NU promotes Polisky to athletic director
As expected, Northwestern promoted longtime deputy athletic director Mike Polisky to replace Jim Phillips as AD on Monday. Phillips had been the AD at the school since 2008 before being hired as the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference in December.
Polisky joined NU in 2010 after working for the Arena Football League’s Rush and the American Hockey League’s Wolves. He worked closely with Phillips in branding and strategy and helped develop the ‘‘Chicago’s Big Ten Team’’ marketing campaign.
‘‘Over the last 11 years, I’ve had the honor of working for the best and brightest studentathletes in college athletics, alongside the most impressive group of coaches and staff in the industry, at one of the most remarkable institutions of higher education in the world,’’ said Polisky, whose official title is vice president for athletics and recreation.
NFL
Amazon to take over ‘TNF’ package in ’22
Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s ‘‘Thursday Night Football’’ package a year earlier than originally anticipated.
Amazon and the NFL announced Prime Video will take over the entire package from Fox in 2022, which will make it an 11-season deal through 2032. The deal originally was supposed to begin in 2023, when the NFL’s new media-rights deals kick in.
Titans fourth-round draft pick Rashad Weaver has been charged with simple assault after an incident last month in Pittsburgh.
The charge stems from an alleged altercation between Weaver, who played defensive end at Pittsburgh, and a woman in the early hours of April 18. At least one witness told police Weaver struck the woman.
BASKETBALL
Wizards’ Westbrook makes history
Russell Westbrook became the only player in NBA history with two 20-rebound, 20-assist games, finishing with 14 points, 21 rebounds and 24 assists to fuel the Wizards past the visiting Pacers 154-141. Westbrook has 178 career triple-doubles, three short of Oscar Robertson’s all-time record.
Lakers star LeBron James sat out the team’s game Monday against the Nuggets to rest his right ankle, which he aggravated in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Raptors. He had missed six weeks with a high sprain of the ankle before returning Friday.
† The WNBA signed a multiyear contract with Google to be the presenting partner for its playoffs, part of the technology giant’s efforts to help champion women’s sports.
MLB
Marlins pitcher banned 80 games
Marlins rookie right-hander Paul Campbell was suspended for 80 games, effective immediately, after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in violation of Major League Baseball’s drug program.
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start against the Rays as a precaution after being hit by a pitch on his right (pitching) elbow Sunday.
The Dodgers said right-hander Dustin May, one of the top young pitching prospects in the majors, will have Tommy John surgery next week and will miss the rest of the season.
The Rockies named Bill Schmidt, their vice president of scouting since 2007, their interim general manager for the rest of the season after Jeff Bridich resigned last week.