NFL:
In Thursday Night Football, Denver beat Kansas City 31-24.
On Sunday at 1 p.m. Atlanta is in New York to see the Giants and New England faces off against Buffalo. On Monday the Jets are in Indianapolis to go up against the Colts at 8:30 p.m.
New photos show the severity of the injury to New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul's right hand. The New York Daily News posted a photograph yesterday showing Pierre-Paul without a bandage. It clearly shows his index finger mostly missing and his thumb and middle finger also damaged. The two-time Pro Bowler missed all of training camp after the Fourth of July fireworks accident.
New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie sat out practice yesterday for the second straight day. Cromartie sprained his left knee last Sunday against Cleveland. He has not been ruled out for New York's game at Indianapolis on Monday night. Meanwhile, quarterback Geno Smith has been upgraded to limited for the first time since having his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate.
The New England Patriots have acquired wide receiver Keshawn Martin from the Houston Texans for an undisclosed draft pick. Martin was in uniform, but didn't play in the Texans' season-opening loss to Kansas City last Sunday. New England has also released defensive lineman Khyri Thornton, and signed rookie wide receiver Chris Harper to the practice squad.
The NFL has filed documents with an appeals court in New York, saying why it disagrees with a federal judge's ruling in "Deflategate." The 200-page filing consists mostly of exhibits from district court. In that case, Judge Richard Berman vacated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The NFL has said it will appeal Berman's ruling.
MLB:
In baseball, in interleague play, Toronto blanked Atlanta 5-0 to extend its lead in the AL East to 3 ½ games over the Yankees. The Yankees were off last night. They take on the Mets in a 3 game series tonight at 7 p.m. The Red Sox were also off last night. They start a 3 game series against the Blue Jays tonight in Toronto.
In the American League, Baltimore edged Tampa Bay 4-3, Oakland doubled up the White Sox 4-2, Kansas City won against Cleveland 8-4, Texas beat Houston 8-2, and it was the Angels over Minnesota 11-8.
In the National League, the Cubs topped Pittsburgh 9-6, Miami trumped Washington 6-4, and it was St. Louis over Milwaukee 6-3.
The Atlanta Braves' "Kiss Cam" entertainment at Turner Field featured a famous couple Thursday night: former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn.
The two were in their usual seats near the Braves dugout during a 5-0 loss to Toronto, and they received a loud cheer when shown on the video board. Carter kissed his wife and then gave a big smile as the cheers continued. The Carters stayed around for all nine innings of the game. The 90-year-old former president announced last month he has cancer that spread to his brain.
NCAA:
In top 25 college football, No. 11 Clemson beat Louisville 20-17.
A Hall of Fame coach who led the Connecticut men's soccer team to the 1981 national title and the semifinals the next two years has died. Joseph Morrone was 79. The school says Morrone died Wednesday night at his Mansfield home after a long battle with cancer.
PGA:
The opening round of the BMW Championship ended early due to threatening weather. They'll get an early start Friday before the start of the regularly scheduled second round. Jason Day is tearing up the course in the third of four FedEx Cup playoff tournaments with a 10-under total through 17 holes. His tee shot on the ninth hole, which is his final one, is 44 yards from the pin. If he holes out, he'll shoot a 59.
Day is currently four shots ahead of clubhouse leader Daniel Berger who shot a 65. Brendon Todd shot 66. Jordan Spieth aced the 196-yard, par 3 second hole and is five shots back of Day through 17 holes.
WNBA:
In the WNBA playoffs, Chicago beat Indiana 77-72 and it was Phoenix over Tulsa 88-55.
Boxing:
Former heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali has been honored at the University of Louisville. School President James Ramsey presented Ali the first-ever Grawemeyer Spirit Award winner for his role in inspiring others. The 73-year-old Ali, who is battling Parkinson's disease, appeared on stage during the event.
NHL:
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks has addressed the sexual assault investigation against him for the first time, saying he has "done nothing wrong." Kane is accused of assaulting a woman last month at his home near his hometown of Buffalo, New York, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because police have not revealed details of the case. He has not been charged.
The New York Islanders have traded forward Michael Grabner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for five players. The Islanders have acquired Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe.
The New York Islanders have traded forward Michael Grabner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for five players. The Islanders have acquired Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe.
FIFA:
FIFA says it suspended secretary general Jerome Valcke with immediate effect, hours after he was the subject of allegations over a deal for 2014 World Cup ticket sales. FIFA says it has requested "a formal investigation by the FIFA Ethics Committee" following a "series of allegations." It did not specify details.
In its brief statement, FIFA says Valcke "has been put on leave and released from his duties effective immediately until further notice." Earlier Thursday, a former FIFA ticketing partner made allegations about selling top-tier World Cup tickets at three times face value.
Teenage defender Kadeisha Buchanan is among six Canadians dropped from the FIFA 16 video game because of a dispute with the NCAA. The EA Sports title is made in suburban Vancouver, British Columbia, and is scheduled for release Tuesday. It features Canada and 11 other women's national teams for the first time.
The video game developer said Thursday the six Canadians, six Mexicans and a Spanish player had to be removed from the game because of the risk of losing their college eligibility. EA Sports said in a statement it does not agree with this position. It adds that "all rights were secured following standard protocol with national governing bodies and federations" and none of the players in question were to be paid by EA Sports.
Obit:
Milo Hamilton, a Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run in 1974, has died at the age of 88. No cause of death was released by the Astros, the team he had worked with since 1985. He retired from the Astros broadcast booth in 2012. Prior to joining Houston, Hamilton called the Atlanta Braves' games and years after calling the Aaron home run, called it the highlight of his career.
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