Sports briefs: Sept. 17 Final
Sep. 16—Finland ousts US in Davis Cup
SPLIT, Croatia — Defending champion Canada advanced to the Final 8 of the Davis Cup on Saturday but the United States was eliminated by Finland, which reached the quarterfinals for the first time with a 3-0 win.
Otto Virtanen saved two match points in the decisive tiebreaker to beat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (7) and Emil Ruusuvuori defeated Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 6-4 — sealing the result on his fourth match point — to give debutant Finland a historic win in Split, Croatia, at the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals.
Former manager suffers stroke
ST. LOUIS — Former manager Charlie Manuel suffered a stroke Saturday while undergoing a medical procedure in a Florida hospital, the Philadelphia Phillies announced.
"The hospital was able to attend to Charlie immediately and subsequently remove a blood clot," the team said. "The next 24 hours will be crucial to his recovery, and Charlie's family asks that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers at this time."
The 79-year-old Manuel managed the Phillies for nine seasons from 2005-13 and guided them to a World Series championship in 2008. He also spent three years as a manager in Cleveland from 2000-02.
Cavs president Altman arrested
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman was arrested Friday night and charged with operating a vehicle while impaired.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Altman was stopped by officers for a traffic violation on a highway near downtown Cleveland. The officers suspected Altman of impairment during the stop and he was taken into custody. He was charged with OVI.
Hamlin takes big win at Bristol
The best driver to never win a NASCAR championship believes he can lose that tag this year.
At least that's what Denny Hamlin told the Bristol Motor Speedway crowd as they booed his third win of the year, 51st of his career, and third in the prestigious short track Saturday night race.
"It's our year. I just feel we've got it all put together," Hamlin said. "Nothing to stop us at this point."
Hamlin has won three Daytona 500s and most of NASCAR's crown jewel races, but he has never won a Cup title in 18 years with Joe Gibbs Racing. He signed an extension this month and was among the strongest cars in the first round of the playoffs.
He is third behind William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports and Gibbs teammate Martin Truex Jr. with the points reset for NASCAR's second round.
Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick were both eliminated from title contention as both NASCAR champions failed to advance out of the first round. Logano became the first reigning champion eliminated in the first round when he crashed early in the third stage and finished 34th.
Harvick, who is retiring at the end of the season, also was eliminated after finishing five laps down in 29th.
