Kyrie Irving’s gesture was ‘classless,’ says Cedric Maxwell, but fans were out of line, too - The Boston Globe

Celtics radio commentator Cedric Maxwell had just called the final seconds of Boston’s 141-126 Game 4 loss to the Nets Sunday night when he looked down on the floor and could not believe his eyes. He turned to play-by-play partner Sean Grande.

“I said, ‘Oh no, he didn’t,’ ” Maxwell said Monday. “Kyrie [Irving] just went to the logo and wiped his foot like he was wiping off some poop.”

Irving had just scored 39 points to lead his team to the win and a commanding 3-1 series edge. As he walked toward midcourt to greet some teammates, he used his left foot to stomp on the face of the leprechaun on the Celtics logo. Maxwell was stunned.

“It had nothing to do with the competition, not for you to go wipe your feet on the logo,” he said. “It didn’t matter if it was a white man, if it was a zebra, if it was a squirrel. I didn’t care what it was. It was just the fact that you didn’t need to do that, and you’re bringing attention to yourself.

“You played a great game, you won, what is the point? What really is the point? Like I said, Kyrie is a great player. Why the classless act?”

About a minute later, Cole Buckley, a 21-year-old Celtics fan from Braintree, threw a water bottle at Irving and nearly hit him in the head. Buckley was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. That incident became the night’s primary story line, and any comparison to stepping on a painted logo seemed unfair.

Maxwell, the MVP of the 1981 NBA Finals with the Celtics, said there was no reason to put the moments side by side. He believes Buckley was wrong and should be punished, and he also believes that Irving went too far, even if he had spent most of these two games in Boston being booed and heckled and showered with derisive chants.

“The people were wrong about some of the things they said to him, too,” Maxwell said. “When they said, ‘Kyrie sucks,’ that bothered me. When they said ‘[expletive] Kyrie,’ that really bothered me, because we had fans there who were younger kids. So I didn’t appreciate that at all. That crossed the line too with me.

“But there was still no reason at all for Kyrie to go out to the logo of the Celtics and essentially wipe his foot like he has just stepped in some dog crap. That, to me, was classless from a great player. There’s no place for it in the game.”

Celtics Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett also was irritated by Irving’s act and posted about it on Instagram Monday afternoon.

“So nobody gonna say anything about kyrie stomping Lucky?” he said. “We just gonna act like we didn’t see that. [What’s] going on … You can’t do that. That’s not [cool] on no level. All of us need to be better.”

Two are doubtful

Kemba Walker and Robert Williams are both listed as doubtful for Game 5 Tuesday.

Walker is dealing with a bone bruise on his left knee and Williams has been slowed by a sprained ankle and a lingering turf toe injury. Both players sat out the Celtics’ 141-126 Game 4 loss Sunday night.

Walker’s injury occurred during the Game 2 loss last Tuesday. He played in Game 3 Friday but began to experience significant soreness Saturday. Williams sat out five of the final six regular-season games because of the turf toe. He was slowed by the injury in the playoffs before being sidelined by a sprained ankle in the opening minutes of Game 3.

---

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.

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Kyrie Irving’s gesture was ‘classless,’ says Cedric Maxwell, but fans were out of line, too - The Boston Globe
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Naomi Osaka Quits the French Open After News Conference Dispute - The New York Times

The four-time Grand Slam tournament winner wrote on Instagram that she had suffered from bouts of depression since 2018 and that she will “take some time” away from the tennis court.

PARIS — The weeklong confrontation between Naomi Osaka, the second-ranked woman in tennis, and leaders of the sport’s four Grand Slam tournaments turned bitter on Monday when Ms. Osaka withdrew from the French Open citing concerns for her mental health.

The move was a dramatic turn in the high-stakes standoff between the most powerful officials in tennis and Ms. Osaka. The 23-year-old is not only the world’s highest paid female athlete but a generational star who has quickly become the most magnetic figure in tennis.

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Ms. Osaka said in an Instagram post.

It is the first time in professional tennis that a star as significant as Ms. Osaka who has not suffered a physical injury has walked away in the middle of an event as big as the French Open, and Gilles Moretton, president of the French Federation of Tennis, called her withdrawal “unfortunate.”

She had never before spoken in public about her depression, which she said began after her 2018 victory over Serena Williams at the United States Open before a boisterous crowd that was firmly behind her opponent.

“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” she added. “The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.” She did not indicate when she would return to tournament play.

Mr. Moretten said in a statement that tournament organizers wished her the “quickest possible recovery.”

“We are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka,” he said. “We remain very committed to all athletes’ well-being and to continually improving every aspect of players’ experience in our tournament, including with the media, like we have always strived to do.”

The dispute between Ms. Osaka and tournament officials began Wednesday when she announced she would not participate in post-match news conferences during the French Open because she said negative questions about her play affected her mental health. It came to a head on Sunday after her first-round win, and she made good on her promise to skip the news conference.

Within hours Ms. Osaka was fined $15,000 by the French Open’s tournament referee, and the leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian, French and United States Opens and Wimbledon — threatened that she could be expelled from the French Open and face harsher penalties if she would not fulfill her media obligations.

Players are subject to fines of up to $20,000 for skipping a news conference, though the fines have historically been far less. Still, tour officials and most players have long believed that news conferences are important for the promotion of the sport.

Few if any of Ms. Osaka’s colleagues have shown unequivocal support for her stance.

“Press and players and the tournaments comes hand in hand,” Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, said. “I think it’s very important in developing our sport, in promoting our sport.” She added that there were moments when the media did need to be more compassionate.

Ms. Williams said has been through many difficult news conferences during her career but viewed the experiences as having made her stronger. “I feel for Naomi, and I wish I could give her a hug because I’ve been in those situations,” the 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner said. “You have to let her handle it the way she wants to in the best way she can.”

In her social media post last Wednesday, Ms. Osaka said that having to answer questions after a defeat was harmful to her mental health.

“If the organizations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh,” she wrote.

Last week the WTA Tour said it welcomed a dialogue with Ms. Osaka about mental health but stood by its position on press obligations for players. “Professional athletes have a responsibility to their sport and their fans to speak to the media surrounding their competition, allowing them the opportunity to share their perspective and tell their story,” the WTA said.

This is not the first time that Ms. Osaka, a private person who rarely grants interviews with the mainstream Western media, has taken a public stand on an issue. Last summer tennis officials suspended play at the Western & Southern Open after the four-time Grand Slam tournament winner announced she would not play her semifinal match to draw attention to the issue of police violence against Black people following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

The suspension of play, a move that several sports undertook as athletes threatened a boycott, allowed Ms. Osaka to remain in the tournament. She won her postponed semifinal match and then defaulted the final because of an injury.

This time, however, the leaders of the sport’s most prestigious events refused to bend.

In the statement signed by Jayne Hrdlicka, the head of Tennis Australia; Mr. Moretton, president of the France Tennis Federation; Ian Hewitt, the chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club; and Mike McNulty, chairman of the United States Tennis Association; the officials said they had reached out to Ms. Osaka to open a discussion about both her well being and concerns she had about news conferences and mental health.

Ms. Osaka, they said, refused to engage with them, leaving them with no choice but to pursue significant penalties to help ensure that she did not gain an advantage over her competitors.

“We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs or achievement,” the officials stated. “As a sport there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honor their commitments.”

Osaka gave an on-court interview but did not do a news conference after her first-round match.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

Though she skipped her post-match news conference on Sunday, Ms. Osaka did take three questions from an on-court interviewer, Fabrice Santoro, after the match and a few more queries on her way off the court from Wowow, the Japanese broadcaster with which she is under contract. Ms. Osaka plays for Japan and lives in the United States.

Ms. Osaka’s sister, Mari, a former professional tennis player, indicated in a post on Reddit that Naomi Osaka’s anxiety was caused in part by her struggles to win on clay courts like the one at the French Open. She said the press asks about her sister’s poor performance every time she plays on clay, which hurts her.

By avoiding news conferences Mari Osaka said, her sister could “block everything out. No talking to people who is going to put doubt in her mind.”

In her post on Monday, Noami Osaka described herself as an introverted person who suffers from anxiety before she has to speak with the press. She said she wrote to tournament officials privately to apologize for the distraction she had created and offered to speak with them after the tournament about potentially changing rules requiring players to engage with the media that she described as “outdated.”

Since the inception of social media more than a decade ago, sports stars, politicians and celebrities, especially those who are younger, have increasingly used it to speak directly to their fans. The pandemic, which has forced nearly all news conferences in sports to be held virtually, has accelerated the power shift, making the events that led to Ms. Osaka’s withdrawal from the tournament even more surprising.

Sofia Kenin, the player of the year on the women’s tour in 2020, said she respected Ms. Osaka’s decision, and acknowledged that the pressures of being a young star are intense.

“This is what you signed up for,” Ms. Kenin said. “This is sport. There’s expectations from the outside, sponsors, and everyone. You just have to somehow manage it.”

Ms. Osaka said she planned to take some time away from the tennis court. She did not specify whether she would play in the next Grand Slam tournament, Wimbledon, which begins in just four weeks, or just two weeks after the conclusion of the French Open.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that is played on grass, another surface where Ms. Osaka’s performance has not matched her dominance on hard courts. She has never made it past the third round at Wimbledon, which is widely considered the most important championship in the sport.

“I’ll see you when I see you,” she wrote to end her Instagram post.

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Naomi Osaka Quits the French Open After News Conference Dispute - The New York Times
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Kevin Garnett blasts Kyrie Irving for 'stomping' on Celtics logo - New York Post

Celtics fans weren’t the only ones angry with Kyrie Irving for stomping on Boston’s center-court logo featuring “Lucky the Leprechaun” on Sunday, a moment that took a backseat to a fan later throwing a water bottle at the Nets star.

“So nobody going to say anything about Kyrie Stomping ‘Lucky’?” Celtics great Kevin Garnett wrote Monday on Instagram. “We just gonna act like we didn’t see that.

“You can’t do that,” added the Hall of Famer, who won a title with Boston in 2008. “That’s not cool on no level .. All of us need to be better.”

The clip of Irving stamping his left shoe on the emblem made the rounds on social media after a Celtics fan in a Garnett jersey nearly hit Irving with a water bottle as he walked down the tunnel toward the locker room following Brooklyn’s win.

The fan, 21-year-old Massachusetts native Cole Buckley, was banned from TD Garden and will be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, local police told reporters.

But Garnett appeared to only criticize Irving, who had 39 points Sunday and was heavily booed both games in Boston.

The 29-year-old Irving spent two tumultuous seasons with the organization that featured him reportedly calling out younger teammates and struggling in the 2019 playoffs.

Kevin Garnett (inset) was not happy with Kyrie Irving stomping on the Celtics logo.

AP (2)

He left that summer to sign a four-year, $136 million contract with the Nets to team up with fellow star Kevin Durant.

The Nets are one game away from eliminating Boston in the first round of the playoffs.

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Kevin Garnett blasts Kyrie Irving for 'stomping' on Celtics logo - New York Post
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Wizards vs. 76ers score: Live NBA playoff updates as Joel Embiid, Philadelphia look to complete sweep - CBSSports.com

The Philadelphia 76ers have an opportunity to finish off their best-of-seven series against the Washington Wizards in four games if they can continue their streak of dominant play with a victory in Game 4 on Monday night. The 76ers have gotten whatever they have wanted on the offensive end over the course of the first three games and they will try to continue that trend at Capital One Arena this evening. While there is still plenty of basketball left to be played this evening, it is the Sixers who own a slim lead after 12 minutes of play. 

Unfortunately for Washington, nothing it's tried on the defensive end has worked so far. When Joel Embiid was doubled, others like Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons and Seth Curry stepped up for Philadelphia, and Embiid went to work on Washington's single coverage. Bradley Beal has had a solid series for the Wizards, as he's averaged 29 points per performance, but he just hasn't had enough help on the offensive end. Washington will need other players to step up in Game 4, or else the series won't make it back to Philadelphia. 

For more on the NBA playoffs, we've got you covered with an in-depth look at the Wizards-Sixers series, the round-by-round playoff schedule, a breakdown of every team's X-factors and our expert predictions for both the opening round and the entire postseason. Follow below for all the real-time updates throughout Game 4 between Washington and Philadelphia.

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Naomi Osaka Quits the French Open After News Conference Dispute - The New York Times

The four-time Grand Slam tournament winner wrote on Instagram that she had suffered from bouts of depression since 2018 and will “take some time” away from the tennis court.

PARIS — Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open one day after officials threatened to expel her from the season’s second Grand Slam tournament if she continued to refuse to attend news conferences after her matches.

The move was a dramatic turn in the high-stakes standoff between the most powerful officials in tennis and Osaka, the world’s highest paid female athlete and a generational star who has quickly evolved into the most magnetic new figure in the sport.

In a post on Instagram Monday, Osaka wrote:

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” Osaka wrote on Instagram. “More important I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”

Osaka, a private person who rarely grants interviews with the mainstream Western media, has not previously spoken of struggling with depression.

Never before has such a consequential star exited an event as big as the French Open over something that nearly every top tennis player has said in recent days is as much a part of being on the tour as lengthy travel schedules. It also stood in stark contrast to last summer, when tennis officials suspended play at the Western & Southern Open after Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner announced she would not play her semifinal match to draw attention to the issue of police violence against Black people following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

The suspension of play, a move that several sports undertook as athletes threatened a boycott, allowed Osaka to remain in the tournament. She won her postponed semifinal match and then defaulted the final because of an injury.

Last Wednesday, seemingly with little warning to any tennis officials, Osaka, posted on Instagram and Twitter her decision to skip all press obligations during the French Open because the experience harms the mental health of players, especially when they have to answer questions following a defeat.

“If the organizations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh,” Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam tournament winner, wrote. She said she would accept any fines levied against her for skipping the news conferences and requested that the funds be donated to a charity dedicated to mental health.

She removed that post right before posting her statement on Monday.

Players are subject to fines of up to $20,000 for skipping a news conference, though the fines have historically been far less. Still, tour officials and most players have long believed that news conferences, though uncomfortable at times, are important for the promotion of the sport.

After learning of Osaka’s decision, the WTA Tour said Friday it welcomed a dialogue with her about mental health but stood by its position on press obligations for players. “Professional athletes have a responsibility to their sport and their fans to speak to the media surrounding their competition, allowing them the opportunity to share their perspective and tell their story,” the WTA said.

Osaka, however, refused to bend, even as several other major players, including the No. 3 men’s player Rafael Nadal and No. 1 women’s player Ashleigh Barty, said they disagreed with Osaka and that speaking to the news media was part of the job. Osaka, who made more than $50 million last year in endorsements and prize money, did not appear for a media day news conference and skipped a news conference after her first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig on Sunday in straight sets.

Though she skipped her post-match news conference, Osaka did take three questions from an on-court interviewer, Fabrice Santoro, after the match and a few more queries on her way off the court from Wowow, the Japanese broadcaster with which she is under contract.

Osaka gave an on-court interview but did not do a news conference after her first-round match.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

Within hours she was fined $15,000 by the French Open tournament referee. In addition, the leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian, French and United States Opens and Wimbledon — warned that she risked harsher penalties, including being defaulted from the tournament, if she continued not to fulfill her media obligations.

In the statement, signed by Jayne Hrdlicka, the head of Tennis Australia; Gilles Moretton, president of the France Tennis Federation; Ian Hewitt, the chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club; and Mike McNulty, chairman of the United States Tennis Association; the officials said they had reached out to Osaka to open a discussion about both her well being and concerns she had about news conferences and mental health.

Osaka, they said, refused to engage with them, leaving them with no choice but to pursue significant penalties to help ensure that Osaka did not gain an advantage over her competitors.

“We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs or achievement,” the officials stated. “As a sport there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honor their commitments.”

Regardless of whatever mental health struggles Osaka may suffer from, her sister, Mari, a former professional tennis player, essentially gave support in a post on Reddit to the argument tennis officials made. In the post, Mari Osaka said that the decision not to attend news conferences was driven largely by Naomi’s struggles to win on clay courts. Mari Osaka stated that every time her sister plays in a clay court tournament the press asks her about her poor record on the surface, which puts negative thoughts in her head.

The French Open is played on clay, so, she explained, her sister decided not to attend news conferences so she could “block everything out. No talking to people who is going to put doubt in her mind.”

Mari Osaka’s post seemed to raise questions about whether her sister suffers from depression. “she’s protecting her mind hence why it’s called mental health. So many people are picky on this term thinking you have to have depression or some sort of disorder to be able to use the term mental health.”

In her post Monday, Osaka described herself as an introverted person who suffers from anxiety before she has to speak with the press. She said she wrote to tournament officials privately to apologize for the distraction she had created and offered to speak with them after the tournament about potentially changing what she described as “outdated” rules requiring players to engage with the media.

After her match Sunday, Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, said she disagreed with Osaka’s position. “Press and players and the tournaments comes hand in hand. We are helping you guys,” she said. “I think it’s very important in developing our sport, in promoting our sport.” Azarenka added that she felt there were moments when the media did need to be more compassionate.

Osaka said she planned to take some time away from the tennis court. She did not specify whether she would play in the next Grand Slam tournament, Wimbledon, which begins in four weeks, two weeks after the conclusion of the French Open.

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that is played on grass, another surface where Osaka’s performance has not matched her dominance on hard courts. Osaka has never made it past the third round at Wimbledon, which is widely considered the most important championship in the sport.

Asked about Osaka’s withdrawal shortly after winning her first round match, Sofia Kenin, the player of the year on the women’s tour in 2020, said she respected Osaka’s decision, and acknowledged that the pressures of being a young star are intense.

“This is what you signed up for,” Kenin said. “This is sport. There’s expectations from the outside, sponsors, and everyone. You just have to somehow manage it.”

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Naomi Osaka Quits the French Open After News Conference Dispute - The New York Times
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Lakers star Anthony Davis unlikely to play in Game 5 vs. Suns: report - Fox News

The Los Angeles Lakers will likely be without Anthony Davis for their Game 5 matchup against the Phoenix Suns after he suffered a left groin strain in the second quarter of their game on Sunday.

According to The Athletic, Davis is currently listed as day-to-day with a Grade 1 groin strain, but the Lakers are being optimistic that he will return as the first-round series progresses. Following the Game 4 loss to the Suns, head coach Frank Vogel provided an update on the superstar.

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"He's undergoing further medical evaluation and we'll have more information tomorrow," Vogel told reporters. "He was saying that his knee was sore, but that there was no way he was not going to play. I thought he gave a heck of a run at it trying to compete through pain."

If the Lakers want to get back to the NBA Finals, they are going to need Davis to be healthy.

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Davis is averaging 34 points and 10.5 rebounds in the Lakers' two wins in this series. Last game, he only had six points in 19 minutes before suffering the injury. Davis was also dealing with a hyperextended knee.

Davis only played in 36 of 72 possible games this season due to calf and Achilles tendon injuries.

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Kevin Garnett calls out Nets' Kyrie Irving for stepping on Celtics' logo - USA TODAY

Opinion: Can LeBron James carry Los Angeles Lakers in NBA playoffs without Anthony Davis? - USA TODAY

‘We’re Not Animals’: Players Outraged At Celtics Fan Who Appeared To Throw Bottle At Kyrie Irving - CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – Players from both the Celtics and Nets condemned a fan who is now facing charges and a liftetime ban from TD Garden after throwing a water bottle at Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving.

It happened moments after the game after Irving seemingly stomped on the Celtics leprechaun logo at center court and grinded his sneaker on it.

READ MORE: Burlington Police Officer Rucking For 24 Hours To Honor Military Heroes On Memorial Day

Television moments captured the bottle nearly striking Irving as he walked down the tunnel. A man in a Kevin Garnett jersey could be seen being led away from the area in handcuffs after the incident.

“A guest was arrested by Boston Police at the end of tonight’s Boston Celtics game for throwing an object. We will support and provide assistance to Boston Police as this incident is under review,” said a statement from a TD Garden spokesperson. “We have zero tolerance for violations of our guest code of conduct, and the guest is subject to a lifetime ban from TD Garden.”

Water bottle nearly hits Kyrie Irving as he walks to the locker room following Game 4 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/RrtZth3cqt

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 31, 2021

READ MORE: Damp And Dreary Memorial Day In Store For New England, But Not A Total Washout

Irving, who was critical of Celtics fans and what he called their “subtle racism” when the series shifted back to Boston, addressed the incident in his postgame press conference.

“People just feel very entitled out here,” Irving said. “They paid for the tickets. Great. I’m grateful they’re coming in to watch a great performance. But we’re not at the theatre. We’re not throwing tomatoes and other random stuff at the people that are performing. I’s too much. And it’s a reflection on us as a whole”

Nets star Kevin Durant reacted similarly.

“We’re not animals. We’re not in a circus,” Durant said. “You coming to the game is not all about you as a fan. So have some respect for the game, have respect for these human beings, and have some respect for yourself. Your mother wouldn’t be proud of you throwing water bottles at basketball players.”

Though Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said there are “a few bad seeds,” he said it shouldn’t spoil the reputation of the rest of the team’s fans.

MORE NEWS: Coronavirus In Massachusetts: Today's Developments

“In any arena there are a few bad seeds,” Tatum said. “I don’t want that to overshadow the rest of the fans that came and supported us tonight. I was extremely happy to see that, but obviously there’s no place in the NBA for throwing bottles or throwing anything.”

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NFL news and rumors: Seahawks, Falcons have had discussions about Julio Jones trade - Niners Nation

The Julio Jones trade talk should begin to heat up early this week. The Atlanta Falcons are looking to move the All-Pro wide receiver to help alleviate some pressure from their salary cap situation.

Any trade involving Jones likely won’t be made until after June 1. If Atlanta cuts the seven-time Pro Bowler before June 1, it will have more than $40 million in dead money on the books for next season. If the Falcons cut or trade Jones after June 1, the dead money drops by a substantial amount to just $7.75 million, and they would save $15.3 million under the cap.

The San Francisco 49ers are rumored to be one of the teams interested in acquiring Jones, and now it looks like one of their biggest rivals is also making a push for the wide receiver’s services.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports the Seattle Seahawks have engaged Atlanta in trade talks and that QB Russell Wilson has reached out to Jones about the possibility of playing together.

The Falcons continue to field calls from teams interested in trading for Julio Jones. The Seahawks have had discussions about a possible trade with Atlanta, per sources. In fact, QB Russell Wilson & Julio Jones have spoken to discuss the possibility of playing together.

— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) May 30, 2021

The Falcons reportedly want a first-round pick in exchange for the 32-year-old wideout, something neither the Niners nor Seahawks have in 2022. San Francisco traded its 2022 first-rounder to the Miami Dolphins in the trade that got the 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. Seattle shipped its first-round selection to the New York Jets in the Jamal Adams trade.

If the Seahawks are able to make a deal to acquire Jones, it will make their offense even more potent. Jones, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett would give Seattle one of the best receiving corps in the NFL and cause major matchup issues for opponents.

The Niners traded away a ton of draft capital to move up to get the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft but could still have enough ammunition to land Jones.

The 49ers and Seahawks are two of several NFL teams who have been linked to Jones. The New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans are just some of the franchises who are rumored to be interested in trading for Jones.

It will be interesting to see how things play out this week. The Falcons won’t accept any deals until June 1. Given their current salary cap situation, moving Jones soon will give Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot some added time to make some additions to the roster.

Where do you think Jones will ultimately end up?

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Fan charged with assault and battery after throwing water bottle at Kyrie Irving | TheHill - The Hill

A Celtics fan who threw a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has been arrested on charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Speaking to USA Today, Boston Police sergeant detective John Boyle the suspect, Cole Buckley from Braintree, Massachusetts, was arrested Sunday.

Buckley will be arraigned Tuesday in Boston Municipal Court. Buckley, 21, has also been banned from the TD Garden arena for life.

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Water bottle nearly hits Kyrie Irving as he walks to the locker room following Game 4 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/RrtZth3cqt

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 31, 2021

Irving, who is Black, said after the incident, “I’ve been in some hostile environments where a lot of things have been said to me, a lot of things have been done to my teammates or I’ve experienced some type of subtle racism that I’m referring to, you know, where it’s just underlying throughout the game.”

“Like I said, I joined this sport because I loved it and inevitably, you know, you’re going to have opposing fans do things that are gonna help their team win. They love being involved,” Irving added. “I don’t wanna take away that nature. It’s just when you feel disrespected as a person — man or woman — and someone calls you out or does something like that, it doesn’t make you feel good.”

KD & Kyrie discussing the latest unacceptable fan incident.

"Your mother wouldn't be proud of you throwing water bottles at basketball players, spitting on players or tossing popcorn. So grow the f*** up & enjoy the game. It's bigger than you."pic.twitter.com/ujWs34BEah

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 31, 2021

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Chris Paul's legacy is at stake in this series vs. the Lakers - Max Kellerman | First Take - ESPN

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Jessie Bates, Joe Burrow ranked as top-25 under-25 NFL players by CBS Sports - Cincy Jungle

The Cincinnati Bengals have been horrible the past few seasons, but there’s a renewed spirit in the Queen City as the young talent they’ve brought in is starting to mature.

Players like Jonah Williams and Tee Higgins are expected to take an even bigger jump in 2021, but it’s far from just a few. Several Bengals should see breakout seasons this coming year.

Two of those players are free safety Jessie Bates III, who is entering his fourth season and put the league on notice after a terrific 2020, and former No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow.

Burrow and Bates were the only two Bengals to be placed on CBS Sports’ top 25 under 25 list. The only other Bengal that could’ve been eligible that we haven’t already named is star running back Joe Mixon, who is still just 24 years old.

As for Bates, he was ranked No. 16, a fair spot for the 24-year-old that recorded 109 tackles and 15 passes defended a season ago.

“The best safety you’ve never heard of. Often overshadowed by the lapses of inferior running mates in Cincinnati, Bates has quietly been an ascendant and steady hand at the back end of the secondary, logging at least 100 tackles and three picks in each of his first three seasons. The 2020 All-Pro honors confirmed his rise,” Benjamin wrote.

Now, some may get a bit more angered when they find out that Burrow didn’t even crack the top five. The top three were all quarterbacks, headlined by Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Kyler Murray.

That said, here’s what Benjamin had to say on Burrow and ranking him below players like Justin Jefferson and Chase Young. Burrow was ranked No. 8, just about Seattle’s DK Metcalf.

“This requires a fair amount of projection. We’ve got just 10 games to work off, thanks to Burrow’s late-rookie-season knee injury, and he was more solid than elite throughout 2020. But the smarts and the moxie are there. If he stays healthy, he’s destined to be a winner. Is he a better player than, say, Metcalf or A.J. Brown right now? No. But the upside’s too great to ignore, especially at his position. If he stays healthy and plays up to par, he’d easily justify a top-five spot here,” he wrote.

Burrow did tear his ACL after a brutal Week 11 hit. Only 2-7-1 in his first 10 starts, Burrow did manage over 2,500 yards. He certainly would’ve cracked the top five had he not gone down with the injury.

However, Burrow’s back and participating in OTAs, a terrific sign for the young superatar. He’s slated to be back and serve as the team’s starter for Week 1.

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Jessie Bates, Joe Burrow ranked as top-25 under-25 NFL players by CBS Sports - Cincy Jungle
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How concerned should the Lakers be about Anthony Davis' injury? | KJZ - ESPN

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Report: Atlanta Falcons Willing to Accept Less Compensation in Return for Julio Jones - 49ers Webzone

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For weeks, the Atlanta Falcons have had an asking price of a first-round pick in return for their disgruntled receiver Julio Jones.

However, that may not be the case now. As we approach June 1st, the date upon which teams will not lose compensatory picks for any player additions, Atlanta's asking price has lowered, but with one caveat: the team trading for Jones has to be willing to take on all of his salary.

Peter King of NBC Sports reported Sunday that the Falcons have been looking for trade situations under which the team would not be responsible for any of the $38 million in guaranteed money remaining on Jones' deal.

With the 49ers being one of the potential suitors that does not currently have a first-round pick, news that the Falcons would accept a second-round selection in return for Jones could put them back in the race for the star receiver.

"I was told a while ago by a source I trust that the Falcons would accept a hard second-round pick in 2022 (no condition on Jones' playing time) with no responsibility to pay Jones any of the $38 million he has coming," wrote King in his latest Football Morning in America column. "That seems like the most logical outcome, and my guess is a hard second-rounder is already on the table from some team."

The 49ers have simmered as a potential trade candidate due to their lack of cap space and lack of immediate need at the position, while other suitors for Jones, like the Seahawks, have recently emerged.

Jones is on the books for $15.3 million this season, and $11.513 million for next season and the following season. Earlier this week, Jones was called by Shannon Sharpe during a broadcast of FS1's Undisputed and expressed his desire to play elsewhere next season. At this moment, it is unknown whether Jones knew he was on live television at the time.

Following that exchange, Ian Rapoport confirmed that Jones issued a trade request months ago to the new Falcons management, and the team began listening to offers, although its asking price was a first-round pick at the time.

More San Francisco 49ers News

Julio Jones on returning to Atlanta: "I'm out of there"

By Rohan Chakravarthi

May 24, 2021

This morning, Shannon Sharpe called Julio Jones on FS1's Undisputed after the receiver was seen in a Dallas Cowboys shirt. Sharpe asked Jones about his future in Atlanta, to which Julio Jones responded, "I'm out of there." When asked about a team that he would like to join, Jones stated his preference "to win" and cited that he "ain't going to Dallas" and that he "never thought" about that possibility, either. Julio Jones' thoughts on the Falcons and Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/Y9tQDnw2dO— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe)

'Julio is on a different level': 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan asked about Falcons' Jones

By David Bonilla

May 18, 2021

The San Francisco 49ers acquired Marqise Lee on Monday after the veteran wide receiver did enough during a tryout over the weekend to impress the team. NFL trade rumors continue to surround another veteran wide receiver — Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. The San Francisco 49ers haven't been directly linked to Jones, but the team is almost always discussed as a potential landing spot whenever a talented player becomes (or potentially becomes) available. Quarterback Matt Ryan doesn't want to imagine what the Falcons offense might look like without his future Hall of Fame receiver. "He's probably impacted my career more significantly than any other player," Ryan said this week

49ers might be out of the running for Julio Jones if this report is true

By Rohan Chakravarthi

May 27, 2021

Julio Jones has been the topic of the week since it was revealed on FS1's Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe that the wideout didn't expect to return to the Atlanta Falcons. After a multitude of rumors and clarifications, there have been significant talks, and an offer may finally be on the table. However, it likely isn't from the San Francisco 49ers. Atlanta's asking price in Jones talks has been a first-round pick, which many teams seem unwilling to offer given Jones' age and contract. But, on Thursday morning, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that there is one offer out there that includes a first-round pick in return for Jones. While the offer's particulars haven't been released, it is almost certainly not from the 49ers, as they lack

The Athletic lists 49ers among realistic trade partners for Julio Jones

By David Bonilla

May 20, 2021

Kyle Shanahan recently praised Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones during a conversation with Michael Irvin. The San Francisco 49ers head coach worked two seasons with Jones when he was the offensive coordinator in Atlanta. "I mean, the dude is one-of-a-kind," Shanahan said during the podcast interview. "He makes coaching a lot — a lot — easier. That's why everyone feels the same about Julio. That's why I don't worry about saying that. That's like common knowledge. Everyone knows Julio is on a different level. That's why he's a special guy." The 49ers are often linked to any high-profile player who might be available via trade. The team

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Report: Atlanta Falcons Willing to Accept Less Compensation in Return for Julio Jones - 49ers Webzone
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Kyrie Irving has water bottle hurled at him after Nets' victory: It's 'just underlying racism' - Fox News

Kyrie Irving was the subject of poor fan treatment Sunday night after the Brooklyn Nets’ victory in Game 4 against the Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.

Irving was heading back to the locker room when someone hurled a water bottle at him. He and teammates Tyler Johnson turned back and looked up into the stands. Police surrounded a man in a Celtics’ Kevin Garnett jersey, placed him in handcuffs and led him out of the arena.

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It was the latest incident of fans’ wild behavior at NBA games.

"(It’s) just underlying racism, and treating people like they’re in a human zoo," the Nets star said.

"Throwing stuff at people, saying things. There’s a certain point where it gets to be too much. You see people just feel very entitled out here. ... As a Black man playing in the NBA, dealing with a lot of this stuff, it’s fairly difficult. You never know what’s going to happen," he added.

SPORTS FANS COME BACK TO ARENAS AND STADIUMS AFTER YEAR AT HOME -- AND SO DOES THEIR WILD BEHAVIOR

Irving scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the team’s 141-126 victory to take a 3-1 lead in the playoff series. He caused a stir last week when he hoped there would be no "subtle racism" when the series shifted back to Boston.

A TD Garden official said Boston police arrested one person for "throwing an object."

A fan is handcuffed and escorted out of TD Garden by police after allegedly throwing a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving as Irving left the court after Game 4 of an NBA first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Boston. The Nets won 141-126. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

"We have zero tolerance for violations of our guest code of conduct," TD Garden spokeswoman Tricia McCorkle said. "And the guest is subject to a lifetime ban from TD Garden."

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The latest incident follows three fan incidents in three NBA playoff games. The fans in question were banned indefinitely.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Kyrie Irving has water bottle hurled at him after Nets' victory: It's 'just underlying racism' - Fox News
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Lakers vs. Suns: LeBron James on carrying the load if Anthony Davis misses time: 'I'm ready for the challenge' - CBS Sports

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LeBron James has set such an absurd standard in the postseason that his 21.8 points per game average against the Phoenix Suns thus far looks practically pedestrian. He scored 25 points in Sunday's Game 4 loss, his highest total of the series, but that puts this series in rather unfortunate company. James has had at least one game with 27 or more points in every playoff series of his career except for two: the 2007 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in which he was swept, and the 2011 Finals against the Dallas Mavericks in which he infamously melted down in an upset loss. 

The Lakers might have been able to overcome LeBron's limited scoring if they were healthy, but near the end of Sunday's first half, Anthony Davis went down with a strained left groin. Considering the hyperextended right knee he suffered in Game 3, there is a reasonable chance he misses Game 5 entirely. Even with him, the Lakers have rarely been able to put forth an elite half-court offense. Without him? Things have gotten ugly. The Lakers scored only 15 points in the third quarter of Game 4. From Feb. 14 through March 18, the period they played with a healthy James but no Davis, the Lakers ranked 15th in the NBA in offense. That's not going to be good enough to beat an opponent as good as Phoenix.

That puts the onus on James to step up and take on a greater scoring load in Game 5, and he's up to the task. "These shoulders are built for a reason," James said after Game 4. "If there is going to be some more put on them, so be it. Win, lose or draw, I'm ready for the challenge."

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Complicating matters is the high ankle sprain James suffered earlier in the season. James played in only four regular-season games afterward and never topped the 25-point mark in any of them. Against Phoenix, he's flashed his typical athleticism in spurts, but he's never been able to display it for a full game. That he's been guarded largely by possible All-Defensive selection Mikal Bridges hasn't helped either.

James is 36 years old. He's now playing without his best teammate on a roster designed to support two stars, not carrying the load when one is out. He's injured and playing against the team with the second-best record in basketball. His playoff track record is beyond reproach, and it was only a year ago that he quieted critics and demanded his "damn respect" after a sensational title run. But Father Time is undefeated. James has overcome his physical limitations time and time again, but doing so this time would be one of his most impressive feats yet. 

But Frank Vogel has seen this movie before. "When I competed against the Miami Heat and either [Dwyane] Wade or [Chris] Bosh was out, and there were more touches for Bron, that wasn't always necessarily a good thing for my Pacers teams," the Lakers coach said. In that sense, there could be a silver lining to Davis' injury. If it gets James going, that could have major benefits for the Lakers. in the later rounds, and Vogel's Pacers were far stronger defensively than these Suns are. 

James once made the Finals without Kevin Love and nearly won them without Kyrie Irving. His 2007 and 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers are two of the weakest rosters ever to reach the Finals. Every time he's been counted out, he's managed to find ways to win. If the Lakers are going to escape this series, this time can't be any different. 

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Kawhi Leonard (29 PTS, 10 REB) Registers Double-Double in Win vs. Dallas Mavericks | LA Clippers - LA Clippers

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Kawhi Leonard (29 PTS, 10 REB) Registers Double-Double in Win vs. Dallas Mavericks | LA Clippers - LA Clippers
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Celtics Fan Arrested After Kyrie Irving Is Nearly Hit by Bottle - The New York Times

Irving, who was walking into an arena tunnel when he was almost hit, had recently asked fans not to be belligerent or racist when the Nets traveled to Boston.

A fan in a Boston Celtics jersey was arrested Sunday after a bottle nearly struck Nets guard Kyrie Irving in the head following Boston’s Game 4 loss at TD Garden. It was the latest in a string of unruly fan behavior as N.B.A. arenas begin opening to near full capacity for the playoffs.

Last week, before the best-of-seven series shifted to Boston, Irving, a former Celtics player who is Black, had anticipated booing but had asked fans not to be belligerent or racist. For decades, Black athletes in multiple sports, including the Celtics legend Bill Russell, have spoken about the racism they’ve experienced in Boston.

“We claim that we care about each other as human beings, but we just call things out before they happen like I did the other day,” Irving said after Sunday’s game. “I’m telling people, ‘Just keep it basketball.’”

Irving stressed that he expected fans to root for their home teams and that most were eager to watch quality athletes perform. But he said sports were now at a crossroads.

“It’s been that way in history, in terms of entertainment, performers and sports for a long period of time and just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo,” Irving said. “Throwing stuff at them, saying things. There’s a certain point where it just gets to be too much.”

Irving was heading into an arena tunnel after the Nets beat the Celtics, 141-126, when an object that appeared to be a water bottle sailed just past his head. Multiple videos on social media showed a person in a Celtics jersey being led away by the police.

The bottle-throwing followed a run of incidents from last Wednesday night: In Philadelphia, a fan poured popcorn on the head of Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook as he left the game with an injury. In New York, a fan spat on Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young at Madison Square Garden. In Utah, security ejected three fans for obscene behavior toward the family of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.

“We’ve had times in history when people have reacted and gone in the crowd, then we’re wrong and we need to be civilized and we need to keep our calm and we need to keep our cool and it’s reflected on us,” Irving said. “Just want to keep it upfront and truthful, and it’s just unacceptable for that stuff to be happening, but we move on.”

Following Wednesday’s incidents, the N.B.A. released a statement saying its fan code of conduct would be “vigorously enforced.” The fans involved in those incidents have been barred indefinitely from the arenas.

“Anything could have happened with that water bottle being thrown at me, but my brothers were surrounding me,” Irving said. “I had people in the crowd. So, just trying to get home to my wife and my kids.”

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Celtics Fan Arrested After Kyrie Irving Is Nearly Hit by Bottle - The New York Times
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Anthony Davis injury update: Lakers star day-to-day with strained left groin, per report - CBS Sports

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Anthony Davis was ruled out of the remainder of Game 4 of the first-round series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns with a left groin strain suffered in the second quarter. Davis played through a hyperextended right knee that he suffered in the second half of Game 3 against the Suns. 

The injury occurred late in the first half. Davis went up for a layup but immediately fell to the ground clutching his leg. He stayed on the floor at that point, but when he went back to the locker room for halftime, he never returned and was ultimately ruled out shortly thereafter. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Davis is considered day-to-day with that groin strain. Thankfully, he avoided a more serious injury and could still play in Game 5.

"He's undergoing further medical evaluation and we'll have more information tomorrow," Lakers coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the game. Vogel cited Davis' knee injury as well, praising his big man for trying to play anyway. "He was saying that his knee was sore, but that there was no way he was not going to play," Vogel said. "I thought he gave a heck of a run at it trying to compete through pain."

Davis had been absolutely dominant in Games 2 and 3, averaging 34 points and 10.5 rebounds in the Lakers' two wins in this series. In Game 4, however, he had only six points on nine shots as he dealt with that hyperextended knee. Davis has fought through injuries all season long for the Lakers, appearing in only 36 of a possible 72 games for them due to issues with his calf and Achilles tendon. 

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The Lakers cannot win a championship without a healthy Davis. It's as simple as that. They still need to win two more games against Phoenix just to escape this first-round series, and if Davis isn't healthy enough to help them do that, they're going to have to lean even more heavily on LeBron James to carry the load on offense. He himself is still recovering from a high-ankle sprain, and starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was already out with an injury of his own. Throw in Chris Paul's shoulder and this series has been defined almost entirely by injuries. It's a sad state of affairs for what should have been one of the best matchups of the postseason. Hopefully, Davis can return in time for Game 5. If not? The Lakers now have their backs against the wall.

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Anthony Davis injury update: Lakers star day-to-day with strained left groin, per report - CBS Sports
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Indianapolis 500 welcomes 135,000 fans in global benchmark - The Associated Press

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1. Indianapolis 500 welcomes 135,000 fans in global benchmark  The Associated Press
2. Helio Castroneves wins record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500  ESPN
3. Indianapolis 500 to return with biggest sporting event crowd since pandemic  CBS Evening News
4. IMPD chief talks security at Indy 500  WISHTV.com
5. After winning Indy’s quietest 500, Sato eager to make noise again  RACER
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Indianapolis 500 welcomes 135,000 fans in global benchmark - The Associated Press
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Helio Seals Legend with Fourth Indianapolis 500 Victory May 30, 2021 | INDYCAR - INDYCAR

By the Numbers: Race Results

In a flair for the dramatic that matched his charismatic personality, Helio Castroneves joined the exclusive club of four-time Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winners with a stunning victory Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Castroneves matched A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991) as four-time winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The Brazilian’s previous victories came in 2001, 2002 and 2009, all as a full-time driver with Team Penske, the winningest team in Indianapolis 500 history.

But this one was different. Castroneves drove the No. 06 AutoNation/Sirius XM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing to the team’s first Indy win and first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory. Castroneves, 46, also became the fourth-oldest winner in “500” history in his first INDYCAR start of the season, as he is scheduled to run only a partial schedule this year.

“It’s not the end; it’s the beginning,” Castroneves said. “I don’t know if it’s a good comparison, but Tom Brady won a Super Bowl, Phil (Mickelson) won the PGA, and now here you go. The old guys still got it, kicking the young guys’ butts. We’re teaching them a lesson.

“What a great team effort. Everyone was in sync. We didn’t make any mistakes. No. 4 – what a moment. I’m just so honored to be a part of this amazing group with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears. This is absolutely a dream come true.”

Castroneves, who started eighth, finished a stirring duel with 24-year-old Spaniard Alex Palou over the closing laps by passing Palou with a daring outside move in Turn 1 on Lap 199. He held off Palou’s No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to win by .4928 of a second.

The scintillating finish was the climax to the fastest Indianapolis 500 in history, with an average speed of 190.690 mph in a race slowed only twice by cautions for a total of 18 laps, both race-record lows.

2019 Indy winner Simon Pagenaud finished third in the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet, .5626 of a second behind Castroneves. Pato O’Ward was fourth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, while Ed Carpenter rounded out the top five in the No. 20 SONAX Chevrolet.

Just 1.2424 seconds separated the top five despite the last caution period of the 200-lap race ending on Lap 124.

Castroneves’ jubilant celebration thrilled the crowd of 135,000 fans under sun-splashed skies and temperatures in the high 60s. He climbed the frontstretch fence along with crew members and team co-owner Michael Shank. Many current and past drivers rushed to congratulate Castroneves on becoming a four-time winner, with 1969 Indy winner Mario Andretti kissing him on the head in beatification. Foyt also sent Castroneves a message of congratulations.

“This stage is absolutely incredible,” Castroneves said. “I love Indianapolis. The fans, they give me energy! I’m serious.”

Castroneves made his final pit stop on Lap 172, followed by Palou on Lap 173. Palou slotted in front of Castroneves when he exited the pits, and they formed a three-car train with O’Ward in the virtual lead of the race, as numerous cars in front of them needed to make one final stop before the race ended.

Pagenaud, Sage Karam, Tony Kanaan and Santino Ferrucci peeled off from the lead for their final stops by Lap 180, putting Felix Rosenqvist, JR Hildebrand and Takuma Sato in the top three, respectively, and about 12 seconds ahead of Palou, Castroneves and O’Ward.

Meanwhile, Castroneves and Palou diced for position behind that lead trio, knowing they had plenty of fuel to reach Lap 200 and cognizant they would become the lead pack due to pit stops needed by the fuel-thirsty cars of Rosenqvist, Hildebrand and Sato if a caution flag didn’t fly late in the race.

That caution never came. Rosenqvist pitted from the lead on Lap 192 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, and Sato was forced to dive in for a splash of fuel from the lead on Lap 193 in the No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleReady Honda.

Castroneves inherited the lead on Lap 194, but Palou blasted past Castroneves for the lead in Turn 1 on Lap 196, reminiscent of Rick Mears’ decisive move against Michael Andretti in 1991 that led to his fourth win.

But Castroneves collected himself and placed his car in Palou’s draft on the front straightaway as they rocketed past the flag stand to start Lap 199. Then Castroneves returned the favor to Palou, using an identical outside move in Turn 1 to seize the lead.

Lapped traffic ahead over the closing laps posed a possible problem for Castroneves, but he used the wisdom gained over 20 previous “500” starts to hold off Palou, who showed skills beyond his years in just his second start.

“I’m super proud of finishing second,” Palou said. “It hurts a lot, but it was a good battle with Helio, and it’s better when you lose against the best.”

A caution on Lap 33 turned the race on its head early. Stefan Wilson locked his brakes and spun entering pit road in the No. 25 LOHLA SPORT/Cusick Motorsports Honda, hitting the outside pit wall with the right side of his car.

NTT P1 Award winner Dixon was among a group of cars that had not pitted before the caution, but those cars started to run out of fuel because the pits were closed while the AMR Safety Team removed Wilson’s damaged car. Dixon was leading when he, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi and five other drivers made emergency stops on Laps 36 or 37 for fuel. Dixon and Rossi’s cars would not refire, and they were a lap down when racing resumed on Lap 46.

Dixon raced back to the lead lap in the No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda, but he ended up finishing 17th. 2016 Indy 500 winner Rossi finished 29th in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda, two laps down.

Palou took the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead in this double-points race, building a 248-212 lead over six-time and reigning series champion Dixon.

The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES races are the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit doubleheader, the headline races of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on June 12-13 on Belle Isle in Detroit.

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