Update on the latest sports
APINDYCAR-OBIT-BOBBY UNSER
Bobby Unser, 87, Indy 500 champ in great racing family, dies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A racing icon has passed. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser died of natural causes at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sunday.
Unser won the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981. His younger brother, Al, is one of only three four-time Indy 500 winners in race history. The Unser family tradition stretched to Al Unser’s son, Al Unser Jr., who won the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994.
Bobby Unser was one of just 10 drivers to win the 500 at least three times. Unser and Rick Mears are the only drivers to win the 500 in three different decades. Unser was one of six members of the Unser family to race in the Indianapolis 500. Bobby Unser was 87 years old.
MLB-ANGELS-OHTANI
Ohtani scratched from start
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Angels star Shohei Ohtani (SHOH’-hay oh-TAH’-nee) has been scratched from his scheduled start tonight against the Rays.
The Angels didn’t announce why Ohtani had been scratched, but the two-way star was hit on his elbow by a 93 mph fastball from Seattle’s Justus Sheffield in the first inning of Los Angeles’ 2-0 road loss to the Mariners. The pitch hit Ohtani on his elbow pad, and he stayed in the game.
Left-hander José Quintana will move up from his scheduled start to face the Rays.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Two MLB games postponed
UNDATED (AP) — Tonight’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs has been postponed due to inclement weather, as has the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies contest in Denver.
Both games will be made up as pair of doubleheaders tomorrow. The Rockies and Giants will play a traditional twinbill, while the Dodgers and Cubs will deal with a split doubleheader.
MLB-NEWS
Rockies name interim GM
UNDATED (AP) — White Sox center fielder Luis Robert could miss the remainder of the season because of a torn right hip flexor.
Robert was injured in Sunday’s loss to Cleveland. He fell to the ground after beating out an infield single to third base in the first inning and was helped off the field while putting no weight on his right leg.
Robert is batting .316 with one homer and 11 RBIs this year. He finished second in the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year voting and was a Gold Glove winner last season.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— The Indians have reinstated designated hitter Franmil (FRAHN’-meel) Reyes from the paternity list and promoted outfielder Harold Ramirez from the taxi squad before tonight’s series opener against the Royals. Reyes and his wife, Marian, welcomed their fifth child last week. He’s off to a fast start this season, hitting .279 with seven homers and 18 RBIs through 23 games.
— Marlins rookie right-hander Paul Campbell has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in violation of Major League Baseball’s drug program. Campbell said he never knowingly ingested the substance or had even heard of it. The 25-year-old Campbell made his major league debut this season and is 0-2 with an 8.74 ERA in five games and 11 1/3 innings.
— The Rockies have appointed Bill Schmidt as their interim general manager after parting ways with Jeff Bridich (BRY’-dihch). Schmidt has been with the team for nearly 22 years and has been in his current role of vice president of scouting since January 2007. Schmidt will be in charge of the team’s baseball operations.
— Baseball Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes Clark says the museum has accepted Roberto Alomar’s resignation from its board of directors. The Hall of Fame second baseman was fired last week as a consultant by Major League Baseball and placed on the league’s ineligible list after an investigation into the allegation.
NFL-AMAZON
Amazon to take over “Thursday Night Football” package in ’22
UNDATED (AP) — Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package a year earlier than originally anticipated. The 11-year package begins in 2022.
This is the first time a streaming service has had the full rights to an NFL package. Prime Video will carry 15 regular-season games on Thursday night along with one preseason game.
NFL-BILLS-ALLEN-EDMUNDS
Bills pick up Allen, Edmunds 5th-year contract options
UNDATED (AP) — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are staying around for at least two more seasons. The Bills exercised the fifth-year options of both players’ contracts and retained the 2018 first-round draft picks through the 2022 season. The move comes at a combined price of about $36 million, with Allen set to make nearly $23 million in his final year.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— The Falcons have picked up receiver Calvin Ridley’s fifth-year option, meaning he will make $11.1 million in 2022 and be in line for a long-term deal. Ridley had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
— Jaguars defensive tackle Taven Bryan, Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes and Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch have been declined a fifth-year option on their rookie contracts. NFL teams had until Monday to decide whether to exercise fifth-year options on 2018 first-round picks.
— Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox has signed his restricted free agent tender worth almost $3.4 million this year. Alie-Cox was signed by the Colts as an undrafted rookie in 2017 following his basketball career at VCU. He’s played in 40 games over the past three seasons and posted his best stats in 2020 with 31 receptions and 394 yards.
— Veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr. Leno says on Twitter that his “time in Chicago has officially come to an end” and calls it “a bittersweet day.” He said he will “be rooting for the young guys to succeed” and thanked Bears fans. Drafted by Chicago in the seventh round in 2014, Leno started every game the past five seasons and 93 in a row dating to 2015. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2018.
— Titans fourth-round draft pick Rashad Weaver has been charged with simple assault following an incident in Pittsburgh last month. The complaint stems from an alleged altercation between Weaver and a woman in a popular entertainment district in the early hours of April 18.
TRANSGENDER SPORTS BAN-IDAHO
US appeals court to consider Idaho transgender athletes ban
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An appeals court will consider the constitutionality of the first law in the nation banning transgender women and girls from playing on women’s sports team.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Monday in a case that will have far-ranging consequences as more states follow conservative Idaho’s lead. Idaho passed its law last year, and more than 20 states have considered such proposals this year.
