Robinson statue thief admits guilt
A 45-year-old man, Ricky Alderete, pleaded guilty in the theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue that was cut off at the ankles and found days later smoldering in a trash can in a city park in Kansas. Police said there was no evidence it was a hate-motivated crime. Rather, the intent was to sell the metal for scrap.
Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Brash underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season.
A Kansas judge ordered University of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr. to stand trial on a rape charge following testimony from a woman who said she was “terrified” as she was being assaulted. Shannon, 23, is accused of committing sexual assault on Sept. 9 at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas. A woman told police Shannon grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. Shannon testified Friday that he never touched the woman, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
Grand Canyon and Seattle will join the West Coast Conference beginning in 2025-26 . ... Missouri State will move up to the highest tier of Division I college football and join Conference USA in 2025.
Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus says No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams of USC will open the season as the No. 1 quarterback . ... The New York Giants signed rookie free-agent defensive back Alex Johnson of UCLA. ... Arizona agreed to terms on a one-year deal with receiver Zay Jones, the Associated Press reported.
A WNBA franchise was awarded to Toronto for the 2026 season, AP reported.
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after accidentally getting hit on the head by an aluminum water bottle after a win at the Italian Open. Also advancing in second-round matches were 2017 champion Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov and Ben Shelton. On the women’s side, defending champion Elena Rybakina withdrew because of illness, while Sofia Kenin eliminated Ons Jabeur 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, and Maria Sakkari, Jelena Ostapenko and Danielle Collins also advanced. ... Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem plans to retire at the end of 2024.
The United States lost to Sweden 5-2 in its opening match at the ice hockey world championship.
Olympic silver medalist Kenny Bednarek set the fastest time of the year ( 19.67 seconds) in the 200 at the Doha Diamond League.