Tuesday Sports

OLYMPICS

Canada’s men’s basketball team will begin knockout round play at the Paris Olympics today when they take on host France in the quarterfinals. The French squad, which went two-and-one in group play, is led by San Antonio Spurs 2023 first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama, who leads the team in points, rebounds and assists per game. The Canadians were undefeated in group play with wins over Spain, Australia and Greece.

American gymnast Simone Biles didn’t get the golden sendoff she hoped. Biles earned silver in the floor exercise finals on Monday after a routine that included a couple of costly steps out of bounds. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade became the first gymnast to beat Biles in a floor final in a major international competition, posting a score of 14.166 that finished just ahead of Biles at 14.133. It was Biles’ 11th Olympic medal. Jordan Chiles, a longtime friend of Biles, earned the bronze.

NFL

• Players from the New York Giants and Detroit Lions got into several altercations during a joint practice on Monday, including one involving Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and another with Lions all-pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The practice is the first of two consecutive days of joint workouts and saw at least two players injured, both with the Lions. There were also at least four scrums after plays, including one where Jones rushed into an altercation with his centre, Greg Van Roten.
• Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh insists he has no reason to apologize. The ex-Michigan coach continues to deny having any knowledge of an impermissible-scouting operation that triggered an NCAA investigation into his program last year. Harbaugh left Michigan two weeks after he led the Wolverines to their first national title since 1997. Michigan is expected to soon receive a notice of allegations from the NCAA related to the sign-stealing scheme.

MLB

• WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host the Texas Rangers at the White House on Thursday to recognize the 2023 World Series champions, their first championship title in the history of the franchise. The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5 of the World Series in November. The team announced the visit on Monday and the White House confirmed it early Tuesday. It’s a longstanding tradition for professional and collegiate championship sports teams to visit the White House and be recognized by the president. Biden has made few public appearances since dropping his bid for reelection last month.
• OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game, tying the American League record with a 5-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics as Max Schuemann hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fourth inning. Chicago is on the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight.

NHL

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the organization has signed defenseman Oliver Kylington to a one-year contract for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Kylington, 27, appeared in 33 games for the Calgary Flames in 2023-24, recording eight points (3g/5a).  Kylington, who missed the entire 2022-23 season and the first half of the 2023-24 campaign due to personal reasons, was named one of three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. He skated in his 200th career NHL game on April 16 at Vancouver.

(Canadian Press, NHL.com)