Earthquakes, Roots set to play U.S. Open Cup game
Oakland A's fans will have another opportunity to give owner John Fisher a piece of their minds next month.
Instead of protesting at the Coliseum, though, the Oakland faithful will have to take their “sell” chants at PayPal Park in San Jose.
The Fisher-owned San Jose Earthquakes will host the Oakland Roots of USLC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's round of 32 on May 7.
The Bay Area teams were put in the Lopez Division with fellow Northern California USLC squads Sacramento Republic FC and Monterey Bay FC.
The Earthquakes and Roots faced off in a preseason match in 2021, when Cade Cowell scored in the 84thminute to lift San Jose to a 3-2 win.
Fisher, who recently announced the A's will play in Sacramento from 202527 before they hope to open a new ballpark in Las Vegas, has been a majority owner of the Earthquakes since 2007. San Jose (1-7-0) has a leaguelow three points through eight games. The Roots (2-1-3) are in eighth place in their conference with seven points.
— Nathan Canilao
NFL
BILLS EXPLORE PARTIAL SALE >> Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced on Friday. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%.
College football
ELECTRONIC AGE >> The NCAA's football oversight committee approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season. The football rules committee last month made a recommendation to allow — but not require — teams at the highest tier of Division I to use radio technology.
Only one player for each team will be permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field. The communication from the coach to the player will be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
Men's college gymnastics
STANFORD, CAL SHINE >> No. 1 Stanford secured a spot in today's national championship meet at Ohio State, posting the top score in the morning qualifying seassion with a 417.389 mark. Stanford captured two individual titles, with sophomore Asher Hong winning on parallel bars (14.700) and pommel horse (14.300). Cal was fourth (407.158) and qualified 10 individuals, including all three allarounders, for the final.
College basketball
GAELS GET TRANSFER >> Saint Mary's made their first signing out of the transfer portal this year, bringing in 6-foot-8 forward Paulius Murauskas, formerly of Arizona. He has three years of eligibility left. Murauskas played in 23 games for the Wildcats and averaged 2.7 points.
Golf
MORIKAWA SOLID >> Cal alum Collin Morikawa had another solid round in the RBC Heritage with a 5-under 66, and is in a four-way share of the lead with Tom Hoge (64), J.T. Poston (68) and Sepp Straka (65).
TEEN MAKES CUT >> Miles Russell, 15, became the youngest player to make the cut in the 35-year history of the Korn Ferry Tour as he posted a 5-under 66 in the Lecom Suncoast Classic. Russell, a high school freshman from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is six shots out of the lead.
KORDA LURKING >> Nelly Korda, looking to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win, shot a 3-under 69 in the second round of the Chevron Championship, the year's first major, leaving her one shot behind leaders Atthaya Thitikul and Jin Hee Im, who are both 8-under.
Concord's Yealimi Noh is four strokes back and tied for 10th.