NFL-BRADY APPEAL
Brady appeal is under way
NEW YORK (AP) β The appeal by Tom Brady is being heard today in New York by commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’). Brady was given a four-game suspension by the league for his alleged involvement in the deflating of game balls for the AFC Championship game. Brady is being represented by the players’ union as well as attorney Jeffrey Kessler.
The NFL Players Association had asked Goodell to recuse himself from hearing the appeal because he could not be impartial and might be called as a witness. But Goodell said it was his responsibility to oversee the hearing to protect the integrity of the league.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Rays look to stay on top
UNDATED (AP) β Tampa Bay lost its manger and general manager in the off season and much of its pitching early in the season because of injuries. Despite all that, the Rays are in first place in the American League East and tonight play host to third-place Toronto. The Rays are a surprising 40-32 while the Blue Jays are 38-34.
The Yankees are positioned between the Rays and Jays in the AL East, and tonight they are involved in the only interleague game as they play host to the Phillies.
World Series star Madison Bumgarner of the Giants hasn’t lost three starts in a row since before last year’s All-Star break. He enters tonight’s home game with the Padres in the position of having to get a win or suffer his third straight defeat. In each of his last two starts he pitched eight good innings but fell short on the scoreboard.
The rest of the card tonight has Baltimore playing in Boston, the Indians are hosting the Tigers, Texas is entertaining the Athletics, the White Sox are in Minneapolis, the Angels are home to the Astros, Kansas City is at Seattle, the Nationals are hosting the Braves, Cincinnati is in Pittsburgh, Miami is home to St. Louis, the Dodgers are in Chicago for a game with the Cubs, Milwaukee is at home facing the Mets and Arizona is in Denver to play Colorado.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIEES
Commodores look to close it out
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β Defending College World Series champion Vanderbilt is one win away from another championship. A year ago the Commodores eliminated Virginia in the best-of-three final, and the two are squaring off in this year’s final as well. Last night, in Game 1, Vandy prevailed 5-1, and tonight Game 2 is being played once again in Omaha, Nebraska. If UVA wins tonight, the third and final game will be Wednesday night.
This is the first finals rematch since Oregon State and North Carolina met in 2006-07. The most recent back-to-back champions were South Carolina in 2010-11 and Oregon State in 2006-07.
NBA-ALL STAR GAME
Jordan and Hornets set to welcome All-Star Game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β According to people familiar with the situation, the Charlotte Hornets have won the bid to host the NBA All-Star game in 2017. The Hornets have scheduled a press conference for today that will include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, team owner Michael Jordan and Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter.
The city agreed to spend more than $30 million to upgrade their arena when the Hornets submitted the bid to host the game last summer.
