McCullum to face no action for partnership with betting firm

The Derrick

19 April 2023

McCullum to face no action for partnership with betting firm

Lamar Jackson’s contract situation looms over all aspects of Baltimore’s offseason. The draft is certainly no different. Baltimore used the franchise tag on Jackson. So if he reaches an agreement with another team and the Ravens don’t match it, they could receive two first-round picks in return for the star quarterback. There’s also always the possibility that Jackson could be traded in a deal that could net Baltimore a high pick in this year’s draft. But if none of that happens and the status quo remains, then the Ravens will pick 22nd in the first round.

British boxer Conor Benn has been charged with the alleged use of a prohibited substance. UK Anti-Doping says the 26-year-old Benn was charged on April 3 for using clomifene. It is a female fertility drug that is on WADA’s list of banned substances and is known to elevate testosterone levels in men. UKAD says it notified and provisionally suspended Benn on March 15. The anti-doping authority does not typically disclose that an athlete has been charged or suspended but says this was “exceptional circumstances.” Benn’s all-British catchweight bout with Chris Eubank Jr. was canceled in October after Benn returned traces of clomifene in a random test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open by defeating Danis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2. The second-seeded Greek saved both break points he faced against the Canadian to move to 18-5 for the season. Tsitsipas will next face Alex de Minaur. The Australian advanced with a walkover from Grigor Dimitrov. The fifth-ranked Tsitsipas is making his fifth appearance in Barcelona. He lost in the final to Rafael Nadal in 2018 and 2021. He also lost in this year’s Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic. Fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner overcame a second-set letdown to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

This Date in Baseball, April 21 - Randy Johnson strikes out 17 batters

Washington goes into the draft not looking for a quarterback for the first time in a long time. The Commanders have committed to Sam Howell after picking him in the fifth round last year and also signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to compete for the starting job. That means they can use the 16th pick to fill a hole at tight end, linebacker, in the secondary or on the offensive line. Those are among the Commanders' biggest needs going into the draft in which they have eight selections. Coach Ron Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew could again look for more polished players in the hopes of returning to the playoffs in the first season under expected new ownership.

This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead for April 21 - April 27. 2 Takes

Alexander Zverev’s was eliminated from the BMW Open in straight sets by Christopher O’Connell after they waited an extra day to get on court because of rain delays. Zverev never built much momentum and struggled to land his first serves as he was defeated 7-6, 6-4. The match was played in cold conditions in front of a German crowd huddled in thick coats. Top-seeded Holger Rune secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a straightforward win over Yannick Hanfmann. Rune next plays Chilean clay-court specialist Cristian Garin.

This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead for April 21 - April 27. Take 2

Benfica went into a slump at the worst time of the season and it cost the team a spot in the Champions League semifinals. The Portuguese club couldn’t end its winless streak and was eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-3 draw at Inter Milan on Wednesday. The team needed to reverse a 2-0 loss from the first leg at home to make it to the semifinals for the first time in more than three decades. Benfica striker Gonçalo Ramos says “we were among the best eight teams, played against some great teams in Europe and lost only once.”

Badminton has upheld its ban on Russian and Belarusian players in international competitions on the eve of the start of Olympic qualifying. The Badminton World Federation cites security concerns and says it needs “more clarity” on proposals from the International Olympic Committee to readmit athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus. The governing body of modern pentathlon says it will set up a “pathway” to allow athletes from the two countries back but hasn't committed to a date. The IOC favors allowing some Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutrals if they aren't part of the military and haven't publicly backed the war in Ukraine.

It has been 15 years since a team from outside the Premier League reached the FA Cup final. Sheffield United is looking to end that wait even if it is not the priority in a defining few days for the club with plenty on its plate. The team nicknamed the Blades will attempt to deliver one of the biggest FA Cups shocks in years by beating Manchester City on Saturday in the first of the semifinal matches at Wembley Stadium this weekend. Sheffield United can seal a return to the lucrative Premier League four days later with a home win over West Bromwich Albion in the second-division Championship.

A city that boasts two teams with a combined 10 European Cup titles has both back in the semifinals of this year’s Champions League. And set to play each other for a spot in the final. But Inter Milan and AC Milan need to control their excitement and put their focus back on Serie A. Both are at risk of not qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Milan is two points above Inter in a tight battle for the top four in Serie A. Milan hosts Lecce on Sunday and Inter visits Empoli.

Czech Republic midfielder Jakub Jankto, who recently came out as gay, is taking time away from soccer following a traffic incident. Sparta says Jankto has been given time to deal with his “personal situation.” Sparta declined to give more details. Jankto says his health doesn’t make it possible to continue helping Sparta in title and cup races and thanked the club and the fans for their support. Police say he was checked by officers after they were notified by another driver on Tuesday. An alcohol test was negative but Jankto refused to be tested for other drugs. According to media reports, he also didn’t have a driver's licence.

Barcelona hosts Atletico Madrid on Sunday needing a win to avoid giving Real Madrid any hope that it could conjure up a desperate comeback to defend its Spanish league title. Barcelona leads Madrid by 11 points with nine games left. But the team has gone scoreless in three straight games. But Madrid is focused on next month's Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and the Champions League semifinals against Manchester City. Third-place Atletico Madrid is the hottest team in Spain since its last loss to Barcelona in January. It has gone 13 games without a loss since then and has won six in a row.

If Bayern Munich goes on to win the Bundesliga title it will be scant consolation for what has been a disappointing season. The Bundesliga is the last remaining target for Bayern after quarterfinal exits against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday and Freiburg in the German Cup two weeks before that. A record-extending 11th consecutive league title is seen as the minimum target for what remains the biggest and most successful club in Germany. But if Borussia Dortmund can stop its own self-inflicted setbacks then the league title race could become uncharacteristically exciting over the remaining few weeks. Bayern visits Mainz on Saturday while Dortmund hosts Eintracht Frankfurt.

The arrival of Erling Haaland has given Manchester City one of the most formidable scorers ever seen in English soccer and his presence is enabling manager Pep Guardiola to evolve his tactical approach in the biggest games. Guardiola is no longer wedded to the possession-based philosophy that has been the hallmark of his trophy-laden coaching career. City can now just as comfortably cede possession and play on the counterattack led by Haaland. It has worked in wins over Arsenal and Bayern Munich this season as Guardiola becomes less stubborn about the soccer style for which he has become so renowned. It could yet lead City to a first Champions League title.

The Golden State Warriors have always been able to depend on Kevon Looney and the center realizes his role is suddenly as large as ever. The Warriors are on the ropes against upstart Sacramento and with Draymond Green suspended need the durable Looney to play big to help stave off the Kings. The Warriors might have completely fractured during training camp when Green punched Jordan Poole at practice had it not been for Looney’s voice of reason and steadying hand. General manager Bob Myers and coach Steve Kerr largely credit Looney for keeping the peace after an incident that threatened to put the entire season in jeopardy for the defending champions. Now, with their season in jeopardy again, the Warriors will look to the unlikely Looney.

Goaltenders search for any activity to help them unwind and not constantly dwell on the game. Some read books. Some take the dog for a walk. Some learn how to play chess or watch Netflix shows. The point for goaltenders is to find a way to unplug and slow things down. Especially this time of year when every save is of heightened importance and replaying it in their mind can be an occupational hazard. It’s a way to make sure their dreams aren’t haunted by high-speed shots flying at them from the likes of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon or David Pastrnak.

Rafael Nadal says he will miss the Madrid Open next week because his recovery from a hip injury is going much slower than expected. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has been sidelined since January by a left hip flexor injury he picked up at the Australian Open. That issue has kept him out of the Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments so far. The Madrid Open he's won five times starts on Monday. The 36-year-old Nadal did not mention his prospects for being fit for the French Open starting on May 28.

A human story broke out Wednesday during a football news conference. It’s a story of hope and trust. It’s a story of family and fatherhood. It’s a story of love and life.

CHICAGO — Grant Park was born with the rather dull name of Lake Park and is informally called Chicago’s “front yard.” But by any name, there’s not a finer urban park around and it has been the site of many joys, triumphs and troubles.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Those who remember the last time major championship golf was contested in Kentucky will get a brand-new experience next year when the PGA Championship returns to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville for a fourth time.

PITTSBURGH — Penguins fans should know that when Fenway Sports Group executive Dave Beeston said there is “no limit” as to who the team will hire to lead its hockey operations department next, they were far from empty words.

ATHENS, Ga. — With Saturday’s G-Day game in the books, the banter about who should be Georgia’s quarterback next season will continue non-stop until the Bulldogs’ opening game Sept. 2. Truth be told, it likely will continue well after that.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adem Bona has become the fifth UCLA player to declare for the NBA draft, although the Pac-12 freshman of the year could still return to Westwood. The forward-center from Nigeria averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while starting 32 of 33 games as a freshman la…

UNDATED (AP) — NFL teams searching for the next Brock Purdy should have plenty of candidates when it comes to Day 3 of the NFL draft. After Purdy went from “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick of the 2022 draft to the starter in the NFC championship game for the San Francisco 49ers, other team…

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa State's primary focus in spring practice has been to improve an offense that struggled last season and contributed to the Cyclones' fast descent to the bottom of the Big 12. Coach Matt Campbell says the system is not the problem. It's about executing the system consistent…