Red Bluff Daily News

April 15, 2017

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ByAnthonySlater BayAreaNewsGroup OAKLAND Astheplayoffsarrive, there's little debate as to which NBA player is tugging along the most external pressure the next two months: Kevin Durant. LeBron James has already de- livered Cleveland its title. James Harden has blown the Rock- ets past 2017 expectations. The Spurs are labeled winners. The other postseason qualifiers aren't consideredrealisticcontenders— even the desperate, dying Clip- pers — so any title run will be a massive surprise, not an expec- tation. But for Durant, it's differ- ent. Even within his own locker room, his situation is unique. His three co-stars are already champs: Draymond Green won it in his third season, Klay Thompson in his fourth, Ste- phen Curry in his sixth. Durant is in Year 10, without a ring but saddled with a decade full of near misses, playoff scars and a free agency decision that upped his title requirement. Out- sidersnolongerjustdemand that his team wins it, they'll demand that he is the main reason it was won. On a team full of mega-tal- ents, if he doesn't stand out — 30 and 10 averages instead of 18 and 7 — they'll say he latched on. So the pressure's bubbling, right? Doesn't feel that way. Not around arelaxedDurant,whore- mained introspective as ever in a chat with the Bay Area News Group just days before his 92nd career postseason game, but first with the Warriors. "That's what it's all about: If you're not first, you're last. If you're not the champion, you're a loser," Durant said. "I just can't look at my life that way. I can't look at my journey that way. Ob- viously I want to win every time I step on the court. I don't play WARRIORS KDTALKSPLAYOFF PRESSURE, LEGACY MembersoftheRedBluffWres- tling Club placed at a recent tournament in Chico. Placing in freestyle wrestling were Brice Clinger, second; Blake Miller, third; Tommy Middleton, third; Brendan Blanchard, third; CJ Lewis, third and Isaac Lewis, first. Placing in Grecco wrestling were Hunter Bonner, third; Brice Clinger, second; Alex Eye, third; Blake Miller, third; Brendan Blanchard, third; CJ Lewis, sec- ond and Isaac Lewis, first. WRESTLING Red Bluff club members place in Chico tourney CONTRIBUTEDPHOTO SUSAN TRIPP POLLARD — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) shoots in the first quarter of their game against Los Angeles Lakers' Brandon Ingram (14) at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Wednesday. JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Danica Patrick works out on Feb. 18at Daytona International Speedway. With Patrick's racing career possibly nearing an end in the not-too- distant future, what might have seemed like an off-track hobby in the health and fitness world is being fast-tracked into something far bigger. By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. The pain was real. Some 48 hours after being put through Danica Patrick's fitness test by Danica Patrick herself — it's the basis for her upcoming book and the sort of thing that will occupy her time when re- tirement from racing comes — I wasn't constantly sore. But every time I stood up came a sharp re- minder from my legs that Patrick had kicked my butt. This was the workout: 100 air squats, 100 push-ups (on my knees), 100 butterfly sit-ups and 100 lunges, all timed to see how long it took to complete the set. That's the benchmark for more than 700 participants in the trial program for Patrick's "Pretty In- tense" book, due out next year. Her fitness challenge has been an ongoing project this season while balancing her NASCAR duties. Participants sent in "be- fore" pictures of themselves and were given access to Patrick's 12- week fitness and "clean eating" program. The results, including "after" photos, will be part of the book. With Patrick's driving days possibly nearing an end in the not-too-distant future, what might have seemed like an off- track hobby is being fast-tracked into something far bigger. She launched the clothing line "War- rior by Danica Patrick" on HSN after participating in the design process. And she developed the workouts and meal plans for the book. Ask Patrick about how much longer she will race, and her re- ply doesn't suggest the question is off-target. "As long as it's fun — and it hasn't been super fun lately," she said before the season started. "But every year I start the year, I always have hope that it's going to be the year that things are go- ing to click. I understand my ca- reer hasn't progressed. NASCAR Patrickracesintofitnessspace By Jerry McDonald and Cam Inman Bay Area News Group OAKLAND Marshawn Lynch ap- pears closer to resuming his foot- ball career where it started. But there is no deal quite yet, accord- ing to his agent. Earlier Friday, Michael Silver of the NFL Network reported Lynch had agreed to terms of a contract which will allow the Seattle run- ning back to join the Raiders, not far from where he played in high school at Oakland Tech and in college at Cal. But the Raiders and Lynch's representative, Doug Hendrick- son, have yet to finalize terms, and, of great significance, a trade with the Seahawks still needs to be worked out. Lynch further clarified his sta- tus Monday by tweeting: "If u kno me you kno my business is my business and if u don't kno me that's a fun fact for ya… when (expletive) get REAL I'll let you kno!!!!" Besides filling an obvious void on the field, Lynch's acquisition would help soothe hurt feelings of a home fan base which is recover- ing from the March 27 announce- ment the Raiders would move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Lynch, who turns 31 on April 22, last played in 2015, gaining 416 yards in seven games in a season marred by hamstring and abdom- inal injuries. The Raiders, seeking a power runner after losing leading rusher Latavius Murray in free agency, are hoping Lynch can regain some semblance of peak form. From 2011 through 2014 with Seat- tle, Lynch rushed for 5,357 yards and scored 48 touchdowns on the ground to go along with eight as a receiver. While Lynch has done his best to remain mysterious and avoid reporters in most instances, he was considered the physical and emotional leader of a Seattle team which made the playoffs in each of his last four years. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season and lost to New England after 2014, with Seattle famously throwing an interception at the 1-yard line rather than give the ball to Lynch in the game's final minute. Lynch averaged 295.3 carries per season in those four years and his work load with the Raid- ers would likely be in the 175 to 200 range. RAIDERS Lynch contract not done deal JAMIE SQUIRE — GETTY IMAGES Former Oakland Tech and Cal star Marshawn Lynch is trying to resume his football career for the Raiders in 2017. Dr iv er p re pa re s f or f ut ur e a s c ar ee r m ay be c om in g t o a n e nd NASCAR PAGE 4 Delivering title tugs on Warriors' star WARRIORS PAGE 4 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, April 15, 2017 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1

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