NASCAR:
NASCAR has issued a statement backing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds in the wake of the Charleston church massacre last week. The statement was released as South Carolina lawmakers agreed to discuss removing the flag, and one day after Haley said "the time has come" to take it down. NASCAR says it is continuing its long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official capacity.
NFL:
Tom Brady and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell have concluded a 10-hour hearing as the New England Patriots quarterback appealed his four-game suspension. Brady was punished by the league for his role in the use of deflated footballs in the AFC championship game win over Indianapolis. Brady's attorney felt their side put in a very compelling case and added that no timetable on a decision by Goodell had been given.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Baltimore beat Boston 6-4, Tampa Bay defeated Toronto 4-3, Detroit bested Cleveland 7-3, Oakland topped Texas 8-6, the White Sox tripled up Minnesota 6-2, Houston crushed the Angels 13-3, and it was Seattle over Kansas City 7-0.
In the National League, Milwaukee edged the Mets 3-2, Pittsburgh slid past Cincinnati 7-6, Washington topped Atlanta 3-1, St. Louis edged Miami 4-3, the Cubs blanked the Dodgers 1-0 in 10 innings, Colorado doubled up Arizona 10-5, and it was San Diego over San Francisco 3-2 in 11 innings.
In interleague play, Philadelphia bested the Yankees 11-6.
Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi has won the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the United States. USA Baseball announced the 38th winner of the award yesterday. Benintendi was taken by the Boston Red Sox with the Number 7 pick overall in this month's draft.
Pedro Martinez has another honor to look forward to this summer, with the newly-minted Hall of Famer set to have his number retired by the Red Sox in late July. Martinez was elected to the Hall of Fame this year, and will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 26 before heading to Boston for the retirement of his No. 45 on July 28.
The Mets have placed Travis d'Arnaud on the 15-day disabled list, the latest setback in an injury-plagued season for the catcher. D'Arnaud was diagnosed with a hyperextended left elbow following a play at the plate during Saturday's 6-4 loss in Atlanta. D'Arnaud missed Sunday's game, and the Mets had off Monday.
Bob Uecker was back in the Milwaukee Brewers' broadcast booth on Tuesday, one week after getting hit in the head by a ball during batting practice. The 2003 winner of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award was hit during batting practice before a June 15 game against the Royals and was diagnosed with a concussion after working the first six innings. The star of "Mr. Belvedere" and co-star in the "Major League" trilogy has been broadcasting Brewers games since 1971.
MLB.com is reporting that Melissa Mayeux, a junior in the French U-18 national team, is the first known female player to be eligible to be signed to a Major League Club on July 2nd.
NCAA:
In men’s college basketball, Siena and UAlbany have agreed to a three year deal to continue the Albany Cup series.
The College World Series finals are going to a third and deciding game following Virginia's 3-0 win over Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Freshman Adam Haseley and Josh Sborz combined on a seven-hitter, and Thomas Woodruff hit a two-run single in a three-run sixth. Game 3 is Wednesday in Omaha.
NHL:
NHL general managers and the Players' Association have agreed to change the NHL's regular-season overtime period from four-on-four hockey to three-on-three. The Board of Governors still must approve the change Wednesday when it meets in Las Vegas. A shootout will still take place if games remain tied after five minutes of three-on-three play, but the change is expected to reduce the number of shootouts.
The NHL's salary cap will increase $2.1 million, to $71.4 million, for the upcoming season. The NHLPA triggered a 5 percent escalator clause in the collective bargaining agreement to boost the cap, while increasing player escrow payments. Despite the increase, the new cap figure will force several teams to shed payroll in an effort to get under the ceiling.
NBA:
The NBA draft starts tomorrow and will be televised on ESPN at 7 p.m.
WNBA:
In the WNBA, Washington beat Los Angeles 84-80.
College Football Trial:
A judge has granted a mistrial in the case of two former Vanderbilt football players convicted in the dorm room rape of a student.
Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins ruled in favor of defense attorneys who said a juror intentionally withheld information that he was a rape victim during the jury selection process.
The juror testified during a hearing last week that he didn't withhold information because he doesn't consider himself a victim.
A Nashville jury convicted the former Vanderbilt players in January of multiple counts of aggravated rape and sexual battery for the June 2013 campus assault of an unconscious female student.
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