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DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have acquired forward Adam Erne from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman made the move Wednesday, adding a player he drafted in the second round in 2013 while running Tampa Bay's front office.
The 24-year-old Erne had seven goals and 20 points in 65 games for the Lightning last season and was among team leaders with 159 hits last season. The native of New Haven, Connecticut, has 13 career goals and 14 assists in 114 games over three seasons.
Yzerman, an all-time great in Detroit, is in his first year as the Red Wings' general manager.
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LaCava to be inducted into Caddie Hall of Fame Wednesday; 'It's a wondeful honor'
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 08:45

MEDINAH, Ill. – While Tiger Woods will be the main draw this week at the BMW Championship, the spotlight Wednesday night is reserved for caddie Joe LaCava.
That’s when LaCava will become the latest inductee into the Caddie Hall of Fame, an honor offered by the Western Golf Association which operates this week’s PGA Tour event outside Chicago. Past honorees include Bruce Edwards, Mike “Fluff” Cowan, Steve Williams and Fanny Sunneson.
But it was Jim “Bones” Mackay, inducted in 2017 for his work alongside Phil Mickelson, who pushed the normally reserved LaCava to accept the invitation.
“It’s a wonderful honor,” LaCava said. “I was hesitant about doing it, but Bones said, ‘You’ve got to do it.’ And I respect Bones obviously, so once he said you should do it, I was all in.”
LaCava has spent nearly three decades inside the ropes on the PGA Tour, caddying for a group that includes major winners Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Justin Leonard and Dustin Johnson. The 55-year-old has been on Woods’ bag since 2011 and navigated him to a fifth green jacket this year at the Masters, 27 years after he looped for Couples’ lone major win at Augusta National.
LaCava is approaching his induction with some hesitation given the role reversal, and he’ll be eager to return to his day job alongside Woods during Thursday’s opening round. But first he’ll take a moment to reflect on a decorated career on the bag that’s still very much in progress.
“I’m just not comfortable with the attention,” LaCava said. “I’ve always been a guy who, I want Tiger to be the show. I want him doing the interviews and everything else. So that’s just not a comfortable role for me, but I think it’s terrific that they’re doing it and that they thought that much of me to do it.”
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Kaymer remains ‘member in good standing’ despite missing 15-start requirement
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 09:53

MEDINAH, Ill. – Former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer will be allowed to retain conditional PGA Tour membership for the 2019-20 season despite falling short of the Tour’s requirement that a player make at least 15 starts in a season.
Kaymer has won two majors and The Players, but his five-year exemption for winning the 2014 U.S. Open expired when he missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship earlier this month. The German teed it up only 14 times on Tour this season and finished No. 150 on the points list, a position that would normally merit conditional membership that goes to Nos. 126-150 on the final standings. But because he came up one start short, his case went to the Tour’s competitions committee and ultimately the office of commissioner Jay Monahan.
At issue was The Open at Royal Portrush, where Kaymer was first alternate to begin tournament week but never got into the field. According to a Tour official, Kaymer was planning to play the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky that week but instead flew to Northern Ireland in hopes of a tee time that never materialized.
Had he played the Barbasol, Kaymer would have met the 15-event threshold and avoided any membership snafu. The Tour ultimately sided with Kaymer, noting the unique logistical issues surrounding travel to and from The Open, and now considers him a “member in good standing” for next season despite missing the 15-start mark.
Kaymer’s conditional status would rank just below the graduates from the upcoming Korn Ferry Finals and usually nets players in the range of 15-18 starts in a season.
This is the second time that Kaymer, 34, has run afoul of the Tour’s 15-start obligation. He made only 12 starts during the 2015-16 season and was forced to sit out the following season as a non-member, but his five-year exemption from Pinehurst allowed him to automatically return to fully-exempt status in 2017. He had no such luxury this time and was potentially facing an uphill climb to regain status for 2020-21.
Kaymer is not in the field this week at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, the first of three Finals events. But according to the Tour he is eligible for Finals and could theoretically add his name to upcoming stops in Boise and Evansville, Ind., where he could vie for one of 25 PGA Tour cards being offered to top earners across the three-event series.
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Poulter hoping return to Medinah can spark first trip to East Lake
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 10:20

MEDINAH, Ill. – Ian Poulter has never been to the Tour Championship, but he’s hoping that a return to the site of one of his career highlights will be just what he needs to punch his first ticket to East Lake.
It was seven years ago at Medinah Country Club that Poulter put the 2012 European Ryder Cup team on his back, sparking a Saturday night surge that led to an improbable comeback the following day. The Englishman was reminded of his steely gaze and fiery antics immediately upon returning for this week’s BMW Championship.
“It was quite nice yesterday when I pulled up and sat down to register and looked behind the desk that I was signing and obviously there’s that shrine of memorabilia there from all the events that have been at Medinah in the past,” Poulter said. “Just walking in the locker room, remembering the sing-song, the chants, the hug with Ollie, where my locker was. The memories start flooding back on what was an incredible week.”
Poulter’s relationship with the Tour’s postseason is more bittersweet than his memories of those 2012 matches. Ten years ago he left nearby Cog Hill in essentially a tie for 30th, failing to advance to the 30-man season finale by a fraction of a point. He hasn’t gotten any closer since, narrowly retaining his Tour status in recent years before breaking through for a victory at last year’s Houston Open.
Poulter enters this week 43rd on the points list, thanks in part to six top-10 finishes - including a T-10 result last week at The Northern Trust. He’ll need another top-10 finish to have a chance to advance to Atlanta according to Tour projections, but he remains optimistic that there’s still a bit of Medinah magic coming his way.
“I know I haven’t made it, and I know I’d like to get there because apparently the course is one that should suit my game,” Poulter said. “So I’m (No.) 43, I’m in the same position I probably was at Cog Hill where I need to do some work to make it there, and this is hopefully a good venue for me to obviously make my first appearance at East Lake if I play well enough.”
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Mickelson roasts Donald on Twitter over slow-play solution
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 11:20

As the debate over how to fix slow play rages on in golf circles and the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council, some of the biggest names in the sport are taking to Twitter to voice their opinion.
But as Luke Donald found out Wednesday, with Twitter comes Twitter trolls, including the one and only Phil Mickelson.
Earlier this week, Mickelson strongly defended the use of green reading books in relation to slow play, saying, "For anyone to say they slow up play is flat out idiotic."
Donald commented on Twitter, making the case that banning the books would speed up play. Unfortunately, he led off with, "Guess I'm an idiot then."
He should have known better. Sometimes Phil just can't help himself.
"We agree on one thing at least," he shot back.
There's valid arguments on both sides of this debate, however, there seems to be a clear winner in this round.
And in case you were wondering, Mickelson enjoyed his comment just about as much as all of his followers.
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Medalist Wu upset by last man in U.S. Amateur field
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 13:17

PINEHURST, N.C. – After prevailing in a 27-for-3 playoff Wednesday morning at the U.S. Amateur, Austin Squires’ path didn’t get any easier.
His first opponent was the stroke-play medalist.
“I was ecstatic to make it out of the playoff – very happy for that,” he said. “But I just wanted to stay as present as possible.”
After all, Squires knew he had a difficult assignment, squaring off against Brandon Wu, who in the past three months has helped Stanford win an NCAA title, tied for 35th at the U.S. Open and qualified for the Open Championship. “He’s so good,” Squires said, “and coming off an incredible summer.”
In his last summer as an amateur, the Cincinnati product hasn’t been nearly as successful – he missed his last two cuts entering the Amateur – but he found his swing during the practice rounds. When he awoke Wednesday morning, Squires still had no idea whether his 5-over 145 was enough for a playoff, but it turned into a three-hour, four-hole ordeal, his three pars and one birdie securing the 64th and final spot.
Squires had little time to regroup, but he never trailed against Wu, taking the lead for good with a birdie on the par-5 10th. Even after Wu’s dart into 17 cut the deficit to 1 up heading to the last, Squires never faltered. He calmly found the fairway and green, setting up a conceded birdie and 2-up victory.
“Huge confidence boost beating Brandon Wu,” he said.
With Wu’s early exit, the stroke-play medalist at the U.S. Amateur has not gone on to win the title since Ryan Moore in 2004.
Squires, meanwhile, will face Stefano Mazzoli of Italy in the Round of 32.
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Klopp hails big 'personality' Adrian after Cup win
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 19:16

Jurgen Klopp saluted the "incredible performance" of Adrian despite a lack of preparation time as the goalkeeper's shootout heroics won Liverpool the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea in Istanbul.
The Spaniard denied Tammy Abraham in the shootout with a trailing leg in the 5-4 victory on penalties at Vodafone Park, with the match level at 2-2 after extra time.
A few weeks ago, Adrian was training with semi-professional side UD Pilas in his country's sixth tier to keep in shape following his release by West Ham United.
He was on the verge of joining Real Valladolid before Liverpool made him an offer to deputise for Alisson as Simon Mignolet joined Club Brugge.
- Chelsea Ratings: Kante gets 8/10, Pulisic 7/10 in cup loss
- Liverpool Ratings: Mane decisive as Reds lift Super Cup
The European champions expected the 32-year-old to have an extended adjustment period following his signing on Aug. 5, but those plans were derailed on the opening day of the Premier League season when Alisson limped off with a calf injury in a win over Norwich.
Klopp saluted the player's big "personality" as a factor in why he has settled so quickly and performed so admirably for Liverpool despite his competitive inactivity.
"He played an incredible game, he had sensational saves," the manager said. "Both goalies had that, but maybe from Adrian it's a bit more surprising because it was without pretty much any preparation. I don't know when he played the last game for West Ham, to be honest, so it's a while ago. Being ready like he was ready tonight is incredible.
"He's not only on the pitch a great person, he showed me already that he's a proper personality in the dressing room as well. He was maybe louder than I was at half-time. I was not loud because I wanted to give some information, but he was really on his toes and that was good. It's important and it helps us. He deserves that.
"Of course in penalty shootouts it's always lucky, but his performance over the 120 minutes was incredible. Making the save for the penalty is the icing on the cake and is wonderful. I saw now one time that he could really grab his towel before he started celebrating. That's special as well, so he's obviously quick in mind and knows what he wants to do. He helped us a lot and he can be really proud of what he did tonight."
Adrian, who last started a game in January while at West Ham, was adjudged to have impeded Abraham in the box during extra time by referee Stephanie Frappart, with Jorginho converting the penalty to take the contest to a shootout.
Klopp did not agree with the decision, but applauded the officiating of the Frenchwoman and her assistants Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O'Neill after Frappart became the first female ref to take charge of a major UEFA men's competition on Wednesday.
"I told the refereeing team after the game that if we would have played like they whistled, we would have won 6-0," Klopp said. "That was my absolute opinion.
"They reffed a brilliant game. I told her as well that I am not happy with the penalty decision because I'm still not sure that it was a penalty, but it's not important anymore. They were really good.
"Whatever you could have thought before the game, there was pressure on them like hell with an historic moment. Staying calm and do what you have to do, decide very important things in a very difficult and intense game -- I couldn't have more respect, to be honest. It was really a brilliant performance."
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Chelsea 'on another level' vs. Liverpool - Lampard
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 18:26

Chelsea suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool in Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup but manager Frank Lampard praised his team's performance in a game which ended 2-2 after extra time.
Lampard's team had suffered a 4-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday in Lampard's competitive debut on the bench after taking over from Maurizio Sarri in July, but the former England midfielder said his players had responded in the right way.
- Chelsea Ratings: Kante gets 8/10, Pulisic 7/10 in cup loss
- Liverpool Ratings: Mane decisive as Reds lift Super Cup
"After Sunday, tonight was another level, and we were unlucky not to win. We've got three games now till the international break and we'll try to win them all," said Lampard, whose team host Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. "Chelsea's season will be a good one if we play something like we played today.
"I've got nothing but pride in the team and the performance, and confidence in what that means. It was a tough game against a good Liverpool team that [played on Friday and] had extra time to recover after the weekend. But sometimes football comes down to little moments of luck."
Lampard was quick to praise the contributions of two of his younger players, who have returned to the club after loan spells in the second-tier Championship, given the transfer ban which stops Chelsea from bringing in new players.
"Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham added an extra dimension when they came on, and were unlucky not to score. Tammy needs to keep his head up because that's part and parcel of being a top player," he said after the striker missed the decisive final penalty.
But while much focus has been on Chelsea's youthful contingent, Lampard said there had been strong performances across the field.
"People keep talking about the young players at Chelsea. Let's talk about Jorginho and [N'Golo] Kante, and I could name a few others. We've got a quality bunch in there, a really good group, and we're working hard," he said.
"I'm trying to instil the way I want to play and there were so many good things tonight.
"Kante is an amazing player, amazing character. He's a machine on the football field. He hasn't trained much, had a swollen ankle two days ago, but he was desperate to play and you saw what he gave to the team today. He will be hugely important. I am delighted to work with him."
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The United State Soccer Federation and members of the women's national team reached an impasse Wednesday in their attempts to mediate the ongoing dispute over equal pay, with a spokesperson for the players saying they "eagerly look forward to a jury trial."
Spokesperson Molly Levinson released the statement on behalf of the U.S. players after mediation ended Wednesday evening.
"We entered this week's mediation with representatives of USSF full of hope," Levinson said in the statement. "Today we must conclude these meetings sorely disappointed in the Federation's determination to perpetuate fundamentally discriminatory workplace conditions and behavior.
"It is clear that USSF, including its Board of Directors and President Carlos Cordeiro, fully intend to continue to compensate women players less than men. They will not succeed. We want all of our fans, sponsors, peers around the world, and women everywhere to know we are undaunted and will eagerly look forward to a jury trial."
U.S. Soccer said in a statement: "We have said numerous times that our goal is to find a resolution, and during mediation we had hoped we would be able to address the issues in a respectful manner and reach an agreement. Unfortunately, instead of allowing mediation to proceed in a considerate manner, plaintiffs' counsel took an aggressive and ultimately unproductive approach that follows months of presenting misleading information to the public in an effort to perpetuate confusion.
"We always know there is more we can do. We value our players and have continually shown that, by providing them with compensation and support that exceeds any other women's team in the world. Despite inflammatory statements from their spokesperson, which are intended to paint our actions inaccurately and unfairly, we are undaunted in our efforts to continue discussions in good faith."
Although equal pay has been a point of contention between the federation and the players for years, with five prominent players filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2016, the current dispute began when 28 members of the national team player pool filed suit this past March alleging gender discrimination.
The two sides subsequently agreed to enter mediation after the Women's World Cup.
Cordeiro released a public letter on July 29 that attempted to make the case that U.S. Soccer had paid members of the women's national team more than their male counterparts over the span of nearly a decade. Representatives of the players argued that the numbers unfairly counted the salaries that women players receive for playing in the National Women's Soccer League.
Asked about Cordeiro's letter before the opening game of the current Victory Tour, Megan Rapinoe said it caught her by surprise because it was her understanding that the two sides wouldn't speak publicly about the matter while mediation was ongoing.
No new mediation is currently scheduled.
"The world looks to the U.S. to lead," Levinson said. "And the players would like to tell the world that the USSF pays women equally to men. The goal is equal pay."
When asked if Wednesday's statement precluded any attempts at further mediation, Levinson pointed to a letter to U.S. Soccer officials dated Aug. 12 and signed by all 28 players involved in the suit that seems to leave open the possibility of resolution out of court.
"For both parties, the risk of not resolving our disagreements over equal treatment that were not addressed either in bargaining or through the EEOC is too high," the letter from the players stated. "U.S. Soccer's reputation, sponsor relations, fan support and federal funding for the 2026 World Cup tournament are all at risk, and that risk continues should we not reach resolution. We have demonstrated that we can perform at high levels on the field even while pursuing equality off the field, but it is certainly not what we want to continue to go through with a new coach and the upcoming Olympic Games if a resolution is possible.
"While we are prepared to take our equal pay fight through a trial if necessary, we believe that both sides would benefit from an equal pay and equal working conditions settlement now."
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Major League Soccer will award an expansion franchise to St. Louis, a source close to the prospective ownership group has confirmed to ESPN. The deal is expected to be announced as soon as next Tuesday.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was first to report that St. Louis will be MLS's 28th team.
The ownership group, MLS4TheLou, declined to directly comment on the reports, issuing the following statement: "Major League Soccer is responsible for the timing of any announcements around League expansion, but we remain confident St. Louis has made a strong case for a team."
MLS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
- Stream games LIVE on ESPN+
- Inter Miami FC: How the franchise is shaping up
The move by MLS has been expected ever since April, when commissioner Don Garber said that St. Louis was among the cities with which it was in exclusive negotiations to acquire an expansion team. That momentum accelerated through the summer, culminating in a presentation at the MLS Board of Governors meeting two weeks ago.
It was at that meeting that the St. Louis ownership group, led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, president of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, presented a plan that included a downtown stadium that would be financed primarily with private funds, as well as a majority female ownership group.
"We are in very advanced discussions in St. Louis, and we really appreciated the details that they provided," Garber said at the time. "We look forward to continuing those discussions in the weeks and months ahead."
The stadium funding issue was a critical hurdle to overcome. A previous attempt to bring MLS to St. Louis in 2017 died when a referendum that would have provided $60 million in public money towards a venue was rejected by voters.
But MLS has long desired to have a team in St. Louis, given the sport's long history in the Gateway City. Five of the 11 players that defeated England at the 1950 World Cup were from St. Louis, and the city has produced 29 players and coaches who have been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Now that dream looks to have come to fruition, with the team likely to begin play in 2022.
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