The Columbian

National Sports

Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz, second from left, is embraced by teammate Kyle Seager after hitting a three-run home run in eighth-inning baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Saturday, July 23, 2016.

Cruz blasts 2 HRs as Mariners beat up on Jays

July 23, 2016, 1:52pm National Sports

Nelson Cruz hit his ninth career grand slam and homered twice, and the Seattle Mariners routed the Toronto Blue Jays 14-5 on Saturday. Read story

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 22, 2016.

Paxton helps pitch Mariners past Blue Jays 2-1

July 22, 2016, 7:09pm National Sports

James Paxton pitched seven strong innings to win for the first time in three starts, Seth Smith doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday. Read story

Dennis Green, as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2006. Green, a trailblazing coach who led a Vikings renaissance in the 1990s and also coached the Arizona Cardinals, has died. He was 67. Green’s family posted a message on the Cardinals website on Friday, July 22, 2016, announcing the death.

Former NFL coach Dennis Green dies at 67

July 22, 2016, 4:06pm National Sports

Dennis Green, the trailblazing coach who led a Minnesota Vikings renaissance in the 1990s before a less successful run with the Arizona Cardinals, has died. He was 67. Read story

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a news conference in 2015 to announce Charlotte, N.C., as the site of the 2017 NBA All-Star basketball game. The NBA is moving the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people, Thursday, July 21, 2016.

NBA moving All-Star Game out of Charlotte, cites LGBT law

July 21, 2016, 3:29pm Latest News

The NBA is moving the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people. Read story

Dmitry Shlyakhtin, head of the Russian track and field federation, speaks to journalists prior to the Russian Athletics Cup, at Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 21, 2016. Russia lost its appeal Thursday against the Olympic ban on its track and field athletes, a decision which could add pressure on the IOC to exclude the country entirely from next month's games in Rio de Janeiro.

Russians lose track appeal; IOC to weigh total ban for Rio

July 21, 2016, 1:00pm National Sports

Now that Russian track and field athletes have failed in their effort to have their Olympic ban overturned, it's up to the IOC to decide whether to kick the entire Russian team out of the games. Read story

Seattle Mariners' Leonys Martin, center, is doused with water and sports drink by teammates Robinson Cano, left, and Nelson Cruz, right, after Martin hit a solo walk-off home run in the 11th inning of a baseball game to give the Mariners a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, July 20, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S.

Martin hits 2 HRs, drive in 11th lifts Mariners over Chisox

July 20, 2016, 5:45pm National Sports

Leonys Martin hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot with one out in the 11th inning that sent Seattle over the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Wednesday. Read story

A mannequin dressed in a Russian Olympics National team uniform is on display in a shop window, with the Kremlin tower star reflected on a window glass, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee meets Tuesday by teleconference to rule on what action to take against Russia for the mass doping program confirmed by the world anti-doping agency on Monday.

IOC explores legal options on banning all Russians from Rio

July 19, 2016, 1:45pm Nation & World

With just over two weeks until the opening ceremony, Russia still doesn't know whether its athletes — all or even some — will be competing in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It may all come down to the lawyers. Read story

Seattle Mariners' Adam Lind, left, rounds the bases past Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, right, after Lind hit a three-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 18, 2016, in Seattle. The Mariners beat the White Sox 4-3. (AP Photo/Ted S.

Lind’s pinch-hit homer in 9th lifts Mariners past White Sox

July 18, 2016, 10:09pm National Sports

Adam Lind hit a three-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning to give the Seattle Mariners an improbable 4-3 comeback victory over the White Sox on Monday night. Read story

People walk in front of the Russian Olympic Committee building in Moscow.

Russia assailed in report for doping program beyond Sochi

July 18, 2016, 10:57am Nation & World

A scathing report outlining a state-sanctioned doping system in Russia prompted immediate calls for the nation’s entire team to be sidelined from the Summer Games, raising the possibility that the Olympics could go on without a sports superpower for the first time since the 1980s. Read story

Croatia rallies to stun U.S. 3-2 in Davis Cup quarterfinal

July 17, 2016, 6:42pm National Sports

Marin Cilic beat John Isner and then Borna Coric beat Jack Sock on Sunday to give Croatia a 3-2 comeback victory over the United States on Sunday in their Davis Cup quarterfinal match. Read story