Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jim Furyk recovered from a rough start Sunday in the final round of the U.S. Senior Open to hold off Retief Goosen and Mike Weir by three strokes. Making his debut in the event, Furyk closed with a 1-over 71 to become the eighth player to win both the U.S. Open and Senior Open, joining Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Orville Moody. Furyk finished at 7-under 273 at Omaha Country Club. He won the U.S. Open in 2003 at Olympia Fields south of Chicago, is a 17-time winner on the PGA Tour and won his first two PGA Tour Champions events upon turning 50 last year.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Penny Hardaway has wanted Larry Brown to coach with him ever since he took over at his alma mater. Three years later, they have that chance at Memphis. Hardaway said Monday he's always wanted to be around greatness and that iron sharpens iron. Hardaway says that's why he kept fighting to get Brown onto his coaching staff. Hardaway played for Brown when both were with the New York Knicks. Brown now is 80 and still is the only coach to win championships in both the NCAA and the NBA. Brown wants to share what he knows and says he'll do whatever Hardaway asks of him.
UNDATED (AP) — Washington's NFL team will not be called the Warriors or have any other Native American imagery in the new name when it's revealed next year. Tuesday marks one year since Washington dropped the name "Redskins" and the accompanying Indian head logo after 87 years amid recent pressure from sponsors and decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans. Team president Jason Wright confirmed Monday that the organization had decided to disassociate from any Native American names or likenesses moving forward. Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians plan to change their name. Baseball's Atlanta Braves, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and NFL's Kansas City Chiefs have shown no indication of doing so.
Update on the latest sports
MLB-ALL-STAR GAME
Ohtani will start and lead off; Scherzer gets NL nod
UNDATED (AP) — Fans and players who will be at Coors Field for the MLB's All-Star Game are both looking forward to the Greatest Sho on Earth. That's S-H-O as in Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani is the top star of baseball's midsummer classic, the center of attention for players and fans like no one before. Fans cheered when he was introduced at a news conference located outdoors, across the street from Coors Field due to the pandemic.
Ohtani has generated huge buzz across baseball for his exploits at the plate and on the mound. He leads the majors with 33 home runs and is 4-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts. Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals will start for the NL in the game at Coors Field in Denver.
In other MLB news:
— Pete Alonso danced to his second straight Home Run Derby title, besting Shohei Ohtani, Trey Mancini and Juan Soto on a night of record long balls in the thin Rocky Mountain air of Coors Field. The New York Mets first baseman hit 74 total home runs and beat Mancini 23-22 in the final round, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14) in winning consecutive titles. Batting second, Alonso trailed 22-17 after the first two minutes of the final round, then hit six homers on six swings over the first 28 seconds of his final minute.
— Arrest documents say a man described by authorities as the leader of a group of four people arrested with more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a Denver hotel near the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game asked to extend his stay and requested another room with a balcony. The request by Ricardo Rodriquez coupled with the discovery of weapons and tactical gear on Friday concerned police because of the chances for mass violence at such events. Rodriquez told Denver's KCNC-TV that he wasn't aware of any such plans.
— Major League Baseball will give at least $100 million over 10 years and help raise an additional $50 million to the Players Alliance aimed at increasing the number of Blacks playing the sport and eventually making the big leagues. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the decision before the All-Star Home Run Derby, saying it would be the sport's largest charitable commitment. The Players Alliance was launched last year, and MLB and the Major League Players Association announced a $10 million commitment last September. In addition, 500 players donated a portion of their salaries on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day.
— The Seattle Mariners have reinstated left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the injured list, making him eligible to participate in the All-Star Game. Kikuchi was selected to the American League All-Star team for the first time in his career and is Seattle's lone representative. The Mariners placed Kikuchi on the injured list Sunday but did not disclose an injury. Manager Scott Servais said he could not comment but wasn't concerned about Kikuchi's status.
NHL NEWS-LIGHTNING-BOAT PARADE
Lightning celebrate another Stanley Cup win with boat parade
UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrated their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship with a boat parade in downtown Tampa on Monday.
Team captain Steven Stamkos set the tone with a T-shirt that read: "BACK TO BOAT." Hundreds of boats and other watercraft, along with thousands of fans, lined the waterfront under mostly sunny skies. However, a post-parade rally in a downtown park was delayed because of a thunderstorm. Players later arrived and interacted with fans located behind barricades in a steady rain. This was the third boat parade in Tampa in 10 months. The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers also celebrated on the water.
In other NHL news:
— The Chicago Blackhawks have traded two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers for young defenseman Caleb Jones and a third-round draft pick. The Blackhawks also sent forward Tim Soderlund to the Oilers, who were looking for some help on defense after they were swept by Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs. The 2022 draft pick becomes a second-rounder if Edmonton reaches next year's Stanley Cup Final and Keith is among the top four Oilers defensemen in total ice time through three rounds. Keith has two years left on his contract at a salary-cap hit just over $5.5 million. He turns 38 on Friday.
— Police in Michigan have turned over their investigation into the fireworks death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (MAH'-tihs kihv-LEH'-nihks) to a prosecutor for review. Novi police Lt. Jason Meier says his department has not requested charges in Kivlenieks' Fourth of July death. Meier also says Kivlenieks' death still is considered accidental and the police investigation was complete unless otherwise directed by the Oakland County prosecutor's office.The 24-year-old died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast.
— An attorney who represents a former Chicago Blackhawks player who alleges he was sexually assaulted by a then-assistant coach in 2010 is open to the possibility of her client participating in the team's review of the accusations under the right conditions. Susan Loggans, an attorney who represents the former player and another person suing the team, says her clients were open to participating in the review.
SOCCER-EURO 2020-RACIST ABUSE
Police investigate racist abuse of three England players
LONDON (AP) — British police have opened investigations into the racist abuse of three Black players who failed to score penalties in England's shootout loss to Italy in the European Championship final.
The Metropolitan Police department condemned the "unacceptable" abuse of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka and says it will be investigating the "offensive and racist" social media posts published soon after Italy won Sunday's shootout 3-2 following a 1-1 draw.
The English Football Association says it is "appalled" by the "disgusting behavior." It adds that social media companies should take action to make their platforms free from this "abhorrent" abuse.
GOLF-BRITISH OPEN
Johnson out after testing positive
SANDWICH, England (AP) — Zach Johnson is the latest player out of the British Open. The R&A says the 2015 British Open champion tested positive for the coronavirus. Johnson played at the John Deere Classic in Illinois on Sunday and had to be tested before getting on a charter flight.
The R&A says Louis de Jager also tested positive and withdrew. He was one of the local qualifiers from two weeks ago.
Ryan Moore earned a spot as the highest finisher not already exempt from the John Deere Classic. Moore chose not to go. That makes 16 players who have withdrawn in the last three weeks.
NFL-LIONS-FULL CAPACITY
Detroit Lions can have Ford Field at full capacity this year
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions say Ford Field can be at full capacity this season, a year after the public did not have access to games during the pandemic. The Lions said the decision was made in large part because of Michigan's steady COVID-19 vaccination rate.
The team will follow the state's reopening guidelines and will not require fans to wear masks. The Lions will not ask spectators for proof of vaccination status, but they will encourage unvaccinated fans to wear a face covering.
NYRA-BAFFERT LAWSUIT
Judge questions treatment of suspended horse trainer Baffert
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York federal judge seems sympathetic to horse trainer Bob Baffert's claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association was unconstitutional after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test.
Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing Monday repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself. Attorney Henry Greenberg said Baffert will get a hearing after the association announces the length of his suspension by Aug. 11. The judge seemed dissatisfied with that, asking if that's "a little too late?"
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