The NFL Players' Association has officially appealed the 4-game suspension given to Tom Brady for his role in Deflategate.

The statement released by the union announcing the appeal includes one very important challenge to the NFL's authority: the NFLPA wants the appeal heard by an independent arbitrator.

Here is the statement:

The NFLPA has filed an appeal of the four-game suspension of Tom Brady handed down by Troy Vincent.

Given the NFL’s history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters, it is only fair that a neutral arbitrator hear this appeal.

If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is “direct” and “inculpatory,” then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent.

Since the NFL handed down its punishment following the release of the Wells Report there has been widespread speculation that Brady would ultimately have his suspension reduced to one-to-three games based on the circumstantial nature of the evidence, and that was regardless of who heard the appeal.

If the NFLPA and Brady gets their way, it would seem that there is now a much better chance of having the suspension eased since the evidence, no matter how convincing to some, still requires one to connect the dots without a smoking gun.

An independent arbitrator could very well reach a different conclusion than the one the NFL has already landed upon.

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Tom Brady has made a whopping $149.8 million in his career and will reach $181.8 million if he plays out his current contract with the New England Patriots, which goes through the 2017 season, according to Spotrac.com.

Brady's career earnings trail Peyton Manning's $229.7 million by a wide margin. However, Brady has still hit $150 million despite playing on modest salaries as a sixth-round draft pick in his first two seasons in the league and restructuring his contract numerous times to help the Patriots' salary cap situation at the likely expense of his own earning power.

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A spectator caused a horrific crash at the Tour of Italy on Thursday that left race leader Alberto Contador with a dislocated shoulder and another rider, Daniele Colli, with a broken arm, AFP reported.

WARNING: This post shows graphic images that some people may find disturbing.

As stage six of the race was nearing its climax with a sprint finish, Colli was racing up the side of the road when he struck a spectator's camera and telephoto lens before hitting the ground.

A moment later, race leader Contador went flying, too, along with several other riders, and ended up on the ground with a dislocated shoulder.

"The crash occurred in the final 300 meters as Daniele Colli hit the camera lens of a spectator leaning over the barrier and went down, bringing half the peloton down with him," the AP reported. "Colli was immediately taken to a hospital and his team confirmed he broke his arm."

Here's Colli, on the left, hitting the spectator's camera:

Here's another view:

Below is a video showing more of the crash and the aftermath.

WARNING: This video and an embedded tweet after it show graphic images that some people may find disturbing.

Colli later tweeted that he was doing OK, and he thanked all his well-wishers. He added that it was unfortunate that he crashed because people were careless and that every day cyclists risk their lives and to please respect their work.

He also retweeted a photo of himself with his arm mangled and one with him giving the finger from his hospital bed:

As for Contador and his dislocated shoulder, he tweeted that he hopes to start Friday's stage seven. 

Last Sunday, also in the Giro d'Italia, a spectator on a bike caused a big crash when he tried to ride along with the pros.

In the first few seconds of this video, you can see the guy riding right onto the racecourse:

The three-week Giro concludes on Sunday, May 30, in Milan. It is considered the most important stage race after the Tour de France.

The crash on Thursday overshadowed the impressive win by André Greipel:

The big question now is, will Contador actually start Friday's stage and be able to defend his lead?

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will preside over Tom Brady's appeal of the four-game suspension the league gave Brady for Deflategate.

Goodell's decision to hear the appeal is an affront to the players' union, which challenged the league to appoint a neutral arbitrator to handle the case.

Goodell isn't neutral. He authorized the league's decision to suspend Brady, fine the Patriots $1 million, and take away a 2016 first-round draft pick and a 2017 fourth-round pick. In a statement announcing the penalties, Goodell acknowledged his role in deciding the punishment.

"We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent," the NFL executive vice president, "and many others," he said. "We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report."

In a letter to the Patriots, Vincent said the commissioner gave the case his "full consideration."

The absolute power that comes with Goodell's serving in these dual roles has been the focus of criticism from players. Presumably, Goodell didn't come to the decision to suspend Brady lightly. It came after a thorough examination of the Wells report, during which he was forced to make up his mind about the facts of the case and the extent to which Brady did or didn't cooperate with the investigation.

Now, in hearing Brady's appeal, Roger Goodell has to decide whether Roger Goodell was right in punishing Brady.

Even if we give Goodell the benefit of the doubt and assume he'll examine Brady's appeal with a completely open and neutral disposition, the fact he is hearing the appeal hurts the legitimacy of the entire case.

The Wells report is soft enough in its conclusions, and the evidence is circumstantial enough in nature, that Deflategate Trutherism is rampant in New England. Patriots fans already think their team is the victim in all of this, and the team is just fueling the fire by publishing a wild 20,000-word website attacking the report point by point.

The NFL had a chance to bolster the legitimacy of the investigation and its conclusions by putting Brady's appeal in the hands of a neutral arbitrator. If a judge with no preexisting ties to either side ruled that the league was just in its punishment, it would have gone a long way in convincing people that the league got it right.

But now, the league is in a no-win situation. If Goodell denies Brady's appeal, he'll get slammed for being biased and exercising absolute power. If Goodell reduces Brady's suspension, the league will appear incompetent, fueling the belief that the Wells report was a flawed waste of time and money.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers' midseason trade with the New York Knicks was lopsided from the beginning. 

The Cavs received J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert while giving away just a 2019 second-round pick. For practically nothing they got a player in Shumpert that they desperately needed — a solid wing defender capable of guarding three positions and a decent shooter who doesn't need the ball.

Shumpert's basic regular season numbers weren't impressive — eight points, three rebound, two assists, one steal per game to go with 41% shooting, 33% from three-point range. However, a deeper dive shows Shumpert's impact on the Cavs.

With Shumpert on the court, the Cavs scored 108.9 points per 100 possessions, slightly higher than their average, and allowed a team-best 99.7 points per 100 possessions on defense. In total, the Cavs outscored opponents by 9.7 points per 100 possessions with Shumpert on the court, third best on the team, behind only LeBron James and Timofey Mozgov. 

In the playoffs, Shumpert's effect on the team has become even more pronounced. His basic averages have gone up to 10 points, five rebounds, one steal and one block per game, with 41% shooting, 34% from three-point range. In 333 postseason minutes (third-most on the team) Shumpert has a 12.8 net rating, third on the team behind Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, both of whom have played far fewer minutes.

When Smith missed the first two games of the Bulls series with a suspension, Shumpert started in his place and filled his shoes admirably. In Games 1 and 2, Shumpert averaged 18.5 points, four rebounds, two steals per game and shot 48.5% from downtown.

While Shumpert picked up his offensive production, his defensive intensity never let up, either. In the playoffs, Shumpert is allowing just 0.70 points per possession when guarding pick-and-roll ball-handlers — a task he's frequently assigned as a wing. That number is 11th best in the NBA among players that have guarded at least 20 pick-and-rolls, according to NBA.com/Stats. 

In the Bulls series, Shumpert was crucial in guarding Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. He held Rose to just 6-14 shooting (42%) and held Butler to just 12-30 shooting (40%) when guarding them.

Shumpert put it all together in the deciding Game 6, scoring 15 points with seven rebound, four assists, two steals, and one block.

Early on, he was turning defense into offense:

Being able to gather a defensive rebound, push the ball up the floor, find a teammate, and then knock down the three isn't a common skill. 

And Shumpert should have had an assist here:

LeBron James recently acknowledged Shumpert's importance to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt:

"When he catches and shoots or when he catches and drives, he's very, very good. That's what he's doing for our team right now. He's not waiting. He's putting pressure on the defense, and that's when he's at his best."

...

"He's brought grit, toughness, the defensive mindset. That's the first thing he thinks about. In a sport full of a lot of egos, to be able to have teammates and guys like Shumpert who just care about team success, it means a lot to a locker room and we're very thankful to have him."

Shumpert has always been a tantalizing prospect because of his ability to defend and make an impact on offense. He's always good defensively, but doesn't always reach the elite level he's capable of. And for all of his athleticism and smooth shooting stroke, his shooting percentages and scoring averages don't reflect what he's capable of on offense.

Now he's putting it all together in the playoffs, and the Cavaliers are benefiting from it.

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Bill Simmons has done his last work for ESPN, Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated reports.

ESPN president John Skipper last week announced he was not renewing Simmons' contract. While the contract runs through September, Deitsch reports Simmons will not write, podcast, or appear on TV for ESPN.

From Deitsch:

There will be no farewell columns, podcasts or television appearances for Bill Simmons on ESPN.

SI has learned that ESPN and Simmons have worked out an agreement that officially ends his tenure as a front-facing employee for ESPN. Simmons sent an email to Grantland staffers this week informing them that he would no longer be working for the site he founded in 2011. Simmons will also no longer do podcasts or appear on television for ESPN.

An ESPN representative declined to comment on Simmons' status when reached by Business Insider.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports that Simmons will still be paid until his contract runs out. He makes $5 million per year.

As theories circulated about the firing, Simmons hasn't spoken publicly since Skipper's announcement. There have been no new podcasts, columns, or even tweets beyond some links to a Patriots Super Bowl YouTube clip and a tweet that said "Truth" after Paul Pierce hit a big shot against the Atlanta Hawks. He had said on multiple podcasts that he was scheduled to work the broadcast of the NBA draft in June.

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Whether they're looking for lush hilly terrain in Ireland or stunning oceanside courses in California, golfers travel the world to play at elite courses.

Some of these golf courses are famous for their rich history, while others offer breathtaking views and unique locations.

From Scotland's historic Muirfield to the Dominican Republic's challenging Teeth of the Dog, here are 40 golf courses every golfer should play in his or her lifetime.

An earlier version of this post was written by Anmargaret Warner.

Located on the west coast of Ireland, The Old Course at Ballybunion is naturally beautiful with grassy dunes set alongside the ocean. Nearly every hole here is excellent.

Learn more about the Ballybunion Golf Club >

The stunning Ocean course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, offers incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean at every hole. It has hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 PGA U.S. Championship.

Learn more about golf at Kiawah Island >

The West course at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Black Rock is regarded as the finest in Australia. Alister MacKenzie designed it on a huge scale, and the greens are some of the fastest in the world.

Learn more about the Royal Melbourne Golf Club >

The Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, setting up an uncertain future for the team and head coach Tom Thibodeau.

The relationship between Thibodeau and the Bulls front office has been reportedly unstable for some time. Early in 2015, there were reports that Thibodeau's management of players' minutes was a specific point of contention with the front office.

In May, Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Bulls management has constantly attempted to undermine Thibodeau and was obsessed with getting rid of him. Following the Bulls' Game 6 loss to the Cavs, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Thibodeau and the front office "are utterly done with each other."

However, it won't be as simple as firing Thibodeau.

He still has two years and $9 million remaining on his contract. Ken Berger of CBS reports that Thibodeau "won't quit and leave that money on the table." As the same time, the Bulls would presumably want to avoid buying out the remainder of that contract.

As Stein says, "both sides will be hoping the other blinks first in the unavoidable standoff forthcoming in terms of how these parties negotiate a divorce."

The one scenario where Thibodeau gets his money and the Bulls avoid paying him is if they trade him to another team.

Though trading coaches is rare, it has happened before, like when the Celtics sent Doc Rivers to the Clippers in exchange for a first-round pick. Though Thibodeau doesn't have the championship résumé that Rivers had, it's not unlikely that the Bulls would demand the same price. ESPN's Nick Friedell reports that teams can't offer to trade players for coaches, so suitors would be limited to draft picks and cash.

With multiple teams in need of a coach and Thibodeau on the trade market, there could be a bidding war.

Wojnarowski and Stein both report that the Orlando Magic have delayed their coaching search to see what happens with Thibodeau, and Stein says there's mutual interest between Thibodeau and the New Orleans Pelicans, who recently fired head coach Monty Williams. The Pelicans are a better team now and have a superstar in Anthony Davis, who any coach would like the chance to work with. But if a first-round pick is the price for Thibodeau, the Bulls would likely want the Magic's pick, since they're currently a lottery team. Thibodeau would still have power in choosing his destination, however, because he could always threaten to quit if the Bulls try to send him somewhere he doesn't like.

This is all assuming teams would be willing to part with a first-round pick for Thibodeau. Draft picks are more highly valued now than in previous years, and while Thibodeau is considered one of the NBA's best coaches, teams may prefer to sign him outright if he leaves the Bulls.

This again sets up a staring contest between Thibodeau and management, and how they decide to separate could take time.

If the Bulls are unable to work out a trade and Thibodeau hits the free agent coach market, several more teams will be interested. Though the Magic and Pelicans are just two teams with vacancies, it's possible that other teams could open up spots for a chance at Thibodeau. In a market where two rookie head coaches in Derek Fisher and Steve Kerr both got five-year, $25 million deals in 2014, it's certainly possible that an offer for Thibodeau could far outweigh that number.

Stein says Thibodeau's situation with the Bulls will be the "first major domino on this offseason's coaching carousel" this summer. He'll no doubt be in demand, but what it takes to get him is still very unknown.

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Salaries continue to soar in Major League Baseball as 25 players will make at least $20 million this season, up from 21 players in 2014.

This year's group of highest-paid players includes nine starting pitchers, seven first basemen, two shortstops, two right fielders, and a second baseman, third baseman, left fielder, center fielder, and designated hitter.

The New York Yankees lead the way with five players on the list, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (4) and the Philadelphia Phillies (3).

Salaries and contract information via spotrac.com and BaseballProspectus.com.

1. Clayton Kershaw — $30 million

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Starting pitcher

2014 WAR: 7.6 wins

Contract: 7 years, $215 million (through 2020)

One thing to know: Kershaw's contract is the richest deal for a pitcher in baseball history and his average annual salary of $30.7 million is the largest for any player. This year he will make about $909,000 for each start.

2. Justin Verlander — $28 million

Team: Detroit Tigers

Position: Starting pitcher

2014 WAR: 2.8 wins

Contract: 7 years, $180 million (through 2019)

One thing to know: Verlander is in just the third year of his contract but has yet to pitch in 2015 as he has been sidelined with a strained triceps muscle and is not expected back before June.

3. (tie) Ryan Howard — $25 million

Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Position: First baseman

2014 WAR: -0.3 wins

Contract: 5 years, $125 million (through 2016)

One thing to know: Howard's contract has become a nightmare for the Phillies as they still owe him nearly $60 million and he is a shell of his former self.

Watch these photographers climb a new skyscraper in China. The tower is currently 2,073-feet feet tall and is the second-tallest skyscraper in the world. 

Video courtesy of On The Roofs 

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John Cena posted a video of himself squatting 396 pounds on Twitter. Earlier reports claimed that the superstar was squatting 600 pounds but Cena cleared up the confusion. 

Video courtesy of John Cena 

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Chess in the United States is enjoying a resurgence.

It's the most exciting time for the ancient game since Bobby Fischer came back from Iceland in 1972, carrying the title of World Chess Champion.

But it just got a whole lot more exciting. The number three ranked player in the world, Fabiano Caruana, has expressed his intention to change from playing for the Italian Chess Federation to the US Chess Federation (USCF). 

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be representing the United States again," Caruana said in a statement on Tuesday. "I'd like to thank everybody who has made this possible, and I look forward to this exciting new partnership. In addition, I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for the support given to me over the past ten years by the Italian Chess Federation. I wish them all the best for the future."

Caruana's move means that the US will now have three players in the world's top ten.

"This is historic," said Jean Hoffman, Executive Director of the USCF, in an interview with Business Insider.

That it is! Caruana will join Hikaru Nakamura, world number 4 and the current US Chess Champion; and Wesley So, world number 7, who recently switched his federation to the US from the Philippines. The US has never had three players in the modern era's top ten.

Caruana was born the US, but the Super Grandmaster has been competing for Italy since before he became a teenager. The former chess prodigy crushed the field last year at a major invitational tournament in St. Louis and is frequently discussed as a future challenger to the reigning World Chess Champion and world number 1, Norway's Magnus Carlsen. (India's Vishy Anand, runner-up in last year's World Championship match, is number 2).

Caruana's playing strength has surged in the past two years. Carlsen has admitted that among the field of younger players closing in on his title, Caruana is "the guy." At this point, it's unclear whether Caruaua will qualify for the Candidates Tournament that selects the challenger for the World Championship title. But given his rating – 2803, among the highest ever achieved – he stands a good chance.

Changing federations isn't frictionless, nor is it cheap. It will cost $61,000 for Caruana to play again for the US, as the New York Times' Dylan Loeb McClain noted. There's ample speculation that the bill is being picked up by Rex Sinquefield, a wealthy chess benefactor who established the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of St. Louis, a veritable chess Mecca in the US – and the host of the Sinquefield Cup, where last year Caruana put on a dominating performance that had everyone comparing him to Fischer and yearning for the young man to return to the nation of his birth.

Caruana's announcement has captivated the US chess scene, but according to Hoffman, the switch isn't quite a done deal.

"A lot depends on Italian Federation," she said. "This is definitely a unique case, and I don’t know what to expect."

If Caruana's change does happen, however, he's planning to spend time in St. Louis, enhancing the city's newfound reputation as the center of chess in the US and, increasingly, the world. The USCF, based in Nashville, relocated some of its operations to St. Louis earlier this year, to be closer to the action. This year's Sinquefield Cup will have new status as one of three elite invitational tournaments, called the Grand Chess Tour, with a total prize money purse of $1 million.

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov is involved – and seen quite often in St. Louis these days. Nakamura lives in St. Louis. The Chess Club & Scholastic Center is now the home of both the US Championship for men and women and has set a new standard for coverage of competitive chess events, with scintillating online commentary and analysis. With Sinquefield's support and the arrival of a new generation of players, chess is entering an ESPN age that has for decades eluded the game, long consider dull and cerebral.

Magnus Carlsen is the biggest draw. He's the Tiger Woods of professional woodpushers, a youthful, charismatic champion taking chess to heights it hasn't witnessed since the "Fischer Boom" of the 1970s.

"I think he’s done wonderful things for the game," Hoffman said. "He's part of a new generation of players, who are challenging traditional stereotypes and convincing us to finally treat chess players as the world-class athletes they are."

If there's a problem with the 24-year-old Carlsen's ascent, it's the World Champ has so far battled – twice – for the title only with Anand, 45, who has enjoyed a late-career renaissance (he claimed the WCC crown five times, between the Kasparov and Carlsen eras). The chess world is itching for him to have a more youthful rival. And – taking nothing away from Anand, who has proved himself capable of beating the best to get the Championship match – put up a more compelling fight. Carlsen's pair of WCC victories were captured over an Anand who at times didn't bring his best chess to the board. The assumption is that Caruana, with youth on his side, can do better.

And do better as an American, raising the prospect of the first US Champion since Fischer. 

The spotlight will now really be on Caruana. It's worth noting, of course, that both Nakamura and So have also been coming on. Again, due to the unusual (some would say "corrupt") manner in which FIDE, the world chess governing body, runs the qualifying process for the WCC, neither may make it to the Candidates Tournament. Fortunately, the Grand Chess Tour will feature both Caruana and Nakamura, along with Carlsen, in a field of ten top players, eight of whom have already been named. So, who won the inaugural "Millionaire Chess" tournament in las Vegas last year, could get in as a player-to-be-named-later or as a wildcard.

The bottom line is that American chess is now poised, for the first time ever, to become a true powerhouse. Caruana has finally put the game in this country over the top. 

SEE ALSO: The world's top chess players have just formed a new $1 million professional tour

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The Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from the playoffs and the NBA world thinks Tom Thibodeau will soon be out as head coach. If true, Thibs will be just the latest casualty in what has become the job with the least security in American sports, NBA head coach.

According to ESPN, 42 NBA head coaches have been fired in the last five seasons, including nine who were fired after making the playoffs that same year. If Thibodeau is let go by the Bulls, that would leave just three teams (Spurs, Heat, Mavericks) with the same coach they had at the start of the 2010-11 season. The Bulls would become the 22nd team to change coaches in the last two years.

If it weren't for English soccer, this might be the scariest sports job chart in the world.

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The NFL has taken action against the New England Patriots for deflating footballs used in games, and the punishment is stiff.

It includes a four-game suspension for quarterback Tom Brady, a $1 million fine for the team, and the loss of a 2016 first-round draft pick and a 2017 fourth-round pick.

But while most are focusing on Brady's suspension and whether it was too long, that penalty is not nearly as bad as losing a 2016 first-round draft pick.

Losing Brady is certainly going to hurt the Pats, who will have to turn to unproven second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. But consider that the Patriots started 2-2 last year and still won the Super Bowl. In addition, their first four games in 2015 are not exactly tough, including winnable games at home against the Steelers and the Jaguars and one on the road against the Bills.

It's not ideal, but it is not as bad as it could have been.

A $1 million fine should never be taken lightly, but in this case, the unpaid suspension of Brady will actually save the Patriots $1.8 million in salary, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. So in some sense, the Pats will actually profit off of the suspension even with the fine.

The biggest blow is the loss of the 2016 first-round pick.

Whomever the Patriots would have selected in the first round next year has now been taken from the team, and it will never get him back.

Here are the players the Patriots selected in the first round from 2010 to 2013. All have been multiyear starters for the Patriots:

• 2010 — Devin McCourty, S (five-year starter)
• 2011 — Nate Solder, LT (four-year starter)
• 2012 — Dont'a Hightower, LB (three-year starter)
• 2013 — Chandler Jones, DE (three-year starter)

In other words, losing a first-round pick is the equivalent of having a good player suspended for at least four years, the length of a rookie contract. That's a damning blow for any team, especially a team that has mastered the art of the draft.

The Pats will eventually get Brady back. But losing a first-round pick is a penalty that will cost the team a starter and will resonate on the Patriots' roster for years.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's highest-paid soccer player and arguably the sport's finest athlete. Here's how the superstar spends his money. 

Produced by Devan Joseph. Special thanks to Tony Manfred and Melissa Stanger.

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Michael Jordan has lowered the price of his Highland Park, Illinois estate to $14.885 million, according to Zillow.

The house was put back on the market at $16 million in January 2014 after failing to sell at auction. Back in 2012, he had it priced at $29 million

The 56,000-square foot compound has nine bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. There's also a tennis court, basketball court, cigar room, gym, and circular infinity pool with a grass island. It's being co-listed by agents from The Agency and Baird & Warner, Zillow reports.

The gate is fitting (the numbers in the new price of $14.855 million also add up to 23).

At 56,000 square feet, it's massive.

The infinity pool has a bridge to get to the lawn in the middle.

GolfBoard is a futuristic device that is a cross between a skateboard and a golf cart. It's the brainchild of surfer Laird Hamilton and Bally Total Fitness founder Don Wildman. 

The GolfBoard is designed to carry golfers and their gear at speeds up to 12mph. It costs $6,500 per unit. 

Produced by Jason Gaines. Video courtesy of Associated Press and Caters News.

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In 2008, Stephen Curry made the decision to stay in college, passing up millions in the NBA Draft, and it turned out to be a great move for the NBA's newest MVP.

In March 2008, Curry led Davidson to the Elite 8, where they lost to eventual national champion Kansas 59-57.

Curry, who caught fire during the tournament, had become a national sensation. Rather cashing in on that newfound fame with an immediate jump to the NBA, Curry came out the day after the Kansas game and announced that he would return to Davidson for his junior season.

Not only was Curry passing up the chance to earn millions in the 2008-09 season, he was also bucking one of the biggest reasons young players enter the NBA Draft even before they are ready. That is, they want to get to the NBA as soon as possible in order to get to their potentially more lucrative second contract sooner.

But Curry saw the bigger picture. When he made his announcement, his reasoning was simple.

"I don't think I'm ready," he said at the time.

The biggest issue was that Curry had spent his first two seasons at Davidson playing shooting guard with the older Jason Richards running the point.

Prior to announcing his return to Davidson for his junior year, one scouting report from DraftExpress.com praised Curry's shooting ability but projected him as a career backup guard in large part because he was too small to be a shooting guard and nobody knew if he could play point guard:

"He can be prone to having his shot blocked, which is due to his size just as much as it’s due to him having to take so many closely contested shots every game ... There are many question marks surrounding his game at the next level, ranging from his size to his position to how his skills will translate in general, but his talent, clutch ability, and the intangibles he brings to the table are undeniable. It’s tough to project his role at the next level at this stage of his development, but even without dramatic improvement, a Jannero Pargo or Juan Carlos Navarro type role is not very much of a stretch. If he improves on his point guard skills or grows another inch or two while adding some strength, full-fledged careers at either the PG or SG position are not out of the picture."

The next season, Davidson failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, losing in the second round of the NIT, and Curry fell off the radar of most fans. However, he had accomplished what he returned to school to do.

Curry was now a point guard and much more valuable to NBA teams.

Eleven months after their previous report on Curry, DraftExpress.com was singing a different tune and praising his decision to return to school.

"The biggest revelation of this season is the relative ease in which Curry has converted to the point guard position. Still obviously possessing a shoot-first mentality, Curry has looked fairly unselfish running his team’s offense, displaying excellent court vision and a real knack for getting teammates involved (relative to the team’s situation). He does a good job on the pick and roll, and is a much more creative passer than we were previously able to see, capable of handling the ball with either hand and being very adept at playing at different speeds. Although he’s probably never going to be a pure playmaker in the Steve Nash or Chris Paul mold, he plays the game at an excellent pace, looks extremely poised at all times, and appears to show a good enough feel for the game to at least develop into a capable facilitator."

That sounds an awful lot like the Curry we see today. By staying an extra year, Curry went from being a mid- or late-first-round pick to the sixth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Injuries ultimately slowed his progress and the Warriors were able to extend Curry with what has turned out to be the biggest bargain contract in the NBA in 2012. But at the same time, Curry was able to avoid being pigeon-holed into being a back-up role player and is instead the NBA's reigning MVP.

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Nearly a year after the 2014 World Cup, many of the 12 stadiums Brazil built and renovated for the event have fallen into disuse.

NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro and the AP's Tales Azzoni have each written stories about what has been going on with the stadiums in recent weeks, and they don't paint a pretty picture.

Brazil spent more than $3 billion on the stadiums, some of which were built in far-flung locations without popular local professional teams to sustain them after the tournament. A year later, some sit empty and others are running at a loss, and even the stadiums that host regular domestic games have been plagued by disputes between the clubs and the stadium operators.

The country's sports minister has even acknowledged the failed investment of the 2014 World Cup stadiums, telling Reuters of the 2016 Rio Olympics, "Differently from the World Cup, we are leaving a legacy."

Here's the rundown of the problems facing the stadiums:

The Arena Amazonia in the jungle city of Manaus cost $300 million to build, even though there's no top-flight team in the town and it's hundreds of miles from the more populated areas of Brazil. NPR reports that the stadium isn't even hosting local league games because it's too expensive. In addition, the promised income from things like concerts isn't coming in as expected. Kiss even skipped the Amazonian city on its tour of Brazil. The stadium hosted just 11 events in the five months after the tournament.

The Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, the most expensive of the stadiums, is being used as a bus parking lot. The stadium cost $550 million to build, NPR reports, but without a top-division team in the capital it has little use after hosting seven World Cup games.

Construction on the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo just finished, 10 months late. During the tournament, a rickety temporary stand was used in place of the planned seating at one end of the stadium. The stadium now hosts Corinthians games, but it hasn't helped the club. According to the AP: "Attendance has significantly increased at the stadium owned by popular team Corinthians, but the club can't keep any of the revenue because the money is still being used to pay for its construction."

The club team Atlético Mineiro plays its games at the old Independencia stadium in Belo Horizonte — it can't make money playing at the new Estádio Mineirão because of its contract with the stadium's owners, the AP reports.

The 42,000-seat Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá was closed earlier this year because the roof was leaking. In April, Globo reported that homeless people were living in the empty locker rooms. The two professional teams in the city typically draw between 500 and 1,000 fans a game. The stadium cost $215 million to build and is now, according to NPR, "draining city coffers" with maintenance costs.

The Arena das Dunas in Natal is "trying to make money by hosting weddings and kids' parties — with little luck," NPR reports.

Then there's the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. Here's how the AP described it in December:

The Arena Pernambuco in the northeastern city of Recife, where 236 people bought a ticket to watch a Brazilian Cup match just before the World Cup, is resorting to corporate events, conferences, fairs and wedding ceremonies. In September, a 15-year-old boy celebrated his birthday at the stadium — he and his friends were allowed to play on the field and use the changing rooms and other facilities.

FIFA requires host nations to build just eight stadiums, but Brazil went beyond that. Academics have long argued that building stadiums for one-off sporting events like the World Cup and Olympics isn't a wise investment. Across Brazil, taxpayers and local officials are finding that out the hard way.

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Robert Kraft was interviewed by Peter King of theMMQB.com, who described the New England Patriots owner "defiant and angry" and convinced that the punishment handed down for Deflategate was heavy-handed considering the evidence.

The strongest allegation levied by Kraft in response to the punishment — which included a four-game suspension for Tom Brady, a $1 million fine for the team, and loss of 1st-round and 4th-round draft picks — is that he feels the NFL is biased against the Patriots and did not conduct a fair and balanced investigation.

In the interview, Kraft notes that "every inference went against [the Patriots]" in the Wells report and that the strongest penalty in NFL history was handed down without the "smoking gun:"

"This whole thing has been very disturbing," Kraft said. "I’m still thinking things out very carefully. But when you work for something your whole life ... I just get really worked up. To receive the harshest penalty in league history is just not fair. The anger and frustration with this process, to me, it wasn’t fair. If we’re giving all the power to the NFL and the office of the commissioner, this is something that can happen to all 32 teams. We need to have fair and balanced investigating and reporting. But in this report, every inference went against us … inferences from ambiguous, circumstantial evidence all went against us. That’s the thing that really bothers me ... If they want to penalize us because there’s an aroma around this? That’s what this feels like. If you don’t have the so-called smoking gun, it really is frustrating. And they don’t have it. This thing never should have risen to this level."

While Kraft remains vocal about the investigation and punishment, he was also unwilling to comment on several important topics when pressed by King.

When asked why the Patriots suspended employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally even though Kraft claims the Patriots are innocent, Kraft refused to comment,"for what he claimed were a variety of reasons" according to King. The suspension of the two key figures in the Wells Report has been the biggest problem with the team's attempts to poke holes in the investigation.

Kraft also refused to comment when asked if he would attempt to go against NFL bylaws and sue the league and whether or not he would remain active on league business committees. Kraft's roles include a spot on the league broadcast committee as well as the committee that determines Commissioner Roger Goodell's annual compensation, $44.2 million in the most recent fiscal year.

There is also the once-close relationship between Kraft and Goodell. When asked about the current status of their relationship, Kraft responded, "You’ll have to ask him."

At this point, the investigation has been completed and the punishment has been handed down. But it sure feels like we are just getting started.

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