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Union Files Appeal of Rodriguez’s Suspension

mlb bigCHICAGO (AP) — The Major League Baseball Players Association has formally appealed Alex Rodriguez’s 211-game suspension.

The New York Yankees slugger was suspended through the 2014 season on Monday when the league penalized 13 players following an investigation into Biogenesis of America, a shuttled Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The other 12 players accepted 50-game suspensions, but Rodriguez said he planned to fight. Union head Michael Weiner said the punishment for the third baseman was “way out of line.”

Rodriguez is allowed to keep playing until Wednesday’s grievance is heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who isn’t expected to rule until November or December at the earliest.

The Yankees were slated to play the White Sox in Chicago on Wednesday night.

Stanford to Retire John Elway’s No. 7 Jersey

John-Elway-StanfordSTANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford football is finally retiring John Elway’s No. 7 jersey.

The former Cardinal quarterback and No. 1 overall pick of the 1983 NFL draft will have his jersey retired during halftime of Stanford’s home game against Oregon on Nov. 7. Elway, now the executive vice president of the Denver Broncos, will join Ernie Nevers’ No. 1 and Jim Plunkett’s No. 16 as the only jerseys the school has enshrined.

Wide receiver Ty Montgomery and defensive end Aziz Shittu both wear No. 7 currently. They will be the last two to wear the jersey at Stanford.

Elway said in a statement that “I am extremely humbled that Stanford has chosen to recognize me in this very special way.”

Osborne to Speak at Little Rock Touchdown Club

Tom-Osborne-Nebraska-HuskerLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and new Arkansas coach Bret Bielema headline this fall’s lineup of speakers at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, along with Razorbacks athletic director Jeff Long.

The speaker series in Little Rock begins Aug. 21 with an address from Bielema. Osborne will speak to the club Sept. 9, followed by Long’s address on Sept. 16.

Former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt is set to address the club Sept. 23, with former Auburn coach Gene Chizik’s speech set for Sept. 30.

Other scheduled speakers include: Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque, former Arkansas and Southern Cal player Mitch Mustain, former Razorback Jonathan Luigs and Arkansas State coach Bryan Harsin.

The series wraps up with an awards banquet in January featuring a speech from Lou Holtz.

Pelini Impressed with Huskers Enthusiasm

Bo-Pelini-Nebraska-HuskersLincoln, Neb.- Nebraska hit the practice field for the second time in the 2013 football fall camp Tuesday night, going through a two-hour workout in shorts and helmets inside the Hawks Center and on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice facility.

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini addressed the media after practice, noting that he thinks the team has had two great first days of practice.

“I thought we have had two good days obviously no pads with the way the NCAA lays it out but the energy has been good and we have gotten a lot of things accomplished over the first couple of days.” Pelini said, “I like where we are right now, I like the enthusiasm, the execution has been pretty good and we have been getting a lot of guys’ reps.”

A newcomer fans might want to get accustomed to being on the field is juco-transfer defensive end Randy Gregory. Gregory a product of Arizona Western Community college in Yuma, Ariz., was a top recruit for the Huskers 2013 recruiting class, and so far has impressed Pelini at practice.

“Randy has looked good the first two days, obviously we are practicing in shorts but he is obviously is swimming a little mentally out there, but he can play.” Pelini said, “I think he (Gregory) showed up in-shape and he hasn’t struggled at all as far as his conditioning is concerned.”

Pelini also mentioned that freshman quarterback Johnny Stanton’s knee is fine, and has done some good things but, “obviously has a long-long way to go.”

Nebraska lost seven starters from last year’s defense and is breaking in a number of new faces, but don’t count Pelini among those that are concerned about the Blackshirts.

“They are going to play good football when we kick off, I have every confidence—I like what I have seen with the defense so far.” Pelini said, “You guys are the ones concerned about the defense, not me. We’ll be fine.”

*Pelini noted freshman defensive tackle Maliek Collins did not practice Tuesday, due to an undisclosed personal issue.

Nebraska will be back on the practice field on Wednesday evening for their third workout of camp. Check back at Huskers.com for all of your preseason football practice coverage including the latest news, photos and video features.

Young’s Speed Wins Game for Mets, 3-2 over Rockies

colorado-rockiesNEW YORK (AP) — Eric Young made a diving catch to take a go-ahead hit away from Todd Helton in the sixth inning, then raced home with the tiebreaking run in the eighth, and the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Tuesday night.

The Rockies have lost 12 of 18 since the All-Star break and have scored five runs in their last three games.

LaTroy Hawkins gave up a pair of two-out singles in the ninth before Ike Davis made a diving catch on Yorvit Torrealba’s sinking liner foul down the first base line. It was Hawkins first save since May 6, 2012, for the Angels.

Scott Atchison (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Eric Young led off the eighth with a single against Wilton Lopez (1-4).

He was able to take second on Marlon Byrd’s deep fly, putting him in position to make it home on Juan Lagares’ infield single, a slow chopper to second base, that he just barely beat out.

Peyton Manning: Age is Just a Number

Peyton-ManningENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning knows that at age 37, he’s long in tooth and short on time, at least by NFL standards.

Yet, the annual influx of 22-year-olds who are ever-stronger, ever-fitter and ever-faster have him feeling like a youngster himself.

They keep him on his toes, spry in body, mind and spirit.

So do the athletic trainers and the strength staff who monitor his never-ending rehab, the new offensive coordinator who’s barking into his ear on game day, the new position coach and his new slot receiver extraordinaire, Wes Welker.

Manning had a terrific comeback last season and he looks even better this summer.

Bettis Starts for Rockies in Place of Chatwood

Chad-Bettis-Colorado-RockieNEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Chad Bettis was set to start for Colorado against the New York Mets on Tuesday night in place of Tyler Chatwood.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss says he wanted to let Chatwood’s tight left hamstring heal, and wouldn’t start the right-hander before Thursday.

Bettis made his big-league debut on Aug. 1 against the Braves. He allowed five runs and six hits in five innings, and was the 10th starting pitcher Colorado has used this season.

The Rockies plan to have Jhoulys Chacin pitch on Wednesday against the Mets, but have left Thursday’s slot open.

Royals’ Duffy Scheduled to Start Against Twins

Danny-Duffy-Kansas-City-RoyKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals left-hander Danny Duffy will be recalled to start Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins after recovering from Tommy John surgery last summer.

Duffy was in the Kansas City clubhouse prior to Tuesday night’s game and said he felt “better than ever,” adding that he was pain-free for the first time since high school.

The 24-year-old Duffy was 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in six starts last season before landing on the disabled list with pain in his left elbow. He had a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in 2010 before tearing it enough to require surgery in May 2012.

Duffy will be filling in for right-hander Wade Davis, who went on the family emergency leave list after the sudden death of his stepbrother.

49ers Top AP Pro32 NFL Power Rankings, Broncos 2nd

San-Francisco-49ers-FootbalNEW YORK (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are No. 1 in the AP Pro32 NFL power rankings heading into the preseason, with the Denver Broncos second and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the bottom of the list.

Led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers nearly won the Super Bowl last season and could be ready to win it all as coach Jim Harbaugh begins his third season.

San Francisco received five first-place votes Tuesday from The Associated Press panel of 11 media members who regularly cover the league, and totaled 344 points. Denver, which added standout wide receiver Wes Welker to catch Peyton Manning’s passes, had four first-place votes and 335 points.

Receiving one first-place vote each are the Seattle Seahawks and the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. The Seahawks are fourth and the Ravens are sixth.

The Jaguars were ranked 32nd by six of the voters.

Nebraska School Activities Association Joins NFHS Network

NSAAINDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 6, 2013) — The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) is one of 28 members of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) that has joined the NFHS Network, the new all-digital network devoted to coverage of high school sports and performing arts through the Internet at www.NFHSnetwork.com.

The NFHS, in association with PlayOn! Sports (PlayOn), announced the official launch of the NFHS Network on August 1. With coverage of boys and girls sports and activities initially in at least 28 states during the 2013-14 school year, the NFHS Network becomes the largest aggregated destination for coverage of high school sports in the country. Through a subscription-based digital service available at www.NFHSnetwork.com, more students, parents and fans will be able to watch high school sports than ever before.

In addition to the NSAA, NFHS member associations in the following states have finalized agreements and will be a part of the NFHS Network as the 2013-14 season begins: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

In addition, member associations in a number of other states are close to completing agreements and are expected to join the NFHS Network soon.

“We believe this is one of the greatest opportunities in the 94-year history of the NFHS as we are able to take advantage of new technology and showcase high school sports and performing arts on a national scale,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “We are excited to provide viewership opportunities for fans of high school sports that have never existed before. The NFHS Network will help showcase our primary mission of expanding participation and opportunities for involvement in education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities.”

“The NSAA Staff and Board of Directors are excited to be a part of this grassroots initiative. The NFHS Networks goal is to showcase the vision and mission of interscholastic participation.” said Rhonda Blanford-Green, NSAA Executive Director.

Postseason games in all sports sponsored by the NSAA will be available online on the Network, except for select championship events for which the NSAA has existing television contracts with other media partners. Viewing opportunities for NFHS Network events will be posted in the coming months at www.NFHSnetwork.com.

The NFHS Network will build on the past success of PlayOn’s high-quality coverage of high school sports at the state level. PlayOn currently streams nearly 30,000 events per school year and has worked with 32 state associations and sections in 26 states.

“Teaming up with the NFHS is a natural progression to build a truly national high school sports platform while honoring the local communities that support them,” said David Rudolph, PlayOn! Sports chief executive officer. “Our mission is to serve the current and future generations of student-athletes, support and encourage their participation and make their performances accessible to their friends, family and fans on every media platform they use.”

The NFHS Network is a joint venture between the NFHS and PlayOn! Sports and will be governed and overseen by a combination of NFHS and PlayOn executives.

“Ultimately, we want to make the NFHS Network the most treasured and trusted source for high school athletics,” Gardner said.

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