Wrestling Fans Mourn .......

Wrestling Champ Chris Benoit Found Dead With Family
Death Comes a Day After Wrestler Canceled Pay-Per-View Appearance

Wrestling star Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and their 7-year-old son, Daniel, were found dead in their suburban Atlanta home Monday. The deaths are being investigated as a possible suicide and double homicide, authorities told ABC News.
Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told ABC News that Benoit had missed several appointments over the weekend, leading concerned parties to ask police to do a "welfare check." When sheriffs arrived at the Benoits' home, they found the wrestler, his wife and their son dead. .....
There were no signs of gunshot wounds or stabbing, according to Pope. Authorities are not ruling out other causes, such as poisoning, suffocation or strangulation. Pope told ABC News that his department is looking at this situation as a "possible double murder, suicide."
Pope said "the instruments of death were located on scene," but he would not specify what those instruments are or where in the house the bodies were found. Pope added the department is "not actively searching for any suspects outside of the house."
An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. However, it could be weeks before there is a result.
Benoit, 40, was scheduled to spar against C.M. Punk in a pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston for the Extreme Champion Wrestling title. But Benoit canceled before the event, citing personal reasons.
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Benoit was known in the ring as the "Canadian Crippler."
Following the announcement of the deaths, World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement: "Chris was beloved among his fellow superstars, and was a favorite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability. He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and toward his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss. WWE extends its sincere condolences and prayers to the Benoit family and loved ones in this time of tragedy."
WWE announced that it would drop its planned Monday night line-up on the USA Network to air a three-hour tribute to Benoit.
In a sport known for bravado and bullying, Benoit was very much beloved and respected by his peers. He was passionate about his profession and served as a mentor to many younger, up-and-coming performers. As an indication of how much the fans enjoyed him, when the crowd in Houston's Toyota Center learned Sunday night that he wouldn't be there, they chanted, "We want Benoit!"

ROD BECK FOUND DEAD.............

Cops Find Former Reliever Beck Dead at Home

Three-Time All-Star Pitcher Passes Away at Age 38

Rod Beck, an All-Star relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves, has died. He was 38.

Beck was found Saturday by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, police department spokesman Andy Hill said Sunday. Foul play is not suspected, though the cause of death might not be known for several days.With unruly hair framing a menacing stare and an aggressive arm swing before delivering a pitch, the outgoing right-hander was a colorful baseball personality and a three-time All-Star who twice led the NL in saves. He spent the first seven of his 13 major league seasons with the San Francisco Giants.Beck was popular with teammates, reporters and fans, but battled personal demons late in his life. He abruptly left the San Diego Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation during his final major league season in 2004."He was having some problems, and I just knew he went into rehab and joined us later that year," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the Padres' manager at the time. "It's so sad when you see healthy players go at such a young age. This is a bad day in baseball to lose a guy who did so much for the game."Nicknamed "Shooter," Beck pitched for the Giants (1991-97), the Chicago Cubs (1998-99) and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04).While working his way back to the majors in 2003, Beck pitched for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and lived in his Winnebago parked just beyond the outfield fence. Fans would drop by for autographs and stay for a beer, and Beck became a folk hero. Then the Padres called.........
Beck led the majors in saves in 1993, when he set the Giants' single-season record with 48. He was on the mound when San Francisco clinched the NL West title in 1997, and was the Giants' career saves leader with 199 until Robb Nen passed him in 2002.Beck led the majors again in 1998 with 51 saves for Chicago, helping the Cubs win the NL wild card. He had a career record of 38-45 in 704 games, with a 3.30 ERA."He was a great teammate and a great competitor," said Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia, who played his first three major league seasons with Beck in San Francisco. "He left an impression on everybody he played with. You talk to everybody, they'll have nothing but good things to say. He's somebody that Giants fans will always remember."Aurilia recalled being wary of Beck's mustache and mullet when he came up as a rookie in 1995 - but Beck was among the first to congratulate Aurilia on making the team.Beck was a favorite at Candlestick Park through most of the 1990s, but left to sign with the Cubs as a free agent in 1998. He saved 51 games in his first season in Chicago, but managed just 46 saves in his final five seasons combined."Everyone in the Giants organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend," Giants owner Peter Magowan said. "Rod Beck was a true Giant in every sense of the word, from his dedication on the field to his selflessness away from the park."Beck was involved in charity work with the Pediatric AIDS Foundation and other worthy causes during his time in San Francisco.

"Shooter was a hard nosed, blue-collar kind of guy that wore his heart on his sleeve, and that is what made him so endearing to baseball fans everywhere," said Rick Thurman, Beck's longtime agent."He was the utmost professional whose love for the game was only overshadowed by his passion for his family. Rod was the guy who you wanted in the foxhole with you, a warrior on the field and a teddy bear at home."At a Giants-Cubs game at Wrigley Field last Sept. 2, Beck threw out the ceremonial first pitch and sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch.Beck is survived by his wife, Stacey, and two children.

Mahan Wins Travelers, First PGA Event

Birdie Putt on First Playoff Hole Seals Win

Hunter Mahan earned his first PGA Tour victory Sunday, winning the Travelers Championship in a playoff a year after finishing second.

Mahan, in his fourth year on Tour, hit a 2-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat 40-year-old journeyman Jay Williamson.Mahan, 25, has had just one other top-10 finish this year, tying for fifth at the Shell Houston Open in April. But he plays this tournament well, posting one of his two career second-place finishes.His 62 on Thursday was one shot off the course record, and his 71 on Friday was his first round out of the 60s in this tournament since he shot a 72 during the third round in 2005.He made a 7-foot birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff, then hit his 134-yard approach on the first playoff hole within 12 inches.Williamson was just 7 feet away after a 169-yard approach, but missed the putt.The second-place finish will be enough to earn Williamson a trip to Flint, Mich., for the Buick Open before he returns to the Nationwide Tour. He was hoping to earn back his PGA Tour card with a win.Williamson has had 279 other PGA Tour starts, and his best finish had been a tie for third in the 2003 BellSouth Classic.

D'BACKS BIG WIN

One day after they matched the greatest comeback in franchise history, the Arizona Diamondbacks built a big lead and hung on. Chad Tracy and Eric Byrnes each hit a three-run homer, and Arizona defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-4 on Wednesday.Micah Owings won his fourth straight decision and Byrnes went 4-for-5 with a double and two singles. He doubled in the first, singled in the third and homered in the fourth, all off starter James Shields (6-2). Byrnes added another single in the sixth against Brian Stokes.

Duke Settles With Three Ex-Lacrosse Players

(June 18) -- Duke University has reached an undisclosed financial settlement with three former lacrosse players falsely accused of rape, the school said Monday.

Duke suspended Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans after they were charged last year with raping a stripper at an off-campus party. The university also canceled the team's season and forced their coach to resign. "We welcomed their exoneration and deeply regret the difficult year they and their families have had to endure," the school said in a statement. "These young men and their families have been the subject of intense scrutiny that has taken a heavy toll." The allegations were debunked in April by state prosecutors, who said the players were the innocent victims of a "tragic rush to accuse" by Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong . He was disbarred Saturday for breaking more than two dozen rules of professional conduct in his handling of the case. The players' families racked up millions of dollars of legal bills in their defense, and appear likely to file a lawsuit against Nifong.

The players said in a joint statement that they hoped the agreement would "begin to bring the Duke family back together again." "The events of the last year tore the Duke community apart, and forcibly separated us from the university we love," they said. "We were the victims of a rogue prosecutor concerned only with winning an election, and others determined to railroad three Duke lacrosse players and to diminish the reputation of Duke University." Also Monday, Nifong released a letter to Gov. Mike Easley saying that he planned to leave office July 13. He announced plans to resign during his five-day ethics trial last week but had not set a departure date. A disciplinary committee of the North Carolina State Bar concluded Saturday that Nifong had lied to the court, made inflammatory statements about the three indicted players and their teammates, and withheld critical DNA evidence from defense attorneys. After some administrative steps, Nifong will have 30 days to turn in his law license. Nifong also sent his resignation letter to Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson, who is overseeing a pending request to remove Nifong from office.
"It is my fervent hope that this action will spare this community the further anguish a removal hearing would entail and will allow the healing process to move forward," Nifong wrote. Dick Ellis, a spokesman for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, said Nifong will still be eligible for his full retirement benefits - a pension and health care - that he accrued while working a state employee for nearly 30 years. But because he served fewer than five years as district attorney, he is not vested in a more lucrative retirement system for judges, prosecutors and the director of the courts office. There was no word on whom Easley will chose to replace Nifong, who was appointed in 2005. The governor said Monday he would immediately remove Nifong - who has worked in the district attorney's office since 1978 - if he could. "You are given a lot of power and you can destroy a reputation in moments with just a few words," said Easley, a former prosecutor. "This was much more than a mistake."

****SPURS SWEEP CLEVLAND****

**Jimmy D** Called It: Spurs in 4

Spurs' Dynasty Grows With Fourth Championship
San Antonio Completes Sweep of Cleveland
.

Fantastic Fourth
LeBron James , Cleveland 's preordained King, isn't quite ready for his. Finals MVP Tony Parker scored 24 points, Manu Ginobili had 27 - 13 in the fourth quarter - and the Spurs , who bounced over from the ABA in 1976, moved in among the NBA's greatest franchises with an 83-82 victory Thursday night for a sweep of the Cavaliers - court jesters through much of their first finals. With their fourth championship since 1999 - and third in five years - the Spurs joined the Boston Celtics , Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls as the only teams in NBA history to win four titles. And No. 5 might not be far away either with Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan leading this Texas-oiled machine. Coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, now a perfect 4-for-4 together in finals appearances, spent most of the postseason dismissing talk that they should be considered a dynasty. But with titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, there's no more reason to pretend they aren't one. As the final seconds ticked off on Cleveland's finest season, Duncan stood at center court with both arms raised triumphantly as the rest of the Spurs danced around their center in a huddle. San Antonio 's star sought out Cleveland's Eric Snow , but was unable to find James in the pandemonium. Moments later, the Spurs put on champions baseball caps, which has almost become a June ritual for them.
The final moments were hectic, though, as the Spurs needed every last free throw to hold off the Cavaliers, who made a last stand at home in a season of seasons for their once downtrodden franchise. Cleveland went on an 11-0 run to open the fourth quarter, taking its first lead in any second half of the series on James' drive with 7:55 left. Cleveland went up 63-60 on Daniel Gibson's drive, but that's when Duncan and Co. showed why they're champions. Ginobili scored inside, was fouled and missed his free throw. But Duncan muscled into the lane and tipped in the miss to make it 66-63. The Cavs tied it, but Ginobili, who didn't make a field goal in Game 3, dropped a 3-pointer, and when James missed a 3, the Spurs regained control by outworking Cleveland. Duncan and Fabricio Oberto scrapped for offensive rebounds as the Spurs kept the ball for nearly two minutes before Oberto's three-point play made it 72-66 with 2:29 remaining. Duncan then poked the ball away from James and Oberto scored underneath to give San Antonio a 74-66 lead. James, possibly a little tired following the early morning birth of his second son, hit another 3-pointer but Ginobili responded again with a tough runner in the lane to make it 76-69. Damon Jones made three free throws and James made another 3-pointer, but Ginobili made four free throws in the final seven seconds and immediately began celebrating a title that was all but inevitable. San Antonio's four-game sweep was the eighth since the finals began in 1947.
Parker, who averaged 24.5 points on 57 percent shooting, became the first European-born player to be honored as MVP. Until now, he was mostly viewed as a pretty decent player with a prettier fiance, TV actress Eva Longoria. When Parker was handed his trophy, his soon-to-be-bride wiped away tears. The 25-year-old, though, was an unstoppable, silver-and-black blur against the Cavs, who had no one who could contain him and who looked like they stumbled into their first finals by accident. James had Cleveland fans believing the city's 43-year championship drought was about to end. However, he had a rough introduction to the league's climactic event, one he figures to reach again. He shot just 10-of-30 in Game 4 - and only 36 percent in the series - and never figured out how to rise above or get around the Spurs, whose defensive schemes were designed to make the other Cavaliers beat them. James scored 24 points, and while he took the Cavaliers as far as they've ever gone, he failed to give them new life in this series on the same day his second son, Bryce Maximus James, was born. Duncan, an MVP in his first three finals, had only 12 points but grabbed 15 rebounds. But the 31-year-old, whose arrival in 1997 in San Antonio is the launching point for the Spurs' ascension, he got his fourth ring and helped a few of the other Spurs - Michael Finley , Jacque Vaughn and Brent Barry - win their first. Spurs forward Robert Horry got another one, too, his seventh - the most by a non-Celtics player.

Game 2 Preview: Which LeBron James Will Show Up?

The Tenative James from Game One of the Finals (4-for-16 shooting, six turnovers),
or the Incredible James from Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals (a historical 48 points, including the final 25 in a double-overtime victory on the road)?
Sure, there are other Cavaliers who have perform much, much better (Z, I'm looking in your direction and Larry Hughes, you too) for Cleveland to challenge the Spurs, but it begins and ends with James. As much as he wants to get his teammates involved, you can only pass to Donyell Marshall so many times before you realize that your best option is to attack the basket and attempt to get Tim Duncan into foul trouble.Several of you will probably be upset I'm not writing about the Spurs. But this isn't about the Spurs. San Antonio is the better team, they've already got three titles, and they're heavy favorites to capture the fourth NBA crown in the Tim Duncan era. It's three against one, and I'm one of the few lost souls that actually thinks the Cavs will win this series. I'm anticipating one of two things tonight: a Spurs blowout (15 or more points) or a Cavaliers upset. And I'm going with the latter. Expect to see a different LeBron tonight (assuming you're not watching the Sopranos), one who attacks the basket early, and gets in a scoring mode, but also distributes the basketball. I'm expecting him to have 14 points and five assists at the half. If he's settling for jumpers early, the Spurs will run away with it. I also expect inspired play from Larry Hughes, but he knows that if he's awful again defensively, Daniel Gibson probably will be starting the rest of the series, and perhaps be the favorite to run the team next season. As much as everyone wants to say, 'San Antonio didn't even play great and won handily,' the stats say otherwise: 45% from the field, 37% from three, and more assists and rebounds than the Cavs.

Will It Be Lady's Day in Final Leg at Triple Crown?

It’s been over 100 years since a filly has won the Belmont, but bettors won’t care when it comes to trainer Todd Pletcher’s super filly Rags to Riches. When Derby winner Street Sense opted out of the Belmont, Pletcher jumped in with his lady in waiting. She has swamped all the female competition she’s faced and will take on the boys as a more than worthy adversary.If Rags to Riches wins the Belmont she will do what two fillies who won the Derby - Genuine Risk and Winning Colors - couldn’t accomplish. To win, she’ll have to finish stronger than Preakness-winner Curlin and catch Derby pacesetter Hard Spun.The Belmont, more than any other Triple Crown race, is usually won by a horse that is either on the lead after a mile or with a few lengths of it. That description fits Hard Spun, who led most of the way in the Derby (finished second) then stalked the pace in the Preakness (and was third).

Here’s how we see the race unfolding:

First: Hard Spun - Can control the pace and handle the distance.
Second: Slew’s Tizzy - Coming on at the right time. A threat to win it all.
Third: Curlin - Still should be able to get within striking distance.
Fourth: C P West - Preakness was better than it looks; can take another step up.

$1 Trifecta partial: Key Hard Spun for first, with Slew’s Tizzy, Curlin, CP West, Rags to Riches and Tiago used in both the second and third spots. (Cost: $20)

$1 Trifecta partial: Key Slew’s Tizzy for first with Hard Spun, Curlin, CP West, Rags to Riches and Tiago used in the second and third spots. (Cost: $20)

Total Cost: $36.

Curlin Favored to Win Belmont Stakes.....Preakness Winner Gets 6-5 Odds in Field of Seven

Curlin won the Preakness by beating the Kentucky Derby winner. To win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, the strapping colt will have to beat the Kentucky Oaks winner, and five other challengers.

Derby winner Street Sense won't be around for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, but Oaks winner Rags to Riches will be in an attempt to become the first filly to win a Triple Crown race since Winning Colors took the 1988 Derby.Curlin's trainer welcomes the competition."She's just another quality horse in the race," Steve Asmussen said, "and Curlin is going to have to run extremely well to win."Curlin was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite Wednesday, and will leave from the No. 3 post position under jockey Robby Albarado.Hard Spun, the second choice at 5-2, and Curlin are the only 3-year-olds to run in all three Triple Crown races. The bay colt finished second in the Derby and third in the Preakness, four lengths behind Curlin."I've said this already, that we may hail Curlin by the fall as a superstar," said Larry Jones, Hard Spun's trainer, before adding: "Hopefully the pace scenario will be a little different going a mile-and-a-half."What was looking like a dull Belmont a few days ago, now boasts a quality seven-horse field that also includes Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago (10-1), trainer Nick Zito's C P West (12-1) and a pair of 20-1 long shots in Imawildandcrazyguy, fourth in the Derby, and Slew's Tizzy, winner of the Lexington Stakes and Lone Star Derby."It's one of the stronger fields we've had in the three years I've been here," New York Racing Association president Charles Hayward said. "It's a compact field of seven but you have to give a lot of horses a shot. That makes it a great race with a very accomplished field."Curlin came into the Kentucky Derby as the morning-line favorite after three overpowering victories, including a 10 1/2-length romp in the Arkansas Derby. He finished third by eight lengths, but rebounded with an astonishing stretch run in the Preakness to edge Street Sense by a head in the final stride.

Parker, Duncan Dominate as Spurs Roll in Game One, 85-76

Tony Parker was unstoppable. Tim Duncan was dominant. And LeBron James had a rude introduction to the NBA Finals, as the Spurs dispatched the Cavaliers rather handily in Game One, 85-76. Parker scored a game-high 27 points, and Duncan scored 24 points, collected 13 rebounds, and swatted five shots. The game was close in the first half, with the Cavs trailing by just five at the break. But the Cavaliers third quarter woes, which plagued them against the Pistons, allowed the Spurs to race to an 18-point lead from which Cleveland could never recover. The Cavs trimmed it to eight in the fourth with two minutes left, but I never got the feeling it was that close.Quick analysis:- Z is clearly too slow to keep up with Tim Duncan, so how about starting Drew Gooden on him, and going to Varejao as soon as Duncan starts warming up?- Larry Hughes has no business attempting to guard Tony Parker, and LeBron James isn't a good idea either, unless you want him to turn in another 4-for-16 performance; how about dusting off senior citizen Eric Snow?- Daniel Gibson is a brazen rookie who turned in a spectacular performance (team-high 16 points, four assists, and four steals in only 27 minutes) for the Cavs- Two relevant stats: the Spurs had 18 assists, the Cavs just nine; the Spurs outrebounded the Cavs 43-32- Liked what I saw from Cleveland's Sasha Pavlovic, who was equally fearless, and had 13 pointsNow LeBron and his 4-for-16, six turnover performance. He opened the game passive, and remained that way. You could tell he didn't have a sense of urgency to take over the game like he did in Detroit; I got the impression he was just feeling out the Spurs to see what they were doing defensively. What he saw he could not have liked; San Antonio handles the pick and roll as good as anyone in the League, and when LeBron drives the lane, he's met with two and three defenders. He's going to need his jumper in Game 2, that's for sure.

NBA PLAYOFF'S

After what seems like quite a while, the NBA Finals will begin tonight on ABC (and ESPN, and ESPN2, etc.) It actually has been a while for the Spurs, who chose to spend their eight days off constructing that life-size championship trophy in front of their arena. Nice job, guys. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have been busy grooming their neckstaches and filming new commercials in preparation of their first trip to the NBA's biggest stage. Will the Spurs be rusty? Will the Cavs be able to hang? Those questions and many more will be answered beginning tonight, so join me right here at 9PM EST and we can find out together.- In case you keep seeing this post popping up to the top of the page and are wondering why, it's because our NASCAR and Football bloggers apparently didn't know that the NBA FINALS are going on tonight. Apologies.- I'm very disappointed that the Spurs' PA announcer (who sounds very, um, creaky) didn't introduce Daniel Gibson as "Boobie." I mean, the NBA likes the nickname enough to put it on a t-shirt, so why not?- Tony Parker, from "Paris." I guess there are no schools in France? Or did he not graduate from one. We know Eva Longoria won't bang him until they get married, but we can't find this out?- I love the trophy on the jerseys, I think the champs should get to wear those the entire next season.- Larry Hughes may see very little time this series if his injury prevents him from stopping Parker like that.- Bruce Bowen should NEVER shoot "off the dribble." Nice airball, hack.- Second layup for Tony Parker, I see a pattern developing. As I type that, he does it for the third time. Where's Cleveland's alleged defense i've been hearing about?- Parker goes down hard, and we have our first Eva Longoria shot at the 6:21 mark. Everyone that had the first two minutes of the game in your office pool, pay up.- Duncan with the rejection on LeBron there. Hey Detroit, feel free to start taking notes