#suspensions

#suspensions

The NBA on Sunday suspended New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams one game for their roles in an on-court fight Saturday night that saw them both ejected. The incident occurred with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter of the Suns' 123-114 win at Smoothie King Center, when Alvarado pushed Williams out of the way while playing defense and was called for a foul. Williams then shoved Alvarado in the back.

The punishments follow official inquiries into their conduct after undercover investigations by the Guardian revealed how the two peers separately offered to make introductions to ministers for a potential commercial client. The conduct was ruled by a parliamentary watchdog to have been lobbying for personal profit behaviour that breaks the fundamental principle that peers should always act solely for the public good.

I lost my temper Sunday against Ireland. I know this is not acceptable and I am aware that this puts an end to my World Cup. I would like to apologise to Aoife Wafer and Team Ireland, my teammates and staff, FFR and all those who support us. It's not the image I want to give, nor the player I want to be. I accept the sanction. Rugby is a respect sport and this gesture has nothing to do on a rugby field.

Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez has been given a six-game suspension by the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee for spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member following Sunday's Leagues Cup final. The Sounders triumphed 3-0 over Miami before a brawl broke out following the final whistle, which saw Suárez have to be held back by teammates and coaches before spitting on a member of the opposing team's staff. Amid the melee, Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets threw a punch at Seattle's Obed Vargas while Miami defender Tomás Avilés was also involved in aggressive behavior.

Among the outcasts was The Hulk, as incredible as that may seem for undrafted rookie Sebastian Valdez, a defensive tackle who got that nickname from offensive linemen. Among the procedural shenanigans: punter Thomas Morstead got released, almost assuredly for just 24 hours so a player can slide Wednesday on to non-season-ending Injured Reserve, such as wide receiver Jacob Cowing. Almost half of the roster is devoted to the trenches. They've kept 10 offensive linemen (yes to rookie Drew Moss, no to guard Nick Zakelj).

Columbia University is suspending and expelling dozens of students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests by seizing a part of the school's main library in early May.

We aren't going to fire our way out of this. We're going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation.

James Wisniewski's career was overshadowed by his suspension incidents, despite being a talented point-producing defenseman known for his contributions on the ice.