Sports
Spring training notebook: Justin Ishbia to increase stake in White Sox, per report
Feb 8, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns minority owner Justin Ishbia speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox might have found a successor for longtime owner Jerry Reinsdorf, although the team has cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
Billionaire Justin Ishbia no longer will pursue buying the Minnesota Twins, shifting his focus to increasing his minority share of the White Sox, The Athletic reported.
Ishbia, who founded a private equity firm in Chicago, has offered to buy shares from other limited partners with the intention of one day taking majority ownership of the team from Reinsdorf (who turns 89 on Tuesday), per the Friday report.
A representative for Ishbia declined to comment to The Athletic, while a White Sox official denied any potential change of ownership is in the works. Ishbia is an investor in the Phoenix Suns of the NBA and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, owned by his brother, Mat.
The Athletic reported that limited partners in the White Sox were approached by an investor seeking to purchase shares at a franchise valuation of about $1.8 billion.
“Similar to an opportunity in 2021, White Sox limited partners have received an offer from a third party to purchase their shares in the team, providing liquidity for the limited partners on their long-term investment in the club,” White Sox vice-president of communications Scott Reifert said in a statement to multiple media outlets. “This offer to limited partners has no impact on the leadership or operations of the Chicago White Sox and does not provide a path to control.”
Per The Athletic, as news of Justin Ishbia’s quest to buy the Twins spread, the Reinsdorf family approached him about boosting his ownership of the White Sox. Any deal would need league approval.
Shohei Ohtani making progress
In his effort to return to the mound this season after a second elbow surgery since making his MLB debut in 2018, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani hit 95 mph on the radar gun during a throwing session.
Ohtani has not pitched since he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. He joined the Dodgers as a free agent prior to last season and won the National League MVP award with his offensive exploits, while becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs with 50 steals in a single season.
“A really positive day for Shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told outlets, including the Orange County Register. “Really good stuff for Shohei.”
Ohtani threw 25 pitches, increasing his total from 14 in his first bullpen session and 21 in his second. Roberts initially said Ohtani might join the Dodgers’ rotation in May then amended that to saying late April is not out of the question.
Former pitcher Eddie Fisher dies
Former All-Star knuckleballer Eddie Fisher died this week in Altus, Okla., after a brief illness. He was 88.
Fisher pitched 15 seasons (1959-73) with six teams and went 85-70 with a 3.41 ERA and 82 saves in 690 games (63 starts).
His best season came in 1965 for the Chicago White Sox when he was an All-Star and finished fourth in American League MVP voting. He went 15-7 with a 2.40 ERA in 24 saves in 165 1/3 innings over a then American League record 82 relief appearances.
During the 1966 season, Fisher was traded to Baltimore and the Orioles went on to win the World Series. He had a combined 20 saves between the White Sox and Orioles that season.
Other news and notes
While MLB.com reported St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros have resumed trade talks regarding St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, The Athletic and the St. Louis Post Dispatch revealed that a deal is not “imminent,” according to Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. … The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran outfielder and first baseman Mark Canha to a minor league deal, according to the New York Post, with an invitation to major league camp. Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins fractured his right shin in batting practice and likely will miss the first month of the season. … Red Sox left-hander Zach Penrod has elbow inflammation and is expected to “be out for a while,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. … In announcing the signing of left-hander Andrew Heaney, the Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Brett de Geus for assignment and released right-hander Yerry Rodriguez.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richard Carapaz, Tadej Pogacar stand tall at Stage 20 of Tour de France
Richard Carapaz of Ecuador is in action during Stage 20 of the Tour de France on Saturday. The race ends Sunday. Richard Carapaz of Ecuador won the stage and Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia all but wrapped up his fifth general classification title in seven years during a wild penultimate day at the Tour de France on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Carapaz capped a monumental week with his second victory in three stages, and third of his career, while also taking over the polka-dot jersey for top climber of the three-week stage race. He also finished third in Friday’s Stage 19.
Stage 20 unfolded in dramatic fashion as Sepp Kuss of the United States held a comfortable lead with just over 7 kilometers remaining in the 170.9-kilometer stage as it approached the finish at the resort town of Alpe d’Huez.
Kuss then crashed against a curb on the right side of the road while exiting a tunnel but got back on his bike and continued with the lead. Misfortune struck again when Kuss crashed against a left-side curb with 5.8 kilometers remaining.
Carapaz passed Kuss after his second solo crash and went on to the stage victory for the U.S.-based EF Education-EasyPost team. Remco Evenepoel of Belgium passed Kuss near the finish line to take second place, while Kuss made his way to the podium with a disappointing third-place finish.
Kuss was trying for his second career stage and stands as the last American man to win a Tour de France Stage when he reached the finish line first in 2021.
Race leader Pogacar finished fourth in the stage, while his UAE Team Emirates teammate Isaac del Toro of Mexico was fifth. The finish kept del Toro in the white jersey given to the top rider under 26 years old.
All that remains is Sunday’s mostly ceremonial final Stage 21. Barring major disaster, Pogacar will wrap up his third consecutive Tour de France title as he takes a 6-minute, 26-second lead over Evenepoel into the final day.
In third place overall is del Toro, who is 9:42 off his teammate’s pace. Paul Seixas, the 19-year-old sensation from France, is fourth overall and nearly two minutes behind del Toro for the white jersey. Seixas finished 10th in Stage 20.
The final stage into Paris on Sunday was cut from 133 kilometers to 89 kilometers because of nearby wildfires, with fans now treated to two extra circuits along the Champs-Elysees before a climbing finish on the nearby Montmartre loop.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tour de France final stage rerouted due to wildfires
A firefighter works to battle wildfire near the A9 motorway near Beziers, France, July 3, 2026. Wildfires in southwest France have forced organizers of the Tour de France to reconfigure the final stage, set for Sunday.
The change is necessary because multiple first responders have been diverted to the fires. The new route will leave a smaller race footprint for local officials to secure.
“As numerous wildfires are currently affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, emergency services are fully mobilized to combat the blazes, while internal security forces are working to secure the affected areas and protect the population,” the Amaury Sport Organisation said in a statement.
“In light of this, the Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy a portion of the internal security forces initially mobilized to ensure security for the final stage of the Tour de France, in order to reinforce the response efforts in the areas affected by the wildfires.”
The wildfires have led to the evacuations of about 200,000 people.
Stage 21 had been set as a 132.5-kilometer ride from Thoiry down the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
The re-imagined Stage 21 still will end along the famed road, just after a circuit on the Montmartre. But the run now will occur solely within the Paris boundaries and travel just 89 km. Cyclists will take two extra circuits along the Champs-Elysees before heading out for the Montmartre climb.
The Montmartre circuit has proven to be popular after it was used in the 2024 Paris Olympics and then added to the 2025 Tour de France. The area can accommodate large gatherings of fans, who turn the area into a party atmosphere.
Earlier in the Tour de France, fans were asked to stay away from the final 40 kilometers of Stage 3 because of wildfires and the need to deploy first responders to the area.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Robert Kraft: Patriots offered CB Christian Gonzalez record-setting deal
Jun 9, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) takes questions from the media at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team offered Christian Gonzalez a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.
“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.
“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, pocketing $31 million per season on his four-year, $131 million contract that he signed this offseason.
Gonzalez, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).
–Field Level Media
Richard Carapaz, Tadej Pogacar stand tall at Stage 20 of Tour de France
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