NEW ORLEANS — Lawyers for retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to revive a defamation lawsuit Favre filed against a fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame member, former tight end Shannon Sharpe, amid the backdrop of a Mississippi welfare scandal that is one of the state’s largest public corruption cases.
A federal judge in Mississippi threw out the lawsuit in October, saying Sharpe used constitutionally protected speech on a sports broadcast when he criticized Favre’s connection to the welfare misspending case.
Favre’s lawyer, Amit Vora, told three 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in New Orleans that the lawsuit should be revived, arguing that Sharpe accused Favre, who has not been charged with a crime, of theft.
Sharpe said during a September 2022 broadcast of the Fox Sports show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” that Favre was “taking from the underserved,” that he “stole money from people that really needed that money” and that someone would have to be a sorry person “to steal from the lowest of the low.”
“That’s actionable defamation, because that reasonable listener is taking the word steal literally and not figuratively,” Vora said.
Sharpe’s attorney, Joseph Terry, told the judges that Sharpe’s remarks were clearly an opinion offered when he was asked about a news report on the Mississippi welfare scandal and how the reports will affect Favre’s legacy.
Former exec, Cardinals star Wilson arrested
PHOENIX — Former Carolina Panthers executive and Arizona Cardinals star safety Adrian Wilson was arrested in Arizona on June 1 on charges of assault, property damage and disorderly conduct, according to the Scottsdale Police Department.
The police department said in a statement Tuesday that all three charges are related to domestic violence and all three are misdemeanors. The statement didn’t provide details of the incident that led to the arrest.
BASEBALL
Dodgers place All-Star Tyler Glasnow on IL
PHILADELPHIA — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day injured list with back tightness, retroactive to July 6. The 30-year-old Glasnow is 8-5 with a 3.47 ERA in his first season with the Dodgers. He was acquired in a December trade with Tampa Bay and received a $136.5 million, five-year contract as part of the trade that brought him back to Southern California.
Boston’s Devers out of All-Star game
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BOSTON — Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers has been scratched from the All-Star Game with left shoulder soreness. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Devers has been dealing with an injury in his AC joint for a while. Although the 27-year-old Dominican was in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Oakland, Cora said “he’s been grinding through a few things.”
Greene, Westburg added to All-Star rosters
NEW YORK — Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene and Baltimore infielder Jordan Westburg became first-time All-Stars on Tuesday when they were picked as injury replacements. Greene was selected by Major League Baseball to fill the spot of Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, placed on the 15-day injured list because of back tightness in a move retroactive to Saturday.Westburg took the spot of Boston third baseman Rafael Devers.
Mets acquire RP Maton from Rays
NEW YORK — Seeking help for a struggling and depleted bullpen, the New York Mets acquired reliever Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for a player to be named or cash. Maton was 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA and two saves in 40 appearances for the Rays this season, pitching better recently after a rough start. He struck out 30 and walked 18 in 35 1/3 innings.
BASKETBALL
Pistons, Cunningham agree to extension
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have agreed on a five-year contract extension worth at least $224 million, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Detroit drafted Cunningham No. 1 overall in 2021, and the former Oklahoma State star has had individual success amid hard times for a three-time NBA-championship winning franchise. The 6-foot-6 guard has averaged 20 points, 6.5 assists and five rebounds in his career.
AUTO RACING
Force moved to California rehab center
John Force has left a Virginia hospital to move to a rehabilitation center closer to his home in California and the NHRA great celebrated the news by taking his daughter for ice cream on her birthday.
Brittany Force wrote on social media the stroll outside the hospital — Force appears to be in a wheelchair and has a cast on his right arm — was in celebration of her 38th birthday.
Force suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fiery, 300-mph crash at the Virginia Nationals last month. The 75-year-old was first in neurological intensive care and then moved into acute neuro care at the Virginia hospital.
