Report: NFL hires first female official
U.S., Canada cruise into women’s world hockey title game
In a groundbreaking move, the NFL is hiring Sarah Thomas as its first female permanent official for regular-season games, according to sources.
A former official for Conference USA football games, Thomas joins the NFL along with seven other officials for next season.
The Mississippi native has previously officiated NFL preseason games, working as a line judge. Thomas was one of 21 finalists for a permanent officiating job two years ago.
“She has the right temperament and attitude and feel for the game,” an officiating source said. “She knows the rules and understands how to apply them in the spirit of the rules. That sets her apart, male or female.”
The NFL didn’t confirm Thomas’ hire, with an official announcement expected as soon as next week.
The Raiders reportedly n are interested enough in free-agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree to have him in for a visit. According to Reid Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, Crabtree will visit the Raiders next week.
The 49ers’ second-leading receiver caught 68 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns last season, playing 16 games after recovering from an Achilles tear. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft had his best season with the 49ers in 2012, catching 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.
The 49ers signed special n teams contributor and linebacker Nick Bellore to a two-year contract.
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Bellore, 25, spent his first four years with the New York Jets. Last season, he ranked second on the Jets with 15 special teams tackles.
The Indianapolis Colts n have found another potential starting safety in free agency, agreeing to terms with Dwight Lowery. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The sevenyear veteran out of San Jose State started 15 games with the Atlanta Falcons last season and finished with a career-high 85 tackles.
Washington acquired two-time Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed 2016 draft pick. Washington general manager Scot McCloughan was on the San Francisco staff when Goldson was drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round in 2007. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the 49ers.
Hockey
The United States routed Russia 13-1 to advance to the gold-medal game against Canada at the women’s world hockey championship.
Canada defeated Finland 3-0 in the other semifinal to set up Saturday’s final. Finland and Russia will play for the bronze medal that day.
The U.S. and Canada have met in the championship game of all 16 world events. The Canadians won the first eight titles, but the Americans have taken five of the past seven, including four of the last five.
Brianna Decker led the U.S. with three goals.
Miscellany
Luis Silva scored in the first minute of stoppage time and Bill Hamid recorded his third shutout of the season as D.C. United beat Orlando City SC 1-0.
IOC president Thomas Bach will visit India this month amid speculation of a bid for the 2024 Olympics by New Delhi or the western city of Ahmedabad.
A Chinese newspaper n says the country’s former Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang plans to announce his retirement next week after nagging injuries. Liu, 31, became one of China’s best-known athletes by winning the 110-meter hurdles title at the 2004 Athens Olympics.