Sports News Roundup: Butler hopes to land with Heat, Ryder Cup, PGA Tour

Braves SS Swanson (torn hand ligament) out indefinitely

The Atlanta Braves will be without shortstop Dansby Swanson for at least the remainder of the regular season after an MRI on Wednesday revealed a partially torn ligament in his left hand. Swanson will undergo daily treatment in Atlanta before being re-evaluated next week, the team announced. The regular season concludes Sunday.

Harrison says Bell should report, then fake injuries

As the standoff between the Pittsburgh Steelers and holdout running back Le'Veon Bell continues, one of his former teammates offered some unusual advice. Retired defensive star James Harrison, who spent the bulk of his 15-year career in Pittsburgh, said Bell should report to the Steelers and then fake injuries to avoid having to play on Sundays.

Butler hopes to land with Heat: report

Jimmy Butler has stood firm with his trade demand to the Minnesota Timberwolves and informed the team he would prefer to be dealt with the Miami Heat, according to a New York Times report. The Heat reportedly has been aggressively pursuing Butler, but Miami has "found it hard to get Minnesota to clearly communicate," according to the Times' Marc Stein.

Ryder Cup battle lines drawn from tee to green to the team room

They might be 24 of the best players in the world but, if much of the Ryder Cup build-up is to be believed, this year's battle will be decided less by golfing prowess than on who is having the most fun in the team room. Every two years, particularly when Europe win, the question arises about whether their ability to bond on and off the course is superior to the Americans and if so, why and how much it matters.

Texans safety Hal's cancer in remission

Houston Texans safety Andre Hal's cancer is in remission, the team's physician said Wednesday. Hal was diagnosed in May with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent a series of aggressive treatments at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, team doctor James Muntz said in a statement.

Koepka named PGA of America's player of the year

Brooks Koepka added a further accolade to a stellar campaign when he was named the PGA of America Player of the Year on Wednesday, while Dustin Johnson won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average. Koepka, who overcame a serious wrist injury prior to the season, won a second consecutive U.S. Open championship in June and then triumphed at the PGA Championship in August.

FIBA believes less is more as 3x3 basketball continues to grow

Three-a-side basketball is helping the sport reach out to a new audience and will be a major attraction on its Olympic debut in Tokyo, an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) executive has told Reuters. The urban sport that uses just one hoop enjoyed a hugely successful debut at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and was approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for inclusion at the 2020 Summer Games.

FLM All 32: Team-by-team NFL notes

AFC East Buffalo Bills: Rookie quarterback Josh Allen apparently listened to the advice of team captain LeSean McCoy before the Bills' unexpected 27-6 victory over Minnesota on Sunday in Allen's first road start. "I told him before the game, 'Josh this is the first time you've played in Minnesota Vikings stadium,'" McCoy said, according to the team website. "'There are so many fans out there who may have heard of you, but don't know you. So when you leave this game today, have the fans saying, 'Wow, that 17 can play.' So each game has that same attitude, where someone who hasn't seen you play, you want to leave a great impression on their mind, like, 'Hey, that kid can get after it.' So I can say this. Each game he takes that approach he gains more confidence and gains more experience."

Blue Jays, manager Gibbons part ways

The Toronto Blue Jays announced Wednesday they will not bring back manager John Gibbons for the 2019 season. Gibbons and general manager Ross Atkins held a 25-minute news conference before the final home game of the season Wednesday afternoon to make the announcement.

Russian federation challenges IAAF suspension in court

Russia's athletics federation said on Wednesday it had filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision by global athletics body IAAF to prolong its suspension. The federation was suspended in November 2015 following a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that found evidence of systematic, state-sponsored doping in the sport.

(With inputs from Reuters)