Billy Bean, second openly gay ex-MLB player who later worked in commissioner’s office, dies at 60
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Bean, who became the second former Major League Baseball player to come out as gay in 1999 before becoming the sport’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, has died. He was 60. MLB released a statement confirming his death. Bean died at home Tuesday after a yearlong fight with acute myeloid leukemia. The California native played in six big league seasons from 1987 to 1995, making his debut with the Detroit Tigers in a four-hit performance that tied a record for a player in his first game. He publicly came out as gay in 1999, the second former major leaguer to do so after Glenn Burke.
Charles Barkley says he will not retire and remain with TNT Sports even if they don’t have the NBA
Charles Barkley intends to remain with TNT Sports through the remainder of his contract. The Hall of Fame player announced that he will not retire next season, reversing the announcement he made in June during the NBA Finals. Barkley said at the time that the upcoming season would be his last on television, no matter what eventually happened with the NBA’s media deal negotiations. He signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT Sports in 2022. The parent company of TNT Sports has sued the NBA in New York state court after the league did not accept the company’s matching offer for one of the packages in its upcoming 11-year media rights deal, which will begin with the 2025-26 season.
Pitbull Stadium is the new home of FIU football. The artist has bought the naming rights
Welcome to Pitbull Stadium, the home of your FIU Panthers. Florida International announced what could end up as a 10-year agreement on Tuesday with international recording artist, Grammy winner and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez — the Miami native better known as Pitbull — to put his name on their on-campus stadium. Pérez will pay $1.2 million annually for the next five years, the university said, for the naming rights. He will have an option in August 2029 to extend the deal for another five years and continue the rebranding.
Billy Ray Cyrus finalizes divorce from singer Firerose 3 months after filing
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose are now divorced. The dissolution of their seven-month marriage was finalized Monday by a Williamson County judge in Tennessee three months after Cyrus filed for divorce. The 62-year-old Cyrus cited irreconcilable differences and “inappropriate marital conduct” when he filed for divorce from the 36-year-old, whose legal name is Johanna Rose Hodges. In a statement to The Associated Press, Cyrus’ lawyers said he and Hodges reached a settlement agreement Friday, adding that Cyrus is “relieved to put this nightmare behind him.” In a statement of his own, Cyrus said he was “giving thanks today to breathe a sigh of relief.
Taylor Swift leads the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, followed by Post Malone
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift once again tops the MTV Video Music Award nominations. She leads with 10 — eight for her “Fortnight” music video and nods in the artist of the year and best pop categories. She’s followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, who has nine total — including eight for “Fortnight.” Swift has 23 career VMAs, placing her just behind BeyoncĂ©, who has 28 (two with Destiny’s Child). The 2024 MTV VMAs will air live on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. They will be held at the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island. Fan voting begins online Tuesday across 15 gender-neutral categories and ends Aug. 30.
A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue returns to Kansas 6 months after the original was stolen
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A rebuilt bronze statue of baseball icon Jackie Robinson is back in Wichita, Kansas. The original sculpture depicting Robinson resting a bat on his shoulder was cut off at its ankles by thieves in January, leaving only Robinson’s cleats behind at McAdams Park. The identical statue has been returned to the park where about 600 children play in the urban youth baseball league called League 42. It’s named after Robinson’s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He broke Major League Baseball’s racial barrier with the Dodgers in 1947.
French museum network hit by ransomware attack, but no disruptions are reported at Olympic events
The Paris prosecutor’s office says a ransomware attack has targeted the central data systems of the Grand Palais and other museums in the Réunion des Musées Nationaux network. Some of them are hosting Summer Olympics events including fencing, taekwondo and equestrian sports. The attack was detected on Sunday. It hit data systems used by around 40 museums across France. Paris authorities and the museum network said there has been no disruption to the Olympic events and no data extraction has been detected. Efforts are ongoing to secure and restore the affected systems.
More than 120 people died in Tokyo from heatstroke in July as average temperatures hit record highs
TOKYO (AP) — More than 120 people died of heatstroke in the Tokyo metropolitan area in July, when the nation’s average temperature hit record highs and heat warnings were in effect much of the month. The Tokyo Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday that many of the people who died were elderly. Officials say more than 37,000 people were treated at hospitals for heatstroke across Japan from July 1 to July 28. On Tuesday, heatstroke warnings were in place in much of Tokyo and western Japan and authorities urged people to take precautions. Many people carried parasols or handheld fans.
Suburban New York county bans wearing of masks to hide identity
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Lawmakers in a suburban New York county have approved a bill to ban masks in public places with exemptions for people who cover their faces for health reasons or for religious or cultural purposes. Supporters said the bill approved Monday by the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature on Long Island would prevent violent protesters from hiding their identity. All 12 Republicans in the legislature voted in favor of the measure, while the body’s seven Democrats abstained. The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the Nassau mask ban as an infringement on free speech rights.
Whale breach seen during Paris Olympics surfing semifinal competition in Tahiti
TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (AP) — With all eyes on the ocean during the final day of the Paris Olympics surfing competition in Tahiti on Monday afternoon, a surprise guest made an appearance: a whale. A safe distance from athletes Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil and Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica— who were competing in a semifinal match— the whale breached- giving spectators and photographers the Olympic moment of a lifetime. It’s not uncommon for wild animals such as birds, seals and even sharks to appear while surfing around the world. In Tahiti whales gather around the islands during mating, birthing and migration season.
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