World Cup:
The United States were able to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup despite falling to Germany in yesterday’s match 1-0. The Germans finished first in Group G, while the U.S. took second based on goal differential. The Yanks were helped out by Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana, which needed a victory to unseat the Americans in the second round. In other World Cup action, Russia tied Algeria at 1, and Belgium defeated South Korea 1-0.
FIFA has banned Uruguay's Luis Suarez for four months and fined him $112,000 for biting an opponent at the World Cup. Suarez also will be suspended for Uruguay's next nine games and won't be able to compete for the first two months of Liverpool's upcoming season.
NBA:
The NBA draft started last night and Andrew Wiggins out of Kansas went as the overall first pick in the first round. Second pick went to Milwaukee who drafted Jabari Parker from Duke. Philadelphia opted for Joel Embiid from Kansas. Boston picked up point guard Marcus Smart from Oklahoma State for the sixth pick of round 1 and James Young out of Kentucky for the 17th pick. New York drafted small forward Cleanthony Early from Wichita State for the 4th pick of round 2. Specific details below.
The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to pass on Joel Embiid in the NBA draft. The Philadelphia 76ers did not.
The Cavs used the first overall pick in the draft to select forward Andrew Wiggins, who averaged a Kansas freshman-record 17.1 points last season. Wiggins became the best option for the Cavs once Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his right foot shortly before the draft.
The 76ers snared Embiid with the third choice after the Milwaukee Bucks picked Duke freshman Jabari Parker. Embiid averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and 2.6 blocks as a Kansas freshman last season but missed the NCAA tournament due to a back injury.
Parker also enters the NBA after one season of college. He set Blue Devils freshman records with 670 points, a 19.1 scoring average and 306 rebounds.
Orlando used the fourth pick to grab Arizona power forward Aaron Gordon. Australian product Dante Exum went to Utah with the fifth selection. Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart is a Celtic after Boston took him with the sixth pick.
The Phoenix Suns selected point guard Tyler Ennis of Syracuse with the 18th pick in Thursday night's draft.
MLB:
In baseball, in interleague play, Houston defeated Atlanta 6-1.
In the American League, Toronto shut out the White Sox 7-0, Detroit blanked Texas 6-0, the Angels trumped Minnesota 6-4.
The Red Sox and the Yankees had a day off and start a series tonight at 7 in New York.
In the National League, Pittsburgh bested the Mets 5-2, Philadelphia topped Miami 5-3 in 14, the Cubs bested Washington 5-3, Milwaukee defeated Colorado 7-4, the Dodgers edged St. Louis 1-0, and it was Cincinnati over San Francisco 3-1.
Luge:
The International Luge Federation will host its annual congress in Lake Placid in 2016. The United States captured its first luge singles medal at the Sochi Games in February when Erin Hamlin of Remsen, New York won the bronze in the women's competition.
WNBA:
In the WNBA, Atlanta squeaked by San Antonio 81-79.
Tennis – Wimbledon:
It was a short day at the office for Serena Williams at Wimbledon. The five-time champ took just 49 minutes to cruise into the third round with a 6-1, 6-1 beat down of Chanelle Scheepers. Williams blew eight aces and 26 winners past her overmatched opponent, while Scheepers managed just five winners.
Top-seed Rafael Nadal rallied for a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4,6-4 win over Lukas Rosol, in a second round match. Nadal was a point away from falling behind by two sets against the Czech player who knocked him out at Wimbledon in the same round two years ago.
Roger Federer also advanced in straight sets as did fifth seed Stan Wawrinka and ninth seed John Isner.
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