Avs defenseman Cale Makar signs richest deal in NHL history at $163.2 million over 8 years
DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche agreed to a $163.2 million, eight-year extension on Friday that will make him the highest paid player in league history. The terms of the deal were confirmed by his agency, Bartlett Hockey. Makar’s extension is set to be the the richest in NHL history, surpassing eight-year, $136 million extension signed by Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov last September. Makar’s deal runs through the 2034-35 season. The 27-year-old Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists. He finished second to Zach Werenski of Columbus in the Norris Trophy voting, an award that goes to the league’s top defenseman. Makar has won the award twice over his career.
Judge will hear recantation of sexual abuse claim against ex-Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky
A judge has granted a hearing to explore claims that a man wants to recant allegations of sexual abuse years ago by Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky is now 82 years old. He’s been serving a decades-long prison sentence since he was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse involving multiple boys in 2012. Sandusky says he’s innocent, but he has repeatedly lost efforts to get a new trial. A man identified in court documents as R.R. says he was coached extensively by authorities. A hearing is set for Sept. 8.
Tarik Skubal shed tears, pitching in Detroit for 1st time since Tigers traded him to Dodgers
DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal shed some tears, walking on a field that used to be his home turf as the team that traded him away paid tribute to the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Skubal was welcomed with cheers and a smattering of boos in his return to Detroit, pitching for the first time against the middling franchise that traded him to the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out seven over six innings, helping the Dodgers beat the Tigers 2-1.
Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland share the 36-hole lead at the Tour Championship
ATLANTA (AP) — Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland are tied for the lead going into the weekend at the season-ending Tour Championship. Gerard made an 80-foot birdie putt and the other six were inside 6 feet in his round of 65. Hovland shot a 66 to join him at 10-under 130. Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup each shot 67 and were one out of the lead. The group of players two back were Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young. Young was in last place at the start of the day and shot 62 to move back into the mix for the FedEx Cup.
Panthers LB Thomas Davis suffered opioid addiction that opened the door to sprawling drug case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — An opioid addiction sullied the once-stellar reputation of one of the NFL’s good guys, Thomas Davis. The linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, once named a Walter Payton Man of the Year, said he became addicted to the painkillers toward the end of his 16-year career in the league. It was his addiction that led to the downfall of Joan Rubinger, a self-styled healer who listed Davis among her dozens of high-profile pro-athlete clients who swore by her pain-relief miracles. Davis, still a fixture in Charlotte, says he’s gotten the help he needed to overcome his addiction but concedes his reliance on pills made it hard for him to be the kind of father he wanted to be.
Yankees nip rival Red Sox 1-0 in series opener behind Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Schlittler
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered, left fielder Cody Bellinger threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the seventh inning and the New York Yankees edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 in the opener of a pivotal four-game series. Cam Schlittler shut down his hometown team again, striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball. The right-hander from Massachusetts overcame five walks, which matched a career high, as the Red Sox stranded 10 runners. New York remained four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East and moved three ahead of Boston in the race for the top American League wild card and home-field advantage throughout a potential best-of-three playoff series between the longtime rivals.
Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each score 34 as Fever stay hot with 111-91 victory over Sun
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 34 points as the the Indiana Fever got past the Connecticut Sun 111-91 on Friday. The pair scored 30 or more for the fourth game this season, extending their WNBA single-season record for a duo. Clark added 12 assists, marking the fifth time this year she’s had a double-double with at least 30 and 10. Mitchell notched her 24th straight 20-point game in the Fever’s final game before a three-week break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Indiana has won seven of nine as Clark, Aliyah Boston, and coach Stephanie White head to Berlin for the tournament. Boston scored 14 points. Diamond Miller finished with 19 points and Nell Angloma had 17 to lead Connecticut, who have lost six of their last eight games.
After being out four months because of injury, Carlos Alcaraz expects to be himself at the US Open
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz is ready for competition after missing more than four months with an injured right wrist. Alcaraz makes his return at the U.S. Open, where he is the defending champion, after the injury led him to skip the French Open and Wimbledon. The 23-year-old Spaniard insists he has not changed anything about his mechanics and would not be back if he didn’t think he could play his game that has already won him seven Grand Slams. Alcaraz opens against Roman Safiullin on Monday.
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka shrugs off her recent struggles as she seeks a third straight US Open title
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka has appeared to be having fun everywhere but the tennis court lately. Her Instagram account is filled with photos where she is fashionably dressed in beautiful settings, or lounging in a bikini in relaxing ones. Life looks great. On the court, it’s as bad as it’s been in a while. The top-ranked women’s player hasn’t even gotten past the fourth round of her last few tournaments, and she hardly looks ready to become the first player to win three straight U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14. But Sabalenka sounds confident and is shrugging off criticism.
Dream’s Reese has 8th technical of the season rescinded by WNBA, avoiding 1-game suspension
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Dream star forward Angel Reese avoided a one-game suspension when the WNBA rescinded her eighth technical foul that was assessed Friday night in a loss to Portland. As a result of the ruling that came a few hours after the game, Reese will be available for the Dream’s game against league-leading Minnesota on Sunday. Reese was tangled up in the paint with the Fire’s Carla Leite as Dream guard Rhyne Howard made a 3-pointer from the right corner during the fourth quarter. Leite was facing the basket and trying to box out Reese, who was directly behind her. Leite had both arms extended backward in an effort to contain Reese, who pushed herself free after Howard’s basket went down. Reese protested the call on the court.