Fire guts Harare Sports Club
A section at the Harare Sports Club went up in flames today. The Harare Sports Club is currently hosting the ICC World Cup cricket qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/3bDPlz74KC
— #FokusZW (@Fokus_zw) June 20, 2023
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Ex-scouts file age discrimination lawsuit vs. MLB
Published in
Baseball
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 13:04
A group of former Major League Baseball scouts sued commissioner Rob Manfred, the league office and all 30 teams on Wednesday, contending age discrimination, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Denver and contends MLB "blacklisted" older scouts and used the pandemic and the trend toward analytics as a "pretext for coordinated and systemic discrimination based on age."
The lawsuit alleges MLB and the teams violated the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and age discrimination laws in 12 states.
"We believe the commissioner and the owners colluded to eliminate veteran personnel because of salaries," Rick Ingalls, who was a scout for 37 years, told the Times.
Named as plaintiffs in the suit are 17 former scouts between the ages of 55 and 71. All but one had at least 24 years' experience. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status that could grow the case to involve more than 100 "older" scouts and a request for at least $100 million in lost wages and damages.
Per the Times, the suit contends that MLB stopped posting notices when scouts became available to hire, listed older scouts who shouldn't be hired and used the pandemic as "an opportunity to terminate an entire class of older employees."
Ingalls told the Times that some of the scouts are in financial straits.
"These guys, when they're let go, they're not given a year of severance, they have no health insurance, no paycheck," Ingalls said. "A lot of guys who are 55-60 when they're fired can't take pensions without penalties until they're 65. They can't get Social Security until they're 62. They have no health insurance.
"A lot of these guys who we're fighting for are losing their homes. They have kids, and the cost of [health] insurance is off the charts."
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WASHINGTON -- The Nationals placed center fielder Victor Robles on the 10-day injured list with back spasms for the second time this season Wednesday, a day after Washington starter MacKenzie Gore questioned Robles' effort on a fly ball that fell for a single.
Washington selected the contract of outfielder Derek Hill from Triple-A Rochester to replace Robles on the roster. Robles was sidelined by back spasms from early May until this past Friday. He had started five straight games since his return.
Manager Dave Martinez said Robles told him after Tuesday night's loss to St. Louis that his lower back was bothering him while running. Robles also got a poor jump on a deep fly ball on Monday that glanced off his glove for a triple. Robles skidded into the center-field wall after failing to make the grab.
"The more I watched him, the more I watched his jumps and stuff, something didn't look that right, but he kept telling me he was fine," Martinez said. "After last night I wanted to really sit down with him and talk to him and get out of him exactly what I thought he'd say."
Gore and Robles exchanged words in the dugout after a line drive off the bat of Cardinals rookie Jordan Walker fell in front of the center fielder for a second-inning single. Gore allowed five runs in six innings to take the loss as the last-place Nationals lost their fifth straight and 13th of 15.
"Obviously, MacKenzie thought he should have caught the ball," Martinez said after the game. Gore said the players had resolved their differences.
Hill was signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason after three seasons with the Tigers. He suffered a hamstring injury in spring training. The 27-year-old was batting .320 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 52 games in High-A and Triple-A.
"I feel like I bring a lot of energy," Hill said. "A lot of hustle doubles, stealing bags, running stuff down in the outfield. Just trying to be that hustle guy."
The Nationals also placed right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Tuesday, with right shoulder inflammation and recalled lefty Joe La Sorsa. Washington did not have a left-handed reliever on the active roster before the move.
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German Open: Elena Rybakina's Wimbledon title defence preparations hurt
Published in
Tennis
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 09:49
Elena Rybakina's Wimbledon title defence preparations suffered a setback when she was beaten in the second round at the German Open.
The second seed, 24, lost 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4 to Croat Donna Vekic in Berlin.
The Kazakh world number three had beaten Russian Polina Kudermetova the previous night, with matches delayed because of rain.
Rybakina was one of seven of the world's top-10 ranked women competing at the Wimbledon warm-up event.
Vekic faced just two break points against the Kazakh, who pulled out of the French Open before her third-round match earlier this month because of illness.
The Australian Open quarter-finalist saved them both and went on to end Rybakina's eight-match winning streak on grass.
Rybakina's Wimbledon final opponent Ons Jabeur also began her grass-court season with defeat in Germany on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, French third seed Caroline Garcia secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-2 win over Australian qualifier Jaimee Fourlis.
Maria Sakkari, who reached the semi-finals of the US and French Opens in 2021, beat Alize Cornet 6-4 6-2, having fallen short against the Frenchwoman in Nottingham last week.
Czech Marketa Vondrousova, Roland Garros runner-up in 2019, beat Canadian 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 7-6 (7-0) 7-5 in one of several first-round matches that was postponed to Wednesday because of the rain.
Having reached the semi-finals of the Libema Open in the Netherlands last week, Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich continued her strong grass-court form with a 6-4 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion and compatriot Victoria Azarenka.
Former world number one Azarenka also suffered a shock defeat last week by American teenager Ashlyn Krueger at the Libema Open
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Queen's 2023: Andy Murray withdraws from doubles with Cameron Norrie due to fatigue
Published in
Tennis
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 08:12
Britain's Andy Murray has pulled out of the men's doubles at Queen's, citing fatigue.
The 36-year-old won back-to-back grass-court titles this month at Surbiton and Nottingham before his first-round singles exit from Queen's on Tuesday.
The Scot, who said there was no need to "overreact" after his loss to Alex de Minaur, had been due to team up with British number one Cameron Norrie.
Both are gearing up for Wimbledon, which starts on 3 July.
Norrie is still in the singles at Queen's and is facing Australian Jordan Thompson for a place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Murray and Norrie had been scheduled to face compatriot Joe Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram, who are the third seeds, on Wednesday. They have been replaced in the draw by Andre Goransson and Ben McLachlan.
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Queen's 2023 results: Cameron Norrie beats Jordan Thompson to reach quarter-finals
Published in
Tennis
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 09:04
British number one Cameron Norrie came from behind to reach the Queen's quarter-finals for a second time with victory over Australian Jordan Thompson.
Fifth seed Norrie, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, recovered from his first-set errors to win 4-6 6-3 6-2.
"It was the perfect match," said Norrie, who will face Frances Tiafoe or Sebastian Korda in the next round.
Later on Wednesday, Britain's Ryan Peniston faces second seed Holger Rune.
Norrie is playing in his first grass-court tournament of the season as he gears up for Wimbledon, which starts on 3 July. Hopes of getting even more match time on the surface were dashed on Wednesday when his scheduled doubles partner Andy Murray withdrew from the competition, citing fatigue.
A loose service game from Norrie, with three bad misses - first netting what should have been a straightforward volley, then hitting a forehand long before an ill-judged decision to leave a lob that dropped in - handed Jordan a break for 4-2 in the opening set.
The Australian could barely have consolidated the break in more emphatic fashion with three aces in a row followed by another thundering serve that Norrie could only return into the net and he later served out the set, taking it thanks to a wide forehand from the Briton.
But Norrie tightened up on his errors in the second set, getting the key break for 4-2 and serving it out with ease as he began to take control with his groundstrokes.
He dominated the third set, going a double break up before a slight wobble when serving for the match as he had to save three break points. But he set up match point with an ace and then secured the win with an unreturnable serve.
"It was just classic grass-court tennis and I was able to come out with a lot more energy in that third set and I think that was the difference," Norrie said in his on-court interview.
Norrie, who is ranked 13th in the world, will now be appearing in his sixth quarter-final of the year.
"It's really good to be that consistent but you always want more as a tennis player," he said. "I want to keep pushing for more and playing my best tennis at the bigger tournaments and especially at a huge tournament like Queen's. It's one of my favourite tournaments of the year."
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Reviving Table Tennis in Yemen: ITTF Participation Program Empowers Yemen with First On-Site Sporting Activity Since 2015
Published in
Table Tennis
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 08:49
In a significant breakthrough, the ITTF Participation Program recently organised an on-site activity in Yemen, making table tennis the first International Federation to organise a physical activity in the country since 2015, just after the onset of the war. Held from 14 to 23 May, the event unfolded at Ahli Club in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, and represented a vital step towards reinvigorating the sport in a nation grappling with challenges.
Since the launch of the ITTF Participation Program in 2021, the Yemen Table Tennis Association has been actively involved in its activities, striving to grow and develop the sport in its country. Through engaging with ITTF experts via the ITTF Online Services, they began formulating the Member Association Development Plan, which includes crucial objectives like organising national tournaments to facilitate player development across different regions.
The DMA (Developing Member Associations) Activity conducted by ITTF proved to be a historic milestone, as it marked the first time an international federation had organised an onsite event in Yemen since 2015. The program commenced with a coaching session led by five prominent coaches, focusing on essential technical skills and talent identification programs.
Twenty-five dedicated players, comprising 17 males and 8 females, participated in the four-day training camp, which featured six hours of training per day. The camp was followed by a tournament that allowed the participants to showcase their improved skills. The attendees expressed immense satisfaction with the training, which included multi-ball training sessions, technical and tactical exercises, and valuable tips to enhance their competitiveness.
Hussam Nasser, the tournament winner, shared his excitement, stating, “I learned a lot from the camp, especially new information, techniques, and exercises that will undoubtedly help me improve my technical skills to compete internationally. By applying these techniques during training, I will hopefully be able to gain the ability and skills to excel in international tournaments.”
For Raghad Jamil, a female participant, table tennis has become an essential outlet for joy and solace amidst the challenging circumstances of war and political instability. She conveyed her gratitude, saying, “In this training camp, we learned a lot, and we truly believe that table tennis is more than just a sport—it is a life and a message of peace that we hope will resonate in Yemen. I aspire to become a champion of this sport.”
The program also dedicated two full days to teaching basic technical skills to school students. Khaled Ibn Alwaleed School served as the venue, where physical education teachers from both genders participated alongside 45 eager students. The training emphasised essential techniques such as grip, movement, and basic forehand and backhand strokes. The physical education teachers were entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the students under the tutelage of national team coaches.
The event not only focused on the development of able-bodied players but also embraced the Para table tennis community. In the final two days of the DMA Activity, Para table tennis players were given the opportunity to practise and compete. Mr. Ramzi Alsharabi, one of the Para table tennis players, expressed his delight at the inclusive nature of the DMA program. He stated, “I’m very delighted that the DMA has included para table tennis throughout the program, and a tournament was organized too. This will motivate me to continue training and developing my technical skills.”
Mr. Mohammed Al-Ahjeri, the Secretary General of Yemen Olympic Committee, expressed his gratitude to ITTF and the Yemen Table Tennis Association for the comprehensive activity, which he believes will benefit the entire table tennis community in Yemen. He added: “We are so proud that the ITTF expert Fahd Gubran is a former Yemeni table tennis player. This will be a motivation for Yemeni players and coaches, and will help us to achieve more on the national and international level”.
Mr. Motahar Zabarah, the Secretary General of the Yemen Table Tennis Association, extended his heartfelt appreciation to ITTF for the impactful DMA Activity amid Yemen’s challenging circumstances. He emphasised that this program represents an opportunity to rejuvenate and revitalise table tennis in Yemen, not only on-site but also through subsequent online post-activities. He also expressed the association’s commitment to further cooperation with ITTF in the future, adding, “We would like to thank ITTF for initiating the Participation Program and for supporting the implementation of the DMA Activity. We are also looking forward to more cooperation in the future.”
The ITTF Participation Program in Yemen stands as a testament to the power of sport in transcending adversity. Through such initiatives, Yemen’s table tennis fraternity can take the first steps toward rebuilding and being part of the global sporting landscape once more.
Click here for more information on the ITTF Participation Program.
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PGA Tour’s top players travel across the country for $20M purse at Travelers Championship
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 04:59
CROMWELL, Conn. — Nathan Grube, the tournament director of the Travelers Championship, used to worry about the years when the U.S. Open took place on the West Coast.
Many of the world’s top golfers would make a decision to take a break the week following the major or head to Europe to begin preparing for the Open Championship, rather than travel across the country to play at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.
But this year, in response to LIV Golf, the Travelers was elevated to one of 17 so-called “designated” PGA Tour events, with a much bigger purse and a near mandate for top golfers to play, giving the tournament the guarantee of a strong field.
“I can tell you with certain confidence that I probably wouldn’t have been here even though I love the tournament so much,” Masters champion Jon Rahm said Tuesday. “With that said, they’ve done a great job making players comfortable. Having a charter flight always makes it a lot easier, maybe not for the best two or three players in the world, but for other people that are high quality players as well that come and compete in this event.”
This week’s tournament field includes the top eight golfers in the world rankings and 38 of the top 50.
Grube and his team have gotten a reputation of pampering golfers in an effort to get them to Connecticut, including running those free charter flights for players from the U.S. Open.
Once in the state, there are perks including free laundry and haircuts for caddies, day care on site, and day trips for spouses and children to amusement parks. This year, the tournament added a coffee and ice cream bar and lounge on the driving range.
Grube said it was in part because of its player-friendly reputation that the Travelers was chosen last fall to be among the first events to win elevated status.
“We’ve been auditioning for this for 16 years,” Grube said, a reference to the length of time Travelers has been the event’s title sponsor. "And when it came time to go ... We showed up.”
The designated status means the total purse has increased from $8.3 to $20 million, with the winner taking home $3.6 million rather than the just under $1.5 million Xander Schauffele took home last June.
The top PGA Tour players are required to play in 16 of the 17 designated events.
“It almost feels like we’re at the playoffs every time we’re at these elevated events,” Schauffele said during the Traveler’s media day news conference last month. “Everybody’s showing up, ready to go, the best players in the world showing up every week.”
Thirteen of the 17 designated tournaments, including the four majors, have that status in perpetuity. The other four events, such as the Travelers, were originally expected to rotate from year to year.
Andy Bessette, the executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Travelers, said the Connecticut tournament has been in talks to keep its designated status for the foreseeable future.
“I’ve been working on the agreement to keep us elevated for 24, 25, 26, and I think we’re getting close,” he said Tuesday. “But I think with everything going on in the world of golf these days, we’ve got to be a little more careful to make sure we understand what it’s going to look like. So it’s a little hard right now because the definitive agreement is going to be done by the end of the year. And once that’s done, then we have to see how it’s going to operate.”
One of the possibilities is that the Travelers could become an event that features only the top 70 or so golfers in the world, with no cut, Bessette said.
But this tournament has become known for giving younger golfers their first shot at playing a PGA Tour event. U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark made his debut in Connecticut in 2017 and 17 golfers have earned their first PGA Tour win at the Travelers, including Stewart Cink (1997) and Bubba Watson (2010).
Patrick Cantlay, who made his first big mark by shooting a 60 on this course while still an amateur in 2011, said he’s not worried about young golfers losing an opportunity.
“I think potentially it could lose something, but I think it gains something too,” he said. “I think there’s real power to having all the stars play an event and have them here for all four days. I don’t think there’ll be any difference on Tour. If you’re good enough to shoot the scores, you’re going to find your way out here sooner rather than later.”
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Fire at Harare Sports Club: ICC inspects and clears the ground for further use at World Cup Qualifiers
Published in
Cricket
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 06:23
On Tuesday night, a fire broke out at Harare Sports Club, which is currently hosting several ODI World Cup Qualifier matches, but swift response from the authorities ensured there was no damage done to the ground despite the close proximity of the blaze. An inspection by the ICC's security team and Zimbabwe Cricket as well has cleared the venue for continued use in the tournament.
Around six hours after Zimbabwe completed a six-wicket win over Netherlands, there were flames seen at the southern end of the ground. ESPNcricinfo understands that the material which caught fire consisted mainly of the thatched roofing at Castle Corner, the area usually occupied by the Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters Union. It is not known what caused the initial spark but on an open field with highly combustible material, the blaze grew quickly. One video showed flames reaching about as high as the trees outside the ground and coming very close to the stands.
The Harare Sports Club's location - opposite an official government building called Zimbabwe House - ensured that authorities were alerted quickly. They put out the fire before it could do damage to the stands.
On Wednesday morning, inspections were done at the ground to ensure that it was safe for spectators and then it was given the green light. The venue has seen packed crowds since the end of Covid-19 restrictions, with interest in the national men's team at an all-time high. Zimbabwe's tournament opener against Nepal last Sunday was sold out, with some being turned away at the gate. Their match against Netherlands on Tuesday was well-attended despite it being a weekday. It is expected that Saturday's clash against West Indies - the most anticipated of the group - will be a packed house.
In total, three more group matches, four Super Six games and the final, on July 9, are still to be played at Harare Sports Club. The two teams that contest the final will also qualify for this year's ODI World Cup.
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Harry Chathli in line to become new permanent chair at Yorkshire
Published in
Cricket
Wednesday, 21 June 2023 08:06
Yorkshire's long search for a successor to their former chair, Lord Kamlesh Patel, could be at an end, following the nomination of Harry Chathli as a non-executive director of the club, with a view to him succeeding the current interim chair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Chathli, whose daughter, Kira, plays for South East Stars and was part of the Oval Invincibles team that won the 2022 Hundred, is described in a Yorkshire press release as a "highly regarded business leader, and an experienced international capital markets expert, with a 25-year track record of advising global companies, organisations and government agencies".
His nomination is subject to ratification from club members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), on a date to be confirmed.
"I am delighted and truly privileged to have the Board's support as their nominee to become the Chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club," Chathli said. "This is one of the most iconic clubs in the cricketing world and, as with all English cricket fans, Headingley has always held a special place in my heart.
"I have seen the positive steps taken over the past year by YCCC and I believe Yorkshire has turned the corner - I've heard this from the business people I have spoken to over the past few months and from well-known international cricketers. It's because of this that I jumped at the chance to get fully involved with this prestigious club.
"The Club has been through a difficult period," he added. "I would like to bring the focus back to cricket and excellence on the pitch, as the club continues to learn from the many issues it has faced. I believe cricket excellence is built on two things: inclusivity and financial stability. YCCC needs to represent the Yorkshire of today and tap into all the extraordinary talent at its disposal and we need to have the proper funding to do this.
"We have a lot of work to do, but I have been impressed by the determination and resilience the club has shown and am ready to work with the Board and management to do everything I can to get the club back to where it should be."
Stephen Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, added: "Harry was the outstanding candidate in a very strong field and his passion for the game and vision for an inclusive future stood out to the whole board.
"His corporate and commercial experience will be vitally important as we look to secure the future health of the club, at the same time as reaffirming our commitment to deliver positive changes in line with the values and standards we have established as a board. We are determined to deliver long-term success and to build on the work we have done collectively to address the many challenges we have faced together to make Yorkshire County Cricket Club a thriving and welcoming place for all. We look forward to Harry having the opportunity to meet with Members ahead of the EGM and can't wait to welcome him to the Yorkshire family."
Baroness Grey-Thompson described Chathli as "the ideal person to continue to drive the club's recovery," and will continue in her role as a Non-Executive Director following the transition to the new chair.
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Steelers outside linebacker and Super Bowl champion Clark Haggans died at the age of 46, a team spokesperson confirmed Wednesday morning.
No cause of death was disclosed.
A fifth-round pick by the Steelers out of Colorado State in the 2000 NFL draft, Haggans spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh and started alongside college teammate Joey Porter on the team that defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XL in 2006. Haggans had five tackles and sacked quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the opening drive of the game, putting an exclamation point on a season where he recorded a career-best nine sacks and four forced fumbles.
Haggans was a full-time starter during his final four seasons in Pittsburgh and finished his Steelers career with one interception, 12 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 332 tackles and 32.5 sacks.
After Pittsburgh, Haggans spent four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and retired after one final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. Haggans holds the Colorado State record with 33 career sacks and he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2015.
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