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NEW YORK -- Jorge Lopez was designated for assignment by the struggling New York Mets one day after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following his ejection, a move made to send a message to the rest of the team that petulant behavior will not be tolerated. "We have standards here," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before Thursday's series opener against Arizona. "When you're not playing well, guys will show emotions. There's frustrations, but there's a fine line and yesterday went over that line." Mendoza would not specify whether the decision was made over López's behavior or the behavior coupled with the pitcher's postgame interview. "I don't regret it," López said when asked about throwing his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. "I think I've been looking (like) the worst teammate probably in the whole f---ing MLB." It was a comment he addressed further the next day, posting on his Instagram story that he...

DESTIN, Fla. -- As the SEC spring meetings concluded on Thursday, commissioner Greg Sankey acknowledged that while college athletics is in "uncharted waters," he believes the NCAA Division I schools can continue to operate together, and his conference is prepared "to take a leadership role" as they all navigate the historic change. Sankey said the NCAA basketball tournament in March is what binds Division I together, but if it's going to stay together, "there are pressures that have to be recognized." "We've allowed Division I to grow," he said. "We have conferences solving their membership problem by inviting non-Division I members in, but we haven't modified the bracket size. I think common sense says you have to dig into that. There are competitive issues, there are calendar issues, there are economic issues. But I do think that March can be kept together. That doesn't mean it stays exactly the same. "We also have to recognize the differences that do exist within the group that...

METAIRIE, La. -- Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he might have played several more years in the NFL if not for degeneration in his right throwing shoulder. "Honestly, man, if my right arm was still working, I probably would've played another three years," Brees said Thursday. "My body feels great. My body can play, my right arm can't. Unfortunately that's what kind of forced me to step away. And it was time, too." Brees, who retired after the 2020 season following a 20-year career in the NFL, said he seriously considered coming out of retirement, but the diminishing capabilities of his surgically repaired shoulder prevented a comeback. "At the end of the day, it's like, how capable ... Am I to do the job, right? I would've run QB draws, I would've done whatever. I would've done some veer option. We would've pulled out all the stops. I was ready. Pull out the high school playbook," Brees joked. Brees said he felt there was a lack of closure after...

CHICAGO -- The Bears will continue to live in the spotlight this offseason and be featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" throughout training camp, the team announced Thursday. The Bears have never been featured on "Hard Knocks," which has followed NFL teams during training camp since 2001. Chairman George McCaskey has long been opposed to allowing HBO access to the Bears as they prepare for the season opener and said that his stance on appearing on the program had not changed during league meetings in March. "We're told there is some interest in other teams being on the program and we welcome that interest," McCaskey said. Still, the appeal of quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the draft, and a team on the rise after a 7-10 finish in 2023 made the Bears an easy choice for HBO and NFL Films. The Bears are the first team to be selected for "Hard Knocks" with a rookie quarterback selected No. 1 overall since the Cleveland Browns were featured in 2018...

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs turned himself in to the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Thursday after he allegedly mistreated two dogs. A Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesperson confirmed that Buggs surrendered at the jail Thursday, a day after two misdemeanor warrants were filed against him. Buggs was booked and released on $600 bond and faces a court hearing on June 13. He refused a reporter's question while leaving the jail and getting into a truck. According to court documents, the Tuscaloosa Police Department received a report that two dogs were being left on the back porch of a home being rented by Buggs. Officers and animal control found a gray and white pit bull and a black rottweiler on a screened-in back porch with no access to food or water. Both dogs appeared malnourished and neglected, and the residence appeared to be abandoned. Witnesses told police that Buggs had recently moved from the house. Both dogs were seized, and the pit bull...

A Spanish judge has placed former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué under official investigation for his alleged involvement in illegal payments in the relocation of Spain's Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Judge Delia Rodrigo concluded there were indications of wrongdoing in the deal between Piqué's company Kosmos and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), according to a court document. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) According to the court documents, former RFEF president Luis Rubiales, Saudi government-owned Sela Sport Company and Piqué signed an agreement in 2019 in which Piqué's company would receive €40 million as a "success bonus" for the games being held in Saudi Arabia each year. "The facts under investigation in the present proceedings originate from possible illegalities with criminal implications in contracting or agreements," Rodrigo wrote. Piqué did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The...

NEW YORK -- Jorge López was designated for assignment by the struggling New York Mets one day after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following his ejection, a move made to send a message to the rest of the team that petulant behavior will not be tolerated. "We have standards here," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said before Thursday's series opener against Arizona. "When you're not playing well, guys will show emotions. There's frustrations, but there's a fine line and yesterday went over that line." Mendoza would not specify whether the decision was made over López's behavior or the behavior coupled with the pitcher's postgame interview. "I don't regret it," López said when asked about throwing his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. "I think I've been looking (like) the worst teammate probably in the whole f---ing MLB." It was a comment he addressed further the next day, posting on his Instagram story that he indeed...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton showed up to voluntary organized team activities this week after having his contract adjusted. He had been staying away from the team's offseason program while hoping for a new deal. Slayton now has a chance to earn an additional $650,000 in incentives, according to ESPN's Field Yates. The Giants' leading receiver in four of the past five seasons is set to make $6.2 million before incentives this season. "I'm satisfied. We got done what we needed to get done and just looking forward to playing ball," Slayton said. "We just adjusted my contract this year a little bit. Just tried to make it a little bit more lucrative. Business is business and I'm here." Slayton, 27, re-signed with the Giants prior to the 2023 season. He was originally a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2019. After compiling 50 catches for 774 yards and four touchdowns last season in an offense that struggled badly, Slayton was...

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- While sitting on the plane ride home after losing the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reflected on an analogy used by coach Dan Campbell to motivate the team near the end of the 2021 season. During his first year as head coach, Campbell assured the team that the Caribbean was on the horizon for a Lions organization more used to being in the Arctic and avoiding icebergs. That belief is why Johnson opted to remain in Detroit for the second straight offseason despite serious head-coaching interest. Though he didn't receive an offer, Johnson had been set to meet with Washington Commanders officials before making his decision to remain in Detroit. Johnson interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers. "I think when it boils down to it, I want the sun to shine a little bit longer. That's really...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II's status for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals remains questionable after a 10-minute post-shootaround workout to test how his sprained neck felt while doing explosive movements. "I was definitely moving," Lively told ESPN when asked how the workout went while he was exiting the Target Center. It was the first time that Lively sprinted and jumped since suffering the injury early in the second quarter of Game 3, when he was inadvertently kneed in the back of the head by Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns. Lively, a second-team All-Rookie selection, sat out the Mavs' Game 4 loss. "I really don't know how much I can do," Lively said before media was cleared from the Target Center court for his individual workout. "We're just figuring out what I can do. Just trying to take it, see what's going to bring up red flags and what's not." Mavs superstar Luka...

MIAMI -- The Dolphins agreed to a contract extension Thursday with Jaylen Waddle that makes him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. The three-year, $84.75 million extension includes $76 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The $28.25 million average annual value of the extension is the fourth highest in the NFL among wide receivers, while the guaranteed money is the third behind A.J. Brown ($84 million) and Amon-Ra St. Brown ($77 million). Waddle is now signed through the 2028 season. Despite playing alongside Tyreek Hill for the past two seasons, Waddle's 3,385 receiving yards rank 13th in the NFL since 2021, and he has recorded the 16th-most receiving yards of any player in their first three seasons. The No. 6 overall pick in 2021 set a rookie record with 104 receptions and followed that campaign with a career-best 1,356 yards in 2022 in his first season under coach Mike McDaniel. Waddle recorded his...

A jury Wednesday found in favor of a former Penn State athletics team doctor who claimed that he was removed as team physician in retaliation for complaining about head football coach James Franklin interfering with medical treatment and return-to-play decisions. A Dauphin County jury in Harrisburg awarded orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Lynch $5.25 million in punitive and compensatory damages. Testimony during the seven-day trial included former Penn State players, doctors, athletic trainers, university system officials and others discussing examples of injuries and medical decisions. Lynch said in a phone call with ESPN that he hopes the verdict will prompt an investigation by the NCAA, which has had a policy guaranteeing independence of sports medicine staff since 2016. "There's not yet been one school punished for violating medical autonomy issues," he said. "This is bigger than just Penn State," Lynch said. "It's really a national crisis and things have to change." He...

NEW YORK -- The Mets held a players-only team meeting Wednesday night after getting swept by the Dodgers with a 10-3 loss that included another late-inning bullpen implosion and reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into his stands after being ejected. The score was tied at 3 heading into the eighth inning before the Dodgers scored six times off three relievers. One was Lopez, who surrendered a two-run homer to  Shohei Ohtani then fell behind 3-1 to  Freddie Freeman before taking issue with third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus' ruling on a check swing. The argument earned Lopez an ejection. Lopez untucked his jersey and threw his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. He did not display any remorse after the game. "No, I don't regret it," Lopez said. Lopez continued: "Whatever happened, happened. I'll be here tomorrow if they want me. Whatever they want to do. I'm going to keep doing this thing, you know....

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse entered Game 4 of the Western Conference finals under intense scrutiny for his ineffective play against the Dallas Stars. Things could not have gone worse for him at the start. Nurse was on the ice for two Stars goals in the first 5:29 Wednesday night, including an Esa Lindell shot that hit Nurse's posterior and deflected past goalie Stuart Skinner. But he didn't sulk. He didn't fold under the pressure. That Nurse played as well as he did for the rest of the Oilers' 5-2 series-tying victory ended up inspiring his team. "That would've been really hard for a lot of guys to recover from after everything that's been going on," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "But personally, I thought it was his best game in the series. Maybe in the playoffs." Nurse entered Game 4 through a storm of criticism. No Oilers player was on the ice for more Stars goals at 5-on-5 than Nurse (4 goals). He was in the negative...

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Mattias Janmark and Leon Draisaitl scored in a 51-second span in the second period and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 5-2 on Wednesday night in Game 4 to even the Western Conference final. Janmark tied it on a short-handed, 2-on-1 break with Connor Brown with 5:29 left in the period, and Draisaitl followed with his 10th of the postseason with 4:38 to go. Game 5 is Friday night in Dallas. Ryan McLeod, Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm, into a empty net with 1:53 remaining, also scored for Edmonton. Connor McDavid added two assists, and Stuart Skinner made 20 saves. Wyatt Johnson and Esa Lindell scored as Dallas raced to a 2-0 lead in the first 5½ minutes. McLeod and Bouchard countered for Edmonton late in the period. Skinner made a big stop on Evgenii Dadonov with the rink still buzzing after the tying burst. The Stars got their second power play with eight...

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets held a players-only team meeting Wednesday night after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 10-3 loss that included another late-inning bullpen implosion and reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into his stands after being ejected. The score was tied at 3 heading into the eighth inning before the Dodgers scored six times off three relievers. One was Lopez, who surrendered a two-run home run to  Shohei Ohtani, then fell behind 3-1 to  Freddie Freeman before taking issue with third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus' ruling on a check swing. The argument earned Lopez an ejection. Lopez untucked his jersey and threw his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. He did not display any remorse after the game. "No, I don't regret it," Lopez said. Lopez continued: "Whatever happened, happened. I'll be here tomorrow if they want me. Whatever they want to do. I'm going to keep doing this...

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets held a players-only team meeting Wednesday night after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 10-3 loss that included another late-inning bullpen implosion and reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into his stands after being ejected. The score was tied at 3 heading into the eighth inning before the Dodgers scored six times off three relievers. One was Lopez, who took issue with third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus' ruling on a check swing from Shohei Ohtani. Lopez wound up surrendering a two-run home run to Ohtani. He continued arguing with De Jesus while falling behind 3-1 to Freddie Freeman before the umpire ejected him. Lopez untucked his jersey and threw his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. He did not display any remorse after the game. "No, I don't regret it," Lopez said. Lopez continued: "Whatever happened, happened. I'll be here tomorrow if they want me....

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets held a players-only team meeting Wednesday night after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 10-3 loss that included another late-inning bullpen implosion and reliever Jorge Lopez throwing his glove into his stands after being ejected. The score was tied at 3-3 heading into the eighth inning before the Dodgers scored six times against three relievers. One was Lopez, who took issue with third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus' ruling on a check swing from Shohei Ohtani. Lopez wound up surrendering a two-run home run to Ohtani. He continued arguing with De Jesus while falling behind 3-1 to Freddie Freeman before the umpire ejected him. Lopez untucked his jersey and threw his glove over the netting into the crowd as he walked off the field. He did not display any remorse after the game. "No, I don't regret it," Lopez said. Lopez continued: "Whatever happened, happened. I'll be here tomorrow if they want me....

DESTIN, Fla. -- Texas won't face Arkansas and Texas A&M until November, but the excitement surrounding the return of the storied rivalries was already creating chatter this week at the SEC spring meetings, where Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian made his first appearance as an incoming member of the league Wednesday. Arkansas hosts Texas on Nov. 16 as a conference rival for the first time since 1991, when the Hogs beat the Horns 14-13 and both programs were in the Southwest Conference. To end the season, Texas and Texas A&M will renew its heated rivalry in College Station on Nov. 30. The two haven't played since 2011, after playing each year from 1915 to 2011, which was tied for the eighth-longest uninterrupted series at the time. In that 2011 matchup, Justin Tucker kicked a 40-yard field goal to give Texas a 27-25 win in College Station. "I've been part of some great rivalries in college football, and I know there was so much talk about realignment and I...

DESTIN, Fla. -- The most jarring sight at the SEC meetings in Destin has been John Calipari walking through the hotel lobby with an Arkansas logo on his pullover. The most jarring sound Wednesday came from Calipari admitting it will take a new "formula" to win in the NCAA tournament after persistent postseason failures in recent seasons at  Kentucky. Calipari, in his first SEC meetings as the coach at  Arkansas, referenced No. 3 seed Kentucky's loss to No. 14  Oakland in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament. It included a 32-point outburst from a 24-year old Division II transfer named  Jack Gohlke. "The lesson was you can't do this now with seven freshmen," he said. "You just can't. You're going to hit a team that's 25 years old on average, one was 26, and that team is physically going to get you, and so now we have a couple transfers that are older, some kids that transferred from Kentucky that went through it, and they're a year...

Alabama's Mark Sears will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to school for his final season of eligibility, he told ESPN on Wednesday. "I got good feedback from the NBA," Sears told ESPN. "But I can still get better in a few areas. I want to show I am a dog on defense next season, continue to bring vocal leadership and work on my body and get into better shape. NIL has changed basketball and NBA teams told me that age isn't a factor in today's game, so I was comfortable coming back to try and bring home a national championship to Alabama." The NCAA deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA draft and maintain college eligibility was Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET. In addition to Sears, Alabama's  Jarin Stevenson also took his name out of the draft prior to the deadline, a source told ESPN. Stevenson averaged 5.3 points as a freshman last season. Sears was one of the best players in college basketball in 2023-24, earning second-team All-American and first-team...

The Washington Wizards hired Brian Keefe as their coach Wednesday, sticking with the man who led the team on an interim basis from late January until the end of the season. Keefe was in his first season as an assistant coach for the Wizards when he was promoted to interim head coach on Jan. 25, replacing Wes Unseld Jr. Washington was 7-36 at the time of the change and went 8-31 the rest of the way. "We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people," Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. "As a leader in the organization, he will continue to positively grow and invest into the development of our players. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success." Keefe was an assistant for Oklahoma City when the Thunder reached the NBA Finals in 2012. Keefe joined the Wizards after a couple of seasons with Brooklyn. "I look forward to continuing to work with...

Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Arizona for his final season, he announced Wednesday. Love made his announcement via a video on social media. "Wildcat Nation, it's been so amazing the way you've welcomed me and showered me with love," he said. "There's no way I can walk away from that right now. The show goes on." Love, a 6-foot-4 guard, led Arizona to the Pac-12 regular-season championship in his first season in Tucson, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists en route to Player of the Year honors in the conference and third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press. He hit career highs in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. The St. Louis native spent the first three years of his career at North Carolina, helping lead the Tar Heels to a national championship game appearance in 2022. Love averaged 14.6 points during his three seasons in Chapel Hill and will be...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien got a day off for the first time in more than two years Wednesday when he wasn't in the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, ending his streak of 349 games started. Manager Bruce Bochy said Semien had been sore since a collision in the outfield with right fielder Adolis Garcia on May 18. The second baseman had played in all eight games since then, and was in a 1-for-20 slide the past five games. "He's been playing banged up. That's a pretty good collision out there in right field, and he knows it's time to try to get this thing cleared up, freshen up a little bit," Bochy said. "This will get him a couple days." The Rangers have a day off Thursday before opening a weekend series in Miami. Semien did not appear as a pinch hitter or in any capacity Wednesday as the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks, 6-1.  "He doesn't need to bring his spikes out here," Bochy said before the game....

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets, mired in a nightmare season spiraling out of control, were walloped with a one-two punch minutes apart Wednesday afternoon. First, the club placed struggling closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list with a shoulder impingement moments before first pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then came the second blow: All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso exiting the series finale in the first inning when he was hit on the right hand by a pitch. Alonso took a 93 mph fastball from Dodgers left-hander James Paxton while checking his swing, instantly falling to his left knee upon impact. He walked down to first base but exited the field with a trainer moments later. The Mets said they'd provide an update on Alonso after he undergoes tests. A free agent this winter, Alonso, 29, has been the best hitter for an anemic Mets offense, with a team-leading 12 home runs and a .758 OPS. He is a prime candidate for the Mets...

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets, mired in a nightmare season spiraling out of control, were walloped with a one-two punch minutes apart Wednesday afternoon. First, the club placed struggling closer Edwin Diaz on the injured list with a shoulder impingement moments before first pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then came the second blow: All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso exiting the series finale in the first inning when he was hit on the right hand by a pitch. Alonso took a 93 mph fastball from Dodgers left-hander James Paxton while checking his swing, instantly falling to his left knee upon impact. He walked down to first base but exited the field with a trainer moments later. A free agent this winter, Alonso, 29, has been the best hitter for an anemic Mets offense with a team-leading 12 home runs and a .758 OPS. He is a prime candidate for the Mets to trade by the July 30 deadline should president of baseball operations David...

Two misdemeanor warrants have been filed against Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on charges of cruelty to dogs in the second degree. According to court documents, the Tuscaloosa Police Department received a report that two dogs were being left on the back porch of a home being rented by Buggs. Officers and animal control found a gray and white pit bull and a black rottweiler on a screened-in back porch with no access to food or water. Both dogs appeared malnourished and neglected, and the residence appeared to be abandoned. Witnesses told police Buggs had recently moved from the house. Both dogs were seized, and the pit bull eventually was euthanized. Buggs' agent, Trey Robinson, denied the charges and alleged his client is a victim of an ongoing "subversive campaign" to force the closure of the hookah lounge he owns in Tuscaloosa. "Under no circumstance does Mr. Buggs condone the mistreatment of any animal,''...

Alex Karaban announced Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will return to UConn for his junior season, boosting the Huskies' chances for a third straight national championship. Karaban made his announcement with a post on X: "While I've enjoyed the draft process, Storrs is home. Let's run it back." A 6-foot-9 forward, Karaban becomes one of the highest-ranked prospects to withdraw his name and return to college. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range while starting 39 of 40 games for the Huskies. Karaban scored at least 20 points on eight occasions, including 23 points and five 3-pointers in a key early March win at Marquette. He also came up big in the Final Four, making a pair of 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points and eight boards against Alabama to help UConn advance to the title game. It was a step forward from his freshman campaign, when he started 38 games and averaged 9.3...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the San Francisco 49ers continue to work on trying to sign receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a long-term contract extension, they handled another important piece of wideout-related business Wednesday. Restricted free agent Jauan Jennings, who has emerged as the team's reliable third receiver option over the past three seasons, agreed to a two-year contract with the Niners that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2025 season. Jennings did not sign his restricted free agent tender and instead did this deal, which is akin to a one-year extension. The contract is worth up to $15.4 million, including $10.5 million guaranteed, agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jennings had not been participating in organized team activities because he was technically not under contract as he and the Niners worked on striking a deal. San Francisco placed the second-round tender on Jennings in March, which meant Jennings could...

PARIS --  Iga Swiatek played like the current No. 1 and the two-time defending champion at the French Open. No surprise there. That Naomi Osaka looked like the former No. 1 that she is -- and on clay, no less -- amounted to an announcement that she is still quite capable of elite tennis. Surging down the stretch as Osaka faded, Swiatek saved a match point and grabbed the last five games to sneak her way to a 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 victory in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday night in a thrill-a-minute contest befitting two women who both own four Grand Slam titles. "For sure, this match was really intense. Much more intense for the second round than I ever expected. For sure, I'll be more ready next time," Swiatek said. "Naomi played amazing tennis. ... I'm happy that she's back and she's playing well." For Swiatek, this extended her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches as she pursues a third consecutive trophy at the clay-court major. For Osaka,...

PARIS -- Iga Swiatek saved a match point and grabbed the last five games to sneak past Naomi Osaka 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday night in a riveting contest between the current No. 1 and a former No. 1 who both own four Grand Slam titles. For Swiatek, this extended her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches as she pursues a third consecutive trophy at the clay-court major tournament. For Osaka, who let a 5-2 lead in the concluding set slip away, this amounted to an announcement that she is still capable of elite tennis. They went back-and-forth for more than 2½ hours as rain loudly pelted the outside of the closed roof at Court Philippe Chatrier -- showers forced the postponements of 23 singles matches until Thursday -- and a riveted, if hardly full, crowd alternated their support between the two players. Sometimes, spectators called out before a point was done, prompting admonishment from chair umpire Aurélie...

Criminal charges have been dropped against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, who said he hopes to move on from the incident that took place outside the PGA Championship earlier this month. "I hold no ill will toward Officer [Bryan] Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same," Scheffler wrote in an Instagram story Wednesday, referencing the Louisville police officer who arrested him outside Valhalla Golf Club. "Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation." During a court hearing Wednesday, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said prosecutors would not pursue the case and asked for the charges to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning they can't be filed again in the future. "Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler," O'Connell said. "Mr. Scheffler's...

ABC's Demarco Morgan reports that Major League Baseball has officially embraced the Negro Leagues numbers in its official historical record.

Criminal charges have been dropped against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler after the Jefferson County Attorney's Office in Louisville, Kentucky, said it would not pursue the case that stemmed from a traffic incident outside the PGA Championship earlier this month. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell asked for the charges to be dismissed with prejudice -- meaning they can't be filed again in the future -- during a court hearing Wednesday. "Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler," O'Connell said. "Mr. Scheffler's characterization that this was a 'big misunderstanding' is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Bryan] Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler's actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do...

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has withdrawn from competition at the U.S. gymnastics championships this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, citing an ankle injury she suffered during training this week. The injury ends Douglas' improbable bid to make the 2024 Paris Olympic team after an eight-year hiatus. At 28, Douglas would have been the oldest American woman to compete in gymnastics at the Olympics since 1952. Despite the injury, Douglas said she is proud of what she accomplished over her 18-month comeback. "I love this sport and I love pushing my limits," Douglas told ESPN. "I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number, and you can accomplish anything you work hard for." A two-time Olympian, Douglas became the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title at the 2012 London Games and helped the U.S. earn back-to-back team golds in London and in Rio in 2016. She announced her comeback in February...

LA Clippers coach Ty Lue has signed a new deal through the 2028-2029 season that will make him one of the NBA's highest-paid coaches at approximately $14 million per year, sources told ESPN. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had been eager to secure Lue on a new deal, and negotiations with his agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, led to a finalized agreement in recent days, sources said. The Clippers announced the deal later Wednesday but did not disclose terms. "This is where I want to be," Lue said in a statement. "I've loved coaching this team for the past four years and I'm excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome. I'm grateful to Steve, Lawrence and the entire organization for the opportunity. With our ownership, front office, roster, staff and arena, we have all the advantages we need to win in the present and the future, and I'm confident we will." Lue's deal delivers a significant element of stability for the Clippers...

Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman was the only overage player selected Wednesday for the United States' 25-man training camp roster ahead of its final pre-Olympic friendly, against Japan on June 11 at Kansas City, Kansas. The U.S. qualified for its first men's Olympic soccer tournament since 2008 and will open against host France on July 24 and play New Zealand three days later, both at Marseille, then finish the first round on July 30 against Guinea at Saint-Étienne. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) Men's Olympic soccer is limited to players under 23, with each team allowed three players over the age limit on its 18-man roster. Zimmerman, 31, has 42 international appearances and played for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup. Nineteen of the 25 players picked by coach Marko Mitrovic have appeared for the senior national team, including defender Bryan Reynolds, midfielders ...

LA Clippers coach Ty Lue has agreed on a new long-term contract that will make him one of the NBA's highest-paid coaches, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had been eager to secure Lue on a new deal, and negotiations with his agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, led to a finalized agreement in recent days, sources said. Lue's deal delivers a significant element of stability for the Clippers with some roster uncertainty looming this offseason. In his stops with the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, where he won the 2016 NBA championship, Lue has established himself as one of the league's most respected and sought-after coaches. The Clippers are determined to keep Paul George and James Harden in free agency, and the organization will move into the new, state-of-the-art Intuit Dome for the start of next season. Lue, who had one year left on his contract, has gone 184-134 (.579)...

Nick Diaz, one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts history, will return to the UFC in August. Diaz (26-10) will face Vicente Luque (22-10-1) in a five-round welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night on Aug. 3 in Abu Dhabi. UFC CEO Dana White announced the fight on Wednesday. The news came out of nowhere, as Diaz, the older brother of UFC star Nate Diaz, has not fought since September 2021. The 40-year-old legend struggled in a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler, and admitted during fight week he was not excited to return to competition. Prior to that fight, Diaz hadn't fought in six years. He'll face an established opponent in Luque, 32, who has been a consistent force at welterweight despite losing three of his past four. In a bantamweight matchup, Cory Sandhagen (17-4) will meet Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0), cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, in the main event. Additionally, White announced matchups between former bantamweight...

The Atlanta Braves have recalled one of their top prospects from Double-A to open the third contest of their four-game home series against the Washington Nationals. Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach will make his major league debut Wednesday night after the Braves selected his contract from Double-A Mississippi. Right-hander Jimmy Herget was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Schwellenbach, 23, was Atlanta's second-round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska and had Tommy John surgery immediately after the draft. He began this season in High Class-A Rome and was promoted to Mississippi two weeks ago. In eight minor league starts this season, Schwellenbach was 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 51 in 45 innings and did not allow a run in 13 innings with Mississippi. Schwellenbach was rated this year by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel as the No. 6 prospect in the Braves organization. Atlanta has had trouble finding a...

PITTSBURGH --  Steelers quarterback  Justin Fields laughed about the idea he could be returning kickoffs, too. The 2021 first-round draft pick, who joined the Steelers via trade in March, on Tuesday addressed the now-viral anecdote from teammate Jaylen Warren that special teams coach Danny Smith said Fields could be an option to return kicks. "I think everybody kind of interpreted it wrong," Fields told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Coach Danny was basically just trying to send a message that no matter who you are, you could be on special teams. He just used that as an example. "... It's funny how serious social media takes everything. It was kind of funny to me when everybody was making a big deal about it for no reason." Warren floated the idea in a podcast interview with teammate Cameron Heyward, and it exploded on social media. "As soon as you touch the ball, that's when everything starts to happen," Warren said. "Our special...

DALLAS -- After Karl-Anthony Towns busted out of his shooting slump to score 25 points in the  Minnesota Timberwolves' 105-100 Game 4 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Anthony Edwards had one more assist for the All-Star big man during their shared postgame news conference. Intercepting a question in which Towns was asked to explain what changed -- coming off a disastrous Game 3 that caused his coach, Chris Finch, to admit it was "hard to watch" -- Edwards answered for Towns. "Everything came together for him; he was super confident," Edwards said. "He played exceptionally well, and he came through big-time. He was the reason we won tonight." Towns shot 9-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves finally exorcise their late-game demons after folding down the stretch through their 0-3 start to the Western Conference finals. He came into the night shooting...

The heavyweight championship rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh announced on Wednesday. Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Fury via a split decision victory in their first highly anticipated fight earlier this month. One judge scored the fight 114-113 for Fury but was overruled by scores of 114-113 and 115-112 for the Ukrainian. Usyk is the first unified heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in a 1999 rematch in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, it was Fury's first defeat of his professional career. The pair had signed a two-fight deal that included a rematch on Oct. 12, but Alalshikh's announcement confirms that date has been pushed back to the end of 2024. Alalshikh said in a post on Twitter: "The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion...

Barcelona have announced the appointment of former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick as the club's new manager on a two-year contract. Flick, 59, replaces Xavi Hernández, who managed his final game with the club on Sunday, a 2-1 LaLiga victory against Sevilla, after being  sacked last week. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "It is a big honour and a dream to sign the contract with this amazing club," Flick said. "The hours I have been here in Barcelona have been amazing. Everyone here loves this club and gives their best to have success. "The philosophy is similar to mine: ball possession and really attacking football, which are things I love. Barcelona also have one of best academies in the world and a good mix between experience and young talent. It's our job now to work together and to improve them. For me, the team work is really important. "I won titles with Bayern. My...

USC freshman guard Bronny James will remain in the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN. Hours ahead of the 11:59 p.m. ET NCAA deadline Wednesday, Paul told ESPN: "He's staying in the draft." James, the No. 54 prospect in the ESPN 100, has had a strong pre-draft process and elevated his standing from fringe to draftable prospect. James, a son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, declared for the draft and entered the transfer portal in early April. As expected, he has completed his college basketball career and turned his full attention to the NBA. "Bronny's [draft] range is wide," Paul told ESPN. "He's a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. I don't care where that team is -- it can be No. 1 or 58 -- [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team's strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That's why I'm not doing a two-way...

The International Boxing Association (IBA) will offer prize money to all those who become Olympic champions and medalists at the Paris Games, the body announced Wednesday. The body is not organizing the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics after it was stripped of recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year. Based on the placings of boxers at the July 26-Aug. 11 Games, the IBA said it will award $100,000 to gold medalists, $50,000 for silver medals and $25,000 for bronze. The move follows that of World Athletics, which in April announced it would be the first governing body to offer $50,000 in prize money for its Olympic champions, starting in Paris this year. "Paris gold medalists in the boxing tournament will receive a substantial financial reward of $100,000. Out of this amount, the athlete will receive $50,000, their National Federation will receive $25,000, and their coach will receive $25,000," IBA president Umar Kremlev said in a...

The heavyweight championship rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh announced on Wednesday. Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Fury via a split decision victory in their first highly anticipated fight earlier this month. One judge scored the fight 114-113 for Fury but was overruled by scores of 114-113 and 115-112 for the Ukrainian. Usyk is the first unified heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in a 1999 rematch in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, it was Fury's first defeat of his professional career. The pair had signed a two-fight deal that included a rematch on Oct. 12, but Alalshikh's announcement confirms that date has been pushed back to the end of 2024. Alalshikh said in a post on Twitter: "The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion...

DALLAS -- After Karl-Anthony Towns busted out of his shooting slump to score 25 points in the  Minnesota Timberwolves' 105-100 Game 4 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Anthony Edwards had one more assist for the All-Star big man during their shared postgame news conference. Intercepting a question in which Towns was asked to explain what changed -- coming off a disastrous Game 3 that caused his coach, Chris Finch, to admit it was "hard to watch" -- Edwards answered for Towns. "Everything came together for him; he was super confident," Edwards said. "He played exceptionally well, and he came through big-time. He was the reason we won tonight." Towns shot 9-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves finally exorcise their late-game demons after folding down the stretch through their 0-3 start to the Western Conference finals. He came into the night shooting...

DALLAS -- After Karl-Anthony Towns busted out of his shooting slump to score 25 points in the  Minnesota Timberwolves' 105-100 Game 4 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Anthony Edwards had one more assist for the All-Star big man during their shared postgame news conference. Intercepting a question during which Towns was asked to explain what changed -- coming off a disastrous Game 3 that caused his coach, Chris Finch, to admit it was "hard to watch" -- Edwards answered for him. "Everything came together for him, he was super confident," Edwards said. "He played exceptionally well, and he came through big time. He was the reason we won tonight." Towns shot 9-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, scoring 10 of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Wolves finally exorcise their late-game demons after folding down the stretch through their 0-3 start to the Western Conference finals. He came into the night...

DALLAS --  Luka Doncic blamed himself for the Dallas Mavericks having to board a flight to Minneapolis instead of beginning their break before the NBA Finals. "I think that game is on me," Doncic said after the Mavs failed to finish the Western Conference semifinals with a sweep, suffering a 105-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday's Game 4. "I just didn't give enough energy." Doncic recorded his sixth triple-double of these playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. However, he had a poor shooting performance (7-of-21 from the floor) and matched Mavs forward P.J. Washington for the worst plus-minus of the night (minus-13). Dallas co-star Kyrie Irving also had his worst offensive outing of the series, which Dallas leads 3-1, scoring 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting with four turnovers. Irving also took accountability for the Mavs' five-game winning streak getting snapped, specifically citing his sloppiness...