Staff report |Nike has shaken the sports world—and the nation—by stating that it is using an image of former San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the sports apparel and equipment company’s 30th anniversary. Pro-Kaepernick fans went out and bought even more Nike items, while critics were seen to burn or cut up their Nike sportswear. Kaepernick, of course, began a protest against police brutality of African Americans in 2016 by kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games. The 49ers released him and he has been an unsigned free agent ever since. He has sued the NFL for collusion … Also in sports news:
- The Augusta University volleyball team will play in the Augusta-USC Aiken Tournament on Sept. 7-8 at Christenberry Fieldhouse. Opponents will be Catawba, Carson-Newman and West Alabama ...
- Jim Furyk, the U.S. captain, picked Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau to be on the Ryder Cup team. Woods finished sixth in the British Open and second in the PGA, while DeChambeau has won the first two legs of the Fedex Cup playoffs. Mickelson played well in the final round of the most recent Fedex Cup tourney …
- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremonies on Sept. 8 in Springfield, Mass. Those being inducted include Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Charles “Lefty” Driesell, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Dino Radja, Charlie Scott, Katie Smith,Tina Thompson, Rod Thorn, Ora Mae Washington and Rick Welts. Driesell, a Duke alumnus, is a former Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State coach who had a career record of 786-394 …
- The AP poll after the first full week of the college football season finds Alabama first, followed by Clemson and Georgia. Ohio State is fourth and Wisconsin fifth. Georgia plays at No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday. Kickoff at Williams-Bryce Stadium in Columbia, S.C., is 3:39 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS …
- Maryland’s victory over Texas for the second straight season has Longhorn Coach Tom Herman on the early hot seat …
- According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Nielsen Sports, a sports analytics company, has published a report that states the NFL could make $2.3 billion per year off a “full mature U.S. sports gambling market …
- The Atlanta Falcons open the NFL regular season on Thursday night, Sept. 6, at defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Atlanta is healthy, but the Eagles have four major injuries Nick Foles will start at quarterback for Carson Wentz. Two receivers, Alshon Jeffery (who played collegiately at South Carolina) and Mack Hollins, are both injured. On defense, Timmy Jerrigan is also banged up. And LB Nigel Bradham is suspended ...
- Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. set the Braves’ franchise record for leadoff home runs with his eighth of the season on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, who rallied for a 9-8 victory. The previous record holder for the Braves was Marquis Grissom ...
- Research into Major League Baseball shows the vast majority of the first pitches in games this season have been fastballs.
Sources: Associated Press, Bleacher Report, ESPN, New York Times, Sports Illustrated.Contributors: Sam Behzadian, Leeroy Francis, Brandon Johnson, Ben Marshall, Khadijah Sandifer and Chase Slone.