DENVER — LeBron James was upset after the Los Angeles Lakers squandered a good opportunity.

His annoyance wasn’t so much over losing a 20-point lead. Or his late missed 3-pointer, which rimmed out with the game tied. Or Jamal Murray’s fadeaway buzzer-beater that lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 101-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday night.

James’ rage came from a greater distance: the NBA’s replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey. At the center of his rage was a second-half foul on Michael Porter Jr. that was reversed by the league because MPJ made only minor contact on D’Angelo Russell.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” said James, whose team returns to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday, behind 2-0. “D-Lo was certainly smacked in the face during the drive. What the (expletive) do we have a replay center… it makes no sense. It doesn’t make sense. “It bothers me.”

James was not his normal talkative self in his postgame interview after the Lakers saw Murray and the Nuggets come back from a 68-48 deficit to win their 10th straight game against the Lakers.

With about 16 seconds remaining, James had a wide-open 3-pointer that could have given the Lakers the lead.

“Rimmed out,” bemoaned James, who had 26 points and 12 assists.

Porter collected the rebound, setting up Murray’s game-winning fadeaway shot over Anthony Davis as time expired.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

James got straight to the point after the game.

— On Denver’s comeback, which featured a 32-20 fourth-quarter loss: “We missed shots. We still had terrific looks, we just missed them. “They made it.”

— On Russell shooting seven three-pointers after going one for nine from deep in the series opener: “We never lost faith in him.” “D-Lo is D-Lo.”

— On whether the Lakers can carry any momentum from this victory into victory 3 in Los Angeles: “Every game is its own challenge.”

— On the difficulties of a painful loss: “Of course, it’s a heartbreaking game, and you don’t want to lose in that way.”

That’s when James started expressing his dissatisfaction with the replay center. Earlier in the game, Murray was called for a foul when James drove to the basket, but the Nuggets successfully challenged the ruling.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

In his replay-center diatribe, James referred to Monday’s previous game, in which the New York Knicks rallied in the final 30 seconds for a thrilling 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Donte DiVincenzo hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 13 seconds left, capping off a drive that began when they stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid said Maxey was fouled, and that coach Nick Nurse and several players tried to call a timeout before the Knicks got the ball.

“What are we doing?” James stated as he concluded his postgame interview.

SOURCE – (AP)

FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, wants to stage a World Cup-style event with 32 top club clubs from around the world. If talks between Apple and FIFA are successful, it might be shown on Apple TV Plus.

According to the New York Times, FIFA is close to sealing a deal with Apple for global rights to the event. According to the Times, an agreement might be revealed by the end of the month.

According to reports, the purchase could be worth $1 billion, significantly less than FIFA‘s expectation of $4 billion. It is unclear whether this club tournament will be shown solely on Apple TV Plus or with free-to-air rights.

Nonetheless, given Apple’s interest in live sports for its streaming service — Apple TV Plus presently features Major League Soccer events as well as a monthly Major League Baseball doubleheader — one would expect Apple TV Plus to be the exclusive home for the Club World Cup.

The 32-team tournament is slated to begin in June 2025. The competition would include club teams from Africa (4 teams), Asia (4), Europe (12 teams), North America/Central/Caribbean (4), Oceania (1 team), and South America (6 teams).

FIFA has been attempting to launch a version of this competition for some years. The final big stab was scheduled to take place in China in 2021. COVID delayed and ultimately ended that iteration of the event.

Supposedly, both broadcasters and sponsors have been hesitant to agree to FIFA’s asking fees. So, this could be the last chance for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to make this event a reality.

If this agreement is completed, it will be the first time FIFA has entered into a single global contract for viewing.

Soccer has proven to be a popular source of content for streaming services aiming to attract viewers (and subscribers). Peacock presently has the streaming rights for English Premier League fixtures. Paramount Plus presently holds the rights to the UEFA Champions League.

PGA Golfer Scottie Scheffler has won the 2024 RBC Heritage on Monday in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with a 19-under 265 score. The world number one has won four of his past five contests.

Scheffler shot a 3-under 68 in his final 18 holes at Harbor Town Golf Links. The final round was postponed due to rain on Sunday afternoon and ultimately halted due to darkness.

“I got off to a slow start on Thursday, but played some really nice golf in the middle of the tournament,” Scheffler said on the Golf Channel. “Yeah, it’s nice to be done.”

Scheffler entered Monday’s round at 20-under par, with three holes to play. He made pars on 16 and 17 before finishing with a bogey on 18 to win the event and $3.6 million.

Scheffler has won $16.25 million in the last 44 days, including $3.6 million from winning the 2024 Masters Tournament last week.

He began his rich run by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational — and the $4 million first-place prize — on March 10 in Orlando, Florida. A week later, on March 17, he won the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, earning $4.5 million.

 RBC Heritage his 10th career PGA Tour victory

He won his green jacket and second Masters title two weeks later at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Scheffler recorded 20 birdies and an eagle during his 36-hole victory at the RBC Heritage. A double bogey on Thursday, along with a bogey on Monday, resulted in his lowest scores of the event.

On March 31, Scheffler tied for second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The world number one won $553,735 from the five-way tie.

Sahith Theegala shot a 16-under 268 to finish second at the RBC Heritage, three strokes behind Scheffler. Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay tied for third place after shooting 15-under 269s.

Scheffler, who made his professional debut in 2018, currently has ten career PGA Tour victories. He won his first tournament in 2022.

Zurich Classic in New Orleans

The PGA Tour’s next tournament is the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. The competition will take place from Thursday to Sunday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. Scheffler is not included in the team event field.

Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, is expecting their first child later this month. The second major of the season, the PGA Championship, will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16 to 19.

The RBC Heritage is an annual PGA Tour event that takes place at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It’s one of the tour’s must-see events, taking place in April immediately following the Masters.

Pete Dye developed the course, which is known for its tight fairways, overhanging trees, and short greens, giving it a true challenge for professional golfers.

The tournament has drawn elite players since 1969, because to its gorgeous setting and tough layout. Harbour Town’s renowned 18th hole is a beast, with a shot over Calibogue Sound to a tiny green.

Every year, fans gather there to witness the drama unfold. The winner receives the renowned plaid jacket, making the RBC Heritage one of golf’s most prestigious non-major tournaments.

Source: Yahoo Sports