MLB-BONDS
NFL-VIKINGS
New deal for Peterson
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to restructure the final three years of his contract, giving the six-time Pro Bowl running back $20 million in guaranteed money.
Peterson was out of action for all but one game last year because of the child abuse charge he faced involving his young son. He came back from his personal conduct policy suspension with $45 million left on his existing contract. None of that money, however, was guaranteed.
Peterson initially wanted to be traded, feeling the Vikings didn’t treat him well during his legal problems. But general manager Rick Spielman stood firm in his intent to keep Peterson. Despite the drama of the past several months, Peterson got the guaranteed money he sought, another sign of the organization’s widespread appreciation of him.
NFL-TITANS-HUNTER
Titans Hunter given bond
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter has been granted bond by a Virginia judge, a day after turning himself in on a charge of malicious wounding.
The charge stems from a bar fight in the oceanfront resort area of Virginia Beach during the July Fourth weekend.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Wendy Alexander says Hunter started the fight in a bar on July 3, punching another man in the face. Once the bar was cleared, the man who Hunter originally punched was bent over and spitting out blood on the sidewalk, when Hunter “sucker punched” him, before hopping into a waiting vehicle.
She said that the man suffered a broken jaw and a cracked tooth as a result of the fight and had to be taken to a hospital out of concern he may have suffered internal injuries.
Bonds clear of legal troubles
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has formally dropped its criminal prosecution of baseball’s career home run leader Barry Bonds.
A jury convicted Bonds in 2011 of obstruction of justice for giving a meandering answer to a federal grand jury when asked about steroid injections. A federal appeals court overturned that conviction in April. The DOJ now says it will not challenge the reversal of his felony conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Lots of action in the big leagues tonight
UNDATED (AP) —The second of three games between the top two clubs in the National League East is being played tonight in Washington, D.C., as the Nationals entertain the Mets. Last night the home team won the opening contest 7-2 to expand its lead to three games. The pitching this evening has Jacob deGrom going for the Mets against Joe Ross. DeGrom has a mark of 9-2 with a 2.14 earned run average while Ross is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in three games.
The leading teams in the American League East are squaring off tonight as well as the Yankees play host to the Orioles. New York starts the day with a four-game lead over Baltimore and tonight’s game is the first of three. Nathan Eovaldi takes his 9-2 record for the Pinstripes into the game against 4-5 Wei-Yin (WAY’-inn) Chen.
Baseball’s winningest pitcher is back in action tonight for the first time since the All-Star break. Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole is looking for his 14th win of the season against just two defeats. He has a 2.30 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 117 innings of work. Tonight Cole and the Pirates are facing the Royals in Kansas City.
Cardinals All-Star Michael Wacha (WAH’-kuh) goes against the White Sox in Chicago. Wacha is 10-3 with a 2.93 ERA.
MLB-DODGERS-MOVES
Crawford’s back, Beachy optioned
ATLANTA (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated outfielder Carl Crawford from the 60-day disabled list and optioned pitcher Brandon Beachy to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Crawford has been sidelined since April 28 with a torn oblique. It was his fifth DL stint since 2012 for the four-time All-Star.
Beachy was sent down after going 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in two starts. The right-hander made his debut with the Dodgers on July 11, losing 7-1 to Milwaukee.
NBA-CAVALIERS
AP Source: Cavs land Jefferson
CLEVELAND (AP) — Free agent Richard Jefferson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal for next season with Cleveland, a person familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press
Jefferson came off the bench for Dallas last season, will receive the veteran’s minimum salary of roughly $1.5 million. The 35-year-old averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17 minutes per game and shot a team-leading 43 percent from 3-point range.
NBA-ROCKETS-MCDANIELS
McDaniels get new deal
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets have re-signed restricted free agent K.J. McDaniels to a multiyear deal.
McDaniels came to Houston in February in a trade with Philadelphia. In 62 games as a rookie last season, he averaged 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks.
The 6-foot-6 forward was the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 draft.
NHL-EXPANSION
Bids are in
UNDATED (AP) — The NHL has confirmed that it has received applications from prospective ownership groups in Las Vegas and Quebec City. The announcement came a day after a deadline for submissions.
The league doesn’t anticipate adding teams before the 2017-18 season. The proposed expansion fee is at least $500 million.
COLLEGE FOOBALL-UAB
Alabama-Birmingham to bring back football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Football is coming to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, along with bowling and rifle. But it was the dropping of football that caused the big ruckus last year.
School supporters pledged enough money, $17 million, to operate a football program. The NCAA has informed the school that it can resume play in 2017 and in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Athletic director Mark Ingram says that rifle will return in the upcoming season, while bowling will compete in 2016-17.
UAB dropped all three sports in December to cut costs and announced six months later they would be reinstated.
