College Football
Alabama’s Henry wins Maxwell, Walker awards
Alabama running back Derrick Henry was the biggest star of college football’s awards night, as he won the Maxwell Award, given to the college player of the year, and the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back.
The awards were presented for the first time at the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Henry, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson were the finalists for the Maxwell Award and also are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, to be presented on Saturday.
Watson won the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s top quarterback.
Stanford’s Joshua Garnett won the Outland Trophy given to the top interior lineman.
Golf
Kuchar, English take 1-shot lead in Shootout
Matt Kuchar and Harris English are in first place with a 14-under 58 after the first round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout.
Billy Horschel-Hunter Mahan and Graeme McDowell-Gary Woodland are tied for second with 59s at Tiburon Golf Club.
Kuchar and English opened with an eagle on No. 1 and followed with three consecutive birdies. They had two birdies from Nos. 5-9 and three birdies from Nos. 13-15 on the back nine. They finished with an eagle on No. 17 and birdie on No. 18.
Second-ranked Jason Day, who won last year’s event with Cameron Tringale, withdrew last week.
Kuchar and English appeared to make a run at the tournament record of 55, set by Day and Tringale last year.
MLB
Reynolds, Rockies agree to a one-year contract
A person familiar with the negotiations says first baseman Mark Reynolds and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $2.6 million, one-year contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced.
Reynolds hit .230 with 13 homers, 48 RBIs and 121 strikeouts in 382 at-bats for the St. Louis Cardinals this year. The 32-year-old set career highs in 2009 with Arizona when he had 44 homers, 102 RBIs and 223 strikeouts – a big league record.
A right-handed batter, Reynolds figures to compete for playing time with left-handed-hitting first baseman Ben Paulson. Reynolds also could back up third baseman Nolan Arenado.
NFL
Houston’s Watt has broken hand but will play Sunday
Houston star defensive end J.J. Watt broke his left hand in practice on Wednesday but says he’ll play Sunday.
Watt, who leads the NFL with 13½ sacks, had a black cast covering his left hand and wrist on Thursday. But both Watt and coach Bill O’Brien say they don’t expect the injury to hamper last year’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The Texans host the New England Patriots on Sunday night.
Olympics
Head of Russia’s anti-doping agency resigns
The Russian Sports Ministry says the head of the country’s anti-doping agency resigned.
RUSADA director general Ramil Khabriev leaves less than a month after the agency was suspended following the publication of a World Anti-Doping Agency commission report which accused it of covering up doping by Russian athletes.
Khabriev’s departure comes during a visit by a WADA delegation tasked with ensuring drug testing continues during RUSADA’s suspension. British experts from the UK Anti-Doping Agency have also been asked to assist WADA in setting up a new testing system for Russian sports.
Associated Press
