Sports

The Boston Celtics have a new owner. The drive to add more NBA championships won’t change

BOSTON (AP) — The sale of the Boston Celtics has been finalized. Private equity mogul Bill Chisholm has taken control of the NBA’s most-decorated franchise from a group led by Wyc Grousbeck that had owned them for more than two decades. The team was put on the market last summer, soon after it won its record 18th NBA championship. Chisholm won the bidding in March with an offer that valued the franchise at more than $6.1 billion — a record price paid for an American professional sports team. The NBA approved the deal unanimously last week, and the money changed hands on Tuesday.

Colts name Daniel Jones the opening-day starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen says he has selected Daniel Jones as his starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson. Steichen said Tuesday the decision was based in part on consistency and accuracy and that Jones would be the starter for the season, noting that Richardson is just one play away from being needed. Jones reclaims the starting job he lost with the New York Giants last season. He asked for and was granted his release during the season, signed with the Minnesota Vikings and then joined the Colts as a free agent in the offseason.

The new US Open mixed doubles tournament begins with the defending champions showing how it’s done

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Open overhauled its mixed doubles tournament in hopes of drawing the top singles players. The defending champions don’t intend to move out of the way so easily. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori earned the first win in the tournament, beating the No. 2-seeded team of Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina 4-2, 4-2. Now a 16-team event played over two days, the mixed doubles starts well before the singles tournaments begin Sunday, with organizers believing singles stars would be more interested in playing if it didn’t interfere with their rest and recovery during that event. Errani and Vavassori next face Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, who beat Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka.

How to win the FedEx Cup has never been more clear. The significance has never been more confusing

ATLANTA (AP) — How to win the FedEx Cup is clear. The 30 players at the Tour Championship all start from scratch, and the low score over 72 holes is the FedEx Cup champion. But that’s what makes the season-long competition a little confusing. There are 12 players at East Lake who got there without winning a tournament. If they win the Tour Championship, are they the FedEx Cup champion? Patrick Cantlay is one of those players without a win and he believes they are. So does Scottie Scheffler, who already has five wins. It’s about getting the opportunity for one big week.

Years after abuse reports, ex-coach at renowned US gymnastics academy is arrested by FBI

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A coach at a center in Iowa that has trained Olympic champions is facing allegations that he abused young female gymnasts and secretly photographed others undressing at a prior job in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, who coached at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, has been temporarily barred from all contact with USA Gymnastics since July 2022 due to unspecified allegations of misconduct. He has not been charged criminally while a police investigation continues. But three years after abuse allegations were reported to police and he was removed from USA Gymnastics, the FBI arrested him last week on a federal child pornography charge. He has been ordered detained pending further proceedings in Mississippi.

Yankees get Stanton back as Judge tests throwing arm that could hinder him all season, Boone says

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton will return to the New York Yankees’ lineup in right field after missing three games with what the team described as general soreness. Manager Aaron Boone told radio station WFAN that Stanton will return Tuesday night. He also provided an update on Aaron Judge. Boone said there is no timetable on a fielding return for Judge, who he said might not return to full health this season. Judge has been limited to being a designated hitter since being activated from the injured list on Aug. 5. He was scheduled to test his right elbow with long toss on Tuesday.

Takeaways from AP’s reporting on coach accused of abuse at renowned US gymnastics academy

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A coach at a center in Iowa that has trained Olympic champions is facing allegations that he abused young female gymnasts and secretly photographed others undressing at a prior job in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, who coached at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, has been temporarily barred from all contact with USA Gymnastics since July 2022 due to unspecified allegations of misconduct. He has not been charged criminally while a police investigation continues. But three years after abuse allegations were reported to police and he was removed from USA Gymnastics, the FBI arrested him last week on a federal child pornography charge. He has been ordered detained pending further proceedings in Mississippi.

Sinner pulls out of US Open mixed doubles. Collins, Harrison replace him and Siniakova

NEW YORK (AP) — Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament shortly before it was scheduled to begin. The U.S. Tennis Association announced the withdrawal of Sinner and his partner, Katerina Siniakova, less than an hour before the first contests were scheduled to be played Tuesday in the new mixed doubles event. Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison will be replacing them in the draw.

John Wall, 5-time All-Star, retires after 11 NBA seasons

John Wall is retiring after 11 NBA seasons. The 34-year-old Wall spent most of his career with the Washington Wizards, who picked him first overall in the 2010 draft. He also played for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Wall announced his retirement Tuesday in a social media post, saying he’s stepping off the court but not away from the game. He retires with career averages of 18.7 points and 8.9 assists per game. Injuries plagued the second half of his career and he hasn’t played in the last two years.

Fields on Jets’ passing game: ‘We’re fine with 8-yard completions’ and tiring defenses with runs

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets’ passing game has been short on long passes this summer. Fans are anxious about whether Justin Fields and the offense can stretch the field this season. Fields says they’re fine with taking short completions and wearing down defenses. Last Saturday, Fields and the starters played just two series in a preseason loss to the Giants. Fields went 1-for-5 passing for 4 yards. The Jets ran the ball 13 times for 55 yards. Fields insists there’s a method to testing teams on the ground. The Jets’ running game is a strength, with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis leading the way.