GOLF
Video evidence limited
The governing bodies that oversee golf's rule book relied on a dose of common sense Tuesday by swiftly and decisively mitigating how much video evidence can influence rules decisions at televised events. The new procedure, which is not a new rule but a new decision (labeled 34-3/10) to the Rules of Golf, in effect limits the use of advanced video technology -- like high-definition or super-slow-motion cameras -- in making rulings. The decision, which is effective immediately, is an extraordinarily speedy reaction to the furor that ensued after Lexi Thompson was penalized 4 strokes on April 2 while leading in the final round of the ANA Inspiration, an LPGA major. Someone watching the broadcast of the event sent tournament officials an email claiming Thompson had misplaced her ball on the green while playing the previous day. The U.S. Golf Association and Britain's R&A, the organizations in charge of golf's rules, said in a statement that the new decision would limit the use of video when it revealed evidence that could not reasonably be seen with the "naked eye," or when players used their "reasonable judgment" to determine a specific location when performing certain tasks like replacing a marked ball on a green. "So long as the player does what can reasonably be expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination," the statement said, "the player's reasonable judgment will be accepted, even if later shown to be inaccurate by the use of video evidence."
TENNIS
Thiem advances
Fourth-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Kyle Edmund of Britain to advance to the third round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday. Lucky loser Yuichi Sugita of Japan rallied to earn a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over ninth-seeded Richard Gasquet of France. Eighth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated 2013 finalist Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 in the second round despite trailing 3-1 in the decisive set. South African Kevin Anderson beat 13th-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 6-3, 6-4, while Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil defeated Renzo Olivo of Argentina 6-1, 6-1 to set up a second-round match against defending champion Rafael Nadal. Top-seeded Andy Murray will play his second-round match against Bernard Tomic of Australia, who defeated German Dustin Brown 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
Debate continues
A day before Maria Sharapova was to play her first tennis match since being banned for doping, the debate about the Russian's wild-card entry for the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, continued Tuesday. Simona Halep and Alize Cornet joined the growing legion of players criticizing tournament organizers for offering Sharapova a direct spot in their main draws. Sharapova's suspension for the use of meldonium after the heart drug became a banned substance at the beginning of 2016 ends today. The five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 is scheduled to play Roberta Vinci in a first-round evening match at the tournament she won three times from 2012-14. Besides Stuttgart, Sharapova has also been handed a free passage into the main draws at Madrid and Rome in May, but organizers of the French Open have yet to decide about an invitation for the Russian. While a growing number of players speak out against wild cards after doping bans, Sharapova also received some backing on Tuesday. Karolina Pliskova pointed out that tennis needs characters like the Russian, even more now that Serena Williams has announced her pregnancy and won't play anymore until next year. Sharapova also got full support from another multiple Grand Slam winner and former No. 1, Kim Clijsters.
Nastase: Still 'bad boy'
Ilie Nastase said he would be considered the "bad boy" if he says anything more about Serena Williams. Nastase, the captain of Romania's Fed Cup team, last week speculated about the skin color of the baby the pregnant Williams is expecting. When asked Tuesday about Williams' response, Nastase told The Associated Press: "Anything I say, I am the bad boy." Nastase also questioned the legitimacy of writing about his initial comments ahead of the Fed Cup series against Britain. "Why write a news story like this? Just to have a scandal? There are many more important things going on," Nastase said in a telephone interview from Budapest, Hungary. Nastase earned the nickname "Nasty" for his on-court outbursts and gamesmanship in his playing heyday in the 1970s. But it also described his game, which earned him two Grand Slam singles titles and more than 100 ATP titles. He's a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. On Monday, Williams wrote on Instagram that she was disappointed "to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments towards myself and (my) unborn child." Williams is black. Her fiance, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is white. Williams also referred to Nastase's "sexist comments against my peers" -- a reference to his verbal abuse directed at British player Johanna Konta, British captain Anne Keothavong and the chair umpire during Fed Cup matches over the weekend. He was ejected from the contest and provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation. Romania won the best-of-five series 3-2.
BASKETBALL
Adebayo stays in draft
Kentucky freshman Bam Adebayo will hire an agent and stay in the NBA draft. He is the fifth Wildcat to leave school for the June draft. The 6-foot-10 forward had left open the possibility of returning for his sophomore season. He had announced on April 5 he would not hire an agent, but on Tuesday said in a statement it's in his "best interest to remain in the draft." In heading to the draft he joins four teammates: freshman guards Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox and sophomores Isaiah Briscoe and Isaac Humphries. Freshman guard Hamidou Diallo said Sunday night he will go through the draft process despite not playing last season but won't hire an agent.
FOOTBALL
Lawyers seek dismissal
Lawyers for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez are formally asking that his first-degree murder conviction be dismissed in Massachusetts now that he has died. A spokesman for the Bristol district attorney's office said the motion was filed by defense attorneys on Tuesday in Superior Court. He said prosecutors will oppose the motion. Hernandez hanged himself at a maximum-security state prison last week, just days after he was acquitted of fatally shooting two Boston men in 2012. He was serving life without parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player. Courts in Massachusetts have held that when a defendant dies before having an appeal heard, the conviction is vacated. Hernandez's appeal hadn't yet been heard when he hanged himself. Hernandez's funeral was held Monday.
CYCLING
Felline wins prologue
Fabio Felline of Italy won the Tour of Romandie prologue at Aigle, Switzerland, on Tuesday. On Swiss roads made slick by rain, Felline timed 5 minutes, 57 seconds for a 3-mile route around the International Cycling Union's home town. The Trek-Segafredo rider was two seconds faster than Alex Dowsett of Britain, and seven seconds ahead of Australian Alex Edmondson. Two-time Romandie winner Chris Froome of Britain was 29 seconds back in his first race for a month. The six-day race heads into the mountains today.
Sports on 04/26/2017