Monday's Sports in Brief – Virginian-Pilot
AUTO RACING
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bryan Clauson, considered the top dirt-track racer in the country, has died from injuries suffered in an accident at the Belleville (Kansas) Midget Nationals USAC midget race. He was 27.
His death was announced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A statement from his family was read that said Clauson died Sunday evening and “fought to the end.”
Clauson was leading the race Saturday night when he crashed passing lapped traffic. His car rolled and was hit by another competitor. He was airlifted to a hospital in Nebraska, and died surrounded by his family.
Clauson was on pace to compete in 200 races this year. He had 27 victories in 116 starts, and led three laps in the Indianapolis 500 in May.
A four-time USAC national champion, Clauson was aiming to become the winningest driver in series history.
SOCCER
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United has made Paul Pogba the world’s most expensive footballer, signing the France midfielder for around 105 million euros ($116 million) four years after releasing him for virtually nothing.
United says Pogba signed a five-year deal with an option for a further year.
Pogba was a promising 19-year-old when he left United after his contract expired, having only made seven appearances as a substitute. He joined Juventus, which reportedly had to pay 800,000 pounds (now around $1 million) in compensation.
Pogba returns as one of the brightest young talents in the game after winning four successive Serie A titles, and for a fee that eclipses the 101 million euros that Real Madrid spent to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham in 2013.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
An LGBTQ advocacy group has sent a letter to the commissioner of the Big 12 urging the conference to remove BYU from consideration for membership because it says the school has discriminatory policies.
Athlete Ally, a nonprofit group that works with sports leagues and organizations on educational and awareness programs, wrote in a letter “… through its policies, BYU is very clear about its intent to discriminate against openly LGBT students …”
BYU is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The school’s honor code states that same-gender attraction is not an issue.
But it does state, “Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code.” The school honor code requires all students to commit to chastity outside of marriage.
MICHAEL JORDAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Jordan has made another major donation, pledging $5 million to the Smithsonian’s new African-American history museum on the National Mall.
Officials at the National Museum of African American History and Culture announced the gift from the basketball great. The museum is set to open Sept. 24.
In recognition of the gift, the museum will name a section of its sports gallery after Jordan. He also donated a jersey he wore during the 1996 NBA Finals to the museum’s collection.
Last month Jordan spoke out on racial tensions in America in hopes of easing conflicts between blacks and law enforcement.
The NBA great and Charlotte Hornets owner also announced he was giving $1 million to the Institute for Community-Police Relations and another $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The aim is to help build trust after several shootings across the country.
PRO FOOTBALL
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Chargers had their seventh training camp practice and once again it didn’t include Joey Bosa.
Bosa, the third overall pick, remains in a contract dispute with the Chargers.
“I’m worried about the guys that are here,” coach Mike McCoy said.
It’s believed the sticking points between the parties is when Bosa’s $17 million bonus is distributed and offset language in case he signed another contract if released by the Chargers.
The former Ohio State star is the only unsigned player from this year’s draft.
UNDATED (AP) — The Pro Football Hall of Fame will issue refunds to ticket buyers who went home from the NFL’s annual preseason kickoff without having watched any football.
The competitors for roster spots with the Colts and the Packers won’t get the game back, though.
“I can tell you this: Every one of those young players are upset,” Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan said.
After Brett Favre stole the show with a humorous, insightful and moving speech during the induction ceremony for his class on Saturday, the talk of league turned the next night to the field. That’s because part of it was congealed, rendering the Indianapolis-Green Bay game unplayable.
The traditional exhibition in Canton, Ohio, an extra preseason contest for each team and source of local pride, was canceled when NFL and team officials deemed the turf unsafe due to hardened paint and loosened rubber pellets.
PRO HOCKEY
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Longtime high school coach Bill Belisle, forward Craig Janney and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team are this year’s inductees into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
The class was announced by USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean on the NHL Network.
The 86-year-old Belisle has won 32 state championships in 41 seasons at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, with a record of 990-183-137. Among his players were two No. 1 overall NHL draft picks, Brian Lawton in 1993 and Bryan Berard in 1995, and more than 20 of his players have been drafted, including 2015 U.S. Hockey Hall inductee Mathieu Schneider.
Janney is the leader in assists per game among U.S.-born players and was one of the top playmakers of his era. He had 563 assists and 751 points in 760 games.
BASEBALL
MIAMI (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki has donated to the Hall of Fame some of the gear he wore when he collected his 3,000th career hit, including his jersey, a pair of cleats, his arm guard and batting gloves.
The Suzuki collection at the Hall of Fame numbered more than two dozen items even before Sunday’s triple at Colorado, which made him the first Japanese player to reach 3,000 hits. When he and his Miami Marlins teammates returned to Marlins Park to begin a homestand Monday night, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional Suzuki souvenirs.
Suzuki, a baseball history buff, has visited Cooperstown six times.
