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Aaron Judge became the latest hitter to criticize the new pitcher-friendly dimensions at Camden Yards in Baltimore, and Orioles veteran Trey Mancini seems to agree with the New York Yankees slugger. After losing a would-be home run that bounced off the top of the newly constructed high wall in left field Tuesday night, Judge told MLB.com that he was "pretty upset" about the new dimensions, saying the redesigned ballpark is a "travesty" and it "just looks like a Create-A-Park now." Mancini, the Orioles' longest-tenured player, told the Baltimore Sun that Judge isn't the first player to complain about Camden's new dimensions; the left-field wall has been pushed back approximately 30 feet and also has been raised from 7 feet to approximately 12 feet high. "Nobody likes it," Mancini told the Sun. "No hitters like it, myself included." Judge's first-inning blast Tuesday traveled 399 feet and would have been a homer in all 29 of the...

The Basketball Tournament will play one of its eight regionals at historic Rucker Park in New York City, the first time the annual event will hold games outdoors. The TBT announced Thursday that Rucker Park will host games from July 16-20, with the winner moving on to the quarterfinals at the University of Dayton on July 29-30. "Rucker Park has always been a dream of ours," TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar told ESPN. "TBT is an open tournament format, and we want it to be a celebration of all things basketball. People assemble from the pros, from college, from the YMCA. And Rucker Park, to me, has always been the pinnacle of a melting pot for basketball. Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson playing there against guys you've never heard of before. That openness epitomizes TBT." Mugar said the idea materialized after last summer's event, when the organizers were looking for unique places to host games. They had never played outdoors before -- they came close during 2020's...

Aaron Judge became the latest hitter to criticize the new pitcher-friendly dimensions at Camden Yards, and Orioles veteran Trey Mancini seems to agree with the Yankees slugger. After losing a would-be home run that bounced off the top of the newly constructed high wall in left field Tuesday night, Judge told MLB.com that he was "pretty upset" about the new dimensions, saying the redesigned ballpark is a "travesty" and it "just looks like a Create-A-Park now." Mancini, the Orioles' longest-tenured player, told the Baltimore Sun that Judge isn't the first player to complain about Camden's new dimensions; the left-field wall has been pushed back approximately 30 feet and also has been raised from 7 feet to approximately 12 feet high. "Nobody likes it," Mancini told the Sun. "No hitters like it, myself included." Judge's first-inning blast Tuesday traveled 399 feet and would have been a homer in all 29 of the other ballparks in Major...

The Basketball Tournament will play one of its eight regionals at historic Rucker Park in New York City, the first time the annual event will hold games outdoors. The TBT announced Thursday that Rucker Park will host games from July 16-20, with the winner moving on to the quarterfinals at the University of Dayton on July 29-30. "Rucker Park has always been a dream of ours," TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar told ESPN. "TBT is an open tournament format, and we want it to be a celebration of all things basketball. People assemble from the pros, from college, from the YMCA. And Rucker Park, to me, has always been the pinnacle of a melting pot for basketball. Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson playing there against guys you've never heard of before. That openness epitomizes TBT." Mugar said the idea first came about after last summer's event, when the organizers were looking for unique places to host games. They had never played outdoors before -- they came close during...

On the eve of the current NBA playoffs, the league's games returned to state-run TV in China after a nearly three-year ban. It was a quiet return, with nary a word from New York or Beijing trumpeting the apparent end of a bitter conflict. NBA owners had remained largely silent throughout the ban, even as the league worked behind the scenes to repair a ruptured relationship that had cost hundreds of millions of dollars and laid bare the complexities of doing business with an authoritarian regime. The owners had reason to stay quiet: In addition to the money their teams derive from the NBA's $5 billion business in China, many have significant personal stakes there through their other businesses. ESPN examined the investments of 40 principal owners and found that they collectively have more than $10 billion tied up in China -- including one owner whose company has a joint venture with an entity that has been sanctioned by the U.S. government. The owners' myriad ties to the world's...

LOS ANGELES -- Baseball great Alex Rodriguez is taking a swing at mixed martial arts as an investor and board member for the Professional Fighters League. The PFL announced the addition of the former  New York Yankees superstar to its board of directors Thursday. Rodriguez's investment is part of what the PFL says is $30 million in new funding to back its global expansion and the establishment of a pay-per-view superfight division. The funding round was led by Waverley Capital, investor Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s media-focused venture capital fund. The PFL didn't disclose the size of the investment made by Rodriguez, who made more than $450 million during a playing career that ended in 2016. He has since worked extensively on numerous media platforms, including as an ESPN baseball analyst, and he is a prolific investor. Rodriguez has a minority ownership stake in the NBA's  Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx along with partner Marc Lore. His...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Leroy Nobles scored 24 points Wednesday night as IUPUI held off Eastern Illinois 69-66. The Jaguars (2-0) had three players besides Nobles in double figures. Billy Pettiford scored 11, with Robert Glenn and Alex Young each contributing 10. T.J. Marion's jumper gave Eastern Illinois (1-1) its last lead at 43-41 with 16:26 remaining. IUPUI regained the edge and swelled it to 12 on Nobles' 3-pointer with 9:33 left. The Panthers (1-1) chipped away and had a chance to tie, but Tyler Laser's 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired. Laser and Shaun Pratl finished with 14 points each for EIU.

SAN FRANCISCO -- On a night that every Golden State Warriors player to play meaningful minutes scored in double figures, it was their defense that propelled them to a 112-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday. Heading into this series, the Warriors were preaching a team-defense mentality. No one was going to be able to take on the task of the Mavericks, and particularly Luka Doncic, alone. Still, someone had to take the brunt of that load. And it was Andrew Wiggins who was tasked with being the primary defender on Doncic. The ultimate goal was never to stop Doncic -- that's nearly impossible -- but to slow him, making sure everything he got was earned and not given. Wiggins came as close as one could. All five of Doncic's contested shots -- he had one breakaway dunk for his sixth field goal -- came against Wiggins, but Wiggins held Dallas' star to 5-of-11 shooting. Wiggins also forced...

Three members of the Murray State softball team were hospitalized Wednesday with what the school said were non-life-threatening injuries after the Racers bus was involved in an accident on the way to the NCAA Division I softball tournament regional in Alabama. The school said the three individuals were undergoing additional testing. It did not release the names of those hospitalized nor say whether they are players or members of the Racers coaching staff. It added that the remaining players and staff are "safe and unharmed." Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament title this past weekend. It is set to play Stanford in its NCAA tournament opener Friday in a Tuscaloosa regional that also includes Alabama and Chattanooga. This is the first time the Racers have made the NCAA tournament.

Alabama coach Nick Saban singled out Texas A&M for "buying" its top-ranked signing class and threw a spotlight on the unintended effect of name, image and likeness rights on recruiting during an event with local business leaders Wednesday night in Birmingham. "I mean, we were second in recruiting last year," Saban told the audience. "A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team -- made a deal for name, image, likeness. We didn't buy one player, all right? But I don't know if we're gonna be able to sustain that in the future because more and more people are doing it. It's tough." Saban said Alabama players made $3 million "doing it the right way" last year and that only 25 players were able to leverage NIL opportunities. He isn't the first coach to call out the Aggies by name. In February, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin quipped, "Texas A&M was going to incur a luxury tax in how much they paid for their signing class." That prompted a stern response from...

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Ian Cole had played 103 career playoff games before competing in Game 1 of their series against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, scoring one postseason goal. Now he has two. Cole, 33, scored at 3:12 of overtime to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 come-from-behind overtime win over the Rangers, taking a 1-0 series lead in Raleigh. In the process, he became an unlikely postseason hero. "That's what's great about this game," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "You just don't know who's going to be the guy. And now he's got that moment forever." In overtime, Hurricanes defenseman Brendan Smith snapped a shot from near the blue line that was blocked by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba. The puck bounced to Cole, who was deep in the zone. "We had some extended zone time there. I was looking to pass to someone, but no one was really anywhere dangerous. So I decided to throw it on the net and see what happens," Cole...

NEW YORK --  Mets ace Max Scherzer removed himself from his start Wednesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals with what the team said was left side discomfort. He will have an MRI on Thursday, the team said. "I don't think this is a major strain," Scherzer said. "I was kind of tight and then all of a sudden it went. But I don't feel like I really ripped it. It just kind of got worse. So hopefully I got out of there quick enough to prevent a major injury here because I know oblique, intercostal, those things can be nasty. Hopefully I avoided a serious injury." The three-time Cy Young Award winner left with two outs in the sixth inning and a 1-1 count on Albert Pujols. With two runners on, Scherzer threw a slider in the dirt and immediately signaled to the New York bench that he was done. "Just felt a zing on my left side and just knew I was done," he said. "When I felt it, I just knew there's no way you can throw another pitch, so just get out...

SAN FRANCISCO -- For the second time this postseason, the NBA has fined the Dallas Mavericks for violating rules regarding bench decorum. The league office announced a $50,000 fine on Wednesday for violations that occurred during Sunday's 123-90 Game 7 rout of the Suns at Phoenix's Footprint Center. A statement from the league office cited multiple occasions when several players and a member of the coaching staff "stood away from the team bench, and were on or encroaching upon the playing court" during the victory. "I know about the fine. Just trying to figure out what we did wrong to get the fine," Dallas coach Jason Kidd said Wednesday. "So, we'll see [Thursday] why we got fined. I mean, who complained? It was a blowout, so I don't think the fans were complaining. I thought the guys did what they were supposed to do. They were cheering on their guys. So, we'll find out what the fine is. But it is what it is." The Mavs also were fined $25,000 on May 6...

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, the 2021-2022 NBA Rookie of the Year, highlights the league's All-Rookie teams announced on Wednesday. Barnes was one of three players to receive the maximum of 100 first-place votes for the first team along with Detroit's  Cade Cunningham and Cleveland's  Evan Mobley. The All-Rookie teams, unlike the All-NBA teams, are not voted on by position. Joining those three on the first team were Orlando forward Franz Wagner and Houston guard Jalen Green. The first four selections in last year's NBA draft -- Cunningham (No. 1), Green (No. 2), Mobley (No. 3) and Barnes (No. 4) -- all made the first team. Barnes, the first Raptor to win the Rookie of the Year since Vince Carter in 1998-1999, averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while starting 74 regular-season games for Toronto. He came on strong at the end of the season to nab the award from Cunningham and...

MIAMI -- The Boston Celtics said Marcus Smart is probable to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night with a right midfoot sprain, and Al Horford is doubtful as he remains in the NBA's health and safety protocols. Both players missed Boston's Game 1 loss Tuesday against the  Miami Heat. Smart had been questionable to play all day leading up to the game after taking a hard fall in Boston's Game 7 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals that allowed them to advance to reach the East finals for a fourth time in six years. Horford's absence, however, came as a surprise, one the team didn't know it would be dealing with until a couple of hours before the game. "We've got to be even more disciplined," Jaylen Brown said after that Game 1 loss. "Obviously, we weren't prepared to be without Al. We definitely weren't prepared to be without Al and Smart. It's not an excuse. We've got to be...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The conversations began Saturday night between Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, coach Sean McDermott, owners Kim and Terry Pegula, executive vice president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment Ron Raccuia, team captains and others in the organization. After a racist attack at Tops Friendly Markets on Saturday that killed 10 people and injured three others, the Bills knew they wanted to help in some way beyond giving money and kind words. As a team, the Bills met on Monday in-person to have tough conversations about what to do next. That led to supporting the community on Wednesday. "The Buffalo community, they think highly of the Buffalo Bills, and so it is our job and our role to be here for the community, to be out here and be reachable, to be able to have these conversations," running back and special teams captain Taiwan Jones said. "And in a moment like this the most important thing is just to show love. So, we wanted to come out...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The conversations began Saturday night between Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, coach Sean McDermott, owners Kim and Terry Pegula, executive vice president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment Ron Raccuia, team captains and others in the organization. After a racist attack at Tops Friendly Markets on Saturday that killed 10 people and injured three others, the Bills knew they wanted to help in some way beyond giving money and kind words. As a team, the Bills met on Monday in-person to have tough conversations about what to do next. That led to supporting the community on Wednesday. "The Buffalo community, they think highly of the Buffalo Bills, and so it is our job and our role to be here for the community, to be out here and be reachable, to be able to have these conversations," running back and special teams captain Taiwan Jones said. "And in a moment like this the most important thing is just to show love. So, we wanted to come out...

The NCAA Division I Council announced Wednesday that it will relax restrictions on college football's conference championship games, allowing conferences to determine the teams that would participate in their respective title game. The decision paves the way for conferences to avoid having title-game matchups determined by division winners as well as possibly eliminating divisions altogether. It didn't take long for a Power 5 conference to change things up. Minutes after the NCAA announcement, the Pac-12 announced that starting in 2022, the conference's title game would feature the teams with the two highest winning percentages. "Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 Football Championship Game, which we believe will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize CFP invitations and ultimately win national championships," said Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff in a news release. "Today's decision is an important step towards that goal and immediately...

TULSA, Okla. -- Bryson DeChambeau will not participate in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills on Thursday after all, withdrawing from the major after playing a practice round Wednesday. "I want to make a full return when I am 100% ready to compete at golf's highest level," DeChambeau posted on Twitter late Wednesday afternoon. It had appeared as if DeChambeau would be making his return to competitive golf after missing more than a month while he recovered from surgery to repair a bone in his left wrist. He spent the day hitting multiple shots off different tees at Southern Hills Country Club, working the ball in different directions as he tested his wrist, which was in a wrap that extended several inches up his left forearm. He bombed several drives while playing the back nine, showing no signs of pain. Asked during his practice round how his left wrist was feeling, DeChambeau was coy: "It's still attached." His return was not meant to be,...

The NCAA Division I Council announced on Wednesday that it is waiving the initial counter scholarship limits for two years within Division I football. Previously, teams had been limited to 25 initial counters, or scholarship spots, per year from high school prospects and transfers. Even if programs were under the 85 total scholarship limit, if they had reached the annual 25 limit, they could not sign any more scholarship players. With the increase in popularity of the transfer portal, the council announced in October that it approved a one-year waiver to allow teams to go over the 25 limit by up to seven scholarships to replace players lost to transfer. In theory, a program could have gone up to 32 scholarships in a year if it had lost seven players in the transfer portal. Staying under that 25-scholarship limit, while also filling a complete roster of 85 total scholarships, has become increasingly more difficult for coaches who have been less able to predict the number of...

TULSA, Okla. -- Bryson DeChambeau appears likely to tee it up in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills on Thursday, marking his return to competitive golf after missing more than a month while he recovered from surgery to repair a bone in his left wrist. DeChambeau, 28, has been out of action since early April, missing the cut at last month's Masters, the first major of the season, after carding a 12-over total in the first two rounds. He elected to have surgery on his left wrist to repair a fractured hook of the hamate bone. The typical recovery is four to six weeks. "I'm proud of the fact that I'm here," DeChambeau said in an interview with Golf Channel. "I'm proud I've been able to persevere through it. I've had a lot of stuff going on recently and the game has not been a fun thing for me, so I'm excited to get back and give it another shot. Everybody deserves a second chance." Asked during his practice round how his left wrist was feeling, DeChambeau was coy: "It's...

Scottie Scheffler is the consensus betting favorite to win this week's PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but the largest reported wager on the tournament is on a 60-1 long shot named Tiger Woods. Scheffler, fresh off his win at the Masters, is the favorite this week at 11-1 at Caesars Sportsbook. Jon Rahm is next at 12-1, followed by Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, who are each 14-1. The bulk of the money wagered, though, is on Woods, thanks to a massive wager on the 15-time major champion. Caesars Sportsbook on Tuesday reported taking a $20,000 bet on Woods to win the tournament at 60-1 odds. The bet was made in cash, over the counter at Caesars Sportsbook at the Cosmopolitan hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. If Woods wins, the bet would pay a net $1.2 million, one of the largest payouts on a golf wager ever. A $20,000 golf bet is an outlier, especially on a 60-1 long shot. The next-largest bet Caesars had...

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is expected to receive a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2028 football season and make him one of the top five highest-paid college football coaches in the country, pending approval on Thursday from the Ohio State board of trustees. Day's total compensation will increase from $7.6 million annually to $9.5 million, with a base salary of $2 million per year, according to a news release from the school. Day's $9.5 million pay will start on July 1, according to a school spokesman, amounting to a seven-year, $66.5 million deal that includes a two-year extension and the raise. Alabama coach Nick Saban, USC coach Lincoln Riley, LSU coach Brian Kelly and Michigan State coach Mel Tucker also make more than $9 million annually. Day, who was hired on Dec. 4, 2018, has led the Buckeyes to a 34-4 record, including a 23-1 run against Big Ten opponents. The loss came last season to rival Michigan in the regular-season finale. Michigan coach Jim...

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is expected to receive a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2028 football season and make him one of the top five highest-paid college football coaches in the country, pending approval on Thursday from the Ohio State board of trustees. Day's total compensation will increase from $7.6 million annually to $9.5 million, with a base salary of $2 million per year, according to a news release from the school. Day's $9.5 million pay will start on July 1, according to a school spokesman, amounting to a seven-year, $66.5 million deal that includes a two-year extension and the raise. Alabama coach Nick Saban, USC coach Lincoln Riley, LSU coach Brian Kelly and Michigan State coach Mel Tucker also make more than $9 million annually. Day, who was hired on Dec. 4, 2018, has led the Buckeyes to a 34-4 record, including a 23-1 run against Big Ten opponents. The loss came last season to rival Michigan in the regular-season finale. Michigan coach Jim...

ABC News contributor and USA Today columnist Christine Brennan discusses the impact the historic agreement will have on women's sports.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is expected to receive a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2028 football season and make him one of the top-five highest-paid college football coaches in the country, pending approval on Thursday from the Ohio State board of trustees. Day's total compensation will increase from $7.6 million annually to $9.5 million, with a base salary of $2 million per year, according to a news release from the school. According to a school spokesman, Day's $9.5 million pay starts on July 1, amounting to a seven-year, $66.5 million-deal that includes a two-year extension and the raise. Alabama coach Nick Saban, USC coach Lincoln Riley, LSU coach Brian Kelly and Michigan State coach Mel Tucker also make more than $9 million annually. Day, who was hired on Dec. 4, 2018, has led the Buckeyes to a 34-4 record, including a 23-1 run against Big Ten opponents. The loss came last season to rival Michigan in the regular-season finale. Michigan coach Jim...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles took a big step in filling out their secondary, agreeing to a one-year contract with cornerback James Bradberry, the team announced Wednesday. The deal will pay him $7.5 million, including $7.25 million guaranteed, and has another $2.5 million in upside, bringing the total possible value of the deal to $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Eleven teams reached out about Bradberry after he was released by the New York Giants on May 9, with that number being whittled down to three before Bradberry chose the Eagles, according to Schefter. He is expected to slide right into a starting role opposite Darius Slay, creating what on paper looks like a formidable cornerback trio with Bradberry, Slay and slot corner Avonte Maddox. The Eagles were in need of another starter after Steven Nelson signed with the Houston Texans this offseason. General manager Howie Roseman previously indicated such a...

MIAMI -- The Boston Celtics exited their locker room at halftime Tuesday night in control of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. But then the third quarter happened. After the Heat demolished the Celtics, outscoring them 39-14 and using their physicality to send Boston into a death spiral of miscues and unforced errors, Miami was on its way to a 118-107 victory to take the opening game of this best-of-seven affair. "More than anything, it just shows us what we are capable of whenever we worry about getting stops, getting into the open floor, getting to the free throw line, all those good things," said Jimmy Butler, who led the way for Miami with his latest spectacular performance in these playoffs, finishing with a game-high 41 points -- including 17 in that decisive third quarter -- nine rebounds and five assists in 41 minutes.  "It just reminds me, we can do it. I see it on this piece of paper. I lived it. So I expect us to do that every...

MIAMI -- Boston Celtics starters  Marcus Smart (midfoot sprain) and Al Horford (health and safety protocols) missed the team's 118-107 Game 1 loss to the Heat in Miami on Tuesday night.  The team made the announcement about two-and-a-half hours before tipoff to the Eastern Conference finals opener.  Smart suffered the sprain in Game 7 against the Bucks on Sunday, and had been listed as questionable for the series opener in Miami.   Horford's absence, meanwhile, comes as a total surprise, with no indication of any issue with the veteran forward until the team announced that he had entered the protocols. Celtics coach Ime Udoka said he initially found out about Horford's status around 5 p.m. Tuesday. He wouldn't say if Horford tested positive. "As always, we don't comment on the status of our guys," Udoka said. "He's feeling fine. We'll go from there. Wait to see results and tests and future tests." Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski...

An MRI has revealed that former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a training session being livestreamed on his Instagram account, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The hard-luck player, released in March by the Bears because of past injuries, grabbed the back of his leg after going down during the workout on Tuesday. The incident was seen on Instagram Live, with Cohen falling to the floor after backpedaling. Cohen, now a free agent, played three full seasons with Chicago but made it to only three games in 2021 before tearing knee ligaments. He missed the rest of that season and then was released by the Bears. A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, Cohen had a strong rookie year as a running back and kick returner. He made All-Pro as a punt returner in 2018, when he led the NFL with 33 run-backs for 411 yards. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he is working "side by side" with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to try to bring Brittney Griner home. Silver, speaking to ESPN's Malika Andrews in a televised interview from Chicago prior to the NBA draft lottery, said his league was following the advice of experts when it did not take an aggressive approach during the early stages of Griner's detention in Russia. "We've been in touch with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, every level of government and also through the private sector as well," Silver said. "Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia." The State Department also said Tuesday that it still is pushing to have regular contact with the Phoenix Mercury star. A consular official was able to meet with Griner last week, when her pretrial detention in Russia was extended for one month. Griner has been detained -- wrongfully, U.S. officials have...

Jamahl Mosley was feeling lucky. Heading into Tuesday night's NBA draft lottery, the Orlando Magic were going to be represented by president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman on stage. But early Tuesday morning, a switch was made because of a feeling Mosley had. So when the lottery took place Tuesday night at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, it was Mosley who took the stage instead to represent the franchise. Turns out, the audible worked as the Magic won the lottery for the fourth time in franchise history and will pick first in June's 2022 NBA draft.  "I haven't been very good at this," Weltman told reporters via videoconference. "It's funny. Coach was feeling lucky and we let him roll the dice and tonight, he's the coach of the year." Orlando had a 14% chance to get the top pick, along with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. It's the Magic's first chance to pick No. 1 overall since 2004, when they selected Dwight Howard....

An MRI has confirmed that former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a training session being livestreamed on his Instagram account. a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The hard-luck player, released in March by the Bears because of past injuries, grabbed the back of his leg after going down during the workout on Tuesday. The incident was seen on Instagram Live, with Cohen falling to the floor after backpedaling. Cohen, now a free agent, played three full seasons with Chicago but made it to only three games in 2021 before tearing knee ligaments. He missed the rest of that season and then was released by the Bears. A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, Cohen had a strong rookie year as a running back and kick returner. He made All-Pro as a punt returner in 2018, when he led the NFL with 33 run-backs for 411 yards. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the fourth time in franchise history, the Orlando Magic have won the NBA draft lottery and will pick No. 1 in the June draft.  Orlando had a 14% chance to get the top pick, along with the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons. It's the Magic's first chance to pick No. 1 overall since 2004, when they selected Dwight Howard. Orlando also won the lottery in back-to-back years in 1992 (Shaquille O'Neal) and 1993 (Chris Webber, who was traded to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three future first-rounders). The Oklahoma City Thunder will select at No. 2, the franchise's first top-four pick since 2009 when it drafted James Harden. The Thunder also have a second lottery pick at No. 12 as a result of the trade that sent Paul George to the LA Clippers. Drafting at No. 3 will be the Rockets, who had the No. 2 pick in last year's draft. It's the first time the Rockets have picked in the top four in consecutive years...

Boston Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi became the third pitcher in major league history to allow five home runs in one inning Tuesday night. In his Fenway Park start against the Houston Astros, Eovaldi lasted just 1⅔ innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs while striking out none. In the second inning, after working a three-up, three-down first, Eovaldi allowed homers to Yuli Gurriel, Michael Brantley, Jeremy Pena, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez as Houston raced out to a 9-1 lead amid boos from the Boston faithful. "They did an outstanding job hitting mistakes," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the 13-4 loss. "We didn't get any swings and misses. Obviously, it's surprising. Now, we just have to move onto the next one." Eovaldi concurred. "In the past, I feel every time I've faced the Astros, they came out swinging, and try to jump on the fastball," he said. "I was able to locate it in the first, had a...

MIAMI -- Boston Celtics starters  Marcus Smart (midfoot sprain) and Al Horford (health and safety protocols) missed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat in Miami on Tuesday night.  The team made the announcement about two-and-a-half hours before tipoff. Smart suffered the sprain in Game 7 against the Bucks on Sunday, and had been listed as questionable for the series opener in Miami.   Horford's absence, meanwhile, comes as a total surprise, with no indication of any issue with the veteran forward until the team announced that he had entered the protocols. Celtics coach Ime Udoka said he initially found out about Horford's status around 5 p.m. Tuesday. He wouldn't say if Horford tested positive. "As always, we don't comment on the status of our guys," Udoka said. "He's feeling fine. We'll go from there. Wait to see results and tests and future tests." Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Celtics are preparing...

Starting next year, the XFL will have all its regular-season games and playoffs air on ESPN and other networks owned by The Walt Disney Company as part of a multiyear agreement, it was announced Tuesday. Beginning in February 2023 and continuing through the spring, 40 regular-season XFL games, two playoff semifinals and a title game will appear on ESPN, ABC and FX, it was revealed at Disney's upfront event. The deal also includes content rights for Disney's digital, social and streaming outlets, like ESPN+. The eight-team XFL is returning under new owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. In February, the XFL reached a partnership agreement with the NFL that will focus on creating innovation programs and protecting the health of players. "This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship I've...

Starting next year, the XFL will have all its regular-season and playoff games air on ESPN and other networks owned by The Walt Disney Company as part of a multiyear agreement, it was announced Tuesday. Beginning in February 2023 and continuing through the spring, 40 regular-season XFL games, two playoff semifinals and a title game will appear on ESPN, ABC and FX, it was revealed at Disney's upfront event. The deal also includes content rights for Disney's digital, social and streaming outlets, such as ESPN+. The eight-team XFL is returning under new owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. In February, the XFL reached a partnership agreement with the NFL that will focus on creating innovation programs and protecting the health of players. "This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship...

Starting next year, the XFL will have all its regular-season games and playoffs air on ESPN and other networks owned by The Walt Disney Company as part of a multiyear agreement, it was announced on Tuesday. Beginning in February 2023 and continuing through the spring, 40 regular-season XFL games, two playoff semifinals and a title game will appear on ESPN, ABC and FX, it was revealed at Disney's Upfront event. The deal also includes content rights for Disney's digital, social and streaming outlets, like ESPN+. The eight-team XFL is returning under new owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. In February, the XFL reached a partnership agreement with the NFL that will focus on creating innovation programs and protecting the health of players. "This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship...

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals started the current phase of offseason workouts with knowledge they didn't have last spring. This time a year ago, the last-place team in the AFC North was trying to find its way back into playoff contention. By the end of the season, the Bengals were a possession or two away from winning their first-ever Super Bowl. In his first news conference since Cincinnati's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said the postseason run will give them the confidence to make another run. "Going into last year, we knew we were good, but I think going into the playoffs, we knew we could win but we weren't really sure what it took," Burrow said Tuesday. "We just went out there and played really hard and together as a team, and it worked out. "Now, we know what it takes and we have that experience in our back pockets going forward." This week marked the beginning of phase 2 of voluntary...

Matt Harvey, the veteran starting pitcher who has struggled to replicate his early-career stardom with the New York Mets, was handed a 60-game suspension Tuesday for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse and thus violating Major League Baseball's drug program. Harvey, 33, is on a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles and is at the team's extended spring training facility in Sarasota, Florida. His suspension is retroactive to April 29 and is the result of a negotiated settlement that will allow minor league games to count toward the punishment, an industry source told ESPN. Harvey's suspension is tied to his testimony in the February trial of former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay, who faces a minimum 20-year prison sentence related to the sudden death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Harvey acknowledged while under immunity from criminal conviction to being a cocaine and oxycodone user and occasionally providing Skaggs with oxycodone...

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said that general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe will return next season despite yet another first-round playoff exit for the team. The Maple Leafs lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are chasing their third straight Stanley Cup. Toronto has failed to advance out of the first round in six straight postseasons, hasn't won a playoff series since 2004 and is seeking its first Stanley Cup since 1967. "We're extremely disappointed. We're not going to make any excuses. I thought our players battled hard, I thought that they played well, and they lost to a great hockey team," Shanahan said. "Certainly, as we look forward to next year, there's always going to be new faces. That being said, we will not be making changes just simply for the sake of saying that we made changes." Shanahan said that he looks forward to "getting to work with Kyle and Sheldon for next season." Dubas was named Leafs general...

TULSA, Okla. --  Rory McIlroy described  Phil Mickelson's absence from the 2022 PGA Championship as "unfortunate" and "sad" Tuesday morning at Southern Hills Country Club and said he wished the defending champion had made a different decision and come to the championship. "This should be a celebration, right?" McIlroy said. "He won a major championship at 50 years old. It was possibly his last big, big moment in the game of golf. I think he should be here this week and celebrating what a monumental achievement he achieved last year." McIlroy paused as he weighed how his words would be received. "It's unfortunate," he said. "It's sad. Yeah, I don't know what else I can say." Said 15-time major champion  Tiger Woods: "It's always disappointing when the defending champion is not here. Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the tour and committed to the legacy of the tour have pushed back against, and he's taken some personal...

Nike signed its first high school athletes to a name, image and likeness deal as soccer players, and sisters, Alyssa and Gisele Thompson were signed by the brand. Alyssa is a junior and Gisele a sophomore at Harvard-Westlake high school in Los Angeles, and both inked an undisclosed agreement only days after Nike announced deals with UCLA soccer player Reilyn Turner and Stanford golfer Rachel Heck. The Thompsons posted on Instagram showing a trip to Nike on Saturday that resulted in their NIL deal. Both sisters are committed to play soccer at Stanford and are members of the U.S. national team youth system for soccer. The NCAA approved a policy to allow college student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness that began on July 1, 2021. Since then, athletes have been able to secure agreements similar to the one Nike gave the Thompsons. High school athletes have to abide by state laws and rules formed by their high school associations. Because the Thompson sisters...

TULSA, Okla. -- When  Tiger Woods played the Masters in April, his first official PGA Tour event in nearly 17 months after nearly losing his right leg in a car accident, he said he felt like he was climbing Mount Everest. "That's the steepest golf course you're going to play and that was the first one you climbed -- and climbed it," Woods said during a news conference Tuesday. "It's going to get flatter and better." Now, nearly six weeks later, Woods will attempt to win the PGA Championship for the fifth time when play begins at Southern Hills Country Club on Thursday. While Southern Hills might not be as steep and rolling as Augusta National Golf Club, it's hardly flat Oklahoma farmland. Woods, a 15-time major champion, will play in a featured group with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth in the first two rounds. The threesome will tee off on No. 10 at 9:11 a.m. ET in Thursday's first round and on No. 1 at 2:36 p.m. Friday in the second. Other featured...

TULSA, Okla. --  Rory McIlroy described  Phil Mickelson's absence from the 2022 PGA Championship as "unfortunate" and "sad" Tuesday morning at Southern Hills Country Club and said he wished the defending champion had made a different decision and come to the championship. "This should be a celebration, right?" McIlroy said. "He won a major championship at 50 years old. It was possibly his last big, big moment in the game of golf. I think he should be here this week and celebrating what a monumental achievement he achieved last year." McIlroy paused as he weighed how his words would be received. "It's unfortunate," he said. "It's sad. Yeah, I don't know what else I can say." Said 15-time major champion  Tiger Woods: "It's always disappointing when the defending champion is not here. Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the tour and committed to the legacy of the tour have pushed back against, and he's taken some personal...

Nov 18 - Netherlands 0 Paraguay 0 - international friendly result. At Abe Lenstra Stadium, Heerenveen. Halftime 0-0; Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Vladimir Hrinak (Slovakia) (Editing by Neil Maidment; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Maple Leafs star Mitchell Marner was the victim of a carjacking in Toronto, the team confirmed Tuesday. The Maple Leafs said Marner will have no additional comment on the matter as police continue to investigate.  Police said suspects took a black Range Rover at gunpoint at 7:45 p.m. Monday, according to multiple reports. Tuesday is exit interview day for the Maple Leafs, and while Marner is not expected to speak, his teammates said that he's doing well. "I'm just happy he's OK and he wasn't hurt," Auston Matthews said. "I don't really know much more than you guys do, but it's great to see him here today. I can't imagine that's a fun experience to go through. We're all just glad he's OK." Added Jason Spezza: "It's scary; that's [real] life. That's not hockey. That's scary. That stuff is jarring. So happy to see that he's OK." Marner, who grew up outside of Toronto, had a career-high 97 points this season and contributed two goals and six assists in the...

Cornerback Marcus Washington Jr., one of Georgia's top committed players in the Class of 2023, is skipping his senior year of high school and joining the Bulldogs' incoming freshman class. Washington, ranked the No. 84 prospect and No. 10 cornerback in the 2023 ESPN 300, will enroll at Georgia in a few weeks. He announced his decision on Twitter. Washington, from Grovetown, Georgia, is the son of former Bulldogs linebacker Marcus Washington, who played for former coach Mark Richt from 2005 to 2009. Georgia has to rebuild its secondary after losing starting safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Derion Kendrick to the NFL draft. Four other defensive backs --  Lovasea Carroll (South Carolina), Latavious Brini (Arkansas), Jalen Kimber (Florida) and Ameer Speed (Michigan State) -- left via the transfer portal. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said building depth in the secondary was one of his concerns coming out of spring...

Cornerback Marcus Washington Jr., one of Georgia's top committed players in the Class of 2023, is skipping his senior year of high school and joining the Bulldogs' incoming freshman class. Washington Jr., ranked the No. 84 prospect and No. 10 cornerback in the 2023 ESPN 300, will enroll at Georgia in a few weeks. He announced his decision on Twitter. Washington Jr., from Grovetown, Georgia, is the son of former Bulldogs linebacker Marcus Washington, who played for former coach Mark Richt from 2005 to 2009. Georgia is having to rebuild its secondary after losing starting safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Derion Kendrick to the NFL draft. Four other defensive backs --  Lovasea Carroll (South Carolina), Latavious Brini (Arkansas), Jalen Kimber (Florida) and Ameer Speed (Michigan State) -- left via the transfer portal. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said building depth in the secondary was one of his concerns coming out of spring...