NFL ends the Pro Bowl game, but players will still be honored as Pro Bowlers
ATLANTA (AP) — The Pro Bowl is no more. The NFL announced the move Wednesday, bringing an end to an exhibition of the league’s top players that was held in some form almost every year since 1951. The game wasn’t played in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that was the only pause in the postseason event. The league said 88 players will still be named as Pro Bowlers and honored in Los Angeles after this season. Several flag football events also will take place at that time. The Pro Bowl has waned in popularity in recent years.
NFL owners unanimously approve the sale of the Seahawks to Vinod Khosla and his family
ATLANTA (AP) — NFL owners on Wednesday unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated the family for having “great timing” in purchasing the team that is coming off its second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The sale agreement for $9.612 billion was announced on July 11 and awaited Wednesday’s approval at a special meeting of the owners to become final. The sale was in accordance with the wishes of late team owner Paul Allen.
Big 12 becomes latest conference to ban former NFL players while NFL reiterates its rules
The Big 12 Conference on Wednesday followed the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences in banning players who were on NFL rosters from returning to college. The decision by the Big 12 came a day after rulings by the SEC and Big Ten. Earlier Wednesday, the NFL made it clear that players who leave the NFL to return to college won’t be allowed to come back to the league this season. NFL executive Troy Vincent reiterated the longstanding policy at the league’s meetings Wednesday. Atlantic Coast Conference leaders were also discussing the topic this week.
QB Tommy Castellanos commits to No. 12 Texas Tech with court-granted 5th season before Big 12 ruling
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Quarterback Tommy Castellanos plans to play this season for No. 12 Texas Tech. A Big 12 ruling now makes that uncertain. Castellanos told ESPN on Wednesday that he had committed to the Red Raiders. That came before the Big 12, like the SEC and Big Ten, decided to ban NFL players from returning to college. That includes those who went through the draft process like Castellanos, who went through an NFL tryout after going undrafted. He played last season at Florida State. Texas Tech expects returner Will Hammond to start after transfer Brendan Sorsby was declared ineligible because of gambling.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik win the US Open mixed doubles championship
NEW YORK (AP) — Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik won the U.S. Open mixed doubles title Wednesday night, beating Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6 (10-6). The Czech duo pulled out match tiebreakers in both the semifinals and the final, helped by Mensik’s powerful serve combined with some good hands near the net. He put away the final with an ace to earn $1 million for him and Muchova to share. They were a point from losing in the semifinals, erasing two match points and running off the final four to edge Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev 5-4 (6), 3-5 (11-9).
LIV Golf begins laying off employees while downsizing to restructure without Saudi funding
LIV Golf has informed employees their jobs will end next week as the league begins life without Saudi funding. The league is downsizing operations while pursuing an agreement with a lead investor to restructure for next year. LIV Golf learned in April that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia would end financial backing after this season. CEO Scott O’Neil announced he had come to terms with a lead investor, reportedly BC Partners, and hopes to finalize the deal in September. The future of LIV’s biggest names, like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, is still uncertain.
Roger Goodell says NFL is looking into whether to punish 49ers owner Jed York following his arrest
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL is looking into whether San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York will be punished for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after he was caught in a prostitution sting in Ohio. Goodell said Wednesday the matter is being reviewed. York was arrested in a mobile home park by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force after police said he was attempting to pay $160 for sex with a woman he believed to be a prostitute. York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. He pleaded no contest to that charge and to possessing criminal tools.
White Sox rookie Tristan Peters hits a home run in 5th straight game, tying franchise mark
CHICAGO (AP) — Tristan Peters homered in a fifth straight game for the Chicago White Sox, tying a franchise record. Peters and Munetaka Murakami are also the only rookies in club history to hit home runs in five consecutive games in the same season. Peters connected on a two-run drive in the fifth inning that put the White Sox ahead of the Texas Rangers 6-2.
Lane Kiffin dives into a highly anticipated, politically charged first season with No. 11 LSU
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU coach Lane Kiffin says the unusual circumstances surrounding his hiring and the high expectations that have resulted will have little bearing on how he coaches. As LSU’s Sept. 5 season opener at home against Clemson approaches, interest in the Bayou Bengals is surging and tickets at Tiger Stadium are tough to get. That’s in no small part because of financial and political capital invested in luring Kiffin away from Ole Miss last year. Kiffin’s seven-year, $91 million contract at LSU came in the wake of Gov. Jeff Landry’s shake-up of the university’s athletic department. Kiffin says the “extremely high” expectations at LSU align with his own.
Timberwolves agree to deal with Jonathan Kuminga to fill power forward void, AP source says
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to terms with power forward Jonathan Kuminga on a two-year, $12.4 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not confirmed the agreement. The deal would give the seventh overall pick from the 2021 draft an opportunity to hit the free agent market in a year. Kuminga will fill an obvious need in the frontcourt for the Timberwolves after they traded Julius Randle and Naz Reid as part of their offseason acquisition of point guard LaMelo Ball.