Update on the latest sports
SUPER LEAGUE-ENGLAND
English clubs abandon breakaway Super League by quitting
LONDON (AP) — All six English clubs have dramatically abandoned plans to join a breakaway Super League, threatening to implode the project by a group of elite English, Spanish and Italian clubs less than two days after it was announced.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham have deserted the 12-team project amid an escalating backlash that saw the government warn of legislating to stop the breakaway competition.
MLB-DODGERS-BETTS
Betts out of Dodgers’ lineup
SEATTLE (AP) — Mookie Betts was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup after getting hit on the right forearm a night earlier, but manager Dave Roberts doesn’t expect it to be a long-term issue.
Roberts said X-rays on Betts’ arm were negative after the former MVP took a fastball from Seattle closer Rafael Montero off the inside of his right forearm in the ninth inning of Monday’s 4-3 Mariners victory. Betts remained in the game after getting hit.
Roberts said Betts was receiving treatment and that he was hoping to avoid using him in Tuesday’s game. The Dodgers have a day off on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in the majors:
—Infielder Neil Walker announced his retirement at age 35 after 12 major league seasons. Walker hit .231 with no homers and three RBIs in 18 games with Philadelphia this year. Walker hit a career .267 with 149 homers and 60 RBIs for Pittsburgh, the New York Mets, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Miami and the New York Yankees. Primarily a second baseman but also an occasional first baseman and third baseman, he had 12 homers and a career-best 83 RBIs for the Pirates in 2011, and reached his career high of 23 homers in both 2014 and 2016.
—Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left shoulder. It is the latest setback for the 2019 World Series champions during a slow start to this season. Soto is the reigning NL batting champion. He originally was listed in Washington’s starting lineup facing the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. B.
NBA-NUGGETS-RIVERS
Denver Nuggets sign veteran Austin Rivers to 10-day contract
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have bolstered their injury-depleted point guard ranks by signing veteran Austin Rivers to a 10-day contract.
The Nuggets lost star Jamal Murray to a torn ACL in his left knee last week and Monte Morris injured his left hamstring Friday night. Coach Michael Malone says Morris will miss multiple games.
Rivers brings a 9.1-point career scoring average and plenty of playoff experience to the Nuggets. He is expected to be available when Denver visits Portland on Wednesday night.
NBA-THUNDER ARENA-NAME
Thunder won’t be playing at ‘Peake’
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chesapeake Energy has terminated its arena naming rights agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The move is effective immediately, though the team said the name will remain until a new partner is found.
The original 12-year agreement was announced in 2011. The Thunder became a Western Conference power while playing home games at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The arena known locally as “The ’Peake” hosted the 2012 NBA Finals and three Western Conference Finals under that name.
The move was made as part of a restructuring of the company.
NFL-STEELERS-TOMLIN
Steelers coach signs extension
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is sticking with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club announced its longtime coach has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2024 season.
Tomlin is 145-78-1 in 14 years with the Steelers with one Super Bowl victory.
The deal means Tomlin will likely be part of the process whenever quarterback Ben Roethlisberger opts to retire. The 39-year-old Roethlisberger is returning for the 2021 season but the team has no heir apparent in place.
In other NFL news:
— Veteran tackle D.J. Fluker has signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, fortifying an offensive line that had three rookie starters last year. Fluker has 96 career starts with four teams, including eight for the Baltimore Ravens last year. He has also played for the Seahawks, Giants and Chargers, who made him a first-round pick in 2013. The Dolphins ranked 29th in yards per rush last year.
— The Chicago Bears re-signed veteran safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year contract. Gipson signed with the Bears last year after being released by Houston and started all 16 games, making 64 tackles and two interceptions. He has 25 interceptions over nine seasons with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Houston and Chicago.
HORSE RACING-BAFFERT SUSPENSION
Trainer Bob Baffert successfully appeals suspension
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has successfully appealed his 15-day suspension to the Arkansas Racing Commission. The six-time Kentucky Derby winner can now resume preparations to run Medina Spirit in next weekend’s Derby.
Baffert was fined and suspended last year by Arkansas stewards for a pair of drug positives after Charlatan and Gamine tested positive for the painkiller lidocaine following their wins at Oaklawn Park on May 2.
After 13 1/2 hours of testimony over two days, the commission voted unanimously to uphold the stewards’ original ruling but with modifications. Those changes involve dropping Baffert’s suspension, reducing the fines to $5,000 per horse and restoring the horses’ placing and purse money.
PGA —TOUR-BONUS
PGA Tour offering $40 million in bonus money to top stars
UNDATED (AP) — The PGA Tour is awarding a $40 million bonus pool to the top 10 players who move the needle in golf, regardless of how they perform inside the ropes. Some of the top players and managers have loosely hinted at the Player Impact Program since the start of 2020.
That was about the time the proposed Premier Golf League funded in part by Saudi money was trying to lure the top players to join an international tour. Golfweek was the first to report the Players Impact Program started in January. The top 10 are determined by an “impact score” derived using various brand-related metrics to measure popularity.
