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TRUMP LIKES JORDAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- Asked if Michael Jordan or LeBron James were the best basketball player ever, President Donald Trump said he golfed with Jordan and "he's a really good guy."
"I think LeBron is, maybe he's a racist," Trump said. "Maybe he doesn't like Trump."
He added, "I like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way."
Trump was also asked about golfer Bryson DeChambeau who reportedly threatened to call the president after being given a controversial two-stroke penalty during the recent British Open.
The president didn't say if he sees himself as a sports "fixer" after intervening to help get a U.S. red card overturned during the World Cup.
Trump suggested it was more like "me being a judge." He said of DeChambeau, "I thought it was a tough call against him."
GEORGIA TOPS SEC
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Georgia was the preseason pick to win the Southeastern Conference championship, according to voters attending the league's annual media days event in Tampa.
The Bulldogs received 88 of 164 votes to reach the title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in early December. Texas was the second choice, with 57 votes, and Mississippi a distant third with six. Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU and Kentucky also received votes.
Only 10 times since 1992 has the media's preseason predicted champion proceeded to win the SEC title game.
The predicted order of finish includes:
1. Georgia, 2,510 points
2. Texas, 2,449
3. Mississippi, 2,004
4. Texas A&M, 1,967
5. LSU, 1,961
6. Alabama, 1,930
7. Oklahoma, 1,914
8. Tennessee, 1,320
9. Florida, 1,217
10. Missouri, 1,105
11. South Carolina, 956
12. Auburn, 936
13. Vanderbilt, 751
14. Kentucky, 546
15. Mississippi State, 467
16. Arkansas, 262
WORLD CUP CHARGE
SYDNEY (AP) -- Cristian Volpato, who represented Australia at the World Cup, has allegedly tested positive for cocaine and also for speeding, New South Wales state police said Friday.
They said the 22-year-old Volpato, who switched allegiances from Italy to Australia before the World Cup, was allegedly clocked at 30 miles per hour over the designated speed limit when police stopped him on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge early Friday morning.
He was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result for cocaine, police said in a statement on Friday.
Football Australia said in a statement Saturday that it was “aware of allegations involving one of our players.
“We have been in contact with the player and continue to monitor the matter and support the player throughout this process,” it added.
One Australian media outlet said Volpato had tested negative to cocaine in a urine test, but it was not clear if it was related to the Friday incident. Others said Volpato had consistently denied the allegations of drug use and had undergone voluntarily independent testing.
Volpato made three appearances for the Socceroos at the World Cup.
RAYS BEAT GUARDIANS
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Cleveland Guardians activated outfielder Angel Martinez from the 10-day injured list and left-handed reliever Tim Herrin from the 15-day IL before Friday’s 11-3 loss to the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
To make room on the roster, left-hander Will Dion and utility man Daniel Schneemann were optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
Cleveland (54-50) entered the game against Tampa Bay 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central.
Martinez was slotted in the leadoff spot to open the series against the Rays and went 0 for 4. He missed 32 games with a fracture in his left foot after fouling a ball off the foot against Detroit on June 13. Martinez was placed on the injured list on June 16 with a non-displaced fracture and missed 32 games. Coming in, the 24-year-old was hitting .239 with 33 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with 11 home runs.
Martinez appeared in four games on a rehab assignment, playing twice with Double-A Akron and two games with Columbus, combining to go 5 for 12 with a home run and two doubles before joining the Guardians for a pregame workout on Thursday.
Herrin worked an inning of relief and allowed two hits and an earned run. He was placed on the IL on July 9 with a left elbow contusion when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Minnesota’s Royce Lewis a day earlier. Entering the game, Herrin had 27 strikeouts and a 3.06 ERA in 32 1/3 innings in 41 relief appearances this season. He made a pair of appearances in a rehab assignment this week.