Technical focus bad for Snedeker’s putting touch
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Reuters) – If proof was ever needed for the average club hacker that even the very best players can struggle in golf, then look no further than at putting maestro Brandt Snedeker.
Carroll will let Sherman decide on playing if baby arrives
PHOENIX (Reuters) – Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is hopeful that his son will be born after Super Bowl Sunday but should an early arrival occur, coach Pete Carroll says he will leave it to the player to decide how he responds.
Patriots owner Kraft stands front-and-center in NFL spotlight
(Reuters) – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the most visible faces of the NFL, guiding his once-moribund team to unparalleled success while assuming an influential role navigating the league’s complex inner workings.
Paul Allen, Seahawks’ quiet rocker, right on time
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen has the knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Cancer organization partners with NFL on prostate treatment
PHOENIX (Reuters) – A U.S. cancer organization has partnered with the NFL alumni association ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIX to raise awareness about screening, diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer, a disease that kills tens of thousands of U.S. men a year. 
Russian Zaripova banned for doping, could lose Olympic gold
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian steeplechaser Yulia Zaripova has been banned for two and a half years for doping offences, the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA said (www.rusada.ru) on Friday.
McIlroy surges ahead in Dubai with flawless 64
DUBAI (Reuters) – World number one Rory McIlroy stormed into a one-shot lead in the Dubai Desert Classic with a sparkling second-round 64 on Friday.
Dead battery led to Wawrinka losing Australian Open title
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A 2014 season which began for Stan Wawrinka with an Australian Open triumph and ended with Davis Cup glory finally caught up with the Swiss at Melbourne Park on Friday as he was left “mentally completely dead”.
Djokovic beats Wawrinka, into fifth Australian Open final
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic once again stood tall at the Australian Open as he reached his fourth final in the past five years with another five-set victory over Stan Wawrinka, the man who dumped him out of Melbourne Park last year.
Kenya’s marathon queen Jeptoo handed two-year doping ban
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan Rita Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons for the last two years, has been banned from the sport for two years after failing a drugs test, Athletics Kenya (AK) said on Friday.
