Trump pardons late boxer Jack Johnson a century later
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has granted a rare posthumous pardon to boxing's first black heavyweight champion more than 100 years after what Trump said many feel was a racially motivated injustice.
Jack Johnson was convicted in 1913 by an all-white jury for violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for "immoral" purposes.
Trump was joined by boxer Lennox Lewis and actor Sylvester Stallone as he announced the decision.
Johnson is a legendary figure in boxing, who crossed over into popular culture decades ago with biographies, dramas and documentaries following the civil rights era.
He died in 1946. His great-great niece had been pressing for a posthumous pardon.
Sen. John McCain and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had also pushed Johnson's case for years.
Semi-pro basketball team holding tryouts
The Perseverance Panthers, Sumter's men's semi-pro basketball team, will be holding tryouts on Saturday and Sunday.
Those who are interested can register at www.eventbrite.com or by contacting head coach J. Allen at (803) 795-5513.
The Panthers will be entering their second season as part of the American Basketball Association. They finished with a 10-2 record in the Mid-Atlantic Division and made the playoffs.
Serena could face Sharapova in 4th round at French Open
PARIS - Serena Williams could face Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the French Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis from maternity leave.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion will open her campaign at the clay-court Grand Slam against 70th-ranked Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
Without a seeding, Williams was placed in the same quarter of the draw as Sharapova, who is unseeded too.
Williams, a three-time French Open champion, is playing in her first major since giving birth to her daughter in September. Ranked No. 453, Williams entered Roland Garros under the WTA's protected ranking rule but has not been granted a seed by organizers.
Top-ranked Simona Halep will open against Alison Riske, and defending champion Jelena Ostapenko will take on Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine.
The tournament starts on Sunday.
Na's ending 90-foot chip to lead Colonial after first again
FORT WORTH, Texas - Kevin Na chipped in from the rough more than 90 feet away for an incredible birdie to close out an 8-under 62 and take the first-round lead in the Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial on Thursday.
After Na's tee shot at the 399-yard ninth hole went into the rough to the right, his approach flew over the green and settled against a temporary grandstand. His relief was a drop into more rough, but after the chip to the green, the ball rolled over a ridge, started to curl and caught the right edge of the cup before falling to end his round.
That put him one stroke ahead of Charley Hoffman, who also was bogey-free when shooting a 63 in the morning round.
Jhonattan Vegas, Emiliano Grillo, Andrew Putnam and Beau Hossler shot 64.
From staff and wire reports