Month: October 2021

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Kyle Beach identified himself Thursday as “John Doe” in a sexual assault allegation against former coach Brad Aldrich. Beach was with the Blackhawks organization during the club’s 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs when he said former video coach Brad Aldrich assaulted him. According to an internal probe that was made public Tuesday, Beach told the team but senior Blackhawks staff did not take immediate action against Aldrich. The internal report found that Blackhawks management didn’t want to take any immediate action against Aldrich because the team was in the midst of their playoff run, which ended with the club winning the Stanley Cup. According to the internal probe, Aldrich did not deny that a sexual encounter with the player occurred, but he contended that it was consensual. The report didn’t name Beach and called him “John Doe” throughout the 107-page finding. The report led to the resignation of general manager Stan Bowman and a $2 million fine against the club.

Beach said: “So for me right now, it’s important to come forward to share my story because this is so much bigger than Kyle Beach. Yes, I’m a survivor, but there’s millions of people in this world that have been affected by sexual abuse or sexual assault, and I’m speaking out now to hopefully give them a voice, to give them the power to come forward so that we can make a change in this world and hopefully make this a safer place in sports but also in work and life and every day.”

The Blackhawks organization said after Beach went public: “First, we would like to acknowledge and commend Kyle Beach’s courage in coming forward. It was inexcusable for the then-executives of the Blackhawks organization to delay taking action regarding the reported sexual misconduct. No playoff game or championship is more important than protecting our players and staff from predatory behavior.” In addition, National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director Don Fehr said: “Kyle Beach has been through a horrific experience and has shown true courage in telling his story. There is no doubt that the system failed to support him in his time of need, and we are part of that system.”

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Arizona Cardinals’ J.J. Watt is expected to undergo shoulder surgery that is likely to be season-ending, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Watt injured his shoulder against his former team the Houston Texans on Sunday, but still managed to play the rest of the game with the injury. The former All-Pro has 16 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble this season.

On Wednesday, the Cardinals ruled Watt out for Thursday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers due to his shoulder injury and he did not practice all week. While Watt was able to play through the injury on Sunday, it appears the issue was more serious than anticipated. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the recovery timetable for this procedure is likely at least three months.

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The Houston Astros have tied the World Series at 1-1 after beating the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy struck out seven batters over five innings, allowing two runs, and Houston’s Jose Siri, Martin Maldonado and Michael Brantley all earned RBI singles in a 4-run second inning to help give the Astros a 5-1 lead.

The Astros bullpen then took over for the final 12 outs. Atlanta managed just two walks and no hits in the final three innings but wasn’t able to advance any runners past first.

Game 3 will against the Astros will be hosted by Atlanta at Truist Park on Friday at 8:09 p.m. ET.

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The Houston Texans are trading veteran running back Mark Ingram to the New Orleans Saints, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, a move that sends Ingram back to his original team. The Texans’ compensation is expected to involve late-round draft selections.

Ingram was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Saints, 28th overall, and now returns after playing for the Ravens and Texans. Ingram has averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry with the Texans this season (92 carries, 294 yards).

Ingram played eight years with the Saints, where he earned two of his three Pro Bowl nods, before signing a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. He was waived by the Ravens after two years and signed with the Texans in March. Ingram needs just 90 rushing yards to become the Saints’ all-time leading rusher, trailing only Deuce McAllister, 6,096 to 6,007.

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