Sports

Hinchcliffe, Schmidt find spot for 100th Indy 500

Published on Mon, 05/23/2016 - 1:36pm

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All James Hinchcliffe wanted this week was a good car.

Turns out, he’ll have the best view in this year’s Indianapolis 500 field.

The Canadian driver, who started second in the race in 2012 and 2014, edged out American Josef Newgarden on the final qualifying attempt of the weekend to claim his first IndyCar pole. Hinchcliffe posted a four-lap average of 230.760 mph, barely ahead of Newgarden, who came in at 230.700.

Cavs stay unbeaten in postseason, down Raptors

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 2:13pm

CLEVELAND (AP) — Overshadowed as Golden State shot down history during the regular season, the Cavaliers are making this postseason their own.

Perfectly.

LeBron James recorded a triple-double and Cleveland improved to 10-0 in the playoffs with a 108-89 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Jones gives Sharks 2-1 series lead over Blues

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 2:10pm

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — For a San Jose team whose playoff struggles have often come down to running into a streaky goaltender at the wrong time, it must be nice to have the goalie making all the stops.

Martin Jones made 22 saves in his second straight shutout and Tomas Hertl scored twice to give the Sharks a series lead for the first time in four trips to the Western Conference final with a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 on Thursday night.

US drops Puerto Rico swim training over Zika virus

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 2:08pm

ATLANTA (AP) — USA Swimming has moved a pre-Olympic training camp out of Puerto Rico because of the Zika virus.

There are no plans to bail on the Summer Games in Brazil, even though that country has been the epicenter of the outbreak.

Frank Busch, the U.S. national team director, sent a letter Thursday to all national team athletes and coaches telling them of the change. The camp will now be held in Atlanta instead of Puerto Rico in late July.

Novak Djokovic could meet 9-time champ Rafael Nadal in French Open semifinals

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 2:06pm

PARIS (AP) — In his quest to complete a career Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic could have to beat nine-time champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open semifinals.

Djokovic, who will face Lu Yen-hsun in the first round, was put in the same side of the draw as Nadal on Friday. The top-ranked Serb beat Nadal in the quarterfinals last year, the Spaniard’s second loss of his career at Roland Garros.

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray could meet in the other semifinal match.

Mickelson’s latest high risk is off the golf course

Published on Fri, 05/20/2016 - 2:03pm

Phil Mickelson never saw a shot he didn’t think he could hit.

Part of his massive popularity in golf is the high-risk nature with which he attacks the game. When he won his third Masters in 2010, the signature shot was a 6-iron between a gap in the Georgia pines that barely cleared a tiny tributary of Rae’s creek and settled 5 feet from the hole.

It’s the high risk off the golf course that could pose problems.

Mickelson’s association with Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters brought him the wrong kind of attention Thursday.

Belgrade Bandits defeat Braves in seven innings

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 2:58pm

Livingston Braves lost their game 2-6 against the Belgrade Bandits Wednesday night after seven innings.

The Bandits held the lead for most of the game and brought it up in the fourth after three runs, also scoring two runs on two singles in the final inning, according to a Braves news release.

Jordan Darr was the first to pitch, allowing six runs in four innings as well as walking two and striking out four.

Curry dazzles again; Warriors even series with Thunder 1-1

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 2:56pm

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Once Stephen Curry finally gathered himself and got up following a scary first-quarter dive into the stands, fans inside Oracle Arena could take a breath, sit back and watch the MVP put on a spectacular shooting show.

Puffy right elbow and all.

“The elbow’s fine,” said Curry, who hit it first on a metal platform then later bonked it again. “It looks like it has a tennis ball on top of it. ... I should be all right.”

Poll: 9 in 10 Native Americans not offended by Redskins name

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 2:52pm
NEW YORK (AP) — A recent national poll found that nine of 10 Native Americans aren't offended by the Washington Redskins name.
 
The poll conducted by the Washington Post indicated more than eight in 10 said they wouldn't be offended if someone who was not a Native American called them that name.
 
A federal judge ordered the cancellation of the Washington Redskins' trademark registration in July, ruling that their name may be disparaging to Native Americans. The club is appealing.
 

Muirfield says 'no' to female members, off British Open list

Published on Thu, 05/19/2016 - 2:49pm

Muirfield was stripped of its right to host the British Open after the Scottish club voted against admitting female members in a move that provoked sharp criticism from players and lawmakers on Thursday.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield, announced its decision to retain the club's male-only policy following a ballot of its members. A two-thirds majority was required for a change to take place but of the 616 members who voted, 36 percent were against allowing women.