Cycling
Sagan wins 11th career Suisse stage, tying record
BIEL, Switzerland – Sprint specialist Peter Sagan of Slovakia tied a Tour de Suisse record with his 11th career stage win in the 82-year-old race, and Thibaut Pinot retained the overall lead Thursday.
Sagan’s victory in a 120-mile sixth stage from Wil to Biel tied him with Swiss greats Hugo Koblet and Ferdi Kuebler, who raced in the 1940s-50s.
The Tinkoff-Saxo rider outpaced Jurgen Roelandts of Belgium and Alexander Kristoff of Norway after more than four and a half hours in the saddle.
Pinot conceded five seconds in the overall standings to Geraint Thomas of Britain, who placed 11th and trails the Frenchman by 42 seconds.
MLB
Astros GM disputes details related to hacking probe
HOUSTON – Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow says the notion that poor password protection is to blame for a computer hack of his team’s player database is “absolutely false.”
The FBI is investigating whether employees of the St. Louis Cardinals broke into the database. Some material was posted online a year ago, and the Cardinals and Astros both have said they are cooperating with the authorities.
NBA
Clippers unfurl full-scale rebrand with new logos
LOS ANGELES – From the skyscrapers to the beaches, the Los Angeles Clippers hit the town to unveil their new logos and uniforms.
The Clippers handed out thousands of red T-shirts Thursday all across greater Los Angeles to publicize the latest step in a thorough rebranding of the long-struggling franchise.
They’re hoping to build on their evolution into an NBA title contender with a new look and attitude.
So billionaire owner Steve Ballmer gave out free shirts and logo-festooned cupcakes in downtown Los Angeles, while coach Doc Rivers shook hundreds of hands in a long line outside the beloved Pink’s hot dog stand in Hollywood.
NFL
Adrian Peterson finding a new normal with Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Adrian Peterson has been back with the Minnesota Vikings for nearly a month now. He’s participated in practices, including the three-day minicamp that wrapped up Thursday.
But Peterson says his life has not returned to normal since he was charged with child abuse last September. Peterson missed most of last season while addressing the accusation and tangling with the NFL over his punishment. He pleaded no contest to resolve the case.
Soccer
Candidates start to emerge for vacant FIFA presidency
LONDON – The president of the Liberia Football Association announced he is running for the FIFA presidency.
Musa Bility is the second candidate to emerge since Sepp Blatter announced on June 2 – four days after being re-elected to a fifth term – that he would step down amid the corruption scandal rocking FIFA.
Former Brazil star Zico has already declared his interest in running for FIFA president.
Announcing his candidacy Thursday on the BBC, Bility said: “If Africa doesn’t put up a candidate, it says a lot about us.”
The election is expected to be held between December and February. Candidates require the backing of five national associations to get on the ballot.
Bility would be the first African candidate for FIFA’s top job since Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou lost to Blatter in 2002.
Associated Press
