Sports Update 7-13-2023

>>LeBron James Confirms He Won’t Retire

 

(Los Angeles, CA)  — LeBron James is confirming that he’ll return to the hardwood next season.  The Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward announced during the ESPYS that he will continue playing basketball.  The 38-year-old had previously said he would have a “lot to think about” after the Lakers’ season ended in the Western Conference Finals.  James said during award show that he would be done playing once he couldn’t give everything on the floor and added “that day is not today.”

 

>>United States Lose To Panama In CONCACAF Gold Cup Semifinals

 

(San Diego, CA)  —  The United States has fallen short of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final for the first time since 2015.  Team USA fell to Panama in penalties after a 1-1 draw and was eliminated from the tournament.  Jesus Ferreira scored the lone goal for the Americans with one minute remaining in the first half of extra time to tie the game at one-all and eventually send the match to penalties.  Panama scored on five of six penalty kicks, while Americans Jesus Ferreira and Cristian Roldan fell short on their attempts.

 

>>2023 Genesis Scottish Open Preview

 

(North Berwick, Scotland)  — Xander Schauffele will be looking to defend his title at this week’s Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.  Schauffele won last year’s tournament after finishing atop the leaderboard at seven under par.  After winning the John Deere Classic last week, Sepp Straka will not be participating in this week’s tournament.  Aaron Baddeley, David Law and Matthew Baldwin will be among the first group of players teeing off the opening round.

 

>>Wimbledon Day Nine Recap

 

(London)  — The Semifinals are set at Wimbledon.  Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz rolled past sixth-seeded Holger Rune in straight sets to advance.  American Christopher Eubanks had his run cut short after losing in five sets to third-seeded Daniil Medvedev.  Alcaraz and Medvedev joined Novak Djokovic  and Jannik Sinner as the final four men standing.  On the women’s side, second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka downed American Madison Keys to reach the semifinals.  Defending Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was ousted by sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur in a three-set thriller.

 

>>Nashville SC Shutout By Philadelphia Union

 

(Nashville, TN)  — Nashville SC came up empty against the Philadelphia Union following a 2-nil loss at GEODIS Park.  Daniel Gazdag netted a brace after converting a penalty in the 40th-minute and another in the 84th-minute.  Daniel Lovitz and Shaquell Moore each earned red cards for Nashville.  The club fell to 11-5-and-7 and is third in the Eastern Conference with 38 points.  Nashville is on the road to play FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

 

>>NFL Announces 2024 Hall Of Fame Semifinalists

 

(Canton, OH)  — The NFL is announcing its 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists.  Legendary head coaches Mike Shanahan and Tom Coughlin are among 60 eligible candidates up for enshrinement.  Shanahan led the Denver Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles 1997 and ’98.  New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin also led his team to a pair of Super Bowl titles.  Team owners Robert Kraft and Virginia McCaskey are also up for induction.  The results from semifinal voting will be revealed on July 27th.

 

>>Porzingis Signs Two-Year Extension With Celtics

 

(Boston, MA)  — The Celtics are locking up their big offseason acquisition.  Boston has signed center Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year, 60-million-dollar extension that will keep him with the team through the 2025-26 season.  The 27-year-old was traded to the Celtics from the Washington Wizards at the start of the new league year.  Porzingis exercised his 36-million-dollar option for the upcoming season following the trade.  The one-time All-Star averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 65 games with the Wizards last season.