Aug 04, 2023

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Friday

Posted Aug 04, 2023 6:21 AM
Sports Headlines for Friday Morning, August 4th, 2023
Sports Headlines for Friday Morning, August 4th, 2023

AP Sports Summary for Friday, August 4th.

Pac-12 being pushed to brink as Big Ten joins Big 12 in honing in on West Coast schools

The Big Ten has joined the Big 12 in pushing the Pac-12 to the brink. Oregon and Washington are being courted by the Big Ten and Arizona was in serious talks to join the Big 12, people with direct knowledge of both discussions told The Associated Press. All spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing has been made official by the schools or conferences involved. None of the news bodes well for the Pac-12's survival. The boards of regents for Arizona's two biggest universities, along with the University of Washington, scheduled special meetings, ramping up speculation that more Pac-12 schools could leave the flailing conference.

Diana Taurasi becomes first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points, scoring season-high 42 for Mercury

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi received a pass and in an instant, the shot was off her fingertips. It was a 3-pointer that splashed through the net, just like so many others. Taurasi became the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points, hitting the mark with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday night. After the shot, the crowd in Phoenix erupted in cheers and Taurasi's teammates surrounded her in a circle, jumping up and down and celebrating. It was part of a vintage night for the 41-year-old Taurasi, who had a season-high 42 points in Phoenix's 91-71 victory. She started the night needing 18 points to make it to 10,000 — and finished at 10,024.

Scherzer settles in to win his debut for Rangers. Semien has go-ahead HR in 5-3 win over White Sox

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer settled in after an unfortunate first inning to win his debut for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out nine over six innings in a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. Four of Chicago's first five batters reached base in a three-run first inning when Scherzer threw 37 pitches. Mitch Garver led off the Rangers' fourth against Touki Toussaint with a 457-foot homer to tie the game. Marcus Semien went deep later in the inning to put Texas ahead to stay. The Rangers got Scherzer, who is now 10-4, from the New York Mets in a trade last weekend.

Wilson solid as a backup as Jets begin Rodgers Era with 21-16 loss to Browns in Hall of Fame game

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Zach Wilson showed he can still move New York's offense as a backup but the Jets kicked off the Aaron Rodgers Era with a 21-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame game. It was a battle of backups as both teams rested their starters in the NFL's inaugural game of 2023. There was also a notable opening-night glitch as a power outage in Tom Benson Stadium caused about a 20-minute delay between the third and fourth quarters. Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson rallied the Browns, who trailed 16-7 at halftime. Thompson-Robinson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Austin Watkins Jr. with 9:33 left to put Cleveland ahead.

Days after his wedding, Jalen Brunson is on the court with USA Basketball.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jalen Brunson could be on his honeymoon right now. He's playing for his country instead. Let this serve as incredible proof of how badly Brunson wanted to play for USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup that starts later this month: He and his now-wife moved their wedding to make it happen. Instead of getting married on Sept. 2, as was the plan, Brunson and Ali Marks got married this past Saturday. And on Wednesday, Brunson was going through his first practice with the World Cup team. The honeymoon will wait. There's a gold medal to chase first.

Morocco advances and Germany exits in wild finale to the group stage at the Women's World Cup

SYDNEY (AP) — Two-time champion Germany was eliminated in a wild finale to the group stage of the Women's World Cup, while low-ranked Morocco advanced to the knockout stage. Colombia also advanced as Group H winner to round off a slew of upsets in the opening weeks of the competition being held in Australia and New Zealand. A day earlier Jamaica eliminated another favorite in Brazil to advance to the round of 16. South Africa is also through to the next stage after its stoppage-time winner against Italy. But Germany's early exit after a 1-1 draw with South Korea stands out as the biggest shock in a tournament full of shocks.

Shohei Ohtani pulled by Angels after 4 scoreless innings with cramps in pitching hand

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been pulled from the mound by the Los Angeles Angels after only four innings due to cramps in his pitching hand and fingers. Ohtani pitched scoreless three-hit ball with four strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners, and he had thrown only 59 pitches. The Angels didn't immediately announce why they had pulled the two-way superstar and frontrunner for his second AL MVP award after winning his second straight AL Player of the Month award this week. The start was Ohtani's shortest of the season, not counting a two-inning outing in Boston caused by a lengthy rain delay. He hadn't pitched fewer than five innings in any other start since August 2022.

No evidence found that betting integrity manipulated by Iowa and Iowa St. athletes tied to gambling

One of the state agencies involved in the ongoing investigation of alleged sports wagering violations by Iowa and Iowa State athletes announced there is no evidence suggesting the integrity of any contest involving the schools was affected by gambling interests. That's according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. A total of seven current or former athletes at the two schools were criminally charged this week. All seven are charged with tampering with records and all are suspected of placing bets on contests involving their own schools. Four are alleged to have wagered on games involving their own teams.

Michael Jordan's sale of majority ownership of Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall is finalized

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets say the sale of the majority stake in the franchise from six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall has been finalized. The Hornets introduced Plotkin and Schnall at a news conference Thursday. They said there will be a focus on player development but they hope to attract more free agents as the organization experiences more success. Jordan, who owned the team for the past 13 years, said in a news release it has been a "tremendous honor" to own the Hornets but didn't give an explanation for why he sold the team. Jordan will remain on as a minority owner.

Russell Henley's strong finish gives him a 62 and a 1-shot lead at Wyndham

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Russell Henley still thinks about a poor finish that cost him the Wyndham Championship two years ago. Thursday was all about his great start. He shot 62. That gives him a one-shot lead over Adam Svensson and Byeong Hun An. All three are a lock for the PGA Tour postseason that begins next week. Adam Scott is not in that group. He's No. 81 in the FedEx Cup and only the top 70 advance after this week. Scott took a big step with a 65. Justin Thomas is No. 78 and he's stuck in neutral. He shot 70.

AP-Scorecard

TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE

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INTERLEAGUE

Final Kansas City 9 N.Y. Mets 2

Final Minnesota 5 St. Louis 3

Final L.A. Dodgers 8 Oakland 2

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

Final Texas 5 Chicago White Sox 3

Final Baltimore 6 Toronto 1

Final N.Y. Yankees 4 Houston 3

Final Seattle 5 L.A. Angels 3

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Philadelphia 4 Miami 2

Final San Francisco 1 Arizona 0

Final Milwaukee 14 Pittsburgh 1

Final Chicago Cubs 5 Cincinnati 3

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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON

Final Cleveland 21 N-Y Jets 16

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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Final Phoenix 91 Atlanta 71

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