SPORTS DIGEST || Hall of Fame horse trainer Jolley dies at 79

Hall of Fame horse trainer Jolley dies at 79

LeRoy Jolley, a Hall of Fame trainer who twice won the Kentucky Derby and was involved in one of thoroughbred racing’s most famous match races that ended in tragedy, has died. He was 79.

He died Monday.

Jolley won the 1975 Kentucky Derby with Foolish Pleasure, who went on to finish second in the Preakness and in the Belmont.

In 1980, Jolley won the Derby with Genuine Risk, only the second filly to win the Run for the Roses and the first in 65 years. In 1976, he trained 2-5 favorite Honest Pleasure to a second-place finish in the Derby, and he finished second in 1979 with General Assembly.

Jolley enjoyed a bit of crossover fame through a Miller Lite beer commercial in 1976 that featured him with Foolish Pleasure and Honest Pleasure.

USOC CEO apologizes for Nassar’s abuse

The leader of the U.S. Olympic Committee says in a letter he was not aware of the Larry Nassar sex-abuse allegations before law enforcement got involved, and that he had no knowledge of a settlement between USA Gymnastics and 2012 Olympic champion McKayla Maroney in a case involving the now-imprisoned former team doctor.

CEO Scott Blackmun sent the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, on Thursday, the day after Maroney filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the nondisclosure clauses in the settlement.

The USOC is named as a defendant, and the lawsuit says the federation had long promoted a culture that concealed known and suspected sex abusers.

In the letter, Blackmun said “I am so sorry that the Olympic family failed these athletes,” and that while the USOC found out too late, it has taken steps to prevent future abuse by creating the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which investigates sex-abuse allegations in Olympic sports.

“And I want to be crystal clear on the topic of transparency,” Blackmun wrote. ‘’During my tenure as CEO, which began in 2010, we have never been, and will not be, party to any effort to conceal or keep confidential allegations or instances of sexual abuse.”

Maroney’s lawyer, John Manly, called the letter “repugnant.”

Decision on next MLS team is postponed

NEW YORK

Major League Soccer is postponing a decision on its next expansion team until next year.

A day after selecting Nashville, Tenn., as one of its next two additions, MLS said Thursday it still is considering which market to add from among Cincinnati, Detroit and Sacramento, Calif.

MLS announced last December that it would select its 25th and 26th teams during the second or third quarter of 2017 and they would start play by 2020. Twelve areas submitted bids the following month, when MLS said it would announce the two selected by the end of the year. Contenders were pared to four finalists on Nov. 29, and the groups made presentations to the league’s expansion committee on Dec. 6.

Los Angeles FC, the league’s 23rd team, starts play next season. The 24th team, provisionally awarded to Miami and David Beckham in 2014, still has not finalized a stadium location and remains on hold.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday it was not clear when Nashville will start play. The league prefers to have an even number of teams, allowing all to be in action on weekends.

Nationals, Kintzler agree to two-year deal

WASHINGTON

Brandon Kintzler and the Nationals have finalized a $10 million, two-year contract that keeps the relief pitcher n Washington.

Kintzler will earn $5 million next year under the deal announced Thursday. The Nationals have a $10 million option for 2019, and if that is declined Kintzler has a $5 million player option.

The 33-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA, 10 holds and a save in 27 games with the Nationals after they acquired him from Minnesota at the July 31 trade deadline.

Associated Press