Take a look at some of the finer moments from Day 7 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
So far, Canada has won six gold medals on Wednesday, to go along with the seven awarded a day earlier. The success includes three titles in wrestling, a 1-2 finish in heptathlon, and wins in diving and high jump.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 30, 2014 9:56 PM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 31, 2014 10:02 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 31, 2014 10:15 AM ET
The Boston Red Sox have traded right-hander Jon Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, according to reports.
Lester had been the subject of trade rumours leading up to Thursday's 4 p.m. ET deadline to deal players without having to pass them through waivers.
He was pulled from his scheduled start Wednesday night against Toronto.
More to come
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
As his winless streak stretched toward a third month and his earned-run average continued to climb, Mark Buehrle began to have doubts.
At 36, was he at the end of what had been a steady major-league career? Would he eventually snap out of the slump and contribute to Toronto's surge in the American League East? Would he ever even win another game?
"I guess the older you get, you get a little bit concerned," he said after earning his first victory in 10 starts since June 1, beating the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Wednesday night.
"I didn't pitch good and I didn't want anyone giving up on me. ... There's a thought in the back of your mind: 'Am I done? Maybe it's just myself thinking and driving myself crazy.' But it definitely feels good [to win]."
Buehrle (11-7) allowed one run on six hits and a walk, striking out two in 6 2/3 innings to snap a six-game losing streak that matched the longest of his MLB career. Dioner Navarro had three hits and three runs batted in to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to their fifth consecutive victory and complete a sweep of the slumping Red Sox.
Toronto has won eight of its last nine and trails first-place Baltimore by 2 1/2 games. And they finally got a contribution from Buehrle, who had won nine in a row to improve to 10-1 before falling into his skid just four wins short of 200 in his career.
"That 11th win was tough to get," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He needed that.
"I don't care how good he's been, how long he's been in the game."
Brandon Workman (1-4) fell behind quickly after being called up from triple-A to replace trade bait Jon Lester. Lester was originally scheduled to start for Boston, but he was scratched while his name is bandied about ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
As the Red Sox went down in the ninth, fans remaining from the sellout crowd chanted, "Jonny Lester!" Red Sox manager John Farrell said Lester — and the rest of the team — heard it in the dugout
"We were well aware of it and wouldn't expect anything less from this fan base that's fully behind us when we're doing good or bad," Farrell said, adding that he had no update on the trade talks.
Workman said the team called him at about 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday to let him know he would be starting.
"I had heard it might happen with all the rumours and stuff," he said, adding that it was a bit of a strange night, "but I kept my mind on throwing."
The game marked a milestone in Boston's woeful World Series title defence, coming a day before the trade deadline and in the middle of a streak in which the Red Sox have lost eight of nine games, fallen into last place and dropped 13 games behind the AL East-leading Orioles.
After shipping Jake Peavy to San Francisco on Saturday, the Red Sox sent demoted starter Felix Doubront to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Lester, who is due to be a free agent, could follow him; so could John Lackey, who is scheduled to make the minimum next season.
Red Sox: Mike Napoli was back in the lineup at designated hitter after sitting out on Tuesday night with a swollen ring finger on his left hand. David Ortiz got the night off.
Blue Jays: Infielder Brett Lawrie, on the disabled list since late June with a broken right index finger, could start rehab games this weekend.
Red Sox: Off Thursday before opening a three-game series with the Yankees. By the time New York gets to town, Boston could be without four-fifths of the starting rotation it started the season with.
Blue Jays: Open a four-game series in Houston, with Drew Hutchinson (7-9) facing Jarred Cosart (9-7).
The Blue Jays scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning, thanks to errors by Workman and third baseman Xander Bogaerts.
The Red Sox could be just the third team in the World Series era to finish last the following season, according to baseballreference.com. The 2012 San Francisco Giants fell to fifth place in the National League West last year and the only other team to plummet so far so quickly was the 1998 Florida Marlins, who sold off their best starters after winning it all in 1997.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 31, 2014 3:30 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 31, 2014 6:47 AM ET
Watch live action on Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Canada's Josh Cassidy races in the men's wheelchair 1,500-metre final as part of a full slate of track and field events, plus there's diving, gymnastics, field hockey, weightlifting, wrestling and a lot more.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 30, 2014 3:30 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 30, 2014 9:25 AM ET
Watch live action on Day 7 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Diving competition gets underway with Canada's Roseline Filion and Meaghan Benfeito in the women's 10-metre synchro, and Canada's Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware in the 3m synchro.
Also, don't miss the men's high jump final featuring Canada's Derek Drouin, and the conclusion of the women's heptathlon with Canadian Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
There's also gymnastics, wrestling, weightlifting and much more.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Diving is a Commonwealth Games favourite. Despite its classification as an optional sport, meaning the host city makes the call on whether or not to include it, it has been included in all 20 editions of the Games.
Ten diving events are on tap in Glasgow: the 1-metre spring board, 3m spring board, 10m platform, 3m spring board synchronized and 10m platform synchronized, with a men's and women's competition in each.
Divers are scored by a panel of judges that takes into account myriad factors such as degree of difficulty, number of rotations, height of the diver at the apex of her jump, body position and angle of entry into the water.
In the synchro events, pairs of divers attempt to perform either identical or mirrored dives. They're judged on both the quality of their own dives, and their synchronization.
Canada is one of the best diving nations in the Commonwealth. At the 2010 Games in Delhi, the Canadian team led the way with five golds, though Australia topped the medal count with 15 to Canada's nine. England usually sends a strong team as well, and Malaysia has been on the rise with six medals combined at the last two Commonwealth Games, plus a bronze at the 2012 Olympics.
Canada's Meaghan Benfeito, right, and Roseline Filion are top contenders for gold in the 10m synchro event. (Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)
The great Alexandre Despatie has retired, taking with him nine Commonwealth gold medals (he won the first, in 1998, as a 13-year-old!), but the Canadian team still features three 2012 Olympic medallists, all on the women's side:
Montreal's Meaghan Benfeito and her teammate Roseline Filion of Laval, Que., are top contenders for gold in the 10m synchro event. They've yet to miss the podium this season in their first seven international competitions and were the bronze medallists at the 2012 Olympics and silver medallists at last year's worlds. Benfeito, 25, and Filion, 27, will also compete in the individual 10-metre event.
Jennifer Abel of Laval, Que., was one of the stars of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the individual 1m event and the 3m synchro (with then teammate Emilie Heymans) and adding a silver in the solo 3m. Abel and Heymans went on to capture bronze at the 2012 Olympics before Heymans retired a few months later, but Abel, 22, hasn't missed a beat with new teammate Pamela Ware, 21. They took bronze at last year's world championships and have reached the podium in nine of the 12 events they've entered since joining forces.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 30, 2014 8:21 AM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
(Athletes in bold are today's medallists)
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Take a look at some of the finer moments from Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Canada won seven gold medals on the day, headlined by Damian Warner in the decathlon and Ryan Cochrane in the 1,500-metre freestyle swimming event.
Two more titles came wrestling, plus one each in weightlifting, mountain biking and the hammer throw.
Canada's Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion won the gold medal in the women's 10-metre synchronized platform diving event Wednesday at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Benfeito, from Montreal, and Filion, from Laval, Que., were in third place entering the fifth and final dive, but they saved their best for last, leapfrogging England's Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch, who got the silver medal, and Malaysia's Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri, who took the bronze.
The Canadians finished with a total of 310.65 points. The English team scored 307.92 and the Malaysians 300.12.
Benfeito and Filion have reached the podium in each of their eight international competitions together this year.
They were the bronze medallists at the 2012 Olympics and silver medallists at last year's world world championships.
Meaghan Benfeito, left, and Roseline Filion compete in the women's 10m synchro event at the Commonwealth Games. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Benfeito, 25, and Filion, 27, will also compete against each other in the individual 10-metre event.
Wednesday marked the first day of diving at the cosy Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, about a 75-kilometre drive from Glasgow.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 29, 2014 8:30 AM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 28, 2014 11:26 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 29, 2014 8:06 AM ET
Watch live action on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Events include the men's 1,500-metre freestyle swimming final with Canada's Ryan Cochrane going for his second gold, and Canadian Damian Warner in the final day of the men's decathlon.
Canada's Brianne Theisen-Eaton is also in action in the women's decathlon, and the other events include mountain biking, gymnastics, wrestling and much more.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Peyton Manning isn't all business all the time.
The Denver Broncos quarterback showed his lighter side Monday with a dorky dance during team stretch, when Rocky Top was blared through the loudspeakers at training camp.
While Manning was dancing to the unofficial anthem of his Tennessee Volunteers, fellow alum Britton Colquitt joined in and Wes Welker even added a hoedown.
"I love it," said Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson, another former Vol.
"They need to play it every day. Rocky Top is awesome. Go Vols!"
Every day, the Broncos begin their stretch with music blaring from the loudspeakers.
"It was his day to pick the music, so it wasn't a surprise to me what it was going to be," Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. "It was Peyton's day, so it was all good."
Broncos defensive end Mitch Unrein said the song selection brought back sweet memories for him.
"I like that song because it reminds me of when Wyoming went out to Tennessee and we beat them 13-7, believe it or not," Broncos defensive end Mitch Unrein said. "I was giving Malik grief about it.
"Yeah, they played that song in our locker room for a week straight before we went out there, so it was just stuck in my head. But yeah, Peyton had a nice dance out there.
"I was trying to mimic him a little bit. But I just couldn't do a good job doing that."
Canadians Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty won the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the women's mountain bike event Tuesday at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Pendrel, a 33-year-old who competes out of Kamloops, B.C., and is originally from Harvey Station, N.B., took the lead on the first of six laps at Cathkin Braes Country Park and never looked back. She finished in a time of one hour, 39 minutes, 29 seconds.
Batty, from Brooklin, Ont., finished a minute and 10 seconds behind. Bronze medallist Rebecca Henderson of Australia was 12 seconds back of Batty.
"We trained well as a team," Pendrel said. "I knew from training and the nationals that Emily was on fire, so I'm proud she got silver."
Canadian women have now won all three Commonwealth Games mountain bike gold medals since the sport was introduced in 2002. There event was left off the program four years ago in Delhi, India.
Catharine Pendrel, left, and Emily Batty hold up a Canadian flag after their 1-2 finish in the women's mountain bike event at the Commonwealth Games. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Pendrel was the world champion in 2011, and won gold at the 2007 Pan American Games. She finished ninth at the 2012 Olympics.
The men's race was scheduled for later Tuesday.
Melky Cabrera's second home run sailed over the left-field wall and smashed a car window across the street, just a little extra damage in a game when the Toronto Blue Jays hammered the Boston Red Sox.
Cabrera homered from both sides of the plate and drove in five runs, R.A. Dickey pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and the Blue Jays won 14-1 on Monday night.
"He didn't know" his three-run homer in a nine-run sixth inning had cracked the windshield, Cabrera said through a translator. "He saw that after the game."
Dickey's knuckleball was so good, he could have done without some of those runs.
"I kind of wish they could divide them up over, like, three starts," he said. "Almost kind of wish we'd have only scored two runs because I felt like I had that kind of knuckleball tonight and saved this outing for when I gave up five, but I'll take it."
The Blue Jays won for the sixth time in seven games, while the Red Sox lost one day after stopping a five-game slide that began in Toronto with three losses.
Cabrera homered into Boston's bullpen in right field after Jose Reyes led off the game with a walk. Cabrera made it 9-0 in the sixth with his 14th homer of the season.
Ryan Goins had four hits and four runs batted in for Toronto.
Dickey (9-10) had a season-high 10 strikeouts, allowed a run and walked one as he won for the third time in 10 starts. Against the Red Sox, he's 3-0 with 21 strikeouts and two walks this season.
Clay Buchholz (5-7) left the game after allowing the first three batters to reach in the sixth with one run scoring on a double by Goins.
"They hit the pitches I was missing with," Buchholz said.
Felix Doubront came in and faced 10 batters, allowing six runs, six hits and two walks. He got his only outs on a sacrifice fly and a forceout.
Everyone in the Blue Jays lineup except Reyes scored in the sixth and Munenori Kawasaki scored twice. Toronto's 14 runs matched its season-high against Cincinnati on June 20.
Goins had given the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead with a two-run double in the fourth.
Dickey retired the first six batters and struck out at least one in each of his seven innings. He allowed a double in the third to Stephen Drew, an infield single in the fifth to Shane Victorino and an RBI single in the sixth by David Ortiz that made it 13-1.
Blue Jays: With first baseman Edwin Encarnacion having a setback in rehabbing his strained right quadriceps, the Blue Jays obtained third baseman Danny Valencia from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Liam Hendriks and catcher Erik Kratz. Toronto's regular third baseman, Juan Francisco, has been filling in at first.
Red Sox: Catcher David Ross hobbled home on a painful right heel on Ortiz's single in the sixth. Ross believes the pain is caused by plantar fasciitis.
Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman (6-2) pitches for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night and will have a tough time matching his performance against Boston last Thursday in Toronto. He allowed his only hit when Victorino led off the seventh with a single in Toronto's 8-0 win. Stroman left after that inning.
Red Sox: Rubby De La Rosa (3-3) makes his second consecutive start against Stroman.
Cabrera had his sixth multi-hit game and Toronto improved to 8-3 since the all-star break. "The all-star break did him some good," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "From the looks of it right now, I think the all-star break did us all some good."
Doubront has complained about being moved to the bullpen after going 2-4 with a 5.19 ERA in 10 starts. In seven relief appearances, he's allowed 11 earned runs in nine innings. "If the role is not sitting well and affecting his pitching, there needs to be a different focus in realizing his potential and focus," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 27, 2014 3:01 PM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
You Gotta See This!
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 27, 2014 4:19 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 27, 2014 4:19 PM ET
Until they find a full-time second baseman with clout, the Toronto Blue Jays know they can count on utility man Munenori Kawasaki.
Kawasaki, beloved in Toronto for his perma-smile and effervescent personality, is a role player at best at this stage of his career.
But the energetic infielder brings a solid skill set and infectious enthusiasm to the ballpark each and every day, not to mention an occasional flair for the dramatic:
Kawasaki followed up that slick fielding play with a pair of singles and an eighth-inning sacrifice fly to left that plated Toronto's fourth run in 5-4 victory over New York Yankees.
It was Toronto's second straight win at Yankee Stadium after losing 17 games in a row there.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
When Jim Furyk's charge to a third RBC Canadian Open title stalled in the final round, Tim Clark decided to go for it.
The 38-year-old South African, whose wife is Canadian, fired five birdies on the back nine to overtake Furyk on the 15th hole and hold on to win the $5.7 US tournament at Royal Montreal on Sunday.
Recovering from a first-hole bogey that put him four shots off the lead, Clark shot a five-under-par 65 to finish at 17-under-par 263 and claim his second career PGA Tour victory and the $1,026-million winner's prize.
"It looked like Jim wasn't going to make any mistakes," said Clark, who had moved into contention with a 64 on Saturday. "He was pretty solid, so I knew I had to make birdies.
"At that point, there was nothing to lose. Suddenly I got hot and I went with it."
Tim Clark, right, is hugged by Jim Furyk after winning the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal in Ile Bizard, Que., on Sunday. (David Donnelly/CBC News)
It was another frustrating defeat for Furyk, who has now lost seven tournaments in a row in which he led after 54 holes. He went into the final round with a three-stroke cushion but never found traction. He shot 69 to come second at 16-under 264.
"I kind of controlled my own destiny," said Furyk. "I've got to shoot three or four (under par) and it would have been impossible to catch me, or darn near it.
"I left the door open with even par on the front nine and Tim took advantage and shot 30 on the back."
Furyk has not won since a victory at the 2010 Players Championship that gave him the FedEx Cup title and PGA player of the year honours. He fell short in a bid to join elite company in Tommy Armour, Sam Snead and Lee Trevino by becoming the fourth player to win the Canadian Open three times after his victories in 2006 and 2007.
Instead, it went to the stocky Clark, the long putter user who needed a win after battling elbow trouble in recent years.
The win moved him from 85th to 27th in FedEX Cup standings and gave him entry into next week's World Golf Championship event in Akron, Ohio and into the PGA championship. He also gets fully exempt status on the PGA Tour through the 2015-16 season.
While Graham DeLaet's bid to became the first Canadian to win his national open in 60 years fell short, the trophy went to a player with connections, and a history, in Canada.
Clark's wife Candice is from Toronto and has family in Montreal. He won his first professional tournament at the New Brunswick Open on the Canadian Tour in 1998 and followed a week later with a win at the CPGA Championship.
"The irony of it is Canada could be the location of my first win and my last one," he said. "To come back here, it's full circle.
"That was 16 years ago when I was just cutting my teeth as a professional golfer and I was fortunate enough to be given some starts up here, so I have fond memories.
"It's certainly one I've wanted to win for a long time. Any national championship to me is special. particularly to the people from that country. It's an honour for me to be the open champion."
Delaet was in contention after he and Furyk tied the course record with 63s in the second round on Friday, but he went 70-68 in the last two rounds to finished at 10-under 270. He took the low Canadian honour by one stroke over Brad Fritsch of Ottawa, who closed with a 64 to end up at 9-under, tied for ninth with Kevin Kisner and Graeme McDowell.
"I fell a little short, but it was fun," said DeLaet, Canada's top-ranked player. "So many people were cheering for me.
"Now I know how Tiger and Phil and those guys feel all the time because it was pretty neat. Coming down 18 was a special moment.
Justin Hicks shot 64 to leap into third place alone at 13-under 267 in his best performance of the season.
Matt Kuchar (65), Michael Putnam (66) and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66) finished tied for fourth at 11-under 269.
Organizers moved up the starting times by two hours and had the players go out in threesomes from both the first and 10th tees to try to fit in the final round between forecast rainstorms.
It almost worked to perfection. Most of the field had finished their rounds when a cloudburst halted play for 26 minutes with the final group — including Furyk, Clark and Kyle Stanley — had only four holes left to play.
Clark and Furyk were tied at 15-under when the rain came. When play resumed, Clark birdied to take the lead. Both players birdied the 17th to set up a dramatic final hole.
Clark left a 44-foot putt about six feet short, but Furyk missed left on a 12-footer and Clark sealed the win by holing a six-foot putt.
"Once he missed his putt, I didn't want to have to go into a playoff, knowing he can take it over the water (off the 18th tee) and I have to play over to the right,' said Clark. "So it was huge for me to get it finished right there.
"I got hot with the putter on the back nine. To stand over that putt and still feel confident was really nice."
DeLaet, from Weyburn, Sask., tied for seventh with Dicky Pride, who matched the course record with a bogey-free 63.
Pride had the course record at 64 the last time the event was held at Royal Montreal in 2001 only to see Scott Verplank and David Morland go one shot better the next day.
"I had to get my course record back," said Pride, who birdied the 17th and 18th for the record. "So to tie them and go back and get it, I'm pretty happy about that.
"And I was thinking about it on 18 too, which is an idiotic thing to do, but I made the putt anyway."
Fritsch had a 10-foot putt on the 18th in a bid for a share of the record, but missed by perhaps a centimetre.
But the 36-year-old in the Ottawa Senators golf shirt used his 64 to finish the event at 9-under. His bogey free round included three birdies and an eagle on the back nine. Fritsch just made the cut on Friday with a birdie on the 18th.
"We made the most of the weekend," said Fritsch. "We felt like we were playing with house money this weekend just because we felt lucky to even be playing."
"I played great today. On the back nine, I made a bunch of putts and made some good shots coming down the stretch.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., capped a strong first Canadian Open experience with a 69 to finish as the low amateur at 3-under.
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. both shot 71s and finished at 2-under. Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont. had 71 to finish at 2-over par.
Clark tied the tournament low total score of 263 with Johnny Palmer (1952) and Scott Piercy (2012).
The road to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic debut of rugby sevens took a lively detour on the weekend to the home of Scottish football's Rangers.
It even declared a first-time Commonwealth Games champion.
Played before nearly 200,000 spectators over two days, the sevens tournament in a packed Ibrox Stadium featured family-friendly crowds, karaoke-style sing-a-longs and appreciative players who rounded the ground following their final games to thank the crowd for their support.
On the field, it was all action with seven players covering a wide swath of field where 15 is the norm in regular rugby. Speedy backs offloaded or deftly moved their way around opponents to score as many tries and points as they could in two seven-minute halves, or 10 minutes each in the championship match.
Disco rugby maybe, but in Glasgow on the weekend, it was a huge hit
Cecil Afrika of South Africa scores a try against New Zealand in the rugby sevens gold medal match. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The Commonwealth Games champion was South Africa in a huge upset over New Zealand in the final late Sunday night, winning 17-12. New Zealand had earned the gold medal in the previous four Commonwealth Games tournaments and had won 30 matches in a row.
In the bowels of the packed stands at Ibrox, Rangers season ticket holder Andrew McNeilly said the allure of rugby sevens was a big winner.
"The atmosphere is far better than football," says McNeilly, draped in a Scottish flag, his face painted blue and white and with a beer in his hand. "The crowds are all mixed together, there is a lot more atmosphere.
"Obviously the rugby players take a wee bit of a knocking. The football players get a wee kick and they are down rolling around ... diving. So it is a far better sport, a far better atmosphere."
The first match of the final session — with 50,000 spectators in the stands — featured Canada playing Uganda in one involving those out of the medal round. The crowd immediately took to the underdogs from Africa, shouting out U-GAN-DA on a number of occasions. They also booed when Canada scored, came close to scoring or if any refereeing decisions went against the Ugandan side. All to no avail: Canada won 32-0.
Canada would go on to win the consolation Bowl Final 50-7 over Cook Islands. New Zealand had its Commonwealth sevens undefeated streak snapped when the All Blacks lost to South Africa 17-12 in the gold medal final. Australia won bronze.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 28, 2014 3:50 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 28, 2014 8:43 AM ET
Damian Warner shatters men's decathlon 100m record 5:04
Damian Warner shatters men's decathlon 100m record 5:04
Commonwealth Games: Day 5 Part 1 4:14:02
Commonwealth Games: Day 5 Part 1 4:14:02
Watch live action on Day 5 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Canada's Damian Warner is competing in Day 1 of the decathlon, where he's a gold-medal contender.
Other events inlcude the men's and women's 100-metre finals, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, lawn bowls and much more.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 26, 2014 4:56 PM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
A look at National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox prior to Sunday's induction ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y.
Born May 27, 1968, in Columbus, Ga. ... Nicknamed "The Big Hurt" ... Hit .301 in 19-year major-league career with 521 home runs and 1,704 runs batted in, mostly with the Chicago White Sox ... Only player in MLB history to log seven straight seasons with a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 walks ... Was unanimous American League MVP in 1994; won award next season, too ... Holds White Sox franchise record for homers (448), doubles (447), RBIs (1,465), runs (1,327), extra-base hits (906), walks (1,466), total bases (3,949), slugging percentage (.568) and on-base percentage (.427) ... five-time all-star ... First Hall of Famer who spent the majority of his career as a designated hitter ... At 6-foot-5, was a tight end at Auburn, catching three passes for 45 yards ... Batted .359 with a school-record 21 homers in his first season at Auburn, made All-SEC in his second season and chosen SEC MVP the following year ... Selected by White Sox with the seventh pick in 1989 draft ... Debuted with White Sox in August 1990 and hit .330 with 21 extra-base hits and a team-high .529 slugging mark ... In 1991 split time at first base and DH and hit .318 with 32 homers and 109 RBIs. Also led the AL with 138 walks. ... In 1992 hit .323 and tied for the league lead with 46 doubles ... Batted .317 with 41 homers and 128 RBIs in 1993. Had a .729 slugging average, 109 walks and 106 runs to go with 38 homers, 101 RBIs and .353 average in strike-shortened 1994 season ... Led AL in 1997 with a .347 average and .456 on-base percentage ... Became full-time DH in 1998 ... Broke ankle for second time in 2005 as White Sox won the World Series with him on bench ... Signed with Oakland Athletics as free agent prior to 2006 season and had 39 homers, 114 RBIs, .545 slugging average and .381 on-base percentage ... Became free agent and signed two-year deal with Toronto in November 2006 ... Led Blue Jays with 26 homers, 95 RBIs, 81 walks, and a .377 on-base average in 2007 ... Released by Toronto in April 2008 ... Prior to spring training in 2010, signed a one-day contract with White Sox to announce his retirement.
Born April 14, 1966, in San Angelo, Texas ... Nicknamed "Mad Dog" ... Went 355-227 in 23 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers and ranks eighth on career wins list ... Won four straight Cy Young Awards (1992-95), leading National League in innings each season ... Won 15 or more games for 17 straight seasons and had a career earned-run average of 3.16 ... Posted 1.56 ERA in 1994, followed up with 1.63 ERA the next year ... Known for pinpoint control, walked 999 in 5,008 1/3 innings ... 10th in strikeouts with 3,371 ... Also a sharp fielder, won 18 Gold Gloves ... eight-time all-star ... Joined Tom Glavine and John Smoltz as mainstays of Braves staff, helping Atlanta win 14 division titles in a row ... Received votes on 97.2 per cent of writers ballots, eighth-highest total in Hall of Fame history.
Born March 25, 1966, in Concord, Mass. ... Drafted by Braves in 1984 and also taken by the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL draft that year ... Went 305-203 in 22 MLB seasons, 17 with Atlanta and five with New York Mets ... Ranks 21st on career wins list, fourth-most for a left-hander ... 1991 and 1998 NL Cy Young Award winner and also finished second twice in voting ... 10-time all-star ... five 20-win seasons ... Led NL in starts six times ... A control pitcher with a nasty change-up, had 2,607 strikeouts ... Will forever be remembered in Atlanta for pitching one-hit ball over eight innings to beat the Cleveland Indians in decisive Game 6 of 1995 World Series, the Braves' only championship during their run of 14 straight division titles ... Went 20-11 in 1991 to help Atlanta go from worst to first, the first of three straight 20-win seasons. ... four-time Silver Slugger as top hitting pitcher in NL, registering 246 hits, 90 RBIs and 101 walks in his career.
———
Born July 18, 1940, in Brooklyn, N.Y. ... Ranks No. 5 on managerial wins list with 2,326 victories in 29 years ... Finished career as only player to amass more than 2,000 hits (2,342) and win more than 2,000 games as a manager, according to STATS ... Well-respected as a catcher, third baseman and first baseman, hitting .297 with 252 homers and 1,185 RBIs as a player ... Won 1971 NL MVP, batting .363 with 230 hits, 24 HRs and 137 RBIs ... Three teams he played for hired him as manager, with the Mets giving him the first chance as a player-manager in 1977 ... Won a division title with Atlanta in 1982, but Braves were beaten by the St. Louis Cardinals in five games ... Fired by Atlanta in 1984 and worked as a California Angels broadcaster until St. Louis hired him as manager late in the 1990 season ... Fired by Cardinals in 1995 despite winning records in his three full seasons ... Despite a pedestrian managerial record of 894-1,003, took over New York Yankees in 1996 and restored team to dominance, winning 1,173 games against only 767 losses, making 12 trips to the playoffs in 12 years, winning 10 division titles, six AL pennants, and four World Series, including three in a row (1998-2000) ... In 1998 guided the Yankees to a then-AL record 114 regular-season wins ... In 2001, deftly led the Yankees through the post-season in a city shaken by the Sept. 11 terror attacks, leading the club in a champagne toast after winning the AL Championship Series rather than allowing an all-out celebration ... Lost 2001 World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks when Mariano Rivera gave up Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat hit in the ninth ... Lost 2004 ALCS after leading the Boston Red Sox, 3-0 ... Took over Dodgers in 2008 and won two division titles in three years, finishing a 50-year career with trips to the playoffs in 14 of his final 15 years ... Retired from on-field duties in 2010.
Born Oct. 4, 1944, in Tampa, Fla. ... Ranks third in career victories as a manager, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw, with 2,728 wins against 2,365 losses ... Chosen manager of the year in 1983, 1988, 1992 and 2002 ... Won 12 division titles, six pennants and World Series titles in 1989, 2006 and 2011. The Cardinals' Game 7 win over Texas in 2011 marked La Russa's final game in the dugout. ... Signed by Kansas City Athletics in 1962 and also played for Oakland, Atlanta and Cubs in a six-year major-league career as an infielder ... Batted .199 with 35 hits in 176 major league at-bats with no home runs and 7 RBIs in 132 games ... After earning law degree at Florida State University and giving managing a try in the minor leagues was elevated to manage the White Sox in 1979... Won one division title before being fired by White Sox during 1986 season ... Hired by Oakland weeks later and from 1988-92 led the team to four AL West titles, three AL pennants and 1989 World Series title ... Took over St. Louis from 1996-2011 and averaged 88 wins a year, capturing seven NL Central titles, three NL pennants and two World Series titles.
Born May 21, 1941, in Tulsa, Okla. ... Retired after 2010 season with 2,504 victories, fourth all-time behind only Connie Mack, John McGraw and Tony La Russa ... Guided Braves to unprecedented 14 straight division titles and 15 playoff appearances ... four-time manager of the year (three in NL) ... Light-hitting infielder who appeared in 220 games for the Yankees in 1968-69, batting .225 with nine homers and 58 RBIs ... Rare highlight as a player came in 1968 when his throw across the diamond to first baseman Mickey Mantle completed a triple play ... Landed first MLB managing job with Braves in 1978, lasting four years with only winning season before being fired ... Guided Blue Jays to AL East title in 1985 ... Lured back to Atlanta as general manager and oversaw a dismal era in late 1980s, including a 106-loss season ... Returned to the dugout and guided the Braves from worst to first in 1991, losing seven-game World Series to Minnesota ... Behind aces Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, Atlanta captured the 1995 World Series .... Holds MLB record of 161 career ejections.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 26, 2014 2:34 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 27, 2014 7:15 AM ET
Watch live action on Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Events include weightlifting, swimming, track cycling, the conclusion of rugby sevens and the start of the track and field events.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
There doesn't appear to be any stopping Jim Furyk from claiming a third RBC Canadian Open title.
The 44-year-old Furyk steamrolled his way to a bogey-free 65 in the third round at Royal Montreal on Saturday to go to 15-under-par 195 and take a three-shot lead over South African Tim Clark, while crowd favourite Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., saw his hopes sag with a three-putt on the 18th to fall seven strokes off the lead.
A forecast of thunderstorms may complicate the final round on Sunday, but Furyk is in solid position for his first PGA win since the Tour Championship in 2010.
He said a key to closing out the US$5.7 million tournament will be "not really worrying about what position I'm in. Not looking at the leaderboard too much. Going out there and trying to attack the golf course the same way I have the first three days.
"I noticed there aren't many leaderboards on the course, that might be a good thing."
He will play the final round in a threesome with Clark, whose only Tour win was the 2010 Players Championship, and Kyle Stanley, whose lone win was at the 2012 Phoenix Open.
Clark had the low round of the day at 64 to move to 12-under. Stanley has been near the lead all week and shot 68 to take third place at 10-under par.
Furyk is a 16-time winner on Tour and will have the edge in experience. But he cautioned that the soft greens and fairways at Royal Montreal have made for low scoring and that anyone close is a threat.
"The guys that are out there who have played well for three days are all capable," said Furyk. "Timmy Clark's got a lot of experience. Kyle's won before.
"The guys out there have all played well. They've played good rounds. You saw Graham and I shoot 7-under (on Saturday). There is a good round out there, so guys can go out there and shoot a low one and definitely put heat on the last group."
Jamie Lovemark, whose best finish so far this season was a tie for 28th in January, shot 67 to take fourth place at 9-under.
But the galleries were watching DeLaet, Canada's top player who is trying to become the first Canadian to win his national open since Pat Fletcher in 1954.
But after raising hopes as he and Furyk tied the course record playing together with Matt Kuchar in the second round, he managed only an even-par 70 to stay at 8 under in a tie with Joe Durant (67), Scott Brown (69) and Tim Petrovic (72).
The 32-year-old DeLaet missed a par putt on the second and but kept himself afloat until he sank a long putt for eagle on the par-5 12th. He followed with a birdie on the 14th to get to 10 under, but then put his tee shot on the 15th into a hazard for bogey.
The crowd gave him a rousing ovation as the bearded DeLaet walked up the 18th fairway, but he got too aggressive on a 10-foot birdie putt and then missed a short one for par.
"I kept plugging away," said DeLaet. "I knew I wasn't that far off and if I could just finish a couple under par maybe I'd have a shot (on Sunday.)
"Disappointing to three-putt the last. I really wanted to make that birdie and got over-aggressive. But it was a fun day. The crowds were amazing out there. Hopefully, I can do something special."
If DeLaet was dejected or angry at himself, it didn't show when he met the media off the 18th green. And he wasn't about to concede defeat despite the gap with the leaders.
"Jim is obviously in control of his game right now, but if someone posts something — 13, 14 or 15 — you never know what could happen," he said. "I'm just going to give it my best. I've got 35 million people pulling for me, so that's pretty cool."
Furyk won the world's third-oldest national championship in 2006 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club and followed with a win in 2007 at Angus Glen in Markham, Ont.
A third win would put him in a tie for second all-time with Tommy Armour (1927, 1930 and 1934), San Snead (1938, 1940 and 1941) and Lee Trevino (1971, 1977 and 1979). Leo Diegel won four titles in the 1920s.
Coming off a final round 65 to finish fourth at the British Open last Sunday, Furyk has had only one bogey, on the fourth hole of the first round, at Royal Montreal.
The third round was more complicated, but he cited up-and-down saves for par on the first, sixth, 11th and 16th for keeping his hot play alive.
"The first couple of days I struck the ball really well and never had myself in too much trouble," he said. "Today I found a way to score and get the ball in the hole."
In his career, Furyk has won 10 of 25 times when leading after three rounds.
Clark got off to a phenomenal start, with a birdie on the first and an eagle on the second, and then ran off three birdies on the final six holes. The 38-year-old's experience likely makes him the most dangerous challenger.
"It's always great to get off to a good start," said Clark. "Saturdays are normally the toughest day to score on, so you dream of a start like that."
Clark is coming off a strong showing at the John Deere Classic, where he tied for fifth, helping to turn around a middling season that included a problem with his left elbow that needed a cortisone injection.
"Right now I feel good and I am able to swing how I want to," he said. "Three months ago I started to hit the good again, but I just wasn't scoring. Finally, the last few tournaments, I've started to score."
With thunderstorms in the forecast, start times were moved up two hours to 8 a.m. ET, with the players in threesomes rather than the usual pairs for the final round. The third round was played in breezy, overcast weather, with only a brief, light rain in the afternoon.
Amateur Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., rebounded from a 75 on Friday with a 68 to go to 2 under. He was 4 under through 17 holes, but the big hitter put his tee shot in a hazard and hit a weak chip shot for double bogey on the 18th.
He was happy with his week so far however, which included an opening-round 65.
"Just getting out here and experiencing what the PGA guys experience every week is pretty awesome," the 23-year-old said. "My goal for the week was just to come out here and have some good rounds.
"Just like any other tournament, if I play good I'll make the cut. I had a good day and a bad day, but I made the cut, which was awesome. It's great to play two more rounds on the weekend."
Brad Fritsch of Ottawa shot a bogey-free 67 to move to 3 under for the tournament, while Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., was at 3 under after a 68. David Hearn of Brampton, Ont., was also at 3 under after a 70.
Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., was 1 over on the day and for the tournament.
"No bogeys out here with the wind blowing a bit — I played nicely," said Fritsch, whose sand shot on the 18th helped save par. "Burned the edge a lot today, but I also had some good up and downs.
"It was nice to get up and down on the last, just to make sure it was bogey-free."
After ending a lengthy losing streak at Yankee Stadium, the Toronto Blue Jays will look to accomplish something else that's proven elusive there in recent years: win a series.
Toronto takes on the New York Yankees on Sunday seeking just a second series victory in its last 12 tries in the Bronx.
The Blue Jays (55-50) had dropped 17 straight road games versus New York prior to Saturday's 6-4 victory, which pulled them back into a second-place tie in the American League East Division with the Yankees. Their last victory in the Bronx, two years ago, was part of their only series win in their last 11 sets at Yankee Stadium.
Dan Johnson drove in four runs Saturday, three of them on a ninth-inning home run, his first since Oct. 3, 2012, when he went deep three times for the White Sox at Cleveland.
"We were trying anything," Johnson said of the Blue Jays, who skipped batting practice before each of the past two games.
"Just to, kind of, change the feeling, the mojo here."
Toronto, which had plated four runs or fewer in each of its previous 14 games at Yankee Stadium, is batting .323 while averaging 6.2 runs over a 4-1 stretch. Jose Bautista, who hit his 20th double Saturday, is 9 for 17 in that span, while Melky Cabrera and Dioner Navarro are each 8 for 20.
J.A. Happ (8-5, 4.55 ERA) will try to nail down the series after shutting Boston out for six innings in a 7-3 victory on Tuesday.
"It might have been his best outing of the year," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
The left-hander owns a 7.52 ERA over his last six road games and is 2-2 with a 5.22 ERA in seven career starts versus the Yankees, though he held them to one run and four hits over seven-plus innings without a decision in a 4-3 loss on Sept. 18.
Carlos Beltran, who homered for the second straight game Saturday, is 7 for 20 off Happ with three homers. Derek Jeter, batting .353 during an eight-game hitting streak versus Toronto, is 6 for 11 off Happ.
The Yankees (54-49) will be turning to rookie Shane Greene (2-1, 2.79) after a rough performance in his first career home start Monday. Greene limited Cleveland and Baltimore to a combined two runs over 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts, but committed three errors and needed 113 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings while giving up four runs in a 4-2 loss to Texas. He threw seven fewer pitchers over 7 1/3 innings in his previous outing at Baltimore.
"I think I was just rushing a little bit," Greene told MLB's official website.
"I wasn't exactly making the pitches I wanted to make and they took advantage of it."
Rookies are 5-3 with a 4.89 ERA in 10 starts against Toronto this year. New York's Masahiro Tanaka and Chase Whitley accounted for three of those victories.
The Blue Jays haven't won consecutive road games since a six-game winning streak from May 20-June 5. They've since gone 6-16 away from Toronto.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:35 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 26, 2014 8:18 AM ET
The full list of medals won by Canadians at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland:
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Live
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 25, 2014 10:57 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 26, 2014 8:59 AM ET
Watch live action on Day 3 of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The fast-paced rugby sevens tournament gets underway, along with swimming, gymnastics, track cycling and much more.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Geroy Simon was serenaded by B.C. Lions fans as the club retired his No. 81 jersey Friday night.
Simon, the CFL's all-time leading receiver who played 12 of his 15 seasons with B.C., was added to the team's Ring of Honour at B.C. Place Stadium during a half-time ceremony as the Lions hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He retired in the spring after helping the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the 2013 Grey Cup in his lone season playing for them.
Wearing his former Lions jersey, Simon thanked Lions owner David Braley, club management and all of his B.C. teammates, particularly his quarterbacks, for providing "support and energy" along with championships.
Simon also praised the fans, who gave him a loud ovation as he delivered an emotional speech.
"You welcomed me with open arms and gave me 12 amazing years," he said. "I love you guys."
Simon wiped away a tear after his son Gervon, a quarterback with the U.S. Military Academy team in Westpoint, N.Y., delivered a message in a recorded video shown on the Jumbotron.
Simon now works for the Riders as a regional scout and ambassador while maintaining his home in the Vancouver area.
He played his first two seasons with the Blue Bombers and broke former Winnipeg great Milt Stegall's all-time receiving yards record in a game against the Bombers on June 29, 2012 at B.C. Place.
Simon finished his career with 16,352 yards and 1,029 receptions. He led the CFL in receiving yards in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and had the most receptions in 2004 and 2006. He was a six-time CFL all-star and seven-time divisional all-star.
Leading up to the ceremony, Lions players credited Simon with playing a key role in their individual success.
"Personally, for me (Simon had) a big impact on my pro career, and he's a big mentor," said Lions running back Andrew Harris.
B.C. coach Mike Benevides said many people don't understand the full extent of Simon's competitiveness and compassion.
"I've seen him red hot (with anger) when things aren't going well," said Benevides. "I've seen him also find a way to put his arm around somebody."
Benevides said the 38-year-old Johnstown, Pa., native stood out for being cordial and "an outstanding sportsman" while winning two of his three Grey Cups with B.C.
'You welcomed me with open arms and gave me 12 amazing years. I love you guys.'- Geroy Simon to B.C. Lions fans
"He would compete," said Benevides. "But when it was over, it was over."
In conjunction with the team honours, the City of Vancouver also proclaimed Friday as Geroy Simon Day.
Geroy Simon was serenaded by B.C. Lions fans as the club retired his No. 81 jersey Friday night.
Simon, the CFL's all-time leading receiver who played 12 of his 15 seasons with B.C., was added to the team's Ring of Honour at B.C. Place Stadium during a half-time ceremony as the Lions hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He retired in the spring after helping the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the 2013 Grey Cup in his lone season playing for them.
Wearing his former Lions jersey, Simon thanked Lions owner David Braley, club management and all of his B.C. teammates, particularly his quarterbacks, for providing "support and energy" along with championships.
Simon also praised the fans, who gave him a loud ovation as he delivered an emotional speech.
"You welcomed me with open arms and gave me 12 amazing years," he said. "I love you guys."
Simon wiped away a tear after his son Gervon, a quarterback with the U.S. Military Academy team in Westpoint, N.Y., delivered a message in a recorded video shown on the Jumbotron.
Simon now works for the Riders as a regional scout and ambassador while maintaining his home in the Vancouver area.
He played his first two seasons with the Blue Bombers and broke former Winnipeg great Milt Stegall's all-time receiving yards record in a game against the Bombers on June 29, 2012 at B.C. Place.
Simon finished his career with 16,352 yards and 1,029 receptions. He led the CFL in receiving yards in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and had the most receptions in 2004 and 2006. He was a six-time CFL all-star and seven-time divisional all-star.
Leading up to the ceremony, Lions players credited Simon with playing a key role in their individual success.
"Personally, for me (Simon had) a big impact on my pro career, and he's a big mentor," said Lions running back Andrew Harris.
B.C. coach Mike Benevides said many people don't understand the full extent of Simon's competitiveness and compassion.
"I've seen him red hot (with anger) when things aren't going well," said Benevides. "I've seen him also find a way to put his arm around somebody."
Benevides said the 38-year-old Johnstown, Pa., native stood out for being cordial and "an outstanding sportsman" while winning two of his three Grey Cups with B.C.
"He would compete," said Benevides. "But when it was over, it was over."
In conjunction with the team honours, the City of Vancouver also proclaimed Friday as Geroy Simon Day.
CBC Sports Posted: Jul 26, 2014 7:00 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 26, 2014 8:04 AM ET
Canadian rhythmic gymnast Patricia Bezzoubenko has won her sixth medal of the Commonwealth Games, adding a bronze to her five gold in Glasgow on Saturday.
The 17-year-old started the day by winning the individual hoop, ball and clubs events, adding to her individual all-around title and her gold in the team event from earlier in the Games.
She had a chance to match the single-Games record with a sixth gold medal in the closing ribbon event, but had to settle for bronze.
Canadian rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Orlando won six gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, sweeping the five individual competitions and adding gold in the team event.
Canadian swimmer Graham Smith won six gold medals at the 1978 Games in Edmonton. The feat was matched by Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill (1998) and Ian Thorpe (2001).
Bezzoubenko was born in Vancouver but has lived in Moscow since she was four. She lists Thornhill, Ont., as her hometown.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Lirim Hajrullahu is a CFL rookie, but he made kicking field goals in pressure-packed situations look easy Friday night.
Hajrullahu kicked five field goals — the best single-game performance of his young career — and accounted for most of his team's scoring as the upstart Winnipeg Blue Bombers thumped the B.C. Lions 23-6 at B.C. Place Stadium.
"It was great that we won the game and the guys trusted in me," said Hajrullahu, a 24-year-old St. Catharines, Ont., native who played the past five seasons at Western University.
Winnipeg (4-1) moved into a three-way tie for first place in the West Division with Calgary and Edmonton. The Blue Bombers have already exceeded their entire victory total from 2013.
Hajrullahu's most important field goals were also his longest as the Blue Bombers secured the victory with 14 unanswered points in the third quarter. He connected on a 51-yarder, which was longer than any he booted while becoming Western's all-time leading scorer, and furnished another from 49 yards while also earning a single from a 63-yard kick-off.
Lirim Hajrullahu watches a first-half field goal in B.C. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
"I want this (pressure)," he said. "At this point in the season, I just want to be able to show that I am capable of making those types of kicks. If they do need me, I want to be there for the guys."
Winnipeg also scored its only touchdown in the third quarter as quarterback Drew Willy threw a 37-yard pass to Clarence Denmark. The win added to the confidence that the club has built under new coach Mike O'Shea.
The Lions saw a two-game winning streak come to an end as they dropped to 2-3 while mustering only two field goals from Paul McCallum.
Winnipeg, meanwhile, made amends for a loss to Edmonton in their last outing.
"We came over this hump," said Hajrullahu, who signed as a free agent in January. "And, this was a huge win, especially for the guys that were here last year. They made some major changes and the guys are starting to believe in themselves and believe in each other. That's the most important thing right now."
The rookie's belief in himself was shaken in Winnipeg's previous game as he put a 44-yard attempt off a goalpost against Edmonton while going a modest 1-for-2.
"I was just trying to keep my head down and stay calm," said Hajrullahu, adding he made some minor adjustments.
The Lions could not adjust their game sufficiently after his first three field goals gave the Bombers what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
B.C. struggled to deal with a Winnipeg defence that sacked quarterback Kevin Glenn five times and intercepted two of his passes.
"We couldn't get any sustained drives," said Glenn. "We had some turnovers, some negative plays. When you do that, you can't get into a groove as a group."
The Lions only recorded two sacks on Willy, who produced decent numbers but had trouble getting his team into the end zone.
"We need to get some more touchdowns, obviously, but our defence played just lights out," said Willy. "I was just happy for the guys."
Willy completed 18 of 26 passes for 250 yards and one interception along with the TD. Receiver Nick Moore had a strong night against his former B.C. squad, catching seven passes for 99 yards.
"There were a couple plays I wanted back, but I thought I did some good things," said Willy.
Glenn connected on 18 of 31 passes for 232 yards. He was replaced briefly by backup John Beck, who completed one of two passes.
The Lions threatened to get in the end zone late in the second quarter. A Tim Brown punt return and Winnipeg face masking penalty on the same play spurred a drive to the Blue Bombers' three-yard line. But Glenn overthrew Manny Arceneaux and the Lions had to settle for an 11-yard field goal, reducing their deficit to 9-3.
B.C.'s defence came up big in the final minute of the second quarter. Thanks to three consecutive completions by Willy and a pass interference penalty on B.C., the Blue Bombers advanced to the Lions 23-yard line. However, B.C. held backup QB Rob Marve on third-and-one, forcing a turnover on downs and setting up a drive that led to an 11-yard McCallum field goal on the final play of the first half to reduce their deficit to 9-6.
But B.C. could not build any momentum in the decisive third quarter after both clubs virtually matched each other's net yardage in the first 30 minutes, with the Blue Bombers earning only one yard more.
But penalties proved costly for the Lions as they committed eight infractions worth 62 yards in the first half and at total of 14 for 122 yards on the night. By comparison, Winnipeg was penalized only four times for 25 yards in the first half and just once more for 10 yards in the second half.
"It was an up-and-down game," said B.C. linebacker Jamall Johnson. "Defensively, we played well, but we hurt ourselves with a lot of penalties in key situations."
He said it was more a case of the Blue Bombers playing "better football" though.
"We've just got to get better at playing better team football, and we'll turn this thing around," said Johnson.
Bo Levi Mitchell isn't interested in tying or surpassing any personal records. He just wants his team to win.
The Stampeders quarterback threw for 124 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night to improve to 7-0 as a CFL starter and help Calgary edge the Edmonton Eskimos 26-22.
Rene Paredes nailed four field goals as the Stampeders improved to 4-0 on the season. Mitchell, meanwhile, tied former Stampeder Jeff Garcia's league record for best career start.
But after the game, Mitchell downplayed the accomplishment.
"It's not a record that people even keep track of, I'm surprised people even keep it," he said. "I'm excited to be undefeated, but I'm more excited our team is playing well and that we are undefeated. I'll try to keep that record intact as long as I can, but a loss is going to come at some point."
'I'm excited to be undefeated, but I'm more excited our team is playing well and that we are undefeated. I'll try to keep that record intact as long as I can, but a loss is going to come at some point.'- Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell
Edmonton was guilty of a couple of major gaffes in the game, including the questionable decision to try and run a fake punt out of the end zone late in the second quarter, a failed effort which led directly to a costly Calgary touchdown.
"I was surprised they did that," said Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel. "We were very fortunate to be able to stop that by inches. It was a big play of the game since we scored on the next play. This is the type of game where a head coach has to make decisions to try and help their team win. I went for a third-and-one and was stopped. You have to take those chances and just hope that they are executed.
"We're struggling offensively, but we are still winning. We need to get better and hopefully we will get better."
The Eskimos dropped to 4-1 on the year, missing out on a chance to surpass the total number of wins they had in a disappointing 4-14 campaign in 2013.
"You'd like to win them all, you'd like to go 18-0 and then win two more in the playoffs," said Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly, who threw for 212 yards with one TD and one interception. "But the reality is that's not going to happen, so you try to learn from these experiences.
"This is a good football team that we played against. They've got the best record in the league now, but we also learned that if we do a few things better, we could win that football game."
Edmonton's defence was forced to come up big early as Eskimos punt returner Jamal Miles coughed up the ball just over a minute into the game on his own 27-yard line. That was as close as Calgary got, however, as they were held to a 36-yard Paredes field goal.
The Eskimos came right back on their next possession with a 31-yard Grant Shaw field goal to tie it 3-3.
Calgary came up with another big special teams play with six minutes remaining in the first quarter as Keenan MacDougall blocked a Shaw punt deep in the Edmonton zone and was able to pick it up and ramble the remaining six yards into the end zone to put the Stampeders up 10-3.
"I kind of went through untouched," MacDougall said. "I had a nice bounce into my hands after a couple of other bounces."
Pat White replaced Mike Reilly at quarterback to start the second quarter and instantly drew a pass interference call on an end zone pass. He would then take it in from the one-yard line to knot the game back up. It was White's first CFL touchdown.
Edmonton looked to have surged in front two minutes later on a 59-yard passing play from Reilly to Fred Stamps, however the play was called back on a holding infraction.
The defensive battle continued as Fred Bennett picked off a Reilly pass at the Edmonton 45, eventually leading to a 36-yard Paredes field goal.
The Eskimos responded with a 40-yarder from Shaw.
Edmonton tried a fake punt with 24 seconds remaining as defensive back Aaron Grymes took off with the ball from his own end zone. It was a costly risk, however, as he was stopped just short of the first down, leading to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Jeff Fuller and a 20-13 Calgary lead at the half.
The Eskimos atoned for the miscue six-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter as they stopped the Stamps on a third down gamble at the Calgary 32-yard line. The next play Reilly was able to pass to a wide-open Shamawd Chambers for the touchdown to tie it once again.
Calgary regained the lead in the pouring rain with just over a minute remaining in the third frame on a 29-yard Paredes field goal and then benefited from a bevy of Edmonton penalties to make it 26-20 six minutes into the fourth quarter on a 30-yarder from their kicker.
Edmonton had a chance for an easy first down with one-and-a-half minutes down, but instead of driving it the inches necessary, tried a passing play only to see Reilly get sacked to force a punt.
Calgary gave up a safety with 44 seconds left to run some time off the clock and put Edmonton on their own 35. The move allowed the Stamps to run out the clock from there.
The Stampeders return home to face the B.C. Lions next Friday. Edmonton has a bye week before starting a two-game road swing in Montreal on Aug. 8.
By Brandon Hicks, CBC Sports Posted: Jul 24, 2014 12:22 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 24, 2014 12:22 PM ET
Sir Chris Hoy, Great Britain's most decorated Olympian, took a break from rescuing awkward social situations involving Queen Elizabeth II to take in some action at the Commonwealth Games.
He was stopped by security as he tried to enter the venue named after him.
That's right: Sir Chris Hoy, one of the most recognizable athletes in Scotland, needed to show ID to enter the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
BBC Radio reported that the girl responsible exclaimed, "My mum's going to kill me!"
To his eternal credit, the cycling legend came to the girl's aid via Twitter.
Via The Guardian.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
Before Jason Statham began locking, stocking, transporting, cranking, snatching, and expendableing(?), he was just another man trying to gain international fame as a competitive diver.
Statham, he of action movie stardom, spent 12 years on England's national diving team, and participated in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand.
One dive in particular did not go well.
In archival footage dug up by the BBC, we see a young Statham attempt a triple somersault in the 10-metre platform competition. He entered the water at a less-than-ideal angle, creating a splash more akin to something you see when one performs a cannonball at a local pool.
(GIF via Bleacher Report)
His scores were also less than ideal. Statham's poor finish "earned" a 13.86 score. This is not good. The England judge in particular was very harsh, giving Statham a miniscule 0.5, the lowest possible score a judge can award.
Jason Statham got a less-than-ideal score after flubbing a dive at the 1990 Commonwealth games. (BBC)
Considering his international fame and multimillion-dollar movie contracts, it was probably a good idea that he switched careers.
A recap of the top moments for Canadian athletes on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, including a pair of gold medals:
Canada didn't have to wait for its first medal, as Victoria's Kirsten Sweetland took the silver in the women's triathlon — the first medal event of the Games.
Sweetland finished between a pair of Englishwomen: winner Jodie Stimpson and bronze medallist Vicky Holland.
The other two Canadian entries couldn't finish the race. Calgary's Ellen Pennock suffered a broken collarbone in a bike crash, and Winnipeg's Sarah-Anne Brault was ordered to drop out during the running leg in order to save herself for the relay event.
Sweetland, 25, has struggled with injuries for years, but she peaked at the right time. Less than two weeks ago, she reached the podium in a World Triathlon Series event for the first time in her career, finishing third in Hamburg.
Andrew Yorke of Hamilton, Ont., fell just short of a medal in the men's event, finishing fourth.
Later, another 25-year-old Victoria athlete won Canada's first gold of the Games when swimmer Ryan Cochrane repeated as champion in the men's 400-metre freestyle.
Though he came in as the champ, it was a somewhat surprising win for Cochrane, who was listed as an underdog by at least one online bookie.
Cochrane will defend his Commonwealth 1,500m title on Day 6. He's a two-time Olympic medallist in that event.
Canada completed the medal rainbow when the women's 4x100 freestyle swim relay team won bronze.
Australia, which came in as a 1/100 (!) favourite, busted the Netherlands' world record that had stood since 2009.
Canada's second gold of the Games, and of the day, came just before the lights went out when the rhythmic gymnastics team won their event.
That medal raised Canada's count to four heading into Day 2. That's good for fifth in the overall standings. England leads with 17, followed by Australia (15), host Scotland (10) and India (7).
