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Cincinnati Reds legend Johnny Bench apologized Sunday for an antisemitic comment he had made a day earlier during a team event.

Bench was in attendance Saturday at a news conference to honor former Reds general manager Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and former pitchers Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo. The trio was being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.

Paul, who died in 1998, was represented at the event by his daughter, Jennie Paul. Near the end of the news conference, Pete Rose recalled his first contract negotiation with Gabe Paul, saying: “When I got out of high school in 1960, Gabe Paul signed me to a contract for 400 bucks a month.”

Jennie Paul quipped, “That cheap, never mind.”

Bench then responded, “He was Jewish,” which prompted laughter from some in the audience.

Bench said in a statement Sunday that his comment was “insensitive” and that he apologized to Jennie Paul.

“I recognize my comment was insensitive,” the Hall of Fame catcher said. “I apologized to Jennie for taking away from her father the full attention he deserves. Gabe Paul earned his place in the Reds Hall of Fame, same as the others who stood on that stage, I am sorry that some of the focus is on my inappropriate remark instead of solely on Gabe’s achievement.”

Jennie Paul told reporters she did not hear Bench’s comment.

“I didn’t even hear him say that,” Jennie Paul said, according to The Athletic. “Johnny came up and said, ‘Were you offended?’ and I said, ‘For what?’

“I didn’t even hear him say that. I suppose if I would’ve heard him say that, I would’ve said something, but I didn’t even hear him say that.”

Gabe Paul was the Reds’ GM from 1951 to 1960 and was responsible for the franchise’s acquisition of several great players, including Rose and Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Tony Perez. He also oversaw the Reds’ integration of Black and Latin American players in the 1950s.

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Vols name Aguilar starting QB after Iamaleava exit

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Vols name Aguilar starting QB after Iamaleava exit

Tennessee named senior Joey Aguilar its starting quarterback Sunday.

Aguilar transferred from UCLA to Tennessee in April, a day after former Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava joined the UCLA Bruins, in what essentially was a college football quarterback trade.

Aguilar had transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA during the winter portal and was in line to start for the Bruins until UCLA signed Iamaleava.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel noted Friday that Aguilar was “handling himself extremely well” and praised him for being “extremely comfortable” commanding the Vols offense in such a short amount of time.

Aguilar beat out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger for the job.

Aguilar threw for 3,003 yards and 23 touchdowns with 14 interceptions last season.

Tennessee opens the season Aug. 30 against Syracuse.

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Harbaugh mum on U-M sanctions: ‘Not engaging’

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Harbaugh mum on U-M sanctions: 'Not engaging'

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jim Harbaugh is refusing to comment on the NCAA’s decision to fine the University of Michigan tens of millions of dollars and to suspend football coach Sherrone Moore for a third game due to the sign-stealing scandal that occurred during Harbaugh’s tenure at his alma mater.

Harbaugh stayed mum on the Wolverines when he stepped to the podium at SoFi Stadium on Saturday night following his Los Angeles Chargers‘ 23-22 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams for his first interaction with the media since the NCAA’s rulings were announced Friday.

“Like I said to you last year, not engaging,” Harbaugh said. “Not engaging.”

The NCAA sharply criticized Harbaugh’s stewardship over the winningest program in college football when it announced the sanctions, saying it had “overwhelming” evidence of a cover-up by the Michigan staff. Harbaugh has always claimed he didn’t know about the sign-stealing and scouting operation run by Connor Stalions.

Michigan only avoided a multiyear postseason ban because the NCAA decided it wasn’t fair to the Wolverines’ current student-athletes to penalize them for the misdeeds during Harbaugh’s tenure, which culminated in a national championship in January 2024.

He jumped back to the NFL two weeks later with the Chargers, and the NCAA hit him in August 2024 with a four-year show-cause order for recruiting violations. Harbaugh now faces a 10-year show-cause order following the conclusion of the four-year order, which effectively serves as a 14-year ban from college football.

Michigan has said it will appeal the NCAA’s decision, claiming the body has made errors in interpreting its own bylaws while drawing conclusions that are contrary to evidence.

Moore was Harbaugh’s assistant for six years before getting the top job upon Harbaugh’s departure. Moore will be suspended for two games this September and for the Wolverines’ 2026 season opener in Germany.

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Sources: Bama RB Miller set to miss FSU opener

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Sources: Bama RB Miller set to miss FSU opener

Alabama tailback Jam Miller, the No. 8 Crimson Tide’s top returning rusher, suffered an upper-body injury in a scrimmage Saturday and is expected to miss the Aug. 30 season opener at Florida State, sources told ESPN.

Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said in a statement Sunday that Miller was hurt and had a medical procedure following the scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“Jam Miller suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday’s scrimmage and went in for a procedure on Saturday evening,” DeBoer said. “Jam should recover fully with a timetable for his return yet to be determined.”

Miller, a senior from Tyler, Texas, led Alabama tailbacks with 668 yards with seven touchdowns on 145 carries in 2024.

Sophomores Richard Young (146 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2024) and Daniel Hill (61 yards, 1 touchdown) figure to get the bulk of carries against the Seminoles in the opener (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC), along with Louisiana transfer Dre Washington.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe, now a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks, was the team’s leading runner with 726 yards and 20 scores last year. Tailback Justice Haynes, who ran for 448 yards with seven touchdowns, transferred to Michigan.

The Crimson Tide are trying to bounce back from last season’s 9-4 campaign, their first with more than three losses since Nick Saban’s first season at Alabama in 2007.

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