Arizona's Sheriff Joe picks Patriots; inmates to get popcorn

By By Daniel Wallis | Reuters

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Arizona lawman who bills himself as "America's toughest sheriff" predicts the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl and says some inmates will be allowed popcorn as they watch Sunday's face-off with the Seattle Seahawks.

Joe Arpaio, the 82-year-old sheriff of Maricopa County where the National Football League's championship game will be played, held an event on Saturday at which he popped the popcorn and forecast the Patriots will triumph 27-17.
He also took a cheeky jab at his favored team over the "deflategate" scandal, in which the Patriots are accused of using under-inflated footballs during their AFC championship triumph against Indianapolis.
Holding up two mock footballs, one for each team, Arpaio noted that the one for New England was softer. "I don't know if I can blow this up, but it is kinda deflated!" he said with a chuckle.
Arpaio, who was born in Massachusetts, told supporters this week that he will run for a seventh term in office and sought donations for a race he said will pit him against "celebrity lefties" determined to defeat him.
The Republican, who was first elected in 1992, is known for his tough stance on illegal immigration, as well as conditions that opponents have said are too harsh in the county's detention facilities, including one known as the Tent City Jail.
The sheriff's office said in a separate statement that the roughly 700 inmates incarcerated at Tent City, as well as all military veterans held in the county's jail system, will be provided with popcorn to enjoy during the Super Bowl.
Arpaio often cites support from voters for what he calls his "no frills" jail policies, and he says Tent City inmates are fed vegetarian meals that cost just $1 per detainee per day.

"I've taken away meat, salt and butter, to save the taxpayers money," Arpaio said in the statement issued by his office. "So while they will get popcorn for this special event, they'll be eating it without salt or butter."
(Editing by Matthew Lewis)

NY GIANTS RECEIVE EBOLA PRIMER BEFORE DALLAS GAME

by BREITBART SPORTS

The New York Giants, a few days removed from a shutout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, face the daunting task of traveling to Dallas to play the Cowboys, fresh off a road-dog win over the defending Super Bowl champions. 

The team isn't just game-planning to stop DeMarco Murray. They're learning about how to prevent Ebola, which has effected three in the Dallas area.   

"Our athletic trainers and team physicians have been briefed on the scope of the Ebola virus disease," Giants communications vice president Pat Hanlon told the New York Daily News. "We have distributed a fact sheet to our employees and distributed similar information to our players electronically this morning."

The Giants players quoted by the Daily News, including quarterback Eli Manning, seem unfazed. Defensive back Antrel Rolle offered a measured response to the Ebola scare: "Can't worry about things you can't control."

The Duke University Medical Center has sent a primer on the disease to the 32 NFL teams.

"At this point we do not advise screening of players or staff to make sure that they have not had close contact with anyone who traveled to or from areas where Ebola is now endemic," the Duke memo reads. "We do recommend that medical personnel educate their players and staff about the need to inform club medical personnel in the unlikely event that they actually have such contact."

California Chrome wins the 2014 Preakness Stakes

By Kurt Mensching
They may be named Dumb Ass Partners, but Steve Coburn and Perry Martin look pretty smart today after California Chrome, bred of an $8,000 mare and $2,500 sire, won the 139th Preakness Stakes Saturday in Baltimore.

With the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown safely tucked away, California Chrome becomes the 13th horse to enter Belmont with a chance to complete the task since Affirmed last accomplished the feat in 1978. The last horse, I'll Have Another, did not start in 2012. Big Brown, in 2008, did not finish. Smarty Jones, who finished the Belmont Stakes in second in 2004, was the last to finish.

The 1-½-mile Belmont Stakes will be held three weeks from now, June 7, in New York.

California Chrome started well and stayed just off the pace early at Pimlico, just as he did in the Kentucky Derby, running in third. He made his move at the three-quarter mile mark, then pulled away from Social Inclusion down the stretch to win in 1:54.84. That is the fastest time since Curlin in 2007. Curlin's offspring, Ride on Curlin, finished second 1½ lengths back and Social Inclusion third.

California Chrome, dubbed the "people's horse" by his connections, became the fifth California-bred horse to win the Preakness and the first since Snow Chief in 1986. He was also the first California-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby since 1962.

California Chrome entered the 1-3/16-mile Preakness a heavy 3/5 favorite after winning the Kentucky Derby handily. He stayed just off the pace that race, then found another gear down the backstretch, leading by as many as five lengths before finishing the 1¼-mile race first in 2:03.66. The only criticism was that his time was not particularly impressive, his dry time the slowest since 1974. But many would counter he ran the race jockey Victor Espinoza asked of him and it was enough to win. At 5/1, Social Inclusion had the second-best odds entering the race.

Meb Keflezighi first American to win Boston Marathon since 1983

by John Connolly

Not only did Boston reclaim its marathon today, but for the first time in 31 years, an American man earned the winner’s laurel wreath in the historic run from Hopkinton to Boston.

Meb Keflezighi sped to an impressive 2:08:37 finish to become the first American man to win Boston since Greg Meyer did it in 1983. He is the first American runner to win since Lisa Larsen Weidenbach won the women’s race in 1985.

The significance of an American winning the race a year after bombs marred the event and stunned the entire country was not lost on the 38-year-old from San Diego.

"Every day since (the bombings), I wanted to come back and win it," Keflezighi said. "Since the Red Sox won and put the trophy right there (at the finish line), I wanted to do it."

Keflezighi kissed the ground and let out a victorious scream after crossing the line, bowing to the hysterical throngs lining Boylston Street at the finish, tears streaming down his face.

Kenya’s Wilson Chebet who finished fifth in the 2012 Boston Marathon, closed the gap to eight seconds on Beacon Street near Kenmore Square, but couldn’t get the kick needed to catch the American, who surged down Boylston Street to a deafening reception from the crowd.

"The last three to four miles, (the crowd) pushed me through it," Keflezighi said. "I'm so lucky to be the champion.

"It's not about me," he continued. "It's Boston Strong. Meb Strong."

Chebet finished second in 2:08:48. Frankline Chepkwony of Kenya finished third in 2:08:50. Americans Nicholas Arciniaga and Jeffrey Eggleston finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Keflezighi seemed to take control of the race at the 25K mark in Newton.

Keflezighi won the 2009 New York City Marathon in 2009 (2:09.15) and has some impressive Olympic performances on his resume. He finished fourth in the 2012 marathon at the London Summer Games and won the silver medal in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

Tim Tebow Not Worried About Future With Patriots

BOSTON (CBS) — Tim Tebow once again had his ups and downs on Thursday night, throwing two touchdowns but also throwing an interception and getting sacked four times. His spot on the roster, from an outside perspective, seems to be anything but a guarantee.

However, despite the never-ending debate about Tebow’s spot on the Patriots, the 26-year-old quarterback said he isn’t worried about his future.

“I’m blessed because of my faith, because you don’t have to worry about the future, because I know who holds my future,” Tebow said. “A lot of times people use that as a cliche, but it’s something I try to live by. It really gives you a lot of peace in whatever circumstance you’re in.”

Tebow’s final preseason stats weren’t great. He finished 11-for-30 (36.7 percent) for 145 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while getting sacked four times for a loss of 48 yards. He rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries, for a 5.7-yard average.

While head coach Bill Belichick would not specifically talk about the traits that may earn Tebow a roster spot, the quarterback made his case after the preseason victory when asked what he can bring to the team.

“Someone that will work hard, who loves the game of football, who will always – hopefully, Lord willing — have a great attitude, great work ethic and someone that tries to be an encourager in here.”

139th Kentucky Derby: A Billionaire's Bonanza

By: Brian A. Shactman

CNBC Reporter

The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby will surely make history, and a lot of money, too.
Start with the horses and owners. Right now, the favorite is named Orb. Owners Stuart Janney and Dinny Phipps, first cousins whose families both have a long and distinguished history in horse racing, bought him for just $50,000. Orb has already won close to a million dollars. A Derby win would more than double that, and most likely, bring an annuity of riches in terms of breeding. Repole's horse is Overanalyze and at 15-1, he has a chance to do just that.

Derby's $1,000 Mint Julep

Thursday, 2 May 2013 | 2:00 PM ET

 

CNBC's Brian Shactman is at the home of Saturday's Kentucky Derby, where Brown-Forman has cooked up a mint julep with a $1,000 price tag. Tim Laird, Brown-Forman's "Chief Entertaining Officer" makes one for Brian and explains what makes it so expensive.

Most people don't know the name Mike Repole. But he's a billionaire. Repole co-founded Glaceau—most known for Vitamin Water—and he sold it to Coke for $4.1 billion in 2007. Now, he's out to dominate horse racing like he did the beverage industry.

Repole's horse is Overanalyze and at 15-1, he has a chance to do just that.
There's also a great deal of buzz surrounding the horse Goldencents. It was originally purchased for $62,000 and has won even more than Orb. However, there are two elements of Goldencents' story that make the horse one to watch.

First, it's part owned by Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. He just won the national championship, and a hoops/Derby double would absolutely be unprecedented. Then, there's the jockey. Kevin Krigger is an African American from the U.S. Virgin Islands. No African American jockey has won the Derby since 1902.

While on the subject of jockeys and history, Rosie Napravnik is mounted on Mylute, and she could become the first female to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

Those are the headline history-making possibilities, and if any of them win, huge money would follow.

The truth is that huge money is everywhere at the Derby: from the $8,000 per ticket new luxury area called the "Mansion," to the $500 hats and $1,000 mint julep.

Not everyone will pony up $1,000 for a gold-leafed mint julep, but plenty will buy the cheaper versions. Approximately 120,000 will be served, and that translates into more than a ton of mint and 7,800 litres of bourbon.

You might need a few to swallow the cost of staying in Louisville on Derby weekend. Put it this way, a Hampton Inn 10 miles away in Indiana is charging $550 a night...and they're full. Normally, that room-rate is $90.

If you come through on a nice 50-1 long shot, it might all be worthwhile. To see the spectacle, it might still be worth it even if you lose.

The 139th Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs.
—By CNBC's Brian Shactman. Follow him on Twitter: @bshactman

Indy Car conducting investigation, hopes will provide answers

October 20, 2011 (AP)

Indy Car CEO Randy Bernard says the best way to honor Dan Wheldon is to take steps to prevent another fatal accident.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was killed Sunday in a 15-car accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Bernard said Wednesday night that IndyCar is conducting a thorough investigation he hopes will provide answers the series can use to improve safety measures.

But neither Formula One's governing body nor the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States are formally involved in the investigation. IndyCar said earlier this week it was receiving assistance from those two organizations.

Bernard says many in the industry have banded together this week to focus on supporting Wheldon's family and preparing for his memorial service.

Wheldon's death was the first fatal accident in IndyCar since Paul Dana was killed in 2006. But safety concerns have been raised about the wisdom of racing at high-banked Las Vegas since Wheldon's accident.