FORMER NFL COACH TURNS HIMSELF IN AFTER ALLEGED NASHVILLE HIT-AND-RUN

 

Rex Ryan, football analyst and former NFL coach, participates in the "Sunday NFL Countdown" panel during the ESPN Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former NFL coach Rex Ryan turned himself in Wednesday for allegedly hitting pedestrians with his car in Nashville and leaving the scene, police said.

Two pedestrians had the right of way crossing a main street in downtown Nashville’s popular tourist area last week when Ryan allegedly turned at a red light, running over the victims’ feet, Nashville police said Wednesday. They suffered minor injuries, police said.

Ryan, an ESPN analyst, was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to give information or render aid and two counts of failure to obey a traffic control signal, according to court records, which did not identify an attorney for Ryan. All are misdemeanours. A judicial commissioner set Ryan’s bond at US$6,000.

He was granted pretrial release Wednesday morning. Ryan is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Ryan is a former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, leading the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in consecutive years after the 2009 and 2010 seasons. His father, the late Buddy Ryan, was an NFL coaching legend who famously co-ordinated the 1985 Chicago Bears defense that was one of the best in history.

Since leaving coaching, Ryan is best known for his work at ESPN as one of the analysts on the network’s NFL pregame show.

“We are aware and are in touch with Rex,” ESPN said in a statement Wednesday. Ryan appeared Monday on “Get Up,” a morning ESPN show taped in New York.

A phone number believed to be Ryan’s had an automatic outgoing message, and a message could not be left.

- Kristin M. Hall And Hannah Fingerhut, AP

LIONEL MESSI MISSES THIRD STRAIGHT PENALTY AS INTER MIAMI CRUSHED BY NASHVILLE IN FOUR-GOAL ROUT

 

Getty Images Sport

Lionel Messi’s return to the Inter Miami starting lineup turned into a nightmare as the Argentine icon missed his third consecutive penalty in a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Nashville SC. The Herons were systematically dismantled at Geodis Park, failing to reclaim the top spot in the Eastern Conference on a night where nothing went right for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi penalty woes continue

The magic appears to have faded momentarily for Messi, who endured a evening to forget in Tennessee. With Inter Miami trailing 1-0 in the 23rd minute, the veteran had a golden opportunity to level the scores from the penalty spot. However, his low effort was expertly parried by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake.

Statistics highlight the depth of the Argentine's current struggles from 12 yards out. This latest failure marks the first time since 2014 that Messi has missed three consecutive penalties, according to ESPN. The unwanted streak began during the this summer World Cup campaign, after failing to convert against Austria and Egypt.

Getty Images Sport

Nashville run riot in Geodis Park

Despite Telasco Segovia equalizing just before the interval, Nashville SC took complete control of the contest in the second half. Hany Mukhtar reminded the league of his quality with a clinical brace, while Sam Surridge added a third with a delicate back-heeled finish. Miami’s defense crumbled under the pressure, and the frustration was evident as Messi received a yellow card for his protests during the build-up to Nashville's third goal.

The final blow came in stoppage time following a comical error from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. The shot-stopper slipped while well out of his area, allowing a route-one ball from Schwake to reach Mukhtar, who walked the ball into an empty net.

Personal tragedy looming over Messi

This match represented Messi's first start since the tragic passing of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi. The 39-year-old has been dealing with immense emotional weight, recently admitting that he is unsure how to continue in the sport without his father’s guidance.

Messi’s struggles were compounded by sheer bad luck in the final moments of the game. In one frantic second-half attack, the forward saw his shot strike both posts without crossing the line, before another effort was ruled out for offside.

- Muhammad Zaki

DENNY HAMLIN STORMS BACK FROM POLE-START PENALTY TO TO WIN AT NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY

Photo by Danny Peters

LEBANON, Tenn. — Denny Hamlin outraced Christopher Bell over the final four laps after a final restart Sunday night to win the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Hamlin won for the second time this year and 62nd of his career on a night where he jumped the start off the pole. That penalty put him at the back of the field.

The 45-year-old Hamlin raced his way to the front for the thrilling win that had his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Bell and Chase Briscoe making it three-wide before Hamlin took the lead down the backstretch to win by 0.115 seconds.

The race started 80 minutes late after rain delayed NASCAR’s Cup Series for a second straight week. The wait was worth it with a record 31 lead changes and 12 cautions at the 1.33-mile, D-shaped oval that is NASCAR’s largest concrete track.

Bell finished second for a second straight race ahead of Briscoe. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fourth, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

Long time coming

Ryan Blaney, trying to repeat as champ at this track, led the restart trying to hold off AJ Allmendinger on a one-lap shootout for the first stage. Allmendinger took the lead on the backstretch, then held off Kyle Larson to take stage one for his first stage victory since 2024.

Stage 2 win

Suarez took the second stage after staying out during a caution and took the lead on the restart on lap 182. Then Corey Heim drove his No. 67 Toyota into the back of Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 Ford, sending him backward into the Turn 1 wall. That brought out the seventh caution with Cole Custer spinning out in the crash.

Lots of rotor woes

Rookie Connor Zilisch had the right rotor explode on his No. 88 Chevrolet sending him into the wall and smashing the right side on Turn 1 of lap 72. Zilisch got the Trackhouse Racing car into the garage with some flames coming out from under the right tire, which was stuck and nearly sideway.

He had been running 24th after starting 38th on the last row.

Trackhouse teammate Ross Chastain had his own rotor issue on lap 82 sending him into the wall between Turns 1 and 2. Michael McDowell spun trying to avoid Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet. Zilisch called the rotor problems a surprise when both he and Chastain had been moving up.

“Just unfortunate circumstances,” Zilisch said. “Yeah, we’ll learn from it.”

Van Gisbergen is the third member of Trackhouse Racing. His crew told him not to worry with his No. 97 Chevrolet running a completely different brake package. Ryan Preece went to the garage with no water in his No. 60 Ford, and his crew found a piece of rotor broken off into the radiator before he got back on the track.

Then Allmendinger, who was third, had the rotor spark and flame before his No. 16 Chevrolet hit the Turn 1 wall on lap 173 — with 12 laps left in Stage 2.

Chris Buescher was running 17th with 12 laps left when his right rotor went as he entered Turn 3.

Up next

The series will be at Michigan International Speedway next week where Hamlin will be trying to win for a second straight year.

- Associated Press 

ROD STEWART'S TROUBLED SON, 45, IS KNOCKED OUT WITHIN FIFTEEN SECONDS BY OPPONENT 18 YEARS HIS JUNIOR IN NIGHTMARE BOXING DEBUT

He somehow dropped his hands during his fight with BDave in Nashville, Texas on Saturday

Rod Stewart's success needs no introduction but one of his children encountered their own type of hit-maker at the weekend.

Music legend Stewart, 80, has eight children and his third-eldest child Sean, 45, has turned to boxing.

Sean, 45, a troubled musician who once said being the firstborn son of rock royalty was a 'curse and a hindrance,' made his professional boxing bow on Saturday as he fought on Misfits Boxing's card against streamer BDave, 27, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Stewart poses with four of his siblings and his legendary musician father Rod (right) in May

However, his debut ended in disastrous fashion as he was knocked out within 15 seconds of the fight actually starting. Unsurprisingly, it's a record KO under the Misfits banner.

As the pair engaged in some close-range action, BDave slipped an overhand combination from Stewart before landing an overhand right of his own.

The shot landed flush on Stewart's jaw, who bizarrely then dropped his guard.

And as he backpedalled with both arms down, BDave threw another overhand right that saw Stewart collapse on to the canvas.

Stewart laid motionless on his back as the referee waved the fight, which was scheduled to be three rounds of three minutes, off immediately.

As BDave celebrated, Stewart's corner went over to check the well-being of their fallen boxer.

Stewart, who is 18 years BDave's senior, was branded a 'gym warrior' on commentary by Ben 'The Bane' Davis, and reportedly told Misfits he had been training since the age of six.

Stewart had shared pictures of him undergoing boxing training on social media in recent years

His famous father Rod was performing in London so couldn't be present for the ringside defeat.

Despite not being there, his celebrity was often mentioned with Misfits organisers referring to Sean throughout the week as 'Rod Stewart's Son'.

In late February Sean voluntarily checked into rehab after his famous family staged an intervention. 

He spent time at the $80,000-a-month Cliffside Malibu rehabilitation facility, where his close friend Scott Disick once sought treatment.

It came months after he split from his wife Jody Weintraub and started dating Charlie Sheen's ex, Julia Stambler.

'Sean is in rehab for addiction,' an insider told DailyMail.com at the time. 'He's had a long history of substance abuse, and he decided to get help when he saw that he was falling off the deep end again.

'There was a family intervention because they were worried. They are all able to see when Sean is sober and when he is not.'

The source added that Rod was proud of his son for acknowledging that he needed help and checking himself in without being forced.

'In the end, Sean voluntarily checked in to save himself,' the person shared. 'Rod is proud of him for getting help. He is expected to do a 90 day stay, which is the norm.'

The pricey facility features views of the Pacific Ocean, plus an outdoor pool and a gym.

Patients receive treatment while enjoying an organic, chef-provided menu, and turndown service in the rooms. Yoga, walks, equine therapy, acupuncture and group counseling are also offered.

Rob Stewart's son Sean was admitted to rehab earlier this year for substance abuse

Sean has spoken openly about his addiction battle in the past, revealing he was 'around 13' and a student at Beverly Hills High School when he first started drinking. He later moved on to harder drugs including ecstasy and heroin.

'I would go to parties at that age and drink and smoke cannabis and cigarettes,' he told the Mail in 2012. 'It was very easy for me to get drugs. I would just walk into a party and someone would hand them to me. I hardly ever paid for them.'

He confessed, 'First, I got really badly into Ecstasy. Then I started on the prescription pills like Vicodin, and then cocaine. And finally I got into heroin.'

In January Sean and his girlfriend Julia were pictured on a $150 million super yacht with the Stewart clan in celebration of Rod's 80th birthday.

- LUKE AUGUSTUS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

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