Reuters Sports News Summary

09/19/2016 19:50

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tebow begins Mets career wearing No. 15 jersey

In a blue New York Mets' batting practice jersey stitched with a No. 15 on the back, Tim Tebow began his bid to make it in professional baseball on Monday at Tradition Field at Port St. Lucie, Fla. "It was a lot of fun, it was great to be a on a team, go through a warm-up, take batting practice, try to remember as many names as possible," Tebow said. "It was just fun."

More kneeling football players, raised fists, in anthem protests

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn raised his fist and San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick was among several players who knelt during performances of the U.S. national anthem on Sunday. Three Miami Dolphin players also 'took a knee' before their game against the New England Patriots as public protests continued in the National Football League aimed at drawing attention to racial inequality.

World Cup scores on diversity, says NHL

Despite staging a World Cup that features only six nations and two gimmicky teams, the National Hockey League insisted on Monday it is the most international of the Big Four North American professional sports. With 25 percent of players in the NHL now coming from outside North America, commissioner Gary Bettman boasted that the league continues to lead the way when it comes to inclusion.

NASCAR accused of racial discrimination in lawsuit

NASCAR was hit with a $500 million lawsuit accusing the auto racing body of racial discrimination for preventing black-owned teams and drivers from competing, including in the Sprint Cup Series. Terrance Cox and his company, Diversity Motorsports Racing LLC, filed a lawsuit late on Friday in U.S. district court in Manhattan against NASCAR, its parent company, International Speedway Corp, and 18 teams, according to court records.

Ice hockey-Team Europe on top of World after win over Czechs

Germany's Leon Draisaitl potted the overtime winner as Team Europe edged Czech Republic 3-2 on Monday to close in on a spot in the World Cup of Hockey semi-finals. Team Europe (2-0), cobbled together with players from eight smaller hockey playing nations and coached by Canada-born Ralph Krueger, have been the tournament's surprise package and followed their upset of the U.S. with another victory to sit atop Group A.

Rosberg a winner among champions

Nico Rosberg drew level with Damon Hill in Formula One's all-time list of race winners on Sunday and the odds are narrowing on the German matching the Briton again as the only sons of world champions to take the title. Hill, the 1996 champion and son of late double title-holder Graham, currently stands alone with that achievement but maybe not for much longer.

Cyber hackers publish medical data for Farah, Nadal and Rose

Olympic champions Mo Farah, Rafael Nadal and Justin Rose were among athletes targeted on Monday in the latest leak of confidential medical documents that the world anti-doping agency (WADA) says were hacked by a Russian cyber espionage group. Britain's Farah became only the second man to retain the 5,000 and 10,000 meters Olympic titles at the Rio de Janeiro Games last month while compatriot Rose won the first gold medal in golf for 112 years.

Seahawks penalized for violating offseason workout rules

The Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl champions of two seasons ago, have been fined $400,000 and will also forfeit their fifth-round selection in the 2017 Draft for violating offseason workout rules, the NFL said on Monday. The league fined Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll $200,000 for his role in the violation while the team will also lose one week of organized team activities (OTAs) in 2017.

Plea talks under way in FIFA bribery case as U.S. trial date set

Several defendants charged in a wide-ranging corruption case involving soccer's global governing body FIFA are in talks with U.S. officials about possibly pleading guilty, a U.S. prosecutor said on Monday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Norris spoke at a hearing in Brooklyn federal court after U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen set a Nov. 6, 2017, trial date for seven former soccer officials and one former marketing executive.

Exhausted Murray desperate for a break

Andy Murray is itching for a break after an exhausting few months, the world number two said, after defending champions Britain were knocked out by Argentina 3-2 in the Davis Cup semi-final. The 29-year-old had a busy European summer when he reached the French Open final, followed by his second Wimbledon triumph, and then successfully defended his Olympic gold at Rio.

09/19/2016 19:50