Horse Racing
Belmont Stakes’ purse adds a half-million in heft
NEW YORK – The Belmont Stakes will be worth $1.5 million next year, the first purse increase for the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown since 1998.
The Preakness Stakes announced earlier this month its purse would increase to $1.5 million. The Kentucky Derby is worth $2 million.
The purse for the Belmont, to be run June 7, will be shared among the first eight finishers. Previously, it was split between the top five finishers on a percentage basis.
The winner will earn $800,000. The eighth-place finisher will receive $30,000.
The Belmont Stakes’ purse was $1 million.
MLB
Puig arrested for speeding 110 in a 70-mph zone
NAPLES, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol said Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was arrested after officers clocked him driving 110 mph in a 70-mph zone.
A news release from the Highway Patrol said a white Mercedes driven by the 23-year-old Cuban defector was pulled over around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities said Puig was arrested and charged with reckless driving and taken to the Collier County jail for processing.
Mixed Martial Arts
Weidman defends UFC belt, while Silva breaks his leg
LAS VEGAS – Chris Weidman defended his UFC middleweight title when Anderson Silva apparently broke his left leg on a kick in the second round, ending UFC 168 with a horrific injury Saturday night.
Weidman (11-0) quietly celebrated his victory while medical personnel tended to Silva (33-6), whose left shin bent grotesquely while landing a kick on Weidman’s left leg 1 minute, 16 seconds into the round.
Weidman, who earned his belt with an upset victory over the long-reigning champion in July, also dominated the first round of the rematch.
Ronda Rousey retained her bantamweight title in the UFC’s year-end event, submitting Miesha Tate with a third-round arm bar.
NBA
Cavaliers’ two-year, $24M investment ends badly
CLEVELAND – The Andrew Bynum experiment appears over for the Cavaliers.
The team indefinitely suspended the enigmatic center Saturday for “conduct detrimental to the team” and banned him from all team activities.
Bynum, who signed a two-year, $24-million contract with the Cavs in July, did not travel with the club to Boston for Saturday’s game, and it’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. The Cavs will try to trade him.
The suspension is not a shock considering he has not played consistently and has appeared uninterested while on the floor. Earlier this season, the 26-year-old 7-footer, who did not play a second last season for Philadelphia because of knee injuries, openly talked about retirement and said his medical issues have been a challenge.
NFL
The ‘overwhelming favorite’ for the Texans is O’Brien
HOUSTON – The Houston Texans interviewed Penn State’s Bill O’Brien about their vacant head coaching job, and he has emerged as a leading candidate, according to media reports.
Houston team owner Bob McNair told The Houston Chronicle on Saturday night: “The process has been underway, and it continues. The process isn’t over. We have other candidates to interview next week.”
ESPN reported, citing unidentified sources, O’Brien is the “overwhelming favorite” to become the Texans’ coach.
O’Brien, 44, is 15-9 at Penn State, guiding the Nittany Lions through two winning seasons despite severe NCAA sanctions. Before following Joe Paterno at Penn State, he spent five years (2007-11) as an offensive assistant with the New England Patriots.
Associated Press
