“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ST. LOUIS 6 TAMPA BAY 4
LA ANGELS 4 SAN FRANCISCO 1
SEATTLE 6 SAN DIEGO 1
OAKLAND 2 TEXAS 0
DETROIT 9 MINNESOTA 5
HOUSTON 8 BALTIMORE 2
BOSTON 4 KANSAS CITY 3
TORONTO 1 CLEVELAND 0
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 9 NY YANKEES 2
MIAMI 5 CINCINNATI 4
MILWAUKEE 7 COLORADO 6 (10)
PHILADELPHIA 7 WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 6 PITTSBURGH 5
NY METS 4 CHICAGO CUBS 3
LA DODGERS 2 ARIZONA 0
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
NASHVILLE AT INDIANAPOLIS POSTPONED
FORT WAYNE 9 LANSING 5
LAKE COUNTY 10 SOUTH BEND 4
WNBA
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGES
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT BISHOP CHATARD, 7 P.M.
BEN DAVIS AND CARMEL AT WESTFIELD (THREE-TEAM JAMBOREE), 7 P.M.
CATHEDRAL AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL, 7 P.M.
BROWNSBURG AT CENTER GROVE, 6 P.M.
PERRY MERIDIAN AT MT. VERNON, 7 P.M.
NOBLESVILLE AT NORTH CENTRAL, 7 P.M.
KOKOMO AT ZIONSVILLE, 7 P.M.
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, 7 P.M.
MOORESVILLE AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS, 7:30 P.M.
AVON AT WARREN CENTRAL, 7 P.M.
LAWRENCE NORTH AT FISHERS, 7 P.M.
SCECINA AT NEW PALESTINE, 7 P.M.
COLUMBUS EAST AT MARTINSVILLE, 7 P.M.
WESTERN BOONE AT SPEEDWAY, 7 P.M.
BEECH GROVE AT INDIAN CREEK, 7 P.M.
PARK TUDOR AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, 7 P.M.
LAFAYETTE JEFF AT PIKE, 7 P.M.
PLAINFIELD AT TRI-WEST, 6 P.M.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS AT ALEXANDRIA, 7 P.M.
DECATUR CENTRAL AT SOUTHPORT, 7 P.M.
MUNCIE CENTRAL AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, 7 P.M.
RONCALLI AT FRANKLIN, 7 P.M.
COLUMBUS NORTH AT GREENWOOD, 7 P.M.
WEST LAFAYETTE AT DANVILLE, 7 P.M.
LEBANON AT BREBEUF JESUIT, 7 P.M.
LUTHERAN AT GUERIN CATHOLIC, 7 P.M.
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT CARDINAL RITTER, 7:30 P.M.
SHELBYVILLE AND SALEM AT MADISON (THREE-TEAM JAMBOREE), 6:30 P.M.
EASTERN HANCOCK HOSTING JAMBOREE WITH SHENANDOAH, MONROE CENTRAL AND NORTH DECATUR, 7 P.M.
CASCADE AT PARKE HERITAGE, 7 P.M.
HOMESCHOOL CRIMSON KNIGHTS AT EDINBURGH, 7 P.M.
LAPEL AT HAGERSTOWN, 7 P.M.
MONROVIA AT BROWN COUNTY, 7 P.M.
MILAN AT TRITON CENTRAL, 7 P.M.
COVINGTON AT SHORTRIDGE, 7 P.M.
WASHINGTON AT PHALEN ACADEMY, 7 P.M.
IRVINGTON PREP VS. PURDUE POLY, AT HOWE, 7 P.M.
TINDLEY VS. TECH, AT BROAD RIPPLE, 7 P.M.
CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL AT TRI, 7 P.M.
CRAWFORDSVILLE AT SHERIDAN, 7 P.M.
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
| BOYLE COUNTY (KY.) | AT | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 6:00 PM | ||
| CENTER GROVE | VS. | ST. EDWARD (OHIO) | 12:05 AM | ||
| SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL | AT | PHALEN ACADEMY | 5:00 PM |
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
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
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
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
EX-LAS VEGAS RAIDER HENRY RUGGS SENTENCED TO 3-PLUS YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATAL DUI CRASH IN NEVADA
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs was sentenced Wednesday to at least three years in a Nevada prison for killing a woman in a fiery crash while driving his sports car drunk at speeds up to 156 mph on a city street nearly two years ago.
“I sincerely apologize,” the former first-round NFL draft pick said as he stood for sentencing in Las Vegas after pleading guilty in May to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, a charge carrying a six-month jail sentence that will be folded in with his three-to-10-year prison term.
Ruggs, now 24, was cut by the Raiders while he was still hospitalized following the predawn crash on Nov. 2, 2021. The collision killed Tina Tintor and her dog, Max, and injured Ruggs’ passenger, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, his fiancee and mother of their daughter.
“I have no excuses,” Ruggs said, citing pain the case has caused his family, teammates and Tintor’s family. Ruggs said that after prison, he intends to counsel others “about the dangers of driving at unsafe speed and driving and drinking.”
Tintor’s mother, Mirjana Komazec, offered grief, grace and memories of “what it was like to hug and embrace her, knowing we will never be able to kiss her on her forehead or tell her how much we love her and how absolutely proud of her we are,” she said in a statement read in court by Tintor’s cousin, David Strbac.
“We pray that Henry Ruggs is blessed with the opportunity to be able watch his beautiful daughter grow into the amazing woman she can be,” Komazec’s statement said. “And we pray that this terrible accident inspires positive change in the world. We pray that we all take away the importance of looking out for one another, remembering everyone we meet is another human’s loved one.”
Kilgo-Washington and a group of friends and supporters watched as Ruggs, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie, was handcuffed by a court officer when Clark County District Court Judge Jennifer Schwartz read the sentence. Ruggs was then led away. Ruggs had remained free on house arrest since shortly after the crash.
In court filings ahead of the sentencing, Ruggs’ attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, included letters from high school administrators and teachers in Montgomery, Alabama, who praised Ruggs, and a testimonial from Democratic Alabama state Rep. Phillip Ensler.
“Mr. Ruggs is a man of good character who made a terrible mistake,” the attorneys said in the presentencing memorandum. “His remorse is deep and sincere.”
His plea deal avoided a trial that Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said posed obstacles for conviction because Ruggs was not administered a field sobriety test following the crash and his defense attorneys argued that Ruggs’ blood-alcohol test was improperly obtained at the hospital.
Wolfson, a Democrat, said the blood test provided “virtually” the only proof that Ruggs was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. It revealed that Ruggs had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16% — twice the legal limit in Nevada — after the rear-end wreck ignited a fire in Tintor’s Toyota Rav 4.
Kilgo-Washington also was injured in Ruggs’ demolished 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. Prosecutors said Ruggs suffered a leg injury, and Kilgo-Washington received an arm injury. Kilgo-Washington was not cooperative with prosecutors as a victim in the case.
Wolfson had said Ruggs would face a mandatory minimum of two years in prison if convicted and could get more than 50 years. The district attorney said investigators learned that Ruggs spent several hours drinking with friends at a sports entertainment site and golfing venue, and may have been at a friend’s home for several more hours before he and Kilgo-Washington headed home.
Tintor was a Serbian immigrant who friends and family members said graduated from a Las Vegas high school, worked at a Target store, wanted to become a computer programmer and was close to obtaining her U.S. citizenship. The family statement called Max her best friend.
“The sentence isn’t going to bring Tina back,” Farhan Naqvi, an attorney who represented Tintor’s family, said outside the courtroom. “What we’re hoping for, more than anything, is that other deaths can be prevented from driving under the influence and reckless driving. It ruins lives. It destroys families.”
KENDRICK GREEN ISN’T A FULLBACK BY TRADE. TO KEEP A ROSTER SPOT IN PITTSBURGH, HE MIGHT HAVE TO BE
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — The horn sounded to end practice, only Kendrick Green’s day was hardly over.
Far from it.
For the better part of 20 minutes, Green went through a dance across Chuck Noll Field that seemed improbable only a few months ago. A dance that may have to be his new normal if he wants to stick around with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Two years after a rocky transition from guard to center after being taken in the third round of the 2021 draft — a transition the Steelers essentially abandoned last summer when they brought in Mason Cole — Green finds himself doing what he can to get in where he fits in.
At the moment, that’s as a reserve guard and maybe — maybe — a fullback.
What Green claimed was merely an experiment during the team’s traditional “Friday Night Lights” practice last week has gotten a little more serious as the Steelers prepare to open the preseason at Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Green was a fixture on the field behind quarterback Kenny Pickett during short-yardage and goal-line drills this week. And while Green has stressed he remains a full-time offensive lineman who is only moonlighting at fullback, his post-practice routine indicates he’s taking it seriously even as coach Mike Tomlin stresses it’s far too early to read into it.
So yes, that was Green working on the JUGS machine with the reserve wide receivers. He’d try to wrangle a handful of balls — with somewhat mixed results — before walking 10 yards away and getting into a three-point stance to work on his get-off at the snap of the ball.
No, this is not the way Green envisioned his career going when the Steelers hand-selected him to replace Maurkice Pouncey after the nine-time Pro Bowler retired following the 2020 season. Being made inactive for 17 consecutive games — as Green was in 2022 — shifted his perspective. If lead blocking in certain packages or even catching the occasional pass means he’ll have a job when rosters are trimmed to 53 on Aug. 29, so be it.
“It’s a little bit more fun doing (moving around),” Green said with a laugh. “But (just) doing whatever I need to do to help the team.”
And help himself in the process. Green’s quickness and athleticism is one of the reasons the Steelers believed he could handle the responsibility of playing center after being a guard for most of his college career at Illinois. He welcomed the challenge of following someone such as Pouncey.
It’s one of the reasons he opted to keep his college number (No. 53) when he arrived in Pittsburgh even though it was one Pouncey wore during a career that could end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Yet things never really came together during Green’s rookie season. He started 15 games but struggled with the transition. Last summer, he found himself buried on the depth chart.
“Ideally, my rookie year didn’t go as well,” Green said. “I don’t know anybody who’s done what they asked me to do. … Not trying to make any excuses or anything like that. Just got to keep going.”
Green found himself making a cameo at fullback for the scout team late last season before a game against Baltimore, planting a seed of sorts that now could be taking root.
“This is the time of year to experiment,” assistant general manager Andy Weidl said Wednesday.
It also may be Green’s best chance to stick around. The Steelers overhauled the offensive line during the offseason, bringing in veteran guards Isaac Seumalo from Philadelphia and Nate Herbig from the New York Jets. Green’s spot on the depth chart is as a backup to Cole and given the flexibility along the line in general, nothing is guaranteed.
It’s one of the reasons Green has taken to fullback so enthusiastically. During his youth football games as a kid growing up in Peoria, Illinois, he’d have a piece of red tape on the back of his helmet, something all the kids considered too big to carry the ball were forced to wear.
There are no such restrictions in the NFL. And for a player who can dunk a basketball with ease and is remarkably quick for someone listed at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, it makes sense to see what he can do other than snap the ball. It helps that he’s playing in an offense run by Matt Canada, who showed an affinity for tackle-eligible passes and lobs to the fullback while calling plays at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016.
Oh, and Green thinks he can throw the ball if necessary. At least better than fullback/tight end Connor Heyward did during practice on Tuesday, who sort of shot-putted the ball to tight end Pat Freiermuth for a touchdown.
“I don’t want to talk bad on (Heyward),” Green said, laughing. “But I can definitely spin it a little bit.”
Who knows? He might have to.
NOTES: Tomlin said second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett will get as many reps as necessary against Tampa Bay, adding that Pickett’s relative inexperience means he may get more playing time during the preseason than a veteran would.
BROWNS QB DESHAUN WATSON WILL START EXHIBITION AGAINST WASHINGTON, ANOTHER CHANCE TO SHAKE RUST
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will start Friday night’s exhibition against Washington, giving him another chance to knock off some of the rust he developed while being suspended last season.
Watson said Wednesday he doesn’t know how long he’ll play against the Commanders.
Last year, Watson was on the field for just eight plays during the preseason opener at Jacksonville before the NFL suspended him 11 games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Watson was accused by two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while he played for Houston.
The 27-year-old said he barely remembers his brief appearance against the Jaguars, saying “it’s like a blur to be honest.” The Browns chose to sit him the remainder of the summer to get Jacoby Brissett ready to start.
Watson went 3-3 in six starts after returning from his suspension, and rarely looked like the Pro Bowl QB he was with the Texans. The Browns traded three first-round draft picks for Watson, and then signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Watson didn’t play in last week’s Hall of Fame game against the New York Jets.
JAGUARS PLAN TO PLAY STARTERS, INCLUDING RIDLEY, IN THEIR PRESEASON OPENER AT THE COWBOYS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson plans to play most of his starters in the team’s preseason opener at Dallas on Saturday.
Pederson said Wednesday he won’t play them “long at all,” maybe a series or two. But it’ll be the first game action for receiver Calvin Ridley since Oct. 24, 2021. Ridley, playing through a broken left foot that season, stepped away to address his mental health following a home robbery. He was suspended for the entire 2022 season because he bet on the NFL while away from the Atlanta Falcons.
The Jaguars traded two draft picks to get Ridley last November, and he’s been the team’s most dynamic player through the first two weeks of training camp. Now, he’ll join teammates Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram in a game for the first time.
“Yeah, I think it’s important for them to play, to feel the excitement around a game,” Pederson said. “Don’t plan on playing them long at all, but just want to get them in, get them out but still get some quality work in.”
All eyes will be on Ridley, who caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020 despite the injury. He had 31 receptions for 281 yards and two scores before sitting out the final two months of the 2021 season.
Pederson said Ridley is unlikely to play much longer than other starters.
“No, not necessarily,” Pederson said. “I don’t need to see him too much longer, so I probably won’t play him much past the 1s.”
JETS, AARON RODGERS PRAISE PANTHERS QB BRYCE YOUNG
Jets head coach Robert Saleh identified 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young as the best point guard on the field in joint practices with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday.
Young placed multiple throws in the perfect spot through tight coverage in full-team work against New York, which had a top-five overall defense in 2022.
“He’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said of Young. “He’ll be just fine.”
Saleh called Young “an unbelievable point guard” when asked if he compared the 21-year-old to Rodgers.
“I think I speak for everyone … he’s going to be pretty damn good,” Saleh said.
The Jets are prepping to face the Panthers on Thursday night in Charlotte in the second preseason game of the summer for New York. Rodgers will again be in street clothes for the game and could have a similar role calling a few plays in the first half.
Rodgers, who was cheered on enemy turf for a dart of a touchdown to Allen Lazard, said he would advise Young to “be gentle with yourself … it’s a long journey, hold onto your confidence.”
Rodgers said he’s a “big fan” of Young and knew coming to Carolina this week that he would be after hearing raves from good friend — and new Panthers receiver — Adam Thielen.
Young, already named the No. 1 quarterback for the Panthers, had a moment to connect with former Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Williams, an anchor of the Jets’ defense, posed for a few pictures with Young. But the rookie quarterback said he was extremely grateful to hear the wisdom from the four-time NFL MVP.
“When you talk about someone like Aaron Rodgers who has had so much success for so long, any advice he would give, I’d definitely be receptive to it,” Young said.
Young, undersized relative to prototype height and weight standards at the position, credited Rodgers’ ability to throw on time and on target from multiple arm angles as a standard he chased growing up. He said it was “super cool” to get a pre-practice visit from Rodgers. He said they talked about the experience as first-round picks.
“Just for him to take the time to come out and support me, I really appreciate him,” Young said.
LIONS SIGN RB DEVINE OZIGBO
The Detroit Lions announced the signing of running back Devine Ozigbo on Wednesday.
Ozigbo, 26, appeared in four games with the Denver Broncos last season, mostly on special teams.
He has rushed for 29 yards and caught 14 passes for 75 yards in 25 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-21), New Orleans Saints (2021) and Broncos (2022) since going undrafted out of Nebraska in 2019.
The Lions released wide receiver Avery Davis in a corresponding transaction.
Davis joined the team on Sunday. He was undrafted out of Notre Dame, where he caught 66 passes for 862 yards and eight touchdowns from 2018-21.
RAVENS DT BRODERICK WASHINGTON SIGNS 3-YEAR EXTENSION
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington signed a three-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however multiple media outlets reported that the maximum value of the deal is $17.5 million with incentives.
Washington, 26, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. He had 49 tackles and one sack in 17 games (nine starts) last season.
Washington has totaled 67 tackles and two sacks in 39 career games (11 starts) since being selected by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech.
BUCCANEERS TO START BAKER MAYFIELD IN PRESEASON OPENER
It’s Baker Mayfield to start preseason Game 1 and Kyle Trask in preseason Game 2.
So said Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles on Wednesday as the Buccaneers prepare for their first season without Tom Brady and uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Bowles said “not really” when asked if there was thought that went into the starter for Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That seems to mirror the Bucs’ depth chart released Tuesday that denotes Mayfield or Trask at QB1.
Trask will draw the start against the New York Jets on Aug. 19, and the team “will go from there,” Bowles said.
The word “or” shows how close the training camp competition is between the signal-callers vying to replace Brady, the retired seven-time Super Bowl champion.
Mayfield signed with Tampa Bay in March as the presumed starter after making three stops during a whirlwind 2022. After being traded from the Cleveland Browns to Carolina that offseason, he was 2-8 with 2,163 yards, 10 touchdown passes and eight interceptions with the Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
Mayfield, 28, is 31-38 as a starter since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland in 2018.
Trask, 25, has only appeared in one game since Tampa Bay drafted him in the second round in 2021. Last week, offensive coordinator Dave Canales said Trask had closed the gap on Mayfield with his performance in camp.
DOLPHINS WR JAYLEN WADDLE EXITS PRACTICE WITH APPARENT INJURY
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle sustained an apparent injury to his right midsection at Wednesday’s joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons.
Waddle remained down on the field after reeling in a catch during team drills. He was holding his right side while walking under his own power to the locker room with trainers.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
Waddle, 24, led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception last season. He finished with 75 catches for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games.
Waddle has totaled 179 receptions for 2,371 yards and 14 touchdowns in 33 career games since being selected by the Dolphins with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
COMMANDERS QB SAM HOWELL TO START PRESEASON OPENER VS. BROWNS
Second-year pro Sam Howell has been named the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback for Friday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns.
The team formally made the declaration on Wednesday, two days after releasing a depth chart displaying Howell as the first-team quarterback and veteran Jacoby Brissett listed as No. 2.
Howell also has taken the bulk of the No. 1 repetitions during training camp and has impressed new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
“Sam’s actually doing a hell of a job,” Bieniemy said earlier this week. “I’ve seen the growth. You can see when he’s confident, he’s … releasing that ball. It’s a thing of beauty.”
Howell was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of North Carolina.
His lone appearance last season was in the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys when he completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a touchdown.
Deshaun Watson said Wednesday that he will start at quarterback for the Browns.
“Just kind of getting myself back into a routine to get ready for the season,” Watson told reporters.
PACKERS’ JENKINS TOSSED FROM JOINT PRACTICE WITH BENGALS AFTER MULTIPLE SCUFFLES
Punches were thrown and players were tussling on the ground Wednesday during a joint practice between the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers.
Packers left guard Elgton Jenkins was escorted from the field following two separate fights. He struck Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader in the second confrontation.
“Emotions get high,” Green Bay offensive lineman David Bakhtiari said, according to USA Today’s Ryan Wood. “I know (Jenkins will) never do it in the game. He’s never done that in the game, but it’s practice. It’s a little bit different. You know you shouldn’t, but you also know there’s no consequence.”
Reader described the fracas as a typical training camp fight.
“Guys in they feelings about whatever. Who knows? I have no idea. He might’ve had a bad day today,” Reader said when asked about the incident, per Cincinnati Bengals Talk. “Seemed positive early in practice and then it turned real negative for him. He wanted to get kicked out. He just didn’t want to practice. He’ll be out there Friday. We’ll see him.”
Reader even shared his displeasure about the two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman on Twitter, calling Jenkins an abbreviation for “just another guy.”
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
OHIO STATE AD GENE SMITH RETIRING IN JUNE 2024
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith announced Wednesday that he will retire next summer after two championship-filled decades on the job.
Since Smith took over the athletics department in March 2005, the Buckeyes have won 32 team and 117 individual NCAA championships and 115 team and 369 individual Big Ten titles.
Smith, 67, will finish the third-longest AD tenure in school history when he steps down at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. His last day will be June 30, 2024.
“I have always believed that a leader seeks to be the right person at the right time in the life of the institution,” Smith said at a press conference Wednesday. “I believe that July 2024 is the right time to welcome new leadership to build upon what we have achieved and continue to build upon the great tradition of excellence in athletics and business advancement at Ohio State.
“I am forever grateful.”
In addition to Ohio State’s success, including a football national championship in 2014, Smith has helped the Big Ten secure massive media rights deals and also spearheaded recent expansion efforts. Washington and Oregon announced last week that they will join fellow Pac-12 schools Southern California and UCLA in the Big Ten next fall.
Smith previously served as the athletic director at Arizona State (2000-05), Iowa State (1993-2000) and Eastern Michigan (1985-93).
ACC KEEPS STANFORD, CAL IN LIMBO AS PRESIDENTS CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE ON WESTERN EXPANSION
(AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference presidents chose not to vote Wednesday night on whether to add Stanford and California to the league, keeping the schools in limbo as they look for an escape from the crumbling Pac-12, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the neither the ACC nor the schools were speaking publicly about internal discussions.
Both people stopped short of calling the league’s exploration of westward expansion dead after three days of meetings on the subject, but added that it was clear getting the necessary 12 votes to add the Northern California schools would have been difficult.
The ACC has also been looking at SMU, the Dallas-based school from the American Athletic Conference, as an expansion target.
Cal and Stanford have been searching for a path from the Pac-12 to another Power Five conference for days, also reaching out to officials with the Big Ten, two people with knowledge of that situation said.
The Big Ten has not so far been moved toward adding two more West Coast schools to go along with Southern California, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, which are set to join in 2024.
The two people also spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the schools’ talks with the Big Ten were also not disclosed publicly.
The ACC has 15 schools, with none farther west than Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish are a football independent but compete in the ACC in most other sports. The ACC’s westernmost football school is Louisville.
The ACC is searching for ways to generate more revenue for its schools while being locked into a media rights contract with ESPN that runs though 2036.
The ACC’s most recent average distribution per school was just under $40 million, fourth most among Power Five conferences, and the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten are about to take a leap forward as new television deals kick in next year.
Bringing in Stanford and Cal would bring two more full shares from ESPN, but the two schools would likely receive only partial payouts with the incumbent schools sharing the rest. Oregon and Washington agreed to receive about half of what other Big Ten schools will receive from the conference when they agreed to join last week.
The ACC might also increase see an increase in value of the ACC Network by adding large markets like the California Bay Area and North Texas.
But how the ACC splits the pie has been contentious topic in the conference. Florida State’s president went so far as to say the school would be forced to leave the league without radical change – which is easier said than done.
Breaking the ACC’s grant of rights, which hands each school’s media rights to the conference, could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
As for the Pac-12, it has only four schools committed beyond this season. While Cal and Stanford have drawn some interest from another Power Five conference, the outlook for Oregon State and Washington State has been even less optimistic.
Earlier Wednesday, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun unloaded on the recent leadership of the Pac-12, which has lost six schools over the last two weeks after failing to secure a media rights deal that provided revenue and exposure comparable to the other Power Five conferences.
Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah have all announced they will leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 after this school year.
“I think it’s been well documented that the last couple of weeks was a culmination of years of failed leadership, vision, failed implementation,” Chun said. “It isn’t one singular thing that led to the destruction of the Pac-12 as we know it. It was a bunch of decisions and failed strategies that put us in this place. That’s unfortunate because the ones who lose out on that are the student-athletes that go forward.”
Both the Mountain West and American Athletic Conference are interested in adding Washington State and Oregon State, but neither of those non-Power Five leagues would be able to provide nearly the same level of revenue those schools have been getting in the Pac-12.
Washington State is facing an $11 million deficit in athletics.
“We are Power Five school. Our performance indicates that we are a Power Five school. We’re going to do our best to continue to compete at that level. And that’s really our goal going forward,” Chun said.
Washington State President Kirk Schulz said in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday the school has been in conversations with the Mountain West and that may turn out to be the Cougars’ best option.
“Economics have never impacted our ability to perform at Washington State. I think one of our staff members very acutely pointed out to me that nothing has changed for Washington State,” Chun said. “We continue to battle against schools that have higher resources than us. We continue to battle against what people determine we should be based on the size of our TV market. And that has not changed for Washington State and we’ll continue to battle.”
WASHINGTON STATE AD RIPS PAC-12’S ‘POOR LEADERSHIP’ AMID COLLAPSE
Washington State athletic director Pat Chun criticized the Pac-12’s leadership amid the conference’s exodus.
“It’s been well-documented the last couple weeks was a culmination of years of failed leadership, failed vision, failed implementation,” Chun said Thursday, according to Travis Green of KREM 2. “It isn’t one singular thing that led to the destruction of the Pac-12 as we know it. It was a bunch of decisions and failed strategies that put us in this place.”
He added: “There’s a century of history that has gone by the wayside because this conference has mismanaged itself on a bunch of different levels. And when you have poor leadership, one of the outcomes is failure. That’s what has happened to the Pac-12.”
The Pac-12, which was founded in 1915, is set to lose most of its members in 2024. USC and UCLA agreed last year to join the Big Ten. Colorado recently announced its move to the Big 12, triggering another series of moves. Oregon and Washington also agreed to become Big Ten members, and Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah are following the Buffaloes to the Big 12.
Cal, Stanford, Washington State, and Oregon State remain Pac-12 members for now – but their future is uncertain.
“This thing is far from over,” Chun said. “Realignment is going to continue to happen and we’re going to continue to prove our critics wrong. We’re going to continue to go forward. Washington State will continue to be a national brand because unlike most of the schools in and around the country, we’ve actually earned it through the work of our student-athletes and all of our alums around the world.”
Notre Dame has been “pushing hard” for the ACC to add Stanford and Cal, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network.
The Pac-12 announced George Kliavkoff as its new commissioner in 2021.
The conference has been negotiating a new TV deal this year, as its current media package expires after the 2023-24 season. Prior to losing Oregon and Washington, Kliavkoff presented a new media rights package to his membership that relied heavily on games appearing on Apple’s subscription streaming service. It had annual revenue estimates as low as $20 million per school.
NORTHWESTERN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BLASTS FOOTBALL STAFFERS FOR ‘TONE DEAF’ SHIRTS SUPPORTING FITZGERALD
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg criticized assistant football coaches and staff members for wearing shirts supporting fired coach Pat Fitzgerald at practice Wednesday, calling them “inappropriate, offensive and tone deaf” given the hazing and abuse scandal engulfing the program and other teams.
“Let me be crystal clear,” he said in a statement. “Hazing has no place at Northwestern, and we are committed to do whatever is necessary to address hazing-related issues, including thoroughly investigating any incidents or allegations of hazing or any misconduct.”
Gragg said he and the university were unaware that staffers owned the black shirts with “ Cats Against the World ” and Fitzgerald’s old number “51” in purple type or would wear them at practice. He issued the statement after interim coach David Braun called it a free speech issue and said his focus was on supporting his players and staff rather than whether the shirts were tone deaf.
Three players expressed support for Fitzgerald and defended the culture of the program on Wednesday after the Wildcats’ first practice open to the media. It was the first time since the hazing allegations surfaced that Northwestern players were made available to reporters.
“The shirts were really just a reminder to allow us to stick together,” receiver Bryce Kirtz said.
Linebacker Bryce Gallagher echoed that, saying, “Just a reminder of us sticking together through this difficult time, just leaning on each other. We know the only people we need are the people in this facility.”
Northwestern is facing more than a dozen lawsuits across multiple sports with allegations including sexual abuse of players by teammates as well as racist comments by coaches and race-based assaults. The cases span from 2004 to 2022, and attorneys representing some of the athletes who have already sued say more are coming.
Fitzgerald, who was fired after 17 seasons, has maintained he had no knowledge of hazing within his program. President Michael Schill and Gragg have largely limited their public comments to statements issued in news releases and, other than a handful of interviews, have not answered questions from reporters.
Braun said his focus was on his players and not their opinions about the scandal.
“My purpose and my intentionality is gonna be solely based on supporting these young men, supporting this staff, making sure that my actions align with making sure that this fall is an incredible experience for them,” Braun said. “It certainly isn’t my business to censor anybody’s free speech.”
Kirtz, Gallagher and defensive back Rod Heard II spoke positively about the program and Fitzgerald while declining to address specific allegations.
“We were devastated, obviously,” Gallagher said. “No one ever wants to lose their head coach or have that change. We loved Coach Fitz and devastated that he’s not here, but we have full belief in Coach Braun. He’s been unbelievable and has done a great job leading us and has really just shown us how much he cares about us.”
Braun was elevated to interim head coach about six months after he was hired as defensive coordinator. He has no college head coaching experience. It’s his job to help steady a program that has taken huge hits to its image.
“The reason I do what I do is ensure the young men in our program have an incredible student-athlete experience,” Braun said. “I’m doing everything in my power to make sure that I do just that. Hazing certainly has no (place).”
Braun said he’s been in contact with Fitzgerald, just as he has with other parents of players, since the coaching change. Fitzgerald’s son Jack, a freshman tight end, is still on the team, though he was working as a student coach on Wednesday.
Braun also said he lived in Fitzgerald’s home for two months while house hunting after spending a few nights in a hotel.
“The relationship with Pat is much deeper than someone that I worked for for six months,” he said.
For recruits and parents who might have concerns and pointed questions in light of the allegations, Heard said: “The people in this building are great. We’ve always had people with high character.”
The allegations and lawsuits paint a different picture of the football program and athletic department.
“Like we said, we’re not talking about any allegations that are out there right now,” Gallagher said. “We’re focused on the upcoming season. But this place is great. Obviously, the academics and the football, playing in the Big Ten, is why we chose to come here. And that’s what I’d say to recruits is you get the best of both worlds.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: ACC
Clemson has owned the ACC going back to 2015, winning six conference titles over the last seven years. That run includes five trips to the College Football Playoff and two national championships. But missing the CFP the last two years has people wondering if the Tigers are now just a regional power. The possible rise of Florida State calls into question if Clemson even owns its own backyard.
THE POWERS THAT BE
*Clemson’s “decline” is only because they never got comfortable with a quarterback after Trevor Lawrence headed for the NFL. That should change this year. Cade Klubnik is one of the hottest QB prospects in the country at the age of 19. Head coach Dabo Swinney raided TCU for offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, fresh off winning the Frank Broyles Award as the top assistant in the country. The offensive line is loaded with experience. All of this is in addition to the fact that the defense never really lost a step to begin with and is stacked with the ferocious front four that has become a staple of this program.
*The real question is, where is Florida State at? Mike Norvell is in his fourth year at Tallahassee, and last year was a good one for the Seminoles. They knocked off LSU in a wild opener. The season was a roller-coaster in the middle, but it ended well. Now, FSU has their own top quarterback in Jordan Travis, and a terrific offensive line to pave the way for Trey Benson. The Seminole defensive front could be one of the nation’s best. The only real issue is that Florida State is still unproven as a legit powerhouse. Clemson isn’t.
*That makes September 23 the date to circle. The Seminoles go to Death Valley. Without looking at the rest of the schedule that day, it’s hard to imagine ESPN’s Gameday won’t be there. The winner of this game becomes an overwhelming favorite to bring home the conference and will be in the hunt for the Playoff. Clemson has to be the favorite—they’re a proven commodity and they’ll be playing at home. If you want to look beyond that point, the trouble spots in the schedule for the Tigers will be consecutive road trips in late October to Miami and N.C. State, which will be immediately followed by a home date against Notre Dame. For Florida State, the trouble spots are the SEC bookends—a rematch with LSU to start the year, and the rivalry game with Florida to close it.
THE COASTAL CHALLENGERS
Clemson and Florida State are both in the Atlantic Division, so that means a dark horse will get a shot at one of them on December 2 in Charlotte when the ACC Championship Game is played. The ACC Coastal is usually one of the most wide-open division races in college football and 2023 is no exception…
*Mack Brown’s North Carolina program won the division last year, and they have all the pieces in place for an explosive offense. That’s enough to make them the favorite, but a defense filled with question marks likely means a few rough spots along the way. UNC is beatable.
*Duke had a surprise year in 2022 under first-year coach Mike Elko, going 8-4, and then winning a bowl game. They aren’t being seen as a serious contender to actually win the Coastal this time out—their Over/Under for wins is 6.5, compared to 8.5 for North Carolina. But the Blue Devils look a lot like the Tar Heels. They’re going to score a ton of points and need to prove themselves on defense. It might be too much to say that the biggest North Carolina-Duke game this year will be on the gridiron rather than the hardwood. But it’s not too much to say that we might need to circle November 11 in Chapel Hill as the game to watch in this year’s Coastal race.
*Miami and Pitt are each credible challengers for Coastal supremacy. Betting markets see the Hurricanes, with their 7.5 Over/Under, as the second-best team behind UNC. Miami’s got a good head coach in Mario Cristobal, who won a Rose Bowl at Oregon. Cristobal is in his second year, and the issue will be how quickly he can put together a huge influx of players from the transfer portal. Pitt won the ACC in 2021 and has been a consistent contender under Pat Narduzzi. They’re bringing in transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec from Boston College. Jurkovec was hyped as a Ben Roethlisberger-type QB, which at least makes him a good fit for the city. If the comparison is accurate, and if Narduzzi can rebuild the defense, the Panthers have a shot.
CLOSING NOTES
*Louisville and Syracuse are teams stuck in the wrong division, submerged in the top-heavy Atlantic. The Cardinals are actually seen by betting markets as the third-best team in the league, a 9-1 shot to win the conference (compared to 10-1 for North Carolina, while the heavyweights are each less than 2-1). Louisville brought back Jeff Brohm, fresh off winning the Big Ten West at Purdue. But there’s a lot of personnel turnover in the portal and it’s hard to know what to make of the Cards in Brohm’s first year. As for Syracuse, they were undefeated into October last year. But a close loss at Clemson triggered a complete collapse. Dino Babers is in his eighth season, and I wonder if he can survive the rebuilding year that’s expected in 2023.
*Boston College and Virginia Tech are two teams always on my radar. I live near Boston and a good friend is a big Hokies fan. BC was awful last season, but I think the loss of Jurkovec might be good for them. Nothing against the quarterback, but Boston College is best when they’re pounding the football. They’ve got all five offensive line starters back and Pat Garwo is a tough running back. As for Virginia Tech, when was the last time you could talk about the Coastal and not see the Hokies as a credible threat to win it? This is a program that gave up its identity when Frank Beamer retired and they declined to either promote long-time assistant Bud Foster or hire Frank’s son Shane, who is winning at South Carolina. I don’t see a lot of hope for VT and the markets don’t either.
BIG TEN FOOTBALL PREVIEW
THE BIG THREE
The powers of the Eastern Division define this league right now, with Michigan and Ohio State fresh off appearances in the College Football Playoff (CFP) and Penn State having won the Rose Bowl. Based on current betting odds, the Wolverines, Buckeyes, and Nittany Lions are among the seven most likely teams to be in the CFP, with the former two both favored to return. Initial thoughts on these teams are…
*In the pre-transfer portal era, Michigan and Ohio State would both be dealing with young offensive lines. In the new era, both added “veteran free agent help” to shore up the trenches. It’s still going to be interesting to see how quickly the new lines come together. Cohesion matters up front and I could see both teams taking some time to really get their running games going. And while I wouldn’t anticipate Jim Harbaugh’s potential four-game suspension for recruiting violations mattering all that much on the field, it will be interesting to see if there is impact on offensive line development. Ultimately, Michigan’s schedule is pretty easy until mid-October and any transitional pains can be covered up. Ohio State will need to be able to run the ball when they go to Notre Dame in September.
*The Wolverines and Buckeyes seem almost dead even, but I think you have to make Michigan a narrow favorite. They bring back J.J. McCarthy at quarterback and Blake Corum is one of the nation’s top running backs. Furthermore, this rivalry has tended to run in streaks, at least since around the late 1980s. Ohio State had been on a long winning streak. But Michigan has not only won the last two, but they’ve done so decisively, taking apart the Buckeye defensive front in the second half each of the last two years. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself and start analyzing a game that won’t be played until Thanksgiving weekend. But that game will be in Ann Arbor and the recent history now favors the Wolverines. That’s reason enough to make them the early conference favorite, however narrowly.
*In the pre-portal era, I’d have been all over Penn State as the team to beat in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have a veteran offensive line, and tackle Olu Fashanu is one of the best in the country, a likely high draft pick next spring. The running back tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen should put up some big numbers. But there is a transition going on at quarterback. A road trip to Illinois on September 16 will provide an early clue on how good Penn State is, and they will otherwise be untested before going to Columbus on October 21.
THE BEST OF THE WEST
The Big Ten’s 2024 expansion will include getting rid of the divisional splits. That means this is the last chance for the teams of the West to get the artificial juice that comes from winning one of the weaker divisions in all of college football. From this vantage point, Wisconsin and Iowa continue to be the favorites, with Illinois and Minnesota having viable chances to get to Indianapolis in December. This quartet will be the focus of our next four talking points…
*Wisconsin is who betting markets are lining up on, coming off a tumultuous year where they fired the winningest coach in program history (Paul Chryst) and then declined to permanently hire one of the most well-regarded young coordinators in the country (Jim Leonhard). There’s no question that the ultimate hire, Luke Fickell, is a top coach, but if you’re going to create that kind of mess to get him, he better win big. The Badgers have the pieces in place for a vintage Wisconsin running game. But this will be a different offensive system. Will they get of “best of both worlds” situation, building off their traditional physicality with a little more spread to juice it up? Or will there be an identity crisis? Will the defense continue to thrive without Leonhard, now on the staff at Illinois? Put me down as a pessimist, at least for a year or two.
*I am buying in on Iowa. Yes, the Hawkeye losses are significant, from All-American tight end Sam LaPorta to Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell to a first-round pick at defensive end in Lukas Van Ness. But Kirk Ferentz has shown a capacity to put together a defense and he’s got seven starters back. Iowa has also been producing good tight ends of late. I think those personnel losses can be managed. What the Hawkeyes have not done is score any points. The arrival of quarterback Cade McNamara, who took Michigan to the CFP in 2021 is a big addition. I think they score enough to at least win the West. And if they don’t, it’s time for Ferentz to tell his son Brian, who runs the offense, that it’s time to consider a career change.
*Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck first made his name at Western Michigan, when he took the Broncos to the Cotton Bowl back in 2016. Fleck went back to Kalamazoo for some transfer portal help at the skill positions, bringing over running back Sean Tyler and wide receiver Corey Crooms. But there are a lot of holes on the offensive line. And it seems like this program has plateaued over the last couple years. Still successful, to be sure—with eight-win regular seasons plus bowl victories each of the last two years. But after the 10-2 breakout year of 2019, capped off by beating Auburn in a bowl game, it seemed like Minnesota was ready to take over the West. They still feel like one of the crowd—like a comfortable second or third-place team.
*Illinois fans got a taste for their immediate future last year. Bret Bielama is a good coach who knows how to produce a running game, and he returned the Illini to relevance. Bret Bielama is also someone who knows how to mess up close games. In short, he’s good enough to break your heart. Illinois had the West in firm command last year, until three straight tough losses—including a heartbreaker in Ann Arbor, ended the bid. Illinois again has some great talent in the trenches, from the left side of the offensive line to defensive end Jer’Zahn Newton. They’ll win games and have to be taken seriously. Until Bielama mismanages the clock and blows the one or two games that would have put them in Indy.
CLOSING NOTES
The teams that make it to Indianapolis on December 2 will come from those discussed above—I’m guessing Michigan and Iowa. Here are our two closing points to wrap it up…
*Purdue won the West last year, but head coach Jeff Brohm left for Louisville, and there’s a lot of rebuilding to do. New head coach Ryan Walters is a defensive guy and there is experience on that side of the ball. But in this era—as much as it pains me more traditionalist heart to say it—you need to be able to score to win consistently. Just making a bowl would be a win for the Boilermakers this year. As would winning the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry with Indiana. The promise the Hoosiers had coming off success in 2020 has faded into a 6-18 record the last two years. One thing to watch though—IU hired former Wisconsin offensive line coach Bob Bostad for the staff, and Bostad will oversee an experienced front. We’ll see if he can transport the traditional Badger power south to Bloomington.
*Michigan State and Maryland have to be thrilled with the ending of the divisional splits and the tougher schedules that came with it. The Spartans, after a down year in 2022, look stable in both trenches and ready to return to a bowl game. How good of a bowl will depend on how much quarterback play they get. The Terps will have no problem at quarterback—Taulia Tagovailoa would be my pick as the top QB in this league. But Maryland has no substance anywhere else. Both Sparty and Maryland are above-average teams with completely opposite profiles. If you could combine them, you’d have a superpower.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: MICHAEL LORENZEN TOSSES NO-HITTER IN HOME DEBUT FOR PHILLIES
Michael Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history in their 7-0 victory over the visiting Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
Lorenzen, acquired from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline, struck out five and walked four while throwing a career-high 124 pitches. Lorenzen is 7-7 overall and 2-0 with the Phillies.
Dominic Smith flied out to Johan Rojas in center field for the final out. The Phillies then celebrated with Lorenzen on the field. The last Phillies’ no-hitter occurred on July 25, 2015, when Cole Hamels accomplished the feat on the road against the Chicago Cubs.
“I worked insanely hard to make this dream come true,” Lorenzen said on a postgame interview on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 0
David Peralta laced a two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning to lead Los Angeles past host Arizona in Phoenix, the Dodgers’ fourth straight win and eighth in their last nine games.
Freddie Freeman had two hits and has recorded multiple hits in nine of the past 12 games. Jason Heyward also had two hits. Dodgers rookie starter Bobby Miller went six-plus innings and gave up four hits and four walks and struck out four.
Arizona had just four hits as its season-worst losing streak stretched to eight games. The Diamondbacks have dropped 24 of their past 31 contests to fall one game under .500. After the Dodgers loaded the bases with two out in the eighth against left-handed reliever Kyle Nelson (5-3), Peralta drilled a 2-1 fastball into right field to score Freeman and Will Smith.
Braves 6, Pirates 5
Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning gave visiting Atlanta its second straight win over Pittsburgh.
Tied at 5 after the Braves blew an early four-run lead, Michael Harris II singled off Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3), went to second on Ronald Acuna Jr.’s single, advanced to third on Ozzie Albies’ forceout and scored on Riley’s fly to deep second.
Atlanta starter Max Fried gave up four runs and six hits in four innings in his second outing since returning from a three-month absence due to a forearm strain. Pierce Johnson (2-6) pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to get the win. Raisel Iglesias gave up two hits in the ninth but notched his 22nd save.
Marlins 5, Reds 4
Bryan De La Cruz’s go-ahead home run in the ninth and Josh Bell’s two homers helped Miami claw back for a win over host Cincinnati, clinching the three-game series.
With Jon Berti and Luis Arraez on base, Bell pulled the game back for the Marlins in the top of the eighth. He launched his 14th homer — second of the game — off Sam Moll to knot the game at 4-4. De La Cruz then got his second hit all series, hitting the ball just 352 feet to right field off Alexis Diaz (3-4) to give the Marlins the decisive one-run lead.
Tanner Scott (6-4) earned the win for the Marlins after he, A.J Puk and David Robertson closed out the final three innings, giving up a combined two hits. Christian Encarnacion-Strand led the way for the Reds, accounting for three of their four runs, including a two-run homer to give them a lead in the fourth.
Athletics 2, Rangers 0
Freddy Tarnok earned his first major league win, Zack Gelof belted a solo home run and Oakland avoided a three-game home sweep at the hands of Texas with a shutout victory.
Tarnok (1-1) combined with an opener and three finishers on the four-hit shutout. Oakland’s runs came in the third and sixth innings, beginning with a Jonah Bride sacrifice fly in the third against Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery (7-10). Esteury Ruiz scored the run after a one-out single and a pair of stolen bases, his 45th and 46th of the season.
The shutout was just Oakland’s third of the season. Jordan Diaz had a single and a double for Oakland, which outhit the visitors 7-4.
Brewers 7, Rockies 6 (10 innings)
Mark Canha rebounded from a costly 10th-inning error to drive in the tying run and score the winner on a walk-off error as Milwaukee outlasted visiting Colorado.
Canha, after taking the first strike on a pitch-clock violation, crushed the first pitch from Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence (3-5) for a ground-rule double that scored automatic runner William Contreras from second base. Canha advanced to third on a Sal Frelick groundout, then came home for the winning run with two outs when shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s throw to first on Andruw Monasterio’s grounder sailed past for an error.
After the Brewers threw out automatic runner Cole Tucker at home plate on a Jurickson Profar fielder’s choice to begin the top of the 10th, Tovar hit a double that the left fielder Canha bobbled. Profar scored on the error and Tovar advanced to third. The Brewers avoided further damage when Bryse Wilson (4-0) forced Ryan McMahon into a groundout to end the inning.
Astros 8, Orioles 2
Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer and Jose Altuve drove in three runs as visiting Houston beat Baltimore.
Altuve finished 3-for-5 with three singles and two runs for the Astros, who have taken the first two games of the three-game series. Alex Bregman also recorded three hits, including a double, and had two RBIs. Houston starter Cristian Javier (8-2) allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts for his first win since June 3.
Austin Hays hit a two-run blast for Baltimore, which has dropped back-to-back games following a four-game winning streak. The Orioles went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Mets 4, Cubs 3
Jeff McNeil hit the tiebreaking homer leading off the sixth inning for host New York, which held off a ninth-inning rally by Chicago to earn a win in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Pete Alonso remained hot with a two-run homer for the Mets, who earned their first series win since taking three of four from the visiting Washington Nationals July 27-30. New York then lost six straight following a trade deadline selloff that included Justin Verlander being dealt to the Houston Astros. Alonso has nine homers in his last 15 games.
Seiya Suzuki finished a double shy of the cycle and homered leading off the ninth for the Cubs, who lost a series for just the second time since the All-Star break. Christopher Morel hit a leadoff homer in the first while Suzuki scored on a passed ball after tripling in the second.
Cardinals 6, Rays 4
Paul Goldsmith had a two-run single, Lars Nootbaar belted a home run and St. Louis held off Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla., evening the three-game interleague series at 1-1.
St. Louis received contributions throughout its lineup, with Nootbaar collecting two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Jordan Walker added two hits and drove in a run. Cards starter Dakota Hudson (3-0) worked five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Giovanny Gallegos closed out the ninth inning for his ninth save.
Jose Siri had two home runs for Tampa Bay, who went with Jalen Beeks as the opener. The left-hander was charged with two runs in two-plus innings. Kevin Kelly (4-2) entered in the third inning after Nootbaar singled and went on to yield three runs on five hits in two innings of work.
Blue Jays 1, Guardians 0
Kevin Gausman tossed seven strong innings and George Springer capped a 13-pitch at-bat with a solo homer, lifting visiting Toronto to a victory over Cleveland.
Gausman (9-6) scattered four hits and struck out six without walking a batter. He exited after tossing 90 pitches, 61 for strikes. Springer finished with three hits and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added two for the Blue Jays, who rebounded from a 1-0 setback against Cleveland on Tuesday to record their fifth win in their last six games.
Kole Calhoun had two of the six hits for the Guardians, who have lost seven of their last nine contests. Cleveland has mustered just two runs en route to losing two of the three contests of this four-game series.
Red Sox 4, Royals 3
Triston Casas hit a solo home run and Alex Verdugo had a two-run double to help Boston defeat visiting Kansas City.
Boston’s Nick Pivetta (8-6) pitched the first five innings and held the Royals to two runs on four hits. He recorded eight strikeouts and walked two.
MJ Melendez hit two solo home runs for Kansas City. He has four home runs in his last four games.
Mariners 6, Padres 1
Cal Raleigh hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as Seattle defeated visiting San Diego.
Seattle’s top pitching prospect, Emerson Hancock, pitched five solid innings in his major league debut as the Mariners won their seventh in a row and for the 12th time in their past 14 games to remain two back of Toronto in the race for the American League’s third and final wild-card playoff berth.
The Padres suffered their fourth consecutive defeat. Padres starter Yu Darvish went six-plus innings and gave up one unearned run on six hits.
White Sox 9, Yankees 2
Oscar Colas homered, Elvis Andrus drove in three runs and Mike Clevinger pitched six strong innings to lead Chicago past visiting New York.
Chicago, which claimed the season series from New York 4-2, has won two straight series. Clevinger (5-5) limited the Yankees to one run and three hits in six innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
The Yankees lost for the third time in four games. Luis Severino (2-7) allowed four runs and five hits in two-plus innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Gleyber Torres extended his hitting streak to nine games. DJ LeMahieu was scratched with right calf tightness.
Tigers 9, Twins 5
Spencer Torkelson hit a pair of homers and scored three runs as host Detroit defeated Minnesota to take two of the first three games of the four-game series.
Matt Vierling had three hits, scored two runs and drove in another. Miguel Cabrera, Zach McKinstry and Eric Haase also supplied three hits apiece for the Tigers. Detroit starter Alex Faedo gave up three runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Tyler Holton (1-2) tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and was credited with his first major league win.
Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer and Correa added a solo shot for Minnesota, which will try to salvage the split on Thursday. Twins starter Bailey Ober (6-6) allowed five runs (four earned) and 11 hits while striking out nine in five innings.
Angels 4, Giants 1
Shohei Ohtani gave up one unearned run in six innings and Mike Moustakas hit a tiebreaking three-run homer to lift Los Angeles to a victory over San Francisco in Anaheim, Calif.
Ohtani (10-5) gave up three hits, walked three and struck out five in his first start since cutting his last start short with a cramp in his right hand last Thursday. At the plate, Ohtani went 0-for-2 with two walks (one intentional) and a run scored.
The only run the Giants scored against Ohtani came in the second inning, when Michael Conforto doubled and later scored on Brandon Crawford’s sacrifice fly to center.
NHL NEWS
COYOTES SAY THEY’VE EXECUTED A LETTER OF INTENT TO BUY LAND FOR A POTENTIAL ARENA IN MESA, ARIZONA
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Coyotes said Wednesday that owner Alex Meruelo has executed a letter of intent to buy a piece of land for a potential arena in Mesa, Arizona, a positive development for the NHL team in its lengthy search to find a permanent home in the desert.
The move comes months after voters in Tempe rejected a referendum to construct an arena there. The Coyotes say they remain committed to building a privately funded rink and entertainment district and continue to explore other potential sites in the Phoenix area.
“We appreciate the tremendous support that we have received from many communities, elected officials and community leaders who have expressed their desire to see the Coyotes remain in the Valley permanently,” the team said in a statement. “We would also like to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for their steadfast support of the club’s efforts to find a permanent arena solution and for their recognition that Arizona is a tremendous hockey market.”
The Coyotes are going into their second season at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. New NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh has raised concerns about the situation there and said the union would like the team to figure out a sustainable long-term solution.
At the draft in Nashville in late June, team president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said the Coyotes had identified six possible sites for a new building in the east valley in the 101 Highway corridor that covers the cities of Scottsdale, Phoenix and Mesa — none of which would require a public vote.
“We still want to put our money where our mouth is and build something that’ll be best in class,” Gutierrez said at the time. “We were disappointed with the vote in Tempe, but we turned the page very quickly.”
Weeks earlier at the start of the Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas, Bettman reaffirmed the league’s commitment to Arizona, where the team moved to in 1996 from Winnipeg. The team has since played in three different arenas, initially in downtown Phoenix, then Glendale and Tempe.
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
2023 FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP: PREVIEW, PROP PICKS, BEST BETS
Jon Rahm grabbed the No. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup points standings in January and never let go.
But the two-time major winner from Spain has a lot of work to do in order to lift his first FedEx Cup, starting this week with the first leg of the playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn.
“Obviously you want to win every time we tee it up, but yeah, the goal is to try to get to East Lake as No. 1 and enjoy that two-shot lead,” Rahm said of the playoff format. “It’s always made a difference. It made a difference when I finished second place.”
Rahm was the FedEx Cup runner-up to Patrick Cantlay in 2021. In 2022, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland bested world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler down the stretch in Atlanta.
But before we get that far, the top 70 players in points standings tee it up at the St. Jude starting Thursday. Those on the outside of the top 50 will try to fight their way in, not only to make next week’s BMW Championship, but also to earn exemptions into the PGA Tour’s new signature events in 2024.
Our golf experts break down the FedEx St. Jude Championship, which begins Thursday at TPC Southwind, and provide their favorite prop picks along with best bets to win this week.
FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Course: TPC Southwind (Par 70, 7,243 yards)
Purse: $20M (Winner: $3.6M)
Defending Champion: Will Zalatoris
FedEx Cup leader: Jon Rahm
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 12-2 p.m. (GC), 2-6 p.m. (CBS)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
PROP PICKS
–Scheffler, Rahm or McIlroy to win vs. The Field (+200 at DraftKings): DraftKings Sportsbook is pitching this tournament special as “Big Guns v The Field,” and rightfully so. Scheffler, Rahm and McIlroy have played at another level this year, creating a gulf between the PGA Tour’s big three and the next echelon. Believe it or not, none of these three have won at TPC Southwind in their careers, but to get a trio with a combined eight victories this season at +200 is too good to pass up.
–Byeong Hun An to finish Top Asian Player (+400 at BetMGM): This time last year, An didn’t even have his PGA Tour card, having to re-earn it via the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. Now he’s entering the FedEx Cup playoffs in terrific form. For this prop to hit, An just needs to beat four other Asian players. Tom Kim (+250) is the favorite, but we haven’t seen him since he fought through an ankle sprain to tie for second at The Open. Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im (both +333) are in shaky form, while An’s last three starts resulted in T3, T23 and T2 finishes.
–Jason Day to finish Top 10 (+260 at DraftKings): Only five players have earned more top-10 finishes this season than Day’s eight. The former World No. 1 had a rough stretch in June but is back in top form with a T2 at The Open in his last start. And as a veteran player, he’s far more familiar by now with TPC Southwind than many of the first-time playoff qualifiers in the field; Day finished T6 at this course as recently as 2020.
2023 Prop Picks Record: 37-46-2
BEST BETS
–Scheffler (+650 at BetMGM) is the favorite despite a speed bump in his dominant season. His T23 finish at The Open Championship in his last start was his first time finishing outside the top five of an event since April. Scheffler hasn’t won since The Players Championship in March.
–Rahm (+900) tied for fifth here last year and came in seventh at the 2019 WGC event at this venue. He’s cooled off since his Masters victory but a third-round 63 his last time out helped him tie for second at The Open.
–McIlroy (+900) has been just as spectacular since his surprising missed cut at the Masters. He has finished in the top 10 of seven straight events, including a win in Scotland last month.
–Cantlay (+1600), the 2021 FedEx Cup champion, has yet to win in Memphis, but three of his past four wins on tour have come at playoff events, including back-to-back BMW Championships.
–Brian Harman (+4500) will make his first start since his runaway win at The Open. He has finished in the top 12 of four straight starts, and at TPC Southwind last year he finished T3.
–Sepp Straka (+5000) lost a heartbreaking playoff to Zalatoris at the St. Jude last year, involving a water ball on the third playoff hole. The Austrian has shown some terrific form this summer, winning the John Deere Classic and tying for second at The Open.
NOTES
–The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualified for the St. Jude, the first leg of the playoffs, down from a field of 125 last year. The top 50 players in points after Sunday will make it to next week’s BMW Championship, along with qualifying for all signature events in 2024.
–Rahm enters the playoffs with a 174-point lead over Scheffler. Each player is looking to win his first FedEx Cup, which comes with an $18 million bonus.
–In third place entering the week is McIlroy, who beat out Scheffler to win the 2022 FedEx Cup, the third of his career. Max Homa and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark are fourth and fifth in points.
–The only player to move from outside the top 70 into the playoff field last week was Glover, who earned his fifth career PGA Tour title by beating Russell Henley and others down the stretch. Glover leapt from No. 112 to No. 49 in the standings.
–For the second straight week on tour, a tournament’s 2022 champion will not be on hand to defend. Zalatoris underwent back surgery earlier this season and will not return to competition before October.
JAY MONAHAN SAYS PGA TOUR, SAUDI DEAL IS ON THE RIGHT PATH IN 1ST REMARKS SINCE TAKING MEDICAL LEAVE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Back to full health, Commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday the PGA Tour is on the right path to finalize a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf and that whether he’s the best person to lead the tour will depend on the results.
Monahan spoke publicly for the first time since he returned to work July 17, having stepped away for five weeks with what he described as anxiety that had been building up over time.
He said his only regret in a proposed business partnership with Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund and the European tour was keeping players in the dark.
“I put players on their back foot,” he said. “That’s something I regret and will not do again.”
Monahan was short on details of the proposed agreement with the media – and with players in his first formal meeting with them on Tuesday afternoon – mainly because negotiations are ongoing. Tour officials met with the Public Investment Fund last weekend.
He was bullish that a deal would get done by the end of the year, and that the PGA Tour is not considering any outside investors at the moment.
“Our focus is on conversations with PIF,” he said, adding later that he was “determined to get this right.” He said a definitive agreement by the end of the year “is the target and that is realistic.”
“There is the short term and there is the long term. Looking out over the horizon, we feel like this is the right move for the PGA Tour to create a new commercial model that allows PIF to invest … and to be able to grow the PGA Tour that will reward players and fans.
“That’s what we think is the right path forward.”
As for his health, Monahan said there were no guarantees he would return when he stepped away on June 13. The timing was difficult. Monahan had announced the Saudi agreement on June 6 and met with players in Canada that evening. He described that meeting as “intense” among reports some players wanted him to resign.
Monahan said his personality is “run into conflict, not away from it.” But his health left him no choice but to step away.
“The reality for me was that I was dealing with anxiety, which created physical and mental health issues and challenges for me,” Monahan said. “I needed to step away and deal with that.”
He said he was determined to regain the players’ trust and “I see a clear path doing it, as difficult as that may seem right now for some.”
PLAYERS SKIP PGA TOUR MEETING; FRACTURES IN FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT?
A vast majority of the 70 players who qualified for the playoffs ditched an informational meeting with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Tuesday.
Tour player directors Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy were among the absentees and only 25 players were counted in roll call at a meeting scheduled to share “information and new details” around the pending framework agreement to merge with LIV Golf.
“There’s still a whole lot that no one really knows,” Rickie Fowler said. “It’s just continuing to trust that leadership, everyone is doing what’s best for all of us and the tour moving forward. Some of that was talked about — in calls before this. There really wasn’t that many guys in the meeting, or less than I thought there would have been.”
Tom Hoge told the Associated Press following the meeting there’s a “good chance” a deal between the two circuits won’t get done. He didn’t elaborate or provide context around the statement. The 34-year-old is ranked 46th in FedEx Cup points and in the field at Memphis this week.
The pre-tournament gathering was Monahan’s first meeting with players since he returned from medical leave in July. He told reporters that anxiety around the agreement with LIV Golf caused his leave of absence.
McIlroy recently doubled down on his long-held anti-LIV Golf position, saying last month that he’ll retire before playing on the circuit. The comments came after McIlroy said Monahan’s announcement made him out to be a “sacrificial lamb” as the media-facing voice of the Tour standing up to defend himself and others who stayed, resisting the tug of massive LIV paydays funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Scottie Scheffler said Wednesday that players aren’t anticipating rapid progress or immediate changes.
“The position where I’m sitting now, it just seems like they’ve got a long way to go in that sense to where there’s still not really much to say. We still don’t really have a great idea as to what is going on right now,” Scheffler said.
Along with newly appointed player director Tiger Woods, players seized more control over the agreement with LIV in a measured mixture of refusal rights and grants of approval on developments involving the PGA-LIV deal and other plans that might come to light.
Part of the agreement assures player directors are kept up to date on the latest developments in LIV talks, which might stand to make in-person meetings with Monahan superfluous in the minds of some players. McIlroy, according to reports in Memphis, was not in the meeting but at a weightlifting workout.
Sergio Garcia said Thursday that it’s not just the PGA Tour players who are digging in their heels.
He said he doubts he would rejoin the PGA Tour based on what he labeled a family-friendly LIV schedule.
“I mean, I can’t speak for everyone else,” Garcia said. “… I think that everyone around here is very happy and very comfortable where they are. Speaking for myself. Like I said, I wanted to come here to LIV, not only because I love the product but because I wanted to play less. (If) the possibility of playing PGA Tour comes, I doubt that I would play because I don’t want to play more.”
SERGIO GARCIA NOT EXPECTING RYDER CUP CALL
Even a rekindled friendship with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy might not be enough for Spaniard Sergio Garcia to return to Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in September.
Garcia and countryman Jon Rahm teamed to win all three matches they played at Whistling Straits in 2021 and are close friends. McIlroy has been a part of Team Europe for most of Garcia’s two decades as a Ryder Cup mainstay.
Rahm said last week Garcia’s status on the DP World Tour should be viewed separate of his Ryder Cup eligibility. When Garcia joined LIV Golf, he was unable to retain his DP World Tour membership.
“With all the respect for European players, the only one from LIV Golf that I would choose for the Ryder Cup team would be Sergio Garcia, even if he was missing a leg,” Rahm said in a podcast interview with Golf Sin Etiquetas.
Garcia said Wednesday that he knows Rahm will be successful in the Ryder Cup but might need a new partner given the current climate between tours.
“It is disappointing to see that I’m not going to be able to be part of the Ryder Cup this year and the DP World Tour for the same matter,” Garcia said.
“We’ve talked a lot about it, him and I,” Garcia said of Rahm. “Obviously, yeah, everyone knows how much I love the Ryder Cup and the bonds that we’ve been able to build and are created in those Ryder Cups. Obviously Jon is no different. We had a great time. We obviously are good friends, and our friendship kind of got even stronger after the last Ryder Cup. Yeah, it is going to be a shame. I will miss him, too. But hopefully he’ll find another partner that suits him, and they can do well together.”
NBA NEWS
KNICKS G JOSH HART AGREES TO 4-YEAR, $81M EXTENSION
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension, his agents confirmed Wednesday.
Hart’s deal delivers a total of $94 million through the 2027-28 season, Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn of CAA Sports told ESPN.
Hart, who became eligible to sign the contract extension Wednesday, picked up his $12.9 million player option for the 2023-24 season in June.
Hart, 28, joined the Knicks in a February 2023 trade deadline deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 25 games (one start) with New York in the regular season, and posted 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in 11 playoff games (five starts).
He has career averages of 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 372 games (170 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Blazers and Knicks.
Hart is currently playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.
WOLVES’ ANTHONY EDWARDS FINED $50K FOR CHAIR INCIDENT
The NBA fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $50,000 on Wednesday for “recklessly swinging a chair in frustration that struck two bystanders.”
The incident occurred at the conclusion of an April 25 playoff game against the Nuggets in Denver, but the league’s review of the matter was deferred until after a criminal investigation was concluded.
The Denver Police Department filed third-degree assault charges against Edwards after the chair struck two female employees at Ball Arena. Those misdemeanor charges were dismissed last month.
The incident occurred as Edwards was exiting the court following a season-ending 112-109 loss, with the Nuggets winning the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series in five games.
In 79 regular-season starts in 2022-23, Edwards averaged 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He started all five games of the Denver series, finishing with averages of 31.6 points, 5.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds.
Edwards, 22, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 223 games (206 starts) for the Timberwolves. He made his first All-Star team last season.
Edwards signed a five-year designated rookie maximum deal worth up to $260 million early last month.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
COLTS NEWS
COLTS SIGN RB JASON HUNTLEY, TE RICKY SEALS-JONES; WAIVE-INJURED TE LA’MICHAEL PETTWAY, S MICHAEL TUTSIE
Westfield, Ind. –The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agents running back Jason Huntley and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. The team also waived-injured tight end La’Michael Pettway and safety Michael Tutsie. If Pettway and Tutsie clear waivers, they will revert to the Colts Injured Reserve list.
Huntley, 5-9, 195 pounds, has played in six career games in his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2020-22) and Detroit Lions (2020). He has totaled 18 carries for 70 yards (3.9 avg.), one reception and five kickoff returns for 120 yards (24.0 avg.). Huntley was originally selected by the Lions in the fifth round (172nd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of New Mexico State. In 2022, he spent time on the Steelers practice squad after participating in training camp with the Eagles.
Seals-Jones, 6-5, 243 pounds, has played in 54 career games (15 starts) in his time with the New York Giants (2022), Washington Commanders (2021), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Cleveland Browns (2019) and Arizona Cardinals (2017-19). He has compiled 90 receptions for 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns. Seals-Jones has tallied three special teams tackles. He has also appeared in two postseason contests. Seals-Jones was originally signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2017, out of Texas A&M. In 2022, he participated in the Giants’ offseason program and training camp.
Pettway, 6-2, 223 pounds, was signed by Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent on August 1, 2023. He most recently played for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL and helped the team win the 2023 USFL Championship. Pettway saw action in seven games (three starts) in 2023 and compiled eight receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He also started two postseason contests and caught one pass for 13 yards. Pettway previously spent time with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL (2022) and the Aviators of The Spring League (2021).
Tutsie, 5-10, 189 pounds, was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent on June 15, 2023. He participated in Indianapolis’ 2023 rookie mini-camp and veteran mini-camp on a tryout basis. Collegiately, Tutsie played in 68 games (56 starts) at North Dakota State (2018-22) and compiled 338 tackles (184 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, 22 passes defensed, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick.
INDIANS BASEBALL
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONTEST BETWEEN INDIANS AND SOUNDS POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians have announced that Wednesday evening’s contest vs. the Nashville Sounds at Victory Field has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, August 10, with gates opening at 5:45 PM ET and Game 1 scheduled for 6:05 PM ET. Game 2 will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the opener, with both games set as seven-inning affairs.
After losing last night’s series opener in a high-scoring affair, 9-8, the Indians continue their six-game homestand tomorrow with Circle City Night featuring a ceremonial first pitch by fan favorite and one of the club’s all-time greats, Razor Shines, and Bark in the Park presented by Noah’s Animal Hospital and PetSuites. All pregame ceremonies, including Shines’ first pitch, will take place between the end of Game 1 and start of Game 2.
The weekend’s festivities include Native American Heritage Night, Friday Fireworks presented by FOX59, Marvel Super Hero™ Night presented by Damar and Sunday Characters with Peppa Pig presented by MHS.
**Rain Check Policy
Fans with tickets for Wednesday’s game can exchange them for any future 2023 regular season game by contacting the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or [Tickets@IndyIndians.com**](mailto:Tickets@IndyIndians.com), or contacting their ticket representative. A breakdown of each ticket type exchange is listed below:
Club Tickets – Good for new Club Tickets
Loge Tickets – Good for new Club Tickets
Landing Tickets – Good for new Landing Tickets
Season Suites – Good for Box Seat Tickets
Daily Suites – Suite needs to be rescheduled with Sales Rep
Box Tickets – Good for new Box, Reserved or Lawn Tickets
Reserved Tickets – Good for Reserved or Lawn Tickets
Lawn Tickets – Good for Lawn Tickets
INDIANA FEVER
GAME PREVIEW: FEVER CONTINUE HOMESTAND WITH THURSDAY NIGHT MATCHUP AGAINST MINNESOTA
Indiana Fever vs Minnesota Lynx
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7 p.m. ET
Find Tickets »
Broadcast Information
Bally Sports Indiana
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst)
The Indiana Fever (7-22) return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night against the 14-15 Minnesota Lynx for the third of four matchups during the regular season. The series between the Lynx and the Fever this season is tied, 1-1, after two matchups in Minneapolis. The result of the first game came down to the final two minutes as Indiana defeated Minnesota in their first pairing, 71-69, on June 9. Minnesota came out on top in a 90-83 win to beat Indiana nearly a month later.
Indiana lost the last time out on Tuesday night to the Los Angeles Sparks, 87-80, in Indianapolis after a fourth quarter rally allowed the Sparks to defeat the Fever in the first game of the current four-game homestand. Indiana’s All-Stars, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, led the way with 21 and 18 points respectively on the night. Rookie guard Grace Berger contributed 14 points in the matchup and ended the night with career-highs in field goals made (6) and 3-point field goals made (2).
Mitchell has continued to climb the franchise and WNBA ranks this season, most recently moving into 25th place for most 3-point field goals made in WNBA history on Tuesday with 412 makes for her career. Mitchell currently ranks second in franchise history in points (2,913), made field goals (1,018) and 3-point field goals made. The sixth-year guard is shooting 36.9 percent (65-of-176) from beyond the arc this season, while scoring a team-leading 16.7 points per contest.
Boston broke yet another record in Tuesday’s matchup as she earned her 13th career game with at least 10 points on 60 percent shooting, which surpassed Brittney Griner’s 12 games in 2013 and set a new WNBA record for most such games by a rookie. Boston enters Thursday night’s matchup against Minnesota averaging 14.8 points per contest to go along with 8.0 rebounds.
Forward NaLyssa Smith will take to the floor again on Thursday night after returning from a nine-game absence last time out due to injury. After recording eight points and six rebounds on Tuesday, Smith is averaging 15.2 points and a team-leading 9.5 rebounds through her 20 games played this season. Veteran forward Emma Cannon, who has averaged 9.0 ppg through Indiana’s most recent four games, will also compete in her 100th game of her career the next time she takes the floor.
Indiana enters the matchup ranked second in the WNBA in offensive rebounds averaging 9.0 per game. Minnesota, however, only ranks eighth with 7.7 offensive rebounds per contest while also allowing the sixth-most offensive rebounds in the league per game. The Fever and Lynx hold similar field goal percentages as both teams shoot 43.9 percent and 43.5 percent from the floor on average.
The Lynx are led by WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier, who is contributing 21.9 points per contest, good for a third-place ranking in the WNBA. Collier is supported by Kayla McBride’s 13.0 points per game and the 2023 No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller’s 12.5 points per contest.
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (7-22)
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (16.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Guard – Lexie Hull (5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (15.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Minnesota Lynx (14-15)
Guard – Lindsay Allen (6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.5 apg)
Guard – Kayla McBride (13.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 spg)
Forward – Napheesa Collier (21.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.6 spg)
Forward – Diamond Miller (12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Forward – Dorka Juhász (6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Game Status Report
Indiana: No injuries
Minnesota: TBA
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE RUNS PAST KICKZ IBAM IN SECOND HALF FOR 88-71 VICTORY
MUNICH, Germany – Braden Smith had 22 points and 12 assists and Purdue used a 21-3 run to start the fourth quarter to overcome a sluggish start and defeat Kickz IBAM 88-71 in the opening game of the Boilermakers’ European summer trip.
Purdue led 49-42 at halftime after trailing 19-16 after one quarter. The Boilermakers led 62-60 after three quarters and after Kickz IBAM tied the game early in the final frame, Purdue used a 21-3 run over five minutes to break the game open for its first victory of the tour.
Purdue started the run with back-to-back 3-pointers by Smith and freshman Myles Colvin, and held Kickz IBAM to just one field goal over that five-minute span.
Smith was sensational for the Boilermakers, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 22 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, while going 8-of-14 from the field, 2-of-3 from deep and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Sophomores Trey Kaufman-Renn had 16 points and eight rebounds while Brian Waddell had 15 points, four rebounds and a steal, while going 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from long distance.
As a team, Purdue shot 34-of-71 (.479) from the field, 10-of-22 (.455) from long range and 10-of-10 (1.000) from the free throw line.
Purdue will face BG Hessing Kangaroos on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. local time / 1:30 p.m. ET.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
DEVIN MOCKOBEE NAMED TO DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After bursting onto the scene as a walk-on freshman last year, Purdue running back Devin Mockobee was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List heading into the 2023 season.
Mockobee is the first Boilermaker running back to land on the Doak Walker Award Watch List since Markell Jones made the list prior to the 2016 season. The Doak Walker Award, named after the three-time All-America running back, is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.
Flying under the radar as a walk-on, Mockobee turned heads in the running back room and on the field to claim the starting job near the halfway mark of the 2022 season. The Boonville, Indiana, native led the team with a Purdue freshman record 968 rushing yards to go along with nine touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He was named Freshman All-America Honorable Mention by College Football News, while collecting Honorable Mention All-Big Ten accolades as well.
Mockobee earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice, helping Purdue win conference contests over Nebraska and Indiana. His 178 rushing yards against the Cornhuskers set a new single-game record for a Purdue freshman. He put up 112 rushing yards on 11 carries in a victory at Minnesota, icing the game with a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter which marked the longest rush by Purdue since 2018. The young Boilermaker eclipsed 100 rushing yards four times throughout 2022, all in Big Ten games, as Purdue captured the first Big Ten West title in program history.
The strong 2022 season stuck out to new head coach Ryan Walters when he arrived in December. In his first team meeting as leader of the Boilermakers, Walters put Mockobee on scholarship.
Mockobee and the Boilermakers start the 2023 season at home, hosting Fresno State in a newly renovated Ross-Ade Stadium (Sept. 2). The first game under Walters, also beginning the 100th season at Ross-Ade, kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
BOILERMAKERS AND SYCAMORES BEGIN PRESEASON WITH DRAW
By: Charlie Healy
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team opened its preseason exhibition slate with a 1-1 draw against Indiana State on Wednesday in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The Boilermakers controlled play for much of the first 45 minutes and took a 1-0 lead late in the opening half. The visiting Sycamores then found the equalizer in the final 10 minutes of the 90-minute exhibition contest.
Wednesday’s game comes after the Boilermakers opened preseason training last week, with the team’s first official practice on Tuesday, August 1.
Purdue returns to action for its second of two preseason matches on Saturday, August 12, against Bowling Green at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be played on the Purdue Soccer Practice Field, adjacent to Folk Field.
Admission will be free for all fans to Saturday’s contest along with every regular-season home game at Folk Field in 2023.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
AUDRIC ESTIMÉ EARNS A SPOT ON DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST
University of Notre Dame junior Audric Estimé has been named to the 2023 Doak Walker Award Watch List, which is presented annually to the top collegiate running back in the nation.
Estimé led the 2022 Irish rushing attack with 920 yards, boasting a 5.9 yards-per-carry average and scoring 11 rushing touchdowns. He reached the 100-yard rushing plateau three times (vs. North Carolina, Syracuse and Clemson) while finishing with 97 yards against BYU and 95 versus South Carolina in Notre Dame’s Gator Bowl victory.
The Nyack, New York, native’s punishing rushing style has shown the ability to wear down opposing defenses as the game develops. Since 2021 he has rushed for 10 or more yards on 23 of his 92 carries in the second half – a 14% average – which leads all Power 5 running backs during that time frame.
In 2022, Estimé picked up a first down on 36% of his fourth quarter rushing attempts, which ranked in the top 10 among Power 5 backs.
The Doak Walker Award, named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back, is presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors, who will name ten semifinalists in November. Three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November.
The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
SYCAMORES BATTLE BOILERMAKERS TO 1-1 TIE IN FIRST EXHIBITION OF 2023
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana State battled to a 1-1 tie in Wednesday afternoon’s exhibition at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex as Sasha Thompson scored late to even the preseason matchup against Purdue.
The Sycamores ran out the entire roster on Wednesday afternoon in their first exhibition in the Paul Lawrence coaching era as ISU battled Purdue to draw. Full stats and information were not kept in the preseason contest.
“I’m really proud of the effort today,” Lawrence said. “It’s one thing to play a scrimmage against these teams and talk about what you want to do. It’s another thing to execute. I think you saw a team today that believes in the way we want to play and understands tactically in how we want to execute.”
ISU shook off early rust in the match and Maddie Alexander made a key save on a penalty kick early in the first half in the Sycamores’ first action of the 2023 slate.
Purdue found the scoreboard first in the 30th minute on an early goal to take the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
The Sycamores held control of the ball throughout the second half and continued to attack late. ISU cracked the seal on the goal in the 83rd minute as Alexa Mackey took the ball up the right side before connecting on the pass through the box. Olivia Lovell ran interference allowing the ball to travel to a wide-open Sasha Thompson and the senior converted from four yards out to tie the game up at 1-1 and provide the final scoring line.
“We were more aware of how we wanted to look after the ball in the second half,” Lawrence said. “It’s an understanding that the game, all it takes is one chance. We’re a little banged up, played a lot of players today, and maximized the minutes for as many players as possible. There are good signs for the future. The score is a little secondary in the scrimmage, but the result makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing.”
The Sycamores will continue their camp slate tomorrow as Indiana State prepares for the final exhibition of the 2023 preseason. ISU welcomes Bellarmine to Memorial Stadium on Sunday, August 13, with kickoff between the two teams set for 1 p.m. ET.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER
MICHIGAN STATE COMES TO FORT WAYNE FOR A SATURDAY EXHIBITION
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne welcomes Michigan State on Saturday (August 12) for an exhibition contest at the Hefner Soccer Complex. It will be a 2 p.m. start. The game is presented by the Hilton Garden Inn North.
Game Day Information
Who: Michigan State Spartans
When: Sunday, August 12 | 2 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Tickets: Free
Know Your Foe
The Spartans were 6-9-2 (3-4-1 Big Ten) last season. They fell 1-0 to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament. They went 0-6-2 on the road. Jonathan Stout and Greyson Mercer return for the Spartans, they both had four goals last season.
Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back
A few returners to note this year for the ‘Dons:
– Abe Arellano returns for this sophomore campaign, he had four assists last season to tie for 10th in the Horizon League. He played in all 15 games with nine starts.
– Romario Simpson is in his fourth season as a Mastodon, he started 12 games last season with a goal against Milwaukee.
– Seth Mahlmeister had a Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honor last season with two goals and an assist in a win over Milwaukee.
– Michael Teller has started 32 games for the ‘Dons in three years. He has played 2655 total minutes.
– Adam Hunt and Danny Salazar, who split time in goal last season, both return in 2023.
Welcome To Fort Wayne
A few newcomers to note:
– Juan Romero is a 6’2″ midfielder who was the JCAA Region V Player of the Year at Western Texas Community College last season.
– Luke Morrell comes to the ‘Dons after playing at Michigan State last season. Prior to that he was a Horizon League All-Freshman Team pick in 2018 and a Second Team selection in 2019 with Oakland.
– Max Collingwood is a transfer goalkeeper from NCAA Division II Colorado Christian. He was the 2022 RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year.
Series History
While Saturday’s meeting is an exhibition, the two teams have one previous meeting which did count. The Spartans defeated the Mastodons 3-0 on Sept. 7, 2003 in Fort Wayne.
Big Time
The ‘Dons will play three Big Ten foes this season. They will play Michigan State and Michigan in exhibitions (Aug. 16) and then a regular season game at Wisconsin on Aug. 24. This will be the second straight season a Power 5 school comes to Hefner for an exhibition. The ‘Dons welcomed Notre Dame last season.
WABASH FOOTBALL
WABASH PICKED SECOND IN PRESEASON CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POLL
Wabash received 70 points with one first-place vote in the 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference preseason football coaches poll, released Tuesday by the conference. The Little Giants placed second out of nine teams in the final balloting.
Defending conference champion DePauw University claimed the top spot with 77 points and six first-place votes. Denison followed Wabash in third place with 59 points and one first-place vote. Ohio Wesleyan received 57 points in fourth place. Wittenberg garnered the remaining first-place vote and picked up 52 points in fifth place. Wooster (32 points), Kenyon (26 points), Hiram (20 points), and Oberlin (12 points) completed the coaches’ preseason picks.
Wabash tied for fourth place in the final 2022 conference football standings with a 6-3 conference record and a 7-3 overall mark. The Little Giants return ten starters on offense and eight on defense from last year’s squad.
Wabash opens the 2023 at Hampden-Sydney College on September 2 in The Gentlemen’s Classic. The Little Giants begin the conference portion of their schedule on September 23 in the home opener against Oberlin.
STOLLER NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
Two national publications placed Wabash College senior tight end Penn Stoller on their preseason All-America teams. Stoller received preseason First Team All-America honors from the Lindy’s Sports College Football National 2023 Preview. D3football.com named Stoller to its preseason All-America Second Team as announced on Tuesday.
Stoller earned Second Team All-America honors from D3football.com in 2022 after leading the Wabash team with nine touchdown receptions. He finished second among North Coast Athletic Conference receivers and 42nd in NCAA Division III in TD catches. Stoller hauled in 41 passes for 691 yards to rank eighth in the conference in receiving yards in his first season as a starter. He caught a career-best six passes for 116 yards against Wittenberg University and scored a career-high three touchdown receptions versus Hiram.
Wabash opens the 2023 football season on September 2 at Hampden-Sydney College in The Gentlemen’s Classic.
WABASH ATHLETICS
WEBBER, GILL JOIN WABASH COACHING STAFF
Wabash College welcomes two new assistants to the institution’s coaching staff to start the 2023-2024 season. Nate Webber joins the staff as assistant lacrosse coach, as well as and strength and conditioning coach for all Little Giant programs. Keith Gill comes to Wabash as the Little Giants’ assistant swimming coach.
Webber comes to Wabash after two seasons as a DePauw University assistant lacrosse and strength and conditioning coach. He helped the Tigers win 11 games over the past two seasons, including five North Coast Athletic Conference victories. Webber guided the DePauw defense to create an average of 12.56 turnovers last season, ranking second in the conference and 22nd in the nation. The Tigers ranked 26th among Division III programs and fourth in the NCAC in scoring defense by holding opponents to 8.81 goals a game. DePauw led the conference and ranked 30th in the nation in caused turnovers in 2021, with an average of 11.5 per game under Weber’s guidance.
“I really believe in what Coach Burke and the Wabash athletic department are building with the lacrosse program at Wabash,” Webber said. “It’s something I’m looking forward to being a part of. I learned an aggressive brand of defense as a player at the University of Indianapolis. At Wabash, we will play defense as a cohesive unit with seven players at a time. We will communicate, play together, play fast, and trust each other.”
Webber graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2020, earning a bachelor of science in exercise science – pre-physical therapy. He earned a master of science degree in exercise science – human performance in 2021. Webber played four seasons on the Greyhounds’ men’s lacrosse team. He was named team captain for the 2020-21 season and earned four Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) all-academic team selections. He played on the Greyhounds’ 2019 NCAA DII national finalist team and was part of two NCAA tournament-qualifying squads. The University of Indianapolis teams won three GLVC tournament titles during Webers’ time there and reached a number-four ranking in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA/) DII poll. The Greyhounds ranked in 35 consecutive USILA DII polls while Weber played for them. He also spent one season as a club coach for Midwest Express lacrosse.
“Nate did a great job as a defensive coordinator at DePauw and will immediately improve the defensive side of the ball for us, which was one of our weak points last season,” Wabash head lacrosse coach Chris Burke said. “He also brings a ton of energy and is used to competing at an extremely high level. Nate is also very personable and likable. He also recruits well. People know who Nate is from playing at the University of Indianapolis and as an assistant coach at DePauw.”
Gill comes to Wabash from the Swim Steamline program at Northhampton in Houston, Texas. He worked with multiple age-group levels and was an assistant for the national and national-select groups. Gill spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the Forest Oaks swim team.
“I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate coach,” Gill said. “I’ve been coaching at the club level for a few years and felt ready to jump up. I highly believe in surrounding myself with quality people, and I’ve found that at Wabash. The program has been improving every season under Coach Bernhardt, and I think I can help the team members grow and improve while I grow alongside them.”
Gill earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Southwestern University in 2021. He swam three seasons for the Pirates after competing one year at Purdue University. Gill earned team MVP honors in 2020 at Southwestern and was co-captain of the Pirates’ first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship team in 2019. He earned the Southwestern University All-Decade Team Award as the Pirates’ most successful student-athlete from 2010 to 2020. He broke six school records and earned 11 gold medals while competing at the SCAC championship meet throughout his career.
“I’m very excited for what Keith will bring to the program. His passion and energy really showed throughout the interview process,” Wabash head swimming coach Will Bernhardt said. “Keith is very detail oriented and loves working with numbers and analytics. His commitment to the craft of coaching is what really impressed me. He is a sponge and wants to learn everything he can to help his athletes attain great things. I am thrilled to welcome him into the Little Giant family.”
Webber began his duties on August 7. Gill starts his duties on August 14.
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 | 70 | 44 | .614 | – | 35 – 23 | 35 – 21 | 24 – 14 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 9 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| Tampa Bay | 69 | 47 | .595 | 2 | 38 – 20 | 31 – 27 | 20 – 14 | 18 – 5 | 11 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Toronto | 65 | 51 | .560 | 6 | 30 – 24 | 35 – 27 | 11 – 23 | 18 – 7 | 14 – 11 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Boston | 59 | 55 | .518 | 11 | 32 – 27 | 27 – 28 | 16 – 14 | 13 – 9 | 12 – 10 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 59 | 56 | .513 | 11.5 | 35 – 28 | 24 – 28 | 15 – 21 | 12 – 10 | 16 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 60 | 56 | .517 | – | 33 – 24 | 27 – 32 | 12 – 17 | 22 – 17 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Cleveland | 55 | 60 | .478 | 4.5 | 30 – 28 | 25 – 32 | 8 – 10 | 18 – 18 | 13 – 12 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Detroit | 51 | 63 | .447 | 8 | 25 – 33 | 26 – 30 | 4 – 18 | 20 – 13 | 9 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Chi White Sox | 47 | 69 | .405 | 13 | 25 – 30 | 22 – 39 | 8 – 17 | 19 – 17 | 9 – 17 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 37 | 79 | .319 | 23 | 21 – 36 | 16 – 43 | 6 – 17 | 13 – 27 | 4 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 68 | 47 | .591 | – | 40 – 20 | 28 – 27 | 14 – 11 | 17 – 5 | 19 – 14 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| Houston | 66 | 49 | .574 | 2 | 31 – 25 | 35 – 24 | 10 – 9 | 11 – 11 | 24 – 13 | 7 – 3 | W 3 |
| Seattle | 62 | 52 | .544 | 5.5 | 33 – 26 | 29 – 26 | 11 – 13 | 12 – 11 | 19 – 11 | 9 – 1 | W 7 |
| LA Angels | 58 | 58 | .500 | 10.5 | 31 – 28 | 27 – 30 | 12 – 11 | 14 – 8 | 16 – 18 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| Oakland | 33 | 82 | .287 | 35 | 18 – 41 | 15 – 41 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 6 – 28 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 72 | 40 | .643 | – | 37 – 20 | 35 – 20 | 22 – 6 | 16 – 5 | 11 – 9 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia | 63 | 52 | .548 | 10.5 | 32 – 22 | 31 – 30 | 14 – 17 | 11 – 8 | 14 – 13 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| Miami | 60 | 56 | .517 | 14 | 34 – 24 | 26 – 32 | 14 – 19 | 13 – 10 | 10 – 12 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| NY Mets | 52 | 62 | .456 | 21 | 28 – 24 | 24 – 38 | 16 – 14 | 7 – 15 | 15 – 13 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Washington | 50 | 65 | .435 | 23.5 | 22 – 34 | 28 – 31 | 11 – 21 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 14 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 62 | 54 | .534 | – | 33 – 27 | 29 – 27 | 10 – 9 | 24 – 12 | 10 – 16 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 59 | 56 | .513 | 2.5 | 32 – 28 | 27 – 28 | 11 – 17 | 21 – 14 | 9 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Cincinnati | 60 | 57 | .513 | 2.5 | 29 – 31 | 31 – 26 | 13 – 16 | 14 – 22 | 16 – 9 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 51 | 63 | .447 | 10 | 27 – 30 | 24 – 33 | 8 – 8 | 13 – 17 | 16 – 15 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| St. Louis | 50 | 65 | .435 | 11.5 | 25 – 33 | 25 – 32 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 20 | 10 – 16 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 67 | 46 | .593 | – | 34 – 20 | 33 – 26 | 11 – 7 | 16 – 14 | 19 – 12 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| San Francisco | 62 | 53 | .539 | 6 | 33 – 24 | 29 – 29 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 9 | 18 – 11 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Arizona | 57 | 58 | .496 | 11 | 28 – 30 | 29 – 28 | 13 – 15 | 11 – 10 | 18 – 16 | 1 – 9 | L 8 |
| San Diego | 55 | 60 | .478 | 13 | 30 – 28 | 25 – 32 | 13 – 13 | 8 – 15 | 15 – 17 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| Colorado | 45 | 69 | .395 | 22.5 | 25 – 30 | 20 – 39 | 14 – 17 | 11 – 13 | 7 – 21 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1889 At the Seventh Street Park in Indianapolis, future 300 game-winner Mickey Welch becomes the first pinch-hitter in major league history. Although the Giants’ right-handed pitcher strikes out in his historic plate appearance, New York prevails, beating the Hoosiers, 9-6.
1901 At Cleveland’s League Park, the Blues (Indians) beat Chicago, 11-7. White Sox right-hander Frank Isbell strands eleven runners on the basepaths to set an American League record.
1929 At the Baker Bowl, 42-year-old right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander earns his final career win, pitching the final four innings of the Cardinals’ 9-7 victory over the Phillies. ‘Old Pete’ will retire next season tied with fellow Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson for the most wins in the National League history with 373, including a league-leading ninety shutouts.
1944 At Crosley Field, Braves’ hurler Charles ‘Red’ Barrett throws only 58 pitches, beating the Reds, 2-0. The nine-inning night game takes only seventy-five minutes to play.
1946 Although Tiny Bonham gives up two hits in the first frame, he retires the side on four pitches in the Yankees’ 7-5 victory over the Red Sox. On the game’s first pitch, Wally Moses singles and is out stealing on the first ball thrown to Johnny Pesky, who singles on the next offering, with Dom DiMaggio hitting into a double play on the right-hander’s fourth pitch ending the inning.
1957 Mickey Mantle becomes the first player to clear the center field hedge at Memorial Stadium with his 460-foot homer in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles. Baltimore’s Boog Powell (1962) and Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew (1964) will also accomplish the feat.
1961 With his twenty-first pinch hit of the season, Dave Philley breaks an American League record established by Ed Coleman of the Browns in 1936. The 41-year-old Texan, coming off the bench to hit for Dick Williams in the eighth inning, sets the new pinch-hitting mark when he doubles to right field in the Orioles’ 8-0 win over Kansas City at Memorial Stadium.
1963 Boog Powell becomes the first Oriole to hit three home runs in the same game. The Baltimore first baseman’s offensive output accounts for half of the runs in the Birds’ 6-5 victory over Washington at D.C. Stadium.
1969 For the second time this season, Cesar Tovar breaks up a no-hit bid by an Oriole pitcher when his ninth-inning single stops Mike Cuellar’s streak of 35 consecutive retired batters, spoiling the southpaw’s attempt for the no-no. In May, the Twins utility player broke up Dave McNally’s hitless game with a one-out single in the final frame.
1971 At Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, Harmon Killebrew becomes the tenth player to join the 500 home run club when he hits the historic homer in the first inning off Mike Cuellar. Later in the game, the 36-year-old first baseman connects for #501, but Killer’s two round-trippers are to no avail when the Twins lose to the Orioles in 10 innings, 4-3.
1971 Juan Marichal records his 50th career shutout when the Giants blank the Expos at Candlestick Park, 1-0. The Dominican hurler’s ninth-inning double helps to build the winning run.
1974 In front of an overflow crowd at Falcon Park, 14-year-old Jorge Lebron, an infielder from Pattillas (PR), becomes the youngest professional player ever, debuting for the Auburn Phillies, Philadelphia’s short season-A affiliate. The 5-foot-10, 132-pound shortstop plays two games before returning to Puerto Rico to finish junior high school.
1979 Dodger hurler Don Sutton sets a franchise record with his 50th shutout, blanking the Giants at Candlestick Park, 9-0. The 34-year-old right-hander has previously shared the mark with Don Drysdale.
1980 Steve McCatty goes the distance in the A’s extra-inning loss to Seattle. The Oakland right-hander joins Matt Keough, Mike Norris, and Rick Langford becomes the fourth hurler on the team this season to throw a 14-inning complete game, fueling the criticism that manager Billy Martin overworks his pitching staff.
1981 Attempting to break Stan Musial’s National League record for hits, Pete Rose hits a wicked infield grounder to Garry Templeton that the official scorer rules as an error, rather than giving the Phillies first baseman his historic hit. Amidst the loud booing by the sizeable vocal crowd at Veterans’ Stadium, fireworks begin as an anxious stadium engineer ignites the planned celebration prematurely, thinking he heard Bill Giles say ‘go’ into the walkie-talkie when the Phillies president had said ‘no.’
1981 After tying the mark in June in the last game played before the two-month baseball strike, Pete Rose finally becomes the all-time National League hit leader when he singles off Cardinal hurler Mark Littell for his 3,631st hit. The Phillies’ first baseman is congratulated on the field by Stan Musial, who previously held the mark, in front of 60,561 enthusiastic fans at Veterans Stadium.
1986 “I may not have been the greatest Yankee to put on the uniform, but I am the proudest.” – BILLY MARTIN, on his day at Yankee Stadium. During Billy Martin Day at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers retire uniform #1 and dedicate a plaque in Monument Park that reads, ‘There has never been a greater competitor than Billy.’ The team’s former scrappy second baseman and four-time manager tells the sold-out crowd, “I may not have been the greatest Yankee to put on the uniform, but I am the proudest.”
1989 After fifteen months of recovery from cancer surgery on his arm, Dave Dravecky pitches one-hit baseball for seven innings, blanking the Reds to get the victory. The Giant bullpen holds on for a 4-3 win at Candlestick Park.
1994 In his last appearance of the year, two-time Cy Young Award recipient Brett Saberhagen picks up his 14th and final victory of the campaign when the Mets beat the Phillies at Veterans Stadium, 6-2. The 30-year-old right-hander, in his 24 starts, will finish the strike-shortened season with more wins than walks (13) and home runs allowed (13).
1994 The Expos win for the 20th time in their last 22 games when they blank Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium, 4-0. The victory puts the team 35 games over .500, a franchise record, but sadly it will be the last game Montreal will win due to the impending players’ strike that will eventually end the season.
1995 For the third time during the night, the fans throw promotional souvenir baseballs onto the Dodger Stadium field, resulting in the first forfeit of a major game in sixteen years. The umps’ decision to end the game comes with the home team trailing the Cardinals, 2-1, with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
1998 Joining Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth, Albert Belle becomes only the fourth player to drive in 100 runs and hit 30 homers for seven consecutive seasons. The White Sox left fielder, who played in every game for the White Sox this season, will continue the streak next year with the Orioles.
1998 At Qualcomm Stadium, Harry Wendelstedt and his son, Hunter, become the first father-son combination to umpire a major league baseball game. Dad is behind the plate calling balls and strikes, and his son, who will remain on the same crew for the remainder of the season, makes the calls at third base when the last-place Marlins beat the first-place Padres, 3-2.
2000 Winning for the first time in 16 starts, David Cone ends the worst slump of his career as the Yankees beat the A’s, 12-6. Newly acquired Jose Canseco hits a three-run homer into the upper deck to help Cone stop the skid.
2001 🇷🇺 In Kotno, Poland, Khovrio becomes the first Russian team to qualify for the Little League World Series. The Moscow squad, the first made up of all native European youngsters, defeats the Tbilisi YMCA of Georgia, 12-2.
2002 Sammy Sosa hits three home runs in consecutive at-bats in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, tying a Cubs’ record with nine RBIs, established by Heinie Zimmerman in 1911. With his sixth career three-homer game performance, the Chicago right fielder also ties the major league record set by Johnny Mize and becomes only the fifth player in big league history to homer in three straight innings.
2002 Barry Bonds breaks another Giant slugger’s major league record when he receives his 46th intentional walk of the season, surpassing the mark established in 1969 by Willie McCovey. The third of the three free passes issued by the Pirates to the San Francisco left fielder proves costly when Benito Santiago follows with a grand slam, putting the home team ahead, 8-3.
2003 Rafael Furcal becomes the 12th player to turn an unassisted triple play in big league history. With Cardinals runners on first and second in the fifth inning, the Braves shortstop makes a leaping catch of pitcher Woody Williams’ liner and steps on second base to double up Matheny before tagging out Palmeiro, attempting to get back to first base.
2004 At Great American Ball Park, Adam Dunn crushes a ball to dead center field that clears the wall by over 100 feet before bouncing into the Ohio River. The Reds’ first baseman’s Ruthian blast off LA’s Jose Lima, believed to have traveled 535 feet, is the longest home run ever hit in the Cincinnati ballyard.
2004 Taking a cab to Shea Stadium from nearby LaGuardia Airport, Mets starting pitcher Tom Glavine is injured as the taxi collides with an SUV. The 38-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner loses his front two teeth and needs over 40 stitches to close facial lacerations.
2004 After signing the American League Rookie of the Year to a five-year, reported $16 million deal on May 6, the Royals send Angel Berroa to the Wichita Wranglers, their Double-A affiliate in the Texas League. Compared to last season’s award-winning performance, when the 26-year-old Dominican batted .287 with 17 homers and 73 RBIs in his first full season in the major leagues, the struggling shortstop is hitting only .249 with five homers and 30 ribbies.
2005 For the second consecutive season, Mike Lowell employs the hidden ball trick on an unsuspecting baserunner. Representing the tying run in the eighth inning, Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Terrero is the Marlins’ third baseman’s latest victim.
2005 Jackie Robinson’s former Negro League roommate, 103-year-old Ted Radcliffe, dies after a long battle with cancer. The 1943 Negro American League MVP was dubbed ‘Double Duty’ by Damon Runyon after catching a shutout in the opener of a 1931 Negro League World Series doubleheader at Yankee Stadium and then hurling one of his own in the nightcap.
2005 After being released from the hospital, an 18-year-old fan appears in court to face criminal charges of trespassing, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief stemming from his 40-foot plunge last night from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium into the netting behind home plate. Team owner George Steinbrenner called the incident “… the only exciting thing that happened today,” after his struggling club loses to the first-place White Sox, 2-1.
2005 KNBR fires radio talk-show host Larry Krueger for making inappropriate racial remarks that caused an uproar in the team’s clubhouse. During a postgame rant on the Giants’ flagship station, the controversial on-air personality said the club had too many “brain-dead Caribbean hitters” and told his listeners that manager Felipe Alou’s mind “has turned to Cream of Wheat.”
2006 In the finale of the three-game sweep by the Royals, Red Sox ace Curt Schilling surrenders ten extra-base hits, tying an American League record. The nine doubles and homer equal the dubious mark shared by Dale Gear (1901 Senators) and Luis Tiant (1969 Indians).
2007 The Indians pay tribute to Larry Doby on his day at Jacobs Field by collectively wearing his number 14 on their uniforms. In 1947, the future Hall of Fame outfielder became the first black to play in the American League, making his debut in Detroit with Cleveland as a pinch-hitter.
2008 The first-place Rays, with their 11-3 rout over the Mariners at Safeco Field, improve their record to 71-46. The victory establishes a record for wins in the 11-year history of the franchise.
2009 The White Sox claimed former Blue Jay right fielder Alex Ríos off waivers. In June, the 28-year-old outfielder, on the day he struck out in all five of his plate appearances, walked past a young seeking an autograph while leaving a fundraising gala for the Jays Care Foundation, cursing a heckler who called him out for his behavior.
2009 Troy Tulowitzki collects five hits, completing the cycle with a three-bagger in the seventh inning of the Rockies’ 11-5 victory over the Cubs at Coors Field. The Colorado shortstop is the fifth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat and the sixth major leaguer this season to have a single, double, triple, and a homer in the same game.
2010 In an ugly first-inning brawl at Great American Ball Park, Cardinals’ backstop Jason LaRue suffers a mild concussion and bruised ribs, with Chris Carpenter, his batterymate, also receiving bruises on his back during the seven-minute scrum. Baseball suspends Reds’ starting pitcher Johnny Cueto for seven games for kicking the Redbirds’ catcher and pitcher, drawing his opponents’ wrath for lashing out with his spikes during the altercation.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
RED SCHOENDIENST
2nd Baseman
“Red is quite a human being. He treats us like men, lets us play our game and gives our young players confidence.” – Orlando Cepeda
Not many ballplayers have found success on the playing field as well as in the coaching box. Red Schoendienst, however, could do it all.
Schoendienst was signed by the Cardinals in 1942. By the next season, Schoendienst was named MVP of the International League and then spent 1944 in the Army, discharged in 1945 for eye problems and a shoulder injury. Despite his injuries, he made the Cardinals club that spring and was their starting left fielder. In his rookie season, he led the National League with 26 stolen bases. The following season, he moved to second base and led the N.L. in fielding percentage, which he would do five more times.
In 1950, he handled 320 consecutive chances without an error, and in 1956 he set an N.L. record with a .9934 fielding percentage at second base, which stood until Ryne Sandberg eclipsed it in 1986.
Schoendienst played 11-plus seasons in St. Louis, winning a World Series in 1946. In 1956, he was traded to the New York Giants and then a year later to the Milwaukee Braves, where he would make an immediate impact. Schoendienst led the league with 200 hits in 1957 and helped the Braves to consecutive NL pennants in 1957-58. He won his second World Series in 1957, the first and only championship the Braves would win in Milwaukee.
He suffered multiple injuries in 1958 and missed almost the entire 1959 season fighting tuberculosis, which cost him part of a lung. He signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in 1961, where he finished out his playing career. He was elected to 10 All-Star Games, hit .300 or higher seven times and finished his career with a .983 fielding percentage. A 10-time All-Star, Schoendienst posted a career .289 batting average with 2,449 hits in 19 seasons.
Schoendienst went from coach to manager of the Cardinals in 1965 and set a since-broken record for longest tenure as Cardinals manager. He led the team to pennants in 1967 and 1968, won the 1967 World Series and had a .522 winning percentage in 14 seasons. He wore a major league uniform as a player, coach, or manager for parts of eight decades.
Schoendienst was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989. He passed away on June 6, 2018.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
August 10, 1948 – The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) debuts on the airwaves in New York. ABC gave Americans a whole new way to watch the NFL with their spin on Monday Night Football in 1970 that is still carried out since 2006 on sister network ESPN. Their ties started off strong though as the network aired the 1948 & the 1950 NFL Championship Games and many regular season games during the early 1950’s.
August 10, 1956 – The 23rd annual Chicago College All-Stars games takes place at Soldier Field with the NFL Champion Cleveland Browns blanking the All-Stars 26-0 before 75,000 in attendance. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be Bob Pellegrini the linebacker from Maryland.
August 10, 1991- NFL broadcaster Paul McGuire suffers and survives a heart attack at the age of 53. Before his TV days McGuire played in 6 of the AFL’s 10 Championship games as a punter for the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills.
August 10, 2002 – Seattle Seahawks Stadium opens with a preseason match up of the Seahawks hosting the Indy Colts.
AUGUST 10 FOOTBALL BIRTHDAYS
August 10, 1961 – Fayetteville, Arkansas – Linebacker and defensive end Billy Ray Smith Jr. from the University of Arkansas arrived in to the world. Smith was selected fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft. Smith Jr. was a second-team All-Pro in 1989 and a member of the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team. His father, Billy Ray Smith Sr., played 13 seasons in the NFL per Yahoo.com. Both father and son were named to the Arkansas All-Century Team. Billy Ray Smith was enshrined in to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2000 class per the FootballFoundation.org. He was a consensus All- American twice in college and was later drafted in the first round by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers where he played for 10 seasons.
August 10, 1970 – Gino Toreretta was a quarterback from the University of Miami who is forever remembered in the College Football Hall of Fame from the induction class of 2009. Mr. Torretta won the 1992 Heisman Trophy and lead his Hurricane teams of 1989 and 1991 to the National Championships. He experienced a 5 year career in the NFL where he served as a backup QB for several different teams.
OTHER FAMOUS FOOTBALL BIRTHDAYS
August 10, 1942 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Cornerback and kick returner extraordinaire, Speedy Duncan was born. The Jackson State alum played for the Tigers from 1960 through the 1962 season. Duncan according to a Yahoo.com bio, signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1963 and later played for Washington. Speedy recorded 24 career interceptions, four fumbles recovered, four defensive touchdowns; 202 punt returns for 2,201 yards and four touchdowns, 180 kick returns for 4,539 yards. Duncan was a three-time AFL Star and a Pro Bowl selection in 1971.
August 10, 1976 – Miami, Florida – Florida State Cornerback Samari Rolle was born. Rolle was the 46th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Oilers and finished career in the Ravens organization. This great athlete registered 31 interceptions, 81 passes defended, and 31.5 sacks during his career. Rolle was a Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro in 2000. He played in Super Bowl XXXIV, a Titans loss to the St. Louis Rams.
August 10, 1984 – Mayfield Heights, Ohio – Placekicker Matt Prater, the 2005 through 2006 Central Florida product celebrates his date of birth. Prater signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and also spent some NFL time with the Broncos and the Lions.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
CHARLEY BARRETT
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1913-1915
Place of Birth: Bellevue, PA
Date of Birth: Nov 03, 1893
Place of Death: Tucson, AZ
Date of Death: May 21, 1924
Jersey Number: 8
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
High School: Cleveland, OH (University School)
Charles Barrett was an all-around, triple-threat back for Cornell. He ran the ends, bucked the line, threw passes, punted and drop-kicked. He was All-America quarterback in 1914 and 1915, years in which Cornell had a record of 8-2, then 9-0. The 1915 team was national champion. Barrett’s best game was his last. Pennsylvania got off to a 9-0 lead, but Cornell rallied to win 24-9. Barrett scored all the Cornell points. He had touchdown runs of 40, 25 and 3 yards, and he drop-kicked a field goal and three extra points. His performance in this game would later be memorialized by both teammates and opponents. Barrett enlisted in the Navy in World War I, suffered an injury in an explosion in 1918 and died in 1924. On October 17, 1925, a bronze tablet was unveiled in Schoellkopf Memorial Hall on the Cornell campus. It contains these words: “In memory of Charles Barrett, who died May 21, 1924, as a result of illness contracted in an explosion on the U.S.S. Brooklyn in Yokohama Harbor, Japan, during the World War. As a tribute to his splendid loyalty and leadership and as homage to a most worthy gridiron adversary, we respectfully dedicate this tablet to Cornell University. – His teammates and friends, and the 1915 Pennsylvania football team.”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
3 – 19 – 14 – 1 – 31
August 10, 1888 – New York Giants pitcher Tim Keefe registered a monumental feat when he scratched out a win and continued on a 19 game winning streak record
August 10, 1901 – Chicago White Sox Frank Isbell strands record 11 teammate base runners
August 10, 1904 – New York Highlanders pitcher Jack Chesbro ends string of 30 consecutive complete games in a 5-1 loss to Chicago White Sox at South Side Park, Chicago
August 10, 1934 – Number 3, Babe Ruth announces this is his final season as full time player
August 10, 1944 – Boston Braves starting pitcher Red Barrett, Number 19 threw only 58 pitches to shut out his former team, the Cincinnati Reds in a 2-0 Braves victory
August 10, 1971 – 16 baseball researchers form Society for American Baseball Research
August 10, 1971 – Minnesota Twins’ Harmon Killebrew, Number 3 became the tenth MLB hitter to reach the 500 home run plateau on a slow curve ball. Just for good measure he added his 501st as well off of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Cuellar. The Twins dropped the game in extra innings 5-4 in 10.
August 10, 1977 – Phillies & Expos play a doubleheader that ends at 3:23 AM. The second game started just before midnight and was halted due to rain at 12:13AM before resuming. The Phils won both games of the day by identical 6-1 scores.
August 10, 1981 – Pete Rose, Number 14 had his 3,631 career hit, breaks Stan Musial’s NL hit record
August 10, 1986 – Billy Martin Day, his uniform Number 1 retired by the Yankees.
August 10, 1986 – Pitcher Bob Forsch, Number 31 crushes a grand slam home run to lead the St Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, in St. Louis.
August 10, 1997 – Atlanta Braves signed Greg Maddux, Number 31 to then record 5 year, $57.5 million deal
TV THURSDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
5:30 a.m. (Friday)
FS2 — AFL: Geelong at Collingwood
AUTO RACING
9 p.m.
ESPN — SRX: Racing Series, Rossburg, Ohio
CFL FOOTBALL
9 p.m.
CBSSN — Winnipeg at Edmonton
FISHING
4 p.m.
CBSSN — SFC: The White Marlin Open, Ocean City, Md.
GOLF
6 a.m.
USA — LPGA: The AIG Women’s Open, First Round, Walton Heath Old Course, Tadworth, England
2 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The FedEx St. Jude Championship, First Round, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn.
6 p.m.
GOLF — USGA U.S. Women’s Amateur: Round of 16, Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash.
6 a.m. (Friday)
USA — LPGA: The AIG Women’s Open, Second Round, Walton Heath Old Course, Tadworth, England
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — Saratoga Live: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
1 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League World Series: TBD, Midwest Region – Semifinal, Whitestown, Ind.
3 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional, Bristol, Conn.
5 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional, San Bernardino, Calif.
7 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional, Bristol, Conn.
9 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional, San Bernardino, Calif.
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
1 p.m.
ESPN — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 15, Greenville, N.C.
5 p.m.
ESPN — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 16, Greenville, N.C.
MLB BASEBALL
12:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Houston at Baltimore OR Atlanta at Pittsburgh
3:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Toronto at Cleveland (Joined in Progress)
6:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: St. Louis at Tampa Bay OR Washington at Philadelphia
10 p.m.
MLBN — Colorado at LA Dodgers
NFL FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
NFLN — Preseason: Houston at New England
10 p.m.
NFLN — Preseason: Minnesota at Seattle
RUGBY (MEN’S)
5:30 a.m.
FS2 — NRL: Penrith at Manly-Warringah
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9:55 p.m.
FS2 — CONCACAF Central American Cup Group Stage: Dirigangen FC vs. Comunicaciones, Group C, Diriamba, Nicaragua
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
9 p.m.
FOX — FIFA World Cup: Spain vs. Netherlands, Quarterfinal, Wellington, New Zealand
3:30 a.m. (Friday)
FOX — FIFA World Cup: Japan vs. Sweden, Quarterfinal, Auckland, New Zealand
TENNIS
11 a.m.
TENNIS — Canadian Open-ATP/WTA Early Rounds
WNBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — Minnesota at Indiana
10 p.m.
NBATV — Atlanta at Seattle
PRIME VIDEO — Connecticut at Phoenix