Trending
Misiorowski
sets record
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jacob Misiorowski broke the record for fastest World Series pitch with the very first offering of this year’s Fall Classic, a 103.5 mph fastball from the Milwaukee Brewers’ fireballer to the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz on Friday night.
Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs set the mark for a Series pitcher at 103.2 mph in the ninth inning of Game 2 in 2016, an offering that resulted in a groundout to second by Cleveland’s Coco Crisp. Misiorowski’s first pitch was listed at 103.4 mph on the stadium video boards but clocked at 103.5 by MLB’s Statcast system.
Woodruff
makes roster
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Brandon Woodruff has made the Milwaukee Brewers’ World Series roster without having pitched in a game over the last 3½ months. Woodruff took the place of Chad Patrick on Milwaukee’s 13-man pitching staff as the Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays submitted their World Series rosters Friday before playing Game 1 in Milwaukee.
This is the latest step in a remarkable comeback for Woodruff. The two-time All-Star had expected to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery over the summer. The 33-year-old instead gets a chance to pitch in the World Series for the first time.
Players tune
out criticism
ATLANTA (AP) -- Players in the WNBA Finals say they are focused on the upcoming game and not President Trump’s comments about the national anthem. Trump spoke a rally on Thursday in Iowa and criticized players for leaving the court before the national anthem is played.
It has been part of WNBA players’ pregame routine for several years, dating back to at least when they played an entire season in Florida in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Teams have left before the anthem is played to raise awareness for social justice issues or simply to continue to get ready for the game.
When asked Friday about the president’s comments, Atlanta and Golden State players who are competing for the WNBA championship said they were locked in on the next game, not the president’s comments.
Cheerleaders
unionize
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are unionizing. The NFL franchise has agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the collective bargaining representative for one of the most famous cheer squads in professional sports.
That’s what both sides said in a joint statement Friday. The announcement follows years of the cheerleaders fighting for pay increases. According to Forbes magazine, the Cowboys are the most valuable pro sports team in the world.
Angel Reese
fuels Dream
ATLANTA (AP) -- Angel Reese has always exuded confidence on and off the basketball court. In her first season with Atlanta, she’s already become the team’s emotional leader and now has the Dream two wins away from the first WNBA championship in franchise history.
Reese, who came to Atlanta from Chicago in an offseason trade, has made the most of her first postseason appearance since coming into the league three years ago. She has raised her game offensively this postseason and is averaging 21.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in the WNBA Finals to help the Dream take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.