Just Ignore It: It’s business as usual for Nike

The most surprising thing to happen in baseball on Friday wasn’t Gleyber Torres hitting another historic home run, although that was more than welcome. It was the Boston Red Sox shedding the last major contract of their 2014 spending spree and designating Hanley Ramirez for assignment. Ramirez struggled mightily in Boston, being a below-average hitter in three of his four seasons with the Red Sox. With an annual salary of $22 million, and taking up a valuable roster spot, Boston brass decided it was time for him to go. The move freed up one of those roster spots, but will leave the Red Sox on the hook for just over $15 million this year in “dead money�. They’ll add that to a ledger that already

Julian Edelman’s suspension isn’t sitting well with ESPN’s Mike Golic. The New England Patriots wide receiver is facing a four-game ban for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, pending an appeal. The MMQB’s Albert Breer since has reported that Edelman’s failed test was “triggered by a substance that wasn’t immediately recognizable,� and Golic made clear Tuesday on ESPN’s “Golic and Wingo� that he has a huge problem with the way the league is handling the situation. Edelman missed all of last season after tearing his ACL during a preseason game. The 32-year-old has been practicing with the Patriots this spring, though, and losing him for the first four games of the 2018

The 1963 Loyola Chicago championship team broke barriers in an era rife with racism. One player from that team sees some of that hate resurfacing today.