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REPORTS: REDSKINS TO ANNOUNCE CHANGING NAME TODAY:The Washington Redskins will announce today (July 13th) that they are changing their name, according to media reports last night. However,Sports Business Daily, which first reported the news yesterday, said the new name won't be announced today because trademark issues are still pending. Despite calls for years from Native American organizations and others to change the name, which many consider offensive, team owner Dan Snyder had resisted. But after coming under pressure from prominent sponsors, the team said earlier this month that they were launching a "thorough review" of the name, which the NFL said it supported.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported that MLB's Atlanta Braves said in an email to season-ticket holders yesterday that they won't be changing their name, but are considering whether to continue with the tomahawk chop rally motion that fans do in the stands.

NASCAR ROOKIE CUSTER WINS AT KENTUCKY: Cole Custerwon the Quaker State 400 on Sunday (July 12th) at Kentucky Speedway, the 22-year-old's first career NASCAR Cup Series win, making him the first rookie regular to win in the Cup Series in nearly four years. Custer made a final-lap pass to grab the lead and get the win, beating out Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick.

MLS POSTPONES MATCH MINUTES BEFORE START:Major League Soccer postponed a match Sunday (July 12th) between D.C. United and Toronto FC just minutes before it was scheduled to begin, after coronavirus testing Saturday showed a positive test for one player and an inconclusive result for another. Retesting will be done and the match will be rescheduled at a later date. The "MLS is Back" tournament begin in Orlando last Wednesday, and already two teams, FC Dallas and Nashville SC, have pulled out because of numerous positive coronavirus tests.

FORMULA ONE STAR HAMILTON RAISES RIGHT FIST ON PODIUM AFTER WIN:Formula One racing's reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, who is its only black driver, raised a clenched right fist against racism on the podium yesterday (July 12th) after he won the Styrian Grand Prix in Austria. As they did at last weekend's season-opening race, Hamilton and the other 19 drivers wore black T-shirts with "End Racism" on them, and most again took a knee before the race. Hamilton said after the race, "Some people were asking 'How long do we have to continue to do this?' . . . People of color who are subject to racism don’t have time to [just] 'take a moment' to protest and that be it. We’ve got to continue to push for equality and raise awareness for it."

WORLD TEAMTENNIS BEGINS, WITH SOME FANS, IN WEST VIRGINIA:World TeamTennis began its three-week season on Sunday (July 12th) at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, where all of the nine teams' matches will be held, instead of being played at different sites around the country, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike nearly all sports that have come back, World TeamTennis is allowing some fans in the stands, but seating is spaced and only up to 20 percent capacity is allowed in. Additionally, fans have to wear masks and have their temperatures checked. Among Grand Slam champions playing in World TeamTennis this year are Venus Williams,Sloane Stephens,Kim Clijsters and Sofia Kenin.

Joel Riley

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