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SPORTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS Multiple college basketball teams in Barcelona during van attack Ambush happened right outside Oregon State’s hotel, team OK By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press Men’s basketball teams from several U.S. universi- ties, including Oregon State, Clemson and Arizona, were in Barcelona, Spain, when a van drove into pedestrians Thursday in a historic district popular with tourists but school offi cials said the players and staff were safe. Oregon State assistant coach Gregg Gottlieb posted to Facebook: “We are all luckily ok. Our hotel/ restaurant is located right on Las Ramblas. This tragedy happened right in front of us as our team just sat down for pregame meal. Thoughts and prayers for all those that are were hurt.” Spanish police have confi rmed they are investi- gating the bloodshed in the historic Las Ramblas district as a terror attack. The area is a popular summer tourist spot and several of the teams were staying in the area. College basketball teams are allowed to travel interna- tionally during the summer once every four years. They are allowed to practice for 10 days and usually play a few exhibition games while abroad. The trips offer teams a chance to get a jumpstart on the season and also give the players a unique cultural experience. Oregon State was staying in the same hotel as Clemson, which had been scheduled to play Thursday night against a Spanish All-Star team. See BARCELONA/2B AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Police secure the area close to the scene after a white van jumped the sidewalk in the historic Las Ramblas district of Barcelona, Spain, crashing into a summer crowd of residents and tourists Thursday. According to witnesses the white van swerved from side to side as it plowed into tourists and residents. Oregon Football Baseball Freeman’s final flight MLB working with union on pace of play Average time of game nearly 10 minutes slower in 2017 at 3 hours, 5 minutes By JAY COHEN Associated Press CHICAGO — Major League Baseball is having conversations with the players’ association over possible rule changes designed to speed the pace of play, and Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday he hopes to reach an agreement instead of implementing any measures unilaterally. Manfred also said the Bruce Sher- man-led ownership group trying to purchase the Miami Marlins has presented the league with a fi nancial structure that would work for fi nalizing the deal, and he expressed confi dence that a major league franchise can be successful in the market. Speaking at the conclusion of the owners meetings, he also expressed surprise with veteran umpire Joe West’s reaction to his suspension for his comments about Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre. See MLB/2B NFL AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez, File In this Nov. 26, 2016 fi le photo, Oregon running back Royce Freeman (21) carries during the fi rst half of an NCAA college foot- ball game against Oregon State in Corvallis. After the trials of last season, Freeman appears to have emerged with two things: a college degree and a bright outlook. Oregon senior has bright outlook after grim junior season In this Oct. 29, 2015 fi le photo, Oregon’s Royce Free- man (21) celebrates his touch- down run against Ar- izona State with Tyrell Crosby (73) during the fi rst half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press EUGENE — After the trials of last season, Oregon running back Royce Freeman appears to have emerged with two things: a college degree and a brighter outlook. The senior, who opted to stay with the Ducks rather than enter the NFL draft this spring, heads into the season with 936 career rushing yards to go to reach LaMichael James’ Oregon record of 5,082. “I’m comfortable in my own skin. I’m a senior, I’ve been here before, I’ve seen it all, been to a national championship,” he said. “I feel more than comfortable being around these guys and playing beside them — and that was a huge reason for me coming back.” Freeman completed a degree this summer in general social science with an emphasis on crime, law and society, something that was important in addition to “fi nishing on a better note than I did last year.” Freeman was the Ducks’ leading rusher last year with 945 yards in 11 games. He was widely considered a Heisman candidate going into the season, but he was held back by injury. Oregon was struggling overall, too. The Ducks fi nished 4-8 overall and at the bottom of the Pac-12 North standings at 2-7 — snapping a run of nine straight winning seasons in conference play. Three days after the season ended with a loss to Oregon State in the Civil War game, the Ducks fi red coach Mark Helfrich. Oregon went on to hire charis- matic coach Willie Taggart, who spent the previous four years turning around the program at South Florida. The Bulls fl ipped from a 2-10 record See FREEMAN/2B Lynch gets chance to win Broncos QB job Former fi rst rounder gets start Saturday against 49ers By JOSH DUBOW Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Paxton Lynch now gets his chance to seize the starting quarterback job for the Denver Broncos. Lynch has gotten the bulk of the work with the fi rst-team offense this week and will start Saturday’s exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers as the Broncos look for either Lynch or last year’s starter Trevor Siemian to emerge in the competition. Lynch “We’d like the decision made by itself,” Broncos GM John Elway said Thursday. “We want one of them to take the reins and take over. That would be See LYNCH/2B Sports shorts Seahawks extend OL Justin Britt RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and center Justin Britt have agreed on a contract extension that keeps the anchor of the offensive line in place beyond the 2017 season. Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that they were “really close” to fi nalizing a deal for Britt and the team announced later in the day that the deal was fi nished. It’s believed to be a three-year deal and takes away any concern that Britt would leave after this season when his rookie contract expires. Britt Britt has helped stabilize Seat- tle’s often changing line. He started his career at right tackle, moved to left guard and last year settled at center, where he fl ourished. Britt started 15 regular-season games and was the one constant in an otherwise troublesome season for Seattle’s line. Britt was a second-round pick in 2014 out of Missouri. “But for me, personally, the street name has always been a consistent reminder that it is our job to ensure the Red Sox are not just multi-cultural, but stand for as many of the right things in our community as we can — particularly in our African- American community and in the Dominican community that has embraced us so fully.“ — John Henry The Boston Red Sox owner wants the city of Boston to rename Yawkey Way, the street that Fenway Park sits on, because of the racist legacy of former team owner Tom Yawkey. The Red Sox were the last MLB team to integrate, 12 years after Jackie Robinson’s debut. Cleveland Browns submit bid to host future NFL Draft BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are hoping to host the NFL draft in 2019 or 2020. The team has partnered with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission to potentially host the annual three-day event. The group delivered its application to league headquarters in New York last week. After years at Radio City Music Hall, the draft has been on the road the past few years, with stops in Chicago and Philadelphia. The league will celebrate its 100th season in 2019 and the Hall of Fame is celebrating its centennial in Canton the following year. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam noted the area’s rich football history make Cleveland and Canton “the ideal sites for the NFL draft due to our region’s unmatched passion and respect for football, as well as our commitment to its future.” THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1995 — Thirteen-year-old Dominique Moceanu becomes the youngest to win the National Gymnastics Championships senior women’s all-around title in New Orleans. 2008 — A day after winning an Olympic gold medal in Beijing, Rafael Nadal offi - cially unseats Roger Federer to become the world’s No. 1 player when the ATP rankings are released. Federer had been No. 1 for 235 weeks. 2012 — Tina Charles has 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Connecticut Sun to an 85-74 victory over the New York Liberty, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 rebounds. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
