SOCCER
Jack Charlton, an uncompromising central defender who won the 1966 World Cup with England alongside his brother, Bobby, before coaching Ireland to its first major tournaments, has died. He was 85.
Charlton died at home on Friday in his native Northumberland in northeast England, surrounded by his family.
Nicknamed “Big Jack,” and celebrated for his earthy “beer and cigarettes” image, Charlton was Footballer of the Year in England in 1967. He spent all his club career at Leeds from 1952-73, tying its all-time record of 773 appearances. He won every domestic honor, including the league title in 1969.
• Liverpool’s bid to become the first Premier League team to win all of its home games ended when visiting Burnley battled back for a 1-1 draw.
Jürgen Klopp’s team was heading for an 18th straight home win until Jay Rodriguez drove a low shot into the bottom corner in the 69th minute.
• Chelsea’s bid for Champions League qualification hit a bump with a 3-0 loss at Sheffield United, as striker David McGoldrick ended his 11-month wait for a Premier League goal by scoring in each half.
Chelsea stayed in third place, but could get overtaken by Leicester and Manchester United if they win their games in hand over the next two days.
SPAIN: Arturo Vidal scored for Barcelona to beat feisty Valladolid 1-0 and keep the pressure on leader Real Madrid as La Liga approaches its climax.
Barcelona closed to within one point of Madrid, which has a game in hand, as it tries to defend a title it has won for two consecutive years.
AUTO RACING
INDYCAR: Scott Dixon raced to his third straight victory with an improbable triumph in the opener of a weekend doubleheader at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, as IndyCar welcomed fans to its races for the first time this season.
Dixon took the lead shortly after a caution flag and beat Will Power by 2.5386 seconds. They were followed in order by Alex Palou, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Colton Herta.
Dixon has won each of the three IndyCar races in the pandemic-delayed season. He’s the first IndyCar driver to start a season with at least three consecutive victories since Sebastien Bourdais reeled off four straight to start the 2006 campaign.
The only other drivers to open an IndyCar season with at least three straight victories are A.J. Foyt (seven in 1964) and Al Unser (three in 1971).
This marked the first time spectators were allowed in an IndyCar event this season after they weren’t permitted in races at Fort Worth or Indianapolis. IndyCar is treating each event separately and following local and state health regulations at each track as it decides whether to allow fans.
“It’s so cool to be back on a track with fans,” Dixon said. “And there’s tons of them here today.”‘
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton showed why he’s one of Formula One’s best ever drivers in wet conditions, dominating on a rain-drenched track to take pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria.
It was the Mercedes driver’s record-extending 89th career pole, and particularly impressive, as he first beat Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s mark and then his own leading mark on his final lap.
He placed 1.216 seconds ahead of Verstappen and 1.398 clear of McLaren driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
TRUCKS: Sheldon Creed got his first career victory when rain washed out the final stage at Kentucky Speedway.
HORSE RACING
BLUE GRASS: Art Collector took a big step toward the Kentucky Derby, pulling away from the filly Swiss Skydiver in the stretch in the Blue Grass at Keeneland for his first graded stakes victory.
Art Collector and Swiss Skydiver separated themselves from the 13-horse field and ran side by side before Art Collector took control at the 1/8th pole to win by 3 1/2-lengths.
Art Collector improved to 3-0 this year and has four wins and a second in eight starts. The colt also collected 100 points toward the 146th Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.
HOCKEY
NHL: Boston defenseman Steven Kampfer, Edmonton defenseman Mike Green, Dallas defenseman Roman Polak and Vancouver forward Sven Baertschi joined the list of players who won’t be reporting to training camp for the resumption of the NHL season.
Kampfer, who played 10 NHL games this season, opted out because his wife and 1-year-old son both have congenital heart defects.
Baertschi told the Canucks that he’s opting out of participating in the expanded 24-team playoffs, following Calgary defenseman Travis Hamonic informing the Flames he won’t be playing because of family reasons.
Polak is not on the Stars’ roster for the start of training camp Monday, and a team spokesman said the 34-year-old veteran won’t be attending at this time. Polak is a pending free agent who last month agreed to a deal in his native Czech Republic next season and told reporters there he wasn’t planning on returning to the NHL if play resumed.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won’t have captain Steven Stamkos at 100 percent for the opening of camp because of a lower-body injury, but they’re optimistic he’ll be ready when games begin in early August.
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