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The son of former NFL defensive lineman Vince Wilfork was arrested last month and charged with stealing more than $300,000 of his father's jewelry, including two New England Patriots Super Bowl championship rings, according to a police complaint released by the Galveston (Texas) County District Attorney's Office. Police allege that Wilfork's son, D'Aundre Holmes-Wilfork, 23, sold the rings and other jewelry after stealing them. Wilfork, who played for the Patriots from 2004 to 2014 before finishing his career with the Houston Texans from 2015 to 2016, had contacted police on May 10. He said his two Super Bowl rings were missing, along with two AFC championship rings, and a 2001 Miami Hurricanes national championship ring, among other items including necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Holmes-Wilfork was arrested May 22. According to the police complaint, Wilfork told authorities that he did not report the jewelry missing or stolen immediately because he was unsure...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson sounded resigned to possibly playing the 2021 NFL season on a one-year deal in advance of the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to receive long-term contracts. "I don't have any [contract] updates or nothing like that," Robinson said on a Tuesday Zoom call. "That's not in my control, if I don't [get a long-term deal]. That being a possibility [of playing on the one-year franchise tag], then I mean, that is what it is and I'm comfortable with that. Obviously, that's a possibility. That's fine, it is what it is. As I said before, my main focus now is continuing to be better and get better." The Bears placed the $17.98 franchise tag tender on Robinson after the two sides were unable to agree to an extension last year. The veteran receiver led the team with 102 catches for 1,250 yards in 2020. Robinson, 27, skipped the Bears' voluntary offseason workout program but reported to this week's...

After facing criticism over inequities between the collegiate softball and baseball tournaments, the NCAA said in a statement to ESPN on Wednesday that the softball committee is "soliciting feedback" on scheduling adjustments to the Women's College World Series and reviewing the overall WCWS experience for student-athletes. During the recently completed WCWS in Oklahoma City, Florida State and Oklahoma State played an elimination game that ended at 2:18 a.m. local time, thanks in large part to the event's tightly packed in schedule. The softball tournament does not have any off days between games and operates on a more compact schedule than the College World Series for the men, set to begin Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. After the teams played well into the night, coaches decried the schedule. Several coaches, including Florida State's Lonni Alameda, said during the WCWS that they would like to see more days added to the schedule in order to avoid the same late-night situation...

As the competitive balance of the NBA playoffs is being compromised by a rash of injuries -- with player health affecting just about every second-round series -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James says he saw this coming. Before James offered his best wishes to Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers -- it was announced Wednesday that Leonard will be sidelined with a right knee injury -- he published a series of tweets reflecting on the objections he voiced when the league fast-tracked the 2020-21 season to begin just 71 days after the Lakers were crowned champions in October. Leonard, who has been ruled out for Game 5 of the Clippers' Western Conference semifinal series with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, will be the eighth All-Star to miss a playoff game this year, which is the most in league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, who could miss the start of the Western Conference...

NEW YORK -- On the heels of playing 46 minutes in his first game in 10 days, Nets star guard James Harden is available to play in Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. Meanwhile, All-Star guard Kyrie Irving remains sidelined with a right ankle sprain. Irving will not travel to Milwaukee with the team, Nets coach Steve Nash said Wednesday. Instead, he will continue to get treatment in Brooklyn. He has not yet advanced to doing any on-court work, Nash said. Harden injured his hamstring in Game 1 of the Nets' conference semifinal series against the Bucks on June 5. He was out for over a week with what the team was calling hamstring tightness. Irving sprained his ankle in Game 4 against the Bucks. The organization is preparing for the possibility that Irving won't return this series, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is the NBA's Rookie of the Year, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, capping a stellar first season that came on the heels of him spanning the globe to begin his professional career. Ball, who was announced as a finalist for the award alongside Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards last month, briefly played in Lithuania and Australia before being taken third overall in the 2020 draft by the Hornets, with his potential as an NBA player still a bit of an enigma. Any doubts, however, proved to be unfounded, as Ball averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game for Charlotte this season, shooting 35.2% from 3-point range and immediately contributing to winning basketball in a way rookies rarely do. Haliburton fell to 12th in the draft, where the Iowa State product was happily scooped up by the Kings. He quickly proved...

Longtime Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and general manager Donnie Nelson is out after 24 seasons with the franchise, the team announced Wednesday. Nelson's departure comes after internal friction due to the increasing decision-making influence of Mavericks director of quantitative research and development Haralabos Voulgaris, sources told ESPN. Voulgaris, a former professional gambler hired by the Mavs in 2018, has reported directly to owner Mark Cuban and communicated directly with coach Rick Carlisle despite Nelson's objections, sources said. The decision for Nelson to leave the franchise was made Sunday, sources said. Nelson, 58, worked for the Mavericks for 24 seasons, serving as an assistant general manager and assistant coach before being promoted to president of basketball operations. He remained Cuban's top basketball executive for years after the acrimonious departure of his father, Don, the Mavs' head coach and general manager from 1997 to...

SAN DIEGO -- The PGA Tour is close to banning green-reading books before next season, but four-time major champion Rory McIlroy isn't sure that's enough to even the playing field on the greens. Speaking the day before the start of the 121st U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines, McIlroy wouldn't confirm whether the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council voted to outlaw the books, which provide golfers and their caddies detailed information about course-green slopes. But he did say that he and most other players are in favor of eliminating them. "Look, everything that's talked about in those meetings is somewhat confidential, but what I can say [is that] I use a greens book, and I'd like to get rid of them," McIlroy said Wednesday. "I think everyone is in the same boat, most guys on tour are in the same boat, that if it's going to be available to us and it helps us, people are going to use it. But I think for the greater good of the game, I'd like to see them be outlawed...

Longtime Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and general manager Donnie Nelson is out after 24 seasons with the franchise, the team announced Wednesday. Nelson's departure comes after internal friction due to the increasing decision-making influence of Mavericks director of quantitative research and development Haralabos Voulgaris, sources told ESPN. Voulgaris, a former professional gambler hired by the Mavs in 2018, has reported directly to owner Mark Cuban and communicated directly with coach Rick Carlisle despite Nelson's objections, sources said. The decision for Nelson to leave the franchise was made Sunday, sources said. Nelson worked for the Mavericks for 24 seasons, serving as an assistant general manager and assistant coach before being promoted to president of basketball operations. He remained Cuban's top basketball executive for years after the acrimonious departure of his father, Don, the Mavs' head coach and general manager from 1997 to...

Longtime Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and general manager Donnie Nelson is out after 24 seasons with the franchise, the team announced Wednesday. Nelson's departure comes after internal friction due to the increasing decision-making influence of Mavericks director of quantitative research and development Haralabos Voulgaris, sources told ESPN. Voulgaris, a former professional gambler hired by the Mavs in 2018, has reported directly to owner Mark Cuban and communicated directly with coach Rick Carlisle despite Nelson's objections, sources said. The decision for Nelson to leave the franchise was made Sunday, sources said. Nelson worked for the Mavericks for 24 seasons, serving as an assistant general manager and assistant coach before being promoted to president of basketball operations. He remained Cuban's top basketball executive for years after the acrimonious departure of his father, Don, the Mavs' head coach and general manager from 1997 to...

The  Washington Wizards announced Wednesday that they will not extend the contract of coach Scott Brooks. "We have been committed to taking the proper steps over the last two seasons to develop our young players, bring in pieces to complement Bradley Beal and build a winning environment that will ultimately lead to sustained on-court success," Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. "Our organization will always be grateful to Scott for his dedication and work both on the court and in the community over the past five years and I personally admire and respect how he helped keep our team together during the unprecedented events of the last 15 months." The two sides failed to come to an agreement on a new deal, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooks had just led the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. His contract expired after Washington's first-round loss to the  Philadelphia 76ers, and Sheppard said...

SAN DIEGO -- The PGA Tour is close to banning green-reading books before next season, but four-time major champion Rory McIlroy isn't sure that's enough to even the playing field on the greens. Speaking the day before the start of the 121st U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines, McIlroy wouldn't confirm whether the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council voted to outlaw the books, which provide golfers and their caddies detailed information about course-green slopes. But, he said he and most other players are in favor of eliminating them. "Look, everything that's talked about in those meetings is somewhat confidential, but what I can say [is that] I use a greens book, and I'd like to get rid of them," McIlroy said Wednesday. "I think everyone is in the same boat, most guys on tour are in the same boat, that if it's going to be available to us and it helps us, people are going to use it. But I think for the greater good of the game, I'd like to see them be outlawed and for...

San Diego -- The PGA Tour is close to banning green reading books before the start of next season, but four-time major champion Rory McIlroy isn't sure that's enough to even the playing field on the greens. Speaking the day before the start of the 121st U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines, McIlroy wouldn't confirm whether the PGA Tour Players Advisory Council voted to outlaw the books, which provide golfers and their caddies detailed information about course green slopes. But, he said he and most other players are in favor of eliminating them. "Look, everything that's talked about in those meetings is somewhat confidential, but what I can say [is that] I use a greens book, and I'd like to get rid of them," McIlroy said Wednesday. "I think everyone is in the same boat, most guys on tour are in the same boat, that if it's going to be available to us and it helps us, people are going to use it. But I think for the greater good of the game, I'd like to see them be...

A trio of University of Michigan alumni and their attorneys asked the state's attorney general to open an investigation into how officials at the school dealt with past complaints about Robert Anderson, the late doctor who is accused of molesting hundreds of patients during his time on campus. A group of more than two dozen former athletes, former students and supporters gathered across the street from the university's football stadium Wednesday morning in an effort to spur some action in the sprawling sexual abuse case and say that several past high-ranking officials in the school's athletic department should have done more to stop Anderson's assaults. "Michigan has not changed its culture," said former wrestler Tad Deluca, who set off the investigation that has unearthed more than 800 complaints about Anderson when he wrote a letter to the university nearly three years ago. "Their actions show they don't want change. The university doesn't want transparency about Anderson and his...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Former athletes on Wednesday urged the University of Michigan's governing board to launch a full investigation of sexual abuse committed by a doctor and how the school failed to stop him during his decades on campus. Standing near the school's historic football stadium, they said a May report that detailed numerous complaints about Robert Anderson and the university's failure to act was not enough. "So board of regents, so the University of Michigan -- say my name," said Jon Vaughn, a running back from 1988 to 1991. "Because the time is now for all of you who have been abused here to speak up for justice. We speak because every victim matters. I am not John Doe. I am Jon Vaughn." The news conference was held a day before Michigan regents are to hold a regularly scheduled meeting. No action items involving Anderson were listed on the agenda for Thursday's virtual meeting. Anderson died in 2008. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said she would...

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said Wednesday that he's in "no rush" to get an extension done with the team and that his focus remains on the field. "Everything happens for a reason and it'll handle itself," said Mayfield, who became eligible for an extension this offseason. "So, just worried about winning." The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is coming off a breakout season in which he quarterbacked the Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years. In Cleveland's first postseason appearance since 2002, Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns as the Browns snapped their 17-game losing streak in Pittsburgh. Mayfield finished the season 10th in QBR, though from Week 7 to Week 15 he ranked third, trailing only league MVP Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Mayfield ended with 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, while completing almost 63% of his passes. The Browns already have picked up Mayfield's fifth-year...

The NCAA is investigating allegations of violations within the Arizona State football program, the school confirmed in a statement to ESPN. Arizona State spokeswoman Katie Paquet did not specify what the allegations are related to, citing NCAA bylaws for ongoing investigations. But sources told ESPN that the potential violations are linked to recent recruiting practices and likely involve several Arizona State coaches. Sources told ESPN that part of the NCAA's investigation involves Arizona State hosting prospects during the recruiting dead period, which lasted from March 2020 to June 1, 2021, because of the coronavirus pandemic. FBS programs were prohibited from having recruits on campus during the dead period. Several sources in the Pac-12 told ESPN that ASU also faces allegations about recruiting practices that occurred when the dead period ended, including possible improper contact with prospects at an off-campus recruiting camp earlier this month. The Athletic...

The NCAA is investigating allegations of violations within the Arizona State football program, the school confirmed in a statement to ESPN. Arizona State spokeswoman Katie Paquet did not specify what the allegations are related to, citing NCAA bylaws for ongoing investigations. But sources told ESPN that the potential violations are linked to recent recruiting practices and likely involve several Arizona State coaches. Sources told ESPN that part of the NCAA's investigation involves Arizona State hosting prospects during the recruiting dead period, which lasted from March 2020 to June 1, 2021, because of the coronavirus pandemic. FBS programs were prohibited from having recruits on campus during the dead period. The Athletic reported, citing a source, that ASU's compliance staff has started interviewing coaches about the allegations. Football coach Herm Edwards' involvement in the investigation is not yet known, and a spokesman for the athletic department referred...

Stan Van Gundy is out as the coach of the New Orleans Pelicans after only one season with the franchise, the team announced Wednesday. Van Gundy and Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin had been engaged in talks for weeks, according to sources. New Orleans finished a disappointing 31-41 this past season and fell short of making the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. "On behalf of Mrs. Gayle Benson and the Pelicans organization, I would like to thank Stan for the integrity and professionalism that he demonstrated during his time in New Orleans, as well as the commitment and work ethic he brought to our team," Griffin said in a statement. "This was a difficult decision as I have tremendous respect for Stan both personally and professionally, but we agreed it is in the best interest of our team to move forward in a different direction. We wish Stan, Kim and their family all the best in the future." In talking with reporters on...

 The NCAA is investigating allegations of violations within the Arizona State football program, the school confirmed in a statement to ESPN. Arizona State spokeswoman Katie Paquet did not specify what the allegations are related to, citing NCAA bylaws for ongoing investigations. But sources told ESPN that the potential violations are linked to recent recruiting practices and likely involve several Arizona State coaches. Sources told ESPN that part of the NCAA's investigation involves Arizona State hosting prospects during the recruiting dead period, which lasted from March 2020 to June 1, 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. FBS programs were prohibited from having recruits on campus during the dead period. The Athletic reported, citing a source, that ASU's compliance staff have started interviewing coaches about the allegations. Head coach Herm Edwards' involvement in the investigation is not yet known, and a spokesman for the athletic department referred questions...

Scott Brooks is out as Washington Wizards coach after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a new deal, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooks had just led the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. His contract expired after Washington's first-round loss to the  Philadelphia 76ers, and Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said earlier this month that the team needed to evaluate Brooks. In five seasons, Brooks was 183-207 with three playoff appearances, including making the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2016-17. The Wizards went 34-38 this season. The Wizards will enter a coaching search while also trying to settle the future of Bradley Beal, who is entering the final year of his contract next season. Brooks helped navigate Washington through a season that was threatened by several injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak. The Wizards had their season come to a halt for nine days in January -- including 13 days without...

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will miss Wednesday's Game 5 against the Utah Jazz with a right knee injury and could be out the remainder of the series. The Clippers announced Wednesday that Leonard sustained a right knee sprain in their Game 4 victory and there is "no timetable for his return." More imaging needs to be done to determine the severity of the sprained ligament after the swelling subsides, sources told ESPN. Leonard tweaked the knee on a drive late in LA's Game 4 victory in the Western Conference semifinals, grimacing in pain as he planted on the way to the basket. He stayed in briefly but didn't finish the game. After the game, Leonard clearly did not want to talk about his knee. "I'm good," Leonard said. "Next question." He informed his teammates late Tuesday that he'd be out for Wednesday, sources said.  Leonard sustained a quad tendon injury in his right knee in 2017 but more recently has dealt with issues in his left knee. He has...

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss Wednesday's Game 5 against the Utah Jazz with a right knee injury and could be out the remainder of the series, sources told ESPN. Leonard tweaked the knee on a drive late in the Clippers' Game 4 victory, grimacing in pain as he planted on way to the basket. He stayed in briefly but didn't finish the game. He informed his teammates late Tuesday that he'd be out for Wednesday, sources said. He was not on the Clippers' injury report Tuesday. Leonard suffered a quad tendon injury in his right knee in 2017 but more recently has dealt with issues in his left knee. He's been great in the postseason for the Clippers and is averaging 27.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in the four games against the Jazz. LA is already without center Serge Ibaka, who had back surgery last week.

Bettors are loving a long-shot lefty to defy the odds again at this week's U.S. Open. More bets have been placed on Phil Mickelson to win this week at Torrey Pines than have been placed on any other golfer at multiple U.S. sportsbooks. At Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, Mickelson has attracted nearly twice as many bets as any other golfer, and by the time Thursday's first round tees off, the bookmaker says it's expecting to have a "seven-figure" liability on the 50-1 long shot. "I think the only bigger liability in a recent golf major was when Tiger [Woods] was coming back from all those injuries and won the [2019] Masters," Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill U.S., said in a company release this week. In late May, Mickelson was not in good form, and his odds to win the U.S. Open were in the triple digits. That was before he stunned the golf world by winning the PGA Championship and setting off a flurry of betting interest on the...

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic announced in a statement obtained by ESPN on Wednesday that he will not be joining the Serbian national basketball team for at least the Olympic qualifying tournament. "The simple condition of my body requires a longer absence from the field for recovery," Jokic wrote in a translated statement, adding that it was at the Nuggets' suggestion "and an inevitability that I must accept." It remains unclear whether Jokic will skip the Tokyo Games should Serbia qualify. Jokic has appeared in all 109 of the Nuggets' games since Aug. 1 and finished the season third in total minutes with 2,488. Serbian national team coach Igor Kokoskov said he plans to talk to Jokic directly. Jokic, 26, recently was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, and on Tuesday was named to the All-NBA first team along with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks...

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic announced in a statement obtained by ESPN on Wednesday that he will not be joining the Serbian national team for at least the Olympic qualifying tournament. "The simple condition of my body requires a longer absence from the field for recovery," Jokic wrote in a translated statement, adding that it was at the Nuggets' suggestion "and an inevitability that I must accept." It remains unclear whether Jokic will skip the Tokyo Games should Serbia qualify. Jokic appeared in all 109 of the Nuggets' games since Aug. 1, and finished the season third in total minutes with 2,488. Serbian national team coach Igor Kokoskov said he plans to talk to Jokic directly. Jokic, 26, recently was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, and on Tuesday was named to the All-NBA first team along with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward ...

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols and is out indefinitely, jeopardizing the star's availability for the Western Conference finals, a source confirmed to ESPN's Malika Andrews. The NBA's rules for coronavirus-related isolation periods have evolved throughout the season in correlation with increasing vaccine numbers. If Paul is already vaccinated against COVID-19, he could be facing a shorter absence from the Suns. Phoenix swept Denver in the conference semifinals and will face either the  Utah Jazz or LA Clippers in the Western Conference finals, which are scheduled to start next week. Against the Nuggets, 36-year-old Paul averaged 25.5 points on 61.8% shooting, 58.3% from 3, 100% from the free throw line, plus a 41-to-5 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Athletic first reported Wednesday that Paul would be sidelined indefinitely as a result of entering the protocols. The protocols are the league's...

Bettors are loving a long-shot lefty to defy the odds again at this week's U.S. Open. More bets have been placed on Phil Mickelson to win this week at Torrey Pines than have been placed on any other golfer at multiple U.S. sportsbooks. At Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, Mickelson has attracted nearly twice as many bets as any other golfer, and by the time Thursday's first round tees off, the bookmaker says it's expecting to have a "seven-figure" liability on the 50-1 long shot. "I think the only bigger liability in a recent golf major was when Tiger [Woods] was coming back from all those injuries and won the [2019] Masters," Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill U.S., said in a company release this week. In late May, Mickelson was not in good form, and his odds to win the U.S. Open were in the triple digits. That was before he stunned the golf world by winning the PGA Championship and setting off a flurry of betting interest on the...

Bettors are loving a long-shot lefty to defy the odds again at this week's U.S. Open. More bets have been placed on Phil Mickelson to win this week at Torrey Pines than have been placed on any other golfer at multiple U.S. sportsbooks. At Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, Mickelson has attracted nearly twice as many bets as any other golfer, and by the time Thursday's first round tees off, the bookmaker says it's expecting to have a "seven-figure" liability on the 50-1 long shot. "I think the only bigger liability in a recent golf major was when Tiger [Woods] was coming back from all those injuries and won the [2019] Masters," Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill U.S., said in a company release this week. In late May, Mickelson was not in good form and his odds to win the U.S. Open were in the triple digits. That was before he stunned the golf world by winning the PGA Championship and setting off a flurry of betting interest on the 51-year-old,...

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- On Monday evening, the Brooklyn Nets announced that Kyrie Irving and James Harden would both be sitting out Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Tuesday morning, Harden had other ideas. "[I] woke up and was like, 'You know what? Let's go,'" Harden said after finishing with five points in 46 minutes in Brooklyn's 114-108 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday night as the Nets took a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven series. "I tried to go out there and do the best I can. Hopefully I gave my teammates some encouragement, some life." While Harden's teammates no doubt got a boost from him being on the court, it was hard to argue he was anywhere near his normal self in his first game action since aggravating the right hamstring injury that also kept him out for several weeks at the end of the regular season. The decision to allow Harden to play was made after he tested his hamstring on the court...

The Brooklyn Nets signed Kevin Durant two years ago, fresh off the torn Achilles he suffered in the NBA finals, because they believed he could lead them there. Tuesday night, with Brooklyn's season on the line in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, Durant proved the Nets' faith in him was well-placed. Durant had arguably the best performance of his career Tuesday night, finishing with 49 points on 16-for-23 shooting to go along with 17 rebounds and 10 assists while playing 48 minutes in Brooklyn's 114-108 victory over Milwaukee to give the Nets a 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven affair. "I didn't even think about nothing but just each possession," Durant said afterward. "I was trying to win each possession, and I didn't think of how many points I had or shot attempts, rebounds, assists. "It was more so like, 'Just let me do what I need to do each possession.' That's the approach I always take." What Durant needed to do...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Barry Trotz was livid on the New York Islanders' bench. The Tampa Bay Lightning's Ondrej Palat had just scored to give his team a 2-1 lead in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup playoff semifinal series on Tuesday night. He did so as the referees and linesmen missed that the Lightning had seven skaters on the ice at the same time, which should have stopped play. Trotz yelled at the referees, failing to get their attention. Later, his assistant coach, Lane Lambert, used his video tablet to call up a screen grab, showing the Lightning with too many men on the ice. Trotz pointed to the visual aid as he continued to bellow at the officials following the second-period goal. "The second goal hurt quite a bit. [Because] if they get the third one, there's a little bit more separation," Trotz said after the game. The Lightning would get that third goal, off the stick of defenseman Jan Rutta in the third period, en route to a 4-2 victory over the Islanders...

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, the NBA's MVP, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, the league's scoring leader, highlighted the announcement of the 2020-21 All-NBA teams on Tuesday night. Jokic and Curry were two of the five players named to the first team, where they were joined by Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. All three teams were unveiled on TNT's "Inside The NBA" ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Brooklyn Nets and the Bucks in New York. The second team features  Portland's Damian Lillard and  Phoenix's Chris Paul at the guard spots,  New York's Julius Randle and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James at forward and  Philadelphia's Joel Embiid at center. The third team comprises...

CHICAGO -- Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow sounded off on Major League Baseball's crackdown of foreign substances Tuesday after he was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor tendon strain. Glasnow said, in advance of MLB's initiative, he did away with using sunscreen -- the only foreign substance he said he has ever used -- two starts ago and felt sore the next day due to needing to adjust his grips. He did the same in Monday's outing against the Chicago White Sox and then felt something "pop" in his arm. "I switched my fastball grip and my curveball grip," an animated Glasnow said on a videoconference with reporters. "I had to put my fastball deeper into my hand and grip it way harder. Instead of holding my curveball at the tip of my fingers, I had to dig it deeper into my hand. "I'm choking the s--- out of all my pitches." Glasnow left Monday night's game after four innings. He said he understands what MLB is...

A golfer attempting to qualify for this week's Wichita Open on the Korn Ferry Tour was arrested after allegedly attacking another player during a qualifier Monday. According to police in Newton, Kansas, Luke Smith of Covington, Tennessee, punched the victim in the face and tackled him to the ground during the qualifier at Sand Creek Station golf course. "He held the victim down until he said 'uncle,' and then released him," Newton Police said in a statement. According to police, the argument started when the suspect and his father, who was serving as his caddie, refused to help the victim look for errant shots in the rough. Derek Fribbs, 30, was the third player in the group that also included Smith and the victim, whom Fribbs identified to ESPN as Austen Dailey. Fribbs told ESPN that Smith and his father weren't helping the other players find their lost balls, which caused the group to fall two holes behind the group playing in front of them. As Fribbs and Dailey were looking...

A golfer attempting to qualify for this week's Wichita Open on the Korn Ferry Tour was arrested after allegedly attacking another player during a qualifier on Monday. According to police in Newton, Kansas, Luke Smith of Covington, Tennessee, punched the victim in the face and tackled him to the ground during the qualifier at Sand Creek Station golf course. "He held the victim down until he said 'uncle,' and then released him," Newton Police said in a statement. According to police, the argument started when the suspect and his father, who was serving as his caddie, refused to help the victim look for errant shots in the rough. Smith, who plays collegiately at Tennessee-Martin, was arrested on one count of misdemeanor battery. He was briefly held at the Harvey County Detention Center before being released on bail. Newton Police said their report will be forwarded to the Newton City Prosecutor's Office to review charges. The police department declined to provide further details to...

DAVIE, Fla. -- Tua Tagovailoa brushed off a very rough Day 1 of Miami Dolphins minicamp -- one that included five interceptions -- as a product of emphasizing more aggression in the passing game. It was the closest thing to real football for the Dolphins, who wore helmets for the first time this offseason, and offered small glimpses of what a new offense would look like for Miami. But the lasting memory was the defense's dominance against the quarterbacks; in addition to Tagovailoa's five, backup Jacoby Brissett threw two interceptions in fewer reps. "Obviously, you want to be smart, but if there's a time to make mistakes, now is the time to make mistakes," Tagovailoa said. "We're just seeing what we can fit into holes, what we can throw into coverages, come into the film room and then learn from it." Much of practice consisted of a torrential downpour, and the Dolphins never left the outside field. It was clear coach Brian Flores wanted them to play...

SAN DIEGO -- Four-time major championship winner Brooks Koepka isn't sure how he would describe his brewing rivalry with Bryson DeChambeau. "I don't know if I'd call it conflict," Koepka said Tuesday. "We just don't like each other." Unfortunately, golf fans who wanted to watch the pair play together in the first two rounds of this week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines won't get their wish. While there was speculation that the USGA might pair the last three U.S. Open winners together -- Koepka won at Erin Hills in 2017 and Shinnecock Hills in 2018, Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach in 2019 and DeChambeau at Winged Foot in October -- USGA matchmakers ultimately decided to avoid a potential circus. Both DeChambeau and Koepka on Tuesday denied being approached by USGA officials about potentially being paired together. A USGA official also told ESPN that DeChambeau wasn't asked about playing with Koepka. "I would be OK with that, but there was never really anything...

MIAMI -- Teofimo Lopez has tested positive for COVID-19 and is symptomatic. His Saturday bout vs. George Kambosos that was scheduled to be in Miami and the whole undercard has been moved to Aug. 14, Triller announced. "We send our best to Teofimo and his family and hope they get well soon, and look forward to seeing this epic battle on August 14, 2021," Triller Fight Club co-founder Ryan Kavanaugh said. Kambosos called Lopez irresponsible in a statement posted to Twitter. "Your actions and decisions have affected not only our fight but everyone involved in this fight. Pure irresponsibility on your side. Our time will come and I promise you and the world that I'm going to take you out worse than ever for everything," he wrote. Lopez, the unified lightweight champion and No. 5 on ESPN's pound-for-pound list, was in Las Vegas at the Shakur Stevenson-Jeremiah Nakathila fight Saturday. He arrived back in Miami over the past 24 hours to begin fight week prep. The 23-year-old...

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor tendon strain, the team said Tuesday after he underwent an MRI. The Rays said a timeline for Glasnow's possible return would be determined after he undergoes further medical examination. Glasnow said he won't have surgery for now, and instead will try to strengthen the area. He plans to see another doctor on Friday. If Glasnow chose to undergo Tommy John surgery, that would sideline this season and could prevent him from pitching next year, too.  Glasnow, 27, was placed on the 10-day injured list, and outfielder Mike Brosseau was recalled from Triple-A Durham. Glasnow left Monday night's game against the Chicago White Sox after four innings with right elbow inflammation. He allowed two runs on three hits and exited with Tampa Bay leading 3-2 in a matchup of teams that entered with the two best records in the majors. The 6-foot-8 right-hander walked one...

SAN DIEGO -- Jon Rahm is not letting his withdrawal from the Memorial Tournament and subsequent isolation impact his positive attitude heading into this week's U.S. Open. He also said he wished he had been vaccinated sooner.  The third-ranked golfer in the world said he was playing some of the best golf of his life when he got pulled from the tournament because of a positive COVID-19 test, and he said there's no reason he won't continue that trend, even with less preparation this week at Torrey Pines. "When you don't hit a golf shot for just about a week, it's tough leading into a major, especially a U.S. Open,'' Rahm said Tuesday after a practice round. "I'm confident I can get in form quick enough. ... I still have the memory of all those great golf shots I played, right? I'm going to choose to remember that. I've been playing really good golf all year. Two weeks ago, it's finally clicking all together like I was waiting for it to happen. Finally everything was...

Some pigs have a high level of the steroid she tested positive for.

Through everything that has happened surrounding Aaron Rodgers this offseason, one thing is clear: He still understands sarcasm. The reigning MVP, who has dominated the NFL headlines this spring because of his dissatisfaction with the Green Bay Packers, showed his sense of humor Tuesday during a promotional video in advance of the July 6 golf match featuring Rodgers and PGA Tour star Bryson DeChambeau against Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson. TNT's Brian Anderson, who hosted the video conference, set up Rodgers with this: "You've really kept a low profile this offseason, I've hardly seen your name at all and you haven't hosted any TV shows or been involved in any kind of controversy or anything. It's been a nice, peaceful offseason for you, it sounds like." Rodgers' reply was both deadpan and dripping with irony. "It's been one of those quiet offseasons you dream about, where you can kind of just go through your process on your own, quietly," Rodgers said....

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, an annual subject of trade rumors and innuendo, re-asserted his desire to remain with the team that selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. "I'd probably quit football if I had to play for somebody else," Carr said following Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice in his first public comments since the end of last season. "I am a Raider for my entire life. I'm going to root for one team for the rest of my life -- it's the Raiders. So, I just feel that so strong in my heart I don't need a perfect situation ... to make things right. "I'd rather go down with the ship, you know what I'm saying, if I have to." Carr, who turned 30 in March, had been asked about how several of his contemporaries had aired their grievances publicly this offseason, from Deshaun Watson to Russell Wilson to Aaron Rodgers, and why Carr, who has had far from an optimal roster and situation in his...

MIAMI -- Teofimo Lopez has tested positive for COVID-19 and he's symptomatic. His Saturday bout vs. George Kambosos that was scheduled to be in Miami and the whole undercard has been moved to Aug. 14, sources told ESPN. Lopez, the unified lightweight champion and No. 5 on ESPN's pound-for-pound list, was in Las Vegas at the Shakur Stevenson-Jeremiah Nakathila fight Saturday. He arrived back in Miami over the past 24 hours to begin fight week prep. The 23-year-old Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) is a rising star who just agreed to an amended deal with ESPN/Top Rank through 2023 that raised his minimum purses and secured his place in future ESPN PPV bouts once this fight is completed, sources told ESPN. This diffused a dispute between Top Rank and Lopez that occurred after the Kambosos-Lopez bout went to purse bid and Triller bid over $6 million to secure the rights to it over ESPN/Top Rank and Matchroom. Lopez, who holds the main WBA, WBC, IBF and the Ring Magazine lightweight belts, will be...

Brooklyn Nets star James Harden is hopeful to play Game 5 against Milwaukee and will test his right hamstring before tipoff Tuesday night, sources told ESPN. Harden, pushing for a chance to play, participated in the Nets' shootaround Tuesday morning with improvement in his right hamstring, and that prompted the team to upgrade his status from doubtful to questionable for Game 5 tonight, sources said. The Nets are tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Bucks and are preparing to be without guard Kyrie Irving (right ankle sprain) for the rest of the series, sources said. The team hasn't ruled Irving out beyond Game 5, but Harden is clearly much closer to a return. Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said Sunday that the team would try to approach the injuries as isolated incidents and not let Irving's ankle sprain rush Harden back to the floor before his hamstring is fully healed. Harden was injured in the first minute of Game 1 of the Nets' series...

James Harden is now questionable for the Brooklyn Nets' Tuesday night Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Harden is expected to test his injured hamstring in shootaround and has been determined to try to find a way to get cleared to play in Game 5, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Harden was initially ruled out for the game by the team on Monday, then upgraded to doubtful Tuesday morning before being listed as questionable Tuesday afternoon. Before Sunday's Game 4 loss, Nets coach Steve Nash said Harden was doing on-court work, shooting and rehabilitation. Harden suffered what the team has called "right hamstring tightness" 43 seconds into Game 1 of the series. His push to return comes after the Bucks have won two straight games to tie the series 2-2. Brooklyn's effort to reach the Eastern Conference finals took another hit in Game 4 when Kyrie Irving exited with a sprained right ankle. He has been ruled out for Game 5.

Pitchers will be ejected and suspended for 10 games for using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs in a crackdown by Major League Baseball that will start Monday. The commissioner's office, responding to record strikeouts and a league batting average at a more than half-century low, said Tuesday that major and minor league umpires will start regular checks of all pitchers, even if opposing managers don't request inspections. Repeat offenders will receive progressive discipline, and teams and club employees will be subject to discipline for failure to comply. Umpires will perform period checks of all starting and relief pitchers on both teams throughout each game, MLB said. Starters will be subject to more than one mandatory check each game and relief pitchers must be checked once they conclude an inning in which they entered a game or when they are removed from a game, whichever comes first, MLB said. Catchers will be subject to routine inspections, and position players...

SAN DIEGO -- Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will not be grouped with Brooks Koepka during the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And he was also not asked to play with Koepka, who won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Opens. Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau's agent, said talk of such a request by the United States Golf Association was "100 percent false.'' Craig Annis, brand manager for the USGA, also said that "Bryson was not asked.'' In a statement sent to ESPN, Falkoff said: "The USGA did not reach out to Bryson regarding a potential pairing with Brooks Koepka. Bryson is fully focused on defending the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this week.'' Instead, as is custom, DeChambeau will play with reigning U.S. Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci. They will be joined by Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama at 4:14 p.m. ET on Thursday off the No. 1 tee at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Koepka will play the first two rounds beginning...

SAN DIEGO -- Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will not be grouped with Brooks Koepka during the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And he was also not asked to play with Koepka, who won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Opens. Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau's agent, said talk of such a request by the United States Golf Association was "100 percent false.'' Craig Annis, brand manager for the USGA, also said that "Bryson was not asked.'' In a statement sent to ESPN, Falkoff said: "The USGA did not reach out to Bryson regarding a potential pairing with Brooks Koepka. Bryson is fully focused on defending the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this week.'' Instead, as is custom, DeChambeau will play with reigning U.S. Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci. They will be joined by Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama at 4:14 p.m. ET on Thursday off the No. 1 tee at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Koepka will play the first two rounds beginning at 10:29 a.m. ET starting on...