SPORTS NEWS

LeBron James’ game-winning jumper in Sunday’s playoff win at Chicago should be what everyone is talking about. But a day after hitting the third game-winner in his playoff career, James is trying to quiet a controversy that he helped to ignite. James said Cavs coach David Blatt is being criticized because he’s the coach of the four-time MVP. LeBron on criticism Blatt is facing for Game 4: "He's catching heat because he's coaching me, that's all that is" — Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 11, 2015 The controversy began after James volunteered information that he overrode his coach’s play call, which called for James to inbound the ball with less than 2 seconds remaining instead of shooting it. “To be honest, the play that was drawn up, I scratched it,” James told reporters Sunday. “I just told Coach, ‘Give me the ball.’ We’re either going to go to overtime or I’m going to win it for us.' It was that simple.” LJ says changing play "no different than a great qua...

There was a time when David Mayo's dream of playing in the NFL seemed to be just that — a dream. In fact, Mayo had that feeling more than just one time. MORE: Must-see NFL Draft photos | Meet fantasy football's newest stars | Panthers among NFC South tri-favorites He was not recruited out of high school. He attended a junior college in Santa Monica, Calif., where he could not find a place to live. When he finally got a Division I scholarship, a pair of injuries had him doubting his football future.  But the Panthers selected the Texas State linebacker in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Mayo, who wound up living in a shed while in Santa Monica, won't take anything for granted and is blessed to be on the cusp of fulfilling his professional football dream.  “I’ve never played in the National Football League, so I know I’m going to have to raise my game," Mayo told Perform Media on Tuesday. "I don’t know exactly what I’m getting myself into, so I’m just...