New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. told NC State officials that neither he nor his family was ever paid by Adidas or anyone else to ensure that he played for the Wolfpack for one season.

Smith, the ACC freshman of the year in 2016-17 and the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, told NC State officials that he didn't know former Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola, whom the NCAA has accused of providing $40,000 from Adidas to former Wolfpack assistant Orlando Early to give to Smith's family in October 2015.

Smith told NC State officials that he wasn't aware of the payment Gassnola allegedly made or any payments from Early or former Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried, who is now coaching at Cal State Northridge.

NC State received a notice of allegations from the NCAA in July, in which the Wolfpack were charged with two Level I violations, the most serious, including a failure-to-monitor charge against Gottfried. The NCAA said Smith was ineligible while competing in 32 games for the Wolfpack during the 2016-17 season.

The allegations regarding Smith's recruitment were revealed in a federal indictment and criminal trial in New York last year. Gassnola testified during the October trial that he made two payments to people close to Smith.

The first payment, of an unspecified amount, came during Smith's junior year of high school after Andy Miller, who ran the ASM Sports agency, informed Gassnola that Smith wanted to leave the Adidas grassroots circuit.

The second payment came in the fall of 2015, after Early reached out to Gassnola to say there were issues surrounding Smith, who had committed earlier in the fall.

NC State deputy athletic director Chris Boyer, assistant AD for compliance Steve Shults and senior associate AD for compliance Carrie Doyle interviewed Smith on April 30, when he was working out at NC State's practice facility.

According to a memorandum summarizing the interview, which was obtained by ESPN from the university on Wednesday, Smith told the NC State officials "if he had accepted money he would not have been driving his grandmother's car."

The Associated Press and The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina, first obtained the memo.

Smith also said he "knew how to help himself financially." Doyle asked what he meant, and Smith told them that he received exclusive shoes and gear from Adidas, which sponsored his grassroots team, and that he sold the shoes and apparel to family and friends. Smith said he sold "Yeezy's for like $300." Smith initially said he didn't sell the gear until after he turned pro, but later admitted that he'd been doing it since high school.

NC State officials also asked Smith why he chose to play for the Wolfpack.

"Smith said that was easy," the memo said. "He said his grandmother was a long-time fan of NC State and wanted him to attend. Smith said that he only took one official visit, which was to NC State. He said that his final two schools were Duke and NC State and when Duke signed a point guard that clinched it for him that he would attend NC State."

Smith also denied that he ever wavered in his commitment to the Wolfpack.

ESPN reported in March that court filings in the federal criminal case linked Gottfried to direct payments to Smith's family.

According to a disclosure from federal prosecutors, Early's attorney said his client disclosed that Gottfried on two occasions gave him envelopes -- containing what Early believed was cash -- to deliver to Smith's trainer, Shawn Farmer, to ensure Smith signed with the Wolfpack in 2015.

Gottfried's attorney, Scott Tompsett, disputed the veracity of the disclosure.

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is "highly unlikely" to compete again in 2019 after suffering an eye injury during his fight against Daniel Cormier in August, according to his agent.

Miocic (19-3) reclaimed his heavyweight title by knocking out Cormier in the fourth round of their title fight rematch at UFC 241. The UFC has expressed interest in booking a trilogy bout between Miocic and Cormier, potentially as early as UFC 245 on Dec. 14 in Las Vegas, but Miocic told ESPN he is still recovering from a procedure on his retina.

"I'll be ready to fight when I can see out of both eyes again," Miocic said in a statement to ESPN. "I can't wait to defend my belt."

According to Miocic's agent, Jim Walter, the injury occurred when Cormier accidentally poked Miocic in the eye during their rematch. Miocic complained of eye pokes during both of his fights against Cormier, in 2018 and 2019.

"Mr. Miocic sustained a major retina injury from multiple eye pokes during his bout at UFC 241," said Walter, of Kaulig Sports and Entertainment. "Our client's health and safety is our top priority. We are excited for him to return to action when he is healthy to compete in his seventh consecutive world title fight."

Walter said that Miocic is scheduled to have the eye reevaluated in three weeks to determine whether another procedure is necessary. Once he receives medical clearance, Miocic will resume only noncontact activities at first, leaving a fight in 2019 virtually impossible.

Cormier, 40, told Ariel Helwani's MMA Show on Monday he is putting off retirement to fight Miocic a third time. Cormier (22-2) defeated Miocic via first-round knockout during their first meeting at UFC 226 in July 2018.

"I'm gonna fight this guy again," Cormier said. "My intention is to fight him in the right way. ... It has to be against Stipe, no one else matters."

Miocic, of Independence, Ohio, set the UFC record for consecutive heavyweight title defenses at three, from 2016 to 2018. His loss to Cormier in their first bout is his only defeat in his past eight bouts.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey was at the team's facility Wednesday morning, but he will not practice because of a back injury, coach Doug Marrone said.

Ramsey, who has asked the Jaguars to trade him, is dealing with tightness and soreness in his back, Marrone told reporters.

The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback did not participate in the team's workouts Monday because he was ill, though he did make an appearance at the facility.

Marrone does not know when Ramsey first started experiencing the back issues. Ramsey played in Jacksonville's game last Thursday against Tennessee and did not report the back injury to the team after the game.

"I don't like to talk about -- talk for players," Marrone said. "One thing I don't have a problem saying about Jalen is that he loves football -- loves football. So if he has the ability to play, I'd be on the understanding that he will play. The guy loves football and he loves his teammates."

Ramsey has not rescinded his trade request, which he made after the Jaguars' 13-12 loss at Houston on Sept. 15. Jaguars owner Shad Khan, however, does not want to trade Ramsey, according to league sources.

League sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday that, at this time, it is considered unlikely that Ramsey will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos as he and the team are engaged in the impasse.

I don't want to discuss Nomar Mazara's 505-foot moon blast back on June 21 in Texas. I'm not here to discuss Hunter Renfroe's walk-off grand slam against Kenley Jansen on May 5 or Bryce Harper's walk-off grand slam against the Cubs on Aug.15 or any of the other 69 walk-off home runs. No, I want to discuss the worst home runs of 2019. As you know, there has been a record total of home runs hit this season. Not all of them have looked impressive. Some of them, it appears, perhaps benefited from the lively baseball. Perhaps.

Here are 13 of those home runs, starting with our five finalists.

*All data from Statcast, MLB's tracking system.

5. The lowest exit velocity home run of 2019

Back on April 11, Eugenio Suarez cracked his third home run of 2019 off Sergio Romo of the Marlins -- no doubt, you knew at the time, he was on his way to a 48-homer season. It registered an exit velocity of 86.7 mph, the lowest of any over-the-fence home run (two inside-the-park home runs were lower) of 2019. As you can see, it looks like Suarez barely even swings, but he got just enough to hit it into the corner by the foul pole:

4. It's a line drive to second ... no, it's a home run

This is actually the most memorable home run on the list because it was a walk-off home run for Keston Hiura off Craig Kimbrel on July 27. Cubs fans probably figure it's fitting that Kimbrel appears here. No doubt Hiura hit it hard (106.9 mph exit velocity), but based on the initial flight path, it looked like a line drive to second base or maybe one of those screamers that goes right to the right fielder.

Instead, Hiura lasered the ball all the way over the fence. Is this a home run with the 2018 baseball? Maybe. The 2014 baseball? No way. You know, instead of messing with the ball again, how about just moving the fences back at some of these parks? Some of the power alleys across the majors -- Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Milwaukee, right field at Yankee Stadium -- are a joke, smaller than the old ballparks they replaced, even though players are bigger and stronger than they were in the 1970s and '80s. (Apologies for the soapbox.)

3. A grand slam

Here's Javier Baez hitting a grand slam against the Reds on June 29:

I mean, look at the swing. Does that look like:

(A) A foul ball into the first-base seats?

(B) A little blooper into right field?

(C) A 98.6 mph home run?

Well, you already know the answer. We'll learn that a lot of awkward-looking swings, especially to the opposite field, can produce good things.

2. The one that ruined a perfect game

Shed Long's home run off Gerrit Cole on Sept. 8 has several key factors that make it one of the season's worst home runs.

(1) It came in Houston, home of the legendary Crawford Boxes, where some of the cheapest home runs in the majors land. Home runs are hit there that aren't home runs anywhere else (including the one Rafael Devers hit off Justin Verlander in the American League Championship Series last year). Long's home run traveled just 338 feet.

(2) Poor exit velocity. The 95.2 mph blast isn't bottom of the barrel, but it's in the lowest 4%.

(3) Awkward swing. In fact, Long doesn't even run or initially pick up the ball. It certainly looks like he doesn't think it's a home run.

(4) IT COST COLE A PERFECT GAME! Cole absolutely crushed the Mariners this day, striking out 15 in eight innings while throwing just 96 pitches. The Mariners had no chance. The only baserunner was Long. If Long's home run hadn't happened, Cole would have gone out there in the ninth and finished with 17 or 18 strikeouts, and we'd be talking about one of the most dominant games ever pitched.

1. The least likely to be a home run home run

Statcast publishes a figure called expected batting average (xBA), which factors in the exit velocity and launch angle of the ball in play to determine the likelihood that it will be a hit. This honor goes to Andrew Benintendi for a 309-foot fly ball with a low 87.7 mph exit velocity against CC Sabathia in July. It had an expected batting average of .005. Benintendi hit it in the one place in the majors where it was a home run:

This one hits the trifecta: low exit velo, no distance, low hit probability. Red Sox announcer Dave O'Brien called it: "You can't hit a cheaper home run in Major League Baseball." Congrats, Andrew Benintendi, for the worst home run of 2019.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The one homer Tulo hit

How long ago was March? You probably forgot Troy Tulowitzki played five games for the Yankees, starting the team's first two games at shortstop. He had two hits in his Yankees tenure, and one of them was this home run off Richard Bleier of the Orioles on March 30. He kind of just throws his hands at the pitch, and the ball almost lands in the second deck in right field, with an estimated distance of 358 feet.

Dee Gordon crushes one

With 18 career home runs in nine big league seasons, Dee Gordon isn't exactly known for his power. On April 11, he hit a curveball from the Royals' Jorge Lopez 360 feet into the right-field seats, and he didn't even appear to put everything into it. (By the way, the Mariners won this game, their 15th of the season, and were 13-2 at the time.)

This ball went 417 feet

OK, Pete Alonso is a little stronger than Gordon. Strong enough to muscle the ball more than 400 feet in a game against the Marlins on May 17. Let's freeze this swing.

You're laughing -- no, I'm laughing

This home run by Jean Segura in the first inning on June 10 against Taylor Clarke of the Diamondbacks had the fourth-lowest hit probability of any home run, with an expected batting average of .013. The ball had an exit velocity of 91.4 mph with a 40-degree launch angle but somehow soared 344 feet into the Philadelphia evening (and, thanks to the cozy dimensions at Citizens Bank Park, over the wall). What stands out, however, is Segura laughing as he rounds second base. He couldn't believe it went out, either.

Oh, this was also the game in which the Diamondbacks and Phillies combined for 13 home runs -- a major league record.

How to make Justin Verlander unhappy

Here's Derek Dietrich hitting one of the softest home runs of the season on June 18 off Verlander -- 88.2 mph exit velocity (fifth lowest), a 33-degree launch angle (a little high for a home run) and a .040 expected batting average. Even Reds announcer Thom Brennaman said, "Did he get a cheapy? He did!" Baseball in 2019, everyone!

No wonder the Tigers have lost 109 games

I mean, does this look like a home run swing by Devers on July 12 off Detroit's Ryan Carpenter?

It was! He hit it 98 mph at a 27-degree launch angle to the opposite field -- not a rocket but right at the sweet spot in launch angle (25 to 30 degrees is optimal for home runs). Watch the video closely, and note how twisted Devers' feet end up at the end of the swing.

It's high ... it's very high ...

Josh Donaldson hit this home run off Steven Matz on Aug. 25 -- a ridiculous 46-degree launch angle blast that had an expected batting average of .120. Mets left fielder J.D. Davis kept drifting back and back and back ... and the ball kept going and going and, finally, was gone.

One more from the Crawford Boxes

We could do an entire list of cheap home runs hit between sections 100 and 104 in Houston. The Astros and their opponents have hit 61 more home runs in Houston this year, in large degree because of that short porch in left field (the left-field line is just 315 feet from home plate). Here's non-power hitter David Fletcher of the Angels hitting one off the top of the wall against Wade Miley on Sept. 21 -- 88.5 mph and just 341 feet. Fletcher didn't hit it hard, and he didn't hit it far, but it goes in the books just the same as a 115 mph, 450-foot rocket, another of the many home runs of 2019.

A Japanese comedy duo have apologised after they reportedly said Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka "needed some bleach" during a live event.

Japanese Osaka, 21, won her first Pan Pacific Open title in her hometown Osaka on Sunday - her first trophy since January's Melbourne win.

The duo, known as 'A Masso', also reportedly said "she is too sunburned".

Their management company, Watanabe Entertainment, says they have been severely warned following the remarks.

Both women apologised for making "inappropriate, hurtful remarks", though they did not name two-time Grand Slam winner Osaka, who is Haitian-Japanese.

"We sincerely apologise for making the specific person feel uncomfortable, as well as for everyone else connected to the event," comedian Ai Murakami said.

"We also sincerely apologise for causing trouble. Though we should have thought about it, we made remarks that hurt many people, something we will never do again."

In January, Japanese noodle company Nissin was accused of "whitewashing" the mixed-race Osaka in a manga drawing.

Former world number one Osaka was born in Japan before moving to the United States when she was young.

British number three Cameron Norrie was beaten by France's Gael Monfils in the second round of the Zhuhai Championships in China.

Third seed Monfils, 33, won 5-7 6-3 6-4 and will play Spain's Albert Ramos Vinolas in the quarter-finals.

Australian sixth seed Nick Kyrgios lost his first-round match to world 74 Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.

Britain's three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray faces Australian Alex de Minaur on Thursday.

Former world number one Murray recorded his first singles victory at Tour level since January by beating American Tennys Sandgren in the first round.

Olivia awards night at the Oracle NetSuite Open
By MATT COLES – Squash Mad Correspondent in San Francisco

The American duo of Olivia Fiechter and Olivia Blatchford Clyne are through to the second round of the Oracle NetSuite Open after victories in San Francisco.

World No.39 Fiechter saw off Belgium’s Tinne Gilis in the first round, overcoming her higher-ranked opponent in straight games on the traditional court at the Bay Club.

The American had full control of the game, despite the Belgian being ranked 12 places higher. Fiechter took the first 11-6, before then winning the match after the second, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

In the second round she will face the tournament’s No.4 seed, New Zealand’s Joelle King, on Thursday afternoon.

“I just came out of university and I love the idea of playing for a team. Having people out here that I know and love and being able to pull out a win for them makes it all the more special,” Fiechter said.

“I suffered a partial tear in my left quad but obviously it could not have come at a better time. The beginning of my summer was just recovery and giving it time to heal. Then I had some physical therapy and it became a straightforward process.

“I am really excited because I have never played Joelle [King]. I have grown up watching her play and she is an incredible player. It is a really exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to it.”

Over at the SquashZone venue, Olivia Blatchford Clyne, who is married to Scottish international Alan Clyne, got the better of Scotland’s Lisa Aitken in straight games to book her place in the second round.

The American No.2 will now face the World No.1 in the last 16 of the Oracle NetSuite Open. She will meet Egypt’s Raneem El Welily on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s a good feeling because usually it’s no that way. I was feeling good, I’m happy to be back in San Francisco,” Blatchford Clyne said.

“This is my first time at SquashZone and it’s so cool, this place is awesome. We need more places like this all over the map. But I’m happy to be back and definitely happy with my performance.”

Elsewhere on the first day of the tournament, England’s Emily Whitlock and Frenchwoman Melissa Alves made it through to the last 16 of the event.

In the men’s draw, there was a quartet of different nationalities that made it through. Germany’s Raphael Kandra and France’s Mathieu Castagnet are the two Europeans through to the second round after wins over Iker Pajares Bernabeu and Ramit Tandon.

New Zealander Campbell Grayson and Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi also booked their places in the last 16 in San Francisco by beating Cam Pilley and Tom Richards.

Blatchford-Clyne’s husband, Alan, meets England’s George Parker today in what could be a feisty first round clash. 

Oracle NetSuite Open 2019, Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, USA.

$121,000 Men’s Men’s First Round (Top Half):
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 2-0: 11-9, 11-4 (25m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 2-1: 12-10, 4-11, 11-5 (49m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 2-1: 11-13, 11-2, 11-6 (53m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 2-1: 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (55m)

Women’s First Round (Top Half):
Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 2-0: 11-5, 11-7 (21m)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) bt Tinne Gilis (BEL) 2-0: 11-6, 11-8 (23m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9 (22m)
Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO) 2-0: 11-7, 11-6 (20m)

Today – Men’s First Round (Bottom Half):
George Parker (ENG) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [WC] Faraz Khan (USA)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) v Mostafa Asal (EGY)

Today – Women’s First Round (Bottom Half):
Coline Aumard (FRA) v Salma Hany (EGY)
Nele Gilis (BEL) v [WC] Haley Mendez (USA)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Rachael Grinham (AUS)
Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Milou van der Heijden (NED)

Men’s Second Round (Top Half, Thursday):
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Raphael Kandra (GER) v [3] Simon Rösner (GER)

Women’s Second Round (Top Half, Thursday):
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[8] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Melissa Alves (FRA)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) v [4] Joelle King (NZL) 

Report by MATT COLES (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA