo, as always, is committed to the Knicks," Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, said in a text message to ESPNNewYork.com on Friday. "There have never been discussions about trades or wanting to leave New York. Any story, rumor, report to the contrary is utter nonsense." (Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
3 / 33
Westbrook, Thunder Snap Cavs Streak - Russell Westbrook ran all over the Cleveland Cavaliers, dropping 26 points, dishing eight assists and grabbing seven boards to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 103-94 home win Thursday night. The Cavs were playing without LeBron James, who sat out due to left knee soreness. With the loss, Cleveland had its eight-game winning streak snapped. (Photo: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
4 / 33
Harden Posts Monster Game in Rockets Overtime Win - Fear "The Beard." James Harden scored 10 of his season-high 44 points in overtime to lead the Houston Rockets to a 113-109 road win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. Harden shot 10-of-27 during regulation, but 4-of-5 in OT to ice the Rockets' win.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
5 / 33
Red Sox Revamp Starting Pitching - Call it an amazing Thursday for Boston Red Sox pitching. That's because the Red Sox added three strong arms to their pitching staff, including Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson, as reported by ESPN. The Red Sox acquired Porcello by trading Yoenis Cespedes and pitchers Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier to the Detroit Tigers and nabbed Miley by sending pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They then signed Masterson to a one-year deal worth $9.5 million. (Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 33
Matt Kemp Deal to Padres Approved - Matt Kemp's era with the Los Angeles Dodgers is over. The team sent Kemp and $32 million, to offset the $107 million left on his contract, to the San Diego Padres on Thursday for three young prospects, as reported by CBS Sports. Kemp hit .287 with 25 home runs and 89 RBI for the Dodgers in 2014. (Photo: Michael Thomas/Getty Images)
7 / 33
Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr. Downplay Tension - On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Carmelo Anthony threatened to beat up New York Knicks teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. after the young guard yelled at the veteran to grab a rebound during a loss to the Brooklyn Nets last week. Well, later on Wednesday, both Melo and Hardaway told reporters that there's no friction between them. "Me and Tim have no problems," Anthony said. "Tim is a guy who I always wrapped my arm around and put under my wing from day one, helped him through times when he's been down, and I will continue doing that." Hardaway added that they're "brothers" and "brothers argue in the heat of the moment and then they make up." The bigger problem for the Knicks is the fact that they've now lost 10 straight games after a 109-95 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday...
8 / 33
Georgetown Basketball Team Wears 'I Can't Breathe' T-Shirts - Members of the Georgetown University basketball team followed the lead of NBA superstars such as Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant when several players on the team donned "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts on Wednesday night to honor Eric Garner, the Staten Island, New York, man who died due to a police officer's chokehold this past July. Georgetown made the statement before taking on Kansas. (Photo: Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
9 / 33
Cam Newtown Thankful to 'See Another Day' - Cam Newton was released from the hospital Wednesday after suffering two back fractures during a car accident Tuesday. The Carolina Panthers quarterback quickly took to his Instagram account to give praise to God. "I do not know where to begin because by the look of that picture someone is supposed to be dead or severely injured worse than what I am right now!" Newton wrote. "While I am resting up the thought that keeps flashing in my mind is that GOD IS GOOD and someone has there [sic] protective hands on my life shielding me from any danger that may come my way!" No charges were filed against Newton for the accident. Backup quarterback Derek Anderson will start for the Panthers, in place of Newton, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. (Photo: AP Photo/File)
10 / 33
Kevin Durant Not Worried About Re-Injuring Foot - After missing six weeks due to foot surgery, Kevin Durant told ESPN that he isn't afraid to play all out for his Oklahoma City Thunder. "Nah, not at all," Durant said of any concern about re-injuring his surgically-repaired right foot. "First two games I did, but I just realized if I'm out there playing, everything is all right. I'm still going to be aggressive like that going to the rim. I can live with whatever happens after that." The NBA's reigning MVP has averaged 22 points per game since returning earlier this month.(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 33
Warriors Winning Streak Hits 14 Games - Make that 14 wins in a row for the NBA-best Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry had 20 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to lead the Warriors to their 14th consecutive victory via a 105-93 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. James Harden led the Rockets with 34 points. The Warriors are now 19-2, while Houston slipped to 16-5. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
12 / 33
Timberwolves Stun Blazers Behind Wiggins - Here's an upset nobody saw coming. No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 90-82 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. With the victory, Minnesota snapped its six-game losing streak. (Photo: AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
13 / 33
Jimmy Rollins Traded to Dodgers - It's the end of an era in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Phillies traded their three-time All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night after 15 years with the franchise, ESPN reported. Rollins, 36, hit .243 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI for the Phillies this past season. (Photo: Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
14 / 33
Cam Newton Suffers Back Fractures in Two-Car Accident - Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suffered two back fractures as a result of a two-car accident in Charlotte on Tuesday. "Further testing revealed that Cam Newton has two transverse process fractures in his lower back and no further internal injuries," the Panthers said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, as reported by ESPN. "Right now we have thought about Cam's well-being and we understand there was someone else in the other car who was injured," the team said. "We just hope that they're all OK." Ironically, the Panthers haven’t ruled out the possibility of Newton playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. (Photo: AP Photo/The Charlotte Observer, Todd Sumlin)
15 / 33
Browns Starting Johnny Manziel Against Bengals - The Johnny Football era will officially begin this weekend. That’s because Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine has decided to start Johnny Manziel over Brian Hoyer against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Manziel is excited about his first career start. "I'm very appreciative of the opportunity that Coach Pettine and the coaching staff have given me to be the starter on Sunday," Manziel said in a statement, as reported by ESPN. "I've tried to spend my entire season learning what it takes to become a pro and it's been great to watch Brian because he knows what it takes." His first start comes at a critical juncture, as the Browns have a 7-6 record and are still fighting for an AFC playoff spot.(Photo: AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
ADVERTISEMENT
16 / 33
Cavaliers Win Their Eighth Straight Game - The Cleveland Cavaliers are really rolling now. After a 5-7 start to the season, the Cavs have rattled off eight straight victories, including Tuesday night’s 105-101 win over the Toronto Raptors. LeBron James scored 35 points and Kyrie Irving added 13 points and 10 assists. (Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
17 / 33
Kobe Bryant Only 31 Points From Overtaking Michael Jordan - In scoring 32 points and leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant is just 31 points away from taking over Michael Jordan’s No. 3 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant can potentially pass Jordan on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. (Photo: Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
18 / 33
Brandon Marshall Says He Would Have Buyer's Remorse on Cutler Too - There’s no doubting that much of the Chicago Bears’ rough 5-8 record this season falls on the shoulders of quarterback Jay Cutler and his hefty seven-year, $126 million contract, which was signed earlier this year. When a report surfaced Sunday about the Bears regretting giving Cutler that deal, star wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he understands the feeling. "That's tough, man," Marshall said on his WMVP-AM (1000) radio show Monday, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. "It doesn't always fall on him. I guess that's why those guys are the highest paid players out there. Because when you win and everything is going good, they get all the glory. And when it's bad, they take more than what they should take. But I can understand that as far as as a business man, I would have buyer's remorse, too.&quo...
19 / 33
Jon Lester Signs With Cubs - The Jon Lester sweepstakes are over. The veteran lefty pitcher agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night in the form of a six-year, $155 million contract. The Cubs’ new manager Joe Maddon couldn’t be more thrilled. "It's not often you get to win the lottery," Maddon told ESPN. "We won the baseball lottery so far this year, but now it's up to us to put it into effect." Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA spliting time between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics last season. The 30-year-old sports career numbers of 116-67 with a 3.58 ERA, having pitched nearly eight-and-a-half years with the Boston Red Sox to begin his career. (Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
20 / 33
Cam Newton Hospitalized After Car Wreck - Cam Newton is in the hospital after his truck flipped over during a car accident in Charlotte on Tuesday, TMZ Sports is reporting. The 25-year-old Carolina Panthers quarterback kept trying to stand up after the accident, but eventually stopped and waited for an ambulance, whose workers placed him on a stretcher and took him to the hospital. The other driver's condition is currently unknown. The accident took place on a bridge in front of the Panthers' home Bank of America Stadium. Newton is coming off his best performance of the 2014 season this past Sunday, when he threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another score in a 41-10 rout of the New Orleans Saints.(Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
21 / 33
Chiefs Eric Berry Has Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, as confirmed by his doctor to ESPN on Monday. His doctor also added that Berry’s cancer diagnosis is “treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches." "My family and I are very grateful for the amount of support we have received over the last couple of weeks. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes," Berry said through a statement. Chiefs trainers discovered a mass in his chest two weeks ago. He is being treated by Emory University lymphoma specialist Dr. Christopher Flowers in Atlanta.. (Photo: AP Photo/Joe Mahoney, File)
22 / 33
John Wall Dedicates Game to Little Girl Who Died of Cancer - Poignant moment for John Wall on Monday night. The Washington Wizards point guard learned of his 6-year-old friend Miyah Telemaque-Nelson’s death to cancer earlier in the day and dedicated his game against the Boston Celtics to her. Wall wound up with 26 points and 17 assists to lead the Wizards to a wild double-overtime victory. Afterward, Wall broke down in tears while talking with CSN Washington. Wall had befriended the little girl last March, even helping her to meet her idol, Nicki Minaj, via a social media effort. (Photo: John Wall via Instagram)
23 / 33
Packers Hold Off Falcons - The Atlanta Falcons came roaring back in the second half, putting 30 points on the board. It still wasn’t enough as the damage had been done by the Green Bay Packers in the first half, as they held on for a 43-37 win over the Falcons at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers continued his dominance this season, throwing for 327 yards and a touchdown, helping improve the Packers to 10-3 on the year. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
24 / 33
Browns Coach to Decide Between Hoyer-Manziel Soon - Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine is reportedly going through the same process he went through last week, deciding whether Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel should be the team’s starting quarterback this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. This past weekend, Pettine went with Hoyer over Manziel. If it’s the latter, he’s already being targeted. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called Manziel “a midget” over the radio Monday, before apologizing for the remark later in the day. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
25 / 33
Warriors Get 13th Straight Win - There’s no slowing down the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry dropped 21 points and dished seven assists to lead the Warriors to a 102-86 thrashing of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The victory marked Golden State’s 13th straight win, as it sits atop the NBA with a league-best 18-2 record through 20 games. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
26 / 33
Lakers GM Says Kobe Bryant Is Done in 2016 - After Kobe Bryant signed a two-year extension last season, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told NBA.com on Monday that he thinks the five-time champion will call it a career at the end of the 2015-16 season. "All indications are, to me, from him, that this (two-year contract) is going to be it," Kupchak said. "If somebody's thinking of buying a ticket three years from now to see Kobe play, I would not do that. Don't wait. Do it this year." At 36, Bryant is averaging 25.2 points per game. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
27 / 33
College Football Playoffs All Set - College football fans will be in for a treat New Year's Day, when Jameis Winston and the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles take on Marcus Mariota and the second-ranked Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. The game pitting two of the nation's best quarterbacks against each other is one semifinal slated for January 1, with the other being No. 1 Alabama up against fourth-seeded Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The semifinal winners will play for the championship on January 12 in Arlington, Texas. For a full listing of the other Bowl games, click here.(Photos from left: AP Photo/Mike Groll, Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
28 / 33
Muhammad Ali Watches HS Football Game With Snoop Dogg - What a cool moment. Muhammad Ali and Snoop Dogg sat together at the high school football state championship game in Reno, Nevada, this past weekend to cheer on Bishop Gorman High School, as TMZ Sports reported and snapped pictures. Snoop's son, senior wide receiver Cordell Broadus, and Ali's grandson, sophomore running back Biaggio Walsh, are stars for the high school and each scored two touchdowns to lead their team to victory. (Photo: Courtesy of LoudGenius.com)
29 / 33
DeMarcus Cousins Is Battling Viral Meningitis - That viral infection that sidelined Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins last week is actually very serious. The Associated Press is reporting that the Kings center has viral meningitis and will probably be out at least another week. Viral meningitis causes swelling in the membranes of the brain and spinal cord and could result in death if not treated in time. Cousins' symptoms are listed as stable and a full recovery is expected. Cousins, who was averaging 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, has already missed five games.(Photo: AP Photo/Butch Dill)
30 / 33
LeBron James Says It's an Honor to Play for the Royal Family - As part of their United States tour, Britain's Prince William and his wife, Duchess Kate Middleton, will see LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Monday night. And King James is excited to see them. "It's an honor," James told ESPN. "It's a huge honor. The stuff that you read about, people like them are only in books growing up. And to hear that they're coming to town to see me play and they want to see me do what I do best, it's a huge honor." He added later: "To have those two, to say they were traveling here and one of the things that they wanted to do was see me play, it's a pretty big deal in my household." (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
31 / 33
Jeff Fisher Taunts Redskins at Coin Toss - Talk about mind games. St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher sent the six players that were traded to the team for Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012 to the middle of the field for Sunday's coin toss before the teams played. To add insult to injury, the Rams scored a 24-0 shutout. The Rams clearly fared better than Washington from that trade and showed it. (Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
32 / 33
Raiders Shock 49ers - The San Francisco 49ers' playoff chances took a huge blow Sunday when they were shocked by the Oakland Raiders. Derek Carr threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Raiders to a 24-13 win over the Niners, winning the battle of the Bay. The game marked Oakland's second win all season, while the loss dropped San Francisco to 7-6. After the game, Raiders linebacker Sio Moore took a shot at 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick via Instagram writing, "There's a difference between boys and Men...Freakin chump."(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)