ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Geaux Rocket Ride was euthanized on Wednesday, four days after getting injured during a workout leading up to the Breeders’ Cup and struggling to recover after surgery.

The colt’s owner, Pin Oak Stud, posted the news of the death on social media.

Geaux Rocket Ride was being pointed toward the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic when he got hurt. He appeared to stumble and was pulled up by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. He jumped off and held the 3-year-old colt’s right front leg until help arrived last Saturday at Santa Anita. Smith wasn’t hurt.

Geaux Rocket Ride sustained a condylar fracture. It’s a repetitive strain injury that results in a fracture to the cannon bone above the fetlock due to large loads transmitted during high-speed workouts.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella told The Associated Press via text earlier Wednesday that respected veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage was en route to California to look at Geaux Rocket Ride and make an evaluation.

“His mind and his spirit never quit, but his body never recovered from surgery,” Pin Oak Stud wrote. “He had a very rare response post-op and he wasn’t able to stand up again. He fought hard and our team of vets tried everything they could.”

Horses that can’t stand are at increased risk for complications such as pressure sores, colic and pneumonia.

Geaux Rocket Ride missed the Santa Anita Derby and this year’s Triple Crown races because of a fever and a high white cell count. A few weeks ago, the colt had a temperature that interrupted his training.

But Mandella had said the colt was recovered and back on track toward the Breeders’ Cup.

Geaux Rocket Ride won the Haskell in July, beating Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and finished second in the Pacific Classic in September. He has three wins in five career starts and earnings of $980,200.

Pin Oak Stud said it appreciated the support it received from the public.

“We made sure he knew how loved he was,” the stable wrote. “We will miss you forever, Rocket.”

The NHL had its first major management shakeup of the season on Wednesday when Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion stepped down.

Dorion was under pressure to produce this season because of a lengthy playoff drought and new ownership under Michael Andlauer. But his resignation followed the announcement that the Senators will have to forfeit a first-round pick over the team’s role in a botched trade.

The Senators also got bad news earlier this season when unsigned forward Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games for violating the league’s gambling rules.

Steve Staios, hired this season as president of hockey operations, will be interim GM while he searches for a replacement for Dorion.

CAPITALS: Nicklas Backstrom stepping away to address health

The Senators, when they dealt forward Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021, reportedly failed to inform his new team about the player’s no-trade list. The Golden Knights later tried to trade Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks, who were on the no-trade list, and the deal was invalidated.

‘Our duty of care was ignored, which set off events that embarrassed the league and pissed off two other NHL clubs,’ Andlauer said during Wednesday’s news conference.

The Senators will have to forfeit the first-rounder in 2024, 2025 or 2026, announcing their decision after the draft lottery.

Pierre Dorion’s history as Senators general manager

Dorion was promoted to general manager in 2016 and the Senators went to the conference finals in his first season in charge. But they haven’t been back to the playoffs since.

Dorion did well with first-round picks Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson. He also was aggressive in recent seasons, adding Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat, Jacob Chychrun, Vladimir Tarasenko and others.

But he had to deal DeBrincat after one season because the forward wasn’t going to re-sign. Dorion’s deal for goalie Cam Talbot before last season looked bad because traded Filip Gustavsson had a strong season in Minnesota while Talbot was hurt in Ottawa and left in free agency.

Ottawa is off to a 4-4 start this season.

Travis Kelce still isn’t over the stunning upset the Kansas City Chiefs suffered at the hands of the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos, an AFC West rival of Kansas City’s, came into Sunday with only two victories on the season. Denver had also lost its 16 previous matchups against the Chiefs.

‘That’s embarrassing, man,’ Kelce said during an episode of his ‘New Heights’ podcast that published Wednesday.

Kelce said he thought the Broncos ‘just had a lot more energy’ after he re-watched film from the loss. The Chiefs offense failed to score a touchdown and put up only nine points on a Denver defense that has struggled this season, including a Week 3 game in which the Dolphins ran up 70 points on the Broncos.

‘It felt awkward during the game, like we couldn’t get anything going,’ Kelce added. ‘You talk about that sense of urgency on the sideline; it didn’t feel like we had too much of that. And when we finally had that sense of urgency, we turned the ball over and get it ripped right out of our hearts.

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‘Our defense is playing their tail off, man, and for us to keep turning it over and keep putting them in bad positions and them saving our tail, it’s getting real one-sided. I don’t think I’ve been in a situation where we’ve stalled this much as an offense, throughout the year, definitely at this point in the season.’

The Chiefs are 6-2 and tied with the Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars for the best record in the AFC. Despite Kelce’s comments, Kansas City’s offense ranks fourth in total offense (381.5 yards per game), yards per play (5.85) and third down efficiency (47.06%), and ranks third in passing offense (276.4). The Chiefs, however, rank 12th in scoring offense, producing just 23.4 points per game.

By comparison, Kansas City led the entire NFL last season with 29.2 points per game.

Kelce, for his part, led the Chiefs in targets (nine), receptions (six) and receiving yards (58) against Denver, but he faulted himself for missing blocks, dropping passes and running the wrong route at times.

‘That was a pretty embarrassing game, at least for myself,’ Kelce said. ‘My coaches and teammates don’t deserve that out of me for sure.’

The Chiefs will play the Dolphins up next in a game that could have massive implications in the playoff picture in the conference. The game is set for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

‘We got a lot of guys who usually figure out how to get this thing going,’ Kelce continued. ‘Not putting up touchdowns week after week after week is − it’s getting old. It’s getting old to watch, Chiefs Kingdom, I know it is. It’s not like what we’ve been in the past. We’ve got the best offensive mind in the game and we’ve got the best quarterback so this is unacceptable. And we all feel that way. So don’t think that we’re in this thing and not feeling the urgency. We’ve just got to go out there and freaking do it.’

James Harden got what he wanted. Again.

Wanted out of Houston, got traded to Brooklyn. Wanted out of Brooklyn, was traded to Philadelphia. Wanted out of Philadelphia and sought a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. Got what he wanted.

On Tuesday, the 76ers traded the unhappy and problematic guard to the Clippers.

He forced his way out in one of the ugliest ways possible: he called Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a liar twice without once explaining what he believes Morey lied about. He created an untenable situation. An NBA investigation into Harden’s public statements resulted in a $100,000 fine for ‘indicating that he would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team.’ The investigation did not find that Morey violated any salary cap rule.

Morey kept quiet about Harden’s accusations, and the Harden problem is no longer his. Morey can focus on the Sixers and adding more talent around MVP center Joel Embiid.

As for Harden, this is his last chance to prove he is a valuable player worth having on a potential contender. Not even Damian Lillard, who is much better at this point of their respective careers, was traded to his preferred destination.

Harden was lucky in that regard. The only team that wanted him was the team for which he wanted to play. There’s a reason more teams weren’t interested in the 34-year-old former MVP. They don’t know if he’s worth it in the final season of a two-year, $68.6 million contract.

The Clippers are desperate, so they assumed the risk. Kawhi Leonard will be 34 when his contract expires after the 2024-25 season. Paul George will be 35 when his deal expires after the 2024-25 season, and Leonard and George have player options on their deals, but it’s hard seeing them pass up the $48.7 million they are owed next season. Russell Westbrook turns 35 on Nov. 12, and his contact is also up after 2024-25 though he, too, has a player option for next season.

The window to win a title with his aging group is closing fast, and there isn’t much left of this era of Clippers basketball.

To acquire Harden, the Clippers abandoned depth and draft assets to improve their chances of winning a title.

This is Harden’s last chance – not only to prove he still is the player who can make a team better but a player who fits in with an established hierarchy. It’s also his last chance to prove he is worth another lucrative contract.

Though Harden led the NBA in assists at 10.7 per game last season, he didn’t make the All-Star Game for the first time after 10 consecutive times and missed All-NBA for the third consecutive season. He was good enough during the regular season but too inconsistent in the playoffs. Two 40-point games against Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals were offset by 7-for-27 shooting in the two losses to finish the series after the Sixers took a 3-2 series lead.

Smart basketball minds in the Clippers front office wanted this move and owner Steve Ballmer is willing to pay an additional $29 million in luxury taxes for Harden. They believe it’s an answer to a title-less franchise, one that reached the West finals in 2021 but missed the playoffs in 2022 and lost in the first round last season.

Can Harden prove he’s still that player? He got what he wanted. Can the Clippers get what they want?

Jimmy Garoppolo is the latest member of the Las Vegas Raiders (3-5) being told to walk the plank.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce said in his introductory news conference on Wednesday that the 10-year veteran is being benched in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell, who will start the team’s Week 9 game hosting the New York Giants.

‘The guys are rallying behind him,’ interim general manager Champ Kelly added. ‘They’re excited to watch him get his opportunity.’

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Garoppolo went 10-of-21 for a season-low 126 yards and threw an interception in the Raiders’ 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday. He was sacked six times and only connected with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams once.

‘You have good days and bad days, today was a bad day,’ he said after the game. ‘No sugar-coating it. It is what it is, so just gotta play better, myself, I have to play better. There’s a bunch of little things, but that will solve a lot of problems.’

Garoppolo joined Las Vegas this spring in a move that reunited him with McDaniels, the former New England Patriots offensive coordinator. The quarterback signed a three-year contract worth $67.5 million, though it was restructured before the start of the season.

Garoppolo, 31, threw for 1,205 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in six games this season. He sat out Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion and the Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears with a back injury.

Las Vegas selected O’Connell in the fourth round out of Purdue in the 2023 NFL draft. He appeared in both games that Garoppolo missed and started against the Chargers. He went 24-of-39 for 238 yards and threw an interception in that effort. In relieving Brian Hoyer of his duties against the Bears, the rookie went 10-of-13 for 75 yards with a score and an interception.

Garoppolo was also hindered with injuries during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, who he helped guide to Super Bowl 54. He tore his ACL in 2018 and had shoulder surgery last spring. Last season after the team wasn’t able to find a trading partner, the quarterback was relegated to a backup role before taking over for Trey Lance, who suffered an ankle injury. Garoppolo then broke his foot, which led to the emergence of Brock Purdy.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Kirk Ferentz provided clarity about his future at Iowa, affirming his intention to continue coaching the Hawkeyes after the 2023 season.

“While my immediate focus is on finishing the season strong, I love coaching and my intent is to continue coaching here at the University of Iowa,’ Ferentz said in a statement provided via social media Wednesday. ‘We have built something very special here and I plan to coach until I am no longer passionate about the game, players or coaches.’

This comes after Tuesday’s meeting with the media, which stirred speculation. Ferentz, the longest-tenured coach in Division I, was asked about whether he was returning to the Hawkeyes next season. The question came in light of the recent decision by the school not to retain Kirk’s son, Brian Ferentz, as Iowa’s offensive coordinator after the 2023 season.

Upon being asked the question Tuesday, Ferentz did not give a definitive answer.

“Things are as they always are, to worry about this game and bigger scale, bigger picture for these four games,” Ferentz said Tuesday. “That’s where my focus has been this entire season. Obviously, there was more than four games a week ago, two weeks ago. That’s what I think about. Each and every year it’s been pretty consistent, just like the other things I referenced.”

But Wednesday provides more clarity. Ferentz, Iowa’s coach since 1999, also addressed his future on his radio show with Gary Dolphin.

‘The intent was to try to steer this thing back to what is important right now,’ Ferentz told Dolphin. ‘I enjoy coaching. Fortunately, I feel really good. The doctors tell me I’m OK; I hope they’re right. I hope to keep doing this for quite a while. I’ve always loved being here.’

Ferentz spoke at length on the topic.

“I like our players, I like coming into our building, I like what I do,’ Ferentz told Dolphin. ‘In a sick way, I like the highs and I like the lows. Everybody likes the highs, but the lows are tough on you. But that’s what makes the highs good, too, and that’s what I think you’re chasing. When you quit playing, your whole life you’re chasing that, and that’s why people are dumb enough to get into coaching or whatever it may be. Hopefully, you’re helping some younger people along the way, too.”

Ferentz later said: ‘Until they tell me to sit down, I’ll probably keep going.’

Dolphin responded: ‘I’ll take that as a yes you’ll be back next year?’

Ferentz said: ‘Hopefully a couple of years, yeah.’

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

Bob Knight, the winningest basketball coach in Indiana history, died on Wednesday at age 83.

‘It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family,’ the Knight Family said in a statement. ‘We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as Coach requested a private family gathering, which is being honored. We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend.’

Knight’s death was felt across the college basketball world, especially at Indiana, where a moment of silence was held in his honor ahead of the Hoosiers’ women’s basketball team’s exhibition game on Wednesday night.

BOB KNIGHT’S LEGACY? It’s complicated, but we must remember all of it

Here’s how college basketball reacted to Knight’s death:

Indiana video tribute after Bob Knight’s death

Indiana released an obituary for Knight on Wednesday.

Both Indiana men’s and women’s basketball will wear patches on their jerseys to honor Knight this season, and those are expected to be unveiled on Friday.

Steve Alford: ‘I’m a mess’

Steve Alford, who played at Indiana from 1983-1987 and was a member of the 1987 national championship team, now is a college coach.

‘I’m a mess,’ Alford told IndyStar. ‘I could not get through a call.

The man meant the world to me. I saw him about a month ago. It’s all very sad.

‘Bottom line, he made me a better man and player. He promised me that I would play with great teammates, we would have a chance to win championships, I would get my degree, and I would have a friend for life. Not only did he check those important boxes, he has done so much more for me.’

Damon Bailey: ‘There are things I do today that I learned from coach Knight’

Damon Bailey, who played at Indiana from 1990-1994 and was famous before even playing for Knight’s Hoosiers, reflected on the Hall of Fame coach.

‘I think for all the faults he may have had, or was perceived to have had, the people who were closest to him, like his players, there were very few bad things that you heard,’ Bailey said. ‘Obviously, the public and the media can think what they want; for those of us who played for coach, we may not have always agreed with him, but he taught us a lot of life lessons through basketball. There are things I do today that I learned from coach Knight.’

Mike Woodson statement after Bob Knight dies

‘It is a profoundly sad day for all of us who loved Coach Knight,’ Mike Woodson, the current IU basketball coach who played for Knight at Indiana from 1976-80, said in a statement. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Karen, his family and to all those who loved him.

‘I am so blessed that he saw something in me as a basketball player. He influenced my life in ways I could never repay. As he did with all his players, he always challenged me to get the most out of myself as a player, and more importantly, as a person.

‘His record as a basketball coach speaks for itself. He will be remembered as one of the greatest ever and his impact on the game of basketball is etched in stone. His teams were always prepared and with him on the sideline, you always believed that he put you in the best position to win.

‘I will always cherish the time we spent together after I played for him. His fierce loyalty to his former players never wavered. I am grateful that he was able to come to our practices after I came back. His presence meant so much to me, our staff and our players.’

Mike Krzyzewski: Knight ‘had a profound impact’ on me

Former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who played at Army under Knight from 1966-1969, said he was “one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball today.”

“Clearly, he was one of a kind,’ Krzyzewski said in a statement Wednesday. ‘Coach Knight recruited me, mentored me, and had a profound impact on my career and in my life. This is a tremendous loss for our sport and our family is deeply saddened by his passing.” 

Knight was the head coach of the Army Black Knights from 1965-1971. He was hired at Indiana University in 1971, where he coached until 2000. He also coached the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2001-2008. 

IU President Pam Whitten statement

“As we collectively mourn the passing of Coach Knight, we also celebrate a man who will always be an integral part of Indiana University’s rich and vibrant story. ‘With unmatched accomplishment, Coach Knight’s brilliance ensures he will forever rest among the giants of college basketball.” 

Quinn Buckner statement

Buckner is the chair of the IU Board of Trustees and played for Bob Knight at Indiana from 1972-1976.

“This is a terribly sad day for the IU Basketball family, Indiana University, the state of Indiana, and the world of sports as we say goodbye to Coach Knight. One of the things that he said to our 1976 team, which I was fortunate enough to be a part of, was that you may never see another team like this again. Well, I don’t know that we will ever see another coach like him again. I think it’s important for people to realize that. It was a special opportunity to have been coached by him, and an equally special opportunity to have him as a friend. Because as great a coach as he was, he was an infinitely better friend. He’s a big part of who we are, and we were very fortunate to have had him in our lives.” 

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson statement

“This is a tremendous loss to not only our IU Basketball Family, but the sport. His impact on the game is obvious when looking at his three NCAA and 11 Big Ten Championships and the 902 games that he won throughout a legendary 42-year head coaching career. As great as that record of success is, his impact is even more profound when looking at the enormous successes that his former players, coaches, and managers have enjoyed – both in the sport and outside of it – following their time working alongside Coach Knight and learning from him.  His influence will continue to be felt through them for generations to come. I want to extend my deepest condolences to Karen, Tim, Pat, and the entire Knight family. The world of basketball lost a great one today. There won’t be another one like him.”  

Tom Crean statement

Crean coached at Indiana from 2008-17.

Chris Beard statement on Bob Knight

Beard, now at Ole Miss, was the coach at Texas Tech from 2016-17 to 2020-21, after serving as an assistant at TTU under Pat Knight, who had replaced his father as coach of the Red Raiders.

Bob Knight coached Texas Tech from 2001-08.

George Karl statement

Karl, the longtime NBA coach, is one of only nine NBA head coaches to win 1,000 games.

It’s only appropriate that the first head coaching casualty of the 2023 NFL season occurred on Halloween – and on the premises of the franchise with the league’s most sinister mien.

Late Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced the firing of Josh McDaniels, his second HC job ending like his first with the Denver Broncos – midway through his second season. And he wasn’t alone, owner Mark Davis also sweeping out a front office that had been led by general manager Dave Ziegler.

‘After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave,’ Davis said in a statement. ‘I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best.’

The timing – after hours and following the expiration of the NFL’s annual trade deadline – was shocking. The decision? Not so much. On the field, the Raiders looked lifeless in Monday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions, a 12-point defeat that easily could have been a 32-point rout. Organizationally, the franchise – 9-16 under McDaniels – is the latest to learn that the ‘Patriot Way,’ with rare exception, can’t viably be transplanted out of New England.

Davis apparently recognized this and opted not to wait before performing a hard reset. But, enabled to get his next coaching search underway, is he in position to effectively recruit the caliber of leaders he’ll need to end a Super Bowl drought that will reach 40 years in January?

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Let’s catalog the assets and liabilities on Davis’ balance sheet as prospective HC and GM candidates assess whether they can lead a desert-based organization out of its football wilderness.

Quarterback situation

How to describe this …

Unsettled? Redeemable? Flexible?

You have to wonder what Davis really thought about Derek Carr’s unceremonious ouster late last season, particularly given he’s still demonstrably better than anyone currently on the Raiders’ depth chart. Whether he’s hurt or merely a system quarterback whose limitations were on full display Monday or both, Jimmy Garoppolo – like Carr, a second-round pick in 2014 – has regressed the position. His erstwhile backup, fellow former Patriot Brian Hoyer, last won a game in 2016 and has lost his past 13 starts. He has value as a player-coach – which is to say the 38-year-old can be a mentor and teach a playbook, but he certainly can’t execute one at this juncture.

Rounding out the group is fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell, who was stellar in preseason after a solid career at Purdue. He played decently while filling in for injured Garoppolo in Week 4, keeping the Silver and Black competitive in a 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers despite being sacked six times by former Raider Khalil Mack.

Moving forward? The Raiders (3-5) are tied for 13th place in the AFC. While only a game-and-a-half out of a wild-card spot, they’re only one win ahead of the Patriots, who own the conference’s worst record. Still, experienced as Jimmy G. is, his career-worst 78.1 passer rating and Monday’s dud performance are sending him to the bench with O’Connell set to take over. And the rookie deserves an extended look. Whether or not he’s a long-term starter – and he won’t even know for whom he’s ultimately auditioning – he’s likely the only one of these quarterbacks who could be on the roster in 2025. Garoppolo seems likely to stick around next year, assuming Davis doesn’t want to eat more than $28 million of dead salary-cap money, but would presumably revert to a backup role or serve as a bridge if the Raiders take another passer near the top of the 2024 draft.

Roster

Could be worse. Could most definitely be better.

DE Maxx Crosby and LT Kolton Miller are Pro Bowl-caliber players at crucial positions, both playing on their second contracts. All-Pro WR Davante Adams is elite … and also unhappy, seemingly for some time. He’ll be 31 in December and clearly doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild, so it seems the Raiders’ best bet is to get back to showcasing him and then dealing him in the offseason. Slot receiver Hunter Renfrow was a Pro Bowler under the previous regime but clearly was never a favorite of McDaniels. WR Jakobi Meyers, signed this year, has done a nice job thus far. RB Josh Jacobs was the NFL rushing champion in 2022 but felt unappreciated when he was franchised in the offseason. The pending free agent’s production has plummeted this year, though in-game circumstances are a huge component of that falloff.

O’Connell has had as much impact as any rookie, first-round DE Tyree Wilson and second-round TE Michael Mayer yet to make a splash. The specialists, K Daniel Carlson and P AJ Cole, are aces.

Otherwise? This is largely a collection of role players and/or imminently replaceable ones.

Salary cap

Per Over The Cap, the Raiders could have close to $75 million to spend in free agency in 2024 – assuming they roll most of this year’s $9 million surplus forward. That figure would tick up by about $2 million if Adams is traded, though offloading his subsequent base salaries would create significant flexibility in 2025 and ’26. Garoppolo probably won’t be much of a trade commodity next year, though that would also certainly help the bottom line. But the Raiders will get about $15 million back in 2025 assuming he’s gone by then.

2024 draft

Currently projected to select eighth overall next year, the Raiders would pick fairly early in each of the first five rounds. Adams cost them a first- and second-round pick in last year’s trade with the Green Bay Packers. He seems more likely to return a second-rounder (plus maybe a little extra) if dealt next year.

Outlook

The Raiders represent one of 32 NFL jobs, so certainly there will be those eager to take the wheel even if this ship is seemingly rudderless all too often. Davis tried to get the organization in lockstep by jointly hiring McDaniels and Ziegler. Obviously, that didn’t work. Next time around, Davis might be better off bringing in an experienced executive with solid personnel chops to get the roster and salary cap in order while allowing that person to either opt for an experienced coach or go with an up-and-comer who could grow with what seems likely to soon be a much younger team.

The next Super Bowl may not be right around the corner, but a “Commitment To Excellence” – and the runway that would require – could be enticing to the next leadership group.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.