(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
NY Mets 3, LA Angels 2
Colorado 4, Baltimore 3
LA Dodgers 7, Boston 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 7, NY Yankees 4
Chi White Sox 6, Oakland 1
Houston 17, Detroit 4
Cleveland 10, Toronto 7
Minnesota 7, Texas 6
Seattle 3, Kansas City 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami 2, Washington 1
Chi Cubs 10, Pittsburgh 1
Philadelphia 3, St. Louis 0
Milwaukee 10, San Diego 6
Arizona 5, Cincinnati 2
San Francisco 8, Atlanta 5
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Houston 17, New Orleans 13
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Connecticut 83, Los Angeles 68
Indiana 83, Atlanta 80
Dallas 77, Phoenix 74
Chi 90, Seattle 85
(SYDNEY) — FIFA announced Saturday that it has suspended Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales while a committee investigates his behavior at the Women’s World Cup final, including kissing a player on the lips.
Rubiales refused to resign from his position at an emergency meeting on Friday. He had been expected to leave under intense pressure from the Spanish government, players, soccer clubs and officials.
Spain beat England 1-0 to take home the World Cup title.
“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all persons and therefore condemns with the utmost vigour any behaviour to the contrary,” the organization said in a statement.
Rubiales has also been prohibited from contacting Jennifer Hermoso, the player he kissed without her consent, directly or through third parties. He has been removed from soccer duties for 90 days “pending the disciplinary proceedings opened” against him Thursday.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will not provide any further information on these disciplinary proceedings until a final decision has been taken,” FIFA said.
The incident had drawn widespread outrage with players from around the world who condemned Rubiales’ behavior.
“I’m disgusted by the public actions of Luis Rubiales. I stand by @Jennihermoso and the Spanish players. Winning a World Cup should be one of the best moments in these players’ lives but instead it’s overshadowed by assault, misogyny, and failures by the Spanish federation,” U.S. soccer player Alex Morgan said in a tweet.
In a joint statement, the players of the Spanish national team expressed their “strong and firm condemnation of behaviors that have undermined the dignity of women.”
“Given the statements made by the president of the RFEF, Jennifer Hermoso wants to emphasise that she did not give consent to Mr. Luis Manuel Rubailes Bejar to kiss her during the World Cup Final,” the team said. “No woman should find herself being doubted in this kind of sensitive situations, even more when there is such undeniable TV footage that has been viewed globally, and certainly, they should not be involved in non-consensual actions.”
The players also said they “expect a strong response from the public authorities so these actions do not go unpunished.”
Hermoso has pushed back against claims from Rubiales that the kiss was consensual.
“I want to clarify that, as seen in the footage, I never consented to the kiss he gave me, and of course, I never intended to lift the president in the air. I do not tolerate that my word is distrusted, and even less so, the invention of words I never said,” Hermoso said in a statement.
She added, “We ask the RFEF to implement the necessary protocols and to ensure the rights of our players and adopt exemplary measures. It is essential that our national team is represented by figures that project its values of equality and respect in all areas.”
(LONDON) — President of the Royal Spanish Football Association (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, will not resign following FIFA’s disciplinary investigation of his behavior at the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney.
The controversy follows his behavior last weekend when Rubiales was caught on video as he grabbed his crotch during the championship celebration — just a few seats away from Queen Letizia and her underage daughter — and then kissing player Jennifer Hermoso as the team was receiving the winners’ medals.
In a speech defending his actions, the president apologized but passionately defended himself from the accusations.
“The little kiss was spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual,” he said.
The gesture was followed by immediate public backlash leading to government officials and football personalities asking for accountability and an assembly on Friday morning to address the situation.
Rubiales argued that Hermoso lifted him from the ground and hugged him on the podium and, saying she was still sad about the second-half penalty saved by England goalkeeper Mary Earps during the match.
“Jenni lifted me from the ground, held me close and after comforting her, I asked her for a piquito, a small kiss, and she said fine,” Rubiales said. “Do you believe I deserve this hunt? Does this deserve my resignation? Let me tell you something, I will not resign.”
On Monday, Hermoso dismissed the kiss amid outcry, calling it a “spontaneous gesture” that meant no harm. In an official statement on Wednesday however, she called for sanctions and measures to protect players.
Rubiales said he has been the victim of a “social murder” which is “far from the truth” and called the backlash “fake feminism” and said he is willing “to be vilified” to defend his ideals.
The assembly came just 24 hours after FIFA said it was opening a proceeding against the 46-year-old to evaluate his conduct.
“FIFA reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behavior to the contrary,” the Federation said on Thursday.
The proceeding will look at potential violations of articles 13.1 and 13.2, which refer to offenses and violations of basic integrity and dignity in conduct that could harm the reputation of football and FIFA.
Miguel Galán, president of the CENAFE coaching school, was the first to formally complain about Rubiales to Spain’s Superior Sports Council (CSD).
“I thought it was an attack on Jenni Hermoso’s sexual dignity,” Galán said to ABC España on Thursday.
Government officials followed suit shortly after with Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling the gesture “unacceptable” and asking FIFA for accountability.
(NEW YORK) — Former football star Reggie Bush and his attorneys announced Wednesday he’s suing the NCAA, claiming the organization’s past statement suggesting that he had a “pay-for-play” arrangement was defamatory.
“Most recently, the NCAA has made a statement about me, accusing me of engaging in a pay-for-play arrangement, which is 100% not true. Not only is it not true, but there’s no evidence to even support that claim,” Bush said at the press conference.
The NCAA told ESPN in 2021 that it would not reinstate Bush’s 2005 season record and would not give him back the Heisman Trophy, despite rule changes that year that allowed college athletes to get paid for their name, image and likeness.
“Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements,” an NCAA spokesperson told ESPN at the time. “The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, one of the lawyers representing Bush, said Wednesday that his client didn’t have a pay for play arrangement with the University of South California, but that he played for the team out of devotion to the school.
“Devotion that earned him many collegiate records and awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor bestowed on a college football player,” Crump said.
The lawsuit states that Bush’s reputation in his profession was “substantially and irreparably damaged” because of the NCAA’s statement.
“This action seeks to hold the NCAA accountable for its unlawful conduct and for the damages, mental anguish, humiliation, and embarrassment it has caused Mr. Bush by the NCAA’s false and defamatory statement,” the lawsuit reads.
A spokesperson for the NCAA told ABC News the organization “has no additional comment at this time.”
The NCAA sanctioned USC in 2010 with a two-year postseason ban, loss of 30 scholarships and forfeiture of 14 victories, including the 2004 BCS national championship, for Bush receiving gifts from a pair of sports marketers who were trying to recruit him to USC, according to ESPN.
The organization accused the two sports marketers of paying for hotels, a rent-free home where Bush’s family lived, a limousine and a new suit for Bush which he wore when he accepted his 2005 Heisman, ESPN said.
As part of the sanction, Bush had to disassociate from the school for 10 years. The disassociation period ended in June 2020, according to ESPN.
Following the NCAA’s 2021 decision to allow college athletes to get paid for their likeness, the Heisman Trust, which awards the Heisman Trophy, said if the NCAA were to restore Bush’s 2005 season record, then he would be able to get his Heisman back, according to ESPN.
Bush’s name does not appear on a list of past Heisman Trophy winners on the Heisman Trust’s website.
“Give back the Heisman to Reggie,” Levi McCathern, another of Bush’s attorneys, said at the press conference. “Give back USC’s 14 wins, but more importantly, we’re asking the public here today … give Reggie Bush his good name back.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
LA Dodgers at Cleveland (Suspended)
Chi Cubs 6, Detroit 4
Milwaukee 8, Minnesota 7
Cincinnati 9, LA Angels 4
Cincinnati 7, LA Angels 3
Tampa Bay 6, Colorado 5
NY Yankees 9, Washington 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chi White Sox 5, Seattle 4
Kansas City 4, Oakland 0
Baltimore 7, Toronto 0
Boston 7, Houston 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4
San Diego 4, Miami 0
San Francisco 8, Philadelphia 6
Atlanta 7, NY Mets 0
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Los Angeles 91, Phoenix 62
(NEW YORK) — Pickleball has become one of the biggest sport trends in the last few years, but for some people, it has not been fun and games.
Some have gone to court in an attempt to end the racket that they say has been keeping them up at night, and causing other inconveniences.
“It’s like a machine gun with a never-ending barrel of ammunition tied to its gun,” Ernie Barrows, a mechanic from Mashpee, Massachusetts, who has complained about pickleball courts to his town council, told “Nightline.”
The sport, which can be played indoors or outdoors, is similar to tennis. However, it has a smaller court size, and uses ping-pong paddles instead of rackets and a plastic ball.
Pickleball has been around for decades, but it has gotten more popular in recent years with almost 10 million players, a 6 million jump from a year ago, according to USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body.
It has spawned professional leagues, with teams owned by big celebrities, tournaments that award millions in prizes, and more.
Thomas Wilson, a major league pickleball player, told “Nightline” the pick up and play aspects are a major draw for people.
“Anyone can play together. I mean, I’m a top pickleball player in the world and I train with my parents, they are in their sixties,” he said.
But with that fun has come some complaints, particularly from the sound made by the ball vibrating against the hard paddle in a small space, making constant “pops.”
Barrows said he moved to Mashpee for its quiet environment but after eight paddleball courts went up near his home in 2018, he claims he’s been bombarded with noise all of the time.
He took his complaints to a recent town hall select board meeting and got into a back-and-forth with the pickleball players over his request to shut down the courts.
“I have Parkinson’s disease. It’s hard for me to express how important Mashpee pickleball has been to my physical and mental health,” a resident said at the meeting.
“I’m not fighting you. I’m not denying the fact that pickleball is a great sport and has affected you…but there are other avenues to play pickleball around here this is not it,” Barrows responded.
The Mashpee pickleball courts were briefly closed on Sundays in July while the town assessed the situation, but pickleballers argued the game was following local rules.
On Aug. 7, the town’s select board then voted to reopen the courts on Sundays.
In the nearby town of Falmouth, residents who said they were inconvenienced by pickleball went even further.
Rob Mastroianni, his wife Stephanie and four of their neighbors ultimately decided to file a lawsuit against the town’s zoning board of appeals in January of 2022. They allege the “injurious and obnoxious noise levels” violated local rules… forced them “to wear noise canceling headphones”…. and caused anxiety that contributed to “sleepless nights.”
“We decided we had enough,” Mastroianni told “Nightline.” “And we were all very reluctant participants in this.”
The town manager declined to comment about the pending litigation.
Mastroianni told “Nightline” he bought his own equipment to test the “pop” noises after the courts were erected in 2020, while other plaintiffs have recorded the noise from their bedroom windows.
He has started a Facebook group and been in conversation with others who have been inconvenienced by pickleball to raise their voices.
The Falmouth courts were closed after a judge granted Mastroianni and the plaintiffs a preliminary , but he said he and his family had enough and moved out of their home of 20 years.
“I would like to see pickleball thrive and grow responsibly [but] I can’t drive down my street without my blood pressure going up with my heart rate racing,” he said.
(NEW YORK) — Pickleball has become one of the biggest sport trends in the last few years, but for some people, it has not been fun and games.
Some have gone to court in an attempt to end the racket that they say has been keeping them up at night, and causing other inconveniences.
“It’s like a machine gun with a never-ending barrel of ammunition tied to its gun,” Ernie Barrows, a mechanic from Mashpee, Massachusetts, who has complained about pickleball courts to his town council, told “Nightline.”
The sport, which can be played indoors or outdoors, is similar to tennis. However, it has a smaller court size, and uses ping-pong paddles instead of rackets and a plastic ball.
Pickleball has been around for decades, but it has gotten more popular in recent years with almost 10 million players, a 6 million jump from a year ago, according to USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body.
It has spawned professional leagues, with teams owned by big celebrities, tournaments that award millions in prizes, and more.
Thomas Wilson, a major league pickleball player, told “Nightline” the pick up and play aspects are a major draw for people.
“Anyone can play together. I mean, I’m a top pickleball player in the world and I train with my parents, they are in their sixties,” he said.
But with that fun has come some complaints, particularly from the sound made by the ball vibrating against the hard paddle in a small space, making constant “pops.”
Barrows said he moved to Mashpee for its quiet environment but after eight paddleball courts went up near his home in 2018, he claims he’s been bombarded with noise all of the time.
He took his complaints to a recent town hall select board meeting and got into a back-and-forth with the pickleball players over his request to shut down the courts.
“I have Parkinson’s disease. It’s hard for me to express how important Mashpee pickleball has been to my physical and mental health,” a resident said at the meeting.
“I’m not fighting you. I’m not denying the fact that pickleball is a great sport and has affected you…but there are other avenues to play pickleball around here this is not it,” Barrows responded.
The Mashpee pickleball courts were briefly closed on Sundays in July while the town assessed the situation, but pickleballers argued the game was following local rules.
On Aug. 7, the town’s select board then voted to reopen the courts on Sundays.
In the nearby town of Falmouth, residents who said they were inconvenienced by pickleball went even further.
Rob Mastroianni, his wife Stephanie and four of their neighbors ultimately decided to file a lawsuit against the town’s zoning board of appeals in January of 2022. They allege the “injurious and obnoxious noise levels” violated local rules… forced them “to wear noise canceling headphones”…. and caused anxiety that contributed to “sleepless nights.”
“We decided we had enough,” Mastroianni told “Nightline.” “And we were all very reluctant participants in this.”
The town manager declined to comment about the pending litigation.
Mastroianni told “Nightline” he bought his own equipment to test the “pop” noises after the courts were erected in 2020, while other plaintiffs have recorded the noise from their bedroom windows.
He has started a Facebook group and been in conversation with others who have been inconvenienced by pickleball to raise their voices.
The Falmouth courts were closed after a judge granted Mastroianni and the plaintiffs a preliminary , but he said he and his family had enough and moved out of their home of 20 years.
“I would like to see pickleball thrive and grow responsibly [but] I can’t drive down my street without my blood pressure going up with my heart rate racing,” he said.
(NEW YORK) — Chris Eubanks has had a remarkable season on the world tennis stage, rising to popularity for his impressive Wimbledon debut, where he entered as the 77th-ranked player in the world and reached the quarterfinals.
“Honestly, I just want to roll the balls out and play — at the end of the day, I’m here because of what I can do on the court, so I’m ready to get back out there on the court,” Eubanks told Good Morning America ahead of the U.S. Open, which is being held this year from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10, with qualifying rounds running Aug. 22-25.
Currently ranked 30th in the world, Eubanks has worked hard to break into the top 100 and said “it’s safe to say this has probably been the best year of my career.”
“I’m able to take a step back now and just process everything and use that as motivation to kind of have a strong push for the end of year,” he continued.
Eubanks is predicted to be seeded 29th for the U.S. Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, where practice and qualifiers are currently being played.
The 27-year-old started from a young age and recalled having to swing his racket with two hands on both sides when he was 3 years old, because he “couldn’t lift the racket” at the time.
“Those are memories of my dad and I, we spent hours on the court,” he said. “To look back at how things have progressed starting from there to where I am now is remarkable.”
The next generation of American tennis stars, including 19-year-old Coco Gauff, have shown immense support for one another coming up in the professional circuit. Gauff was even seen in Eubanks’ player box as he had a breakthrough performance at Wimbledon.
“Her in particular, it’s meant the world,” Eubanks said of Gauff’s support. “She’s like a little sister to me, I’ve known Coco since she was about 6 or 7.”
“She’s always told me for years, ‘You’re good enough as those guys, you’ve just gotta believe it,'” he said. “For her to sit there and to watch the biggest win of my career in the fourth round of Wimbledon, watch my quarter-final beginning to end… it’s tough on tour to really be able to go out and support your friends. For her to come to multiple matches and support me means the world.”
The two practiced together at the U.S. Open grounds in Flushing, Queens, on Wednesday. As Eubanks said, “We always try to get one hit in at a tournament if we can.”
As he prepares for the palpable energy that the U.S. Open is known for and the support American players get so excited about, Eubanks said the “combination between the crowd and the play” is what he’s looking forward to most.
“I have always gotten great support at the Open. It’s always been my favorite tournament to come to as a spectator, to play in. It’s the first Grand Slam I ever played in. But something’s telling me this is gonna be a little bit different than any other U.S. Open I’ve been a part of,” he said. “The support that I’ve received just in practices at Arthur Ashe [Stadium] yesterday — the amount of fans and kids asking for autographs was pretty cool.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Arizona 6 Texas 3
Tampa Bay 12, Colorado 4
Detroit 8, Chi Cubs 6
Washington 2, NY Yankees 1
Cleveland 8, LA Dodgers 3
Milwaukee 7, Minnesota 3
Cincinnati 4, LA Angels 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto 6, Baltimore 3
Houston 7, Boston 3
Seattle 6, Chi White Sox 3
Oakland 5, Kansas City 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 4, San Francisco 3
Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 3
Atlanta 3, NY Mets 2
Miami 3, San Diego 0
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Las Vegas 112, Atlanta 100
Connecticut 68, Washington 64
Chicago 102, Seattle 79
Minnesota 91, Dallas 86
