Former Revolution star Clint Dempsey retires from soccer
He helped New England reach two straight MLS Cup finals in 2005 and 2006.
Former New England Revolution striker Clint Dempsey, considered one of the best US soccer players of all time, retired Wednesday after 15 years of playing professionally.
The 35-year-old was mostly a sub with Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders this summer, and that, combined with age and injury, prompted him to decide now was the time to walk away even with two months left in the MLS regular season. Dempsey is tied with Landon Donovan as the greatest US goal scorer, with 57 international goals in 141 appearances with the national team.
Dempsey played three seasons for the Revolution and was named 2004 MLS Rookie of the Year. He helped New England reach two straight MLS Cup finals in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, he moved to Fulham and was the first American to score a hat trick in the English Premier League. He played in a Europa League final, and his chipped goal against Juventus while playing for Fulham is regarded as arguably the best of his career.
. . . Paraquay’s Juan Angel Napout, a former top South American soccer official, was sentenced in federal court in New York to nine years in prison for pocketing millions of dollars in cash bribes as part of the sprawling FIFA corruption scandal.
Baseball
Indians put Miller on DL again
Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller was put on the 10-day disabled list because of shoulder soreness, an injury the AL Central leaders hope gets better in time for the postseason. It is Miller’s third time on the DL this season. Manager Terry Francona said Miller complained about his shoulder Tuesday and, after consulting with the team’s medical staff, received a cortisone injection. Francona said Miller will be completely shut down while the shot takes affect and there’s no timetable on when he will pitch again . . . Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo will undergo surgery on his bothersome right knee, ending an injury-marred season . . . Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing athroscopic surgery on his left knee. Recovery time is typically at least six weeks . . . The Houston Astros will sign manager A.J. Hinch to a contract extension on Thursday, according to multiple media reports . . . San Francisco Giants rookie center fielder Steven Duggar was placed on the disabled list with a potential season-ending left shoulder injury a day after a hard, headfirst slide back into second base. The team’s medical staff was still awaiting MRI results . . . Home runs by Jade Gortarez and Megan Baltzell helped the US beat Canada, 5-1, and keep its hopes alive for a spot in the final of the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Viera, Fla.
Basketball
USA Basketball expands
USA Basketball is expanding its men’s junior national team program, partnering with the NBA, NCAA and National Basketball Players Association to bring about 80 high school players to training camps. USA Basketball says about 20 athletes from each high school class will participate in six camps during the 2018-19 season The Commission on College Basketball recommended changing the ‘‘one-and-done’’ rule that requires American-born players to be 19 years old and a year removed from high school to be eligible for the NBA draft. The league and the NPBA wouldn’t commit to a change, but did support the idea of improving youth basketball. The first camp will take place for players from all high school grades from Oct. 5-7 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Another will take place at the Final Four in Minneapolis. Players will be educated on off-court life skills, including preparation for college recruiting, and participate in a health and wellness program that will continue throughout the year. The program will be managed by former Celtics head athletic trainer Ed Lacerte.
Delle Donne questionable
Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne has a bone bruise in her left knee and will be listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 of the WNBA semifinal series against the Atlanta Dream. The Mystics announced Delle Donne’s status a day after she was injured. The playoff series is tied at 1-all . . . The Las Vegas Aces will have the first pick in the WNBA draft for a third straight year. . . . Four Japanese basketball players who were sent home from the Asian Games for hiring prostitutes while on a night out in Jakarta have been suspended from playing for one year. The four players — Yuya Nagayoshi, Takuya Hashimoto, Takuma Sato, and Keita Imamura — were kicked off Japan’s Asian Games team and sent home from Indonesia on Aug. 20 . . . University of Memphis guard Jeremiah Martin will miss four to six weeks as the Tigers’ leading scorer last season recovers from hernia surgery.
Miscellany
Smith unleashes angry tweets
Fired Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith denied that he abused his ex-wife and blames the university president for an investigation that led to the suspension of coach Urban Meyer. In a series of tweets Wednesday, the 34-year-old Smith also lashed out at media, contended the investigation into his behavior was botched and said he hopes Meyer was forced by the university to apologize. He also posted a picture of his two children to tell critics that ‘‘your reckless & complete disregard for human beings hurts innocent children.’’. . . Johnny Manziel is out of the Canadian Football League’s concussion protocol and is expected to back up Antonio Pipkin in the Montreal Alouettes’ game Friday night at Ottawa . . . Former middleweight boxing champion Jermain Taylor was arrested at his Little Rock, Ark., home after police alleged he punched a woman, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. Taylor was charged with third-degree domestic battery and aggravated assault on a family or household member. He was booked into the Pulaski County Jail without bond . . . Martin Brodeur returned to the New Jersey Devils as executive vice president of business development. Brodeur is back with the franchise he led to the Stanley Cup three times and became the NHL’s all-time-leading goaltender in victories . . . French cyclist Rudy Molard took the overall lead of the Spanish Vuelta, while Australia’s Simon Clarke won the fifth stage . . . Britain’s Mark Cavendish will take an indefinite break from cycling after being diagnosed for the second time with the Epstein-Barr virus, which can cause fatigue and inflammation in various parts of the body.
