“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
ARIZONA 7 CLEVELAND 3
CHICAGO CUBS 8 MINNESOTA 2
HOUSTON 6 TEXAS 4
OAKLAND 3 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2
NY YANKEES 5 LA ANGELS 2
ARIZONA 5 CLEVELAND 3
MIAMI 6 CINCINNATI 4
SAN DIEGO 9 PITTSBURGH 8
SAN FRANCISCO 7 WASHINGTON 4
BALTIMORE 7 TORONTO 3
MILWAUKEE 8 ATLANTA 5
LA ANGELS 8 NY YANKEES 2
ST. LOUIS 5 TAMPA BAY 2
KANSAS CITY 8 BOSTON 4
NY METS 5 COLORADO 3
DETROIT 6 SEATTLE 2
PHILADELPHIA 9 LA DODGERS 4
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANAPOLIS 4 NASHVILLE 3
FORT WAYNE 3 SOUTH BEND 1
WNBA SCORES
OLYMPIC BREAK
MLS
OLYMPIC BREAK
EARLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, AUG. 24 IN WEEK ZERO:
AER LINGUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC: FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA TECH (IN DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 12 P.M. ET | ESPN
MCNEESE AT TARLETON STATE | 2:30 P.M. ET| ESPN2
MONTANA STATE AT NEW MEXICO | 4 P.M. ET | FS1
FCS KICKOFF: NORTH ALABAMA VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (CRAMTON BOWL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 7 P.M. ET | ESPN
MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE: NORFOLK STATE VS. FLORIDA A&M (CENTER PARC STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
SMU AT NEVADA | 8 P.M. ET |CBS SPORTS NETWORK
DELAWARE STATE AT HAWAII
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
NORTH CAROLINA AT MINNESOTA | 8 P.M. ET | FOX
NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT COLORADO | 8 P.M. ET | ESPN
SACRAMENTO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 10 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
TCU AT STANFORD | 10:30 P.M. ET | ESPN
SATURDAY, AUG. 31
AFLAC KICKOFF GAME: CLEMSON VS. GEORGIA (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 12 P.M. ET | ABC
PENN STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA | 12 P.M. | FOX
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE | 2 P.M. ET | ESPN+
MIAMI (FL) AT FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. ET | ABC
NOTRE DAME AT TEXAS A&M | 7:30 P.M. ET | ABC
GEORGIA STATE AT GEORGIA TECH | 8 P.M. ET | ACC NETWORK
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 8 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL VS. ALABAMA STATE (HARD ROCK STADIUM IN MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 3 P.M. ET | ESPN
VEGAS KICKOFF CLASSIC: LSU VS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ALLEGIANT STADIUM IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) | 7:30 P.M. ON ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 2
BOSTON COLLEGE AT FLORIDA STATE | 7:30 P.M. ET | ESPN
NFL PRE-SEASON
WEEK ONE:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8:
CAROLINA AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00 PM
DETROIT AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00 PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9:
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00 PM
HOUSTON AT PITTSBURGH, 7:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10:
WASHINGTON AT N.Y. JETS, 12:00 PM
CHICAGO AT BUFFALO, 1:00 PM
LAS VEGAS AT MINNESOTA, 4:00 PM
GREEN BAY AT CLEVELAND, 4:25 PM
TAMPA BAY AT CINCINNATI, 7:00 PM
KANSAS CITY AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO AT TENNESSEE, 7:00 PM
SEATTLE AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05 PM
NEW ORLEANS AT ARIZONA, 8:00 PM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11:
DENVER AT INDIANAPOLIS, 1:00 PM
DALLAS AT L.A. RAMS, 4:30 PM
WEEK TWO:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15:
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17:
ATLANTA AT BALTIMORE, 12:00 PM
CINCINNATI AT CHICAGO, 1:00 PM
N.Y. GIANTS AT HOUSTON, 1:00 PM
DETROIT AT KANSAS CITY 4:00 PM
MINNESOTA AT CLEVELAND, 4:25 PM
N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 7:00 PM
ARIZONA AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00 PM
WASHINGTON AT MIAMI, 7:00 PM
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 7:00 PM
SEATTLE AT TENNESSEE, 7:00 PM
L.A. RAMS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05 PM
TAMPA BAY AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:30 PM
DALLAS AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18:
GREEN BAY AT DENVER, 8:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:00 PM
WEEK THREE:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22:
INDIANAPOLIS AT CINCINNATI, 8:00 PM
CHICAGO AT KANSAS CITY, 8:20 PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23:
JACKSONVILLE AT ATLANTA, 7:00 PM
MIAMI AT TAMPA BAY, 7:30 PM
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24:
CAROLINA AT BUFFALO, 1:00 PM
PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 1:00 PM
BALTIMORE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00 PM
L.A. RAMS AT HOUSTON, 1:00 PM
MINNESOTA AT PHILADELPHIA, 1:00 PM
L.A. CHARGERS AT DALLAS, 4:00 PM
N.Y. GIANTS AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30 PM
CLEVELAND AT SEATTLE, 10:00 PM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25:
TENNESSEE AT NEW ORLEANS, 2:00 PM
ARIZONA AT DENVER, 4:30 PM
NEW ENGLAND AT WASHINGTON (NBC), 8:00 PM
NFL WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
- BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
- GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL), 8:15 P.M. ET (PEACOCK)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- ARIZONA CARDINALS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- TENNESSEE TITANS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- HOUSTON TEXANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DENVER BRONCOS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DALLAS COWBOYS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 4:25 P.M. ET (CBS)
- WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 4:25 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LOS ANGELES RAMS AT DETROIT LIONS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 9
- NEW YORK JETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 8:15 P.M. ET (ESPN/ABC)
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
OLYMPIC NEWS
U.S. CRUISES PAST NIGERIA TO REACH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEMIS
A’ja Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the United States beat Nigeria 88-74 on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympics in Paris, France.
The Americans, who are seeking their eighth consecutive gold medal and have now won 59 straight games in Olympic competition, will play Australia in Friday’s semifinals. France will face Belgium in the other semifinal.
Jackie Young, made her first start in these Olympics — replacing 42-year-old Diana Taurasi — and scored 15 points for the Americans while Breanna Stewart added 13 and Brittney Griner tallied 11. Alyssa Thomas had six assists, six rebounds and three points in an all-around effort.
Promise Amukamara — a New Jersey native, a product of Arizona State, and the younger sister of former NFL cornerback Prince Amukamara — paced Nigeria with 19 points and three steals. Amy Okonkwo chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, while Ezinne Kalu added 16 points.
Nigeria — which was the first African team, men or women, to reach this stage of the Olympic tournament — kept things close with the U.S. into the second quarter, trailing by just four points after a jumper from Kalu at the 6:33 mark.
The Americans then began to pull away, first with an 11-2 run. The stretch was highlighted by Kelsey Plum dishing a nifty assist to Wilson, who drove into the paint and wrapped a pass around a Nigerian defender to set her Las Vegas Aces’ teammate up for an easy wide-open layup, putting the Americans up by 11 points with 4:10 to play in the half.
In the final 2:32 of the first half, the U.S. outscored Nigeria 10-2 — powered by five points, two rebounds, a steal and an assist from Stewart — taking a 19-point advantage into the break.
The Americans continued to pad that lead, starting the third quarter on a 13-3 run. The U.S. led by as much as 30 points, including when Kahleah Copper swished a 3-pointer on an assist from her
Phoenix Mercury teammate Taurasi with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
On the glass, the U.S. outrebounded Nigeria 41-28. The Americans also had 31 assists on 34 made baskets.
–Field Level Media
NOAH LYLES QUALIFIES SECOND, BEHIND LETSILE TEBOGO, IN 200-METER DASH
PARIS — Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo set the fastest time in the men’s Olympic 200 meters semifinals on Wednesday, proving his intent to upset American Noah Lyles’ quest for a sprint double.
Tebogo, last year’s world championship bronze medalist, overtook the American 100-meter champion on the bend and cruised the rest of the way unchallenged to finish in 19.96 seconds. The 27-year-old Lyles had to push to finish second in 20.08.
Americans Kenny Bednarek, Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo, and Erriyon Knighton each won their semifinals, Bednarek clocking 20.00 and the 20-year-old Knighton crossing in 20.09.
Rounding out the field for Thursday’s final are Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic, Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia, and Zimbabwe’s Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba.
Lyles, the three-time reigning world champion over what has always been his stronger event, has not lost over the distance since he had to settle for bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
His run on Wednesday, however, was reminiscent of his sluggish 100 semifinal after which he reached out to his therapist for guidance. He came out two hours later and electrified the crowd by winning the most competitive men’s 100-meter dash in Olympic history.
Lyles did not stop to speak to reporters, heading straight to see medical experts, a USA Track and Field spokesperson said.
He is looking to become the first American in four decades to win the Olympic sprint double and is aiming for potentially four golds in Paris, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and — if he is selected in the squad — the 4x400m relay.
Canada’s defending champion Andre de Grasse, the last man to beat Lyles in a competitive race over the distance, did not advance to the final.
“I reactivated a lingering issue in my hamstring,” De Grasse said. “It was going to be tough today. I knew I had to go out there and try to do my best and see what I can come up with.
“It’s tough. It’s been a tough 24, 48 hours. I’ve just got to try to keep the head, try to see how I can support my team in any way with the 4x100m relay.”
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
AMERICAN QUINCY HALL STORMS FROM BEHIND TO CLAIM 400-METER GOLD
Saint-Denis, FRANCE — Quincy Hall produced an incredible late surge to overtake Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and take a first Olympic 400-meter gold for the United States since 2008 in another scintillating race on Wednesday.
Hudson-Smith seemed on course to win his country’s first gold over the distance since “Chariots of Fire” Eric Liddell in the Paris Games 100 years ago, but he tied up at the end and Hall swept past in a personal best 43.40 seconds and give the U.S. their first triumph since LaShawn Merritt in Beijing.
Hudson-Smith bettered his own European record with 43.44 for silver and Zambia’s 21-year-old Muzala Samukonga set his second successive national record with 43.74 to take bronze.
Hall, who took bronze behind Jamaica’s Antonio Watson and Hudson-Smith at last year’s world championship, looked out of contention coming into the final straight a distant fourth as the long-striding Hudson-Smith seemed on course for a first global gold of an injury-plagued career.
He was still well adrift heading into the last 30 meters but somehow found the energy to drive past everyone and become the fourth-fastest man over the distance, behind world record holder Wayde van Niekerk (43.03), Michael Johnson (43.18) and Butch Reynolds (43.29). Hudson-Smith is now fifth.
Fourth-placed Jereem Richards set a Trinidad and Tobago national record of 43.78 and former Olympic champion Kirani James in fifth was also under 44 seconds in 43.87.
“Sometimes the journey is better than the outcome,” said Hudson-Smith, who has world silver and bronze and now Olympic silver to his name. “My time is going to come.”
U.S. athletes have now won 19 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze for 38 medals in the event. Britain is next with two golds and eight medals overall.
WOMEN’S POLE VAULT
Australia’s Nina Kennedy soared to the gold medal in the Olympic women’s pole vault, a year after she shared gold at the world championships with American Katie Moon.
The 27-year-old Kennedy cleared a season’s best 4.90 meters (slightly over 16 feet) in a victory that was also redemption for the Tokyo Olympics in which injuries caused her to be eliminated in the preliminary round.
Moon, who won gold in Tokyo, cleared 4.85 meters for silver while Canada’s Alysha Newman went over the same height but was awarded bronze due to more missed jumps.
Kennedy and Moon decided to share gold at year’s world championships in Budapest after they both vaulted 4.90m.
MEN’S DISCUS
Jamaica’s Roje Stona won gold in the Olympic discus throw, upsetting world record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania who had hoped to follow in his father’s footsteps to become Olympic champion.
Alekna had to settle for silver and Australia’s Matthew Denny, who finished fourth in Tokyo, claimed the bronze.
Alekna, 21, was favorite to win, having thrown 74.35 meters in April to break the world record that had stood since 1986.
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
TEAM USA FAVORED TO HAND SERBIA ANOTHER LOPSIDED OLYMPIC DEFEAT
The United States has scored two decisive victories over Serbia in the lead up to Thursday’s showdown in the semifinals of the men’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics, and the Americans are expected to notch a third en route to the gold medal game.
Team USA is a 16.5-point favorite at DraftKings, where their moneyline is -1650 to send Serbia (+950) to the bronze medal game.
The U.S. routed Serbia 105-79 in an exhibition game last month, and then routed the Serbians again 11 days later in a 110-84 victory in a Group C Game on July 28. That came despite three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, Charlotte Hornets guard Vasilije Micic and Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic each logging at least 13 minutes of action for Serbia.
However, Team USA coach Steve Kerr said neither of those wins is relevant heading into Thursday.
“We can’t get lulled to sleep because we beat them twice,” Kerr said. “Does Jokic play 40 minutes? What else do they have up their sleeve? We have to be prepared for anything.”
Serbia is coming off a quarterfinal victory over Australia in which it erased a 24-point second-quarter deficit before going on to win 95-90 in overtime.
Meanwhile, the Americans are coming off a 122-87 victory over Brazil in which Devin Booker led six U.S. scorers in double figures with 18 points. Anthony Edwards finished with 17 points, Joel Embiid collected 14 and Anthony Davis totaled 13.
The U.S. wouldn’t be surprised if Serbia coach Svetislav Pesic opts to keep Jokic on the floor for the entirety of Thursday’s game.
“I guess we’ll be ready for that,” Embiid said. “If that’s what they think they have to do to try to beat us, then they won’t hesitate to do that.”
Thursday’s winner plays for a gold medal on Saturday against France or Germany, who are meeting in the other semifinal. The losers play in the bronze-medal game, also set for Saturday.
Germany is a 5.0-point favorite to beat France.
It’s been 20 years since the Americans have taken home anything other than gold medals at the Olympics. They won the bronze at the 2004 Athens Games but have since won four straight golds.
In all, the U.S. men’s basketball team has racked up 16 golds. They are the -700 favorites at DraftKings to make it 17 come Saturday.
Germany has the next shortest odds at +800, followed by Serbia at +2000 and France at +2200. Meanwhile, Germany is the -145 favorite to win silver, followed by France (+170), the U.S. (+700) and Serbia (+1800).
–Field Level Media
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
NCAA HANDS FORMER MICHIGAN COACH JIM HARBAUGH A 4-YEAR SHOW CAUSE ORDER FOR RECRUITING VIOLATIONS
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The NCAA announced a four-year show-cause order for former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday for impermissible contact with recruits and players while access was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively banning him from college athletics until August 2028.
The NCAA said Harbaugh, who left his alma mater to coach the Los Angeles Chargers after last season’s national championship, “engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations.”
The NCAA had already put Michigan on three years of probation along with a fine and recruiting limits after reaching a negotiated resolution in the case. Harbaugh did not go along with the agreement, disputing allegations he failed to to cooperate with investigators, so his case was handled separately.
“The panel noted that Harbaugh’s intentional disregard for NCAA legislation and unethical conduct amplified the severity of the case and prompted the panel to classify Harbaugh’s case as Level I-Aggravated, with penalties to include a four-year show-cause order. Subsumed in the show-cause order is a one-season suspension for Harbaugh,” the NCAA said.
The recruiting case is separate from the NCAA’s investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign stealing allegations that roiled Michigan’s championship season in 2023 and resulted in a three-game suspension of Harbaugh by the Big Ten Conference.
The NCAA’s show-cause order started Wednesday and runs through Aug. 6, 2028. It requires a school wanting to hire Harbaugh to suspend him for the first full season. After that, Harbaugh would be still be barred from athletics-related activities, including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings until the order expires.
Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, has said the coach was not invited to participate in the settlement process or aware that an agreement had been reached between the school and the NCAA. He blasted the NCAA’s punishment.
“The way I see it, from coach Harbaugh’s perspective, today’s COI decision is like being in college and getting a letter from your high school saying you’ve been suspended because you didn’t sign your yearbook,” Mars posted on social media. “If I were in coach Harbaugh’s shoes and had an $80 million contract as head coach of the Chargers, I wouldn’t pay any attention to the findings of a kangaroo court, which claims to represent the principles of the nation’s most flagrant, repeat violator of the federal antitrust laws.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel noted the school has already accepted the sanctions and served many of the penalties.
“Our staff has worked to improve processes and we are focused on the future and our commitment to integrity and compliance,” Manuel said.
The sign-stealing case is still open and could take months to resolve. Multiple infraction cases in such a short period could prompt the NCAA to treat Michigan as a repeat offender, opening the school up to harsher penalties in the sign-stealing case.
New Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is facing allegations he violated NCAA rules related to the investigation into scouting and sign-stealing, three people briefed on a pending notice of allegations told The Associated Press on Sunday. All spoke on condition of anonymity because the notice was confidential.
Two of the people said Moore has been accused of deleting text message exchanges with Connor Stalions — the former low-level recruiting staffer who coordinated an off-campus, advance-scouting operation — around the time the investigation was opened.
One of the people said the NCAA has recommended a less serious Level 2 violation for Moore, that messages between Moore and Stalions were recovered, and that the coach provided them to the NCAA.
The 38-year-old Moore was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach when Harbaugh bolted to lead the Chargers, making his return to the NFL after a successful run with the San Francisco 49ers. Moore filled in as acting head coach four times last season while Harbaugh served suspensions, winning all four games, including the season finale against rival Ohio State.
In-person scouting is banned by the NCAA, which investigated Michigan’s alleged system to determine how organized it was and who knew about it. Stallions, who has not cooperated with the NCAA in its investigation, will break his silence on Aug. 27 on Netflix when the documentary “Sign Stealer” makes its debut on the streaming service.
“I do not apologize,” Harbaugh said Monday when asked about the NCAA’s sign-stealing notice to the Wolverines. “I did not participate. I was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations.”
In the recruiting case, the NCAA sharply questioned Harbaugh’s “vague” responses during interviews with investigators, at one point “asking whether he was lying to the enforcement staff.”
“I do not think I’m providing false or misleading information,” Harbaugh said.
The NCAA noted that Harbaugh could not recall meeting with recruits despite confirmation from at least one of his own staff members and the prospects’ families. One recruit specifically remembered the coach “ordered a hamburger for breakfast, which ‘kind of stood out’ to him.”
5-STAR WR KALIQ LOCKETT COMMITS TO TEXAS
Kaliq Lockett, a five-star wide receiver in the Class of 2025, announced Wednesday he’ll play at home-state Texas.
The 247 Sports composite ranks Lockett as the nation’s No. 5 wide receiver and the No. 20 overall prospect. He’s entering his senior season at Sachse High School.
In his junior season, he caught 59 passes for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 games.
This summer, Lockett also took official visits to LSU, Texas A&M, Florida State and Alabama.
“It really came down to putting on for my home state and belief in what Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) and Coach (wide receivers coach Chris) Jackson have in store for me,” Lockett told 247Sports of his commitment. “I’m going to have to do all the work. But I know if I do the work, if I compete, buy in, learn the playbook, get good grades and stay out of trouble, I know I’ll see the field freshman year and I know I’ll be successful.”
TEXAS RB CJ BAXTER TO MISS SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY
Texas running back CJ Baxter will miss the 2024 season with a right knee injury sustained in practice on Tuesday.
The school confirmed Wednesday that the 6-foot-1, 220-pound sophomore will have season-ending surgery. The Austin American-Statesman said Baxter tore multiple ligaments and faces a recovery time of 6 to 9 months.
He was an All-Big 12 honorable mention last year and made the 2024 preseason Doak Walker Award watch list. Baxter ran for 659 yards and five TDs and caught 24 passes for 156 yards in 13 games as a freshman in 2023.
Junior Jaydon Blue is the next man up for the Longhorns. In 23 games, he has rushed 80 times for 430 yards and three touchdowns and added 14 catches for 135 yards and one score.
Texas kicks off its first season in the SEC on Aug. 31 at home against Colorado State.
–Field Level Media
NFL NEWS
3 YEARS AFTER THE NFL ADDED A 17TH GAME, THE PUSH FOR AN 18TH GETS STRONGER
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The debate about whether the NFL will expand the regular season once again seems to have been resolved and now it’s a matter of how soon the league adds an 18th game.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has talked openly about it, union chief Lloyd Howell recently told the Washington Post that the NFLPA is open to doing it before the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2030 season and players seem resigned to the inevitability no matter how they might personally feel.
“I mean, I feel like we ain’t got no choice, to be honest,” said Seattle Seahawks veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, who said he’d prefer adding another bye week instead of another game to give TV networks more broadcast windows without taxing the players with another game.
“I think that’s more fair, but we know it’s probably not going to end up like that. So, I mean you just kind of got to rock with the punches and just be able to go play.”
The NFL has desired adding more games for years, along with the increase in lucrative national television windows. The league increased the regular season from 14 games to 16 in 1978 and kept it there for decades.
But Goodell and the owners pushed through a 17th game in the latest CBA negotiations leading into the 2021 season and aren’t content stopping there, with Goodell saying in the spring that going to 18 games remains a priority as long as it can be done without significantly impacting player safety.
“If you’d asked me that 10 years ago, I probably would be excited about it. Now, not so excited, but it is what it is,” Raiders receiver Davante Adams said. “That’s the thing that’s special about football and why I really wanted to play football over basketball, is that I just feel like it’s a different type of feeling knowing that you only have a limited amount of opportunities out there.”
Adding another game to the season would add more broadcast windows. It also could push the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend with a federal holiday the day after the game. That would either require not adding a second bye week — which most players said would be needed to play an extra game — or moving the start of the season to Labor Day weekend, which the NFL has avoided since the 2000 season.
While moving the Super Bowl to a long holiday weekend might have appeal to many fans who wouldn’t have to go to work the next day, it could turn an NFL season into a seven-month marathon from the start of training camp to the final game.
“I feel like a couple of people are going to feel like (Nikola) Jokic, ready to go home,” Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs said, referring to the NBA star who complained about the length of that season when his Denver Nuggets won the championship in 2023. “But it takes what it takes, like the real champions are going to emerge and the real mentally strong survive. … So, it really doesn’t matter. Presidents Day and February all run into each other to me. It’s all the same, I’m here now so it is what it is. I know it’s for entertainment.”
The NFL is getting paid more than $113 billion over 11 years for its broadcast rights as the most valuable television property. Of the 100 most-watched TV broadcasts in 2023, 93 were NFL games, up from 61 in 2018.
But that extra revenue comes at a price borne by the bodies of the players.
“The fans, and rightfully so, shouldn’t know all the injuries we go through, but they don’t know what it takes to play on Sundays,” said Colts center Ryan Kelly, the team’s player representative. “I think it’s just too many games.”
When the NFL added a 17th game in 2021, the league took away one preseason game. Goodell had said that would be the plan again if the league ever went to an 18-game season.
But that raises concern from coaches about having fewer chances for younger players to prove themselves or develop and does little to ease the concerns of veterans, many of whom play few or no snaps in exhibition games.
“They talk about taking a preseason game out, which to me doesn’t matter because I play in like one preseason game,” said 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who has played 37 snaps in the preseason in the past six years. “Most vets do. So that doesn’t do anything for anybody.”
Other concessions would be much more important to players, whether it would be the extra bye week, a change to the offseason schedule or perhaps, most importantly, a larger share of the revenue. Players had their portion of shareable revenues rise from 47% to 48.5% under the last CBA when the season was increased to 17 games.
An 18th game would increase the size of the revenue pie and perhaps even the share that goes to players. When the season expanded to 17 games in 2021, some players were able to get an extra game check to increase their salary.
ESPN surveyed players in the offseason and found 46% were in favor of expanding the season to 18 games with stipulations, and another 8% were willing to do it without any concessions.
“That’s another check, right?” 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd said when asked for his opinion about an 18th game. “More games, more checks.”
DEREK HILL’S GRAND SLAM POWERS MARLINS PAST REDS
Derek Hill slugged his first career grand slam and rookie Valente Bellozo won his first major league game as the Miami Marlins beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Wednesday night.
Miami’s Jake Burger homered twice to complement Hill’s blast.
The Reds, who lead this four-game series 2-1, were powered by TJ Friedl, who hit the game’s second grand slam.
Bellozo (1-1) allowed five hits and two walks across 5 ? scoreless innings. A 24-year-old who is far from a top prospect, Bellozo also cooled off Cincinnati superstar Elly De La Cruz, who struck out twice and grounded out once in three at-bats against the Mexico native.
Stopping De La Cruz was crucial for Miami. In the first two games of this series, the star shortstop went 8-for-10 with five RBIs, four doubles and two homers. On Wednesday, De La Cruz went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and one walk.
Calvin Faucher pitched a shaky but scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
Andrew Abbott (9-9) took the loss after allowing six hits, three walks and six runs in five innings. He struck out seven.
Cincinnati trailed 6-0 in the seventh before Friedl hit his grand slam on an elevated 0-2 fastball from reliever Andrew Nardi.
The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth against Faucher, who then induced a game-ending groundout by Jeimer Candelario.
Miami exploded for five runs in the first inning.
Burger hit a one-out solo shot before Jonah Bride singled and Jesus Sanchez and Otto Lopez both walked. Hill then hit his 412-foot grand slam to right-center.
Cincinnati tried to cut into its 5-0 deficit in the second inning by loading the bases with two outs. After falling behind in the count to Jonathan India, Bellozo recovered to freeze him on a 2-2 fastball to end the threat.
Burger made it 6-0 in the fifth with the longest homer of the night – a 422-foot bomb to left.
–Field Level Media
FALCONS RECEIVER RONDALE MOORE CARTED OFF FIELD WITH LEG INJURY
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore was carted off the field with a leg injury during the team’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday.
Athletic trainers placed an air cast on Moore’s leg as both teams immediately rushed to be near the injured player. Falcons players knelt while Moore received attention. The practice, nearing its conclusion, ended and Moore was transported to a nearby facility for evaluation.
“Thoughts and prayers are with Rondale,” Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said after practice. “Not really sure what’s going on but hope it’s not serious.”
The 24-year-old Moore is in his first year with Atlanta after spending his first three seasons at Arizona, where he caught 135 passes for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns. He has been listed as a backup in the first two weeks of training camp.
The Falcons and Dolphins completed two days of joint practices before they will play their first preseason game Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
49ERS SIGN WR JONTRE KIRKLIN, RB KE’SHAWN VAUGHN
The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver Jontre Kirklin and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to one-year deals on Wednesday.
Kirklin, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 after five seasons at LSU. He joined the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad in 2023 and has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Vaughn, 27, was a third-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2020. He rushed for 384 yards and two touchdowns and added 14 receptions for 81 yards and one score in 43 games (one start) for the Buccaneers from 2020-23.
The team released veteran safety Erik Harris and waived/injured undrafted rookie wide receiver Terique Owens, son of franchise great Terrell Owens, to make room on the training camp roster.
TITANS LB GARRET WALLOW OUT FOR SEASON WITH TORN PEC
Tennessee Titans linebacker Garret Wallow will miss the 2024 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Coach Brian Callahan confirmed the practice injury on Wednesday and said Wallow will go on injured reserve.
The Titans signed Wallow off the Houston Texans’ practice squad last December and he played in three games.
A 2021 fifth-round pick, Wallow has 42 tackles and one sack in 35 games (five starts) with the Texans (2021-23) and Titans.
Wallow, 25, was expected to back up starting inside linebackers Jack Gibbens and Kenneth Murray this season.
REPORT: RAVENS CB ARTHUR MAULET (KNEE) TO MISS START OF SEASON
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet is set to have arthroscopic knee surgery and isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the season, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
Coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday that the injury wasn’t season-ending, and NFL Network said he will miss some regular-season time — perhaps only the first month.
Maulet, 31, entered the league in 2017 with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and played for the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers before landing with the Ravens last season on a one-year deal. Baltimore signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract in March.
Last season, Maulet appeared in 14 games (three starts) and contributed 37 tackles, two sacks, an interception and five passes defensed.
In 82 career games (23 starts), Maulet has 220 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: SURGING D-BACKS SWEEP DH VS. GUARDIANS
Josh Bell homered in back-to-back innings and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks won 5-3 on Wednesday to complete a doubleheader and three-game series sweep of the Cleveland Guardians, who have lost a season-high five straight.
Bell connected for an opposite-field solo homer against Carlos Carrasco (3-10) in the second. An inning later, he went deep with a man on for his ninth homer in 13 games. Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings in his season debut as Arizona won for the 12th time in 14 games.
The surging Diamondbacks became the first team this season to sweep a series from the American League Central-leading Guardians.
Jose Ramirez hit his 30th homer of the year and David Fry also went deep for Cleveland, which has allowed 35 runs during its five-game rut. Carrasco yielded four runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Guardians, who are 16-21 since June 26.
Diamondbacks 7, Guardians 3 (Game 1)
Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte each hit two-run homers as surging Arizona beat host Cleveland in the opener of a doubleheader.
Eugenio Suarez added a run-scoring double for the Diamondbacks, who have won the first two of this three-game set and 11 of their last 13. Arizona starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (6-6) retired the first 12 batters and allowed two runs while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings.
Guardians starter Ben Lively (10-7) allowed two homers among four hits and walked four in five innings. Josh Naylor homered for Cleveland, which leads the American League Central but lost its season-high fourth straight game and just its third series at home.
Astros 6, Rangers 4
Victor Caratini and Yordan Alvarez each homered as Houston beat Texas in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
Houston’s Yusei Kikuchi (5-9) allowed two runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Josh Hader retired the Rangers in order in the ninth inning to convert his 24th consecutive save opportunity, matching Brad Lidge’s single-season franchise record from 2005.
Marcus Semien hit a solo homer for Texas, which has lost nine of its past 12 games.
Giants 7, Nationals 4
Matt Chapman, Heliot Ramos and Mike Yastrzemski smashed solo homers for visiting San Francisco.
Chapman finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was a triple short of the cycle.
Giants starter Blake Snell (2-3), in his first outing since throwing a 114-pitch no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, went six innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight.
Jake Irvin (8-10) was the loser.
Cubs 8, Twins 2
Ian Happ clubbed a two-run homer and four Chicago relievers combined for five shutout frames as the Cubs beat visiting Minnesota in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Michael Busch went 2-for-3 with a solo home run for Chicago, which won for the sixth time in its past eight games. Drew Smyly worked the fifth inning for the Cubs in relief of starter Javier Assad before Jorge Lopez (2-2) pitched two frames. Porter Hodge and Julian Merryweather each pitched one inning.
Twins starter Joe Ryan exited with right triceps tightness in the bottom of the third. Trevor Richards (2-2) entered in relief and walked five batters while giving up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Minnesota has lost two straight following a five-game win streak.
Athletics 3, White Sox 2
Lawrence Butler capped a three-run seventh inning with a go-ahead sacrifice fly to rally Oakland past visiting Chicago in the rubber match of a three-game series.
A’s All-Star Mason Miller pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the save in his return from a broken left pinky. The Oakland closer had not pitched since July 22. Armando Alvarez and Zach Gelof had RBIs for the A’s before Butler’s sacrifice hit. T.J. McFarland (2-1) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win.
Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer for the White Sox, who ended their American League record-tying 21-game losing streak the night before. Chicago reliever Touki Toussaint (0-2) was charged with all three Oakland runs.
Marlins 6, Reds 4
Derek Hill slugged his first career grand slam and rookie Valente Bellozo earned his first major league win as Miami beat visiting Cincinnati.
The Marlins’ Jake Burger homered twice to complement Hill’s blast.
The Reds, who lead this four-game series 2-1, were powered by TJ Friedl, who hit the game’s second grand slam.
Orioles 7, Blue Jays 3
Anthony Santander had two home runs, three RBIs and made a spectacular catch as visiting Baltimore defeated Toronto.
Jackson Holliday added a two-run homer as the Orioles split the first two games of a three-game series. Baltimore’s 20-year-old rookie infielder became the youngest player in American League history to hit a home run in three straight games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games for the Blue Jays. Leo Jimenez added three doubles.
Brewers 8, Braves 5
Blake Perkins had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run single, to lead visiting Milwaukee over Atlanta.
The Brewers have won the first two games of the three-game series. Atlanta has lost four in a row.
Braves starter Chris Sale went 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks, striking out 10. It marked Sale’s fourth double-digit strikeout game this season and the 85th of his career, moving him past Steve Carlton and into eighth place on the all-time list.
Cardinals 5, Rays 2
Nolan Arenado and Alec Burleson drove in two runs each as St. Louis defeated visiting Tampa Bay.
Masyn Winn went 2-for-4 with two runs for the Cardinals, who have won the first two games in this three-game series.
The Rays went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
Yankees 5, Angels 2 (Game 1)
Rookie Luis Gil survived five walks in five scoreless innings to win his third straight decision for host New York, which won for the eighth time in nine games.
Gil (12-5) allowed just two hits, with both coming in the second. Aaron Judge reached base four times and had an RBI single in the fourth for the Yankees. He has a major-league-best 104 RBIs on the season.
Los Angeles’ Zach Neto hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Jake Cousins. Angels starter Davis Daniel (1-3) allowed five runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Angels 8, Yankees 2 (Game 2)
Zach Neto hit a grand slam to cap a six-run second inning and had a career-high six RBIs for visiting Los Angeles.
Neto added a two-run double in the fourth. The shortstop surpassed his previous career high of four RBIs that he set against the New York Mets on Saturday.
Hunter Strickland (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings and was awarded the win.
Royals 8, Red Sox 4
Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice and drove in four runs, leading Kansas City past visiting Boston to salvage the finale of a three-game series.
Cole Ragans (9-7) allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings for the Royals. The left-hander struck out seven and collected his fourth win over his past five starts.
Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford (7-9) tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. He allowed Witt’s first home run, a one-out solo shot in the first to open the scoring.
Padres 9, Pirates 8 (10 innings)
Xander Bogaerts broke a 10th-inning tie with an RBI single and San Diego scored three times in the frame before holding on for a win over host Pittsburgh.
Facing reliever Colin Holderman (3-5), Bogaerts brought in automatic runner Luis Arraez with a hit to left for a 7-6 lead. Manny Machado lined out to score Ha-Seong Kim, and Bogaerts came home on an error by Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal at the plate. The Padres went on to record their fourth straight win and their 13th victory in the past 15 games.
In the bottom of the 10th, Oneil Cruz started as the automatic runner and scored after reliever Tanner Scott (7-5) walked Michael A. Taylor, Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds in succession. Taylor came in on a wild pitch from reliever Adrian Morejon, who replaced Scott. Pittsburgh has lost three straight and five of its past six.
–Field Level Media
NBA NEWS
JAZZ EXTEND MARKKANEN ON 5-YEAR, $238M DEAL
The Utah Jazz are extending All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen on a five-year, $238-million contract, his agent told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.
After being embroiled in rumors throughout the summer, Markkanen will now be ineligible as a trade piece for the 2024-25 season.
The Finnish forward was linked to the Golden State Warriors, but the Jazz were reportedly set on acquiring sophomore forward Brandin Podziemski in the deal, and Golden State refused.
The Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs were also apparently interested in Markkanen.
The 7-footer has flourished since being acquired by the Jazz from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022. Markkanen won the league’s Most Improved Player award in his first season in Utah, posting 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. His stats fell slightly in 2023-24, averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 boards.
Although the 27-year-old has put up gaudy numbers in Utah, the team has finished 12th in the loaded Western Conference in both of his campaigns with the squad.
JEREMY LAMB ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER 10 NBA SEASONS
Former first-round draft pick Jeremy Lamb announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday after 10 seasons with four teams.
Lamb, who last played in the league in 2022, announced his decision on Instagram.
“Basketball has been good to me throughout my entire life, so this decision didn’t come easy, but I have decided to retire from the game that has given me everything,” Lamb began the post before thanking family, friends, teammates and coaches.
Lamb, 32, was selected No. 12 overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in October of that year in the James Harden deal.
Lamb averaged 10.1 and 3.6 rebounds in 573 games (136 starts) for the Thunder (2012-15), Charlotte Hornets (2015-19), Indiana Pacers (2019-22) and Sacramento Kings (2022).
GOLF NEWS
2024 WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP: PREVIEW, PROPS, BEST BETS
The race is on for coveted spots in the FedEx Cup playoffs at this week’s Wyndham Championship, which serves as the final regular-season event of 2024.
The final opportunity to qualify has drawn a field chock full of players hovering around the top 70 in the standings who will earn spots in the first leg of the playoffs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The event begins Thursday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., and our golf experts provide their favorite prop picks along with best bets to win this week.
WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Location: Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 8-11
Course: Sedgefield Country Club (Par 70, 7,131 Yards)
Purse: $7.9M (Winner: $1.422M)
Defending Champion: Lucas Glover
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @WyndhamChamp
PROP PICKS
–Cameron Young to Beat Davis Thompson (+100 at DraftKings): Thompson is the -120 favorite and won just three starts ago at the John Deere Classic following a T2 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and a T9 at the U.S. Open. However, he failed to crack the Top 40 at the Scottish Open or The Open Championship. Young has also enjoyed a solid stretch with a T31 at The Open coming on the heels of consecutive top-10s on Tour, and we’re taking a chance on his solid potential payout.
–Sungjae Im Top 20 Finish (+100 at BetRivers): This should be a relatively safe play, with the South Korean riding a streak of four consecutive top-10s, including three of T7 or better. In his past 11 worldwide starts, Im has posted nine top-20s while missing a pair of cuts at two majors before rebounding with his top-10 at The Open. He also tied for 14th here last year.
–Nicolai Hojgaard Top Nordic Finisher (+165 at DraftKings): Hojgaard will need to outperform three competitors in this prop: Thorbjorn Olesen (+230), Henrik Norlander (+300) and Vincent Norrman (+450). The 23-year-old Hojgaard has a lone top-10 in 17 starts as a rookie, but is coming off a solo seventh at the Olympics, where fellow Dane Olesen finished T14. Olesen is a real threat here, although his has only two top-20s on the PGA Tour this year. Norlander did follow a T11 at the Barracuda Championship with a T12 at the 3M Open, while Norrman has failed to make the weekend in four consecutive starts.
2024 Prop Picks Record: 38-44-1
BEST BETS
–Sungjae Im (+1200 at DraftKings) is the highest-ranked player in the field in the FedEx Cup standings at No. 9. He has finished T12 or better in four consecutive starts, including a T7 at The Open Championship. He is the biggest liability this week at BetMGM, where Im leads the field with 11.1 percent of the total bets and 18.5 percent of the money backing him to win.
–Billy Horschel (+2200) finished T2 at The Open in his most recent start, and finished solo fourth here in 2023.
–Shane Lowry (+2500) is 10th in the FedEx Cup standings. He had a streak of three consecutive top-20s snapped with a T26 at The Open.
–Cameron Young (+2800) is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory. He followed up a T9 at the Travelers and a T6 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic with a T31 at The Open.
–Akshay Bhatia (+3000) has a missed cut and T64 in his past two starts. But that followed a pair of top-5s for the winner of this year’s Valero Texas Open. He’s the second biggest liability for BetMGM, having drawn 7.0 percent of the bets and 7.9 percent of the money at +3500.
–Robert MacIntyre (+5000) has won two of his past seven starts and is the second highest ranked player in the field at No. 16.
NOTES
–Nos. 68-70 in the FedEx Cup standings entering the tournament are Emiliano Grillo, Seamus Power and Brendon Todd, while Nos. 71-73 are Victor Perez, Davis Riley and Andrew Putnam.
–Matt Kuchar, the only player who has qualified for the playoffs in every season since its inception in 2007, enters the week No. 111 in the standings. He needs a win in order to qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
–The field includes eight of the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings and 21 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by No. 15 Brian Harman.
–Twenty-one players in the field also competed in last week’s Men’s Olympic Golf Competition, including six who currently are between Nos. 61-90 in the standings: No. 61 Min Woo Lee, No. 67 Grillo, No. 70 Perez, No. 79 Nicolai Højgaard, No. 86 Kevin Yu and No. 88 C.T. Pan.
–Glover, No. 76 in the standings, seeks to become the first player to successfully defend at the event since Sam Snead in the mid-1950s.
–Field Level Media
GOLF GLANCE: FINAL PLAYOFF PUSH AT WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Field Level Media’s Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Olympic Men’s Golf Competition (Scottie Scheffler)
THIS WEEK: Wyndham Championship, Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 8-11
Course: Sedgefield Country Club (Par 70, 7,131 Yards)
Purse: $7.9M (Winner: $1.422M)
Defending Champion: Lucas Glover
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @WyndhamChamp
NOTES: This is the regular-season finale, with players inside the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings following this event earning spots into the first leg of the playoffs. Nos. 68-70 entering the tournament are Emiliano Grillo, Seamus Power and Brendon Todd, while Nos. 71-73 are Victor Perez, Davis Riley and Andrew Putnam. … Matt Kuchar, the only player who has qualified for the playoffs in every season since its inception in 2007, enters the week No. 111 in the standings. He needs a win in order to qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. … The field includes eight of the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings and 21 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, led by No. 15 Brian Harman. … Twenty-one players in the field also competed in last week’s Men’s Olympic Golf Competition, including six who currently are between Nos. 61-90 in the standings: No. 61 Min Woo Lee, No. 67 Grillo, No. 70 Perez, No. 79 Nicolai Højgaard, No. 86 Kevin Yu and No. 88 C.T. Pan. … Glover, No. 76 in the standings, seeks to become the first player to successfully defend at the event since Sam Snead in the 1950s.
BEST BETS: Sungjae Im (+1200 at DraftKings) is the highest-ranked player in the field in the FedEx Cup standings at No. 9. He has finished T12 or better in four consecutive starts, including a T7 at The Open Championship. … Billy Horschel (+2200) finished T2 at The Open in his most recent start, and finished solo fourth here in 2023. … Shane Lowry (+2500) is 10th in the FedEx Cup standings. He had a streak of three consecutive top-20s snapped with a T26 at The Open. … Cameron Young (+2800) is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory. He followed up a T9 at the Travelers and a T6 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic with a T31 at The Open. … Akshay Bhatia (+3000) has an MC and T64 in his past two starts. But that followed a pair of top-5s for winner of this year’s Valero Texas Open. … Robert MacIntyre (+5000) has won two of his past seven starts and is the second highest ranked player in the field at No. 16.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: FedEx Cup Championship, Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 15-18
LPGA Tour
LAST TOURNAMENT: Portland Classic (Moriya Jutanugarn)
THIS WEEK: Olympic Women’s Golf Competition, Paris, Aug. 7-11
Race to the CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Women’s Scottish Open, Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 15-18
PGA Tour Champions
LAST TOURNAMENT: The Senior Open Championship (K.J. Choi)
THIS WEEK: Boeing Classic, Snoqualmie, Wash., Aug. 9-11
Course: The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (Par 72, 7,217 Yards)
Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)
Defending Champion: Stephen Ames
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday-Sunday, 6-8 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: The field includes the top five players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings: No. 1 Els, No. 2 Ames, No. 3 Steven Alker, No. 4 Richard Green and No. 5 Choi. Els is joined in the field by fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members Bernhard Langer, who won the event in 2010 and 2016, Fred Couples and Vijay Singh. … Ames tied the tournament scoring record of 19-under 197 last year.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Rogers Charity Classic, Calgary, Aug. 16-18
LIV Golf League
LAST TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf UK (Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Legion XIII)
THIS WEEK: OFF.
2024 Leaders: Players, Joaquin Niemann; Team, Crushers GC
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Greenbrier, WVa., Aug. 16-18
–Field Level Media
TENNIS NEWS
RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF US OPEN
Four-time U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday, announcing on social media that he didn’t believe he could give full effort later this summer in New York.
The 38-year-old Spaniard, a 22-time major champion, is coming off of playing singles and doubles at the Paris Olympics and failing to add to his two career gold medals.
Nadal said he has “amazing memories” of the U.S. Open, where play begins Aug. 26. He captured singles titles in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
“I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe (Arthur Ashe Stadium), but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100% this time,” he wrote. “Thanks to all my US Fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time.”
While retirement talk has surrounded Nadal — he will miss his third Grand Slam tournament this year — he wrote that he will compete at the Laver Cup on Sept. 20-22 in Berlin, Germany.
Nadal has played a limited schedule after coming back from hip surgery in 2023 and dealing with abdominal muscle issues this year.
After losing his second-round singles match against eventual gold medalist Novak Djokovic of Serbia in Paris, Nadal said he will wait until after the Olympics to discuss his retirement plans.
“I cannot spend every day thinking about whether it is the last or not, because otherwise it is impossible,” he said.
“I have the doubles left. It is not time to get down,” added Nadal, who partnered with Carlos Alcaraz but fell in the doubles quarterfinals. “When I finish here, I will make the decisions I have to make here.”
Nadal has skipped the U.S. Open in four of the past five years — he reached the fourth round in 2022, losing to Frances Tiafoe.
This year, an injury led him to sit out the Australian Open in January, then in May he lost in the first round at the French Open, where is a 14-time champion. He decided to skip the grass courts of Wimbledon to focus on the clay at Roland Garros for the Olympics.
–Field Level Media
U.S. OPEN PRIZE MONEY JUMPS TO RECORD $75M; $3.6M TO WINNERS
The United States Tennis Association announced Wednesday that players will be competing for $75 million in prize money at the upcoming U.S. Open, an increase of over 15 percent compared to last year.
The men’s and women’s champions will receive $3.6 million apiece, up 20 percent from 2023. Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff are the defending champions of the season’s final grand slam.
All rounds of the U.S. Open will see an increase in pay from 2023, including the qualifying tournament.
Reaching the first round of the Main Draw has hit $100,000 for the first time, up 23 percent from last year.
The U.S. Open runs Aug. 26-Sept. 8 in New York.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
COLTS NEWS
COLTS WR JOSH DOWNS (ANKLE) HELPED OFF PRACTICE FIELD
Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs was helped off the practice field Wednesday after an apparent ankle injury.
Downs did not put any weight on his lower leg after being tackled by safety Nick Cross during 7-on-7 drills.
Downs, who turns 23 next Monday, was the Colts’ third-round pick (79th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts) during his rookie campaign.
Colts coach Shane Steichen was disappointed with the injury and said Downs will undergo testing immediately.
“We gotta be smart,” Steichen said. “We’re competing like crazy, but we gotta stay off the ground, and we can’t go down.”
Cross said the incident was unfortunate but part of the competition of training camp.
“I mean, we’re playing football. We’re competing. Josh is my guy. I love that boy to death,” Cross said. “… We’re here to play football at the end of the day.”
Downs is a projected starter along with two-time 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and either rookie Adonai Mitchell or Alec Pierce.
The Colts open the preseason on Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos.
INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER OPENS PRESEASON
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The ball is rolling for the 52nd edition of Indiana men’s soccer as the program opened its 2024 preseason Wednesday (Aug. 7) morning with its first training session.
Speaking to media, IU head coach Todd Yeagley – kicking off his 15th season in that role – emphasized veteran leadership as the squad welcomes 14 newcomers to the program this fall.
“This program goes by the older players,” he said. “Them passing down what knowledge they have and how we do things is incredibly important. They’re the storytellers, they’re the ones that keep it going.
“We (the coaches) can only do so much, and the players are the ultimate guide in how this happens.”
IU comes into preseason as the No. 7-ranked team in the country according to the United Soccer Coaches poll, reflective of an Elite Eight run in 2023.
The Hoosiers have 16 days to prepare for their season opener, a marquee road matchup with Saint Louis on August 23. In the buildup, Indiana will travel for exhibition matches against Bowling Green (Aug. 13 in Westfield, Ind.) – and Louisville (Aug. 17).
INDIANA FOOTBALL
SARRATT, VANHORSE EARN PRESEASON WATCH LIST NODS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It was a busy preseason watch list day for the Indiana football program on Wednesday (Aug. 7) as both wide receiver Elijah Sarratt and running back Solomon Vanhorse earned preseason honors. Sarratt was tabbed to the Biletnikoff Award and Vanhorse earned a spot on the College Football Comeback Player of the Year.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver, not merely college football’s outstanding wide receiver.
The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, award the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award. Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Elijah Sarratt, WR – Biletnikoff Award
In 25 career games (14 starts), Sarratt enters his first season at Indiana after stops at Saint Francis (Pa.) (2022) and at James Madison (2023). He earned first-team All-Sun Belt as a sophomore at JMU and was a FCS Freshman All-America and first-team All-Northeast Conference his true freshman season at SFU.
He owns six career 100-yard receiving games (5 at JMU; 1 at SFU) and has produced multiple touchdowns in five career games. Entering the season, Sarratt leads all FBS true juniors with 21 receiving touchdowns and sits No. 2 with 1,890 yards receiving (Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona).
Last season, Sarratt caught multiple passes in all 13 games for James Madison and finished No. 11 nationally in yards receiving (1,191). He was No. 22 in the FBS in receptions (82) and receptions per game (6.2) and his eight receiving touchdowns finished No. 32 nationally.
Solomon Vanhorse, RB – College Football Comeback Player of the Year
Entering his seventh season of college football, Vanhorse has missed 20 of his potential 24 games over the last two seasons, including the final 12 of the 2023 season due to injury. Vanhorse was a third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection as a kick returner in 2021, he became the 39th player in FBS or FCS since 1996 to return a kickoff for a touchdown, score a rushing touchdown and have a receiving touchdown in the same game (Towson, 11/20).
He has accounted for 15 career touchdowns in his career with seven rushing, seven receiving and one return score. He owns 1,910 all-purpose yards on 165 career touches (136 rush, 55 receptions, 2 PR, 28 KR). He averages 23.6 yards per kickoff return in his career and 10.7 yards per reception.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST FEATURES 2 BOILERMAKERS
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Looking to get back on the field following season-ending injuries in 2023, wide receiver Jahmal Edrine and tight end Max Klare were named to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the 2024 campaign. Purdue was one of only three Big Ten programs to have multiple players on the watch list announced by the College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Edrine transferred to Purdue from FAU in 2023 and looked to be one of the Boilermakers’ top receivers during Ryan Walters’ first season as head coach. However, the wideout suffered an injury during the first week of fall camp that forced him to miss the entire season. The last time Edrine was on the field, he tallied 39 catches for 570 yards and six touchdowns during the 2022 season for FAU.
Klare was a go-to target for quarterback Hudson Card at the start of last season, hauling in 22 receptions for 196 yards through the first five games. At the time, he ranked third among the nation’s tight ends in catches, leading all freshmen, and his receiving yardage ranked second nationally by freshman tight ends. Klare caught eight passes for 64 yards in the victory over Virginia Tech, both team highs and the most receiving yards by a freshman tight end since Brycen Hopkins recorded 80 against Iowa in 2016. The Guilford, Indiana, native added five catches for a career-high 65 yards one week later against Syracuse. However, in the victory over Illinois, Klare suffered a season-ending injury to cut his strong start short.
Both Boilermakers have been on the field for the first week of fall camp, ready to return to competition and provide sparks to the Purdue offense in 2024. The Boilermakers begin the season at home, welcoming Indiana State to Ross-Ade Stadium (Aug. 31). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
EVANS, MITCHELL EARN SELECTION TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Senior tight end Mitchell Evans and graduate wide receiver Kris Mitchell have both earned selection to the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List. The award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver; any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. This marks Mitchell’s second selection to the award’s watch list, having also been named in 2023.
Notre Dame has had one winner of the Biletnikoff Award: wide receiver Golden Tate in 2009. Receivers Jeff Samardzija (2005, 2006) and Michael Floyd (2010, 2011) were finalists for the award.
Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury. He played in eight games as a junior, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Through those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown during the season, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.
In 2023, Mitchell led CUSA and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in receiving yards (1,118 – 18th nationally) and receiving yards per game (93.2 – 13th nationally). He owns 100 career receptions for 1,663 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2023, Mitchell played in all 12 games in 2023, finishing the season as FIU’s leading receiver as he totaled 64 catches for 1,118 yards with seven touchdowns. He averaged 93.2 yards per game, recording at least one reception in all 12 games and multiple receptions in 11 games.
VALPO BASEBALL
TURZENSKI SIGNS WITH ORIOLES AS UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT, MAKES PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
Former Valparaiso University baseball pitcher Trent Turzenski’s career officially reached the next level on Tuesday.
Turzenski, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent following last month’s Major League Baseball Draft, made his professional debut with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in a game against the Salem Red Sox.
“I was hoping to get drafted, but didn’t hear my name called,” Turzenski said. “Getting that call after the draft from a team saying that they wanted me, there were a lot of emotions going on. It was a really happy feeling to be able to work through everything from youth to high school to college to injuries. Everything came together for me in that moment; it was a really good moment in my baseball career.”
Turzenski accepted the deal with the Orioles on July 17, and flew out early in the morning on July 21 to report to the team’s spring-training facility in Sarasota, Fla. He was there for two weeks, throwing bullpens and one live session. On Sunday, Aug. 4, the Orioles sent Turzenski to Roanoke, Va. – the home of the Salem Red Sox – to join the Shorebirds.
That set up the right-hander’s debut, which came in a high-leverage spot as he tried to preserve a 2-2 tie with runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the eighth. After a caught stealing, he got out of the inning with his first pro strikeout, stranding the tying run at third. Turzenski stayed in the game with the score still even at two in the bottom of the ninth. After a double and stolen base to start the inning, he retired three straight including a key strikeout with one out and a man at third to send the game to extras.
“They sent out who was hot for the game, so I knew I was going to get in at some point,” Turzenski said. “Luckily, I got in during a tight situation. I had to get after guys; it was no time to mess around. I was really happy with how it went.”
Turzenski spent his five-year collegiate career in a Valpo program that is helmed by Brian Schmack, a former professional pitcher in his own right whose career peaked at the highest level when he reached the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 2003.
“We’re excited for Trent,” Schmack said. “It’s every guy’s dream to continue playing after college. He gets that opportunity. As long as you’ve got a jersey on your back, you’ve got an opportunity to continue to play baseball. We wish him nothing but the best.”
Turzenski logged 134 1/3 innings and appeared in 39 games for Valpo from 2020 to 2024.
“I love the program,” Turzenski said. “I loved seeing it grow during the time I was there while trying to get established in the Missouri Valley Conference. I love the coaching staff. A lot of my best friends are guys who I played with at Valpo. I cherish a lot of those relationships that I made with those guys.”
One of those relationships was with left-handed pitcher Jake Miller, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. When Turzenski arrived in Florida to report to the O’s spring-training site, by an amazing coincidence, Miller was pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers that night in a road game against the Bradenton Marauders in Bradenton, Fla. Turzenski took a 20-minute Uber ride from his hotel to the stadium to watch his former Valpo roommate pitch.
On a night where one Valpo-turned-pro pitcher was on the mound and another was in the stands, Miller picked up the win with five shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking out 10. The southpaw continued a stellar season for the Tigers’ Single-A affiliate, improving to 8-1 with a glittering 1.16 ERA in 18 appearances spanning 62 1/3 innings. He has struck out 81 against 14 walks in 2024.
“It was cool to see Jake pitch, I wasn’t sure when I’d have that opportunity again,” Turzenski said. “It’s good to see him doing so well.”
Reaching the professional stage of his collegiate journey is extra special for Turzenski, who overcame a significant injury during his collegiate tenure with a long recovery from Tommy John surgery, which cost him much of the 2022 season and nearly all of the 2023 campaign.
“I had some aspirations of playing pro my junior year, but I got Tommy John and the injury took a little longer than most,” he said. “I was able to fight back and come out strong to get this opportunity. Usually, the surgery takes about 12 months, so I was predicting I could be back at some point the following season. I had some arm troubles getting back and pitched in just one game vs. Southern Illinois. After that season ended, I got back into throwing, but my arm still didn’t feel great. There was a lot of doubt in my mind whether things were going to come together again, and luckily it just took a little bit more time and I was able to get back on the field.”
Turzenski’s focus now turns to continuing to earn his spot and finishing out this year strong.
“I want to keep improving on my pitches and my velocity,” he said. “I’m working on building my strength and my body and everything that goes along with that. I’m hoping to pitch well and keep rising through the ranks.”
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES
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/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
25 – 10 – 14 – 20 – 37 – 45 – 7 – 4 – 6 – 9 – 11 – 5 -13 – 8 – 10 – 12 – 14 – 15
August 8, 1920 – The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 1-0 in shortest AL game which lasted only a mere 73 minutes. Tigers pitcher Howard Ehmke used his curve ball effectively to allow only three New York hits fanning eight of the Yankees batters. Babe Ruth was one of the Yanks held hitless.
August 8, 1922 – The Pittsburgh Pirates set a record of 46 hits in a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies. The scores of 19-8 and 7-3 were part of a run the third-place Pirates were making on the NL top dogs of the New York Giants and St Louis Cardinals. For the three-game series against the Phils, the Pirates walloped an amazing 68 hits in the span going back the Monday August 7 game.
August 8, 1963 – Los Angeles Dodgers Frank Howard (Number 25) and Bill Skowron (Number 14) were the third duo to hit consecutive pinch home runs with starter Al Ferrara, Number 20 adding one for LA too but the Dodgers still tumbled by the score of 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs as Ron Santo, Number 10 belted two wall clearers of his own for Chicago.
August 8, 1970 – The New York Yankees honored Casey Stengel, retiring his Number 37.
August 8, 1976 – Historic Uniform Alert! The Chicago White Sox entered the field for a game with the entire roster wearing shorts.
August 8, 1987 – Milwaukee Brewers’ Rob Deer, Number 45 struck out 5 times in a game. Bo Jackson also tied the record of 5 Ks in a game earlier in the 1987 season with Kansas City on April 18.
August 8, 1988 – Minnesota Twins turned the 2nd triple-play of the year in a 6-2 win over Cleveland
August 8, 1988 – It was something never tried before but they would have to wait a bit longer to accomplish the feat. The Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies attempted to play the first game ever under the lights at Wrigley Field but the contest was a rainout in 4th inning with Chicago leading, 3-1
August 8, 1990 – Carlton Fisk (Number 72) tied the record set years earlier by Johnny Bench (Number 5) for a catcher hitting 327 career home runs.
August 8, 1992 – The original US ‘Dream Team’ wins the basketball gold at the Barcelona Olympics 117-85 over Croatia; features superstars Michael Jordan (Number 9), Magic Johnson (Number 15), Larry Bird (Number 7), Scottie Pippen (Number 8), Charles Barkley (Number 14), Patrick Ewing (Number 6), John Stockton (Number 12), Chris Mullin (Number 13), Christian Laettner (Number 4), Karl Malone (Number 11), David Robinson (Number 5) and Clyde Drexler (Number 10)
August 8, 1997 – Seattle Mariners, The Big Unit, Randy Johnson, Number 51 struck out 19 Chicago White Sox
August 8, 2004 – John Elway, Number 7 of the Denver Broncos was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
FOOTBALL HISTORY
August 8, 1961 – The last of 6 exhibition meetings of the NFL and the CFL took place as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats took apart the Buffalo Bills in Hamilton, 38-21. This was the lone victory of the CFL against its then-rival league. It was probably the reason why no games have been played since between the two leagues.
August 8, 1975 – Country Singer Hank Williams Jr. falls off of the mountainside of Montana’s Ajax Peak. The tumble was nearly 500 feet during a recreational mountain climb by the entertainer. Incredibly he survived with a skull fracture and multiple facial fractures. We are sure glad he survived as Williams later wrote and performed Monday Night Football Intro song “Are you Ready for Some Football”. Now try getting that song out of your mind all day, or better yet leave it there!
August 8, 1984 – Carl Lewis wins his 3rd Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in LA. Earlier in that same year Mr. Lewis was drafted in the 12th round of the NFL Draft by Gil Brandt and Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys. He declined the football offer to stay true to his Olympic track endeavors and it paid off with Gold!
August 8, 2004 – Legendary Broncos QB, John Elway and former Lions running back Barry Sanders join defensive end Carl Eller and tackle Bob Brown as being the Pro Football Hall of Fames inductees on this date.
August 8, 2021 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined 8 new members in their hallowed halls. Receiving bronze busts were Peyton Manning, John Lynch, Charles Woodson, Alan Faneca, Calvin Johnson, Coach Tom Flores, Drew Pearson, and Player Personnel Director Bill Nunn.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for August 8
August 8, 1961 – Raleigh, North Carolina – Bruce Matthews Pro Football Hall of Fame. Matthews spent 19 seasons in the NFL with the Houston and Tennessee Oilers and Titans. The sturdy offensive lineman played his college ball at USC from 1979 to 1982. Matthews was selected ninth overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1983 NFL Draft. For his career, Bruce started in 293 of his career in 296 NFL games and became a 14-time Pro Bowl selection spanning three different decades! Matthews was a 10-time First-team All-Pro as he was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Matthew is the brother of linebacker Clay Matthews and uncle of linebacker Clay Matthews III.
August 8, 1970 – Trev Alberts was a linebacker out of the University of Nebraska who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. According to FootballFoundation.org Alberts was one of the most decorated defensive players in Nebraska history, Trev Alberts became the Cornhuskers’ first Butkus Award winner in 1993 as the top linebacker in the nation. Trev is Nebraska’s all-time career leader in sacks and is tied for the school’s single-season record in his senior season was a unanimous First Team All-American as he helped the Huskers to an undefeated regular season and the national title game against Florida State at the Orange Bowl. Trev was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, spending three seasons with the franchise. As of late Alberts spent time as a college football analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports Network, and he now serves as the director of athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Not Yet in the Hall of Fame Birthday
August 8, 1986 – Carmel, New York – Wide receiver Pierre Garcon who played his college ball at Mount Union from 2005-07 was born. Per a Yahoo.com report, Garcon was selected 205th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2008 NFL Draft and stayed with the Colts franchise from 2008-11. Pierre also had stints with Washington and San Francisco. For his career, he hauled in 564 receptions for 7,068 yards and 37 touchdowns. Garcon even led the NFL in receptions in 2013 with 113 caught passes!
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Aug. 8
1903 — A week after pitching his first doubleheader triumph, Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity of the New York Giants scored a double victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 and 4-3. In the second game, he stole home.
1915 — Philadelphia’s Gavvy Cravath hit four doubles and drove in eight runs in a 14-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.
1920 — Howard Ehmke of the Detroit Tigers pitched the fastest 1-0 game in American League history — 1 hour, 13 minutes, for a victory against the New York Yankees.
1931 — Bob Burke of the Washington Senators pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.
1954 — The Brooklyn Dodgers pounded the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning after two were out.
1973 — Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles as the Boston Red Sox posted a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
1985 — Baseball, after a two-day walkout, resumed playing with 18 games scheduled, including five doubleheaders.
1988 — The first-night game scheduled in the 74-year history of Chicago’s Wrigley Field was postponed with the Cubs leading the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 after heavy rains started in the bottom of the fourth inning. Philadelphia’s Phil Bradley led off the game with a home run, but all numbers were wiped out when the rain came.
1992 — Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley had his consecutive save record snapped at 40. His consecutive save records — 36 straight to start a season, and 40 straight over two seasons — ended trying to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals. Eckersley gave up a two-out, two-run single to Gregg Jefferies to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. But the Athletics came back to win the game in the ninth, 5-3.
1997 — Randy Johnson struck out 19, matching the major league record for left-handers he had tied earlier this season, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-0.
1998 — Paul Molitor stole his 500th base in Minnesota’s 6-3 loss to Baltimore becoming the fifth player with 3,000 hits and 500 steals. Molitor joined Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, and Lou Brock.
2000 — Darren Dreifort of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit two homers and was the winning pitcher in a 7-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
2001 — Damion Easley went 6-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs as Detroit pounded Texas 19-6.
2014 — Bartolo Colon records the 200th win of his career in the Mets’ 5 – 4 win over the Phillies.
2016 — Brandon Crawford became the first major league player in 41 years to get seven hits in a game, putting the San Francisco Giants ahead to stay with an RBI single in the 14th inning of an 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins. Crawford tripled, doubled, and had five singles in eight at-bats.
2018 — Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw, and Eric Thames hit consecutive first-inning homers to spoil the debut of San Diego’s Brett Kennedy in the Brewers 8-4 win over the Padres.
2018 — Jacob deGrom struck out 10 over six innings, received rare significant run support, and earned his first win in nearly two months as the New York Mets blanked the Cincinnati Reds 8-0. Brandon Nimmo tied a team record with three doubles and drove in three runs as the Mets won for the 22nd time in their last 66 games. DeGrom (6-7) ended a seven-start winless streak, allowing four hits in a 100-pitch outing and lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.77.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Aug. 8
1902 — The United States, led by William Larned, beats Britain three matches to two to capture the Davis Cup.
1903 — Britain wins the Davis Cup by beating the United States 4-1.
1936 — At the Berlin Olympics, the United States finishes 1-2-3 in the men’s decathlon. Glenn Morris set a world record with 7,900 points, followed by Robert Clark and Jack Parker.
1981 — Shiaway St. Pat, driven by Ray Remmen, wins the first Hambletonian Stakes run at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. in four heats.
1982 — Ray Floyd, who shot a record 63 in the opening round, wins the PGA championship by three shots over Lanny Wadkins.
1984 — Carl Lewis sets the Olympic record in the 200 meters with a 19.80 clocking.
1987 — Mack Lobell, driven by John Campbell, wins the Hambletonian in straight heats with a record-smashing performance. Mack Lobell wins the second heat, and the race, by 6¼ lengths over Napoletano in 1:53 3-5, a fifth of a second off the world all-age trotting record set by Prakas in 1985.
1992 — The Dream Team picks up its gold medal and Carl Lewis anchors a world-record 400-meter relay, winning his eighth gold medal in three Olympics. The U.S. basketball team beats Croatia 117-85, with the 32-point margin of victory the smallest of the Games. In the 400, Mike Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell and Lewis set a world record of 37.40 seconds. Steve Lewis anchors another world record as the Americans won the 1,600 relay by nearly half the length of a football field. The team of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson, and Lewis ran the 1,600 in 2:55.74.
2006 — Roger Goodell is chosen as the NFL’s next commissioner. Favored for months to get the job, he is unanimously elected by the league’s 32 owners on the fifth ballot.
2010 — Los Angeles Sparks forward Tina Thompson scores 23 points to become the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader in a 92-83 loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars. She surpasses Lisa Leslie’s career total of 6,263 points. Thompson is the last of the original WNBA players.
2012 — Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States become the first three-time gold medalists in Olympic beach volleyball history. The duo beat Jennifer Kessy and April Ross 21-16, 21-16 in the all-American final, extending their Olympic winning streak to 21 matches.
2012 — Brittney Reese wins the long jump, becoming the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic long jump since Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1988. Caster Semenya makes her Olympic debut three years after being forced to undergo gender tests, finishing second in her 800 heat.
2015 — Katie Ledecky ends her world swimming championships in spectacular style, lowering her world record by 3.61 seconds in the 800-meter freestyle for her fifth gold medal. The 18-year-old American completes a sweep of the 200, 400, 800, and 1,500 freestyles in Kazan, Russia. She was the anchor leg on the victorious 4×200 free relay, too.
2018 — The NCAA Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors adopt a “series of significant policy and legislative changes” as part of an effort to “fundamentally” change the NCAA’s structure. The NCAA changes eligibility rules, allowing top prospects to hire agents in high school and giving college players more leeway to return after declaring for the NBA draft.
2021 — USA women’s basketball team wins its record-extending 7th consecutive Olympic gold medal with a 90-75 win over Japan in Tokyo; guards Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each win their 5th straight gold.
2021 — USA Women’s volleyball defeats Brazil in straight sets to win the gold medal. It’s the first Olympic gold medal in USA Women’s volleyball history. The win would give the United States 39 gold medals breaking a tie with China on the final day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)
5:20 a.m. (Friday)
FS2 — AFL: Collingwood at Sydney
FITNESS
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — CrossFit Games: From Fort Worth, Texas
GOLF
3 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Wyndham Championship, First Round, Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, N.C.
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: Saratoga Live
LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
5 p.m.
ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Team Moreno vs. Team North, Sparks Glencoe, Md.
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, Mid-Atlantic Region – Semifinal, Bristol, Conn.
5 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League World Series: TBD, Mountain Region – Semifinal, San Bernardino, Calif.
7 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, New England Region – Championship, Bristol, Conn.
9 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, Northwest Region – Championship, San Bernardino, Calif.
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
1 p.m.
ESPN — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Elimination Game, Greenville, N.C.
5 p.m.
ESPN — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Elimination Game, Greenville, N.C.
MLB BASEBALL
Noon
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Milwaukee at Atlanta (12:20 p.m.) OR San Diego at Pittsburgh (12:35 p.m.)
3:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Mets at Colorado (3:10 p.m.) OR San Francisco at Washington (4:05 p.m.)
7 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Baltimore at Toronto OR L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees
10 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Philadelphia at Arizona (9:40 p.m.) OR Detroit at Seattle (9:40 p.m.)
NFL FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
NFLN — Preseason: Carolina at New England
RUGBY (MEN’S)
5:45 a.m.
FS2 — NRL: Melbourne at South Sydney
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9 p.m.
FS1 — Leagues Cup: Tigres UANL vs. Pachuca, Round of 32, Austin, Texas
11 p.m.
FS1 — Leagues Cup: Necaxa at San Jose, Round of 32
TENNIS
11 a.m.TENNIS — Montreal-ATP, Toronto-WTA Early Rounds