Talkative Giants manager Bob Melvin ejected before first pitch at Colorado

DENVER (AP) — San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin wasn't around for the finish Sunday as his team defeated the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

He didn't even make it to the start, for that matter.

In an unusual scene, Melvin was ejected before the first pitch after he and bench coach Ryan Christensen delivered the lineup card to home plate umpire Alex MacKay.

“I just talked too much,” Melvin said following the Giants' 3-2 victory. “Umpiring’s a hard job, I’m aware of that, just probably said too much. I didn’t plan that, it wasn’t choreographed. I probably went too far.”

Justin Rose ‘choking back tears’ after Xander Schauffele surges to British Open title

TROON, Scotland (AP) — It felt like a must-have putt for Justin Rose as he tried to keep pace with Xander Schauffele on No. 12 at Royal Troon on Sunday.

Rose kneeled for a closer peek and stepped to the ball. The 21-footer looked good and the crowd was ready to erupt. It caught the left side of the cup, though, and lipped out.

Rose tossed his putter in the air, catching it on the way down. His British Open dream was dented, and Schauffele surged to the title.

Rose's lone bogey of the day dropped him a shot behind Schauffele and two strokes back of then-leader Thriston Lawrence.

Winnipeg’s Scott gets call for fourth Olympics

Winnipeg’s Desiree Scott is going to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris after all.

The 36-year-old midfielder, originally left off Team Canada’s roster announced on July 1, has been added an alternate to the national women’s soccer team after an injury to Sydney Collins.

Collins, a 24-year-old defender, fractured her left leg Thursday in a training match against Nigeria in Spain.

As a result, Canadian head coach Bev Priestman has elevated midfielder Gabrielle Carle, 25, to the active roster while Scott has been summoned to train with the squad as an alternate.

Brittney Griner honored to be wearing a USA Basketball jersey again after time in Russian prison

PHOENIX (AP) — There were times Brittney Griner thought she would never wear a USA Basketball jersey again. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was sitting in a Russian prison in 2022, sentenced to nine years in jail for drug possession and smuggling. Playing for her country again was a far-fetched idea at that point. Ten months later she was free after a high-profile prisoner exchange. Now, 19 months later, she’s suiting up for the U.S. in the Paris Games — her first trip to play overseas since returning from Russia. Brittney Griner (15), of Team USA, shoots over Angel Reese […]

Canada’s athletes began their Olympic journeys from humble beginnings

Parents, siblings and love of sport, although not necessarily their own Olympic sport at first, is a common origin story of how Canada's athletes got started in their chosen sport.

A capsule look at some beginnings:

Tammara Thibeault, Shawinigan, Que., boxing

"I got into boxing when I was nine. My dad was a CFL player, a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During his off-season, he'd go to the boxing club to stay in shape. He dragged his three kids along at the time and I fell in love with the sport."

Canadian women well prepped for Games

Call it a “breathe” weekend.

For the first time this summer, and the only time in what will end up being seven weeks, neither of Canada’s senior soccer teams are involved in a major competition this Saturday and Sunday. The men recently concluded their impressive Copa America campaign in the United States, and the women will shortly kick off their Olympic gold medal defense in France.

This, right now, is the break in between – the coming-up-for-air before the next plunge.

Of course, just because they don’t have a match today or tomorrow doesn’t mean the women aren’t, or haven’t been busy. They’ve played four friendlies since the start of June, the most recent a closed-door contest with Nigeria in Marbella, Spain. When the Olympics enters its knockout stage in August, they’ll have been together for more than two months.

Billy Horschel laments mistakes at Troon and tips cap to champion Xander Schauffele

TROON, Scotland (AP) — Billy Horschel turned his cap around but not his fortunes in majors.

The 37-year-old American led the British Open by one shot going into Sunday's final round at Royal Troon, but it was compatriot Xander Schauffele who captured the claret jug.

His wait for a major championship goes on.

“I'm disappointed. I should feel disappointed. I had a chance to win a major,” Horschel said. “I was in a really good position. I just didn’t play — I just made a few too many mistakes today when I didn’t need to.”

Park aims at podium

Skylar Park has put in years of training and competition to get to where she is today but the potential payoff for her labours will be squeezed into one solitary day at the Summer Olympics.

Aug. 8, 2024. It’s been marked on her calendar for months.

The 25-year-old Winnipegger, ranked fourth in the world in the 57-kilogram women’s division and Canada’s best hope for a taekwondo medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris, is making final preparations that she hopes will put her on the podium.

It will take four consecutive victories on Aug. 8 to earn a gold medal.