SPORTS HEADLINES

Texas judge puts SEC’s new eligibility rule on hold

Two days after the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring players from returning to the league from the pros, a Texas judge put that rule on hold in a case involving more than 40 players. It was the latest piece of news in what has turned into a breakneck week of legal wrangling over the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule. The rule does not apply to college players who exhausted their fourth year of eligibility last spring; many are suing across the country for that fifth year.

Good Good to no longer be title sponsor of PGA Tour event and loses Callaway sponsorship

ATLANTA (AP) — The fallout from the Good Good Golf video depicting a man shoving a woman to the ground continues. The PGA Tour confirms the YouTube Golf content creators will no longer be title sponsor of a FedEx Cup Fall event. Callaway Golf has ended its three-year sponsorship. Good Good has said the video that was taken down on the same day it showed up on social media channels was meant as a spinoff from a movie. Criticism was immediate and sharp and led to the growing company losing its name on a PGA Tour event for Austin, Texas, in November.

Min Woo Lee makes Tour Championship debut by matching his career best with 62

ATLANTA (AP) — Min Woo Lee has made a memorable debut at the Tour Championship. He shot a bogey-free 62 at East Lake. That matches his career low on the PGA Tour and gives him a two-shot lead over Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup. Lee’s recent form hasn’t been great, but he managed to excel in the opening round of the FedEx Cup season’s final event. Scottie Scheffler was among four players at 65. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 66. Rain softened the greens, leading to low scores across the board. J.J. Spaun withdrew due to a shoulder injury.

No starters, no problem: Ty Simpson’s 2nd-quarter TD sparks the Rams’ preseason sweep

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Ty Simpson threw a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-18 in the teams’ preseason finale. The Rams didn’t play any starters, following coach Sean McVay’s approach to games that don’t count in the standings. The Rams went 3-0 in the preseason and head to Australia in two weeks to open the season. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played just two series. His fumble led to a Rams field goal early in the first before a 65-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston. The Rams are early favorites to win the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14.

Bills close preseason with 28-27 win over Steelers on Buechele’s late 2-point conversion

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Ian Wheeler scored on a 2-yard run with 1:06 left, Steve Buechele completed an off-balance pass to Dante Pettis for a 2-point conversion and the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in the preseason finale for each team Thursday night. The Steelers’ last chance to pull ahead ended with Drew Allar’s pass sailing behind tight end Lake McRee on fourth-and-7 with 44 seconds remaining. It was a disappointing finish for Allar in an outing the rookie was attempting to separate himself from Will Howard in the competition for the Steelers’ third-string job. In squandering a 10-point lead over the final seven minutes, the Steelers closed the preseason 1-2. Buffalo was 3-0.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs facing misdemeanor charges of battery, criminal damage to property

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is facing misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from what police described as a physical confrontation with his girlfriend three months ago. Jacobs was arrested May 26 and released from jail the next day as prosecutors decided whether to file charges. Jacobs was back on the field for organized team activities less than a week later and has been with the Packers for training camp. Jacobs’ attorneys issued a statement acknowledging the charges Thursday and saying the allegations will be addressed in court, not in the media.

Braves’ Sale demands ball in 9th to cap 1st complete game since 2019 in 1-0 shutout of Dodgers

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss says veteran left-hander Chris Sale was “on a mission” against the Los Angeles Dodgers after learning before the game about the death of a friend. Sale allowed five hits and struck out 11 in a dominant 1-0 win. It was the first complete game and shutout since 2019 for the 37-year-old Sale and it gave the Braves a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in their matchup of National League division leaders. Weiss says the performance was “a perfect example” of how Hall of Famers “are just different.”

MLB proposes limiting free agent signings to a few weeks in December and then from February on

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has proposed limiting free-agent signings to several weeks in December and then from early February on. The plan aims to create an offseason transaction flurry similar to the NFL and NBA. MLB presented the idea to the players’ association on Thursday, but it hinges on adopting a salary cap system proposed in May. The union has vowed never to accept this system. Union head Bruce Meyer immediately criticized the plan. MLB also suggests lowering the maximum in-season options to the minor leagues and adopting weekly rosters. Teams would be allowed 14 pitchers when the 26-man roster limit is in effect.

George Lombard Jr. becomes first Yankees shortstop with an error in 6 straight games since 1915

NEW YORK (AP) — George Lombard Jr. made history this month when he became the first New York Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut. Three weeks into his career, however, the rookie set a dubious mark by committing an error for the sixth straight game in Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros. Lombard became the first Yankees shortstop since Roger Peckinpaugh in 1915 to commit an error in six consecutive games when Yanier Diaz hit a grounder that caromed off his glove. Lombard has seven errors in his first 20 games. Following his latest miscue, he said his defense was not acceptable.

Tampa approves $2.3B deal for a new Rays ballpark

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — City officials have approved a $2.3 billion agreement for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark funded by public and private money. The 4-3 vote Thursday by the Tampa City Council came three months after a tentative deal was reached for a stadium, which would include $967 million in tax money. Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote on the project Friday morning. The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the college campus and to renovate some of the college’s buildings.

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