Top receiver Addison headed to USC
Jordan Addison, the top receiver in college football last season, is on his way to USC in a transfer sure to send shock waves through a sport grappling with its new free-market reality.
After entering the transfer portal amid a cloud of controversy, Addison made official Thursday what many had expected since his exit from Pittsburgh last month. He’s heading to USC to be the top target in an offense that has been rebuilt through the transfer portal by new coach Lincoln Riley.
Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the outstanding receiver in college football, chose USC over Texas after visiting both schools within the last week.
Riley adds one of the nation’s top playmakers to an offense that already has added the top transfer quarterback (Caleb Williams), one of the top transfer running backs (Travis Dye) and another of the top transfer receivers (Mario Williams). Addison is the 18th transfer to join USC since Riley’s hiring last November.
“The last few weeks have been very difficult. I struggled with my decision as to whether I should exercise my right to enter the portal,” Addison wrote on social media. “Student athletes have not always had that opportunity, and I made that choice.”
— Ryan Kartje
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” after the Alabama coach accused the rival Aggies of using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes. Saban apologized a few hours later but generally stuck to his stance, and SEC Commissioner
Greg Sankey followed soon after with a public reprimand for both.
The public spat is perhaps the ugliest display of the growing angst among college coaches who are wrestling with two big changes: the NIL compensation era launched last July and its influence on recruiting, and the ease with which players can transfer.
Injured Scherzer out 6 to 8 weeks
New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks because of a strained oblique muscle in his left side, the latest blow to a pitching staff already missing ace Jacob deGrom.
Scherzer had an MRI on Thursday, a day after he pulled himself from a start against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team said the scan detected a moderate-to-high grade strain.
Luke Jackson, sidelined for the season by Tommy John surgery, lost his salary arbitration hearing with the Atlanta Braves and was awarded the team’s $3.6-million offer rather than his $4million request . ... Cleveland Guardians star third baseman Jose Ramirez will undergo X-rays and other tests on his right shin after being injured during an at-bat Thursday . ... The Chicago
Cubs activated right-hander Marcus Stroman from the COVID-19 injured list . ... Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter was released by the Texas Rangers from their triple-A team and became a free agent.
For the first time, the officiating crews at a men’s World Cup will include women, FIFA announced. The governing body for global soccer released the list of the 129 referees, assistant referees and video replay officials for this fall’s tournament in Qatar and it included three female center referees and three assistant referees. Included in the second group is Kathryn Nesbitt of the U.S. and Karen Díaz Medina of Mexico.
— Kevin Baxter
Mitch Kupchak signed a multiyear contract extension to remain the Charlotte Hornets’ general manager . ... The Minnesota Timberwolves were talking to Denver Nuggets President Tim Connelly about the role of president of basketball operations role, the Associated Press confirmed.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, the three leading favorites for the men’s title at the French Open, are on the same side of the bracket for the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, which begins Sunday. Naomi Osaka, who is unseeded in the women’s draw, will have a tough first-round match against No. 27 Amanda Anisimova, who defeated her at the Australian Open.
Valparaiso hired Charles Small as its athletic director. Small begins July 1 and will become the first Black athletic director in school history.