SPORTS BRIEFS: Chris Sale suspended five games for outburst

White Sox suspend Sale five days for outburst

The Chicago White Sox suspended All-Star left-hander Chris Sale for five days due to a pregame incident on Saturday in which he reportedly cut up some of the team’s uniforms, the club announced Sunday.

Sale was scratched from his scheduled start and sent home after allegedly expressing his displeasure over having to wear the team’s 1976 throwback uniforms. He also got into a confrontation with a member of the front office in addition to destroying the uniforms.

“Chris has been suspended for violating team rules, for insubordination and for destroying team equipment,” said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. “While we all appreciate Chris’ talent and passion, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to express concerns about team rules and organizational expectations.”

The White Sox said Sale was fined an undisclosed amount and placed on Major League Baseball’s suspended list. Sale’s suspension concludes Wednesday.

Sale has been superb on the field with a 14-3 record and a 3.18 ERA. He started the All-Star Game for the American League.

Sale also has been the subject of trade rumors with both the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox reportedly having heavy interest in acquiring his services.

Froome wins third Tour de France

Briton Chris Froome cemented his status as one of the greatest Tour de France riders when he secured his third title on Sunday after a three-week rocky ride.

Germany’s Andre Greipel won the 21st and last stage, a 113-km ride from Chantilly ending on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The Team Sky rider survived two crashes and even a jog up a mountain road to add to his 2013 and 2015 triumphs to become the first rider to retain his title since Miguel Indurain in 1995.

American Lance Armstrong won seven titles in succession from 1999 but was erased from the winners’ list after admitting to doping.

Frenchman Romain Bardet finished second overall ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana.

Pole Rafal Majka won the polka dot jersey for the mountain classification and his Tinkoff team mate, world champion Peter Sagan, clinched a fifth green jersey for the points classification.

Sagan, who won three stages, was also voted the most aggressive rider in the three-week race while Adam Yates showed Britain was full of resources, ending up fourth overall and winning the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider.

Another Briton, Mark Cavendish, also claimed four stages but he pulled out of the race on the second rest day to prepare for the Olympics, where he will be competing on the track.

Nebraska P Foltz, ex-Michigan State P Sadler killed in accident

Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who was the Big Ten punter of the year in 2015, and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler were killed in a car crash Saturday night in Wisconsin after attending a punter’s camp.

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was a passenger in the car and was injured but survived the accident, according to The Advocate. Sadler was the driver of the car.

Foltz, 22, won the named the conference’s top punter as a junior and he was on the Ray Guy Award watch list entering this season.

“Last night, we lost one of the best young men who I have ever had the honor to coach and who has ever worn the Nebraska uniform,” Nebraska coach Mike Riley said in a statement. “Sam was universally loved and respected by everyone he touched and on whom he had a positive influence each and every day. His tragic loss is immeasurable to his family, his friends, his classmates, his teammates and his coaches and our thoughts and prayers are with all of them. The young men in our football program are hurting but I know that their strength of character and resolve will bring us together and we will honor Sam every day moving forward.”

Riley and players were scheduled to be in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days on Monday, but they will not attend, according to a school spokesman.

Sadler was Michigan State’s punter from 2011-2014 and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore and junior.