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New England Patriots Well Aware Of Aaron Hernandez’s Murky Past

Jackie Warner
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New England Patriots Well Aware Of Aaron Hernandez’s Murky Past

Some people have said that the New England Patriots should be partly to blame for bringing Aaron Hernandez to their town, but the Pats were well aware the NFL football stars murky past and made sure it was in writing when he signed his very lucrative contract. Hernandez was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the NFL draft in 2010, and they were more than aware of the risk they were taking. They decided to roll the dice, and this has made Deflategate look like nursery school problems.

“We knew he had some issues prior,” Reese said. “Urban Meyer and Bill [Belichick] were very, very close, and I think Urban convinced Bill that, you know, that these things weren’t going to be an issue.”

aaron hernandez tats with new england patriots 2015

Hernandez’s troubled past wasn’t a complete mystery. He’d failed a drug test (or tests) at the University of Florida, and there were rumors about a thug life. So when the Patriots signed him to his rookie contract, the deal was structured so that “75 percent of the money in the contract set up so that he would only make it if he stayed out of trouble, didn’t miss meetings, was always there doing the right thing,” according to an MMQB interview with Floyd Reese, a senior adviser with the team at the time Hernandez was drafted.

“And for the period of the original contract, he lived up to every bit of it. So it turned out well,” Reese told MMQB. “Of course, after that, after he signed [his $40 million contract extension], things kind of went awry.”

After he signed the $40 million contract extension?

Hernandez is actually accused of killing two people in a drive-by shooting that occurred a month before the Patriots signed him to that $40 million contract extension.

That’s a little odd calling it awry when it’s more like f+++ing haywire is more like it.

Aside from the double-homicide charge he has yet to face, on Wednesday he was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd.

new england patriots well aware of aaron hernandez murky past

Reese acknowledges the Patriots were aware Hernandez “had some issues” at Florida, but doesn’t go into specifics. They definitely knew about the failed drug test(s), and it’s likely they knew of an alleged incident in 2007 when Hernandez, then just a 17-year-old incoming freshman, punched a bar employee in the head, bursting his eardrum. A police report was filed following the altercation, meaning knowledge of the incident likely would have turned up in any cursory background check.

“When he was at Florida, he had some issues there too, there were some things that went on. We all knew about it,” Reese said. “It was just from our standpoint, we were getting a first-round talent in the fourth round under a contract that was going to keep him in line or it wasn’t going to cost us a penny. The real downside for us was the fourth-round pick. The upside was he ending up being an All-Pro, for a while, until he got his second contract.”

There was also a psychological profile done before the 2010 draft that, according to the Wall Street Journal, indicated Hernandez enjoyed “living on the edge of acceptable behavior.”

It’s not clear if the Patriots had seen that report prior to drafting him since they refused comment to the Wall Street Journal, but it’s obvious they deemed him worth the gamble despite knowledge of a troubled history.

aaron hernandez bulge with murder verdict 2015

“It was just from our standpoint, we were getting a first-round talent in the fourth round under a contract that was going to keep him in line or it wasn’t going to cost us a penny,” Reese told MMQB.

Reese went on to say that Hernandez being drafted by a team located within a short drive of where he grew up (in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood of Bristol, Conn., outside of Hartford) may have contributed to his downfall.

“There were a lot of times where he would leave Foxboro [Mass., home of the Patriots] and drive back to Hartford so he could be with his guys,” Reese explained.

“Aaron grew up in a tough environment, but he went to the University of Florida to get away from Hartford,” Reese said. “To get away from that environment. He knew it would be better for him …. The truth is, the vast majority of guys that have maybe had a tough upbringing, when you throw them into a great locker room, great organization, great place to play, they come out of it. They see the other side of it. ‘Why would I ever want to go back to that other place?’ The problem is you run into an Aaron Hernandez, who can’t get there. He’s comfortable back in Hartford … with all that trouble.”

On Wednesday, Aaron Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of football player Odin L. Lloyd on June 17, 20013, and he’s been sentenced to life in prison without parole. He has also been indicted on murder charges in the slayings of two other men stemming from 2012. Hernandez’s lawyers are already combing through trial transcripts as they appear his brief for appeal, but that seems like throwing a penny into the ocean of trouble this man has gotten himself into.

Friendly Rivals Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic Go For 43rd Time: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

Jackie Warner
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Friendly Rivals Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic Go For 43rd Time: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

rivals novak djokovic meets with rafael nadal monte carlo masters 2015

The 2015 Monte Carlo Masters has a match for the ages on Saturdy when Number 5 ranked Rafael Nadal goes up against his friendly rival number 1 ranked Novak Djokovic. The two will be meeting on the courts for their 43rd time, and they are both playing for keeps. Djokovic has been easily swiping everyone out of his path at this Open ready to continue breaking records while Rafi has gotten his second wind this year and is just as ready to get back to top form.

While some media outlets have really tried hard to create a bitter rivalry story between the Spaniard and the Serb, it just doesn’t exist. The two know that they push each other to play harder, and when one finally retires, the other will be shortly behind him.

Their last meeting came on clay in the 2014 Roland Garros final, where Nadal snapped a four-match losing streak against Djokovic to claim his ninth crown in Paris, retain the No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking and prevent his Serbian rival from completing the career Grand Slam.

novak djokovic mexican wear with rafael nadal

Nadal also improved to a 14-4 clay-court record against the Serb, including 6-0 at Roland Garros, and to 23-19 in their overall FedEx ATP Head2Head series. They hold the record for the most meetings between two players in the Open Era, eclipsing the mark previously held by Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe.

They last faced each other in Monte-Carlo in 2013, where Djokovic prevailed 6-2, 7-6(1) to win his first title at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000. The pair also clashed in the 2012 final in Monaco, which Nadal won 6-3, 6-1.

Here is a history of Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic’s 42 career meetings.

friendly rivals rafael nadal with novak djokovic

2014 Roland Garros, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 36 75 62 64
Nadal prevented Djokovic from completing a career Grand Slam, as he retained his No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking and became the first player in history to win nine titles at a major. He also drew level with Pete Sampras at No. 2 in the Grand Slam title-leaders list on 14 major crowns.

The Spaniard had lost eight of his past nine sets against Djokovic entering the Roland Garros final, and once again fell behind to start the match as Djokovic broke in the eighth game and survived a pair of break points. Though the winner of the first set had gone on to triumph nine times in their 11 previous Grand Slam meetings, a free-swinging Nadal drew level at a set apiece with a break and quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead in the third. The Serbian found renewed energy in the fourth set, recovering a break in the seventh game, but was unable to hold serve to stay in the match as he double-faulted on championship point.

2014 Internazionali BNL d’Italia Final, Rome, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 46 63 63

Djokovic pulled closer to Nadal in the battle for No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings by claiming his third Rome title and 19th at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level. It was the Serb’s second triumph over his rival in a Rome final, having prevailed in the 2011 title match.

Nadal entered their 41st encounter having spent over 10 hours on court through the semi-finals, but the seven-time champion showed no signs of fatigue in the early stages. He would surge to a double-break lead in the first set behind a ferocious offensive onslaught, and held on to take the opener in 46 minutes. In their previous 10 meetings, the player who had won the first set went on to win the match. Djokovic was ready to buck the trend, finding his range and rhythm in the second and third sets and turning the tables with a tenacious attacking display. He would hold Nadal to winning under 28 per cent of second serve points won for the rest of the match, firing return winners with ease and standing tall on the baseline. Djokovic’s 46 winners (including 15 from the backhand side) and six aces were too much for Nadal to overcome.

rafael nadal beats david ferrer monte carlo masters 2015

2014 Sony Open Tennis Final, Miami, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 63 63

There were milestones on the line for both players when they came together in their 40th meeting. Djokovic s looking to win the Indian Wells-Miami double for the second time (also 2011) and Nadal was hoping to get his hands on the Miami crown that had thus far eluded him in three previous finals.

Djokovic had won his past two contests with Nadal, since losing the US Open final, and, after saving a break point in the first game, produced a devastating display that the Spaniard had no answer to. As he raced to victory at Crandon Park for the fourth time, Djokovic broke Nadal three times, wrapping up the match in 84 minutes. Nadal was unable to make inroads in his counterpart’s serve in the second set, winning just four of 21 return points. He uncharacteristically hit 11 forehand unforced errors in the match, while Djokovic fired 22 total winners, including five off the backhand wing.

2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, hard indoors, Djokovic d. Nadal 63 64

Undefeated in 21 matches since his loss to Nadal in the US Open final, Djokovic pierced Nadal’s defences early on in his third season-ending final, breaking to 15 in the second game. Nadal battled to keep the set competitive, recovering the break, but a double fault at 3-4, 30/30, put him back in trouble with Djokovic smothering the net to break serve.

Djokovic tightened his grip on the match when he broke Nadal in the third game of the second set. He created his first match point opportunity in the ninth game, when Nadal lunged too far for a backhand down the line. The Spaniard saved it at 30/40. Despite falling from 30/0 to 30/30, the World No. 2 held his nerve and clinched his third match point chance when Nadal hit a forehand wide.

novak djokovic returns ball to andreas haider maurer for monte carlo masters win 2015

2013 China Open Final, Beijing, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 63 64

Following a pair of hard court defeats to Nadal during the summer, an inspired Djokovic exacted revenge in straight sets and without facing a break point. The Serb stretched his undefeated mark at the China Open to 19-0 with the win, capturing his fourth title in Beijing and snapping Nadal’s perfect hard court winning streak in 2013 at 26 straight matches.

Djokovic was dominant on serve, winning 90 per cent of first serve points and holding Nadal to just six return points won. He broke the Spaniard in his first service game and never looked back, breaking again early in the second set and closing out the match in 87 minutes. The victory came a day after Djokovic relinquished the No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking to Nadal. It was the Belgrade native’s fourth tour-level crown of the season and first since dethroning Nadal for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title in April. The loss was only Nadal’s fourth of the year as the Mallorca native was playing in his 13th final in 14 tournaments on the ATP World Tour in 2013.

2013 US Open Final, Grand Slam, New York, hard, Nadal d. Djokovic 62 36 64 61
In their third US Open final meeting (also 2010-11) and an Open Era record 37th meeting, Nadal exerted the early pressure, but it was Djokovic who turned the tables in the sixth game of the second set. The intensity rose early in the third set, as Djokovic broke Nadal in the third game only for Nadal to bounce back for 3-3 and ultimately break once again. Nadal stretched his lead to 3-0 in the fourth set and by the time he celebrated his 13th major crown, Djokovic had committed 53 unforced errors. Spaniard dominated the extended rallies of five shots or more, winning 64 of 111 such points. The World No. 2 was lethal in the return game as well, converting on seven of 12 break point chances. Queen Sofia of Spain congratulated Nadal in the locker room after winning his second US Open crown.

rafael nadal pulling shirt off at buenos aires open 2015 images

2013 Coupe Rogers SF, Montreal, hard, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 36 76(2)

With both players locked in a months-long fight for the year-end No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking, the Coupe Rogers semi-final in August betweenNovak Djokovic and Rafael Nadaltook on added significance. Nadal entered with an eight-match hard-court winning streak, while Djokovic played what he called “as close to perfection as you can be” in a quarter-final rout ofRichard Gasquet the day before. It would be their 36th overall meeting, which tied Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe for the most in the Open Era. The match began with an immediate break of serve by Nadal, who capitalised on a few ill-timed Djokovic double faults to race out to the early lead. Djokovic’s forehand was uncharacteristically misfiring in the early stages and Nadal took full advantage.

The Serb would fight back, however, leveling the match at a set apiece with a late break, reeling off five straight points from  40/0 down. The match would come down to a deciding tie-break, with Nadal quickly opening a 6-0 lead and converting on his third match point. The Spaniard would advance to his 36th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final, in which he would chase his fourth such title of the year. He hoisted the trophy in Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome. The loss snapped Djokovic’s streak of 13 consecutive match victories at the Coupe Rogers, having won the previous two titles there.

2013 Roland Garros SF, Grand Slam, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 36 61 67(3) 97

Both players were competing for a shot at history. Djokovic was attempting to have a shot at winning his first Roland Garros crown, which would make him the eighth man in tennis history to complete the career Grand Slam. Nadal was going for an eighth title in Paris. Djokovic had dealt Nadal a harsh defeat in their previous meeting at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he ended the Spaniard’s 46-match winning streak at the event. Did it weigh on Nadal’s mind? The Spaniard was two points from victory when he led 6-5, 30/15 in the fourth set, but he tightened up and Djokovic fought back into contention. Nadal then came back from a 2-4 deficit in the drama-filled fifth set, which lasted 87 minutes, to give the match an enthralling finish. The semi-final last four hours and 37 minutes and kept alive Nadal’s 21-match winning streak. It was only the second five-set match Nadal had played at the major, with the first being a first-round win over John Isner in 2011.

novak djokovic jumps for stan wwawrinka balls at australian open 2015

2013 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Final, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, Monte-Carlo, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 62 76(1)

Djokovic didn’t think he would compete at the tournament due to a foot injury. By the time he reached the final for the third time (also 2009, 2012), the World No. 1 was firing on all cylinders. Nadal, the eight-time defending champion, who was on a 46-match winning streak at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, had been equally as impressive. Their 34th FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting had all the ingredients of a classic. Djokovic raced into a 5-0 lead, dropping just 12 points. When he converted his eighth set point to clinch the 48-minute opener, the crowd started to wonder if Nadal’s reign was about to end. In a high-quality second set, which included fourth breaks of serve, both players showed great mental strength. But it was Djokovic who remained cool in the tie-break to win his 14 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and 37th trophy overall. The one-hour and 52-minte victory also meant that Djokovic has become the first player to beat Nadal three times in a clay-court final. He also ended Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay in the month of April. His last loss on clay in April had come on 8 April 2005 to Igor Andreev in the Valencia quarter-finals.

2012 Roland Garros Final, Grand Slam, Paris, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 64 63 26 75

The two were meeting for the fourth time at Roland Garros, with Nadal taking their previous three Paris clashes in straight sets. Djokovic was appearing in the final for the first time. In a final that was played over two days due to several rain delays, Nadal hit 34 winners to 29 unforced errors, and led two sets and a break before the Serbian rallied to win eight consecutive games en route to clinching his first set over Nadal at the tournament. He took a 2-1 break lead before play was suspended for the day on 10 June. When played resumed on Monday, Nadal broke back to level at 2-all and went on to wrap up the final victory in three hours and 49 minutes after Djokovic hit his fourth double fault to end the match. Djokovic was looking to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam championship titles. Nadal improved to 3-0 against Djokovic on clay in 2012.

rafael nadal in atp buenos aires tennis 2015 images armpits

2012 Internazionali BNL d’Italia Final, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, Rome, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 75 63
The pair contested the final at the Foro Italico for the third time, with Nadal coming out on top to avenge the defeat he had suffered at Djokovic’s hands a year earlier. With the final rained off on Sunday, it was below brighter skies on Monday that the pair took to court. Djokovic was under immediate pressure from Nadal. The Serb, who had beaten Roger Federer in the semi-finals, saved two break points in his opening service game before Nadal converted his fourth opportunity to lead 3-2. Djokovic immediately recovered the service break, but was broken by Nadal again in the 11th game, after a scintillating exchange at the net, and the Spaniard sealed the opener. Nadal was quick to capitalise on his momentum, taking advantage of an increased unforced error count by Djokovic and dominating from the baseline as he broke in the first game of the second set. Djokovic squandered four break back points in the following game, and another in the fourth game, before surrendering the match in the ninth game after two hours and 20 minutes with his fourth double fault.

2012 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Final, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, Monte-Carlo, clay, Nadal d. Djokovic 63 61
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal ended a seven-match losing streak to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, dropping just four games to win his eighth straight title in Monte-Carlo. The Spaniard converted five breaks and won 85 per cent of his first serve points to seal the final victory in 79 minutes. He did not drop a set during the tournament.

novak djokovic glimpses david ferrer master balls 2015 miami open 2015

 

2012 Australian Open Final, Grand Slam, Melbourne, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 57 64 62 67(5) 75
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to seven straight matches over No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam championship final on record over five hours and 53 minutes. It surpassed the previous record of four hours and 54 minutes when Mats Wilanderdefeated Ivan Lendl at the 1988 US Open. In a pulsating contest on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Djokovic rallied from a 2-4 deficit in the fifth set, to fight back and claim a dramatic victory. He continued to narrow the gap in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series with the Spaniard to 14-16. Nadal had never previously lost a Grand Slam final after winning the first set.

2011 US Open Final, Grand Slam, New York, hard, Djokovic d. Nadal 62 64 67(3) 61
World No. 1 Novak Djokovicclaimed his third Grand Slam title of the season and his first at the US Open when he defeated defending championRafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1 in a rematch of the 2010 final. With the victory, Djokovic improved to a 6-0 mark against the Spaniard in finals this season. The pair showed what was in store for the final, with their hard-hitting rallies averaging 10 strokes in the opening game. In both the first two sets Nadal led by a break of serve, and both times Djokovic came roaring back, putting Nadal under constant pressure with his retrieval skills on the baseline and his clever use of the angles, drawing the errors from the Spaniard’s racquet. Ten-time major champion Nadal showed his mettle in the third set, winning it in a tie-break after Djokovic had served for the match at 6-5. However, the Spaniard could not maintain his high level and with both men tiring in the intense contest, it was Nadal whose resistance broke down first and Djokovic broke serve twice to claim victory in four hours and nine minutes. The 24 year old became the sixth man in the Open Era to win three major titles in the same season.

rafael nadal arm up for french open 2015

2011 Wimbledon Final, Grand Slam, London, grass, Djokovic d. Nadal 64 61 16 63
The current World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 titlist, met the soon-to-be No. 1Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. For two sets, Djokovic was superb hitting 22 winners past Nadal, who was unable to hit top form in lengthy baseline rallies. But Nadal hasn’t won 20 straight matches at the All England Club for nothing. The top seed battled back to win the third set to raise hopes of a first two-sets-to-love comeback in a Wimbledon final since 1927, when Henri Cochet defeated Bill Tilden. Both players exchanged breaks of serve at the start of the fourth set, before Djokovic regained control to complete a 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and 28 minutes of play to lift his third Grand Slam championship title. It capped a dream fortnight for the Serbian, who will become No. 1 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings on 4 July.

2011 Internazionali BNL d’Italia Final, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, Rome, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 64 64
One day after a thrilling semi-final win over Andy Murray, Novak Djokovicdefeated defending champion Rafael Nadal for a second consecutive Sunday in a clay-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. The Serbian broke the World No. 1 four times – including the final games of the first and second sets – to become just the second player (Davydenko) to record four straight victories against the Spaniard. He also became the first player to win four Masters 1000 titles in one season since Nadal and Roger Federer claimed four apiece in 2005. On Saturday evening, Djokovic had come within two points of defeat before rallying to defeat Murray in a third-set tie-break. His streak of 39 successive tour-level victories following the Rome final was the sixth-longest winning streak in the Open Era.

coming up for novak djokovic tennis atp series 2015

2011 Mutua Madrid Open Final, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, Madrid, clay, Djokovic d. Nadal 75 64
Novak Djokovic notched his 34th consecutive victory as he brought to an end Rafael Nadal’s 37-match unbeaten run on clay by beating the defending champion 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open. Despite never having beaten Nadal on clay in nine previous attempts, Djokovic raced out to a 4-0 lead in the Masters 1000 final. Nadal fought back and broke the Serbian to bring himself back level in the ninth game, but Djokovic claimed the opening set three games later. After recovering a service break early in the second set, Djokovic broke Nadal again in the final game to seal victory in two hours and 17 minutes. “Under the circumstances, I’ve played probably the best match of my life on clay against the World No. 1 and the player to beat on this surface,” declared Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic Answers Fans Odd Questions

Novak Djokovic Knocks Out Marin Cilic For Monte Carlo Masters Semi-finals

Jackie Warner
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Novak Djokovic Knocks Out Marin Cilic For Monte Carlo Masters Semi-finals

novak djokovic knocks out marin cilic for semi finals monte carlo masters 2015

It’s not such a surprise that Novak Djokovic has taken out yet another hurdle in the form of Marin Cilic in his attempt at taking another back to back to back Opens title with the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters. The number one worldwide tennis star is on a mission to continue breaking records to leave his stamp on the world of tennis for many years to come. He knocked Cilic out of the Open in two sets 6-0, 6-3 and now is headed to take on Rafael Nadal, who seems just as determined to not leave this open empty handed as he did with the 2015 Miami Open.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic moved to a perfect 12-0 record over Marin Cilic on Friday at theMonte-Carlo Rolex Masters as he reached the semi-finals with a 6-0, 6-3 victory.

“The first set went completely my way,” said Djokovic, who won the first eight games of the match. “I knew he was going to start to change some things in his game so he could start to play a little bit better. But I made a crucial break at the beginning of the second. The first eight games were really fantastic. I tried to keep it up, [but] I did drop in the concentration a little bit.”

marin cilic tries to return novak djokovic serve monte carlo masters 2015

The Serb will face either eight-time champion Rafael Nadal or David Ferrer on Saturday as he bids to reach the final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the fourth time. He finished runner-up in 2009 and 2012 before lifting the trophy in 2013 with victory over Nadal.

“It’s probably the biggest clay court challenge you can have, playing against Nadal or Ferrer. Both of these guys have had so much success on this surface, especially Rafa, this tournament in particular.

“I [have] got to prepare myself mentally for that. Other than the mental part, I think physically I’m ready. I’m not exhausted. I haven’t spent too much time on the court. Also, I’m feeling the ball really well. Hopefully, I can perform well. I know that I’m going to need to keep the high level of performance throughout the entire match tomorrow.”

The 27-year-old Djokovic is currently on a 15-match winning streak after becoming the first player to complete a third Indian Wells-Miami sweep during the March Masters.

The Belgrade native, who also won his eighth Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open (d. Murray), has lost just two matches this season (28-2 mark) and is looking to become the first player to win the first three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles of the year.

The eighth-seeded Cilic was playing just his second tournament of the season after recovering from a right shoulder injury. The Croat had upset Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals here for the first time in eight appearances.

Tomas Berdych vs Gael Monfils: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

Jackie Warner
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Tomas Berdych vs Gael Monfils: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

tomas berdych vs gael monfils monte carlo masters 2015

More people are going to be highly anticipating the match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the 2015 Monte Carlo Semi-finals, but the one between Tomas Berdych and Gael Monfils promises to be just as exciting.

Gael Monfils surged into the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters semi-finals on Friday as he dismissed Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-3.

Just a day earlier, Monfils had recorded his biggest win of the season over World No. 2Roger Federer, while Dimitrov came into the contest also in good form, having swept past defending champion Stan Wawrinka for the loss of just three games.

But a spate of unforced errors proved costly for Dimitrov as he struggled to find top form in the second match of the day. The first set lasted just 22 minutes, with Monfils capitalizing on 22 unforced errors from Dimitrov to break serve three times. The 14th seed swiftly established a 5-2 lead in the second set and went on to close out victory in 58 minutes.

tomas berdych serving to gael monfils monte carlo masters 2015

“Today, I wanted to make him run a lot, left [to] right, left [to] right [on] a lot of points,” said Monfils. “I tried to dictate with my forehand, move him around the court, short [and] back. I was like trying to play very deep and very high and heavy to tell him: ‘Grigor, you need to stay back.'”

The 28-year-old Monfils is through to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final since reaching the final of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris Bercy five years ago. On that occasion, he finished runner-up to Robin Soderling.

The right-hander is bidding to reach his second final of the season, after losing out to Gilles Simon in the Marseille title match. He has a 16-5 record on the season.

Monfils will look to overturn a 1-5 record against Tomas Berdych in Saturday’s semi-finals, having already lost to the Czech twice this year.

Berdych advanced to the semi-finals at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the third time when Milos Raonic was forced to retire from their contest with a foot injury. Berdych had been leading 5-2.

The 29-year-old Berdych will look to reach the final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the first time. He was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the 2007 semi-finals and by Novak Djokovic in 2012.

“So far everything is going well,” said Berdych. “My preparation is really good. I’ve done as much as I could, playing on the clay right after the Miami, which is a good sign for me. I’m able to execute it in the matches.”

The Czech is through to his 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final and improved to a 26-6 match record on the season. Working with new coach, Dani Vallverdu, this season, Berdych has finished runner-up in Doha (l. to Ferrer) and Rotterdam (l. to Wawrinka) and also reached the Australian Opensemi-finals (l. to Murray).

Rafeal Nadal Takes On Novak Djokovic Semis: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

Shane Lambert
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Rafeal Nadal Takes On Novak Djokovic Semis: 2015 Monte Carlo Masters

rafael nadal beats novak djokovic come face for monte carlo masters 2015

The 2015 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters continued on Friday as the four quarterfinal matches were played. None of the results were particularly close although David Ferrer extended a tournament favorite to three sets before losing. All of the results from Friday in men’s singles are listed below.

Singles – Quarter-Finals

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d [8] Marin Cilic (CRO) 60 63

[3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) d [5] David Ferrer (ESP) 64 57 62

[6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) d [4] Milos Raonic (CAN) 52 ret. (retirement)

[14] [WC] Gael Monfils (FRA) d [9] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 61 63

novak djokovic beats cilic for semi finals monte carlo masters 2015

Djokovic’s demolition of Cilic suggests that the Croat is not anywhere close to his best tennis yet. The reigning US Open champion has just recently returned from injury but, if he was playing close to his potential, you would expect a more competitive outcome than the thrashing he suffered on Friday. With the loss, Cilic, now 0-12 against Djokovic, remains winless against the current World No. 1.

novak djokovic beats marin cilic monte carlo masters 2015

In the other quarterfinal on Djokovic’s half of the draw Ferrer, now 6-23 against Rafa, failed to back up his victory over Nadal from a year ago. That result sets up a blockbuster semifinal in Monte-Carlo, one that will feature Djokovic and Nadal, the two favorites to win the 2015 French Open. They will meet not before 3:30pm on Saturday on the main court at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. The winner of the match will surely garner a lot more support in the Roland Garros betting market.

On the other half of the draw Tomas Berdych picked up a bit of luck as he did not have to exert himself much in order to advance through the quarters. Milos Raonic, forced to retire against Berdych, picked up a right foot injury in the first set on Friday with implications that are not clear for the upcoming events on tour.

rafael nadal beats david ferrer monte carlo masters 2015

Berdych, who was just 1-3 against Raonic, will have a favorable match-up in the semifinals. The Czech No. 1 will next face Frenchman Gael Monfils, the lowest ranked player remaining in the Monaco draw. Monfils, who is just 1-5 against Berdych, dispatched of Grigor Dimitrov in the quarters quite comfortably.

As the draw looks, Berdych appears favored to make another appearance in a Masters Series final. However with Nadal and Djokovic on the opposite side of the draw, it is hard to picture the Czech Republic’s top player claiming the Monte-Carlo Masters title. Instead, the Djokovic vs. Nadal match-up appears to be the final before the final with the winner promising to be a heavy favorite in Sunday’s championship match.

Saturday’s Order of Play

Not Before 1:00 pm

[6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs [14] [WC] Gael Monfils (FRA)

9:30 am ET 4/18/2015

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Celebrity Gossip Roundup: KeKe Palmer Clears Up Aaron Hernandez Watch

The Curvy Girl Diva
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Celebrity Gossip Roundup: KeKe Palmer Clears Up Aaron Hernandez Watch

celebrity gossip keke palmer aaron hernandez and suge knight 2015

Here we are rounding out the celebrity gossip and news for the week. Today, it’s all about KeKe Palmer clearing up, Aaron Hernandez prison watch and Suge Knight getting a chance to get out of jail…if he can pay the lowered bail of $10 million.

v stiviano with donald sterling clippers game 2015

V. Stiviano Ordered to Up

Well, if you’re thinking about a way to come up in life and plan to take the mistresses to a super rich basketball team owner route, honey child think about. If you remember V. Stiviano, the openly known mistresses (wait… are you still a mistresses if the wife knows) of shamed NBA owner Donald Sterling has been ordered to pay back… that’s right… back, $2.6 million in houses and gifts gained from her relationship with Sterling.

rochelle sterling suing v stiviano for affair with husband donald

All of this comes in the wake of a lawsuit brought against Stiviano by Sterling’s wife Rochelle. In the suit, she accused her husband’s former flame of targeting very wealthy older men and says that the Ferrari, two Bentleys, a Range Rover and the $1.8 million duplex (not a house but a duplex) she has was all bought by Sterling with the couple’s money.

Stiviano then countered saying something to the effect that there was nothing wrong with receiving these gifts and that she didn’t take advantage of Sterling who made most of his money via real estate. Obviously the court agreed with Mrs. Sterling because that chick now has to pay back $2,630,000.

“Slow Clap.” Damn right Rochelle, don’t let that bitch keep anything.

keke palmer no side chick wendy williams 2015

KeKe Palmer Sets Record Straight about Cory Hardict and Tia Mowry’s Shade

Leave it to Wendy Williams to start shit that ain’t got nothing to do with her. Apparently a segment on her show insinuated that there is something going on with KeKe Palmer and her Brotherly Love co-star Cory Hardict.

Williams referenced an article from Media Takeout and after the “cat was out of the bag” Hardict’s wife Tia Mowry posted a tweet, which seemed to be aimed at Palmer, saying,

tia mowry shades down on keke palmer

“Saying you like married men in interviews [is] not cute. Just saying.”

Mowry ended up deleting the text but not before people made a fuss about it. Of course KeKe had to clear up exactly what she said which she did on the Wendy’s show.  She told the talk show host that she has known Cory since she was 10 years old and her stating that she was going to marry him was her thoughts as a young child. She has not hard feelings for Cory and Tia which is good, but let’s be real, if I were Tia, I would have felt a certain kind of way too. There is no way around it. You don’t go around saying shit like that especially if you are keen to how it will affect someone’s wife. Kind of shady to me.

aaron hernandez jail suicide watch 2015

 

 

Aaron Hernandez on Suicide Watch

With everything going on with Aaron Hernandez (you know… being found guilty of murder and all) he has now been placed on suicide watch.  The weight of his conviction comes with a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole.

He is now on suicide watch, which is a no brainer. Imagine being 25 years old knowing that you have to spend the rest of your days behind bars AND that your actions forfeited a promising NFL career with a powerhouse team that cost you $40 million.

Now for the record, I grew up in the hood so I know that it can be a bitch getting out, but come the fuck on people who get a break in life and are able to get out. Stop fucking it up by still doing the shit you did when no one gave a damn about who you are. Don’t be so arrogant that you think you can get away with murder…. Literally!

 

Suge Knight Can Finally Make Bail… Maybe

The ongoing train wreck that is Suge Knight’s murder case has finally gotten the break he has been wanting. Not too long ago, he his bail was set at $25 million. When he heard the figure, he fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital. Now, I guess after second guessing if that was a good decision, the judge has lowered hit bail… to $10 million. Hell that’s still a lot.

Anyway, Suge’s lawyer is saying that that is a more doable figure for his client and it looks like the former music executive may be able to post bail within the next 24 hours. Well congratulations Suge Knight and make sure your people don’t let you behind the wheel of a car.

johnny kemp dies on tom joyner cruise 2015

Singer Johnny Kemp Dies on Tom Joyner Cruise

We lost another this week and this time it was to a freak accident. Best known for his 80’s hit “Just Got Paid”  (my jam) Johnny Kemp was scheduled to perform on the Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage Cruise.

Early rumors as to what took the life of the 55 year old Bahamian singer suggest that it was do to a possible fall. Details are forth still forth coming.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Anthony Davis & Monty Williams Lead New Orleans Pelicans to Playoffs

Chris Maurice
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Anthony Davis & Monty Williams Lead New Orleans Pelicans to Playoffs

anthony davis landing another for new orleans pelicans 205

That’s right ladies and gentlemen—the New Orleans Pelicans are heading to the NBA Playoffs after outlasting the San Antonio Spurs rally and edging out the Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings.

In the biggest game of his young NBA career, Anthony Davis put on a show for the home crowd, leading his team to a 108-103 victory over the defending champs to secure playoff basketball in New Orleans for the first time since 2011. Davis finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in the big win.

“Honestly, I know I told y’all before this game it didn’t mean nothing, but I tried to downplay it because I didn’t want to get too excited,” said an ecstatic Davis after the Pelicans win. “It meant a lot—and we played like it meant something. We played our hearts out.”

They sure did. The Pelicans came out of the locker room ready to fight, and by the middle of the 2nd quarter they found themselves with a 23 point lead over the Spurs. Of course, as most teams in the league have come to learn, the Spurs may be down but they are very rarely ever out. The champs gradually chopped away at the lead after halftime, and by the 4th quarter the Spurs had made it a game again.

anthony davis working pelicans to playoffs 2015 nba

The Pelicans weren’t about to blow this one though. Although they made some bad mistakes in the 2nd half, they held on behind Davis, head coach Monty Williams, and Tyreke Evans.

“Since I’ve been in the league, I haven’t had a chance to play for anything,” said Evans, who joins Davis and Eric Gordon as leaders of the team who will be making their first appearance in the postseason. “So tonight I wasn’t going to let nothing take it away.”

For the majority of the Pelicans roster, this matchup with the Spurs was the most important game they’ve ever played in—a win-and-you’re-in game on their home court against the defending NBA champions. This season is the first time since the Chris Paul and David West era that the New Orleans franchise has even managed a winning record.

anthony davis leads new orleans pelicans to playoffs 2015

A large part of the Pelicans gradual path to success has been paved by head coach Monty Williams. Williams took over for Byron Scott in 2010, leading the Hornets to a 46-36 record and a playoff appearance in Chris Paul’s final season in the Big Easy. Obviously, with Paul leaving, the wins left too.

The Hornets found themselves in rebuilding mode, posting a 21-45 record in a shortened 2011-2012 NBA season; and they were selected to pick 1st overall in the NBA Draft Lottery. Little did they know that taking Anthony Davis out of Kentucky would change the face of the franchise, and the league itself to some extent.

Davis, Williams, and the Pelicans have gotten better every season; and now they are finally a playoff squad. Williams has withstood injury after injury and three losing seasons in a row—no one wanted this win more than him, and no one was more excited when that final buzzer sounded sending the Pelicans to the playoffs.

“It’s a long time coming,” said Williams after the game. “A lot of work. The game was phenomenal. I almost let [the tears] go. They were on the way. We’ve been through a lot here, a lot of the things we’ve been through I can’t even say on camera.”

anthony davis hugging pelicans coach monty williams for playoffs nba 2015

The Pelicans may not be the best team in the Western Conference, but they are in the playoffs now, and no one can take that away from them.

“A month and a half ago, nobody thought we’d be in this position,” continued Williams. “We just said we’re going to take it one game at a time. So many people counted us out.”

“We got here.”

Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Part 2 NHL 2015

Shane Lambert
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Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators Part 2 NHL 2015

montreal canadians vs ottawa senators nhl 2015

The Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators took to the ice on Wednesday night for game 1 of their opening round series in the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. The result from Montreal saw the Canadiens defeat Ottawa 4-3, behind an outbreak of scoring in the second period. However it was other action besides the scoring that generated the most commentary on game 1.

Firstly, let’s look at what’s ahead in this series for certain. Those following the Montreal vs. Ottawa playoff series may want to note the following schedule (all times ET).

Game 2 from Montreal: Friday, April 17th at 7pm
Game 3 from Ottawa: Sunday, April 19th at 7pm
Game 4 from Ottawa: Wednesday, April 22nd at 7pm

The series could end in four games if Montreal ends up winning games two, three, and four. Otherwise games five, six, and seven will be played from Montreal, then Ottawa, and then Montreal respectively (if necessary). The starting times for those prospective games are not yet determined however the dates have been announced: game five would be played on April 24th, game six on the 26th, and gave seven on the 28th.

montreal canadians beat off ottawa senators nhl 2015

The Canadiens entered the series as the favorite following a strong regular season. Furthermore, Montreal is the team with the experience winning in the playoffs as the Canadiens made the Eastern Conference finals last year. They will enter game two with a one-game cushion and they are considered mild favorites to win on Friday, priced at -140 (5/7; bet365) to win straight up.

However drama from game one promises to have an effect on this series. Noteably P.K. Subban of Montreal received a game misconduct and a five-minute major penalty for a slash against Mark Stone, a 22-year old from Winnipeg who tallied 64 points on the year. According to NHL.com, the forward for Ottawa “sustained a microfracture and ligament damage to his right wrist…and his availability for the remainder of the series is unknown.”

What could the absence of Stone mean to the Senators? Noting that he tied for second in points on the team and finished second in goal scoring, should he miss the rest of the series it would not be a small matter for Ottawa. However teams have rallied around injuries before and the incident may very well incite the Senators.

canadians beat senators review 2015

Kyle Turris, who plays centre for Ottawa, perhaps hinted at contempt for Subban. He called the slash “a baseball swing slash” and suggested that it had no part in hockey, even in the normally physical NHL playoffs.

How a sidelined teammate will affect Ottawa is not clear. It is obvious that they are down a skilled player but what emotional effect the slash will have is not so obvious.

If the Senators use their anger to focus then they may very well outwork the Canadiens. However if they look for revenge then they may play distracted with the expectation that the experienced Montreal players would punish them for that – on the scoresheet.

But regardless, the complexion of the Ottawa vs. Montreal series has changed after game one. The Canadiens remain favored however the series is now more than just a battle between conference rivals. This series could turn into a bitter grudge match and Subban, Montreal’s standout defenseman, could have a target on his back.

Friday night’s game promises to be huge, it promises to be eventful, and the games from Ottawa promise to feature a chorus of boos everytime a certain defender touches the puck.

Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets: Tyson Chandler is the X-Factor

Chris Maurice
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Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets: Tyson Chandler is the X-Factor

tyson chandler x factor for dallas mavericks vs houston rockets 2015

The Dallas Mavericks finished the season with a 50-32 record, securing the 7th seed in the Western Conference and a trip to Houston to take on the Rockets and NBA MVP candidate James Harden.

Everyone knows the Houston Rockets are ready for this matchup—Harden still has a pulse, so they are one of the best teams in the league by default. As the injuries on the team piled up, Harden simply lower his shoulder and continued to carry the team on his back to 56 wins this season. Dwight Howard’s prolonged absence and season-ending injuries to Donatas Motiejunas and Patrick Beverley were just bumps in the road for Howard.

The Mavericks on the other hand come in only six games behind the Rockets, but much more experienced. Dirk Nowitzki is still the leader of this team as he was en route to their 2011 NBA Championship. Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo pack a one-two punch, but there is another player who will be the real X-Factor:

monta ellis with rajon rondo on dallas mavericks 2015

The big difference maker for the Mavs in this series will be Tyson Chandler. That’s right, the big man who was with them for the Finals, went to the New York Knicks, and was then saved from the Knicks by the Mavs. Without Chandler, the Mavs would not have even been a playoff team this season: he’s their only real rebounder, rim protector, and post defender.

Chandler’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet: he creates open looks for Nowitzki, and often picks up the driver at the rim who got past the rest of the team’s defense. His importance to this team cannot go unnoted—the Mavericks would be lucky to win 30 games a season without Chandler.

If the Mavs want to upset the Houston Hardens, Chandler and Rondo will need to play out of their minds. Chandler on the defensive end, Rondo on the offense. Chandler will be charged with meeting Harden at the rim, who is arguably the best penetrating scorer in the NBA. Rondo will be charged with commanding this offense—after all, they got him to help the team go further in the playoffs.

Both of these players have big tasks ahead of them; and if they want to upset the No. 2 seed in the conference, they better come ready to play in this series.

Aaron Hernandez Appeal Could Change Things As His Saga Continues

Jackie Warner
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Aaron Hernandez Appeal Could Change Things As His Saga Continues

aaron hernandez smiling with attorney for guilty verdict 2015

The jury might have found NFL star Aaron Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Odin L. Lloyd, but his appellate team is already scouring the trial transcript in preparation to filing their brief. Then there’s that other trial in Boston where he is accused of killing two other men.

Hernandez is entitled to appeal his case, and as with any first-degree murder convictions, things are never simple. Whatever the outcome of the appeal, with his other trials coming up, it doesn’t look like Hernandez will be seeing freedom any time soon, but circumstances could shift to change his sentencing. Whenever a case seems very cut and dry, something always pops up to muddy the works.

The former New England Patriots star entered the state prison system following his conviction in Bristol Superior Court, where a clerk announced he would remain incarcerated for “a term of your natural life without the possibility of parole.”

But Hernandez is entitled to an appeal before the state’s highest court, and there are “always complex issues that arise in first-degree murder convictions,” said Jeffrey Denner, a prominent Boston defense lawyer.

He said Hernandez’s legal team in the Boston case will have to assume the prior conviction “may well not stand, and what really is standing between Hernandez and liberty is going to be the result of the Boston case,” Denner said.

The two cases differ in a few key aspects.

aaron hernandez being cuffed again after guilty verdict 2015

In Bristol County, prosecutors lacked a murder weapon or an eyewitness who could testify about Lloyd’s slaying in June 2013 in an industrial park near Hernandez’s North Attleborough home. But the government won a conviction largely on the strength of phone records, video surveillance, and forensic evidence that tied Hernandez to the killing.

In the second case, by contrast, Suffolk County prosecutors have the .38 caliber gun that Hernandez allegedly used in the fatal drive-by shootings of Daniel Abreu, 29, and Safiro Furtado, 28, in July 2012 in Boston’s South End.

There is also the possibility of eyewitnesses in the Boston case. Friends who were in a car with Abreu and Furtado survived the shooting, and Alexander Bradley, a former associate of Hernandez who testified against him in the Bristol County murder case, was with Hernandez when he allegedly opened fire on the vehicle in Boston, court records show.

aaron hernandez leaving court after guilty verdict 2015

A spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley declined to say whether Bradley or any of the survivors would testify against Hernandez, though Conley described Bradley as a witness after Hernandez’s arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court in May 2014. Bradley alleges in a lawsuit that Hernandez shot him in the face in Florida in 2013. He is now jailed in Connecticut on unrelated charges. A lawyer for Bradley did not return messages seeking his comment.

Hernandez, 25, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and several weapons charges in the Boston case, which was initially slated for trial in May; a new trial date has not been set. Hernandez’s lawyers in the Bristol case, who are also the attorneys of record in the Boston case, could not be reached for comment.

Suffolk prosecutors will have reason to pursue their case aggressively, even though Hernandez is already serving a life term, said Rosanna Cavallaro, a Suffolk University Law professor and former state prosecutor. She noted that Hernandez allegedly killed Abreu and Furtado after a chance encounter at a nightclub.

“You’re talking about a double homicide of strangers, which is a pretty extraordinary kind of crime,” Cavallaro said. “Prosecutors are supposed to stand up for the people, and the idea that you can’t go to a club in Boston and come home safely is a troubling proposition.”

According to prosecutors, Hernandez became enraged after Abreu bumped into him at Cure, a Theater District nightclub, causing Hernandez to spill his drink. Abreu and Furtado, friends who had grown up in Cape Verde and were working as cleaners, later left the club with three other men in a BMW sedan driven by Abreu, investigators have said.

Prosecutors allege that Hernandez felt disrespected and was following the BMW in a sport-utility vehicle at 2:30 a.m. when Abreu stopped at a red light on Shawmut Avenue, about to turn onto Herald Street. The SUV pulled alongside, prosecutors say, as Hernandez allegedly fired five shots, killing Abreu and Furtado and wounding a third man.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Salvador Furtado said he wanted to see his son’s alleged killer pay for his crimes, telling reporters that “justice in America is very strong.”

In the Bristol case, the defense presented only three witnesses. But over 10 weeks of testimony, defense attorney James Sultan vigorously cross-examined forensic experts who linked Hernandez to the scene. In his closing argument, however, Sultan told jurors that Hernandez had witnessed Lloyd’s slaying. Legal observers contacted by the Globe said they did not believe the defense erred by conceding that Hernandez was at the crime scene, even though one juror told reporters that “we were all shocked” by the admission.

aaron hernandez appeal could complicate things 2015

Stephen J. Weymouth, a Boston defense lawyer who followed the case closely, said he felt the defense would have lost credibility with jurors by denying that Hernandez was present, based on the evidence that tied him to the scene. The admission “was a bit of a gamble, for sure, but I think it had to be addressed,” Weymouth said.

Sultan also suggested during closings that one of Hernandez’s codefendants, who will be tried separately, may have killed Lloyd in a drug-induced state, and that Hernandez could have seized the murder weapon from them, to protect himself, when they all returned to his home.

Jurors were not persuaded, and Hernandez will now spend the rest of his life in prison, barring a successful appeal before the state Supreme Judicial Court. The appeal process could take years, experts said.

Hernandez’s appellate team will scour the trial transcript before filing their brief with the SJC, said Daniel S. Medwed, a Northeastern University law professor who handled appeals as a public defender in New York. Oral arguments will be heard after additional court filings.

“This is going to be a thousand page-plus trial transcript” since more than 130 witness testified at Hernandez’s trial in Bristol County, Medwed said.

In the meantime, Hernandez is being held at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, the state’s maximum security intake center for men, which is less than 2 miles from Gillette Stadium. Inmates usually stay for at least three months before officials determine the state prison where they will serve out their sentences, according to the Department of Correction.

On Wednesday, Hernandez weighed in on his conviction as he prepared to leave the custody of the Bristol County jail, where he had been held pending trial, Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said in a phone interview.

He said Hernandez told the officers who had transferred him to and from court that “I’m gonna miss you guys, and they got it wrong.”

Novak Djokovic Moves To Quarter-finals at Monte Carlo Masters

Jackie Warner
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It’s not a surprise that Novak Djokovic has moved into the quarter-finals at the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters after defeating Andreas Haider-Maurer in two sets 6-4, 6-0 in the third round. The top seeded tennis champion is determined to continue breaking records holding the number one title along with winning back to back to back Open titles.

“I’ve played quite a lot of matches this year, so I don’t think I’m missing the competitive rhythm on the court; I actually feel confident,” said Djokovic. “I’ve played and won a lot of matches this year, fortunately.

novak djokovic vs andreas haider maurer monte carlo masters 2015

“I have Marin Cilic [next], who is a Grand Slam winner, who is playing the tennis of his life… I look forward to that challenge. Obviously now it’s going to get tougher.”

Djokovic is bidding to win the title at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament for the second time, following victory in 2013, when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final; he also finished runner-up in 2009 and 2012 (l. to Rafael Nadal).

The Serb, who received the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award on Wednesday, arrived in Monte-Carlo on the back of completing the March Masters sweep, with titles in Indian Wells (d. Roder Federer) and Miami (d. Andy Murray). The Belgrade native has lost just two matches this season (26-2 record), also winning his eighth Grand Slam championship at the start of the year at the Australian Open (d. Murray).

novak djokovic returns ball to andreas haider maurer for monte carlo masters win 2015

Djokovic will next face reigning US Open champion Marin Cilic, and holds an 11-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against the Croat.

Earlier, No. 8 seed Cilic got the win over No. 11 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-3, 7-6(5) in 74 minutes.

The World No. 10 saved the only break point he faced while firing five aces to achieve his best showing at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

Roger Federer & Stan Wawrinka Knocked Out of Monte Carlo Masters

Jackie Warner
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Roger Federer & Stan Wawrinka Knocked Out of Monte Carlo Masters

Roger Federer took a much needed break from the 2015 Miami Open to be prepared the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters, but that wasn’t enough to keep Gael Monfils from beating the Swiss tennis star. Stan Wawrinka lost to Juan Monaco, but Rafael Nadal has picked up steam since his loss at the Miami Open after taking American John Isner out in three sets.

Federer, who played his first tournament in nearly four weeks, made too many mistakes in a 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss to Gael Monfils after Wawrinka — the defending champion — was routed, 6-1, 6-2, by Grigor Dimitrov.

roger federer loses to gael monfils monte carlo masters 2015

“It’s the very beginning of the clay-court season. It’s going to take me some time to feel 100 percent comfortable,” the second-ranked Federer said. “Not many guys are perfect this week.”

Nadal might not be at his best yet, but his fighting spirit remains intact. The eight-time Monte Carlo champion, who arrived with a big question mark surrounding his form, came out on top of a tense match with the big-serving Isner to reach the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3 win.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic enjoyed another stroll and extended his winning streak to 14 matches, defeating Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4, 6-0 to set-up a quarterfinal match against Marin Cilic.

Federer has changed his schedule this season to allow more time for training and was not expecting to peak early on clay. He will now return to Switzerland to do some more practice before tournaments in Istanbul and Madrid.

At 33, Federer’s main ambition is to add more major titles to his glittering resume. His quest for a second French Open begins on May 24 and he believes he has enough time to make the proper adjustments.

“It was a good week for me anyways to come here and practice with the best, play a couple of matches,” said Federer, a four-time runner-up at the Country Club. “At least it gives me some information, if I’m trying to be a bit positive right now.”

After they traded early breaks, Monfils took advantage of Federer’s consecutive forehand errors to break in the ninth game and he served out the set on his first occasion.

Federer’s charges to the net in a tight second set were loudly cheered by the fans but his lack of consistency from the baseline proved decisive. He failed to build on a 5-3 lead in the tiebreaker, losing the final four points.

“I never felt like things were really happening the way I wanted them to be going during the whole match,” Federer said. “The way I felt at 53 sort of showed how I really felt, I guess.”

It was Monfils’s second consecutive win on clay over the 17-time Grand Slam champion after he beat him in straight sets during last year’s Davis Cup final, and Federer’s earliest loss in Monte Carlo since 2009.

“I’m surprised I was able to increase my power so quickly,” said Monfils, who recovered from a hip injury he picked up in Miami. “I was able to hit hard from the baseline, to be aggressive. I’m very pleased with the match.”

Against Isner, Nadal showed the grit and patience that have defined his 10-year reign on clay. The nine-time French Open champion waited until the middle of the third set to secure a break after withstanding an avalanche of aces and groundstrokes delivered by the 15th-seeded American.

“I lost in three sets in Rio. I lost in three sets in Indian Wells. I lost in three sets in Miami,” Nadal said. “So to break this streak of three-set losses was important.”

Nadal, who dropped to fifth in the rankings after his poor start to the season, fended off two set points in the tiebreaker but was broken in the ninth game of the second set when he went long with a forehand.

The turning point came in the fourth game of the decider, when Nadal earned two break points with a passing shot. He converted the first one with a thundering forehand winner and punched the air in his trademark celebration.

Nadal next faces clay specialist David Ferrer, who beat him at this stage of the tournament last year.

“He’s one of the players who have been able to win more matches this year, so he is confident,” Nadal said. “He is one of the best players of the world. He is a good challenge for me. I’m excited to play that match tomorrow.”

The fifth-seeded Ferrer needed 2 1/2 hours to oust Gilles Simon, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-1.

stan wawrinka loses to juan monaco at monte carlo masters 2015

Earlier, Dimitrov capitalized on Wawrinka’s awful display to advance, as the seventh-seeded Swiss got off a sluggish start and never found the right balance.

Wawrinka was hoping to advance deeper in Monte Carlo, where he won his maiden Masters title last year. But he could not follow up his solid opening-round showing, hitting 13 unforced errors as Dimitrov raced to a 4-0 lead.

Widely regarded as a future star of the game, the 23-year-old Dimitrov broke for 3-1 in the second set after the former Australian Open champion shanked three forehands. He set up a meeting with Monfils when Wawrinka sailed yet another forehand out of court to drop his serve.

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