NFL – Claypool remains in exile, the latest turmoil surrounding the winless Bears
Chase Claypool’s exile from the Chicago Bears will continue. It’s the latest issue for a team that’s been mired in turmoil all season. Coach Matt Eberflus says Claypool won’t practice with the team this week. The wide receiver was told to stay away from the team for Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Eberflus says he has spoken to general manager Ryan Poles about Claypool, but he wouldn’t be specific about whether the fourth-year receiver might be cut or traded. The Bears are 0-4 and have only had more consecutive losses to start a season three times in franchise history.
NFL – National Football League – Week 4
Last Night
Seattle Seahawks 24, New York Giants 3
Seahawks 24, Giants 3 – Devon Witherspoon scores on 97-yard pick six as Seahawks D leads Seattle over Giants
Rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon scored on a 97-yard interception return late in the third quarter and the Seattle Seahawks tied a team record with 11 sacks in a 24-3 victory over the struggling and offensively inept New York Giants. Geno Smith threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf late in the first quarter after a strip-sack by defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. set up a short drive. Kenneth Walker III added 1-yard TD run as the Seahawks (3-1) won their third straight. Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Witherspoon and Uchenna Nwosu each had two sacks. Wagner also had 17 tackles. The Giants are 1-3.
NFL – Jonathan Taylor’s looming return provides plenty for Colts to ponder
Jonathan Taylor missed the Indianapolis Colts offseason workouts as he recovered from ankle surgery. He started training camp — and the regular season — on the physically unable to perform list. Along the way, Taylor went public about his desired contract extension, the undervaluing of NFL running backs and eventually word leaked about his trade request. Now, it appears all of that is behind Taylor. Coach Shane Steichen says the Colts will activate the 2021 NFL rushing champ this week and that Taylor is eager to get back on the field, possibly even Sunday against Tennessee.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Today
Wildcard Round – Best of three
Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays, 3:08 p.m.
Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays, 4:38 p.m.
Arizona Diamondback at Milwaukee Brewers, 7:08 p.m.
Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies, 8:08 p.m.
NHL – National Hockey League Preseason
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
NHL – Red Wings hope they finally have enough talent to end 7-year postseason drought
The Detroit Red Wings might finally have enough talent to end a seven-year postseason drought, which matches their longest in franchise history. Detroit didn’t make the playoffs from 1971 to 1977. Hockey Hall of Famer and team general manager Steve Yzerman provided a desperately needed dose of hope by acquiring goal-scoring winger Alex DeBrincat from Ottawa in July and signed him to a four-year extension worth about $7.8 million each season. Yzerman also made a series of subtle deals earlier in the summer by adding depth at forward, defense and in goal before making a splash by trading for DeBrincat.
NCAAMBB – LeBron James says Bronny is doing well, working to play for USC this season
LeBron James says his 18-year-old son is progressing in his rehabilitation from cardiac arrest in hopes of playing for the University of Southern California this season. Bronny James went into cardiac arrest during a workout at the Galen Center in late July. LeBron James praised USC’s training staff and coaches for saving Bronny’s life with their quick responses after Bronny was stricken. Bronny is attending classes at USC and spending time with his teammates while he gets back to full strength. LeBron said the health scare was frightening for the family, but ultimately made them stronger.
NBA – Antetokounmpo praises Lillard acquisition
Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the Milwaukee Bucks for showing a commitment to winning another championship by acquiring Damian Lillard but added that it still doesn’t make financial sense for him to sign a contract extension right now. The two-time MVP is eligible to sign a three-year extension totaling about $170 million. He can make significantly more by waiting until next summer to sign an extension. Antetokounmpo says that “I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career, as long as we are winning.”
NBA/Olympics – Durant is in. Curry wants to play. NBA stars have Paris already in mind
Kevin Durant just got done with his summer vacation. He’s planning to go to France for work next summer, and plenty of other big NBA names hope to join him. Among them is Stephen Curry. Durant is one of many top players who said Monday at media days being held around the league that he plans to play for his country at next summer’s Paris Olympics, when the Americans will try for a fifth consecutive gold medal. If he plays and the U.S. wins, Durant would be the first men’s player with four basketball golds.
WNBA – Fever’s Aliyah Boston unanimous choice as WNBA Rookie of the Year
Aliyah Boston had an incredible first season and was honored by the league as the WNBA Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 pick in the draft started every game for Indiana, averaging 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. She shot 57.8% from the field and became the first rookie to lead the league in that stat. The South Carolina graduate was a unanimous choice by the 60-person national media panel, becoming the fifth rookie to be chosen on every ballot and first since A’ja Wilson did it in 2018.
F1 – Andretti Global clears first hurdle to join Formula One as an 11th team
Michael Andretti cleared a major hurdle in his bid to launch an American team in Formula One yet his battle to join the grid is ongoing even after the FIA said Monday that Andretti Global meets all required criteria to expand the world’s top motorsports series to 11 teams. The FIA decision does not guarantee Andretti will get the two-car team he wants. Andretti Global and partner Cadillac must still prove their commercial value to F1 rights holder Liberty Media and the existing teams, which vehemently oppose expanding the 20-car grid. The teams, however, have no vote on expanding the grid.
Plane crash kills 2, including former NFL player Russ Francis of Patriots, 49ers
Former NFL tight end Russ Francis was killed along with another aviation enthusiast when their single-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from an upstate New York airport. The 70-year-old Francis and 63-year-old Richard McSpadden had taken off from Lake Placid Airport in a single-engine Cessna when it crashed Sunday afternoon in a corner of the airport. Francis was a first-round pick in the NFL draft in 1975 and played with the New England Patriots from 1975 to 1980. Francis joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1982, and was part of the team that won the 1984 Super Bowl. He rejoined New England in 1987 and retired the year after.
MCCAA – Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Tonight
Women’s Volleyball
Lake Michigan College at Lansing Community College, 6:30 p.m.
MHSAA – Lakeshore baseball coach Mark Nate announced retirement
The winningest head coach in Lakeshore baseball history has announced his retirement after 18 years of coaching and a pair of state championships. Mark Nate and Lakeshore announced the retirement on Monday, with Nate leaving with an all time record of 436-199. During Nate’s tenure, Lakeshore has won six conference titles, nine district championships, six regional championships, and had three state finals appearance, winning two of them in back to back years of 2017 and 2018. There has been no announcement on a possible replacement.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Soccer
Howardsville Christian 4, Michigan Lutheran 0
Our Lady of the Lake 8, SB Community Baptist (IN) 0
Covert 2, New Buffalo 0
Buchanan 1, Constantine 0
Plainwell 8, Niles 0
Paw Paw 2, Otsego 0
Sturgis 10, Three Rivers 0
Edwardsburg 4, Vicksburg 2
Allegan 1, Bridgman 0
Holland Black River 7, Schoolcraft 0
Kalamazoo Hackett 3, Harper Creek 0
South Haven 6, Lawton 0
Kalamazoo Christian 6, Watervliet 1
Saugatuck 3, Parchment 1
Fennville 5, Delton-Kellogg 0
Kalamazoo Home School 4, Bangor 1
Hartford 7, Cassopolis 0
Battle Creek Academy 3, Battle Creek Central 3 – TIE
Volleyball
New Buffalo 3, Berrien Springs 0
River Valley 3, Watervliet Grace Christian 0
Girls Golf
SMAC Jamboree at Mattawan (Lake Cora)
Team
1. St. Joseph 168
2. Gull Lake 168
3. Portage Central 172
4. Mattawan 176
5. Battle Creek Lakeview 181
6. Portage Northern 184
7. Lakeshore 191
8. Kalamazoo United 225
St. Joseph wins on 5th place tiebreaker
Top 10 Individuals
1. Amiyah Gibson (BCL) 34
T2. Charlotte Stenger (MAT) 37
T2. Charlotte Boudeman (GL) 37
T2. KT Leinwand (PN) 37
5. Senell Amaratunga (PC) 39
T6. Marley Walters (SJ) 41
T6. Morgan Guzzlo (SJ) 41
T6. Brooke Randall (PN) 41
T9. McKenna Keim (LKSH) 42
T9. Kara Nelson (GL) 42
St. Joe Scores
Marley Walters 41 All Conference
Morgan Guzzo 41 All Conference
Margaret Cox 43 All Conference
Grace Rommel 43 All Conference
Clara Berry 43 All Conference
Tess Kapelke 45
Final SMAC Standings
1. St. Joseph 61
2. Gull Lake 57
3. BC Lakeview 43
4. Portage Central 41
5. Portage Northern 28
5. Mattawan 28
7. Lakeshore 23
8. Kalamazoo United 8
Tonight
Boys Soccer
SMAC Tournament
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview at Portage Central, 6:30 p.m.
Lakeshore at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.
Portage Northern at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Central at Kalamazoo Central, 6:30 p.m.
Other games
South Haven at Covert, 5:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Academy at Howardsville Chr., 5:00 p.m.
Comstock at GR Northpointe, 4:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Our Lady of the Lake at River Valley, 6:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Academy at Howardsville Chr., 6:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Coloma, 6:30 p.m.
Allegan at Watervliet, 6:30 p.m.
Fennville at South Haven, 6:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Hackett at Constantine, 6:30 p.m.
Saugatuck at Galesburg-Augusta, 6:30 p.m.
Gobles at Martin, 6:30 p.m.
Lawton at Schoolcraft, 6:30 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Holland Black River, 6:30 p.m.
Lawrence at Centreville, 6:00 p.m.
Bangor at Comstock, 6:00 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Decatur, 6:00 p.m.
White Pigeon at Hartford, 6:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at Marcellus, 6:00 p.m.
Girls Swimming
St. Joseph at Battle Creek Central, 6:00 p.m.
Mattawan at Bridgman, 6:00 p.m.
Plainwell at South Haven 6:00 p.m.
Boys Tennis
Niles at Bridgman, 4:30 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Football Rankings
Division 1
1. Belleville (5) (6-0) 50
2. Rockford (6-0) 44
3. Southfield A&T (6-0) 37
4. Davison (6-0) 36
5. Saline (6-0) 31
6. Lake Orion (6-0) 25
7. Northville (6-0) 21
8. Grandville (6-0) 11
9. Clarkston (4-2) 9
10. Detroit Cass Tech (4-2) 7
Others receiving votes: Macomb Dakota 2. Novi 1. West Bloomfield 1.
Division 2
1. Caledonia (4) (5-1) 49
2. Warren De La Salle (1) (4-2) 45
3. Muskegon (4-2) 36
4. Allen Park (6-0) 27
5. Birmingham Groves (4-2) 26
5. Byron Center (5-1) 26
7. Portage Northern (6-0) 25
8. Waterford Mott (5-1) 11
9. Portage Central (5-1) 10
10. Saginaw Heritage (4-2) 9
Others receiving votes: Detroit U-D Jesuit 4. Grosse Pointe South 2. Milford 2. Warren Mott 2. Birmingham Seaholm 1.
Division 3
1. Mason (4) (6-0) 49
2. Walled Lake Western (1) (6-0) 45
3. Zeeland West (6-0) 41
4. GR Forest Hills Central (5-1) 32
5. Gaylord (6-0) 27
6. Parma Western (6-0) 26
7. East Grand Rapids (5-1) 19
8. Mount Pleasant (5-1) 14
9. Auburn Hills Avondale (6-0) 13
10. Lowell (5-1) 7
Others receiving votes: Coopersville 1. Zeeland East 1.
Division 4
1. Whitehall (4) (6-0) 49
2. Freeland (6-0) 44
3. GR South Christian (1) (5-1) 37
4. Portland (6-0) 30
5. Paw Paw (6-0) 26
6. Goodrich (5-1) 24
7. Chelsea (5-1) 20
8. Lansing Sexton (6-0) 19
9. Croswell-Lexington (6-0) 14
10. Spring Lake (5-1) 8
Others receiving votes: Niles 2. GR Forest Hills Eastern 1. Adrian 1.
Division 5
1. GR West Catholic (3) (6-0) 48
2. GR Catholic Central (2) (5-1) 44
3. Corunna (6-0) 38
4. Gladwin (6-0) 37
5. Frankenmuth (5-1) 29
6. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (5-0) 23
7. Flint Hamady (6-0) 18
8. Belding (5-1) 15
9. Howard City Tri-County (6-0) 8
(tie) Marine City (5-1) 8
Others receiving votes: West Branch Ogemaw Heights 4. Flat Rock 2. Kingsford 1.
Division 6
1. Warren Michigan Collegiate (5) (6-0) 50
2. Almont (6-0) 45
3. Negaunee (5-1) 36
4. Constantine (5-1) 34
5. Kingsley (5-1) 28
6. Chesaning (5-1) 27
7. Manistee (5-1) 16
8. Hart (5-1) 10
9. Ecorse (5-0) 8
(tie) Gladstone (4-2) 8
Others receiving votes: Michigan Center 5. Kent City 4. Clare 3. Clawson 1.
Division 7
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (4) (6-0) 49
2. Menominee (6-0) 40
3. Millington (6-0) 37
4. Napoleon (6-0) 34
(tie) North Muskegon (1) (6-0) 34
6. Lawton (5-1) 18
7. Clinton (5-1) 14
8. Pewamo-Westphalia (5-1) 13
9. Schoolcraft (5-1) 10
10. Manchester (5-1) 9
Others receiving votes: Charlevoix 6. Niles Brandywine 6. Montrose 3. Cass City 1. Union City 1.
Division 8
1. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (4) (6-0) 49
2. Ithaca (1) (6-0) 40
3. Beal City (6-0) 29
(tie) Hudson (6-0) 29
5. Ubly (6-0) 23
6. Fowler (5-1) 21
7. Addison (6-0) 20
(tie) Iron Mountain (6-0) 20
9. Saugatuck (6-0) 12
10. White Pigeon (6-0) 11
Others receiving votes: Frankfort 9. Harbor Beach 5. Clarkston Everest Catholic 4. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian 2. East Jordan 1.
Division 1 (8-player)
1. Bridgman (2) (6-0) 46
(tie) Pickford (3) (6-0) 46
3. Brown City (6-0) 35
4. Carson City-Crystal (6-0) 34
5. St. Ignace LaSalle (5-1) 23
6. Mendon (5-1) 22
7. Gobles (5-1) 19
8. Vermontville Maple Valley (6-0) 14
9. Norway (5-1) 10
(tie) Indian River-Inland Lakes (5-1) 10
Others receiving votes: Kingston 7. Gaylord St. Mary 4. Martin 3. Merrill 2.
Division 2 (8-player)
1. Adrian Lenawee Christian (4) (6-0) 49
2. Climax-Scotts (6-0) 41
3. Marion (1) (5-0) 36
4. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (6-0) 35
5. Powers North Central (5-1) 29
6. Au Gres-Sims (6-0) 27
7. Posen (6-0) 18
8. Crystal Falls Forest Park (5-1) 14
9. Portland St Patrick (5-1) 12
10. Pittsford (6-0) 10
Others receiving votes: Morrice 2. Fulton-Middleton 1. Akron-Fairgrove 1.
