St. Charles reverses course, will allow football, soccer
After a four-day suspension of football and soccer activities, St. Charles officials reconsidered their position Thursday and will allow teams to compete beginning Sept. 8.
In a letter to parents, principal James Lower said the decision was reversed after reviewing comments and insights from Gov. Mike Dewine in the state’s health order this week, as well as further discussions with other Central Catholic League administrators.
Fox knocks Brennaman off NFL broadcasts over gay slur
Thom Brennaman will not be calling NFL games on Fox this season after using a gay slur on air during a Cincinnati Reds broadcast.
Fox Sports issued a statement Thursday that said “we are moving forward with our NFL schedule which will not include him.”
Brennaman had been a part of Fox’s NFL announcer lineup since it started televising league games in 1994. He was part of the No. 3 announcer team last season and was paired with analyst and former Ohio State and NFL player Chris Spielman.
The Reds announced late Wednesday that the 56-year old broadcaster was suspended.
Iowa dropping four sports in light of COVID-19 losses
Iowa will drop four sports programs as part of the athletic department’s response to a projected loss of $100 million in revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic.
School president Bruce Harreld and athletic director Gary Barta said Friday that men’s gymnastics, men’s tennis and men’s and women’s swimming and diving will be discontinued after the 2020-21 academic year.
Iowa is the second school in a Power Five conference to drop sports. Stanford announced last month that it would eliminate 11 sports, and more than 200 sports programs have been cut across the NCAA’S three divisions and NAIA since March.
Clijsters withdraws from tuneup to US Open due to ab injury
Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters withdrew from the Western & Southern Open on Friday because of an abdominal injury, but still hopes to play in the U.S. Open.
The 37-year-old Belgian, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, came out of retirement this year. She has won the U.S. Open three times, the last in 2010.
The U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 31, would be Clijsters’ first Grand Slam tournament since she competed at Flushing Meadows in 2012.
The Western & Southern Open begins today in New York, also at Flushing Meadows.
Messi’s tenure with Barcelona may be coming to an end
For every day that goes by without a word from Lionel Messi, a new rumor surfaces about his future with the Barcelona soccer club.
And the doubts increased after Catalan radio station RAC1 said Thursday that the Argentina star met with new coach Ronald Koeman and said he sees himself “more out than in” the club at the moment.
Messi hasn’t made any public statement since Barcelona’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals last week, putting in doubt his future with the team.
Messi, who has been with the Catalan club for nearly two decades, has a contract with Barcelona until the end of the 2020-21 season.
Red Bulls edge New York rival; Union, Revs play to tie
Kyle Duncan scored in the 59th minute to lift the New York Red Bulls past New York City FC in the MLS’ Hudson River Derby in Harrison, New Jersey.
NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson bobbled Duncan’s shot from distance, and a video review confirmed that the
ball crossed the goal line.
In Foxboro, Massachusetts, Matt Turner made five saves for the New England Revolution in a scoreless draw with the Philadelphia Union.
Andre Blake recorded his second shutout in six games for the Union (21-3). The Revs are 1-1-4.
Holmqvist takes lead in Women’s British Open at midway point
Dani Holmqvist shot a 1-under-par 70 in windy morning conditions to be the only player under par after 36 goals of the Women’s British Open in Troon, Scotland.
It was another tough day at Royal Troon, as first-round leader Amy Olson shot 81 — 14 strokes worse than Thursday — and stars like Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson and defending champion Hinako Shibuno missed the cut.
A 1-under total of 141 left Holmqvist, a 32-year-old Swede, one stroke ahead of Austin Ernst of the United States (70) and Sophia Popov of Germany (72). The rest of the 144-player field was over par.
Williams Formula One team sold to US investment firm
Williams has been bought by an American-based investment firm after being put up for sale in May, the British Formula One team said Friday.
The team will continue to race under the Williams name and remain at its English base in Oxfordshire.
The team, created by the Williams family in 1977, has won seven drivers’ season championships and nine constructors’ titles. However, the last of those came with Jacques Villeneuve behind the wheel in 1997, and it is hoped that the fresh investment from Dorilton Capital can get the team back toward the front of the grid.
From staff and wire reports