
I Dig Sports
Ben Simmons will probably beat you one-on-one -- in video games
Published in
Basketball
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 12:26

LOS ANGELES -- When asked about his love of video games, Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons pulls out his phone and flips through a gallery of photos. After a bit of perusing, he stops on the picture he was attempting to find, an older, sepia-tone one contrasting with his state-of-the-art smartphone.
In the snapshot, an adolescent Simmons lounges in an Australian living room, playing video games on a lazy day, with close friend and fellow future NBA player Dante Exum sitting beside him.
This is what video games mean to him.
"I've been playing [video games] my whole life," Simmons says. "The first game I really got into was Resistance for Playstation. That was the shooter I played. And then from there I started playing Call of Duty, picked all those up and eventually got into PC gaming a little later [with Counter-Strike], PUBG, a little bit of Fortnite -- not too much Fortnite, because I'm not into building stuff. It's too much."
With a new generation of stars like Simmons entering the NBA, video gaming culture has permeated the league alongside these stars. What once would have seemed uncool to bring up in the locker room has become standard talk between teammates and friends, with arguments sometimes settled through video games. Nowadays, players throughout the NBA stay connected by gaming together online and even creating leagues in games such as Madden and NBA 2K where they can compete regularly against each other.
While some players lug their consoles onto planes or set them up as a fixture in the clubhouse, Simmons primarily plays on a PC, a convert from his younger days of playing on the Playstation and Xbox.
"I used to be console [player], but PC is much easier," Simmons says. "Every game is right there, you can log on and everything is much easier."
Growing up in Australia, Simmons was just like any other kid fascinated with games, consuming Call of Duty content from the top players and entertainers on YouTube, such as Optic's Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez. Since moving to America and reaching the NBA, he has gotten to know and grown close to H3CZ and Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira, the co-founder of FaZe Clan.
Simmons' game of choice nowadays is PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which is why he is spending some time in Los Angeles this offseason while competing in PUBG Mobile's Team Up Superstar Showdown. Although this version of PUBG is played on a mobile device, Simmons has had few problems adjusting, defeating every other NBA player he has faced and capping the event off by defeating a team captained by Eastern Conference rival and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Before leaving the venue, Simmons even razzes the MVP as Antetokounmpo is conducting an interview, reminding him that while the Milwaukee Bucks star might have gotten the edge against the 76ers on the court this year, he got the last laugh ... at least, in the world of video games.
Simmons doesn't just talk trash with NBA rivals, but with his own teammates too. In the hierarchy of gamers in the 76ers locker room, Simmons notes that there is only one other teammate who can keep up with him in terms of gameplay and trash talk -- Joel Embiid.
"If you put me on PC, I'll destroy him," Simmons says. "He plays FIFA. I can beat him in FIFA. Here's the thing: I don't play FIFA, but I've beaten him in a game of FIFA. I can play any game."
But does Embiid, the renowned pot-stirrer, have an edge when it comes to trash talk?
"Yeah, but that's easy," Simmons says. "I leave that to him."
Simmons is the prototypical new-age star in the NBA today. He loves video games, social media and pop culture. When he isn't practicing to get better on the court in an effort to win a championship for the Sixers, he often is at his place, grinding on his PC, playing PUBG and trash-talking to his friends. The picture of him and Exum as children playing video games captures a part of Simmons that has remained constant to this day -- even though, at 6-foot-10, he is considerably taller, and his television is considerably flatter.
"I think it's cool to game now," Simmons says. "I think people thought it wasn't cool to game and be out there and let everyone know you're a nerd about how much you play; but for me, I love it.
"After this, I'll probably go home, eat and play for four hours with friends and talk s---. Playing video games is fun for me. I love it."
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NEW YORK -- Yankees first baseman Luke Voit left Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of a core muscle injury, the team said.
Voit was undergoing an MRI when manager Aaron Boone addressed reporters following the 4-2 Yankees loss.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Boone said.
Once the MRI results come back, the Yankees will have a clearer idea of how long Voit might be sidelined.
Voit was removed in the top of the fifth inning, when backup infielder Tyler Wade -- called up to the Yankees' active roster Sunday -- entered in Voit's cleanup spot in the batting order. Wade took over at third base, and third baseman Gio Urshela moved over to Voit's spot at first.
A swing Voit had during a strikeout in the bottom of the third raised a few eyebrows in the Yankees' dugout. They thought something looked a little off.
Even Wade noticed it, and as Voit was going through an initial evaluation with trainers, the backup began loosening up to enter the game off the bench. By the eighth inning, Wade's presence had impact, as he clubbed a solo homer.
Aside from the awkward swing, Voit told Boone and the training staff that he had been having trouble getting loose all day, the manager said.
"He just said, 'I just had a hard time getting loose before the game and all game,'" Boone said. "He didn't feel like he did anything to it.
"His explanation was he couldn't put his finger on it."
In the meantime, Wade remains a backup infield option in Voit's absence. Most directly, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion could move into a more regular first-base role if Voit has to miss any significant time. Urshela and DJ LeMahieu, whom the Yankees have been slowly easing back after a slight groin strain over the weekend, could be options at first in Voit's absence, too.
Banged-up first baseman Greg Bird, who continues to work through a plantar fascia injury while at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Florida, is "not an option right now," Boone said.
This the second time this season Voit has dealt with an injury around his torso. On July 2, he landed on the 10-day injured list due to an abdominal strain he suffered three days earlier in a game against the Boston Red Sox on London Stadium's artificial turf. Voit was rounding first base on a double when he felt that initial discomfort.
Voit returned to action 11 days after he went on the IL that time.
Voit is batting .278 with 19 homers and 54 RBIs in 94 games this season.
"It's tough," said right fielder Aaron Judge. "One of your best hitters goes down with who knows what. ... But like I've said before, when people go down, people step up."
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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The National League East-leading Atlanta Braves have acquired reliever Chris Martin from the Texas Rangers for minor league pitcher Kolby Allard.
Texas announced the deal during its game Tuesday night, just moments after Martin was seen high-fiving teammates in the bullpen before leaving down the tunnel.
Martin was 0-2 with four saves and a 3.08 ERA in 38 appearances. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed only three earned runs over his past 19 games, since May 24. The 6-foot-8 Martin has 24 strikeouts and only one walk in 18⅔ innings over that span for his hometown Rangers.
"I know he might not be as well-known as the [other available relievers] with longer track records and careers, but we felt [Martin] had as much upside as anybody in the trade market, in terms of a late-inning pen arm," Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on a conference call. "He's obviously gotten a chance to close some games for the Rangers. He's done [that] in Japan. His numbers speak for themselves.
"[He's a] strike thrower, very good stuff, good velocity, and someone we think can really emerge for us at the back end of the bullpen. [Manager Brian Snitker] will make the decision in terms of roles, and that's what I told Chris. He told me he has no problem [how he's used] -- he just wants to help the team. We felt like, of the options that were out there, when you factor in all of it, we think there's pretty big upside to Chris."
Martin has the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of any pitcher to throw at least 30 innings this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Braves' bullpen has struggled with walks all season, as it ranks 29th in MLB in walk rate at 11%.
Atlanta assumes the remaining $737,903 of Martin's $2.25 million salary. He has earned $100,000 in bonuses for 15 games finished, would get another $50,000 for finishing 20, and $100,000 each for finishing 25, 30, 35 and 40 games.
"I've got a couple of texts after the game about him, and everything's really positive," Snitker said. "People really like this guy, so he'll be a big addition for us."
Allard, a 21-year-old lefty, was the 14th overall pick by the Braves in the 2015 amateur draft. He was 7-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 20 starts this season for Triple-A Gwinnett. The Rangers assigned him to Triple-A Nashville.
In 2018, Allard appeared in three games with the Braves, going 1-1 with a 12.38 ERA in eight innings.
Anthopoulos said it's impossible to say whether the Braves are done dealing.
"We can improve in our rotation, we can improve offensively, we can improve in the bullpen. I'm not trying to be cryptic or vague here, but because we can improve the club in so many ways, we're not so specific in terms of a position," Anthopoulos said. "If there's a player out there that we like, that the acquisition cost makes sense, we'll pursue it."
Information from ESPN's Eddie Matz and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Syndergaard 'electric,' confident he'll stay a Met
Published in
Baseball
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 21:34

CHICAGO -- If Tuesday marked the swan song of Noah Syndergaard's New York Mets career, he made the most of his final outing. Not that he thinks it was.
The big right-hander they call "Thor" went 7⅓ strong innings, holding the Chicago White Sox to an unearned run and leaving with the Mets holding a 2-1 lead one day before baseball's annual trade deadline. Syndergaard held Chicago to five hits and struck out 11.
Afterward, Syndergaard was asked whether he was confident that he'd be back at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday.
"I am," Syndergaard said. He added that he'd talked to the Mets' front office "a little bit here and there, but I don't think anything is going to happen."
Syndergaard was left with a no-decision after the White Sox tied the game in the ninth against another Mets trade candidate, closer Edwin Diaz. New York went on to win 5-2 on back-to-back homers in the 11th by Jeff McNeil -- a two-run shot that just snuck over the wall -- and Michael Conforto, who blasted one onto the concourse behind the right-field stands.
It was a season-high fifth straight win for New York, which stands just five games back of a wild-card slot in the National League, a fact that has been obscured in the whirlwind of trade rumors in recent weeks.
"It's getting kind of old, a little bit," Syndergaard said of his own role in the rumor mill. "I guess it's kind of encouraging at the same time."
After leaving, Syndergaard watched from the dugout as reliever Seth Lugo got Chicago's Jose Abreu to roll into an inning-ending double play, preserving Syndergaard's chance to pick up a win. He pumped his fist in celebration.
"I thought he was electric," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. "Had all his pitches working, pitched that deep in the game. He did a tremendous job. That was probably the best I've seen him."
It was Syndergaard's fourth straight outing in which he has gone at least seven innings, the type of workload any suitor would love a midseason acquisition to carry. With his 16th career double-digit strikeout performance, Syndergaard has a 3.20 ERA while averaging 6.4 innings per outing over his past 10 starts.
Syndergaard's name has been a popular one on the rumor mill since spring training. One of baseball's hardest-throwing starters, the 6-foot-6 Syndergaard routinely touches triple digits with his fastball, a trait that earned him his mythological nickname.
Yet, as first-year New York general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has slowly reshaped the Mets' roster, Syndergaard has been touted as a trade asset. At 26, he retains two more team-controlled seasons after this one as an arbitration-eligible player. Van Wagenen has been one of baseball's busier executives this week already, acquiring righty starter Marcus Stroman from Toronto and dealing lefty starter Jason Vargas to NL East rival Philadelphia.
Amid the flurry of phone calls and text messages, Van Wagenen perhaps noticed that his club has suddenly started playing up to preseason expectations.
"They know we're playing good baseball," Callaway said. "We're not trying to send messages to anybody. We're just trying to win as many games as we possibly can. That's been our goal [since] the beginning of the season."
All the trades and rumored activity made Syndergaard something of a curiosity before Tuesday's game. Would he be scratched? Would he even show up to Guaranteed Rate Field? As it turned out, Syndergaard simply dressed and underwent his normal game-day routine before making his strong start.
"It's always in the back of my mind," Syndergaard said. "I try not harp on things that are outside of my control."
Stirring the pot was news that veteran starter Ervin Santana had been scratched from a scheduled outing for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. Before facing the White Sox, Callaway said the club was simply "covering all of our bases" in the event a pitcher was moved. In addition to Syndergaard, free-agent-to-be Zack Wheeler has been frequently mentioned as a trade candidate. Wheeler is scheduled to start in Chicago on Thursday.
Was Tuesday's gem it for Syndergaard as a Met? Come Wednesday, we will find out. The final bell on the trade deadline sounds at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. If it does turn out that Thor must find a new place to hang his hammer, he's not sure exactly how he'll feel about it, especially with the vibrations in the New York clubhouse suddenly sounding so good.
"If that were to happen, it would really be a bittersweet moment," Syndergaard said. "Just because of the fan base, the guys in this clubhouse. I still hope everyone is in this clubhouse tomorrow, past July [31]."
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Puig, still with Reds, ejected as part of big brawl
Published in
Baseball
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 21:02

Yasiel Puig's short stay in Cincinnati ended with a bang Tuesday.
Just as the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds agreed to a deal involving Puig, the fiery outfielder prolonged a massive, benches-clearing brawl in Cincinnati's 11-4 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.
Puig was still in the game as reports of the three-team trade -- part of which sent Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer to the Reds -- surfaced.
His summary of the inning when asked about it after the game: "That's crazy.''
The brawl started in the top of the ninth, but tensions were sparked innings earlier when Pittsburgh's Keone Kela threw up and in to Derek Dietrich in the seventh. In April, Dietrich admired one of his homers at PNC Park, and it led to a benches-clearing clash in that game.
"I just wanted to show them that we didn't agree with the way things went down, and you have to pitch in,'' Kela said. "I was just doing my part.''
After the inning, Reds first baseman Joey Votto walked toward the Pirates' dugout and exchanged words with Kela, but plate umpire Larry Vanover got in front of Votto.
The ejections started in the eighth when Reds manager David Bell was tossed for arguing a strike call with Puig at bat. Reds reliever Jared Hughes was ejected in the ninth for hitting Starling Marte with his first pitch.
"The ball just slipped, and it was real unfortunate, and a lot of bad things happened afterward,'' Hughes said.
Amir Garrett came on to pitch for the Reds, exchanged words with the Pirates, sprinted toward the dugout and threw a couple of punches to spark the brawl. The 6-foot-5 Garrett was dragged to the ground by roughly half the Pirates team before backup arrived.
Bell was among the first Reds to join the fray and had to be separated from Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who was celebrating his 62nd birthday. Bell later helped restrain Puig, who reignited the melee with more shouting and shoving.
1:10
Passan: Pirates-Reds brawl was 'brewing' all game
Jeff Passan describes the lead-up to the brawl between the Pirates and Reds and expects many big suspensions to come down.
Bell pointed blame at the Pirates and their manager.
"It didn't surprise us because that's kinda been going on all year," he said. "I say it didn't surprise us, but I can't tell you how disappointing it is that it's still going on and nothing's been done about it. But we've talked about it enough, but it's a shame that this is allowed. They're able to get away with it, they celebrate it, they support it, they clearly allow it. I don't know if they teach it, but they allow it. It's dangerous. I mean, you can go on and on about so many things wrong about it, and at some point it's bigger than the game of baseball, and it's just too bad that nothing's done about it."
Puig -- acquired by the Reds in an offseason trade with the Dodgers -- and Garrett were among the multiple players and coaches ejected.
Bell faces a suspension after running onto the field to join the fracas after being ejected an inning earlier. He was put in a headlock by Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein, got himself out and shouted at Hurdle.
In all, five Reds were ejected: Bell, Garrett, Puig, Hughes and bench coach Freddie Benavides.
Three Pirates got the hook: pitchers Chris Archer and Kyle Crick and catcher Francisco Cervelli, who is on the injured list.
After the game, Garrett said he was upset about Kela's up-and-in pitch to Dietrich.
"I definitely do think they teach that in that organization,'' Garrett said. "I don't think it's right to throw at somebody. That's not something you should do. If you have a problem, handle it like a man.''
Puig and Garrett were among five ejected after the Dietrich home run led to a brawl when the teams played in early April at PNC Park. That one started when Archer threw a 93 mph fastball behind Dietrich's back.
Puig again was at the center, reigniting the brawl after it appeared to calm down when he charged toward Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams at home plate, then grabbed Pittsburgh bench coach Tom Prince and tried to put him in a headlock.
Overall, Puig has been ejected three times this season, the most in the majors.
The three-game series resumes Wednesday in Cincinnati. Asked what he'd tell his teammates ahead of the quick turnaround, Hughes said, "Shower well, rinse it off, come back tomorrow ready to win."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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With exactly a year to go until Olympic Games action returns to Tokyo, former AW editor Mel Watman looks back 55 years and shares his memories
It is going to be a hard act to follow. The Tokyo Olympics are just a year away and the British team will surely be a strong one … but it is unlikely to obtain the level of success enjoyed at the last Tokyo Games in 1964.
Team GB’s showing at the London Olympics of 2012 was widely hailed as the best ever with four gold medals thanks to Mo Farah (two), Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis, plus a silver for Christine Ohuruogu, a bronze (or an upgraded silver?) for Robbie Grabarz and three fourth place finishes. But that hardly bears comparison with the 1964 haul of four golds (two with world record-breaking performances), seven silvers, a bronze and five fourth places.
GB AT TOKYO 1964
Lynn Davies – Long jump gold
Ken Matthews – 20km race walk gold
Ann Packer – 800m gold
Mary Rand – Long jump gold
John Cooper – 400m hurdles silver
Basil Heatley – Marathon silver
Maurice Herriott – 3000m steeplechase silver
Adrian Metcalfe, Robbie Brightwell, John Cooper and Tim Graham – 4x400m silver
Paul Nihill – 50km race walk silver
Ann Packer – 400m silver
Mary Rand – Pentathlon silver
Janet Simpson, Daphne Arden, Dorothy Hyman and Mary Rand – 4x100m bronze
Remember too that in Tokyo there were only 36 events on the programme, whereas at London 2012 there were 47 as a result of 11 additional women’s disciplines.
I was lucky enough to be in Tokyo 55 years ago to report on the Games for AW. They were my second Olympics – and I went on to attend seven more – but the 1964 edition remains my favourite.
It wasn’t just because of the British triumphs, although being of roughly the same age as most of the team and forming friendships with many of them helped me identify with their aspirations. No, those Games were special because I was privileged also to watch some fantastic sprinting, a monumental 800m/1500m double, a sensational 10,000m, an amazing marathon, a dramatic discus contest and so much more.
WORLD RECORDS WERE SET IN 11 EVENTS
Men’s 100m: Bob Hayes USA 10.0 (electronic 10.06)
Marathon: Abebe Bikila ETH 2:12:12
50km walk: Abdon Pamich ITA 4:11:13
4x100m & 4x400m: USA 39.0 (39.06) & 3:00.7 Women’s
100m: Wyomia Tyus USA 11.2 (11.23)
800m: Ann Packer GBR 2:01.1
Long jump: Mary Rand GBR 6.76m
Javelin: Yelena Gorchakova URS 62.40m
Pentathlon: Irina Press URS 5246
4x100m: Poland 43.6 (43.69) (later removed in favour of USA 43.9 (43.92)
National point scores on a 7-5-4-3-2-1 basis: 1, USA 171; 2, USSR 125; 3, UK 84.
Ann Packer becomes the first British woman to win an Olympic track title, breaking the world record for 800m gold. Photo by Mark Shearman
The August 1 edition of AW magazine includes Watman’s full day-by-day reflection. Here are some highlights:
October 14
Shortly before the Games I interviewed Mary Rand and asked her what would mean more to her: an Olympic gold medal or a world record. She replied: “I would much rather have a world record than an Olympic medal really. To be best in the world, even if it was only for a day, would be absolutely marvellous. Of course the greatest thing of all would be to do a world record at the Olympics. Needless to say, that’s what I would like to do in Tokyo!”
And she did!
Her UK long jump record of 6.59m was just the start of an astonishing series as she reeled off 6.56m, 6.57m, another Olympic and UK record of 6.63m, a fifth round world record of 6.76m into a 1.6m/sec wind and 6.61m.
Remember this was from a rain-soaked cinder runway and it’s not fanciful to suggest that with the wind in her favour on an all-weather run-up she might have jumped seven metres.
October 15
A second gold medal for Britain came courtesy of the late Ken Matthews in the 20km walk. He judged his race to perfection. By halfway he was 24 seconds clear, a lead he extended to 1min 40sec by the finish.
That walkers were still unfairly regarded as second class citizens in the world of athletics became apparent when Britain’s other three Tokyo gold medallists very quickly featured in the Queen’s Honours List but it wasn’t until 13 years later that, following a campaign organised by the Race Walking Association, Matthews at last received his richly deserved MBE.
To this day he remains Britain’s most successful walker.
October 18
The day of Lynn Davies’ long jump gold. After four rounds the situation was that defending champion Ralph Boston (USA), the world record-holder at 8.34m, led with 7.88m ahead of the USSR’s former world record holder Igor Ter-Ovanesyan (7.80m) and the young upstart Davies (7.78m).
Lynn Davies. Photo by Mark Shearman
As I reported in AW at the time: “The fifth round opened quietly with fouls by the Spaniard Luis Areta and Boston. Next up was Davies, who while not exactly revelling in the conditions was less disconcerted by them than was the case with most of his rivals. The measuring seemed to take an eternity but the delay was justified when the figures 8.07m flashed up on the indicator board. Davies was way out in the lead with the best jump of his life. Ter-Ovanesyan had his jump to come; it was a fine leap but at 7.99 it sufficed only for second place. And so to the last round.
“The pressure was really on Boston. The tension was unbearable, not least on Davies, who admitted that he covered his eyes … and peeked through his fingers. Boston hit the board smack on and rose high into the air. It was a good jump, but how good? Again one’s eyes were glued to the electrically operated indicator. “8” flashed up, followed by “0”, followed by – joy of joys – “3”. The great Ralph Boston had fallen short and Davies was champion.”
October 20
In my AW preview of the Games I predicted Ann Packer would win the 400m ahead of Betty Cuthbert, while at 800m my tip was another Australian, Dixie Willis, with Packer second. However, as Willis had to withdraw due to illness, Packer therefore became my favourite … even though the rest of the media considered her a complete outsider with no chance of winning.
It was a journey into the unknown, yet Packer raced with impeccable judgement. Sixth at the bell in 59.1, she was third at 600m in 90.7 and second to Maryvonne Dupureur around the final turn. The Frenchwoman was still five metres ahead entering the final straight but as she began to flag so Packer’s stride lengthened and her spirits soared.
As the crowd of nearly 70,000 roared with excitement and the British supporters went almost berserk, Packer rushed past her defenceless rival some 60m out and, with a beatific smile on her face, broke the tape five metres clear in a world record of 2:01.1 … becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic track title.
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Staged at the Providence University, directed by the host city’s Sheng Wu alongside Slovakia’s Juraj Stefak, a total of 10 participants attended, representing Australia, Hong Kong, China, Chinese Taipei and Iraq.
“It was an honour to hold a classification in my home city. I am delighted to have received so much interest from classifiers all over the world and I am sorry for those who could not get a place”. Sheng Wu
A concentrated five days of theoretical presentations, actual classification and observation in conditions that met the very highest standards. Two large private rooms with the necessary official flooring were provided, a medical bench and table tennis table plus coffee, water and refreshments combined to make the intensity of the programme more than bearable.
Understandably, there was a variety of backgrounds; medical doctors, a physiotherapist and even one former Para player was present, the aim being gain a level two or possibly level three qualification. All whatever the background responded, the efforts of Shen Wu and Juraj Stefak were greatly appreciated, none more so than by Clara Pang, a physiotherapist from Hong Kong.
“The seminar was incredibly comprehensive. We had a lot of theory and it was combined with hands-on practice in very small groups; that allowed participants not only to share the experience with senior classifiers but also with the students who have different backgrounds. I am looking forward to continuing my training.” Clara Pang
Notably, as of 2018, access to classification seminars has not been open, a selection process is conducted three months prior, the effect being that the level of the candidates has increased dramatically.
Furthermore, in order to improve the quality of education, the available places have been reduced; consequently, no more than 10 persons were admitted.
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KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Teams competing in either the 360 or 410 Nationals at Knoxville Raceway have until Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. CT to cash in on the Priority Aviation $20,000 Sponsorship Challenge.
The contest, benefiting the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, is still a very close race and no driver in the running is out of it.
Iowa’s Carson McCarl currently holds the lead in the race over Pennsylvania’s Lance Dewease and fellow Hawkeye State native McKenna Haase.
Currently, 20 drivers have taken advantage of the contest.
Behind McCarl, Dewease and Haase are Wisconsin’s Bill Balog, Indiana’s Tyler Courtney, Tennessee’s Sammy Swindell, Oregon’s Tanner Holmes, Ohio’s Jac Haudenschild, Connecticut’s David Gravel and Ohio’s Sheldon Haudenschild.
Wisconsin’s Scott Thiel is 11th, followed by Iowa’s Austin McCarl, Indiana’s Parker Price-Miller, Minnesota’s Craig Dollansky, South Dakota’s Clint Garner, California’s Mason Daniel, California’s Kyle Larson, Ohio’s Chad Kemenah, Iowa’s Joe Beaver and Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart.
All that sprint car teams and fans need to do is have their prospective members or donors visit www.SprintCarStuff.com and order a membership there, or contact the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum.
If ordering online, specify the driver or race team in the “Notes” section on the final page.
The driver or team with the highest amount of donations returned to the museum before July 31 will receive the $20,000 sponsorship funding. All funds collected will go towards paying off remaining construction costs on the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower.
Memberships start at just $25 per year, but any donation amount will be accepted.
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Tony Elliott Foundation Charity Golf Scramble On Sept. 5
Published in
Racing
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 14:27

INDIANAPOLIS – The Tony Elliott Foundation has announced a charity golf scramble will be held on Sept. 5 at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.
All proceeds will be used for the foundation’s mission of financially supporting worthy recipients in the racing community. The cost to enter is $500 per foursome and will include the scramble and lunch. A beverage cart will be on the golf course. Awards will be given for first, second and third place. The event also includes a clubhouse cocktail reception and silent auction.
Please email Shane Hartle to register your foursome at [email protected].
If your company or organization is interested in sponsoring the event, corporate sponsorship is available at $500, $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 levels.
The Tony Elliott Foundation is 501(c)3 nonprofit EIN #47-5240697 and 100 percent of all funds collected are disbursed back into the racing community. The foundation operates with an all-volunteer staff. A select committee reviews all applications submitted to the foundation. More than $56,000 has been awarded to worthy recipients in just four years.
Discounted rooms are available at Capital Courtyard and parking is free.
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Lesson plan: N. Korda, 21, still learning what it will take to win major
Published in
Golf
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 08:06

WOBURN, England – Nelly Korda is looking to take the next step in her education.
She’s looking to win a major, but she understands it’s like a graduate program. There are still lessons to be learned.
“I started playing golf because I wanted to win major championships,” Korda said Tuesday at the AIG Women’s British Open. “I feel like the more experience I get, and the more I'm in contention, and the more I am under pressure in these situations, the more I learn, the more I grow as a player.”
Korda, who just turned 21 on Sunday, broke through to win her first LPGA title at the Swinging Skirts Taiwan Championship last October and won again at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in February.
Though she’s still so young, Korda is playing in her 19th major. She recorded her first top 10 tying for 10th at the U.S. Women’s Open last year. She tied for third last month at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She finished T-25 last week at the Evian Championship.
This week, the Women’s British Open is being played at Woburn Golf Club, a parkland style course that Americans should be comfortable playing. An all-day rain Tuesday should help long hitters like Korda and her sister, Jessica, who is also hoping to break through to win her first major.
“I like the golf course a lot,” Nelly said. “It's playing quite soft. The greens are not firm at all. From what I've heard, they used to be really firm, from what my sister has told me.
“Yeah, it's playing long, and I'm one of the longer players. So, I guess right now it's suiting a longer player, but you never know. All I'm hoping for is to play as well as I can.”
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