Coyotes GM resigns, drawing rebuke from management
Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka has stepped down, one week before the club opens the Stanley Cup qualifiers against Nashville.
The Coyotes announced that former player and current assistant GM Steve Sullivan will serve as interim general manager.
The team was clearly miffed by the sudden departure.
"The club is disappointed in his actions and his timing as the Coyotes prepare to enter the NHL'S hub city of Edmonton …" the team said in a statement. "Chayka has chosen to quit on a strong and competitive team, a dedicated staff, and the Arizona Coyotes fans, the greatest fans in the NHL."
Chayka made a name for himself as one of the NHL'S top general managers since being promoted in 2016, and last year he signed a contract extension through 2024.
But his relationship with new team owner Alex Meruelo began to deteriorate when he asked for permission to pursue a non-nhl job opportunity. The Arizona Republic reported that Chayka was not invited to a recent dinner with Meruelo and new CEO Xavier Gutierrez to talk with star winger Taylor Hall about a contract extension.
Dash defeats Red Stars for Challenge Cup title
Sophie Schmidt scored on an early penalty kick and Shea Groom added a stoppage-time goal to give the Houston Dash the Challenge Cup tournament title with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday in Sandy, Utah.
The monthlong tournament was National Women's Soccer League reboot after the regular season was shut down by the coronavirus outbreak. Houston, in its seventh year in the league, had never previously made the playoffs.
The Red Stars went to the NWSL championship game last season, but was routed 4-0 by the North Carolina Courage.
The NWSL was the first professional team sport to return in the United States.
Union advances past Revs as MLS knockout rounds begin
Sergio Santos scored in the 63rd minute and the Philadelphia Union overcame a quiet first half to advance to the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back tournament with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Union will play the winner of Sunday's match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sporting Kansas City in a quarterfinal on Thursday.
The Revolution was eliminated but not without some drama. Coach Bruce Arena, the former U.S. national team coach, was handed a red card following the game, apparently for comments made to officials.
Akindele’s goal sends Orlando past Montreal at tournament
Tesho Akindele scored in the 60th minute and Orlando City advanced to the quarterfinals of the MLS tournament with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact.
Orlando City will play the winner of tonight's clash between the defending league champion Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Orlando City dominated possession in the opening half but couldn't score. Akindele finally got Orlando on the scoreboard when apparent miscommunication between Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop and defender Rod Fanni allowed him to dash forward and easily slot the goal.
Seahawks acquire Pro Bowl safety for draft picks, Mcdougald
Jamal Adams' wish to be traded by the New York Jets was finally granted on Saturday. And the Seattle Seahawks paid a bundle to get the disgruntled star safety.
New York received a massive haul in the deal: first-round picks in 2021 and 2022, a 2021 third-rounder and safety Bradley Mcdougald, a Dublin Scioto graduate and seven-year NFL veteran. The Seahawks also received a a fourthround pick in 2022.
The deal ended a contentious several months for Adams and the Jets, a situation that increasingly appeared headed for a messy divorce when the two-time Pro Bowl selection criticized ownership last week and then took shots at coach Adam Gase.
Bears trade Big Walnut graduate Shaheen to Dolphins
The Chicago Bears traded tight end Adam Shaheen, who was a 2017 second-round draft pick out of Ashland, to the Miami Dolphins on Saturday for a conditional late-round draft pick.
Shaheen, a high school graduate of Big Walnut, was slowed by injuries in his three seasons with the Bears, catching four touchdown passes.
Petty’s brother, also in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, dies
Maurice Petty, part of a stock car racing dynasty that includes father Lee and brother Richard, and the first engine builder to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, died Saturday. He was 81.
Petty's family did not disclose the cause of death.
While other family members were acclaimed for their ability behind the wheel, Maurice Petty earned the nickname "The Chief" for his ability to turn a wrench. He helped his family win 198 races and seven championships in NASCAR'S premier series, and he also built engines that carried Hall of Famer Buddy Baker, Jim Paschal and Pete Hamilton to victory.
Jones beats Cindric in duel to win Xfinity race at Kansas
Brandon Jones came roaring around the outside of Austin Cindric on the second attempt at a green-whitecheckered finish, then won the race to the finish line to win his second consecutive Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday.
It was the second win of the season for the 23-year-old Jones, and it kept Cindric from matching Sam Ard's series record by winning his fourth straight race. Cindric wound up leading 131 of 175 laps in an otherwise dominant performance.
Harrison Burton finished third. The fourth consecutive 1 1/2-mile track for the Xfinity Series was a challenge all day for Noah Gragson, who was third in points behind a pair of wins but couldn't get his car right. He wound up finishing 15th.
South Korea allowing limited number of fans for baseball
Masked fans hopped, sang and shouted cheers in baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities began allowing spectators to return to professional sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea's 2020 baseball season began in early May without fans allowed in the stands. But now, the Korean Baseball Organization is allowing a limited number of fans — 10% of the stadium capacity — to watch games live.
From wire reports