DIGEST NHL criticizes reduction of Watson’s suspension
The NHL is criticizing an arbitrator’s decision to reduce the suspension of Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson, who pleaded no contest in July to a domestic assault charge.
Watson received a 27-game suspension from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman last month. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday that arbitrator Shyam Das had reduced it to 18 games.
The NHL issued a statement Friday saying that “we are disappointed with the arbitrator’s decision.”
“We firmly believe that the right of appeal to an arbitrator of league discipline was never intended to substitute the arbitrator’s judgment for that of the commissioner, particularly on matters of important league policy and the articulation of acceptable standards of conduct for individuals involved in the National Hockey League,” the NHL said in its statement.
The NHL added “we will not hesitate to adhere to and enforce — through firm discipline as necessary — the standards of personal conduct we feel are appropriate for our league.”
The NHL doesn’t have a domestic violence policy. It takes each situation case by case.
Watson was arrested June 16 after a witness flagged down a police officer to a gas station in Franklin, Tenn. Watson told police he and his girlfriend were arguing and that he pushed her. Officers said they found red marks on her chest, and she said Watson caused them. Watson pleaded no contest to domestic assault on July 24. Golf: Gary Woodland shot an 11-under-par 61 to tie the course record and join Marc Leishman in a share of the second-round lead at the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Woodland and Leishman (62) were at 14under 130 on the revamped TPC Kuala Lumpur West course. Shubhankar Sharma (64) and Paul Casey (65) were tied for third, one stroke behind. Both golfers had stretches of four birdies and an eagle in five holes.
No. 1-ranked Sung Hyun Park and No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn were among four sharing the lead after two rounds of the KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea. Park shot a second straight 4-under 68 and Jutanugarn was better with a 67 for two-round totals of 8-under 136 at the Sky 72 Ocean Course.
Bernhard Langer birdied nine of the last 10 holes at rain-softened Prestonwood for a 10under 62 and share of lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship at Cary, N.C. Tom Lehman and Gene Sauers matched the 61-year-old Langer. Tennis: Defending champion Roger Federer served 10 aces and advanced to the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over eighthseeded Kei Nishikori. Federer next will face 13th-seeded Borna Coric, who defeated Matthew Ebden 7-5, 6-4. Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, a 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal winner over Kyle Edmund, will face secondseeded Novak Djokovic, who topped seventh-seeded Kevin Anderson 7-6 (1), 6-3.