Russian expert at Griner's trial discusses medical cannabis
KHIMKI, Russia (AP) — The latest Russian court hearing in the drug trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner has focused on testimony about countries that regard cannabis as having legitimate medicinal uses. Griner has acknowledged she was carrying vape canisters containing cannabis oil when she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport. But she contends she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage inadvertently because of hasty packing. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. Griner’s trial began July 1. Tuesday’s session lasted about 90 minutes before the case was adjourned until Wednesday.
Big Night for Big Papi: Red Sox honor Hall of Famer Ortiz
BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz returned to Fenway Park for the first time as a newly minted Hall of Famer. The Red Sox honored their longtime slugger before the game against the Cleveland Guardians. Three giant World Series banners were unfurled on the field. Three championship trophies sat on a table behind Ortiz as he thanked the Boston fans. Dignitaries in attendance included Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski, Pedro Martinez, Jim Rice and Vladimir Guerrero. Ortiz's former manager Terry Francona and John Farrell were also there, along with ex-GM Theo Epstein. After the ceremony, Francona headed over to the visitor's dugout to manage the Guardians.
Ronaldo back at Man United, future shrouded in uncertainty
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United remains shrouded in uncertainty after the Portugal great returned to the club’s training ground with his agent. Ronaldo has yet to start preseason training with United and missed the team’s tour of Thailand and Australia. He was reportedly holding talks with recently hired manager Erik ten Hag. There was no update from United about Ronaldo’s current status at the club following his arrival with his agent, Jorge Mendes, at the Carrington training base. The 37-year-old Ronaldo reportedly wants to play for another team after only one season back at Old Trafford. United will not be playing in the Champions League this season.
Mets top Yanks 6-3 in Subway Series matchup of leaders
NEW YORK (AP) — Eduardo Escobar hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer that capped a four-run, first-inning rally, and the New York Mets beat the Yankees 6-3 in a rare Subway Series matchup of first-place teams. Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo quieted many of the 42,364 fans at Citi Field with opposite-field home runs on consecutive first-inning pitches from Taijuan Walker. The Mets stormed back in the bottom half when Starling Marte homered with one out against Jordan Montgomery. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso followed with back-to-back doubles, and Escobar put the Mets ahead 4-2 with a two-run, two-out homer.
Bold, aggressive Big Ten leaves door open for more expansion
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren says the conference will be bold and aggressive as college sports goes through a period of sweeping change. He left the door open for more expansion after the league added Southern California and UCLA for the 2024 season. Warren says the future could involve more expansion. He says the Big Ten will be strategic and look for schools that add value to the conference. The Big Ten's big moves came less than a year after Texas and Oklahoma announced plans to leave the Big 12 for the SEC.
Column: Disruption now the norm until end of PGA Tour season
The PGA Tour is keeping two FedEx Cup lists now. The new list omits players who have been suspended for taking part in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. That's good news for the likes of Rickie Fowler and Jason Day. The new list moved them into the top 125 with two tournaments left in the regular season. AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson says the two lists are another reminder of the endless disruptions in golf this summer. New LIV signees are generally announced just days after the majors are over. Still to come is whether the tour will suspend any new defectors before the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs. Currently, a player isn’t suspended until he puts a ball in play at a LIV event.
Geoff Ogilvy 'scratching the itch' to play PGA Tour again
Geoff Ogilvy is a U.S. Open champion and three-time winner of the World Golf Championships. And then he left the PGA Tour four years ago and set up shop with his family back home in Australia. Now he is back, playing the Rocket Mortgage Classic this week in Detroit. It's his second PGA Tour start in the last three weeks. Ogilvy says he is scratching the itch to play again. What he misses is the chance to be in contention. He's not sure how long he'll keep playing or even where he will play next.
Column: NASCAR and IndyCar speed into shared Indy weekend
There's no lack of drama as NASCAR and IndyCar head into their shared weekend on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin was disqualified following his win at Pocono because his Toyota failed inspection and Chase Elliott doesn't really want his inherited victory. In IndyCar, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden is waiting to see if he'll be cleared to race after he collapsed and hit his head following a late crash at Iowa Speedway.
NFL teams open camp with biggest question still unanswered
Training camps opened across the NFL and the biggest offseason question remains unanswered. The Cleveland Browns still don’t know how many games they’ll be without Deshaun Watson, who is still waiting for retired judge Sue L. Robinson to issue a ruling following his disciplinary hearing that concluded nearly four weeks ago. The league and the NFL Players’ Association requested a decision by the start of training camp, according to a person familiar with the process who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the union, had no obligation to meet that deadline. Representatives are hopeful a decision comes this week.
Plum's 3's lead Aces over Sky in WNBA Commissioner's Cup.
CHICAGO (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 12 of her 24 points in the first quarter as the Las Vegas Aces raced to an early 23-point lead, then held on for a 93-83 victory over the Chicago Sky to win the second WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship. Plum, who won the All-Star MVP in Chicago a few weeks ago, hit six of her nine 3-point attempts. Chelsea Gray had 19 points — including nine pivotal ones in the third quarter — and earned MVP of the game. A’ja Wilson had 17 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks as the Aces dominated early, then repelled several Sky runs in the second half. Jackie Young had 18 points. Candace Parker led Chicago with 20 points and Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman each added 18.
The Associated Press
