R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 8/3 - Friday 8/9

 

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

MLB: Beleaguered New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was initially suspended by Major League Baseball for the remainder of this regular season plus all of the 2K14 campaign for his involvement of using performance-enhancing drugs, which amounts to an unprecedented total of 211 games. Rodriguez has filed to appeal the historic suspension and is expected to play out the remainder of this regular season amidst all the backlash and controversy. All-Star players Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers), Jhonny Peralta (Detroit Tigers) and Everth Cabrera (San Diego Padres) were each suspended 50 games for violating the league's anti-doping policy and did not appeal....Detroit Tigers All-Star starting pitcher Max Scherzer continued his dominance on the mound by winning his league-leading 17th game against the Cleveland Indians....As of Friday 8/9, the Atlanta Braves are the hottest team in baseball, and are currently enjoying a 14-game win streak going into their matchup against the lowly Miami Marlins at home Saturday night 8/10.

Men's Pro Golf: Tiger Woods won his fifth tournament this season - besting Keegan Bradley in the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational. Woods has now won a total of 79 PGA Tour titles in his illustrious career thus far....The final major tournament of the season - the PGA Championship - got underway at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. As of Friday 8/9, Jason Dufner is atop the leaderboard at nine-under par going into the third round of play on Saturday 8/10.

Women's Pro Golf: 28-year-old American Stacy Lewis won the Women's British Open - the second major title of her career - and ended South Korean superstar Inbee Park's incredible run of three consecutive major championship victories.

 

NFL: Football head coaching legend Bill Parcells, along with notable former players Cris Carter, Larry Allen, Jonathan Ogden and Warren Sapp were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio....Preseason football action got underway for all teams....The Green Bay Packers signed QB Vince Young to a one-year deal.

Swimming: 18-year-old Missy Franklin picked up where she left off from her iconic and memorable debut in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by winning a record six gold medals at the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. 

WNBA: Players of the Week (Monday 7/29 - Sunday 8/4).....Eastern Conference - F Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun; Western Conference - C Elizabeth Cambage, Tulsa Shock....The underachieving Phoenix Mercury parted ways with head coach/General Manager Corey Gaines after five seasons and a league title at the helm. Russ Pennell will take over on the bench on an interim basis and Amber Cox - the team's President and CEO - will also assume the duties of General Manager short-term. As of Friday 8/9, the Mercury are 11-11 and in the third playoff position in the western conference standings.