MEDIA

ESPN suspends Hill after social media comments

ESPN suspended anchor Jemele Hill on Monday for two weeks for making political statements on social media.

Hill, an African-American co-host of the 6 p.m. broadcast of “SportsCenter,” received backlash last month after referring to President Donald Trump as a “white supremacist” in a series of tweets that referenced the president’s comments about a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump later suggested that NFL players be fired for not standing during the national anthem. In tweets on Sunday, Hill targeted Jerry Jones after the Dallas Cowboys owner stated that players who disrespect the flag would not play for his team.

Hill suggested on Twitter that fans who disagree with Jones should boycott the team’s advertisers and not buy the team’s merchandise.

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“Cowboys have a huge national following,” she wrote in one of a series of tweets. “Lot of black & brown folks are Cowboys fans. What if they turned their backs on them?”

ESPN said in a statement Monday that Hill had acknowledged “letting her colleagues and company down” with the Trump tweet.

“In the aftermath, all employees were reminded of how individual tweets may reflect negatively on ESPN and that such actions would have consequences. Hence this decision,” the statement said.

SOCCER

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: To reach the 2018 World Cup, the U.S. men’s soccer team probably needs at least a draw Tuesday in its final qualifier at Trinidad and Tobago.

But first, the Americans needed to reach dry land.

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A day before the match, the U.S. delegation passed through the players’ tunnel at Ato Boldon Stadium and encountered ankle-high water covering the width of the track that surrounds the field.

Trinidad has experienced a wetter-than-normal rainy season, and a heavy storm crossed the island Sunday.

The match commissioner and referee will decide before kickoff whether the match can proceed. Late Monday, U.S. federation president Sunil Gulati said the field was draining well and there was no need to file a complaint.

n Iceland became the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, securing a berth by defeating Kosovo 2-0 in Reykjavik, Iceland, to win its qualifying group.

Serbia also qualified by beating Georgia 1-0 at home, and Ireland advanced to a two-match playoff by earning a 1-0 win at Wales.

HIGH SCHOOLS

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FIELD HOCKEY: Lydia Grant and Lauren DiBiase got the go-ahead goal in the second half as South Portland earned a 3-1 win at Portland.

Sydney Gilbert scored with an assist from Charlie Green to give Portland (0-13-1) an early lead, but Grant tied the game before halftime.

Maddie Drolet made five saves for South Portland (4-9), and Jada McIlwain stopped 11 shots for Portland.

n Kaitlin Norrad and Erika Miller each scored twice as Cape Elizabeth (4-9) rolled to an 8-0 win over Waynflete/Maine Girls’ Academy (0-12), in Cape Elizabeth.

The Capers led 4-0 at halftime, on goals from Isabel Berman, Norrad, Sophie Miller and Emily Goulding.

Katie Dunham also scored.

COLLEGES

FIELD HOCKEY: Libby Pomerleau scored the tying goal in the second half and St. Joseph’s (9-4) got an own goal in the second overtime to finish a 2-1 win over Gordon (3-8) in Wenham, Massachusetts.

– Staff and news report


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