The Moments That Made Us Smile (and Frown) in Sports this Week

FROWNIEST MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

Suspension Report:

• White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sales was suspended for five games because he didn’t want to wear the team’s “uncomfortable” 1976 Disco “leisure suit” uniforms. So he reportedly cut up all the team’s uni with a knife.
• Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension, not for failing a drug test, but for missing it. If you recall, he was suspended for the first two games last year for marijuana possession and DUI, then suffered a severe knee injury and missed the last half of the season (seriously messing with fantasy teams everywhere, not to mention the Steelers’ postseason performance.)

Injury Report:

• Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is having his second back surgery in six months with a herniated disk. He’s hopeful that he’ll play in the season opener; others think that might be a bit too optimistic.
• Serena Williams pulled out of the Rogers Cup in Montreal because of shoulder inflammation. She’s still headed to the Olympics and thinks it’s “sad” that other pro athletes are skipping the Games, because she loves them so much.

Trouble brewing?

• At publication time, top Dallas Cowboys drafted running back Ezekiel Elliott has the specter of domestic violence consequences facing him.

Just Plain Sad Report:

• Two punters, Sam Foltz (Univ. of Nebraska) and Mike Sadler (formerly of Michigan State), were killed in a car crash Saturday, traveling back from a football camp in Wisconsin.

SMILEY-EST MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

• Cyclist Chris Froome (who punched the spectator in the yellow wig a few weeks back) won his third Tour de France, for which he received half a million Euro, a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed lion.
• Steph Curry joined Justin Timberlake and Alfonso Ribeiro for their annual “Carlton” dance at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament this past weekend.
• Finally, a sexual assault story involving an athlete doing the right thing: this Florida Gators linebacker helped to stop a rape that was happening behind a Gainesville restaurant last week.
• Another story that could have ended very differently: University of Iowa defensive end Faith Ekakitie was minding his own business, with his headphones on, playing Pokémon Go in an Iowa City park last week — just a block away from where an armed robbery occurred. He found himself surrounded by four police officers with drawn guns. His music was so loud, he couldn’t hear their commands. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and now both sides are talking about how it happened and how to avoid misunderstandings in the future.
• On the heel of Jeremy Lin’s corn rows, the Internet is freaking out about Lionel Messi’s bleach blonde hair. Here’s some other hair to check out: Sam Mikulak’s new #Ready4Rio doo. (We’re just excited that people are finally talking about men’s hair, instead of women’s all the time. Right, Gabby Douglas?)
• Good guys Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday — both gave emotional speeches, including nods to their fathers. “My dad (himself a well respected MLB player in his time) taught me how to play the game,” Griffey said, “but more importantly, he taught me to be a man.” (At the end of his speech, Junior turned his cap around backwards, just like old times.)
• A possible future hall of famer spent the entire day thinking his dad forgot his birthday. Then he got the surprise he was waiting for. (This will warm your heart all day long.)

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