How the Wizards could approach each outcome in the NBA draft lottery
Will Dawkins is no stranger to lotteries.
When he was growing up in Massachusetts, the Washington Wizards' general manager would be tasked with hopping out of the car and going into convenience stores to purchase tickets for his mother and grandfather. Dawkins's mom didn't have to tell him the numbers she wanted — she always played two, four and eight. But his grandfather would vary, snatching inspiration from street signs or his dreams.
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CBS News
15 minutes ago
- CBS News
Long Island golfer is trying to set Guinness World Record for playing most consecutive hours
For most golfers, a round takes a few hours, but one Long Island man is taking that to the extreme. Kelechi Ezihie, who only started playing golf two years ago after learning the game as a caddy, hit the course at Huntington Crescent Club at 6 p.m. on Sunday with the intention of setting a Guinness World Record by playing nonstop for 24 hours. However, in the wee hours of Monday morning, he found out his marathon had to get even longer if he wanted his name in the record books. "This is a test to my energy" Ezihie's drive goes beyond the green. He works at Life's WORC, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities, and he's raising money -- and awareness -- for his mission to diversify golf. The 27-year-old Inwood resident showed no signs of fatigue about 19 hours into his odyssey. He is allowed five-minute breaks each hour, but otherwise must keep walking and swinging. "I feel great. This is for a good cause, so I feel great," Ezihie said earlier Monday. "This is a test to my energy to see how far I can go." He was surrounded by friends who kept him laughing through the night as he played under lights and with glow-in-the-dark balls. "I really showed up thinking I would just play until 10, but the vibes are so good," friend Michaelangelo Garland said. Why Ezihie is going to have to play longer than he planned In the middle of play, he found out that the game that planned to be the longest in history had to get even longer if wants to set the record. He said he found out at around 3 a.m. that a British golfer had just played 32 hours straight in Norway. So now, Ezihie is aiming for 40. "My friends are here to keep me going. I just think about enjoying myself, enjoy every single swing," he said. And that means rain or shine, darkness or light. "A little shower doesn't spoil the dream and the goal," Ezihie said. Guinness officials will review video evidence to determine if he meets all the criteria for the record. "We have to make sure he's finishing the rounds in the right amount of time, that he is taking breaks in the allotted time that witnesses are logging," said Shartia Ducksworth, of Golf Insights. Why Ezihie embarked on this mission in the first place "People assume that golf is for the wealthy and I'm trying to change that," Ezihie said. "The goal is to let people know that golf is a game for everybody. Whatever your economic background or somebody with special needs, you can play the game of golf." He has bought land in his native Nigeria to build a golf center. "I believe Nigeria has a lot of talented kids that aren't able to show their talent," Ezihie said. Ezihie has a large laugh, a bigger heart, and may be on his way to a spot in the record books.
Fox News
20 minutes ago
- Fox News
Power players or baseball players? The history behind the Congressional Baseball Game
Washington is stocked with power players. The president. White House officials. Cabinet secretaries. U.S. Representatives. Senators. Powerful aides. Lobbyists. Journalists. But how about baseball players? Democrats and Republicans convene Wednesday night at Nats Park just blocks from the Capitol for the annual Congressional game. Since 1909, Democrats and Republicans have traded in conference committees for mound visits. The Congressional Record for scorecards. And parliamentarians for umpires. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, is a former Atlanta Braves farmhand. He gets his squad out on the practice diamond nearly every morning when lawmakers are in session at 5:45. "We've been working out since March 1," said Williams. "I think we're as good as we were last year." However, he noted that springtime rain limited practice time. And, an injury might beset the GOP squad. House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Blake Moore, R-Utah, started in center field for Republicans last year. Moore is one of the best overall athletes for either team. Moore won the high school Heisman Trophy in 1997. However, Moore injured his collar bone diving to make a save as a goalie in the Congressional soccer game a few weeks ago. Yes, there's a Congressional soccer game, too. And flag football game. And basketball game. And hockey game. And voters sometimes wonder why nothing ever gets done in Washington? Anyway, Moore says his clavicle has healed. Ironically, he can golf. But can't play baseball. And can't reach up to put away the dishes in the cupboard after dinner. "That goes over really well with my wife," said Moore. A penalty for playing soccer? "I fined him $500," said Williams – we believe jokingly. Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, played right field last year. He moves to center field in place of Moore Wednesday night. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., patrols right field for Republicans. Stutzman returned to Congress this year after an eight-year hiatus. Stutzman played in six games before, hitting .083. Stutzman used to pitch for the GOP. But his services out of the bullpen probably aren't necessary. After all, Stutzman might not match up to other Hoosier State hurlers like Tommy John and Don Larsen. On the mound, Stutzman sports an 0-2 record with a 14.44 ERA in the Congressional contest. That said, Williams does have a potential newcomer who can throw: Freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., is a rookie and a fireballer. "He's my Ryne Duren," said Williams of Harrigan. To the uninitiated, Duren was a flamethrowing all-star in the 1950s and '60s – mostly with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds. Duren wore Coke-bottle glasses. The line "Oh say can you see" during "The Star-Spangled Banner" took on a little more meaning for opposing hitters when Duren was on the mound with his fastball. Williams says Harrigan can bring it. But his control needs work. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., enters her third year as the Democrats' skipper. She's the first woman to manage the team. Women first played in the game in 1993. Former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., along with former Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and current Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., broke the gender barrier. Both Lincoln and Cantwell played as House Members. Sanchez appeared in 11 games and is one of the best women to suit up. She hit .455, going 5-11 with two walks. Sanchez bleeds Dodger blue. She historically wears a Fernando Valenzuela jersey while managing. Valenzuela was one of the most iconic Dodgers of all time, capturing the 1981 Cy Young Award with his screwball as "Fernandomania" seized southern California. Valenzuela died last fall. But Sanchez used to pull for the "California" Angels – now the Los Angeles Angels. Sanchez switched her allegiance from the Halos to the Dodgers after the Angels let Nolan Ryan escape to the Houston Astros in late 1979. One wonders how Sanchez would have felt if she were a New York Mets fan back when they traded Ryan to the Angels? Sanchez's success at the plate hasn't followed her into the Democrats' dugout. Republicans have captured the last four contests – including the two which Sanchez managed. Republicans pounded the Democrats last year, 31-11. The GOP topped the Democrats 16-6 in 2023. There was no game in 2020 due to the pandemic. So the Democrats haven't won since 2019. Republicans hold a 38-23 advantage in the "modern" era of the game. They began playing the Congressional game in 1909. But late House Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, halted the game because it became too violent. There was a legendary collision at home plate in the 1956 game. Late Rep. Charles Curtis, R-Mo., was catching for the GOP. Rep. Olin "Tiger" Teague, D-Texas, steamrolled Curtis at the plate. Teague is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. But Teague buried Curtis at home in that game. Orderlies hauled Curtis off the old Griffith Stadium field on a stretcher. Lawmakers resumed the game in 1962. Sanchez is buoyed by at least four new freshmen – or rookies – on her club. Reps. Dave Min, D-Calif., Derek Tran, D-Calif., John Mannion, D-N.Y., and Johnny Olszewski, D-Md. "Our principal weakness has been not a lot of depth to our bullpen. And this year we've got a couple of freshmen that can throw. So we're hoping that with those additions, we can do a lot better this year," said Sanchez. Expect Mannion to work in relief. Like most Major League clubs, the Democrats need pitching. "We had a great run for a little while when Cedric Richmond was on the mound," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., who pitches, catches and plays infield for the Democrats. Former Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., is one of the greatest players in Congressional Baseball Game history. He pitched in college. He threw 80-mph-plus to stymie fellow lawmakers. Richmond boasted an 8-0 record and a miniscule 2.64 ERA. But Richmond left Congress to work for former President Biden in 2021. The Democrats haven't been formidable since. Heading into Wednesday's contest, Sanchez teased that her goal with the Republicans in the game is "making them cry." "But we come together and do something good for the area," added Sanchez, noting the $2 million the game raises for children's charities in the DC area. But she concedes, "there's always trash talk." So Democrats try to escape from their slump. The Democrats haven't won under Sanchez. But they're oh-fer since House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., took over in 2023. "It's my expectation that the Democratic comeback is going to begin in 2025 at the Congressional Baseball Game," said Jeffries last week. But the Brooklyn Democrat said the same thing two years ago. "I think this is the year for the big, Democratic comeback," said Jeffries in June 2023. So, I questioned Jeffries in the Capitol corridors late last week. "You realize since you've been the Minority Leader that the Republicans have defeated the Democrats by a combined score of 47 to 1?" asked yours truly. "I also realize that my record as an active member of the Congressional Baseball Game team, I believe, was 9-1," replied Jeffries. But is that because of Jeffries? Or Cedric Richmond? Statistics are paramount in baseball. Whether you're scoring at home. Or using the Congressional Budget Office. Jeffries is 1-6 hitting in his nine games on the Democratic squad. That's good for a .167 average. Well below the Mendoza Line. But he did swipe seven bases. And this year, Democrats will again try to steal a win against a talented Republican club. Gametime at 7pm ET on FS1 Wednesday. Yours truly will be on the call alongside colleague Kevin Corke.
New York Times
37 minutes ago
- New York Times
RB Nick Chubb signs with Texans on 1-year deal: How he expands Houston's backfield
By Dianna Russini, Zac Jackson, Adam Coleman and Zach Powell Former Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, who was a free agent, signed with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, the team announced. The contract, which was contingent on Chubb passing a physical on Monday, is a one-year deal worth at least $2.5 million and up to $5 million, according to league sources. Chubb received more lucrative offers from other teams, but he would sign a more incentive-laden contract to join Joe Mixon in Houston's backfield. Chubb, 29, was sidelined for much of the last two seasons due to knee and foot injuries. Welcome to H-Town, Nick Chubb‼️ — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 9, 2025 Houston will be just the second team Chubb has played for in his seven seasons. A second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Chubb has impacted the Browns' ground game since his rookie season. The four-time Pro Bowler rushed for 996 yards in his first season, followed by four straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards. Advertisement Chubb's 2023 season was cut short by a serious knee injury in Week 2. He returned in Week 7 of the 2024 season, but would wind up missing the final three games that season with a broken foot. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 84.5 yards per game in his first five seasons, and 3.9 yards per carry and 50.2 yards per game in the past two seasons. The injuries are a concern, of course, but Chubb on an incentive-laden one-year deal in a reserve role seems like a good bet for the Texans to make. A healthy backfield of Mixon and Chubb only helps quarterback CJ Stroud and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. This is suddenly an interesting running back room, too. The Texans just used a fourth-round pick on USC running back Woody Marks to spell the hard-nosed Mixon, who dealt with injuries of his own last season. Then, there is Dameon Pierce, who could be on the bubble. He had an outstanding rookie season in 2022 but has since lost his way. How it all shakes out in camp and during the preseason will be interesting. — Adam Coleman, NFL staff editor The 2024 version of Chubb was not the same version we'd seen before. And though his departure from Cleveland becoming close to official stings the team's fans, the Browns had moved on, and had to. Chubb's gruesome injury in September 2023 in Pittsburgh marked the unofficial end to an incredible marriage of team and low-maintenance superstar that began early in Chubb's rookie season of 2018. Chubb almost always got the tough yards, almost always made the proper play and always wanted the ball without having to say it or post about it. It's hard to tell what the Texans are getting in Chubb now, six months from his 30th birthday, but it seems a smart bet for a Houston team that plans to return to the playoffs. Advertisement Chubb seemed to gain confidence and quickness last season before that broken foot derailed his comeback. If he can still serve as a between-the-tackles runner who brings physicality even without that extra gear, he can still be a useful and productive player. The Browns drafted two running backs and are smartly moving towards their future, but Chubb's presence and playmaking will never be forgotten. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
