U.S./World Sports category, Page 241
Plum native Bjorn Fratangelo qualifies for French OpenVideo
Plum native Bjorn Fratangelo will play in this year’s French Open after winning a qualifier Thursday in Paris. The nine-year pro secured his spot with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Australia’s Alexsandar Vukic. Fratangelo, 27, will enter his 11th Grand Slam tournament. He is 2-10 in 12 Grand Slam...
Japan extends virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake
TOKYO — Japan extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas for 20 more days on Friday, with infections still not slowing as it prepares to host the Olympics in just over 50 days. Cases remain high and medical systems in Osaka, the hardest-hit area in western...
New York Knicks tickets to go only to fully vaccinated
The New York Knicks will sell tickets only to fully vaccinated fans if they reach the second round of the playoffs. The Knicks announced Friday that Game 5 of their first-round series against Atlanta has already sold out, with more than 16,000 fans expected on Wednesday. More than 90% of...
Tour, players react to Naomi Osaka: Talking to media part of job
Naomi Osaka’s declaration that she won’t participate in news conferences during the French Open was a natural, if slightly awkward, topic for discussion on a tournament media day already awkward by nature because it was conducted via video conference. “I understand why she does it. I respect her opinion,” Daniil...
IndyCar courts Black fans, drivers in its push to diversify
INDIANAPOLIS — Rod Reid ran a program full of young, Black kart racers locked out of a venue because of the pandemic and needed a track to race. Indianapolis Motor Speedway had spent millions on upgrades on the historic property at the same time last year when the coronavirus had...
WWE returns to Pittsburgh this summer
After a last-minute cancellation in 2020, the WWE is coming back to Pittsburgh. The sports entertainment company on Friday announced new live event dates for this summer. Pittsburgh is slated for a Supershow at 7:30 p.m. July 24 at PPG Paints Arena. The arena has the event listed on their...
Who’s the boss? At Indy 500, women play large role for IMS
INDIANAPOLIS — Simona de Silvestro was still in her helmet when her race team owner threw her arms around the driver who had just qualified for the Indianapolis 500 by the narrowest of margins. De Silvestro’s pony-tailed crew members stopped by to congratulate her, as did 2018 Indy 500 winner...
Boorish fans: 76ers, Knicks, Jazz issue bans after incidents
The New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz banned a total of five fans from their respective arenas and issued apologies Thursday for incidents during playoff games, and the NBA said rules surrounding fan behavior will be “vigorously enforced” going forward. All three incidents took place during playoff games...
Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia lead Colonial; Phil Mickelson 10 back
FORT WORTH, Texas — Phil Mickelson kept hearing congratulatory words as he made his way around Colonial, and there was a huge roar from the crowd when the PGA Championship winner made a long putt to finish his round. Jordan Spieth kept making birdies in the same group. Spieth shot...
Full bowl lineup for college football returns after pandemic-shortened 2020-21
After the pandemic cut the college football bowl season almost in half last year, a full lineup of 44 postseason games is scheduled for 2021-22. The Bowl Season schedule was announced Thursday. The bowls will begin on Dec. 17, with Bahamas Bowl kicking off at noon ET and the Cure...
Olympic sensation Simone Biles to perform in Pittsburgh
Three months after she is expected to add to her record medal haul at the Tokyo Olympics, gymnastics phenomenon Simone Biles will visit PPG Paints Arena. Biles, who with 30 medals at the Olympics and World Championships is the most decorated American gymnast in history, will headline the Gold Over...
David Murphy: Denial isn’t a solution for Philly sports fans after the Russell Westbrook popcorn incidentVideo
PHILADELPHIA — The pity party began shortly after the last drop of hydrogenated oil dripped onto the injured man’s head. No big deal! Woe are we! Here they come to get us! What you actually see in that video there is a national vendetta! It unfolded as it always does....
Even after early NHL playoff exit, Panthers still optimistic
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers already know one thing that will be different going into next season. Expectations will not be low. That’s a welcome change. Progress, and a lot of it, was made this season by the Panthers. They had their best regular season winning percentage in franchise...
Djokovic, Nadal, Federer in same half of French Open field
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all ended up in the same half of the French Open men’s field in the draw Thursday, meaning no more than one of them can reach the final. The Big Three top the leaderboard for Grand Slam men’s singles titles: Federer and Nadal...
Boorish fans: 76ers, Knicks issue bans after incidents
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers each banned a fan and issued apologies Thursday for actions directed at opposing players during playoff games, and the NBA said that rules surrounding fan behavior will be “vigorously enforced” going forward. The Knicks said they banned a fan from Madison Square Garden...
This Date in Sports History: May 27
1823 — A $20,000 match race between American Eclipse (representing The North) and Henry (representing The South) is held at Union Course, Long Island, N.Y. American Eclipse wins in two-of-three heats, after his original jockey, William Crafts, is replaced by Samuel Purdy before the second heat. The race, witnessed by...
Phil Mickelson tries to focus at Colonial after historic PGA win
FORT WORTH, Texas — Phil Mickelson allowed himself to get distracted for a couple of days after his victory at the PGA Championship, taking some time to relish the historic achievement of becoming the oldest player to win a major. “Because when I’m doing it, I’m not fully aware because...
Villarreal beats Man U on penalties for Europa League titleVideo
GDANSK, Poland — Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli decided a marathon shootout by converting his own spot kick and then saving one from counterpart David de Gea as the Spanish team beat Manchester United 11-10 on penalties Wednesday to win the Europa League final. After a 1-1 draw following extra time,...
This date in sports history: May 26Video
1925 — In Detroit’s 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox, Ty Cobb becomes the first to collect 1,000 career extra-base hits. He finished his career with 1,139. 1959 — Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings before losing to the Milwaukee Braves, 1-0, in the 13th...
Big 12 revenue lower again in pandemic at $34.5M per schoolVideo
The Big 12 Conference is distributing about $345 million of revenue to its 10 schools, the second year in a row that figure has been lower because of the covid-19 pandemic. Each school, including West Virginia, will get about $34.5 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year, down from $37.7 million...
Doug Ferguson: Never No. 1, Mickelson’s legacy will be longevityVideo
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Among the congratulations that poured in for Phil Mickelson after he became the oldest major champion in golf was a video tweet from Jack Nicklaus, who is still good at math. “You know, something sort of strikes me that 50 years old is older than 46,”...
This date in sports history: May 25
1948 — Ben Hogan wins the PGA championship, beating Mike Turnesa in the final round, 7 and 6. 1965 — Muhammad Ali knocks out Sonny Liston a minute into the first round in the controversial rematch for Ali’s heavyweight title. Listed as the fastest knockout in a heavyweight title bout,...
Brooks Koepka says injured knee hurt by rushing fans at PGA
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Brooks Koepka would’ve loved watching the end of Phil Mickelson’s historic win at the PGA Championship. But Koepka said his surgically repaired knee hurt too badly after the wild scene on the 18th hole. The four-time major champion suggested that a fan may have hit his...
Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon slams brakes on youth movement with Indy 500 poleVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Dixon saw his team tinkering with his race car but asked no questions. When his three teammates made their Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempts, he didn’t want to hear their feedback. The six-time IndyCar champion and greatest driver of his generation wanted to be left alone to prepare...
Mickelson pulls stunner, becomes oldest major winner with PGA Championship titleVideo
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — The pandemonium closed in around Phil Mickelson as he walked toward the 18th green at Kiawah Island, where thousands upon thousands of euphoric fans wanted a piece of the history he delivered Sunday in the PGA Championship. For all the thrills and spills that have defined...
