An outrageous owner and savvy businessman, Ted Turner reshaped the sports world
ATLANTA (AP) — Ted Turner was a sportsman and visionary media mogul who transformed the Atlanta Braves into a national sensation. He bought the struggling team in the 1970s, broadcast their games nationwide, and turned them into a World Series mainstay by the 1990s. Turner also owned the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. He founded the Goodwill Games, inspired by Olympic boycotts, bringing together athletes from around the world. Turner’s larger-than-life personality and innovative approach set a model for modern sports owners, making him a unique figure in sports and media history.
Paris Saint-Germain returns to Champions League final as Dembélé goal stifles Bayern Munich
MUNICH (AP) — Ousmane Dembélé has scored early and Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Bayern Munich with a 1-1 draw to reach the Champions League final again. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia raced clear after playing a simple one-two with Fabián Ruiz in midfield, then picked out the unmarked Dembélé to sweep the ball in under the crossbar in the third minute of the semifinal second leg. By the time Harry Kane equalized in stoppage time it was too late. The draw gave PSG, the defending champion, a 6-5 win on aggregate after edging their encounter 5-4 in the first leg in Paris last week. PSG will face Arsenal in the final in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30.
Jalen Brunson helps the Knicks take a 2-0 lead over the 76ers with a 108-102 victory
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and helped New York seize control of a close game after a run of blowouts, leading the Knicks to a 108-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Playing without the injured Joel Embiid, the 76ers put up a far better fight than in the Knicks’ 137-98 romp in Game 1. The game featured 25 lead changes, 14 ties and neither team led by more than seven points. But those kinds of situations are made for Brunson, who made the tiebreaking basket with 5:06 remaining, added another jumper for a 103-99 advantage with 3:45 to play.
Byram, McLeod score to revive Sabres power play in 4-2 win over Montreal in 2nd round playoff opener
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bowen Byram and Ryan McLeod scored on consecutive power-play opportunities in reviving Buffalo’s anemic special-teams unit, and the Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. Josh Doan and Jordan Greenway also scored for Buffalo making its first second-round appearance since 2007, and first overall in 15 years. Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach scored for Montreal, which appeared slow to find its legs three days after defeating Tampa Bay in Game 7 of its first-round series. Jakub Dobes finished with 12 saves. Buffalo hosts Game 2 on Friday night.
Luka Doncic says being injured during Lakers' playoff run has been 'very frustrating'
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic says he was given platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain in an effort to speed up his eight-week timeline for return from the hamstring injury that has had him sidelined since April 2. Doncic told reporters Wednesday that the injections required four days of rest in-between each other. Doncic said he’s been running, but he’s yet to reintroduce any contact. He said it has been frustrating to be out. The Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals series 108-90 on Tuesday.
Joel Embiid misses Game 2 and the 76ers miss their big man in the 4th quarter of their loss
NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers put up a good fight without Joel Embiid, though could have used their man in the middle when they struggled to score in the final minutes of Game 2. The 76ers were limited to 12 points in the fourth quarter and lost 108-102 to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night to fall into a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Embiid was ruled out about six hours before the game with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip. Coach Nick Nurse said Embiid woke up with soreness and was ruled out by the team's medical staff.
Patriots QB Drake Maye stands behind coach Mike Vrabel, calling him 'a great human being'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye called Mike Vrabel “a great human being,” and said he doesn’t think the head coach’s off-field issues will be a distraction for the defending AFC champions this upcoming season. Maye spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday following the Truist Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte in which he was paired with PGA Tour pro Gary Woodland on the back nine at Quail Hollow. Vrabel has found himself entangled in controversy after the New York Post posted pictures of him with longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. Vrabel said on April 24 that he was taking accountability for his actions without addressing specifics about the published photos. Vrabel missed the third day of the draft to attend counseling.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is not running in the Preakness
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes next weekend. Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced the plan to skip the Preakness and set sights on the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Golden Tempo is the third Derby winner in the past five years not to be entered in the Preakness. For various reasons, it is the sixth time in eight years the Preakness will happen with no chance of a Triple Crown on the line. American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 are the only horses to sweep all three races over the past four decades.
Tigers' Framber Valdez suspended 5 games by MLB for intentionally throwing at Boston's Trevor Story
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez was suspended for five games and fined, one day after he was ejected for hitting Boston’s Trevor Story with a pitch during a 10-2 loss in which he allowed a career-high 10 runs. Valdez was at first banned for six games by MLB, which cited him for intentionally throwing a pitch at Story, but the penalty was reduced in an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association. He started serving the penalty during Wednesday night’s series finale and barring rainouts will be eligible to pitch Wednesday at the New York Mets. Detroit already is missing injured starting pitchers Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Justin Verlander.
Astros star Carlos Correa faces season-ending surgery on a torn tendon in his ankle
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Carlos Correa has a torn tendon in his left ankle that will require season-ending surgery. The star infielder gave the update on his injury Wednesday. Correa was injured the day prior while taking swings in the batting cage before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Correa was on crutches and in a walking boot Wednesday morning at the ballpark after seeing a foot specialist. He said he would seek some other opinions before scheduling the surgery. Correa said the injury was a complete tear and his recovery is expected to take six to eight months.
