Sports
Report: NBA finalizing '3-2-1' draft lottery reform proposal
May 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, US; A person watches the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images The NBA has shared details of its anti-tanking, “3-2-1 lottery” draft reform plan with team general managers, according to a report from ESPN.
There could be minor tweaks to the proposal ahead of it being voted on by the league’s owners on May 28, but the larger points of the plan have a majority of support and it is likely to be approved, per ESPN.
The “3-2-1 lottery” proposal is named for the number of lottery balls teams would be eligible to receive for the draft lottery drawing. It would expand the lottery from 14 to 16 teams, all of whom would have a chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
The teams with the worst records, though, will no longer have the best odds. The bottom three teams would fall into the relegation area and receive two lottery balls for the No. 1 pick.
Instead, the teams that miss the playoffs and play-in tournament but stay out of the relegation zone (fourth through 10th from the bottom of the standings) would be tied for the best odds with three lottery balls.
The ninth and 10th seeds of the play-in tournament would also receive two balls, while the loser of the play-in games between the seventh and eighth seeds would earn one lottery ball.
Additionally, there would be rules under this new format about the frequency with which teams could earn certain tiers of picks. No team could earn the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or more than three consecutive top-five picks.
Fighting against tanking has been a recent talking point for NBA commissioner Adam Silver. This proposal would also reportedly give the league the ability to reduce a team’s lottery odds or even change a team’s draft positioning if it is deemed to be tanking.
Per the report, this proposal would expire after the 2029 draft — the last draft ahead of the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires after the 2029-30 season. This sunset provision would allow owners to continue the “3-2-1” system or transition to a new draft lottery format at that time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red cards approved for players covering mouths at World Cup
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil’s training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
One new rule permit officials to issue red cards for any players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent or to any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying. Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
The other new amendment permit officials to issue red cards for any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee. It also applies to any team official who convinces his team’s players to leave the field in protest of a call.
IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees place DH Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on IL
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images The New York Yankees placed designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to a right calf strain.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. The Yankees recalled infielder Max Schuemann from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place on the active roster.
Stanton last played Friday at the Houston Astros and left after the sixth inning when he experienced stiffness in the calf while running the bases. The Yankees have kept him on the bench since then while waiting to see how his calf responded.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the team’s 4-2 win at the Texas Rangers on Monday that an MRI revealed nothing more than a strain that didn’t “look too serious.”
The oft-injured Stanton, 36, was limited to 77 games for the Yankees last year due to injuries to both his elbows. The former National League MVP (2017, Miami Marlins) was batting .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs through 24 games this season.
The Yankees had previously called up outfielder Jasson Dominguez from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and sent right-hander Luis Gil to Triple-A after he started Sunday’s loss to the Astros.
The 23-year-old Dominguez, who played in 123 games last season, began 2026 at Triple-A and batted .326 with three homers, 15 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games.
Schuemann, 28, had a fine spring for the Yankees after they acquired him from the Athletics in February. In 234 games across two seasons with the A’s (2024-25), Schuemann has hit .212 with nine homers, 18 doubles, 47 RBIs and 21 steals.
In 2025 alone, Schuemann made starts at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers' Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn on track to return next week
Jul 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (11) is congratulated by first base Andrew Vaughn (28) while rounding the bases after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the fourth at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn are both set to begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday ahead of projected May 4 returns to the major league level, the team announced Tuesday.
Both Chourio and Vaughn have been sidelined since at least Opening Day with broken bones in their left hands.
Chourio was placed on the injured list the day of the first game of the season due to a fractured bone at the base of his middle finger which occurred on a hit-by-pitch during a World Baseball Classic warmup game. He’s hit .272 with 42 homers, 64 doubles and 157 RBIs the last two seasons for the Brewers.
Vaughn sustained a broken hamate bone in Milwaukee’s Opening Day win over the Chicago White Sox. Acquired at the trade deadline last season from Chicago, Vaughn hit .308 with nine homers and 46 RBIs in 64 games with Milwaukee in 2025.
The Brewers, who have won the National League Central each of the last three years, are in last place of the competitive division at 14-13 just over a month into the regular season.
–Field Level Media
Red cards approved for players covering mouths at World Cup
Yankees place DH Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on IL
