Update on the latest sports
APSUPER LEAGUE-ENGLAND
English clubs abandon breakaway Super League by quitting
LONDON (AP) — A bid to create a Super League in European soccer is fading after all six English clubs dramatically abandoned plans to join the breakaway circuit.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham deserted the 12-team project amid an escalating backlash that saw the government warn of legislating to stop the breakaway competition.
The Super League responded by saying its breakaway European competition is being reconsidered after exodus of all English clubs. The project was overseen by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, who also signed up Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in Spain, and Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan from Italy. The rival for the UEFA- (yoo-AY’-fah) run Champions League became unviable without the six clubs from the world’s richest league.
City was the first club to publicly announce its decision Tuesday, Chelsea soon followed and Liverpool was publicly urged to desert the Super League by its players who repeated a tweet first posted by Jordan Henderson. The Liverpool captain wrote, “We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen. This is our collective position.”
The renegade league featuring teams from England, Spain and Italy was announced on Sunday, creating an immediate uproar from government officials, fans, players and managers. Man City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp have been among the most vocal managers to rail against the league.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Urias brilliant as Dodgers beat M’s
SEATTLE (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have ended their first two-game losing streak of the season, thanks to an outstanding pitching performance.
Julio Urías (oo-REE’-uh) threw one-hit ball over seven innings of a 1-0 win over the Mariners in Seattle. Urías struck out a career-high 11 in winning a matchup against Marco Gonzales, who surrendered Corey Seager’s RBI single in the third inning.
Urías allowed two baserunners and neither reached second base.
The Dodgers played without outfielder Mookie Betts, one day after he was hit on the right forearm by a pitch. Manager Dave Roberts doesn’t expect it to be a long-term issue.
MLB-NEWS
Soto sidelined
UNDATED (AP) — Nationals right fielder Juan Soto has gone on the 10-day injured list with a strained left shoulder. The reigning NL batting champion originally was listed in Washington’s starting lineup Tuesday facing the Cardinals, but the announced the roster move less than an hour before the first pitch. Outfielder Yadiel Hernandez was being recalled from its alternate training site as the roster replacement for Soto, who is batting .300 with two homers and eight RBIs this season.
Also around the majors:
— Infielder Neil Walker has announced his retirement at age 35 after 12 major league seasons. Walker hit .231 with no homers and three RBIs in 18 games with Philadelphia this year. He batted .267 with 149 homers and 60 RBIs for Pittsburgh, the New York Mets, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Miami and the New York Yankees.
NBA-NUGGETS-RIVERS
Denver Nuggets sign veteran Austin Rivers to 10-day contract
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have bolstered their injury-depleted point guard ranks by signing veteran Austin Rivers to a 10-day contract.
The Nuggets lost star Jamal Murray to a torn ACL in his left knee last week and Monte Morris injured his left hamstring Friday night. Coach Michael Malone says Morris will miss multiple games.
Rivers brings a 9.1-point career scoring average and plenty of playoff experience to the Nuggets. He is expected to be available when Denver visits Portland on Wednesday night.
NFL-STEELERS-TOMLIN
Steelers coach signs extension
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is sticking with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club announced its longtime coach has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2024 season.
Tomlin is 145-78-1 in 14 years with the Steelers with one Super Bowl victory.
The deal means Tomlin will likely be part of the process whenever quarterback Ben Roethlisberger opts to retire. The 39-year-old Roethlisberger is returning for the 2021 season but the team has no heir apparent in place.
In other NFL news:
— Veteran tackle D.J. Fluker has signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins, fortifying an offensive line that had three rookie starters last year. Fluker has 96 career starts with four teams, including eight for the Ravens last year.
— The Bears re-signed veteran safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year contract. Gipson signed with the Bears last year after being released by Houston and started all 16 games, making 64 tackles and two interceptions.
HORSE RACING-BAFFERT SUSPENSION
Trainer Bob Baffert successfully appeals suspension
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has successfully appealed his 15-day suspension to the Arkansas Racing Commission. The six-time Kentucky Derby winner can now resume preparations to run Medina Spirit in next weekend’s Derby.
Baffert was fined and suspended last year by Arkansas stewards for a pair of drug positives after Charlatan and Gamine tested positive for the painkiller lidocaine following their wins at Oaklawn Park on May 2.
PGA —TOUR-BONUS
PGA Tour offering $40 million in bonus money to top stars
UNDATED (AP) — The PGA Tour is awarding a $40 million bonus pool to the top 10 players who move the needle in golf, regardless of how they perform inside the ropes. Some of the top players and managers have loosely hinted at the Player Impact Program since the start of 2020.
That was about the time the proposed Premier Golf League funded in part by Saudi money was trying to lure the top players to join an international tour. Golfweek was the first to report the Players Impact Program started in January. The top 10 are determined by an “impact score” derived using various brand-related metrics to measure popularity.
