w Page 939 - 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...

Rockies prospect suspended for PED violation
Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Erick Veras received a 56-game suspension without pay Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.,The commissioner's office said the 18-year-old left-hander tested positive for Boldenone, a steroid. The suspension is effective immediatel...

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...

Report: Cubs add RHP Spencer Turnbull on minor-league deal
The Chicago Cubs signed free agent veteran right-hander Spencer Turnbull to a minor-league contract, the New York Post reported Friday.,Turnbull, 32, posted a 1-1 record with a 7.11 ERA in three appearances (one start) with the Toronto Blue Jays before being released on June 27. He allowed five runs...

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...

Bryson DeChambeau enjoys 13-stroke turnaround at Open
Talk about your impressive turnarounds.,Bryson DeChambeau answered a disastrous 7-over-par 78 during the first round of the Open Championship on Thursday with a sizzling 6-under-par 65 Friday at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.,The simple math is DeChambeau was 13 strokes better than th...

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...

Jaroslav Halak announces retirement from NHL after 17 seasons
Goaltender Jaroslav Halak officially announced his retirement from the NHL after 17 seasons on Friday, more than two years removed from his last game.,Halak, 40, last played a game on April 13, 2023, with the New York Rangers. He then spent time with the Carolina Hurricanes early in the 2023-24 seas...

Fever's Lexie Hull to replace Caitlin Clark in 3-point competition
Lexie Hull will replace Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark in the WNBA 3-point shooting contest Friday night in Indianapolis, the league announced.,Clark said Thursday that she would not participate in the WNBA skills competition and All-Star Game due to a right groin injury.,Clark, 23, aggravated...

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 ...

FC Dallas aim to fare better at home vs. St. Louis City
For FC Dallas, Saturday night's visit from St. Louis City SC could be seen as a good-news, bad-news situation.,The good news: They're playing on their home pitch in Frisco, Texas.,The bad news: They're playing on their home pitch in Frisco, Texas.,Dallas (5-10-7, 22 points) has managed just five poi...

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 ...

Montreal, Chicago look to turn things around
Two struggling sides aim to get on the winning track when CF Montreal hosts the Chicago Fire on Saturday.,Montreal (3-14-6, 15 points) is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, extending its MLS winless streak to three games (0-2-1) after a rare positive stretch in which it ha...

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...

Mariners open big series vs. division-leading Astros
The Seattle Mariners have been up and down recently.,They'll need to be at their best coming out of the All-Star break as they'll play host to the American League West-leading Houston Astros in a three-game series beginning Friday night at T-Mobile Park.,When the Mariners were last at home, they pit...

Rockies look to get rare home win vs. Twins
The Colorado Rockies begin the second half of the season trying to avoid history and win their first home series of the year.,Colorado, at 22-74, is on pace to break the modern era record for losses of 121, set by the 2024 Chicago White Sox. The Rockies are just 10-36 at home and have yet to win a s...

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...