COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Baylor suspends 2
Baylor Coach Matt Rhule has suspended two expected starting players for incidents over the summer. Rhule said Tuesday that senior safety Taion Sells will miss the first three games, and senior left tackle Mo Porter will sit out the first half of Saturday's season opener at home against Liberty. The coach wouldn't go into details about why the players were suspended, but said the incidents weren't related. Defensive back Travon Blanchard, who had been suspended from all Baylor team activities since February, announced on his Twitter account that he transferred to Division II Texas A&M Commerce. Blanchard, a starter last season, was arrested last month on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from domestic violence allegations that led to his suspension in February.
MOTOR SPORTS
Elliott to drive No. 9
Chase Elliott will drive his father's iconic No. 9 next season in a number swap at Hendrick Motorsports. William Byron will take the No. 24, made famous by Jeff Gordon. The No. 5 will not be fielded for the first time since 1984. It was Hendrick's original car number, one that Terry Labonte used in his 1996 championship season. Elliott raced the No. 9 to the 2014 Xfinity Series title, and his Hall of Fame father Bill Elliott drove it to 38 Cup victories and the 1988 series championship. "I wasn't sure I'd ever drive the '9' again," said Chase Elliott. "It's a huge deal to my family and everyone back home (in Georgia), and I hope all of our fans will be pumped to see it back on the racetrack. There's a legacy attached to that number, and I want to carry it on. I think it's awesome that Hendrick Motorsports and NAPA wanted to do this. It's impossible not to be excited." Owner Rick Hendrick said he understood the ties the Elliott family has to the No. 9. "They've contributed so much to our sport, and I'm happy we can honor that history by bringing the number back," Hendrick said.
GOLF
Spieth bobblehead
Jordan Spieth is a bobblehead. The first 2,000 fans who attend each day of the Tour Championship will receive a free Jordan Spieth bobblehead figurine, officials for the golf tournament announced Tuesday. The bobblehead will be given out beginning with today's practice round and through all four competitive rounds of the finale of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The Tour Championship will be held Sept. 20-24. Spieth is currently second in the FedEx Cup playoff standings, trailing Dustin Johnson after last week's The Northern Trust, the first leg of the four-event playoff. Johnson defeated Spieth in a playoff.
SOCCER
Monaco signs pair
Defending champion Monaco signed forwards Stevan Jovetic from Inter Milan and Keita Balde from Lazio on Tuesday, pre-empting the anticipated departure of Kylian Mbappe to Paris Saint-Germain. PSG is reportedly close to sealing a loan move for Mbappe, with an option to buy the prolific 18-year-old for $216 million next season. Balde, 22, who plays for Senegal, scored 16 league goals for Lazio in Serie A last season and has signed a five-year deal. He made his Lazio debut in 2013, scoring 26 goals in 110 league games overall. Jovetic, 27, one of the most sought after players in Italy when he burst onto the scene with Fiorentina seven years ago, signed a four-year deal. Jovetic, who has 23 goals in 46 games for Montenegro, played on loan with Spanish club Sevilla for the second half of last season, scoring six goals in La Liga. He had two seasons with Manchester City from 2013-15 but started only 11 of 30 league games, scoring eight goals. The European transfer window closes Thursday night, and there could still be more activity concerning Monaco, a Champions League semifinalist last season.
Bolivia loses appeal
Bolivia has lost its appeal against forfeiting two World Cup qualifying games for fielding an ineligible player, a ruling that hurts Argentina's chances of qualifying. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said FIFA was right to hand 3-0 losses to Bolivia in games played last September against Chile and Peru. Because Chile and Bolivia originally drew 0-0, the CAS verdict confirms that Chile is awarded an extra two points. Chile retains its hold on the fourth automatic qualifying place in the South American group with four rounds left. Argentina trails Chile by one point in fifth place, which would earn a playoff against a team from Oceania. FIFA ruled that Bolivia was wrong to field Paraguay-born defender Nelson Cabrera as a late substitute in both disputed games.
BASKETBALL
Thomas: I’m not damaged, I’ll be back
CLEVELAND — All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas said he believes he will fully recover from a right hip injury that has threatened to void his recent trade to Cleveland.
Thomas, who was dealt by the Boston Celtics to the Cavaliers last week for star Kyrie Irving, told ESPN he has made progress in his recovery.
“I am not damaged,” the 28-year-old said. “I’ll be back, and I’ll be the same player.”
After Thomas underwent a physical last week, the Cavaliers had some concerns about the results. A person familiar with the findings told The Associated Press the trade would not be finalized until the team completed a “deep and thorough review.” The Cavs have continued to weigh their options in recent days, and it’s possible they will ask for the Celtics for more compensation — likely another draft pick.
Per league rules, a deal can be voided if a traded player fails his physical.
The teams have until 10 a.m. Thursday to complete the blockbuster deal in which Boston also sent forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and an unconditional 2018 first-round draft pick to Cleveland for Irving, who requested a trade in July.
Thomas told ESPN that doctors said his torn labrum will not affect how long he plays. However, Thomas did indicate he may not be ready for the start of the season.
“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” he said. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”
Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game last season, pushing his way into the conversation as one of the league’s best playmakers. He also showed incredible courage in the playoffs by continuing to play at a high level following his sister’s tragic death in a car accident.
He is entering his final year under contract and Thomas has been eyeing a major deal next summer, either with Cleveland or elsewhere.
Thomas was unable to finish the conference finals, and he sought several opinions on his injury following the season.
“I haven’t had one doctor tell me that this injury is going to hurt my career,” Thomas said in the ESPN interview. “Surgery was not the best option in this case. I aggravated it in March when (Minnesota’s) Karl-Anthony Towns fell on me. I kept playing on it and making it worse — until I couldn’t play anymore last season.”
Sports on 08/30/2017