SPORTS DIGEST || Kaepernick grievance to go to trial

Kaepernick grievance to go to trial

PHILADELPHIA

An arbitrator is sending Colin Kaepernick’s grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league’s request to throw out the quarterback’s claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice.

Kaepernick’s lawyer Mark Geragos tweeted a picture Thursday of a ruling by arbitrator Stephen B. Burbank.

The former 49ers quarterback argues that owners have colluded to keep him off any NFL roster since he hit free agency in 2017.

Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into one of the most polarizing issues in sports, with President Donald Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem.

Kaepernick contends the owners violated union rules by conspiring to keep him off of teams.

Former NBA exec under investigation

SAN FRANCISCO

The Sacramento Kings said Thursday that federal authorities are investigating a former top executive after team officials uncovered suspicious financial transactions.

The Kings said the FBI and federal prosecutors took formal action Monday to recover money former chief revenue officer Jeffrey David is suspected of embezzling. David holds the same position with the Miami Heat after leaving the Kings in June.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Sacramento declined to comment and the team provided no other details. No charges have been filed.

David’s Miami-based attorneys said Thursday night that he is cooperating with law enforcement. The Heat said they are cooperating with the investigation and have put David on leave.

A person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that David is suspected of embezzling about $13 million from sponsorship transactions and buying Southern California real estate with the money.

Triple Crown jockey named “Mr. Fitz”

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith will be honored by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters with the Mr. Fitz Award.

The Hall of Fame rider will receive the award, named for longtime trainer “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, for typifying the spirit of racing at the group’s 59th annual awards dinner on Oct. 31 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Smith rode Justify to a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont this spring for horse racing’s second Triple Crown in four years.

UEFA sets Champions League groups

MONACO

Cristiano Ronaldo is going back to Manchester United and Paul Pogba will return to Juventus after the teams were drawn together in a Champions League group along with Valencia and Young Boys on Thursday.

After winning four titles at Real Madrid, and one with United, Ronaldo aims to end Juventus’ 23-year wait for a third European title.

Three-time defending champion Madrid will play Roma, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.

Barcelona heads a tough group with Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan, while three former European champions Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax are together with AEK Athens.

Liverpool, the runner-up last season, was the toughest third-seeded team and landed with Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, and Red Star Belgrade.

English champion Manchester City got a favorable group with Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim.

Atletico Madrid, whose Metropolitano stadium hosts the final on June 1, is grouped with Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Club Brugge.

Lokomotiv Moscow, seeded in the top pot, will play Porto, Schalke and Galatasaray.

The 32 teams will share a record 1.95 billion euros ($2.28 billion) in prize money from UEFA.

Games kick off on Sept. 18.

Staff/wire report