No. 3 Florida State aiming for big win when it plays Boston College in Red Bandanna Game
A Memphis, Tennessee, couple who took in former NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher when he was in high school denied in court documents filed Thursday that they used a legal agreement between them to get rich at his expense and lied about intending to adopt him. Lawyers for Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy filed a response to Oher’s Aug. 14 request for a judge to end a conservatorship signed in 2004 when Oher was an 18-year-old high school football player. Oher had a troubled childhood and moved in with the Tuohys, in a story that was the subject of the film “The Blind Side.”
Trevor Story hit a three-run homer, Tanner Houck pitched six effective innings and Boston climbed out of the AL East basement with a 5-0 victory over the New York Yankees in the opener of a doubleheader after the Red Sox fired Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom. Bloom was dismissed after nearly four seasons. He was hired from the Tampa Bay Rays to help revive the farm system and bring financial stability to a team that was one of baseball’s biggest spenders. Rookie Ceddanne Rafaela added a solo shot and Wilyer Abreu had a first-inning RBI single for Boston, which has won nine of the 12 meetings between the longtime rivals this season.
Tyrone Taylor hit two RBI doubles and put Milwaukee ahead for good with an impressive slide home in the NL Central-leading Brewers’ 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins. The Brewers won three of four from the Marlins this week and extended their NL Central lead to 4 1/2 games over the Chicago Cubs. The Marlins remain just outside of playoff position as they pursue one of the NL’s three wild-card spots.
After a clinical display against the mighty All Blacks, France was way less convincing against minnows Uruguay. The French still won 27-12 in Lille against a spirited South American side ranked 17th in the world that was not intimidated at all by its opponent’s pedigree. The 49,000 spectators at Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy, more accustomed to soccer than rugby in this northern part of France, did not like the performance. There were whistles and boos at the final whistle. Fabien Galthie made 12 changes to the side that beat New Zealand last week and the replacements did not rise to the occasion. France managed three tries, the last by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who became the youngest Frenchman at a World Cup. Uruguay had two tries from Nicolas Freitas and Baltazar Amaya.
The Baltimore Orioles called up outfielder Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A Norfolk hours before starting a huge series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles lead Tampa Bay by two games atop the AL East heading into this four-game set at Camden Yards. It’s the last time the two teams face each other in the 2023 regular season. Kjerstad was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft. He’s the No. 24 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. The Rays activated outfielder Manuel Margot.
While the Dodgers appear destined to finish behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League's best record, another race between the two teams is still very much in doubt.
Week 1 is a feeling-out process for predictors as well as for teams. That means the team will take any sort of win, no matter how homely — and I’ll take a 9-7 mark out the gate (8-8 against the spread) and feel OK to launch our 33rd season of NFL picks in the Miami Herald. Glad to have you b…
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been an enigma for Bill Belichick in his matchups with the Patriots. Tagovailoa’s made four starts against the future Hall of Fame coach. Four times he’s walked away with a victory. That track record is also exactly why Tagovailoa is expecting the unexpected from Belichick’s defense heading into his fifth meeting with New England. The Patriots held the defending NFC champion Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts to just one offensive touchdown in Philadelphia’s narrow win last week. Containing Miami may be harder. The Dolphins enter with the league’s top-ranked offense following a comeback win over the Chargers in which Miami had 536 yards.
Like Browns rookie tackle Dawand Jones, his first NFL start will be colossal. The 6-foot-8, 375-pound Jones came off the bench in Cleveland's Week 1 win over Cincinnati when starter Jack Conklin went down with a season-ending knee injury. Jones more than held his own against the Bengals and will now be facing a tougher challenge against Pittsburgh star edge rusher T.J. Watt. The Jones-Watt matchup will be a key one for the Browns if they're going to end Pittsburgh's streak of 20 consecutive home wins on Monday nights.
For some reason, UCLA's third and final non-conference game has given UCLA and Chip Kelly plenty of headaches over the years. No matter the opponent, the Bruins have struggled in their final test before opening Pac-12 play, dropping four of five since Kelly became coach in 2018. That is not expected to be the case on Saturday when the 24th-ranked Bruins host FCS opponent North Carolina Central at the Rose Bowl. UCLA is such a prohibitive favorite that a point spread has not been issued for the game according to FanDuel Sportsbooks.
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb is the 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year winner, the league announced Thursday.
Former Christian rocker Stephen Mason’s life has been shaped by guitars, barber shears and the Bible. Now it includes being a Major League Soccer super fan in Nashville, Tennessee. That is thanks to a conversation with a fellow fan and a biblical sports pun that ultimately landed him on ESPN: “Let my people goal.” The longtime member of Jars of Clay ordered a Moses costume and a banner sporting the amusing turn of phrase. Soccer Moses was born and then took on a life of its own. His face flies on a flag outside the new Nashville stadium and he’s often found in the team’s supporter section, where its most devoted fans gather.
Colorado State coach Jay Norvell just heated up the rivalry with No. 18 Colorado by taking a poke at Deion Sanders. Norvell made a reference on his show to Sanders’ tendency to wear a hat and sunglasses at news conferences. Norvell says that "when I talked to grownups, I take my hat and my glasses off.” Norvell also mentioned how his players had a “chip on their shoulder” after conducting interviews with ESPN in advance of the game dubbed the “Rocky Mountain Showdown.” The Rams are the underdog on Saturday night against Colorado at sold out Folsom Field.
The NFL will continue staging at least two games per year at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through the 2029 season. The deal with the Premier League soccer club is a two-year extension on their original long-term agreement to play regular-season games at Tottenham’s $1.6 billion facility. Tottenham’s stadium was custom built with an NFL field below the Premier League team’s moveable soccer pitch. Three NFL games are scheduled in the British capital this season; one at Wembley and two at Tottenham.
Jay Norvell just stepped in his own bear trap.
Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman was activated off the 10-day injured list before their game against Texas. The Blue Jays have fallen out of a wild-card position after losing the first three games of a four-game series against the Rangers. Chapman has been sidelined because of a sprained right middle finger since leaving an Aug. 27 game against Cleveland. The former All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner jammed his finger returning a dumbbell to its rack in Toronto’s weight room last month.
The Washington Commanders visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday seeking their first 2-0 start since 2011. The Broncos are out to avoid starting a season with back-to-back losses at home for the first time in their history. The Broncos rebuilt their offensive line after Russell Wilson was sacked a career-high 55 times last season. That line faces a big test Sunday in the Commanders' tackle tandem of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne along with edge rusher Montez Sweat. The trio had a great opening game last week that included six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
PITTSBURGH — The Nationals acknowledged in the third inning that offense would be at a premium against the Pirates' Mitch Keller.
Michigan State hosts No. 8 Washington on Saturday without coach Mel Tucker who was suspended this week pending results of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. The Spartans (2-0) will be led by interim coach Harlon Barnett. Washington (2-0) provides a huge challenge with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the No. 1 rated passing offense in FBS. The Huskies are averaging 472 yards per game and QB Michael Penix Jr. leads in total offense. The Spartans have allowed only 412 yards of offense and registered 23 tackles for a loss in their first two games.
