BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will now play a preseason game in Japan that it had previously said was canceled after resolving a contractual dispute with the promoter. Barcelona said Friday that its team was traveling to Japan where it will play a friendly against Vissel Kobe on Sunday. The club said that it and the promoter have “resolved all the issues" that had led to Barcelona calling off the game. Barcelona has not named the promoter or given more detail about the dispute. After Japan, Barcelona also plans to visit South Korea to play FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools. The move aims to establish clearer national standards in the NCAA's name, image, and likeness era. The order seeks to address the chaotic landscape of college sports, where athletes can now earn income from endorsements and schools can pay them directly. Trump's order also calls for preserving scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports and asks the Justice Department to protect athletes' rights.
LONDON, Ontario (AP) — An Ontario judge has acquitted five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant’s allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said Thursday that prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the encounter that took place in a London, Ontario, hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at age 71. Police in Clearwater, Florida, say authorities responded to a call about a cardiac arrest. No foul play is suspected. Hogan's real name was Terry Bollea, and he was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in movies and TV shows, including a reality show on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Isabelle Harrison of the New York Liberty spent much of All-Star weekend visiting her brother Daniel in the hospital. Daniel has been battling lupus since he was 13. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Harrison says it's prevalent in the African American community and three of her 12 siblings have been diagnosed with it. Her sister Danielle died of lupus in 2017. Daniel is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, but he needs to be healthy to receive a new kidney.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Jets quarterback Justin Fields has a dislocated toe on his right foot and will be evaluated daily by the team. The announcement came after Fields limped off the practice field Thursday morning and was carted into the facility. This eased initial concerns about him missing significant practice time. Fields, in his first season with the Jets, signed a two-year, $40 million contract in March. Coach Aaron Glenn urged fans to remain calm, emphasizing the team's depth with veteran Tyrod Taylor as backup. The Jets also have Adrian Martinez and rookie Brady Cook on the roster.
DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — A 12-year-old Little Leaguer who faced suspension from his team’s first state tournament game for flipping his bat after hitting a home run was allowed to play Thursday night. Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament. Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay.” The family sought and received an emergency temporary restraining order that allowed him to play in the New Jersey state tournament.
Laurent Mekies didn't get long to settle in as Red Bull team principal on his first Formula 1 race weekend leading his new team. There was just one practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday before Red Bull and Mekies get straight into competitive action with qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race. The hectic schedule is an extra challenge as Mekies takes over from Christian Horner, who had led the team since it entered F1 20 years ago until he was abruptly fired just over two weeks ago.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had two stents inserted into his heart to treat blocked arteries Thursday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after he "felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms.” The Kansas athletic department released a statement, saying: “The procedure went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery. He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.” The 62-year-old Self directed the final practice of the summer session Thursday morning as he prepares for his 23rd seasons as head coach of the Jayhawks. He missed the 2023 Big 12 and NCAA tournaments because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — College football’s future wore a baby blue suit, a gold pin that said “UCLA” and a pair of diamond-encrusted hoop earrings. He glided toward the mic, sat down, then prepared for the grilling about how much money he makes, why he left Tennessee, who betrayed who when he departed and what it all means for the college football world that his story now defines. Bottom line: If quarterback Nico Iamaleava handles the rest of the season as well as he did with his half hour of Q&A at Big Ten media days chances are, UCLA will be good — maybe even very good — in 2025.
Finals
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 4 Cleveland 3
Final Toronto 11 Detroit 4
Final Athletics 5 Houston 2
Final Seattle 4 L.A. Angels 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 9 San Diego 7