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Diasabra 19 Juni 2021

Player banned at Copa America for criticizing organizers

Martins was one of three “Thanks to you of CON-
Bolivia players who tested MEBOL for all this. All the
positive for COVID-19 last fault is on you. If a person
Saturday, the day before the dies what will you do? What
tournament opened. The in- matters to you is only mon-
fection prevented him from ey. Aren’t the lives of players
playing in the 3-1 loss to Par- worth anything?” Martins
aguay on Monday. wrote on Instagram.
The following day, he at- He apologized on Wednes-
tacked CONMEBOL on day, blaming the criticism on
social media after reports of his communications team.
dozens of people infected He wasn’t expected to play
with the virus in connection on Friday against Chile be-
with the tournament. The cause of a mandatory isola-
case count had risen to 66 on tion.
Thursday. The Copa Amer-
(AP) — CONMEBOL being played in Brazil. fends again. ica was switched at the last Five out of 10 teams at the
suspended Bolivia strik- minute to Brazil, where the Copa America have reported
er Marcelo Martins for CONMEBOL’s disciplin- The Bolivian Football Asso- COVID-19 known death toll COVID-19 cases: Bolivia,
one match and fined him ary commission also warned ciation announced the sanc- is expected to pass 500,000 Venezuela, Colombia, Peru
$20,000 on Friday for criti- Martins that he could face a tions on Twitter. this weekend. and Chile.
cizing the Copa America one-year suspension if he of-

Celtics send Kemba Walker, 16th pick to Thunder for Horford

(AP) — The Celtics are played a “critical role” while Walker’s departure means points and 6.7 rebounds this season, and the Thunder saw
bringing Al Horford back, in Boston. Boston will rely more heav- season, but he played just 23 enough to call him up and
trading point guard Kem- ily on All-Stars Jayson Tatum games before Oklahoma City award him a multiyear deal.
ba Walker to Oklahoma “His ability to elevate team- and Jaylen Brown for scor- shut him down in late March The 7-footer averaged 8.6
City for the five-time All- mates with his experience ing. Without further moves, to take a look at younger points and 8.9 rebounds and
Star on Friday in Brad and leadership make for a it would also leave Marcus players — including Brown. tied a team record with 23
Stevens’ first major move great addition,” Stevens said. Smart and Payton Pritchard rebounds against the Celtics
since he moved from the “We also want to welcome as the team’s main options at “Thank you to ... the entire this season.
Boston bench to the front Moses to Boston. He is a point guard. Thunder organization for
office. promising young player.” their professionalism during “As soon as he got his op-
But swapping his salary for my time in Oklahoma City,” portunity, he really embraced
Boston will also send the No. Walker joins a team that fin- Horford’s will save the Celt- Horford tweeted. “While it it,” Horford said during the
16 overall draft pick and a ished with the second-worst ics $9 million. was short, it was first class all team’s exit interviews. “He
2025 second-rounder to the record in the West last season the way and me and my fami- took it by storm. Playing in
Thunder and receive 7-foot- but showed potential with “Kemba is a true profession- ly are extremely thankful and this league is not easy, night
er Moses Brown and a 2023 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, al and a great teammate and appreciative.” in and night out to have to
second-round pick in return. who led the Thunder with player,” Stevens said. “I want prepare, everything that it
23.7 points per game, and Lu to thank him for his tremen- Brown, 21, was a first-team takes, and I felt like he was
Oklahoma City now holds 19 Dort, who averaged 14 points dous impact, and the positive All-G-League selection this up for the challenge.”
first-round draft picks over and was one of the league’s contribution he’s made both
the next seven years. best defensive guards. to the Celtics and the city of
Boston.”
Horford returns to Boston Walker, 31, is guaranteed
and gives the Celtics the more than $73 million over After playing his first nine
frontcourt presence they’ve the next two seasons. But af- seasons in Atlanta, Horford
lacked since he left two sea- ter helping the Celtics reach signed with Boston as a free
sons ago. The 6-foot-9 was the Eastern Conference fi- agent in 2016 and led the
forward was a member of nals in the NBA bubble last team to the conference fi-
the NBA All-Defensive team season the four-time All-Star nals in his first two seasons.
with the Celtics in 2017-18 he was limited by knee inju- But he opted out after three
while also posting the best ries to 43 games in 2021; he seasons to go to Philadelphia,
assist numbers of his career. missed the last two games of then the 76ers flipped him to
the first-round playoff loss to the Thunder after one year.
Stevens coached Horford the Brooklyn Nets.
for three seasons and says he Horford, 35, averaged 14.2

Razorbacks' Kopps wins Howser Trophy as top college player

(AP) — Arkansas’ Kev- star pitcher for a Razorbacks runs in 89 2/3 innings and The first was current Kansas The award is named in honor
in Kopps won the Dick team ranked No. 1 much of struck out 131. The senior City Royal outfielder An- of Howser, an All-America
Howser Trophy as the top the season and the No. 1 seed from Sugar Land, Texas, led drew Benintendi in 2015. shortstop at Florida State in
player in college baseball in the NCAA Tournament. the nation with his 0.90 ERA, 1957-58 who later coached
Friday, making him the and opponents batted .162 Other finalists were Vander- the Seminoles and man-
first relief pitcher to re- The SEC pitcher of the year against him. bilt pitchers Kumar Rocker aged the New York Yankees
ceive the award. had a hand in 23 of the Hogs’ and Jack Leiter, Florida State and Kansas City Royals. The
50 wins with a 12-1 record Kopps is the second Arkansas catcher Matheu Nelson and National Collegiate Baseball
Kopps, who had Tommy and 11 saves. Kopps appeared player to receive the Howser Texas Tech second baseman Writers Association adminis-
John surgery in 2018, was the in 33 games, allowed nine Trophy in its 34-year history. Jace Jung. ters voting for the award.