Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has apologized after backlash for sharing anti-Semitic posts on social media over the weekend. In a video posted on Instagram, he said his post "was definitely not intended for anybody of any race to feel any type of way, especially the Jewish community," He added that he "just probably never should have posted anything Hitler did, because Hitler was a bad person."
In other NFL news:
A person familiar with the negotiations tells the Associated Press the Cleveland Browns have re-worked defensive end Olivier Vernon's contract for next season. Vernon's future with the Browns seemed uncertain as he was set to make $15.25 million in 2020. But the club reworked his deal and the source says he'll earn $11 million. The 29-year-old Vernon joined the Browns last season after coming over from the New York Giants in the blockbuster trade involving wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson announced he will hold his annual "Funday with LJ" event in Florida amid the state's spike in coronavirus cases. A flyer posted on Jackson's Instagram page Monday says the event will be held in a park in his hometown of Pompano Beach in Broward County. The city's website says social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people are currently not allowed. The announcement comes more than a week after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge in confirmed cases. Florida's Health Department says there are more than 21,000 positive coronavirus cases in Broward County.
MLB
Gerrit Cole couldn't have expected the New York Yankees to take the ball away from him just one batter into his first home start in the Bronx. But the team's new $324 million ace learned the hard way about one of baseball's new coronavirus safety protocols Tuesday night during an intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium. Cole allowed a home run to the second hitter he faced, Miguel Andújar, one pitch after being forced to give up the ball he used to strike out leadoff man Mike Tauchman. Cole grumbled that he liked the ball used to strike out Tauchman. But among the safety steps instituted by Major League Baseball for this virus-shortened season is that pitchers can't reuse a baseball once it has been touched by other players. After Cole struck out Tauchman swinging, catcher Gary Sánchez whipped the ball around the infield — a customary ritual that's frowned upon in MLB's 2020 operations manual.
In other MLB news:
The San Francisco Giants say they are "suspending workouts at Oracle Park, pending the results of tests conducted this past weekend." On Monday, the club announced two people had tested positive for the coronavirus without providing further details on whether the two were players, coaches or staff. Prospect Hunter Bishop and pitcher Luis Madero, in the 60-player pool, already tested positive.
The reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals have resumed training camp after canceling workouts Monday because of COVID-19 testing delays. General manager Mike Rizzo said the team felt confident about getting back to Nationals Park for practices after receiving all player and staff test results from Friday. The American League champion Houston Astros also resumed workouts on Tuesday. A handful of players did not take part in the Nationals' workouts, including Starlin Castro, Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Victor Robles. Without naming names, Rizzo said two players tested positive for the coronavirus and that any players and staff who came into contact with them had to be re-tested
The Cleveland Indians are keeping outfielder Franmil Reyes away from training camp after they spotted him on social media attending a weekend holiday party without wearing a mask. Manager Terry Francona said Reyes is not in any trouble with the team. But by not practicing social distancing or wearing a mask, he says Reyes exposed himself — and his teammates — to infection, and the team is being overly cautious. Francona said Reyes, who was traded to Cleveland last season from San Diego, will have to be re-tested for the virus "when it's appropriate."
NBA
Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie won't take part in the restart of the NBA season. Beal is out because of a right rotator cuff injury. Dinwiddie announced that he is still testing positive for coronavirus and won't participate. Washington, Orlando and Brooklyn are the three teams left in the race for the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots. If the Wizards finish within four games of whichever club finishes eighth, then two games will be played to determine the No. 8 seed. But with Beal and Davis Bertans out, a Wizards team that has been without John Wall all season will have to replace more than 40 points a game if it is to somehow get into that postseason mix.
WNBA
New York Liberty guard Asia Durr will miss the upcoming WNBA season after testing positive for the coronavirus on June 8. Durr detailed her struggles with COVID-19 in a post on Instagram. The former Louisville star says she hasn't fully recovered. The second pick of the 2019 WNBA draft averaged 6.7 points in her rookie season, starting 15 of her 18 appearances before being sidelined for the season with a hip injury.
In other WNBA news, Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler is not in favor of the WNBA's social justice plans and has sent a letter to Commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the league's initiatives to honor the Black Lives Matter movement when the season begins in Florida. Loeffler is a Republican U.S. senator running for re-election in Georgia. She asked the commissioner to scrap plans for players to wear warmup jerseys reading "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name" and instead put an American flag on all uniforms and apparel.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Two members of Louisville's men's basketball program have tested positive for COVID-19 and the team has suspended voluntary activities for two weeks. A news release from the school did not specify whether it was players or staff members who tested positive. It added that those impacted are being quarantined and proper protocols are being followed.
LPGA
Organizers are going ahead with the Women's British Open at Royal Troon without spectators. The Women's British Open is set for Aug. 20-23 at Royal Troon along the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. It would be the first major on the LPGA Tour schedule that is played this year and it would be the week after the Ladies Scottish Open on the other side of the country just east of Edinburgh. Qualifying for the AIG Women's British Open has been canceled. The field will be made up of leading players from the women's world ranking and recognizing top performances at recent events on the world's leading tours.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer has postponed Wednesday night's match between Nashville and Chicago. MLS says five Nashville players have received positive tests for COVID-19 since arriving in Orlando. Two players received positive results during the weekend, while three others got their positive results Monday night. Four other Nashville players need further testing after receiving inconclusive results. The league is continuing to evaluate Nashville's participation in its tournament. FC Dallas withdrew Monday after 10 players tested positive for coronavirus.
In other soccer news:
A former UConn soccer player who lost her scholarship after giving the middle finger to a television camera has taken her case to a federal appeals court. Attorneys for Noriana Radwan filed a notice to appeal Friday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. They argue the November 2014 gesture amounted to protected speech and that the punishment was not in line with discipline meted out to male athletes who violated school policies. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden last month sided with UConn, noting that Radwan made the gesture on national television at a school event.
ALEX PULLIN
Two-time world snowboard champion and Winter Olympian Alex Pullin has drowned while spearfishing on Australia's Gold Coast. A police spokesman said a 32-year-old man was unresponsive when taken from the water and died despite receiving CPR from lifeguards and emergency treatment from paramedics. The accident happened at Palm Beach around 10:40 a.m. local time. Pullin won gold medals in the snowboard cross event at the 2011 and 2013 world championships and was Australia's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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