>>Panthers Inducting Peppers, Muhammad Into Hall Of Honor
(Charlotte, NC) — The Panthers are set to induct two team legends into their Hall of Honor. Former Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad are set to join the Panthers Hall of Honor at an induction ceremony this season. The two will be inducted at a ceremony at Bank of America Stadium on October 29th. Peppers spent 10 of his 17 NFL seasons with the Panthers, where he amassed franchise-best 97 sacks. Muhammad spent 11 seasons with Carolina and he ranks second in franchise history in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
>>Trail Blazers GM Jolted By Lillard Request To Leave
(Las Vegas, NV) — Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin says he wasn’t surprised that star guard Damian Lillard requested a trade, but it was a jolt when it happened. At a news conference in Las Vegas, Cronin said he’s frustrated that he wasn’t able to build a team that Lillard feels could win a championship now, and that he let Lillard down. Cronin says a team with Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, and Shaedon Sharpe has the potential to be win-now soon. Cronin added that a Lillard trade could take “months” to complete and that the team is willing to be patient.
>>Spurs’ Wembanyama Shut Down For Remainder Of Summer League
(Las Vegas, NV) — The Spurs are shutting down first overall pick Victor Wembanyama [[ wem-ben-YAH-muh ]] for the remainder of Summer League play. Wembanyama totaled 27 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in his final game of the summer on Sunday. The 19-year-old French product said that he is “just glad” that he can shift his focus to his first NBA regular season that is quickly approaching. Wembanyama also mentioned that he just wants “to hoop, work out and lift.”
>>Pistons Sign Stewart To Four-Year Extension
(Detroit, MI) — The Pistons are locking up forward Isaiah Stewart with a four-year contract extension. The “Free Press” reports the deal is worth 64-million dollars with 45-million guaranteed through the first three years. The fourth year is a team option. The Pistons drafted Stewart 16th overall in 2020 out of Washington.
>>Northwestern Fires Head Football Coach
(Evanston, IL) — Northwestern is moving on from its head football coach. The university announced on Monday that Pat Fitzgerald has been fired. The decision comes in the wake of a two-week unpaid suspension that the school announced on Friday, following a university-commissioned investigation into hazing allegations within the program. After the original announcement, university president Michael Schill said in a letter to the community that he “may have erred in weighing the appropriate sanction” for Fitzgerald after new details emerged surrounding the hazing allegations. Fitzgerald has coached Northwestern since 2006 and was two years into a 10-year, 57-million dollar contract.
>>Phoenix Mercury Hire Nick U’Ren As General Manager
(Phoenix, AZ) — The Phoenix Mercury are naming their new general manager. The team announced on Monday that it is hiring Golden State Warriors executive Nick U’Ren as GM. U’Ren most recently served as the Warriors’ executive director of basketball operations and joined the team back in 2014. He will replace Jim Pitman, who is retiring from his role but will continue to serve as the CFO of the Suns and Mercury. U’Ren will take over his GM duties after the Mercury’s season ends.
>>Wimbledon Day Seven Recap
(London) — The Quarterfinals are shaping up at Wimbledon. Four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic and top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz both advanced with four-set victories. American Christopher Eubanks pulled off a massive upset after downing fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller. Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune also punched their tickets to the quarters. On the women’s side, defending Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka each moved on. American Madison Keys and sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur also made the quarters.
>>Nashville SC Gears Up For Philadelphia
(Nashville, TN) — Nashville SC are getting ready for tomorrow’s match against Philadelphia Union at Geodis Park tomorrow night. Nashville is coming off a 1-nil loss against Chicago this past Saturday, but the club remains in second place in the Eastern Conference with 11 wins, five draws, and six losses for 38 points. Tomorrow’s contest kicks off at 7:30PM.