SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013 Panthers-49ers clash reunites Newton, Kaepernick SAN FRANCISCO: The Carolina Panthers, in the NFL play- starting shot until last season, when he filled in for injured Each is his team’s second-leading rusher, Newton with 55 off mix after four losing seasons, face a stiff test tomorrow Alex Smith, won the job and helped the 49ers reach the carries for 251 yards and four touchdowns and against Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers. The Super Bowl. The two haven’t kept in touch since they Kaepernick with 49 carries for 294 yards and three TDs. “I clash features two quarterbacks drafted in 2011 - that were room-mates at the NFL’s draft combine in 2011, but think they’re both really great, both great players,” said year’s number one draft pick Cam Newton of Carolina and Newton admitted he has followed Kaepernick’s progress. Harbaugh, whose 49ers bring a five-game winning streak Kaepernick-as well as coaches Jim Harbaugh and Ron “Obviously with him being such an explosive player and into the contest and sit behind division leaders Seattle in Rivera who once played together for the Chicago Bears. It dominant player, I’ve tracked him and kept up with him the NFC West.“That’s all the comparison that needs to be was Newton who made the bigger splash back in 2011, ever since,” Newton said. made. They’re both great.” Week 10 of the season kicked when he was selected with the first overall pick in the NFL “I’ve got respect for him. “I’m pretty sure he feels the off on Thursday, with Minnesota snapping a four-game draft and immediately installed as the Panthers’ starting same.”Both young quarterbacks boast strong arms and skid with a 34-27 victory over Washington. The Vikings’ quarterback. explosive speed and are prime examples of the dual- defense made a goal-line stand in the final minute to pre- Kaepernick was taken 36th that year, and didn’t get his threat quarterbacks trending in the league right now. serve the victory. —AFP ‘Teflon’ league will roll on despite controversy NEW YORK: Bullying, racism and clubhouse culture are dominating all the talk about the National Football League (NFL) these days, but this too shall pass for the US sporting juggernaut that seems impervi- ous to controversy, experts say. “It’s the Teflon league,” Bob Dorfman, executive creative director of San Francisco’s Baker Street Advertising, told Reuters on Thursday. “No matter what you throw at it, it doesn’t seem to stick.” The latest firestorm surrounds Richie Incognito, an All-Pro guard who was suspended indefinitely by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after allegations of abuse, including racial epithets captured on voice- mails, were made by teammate Jonathan Martin. The case, which is being investigated for the NFL by high-powered attorney Ted Wells, has flung open the door on locker room cultures that embrace the frat-house style hazing of young players, and prize toughness and aggression. It has also spawned debate across the universe of radio talk shows and office watercoolers about standing up to bullies and dealing with peer pressure and harassment in the workplace. It may also help TV ratings. “This whole hazing scandal will probably juice up the ratings for the Monday night game,” Sports Business Journal NFL writer Daniel Kaplan said about the Nov 11 contest between the Dolphins (4-4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8). “Who would’ve wanted to tune in for that? But instead it’s almost going to be like rubber-neck- ing - people tuning in just to see how bad it is. In a morbid way, it’s a fascinating match-up that will help the TV ratings.” Not that the NFL particularly needs ratings help. NFL games have snared the top 18 places among most-watched shows on US televi- sion since the 2013 season began. The league will take in $4.2 billion in TV revenues this season. Over the next five years, the NFL will rake in at least $27.5 billion. This success comes despite deep concerns over player safety and disturbing accounts of brain damage to former HOUSTON: Los Angeles Lakers’ Xavier Henry (top) goes up for a shot as Houston Rockets’ Omer Asik (bottom) defends during players from repeated concussions, and despite dealing with protests the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Nov 7, 2013. — AP over the Redskins nickname of the Washington team, considered by many to be a slur to Native Americans. Uninterrupted profit has poured in despite risking harm to the product by using replacement Blake 3-pointer lifts referees last season during a contract dispute, and before that having to mete out harsh punishment for bounties paid for hurting oppo- nents on the field. Nothing has slowed down the business of the NFL, called “the ultimate reality show,” by Dorfman. Lakers over Rockets The popularity of the NFL could hardly be expected to be dented by the Dolphins flap, according to Andrew Zimbalist, professor of sports economics at Smith College. “I don’t think it’s going to be HOUSTON: Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining to delivered a baby earlier this week, finished with 12 points for Miami. something like this hazing scandal with Incognito or isolated inci- lift the Lakers to a 99-98 victory over Houston and Dwight Howard Blake Griffin had 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers (3-3). His dents of racism,” Zimbalist said. “It’s a little bit like the policeman in on Thursday night. Houston led by two points before Blake took the dunk with 31 seconds left got the Clippers within four, but Griffin ‘Casablanca’ saying he’s horrified to learn that there’s gambling going inbounds pass from Jodie Meeks and made the shot to win the allowed about 15 seconds to run off the clock without fouling James on here.’ To say that there are excesses of machismo in the NFL club- game. The Rockets had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Patrick on the ensuing possession. James made one free throw to push house, how could anybody not know that. “I think the area where Beverley’s 3-point attempt bounced off the backboard. James Miami’s lead to five, and that closed the scoring. JJ Redick scored 15 they are potentially more vulnerable is health.” Harden had 35 points and Howard finished with 15 points and 14 points, Jamal Crawford added 14, Chris Paul finished with 11 points A recent ESPN report that said Hall of Fame running back Tony rebounds against his former team. Howard missed seven free throws and 12 assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 14 rebounds Dorsett is showing signs of a degenerative brain disease many scien- in the last 3 1-2 minutes that could have secured the win for for the Clippers. Ray Allen scored 12 points for Miami, which got 10 tists say is caused by head trauma and linked to depression and Houston. Howard spurned the Lakers to sign an $88 million deal with from Chris Andersen. dementia, underlined again the darkest cloud hovering over the Houston, joining Harden and a team that made the playoffs last sea- league. Just before the start of the season the NFL agreed to pay $765 son for the first time since 2009. Meeks, who led the Lakers with 18 NUGGETS 109, HAWKS 107 million to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of former players, points, made a 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes remaining to cut Ty Lawson had 23 points and eight assists and Denver held on to many suffering from dementia and health problems, who accused the lead to two and set up Blake’s game-winner. give new head coach Brian Shaw his first win. Nate Robinson added the league of hiding the dangers of brain injury. 15 points and JaVale McGee had 14 for Denver (1-3), which rallied That was seen as a small hit for a league believed to generate total HEAT 102, CLIPPERS 97 from eight points down in the fourth quarter before surviving a late revenue of more than $9 billion a year. But the dangers of the game Dwyane Wade scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and Atlanta rally. The win leaves Utah (0-5) as the NBA’s only winless could sour the appetite among a growing number of fans, and could Miami held off the Clippers. LeBron James added 18 points for the team. Paul Millsap scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 10 lead parents to steer their children away from playing American foot- Heat (4-2), who won their third straight and extended their club rebounds for the Hawks but missed a short jumper that would have ball. “Could the talent pool dry up?” pondered Robert Boland, profes- record by scoring at least 100 points in a sixth consecutive game to tied the game with 1.9 seconds left. Al Horford, who had 21 points, sor of sports management at New York University.—Reuters start the season. Chris Bosh, playing for the first time since his wife grabbed the rebound but his shot was off as time expired. — AP .