Paris 2024 Olympics torch lit in ancient Olympia
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece – The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday, marking the final stretch of the seven-year preparations for the Games’ start on July 26.
Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of high priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame instead of a parabolic mirror due to cloudy skies for the start of a relay in Greece and France.
It will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic flame in the French capital at the opening ceremony.
Fever’s championship odds fall with Clark in place
The Fever’s selection of Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft on Monday, adding her to a lineup featuring reigning Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, saw Indiana climb into the top half of the league in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Though the Fever finished 10th in the 12-team league last year with a 13-27 record, they have the fifth-shortest odds for the 2024 championship at both FanDuel and DraftKings at +2000. bet365 has Indiana at +1800, tied for the fifth-best odds.
The two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are an even-money favorite at FanDuel and DraftKings while sitting at +110 at bet365. The New York Liberty, who lost to Las Vegas in last year’s WNBA Finals, are the second choice at all three books (+250 at DraftKings and bet365, +230 at FanDuel).
Next are the Seattle Storm, who are +1000 at FanDuel and bet365 but come in behind the Connecticut Sun (+1000) at +1400 on DraftKings. Connecticut is +1100 on bet365, +1200 on FanDuel.
The Chicago Sky, who added South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso and LSU’s Angel Reese with the third and seventh overall picks, respectively, on Monday, rank at or near the bottom with odds of +5000 at Bet365, +8500 at FanDuel. DraftKings has Chicago listed at +8000, tied for the second-longest odds.
FanDuel lists Clark as an overwhelming favorite (-950) to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. The No. 2 overall pick, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink, is second at +1900, followed by Cardoso (+2200), the Washington Mystics’ Aaliyah Edwards (+3200) and Reese (+3200).
Sabres fire Granato as coach after another playoff miss
The Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Don Granato on Tuesday after another season ended without a trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The 13-year playoff drought, which began after the team’s last playoff trip in 2011, is the longest in the NHL.
The Sabres (39-37-6, 84 points) also fired assistant coach Jason Christie and video coordinator Matt Smith. The Sabres have had six head coaches since Lindy Ruff took them to the playoffs.
Granato, 56, was 122-125-27 in 274 games. He replaced Ralph Krueger on March 17, 2021.
In 2022, Granato received a two-year contract extension that hadn’t even kicked in yet. He is under contract through the 2025-26 season.
Murray will not have surgery on injured ankle
Andy Murray will not undergo surgery on the ankle he injured at the Miami Open last month but no timeline has been given for his return, the BBC reported on Monday.
The 36-year-old Scot rolled his ankle in the deciding set of his loss to Czech Tomas Machac in southern Florida and withdrew from this month’s Monte Carlo Masters and Munich Open.
“Latest update from Andy is that he is now out of the walking boot and will not be having surgery on his ankle,” a spokesperson for Murray was quoted as saying.
“His rehab is going well and he is hoping to start hitting again on court soon. As yet he doesn’t have a date yet for returning to competition.”