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Introduction Brazil’s recently suspended president, Dilma Rousseff, lit the Olympic torch on May 3. Evaristo Sa/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Brazil is experiencing its worst recession in decades, its president has been suspended pending an impeachment trial, and the country remains the epicenter of the Zika epidemic. The Olympics, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, are three months away, and the World Health Organization is urging athletes and…

It’s a light Monday with only nine games on the MLB schedule, but that’s not going to stop us from picking through the stats and splits to help you put together your daily fantasy baseball strategy. Based on the numbers, you can find plenty of good sleepers and value picks, including a killer Rays stack in the early games and cheap Rangers and A’s stacks in the late games. We’ve also…

Mixed Leagues Jose Reyes, SS, Colorado Rockies Justin Smoak, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays C.J. Cron, 1B, Los Angeles Angels Steve Pearce, 1B/2B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays Mark Reynolds, 1B/3B/OF, Colorado Rockies Matt Wisler, SP, Atlanta Braves Dan Straily, SP, Cincinnati Reds Nick Vincent, RP, Seattle Mariners   AL-Only Bobby Wilson, C, Texas Rangers Tyler Naquin, OF, Cleveland Indians Jhoulys Chacin, SP, Los Angeles Angels CC Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees Dillon…

Police in Haverhill are boosting patrols after two people were shot in a basketball court next to a baseball field where young teenagers were playing. Essex County District Attorney’s Office said police responded to Swasey Field around 4 p.m. Saturday for a report of shots fired. “I thought someone was shooting off fireworks,” Tom Crockett, who was coaching baseball at the time said. “We just heard three bangs. We turned…

By: Andrew Joseph | May 15, 2016 8:33 pm Follow @andyj0seph

By: Kyle Koster | 13 hours ago Follow @KyleKoster

The survey results show those changes may continue. More than 90 percent of respondents who identified as sports fans said they are willing to pay for sports programming. Sixty-three percent of fans said they would pay for an over-the-top subscription, while 56 percent added they would spend more of their budget on online streaming than cable or satellite channels. Thirty-two percent of older millennials, from ages 29 to 36, said…

FILE – In this file photo taken on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko gestures while speaking during a news conference after he addressed the upper chamber of the Russian parliament in Moscow.(Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP) Russia’s Minister of Sport apologized for athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules as the country’s track and field athletes face a ban from competing at the Summer Olympics in…

Police sniffer dogs were used at Old Trafford as part of the security check An “urgent” inquiry has been demanded after a dummy bomb used in a security exercise caused a Premier League match at Old Trafford to be postponed. The game between Manchester United and Bournemouth was called off after the item was discovered close to kick-off. A controlled explosion was carried out on the device, which police said…

Rashford has yet to play for the England senior team England manager Roy Hodgson has named Manchester United’s 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford in an initial 26-man squad for Euro 2016. Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere are also called up for the tournament. But Theo Walcott, Phil Jagielka, Jermain Defoe and Mark Noble miss out. All 24 teams have until 31 May to submit their 23-man…

FIFA MANCHESTER, England (AP) A fake bomb left behind during a security exercise led police to evacuate Manchester United’s home stadium, disrupting the final day of the English Premier League season and bringing embarrassment to one of the world’s best-known sports teams. Police initially described the device as ”incredibly lifelike” as United’s planned match with Bournemouth was cancelled, to boos from some fans, and a controlled explosion was carried out….

By: Andrew Joseph | May 15, 2016 8:33 pm Follow @andyj0seph

Our daily fantasy baseball picks continue with starting pitcher rankings, strategy, and advice for Monday’s MLB slate. There are nine games on the schedule today, and with no true “aces” among the probable starters, finding the right pitcher won’t be easy. One strategy is to play the splits and gamble on someone like Jon Niese against the Braves or John Lamb against the Indians (i.e. teams that struggle against lefties). You…

As Joe Maddon passed by a small contingent of fans beyond the left field bleachers at Wrigley Field before Friday’s game, one fan found the courage to yell “try not to suck” at the Cubs manager. That “Maddonism” has become the rallying cry for Cubs Nation in 2016, but baseball isn’t always that simple. Maddon can’t simply tell Jorge Soler to “try not to suck.” Soler entered play Sunday hitting .174,…

In August 1909, The Forward, a Yiddish-language daily newspaper for New York’s newly arrived Jewish immigrants, printed a front-page guide to the game of baseball, including a crudely drawn ballpark. The feature, titled “The Fundamentals of the Base-Ball ‘Game’ Described for Non-Sports Fans,” may now seem quaint. But historians say it speaks to Eastern European Jews’ struggle to fit into American society, and how generations of them sought acceptance through…

Police sniffer dogs were used at Old Trafford as part of the security check An “urgent” inquiry has been demanded after a dummy bomb used in a security exercise caused a Premier League match at Old Trafford to be postponed. The game between Manchester United and Bournemouth was called off after the item was discovered close to kick-off. A controlled explosion was carried out on the device, which police said…

FILE – In this file photo taken on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko gestures while speaking during a news conference after he addressed the upper chamber of the Russian parliament in Moscow.(Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP) Russia’s Minister of Sport apologized for athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules as the country’s track and field athletes face a ban from competing at the Summer Olympics in…

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rougned Odor‘s powerful punch to Jose Bautista’s jaw will be remembered for a long time. Perhaps it’s a good thing the Rangers and Blue Jays have played for the final time this regular season. As for the playoffs, well, that would be interesting. A feud simmering since Bautista’s bat flip in last year’s AL Division Series boiled over into a wild brawl that ultimately triggered six…

x Embed x Share Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne share their thoughts on the upcoming race in Dover. USA TODAY Sports Matt Kenseth (20) crosses the finish line ahead of Kyle Larson (42) to win the AAA 400 Drive For Autism at Dover International Speedway.(Photo: Matthew O’Haren, USA TODAY Sports) DOVER, Del. — This was the sort of race NASCAR envisioned as it massaged rules and changed aerodynamic packages and tried…