Dec 14, 2018 4 min read

Ex-Steeler Bryant suspended again

Oakland Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL policy on substance abuse.

The NFL announced Friday that Bryant has violated the terms of his conditional reinstatement in April 2017 and has been placed back on the suspended list for an indefinite period of time.

Bryant is currently on injured reserve with a knee injury. He is in the final year of his contract and eligible for free agency next year.

The Raiders traded a third-round pick to Pittsburgh for Bryant during the draft. Oakland cut Bryant on Sept. 1 and then brought him back later that month. He had 19 catches for 266 yards in eight games this season.

Wild Things

add catcher

The Wild Things have signed catcher Hunter Dolshun for the 2019 season.

A New York native, Dolshun played in 10 games last year for Winnipeg of the American Association in 2017 after helping Maryland-Baltimore County to a conference championship and spot in the NCAA tournament. He was a teammate of Wild Things pitcher Michael Austin while at UMBC.

“There is upside with Hunter that we wanted to explore. An injury derailed his 2018 season but that doesn’t discourage us,” Washington assistant general manager Tony Buccilli said. “He is an offensive-minded player who has position flexibility. We are going to utilize him in a multitude of roles and ultimately see how his bat translates.”

Salt Lake City to bid for Olympics

Salt Lake City got the green light to bid for the Winter Olympics – most likely for 2030 – in an attempt to bring the Games back to the city that hosted in 2002 and provided the backdrop for the U.S. winter team’s ascendance into an international powerhouse.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said Friday it was selecting Utah’s capital, which stood out as a predictable, slam-dunk pick in a process that also included Denver and Reno, Nevada.

With venues still in place – some of them upgraded – from the 2002 Games, Salt Lake claims it can host again at a lower cost than other candidates, which aligns with the International Olympic Committee’s new blueprint for the Games.

It’s almost a certain bet the bid will be for 2030, though the USOC left open the possibility of other dates. There are only two bidders for 2026: from Sweden and Italy, after voters in Calgary, Alberta, rejected a proposed bid.

In the NBA

Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in three quarters and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-108 Friday night for their eighth straight victory.

Irving also had five assists, five rebounds and four steals. He scored 12 points in the first quarter and helped Boston race to a 23-5 lead. The Celtics topped 100 points with 2 minutes left in the third quarter.

Jayson Tatum had 22 points for Boston, Marcus Morris added 20, Gordon Hayward had 19 points and five assists, Daniel Theis scored 18 points and rookie Robert Williams III blocked five shots.

• Emmanuel Mudiay had 34 points and eight assists, and the short-handed New York Knicks erased a 21-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 126-124 in overtime.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo matched his career high with 44 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-102 despite missing two starters.

Antetokounmpo’s big night came after being held to a season-low 12 points Wednesday night in a loss to Indiana. He was 14 of 19 from the field, made 16 of 21 foul shots, and had 14 rebounds and eight assists.