(TOKYO) — The first gold medal of the 2020 Olympics was officially won Saturday in Japan
China’s Qian Yang earned gold in the women’s 10-meter air rifle to take home the long-awaited first medal. The 21-year-old is a rising star in the sport.
She defeated Russian Anastasiia Galashina — competing under the Russian Olympic Committee moniker — in the final. Nina Christen took the bronze for Switzerland.
The first medal events took place Saturday in Tokyo, with opportunities to win in archery, men’s cycling, fencing, judo, shooting, taekwondo and women’s weightlifting.
Although the opening ceremony just took place Friday, competition has been underway for several days, including in soccer, softball, baseball and shooting. Competition will continue through Aug. 8, when the closing ceremony will be held.
The United States won the most medals during the last Summer Olympics in 2016, coming home with 121, 46 of which were gold. China and Great Britain followed shortly after the U.S., taking home 70 and 67 medals, respectively.
Shooting takes place in several disciplines, based on different distances from targets. In the 10-meter air rifle, athletes have 75 minutes to fire 60 shots at a target. Ginny Thrasher of the U.S. won gold in 2016. Thrasher did not qualify for the 2020 Games, though American Mary Tucker finished in sixth.
The men’s 10-meter air pistol competition will be taking place later in the day.
While this is the first gold medal of the Tokyo Games, there are other notable first medals coming up. The first medals ever will be awarded over the next two weeks in skateboarding, karate, surfboarding and sport climbing, four sports that are making their Olympic debut this year.
Meanwhile, American greats like gymnast Simone Biles and sprinter Allyson Felix are competing to make medal history as individuals in their sports, and Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic is going for gold on his hunt for an elusive Golden Slam.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Friday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL:
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 3 Toronto 0
Final Baltimore 6 Washington 1
Final Milwaukee 7 Chicago White Sox 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 10 Cleveland 5
Final Boston 6 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Kansas City 5 Detroit 3
Final Minnesota 5 L.A. Angels 4
Final Houston 7 Texas 3
Final Seattle 4 Oakland 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 8 Arizona 3
Final Philadelphia 5 Atlanta 1
Final San Diego 5 Miami 2
Final Cincinnati 6 St. Louis 5
Final Pittsburgh 6 San Francisco 4
Final Colorado 9 L.A. Dodgers 6
(CLEVELAND) — Following decades of backlash from the Native American community, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team announced that the franchise will change its name from the Indians to the Guardians.
The team initially announced its intention to change its name in December 2020, but the new name was shared on the team’s official Twitter account Friday morning in a video narrated by actor Tom Hanks, a longtime fan.
The new name is a nod to the Guardians of Traffic, the city’s iconic statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge and is set to take effect at the end of the 2020 season.
The final decision was a product of interviews with fans, community leaders, a survey of 40,000 fans and team brainstorming sessions, which generated 1,198 name options that were winnowed down through 14 rounds of vetting, according to a Friday MLB press release.
“While inspired by the iconic sculptures of the Hope Memorial Bridge, our Guardians name is a reflection of the traits we, as Clevelanders, take pride in the most—fierce loyalty, unwavering support, and a resolve to stand side by side through thick and thin,” the franchise says on its website. “As a team, as an organization, as citizens of Cleveland, we hope to protect and preserve all that we love about this city.”
For the Native American community, including advocates in Ohio who have been urging the franchise to drop the Native American moniker for decades, the name change is welcomed but long overdue.
“We are excited. This has been a long half century of adjuration towards this name change. It is coming not a moment too soon,” Sundance, director of the Cleveland branch of the American Indian Movement, told ABC News in a phone interview on Friday, but urged the franchise to continue to engage in dialogue with the Native American community.
Sundance is a member of the Muscogee tribe who led a successful effort to change the mascot of a high school from the Oberlin Indians to the Oberlin Phoenix.
The organization he leads has been urging national and local teams with indigenous names and mascots to change their names for more than 50 years through lawsuits, protests and public appeals, arguing that making Native Americans mascots further dehumanizes a community that has been oppressed for centuries.
“For the moment we’re just all floating on the good news that the name is changed, but I hope this does not mean that Cleveland baseball has ceased to dialogue,” he said. “I am hoping that this will be an avenue for them to meet the Native community in northeast Ohio on an even playing field,” he added.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the country’s oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native tribal government organization, applauded Cleveland baseball’s name change in a statement on Friday.
“The Cleveland baseball team has taken another important step forward in healing the harms its former mascot caused Native people, in particular Native youth,” NCAI President Fawn Sharp said. “We call on the other professional sports teams and thousands of schools across the country that still cling to their antiquated Native ‘themed’ mascots to immediately follow suit.”
Before deciding to change their name the Cleveland team stopped using the Chief Wahoo logo on their uniforms in 2019.
“Hearing firsthand the stories and experiences of Native American people, we gained a deep understanding of how tribal communities feel about the team name and the detrimental effects it has on them,” team owner and chairman Paul Dolan said in a statement in December 2020.
He also said in an interview with The Associated Press at the time that the police killing of George Floyd was an “awakening or epiphany” that contributed to the team’s decision.
Amid nationwide protests and an energized civil rights movement sparked by the killing of Floyd, Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, announced in July 2020 that the team would change its name to the Washington Football Team, after FedEx, which has naming rights to the stadium, requested a change.
According to an October 2020 FiveThirtyEight analysis, hundreds of schools across the country still use Native Americans as their team mascots — monikers widely seen as racist and dehumanizing to the Native American community.
(TOKYO) — After a yearlong delay and a string of scandals, the 2020 Summer Olympics is officially opening in Tokyo.
All eyes are on the opening ceremony to see whether the host city can not only put on a good show but also lift spirits and unite a world battered by a raging pandemic. The event, which is taking place in Tokyo’s newly rebuilt Olympic Stadium, began Friday at 8 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) and is being broadcast live on NBC.
The Games were initially scheduled to kick off in the Japanese capital last summer but were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are key moments from the opening ceremony. All times Eastern:
Jul 23, 7:45 am
Ceremony commences with light-filled dance, national anthem performance
The opening ceremony kicked off with a dance inspired by how sports can bring people together after a difficult year marked by a global pandemic. Bright, moving lights filled the empty venue and the rhythm was meant to imitate a heartbeat as dozens of Japanese performers pranced across the stadium.
Arisua Tsubata, a boxer and nurse who treated COVID-19 patients, helmed the opening dance performance from a treadmill in the center of the stadium grounds.
Following the colorful dance event, the Japanese national anthem was sung by artist MISIA as the as the iconic flag was raised by members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito was in attendance, taking on the same role his grandfather held when he opened the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
The ceremony then featured percussive performances meant to honor traditional Japanese carpentry arts. Beloved Japanese tap dancer Kazunori Kumagai also made a cameo performance.
Fireworks erupted over the stadium, lighting up the sky and officially commencing the Summer Olympics.
Jul 23, 7:04 am
Opening ceremony kicks off
The opening ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics has begun in Tokyo.
The event at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, which is virtually empty, will feature a lighting of the Olympic cauldron, some of the athletes and plenty of music.
Basketball player Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvares have been selected to carry the flag for Team USA during the lap of the stadium.
Traditionally, each nation chooses just one flag-bearer. But this year, countries have been encouraged to select both a male and female representative to carry their flag.
The stands will be virtually empty with less than 1,000 people in the venue, which can hold up to 68,000.
No spectators are allowed to attend the opening ceremony — or any event in an Olympic venue in Tokyo during the Games — as part of efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. There are also a limited number of athletes and dignitaries in attendance. U.S. first lady Jill Biden is among them.
The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee and the Japanese government have faced criticism for pushing ahead with the Games this year, despite public health concerns amid rising COVID-19 cases. The opening ceremony is already mired in controversy of its own, with the latest incident happening on the eve of the event. The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee fired the ceremony’s director, Kentaro Kobayashi, over a joke he made about the Holocaust as a comedian in 1998.
“We have been preparing for the last year to send a positive message,” Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, said during a press conference Thursday. “Toward the very end now there are so many incidents that give a negative image toward Tokyo 2020.”
NEW YORK) — New York Jets assistant coach and passing game coordinator Greg Knapp has died after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle in California on Tuesday, the team announced Tuesday.
“Today at 11:32 am PST, Greg Knapp (aka Knapper) was called back home to Heaven, where he will be reunited with his Dad,” the team said in a statement.
Knapp was struck by a car on Tuesday and never regained consciousness, according to the team.
“Those of us who were so blessed to have known him, know that he would have wanted even this moment to be a teachable one. So this is it…”Live every day as if it’s your last, and love those around you like it won’t last!” the statement said. “Greg’s infectious personality is most people’s first and lasting memory of him. The phrase “He never met a stranger” encapsulates Knapper’s zest for life. He had a unique gift to make everyone feel special, and to Knapper, they all were.”
Knapp was struck at 2:49 PM local time on Tuesday and based on preliminary investigation drugs/alcohol were not involved, San Ramon Police Department told ESPN. The driver, whose name is being withheld, is cooperating.
It happened at an intersection about 27 miles east of Oakland, according to ESPN.
The Jets rookies will arrive at training camp on Tuesday with veterans starting on July 27.
This season would have been Knapp’s 26th as an NFL coach. He has spent the past 22 years as either an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach.
Knapp coached 13 different Pro-Bowlers, including 11 quarterbacks, in Jeff Garcia, Peyton Manning, Michael Vick, and Steve Young. Manning and Young are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
According to ESPN, Knapp was hired to work with Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.
Before joining the Jets, Knapp was the quarterback coach in Atlanta for three seasons. During his time in Atlanta, Matt Ryan threw for 13,971 yards, the most in the league, and 87 touchdowns.
(NEW ORLEANS) — The New Orleans Pelicans have named Willie Green as its next head coach, Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin announced Thursday.
An introductory press conference will be held on Tuesday, July 27
Green joins the Pelicans after spending the past two seasons as an assistant to Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams.
“Willie has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA. In large part, this is due to a tireless work ethic and authenticity of character,” said Griffin in a statement. “He brings a vast amount of basketball knowledge and experience to our team as both a coach and former player, along with exceptional leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with players, staff, and fans alike. We could not be more excited to welcome Willie and his family to New Orleans.”
The Suns made the NBA Finals this season against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks won the NBA championship 4-2.
“I want to thank Mrs. Benson, David Griffin, and the entire Pelicans organization for having faith in me to lead this talented group of players moving forward,” said Green in a statement. “It’s a blessing and an honor to get this opportunity in a special place like New Orleans. I look forward to getting to work and immersing myself and my family into the local community.”
During his time in Phoenix, Green led the Suns’ defense to the sixth-best defensive rating this past season and coached the Suns’ summer league team in 2019.
Before joining the Sun, Green was an assistant coach/player development for the Golden State Warriors for three seasons. He was a part of the 2017 and 2018 NBA championship teams and coached the Warriors 2018 summer league team.
A 12-year NBA veteran, Green appeared in 731 regular-season games with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, the LA Clippers, and Orlando from 2003-15 and made the playoffs seven times.
(ST. LOUIS) — St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told reporters on a conference call that forward Vladimir Tarasenko could still be on the team next season.
After the regular ended, Tarasenko’s agent Paul Theofanous called Armstrong and said his client wanted a trade. Because Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause, they gave Armstrong a list of teams he would accept a trade to.
“I informed all the teams that Vladi had requested a trade, that there was a list of teams he would prefer to go to,” said Armstrong. “But if anyone has any ideas or thoughts, I would work with them and take something to Vladi, and he would have the 100% opportunity to accept or reject that concept,.”
Ahead of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, the team exposed Tarasenko, knowing it would give the forward a fresh start and it would alleviate salary cap space for St. Louis.
The Kraken chose defenseman Vince Dunn.
Armstrong was asked whether he envisions Tarasenko being on the team come opening night.
“There’s many players in the NHL that have requested trades,” said Armstrong. “You always try to keep it below the surface, but our responsibility is to do what’s best for the St. Louis Blues, and if that means he comes back and plays for us, then that’s the outlook that it has.”
Tarasenko has played in just 34 games over the past two seasons because of a dislocated left shoulder and two surgeries. Armstrong conceded that might be a reason why a trade has not happened.
“We’re dealing with a player that’s coming off an injury, too, which I’m sure affects the way other teams view it and what risks they’re willing to take,” said Armstrong. “I view Vladi as a healthy player, a guy who has scored 30 goals in the past on numerous occasions and a guy who should continue to score.”
The 29-year old is a five-time 30 goal scorer for the Blues but has seven goals and 24 assists over the past two seasons because of his injury.
(DALLAS) — Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after offseason back surgery, head coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday.
It is the third time Lawrence has had back surgery during his career.
“It’s more of a cleanup, so there’s no high concern,” said coach Mike McCarthy before the Cowboys’ first training camp practice. “He looks great. It’s probably more us than him as far as the timeline of him coming back.”
In 2016 and 2017, Lawrence had back surgery to repair an issue that began in 2015.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper, kicker Greg Zuerlein, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, rookie defensive end Chauncey Golston and offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt will also start training camp on the PUP list.
“He has a history there,” McCarthy said about Cooper, who had offseason ankle surgery. “He looks great. He’s in great shape, so this is the time of year to be smart.”
(PHILADELPHIA) — The Philadelphia Flyers have sent defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and two draft picks to the Arizona Coyotes, the team announced Thursday.
The Flyers are getting nothing back in return. Instead, the trade opens up $4.5 million in salary-cap space for the team.
“This was a difficult decision but one we thought was necessary given the reality of the salary cap,” said President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Chuck Fletcher in a statement. “Shayne has been a quality player for this organization since the moment he arrived in Philadelphia and has been a part of many special moments in his seven seasons as a Flyer.”
Gostisbehere has spent his entire seven-year NHL career in the city. He appeared in 381 games and scored 60 goals and assisted on 159 goals.
This is the second time in a week that Arizona has traded for a player and did not have to give up anything in return. On Saturday, the New York Islanders traded forward Andrew Lang and three picks to the Coyotes to dump Ladd’s $5.5 million salary.
