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  • NHL: Report: Steve Apostolopoulos withdraws bid for Senators

    NHL: Report: Steve Apostolopoulos withdraws bid for Senators


    Toronto-based billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has withdrawn from the bidding process to purchase the Senators, the Ottawa Sun reported on Friday.

    Per the newspaper, Apostolopoulos informed the officials with the Melnyk estate, the NHL and Galatioto Sports Partners after growing frustrated with the ongoing negotiations.

    Apostolopoulos, who reportedly made the highest bid for the team at more than $1 billion, is the founder of the private equity firm Six Ventures Inc.

    Per the newspaper, bids by Michael Andlauer and a joint effort by Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Harlo Capital are the realistic options remaining to purchase the Senators. The Ottawa Sun reported the bid submitted by Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks is “underfunded and doesn’t stand much of a chance of winning.”

    Previous owner Eugene Melnyk died in March 2022, and his daughters Anna and Olivia Melnyk inherited the franchise. In November, a process for the team’s sale was initiated. Keeping the team in Ottawa is a precondition of any sale.

    –Field Level Media

  • NHL: Blue Jackets acquire D Damon Severson from Devils

    NHL: Blue Jackets acquire D Damon Severson from Devils


    The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Damon Severson in a sign-and-trade deal with the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

    Severson signed an eight-year contract before the trade, which will return a 2023 third-round draft pick to the Devils. Sportsnet reported the contract has an average annual value of $6.25 million.

    The 28-year-old Severson would have been one of the top players available in free agency, which opens July 1. A second-round pick by the Devils in 2012, Severson has played in 647 games with New Jersey, recording 263 points (58 goals, 205 assists) and 388 penalty minutes.

    In the 2022-23 season, he had seven goals and 26 assists in 81 games.

    “Damon is a versatile defenseman who has great vision, moves the puck extremely well, has good size and can play heavy minutes at both ends of the ice,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “We are excited to have him join the Blue Jackets as he will be a very important part of our blueline for many years to come.”

    This is the Blue Jackets’ second deal for a defenseman this week. They acquired Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-way trade.

    The Devils now have six picks in the June 28 draft — one in every round but the first.

    In the 2022-23 season, the Blue Jackets finished last in the Eastern Conference with a 25-48-9 (59 points) record.

    –Field Level Media

  • PGA: Report: PGA Tour to offer equity to players who stayed loyal

    PGA: Report: PGA Tour to offer equity to players who stayed loyal


    Players who turned down big-money offers to defect to LIV Golf and stuck with the PGA Tour will be given equity shares in the new for-profit conglomerate being formed by the tour’s merger with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour policy board member Jimmy Dunne told ESPN Friday.

    Dunne is being credited with orchestrating the new deal between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and PIF announced Tuesday. Dunne reached out to PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan earlier this year to begin discussions of the agreement that surprised the sports world.

    PIF had previously been funding LIV Golf, leading to the schism in the golf world that saw star players like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka leave the PGA Tour behind.

    As for star players who declined LIV’s offers and stayed, like Jon Rahm of Spain and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, they will now be compensated for their loyalty.

    “The new (company) would grow, and the (current PGA Tour) players would get a piece of equity that would enhance and increase in value as time went on,” Dunne told ESPN. “There would have to be some kind of formulaic decision on how to do that. It would be a process to determine what would be a fair mechanism that would be really beneficial to our players.”

    The players who joined LIV will not be eligible for that equity plan.

    In a separate interview, Dunne told Sports Illustrated on Friday that the newly formed, for-profit entity formed by the merger will retain the PGA Tour name and branding. Its current commissioner, Jay Monahan, who is set to become its CEO, will have the power to disband LIV Golf if he wants.

    Current LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman reportedly told staff earlier this week that the league is sticking around long-term despite the PGA-PIF agreement, but Norman might be out of a position once LIV is officially under the PGA’s purview. Monahan told reporters on a conference call Tuesday that “taking a competitor off the board” was one of the motives for the merger.

    As for Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the PGA Tour going forward, Dunne claimed the Saudis haven’t promised any monetary investment and the agreement was more about the “right of first refusal” to be the tour’s investment partner in the future. The PGA Tour will be the controlling partner of any investment, according to the agreement.

    Al-Rumayyan, though, will be the chairman of the PGA Tour following the merger.

    –Field Level Media

  • PGA: Tour rookie Carl Yuan ekes ahead at RBC Canadian Open

    PGA: Tour rookie Carl Yuan ekes ahead at RBC Canadian Open


    PGA Tour rookie Carl Yuan of China sits atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto.

    Yuan shot a 5-under 67 on Friday at Oakdale Golf & Country Club to move to 9-under 135, which was enough for a one-stroke lead by the end of the day.

    On his tail are the likes of Corey Conners, trying to be the first Canadian to win the country’s national open since 1954, and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who fired an 8-under 64. They’re tied with Aaron Rai of England and C.T. Pan of Taiwan at 8 under.

    Yuan, 26, has won events on the PGA Tour China and the Korn Ferry Tour but had struggled to begin his PGA Tour career. He had made just five of 16 cuts this season entering the week, and his best finish was a tie for 21st.

    That could change this weekend after Yuan’s 68-67 start in Toronto. He started his Friday by making a 14-foot birdie putt and went on to roll in six more birdies, including three of his final four holes.

    “I’ve been like playing like way too technical in the past events on tour this year,” Yuan said. “Which didn’t really get me the good results. So I figure, why not just play freely? Yeah, and then glad it works out good so far.”

    Conners has said he views the Canadian Open like a major. After four birdies and just one bogey Friday for a 69, he’ll enter the weekend primed to make a run at a trophy he badly wants.

    Conners is the highest-ranked Canadian player in the world at No. 29. He won the Valero Texas Open last April — both of his PGA Tour victories came there — and he spent most of Friday and Saturday at the PGA Championship atop the leaderboard before a poor finish.

    “I would say this week I’ve been a lot more relaxed than even I was there, and I felt like I was quite relaxed at the PGA Championship,” Conners said. “So I’m feeling good about my game and able to play with freedom and confidence. So just having a lot of fun.”

    Hatton’s round was anchored by a run of five straight birdies at Nos. 7-11. His approach game carried him through that stretch: His approach at the par-4 eighth landed 3 1/2 feet from the cup, his second shot at the par-4 10th left him 6 1/2 feet and his tee shot at the par-3 11th gave him a 7-footer for the fifth and final birdie of the spree.

    He finished the day with nine birdies and a lone bogey while carding the low round of the tournament.

    “It’s a nice place to be after 36 holes, but there’s still another 36 to go,” Hatton said. “I imagine if the weather’s kind of the same as it was this afternoon, scoring’s going to be fairly low. It’s tricky out there at times. You can easily get yourself in the wrong position. But, yeah, you still need to make a lot of birdies this weekend. I’m going to try my best to do that.”

    Rai, one of four co-leaders after the first round, shot a 69, while Pan fired a 66. Pan recovered from an early double bogey by eagling the par-5 18th after he stuck his second shot inside 5 feet.

    Tied for sixth at 7 under were Harry Higgs (66), Andrew Novak (68), Brendon Todd (69), Jonathan Byrd (69), Justin Lower (70) and Chesson Hadley (70).

    Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland improved on an opening 71 with a bogey-free round of 67 to get to 6 under. He’s tied for 12th with England’s Justin Rose (69), Nate Lashley (68), Mark Hubbard (70) and S.H. Kim of South Korea (70).

    “Three back going into the weekend, that’s — I’m pretty pleased with that,” McIlroy said. “Finished strongly out there this afternoon. Yeah, I feel pretty good with where I’m at. Would have been nice to be one or two closer to the lead, but I thought today went well.”

    Adam Hadwin (68) and Roger Sloan (70) are the next-lowest Canadians after Conners, both at 5 under.

    –Field Level Media

  • LPGA: Dani Holmqvist fires 64 to lead ShopRite LPGA Classic

    LPGA: Dani Holmqvist fires 64 to lead ShopRite LPGA Classic


    Dani Holmqvist of Sweden eagled the par-5 third hole on her way to a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 that put her in the lead after one round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday in Galloway, N.J.

    Holmqvist will head into the weekend one shot clear of China’s Yan Liu and South Korea’s Jenny Shin in the 54-hole event.

    The 35-year-old has won tournaments in Sweden and Australia, but the veteran is now in position to contend for her first LPGA Tour title.

    Holmqvist’s 64 was just her second sub-70 round all season. She played in just five events prior to this week and missed the cut at all five.

    “It’s just been a very slow start to the year,” Holmqvist said of her schedule. “I’m personally a player that needs to play a lot of events that get going and kind of get into the groove, so I am looking forward to the stretch coming with more regular tournaments.”

    Holmqvist began her day on the back nine at Seaview Golf Club’s Bay Course and birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 17. The eagle came in the middle of her round, with her drive and a 4-iron approach taking her to about 15 feet for the putt. Birdies at Nos. 6 and 7 gave her the solo lead.

    “I think just that’s what everyone out here — that’s what we all strive to do,” she said. “Some weeks you’re better than others, and some weeks you feel like you’re losing. So it’s fun to actually come up on top for you once. This game is tough, and just got to cherish the moments when you actually put together a good one.”

    Shin put together a round of six birdies and no bogeys, while Liu’s card was much more colorful. Liu posted two birdies and three bogeys over her first five holes, then eagled the par-5 ninth. She went 5-under 29 on her back nine by making three birdies in a row at Nos. 12-14 and scoring a second eagle on the par-5 18th.

    Liu said she told her caddie she wanted to keep it easy after her up-and-down start. By the time she finished her round, she led the tournament, as Holmqvist was still playing.

    “It’s my first time leader so I just want to stay focus my game, and like today, easy golf,” Liu said.

    Sarah Schmelzel, England’s Georgia Hall, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, South Africa’s Paula Reto and Soo Bin Joo of South Korea were tied for fourth at 5-under 66.

    Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada opened with a 2-under 69.

    –Field Level Media

  • CHAMP: Justin Leonard fires course-record 62, leads in Madison

    CHAMP: Justin Leonard fires course-record 62, leads in Madison


    Justin Leonard broke the course record with a 10-under-par 62 to establish a three-shot lead after one round of the American Family Insurance Championship on Friday in Madison, Wis.

    Leonard carded five birdies on both nines at University Ridge Course while staying bogey-free. It was by far his best score at an official PGA Tour Champions event since joining the tour last summer.

    “I didn’t play with any kind of score in mind,” Leonard said. “In fact, I got in the scoring trailer and the group that finished on 9, Tom Lehman asked me what I shot, I said I don’t know. That’s kind of the goal is just to get lost in the round.”

    Leonard, who turns 51 next week, has three top-10 finishes this year but is still seeking his first win on the 50-and-over circuit.

    Leonard spent much of his 40s working for Golf Channel in an analyst role before transitioning back to playing a full tournament schedule on the PGA Tour Champions.

    “Being in Florida now, any given day I’m hitting balls next to Jessica Korda, Shane Lowry or Patrick Cantlay and I’ll pick their brains and fortunately they all like to talk,” Leonard said. “So ask them about certain things, whether it’s numbers they see in a launch monitor or whatever it may be. Being around, watching a lot of good players and now practicing with them, it’s been fun.”

    Leonard also said he asks plenty of questions about the senior circuit when getting dinner with Steve Stricker, the Wisconsinite and host of the American Family Insurance Championship who’s part of a tie for second at 7-under 65.

    Joining Stricker at 65 were Marco Dawson, Steven Alker of New Zealand and Paul Broadhurst of England. Stricker has won three events this season, including each of the first two majors, the Regions Tradition and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

    Stricker posted an eagle at the par-5 second hole to kickstart his round. Alker and Broadhurst finished their rounds without a bogey.

    Broadhurst said he was inspired by his sons to have a memorable round.

    “I’m third in the Broadhurst household today as well because my middle son’s playing on the Challenge Tour in Europe and shot 8 under today, so that was my inspiration,” he said. “Then my youngest son has just passed his A levels and got three distinction stars in fashion, so the Broadhurst household’s had a good day today.”

    Tied for sixth at 6-under 66 were Paul Stankowski and South Korea’s Charlie Wi. Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand opened with a 2-over 74.

    –Field Level Media

  • NFL: RB Dalvin Cook hits open market after Vikings release

    NFL: RB Dalvin Cook hits open market after Vikings release


    The Minnesota Vikings officially released running back Dalvin Cook on Friday after an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to trade the four-time Pro Bowl selection.

    Coming off four straight 1,000-yard seasons, Cook is now free to sign with any other team after 4:01 p.m. ET on Friday.

    Cook had $2 million guaranteed remaining on his contract with the Vikings, who will take a $5.1 million dead cap hit this season.

    A second-round pick in 2017, Cook rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns and added 221 receptions for 1,794 yards and five scores in 73 career games (72 starts) in Minnesota.

    “I hold Dalvin in the highest regard and am grateful for his contributions on and off the field. Dalvin is a tough, dynamic player and a respected leader by his teammates, which was evident by his multiple seasons as a team captain,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.

    “… We appreciate Dalvin’s positivity, energy and leadership and will be pulling for him in the future.”

    Rumored landing spots for Cook during the past couple of months have included the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.

    Cook, who turns 28 in August, is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a shoulder injury that was originally sustained in 2019. His agency said in February that Cook is expected to be healthy for the start of the season.

    The Vikings appear prepared to enter the 2023 season with Alexander Mattison as their lead back. The 2019 third-round pick rushed for 283 yards and five scores in 17 games last season. Ty Chandler and rookie DeWayne McBride are also on the depth chart.

    Cook leaves Minnesota ranked third on the franchise rushing list behind Adrian Peterson and Robert Smith.

    “Dalvin has been an incredible leader for this organization for years, and I quickly noticed how respected he is among everyone in our building,” general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “I’m fortunate to have been around such an enjoyable, talented and hardworking person like him over the last year.

    “He’s etched his name in Vikings history with his production on the field but also by consistently giving back to the Vikings Foundation. We are thankful for everything Dalvin brought to the Vikings and sincerely wish him all the best in his future.”

    Vikings owner and chairman Zygi Wilf also released a statement following Cook’s release.

    “Over the past six years, Dalvin has meant so much to our organization. His love for playing football in front of the Vikings fan base was evident, and that connection branched into the community where he made an impact around the Twin Cities,” Wilf said. “Dalvin helped us launch the Vikings Table food truck and was a constant advocate for the Minnesota Vikings Foundation. His leadership in the locker room and all-out effort on the field was undeniable and a key reason he was a multi-year team captain. We are extremely grateful for all Dalvin has done for the Vikings and look forward to welcoming him back as a Legend.”

    –Field Level Media=

  • NFL: Report: WR DeAndre Hopkins to visit Patriots next week

    NFL: Report: WR DeAndre Hopkins to visit Patriots next week


    Free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will visit the New England Patriots next week, NFL Network reported Friday.

    The five-time Pro Bowl selection is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, according to earlier reports.

    The offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in New England is Bill O’Brien, whose head coaching tenure in Houston (2014-20) overlapped with Hopkins’ time with the Texans (2013-19).

    The Arizona Cardinals released Hopkins, 31, on May 30 after three seasons after they reportedly failed to find a trade partner.

    While the Cardinals cleared $8.15 million in salary cap space with the move, they incurred a dead cap hit of $22.6 million, per Spotrac.

    A three-time All-Pro, Hopkins recorded 221 receptions for 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns in his three seasons in Arizona. He has 853 catches for 11,298 yards and 71 TDs in 145 career games (all starts).

    Hopkins had 64 catches for 717 yards with three scores during a 2022 season in which he missed the first six games after being suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He missed the final two games with a knee injury.

    The Patriots’ wide receivers room includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and a pair of rookie sixth-round draft picks, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas.

    –Field Level Media

  • CFL: Cody Fajardo, Alouettes aim to make impression vs. Redblacks

    CFL: Cody Fajardo, Alouettes aim to make impression vs. Redblacks


    As the shampoo commercial once informed viewers, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

    Quarterback Cody Fajardo knows that as well as anyone, which is why he said the Montreal Alouettes’ season opener against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday is important for him and the team.

    “I think Week 1, with that home opener, is when the real first impression comes,” Fajardo said. “You have your full offensive playbook in; you’re not running your vanilla stuff. You get to play the whole game and that’s when it starts counting.

    “There’s a lot of things in preseason you try to see if you can get away with. It’s not always pretty. You’re just trying to test some things you wouldn’t normally do. Go out there, execute the offense and try to make sure we stay on the field and score some points.”

    Fajardo played the last three seasons in Saskatchewan, falling out of favor with the team last year when he tossed 13 interceptions as the Roughriders limped to a 6-12 record. But he has a fresh start in Montreal along with a new head coach — Jason Maas, his former offensive coordinator with Saskatchewan.

    As for Ottawa, it also has a new head coach in Bob Dyce. It also has a plethora of injuries from the preseason that will have it missing four starters for the opener, including veteran quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (leg) and All-CFL cornerback Money Hunter (torn pectoral muscle).

    Dyce is tasked with changing the culture of a roster and franchise that has won just 10 games over the past three seasons. To that end, not only have there been player moves, there’s also been locker room changes. Instead of having position groups dress together, Dyce mixed them up in an attempt to build team chemistry.

    “Everybody needs to get to know everybody,” Dyce said. “These guys spend a lot of their position meetings together. Not that things get cliquish but you see the same guys all the time. We just felt it was a great way to help build our team culture.”

    Nick Arbuckle, who played in 12 games last year after Masoli was injured in Week 4, will start the season opener.

    –Field Level Media

  • NBA2K: Magic, Grizz move into The Tipoff’s conference semis

    NBA2K: Magic, Grizz move into The Tipoff’s conference semis


    Magic Gaming rolled to a sweep in the conference quarterfinals of the NBA 2K League’s 5v5 The Tipoff event on Friday, while Grizz Gaming moved on in a tighter 2-0 match.

    The Magic downed Heat Check Gaming 74-65 and 68-55 to move on to an Eastern Conference semifinal matchup against 76ers GC.

    In a Western Conference quarterfinal, the Grizz eked out a 78-76 overtime win against Pacers Gaming, then sealed the series with a 69-64 victory. The Grizz move on to face Warriors Gaming Squad.

    The Grizz dunked on their first four possessions of OT, one a second-chance basket, to build a lead. The Grizz’s Harry “CP” Friedman sank two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to make it a four-point game, rendering a last-second 3-pointer from the Pacers’ Gilbert “Range” Santiago meaningless.

    CP averaged 29.5 points and eight assists per game in the series. Dylan “Greenlight” Sanderson put up 27.5 points and eight assists per game for the Pacers.

    Jarvis “Simptoms” Thompson led the Magic with 25 points per game, while teammate Joshua “unguardable” Hunter put up 20.5 points and 9.5 assists per contest. Ky “Ky” Johnson averaged 29 points for the Heat.

    The semifinal matchups:
    Eastern Conference
    –NBL Oz Gaming vs. Gen.G Tigers
    –Magic Gaming vs. 76ers GC
    Western Conference
    –Bucks Gaming vs. T-Wolves Gaming
    –Grizz Gaming vs. Warriors Gaming Squad

    The NBA 2K League 5v5 season will include three tournaments — The Tipoff, The Turn and The Ticket — that will set the field for the playoffs, scheduled for Aug. 2-5 in Washington.

    Remote group play in The Tipoff set the field for this week’s remote bracket play. The $250,000 tournament will conclude with in-person tournament play at District E in Washington, Wednesday through June 17.

    –Field Level Media