OLYMPICS

Phelps to carry flag

The most decorated athlete in Olympic history will carry the United States flag during the opening ceremony for the Rio Games. Michael Phelps was selected in a vote by members of the U.S. Olympic team. The decision was announced Wednesday morning. Phelps was a logical choice heading into his fifth Summer Games. He has won 18 golds and 22 medals overall, far more than any other athlete. Phelps skipped the opening ceremony at the last three Olympics to rest up for the grueling 400-meter individual medley, which is held the next day. But with that event no longer a part of his program, Phelps is available to carry the flag in Friday night's ceremony at the Maracana. Phelps said he is "humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all that it stands for."

Baseball returns

Olympic leaders approved the addition of five sports to the program of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, including the return of baseball-softball and the introduction of youth-oriented events such as skateboarding and surfing. The International Olympic Committee voted to accept the five-sport package, which also includes karate and sport climbing. The five, which were proposed for inclusion last year by Tokyo organizers, were approved unanimously by the IOC members. Under new IOC rules, local organizers can propose the inclusion of at least one additional sport for their games. Wednesday's approval was for the Tokyo Games only. The new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes to the program. The Tokyo Games will now feature 33 sports and about 11,000 athletes, compared to the usual number of 28 sports and 10,500 athletes. While baseball and softball -- both highly popular in Japan -- will be returning after a 16-year absence, the other sports will be making their Olympic debuts.

Phelps last? Maybe not

Michael Phelps kept saying this would definitely be his final Olympics. No chance of any more comebacks, right? Not so fast. During a news conference Wednesday, Phelps called Rio "my potential last Olympics." With that, the media in the packed interview room erupted in gasps and laughter, cutting off Phelps in mid-sentence as he talked about the chance to share the Olympics with his infant son, Boomer. "Just so you guys don't beat me to death if I come back," he went on. "I'm not. But I'm just going to say that." Teammate and longtime rival Ryan Lochte, who is rooming with Phelps in the Olympic village, predicts Phelps, 31, will be back in the pool for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. "I just have a weird feeling," Lochte said. "Once you compete on this stage at the Olympics, that passion, that excitement, that thrill of racing the top people in the world, when that goes away, you miss it. You miss it really quick."

[ARKANSANS IN RIO: Full coverage of 23 in Olympics]

BASEBALL

Kershaw on 60-day DL

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, sidelined since late June with a herniated disk in his back, was moved to the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday. That means the 28-year-old won't be able to return until Aug. 27, at the earliest. Manager Dave Roberts said the three-time Cy Young winner hasn't participated in any baseball activity since he suffered a setback in a simulated game July 16. "He has not thrown, he has not played catch, he has not picked up a baseball," Roberts said before the Dodgers faced the Colorado Rockies. Roberts also said the team hasn't ruled out the possibility of season-ending surgery for Kershaw. Roberts made it clear, though, that nothing has been set in motion. The Dodgers have placed 25 different players on the disabled list this year, a National League record.

Lindgren surgery set

Yankees left-hander Jacob Lindgren will have Tommy John surgery Friday, an injury that likely will sideline him until the 2018 season. New York said Wednesday that team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad will operate at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Lindgren, 23, was a second-round draft pick in 2014 and made his major league debut on May 25 last year. He showed promise in seven relief appearances through June 12 and was sent back to Class AAA the following day. The Yankees said June 21 he needed surgery to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. Lindgren did not pitch again until this year. He struggled in spring training, allowing 4 runs, 1 hit, 4 walks and 2 hit batters in 2 1/3 innings over 3 big league exhibition games. He was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 6 relief appearances for Class A Tampa in April, then was sidelined again because of the elbow. He pitched a simulated game for the Yankees last Saturday.

Duda out for season

Mets first baseman Lucas Duda will likely not play again this season because of a recurrence of back pain. Duda has been sidelined since May 20 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, an injury originally projected to keep him out of the lineup for four to six weeks. General Manager Sandy Alderson said Wednesday that Duda's back flared up late last week during baseball drills at the team's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Duda traveled to Marina del Rey, Calif., where he was examined Tuesday by Dr. Robert Watkins. Asked whether Duda could possibly return in October if the Mets reach the postseason, Alderson said: "It doesn't look good." New York also said right-hander Zack Wheeler will pitch Saturday for Class A St. Lucie of the Florida State League in his first game since Tommy John surgery on March 25 last year.

FOOTBALL

Freeney to help Falcons

Pass-rush help for the Atlanta Falcons is on the way. Veteran linebacker Dwight Freeney was the talk of the Falcons' training camp on Wednesday, a day after agreeing to a one-year deal with the team. Freeney, who is expected to arrive today, is an important addition to a defense that ranked last in the league in sacks last season. Coach Dan Quinn said Freeney, 36, will play in nickel packages as a pass-rush specialist. Freeney played a similar role with Arizona last season. Freeney also could be a mentor for such young players as Vic Beasley Jr., the 2015 first-round pick who led the Falcons with four sacks. Freeney had eight sacks in 11 games with Arizona.

BASKETBALL

Fisher hints at possible comeback

Derek Fisher (Little Rock Parkview, UALR) has hinted at a comeback to the NBA.

Fisher, who retired from the NBA in 2014 after an 18-year career, posted a workout video on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday night with the hashtag “Imnotdoneyet”, according to ESPN.com. Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that Fisher has been “exploring options and expressing interest in playing again.” A source said Fisher has looked into playing in the NBA again or in the Chinese Basketball Association.

But Fisher, who turns 42 on Tuesday, said on Twitter on Wednesday that he has no plans to play again.

“On-court workouts have been part of my regimen since I played my last game,” Fisher tweeted. “If an NBA team expresses interest, I’m open to dialogue, but at the moment I have no steadfast plan to play again.”

Fisher, who was drafted 24th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, won five NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) with the franchise. He also played with the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.

Fisher coached the New York Knicks for a season and a half before being fired in February by team president Phil Jackson, his former coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was 40-96 with the Knicks. Since being fired by the Knicks, Fisher has done analysis for NBA TV and TNT. He also appeared at UALR’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Purdue in Denver earlier this year.

If Fisher were to come back to the NBA, he would be the oldest player in the league. Also, Fisher would be the first person to return to play in the NBA after coaching in the league since Magic Johnson. Johnson played 32 games for the Lakers in 1995-1996 after coaching the team for 16 games during the 1993-1994 season.

Sports on 08/04/2016