Jazz Chisholm Jr. homers against Angels to end 30-inning scoreless streak for the Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees ended their 30-inning scoreless streak Wednesday night when Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels. Trailing 1-0, the Yankees ended their run-scoring drought when Chisholm sent a 2-0 pitch from Los Angeles starter Jack Konchanowicz into the seats in right field. The ball stayed just inside the foul pole and Chisholm, and his 10th homer of the season, was celebrated in the dugout with his teammates. The run was New York’s first since Anthony Volpe hit an RBI groundout in the ninth inning of its 4-3 loss at Boston on Saturday.
Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders ticketed after police say he drove 101 mph in Cleveland suburb
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is accused of driving a pickup truck 101 mph (163 kilometers per hour) on a suburban Cleveland interstate earlier this week. The Strongsville Police Department says its officers stopped Sanders at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in a 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour) zone on Interstate 71. Local media reported the 23-year-old from the University of Colorado could pay a $250 fine to waive the fourth-degree misdemeanor case. He’s the son of Hall of Fame player Deion Sanders and was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft this spring.
Stanley Cup damaged as the Florida Panthers celebrate a second straight championship
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Stanley Cup is a little banged up, thanks to the Florida Panthers’ celebration of back-to-back titles. The bowl of the famous trophy is cracked and the bottom is dented. The Panthers won their second consecutive championship on home ice Tuesday night, beating Edmonton in six games. The team, following decades of tradition, partied with the Cup well into Wednesday. The 131-year-old Cup has been damaged many times over the past century and is considered fairly easy to repair. That’s the plan ahead of Sunday’s celebration parade.
Marina Mabrey’s foul on Caitlin Clark upgraded to Flagrant-2, AP source says
The WNBA has upgraded the technical foul on Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey for shoving Caitlin Clark to the floor during Tuesday’s night game against Indiana to a Flagrant-2. That’s according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. Any flagrant foul comes with an automatic fine. The person also said the league has fined the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham for her role in the on-court melee that occurred after she fouled Jacy Sheldon with 46.1 seconds left. Cunningham received a Flagrant-2 Tuesday night.
Nezza’s anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium ignites debate over team’s immigrant support
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After Latin pop and R&B singer Nezza’s viral controversial performance at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers fans have grown frustrated over the team’s lack of vocal support for local immigrant communities impacted by the rise of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and raids. The baseball team has a long history with immigrant communities in Los Angeles, boasting a huge Latino fan base and hosting multiple heritage nights honoring various communities. Some fans have since called for a boycott online. Some are pushing for a more permanent boycott, while others say they’d be willing to return if the team spoke out in support.
The Thunder know an NBA title is just 1 win away. They’re trying to keep their minds on the Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Difficult as it may seem, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is desperately trying to not think about what may await the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder star doesn’t want to think about the end of the NBA Finals. Or how the Larry O’Brien Trophy will feel in his hands if he gets to finally hoist it as a champion. Or what the celebration will look like, sound like, be like. The Thunder are one win from a title, and it could come when they visit the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. It is not just another game. Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to make it seem that way.
Tampa Bay Rays say they are in talks for a potential sale amid stadium uncertainty
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays say they are in “exclusive discussions” with a Florida investment group for a potential sale of the team. The Rays are valued at $1.25 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Stuart Sternberg bought the Major League Baseball club for $200 million in 2004. The potential sale comes at a precarious time for the Rays and their home ballpark. They are playing this season at the spring training home of the New York Yankees in Tampa after the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg was heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton last October.
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders say they’re getting a 400% increase in pay
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders say they are getting a serious increase in pay. One of the cheerleaders has said during the second season of the Netflix series “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders” that the members are getting a 400% boost in pay. The cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 to $400. The latest raise is four times that.
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit’s new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league promising to pay athletes. The Pro Cheer League joins a crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-x-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans’ attention and their dollars. This new league is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely is the president of Varsity Spirit in Memphis, Tennessee. He sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league’s advantage comes from the sport’s growth since the 1970s.