Newgarden takes blame in scandal
Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden blinked back tears Friday as he accepted blame for manipulating the pushto-pass system in his season-opening IndyCar win that has since been stripped, calling it an embarrassment and acknowledging that he may have a long road ahead in winning back the respect of his peers.
During an emotional 25-minute news conference at Barber Motorsports Park ahead of this weekend's race, the twotime series champion insisted he is “not a liar” and didn't intentionally break the rules. It was his first public comment since IndyCar took away his March 10 victory at St. Petersburg, Florida — the first disqualification by the series in 29 years.
Newgarden stripping his win was “absolutely” the right decision by the open-wheel series whose owner, Roger Penske, also runs Newgarden's team and is one of the giants in motorsports. The decision has thrown IndyCar into turmoil as it prepares for next month's showcase Indianapolis 500.
Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who finished third, also was disqualified while fourthplace finisher Will Power was docked 10 points though he wasn't accused of any wrongdoing. The Penske drivers were fined $25,000 because the manipulated systems were on all three cars.
Pro football
NFL TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO WEAR PROTECTIVE CAPS >> The NFL announced it will allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games next season if they choose.
The league is also expanding the use of the devices during practices. Defensive backs and receivers have joined the position groups now required to wear the caps during all contact practices.
The NFL has mandated the caps' use at practices for some players since 2022. Quarterbacks, kickers and punters are the only remaining position groups not required to wear them during practice.
No players will be required to wear the caps during games, but they now have the option to do so.
KOREY CUNNINGHAM FOUND DEAD >> Korey Cunningham, an offensive lineman who played for three NFL teams during a five-year career, has died. He was 28.
Police said Cunningham was found dead Thursday in his Clifton, New Jersey, home. Officers had gone to the home after a family member reported they could not contact Cunningham.
The cause of death remains under investigation. Police said there was no evidence of foul play.
Cunningham, who played at the University of Cincinnati, was a seventhround draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. After one season in Arizona, he then spent parts of two seasons with the New England Patriots.
He joined the New York Giants in 2021, and was with the team for two years.
Attorneys for more than two dozen Iowa and Iowa State athletes who were ensnared in a state gambling sting filed a civil lawsuit seeking unspecified monetary damages from the state and its public safety and criminal investigation agencies for violating the athletes' rights and smearing their reputations.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Des Moines and names as plaintiffs 17 athletes from Iowa, eight from Iowa State and one from Ellsworth Community College. They request a jury trial.
Most of the athletes who faced criminal charges connected to the 2023 investigation agreed to plead guilty to underage gambling and pay a fine and in return had a count of identity theft dismissed.
But Iowa State football players Isaiah Lee, Jirehl Brock and Enyi Uwazurike and wrestler Paniro Johnson did not accept plea deals and in March had all charges against them dropped because the Division of Criminal Investigation was found to have misused tracking software that detected open mobile betting apps on cell phones in ISU athletic facilities.
Baseball ORIOLES SEND HOLLIDAY BACK TO MINORS >>
Highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday has been optioned to the minor leagues by the Baltimore Orioles after starting his big league career with a disappointing thud.
Holliday was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk on April 10 amid plenty of fanfare, but the 20-yearold second baseman managed only two hits — both singles — and two walks in 36 plate appearances. He struck out 18 times and was batting just .059 with one RBI and a .111 on-base percentage.
Pro basketball
EMBIID SAYS HE HAS BELL'S PALSY >> Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Embiid wore sunglasses to the podium after he scored 50 points in the Sixers' Game 3 win over the New York Knicks and said he's dealt with various symptoms such as blurred vision and dry eyes.
Embiid said he first started noticing the affliction about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament. Embiid had 23 points and 15 rebounds in a win that put them in the playoffs.
College basketball
USC GIVES GOTTLIEB A CONTRACT EXTENSION >> Southern California coach Lindsay Gottlieb has signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season after the Trojans reached the NCAA Elite Eight in her third season and made their deepest tournament run in 30 years, athletic director Jen Cohen announced.
With star JuJu Watkins leading the way, the Trojans went 29-6, were ranked as high as No. 3 and earned their first No. 1 NCAA seed since 1986.