The Friday 5: July 2nd

Sha’Carri Richardson

The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced on Friday that American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for marijuana at last month’s Olympic trials. Richardson won the 100 meters in 10.86 seconds, but with the acceptance of the suspension, those results are disqualified.

Richardson apologized on NBC’s Today and said she used the drug to cope with the death of her biological mother, news she received from a reporter.

“Honestly, I just want to apologize for my actions,” Richardson said. “I know what I did. I know what I’m supposed to do, I’m allowed not to do, and I still made that decision…”

Should the 30-day ban be backdated to the time of the result, Richardson could be cleared to race in the Olympics’ 4×100-meter relay on August 6. Six athletes are entered in the pool – four based on performance and two named by USATF.

“Don’t judge me, because I am human…I just happen to run a little faster.” Richardson made a mistake, but judgement and ridicule have no place. We are all struggling with something.

Trevor Bauer

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has been put on a seven-day administrative leave by Major League Baseball, as he faces sexual assault allegations. MLB and the MLBPA developed administrative leave under a joint domestic violence policy, and it is not considered a suspension. Bauer has elected not to appeal the decision.

Earlier this week, a 27 year-old woman accused Bauer of choking her until she lost consciousness, as well as punching her in various areas of her body during two sexual encounters, one in April and one in May. In a statement, Bauer’s representatives said that the pitcher did not commit assault and said the meetings were “wholly consensual.”

The league said the following in a statement: “MLB’s investigation into the allegations made against Trevor Bauer is ongoing. While no determination in the case has been made, we have made the decision to place Mr. Bauer on seven-day administrative leave effective immediately. MLB continues to collect information in our ongoing investigation concurrent with the Pasadena Police Department’s active criminal investigation. We will comment further at the appropriate time.”

NBA Playoffs

We’ve got a Western Conference Champion! Congratulations to the Phoenix Suns, who defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. It will be point guard Chris Paul’s first trip to the Finals of his career.

The Suns’ opponent is TBD as the Eastern Conference finals head to Atlanta for Game 6 on Saturday night between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Hawks. The Bucks are coming off a 123-112 win in Game 5, which gave them a 3-2 series lead and that was without star forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Hawks were also missing a superstar, as Trae Young missed his second straight game with a bone bruise in his right foot, but that was no excuse for a defense that fell flat. It is unclear as to whether Young will be available for Game 6, and Antetokounmpo has been listed as doubtful for Game 6 (per Shams Charania).Tip-off is at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT.

Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed doubtful for Game 6 vs. Hawks on Saturday night.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2021

The Hard Knocks Cowboys

Helllllllooooooo Dak Prescott…oh, and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys.

Just in time for July 4^th, HBO and NFL Films announced that “America’s Team” – did we vote on this, because I never received a ballot and I have a write-in candidate – will be featured on the show’s 20^th Anniversary season. It is the team’s third time with that hard knock life.

The show will debut on August 10 and will be five episodes. If we’re being honest, Cowboys fans have not had it easy for the several years, so why not add watching it all play out on TV to the list.

The Cowboys will play in their first preseason game on August 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, making this the first time that the debut episode comes after the team has played a preseason game.

NIL, Reggie Bush and the Heisman Trophy

Earlier this week, the NCAA approved a policy change that allows athletes to profit off their names, images and likenesses (NIL), finally.

In light of this change, former USC running back Reggie Bush would like his Heisman Trophy back. Bush forfeited the trophy in 2010 after an NCAA investigation found that Bush accepted cash, travel expenses and a home while he was a student-athlete. The school was banned from the postseason for two years, had to vacate 14 victories, which included the 2004 national championship, while also losing 30 scholarships.

In a statement on Thursday, Bush said, “It is my strong belief that I won the Heisman Trophy ‘solely’ due to my hard work and dedication on the football field and it is also my firm belief that my records should be reinstated.”

Today, the Heisman Trust said that the NCAA would need to reinstate Bush’s 2005 status in order for him to get the trophy back.