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TOP STORY
GLF--MASTERS
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bubba Watson scooped up his son, hugged his wife and took off down the ropes along the 18th green, high-fiving the patrons at Augusta National. Watson seized the lead from Jordan Spieth with a dramatic two-hole swing before the turn. The last real uneasy moment came at the 13th, where the left-hander launched a slicing tee shot around the trees — nicking a limb or two along the way — to set up an easy two-putt birdie that essentially clinched his victory. By the time Watson walked up 18, he could relish the cheers, really relish them, and know that a second green jacket was waiting for him at the top of the hill, along with his wife and son. By National Writer Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 797 words by 4 a.m.
With:
— AUGUSTA, Ga — GLF--Masters-Runner-Up. By Paul Newberry. SENT: 662 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga — GLF--Masters-Key. By Tim Dahlberg. SENT: 748 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga — GLF--Masters-No Technology. By Mark Long. SENT: 507 words.
COMMENTARY
GLF--JIM LITKE-041314
AUGUSTA, Ga. — He plays a sexy game of golf, owns two green jackets and — in what constitutes a show of major respect in these parts —Bubba Watson made rabid Georgia Bulldog fans take a break from spring football to watch some golf this weekend. As he was fighting for the lead at Augusta National on Saturday, the giant screen at Sanford Stadium cut to a shot of Watson, and the local fans went wild. Watson might seem like the guy to carry golf's flag in the coming months, especially with the two most popular players of this era nearing the end of their careers. Tiger Woods, 38, is on the disabled list until late this summer and Phil Mickelson, 42, missed the cut here and has already curtailed his schedule to focus on the biggest events. By Sports Columnist Jim Litke. SENT: 796 words.
NBA
BKN--AROUND THE NBA
Derrick Rose was already lost for the season, the Brooklyn Nets were playing like $180 million busts, and nobody else looked like a real challenger. So when Miami and Indiana met for the first time on Dec. 10 and the game was hyped as an Eastern Conference finals preview, there seemed little reason to argue. Tom Thibodeau did, anyway. A lot can change in an NBA season, the Chicago coach said the next night, and how teams start may not be how they finish. With the Heat and Pacers no longer looking untouchable, and the Bulls, Nets and Raptors playing better basketball for quite some time, maybe this is what he meant. By Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 599 words by 4 a.m.
BKN--THUNDER-PACERS
INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers were back to being themselves Sunday. They made shots. They defended hard for 48 minutes. Lance Stephenson regained his swagger and, yes, the reeling Pacers even looked like a playoff-ready team. David West made three free throws in the final 15 seconds and Stephenson produced his league-leading fifth triple-double to give Indiana a 102-97 win over Oklahoma City 102-97, putting the Pacers on the cusp of clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. All they need is a win Wednesday night at Orlando or one more Miami loss. By Michael Marot. SENT: 793 words.
BKN--PISTONS-DUMARS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Joe Dumars tried to push the Detroit Pistons back toward the playoffs with a couple of big moves last offseason. That didn't work, and now the Pistons will be hiring someone else to replace him. Detroit has decided not to renew Dumars' contract as president of basketball operations, a person familiar with the situation said Sunday. The person says Dumars will remain with the Pistons as an adviser. Dumars was named the 2003 executive of the year, and the Pistons won the title the following season, adding the 2004 crown to the two they won when Dumars was a player. But Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since 2009, and the retooled Pistons flopped badly this season. By Noah Trister. SENT: 614 words.
BKN--GRIZZLIES-LAKERS
LOS ANGELES — After a rough start to the season, Mike Conley was thinking of winning some games, not making the playoffs. What a difference a few months has made. The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 102-90 on Sunday night to move a game ahead of idle Phoenix in the race for the final Western Conference playoff berth. Marc Gasol added 18 points and 15 rebounds and Mike Miller had 13 points for the Grizzlies, who head to Phoenix for a showdown with the Suns on Monday night. By Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 585 words.
NFL
FBN--49ERS-ALDON SMITH-ARRESTED
LOS ANGELES — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport after authorities said he became belligerent during a security screening and threatened that he had a bomb. The 24-year-old player was randomly selected for a secondary screening at Terminal 1 and became uncooperative with the process, airport police Sgt. Karla Ortiz said. She said he told a TSA agent that he had a bomb before walking to the gate. When airport police officers caught up with him, Ortiz said Smith became uncooperative and was taken into custody. By Daisy Nguyen. SENT: 980 words.
BASEBALL
BBO--THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL
You could piece together a pretty good pitching staff with just the players who have had significant elbow problems this year. Starting rotation: Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy, Patrick Corbin, Jarrod Parker, Matt Moore. Bullpen: Bobby Parnell, David Hernandez, Bruce Rondon, Luke Hochevar, Cory Gearrin. The list doesn't even include New York Mets star Matt Harvey, who is still recovering from elbow surgery last October. Is there a reason so many pitchers seem vulnerable to elbow injuries right now? By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 610 words by 4 a.m.
BBA--RED SOX-YANKEES
NEW YORK — With a little help from the replay room, Carlos Beltran and the banged-up Yankees did just enough to hold off Boston. Beltran hit a two-run homer, Ivan Nova rebounded from a rough outing, and New York beat the Red Sox 3-2 Sunday night with the aid of another disputed video review that led to the ejection of Boston manager John Farrell. Ichiro Suzuki robbed David Ortiz of extra bases in the eighth inning, crashing into the outfield fence for a spectacular catch, and New York took three of four in the first series of the season between the longtime rivals. By Mike Fitzpatrick. SENT: 835 words.
AUTO RACING
CAR--INDYCAR-LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH, Calif. — What seemed to be a Ryan Hunter-Reay runaway took a strange and sudden turn on the streets of Long Beach, where tempers flared long after Mike Conway took a surprising win. Conway started 17th and overcame an early broken wing to win the Toyota Grand Prix for the second time in his career. The British driver was chasing Scott Dixon over the final few laps on Sunday, then got the lead when Dixon stopped for fuel two laps from the finish. Both Conway and Dixon were only in position to race for the win because Hunter-Reay triggered an earlier seven-car accident that took out the front three cars. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. UPCOMING: 1,389 words by 4 a.m.
Also:
— AUSTIN, Texas — CAR--F1-Kurt Busch-Formula One. By Jim Vertuno. SENT: 364 words.
— CONCORD, N.C. — CAR--NHRA. SENT: 252 words.
— AUSTIN, Texas — MOT--Austin GP. By Jim Vertuno. SENT: 562 words.
BOXING
BOX--PACQUIAO'S REVENGE
LAS VEGAS — The old Manny Pacquiao returned for thrilling bursts, hounding Timothy Bradley onto the ropes and battering the welterweight champion with whip-quick combinations that recalled the Pacman's magical prime. The older Pacquiao couldn't finish the trick, however. Although he tried mightily, Pacquiao didn't stop or even really hurt Bradley during 12 mostly exciting rounds Saturday night, settling for the lucrative revenge of a unanimous-decision victory. Pacquiao proved he is still one of the world's most exciting boxers with his second straight win, even if he might never recapture his most destructive form. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 802 words.
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ALSO
— VANCOUVER, British Columbia — HKN--Canucks-Daniel Sedin Injured. SENT: 233 words.
— LONDON — ATH--London Marathon. By Rob Harris. SENT: 540 words.
— BKL--WNBA Draft Preview. By Vin A. Cherwoo. SENT: 886 words.
— HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn Parade. By Jane Gordon Julien. SENT: 470 words.
— HOUSTON — TEN--Houston. SENT: 186 words.
— MONACO — TEN--Monte Carlo Masters. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 714 words.
— CASABLANCA, Morocco — TEN--Grand Prix Hassan II. SENT: 168 words.
— KATOWICE, Poland — TEN--Katowice Open. SENT: 127 words.
— LEON, Mexico — GLF--Webcom Tour. SENT: 269 words.
— WARSAW, Poland — OLY--Krakow-2022 Bid. SENT: 195 words.
___
Monday's Time Schedule
BASEBALL
Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 7:10 p.m.
Seattle at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.
Oakland at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.
Colorado at San Diego, 10:10 p.m.
NBA
Miami at Washington, 7 p.m.
Boston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Chicago, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8 p.m.
Oklahoma City at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.
Memphis at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
Minnesota at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
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