SPORTS DIGEST || Biles wins 3rd straight world gymnastics title

Biles wins 3rd straight world gymnastics title

GLASGOW, Scotland

Simone Biles won her third straight world gymnastics title on Thursday night, topping defending Olympic champion Gabby Douglas in an electric all-around final that cemented Biles’ status as the overwhelming favorite top the podium in Rio next summer.

Biles overcame a near fall on balance beam and a big step out of bounds on floor exercise to post a score of 60.399, more than a full point ahead of Douglas and bronze medalist Larisa Iordache of Romania.

The margin is the biggest of Biles’ three championships even with the mistakes. She became the first woman to win three straight titles and hasn’t lost a meet of any kind in more than two years.

GM Alex Anthopoulos leaving Blue Jays

TORONTO

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos is leaving the team, rejecting a five-year contract extension to remain.

The announcement Thursday comes as former Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro becomes Toronto’s new president. Shapiro replaces Paul Beeston, who is retiring.

It also comes less than a week after the Blue Jays were eliminated from the playoffs.

Anthopoulos acquired MVP candidate Josh Donaldson in the offseason and traded for David Price and Troy Tulowitzki before the deadline to give Toronto its first playoff spot since 1993.

Edward Rogers, Chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays and a part of the ownership group, said in a statement that Anthopoulos did a fine job over six seasons.

“We would have loved it if he stayed with the club. Like the fans, we too are disappointed he has chosen not to accept our five-year contract offer, but we wish him the very best,” Rogers said. “Alex leaves behind an outstanding front office team and coaching staff that played a key role in shaping the team’s great run this season. They will continue to operate in leadership roles next year as we look to build upon the team’s success.”

Don Mattingly hired as Marlins manager

MIAMI

A person familiar with the situation says Don Mattingly has been hired as manager of the Miami Marlins less than a week after he parted with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the decision hasn’t been publicly confirmed. The announcement might not come until after the World Series.

Mattingly interviewed Monday with the Marlins. He went 446-363 in five years with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three years. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988.

In Miami, Mattingly succeeds Dan Jennings, who made the unusual move from general manager to manager in May.

Hawks’ Sefolosha to sue NYPD

NEW YORK

Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha says he thinks about the confrontation with New York police that left him with a broken leg “almost daily” and is filing a civil suit because “they have to be held accountable and be smart about how to interact with people.”

Sefolosha still isn’t fully recovered from the injuries in April that ended his season. He sat out Thursday night against the New York Knicks after playing in Atlanta’s season opener on Tuesday.

He was acquitted earlier this month of charges stemming from the arrest outside a nightclub and says he understands police have a difficult job. He calls the lawsuit the “right move” and hopes it will lead to further discussion and changes.

Sefolosha was in New York for the trial when tennis player James Blake was taken to the ground by an NYPD officer and wrongly arrested after he was mistaken for a fraud suspect. Sefolosha says it’s “terrible that something like this happened and keeps happening.”

Staff/wire reports