Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
NFL sues dozens of insurers over player injury claims
2012-08-16T152059Z_1_BRE87F0UE_RTROPTC_0_US-INSURANCE-NFL-LAWSU
IT.XML () –
Mariners’ Hernandez pitches perfect game over Rays
2012-08-16T061133Z_4_BRE87E194_RTROPTC_0_US-BASEBALL-MARINERS-P
ERFECT.XML () –
Life gets golden for Olympic champs Douglas, Wieber
NEW YORK (Reuters) – When U.S. gymnasts Gabby Douglas and
Jordyn Wieber captured gold at the London Olympics, each
achieved a lifelong dream, but it was just the opening act for
two teenagers who haven’t ruled out the 2016 Rio Games or even
careers in show business. Wieber and Douglas, as part of the
team dubbed the ”Fierce Five,” won the women’s gymnastics team
gold medal for the United States. Douglas also made history
when she became the first African-American to take home a gold
medal in the all-round individual competition.
Fatigued Serena labors into last eight at Cincinnati
MASON, Ohio (Reuters) – Serena Williams, coming off a
double Olympic gold medal-winning performance in London, said
she was feeling the pace of a hectic schedule after a lethargic
display in her 6-3 6-0 win over Urszula Radwanska on Thursday.
Williams made a series of unforced errors and showed little
movement as she labored her way through a 70-minute match in
humid conditions to earn a spot in the quarter-finals at the
Cincinnati Open.
Murray out, Federer cruises at Cincinnati
MASON, Ohio (Reuters) – Olympic champion Andy Murray
suffered a second pre-U.S. Open setback in as many weeks when
he was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open in the third round on
Thursday losing 6-4 6-4 to France’s Jeremy Chardy. World number
one Roger Federer, in contrast, needed just 62 minutes to get
by 19-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic 6-2 6-4 and book his
spot in the quarter-finals.
Flyers sign Simmonds to multi-year contract
2012-08-16T195727Z_1_BRE87F18C_RTROPTC_0_US-NHL-FLYERS-SIMMONDS
.XML () –
Beer distributor gets league OK to buy San Diego Padres
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A group headed by U.S. beer
distributor Ron Fowler has won approval from Major League
Baseball to buy the San Diego Padres, the team said on
Thursday. Fowler’s group, which includes former Los Angeles
Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and golfer Phil Mickelson, will
pay $800 million to owner John Moores and other partners, a
source with knowledge of the deal told Reuters.
Olazabal appoints three Ryder Cup vice-captains
LONDON (Reuters) – European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria
Olazabal has named experienced players Thomas Bjorn, Darren
Clarke and Paul McGinley as three of his four vice-captains for
next month’s title defense against the United States. Olazabal
will announce his final vice-captain as well as his two
wildcard player selections on August 27 for the 12-man team
ahead of the September 28-30 match play competition at Medinah,
Illinois.
Helium shortage takes the gas out of Nebraska football
tradition
OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) – They haven’t taken the air out
of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s football, but they are
taking the helium out of the touchdown balloons, a tradition
that dates to the 1940s. The Memorial Stadium tradition of
Huskers’ fans releasing thousands of red helium-filled balloons
after the first touchdown will end at least temporarily after
the first home game this year because of a global helium
shortage.
Nasdaq’s Greifeld aims to elevate game with USATF
Foundation
NEW YORK (Reuters) – For Nasdaq OMX Group Chief
Executive Robert Greifeld, attending his first Summer Olympics
this year in London was as much a wakeup call as it was a
realization of a childhood dream. ”Sitting there as a lifelong
track fan and to be in a stadium where there are 80,000
screaming people for the sport that you love, you say, ‘well
why can’t this happen more often?”’ Greifeld said in an
interview. ”There are efforts that have to be brought to bear
to make the sport more prominent.”
