COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL-BRIBERY

2 parents convicted in 1st trial of college bribery scandal

BOSTON (AP) — Two wealthy parents have been convicted of buying their kids’ way into school as athletic recruits in the first case to go to trial in the college admissions cheating scandal.

Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson were found guilty Friday after about 10 hours of deliberations in the case that exposed a scheme to get undeserving applicants into top schools with bogus or inflated athletic credentials. Lawyers for the pair argued they believed their payments were legitimate donations and pointed the finger at the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme, Rick Singer.

MLB PLAYOFFS

Rays, Astros take openers in ALDS

UNDATED (AP) — Game 2 in the best-of-five ALDS will continue tonight between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox.

The Rays took the opener 5-0. Randy Arozarena became the first player to hit a home run and steal home in a postseason game. Chris Sale is scheduled to start for Boston against rookie Shane Baz

In Houston, the Astros are up one going into Game 2 of their AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox after coasting to a 6-1 victory. Houston’s Lance McCullers was sharp over 6 2/3 innings, blanking the Sox on four hits and no walks. The 28-year-old McCullers didn’t allow a hit until Yoán (yoh-AHN’) Moncada singled with one out in the fourth.

Game 2 is also in Houston. Lucas Giolito starts for Chicago against Framber Valdez.

NFL-NEWS

Seattle’s Russell Wilson seeing specialist for finger injury

UNDATED (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was seeing a hand specialist regarding his injured right middle finger suffered in the Thursday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll declined to go into many specifics regarding the injury until after Wilson saw a specialist in the Los Angeles area. Carroll said Wilson did have an initial set of X-rays after the 26-17 loss the Rams. Wilson was injured in the third quarter when his fingers hit the arm of Aaron Donald on the follow through of a pass attempt.

In other NFL news:

— Jaylon Smith has joined the Green Bay Packers, one day after the Dallas Cowboys released the veteran linebacker.The Packers officially announced that they had signed Smith. Smith made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement in 2019 and led the Cowboys in tackles each of the past two seasons, but his play had dipped over the past year. Packers coach Matt LaFleur says it’s very unlikely that Smith plays Sunday against the Bengals.

— Broncos starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has returned to practice for the first time since he was knocked out of Denver’s game against Baltimore last weekend with a concussion. Bridgewater worked with the starters and was listed as limited on the injury report. If Bridgewater doesn’t have any setbacks he could be cleared for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.

—Browns star defensive end and NFL sacks leader Myles Garrett expects to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers despite missing his second practice of the week due to soreness. Garrett is listed as questionable — a 50/50 chance of playing — by the Browns, who are dealing with numerous injuries across their second-ranked defense and continue to downplay quarterback Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury.

NBA-NETS-IRVING

Nets say Irving ineligible for Bucks game

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are listing Kyrie Irving as ineligible to play in their home exhibition game Friday against Milwaukee.

It’s another strong indication he has not met New York’s vaccination requirement. Irving has not been with the Nets for any of their practices in New York, where professional athletes are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to practice or play.

The Nets are prevented by law from revealing whether he has been vaccinated.There is nothing related to the NBA that would cause a player to have the “ineligible” designation.

NHL-NEWS

Panthers, Barkov agree on 8-year, $80M extension

UNDATED (AP) — Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers have agreed on an $80 million, eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $10 million.

That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms were not immediately released by the team. The contract is the largest in total value in Panthers history. Barkov and the Panthers had been working for several days to complete the deal.

In other NHL news:

— The Chicago Blackhawks lost another young defenseman when the team announced Caleb Jones has a sprained left wrist. The 24-year-old Jones, the younger brother of Chicago defenseman Seth Jones, is expected to miss approximately six weeks. Caleb Jones was acquired in a July trade with Edmonton that moved Duncan Keith to the Oilers. The Blackhawks said Wednesday that defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk will be out for two to four weeks with a sprained right ankle.

FIFA-CLUB WORLD CUP DELAY

FIFA plans to postpone Club World Cup until 2022

LONDON (AP) — People familiar with the planning say FIFA plans to postpone the Club World Cup until early next year due to hosting challenges linked to the pandemic.

The people say FIFA is now exploring staging the event in January or February. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing talks. Coronavirus restrictions led to Japan withdrawing from staging the seven-team tournament this December and South Africa then abandoned a bid due to the need to get more of the country vaccinated. Qatar is an option to help the Gulf nation test venues for the men’s national teams’ World Cup that starts in November 2022.

RUSSIAN DOPING-WADA

WADA concerned by board changes at Russia anti-doping agency

MONTREAL (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has expressed concern over the “sudden” replacement of three out of seven board members at the suspended Russian anti-doping agency.

WADA says it will look into the process by which three new supervisory board members were appointed Wednesday after three others resigned. WADA says it is concerned by the resignations and has asked for more information on the new board members and how they were appointed. Last month WADA president Witold Banka warned against interference in the operations of the Russian agency.

GOLF-SCOTTISH OPEN

Frustrated with fans, Rahm near the lead at Spanish Open

MADRID (AP) — The big crowds following Jon Rahm in his return to Spain are starting to bother the world’s top-ranked golfer.

Rahm couldn’t hide his frustration with some of the fans after a lackluster second round at the Spanish Open on Friday. He expressed his frustration on the course after phone cameras went off in the middle of his swing off the tee on the 18th hole. He carded a 4-under 67 to stay one shot behind leader Wil Besseling going into the weekend at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

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