Lost in free agency’s veteran running back roulette and retirement rumblings is the fact that a potential future Hall of Fame wide receiver is still without a job, despite wanting one.
Ashland Stakes anyone’s race
After learning Ryan Howard had agreed to a contract with Atlanta, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman texted the slugger an emoji of clapping hands. ”When he walks up to the plate, he can still change the game with one swing of the bat,” Freeman said Thursday when Howard’s minor league deal was announced. If added to the 40-man roster, Howard would get a contract paying a $750,000 salary in the major leagues this year and $120,000 in the minors.
Warriors’ Durant to return Saturday vs. Pelicans
Jury in Hernandez trial to begin deliberations
In a most sticky situation, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina couldn’t find a ball that clung to his chest protector and the Chicago Cubs turned the bizarre play into a late rally, beating St. Louis 6-4 Thursday. The Cardinals led 4-2 in the seventh inning when things became kooky at Busch Stadium. Pinch hitter Matt Szczur led off by striking out on a pitch from Brett Cecil that skipped in the dirt.
Kyle Schwarber picked the perfect time for his first home run of the season, as he crushed a three-run shot to give the Cubs the lead in the seventh inning of a 6-4 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Jordan Spieth was cruising along on his revenge tour of Augusta National when a late quadruple-bogey undid what had otherwise been a steady start to the U.S. Masters on Thursday for the former champion. Shortly after safely navigating the par-three 12th — site of the infamous collapse that cost Spieth the tournament last year — the American world number six suddenly blew up at the par-five-15th after a poor club selection. Spieth found water with his third shot, and then sailed his next one over the green before chipping on and three-putting for a nine after going birdie-bogey over his previous two holes.
Dustin Johnson arrived at Augusta National on quite a roll, having won his last three tournaments. The world’s No. 1-ranked player was forced to withdraw from the Masters on Thursday because of a lower back injury suffered less than 24 hours earlier in a freak fall at the home he was renting for the week.
Evgeni Malkin wants to go to the Olympics next February and he hopes the Pittsburgh Penguins will allow him to do it. Malkin told Russian sports daily Sovetsky Sport he was surprised by the NHL’s announcement Monday that it wouldn’t halt its season for players to go to South Korea. ”However many interviews I read with other players, no one gets this decision.
