FOOTBALL
More injury money
The NFL said it will spend an additional $100 million to develop new technology and support more medical research into the growing problem of head injuries. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the "Play Smart. Play Safe" initiative in an open letter Wednesday. He wrote: "When it comes to addressing head injuries in our game, I'm not satisfied, and neither are the owners of the NFL's 32 clubs. We can and will do better." Under the initiative, $60 million will be devoted to developing technology such as improved helmets and $40 million will be allotted for medical research. The NFL and its partners already are spending $100 million on research and new technology. Despite that, the league has been heavily criticized in its handling of head trauma over the decades. It reached a settlement that will pay about $1 billion over 65 years to more than 20,000 retired players.
Most valuable team
Not only are the Dallas Cowboys the most valuable team in the NFL, they are worth more than any franchise in sports. Forbes' NFL valuations show the Cowboys worth $4.2 billion, easily topping the league for the 10th consecutive year. Next closest are the New England Patriots at $3.4 billion. Earlier this year, Forbes cited Jerry Jones' team as the world's most valuable franchise. The average NFL team is worth $2.34 billion, a 19 percent increase over last year. That increase is primarily due to more rights fees for Thursday night games, the Rams' relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles, the Vikings moving into their new stadium in Minneapolis and the Atlanta Falcons nearing completion of their new stadium.
BASEBALL
Braves pick up pair
The Atlanta Braves have acquired veteran right-handers Josh Collmenter and Joe Wieland in deals with the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. The Braves need pitching depth after recent injuries to Williams Perez and Mike Foltynewicz. Collmenter, 30, was acquired for cash considerations and could start Saturday against Washington. He is 36-33 with a 3.54 ERA in 200 career major league games with Arizona. He was released by Arizona on Aug. 7. He signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on Aug. 10 and had a 2.25 ERA in four starts with Class AAA Iowa. Atlanta will send cash or a player to be named later to Seattle for Wieland, who will report to Class AAA Gwinnett. Wieland, 26, has a 6.37 ERA in his major league career with San Diego, the Dodgers and Seattle.
Yankees' Judge out
Yankees rookie right fielder Aaron Judge is likely done for the regular season because of a strained oblique. New York General Manager Brian Cashman made the announcement Wednesday. Judge strained his right side Tuesday night taking a swing for the AL playoff contenders during a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 6-foot-7 Judge homered in his first major league at-bat on Aug. 13. The 24-year-old was hitting .179 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI, while striking out 42 times in 84 at-bats. Rob Refsnyder figures to play a lot in right field with Judge out. The Yankees also recalled outfielder Mason Williams from Class AAA before Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. Williams made his big league debut last year and has been in the minors this season.
Donaldson gets MRI
Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson had an MRI on his sore right hip Wednesday, Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins said before Toronto hosted Tampa Bay in a matinee. Donaldson wasn't in the lineup for a third consecutive day. He jammed his hip stepping on first base in Sunday's loss to Boston. Donaldson was stuck in a career-worst seven game hitless streak when he got hurt. He's 0 for 23 with seven strikeouts in that span. Donaldson has played in 138 of Toronto's 144 games. He's batting .284 with 34 home runs and 92 RBI.
BASKETBALL
Bosh: Ready to play
Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat said he's "ready to play" and expects to be with his team when training camp opens Sept. 27 in the Bahamas. Bosh has seen his last two seasons cut short at the All-Star break by blood clots, but has released video snippets of his workouts in recent weeks. The comments released Wednesday on the "Open Run" podcast -- part of LeBron James' digital platform called Uninterrupted -- were the most in-depth he has offered about the coming season. Bosh said he is in shape and has no reason to believe that he won't be able to participate in camp. He also cited a recent tweet from Heat managing general partner Micky Arison as an indicator that he'll be welcomed back.
Accuser: Family unaware
A woman who accuses New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose of raping her said not even her parents or siblings know about her claim or the lawsuit she is pursuing. The woman, who is identified only as Jane Doe in court filings, told The Associated Press in her first media interview that it is critical her identity remain a secret so she can maintain her relationship with her religiously conservative family. The 30-year-old woman claims Rose and two of his friends raped her in her apartment after a night of drinking in August 2013. She had dated Rose for nearly two years, and his lawyer said the sex was consensual and her lawsuit is a money grab. The case is scheduled to go to trial in Los Angeles on Oct. 4. The trial date coincides with Rose's 28th birthday and comes as the Knicks will be underway in the preseason.
MARATHON
Train delays race
An ill-timed, slow-moving train in Pennsylvania has derailed some runners' dreams of competing in the next Boston Marathon. The Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon was underway Sunday when a train crossed the race course near Allentown, stopping some runners for minutes. Marathon organizers said they gathered information from affected runners and shared it with the Boston Athletic Association. But the association said Wednesday it cannot accept any adjusted race times. Only the official times recorded Sunday will count for determining which participants qualified for the Boston Marathon. Via Marathon officials said they had received assurances a freight train would not affect the race, and apologized to runners for the disruption. Registration for the Boston Marathon began Monday.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
ACC relocating championships from North Carolina
CLEMSON, S.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference has followed the NCAA’s lead and is removing all its athletic championships from North Carolina over a state law limiting protections for LGBT people.
The ACC Council of Presidents voted Wednesday to relocate the league’s championships until North Carolina repeals the law. The decision includes 10 neutral-site championships this academic year, which means relocating the ACC football title game that was scheduled to be played in Charlotte in December.
No announcement was made on where the championship events will be held.
“The decision to move the neutral site championships out of North Carolina while HB2 remains the law was not an easy one,” said Clemson President James P. Clements, chairman of the league’s council. “But it is consistent with the shared values of inclusion and non-discrimination at all our institutions.”
On Monday, the NCAA said it was relocating seven of its championships scheduled to be played in the state, including the men’s basketball first- and second-round matchups scheduled for next March in Greensboro, N.C.
ACC Commissioner John Swofford said after the NCAA’s decision that his league would review its next steps.
The law requires transgender people to use restrooms at schools and government buildings corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates. It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from local and statewide antidiscrimination protections.
HB2 was signed into law earlier this year by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who has defended it as a commonsense safety and security measure.
Swofford said identifying replacement venues is in the early stages, but hopes to get locations lined up as quickly as possible.
Sports on 09/15/2016