Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Jul 28

OLYMPICS-BILES

Biles to skip all-around

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title.

The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.

Jade Carey will take Biles’ place in the all-around. Carey initially did not qualify because she was the third-ranking American behind Biles and Sunisa Lee. International Gymnastics Federation rules limit countries to two athletes per event in the finals.

The organization said Biles will be evaluated before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events.

OLYMPICS

US women pocketing medals at Olympic swimming pool

TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. women’s swimming team is pocketing plenty of medals at the Olympic pool.

Halfway through the nine-day competition, they’ve claimed two golds among 11 total medals. By comparison, the U.S. men have won two golds and five medals overall.

Even when the U.S. women didn’t finish first, they’ve shown up on the podium in pairs. Katie Ledecky won the first women’s 1,500 freestyle in Olympic history today and first-time Olympian Erica Sullivan finished second.

Also at the Tokyo Games:

— Canadian gymnast Ellie Black has withdrawn from the all-around finals. The International Gymnastics Federation gave no reason for Black’s withdrawal in its announcement today. The 25-year-old is competing in her third Olympics.

— Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi has swept the women’s individual medley by rallying to win the 200-meter medley, beating Americans Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass. Ohashi had previously won the 400-meter individual medley. Walsh finished second, just ahead of Douglass.

— New U.S. beach volleyball partners Jake Gibb and Tri Bourne beat Switzerland 21-19, 23-21 to improve to 2-0 in the round-robin. They have one more match remaining, against Qatar on Friday night. The two victories should be enough to get Gibb and Bourne in the knockout round.

— The U.S. men’s volleyball team has improved to 2-1 in pool play at the Olympics by beating Tunisia 3-1. The victory keeps the Americans in good position to advance to the quarterfinals as one of the top four teams in Pool B.

— The four-time defending champion Americans finished fourth in the 4×200 freestyle relay, the first time they’ve failed to win a medal in the event other than the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games. Britain won event for the first time since 1908, just missing a world record.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT

Big 12′s Texas, Oklahoma make request to join powerhouse SEC

UNDATED (AP) — Texas and Oklahoma have made a request to join the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.

A day after the Big 12 schools notified the league that they would not be extending an agreement that binds conference members to 2025, the schools publicly stated for the first time they want to join the SEC.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says his league will consider the request in the “near future.”

The SEC would grow to 16 teams with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, half of which have won at least one national championship in football since 1980.

MLB..

— Miguel Cabrera hit a run-scoring single in the 11th inning to complete the Tigers’ comeback in a 6-5 victory at Minnesota. The Twins were two outs from a win until Eric Haase (hahs) tied the game with a grand slam in the top of the ninth.

UNDATED (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers’ charge to the National League Central title continues despite their current COVID-19 situation.

Omar Narvaez (nahr-VY’-ehz) homered and had four RBIs as the Brewers ripped the Pirates, 9-0. Narvaez went deep to spark a three-run first before he added a two-run single that helped Milwaukee take a 8-0 lead by the second inning.

Brett Anderson yielded three hits while striking out three and walking one over six innings as the Brewers improved to a major league-best 38-19 since May 22.

Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (YEH’-lihch) has tested positive for the coronavirus and is showing mild symptoms.

President of baseball operations David Stearns says Yelich and Jace (jays) Peterson have been place on the COVID-19 injured list, adding that Peterson was sidelined due to contact tracing and hasn’t tested positive.

Stearns says Yelich has been vaccinated against the virus and will miss at least 10 days from the date of his positive test, while Peterson will sit out at least seven days.

In Tuesday’s other major league action:

— First baseman Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) continued his power surge with two home runs and started a dazzling double play as the Reds tripped the Cubs, 7-4. Jesse Winker and Eugenio (ay-oo-HEH’-nee-oh) Suarez also went deep as Cincinnati stayed seven games off the NL Central lead.

— Buster Posey scored the tiebreaking run on a throwing error by first baseman Cody Bellinger in the eighth inning, giving the Giants a 2-1 victory against the Dodgers and a three-game lead over Los Angeles in the NL West. Posey had two hits and an RBI for San Francisco, and Austin Slater also had two hits.

— Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES’) Jr. hammered a 440-foot, two-run homer and Manny Machado added a three-run shot as the Padres dumped the Athletics, 7-4. Adam Frazier had two hits and two runs in his San Diego debut, and Jake Cronenworth doubled home a pair in the Padres’ five-run fifth.

— Abraham Toro homered against the team that traded him across the diamond during batting practice, but the Astros held off a ninth-inning rally to beat the Mariners, 8-6. Yordan Alvarez was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and two runs scored as Houston expanded its lead in the AL West to six games over Oakland.

— Austin Riley launched a grand slam and a two-run homer to finish with a career-best six RBIs in the Braves’ 12-5 dismantling of the Mets. Ozzie Albies and Abraham Almonte each belted a two-run homer and Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double for Atlanta, one day after the two teams combined for just three runs in a doubleheader.

— The Mets’ lead in the NL East remains 3 1/2 games over Philadelphia after Josh Bell and Juan Soto slammed three-run homers in the Nationals’ 6-4 win at Philadelphia. Brad Hand notched his 21st save after blowing leads in the ninth inning of his previous two outings.

— The Cardinals doubled up the Indians, 4-2 as Paul DeJong (deh-YUHNG’) slammed a go-ahead, two-run homer and Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings of two-run ball. DeJong homered off Bryan Shaw with two out in the seventh, giving St. Louis a 3-2 advantage.

— Jordan Montgomery stopped an eight-start winless streak by scattering five hits over five scoreless innings of the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Rays. Gio Urshela (ur-SHEH’-lah) drove in two runs and Aaron Judge singled in his return from COVID-19.

— Eloy (EE’-loy) Jiménez logged his first big hit in two games this season, launching a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning that sent the White Sox to a 5-3 win versus the Royals. Jiménez connected for a 459-foot drive to left-center off Kyle Zimmer to cap a four-run rally that ended Kansas City’s season-high, six-game winning streak.

— Sandy León crushed a three-run homer and Sandy Alcantara (al-KAHN’-tah-rah) pitched into the seventh in guiding the Marlins past the Orioles, 7-3. Lewin Diaz and Brian Anderson added solo shots in Miami’s third straight win.

— Shohei Ohtani (SHOH’-hay oh-TAH’-nee) smacked his major league-leading 36th home run, one of the few highlights for the Angels in a 12-3 loss to the Rockies. Brendan Rodgers and pinch-hitter Sam Hilliard homered to back six effective innings from Austin Gomber as Colorado improved to 11-37 on the road.

— The Rangers’ 12-game losing streak is over after All-Star slugger Joey Gallo hit his first home run since the break to lead a 5-4 victory against the Diamondbacks. Gallo’s three-run blast put Texas ahead to stay, and he also had two assists.

— The Red Sox and Blue Jays were rained out in Boston, creating a day-night doubleheader Wednesday at Fenway Park.

MLB-NEWS

Nationals’ Strasburg to have season-ending neck surgery

UNDATED (AP) — Nationals All-Star shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday’s game against the Phillies in the first inning after testing positive for COVID-19. Turner singled and scored before heading directly up the Nationals tunnel toward the clubhouse. It was later announced in the press box that he had tested positive, ending speculation that he was lifted for a possible pending trade or due to injury.

In other major league news:

— The Yankees have dealt relievers Luis Cessa (SEH’-suh) and Justin Wilson to the Reds for a player to be named. Cessa is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 29 appearances this season, but Wilson has struggled while recording a 7.50 earned run average over 21 outings.

— The Astros have landed right-handed relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero from the Mariners for infielder Abraham Toro and reliever Joe Smith. Graveman is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 appearances this year.

— The Seattle Mariners have acquired left-hander Tyler Anderson from Pittsburgh, according to a person familiar with the trade. Anderson is 5-8 with a 4.35 ERA in 18 starts.

— Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Stephen Strasburg will have season-ending neck surgery on Wednesday, ending another frustrating year for Washington’s 2019 World Series hero. The three-time All-Star right-hander felt discomfort after a 27-pitch bullpen session last week and saw a specialist on Monday. Strasburg made just five starts this season, going 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA.

— Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave was extended by 10 days through Aug. 6 by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The extension comes as the sport’s investigators continue to check into allegations of sexual misconduct against the Dodgers pitcher. Bauer was placed on seven days’ paid leave on July 2 under the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy adopted by MLB and the players’ union in 2015.

— Yankees All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka have been reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list. Both went on the IL July 16. Judge started Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay.

NFL-NEWS

Rodgers arrives in Green Bay for start of training camp

UNDATED — Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was seen arriving at Lambeau Field this morning, a day after NFL Network and ESPN reported the reigning MVP was closing in on a deal that would keep him with the Packers this season. Rodgers didn’t participate in organized team activities this spring and skipped the Packers’ mandatory minicamp. His future with the Packers had seemed tenuous after ESPN reported in the hours leading up to the NFL draft that he didn’t want to return to Green Bay.

In other NFL news:

— Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis says the team will be in new hands by this time next year. Ellis says the trust that runs the team will either select Pat Bowlen’s 31-year-old daughter Brittany Bowlen or sell the franchise altogether.

— Ron Rivera opened Washington’s training camp expressing frustration about a lack of vaccinations among players. Rivera says he believes Washington is now over 50% of players fully vaccinated. Only five NFL teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both.

— All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard has joined the rest of the Miami Dolphins reporting for training camp after he sat out mandatory minicamp. Howard wants to renegotiate the $75.25 million, five-year extension he signed two years ago and there had been speculation he might hold out. Howard had 10 interceptions last year, the most in the NFL since 2007.

—First-round pick Rashawn Slater signed his contract with the Chargers as players reported for training camp. The 13th overall pick in the draft in April is expected to be the Chargers’ left tackle for the season opener.

— Patrick Mahomes has become part of MLS club Sporting Kansas City’s ownership group. Mahomes also is a part owner of baseball’s Kansas City Royals and his fiancée, Brittany Matthews, is a co-owner of the women’s soccer club Kansas City NWSL.

NHL-NEWS

Capitals re-sign Ovi

UNDATED (AP) — Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin has re-signed with the only NHL team he has ever played for, inking a five-year, $47.5 million deal. The superstar Russian who captained the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup championship in franchise history three years ago is now under contract through the 2025-26 season. The 35-year-old Ovechkin is 164 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record and needs to average 33 goals over the length of his new contract to break the mark.

In other NHL activity:

— Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog (LAN’-dehs-kahg) is staying with the team after signing an eight-year, $56 million contract late Tuesday night. That left Colorado goaltender Philipp Grubauer and Carolina defenseman Dougie Hamilton as the top unsigned prizes when the free agent market opens today.

— The Golden Knights have traded reigning Vezina (VEH’-zih-nuh) Trophy-winning goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Blackhawks. The return of a minor leaguer Mikael Hakkarainen indicates it was a salary dump. Fleury counts $7 million against the salary cap next season.

— The Blackhawks also acquired forward Tyler Johnson and a 2023 second-round pick from the salary cap-strapped Lightning. Tampa Bay received defenseman Brent Seabrook, who will spend the remaining three years of his contract on long-term injured reserve.

— Among other goalie moves around the NHL, Vancouver’s Braden Holtby and San Jose’s Martin Jones will become free agents after going on buyout waivers.

— The league says bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to former Bruins forward Willie O’Ree has passed the U.S. Senate. O’Ree was the first Black player to compete in the NHL and played pro hockey for 22 seasons.

FOOTBALL PLAYER DEATH-GEORGIA

Georgia 15-year-old collapses, dies after football practice

MACON, Ga. (AP) — A 15-year-old high school football player died after collapsing at the first day of practice amid 97-degree temperatures in middle Georgia.

Bibb County school district officials say Joshua Ivory of Macon’s Southwest High School went into distress Monday, leading coaches to call an ambulance. He later died at a hospital. No cause of death has been announced and an autopsy is planned.

In world and national news…

LAPORTE, Texas (AP) — Two people are dead and dozens more were injured after a chemical leak at a Houston-area plant. LyondellBasell spokesperson Chevalier Gray said in a statement that the incident happened about 7:35 p.m. Tuesday and involved an acetic acid leak at the company’s facility in the La Porte Complex. Gray says two people “sustained fatal injuries,” and the company identified them as contractors. Dozens of others sustained minor injuries, including burns. Some were treated at the scene and others were sent to a hospital. The company said it was working closely with responders and confirmed that all those working in the area of the leak were accounted for. The cause is under investigation.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader has called the U.S. “stubborn” in stalled nuclear talks in Vienna for discussing Tehran’s missiles and regional influence. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks Wednesday come as his hard-line protege, President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, is posed to be sworn in next week as the head of the country’s civilian government. While Raisi has said he wants to return to the accord, which saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, Khamenei seemingly called for a more-adversarial approach in his remarks.

TOKYO (AP) — International Olympic Committee sponsors are coming under pressure for their ties to next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics. They open in just over six months on Feb. 4, 2022. Questions around Beijing surfaced after five of the IOC’s top American-based sponsors were grilled in a U.S. Congressional hearing looking into alleged genocide in China’s western region of Xinjiang. The IOC defends itself by saying its only responsibility is to organize the Olympics. It says the IOC must remain neutral on political issues.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s vaccination minister says the speed of the country’s inoculation campaign is less urgent than getting shots to young people, who are blamed for spreading the virus. Vaccination Minister Taro Kono told told The Associated Press that Japan is “overshooting” its goal of a million shots a day, so “speed doesn’t matter anymore.” Japan is averaging about 10 million shots a week after a late start. He made the comments Wednesday as Olympics host Tokyo saw another record number of coronavirus cases.

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo has reported 3,177 new coronavirus cases, setting an all-time high and exceeding 3,000 for the first time days after the start of the Olympics. The new cases Wednesday exceeded the earlier record of 2,848 set the previous day and bring the total for the Japanese capital to more than 200,000 since the pandemic began early last year. Tokyo has been under a fourth state of emergency since July 12 ahead of the Olympics, which began last Friday despite widespread public opposition and concern that they could further worsen the outbreak. Experts say Tokyo’s surge is being propelled by the new, more contagious delta variant of the virus.

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title. The American gymnastics superstar has withdrawn the all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready. Jade Carey, who finished ninth in qualifying, will take Biles’ place in the all-around. USA Gymnastics said Biles will be evaluated daily before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events.

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The governors of California and Nevada plan to tour an area blackened by one of two massive wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes in the U.S. West. Wednesday’s tour of the Tamarack fire along the state line comes as nearly 80 wildfires continue to destroy land and homes in a dozen states. Cooler weather and even some rain has helped in the fight against some of the largest, including the Bootleg Fire in Oregon that has burned more than 160 homes. But fire officials say hotter, drier weather will return later in the week and could pose a threat of renewed fire ferocity.