Category Archives: Olympics

Mark Spitz, center, smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly ahead of Bruce Robertson, left, and Jerry Heindenreich, right, Aug. 31, 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich. Photo by AFP via Getty Images

By Beth HarpazSeptember 01, 2022

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 5, 1972, a horrific story unfolded in Munich, Germany. Palestinian terrorists had murdered two Israelis at the Olympic Games and taken nine more hostage. Within hours, those hostages were dead as well.

But the day before the massacre, a different story was making headlines out of Munich a story of triumph. American swimmer Mark Spitz had made history by winning seven gold medals over the course of one Olympics, and hed set world records with every win. The feat stood unsurpassed for 36 years, when another American swimmer, Michael Phelps, set his own records at the Beijing Olympics.

Its only right, as we look back on the 1972 Games, that the massacre and the aftermath of the tragedy take center stage. The victims families continue to cope with grief and trauma. Both Germany and Israel will be marking the solemn anniversary with ceremonies.

But Spitzs incredible accomplishments deserve recognition as well. Hes not only one of the greatest Jewish athletes in history right up there with Sandy Koufax but hes also one of the greatest athletes, period. (Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 33 on a list of the 100 top athletes of the 20th century.)

Heres a look at Spitzs life and career, along with why his Jewish identity mattered at the Munich Games.

By age 10, Spitz was already a standout swimmer and getting private swim lessons near his familys home in Sacramento, California. The Spitzes eventually moved to Santa Clara so he could be mentored by Olympic swim coach George Haines.

At age 14, he was competing in national championships, and by 17, he had already set or tied five U.S. records and broken five world records.

His drive to win was instilled by his father, Arnold, who famously told him: Swimming isnt everything. Winning is.

At the 68 Olympics, Spitz made a cocksure prediction that hed win six golds. But he only won two, and both were for team relays, not individual races. He was roundly shamed by the media for his arrogance, and later said it was the worst moment in his life.

Still, those two golds from Mexico put him in rare company among Olympians. Hes one of just five athletes in history to have won a total of nine or more golds from multiple Olympic Games.

Not much has been written about whether Spitzs family was particularly observant, but one often-repeated story makes his fathers priorities clear.

When he was 10 and his hours in the pool began to interfere with Hebrew school, his father supposedly told the rabbi: Even God likes a winner.

And when his first coach, Sherman Chavoor, invited him to swim at a private club called Arden Hills, in an era when many clubs excluded Jews, African Americans and other people of color, Spitzs dad was concerned.

Can you take this kid on? Are you going to be prejudiced? Chavoors daughter, Shelley, recalled Arnold Spitz asking her father. Her dad responded: He swims! I dont care!

She said in an interview that her dad, who was Portuguese, had experienced discrimination himself, and was pretty sensitive to some of the things Mark dealt with in terms of antisemitism.

Spitzs first international competition was at the 1965 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He returned to Israel for the 69 Maccabiahs after his disappointing performance at the Olympics in Mexico.

The Munich Games took place just 27 years after the end of World War II. Any hopes the Germans had that hosting the games might soften their image were shattered, of course, by the massacre, which included a bungled rescue operation that led to the hostages deaths.

But before the attacks unfolded, Spitz was asked how he felt, as a Jewish athlete, competing on German soil. I have no qualms about Germany at all, he said shortly after arriving. Maybe I should, but I wasnt even born when all that stuff happened.

Asked again about being in Germany after hed won all his medals, but before the attacks, his response was downright cringy. Gesturing at a lampshade, he said, Actually, Ive always liked this country, even though this shade is probably made out of one of my aunts.

In an interview with The New York Times a decade after the 72 Olympics, Spitz said he only learned of the attack and the ongoing hostage situation at a press conference where he thought hed be talking about swimming.

I was shocked and stunned, he told the Times. The press wanted my words because, first, I was Jewish, and second, they thought I was some kind of spokesman for athletes.

As the Times put it: He was prepared neither to be a spokesman nor, later, to discuss authoritatively the political ramifications of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes and officials.

Spitz had planned to leave Munich after his competitions were over, even though the games were scheduled to continue for another week. But now officials feared that being Jewish might make him a target. He was given a police and military guard and immediately flew to London. Frankly, he told the Times, I was scared.

Asked about the attacks as he arrived at Heathrow Airport, he said simply: I think theyre tragic.

Look at any photo of Spitz from Munich and you cant help but be struck by the difference between his appearance then, and how swimmers compete today. He had no goggles and no swim cap. In fact, he had a full head of dark hair and a mustache. Considering that nowadays even male swimmers routinely shave their body hair to reduce resistance in the water, it was a bold look.

The mustache in particular made him stand out even before hed won any medals. Hed planned to shave it off, but so many people were talking about it that he decided not to. In fact, when asked in Munich if the facial hair would slow him down, he claimed, in his typically brash way, that it would actually help him go faster by deflecting water away from his mouth.

Spitz was 22 coming out of Munich. He had a bachelors degree from Indiana University, and in interviews at the games, he said he planned to immediately retire from competitive swimming and go to dental school. After winning his fourth race in Munich, when asked what hed do with all his medals, he said: Maybe Ill hang em in my dental office.

Things changed when he got home. Suddenly, Mark Spitz was everywhere: magazine covers, TV shows and on 300,000 posters, priced at $2 apiece, wearing his red, white and blue swimsuit, medals in hand. Maybe Ill do some nudie movies, he said at one point. Im hot to trot.

Repped by the William Morris Agency in an era when athletes did not walk out of wins and into sneaker commercials, Spitz was criticized for commercializing his fame. He was a spokesperson for Schick razors and appeared on billboards promoting milk for the Milk Advisory Committee. His deal with Schick gave him use of a $65,000 yacht. And when he was asked about that dental school dream, he reportedly replied, Are you kidding? In later years, he reflected that he had been unprepared for the maelstrom he was thrust into, and that it took him a long time to go back to living a normal life.

Today, at age 72, the mustache is gone. Hes been married to the same woman, Suzy Weiner, since 1973. Hes described on his websiteas not just the worlds greatest swimmer, but also an athlete, motivational speaker, influencer, investor, husband, father.

Spitz did not respond to requests for comment for this story made through his website, his social media accounts or USA Swimming, the official organization for swimmers representing the U.S. But ina one-hour documentaryreleased a few weeks before the 50th anniversary, Spitz seemed introspective and even somewhat humble looking back.I believe the greatness of an athlete is not to recognize what you did right but to recognize what you did wrong, he says in the film.

He recalled his father cautioning him, after Munich, against letting it all go to his head: Youre still like everybody else. Youve got to put your pants on one leg at a time.

Spitz added: I was just an ordinary guy that trained hard, diligently, and on one particular week, did extraordinary things.

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Mark Spitz made Olympic history in 1972. Heres why his Jewish identity mattered in Munich - Forward

One of Indias top Commonwealth Games weightlifters won a gold in Birmingham, but finished a whole 29 kg behind what would have earned him a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The snatch and clean and jerk total for gold at Tokyo was a staggering 50 kg away from his reach. When a fast food chain offered to indulge the lifters post-Games craving for deep-fried chicken wings to honour his gold with a well-deserved cheat day treat one wondered if it was two years too early to, well, count the chickens.

Paris 2024 will be upon Indias freshly minted medalists in no time although it was champion lifter Mirabai Chanu, who tugged at the timeline, bringing it even closer and signalling that the Tashkent World Championships this December would be the quickest reality check for lifters who raked in medals at Birmingham.

As seen in JRR Tolkiens Lord of the Rings which drew on Birminghams landscape for inspiration its one thing to bear the precious ring, and quite another to carry it on the arduous journey to its culmination. Ask any of Indias Olympic medal-winning incumbents and theyll tell you that the CWG and Asiad are only pit stops to the biggest Games medal. The climb to the peak of Mount Doom, where Olympic medals are forged out of countless struggles, begins where the CWG celebratory parades end.

Indian sport can put the happy headlines into any meaningful perspective only by firmly stating that the CWG successes are merely halfway markers to Paris. A necessary reboot from quietened ambitions for the likes of pugilist Amit Panghal or wrestler Vinesh Phogat after their Tokyo disappointments, the CWG gold was second wind for someone like Sakshi Malik, who had battled debilitating self-doubt post her bronze medal in Rio six years ago. For Indias jumpers gold-winning Eldhose Paul, silver medallists Abdulla Aboobacker and Murali Sreeshankar and bronze winner Tejaswin Shankar Birmingham reignited the flaming hope for a medal 20 years after Anju Bobby George had lit one twilight evening in Athens.

His CWG success extends the surreal journey of paddler Sharath Kamal. The limits of longevity and peak performance will be tested by the TT legend who will be an eye-popping 42 should he qualify for Paris. Birmingham scripted the tale of the indefatigable legend, who you hope desperately will succeed in his unreal pursuit of an Olympic medal. The CWG dented the invincibility of Kenyan dominance in steeplechase, and Avinash Sables silver will give India the crazy-sounding hope of a Paris encore. The Kenyan running trio were properly spooked by the track-chomping Indian; now hes tasted blood, he wants a bite of the gold in two years time.

Srihari Nataraj thrice raced the biggies of backstroke for the swimming finals in the outer, unfancied lanes of the Sandwell Aquatics centre. There was no medal to show, but India is finally taking the holy dip into the mother sport of aquatics, with a serious push expected in Paris, following the breakthroughs for gymnastics in Rio, and track and field in Tokyo. Olympics medals in swimming are not even vaguely visible on the horizon. But the realisation that the sport is a mine of medals and India ought to get a move on in it should suffice as Paris starts to creep up.

Nikhat Zareens gold was another reassuring medal, not for the quality of competition she came up against, but because its important for fighters like her to make good their pre-Games claims, to walk the talk, to add wattage to the World Championship halo. Nikhat counts as one of Indias earliest medal hopes for Paris, though she knows she has miles to go and many tricks to internalise, before nailing down the big one.

Indias womens hockey team continue to save their best for the best, Australia, and the loss notwithstanding, the bronze medal makes them the most exciting bunch of athletes to follow into Paris. The 7-0 drubbing suffered by the men in the final best signifies the wicked, weltering wizardry of the CWG: With two years to go for Paris, it is a fine reality check for what lies ahead. The bronze from Tokyo is the precious ring thatll feel burdensome with each step towards 2024. Birmingham was where the joyless wretch Gollum crept up to them and stole their Tokyo cheer. It is now two years to Paris.

shivani.naik@expressindia.com

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Shivani Naik writes: India's long road to Olympics 2024 - The Indian Express

To mark the 50th anniversary of the kidnapping and slaughter of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team and others by a Palestinian terrorist group at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Hadassah has endorsed Congressional Resolution 1292, put forward by U.S. Reps. Shontel Brown of Cleveland, Brad Sherman of California and Burgess Owens of Utah, calling for a minute of silence at every Olympic Games going forward.

David Mark Berger of Shaker Heights was among those killed.

Hadassah President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler issued the following statement, which was included in a July 28 news release issued by Owens office:

Hadassah shares the Olympic values of building a better and more peaceful world. A minute of silence should be part of the opening ceremony at every Olympic Games moving forward to remember the eleven Israeli Olympic team members brutally murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group during the 1972 Games in Munich and the police officer who died in the massacre.

It is critical to never forget the victims of antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks. We thank Representative Owens, Representative Sherman, Representative Brown and the families of the victims for their leadership in advocating for a way to honor the memory of those who lost their lives and for continuing to fight antisemitism in all its forms.

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Hadassah endorses minute of silence resolution at every Olympic Games - Cleveland Jewish News

When to watch artistic swimming during the 2024 Paris Olympics

Artistic swimming is a unique sport on the Olympic program that combines water acrobatics with music. During the Olympic Games, the sport consists of two events: one in a duet, and another as part of a team of eight athletes. Each event is made up of two performances that include a free routine and technical routine. A panel of judges scores athletes based on their execution, synchronization, degree of difficulty, use of music and choreography. Athletes competing in artistic swimming must be flexible and maintain great attention to detail and coordination in order to execute routines successfully.

Before artistic swimming became a part of the Olympic program, it was dominated by men. Over time though, artistic swimming became largely associated with women. The sport became an Olympic discipline at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics are both women-only Olympic sports.

North American countries, particularly the U.S. and Canada, dominated artistic swimming on the Olympic stage in the beginning as the two collected 18 medals combined. Since, Russia has become competitive, accumulating 18 medals since the 2000 Sydney Games. The U.S. came just short of qualifying for the team event in the 2020 Tokyo Games, but managed to qualify for the duet event. Team USA will look to qualify for both the team and duet events in Paris in 2024.

Artistic swimming will take place at the 2024 Paris Olympics on August 5 - 10.

There will be five events included in the artistic swimming competition at the 2024 Olympic Games.

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Artistic Swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games - NBC Olympics

Bruce Mapp says his dreams of playing wide receiver in the NFL looked very promising leading up to his senior year of college.

The Philadelphia product started playing football when he was 11 with the Overbrook Monarchs, a youth team, and he later helped lead West Catholic to a state title his junior year of high school. Mapp earned a football scholarship to play at Coastal Carolina, and he was named first team All-Big South his junior year with the Chanticleers. He currently ranks fourth on the South Carolina schools list for career receiving yards (2,438).

But Mapp wasnt drafted in 2017 following his graduation, and after he explored several other avenues he attended his hometown Eagles 2017 Local Day workout and also tried to latch on with a Canadian Football League team Mapp decided in 2018 that a pro football career was not in the cards.

That was tough, says Mapp, 28. Its a game Id been playing since I was a kid, but I decided to give up those dreams. I was trying to figure out what was next in my life. I had a bachelors degree [and an MBA], but football was always the main priority.

Mapp didnt abandon football altogether. He briefly coached at West Catholic, his high school alma mater, and started playing flag football games around Philadelphia just for fun on Sundays and Wednesdays, and he was reunited with many of his high school teammates and opponents.

I got hooked, says Mapp.

When he moved to Dallas in December 2018, Mapp says that is when his flag football career really took off. While Mapp continued to play flag football recreationally in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he was also getting started with his own food truck business called So Icy and which serves Philadelphia-style water ice, soft pretzels and yes, cheesesteaks.

Before long, however, Mapps football skills caught the attention of Team USA talent evaluators.

In April 2019, I was told, Youre on the radar for Team USA, says Mapp. Im like, What? Flag football has a national team?

He got an invite to Team USA in 2020, and his star has only continued to rise in the fast-growing sport which has mens and womens national teams that fall under the USA Football umbrella. This past July, Mapp and along with former Imhotep football player Aamir Brown helped Team USA beat Italy to win a gold medal at the World Games in Birmingham. Mapp says he hopes that the next medal he can chase will be of the Olympic variety.

It looks like (flag football) is set for 2028 (Olympics) in Los Angeles, especially after all the good feedback we just got from the World Games, says Mapp.

The International Olympic Committee ultimately holds the final decision on which sports can be included in the Summer Games, but the NFL has already partnered with the International Federation of American Football gridiron footballs international governing body and NFL executive and former Eagles player Troy Vincent recently told the Associated Press that the ultimate goal is for flag football to be part of future Olympic Games.

There are only five players on both offense and defense of a flag football game, and the sports field dimensions 30 yards wide by 70 yards long are smaller than those of tackle football fields. Mapp says that the changes mean players have to make some major adjustments on both sides of the ball.

Receivers have to run quicker routes and you have to be more creative in your routes, sometimes double or triple the moves because theres not a lot of space to operate, says Mapp. The quarterbacks are rushed every play, and with no blockers.

Mapp says defenders, however, have the roughest assignment, and can be humbled very quickly on any play.

Ask any former (gridiron) player who now plays flag football defense. It is harder to pull a flag off than it is to make an open-field tackle, says Mapp.

Mapps on-field highlights have landed him on ESPN and NFL.com video spots, but his food truck has also received some TV shout-outs. In July, CBS Mornings interviewed Mapp about his flag football career and his So Icy business.

Its doing well, Mapp says of his food truck. Theyve never really had water ice down here in Texas. No Ritas. When I moved here, my girlfriend said, We have snow cones. I was like, I dont know how Im going to do these hot summers in Dallas without water ice.

Im glad I got to bring a taste of Philly here and start the business.

Mapp, who is a father to nearly 2-year-old daughter Brooklynn, says he still gets a lot of love from his Philly roots family, former coaches, friends and players for both his new football path and his nascent entrepreneurial success.

I have a lot of people telling me, I didnt know flag football was this big! Now other players want to get into it after having seen me, says Mapp. I get a lot of good feedback.

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Flag football in the Olympics? Team USAs gold medal showing at the World Games had a Philly influence - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Qatar is hosting the World Cup this November, but its much larger neighbor would like to take on the only global sporting event of comparable size.

Saudi Arabia wants to host the Olympics, calling it the ultimate goal of its sports strategy.

The country has leaned into sports as part of its efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, though some have charged that the efforts are an attempt to sportswash Saudi Arabias checkered human rights record.

Beijing spent a reported $8.8 billion on the 2022 Winter Olympics. Germany has also shown interest in hosting the Games.

Saudi Arabia has attracted attention as the backer of LIV Golf, which has lured golfers with paychecks often in excess of $100 million, but its sports and gaming portfolio has become quite extensive.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia became the first nation to approve Microsofts $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The PIF holds a $2.9 billion stake in Activision Blizzard.

The fund also holds massive stakes in video game giants Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Take-Two Interactive.

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Saudi Arabia Wants To Host the Olympics - Front Office Sports

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter.Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here.

The last time Canada appeared in an Olympic men's basketball event was in the year 2000. For perspective, the man who dragged Canada into the quarter-finals in Sydney, Steve Nash, was a 26-year-old point guard still five years away from winning his first of back-to-back NBA MVP awards. Today, he's a 48-year-old head coachfending off a coup attemptby Kevin Durant, who was 11 when the Sydney tournament tipped off.

The quickest and best way for the Canadian men's team to end its quarter-century absence from the Olympics in 2024 is via next summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. The top two finishers from Canada's region, the Americas, get tickets to the Paris Olympics. One of those will almost certainly go to the United States, but the other is very much up for grabs. Argentina got it for last summer's Olympics in Tokyo despite having zero notable NBA players.

Canada has several of those on its current roster, including legit standouts in Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort all of whom have committed to the national team for this Olympic cycle. Andrew Wiggins has not, but there's hope that the key member of Golden State's 2022 championship team might hop on later. With a bunch of other solid NBA contributors on board Kelly Olynyk, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dwight Powell and the Raptors' Khem Birch, to name some and former NBA coach of the year Nick Nurse at the helm, Canada's chances of getting to Paris look pretty good.

But first, there's some business to attend to. In order to reach the World Cup, Canada must successfully navigate the final round of Americas qualifying, which tips off Thursday and wraps up in late February (there's also a window of games in mid-November).

It's not a very difficult task. Seven of the 32 spots in the World Cup are earmarked for the Americas, and only 12 teams remain in the hunt for them. They're divided into two groups of six for this final round, where all Canada has to do is finish in the top three in its group or be the better of the two fourth-place teams. As the only team to go 6-0 in the previous round, Canada starts with a cushion over Argentina (5-1), Venezuela (5-1), the Dominican Republic (4-2), Panama (2-4) and the Bahamas (2-4). Canada played the Dominican and the Bahamas already, so it doesn't face them again. It will play the other three teams at home and away between now and February. It would be shocking if Canada doesn't finish in the top three in this group.

The Canadians open their final-round slate Thursday night vs. Argentina in Victoria, perhaps their toughest test. Tip-off time is 10:40 p.m. ET. Then they travel to Panama for their only other game in this window, on Monday at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Given that the next two qualifying windows fall during the NBA season, Canada will want to bank a couple of wins and build some chemistry while some of its most talented players are available. Gilgeous-Alexander, who made his long-awaited national-team debut in the July window and averaged 28 points in two games, is expected to play. So are Alexander-Walker, Olynyk, Powell, Oshae Brissett and Cory Joseph. But Barrett, Dort, Brooks, Birch and Murray, who's still working back from an April 2021 knee injury that cost him all of last season, will not. Those five did, however, attend this week's training camp in Victoria. Learn more about the Canadian team's outlook for the upcoming qualifiers by readingthis storyand watchingthis video.

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Canada's men's basketball team is back on the road to the Olympics - CBC Sports

Caitlyn Jenner, previously known as Bruce Jenner, is popular for her Olympic success back in 1976. Jenner hit her personal bests in all the events on the first day of the decathlon despite being placed second. Apart from sports, the star was also attracted to TV and film and hopped into the same during the mid-1970s.

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Furthermore, Jenner also had a short-living car racer career. Besides this, her fight for the transgender community also adds up to the huge fan base she has created over time. In 2019, Caitlyn Jenner once opened up about her struggle after her Olympic triumph.

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During childhood, Jenner had a tough time realizing her situation and understanding her sexuality. She said that she would try her mothers clothes surreptitiously. Back in the day, it was more difficult for people to come up and accept a different gender than their congenital one.

Soon after the athletes Olympic glory in 1976, she felt trapped and extremely confused. Her mind was in chaos with several thoughts. In BBCs Dont Tell Me The Score podcast, Jenner explained the same a few years ago.

I remember getting up the next morning and walking to the bathroom without a stitch of clothes on, said the star water skier. The gold medal was sitting there on the table. I put it around my neck, looked in the mirror and asked myself Am I stuck with this person the rest of my life?

Nevertheless, Jenner proved her bold personality when she revealed her sexuality back in April 2015. Ever since then, the athlete never backed off despite facing several obstacles.Moreover, she also suffered from dyslexia and had low confidence in school. Sports was the only ray of hope in her life that pulled her out of the darkness.

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Jenner is also a former American basketball player. The athlete has shown her enthusiastic and strong self multiple times, both on and off the court.

When the interviewee wanted to know her biggest achievement, Jenners perfect reply inspired many.Caitlyn Jenner said, I would have to put my identity as higher. It was tougher to do. I trained 12 years for the Olympic Games. I trained 65 years to transition in 2015.

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Watch This Story: Caitlyn Jenner roasts daughter Kendalls partner Devin Booker after he blew it vs Luka Doncic: too bad the suns lost

Sports and sexuality have nothing do to with one another. Despite that, there are several issues people have to go through in the sports world. Notably, a similar discussion was on the highlights before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Stuck With This Person Rest of My Life?: Caitlyn Jenner Made Heartbreaking Confession on Her Post-Olympics Identity Crisis Back in 2019 -...

OSCODA Musicians Jerry Schmidt, Teresa and Bobby Lamrock, Jim Miller and Annie Hopcroft will present a concert for the Benefit of Special Olympics Area 31, at the Oscoda Downtown Beach Park, on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m.

The concert is the last in the Oscoda Rotary Clubs Summer Concert Series and any and all proceeds from the event go toward funding Special Olympics, according to organizers.

The groups repertoire includes Jerry Schmidt originals such as Black Levis and Out of Control from his Lets Take This Show on the Road album, as well as covers from Leonard Cohen, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Credence Clearwater Revival, Beach Boys, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bob Seger, Dolly Parton, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Beatles, Pure Prairie League, the Bee Gees, Old Crow Medicine Show, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and more.

Husband and wife duo Bobby and Teresa Lamrock perform frequently in the Millington area as Tipsico Road. Bobby Lamrock was a member of the Wild Hair Band with Schmidt, which gained popularity at music festivals up and down Michigans coasts in the 2000s.

Teresa Lamrock, known for her powerful vocals, got her start in the church choir, and gives a haunting rendition of Dolly Partons song Jolene.

Jim Miller is a sought-after, Alcona-based drummer who plays throughout northern Michigan with jazz and rockabilly ensembles.

Ukelele bass is the instrument Annie Hopcroft brings to the band for the first time this year.

Dont be misled by the size, that U-bass contributes a big, round sound to the mix, she offers. Until 2019, Hopcroft served as the Area Director for Special Olympics and chaired its collaboration with Rotary to bring this yearly benefit concert to the Oscoda Beach Park stage.

The Rotary-sponsored concert will be free and open to the public, its last for the season. Attendees should bring beach chairs, and jackets, just in case. The Rotary and Interact Club sell popcorn, water and soft drinks, and collect donations for Special Olympics.

Well have a sign-up and information table, says Special Olympics Coach David Maiale, for anyone who wants to get involved with the program. And, of course, we will welcome all donations.

Special Olympics is open to all persons over the age of 8 with intellectual disabilities. Area 31 covers Iosco County and surrounding communities.

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Jerry Schmidt, Tipsico Road and Friends to play for Special Olympics benefit concert Thursday - Iosco County News Herald

Los Angeles Angels (52-72, fourth in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (68-55, second in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Angels: Patrick Sandoval (4-8, 3.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 115 strikeouts); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (8-4, 2.82 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 90 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rays -184, Angels +155; over/under is 6 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays will try to keep a five-game home win streak alive when they face the Los Angeles Angels.

Tampa Bay is 68-55 overall and 41-23 in home games. The Rays have a 42-7 record in games when they scored at least five runs.

Los Angeles has a 26-36 record on the road and a 52-72 record overall. The Angels have gone 18-52 in games when they have allowed a home run.

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Thursday's game is the seventh time these teams meet this season. The Rays hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz has 27 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBI for the Rays. Christian Bethancourt is 5-for-14 with three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.

Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels with 50 extra base hits (18 doubles, five triples and 27 home runs). Luis Rengifo is 10-for-41 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 8-2, .248 batting average, 1.55 ERA, outscored opponents by 26 runs

Angels: 2-8, .210 batting average, 4.24 ERA, outscored by 28 runs

INJURIES: Rays: Roman Quinn: 10-Day IL (knee), Matt Wisler: 15-Day IL (neck), Shane Baz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kevin Kiermaier: 60-Day IL (hip), Mike Zunino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Josh Fleming: 15-Day IL (oblique), Wander Franco: 10-Day IL (wrist), J.P. Feyereisen: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Andrew Kittredge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Glasnow: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yonny Chirinos: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Angels: Mickey Moniak: 10-Day IL (finger), Michael Lorenzen: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Matt Duffy: 60-Day IL (back), Archie Bradley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (wrist), Chris Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Griffin Canning: 60-Day IL (back)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Data Skrive. All rights reserved.

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Rays host the Angels on 5-game home win streak - Buffalo News