What is a strike in baseball? Robots, rule book and umpires view it differently
The education of robot umpires has been complicated by an open secret in baseball for the past 150 years: The strike zone called on the field doesn’t match the one mapped out in the rule book
2023-07-10 18:25
Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women's league to play in WNBA offseason
WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are starting a new women’s basketball league to give top players another option to play in the U.S. in the offseason once the league’s prioritization rules go into effect next year
2023-07-07 02:26
FTX Lawyer Who Made Problems Disappear Is Caught Up in Crypto Firm’s Fallout
He was the ultimate crypto cleaner – a lawyer, fixer and more for Sam Bankman-Fried and his FTX
2023-07-06 18:20
FIA not interested in early renegotiations of bedrock Formula One agreement, president tells AP
The president of the FIA tells The Associated Press the governing body has no interest in signing an early renewal of its contract with Liberty Media and the 10 Formula One teams
2023-07-06 12:51
FIA wonders how it can deny General Motors a spot on Formula One grid, president tells AP
The president of the FIA is telling The Associated Press the motorsports governing body has received more than five applications for expansion into Formula One
2023-07-06 03:58
Billionaire Mike Ashley Adds £150 Million to London Property Bet
UK retail billionaire Mike Ashley has shifted more of his money into a company he set up to
2023-07-05 23:18
Layover, cramped seating, security lines: A day with players on a WNBA commercial flight
The New York Liberty had a 13-hour travel day from Connecticut to Las Vegas during a recent three-game road trip
2023-07-05 21:16
Leicester fined up to £880,000 over price fixing with JD Sports
Leicester are to be fined up to £880,000 after “colluding to restrict competition” alongside JD Sports in the sales of club clothing, including replica kit, according to the UK competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said the Sky Bet Championship side and JD Sports have admitted to anti-competitive behaviour, which include “price fixing conduct”. The parties broke competition law between 2018 and 2021 with arrangements which limited competition in the sale of clothing, the CMA said it has provisionally found. Leicester and its parent companies have agreed to pay a fine up to the watchdog’s maximum penalty of £880,000. JD Sports will avoid a fine after reporting the illegal activity. In August 2018, JD Sports said it would stop selling Leicester-branded clothing online for the 2018-19 season, and in January 2019, JD Sports agreed it would not “undercut” the club in terms of online sales for the following season by applying a delivery charge to all orders, the CMA said. It said JD Sports continued the agreement to sell all Leicester clothing with the charge until at least January 2021. Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said: “Strong and unimpeded competition between retailers is essential to consumers’ ability to shop around for the best deals. “Football fans are well-known for their loyalty towards their teams. In this case we have provisionally found that Leicester City FC and JD Sports colluded to share out markets and fix prices with the result that fans may have ended up paying more than they would otherwise have done. “Both parties have now admitted their involvement, allowing us to bring the investigation to a swift conclusion. “The fine that Leicester City FC and its parent companies have agreed to pay sends a clear message to them and other businesses that anti-competitive collusion will not be tolerated.” In response, Leicester stressed that no current club directors or senior management were involved in the arrangements. “These arrangements related to a limited number of bulk orders by JD Sports, which were accepted by the club’s retail sales team over the relevant period,” the club added. “There was no intention on the part of the club to unlawfully restrict the resale of the goods supplied and no material financial advantage to be gained from doing so, given the limited amount of kit supplied to JD Sports. “However, the club accepts the CMA’s findings and has taken steps to strengthen its training and compliance measures to ensure the club’s retail operations fully comply with competition law.” JD Sports also highlighted that current or former directors or senior management of JD were involved in the offending conduct and that it signed a leniency agreement with the CMA last month. The company added: “JD has taken a number of steps to strengthen its competition compliance programme and the board reaffirms its commitment to making the necessary resource available, internal and external, to ensure that this is embedded into its daily operations.” It comes almost a year after JD Sports, rival Elite Sports and Rangers were handed fines over price fixing on replica kits. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Paris St Germain sack Christophe Galtier Wimbledon schedule further affected as rain prevents play on Wednesday morning Keira Walsh fears injury ‘every time I go on the pitch’ due to increased load
2023-07-05 20:27
Business as usual for Fleetwood as former chairman is jailed
Fleetwood will continue to go about the club’s normal business following the sentencing of former chairman Andy Pilley. Pilley, who stepped down as chairman and director of the League One club during May after being convicted on four counts of fraud, appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday. He was found guilty of two counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts. Also chairman of BES Utilities, Pilley had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council, but lost a civil court fight over investigating allegations of mis-selling. At the Crown Court sentencing, the 53-year-old, who had been was remanded in custody, was jailed for a total of 13 years and was also disqualified from being a director for 13 years. Pilley had been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and overseen the club’s rise from non-league status to the English Football League. Fleetwood, who finished 13th last season, had already announced the club were in discussions surrounding a change of ownership and control which remain ongoing. A statement on Tuesday afternoon read: “Fleetwood Town Football Club acknowledges the sentencing in the court case involving former club chairman, Andy Pilley. “The club would like to reiterate convictions are against individuals and not Fleetwood Town FC, or any of the businesses associated with them, and will continue to operate as normal. “Fleetwood Town remain in communication with the EFL and will be making no further comment at this time.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-07-05 00:57
PGA Tour is sending 2 executives to a Senate hearing as LIV cites conflicts
The PGA Tour is sending two leading figures to next week's Senate panel reviewing its surprise business agreement with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf
2023-07-04 02:25
PGA Tour Officials to Testify on LIV Golf Merger at Senate Hearing Next Week
PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and board member Jimmy Dunne are set to testify on July
2023-07-04 01:48
Nascar Kicks Off Chicago Street Race After Downpours Abate
Nascar kicked off the first-ever street race in its marquee series, as earlier downpours that flooded Chicago roads
2023-07-03 07:20