MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
TAMPA BAY 4 ST. LOUIS 2
LA ANGELS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 5
SEATTLE 2 SAN DIEGO 0
DETROIT 6 MINNESOTA 0
HOUSTON 7 BALTIMORE 6
KANSAS CITY 9 BOSTON 3
CLEVELAND 1 TORONTO 0
NY YANKEES 7 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1
TEXAS 6 OAKLAND 1
PHILADELPHIA 8 WASHINGTON 4
MIAMI 3 CINCINNATI 2
ATLANTA 8 PITTSBURGH 6
WASHINGTON 5 PHILADELPHIA 4
CHICAGO CUBS 3 NY METS 2
COLORADO 7 MILWAUKEE 3 (10)
LA DODGERS 5 ARIZONA 4
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 9 INDIANAPOLIS 8
LAKE COUNTY 7 SOUTH BEND 5
FORT WAYNE 3 LANSING 2
WNBA
LOS ANGELES 87 INDIANA 80
CONNECTICUT 81 SEATTLE 69
MINNESOTA 88 CHICAGO 79
LAS VEGAS 104 DALLAS 84
PHOENIX 91 WASHINGTON 72
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
PHILADELPHIA 1 NEW YORK 1 (PHILADELPHIA WINS 4 – 3 ON PENALTY KICKS)
LAFC 4 SALT LAKE 0
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
American League
CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated RHP Gregory Santos from the bereavement list.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Activate RHP Emmanuel Clase and Ramon Laureano. Placed C David Fry on the 10-day IL.
DETROIT TIGERS — Optioned LHP Joe Wentz to Toledo (IL). Recalled RHP Alex Faedo from Erie (EL).
MINNESOTA TWINS — Sent SS Royce Lewis to St Paul (IL) on a rehab assignment.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Claimed RHP Spenser Watkins off waivers from Houston and optioned him to Las Vegas (PCL).
SEATTLE MARINERS — Placed RHP Bryan Woo on the 15-day IL, retroactive to August 5. Claimed RHP Ryan Jensen off waivers from Chicago Cubs. Recalled RHP Ryder Ryan from Tacoma (PCL).
TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Paced OF KIevn Kiermaier on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 7. Recalled OF Nathan Lukes from Buffalo (IL).
National League
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Recalled RHP Luis F. Ortiz from Lehigh Valley (IL).
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Activated RHP Miles Mikolas.
SAN DIEGO PADRES — Optioned SS Matthew Batten to El Paso (PCL). Recalled CF Jose Azocaar from El Paso.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled RHP Amos Willingham from Rochester (IL).
Minor League Baseball
Atlantic League
LONG ISLAND DUCKS — Signed and activated RHP Jack Anderson. Placed OF Brian Goodwin on the reserve list.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed OLB Justin Houston and K Matthew Wright. Waived DE Jalen Redmond. Waived DT B.J Wilson.
CHICAGO BEARS — Signed TE Lachlan Pitts and LB Barrington Wade. Waived K Andre Szmyt. Waived TE Jake Tonges with an injury designation.
HOUSTON TEXANS — Signed OL Rashaad Coward.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Activated DE Tyquan Lewis from the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Signed DE Trey Flowers and placed hi on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Signed RB Kareem Hunt and LB Anthony Barr.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Activated WR Devon Allen from active/non-football injury list. Signed WR Johnny King. Released Ts Chim Okorafor and Trevor Reid.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Signed S Jalen Elliott. Waived WR Jamarcus Bradley with an injury designation.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed RB Jeremy McNichols.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed S Joshua Kalu and P Colby Wadman. Placed CB Troy Apke and DT Curtis Brooks on injured reserve.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
FC CINCINNATI — Signed D Alvas Powell to a contract extension through 2025 season.
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
MLB ROUNDUP: ASTROS USE NINTH-INNING SLAM TO EDGE O’S
Kyle Tucker’s ninth-inning grand slam lifted the visiting Houston Astros to a 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.
After pulling within 6-3 on Jeremy Pena’s run-scoring single in the eighth, the Astros capped their late rally against Baltimore All-Star closer Felix Bautista (6-2).
Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle each hit a two-run homer for the Orioles, who saw their four-game winning streak end. Rutschman went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, while Mountcastle went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
Framber Valdez allowed six runs on eight hits in seven innings before Ryne Stanek (3-1) took over and picked up the win by tossing a scoreless eighth. Ryan Pressley pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 27th save of the season.
Braves 8, Pirates 6
Kevin Pillar and Orlando Arcia combined to drive in three runs in the ninth to give Atlanta a come-from-behind win over host Pittsburgh — though the victory didn’t come without a cost for the Braves.
After leading off the game with a home run, Braves star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left in the sixth after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow. The team said after the game that X-rays showed no break. Arcia also homered and finished with three RBIs as the Braves snapped a three-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings, but David Bednar (3-2) gave up the three runs in the ninth to blow the save and take the loss.
Angels 7, Giants 5
Brandon Drury was a triple shy of the cycle and Lucas Giolito gave up three runs in six innings to lead Los Angeles to a victory over San Francisco in Anaheim, Calif., ending the Angels’ season-worst, seven-game losing streak.
Giolito (7-8) earned his first victory with the Angels since being traded from the Chicago White Sox on July 26. He lost his first two starts with the club but gave up three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts on Tuesday.
The Giants went with left-hander Scott Alexander (6-2) as their opener, but he failed to record an out. Wilmer Flores singled, homered and drove in four runs in a losing effort for San Francisco.
Phillies 8, Nationals 4 (Game 1)
Kyle Schwarber homered twice and drove in five runs to lift host Philadelphia past Washington in the first game of a doubleheader.
Jake Cave added a home run, a single and two RBIs and Alec Bohm also went deep for the Phillies, who won their third game in a row. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler (9-5) tossed six innings and gave up seven hits and three runs.
Lane Thomas hit a two-run home run and Keibert Ruiz added a homer, two singles and two RBIs for Washington. Nationals starter Trevor Williams (5-7) allowed eight hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Tigers 6, Twins 0
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings and host Detroit ended Minnesota’s five-game winning streak.
Rodriguez (8-5) allowed four hits and three walks while striking out five. Jose Cisnero and Jason Foley finished off the shutout by tossing an inning apiece. Zack Short drove in two runs and Kerry Carpenter had two hits and scored twice. Jake Rogers added a solo homer.
Losing pitcher Sonny Gray (5-5) gave up three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings while notching 10 strikeouts.
Marlins 3, Reds 2
Jorge Soler homered for the second time in as many games — a go-ahead shot in the seventh — as visiting Miami snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Cincinnati.
With a runner on, Soler belted the first pitch from reliever Lucas Sims (3-3) to the seats in right center to make it 3-2 and cap a 3-for-3 night. Marlins starter Braxton Garrett (6-3) allowed just six hits and two runs over six innings to earn the win.
Stuart Fairchild scored on a thrilling play for the Reds. He hit a triple to right field, stopped halfway down the line after running through his third base coach’s stop sign, restarted when Luis Arraez’s relay throw bounced in front of the catcher and safely slid headfirst into home on the error.
Rays 4, Cardinals 2
Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena each delivered RBI singles in the eighth inning that rallied Tampa Bay to a win over St. Louis in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Isaac Paredes homered for Tampa Bay in the seventh inning, tying the score at 1. Nolan Arenado had given the Cardinals a 1-0 lead with his solo shot in the second.
Rays right-hander Zach Eflin allowed just one run on four hits in seven innings. In seven-plus innings, St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas (6-8) was charged with two runs on eight hits in a tough-luck loss.
Guardians 1, Blue Jays 0
Rookie Tanner Bibee tossed seven strong innings and Ramon Laureano ripped an RBI double in the second to fuel host Cleveland to a victory over Toronto.
Bibee (8-2) won his sixth straight decision and improved to 5-1 at home this season after allowing six hits and striking out six without walking a batter. Emmanuel Clase secured his 30th save of the season.
Whit Merrifield recorded three hits for the Blue Jays, who saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt. Yusei Kikuchi sustained his first loss since July 1 despite permitting only one run on three hits while striking out six in seven innings.
Royals 9, Red Sox 3
Drew Waters, MJ Melendez and Michael Massey each hit a two-run home run to help visiting Kansas City end a three-game losing streak by beating Boston.
The Royals collected 15 hits and six stolen bases in the victory. Brady Singer (8-8) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He recorded four strikeouts and two walks.
Trevor Story, who had offseason surgery on his throwing elbow, made his season debut for Boston after spending 13 games in the minors on a rehabilitation assignment. Story was hitless in four at-bats and struck out three times.
Cubs 3, Mets 2
Mike Tauchman hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning to lift a dominant Jameson Taillon and visiting Chicago over New York.
Taillon (7-6) tossed seven innings of three-hit ball and retired the final 16 batters he faced. The right-hander walked none and struck out seven in improving to 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his last six starts. Cody Bellinger also homered for the Cubs, who improved to a National League-best 17-8 since the All-Star break.
Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer for the Mets, who fell to 1-7 since the Aug. 1 trade deadline, when they finished off an overhaul by dealing Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros.
Nationals 5, Phillies 4 (Game 2)
Joey Meneses hit two home runs, including a go-ahead solo shot with one out in the ninth inning, to lift Washington over host Philadelphia in the second game of a doubleheader.
Ildemaro Vargas also homered, singled and drove in two runs for the Nationals. Jordan Weems (3-0) earned the win in relief and Kyle Finnegan picked up his 18th save after retiring the Phillies in order in the ninth.
Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run for Philadelphia, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Craig Kimbrel (6-3), who allowed Meneses’ go-ahead blast, took the loss.
Rockies 7, Brewers 3 (10 innings)
Colorado drew three consecutive bases-loaded walks in the 10th inning to beat host Milwaukee.
Nolan Jones hit a pair of solo homers and a sacrifice fly for the Rockies. Elias Diaz also homered. Matt Koch (1-0) earned the victory with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Andruw Monasterio and William Contreras homered for Milwaukee, which got six innings of one-run ball out of starter Wade Miley. Andrew Chafin (2-4) took the loss.
Yankees 7, White Sox 1
Harrison Bader had three hits and an RBI and Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge homered late to boost visiting New York over Chicago.
Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (8-6) was the winner, allowing one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Reliever Michael King preserved a three-run advantage in the sixth by striking out Yoan Moncada and Andrew Vaughn with two men on base after taking over for Schmidt.
Chicago starter Touki Toussaint (1-5) limited the Yankees to one hit in the first three innings while scattering two walks and six strikeouts. He encountered trouble in the fourth, however, allowing six straight New York hitters to reach base while surrendering four runs.
Rangers 6, Athletics 1
Corey Seager collected a single, double and home run, Max Scherzer threw seven impressive innings and Texas overpowered host Oakland for its second straight win in the three-game series.
Making his second start for Texas after having been acquired from the New York Mets, Scherzer (11-4) improved to 2-0 for the Rangers by limiting the A’s to just one run and three hits. He walked two and struck out six.
Oakland’s only run was the product of JJ Bleday’s leadoff home run in the fourth inning. A’s starter JP Sears (2-9) lasted just four innings, charged with four runs on nine hits.
Mariners 2, Padres 0
Logan Gilbert pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 as Seattle topped visiting San Diego in the opener of a two-game interleague series.
Dylan Moore scored a run and drove in the other for the Mariners, who won their sixth game in a row to pull within two games of Toronto in the race for the American League’s third and final wild-card berth.
The only hit Gilbert (10-5) allowed was a one-out infield single by Xander Bogaerts in the second inning. Padres reliever Scott Barlow (2-5) took the loss.
Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4
Red-hot Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 with a run-scoring double and Julio Urias pitched six shutout innings to help Los Angeles notch a victory over Arizona in Phoenix.
Urias (9-6) struck out five and allowed four hits and one walk as the Dodgers won the opener of a two-game series. Urias improved to 9-1 all-time against Arizona. Christian Walker had two hits for the slumping Diamondbacks, who have lost seven straight games.
Arizona made it close with two runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth, but Evan Phillips enticed D-backs star Corbin Carroll to bounce into a game-ending double play to post his 15th save of the season.
BASEBALL NEWS
RAYS ALL-STAR PITCHER MCCLANAHAN IS LIKELY TO MISS THE REST OF THE SEASON
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays All-Star left-hander Shane McClanahan’s may not pitch again this season.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals that McClanahan will have his arm evaluated soon but it is “highy unlikely” that he will pitch again this season.
Cash said Tommy John surgery, flexor surgery or loose body removal are among the options under consideration.
“Less than ideal news,” Cash said, “I think at this point probably everything is on the table. Surgery is certainly an option.”
McClanahan missed the 2016 collegiate season at the University of South Florida after having Tommy John surgery.
McClanahan is 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 21 starts this season. He left his last start on Aug. 2 in New York against the Yankees with tightness in his left forearm. He pitched four innings and gave up five runs. The 26-year-old has pitched five innings or less in five of his last six starts.
McClanahan is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Keith Meister next Monday. He was seen by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday.
McClanahan is 0-1 in six starts since his last win on June 16, leaving starts on June 22 and 30 due to mid-back tightness that eventually forced him onto the 15-day IL on July 1. He returned July 17 and went six innings against Texas before lasting just four, five and four innings in his next three starts.
Tampa Bay, the AL wild-card leader, has gone 16-21 entering Tuesday since the start of play on June 22.
McClanahan joins a lengthy list of Rays’ rotation members sidelined heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery), Drew Rasmussen (elbow ligament internal brace surgery) and Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) are out for the year. Josh Fleming (left elbow inflammation) is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham.
Tyler Glasnow, scratched from his start Sunday at Detroit due to back spasms, received an injection Tuesday. Cash is hopefully the 6-foot-8 right-hander will be able to pitch this weekend against Cleveland.
“We’re optimistic he will respond,” Cash said. “Over the next two days let’s see how he responds, and then we’ll look to reinsert back into the rotation.”
PIRATES BRING UP PITCHING PROSPECT COLIN SELBY
The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted right-handed pitcher Colin Selby from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Selby could make his first big-league appearance in Tuesday night’s home game against the Atlanta Braves.
Selby, 25, was selected in the 16th round of the 2018 draft.
He will be joined in Pittsburgh by right-hander Thomas Hatch, claimed off waivers Aug. 6 from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Selby, who posted an ERA of 2.20 at Double-A Altoona in 2022, has made 28 appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis this season, putting up a 3.86 ERA through 30 1/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .176 batting average.
Hatch, 28, has appeared in 27 games (four starts) in his major league career, posting a 5.40 ERA in parts of four seasons with Toronto.
In corresponding moves, the Pirates optioned right-handers Osvaldo Bido and Yerry De Los Santos to Triple-A.
MLB POSTSEASON TO START OCT. 3, WORLD SERIES OCT. 27
Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that the postseason will begin with four wild-card games on Oct. 3, while the World Series is scheduled to start on Oct. 27.
Game 7 of the 119th Fall Classic (if necessary) is slated for Nov. 4.
The wild-card series will be contested on Oct. 3-4, with Oct. 5 serving as the rubber match of the three-game series — if necessary.
The openers of the best-of-five American and National League Division Series begin on Oct. 7. The AL series will end no later than Oct. 13, while the NL series will be finished no later than Oct. 14.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven AL Championship Series will start on Oct. 15, while the opener of the NLCS will begin the following day.
NFL NEWS
BROWNS DES ALEX WRIGHT, ISAIAH THOMAS BOTH UNDERGO KNEE SURGERIES, WILL MISS START OF SEASON
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns will start the season missing a pair of defensive ends.
Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas both underwent knee surgeries on Tuesday and will be sidelined into the regular season, depriving Cleveland of depth and potentially forcing the Browns to look outside for help.
The team said Wright and Thomas were both operated on at University Hospitals by Browns physician Dr. James Voos. The Browns expect the players to need “several weeks” to recover and estimate they’ll be back “early in the season.”
Cleveland opens on Sept. 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Wright, a third-round pick in 2022, was injured in the Browns’ 21-16 win over the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame game last Thursday. Thomas, selected in the seventh round last year, got hurt during practice on Saturday.
Coach Kevin Stefanski provided few details about Wright or Thomas on Monday other than to say their injures could carry into the regular season. He said nothing about the potential for surgery.
Their losses could force the Browns to look elsewhere for line depth. Wright and Thomas were listed as the respective Nos. 4 and 5 defensive ends behind All-Pro Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo.
Wright was expected to contribute more as a rookie but had a so-so season. He made five starts and played all 17 games but didn’t get a sack.
Thomas showed some promise, playing 10 games and getting a sack and recovering a fumble.
RON RIVERA: COMMANDERS PLAYERS ‘A LITTLE CONCERNED’ BY ERIC BIENIEMY’S INTENSITY
A new level of intensity from the new commander over the Washington offense has players “a little concerned,” according to Commanders head coach Ron Rivera.
Rather than discuss their questions with Bieniemy, a vocal and fiery leader hired away from the Kansas City Chiefs, players have taken their issues to Rivera early in training camp.
His advice?
“I said, ‘Hey, just go talk to him,’” Rivera recounted Tuesday. “‘Understand what he’s trying to get across to you.’”
Rivera said he doesn’t expect Bieniemy to tone down the level of intensity because he had success with his coaching style with championship results with the Chiefs.
“It’s not going to change because he believes in it,” Rivera said. “(Defensive coordinator) Jack (Del Rio) has his approach. Having been a head coach, I think Jack has a tendency to try to figure guys out a little bit more as opposed to, ‘Hey, this is it, this is the way it’s going to be.’ That type of stuff. Eric hasn’t had that experience yet.”
Bieniemy was a candidate for multiple head coaching positions in recent years but didn’t land of the NFL’s top 32 jobs.
Rivera said the other side of the equation with coach-player relationships is “young guys, they do struggle with certain things and a lot of it — is from where they’ve been.”
NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes described Bieniemy as “always on” and said he “sets the standard at the highest level” for players.
That doesn’t mean they were always in lockstep. Entering the halftime locker room of an eventual loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season, Mahomes and Bieniemy had an on-field shouting match that both dismissed as frustration.
Bieniemy spent five seasons with the Chiefs before coach Andy Reid allowed him to exit for a play-calling role with Rivera and the Commanders. Rivera and Reid are close friends.
“This is his now,” Reid said of why it made sense for Bieniemy to go to Washington. “He’s working for Ron Rivera, who’s a dear friend, and more of a defensive head coach than offensive head coach, so this allows EB to do his thing, and I’m happy for him.”
JETS’ DEFENSE READY TO FACE A NEW QB IN CAROLINA AFTER LEARNING SESSIONS IN CAMP WITH AARON RODGERS
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was calling out signals during a recent walkthrough practice when C.J. Mosley spotted exactly what the New York Jets’ offense was lining up to do.
It’s an on-field chess match between the New York Jets middle linebacker and quarterback — and Mosley cracked the code in that moment.
“He looked at me and said, ‘What did you say?’ and changed the play,” a smiling Mosley said Tuesday, adding it has been one of the “coolest things” he has seen in training camp this summer. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, that’s different right there.’ Just little stuff like that.”
But that has actually been the big stuff Rodgers has brought to the Jets since being acquired from Green Bay in April.
The 39-year-old Rodgers is building a rapport with the offense and looking to turn one of the NFL’s worst units the past few seasons into one of its best. He’s also helping the defense improve by keeping that side of the ball on its toes. Rodgers routinely huddles with defensive players to share things he noticed about something they did during a play — and wants to know what they saw of him and the offense.
It’s a sharing of information the Jets hope only makes them better when the games start.
“The first day in OTAs (in the spring), he did one of his no-look (passes) and kind of took me off my position and threw the ball,” Mosley recalled. “So I was like, that’s another way that he got me better just by doing that. So now I’m just locked in on just being in my spots and kind of playing off him.”
That’s coming from a 31-year-old linebacker who has been in the NFL since 2014. So imagine how valuable these camp practices have been for youngsters such as safety Tony Adams, a second-year player who has intercepted Rodgers twice this summer.
“It’s kind of hard to get a jump on A-Rod,” Adams said. “He does a great job of looking you off, a great job of holding you. I also learned a lot from him. I’ve learned how quarterbacks kind of think, where the reads are coming from.
“Big credit to A-Rod. He’s taught me a lot about how to play my position a lot better.”
And the teachable moments also come during mistakes, when Rodgers finds the hole in the defense and burns the defenders for a big connection to one of his receivers.
“You take it and you learn from it,” Adams said.
The Jets were a top-5 defense last season. These moments in camp while facing Rodgers have them focused on even bigger goals.
“I expect every person that comes here every day ready to be the No. 1 defense,” Mosley said, “and ready to help this team win a championship.”
After nearly three weeks of going up against each other in practices, the Jets are traveling to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for two joint sessions with the Carolina Panthers before the teams square off in a preseason game Saturday night.
Jets coach Robert Saleh has said he thinks there’s more value in the controlled environment of those combined practices than in the exhibition games. None of the established starters played in the Hall of Fame game against Cleveland in Canton, Ohio, last Thursday, and few, if any, are expected to suit up against the Panthers.
“It’s a practice, but it’s going to feel like a scrimmage,” Mosley said. “Just being a part of these joint practices before, at the end of the practice, it felt like a game.”
After lining up against Rodgers this summer, the Jets’ starting defense will get a look at Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in April who’s expected to start for the Panthers this season.
“It’s going to be an early test for us as a unit to see where we stand on communications, on when we see another team, we see another color, how can we stay focused and how can we keep communicating?” Mosley said. “It’s all the things we’ve been building these few weeks and we can’t let that slide just because we’re going somewhere else and having a joint practice.”
NOTES: The Jets signed DE Pita Taumoepenu and DT Bruce Hector, and released DT Isaiah Mack. Taumoepenu was selected the XFL defensive player of the year in May after a standout season with the Vegas Vipers. He has previous experience with Saleh from his time in San Francisco from 2017-19, and Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after playing in Atlanta in 2020. … New York also claimed OT Grant Hermanns off waivers from Tampa Bay. He was with the Jets in 2021 and released last October. … QB Chris Streveler cleared waivers after being released with an injury designation and reverted to the Jets’ IR list. … OT Yodny Cajuste was waived/injured. … WR Garrett Wilson (sprained ankle) didn’t practice, but could return for the sessions with the Panthers.
FALCONS ROOKIE CB CLARK PHILLIPS III CARTED OFF WITH LEG INJURY DURING JOINT PRACTICE WITH DOLPHINS
MIAMI GARDENS (AP) — Atlanta Falcons rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III was carted off the practice field with a leg injury during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
Phillips went down after trying to break up a pass toward the end of practice and was helped up by trainers. He appeared to barely put any weight on his lower left leg before being carted off.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Phillips was kicked when the injury happened.
“He got kicked. You never know. We’ve got to get the X-ray,” Smith said. “We’ve just got to get the imaging done. We’ll see. At least he got up on his own. Hopefully we’ll get that X-ray soon.”
The injury comes a few days after cornerback Jeff Okudah was carted off the field Friday with a right ankle injury. Okudah, the No. 3 pick in 2020, i s expected to return early this season.
Phillips, who was drafted out of Utah in the fourth round earlier this year, was among the candidates to get more playing time in Okudah’s absence.
Dolphins wide receiver Braylon Sanders was also carted off the practice field Tuesday afternoon with an apparent knee injury. Sanders went down near the Falcons’ sideline during 11-on-11 drills. No additional information on the injury was available.
NOTES: Veteran DE Calais Campbell was in pads on the practice field Tuesday for the first time during Falcons camp. Campbell, who turns 37 in September, signed a one-year deal with Atlanta in March after playing the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Campbell opened camp on the designated non-football injury list. Smith said in July that the designation was because of a “personal thing he took care of.”
PANTHERS HOPE ADDITION OF 4-TIME PRO BOWLER JUSTIN HOUSTON FREES UP TOP PASS RUSHER BRIAN BURNS
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns has developed into one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers despite not getting much help from the team’s other sack specialists the past four seasons.
The Panthers hope they’ve resolved that issue.
Carolina is banking on the addition of four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Justin Houston — who had 22 sacks in a season in 2014 — helping Burns maximize his potential as the Panthers transition to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Ejiro Evero. Houston will be lined up opposite Burns at outside linebacker and serve as a situational pass rusher.
Burns is coming off a 12 1/2-sack season last year despite seeing regular double teams and playing for a 7-10 team that rarely held the lead in games, thus greatly limiting his chances to get to the opposing quarterback on obvious passing downs.
Regardless, Burns’ 38 sacks in four seasons are just off the pace set by Julius Peppers, Carolina’s career leader in that category. Peppers had 40 1/2 sacks during his first four years in the league.
“Everybody knows what Burns can do, and teams have been able to slide guys to him and double and triple-team him. But now you have another guy on the edge so now offenses have to pick their poison,” Panthers defensive tackle DeShawn Williams said. “It’s like damned if you do, damned if you don’t because you have to pick somebody to double team.”
Said Houston: “You don’t know who is coming, who is dropping so that makes it real hard on the offense.”
Houston joined the Panthers on Tuesday at training camp at Wofford College after signing a one-year contract worth nearly $7 million.
The 34-year-old did not practice, but watched in street clothes as his new teammates worked. He got his first up close look at Burns.
“I love the way he practices, I love the way he works and I think I’m going to love playing with him,” Houston said of Burns. “That kind of talent don’t come around often.”
The same can be said of Houston.
He has the fourth-most sacks of any active NFL player with 111 1/2, including 9 1/2 last season for the Baltimore Ravens. The Panthers plan to line up Houston opposite Burns as a situational pass rusher, according to coach Frank Reich.
“Justin has great speed to power. He has great counter moves and can beat you in multiple ways. But in this league speed to power wins, and that has been his forte,” Reich said.
Reich said Houston will serve as a great mentor for the team’s younger pass rushers, and be a perfect complement to Burns.
“Burns has that elite off the edge move. There are only a handful of guys that have that, and Brian has it,” Reich said.
The outside linebacker duo might bring back fond memories for Panthers fans of Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon, the self-proclaimed “Salt and Pepper” tandem that tormented opposing quarterbacks for a combined 28 sacks in 1996, helping Carolina reach its first NFC title game under second-year head coach Dom Capers.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Capers is now back in Carolina working as a defensive consultant under Reich.
Houston said he chose to sign with Carolina as a free agent because of his past relationship with Reich, whom he played for in Indianapolis from 2019-20.
“As soon as he called, I hung up the phone and told her I’m going to Carolina,” Houston said.
AWAITING RODGERS
The Panthers will host Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at Wofford College for two days of joint practices beginning Wednesday leading up to Carolina’s first preseason home game on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson said facing Rodgers will be a solid early test for the team’s secondary.
“It’s going to be great going against another offensive scheme and obviously the best quarterback in the game in A-Rod,” Jackson said.
“With him back there every rep is going to be like a game rep. Your eyes have to be good, your technique has to be good. It’s just what we need coming into the season.”
INJURY UPDATE
Reich said that wide receiver Damiere Byrd suffered a “severe” hamstring injury in practice on Saturday and will miss at least a month, possibly more.
ONE OF THE FEW COMPETITIONS IN SEAHAWKS CAMP HAS EVAN BROWN LEADING RACE TO BECOME STARTING CENTER
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Evan Brown hasn’t been handed anything during his time in the NFL.
He’s had to earn every minute of playing time in his five-year career, and going into his first season with the Seattle Seahawks it appears Brown may finally get the chance to start the season at his preferred position of center.
“Evan is ahead. He’s ahead just because of his experience, and if we were playing today, he would go first,” coach Pete Carroll said.
Brown is involved in one of the few competitions in Seattle’s camp. The Seahawks selected Olu Oluwatimi from Michigan in the draft after he won the Rimington and Outland trophies in his one season with the Wolverines.
Oluwatimi may be Seattle’s future. But for now, Brown has the edge.
After going undrafted in 2018 out of SMU, Brown played sparingly during his first three NFL seasons. He had brief stints with the New York Giants, Miami and Cleveland, but got his chance in 2021 with Detroit, where he started 12 games at center after starter Frank Ragnow went down with a season-ending foot injury.
Brown made the shift to right guard last season upon Ragnow’s return but is back at his preferred spot after signing a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Seahawks in March.
“I just think it’s a more comfortable, natural position for me,” Brown said. “It’s something that I’ve had a lot of experience at through my time growing up, and just kind of where I’ve become set in the skill.”
The Seahawks are clearly happy he feels that way, as the team signed the 26-year-old to take the reins at a spot that has been a roller coaster since the departure of Max Unger after the 2014 season. Last year’s starting center, Austin Blythe, retired in February after one season in Seattle.
It’s a rare benefit for Seattle to feel confident in Brown and allow Oluwatimi time to develop.
“Olu is doing a great job. He hasn’t had anything negative about him other than his wrist being sore for a couple of days which held him back,” Carroll said. “Other than that, he’s right in there, and the competition continues.”
Brown’s teammates have noticed the value he brings to the line, both with his vocal style of leadership and his on-field smarts.
“Evan brings a lot of experience,” tight end Will Dissly said. “Diagnosing defense is a big thing at center, and so he’s able to pick it up and communicate really, really well — really, really clearly. And I think that’s the most you can ask for out of a center, just great communication, and the guy is a physical dude. We love having him out there in the run game.”
While he is only signed for one year, Brown’s relative youth and versatility could make him a crucial piece for Seattle this season, and maybe into the future. It’s not easy to bounce between positions on the offensive line, but that experience makes Brown a valuable option up front.
“Undrafted guys, you’ve got to come in with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder, wherever you’re at,” Brown said. “You don’t get many opportunities in the league. So when you do get one or two, you’ve got to make the most of them, and I feel like I’ve done that.”
PACKERS’ AJ DILLON EAGER TO REBOUND AFTER BUSY OFFSEASON IN WHICH HE WROTE A BOOK AND BECAME A DAD
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon’s goal as he enters the final year of his contract is evident from the title of the children’s book he wrote in the offseason.
“Quadzilla Finds His Footing.”
Dillon, nicknamed “Quadzilla” because of his enormous quads that were measured at 34 inches last year, is set to become a free agent after this season if he and the Packers don’t work out an extension.
Dillon wants to bounce back after his production took slight dips last season.
“I think I just really need to play just a little bit more — it’s hard to put a word on it — but like passionate,” Dillon said. “I think I need to go out there and just play a little bit more reckless, so not trying to play perfect, not trying to play perfect football. Nobody does. Just kind of go out there and for a lack of words, kind of make defenses feel me.”
Then he elaborated on what he meant.
“Even though we might be running and there’s only 4 yards here to get, make it a hard 4 yards,” Dillon said. “Make sure the next time running the ball, those defenders feel that, they think about it next time, and just kind of deliver the blow a little bit more.”
He wants to stay in Green Bay, where he has made a home, started a family and emerged as one of the Packers’ most popular players. He received a key to Wisconsin’s Door County after repeatedly singing the praises of the peninsula along the Lake Michigan shoreline that’s about an hour’s drive from Green Bay.
Dillon also is active on social media, which sparked one of his latest ventures. After he suggested that he’d write a children’s book, the positive feedback he received caused him to go ahead and do it.
Quadzilla, his book’s protagonist, is a dinosaur who struggles to do some of his monster friends’ favorite activities before eventually succeeding in football.
“We kept everything in house,” Dillon said. “We got a Milwaukee publisher, a Milwaukee illustrator and it was all Wisconsin central. It was a lot of fun doing it and putting it together. It was a goal to get it done before camp, and we did that.”
Dillon savors the feedback he’s received, both from his own mother and from the children and parents who have read the book.
“My mom’s a teacher,” said Dillon, who grew up reading Greek mythology and the novels of Rick Riordan. “She’s now an assistant principal back in Connecticut in my hometown. That’s something that was always big in our household. When I told her I was writing a book and actually went forward with it, she got very emotional.
“I didn’t really realize until I did some of these book readings and kind of seeing the kids really listening and hanging on to every single word.”
Writing that book was part of a busy offseason for Dillon.
Dillon and his wife, Gabrielle, got married last year in Door County. They welcomed a son, Trey, on May 2. That also happened to be Dillon’s 25th birthday.
During a year when he was adjusting to fatherhood and making sure his book got finished, Dillon still devoted plenty of time to football. The trade of four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers means the Packers may have to lean more heavily on the running back tandem of Aaron Jones and Dillon.
Dillon rushed for 770 yards, gained 4.1 yards per carry and caught 28 passes for 206 yards last season. A year earlier, he rushed for 803 yards, gained 4.3 yards per carry and caught 34 passes for 313 yards.
When he had free time this offseason, Dillon occasionally watched tapes of his highlights at Boston College, where he rushed for 4,382 yards over three seasons. Dillon wants to have the same attitude he had then.
“I’m not satisfied with really how I performed last year,” Dillon said. “Let’s look back at when I have been really successful and how I approached the game and, yeah, looking back a little bit, looking back at those highlights, going back to what was my mindset when I was in college when I was dominating the ACC, what was that like and trying to just get to that mindset.”
Dillon’s teammates have noticed a change.
“He’s more focused,” Jones said. “He knows the playbook inside and out, so now he can play fast. But just his mental approach to the game, spending more time studying in that playbook so he can play fast and just homing in on the small details and then just him being confident in everything he does.”
That includes being assured enough to write a children’s book and get it published. The benefits of that offseason project are apparent every time parents tell him how much their child enjoyed his book.
“The fact that some of those kids are excited to go read, that’s a big deal,” Dillon said. “Coming from an education household, my mom being a teacher, I definitely understand how hard it is to get some kids to read. If we can put something in front of them that they want to read, it’s definitely nice to be able to do my part.”
CHASE YOUNG FEELS ‘EXPLOSIVE AGAIN’ NEARLY 2 YEARS SINCE TEARING THE ACL IN HIS RIGHT KNEE
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — When Chase Young stepped on the field for the first practice of Washington Commanders training camp late last month, the brace was off his surgically repaired right knee.
Now the heat is on for Young to return to form in a contract year.
The 2020 No. 2 overall pick who won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honor is now nearly two years removed from a torn ACL that derailed his NFL career and is ready to roll. After the team didn’t pick up his fifth-year option, Young is in shape to try to earn another deal and live up to lofty expectations.
“I feel myself,” Young said. “I feel good and I’m running around and I’m feeling explosive again.”
It has been a while since Young looked explosive in game action. Even before the injury in November 2021, the Ohio State product was off to a slow start to his sophomore season with 1 1/2 sacks in eight-plus games.
Surgery was complicated, involving grafting part of Young’s left patellar tendon to repair the tear on the other side. He and his team of medical professionals inside and outside the team took a very cautious approach to recovery and rehab that caused him to miss the vast majority of 2022.
Coach Ron Rivera acknowledged it was very tough to hold Young back. Still, the Commanders knew it would be difficult to get Young back as a feared pass rusher last season.
“It was almost kind of a pie in the sky that he would be who he is,” Rivera said. “(We realized) it’s just going to be a matter of time. He had to work through those things (and) we were hoping he would get back soon, but it just didn’t work and that’s all part of it.”
Young played just 115 snaps over the final three games of the season, the last of which came after Washington was eliminated from playoff contention. The Commanders even without Young ranked third in the league on defense, led by fellow defensive linemen Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
The patience is paying off with Young, now 24, flashing some strong moves in camp and showing the benefit of time and experience.
“Chase looks real good,” Sweat said. “He’s starting to be more of a pro. He’s always been a pro, but I think ever since the injury as far as the cold tub and the pre-practice (routine) and the treatments after practice and just things and stuff like that, that’s why I think he’s upped his game a lot.”
Young and Sweat worked out on Ohio State’s campus during the offseason, working with Buckeyes associate coach Larry Johnson. Young said it was about going back to “fine-tune the little things.”
He also talked to Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller and Baltimore Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr. about coming back from an ACL tear. That just gave him more confidence about what’s to come.
“They said: ‘We just bounce back. That’s just what we do,” Young said. “That’s my plan, and I guess y’all are just going to see what happens.”
The Commanders would love for Young to follow Payne’s path to a productive season. After they decided not to pick up Payne’s fifth-year option, the 2018 first-round pick out of Alabama led the team with a career-high 11 1/2 sacks.
Washington signed Payne to a $90-million, four-year contract. With big-money commitments to Payne and Allen already on the books, it might be tough to pay up to keep Sweat — also on the verge of free agency — and Young, but it’s a gamble the team is hoping works out this season.
Rivera likes what he sees so far.
“It’s good to see Chase moving around the way he did,” Rivera said. “He’s lightyears ahead of where he was last training camp. I think that’s a big deal for us.”
PATRIOTS SIGN FREE AGENT DEFENSIVE END TREY FLOWERS, WHO WAS ON THEIR LAST 3 SUPER BOWL TEAMS
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Trey Flowers signed with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, returning to the team where he played his first four NFL seasons and won two of three Super Bowls.
The defensive end was placed on injured reserve after playing in four games for the Miami Dolphins last season and was an unrestricted free agent.
The 29-year-old Flowers has started 64 of 79 regular-season games over eight seasons since the Patriots drafted him out of Arkansas in the fourth round of the 2015 draft.
All nine of his postseason starts were with the Patriots, who won Super Bowls in 2016 and 2018 and played in the game in 2017.
He left the Patriots as a free agent in 2019 and signed with the Detroit Lions. Injuries limited him to 29 games over three seasons with the Lions. The Dolphins signed him last August, and he hurt his foot in the fourth game and didn’t play again.
ISAIAH SIMMONS SHIFTS TO SAFETY AS THE CARDINALS TRY TO UNLOCK HIS POTENTIAL
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Isaiah Simmons has a combination of size, speed and strength rarely seen among NFL players.
In a strange way, that might be a big reason the Arizona Cardinals have had a tough time figuring out how to use him.
Simmons — the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft — is still waiting for his breakout season despite being labeled a can’t-miss prospect during his time as a do-everything defender at Clemson. New Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon has moved Simmons to safety from linebacker this season, hoping to unlock his potential.
“He shows some range, some hitting ability, a little coverage ability, a little downhill striking ability,” Gannon said. “Long way to go, but I like where he’s at.”
It would be unfair to label Simmons as a bust following his first three seasons. He’s had several good moments and more than 200 tackles over the past two years. But his ability to make big plays has been tempered by his tendency to also make big mistakes, and his playing time was sometimes inconsistent as a result.
The previous coaching staff — led by Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph — tried Simmons in several spots during his first three seasons, but usually as some variation of a linebacker. The 25-year-old said he was never completely comfortable in those roles.
“There were times I was playing a position because we were down with injuries,” Simmons said. “It’s just certain circumstances that played into me playing some positions, as opposed to doing what was best for me.”
Once Gannon was hired, Simmons told the new coach he might be more comfortable as a safety, which is where he started his college career at Clemson. At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, Simmons is taller and heavier than the vast majority of NFL safeties, but he also runs a 4.39 40-yard dash and has shown solid hands during his pro career, picking off four passes.
“He’s been reliable back there, which is the first trait of a safety to me,” Gannon said. “Being in the right spot, where you’re supposed to be, all the time.”
Gannon came to the desert after two seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and hasn’t been shy about moving players to different positions. Zaven Collins, the No. 16 overall pick in 2021, will be more of an edge rusher this season after spending his first two seasons as an interior linebacker.
The upcoming season is a big one for Simmons, who is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Cardinals declined to pick up his fifth-year option. The extension would have been worth roughly $12.7 million.
Both sides have said there haven’t been hard feelings despite that decision.
“It doesn’t change how he goes about what he’s doing,” Gannon said in May. “He knows he has to play well for us and for him. That’s like everybody. I really like where his mindset is at and excited to get to work with him.”
Simmons will get the chance to solidify his role during the team’s first preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Friday night. If he can make a smooth transition to the defensive backfield, the safety spot has a chance to be one of Arizona’s strengths with Simmons, two-time All-Pro Budda Baker and veteran Jalen Thompson.
“I’m just excited to get back under the lights, have our fans back out there,” Simmons said. “Every time I step out there it’s like a dream come true all over again. I don’t take any game — preseason, regular season, postseason — for granted.”
MIKE MCCARTHY’S RETURN TO PLAY-CALLING WITH THE COWBOYS IS JUST IN TIME FOR JERRY JONES
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Mike McCarthy hasn’t called plays for five years, and it’s been 10 since the coach of the Dallas Cowboys carried that additional responsibility.
Timing is everything, says Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones, who decided a decade ago he thought it would be better if Jason Garrett focused on being the head coach.
McCarthy, in his fourth season as Garrett’s replacement, is in his first training camp as Dak Prescott’s play-caller. The previous time he did this, Aaron Rodgers was his quarterback in Green Bay.
“He’s the busiest man in California,” Jones said. “He doesn’t have time to remember your name out here. He’s focused and engaged. Not that he hasn’t been.”
The Cowboys are coming off consecutive 12-5 playoff seasons that featured one of the best offenses in the NFL under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. There were stretches of inconsistency, though, and the offense sputtered in a pair of playoff losses to San Francisco.
McCarthy and Moore agreed to part ways, and the Los Angeles Chargers hired Moore the day after the Dallas move was announced.
Garrett had been the head coach for two full seasons when he and Jones agreed in 2013 to hand the play-calling duties to Bill Callahan. Two more play-callers, including Moore, followed. Garrett never took that job back.
McCarthy inherited Moore in 2020, and decided continuity for Prescott was the most important thing. Now, urgency reigns with the Cowboys going on 28 years without even reaching an NFC championship game since the most recent of the franchise’s five Super Bowl titles.
“I think the biggest thing for me personally is to just make sure I’m connected with our players, starting with Dak,” McCarthy said. “I think the biggest thing in evolution, is frankly having the discipline of being in touch with your players and how the system fits the players.”
McCarthy won a Super Bowl and reached two other NFC title games with Rodgers after getting within a victory of a Super Bowl before that with Brett Favre.
At one point with the Packers, McCarthy stepped away from calling plays, only to reclaim the role and vow he would never again be a head coach without that duty.
That declaration left him with some explaining to do when Jones hired him. Now, it’s Jones with the explaining to do after deciding he didn’t need the so-called walk-around head coach after all.
“I actually thought that when Mike came in that one of his top qualities were the job he had done as play-caller and head coach,” Jones said.
“We’re in better shape to do it now than then. He’s got a better idea of how he’d like to tweak, change, whatever you want to call that. I think this is a heckuva way to do it. I think we’re going to get a lot out of this.”
For Brian Schottenheimer, most of this is new.
A year after serving as a consultant on McCarthy’s staff, the son of the late longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has the title of offensive coordinator — but not the play-calling duties he had in a decade-plus that included stints with the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Seattle.
“I’ve never done it before, but I think the good thing for me and for Mike is having been the guy who’s called plays for 14 years, I know what that guy wants,” Schottenheimer said. “My relationship with Mike is such that he and I can have great conversations, challenge each other, talk about different things. I’m certainly not a ‘yes’ man.”
The 59-year-old McCarthy and Schottenheimer, 10 years younger, were trained in the West Coast system that will be the foundation for Prescott, who has come to label it “Texas Coast” to emphasize things he believes are unique to what the Cowboys will try to do.
Running back Tony Pollard is taking over the lead role from Ezekiel Elliott, and receiver CeeDee Lamb has a new No. 2 behind him in Brandin Cooks.
While six-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin’s training camp holdout in a contract dispute has created uncertainty with the offensive line, Jones envisions McCarthy in his play-calling prime with Green Bay.
“It was not so much about what Kellen wasn’t. It was about what Mike is,” Jones said. “I think we gain on it. I think we give ourselves a better chance if Mike has that kind of emphasis.”
While Prescott is set to have his third play-caller, the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year says this is really only his second system.
“Guys are much farther along, and I am as well,” Prescott said. “That’s a credit to coach, credit to Schotty of those guys installing the plays with a lot of details in making sure everybody understands the purpose of a play, the detail of a play and their role within that.”
“Fun” hasn’t been the first word to come to mind for McCarthy this summer with the club trudging through the installation phase for the offense. But he does like to joke about hoping the defense doesn’t have a good day, since he has taken that much more ownership of the offense.
“We’re just focused on getting these young guys reps, because our efficiency has to be the best it can be going through these install phases and going back to the live reps with the team,” McCarthy said. “But yeah, we’re having fun.”
And staying busy — or busier than his first three seasons with the Cowboys anyway.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
GEORGIA FIRES FOOTBALL STAFFER WHO SURVIVED FATAL CRASH, LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER LAWSUIT
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia has fired the football recruiting staffer who survived a January crash that killed player Devin Willock and another recruiting staffer, less than a month after she filed a lawsuit against the university’s athletic association.
The school issued a statement saying Victoria “Tori” Bowles was dismissed because she refused to cooperate with an internal investigation into the crash. Her attorneys claim she is being retaliated against for filing the lawsuit, which also names former Georgia player and first-round NFL draft pick Jalen Carter.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported Bowles’ firing.
The Jan. 15 crash, which occurred just hours after a parade celebrating Georgia’s second straight national championship, killed the 20-year-old Willock and the driver of the Ford Expedition, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy.
Police said LeCroy had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and was racing Carter at about 104 mph when the SUV swerved off the road, struck two utility poles and a tree before slamming into another tree on the driver’s side, where both LeCroy and Willock were sitting.
Another Georgia player, Warren McClendon, sustained only minor injuries. But Bowles, who was sitting in the backseat next to Willock, sustained serious injuries including lumbar and rib fractures, a spinal cord injury and lacerations to the kidney and liver, her lawsuit stated. She also sustained a closed head injury with neurological damage and severe eye pain.
The lawsuit, which includes LeCroy’s estate as an additional defendant, requests at least $171,595 in general damages along with punitive damages.
The suit claims the Georgia athletic association entrusted the rented SUV to LeCroy and was aware that she had at least two “super speeder” violations among four speeding tickets prior to the crash.
The athletic association said staff members were authorized to use rental vehicles for recruiting purposes only. “Under no circumstances were recruiting staff authorized to use rental cars to drive at excessive speeds while intoxicated,” it said in a statement.
Bowles was on paid medical leave for a couple of months following the crash, before the athletic association placed her on unpaid leave in March, according to records obtained by the Journal-Constitution.
Rob Buck, an attorney representing Bowles in her lawsuit, said the university has engaged in a “campaign of intimidation” against his client, whose job paid less than $12,000 a year.
“Tory, like all other perceived liabilities to the football program, became expendable to UGA, and despite her loyalty and meager salary, has been steamrolled,” he said.
The athletic association said in a statement Monday that while it wished Bowles well in her recovery, it was forced to fire her for lack of cooperation.
“Applicable policies require university employees to cooperate with internal investigations,” the statement obtained by the Journal-Constitution said. “Over the course of several months, Ms. Bowles was asked — on numerous occasions — to speak with our investigators and provide information, and through her attorney, she repeatedly refused to cooperate.
“As a result, we were ultimately left with no choice but to terminate her employment.”
Carter, who was selected ninth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL draft, received 12 months’ probation and a $1,000 fine in March after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing.
McClendon was a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
FOUR-STAR CB DAKODA FIELDS FLIPS FROM USC TO OREGON
Four-star cornerback Dakoda Fields flipped his commitment from Southern California to Oregon.
“This is where I always wanted to be,” Fields said. “I’ve always wanted to be a Duck so time to turn that dream into a reality.
Fields first committed to the Trojans back on June 5 but later in the month took official visits to Washington (June 21) and Oregon (June 23).
“I kind of knew on my last visit but I had to come home and sleep on it,” Fields said, “and realized Oregon was where I wanted to be.”
Coming out of Junipero Serra High School (Gardena, Calif.) where he was also a successful track and field athlete, Fields is currently ranked No. 83 overall and No. 9 among cornerbacks in the class of 2024 according to the 247Sports Composite.
The 6-2, 185-pounder with a 74-inch wingspan had high praise for the staff at Oregon.
“From coach (Dan) Lanning and coach (Tosh) Lupoi, who are from SEC, to coach (Demetrice) Martin to coach (Rashad) Wadood and so many others, I have a great comfort level there,” Fields said.
“It was very impressive to see what coach Lanning did last year. He went out and got 10 wins in his first year coaching, and those weren’t even his guys. They’re building something special now and I think this ’24 class has a chance to be a top 3-5 class and Oregon can make some serious noise very soon.”
Fields’ decision comes days after the news that Oregon and Washington will leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten in 2024.
NCAA DENIES HARDSHIP WAIVER FOR FSU’S DARRELL JACKSON JR., WHO TRANSFERRED TO BE NEAR AILING MOM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. won’t be allowed to play this season after transferring from Miami.
The NCAA denied Jackson’s hardship waiver last week, Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said Tuesday. The waiver would have cleared Jackson to play after switching schools for the second time in as many years, the latest move to be closer to his ailing mother.
Jackson called the decision “hurtful.”
“I know what I came home for; I came home for my mom,” Jackson said Tuesday. “Me, I’m just trying to get through it and be here for my mom. She thinks it’s her fault, but it’s not. I’m going to continue to be there for my mom and see how things play out.”
Jackson added that he’s unsure if the NCAA is “trying to prove a point or what.”
Jackson, who grew up about 20 minutes from Tallahassee in Havana, began his college career at Maryland in 2021. He used his one-time transfer to play at Miami last season. He changed schools again this offseason to be near his mother, who has an undisclosed medical condition.
“I’m extremely disappointed just for that young man, just the journey, the reason why he’s here, just sad that he’s going to miss games,” Norvell said. “Obviously, there’s still processes that we’re looking at going through.”
UNC IS APPEALING TO THE NCAA FOR IMMEDIATE ELIGIBILITY FOR TRANSFER WR DEVONTEZ WALKER
North Carolina coach Mack Brown said Tuesday the school is appealing to the NCAA for immediate eligibility for transfer Devontez Walker, the Tar Heels’ presumed No. 1 receiver whose status is in question weeks before the opener.
The NCAA denied the waiver for Walker to play immediately after his transfer from Kent State, where he played two seasons. NCAA rules generally allow players to transfer freely once, but Brown said Walker had enrolled at UNC in January just days before the NCAA revised rules to limit waivers for two-time transfers for evaluation on a case-by-case basis.
“He’s just down, he’s wondering, he’s anxious, and it’s really, really hard to focus in practice,” Brown told reporters after Tuesday’s practice in Chapel Hill. “And I feel tough for him.”
Walker is an instate product from Charlotte and had transferred to be closer to family, notably an ailing grandmother who had played a large role in raising him but has been unable to travel out of state to see him play.
UNC opens the season in Walker’s hometown against South Carolina on Sept. 2.
“I want this to be over,” Walker said in a statement released by the school. “I want to stop feeling like this. I just want to play. I want my grandmother to come watch me. I want to be a student and an athlete and I hope those in charge give me that opportunity.”
Walker was originally set to play at East Tennessee State before suffering a knee injury that led him to defer enrollment. Instead, he recovered and landed at North Carolina Central, but the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the fall 2020 season at the Championship Subdivision level. Then the team opted out of the limited spring 2021 slate.
Walker’s two years at Kent State represent the only years he has played college football. He finished with 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns last year as an all-Mid-American Conference performer.
ACC LEADERS MULL ADDING CAL, STANFORD FROM PAC-12; SMU ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION, AP SOURCES SAY
Atlantic Coast Conference presidents and chancellors held a conference call Tuesday but took no action on West Coast expansion with California and Stanford, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league isn’t publicly revealing internal discussions regarding realignment. Another person with knowledge of the situation said the conference’s athletic directors were planning to have a call later Tuesday to continue discussions. The ADs also met Monday.
A third person told AP on condition of anonymity that the ACC’s conversations also include the possibility of adding SMU, the Dallas school currently in the American Athletic Conference.
The Pac-12 is down to four schools committed to the conference beyond the upcoming school year. This will be the last season in the Pac-12 for USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, which are all headed for the Big Ten in 2024. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will join the Big 12 next year.
The new Big Ten setup means athletes will be routinely crossing multiple time zones to compete.
“I share concerns about the impact that the recent spate of conference realignment activities will have on student-athletes’ well-being,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in statement. “The recent conference moves highlight what I found during my review of the issues facing the NCAA – the growing gap between well-resourced Division I schools and the rest of the division is highly disruptive for all of DI and college sports overall.”
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said on the SEC Network’s “Paul Finebaum Show” that his league is not motivated to react to the recent moves.
“I would submit we’re in an enormously healthy place. We’re not in the current movement efforts,” said Sankey, whose conference tipped the first domino in this round of realignment in 2021 when Texas and Oklahoma decided to make leave the Big 12 for the SEC.
“We don’t need to be in four time zones to generate interest on the West Coast, or really across the globe,” Sankey said.
Sankey also said if the Pac-12 were to fold, decreasing the number of Bowl Subdivision conferences from nine to 10, that would likely re-open discussions about the format for the expanded 12-team playoff that goes into effect in 2024.
The format agreed upon calls for the six highest-ranked conference champions to receive automatic entrance and six at-large teams based on selection committee rankings.
“I do think the access we’ve created to the 12-team format still seems wise, but maybe there are elements and specifics of what was decided when we had clarity around 10 conferences that needs to be adjusted given what’s happening right now,” Sankey said.
The ACC, which has 14 schools — but none farther west than Louisville — had interest in the Pac-12 before the conference splintered last week. Stanford and Cal, two of the country’s most prestigious academic schools, would fit the profile of traditional ACC schools such as Duke, North Carolina and Virginia.
Without another Power Five conference option, routinely traveling teams across country to compete might be the best alternative for Stanford and California.
A deal with the ACC would leave just Washington State and Oregon State as Pac-12 members beyond the 2023-24 school year, and increase the likelihood that the Pac-12 simply goes out of business.
Both the Mountain West and American Athletic have interest in adding those schools.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: ALABAMA
2022 Record: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in SEC
Head Coach: Nick Saban, 17th year: 194-27; 28th year overall: 285-69-1
You know how this works, Alabama.
You know the deal. You know you have one of the four best teams in college football before spring ball starts, we know you have one of the four best teams in college football, and of course the College Football Playoff committee knows you’re one of the four best teams in college football.
All you have to do is finish the regular season with one loss, and you’re in. That’s asking for something amazing out of just about everyone else, but that’s part of the program’s DNA under Nick Saban.
Two losses – no matter how they happened – and you’re not in, at least until next year when the CFP expands. That’s the deal, and it has worked out really, really well over the last 14 years going back to the BCS days.
If the Crimson Tide somehow got into the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2022 season with a 10-2 record – no one with multiple losses has ever made the CFP – would they have been favored against everyone but Georgia? Probably, and that’s where the “… because it’s Alabama” thing kicks in.
In a June interview, head coach Nick Saban was complaining about how the system isn’t right because Alabama didn’t get into the CFP on the four best team criteria the mini-tournament is supposed to be based on. Normally he’d be absolutely right, but nah, Alabama didn’t exactly play like one of the four best teams. Worse yet, the 2022 team was seemingly a whole lot stronger in key spots than the 2023 version appears to be.
Yes, Alabama lost on the road at Tennessee and LSU on walk-off plays – certainly no shame there – but it also needed to hold on for dear life against a mediocre Texas A&M – not having Bryce Young shouldn’t have mattered that much at home – came up clutch in the final moments to get past Texas, and the rest of the slate, while challenging in places, wasn’t totally awful.
Because it’s Alabama – I’m not joking; someone should be selling Because It’s Alabama t-shirts and give me a free one – it rolled out of bed and whacked around Big 12 champion Kansas State 45-20 to win the Sugar Bowl for a ridiculous 11th bowl/CFP win in the last eight seasons. That just made the rhetoric even sharper.
We know what happens most of the time when you give this bunch a shot at the end of the show, but Alabama had two losses. Ohio State’s only defeat was to an unbeaten Michigan that was the easy 2 seed, and TCU was the 3 seed with two more wins and one extra game because it was in a conference championship and Bama wasn’t.
And that’s it. That’s the problem. This thing is still 1) based on a panel of judges 2) who will ALWAYS take the one-loss or unbeaten Power Five team over a two-loss team until this all changes in 2024.
So what does any of this have to do with this season? Alabama has to leave no doubt.
Alabama Crimson Tide Preview: Offense
The offense didn’t have its normal array of sure-thing superstar wide receivers, the ground game was fine but not special, and that 10-2 regular season might have been flirting with 8-4 if Bryce Young wasn’t under center. It was a good attack, but it missed the steady power running game, wasn’t amazing on third downs, allowed a few too many plays behind the line, wasn’t always as sharp as normal and … whatever. 2022 didn’t represent the Alabama offense’s best work and it still averaged 477 yards and 41 points per game. But …
The starting quarterback is one big question mark. Julian Sayin appears to be the next Alabama superstar up, but he’s not arriving until next year. For now, Jalen Milroe is maybe/sort of/possibly the odds-on favorite – he was great in place of an injured Young with 91 rushing yards in the 49-26 win over Arkansas that was WAY tighter than that until late – but the passing accuracy is questionable. Ty Simpson has the bigger upside. The 5-star get from last season and has every shot at the gig, but he’s a wee step behind Milroe and suffered a slight elbow injury this offseason. And then there’s the wild-card – Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner is a good runner and an okay passer. More on this in the Key Player section.
Jameson, Metchie, DeVonta, Waddle, Jeudy, Ruggs, Ridley, Amari, Julio … Alabama’s wide receiver talent run was legendary, and last year it dropped off – maybe. Bryce Young spread the ball around, and RB Jahmyr Gibbs was the most reliable target, but the wide receivers – while dangerous – weren’t quite at the same level of past units.
That’s probably going to change with the top two receivers – Jermaine Burton and JaCorey Brooks – returning. They’re both dangerous deep threats, Isaiah Bond is a good looking young option, and coming in from the JUCO ranks is Malik Benson, a potentially devastating playmaker who can do a little of everything. Also added to the mix is Maryland transfer CJ Dippre, an NFL-sized pass catcher – 30 grabs for 314 yards and three scores – who should thrive with more work.
Alabama Crimson Tide Preview: Defense
Here’s where the refresh comes. The defense was a tad too inconsistent against the run, the secondary had a few high-profile bad days – Tennessee, Texas – there were problems picking off passes, and the penalties at times were obnoxiously strange …
And Alabama finished 12th in the nation in total defense, ninth in scoring D, and No. 1 in the SEC in pass efficiency defense. It was hardly bad, but …
There’s no replacing Will Anderson, even if you’re Alabama. Veteran Chris Braswell moves into the marquee JACK position with the responsibility of turning it loose into the backfield. Paired with Dallas Turner on the other side, and the Tide will get to the quarterback. Deontae Lawson will come up with a ton of tackles in the middle, and the spotlight will be on Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall at one outside gig.
As always, the front three is loaded with massive humans who can move. Jaheim Oats is a 6-5, 328-pound space-eater for the middle of the thing, and in the rotation is 6-3, 309-pound Jamil Burroughs. Tim Smith is a 6-4, 302-pound veteran on one end, and 6-5, 292-pound Justin Eboigbe is the small fry on the other side.
The secondary is way too good to only pick off six passes again – Will Anderson had one. Broken up pass machine Kool-Aid McKinstry might be the first corner off the board next year, a top ten overall pick, or both. On the other side will likely be Louisiana transfer Trey Amos, a solid veteran with 49 tackles and 13 broken up passes over the last two seasons.
Malachi Moore is a next level safety who’s only missing the big stats – those should come this season – and stepping in for new Cincinnati Bengal Jordan Battle at strong safety is the combination of UAB transfer Jaylen Key and super-recruit Caleb Downs.
WNBA NEWS
MERCURY SUFFOCATE MYSTICS IN BLOWOUT VICTORY
The Phoenix Mercury held the visiting Washington Mystics to just 36.6 percent shooting from the field en route to a 91-72 victory on Tuesday night.
Phoenix (8-20) never trailed, taking the lead on a Diana Taurasi 3-pointer 58 seconds into the game. Taurasi ended up connecting on 3 of 6 3-point attempts and finished with a team-high-tying 15 points for the Mercury, who shot 55.7 percent from the floor.
Moriah Jefferson also had 15 points, joining Taurasi as two of the five Mercury scorers in double figures. Brittney Griner scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, while Michaela Onyenwere added another 11 points off the bench and went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Sophie Cunningham led Phoenix’s efforts from long range, going 4-for-6 en route to 14 points. All 10 Mercury players who saw the floor scored, with Megan Gustafson chipping in eight points and Sug Sutton notching another six.
Meanwhile, Washington (13-15) went just 26 of 71 from the floor, including an 8-for-28 (28.6 percent) effort from deep. Brittney Sykes led all scorers with 24 points, while Myisha Hines-Allen went 3-for-8 from 3-point range en route to 11 points and distributed a game-high seven assists.
The Mystics cut a 10-point halftime deficit to four 3:30 into the third quarter, but the Mercury responded with a 15-2 run that effectively put the game away. The pivotal burst concluded with Destanni Henderson’s 3-pointer off a Gustafson feed.
Gustafson was one of six Mercury players to dish out multiple assists. Taurasi, Jefferson, Cunningham and Sutton each recorded a team-high four.
Washington could not get the deficit into single digits the rest of the way as it took its fifth loss in the last six games.
For Phoenix, the win improved its record to 2-1 during its current four-game homestand.
ACES REBOUND FROM STUNNING DRUBBING, HAMMER WINGS
A’ja Wilson racked up 28 points and 14 rebounds as the visiting Las Vegas Aces roared out of the gate and rolled to a 104-84 victory over the struggling Dallas Wings on Tuesday in a game between the top two teams in the Western Conference in Arlington, Texas.
The Aces (25-3) rebounded from their worst loss since the franchise moved from San Antonio in 2018 — a 38-point loss at New York on Sunday — and set the tone from the jump, scoring the game’s first 16 points and building their lead to as many as 41 points in the third quarter.
Kelsey Plum added 20 points for the Aces, with Jackie Young hitting for 18, Chelsea Gray scoring 16, Alysha Clark tallying 11 points and Kiah Stokes taking 10 rebounds as Las Vegas won for the ninth time in 10 games.
Satou Sabally led the Wings (15-14) with 21 points while Kalani Brown scored 16 off the bench, Arike Ogunbowale added 12 points, Crystal Dangerfield hit for 11 and Natasha Howard tallied 10 points. Dallas has lost three straight and surrendered 104 points in back-to-back games.
Las Vegas did not allow Dallas on the board until Sabally hit a 3-pointer at the 4:25 mark of the first quarter. The Wings rallied to within 21-13 before Gray’s 3-pointer with 34 seconds left gave Las Vegas a 24-13 lead after one period.
A 14-0 run by the Aces capped a jumper by Plum with 3:58 to play in the second period expanded Las Vegas’ lead to 26 points. Wilson’s only points of the quarter came with 22 seconds remaining and granted the Aces a 54-26 lead at the break.
Plum led all scorers with 15 points before halftime while Gray had 13, Young tallied 12 and Wilson grabbed 10 rebounds for Las Vegas.
Sabally paced Dallas with 11 points but just three Wings’ players scored in the half. Dallas was just 8 of 35 from the floor (22.9 percent) over the first 20 minutes.
SPARKS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER TO TOP FEVER
Nneka Ogwumike recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and three steals to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 87-80 victory over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
Layshia Clarendon added 17 points as the Sparks (11-18) won their second straight game after losing 11 of their previous 13. Karlie Samuelson had 13 points and Jordin Canada added 10 points and seven assists for Los Angeles.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points and Aliyah Boston added 18 points and nine rebounds as Indiana (7-22) lost for the 15th time in 17 games. Grace Berger added 14 points off the bench for the Fever.
Indiana led 71-64 after NaLyssa Smith’s layup with 6:26 remaining before Los Angeles erupted with a game-changing 15-2 surge.
Samuelson drained a 3-pointer and then added three free throws after being fouled attempting a trey to pull Los Angeles within one. Ogwumike’s driving layup gave the Sparks a 72-71 edge with 4:51 remaining.
Jasmine Thomas drained a 3-pointer with 3:17 left to culminate the burst and give the Sparks a 79-73 lead.
The Fever scored the next three points to cut their deficit in half. But Thomas hit a jumper with 44.1 seconds left, and Canada made a technical foul shot with 36 seconds to go and added two free throws with 31.1 seconds left to give Los Angeles an 84-76 advantage.
Los Angeles completed a 3-0 season sweep of Indiana.
The Sparks shot 40.3 percent from the field and were 8-of-19 from 3-point range.
Indiana connected on 46.9 percent of its shots, including 6 of 20 shots from behind the arc. The Fever committed 21 turnovers.
Indiana led 41-40 at halftime before both teams shot 35.3 percent (6-of-17) and scored 17 points in the third quarter. Azura Stevens made two free throws with 0.6 seconds left to bring the Sparks within 58-57.
Los Angeles led 10-2 just three-plus minutes into the contest before the Fever got going. Boston had 12 points in the stanza as Indiana led 27-23 entering the second quarter.
Berger scored five straight points as the Fever built a 34-25 lead with 5:17 left in the half. The Sparks answered with a 14-5 burst and tied it at 39 with 1:49 remaining.
SUN WIN, EXTEND STORM’S MISERY AT HOME
DeWanna Bonner scored 21 points, Alyssa Thomas posted another double-double and the visiting Connecticut Sun used a big second quarter to beat the Seattle Storm 81-69 on Tuesday, sending the Storm to their sixth straight home loss.
Thomas racked up 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four steals for the Sun (21-7), who outscored Seattle 29-14 in the second quarter behind 14 points from Bonner, including her 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that made it 50-34.
Bonner finished 4-for-6 from beyond the arc to lead Connecticut, which also got 13 points from Rebecca Allen, 10 from Tiffany Hayes and nine from DiJonai Carrington off the bench.
The Sun canned an efficient 7 of 15 shots from distance and converted 17 Storm turnovers into 23 points while allowing just 13 Seattle points off 12 miscues.
Sami Whitcomb churned out 11 points for the Storm (7-21), as did Jewell Loyd, who entered Tuesday’s contest averaging a WNBA-best 24.9 points per game. Ezi Magbegor scored 10 to round out the Seattle’s double-digit scorers. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu logged eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
Gabby Williams scored all seven of her points in the first half before leaving the game after suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter.
The Storm shot 41.4 percent from the floor, including a dismal 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) on 3-pointers, and trailed by as many as 24 points.
Seattle is a WNBA-worst 2-13 at home and has not won at home since its 97-74 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on June 24.
The Storm spread the ball around to begin the game, getting baskets from four different scorers to build a 16-9 lead. Seattle led for the entire first quarter until Hayes’ layup with three seconds left pushed the Sun ahead 21-20.
Hayes’ basket came during the first of two separate 11-0 Connecticut runs in the first half, the latter of which stretched the Sun’s lead to 38-26 before Bonner made a 3-pointer to push it to 41-28 with 2:34 left in the half.
Seattle scored its first 12 baskets via assists but committed 12 first-half turnovers that Connecticut flipped into 19 points entering halftime.
WNBA SUSPENDS RUTHY HEBARD, FINES SIX OTHERS
The WNBA suspended Chicago Sky forward Ruthy Hebard for one game and fined six other players for their roles in recent altercations.
The league announced the disciplinary measures Monday night, issuing undisclosed fines to Los Angeles Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon, Dallas Wings forward Arike Ogunbowale, Sky guard Courtney Williams and three Washington Mystics players: guards Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins and center Shakira Austin.
Hebard received the one-game ban for leaving the bench to join a dustup during Sunday’s 104-96 road win against the Wings. Williams was fined for leaving the bench area.
Sykes and Clarendon were both ejected after a physical confrontation during the final minute of the Sparks’ 91-83 home win against the Mystics on Sunday.
Atkins and Austin, who are both injured, were fined for leaving the Mystics’ bench.
Ogunbowale drew her fine for criticizing officials after the game and making contact with an official during the Wings’ loss to Chicago.
GOLF NEWS
PGA TOUR TOP EXECUTIVE ANDY PAZDER ABRUPTLY RESIGNS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Andy Pazder abruptly resigned Tuesday from his role as a top PGA Tour executive, according to a memo sent to players just hours before their first formal meeting with Commissioner Jay Monahan since his return to work.
Pazder was the tour’s chief tournaments and competition officer, effectively overseeing all matters related to competition. He has been with the tour for the last 35 years.
The tour said in a memo that Pazder informed the tour of his decision to resign effective immediately. It offered no other details. Tyler Dennis, an executive vice president and president of the PGA Tour, is to assume his responsibilities.
The decision comes two weeks after Monahan appointed him to two task forces related to the proposed agreement with Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund.
One involved the “Player Benefit Program,” such as how players would benefit financially from the agreement if it gets finalized by the end of the year. The other was to evaluate how LIV Golf players could return to the PGA Tour and the discipline they would face.
Serving on both task forces with Pazder was Jason Gore, a former PGA Tour winner recently elevated to the role of “chief player officer” and reporting directly to Monahan.
Pazder had been a key architect in several big changes over the years, such as the Korn Ferry Tour Finals that replaced the traditional qualifying tournament, and the new format at the Tour Championship in which the FedEx Cup leader starts with a two-shot lead.
Monahan stunned players and staff when he announced June 6 a deal to become partners with the Public Investment Fund, the backers of LIV Golf. He negotiated the framework agreement with two board members, and players weren’t aware until moments before it was announced.
A week later, Monahan took a leave citing a “medical situation.” He returned to work three weeks ago. Tuesday afternoon was his first formal meeting with players at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Monahan also said last week Tiger Woods had agreed to become a player-director on the PGA Tour board for the first time, the result of 41 players demanding a stronger voice in all big negotiations in the future.
Players were hopeful of more details on the Saudi deal. And while some players suggested Monahan’s resignation at a player meeting right after the deal was announced, emotions have cooled and he has earned the support of players like Woods and Jon Rahm.
British Open champion Brian Harman said earlier Tuesday one question he had for Monahan is why he agreed to the deal knowing he would take a hit because of the about-face.
“I believe that Jay had ultimate authority at all times as far as negotiating and stuff like that, and he knew that his reputation was going to take a major hit if they went forward,” Harman said. “My question would just be why didn’t he stop it, knowing that his reputation was going to take a hit?
“In my mind I think he believed that it was the best thing going forward, and that’s why he did it.”
GOLF GLANCE: FINAL WOMEN’S MAJOR, FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS COMMENCE
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Wyndham Championship (Lucas Glover)
THIS WEEK: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Tenn. Aug. 10-13
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.
Twitter: @FedExChamp
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. … Jon Rahm enters the playoffs with a 174-point lead over Scottie 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 Rory 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.
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. … 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. … Patrick 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.
NEXT WEEK: BMW Championship, Olympia Fields, Ill., Aug. 17-20
LPGA Tour
LAST TOURNAMENT: Women’s Scottish Open (Celine Boutier)
THIS WEEK: AIG Women’s Open, Surrey, England, Aug. 10-13
Course: Walton Heath Golf Club (Par 71, 6,649 yards)
Purse: $7.3M (Winner: $1.095M)
Defending Champion: Ashleigh Buhai
Race to the CME Globe leader: Boutier
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV/Streaming: Thursday-Friday, 6 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (USA Network); Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (USA); Sunday, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA), 12-2 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)
Twitter: @AIGWomensOpen
NOTES: The 144-player field will be cut to the top 65 players and ties after 36 holes. … Boutier has soared into the CME Globe lead since the LPGA began its European swing. After winning her first major title, the Evian Championship, in her native France, Boutier captured the Women’s Scottish Open to open up a 576.4-point lead on Ruoning Yin. … Last year, Buhai outlasted In Gee Chun in a four-hole playoff at Muirfield to win her first major title. … Ten past Women’s Open champions are in the field this week, including legends like Laura Davies, Catriona Matthew and Stacy Lewis. … Rose Zhang, the 20-year-old budding star out of Stanford, has finished in the top 10 at all three majors she’s played since turning pro. She played the Women’s Open as an amateur twice, missing the cut in 2021 and tying for 28th last year. … This marks Walton Heath’s first time hosting the Women’s Open. It has served as a Ryder Cup venue (1981) and hosted the 2011 Senior Open Championship.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: ISPS Handa World Invitational, Antrim, Northern Ireland, Aug. 17-20
PGA Tour Champions
LAST TOURNAMENT: The Senior Open (Alex Cejka)
THIS WEEK: Boeing Classic, Snoqualmie, Wash., Aug. 11-13
Course: The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (Par 72, 7,217 yards)
Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)
Defending Champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steve Stricker
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday, 10 p.m.-12 a.m. (Golf Channel — Tape delay); Saturday, 6-8 p.m. (GC); Sunday, 4-7 p.m. (GC)
Twitter: @BoeingClassic
NOTES: Jimenez defeated David McKenzie by two strokes at last year’s tournament. The Spaniard has not won on the PGA Tour Champions since then. … Three-time PGA Tour winner Boo Weekley, who turned 50 on July 23, is making his tour debut this week. … Also in the field is Fred Couples, a native of nearby Seattle. … Stricker is taking off again this week after skipping The Senior Open. With five victories this year, Stricker has won $3,593,060 — more than double Bernhard Langer, who is second on the Schwab Cup money list. … Seven tournaments remain before the Schwab Cup playoffs begin.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Shaw Charity Classic, Calgary, Alberta, Aug. 18-20
LIV Golf League
LAST TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf Greenbrier (Individual: Bryson DeChambeau; Team: Torque)
THIS WEEK: LIV Golf Bedminster, Bedminster, N.J., Aug. 11-13
Course: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (Par 71, 7,524 yards)
Purse: $20M Individual (Winner: $4M), $5M Team (Winner: $3M)
Defending Champion: Henrik Stenson
Season Leaders: Individual, Talor Gooch; Team, 4Aces
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday, 1-6 p.m. ET (CW App); Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (CW Network)
Streaming: Friday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. ET (LIVGolfPlus.com, YouTube)
Twitter: @livgolf_league
NOTES: The 54-hole event features 12 teams competing with a shotgun start. … Three events remain during the regular season that will crown the individual champion. The team standings at the end of the regular season will determine the seeds for the season-ending Team Championship at LIV Golf Miami. … DeChambeau is coming off the first sub-60 round in LIV Golf history, a final-round 58 that propelled him to victory at Greenbrier. It was DeChambeau’s first LIV title. … Stenson won at Trump Bedminster last year in his LIV Golf debut, shortly after his European Ryder Cup captaincy was stripped as a result of his defection from the PGA and DP World tours. … Gooch is the only three-time individual winner in 2023.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf Chicago, Rich Harvest Farms, Ill., Sept. 22-24
AUTO RACING NEWS
LINUS LINDQVIST RETURNS TO MEYER SHANK RACING FOR INDY’S SECOND ROAD COURSE RACE OF SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar driver Linus Lundqvist will replace the injured Simon Pagenaud in Saturday’s Indy Grand Prix, Meyer Shank Racing announced Tuesday.
Lundqvist will again be driving the No. 60 Honda as a teammate of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.
Lundqvist was among the 12 fastest in qualifying for his series debut last weekend at Nashville but was knocked out of the race by an early crash.
Pagenaud suffered concussion-like symptoms after a brake failure sent his car barrel-rolling in a scary crash at Mid-Ohio in early July. He has not yet been cleared by series officials to return. The French driver won the 2016 IndyCar title and the 500 in 2019.
“The Nashville weekend was great in so many ways. Obviously, a lot of impressions and a lot of new stuff for me going on that weekend and I was pretty disappointed with the way that it ended,” Lundqvist said in a statement released by the team. “It was my mistake and I enjoyed it up until that point. I think it also left me and the team wanting more, which I am grateful for another opportunity at Indy.”
The Swede has made four road-course starts on Indy’s NXT circuit this season, winning three poles and two races — both from the pole. He won the series title in 2022.
Saturday’s 85-lap race will be the series’ second on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course this year and comes on the same weekend Xfinity and NASCAR drivers also compete on the track’s road course. Qualifying for the Indy GP will be held Friday.
“The IMS road course is a place that has been very good for MSR, so I am looking forward to getting back to one of my favorite places,” Castroneves said. “I think we learned a lot from the last race there in May, so that should help us this weekend. I’m ready to go.”
FORMER NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPION CHASE ELLIOTT RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO MAKE PLAYOFFS
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Chase Elliott is running out of time.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, whose year was stunted by a snowboarding accident and hindered by a suspension, needs to win one of the next three races to earn a spot in the playoffs.
“It’s the only option,” he acknowledged.
On a short week, the series shifts to the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Verizon 200 on Sunday before the regular season closes with races at Watkins Glen and Daytona.
Elliott lasted just 34 laps in the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan, where Chris Buescher won his second straight race on Monday, because a tire failure sent his car into the wall.
“Add it to the list,” he said.
The Hendrick Motorsports star had a setback March when he had surgery on his left leg after a snowboarding accident in Colorado, knocking him out of the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas days later and the next five races. After coming back, NASCAR suspended him for one race after it determined he deliberately wrecked Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600.
The missed races, and some shaky performances, have put the fans’ five-time choice as NASCAR’s most popular driver in a precarious position for the playoffs.
Elliott is 22nd in points, 55 out of the 16th and final spot, and with four spots available in the 16-car postseason, he needs to win to get in along with the 12 playoff-eligible winners this year.
Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski are fifth and eighth in the standings, giving them relatively secure spots even if they don’t win one of the final three races in the regular season. Bubba Wallace, who is 14th, and rookie Ty Gibbs (16th) are on the bubble.
Michael McDowell, Daniel Suarez, AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric have a shot, but like Elliott, they likely have to win before the regular season ends Aug. 26 at Daytona.
“If Daytona wasn’t already a madhouse, you can only imagine it now that you have all these prestigious drivers that are just below the cut line, going to lay it all out,” said Keselowski, a driver and part-owner for RFK Racing.
TV ratings dipped when Elliott was out and NASCAR would undoubtedly like a postseason with him in it.
Elliott, who is from Dawsonville, Georgia, has been in the Hendrick organization since he was 15 when he signed a development deal and quickly made his way into the Cup Series. He has qualified for the playoffs in each of his first seven seasons, winning it all three years ago and finishing fourth the previous last two years.
But he hasn’t led a lap since late June and hasn’t finished inside the top 10 since he was third at Chicago last month. It might help that seven of his 18 Cup wins have come at road courses, including two victories at Watkins Glen.
“The next two or three weeks is going to get more and more wild,” Keselowski said. “Chase Elliott is a heck of a road course racer. I know Hendrick Motorsports is coming loaded for bear for him the next two races.”
MIKE ROCKENFELLER TO REPLACE SUSPENDED NOAH GRAGSON IN NEXT NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES
STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Mike Rockenfeller, a two-time Le Mans winner, has been chosen to replace suspended driver Noah Gragson in the next two NASCAR Cup Series races.
Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells announced Tuesday that Rockenfeller will be in the No. 42 Chevrolet this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and in the following race at Watkins Glen.
Gragson has not been released, according to Wells.
“Noah is suspended indefinitely by NASCAR so we will have to identify drivers to compete in the No. 42 in the interim,” Wells said. “NASCAR will determine the timeline when Noah can return to the sport. We are working with Noah and his representation through this process.”
Gragson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on Saturday after liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyd’s face. Floyd, who was Black, died in 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes.
NASCAR said Gragson violated the member conduct of its rule book, without providing details.
The 25-year-old Gragson, a Cup series rookie from Las Vegas, is in his first full season in the Cup series and is No. 33 in points. Gragson posted on social media that he was disappointed in himself.
The 39-year-old Rockenfeller finished 29th and 30th in two Cup races last year. The German teamed with Legacy co-owner Jimmie Johnson and former F1 driver Jenson Button on the Garage 56 project that NASCAR took to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
Rockenfeller did most of the car development for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports on the Garage 56 project.
Rockenfeller joins a long list of road racing experts entered into Sunday’s event at Indianapolis, including Button, Brodie Kostecki, Andy Lally, Kamui Kobayashi, and Shane van Gisbergen, winner of NASCAR’s inaugural street course race in downtown Chicago in July.
Josh Berry filled in for Gragson in the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway and he was 34th in the 37-car field.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
COLTS NEWS
JONATHAN TAYLOR CONTINUES REHAB BUT REMAINS ON PUP LIST AS COLTS PREPARE FOR PRESEASON OPENER
WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor did not attend practice Tuesday as he continues rehabbing from offseason ankle surgery while he continues to seek a contract extension or a trade.
Coach Shane Steichen did not provide a timetable for Taylor’s return though he said the hope was Taylor would practice before Indy concludes its workouts next week at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, about a 30-minute drive from team headquarters.
While he has spent the past two weeks on the physically unable to perform list, Taylor had been a regular around the field and in team meetings — until Tuesday, which prompted speculation about whether he was even at Indy’s training camp complex.
“This is part of his rehab process. If you guys don’t see him out here, it’s part of his rehab,” Steichen said before being asked whether Taylor was working onsite or at another venue. “I’ll refrain from getting into that.”
Steichen also has avoided talking about Taylor’s contract. The former New Jersey prep star is scheduled to make roughly $4.3 million this season, the final year on his rookie contract.
But Taylor is one of several prominent running backs who have publicly complained about how teams value running backs in today’s NFL. They believe the $10.1 million franchise tag, the lowest for any position other than punters and kickers, is far too low for players who often touch the ball hundreds of times per season and incur some of the most punishing hits.
Team owner Jim Irsay responded with a social media post in which he noted the league’s collective bargaining agreement was negotiated in good faith while contending agents are acting in bad faith. Taylor’s agent, Malki Kawa, wrote back it was bad faith not to re-sign the team’s top offensive player.
Following that flurry, Irsay and Taylor met for one hour on the owner’s motorhome while Taylor’s teammates practiced the first Saturday night of camp.
“It was just a good conversation and, you know, hopeful going forward,” Irsay said at the time. “We’re looking forward to a great season, hoping that Jonathan’s a big part of that and I think we had a good conversation.”
The trade request went public shortly after the meeting and Irsay then said he would not deal him before the season — or at the October trade deadline — and neither side has indicated anything has changed since that night.
Taylor topped the 2,000-yard mark twice in college at Wisconsin and rushed for 2,980 yards and 29 TDs in his first two NFL seasons. He was a unanimous All-Pro selection in 2021, when he led the league with 2,171 total yards and tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 20.
Last season, though, he rushed for 861 yards despite missing six games with an ankle injury. Indy is hoping a healthy Taylor will be more productive in 2023 and will help the Colts rebound from a 4-12-1 record last season.
“I think he’s in a good spot, and we’re going from there,” Steichen said. “We’ll see how it all plays out though. Again, once he’s cleared, he’ll be out here.”
REPORT: HUNT FINISHES SAINTS VISIT, RECEIVES RICHER OFFER FROM COLTS
Free-agent running back Kareem Hunt will visit the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday after completing a visit with the New Orleans Saints, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Colts offered Hunt more money before he worked out for the Saints, a source told Dianna Russini of ESPN. He was advised to leave New Orleans and visit Indianapolis.
New Orleans is looking to bolster its running back corps with Alvin Kamara suspended for the first three games of the season. It signed Jamaal Williams to a three-year deal this offseason and drafted Kendre Miller in the third round, though the TCU product is nursing a knee injury.
Indianapolis is also seeking additions to its running back room. Jonathan Taylor is rehabbing from an ankle injury and is embroiled in a public feud with owner Jim Irsay over his contract situation. Meanwhile, Zack Moss is out for six weeks with a broken arm.
Hunt spent the last four years with the Cleveland Browns. He has 1,106 touches for 5,831 yards in 76 career games.
COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART PRESEASON WEEK 1 GAME VS. BUFFALO BILLS
A quick note before getting to the depth chart – head coach Shane Steichen has not said definitively how much he anticipates starters will play against the Buffalo Bills but said the team will begin to sort out playing time over the next couple of days.
Players in italics are on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.
On to the depth chart:
OFFENSE
» WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin, Breshad Perriman, Malik Turner
» LT: Bernhard Raimann, Arlington Hambright, Matthew Vanderslice
» LG: Quenton Nelson, Carter O’Donnell
» C: Ryan Kelly, Danny Pinter, Dakoda Shepley
» RG: Will Fries, Wesley French, Emil Ekiyor
» RT: Braden Smith, Blake Freeland, Dan Skipper
» TE: Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Pharaoh Brown, Michael Jacobson
» TE: Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, La’Micahel Pettway, Nick Eubanks
» WR: Isaiah McKenzie, Josh Downs, Amari Rodgers, Kody Case
» WR: Alec Pierce, Mike Strachan, Juwann Winfree, Vyncint Smith
» QB: Gardner Minshew or Anthony Richardson, Sam Ehlinger
» RB: Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, Evan Hull, Jake Funk, Zavier Scott, Kenyan Drake
- Throughout training camp practices, quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Anthony Richardson have alternated taking first-team reps.
- The starters along the offensive line are the same as it was to close out the 2022 regular season.
DEFENSE
» DE: Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, Genard Avery, Khalid Kareem
» DT: DeForest Buckner, Taven Bryan, McTelvin Agim
» NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson II, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Caleb Sampson
» DE: Samson Ebukam, Dayo Odeyingbo, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Titus Leo
» WLB: Shaquille Leonard, E.J. Speed, Grant Stuard, Segun Olubi, Liam Anderson
» MLB: Zaire Franklin, Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone, JoJo Domann, Donavan Mutin
» SAM: E.J. Speed, Cameron McGrone, JoJo Domann, Liam Anderson
» CB: Darrell Baker Jr., JuJu Brents, Kevin Toliver II, Isaac Taylor-Stuart
» FS: Rodney Thomas II, Henry Black, Marcel Dabo
» SS: Julian Blackmon, Nick Cross, Trevor Denbow, Aaron Maddox
» N: Kenny Moore II, Tony Brown, Chris Lammons, Michael Tutsie
» CB: Dallis Flowers, Darius Rush, Jaylon Jones
- On Tuesday, Tyquan Lewis was activated from the PUP list, which allowed him to practice with the team for the first time since training camp began.
- After seeing more and more reps throughout training camp, Shaquille Leonard began to take part in padded 11-on-11 drills this past weekend.
SPECIALISTS
» P: Rigoberto Sanchez
» PK: Matt Gay, Lucas Havrisik
» H: Rigoberto Sanchez
» LS: Luke Rhodes
» KR: Dallis Flowers, Isaiah McKenzie
» PR: Isaiah McKenzie, Josh Downs
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDY DROPS SERIES OPENER DESPITE SEVEN-RUN SIXTH
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indians rallied for seven runs in the sixth inning, but their comeback efforts fell short due to a pair of four-run frames for the Nashville Sounds that accumulated an early eight-run lead to defeat the Indianapolis on Tuesday night at Victory Field, 9-8.
Nashville (57-50, 17-16) stormed ahead early with eight runs off starter Beau Sulser (L, 0-1) in 2.1 innings of work. After a wild pitch plated the opening run, shortstop Patrick Dorrian belted a three-run shot over the center field wall to cap a four-run first. In the third, Jahmai Jones, Dorrian, Owen Miller and Brian Navarreto each notched run-scoring hits to extend Nashville’s lead to 8-0.
Caleb Boushley (W, 7-5) held the Indians to just one hit – a line-drive single from Canaan Smith-Njigba – through 5.0 innings before Indy broke through in the following frame. Indianapolis (50-57, 17-16) plated seven runs on five hits in the sixth to come within one run. Miguel Andújar’s 26th double of the season sparked the rally, scoring Ji Hwan Bae. Ryan Vilade roped a two-run single and Aaron Shackelford plated two more on a fielding error by Monte Harrison on a shallow fly ball to center field. Catcher Grant Koch capped the seven-run frame with a two-RBI double.
Nashville quickly countered in its following plate appearance with Dorrian’s second home run and fifth RBI of the contest.
Down two runs in its final at-bat, Indy threatened after Bae drew a leadoff walk and Nick Gonzales singled to put the winning run at the plate. Andújar drew the second walk of the frame to load the bases with no outs. After a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Smith-Njigba put Indy within one, Thyago Viera (S, 5) escaped the jam by striking out Malcom Nuñez.
The Indians defense placed error-free baseball for the 12th consecutive game, their longest streak since their 12-game streak from Aug. 12-25, 2022.
The six-game series continues on Wednesday night with first pitch slated for 7:05 PM ET. RHP Roansy Contreras (0-0, -.–) will take the mound for Indianapolis against Nashville’s LHP Eric Lauer (1-1, 8.31).
FEVER BASKETBALL
GAME RECAP: SPARKS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER TO BEAT FEVER ON TUESDAY NIGHT
INDIANAPOLIS – A fourth quarter rally from the Los Angeles Sparks was enough to defeat the Indiana Fever, 87-80, on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the third time during the regular season.
WNBA All-Star Kelsey Mitchell’s 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and 6-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe led the way for Indiana (7-22). With her three made 3-point field goals on Tuesday night, Mitchell moved into 25th place for most 3-point field goals made in WNBA history. Mitchell ended the night at 412 makes from beyond the arc for her career heading into Thursday’s matchup against Minnesota.
With 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, All-Star starter Aliyah Boston earned her 13th career game with at least 10 points on 60 percent shooting, allowing her to surpass Brittney Griner’s 12 games in 2013 and set a new WNBA record for most such games by a rookie, per Across The Timeline. Boston also neared a double-double as she pulled down nine rebounds on the night and is averaging 20.7 points over the last three contests.
Rookie guard Grace Berger came off the bench to pitch in 14 points for Indiana, which was her second-highest offensive output of her career. Berger ended the night with career-highs in field goals made (6) and 3-point field goals made (2), while dishing out four assists. Berger led Indiana’s second unit to outscore the Los Angeles reserves, 32-19.
After missing nine games due to injury, Fever forward NaLyssa Smith returned to the court this evening and contributed eight points to go along with six rebounds. In addition, Kristy Wallace came off the bench to add six points, along with career-highs of seven assists and four steals.
Though the Sparks opened the first two minutes of play with a 10-2 scoring run for its largest lead of the night, Indiana soon rebounded with the help of Boston’s 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the court. Along with Boston’s highest scoring quarter of her career and Mitchell’s nine points; Boston, Mitchell and Smith combined to shoot a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the opening quarter. After taking the lead at the 1:09 mark, Mitchell extended Indiana’s lead to four points with a three-pointer to cap off the first quarter, 27-23.
Indiana stretched a 25-9 scoring run into the second quarter and grew the lead to as many as nine points. Berger led the Fever as she recorded a new career-high for most points in a quarter with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. Los Angeles ended the second frame on a 13-5 scoring run of its own, but the Fever maintained the lead going into halftime, 41-40.
The Sparks overcame an eight-point deficit in the third frame with a 14-6 scoring run, but would only hold their advantage for less than one minute as the Fever took the lead back with a pair of free throws from Boston. Led by Boston and Vivians’ four and three rebounds respectively, the Fever outrebounded the Sparks, 11-5, in the third quarter. Indiana finished the quarter on an eventual 14-6 scoring run of their own, and owned a 58-57 lead at the end of the third quarter.
A 10-2 scoring run from the Sparks, capped off by a layup from forward Nneka Ogwumike, allowed the Sparks to take the lead for the final time at the 4:12 mark in the fourth quarter. Karlie Samuelson’s eight points and Layshia Clarendon’s seven points in the fourth quarter led the way in the Los Angeles comeback effort.
The Sparks’ (11-18) nine players in the scoring column were led by Ogwumike, who recorded a double-double on the night with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Clarendon notched 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the court and dished out five assists. In addition, Jordin Canada added 10 points to go along with a team-high seven assists, while Samuelson contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Fever host the Minnesota Lynx at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Indiana.
INDY ELEVEN
BHM TOOK FIRST MEETING OF THE SEASON 2-1
#INDvBHM Preview
Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion FC
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Follow Live
MYINDY-TV
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvBHM MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2023 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 6W-9L-7D (-2), 25 pts; 9th in Eastern Conference
Birmingham Legion FC: 9W-10L-2D (-5), 29 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: TBD
QUESTIONABLE: TBD
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action for a midweek clash with Birmingham Legion FC Wednesday. BHM took the first meeting of the season, 2-1, on June 17.
The Eleven are coming off a 2-1 loss to Memphis 901 FC and are 1-2-2 in their last five games. With a 6-9-7 record, Indy is ninth in the USLC Eastern Conference. Birmingham is 2-2-1 in its last five matches and is coming off a 2-1 loss to Colorado Springs. BHM is fifth in the Eastern Conference at 9-10-2.
| IND | BHM | |
| 22 | Games | 21 |
| 24 | Goals | 30 |
| 26 | Goals Conceded | 35 |
| 14 | Assists | 27 |
| 67 | SOT | 85 |
| 86 | Shots Faced | 96 |
| 6 | Clean Sheets | 4 |
SERIES VS. BIRMINGHAM
Saturday marks the 10th meeting between the two teams, with Birmingham holding the 6-3-0 all-time advantage in USL Championship action. The is the second meeting of two this season (6.17)
BHM leads: 6-3-0 | GF 12, GA 14
Recent Meetings
6.17.23 | at BHM | L, 2-1
10.12.22 | at BHM | L, 3-1
9.10.22 | home | W, 4-3
10.16.21 | home | L, 3-1
7.24.21 | home | L, 2-1
USL Championship Regular Season
Birmingham Legion FC 2:1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Alabama
Scoring Summary
BHM – Diba Nwegbo 55’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Harrison Robledo) 56’
BHM – Enzo Martinez (Neco Brett) 89’
PARTY CRASHERS
Indy went unbeaten in its last meetings against the top three teams in the USLC Eastern Conference. The Eleven’s 3-1 win over PIT put the first blemish on the home team’s record after coming into the match 7-0-3.
| Current Place/Team | Current Record | Result |
| 1. Pittsburgh (7.26) | 12-4-8 | W, 3-1 |
| 2. Charleston (7.12) | 11-6-6 | D, 1-1 |
| 3. Tampa Bay (7.22) | 11-6-5 | D, 0-0 |
20,000 AND BEYOND…
Aodhan Quinn became the USL Championship’s leader in regular-season minutes played at 20,096 after 90 against Tampa Bay on July 22.
20,000+ minutes | 20,366 | 1st
Appearances | 245 | 7th
Approaching… 50 assists | 49 | 3rd
Quinn has 53 goals, having become the 24th player in USL Championship history to hit 50 goals. He is one of only seven players to have a combined 100 career goals and assists with 53 goals and 49 assists.
Quinn has recorded 24 penalty kick goals in 27 attempts in his career in the league, the most of any individual player on record in league history.
SPORTSCENTER TOP 10 FOR THE 11
Indy Eleven midfielders Cam Lindley and Aodhan Quinn have been featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 for goals in 2023. Lindley’s match-winner at Hartford landed at No. 10, while Quinn’s opening strike against Pittsburgh took the No. 4 spot. The club saw a third selection, this time from the women’s side, as Sam Dewey came in at No. 4 for her goal in the USL W League Conference Semifinal.
LAST TIME OUT
IND 1:2 MEM
AUGUST 5, 2023
Aodhan Quinn scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season, but the strike was not enough as Memphis 901 FC earned the 2-1 win.
Memphis took the lead in the 38th minute as a corner from Memphis captain Aaron Molloy found the head of Lucas Turci to break the deadlock.
The Eleven evened the score off a team-high eighth goal from Quinn in the 57th minute. Velasquez found himself alone on the end line and dropped a pass back to Solomon Asante, who connected with Quinn for the goal. The assist was the 49th career for Asante tying him with Quinn at third on the USL Championship’s all-time list. In addition to Asante’s USLC assist milestone, the appearance was the 150th career for the Boy in Blue.
An 81st-minute goal from Akeem Ward off an assist from Laurent Kissiedou proved to be the match winner for Memphis.
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 1:2 Memphis 901 FC
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Scoring Summary
MEM – Lucas Turci (Aaron Molloy) 38’
IND – Aodhan Quinn (Solomon Asante) 57’
MEM – Akeem Ward (Laurent Kissiedou) 81′
Discipline Summary
IND – Younes Boudadi (caution) 49’
MEM – Memphis Bench (caution) 74’
MEM – Carson Vom Steeg (caution) 90+1’
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
PRESEASON SLATE BEGINS AT HOME VS. INDIANA STATE
By: Charlie Healy
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team will host Indiana State in its first match of the 2023 preseason on Wednesday, August 9, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be played on the Purdue Soccer Practice Field, adjacent to Folk Field. Fans can enter the training field through the gates at the southwestern corner of the facility.
Admission will be free for all fans to Wednesday’s preseason contest along with every regular-season home game in 2023.
Wednesday’s game comes after the Boilermakers opened preseason training last week, with the team’s first official practice on Tuesday, August 1.
To conclude the preseason, Purdue will host Bowling Green on Saturday, August 12, at 2 p.m. ET.
The regular season commences on August 17 against No. 24 UCF with the annual Boiler Gold Rush season-opener at 7 p.m. ET at Folk Field. Read all about the 2023 schedule at PurdueSports.com/Soccer, and catch daily updates throughout the preseason and regular season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The 2023 campaign marks the 26th season of Purdue Soccer. It is the team’s 25th year in the Big Ten after a non-conference-only inaugural year in 1998. This also marks the ninth season under head coach Drew Roff.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER DRAWS FLORIDA ATLANTIC TO OPEN 2023 ESPN EVENTS INVITATIONAL
Butler’s first-round opponent in the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational will be Florida Atlantic, as the tournament bracket was announced Tuesday, Aug. 8.
FAU made a run to the Final Four last season, one of the six teams in the ESPN Events Invitational field who earned berths in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Butler and Florida Atlantic will play on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23 at the State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports near Orlando, Fla. The tip is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. It will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
Butler and FAU are on the same side of the eight-team bracket with Texas A&M and Penn State. Butler’s second game in the event will be against one of those two teams Friday, Nov. 24.
The field also includes Boise State, Iowa State, VCU, and Virginia Tech. Butler’s third and final game in the tournament will come against one of those four teams on Sunday, Nov. 26.
This will be the Bulldogs’ second appearance in the event. In 2013 as part of the event previously named the Old Spice Classic, Butler defeated Washington State in the opening game before falling to Oklahoma State (ranked fifth nationally at that point in the season) and LSU (in overtime).
BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER
PREVIEW 2023: BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER RETURNS KEY VETERANS AND ADDS FRESH TALENT
Butler women’s soccer co-head coaches Tari St. John and Rob Alman have assembled a team with numerous veterans on the offensive and defensive ends, as well as in the midfield, who are joined by exciting newcomers. St. John is beginning her 18th season at the helm of the program, while Alman is entering his 12th as they prepare for a challenging slate of fixtures this fall.
The 2023 season opens Tuesday, August 8, with an exhibition match on the road at Ohio University. The regular season opens at home against Virginia Tech, which is receiving votes in the preseason rankings. The nine non-conference matches that open the season also include contests at No. 3 Notre Dame and home contests vs. No. 9 TCU, Baylor, and Cincinnati.
The Bulldogs will then shift to BIG EAST competition, battling every conference program beginning September 21 at Xavier. Home conference matches include Providence, DePaul, UConn, Seton Hall, and Creighton.
Forwards
The 2023 Bulldogs return a quartet of veteran forwards that includes senior Alli Leonard, redshirt-senior Abigail Isger, and juniors Alexei Whittaker and Sara Trandji. Isger led the Bulldogs in 2022 in goals and points, putting eight shots in the net, and she assisted with another four. She was named 2022 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection.
Additions on the offensive end include sophomore transfer Leila Lister, who played at Colorado last season, and incoming freshmen Lucia Englund and Norah Jacomen.
Midfielders
A trio of upperclassman along with five sophomores will be anchoring the midfield this season. Graduate student Becky Dean and seniors Arianna Jalics and Anna Schroeder will be leaned upon as the most seasoned of the group. Jalics was fourth on the team last season in offensive points, scoring two goals and dishing out a couple of assists.
A pair of sophomores return after receiving postseason honors last season. Talia Sommer, the 2022 BIG EAST Freshman of the year, was third on the team in goals and total points and named to the 2022 All-BIG EAST Second Team. Amelie Darey, who scored a goal and dished out two assists, was a part of the 2022 All-BIG EAST Freshman Team. Additionally, Emily O’Malley, Sydney Longo, and Daphne Murray will look to build on excellent debut campaigns.
Defenders
Butler’s defensive unit is the deepest in terms of experience. Graduate student Aliya Diagne along with seniors Claire Farrington and Caitlin O’Malley combined for 47 starts in 2022. Diagne was honored in the postseason, receiving All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Region Third Team accolades. Another upper classman, junior Alexandra Pulaski, saw seven starts last season.
Three other returning defenders were limited in 2022 due to injury. Redshirt-senior Alana Wood and juniors Lauren Doerr and Dianna Palazzolo are each in the process of recovery and are looking forward to returning to the pitch.
Goalkeepers
Throughout the fall in 2022, junior Emma Martin and redshirt-sophomore Anna Pierce shared the season’s minutes in goal, with each receiving multiple starts. Redshirt-freshman Addie Marshall, a local product from Franklin, Indiana, rounds out the corps of netminders.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
GAETINO ON NATIONAL DEFENDER WATCH LIST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches has announced its Defenders to Watch list for the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer 2023 season. No surprise here that the reigning ACC Defender of the Year and now senior captain of the Fighting Irish, Eva Gaetino was amongst the names listed. Not only did she claim one of the top ACC awards last season, but she also took home First Team All-America honors and was named a Mac Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.
Gaetino anchored a backline that tied for the third-longest shutout streak in program history with six consecutive matches. All-in-all, they totaled 14 shutouts, which was the most since 2016. Notre Dame went unbeaten in its last 12 matches before the NCAA Quarterfinal loss to North Carolina. During that 12-game span, the Irish outscored the opposition 33-6. The Irish were also the only squad in the NCAA Tournament that didn’t surrender a goal until the quarterfinal round.
The Defenders Watch List is comprised of 35 women and include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and first or second-team All-Region players from 2022, who are scheduled to return for the 2023 season.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
SAM HARTMAN SELECTED FOR DAVEY O’BRIEN WATCH LIST
University of Notre Dame graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman has been named to the 2023 Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best college quarterback.
Hartman, who announced his decision to graduate transfer to Notre Dame in January of 2023, is the active FBS leader in career touchdown passes (111) and passing yardage (12,967). He is poised to become just the 12th FBS quarterback to throw for over 13,000 yards and 110 touchdowns in a career.
Over the last two seasons, Hartman leads all FBS quarterbacks in touchdown passes (77) and yards per completion (13.9) while ranking in the top five for passing yards (second, 7,929), red zone touchdown passes (third, 45) and fourth-quarter passing yards (fifth, 1,114).
In 2022, Hartman required just 270 completion to rack up 38 touchdown passes, which was the best pass-completion-to-touchdown-ratio among Power 5 quarterbacks.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Three different Irish signal callers have been O’Brien Award finalists through the years, including Tony Rice (1988 and ‘89), Rick Mirer (1992) and Brady Quinn (2005 and ‘06).
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and will contain all active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, all players honored as a weekly Great 8 recipient through the season’s first seven weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Midseason Watch List will then be pared down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will again play a role in the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting totals when combined with the national selection committee’s ballots. Voting will begin on Oct. 24.
MARIAN FOOTBALL
MARIAN FOOTBALL PICKED AS FAVORITES IN MSFA MIDEAST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Chicago, Ill. – Marian University was tagged to finish atop the Mideast League in 2023, as the league coaches ranked the Knights No. 1 in the MSFA Mideast League Preseason Poll.
The Knights finished second in 2022 with a 6-1 record last season, but reached the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals. Marian returns ten All-MSFA honorees from 2022, including First-Team selections Drew Byerly at tight end, Nate Frey in the secondary, and a pair of offensive linemen in Zach Sibila and Austin Jones.
The defending Mideast League champs are expected to be the biggest challenge for Marian to take the crown, as Indiana Wesleyan was picked second in the poll, earning three of a potential seven first-place votes. Concordia – who shared the title in 2021 and was the top pick in last year’s preseason poll – comes in third.
Saint Francis and Siena Heights finish fourth and fifth respectively, with just one point between the two programs. Taylor and Lawrence Tech also finish a point apart, in sixth and seventh. Madonna finishes out the poll in eighth.
To determine the preseason rankings, head coaches across the league rank their fellow Mideast League members from top to bottom, with 1st place earning 7 points, 2nd place earning 6 points, etc. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams.
Taylor kicks off the new year for the MSFA on August 26, when they host St. Ambrose in an MSFA crossover matchup. Six more teams are in action on September 2, including the first league game of the season when the Trojans head north to face Concordia.
Marian football opens their 2023 season on September 2 when the Knights travel to Judson University for one of their three crossover matchups, and return home for the first time in 2023 on September 9 against St. Xavier.
The NAIA Preseason poll will be released on August 21, where the Knights will aim to extend their streak to nine consecutive seasons appearing in the NAIA’s preseason top-25.
2023 MSFA Mideast League Preseason Poll
1.) Marian – 47 pts. (5)
2.) Indiana Wesleyan – 43 pts. (3)
3.) Concordia – 37 pts.
4.) Saint Francis (Ind.) – 27 pts.
5.) Siena Heights – 26 pts.
6.) Taylor – 19 pts.
7.) Lawrence Tech – 18 pts.
8.) Madonna – 7 pts.
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 | 43 | .619 | – | 35 – 22 | 35 – 21 | 24 – 14 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 8 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 69 | 46 | .600 | 2 | 38 – 19 | 31 – 27 | 20 – 14 | 18 – 5 | 11 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Toronto | 64 | 51 | .557 | 7 | 30 – 24 | 34 – 27 | 11 – 23 | 17 – 7 | 14 – 11 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| NY Yankees | 59 | 55 | .518 | 11.5 | 35 – 28 | 24 – 27 | 15 – 21 | 12 – 9 | 16 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Boston | 58 | 55 | .513 | 12 | 31 – 27 | 27 – 28 | 16 – 14 | 12 – 9 | 12 – 10 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 60 | 55 | .522 | – | 33 – 24 | 27 – 31 | 12 – 17 | 22 – 16 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Cleveland | 55 | 59 | .482 | 4.5 | 30 – 27 | 25 – 32 | 8 – 9 | 18 – 18 | 13 – 12 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 50 | 63 | .442 | 9 | 24 – 33 | 26 – 30 | 4 – 18 | 19 – 13 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 46 | 69 | .400 | 14 | 24 – 30 | 22 – 39 | 7 – 17 | 19 – 17 | 9 – 17 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Kansas City | 37 | 78 | .322 | 23 | 21 – 36 | 16 – 42 | 6 – 16 | 13 – 27 | 4 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 68 | 46 | .596 | – | 40 – 20 | 28 – 26 | 14 – 11 | 17 – 5 | 19 – 13 | 8 – 2 | W 8 |
| Houston | 65 | 49 | .570 | 3 | 31 – 25 | 34 – 24 | 9 – 9 | 11 – 11 | 24 – 13 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Seattle | 61 | 52 | .540 | 6.5 | 32 – 26 | 29 – 26 | 11 – 13 | 12 – 11 | 19 – 11 | 8 – 2 | W 6 |
| LA Angels | 57 | 58 | .496 | 11.5 | 30 – 28 | 27 – 30 | 12 – 11 | 14 – 8 | 16 – 18 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Oakland | 32 | 82 | .281 | 36 | 17 – 41 | 15 – 41 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 5 – 28 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 71 | 40 | .640 | – | 37 – 20 | 34 – 20 | 22 – 6 | 15 – 5 | 11 – 9 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Philadelphia | 62 | 52 | .544 | 10.5 | 31 – 22 | 31 – 30 | 13 – 17 | 11 – 8 | 14 – 13 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Miami | 59 | 56 | .513 | 14 | 34 – 24 | 25 – 32 | 14 – 19 | 12 – 10 | 10 – 12 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| NY Mets | 51 | 62 | .451 | 21 | 27 – 24 | 24 – 38 | 16 – 14 | 6 – 15 | 15 – 13 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| Washington | 50 | 64 | .439 | 22.5 | 22 – 34 | 28 – 30 | 11 – 20 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 14 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 61 | 54 | .530 | – | 32 – 27 | 29 – 27 | 10 – 9 | 24 – 12 | 9 – 16 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 59 | 55 | .518 | 1.5 | 32 – 28 | 27 – 27 | 11 – 16 | 21 – 14 | 9 – 8 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Cincinnati | 60 | 56 | .517 | 1.5 | 29 – 30 | 31 – 26 | 13 – 15 | 14 – 22 | 16 – 9 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 51 | 62 | .451 | 9 | 27 – 29 | 24 – 33 | 8 – 7 | 13 – 17 | 16 – 15 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| St. Louis | 49 | 65 | .430 | 11.5 | 25 – 33 | 24 – 32 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 20 | 10 – 16 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 66 | 46 | .589 | – | 34 – 20 | 32 – 26 | 11 – 7 | 16 – 14 | 18 – 12 | 8 – 2 | W 3 |
| San Francisco | 62 | 52 | .544 | 5 | 33 – 24 | 29 – 28 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 9 | 18 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Arizona | 57 | 57 | .500 | 10 | 28 – 29 | 29 – 28 | 13 – 15 | 11 – 10 | 18 – 15 | 2 – 8 | L 7 |
| San Diego | 55 | 59 | .482 | 12 | 30 – 28 | 25 – 31 | 13 – 13 | 8 – 15 | 15 – 17 | 5 – 5 | L 3 |
| Colorado | 45 | 68 | .398 | 21.5 | 25 – 30 | 20 – 38 | 14 – 17 | 11 – 12 | 7 – 21 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1905 “COME AT ONCE STOP VERY SORRY STOP YOUR FATHER DEAD IN SHOOTING ACCIDENT STOP HURRY.” – telegram sent to Ty Cobb by Joe Cunningham, a long-time hometown Royston friend. Ty Cobb receives a telegram sent by his long-time hometown Royston friend Joe Cunningham informing him that his father, Professor W. H. Cobb, had been killed in a shooting accident the previous night. The incident will profoundly affect the life of the 18-year-old Augusta Tourist (South Atlantic League) outfielder, becoming a sordid affair after the police reveal his mother pulled the trigger.
1906 Cubs right-hander Jack Taylor, who will amass a lifetime record of 152-139 and an ERA of 2.66, goes the distance, beating Brooklyn at Washington Park, 5-3. The victory will be the last of his 187 consecutive complete games, an amazing streak that began on June 20, 1901, with a 2-0 loss in Boston.
1916 The Philadelphia A’s twenty-game losing streak ends when Joe Bush beats the Tigers, 7-1. The 20-80 club has won only three of their prior 43 contests, with lone victories during the stretch snapping skids of twelve and nine consecutive defeats.
1939 Yankee third baseman Red Rolfe begins an eighteen-game scoring streak. The Penacook (NH) native will score thirty runs during this span.
1946 Eight big league teams will play their scheduled games under the lights. MLB’s version of Friday Night Lights marks the first time in major league history that every club will participate in an evening tilt on the same night.
1949 Dom DiMaggio, hitless in his first four at-bats against Yankee hurler Vic Raschi, sees his 34-game hitting streak end. The Red Sox outfielder’s older brother Joe makes a shoestring catch in the eighth inning, taking his sibling’s last chance to extend the streak.
1961
The Reds continue their domination of the hapless Phillies by winning their 16th straight game against the inept squad, who have won just one contest in their last 19 tries. Joey Jay’s 5-0 whitewash is the 13th loss in a row for Philadelphia, the club’s longest losing streak in 25 years.
1963 One loss shy of tying the major league record of 19 consecutive defeats, Roger Craig switches his uniform number to 13 to change his luck. The change of works when Jim Hickman lofts a short fly ball in the ninth inning with two outs and the bases-full in a tie game that barely ticks the upper-deck overhang in left field at the Polo Grounds for a walk-off grand slam, giving the Mets an improbable 7-3 victory over the Cubs.
1963 Lindy McDaniel becomes the second pitcher in major league history to give up a pair of game-ending grand slams in the same season when Mets pinch-hitter Jim Hickman goes deep to give the Mets a dramatic 7-3 victory over the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. The Chicago right-hander, who also allowed Houston’s Bob Aspromonte to end a game with a base full walk-off round-tripper in June, joins Satchel Paige (1952) in accomplishing the infamous deed.
1964 After throwing a perfect game on Father’s Day against the Mets, Phillies right-hander Jim Bunning continues his mastery over New York, retiring 44 New York batters in a row. Joe Christopher beats out a two-out bunt in the fifth inning to finish the right-hander’s perfection over the Amazins’.
1969 Philadelphia infielder Dick Allen starts scratching messages for the fans in the dirt around the first base bag, beginning today with “Oct. 2”, indicating the last day of the season when he would be “free” from the team. Some of his other notes, written during a span the slugger hits five home runs in six days, include “Coke,” “Why,” “No,” “Mom,” and “Boo,” a word the Phillies fans fully embrace.
1975 At Shea Stadium, Davey Lopes steals his 32nd consecutive base without being caught, breaking Max Carey’s 1922 record in the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory over New York. Vince Coleman will break the Dodger second baseman’s mark in 1989.
1976 Cal Hubbard, with his induction to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as an umpire, becomes the first professional athlete elected into two Halls of Fame. In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the Missouri native due to his outstanding performance on the gridiron with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.
1976 John Candelaria becomes the first Pirate since 1907 to throw a no-hitter in Pittsburgh. Nick Maddox threw the first and only Buc home no-hitter until the ‘Candyman’ beat the Dodgers at Three Rivers Stadium.
1981 Major league baseball returns in a big way from its in-season strike when 72,086 fans attend the belated All-Star Game, a 5-4 National League victory over the Junior Circuit at Cleveland Stadium. Giants southpaw Vida Blue becomes the first pitcher to win the Midsummer Classic for both leagues, and Expo backstop Gary Carter, who hits two home runs, is named the MVP of the contest.
1988 After 5,687 consecutive contests occur during the day at the Chicago Northside ballpark dating back to 1914, the first official major league night game takes place at Wrigley Field, with the hometown Cubs taking a 6-4 decision from the Mets. Originally, last night’s contest against the Phillies would have been the ballpark’s first evening tilt, but rain washed out the scheduled historic event after the third inning.
1992 The Brewers retire #34 in tribute to Rollie Fingers, who won the 1981 AL Cy Young Award and AL Most Valuable Player Award in the first of his four seasons with the club. The handlebar-mustached All-Star closer, recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, will also be honored by the Oakland A’s next season when he joins Catfish Hunter as the franchise’s second player to have his jersey number retired.
1996 Cal Ripken records his 2,500th career hit with a single off White Sox right-hander Bill Simas in the Orioles’ 4-3 loss to Chicago in 10 innings. The Baltimore infielder will end his 21-year career with 3,184 hits.
1998 The Expos draw a total of 757 dogs during the team’s Dog Day promotion. Montreal’s 8-2 victory over Arizona featured a pregame parade of canines and their owners on the field.
1998 Dennis Eckersley, throwing a perfect eighth inning in the Red Sox’ 14-8 victory over Texas, ties Kent Tekulve for second on the all-time list with 1,050 appearances by a pitcher. Hoyt Wilhelm is the over-all leader with 1,070, a record the ‘Eck’ will surpass in his final major league game on September 26.
1998 With his 244th victory, Dennis Martinez surpasses Juan Marichal to become the winningest Latin American pitcher in major league baseball history. The Nicaraguan right-hander, known as ‘El Presidente,’ pitches a perfect eighth inning in the Braves’ 7-5 victory over the Giants.
1999 A total of five grand slams occur on the same day for the first time in major league history. Cardinal Fernando Tatis, Expo Jose Vidro, Marlin Mike Lowell, Yankee Bernie Williams, and Mariner Jay Buhner connect to set the record.
1999 The Blue Jays bang out 25 hits in a 19-4 rout of the Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington. The total, which includes six doubles and four home runs, establishes a new franchise mark for hits.
2001 Mike Hampton ties the National League record for pitchers with his seventh homer when he goes deep off Felix Heredia in the Rockies’ 14-5 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Colorado southpaw equals the mark established by Dodger hurlers Don Drysdale (1958, 1965) and Don Newcombe (1955) and is two shy of the major league standard set by Wes Ferrell, playing for the Indians in 1931.
2002 Barry Bonds joins Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron as the only players to hit 600 career home runs. The 38-year-old Giant left fielder hit the milestone homer in the sixth inning by lining a 2-1 pitch thrown by Pirates starter Kip Wells over the center-field wall at Pacific Bell Park.
2002 At the age of 26 years and 182 days, Vladimir Guerrero hits his 200th career home run, tying the Expos right fielder with Ken Griffey, Jr. as the second-youngest player to reach the 200 homer plateau. Alex Rodriguez is the youngest major leaguer to reach the 200 homer mark, reaching the milestone in 25 years 290 days.
2005 An arbitrator rules Kenny Rogers, who has missed 13 games, should be reinstated. The decision states the punishment handed down by Bud Selig for shoving two cameramen went too far in suspending the Ranger pitcher for 20 games and levying an excessive $50,000 fine.
2006 Mike Piazza belts two home runs off Mets ace Pedro Martinez and nearly hits a third in the eighth inning during a 4-3 Padres loss in New York. The Big Apple fans give their former hometown hero an uncommon road curtain call after the round-tripper, but the second time the backstop goes deep, he hears boos and catcalls from the crowd.
2008 Micah Hoffpauir ties a modern Pacific Coast League record homering in his first four at-bats in the Iowa Cubs’ 15-3 rout over the Round Rock Express. The 28-year-old slugging first baseman becomes the third player in the history of the storied PCL to go deep in four consecutive at-bats and the fifth to accomplish the feat in one game.
2008 The team honors their greatest outfielders as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration commemorating the Giants’ move to San Francisco. Barry Bonds, believed not to be there, receives a standing ovation from the surprised fans when he is announced and takes part in the ceremony telling the crowd, “It feels awful to me not to be in uniform, and the Dodgers are right here.”
2009 In the eighth inning of a 5-2 victory over the Red Sox in the Bronx, Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira hit consecutive homers for the sixth time this season, the most ever for a pair of Yankees in one season. The teammates’ accomplishment is remarkable, considering the franchise featured the dynamic duos of Ruth and Gehrig and Mantle and Maris in its storied past.
2010 Citing he has lost confidence in his manager, Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik fires Don Wakamatsu and three coaches. Triple-A Tacoma manager Daren Brown is named the interim pilot of the last-place club (42-70), becoming the team’s fifth skipper in a little more than three years.
2010 The front-running Reds obtain 40-year-old veteran Jim Edmonds from the Brewers in exchange for Chris Dickerson, a light-hitting, defensively talented outfielder. Dusty Baker will use his newest player, who hit .286 and eight homers in 73 games for Milwaukee, in a part-time role during the playoff chase.
2011 With the tying runs at the corners and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Curtis Granderson is picked off at first, ending the game as Mark Teixeira, the Yankees’ leading home run hitter, stands at the plate. The last out of New York’s 6-4 loss to the Angels results from the seldom effective fake to third, then throw to first, which easily catches the Bronx Bomber outfielder off the bag when he attempts to steal second base on a 1-6-3 play.
2013 Dan Haren becomes the thirteenth pitcher in history to record a victory over all 30 major league franchises when he hurls seven solid innings in the Nationals’ 9-2 win over Philadelphia. The 32-year-old right-hander joins Al Leiter, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, A.J. Burnett, Kevin Brown, Terry Mulholland, Curt Schilling, Woody Williams, Jamie Moyer, Javier Vazquez, Vicente Padilla, and Derek Lowe in accomplishing the feat.
2013 The Dodgers rally for four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, overcoming a six-run, seventh-inning deficit, for their fifth walk-off victory of the season. The team’s 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay is their 11th consecutive win in one-run games, a span in which they have defeated ten different clubs.
2014 Bill Lee, who threw a complete-game victory two seasons ago for the San Rafael Pacifics, breaks his record as the oldest player ever to win a professional baseball game when he hurls 5.2 innings in the Sonoma Stompers’ 6-3 victory at Arnold Field. The 67-year-old former major league hurler, a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, gives up six hits and three runs to the visiting Pittsburg Mettle of the independent Pacific Association.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
MIKE SCHMIDT
3rd Baseman
Michael Jack Schmidt grew up in Dayton, Ohio, with a blue-collar work ethic. He carried that mentality onto the baseball field, which helped him get the most of his athletic ability and forever endear him to fans in Philadelphia, where he spent the entirety of his 18-year career.
“If you could equate the amount of time and effort put in mentally and physically into succeeding on the baseball field and measured it by the dirt on your uniform, mine would have been black,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt was a second-round pick out of Ohio University in 1971, one pick after George Brett was selected by the Royals. Signed by legendary Phillies scout Tony Lucadello, Schmidt didn’t spend long in the minors, making his major league debut on Sept. 12, 1972. He took some lumps as a rookie in 1973, hitting just .196 in 132 games. But Schmidt turned things around in a hurry – making the All-Star team in 1974 and never looking back. Schmidt was a 12-time all-star during his career.
Home runs were Schmidt’s calling card at the plate. He led the National League in homers eight times during his career and his 48 home runs in 1980 set a since-broken Major League record for third basemen. On April 18, 1987, Schmidt became the 14th member of the 500 home run club and finished his career with 548.
Along with the power, Schmidt also led the National League in walks four times and retired with a .380 on-base percentage.
In the field, Schmidt was a graceful defender at third base and occasionally the Phillies’ emergency shortstop. He led all NL in assists seven times and double plays six times.
Schmidt was a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner and won six Silver Slugger Awards. He was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1980, 1981 and 1986.
The Phillies won the World Series in 1980, beating the Royals in six games, and Schmidt was named World Series MVP. It was the first World Series championship in franchise history.
Schmidt was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
August 9, 1957 – At Soldier Field in front of 75,000 fans the champion NY Giants defeated the College All-Star squad by the odd score of 22-12 in the 24th annual Chicago Charities College All-Star Game. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be John Brodie a quarterback from Stanford.
August 9, 1975 – The very first game is played at the new Louisiana Super Dome as the Houston Oilers topple the New Orleans Saints 13-7 in an NFL preseason game.
August 9, 1987 – In an exciting NFL exhibition game the LA Rams beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for August 9
August 9, 1899 – Ed McGinley was a tackle from the University of Pennsylvania who is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in the ceremony of 1979. Legendary Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg once said, “Ed McGinley is the most effective lineman I’ve seen in a long while.” According to the NFF bio on Ed, he had uncanny speed and was unmatched by any other tackle of comparable size in the college game of that era. McGinley was particularly effective in downing punts within the opponents’ 20-yard line. The 1924 Penn-Cornell Thanksgiving Day Classic went down in history as a punting duel, and McGinley was largely responsible for that duel. McGinley set the Big Red back twice in the opening minutes by downing punts within the Cornell 20-yard line. In the final quarter, McGinley downed a Penn punt on the Cornell 10-yard line and another Quaker boot on the Big Red’s 11-yard line. He played almost the entire game, as Penn romped to a 20-0 victory. He went on to play professionally for the NFL’s NY Giants.
August 9, 1952 – John Cappelletti was a running back from Penn State University who entered into the Hall of Fame of College Football in the class of 1993. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1973 and then went on to play in the NFL for the LA Rams and the SanDiego Chargers. Cappalletti’s football career and his relationship with his ill younger brother was famously portrayed in the touching movie “Something for Joey”.
August 9, 1955 – Zachary, Louisiana – Doug Williams was a quarterback from Grambling State who is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Williams went on to play in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He helped guide his Washington team to victory in Super Bowl XXII with 340 yards passing and 4 TD’s against the Denver Broncos. During his NFL career Doug threw 1,240 completions for 16,998 yards and 100 touchdowns.
August 9, 1967 – Deion Sanders was defensive back from Florida that is enshrined in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the NFL he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons then later played for the Cowboys, 49ers and Washington.
Not Yet in the Hall of Fame birthdays:
August 9, 1931 – Gene Big Daddy Lipscomb was a giant defensive end that played for the Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. He came out of the Camp Pendelton Marine Corp Base Blue Brigade and took the league by storm with his powerful athletic play. He was also an accomplished professional wrestler. The football world lost him much too soon in 1963.
August 9, 1946 – Lincoln Park, New Jersey – Wyoming running back Jim Kiick arrived into life. Kiick was the 118th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 1968 AFL Draft. Ke joined the Dolphins in 1968 and stayed with them through the 1974 season when the World Football League Memphis Southmen signed him in 1975. After the WFL’s demise Kiick joined the Broncos for the seasons of 1976-77 and then the Redskins in 1978 according to Yahoo.com. Jim’s career numbers include 1,029 carries for 3,759 yards and 29 touchdowns and 233 receptions for 2,302 yards and 4 TDs. Kiick was a two-time AFL All-Star and won two Super Bowls VII and VIII with the Dolphins. He was an integral part of Don Shula’s ball-control offense in the early 1970s along with Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka .
August 9, 1977 – Brooklyn, New York – Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye from the University of Indiana was born. Ogunleye signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000 and later played with the Bears and the Texans.
August 9, 1985 – Mobile, Alabama – Quarterback JaMarcus Russell from LSU arrived into this life. Russell was number one overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
STAN BARNES
Position: Center/Tackle
Years: 1918-1921
Place of Birth: Baraboo, WI
Date of Birth: May 01, 1900
Place of Death: Palm Springs, CA
Date of Death: Mar 05, 1990
Jersey Number: 18
Height: 6-1
Weight: 186
High School: San Diego, CA (San Diego HS)
Stan Barnes was a member of California’s “Wonder Teams” of 1920 and 1921. In his junior and senior seasons he played in two consecutive Rose Bowls. The 1920 squad won the national championship going undefeated in nine games scoring 510 points and giving up only 14. In one of the biggest routs in college football history, the Bears defeated St. Mary’s 127-0. In the Rose Bowl, Cal defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 28- 0. California was also undefeated and untied in 1921 until the Bears tied Washington and Jefferson 0-0 on a muddy field in the Rose Bowl. During his four years at Berkeley, Barnes played on teams that won 31 lost four and tied two. After graduation he went into the legal profession. He became the President of the Federal Bar Association and later a judge in the United States Court of Appeals. Barnes also served as a superior court judge in Los Angeles and as assistant attorney general of the United States.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
14 – 23 – 29 – 45 – 99
August 9, 1925 – We had the only time the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth was pinch-hit for. In this instance Bobby Veach flied out as the Bambino and everyone in the stands asked ,”Why?”
August 9, 1946 – 1st time all major-league baseball games (8) are played at night
August 9, 1964 – Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jim Bunning, Number 14 had been pitching a perfect game to New York Mets until 2 outs in 5th, when Number 23, Joe Christopher laid down and then beat out a bunt. Bunning lasted a total of 15 innings on the mound.
August 9, 1971 – Negro League and MLB legend Satchel Paige, most famously with wore the Number 29 was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame
August 9, 1976 – Pittsburgh Pirates hurler John Candelaria, Number 45 no-hit the LA Dodgers in a 2-0 Bucco victory.
August 9, 1977 – NHL votes down the merger of 6 WHA clubs
August 9, 1988 – The Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Mets 6-4 in their 1st official game under the lights at Wrigley Field
August 9, 1988 – The cash strapped Edmonton Oilers traded the Great One, Number 99, Wayne Gretzky to LA Kings for $15-$20 million
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