Author: staff

Sports

Poll: 90% of FBS athletic directors concerned about NIL as recruiting tool

Athletics directors from Football Bowl Subdivision institutions are concerned with using name, image and likeness as an inducement for recruiting, according to a new survey.Of those ADs polled by the LEAD1 association, a group representing the 130-member schools, 90% were concerned that collectives were using NIL deals as improper recruiting tools. Approximately 80 FBS athletic directors were surveyed on NIL, transfer portal and Division I structure.AdvertisementSeventy-eight percent of ADs surveyed also believe that NIL collectives will impact athletic department fundraising, limiting a department’s financial resources and 77% of those surveyed believe an unregulated NIL market will eventually lead to scandals.Athletics directors would like the NCAA to establish parameters for the transfer portal, such as instituting dead periods. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America/TNS)Some of the other findings include:Advertisement92% disagree that NIL payments should be allowed as “pay for performance.”87% disagree that NIL payments should be permitted as “pay for play” tied to a specific athletics team.72% agree NIL payments should be tied to market value.The ADs also were surveyed about the transfer portal, with 87% agreeing that there should be designated “dead periods” to curtail unlimited transferring to other schools.[ Former UCF and current Nebraska coach Scott Frost punished by NCAA  ]Those polled were asked about reducing the number of members in the Division I structure, with 67% agreeing that a reduction is needed from the current 350 members and 58% were against individual conferences holding full autonomy over issues such as NIL and athlete compensation and scholarship regulations.This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Dad wants eviction, not connection

Dear Amy: My girlfriend and I have been together for over 10 years and have three kids together, ages 7, 4, and 2 years old. Once our first was born, I gave up going out and drinking — no complaints.I feel like the kids are well taken care of. However, her moodiness and spending habits have gotten worse. I generally don’t complain about it, but when she asks, I am calmly honest. Sometimes that leads to me being yelled at.AdvertisementI’m not perfect, but I’m pretty dang good. I cook at least half the meals, buy at least half the groceries, spend a lot of time reading and playing with the kids, and I try to involve her in anything I want to do: Hunting, fishing, watching movies/sports, games, whatever. But if I suggest it, she doesn’t like it.She screamed at me because I bought a house for us, even though I had been screamed at for years because we were renting.AdvertisementShe’s mad that even though she contributed nothing to the purchase, I wouldn’t put her on the deed, due to her past bankruptcies.We agreed to split household bills and the mortgage (“rent,” as she calls it) 50/50, but she is always late with her payments.I’m ready to contact a lawyer to draw up eviction papers.My preference is to have the kids stay with me 100 percent of the time. Fifty-fifty is what she’d want.With a 50/50 arrangement I find it highly unfair that I would owe her anything.The fact that I make three times what she does means I should have to pay for her choosing a bad profession? Ridiculous.Basically, I want my kids and I want to continue living my life. I’d rather not drag her through the mud in court, even though I think she’s emotionally abusive to me and the kids.Seriously, my best plan right now is to serve her eviction papers if she continues to be angry all the time.AdvertisementAny better suggestions?– Mr. Pretty Dang Good DadDear Mr. Good: First this: You may not be able to simply “evict” your partner, just because you want her out.Money is obviously a key issue for you, but you make triple your partner’s income and yet you two split your mortgage and expenses 50/50. Why is that? Also, depending on what state you live in, income you’ve earned during your relationship could be considered “community property.”Before breaking up the family, you should invite the mother of your children into counseling so that you both might learn better ways of relating and behaving.A lawyer would update you about your legal rights and responsibilities regarding your children. If you truly are a martyr to your screaming wife, and not someone with a martyr complex, the court might award you sole custody, but if you share custody, because you are the higher earner, you would likely be expected to help support the other household; this is intended for the benefit of the children.AdvertisementMediation might be the least expensive (and least stressful) way for you two to part ways.Dear Amy: My parents have been dead for many years now.I have a sibling who visits their grave every day and takes pictures of the gravesite.I don’t know why my sibling feels they must do this daily, but I do not like receiving pictures of the gravesite. I find it quite odd.I believe this is a somewhat delicate situation, and don’t want to hurt their feelings.How can I let them know I don’t want to receive the pictures?Advertisement– Sad SiblingDear Sad: Memorial Day isn’t too far off. If it is possible, you might want to visit your sibling and go to your folks’ gravesite together.I hope you won’t judge the choice to visit these graves every day. Some people find cemeteries to be beautiful and quiet spaces inviting contemplation (I happen to be one of those people).Tell your sibling: “These pictures of the gravesite really trigger my sadness. Can you do me a favor and not send them to me?”Dear Amy: “H0 Scale” was burdened by a model train set moldering at his father’s house. His father seemed to want to dispose of the set, but both men seemed conflicted.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.He could turn this “model” train connection with dad into many real train adventures.AdvertisementThere are many trains around North America offering scenic tours.– Time Well SpentDear Time Well Spent: I love this idea.Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Sports

Seattle Sounders are the 1st MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League, beating Pumas 5-2 on aggregate

SEATTLE — Raúl Ruidíaz scored on a deflected shot late in the first half, added a second goal off a perfect counter attack in the 80th minute and the Seattle Sounders beat Pumas 3-0 on Wednesday night to win the CONCACAF Champions League title.The Sounders became the first team from Major League Soccer to claim the championship of club teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean since the current format was adopted in 2008. Seattle was the fifth MLS team to reach the final and the first to finish the task.AdvertisementNicolas Lodeiro added a final punctuation in the 88th minute with his third goal of the final after he scored both Seattle goals on penalty kicks in the first leg last week in Mexico City when the sides played to a 2-2 draw. The title earned Seattle a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup and added to an already filled trophy case that includes U.S. Open Cup titles, a MLS Supporters’ Shield and two MLS Cup titles.Officially, Seattle won the two-leg final 5-2. But with away goals not a tiebreaker in the final, whoever won the second leg in Seattle outright would be the champion.AdvertisementRuidíaz provided Seattle the lead in the 45th minute. His shot inside the penalty area deflected off Pumas’ forward Diogo and caught goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera moving the wrong direction. It set off a celebration with most of the record crowd of 68,761 cheering wildly enough to give Lumen Field a shake.The second goal was even better. Precise passes from Jordan Morris to Lodeiro and then Ruidíaz left the striker in perfect position to beat Talavera.Lodeiro’s goal just added to the party and the 3-0 win was the largest margin of victory in any CCL final match.The sides were even at 2-2 after a wild first leg. Pumas took a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of goals from Juan Dinenno, the top scorer in the tournament. Seattle rallied behind two penalty kick goals from Lodeiro to draw level and simplify the second leg. The second of Lodeiro’s two goals in Mexico City came in the ninth minute of stoppage time.But Dinenno was mostly quiet in the second leg. His best chance was a free kick midway through the second half that missed the net. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a terrific save on Diogo’s free header in the 65th minute.Frei was named the overall player of the tournament.Seattle managed to finish where Real Salt Lake (2011), Montreal (2015), Toronto (2018) and LAFC (2020) fell short in the past as MLS teams that reached the final. Real Salt Lake and Montreal both returned home after pulling off draws on the road against LigaMX opponents, only to be defeated on their home turf.Seattle finished the tournament unbeaten in all eight matches of the knockout stage and went 2-0-2 against LigaMX clubs after beating out Leon in the quarterfinals.

Sports

AJ Pollock’s bloop single gives the White Sox a 4-3 win over the Cubs to sweep the City Series at Wrigley Field

A flared blooper falling just beyond the outstretched glove of diving Chicago Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal was the break White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock needed.Pollock entered Wednesday’s series finale at Wrigley Field hitting .184, but a well-placed ball and a little luck put the Sox ahead in the sixth inning. The Sox bullpen locked it down, holding the Cubs to three hits over the final seven innings in a 4-3 victory at Wrigley Field to win both City Series games on the North Side.AdvertisementRight-hander Kyle Hendricks needed one more out with runners on the corners in the sixth to keep the game tied. Pollock managed to inside-out enough of a sinker to get it over a shifted Madrigal, who sprinted from the left side of second base in an attempt to catch the ball.Solo home runs by José Abreu in the first inning and Leury García in the third got the Sox on the board against Hendricks.AdvertisementHome runs provided the Cubs offense, which again didn’t produce much against Sox pitchers. Nico Hoerner’s two-run home run and Patrick Wisdom’s solo homer — both in the third inning — erased the Sox’s two-run lead.Gavin Sheets singled to left field in the fourth to tie the game.The Cubs managed just one hit between Wisdom’s two-out home run in the third and his lead-off single in the eighth. Madrigal’s soft single to right field represented the Cubs’ lone hit in that span, but he was thrown out at second trying to stretch the play for an extra-base hit.Sox starter Lucas Giolito struck out 10 in 5⅔ innings, allowing three runs on three hits and walked two.Hendricks had pitched well at Wrigley in three starts this year. Although he was generally efficient against the Sox, he couldn’t get out of the sixth before surrendering the go-ahead run.The Cubs’ greatest threat to tie or take the lead fizzled in the eighth. They wasted back-to-back singles against reliever Aaron Bummer to put runners on the corners. Bummer forced pinch hitter Yan Gomes to line out before Matt Foster entered to retire Seiya Suzuki on a foul out and struck out Ian Happ looking to strand the runners.

Sports

Should the Chicago Cubs be concerned with Seiya Suzuki’s slump? ‘He’s got to go through the ebbs and flows.’

The Chicago Cubs expected outfielder Seiya Suzuki to endure an adjustment period at some point as he gets used to his new league.A sizzling first two weeks earned Suzuki player of the week recognition and helped carry him to National League Rookie of the Month honors for April. AdvertisementBut Suzuki’s offensive production the last two weeks entering Wednesday’s series finale against the White Sox highlight the challenges the Cubs anticipated he would face. Since April 19, Suzuki is hitting .167 with a .245 on-base percentage, .495 OPS, four doubles, five walks and 17 strikeouts in 13 games. Suzuki doesn’t see teams pitching him differently, and manager David Ross agreed with the right fielder’s assessment. Ross believes Suzuki is working through a timing issue at the plate.Advertisement“Playing every single day and starting off so comfortable, they’re being a little more aggressive,” Ross said. “He’s fouled off a couple pitches I think he thought he should have should have hit, but for the most part I think it’s just a timing issue.“He started off and was surprising to everyone, like, wow, this guy’s taking the league by storm right? And now you see the league kind of adjust, and he’s also in that same boat of adjusting back to pitchers. … He’s got to go through the ebbs and flows like everybody else in the season.”From Day 1, Suzuki has displayed a good understanding of the strike zone and limits chasing pitches out of it. However, he is also taking a lot of called strikes. Suzuki’s 99 called strikes rank third-most in Major League Baseball entering Wednesday, trailing Kyle Schwarber and Jake Cronenworth. In the process, Suzuki’s strikeouts have increased while his walk rate has diminished during the two-week slump.Some of Suzuki’s struggles can be attributed to pitch types, such as a cutter, he hasn’t hit well. Hitting coach Greg Brown doesn’t point to one specific issue for Suzuki’s recent results.“It’s easy to get caught in the minutiae of it,” Brown said Wednesday. “At the end of the year, I think that his numbers are going to be where they’re supposed to be. For him, it’s more about staying steady in his process of how he prepares because there’s going to be great stretches and there’s not going to be.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“Every night he gives you that glimpse, even when he’s maybe not going as good as he was, that he’s in a good spot.”The increase in Suzuki taking more called strikes doesn’t appear to concern Brown. Sometimes slumping players will swing more, said Brown, who doesn’t necessarily see that as the answer.“I admire the way he goes about it because he uses every pitch as a learning process,” Brown said. “So sometimes a guy comes out there and takes three pitches, and it doesn’t work out very well. But he is very much a student of what he’s doing in his craft with hitting.Advertisement“We see signs of that every single day and how he’s going about it.”Suzuki’s plate approach lends to working out of his funk. There are no guarantees when that will happen, but despite some struggles Ross still feels comfortable putting Suzuki in the No. 2 spot of the order. Clearly Suzuki is committed to his strategy of trying to limit swings and misses, especially out of the zone.The Cubs expect Suzuki’s patience and growing familiarity with major-league pitchers to pay off.“If you start expanding, then you start really expanding,” Brown said. “Staying within the confines of his approach leads to long-term success. That would be my goal.”

Sports

Chicago White Sox OF Andrew Vaughn is ‘most probably’ heading to the IL because of a hand injury

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn is “most probably” headed to the injured list as he continues to recover from getting hit in the right hand by a pitch, manager Tony La Russa said before Wednesday’s City Series game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.Vaughn got hit in the ninth inning Friday against the Los Angeles Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field. He remained in to run but has missed every game since.Advertisement“It’s doing OK,” Vaughn said Wednesday. “It has kind of progressed, but it’s still aching when I swing, real bad. It’s kind of blocking me from swinging because of the pain.”Said La Russa: “If you think about how long ago it was, it shows you that the bruise is deep and it’s a tough spot to handle it.”AdvertisementVaughn is slashing .283/.367/.566 in 16 games with four home runs and 12 RBIs.“I feel it all the time,” Vaughn said. “It’s not a good place to get hit. A lot of people get hit there and it breaks. I got pretty lucky that it didn’t break, but there’s still a lot of inflammation in there.“I want to be out there playing. I want to be helping my team. It stinks I can’t be out there.”La Russa said it’s possible third baseman Yoán Moncada (right oblique strain) and reliever Joe Kelly (right biceps nerve injury) could join the Sox during the next homestand. The team returns to Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday to play Cleveland. Both players are rehabbing with Triple-A Charlotte.