LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints have been fined $500,000 apiece by the NFL after their brawl-filled joint practice. The league announced the fines on Thursday after requesting video of the tumultuous workout at the Cowboys’ training camp base in Oxnard, California. Players on both teams threw punches during several skirmishes throughout the joint practice, which was conducted in uncommonly hot, humid weather. A lowlight of the brouhaha was Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner’s body slam of Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson. Helmets and punches were thrown during several skirmishes.
The NFL is upset about changes made by Nielsen in its methodology for measuring viewership for the upcoming season, calling them “rushed” and saying they will have a negative impact on sports. Nielsen announced plans this week to change how it measures audiences on television, beginning on Aug. 31, including alterations to how the company measures whether multiple people are watching an event at the same time. The NFL is coming off one of its most successful seasons ever on television after Nielsen began using its Big Data + Panel methodology for all events last September. The league had its largest average audience since 1989.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rory McIlroy was feeling like his game was far away. That was four days ago. He looked much better in the BMW Championship with a 64 to be part of a five-way tie for the lead at Bellerive. The top of the leaderboard was filled with U.S. Open champions on a course that has been toughened by “Open Doctor” Rees Jones. That includes Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Gary Woodland sharing the lead, with Matt Fitzpatrick one back. Scottie Scheffler was under the weather and far away from the game that produced an eight-shot win last week. He shot 72.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Pete Alonso’s deep fly was ruled foul, and the call stood after a review in Baltimore’s 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. That led to plenty of outcry — and calls for baseball to use technology to evaluate possible home runs near the foul pole. It doesn’t sound like that is imminent. A person with knowledge of the issue said if baseball were to start using additional technology on fly balls like these, it would have to be developed, tested and installed by MLB. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama jury finds The New York Times defamed a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa. Jurors on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages. Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men’s team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report that falsely indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. An attorney for Spears says the verdict will improve journalism throughout the country. A Times spokesperson calls the verdict not supported by evidence and says the newspaper is reviewing its legal options.
Two people close to the situation tell The Associated Press that James Harden has agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because it has not been announced. The deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season as well as a trade kicker. Harden declined his $42.3 million player option for the upcoming season, but he indicated after the Cavaliers were swept in four games by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals that he would like to return.
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte will be transferred to the 10-day injured list from the restricted list, three days after he failed to show up for a game in Boston. General manager Mike Hazen confirmed Thursday that Marte is headed to the injured list and will return once he’s healthy, which The Arizona Republic and MLB.com first reported. The three-time All-Star traveled back to Phoenix for tests on his left knee on Tuesday. Manager Torey Lovullo said he has struggled to get information from the veteran slugger throughout the process.
HOUSTON (AP) — Top draft pick Fernando Mendoza struggled in his second preseason game, throwing an interception that Houston returned for a touchdown before the Las Vegas Raiders rallied late for a 22-20 victory over the Texans. Mendoza played the first half and went 8 of 15 for 86 yards. The performance came after he threw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut last week against Arizona playing behind Kirk Cousins. Mendoza was sacked once and took several other hits playing against Houston’s second-string defense. C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a touchdown on his only series in his first action of the preseason.
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz is ready to return from injury to defend his U.S. Open title. “Here we go,” Alcaraz posted on his social media pages Thursday, with one picture showing him in front of the U.S. Open logo. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined since April because of a right wrist injury, forcing him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz won his second U.S. Open title last year, beating Jannik Sinner in the final. He then won the Australian Open to start this season and the Spaniard is still ranked No. 2 despite his absence.
A growing number of states are providing tax dollars to university athletics. The move comes as major college sports programs now are paying millions of dollars to athletes. The financial battle for the best athletes has strained many athletic departments, which are now running deficits. North Carolina and Louisiana are earmarking sports betting taxes for their universities. Wisconsin has added money in its state budget for athletic costs at its flagship university. And Connecticut has created a tax credit program to benefit university athletics. Analysts see the state funding efforts as an emerging trend.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final Cleveland 5 San Francisco 2
Final Atlanta 2 Chicago White Sox 0
Final Milwaukee 7 Seattle 4
Final Texas 2 Washington 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 1
Final Kansas City 6 Athletics 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Baltimore 1
Final L.A. Angels 18 Houston 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 10 Cincinnati 9
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Las Vegas 22 Houston 20
Final San Francisco 41 L.A. Chargers 17