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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cody Zeller said hes always considered himself a simple kid from Indiana.Well, now hes a simple rich kid from Indiana.The 7-foot Zeller signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The four-year deal was announced Tuesday and Zeller himself confirmed the overall value.You know, $56 million is crazy -- I would play this game for free, Zeller said during a press conference. ... This is way more money than I would spend in three lifetimes.Zeller has improved statistically every year since coming into the league as the fourth overall pick in 2013 NBA draft.General manager Rich Cho called Zeller a high character guy who plays both ends of the floor, and said he considers him a big part of the teams core group moving forward.We felt it was important to get him locked up to an extension rather than have him be a restricted free agent next summer, Cho said. With the cap next summer along with Codys value around the league as a young, versatile athletic big we felt he would have been a target for a number of teams.Zeller said he spent Monday stressing out about the contract negotiations simply because he wanted to know what his future held. The two sides ultimately reached a deal just before midnight .More than anything I like the insurance of knowing that I will be here long term, Zeller said.Zeller, who starred collegiately at Indiana, has appeared in 220 games with 109 starts during his four-year career with Charlotte. He has averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.5 minutes per game.Last season he started 60 games and posted career highs of 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 24.3 minutes per game as the Hornets finished tied for the third-best record (48-34) in the Eastern Conference.Zeller said Hornets coach Steve Clifford and the organization has shown the utmost confidence in him ever since they drafted him, which is one of the reasons he wanted to stay in Charlotte. He started his career with the Hornets as a power forward, but has since moved almost exclusively to center.Hes currently splitting time in the starting lineup with Roy Hibbert.This is the third consecutive season the Hornets have taken at least one player off the market before theyve completed their rookie contract and were allowed to become restricted free agents.The others were Kemba Walker in 2014 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeremy Lamb in 2015.We wanted to make sure we had some continuity with our core moving forward, Cho said. And the other piece is any valuable player who goes into restricted free agency, he has a chance to get a big offer sheet. If you give an extension you more or less control the situation a lot better than have to match an offer sheet. It only takes one team, and there are some teams desperate to get restricted free agents.Custom New York Mets Nike Jerseys .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Custom Baseball Jerseys . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-boston-red-sox-nike-jerseys . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Custom Washington Nationals Nike Jerseys . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Custom Milwaukee Brewers Nike Jerseys .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup.CLEVELAND -- Stipe Miocic climbed to the top of the octagon and threw his legs over its sides, straddling the cage like he was riding a horse.He had defended his title in stunning fashion, and Clevelands hometown hero has no plans to give it up.Im going to stay champ for a long time, he said.Floored by an early punch, Miocic recovered and knocked out Alistair Overeem at 4:27 of the first round to conclude UFC 203 on Saturday night in front of nearly 20,000 delirious fans.Miocic, whose title in in May set off a run of championships in a city that didnt celebrate one for 52 years, was in big trouble after Overeem caught him on the jaw with a short left. Overeem pounced on Miocic, a Cleveland fire fighter, and put him in a guillotine hold as he tried to choke him out. But the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Miocic, urged by the crowd chanting Stee-pay, Stee-pay, escaped the hold and quickly pressed the action.In the final minute of the round, Miocic stunned Overeem with a punch and then held him down and delivered four devastating right-handed punches to the challengers head to finish him off.When I got on top of him, game over, Miocic said.When the fight was stopped, Miocic ran and climbed the cage, a move he had planned for months. Soon after, he took the microphone and yelled O-H to the crowd, which responded I-0, to the local champ, whose knock out of Fabricio Werdum this spring was followed by the Cavaliers overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State in the NBA Finals.Im going to remember this for the rest of my life, Miocic said.Overeem almost ruined things for Miocic when he knocked him on his butt and attempted to end the fight. But Miocic wasnt going to be denied and was offended when he learned that Overeem had thought he tapped out.I dont remember tapping out, Miocic said. I remember punching him in the face until he was unconscious.Before Miocics stunning comeback, former WWE superstar CM Punk could have used a folding chair or a tag-team partner.Out of pro wrestlings scripted ring, his first visit into the octagon didnt last long.Punk, who was one of WWEs biggest stars when he left it two years ago to try his hand in ultimate fighting, tapped out just 2:14 into the first round after he was pummeled and choked by welterweight Mickey Gall.The 38-year-old Punk charged Gall but was on his back less than 10 seconds into the fight.ddddddddddddPinned up against the fencing, he was unable to get out from under Gall, who smashed a right hand into Punks temple and then kneeled on top of him and swung both arms like a pendulum, connecting with one hard shot after another.Punk nearly got free, but Gall regained a dominant position and squeezed his opponents head like he wanted to snap it off. Punk had no choice but to tap his hand on the mat, ending the fight the way many inside UFC predicted.Yeah you know in life you go big or you go home, Punk said afterward. I just like to take challenges. It was a hell of a climb, I didnt get to the summit tonight but it doesnt mean Im going to give up it doesnt mean Im going anywhere, it doesnt mean Im going to stop.The 24-year-old Gall never doubted he would crush Punk.I know my kill stuff would be more than his kill stuff, he said. I knew what to expect and I was ready to dominate.Prior to Miocics bout, former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum won a unanimous decision over Travis Browne.Following the heated bout, Werdum put his gloved hands to his face and was pretending to wipe away tears when he was confronted by Brownes coach Edmond Tarverdyan. Werdum tried to kick Tarverdyan and security rushed into the ring as both corners jawed at each other.Just climbing the steps into the octagon was something of a victory for Punk, who became a villain of sorts inside UFC circles as fans, wrestlers and fellow fighters questioned his motives for taking up a new sport with no experience.He was accustomed to the outside distractions -- media requests, fans and travel -- for years. But despite working with Duke Roufus and other top trainers at the Roufusport Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee for the past year, he wasnt ready for Gall.Still, Punk intends to stick with his new love.Obviously, Mickeys a hell of a fighter. I will be back, believe it or not, Punk said. This was the most fun Ive had in my life, second best night of my life after marrying my wife. I know theres a lot of doubters but listen, lifes about falling down and getting back up. Doesnt matter how many time you get knocked down, get back up. ' ' '