“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
CHICAGO CUBS 4 ST. LOUIS 3
SAN DIEGO 5 DETROIT 4
COLORADO 6 MIAMI 1
TAMPA BAY 3 BALTIMORE 0
WASHINGTON 5 SAN FRANCISCO 3
NY YANKEES 5 KANSAS CITY 4
CINCINNATI 9 ARIZONA 6
CLEVELAND 6 PHILADELPHIA 5
ATLANTA 6 MILWAUKEE 4
LA DODGERS 11 TEXAS 5
MINNESOTA 9 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4
LA ANGELS 8 PITTSBURGH 5
HOUSTON 6 OAKLAND 4
SEATTLE 3 TORONTO 2
NY METS 4 BOSTON 3 SUSPENDED IN 4TH INNING
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
STATS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/index.asp
PLAYER NEWS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/news.asp
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS 9 IOWA 6
LAKE COUNTY 9 FORT WAYNE 0
SOUTH BEND 7 W. WASHINGTON 1
WNBA
LIBERTY 96 MYSTICS 87
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
ORLANDO 1 HOUSTON 1
CHARLOTTE 2 DALLAS 2
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
BIG 10 WEEKLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA
WEEK 2
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS AT KANSAS
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
NEBRASKA AT COLORADO
PURDUE AT VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP
WISCONSIN AT WASHINGTON STATE
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
WEEK 3
MICHIGAN VS. BOWLING GREEN
WISCONSIN VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE (IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
MINNESOTA AT NORTH CAROLINA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN AT DUKE
ILLINOIS VS. PENN STATE
PURDUE VS. SYRACUSE
MARYLAND VS. VIRGINIA
RUTGERS VS. VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. WASHINGTON
IOWA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEEK 4
INDIANA VS. AKRON
ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
NEBRASKA VS. LOUISIANA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN VS. MINNESOTA
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN VS. RUTGERS
PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 5
PURDUE VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. INDIANA
MINNESOTA VS. LOUISIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
NORTHWESTERN VS. PENN STATE
RUTGERS VS. WAGNER
WEEK 6
NORTHWESTERN VS. HOWARD
OHIO STATE VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
IOWA VS. PURDUE
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 7
MARYLAND VS. ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN VS. INDIANA
WISCONSIN VS. IOWA
RUTGERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE
PENN STATE VS. UMASS
WEEK 8
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN
OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE
INDIANA VS. RUTGERS
ILLINOIS VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 9
PENN STATE VS. INDIANA
NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
WISCONSIN VS. OHIO STATE
NEBRASKA VS. PURDUE
WEEK 10
MINNESOTA VS. ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA (IN CHICAGO, IL)
MICHIGAN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
RUTGERS VS. OHIO STATE
MARYLAND VS. PENN STATE
MICHIGAN VS. PURDUE
INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 11
ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MARYLAND
PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NORTHWESTERN
IOWA VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 12
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. MICHIGAN
INDIANA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NEBRASKA
NORTHWESTERN VS. PURDUE
PENN STATE VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 13
NEBRASKA VS. IOWA
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
PURDUE VS. INDIANA
RUTGERS VS. MARYLAND
ILLINOIS VS. NORTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN STATE VS. PENN STATE
MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 0
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY (DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 2:30 P.M. | NBC
MERCER VS. NORTH ALABAMA (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. UTEP | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. UMASS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. OHIO | 7 P.M. | FS1
VANDERBILT VS. HAWAI’I | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
JACKSON STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
USC VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 8 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
LOUISIANA TECH VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WAKE FOREST VS. ELON | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UCF VS. KENT STATE | 7 P.M. | FS1
GEORGIA STATE VS. RHODE ISLAND | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UCONN VS. NC STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA | 8 P.M. | FOX
MISSOURI VS. SOUTH DAKOTA | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH VS. FLORIDA | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TULSA VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
COLTS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 – 10-11 A.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 8 – 9-10:30 A.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10 – 9-10 A.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 15 – 9-10 A.M.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 – 6-8 P.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 17 – 6-8 P.M.
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 3
N.Y. JETS VS. CLEVELAND (NBC), 8:00
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00
MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
N.Y. GIANTS AT DETROIT, 7:00
GREEN BAY AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00
PITTSBURGH AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
WASHINGTON AT CLEVELAND, 7:30
DENVER AT ARIZONA, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
INDIANAPOLIS AT BUFFALO, 1:00
TENNESSEE AT CHICAGO, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 4:00
JACKSONVILLE AT DALLAS, 5:00
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:00
L.A. CHARGERS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
KANSAS CITY AT NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 4:00
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA, 7:30
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
CAROLINA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00
CINCINNATI AT ATLANTA, 7:30
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
JACKSONVILLE AT DETROIT, 1:00
MIAMI AT HOUSTON, 4:00
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 6:30
CHICAGO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
KANSAS CITY AT ARIZONA, 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT MINNESOTA, 8:00
DENVER AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:30
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON (ESPN), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
PITTSBURGH AT ATLANTA, 7:30
INDIANAPOLIS AT PHILADELPHIA (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
DETROIT AT CAROLINA (CBS), 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT TENNESSEE, 8:15
L.A. CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
BUFFALO AT CHICAGO, 1:00
SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT KANSAS CITY, 1:00
ARIZONA AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT N.Y. GIANTS, 6:00
CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON, 6:05
MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00
BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
LAS VEGAS AT DALLAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT DENVER, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
FRIDAY’S TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE ORIOLES — ACTIVATED RHP SHINTARO FUJINAMI. OPTIONED RHP LOGAN GILLASPIE TO NORFOLK (IL).
BOSTON RED SOX — AGREED TO TERMS WITH C KYLE TEEL, RHPS MATT DUFFY, TRENNOR O’DONNELL, BLAKE WEHUNT, C.J. WEINS, LHPS CONNELLY EARLY, RYAN AMMONS, SS KRISTIAN CAMPBELL AND OF CADEN ROSE. SIGNED NON-DRAFTED RHPS MAX CARLSON, ISAAC STEBENS, CADE FEENEY AND LHPS JOJO INGRASSIA AND ZACH FOGELL. SENT RHP COREY KLUBER AND SS TREVOR STORY TO PORTLAND (EL) ON A REHAB ASSIGNMENT. OPTIONED RHP LOGAN GILLASPIE TO NORFOLK (IL).
KANSAS CITY ROYALS — RELEASED RHP BROOKS KRISKE.
NEW YORK YANKEES — PLACED C JOSE TREVINO ON THE 10-DAY IL, RETROACTIVE TO JULY 18. RECALLED C BEN RORTVEDT FROM SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE (IL).
OAKLAND ATHLETICS — AGREED TO TERMS WITH INFS JACOB WILSON, MYLES NAYLOR, COLBY HALTER, LUKE MANN, OFS RYAN LASKO, JONAH COX, WILL SIMPSON, NATE NANKIL, RHPS NATHAN DETTMER, JACKSON FINLEY, COREY AVANT, TOM REISINGER, RYAN BROWN, DREW CONOVER, C COLE SIMPSON, LHPS WILL JOHNSTON AND DIEGO BARRERA. SIGNED NON-DRAFTED C NICK SCHWARTZ AND SS CASEY YAMAUCHI.
TAMPA BAY RAYS — PLACED C FRANCISCO MEJIA ON THE 10-DAY IL. RECALLED C RENE PINTO FROM DURHAM (IL). AGREED TO TERMS WITH SSS HUNTER HAAS, BRAYDEN TAYLOR, ADRIAN SANTANA, OF COLTON LEDBETTER, C BRYAN BROECKER, RHPS GARRETT EDWARDS, T.J. NICHOLS, TREVOR HARRISON, CHANDLER MURPHY, OWEN WILD, HAYDEN SNELSIRE, ADAM BOUCHER, WILL STEVENS, LHPS T.J. FONDTAIN, JEREMY PILON, DALTON FOWLER, 1BS TRE MORGAN AND WOOYEOUL SHIN.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS — ACQUIRED LHP GENESIS CABRERA FROM ST. LOUIS IN EXCHANGE FOR C SAMMY HERNANDEZ. DESIGNATED RHP TRENT THORNTON FOR ASSIGNMENT.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — REINSTATED LHP ANDREW CHAFIN FROM THE PATERNITY LIST. OPTIONED LHP JOE MANTIPLY TO RENO (PCL).
COLORADO ROCKIES — RECALLED RHP PETER LAMBERT FROM ALBUQUERQUE (PCL). OPTIONED RHP TOMMY DOYLE TO ALBUQUERQUE.
MIAMI MARLINS — SENT RF JERAR ENCARNACION OURTIGHT TO JACKSONVILLE (IL).
MILWAUKEE BREWERS — AGREED TO TERMS WITH SSS ERIC BITONTI AND COOPER PRATT.
NEW YORK METS — RECALLED INF MARK VIENTOS FROM SYRACUSE (IL).
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — REINSTATED INF JOSH HARRISON FROM THE 10-DAY IL. RECALLED OF JAKE CAVE FROM LEHIGH VALLEY (IL). OPTIONED INFS DREW ELLIS AND DARICK HALL TO LEHIGH VALLEY.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES — SIGNED NON-DRAFTED FREE AGENT RHP NOAH TAKACS. RETURNED LHP JOE JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ FROM HIS REHABILITATION ASSIGNMENT AND ACTIVATED HIM FROM THE 15-DAY IL. OPTIONED RHP YOHAN RAMIREZ TO INDIANAPOLIS (IL). RETURNED RHP WIL CROWE FROM HIS REHABILITATION ASSIGNMENT, REINSTATED HIM FROM THE 60-DAY IL AND DESIGNATED HIM FOR ASSIGNMENT.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS — SENT C ISRAEL PINEDA TO WILMINGTON (SAL) ON A REHAB ASSIGNMENT.
MINOR LEAGUE
ATLANTIC LEAGUE
LONG ISLAND DUCKS — ANNOUNCED THAT INF TZU-WEI LIN’S CONTRACT WAS PURCHASED BY TSG HAWKS OF THE CHINESE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE. SIGNED AND ACTIVATED C CARLOS CASTRO.
BASKETBALL
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
ATLANTA HAWKS — WAIVED G TYRESE MARTIN. SIGNED G WESLEY MATTHEWS.
NEW YORK KNICKS — SIGNED F NATHAN KNIGHT TO A TWO-WAY CONTRACT.
SACRAMENTO KINGS — SIGNED C NERLENS NOEL.
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
WASHINGTON MYSTICS — SIGNED G ABBY MEYERS TO A 7-DAY CONTRACT.
FOOTBALL
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
BALTIMORE RAVENS — SIGNED RB MELVIN GORDON TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. PLACED RB J.K. DOBBINS, FB PATRICK RICARD, CB PEPE WILLIAMS, DT RAYSHAD NICHOLS AND WR MIKE THOMAS ON THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST AND OLB TYUS BOWSER ON THE ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST. PLACED WR RASHOD BATEMAN ON THE RESERVE/DID NOT REPORT LIST.
CAROLINA PANTHERS — SIGNED QB BRYCE YOUNG TO A ROOKIE CONTRACT.
CLEVELAND BROWNS — SIGNED WR AUSTIN WATKINS. PLACED WR MARQUISE GOODWIN ON THE ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL ILLNESS LIST. PLACED WR ANTHONY SCHWARTZ, G COLBY GOSSETT AND WR MIKE WOODS ON THE ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST.
DETROIT LIONS — ACTIVATED TE DERRICK DEESE AND DE ZACH MORTON FROM INJURED RESERVE.
GREEN BAY PACKERS — PLACED WR GRANT DUBOSE AND TE CAMREN MCDONALD ON THE ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST AND WR JEFF COTTON, LB RASHAN GARY, C JAKE HANSON AND DB ERIC STOKES ON THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — SIGNED DL AL-QUADIN MUHAMMAD TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — RE-SIGNED DL DAWUANE SMOOT TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. WAIVED DE NICK THURMAN.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — PLACED DE TYREE WILSON ON THE ACTIVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST AND DT BYRON YOUNG ON THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — SIGNED CB CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ AND DL KEION WHITE TO ROOKIE CONTRACTS. PLACED G MIKE ONWENU, S CODY DAVIS AND DT JUSTUS TRAVAI ON THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST.
NEW YORK GIANTS — SIGNED WR COLE BEASLEY AND RB JAMES ROBINSON.
NEW YORK JETS — SIGNED WR ALEX ERICKSON AND DB DANE CRUIKSHANK.
TENNESSEE TITANS — AGREED TO TERMS WITH DB KEVIN BYARD ON A RESTRUCTURED CONTRACT.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — SIGNED CB EMMANUEL FORBES AND RB JARTAVIUS MARTIN. PLACED DB XAVIER HENDERSON ON THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST.
HOCKEY
EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
WORCESTER RAILERS — RE-SIGNED F ANTHONY CALLIN TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.
SOCCER
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
COLUMBUS CREW — ACQUIRED M JULIAN GRESSELL FROM VANCOUVER IN EXCHANGE FOR $550,000 OF GUARANTEED GENERAL ALLOCATION MONEY ($275,000 IN 2023 AND $275,000 IN 2024). VANCOUVER COULD RECEIVE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 IN GAM (2024-2026) BASED ON CONDITIONAL TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION — ACQUIRED $150,000 IN 2024 GENERAL ALLOCATION MONEY (GAM) FROM HOUSTON DYNAMO FC IN EXCHANGE FOR A 2023 INTERNATIONAL ROSTER SPOT.
NEW YORK CITY FC — SOLD F VALETIN CASTELLANOS TO ITALIAN SIDE S.S. LAZIO ON A PERMANENT TRANSFER.
PORTLAND TIMBERS — WAIVED D PABLO BONILLA.
COLLEGE
BARTON — NAMED CIARA BURUD HEAD WOMEN’S LACROSSE COACH.
CAMPBELL — NAMED ADAM WYSE ASSISTANT COACH/RECRUITING COORDINATOR AND DUSTY WHITE ASSISTANT COACH/PITCHING COACH.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN — PROMOTED JACKIE STOLL TO ASSISTANT WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH.
RUTGERS — PROMOTED MIKE GARZA TO ASSISTANT MEN’S BASEBALL COACH , SAAH NIMLEY ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH OF MEN’S BASKETBALL AND NATE LOUIS ASSISTANT COACH OF MEN’S BASKETBALL.
WASHINGTON (MD.) — NAMED ALEX CALDER HEAD COACH OF FIELD HOCKEY.
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: KYLE TUCKER’S 3 HRS LEAD ASTROS PAST A’S
Kyle Tucker became the sixth major-leaguer this season to homer three times in a game, driving in four runs in the process and powering the visiting Houston Astros to a 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
Jeremy Pena, Tucker and Alex Bregman, the Astros’ 2-3-4 hitters, combined to score all six runs and drive in all six. They had seven of the team’s nine hits, including four homers.
The A’s made Framber Valdez (8-6) work for the win, putting up four runs against him in five innings. The right-hander allowed six hits and two walks, striking out four. Pressly notched his 23rd save.
Oakland starter JP Sears (1-7) took the loss, charged with five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one. Jordan Diaz drove in two runs for the A’s.
Dodgers 11, Rangers 5
Los Angeles, playing its first game at the site of its 2020 World Series championship, rallied to beat Texas to open a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez drove in three runs apiece, center fielder Jonny Deluca made a couple dazzling catches, and the Dodgers’ bullpen allowed one run over the final four innings. Reliever Ryan Brasier (2-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the sixth.
Playing his first game against his former team, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, but he exited in the eighth inning with a sprained right thumb. Seager was hurt diving headfirst into second base on a double.
Rays 3, Orioles 0
Zach Eflin scattered two hits over seven scoreless innings and Isaac Paredes and Jose Siri each belted a solo homer to lift Tampa Bay to a shutout victory over Baltimore in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Harold Ramirez had an RBI single and joined Paredes with two hits as the Rays snapped a five-game skid. Tampa Bay evened its four-game series with Baltimore at one win apiece. Eflin (11-5) struck out eight batters against one walk to avenge a tough loss to the Orioles in his last encounter with them on May 9.
Kyle Bradish (6-5) sustained his second loss in his last six decisions despite permitting only two runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out five with one walk. The Orioles lost for just the third time in their last 13 games.
Mariners 3, Blue Jays 2
Teoscar Hernandez singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against his former team as Seattle rallied to defeat visiting Toronto in the opener of a three-game series.
Hernandez finished with three hits. The Mariners rallied off Toronto closer Jordan Romano (4-5). Paul Sewald (3-0) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to earn the victory.
Yusei Kikuchi tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his return to Seattle and Danny Jansen homered for the Blue Jays, who took their third loss in four games. Kikuchi, a left-hander who pitched for the Mariners from 2019-21 before signing with Toronto before last season, allowed five hits, walked one and struck out eight, one shy of his season high.
Yankees 5, Royals 4
Billy McKinney hit a three-run homer to take the lead in the fourth inning and made a pair of highlight-reel catches in center field as host New York defeated Kansas City.
Franchy Cordero homered for the second straight game and Gleyber Torres connected to extend his hitting streak to 11 games as the Yankees stopped a four-game losing streak and won for only the third time in 12 games.
New York starter Clarke Schmidt (6-6) allowed a three-run homer to Michael Massey in the fourth but no other runs in his 5 2/3 innings. In his fourth career start, Kansas City’s Alec Marsh (0-4) allowed five runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Massey added a solo shot in the eighth inning.
Angels 8, Pirates 5
Shohei Ohtani struggled on the mound, but Los Angeles hit four homers to beat Pittsburgh in Anaheim, Calif.
Ohtani (8-5) served up a career-high four homers, going 6 1/3 innings while allowing five runs on six hits. He struck out nine and walked one. Mike Moustakas, Trey Cabbage, Zach Neto and Taylor Ward homered for Los Angeles, which earned its fourth win in a row.
Henry Davis hit two home runs and Ji Man Choi and Jack Suwinski also went deep for Pittsburgh, which fell for the 13th time in 16 games.
Padres 5, Tigers 4
Juan Soto hit a pair of homers and drove in three runs and visiting San Diego held off Detroit.
Jake Cronenworth added a two-run triple for San Diego. Winning pitcher Seth Lugo (4-4) gave up two runs and six hits while striking out seven with three walks in six innings. Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
Riley Greene hit a two-run homer for Detroit and Zach McKinstry had a solo shot. Tigers starter Reese Olson (1-4) gave up five runs and seven hits while striking out five in five innings.
Cubs 4, Cardinals 3
Cody Bellinger continued his torrid offensive pace with three hits, including a two-run homer during a four-run third inning, and host Chicago held on to snap St. Louis’ six-game winning streak.
Miles Mastrobuoni clubbed his first major league home run for the Cubs, who evened this set with their third win in four games. Chicago’s Justin Steele (10-3) was charged with two runs and six hits while fanning nine over 6 1/3 innings.
Bellinger is batting .442 (38-for-86) with six homers and 15 RBIs in his last 23 games.
Reds 9, Diamondbacks 6
Matt McLain drilled a two-strike fastball for his first career grand slam as Cincinnati beat visiting Arizona in the opener of the three-game series.
The rookie star shortstop fell behind hard-throwing reliever Justin Martinez two strikes before driving the third pitch — a 100.9-mph fastball — to the seats in right in the fifth inning for his ninth home run of the season. Another rookie — Spencer Steer — drove in three runs as the Reds won their third straight after a six-game losing streak.
Ketel Marte homered twice, tripled home another run and finished with four RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the fifth time in seven games since the All-Star break.
Rockies 6, Marlins 1
Peter Lambert earned his first win as a major league starter since 2019, pitching five scoreless innings to lead Colorado over host Miami.
C.J. Cron, Jurickson Profar and Elias Diaz homered for Colorado, which improved to 4-2 since the All-Star break and won a road game for just the second time in their past 14 tries. Lambert (2-1) allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out three. The 26-year-old right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game.
The Marlins have lost seven straight games — all of them since the All-Star Game. Starter Braxton Garrett (5-3) gave up seven hits and six runs in three innings. He fanned five without issuing a walk. It was his second-worst start of the season, and his ERA increased from 3.90 to 4.32.
Twins 9, White Sox 4
Byron Buxton snapped a slump with two home runs, including a three-run blast to highlight a five-run first inning, as Minnesota beat Chicago in Minneapolis.
Alex Kirilloff homered, doubled and drove in four runs for the Twins. Ryan Jeffers also hit a home run for Minnesota, which improved to 6-2 since the All-Star break. Joe Ryan (9-6) picked up just his second win in his past 10 starts, allowing four runs over six innings while striking out 10, matching his season high.
Andrew Benintendi and Yasmani Grandal homered for Chicago, which took its third loss in four games. Eloy Jimenez and Elvis Andrus each added a double, a single and a run for the White Sox. Lance Lynn (6-9) gave up nine runs, six earned, over 6 2/3 innings, allowing four homers to increase his major-league-leading total to 28.
Nationals 5, Giants 3
Michael Chavis hit a go-ahead double and host Washington blanked San Francisco for the final six innings to open a three-game series on a winning note.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin (3-5) withstood a rough opening stretch and beat the Giants for the second time this season. He struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings while allowing three runs, five hits and one walk. Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his 13th save. Lane Thomas and CJ Abrams hit home runs for Washington.
Giants starter Alex Wood (4-4) gave up five runs on five hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out one. J.D. Davis and Joc Pederson went deep for San Francisco.
Guardians 6, Phillies 5
Jose Ramirez had four hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases as Cleveland opened a three-game series by edging visiting Philadelphia.
David Fry had two hits and two RBIs for Cleveland, which led 6-2 before Philadelphia rallied with three runs in the seventh inning on back-to-back homers by J.T. Realmuto and Bryson Stott. Reliever Trevor Stephan (5-4) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win. Emmanuel Clase retired the Phillies in order in the ninth for his 26th save.
Philadelphia stranded the bases loaded three times and left a total of 10 runners on base. The Phillies have lost three straight following a four-game winning streak. Starter Ranger Suarez (2-5) allowed four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
Braves 6, Brewers 4
Orlando Arcia and Austin Riley each hit a two-run homer to help Atlanta prevail at Milwaukee.
Marcell Ozuna also had two RBIs as the Braves won their second straight game. Michael Soroka (2-1) gave up four runs and six hits over six innings, and Kirby Yates handled the ninth for his second save.
Willy Adames homered for the Brewers, who lost for just the third time in 11 games. Freddy Peralta (6-8) worked five innings and gave up six runs and six hits.
Mets-Red Sox (suspended)
The game between Boston and visiting New York was suspended because of wet playing conditions with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and the Mets leading 4-3.
The game was suspended following a two-hour weather delay and will resume Saturday at 2:20 p.m. local time. The Red Sox led 3-0 until the Mets received two-run home runs from Brandon Nimmo and Daniel Vogelbach. Nimmo’s home run, his 15th of the season, sliced Boston’s lead to 3-2 in the third, and Vogelbach’s sixth home run of the season put the Mets in front in the fourth.
Both home runs came against Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford, who surrendered four hits in four innings. New York starter Kodai Senga gave up three runs and three hits, struck out three and walked one in 3 1/3 innings.
YANKEES C JOSE TREVINO (WRIST TEAR) DONE FOR SEASON
New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino needs season-ending wrist surgery, he revealed to reporters Friday.
Trevino was placed on the 10-day injured list before Friday’s series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals. New York recalled catcher Ben Rortvedt from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move.
Trevino said his right wrist had been bothering him since spring training. The 30-year-old tried to play through the pain and saw action in 55 games this year; he last played July 17.
The injury is a torn TFCC ligament, according to the catcher.
Trevino was batting .210 with four home runs and 15 RBIs this season. He earned his first All-Star nod and Gold Glove Award in 2022, his debut season with the Yankees, finishing the campaign with a .248 batting average, 11 homers, 12 doubles and 43 RBIs in 115 appearances.
In six seasons split between the Texas Rangers (2018-21) and Yankees, Trevino is a career .241 hitter with 24 homers, 47 doubles and 113 RBIs.
Rortvedt, 25, played in 39 games for the Minnesota Twins in 2021 and five games for the Yankees earlier this season. He’s a career .177 hitter with three home runs and seven RBIs. He will assume a greater role going forward along with major league catcher Kyle Higashioka.
Also Friday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that star slugger Aaron Judge will take live batting practice on Sunday, and after that the team may be able to give a timetable for his return.
Judge is serving his second stint on the IL this season after tearing a ligament in his right toe June 3 while making a catch against a bullpen fence in the outfield of Dodger Stadium.
RAYS PLACE C FRANCISCO MEJIA (KNEE) ON 10-DAY IL
The Tampa Bay Rays placed Francisco Mejia on the 10-day injured list with a left knee MCL sprain Friday and recalled fellow catcher Rene Pinto from Triple-A Durham.
Mejia, 27, underwent an MRI on his knee after exiting in the seventh inning of Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the visiting Baltimore Orioles.
He is batting .227 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 50 games this season.
Mejia is a career .239 hitter with 29 homers and 118 RBIs in 355 career games with the Cleveland franchise (2017-18), San Diego Padres (2018-20) and Rays.
Pinto, 26, has been working his way back from a bruised hand. He batted .213 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 25 games last season with the Rays.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE RELIEVER GÉNESIS CABRERA IN A TRADE WITH THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SEATTLE (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays acquired reliever Génesis Cabrera in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday for minor league catcher Sammy Hernandez.
The 26-year-old Cabrera was designated for assignment by St. Louis on Monday. The Blue Jays designated right-hander Trent Thornton for assignment to make room for Cabrera on the 40-man roster.
Cabrera made his big league debut with St. Louis in 2019. The left-hander is 13-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 174 games.
Cabrera has struggled this year, going 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 32 appearances. He allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings in his final game with St. Louis last weekend.
The 19-year-old Hernandez has split this season between the Florida Complex League team and Class A Dunedin, batting .213 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 42 games.
The catcher was selected by Toronto in the 14th round of the 2022 draft.
PHILLIES SLIDE STAR BRYCE HARPER OVER TO FIRST BASE AS TEAM EVALUATES TRADE DEADLINE OPTIONS
CLEVELAND (AP) — Bryce Harper has another career first.
Philadelphia’s star slugger is making his first start at first base Friday night for the Phillies, who want to see if Harper can handle the position before they make any moves ahead of the trade deadline.
Manager Rob Thomson said the initial plan is for the two-time MVP to play in the field every other game. Harper will be the designated hitter when he’s not at first.
Harper, who has made a quick recovery from Tommy John surgery last year, has played 1,258 games __ mostly in the outfield. He had not played any defense this year while his elbow recovers.
“I’m excited to see how he does,” Thomson said before the opener of a three-game series with the Guardians. “We’ve prepared him and now it’s just about getting used to game speed and getting used to those situations.”
As if on cue, Harper fielded a grounder by Cleveland leadoff hitter Steven Kwan in the first and flipped the ball to Phillies starter Ranger Suárez covering the bag for an out.
Thomson also joked he’s happy to not have to answer any more questions about Harper’s move.
Harper has been getting in extra infield work lately, and a few days ago he approached Thomson and said he was ready for a game. Before taking pregame grounders in Progressive Field, Harper chatted briefly with team David Dombrowski, the team’s president of baseball operations.
Thomson is confident Harper will adapt quickly to his new spot.
“I don’t think ground balls will necessarily be a problem and throws across the diamond won’t be a problem or cuts and relays,” he said. “The thing that he’s got to get used to is fielding the position on bunt plays, but we’ve had enough time practicing on that so I think he’s going to be fine.”
The defending National League champion Phillies enter the weekend 10 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East but in the thick of the wild-card race.
Not every player could handle a position switch like Harper is undertaking.
But he’s not like most players.
“He expects a lot out of himself, that’s for sure,” Thomson said. “But I think it helps being experience being able to handle that as opposed to a younger player that hasn’t accomplished much yet. I think he’ll be fine.”
With Harper at first, the Phillies can use Kyle Schwarber as their designated hitter. Nick Castellanos started Friday’s game in right and Philadelphia recalled Jake Cave from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to play left.
If Harper shows he can hold things down at first, the Phillies could pursue a right-handed hitting outfielder via trade.
A seven-time All-Star and one of baseball’s most dynamic players, Harper is batting .295 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 63 games.
Guardians manager Terry Francona was confident Harper can make the position switch without any difficulty.
“From watching him for years, he looks to me like a semi-decent athlete,” Francona joked. “He’s had time to work at it and I’m sure they wouldn’t put him out there until they were comfortable he were going to be able to do it.”
WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOPHIA SMITH SCORES TWICE FOR US IN 3-0 VICTORY OVER VIETNAM TO OPEN THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
AUKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Sophia Smith scored twice for the United States in the opening half and the two-time defending champions kicked off the Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 victory over tournament first-timers Vietnam on Saturday.
Lindsey Horan added a goal for the favored Americans, who have won four World Cups overall and are vying for an unprecedented three-peat in this year’s tournament.
Vietnam drew comparisons to Thailand, the team the Americans routed 13-0 in in their 2019 World Cup opening game. But Vietnam was surprisingly resilient, kept the game closer than expected, and goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh stopped Alex Morgan’s first-half penalty attempt.
Morgan was knocked to the field clutching her calf after trying for the rebound off her missed penalty, but she quickly returned. It was just her second penalty miss for the United States.
Smith, one of 14 Americans playing in their first World Cup, showed why she was named both U.S. Soccer’s Player of the Year and the National Women’s Soccer League MVP last year with her two first-half goals.
Smith scored off a pass from captain Lindsey Horan in the 14th minute. Smith and Horan celebrated with a choreographed handshake after the goal. She scored again in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-0 going into the break. The United States was at first flagged as offside before a video review confirmed the goal.
The U.S. team was infused with young talent including Smith and Trinity Rodman after settling for a disappointing bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Among the veterans, 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe made her 200th international appearance against Vietnam.
Rapinoe, who scored in the World Cup final in France and was named that tournament’s best player, did not start. She announced before the team left for New Zealand that this would be her last World Cup and she would retire from her professional team at the end of the season.
Rapinoe and midfielder Rose Lavelle, who were both limited by injuries in the run-up to the tournament, both came in as substitutes in the 63rd minute. Rapinoe sported bright blue hair.
The youngest player on the team, 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, was also a second-half sub.
Horan scored into a wide-open net off a pass from Smith, who was rushed by the goalkeeper and deftly sent the ball back to her. Horan, who was recently engaged, kissed her ring in celebration.
There was early drama when Rodman, the daughter of former NBA great Dennis Rodman and one of the young newcomers on the team, appeared injured after falling hard on her back when she was tackled by defender Tran Thi Thu. Rapinoe warmed up on the sidelines and a stretcher was brought out on the filed, but Rodman stood and returned to the match a few moments later.
Saturday’s game was the first meeting between the United States and Vietnam. The Vietnamese lost two exhibition matches ahead of the tournament and fell 9-0 to Spain in a closed-door tune-up match in Auckland last Friday.
Also in Group E are the Netherlands and Portugal, which meet Sunday in Dunedin. Portugal is also making its first World Cup appearance.
The group plays all of their matches in New Zealand, which is co-hosting the tournament with Australia. The United States plays the Netherlands in a 2019 final rematch on Thursday in Wellington.
Should the United States top the group, the team will head to Sydney for the round of 16.
Back home in the United States, a sign was erected on the North Lawn of the White House that said “Go Team USA! We are all behind you.”
MEN’S SOCCER
LIONEL MESSI SCORES A SENSATIONAL GAME-WINNING GOAL ON A FREE KICK IN HIS INTER MIAMI DEBUT
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Some people paid hundreds of dollars to be able to say they were in the stadium for Lionel Messi’s debut for Inter Miami. Some paid thousands for their seats. The team’s owners committed well over $100 million just to have a chance at moments like this.
So far, it looks like money well spent.
From the you-can’t-make-this-up department, Messi capped the opening night with his new club by delivering the unforgettable. His magical left foot sent a free kick into the upper left corner of the net in the 94th minute Friday night, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Mexican club Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match.
“What I saw was the goal,” Messi said in an on-field interview amid the postgame celebration. “I saw the goal. I knew that I had to score.”
He makes it sound so easy. Made it look so easy, too.
The game’s greatest active player – a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and a World Cup champion – sent the ball over a wall of four Cruz Azul defenders for the winning goal, unquestionably the greatest moment in Inter Miami’s brief history. Fireworks shot into the night sky, and play resumed for roughly a minute before the referee’s whistle blew.
“It’s a movie that we have seen before,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said.
Messi was a showman throughout his debut for his Major League Soccer club. He waved at fans while he was seated on the bench. Waved at them while he was warming up. Waved at them while he was actually in the game.
And if that wasn’t enough, he saved his best moment for the end. He watched the ball sail into the net, something he’s done about 800 times before for club and country, then sprinted to the right corner of the field and leaped into the arms of teammates.
The team’s owners – David Beckham, Jorge Mas and Jose Mas – were waiting as he left the pitch; Jorge Mas planted a kiss onto the superstar’s sweat-coated cheek. Some Cruz Azul players stood in silence and just watched; they’ll have a story to tell, too, about how it took an incredible Messi moment to defeat them.
It took Inter Miami four years of planning and two years of actual pursuing to bring Messi to the club.
“Worth it,” Beckham said earlier in the week.
How right he was.
“It’s such a moment for this country,” Beckham said. “It’s such a moment for the league. And it’s a very proud moment for us.”
Nobody even left their seats when the halftime whistle blew. The reason: Messi was on the field. He warmed up for about 5 minutes during intermission with the other reserves before they all left for the locker room.
That’s when the fans, finally, could put their phones down and take a breath. Temporarily, anyway. The wait was officially on: When was Messi coming in? He resumed warmups while the second half was getting under way, jogging around behind the end line near Miami’s supporter section, and fans roared in delight when he gave them a wave.
And about eight minutes into the second half, the answer: It was Messi time.
Messi checked in early in the second half with Inter Miami leading 1-0. He hugged the player he was replacing, midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, then trotted onto the field as the estimated crowd of 21,000 all seemed to be standing, almost all of them with phones out to chronicle the moment.
Had he missed the free kick, the game would have gone to a penalty shootout. Instead, Messi ended it on his terms.
“It was the last play of the game and I wanted to score so I didn’t go to penalties,” Messi said.
The first Inter Miami goal of the Messi era was scored by Robert Taylor, who took a long cross from Robbie Robinson, moved into the box and sent a low drive off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead late in the first half.
Messi leaped from his seat, threw his hands in the air, applauded several times and broke into a wide smile.
Cruz Azul tied the game shortly after Messi checked in and had plenty of chances to take a late lead. But the final act belonged to Messi, a storybook ending if there ever was one.
“It’s common for him, you know,” Martino said. “It looks absolutely normal, but it’s not … we’re speaking about the GOAT.”
It was a gathering of GOATs at Messi’s debut match: LeBron James and Serena Williams were there – like Messi in soccer, they’re in the conversation of “greatest of all time” when it comes to the NBA and tennis. Music legends Gloria and Emilio Estefan showed up, as did Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and Kim Kardashian arrived saying one of her sons had a particular reason why he had to attend.
“He’s so excited to see Messi,” Kardashian said.
Everyone was. James – who knows a thing or two about making a highly celebrated move to Miami, after he joined the Heat in 2010 and won his first two NBA titles in a four-year stay – greeted Messi with a long embrace as the teams took the field. And after the goal, James acknowledged the greatness.
“INCREDIBLE,” James tweeted, with a goat emoji for emphasis.
No matter what, it was a massive night for soccer in the U.S. – Messi making his first Miami appearance while, on the other side of the globe, the U.S. women’s team opened its World Cup title defense in New Zealand by beating Vietnam 3-0.
Messi signed a 2 1/2-year contract that will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually – and almost certainly more than $1 million per match.
Messi arrived with the team about two hours before game time, dressed in the team colors – pink T-shirt, black shorts. He stopped for a few photos and handshakes as he entered the tunnel leading to the locker room.
As the match started, Messi took his seat and watched his new team, in the all-pink jersey, shorts and socks, start his new era. Almost every seat was filled, many by people wearing newly acquired Miami jerseys with Messi’s name on the back. They chanted his name a few times, waved flags bearing his name and number.
The excitement kept building, all the way to the end. And Messi made sure his new fans went home happy.
“It was very important,” Messi said, “for us to get this win.”
MEN’S GOLF
HARMAN MATCHES BRITISH OPEN RECORDS AT HOYLAKE TO BUILD 5-SHOT LEAD OVER FLEETWOOD
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Brian Harman found himself in elite company through two rounds at Royal Liverpool, tying the 36-hole record also held by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Even better was having no company at all atop the leaderboard Friday in the British Open.
Harman seized control early with four straight birdies, and saved his best for the final hole. He ripped a 5-iron to 15 feet for eagle, giving him a 6-under 65 that gave him a five-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood going into the weekend.
Not since Scottie Scheffler at the 2021 Masters has a player led by five shots through 36 holes. The last player to lead the British Open by five shots at the halfway point was Louis Oosthuizen at St. Andrews in 2010. Both went on to win handily.
“I understand a lot can happen at an Open, but eight shots is a lot of shots to spot a player who’s playing really well,” said Jordan Spieth, who lost three shots on the back nine for a 71 that left him eight behind. “But I think we’ll just have to look at what Brian will do. He’s in control now. It’s on him.”
McIlroy had even more ground to make up. He figured a round in the 60s would have put him right back in the mix. He lost his spark around the turn and only a birdie at the par-5 18th allowed him to break par with a 70. He was nine shots behind in his quest to end nine years without a major.
Harman’s 65 matched the lowest score for Royal Liverpool, which is hosting the Open for the 13th time. He was at 10-under 132, the same score Woods in 2006 and McIlroy in 2014 had when they went on to win the claret jug.
Harman cared only about a little food, a little sleep and not thinking about much more.
“I’ve had a hot putter the last couple days, so try to ride it through the weekend — 36 holes to go, so try to rest up and get ready,” Harman said.
The key to Saturday might be to stay dry with rain in the forecast.
Sepp Straka had six birdies over his last seven holes — the other was a bogey — for a 31 on the back nine that gave him a 67. He was alone in third place, six shots behind Harman.
Fleetwood made back-to-back birdies on the back nine to get within four shots of Harman, only to find a bunker to the left of the 16th fairway. He could only splash out and had to hit a superb pitch to save bogey. He scrambled for par on the final two holes for his 71.
Fleetwood, who grew up about 45 minutes away in Southport, had massive support from the gallery in the northwest of England. He knows about big deficits in the Open, having started four shots behind Shane Lowry at Royal Portrush in the final round in 2019.
At least this time he still has 36 holes.
“Brian had two amazing days,” Fleetwood said. “He’s a long way in front. Of course there’s a long way to go. But still, for myself and everybody else playing, it’s just do your thing, play one shot at a time. … You just have to keep playing until it’s over and see where you finish.”
The course remained tough, even though the R&A chose to rake sand in the bunker toward the edges to keep golf balls from rolling next to the edges of the steep, vetted sides. Such situations led to big numbers in the opening round.
“It played tough — it played really, really tough,” McIlroy said. “Ten-under par is unbelievably impressive out there. We’ll see what the weekend holds. But after two days I’m actually pretty happy with my two days’ work.”
At least he has two more days.
Dustin Johnson shot an 82, his worst score in a major since the final round at Pebble Beach that cost him a chance in the 2010 U.S. Open. Justin Thomas rebounded from his 82 with a 71 that was all about momentum — he is playing next week in Minnesota as he tries to qualify for the PGA Tour’s postseason.
Over the final hour, the only drama was who would survive the cut at 3-over 145.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player who has not finished worse than 12th this year, delivered a clutch moment when he got up-and-down from a bunker on the par-5 18th for birdie. That gave him a 74 to make the cut on the number.
Patrick Cantlay, the No. 4 player in the world, was one outside the cut line when he chipped in for birdie on the par-3 17th and made it. Defending champion Cameron Smith was one over the cut when he hit a 6-iron that curled around the top edge of a bunker to 2 feet for eagle.
“I think the scorecard is a long way off how the game feels,” Smith said. “It’s been a frustrating couple of days.”
That’s what made Harman’s round so impressive. A pint-sized lefty with Georgia grit, Harman has done the best at keeping the ball in play — on grass, not pot bunkers — and he has made only one bogey through 36 holes.
His start got everyone’s attention — birdie putts from 20 feet on the second, 25 feet on the third, 18 feet on the fourth. And then he went long on the par-5 fifth, only to watch his chip bang into the pin and stop inches away for the easiest birdie of all.
He also chipped in for par on No. 12 when he had to hit backward from a fairway bunker, and his two par saves on the 16th and 17th set him up for his big finish.
Harman had the 54-hole lead at Erin Hills in the 2017 U.S. Open, only to close with a 74 as Brooks Koepka blew past him to win the first of his five majors. Harman says he was guilty of thinking too much about the lead, a mistake he hopes not to repeat.
Most surprising to Harman, who is No. 26 in the world ranking, is that he hasn’t won in six years and only has two PGA Tour titles. He hasn’t contended in a major since the 2017 U.S. Open, and registered only one other top 10, a year ago at St. Andrews.
He was so frustrated after missing the cut at the Masters this year that he didn’t touch a club for three days and instead went hunting, his passion, killing a pig and a turkey.
That prompted one Scottish reporter to pose a question unlike any other at the British Open: “I take it the sheep and the cows are safe around here at the moment, are they?”
“Sheep don’t taste as good as the turkeys do I would imagine,” Harman replied.
WOMEN’S GOLF
KNIGHT AND SZOKOL SHOOT TOURNAMENT-RECORD 62 IN ALTERNATE SHOT TO TAKE LEAD IN TEAM EVENT
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) Cheyenne Knight and Elizabeth Szokol birdied six of the last eight holes in alternate-shot play for an 8-under 62 and a three-stroke lead Friday in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA Tour’s lone team event.
Knight made a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th in windy conditions at Midland Country Club to break the tournament alternate-shot round record and 54-hole scoring mark at 18-under 192.
“It’s so awesome,” Szokol said. “We love this event. It’s so fun that Dow does this for us. It’s such a unique format, and this is the only (team) event we get to play this year. It’s amazing to be in the record books at this event.”
Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan were second after a 68. They finished second last year.
“We’re just going to really try and go out and have fun tomorrow,” Tan said. “It’s best ball, so we’re going to make birdies and hopefully we’ll see where it puts us at the end of the round.”
Knight won the 2019 Ascendant LPGA for her lone tour title, while Szokol is winless. The U.S. duo tied for fourth last year after missing the cut in 2021.
“We’re really good friends, so I think we’re very comfortable playing together,” Szokol said. “We know each other really well and I have so much trust in Cheyenne’s game. That makes it so much easier for alternate shot.”
Knight and Szokol also started fast with birdies on three of the first holes. They dropped a stroke on No. 8, and played the back nine in 6-under 29. The had a 61 on Thursday in better-ball play, also the format for the final round Saturday.
“We tried not to psych ourselves out with alternate shot because it is such a hard format,” Knight said. “I think we told each other yesterday, ‘You can make birdies in alternate shot.’ I think you just kind of have to have the mindset like you can make birdies and just try to be aggressive and fearless rather than try not to make a mistake.”
Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Emma Talley were tied for third at 13 under with Celine Borge and Polly Mack. Shadoff-Talley shot 70, and Borge-Mack had a 68.
Stacy Lewis and Maria Fassi were 12 under with Celine Boutier and Yuka Saso. Lewis-Fassi had a 66, and Boutier-Saso shot 70.
Second-round leaders Paula Reto and Amelia Lewis had a 73 a day after shooting a 61 in better-ball play. They were tied for seventh at 11 under with Ana Belac and Bianca Pagdanganan. Belac and Bianca Pagdanganan had a 66.
Tournament officials announced Friday that the 2024 event will be played June 27-30 for its first Sunday finish. The shift from July to June was made because of the Paris Olympics.
NFL NEWS
BRYCE YOUNG AGREES TO 4-YEAR FULLY GUARANTEED DEAL WITH PANTHERS WORTH NEARLY $38M, AP SOURCE SAYS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young agreed to a four-year contract, the team announced Friday.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press the fully guaranteed deal is worth $37.9 million. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the terms publicly.
The deal comes just four days before the Panthers are to report to training camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina. All of Carolina’s draft picks are now under contract heading to camp.
The Panthers traded up with the Chicago Bears from the ninth spot to get Young, giving them a potential long-term solution at quarterback — a position where they have struggled to find stability for years.
The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 for Alabama, where he was a two-year starter for the Crimson Tide. He finished second in school history with 8,356 career yards passing and 80 touchdowns.
He took over first-team reps in OTAs and is tracking to be the team’s Week 1 starter.
JETS WOULD BE ‘SHOCKED’ IF AARON RODGERS’ STINT IN NEW YORK ISN’T MULTIPLE SEASONS
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers might be sticking around with the New York Jets a bit longer than many first thought.
The 39-year-old quarterback has not committed beyond this season, but he has strongly hinted several times his first year with the Jets won’t be his last.
Rodgers reiterated that sentiment Friday during an appearance on the “DiPietro & Rothenberg” show on ESPN Radio in New York.
“The Jets gave up a lot for me, so to play just one year. I think, would be a disservice,” Rodgers said. “Now if that one year turns out to be a magical year, who knows? It’s more than that, it’s how my body feels.”
In other words, a run to the Super Bowl could change all that.
But short of that, the Jets expect Rodgers to be under center next season — and perhaps beyond.
“I would be shocked if he didn’t play multiple years,” coach Robert Saleh said. “I mean, he looks like a little kid out there.”
Rodgers said in the radio interview a tweaked diet and training regimen has his body feeling “really, really good” at this point in the year.
“Talk to me in three or four months, we’ll see how it feels,” he said. “But the way I feel now, I think I could play a number of years.”
Rodgers was acquired by New York from Green Bay in April, bringing the four-time NFL MVP to a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in 12 years — the longest active drought in the league. During his introductory news conference, he talked about how “lonely” the Jets’ Super Bowl trophy from 1969 looks and the goal is to add another to a team starving to be a winner.
After his first training camp practice with the Jets on Thursday, Rodgers raved about the young talent the team has and how it has energized him in his 19th NFL season.
“You’ve got a good window,” he added. “It’s not just a one-year thing where you can be competitive, which is fun.”
The Jets went all in on bringing Rodgers aboard, sending a first-, second- and sixth-round pick in this year’s draft to the Packers, along with a conditional second-rounder next year that could become a first-rounder if the quarterback plays at least 65% of the snaps — which New York hopes will be the case. Green Bay gave up first and fifth-round picks this year, along with Rodgers.
Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, contemplated retirement during the offseason before going into a darkness retreat over the winter to clear his mind and decide what he wanted for his future. He determined he wanted to continue playing football — and intended to do so with the Jets.
That sent the wheels in motion for the trade, which took several weeks of negotiations between the sides before it was completed.
Saleh said Rodgers hasn’t told the team what his plans are beyond this season, but the Jets also aren’t pushing him to do so.
“I don’t want to back him into a corner and make him commit to something like that,” Saleh said. “I just want him to have fun and know that when he walks in this building to let loose and have a little bit of fun, B.S. with the guys, come in the office, come talk to us and just enjoy playing football.
“Odds are, if you enjoy playing football, you’re going to want to keep doing it.”
On Thursday, Rodgers spoke about being more patient now at this point in his career with the process, not getting agitated if things aren’t working early in training camp and focusing on getting better as the summer goes along to build for the season.
He also noted the differences between playing in New York and Green Bay, including the increased media attention and additional hype with “Hard Knocks” featuring the Jets this year.
“Yeah, it’s spectacular,” Rodgers said. “I mean, that’s what you want. You want to be a part of a place that has high expectations. And there’s a lot of positivity around here, which I think is a good thing.”
NOTES: The Jets signed DL Ifeadi Odenigbo and RB Damarea Crockett and released TE Izaiah Gathings. Odenigbo has 14 career sacks in six NFL seasons that include stints with the Vikings, Browns, Cardinals, Giants, Colts and Buccaneers. Crockett, who missed last season with a torn ACL, has experience with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett from their time in Green Bay and Denver together. He also had stints with the Texans and Raiders.
ANALYSIS: PARTY ON, COMMANDERS FANS! SNYDER’S DEPARTURE IS BIGGEST WIN IN 31 YEARS
Football fans in the nation’s capital are enjoying their biggest victory since Joe Gibbs’ Hogs won their third Super Bowl 31 years ago.
It may take a while before Washington celebrates similar on-field success.
Getting rid of owner Dan Snyder is the first step toward rebuilding a once-proud franchise, but it won’t be easy after decades of decline.
The Commanders’ new ownership led by Josh Harris and including Magic Johnson have plenty of major challenges ahead. Harris outlined his priorities Friday.
“I’m stressed. Training camp is next week and the first game is six weeks away,” said Harris, who also co-owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. “We’ve got to get the team ready to win football games. We’ve got to get out in the community and start to pay it forward as Magic said and we’ve got to change the fan experience.”
Snyder’s 24-year tenure was filled with futility and disgrace. The team won just two playoff games in only six postseason appearances and the team’s stadium has aged poorly, causing fans to stay away.
Snyder’s behavior that ultimately led to his departure — the NFL fined him $60 million for improprieties corroborated by its investigation into workplace culture and business dealings — will remain a stain on the organization for the foreseeable future while the new regime works to build a winner and fulfill its goals.
Changing the team’s name again could eventually be part of the clean-slate process, but that may take some time. Harris made it clear winning over Washington’s long-suffering fan base is the immediate goal for a group that spent a record $6.05 billion on the franchise.
During the team’s glory days, fans sang “Hail to the Redskins” — the team’s former name, which was considered a racial slur against Native Americans and was dropped in 2020 — and crammed into raucous, intimate RFK Stadium in Washington, where some seats literally shook during touchdown celebrations. That atmosphere vanished entirely at the team’s current home, FedEx Field in suburban Maryland, which was rushed to completion by Snyder’s predecessor, Jack Kent Cooke.
“We’re going to throw a party every other Sunday,” Harris said. “When you have guests in your house, you treat them well. You don’t have couches that are broken. You don’t have TVs that aren’t working. That’s what we’re focused on right now. As far as the stadium experience long run, we would love to have a stadium where opposing players fear to come and our players love to come and our players love to come and feel welcome. That’s what I experienced at RFK. Whatever happens at the stadium, that’s the kind of stadium experience I want to create.”
Considering the jubilation fans have shown since Snyder’s departure, the new owners could enjoy a longer honeymoon period than usual. Revved-up fans partied at a pep rally at the stadium Friday while the owners met the media.
“I’ve waited seven years to see the fan base like this,” defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said.
The elation over the sale of the Commanders undoubtedly was felt inside NFL headquarters. The Snyder saga has dogged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s 31 other owners for too long.
“It’s a hallmark day,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after his peers unanimously approved the sale Thursday.
However, the league’s initial handling of an independent investigation into workplace misconduct led to a congressional review and included a referral to the Federal Trade Commission for potential business improprieties by Snyder.
That’s still a black eye for the NFL. The league won’t suffer. It never does.
For now, it’s all about the Washington fans. Maybe one day they’ll be singing: “Hail to the … Commanders or RedWolves or …”
BROWNS WR MARQUISE GOODWIN TO MISS START OF TRAINING CAMP WITH BLOOD CLOTS IN LEGS, LUNGS
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will miss the start of his first training camp with Cleveland due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.
Goodwin signed a free agent deal with the club in February, giving quarterback Deshaun Watson a much-needed deep threat. The 32-year-old Goodwin dealt with discomfort in his legs and shortness of breath during spring practices. A checkup revealed the blood clots.
“It was really alarming at first because I’ve experienced injury throughout my career, but it’s never been anything like this that could turn into something detrimental if it’s not taken care of,” Goodwin said in a statement released by the team.
“It was frightening at first, but now I’m at ease with it. I’ve prayed and just given it over to God. It’s out of my control, and the only thing I can control is my effort and attitude and how I approach each day moving forward.”
Goodwin was with Seattle last season. He’s played in 102 NFL games and recorded 187 receptions for 3,023 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Browns are counting on him to stretch defenses and expected him to be in their rotation along with Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Goodwin was drafted in the third round by Buffalo in 2013. He spent four seasons with the Bills before playing three seasons in San Francisco.
The team did not say when Goodwin can resume football activities. He plans to attend training camp, which opens Saturday in West Virginia.
“It’s really an unfortunate deal we have to deal with, but we need to deal with it in the proper fashion,” he said. “The Browns are doing everything in their power to support me through it by allowing me to be around the team, on the field and in meetings.
“I’m grateful for that, and hopefully this thing gets back under control and I can feel my body and what I need to feel so I can help this team make this run.”
RAVENS AGREE TO 1-YEAR DEAL WITH RB MELVIN GORDON AND PUT DOBBINS ON PUP LIST
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a one-year deal with running back Melvin Gordon, pending a physical.
The Ravens announced the move on Friday, the same day they put running back J.K. Dobbins and fullback Patrick Ricard on the physically-unable-to-perform list. They also put defensive tackle Rayshad Nichols, wide receiver Mike Thomas and defensive back Pepe Williams on the PUP list.
Baltimore put linebacker Tyus Bowser on the non-football injury list and receiver Rashod Bateman on the did-not-report list.
The 30-year-old Gordon spent his past three seasons with the Denver Broncos. He ran for a career-low 318 yards on 90 carries in 10 games in 2022. Gordon was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2017 with the Los Angeles Chargers and ran for over 900 as recently as two seasons ago.
WITH BARKLEY UNCERTAIN, GIANTS ADDED DEPTH WITH RB JAMES ROBINSON AND WR COLE BEASLEY
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With less than a week until the opening of training camp, the New York Giants have signed running back James Robinson and receiver Cole Beasley.
The team didn’t disclose details of the deals.
The addition of Robinson provides depth at running back and insurance in case of any potential holdout for star Saquon Barkley. Barkley was unable to get a new contract from the Giants ahead of this week’s deadline for players on a franchise tag to reach multi-year deals.
Barkley is one of centerpiece of the offense, with the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018 running for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with 57 catches for 338 yards receiving last season.
Robinson grabbed headlines in 2020 as an undrafted free agent who ran for 1,070 yards and seven scores to go with 344 yards receiving with three more touchdowns with Jacksonville. But he tore his Achilles in 2021, split last season between Jacksonville and the New York Jets, then had a brief offseason stint with New England.
Beasley’s addition reunites him with Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who previously had worked as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator during Beasley’s time there. Beasley had his best season (82 catches, 967 yards) under Daboll in 2020, and is entering his 12th NFL season.
VETERAN EDGE RUSHER DAWUANE SMOOT RE-SIGNS WITH THE JAGUARS ON A 1-YEAR, $2.25M DEAL
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Veteran edge rusher Dawuane Smoot signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday that includes $2.25 million guaranteed.
The Baltimore Ravens helped get the deal done. Smoot had a visit to Baltimore lined up for next week, a pending trip that prompted the Jaguars to hasten negotiations. The sides settled on a low-risk deal for the Jaguars that includes plenty of performance incentives for Smoot, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon sustained in December.
Smoot’s contract could max out at $6.25 million, although that’s highly unlikely since he’s expected to start training camp and the regular season on the physically unable to perform list. The team hopes he can return in mid-October.
The Jaguars released defensive lineman Nick Thurman to make roster space for Smoot.
A third-round pick by Jacksonville in 2017, Smoot has 22 1/2 sacks over the last four seasons. He played in 15 games off the bench in 2022, notching five sacks, before ending the year on injured reserve.
Once fully healthy, he’s expected to assume a backup role behind starters Josh Allen and Travon Walker.
NFL PREVIEW: JACKSONVILLE
Doug Pederson quickly cleaned up the mess left by Urban Meyer and turned the Jaguars into AFC South champions in 2022.
The Jaguars were ahead of schedule in their rebuilding project, but they had their struggles during Pederson’s first season as head coach. They needed a five-game winning streak to end the regular season with a 9–8 record and earn a playoff spot. And they did just that.
But what truly made Jacksonville’s surprising season special was the thrilling comeback playoff win against the Chargers (and then also pushing the Chiefs in the divisional round).
The Jaguars are for real, and Duval County has plenty to be excited about for the 2023 season. After a rocky rookie season, Trevor Lawrence has developed into a star quarterback, and he will have plenty of help on the offensive side with No. 1 wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Quiet offseason after Ridley trade
Technically, the Jaguars’ biggest gamble (no pun intended) was trading for Ridley midway through the 2022 season, which Ridley missed completely because he was suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy while with the Falcons. This was part of why the Jaguars passed on making splash moves this offseason. (They were also limited with cap space after splurging the prior year in free agency.) Ridley could be the missing piece for Jacksonville to be a legitimate contender in the stacked AFC, and not just the pesky surprise team from a year ago. But adding Ridley doesn’t fill needs at other areas on the Jaguars’ roster, with question marks on the offensive line, and at edge rusher and linebacker. But if Ridley develops quick chemistry with Lawrence, the Jaguars could be a tough team to beat this season.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 13 to 15
Fortunately for the Jaguars, their toughest stretch only spans a few games. But it’s a gauntlet against three AFC North opponents, starting with a home matchup against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. (The December game has the makings to be one of the better games of the regular season, and could serve as a playoff preview.) The Jaguars then travel to Cleveland to face the Browns, who had a busy offseason making splash moves on both sides of the football. The Jaguars conclude the AFC North tour with a home game vs. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Jaguars, Bengals, Browns and Ravens are all postseason teams.
Breakout player to watch: S Andre Cisco
Cisco showed flashes as a surprise rookie gem from Meyer’s lone season in Jacksonville. Pederson noticed Cisco’s potential and made him a first-time starter last season. The 2021 third-round pick emerged as a consistent playmaker in the Jaguars’ secondary, and now he’s poised to be one of the better safeties in the league. Cisco recorded three interceptions, 10 passes defended, 73 tackles and had a touchdown return.
Linebacker Devin Lloyd is another option here, but the 2022 first-round pick struggled in many areas throughout his rookie year. He might not have a breakout season, but expect him to have a promising ’23.
Position of strength: Skill positions
Ridley admitted he played on a broken foot during the 2020 season, when he recorded a career-high 1,374 receiving yards in Atlanta. It was his unique way of saying he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL, when he’s on the field. If Ridley returns to top form, the Jaguars might have one of the best skill position groups in the league—one that includes the receiving trio of Ridley, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. Last season, tight end Evan Engram also found his footing in Jacksonville after a few rocky seasons with the Giants. Plus, running back Travis Etienne, who can also contribute out of the backfield as a pass catcher, is coming off a breakout season after missing all of his rookie year due to injury.
Position of weakness: Offensive line
When the Jaguars allowed offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to join the Chiefs in free agency, it created plenty of uncertainty on the offensive line. Walker Little will take over as the starting right tackle, but the 2021 second-round pick has had many highs and lows in his six career starts. To make matters worse, left tackle Cam Robinson was recently suspended the first four games of the season for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. The Jaguars’ offensive line will be shaky at times, forcing Lawrence to use his mobility to escape pressure.
X-factor: Edge rusher Travon Walker
Walker disappointed in his rookie season after being selected with the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft. Nonetheless, if he’s able to make strides this offseason, the Jaguars could have one of the best defenses in the league. Josh Allen is a quality pass rusher, but the Jaguars are hoping to have two or three reliable players at the position with Walker and K’Lavon Chaisson (who has struggled since entering the league as a ’20 first-round pick).
Sleeper fantasy pick: RB Tank Bigsby
Bigsby isn’t going to usurp Etienne as the Jaguars’ top back, but he could be a valuable fantasy handcuff. There’s talk that the rookie could earn some early-down and goal-line opportunities, so he’s going to be well worth a late-round flier, especially if you draft Etienne. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Take the over on Trevor Lawrence’s 3975.5 passing yards
Lawrence took a huge step forward last season under the purview of Pederson, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t take another this season. Lawrence passed for 4,113 yards in 2022, and this year he will add Ridley to his arsenal. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
Final record: 12–5, first in AFC South
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
GEORGIA MEDIA’S PICK TO WIN SEC TITLE BY WIDE MARGIN OVER ALABAMA, LSU
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Two-time defending national champion Georgia is the overwhelming preseason pick to win the 2023 Southeastern Conference title.
Media covering the SEC’s media days that concluded Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee, gave coach Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs 181 points to win the title Dec. 2 in the poll released Friday. Alabama received 62 while LSU, which lost the title to Georgia last December, was third (31).
Tennessee was a distant fourth, tied with in-state rival Vanderbilt despite the Commodores never winning the league championship. Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and South Carolina received at least one point to win the SEC title.
The team picked as the preseason champ at SEC media days has won the SEC championship game only nine times since 1992.
Georgia also led the SEC with 11 players selected to the league’s preseason first-team. Alabama had seven with defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry also listed as a return specialist along with kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Kneeland Hibbett.
HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER CALEB WILLIAMS IS PREPARED FOR A REDEMPTION CAMPAIGN IN 2023
LAS VEGAS (AP) — USC quarterback Caleb Williams stood behind the lectern at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December and delivered a speech, reminding his co-finalists that he might have won the hardware, but they were the ones playing in the College Football Playoffs.
“Guess you can’t win ’em all,” he said.
When Williams spoke Friday at the Pac-12 Conference media day, it became clear the same thought has reverberated through him for the past seven months.
“It resonates a lot,” Williams told The Associated Press. “It burns inside that I had said that up there. I didn’t want to say it, but it was the truth and it also got a little laughter … So it eased up the crowd a little bit.”
What hasn’t eased up is his hunger for a national championship.
Williams, listed on FanDuel Sportsbook as the current favorite to with the Heisman Trophy again at 5-1 odds, said he’s heading into the 2023 season extra motivated after a hamstring injury marred his sophomore campaign. A victory over Utah in the Pac-12 title game might have catapulted USC into a playoff spot, but Williams was dealing with the nagging injury and the Utes beat the Trojans 47-24.
Had he been healthy for the championship in USC’s remarkable turnaround season — from 4-8 in 2021 to 11-2 and a Cotton Bowl bid in 2022 — Williams said he believes the Trojans would have enjoyed a different ending.
This year, he realizes what it’ll take to execute coach Lincoln Riley’s gameplan, as the two continue to resurrect the program to national prominence.
“I think when I’m on the field we got the best shot to win,” Williams said. “When I’m healthy, we got even a better shot to win. … Having a routine that I stick to throughout the season, whether it’s food, lifts, running, whatever the case may be, that’ll help me stay healthy for 15 games.”
In just one season with the Trojans, after following Riley from Oklahoma, Williams ranks 10th all time in the program with 42 touchdown passes. His 333 completions are 13th at the school.
Now, Riley and the rest of the Trojans are hoping the catalyst who helped thrust USC’s football program back into the national spotlight is ready for an encore performance.
“I think the situation last year, he obviously did a great job, was important for our program, but also I think for his learning and his growth, it was a great situation for him to be in as well,” Riley said. “Great quarterbacks at the end of the day get defined by their teams’ success, their championships. I know he’s very hungry to go close out this year with both.
“There is no one that I would rather go to war with than that guy.”
Williams has already drawn comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for his ability to improvise in a split second and still deliver precision passes from an array of arm angles. And considering the former five-star high school recruit out of Washington, D.C., has been in the national spotlight since high school, Williams said he’ll subconsciously be ready for every big moment that’ll confront him.
Whether or not he’s back at the lectern at the Heisman Trophy ceremony again, Williams has his eyes set on a bigger goal.
“I play for championships,” he said. “I’d much rather hoist the golden trophy at the end, it means a lot more to me than the bronze trophy. And it doesn’t mean to disrespect the Heisman … but it’s more or less that’s why you go out there and play football.”
PAC-12 COMMISSIONER CONFIDENT CONFERENCE WILL FLOURISH EVEN AFTER USC, UCLA LEAVE
LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Kliavkoff was one day short of his one-year anniversary as the Pac-12 Conference commissioner, finally on the second day of his first vacation when he got the shocking news that USC and UCLA were leaving for the Big Ten.
He was driving from Montana to Idaho, but was unaware of the 90 text messages populating his cellphone because there was no reception in that area.
Kliavkoff quickly cut his vacation short, flying back to Las Vegas the following day to tackle a topic that more than a year later continues to shape the Pac-12’s future. The two schools in the nation’s second-largest metropolitan area officially depart next year, and the Pac-12 is still trying to cope with that in putting together a new media-rights deal while also considering potential expansion.
Through it all, Kliavkoff maintained a sunny outlook at Friday’s conference football media day. He said a media-right’s package will be announced “in the near future” and that he was confident the 10 remaining schools plus any potential expansion teams will still be together in five years.
There remains rampant speculation the Four Corners schools — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — could bolt for the Big 12 or that Oregon and Washington could wind up joining USC and UCLA in the Big Ten.
“I think there’s been a lot of misreporting and specific targeted messages about the Pac-12 in the last year since we lost UCLA and USC,” Kliavkoff said. “We’ve been taking the high road and not worrying about what the press is saying or what someone on Twitter is saying. We’re really focused on the future of the conference, and that starts with the media deal and then the discussion about expansion and then playing the great football that were playing.”
USC was picked by the media to win the league and dethrone back-to-back champion Utah. The Trojans enter the season among the top contenders to make the College Football Playoff, which could create an unusual — and perhaps awkward — situation if it plays out that way.
“They all wear Pac-12 logos,” conference executive associate commissioner Merton Hanks said. “They play the Pac-12 games that impact the championship game that will be right here in Los Vegas representing the Pac-12 and then the CFP if it’s a Pac-12 team. So we’re going to support them and UCLA the same, and we’re going to be excited about their success.”
UCLA coach Chip Kelly has an extensive history with the Pac-12. He coached Oregon from 2009-12, going 46-7 with one national championship appearance. He is in his sixth season at UCLA, where Kelly is 17-8 over the past two seasons.
“I’ll reminisce on that after because we’re not leaving right now,” Kelly said. “So our sole focus and attention is on this season. I think the league is as strong as it’s ever been. But I am very sentimental when it comes to this conference.”
Trojans coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged he was looking forward to competing in the Big Ten, but called the Pac-12 “a tremendous conference,” and said it wasn’t “a battle between good and evil.”
He already has noticed a difference when it comes to recruiting, saying USC has been able to expand its base as a result of joining what is mostly a Midwestern league.
“I think that’s going to continue to evolve even more and more as we go on,” Riley said. “I think our kids are excited about playing on the monster stage week in and week out, some of our matchups it’s going to create.”
The 10 remaining Pac-12 coaches are trying to make sense of what this means from a recruiting standpoint because Southern California was such a major target.
One of the big selling points was parents could watch their kids’ games when their schools play in Los Angeles. That pitch will soon be gone.
“We’re still going to recruit that area,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We’re not going to stop just because of what’s happened. We’re going to continue to rely on that area, but report back to me in a year or two. I’ll have a lot better answer on how that’s going.”
The same could be said at the conference level as well.
Kliavkoff is confident today, but tomorrow could bring on a new set of concerns.
His job is to not only to keep the Pac-12 together, but help the conference thrive at a time the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference are pulling away from the rest of the field.
“I think it’s about long-term growth and finding new areas of revenue and continuing to perform really well,” Kliavkoff said. “And, candidly, I think the expansion of the CFP elevates the value of everybody’s media rights, particularly to be one of the conferences that are going to get an automatic bid into the CFP. I think over time, that path that delta has built up over the last 10 years is going to shrink.”
TOP-RANKED RB TAYLOR TATUM CHOOSES OKLAHOMA OVER SOUTHERN CAL
Five-star recruit Taylor Tatum, the top-ranked running back in the Class of 2024, announced Friday his commitment to Oklahoma.
Tatum, from Longview, Texas, chose the Sooners and head coach Brent Venables over his other finalist, Southern Cal, and close to 40 offers including Power Five conference programs across the country.
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Tatum is a five-star recruit, the No. 31 player in his class, the top running back and No. 9 overall in the state of Texas. In its own rankings, he’s a four-star, No. 42 in the country, No. 1 at running back and No. 9 in Texas.
Listed at 5-foot-10 1/2 and 205 pounds, Tatum rushed for 1,891 yards and 33 touchdowns and caught three TD passes in his junior season.
He also plans to play baseball at Oklahoma, as he is a standout at Longview High School.
“One of the main things was going to the SEC and being a big dog in football and baseball,” Tatum said following his announcement, which was streamed online. “Growing up you see the LSUs, the (Texas) A&Ms, the Alabamas, the Georgias. I’m going to be part of the big dogs. Getting a chance to play baseball and football in the SEC is just something I couldn’t deny.”
Oklahoma will join the SEC ahead of the 2024-25 academic year.
Tatum visited Southern Cal on June 2 and Oklahoma on June 16.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE
2022 Record: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in ACC
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm, 1st year: 0-0, 10th year overall: 66-44
Scott Satterfield came to Louisville after a wildly successful run at Appalachian State. He got the team to three bowl games in four years – give everyone a free pass for 2020 – but he was always on the hot seat after going 8-5 in his first campaign, partly because the base really wanted Jeff Brohm.
Satterfield left to take over the Cincinnati gig – which suddenly became a prize with the move to the Big 12 and the 2021 College Football Playoff appearance still fresh. At least in terms of recent success, and the new conference, and the Power Five designation, it’s not totally wrong to call it a lateral move, falling up to be way generous.
But Satterfield won just 51% of his games in four seasons at Louisville, and no one was the slightest bit shocked to see him move on, even with his teams winning 18 games – sure, throw in the Fenway Bowl he didn’t coach in – over the last three seasons.
Louisville wanted Brohm. He’s the favorite son who was born in Louisville, stayed home to go to school, and was considered a mortal lock to take this gig at some point in his coaching career.
Brohm won 51% of his games in six seasons at Purdue and won 19 games over the last three years.
There’s no dogging what Brohm did in West Lafayette. He took over a program that suffered five straight losing seasons and eight in nine years before his 7-6 2017 debut. It wasn’t always easy – he had his own rough 2020 – and he went through a run of three straight losing seasons before winning 17 games over the last two years with an appearance in the 2022 Big Ten Championship.
And that’s the thing here – Brohm just coached a team that played for the Big Ten title, and now he’s at Louisville, where eight-win seasons now seem underwhelming considering the relatively recent history of success under Charlie Strong and Bobby Petrino.
Brohm took Purdue about as far as it could reasonably go. Now he’s expected to take Louisville further, but …
Brohm’s offensive system didn’t rip it up at Purdue quite as much as you might think. Purdue finished 55th in the nation in total offense and 74th in scoring last year. Louisville finished 48th in total O and 73rd in scoring. In 2021? Purdue was 33rd in total offense, Louisville 21st. The bad 2020 year for both programs? Purdue 70th, Louisville 29th. Purdue was 75th in the nation in total offense in 2019, and in Satterfield’s first season Louisville’s O finished 24th. But …
The passing game is about to be more efficient – at least that’s the goal – under offensive coordinator Brian Brohm. The Cardinals were 12th in the ACC in passing averaging 206 yards per game, and it was 96th in the nation in efficiency. In comes veteran Jack Plummer, a former Purdue passer under Brohm who had his best season yet – he was healthy – at Cal.
The 6-5, 215-pound veteran can spread it around, but there are other options with 2022 backup Brock Domann, 2021 main backup Evan Conley, and a slew of other passers – transfers Harrison Bailey (UNLV, formerly Tennessee) and Brady Allen (Purdue) – are on the way.
The starting quarterback is new, and the receiving corps will be almost all from the transfer portal, at least the main men will be. Georgia State’s Jamari Thrash is the most experienced and dangerous of the bunch. Kevin Coleman was a big recruit for Deion Sanders at Jackson State, and Cincinnati’s Jadon Thompson and Tennessee’s Jimmy Calloway will be thrown into the rotation. Tight ends play a big role in Brohm’s offenses, and the spotlight will be on 6-5, 260-pound star recruit Jamari Johnson to step in right away.
Former starting quarterback Malik Cunningham was the team’s most dangerous runner, but leading rusher Jawhar Jordan is back after averaging 5.7 yards per carry with 815 yards, and Maurice Turner is a quick option who’ll rotate in with former Wisconsin backup Issac Guerendo. The good backs will work behind a solid veteran line around all-stars Bryan Hudson at center and Renato Brown at tackle. The transfer portal is helping the left side with tackles Eric Miller (Purdue), Willie Tyler (Rutgers), and guard John Paul Flores (Virginia) filling the holes.
The offense will be fine, but here’s the question mark considering how disruptive the Louisville defense was last year. Purdue defensive coordinator Ron English comes in to take on the same role. The Boilermaker D was okay-not-great finishing 10th overall in the Big Ten with little to no production behind the line. Louisville was No. 1 in the nation in sacks, seventh in tackles for loss, and allowed 70 fewer yards per game than Purdue did.
The main pass rushers are gone, but Ashton Gillotte is a terrific 6-3, 270-pound end who can get in the backfield and hold up fine against the run. The bulk is coming in around Dezmond Tell on the nose – 320-pound Arizona State transfer Jermayne Lole has the potential to be the team’s best lineman if he can stay healthy after missing most of the last two years.
The team’s top three linebackers are done or transferred, but Stephen Herron is coming in from Stanford to work in a hybrid role – he’ll be more of an edge rusher for the line – and a few young options will get their chances in the middle of the corps. 6-0, 220-pound sophomore Jackson Hamilton isn’t big, but he can move on the inside.
The transfer portal loaded up the receiving corps, but the secondary got even more help. Corners Storm Duck (North Carolina) and Marquis Groves-Killibrew (Texas A&M) will bring a big boost to go along with Cardinal star Jarvis Brownlee – 67 tackles with two picks and 12 broken up passes – and Cam’Ron Kelly (Virginia), Devin Neal (Baylor), and Gilbert Frierson (Miami) make a good safety situation even better around veteran Josh Minkins.
Keep running the ball. Purdue’s offense was known for the big passing performances, but the wins came when the attack ran the ball effectively. It’s going to be the same for the Cardinals, only in a different way without QB Malik Cunningham taking off.
Louisville has the backs, and they’ll get a lot more work – QB Jack Plummer won’t do much to on the move. The team went 7-1 – and almost beat Florida State – when running for more than 170 yards, and 1-4 when it didn’t.
Louisville Cardinals Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
EDGE Stephen Herron in from Stanford, LB Monty Montgomery gone to Ole Miss. No argument for the loss of PK James Turner to Michigan is the biggest loss – he hit 20-of-22 field goals last year – but Montgomery was a reliable rock of a defender for the middle of the defense making 160 tackles with 15 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss with seven forced fumbles over his four years.
Herron is a 6-4, 240-pound outside linebacker/edge rusher who made 72 tackles with ten sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his four years in Palo Alto, and now he needs to step in and be a huge factor for a defense used to getting into the backfield. He’s a huge transfer, but the most important new guy is …
Louisville Cardinals Key Player
Jack Plummer, QB Sr. Malik Cunningham had his moments when he was among the most dangerous quarterbacks in college football, and Brock Domann wasn’t totally awful when he had to fill in last year for the main man. But with a pivot needing to happen for a program that needs a slight tweak and not a total redo, Plummer has to provide the steadiness.
Plummer threw for 3,405 yards and 26 touchdowns in his three seasons at Purdue, threw for almost 3,100 yards and 21 touchdowns last year at Cal, and now he’s the seasoned veteran who needs to play like he’s going into his fifth season.
AUTO RACING
ALEX PALOU HOPES IOWA SPEEDWAY FORTUNES CAN CHANGE IN WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Alex Palou isn’t comfortable with Iowa Speedway, which could have an impact on the IndyCar Series point standings after this weekend’s doubleheader at the .875-mile oval.
Palou has been dominant all season, leading the standings with 417 points. He has four wins, with nine top-five finishes in 10 races.
“If you’re winning and you’re consistent, you’re definitely going to win the championship,” driver Will Power said this week. “Certainly that team, as a group, (it’s a) full package — strategies, pit stops — and obviously Palou is the full package as a driver. It’s extremely tough to beat that this year.”
But Iowa Speedway, a fast short track that has gotten bumpier with age, has challenged Palou in his four previous races there. His best finish was sixth in the first race of last season’s doubleheader, and his average finish is 11th. He has never led a lap at the track.
“It’s not been a good place for us,” Palou said on Friday.
Palou was 15th-fastest in Friday’s practice session with a fast lap of 173.007 mph. Josef Newgarden, who has four wins at Iowa, was fastest at 176.428 mph.
Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing team tested at the track last month. He was fourth-fastest among the 20 drivers who tested, but Palou thought his car could have been better.
“It’s going to be a tough weekend for us,” Palou said. “It hasn’t been a great three years for me here. We tested here, we made improvements. But we were not where we wanted to be. Hopefully we bring some new stuff to make us feel more comfortable and faster.”
That, he said, is the concern heading into a weekend when there’s little time to make adjustments between Saturday’s morning qualifying and the afternoon 250-lap race, and between the end of Saturday’s race and Sunday’s 250-lap event.
“There’s a lot of track time,” Palou said. “It’s tough for everybody — drivers, engineers, everybody. I think if you’re having a good weekend, you’re going to have a good two races. If you’re having a bad weekend, you’re probably going to have two bad races, because there’s not much you can do.”
Palou has a 117-point lead on second-place driver Scott Dixon in the standings, and a 126-point margin on third-place driver Newgarden.
“You’ve got to hand it to them, they’re doing a hell of a job, whether it’s on speed, or whether it’s strategy or consistency,” Dixon said of Palou and his team. “You can’t knock it. They’re doing a hell of a job, and we have to do a better one.”
But with this being the lone doubleheader on the IndyCar schedule this season, Dixon knows there are a lot of points available.
“It can definitely change how the championship plays out, especially with the amount of races we have in this very short window coming down to the last two or three (races),” Dixon said. “It can definitely change quickly, as we’ve seen with doubleheaders in the past. It can definitely change the landscape.”
“In 48 hours, everything can change super quickly,” Palou said. “But it’s the same for everybody.”
A win in either race would give Palou and his team a $1 million bonus from the PeopleReady Force For Good Challenge, awarded to a driver who can win on an oval, a street course, and a road course during the season. Half of the bonus would go to the American Legion, Palou’s chosen charity.
Both races will feature a 28-car field that can get stretched out in a hurry.
“Wherever you are, you’re going to be in traffic,” Palou said. “Even if you’re up front, you’re going to be in traffic pretty quickly. I think this is one of the best tracks for racing that we go to on ovals, apart from Indy, where it allows you to overtake if you have a fast car. I’m not worried about the dirty air here.”
There are other concerns for Palou, although the points cushion eases the worry.
“I hope this weekend can be amazing,” Palou said. “But if not, we’ll keep working.”
NBA NEWS
EX-NBA ALL-STAR KEMBA WALKER IS CHASING HIS NEXT CHANCE. THAT MEANS PLAYING IN EUROPE.
By The Associated Press (AP) — Former NBA All-Star Kemba Walker is headed to Europe.
AS Monaco said Friday it has signed Walker for the upcoming season, which will mark Walker’s first playing stint in the EuroLeague.
The 6-foot guard was a three-time NBA All-Star in Charlotte, and then in his first season in Boston in 2019-20. But the 33-year-old Walker has missed significant time recently with knee issues, including playing 37 games with New York in 2021-22 and just nine games with Dallas last season.
Walker has averaged 19.3 points for his 12-year NBA career, which followed him almost single-handedly powering Connecticut to the 2011 NCAA championship in a remarkable late-season run.
Monaco won its first French pro league title last season by beating the Metropolitans 92 and eventual No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
INDIANS BASEBALL
WILLIAMS’ SOLO SHOT, LATE INSURANCE PUTS I-CUBS AWAY IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR, 9-6
DES MOINES, Iowa – Four runs in the final two innings, three of which courtesy of shortstop Alika Williams, gave the Indianapolis Indians the final edge in a win over the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park on Friday night, 9-6.
Tied 5-5 heading into the top of the eighth, Iowa right-hander Adrian Sampson (L, 0-1) allowed a solo blast to Williams to break the tie. For Williams, it was his seventh homer as an Indianapolis Indian. The shortstop wasn’t done at that point; after center fielder Josh Palacios punched a ball into left to score an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Williams singled in both Palacios and right fielder Miguel Andújar to put the game away.
The Cubs (54-38) jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Indians opener Andre Jackson in the first thanks to a two-run double down the left field line by first baseman Jake Slaughter. Indianapolis responded a half-inning later for a run of their own with three straight two-out hits, including a double from Williams and an RBI single from second baseman Vinny Capra.
After Iowa extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third, the Indians (44-49) used command issues from the I-Cubs pitching staff to claw back to level. Indians catcher Jason Delay drew a walk with the bases loaded against Iowa reliever Hunter Bigge, and designated hitter Rodolfo Castro laced a two-run double down the third base line against Cubs southpaw Bailey Horn.
Then came the long balls. Iowa center fielder Nelson Velazquez pelted the first of his two blasts of the night to left-center in the fifth, but third baseman Chris Owings responded with a shot to straight-away center in the top of the sixth. After Williams’ eighth inning homer and the three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, Velazquez’s second home run was all that Iowa could muster in their final effort.
Punchouts were aplenty on Friday night, with 28 of the 54 total outs recorded in the game coming via strikeout. The Indians pitching staff punched out 15 I-Cubs hitters, including eight from left-hander Kent Emanuel and one from Chase De Jong (W, 1-2).
The Indians and Cubs play the fifth game of their six-game set on Saturday night at 7:08 PM ET at Principal Park. No. 10 Pirates prospect Jared Jones (2-1, 5.18) gets the ball for Indianapolis against Iowa right-hander Hayden Wesneski (1-0, 1.80).
INDY ELEVEN
INDY ELEVEN ACQUIRES CALLUM CHAPMAN-PAGE ON LOAN FROM MIAMI FC
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 21, 2023) – Indy Eleven today announced the acquisition of defender Callum Chapman-Page on loan from The Miami FC. Chapman-Page will be available for Indy’s match against Tampa Bay Saturday. In an additional move, the Eleven have sent defender Gustavo Rissi on loan to Miami FC. Per club policy, terms of these deals will not be disclosed.
Chapman-Page served a pair of stints with Miami FC while also spending time at USL Championship-side FC Tulsa. Originally signed by Miami in 2019, he returned to the club on January 12, 2021.
The 2023 season has seen Chapman-Page start all 11 matches played, while registering one assist with six shots, including four on target. Defensively, he tallied 28 clearances, four blocks, 13 interceptions, eight tackles and 62 duels won. Overall, Chapman-Page played in 59 matches in Miami, scoring four goals and adding two assists.
During the 2020 season, Chapman-Page saw action in 10 matches for FC Tulsa and tallied his lone goal in the USL Championship Round of 16.
Chapman-Page played collegiately at Lubbock Christian and Palm Beach Atlantic, where he helped the Sailfish to the 2018 Sunshine State Conference Championship.
Callum Chapman-Page
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 192
Date of Birth: November 6, 1995
Age: 27
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Rissi departs the Eleven having seen action in 11 USL Championship matches, including six starts in 2023. He registered four clearances, three blocks, seven tackles and 26 duels won.
The Boys in Blue host Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday at 7 p.m. ET as part of an Indy Eleven doubleheader. The Indy Eleven women host NC Courage U23 in the USL W League Final at 2 p.m. One ticket can be purchased for both matches of the doubleheader here.
Indy Eleven Roster as of 07-21-23
Goalkeepers (4): Cayden Crawford, Yannik Oettl, Tim Trilk, Hayden Vostal
Defenders (7): Younes Boudadi, Callum Chapman-Page, Robby Dambrot, Adrian Diz Pe, Mechak Jerome, Macauley King, Jesus Vazquez
Midfielders (7): Jack Blake, Cam Lindley, Aodhan Quinn, Bryam Rebellon, Harrison Robledo, Diego Sanchez, Sebastian Velasquez
Forwards (8): Solomon Asante, Benji Chavarria, Grayson Elmquist, Sebastian Guenzatti, Luca Iaccino, Douglas Martinez, Roberto Molina, Stefano Pinho
INDIANA TRACK AND FIELD
BEATHEA NAMES COACHING STAFF FOR 2023-24
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Ed Beathea named his coaching staff for the 2023-24 season, his first season in charge of the program.
Jake Wiseman, Mike Erb, Andrew Poore and Warren Bye will remain on the staff while Eric Heins, Valerie Brown and Megan Tomei join the program in Bloomington.
“I am pleased to be working with all of these outstanding individuals,” Beathea said. “All of them bring an abundance of knowledge and experience to the program. We all share a similar vision of what the program can be and how to achieve it. We are excited to start developing our students both on and off the track.”
All staff members will begin their positions immediately ahead of the new school year.
Eric Heins
Head Cross Country Coach/Associate Head Coach – Distance
As announced previously in May, 27-time conference coach of the year and 2016 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, Eric Heins will take over as head coach for the Indiana Cross Country teams and serve as Associate Head Coach for Distance in Track and Field.
Most recently the Cross Country coach at the University of Louisville, Heins led Northern Arizona to the 2016 NCAA Men’s Cross Country title while helping to build the Lumberjacks into a national powerhouse.
Heins, a Cross Country National Champion himself, has coached 64 conference champions, 14 All-Americans, two national champions and one Olympian. David McNeill did the indoor/outdoor double at 5000 meters in 2010 to give Heins his first individual NCAA champion.
Jake Wiseman
Associate Head Coach – Pole Vault, Multis
The longest-tenured member of IU’s coaching staff, Wiseman will begin his 19th-consecutive season as a coach for the Hoosiers in 2023. He will be one of two Associate Head Coaches for the Hoosiers in 2023.
After a successful career as a decathlete for the Hoosiers, Wiseman joined the program’s coaching staff. He will continue to oversee the development of IU’s pole vaulters and multi-athletes.
He has seen nine different athletes qualify for the national meet and has coached 15 Big Ten Champions, 18 All-Big Ten honorees, one Big Ten Freshman of the Year and one Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year.
IU has won four of the past five Big Ten indoor titles in the men’s pole vault and have won three Big Ten outdoor titles on the women’s side since 2016.
Andrew Poore
Assistant Coach – Distance/Recruiting Coordinator – Distance
A seven-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Champion as an athlete for the Hoosiers, Poore will continue his role on the coaching staff under Beathea.
He will serve as the recruiting coordinator on the distance side while assistant Eric Heins with IU’s Cross Country teams and Track and Field distance runners.
The 2023 campaign saw a handful of breakout runners under the guidance of Poore including first-year athlete Claire Overfelt. The Whiteland, Ind. native, who started as IU as a club runner, ran 34:00.24 in the 10,000 meters, moving into ninth in program history.
Alyssa Skorge ran 10:24.04 in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Penn Relays to move up to eighth in the program’s all-time list. Freshman Katelyn Winton finished fifth for IU in Cross Country at the conference meet in 2022 before making the Big Ten final indoors in the mile.
Poore will enter his 10th year with the program as a coach this season.
Mike Erb
Assistant Coach – Jumps
Erb, entering his 10th season with the Hoosiers, will continue his role as jumps coach in 2023.
Last year, he helped guide Paola Fernandez-Sola (outdoor long jump) and Hope Purcell (indoor pentathlon) to Big Ten titles while overseeing the development of a deep group of jumpers.
Leah Moran, coached by Erb, holds the program’s indoor and outdoor triple jump records while Fernandez-Sola has the school’s outdoor record.
Fernandez-Sola became the first woman in program history to earn All-American honors in the long jump both indoors and outdoors in the same season in 2023.
Erb has led seven different athletes to conference titles since 2017.
Valerie Brown
Assistant Coach – Sprints, Hurdles and Relays
Brown joins the Hoosiers after serving on the staff at Austin Peay since 2011. She was an associate head coach from 2014-19 before being named the program’s head coach.
In four years at the helm of Austin Peay’s program, Brown was named Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the team to the 2020 ASUN conference championship.
Her role in Bloomington will see her assist Beathea with the team’s sprinters, hurdlers and relays.
Since arriving to Clarksville, Austin Peay’s sprinters have broken school records in the 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and 4×400 relay (indoors) and 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 100 hurdles and 4×100 relay (outdoors).
She helped oversee the development of Kenisha Phillips, a five-time ASUN champion in the 400 meters. Phillips ran personal bests of 11.58 (100m), 23.28 (200m) and 52.44 (400m) while splitting 52.2 on anchor leg for Austin Peay’s ASUN-title winning 4×400 relay team this past February.
Brown coached Breigh jones (PB: 52.65) to the 2014 OVC Outdoor Championship in the 400 meters and a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
An outstanding sprinter in her own right, Brown finished third in the 400 meters at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships. She swept the Sun Belt titles in the 200 meters and 400 meters indoors in 2009 and won back-to-back conference titles in the 4×400 relay outdoors in 2007 and 2008.
Megan Tomei
Assistant Coach – Throws
After six seasons as the throws coach at Youngstown State, Tomei will move to Bloomington to join Beathea’s staff.
While at Youngstown State, Tomei coached 26 Horizon League Champions in the throws including six in 2023. The Penguins won the conference’s javelin title on both the men’s and women’s side at all four conference meets contested under Tomei.
Back-to-back Horizon League discus champion Zach Gehm advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas where he finished 17th, narrowly missing out on All-American honors.
The program’s men’s and women’s discus records and men’s javelin records at Youngstown State have all fallen under the guidance of Tomei.
Tomei competed collegiately at Ashland where she was a 15-time All-American and eight-time DII national qualifier while competing in the shot put, weight throw and hammer throw.
Warren Bye
Director of Operations/Recruiting Coordinator – Track
Bye will take over the role as Director of Operations for the Hoosiers while serving as a recruiting coordinator on the track side.
He served as a head coach at South Florida where he spent 13 years before a three-year stint at Louisville. Bye returned to his alma mater in 2022 and worked directly in coordinating team travel, team meals, gear orders and other day-to-day operations.
2023-24 Track and Field Staff
Ed Beathea: Director of Track and Field
Eric Heins: Head Cross Country Coach/Associate Head Coach – Distance
Jake Wiseman: Associate Head Coach – Pole Vault, Multis
Andrew Poore: Assistant Coach – Distance/Recruiting Coordinator – Distance
Mike Erb: Assistant Coach – Jumps
Valerie Brown: Assistant Coach – Sprints, Hurdles and Relays
Megan Tomei: Assistant Coach – Throws
Warren Bye: Director of Operations/Recruiting Coordinator – Track
BALL STATE FOOTBALL
FIVE CARDINALS NAMED GROUP OF FIVE PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS BY HERO SPORTS
MUNCIE, Ind. – Less than two weeks from the start of 2023 football training camp, five Ball State Cardinals have been named Group of Five preseason All-Americans by HERO Sports. Only UTSA (8) and Mid-American Conference rival Toledo (6) had more players listed among the first, second and third teams.
Cardinals tight end Brady Hunt was Ball State’s lone first-team selection. Transfer running back Marquez Cooper and senior linebacker Clayton Coll both were named to the second team. The second part of Ball State’s sophomore tight end tandem, Tanner Koziol, was a third-team pick along with returning all-conference selection Ethan Crowe at center.
HERO Sports is a college football website with an emphasis on Group of Five conferences and FCS schools. Ball State opens the 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 at Kentucky and hosts Indiana State in the first of six Saturday home games on Sept. 16.
First Team Offense
QB Frank Harris, UTSA
RB George Holani, Boise State
RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
WR Joshua Cephus, UTSA
TE Brady Hunt, Ball State
TE Mark Redman, San Diego State
OL Nick Rosi, Toledo
OL Nolan Potter, NIU
OL Prince Pines, Tulane
OL Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
OL AJ Gillie, Louisiana
AP Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB
First Team Defense
DL Owen Porter, Marshall
DL T.J. Jackson, Troy
DL Kendy Charles, Liberty
DL Brandon Brown, UTSA
DL Payton Zdroik, Air Force
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
LB Dallas Gant, Toledo
LB D.J. Schramm, Boise State
LB Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
DB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
DB Reddy Steward, Troy
DB Ike Larsen, Utah State
DB Yam Banks, South Alabama
DB Jack Howell, Colorado State
First Team Special Teams
K Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State
P Jack Browning, San Diego State
RS Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech
Second Team Offense
QB Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
RB Marquez Cooper, Ball State
RB Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan
WR Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina
WR Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern
WR Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
TE Oscar Cardenas, UTSA
TE Neal Johnson, Louisiana
OL X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty
OL Nick Kidwell, JMU
OL Isaiah Helms, App State
OL Cade Beresford, Boise State
OL Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
AP La’Damian Webb, South Alabama
Second Team Defense
DL James Carpenter, JMU
DL Fish McWilliams, UAB
DL Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
DL Mazin Richards, North Texas
LB JaQues Evans, Western Kentucky
LB Alec Mock, Air Force
LB Clayton Coll, Ball State
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
DB Ridge Texada, North Texas
DB Nate Bauer, Toledo
DB Maxen Hook, Toledo
DB Micah Abraham, Marshall
DB Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
Second Team Special Teams
K John Hoylan, Wyoming
P Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
RS Keegan Wilburn, Ohio
Third Team Offense
QB Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
RB Larry McCammon III, FAU
RB Blake Watson, Memphis
WR Alex Adams, Akron
WR De’Corian Clark, UTSA
WR Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State
TE Treyton Welch, Wyoming
OL Justin Osborne, SMU
OL Ethan Crowe, Ball State
OL Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern
OL Cade Bennett, San Diego State
OL Canaan Yarro, New Mexico State
AP Kimani Vidal, Troy
Third Team Defense
DL Richard Jibunor, Troy
DL Evan Anderson, FAU
DL Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
DL DeVonte O’Malley, NIU
DL Elijah Chatman, SMU
LB Jamal Ligon, UTSA
LB J.T. Killen, Coastal Carolina
LB Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
LB Donovan Manuel, FIU
LB Cody Moon, San Diego State
CB Cam Stone, Hawaii
DB Marcus Fuqua, Buffalo
DB Jarius Monroe, Tulane
DB Donte Kent, Central Michigan
CB Cam Lockridge, Fresno State
Third Team Special Teams
K Alex McNulty, Buffalo
P Dom Dzioban, Miami (Ohio)
RS Milan Tucker, Appalachian State
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
HIDALGO CONTINUES BREAKING RECORDS EN ROUTE TO U19 WORLD CUP SEMIS
MADRID — Hannah Hidalgo is already something special.
On Friday, the incoming Irish freshman guard helped Team USA rout the Czech Republic, 121-61, to earn a semifinal bid at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. In the win, Hidalgo had 16 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 4 steals. Her 13 assists shattered the tournament’s record, with the previous mark having been 10.
The assists mark is the second record the New Jersey native has broken during the U19 World Cup, which began in Madrid on July 15. Hidalgo had 8 steals on Wednesday in a Round of 16 win over Argentina, 112-36.
In total, the soon-to-be Irish guard has been one of the biggest contributors on a Team USA that is poised to win the gold medal on Sunday. Over five games, Hidalgo is averaging 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals in 18.9 minutes per contest. She leads the team in assists per game and ranks third in points. Her 29 total assists leads all players in Madrid.
Up next, Team USA will face France on Saturday with a trip to the World Cup Final on the line. France beat Japan, 80-78, on Friday.
INDIANA STATE SWIMMING
FARRO TO COMPETE IN 200 FREE AND 50 FLY AT 2023 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State rising junior Chloe Farro will be back in international competition next week as the Savaneta, Aruba native will be competing in the upcoming 2023 Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) World Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan from July 19-30.
Farro will be competing in both the 200-meter freestyle event on Monday and the 50-meter fly event on Thursday in her first international competition since last summer and fourth while attending ISU. Farro previously competed in the 2022 FINA World Championships last summer in Budapest, Hungary, the FINA Short Course World Championships in December 2021, and the Junior Pan American Games in November 2021.
Farro was a 2023 MVC Honorable Mention selection after advancing to the A-Finals in the 100-yard freestyle event. She also anchored the school record-setting performances in both the 200-yard Freestyle Relay and the 400-yard Medley Relay, while starting the 400-yard Freestyle Relay record-setting team.
Through two seasons with the Sycamores, Farro has already made her mark with the program sitting with five of the top-six times in program history in the 100-yard Freestyle event.
Her schedule of events is as follows:
200-meter Freestyle Heats: Monday, July 24 – 9:47 p.m. ET
50-meter Butterfly Heats: Thursday, July 27 – 10:39 p.m. ET
Fans are able to follow along with Farro by visiting the World Aquatics website or by watching on NBC Sports.
EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL
CANCELLATION OF LAS VEGAS HOLIDAY CLASSIC ALTERS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following the unfortunate cancellation of the 2023 Las Vegas Holiday Classic, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team has altered its non-conference slate while entering a new multi-team event.
UE was originally slated to play in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic in November, however. Organizers recently notified the Aces that due to unforeseen circumstances, the tournament was canceled and will not take place.
Evansville will travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. to take part in a two-game MTE from November 24-25. The Purple Aces will face Chattanooga on November 24 while taking on Southeast Missouri State on the 25th. Further details, including game times, will be announced at a later date.
VALPO CROSS COUNTRY
VALPO CROSS COUNTRY REVEALS 2023 SCHEDULE
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s cross country programs have announced their schedule for the 2023 season, which will take place under the direction of second-year Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Vincent Walker.
The Winrow Valparaiso Open, the program’s annual home meet, will kick off the slate on Friday, Sept. 1 with the women’s race beginning at 5 p.m. and the men’s race to follow at 5:45 at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. This will mark the 34th running of Valpo’s home meet, which is named in honor of former head coach Ed Winrow, who passed away in March 2020.
After the season-opening meet, the Beacons make their way to Normal, Ill. for the Redbird Invite, which will be hosted by conference-foe Illinois State on Sept. 15. The docket continues on Sept. 29 with an instate trip to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane Invitational.
The Bradley Pink Classic will remain a staple on the Valpo schedule and is slated for Oct. 13. That meet will serve as the final precursor to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, which will be hosted by Belmont on Oct. 27. Valpo will compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Madison, Wis. on Nov. 10 with the goal of sending qualifiers to NCAA Nationals on Nov. 18 in Charlottesville, Va.
The Beacons will look to build on a successful 2022 cross country campaign that saw the men boast the highest NCAA Regional finish in program history. During that event, five Valpo men cracked the program record book in the 10K including five of the seven best 10K times in program history. The Bradley Pink Classic marked another highlight of last season as four Beacons (three men in the 8K and one woman in the 6K) turned in all-time top-10 times, including the second and third fastest 8K performances in Valpo men’s cross country history.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| AMERICAN LEAGUE | |||||||||||
| EAST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| BALTIMORE | 59 | 38 | .608 | – | 30 – 20 | 29 – 18 | 17 – 12 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| TAMPA BAY | 61 | 40 | .604 | – | 36 – 16 | 25 – 24 | 18 – 11 | 16 – 4 | 9 – 10 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| TORONTO | 54 | 44 | .551 | 5.5 | 27 – 20 | 27 – 24 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 11 – 9 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| BOSTON | 51 | 46 | .526 | 8 | 26 – 22 | 25 – 24 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 11 – 8 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| NY YANKEES | 51 | 47 | .520 | 8.5 | 29 – 23 | 22 – 24 | 13 – 17 | 9 – 8 | 14 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MINNESOTA | 51 | 48 | .515 | – | 27 – 22 | 24 – 26 | 12 – 17 | 19 – 12 | 10 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| CLEVELAND | 48 | 49 | .495 | 2 | 25 – 22 | 23 – 27 | 7 – 8 | 13 – 13 | 13 – 9 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| DETROIT | 44 | 53 | .454 | 6 | 20 – 26 | 24 – 27 | 3 – 16 | 18 – 12 | 9 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| CHI WHITE SOX | 41 | 58 | .414 | 10 | 21 – 25 | 20 – 33 | 6 – 16 | 15 – 12 | 9 – 14 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| KANSAS CITY | 28 | 71 | .283 | 23 | 15 – 36 | 13 – 35 | 5 – 13 | 9 – 25 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| TEXAS | 58 | 40 | .592 | – | 33 – 19 | 25 – 21 | 14 – 11 | 14 – 5 | 16 – 11 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| HOUSTON | 55 | 43 | .561 | 3 | 25 – 22 | 30 – 21 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 11 | 21 – 11 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| LA ANGELS | 50 | 48 | .510 | 8 | 28 – 22 | 22 – 26 | 11 – 9 | 11 – 8 | 16 – 14 | 5 – 5 | W 4 |
| SEATTLE | 49 | 48 | .505 | 8.5 | 28 – 24 | 21 – 24 | 8 – 11 | 10 – 10 | 15 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| OAKLAND | 27 | 73 | .270 | 32 | 14 – 38 | 13 – 35 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 4 – 25 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
| NATIONAL LEAGUE | |||||||||||
| EAST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| ATLANTA | 63 | 33 | .656 | – | 32 – 19 | 31 – 14 | 22 – 6 | 9 – 1 | 11 – 9 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| PHILADELPHIA | 52 | 45 | .536 | 11.5 | 26 – 19 | 26 – 26 | 9 – 15 | 10 – 6 | 14 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| MIAMI | 53 | 46 | .535 | 11.5 | 30 – 19 | 23 – 27 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 9 | 9 – 11 | 2 – 8 | L 7 |
| NY METS | 45 | 51 | .469 | 18 | 23 – 22 | 22 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 15 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| WASHINGTON | 39 | 58 | .402 | 24.5 | 16 – 32 | 23 – 26 | 9 – 16 | 7 – 13 | 10 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MILWAUKEE | 54 | 44 | .551 | – | 26 – 22 | 28 – 22 | 8 – 3 | 20 – 9 | 8 – 15 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| CINCINNATI | 53 | 46 | .535 | 1.5 | 26 – 26 | 27 – 20 | 12 – 11 | 12 – 17 | 12 – 8 | 4 – 6 | W 3 |
| CHI CUBS | 46 | 51 | .474 | 7.5 | 25 – 26 | 21 – 25 | 8 – 14 | 13 – 12 | 9 – 8 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| ST. LOUIS | 44 | 54 | .449 | 10 | 22 – 26 | 22 – 28 | 10 – 9 | 12 – 15 | 7 – 13 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| PITTSBURGH | 42 | 55 | .433 | 11.5 | 23 – 26 | 19 – 29 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 15 | 14 – 14 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| LA DODGERS | 56 | 40 | .583 | – | 29 – 16 | 27 – 24 | 11 – 7 | 15 – 12 | 14 – 11 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| ARIZONA | 54 | 44 | .551 | 3 | 26 – 24 | 28 – 20 | 13 – 15 | 10 – 6 | 17 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| SAN FRANCISCO | 54 | 44 | .551 | 3 | 26 – 22 | 28 – 22 | 10 – 10 | 18 – 9 | 15 – 10 | 7 – 3 | L 3 |
| SAN DIEGO | 47 | 51 | .480 | 10 | 25 – 23 | 22 – 28 | 13 – 13 | 7 – 13 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| COLORADO | 38 | 59 | .392 | 18.5 | 23 – 26 | 15 – 33 | 12 – 14 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1905 In the first game of a doubleheader, A’s pitcher Weldon Henley no-hits the Browns, 6-0. The Georgia native will compile a 32-43 won-loss record during his four-year big league career.
1906 Without a single assist registered by his Cincinnati teammates, Bob Ewing beats the Phillies, 10-3. ‘Long Bob’ will post a stellar 2.38 ERA this season, but he will finish the season with a 13-14 record for the sixth-place Reds.
1909 In the first game of a doubleheader, A’s pitcher Weldon Henley no-hits the Browns, 6-0. The Georgia native will compile a 32-43 won-loss record during his four-year big league career.
1913 In a game against the Superbas (Dodgers), Slim Sallee becomes the first pitcher in Cardinal history to steal home. In the third inning, the Redbird southpaw scores the first run in St. Louis’s 3-1 victory over Brooklyn at Ebbets Field.
1923 At League Park, the Indians complete a 31-game homestand in which every American League team pays a visit. After a slow start, the Tribe finishes with a 16-15 record during their month at home.
1923 At Cleveland’s Dunn Field, Walter Johnson fans the Tribe’s Stan Coveleski to become the first pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. The Senator legend’s milestone will remain unmatched until 1974 when Cardinals right-hander Bob Gibson whiffs Reds leadoff man Cesar Geronimo to reach the plateau at Busch Stadium.
1926 With the help of four triples, the Reds score 11 runs in the second inning en route to a 13-1 victory over the Braves. Curt Walker ties a National League record for most triples in an inning by hitting two in the frame.
1926 At Long Island’s Mitchell Field, with the media well represented, Babe Ruth, wearing an Army uniform, catches the last of seven baseballs, traveling 100 mph from a height of about 250 to 300 feet above the ground, dropped from a plane piloted by Captain Harold McClelland. Major Benjamin Foulois arranged the publicity stunt to bring more attention to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and the Citizens Military Training Camp.
1935 The Red Sox end a game for the second consecutive day with Wes Ferrell hitting a walk-off home run. As a pinch-hitter yesterday, his round-tripper beat the Tigers, 7-6, and today, as a starter, his game-ending homer gives Boston a 2-1 victory against the Browns.
1941 Dick Wakefield becomes baseball’s first ‘bonus baby’ when he signs with the Tigers for $52,000 and a new car. The University of Michigan standout will get one hit in seven at-bats (.143) this season.
1945 In front of a sellout crowd at Fenway Park, Red Sox right-hander Dave Ferriss, known as Boo, goes the distance, beating the Browns, 3-2. The 23-year-old rookie improves his record to 17-2 en route to finishing the season with a 21-10 (.677) mark and a 2.96 ERA.
1954 In the ninth, Yankee skipper Casey Stengel shifts center fielder Mickey Mantle to shortstop to replace weak-hitting Willy Miranda, moving Irv Noren to center to take Mick’s place with pinch-hitter Hank Bauer staying in the game in right. The move proves unnecessary when the ‘Commerce Comet’ hits a walk-off homer in the bottom of the tenth, giving the Bronx Bombers a 4-3 victory over the White Sox.
1962 Floyd Robinson goes 6-for-6, helping the White Sox defeat the Red Sox at Fenway Park, 7-3. All of the Chicago outfielder’s hits are singles.
1962 During a twin bill with the Reds at Crosley Field, the Mets manage to have four runners thrown out trying to score at home plate. The new National League expansion team from New York loses both games, 11-4 and 4-3, en route to a record-setting 120 defeats this season.
1966 The Mets left fielder learns he is a new dad when the Dodger Stadium scoreboard relays the message, “Congratulations, Ron Swoboda. Your new son is born tomorrow morning”. Cecilia Swoboda gave birth to Chipper, the couple’s first child, at 12:02 am eastern standard time, making it the next day on the West Coast.
1966 Lew Burdette, tossing the final two frames of scoreless ball in relief, earns his 200th career victory when the Angels score two runs in the top of the ninth in the team’s eventual 6-4 victory at Yankee Stadium. The veteran right-hander, a one-time Bronx Bomber traded to Boston for Johnny Sain, is best remembered for winning three games for the Braves against his former team in the 1957 World Series.
1966 Clay Dalrymple breaks up Giants hurler Gaylord Perry’s no-hitter with an eighth-inning single. It’s the second time the Phillies’ catcher has spoiled a no-hit bid in the eighth inning at Candlestick Park, as he collected the only hit in Juan Marichal’s debut in 1960.
1967 The Braves use five pitchers in the same inning, establishing a major league mark for the number of hurlers used in one frame. Ken Johnson, Ramon Hernandez, Claude Raymond, Dick Kelley, and Cecil Upshaw all face batters in the ninth inning of the team’s 5-4 defeat to St. Louis in 13 innings at Busch Stadium.
1968 After grounding out to first base unassisted in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Red Sox, Mickey Mantle’s lifetime batting average falls and stays below .300 (.29946). The future Hall of Fame slugger, who finishes his 18-year tenure in the major leagues with a .298 batting average, often laments in later years that his greatest regret in baseball was not ending his career with a .300 BA.
1969 The All-Star Game, for the first time since its inception in 1939, is rained out due to the soggy conditions at RFK Stadium caused by a torrential rainstorm that pelted the nation’s capital during the day. The postponement of the 40th Midsummer Classic disappoints President Nixon, who had planned to throw the ceremonial first pitch, but cannot now attend, leaving to greet the Apollo 11 crew, expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean after their historic trip to the moon.
1973 Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion will miss the rest of the season after fracturing the fibula of his left leg, sliding into third base two days before the Midsummer Classic. The All-Star infielder hit .287 in the 89 games he played for the eventual National League Western Division winners.
1983 Angels outfielder Brian Downing’s American League record consecutive errorless streak ends at 244 games when he misplays Chet Lemon’s line drive in a 13-11 loss to the Tigers. The ‘Incredible Hulk’ will never win a Gold Glove during his 20 years in the major leagues.
1984 The Yankees retire Roger Maris’s (#9) and Elston Howard’s (#32) uniform numbers. The team also erects plaques to pay tribute to their achievements as Bronx Bombers.
1986 Due to a series of maneuvers by Mets’ manager Davey Johnson and the late-game ejections of Darryl Strawberry, Ray Knight, and Kevin Mitchell, the team runs out of position players. The lack of regulars makes for some interesting moves when catcher Gary Carter plays third base, right-handed reliever Roger McDowell plays left field (when Jesse Orosco pitches to lefties), and Orosco plays right (when McDowell faces right-handers) with Mookie Wilson moving from corner to corner as needed.
1987 At Comiskey Park, Harold Baines surpasses Bill Melton to become the White Sox’s all-time leading home run hitter when he goes deep off Mike Boddicker during the third inning of a 10-5 loss to Baltimore. The 28-year-old Chicago DH/OF has hit 155 home runs in his eight seasons with the Pale Hose.
1993 Giving up four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning at Three Rivers Stadium, the Braves lose to the Pirates, 8-7, to fall ten games behind the division-leading Giants. In a remarkable turn-around, Atlanta posts a 54-19 record after the All-Star break, finishing with 104 victories, winning the National League West historic race by a single game on the last day of the season.
1995 A frail Mickey Mantle bids the fans a farewell in a recorded message on the Bronx ballpark’s Jumbotron on the day the Yankees celebrate Babe Ruth’s hundredth birthday as part of the team’s Old Timers’ Day. The diminished former superstar, who will succumb to liver cancer in 22 days, tells the crowd, “I feel like Phil Rizzuto in Babe Ruth’s uniform.”
1999 Cleanup batter Manny Ramirez, listed as the designated hitter in the lineup posted by Indians’ manager Mike Hargrove, plays in the field in the top of the first inning, mistakenly taking Alex Ramirez’s position in right field. The blunder will result in the Tribe losing a DH during their 4-3 loss to Toronto at Jacobs Field.
2000 Rain delays the Ranger-Mariner game when Safeco Field’s retractable roof fails to close. The contest continues after 54 minutes, giving the roof time to overcome its electrical problem and providing the groundskeepers an opportunity to dry the field.
2002 Although the Los Angeles Times has reported MLB players had tentatively set a strike date of September 16, union leader Donald Fehr, through a memo sent to players, denies the reported decision about a timeframe. The work stoppage would be baseball’s ninth since 1972.
2002 Over 20,000 Red Sox fans gather at Fenway for a tribute entitled “Ted Williams: A Celebration of an American Hero,” for a two-hour salute to the man many considered to be the greatest hitter in baseball history, a veteran of World War II, and the Korean War and a generous supporter of the Jimmy Fund. In addition to moving music and video, the ceremony includes comments from present and former Red Sox players and broadcasters, historian Ken Burns, and the pilot Ted served as wingman on some of the missions he flew in Korea, former U.S. Senator John Glenn.
2005 Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen, armed with a measuring tape and the help of a few teammates, finds inaccuracies when he checks the distance from home plate to the fences at RFK Stadium. Due to the findings, the club had brought in a surveyor earlier in the day, moving the green pads with the “380” markings closer to the respective foul lines to be more accurate.
2005 Yhency Brazoban records his 18th save when he works a perfect ninth inning as the Dodgers beat the Mets, 6-5. The Los Angeles freshman, who is filling in for injured closer Eric Gagne, breaks Steve Howe’s club rookie record for saves established in 1980.
2007 Devil Rays’ right-hander Shawn Camp yields nine hits in his 1.1 innings of relief during the Yankees’ 21-4 rout. The 34-year-old Tampa Bay reliever allows three home runs to the 13 batters he faces at the Bronx ballpark.
2007 Tulsa Drillers’ first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh instantly dies when struck in the head by a line drive in the top of the ninth inning at Dickey-Stephens Field in North Little Rock, home of the minor league Arkansas Travelers. The 35-year-old dad, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two small sons, becomes the second on-the-field fatality in professional baseball history.
2008 After pitching two scoreless frames in relief in the A’s 8-1 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field, Brad Ziegler establishes an American League record when he extends his consecutive scoreless inning streak to start a major league career to 23. The 28-year-old breaks the Junior Circuit mark set in 1945 by Red Sox rookie right-handed starter Dave Ferriss.
2012 Ron Santo, who died at the end of 2010, disappointed about not being selected for Cooperstown, is inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame. In tribute to the team’s former third baseman and beloved broadcaster, the Cubs click their heels when they jumped over the third-base line taking the field in St. Louis, invoking the memory of the infielder’s signature move after a victory.
2012 Barry Larkin, who spent his 19-year career with the Reds, is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The former 12-time All-Star shortstop, a lifetime .295 hitter, won the Gold Glove Award three times and is a nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
2012 After tying the game with a ninth-inning run, the A’s sweep the Yankees with a 12th-inning walk-off victory. The 5-4 loss marks the first time the Bronx Bombers have been swept in a four-game series while losing all four by one run.
2013 The Rangers trade three prospects, third baseman Mike Olt, pitchers C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm, to the Cubs for Matt Garza, a player the team has attempted to land for the past two seasons. The deal also includes the Cubs receiving a player to be named later, most likely Neil Ramirez, if his shoulder is sound, or two other minor-leaguers if the right-hander is still injured.
2014 Chase Headley, obtained by the Yankees less than 12 hours ago, hits a single in the 14th inning, giving the Bombers a 2-1 walk-off victory over Texas in the Bronx. New York acquired their new third baseman earlier in the day, trading minor league pitching prospect Rafael De Paula and infielder Yangervis Solarte to the Padres and receiving $1 million to pay part of the $4 million still owed to the infielder this season.
2015 In Anaheim, Huston Street becomes the 27th pitcher in the major league to record 300 saves when he tosses a scoreless ninth inning in the Angels’ 5-2 victory over the Twins. The 31-year-old right-handed closer is the second-youngest player, only behind Francisco Rodriguez, to reach the milestone.
2019 At Minute Maid Park, the Astros, wearing caps featuring the official emblem of the historic NASA mission, celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The festivities include fans having the opportunity to take a photo with a statue of Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, participate in interactive displays, and purchase an Orbit Moon-Landing bobblehead.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
DAZZY VANCE
Pitcher
Renowned for his blazing fastball, Dazzy Vance was the premier strikeout pitcher of the 1920s. He led the National League in strikeouts for seven consecutive seasons from 1922-’28, and often he led by wide margins.
In 1924, he had more strikeouts than the second- and third-place pitchers combined.
“Dazzy Vance could throw a cream puff through a battleship,” said former Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Johnny Frederick.
His best season was 1924, when he won the NL Most Valuable Player Award after leading the league in wins (28), ERA (2.16), complete games (30) and strikeouts (262). He beat out fellow Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby – who hit .424 that season – for the award.
He led the league in wins again the next season, during which he also threw a no-hitter against Philadelphia on Sept. 13, 1925.
Vance’s Dodgers never won a pennant, and in 1933 he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he joined Dizzy and Paul Dean. He was sold to the Reds the following year, but he was waived back to St. Louis in time to win the 1934 World Series as part of the “Gashouse Gang.” He finished his career as a reliever back with Brooklyn in 1935.
Vance’s career is even more remarkable considering he did not break into the major leagues for good until the age of 31 in 1922. He had spent the previous decade pitching mostly in the minor leagues, though he made nine appearances between the Pirates and Yankees in 1915, and two more for the Yankees in 1918.
Vance was plagued by sore arms during his 20’s but continued to pitch in the minor leagues. He had a strong season for the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern League in 1921, but at the age of 30, he was far from a hot prospect. But the Pelicans had a catcher named Hank DeBerry whom the Dodgers wanted, so New Orleans offered DeBerry along with Vance in a package deal for $10,000. The Dodgers took the deal, and Vance won 18 games and struck out an NL-best 134 batters as a 31-year-old rookie in 1922, the first of his seven straight seasons leading the league in strikeouts.
Vance was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955. He passed away on Feb. 16, 1961.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
DON HUTSON WILL QUIT PRO FOOTBALL RANKS
The article stated that Green Bay Packers star receiver Don Hutson confirmed that he would not be returning to the NFL to play in the upcoming season after setting 16 different records the year prior. Speculation was that Hutson made his decision to retire after quarterback Cecil Isbell announced that he was leaving the pro circuit to coach at Purdue. Hutson refuted these claims and said his decision to leave the playing field was made long before Isbell’s. Despite these reports the Alabama Antelope played all the way through the 1945 season. We will assume the war effort limiting the amount of Pro players available and the persuasive manner of one Coach Curly Lambeau could have helped sway Hutson to return to the Packers.
NIXON MAKES THE NEWS & WE TELL HIS TIES TO THE GRIDIRON
July 22, 1955 – Richard Millhouse Nixon becomes the first Vice-President of the U.S. in history to oversee a cabinet meeting. Nixon was a great fan of football. He did not play much but was on the football team at California’s Whittier College. In old photo’s he was seen wearing the jersey numbers of 12 and 23. Later when he became POTUS he is credited with signing legislation to force the NFL to televise all playoff games in all markets, much to the chagrin of then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. So though “Tricky Dick” may have been a “crook” despite his claims that he was not, he did force the NFL to put playoff games on TV for all us to watch for free in our homes.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR JULY 22
July 22, 1966 – Tim Brown Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined wide receiver that played for the Raiders along with a short stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mr. Brown had a stellar college career at the University of Notre Dame even earning the Heisman Trophy in 1987, and because of his fine play he was selected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 per the National Football Foundation. As a pro Brown recorded 9 consecutive 1000 receiving yard seasons from 1993 through 2001.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
33 – 3 – 5 – 31
July 22, 1923 – Washington Senators future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson became the first to reach 3,000 career strikeout milestone with 5 K’s in 3-1 win over Cleveland Indians. The legendary hurler sat down a total of 3,508 batters in his career.
July 22, 1925 – NY Yankees buy future Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Leo Durocher from Hartford Senators of the Eastern League. Leo finally wore a Yankee Number of 7 during the 1929 season.
July 22, 1926 – Cincinnati Reds right fielder Curt Walker ties National League record of 2 triples in an inning in a 13-1 rout of the Boston Braves
July 22, 1936 – Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johnny Moore, wearing Number 33 hits 3 straight home runs in a 16-4 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates
July 22, 1962 – Chicago White Sox outfielder Floyd Robinson in the Sox Number 3 uniform, goes 6 for 6 (all singles) as Chicago knocked off the Boston Red Sox, 7-3 at Fenway Park.
July 22, 1983 – MLB California Angels outfielder Number 5, Brian Downing’s error ends his record streak at 244 games
July 22, 1997 – Greg Maddux wearing the Number 31 jersey of the Atlanta Braves threw a complete game with just 76 pitches.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CHRIS AULT
Position: Coach
Years: 1976-92, 1994-95, 2004-12
Place of Birth: San Bernardino, CA
Date of Birth: Nov 12, 1946
Chris Ault coached Nevada 28 seasons and guided the team to new heights. The Wolf Pack started in NCAA Division II, moved to IAA, then to IA. Ault is believed to be the only coach in NCAA history to win conference championships at three levels at the same school. The winningest coach in school history with a career record of 233-109-1 in 28 seasons, Ault guided Nevada from Division II to I-AA glory in the Big Sky Conference 1980s and early 90s, into I-A and the Big West Conference in 1992 and on to the WAC and now the Mountain West Conference. Along the way, he won 10 conference championships and took the Wolf Pack to postseason play 16 times, including 10 bowl games in 12 FBS seasons. He leaves a lasting legacy of accolades and contributions to the game, perhaps none of which greater than his creation of the Pistol offense in 2005, a scheme now employed by hundreds of teams at every level of football.
Sports Illustrated named him to its list of the 50 greatest sports figures in the State of Nevada. On Nov. 2, 1991, his team trailed Weber State 49-14 in the third quarter, rallied to win 55-49. Overcoming a 35-point deficit is an NCAA record. In 1991 Ault received the Eddie Robinson Award as the national coach of the year for Division I-AA. He was also named the Coach of the Century in 1999 by the Reno-Gazette-Journal and was honored with the Chevrolet-ABC Award as the coach of the year in 1978. In 1986, he added the job of athletics director for the University of Nevada. After leaving coaching after the 1995 season he returned to the Nevada sidelines in 2004.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| British Open | 5:00am | USA |
| British Open | 7:00am | NBC |
| LPGA Tour: Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational | 4:00pm | CBS |
| PGA Tour: Barracuda Championship | 5:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Kansas City at NY Yankees | 1:05pm | MLBN Bally Sports YES |
| Colorado at Miami | 1:10pm | MLBN ATTSN-RM Bally Sports |
| St. Louis at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | Bally Sports MARQ |
| LA Dodgers at Texas | 4:05pm | Spectrum Bally Sports |
| Arizona at Cincinnati | 4:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Baltimore at Tampa Bay | 4:10pm | MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| NY Mets at Boston | 4:10pm | FS1 SNY NESN |
| Toronto at Seattle | 4:10pm | Sportsnet Root Sports |
| San Diego at Detroit | 6:10pm | Bally Sports |
| San Francisco at Washington | 7:05pm | NBCS-BAY MASN/2 |
| Philadelphia at Cleveland | 7:10pm | NBCS-PHI Bally Sports |
| Atlanta at Milwaukee | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports |
| Chi. White Sox at Minnesota | 7:15pm | FOX NBCS-CHI Bally Sports |
| Houston at Oakland | 9:07pm | MLBN ATTSN-SW NBCS-CA |
| Pittsburgh at LA Angels | 9:07pm | MLBN ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Truck: CRC Brakleen 150 | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| IndyCar: Hy-Vee Homefront 250 | 3:00pm | NBC |
| Xfinity: Pocono 225 | 5:30pm | USA |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Zambia vs Japan | 3:00am | FS1 |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: England vs Haiti | 5:30am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Denmark vs China | 8:00am | FOX |
| Brasileirão: Flamengo vs América Mineiro | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Palmeiras vs Fortaleza | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Bahia vs Corinthians | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Cuiabá vs São Paulo | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Canadian Premier League: Vancouver FC vs Cavalry | 7:00pm | FS2 |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: North Carolina Courage vs Washington Spirit | 7:00pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: Kansas City Current vs Houston Dash | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: Philadelphia Union vs Tijuana | 8:00pm | FS1 |
| Brasileirão: Grêmio vs Atlético Mineiro | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: Portland Timbers vs SJ Earthquakes | 10:00pm | FS1 |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Connecticut vs Atlanta | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| Las Vegas vs Minnesota | 3:00pm | ESPN |
| Los Angeles vs Dallas | 8:00pm | |
| Chicago vs Seattle | 9:00pm | NBATV |