IN BRIEF
LANDOVER, Md. — A week after their “Hands Up, Don't Shoot!” show of solidarity, several St. Louis Rams players made another societal statement with the message: “I Can't Breathe.”
The slogan refers to Eric Garner, who died after a New York police officer placed him in a chokehold during an arrest for selling loose cigarettes. A grand jury decided last week that it would not indict the officer. A video of the arrest showed Garner gasping, “I can't breathe.”
Guard Davin Joseph wrote the words on the cleats he wore during pregame warmups before the Rams beat the Washington Redskins 24-0. Tight end Jared Cook had it written on his wrist tape. Receiver Kenny Britt had several names — including Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin — written on his blue and gold cleats.
Players at other NFL games expressed similar sentiments. Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush had “I Can't Breathe” written in black across his blue warmup shirt. Browns cornerback Johnson Bademosi wrote the message on the back of the shirt he wore before a game in Cleveland.
WINDERMERE, Fla. — Jordan Spieth won the Hero World Challenge with a performance tournament host Tiger Woods could appreciate.Staked to a seven-shot lead, Spieth blew away an elite field at Isleworth and set two tournament records when he closed with a 6-under 66 for a 10-shot victory over Henrik Stenson of Sweden.The 21-year-old from Texas won his second straight tournament in dominant fashion. Spieth won the Australian Open last week by six, and even a trip halfway around the world didn't slow his momentum.He finished at 26-under 262, breaking the tournament record of 266 set by Woods in 2007 and Davis Love III in 2000.
CARSON, Calif. — Landon Donovan is retiring as a champion, thanks to one brilliant goal by Robbie Keane.Keane scored on a breakaway in the 111th minute, and Donovan won his record sixth MLS title in the LA Galaxy's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup.Gyasi Zardes scored in the 52nd minute as the Galaxy won their record fifth league title in the final game for Donovan, the MLS career scoring leader and most accomplished soccer player in U.S. history.
MONTREAL — Former teammates joined hundreds of fans and Quebec's premier at the Bell Centre to pay tribute to Jean Beliveau, one of the greatest Montreal Canadiens players.Beliveau, who died Tuesday at 83 after a long illness, lay in a closed casket at center ice. Fans stopped briefly to give their sympathies to Beliveau's wife, Elise as well as his daughter and granddaughters Magalie and Mylene.The casket lay between two giant posters of Beliveau in his prime as an imposing center on the powerhouse Canadiens teams of the 1950s and 1960s. Also on display were the Stanley Cup and three other trophies he won.