Newsmakers
Honored Crowd estimates are in and the city of Chicago says about 2 million people attended the parade and rally on Thursday honoring the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Suspended Brazilian forward Neymar has been banned for the rest of the Copa America, depriving the soccer tournament of one of its biggest stars. A disciplinary panel of the South American confederation ruled that he must sit out four games for violent conduct in a match on Wednesday. He kicked Colombia’s Pablo Armero after the final whistle.
Explained Two-time Olympic champion Mo Farah says he’s never taken performance- enhancing drugs and describes his two missed tests as “simple mistakes.” The British distance runner missed two tests in the buildup to the 2012 Olympics, where he won gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, according to the Daily Mail newspaper.
Announced The San Jose Sharks will let forward John Scott and defenseman Scott Hannan leave as unrestricted free agents next month but have not made a final decision about the fate of Antti Niemi.
Released North Carolina says it has granted a release for all-Atlantic Coast Conference basketball player Stephanie Mavunga to pursue a transfer. Mavunga, who averaged 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds during her sophomore year last season, said in a statement it was for “personal reasons.”
Treated Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson has had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. The Bulls said he will need about four months to resume full basketball activities. That puts in question his status for the start of the season.
Extended North Carolina has agreed to a two-year contract extension with Roy Williams, keeping the basketball coach with the Tar Heels through the 2019-20 season.
Mourned Former NFL kicker Danny Villanueva, a pioneer of Spanish-language television, has died. He was 77. Family members and officials at New Mexico State University, where Villanueva was a member of the athletic hall of fame, confirmed that he died Thursday after suffering a stroke earlier this week.
Scratched No. 12-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the Nottingham Open with an abdominal injury, casting doubts on his participation at Wimbledon. Tsonga picked up the injury in Paris.