series win overseas, but a massive home season looms with 13 Tests, e

NBAOAKLAND, Calif. -- Steve Kerr, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year with the Golden State Warriors, acknowledged he tried marijuana twice in the past 18 months while dealing with debilitating back pain.Kerr told Comcast SportsNet Bay Areas Warriors Insider Podcast with Monte Poole on Friday that he used medicinal marijuana but it didnt help -- but painkillers have been worse.I have no idea if I would, maybe I would have failed a drug test, I dont even know if Im subject to a drug test or any laws from the NBA, Kerr said. I tried it and it didnt help at all.The 51-year-old Kerr missed the first 43 games last season and the teams record 24-0 start while on a leave of absence following complications from two back surgeries. A spinal fluid leak led to terrible headaches, nausea and neck pain among other symptoms that left him feeling frustrated and down.Kerr noted, athletes everywhere are prescribed Vicodin like its Vitamin C, like its no big deal. He said he hopes sports leagues are able to look past the perception and that its only a matter of time to change rules.He also was just selected the Western Conference Coach of the Month for November.BASEBALLNEW YORK -- Tyson Ross, an All-Star pitcher for San Diego two years ago, was among 35 players who became free agents when their teams declined to offer 2017 contracts on Friday.Washington outfielder Ben Revere and Philadelphia outfielder Cody Asche also were among those cut loose along with Arizona catcher Welington Castillo and pitcher Rubby De La Rosa; Baltimore pitcher Vance Worley; and Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Louis Coleman.Milwaukee first baseman Chris Carter and Pittsburgh pitcher Jeff Locke also were let loose; their teams had designated them for assignment earlier this week.Teams cut players at the tender deadline to avoid committing to salary arbitration, in which about one-sixth of next seasons salary is guaranteed.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols had surgery on his right foot Friday, possibly sidelining him past opening day.Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Pujols had the procedure Friday in North Carolina to release his plantar fascia, the ligament connecting the heel to the toes. The three-time NL MVP was bothered by plantar fasciitis repeatedly during the season, but played through the pain in arguably the strongest year of his half-decade with the Angels.Eppler said the surgery typically prevents players from participating in baseball activities for three months, along with another month before theyre ready to resume playing in games. Opening day for Los Angeles is April 3, and the Angels hope Pujols can be ready.Pujols, who turns 37 next month, batted .268 last year with 31 homers and 119 RBI, the fourth-most in the majors -- although his .780 OPS was among the worst of his career. He largely served as a designated hitter instead of playing first base due to problems with his hamstrings and feet.OLYMPICSThe Los Angeles bid committee for the 2024 Olympics released details of a nearly unheard-of budget plan Friday, insisting $5.3 billion will be enough to cover both operational and infrastructure costs for an Olympics that wont need any new, permanent stadiums.The cost would be less than half that of the recently completed Rio Games and about a quarter of Tokyos ballooning budget for the 2020 Olympics.It also defies convention in the Olympic bidding business, in which cities traditionally deal with two figures -- one for operational costs and one for non-Olympics costs that cover capital and infrastructure.Bid officials say they can do this because more than 30 venues already exist in the L.A. area and those that dont will be built as temporary structures. The bid folded in $1.2 billion for infrastructure, which would primarily be used for temporary venues and to bring existing ones up to Olympic standards.Los Angeles is going against Paris and Budapest, Hungary. Preliminary figures for Paris called for an infrastructure budget of $4.5 billion and operational costs of $4.8 billion, with 95 percent of the citys proposed venues either temporary or already in existence. The next deadline for cities to submit candidate files, which will include updated budget figures, is Feb. 3. The games will be awarded next September.NASCARLAS VEGAS -- Jimmie Johnson was celebrated Friday night for winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup title, while Tony Stewart was seen off into retirement and Dale Earnhardt Jr. told his adoring fans hell be ready to race in 2017.Johnsons dramatic victory in the finale last month at Homestead moved him into a tie with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most series championships. Johnson was to make his speech last at the season-ending banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas.NASCAR honored Stewart, who retired after an 18-year career that included three series championships, with a video poking fun at his coarse language, weight and temper and with a surprise appearance by Pearl Jams Eddie Vedder.Earnhardt Jr. was voted most popular driver by fans for a record 14th time despite missing the second half of the season following at least the fifth concussion of his career. While not announcing the date or track, he intends to drive a test session this month, the final hurdle before hell be cleared to return.Authentic Custom Ducks Jersey . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Custom Ducks Jerseys . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.customducksjersey.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Ducks Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Teemu Selanne Jersey Large . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams.Anil Kumbles term as Indias coach already includes a Test series win overseas, but a massive home season looms with 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Kumble was excited with the depth of talent in the Indian team and picked out R Ashwin as the worlds best spinner and a vital cog to the teams successHaving a strong bench can still lead to the odd problem or two. In Indias case it was the choice between Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma. Kumble said his job, with regards to selection, was to simply feed the captain as much information as possible and let him take the final callSpeaking of captains, was it hard for Kumble to manage a high-profile player like MS Dhoni?When he was appointed Indias coach for one year in June, Kumble insisted that he wanted to work behind the scenes and has reiterated that by saying he wanted the players to treat him like an elder brotherAnd the elder brother couldnt resist the temptation to return to the bowling crease.dddddddddddd Kumble said he sent down more than few deliveries in the nets and even injured his calf in the Caribbean. ' ' '