SPORTS digest


Hall of Fame to screen ‘Gleason’ documentary

CANTON

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will host special screenings of the new inspirational film “Gleason” this weekend.

“Gleason” is a documentary that profiles the life of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason who is battling ALS. The film aligns with the Hall of Fame’s five core values learned from the Game — Commitment, Integrity, Courage, Respect and Excellence.

Screenings will be held in the Hall’s 300-seat Event Center. The film will run Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The screening of “Gleason” is included in the museum admission purchase. Complimentary popcorn, soda, and water will be available for those viewing the film.

Buckeyes memorabilia available at benefit

YOUNGSTOWN

Autographed Ohio State sports memorabilia will be among various prizes offered at the “Buckeyes Blast Cancer” quarter auction on Sept. 15 at the Youngstown Saxon Club, 710 S. Meridian Road.

The benefit is for the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research.and Camp Quality Ohio.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the auction starts at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and include a soft drink, snack, a bidding paddle and a door prize ticket. There will be more than 100 prizes, gift baskets and door prizes. Items quarter-raffled include a variety of general gifts as well as many OSU autographed prizes signed by more than 20 players and coaches, including Urban Meyer, Cardale Jones, Archie Griffin and AJ Hawk.

For more information or tickets, call 330-507-2584 or email fundraisingquarterauction@yahoo.com.

Minor leagues adjusting sizes

GREENSBORO, N.C.

The Single-A Carolina League is expanding by two teams in 2017 while two teams in the California League will be contracted.

Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner said Monday that the Bakersfield Blaze and the High Desert Mavericks will cease operations after the season, with Kinston, N.C., and another undetermined city receiving Carolina League teams.

The Texas Rangers, whose advanced Class A farm team has been at High Desert for two years, will own the team that plays in Kinston next year. Bakersfield also has been a Seattle Mariners affiliate since 2015.

The parent club, ownership and location of the other Carolina League team was not announced. Minor League Baseball says Fayetteville, N.C., officials have a memorandum of understanding for a stadium to open in 2019.

Minor League Baseball says the Rangers and Kinston have a 12-year agreement to play at Grainger Stadium. Kinston was home to a Carolina League team from 1978-2011, and was a Cleveland Indians affiliate for the last 25 years of that run before that team moved to Zebulon, N.C., in 2012 and became the Carolina Mudcats.

Krzyzewski receives a hero’s welcome

RALEIGH, N.C.

A presidential candidate may not have gotten more attention Monday than Mike Krzyzewski did at RDU airport.

Less than 24 hours after guiding the U.S. men’s basketball team to a gold medal in the Rio Olympics, the Duke coach was back in North Carolina, road weary perhaps but happy to be home after being away for five weeks.

The welcoming party included Blue Devils assistant coaches Nate James and Jon Scheyer and others from Duke, and there were hugs all around, but there were a number of “Congrats, Coach K!” and “U-S-A!, U-S-A!” shouts in the airport from those who quickly realized it was Krzyzewski returning from Rio.

“I’m proud of my team,” Krzyzewski said at a news conference. “I thought we played our best game in the gold-medal game. I’m just excited to be back. It’s a long journey and I thought we kept getting better.”

Staff/wire report