Sports
Cody Bradford, Rangers shut out Blue Jays
Sep 18, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) throws during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Adolis Garcia belted a two-run homer and Cody Bradford tossed seven shutout innings to fuel the Texas Rangers to a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Garcia made a leaping catch at the right-center field wall to deny a potential extra-base hit from Addison Barger in the third inning. Garcia then provided the difference at the plate in the sixth.
Rookie Wyatt Langford singled to lead off the sixth inning before Garcia deposited a first-pitch sinker from Bowden Francis (8-5) over the wall in left field for the game’s only scoring. The homer was Garcia’s 23rd of the season and first since Sept. 5.
Bradford benefited from that blast to rebound after getting shellacked in his last outing. He yielded a career-high eight runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 14-4 rout by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 11.
On Wednesday, Bradford (6-3) scattered five hits and struck out six without walking a batter.
He retired the first 12 batters he faced before Alejandro Kirk singled to lead off the fifth inning. Kirk advanced to third on Spencer Horwitz’s double, but Bradford rebounded by retiring the next three batters to end the threat.
Texas’ David Robertson retired the side in order in the eighth inning before Kirby Yates did the same in the ninth to secure his 31st save of the season.
The Rangers (73-79) followed up their 13-run, 13-hit outburst in the series opener on Tuesday to record their second straight victory. Garcia, who had two hits and three RBIs in the prior game, mustered one of his team’s five hits on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays (72-80) had just five hits on Wednesday after totaling 13 in the series opener.
Francis saw his winless streak extend to three starts despite permitting only two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC announce departure of D Strahinja Tanasijevic
Mar 15, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic (19) runs with the ball during the second half against New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic has departed the club, the team announced on Wednesday.
Tanasijevic, 28, joined NYCFC in February 2024 and made 43 appearances across all competitions.
“We would like to thank Tana for the commitment and professionalism shown throughout his time with the Club,” sporting director Todd Dunivant said. “This move provides an opportunity for Tana to pursue the next step in his career while also giving the Club additional roster flexibility. We wish Tana and his family all the best moving forward.”
Tanasijevic played for several clubs in his native Serbia prior to joining New York City FC.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LeBron James on GOAT debate: 'Not taking nobody over me'
Nov 27, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) smiles after a Philadelphia 76ers foul during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images LeBron James told Time magazine that he believes he is the greatest basketball player of all time.
When asked the age-old question of who is the GOAT in the NBA, James embraced his own name.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” he told Time in a profile published Monday. “There’s no question.”
James, however, admitted the NBA has other all-time greats, namely Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird and Shaquille O’Neal, among others.
“But I think Mike will say the same thing,” James said. “Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt (Chamberlain), Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else.
“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
James, 41, just completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season, and the league’s all-time leading scorer is heading into unrestricted free agency.
“It’s up to the mind,” James told Time about whether he will suit up next season or retire. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay. When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2 1/2 hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 22-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).
–Field Level Media
Sports
WNBA champion Aces not invited to White House
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates as she receives the MVP trophy after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the WNBA Championship in a four-game sweep in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. The Las Vegas Aces did not receive an invitation to the White House after winning the 2025 WNBA title in October, a team spokesperson confirmed to USA Today on Wednesday.
The decades-old tradition of championship sports teams visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has not included any WNBA or NBA teams during President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
The New York Liberty did not visit the White House after winning the 2024 WNBA championship. The 2024-25 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder did not go either, due to what the team called a timing issue.
The Aces, who will be in Washington, D.C., for a July 22 game against the Mystics, have won three of the past four WNBA championships. They visited the White House twice during the Biden Administration.
The Aces had considered visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture as an alternate way of commemorating their championship during next month’s trip to the nation’s capital, but ran into a scheduling conflict, per USA Today.
–Field Level Media
NYCFC announce departure of D Strahinja Tanasijevic
LeBron James on GOAT debate: 'Not taking nobody over me'
