Author: staff

Sports

Golfers explain decisions to put aside ‘reprehensible’ moves to join Saudi-backed series

ST. ALBANS, England — Graeme McDowell accepts it is “incredibly polarizing” to join the Saudi-funded rebel golf tour. He even offered a reason why.“Take the Khashoggi situation,” he said. “We all agree that’s reprehensible. Nobody is going to argue that fact.”AdvertisementThe Northern Irish golfer was referencing the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence services said they believe the killing of the U.S.-based Saudi journalist came at the orders of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who heads the Public Investment Fund. The prince denies wrongdoing.[ [Don’t miss] Phil Mickelson the latest golfer to sign up for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational — ending his 4-month hiatus ]The Saudi sovereign wealth fund is providing the hundreds of millions of dollars in sign-on fees and prize money that is enticing players away from the established tours and jeopardizing their participation in the majors and Ryder Cup.AdvertisementThe tour is the latest branch of Saudi Arabia’s attempt to reposition itself as a backer of lavish sports events rather than one associated with human rights abuses, which rights groups call “sportswashing.”McDowell is trying to avoid discussing the specifics of the country he is effectively working for.“I really feel like golf is a force of good in the world — I just try to be a great role model to kids,” he said. “We are not politicians. I know you guys hate that expression, but we are really not, unfortunately. We are professional golfers.“If Saudi Arabia wanted to use the game of golf as a way for them to get to where they want to be and they have the resources to accelerate that experience, I think we are proud to help them on that journey using the game of golf and the abilities that we have to help grow the sport and take them to where they want to be.”[ [Don’t miss] Arlo White, the Chicago Fire’s occasional voice, will be the lead announcer for the controversial new LIV Golf series ]How, though, McDowell was asked, is that journey helping women who are oppressed in Saudi Arabia, the LGBTQ individuals whose rights to live freely are criminalized, the migrant workers whose rights are violated, the victims of the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen, or the 81 men who were executed by the kingdom in March?“I wish I had the ability to be able to have that conversation with you,” McDowell said. “As golfers, if we tried to cure geopolitical situations in every country in the world that we play golf in, we wouldn’t play a lot of golf. It’s a really hard question to answer.“We’re just here to focus on the golf and kind of what it does globally for the role models that these guys are.”McDowell did most of the talking on Saudi rights issues, with two-time major winner Dustin Johnson responding earlier: “I would pretty much say the exact same thing. I’d agree with what Graeme said.”

Sports

Chicago Bears forced to cancel Tuesday’s OTA practice as punishment for violating the NFL’s offseason practice rules

The Chicago Bears were forced to cancel their organized team activities practice for Tuesday at Halas Hall after violating the offseason rules of the collective bargaining agreement, according to a league source.The Bears, according to the source, had live contact during practices in May, which is prohibited during this phase of the offseason program.AdvertisementThat qualifies as a misstep by new coach Matt Eberflus, who was hired to replace Matt Nagy in January. The Bears will suffer a minor punishment as a result.[ [Don’t miss] The spring praise for Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields is flowing. But how much does it really mean? ][ [Don’t miss] The Chicago Bears are back at Halas Hall for OTAs. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of their roster. ]According to the league source, the Bears were warned for having practices featuring too much contact last month with requests made that they alter their practice activity to adjust. Eventually, when proper adjustments weren’t made, the NFL Players Association was asked to get involved and the NFL stepped in, deciding that the team was in violation of league rules. As a result, the Bears were required to forfeit one of their OTA practices.AdvertisementThe Bears sent an email to reporters Monday night saying the team had made an OTA schedule change and that Tuesday’s open OTA practice and media availability was being moved to Wednesday. There was no indication in that update of why the change became necessary.The Bears are scheduled to return to practice Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. in Lake Forest during their final week of OTAs. Eberflus is slated to meet with reporters after that practice on Wednesday afternoon.

Sports

Orlando Pride place coach Amanda Cromwell, assistant on administrative leave

Orlando Pride coach Amanda Cromwell and first assistant coach Sam Greene have been placed on a temporary administrative leave effective immediately, pending the results of a current investigation, the team said Tuesday. “The decisions come following recommendations from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) Joint Investigative Team,” the Pride said in their statement. “This is an interim step while the investigation is ongoing, and no final determinations or conclusions have been reached.”AdvertisementNo details about what prompted the investigation were released.The Pride said that assistant coach Seb Hines has been appointed to coach the Pride in the interim. Advertisement“Providing a respectful environment and adhering to all league policies are of the utmost priority for the Pride. The Club is committed to fully cooperating with the Joint Investigative Team through the conclusion of this process. As this is an ongoing investigation, the Club will have no further comment at this time,” the team said in its release.The move come after the Pride suffered their worst loss of the season in a 5-0 victory loss to the host Houston Dash on Friday night.“This is a tough one to talk about,” Cromwell said after the match. “I thought we had good energy to start the game. There was a little bit of methodical both ways. I think both teams were feeling each other out. When they scored, I don’t think our response was good enough to pick up energy, pick up the level, and just conceding multiple goals again in the first half, put you in a bind and so we change things up.”

Sports

Jake Burger — ‘a hungry hitter’ — has been clutch recently for the Chicago White Sox: ‘I’ve been smiling a ton’

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox called on Jake Burger to hit for Carlos Rodón in the fifth inning of a July 24 game last season against the Milwaukee Brewers.The Sox trailed by three with the bases loaded and one out. Brewers starter Corbin Burnes struck out Burger on three pitches.Advertisement“I let myself and the emotions get a little too large in that situation,” Burger said Saturday, recalling the at-bat. “Tried to do too much. And you learn from those situations and just apply them to the next one.”Burger leaned on that experience in a pinch-hitting situation in the eighth inning Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.AdvertisementThe Sox were down a run but had a runner on first. Burger hit the second pitch he saw over the center-field wall for a go-ahead two-run homer, leading the Sox to a 3-2 victory.He became the first Sox player to hit a game-winning, pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning or later since Daniel Palka on Aug. 2, 2018, against the Kansas City Royals. Palka hit a three-run homer in the eighth.“As long as I control my emotions, anything can happen,” Burger said. “That’s kind of how I take it and it’s always fun to have the chance from (manager) Tony (La Russa) to have a situation like that given to you.”Burger carried over the success Sunday, starting at third base and going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run in the 6-5 victory. He had two doubles in a game for the first time in his career.“He’s just gaining confidence,” La Russa said after Sunday’s game. “He’s a hungry hitter. (Teammate Andrew) Vaughn’s got it too. … These guys are hungry.“That’s a real box checker for a productive major-leaguer. Come out there, don’t throw any at-bats away. That’s a big compliment to pay them.”Jake Burger watches his two-run home run off Rays reliever Jalen Beeks during the eighth inning on June 4, 2022. (Chris O’Meara/AP)Burger, 26, is slashing .245/.289/.434 with five doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs in 31 games as the Sox begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.He drove in two with a first-inning double Sunday — his first career hit with the bases loaded (1-for-6). Burger scored on a two-run single by Yasmani Grandal.Advertisement“That was fun,” Burger said of the four-run first. “Anytime you can get out to a quick lead, it’s huge and it helps everybody. The defense, takes pressure off them and the pitching. It was huge to get out to a start like that.”His second double came in the second.“Come down here, you know you’re going to have a tough matchup (against the Rays),” Burger said. “They’re always a good team. Taking two of three is always a big thing and I’m glad we got that done.”Recently, Burger has gotten some of the biggest hits whenever the White Sox win.He hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth inning of a 3-1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on May 25 at Guaranteed Rate Field, a day after rejoining the team from Triple-A Charlotte.Burger ended a marathon City Series game against the Cubs on May 29 at Guaranteed Rate Field, driving in the winning run with a single to left for a 5-4 victory in 12 innings.AdvertisementHis pinch-hit homer Saturday helped snap a four-game losing streak. And he provided the spark in the first inning Sunday.“I’ve been smiling a ton, just having fun,” Burger said.Discussing the past few years after the game against the Red Sox, Burger said he takes “every day as a blessing.”A first-round pick in 2017 out of Missouri State, Burger missed all of 2018 after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in spring training, then missed all of 2019 because of a bruised left heel.With the 2020 minor-league season canceled because of the pandemic, Burger played in a local league in Missouri before joining the White Sox alternate site in Schaumburg.He spent time with the White Sox (slashing .263/.333/.474 with one homer and three RBIs in 15 games) and Charlotte last season.AdvertisementBurger continues to make the most of this most recent opportunity.“No matter where I’m at, I’m going to have fun and compete,” Burger said Sunday. “That’s what I’m trying to do day in and day out.”