PACKERS’ MATTHEWS NEEDS NOSE SURGERY
WIS.» Green Bay Packers GRAND CHUTE, linebacker Clay Matthews says he needs surgery on his nose after getting hit in the face with a line drive during a charity softball game.
Matthews was pitching during Saturday’s game when offensive lineman Lucas Patrick hit the ball directly into Matthews’ face, knocking him to the ground. The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that Matthews got up, covered his face with his glove, then walked to the dugout. He did not return to the game.
Matthews tweeted later that he busted his nose and would have surgery after the swelling subsides. He thanked fans for their well-wishes and expressed gratitude that his injury wasn’t more serious.
The Packers are in the middle of their organized team activities. Matthews hasn’t participated in OTAs because of a knee injury.
Palestinian exec wants Messi to boycott friendly.
RAMALLAH, WEST
The head of the Palestinian football federation is calling on Arab and Muslim sports fans to burn photos and T-shirts of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi if he attends a friendly match between Argentina and Israel next weekend.
Jibril Rajoub made the call after a demonstration in front of the Argentinian representative office in Ramallah, where he asked Argentina to cancel the match.
The match is scheduled to be played Saturday at an Israeli soccer stadium in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Malha. The neighborhood is situated on the site of a former Palestinian village destroyed during the war that established Israel 70 years ago.
“Messi. Don’t come. Don’t whitewash the face of racism,” Rajoub said.
Israel’s football federation says Messi is expected to play at next week’s match.
Kwiatkowski wins Dauphine prologue.
FRANCE» Polish cyclist VALENCE, Michal Kwiatkowski narrowly won the opening prologue at the Criterium du Dauphine stage race.
A day after celebrating his 28th birthday, the Team Sky rider completed the 6.6-kilometer (4.1-mile) course in the southern city of Valence in seven minutes, 25 seconds.
It was just enough to beat Dutch rider Jos Van Emden by one second and Gianni Moscon — Kwiatkowski’s teammate — by three seconds.
Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas crashed taking a right-hand turn and placed 21 seconds behind Kwiatkowski in 43rd place.
Kwiatkowski and Thomas are support riders for Chris Froome at the Tour de France, which starts next month. Froome is not competing at the week-long Dauphine, a habitual pre-Tour warm-up.
Olesen wins Italian Open with 10foot putt.
ITALY» Thorbjorn BRESCIA,
Olesen of Denmark sunk a 10-foot putt on the final hole to win the Italian Open and avoid a playoff with home favorite Francesco Molinari.
Olesen finished one stroke ahead of the Italian for his fifth European Tour victory and first Rolex Series win.
Hunter-Reay wins IndyCar.
DETROIT» Ryan Hunter-Reay won his first IndyCar race since 2015, prevailing at Belle Isle after teammate Alexander Rossi slid off the track at a turn with about seven laps to go.
Rossi, the pole winner, was struggling to hold off Hunter-Reay before the mishap at a right turn on lap 64 of 70. From there, it was smooth sailing for Hunter-Reay on the 2.35-mile street course. He finished more than 11 seconds ahead of second-place Will Power.
Defar, Ekiru win Rock ’n’ Roll titles.
DIEGO» Two-time Olympic gold SAN medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the women’s Synchrony Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon while Titus Ekiru of Kenya upset Olympic silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia in the men’s race.