Sports

US Soccer, team talks break down; likely head to jury trial

Published on Thu, 08/15/2019 - 2:15pm

(AP) — Players for the World Cup champion women’s national team say mediation talks with the U.S. Soccer Federation in their dispute over equal pay are over.

Molly Levinson, who represents the players in matters concerning the dispute, said in a statement Wednesday that the players look forward to a jury trial.

“We entered this week’s mediation with representatives of USSF full of hope,” Levinson said. “Today we must conclude these meetings sorely disappointed in the federation’s determination to perpetuate fundamentally discriminatory workplace conditions and behavior.”

Dutch athletics reeling after arrest of 2 relay runners

Published on Thu, 08/15/2019 - 2:14pm

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — With the times she’d been running this season, Dutch athlete Madiea Ghafoor could have earned a trip to the World Championships in Doha next month as part of her country’s 400-meter relay team. Instead, she is in a German jail awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges.

Another promising Dutch sprinter, 21-year-old Roelf Bouwmeester, also won’t be competing any time soon after Hungarian police arrested him earlier this month at a music festival and accused him of drug dealing.

Strasburg vs Bauer, Hamels returns, Manuel back

Published on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 4:42pm
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(AP) — A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

 

STRASBURG VS. BAUER

There’s quite a pitching matchup at Nationals Park for the series finale between Washington and Cincinnati: Stephen Strasburg vs. Trevor Bauer, two righties who are among the top strikeout artists in the majors this season.

Messi joined by Antoine Griezmann as Barca chases Champions League

Published on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 4:40pm
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi has the support of new signing Antoine Griezmann in attack as Barcelona starts the new season with one mission: to lift the Champions League trophy again and end a five-year drought.

Barcelona has won consecutive Spanish league titles and dominated with eight titles in the past 11 years.

But after back-to-back second-leg collapses in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, Barcelona’s players — and above all coach Ernesto Valverde — are under immense pressure to reclaim that status as the best in Europe.

Soccer star Sala exposed to harmful carbon monoxide during plane crash

Published on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 4:37pm

LONDON (AP) — Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala and his pilot were exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide before their small plane crashed in the English Channel, killing them both, British accident investigators said Wednesday.

A single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson crashed in the Channel on Jan. 21. Sala, who had played for French club Nantes, was traveling to join his new team, Cardiff City, in Wales.

His body was recovered from the wreckage two weeks later. Ibbotson’s body has not been found.

Kitna returns to Cowboys, seeks growth in Prescott

Published on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 4:36pm

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Jon Kitna unfolded a piece of paper detailing that day’s practice plan because he thought it was a good way to illustrate why the former Dallas quarterback was back in the NFL with the Cowboys after coaching high school football for seven years.

Bahamas Bowl sponsorship pays off again for Illinois village

Published on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 4:36pm

CHICAGO (AP) — Chad Bruner is a huge football fan. One day last December, he was sitting in a big leather chair in his Oklahoma City home when the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl caught his attention.

It wasn’t anything about the play on the field. Looking back, Bruner couldn’t even remember which schools were in the game. But a mention of the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village sent the real estate project manager to the internet to learn more.

Seattle Storm coach Dan Hughes ready for emotional game against Minnesota Sunday

Published on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 4:37pm
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NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle coach Dan Hughes knows that his team’s upcoming game against Minnesota will be more emotional for him than many other games this season. It’s the Storm’s annual Breast Health Awareness night.

While breast cancer survivors will be honored at Sunday’s game, it has special meaning for Hughes, who had a cancerous tumor in his digestive tract removed during training camp. He has made a full recovery and returned to the bench on June 21 after missing the team’s first nine games.

ASPEN to co-host “Coaching Boys Into Men” with Park High

Published on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 4:33pm

Nearly 1.5 million U.S. high school students experience physical abuse by a dating partner in one year, according to statistics from lovisrepect.org.

Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) is a program of Futures Without Violence, a non-profit organization that works to end violence. The program helps build healthy relationships and prevent violence before it even starts. 

Thousands of coaches around the world have used the CBIM program to show their athletes that they are their mentors on and off the field. 

Antonio Brown loses grievance over helmet

Published on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 4:32pm

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders receiver Antonio Brown lost his grievance with the NFL on Monday over his use of an old helmet that is no longer certified as safe to use for practice or play.

The arbitrator issued the ruling after holding a hearing last Friday with Brown, representatives from the league and the players’ union.