Hall of Famer Ripken says he has made a full recovery from cancer

Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. has made a full recovery from prostate cancer, he said Thursday.

On a Zoom call with reporters, Ripken, who turns 60 next week, said he was diagnosed in February during a routine checkup and underwent surgery in March.

“I don’t know if I’m the only one that’s ever did it in and out on the same day with this kind of surgery,” Ripken told reporters. “But the good news is it has a real happy ending. The cancer was all contained in the prostate. They did a pathology report afterward and confirmed that that was the case.

“I’ve since had a threemonth test to see if my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) was undetectable, and it was, so we can make a case that all the cancer was contained and it’s all out now.”

Golf

FOUR SHARE NORTHERN TRUST LEAD >> Harris English made the difficult look easy in The Northern Trust, just like he has done all year to even reach this position in the PGA Tour’s postseason.

Facing the tough stretch on the back nine of the TPC Boston to start his round, English hit 5-iron on the 11th and 12th holes, both of them to about 8 feet for birdies. He followed with two long birdie putts to run his streak to four, and finished at 7-under 64.

By the end of the opening round, English shared the lead with Kevin Streelman, Cameron Davis of Australia and Russell Henley, who finished with a tap-in eagle.

Good starts were important to so many in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which are as much about advancing as avoiding elimination. The top 70 from the 122-man field (three players have withdrawn) move on to next week for another $9.5 million event. The goal then is to reach the top 30 for the Tour Championship.

Tiger Woods opened with a 68 with five birdies over his last 10 holes.

AMERICAN OLSON STANDS OUT AT WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN >> The opening round of Women’s British Open, the first women’s major of a pandemic-affected year, was a slog for many of the world’s biggest names at Royal Troon. For Amy Olson, though, it was a stroll.

The American was the only player to shoot below 70 in what some said was a four-club wind on the famous links in eastern Scotland, her 4-under 67 earning her a three-stroke lead.

Only two others in the 144-player field — Sophia Popov of Germany and Marina Alex of the United States — shot under par, both with rounds of 70. BERTSCH LEADS CHAMPIONS EVENT >> Shane Bertsch shot his second straight 7-under 64 to take a fourstroke lead into the final round of the Charles Schwab Series at Big Cedar Lodge, his second event on the PGA Tour Champions.

NFL

BROWNS DB JOHNSON SUFFERS LACERATED LIVER >> Cleveland Browns cornerback Kevin Johnson remains hospitalized after lacerating his liver when rookie tight end Harrison Bryant landed on him while the two players battled for a pass in practice on Wednesday.

Johnson, who is expected to be the starting nickel back, is still at University Hospitals. The team said the 28-year-old is resting comfortably and will stay in the hospital for at least another 24 hours for observation.

It’s too early to say how long Johnson could be sidelined as liver lacerations can range in severity from mild to very severe to fatal.

ARIANS SEES THE OLD GRONKOWSKI >> Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said he believes the Rob Gronkowski they’re seeing in training camp — the one Tom Brady lured out of a one-year retirement and persuaded his new team to trade for this offseason — is the same one who shattered countless NFL, Super Bowl and postseason records five and six years ago.

“The back surgeries have healed. So he had a year of healing. He looks to me like he was five or six years ago,” Arians said.

CHIEFS’ HILL INJURES HAMSTRING >> Two-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill left midway through Kansas City’s practice with a hamstring injury after pulling up while attempting to catch a long pass during a one-onone drill. The severity of the injury was not immediately known.

In other Chiefs news, the team will prohibit the wearing of Native American headdresses, face paint and clothing at Arrowhead Stadium as they address what many consider racist imagery associated with their franchise. MCCAFFREY MAY RETURN PUNTS >> The Panthers are considering expanding AllPro running back Christian McCaffrey’s role to include punt returns, too.

McCaffrey saw more snaps than any running back in the league in 2019. Panthers first-year coach Matt Rhule said he’s been working McCaffrey some on punt returns during training camp and leaving open the possibility he could use him in certain game situations.

Media

FOX SUSPENDS BRENNAMAN AFTER ANTI-GAY SLUR >>

Thom Brennaman will not be calling NFL games on Fox after using an anti-gay slur on air during a Cincinnati Reds broadcast.

Fox Sports issued a statement 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 they started televising the league in 1994. He had also called Major League Baseball games for the network from 1996 to 2014.

College football

FIVE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PLAYERS POSITIVE >> Notre Dame announced five football players tested positive in two rounds of coronavirus testing this week. The five players who tested positive are in isolation. Through contact tracing, six other players have been placed in quarantine.

• South Carolina lost one of its most anticipated offensive newcomers for the season after tailback MarShawn Lloyd tore the ACL in his left knee at practice.

• Georgia State freshman QB Mikele Colasurdo will not be able to play this season after being diagnosed with a heart condition related to COVID-19. Though Colasurdo didn’t specify what condition he is dealing with, several athletes have been stricken with Myocarditis, a disease associated with the coronavirus that causes inflammation of the heart.

• East Carolina paused football activities indefinitely after a coronavirus cluster was reported within the team.