FOOTBALL
Browns to release Gordon
Josh Gordon's troubled tenure with the Cleveland Browns has ended. The Browns announced Saturday night that it intends to release the former Pro Bowl wide receiver, whose immense talent has been overshadowed by substance abuse that has derailed a promising career. The stunning news came just hours after the Browns said Gordon would miss today's game in New Orleans with a hamstring injury. Gordon has been suspended by the NFL for most of the past four seasons because of multiple drug violations, and the Browns have been supportive of the 27-year-old for years as he tried to get his life together. Not anymore. "This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we are going to release him on Monday," General Manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him, but unfortunately we've reached a point where we feel it's best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well." The team provided no specifics about what prompted their decision to part ways with Gordon. He reported to the team's headquarters earlier in the day, and spokesman said Gordon was evaluated by doctors and the decision was made to keep him home because of the hamstring.
Bills cut receiver Kerley
The Buffalo Bills have cut veteran receiver Jeremy Kerley in a surprise move that further depletes their depth at the position. Kerley was released Saturday so the Bills could sign defensive tackle Robert Thomas off their practice squad. Kerley is an eight-year veteran who signed a one-year deal with Buffalo in free agency in April. He had two catches for 7 yards and ranked third among Buffalo receivers in playing 44 offensive snaps in a season-opening 47-3 loss at Baltimore last week.
GOLF
Olson holds 2-shot edge
Chasing a first major title for herself, and a first for American women this season, Amy Olson fired a bogey-free 65 to take a two-shot lead after the Evian Championship third round on Saturday. Olson broke clear to post a 14-under 199 total after twice being in a four-way share of the lead at the sun-soaked Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-Les-Bains, France. An eagle at the par-5 9th first took her clear, and she added three birdies on the back nine to stretch her lead over Sei Young Kim. Kim carded 64, flashing the form that set a U.S. LPGA Tour record 31-under winning total at the Thornberry Creek Classic in July. Mo Martin, a former Women's British Open winner, was two shots back on 10 under.
Three tied at Warwick Hills
Scott McCarron shot a 9-under 63 on Saturday at Warwick Hills for a share of The Ally Challenge lead in Grand Blanc, Mich., with Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert. Coming off a successful title defense two weeks ago in Calgary, Alberta, McCarron played an early three-hole stretch in 4 under -- making an eagle on the par-4 12th. He had six birdies and a bogey on his second nine, birdieing the last three and four of the final five. The 53-year-old McCarron has seven PGA Tour Champions victories, also winning in Wisconsin in June. He won three times on the PGA Tour. Lehman shot his second consecutive 67, and Maggert had a 68 to match McCarron at 10-under 135. The 49-year-old Lehman won in Iowa in June for his 11th senior title.
Wood notches another 65
Chris Wood birdied the 18th hole to card his second 65 of the KLM Open in The Hague, Netherlands, and take a one-shot lead into the closing round. The English golfer got off to a sluggish start with a bogey on the par-4 2nd at The Dutch in Spijk, and reached the turn 1 under for the day before reeling off five birdies on the back nine to reach 13 under for the tournament. Hideto Tanihara of Japan matched the lowest round of the European Tour event with an 8-under 63 to join overnight leader Ashun Wu and Jonathan Thomson in a three-way tie for second at 12 under.
TENNIS
Anisimova moves into finals
American qualifier Amanda Anisimova is in her first WTA final at age 17 after upsetting top-seeded Zhang Shuai of China 7-6 (4), 7-5 at the Japan Women's Open on Saturday. Trailing 5-4 in the second set, Anisimova hit two fierce winners down the line and went on to win with her first match point as Zhang's backhand went long. Anisimova, who turned 17 just two weeks ago, is the youngest player to reach a final since 16-year-old Donna Vekic at Tashkent in 2012 and Birmingham in 2013. Anisimova will face Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei in today's final. Hsieh overpowered China's Qiang Wang 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday's other semifinal.
Bryan gives U.S. a boost
Doubles specialist Mike Bryan's decision to come out of Davis Cup retirement gave the United States a much-needed lift. Bryan teamed with Ryan Harrison for the first time and helped the Americans outlast Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic 7-5, 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5) over nearly five hours to cut Croatia's lead to 2-1 in their semifinal in Zadar, Croatia. "It's great to win one for the country -- 7-6 in the fifth, on the road and on dirt -- this is right up there and I will never forget this one," Bryan said. At 4 hours, 43 minutes, it was the longest Davis Cup match of Bryan's career. "This is really why I came over and got back in Davis Cup," the 40-year-old Bryan said. "I'm thrilled to give the U.S. one point. We did our job and now we're hoping to give the team some momentum into tomorrow." In today's reverse singles, sixth-ranked Marin Cilic faces Steve Johnson, and Borna Coric meets Davis Cup rookie Frances Tiafoe.
MOTOR SPORTS
Enfinger wins in Vegas
Grant Enfinger won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after leader Brett Moffit ran out of fuel on the third overtime shootout attempt. Enfinger advanced to the second round of the playoffs with his second career victory. The 2015 ARCA Racing Series champion also won in 2016 at Talladega Superspeedway, his home track in Alabama and the site of the next playoff race. Enfinger and Justin Haley, the winner of the playoff opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in late August, are safely into the second round. Johnny Sauter was second, 0.142 seconds behind on the 1.5-mile oval as playoff drivers took the first five spots.
BOXING
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao again?
Floyd Mayweather Jr. says he's coming out of retirement again to fight Manny Pacquiao for a second time in December. Mayweather posted a video on Instagram early Saturday that showed him and Pacquiao together, reportedly in Japan, jawing at each other over a possible second fight. "I'm coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year," Mayweather said. "Another nine-figure pay day on the way." Whether the fight actually happens remains to be seen. There are no promotional barriers between the two men, because Mayweather promotes himself and Pacquiao is a boxing free agent. Oddsmakers at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook immediately made Mayweather a 2-1 favorite. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in May 2015 in a massively hyped fight that was largely panned by most boxing fans. The bout delivered a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys, and Pacquiao blamed an injured shoulder for landing only 81 punches in the fight.
BOXING
Alvarez edges Golovking in rematch
Canelo Alvarez won the middleweight title by the narrowest of margins Saturday night, taking a majority decision over Gennady Golovkin in Las Vegas to hand the longtime champion his first loss as a pro.
A year after the two fought to a draw, the second fight was almost as close. There were no knockdowns, but the action was spirited throughout as the two battled to the final bell before a frenzied crowd at the T-Mobile Arena.
Two judges favored Alvarez 115-113, while a third had it 114-114.
The two fighters switched roles, with Golovkin trying to counter Alvarez and the Mexican fighter coming forward much of the fight. Both landed well to the head, and Golovkin controlled some rounds with his jab though neither were ever in any trouble of going down.
"He's a great fighter, but I'm a great fighter and I showed it tonight," Alvarez said.
The fight was a rematch of a draw last September that left neither fighter satisfied.
Sports on 09/16/2018