ANTHEM CONTROVERSY President Trump urges suspensions for kneeling NFL players,
President Donald Trump is once again inserting himself into the culture war over protests by NFL athletes during the national anthem.
Trump tweeted Friday that he “can’t believe” the debate has reignited after the Associated Press reported on the Dolphins formally telling players they could be punished for protesting on the field. The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a joint statement Thursday night they were halting enforcement of all anthem rules while they work out a solution.
Trump took to Twitter to critique the policy, call for action from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and suggest his own penalties: “The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again — can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. First time kneeling, out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!”
MLB
Machado shines in Dodger debut
Manny Machado singled twice and walked twice in his debut with the Dodgers, who used a tiebreaking RBI single by Chris Taylor to beat the sliding Brewers 6-4. Brewers reliever Josh Hader issued an apology for a years-old racist and homophobic tweets that surfaced during the All-Star Game. Wade Miley tossed six strong innings and Jesus Aguilar hit his NL-best 25th homer, but the Brewers lost their seventh straight.
♦ After allowing six runs and eight hits in 4⅔ innings, Stephen Strasburg engaged in a heated spat with Nationals ace Max Scherzer in the dugout in an 8-5 loss to the Braves. It was unclear what prompted the exchange.
♦ The Mariners agreed to a multiyear contract extension with manager Scott Servais.
NBA
Raptors apologize to DeRozan
Raptors president Masai Ujiri apologized for “miscommunication” with DeMar DeRozan leading up to the four-time All-Star’s trade to the Spurs.
“I think maybe my mistake was talking about what we expected going forward from him,” Ujiri said. So, not necessarily talking about a trade but what I expect from him going forward.”
DeRozan reportedly met Raptors officials during summer league and believed that he would not be traded.
♦ Forward Michael Beasley agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Lakers.
♦ Point guard Yogi Ferrell agreed to a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Kings.
MISCELLANEOUS
Sky’s Vandersloot has triple-double
Courtney Vandersloot became the seventh player to have a triple-double in WNBA history and the first player on the Sky to accomplish the feat, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best 15 assists as Sky snapped a four-game a losing streak with a 11499 victory over the Dallas Wings.
Vandersloot set a franchise record with 10 first-half assists and tied her team mark of 14 midway through the third quarter as the Sky (8-16) scored the most points in franchise history, topping 107.
♦ More than 100 former students have provided firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct by former Ohio State team physician Richard Strauss, who committed suicide in 2005.