Category: Sports Daypop

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is expected to be out for several weeks with a right MCL injury that he suffered in Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Butler is expected to miss multiple weeks with the injury, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania: “The expectation is Miami’s Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury.”

Butler played through an MCL injury that he suffered on Wednesday night in the Heat’s 105-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament.  Butler was hurt on the final play of the first quarter in Philadelphia, after trying to fake out Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre Jr. to attempt to make a layup, only to have his knee buckle after it appeared Oubre landed on it, causing Butler to fall to the floor in pain (per ESPN).  Despite the injury, Butler remained in the game but scored a total of 12 points the rest of the way on 3-for-14 shooting.

Butler said after the game that he would undergo an MRI on Thursday, adding “I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can’t say that’s the case.” He added that decided to stay in Wednesday’s game because he thought the “adrenaline would kick back in” and he would feel healthy enough to play at his usual level.

Butler, a six-time All-Star, averaged 20.8 points in 60 games for the Heat this season, with 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game this season on 49.9% shooting from the floor and 41.4% shooting from beyond the arc – marking his best three-point shooting percentage in his 13-year career (per SI.com).

The winner of Friday’s game between the Heat and the Bulls will face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the East playoffs, set to take place on Sunday at TD Garden.

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According to Talia Goodman of The Next, former LSU point guard Hailey Van Lith, 22, is transferring to TCU for the 2024-25 season.

Van Lith spent the first three years of her college career at Louisville, where the 5-foot-7 guard was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection over three years. She then headed to LSU after the Tigers’ national championship in April 2023.  In her time with LSU, Van Lith averaged 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in her only season with the Tigers (per ESPN).  Van Lith now joins the Horned Frogs for her final season of college eligibility; she entered the transfer portal on April 4, just three days after LSU lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight; she has one year of eligibility left.

Van Lith’s former coach at LSU, Kim Mulkey, shared of her former player (via NOLA.com): “her aspirations were to get drafted this year, and she realized, ‘I need another year, and I need to go back to a place where I can relax and get back to my normal position.’ .. She wanted to improve her strengths by coming to LSU with a goal of expanding her game by learning a position that I played my entire life, because she knows at the next level that’s her only chance – to be able to tell them somewhat, ‘I can handle the ball if you need me to.’” Mulkey also expressed support for Van Lith, stating: “Hailey Van Lith is one of the hardest working players that I’ve ever coached.”

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The NBA released a statement Wednesday announcing that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has been given a lifetime ban for “by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” The NBA said the suspicious bets were brought to its attention by “by licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets.” The investigation remains open, and the league said it will share information with federal prosecutors. (per USA Today)

The league’s news release read: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.”

Porter, 24, hadn’t played in the league since the NBA began investigating him for betting irregularities on March 25, after which the Raptors removed him from the lineup prior to that night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Per Yahoo Sports, the NBA’s investigation found that Porter purposely limited his participation in the Raptors’ March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings specifically to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance. Against the Nets, Porter claimed he felt ill after playing just three minutes. The NBA also found that prior to the game, Porter disclosed confidential information about his health status to “an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor.” A different individual associated with Porter also bet that Porter would underperform March 20 as part of an $80,000 parlay the bettor placed with an online sports book.

NBA players are not allowed to wager on NBA games. According to the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, if a player is found culpable, punishment is at the discretion of the NBA commissioner and “may include a fine, suspension, expulsion, and/or perpetual disqualification from further association with the Association or any of its Members.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: “While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”  

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson will miss Friday’s NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Sacramento Kings with a left hamstring injury. Wojnarowski tweeted: “Friday’s Play-In Tournament elimination game vs. Sacramento and will be evaluated again in coming weeks. Huge blow for New Orleans.”

Williamson, 23, put up 40 points, 11 rebounds and five assists before injuring his hamstring late in Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament matchup vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson left the game with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter due to the left leg injury with the game tied at 95 apiece, and the Lakers went on to win 110-106.

Injuries have plagued Williamson throughout his NBA career thus far, but this season he has been healthy, appearing in 70 contests while averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists. Prior to this season, Williamson had never appeared in more than 61 games in a season. He only appeared in 29 games last year and missed the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign.

The Pelicans loss in the first round of the play-in tournament send them to an elimination game against the Kings on Friday; the winner of that game will secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. If the Pelicans win on Friday, Williamson’s status is unclear; he may not be available to play in the first round of the playoffs, pending further evaluation.

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MLB Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, who led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series in 1982, has died at the age of 92. Herzog’s last public appearance had been in the stands at the Cardinals’ home opener 12 days ago, when he was introduced to the crowd along with the other Hall of Famers present.  The Cardinals said in a statement on X: “The entire Cardinals family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer and World Series champion manager Whitey Herzog.”

The Herzog family said in a statement released by the Cardinals: “Whitey spent his last few days surrounded by his family  We have so appreciated all of the prayers and support from friends who knew he was very ill. Although it is hard for us to say goodbye, his peaceful passing was a blessing for him.” Cardinals chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. added: “On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer our condolences to the family and many friends of Whitey Herzog. Whitey and his teams played a big part in changing the direction of the Cardinals franchise in the early 1980s with an exciting style of play that would become known as “Whitey Ball” throughout baseball. Whitey loved the Cardinals, their fans and St. Louis. He will be sorely missed.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also said in a statement: “Whitey Herzog was one of the most accomplished managers of his generation and a consistent winner with both ‘I-70’ franchises. He made a significant impact on the St. Louis Cardinals as both a manager and a general manager, with the Kansas City Royals as a manager and with the New York Mets in player development. Whitey’s Cardinals’ teams reached the World Series three times in the 1980s, winning the championship in 1982, by leaning on an identity of speed and defense that resonated with baseball fans across the world. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Whitey’s family, his friends across the game and the fans of the Cardinals and the Royals.”

Herzog, born Dorrel Norman Elvert Herzog, was given the nickname “Whitey” due to his light blonde hair. Herzog reached the majors in 1956 and played for the Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers for a total of eight seasons in MLB – hitting .257 with 25 home runs and 172 RBIs- before retiring as a player in 1963. (per Yahoo Sports).

Through Herzog’s post-playing career, he served as a scout for the Athletics and then as a third base coach/director of player development for the NY Mets. He took his first managerial job in 1973 when he succeeded Ted Williams as skipper of the Texas Rangers (lasting less than one season), and was then the interim manager for the California Angels for four games in 1974 before taking over the Kansas City Royals in the middle of the 1975 season. Herzog went on to manage in KC and brought the Royals to three division titles and a second-place finish from 1976-79. Herzog’s greatest managerial success came with St. Louis, where he led the Cardinals for 73 games in 1980 before being promoted to general manager, later returning as manager for the 1981 season. The Cardinals returned won the National League pennant in 1982 and defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games in the World Series. He led the Cardinals to World Series appearances in 1985 and in 1987, where the Cardinals lost, before moving on to serve as the Angels general manager in 1992-1993 before ending his 45-year association with MLB. Herzog was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a manager as part of the Class of 2010.

Herzog is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou Herzog, their three children; Debra, David and Jim, and their spouses; nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. The Herzog family is planning a private celebration of life service, and asks that any donations be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

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The New York Yankees announced that legendary New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling is retiring from the broadcast booth, effective immediately. Sterling, 85, will be honored on Saturday, April 20th in a pregame ceremony before the Yankees game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees statement read: “Fans find a certain comfort in the daily rhythms of baseball. Day in and day out, season after season, and city after city, John Sterling used his seat in the broadcast booth to bring Yankees fans the heartbeat of the game, employing an orotund voice and colorful personality that were distinctly, unmistakably his own. John informed and entertained, and he exemplified what it means to be a New Yorker with an unapologetic and boisterous style that exuded his passion for baseball, broadcasting and the New York Yankees * There is no shortage of adjectives to describe John and what he means to this organization and our millions of fans around the world. But what makes John a goliath of the sports broadcasting world was how sacred he held his role as voice of the Yankees. Showing up to perform virtually every single day since 1989, he was a pillar for Yankees fans who relied on the comfort and familiarity of his voice to be the soundtrack of their spring, summer and fall. Given the tremendous care he had for the team and his performance on the air, it’s not a stretch to believe that our fans live and die with every pitch because John Sterling did the same * We congratulate John on a remarkable and illustrious career. His contributions to this great game and to the Yankees franchise will echo long into the future.”

Sterling made his final broadcast during the Yankees’ 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 7 in New York. Sterling shared in a statement: “I am a very blessed human being. I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It’s all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.”

Sterling, a NYC native, was best known for his enthusiastic, personalized home run calls. He started his broadcasting career in 1970 as the play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets, and is in his 36th season as a Yankees broadcaster — overall, Sterling has been in the broadcasting industry for more than six decades. He has called more than 5,600 games, including 5,420 during the regular season and 211 playoff contests, which included a stretch of 5,060 consecutive games spanning from 1989 to 2019.

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The Philadelphia Eagles announced Monday that they’ve exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver DeVonta Smith’s rookie contract, who agreed to a three-year contract extension. The Eagles posted on its social media pages: “Happy Monday Eagles fans We’ve exercised the fifth-year option on WR @DeVontaSmith_6 and have agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension through 2028. @Toyota | #FlyEaglesFly”

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the extension is worth $75 million with $51 million guaranteed. Smith’s deal with the Eagles works out to a four-year, $90.5 million agreement, including the fifth-year option  Smith’s agent, Kelton Crenshaw, confirmed the news of the deal as well.

Smith, 25, came off a Heisman Trophy-winning season and two national championships at Alabama to be drafted 10th overall by the Eagles in 2021.  Smith logged 81 catches for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns over 16 starts last season, and set a team record as a rookie with 916 receiving yards. Additionally, his 95 receptions for 1,196 yards and seven scores in 17 starts in 2022-23 were also the most by a wide receiver in franchise history (until A.J. Brown surpassed him the following season with 106). Throughout his career, Smith has 240 catches for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons.

Smith is to make $15.5 million in 2025 under the terms of his rookie option. He will then be paid an average of $25 million per season from 2026 through 2028.

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Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma won his first Boston Marathon title on Monday, finishing with a time of 2:06:17 in the men’s race (the 10th fastest in Boston Marathon history) and denying Evans Chebet of a men’s three-peat. The 33-year-old Lemma — the fourth-fastest man in history after his 2:01:48 finish in the Valencia Marathon last month (per CNN) — secured his second major marathon victory after winning the 2021 London Marathon. Fellow Ethiopian Mohamed Esa (2:06:58) came in second, while Chebet finished third with a time of 2:07:22.

Lemma said after the race: “Until halfway through I was running very hard and very good. But after that it was getting harder and harder. Several times I’ve dropped out of the race before. But today I won, so I’ve redeemed myself.”

For the women, Hellen Obiri of Kenya retained her 2023 title, and became the first woman to repeat as champion at the Boston Marathon in nearly two decades. Obiri’s time of 2:22:37 was about a minute slower than her 2:21:38 from last year, but enough to edge fellow Kenyans Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45) and Edna Kiplagat (2:23:21), who placed second and third, respectively. The two-time Olympic silver medalist held a per-mile pace of 5:26 over the 26.2-mile course. Obiri, 34, previously won the 2023 New York City Marathon with a time of 2:27:23,

Obiri told ESPN: “Defending the title was not easy. Since Boston started, it’s only six women. So I said, ‘Can I be one of them? If you want to be one of them, you have to work extra hard,’ and I’m so happy because I’m now one of them. I’m now in the history books in Boston.” Obiri added of her fellow-Kenyan, second place winner Sharon Lokedi: “Sharon is a strong lady, so I tried to push. I tried my best. … I think Sharon gave me a tough competition.”

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For the second time in three years, Scottie Scheffler has won the 2024 Masters Tournament, becoming the 10th man in history to claim two green jackets in a span of three years.  The No. 1 ranked Scheffler won by four strokes over second-place finisher, Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg. Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood tied for third at 4 under. Per CBS Sports, the 27-year-old Scheffler finished 11 under — four strokes clear of the field — after entering the 88th playing of the Masters as the favorite. Over the first three rounds, Scheffler either led or stayed within a single stroke after 18, 36 and 54 holes entering Sunday’s finale.

Scheffler said before 2023 champion Jon Rahm gave him the green jacket: “I did my best to stay calm out there. I did my best to stay patient on the course. And I was able to make some key shots and key putts today to keep my round going. Ludvig played great today. He made a move on me on the back nine, and I was fortunate to hold him off there toward the end.”

Åberg added: “Obviously, Scottie is an unbelievable golf player, and I think we all expect him to be there when it comes down to the last couple holes of a tournament. He’s proven it again and again, and I think he makes us better. He makes you want to beat him, obviously, and that’s the same for me and the same for everyone else in this field.”

On Sunday, Scheffler became the 18th man to win two Masters, and the first to do so over a three-year span since Bubba Watson did so in 2012 and 2014). At 27-years-old, Scheffler is also the fourth-youngest two-time Masters champion and the eighth golfer to win the first two major championships.

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UFC president Dana White announced that after an absence of nearly three years Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler on June 29 to headline UFC 303, taking place during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. McGregor has not been in action since breaking his leg in July 2021 in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

Per USA Today, the matchup will take place at welterweight, not middleweight as previously claimed. McGregor, 35, had announced he would be returning to fight Chandler during International Fight Week on June 29, and that it would be contested in the middleweight division, which ultimately proved false.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has long been targeted as the return opponent for McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) after the two fighters coached opposing teams on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2023. Chandler, 37, hasn’t competed since November 2022, where he suffered a Fight of the Year contender loss to Poirier at UFC 281.

UFC 303 will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN.

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