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Viciedo’s Slam Powers White Sox Past Royals, 5-2

kc-royalsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Dayan Viciedo hit his second career grand slam to highlight a five-run inning for the White Sox, and Andre Rienzo picked up his first career win for Chicago by shutting down the punchless Kansas City Royals in a 5-2 victory Wednesday night.

Rienzo (1-0) allowed only a sacrifice fly to Mike Moustakas while cruising through six innings to win for the first time in five starts. The Brazilian right-hander allowed just five hits and two walks in helping the White Sox win their season-best fifth straight game.

Addison Reed worked the ninth for his second save of the series and 33rd on the year.

Viciedo’s grand slam off Jeremy Guthrie (12-10) in the fourth followed an RBI single by Adam Dunn that had given the White Sox the lead. Their five runs in the frame matched the number of runs the Royals’ woeful offense had mustered in the previous 22 innings.

Young’s Single in 9th Lifts Phils Past Rockies 4-3

colorado-rockiesPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Young hit the winning single with one out in the ninth inning after Carlos Ruiz tied the game with a double, pushing the Philadelphia Phillies past the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Erik Kratz opened the ninth with a double off Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt (2-4). Pinch runner Casper Wells advanced to third on a grounder and scored the tying run on Ruiz’s pinch-hit double to left. Jimmy Rollins was walked intentionally and Young followed with the winning single to left.

Jake Diekman (1-3) tossed a scoreless ninth for the win.

The Phillies stormed out of the dugout and mobbed Young for the biggest celebration yet in six games under interim manager Ryne Sandberg.

Chris Paul Elected President of NBA Players Union

Chris-Paul-Clippers-Los-AngLAS VEGAS (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul has been elected president of the NBA players’ association.

The vote Wednesday came six months after the players fired Billy Hunter as executive director.

Hunter countered with a wrongful-termination lawsuit in May, accusing Derek Fisher, the former union president, of conspiring with league officials during the 2011 lockout.

Also Wednesday, Roger Mason Jr. was elected first vice president, and Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake were elected vice presidents.

Suzuki Gets 4,000th Hit Between MLB and Japan

Ichiro-Suzuki-Yankees-New-YNEW YORK (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki has singled for his 4,000th career hit between Japan and the major leagues.

The 39-year-old Suzuki slashed a line drive the opposite way to left field off Toronto’s R.A. Dickey in the first inning Wednesday night for the milestone hit.

He has 2,722 hits in a 13-year major league career and amassed 1,278 hits in nine seasons with Orix of Japan’s Pacific League.

His Yankees teammates streamed out of the dugout and surrounded him at first base. A grinning Suzuki then faced the cheering fans and bowed.

Pete Rose with 4,256 hits and Ty Cobb with 4,191 are the only two players that have reached the number solely in the major leagues.

According to STATS, Suzuki has the most hits through the first 13 seasons of a big-league career. Paul Waner is second. He had 2,648 for Pittsburgh from 1926-1938.

Von Miller Fades into the Broncos Background

Von-Miller-Denver-Broncos-FENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — All-Pro linebacker Von Miller donned a scout team skullcap over his helmet Wednesday and spent much of practice helping the Denver Broncos prepare to play more than a third of the season without him.

Miller was part spectator, part tutor when he wasn’t squaring off against Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady as a member of Denver’s scout team in his first practice since the NFL handed him a six-game suspension for violating the league’s drug-abuse policy.

Nate Irving took his place at strongside linebacker in the base defense alongside Danny Trevathan and Wesley Woodyard, and Shaun Phillips replaced him at rush end in the nickel packages as the Broncos began working on Plan B following the NFL’s verdict.

Former Players, NFL Films Feud over Image Rights

nfl_logo2011-medPHILADELPHIA (AP) — There could be one clip of Hall of Famers that won’t make the NFL Films archives: The sight of John Riggins and other greats heading to court seeking a big payday from the company.

Ten former NFL players, including five Hall of Famers, want the league to pay if NFL Films uses images of them without their consent. They filed a lawsuit in New Jersey to reclaim payment for the use of their names, images and likenesses from film footage they say was used on NFL Network and to promote the league without the ex-players consent.

Jon King, an attorney for the players, compared the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, to the one from former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon against the NCAA because they deal with “individuals’ rights to control the use of their image.”

The NCAA, and video game company Electronic Arts, are facing similar suits in California. This case cites a recent ruling in California that determined EA Sports could not use First Amendment protections to defend its actions.

“In the EA case, it had to do with computer graphics depictions of players,” King said Wednesday. “As technology increases, it becomes more lifelike and realistic. In the NFL Films case, it’s the players’ images, but committed to film for DVD and really, more these days, for distribution on the NFL Network.”

Hall of Famers including Riggins, Dave Casper, Tom Mack, Curley Culp and Ron Yary are part of the lawsuit.

“NFL Films has never obtained authorization from retired players to use their images to be, as NFL Films puts it, the ‘backbone’ of the NFL Network,” according to the 81-page filing obtained by The Associated Press. “NFL Films’ conduct goes far beyond simply use of images without consent. It continues to this day to strike licensing business deals, in New Jersey, affirmatively, and falsely, misrepresenting that it has obtained all former players’ consent to appear in its promotional materials. The NFL does likewise.”

There was a $50 million settlement in April between the NFL and a group of retired players seeking publicity rights. The NFL said Wednesday that settlement was “fair and reasonable” and should be enough to placate this group of players.

“We agree with the judge that the settlement will benefit the large class of retired players particularly those in need of medical and financial assistance,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday.

The complaint against the NFL and NFL Productions notes that in 1993, all players’ contracts began to include clauses that granted the NFL authority to use the names, images and likenesses of players to publicize and promote the league. They claim it was never included with the players in the suit.

The filing also contends that the league and NFL Productions violated state laws regarding unfair competition and rights of publicity, as well as a federal statute claiming the league and its production arm were unjustly enriched by improperly using the former players.

The others listed on the suit are Mike Bass, Willie Buchanon, Roman Gabriel, Joe Kapp and Phil Villapiano. It also asks that former players who have opted out of the Dryer v. NFL lawsuit, their heirs and assigns be included in this case.

Though there is no stated sum in the complaint, it notes that according to published reports in 2002, NFL Films was making $50 million per year in licensing revenue, which applied only to third parties such as television networks.

King said this group of players are interested in learning what “NFL Films is really worth as a marketing tool.”

“That’s the interesting thing that takes this case into the future,” he said. “This type of thing was never envisioned 10 years ago, 20 years ago. It has to do with the technology, when things change from a quaint, small entity like NFL Films to providing what the NFL calls the backbone of the NFL Network.”

Google and NFL Meet; Sunday Ticket Up for grabs?

googlePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Google has been holding talks with the National Football League, raising speculation that the internet monolith is seeking new inroads into television.

Other tech companies like Apple are reportedly in talks with cable companies to boost access to television through their devices.

With Google sitting on a cash pile of $48 billion, the league’s Sunday Ticket package is easily within its budget.

The contract is currently held by DirecTV, which pays about $1 billion annually for the rights. That contract, however, expires at the end of the 2014 season.

The NFL confirmed its meetings with Google Wednesday, but declined to discuss the nature of those talks, as did Google.

The Sunday Ticket Package provides fans with access to most NFL games, with blackouts for those shown on NBC or ESPN.

Nebraska Opens Regular Season with Husker Classic

huskersoccerThe Nebraska soccer team opens the 2013 regular season at home on Friday, Aug. 23 against Southeast Missouri State at 6 p.m., before finishing its homestand on Sunday, Aug. 25 with a match against Cincinnati at Noon.

NU put on a dominating performance last season with a 4-0 shutout win over Southeast Missouri in the first meeting between the two programs on Sept. 8 at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Huskers recorded a season-high 30 shots, while allowing just one shot all day from the Redhawks.

Nebraska and Cincinnati also met last season for the first time on the pitch, where NU pulled out a 2-1 victory in Ohio on Sept. 2. Both squads were evenly matched in last year’s contest as they each posted 19 shots, with the Huskers posting eight shots on net to the Bearcats’ seven.

Experienced Group of Huskers
Nebraska returns an experienced squad in 2013 that includes six seniors. 11 starters are back from last year’s squad, including senior Jordan Jackson who is back for her final season after an injury setback in 2012. Senior goalkeeper Emma Stevens will provide leadership in net for the Huskers as she has started all but one match in net for the Huskers the past two seasons.

Junior Mayme Conroy had a breakout season for the Huskers in 2012 on her way to earning second-team All-Big Ten honors, leading the Huskers with 14 goals. Ari Romero also earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades as she helped the Huskers pitch a pair of shutouts last season and hold six teams to one goal or less.

Ninth Season at Nebraska Soccer Field
Nebraska’s home turf has given the Huskers a definitive advantage. Since moving to campus in 2005, the Huskers are 54-22-12 at home over the past eight seasons, including an impressive combined record of 33-13-5 over the past five seasons.

Stevens Climbing the Husker Ranks
Stevens enters her fourth season as the Husker goalkeeper and is near the top of a number of statistical categories. In Stevens’ next match, she will pass Erin Miller and move into second place all-time in games played for Husker goalkeepers with 49. With her next victory, Emma will move into a tie with Katie Wright for fifth with 19 wins in net.

Stevens also ranks third in both career saves (184) and minutes in goal (4,048), while sitting fourth all-time with 44 starts in net.

Game 1 – vs. Southeast Missouri State
Series History – 
NU leads, 1-0-0
When – 
 Friday, Aug. 23 (6 p.m.)
Where – 
Nebraska Soccer Field
Live Stats – 
Huskers.com

Game 2 – vs. Cincinnati
Series History – 
NU leads, 1-0-0
When – 
 Sunday, Aug. 25 (Noon)
Where – 
Nebraska Soccer Field
Live Stats – 
Huskers.com

Indiana Tops Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Big-Ten-LogoPark Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference today announced its 2013 men’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll and players to watch list, with defending national champion Indiana earning top honors among the seven conference teams. The Hoosiers, who are ranked No. 1 in the NCAA preseason top 25 poll, became the first-ever No. 16 seed to win the national title last season.

Reigning Big Ten Tournament Champion Michigan State checked in at No. 2 in the preseason poll, followed by No. 3 Northwestern, No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Penn State. The Wildcats and Nittany Lions shared the Big Ten title in 2012.

Ten players that earned postseason awards or were named All-Big Ten in 2012 were members of the 2013 players to watch list. Indiana’s A.J. Corrado, Michigan’s Tyler Arnone, Michigan State’s Adam Montague, Northwestern’s Chris Ritter and Wisconsin’s AJ Cochran were each named first-team All-Big Ten last season. Second-team returnees include Indiana’s Nikita Kotlov, Michigan’s Adam Grinwis, Michigan State’s Kevin Cope and Owen Griffith and Penn State’s Andrew Wolverton. Ritter was also tabbed the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.

The complete preseason coaches’ poll and the players to watch list can be found below. The 2013 season officially kicks off onFriday, Aug. 30, with five Big Ten teams hosting non-conference opponents.

BIG TEN MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Indiana

2. Michigan State

3. Northwestern

4. Michigan

5. Penn State

6. Wisconsin

7. Ohio State

BIG TEN MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH

A.J. Corrado, Indiana, Sr., Midfielder

Nikita Kotlov, Indiana, Sr., Midfielder

Dylan Mares, Indiana, Jr., Midfielder

Tyler Arnone, Michigan, Jr., Midfielder

Adam Grinwis, Michigan, Jr., Goalkeeper

Fabio Villas Boas Pereira, Michigan, Sr., Midfielder

Fatai Alashe, Michigan State, Jr., Midfielder

Kevin Cope, Michigan State, Sr., Defender

Adam Montague, Michigan State, Jr., Forward

Layth Masri, Northwestern, Sr., Midfielder/Defender

Chris Ritter, Northwestern, Sr., Midfielder

Lepe Seetane, Northwestern, Sr., Midfielder

Sage Gardner, Ohio State, Sr., Defender

Ben Killian, Ohio State, Sr., Defender

Alec Lowell, Ohio State, Jr., Midfielder

Owen Griffith, Penn State, Jr., Midfielder

Mikey Minutillo, Penn State, Sr., Forward

Andrew Wolverton, Penn State, Jr., Goalkeeper

AJ Cochran, Wisconsin, Jr., Defender

Chris Prince, Wisconsin, Sr., Forward

Tomislav Zadro, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfielder

Girlfriend: Call to Woman Led to Fight with Lawson

Ty-Lawson-Nuggets-DenverCENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Ty Lawson’s pregnant girlfriend told investigators the Denver Nuggets guard pushed her during a fight after she heard him on the phone with another woman.

Both Lawson and Ashley Pettiford were arrested following Saturday’s fight and held over the weekend because of the domestic violence allegations.

According to a sheriff’s report, Pettiford said Lawson grabbed both of her arms and pushed her back as she tried to pack her clothes to leave. Lawson allegedly admitted to pushing her out of the way but said it wasn’t a “real push.”

Pettiford said she threw Lawson’s phone against a wall and Lawson said he ran hers under a faucet after it failed to shatter when he threw it, according to the report obtained by KMGH-TV.

Pettiford is facing a criminal mischief charge for throwing the phone.

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