TUESDAY SPORTS: Braves relocating; Gamecocks face Baylor; Furman hosts Gardner Webb

Baseball’s Atlanta Braves announced Monday that they’re saying goodbye to the city and heading out to the suburbs, leaving Turner Field just 20 years after it opened. The Braves said they will be moving in 2017 to a new $672 million stadium about 10 miles from downtown Atlanta in suburban Cobb County, apparently won over by a big financial package. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the city couldn’t match a $450 million offer from the county. Turner Field opened as the main stadium for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and was converted to a baseball stadium for the Braves for the 1997 season, replacing Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium across the street.

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South Carolina’s men’s basketball team begins a stretch of three of its next four games on the road with Tuesday’s ESPN College Hoops Marathon contest at No. 25 Baylor. The meeting marks the first between the two schools since the 2009-10 campaign, and the first in Waco since the 2008-09 season.Tip-off is set for 3:00 PM Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.

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The Furman men’s basketball team continues its season-opening three-game homestand on Tuesday night when it entertains the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. Tip-off on YP Court at Timmons Arena is slated for 7:30 p.m. immediately following the Furman women’s basketball team’s 5:30 p.m. contest versus Brevard. Coverage on WGOG begins with the Paladin Pre Game Show at 7:00 PM. Furman opened the 2013-14 season and the head coach Niko Medved era with a 66-49 victory over the Sewanee Tigers on Friday night.

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In the NBA Monday, Al Horford scored 24 points and the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 103-94 to hand Bobcats coach Steve Clifford a loss in his first game back since undergoing a heart procedure.

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Furman linebacker/safety Marcus McMorris continued his awards haul Monday by being named Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week for his stellar play in the Paladins’ 35-17 win over 20th-ranked Samford on Saturday. McMorris, a 6-foot, 200-pound junior from Newberry, who on Monday morning was tabbed Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week and College Football Performance Awards National Linebacker of the Week, racked up a career high 11 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and 89-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Bulldogs.

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The time has been set for the Clemson vs. The Citadel football game to be played on Saturday, November 23 at Memorial Stadium. The game, which is designated as Military Appreciation Day, is set to kick off at Noon and will be broadcast on ESPN3. Tickets are still available for the game, and can be purchased online at ClemsonTigers.com or by phone by calling 1-800-CLEMSON.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were the last remaining NFL team without a win this season, finally got their first one, topping the embattled Miami Dolphins 22-19 at home in Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay quarterback Mike Glennon was 11 of 21 for 139 yards with one touchdown pass, while Miami’s Ryan Tannehill went 27 of 42 for 229 yards with two touchdowns. Miami was playing in its first game since news of their bullying scandal broke.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross broke his silence at a news conference before the game, calling the bullying accusations “appalling,” and saying he plans to meet with Jonathan Martin, who’s made the bullying charges, on Wednesday. Ross also said he’s formed an independent advisory group that includes Tony Dungy, Don Shula, Dan Marino, Jason Tyler and Curtis Martin to review conduct policies and make recommendations on areas for improvement.

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Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Wil Myers were announced Monday as Major League Baseball’s Rookies of the Year in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Fernandez, who went 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA and 187 strikeouts this season, easily beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig for the National League award, and Myers topped Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias for the American League honor. Myers batted .293 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in just 88 games after he was called up from the minors in mid-June.