Pats QB Brady readies for loud crowd at Wembley
LONDON (AP) — With the experience of playing in London still fresh in his mind, Tom Brady has been focusing on some special preparations for his return to the British capital.
The New England Patriots (4-3) will play a regular-season game in London for the second time in four years on Sunday when they face the St. Louis Rams (3-4) at Wembley Stadium, the iconic venue that is the home of England’s national soccer team.
“It was loud last time,” Brady said Friday, remembering back to 2009 when the Patriots beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7 in the NFL’s annual trip across the pond. “You never really know when they’re going to be cheering, so you got to prepare for both without crowd noise and with crowd noise.”
Red Sox name Lovullo bench coach under Farrell
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have named Torey Lovullo as bench coach under new manager John Farrell.
The team made the announcement on Friday, six days after Farrell was named manager after the Red Sox went 69-93 in their only season under Bobby Valentine, who was fired the day after it ended.
Lovullo, 47 was Toronto’s first base coach the past two seasons when Farrell managed the Blue Jays. In 2010, Lovullo was manager of Boston’s Triple-A team at Pawtucket. Before that, he managed from 2002-09 in the Cleveland system. Farrell was director of player development for the Indians from 2002-06.
Lovullo is the first coach named by Boston since Farrell was hired. He succeeds Tim Bogar, who spent four seasons as a Red Sox coach, the last as bench coach.
New positions for Sox leadership
CHICAGO (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago White Sox are shuffling their front office by promoting general manager Ken Williams and assistant GM Rick Hahn. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made an official announcement. That will come at a news conference scheduled for this morning.
It was not clear what exactly their new job titles will be.
Louisville faces Cincinnati tonight
LOUISVILLE (AP) — Louisville, the 16th ranked team in The Associated Press poll, has a home game tonight as the Cardinals are set to face previously unbeaten Cincinnati. Louisville enters the game 7-0 and 2-0 in the Big East, while the Bearcats are 5-1 and 1-0. UC was upset in its last outing by in-state rival Toledo, 29-23.
Cincy has won the last four meetings between the two schools. A year ago the Bearcats won, 25-16.
Veteran boxing trainer dies
DETROIT (AP) — In case you missed it last night, legendary boxing trainer Emanuel Steward passed away yesterday. Steward, who was the owner of the legendary Kronk Gym, trained such boxers as Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya. Steward was 68.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Houston at Orlando 6:00 p.m.
Indiana at Chicago 6:00 p.m.
Atlanta at Detroit 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Milwaukee 7:00 p.m.
New Orleans at Miami 7:00 p.m.
Toronto at Memphis 7:00 p.m.
Charlotte at Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Washington at San Antonio 7:30 p.m.
Denver at Phoenix 9:30 p.m.
TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Cincinnati at (16) Louisville 7:00 p.m.