LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation.

Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement on the university’s Twitter account Friday that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will remain in isolation at his home in Lawrence.

The coach said he had minor symptoms on Thursday and wanted to be tested before he traveled to watch recruits at various tournaments. Two tests confirmed that he was positive for the virus, he said.

Self said he believes he would be in much worse condition if he was not vaccinated.

“If you have not, please get vaccinated so we don’t have to worry about this virus continuing to affect our communities and loved ones,” he said.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation.Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement on the university’s Twitter account Friday that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will remain in isolation at his home in Lawrence.The coach said he had minor symptoms on Thursday and wanted to be tested before he traveled to watch recruits at various tournaments. Two tests confirmed that he was positive for the virus, he said.Self said he believes he would be in much worse condition if he was not vaccinated.“If you have not, please get vaccinated so we don’t have to worry about this virus continuing to affect our communities and loved ones,” he said.

Kansas coach Bill Self has tested positive for COVID-19

Sun 7/2512:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Detroit Tigers @ Kansas City5:00PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - MLB - Chicago White Sox @ Milwaukee BrewersMon 7/266:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas CityTue 7/276:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas CityWed 7/286:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas CityThur 7/2912:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City6:00PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - NBA DraftFri 7/305:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Toronto Blue JaysSat 7/311:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Toronto Blue JaysSun 8/111AM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Toronto Blue Jays5:00PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - MLB - Chicago White Sox @ Milwaukee BrewersTue 8/36:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Chicago White SoxWed 8/46:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Chicago White SoxThur 8/56:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Chicago White SoxFri 8/66:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ St. Louis CardinalsSat 8/75:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ St. Louis CardinalsSun 8/812:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ St. Louis Cardinals5:00 PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - MLB - Chicago White Sox @ Chicago CubsMon 8/96:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - New York Yankees @ Kansas CityTue 8/106:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - New York Yankees @ Kansas CityWed 8/1112:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - New York Yankees @ Kansas CityFri 8/136:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - St. Louis Cardinals @ Kansas CitySat 8/145:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - St. Louis Cardinals @ Kansas CitySun 8/1512:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - St. Louis Cardinals @ Kansas City5:00 PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - MLB - TBAMon 8/166:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Houston Astros @ Kansas CityTue 8/176:30PM 1590/95.5 KVGB - Royals Baseball - Houston Astros @ Kansas City

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

Sunflower
Collegiate League Standings

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624199280023.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sunflower
Collegiate League StandingsHutchinson Monarchs 24-8316 Sluggers 23-11Great Bend Bat Cats 20-12Cheney Diamond Dawgs 21-14Derby Twins 17-17
Haysville Aviators		14-18Newton Rebels 8-24Sunflower Seeds 4-25

Sunflower Collegiate League Standings (7/24)

TOKYO (AP) — Known for their towering drives, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm won’t make it to the tee box at the Olympics.

The last two U.S. Open champions became the best-known athletes to drop out of the Tokyo Games on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19.

DeChambeau’s positive came before he left the United States for Tokyo. The musclebound American famous for his game-changing swing speed will replaced by Patrick Reed.

“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA,” DeChambeau said in a statement. “Representing my country means the world to me and it is was a tremendous honor to make this team.”

Rahm was flagged for COVID-19 for the second time in two months — he had a six-shot lead at the Memorial in early June when he was forced to withdraw because of a positive test. The Spaniard said he had gotten his final vaccine shot fewer than 14 days before that positive.

Both players recently became first-time major champions. DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in 2020 at Winged Foot last fall, and Rahm took this year’s title at Torrey Pines in June, two weeks after the positive test at Muirfield Village.

Several dozen Olympic athletes have tested positive either before leaving for Tokyo or after they arrived. Last week, U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff also tested positive before she left the United States.

Reed was scheduled to undergo testing Sunday and Monday to clear himself to compete in Tokyo. The the first round of the men’s tournament at the Kasumigaseki Country Club is set for Thursday. He will join Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele on the four-man U.S team.

Spain said it would not seek to replace Rahm, leaving Adri Arnaus as its only player in the men’s tournament, which starts Thursday at Kasumigaseki Country Club outside of Tokyo.

No Michael Phelps, no problem for U.S. swimming.

The powerhouse Americans collected six medals — including a gold for Chase Kalisz in the 400-meter individual medley — in the first session of finals. During Phelps’ record-setting career that spanned five Games, the U.S. never won that many medals in the first batch of events.

“A pretty good start for the U.S.,” said Kieran Smith, who in his first major international meet snagged a bronze in the men’s 400 freestyle. “We executed today. I’m really proud of us.”

Kalisz got things going with the country’s first medal in any sport, with teammate Jay Litherland making it a 1-2 finish for the U.S. by rallying on the freestyle leg to claim silver. Emma Weyant and Hali Flickinger took silver and bronze in the 400 IM, and the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay team finished third.

In the 400 free, 18-year-old Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia beat a field of faster and older swimmers. He finished in 3 minutes, 43.26 seconds, punctuating his victory with loud yelling that echoed in the mostly empty 15,000-seat arena.

“I was surprised with myself,” said Hafnaoui, who joined Ous Mellouli as a gold medalist from the north African country. “I couldn’t believe it until I touched the wall and saw the 1 (on the scoreboard).”

Simone Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team trailed the Russians after qualifying in the team event, the first time in a decade they’ve failed to finish atop the standings during any portion of a major international event.

Biles led the field in a bid for her fifth gold medal, but the U.S. team has work to do to repeat as Olympic champions. The ROC had a score of 171.629 through the first three subdivisions at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, ahead of the second-place Americans’ 170.562.

Biles was the best in the gym but shaky by her standards. She stepped all the way off the mat following a tumbling pass on her floor exercise, then basically did the same on vault. She responded with a solid set on uneven bars, but a spectacular beam routine ended with her taking three major steps backward following her dismount.

Jordan Chiles had a major mistake on bars and a fall on beam. Sunisa Lee overcame a so-so performance on floor to surge into second behind Biles with an electric bar routine.

The team final is scheduled for Tuesday night.

Naomi Osaka got back on the court — and back in front of reporters’ microphones — for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open in May to take a mental health break.

The Japanese superstar who lit the Olympic cauldron defeated 52nd-ranked Zheng Saisai of China 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match.

Osaka revealed in May that she has dealt with depression and stopped talking with reporters, saying the experience gave her “huge waves of anxiety.”

“More than anything else I’m just focused on playing tennis,” Osaka said. “The Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid so I feel like the break that I took was very needed. I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and I’m happy again.”

She added that she was “happy” that reporters were asking her questions, then added: “I feel a little bit out of my body right now.”

Japanese siblings Hifumi and Uta Abe each won gold medals in judo, giving the host country three golds in its beloved homegrown martial art.

Hifumi triumphed in the men’s 66-kilogram category shortly after Uta won the women’s 52-kilogram division at the Budokan.

Hifumi won all four of hits bouts Sunday, including over Georgia’s Vazha Margvelashvili by ippon in the final. Uta beat Amandine Buchard of France to win her own first Olympic gold.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627221660331.jpeg" alt="olympics.jpg" />
 <figcaption>olympics.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>TOKYO (AP) — Known for their towering drives, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm won’t make it to the tee box at the Olympics.The last two U.S. Open champions became the best-known athletes to drop out of the Tokyo Games on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19.DeChambeau’s positive came before he left the United States for Tokyo. The musclebound American famous for his game-changing swing speed will replaced by Patrick Reed.“I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA,” DeChambeau said in a statement. “Representing my country means the world to me and it is was a tremendous honor to make this team.”Rahm was flagged for COVID-19 for the second time in two months — he had a six-shot lead at the Memorial in early June when he was forced to withdraw because of a positive test. The Spaniard said he had gotten his final vaccine shot fewer than 14 days before that positive.Both players recently became first-time major champions. DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in 2020 at Winged Foot last fall, and Rahm took this year’s title at Torrey Pines in June, two weeks after the positive test at Muirfield Village.Several dozen Olympic athletes have tested positive either before leaving for Tokyo or after they arrived. Last week, U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff also tested positive before she left the United States.Reed was scheduled to undergo testing Sunday and Monday to clear himself to compete in Tokyo. The the first round of the men’s tournament at the Kasumigaseki Country Club is set for Thursday. He will join Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele on the four-man U.S team.Spain said it would not seek to replace Rahm, leaving Adri Arnaus as its only player in the men’s tournament, which starts Thursday at Kasumigaseki Country Club outside of Tokyo.GOING SWIMMINGLYNo Michael Phelps, no problem for U.S. swimming.The powerhouse Americans collected six medals — including a gold for Chase Kalisz in the 400-meter individual medley — in the first session of finals. During Phelps’ record-setting career that spanned five Games, the U.S. never won that many medals in the first batch of events.“A pretty good start for the U.S.,” said Kieran Smith, who in his first major international meet snagged a bronze in the men’s 400 freestyle. “We executed today. I’m really proud of us.”Kalisz got things going with the country’s first medal in any sport, with teammate Jay Litherland making it a 1-2 finish for the U.S. by rallying on the freestyle leg to claim silver. Emma Weyant and Hali Flickinger took silver and bronze in the 400 IM, and the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay team finished third.In the 400 free, 18-year-old Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia beat a field of faster and older swimmers. He finished in 3 minutes, 43.26 seconds, punctuating his victory with loud yelling that echoed in the mostly empty 15,000-seat arena.“I was surprised with myself,” said Hafnaoui, who joined Ous Mellouli as a gold medalist from the north African country. “I couldn’t believe it until I touched the wall and saw the 1 (on the scoreboard).”UNDER A ROCSimone Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team trailed the Russians after qualifying in the team event, the first time in a decade they’ve failed to finish atop the standings during any portion of a major international event.Biles led the field in a bid for her fifth gold medal, but the U.S. team has work to do to repeat as Olympic champions. The ROC had a score of 171.629 through the first three subdivisions at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, ahead of the second-place Americans’ 170.562.Biles was the best in the gym but shaky by her standards. She stepped all the way off the mat following a tumbling pass on her floor exercise, then basically did the same on vault. She responded with a solid set on uneven bars, but a spectacular beam routine ended with her taking three major steps backward following her dismount.Jordan Chiles had a major mistake on bars and a fall on beam. Sunisa Lee overcame a so-so performance on floor to surge into second behind Biles with an electric bar routine.The team final is scheduled for Tuesday night.OSAKA’S DEBUTNaomi Osaka got back on the court — and back in front of reporters’ microphones — for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open in May to take a mental health break.The Japanese superstar who lit the Olympic cauldron defeated 52nd-ranked Zheng Saisai of China 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match.Osaka revealed in May that she has dealt with depression and stopped talking with reporters, saying the experience gave her “huge waves of anxiety.”“More than anything else I’m just focused on playing tennis,” Osaka said. “The Olympics has been a dream of mine since I was a kid so I feel like the break that I took was very needed. I feel definitely a little bit refreshed and I’m happy again.”She added that she was “happy” that reporters were asking her questions, then added: “I feel a little bit out of my body right now.”FIGHTING FAMILYJapanese siblings Hifumi and Uta Abe each won gold medals in judo, giving the host country three golds in its beloved homegrown martial art.Hifumi triumphed in the men’s 66-kilogram category shortly after Uta won the women’s 52-kilogram division at the Budokan.Hifumi won all four of hits bouts Sunday, including over Georgia’s Vazha Margvelashvili by ippon in the final. Uta beat Amandine Buchard of France to win her own first Olympic gold.

Sunday Olympic Update


Wed 6/2	@ Sunflower Seeds - Game 1 - Won 17-2&nbsp; (1-0)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Game 2 - Won 5-0 (2-0)

Fri 6/4 Sunflower
Seeds - Game 1 - Won 8-4 (3-0)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Won 6-1 (4-0)

Sat 6/5	Sunflower
Seeds&nbsp; - Won 12-5 (5-0)


Sun 6/20	@ Dodge City - W 11-4 (9-3&nbsp; 8-3)


Mon 6/21 vs Hutchinson @ Wichita - Lost 5-1 (9-4&nbsp; 8-4)

Tue
6/22	Hutchinson - Won 13-0 7 inn. (10-4&nbsp; 9-4)


Wed 6/23	@ Hutchinson - Won 13-5 (11-4&nbsp; 10-4)

Fri 6/25	
Hutchinson 7:00 - PPD Rain

Sat 6/26	316
Sluggers - Lost 4-3 (11-5&nbsp; 10-5)

Sun 6/27	316
Sluggers - Lost 2-1 (11-6&nbsp; 10-6)


Mon 6/28	316 Sluggers @ Eck Stadium - Lost 8-0 (11-7&nbsp; 10-7)


Tue 6/29	@ 316 Sluggers - PPD Wet Grounds


Wed 6/30	@ 316 Sluggers - Game 1 - Lost 4-2 (11-8&nbsp; 10-8)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Lost 8-6 (11-9&nbsp; 10-9)

Fri 7/2	Cheney - Won 9-6 (12-9&nbsp; 11-9)

Sat 7/3	Cheney
- Lost 8-4 (12-10&nbsp; 11-10)

Tue 7/6 - Hutchinson - Won 6-5 (13-10&nbsp; 12-10)


Wed 7/7 @ Cheney - Won 11-4 (14-10&nbsp; 13-10)


Thur 7/8 @ Cheney - Won 4-3 (15-10 14-10)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Won 12-3 (16-10&nbsp; 15-10)


Sat 7/10	@ Derby - Lost 5-1 (16-11&nbsp; 15-11)

Sun 7/11	Derby - Won 6-4 (17-11 16-11)

Tue 7/13	Derby - Won 7-0 (18-11&nbsp; 17-11)

Fri 7/16 MidWest Moos - Won 12-2 (19-11 17-11)

Sun 7/18 @ Derby - Lost 6-1 (19-12&nbsp; 17-12)

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Won 8-2 (20-12&nbsp; 18-12)

Tue 7/20 Newton Rebels - Won 11-4 (21-12&nbsp; 18-12)

Wed 7/21 316 Sluggers - Won 7-4 (22-12&nbsp; 18-12)

Thur 7/22	Dodge
City - Won 6-4 (23-12&nbsp; 18-12)

Fri
7/23	Haysville - Won 11-1 (24-12&nbsp; 19-12)

Sat
7/24	Haysville - Won 8-3 (25-12&nbsp; 20-12)

2021 Great Bend
Bat Cats(home games in
bold)
Wed 6/2	@ Sunflower Seeds - Game 1 - Won 17-2&nbsp; (1-0)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Game 2 - Won 5-0 (2-0)Fri 6/4 Sunflower
Seeds - Game 1 - Won 8-4 (3-0)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Won 6-1 (4-0)Sat 6/5	Sunflower
Seeds&nbsp; - Won 12-5 (5-0)
Mon 6/7	@ Newton - Lost 8-6 (5-1)Tue 6/8	Newton - Won 7-3 (6-1)
Wed 6/9	@ Newton - Won 9-7 (7-1)
Fri 6/10 	- Won 12-1 (8-1)Sat 6/11	Newton
- Lost 11-5 (8-2)Thur 6/17 @ Liberal Canceled
Sat 6/19	@ Hutchinson - L 6-5 (8-3)
Sun 6/20	@ Dodge City - W 11-4 (9-3&nbsp; 8-3)
Mon 6/21 vs Hutchinson @ Wichita - Lost 5-1 (9-4&nbsp; 8-4)Tue
6/22	Hutchinson - Won 13-0 7 inn. (10-4&nbsp; 9-4)
Wed 6/23	@ Hutchinson - Won 13-5 (11-4&nbsp; 10-4)Fri 6/25	
Hutchinson 7:00 - PPD RainSat 6/26	316
Sluggers - Lost 4-3 (11-5&nbsp; 10-5)Sun 6/27	316
Sluggers - Lost 2-1 (11-6&nbsp; 10-6)
Mon 6/28	316 Sluggers @ Eck Stadium - Lost 8-0 (11-7&nbsp; 10-7)
Tue 6/29	@ 316 Sluggers - PPD Wet Grounds
Wed 6/30	@ 316 Sluggers - Game 1 - Lost 4-2 (11-8&nbsp; 10-8)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Lost 8-6 (11-9&nbsp; 10-9)Fri 7/2	Cheney - Won 9-6 (12-9&nbsp; 11-9)Sat 7/3	Cheney
- Lost 8-4 (12-10&nbsp; 11-10)Tue 7/6 - Hutchinson - Won 6-5 (13-10&nbsp; 12-10)
Wed 7/7 @ Cheney - Won 11-4 (14-10&nbsp; 13-10)
Thur 7/8 @ Cheney - Won 4-3 (15-10 14-10)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Won 12-3 (16-10&nbsp; 15-10)
Sat 7/10	@ Derby - Lost 5-1 (16-11&nbsp; 15-11)Sun 7/11	Derby - Won 6-4 (17-11 16-11)
Mon 7/12	Derby @ Eck Stadium PPDTue 7/13	Derby - Won 7-0 (18-11&nbsp; 17-11)
Thur 7/15	@ Derby 7:00 - PPD RAINFri 7/16 MidWest Moos - Won 12-2 (19-11 17-11)Sun 7/18 @ Derby - Lost 6-1 (19-12&nbsp; 17-12)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Won 8-2 (20-12&nbsp; 18-12)Tue 7/20 Newton Rebels - Won 11-4 (21-12&nbsp; 18-12)Wed 7/21 316 Sluggers - Won 7-4 (22-12&nbsp; 18-12)Thur 7/22	Dodge
City - Won 6-4 (23-12&nbsp; 18-12)Fri
7/23	Haysville - Won 11-1 (24-12&nbsp; 19-12)Sat
7/24	Haysville - Won 8-3 (25-12&nbsp; 20-12)Sun
7/25	Haysville 3:00
Mon 7/26	@ Haysville 7:00
Tue 7/27	@ Haysville 7:00

Great Bend Bat Cats Schedule and Results

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off training camp Saturday by placing veteran safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list and moving rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list.

Watts sustained a foot fracture during offseason workouts in May and wasn’t expected to be ready to practice when veterans report to training camp on Monday. Head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Watts is progressing well in his recovery but he didn’t place a timetable on the safety’s return to action.

A 2018 fourth-round draft choice for the Chiefs, Watts has emerged as a key special teams performer, playing in all 16 regular-season games during the past two seasons. He saw action on 80.7% of the club’s special teams snaps last season and also played 101 snaps on defense while matching his career-high with 17 total tackles.

Herring, an undrafted rookie free agent, suffered a torn ACL during practice for the Senior Bowl in January and is expected to miss the season. The 22-year-old from Georgia had four sacks and 13 tackles for a loss during four seasons for the Bulldogs, playing in 52 games with 17 starts. The Chiefs anticipate Herring competing for a roster spot in 2022.

Both players will continue counting on the team’s 90-man active roster. The Chiefs still have one more roster move to make in order free space for veteran free-agent defensive Alex Okafor, who agree to terms with the club on a one-year deal earlier this week and is expected to report to camp with other veterans Monday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off training camp Saturday by placing veteran safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list and moving rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list.Watts sustained a foot fracture during offseason workouts in May and wasn’t expected to be ready to practice when veterans report to training camp on Monday. Head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Watts is progressing well in his recovery but he didn’t place a timetable on the safety’s return to action.A 2018 fourth-round draft choice for the Chiefs, Watts has emerged as a key special teams performer, playing in all 16 regular-season games during the past two seasons. He saw action on 80.7% of the club’s special teams snaps last season and also played 101 snaps on defense while matching his career-high with 17 total tackles.Herring, an undrafted rookie free agent, suffered a torn ACL during practice for the Senior Bowl in January and is expected to miss the season. The 22-year-old from Georgia had four sacks and 13 tackles for a loss during four seasons for the Bulldogs, playing in 52 games with 17 starts. The Chiefs anticipate Herring competing for a roster spot in 2022.Both players will continue counting on the team’s 90-man active roster. The Chiefs still have one more roster move to make in order free space for veteran free-agent defensive Alex Okafor, who agree to terms with the club on a one-year deal earlier this week and is expected to report to camp with other veterans Monday.

Chiefs open training camp, place Watts on PUP list

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana hit three-run homers in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Perez hit his 23rd home run of the season to highlight a four-run fourth. Santana gave the Royals the lead with a three-run homer to right in a five-run seventh.

“I think it got lost there at the end, but we were down six runs,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “I can’t think of another team that I have been around that is as resilient as this team.”

Hanser Alberto capped the seventh with a two-run, pinch-hit triple. Nicky Lopez went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk from No. 9 spot to help Kansas City win its fourth straight.

“We never quit, we just competed to the last out,” Perez said. “Nobody put their head down and there was a lot of energy in the dugout.”

Jake Brentz (3-2) was the winner. Wade Davis finished for his second save of the season after Greg Holland gave up two runs in the ninth.

Kyle Funkhouser (4-1) allowed all five runs in the seventh for Detroit.

The Tigers pounced on Carlos Hernández early, backed by Jeimer Candelario and Miguel Cabrera. Hernández gave up five runs, four earned, on two hits with four walks in 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.

A three-run home run by Candelario in the third gave Casey Mize a comfortable lead.

Mize struck out six in 4 2/3 innings but gave up four runs on six hits with a walk.

Akil Baddoo hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Tigers, his ninth of the season and fourth in the last 11 games.

Tarik Skubal (6-8, 4.18 ERA) will take the mound for Detroit in the series finale. Daniel Lynch (0-2, 15.75 ERA) will make his fourth career start for Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana hit three-run homers in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.Perez hit his 23rd home run of the season to highlight a four-run fourth. Santana gave the Royals the lead with a three-run homer to right in a five-run seventh.“I think it got lost there at the end, but we were down six runs,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “I can’t think of another team that I have been around that is as resilient as this team.”Hanser Alberto capped the seventh with a two-run, pinch-hit triple. Nicky Lopez went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk from No. 9 spot to help Kansas City win its fourth straight.“We never quit, we just competed to the last out,” Perez said. “Nobody put their head down and there was a lot of energy in the dugout.”Jake Brentz (3-2) was the winner. Wade Davis finished for his second save of the season after Greg Holland gave up two runs in the ninth.Kyle Funkhouser (4-1) allowed all five runs in the seventh for Detroit.The Tigers pounced on Carlos Hernández early, backed by Jeimer Candelario and Miguel Cabrera. Hernández gave up five runs, four earned, on two hits with four walks in 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.A three-run home run by Candelario in the third gave Casey Mize a comfortable lead.Mize struck out six in 4 2/3 innings but gave up four runs on six hits with a walk.Akil Baddoo hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Tigers, his ninth of the season and fourth in the last 11 games.UP NEXTTarik Skubal (6-8, 4.18 ERA) will take the mound for Detroit in the series finale. Daniel Lynch (0-2, 15.75 ERA) will make his fourth career start for Kansas City.

Perez, Santana homer in Royals’ 9-8 victory over Tigers

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jesse Winker homered, doubled and drove in four runs, Luis Castillo pitched seven effective innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3. Joey Votto also homered to help the Reds overcome three errors and extend their winning streak against St. Louis to six games, their longest since taking six straight in May 2003. Cincinnati swept the Cardinals in a four-game series in St. Louis June 3-6. The Reds have won three of their last four games after dropping the first four of their nine-game homestand.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana hit three-run homers in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night. Perez hit his 23rd home run of the season to highlight a four-run fourth. Santana gave the Royals the lead with a three-run homer to right in a five-run seventh. Hanser Alberto rounded out a five-run seventh with a two-run, pinch-hit triple. Nicky Lopez went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk from No. 9 spot to help Kansas City win its fourth straight. Jake Brentz (3-2) was the winner. Wade Davis finished for his second save of the season after Greg Holland gave up two runs in the ninth. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off training camp Saturday by placing veteran safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list and moving rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list. Watts sustained a foot fracture during offseason workouts in May and wasn’t expected to be ready to practice when veterans report to training camp on Monday. Head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Watts is progressing well in his recovery but he didn’t place a timetable on the safety’s return to action. Herring, an undrafted rookie free agent, suffered a torn ACL during practice for the Senior Bowl in January and is expected to miss the season.

UNDATED (AP) — Golfer Bryson DeChambeau has tested positive for COVID-19 before leaving the United States and will miss the Olympics. He’ll be replaced by Patrick Reed. Last year’s U.S. Open champion becomes the highest-profile athlete to test positive for the virus.

UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays now share first place in the American League East. Rougned Odor (ROOG’-nehd oh-DOHR’) atoned for a pair of early errors by delivering a game-tying, two-run double and scoring the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth that sent the Yankees past the Red Sox, 4-3. Austin Meadows smacked a pair of two-run homers and Ji-Man Choi had three RBIs in an 8-2 win at Cleveland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625823196555.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CINCINNATI (AP) — Jesse Winker homered, doubled and drove in four runs, Luis Castillo pitched seven effective innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3. Joey Votto also homered to help the Reds overcome three errors and extend their winning streak against St. Louis to six games, their longest since taking six straight in May 2003. Cincinnati swept the Cardinals in a four-game series in St. Louis June 3-6. The Reds have won three of their last four games after dropping the first four of their nine-game homestand.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana hit three-run homers in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night. Perez hit his 23rd home run of the season to highlight a four-run fourth. Santana gave the Royals the lead with a three-run homer to right in a five-run seventh. Hanser Alberto rounded out a five-run seventh with a two-run, pinch-hit triple. Nicky Lopez went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a walk from No. 9 spot to help Kansas City win its fourth straight. Jake Brentz (3-2) was the winner. Wade Davis finished for his second save of the season after Greg Holland gave up two runs in the ninth. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off training camp Saturday by placing veteran safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list and moving rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list. Watts sustained a foot fracture during offseason workouts in May and wasn’t expected to be ready to practice when veterans report to training camp on Monday. Head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Watts is progressing well in his recovery but he didn’t place a timetable on the safety’s return to action. Herring, an undrafted rookie free agent, suffered a torn ACL during practice for the Senior Bowl in January and is expected to miss the season.UNDATED (AP) — Golfer Bryson DeChambeau has tested positive for COVID-19 before leaving the United States and will miss the Olympics. He’ll be replaced by Patrick Reed. Last year’s U.S. Open champion becomes the highest-profile athlete to test positive for the virus.UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays now share first place in the American League East. Rougned Odor (ROOG’-nehd oh-DOHR’) atoned for a pair of early errors by delivering a game-tying, two-run double and scoring the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth that sent the Yankees past the Red Sox, 4-3. Austin Meadows smacked a pair of two-run homers and Ji-Man Choi had three RBIs in an 8-2 win at Cleveland.SATURDAY SCORESINTERLEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	5	Washington	3	Final	Milwaukee	6	Chicago White Sox	1	Final	Toronto	10	N.Y. Mets	3	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	N.Y. Yankees	4	Boston	3	Final	L.A. Angels	2	Minnesota	1	Final	Tampa Bay	8	Cleveland	2	Final	Houston	4	Texas	1	Final	Kansas City	9	Detroit	8	Final	Seattle	5	Oakland	4	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Arizona	7	Chicago Cubs	3	Final	Miami	3	San Diego	2	Final	Atlanta	15	Philadelphia	3	Final	Cincinnati	5	St. Louis	3	Final	L.A. Dodgers	1	Colorado	0	Final	Pittsburgh	10	San Francisco	2

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Conference realignment is back on the table in college sports just as three Power Five conferences are breaking in relatively new commissioners.

While the Big 12 is trying to keep Oklahoma and Texas from being poached by the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference could be challenged to respond should veteran SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey make a bold move.

Texas and Oklahoma will reportedly inform the Big 12 in the next few days that they are leaving, though neither school has issued any statements beyond non-denial references to rumors.

A 16-team SEC with the Longhorns and Sooners has the potential to make what is already the strongest conference in college football even more dominant and wealthy.

For now, the Big Ten — the SEC’s closest rival in quality and revenue generation —- apparently is not feeling pressured into it.

“We haven’t had conversations (about expansion), we’re not overreacting, it’s not who we are,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said at Big Ten media days Friday. “We just have to pause, study, learn, do what’s right for us. But we haven’t had conversations about that move collectively.”

Smith stressed that having a commissioner in Kevin Warren, who is still settling into college sports after a long career in the NFL, is not an issue for the league.

“What’s a blessing for our league is the collective intellectual knowledge among our ADs and our presidents,” Smith said. “If we decide we need to something we’ll be in good position to do so.”

Warren has been the commissioner since January 2020, but navigating the pandemic has consumed most of his time in the conference. He is still building relationships within his own league.

In the ACC, former Northwestern AD Jim Phillips is in his seventh month as commissioner. Phillips is a veteran of college sports who has been active at the NCAA level. His longevity should give him credibility and relationships across the country.

Phillips already has an expansion target: Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish compete in the ACC in most sports but returned to football independence after a temporary, pandemic-induced season playing in the conference last season.

“That was a really beautiful and beneficial relationship to both Notre Dame and the ACC. They had a chance to play a fantastic schedule,” Phillips said this week. “They had a chance to vie for a national championship and compete in the CFP. We have a real-life example of what that could look like.”

Notre Dame, however, is unfazed by the latest potential upheaval.

“We like our position regardless of how that plays out (with Texas and Oklahoma),” athletic director Jack Swarbrick said.

Years ago, Notre Dame was courted by the Big Ten and passed. Its current deal with the ACC assures the Fighting Irish four or five football games per season with ACC members, but still allows them to be independent and, among other things, able to strike their own TV deals.

The agreement with Notre Dame and the ACC runs through 2036, concurrently with the conference’s TV contract and grant or rights that binds its full members; it says that if Notre Dame were to join a conference it would be the ACC.

Of course, as conference realignment past and present has shown, everything is negotiable.

If Texas and Oklahoma are off the board and heading to the SEC, the only school that could move the needle financially and competitively for another conference to add would be Notre Dame.

In the Pac-12, George Kliavkoff, a former MGM executive, took over officially July 1, though he got a head start in June by attending College Football Playoff meetings on potential expansion of the postseason system.

Realignment has kicked CFP expansion from four to 12 teams to the back burner in college football for now.

Kliavkoff declined to speculate on how an expanded SEC might influence the Pac-12.

“I consider the Pac-12 an exclusive club with high barriers to entry,” Kliavkoff said. “We’re not actively trying to poach teams from other conferences, but we are open to listen if schools reach out to us.”

Geography limits the Pac-12′s possibilities if it did want to expand and a weakened Big 12 is not well positioned to lure Pac-12 schools away from a relatively stable situation.

The Pac-12′s TV deal expires in 2024. The Big 12′s runs through 2025. The Big Ten’s latest deal is done after in 2023.

The potential move by the Longhorns rippled to the Texas Capitol, where by Friday nearly three dozen lawmakers had signed onto a bill that would require legislative approval for a university to switch athletic conferences. But any immediate action would require Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, a University of Texas alumnus and Longhorns fan, to put the matter on the agenda of a special session – which is currently at a standstill after Democrats bolted for Washington in an effort to stop new voting measures.

If the Big 12 wants to save itself by adding, it already has stacks of resumes: Just five years ago, the conference held something of a casting call and explored expansion. Much of the American Athletic Conference applied, along with schools such as Boise State and BYU.

AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco did not return a message Friday, but a person with knowledge of the conference’s strategy told AP it is working on plans to be proactive and possibly add teams from the Big 12 instead of being poached. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league’s internal discussions are private.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Conference realignment is back on the table in college sports just as three Power Five conferences are breaking in relatively new commissioners.While the Big 12 is trying to keep Oklahoma and Texas from being poached by the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference could be challenged to respond should veteran SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey make a bold move.Texas and Oklahoma will reportedly inform the Big 12 in the next few days that they are leaving, though neither school has issued any statements beyond non-denial references to rumors.A 16-team SEC with the Longhorns and Sooners has the potential to make what is already the strongest conference in college football even more dominant and wealthy.Do the other conferences have to react?For now, the Big Ten — the SEC’s closest rival in quality and revenue generation —- apparently is not feeling pressured into it.“We haven’t had conversations (about expansion), we’re not overreacting, it’s not who we are,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said at Big Ten media days Friday. “We just have to pause, study, learn, do what’s right for us. But we haven’t had conversations about that move collectively.”Smith stressed that having a commissioner in Kevin Warren, who is still settling into college sports after a long career in the NFL, is not an issue for the league.“What’s a blessing for our league is the collective intellectual knowledge among our ADs and our presidents,” Smith said. “If we decide we need to something we’ll be in good position to do so.”Warren has been the commissioner since January 2020, but navigating the pandemic has consumed most of his time in the conference. He is still building relationships within his own league.In the ACC, former Northwestern AD Jim Phillips is in his seventh month as commissioner. Phillips is a veteran of college sports who has been active at the NCAA level. His longevity should give him credibility and relationships across the country.Phillips already has an expansion target: Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish compete in the ACC in most sports but returned to football independence after a temporary, pandemic-induced season playing in the conference last season.“That was a really beautiful and beneficial relationship to both Notre Dame and the ACC. They had a chance to play a fantastic schedule,” Phillips said this week. “They had a chance to vie for a national championship and compete in the CFP. We have a real-life example of what that could look like.”Notre Dame, however, is unfazed by the latest potential upheaval.“We like our position regardless of how that plays out (with Texas and Oklahoma),” athletic director Jack Swarbrick said.Years ago, Notre Dame was courted by the Big Ten and passed. Its current deal with the ACC assures the Fighting Irish four or five football games per season with ACC members, but still allows them to be independent and, among other things, able to strike their own TV deals.The agreement with Notre Dame and the ACC runs through 2036, concurrently with the conference’s TV contract and grant or rights that binds its full members; it says that if Notre Dame were to join a conference it would be the ACC.Of course, as conference realignment past and present has shown, everything is negotiable.If Texas and Oklahoma are off the board and heading to the SEC, the only school that could move the needle financially and competitively for another conference to add would be Notre Dame.In the Pac-12, George Kliavkoff, a former MGM executive, took over officially July 1, though he got a head start in June by attending College Football Playoff meetings on potential expansion of the postseason system.Realignment has kicked CFP expansion from four to 12 teams to the back burner in college football for now.Kliavkoff declined to speculate on how an expanded SEC might influence the Pac-12.“I consider the Pac-12 an exclusive club with high barriers to entry,” Kliavkoff said. “We’re not actively trying to poach teams from other conferences, but we are open to listen if schools reach out to us.”Geography limits the Pac-12′s possibilities if it did want to expand and a weakened Big 12 is not well positioned to lure Pac-12 schools away from a relatively stable situation.The Pac-12′s TV deal expires in 2024. The Big 12′s runs through 2025. The Big Ten’s latest deal is done after in 2023.The potential move by the Longhorns rippled to the Texas Capitol, where by Friday nearly three dozen lawmakers had signed onto a bill that would require legislative approval for a university to switch athletic conferences. But any immediate action would require Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, a University of Texas alumnus and Longhorns fan, to put the matter on the agenda of a special session – which is currently at a standstill after Democrats bolted for Washington in an effort to stop new voting measures.If the Big 12 wants to save itself by adding, it already has stacks of resumes: Just five years ago, the conference held something of a casting call and explored expansion. Much of the American Athletic Conference applied, along with schools such as Boise State and BYU.AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco did not return a message Friday, but a person with knowledge of the conference’s strategy told AP it is working on plans to be proactive and possibly add teams from the Big 12 instead of being poached. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league’s internal discussions are private.

New commissioners thrust into conference realignment chaos

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Cat Osterman pitched shutout ball for the second time in four days, Ali Aguilar hit a tiebreaking, two-run single and the top-ranked United States beat No. 5 Mexico 2-0 at the Olympic softball tournament. The U.S. pitched its third straight one-hitter and has not allowed a run while improving to 3-0 in softball’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. But the Americans are getting just enough offense with five runs. Osterman pitched six innings for her second win and Monica Abbott got her second save to go with a win.

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. beach volleyball player Phil Dalhausser has had a rough start to the Tokyo Games. The four-time Olympian and 2008 gold medalist has been in modified quarantine because he is considered a close contact of another player who withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. Dalhausser sat near Taylor Crabb on a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco before heading over to Japan. Dalhausser and teammate Nick Lucena lost to defending bronze medalists Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer of the Netherlands. The Americans had practiced together only twice from the time they arrived in Tokyo until their opening match today.

TOKYO (AP) — Heat and humidity became a major issue when the Olympic tennis tournament opened today. The temperature soared to 93 degrees and the heat index made it feel more than 100. French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova grasped for an air tube during a medical timeout and grew frustrated at the lack of ice in a court-side container. She still managed to rout Sara Errani of Italy. Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev called it “some of the worst” heat he has played in after eliminating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s bid for a Golden Slam is alive and well following a routine 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese swimming start Daiya Seto surprisingly failed to qualify for the 400-meter individual medley final on the opening night of swimming at the Tokyo Olympics. Seto, the bronze medalist five years ago in Rio and a three-time world champion in the event, finished ninth. Only the top eight advanced to tomorrow’s final. Seto was a favorite to win the grueling event, along with American Chase Kalisz. The eight-lap race requires endurance, technique and strategy while fighting off weary legs and arms churning through all four strokes — butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has surged to the lead in Olympic men’s gymnastics qualifying, but the host country will spend the rest of the Games without star Kohei Uchimura. The 32-year-old two-time Olympic champion fell on high bar and failed to qualify for the event finals. Japan’s team total of 262.510 points was just enough to pull ahead of China and the Russian team. Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto topped qualifying through two subdivisions with an all-around score of 88.531. The United States, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine also advanced to Monday night’s final.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627137721581.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Cat Osterman pitched shutout ball for the second time in four days, Ali Aguilar hit a tiebreaking, two-run single and the top-ranked United States beat No. 5 Mexico 2-0 at the Olympic softball tournament. The U.S. pitched its third straight one-hitter and has not allowed a run while improving to 3-0 in softball’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. But the Americans are getting just enough offense with five runs. Osterman pitched six innings for her second win and Monica Abbott got her second save to go with a win.TOKYO (AP) — U.S. beach volleyball player Phil Dalhausser has had a rough start to the Tokyo Games. The four-time Olympian and 2008 gold medalist has been in modified quarantine because he is considered a close contact of another player who withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. Dalhausser sat near Taylor Crabb on a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco before heading over to Japan. Dalhausser and teammate Nick Lucena lost to defending bronze medalists Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer of the Netherlands. The Americans had practiced together only twice from the time they arrived in Tokyo until their opening match today.TOKYO (AP) — Heat and humidity became a major issue when the Olympic tennis tournament opened today. The temperature soared to 93 degrees and the heat index made it feel more than 100. French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova grasped for an air tube during a medical timeout and grew frustrated at the lack of ice in a court-side container. She still managed to rout Sara Errani of Italy. Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev called it “some of the worst” heat he has played in after eliminating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s bid for a Golden Slam is alive and well following a routine 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia.TOKYO (AP) — Japanese swimming start Daiya Seto surprisingly failed to qualify for the 400-meter individual medley final on the opening night of swimming at the Tokyo Olympics. Seto, the bronze medalist five years ago in Rio and a three-time world champion in the event, finished ninth. Only the top eight advanced to tomorrow’s final. Seto was a favorite to win the grueling event, along with American Chase Kalisz. The eight-lap race requires endurance, technique and strategy while fighting off weary legs and arms churning through all four strokes — butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.TOKYO (AP) — Japan has surged to the lead in Olympic men’s gymnastics qualifying, but the host country will spend the rest of the Games without star Kohei Uchimura. The 32-year-old two-time Olympic champion fell on high bar and failed to qualify for the event finals. Japan’s team total of 262.510 points was just enough to pull ahead of China and the Russian team. Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto topped qualifying through two subdivisions with an all-around score of 88.531. The United States, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine also advanced to Monday night’s final.

Saturday Olympics Update

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana also connected as the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 5-3 Friday night, ending the Tigers’ seven-game winning streak.

The Tigers had been 7-0 since the All-Star break. It was their longest winning string since an eight-game run in 2016.

Kansas City has won three in a row for the first time since June 4.

Kris Bubic (3-4) gave up one earned run and six hits in six innings. He ended his outing by getting Jeimer Candelario to ground into a double play with the bases loaded.

“I think the ability to relax and got off to a good start,” Bubic said. “I was much better and landed all three pitches tonight. I felt good and the defense was unbelievable.”

“I was happy to see Kris challenge and attack the zone and the guys backed him up in the field,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “He set the tone today.”

O’Hearn hit his eighth homer, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead in the fourth.

“I’ve hit some balls here that would be out at other places,” O’Hearn said. “I just told myself not try to do too much.”

Santana hit his 16th homer, a drive that barely made it over the right field fence in the fifth. Wily Peralta (3-2) hadn’t given up a hit against lefties on hos slider (0 for 30) before Santana connected.

Peralta went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs, five hits, three walks and four strikeouts. It’s tied for the most runs he’s given up all season.

Willi Castro homered in the Detroit third.

“He’s been very comfortable since coming back,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was swinging well in Triple-A and we all know when he gets hot it’s something to see.”

Whit Merrifield hit an RBI single to tie it at 1.

Kansas City: Sent INF/OF Ryan McBroom to Omaha and called up RHP Domingo Tapia.

Casey Mize (5-5, 3.44) starts for the Tigers against Carlos Hernandez (1-1, 4.91) for Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana also connected as the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 5-3 Friday night, ending the Tigers’ seven-game winning streak.The Tigers had been 7-0 since the All-Star break. It was their longest winning string since an eight-game run in 2016.Kansas City has won three in a row for the first time since June 4.Kris Bubic (3-4) gave up one earned run and six hits in six innings. He ended his outing by getting Jeimer Candelario to ground into a double play with the bases loaded.“I think the ability to relax and got off to a good start,” Bubic said. “I was much better and landed all three pitches tonight. I felt good and the defense was unbelievable.”Greg Holland got his seventh save.“I was happy to see Kris challenge and attack the zone and the guys backed him up in the field,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “He set the tone today.”O’Hearn hit his eighth homer, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead in the fourth.“I’ve hit some balls here that would be out at other places,” O’Hearn said. “I just told myself not try to do too much.”Santana hit his 16th homer, a drive that barely made it over the right field fence in the fifth. Wily Peralta (3-2) hadn’t given up a hit against lefties on hos slider (0 for 30) before Santana connected.Peralta went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs, five hits, three walks and four strikeouts. It’s tied for the most runs he’s given up all season.Willi Castro homered in the Detroit third.“He’s been very comfortable since coming back,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He was swinging well in Triple-A and we all know when he gets hot it’s something to see.”Whit Merrifield hit an RBI single to tie it at 1.ROSTER MOVESKansas City: Sent INF/OF Ryan McBroom to Omaha and called up RHP Domingo Tapia.UP NEXTCasey Mize (5-5, 3.44) starts for the Tigers against Carlos Hernandez (1-1, 4.91) for Kansas City.

O’Hearn, Royals end Tigers’ 7-game winning streak, 5-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana also connected as the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 5-3, ending the Tigers’ seven-game winning streak. The Tigers had been 7-0 since the All-Star break. It was their longest winning string since an eight-game run in 2016. Kansas City has won three in a row for the first time since June 4. Kris Bubic gave up one earned run and six hits in six innings. He ended his outing by getting Jeimer Candelario to ground into a double play with the bases loaded.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Stephenson drove in Kyle Farmer with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Farmer had three hits, including a home run, and Joey Votto also had three hits for the Reds. Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader hit long home runs for St. Louis. The Cardinals had won five of their last six games. The win was just Cincinnati’s second in seven games on the nine-game homestand.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and several of his Kansas City Chiefs teammates reported for training camp with 90% of the team’s roster having received the COVID-19 vaccine. The Chiefs are among six NFL teams that are over 90% vaccinated. The Chiefs are holding training camp on the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph and Reid says fans will notice new procedures when attending practices this summer. Players will not be signing autographs and other measures are being taken to increase health safety for players and other club employees. Reid reported that 100% of his staff has received a vaccine.

UNDATED (AP) — The number of NFL players who are in the COVID-19 vaccination process has reached 80%, with nine teams having 90% or more of their players in that category. Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s medical director, said Friday that nearly all team employees who deal directly with players have been vaccinated. Five teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both. He is optimistic the number of vaccinated players will continue to rise as training camps open.

UNDATED (AP) — From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open. The preseason will include only three games except for Dallas and Pittsburgh, who play four because they meet in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 5. The regular season, of course, has been expanded by one match to 17. The drama surrounding QBs Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and Deshaun Watson of Houston figures to hold the spotlight, as will the debut of seven new head coaches including Urban Meyer in Jacksonville.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Conference realignment is returning to college sports at the same time three Power Five leagues are breaking in relatively new commissioners. The Big 12 is trying to keep Oklahoma and Texas from leaving for the Southeastern Conference. Officials with the Big Ten and Pac-12 says they are not concerned amid the reports. The Atlantic Coast Conference is interested in adding Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, however, have not been interested in joining a league.

UNDATED (AP) — College trading cards are the latest offshoot of the NCAA's decision to allow athletes to make money off their names, images and likenesses. Industry leader Panini America has teamed up with licensing giant OneTeam Partners to begin producing cards of college athletes. It's not just football players who will be on the cards but men's and women's basketball players and baseball players and athletes from Olympic sports. The NCAA last month agreed to let student-athletes monetize their fame without compromising their eligibility.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer appeared in court Friday to fight the extension of a protective order sought by a woman who says he choked and punched her during two sexual encounters earlier this year. Attorneys for both sides revealed in court that they intend to call witnesses and argue over the order in what amounts to a trial that is expected to last three days. Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman delayed the beginning of that hearing until Aug. 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro’s administrative leave was extended by Major League Baseball through July 29 under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The leave began July 16 under the policy adopted by MLB and the players’ association in 2015 and can be the initial step leading to a longer suspension. Castro was placed on the restricted list June 16 due to what manager Dave Martinez at the time said were “family matters.”

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Washington Nationals have shut down Steven Strasburg again after he felt some discomfort in his neck following a recent bullpen session. Manager Dave Martinez says the Nationals are trying to figure out what to do next, which includes the possibility of finding another specialist to look at the right-hander. Strasburg has made just five starts this season due to neck and shoulder issues and has started just seven times since being named the MVP of the 2019 World Series.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have acquired starting pitcher Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer. Hill could be a valuable addition with starters Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson recovering from injuries. The 41-year-old Hill has pitched just 95 1/3 innings this year, going 6-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 19 starts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625823196555.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana also connected as the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 5-3, ending the Tigers’ seven-game winning streak. The Tigers had been 7-0 since the All-Star break. It was their longest winning string since an eight-game run in 2016. Kansas City has won three in a row for the first time since June 4. Kris Bubic gave up one earned run and six hits in six innings. He ended his outing by getting Jeimer Candelario to ground into a double play with the bases loaded.CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Stephenson drove in Kyle Farmer with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Farmer had three hits, including a home run, and Joey Votto also had three hits for the Reds. Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader hit long home runs for St. Louis. The Cardinals had won five of their last six games. The win was just Cincinnati’s second in seven games on the nine-game homestand.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and several of his Kansas City Chiefs teammates reported for training camp with 90% of the team’s roster having received the COVID-19 vaccine. The Chiefs are among six NFL teams that are over 90% vaccinated. The Chiefs are holding training camp on the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph and Reid says fans will notice new procedures when attending practices this summer. Players will not be signing autographs and other measures are being taken to increase health safety for players and other club employees. Reid reported that 100% of his staff has received a vaccine.UNDATED (AP) — The number of NFL players who are in the COVID-19 vaccination process has reached 80%, with nine teams having 90% or more of their players in that category. Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s medical director, said Friday that nearly all team employees who deal directly with players have been vaccinated. Five teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both. He is optimistic the number of vaccinated players will continue to rise as training camps open.UNDATED (AP) — From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open. The preseason will include only three games except for Dallas and Pittsburgh, who play four because they meet in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 5. The regular season, of course, has been expanded by one match to 17. The drama surrounding QBs Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and Deshaun Watson of Houston figures to hold the spotlight, as will the debut of seven new head coaches including Urban Meyer in Jacksonville.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Conference realignment is returning to college sports at the same time three Power Five leagues are breaking in relatively new commissioners. The Big 12 is trying to keep Oklahoma and Texas from leaving for the Southeastern Conference. Officials with the Big Ten and Pac-12 says they are not concerned amid the reports. The Atlantic Coast Conference is interested in adding Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, however, have not been interested in joining a league.UNDATED (AP) — College trading cards are the latest offshoot of the NCAA's decision to allow athletes to make money off their names, images and likenesses. Industry leader Panini America has teamed up with licensing giant OneTeam Partners to begin producing cards of college athletes. It's not just football players who will be on the cards but men's and women's basketball players and baseball players and athletes from Olympic sports. The NCAA last month agreed to let student-athletes monetize their fame without compromising their eligibility.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer appeared in court Friday to fight the extension of a protective order sought by a woman who says he choked and punched her during two sexual encounters earlier this year. Attorneys for both sides revealed in court that they intend to call witnesses and argue over the order in what amounts to a trial that is expected to last three days. Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman delayed the beginning of that hearing until Aug. 2NEW YORK (AP) — Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro’s administrative leave was extended by Major League Baseball through July 29 under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The leave began July 16 under the policy adopted by MLB and the players’ association in 2015 and can be the initial step leading to a longer suspension. Castro was placed on the restricted list June 16 due to what manager Dave Martinez at the time said were “family matters.”BALTIMORE (AP) — The Washington Nationals have shut down Steven Strasburg again after he felt some discomfort in his neck following a recent bullpen session. Manager Dave Martinez says the Nationals are trying to figure out what to do next, which includes the possibility of finding another specialist to look at the right-hander. Strasburg has made just five starts this season due to neck and shoulder issues and has started just seven times since being named the MVP of the 2019 World Series.NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have acquired starting pitcher Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer. Hill could be a valuable addition with starters Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson recovering from injuries. The 41-year-old Hill has pitched just 95 1/3 innings this year, going 6-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 19 starts.FRIDAY SCORESINTERLEAGUEFinal	N.Y. Mets	3	Toronto	0	Final	Baltimore	6	Washington	1	Final	Milwaukee	7	Chicago White Sox	1	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Tampa Bay	10	Cleveland	5	Final	Boston	6	N.Y. Yankees	2	Final	Kansas City	5	Detroit	3	Final	Minnesota	5	L.A. Angels	4	Final	Houston	7	Texas	3	Final	Seattle	4	Oakland	3	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Chicago Cubs	8	Arizona	3	Final	Philadelphia	5	Atlanta	1	Final	San Diego	5	Miami	2	Final	Cincinnati	6	St. Louis	5	Final	Pittsburgh	6	San Francisco	4	Final	Colorado	9	L.A. Dodgers	6

Saturday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

The Kansas City Chiefs have begun arriving at the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph as training camp activities get underway this weekend.

Rookies and quarterbacks were the first to report Friday, and the team will hold three closed practices Saturday before practices open to the general public on Wednesday.

Patrick Mahomes, who's beginning his fifth season with the Chiefs, was among the first to arrive Friday.

After being confined to the Kansas City facilities for training camp last year due to COVID-19, Mahomes is thrilled to be back in St. Joseph, where camp has been held every year from 2010-2019.

He says it's an especially good time to get more familiar with the rookies on the team, particularly second-round draft pick Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma, who will be vying for the starting center position behind Austin Blythe.

"Things like training camp in St. Joseph and all being together pretty much every single day, you keep building those relationships that have already been built a little bit," Mahomes said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. "I think it'll bring us together throughout this month. Not only going out and practicing every single day, but also eating every single meal together and building those relationships."

As for Mahomes' health, he says he feels 100 percent going into camp after recovering from turf toe surgery in February following a 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl 55.

"I've been training, running, throwing and doing everything I normally do," Mahomes said. "I think what was so good about going to (Organized Team Activities) and doing those things was, I tested it there and realized I was good. Then when I got back with Bobby (Stroupe) and started training in the offseason with him, I was able to do with him what I normally would do."

The Super Bowl loss is well in the rearview by this point, but Mahomes says the sting of that defeat stuck with him for at least a couple of weeks after. However, he views training camp as an opportunity to start fresh and build toward getting better this coming season.

"I think the best thing about getting to training camp is it all starts over," Mahomes said. "No matter how you ended the year before, you get to go in with the mindset of starting from scratch. So, we're excited to do that and are going to try and make another run at it."

Coach Andy Reid, who enters his ninth season with the Chiefs and 29th overall in the NFL, is also thrilled to come back to St. Joseph for camp. He praised Missouri Western personnel for their hospitality during nearly month-long event.

"We're glad to be back up here in St. Joe," he said. "We love the hospitality they give us up here at Missouri Western State University. From their president (Elizabeth Kennedy) on down, it's just all class and that's obviously why we have returned."

Reid says the best part of training camp is the constant focus on football, but also team comradery.

"There's this concentration of football that you take in here," he said. "You're sleeping and eating in the dorm. You're here and it's football kind of 24/7. That's how it works."

Reid said 30 players total will report to camp, which opens up to media and fans on July 28 and will conclude on August 18. All practices will be held at the Mosaic Training Fields. Nearly every practice will start at 9:15 a.m. A full training camp schedule and details <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.

Most Chiefs players, all Chiefs coaches are vaccinated

Coach Reid said 90 percent of the team and the entire Chiefs' coaching staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The NFL announced Thursday that teams could be forced to&nbsp;forfeit a game if there's a COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated players that would cause a game to be postponed.

"It's definitely a big deal with that news coming out," Mahomes said. "You don't want to forfeit games, but I think we have guys in the locker room who are vaccinated and guys who are unvaccinated who are going to be smart and not try to hurt the team in any way."

Frank Clark will report to camp despite legal trouble

Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark is expected to report to training camp next week.&nbsp;

Clark has had multiple run-ins with police during the offseason in Los Angeles - first in March and again in June.

Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Clark earlier this month with felony illegal possession of a firearm in connection to the March arrest. That court case is ongoing. Clark has not been formally charged in connection to the incident in June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627071930493.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs have begun arriving at the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph as training camp activities get underway this weekend.Rookies and quarterbacks were the first to report Friday, and the team will hold three closed practices Saturday before practices open to the general public on Wednesday.Patrick Mahomes, who's beginning his fifth season with the Chiefs, was among the first to arrive Friday.After being confined to the Kansas City facilities for training camp last year due to COVID-19, Mahomes is thrilled to be back in St. Joseph, where camp has been held every year from 2010-2019.He says it's an especially good time to get more familiar with the rookies on the team, particularly second-round draft pick Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma, who will be vying for the starting center position behind Austin Blythe."Things like training camp in St. Joseph and all being together pretty much every single day, you keep building those relationships that have already been built a little bit," Mahomes said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. "I think it'll bring us together throughout this month. Not only going out and practicing every single day, but also eating every single meal together and building those relationships."As for Mahomes' health, he says he feels 100 percent going into camp after recovering from turf toe surgery in February following a 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl 55."I've been training, running, throwing and doing everything I normally do," Mahomes said. "I think what was so good about going to (Organized Team Activities) and doing those things was, I tested it there and realized I was good. Then when I got back with Bobby (Stroupe) and started training in the offseason with him, I was able to do with him what I normally would do."The Super Bowl loss is well in the rearview by this point, but Mahomes says the sting of that defeat stuck with him for at least a couple of weeks after. However, he views training camp as an opportunity to start fresh and build toward getting better this coming season."I think the best thing about getting to training camp is it all starts over," Mahomes said. "No matter how you ended the year before, you get to go in with the mindset of starting from scratch. So, we're excited to do that and are going to try and make another run at it."Coach Andy Reid, who enters his ninth season with the Chiefs and 29th overall in the NFL, is also thrilled to come back to St. Joseph for camp. He praised Missouri Western personnel for their hospitality during nearly month-long event."We're glad to be back up here in St. Joe," he said. "We love the hospitality they give us up here at Missouri Western State University. From their president (Elizabeth Kennedy) on down, it's just all class and that's obviously why we have returned."Reid says the best part of training camp is the constant focus on football, but also team comradery."There's this concentration of football that you take in here," he said. "You're sleeping and eating in the dorm. You're here and it's football kind of 24/7. That's how it works."Reid said 30 players total will report to camp, which opens up to media and fans on July 28 and will conclude on August 18. All practices will be held at the Mosaic Training Fields. Nearly every practice will start at 9:15 a.m. A full training camp schedule and details <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.Most Chiefs players, all Chiefs coaches are vaccinatedCoach Reid said 90 percent of the team and the entire Chiefs' coaching staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The NFL announced Thursday that teams could be forced to&nbsp;forfeit a game if there's a COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated players that would cause a game to be postponed."It's definitely a big deal with that news coming out," Mahomes said. "You don't want to forfeit games, but I think we have guys in the locker room who are vaccinated and guys who are unvaccinated who are going to be smart and not try to hurt the team in any way."Frank Clark will report to camp despite legal troubleChiefs defensive end Frank Clark is expected to report to training camp next week.&nbsp;Clark has had multiple run-ins with police during the offseason in Los Angeles - first in March and again in June.Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Clark earlier this month with felony illegal possession of a firearm in connection to the March arrest. That court case is ongoing. Clark has not been formally charged in connection to the incident in June.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F165787085618617%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

Chiefs arrive in St. Joseph as training camp begins

CLEVELAND (AP) — Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians.

The ballclub announced the name change Friday — effective at the end of the 2021 season — with a video on Twitter narrated by actor and team fan Tom Hanks. The decision ends months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist.

The choice of Guardians will undoubtedly be criticized by many of the club’s die-hard fans, some of whom quickly went on social media to vent.

The organization spent most of the past year whittling down a list of potential names that was at nearly 1,200 just over a month ago. But the process, which the club said included 140 hours of interviews with fans, community leaders, front office personnel and a survey of 40,000 fans.

Owner Paul Dolan said last summer’s social unrest, touched off by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, spurred his intention to change the name.

Dolan is expected to provide more details on the choice and background on the change at a news conference at Progressive Field before the Indians host the Tampa Bay Rays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627059564888.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CLEVELAND (AP) — Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians.The ballclub announced the name change Friday — effective at the end of the 2021 season — with a video on Twitter narrated by actor and team fan Tom Hanks. The decision ends months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist.The choice of Guardians will undoubtedly be criticized by many of the club’s die-hard fans, some of whom quickly went on social media to vent.The organization spent most of the past year whittling down a list of potential names that was at nearly 1,200 just over a month ago. But the process, which the club said included 140 hours of interviews with fans, community leaders, front office personnel and a survey of 40,000 fans.Owner Paul Dolan said last summer’s social unrest, touched off by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, spurred his intention to change the name.Dolan is expected to provide more details on the choice and background on the change at a news conference at Progressive Field before the Indians host the Tampa Bay Rays.Dolan said the new name mirrors the city and its people.“Cleveland has and always will be the most important part of our identity,” he said in a statement. “Therefore, we wanted a name that strongly represents the pride, resiliency and loyalty of Clevelanders. ‘Guardians’ reflects those attributes that define us.”“It brings to life the pride Clevelanders take in our city and the way we fight together for all who choose to be part of the Cleveland baseball family. While ‘Indians’ will always be a part of our history, our new name will help unify our fans and city as we are all Cleveland Guardians.”The change comes as the Washington Football Team continues to work toward a similar makeover. The franchise dropped its Redskins name before the 2020 season. Washington recently said it will reveal a new name and logo in 2022.Cleveland’s new name was inspired by two large landmark stone edifices near the downtown ballpark — referred to as traffic guardians — on the Hope Memorial Bridge over the Cuyahoga River.The team’s colors will remain the same, and the new Guardians’ new logos will incorporate some of the architectural features of the bridge.In 2018, the Indians stopped wearing the contentious Chief Wahoo logo on their jerseys and caps. However, the team continues to sell merchandise bearing the smiling, red-faced caricature that was protested for decades by Native American groups.Numerous Native American groups have protested Cleveland’s use of the Wahoo logo and Indians name for years, so the latest development brought some comfort.“It is a major step towards righting the wrongs committed against Native peoples, and is one step towards justice,” said Crystal Echo Hawk, executive director and founder of IllumiNative, a group dedicated to fighting misrepresentations of Native Americans.The name change has sparked lively debate among the city’s passionate sports fans. Other names, including the Spiders, which is what the team was called before 1900, were pushed by supporters on social media platforms.But Guardians does seem to fit the team’s objective to find a name that embodies Cleveland’s hard-working, loyal, Midwestern-valued ethos while preserving the team’s history and uniting the community.The rebranding comes as the Indians, who have one of baseball’s lowest payrolls, try to stay in contention despite a slew of injuries as the July 30 trading deadline approaches.“This is a historic moment for our franchise, and we are excited for our players and staff to debut our new team name and look in 2022,” said Chris Antonetti, the club’s president of baseball operations. “We look forward to our team proudly representing the city of Cleveland as the Guardians.”Guardians is the fifth name in franchise history joining the Blues (1901), Bronchos (1902), Naps (1903-1914) and Indians (1915-2021).