AP Sports SummaryBrief at 10:17 a.m. EST | Sports | yakimaherald.com – Yakima Herald-Republic
Blatter says picking Qatar as World Cup host was a ‘mistake’
GENEVA (AP) — Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says picking Qatar to host the World Cup was a mistake 12 years ago. Blatter led FIFA at the time of the vote and says soccer and the World Cup are too big for a country as small as Qatar. He repeated his claim that key votes for Qatar were swayed by a 2010 meeting in Paris between then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy and FIFA vice president Michel Platini. The 86-year-old Blatter spoke with a Swiss newspaper group. It was his first major interview since being acquitted with Platini in July of financial misconduct at FIFA.
This year’s World Series is 2nd-least watched on TV
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Houston Astros’ six-game victory over the Philadelphia Phillies finished as the second least-watched World Series on television. The six games averaged 11,784,000 on Fox, down 1.3% from the 11,940,000 for the Atlanta Braves’ six-game win over the Astros last year and ahead of only the 9,946,000 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020. Houston’s 3-1 win in Game 6 on Saturday night was seen by 12,549,000 viewers on Fox, down 11% from 14,140,000 Atlanta’s 7-0 victory over the Astros in last year’s finale, played on a Tuesday night.
Analysis: Warriors’ Steph Curry shines spotlight on women
Stephen Curry wants people to know about Nanea McGuigan. She’s the Golden State Warriors executive who got her championship ring along with the rest of the players three weeks ago. It was a sneak attack led by Curry and a few others within the organization. Their motive was simple. They wanted the world to see that some women play very big roles in a male-dominated league.
World Cup has 3 women set to referee matches in Qatar
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita knows that being one of three women picked to officiate matches at the World Cup is more than just about soccer. Stephanie Frappart of France and Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda must be of the same mind. It will be the first time a woman will be in charge on the game’s biggest stage. The three women are in a pool of 36 referees listed for Qatar. The rest are all men. FIFA has also named three female assistant referees. They are Neuza Back of Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States.
World Cup ambassador from Qatar denounces homosexuality
BERLIN (AP) — An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar has described homosexuality as a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF only two weeks before the opening of the soccer tournament in the Gulf state. The comment highlights concerns about the conservative country’s treatment of gays and lesbians. Former Qatari national team player Khalid Salman told a German reporter in an interview that being gay is “haram.” That means forbidden in Arabic. He also says he has a problem with children seeing gay people. Excerpts of the television interview were shown Monday on the ZDF news program Heute Journal. The full interview will be shown Tuesday on ZDF.
2 coaches fired, several others remain on hot seat
There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. Based on recent history there likely will be more. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Patience runs thin with 14 teams making the playoffs each season and several recent squads undergoing rapid turnarounds.
Saturday faces daunting task in preparing Colts for Raiders
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday faces a dauting task this week. First, he must find a play-caller. Then he must create a game plan for this week’s game at Las Vegas. And then he still must figure out how to fix the Colts offense and specifically its offensive line. It’s a lot to ask of someone who has spent more time in a broadcast studio than on a sideline this season. But team owner Jim Irsay thinks Saturday is right guy for this Sunday — and Indy’s final eight games.
Analysis: Bet the under; NFL pendulum has swung to defense
Not even Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are exempt from the NFL’s shift toward stingier defenses. The pendulum has swung away from offense this season and most of the casualties are quarterback royalty including Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson. All of those Super Bowl winners have losing records heading into the second half of the season. The major reason for the new defensive dominance is the shell defenses that teams are using that tamp down on the big plays over the top and often lead to mistakes by the offense that stalls drives.
Rizzo, Bassitt turn down options, among 11 now free agents
LAS VEGAS (AP) — First baseman Anthony Rizzo became a free agent again when he declined his $16 million option with the New York Yankees for 2023. Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt declined his $19 million option with the New York Mets and followed rotation mates Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker into free agency. They were among 11 players who became free agents, raising the total to 151. About 33 more players are potentially eligible to go free by Thursday, joining a free agent class headed by Aaron Judge, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson, deGrom, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts.
Steelers optimistic star LB T.J. Watt will return vs. Saints
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers could get a much-needed jolt as they begin the second half of their season. Coach Mike Tomlin says the team is optimistic that star outside linebacker T.J. Watt will be available when Pittsburgh hosts New Orleans in Week 10. Watt has been out since tearing his left pectoral in Week 1. The Steelers are also hopeful that veteran safety Damontae Kazee will play. Kazee injured his wrist in the preseason.