Sports – Page 464 – North Platte Post Archive

Von Miller Rounding into Form for Broncos

Posted on August 15, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning barely had a chance to backpedal two steps after taking the snap Friday when Von Miller slapped his shoulder as he flew past him after slicing through the line untouched.

Sack.

Seven months post-surgery, Miller is showing flashes of his old self and looks determined to atone for a trouble-filled 2013 season that began with a six-game drug suspension and ended with a torn right ACL in Week 16.

Displaying his old form in 1-on-1 pass-rushing drills and 11-on-11 team drills, it’s apparent we’re seeing the Von Miller of old, the one who set a franchise record with 18½ sacks in 2012, not the player who was bogged down by extra pounds and the weight of the world last season when he managed just five sacks.

AP source: Chiefs WR Bowe Facing 1-Game Suspension

Posted on August 15, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Kansas City Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe is expected to be suspended for the season opener against Tennessee after his arrest for marijuana possession.

The person disclosed the expected one-game suspension to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team and NFL had not yet announced a punishment.

Bowe was pulled over in a Kansas City suburb on Nov. 10 for driving 48 mph in a 35 mph zone. He was arrested after police found a black bag containing his wallet, driver’s license and two containers of suspected marijuana.

He later pleaded guilty to amended charges of defective equipment and littering, and paid $610 in fines. Bowe’s attorney said there was no admission of guilt for the marijuana charge, which was dismissed.

NASCAR Adds New Rule on Exiting Cars After Crashes

Posted on August 15, 2014

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — NASCAR has added a new rule telling drivers to not approach the track or moving vehicles after accidents. The rule comes less than a week after a driver was struck and killed during a dirt-track race at a small New York track.

NASCAR star Tony Stewart is skipping this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Last Saturday, Stewart’s car hit and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a sprint car event in Canandaigua, New York. After Stewart clipped Ward’s car, sending it spinning, Ward left the car during the caution period, walked down the track and was hit by Stewart.

NASCAR Vice President Robin Pemberton says the new rule merely formalizes reminders that take place during drivers’ meetings. NASCAR will address violations of the rule on a case-by-case basis.

Culberson, De La Rosa Help Rockies Beat Reds 7-3

Posted on August 14, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Culberson hit his first homer in more than a month — a three-run shot in the fifth — and Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven effective innings to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Thursday night.

De La Rosa (12-8) allowed three runs and five hits. He improved to 8-2 at Coors Field this season.

Reds All-Star Alfredo Simon (12-8) is winless in six starts since the break. He allowed seven runs — five earned — and a season-high 10 hits in five innings.

Culberson broke the game open by lacing a 95 mph fastball from Simon into the left-field bleachers. It was his first homer since June 29.

The shortstop also showed some nifty moves in the field by sidestepping a piece of Todd Frazier’s shattered bat to field the ball and throw out Frazier by a few steps.

Carlos Gonzalez May be Shut Down for Season

Posted on August 14, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies may shut down injury-riddled outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for the rest of the season.

Gonzalez is on the disabled list with left knee tendinitis and a sprained right ankle. He was out earlier this season after doctors found and removed a small tumor in his left index finger.

Colorado manager Walt Weiss said before the game Thursday that Gonzalez will meet with the trainer and doctors to decide the best course of action. Weiss said that “it’s gotten to the point you have to do something.”

Gonzalez said he might try platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. Asked if he will be back this season, he simply said, “hopefully.”

The last-place Rockies are already missing All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who will undergo season-ending hip surgery Friday in Vail, Colorado.

Brandon Marshall Out to Make a Name for Himself

Posted on August 14, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Brandon Marshall is embracing the opportunity to make a name for himself with the Denver Broncos.

If he can do that, maybe fans will stop mistaking him for the Chicago Bears’ 30-year-old star wide receiver with the same name, the one who wore out his welcome in Denver five years ago.

The Brandon Marshall now playing in Denver was drafted in the fifth round out of Nevada in 2012 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who would cut him three times before the Broncos added him on their practice squad last year and then activated him for the season finale and the playoffs.

The 24-year-old linebacker is getting first crack at filling in for Danny Trevathan after Denver’s leading tackler broke his left knee at Tuesday’s practice.

AP Source: Manfred Elected Next MLB Commissioner

Posted on August 14, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rob Manfred has been elected baseball’s 10th commissioner and will succeed Bud Selig in January.

A labor lawyer who has worked for Major League Baseball since 1998, Manfred beat out Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner on Thursday in the first contested vote for a new commissioner in 46 years.

The 55-year-old, who grew up in Rome, New York, must address issues that include decreased youth interest and the longer games. He has served as MLB’s chief operating officer for the past year.

Selig turned 80 last month and has ruled baseball since September 1992, when he was among the owners who forced Commissioner Fay Vincent’s resignation. He said he intends to retire in January.

Surging Royals Rally past A’s for 7-3 Win

Posted on August 14, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nori Aoki and Billy Butler each drove in two runs in a five-run seventh and the surging Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Oakland Athletics 7-3 Thursday.

The Royals have won 18 of 22 to move 12 games above .500 for the first time since July 20, 2003.

The Royals took the season series, winning five of seven against the Athletics, who have the best record in the majors.

Aoki’s two-run triple put the Royals ahead 5-3. Butler’s single scored Aoki and Alcides Escobar. Jarrod Dyson fouled off four consecutive pitches before hitting an RBI single to right for the first run of the inning.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija (3-2) took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings.

He left with a 3-2 lead, but Ryan Cook failed to hold it, facing three batters and all scored. Cook’s streak of 21 consecutive scoreless innings ended.

Nebraska’s Athletic Budget Will Top $100 Million

Posted on August 14, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s athletic budget will top $100 million for the first time in 2014-15, with much of the increased spending coming in the area of football recruiting.

The Athletic Department says the budget for the 24-sport program this year is $103 million. That’s up 10.7 percent from the $93 million budget of 2013-14.

The football program added six positions that will work specifically in recruiting. Including air travel, the Cornhuskers will spend $1.2 million on recruiting this year. That’s up 32.7 percent from the $904,000 spent in 2013-14.

Huskers Picked Second in Big Ten Preseason Volleyball Poll

Posted on August 14, 2014

Lincoln – The Big Ten Conference released its preseason volleyball poll on Thursday afternoon and Nebraska’s 2014 squad was picked second by the league’s coaches. Senior Mary Pollmiller and sophomore Kadie Rolfzen were named to the 15-member preseason All-Big Ten team, with Rolfzen an unanimous selection.

The 2014 season marks Nebraska’s fourth season as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Huskers have finished no lower than second in each of their first three years, including a conference title in 2011.

Two-time defending Big Ten champion Penn State was picked to finish first in the conference, while the top five was rounded out by No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Illinois and No. 5 Purdue.

Nebraska finished the 2013 season second in the Big Ten with a 16-4 league record, while then senior Kelsey Robinson was named player of the year. Pollmiller and Rolfzen each earned All-Big honors last season and the Huskers also return honorable-mention All-American Meghan Haggerty.

Rolfzen was one of six players in the conference to earn unanimous preseason honors, she was joined by Illinois’ Jocelynn Birks, Michigan State’s Kori Moster, Penn State’s Micha Hancock, Purdue’s Val Nichol and Wisconsin’s Lauren Carlini.

2014 Big Ten Preseason Poll

1. Penn State

2. Nebraska

3. Wisconsin

4. Illinois

5. Purdue

6. Michigan State

7. Minnesota

8. Michigan

9. Ohio State

10. Northwestern

11. Iowa

12. Indiana

13. Maryland

14. Rutgers