SEC joins Big Ten in banning pros from returning to college, including basketball players
The Southeastern Conference has passed a rule banning players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues. With Tuesday’s move, the SEC joins the Big Ten in taking a stand against this month’s unexpected surge of pro players trying to return to college. The Big Ten only included football in its decision. The two conferences issued their new rules in response to court orders that were allowing players who had been on pro rosters, then released, to return back to college. LSU football coach Lane Kiffin has sought to add two such players.
49ers owner Jed York texted woman he believed was a prostitute before his arrest in police sting
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York used an alias when he sent text messages over two days to a woman he believed to be a prostitute before he was arrested in a sting operation in Ohio, according to a police incident report. The report from the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force had more than two pages redacted but provided more details about what led to York’s arrest and ultimately to him pleading no contest to two misdemeanors. The report said he offered to pay $160 for sex before he was caught in the sting operation.
Sky owner says Enes Kanter Freedom is banned from home games, calling him ‘a potential threat’
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Sky have banned Enes Kanter Freedom from their home games after the former NBA center was ejected from Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Fever. Owner Michael Alter made the announcement in a rare news conference. Alter told reporters Freedom is not allowed inside of Wintrust Arena for Sky games “unless sometime in the future, he’s able to prove to us that he’s able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat.” The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Freedom was removed from Sunday’s game after he was confronted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter. Freedom was sitting along the baseline wearing a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of mixed doubles at the U.S. Open
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are out of the mixed doubles tournament at the U.S. Open. After winning their debut playing together, Williams and Alcaraz got knocked out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in straight sets. It was Williams’ first match back at the Grand Slam tournament in New York since 2022 as she makes a return to tennis at age 44. Alcaraz had not played since April because of a right wrist injury. Now the question is whether Williams will play women’s doubles alongside her older sister, Venus.
Vikings WR Jeshaun Jones gets a 3-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy. The NFL’s announcement of the punishment did not disclose the nature of the violation. Jones spent each of the past two years on Minnesota’s practice squad. Jones went undrafted out of Maryland after totaling 2,040 receiving yards over a six-year career. The 26-year-old was going to have a tough time making the active roster with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings locked into the starting spots and Tai Felton and Myles Price in line for backup roles.
San Diego Padres minor league coach is released from ICE custody
The San Diego Padres says a coaching coordinator in their minor league system is back with his family after being detained by federal immigration officers in Texas. The team said Tuesday that Oswaldo Pirela had been released on bond. Pirela was detained by immigration enforcement at the El Paso International Airport during a work trip for the team on Aug. 16. The Department of Homeland Security has previously said that Pirela came to the U.S. legally in 2014 and “overstayed his welcome” after 2018. DHS did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Roger Federer celebrated upon his return to the US Open for an exhibition against Andy Roddick
NEW YORK (AP) — Five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium to play one last match for fun against longtime rival and friend Andy Roddick. The night billed as “An Icon Returns to New York” included the stands full to watch the 45-year-old from Switzerland face Roddick in a prime time exhibition. Federer reminisced about getting beaten in straight sets by Andre Agassi in his debut on center court in 2001 and then beating the fellow Hall of Famer in the final four years later. Roddick said he agreed to participate because it was about being there for Federer.
PGA Tour’s new postseason has a clear message: the toughest to qualify for and to win
ATLANTA (AP) — The PGA Tour is changing its postseason again and it’s typically an uphill battle. Golf was never meant to have a Super Bowl or a World Series. The sport long has been defined by four majors in the middle of the year. But the latest change has a chance because the message is clear. By taking only 32 players and then having match play over seven days on two golf courses, this will be the toughest tournament for which to qualify and perhaps the toughest to be the last one standing. Whether it works depends on how long it lasts.
Who’s in? Who wins? AP’s way too early prediction for the 2026 College Football Playoff
The playoff that everyone wanted — make that, demanded — is now a fixture in college football. How will it shake out this year. Notre Dame, snubbed last season, has all the makings of a top seed when the tournament starts on December 18. Other top contenders include Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and last year’s runner-up, Miami. The final is scheduled for January 25th in Las Vegas. The brackets will be revealed December 6th. The regular season? It starts Saturday.