Graham wants regular competitions for swimmers

A n Africa Games swimmer, Tebasan Graham has urged the Nigeria Acquatics Federation to intensify its effort at engaging athletes regularly in competitions at the grassroots. Graham, who represented Nigeria at the 2007 Africa Games in Algeria, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria at the swimming event of the ongoing 11th Nigeria Navy Games at Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Russian runner banned and stripped of gold

Russian runner Mariya Savinova has been stripped of her London Olympics gold medal and banned her for four years for doping. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The international sports tribunal on Friday stripped Russian runner Mariya Savinova of the London Olympics 800 metres gold medal and banned her for four years for doping.

Detroit Tigers, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch dies at age 87

Billionaire businessman Mike Ilitch, who founded the Little Caesars pizza empire before buying the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, and won praise for keeping the professional sports teams in the city as others relocated to new suburban stadiums, has died. He was 87. His family released a statement saying Ilitch died Friday at a local hospital.

NBA Capsules

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and had his 26th triple-double of the season to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-109 on Thursday night. Victor Oladipo scored 23 points and Steven Adams had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who now can focus on their showdown with former teammate Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

An unfortunate leap into reality television

Back in August at Rio 2016, Sir Bradley Wiggins capped a glittering cycling career by winning a record-breaking eighth Olympic medal, making him the most decorated Briton of all time. One retirement and a banned steroid “therapeutic exemption use” controversy later and he’s goofing around throwing a snowball at a C4 camera for his introductory VT on The Jump and realising: “I was a successful Olympian and now I’m skiing like a prat.”

Sport24.co.za | Jones: Cardiff no longer haunt England

Cardiff – England coach Eddie Jones believes his side have “moved on” from their harrowing 2013 loss in Cardiff as they once again prepare for a Six Nations match away to Wales. Four years ago England, then coached by Stuart Lancaster, arrived in search of a Grand Slam only to be routed 30-3 as Wales took the Six Nations title instead.

Dime slaps two Colorado fans

Colorado reporter, Jake Shapiro, picked up on the incident as he received a text from one of the guys that was slapped: “We were talking the usual game talk with the players like we usually do,” Dylan, a CU student said. “Malik looked over at us at one point and said ‘I’m gonna come over there and slap the s*** out of you.’

Thomas has 34 and Celtics beat Blazers 120-111

Isaiah Thomas scored 34 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics rebounded from a loss the previous night to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-111 on Thursday. Marcus Smart added 18 for the Celtics, who had seven scorers in double figures.

Gosport walk-in centre to be temporarily closed

The centre at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Bury Road, will be shut from 9pm on Tuesday, February 21 until 8am on Thursday, February 23. A spokeswoman from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘Patients are advised to contact their GP, NHS 111 or use the treatment centre at St Mary’s Community Health Campus if they have a minor injury or illness during this time. They added if someone falls seriously ill they should call the emergency services on 999.

FGCU women extend home mark

Despite leaving the game early with an injury, Rosemarie Julien topped the FGCU women with 13 points, including a pair of threes, in Wednesday’s 69-46 win over North Florida. The Eagles have not lost a regular-season Atlantic Sun Conference game at Alico Arena since Jan. 8, 2009.

Traction Gaining on a “Fire GarPax” protest

Some fans on Reddit are trying to put together a group for the March 4th contest against the Los Angeles Clippers . Fans are trying to make neon t shirts to wear under a jacket/sweatshirt and then show them during the game, while chanting “Fire GarPax!” This is probably not going to do much of anything, but the hope from these fans is that the national media will finally take hold of this as a legitimate story.

No. 3 Maryland women roll past Illinois, 84-59

Illinois guard Brandi Beasley, center, shoots as she is pressured by Maryland forward Brianna Fraser, left, guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, top left, and center Brionna Jones during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in College Park, Md. less Illinois guard Brandi Beasley, center, shoots as she is pressured by Maryland forward Brianna Fraser, left, guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, top left, and center Brionna Jones during the first half of an … more Illinois guard Jaelyne Kirkpatrick, right, shoots over Maryland guard Destiny Slocum during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in College Park, Md.

49ers hope hiring of Shanahan ends revolving door at coach

For the third straight offseason, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York hired a new head coach and introduced him with a news conference full of platitudes. After running off Jim Harbaugh following the 2014 season and Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly after one-year tenures the past two seasons, York believes he has found the right man in Kyle Shanahan to lead the Niners back to respectability first and then into championship contention.

Rank the MLB

… miles from Boston the stadium is crawling with fans like cockroaches. This is the biggest bandwagon fanbase in all of sports. 29) San Diego Padres – The most nondescript team in all of major pro sports. Their lack of identity actually somehow makes …

U.S. drops to 29th in FIFA rankings

The United State dropped one spot to 29th in the FIFA rankings following its first two games under coach Bruce Arena , and African champion Cameroon moved up 29 places to 33rd. Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann in November and opened with a 0-0 tie against Serbia and a 1-0 win over Jamaica in a pair of exhibitions.

Surprising Alaves to take on Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

Alaves, the recently promoted club from Basque Country, will be playing in the final of a major tournament only for the second time in its 96-year history. “This was unthinkable in the beginning of the season,” Alaves coach Mauricio Pellegrino said after their clinching 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday in the semifinals.

A tribute to Dawk

Our beloved Brian Dawkins got snubbed for the Hall of Fame. I think he absolutely deserved to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he was denied that opportunity in favor of Jason freakin’ Taylor and Morten Andersen! Dawkins deserves far more of a tribute than I can muster, but here’s my attempt nonetheless:

Arena says Guzan could start next month, Howard could return

Brad Guzan could start for the U.S. in critical World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama next month despite his lack of playing time with Middlesbrough, and Tim Howard may return from leg surgery in time to be included in the roster. U.S. coach Bruce Arena said Thursday he was impressed by recent performances of Hamburg forward Bobby Wood and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Christian Pulisic.

Former Cary-Grove, NIU star Kube dies at 29

Cary-Grove football player Alex Kube and his teammates are greeted by the Trojan “Super Fans” after a 21-14 victory over Belvidere at Al Bohrer Field in Cary in 2005. Kube died Wednesday at 29. 2005 Daily Herald/Fox Valley All-area football captains Jake Goebbert of Hampshire, left, Alex Kube of Cary-Grove pose with their awards at the all-area recognition banquet.

Oakley’s arrest lowest point in his falling out with Knicks

Oakley blamed his strained relationship with the Knicks and owner James Dolan on Thursday for the altercation that led to his ejection and arrest from New York’s 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Oakley said during an ESPN Radio interview that he had been in his seat for just a few minutes when he was surrounded by security, denying that they approached him after he shouted at Dolan.