Sports

UFC 161 breakdown, betting odds and picks: June 14, 2013; By Case Keefer; UFC 161 features one of the closest main event matchups imaginable, a light heavyweight bout so evenly matched that oddsmakers opened both fighters at a pick’em price.

Wheeler gives up just one hit in final start with 51s, but still suffers loss: June 13, 2013; By Sun Staff; Zack Wheeler was the tough-luck loser in his last start with the Las Vegas 51s Thursday, giving up just one hit in 5 and 2/3 innings of an 11-0 defeat against visiting Tacoma at Cashman Field.

Big 3 help Heat even NBA Finals with Spurs: June 13, 2013; By Brian Mahoney, Associated Press; LeBron James was better as promised. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were the best they've been since the playoffs started.

Juggling family and golf, Mickelson leads U.S. Open: June 13, 2013; By Joseph White, Associated Press; So much for getting a good night's sleep. Phil Mickelson arrived at Merion Golf Club about four hours before his 7:11 a.m. tee time and still managed to shoot a 3-under 67 for the clubhouse lead at Thursday's opening round of the U.S. Open.

NFL to limit bags brought into stadiums: June 13, 2013; By Barry Wilner, Associated Press; Bring yourself to the game. Leave the cooler and backpack at home. The NFL is tightening stadium security starting this preseason, limiting the size and type of bags fans can bring to the game. The restrictions are designed to enhance security while speeding up entry into stadiums.

Ray Lewis helped Rashad Evans 'harvest the fight inside' for UFC 161: June 13, 2013; By Case Keefer; Rashad Evans clears his throat as he prepares to launch into an impression of a close friend. It’s established whom Evans is imitating, though it doesn’t necessarily need to be. An average NFL fan could probably guess the orator after a couple of sentences.

Rebels roundup: Basketball schedule coming into focus; teams ace APR: June 13, 2013; By Taylor Bern; This offseason has been anything but dull on Maryland Parkway. That includes a few items over the weekend and early this week. Let's get everyone caught up, starting with more news from the UNLV basketball team.

Local prospect Brenson Hansen included on World Series of Fighting 3 card: June 13, 2013; By Case Keefer; Since turning professional in mixed martial arts, Brenson Hansen has compiled more canceled bouts than actual fights. Hansen, in fact, estimates he’s had double the amount of fights scrapped than actually come to fruition. The 23-year-old local holds a record of 4-1 in five bouts, coincidentally the same number of fights he recalls getting canceled last November in one month alone.

How two high school football programs received the gift of a lifetime — a $500k donation: June 13, 2013; By Ray Brewer; Players on the Western High School football team had just finished a morning workout in the school’s weight room this week when coach Donnie Davis told them they had more weight to lift. But this would be a lot more fun. Minutes later, players were walking from the front office carrying large boxes with new helmets.

Goodbye Zack: Top prospect Wheeler's last 51s start likely Thursday: June 12, 2013; By Sun Staff; Right-hander Zack Wheeler is scheduled to start Thursday for the Las Vegas 51s against visiting Tacoma at Cashman Field in what should be his last Triple-A appearance before being promoted to the New York Mets.

Hardship waivers an inexact science, but Olekaibe likely to get one at UNLV: June 12, 2013; By Taylor Bern; On the surface, the NCAA’s hardship waiver was created for a student-athlete just like Kevin Olekaibe, the former Fresno State junior whose father is in Las Vegas hospice care after multiple strokes have left him unable to speak and paralyzed below the waist.

Contract negotiations not distracting Roy Nelson from UFC 161: June 12, 2013; By Case Keefer; Across a wide spectrum of sports, athletes endure increased scrutiny when they enter the final period of a contract. “Contract years” can bring out the best in competitors motivated by the promise of a new deal or, sometimes, see them crumble under an unfamiliar form of pressure.

51s blow ninth-inning lead, then rally to score four runs with two outs for win: June 11, 2013; By Sun Staff; Zach Lutz hit a game-ending three-run home run Tuesday for the Las Vegas 51s, helping them score four runs — all with two outs — in their last at-bat for an 8-6 victory against visiting Tacoma.

Two home runs from Andrew Brown not enough for 51s in loss to Tacoma: June 10, 2013; By Sun Staff; Andrew Brown slugged two home runs Monday for the Las Vegas 51s in a 10-7 loss to visiting Tacoma at Cashman Field in the first game of the Las Vegas leg of an eight-game home-and-home series with the Rainiers.

Kevin Olekaibe transfers to UNLV from Fresno State; has strong case for hardship waiver to become eligible: June 10, 2013; By Ray Brewer; Former Cimarron-Memorial High basketball standout Kevin Olekaibe is enrolled in summer school classes at UNLV. Olekaibe, a 6-foot-2 guard and one of Fresno State’s top players, hopes to join the UNLV program for the upcoming season.

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Talking Points: NBA Finals in Vegas: Heat victory tonight could mean big business to sports books: Tonight marks the closest equivalent to Groundhog Day for local sports books. If the Miami Heat win to extend the NBA Finals to a Game ...

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