On Thursday, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 to clinch a return to the NBA Finals.

Following a two-year absence, the Warriors won the Western Conference finals 4-1, with Klay Thompson scoring a game-high 32 points.

They are the only team since the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s to reach the Finals six times in eight years.

From June 2, the Golden State Warriors will play either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat, with Boston having the opportunity to clinch the Eastern Conference finals at home on Friday.

​Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Brazil centre-back Diego Carlos from Sevilla for £26 m pounds

The 29-year-old, who Newcastle United tried to sign in January, will travel to England on Thursday for a medical and to finalise personal terms.

He would be Villa’s second signing of the summer.
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Carlos played six times at last year’s Tokyo Olympics where Brazil won gold.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland.

In a statement on Thursday, local police said they found an undocumented L-W Seecamp .32 gun in the 91-year-old’s luggage during an X-ray screening.

Ecclestone acknowledged owning the gun, but said he was unaware it was in his luggage at the time.

After paying bail Ecclestone was freed to continue his journey to Switzerland.
Ecclestone spent 40 years as the head of Formula 1 before stepping down in 2017.

Antonio Conte will remain as Tottenham head coach next season.

There had been doubt over the Italian staying on, despite Spurs qualifying for the Champions League.

However, the news in midweek that owners ENIC were injecting £150m into the club has allayed fears about whether Tottenham would meet Conte’s demands for improvement.

Conte met director of football Fabio Paratici in Italy today (Fri) and re-affirmed his commitment to the club.
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It remains to be seen whether Conte will be willing to extend his contract.

BRASILIA, Brazil, Weds. Nov 17, 2021 (Reuters) – Former Brazilian soccer player Pele said today he was feeling better “every day,” almost two months after leaving hospital following the removal of a tumor in his colon.

“Friends, it’s been a while since we talked about this. I want to let you know that I’m fine. I feel better every day,” a masked Pele wrote on Twitter.

“I don’t think even the mask for my protection can hide my happiness. Thank you very much to all of you who send me good energy daily.”

His message, however, gave no indication of how his chemotherapy was progressing.

Pele, who turned 81 in October, said in September he would undergo chemotherapy for a tumour that was discovered while undergoing routine medical checks in Sao Paulo.

He later caused fans around the world to fear for his wellbeing after telling them: “I suggest you start to catch your breath to celebrate with me, because with each passing day I get closer to score a goal.”

The former Santos, New York Cosmos and Brazil player has suffered a series of health issues over the last decade, particularly with his hip.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, Pele is the only male soccer player to have won three World Cup winner’s medals, lifting the trophy with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
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He scored more than 1,000 goals in a glittering career and transcended sport to become of the most recognizable faces on the planet.

Kyrie Irving is currently unavailable for game action due to his vaccination status. Irving very publicly refused the vaccine and he will continue to do so until the COVID restrictions are lifted in New York. This decision has led to a lot of scrutiny on social media and amongst his peers in the NBA. Despite this, Irving is staying true to his beliefs even if it means handicapping his Nets.

After last night's loss to the Warriors, Nets head coach Steve Nash got to talk about Irving and what his thoughts are on the situation. As Nash explained, he still has a relationship with Irving, however, they are strictly talking pleasantries as opposed to basketball. Needless to say, the head coach isn't trying to pressure his point guard right now.

“Kyrie, I stay in touch with Kyrie but we don’t really talk about basketball just stay in touch and make sure everything is good with him,” Nash said. At this point, that is all that Nash can really do with Kyrie, as the superstar won't be able to touch the floor in his current predicament. It is certainly not ideal, however, the Nets have proven to be pretty good without him this far. Of course, his return certainly wouldn't hurt as the season goes on.

Last night had one of the biggest games of the NBA season thus far as Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors took on the Brooklyn Nets in what was a reunion between Kevin Durant and his former team. In the end, it was the Warriors who came out on top thanks to some heroics from Curry who scored a whopping 37 points in a 117-99 win.
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Kevin Durant had himself an alright game as he scored just 19 points which is certainly a below-average outing for him. After the game, Durant was asked about Curry and how he felt about the game as a whole. While Durant was disappointed with the loss, he had nothing but praise for the Warriors sharpshooter.

"He put in a ton of work. He cares about the game," Durant said. "He loves his teammates and plays with energy. So that's what you get every night with a player like that playing at an MVP, Hall of Fame level. You got to respect it."

"He put in a ton of work. He cares about the game," Durant said. "He loves his teammates and plays with energy. So that's what you get every night with a player like that playing at an MVP, Hall of Fame level. You got to respect it."

Having played three seasons with the Warriors, Durant certainly knows what Curry and the Dubs are all about. They won two titles together, and while they might be rivals now, there is no shortage of respect between the two.

Players at the US Open will have access to resources aimed at supporting their mental health, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced.

Competitors at Flushing Meadows will have access to the tournament's "comprehensive medical services program", which will include access to mental health providers and "quiet rooms" on site.

It comes in response to world No 2 Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open in May, following a dispute with tournament organisers over mandatory media appearances, which she said placed undue pressure on players.

She later disclosed she had suffered from bouts of depression for years.

French Open tournament organisers conceded later that they could do better addressing mental health of the athletes.

"The issue of mental health awareness has been brought to the forefront over the course of the global pandemic, as many individuals, players included, have struggled with the stresses and emotions that have come as a result of COVID-19," said US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster.

Brian Hainline, first vice president of the USTA and a professor of neurology at Indiana University and New York University, said he hoped the program would increase accessibility to mental health support.

"Our goal is to make mental health services as readily available to athletes as services for a sprained ankle - and with no stigma attached," said Hainline. "We will provide an environment that fosters wellness."

Sachia Vickery, a former USTA junior national champion, is the latest player to open up about her mental health.

The world No 206, who is currently taking part in the qualifying tournament for the US Open, took to social media to explain her anxiety and panic attacks.

"I've suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks since February 2020, that has left me hospitalized multiple times which is why I have not played much this year," she said on Twitter.

Phlegmatic captain Kraigg Brathwaite has urged calm from his players ahead of Friday’s start of the second Test, as West Indies take aim at their first Test series win over Pakistan in 21 years.

A nail-biting one-wicket win late on last Sunday’s fourth day handed the home side the series lead and after over two decades of drought against the Asian side, West Indies now find themselves within touching distance of a series success.

Aware, however, that West Indies were also not at their best in the opener, Brathwaite said his side needed to be switched on in all areas in the coming days, if they were to get the better of Pakistan.

“I think the key is to stay calm and be disciplined,” Brathwaite told an online media conference in Kingston on Thursday.

“As a bowling group we were fantastic. We just have to come back and do that again. As a batting group, partnerships are key and I think once we focus on the small targets, then the result should take care of itself.

“But I think we just need to stay calm – that’s the main word – and stay disciplined from both the bowling group and the batsmen [perspective]. I think patience is key on a pitch like the first Test.

“I think once we do those small things right, the result will take care of itself.”

Of concern for Brathwaite will be the batting group which yet again failed to live up to expectations during the first Test at Sabina Park last week.

He, along with former captain Jason Holder and Jermaine Blackwood, were the only batsmen to register half-centuries, as other key players failed again.

In the first innings, West Indies gathered 253 to lead Pakistan by 36 runs but when set 168 for victory, suffered another batting implosion to tumble to 151 for nine.

Tail-ender Kemar Roach, who punched at number nine, hit a courageous unbeaten 30 to rescue the run chase.

Brathwaite said discussions had since taken place and the batting group were well apprised of the challenges and expectations, especially with Pakistan boasting a highly talented seam attack.

“I thought Pakistan as a bowling group, they bowled well,” Brathwaite pointed out.

“And as batters, some guys didn’t get the scores, they didn’t get the partnerships on a few occasions but the guys are looking forward to the challenge. It won’t be easy but I think the guys are fully capable of putting good runs on the board.

“We saw how Pakistan bowled, how the pitch played … and they were constantly on a line and length as as batters I believe who has the most patience will come out on top.

“As a batting group, we’ve had a few chats about [being patient]. Patience is the key for Test cricket regardless, it’s always the key. So I think once we have that grind and the will to be patient and let them come to us as batters, we will do fine.”

Despite their success earlier in the year, the places of Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner are likely to be under the microscope.

Mayers endured the horror of a ‘pair’ in the first Test and now has only 59 runs from his last six Test innings while Bonner’s last four Test innings has yielded 15 runs.

While not giving clues about the team composition, Brathwaite backed his side to perform, regardless of the make-up.
“Whatever side we put on the field, I am confident we can do the job,” he stressed.

“The guys are all confident. Some of the batsmen did not get the scores they would like, but they are ready and raring to go.”

SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Rahkeem Cornwall, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican

The police report on the California crash involving Tiger Woods earlier this year includes a number of new details, including that deputies found an empty pill bottle in his vehicle and the pro golf star thought for a few moments that he was in Florida.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department report also details the primary cause of the Feb. 23 crash as excessive speed, something investigators announced on Wednesday.

According to the police report, Woods was disoriented immediately after his sport-utility vehicle ran off the road in Rolling Hills Estates, south of downtown Los Angeles, and rolled over. Initially, he thought he was in Florida.

The report notes that the disorientation was likely due to shock, rather than being under the influence of any substance. Deputies have said there were no signs of alcohol, slurred speech or anything else to suggest impairment.

The empty pill bottle was found in a backpack inside the SUV, the report says. It was not labeled.
"The container had no label and there was no indication as to what, if anything, had been inside," Deputy Justin Smith wrote in the report, according to the Los Angeles Times. "There was no open intoxicants or paraphernalia inside the vehicle."

The report also notes that Woods' blood pressure was "too low to administer any type of pain medication" at the scene after the crash.

Woods failed to negotiate a right curve on the road, which caused him to hit a curb and veer into the oncoming lanes before the SUV hit a tree and flipped over. Woods received severe injuries to his right leg and ankle.

Authorities have said Woods won't face charges related to the crash.

The department said on Wednesday that Woods' SUV was traveling 80-plus mph in the seconds before the crash, and there was no evidence of braking during that time. The speed limit on the road Woods was driving was 45 mph.

The conclusions were based on the official investigation and the data recorder from Woods' vehicle.
Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving charges in 2017 and was cited for careless driving in 2009, in connection to hitting a tree and a fire hydrant with his vehicle outside his Florida home.