d Page 668 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

NFLPA exec director Lloyd Howell Jr. steps down amid deepening controversy
Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director of the NFL Players Association on Thursday night following weeks of scrutiny for multiple blunders, including a reported conflict of interest, a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players and new revelations about expensin...

ATP roundup: Cerundolo siblings chasing clay titles
Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo swept the final six games to complete a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 upset of top-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway on Friday at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad in Switzerland.,Cerundolo's comeback against the World No. 13 Ruud marked the biggest win of his career by ranking and sent him int...

MLB probe on Guardians' Luis Ortiz extended through Aug. 31
The non-disciplinary paid leave of Cleveland Guardians right-hander was extended through Aug. 31 amid an ongoing investigation, Major League Baseball announced Friday.,The investigation reportedly is related to gambling.,Ortiz was placed on paid leave on July 3 with the intent that it would extend t...

Spirit, Falcons cruise into grand final at Esports World Cup 2025
Team Spirit and Team Falcons each recorded a 2-0 sweep on Friday to advance to the grand final at the Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Spirit dispatched PARIVISION following a 44-minute win on green and a 49-minute victory on red.,Team Spirit advanced to Saturday's best-of-five...

Tadej Pogacar increases lead at Tour de France with Stage 13 win
Tadej Pogacar won Stage 13 of the Tour de France on Friday, increasing his overall lead after his fourth stage win of the 2025 event.,The reigning champion finished the 10.9 km mountain time trial, which took him from Loudenvielle to the Peyragudes airfield in the Pyrenees in 23 minutes. It was his ...

Playing captain? Keegan Bradley has Ryder Cup 'for instance' plan
A run at The Open Championship would perform double duty for Keegan Bradley.,After shooting a second-round 67 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on Friday, Bradley moved to 3-under 139 for the tournament. Among the early wave of golfers, fellow American Brian Harman stood in the lead at...

Raiders place DT Christian Wilkins on PUP list
The Las Vegas Raiders placed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on the physically unable to perform list Friday.,Wilkins is working his way back from a season-ending injury to his left foot, suffered in the Raiders' 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 6.,He recorded 17 tackles and two sacks in ...

Rory McIlroy excited for Open weekend after 'solid' second round
In 2019, the last time The Open Championship was played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, native son Rory McIlroy missed the cut.,There is no danger of that happening at the 2025 edition of The Open.,McIlroy shot a 2-under round of 69 on Friday, leaving him at 3-under 139 for the tournament aft...

Ben Kohles withdraws ahead of 2nd round at Barracuda Championship
Ben Kohles withdrew after the first round of the Barracuda Championship, the PGA Tour announced Friday.,The tour did not give a reason for his withdrawal at the event, being played at the Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, Calif.,After his Thursday round, Kohles stood at minus-4 in the event, which use...

Gen.G Esports, T1 move on to Esports World Cup semis
Gen.G Esports and T1 each won their quarterfinal matches Friday at the Esports World Cup League of Legends event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Gen.G recorded a 2-0 victory over FlyQuest, courtesy of a 32-minute win on red and a 31-minute victory on blue.,The Gen.G win set up a Saturday semifinal encounte...
America’s Favorite Underdog: Duke Basketball Tries the Disrespect Card Again
Cameron Boozer says Duke is “overlooked” heading into 2025. But with the top recruiting class and another Final Four run, does anyone actually believe that?...
MLS Is Keeping Lionel Messi Happy: But What Is the League Getting in Return?
Messi’s move to MLS was billed as a transformational moment. A year later, his growing influence at Inter Miami raises questions about what the league is truly gaining....
Best MLB Bets July 18th: Friday's Top Baseball Betting Picks, Predictions
Looking for MLB betting picks for Friday, July 18? We break down three of the best plays on the board, including the San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals and more....

Blue Bombers bid to bounce back in rematch vs. Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders easily handled the Winnipeg Blue Bombers earlier this month.,The rematch is Friday night when the Blue Bombers aim to avenge the 21-point setback when they host the Stampeders.,Calgary (4-1) is tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for first place in the West Division, while ...

Crew look to avoid slow start vs. D.C. United
Change is not only good but necessary for the Columbus Crew starting Saturday at home against flailing D.C. United.,In the last two magtches. the Crew (11-4-8, 41 points) allowed a goal to FC Cincinnati in the opening 42 seconds and trailed 2-0 after five minutes before rallying for a 4-2 win, then ...

Atlanta looks to end winless streak, vs. Charlotte
Hoping to snap a six-match winless stretch, Atlanta United hosts Charlotte FC on Saturday in Eastern Conference play.,Atlanta (4-10-8, 20 points) last won on May 28 -- a 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC -- but the club has picked up points with three straight draws. After five consecutive matches aw...

Diamondbacks and Cardinals look for upswings
The Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals open post-All-Star Game play this weekend in a series that could help both define their buy/sell decisions at the July 31 trade deadline.,The Cardinals (51-46) are 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central but only...

Seeking similar returns, Brewers prepare for another series with Dodgers
After roaring into the All-Star break as the hottest team in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers will be put to the test when the schedule resumes Friday.,The Brewers return on a seven-game winning streak, earning three of those victories in a home sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now c...

Mets open second half looking to return to past form vs. Reds
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona has earned 1,856 more regular-season victories as a major league manager than Carlos Mendoza, his New York Mets counterpart.,But Francona and Mendoza will both have the same objective in mind Friday night, when their teams return from the All-Star break as the ...

NFLPA exec director Lloyd Howell Jr. steps down amid controversy
Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director of the NFL Players Association on Thursday night following weeks of scrutiny for multiple blunders, including a reported conflict of interest and a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players.,"It's clear that my leadership...