#72 – Jim Thome Power hitting Thome played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1991 to 2012 for six different teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians during the 1990s and early 2000s. Thome was prolific at the plate hitting 612 home runs during his career—the eighth-most all time and the second fastest to reach…… More
#73 – Mickey Cochrane Nicknamed “Black Mike“, Cochrane was a baseball player, manager and coach who playedas a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers. Cochrane was considered one of the best catchers in baseball history and was chosen as the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1928 and he appeared in the World…… More
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Shinnecock Hills was a lot bigger than Graeme McDowell expected. But not too big. McDowell was among those who began preparing Sunday for the U.S. Open on a course where golf first was played in 1891, and where the U.S. Open was last played 14 years…… More
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist His irons are sublime, his driver for the most part long and straight. If we’ve learned anything from his latest comeback, Tiger Woods can still putt a bit, too. A decade ago that would have made him the overwhelming pick to win the U.S. Open. Heck, a decade ago he…… More
BY JILL PAINTER LOPEZ, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — With every swing, Max Muncy becomes more valuable to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Muncy homered in his third straight game, Logan Forsythe and Enrique Hernandez also connected, and the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 Sunday. Muncy’s 12 home runs match the total he hit last…… More
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The U.S. Open prefers to be looked upon as the ultimate test in golf, which can be an invitation for trouble. Mike Davis knows that as well as anyone. He was at Shinnecock Hills early Sunday morning in 2004 — two years before he took over…… More
By JILL PAINTER LOPEZ, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Atlanta Braves expected big contributions from Freddie Freeman and Tyler Flowers this season. Charlie Culberson has been a little more of a surprise, although the Los Angeles Dodgers know all about his timely hitting. Freeman and Culberson each had three hits, Flowers drove in three…… More
By BETH HARRIS, AP Racing Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Justify defied all the odds on his way to achieving Triple Crown immortality. The late bloomer won the Belmont Stakes by 1¾ lengths on Saturday, giving the sport its 13th Triple Crown champion. American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought in 2015 and now just four years…… More
Vaughn McClureESPN Staff Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A play still eats at Steve Sarkisian. It’s not the one most people would think. The Atlanta Falcons‘ offensive coordinator pointed to last October’s 23-17 home defeat to the Buffalo Bills, when the Falcons lost receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu midway through the game. The final…… More
Vaughn McClure – ESPN Staff Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It’s not a goal scribbled across a locker room chalkboard or written on a note inside each defender’s locker, but the Atlanta Falcons feel confident about achieving a particular mark in 2018: evolving into a top-5 defense. Last season, under first-year defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel,…… More
