Sports briefs
Trending
SEC bans
ex-pros
(AP) -- The Southeastern Conference has passed a rule banning players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues.
With Tuesday’s move, the SEC joins the Big Ten in taking a stand against this month’s unexpected surge of pro players trying to return to college. The Big Ten only included football in its decision.
The two conferences issued their new rules in response to court orders that were allowing players who had been on pro rosters, then released, to return back to college. LSU football coach Lane Kiffin has sought to add two such players.
Mixed doubles
effort ends
NEW YORK (AP) -- Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz are out of the mixed doubles tournament at the U.S. Open. After winning their debut playing together, Williams and Alcaraz got knocked out in the mixed doubles quarterfinals by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in straight sets.
It was Williams’ first match back at the Grand Slam tournament in New York since 2022 as she makes a return to tennis at age 44. Alcaraz had not played since April because of a right wrist injury.
Now the question is whether Williams will play women’s doubles alongside her older sister, Venus.
PGA sets
postseason
ATLANTA (AP) -- The PGA Tour is changing its postseason again and it’s typically an uphill battle. Golf was never meant to have a Super Bowl or a World Series. The sport long has been defined by four majors in the middle of the year. But the latest change has a chance because the message is clear.
By taking only 32 players and then having match play over seven days on two golf courses, this will be the toughest tournament for which to qualify and perhaps the toughest to be the last one standing.
Whether it works depends on how long it lasts.
Padres coach
is released
(AP) -- The San Diego Padres says a coaching coordinator in their minor league system is back with his family after being detained by federal immigration officers in Texas. The team said Tuesday that Oswaldo Pirela had been released on bond. Pirela was detained by immigration enforcement at the El Paso International Airport during a work trip for the team on Aug. 16.
The Department of Homeland Security has previously said that Pirela came to the U.S. legally in 2014 and “overstayed his welcome” after 2018. DHS did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.