Page 27 - Florida Sentinel 12-30-16 Online Edition

Sports
Cam Newton Fulfills Christmas Wish For Sick 10-Year-Old
Steelers' Tomlin Says Bradshaw Went Too Far With His Comments 'Disrespectful'
Carolina Pan- thers superstar quarterback Cam Newton spent part of his day off at an At- lanta hospital granting a Christmas wish for a young Auburn fan with a severe heart condition.
Cam Newton surprised Austin Deckard at an Atlanta hospital.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin shot back at Terry Bradshaw with thoughtfulness, self-depreca- tion and even a clever dig at the Hall of Fame quarter- back.
Tomlin's stance: Debate my résumé, but Bradshaw went too far.
"Terms like 'cheerleader guy,' to me, maybe fall out- side of bounds of critique or criticism," Tomlin said dur- ing a news conference Tues- day. "They probably fall more toward the area of disrespect and unprofessional. But what do I know? I grew up a Dallas fan. Particularly a [Thomas] 'Hollywood' Henderson fan."
In 1979, Henderson fa- mously said about Brad- shaw at the height of the Steelers-Cowboys rivalry: "He couldn't spell cat if you spotted him the C and the A."
HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN
For Yourself" last week, Bradshaw, a Steelers great from 1970 to 1983, said Tomlin wasn't a great coach "at all." "He's a nice coach. To me, I've said this, he's really a great cheerleader guy," Bradshaw said. "I don't know what he does. I don't think he is a great coach at all. His name never even pops up in my mind when we think about great coaches in the NFL."
These comments rankled Steelers players, with guard David DeCastro telling
ESPN that "hopefully it will fire us up the rest of the way" and teammates "weren't happy about it."
When asked about his locker room support in light of the comments, Tomlin didn't shun the topic. He was ready to engage.
"I appreciate the support. But criticism and critique are very much a part of our busi- ness," Tomlin said. "It's an element of our business that as a competitor I embrace. The term 'great,' that's some- thing I have a great deal of re- spect for. I certainly don't think that my résumé to this point reads as great. But very few coaches' résumés read as that at this point. Guys like Bill [Belichick] in New England probably can say that, Pop [Gregg Popovich] down in San An- tonio. I think the rest of us are just working stiffs, to be quite honest with you."
Ten-year-old
Austin Deckard, who was diagnosed with advanced pul- monary hypertension, was vis- ited by the Carolina Panthers quarterback just one day be- fore he was to undergo a risky procedure.
The story of Newton's big surprise to Austin started last week, with a post on social media from Austin's elemen- tary school teacher, Courtney Cooper.
condition and how he wished to meet his favorite football player.
"Austin told me he 'wished Cam Newton could come to his birthday party,'" Cooper said in her post. "Austin may not ever make it to an Auburn football game but I know so- cial media is a strong force that can make things happen."
Newton got the message, and Austin's wish became a reality on Tuesday.
She mentioned Deckard's
George Karl In Book Claims MJ
On Fox Sports 1's "Speak Indiana’s Star
Was OK With Scottie Pippen Trade
And Coach Fined $25,000 For Criticizing Refs
Steve Smith, Sr. Sheds A Tear As He Announces Retirement
George Karl
says, in his new book, to be re- leased in January, that Michael Jordan was A- OK with shipping Scottie Pippen away from the Chicago Bulls and into the arms of the waiting Seat- tle SuperSonics.
Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and former Seattle SuperSonics coach, George Karl.
NBA star, Paul George and Coach Nate McMillan.
The NBA has fined Indiana Pacers star Paul George $15,000 and coach Nate McMillan $10,000 for public criticism of the officials after a loss to the Chicago Bulls, the league announced Wednesday.
George and McMillan were irked by the lack of foul calls the Pacers received against the Bulls on Monday night.
George finished the game with 14 points in 39 minutes. It was the fact that he went to the free throw line just once that irritated him and McMillan.
Baltimore Ravens WR Steve Smith announced this Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals will be his last.
Smith ended his press conference on Wednesday with tears in his eyes saying the relationships he has with his teammates is something he’ll miss the most. But he says, “that’s what text mes- saging is for.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco also commended the wide receiver’s competitive- ness and fearlessness on the field saying, “He’s just got a lot of ability and he’s not afraid. When the lights come on, and the big moments are upon us... he reacts to it in a positive way.”
Smith has had an incred- ible career season in 2016 after coming back from an Achilles injury. A few weeks ago Smith passed the mile- stone of 1,000 receptions,
Karl says that he spoke with Jordan personally about the projected move, sending Pippen to a Seattle team with the NBA’s best record in exchange for a lot- tery pick, swingman Ricky Pierce and scoring stud
Shawn Kemp. That MJ en- couraged Karl to deal for the teammate Jordan had won three titles already with, prior to the three titles he’d win again with Pippen when the trade (ultimately) did not go through.
STEVE SMITH, SR.
and is just the fourteenth player to do so, and on Sun- day against the Steelers, he passed Isaac Bruce for sole possession of 12th all-time on NFL’s receiving yards list. Steve Smith is a step closer to reserving a possible place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I’m going to miss it,” Smith said. “I’m going to mourn. It’s something that’s been part of my life for 16 years. There will be a transi- tion.”
Warriors' Kevin Durant Says NBA Report Throws Officials Under Bus
Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant said he thinks the NBA's "Last Two Minute Report" is "bulls---" and says the league throws its officials under the bus by airing out refs' mistakes.
"I think it's bulls--- and they should get rid of it," Du- rant said Tuesday.
Durant's comments come a day after the league's report on the Warriors' 109-108 Christmas Day loss to the Cavaliers said refs missed a foul call that should have gone in Durant's favor in the wan- ing moments of the game. The "Last Two Minute Report" is the league's public review of officiating in the final two minutes of every NBA game.
"The refs didn't lose us that game. We lost that game. We could have been better," Du-
KEVIN DURANT
rant said. "I think it's bulls--- that the NBA threw the refs under the bus like that."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr agreed that the officials can't be blamed for his team's loss.
"The officials didn't decide that game," he said. "We had a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. It was our mistakes that I'm more concerned about."
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