Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head men's golf coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/coaches/grant-robbins/1886">Grant Robbins</a>&nbsp;was honored by his peers on Thursday as he was named the 2023 Big 12 Men's Golf Coach of the Year, the conference office announced.&nbsp;

Robbins, who shared this year's award with TCU head coach Bill Montigel in a vote among all Big 12 coaches, is the first K-State men's golf coach to earn Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades. Completing his ninth year in Manhattan during the 2022-23 season, Robbins led K-State to one of its best campaigns in school history as the Wildcats set a school record with a team stroke average of 281.47, nearly seven shots per round better than the previous low mark of 288.24 put together by the 2021-22 squad. K-State also tied for second in school history in both team victories (4) and top-five finishes (7), while it had eight of the top-20 team rounds and seven of the top-25 team 54-hole scores in school history. The Wildcats won each of their first three events during the fall - the Wildcat Invitational, Old Town Collegiate and Oregon State Invitational - to mark the first time in school history K-State captured three-straight team titles. In the spring, K-State opened with three more top-three performances, including a victory at The Johnnie-O, to propel the Wildcats to a highwater mark of No. 17 in the Golfstat Top 25. K-State earned a bid as the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Bath (Mich.) Regional, the first time the Wildcats advanced to postseason play in consecutive years since 2008 and 2009. The Wildcats just missed the cut for the fifth and final qualifying spot for the NCAA Championship as they battled Florida, which eventually went on to win the National Championship. Under Robbins, four Kansas State golfers finished in the top six in school history in single-season stroke average during the 2022-23 season with the top three marks being claimed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/tim-tillmanns/9694">Tim Tillmanns</a>&nbsp;(70.21),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/will-hopkins/9688">Will Hopkins</a>&nbsp;(70.35) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/cooper-schultz/9693">Cooper Schultz</a>&nbsp;(71.15). Additionally, Hopkins set the school's career stroke average mark at 72.29. <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/luke-o-neill/9691">Luke O'Neill</a>&nbsp;finished sixth in school history in stroke average at 71.65, and he became the fifth Wildcat to ever compete in the NCAA Championship as he qualified as an individual.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686257636341.jpeg" alt="Grant Robbins was named the Big 12 Men's Golf Coach of the Year." />
 <figcaption>Grant Robbins was named the Big 12 Men's Golf Coach of the Year.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head men's golf coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/coaches/grant-robbins/1886">Grant Robbins</a>&nbsp;was honored by his peers on Thursday as he was named the 2023 Big 12 Men's Golf Coach of the Year, the conference office announced.&nbsp; Robbins, who shared this year's award with TCU head coach Bill Montigel in a vote among all Big 12 coaches, is the first K-State men's golf coach to earn Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades. Completing his ninth year in Manhattan during the 2022-23 season, Robbins led K-State to one of its best campaigns in school history as the Wildcats set a school record with a team stroke average of 281.47, nearly seven shots per round better than the previous low mark of 288.24 put together by the 2021-22 squad. K-State also tied for second in school history in both team victories (4) and top-five finishes (7), while it had eight of the top-20 team rounds and seven of the top-25 team 54-hole scores in school history. The Wildcats won each of their first three events during the fall - the Wildcat Invitational, Old Town Collegiate and Oregon State Invitational - to mark the first time in school history K-State captured three-straight team titles. In the spring, K-State opened with three more top-three performances, including a victory at The Johnnie-O, to propel the Wildcats to a highwater mark of No. 17 in the Golfstat Top 25. K-State earned a bid as the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Bath (Mich.) Regional, the first time the Wildcats advanced to postseason play in consecutive years since 2008 and 2009. The Wildcats just missed the cut for the fifth and final qualifying spot for the NCAA Championship as they battled Florida, which eventually went on to win the National Championship. Under Robbins, four Kansas State golfers finished in the top six in school history in single-season stroke average during the 2022-23 season with the top three marks being claimed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/tim-tillmanns/9694">Tim Tillmanns</a>&nbsp;(70.21),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/will-hopkins/9688">Will Hopkins</a>&nbsp;(70.35) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/cooper-schultz/9693">Cooper Schultz</a>&nbsp;(71.15). Additionally, Hopkins set the school's career stroke average mark at 72.29. <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/luke-o-neill/9691">Luke O'Neill</a>&nbsp;finished sixth in school history in stroke average at 71.65, and he became the fifth Wildcat to ever compete in the NCAA Championship as he qualified as an individual.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⛳ K-State's Robbins named Big 12 Coach of the Year

Courtesy of the Kansas Shrine Bowl

Just weeks ahead of their 50th&nbsp;event in Hays, the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors is excited to announce the return of the Kansas Shrine Bowl to Emporia in 2024. The 51st&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth will be held Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University. “Emporia State’s Welch Stadium will be a great backdrop for our game, with a true all-star environment,” said B.J. Harris, Executive Director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. &nbsp;“We’re thrilled to welcome the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Emporia for the first time since 2016,” said LeLan Dains, Director of Visit Emporia. “It provides a great opportunity to host students and athletes in our community and we hope they’ll take full advantage of all Emporia has to offer.” &nbsp; “Emporia has always been a great host city for the Kansas Shrine Bowl,” said Harris. “We’ve had successful events each time we’ve returned, and we’re excited about what 2024 has in store!”

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is awarded following a competitive bid process which includes communities across Kansas. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has been played in Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka, Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, Dodge City, and Hutchinson.

In addition to the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football game and camp for eighty players, the Kansas Shrine Bowl event includes all-star band and cheer camps for more than two hundred respectively. Additional events include a golf tournament, banquet, parade, alumni reunion, tailgate party, and more. &nbsp; The Kansas Shrine Bowl is an all-star high school senior, East vs. West, football game put on each year in Kansas, by the Kansas Shrine. It is a 501(c) 3 non-profit charity that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children, now known as Shriners Children’s. The Kansas Shrine Bowl has donated over $3.7M to Shriners Children’s.

Beginning in 1974, the flagship event has been the East/West All-Star Football Game. As of 2022, the West leads the series with 30 wins, the East has 17 wins, and there have been two ties. Recent NFL alumni include Cody Whitehair (Chicago Bears). Additional notable alumni include former All-Pro Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson, former All-Pro NFL Defensive Back Terrance Newman, NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, former Kansas State and Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Gary Spani, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Champion Linebacker Mark Simoneau and many others.

Learn more about the upcoming 50th&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl, Saturday, July 15th, 2023, in Hays, Kansas at&nbsp;<a>www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578430839100.jpeg" alt="Kansas Shrine Bowl logo." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Shrine Bowl logo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of the Kansas Shrine BowlJust weeks ahead of their 50th&nbsp;event in Hays, the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors is excited to announce the return of the Kansas Shrine Bowl to Emporia in 2024. The 51st&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth will be held Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University. “Emporia State’s Welch Stadium will be a great backdrop for our game, with a true all-star environment,” said B.J. Harris, Executive Director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. &nbsp;“We’re thrilled to welcome the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Emporia for the first time since 2016,” said LeLan Dains, Director of Visit Emporia. “It provides a great opportunity to host students and athletes in our community and we hope they’ll take full advantage of all Emporia has to offer.” &nbsp; “Emporia has always been a great host city for the Kansas Shrine Bowl,” said Harris. “We’ve had successful events each time we’ve returned, and we’re excited about what 2024 has in store!”The Kansas Shrine Bowl is awarded following a competitive bid process which includes communities across Kansas. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has been played in Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka, Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, Dodge City, and Hutchinson.In addition to the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football game and camp for eighty players, the Kansas Shrine Bowl event includes all-star band and cheer camps for more than two hundred respectively. Additional events include a golf tournament, banquet, parade, alumni reunion, tailgate party, and more. &nbsp; The Kansas Shrine Bowl is an all-star high school senior, East vs. West, football game put on each year in Kansas, by the Kansas Shrine. It is a 501(c) 3 non-profit charity that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children, now known as Shriners Children’s. The Kansas Shrine Bowl has donated over $3.7M to Shriners Children’s.Beginning in 1974, the flagship event has been the East/West All-Star Football Game. As of 2022, the West leads the series with 30 wins, the East has 17 wins, and there have been two ties. Recent NFL alumni include Cody Whitehair (Chicago Bears). Additional notable alumni include former All-Pro Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson, former All-Pro NFL Defensive Back Terrance Newman, NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, former Kansas State and Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Gary Spani, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Champion Linebacker Mark Simoneau and many others.Learn more about the upcoming 50th&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl, Saturday, July 15th, 2023, in Hays, Kansas at&nbsp;<a>www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.

🏈 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl to be played in Emporia

ATLANTA –&nbsp;Kansas Football’s Jalon Daniels was named the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year at the 2023 INFLCR NIL Summit in Atlanta this past weekend. The national award recognizes a student-athlete that achieved exceptional results in the classroom and in their respective sport, while maximizing their NIL for the greater good.

Daniels was alongside Stanford’s Caitie Baird, who was named the female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Oklahoma’s Tanner Groves, Baylor’s Jaden Owens and Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez were among the nominees.

Kansas’ NIL platform, Jayhawks Ascend, was also nominated for Best Institutional Program, awarded to a college or institution that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities through a combination of education, resources, and industry-leading innovation.

Daniels, a junior from Lawndale, California, had a breakout 2022-23 year across the board, leading Kansas to its first Bowl Game since 2008 and being named a CSC Scholar-Athlete All-American, all while maximizing his impact in NIL.

Daniels has utilized the Jayhawks Ascend program to maximize his earning potential through branding and social media efforts, community engagement, licensing opportunities, and working with corporate partners.

On the field, Daniels led a breakout season by completing 152 passes for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas, Daniels passed for a KU football record 544 yards on 37-of-55 passing, while combining for six total touchdowns, which was a Liberty Bowl record.

Daniels was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team following the 2022 season, as voted on by the league’s coaches. He earned recognition as the Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week following his performance at Houston, while he was a four-time Manning Award Star of the Week and three-time Davey O’Brien Great 8 List honoree this season. Daniels also rushed for 404 yards and six touchdowns on 63 rushes in 2022.

In the classroom, Daniels earned Academic All-America honors with a 3.51 cumulative GPA in Sport Management. Daniels has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in each of the last two seasons and was a member of the All-Big 12 Rookie Team in 2020.

Jayhawks Ascend, nominated for Best Institutional Program, took significant steps forward in year two of the NIL era, hosting the first annual Jayhawks Ascend NIL forum featuring major brands including Adidas, Meta, Instagram and Wendy’s, among others.

Kansas student athletes have benefitted from Jayhawks Ascend by working with national brands such as Pepsi, Adidas, Continental Tire, Wendy’s, Raising Cane’s, and more. KU student athletes have used their NIL for community impact through partnerships with the American Cancer Society, Lawrence Humane Society, Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among others.

In addition, student athletes gain support with one-on-one and team NIL education and guidance sessions, licensing opportunities through Rally House&nbsp;and Mass St. Collective and more.

Kansas was represented at the INFLCR NIL Summit by Moira Kelley (soccer), Daniels (football), Camryn Turner (volleyball), Holly Kersgieter (women’s basketball), Devin Neal (football) and Hanna Hawks (women’s golf).

Now in its second year, the INFLCR NIL Summit is an immersive multi-day professional development experience and gathering place for student-athletes to share cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and learn how to maximize NIL opportunities to build their brands and amplify their voices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664050379881.jpeg" alt="KU Jalon Daniels vs Duke (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)." />
 <figcaption>KU Jalon Daniels vs Duke (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas AthleticsATLANTA –&nbsp;Kansas Football’s Jalon Daniels was named the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year at the 2023 INFLCR NIL Summit in Atlanta this past weekend. The national award recognizes a student-athlete that achieved exceptional results in the classroom and in their respective sport, while maximizing their NIL for the greater good.Daniels was alongside Stanford’s Caitie Baird, who was named the female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Oklahoma’s Tanner Groves, Baylor’s Jaden Owens and Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez were among the nominees.Kansas’ NIL platform, Jayhawks Ascend, was also nominated for Best Institutional Program, awarded to a college or institution that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities through a combination of education, resources, and industry-leading innovation.Daniels, a junior from Lawndale, California, had a breakout 2022-23 year across the board, leading Kansas to its first Bowl Game since 2008 and being named a CSC Scholar-Athlete All-American, all while maximizing his impact in NIL.Daniels has utilized the Jayhawks Ascend program to maximize his earning potential through branding and social media efforts, community engagement, licensing opportunities, and working with corporate partners.On the field, Daniels led a breakout season by completing 152 passes for 2,014 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas, Daniels passed for a KU football record 544 yards on 37-of-55 passing, while combining for six total touchdowns, which was a Liberty Bowl record.Daniels was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team following the 2022 season, as voted on by the league’s coaches. He earned recognition as the Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week following his performance at Houston, while he was a four-time Manning Award Star of the Week and three-time Davey O’Brien Great 8 List honoree this season. Daniels also rushed for 404 yards and six touchdowns on 63 rushes in 2022.In the classroom, Daniels earned Academic All-America honors with a 3.51 cumulative GPA in Sport Management. Daniels has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in each of the last two seasons and was a member of the All-Big 12 Rookie Team in 2020.Jayhawks Ascend, nominated for Best Institutional Program, took significant steps forward in year two of the NIL era, hosting the first annual Jayhawks Ascend NIL forum featuring major brands including Adidas, Meta, Instagram and Wendy’s, among others.Kansas student athletes have benefitted from Jayhawks Ascend by working with national brands such as Pepsi, Adidas, Continental Tire, Wendy’s, Raising Cane’s, and more. KU student athletes have used their NIL for community impact through partnerships with the American Cancer Society, Lawrence Humane Society, Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among others.In addition, student athletes gain support with one-on-one and team NIL education and guidance sessions, licensing opportunities through Rally House&nbsp;and Mass St. Collective and more.Kansas was represented at the INFLCR NIL Summit by Moira Kelley (soccer), Daniels (football), Camryn Turner (volleyball), Holly Kersgieter (women’s basketball), Devin Neal (football) and Hanna Hawks (women’s golf).Now in its second year, the INFLCR NIL Summit is an immersive multi-day professional development experience and gathering place for student-athletes to share cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and learn how to maximize NIL opportunities to build their brands and amplify their voices.

🏈 Daniels named Scholar Athlete of the Year at INFLCR NIL Summit

IRVING, Texas&nbsp;– Today, the Big 12 Conference announced the launch of Big 12 Mexico, the Conference’s first international extension that will see Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer and baseball games held in Mexico with the Kansas Jayhawks being at the forefront of the innovative initiative.

Big 12 Mexico’s first contest will be a men’s and women’s basketball matchup between Kansas and Houston, held in Mexico City at Arena CDMX in 2024. Following the launch of Big 12 basketball in Mexico, Big 12 women’s soccer and baseball will participate in exhibitions against clubs from the region.

Additionally, the Big 12 will explore establishing a football bowl game in Monterrey, starting in 2026. This would be the first bowl game ever held in Mexico.

“Mexico is a natural extension to the Big 12 footprint, and I’m thrilled to introduce Big 12 Mexico as the Conference’s first-ever international presence,” said&nbsp;Commissioner Brett Yormark.&nbsp;“Through Big 12 Mexico, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in an international setting, and our Conference will have the chance to showcase our brand across Mexico.”

Kansas Men’s and Women’s Basketball will travel to Mexico City in December of 2024 to participate in their respective matchups against Houston.

"Behind Commissioner (Brett) Yormark, the Big 12 is doing a lot to expand the conference brand, and one way they are doing this is by playing a game in Mexico City. Kelvin (Sampson) has built Houston back to a national power and this should be a great matchup. We’re excited to play a game in Mexico City and represent the Big 12."

"Basketball is a global game and I commend Commissioner Yormark and the Big 12 for expanding the league’s reach into Mexico. We look forward to the challenge of competing against Houston and playing the game in Mexico City. This will provide great exposure for our program and our conference."

KANSAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON SCHNEIDER

Leading up to the launch of Big 12 Mexico and throughout 2023, Fox and ESPN will help seed the Big 12 product across Mexico and Spanish-speaking communities through ESPN Deportes (U.S – based), ESPN Mexico (Mexico – based) and Fox Deportes (U.S. – based) channels, which will air select Big 12 football and basketball games. Additionally, the Big 12 will look to secure for the first time Spanish radio broadcasts for Big 12 Football and Basketball Championships in 2023-24 and beyond, and will implement a robust Mexico digital strategy.

The Big 12 Conference will team up with Mexico City-based live entertainment agency Zignia as a co-promotional partner. Zignia will support with marketing and sales of Big 12 Mexico events, as well as provide the Conference with their depth of resources. Additionally, On Location, an Endeavor-owned company, will assist with all school travel and VIP packages, while Endeavor will assist the Conference in all facets of its international digital strategy.&nbsp;The Big 12 Business Advisory Board will also continue to provide key insights and counsel as the Conference grows its presence in Mexico.

Beyond hosting Conference games across multiple sports, Big 12 Mexico will see the Conference execute a variety of community outreach programming, commercial partnerships, merchandise and activations. This includes the Conference partnering with notable musicians and artists and launching an influencer marketing campaign in the region.

Five current and future Big 12 Conference campuses – Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech – are located less than 400 miles away from Mexico, while the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have campus extensions in Mexico.&nbsp; Mexico City – the largest city in North America with a greater area population of over 22 million – has played host to MLB, NBA, NFL, and is home to the G League’s Capitanes de Ciudad de México.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686235576189.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas AthleticsIRVING, Texas&nbsp;– Today, the Big 12 Conference announced the launch of Big 12 Mexico, the Conference’s first international extension that will see Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer and baseball games held in Mexico with the Kansas Jayhawks being at the forefront of the innovative initiative.Big 12 Mexico’s first contest will be a men’s and women’s basketball matchup between Kansas and Houston, held in Mexico City at Arena CDMX in 2024. Following the launch of Big 12 basketball in Mexico, Big 12 women’s soccer and baseball will participate in exhibitions against clubs from the region.Additionally, the Big 12 will explore establishing a football bowl game in Monterrey, starting in 2026. This would be the first bowl game ever held in Mexico.“Mexico is a natural extension to the Big 12 footprint, and I’m thrilled to introduce Big 12 Mexico as the Conference’s first-ever international presence,” said&nbsp;Commissioner Brett Yormark.&nbsp;“Through Big 12 Mexico, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in an international setting, and our Conference will have the chance to showcase our brand across Mexico.”Kansas Men’s and Women’s Basketball will travel to Mexico City in December of 2024 to participate in their respective matchups against Houston."Behind Commissioner (Brett) Yormark, the Big 12 is doing a lot to expand the conference brand, and one way they are doing this is by playing a game in Mexico City. Kelvin (Sampson) has built Houston back to a national power and this should be a great matchup. We’re excited to play a game in Mexico City and represent the Big 12."KANSAS MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BILL SELF"Basketball is a global game and I commend Commissioner Yormark and the Big 12 for expanding the league’s reach into Mexico. We look forward to the challenge of competing against Houston and playing the game in Mexico City. This will provide great exposure for our program and our conference."KANSAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRANDON SCHNEIDERLeading up to the launch of Big 12 Mexico and throughout 2023, Fox and ESPN will help seed the Big 12 product across Mexico and Spanish-speaking communities through ESPN Deportes (U.S – based), ESPN Mexico (Mexico – based) and Fox Deportes (U.S. – based) channels, which will air select Big 12 football and basketball games. Additionally, the Big 12 will look to secure for the first time Spanish radio broadcasts for Big 12 Football and Basketball Championships in 2023-24 and beyond, and will implement a robust Mexico digital strategy.The Big 12 Conference will team up with Mexico City-based live entertainment agency Zignia as a co-promotional partner. Zignia will support with marketing and sales of Big 12 Mexico events, as well as provide the Conference with their depth of resources. Additionally, On Location, an Endeavor-owned company, will assist with all school travel and VIP packages, while Endeavor will assist the Conference in all facets of its international digital strategy.&nbsp;The Big 12 Business Advisory Board will also continue to provide key insights and counsel as the Conference grows its presence in Mexico.Beyond hosting Conference games across multiple sports, Big 12 Mexico will see the Conference execute a variety of community outreach programming, commercial partnerships, merchandise and activations. This includes the Conference partnering with notable musicians and artists and launching an influencer marketing campaign in the region.Five current and future Big 12 Conference campuses – Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech – are located less than 400 miles away from Mexico, while the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have campus extensions in Mexico.&nbsp; Mexico City – the largest city in North America with a greater area population of over 22 million – has played host to MLB, NBA, NFL, and is home to the G League’s Capitanes de Ciudad de México.

🏀 KU and Houston men & women to tip off Big 12 Mexico in 2024

MIAMI (AP) — After building their largest lead of the night to that point midway through the third quarter of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9f451bc00f48e0faae0f907854c8c6c3">Game 3 of the NBA Finals,</a>&nbsp;the Denver Nuggets put on a rebounding clinic.

Aaron Gordon grabbed one on the defensive end after Miami's Max Strus missed, then Michael Porter Jr. came down with the ball off Jamal Murray's failed 3-point attempt. Porter got his own own rebound off a block — and when he missed, Gordon put it back up and in, and the score wasn't close the rest of the way.

It was their own personal game of shoot until you make it — and it spoke to the Nuggets being too big, too strong and too tough inside for the Heat in their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-finals-2023-heat-nuggets-f15a5273ea2e05117142ee65953284c2">109-94 victory</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night that put them up 2-1 in the series and one step closer to the first championship in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-2023-nuggets-jokic-3042b538d9e67d13f2776e6d55dbc04e">franchise history.</a>

“It's a collective effort,” said Murray, who had 10 rebounds as part of his triple-double. “Sometimes it’s just an effort play. Sometimes the ball just comes to you. Sometimes somebody else does the dirty work and boxes the big guy out. I think it’s everybody chipping in to get those rebounds.”

Denver outrebounded Miami 65-41, and points in the paint were a lopsided 60-34. Nikola Jokic had 18 rebounds on the defensive end alone and 21 total as part of his triple-double.

“When we rebound like that, there's usually a direct correlation to a ‘W,'” said Gordon, who had 10 rebounds. “We’ve got to keep eating the glass, continue to rebound on both sides of the floor.”

While Jokic became the first player with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game in the finals, he had plenty of help on the glass. The Heat had few answers inside for Gordon, Murray and Porter, who with his seven.

“They just pummeled us in the paint,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, lamenting his team losing too many 50-50 plays. “They didn’t really have to shoot 3s. They had, whatever, 60 in the paint. They probably shot over 65% in the paint at the rim there. Wasn’t a need to space the floor.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/26adde2457338af0841e8035a737a55e">With Denver looking for complementary help for Jokic and Murray</a>&nbsp;— who had 14 points midway through the second quarter and finished with a game-high 34 that were the most by a Canada-born player in a finals game — Gordon stepped to the forefront. The 27-year-old forward had 11 points in 34 minutes on the court.

Rookie Christian Braun also came up big with 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench. His was just one of several crucial secondary performances.

“This is by far our best game of the series, the most compete game of the series, and it’s not because of the triple-doubles or all the individual stats,” coach Michael Malone said, citing the 60 points in the paint and outrebounding Miami by a significant amount in a game in the finals. “That really helped us out tonight: the defending and rebounding at a high level.”

Malone saw it as the Nuggets responding teamwide to their Game 2 performance, when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d3f7a8482bd59ee4bc916357b013aeaa">blew a 15-point lead and lost.</a>&nbsp;Now he hopes it carries into Game 4.

“I loved our energy, our effort, our urgency, our discipline," Malone said. “I felt we were where we needed to be tonight, and we’ll have to be even better come Friday evening.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681737645636.jpeg" alt="Denver Nuggets&nbsp;Nikola Jokic" />
 <figcaption>Denver Nuggets&nbsp;Nikola Jokic</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — After building their largest lead of the night to that point midway through the third quarter of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9f451bc00f48e0faae0f907854c8c6c3">Game 3 of the NBA Finals,</a>&nbsp;the Denver Nuggets put on a rebounding clinic.Aaron Gordon grabbed one on the defensive end after Miami's Max Strus missed, then Michael Porter Jr. came down with the ball off Jamal Murray's failed 3-point attempt. Porter got his own own rebound off a block — and when he missed, Gordon put it back up and in, and the score wasn't close the rest of the way.It was their own personal game of shoot until you make it — and it spoke to the Nuggets being too big, too strong and too tough inside for the Heat in their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-finals-2023-heat-nuggets-f15a5273ea2e05117142ee65953284c2">109-94 victory</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night that put them up 2-1 in the series and one step closer to the first championship in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-2023-nuggets-jokic-3042b538d9e67d13f2776e6d55dbc04e">franchise history.</a>“It's a collective effort,” said Murray, who had 10 rebounds as part of his triple-double. “Sometimes it’s just an effort play. Sometimes the ball just comes to you. Sometimes somebody else does the dirty work and boxes the big guy out. I think it’s everybody chipping in to get those rebounds.”Denver outrebounded Miami 65-41, and points in the paint were a lopsided 60-34. Nikola Jokic had 18 rebounds on the defensive end alone and 21 total as part of his triple-double.“When we rebound like that, there's usually a direct correlation to a ‘W,'” said Gordon, who had 10 rebounds. “We’ve got to keep eating the glass, continue to rebound on both sides of the floor.”While Jokic became the first player with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game in the finals, he had plenty of help on the glass. The Heat had few answers inside for Gordon, Murray and Porter, who with his seven.“They just pummeled us in the paint,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, lamenting his team losing too many 50-50 plays. “They didn’t really have to shoot 3s. They had, whatever, 60 in the paint. They probably shot over 65% in the paint at the rim there. Wasn’t a need to space the floor.”<a href="https://apnews.com/26adde2457338af0841e8035a737a55e">With Denver looking for complementary help for Jokic and Murray</a>&nbsp;— who had 14 points midway through the second quarter and finished with a game-high 34 that were the most by a Canada-born player in a finals game — Gordon stepped to the forefront. The 27-year-old forward had 11 points in 34 minutes on the court.Rookie Christian Braun also came up big with 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench. His was just one of several crucial secondary performances.“This is by far our best game of the series, the most compete game of the series, and it’s not because of the triple-doubles or all the individual stats,” coach Michael Malone said, citing the 60 points in the paint and outrebounding Miami by a significant amount in a game in the finals. “That really helped us out tonight: the defending and rebounding at a high level.”Malone saw it as the Nuggets responding teamwide to their Game 2 performance, when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d3f7a8482bd59ee4bc916357b013aeaa">blew a 15-point lead and lost.</a>&nbsp;Now he hopes it carries into Game 4.“I loved our energy, our effort, our urgency, our discipline," Malone said. “I felt we were where we needed to be tonight, and we’ll have to be even better come Friday evening.”

🏀 Denver Nuggets too big, too strong for Miami Heat in game 3 of NBA Finals

HUTCHINSON, Kan.—The Hutchinson Monarchs hope to open it's 2023 season on the road tonight versus the Great Bend Bat Cats at 7pm.

Mother nature has not cooperated with the Monarchs as they have had four games postponed due to either rain of unplayable fields.&nbsp; Great Bend has been more fortunate with three wins already on their schedule.&nbsp; This game will be the home opener for Great Bend.

Hutchinson versus Great Bend opens a three game series with game two on Friday before the final game of the series moves to Hobart-Detter Field in Hutchinson on Saturday night.

Tonight's game should be available on the Great Bend Bat Cat YouTube stream.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686218496223.png" alt="Game Day vs Great Bend Bat Cats Thursday, June 8th, 2023" />
 <figcaption>Game Day vs Great Bend Bat Cats Thursday, June 8th, 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan.—The Hutchinson Monarchs hope to open it's 2023 season on the road tonight versus the Great Bend Bat Cats at 7pm.Mother nature has not cooperated with the Monarchs as they have had four games postponed due to either rain of unplayable fields.&nbsp; Great Bend has been more fortunate with three wins already on their schedule.&nbsp; This game will be the home opener for Great Bend.Hutchinson versus Great Bend opens a three game series with game two on Friday before the final game of the series moves to Hobart-Detter Field in Hutchinson on Saturday night.Tonight's game should be available on the Great Bend Bat Cat YouTube stream.&nbsp;

⚾️ Hutch Monarchs travel to Great Bend to open 2023 season

AP Sports Summary for Thursday Morning, June 8th, 2023.

Jokic and Murray both have triple-doubles, Nuggets beat Heat 109-94 for 2-1 lead

MIAMI (AP) — Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to both record triple-doubles, and Denver's two stars made sure the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series by beating the Miami Heat 109-94 in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Murray had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he needed with 9 seconds remaining. Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. Game 4 is Friday in Miami. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Heat.

Lionel Messi picks MLS's Inter Miami in a move that stuns soccer after exit from Paris Saint-Germain

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi says he is coming to Inter Miami and joining Major League Soccer. After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon in David Beckham since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field. That will likely soon change. One of Inter Miami's owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner makes his move after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi heads to Miami as latest big name to raise soccer's profile in US

Lionel Messi is set to become part of the next chapter of men's soccer in North America. Messi's announcement that he will join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami is another landmark moment for the league and the sport in the United States. But he's only the latest big-name international player to bring his talents to the U.S. It started with Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cryuff in the NASL, and since the MLS was launched other stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović have raised the profile of the game in North America.

MLB, WNBA postpone games due to smoke from Canadian wildfires

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has postponed games in New York and Philadelphia on Wednesday night because of poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. A National Women's Soccer League game in New Jersey and an indoor WNBA game set for Brooklyn were also called off Wednesday amid hazy conditions that have raised alarms from health authorities. The New York Yankees' game against the Chicago White Sox was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, and the Philadelphia Phillies' game against the Detroit Tigers was reset for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams.

Rory McIlroy, a strong anti-Saudi voice, now feels like 'sacrificial lamb' amid LIV Golf deal

Rory McIlroy says the PGA Tour's collaboration with Saudi Arabia's wealth fund makes him feel like a sacrificial lamb. McIlroy has been the strongest anti-Saudi voice during the disruption brought on by LIV Golf. He was among those left in the dark on the agreement that merges the business end of the PGA Tour, European tour and the Public Investment Fund. McIlroy says Saudi Arabia was going to keep spending money in golf. He says the tour is better off having it as a minority investor instead of trying to keep up and going to court over lawsuits.

Hypocrisy isn't new in sports, it's just more obvious in PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

Major League Baseball was once so concerned about gambling it banned Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays just for working as casino greeters. Now MLB itself and almost all its teams have official casino sponsors. The NCAA railed for decades that paying players would destroy college sports, all while raking in billions off of their unpaid labor. Now schools boast of booster collectives that help recruit top talent to their teams. So when the PGA Tour overcame its indignation and agreed to merge with LIV Golf the flip-flop followed a long-established tradition in sports of flexible attitudes.

Reds' De la Cruz hits 1st big league homer, then triples

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds newcomer Elly De la Cruz hit his first major league homer, a 458-foot, two-run drive off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Noah Syndergaard and then tripled. With fellow rookie Matt McLain on second base, De la Cruz hit an 0-1 fastball that left the bat at 114.8 mph and landed into the last rows of the right-field stands at Great American Ball Park. De la Cruz tripled on a curveball in the third, a drive that went to the wall in right-center on four hops.

Colts keep Rodgers out of practice as NFL investigates gambling allegations

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. sat out of Wednesday's practice, two days after team officials said they were aware of an NFL investigation into gambling allegations about one of Indy's players. Neither the Colts nor the league have publicly identified Rodgers as the target. But Rodgers issued a statement on Twitter acknowledging he made an "error in judgment" just hours after media reports linked him to the investigation. Coach Shane Steichen would not say whether Rodgers would practice until there is a resolution.

Bahl's 2-hitter helps Oklahoma top Florida State, inch closer to third straight national title

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jordy Bahl threw a two-hitter and struck out 10, and Oklahoma defeated Florida State 5-0 on Wednesday night to inch closer to a third consecutive national title. The top-seeded Sooners took the lead in the Women's College World Series best-of-three championship series and can clinch their seventh national title on Thursday. Bahl is 4-0 at the World Series and hasn't allowed a run in 21 2/3 innings. She helped Oklahoma push its Division I record win streak to 52 games.

Texas homecoming for Griner in WNBA star's 1st game there since Russian release

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brittney Griner had a Texas homecoming in her first game in her home state since being released from a Russian prison. The Phoenix Mercury were on the road for only the second time this season, since Griner missed all of last season while detained before a prisoner swap in December. People were shouting words of encouragement to Griner when she was out to dinner with teammates. She also met in private before Wednesday's game with the women's basketball team from Baylor. That campus about 100 miles away is where she was part of a 40-0 national championship in 2012.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		Detroit	at	Philadelphia	6:05 p.m.	(Postponed)

		Chi White Sox	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.	(Postponed)

		Minnesota	at	New York	7 p.m.	(Postponed)

		Chi White Sox	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683366121627.jpeg" alt="Sports Headlines for Thursday Morning, June 8th, 2023" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines for Thursday Morning, June 8th, 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for Thursday Morning, June 8th, 2023.Jokic and Murray both have triple-doubles, Nuggets beat Heat 109-94 for 2-1 leadMIAMI (AP) — Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to both record triple-doubles, and Denver's two stars made sure the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series by beating the Miami Heat 109-94 in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Murray had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he needed with 9 seconds remaining. Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. Game 4 is Friday in Miami. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Heat.Lionel Messi picks MLS's Inter Miami in a move that stuns soccer after exit from Paris Saint-GermainMIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi says he is coming to Inter Miami and joining Major League Soccer. After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon in David Beckham since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field. That will likely soon change. One of Inter Miami's owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner makes his move after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.Messi heads to Miami as latest big name to raise soccer's profile in USLionel Messi is set to become part of the next chapter of men's soccer in North America. Messi's announcement that he will join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami is another landmark moment for the league and the sport in the United States. But he's only the latest big-name international player to bring his talents to the U.S. It started with Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cryuff in the NASL, and since the MLS was launched other stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović have raised the profile of the game in North America.MLB, WNBA postpone games due to smoke from Canadian wildfiresNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has postponed games in New York and Philadelphia on Wednesday night because of poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. A National Women's Soccer League game in New Jersey and an indoor WNBA game set for Brooklyn were also called off Wednesday amid hazy conditions that have raised alarms from health authorities. The New York Yankees' game against the Chicago White Sox was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, and the Philadelphia Phillies' game against the Detroit Tigers was reset for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams.Rory McIlroy, a strong anti-Saudi voice, now feels like 'sacrificial lamb' amid LIV Golf dealRory McIlroy says the PGA Tour's collaboration with Saudi Arabia's wealth fund makes him feel like a sacrificial lamb. McIlroy has been the strongest anti-Saudi voice during the disruption brought on by LIV Golf. He was among those left in the dark on the agreement that merges the business end of the PGA Tour, European tour and the Public Investment Fund. McIlroy says Saudi Arabia was going to keep spending money in golf. He says the tour is better off having it as a minority investor instead of trying to keep up and going to court over lawsuits.Hypocrisy isn't new in sports, it's just more obvious in PGA Tour-LIV Golf mergerMajor League Baseball was once so concerned about gambling it banned Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays just for working as casino greeters. Now MLB itself and almost all its teams have official casino sponsors. The NCAA railed for decades that paying players would destroy college sports, all while raking in billions off of their unpaid labor. Now schools boast of booster collectives that help recruit top talent to their teams. So when the PGA Tour overcame its indignation and agreed to merge with LIV Golf the flip-flop followed a long-established tradition in sports of flexible attitudes.Reds' De la Cruz hits 1st big league homer, then triplesCINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds newcomer Elly De la Cruz hit his first major league homer, a 458-foot, two-run drive off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Noah Syndergaard and then tripled. With fellow rookie Matt McLain on second base, De la Cruz hit an 0-1 fastball that left the bat at 114.8 mph and landed into the last rows of the right-field stands at Great American Ball Park. De la Cruz tripled on a curveball in the third, a drive that went to the wall in right-center on four hops.Colts keep Rodgers out of practice as NFL investigates gambling allegationsIndianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. sat out of Wednesday's practice, two days after team officials said they were aware of an NFL investigation into gambling allegations about one of Indy's players. Neither the Colts nor the league have publicly identified Rodgers as the target. But Rodgers issued a statement on Twitter acknowledging he made an "error in judgment" just hours after media reports linked him to the investigation. Coach Shane Steichen would not say whether Rodgers would practice until there is a resolution.Bahl's 2-hitter helps Oklahoma top Florida State, inch closer to third straight national titleOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jordy Bahl threw a two-hitter and struck out 10, and Oklahoma defeated Florida State 5-0 on Wednesday night to inch closer to a third consecutive national title. The top-seeded Sooners took the lead in the Women's College World Series best-of-three championship series and can clinch their seventh national title on Thursday. Bahl is 4-0 at the World Series and hasn't allowed a run in 21 2/3 innings. She helped Oklahoma push its Division I record win streak to 52 games.Texas homecoming for Griner in WNBA star's 1st game there since Russian releaseARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brittney Griner had a Texas homecoming in her first game in her home state since being released from a Russian prison. The Phoenix Mercury were on the road for only the second time this season, since Griner missed all of last season while detained before a prisoner swap in December. People were shouting words of encouragement to Griner when she was out to dinner with teammates. She also met in private before Wednesday's game with the women's basketball team from Baylor. That campus about 100 miles away is where she was part of a 40-0 national championship in 2012.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUE		Detroit	at	Philadelphia	6:05 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Oakland	9	Pittsburgh	5	Final	San Diego	10	Seattle	3	Final	Miami	6	Kansas City	1	Final	Milwaukee	10	Baltimore	2	Final	St. Louis	1	Texas	0	Final	L.A. Angels	6	Chicago Cubs	2	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Chi White Sox	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Tampa Bay	2	Minnesota	1	Final	Toronto	3	Houston	2	Final	Cleveland	5	Boston	2	___NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Arizona	6	Washington	2	Final	Cincinnati	8	L.A. Dodgers	6	Final	Atlanta	7	N.Y. Mets	5	Final	San Francisco	5	Colorado	4	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFSFinal	Denver	109	Miami	94	___WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Minnesota	at	New York	7 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Dallas	84	Phoenix	79	___MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCERFinal tie	Atlanta	0	Los Angeles FC	0	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE		Baltimore	at	Milwaukee	2:10 p.m.			Chi Cubs	at	L-A Angels	9:38 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Minnesota	at	Tampa Bay	1:10 p.m.			Chi White Sox	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.			Houston	at	Toronto	7:07 p.m.			Boston	at	Cleveland	7:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		L-A Dodgers	at	Cincinnati	12:35 p.m.			Arizona	at	Washington	1:05 p.m.			San Francisco	at	Colorado	3:10 p.m.			N-Y Mets	at	Atlanta	7:20 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS		Vegas	at	Florida	8 p.m.	___WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Las Vegas	at	Connecticut	7 p.m.	___

📢📰  Sports Headlines for Thursday

MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez singled twice and raised his major league-leading average to .403 as the Miami Marlins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday night. Jesús Sánchez homered, singled twice and had four RBI for the Marlins, who won their sixth straight. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera’s one-run outing ended after throwing his warm-up pitches to begin the sixth. Cabrera gave up two hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter. Jordan Lyles remained winless and lost his 10th decision. He allowed five runs, six hits, walked one and struck out two.

MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez singled twice and raised his major league-leading average to .403 as the Miami Marlins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday night.

Jesús Sánchez homered, singled twice and had four RBI for the Marlins, who won their sixth straight. The consecutive three-game series sweeps over the Royals and Oakland A’s are the first by the Marlins at home since winning six straight against Washington and Houston in 2008.

“We’re very confident and happy right now,” Sánchez said. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win the game. The positive vibe and adrenaline are there.”

Kansas City was swept in a series for the sixth time this year, dropping to 18-44 after its sixth loss in seven games, The Royals haven’t swept a single series.

Marlins starter Edward Cabrera’s one-run outing ended after throwing his warm-up pitches to begin the sixth. Manager Skip Schumaker and a Marlins trainer approached the mound and spoke with the right-hander, who was then removed because of a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand.

Cabrera (5-4) gave up two hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter.

“I started feeling it in the third inning but we were winning and I couldn’t let the team down,” Cabrera said. “I kept fighting and throwing as many innings as I could.”

Jordan Lyles remained winless and lost his 10th decision. He allowed five runs, six hits, walked one and struck out two in seven-plus innings.

“He’s had several starts like that this year where he’s gone real deep in the games,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “And that’s something he’s always done. He’s durable and bounces back well.”

Left-handers Steven Okert, Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and A.J. Puk relieved Cabrera and threw an inning each to complete the three-hitter.

Sánchez’s three-run shot in the third erased a 1-0 deficit. Sánchez hit a change-up from Lyles over the wall in center for his sixth homer and second straight game.

“I wasn’t trying to hit a home run, just making a good swing,” Sánchez said.

Miami padded its lead in the eighth on Bryan De La Cruz’s two-run double and Sánchez’s RBI single.

The Royals struck first on Nick Pratto’s RBI single in the third inning.

Marlins centerfield Garrett Hampson tracked down Bobby Witt Jr.’s drive, jumped and caught it above the wall in the fourth.

“It was high enough where I could get to the wall,” Hampson said. “Just trying to get back and find the wall, kind of get a general idea where the wall is and go make the play.”

The Royals placed RHP Josh Staumont (neck strain) on the 15-day injured list and recalled LHP Austin Cox from Triple-A Omaha.

Royals: OF Kyle Isbel (left hamstring strain) will return to the club’s spring training complex in Arizona to continue his progression, Quatraro said.

Marlins: OF-INF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (turf toe) will travel with the team on its upcoming three-city trip as he moves closer to resuming baseball activities. ... OF-DH Jorge Soler didn’t play as he deals with right thumb soreness after fouling off a pitch against Oakland on Sunday.

Royals: LHP Daniel Lynch (0-1, 4.35) starts the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore on Friday. The Orioles have not announced their starter.

Marlins: RHP Eury Pérez (3-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game road series at the Chicago White Sox on Friday. RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.63) gets the start for the White Sox.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686216954092.jpeg" alt="Luis Arraez via Miami Marlin Baseball" />
 <figcaption>Luis Arraez via Miami Marlin Baseball</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez singled twice and raised his major league-leading average to .403 as the Miami Marlins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday night. Jesús Sánchez homered, singled twice and had four RBI for the Marlins, who won their sixth straight. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera’s one-run outing ended after throwing his warm-up pitches to begin the sixth. Cabrera gave up two hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter. Jordan Lyles remained winless and lost his 10th decision. He allowed five runs, six hits, walked one and struck out two.<h2>Story Body</h2>MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez singled twice and raised his major league-leading average to .403 as the Miami Marlins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday night.Jesús Sánchez homered, singled twice and had four RBI for the Marlins, who won their sixth straight. The consecutive three-game series sweeps over the Royals and Oakland A’s are the first by the Marlins at home since winning six straight against Washington and Houston in 2008.“We’re very confident and happy right now,” Sánchez said. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win the game. The positive vibe and adrenaline are there.”Kansas City was swept in a series for the sixth time this year, dropping to 18-44 after its sixth loss in seven games, The Royals haven’t swept a single series.Marlins starter Edward Cabrera’s one-run outing ended after throwing his warm-up pitches to begin the sixth. Manager Skip Schumaker and a Marlins trainer approached the mound and spoke with the right-hander, who was then removed because of a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand.Cabrera (5-4) gave up two hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter.“I started feeling it in the third inning but we were winning and I couldn’t let the team down,” Cabrera said. “I kept fighting and throwing as many innings as I could.”Jordan Lyles remained winless and lost his 10th decision. He allowed five runs, six hits, walked one and struck out two in seven-plus innings.“He’s had several starts like that this year where he’s gone real deep in the games,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “And that’s something he’s always done. He’s durable and bounces back well.”Left-handers Steven Okert, Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and A.J. Puk relieved Cabrera and threw an inning each to complete the three-hitter.Sánchez’s three-run shot in the third erased a 1-0 deficit. Sánchez hit a change-up from Lyles over the wall in center for his sixth homer and second straight game.“I wasn’t trying to hit a home run, just making a good swing,” Sánchez said.Miami padded its lead in the eighth on Bryan De La Cruz’s two-run double and Sánchez’s RBI single.The Royals struck first on Nick Pratto’s RBI single in the third inning.HOMER DENIEDMarlins centerfield Garrett Hampson tracked down Bobby Witt Jr.’s drive, jumped and caught it above the wall in the fourth.“It was high enough where I could get to the wall,” Hampson said. “Just trying to get back and find the wall, kind of get a general idea where the wall is and go make the play.”ROSTER MOVEThe Royals placed RHP Josh Staumont (neck strain) on the 15-day injured list and recalled LHP Austin Cox from Triple-A Omaha.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: OF Kyle Isbel (left hamstring strain) will return to the club’s spring training complex in Arizona to continue his progression, Quatraro said.Marlins: OF-INF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (turf toe) will travel with the team on its upcoming three-city trip as he moves closer to resuming baseball activities. ... OF-DH Jorge Soler didn’t play as he deals with right thumb soreness after fouling off a pitch against Oakland on Sunday.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Daniel Lynch (0-1, 4.35) starts the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore on Friday. The Orioles have not announced their starter.Marlins: RHP Eury Pérez (3-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game road series at the Chicago White Sox on Friday. RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.63) gets the start for the White Sox.

⚾ Arraez raises average to .403, Sánchez has 4 RBIs to lead Marlins over Royals 6-1

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Wind Surge pitching struggled against the Missions tonight. Wichita dropped the second game of the series 10-4 to San Antonio despite a ninth inning rally.

The Missions took an early lead in the second inning. Michael de La Cruz drove in a run when he doubled on a line drive to left field. A throwing error from Brooks Lee allowed another run to score.

In the third the Missions extended their lead another five runs with a combo of a two run home run from Jorge Ona and three more runs batted in.

San Antonio gained another one in the bottom of the fourth. Juan Fernandez drove in a run when he singled on a line drive to center field.

The Surge had their first signs of offensive life in the top of the sixth inning. Catcher David Banuelos got the first hit of the game for the Surge when he ripped a line drive to right field. Will Holland followed him up and hit a line drive to center field earning a single as well. A double play by the Missions shut down the inning and prevented any runs from being scored.

In the top of the eighth inning Holland kept his bat hot and was able to put the Surge on the board. He smoked a line drive to left field that brought in a runner to score.

The Missions answered right back in the bottom of the eighth. Tirso Ornelas doubled which scored a run. Rodriguez also singled that brought in another run.

In the top of the ninth the Surge started to get some offense going again. Aaron Sabato singled on a line drive to center field that brought in a run. Yoyner Fajardo followed him up with his own line drive to center field that scored a run as well. Wichita’s final run would come on a throwing error that allowed Sabato to reach home. The ninth inning rally did not last as long as necessary.

San Antonio starting pitcher Jackson Wolf earned the win pitching six shutout innings and Aaron Rozek took the loss for Wichita.

Wichita dropped its season long sixth consecutive game and dropped to 21-31 on the season.

NOTES: The Wind Surge dropped to 0-6 in the month of June. The Surge are 1-8 this season when facing a left-handed starting pitcher.

UPCOMING: The Wichita Wind Surge continue their road trip in Texas. They will take on San Antonio for the third game of the series at 7:05. RH Travis Adams for the Surge will face RH Duncan Snider for the Missions.

BROADCAST: Milb First Pitch App,&nbsp;<a href="http://windsurge.com/">Windsurge.com</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://milb.tv/">MiLB.tv</a>&nbsp;and Ballys Live app.

NEXT HOME GAME: The Wind Surge return home on Tuesday, June 20th&nbsp;to play Arkansas Travelers at Riverfront Stadium. The Surge will be home for a two week homestand which includes the first ever postgame concert on Saturday, June 24th&nbsp;“The Spazmatics”.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686216231178.jpeg" alt="Surge drop sixth straight.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Surge drop sixth straight.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Wind Surge pitching struggled against the Missions tonight. Wichita dropped the second game of the series 10-4 to San Antonio despite a ninth inning rally.The Missions took an early lead in the second inning. Michael de La Cruz drove in a run when he doubled on a line drive to left field. A throwing error from Brooks Lee allowed another run to score.In the third the Missions extended their lead another five runs with a combo of a two run home run from Jorge Ona and three more runs batted in.San Antonio gained another one in the bottom of the fourth. Juan Fernandez drove in a run when he singled on a line drive to center field.The Surge had their first signs of offensive life in the top of the sixth inning. Catcher David Banuelos got the first hit of the game for the Surge when he ripped a line drive to right field. Will Holland followed him up and hit a line drive to center field earning a single as well. A double play by the Missions shut down the inning and prevented any runs from being scored.In the top of the eighth inning Holland kept his bat hot and was able to put the Surge on the board. He smoked a line drive to left field that brought in a runner to score.The Missions answered right back in the bottom of the eighth. Tirso Ornelas doubled which scored a run. Rodriguez also singled that brought in another run.In the top of the ninth the Surge started to get some offense going again. Aaron Sabato singled on a line drive to center field that brought in a run. Yoyner Fajardo followed him up with his own line drive to center field that scored a run as well. Wichita’s final run would come on a throwing error that allowed Sabato to reach home. The ninth inning rally did not last as long as necessary.San Antonio starting pitcher Jackson Wolf earned the win pitching six shutout innings and Aaron Rozek took the loss for Wichita.Wichita dropped its season long sixth consecutive game and dropped to 21-31 on the season.NOTES: The Wind Surge dropped to 0-6 in the month of June. The Surge are 1-8 this season when facing a left-handed starting pitcher.UPCOMING: The Wichita Wind Surge continue their road trip in Texas. They will take on San Antonio for the third game of the series at 7:05. RH Travis Adams for the Surge will face RH Duncan Snider for the Missions.BROADCAST: Milb First Pitch App,&nbsp;<a href="http://windsurge.com/">Windsurge.com</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://milb.tv/">MiLB.tv</a>&nbsp;and Ballys Live app.NEXT HOME GAME: The Wind Surge return home on Tuesday, June 20th&nbsp;to play Arkansas Travelers at Riverfront Stadium. The Surge will be home for a two week homestand which includes the first ever postgame concert on Saturday, June 24th&nbsp;“The Spazmatics”.

⚾ Wichita Wind Surge drop sixth straight

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;— Former Kansas forward Dedric Lawson is the most recent addition to the Mass Street roster for the upcoming <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/cbd8c31d-0875-46b7-8e72-d934f707e864">TBT regional next month in Wichita</a>.

The 6-foot-9 native of Memphis, Tennessee played for Bill Self and the Jayhawks during the 2018-19 season after transferring from Memphis. While at Kansas, Lawson played and started 36 games, averaging 19.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He was a 1st Team All-Big 12 team following the season and was also selected as a 1st Team All-Big 12 Tournament selection.

Lawson opted to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. He was not selected in the draft and played in the NBA G League. After playing one season in the G League, Lawson played overseas in Turkey.

The 25-year-old is now added to a roster that already has Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Keith Langford and Marcus Garrett onboard. You can find more information about the Mass Street team <a href="https://thetournament.com/tbt/teams/mass-st-collective/">here</a>.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686160591412.jpeg" alt="Kansas forward Dedric Lawson reacts after scoring a basket during overtime of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in New York. Kansas defeated Tennessee 87-81. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas forward Dedric Lawson reacts after scoring a basket during overtime of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in New York. Kansas defeated Tennessee 87-81. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;— Former Kansas forward Dedric Lawson is the most recent addition to the Mass Street roster for the upcoming <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/cbd8c31d-0875-46b7-8e72-d934f707e864">TBT regional next month in Wichita</a>.The 6-foot-9 native of Memphis, Tennessee played for Bill Self and the Jayhawks during the 2018-19 season after transferring from Memphis. While at Kansas, Lawson played and started 36 games, averaging 19.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He was a 1st Team All-Big 12 team following the season and was also selected as a 1st Team All-Big 12 Tournament selection.Lawson opted to forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. He was not selected in the draft and played in the NBA G League. After playing one season in the G League, Lawson played overseas in Turkey.The 25-year-old is now added to a roster that already has Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Keith Langford and Marcus Garrett onboard. You can find more information about the Mass Street team <a href="https://thetournament.com/tbt/teams/mass-st-collective/">here</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 MBB: Lawson added to KU alumni team roster

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State fans wanting to see the reigning Big 12 Champions in action this fall in Manhattan can begin purchasing single-game football tickets next week, K-State Athletics announced today. A pre-sale for Ahearn Fund members will begin on Monday, June 12, while the general public can begin purchasing tickets on Thursday, June 15.

Tickets to the season opener against SEMO on September 2 – which serves as the annual Golden Cats reunion and the 20-year anniversary of the 2003 Big 12 Championship team – start at less than $30. The game will kick off at 6 p.m., and will include a stripe out of the stadium to celebrate the 2022 Big 12 Championship. University Family Day is scheduled for September 9 when the Wildcats host Troy at 11 a.m. Tickets for the second home game also start at less than $30. Following a game at Missouri, the Wildcats will welcome new Big 12 foe UCF on September 23. The game is Celebrate Ag, and tickets are currently less than $40. A rematch of the 2022 Big 12 Championship game is set for October 21 when the TCU Horned Frogs return to Manhattan. Fans can see this highly anticipated match-up, which is also Harley Day, for less than $45. Tickets start at less than $40 for the three final conference home games, which includes Homecoming against new Big 12 opponent Houston on October 28, Fort Riley Day against Baylor on November 11, and Senior Day against Iowa State on November 25. Fans are encouraged to act fast and purchase their tickets as K-State Athletics utilizes dynamic pricing; single-game prices may change based on demand. Demand for tickets is also high with season tickets currently pacing nearly 4,000 above this time last year. New this year, fans will no longer pay additional handling fees when checking out. All single-game ticket prices include all fees, including sales tax, credit card fees, and ticket software fees. Tickets can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 1-800-221-CATS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686154092336.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State fans wanting to see the reigning Big 12 Champions in action this fall in Manhattan can begin purchasing single-game football tickets next week, K-State Athletics announced today. A pre-sale for Ahearn Fund members will begin on Monday, June 12, while the general public can begin purchasing tickets on Thursday, June 15. Tickets to the season opener against SEMO on September 2 – which serves as the annual Golden Cats reunion and the 20-year anniversary of the 2003 Big 12 Championship team – start at less than $30. The game will kick off at 6 p.m., and will include a stripe out of the stadium to celebrate the 2022 Big 12 Championship. University Family Day is scheduled for September 9 when the Wildcats host Troy at 11 a.m. Tickets for the second home game also start at less than $30. Following a game at Missouri, the Wildcats will welcome new Big 12 foe UCF on September 23. The game is Celebrate Ag, and tickets are currently less than $40. A rematch of the 2022 Big 12 Championship game is set for October 21 when the TCU Horned Frogs return to Manhattan. Fans can see this highly anticipated match-up, which is also Harley Day, for less than $45. Tickets start at less than $40 for the three final conference home games, which includes Homecoming against new Big 12 opponent Houston on October 28, Fort Riley Day against Baylor on November 11, and Senior Day against Iowa State on November 25. Fans are encouraged to act fast and purchase their tickets as K-State Athletics utilizes dynamic pricing; single-game prices may change based on demand. Demand for tickets is also high with season tickets currently pacing nearly 4,000 above this time last year. New this year, fans will no longer pay additional handling fees when checking out. All single-game ticket prices include all fees, including sales tax, credit card fees, and ticket software fees. Tickets can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 1-800-221-CATS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏈 K-State single-game tickets on sale next week

AP Sports Summary for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

PGA Tour and European tour agree to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf feud

The PGA Tour abruptly dropped its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf venture on Tuesday and instead announced a stunning merger that creates a global operation featuring the world's top players backed by the Saudis' massive wealth. As part of the deal merging the PGA Tour and European tour with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf. From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.

LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger reignites not-so-clean debate over sportswashing

The PGA Tour's merger with rival LIV Golf has reignited a debate over sportswashing and drawn critics ranging from current professional golfers to the families of Sept. 11 victims. Sportswashing has been going on for decades in the Olympics and other sports across the globe. The sportswashing angle with LIV Golf gained steam last year when its first big-name signing, Phil Mickelson, was quoted as calling the Saudis "scary (expletives)" as he discussed what the CIA concluded was the Saudi-backed killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Family members of Sept. 11 victims who blame Saudi Arabia for the 2001 terror attacks have also been vocal critics of Mickelson and others who have accepted multiple millions from LIV Golf.

PGA Tour commissioner has 'heated' meeting with players after LIV Golf merger

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spent more than an hour explaining to players Tuesday afternoon why he changed his mind about taking Saudi funds in a surprise collaboration, saying it ultimately was for their benefit. And to think it was nearly a year ago to the day that Saudi-funded LIV Golf teed off in its inaugural event as a rival and a threat, flush with defectors from golf's top circuit. Morals were questioned. Lawsuits were filed. Golfers doubled down on their affiliations. A merger, it seemed, wasn't in the cards. But on Tuesday, professionals from both tours were caught off guard by news that their worlds would collide — that the PGA Tour, European tour and LIV Golf were merging.

Game 3 awaits in the NBA Finals, with Heat loose and Nuggets facing adversity

MIAMI (AP) — Erik Spoelstra has preached about the value of adversity for months, not shying away from saying that it helped the Miami Heat get to these NBA Finals. And now Denver is dealing with a little taste of it as well. Game 3 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday night in Miami, the series between the eighth-seeded Heat and top-seeded Nuggets knotted at a game apiece. It got that way after Miami rallied to win Game 2 in Denver 111-108 on Sunday night, an outcome that prompted Nuggets coach Michael Malone to openly share frustrations primarily over a lack of discipline on a lot of possessions.

From swords to fishing lures to "sprinklers," MLB celebrations have become full-scale productions

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Major League Baseball celebrations have turned into a full-on production for some teams. About half the clubs in MLB are using some kind of prop or ritual to celebrate a big hit or a big play in ways that often go viral. The Pittsburgh Pirates use a sword and a "home run jacket." The Minnesota Twins act like they're going fishing. The Baltimore Orioles operate a "human sprinkler." The players say the celebrations are a way to connect with fans and break up the monotony of a season. Pirates star Andrew McCutchen says players are "showmen" and it's their job to put on a show when they take the field.

Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff to reach French Open semifinals

PARIS (AP) — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek kept her French Open title defense on track with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Coco Gauff to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros. Swiatek recorded another straight-set victory over the American in a rematch of last year's final and will next face Beatriz Haddad Maia on Thursday. Swiatek is a 22-year-old Pole who is chasing her third trophy at the clay-court major. The 19-year-old Gauff fell to 0-7 against Swiatek. The Floridian has yet to take a set against her. Swiatek won 6-1, 6-3 in last year's final. The match was much closer than last year's final but Swiatek was in control throughout.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet in a youth-vs.-experience clash at the French Open

PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will face each other in the French Open semifinals. It is their first head-to-head meeting in more than a year. Alcaraz won their only previous encounter. Alcaraz is a 20-year-old from Spain who is seeded No. 1 and will be appearing in his second Grand Slam semifinal. Djokovic is a 36-year-old from Serbia who is seeded No. 3 and entering the 45th major semifinal of his career. He has 22 Grand Slam titles and can break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men's tennis by getting past Alcaraz and then winning Sunday's final.

Jacob deGrom, oft-injured Rangers ace, to have season-ending right elbow surgery

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas ace Jacob deGrom will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, cutting short his first season with the AL West-leading Rangers after the oft-injured pitcher signed a $185 million, five-year contract. General manager Chris Young says the decision came after the latest MRI on deGrom's ailing right elbow. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner hasn't pitched since April 28 against the New York Yankees, when he exited early because of injury concerns for the second time in a span of three starts. DeGrom spent his first nine seasons with the Mets. Injuries limited him to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts during his last two years in New York.

Yankees star Aaron Judge headed to injured list for 2nd time this season

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge is headed to the injured list for the second time this season after the New York Yankees star hurt his right toe making a spectacular catch at Dodger Stadium. The reigning AL MVP missed his second consecutive game Tuesday night. He met with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and underwent testing that showed a bruise and a sprained ligament, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said following his team's 3-2 loss to the White Sox. Boone said Judge will be placed on the IL but did not give a timeline for his return. The slugger received a platelet-rich plasma injection. Boone said Judge's toe is not fractured.

Gun tragedies hit close to home for Stanley Cup Final opponents, who helped their communities heal

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers were connected by tragedy five years before meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. Both teams helped their communities recover after the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting that left 60 dead and the 2018 massacre of 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Both teams have honored the victims, worked with their families and donated to foundations. In each arena, there is a memorial to their community's respective tragedy. Duke University professor Orin Starn says sports teams can help communities heal after tragedy. He points to the New York Yankees' first home game after 9/11 and New Orleans Saints players assisting relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

Here are the latest scores from today's sports events:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683366121627.jpeg" alt="Sports Headlines for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023PGA Tour and European tour agree to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf feudThe PGA Tour abruptly dropped its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia's LIV Golf venture on Tuesday and instead announced a stunning merger that creates a global operation featuring the world's top players backed by the Saudis' massive wealth. As part of the deal merging the PGA Tour and European tour with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf. From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger reignites not-so-clean debate over sportswashingThe PGA Tour's merger with rival LIV Golf has reignited a debate over sportswashing and drawn critics ranging from current professional golfers to the families of Sept. 11 victims. Sportswashing has been going on for decades in the Olympics and other sports across the globe. The sportswashing angle with LIV Golf gained steam last year when its first big-name signing, Phil Mickelson, was quoted as calling the Saudis "scary (expletives)" as he discussed what the CIA concluded was the Saudi-backed killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Family members of Sept. 11 victims who blame Saudi Arabia for the 2001 terror attacks have also been vocal critics of Mickelson and others who have accepted multiple millions from LIV Golf.PGA Tour commissioner has 'heated' meeting with players after LIV Golf mergerPGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spent more than an hour explaining to players Tuesday afternoon why he changed his mind about taking Saudi funds in a surprise collaboration, saying it ultimately was for their benefit. And to think it was nearly a year ago to the day that Saudi-funded LIV Golf teed off in its inaugural event as a rival and a threat, flush with defectors from golf's top circuit. Morals were questioned. Lawsuits were filed. Golfers doubled down on their affiliations. A merger, it seemed, wasn't in the cards. But on Tuesday, professionals from both tours were caught off guard by news that their worlds would collide — that the PGA Tour, European tour and LIV Golf were merging.Game 3 awaits in the NBA Finals, with Heat loose and Nuggets facing adversityMIAMI (AP) — Erik Spoelstra has preached about the value of adversity for months, not shying away from saying that it helped the Miami Heat get to these NBA Finals. And now Denver is dealing with a little taste of it as well. Game 3 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday night in Miami, the series between the eighth-seeded Heat and top-seeded Nuggets knotted at a game apiece. It got that way after Miami rallied to win Game 2 in Denver 111-108 on Sunday night, an outcome that prompted Nuggets coach Michael Malone to openly share frustrations primarily over a lack of discipline on a lot of possessions.From swords to fishing lures to "sprinklers," MLB celebrations have become full-scale productionsPITTSBURGH (AP) — Major League Baseball celebrations have turned into a full-on production for some teams. About half the clubs in MLB are using some kind of prop or ritual to celebrate a big hit or a big play in ways that often go viral. The Pittsburgh Pirates use a sword and a "home run jacket." The Minnesota Twins act like they're going fishing. The Baltimore Orioles operate a "human sprinkler." The players say the celebrations are a way to connect with fans and break up the monotony of a season. Pirates star Andrew McCutchen says players are "showmen" and it's their job to put on a show when they take the field.Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff to reach French Open semifinalsPARIS (AP) — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek kept her French Open title defense on track with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Coco Gauff to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros. Swiatek recorded another straight-set victory over the American in a rematch of last year's final and will next face Beatriz Haddad Maia on Thursday. Swiatek is a 22-year-old Pole who is chasing her third trophy at the clay-court major. The 19-year-old Gauff fell to 0-7 against Swiatek. The Floridian has yet to take a set against her. Swiatek won 6-1, 6-3 in last year's final. The match was much closer than last year's final but Swiatek was in control throughout.Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet in a youth-vs.-experience clash at the French OpenPARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will face each other in the French Open semifinals. It is their first head-to-head meeting in more than a year. Alcaraz won their only previous encounter. Alcaraz is a 20-year-old from Spain who is seeded No. 1 and will be appearing in his second Grand Slam semifinal. Djokovic is a 36-year-old from Serbia who is seeded No. 3 and entering the 45th major semifinal of his career. He has 22 Grand Slam titles and can break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most in the history of men's tennis by getting past Alcaraz and then winning Sunday's final.Jacob deGrom, oft-injured Rangers ace, to have season-ending right elbow surgeryARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas ace Jacob deGrom will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, cutting short his first season with the AL West-leading Rangers after the oft-injured pitcher signed a $185 million, five-year contract. General manager Chris Young says the decision came after the latest MRI on deGrom's ailing right elbow. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner hasn't pitched since April 28 against the New York Yankees, when he exited early because of injury concerns for the second time in a span of three starts. DeGrom spent his first nine seasons with the Mets. Injuries limited him to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts during his last two years in New York.Yankees star Aaron Judge headed to injured list for 2nd time this seasonNEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge is headed to the injured list for the second time this season after the New York Yankees star hurt his right toe making a spectacular catch at Dodger Stadium. The reigning AL MVP missed his second consecutive game Tuesday night. He met with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and underwent testing that showed a bruise and a sprained ligament, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said following his team's 3-2 loss to the White Sox. Boone said Judge will be placed on the IL but did not give a timeline for his return. The slugger received a platelet-rich plasma injection. Boone said Judge's toe is not fractured.Gun tragedies hit close to home for Stanley Cup Final opponents, who helped their communities healFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers were connected by tragedy five years before meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. Both teams helped their communities recover after the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting that left 60 dead and the 2018 massacre of 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Both teams have honored the victims, worked with their families and donated to foundations. In each arena, there is a memorial to their community's respective tragedy. Duke University professor Orin Starn says sports teams can help communities heal after tragedy. He points to the New York Yankees' first home game after 9/11 and New Orleans Saints players assisting relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.AP-ScorecardHere are the latest scores from today's sports events:___INTERLEAGUE		Oakland	at	Pittsburgh	12:35 p.m.			Seattle	at	San Diego	4:10 p.m.			Detroit	at	Philadelphia	6:05 p.m.			Kansas City	at	Miami	6:10 p.m.			Baltimore	at	Milwaukee	7:40 p.m.			St. Louis	at	Texas	8:05 p.m.			Chi Cubs	at	L-A Angels	9:38 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Minnesota	at	Tampa Bay	6:40 p.m.			Chi White Sox	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.			Houston	at	Toronto	7:07 p.m.			Boston	at	Cleveland	7:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		Arizona	at	Washington	7:05 p.m.			L-A Dodgers	at	Cincinnati	7:10 p.m.			N-Y Mets	at	Atlanta	7:20 p.m.			San Francisco	at	Colorado	8:40 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS		Denver	at	Miami	8:30 p.m.	___WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Minnesota	at	New York	7 p.m.			Phoenix	at	Dallas	8 p.m.	___MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER		Atlanta	at	Los Angeles FC	10:30 p.m.	___

📢📰  Sports Headlines for Wednesday

New York (AP) —The PGA Tour abruptly dropped its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf venture on Tuesday and instead announced a stunning merger that creates a global operation featuring the world’s top players backed by the Saudis’ massive wealth.

As part of the deal merging the PGA Tour and European tour with Saudi Arabia’s golf interests, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf.

From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-the-masters-golf-rory-mcilroy-brooks-koepka-bbd749c85f449b5e07dbcb66f6b0ad73">Brooks Koepka</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-golf-sergio-phil-mickelson-dustin-johnson-21f4722d284a2b9ed0c95652de809522">Dustin Johnson</a>&nbsp;can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.

From the commercial side, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund joins the PGA Tour board of directors and leads the new business venture as chairman, though the PGA Tour will have a majority stake.

News of the deal came as a surprise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-golf-pga-liv-trump-lawsuit-edcd86df5ff12fa067505afd98b18a84">many watchers of the lawsuits and Saudi Arabia’s inroads</a>&nbsp;into U.S. politics, sports and culture.

“This is a huge development and obviously upends a world of golf, which has been perhaps more tradition-bound in the past,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East fellow at Houston’s Baker Institute.

Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has made a point of seeking out investments, like LIV, where it could shake up existing industries, Ulrichsen said.

“That’s sort of one of their mantras, is to try to be disruptive and to take on the status quo,” he said. “And in this case, they seem to have succeeded.”

The announcement comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-charl-schwartzel-phil-mickelson-louis-oosthuizen-branden-grace-78d7e81d0b9937eba4132bde75e107bc">a year after LIV Golf began</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-greg-norman-bryson-dechambeau-dustin-johnson-england-956515e3a79f59d620a39a52708eed67">PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was at the Canadian Open</a>&nbsp;that week and said pointedly about any player who joined LIV or was thinking about it: “Have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?”

Now they are partners, giving Saudi Arabia a commercial voice in golf’s premier organization.

“I recognize everything I’ve said in the past. I recognize people will call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said in a conference call Tuesday evening. “Any time I’ve said anything, I’ve said it with the information I had, and I said it with someone trying to compete with our tour and our players.”

Most PGA Tour players were bewildered by the shocking turnaround. It didn’t help that a news outlet broke the embargoed announcement before Monahan could send a memo to the players. Most learned of the development on social media.

“I love finding out about morning news on Twitter,” two-time major champion Collin Morikawa&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/collin_morikawa/status/1666085967105773574?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.

Many were not happy. Wesley Bryan&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/wesleybryangolf/status/1666086991476424706" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, “I feel betrayed, and will not ... be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA Tour for a very long time.”

Byeong Hun An added on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/ByeongHunAn/status/1666090106447593474" target="_blank">Twitter</a>: “I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for who defended the tour for last two years.”

“They were going down their path, we were going down ours, and after a lot of introspection you realize all this tension in the game is not a good thing,” Monahan said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

“We have a responsibility to our tour and to the game, and we felt like the time was right to have that conversation.”

Monahan held a player meeting at the Canadian Open, though most top players are not there. He described the meeting as “intense, certainly heated.”

And while this likely will only lead to greater riches in golf, there still was explaining to do on why the tour would merge with a group that tried to take away some of the PGA Tour’s best players and was seen as the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liv-pga-sportswashing-saudi-golf-5614114833688edfe58c4ff6dd47ac75">example of “sportswashing.”</a>

The deal was in the works for the last seven weeks, when Monahan first met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund. Players typically approve changes to the schedule and other competition matters. On this one, they were left out.

“No one had word of this,” Monahan said. “Our players expect us to operate in the best interests of the tour.”

Instead, he cited guidance from corporate members of the PGA Tour board.

Still, Monahan has his toughest work ahead of him.

He sought loyalty from his players against a league accused of taking part in sportswashing, an attempt by Saudi Arabia to shift focus away from its human rights abuses, such as the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Now the very group that posed such a threat is the commercial partner of the PGA Tour and European tour.

“The divisiveness is now over, and two years of disruption and distractions ... is over and now we can concentrate on building our respective tours,” said Keith Pelley, CEO of the European tour. “And we are building it with PIF, who is clearly committed to the game.”

Along the way, PGA Tour players also got rich. The tour raised prize money at elite events to $20 million, the same purse for LIV’s individual competition. The 2024 schedule has been reshaped for roughly 16 tournaments like that.

“In the short term, I expect a lot of questions and criticism,” Monahan said. “In the long run, players who stayed with the PGA Tour will see they benefited in many ways.”

The agreement combines the Public Investment Fund’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights — including LIV Golf — with those of the PGA and European tours. The new entity has not been named.

Al-Rumayyan will join the board of the PGA Tour, which continues to operates its tournaments. The PIF will invest in the commercial venture.

“From the very beginning, the whole initiative was how to grow the game of golf,” Al-Rumayyan said. “And I think what was achieved today was exactly that.”

Augusta National and the Royal &amp; Ancient welcomed the news because it ends a bitter feud. Augusta National said the deal “represents a positive development in bringing harmony to men’s professional golf.” R&amp;A CEO Martin Slumbers said it would help golf “move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion.”

As for the new role of Greg Norman, Al-Rumayyan said only that Norman is LIV Golf’s commissioner and details of his future role would be announced in the coming weeks.

Monahan’s memo to players indicated a strong Saudi Arabian presence. He said PIF would make a financial investment to become a “premier corporate sponsor” of the PGA Tour, the European tour and other international tours.

The PIF initially will be the exclusive investor in the new entity and will have the exclusive right to further invest, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686106188400.png" alt="-FILE - Team champions David Puig, Sebastián Muñoz, Mito Pereira, Captain Joaquín Niemann of Torque GC and their caddies celebrate on stage with the team trophy during LIV Golf DC at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Sterling, Virginia. The most disruptive year in golf ended Tuesday, June 6, 2023, when the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, creating a commercial operation designed to unify professional golf around the world.(Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via AP, File" />
 <figcaption>-FILE - Team champions David Puig, Sebastián Muñoz, Mito Pereira, Captain Joaquín Niemann of Torque GC and their caddies celebrate on stage with the team trophy during LIV Golf DC at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Sterling, Virginia. The most disruptive year in golf ended Tuesday, June 6, 2023, when the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, creating a commercial operation designed to unify professional golf around the world.(Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via AP, File</figcaption>
 </figure>New York (AP) —The PGA Tour abruptly dropped its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf venture on Tuesday and instead announced a stunning merger that creates a global operation featuring the world’s top players backed by the Saudis’ massive wealth.As part of the deal merging the PGA Tour and European tour with Saudi Arabia’s golf interests, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf.From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-the-masters-golf-rory-mcilroy-brooks-koepka-bbd749c85f449b5e07dbcb66f6b0ad73">Brooks Koepka</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-golf-sergio-phil-mickelson-dustin-johnson-21f4722d284a2b9ed0c95652de809522">Dustin Johnson</a>&nbsp;can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.From the commercial side, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund joins the PGA Tour board of directors and leads the new business venture as chairman, though the PGA Tour will have a majority stake.News of the deal came as a surprise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-golf-pga-liv-trump-lawsuit-edcd86df5ff12fa067505afd98b18a84">many watchers of the lawsuits and Saudi Arabia’s inroads</a>&nbsp;into U.S. politics, sports and culture.“This is a huge development and obviously upends a world of golf, which has been perhaps more tradition-bound in the past,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East fellow at Houston’s Baker Institute.Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has made a point of seeking out investments, like LIV, where it could shake up existing industries, Ulrichsen said.“That’s sort of one of their mantras, is to try to be disruptive and to take on the status quo,” he said. “And in this case, they seem to have succeeded.”The announcement comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-charl-schwartzel-phil-mickelson-louis-oosthuizen-branden-grace-78d7e81d0b9937eba4132bde75e107bc">a year after LIV Golf began</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-greg-norman-bryson-dechambeau-dustin-johnson-england-956515e3a79f59d620a39a52708eed67">PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was at the Canadian Open</a>&nbsp;that week and said pointedly about any player who joined LIV or was thinking about it: “Have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?”Now they are partners, giving Saudi Arabia a commercial voice in golf’s premier organization.“I recognize everything I’ve said in the past. I recognize people will call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said in a conference call Tuesday evening. “Any time I’ve said anything, I’ve said it with the information I had, and I said it with someone trying to compete with our tour and our players.”Most PGA Tour players were bewildered by the shocking turnaround. It didn’t help that a news outlet broke the embargoed announcement before Monahan could send a memo to the players. Most learned of the development on social media.“I love finding out about morning news on Twitter,” two-time major champion Collin Morikawa&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/collin_morikawa/status/1666085967105773574?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.Many were not happy. Wesley Bryan&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/wesleybryangolf/status/1666086991476424706" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, “I feel betrayed, and will not ... be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA Tour for a very long time.”Byeong Hun An added on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/ByeongHunAn/status/1666090106447593474" target="_blank">Twitter</a>: “I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for who defended the tour for last two years.”“They were going down their path, we were going down ours, and after a lot of introspection you realize all this tension in the game is not a good thing,” Monahan said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.“We have a responsibility to our tour and to the game, and we felt like the time was right to have that conversation.”Monahan held a player meeting at the Canadian Open, though most top players are not there. He described the meeting as “intense, certainly heated.”And while this likely will only lead to greater riches in golf, there still was explaining to do on why the tour would merge with a group that tried to take away some of the PGA Tour’s best players and was seen as the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liv-pga-sportswashing-saudi-golf-5614114833688edfe58c4ff6dd47ac75">example of “sportswashing.”</a>The deal was in the works for the last seven weeks, when Monahan first met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund. Players typically approve changes to the schedule and other competition matters. On this one, they were left out.“No one had word of this,” Monahan said. “Our players expect us to operate in the best interests of the tour.”Instead, he cited guidance from corporate members of the PGA Tour board.Still, Monahan has his toughest work ahead of him.He sought loyalty from his players against a league accused of taking part in sportswashing, an attempt by Saudi Arabia to shift focus away from its human rights abuses, such as the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Now the very group that posed such a threat is the commercial partner of the PGA Tour and European tour.“The divisiveness is now over, and two years of disruption and distractions ... is over and now we can concentrate on building our respective tours,” said Keith Pelley, CEO of the European tour. “And we are building it with PIF, who is clearly committed to the game.”Along the way, PGA Tour players also got rich. The tour raised prize money at elite events to $20 million, the same purse for LIV’s individual competition. The 2024 schedule has been reshaped for roughly 16 tournaments like that.“In the short term, I expect a lot of questions and criticism,” Monahan said. “In the long run, players who stayed with the PGA Tour will see they benefited in many ways.”The agreement combines the Public Investment Fund’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights — including LIV Golf — with those of the PGA and European tours. The new entity has not been named.Al-Rumayyan will join the board of the PGA Tour, which continues to operates its tournaments. The PIF will invest in the commercial venture.“From the very beginning, the whole initiative was how to grow the game of golf,” Al-Rumayyan said. “And I think what was achieved today was exactly that.”Augusta National and the Royal &amp; Ancient welcomed the news because it ends a bitter feud. Augusta National said the deal “represents a positive development in bringing harmony to men’s professional golf.” R&amp;A CEO Martin Slumbers said it would help golf “move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion.”As for the new role of Greg Norman, Al-Rumayyan said only that Norman is LIV Golf’s commissioner and details of his future role would be announced in the coming weeks.Monahan’s memo to players indicated a strong Saudi Arabian presence. He said PIF would make a financial investment to become a “premier corporate sponsor” of the PGA Tour, the European tour and other international tours.The PIF initially will be the exclusive investor in the new entity and will have the exclusive right to further invest, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested.Al-Rumayyan has been spotted wearing a “MAGA” hat during LIV events at courses owned by former President Donald Trump.Trump predicted last July that a merger was inevitable and said anyone not signing with the Saudi league would be losing out. He&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/110497654627066909" target="_blank">weighed in</a>&nbsp;Tuesday and called it a “glamorous deal for the wonderful world of golf.”Monahan said the merger came together the last seven weeks, with PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne responsible for bringing together Monahan and Al-Rumayyan. Dunne and Ed Herlihy, chairman of the PGA Tour’s board, will serve on the board of the commercial venture.Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were among 11 players who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-lawsuits-golf-phil-mickelson-d17cc25c582c2ec2dd4dce318c288bb1">filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour</a>&nbsp;last August.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-lawsuits-golf-e85dce12007d5a34bbaa0085741c5a7e">LIV joined as plaintiffs</a>, and the PGA Tour countersued.The concern for PIF was whether its leaders could be deposed, which Saudi Arabia wanted to avoid. Being open to depositions would leave the kingdom’s leaders more vulnerable to legal action, including lawsuits demanding they reveal business deals in the United States.A federal judge had ruled the PIF could not claim immunity from the Foreign Service Immunity Act because of its commercial work with LIV Golf in the U.S.The PIF appealed the ruling to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was likely to extend the lawsuit deep into 2024 if not longer.___Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas in Stockholm contributed to this report.