TAMPA, Fla. -- Original Tampa Bay Rays owner Vince Naimoli has died at 81.

The team said Monday he died Sunday nearly five years after being diagnosed with an uncommon brain disorder.

The Tampa businessman had been part of unsuccessful bids to purchase and relocate the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants. But he landed an American League expansion franchise in 1995 that began play as the Devil Rays in 1998.

Naimoli ended the Tampa Bay region's two-decade long pursuit to join Major League Baseball. He sold the club to a group led by current Rays principal Stuart Sternberg in 2004 and relinquished control after the 2005 season.

Naimoli was often at odds with local business and civic leaders and fueled a perception he was more interested in making money than winning. The club never won more than 70 games during his time there. It made an improbable run to the 2008 World Series.

SEATTLE — They compute their fuel — an unholy compound of propane and nitric acid — in gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon.

From a standing start, they blast the length of two football fields in less than four seconds at a tick under 340 mph. Racing the fastest-accelerating vehicles on the planet, they celebrate a winner every five minutes during race-day rounds. And some victory margins are phyllo-dough thin, mere thousandths or ten-thousandths of a second.

So why do drag racers have trouble gaining traction with corporate America and with mainstream media outlets? The instant-gratification aspect of the sport, the one-tiny-glitch-and-you’re-out tension, the textures of gauzy smaze, header flames, burnt rubber, colorful blurs, and ground-shaking all play into Americans’ craving for Now!-Pow!-Wow! entertainment.

Drag racers are accessible in a way no other athletes are. Fans are permitted to wander through the pits, stop and stand 10 feet away from a team thrashing to make the next call to the starting line, and get a driver’s autograph or snap his or her picture.

And yes, the driver might be a female, as drag racing is the lone sport where women and men routinely compete at the elite level against one another — and it’s no novelty when women (or even African-Americans and Hispanics) earn series championships.

So why isn’t this sport the craze it was before urban sprawl, before paradise already was paved but the parking lots went in on top of it anyway? Why aren’t drama-thirsty sports fans gravitating to this in-your-face, insanely sensory-shocking spectacle?

That’s the mystery Tami Powers, director of business development for Alan Johnson Racing, wants the NHRA to help her solve. She wants to know why mainstream brands aren’t investing in what she calls “the greatest value in motorsports in the entire world, period” and “the most diverse, competitive motorsport in the world.”

Powers said, with no apology to Ringling Brothers, “There’s nothing wrong with drag racing. It’s the greatest show on Earth.” The disconnect, as she sees it, is between the NHRA and its teams. And she wants to convene NHRA executives, marketing associates, team owners and their sponsorship-procurement specialists to “have that uncomfortable conversation.”

Likening herself to a wind-up toy, she said, “Something needs to be done sooner rather than later. It’s like you wind up that little doll and she starts walking against the wall and she just keeps walking against the wall and walking against the wall. You work really hard on your end to bring in some new eyes, some new bodies, some new excitement and one mainstream brand and” — like in her most recent experience, the deal falls apart, despite teams having the deliverables the potential sponsor seeks.

“That’s the elephant in the room, and if we don’t talk about it, things are never going to change,” Powers said. “To have an honest and authentic conversation about that with the NHRA is a challenge.”

Although she recognizes an ideal session would have its share of disagreements, she believes that would be healthy. More importantly, she doesn’t want to carve out an adversarial relationship with the sanction body. Instead, she said, “I want to be able to gather people from other teams to sit down with the NHRA and say, ‘Let’s create some great content. Let’s create some great ideas.’ Not by blaming, not by finger-pointing, but collectively ask the question ‘What are we missing?’ We need to be able to put it on the table, dissect it and put it back together.”

Several teams and drivers have expressed an interest in such a brainstorming session. Powers says the purpose would be to figure out how to give team owners, sponsors and fans “the biggest bang for their buck and the best time of their lives.”

She said, “The drivers are out there doing it. There’s so much great talent that’s being wasted right now. You’ve got these great, great next-generation drivers who deserve a chance to be professional race car drivers and only get in the car and race the car and focus on the race, focus on the appearances, focus on the brands, and focus on the partners. They need people supporting them  . . .  on the NHRA side — and not lip service. Enough lip service. I believe the intent is good, but there’s no result.”

And that reflects her contention that the “NHRA is not run like a business.”

She wants to nudge the organization into mutual cooperation with teams to make racing more affordable, bring fresh marketing partners to the mix and put more teams on the race track. To her it’s a joint venture — but both sides have to want to cooperate.

“You can have all these great assets, but if you don’t know how to activate them, and you don’t know how to connect with people and you don’t know how to build relationships in the corporate world, it’s all moot,” Powers said. “And that’s what I’m trying to change.

“I don’t want to form a hate relationship with (NHRA officials). I want to form a collective discussion and an honest conversation — as tough as it might be, as contentious as it might be – an authentic connection to solve solvable problems. That’s all. That’s it.”

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – The final leg of Weedsport Speedway’s Champion Oil Modified Series presented by Stirling Lubricants will pit the best Modified drivers in the region against one another on Sept. 2 in the Lane’s Yamaha Labor Day Double Play, led by Matt Sheppard.

Sheppard has scored more than 30 wins this season, including two at Weedsport, leading Erick Rudolph by a slim two-point margin heading into the $7,500-to-win Labor Day 100 for the Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds.

In the series last stop to Weedsport, Sheppard dominated the Hall of Fame 100, covering a stout field of Super DIRTcar Series combatants.

Sheppard’s fantastic season to date sees the driver of the No. 9s continue to lead the Super DIRTcar Series standings, having notched six tour wins, while also recently securing his ninth track championship at Land of Legends Raceway.

Rudolph, who has one win at Weedsport this year, will look to overcome Sheppard in the Champion Oil standings during the Labor Day 100, as they each eye the overall championship prize of $2,000.

Jimmy Phelps currently sits third in the Champion Oil Modified Series points, only 10-markers behind, with Chris Hile and Larry Wight in the top five.

Billy Decker, Mat Williamson, Peter Britten, Danny Johnson and Tim Sears Jr. are the top ten.

Three games into the 2019-20 Premier League season and the top of the table already looks ominously familiar, with Liverpool and Manchester City having claimed the top two spots. Meanwhile, the chasing pack have all stumbled during the opening three weeks and done little to suggest that they can challenge European champions Liverpool or back-to-back Premier League winners City for the title.

So are the best of the rest simply fighting to finish third and fourth? Or is the battle now more about seeing off the challenge of ambitious clubs such as Wolves and Leicester to keep hold of a place in the top six?

- Weekend Review: Are Tottenham getting stale?
- O'Hanlon: Should we be worried about "superteam" Man City?
- Jones: Sheffield United prove heart can beat talent

ESPN FC has assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the teams most likely to challenge for the top six, and it is not just about Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.

ARSENAL

Strengths: With two wins out of three so far, Unai Emery's team have made a sound start to the season but Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Liverpool proved to be something of a reality check. However, Arsenal have a wealth of attacking options, increased by the summer purchase of Nicolas Pepe, and they have the ability to outscore less well-resourced teams. Emery is also showing signs of good progress in the second year of his reign in charge.

Weaknesses: The defeat at Anfield exposed some familiar Arsenal frailties in defence, ones that have seemingly not been helped by the acquisition of David Luiz from Chelsea. Emery's tactical plan was also picked apart by Jurgen Klopp, so the biggest question mark over Emery and Arsenal is whether they can find a way to beat the top teams away from home. Or at least find a way not to lose.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Strengths: Man United have bolstered their defence with the summer signings of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the addition of winger Daniel James has added blistering pace and given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team greater threat on the counter-attack. The much-maligned Paul Pogba -- penalty miss aside -- has started the campaign well.

Weaknesses: There is a worrying over-reliance on Pogba, Maguire and Marcus Rashford. How will United cope if any of them are injured or suspended for a period of time? Solskjaer's squad lacks quality and experience and, in terms of creativity, there is no potential game-changer in the final third. David de Gea's ongoing battle for form in goal is another concern that has now been an issue for over six months.

TOTTENHAM

Strengths: Stability and consistency under Mauricio Pochettino is Tottenham's biggest asset. They also have the goal threat of Harry Kane, with Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura also capable of weighing in with double figures. Summer signing Tanguy Ndombele has added quality in midfield and, although they can blow hot and cold, Spurs have proven over the years under Pochettino that they can quickly bounce back from setbacks.

Weaknesses: The uncertainty surrounding Christian Eriksen's future is already becoming a distraction, with the Dane being omitted from the starting line-up twice already this term. The player looks out of sorts and Spurs miss his creativity. Defensively, there are also concerns in both full-back positions and Hugo Lloris has been unconvincing in goal for the majority of 2019. Spurs still need more depth in their squad, despite the summer spending spree.

CHELSEA

Strengths: The appointment of Frank Lampard as manager has brought a feelgood factor to Stamford Bridge, which has enabled the former Chelsea midfielder to be bold enough in handing chances to young stars like Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham. There is a freedom to Chelsea's play this season, but they also have the experience and quality of N'Golo Kante in midfield to hold it all together. Chelsea are in transition, but the mood is upbeat.

Weaknesses: Every strength is a potential weakness at Chelsea. Can the youngsters be relied upon to perform all season? How long will Lampard's honeymoon period last? And when Kante doesn't play, Chelsea have a hole in midfield that they simply cannot fill. The summer exits of Gary Cahill and David Luiz have left Chelsea light on experience at centre-back and the two window transfer embargo means they will be unable to sign a proven goalscorer until next summer.

LEICESTER CITY

Strengths: Brendan Rodgers inherited a vibrant young team when he succeeded Claude Puel as manager late last season and the likes of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury and Ben Chilwell are all developing into top-class players at the King Power Stadium. Jamie Vardy continues to score goals at the highest level and Wilfred Ndidi has become an outstanding defensive midfielder. No European commitments will also play in Leicester's favour.

Weaknesses: Leicester have yet to replace Harry Maguire at centre-back following his world record £80m transfer to Manchester United this summer and Rodgers' commitment to attacking football may yet expose the frailties in Leicester's defence without their most commanding defender. If Vardy is injured, Leicester could also struggle for goals.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Strengths: Wolves have yet to win this season but they are also undefeated and Nuno Espirito Santo's team have twice come from behind to draw at home, against United and Burnley, which points to the belief and quality within the Molineux squad. Raul Jimenez has emerged as one of the Premier League's most reliable strikers, while goalkeeper Rui Patricio and midfielders Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are all proven performers at the top level.

Weaknesses: They find a way to juggle their domestic commitments with a Europa League campaign and that has been a challenge that even the biggest clubs have struggled to master in recent years. Depth of squad may be the biggest problem once the games mount up and, as last season's FA Cup semifinal defeat against Watford highlighted, questions still remain over Wolves' ability to deliver when the pressure is on.

OVERALL VERDICT:

While Wolves and Leicester remain outsiders to break into the top six, the shortcomings of Arsenal, Spurs, United and Chelsea have made it a genuine possibility this season.

United's meeting with Leicester at Old Trafford on Sept. 14 is a game between the team most likely to drop out of the top six against the one with the best prospect of breaking into it. And when the season reaches its climax, it could boil down to United and Leicester slugging it out for sixth while City and Liverpool pull even further away from the rest at the top.

Hong Kong's Irfan Ahmed and Nadeem Ahmed have been banned from cricket for life after the ICC found them guilty of trying to corrupt several matches, including those played during the 2016 World T20.

The Ahmeds are brothers. Their team-mate Haseeb Amjad was penalised for spot-fixing and is out for five years. Considering all three of them were provisionally suspended on October 8, 2018, Amjad can potentially return in 2023.

Irfan, 29, was an opening batsman. Nadeem, 31, was a left-arm spinner and Amjad, 31, is a seam bowler. They were all charged by the ICC two years ago for "fixing" or trying to "influence" the result or progress of a match. Since they were all "experienced" cricketers who had attended anti-corruption briefings and still chose to engage in these activities, the ICC came down hard on them.

"This has been a long and complex investigation which has uncovered systematic attempts to influence moments in matches by experienced international cricketers over a period of time," Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager (Anti-Corruption Unit), said. "Their conduct was premeditated and sophisticated and each of the Ahmed brothers sought to corrupt others.

"The main offences relate to the Hong Kong matches against Scotland and Canada [during the World Cup Qualifiers in 2014] where the players fixed specific overs. These matches were won by Hong Kong so it did not materially affect the results of the tournament, however I cannot reiterate strongly enough to any player considering this that we treat any form of fixing - spot or match - with the upmost seriousness."

Irfan was charged with nine breaches of the ICC's anti-corruption code, including seeking, offering, accepting or agreeing to a bribe or reward to influence Hong Kong's match against Zimbabwe in the 2014 World T20. Both he and Nadeem were charged for a similar offence in the 2016 World T20 as well.

The ICC's order, signed by Michael Beloff QC, read, "Both brothers appear to have made significant sums from their corrupt conduct. For example, the WhatsApp messages suggest that Irfan Ahmed was to be paid '20k' for a session, and that a windfall would arise from Hong Kong's qualification for the ICC World Twenty20." The tribunal also found evidence that the brothers "seemed to be living beyond their means... they are both paid around HK$11,000 per month by the Cricket board'" and concluded that "neither has to date shown any remorse for their conduct".

Amjad was found guilty of a "spot-fix he carried out" against Canada in 2014. The order said "it involved him conceding a very significant number of runs, early in the match, and therefore the outcome of the match could foreseeably have turned on the spot-fix."

The tribunal could not find any mitigating factors in the case of Irfan, who had previously been suspended for two and a half years after he admitted to the ICC that he had breached the anti-corruption code. And although it noted that it knew of no prior offences committed by the other two, "in respect of Nadeem Ahmed in particular, the ICC submits, and the Tribunal further accepts, that that mitigating factor should be given no weight, or no effective weight, given the overall seriousness of his offending".

After the grief, comes the post-mortem. Australia's contrivance to lose the Headingley Test and an Ashes-sealing series lead was the source of enormous pain for the tourists, not least the coach Justin Langer. He had watched, as impassively as he could, from the sidelines as months if not years of carefully laid plans were torn up by a combination of Ben Stokes and Australian folly.

"We're all feeling it. My gosh," Langer said. "You have no idea how much that hurts, losing today. You have no idea. So we're feeling it but leaders - whether you're the captain, coach or senior player - you have to get up. You've got to - we'll be disappointed for a day or night. We probably won't talk much for a day or a night or so. Then when we get back into it tomorrow, we'll review it like we do every game. We'll review it together and make sure we get it better next time."

So in the minutes, hours and days to come before the fourth Test of the series at Old Trafford, Langer will look not only at the collective loss of composure that allowed Stokes to take control, but also the performances or lack thereof that allowed England to be chasing 359 in the first place. Chief among these is the fact that Australia's batting returns in this series have not been those worthy of a team securing a 2-0 Ashes series lead.

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Only Steven Smith and his substitute Marnus Labuschagne are scoring their runs at an average of better than 40. Only Travis Head, barely, has joined them in averaging better than 30. David Warner, Headingley first innings aside, has struggled mightily; Usman Khawaja has fared little better; Matthew Wade made near enough to all his runs in one dig, the second-innings century at Edgbaston; Tim Paine's captaincy is facing pressure on the basis of his decision-making at the end of the Headingley Test, compounding questions already writ large across his batting.

"There's actually going to be some big questions," Langer said. "One thing I do know is we're not batting well enough at the moment. I said at the start of the series that the team that bats best will win the Ashes. We're certainly not at our best with our batting at the moment. We've got some real questions to ask for the practice game then the fourth Test match.

"I think there's a number of guys who will be looking to play well. Not just Uzzy. Uzzy's played a lot of cricket, he averages over 40 in Test Match cricket. He got a Test hundred seven innings ago I reckon. We know he's a very good player and he, like the rest of them, will be working hard to be ready for the fourth Test.

"We can't fit them all in. That's one issue we've got. We've also got to work out after a long summer, we're going to have to rest some players. Just to give them a mental freshen-up more than anything. The other thing, we've got two back-to-back Test matches to win or lose the Ashes. And we've talked from day one that we're going to have to give guys chance to freshen up - they've been here for Australia A or the World Cup. And sometimes the mental break is as important as anything."

"It's 1-1 in this series, we have been so close - one more wicket and we are 2-0 up and feeling pretty good about ourselves. But that's sport. We'll pick ourselves up" Justin Langer

The major permutation will be how to make room for Smith's return from concussion while retaining Labuschagne. A possible solution will be to move Khawaja up to open with Warner, placing Labuschagne at No. 3 and Smith at No. 4 ahead of Head and Wade. But that would force the dropping of Marcus Harris after only one match, since he himself was recalled at the expense of Cameron Bancroft, who had demonstrated more than enough technical flaws for England to exploit in the first two Tests.

At the same time, Langer and the rest of the support staff need to lend a supportive ear to players who will be having nightmares about Leeds for a long time to come. "It was an unbelievable game of cricket," Langer said. "Everyone remembers the '81 Botham game. I hate to say it, but for the game of cricket, that was an unbelievable game. Ben Stokes, that was extraordinary. We are obviously very, very disappointed up in the change rooms. But we have to shake ourselves up and get ready for the next one.

"We had our chances, we had three or four. He played like a man with nothing to lose, and you'll never see a better innings than that. At lunch we knew it was game on. I thought the first hour today was as good Test match bowling as you will ever see. Then when the new ball came, which probably surprised a few people, we maybe tried a little bit too hard, bowled a little bit too short. Then we pulled it back after lunch, and they had lost 5-30 at one point. But we just couldn't finish it off, and we'll have to get better at that."

There is, at least, some consolation in the fact that the bowling unit is functioning well, the Stokes episode apart. Josh Hazlewood might easily have taken the match award for an Australian victory, with nine wickets across a succession of high-quality spells. Pat Cummins' fitness is holding up, so too James Pattinson's, while Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc wait in the wings. For the marathon of a five-Test series, Australia should have the cattle to go the distance, provided they do not let their minds cloud over into negativity.

"We've been on the right side of a lot of wins too. We haven't been on the right side of winning overseas for a while now," Langer said. "That's why games like this are so important for us. What can we take from it - we fought so hard. We bowled them out for 67. It was brilliant. We bowled fantastically well yesterday - as good a Test match bowling as you'll ever see. We'll win a lot more games than we lose if we bat well - and with the bowling depth we got. Unfortunately it didn't happen today.

"We've got 10 days, we've got a game in Derbyshire to play, we have plenty to play for. It's 1-1 in this series, we have been so close, I mean one more wicket and we are 2-0 up and feeling pretty good about ourselves. But that's sport. We'll pick ourselves up."

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson has been activated from the injured list after missing over a month with a foot injury.

The Braves announced the roster move before Monday afternoon's game against the Rockies in Colorado. Atlanta optioned outfielder Adam Duvall to Triple-A Gwinnett to create a roster spot for Swanson.

Swanson had been on the 10-day IL since July 24 because of a bruised right foot, which he recently referred to as a "frustrating injury."

But after playing three games this past weekend at Class-A Rome, Swanson rejoined the Braves in time for Monday's game. The surging Braves have won eight in a row after sweeping the Mets in New York on Sunday.

Swanson, 25, is batting .265 with a career-high 17 home runs and 57 RBIs this season, his fourth with the Braves.

PORT COLBORNE, Ontario — For the second straight season, Mat Williamson was celebrating in victory lane as Pete Cosco Haulage Ltd presents the fifth annual Pete Cosco Memorial night at the New Humberstone Speedway.

Tyler Willard and Mike Bowman shared the front row for the 5th annual Pete Cosco Memorial 75 for the Modifieds with Bowman taking the lead. Mat Williamson would take over second off an early race restart and would go after Bowman for the lead. Williamson would take the lead away on lap 12 and would check out on the field. Chad Brachmann would move into third and would challenge Bowman for second. Two-time sportsman divisional champion Gary Lindberg would race inside the top five as was Matt Farnham.

Farnham moved into third on lap 48, as Bowman and Williamson would pull away. Gary Lindberg’s run in th top five would end, setting up a green/white/checkered finish. Williamson would go on to score his second straight Pete Cosco Memorial. Bowman, Farnham, Todd Gordon, and Chad Brachmann would complete the top five.

Cody McPherson brought home the victory in the $2,000 event for the Race of Champions 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series presented by Product 9. McPherson’s name would be etched on the Pete Cosco perpetual trophy.

Rob Pietz won his second Pro Fabrication RUSH Late Model feature of the season. Billy Bleich Jr. won his fourth JC Auto Thunderstock feature of the season. Jeremy Cooper won his first Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stock feature of the season. Mitch Dumont won his fourth Airhardt Deliveries Pro 4 Trucks feature of the season.

WATERTOWN, S.D. — Terry Phillips capped off a big week of USMTS racing on Sunday with a hard-earned $4,000 victory in the Sandy Benson Memorial at the Casino Speedway.

Phillips may very well be the hottest driver on dirt right now. If not for a last-lap pass by Jake O’Neil one night earlier, Phillips would be riding a three-race wins streak into Labor Day Weekend.

O’Neil gave it his all in his attempt to ruin Phillips’ party again Sunday, but this time Phillips was too strong and led O’Neil and Rodney Sanders to the checkered flag after 40 rowdy laps around the quarter-mile bullring on the shores of Lake Kampeska.

During this four-night stretch, leading a USMTS main event has been treacherous, and it proved to be the case again Sunday when Ryan Gustin smacked a lapped car while leading on lap 20.

Phillips nearly collided with the two tangled racecars but was able to avoid damage. He set the pace when the field went back to green while Gustin limped back to his pit area and out of the contest.

Despite tight racing between lapped traffic and O’Neil threatening around the top side of the track, the 53-year-old racer from Springfield, Mo., maintained his composure and went on to claim his fifth win of the 2019 season-four of which have come in the month of August.

“Just trying to be careful-lapped cars and stuff, leading again-don’t know if I’m a sitting duck or what,” a smiling Phillips said. “This is why we do this thing. These victories with a lot of good race fans out there… that’s why we do it.

“I’ll tell you what, I might be twice as old as all these guys but I feel like 25 when I’m in this thing.

O’Neil, Sanders, Hunter Marriott and Dereck Ramirez took home the rest of the first five spots.

The finish:

Terry Phillips, Jake O’Neil, Rodney Sanders, Hunter Marriott, Dereck Ramirez, Adam Kates, Jon Tesch, Jayson Good, David McDonald, Brent Dutenhoffer, Nick Wranek, Alex Guthmiller, Jimmy Ray, Travis Saurer, Trevor Anderson, Chad Olsen, Duke Erickson, Morgan Ward, Daniel Hilsabeck, Luke Lick, Dylan Zabel, Ryan Gustin, Tyler Peterson, Kent Arment.