IOWA WON’T PAY EX-PLAYERS’ DEMAND FOR $20M

The University of Iowa said it would not pay a demand from eight Black former football players for $20 million in compensation for alleged racial discrimination they faced playing for the Hawkeyes.

The university general counsel’s office released its response Sunday to a 21-page certified letter dated Oct. 5 from civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons of Tulsa, Okla., who is representing the players.

The players also called for the firings of head football coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive line coach Brian Ferentz and Athletic Director Gary Barta.

Solomon-Simmons’ letter said if the demands are not met by today, the former players are prepared to file a lawsuit seeking damages for the unlawful mistreatment they said they endured. SolomonSimmons did not immediate respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

University President Bruce Harreld said in a statement the school appreciated the former players sharing insights on their experiences and that many of their concerns have been reviewed and addressed.

“There are several demands outlined in the letter and we are proud of the efforts made to date,” Harreld said.

Baseball

Miami Marlins executive Michael Hill’s 19-season tenure with the franchise has ended. Hill was president of baseball operations for the past six years and provided continuity after a 2017 change in ownership, but his contract expired and he will not be back next season, CEO Derek Jeter said.

Philadelphia Phillies pitching coach Bryan Price is retiring from a full-time coaching capacity. The 58-year-old Price spent one season with the Phillies. Under Price, the starters improved their ERA from 4.64 in 2019 to 4.08 this season.

Tennis

Alexander Zverev ended his 17-month wait for a title by drawing on the pain of his U.S. Open final defeat to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 and win the Cologne Indoors in Germany.

• Andrey Rublev joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win four tour singles titles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he beat Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

• Laslo Djere of Serbia beat Italian wild card Marco

Cecchinato to win the Sardegna Open in Sardinia. Djere won 7-6 (3), 7-5, sealing the final with a deep backhand return.

Soccer

A two-week break for international matches has done nothing to suppress the relentless unpredictability of this season’s Premier League. Trailing 3-0 after 81 minutes, West Ham scored three times to force a 3-3 draw at Tottenham — the equalizer coming with 20 seconds left of the four minutes of stoppage time as Manuel Lanzini arrowed a piledriver into the top corner from 25 yards (meters). With Aston Villa beating Leicester 1-0 courtesy of a stoppage-time goal and Brighton equalizing against Crystal Palace 1-1 in added-on time, it continues to be the wildest of seasons.

Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title took a major hit when the champions announced Virgil van Dijk requires surgery on his right knee after damaging ligaments in a challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the Merseyside derby. Liverpool did not give a timescale on Van Dijk’s absence, but an injury of that nature will likely keep the Netherlands international out for a long period.

Pablo Piatti scored on a header in the 89th minute to give MLS-leading Toronto FC (12-2-5) a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United (5-9-4) at East Hartford, Conn.

Death

Minnesota sports columnist and radio personality Sid Hartman, an old-school home team booster who once ran the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers and achieved nearly as much celebrity as some of the athletes he covered, died. He was 100. Hartman, whose first newspaper column was published in 1945, died surrounded by his family, Star Tribune sports editor Chris Carr said.

Also

Tao Geoghegan Hart sprinted to victory at the end of the mountainous 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia, and Joao Almeida held onto the overall leader’s pink jersey but saw his advantage slashed.

Lucas Braathen upset the pre-race favorites to clinch his first career win at the seasonopening men’s World Cup giant slalom at Soelden, Austria. The Norwegian was fifth before posting the second-fastest time in the decisive leg to finish ahead of Swiss duo