The U.S. Open at Chambers Bay is "set up for a spectacular, riveting finish" this afternoon, with four players tied for the lead. Despite criticism of the course from players and the media, the golf community can "assess the pros and cons of this unique site in due time" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/21). The tourney "could be remembered as a bold experiment with links golf that culminated in a thrilling finish," or it "could be remembered as a bad idea that frustrated players, alienated fans and felt like a poor imitation of a British Open" (N.Y. POST, 6/21).

Golfer Henrik Stenson on Friday "referred to the greens as looking like broccoli." Rory McIlroy after yesterday's round said, "I don't think they're as green as broccoli. I think they're more like cauliflower" (ESPN.com, 6/19). Golfer Sergio Garcia said of playing at Chambers Bay, "To me, it’s like playing the NBA finals on a court with holes, slopes and no backboard" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/21). USGA Exec Dir Mike Davis yesterday said, “It wouldn't be a U.S. Open if there weren't a little muttering” (“2015 U.S. Open Golf Championship,” Fox, 6/20).

Fox is taking heat on Twitter from many in the media for its U.S. Open coverage this week, the net's first tourney in a 12-year deal to carry the event. The Washington Post's Sally Jenkins tweeted, "Corey Pavin and Greg Norman are dueling for blandest and most uninsightful commentators." Golfer Billy Horschel: "The Fox coverage of the @usopengolf has gone back 5 to 10 years. Only showing 3 or 4 groups. Disappointing as a golf fan!" The N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir: "Fox first reports that Jason Day has sprained ankle, then that he had dizzy spell. Why not wait for medical report?" Autoweek Media Group Associate Publisher Dutch Mandel: "Can @FOXSports coverage of @usopengolf be any more uncomfortable? Are #JoeBuck #GregNorman rocking 1970 headsets?"

Syracuse Univ. on Friday named Boise State Univ. AD Mark Coyle to the same position, succeeding Daryl Gross. Coyle will take over an athletic department "in significant flux, with questions about the future of the Carrier Dome, the state of the football program and sanctions from an NCAA investigation chief among the list of concerns." Coyle, who has experience at a "number of power-five schools in different administrative positions," has "previously worked at Kentucky, Minnesota, Florida State and Miami and boasts significant multimedia rights experience" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 6/20).

Hundreds of thousands of "jubilant, joyous, jumping-up-and-down Warriors fans" attended Friday's NBA Championship victory parade in Oakland (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/20). City officials "estimated at least 500,000 fans packed the streets when the parade started" at about 10:00am PT. The mayors of S.F., San Jose and Oakland were all "in the parade showing support for the team at a time when Oakland officials are fighting to keep" the Warriors from relocating to S.F. (AP, 6/19).

U.S. women's national soccer team G Hope Solo in an interview with People magazine released this weekend speaks about her domestic-violence trial, saying, "It's been painful. I almost lost my career. It's been traumatic and embarrassing." Solo, who gave the magazine "exclusive access at her home," has not "spoken to reporters in Canada at any of the squad's media availability sessions or following matches." Solo: "I wish my name was cleared. But people still believe I hit a child. ... It's been awful. But I am at peace" (USATODAY.com, 6/20).

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Friday said that the A’s need for a new ballpark "remains a top priority" for the league. He added that the "best-case scenario is for the A’s to stay" in Oakland. Manfred said he is "firmly committed" to the idea that the A’s can be a "well-supported, successful franchise here in Oakland" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/20).

A proposal to build a soccer stadium near downtown Minneapolis "got its first formal -- though somewhat neutral -- boost from the Minneapolis City Council on Friday," with a 12-1 vote to "create a working group examining infrastructure needs, development sites and tax implications" of the proposed venue. The vote "appeared to be an indication that the wheels were still turning after the Legislature adjourned this spring without taking action on a subsidy package." MLS has given NASL club Minnesota United FC "until July 1 to develop a firm plan for building a stadium" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 6/19).

Florida State and Alabama "have agreed to open" the '17 college football season in Atlanta. FSU AD Stan Wilcox said that the game is "set and although a contract has not been signed an agreement was in place." The game is "expected to be played" in the Falcons' new stadium, set to open that fall. The schools will receive between $4-5M for the game, and the contracts will "be signed soon at which time an official announcement will be made" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 6/19).

NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson "donated $100,000 to the families of the nine victims killed in Wednesday night’s Charleston shooting, and to the church where the shootings occurred." He sent $10,000 "to each family of the victims for funeral costs and another $10,000 to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as a memorial honoring the victims." South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers yesterday "tweeted a picture of the letter addressed to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/21).

Jerry Richardson and the Carolina Panthers donated $100k to the victims families. People are so gracious. Warms my ♥️ pic.twitter.com/TMs4mTezvx

— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) June 20, 2015

HBO's "Ballers" debuts tonight, and a N.Y. Times review wrote the show "makes for unrewarding, predictable drama" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20).

Former MLBers Willie Randolph and Mel Stottlemyre yesterday were "honored with a plaque in the Yankees' famed Monument Park" (MLB.com, 6/20).

The Univ. of Maryland's athletic council said that it "is going forward with the plan to sell alcohol at its sporting events despite criticism from two public health professors because it found research that did not agree with them" (Baltimore SUN, 6/21).

Last night's Shawn Porter-Adrien Broner Premier Boxing Champions card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was held before a "pro-Porter crowd of 8,138" (ESPN.com, 6/20).

Last night's Andre Ward-Paul Smith bout at Oracle Arena drew a "crowd of 9,016," which included Stephen Curry, Colin Kaepernick and Marshawn Lynch (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/21).

Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky yesterday at the U.S. Open "was following Dustin Johnson as he teed off for the third round at Chambers Bay." Johnson is engaged to Gretzky’s daughter, Paulina (AP, 6/20).

Sounders F Clint Dempsey on Friday "was suspended for three games and fined" by MLS, for what disciplinary officials determined was "abuse of a referee" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20).

The White Sox during today's game at U.S. Cellular Field against the Rangers "will have" the Stanley Cup on display (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/20). Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are reportedly giving Chicago-area bars and restaurants "little notice" before showing up with the Stanley Cup (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/21).

The Rolling Stones last night performed at Heinz Field, where "up to 56,000 people were estimated" to be in attendance (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/21). Meanwhile, country singers Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean played Lambeau Field in front of an estimated 50,000 fans (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/21).

"It’s pathetic. It’s so bad, but that’s my job. ... I’ll celebrate. It just won’t be in the near term" – Warriors GM Bob Myers, on awaking in a cold sweat last Thursday because he was so worried about this week's NBA Draft, despite just winning the NBA Finals (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/19).

"Have I missed a story where the U.S. Open people reduced the ticket prices by 28 percent since there are five holes in which fans can see nothing?" – The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan, on the issues some fans have encountered at Chambers Bay (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 6/21).

The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS' John Morrison penned an obituary for Comcast Founder and former President Ralph Roberts, who died Thursday night at the age of 95. In addition to Roberts' "obvious business acumen," he was a "great listener who always had time to talk and offer advice and help." Roberts "made the final decisions and sometimes overrode his more cautious colleagues in making a deal."

The PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW's Bob Cohn writes an "energized debate over legalizing sports betting" in the U.S. is taking place, and experts "believe it could become reality in as soon as five years." The NBA and MLB "might be coming around, but the NFL, NHL and NCAA remain against it." Also, the TRIBUNE-REVIEW's Jerry DiPaola writes under the header, "Federal Court Ruling On New Jersey Statute Will Help Define Sports Gambling Fight."

Elsewhere:

• City Council member pens column in favor of Coyotes moving to Phoenix.
• Golf's smartphone etiquette "is complicated," as technology "clashes" with tradition.
• Hacking incident is just the "latest twist" in the long Astros-Cardinals history.
• Steroids still "trump all baseball scandals," including the Cards' alleged hacking.

Blazing dock fire near the course not NECESSARILY a metaphor for this course and this Open. But you can interpret it that way if you want.

— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) June 20, 2015

134k people at Electric Daisy Carnival (@LVMotorSpeedway) last nt. 90k at @MonsterMile for Firefly. Tracks making smart use of facilities.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 21, 2015

#PrayersforCharleston - some things are just bigger than football...@Panthers - thank you Mr. Richardson.. pic.twitter.com/sHxZGYjH4R

— Colin Cole (@ColinCole91) June 20, 2015

Happy Father's Day to all the dads incl the one who yes ago taught me to keep score for his slow pitch softball team, jumpstarting a career

— Dana O'Neil (@ESPNDanaOneil) June 21, 2015

Here's a peek inside the brand new K Street Boxes, one of the latest installments at #Nats Park: pic.twitter.com/FvH5zqoZnu

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 20, 2015