Karl-Anthony Towns on Timberwolves playoff hopes: ‘See you in May’

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/karl-anthony-towns-wolves.jpg?fit=560%2C378

The Minnesota Timberwolves are regarded by many as a team on the rise, and it’s an assessment that Karl-Anthony Towns very much agrees with.

The second-year big man hosted an impromptu Q&A session on Twitter Thursday night, and he was bullish in his prediction for Minnesota this coming season.

@atulbas11 see you in May

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 2, 2016

It’s been a long time since the Timberwolves made a run at the playoffs, but with new basketball czar Tom Thibodeau running the show and a gifted young core, there is an expectation that Minnesota will take a noticeable step forward this coming season. Some of their longer-tenured players have become frustrated with the stagnation, but this is a franchise that very much appears to be headed in the right direction. May indicates a pretty significant playoff run for a team coming off a 29-win season, so Towns is definitely being bullish, but you have to like the confidence.

H/T theScore

Basketball – Larry Brown Sports
http://wp.me/p59zQO-7HP
#See, #Hopes, #KarlAnthony, #May, #Playoff, #Timberwolves, #Towns - #Basketball

Pele hopes to be at Rio Olympics closing ceremony

http://i2.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/e1dcb116c3af535eef6eacf0dc7309f609cbf390-1.jpg?fit=640%2C427

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil football legend Pele said Tuesday he will try to take part in the Olympics closing ceremony, after poor health stopped him from attending the opening gale.

“I am continuing my physiotherapy and focused on joining you for the closing festivities on August 21. I love you!” Pele wrote on Twitter.

“I want to thank everyone for the well wishes from around the world, regarding the Olympics opening ceremony.”

Pele said he had been asked to light the Olympic flame at Friday’s opening ceremony. But hours before the event, he said his health was too fragile.

The football idol has undergone several hip operations and walks with a cane.

Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Pele — real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento — won three World Cups with Brazil.

He never competed at the Olympics.

The post Pele hopes to be at Rio Olympics closing ceremony appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/b6rsZw
#Ceremony, #Closing, #Hopes, #Olympics, #Pele - #Soccer

Pele’s health threatens to douse Olympic flame hopes

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/a1fdde75235778fbf0fdcec1252faa39be1e1eda.jpg?fit=640%2C427

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil football legend Pele wants to light the Rio Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Friday, but poor health may prevent him from accepting the honor, his spokesman said Thursday.

Doubts over whether Pele, 75, would be free to carry the torch to the cauldron in the Maracana stadium have been cleared up, spokesman, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told AFP. The new question mark is over his health.

“Getting free is not a problem now, but he has muscle pain which is affecting his mobility. He has gone to the doctor to see how things are,” the spokesman, also known as Pepito, said.

“We still don’t know whether he can take part in the lighting of the cauldron,” Pepito said, “but he’s trying.”

On Wednesday, Pele told Globo television he had been invited to light the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.

However, he said he had concerns over existing arrangements.

Pele — real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento — is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time.

The striker won three World Cups with Brazil but never competed at the Olympics.

He has undergone several hip operations and walks with a cane.

The post Pele’s health threatens to douse Olympic flame hopes appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/TlUZGN
#Douse, #Flame, #Health, #Hopes, #Olympic, #PeleS, #Threatens - #Soccer