Sports

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon strikes tentative deal to buy the Portland Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Don Dundon has reached a tentative agreement with Paul Allen’s estate to buy the Trail Blazers and keep the team in Portland. Dundon confirmed the agreement in a text exchange with The Associated Press on Wednesday. The group includes Sheel Tyle, the co-founder of investment firm Collective Global, and Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital. The NBA Board of Governors has to ratify any final purchase agreement. ESPN reported Wednesday that the deal was for $4 billion. Dundon did not reveal the terms of the sale to the AP.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reveals cancer diagnosis and credits experimental drug

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones credits an experimental trial drug for successfully treating advanced melanoma as he disclosed his cancer diagnosis publicly for the first time. Jones revealed his illness in a documentary debuting on Netflix next week. The 82-year-old Jones told The Dallas Morning News how he was initially diagnosed in June 2010 and underwent two surgeries on his lung and two on his lymph nodes over the next 10 years after skin cancer cells metastasized. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer described Jones’ fight with cancer as an “amazing story” and praised him for going public. He also revealed his own fight with thyroid cancer when he was 28.

Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders sustains an oblique injury and is unlikely to play against Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders sustained an oblique injury during practice Wednesday and is unlikely to play in the Browns’ preseason game against the Eagles. Sanders did not finish the practice session and was ruled out of Thursday’s practice. The Browns said Sanders is day to day. Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards with two first-half touchdown passes in his NFL preseason debut against Carolina on Friday night. The Browns took Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL draft. He is part of a crowded Browns quarterback room, with Deshaun Watson expected to sit out this season.

Former Steelers QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields reunite as starters for the Giants and Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A year ago, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were the two top quarterbacks at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp vying for the starting job. This week, they were back on the same field in the same market with different teams. Wilson is the starter for the New York Giants and Fields for the Jets, and their teams took part in a couple of days of joint practices before playing each other in the preseason this weekend. Wilson says being teammates will forever connect them and Fields is happy they found such favorable landing spots.

Keegan Bradley as a playing captain? Rory McIlroy thinks the Ryder Cup is too big for that now

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has his doubts whether Keegan Bradley can be the first Ryder Cup playing captain since 1963. He also says Bradley is one of the best 12 American players and he’s fascinated to see how this plays out. Bradley has a chance to play his way onto the team if he wins the BMW Championship. He is the defending champion. He makes six captain’s picks after next week’s Tour Championship. McIlroy says he’s been approached about the possibility of being a playing captain and shot down the idea. He thinks the Ryder Cup has become too big for that.

Bills running back James Cook ends contract standoff by agreeing to a four-year deal

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills running back James Cook has ended his contract standoff by signing a four-year deal, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said. Cook’s deal will pay him $48 million over the four years, two people with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Associated Press. The contract includes $30 million in guaranteed money, one of the people said. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because financial details of the contract have not been announced. The deal comes a day after Cook ended his weeklong standoff by returning to practice. Cook was the NFL’s co-leader with 16 touchdowns rushing last season.

NFL’s coaching hot seat includes Mike Tomlin and Zac Taylor

Nick Sirianni entered last season with his job on the line in Philadelphia and finished it hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy, earning a lucrative contract extension. There are several coaches under similar pressure this year. Can anyone pull off the same feat? The NFL’s coaching hot seat includes Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor, Miami’s Mike McDaniel, New York’s Brian Daboll, Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski, Arizona’s Jonathan Gannon and Indianapolis’ Shane Steichen.

Venus Williams gets a US Open wild card at age 45 and will be the oldest in singles since 1981

NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open in singles at age 45 after a two-year absence. Williams received a wild-card invitation on Wednesday to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows. The American will be the oldest singles entrant in the tournament since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981. Williams already had been given a wild-card entry by the U.S. Tennis Association for the mixed doubles competition in New York next week. Her seven major singles championships include titles at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001. Singles matches begin in New York on Aug. 24.

A look at Venus Williams’ tennis career and comeback. She’s returning to the US Open at age 45

Venus Williams is back on the professional tennis tour at age 45 and will be returning to the U.S. Open next week for her first Grand Slam competition in two years. She received a wild-card entry for singles from the U.S. Tennis Association on Wednesday. She will be the oldest player in that event in New York since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981. Williams owns seven Grand Slam titles in singles, 14 in women’s doubles with her younger sister, Serena, and two in mixed doubles. Her first professional match came in 1994 and she returned to action last month after more than a year away.

Xander Schauffele is trying to avoid missing the Tour Championship for the first time

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The BMW Championship is always a high-stakes tournament. This week at Caves Valley it is double the pleasure. The top 30 make it to the Tour Championship next week for a shot at winning the FedEx Cup title. This also is the final week for Americans to earn one of six guaranteed spots in the Ryder Cup. Xander Schauffele is under more pressure than usual. He won two majors last year. He missed two months because of injury at the start of this year. And now he’s at risk of missing the Tour Championship for the first time.