Cuban Plans To 'boo' Fisher In Return To Dallas

The talent level has never been in question. The blend of speed and athleticism is what motivated the Miami Dolphins to select Noah Igbinoghene as their final of three first-round picks, the 30th player selected in the 2020 NFL draft. His work ethic is supposedly stellar. People who have worked with him have raved about it since his days at Auburn. Unfortunately, Igbinoghene wasn’t able to turn that talent and work ethic into reliable play in his first two NFL seasons. And when you’re a first-round pick the bar is set high, so those who fall short of contributing on a consistent basis as a high-level asset tend to fall into the potential bust category. That’s the label Igbinoghene is flirting with heading into his third NFL training camp, and he’s not in denial about it, or his rough start. “It’s an everyday process, so just keep going every single day and just get better,” said Igbinoghene, who has started three of the 27 games he’s played in the past two seasons.

Saturday was about what Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo thinks he is, as well as what he could be. At the morning shootaround at TD Garden, the Adebayo conversation was about failing to break through in the voting for NBA All-Defense, relegated to the second team for the third consecutive season, yet to make the first team over his five years. Back at the same venue eight hours later, Adebayo turned his focus to the other end of the court, closing with 31 points in the 109-103 victory that gave the Heat a 2-1 lead over the Boston Celtics in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. “Same old play calls,” Adebayo said of finishing one point off his career playoff high, “just different mentality.” It was a mentality of necessity, with forward Jimmy Butler lost for Saturday night’s second half due to knee soreness. With point guard Kyle Lowry working off rust in his first game in two weeks as he deals with a hamstring strain, and with guard Tyler Herro remaining off his game on a 4-of-15 night, scoring was at a premium for the Heat. So Adebayo showed a premium side of his game that had yet to be exposed in the series, after scoring a combined 16 points in the opening two games at FTX Arena. “He did his version of what Jimmy does, in terms of, ‘do what’s necessary for the game,’ " coach Erik Spoelstra said, with the Heat taking Sunday off ahead of Monday’s 8:30 p.m.

It’s Day 3 of the Colorado high school state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. The Denver Post is there throughout the weekend providing live coverage. Refresh this page for the latest updates and results, in addition to the daily schedule of events, which is at the bottom of this page. Updates (8:30 a.m.) Title time.

Scotty Pippen Jr. knows the power that comes with a name — especially at the NBA combine this week in Chicago. In his early days playing basketball in Highland Park, Pippen said it was a challenge to carry the family name of Scottie Pippen, the other half of the legendary duo who lifted the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. Every time he lined up on the court, Pippen said parents pointed him out to their kids, encouraging them to bring their toughest game against the Hall of Famer’s son. “Growing up, I’ve always had the name,” Pippen said.

When Chicago Cubs reliever Scott Effross first learned his sidearm delivery, he watched a lot of hitting videos. Because he uses more lower-half load than a conventional pitching delivery, his process more closely resembles a hitter’s. Dissecting those hitting videos became a valuable tool, helping him tap into his lower half more while using his hips and core to get down the mound and keep his arm path consistent. “I’d see how guys would stay on their back legs and drive through,” Effross told the Tribune.

New York Yankees designated hitter Josh Donaldson ran between second and third base after Isiah Kiner-Falefa ended the third inning by flying out to right Saturday at Yankee Stadium. That’s when Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said Donaldson “made a disrespectful comment.” “Basically tried to call me Jackie Robinson, ‘What’s up, Jackie?’ ” Anderson said after the Sox’s 7-5 loss.