The Following EP Marcos Siega on the deaths of SPOILER and other burning ...

Image Credit Barbara Nitke/Fox

SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE SEASON FINALE OF THE FOLLOWING

Last night s season finale of The Following left us shocked but also full of questions. EW talked to executive producer Marcos Siega to clear up who s dead and who s alive as well as what s in store for season 2.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY I legitimately did not know what was going to happen in the last five minutes I mean I knew Ryan and Claire weren t going to have a peaceful dinner. I thought Weston might show up at the door.MARCOS SIEGA We didn t actually distribute the last scene to anybody. It was never part of the script. So when the crew showed up on the call sheet it just said Scene Ryan s loft. I got the crew together and said Clearly you re about to see what s going to happen. Of course we ll give you whatever information you need to do your job. We started talking and the crew was guessing Is Shawn the guy at the door Is he evil I knew it I hope people think that because it s nice to keep them guessing.

So the big question is Is Claire dead It s tricky. We want the audience to go on this fun ride. We understand the pitfalls of having to wait. We certainly don t want to piss anybody off. But we look at this as when we watch television shows what is it that we enjoy We enjoy the screaming at the TV the guessing. I think consistently throughout the season whether people like it or don t like it we ve been true to that. I see it as a very fitting way to end an exciting and fun season one. It would be very easy to answer a couple of questions and reveal the things we ve worked hard to build but I don t want to do that.

You admitted that you had shot multiple endings for the finale. What I meant yesterday when I said we shot stuff is that we re going to be able to come back in season 2 and answer all the questions that people have by basically showing them how things ended up without having to shoot something new.

So you basically shot the aftermath of Molly stabbing Claire Yeah there s another three minutes of scenes. There s versions of that. Throughout the episode there were things we shot so that we could go back if we needed to in season 2 maybe in flashback and answer questions.

What did Natalie Zea think of the cliffhanger She loved it. She s been a real team player in terms of whatever we need to do to service the story. When the actors read the scripts they were genuinely excited. That s always a good sign.

The other big question is Is Joe actually dead That s the brilliance of Kevin Williamson. He has these ideas and sometimes when he pitches them to me I pause and think How is that going to work We talk about it and I m left going That s great.

I m clearly avoiding your question but you will have an answer when you come back. My father in law texted me this morning and said Oh my God. Best episode so far. I can t believe you killed Joe. And then I ve had people texting me Eyeroll. And that s what we expect. We expect people to go Oh come on you didn t kill Joe. And we expect some people to go I can t believe you killed Joe. What the hell are you going to do with the new antagonist That s the fun of it. You just have to wait and see.

Was Parker s death always planned from the start Yes. Like a lot of people we ve killed on the show you start to fall in love with them and you re like Dammit why Why do we have to go there But we designed it a certain way and the writers have really thought about how these things service our lead. Ultimately we have an antagonist and protagonist that need this color for their character and these things that inform who they are and who they re going to be moving forward. So these are building blocks for that. I fell in love with Annie as a person and Parker as a character and just like the audience we re left going Man this is hard to do. But it s an important part of building the series.

You directed the finale. Those scenes with Annie buried alive must have been incredibly difficult to film. When they dig her out we had to bury her. We certainly do as many things in cuts and cheats as possible but there are always things that the actors have to experience because there s just no way around it. So there was a moment where it was Here s the box. We re gonna put you in. We walked through it and the first time we put her in she broke down. She even said to me I 1000% understand that all I have to do is say Stop and you guys will open the box but my brain can t register. So it was emotional and difficult for her and difficult for the crew. Some people couldn t watch.

We saw Emma had escaped to Alabama. Will she be back next year Yeah. Valerie is going to be back.

Will she be the main villain Things always evolve. What I can say is from the conversations that Kevin and I have had about where some of these characters are going to go and what potential new characters are going to come in I m really excited because it s new but it does also feel like the series continues. But it s definitely different.

Are there still followers of Joe that still haven t revealed themselves Absolutely. If you really look at the season and look at the timeline since the pilot it s only been 3 and a half months. Geographically in terms of the United States we ve been in Virginia Pennsylvania and Maryland coasts. But clearly we ve set this up that we don t know how far this reaches how many people it s touched. There s people on the West Coast. There s people in the middle of the country. Joe has acolytes everywhere.

What did you think about season one What did you learn Is it that you like polarizing people I don t know that I d say we like to polarize people but we completely understand that people are going to be upset about certain things because ultimately we re just trying to service this story. This is a work of fiction. It s like reading a good book. My favorite books I buy into the moments that are clearly absurd because I m invested. We try our best when we hit those moments to not distract from the story in a way where it takes you out of it. Kevin even said last night on the panel I m trying. I ve learned the FBI needs to be smarter. He really does think about these things. But we are a serialized show and if the FBI solves everything at the end of every episode there s no The Following.

Read more The Following Creator Kevin Williamson teases tonight s shocking emotional season finale The Following season finale Rewriting the final chapter The Following Kevin Bacon and Kevin Williamson talk Hardy s race to save buried alive Agent Parker EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

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Murder Mystery Amanda Knox Speaks

Amanda Knox convicted of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher has nightmares and traumatic memories of her four years in Italian courts and prison. But she has only warm memories of Kercher and says she would like to visit her grave one day.

Knox talked about Kercher as well as her legal ordeal in an exclusive interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer. Her recall of those years has moments of regret anger and sadness. Also among her emotions are warm thoughts of Kercher and empathy for her family.

I want them to know Knox said getting emotional their grief has my every respect has the respect of my family and we just don't want to... we don't want to invade their life and their grief.

Watch Amanda Knox in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer set to air Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.

And I really want them to understand that my need for justice for myself is not in contradiction with theirs she said.

Knox recalled her short time a mere six weeks with Kercher who was also studying in Perugia.

She talked about how she wanted to be a journalist like her dad. And she talked about her sister. And if that's all I can give them is this memory that I have of her to add to... all of theirs that they can carry with them when she's gone.

FULL COVERAGE The Amanda Knox Case

Knox paused at that point and added I hope that eventually I can have their permission to pay respects at her grave.

The Kercher family has made it clear they believe Knox is involved but Knox's father Curt told Sawyer that he hopes the families can meet some day. I would like to see them when they clearly clearly understand that Amanda had nothing to do with the loss of their daughter.

The Kercher family has spoken only rarely in public about Meredith's death but today her sister issued a statement saying they do not intend to read Knox's new memoir Waiting to Be Heard.

Meredith is the victim and we are waiting to be heard her sister Stephanie Kercher said.

Knox is still battling to convince the Italian judicial system and the world of her innocence. After nearly six years Knox with her freedom back on the line after a recent Supreme Court ruling ordering a new trial is breaking her silence for the first time.

I want the truth to come out. I want misunderstandings to be looked at. I would like to be re considered as a person Knox said.

In Waiting to Be Heard Knox writes about her conviction life in prison acquittal and how she has changed.

I have been in an experience where I thought everything that I had hoped for in my life was taken away from me and I had to redefine what mattered. And when I think about the purpose of what I wrote I think about what I would tell my little sisters about how to live no matter what's stopping you she said.

Knox's journey to study abroad in Perugia Italy in 2007 was care free for only a six weeks before Kercher was murdered on Nov. 1.

Kercher had 47 wounds on her body the deepest being a fatal slash to her throat. There were signs that Kercher who was trained in karate fought hard for her life.

I was stunned by her death completely bowled over because it was unfair. She was my friend and I lost a friend Knox said to Sawyer.

Now nearly six years later Knox concedes she is not the same person she was before the ordeal began when she was 20. She thought her own personal hell was over when an Italian appeals court threw out her conviction and she came home to Seattle in 2011. But even before this latest ruling the toll taken on her has been obvious.

My family was expecting the old Amanda who was she makes goofy faces which was the old Amanda back. And I'm not quite as chirpy anymore.

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Amanda Knox Calls Court Ruling...

Amanda Knox's freedom is once again on the line.

After the Supreme Court of Italy annulled her acquittal last month Knox now waits to go back on trial.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer Knox said of the decision It was incredibly painful.

Knox spent four years in prison before an Italian appeals court threw out her murder conviction in 2011 and she had been hoping the Italian Supreme Court would uphold the appeals court ruling and end her six year ordeal.

I felt like after crawling through a field of barbed wire and finally reaching what I thought was the end it just turned out that it was the horizon Knox said. And I had another field of barbed wire that I had ahead of me to crawl through.

Watch Amanda Knox in an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer set to air Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.

The marathon legal battle will continue for Knox and for her ex boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito who had been convicted along with her.

The court also refused to vacate her conviction for slander over her identifying her employer Patrick Lumumba as the person who killed Kercher. It was a statement she claimed she made under police duress.

Knox already served the three year prison sentence for the slander conviction.

Knox's lawyer Carlo Dalla Vedova told ABC News he expects a new trial to begin in the next year. The trial is at the appellate level and will take place in Florence Italy.

FULL COVERAGE The Amanda Knox Case

Right after the ruling came down Knox told ABC News I was so convinced that it was finally going to be over but it just means that it's all the more important that I say what happened and keep fighting for what's right.

Knox does not have to return to Italy for the trial and extradition is not currently on the table.

If she is convicted again that ruling would be appealed up to the Italian Supreme Court.

Only if the supreme court upheld a guilty verdict could extradition even begin.

More legal proceedings would be necessary to extradite Knox to Italy. Many experts ABC News contacted did not believe such an effort would be successful.

There is a treaty about cooperation on extradition between America and Italy with the possibility to extradite a citizen said Dalla Vedoca Knox's lawyer. But an American citizen would be subject to authorization from the United States government.

Knox said she is ready to fight again.

If there needs to be a re evaluation of looking into the facts that's fine she said. Because facts are facts and I'm not afraid of them.

Knox's memoir Waiting to Be Heard is being released on today. The book reveals details about Knox's ordeal and a letter she had written to the victim's family but she said her lawyers asked her not to mail it.

It's not fair that there is not a satisfactory answer for what happened to Meredith and the attention that's been taken away from her and what happened to her is not fair Knox said.

Kercher's family which had been clearly disappointed when Knox and Sollecito were freed said it was happy with the Italian Supreme Court's ruling the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The court's judges have 90 days to write their motivation explaining in detail why they overturned the acquittal.

Image credit Ida Astute/ABC News

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The Following EP Weighs In on Joes Future That Killer Cliffhanger and a ...

April 30 2013 12 26 PM PDT

If The Following s Season 1 finale left you slack jawed with more than a few burning questions don t fret TVLine was right there with you and we tracked down the Fox drama s executive producer Marcos Siega for some answers.

Here one of the brains behind the series discusses whether or not Joe Carroll truly met his demise how some dearly departed faces might pop up again next year what a very different Season 2 has in store and much more.

TVLINE Can you definitively say that Joe is dead I ve been getting text messages all morning from friends and family and some people are saying I loved it Best episode yet. I can t believe you killed Joe And others are like You expect me to think you killed Joe Laughs Some people believe he s gone and some people think that we ll figure out a way to bring him back but all I can say is that creator/showrunner Kevin Williamson knew where he wanted this thing to go. We shot a couple of different versions to protect ourselves in terms of how we were going to present it to the audience and then after we showed it to Warner Bros. and Fox and talked about it we put together the version that made the most sense. But how it plays out is part of the fun of doing a cliffhanger.

RELATED The Following Season Finale Recap Boom Goes the Denouement

TVLINE Was it always the plan to kill him by the end of the season Wow you re trying to trap me Laughs

TVLINE No I just know that things can change or develop organically as you move through the season. The same thing goes for the various characters you killed off along the way. Laughs With the actors who didn t know I sat down with every single actor early on and I mean top to bottom and told them that we know where the season is going and that I wasn t going to tell them if or when they re going to die but they needed to know that in this story no one is safe. Everyone understands that a show like this has those kinds of stakes. But I do struggle with some of the things we ve laid out. I knew from the day we cast Annie Parisse as Parker that she was going to meet some big demise and that s what changes it evolves in terms of how and when it s going to happen. But then I fell in love with Annie as a person and with Parker as a character and I wondered why we had to kill her . But you realize that it all serves the greater purpose. Parker s death services Ryan s Hardy s character and it s part of the building blocks of who he is and who he s going to become in Season 2 So the short answer is yes we knew and know where we re going but I can t really tell you specifics because that s the fun of it.

TVLINE So back to Joe s death specifically All I ll say is the way that it ended is always the way that I knew it would end.

TVLINE Do you think this is a show that could move forward without Joe Could this ever be a series with various Big Bads or new branches of the cult I give you mad props Meg for the creative way you re asking me to tell you if Joe is dead or alive. Laughs I have full confidence in Kevin Williamson s ability if he chose to write a character that is as compelling as Joe Carroll We got people to root for Joe right We got you to fall in love with Joe Carroll the serial killer. So I do think we could do it again if we needed to But I don t think it s that black and white for us. There s a big picture here. Kevin s been very vocal about this being a passion project for him he s gone through a lot of stages and evolution about how he s going to tell the story But I do know that when he first sat down he knew how three seasons could play out and he could build beyond that. He had a solid foundation when he started.

RELATED Season Finale Scoopapalooza More Than 100 Spoilers on Your Fave Series Endgames

TVLINE You mentioned at a recent event that you shot some extra footage that you ll be able to use in Season 2. Is that just flashback type stuff Or will is actually service the story There are some things we shot as alternates Because it was the finale and we wouldn t have the opportunity to go back and reshoot we protected ourselves. And there are some things we shot that we know are absolutely essential to next season in A) answering questions B) satisfying the audience and C) propelling the story. We have a little bit of everything in what we shot and it was all very deliberate.

TVLINE Given the way the finale ended do you guys already have a place in mind for where Season 2 will pick up There s a plan and framework in place yes. Once the writers room starts up that s when things start to evolve and new ideas come out. But we re not going in with a white board with no ideas on it.

TVLINE Looking back at Season 1 is there anything you re particularly proud of And on the flip side is there anything you maybe would have done differently I haven t had that conversation with Kevin so I can t speak for him. But I personally was surprised at how the Jacob/Paul story evolved early on and it became my favorite storyline. I found myself really invested in these two guys and wanting to see more. I knew where we were going with it and how much of that story we were going to tell but I kept thinking that maybe we would alter it a little bit since people were responding to it. Those are the sort of things that surprise me. I wouldn t have predicted that early on But at the end of the day because Kevin has such a strong framework it would have pulled too many strings and unraveled too many things if he d deviated from that Also at the beginning of the season I would sometimes bring up how we could give Ryan Hardy a bit more depth. In Episode 6 when he s held hostage at the farmhouse we really got to see a sassier side of him when he was bantering with the captors and I really loved that. I kept pushing for more of that Hardy too and I think we will see more of that.

TVLINE Tight lipped as you are I know you have a good Season 2 tease somewhere in you. We put it all out there in terms of what we d want the audience to be guessing Who really died How do you resolve it How do you move forward if people die What I can say about Season 2 is that it s a very different season but at the same time it will feel like a continuation of the story. There s no way to tell the same story again we can t have the exact same moments of jeopardy because then people will get bored and it s predictable. The brilliance behind the series that Kevin has built is that he s seen how these steps need to evolve. The thing that s going to surprise people most I hope is that the fans will become as invested in that story as they were in this one and even more so because now they know these characters and we ll have to spend less time explaining backstory.

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Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham sells sex tape USA Today

Vivid Entertainment paid six figures for the reality star's amazing tape.

Farrah Abraham starred on 'Teen Mom' and has a 4 year old daughter.(Photo Astrid Stawiarz Getty Images)

MTV's Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham has found a buyer for her adult film Vivid Entertainment.

That news broke Monday the same day that her lawyer went to court to enter a not guilty plea in court to charges resulting from a DUI arrest last month in Nebraska. She is charged with aggravated DUI refusal to take a field test and disorderly conduct reports TMZ.

I'm happy to confirm that we have purchased it Vivid Entertainment's Steve Hirsch said in a statement on the company's website. We went after this movie as vigorously as any sex tape we've ever pursued. We felt it was definitely worth it not only because of Farrah's popularity but because the footage itself is amazing.

Hirsch went on to say that Farrah's looks remind me of a young Kim Kardashian and we all know how her story turned out.

TMZ reports that the purchase was in the high six figures.

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Tim Tebow To Alouettes CFL Team Holds Tebow Rights Would Let Him ...

MONTREAL The Montreal Alouettes would welcome Tim Tebow to the CFL provided he's willing to compete for a job as a backup quarterback.

The New York Jets released the former Heisman Trophy winner Monday just a year after acquiring him in a ballyhooed trade with the Denver Broncos.

Tebow has been one of the league's most popular players since his arrival but has drawn constant criticism for his passing mechanics. But his NFL future remains very much in doubt.

If the former Florida star wants to keep playing quarterback the CFL could be a landing spot. But if Tebow wants to come to Canada Montreal has exclusive negotiating rights.

Anthony Calvillo is entrenched as Montreal's quarterback. The 40 year old Calvillo is entering his 20th CFL season and assesses his career on a year to year basis. That would leave Tebow to contend with former Boston College star Quinton Porter a five year CFL veteran for the No. 2 spot.

If Tim Tebow wants to come to Canada we'd definitely welcome him general manager Jim Popp said. That's why we have him on our neg list and we'd take a look at him and see if he can play in Canada but it would obviously be competing for a backup job.

Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs in 2011 but became the odd man out in Denver when Peyton Manning arrived. The Jets acquired Tebow for a fourth round draft pick and $1.5 million in salary.

Playing Canadian football would present Tebow with clear challenges given the importance of the passing game on the longer wider CFL field.

None of us know if he can really play in Canada either so it would be a project to see what he's capable of doing Popp said. Tim Tebow has a strong arm. You hear about the knocks on his throwing whether it's accuracy or touch. If you're going to have success in Canada you're going to have to be able to throw the ball all over the field.

But Popp said Tebow's mobility would be a definite asset in Canada.

It depends on what you're asking him to do Popp said. If one day you decide to make him your starter then obviously you're going to formulate an offense that best suits Tim Tebow.

I think right now there's 32 NFL teams that aren't willing to do that. That doesn't mean a CFL team wouldn't in the future. But again until you have him and really figure out what he can and can't do you don't really know.

Tebow wouldn't be the first big name quarterback to make the trek north. Doug Flutie Warren Moon and Jeff Garcia all came to the CFL and blossomed into stars before returning to play in the NFL.

But a CFL team with Tebow would also have to adjust to his celebrity. The two time NCAA champion's No. 15 jersey with Denver ranked second in U.S. sales to Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers in 2011.

And if Tebow wants to come to Canada and there's no indication he does he would have to call Popp.

I don't know what his process is going to be if any or if he even has an interest in playing in another league outside the NFL he said. If they end up having that discussion I'm sure we'll hear from them and we'll move from there.

Popp said Montreal also has former Texas star quarterback Vince Young on its negotiation list and Young's representatives have spoken to the Alouettes twice. Each time the message has been the same If Young came to Quebec it would be as Calvillo's backup.

They know we have Anthony they know if he (Young) comes he's not starting Popp said. If (Tebow) has a real interest in coming to Canada he or his representation will call.

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Bell Tim Tebow might not like his options USA Today

New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) waves to fans before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in December.(Photo Kevin Hoffman USA TODAY Sports)

Crossroads time for Tim Tebow.

The man poised to become the highest profiled free agent in the NFL waived by the New York Jets on Monday has to determine whether to abandon his vision of having a long career as an NFL quarterback and take a new approach.

Like as an H back. Or in the Canadian Football League.

Count me among the doubters that a team will claim Tebow and the attached circus that comes with him. But stranger things have happened. And all it takes is one team.

I think there's a market for Tim Tebow an NFL general manager told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. The teams that have established quarterbacks aren't going to mess around with him. But I could see somebody with a specific plan bringing him in.

Really

TWITTER Tebow's reaction

GO NORTH CFL teams may not hand him starting job

The GM who spoke on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons added he had no interest in signing Tebow a sentiment echoed by two other NFL general managers contacted by USA TODAY Sports.

He took a team to the playoffs and won a playoff game the GM added referring to the Denver Broncos' first round overtime shocker against the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2012. I think there's some value in that.

So often in the NFL established relationships can lead to opportunity.

Yet I can't see Tebow reuniting with the coach who drafted him in the first round with the Broncos three years ago. Josh McDaniels is back with the New England Patriots as offensive coordinator but for all of Bill Belichick's out of the box thinking the notion of taking the ball out of Tom Brady's hands for even one gimmick play is absurd.

On the other hand new San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy was the Broncos' offensive coordinator during that improbable run to an 8 8 division crown in 2011. He helped create some Tebow magic. And new Chargers GM Tom Telesco showed guts in drafting Manti Te'o. Philip Rivers Oh.

WHAT NEXT Tebow to the Patriots

LOL 10 hilarious tweets about Tebow's release

Marc Trestman has a track record with Tebow. The new Chicago Bears coach tutored Tebow when he came out of Florida. I'd love to be in the room to get Jay Cutler's reaction if the Bears took a shot on Tebow.

The team that takes a flyer on Tebow must have two prerequisites a willingness to handle intense media attention and a scheme (as the Jets initially intended) to incorporate Tebow as a niche player.

Tebow is one of the best red zone short yardage quarterbacks that ever lived said former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage now executive director of the Senior Bowl. He runs like a fullback he can lower his shoulder and run through you.

In theory that's not bad but the question the general manager has to ask is 'Is it worth the headache '

Tebow's persona is a blessing and a curse when it comes to his NFL prospects.

GRIM OUTLOOK Why Tebow still won't make an NFL roster

You'd think a team with a read option component to its offense such as the Washington Redskins San Francisco 49ers or Seattle Seahawks could use him.

Savage mindful that the Redskins recently signed Pat White can envision Tebow reducing the risk in red zone situations for Robert Griffin III who is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. But I can't see the consistent passing from Tebow with a career completion rate of 47.9% to make that work. And read option schemes in the NFL have yet to be proved viable over the long haul.

I think he's going to have to change positions another NFL GM who also requested anonymity for competitive reasons told USA TODAY Sports. I don't think anybody's looking at him seriously as a quarterback anymore.

It's one thing to flourish at quarterback with a unique style. But Cam Newton Andy Dalton Matt Schaub Colin Kaepernick and Peyton Manning to name a few even with their different styles all possess the ability to throw. Pocket passers and mobile passers alike need basics with their mechanics and skill to thrive on the NFL level.

If he hasn't improved his technique enough to this point it's doubtful any team will invest the time to develop him as a quarterback even with all of the intangibles Tebow brings as a class act winner.

Tebow's best option Embrace a hybrid position maybe a combination H back fullback tight end role.

The commercial megastar needs to realize sticking in the league will likely come down to letting go of his lifelong dream of being a starting NFL quarterback.

That can't be easy.

Tebow who gets six figures for spiritual speaking engagements built his platform as a quarterback who won a pair of college national championships not as a complementary H back.

And just imagine the testimony if Tebow could rise from these depths and take a team to a Super Bowl as a quarterback.

Then there's Canada. The Montreal Alouettes own the rights to Tebow in the CFL but he would have to develop there too as a backup. With a wider field. Prove himself in Canada as Warren Moon and Jeff Garcia did then maybe Tebow can manage another crack as an NFL quarterback.

That too seems like a long shot.

One thing for sure This is a serious reality check for Tim Tebow.

PHOTOS Tim Tebow's career in pictures

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With the Words Im Gay an NBA Center Breaks a Barrier

I m a 34 year old N.B.A. center. I m black and I m gay Collins who finished this season with the Washington Wizards writes in the May 6 edition of Sports Illustrated. The magazine published the article online Monday morning.

With that statement Collins became the first openly gay male athlete who is still active in a major American team sport. Other gay athletes including the former N.B.A. center John Amaechi have waited until retirement to divulge their sexuality publicly.

The announcement followed recent decisions by two other athletes the American soccer player Robbie Rogers and the women s basketball player Brittney Griner to acknowledge that they are gay. When Rogers 25 revealed last month that he was gay he also said he was retiring from soccer. (He has since indicated he may play again.) Griner the No. 1 pick in the W.N.B.A. draft will soon embark on her professional career.

Collins s announcement was greeted with an outpouring of support from teammates league executives and major National Basketball Association stars Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade among them.

Proud of jasoncollins34 Bryant the Los Angeles Lakers star wrote on his Twitter account. Don t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others. Bryant added two hashtags courage and support.

Some of the league s biggest names followed suit including the Lakers Steve Nash Oklahoma City s Kevin Durant the Knicks Jason Kidd and San Antonio s Tony Parker. Several teams sent out statements of support. Prominent coaches including Boston s Doc Rivers who has worked with Collins gave support in interviews.

However one National Football League player Mike Wallace of the Miami Dolphins posted a comment on Twitter All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys. He later deleted the comment and issued an apology.

And on ESPN the N.B.A. analyst Chris Broussard citing his religious beliefs said that living openly as a homosexual was a sin and that doing so was walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ.

But those comments were greatly outweighed by the supportive ones Collins received particularly from his N.B.A. peers.

The overwhelming positive reaction does not surprise me N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern said in a telephone interview. Our players are actually knowledgeable and sophisticated on this issue and our teams understand it completely. I would have expected them to be supportive and they are.

President Obama called Collins to express his support and said he was impressed by his courage according to a Twitter post from the White House. Michelle Obama on her account called Collins s announcement a huge step forward for our country.

Collins becomes a free agent July 1 and intends to pursue another contract which might be viewed as a truer test for how N.B.A. teams deal with a gay athlete. However complicating that question is the fact that Collins at 34 is a marginal player with limited skills more valued for his locker room presence than his play and not at the top of anyone s list of players to sign. He appeared in just 38 games this season which he split between the Boston Celtics and the Wizards and was used sparingly.

Collins was never among the most skilled centers to begin with instead relying on his size (7 feet 255 pounds) intelligence and work ethic to carve out a niche after being drafted 18th over all in 2001.

In his Sports Illustrated essay Collins alludes to his future in the league I ve reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Zach Schonbrun contributed reporting.

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Jets waive Tim Tebow after one season USA Today

Tim Tebow spent the 2012 season with the Jets after two seasons with the Broncos.(Photo William Perlman USA TODAY Sports)

Tim Tebow couldn't get any playing time last season when the New York Jets had three quarterbacks on the roster. Following the selection of Geno Smith last week they had six.

Well now they have five.

Tebow was informed Monday morning when he arrived at the team's facility he'll be waived and the team put out a statement

We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Unfortunately things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker evident by the shape he came back in this offseason (losing weight). We wish him the best moving forward.

Tebow will now have to pass through waivers. Teams will have until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday to put in claims for him.

Don't expect the Jacksonville Jaguars to put in a claim.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' plans do not include Tim Tebow '' a team spokesman told USA TODAY Sports.

It's the second time the team has publicly insisted it has no interest in the local hero.

Tebow's NFL career is now in major jeopardy unless of course he accepts a role as anything other than a quarterback. The Jets envisioned him as a Swiss Army knife of a player and Tebow played a bunch of roles for them early last season pass protector punt protector wide receiver and even H back. The Jets also wanted to use him as a tailback although that never materialized.

LANDING SPOT Where will Tebow play next

WHERE WILL TEBOW LAND Join the conversation

Late in the season when Ryan benched Mark Sanchez and started Greg McElroy instead of Tebow the coach had an upset Tebow on his hands. Tebow believed that as he was active for much of the season while McElroy was inactive was an indication he was truly the No. 2 quarterback. He was wrong.

As he hunts for a new team Tebow has an offer on the table from the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. Last month owner Brett Bouchy sensing this moment would be coming made his pitch to the popular quarterback via the Orlando Sentinel

Tim would certainly want to first exhaust his opportunities in the NFL but we'd love to have him Bouchy said. I think he would definitely improve as a quarterback in our league.

Kurt Warner told me once that when he got back to the NFL after playing in the Arena League the NFL game was like slow motion. Everything in the Arena League is just so much faster and quicker and predicated on accuracy. Whenever Tim is willing we have a contract waiting for him to sign.

That offer came a few weeks after the Jaguars seen as a possible landing spot for Tebow said they'd have no interest.

That he couldn't beat out Sanchez or McElroy on a team that was going nowhere finishing 6 10 last in the AFC East should be a clear indication to Tebow his quarterbacking career might simply lie in Canada at this point.

FUTURE Why Tebow probably won't play in 2013

HIGHLIGHTS The best moments of Tebow's career with Jets

Short of heading up there Tebow is viewed around the league as that versatile player the Jets tried to make him when they sent a fourth round pick to the Denver Broncos before last season and agreed to split the $5.06 million the Broncos had paid in salary advances. (The Jets owe Denver $1.53 million this season.)

That said Tebow spent the offseason working with a quarterback coach in Arizona apparently believing he can still fix his throwing release and become more accurate to go with his late game heroics he showed in 2011 with the Broncos.

PHOTOS A LOOK AT TIM TEBOW'S CAREER

Last SlideNext Slide

I has been quite a week for John Idzik the Jets' rookie general manager who is quickly making his mark on the team.

Idzik traded the Jets' best player Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted cornerback Dee Milliner to take Revis' place selected a quarterback in Smith in the draft's most controversial pick and now has waived Tebow.

RELEASE REACTION Twitter reacts to Jets parting ways with Tebow

If Tebow wants to try to remain a quarterback his job search will be complicated not only because possible roster spots were taken by the quarterbacks selected in the NFL draft but also by the undrafted quarterbacks who signed as free agents after the draft.

Those included Tyler Bray (out of Tennessee to the Kansas Chiefs) Jeff Tuel (Washington State Buffalo Bills) Matt Scott (Arizona Jaguars) James Vandenberg (Iowa Minnesota Vikings) Jordan Rogers (Vanderbilt Jaguars) Colby Cameron (Louisiana Tech Carolina Panthers) Dayne Crist (Kansas invitation from Chiefs) Collin Klein (Kansas State Houston Texans) Ryan Griffin (Tulane New Orleans Saints) and Alex Carder (Western Michigan Detroit Lions).

Still any team that takes on Tebow will also have to welcome the attention he brings. Jets owner Woody Johnson bringing in Tebow much as former general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan tried to say they were the driving forces was a distraction for Sanchez. TV cameras caught him shrugging on the sideline when Tebow replaced him after a long completion against the Seattle Seahawks.

Sanchez didn't vent publicly save for one moment when he sighed and said Selling seats man when asked about Tebow's role on the team.

Sanchez finally let loose this month.

I just don't know if it was the best situation for either of us really but you kind of play with the cards you're dealt and do the very best you can he said in an interview with Fox Sports Radio in California. (We) really underachieved as a team so we're looking to change that this year. And we're optimistic about it and we trust that the front office will put us in a good position and we'll have a good year.

Sanchez got his wish as far as Tebow's departure. The problem is Smith has taken his place and certainly has the confidence of the franchise he can be the quarterback of the future.

Tebow's gone. Sanchez could be next although indications are it won't happen any time soon and he'll have a chance to compete through the spring and perhaps the summer.

Contributing Jon Saraceno

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Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now

This story appears in the May 6 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated.

I'm a 34 year old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying I'm different. If I had my way someone else would have already done this. Nobody has which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self discovery and self acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

PHOTO GALLERY Jason Collins through the years

I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins If you're in the league and I haven't been your teammate I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

Now I'm a free agent literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Why am I coming out now Well I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I'm a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.

The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. I've known you were gay for years she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin. In her presence I ignored my censor button for the first time. She gave me support. The relief I felt was a sweet release. Imagine you're in the oven baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know I baked for 33 years.

When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red but I always knew it was blue.

I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say Me too.

The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant so why not live truthfully When I told Joe a few weeks ago that I was gay he was grateful that I trusted him. He asked me to join him in 2013. We'll be marching on June 8.

No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back.

Believe it or not my family has had bigger shocks. Strange as it seems today my parents expected only one child in 1978. Me. When I came out (for the first time) the doctors congratulated my mother on her healthy seven pound one ounce baby boy. Wait said a nurse. Here comes another one The other one who arrived eight minutes later and three ounces heavier was Jarron. He's followed me ever since to Stanford and to the NBA and as the ever so slightly older brother I've looked out for him.

I had a happy childhood in the suburbs of L.A. My parents instilled in us an appreciation of history art and most important Motown. Jarron and I weren't allowed to listen to rap until we were 12. After our birthday I dashed to Target and bought DJ Quik's album Quik Is the Name. I memorized every line. It was around this time that I began noticing subtle differences between Jarron and me. Our twinness was no longer synchronized. I couldn't identify with his attraction to girls.

I feel blessed that I recognized my own attractions. Though I resisted my impulses through high school I knew that when I was ready I had someone to turn to my uncle Mark in New York. I knew we could talk without judgment and we did last summer. Uncle Mark is gay. He and his partner have been in a stable relationship forever. For a confused young boy I can think of no better role model of love and compassion.

I didn't come out to my brother until last summer. His reaction to my breakfast revelation was radically different from Aunt Teri's. He was downright astounded. He never suspected. So much for twin telepathy. But by dinner that night he was full of brotherly love. For the first time in our lives he wanted to step in and protect me.

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Terry Jabs Knicks as Celtics Stay Alive

It took five flicks of the wrist in 66 seconds to make it all possible.

Terry scored the Celtics last 9 points in overtime delivering a 97 90 victory at TD Garden denying the Knicks a sweep and sending the series back to New York for Game 5.

When he was finished Terry whose nickname is Jet smiled and extended his arms into wings for a brief celebratory flight.

As long as there s time on the clock as long as there is another game it s an opportunity for me to do something special Terry said.

For Boston this was poetic justice repayment for the Knicks J. R. Smith s elbowing Terry in the face in Game 3. While Smith served a one game suspension Sunday the Knicks ultimately buckled and Terry soared.

The Knicks erased a 20 point deficit in the second half and a 5 point deficit in the final minutes of regulation but there was little else to like after an afternoon in which they shot 34.4 percent and produced just 10 assists.

Carmelo Anthony commandeered the offense shooting 35 times as if he intended to single handedly replace Smith s offense. But he converted just 10 of those shots and had 7 turnovers.

I was trying to win the basketball game said Anthony who finished with 36 points and was trying to complete the first playoff sweep of his career. It would have been a great feeling to close it out here in Boston so I was trying to do whatever I could to win the basketball game.

As great a clutch shooter as Anthony has been in his career this was a day the Knicks could have used Smith s uncanny touch.

Anthony missed three of four shots in overtime including a rushed 3 pointer with 20 seconds left and the Knicks trailing 93 90. He missed his last five shots in regulation including two attempts on the Knicks last possession with the score tied 84 84. He also missed two free throws with 1 minute 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter and walked away shaking his head.

When the game is on the line you re going to give the ball to No. 7 Raymond Felton said referring to Anthony. That s what we ve been doing all year there s no need to change it now.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 29 points his best game of the series by far and Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 17 rebounds in what might have been their final home game together. Jeff Green added 26 points.

The Celtics were perhaps seconds away from elimination and an off season of radical change but Pierce said he never had any doubts.

I already called my friends in New York yesterday telling them I d be there for dinner he said.

Terry who was signed to replace Ray Allen last summer had been a bust in the series until Sunday. He finished with 18 points perhaps inspired by Smith s elbow.

He was definitely vocal Coach Doc Rivers said. Someone said it yesterday maybe that elbow who knows said it changed the events for all of us. Definitely Jason Terry was angry that it happened.

So the Knicks left Boston still in search of their first playoff series victory in 13 years. They will try again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The sour finish overshadowed a thrilling second half comeback spearheaded by Anthony and Felton who scored 16 of his 27 points in a blistering third quarter rally. Felton also gave the Knicks their first and only lead of the afternoon 84 82 with an 18 footer with 1 18 left in the fourth.

The Knicks trailed by 19 points at halftime their biggest deficit of the series by far having converted just 11 of 38 shots (28.9 percent) with Anthony going 3 for 15. He was beyond erratic shooting air balls picking up offensive fouls committing five turnovers and negating a Felton free throw with a lane violation.

Terry put the Celtics ahead for good on a pull up 3 pointer for a 91 88 lead. Anthony hit a jumper but Terry answered with a 13 foot fadeaway then put the game away with two free throws.

Smith has been as indispensable as any Knicks star this season providing points clutch shots defense and fire. Until Sunday he had played in every meaningful game sitting out only the last two regular season games.

The suspension could not have come as a shock there was ample precedent but the ruling rankled the Knicks all the same.

I m not even going to comment on that Coach Mike Woodson said before the game. Not at all.

Under league rules Smith was not permitted to attend the game. His Twitter feed has been silent since the suspension was announced.

He s a little down but he ll rebound from it Woodson said.

Without Smith Woodson used Jason Kidd as his first guard off the bench then filled the open minutes with Steve Novak and Quentin Richardson none of whom could remotely replicate Smith s firepower. Woodson effectively tightened the rotation to seven players for the second half. The Knicks bench produced just 7 points.

We obviously missed J. R. tonight said Tyson Chandler who had 11 rebounds and kept the Knicks in the game with a series of tap outs. We still had our shots though.

The Celtics jumped ahead in the opening minutes and took their first double digit lead of the series in the second quarter while the Knicks unraveled behind a series of turnovers and clanked jumpers.

Pierce had 17 points by halftime matching his Game 3 scoring total every swish eliciting a powerful roar as if any one of those shots might be his last here.

We have to be confident going back home Anthony said. He added We look forward to Wednesday I can tell you that.

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2013 NHL playoff schedule Matchups TV times

The lockout shortened season is over the chase for the Stanley Cup has begun. Will the Chicago Blackhawks continue to dominate Can the Detroit Red Wings make the most of their 22nd consecutive playoff appearance Is Sidney Crosby going to return from a fractured jaw and are the Pittsburgh Penguins prepared to make a run if he doesn't

First round action begins on Tuesday April 30. Game dates times and TV listings are presented below by matchup. Check back with SI.com's hockey team throughout the playoffs for the latest news analysis and game results.

>First Round WESTERN CONFERENCE Series has not started EASTERN CONFERENCE Series has not started Game 1 at CHI Tue. April 30 8 p.m. NBCSN CBCGame 2 at CHI Fri. May 3 9 30 p.m. NBCSN CBCGame 3 at MIN Sun. May 5 3 p.m. NBC CBCGame 4 at MIN Tue. May 7 9 30 p.m. NBCSN CBCGame 5 at CHI Thu. May 9 TBD CBC Game 6 at MIN Sat. May 11 TBD CBC Game 7 at CHI Sun. May 12 TBD CBC Game 1 at PIT Wed. May 1 7 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 2 at PIT Fri. May 3 7 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 3 at NY Sun. May 5 12 p.m. NBC TSNGame 4 at NY Tue. May 7 7 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 5 at PIT Thu. May 9 7 p.m. TSN Game 6 at NY Sat. May 11 TBD TSN Game 7 at PIT Sun. May 12 TBD TSN Series has not started Series has not started Game 1 at ANA Tue. April 30 10 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 2 at ANA Thu. May 2 10 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 3 at DET Sat. May 4 7 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 4 at DET Mon. May 6 8 p.m. CNBC TSNGame 5 at ANA Wed. May 8 10 p.m. TSN Game 6 at DET Fri. May 10 TBD TSN Game 7 at ANA Sun. May 12 TBD TSN Game 1 at MON Thu. May 2 7 p.m. CNBC CBC RDSGame 2 at MON Fri. May 3 7 p.m. CNBC. CBC RDSGame 3 at OTT Sun. May 5 7 p.m. NBCSN CBC RDSGame 4 at OTT Tue. May 7 7 p.m. CNBC CBC RDSGame 5 at MON Thu. May 9 7 p.m. CBC RDS Game 6 at OTT Sat. May 11 TBD CBC RDS Game 7 at MON Sun. May 12 TBD CBC RDS Series has not started Series has not started Game 1 at VAN Wed. May 1 10 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 2 at VAN Fri. May 3 10 p.m. CNBC TSNGame 3 at SJ Sun. May 5 10 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 4 at SJ Tue. May 7 10 p.m. CNBC TSNGame 5 at VAN Thu. May 9 10 p.m. TSN Game 6 at SJ Sat. May 11 TBD TSN Game 7 at VAN Mon. May 13 TBD TSN Game 1 at WAS Thu. May 2 7 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 2 at WAS Sat. May 4 12 30 p.m. NBC TSNGame 3 at NY Mon. May 6 7 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 4 at NY Wed. May 8 7 30 p.m. NBCSN TSNGame 5 at WAS Fri. May 10 7 30 p.m. TSN Game 6 at NY Sun. May 12 TBD TSN Game 7 at WAS Mon. May 13 TBD TSN Series has not started Series has not started Game 1 at STL Tue. April 30 8 p.m. CNBC CBCGame 2 at STL Thu. May 2 9 30 p.m. CNBC CBCGame 3 at LA Sat. May 4 10 p.m. NBCSN CBCGame 4 at LA Mon. May 6 10 p.m. NBCSN CBCGame 5 at STL Wed. May 8 TBD CBC Game 6 at LA Fri. May 10 TBD CBC Game 7 at STL Mon. May 13 TBD CBC Game 1 at BOS Wed. May 1 7 p.m. CNBC CBC RDSGame 2 at BOS Sat. May 4 7 p.m. CNBC CBC RDSGame 3 at TOR Mon. May 6 7 p.m. NHLN CBC RDSGame 4 at TOR Wed. May 8 7 p.m. NHLN CBC RDSGame 5 at BOS Fri. May 10 7 p.m. CBC RDS Game 6 at TOR Sun. May 12 CBC RDS Game 7 at BOS Mon. May 13 CBC RDS If Necessary All Times Eastern

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Watch President Obama at the 2013 White House Correspondents Dinner

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. April 27 2013. First Lady Michelle Obama attended the dinner with the President. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Obama last night joined Conan O'Brien onstage at the Washington Hilton for the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and gave his fifth address to the organization of journalists who cover the White House and the President himself. In his remarks the President poked at himself as well as some of the news organizations and politicians in the room. He also showed a spoof promo for Steven Spielberg's followup to LIncoln a biopic called Obama.

But while everyone had a good laugh during the speech President Obama closed his speech on a more serious note reminding the audience of the important role the media plays in American society especially during times of crisis like the Boston Marathon bombings and the explosion that killed so many first responders in West Texas.

You can watch the entire speech below or on YouTube

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Scanner Chatter Kyle Busch says leave it to NASCAR to make a bad decision

RICHMOND Va. Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr. and Tony Stewart were among the drivers who were not happy Saturday night at Richmond.

Their tempers led to some interesting comments over their in car radios.

Kyle Busch had plenty of reasons to get worked up Saturday night in Richmond and he aired his frustations to his team during the race. (AP Photo)

Here s a look at some of the best scanner chatter from the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

Kyle Busch upset with a call that initially was going to send him to the rear of the field for a commitment line violation because he didn t have two tires on the red box at the edge of the line on his pit stop

Busch Just like four years ago when I did touch the box but I didn t touch the box at Bristol Right Sure.

Crew chief Dave Rogers To me you had both left side (tires) on it by one inch but it was really close.

Busch That s all that matters.

Rogers They said the scoring loop said you were too far out.

Busch It doesn t say anything in the drivers meeting or the rulebook that says you have to touch the scoring loop.

Rogers It is so close. The tower said we are not on it.

Busch Whatever. Leave it to NASCAR or leave it to somebody else to make a bad decision right Joe (Gibbs)

Clint Bowyer as sprinklers went off on the frontstretch grass You know that groundskeeper that got picked on all the time he s like All right I ll show them.

Spotter Brett Griffin Like one of those Buffalo Wild Wings commercials.

Martin Truex Jr. after wreck with Kurt Busch I kept it off the wall at least. I was giving him the bottom. I went in I was going to run the middle. I guess he decided he didn t want me to do either.

Richmond recap Winners Losers Race results Cup standings

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Scenes from the 2013 White House Correspondents Dinner

Apr 28 2013

The Baltimore Sun 1 Comment Nation 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner Barack Obama Conan O'Brien D.C. Michelle Obama Washington White House Correspondents Association

45 photos

Journalists celebrities and Washington s elite were out in full force Saturday night for the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner hosted by comedian Conan O Brien.

Comedian Conan O Brien speaks during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama laughs as comedian Conan O Brien speaks during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama laughs as comedian Conan O Brien speaks during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama listens as comedian Conan O Brien speaks at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Comedian Conan O Brien speaks at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Comedian Conan O Brien smashes a gavel as he speaks during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama laughs while speaking at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama tells jokes poking fun at himself as well as others during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 27 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists politicians and celebrities. (Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledges the audience folllowing his comedic address during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 27 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists politicians and celebrities. (Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) U.S. President Barack Obama tells jokes poking fun at himself as well as others during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 27 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists politicians and celebrities. (Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) U.S. first lady Michelle Obama laughs during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 27 2013 in Washington DC. Obama attended the yearly dinner which is attended by journalists celebrities and politicians. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) Time Magazine s Michael Scherer (L) Comedian Conan O Brien (C) and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama raise their glasses with others for a toast during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 27 2013 in Washington DC. Obama attended the yearly dinner which is attended by journalists celebrities and politicians. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) Comedian Conan O Brien shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama after speaking at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Comedian Conan O Brien shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama after speaking at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Comedian Conan O Brien poses with U.S. first lady Michelle Obama during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Actor Kevin Spacey appears on screen in a skit based on the hit show House of Cards during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 27 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists politicians and celebrities. (Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) Actor Kevin Spacey listens to remarks at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Director and producer Steven Spielberg attends the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Actress and singer Barbra Streisand talks to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Actor Patrick Stewart attends the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 27 2013 in Washington DC. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists politicians and celebrities. (Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) Scottish actor Gerard Butler talks with guests during a party before the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) Actresses Julia Louis Dreyfus (L) and Amy Poehler (R) pose with Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D WI) the first openly gay U.S. Senator in history at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) Actress Nicole Kidman sits at her table at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner as Miramax Films and Weinstein Company co founder Harvey Weinstein (L) checks his phone at the start of the dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) Actress Kathleen Turner (L) poses for the cameras as U.S. Representative John Dingell (D MI) (2nd R) and his wife Debbie Dingell (R) arrive on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress and comedian Amy Poehler arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Willie Robertson (R) and his wife Korie of reality TV series Duck Dynasty arrive on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Hayden Panettiere poses on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actors Hugh Dancy (L R) his wife Claire Danes and Bob Schieffer of CBS News pose on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Connie Britton arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Former NFL wide receiver Donald Driver and his wife Betina arrive on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Korie Robertson (L) and Willie Robertson (2nd L) of reality TV series Duck Dynasty arrive on the red carpet next to former Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman (R) his wife Mary Kaye (2nd R) and their son Will (3rd R) at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Jessica Pare arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Singer Jon Bon Jovi arrives on the red carpet with his wife Dorothea Hurley (L) and Arianna Huffington (R) at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Beth Behrs arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Sofia Vergara arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Megan Hilty waves on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) South Korean rapper Psy waves on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Kate Walsh arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Model Chrissy Teigen arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Kate Mara arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Kerry Washington arrives on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Television journalist George Stephanopoulos (L) of ABC News stands to one side as his wife comedian Ali Wentworth plays to the cameras on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Actress Robin Wright walks the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013.( Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) A police dog moves behind singer Katy Perry (3rd R) on the red carpet at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington April 27 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Video highlights from last night s 2013 White House Correspondents Dinner

Obama pokes fun at critics media at annual press dinnerJeff Mason Reuters 8 22 a.m. EDT April 28 2013

WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Barack Obama poked fun at the media his critics and himself last night at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner a star filled event where journalists and celebrities mixed with the Washington elite.

Joined at the dinner by his wife first lady Michelle Obama the president gently knocked Republicans for not working with him on policy priorities and made a rare reference to his race when urging the opposition party to be cooperative.

I know Republicans are still sorting out what happened in 2012 but one thing they all agree on is they need to do a better job reaching out to minorities Obama said.

And look call me self centered but I can think of one minority they could start with. Hello Think of me as a trial run you know he said.

Obama a Democrat and the first black U.S. president won re election in November with overwhelming support from minority voters including blacks and Hispanics.

He took a swipe at people who have doubted his religion and accused him of being a radical leftist while he made light of his graying hair.

These days I look in the mirror and I have to admit I m not the strapping young Muslim socialist that I used to be Obama said. Time passes. You get a little gray.

The president is a Christian who was born in Hawaii but he included some material for so called birthers who falsely assert he was born abroad.

I m also hard at work on plans for the Obama Library and some have suggested that we put it in my birthplace but I d rather keep it in the United States he said.

Obama made light of his own rapid rise to power by comparing himself to Republican Senator Marco Rubio a Hispanic from Florida who is touted as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

One senator who has reached across the aisle recently is Marco Rubio but I don t know about 2016. I mean the guy has not even finished a single term in the Senate and he thinks he s ready to be president Obama joked. Kids these days.

Obama began running for president during his first term as a U.S. senator from Illinois.

In a room filled with journalists the president saved some of his most biting jokes for the press.

I know CNN has taken some knocks lately but the fact is I admire their commitment to cover all sides of a story just in case one of them happens to be accurate he said drawing applause.

Some of my former advisors have switched over to the dark side. For example David Axelrod now works for MSNBC which is a nice change of pace since MSNBC used to work for David Axelrod.

Axelrod was the chief strategist for Obama s re election campaign and a former White House adviser. MSNBC is considered to be a liberal leaning television network.

Obama also made light of his wife s new bangs drawing laughter from her when he showed mock pictures of himself with the same hairdo.

(Additional reporting by Elwina Nawaguna and Peter Cooney Editing by Paul Simao)

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2013 NFL Draft grades Mel Kiper praises Ravens pans Bills

Why wait to watch this year's 2013 NFL Draft picks take their first snaps to find out how good they will be when Mel Kiper already has it all figured out The slick haired ESPN draft guru released his draft grades for all 32 teams in the NFL (ESPN Insider required).

In fairness Kiper acknowledges the silliness of trying to evaluate a draft before these players' pro careers even begin. That doesn't stop him from doling out some fun speculation nor us from breaking down what he has to say. So without further ado

Ravens Bengals and Rams had the best overall drafts

The Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals and St. Louis Rams all earned A ratings for filling team needs and finding value better than the other teams.

The Ravens had two enormous needs at middle linebacker and safety after losing Ray Lewis and Ed Reed respectively after their Super Bowl season. They filled both needs with their first two picks selecting Florida safety Matt Elam at the end of the first round and trading up to get Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown in the second round. Kiper had a lot of praise for Brown in particular calling him a steal at No. 56 overall.

The Bengals earned an A rating for the value of their draft. Kiper loved the selection of tight end Tyler Eifert at No. 21 overall even if it didn't fill a glaring need. Eifert was Kiper's No. 8 prospect on his big board and he considered the Notre Dame prospect a steal late in the first round. In the seventh the Bengals may have made another good move in Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel according to Kiper.

The Rams apparently filled their needs better than any team in the draft. They were the only team to earn an A rating from Kiper in that category after selecting wide receiver Tavon Austin linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety T.J. McDonald with their first three picks. In the third round the Rams were able to find Austin's West Virginia teammate Steadman Bailey. With the two paired together the Rams crushed the WR question according to Kiper. Outside of potential reach for McDonald at No. 71 Kiper had no complaints.

Bills dissapoint

No team scored a failing grade in Kiper's mind but he wasn't afraid to dish out some criticism. The Buffalo Bills earned a C rating to earn the distinction of having the worst draft in the NFL.

Kiper gave the Bills a D for value. Unsurprisingly quarterback E.J. Manuel was the sticking point. Kiper liked the move to trade down in the first round but still didn't think Manuel was worth the No. 16 overall pick.

The bad is I just think the No. 16 pick was way too high for EJ Manuel. For me there's simply too much projection here. He needs to prove that he's capable of getting through progressions quicker and getting the ball out. He was my No. 6 ranked QB. But that was a need position and you take the guy you feel can pan out. It's just remarkable in hindsight to see the top QBs still available into Round 4.

Kiper also felt that Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso and Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin were potential reaches in the second and third round respectively. Both players have potential but haven't proven enough to be considered safe draft prospects according to Kiper.

Of course Bills fans disagree. The community graded the draft out at a solid B over at Buffalo Rumblings.

Chargers Packers Eagles unearth best deals

Just three teams earned Kiper's A grade for value the San Diego Chargers Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chargers' best pickups were linebacker Manti Te'o at No. 38 overall and wide receiver Keenan Allen at No. 76 overall. Both players had the tape of first round talents according to Kiper and to get them in the second and third rounds respectively is a tremendous coup.

The additions of running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin were the Packers' biggest bargains according to Kiper. Lacy was the No. 1 ball carrier on Kiper's board despite entering the draft with injury concerns. Franklin meanwhile has starter potential despite falling to the fourth round. Kiper called running back a position of strength heading into the 2013 season.

Kiper felt that tight end Zach Ertz and unsurprisingly quarterback Matt Barkley were the Eagles' best finds. Ertz was Kiper's No. 2 tight end on his board and fell to the early second round for Chip Kelly. Barkley as you are probably well aware was considered a surefire top 10 prospect once upon a time.

Jets and Raiders don't drop the ball

The New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders have a reputation for making some silly decision on draft day. Both organizations made out relatively well however earning B and B grades from Kiper respectively.

Geno Smith earned some grief for slipping out of the first round and jokes were had due to the circus he is about to enter. According to Kiper however the organization should be praised for grabbing who he (and many others) felt was the best quarterback in the draft at No. 39 overall. The Jets could have made a better effort to help Smith by targeting a wide receiver or offensive lineman with one of their two first round picks but overall fans should be happy.

In fact Kiper didn't have a problem with the much maligned selection of Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson at No. 13 overall. The Jets earned a C from SB Nation's Dan Kadar on Day 1 in part because he wasn't sure where Richardson would fit along the defensive line. Kiper trusts Rex Ryan to find creative way to use the versatile defensive lineman however.

Kiper also like the Raiders' draft though he believes that the team under leveraged the No. 3 overall pick getting just a second rounder to trade down to No. 12 with the Miami Dolphins. He is also skeptical of taking D.J. Hayden in the first pick due to the cornerback's injury history though Hayden's talent is excellent. Otherwise however the Raiders got better than average value out of their 10 draft picks.

More from SB Nation

NFL draft grades Who are the winners and losers

Jaguars draft Denard Robinson as a running back

Matt Barkley Michael Vick will compete for job in Philly

Undrafted free agent tracker

Complete Day 3 picks and analysis

2013 NFL draft results Every pick from every round

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Jon Jones stops Chael Sonnen in first round at UFC 159 USA Today

Jon Jones celebrates his victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159.(Photo Brad Penner USA TODAY Sports)

NEWARK N.J. While longtime middleweight Chael Sonnen was a long shot in his bid for the UFC light heavyweight title some believed that if he could get champ Jon Jones on his back he might have a chance. Quite simply though he couldn't.

Instead Jones survived a gruesome toe injury and punched out the challenger in the first round.

The light heavyweight title bout headlined Saturday night's UFC 159 event at the Prudential Center in Newark N.J. It aired on pay per view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

As promised Sonnen pushed forward quickly at the bell though it was Jones who scored the first takedown. Sonnen who recently coached opposite Jones on The Ultimate Fighter 17 scrambled up to his feet and Jones surprisingly elected to fight inside the clinch rather than use his massive reach advantage.

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Several takedowns followed as Jones seemed intent to prove he was the superior wrestler. A barrage of punches and elbows followed and Sonnen was clearly in trouble as he lay on his side.

As Jones methodically picked apart the undersized challenger he pulled Sonnen's arm away and blasted him with vicious elbow strikes and a devastating knee to the body. The onslaught ripped apart Sonnen's face and referee Keith Peterson called a stop to the fight with 27 seconds left in the opening frame.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM JONES VS. SONNEN

In a bizarre turn of events as Jones celebrated his victory he looked down to notice a gruesome break of his left big toe. It quite possibly could have threatened to end the fight in freak fashion had Jones not gotten the first round stoppage.

Afterward Jones said he didn't immediately know when the injury occurred.

I don't know but when my adrenaline calms down I'm going to be in some pain tonight he said.

With the win the 25 year old Jones ties UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz's record for the most consecutive defenses of the UFC light heavyweight title at five. It also ends a months long feud with Sonnen that began with this past September's canceled UFC 151 event and continued through their stints as TUF 17 coaches.

I was just so happy to get past Chael Sonnen said Jones (18 1 MMA 12 1 UFC). Chael Sonnen's an awesome opponent. We went through a lot of drama that motivated me a lot.

PHOTOS TOP SHOTS FROM UFC 159

Last SlideNext Slide

Meanwhile Sonnen (27 13 1 MMA 6 6 UFC) has now fallen short in three UFC title fights in his past five appearances which included a pair of defeats to middleweight champ Anderson Silva. He remained gracious in defeat and hinted that his fighting days may be done.

He's an excellent fighter Sonnen said. I have no problem with the decision or the stoppage. He's very powerful. When he went for the kill he never stopped. I thought I was alright but I think he's the better fighter. ... I'm not going to be one of the guys to hang around. If there's not a road to the title then this sport isn't for me. I believe that was probably my last opportunity.

Complete UFC 159 results

Champion Jon Jones def. Chael Sonnen via TKO (strikes) Round 1 4 33

Michael Bisping def. Alan Belcher via technical decision (30 27 30 27 29 28)

Roy Nelson def. Cheick Kongo via knockout (punch) Round 1 2 03

Phil Davis def. Vinny Magalhaes via unanimous decision (30 27 30 27 29 28)

Pat Healy def. Jim Miller via submission (rear naked choke) Round 3 4 02

Rustam Khabilov def. Yancy Medeiros via TKO (thumb injury) Round 1 2 32

Ovince St. Preux def. Gian Villante via majority technical decision (30 28 30 29 29 29) Round 3 0 33

Sara McMann def. Sheila Gaff via TKO (strikes) Round 1 4 06

Bryan Caraway def. Johnny Bedford via submission (guillotine choke) Round 3 4 44

Cody McKenzie def. Leonard Garcia via unanimous decision (29 28 30 27 30 27)

Steven Siler def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (29 28 29 28 29 28)

Contributing Matt Erickson. Morgan and Erickson write for MMAjunkie.com part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group.

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NASCAR point standings after Richmond Jimmie Johnson extends lead over ...

Jimmie Johnson extended his lead in the championship standings to 43 over new second place driver Carl Edwards following his 12th place at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night. Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are tied for third 46points out of the top spot.

With his victory Kevin Harvick breaks into the top 10 and sits ninth 72 points behind Johnson.

After nine starts Paul Menard and Aric Almirola have also maintained their fast starts and both hold on to a provisional Chase spot heading into next Sunday's race at Talladega International Speedway.

Denny Hamlin drops to 29th in the standings 126 points out of 10th place and 71 points out of 20th. Hamlin expects to start next Sunday's race but will give way to a substitute driver at the earliest possible opportunity as he continues to recover from injuries sustained at Auto Club Speedway.

The complete NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings after Richmond can be found below

Jimmie Johnson Ldr. Carl Edwards 43 Kasey Kahne 46 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 46 Clint Bowyer 53 Brad Keselowski 59 Kyle Busch 65 Greg Biffle 71 Kevin Harvick 72 Paul Menard 72 Aric Almirola 85 Jamie McMurray 98 Matt Kenseth 102 Jeff Gordon 108 Martin Truex Jr. 112 Ryan Newman 114 Joey Logano 115 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 119 Jeff Burton 125 Kurt Busch 127 Mark Martin 136 Tony Stewart 136 Marcos Ambrose 148 Juan Pablo Montoya 160 Casey Mears 160 Danica Patrick 174 Bobby Labonte 191 Denny Hamlin 198 Dave Blaney 198 David Ragan 198

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Lakers depleted again for Game 4

Spurs Cruise To 3 0 Lead Over Lakers

EL SEGUNDO Calif. If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to take the first step toward becoming the first team in NBA history to win a series after falling down 0 3 they'll have to do it with Darius Morris Andrew Goudelock and Earl Clark in their starting lineup.

Steve Nash (hamstring) Jodie Meeks (ankle) and Steve Blake (hamstring) all will miss their second consecutive games in the Lakers' first round series against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Metta World Peace (knee) also has been ruled out.

I appreciate everyone supporting my efforts on trying to finish the season on top and contribute to the team. I guess I have to finish the season on top in a different way. I won't be able to play Sunday but it's OK. We're going to come out with the victory and then we'll move on from there. Hopefully I can get back when we get to San Antonio.

Metta World Peace via Twitter

He wanted to give it a go but he was just dragging his leg and we didn't feel like he could go coach Mike D'Antoni said of World Peace who was scoreless in 17 first half minutes in the Lakers' 120 89 loss in Game 3 on Friday.

I appreciate everyone supporting my efforts on trying to finish the season on top and contribute to the team World Peace said in a video he posted to his Twitter account Saturday. I guess I have to finish the season on top in a different way. I won't be able to play Sunday but it's OK. We're going to come out with the victory and then we'll move on from there. Hopefully I can get back when we get to San Antonio.

That would be Game 5 on Tuesday if the series goes that far. If it doesn't an interesting offseason will begin.

Dwight Howard is set to become a free agent on July 1 and has yet to inform the Lakers whether he intends to re sign or not.

I haven't thought about it Howard said after practice Saturday. We haven't talked about it.

D'Antoni given a public vote of support by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak prior to L.A.'s final game of the regular season against the Houston Rockets also sidestepped a question about what the offseason could bring.

We're worried about Sunday's game is all we're doing D'Antoni said. We're going to try to play well Sunday and try to get a win sneak a win in there.

The Spurs have won the first three games of the series by an average of 18 points and there's no denying the impact that injuries have had on the Lakers.

It's been really difficult Pau Gasol said. It's hard to play at this level of playoff basketball without your roster healthy. Not just 1 2 3 4 (players) this is five key players in our rotation and our game that are not out there with us. It's been one thing after another. It's been a rough path.

Gasol is averaging 13.3 points 12.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists in the series but said he isn't healthy either.

My foot is still bothering me said Gasol who missed a significant portion of the season with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. I knew that was going to happen. I'm taking care of it every day but it's still limiting.

My knees are being an issue also. My patellar tendons are suffering. It's something that once the season is over I'll have to take care of and do something about because it has been limiting. But at the same time I've still been performing pretty well and I want to continue to fight continue to leave it all out there on the floor and do what I have to do.

More on the Lakers

For more news notes and analysis of the Lakers check out the Lakers Index. Blog

Gasol said his left knee is hurting more than his right but that both will require attention this summer.

We'll see what kind of treatments injections (are available) Gasol said. It's more than tendinitis it's tendinosis. There's a degeneration of the tissue and it's something that I've dealt with all year. So I'll have to do something to regenerate the tissue so I don't have to play with this pain.

Gasol said he could follow Kobe Bryant's example and fly to Germany for Regenokine therapy.

Wherever I have to go I'll go Gasol said. It's a possibility.

The four time All Star who will turn 33 in July said he is looking into non invasive procedures rather than surgery.

Find ways to regenerate the tendon tissue so I can get rid of all the dead tissue and inflammation that is there right now. I have also calcification on my insertion of my patellar (tendon) Gasol said. So it's been difficult but nothing has been easy this year so I wouldn't expect any less.

Gasol did not have as clear a picture of what would be happening to his and his teammates' status with the Lakers this summer. Gasol World Peace Blake and Bryant are all eligible to be released from the team via the NBA's amnesty provision. And Gasol knows better than most that trades are always a possibility after a deal to send him to Houston in a three way deal that would have landed the Lakers Chris Paul prior to the 2011 12 season fell through.

I'm happy and proud of how the guys have fought through what we've been through and what we've gone through Gasol said. That's what I like to see. That's what I'll keep in my mind and my heart. What happens next is totally up to the team and management. That's totally not in our hands.

What is in the depleted Lakers' hands is their Game 4 performance.

We want to win and we're not going to just quit because all the odds are against us Howard said. We're going to fight and that's the only way we know how to play.

Added D'Antoni You can't do something that everybody will talk about if everybody expects you to do it. Nobody expects us to do it so we're going to show and we're going to try to do it. And why not We've got good guys. They've battled since February getting us into this position and now we're in another big hole trying to dig out little by little. That's our mindset. We'll see if we can do it.

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