Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova tested positive for a banned substance at Australian Open

The Court of Arbitration for Sport cut nine months off the suspension imposed on Maria Sharapova, who tested positive for the banned heart medication Meldonium at the Australian Open in January 2016.

Is justice being served by reducing the penalty by nine months?

Did New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the starting guard for the Brooklyn Nets?; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

In Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

Quick Bites:

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker took the ball to the hole a little too forcefully, so the rim hit back
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is still in concussion protocol
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods pulls out of the Safeway Open
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is hanging up his football cleats for Mixed Martial Arts

What's Poppin'!

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs
MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6;
Not everyone can successfully make the transition from college football coaching to coaching in the NFL. So we ask the question, is the NFL a right fit for San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly?
The NFL is cracking down on all end zone dances. Has the NFL become the No Fun League?
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova's suspension from tennis is reduced to 15 months from 24 months. Did Sharapova special treatment?
Michigan blows out the Rutgers football team 78-0, should Rutgers be in Division 1A?

What's The 411Sports New York Sports Report:

• Did New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the Brooklyn Nets starting guard? You be the judge.
• NY Jets Week 5 results
• NY Giants Week 5 results
• Ode to the New York Mets

IN THE DOG HOUSE:

New York knicks guard Derrick Rose for the information coming out at his sexual abuse civil trial.

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Maria Sharapova drops out of US OPEN 2015

The US OPEN for tennis is on and poppin’.

Most are expecting that Serena Williams will add another grand slam to her tally. However, it will be without going through Maria Sharapova, as the Russian tennis star pulled out of the US OPEN because of a thigh injury. Some are saying Maria Sharapova did not want to face Serena Williams.

Do you think Maria Sharapova's injury is real?

Do you think Maria Sharapova's presence would affect Serena Williams performance at the US OPEN?

The “Old Gray Lady” Obviously Can’t See that Serena Williams is a Woman

Ben Rothenberg, a New York Times writer, wrote an article last Thursday, just before the Wimbledon Championships Finals on Saturday, discussing female tennis players’ body types. The essence of the article points to their body image being a balancing act. In addition, Rothenberg goes on to say that Serena's body is not the epitome of feminine beauty but one of masculinity. He goes on to contrast Serena’s body with that of skinny white girls like Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska (who resemble 13-year-old boys).

Radwanska purposely doesn't want to look fit or muscular because "I'm a girl." And Sharapova had the nerve to say she wants to be skinnier, which is a joke because she's barely visible now.

What's critical, from my perspective, is the timing of the article.

I believe some people will try anything to throw Serena off her game so that she does not win the 2015 Wimbledon title. And, more importantly, I believe it is to taint the immeasurable success that Serena Williams would enjoy after her imminent and historic victory.