BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are offering complimentary tickets to fans in their “Bird Bath” section after the team promoted Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers as a guest splasher for Saturday's game, then changed plans.
The Bird Bath involves a splasher spraying water on fans in left-center field after big plays. In a letter addressed to Bird Bath fans, the team acknowledged that back in June, it had promoted Flowers as guest splasher for Saturday's game.
“Zay was at Oriole Park on Saturday to celebrate the joint jersey giveaway and threw out the first pitch, as promised. The decision to change the rest of his schedule for the evening was ours, made in advance, and Zay did everything we asked of him,” the team said. “Any suggestion that he let fans down is misplaced, and we regret that our failure to communicate clearly created that impression. That mistake is ours alone. We should have told ticketholders directly when our plans changed, and we didn’t. We’re sorry.”
The team said it would offer complimentary tickets to a future home game, beginning with the final homestand this year.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, poses for a photo with Baltimore Orioles pitcher Shane Baz after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch of a baseball game against Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Ravens NFL football wide receiver Zay Flowers throws a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Ravens NFL football wide receiver Zay Flowers waves to the crowd before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
LONDON (AP) — Oleksandr Usyk won't be Tyson Fury's “back-up plan” after Fury challenged Usyk to a trilogy fight because he can't nail down a long-awaited bout with Anthony Joshua.
Negotiations for a lucrative all-British fight between former heavyweight champions Fury and Joshua have dragged on without a firm date or venue, and key financial questions left open.
In a video packed with insults and expletives on Instagram late Sunday, Fury laid the blame with Joshua, branding him “weak-minded” and suggesting he lacked the courage to take the fight. “This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk,” Fury said.
But Usyk's manager Sergey Lapin said in a statement to Sky Sports News that “Usyk is not Tyson’s back-up plan. If Fury needs an opponent, he should visit the Ready to Fight platform. They can help him find a worthy opponent there.
“Oleksandr is always open to big challenges. But serious intentions are backed by a concrete offer, not statements in the press.”
Usyk (25-0) vacated his three heavyweight world titles in June and said he wanted one “last dance” fight before retirement. He beat Fury twice in 2024.
“Let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November," Fury said. "The ball is now in your court, Oleksandr. Do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling quits? Let me know because I am now looking for a new opponent.”
Fury (36-2-1) and Joshua (30-4) both won tuneup fights in July that were expected to be a prelude to their all-British bout.
See AP’s full sports coverage here
FILE - Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight against Britain's Daniel Dubois in London, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)
FILE - Anthony Joshua reacts after defeating Jake Paul in their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
FILE - Tyson Fury of England celebrates after winning against Mariusz Wach of Poland during a heavyweight charity bout at Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, file)
