8/09 Sports Brief

UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC accuse FIFA of ‘deception’ and ‘breach of trust’ over World Cup plans

UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC believe that FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s recent plan to sell an interest in the World Cup was a “fundamental breach of trust” with the institutions world soccer’s governing body serves. In an “open letter to the football family” UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC also say that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.” UEFA runs soccer in Europe, CONCACAF does the same for North, Central America and the Caribbean, while the AFC governs the sport in Asia.

Don Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86

Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, has died at the age of 86. Nelson’s family says he died Sunday but did not say where or provide a cause of death. Nelson won five titles as a player with the Boston Celtics, though he never won one as a coach. He is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three franchises, Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State. Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style known as “Nellie Ball” created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from dominant big men to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from late Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.

Teddy Bridgewater steps away from Lions, leaving question at backup QB

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has stepped away from football. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters that Sunday, when Bridgewater was placed on the reserve/retired list. The 33-year-old journeyman had signed a one-year deal with the Lions in March after spending 2025 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also spent 2023 and part of 2024 with Detroit. Bridgewater had been signed to back up Jared Goff. Undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer, the only other QB on the Lions roster, had been getting more reps in training camp earlier this week when Bridgewater was absent and again on Sunday. Campbell says Bridgewater is “going to be missed.” The Lions plan to sign a veteran quarterback as soon as Monday.

Michael Brennan wins Wyndham Championship and qualifies for PGA Tour postseason

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Michael Brennan had another chance on Sunday and this time got it done in a big way. Brennan ran off five straight birdies on the front nine and closed with a 64 for a three-shot victory in the Wyndham Championship. The victory in the final tournament of the regular season moves Brennan from No. 105 to No. 47 in the FedEx Cup to be among the top 70 who advance to the FedEx Cup playoffs. Beau Hossler couldn’t keep up and finished second. Jackson Koivun held down the 70th spot to go from college to the postseason in two months.

Ty Gibbs holds on to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Ty Gibbs used late pit strategy and held off teammate Christopher Bell over the final 20 laps to win the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway. Gibbs — the 23-year-old grandson of former NFL coaching great and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs — won by 0.253 seconds over his JGR teammate for his second victory of the season and his career. Gibbs and Bell each pitted with 60 laps remaining in the 350-lap race, but while Bell took four tires, Gibbs just went with two, and came out ahead. And when leader Ross Chastain pitted on Lap 330, Gibbs took over the top spot and fought off a late charge by Bell. Gibbs picked up his first career win April 12 at Bristol.

Driver who broke the sound barrier attempts another land speed record in Utah

WENDOVER, Utah (AP) — The first and only person to break the sound barrier in a car has his eye on another speed record. British driver Andy Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car 20 years ago at Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Green returns to the lunarlike landscape Tuesday to try to beat that 350.092 mph mark, this time with a hydrogen-powered car. The retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot aims to showcase the power of hydrogen as a clean-energy alternative. But hydrogen power is only as clean as its source, and the vast majority is currently produced from fossil fuels.

Lynx guard Kayla McBride sets WNBA record by making 10 3s in win over the Wings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride set the WNBA single-game record by making 10 3-pointers Sunday in a 103-90 victory over the Dallas Wings. McBride made 10 of 14 shots from behind the arc and finished with a career-high 43 points. The previous record of nine 3-pointers in a game had been done eight previous times, including twice this season by Toronto’s Marina Mabrey during a six-day span. McBride’s incredible day also helped the Lynx (27-7) break the franchise’s single-game 3-point record. The Lynx finished 18 of 39 on 3s and won for the 12th time in 13 games.With the victory, the WNBA-leading Lynx also became the first team to clinch a playoff berth.

Braves ace Chris Sale ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before start of game against Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees, a day after being called for a balk that scored a run. As umpires took the field and walked by the Braves’ dugout on the third base side, Sale began barking. Merzel tossed him and Sale said something to crew chief Dan Bellino as the two talked near the dugout rail. Sale was called for his third career balk by Merzel during the fifth inning of Saturday’s 5-4 loss. He began fiercely yelling at Merzel before manager Walt Weiss continued the argument and was ejected.

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson sets MLB record by going 111 straight games without an error

BOSTON (AP) — Jacob Wilson’s father will be very proud. All that work on the Little League fields has paid off.Wilson set an MLB record for his position, playing his 111th consecutive errorless game, surpassing the Orioles’ Mike Bordick’s 110 that was done in 2002.His dad, Jack, a former 12-year major leaguer who played shortstop, instilled that defense comes first.

Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera rallies to capture second straight U.S. women’s gymnastics title

PHOENIX (AP) — Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Hezly Rivera has added two-time national champion to her resume. The 18-year-old rallied from a fall on uneven bars during the opening night of competition to surge past early co-leaders Skye Blakely and Claire Pease during the finals. Rivera’s two-day total of 111.950 was more than a point ahead of Pease. In the process, Rivera became the first woman other than Simone Biles to earn back-to-back titles since 2012. Pease finished second, followed by 16-year-old Charleigh Bullock. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey was fifth. Blakely slid to seventh after falls on floor and balance beam.