By DAVE MCMENAMIN LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Davis was ruled out of the second half of Thursday night's 118-94 loss to the LA Clippers because of back spasms, giving the Los Angeles Lakers two stars -- along with LeBron James -- who made their return from a long-term injury only to go back on the mend with the regular season quickly slipping away. The loss, their seventh in the past nine games, dropped the Lakers to 37-29, identical to the Portland Trail Blazers, whom L.A. plays on Friday. The Lakers are seeded No. 6, ahead of Portland, which currently occupies a play-in tournament slot at No. 7, even though the teams are 1-1 in their season series so far. L.A. ... Read More
By TOM VANHAAREN The football that Tom Brady threw to complete his first touchdown pass in the NFL is going up for auction with Lelands on Sunday. It's a unique piece of sports history that has been with the seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, since the game on Oct. 14, 2001, when the New England Patriots played the San Diego Chargers. The seller grew up in Rhode Island and has gone to Patriots games since the late 1970s with his family. He and three of his high school friends first bought season tickets in 1992 as college students and have kept the tickets to this day. He's a loyal fan of the Patriots and jokes that his wife almost ... Read More
By ALEX SCARBOROUGH Alabama football coach Nick Saban is getting behind a state effort to encourage more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Saban has participated in a public service announcement that will air next week and will also feature SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, former Auburn basketball star Charles Barkley and former Auburn head coach-turned-U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Saban, according to a recording of the PSA obtained by the Journal, says that fans and players both want full stadiums in the fall. "Let's make sure we can safely make this happen by getting vaccinated," Saban is recorded saying. "Please get your COVID-19 vaccine. We want Bryant-Denny Stadium loud again this coming season ... Read More
By DAN GRAZIANO Brandon Beane got a call from the NFL league office this week, a league source said, about the Buffalo Bills general manager's comments during a radio interview about whether he would hypothetically release an unvaccinated player if it meant the team reaching a league-imposed minimum percentage of vaccinated individuals. The message the league delivered to Beane, according to the source, was that a team may not release a player solely due to vaccination status. During an interview on "One Bills Live" on Wednesday, Beane was presented a scenario in which the Bills were one player from reaching an undefined percentage of vaccinated players and was asked whether he would cut an unvaccinated player to return to normalcy. ... Read More
By BOB HARIG CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rory McIlroy slipped to 15th in the world this week, which in golf's big-picture world is not a huge deal. But when you consider that it is the lowest he has been since 2009 -- when he was just 20 years old -- it means a good bit more. McIlroy, who celebrated his 32nd birthday this week, has been struggling with his form throughout the coronavirus pandemic, dropping from No. 1 in the world when play was halted in March 2020 to his current ranking. It's been a frustrating time for one of the game's best players, which is why his 5-under-par 66 at the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday was such a welcomed ... Read More
By MYRON MEDCALF College basketball is tired of the flopping. And now, floppers could pay. The NCAA men's basketball rules committee has proposed a rule that would assess a technical foul to players who "fake being fouled." It would be a Class B technical foul, so the opposing team would get one free throw attempt and the player would not be assessed a personal foul. Under the current rules, a player is warned after flopping for the first time in a game. According to a release from the NCAA, if the rule is approved by the NCAA playing rules oversight panel on June 3, players could get hit with a technical foul for "falling to the court despite not being ... Read More
By ESPN.com The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed former Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson off waivers, the team announced Friday. The Lions waived Johnson on Thursday, officially cutting ties with their 2018 second-round pick out of Auburn. Johnson joins a suddenly crowded Eagles backfield that includes Miles Sanders, rookie Kenny Gainwell, Jordan Howard and Boston Scott. Sanders is expected to be the lead back, with the rest of the group competing for a spot in the rotation. Philadelphia selected Gainwell, a dual-threat back out of Memphis, in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft. Johnson became expendable after the Lions drafted D'Andre Swift No. 35 overall in 2020, signed free-agent running back Jamaal Williams in March and then drafted ... Read More
By ESPN.com New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger, an injury that executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said was "avoidable" if the league did a better job officiating his franchise superstar. Williamson, who is left-handed, underwent a CT scan Thursday prior to the team leaving for Philadelphia that revealed the injury. A treatment plan and timetable for his return will be determined after further evaluation. Griffin didn't specify when the injury occurred, but Williamson appeared to hurt the finger while attempting to get a rebound in Tuesday's 108-103 win over the Golden State Warriors. With roughly nine minutes left in the third quarter, Williamson appeared to injure the ... Read More
Arlington, TX—The Texas Rangers today announced that Daren Willman is joining the organization as Senior Director, Research & Development/Applications for Baseball Operations. Willman, who has been with Major League Baseball since January 2016, will be responsible for the development and expansion of the Rangers’ baseball information systems. He will oversee a team of developers in the continued growth and improvement of the organization’s information infrastructure. “We are excited to welcome Daren and his family to the Texas Rangers,” President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels. “He’s been recognized an industry leader in data analytics since the creation of Baseball Savant. His unique baseball background combined with his innovative development skill set will enhance our internal systems and decision making, and have ... Read More
MarsBars/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Pfizer and BioNTech will be providing COVID-19 vaccines to Olympic athletes participating in the summer games in Tokyo. The pharmaceutical companies signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Olympic Committee on Thursday to donate doses of the vaccine to athletes and their delegations, which can consist of coaches, third-party games staff, executives, dignitaries and guests, according to a joint press release. The companies, along with the IOC, will coordinate with National Olympic Committees around the world to address the local need for vaccines to allow delegations to participate in the games, the release states. The decision to offer immunization to athletes and delegations will be up to each country. Delivery of initial doses to participating delegations ... Read More
By BROOKE PRYOR A felony gun charge was dropped Wednesday against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Justin Layne after he took a plea deal in a case stemming from a traffic stop in northeast Ohio on April 23. Layne, 23, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possessing criminal tools in Willoughby Municipal Court. Layne received six months of probation, 32 hours of community service and a $500 fine and was ordered to pay court costs. Layne, a Cleveland native, was initially pulled over on I-90 going 89 mph in a 60 mph zone last month. During the traffic stop, officers found a loaded pistol. Layne was arrested on suspicion of felony transportation of a firearm inside of a vehicle, according to jail records in ... Read More
By DAVE WILSON Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger, the 20-year-old younger brother of former Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger, was found dead on Thursday, according to police in Austin, Texas. The Austin Police Department said it received a call at 12:18 p.m. local time and responded to the 1200 block of West 22nd street, a residential area just to the west of the Texas campus, and identified the individual as Jake Ehlinger, who was a redshirt sophomore. No cause of death was released and police said it was not considered suspicious. The loss is another tragedy for the Ehlinger family. Sam and Jake's father, Ross, died in 2013 during a triathlon in San Francisco from a heart attack at age 46. Both ... Read More
By GREG WYSHYNSKI The New York Rangers were walloped with a $250,000 fine by the NHL after the team called for the firing of Department of Player Safety head George Parros this week. The Rangers were incensed after the NHL opted to fine but not suspend Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for altercations with New York forwards Pavel Buchnevich and Artemi Panarin on Monday night. He was given a $5,000 fine, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for punching Buchnevich in the head when he was flat on the ice. Wilson wasn't further penalized by the league for throwing down Panarin, which the Rangers said caused an injury that put their star winger out for their remaining games ... Read More
By ESPN.com The Los Angeles Angels cut ties with future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols on Thursday, barely two months into the final season of his contract, ending a near-decade run in Southern California. The Angels officially designated 41-year-old Pujols for assignment, a formality before he becomes a free agent for the second time in his 21-year career. Pujols is expected to be released as soon as he clears waivers in three days. Pujols was batting .198 with a .250 on-base percentage and .372 slugging percentage through his first 92 plate appearances and didn't have a clear path for playing time with first baseman Jared Walsh performing well and Shohei Ohtani absorbing the vast majority of the at-bats ... Read More
By ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI The Indiana Pacers have suspended assistant coach Greg Foster for one game and fined center Goga Bitadze for their emotionally charged on-court exchange Wednesday night in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. The Pacers announced the punishments Thursday but said no further details would be released on what they called "an internal team matter." Foster will serve the suspension Thursday night for the Pacers' home game against the Atlanta Hawks, sources told ESPN. Foster and Bitadze have had a strong working relationship this season for the Pacers, and that's expected to continue despite the exchange in the third quarter of Wednesday's 104-93 loss. The Pacers have been in turmoil for weeks because of the frayed relationship between ... Read More
By FIELD YATES Kevin Kelley, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the country and well-known for his unique approach to strategy that includes never punting and almost always onside-kicking, will be named the head coach of Presbyterian College on Friday, a school official tells ESPN. Kelley moves to the FCS ranks after a historic run at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, that includes nine state titles and being named the USA Today High School Coach of the Year in 2016. His quantitative approach to decision-making has earned him significant praise and endeared him to many coaches and football fans, as he has been the subject of several profile pieces, including an ESPN feature on Grantland ... Read More
By MARLY RIVERA NEW YORK -- For three days, the booing was unrelenting. Then, Thursday afternoon, in the eighth inning, Jose Altuve's shot over the center field wall finally muzzled the hostile Bronx crowd. Altuve observed his 31st birthday by trotting around the bases at Yankee Stadium after his three-run home run off reliever Chad Green carried the Houston Astros to a 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees. It was Altuve's first career home run on his birthday, May 6, and helped the Astros avoid a three-game sweep in a series where they were mercilessly heckled due to their 2017 sign-stealing scheme. The Astros had beaten the Yankees in the 2017 American League Championship Series on their way to ... Read More
By JESSE ROGERS CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert won't resume baseball activities for 12 to 16 weeks while he recovers from a complete tear of his right hip flexor, general manager Rick Hahn announced on Monday afternoon. Robert, 23, injured himself on the bases in the first inning of Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Indians. He limped off the field with the help of the training staff and will be examined further to determine a course of recovery. "Those options include surgical repair if in fact the tear has affected the tendon's attachment to the bone," Hahn said. "Or a rehabilitation process in which natural healing will take place if the tear is to the muscle, ... Read More
By DAVE MCMENAMIN LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Davis was ruled out of the second half of Thursday night's 118-94 loss to the LA Clippers because of back spasms, giving the Los Angeles Lakers two stars -- along with LeBron James -- who made their return from a long-term injury only ... Read More
By TOM VANHAAREN The football that Tom Brady threw to complete his first touchdown pass in the NFL is going up for auction with Lelands on Sunday. It's a unique piece of sports history that has been with the seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, since the game on Oct. ... Read More
By ALEX SCARBOROUGH Alabama football coach Nick Saban is getting behind a state effort to encourage more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Saban has participated in a public service announcement that will air next week and will also feature SEC commissioner ... Read More
By DAN GRAZIANO Brandon Beane got a call from the NFL league office this week, a league source said, about the Buffalo Bills general manager's comments during a radio interview about whether he would hypothetically release an unvaccinated player if it meant the team reaching a league-imposed minimum percentage of ... Read More
By BOB HARIG CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rory McIlroy slipped to 15th in the world this week, which in golf's big-picture world is not a huge deal. But when you consider that it is the lowest he has been since 2009 -- when he was just 20 years old -- it ... Read More
By MYRON MEDCALF College basketball is tired of the flopping. And now, floppers could pay. The NCAA men's basketball rules committee has proposed a rule that would assess a technical foul to players who "fake being fouled." It would be a Class B technical foul, so the opposing team would ... Read More
By ESPN.com The Philadelphia Eagles have claimed former Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson off waivers, the team announced Friday. The Lions waived Johnson on Thursday, officially cutting ties with their 2018 second-round pick out of Auburn. Johnson joins a suddenly crowded Eagles backfield that includes Miles Sanders, rookie Kenny ... Read More
By ESPN.com New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger, an injury that executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said was "avoidable" if the league did a better job officiating his franchise superstar. Williamson, who is left-handed, underwent a CT ... Read More
Arlington, TX—The Texas Rangers today announced that Daren Willman is joining the organization as Senior Director, Research & Development/Applications for Baseball Operations. Willman, who has been with Major League Baseball since January 2016, will be responsible for the development and expansion of the Rangers’ baseball information systems. He will oversee ... Read More
MarsBars/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Pfizer and BioNTech will be providing COVID-19 vaccines to Olympic athletes participating in the summer games in Tokyo. The pharmaceutical companies signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Olympic Committee on Thursday to donate doses of the vaccine to athletes and their delegations, which can consist ... Read More
By BROOKE PRYOR A felony gun charge was dropped Wednesday against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Justin Layne after he took a plea deal in a case stemming from a traffic stop in northeast Ohio on April 23. Layne, 23, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possessing criminal tools in Willoughby Municipal Court. Layne ... Read More
By DAVE WILSON Texas linebacker Jake Ehlinger, the 20-year-old younger brother of former Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger, was found dead on Thursday, according to police in Austin, Texas. The Austin Police Department said it received a call at 12:18 p.m. local time and responded to the 1200 block of West ... Read More
By GREG WYSHYNSKI The New York Rangers were walloped with a $250,000 fine by the NHL after the team called for the firing of Department of Player Safety head George Parros this week. The Rangers were incensed after the NHL opted to fine but not suspend Washington Capitals forward Tom ... Read More
By ESPN.com The Los Angeles Angels cut ties with future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols on Thursday, barely two months into the final season of his contract, ending a near-decade run in Southern California. The Angels officially designated 41-year-old Pujols for assignment, a formality before he becomes a ... Read More
By ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI The Indiana Pacers have suspended assistant coach Greg Foster for one game and fined center Goga Bitadze for their emotionally charged on-court exchange Wednesday night in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. The Pacers announced the punishments Thursday but said no further details would be released on ... Read More
By FIELD YATES Kevin Kelley, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the country and well-known for his unique approach to strategy that includes never punting and almost always onside-kicking, will be named the head coach of Presbyterian College on Friday, a school official tells ESPN. Kelley ... Read More
By MARLY RIVERA NEW YORK -- For three days, the booing was unrelenting. Then, Thursday afternoon, in the eighth inning, Jose Altuve's shot over the center field wall finally muzzled the hostile Bronx crowd. Altuve observed his 31st birthday by trotting around the bases at Yankee Stadium after his three-run ... Read More
33ft/iStock(NEW YORK) -- The Green Bay Packers are reportedly looking to bulk up their roster with more quarterbacks. Sources tell ESPN the team is considering adding the new players in time for their upcoming organized team activities and training camp. Currently, the only quarterbacks on Green Bay’s roster are Aaron ... Read More
By JESSE ROGERS CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert won't resume baseball activities for 12 to 16 weeks while he recovers from a complete tear of his right hip flexor, general manager Rick Hahn announced on Monday afternoon. Robert, 23, injured himself on the bases in the ... Read More
MarsBars/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Pfizer and BioNTech will be providing COVID-19 vaccines to Olympic athletes participating in the summer games in Tokyo. The pharmaceutical companies signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Olympic Committee on Thursday to donate doses of the vaccine to athletes and their delegations, which can consist of coaches, third-party games staff, executives, dignitaries and guests, according to a joint press release. The companies, along with the IOC, will coordinate with National Olympic Committees around the world to address the local need for vaccines to allow delegations to participate in the games, the release states. The decision to offer immunization to athletes and delegations will be up to each country. Delivery of initial doses to participating delegations ... Read More
33ft/iStock(NEW YORK) -- The Green Bay Packers are reportedly looking to bulk up their roster with more quarterbacks. Sources tell ESPN the team is considering adding the new players in time for their upcoming organized team activities and training camp. Currently, the only quarterbacks on Green Bay’s roster are Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. But there is uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ future with the team. ESPN reports the 37-year-old starting quarterback has told some within the Packers’ organization that he no longer wants to be a part of the team. Rodgers has attended the voluntary offseason activities in the past, but given the latest reports, it’s unknown whether he will participate in this year’s sessions. Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All ... Read More
