Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
NFL to enforce ban on certain helmets, including Brady's
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be wearing a different helmet for the 2019 season, although it will have nothing to do with finding a new team. Brady's model of helmet was banned from the NFL because it did not meet necessary safety standards in laboratory testing, according to ESPN. In total, 32 players from 2018 were wearing a helmet that no longer met NFL standards, the league announced Friday.
Patriots owner Kraft asks Florida judge not to release 'pornography' sting video
A lawyer for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Friday asked a Florida judge not to make public a video that led to the billionaire being charged in a prostitution sting at a massage parlor, calling the evidence "basically pornography." Media companies including ABC and ESPN clashed with Kraft's defenders, saying the judge would violate Florida's public records laws by suppressing the video of Kraft receiving sexual services at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida.
ATP roundup: Three French players in semis in Morocco
The French are dominating action at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh, Morocco, where fourth seed Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Benoit Paire were all winners in the quarterfinals Friday. It will be the first time since Simon, Tsonga and Julien Benneteau turned the trick in 2008 that there will be three Frenchmen in the tournament's semifinals.
Eagle lands for Scott as Australian ties for halfway Masters lead
Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters when he took the Green Jacket in 2013 and he was back in unfamiliar territory at Augusta National on Friday when he ended the second round tied at the top of the leaderboard. His five-way share of the lead marked the first time Scott has either led or co-lead after 18, 36 or 54 holes at Augusta National. He lurked close to the lead in 2013 before timing his run to beat Angel Cabrera in a playoff.
Draft notebook: Kentucky freshman Herro to test waters
Kentucky freshman guard Tyler Herro on Friday announced his intention to declare for the NBA draft but left his options open for a return to the school. Herro said he will work with an agent, within new eligibility rules, in order to get feedback from teams on where he might land in the draft. If his draft stock is not as high as he had hoped, he said he will return to the Kentucky program.
Big hitters poised to make splash at rainy Masters
Steady rain provided a boost for the big-hitters, including Brooks Koepka who shared the overnight lead with Bryson DeChambeau, as the second round of the Masters got underway on Friday. Soft conditions at Augusta National benefited the boomers in Thursday's opening round as Koepka, winner of three of the last six majors he has contested, world number two Dustin Johnson and Spaniard John Rahm all muscled their way onto the leaderboard.
Lakers part ways with head coach Luke Walton
The Los Angeles Lakers and head coach Luke Walton have agreed to part ways after the team posted a disappointing 37-45 record and failed to end a playoff drought stretching back to 2013. Walton spent three seasons at the helm of a team that struggled to find the right pieces to complement 15-time All-Star LeBron James in his first season in Los Angeles.
WTA roundup: Anisimova wins all-teen quarterfinal
Sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova won a quarterfinal battle of 17-year-olds, beating Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in the Claro Open Colsanitas on Friday in Bogota, Colombia. Anisimova, an American, disappointed the home crowd rooting for Osorio Serrano, who is Colombian. One more win would move the New Jersey native into her second career WTA Tour final. She lost the title match last year at Hiroshima, Japan.
Redskins linebacker Foster won't face suspension
Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster will be fined but not suspended for his involvement in an incident that led to misdemeanor domestic violence battery charges that ultimately were dropped, the NFL announced Friday. The league said Foster would be fined two game checks. He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.29 million in the 2019 season.
Oosthuizen, Harding flying the flag for South Africa at Masters
Louis Oosthuizen put himself firmly in Masters contention with a career-best 66 at Augusta National on Friday but while he was happy to share the lead after the second round he said his focus was on getting it right over the closing nine holes on Sunday. Oosthuizen, whose sole major win came at the 2010 British Open, leads the way at the Masters on seven-under 137, alongside fellow major winners Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka and Adam Scott.
