Tom Brady announced on Facebook that he won’t take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The players association, however, stated that it might continue the underlying challenge over the NFL commissioner’s authority.

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Tom Brady will end the Deflategate debacle and not attempt to bring his legal case to the U.S. Supreme Court, he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

"I'm very grateful for the overwhelming support I've received from Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, coach Belichick, my coaches and teammates, the NFLPA, my agents, my loving family and most of all, our fans," Brady wrote. "It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process. I'm going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall."

Brady will now, officially, sit the first four games of the 2016–2017 NFL season. It is presumed that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will finally get his chance to start for the Pats.

On Wednesday, Brady was denied an opportunity to have his case heard in front of the full 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel from the 2nd Circuit reinstated his four-game suspension, ruling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did in fact have the authority to suspend Brady under the NFL/NFL Players Association collective bargaining agreement.

His final chance at getting the suspension vacated once and for all was to petition the Supreme Court to hear his case — which, reminder, is about labor law, not footballs, at this point.

Despite having been represented by a Gibson Dunn legal team that included high-power Supreme Court lawyer Ted Olson — who served as solicitor general for President George W. Bush — Brady on Friday announced that he will not be doing so.

In a statement, the NFLPA — also represented by the Gibson Dunn team — warned that it was not necessarily done with the underlying challenge to Goodell's authority.

"After careful consideration and discussion with Tom Brady, the NFLPA will not be seeking a stay of the four game suspension with the 2nd Circuit. This decision was made in the interest of certainty and planning for Tom prior to the New England Patriots season," the association statement read. "We will continue to review all of our options and we reserve our rights to petition for cert to the Supreme Court."

Real Madrid’s Portugal-born striker certainly is expressive, isn’t he?

You while you're watching an episode of Game of Thrones:

Dan Mullan / Getty Images

You when someone spoils an episode of Game of Thrones for you:

Miguel Medina / AFP / Getty Images

You when you have your period:

Franck Fife / AFP / Getty Images

...and you don't have a tampon or pad on you, and all the shops are closed:

Martin Bureau / AFP / Getty Images

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MLB could still decide to punish the Cardinals for the security breaches.

Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

A former St. Louis Cardinals executive was sentenced Monday to 46 months in prison for illegally logging into a proprietary database used by the Houston Astros.

Christopher Correa pled guilty to the federal charges in January.

Correa was formerly the scouting director for the St. Louis Cardinals, and according to the federal charging documents, used the login credentials of Jeff Luhnow, a scouting executive for the Cardinals who left to join the Houston Astros as General Manager in 2011.

The Astros used a database called Ground Control to house their player scouting data. Correa learned the password Luhnow used for his Cardinals credentials when Luhnow turned over his computer to him upon leaving for Houston. Luhnow used the password "Eckstein123" in St. Louis, referring to the scrappy former Cardinals infielder, David Eckstein. Luhnow continued to use a variation of that password in Houston.

Correa used that password to log into Ground Control on March 8, 2013, and began viewing and downloading Astros scouting data on players ahead of the MLB Draft. He logged in again in June 2013 to view Astros scouting data during the MLB Draft. Correa used Luhnow's password again to access Ground Control on the day of the MLB Trade Deadline, viewing the team's "notes on its trade discussions with other teams."

The Astros did a system-wide password reset of Ground Control the next year, after the Houston Chronicle wrote about the scouting database. Correa used Luhnow's password to log into his Astros email account and learn the new password for Ground Control. He then logged into Ground Control and "viewed 118 pages containing confidential information."

In court, Correa alleged the Astros had taken proprietary information from the Cardinals, but was denied a subpoena to attempt to validate those claims.

The Cardinals could face sanctions from MLB.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said recently that they will make a determination on sanctions based on what information they are able to receive from prosecutors.

"There are limits to what any private organization can do from an investigative perspective. Those limits are particularly glaring in the case of electronic breaches. You can’t subpoena those. You can’t really find out what happened. We have adopted once course that we believe is available to us – just wait to see what facts come out in the sentencing hearing and hope – and I use that word purposely – hope that after the sentencing hearing both Mr. (Chris) Correa and the U.S. Attorney is willing to share with us facts that would allow us to make a good decision.”

In a statement released following sentencing, MLB said:

"Now that the criminal process has been completed, Commissioner Manfred has asked the Department of Investigations to conduct a complete investigation of the facts in this matter, including requesting information from the appropriate law enforcement authorities. The Commissioner hopes that the investigation can be completed promptly to put him in a position to take appropriate action."

Felipe Dana / AP

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday reinstated Rio de Janeiro’s testing laboratory just in time for the Olympics in August.

The lab was suspended in June, citing “non-conformity with the International Standard for Laboratories,” but did not elaborate. The lab, however, has since successfully complied with international requirements and so the suspension has been lifted.

Stadiums stand in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro.

Felipe Dana / AP

"All parties worked diligently to resolve the identified issue so that the Laboratory could be up and running optimally for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games that start on 5 August,” Olivier Niggli, director general for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said in a statement. "Athletes can be confident that anti-doping sample analysis has been robust throughout the Laboratory’s suspension; and, that it will also be during the Games."

Had the lab not been reinstated, Rio organizers would have had to send all samples to a certified lab in another country, much like what was done for World Cup blood samples.

LINK: Rio Drug Lab Forced To Suspend Testing Weeks Before Olympics

The three-day event likely will move to New Orleans, a top NBA journalist writes

Adam Silver, left, and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, right, pose for a photo during a news conference to announce Charlotte, N.C., as the site of the 2017 NBA All-Star basketball game.

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

The NBA has pulled the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte after North Carolina lawmakers failed to repeal or repair an anti-LGBT law passed in spring.

The All-Star Weekend events, scheduled to take place February 17-19, will likely be moved to New Orleans, according to top NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo Sports.

Attention turned to the NBA and the All-Star Game shortly after North Carolina quickly passed HB2 in March. The law removes anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people in North Carolina, and has faced heavy backlash for provisions that would require transgender people to use bathrooms that coordinate with the gender they were assigned at birth.

In a statement, the NBA said:

Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change. We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.

Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.

Gov. Pat McCrory, a leading proponent of the law, issued a statement Thursday blasting the NBA and progressive organizations over the decision.

“The sports and entertainment elite, Attorney General Roy Cooper and the liberal media have for months misrepresented our laws and maligned the people of North Carolina simply because most people believe boys and girls should be able to use school bathrooms, locker rooms and showers without the opposite sex present," McCrory said.

The governor continued: "Twenty-one other states have joined North Carolina to challenge the federal overreach by the Obama administration mandating their bathroom policies in all businesses and schools instead of allowing accommodations for unique circumstances. Left-wing special interest groups have no moral authority to try and intimidate the large majority of American parents who agree in common-sense bathroom and shower privacy for our children. American families should be on notice that the selective corporate elite are imposing their political will on communities in which they do business, thus bypassing the democratic and legal process.”

In April, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league felt it would be more constructive to work with the state to modify the law than to revoke the All-Star Weekend festivities.

The NBA reportedly worked with legislators to prepare a bill intended to "walk back" the impact of HB2. The proposal that emerged would have issued certificates to transgender people allowing them to use public bathrooms, but only if they registered their "sex assignment surgery."

The "fix" was widely criticized by LGBT and human rights groups. ACLU attorney Chase Strangio blasted the proposal, saying it would create a "government repository of private medical information about transgender people."

The NBA quickly distanced itself from the bill after four LGBT advocacy groups wrote to Commissioner Silver with concerns about the proposed legislation and the league's reported involvement in its drafting.

"The NBA has been actively working behind closed doors to help hammer out another discriminatory bill that would exacerbate some of the worst provisions in the HB2 law targeting LGBTQ people,” the groups wrote to Silver.

"If the NBA wants to be a champion for LGBTQ equality, then work with us to ensure full statewide protections for LGBTQ North Carolinians. But please do not cut a deal that would sell us out.”

The pressure apparently worked, as the NBA issued a statement on the "walk back" bill saying "we do not endorse the version of the bill that we understand is currently before the legislature."

In a statement Thursday regarding the decision to pull the All-Star Game from North Carolina, the league said:

We are particularly mindful of the impact of this decision on our fans in North Carolina, who are among the most passionate in our league. It is also important to stress that the City of Charlotte and the Hornets organization have sought to provide an inclusive environment and that the Hornets will continue to ensure that all patrons – including members of the LGBT community – feel welcome while attending games and events in their arena.

We look forward to re-starting plans for our All-Star festivities in Charlotte for 2019 provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter.

Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets said:

We understand the NBA's decision and the challenges around holding the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte this season. There was an exhaustive effort from all parties to keep the event in Charlotte, and we are disappointed we were unable to do so. With that said, we are pleased that the NBA opened the door for CHarlotte to host All-Star Weekend again as soon as an opportunity was available in 2019. We want to thank the City of Charlotte and the business commmunity for their backing throughout this entire process, starting with the initial bid. We are confident that they will be just as supportive and enthusiastic for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

LGBT advocacy organization Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said "the NBA and Commissioner Silver sent a clear message that they won’t stand for discrimination against LGBTQ employees, players or fans" with the decision to pull the All-Star Game from North Carolina.

The NBA repeatedly warned state lawmakers that their hateful HB2 law created an inhospitable environment for their 2017 All-Star Game and other events. Nevertheless, Governor McCrory, Senator Berger and Speaker Moore doubled down on HB2 and refused to undo their discriminatory and costly error in judgment. Every day that HB2 remains on the books, people across North Carolina are at risk of real harm. We appreciate the leadership of the NBA in standing up for equality and call once again on lawmakers to repeal this vile HB2 law.

Former NBA players Jason Collins, who was the first active out gay player in the four major men's leagues said: "As a member of the NBA family and as a gay man, I'm extremely proud to see the NBA take initiative and move the All Star Game from North Carolina. Their decision is an extremely poignant one and shows that discrimination of any kind is not welcome in sports and is not acceptable in any part of our society. The NBA has set the best kind of example and precedent moving forward for all to follow."

ESPN, which broadcasts NBA games, but not the All-Star Games, said:

"ESPN has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusion. The NBA's decision is one which we fully support, emphatically illustrating that the league clearly stands for inclusion as well."

The NBPA has not issued a statement.

The NBA All-Star Weekend was expected to have an "economic impact" of about $100 million, according to an estimate given to the Charlotte Observer by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

LINK: North Carolina Bill Wouldn’t Actually “Walk Back” Anti-LGBT Law, Advocates Say

LINK: NBA “Does Not Endorse” Current Proposal To Amend North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Law

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Minnesota goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock looks like he attempted to throw the ball back into play after making a save near the edge of the 18-yard box, but the ball slipped from his hand and bounced into the goal. Minnesota lost 4-0 to visiting team AFC Bournemouth at the July 20 game.

Minnesota United FC / Via youtube.com

Basically, this is a goalkeeper’s worst nightmare.

Minnesota United / Via youtube.com

A spokesperson for Minnesota United told BuzzFeed News that Ndjock has turned down several interviews because “the video is enough.”

He said Ndjock “knows everyone makes mistakes and wants this to serve as a lesson to anyone out there who has made a mistake, big or small, that it's ok to laugh at yourself.”

The girlfriend of the former Ohio State star posted photos of bruises on Instagram Friday.

Jon Durr / Getty Images

Former Ohio State star and incoming NFL rookie Ezekiel Elliott has been accused of assaulting a woman in Ohio.

On Friday morning, Elliott's girlfriend Tiffany Thompson posted photos on Instagram of bruising and lacerations, alluding to the fact that she has been a victim of domestic violence for months. Thompson tagged Elliott's handle in a second set of photos.

Instagram: @tifffmariee_

Instagram: @tifffmariee_

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The notoriously apolitical NBA legend tells ESPN site The Undefeated he is “saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions.”

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Michael Jordan, known for his career-long record of being apolitical — nearly to the point of avoidance — released a statement Monday on police violence against African-Americans and violence against police.

Jordan's statement was released on ESPN's The Undefeated.

"As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers," Jordan said. "I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well."

Jordan's statement presents a neutral political stance, but is still a significant deviation from his past statements, or lack thereof, on on civil rights issues.

I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late. I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported.

Over the past three decades I have seen up close the dedication of the law enforcement officers who protect me and my family. I have the greatest respect for their sacrifice and service. I also recognize that for many people of color their experiences with law enforcement have been different than mine. I have decided to speak out in the hope that we can come together as Americans, and through peaceful dialogue and education, achieve constructive change.

Jordan says he's "making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund."

In recent weeks, following the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the shootings of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, basketball players on and off the court have come forward to discuss the issue.

The 2016 ESPY Awards opened with four of the NBA's biggest names — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade — speaking about police violence and the moral imperative for athletes to speak out on the issue.

Carmelo Anthony is hosting a forum in Los Angeles Monday to discuss racial disparities in policing and police violence.

WNBA players began wearing "Black Lives Matter" shirts during pregames, in violation of league uniform policies, and were initially fined by the league for the protest. Players took the opportunity to continue speaking on police violence, and the WNBA decided to rescind the fines for the protest.

LINK: NBA Players Delivered A Powerful Message About Gun Violence And Racial Justice

US runner Kendra Harrison finished first in her race and then learned that she had broken a 28-year-old record and it was perfect.

US runner Kendra "Keni" Harrison, 23, came in first place in the 100-meter hurdles at the IAAF Diamond League track and field meet in London on July 22.

Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images

And not only did she win the race, she did it in 12.20 seconds, breaking THE 28-YEAR-OLD WORLD RECORD.

John Sibley / Reuters

The previous world record of 12.21s was set by Bulgarian Yordanko Donkova on Aug, 20, 1988.

LOOK AT HER FACE WHEN SHE SEES HER TIME. Pretty much says it all.

Via youtube.com

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Get at least 10 out of 12 to earn the gold medal in mascot identification. (It’s a new event.)

The Opening Ceremony begins Friday, August 5th, at 730/630C on NBC. Click here for more Olympics content!

Mollie Shafer-Schweig / Via BuzzFeed

Gotta name ‘em all.

Can you remember everyone on the 1992 Olympic Men's Basketball team?

Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images

The Opening Ceremony begins Friday, August 5th, at 730/630C on NBC. Click here for more Olympics content!

Mollie Shafer-Schweig / Via BuzzFeed

Giving so much face.

OOOH GIRL, IT'S ON.

Steve Russell / TORONTO STAR

STACY LISTEN TO ME.

youtube.com

HELLLP ME!

youtube.com

DRAMA!

youtube.com

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Or has your knowledge deflated?

Would you medal in trivia or nah?

The Opening Ceremony begins Friday, August 5th, at 730/630C on NBC. Click here for more Olympics content!

Mollie Shafer-Schweig / Via BuzzFeed

Guys, remember when McKayla wasn’t impressed???

Queen Elizabeth "parachuting" into the opening ceremony with James Bond.

People loved the bizarre and thoroughly British opening ceremony, but watching QEII become a Bond girl made everyone LOL.

MURAD SEZER / Reuters

The U.S. women's gymnastics team.

AKA the Fab 5, AKA Mean Girls IRL, AKA the first U.S. women's gymnastics to win a team gold since 1996. Luckily, two members of the team, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas, are going to Rio for the chance for another Olympic win, so the obsession will definitely continue.

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

McKayla Maroney's flawless vault.

Like, holy shit. IT MADE A JUDGE'S JAW DROP. Pretty much everyone became infatuated with her after that, and those who didn't were eventually won over by...

NBC

Her "not impressed" face.

Ok, so she couldn't replicate her perfect vault in the individual event (and actually fell on her second try), which got her a STILL RESPECTABLE silver medal. But since Olympic gymnasts are programmed from birth to achieve perfection, she was a little disappointed, ok?, and unleashed a dissatisfied smirk during the medal ceremony that launched a zillion memes and even a presidential interpretation.

BRIAN SNYDER / Reuters

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From tennis to track to bobsled, black women Olympians have been breaking records–and barriers.

At this year's summer Olympics in Rio, Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas are poised to serve up some serious competition in gymnastics. Lia Neal and Simone Manuel are making history as the first black women duo on the Olympic swim team. Venus and Serena need no introduction (or last name).

They are shining stars in a world that doesn't often shout out black women's achievements. But we been here, showing up and showing out.

Here's just a handful of the black American women who have competed at the Olympics throughout history, kicking ass and taking names the whole time.

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

Alice Coachman

Pictured here on the winner's section of the Olympic podium at Wembley Stadium in the United Kingdom, Alice Coachman was the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. On August 7, 1948, the track and field athlete earned the gold for winning the women's high jump.

/ AP

Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph, once referred to as the "Fastest Woman In The World," became the first woman to win three track and field gold medals in one Olympics. During the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, she won gold medals for the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints–and brought the US a gold for the 4×100-meter relay.

AP

Willye White

Willye White was the first-ever 5-time US track Olympian. She competed in every single Olympics between 1956 and 1972, winning a silver medal for the long-jump in 1956 and another silver in 1964 for the 4×100-meter relay.

AP

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Yuge.

David Lee is 6'8" and plays indoor volleyball for Team USA.

He's tall.

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Simone Biles is 4'8" and is about to destroy everyone in gymnastics for Team USA.

She's short.

Harry How / Getty Images

Here's what happened when they stood next to each other:

That's yuge.

Twitter: @Simone_Biles

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The thrill of victory, the agony of da feet.

All images courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

The Opening Ceremony begins Friday, Aug. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 CT on NBC. Click here for more Olympics content!

Mollie Shafer-Schweig

Dude!

Surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sports climbing — as well as men's baseball and women's softball — will be added to the 2020 games.

Currently, there are 28 Olympic sports. The addition of the five is the "most comprehensive evolution of the Olympic programme in modern history," an IOC statement said.

Shizuo Kambayashi / AP

The addition is expected to bring 474 new athletes to the games, with the IOC saying the mix of traditional and "youth-focused" sports are already popular in Japan.

Robert F. Bukaty / AP

In an IOC report, officials noted that baseball is Japan's No. 1 spectator sport, and the 2020 games can take advantage of existing world-class stadiums.

Toru Takahashi / AP

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Not mile repeats! ANYTHING BUT MILE REPEATS!

For some reason, it's impossible to keep track of your uniform:

Twitter: @thenontracklete

And this happens every. single. time.

quickmeme.com

There will never not be a rivalry between distance and sprinters:

Twitter: @pitman_track

Even though everyone has to deal with these:

crazyirishpenguin.tumblr.com

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