Off the wire
MOTOR SPORTS
Furniture Row Racing done
Furniture Row Racing will cease operations at the end of the season, one year after Martin Truex Jr. won the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series championship driving for the maverick team. Furniture Row is an anomaly in NASCAR in that it is a single-car team based in Denver, far removed from the stock car series’ North Carolina hub. Team owner Barney Visser was a racing enthusiast with a vision when he launched the team in 2005, determined to do it his own way. But a lack of sponsorship for next season led Visser to make the “painful decision” to close the team. Visser said in a statement Tuesday “the numbers just don’t add up” and he would have to borrow money to field a competitive team in 2019.
BASEBALL
Puig loses appeal
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig lost his appeal of a two-game suspension and started serving the discipline with Tuesday night’s game against the New York Mets. Puig was involved in an altercation with San Francisco’s Nick Hundley during an Aug. 14 game, taking an open-handed swipe at the catcher’s mask. Puig is eligible to return for Friday’s series opener at Colorado.
Howard officially retires Ryan Howard has officially retired nearly two years after he last played in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 2006 National League MVP spent 13 seasons with the Phillies and helped them win five division titles and the 2008 World Series. He hit 382 home runs and had 1,194 RBI with a .258 career average. Howard, 38, made his announcement in an article for The Players’ Tribune on Tuesday. After becoming a free agent following the 2016 season, Howard played briefly in Class AAA for affiliates of the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies in 2017.
FOOTBALL
LSU’s Chaisson out for year LSU Coach Ed Orgeron said edge pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson
will miss the rest if the season because of a knee injury during a season-opening victory over Miami. “I feel bad for him,” Orgeron said. “He had totally dedicated himself to this year. He will bounce back. His teammates are very sad.” Chaisson was a prized 2017 recruit who played often as a freshman reserve and entered his sophomore campaign as the team’s premier pass-rushing outside linebacker. He had one sack in a 33-17 victory on Sunday night that shot LSU up in the AP Top 25 poll from 25th to 11th. While Orgeron is declining to provide specific details on the injury, trainers could be seen looking at Chaisson’s left knee after it buckled during a play early in the fourth quarter. Chaisson has taken to social media to thank fans for their support and said he looks forward to 2019. “Thanks to everyone who sent out thoughts and prayers! It’s a tough thing to handle but I’m surely not alone,” Chaisson said on his Twitter page. “I ask that you keep sending blessings and prayers my
way as we trust in the Lord and his plan. See y’all next season!” LSU hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
Swanson released by Miami
Veteran running back and special teams contributor Brandon Bolden has been signed by the Miami Dolphins three days after he was released by AFC East rival New England. The Dolphins also released center Travis Swanson (Arkansas Razorbacks) on Tuesday, one day after he signed with the team. Bolden, who had been with New England since 2012, played in all 16 games last year. In six seasons there he saw action primarily on special teams while totaling 216 carries for 912 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. Stadium gets new name The Arizona Cardinals’ home field is changing its name to State Farm Stadium. The team announced Tuesday that it has reached an 18-year naming rights deal with the insurance giant. The facility has been known as University of Phoenix Stadium since it opened in 2006. Team President Michael Bidwill said most of the branding changes at the stadium will be completed in time for Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Redskins. In addition to Cardinals home games and the Fiesta Bowl, the stadium has been host to two Super Bowls and a men’s college basketball Final Four. The Super Bowl is to return in 2023 and the Final Four in 2024.
Titans change practice squad
The Tennessee Titans have swapped out wide receivers on their practice squad after a player failed disclose a physical condition. The Titans announced Tuesday they removed Austin Proehl from the practice squad and agreed to terms with Stringfellow. Proehl joined the Titans’ practice squad Monday after Buffalo waived the seventh-round draft pick out of North Carolina. He was replaced by the 6-2 Damore’ea Stringfellow who spent the preseason with Seattle where he had an 81-yard touchdown pass in the final preseason game. Stringfellow also has spent time with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins after coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent last year. Stringfellow started at Washington in college before transferring to Mississippi where he had 82 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2 seasons.
BASKETBALL
McMillan gets extension The Indiana Pacers have signed Coach Nate McMillan to a multiyear contract extension. McMillan will enter his third season as Indiana’s head coach. Terms were not disclosed. McMillan, 54, has a 90-74 record and helped lead the team to the playoffs the past two seasons. He finished sixth in Coach of the Year balloting after the Pacers surprised nearly everyone earning the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record and then taking LeBron James and the Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. McMillan played 12 seasons in the NBA, all for Seattle.