08:48 PM ET 06.17 | The NFL could have its first full-time female official as early as 2014. Sarah Thomas, who was the first woman to referee a Division I NCAA football game in 2007, will likely be that woman, as she has already began the development program required for all officials to become eligible to ref an NFL game. She will need a current referee to retire or leave the NFL in order for a spot to open up, and at that point it's still not a foregone conclusion that she will be next. However, it sounds like this is not far away.

CBS Sports

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07:44 AM ET 06.17 | Okay, when you are as successful as the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, it looks like you can do whatever the hell you want. Rumors floating around say the defending back-to-back national champions are ready to add a unique element to their locker room that will set them apart from the rest of the teams in the nation. What is it that Alabama is adding? How about a waterfall. Yes, a waterfall. Who knew Nick Saban was so zen? If the Crimson Tide start doing yoga and meditation in the locker room, then this is going to be simply incredible. Of course, it will likely just be something used as a recruiting tool or wishing well

FanSided.com

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03:06 PM ET 06.17 | One thing the Minnesota Twins have struggled to find is good pitching, both on the front and back ends of the rotation and bullpen. They seem to have found a solid closer in Glen Perkins but Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan fully expects to field calls about Perkins as we near the trade deadline. That being said, Ryan told ESPN's Jim Bowden that while Perkins will be sought after at the deadline, he's not going to jump through hoops to send him to a division rival. Perkins is a guy the Twins nearly traded a few years ago after they had a sort of falling out about his role within the rotation. But Perkins and the Twins found a role that suited the pitcher and the hatchet has long since been buried. But the Twins have a knack for finding guys that fit roles and then trading them away for guys they think will be able to fill that same role or a similar role in a few years.

Sporting Sota

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03:06 PM ET 06.17 | The NBA Draft is going to be one to watch for Minnesota Timberwolves fans everywhere. For the first time in what seems like forever, David Kahn will not be perched high above the Wolves' draft podium preparing to drop a bird turd on whatever ends up being picked. Flip Saunders is the man in charge and he seems ready to lead the team in a new direction. But who will the Timberwolves end up taking with the ninth overall pick in the draft? The consensus seems to be that they'll attempt to move up in the draft but if they can't get what they want, they may end up trading back. Trevor Mbawke is a name that is circling around the T-Wolves draft talks as he's one of a few names they called in for workouts this weekend. But while he's far from a top prospect, Mbakwe is a name that could fit in Minnesota and he wouldn't have to come very far to make Minnesota his professional home. Then again, the fact Mbakwe is just a stone's throw away from the Target Center at the University of Minnesota is likely a major reason he was worked out, but there could be some scenarios where Mbakwe could end up with the Timberwolves and one of them involves the Wolves trading down.

Fansided

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03:16 PM ET 06.17 | The Washington Capitals have a few needs, but with the No. 23 pick in the NHL Draft they are unlikely to find an immediate contributor so it is more likely that they draft the best player available than draft for need. Washington holds picks in each round, including two in the fifth round, and they could take a few defensemen to try and provide depth for a blue line corps. that could use it, but if the Capitals hope to improve upon this season's first round playoff exit, they are unlikely to do it via the draft. They'll have to hit the free agent market and see if they can work a trade to make it happen.

Penn Live

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03:05 PM ET 06.17 | Myles "Fury" Jury (12-0) first got caught up with the UFC on "The Ultimate Fighter" season 13, where it was an injury that knocked him out of the competition. Jury then returned on "The Ultimate Fighter: LIVE" where he was eliminated in the first round by Al Iaquinta. Jury was given another chance at the "TUF LIVE Finale: Al Iaquinta vs. Michael Chiesa" when he faced Chris Saunders. Jury disposed of Saunders quickly as he won via submission in the first round. Since then Jury has won two more consecutive fights, including a unanimous decision over Michael Johnson and a KO victory over Ramsey Nijem. Next, Jury will meet another "The Ultimate Fighter" alumni as Mike "The Martian" Ricci (8-3) will be standing across from Jury come Sept. 21. Ricci was featured on "The Ultimate Fighter" season 16 where he earned his way to the finale, but fell short by losing a decision to Colton Smith. Ricci rebounded and earned his first UFC win as he dominated "TUF: Smashes" runner-up Colin Fletcher for three rounds. "Fury" has not shown any signs of slowing down, but Ricci has shown improvement since his stint on TUF 16 and will look to stop Jury in his tracks at UFC 165 in Toronto, Canada at the Air Canada Centre.

Doc Octagon

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05:19 AM ET 06.16 | There probably isn't an amateur golfer in the country who doesn't dream of competing in the U.S. Open or the U.S. Women's Open. Only occasionally, however, does an amateur win the Open, regarded by players and fans alike as golf's ultimate mental and physical challenge. Francis Ouimet did it in 1913. Jerome Travers did it in 1915. Chick Evans did it in 1916. Bobby Jones did it in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. And Catherine Lacoste did it in 1967. Can Michael Kim do it this year? The amateurs who qualify to play against golf's Goliaths face an uphill climb at the Open, which is as much a test of mental stamina as it is a contest of technical skill. Just getting to the Open entails an endurance test. This year 10 amateurs qualified to enter the field by advancing from one of 111, 18-hole stroke play, local qualifiers to one of 13 sectional qualifiers -- 36 holes of stroke play in a single day -- and paying the $150 entry fee. Of the 10 who teed off Thursday, four survived the cut and will play the final round on Sunday.

Pro Golf Now

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11:56 AM ET 06.03 | Tony Stewart cracked the top 10 for the third time this season, but he did something that he has been unable to do with those finishes so far this season by making his way to the winner's circle after the race was over. That's right, Stewart won the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway. With the win, Stewart jumped up four spots to No. 16 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings. It was his third career win at Dover. The awards for Stewart didn't end there. Stewart and his team won the Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver Award for their impressive work all weekend long, with Stewart's Crew Chief Steve Addington winning the Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race.

FanSided.com

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04:59 AM ET 06.15 | Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman and his glorious dreadlocks will be joining the United States men's national team ahead of their June 18 World Cup qualifier against Honduras, the team announced. Beckerman has 25 caps for the USMNT, including one stint as a captain against Canada on Jan. 29. Perhaps the most noteworthy moment of Beckerman's time on the national team was his start against Mexico during the United States' historic win at Estadio Azteca in August of last year.

FanSided.com

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10:02 AM ET 05.23 | FOX Sports is trying to put together an impressive staff to fill up the shows on their 24/7 sports network FOX Sports 1, hoping to compete with ESPN, and on Wednesday we learned a big name that will be joining the network. According to a SportsIllustrated.com report, FOX Sports has agreed to hire former tennis star Andy Roddick as a co-host for the three-hour show FOX Sports Live. The show feature Roddick and Charissa Thompson, who will be leaving ESPN, as the co-hosts. Roddick's big personality could do well in the co-hosting gig, but it will be interesting to see if he has a wide grasp of sports.

FanSided.com

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