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Sports
Deflategate: Patriots Deflated The Balls And Tom Brady Knew It
Ernie Johnson Of TNT Gives Emmy To Stuart Scott's Daughters
An NFL investigation has concluded that members of the New England Patriots staff "more likely than not" purpose- fully deflated footballs that were used in the team's AFC Cham- pionship win over the Indi- anapolis Colts in January, according to a 243-page report released by the league Wednesday.
The report also states that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was "generally aware" of the "inappropriate activities" that were being committed by sideline staff.
The probe concluded the Patriots ownership and Coach Bill Belichick or other mem- bers of the coaching staff were not involved in "any wrongdo- ing or knowledge of wrongdo-
TOM BRADY
ing."
Jim Mc- Nally, the offi- cial locker room attendant for the Patriots, and John Jastrem-
ski, team equip-
Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson bestowed the Sports Emmy Award he won Tuesday night for best studio host to the daughters of the late, longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.
Taelor and Sydni Scott were on hand at the 36th Sports Emmy Awards as their father was honored for his con- tributions to sports media ear- lier in the night.
"This belongs to Stuart Scott," Johnson told the girls as he gave them his award.
was 49.
Scott was a champion for
cancer research and devoted time and energy toward im- proving outcomes for African- Americans and other minorities with cancer. Scott was involved in a clinical trial himself.
Tuesday marked the third time Johnson -- who over- came Non-Hodgkin Lym- phoma in 2006 -- has won the Emmy for best studio host. He is the host of TNT's "Inside the NBA."
ment assistant, participated in a deliberate ef- fort to release air from game balls after the balls were exam-
ined by a referee.
"Based on the evidence, it
also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate ac- tivities of McNally and Jas- tremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls," the report says.
Ernie Johnson gave his award for best studio host to Taelor and Sydni Scott, who were on hand as their fa- ther was earlier honored for his con- tributions to sports media. Holly Rowe/ESPN
"This is your Emmy."
Scott died on Jan. 4 after a
lengthy battle with cancer. He
Isaiah Thomas Taking Over WNBA New York Liberty Team
(1) Hawks vs. (5) Wizards
Series: Tied 1-1
Game 1: Wizards 104, Hawks 98 Game 2: Hawks 106, Wizards 90 Game 3: Sat., May 9
(5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Mon., May 11
(7 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Wed., May 13
(8 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 6: Fri., May 15 (TBD, ESPN)*
Game 7: Mon., May 18
(8 p.m. ET, TNT)*
(1) Warriors vs. (5) Grizzlies
Series: Tied 1-1
Game 1: Warriors 101, Grizzlies 86 Game 2: Grizzlies 97, Warriors 90 Game 3: Sat., May 9
(8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4: Mon., May 11
(9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Wed., May 13 (10:30 p.m, TNT)
Game 6: Fri., May 15
(TBD, ESPN)*
Game 7: Sun., May 17
(2) Cavaliers vs. (3) Bulls
Series: Tied 1-1
Game 1: Bulls 99, Cavs 92 Game 2: Cavs 106, Bulls 91 Game 3: Fri., May 8
(8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 4: Sun., May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Game 5: Tue., May 12
(7 p.m., TNT)*
Game 6: Thu., May 14
(TBD, ESPN)*
Game 7: Sun., May 17
(TBD, TNT)*
(2) Rockets vs. (3) Clippers
Series: Tied 1-1
(TBD)*
Game 1: Clippers 117, Rockets 101 Game 2: Rockets 115, Clippers 109 Game 3: Fri., May 8
(10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 4: Sun., May 10
(8:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 5: Tue., May 12
(9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)*
Game 6: Thu., May 14
(3 p.m. ET, ESPN)*
Game 7: Sun., May 17 (TBD)*
* if necessary
As of Tuesday morning, the WNBA's New York Lib- erty didn't have a president of basketball operations.
The Liberty are owned by the Madison Square Garden Corporation, chaired by one James L. Dolan, who has in the past shown a very de- fined preference when hiring basketball executives.
Isiah Thomas has been named President of the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Thomas will also have part ownership of the team.
Dolan announced the decision saying that he'd been discussing a role with the Liberty with Thomas since the fall, and trumpet- ing Thomas as "an excellent judge of talent [who] is com- mitted to using his consider- able expertise to help further develop the Liberty, both on
Isaiah Thomas being president and a possible owner of the New York WNBA team has critics stunned.
and off the court."
Dolan, however, appar-
ently jumped the gun in an- nouncing Thomas'
part-ownership stake in the Liberty, according to WNBA President Laurel Richie.
"The Madison Square Garden organization an- nounced that Isiah Thomas has been named president of the New York Liberty and that he will take an ownership interest in the team, pending WNBA ap- proval," Richie said in a league statement.
While the ownership stake remains unresolved, the fact that Dolan has given Thomas reign over the Liberty seems especially eyebrow-raising, given Thomas' troubling history with female employees at MSG.
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