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Leading a team to 56 wins and a Pacific Division title is usually enough to keep a coach's job secure, but that clearly wasn't the case with Vinny Del Negro and the Clippers. A first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies likely didn't help matters, although Del Negro did have to deal with a slew of injuries to some of his best players. Assuming they keep Chris Paul, the Clippers will find out next season whether Del Negro was the reason why they couldn't get over the hump.

• Max Rymerr: "The NBA is so volatile for head coaches. Del Negro helped take this team from joke-city to lob-city."
• WPStud2026: "That was their problem. Outside of dunking, no offense weapon other than Chris Paul. Maybe the key to keeping him is getting rid of Del Negro."
• delashore: "Del Negro deserved to get fired, but CP3 is overrated. He's been out of the first round, what, one time? Not sure why everyone always makes him out to be the indisputable best PG in the league."
• Susie Creamcheese: "The Clippers didn't win because of VDN, they won in spite of VDN."
• windycloud2: "VDN mayn't be the best coach, but it wasn't his fault that they lost to Memphis! If you think about it, they replaced all of their tough-defenders, like Martin, Evan with veteran scorers or something!! memphis killed on the boards. that didn't work. They should fire the GM!"
• BigBoiJake823: "Mediocre coach. He had two seasons of Chris Paul/Blake Griffin to prove his worth, and the findings prove that he needs to be a feistier coach; inject some grit into his players. The Clippers have never been a tough team - but they certainly had the pieces this season, and maybe even last season too. Overall, they need a more accountable coach."

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

When you pay a baseball team $214.8 million, you expect certain things in return for your investment. Wins would be nice. Scoring some runs would be great, too. Both have been scarce for the Dodgers, 18-25 entering Tuesday's games and 29th in the majors in runs scored. Consider this: Only the Marlins have scored fewer runs. And Miami's payroll is substantially less than the Dodgers' $214.8 million.

So should we interpret general manager Ned Colletti's endorsement of manager Don Mattingly as the dreaded vote of confidence -- the kind often followed by a firing? Mattingly isn't to blame for the Dodgers' near-comic rash of early season injuries. And Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier haven't exactly hit the cover off the ball. But fairly or unfairly, it's the manager who pays with his job when things go wrong. Will Mattingly survive the season?

• Dylan Glover: "I don't think Mattingly is a very good manager, and as a Giants fan, I hope they give him an extension, but I don't think it makes a lot of sense to fire him. His contract is up at the end of the year. If they don't want him then just bring someone else in next season. Maybe the Rockies caught fire that one season after a manager change, but I really don't think a manager change would be able to turn that team around."
• Eric George: ""The core" isn't the problem, sure ethier and kemp have had slow starts but crawford, gonzo and greinke have been great. It's the peripherals that have destroyed this team so far. Outside of beckett (and ramirez because of injury) all the big name money acquisitions have come through. The bullpen is a wreck with no real closer, league dosen't have the stuff while jansen has the stuff but not the mental toughness. Fact outside the aforementioned players and of course kershaw and ryu it seems too many players don't mind losing and for that I do blame Mattingly."
• Steve Daly: "The Dodgers organization is a pitching juggernaut, but who's the last guy besides Kemp they've developed offensively? Interesting to note by the way that Kemp was a sixth-round pick. Beyond him, who? James Loney? AJ Ellis? Before that, maybe Adrian Beltre. Russell Martin maybe. I got no problem with them paying a gazillion dollars for their middle-of-the-order bats, but every once in a while you gotta have a competent middle infielder or something who you can plug in for six years. They got no organizational depth on the offensive side."
• Jennifer Lucille King Schlickbernd: "What is Mattingly supposed to do, be Bobby Valentine and yell at them all day? We saw how well that worked in Boston. Fire Ned first if you just have to fire someone."
• Lee Fogel: "Donnie B does not deserve to be fired over this mess. He's done what he could with the players given him. The Ethier contact is terrible as he's been too streaky and inconsistent for the money he has been paid. And Kemp is just not the same player at all as he was in 2011. I seriously hope that they leave Donnie alone."

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

It seems that every time the modern Lakers try to assemble a collection of superstars, it doesn't quite work out as planned -- just ask Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Dwight Howard is just the latest representation of this -- he didn't have a bad season, but it wasn't up to his usual standards, and the Lakers as a whole limped to a swift playoff exit. Now, details are emerging from Howard's exit interview with the team -- namely, that he wasn't happy with the way coach Mike D'Antoni utilized him during the season. Howard is a free agent this season, and it sounds as if D'Antoni's continued employment by the team might be a sticking point in any attempt to re-sign the star center.

Which team will Dwight Howard be playing for next season?

•  
  28%
  Lakers
•  
  72%
  Another team

(Total votes: 63,631)

Would you want your favorite team to sign Dwight Howard this offseason?

•  
  43%
  Yes
•  
  57%
  No

(Total votes: 51,372)

Mike D'Antoni's presence as Lakers head coach is reportedly an obstacle to Dwight Howard's return. If you could only have one, who would you rather keep?

•  
  28%
  Mike D'Antoni
•  
  72%
  Dwight Howard

(Total votes: 37,188)

At 4:02 p.m. ET (3:02 CT) Monday, the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., warned the residents of Moore, a suburb just south of Oklahoma City, that their lives were in peril.

302pm - LARGE VIOLENT TORNADO moving toward Moore and SW OKC. Take cover right NOW!!! Do not wait!! #okwx

— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 20, 2013

The devastation that followed the next 45 minutes was felt throughout the sports world. Many simply offered the hashtag #PrayForOklahoma. Others offered instructions on how they could use their mobile devices to donate to relief efforts.

Those with personal connections to Oklahoma City and its surrounding communities were among the first to react on Twitter. Thunder star Kevin Durant, who on Tuesday pledged $1 million for relief efforts, was among them.

Praying for the victims of the Tornadoes in OKC these last few days..Everybody stay safe!

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 20, 2013

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, a native of nearby Midwest City, said he would let his bat do the talking:

I'm giving $1000 for tonight's HR and every HR until the All-Star break for the victims of my hometown in OKC. #PrayforOklahoma

— Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) May 21, 2013

The first tweet from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, an Oklahoma City native, came at 5:09 ET, little more than an hour after the tornado touched down. He asked followers for prayers and assistance. (While McCoy called it an "F5" tornado, the storm has been classified an F4, at least for now.)

Please please please pray for my home!! Oklahoma!! Devastating twister ripping things apart. Classified as an F5. Kids stuck in a schools.

— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) May 20, 2013

This is real people not a game!! F5!! My goodness. God be with my home please!! twitter.com/Geraldini93/st&

— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) May 20, 2013

Whatever anybody can do to help my home state please do!! It is much needed. Devastating day in OK!! #pray4Oklahoma

— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) May 21, 2013

Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker is also a native of Oklahoma City. He used Twitter to offer a means for followers to donate to relief efforts.

Thoughts and prayers to my hometown OKC. Luckily my family is safe. I have lived in OK a long time. This one might be the worst!

— Wes Welker (@WesWelker) May 20, 2013

Please text STORM to 80888 to donate $10 to the recovery and relief efforts in #Moore, OK. I am spending the rest of my day texting this #!

— Wes Welker (@WesWelker) May 20, 2013

I don't even know what to say. My thoughts, prayers, concerns, and heartache goes out to my family, friends, and everyone in Oklahoma.

— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) May 20, 2013

To everyone reaching out to me, I am physically ok and flew back from OKC to Detroit yesterday.

— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) May 20, 2013

For former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, the news struck a personal chord of a different kind. Wife Brenda's parents were killed in 1996 when a tornado struck their Arkansas home.

My heart & prayers go out to all those impacted by the tornados in Midwest... A devastation our family knows all too well!

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) May 20, 2013

My heart is breaking as I contemplate parents having to spend night wondering what has happened 2 their child or knowing they were killed!

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) May 21, 2013

Other athletes offered prayers for the victims as they reflected on the devastation the storm caused.

No matter how mad you are at your loved ones, always tell them you love them. This world is unpredictable

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 21, 2013

watching this Oklahoma Tornado coverage&prayers for all affected today. IDK why these tragedies happen but all we can do is Pray!

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) May 21, 2013

Prayers go out to all my friends and family in Oklahoma! May god be with you in these horrible times! Love you all! Be safe! #PrayForOK

— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) May 20, 2013

The faith that some of the folks have displayed who have been interviewed since the tornado in Oklahoma hit is unreal...prayers up

— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) May 21, 2013

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Golf isn't exactly a strenuous sport, it can be argued, so you'd think that an innovation that would allow players to somehow put in less effort would be welcomed. That hasn't been the case with the style of anchoring a putter to the body, however, which the sport's governing body has decided to ban beginning in 2016. Several golfers who use this style are upset, but a number of golf's big names have spoken in favor of the ban -- Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Arnold Palmer, just to name a few. Fortunately for golfers opposed to the ban, they'll have a few years to work out the yips as they go back to basics.

• 521Undertaker: "Physics 101: Levers are much easier to control than pendulums. Of course it's unfair."
• GTFreek: "The real surprise is that long putters were ever legal to begin with."
• noelestabrook: "This ruling came down to one very simple fact. The game of golf relies on the free swing of the club. Not MOST of the clubs, ALL of them. The ruling is correct and sound."
• BagOfCesc: "Its fine, the rule doesn't go into effect for 3 years so all those people using long putters have time to learn how to golf like a normal person"
• dtpres2009: "Meanwhile golf club and ball technology gets better each year, yet that isn't against the traditionalism of the game?"

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

How big of an impact will banning anchored putters have on the golfers who currently use them?

•  
  59%
  Major impact
•  
  41%
  Minor impact

(Total votes: 4,571)

Welcome to SportsNation! On Tuesday, fantasy injury expert Stephania Bell will stop by to discuss all things injury related. If you have a question on any athletes' sprains, breaks, tears, any injury related question, ask Stephania!

Send your questions now and join Bell Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET!

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Just like so many other couples who are in the process of getting married, Robert Griffin III and his fiancée registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well not until the Washington Post stepped in. The newspaper posted a link to their wedding registry on its website and fans took to buying gifts. RGIII tweeted a picture of himself leaning on the boxes he received thanking fans for their generosity, and later sent a tweet responding to critics who say he shouldn't keep them but donate them to charity instead.

• KnownAsSliz: "What fans do with their money is their business ... It would be nice if RG3 did donate some of the gifts from fans to various charities, but that's his and his spouse's decision."
• orlando: "If fans want to buy him gifts, that is there choice. The suggestions that he should donate the items are a bit much in some ways. Yes, he can afford it on his own, but even the rich fill out registries because friends and families want to show appreciation and that they care. So gift giving is not just based on who can afford it. And if the fans want to show they care, then they can have at it."
• kujayhawk1188: "Not his fault that people are buying these things. People do what they want ... its dumb they are doing that but that is not on RG3. Dumb for people to be mad at him for it."
• thsCoach99: "I know it is customary for weddings ... especially if you are 23, but he really shouldn't have set up a wedding registry ANYWHERE if you make millions per year and are an NFL quarterback. This was just a mistake in judgment."
• If I had a million dollars: "Kinda tacky any way you look at it! Just make sure you have a stellar season RGIII!"
• jhett09: "Hopefully all of those fans get 'Thank You' letters."

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

What should Robert Griffin III do with the wedding gifts he received from fans?

•  
  54%
  Keep them
•  
  41%
  Give them away to charity
•  
  5%
  Return to sender

(Total votes: 3,841)