SALT LAKE CITY — Three more stories from the world of sports in today’s From Left Field.

1. ESPN falls for fake tweet

LeBron James was all over sports news Thursday, whether it was shaving his head or trading barbs with Warriors forward Draymond Green on social media.

Meanwhile, there is speculation what James will do this offseason. On ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” panelists on the show debated a tweet by the Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski that — well, er — was not sent by the real Wojnarowski.

The tweet in question reported: “LeBron will opt out of contract in 2018 to form a super team and ‘defend himself’ in LA, league sources tell @TheVertical.” It should be noted that the Twitter handle was just one letter off of Wojnarowski’s actual account.

Deadspin first reported the error and included the clip of sportswriters debating whether James would leave based on the information from the fake tweet. The show’s host, Tony Reali, took to Twitter after the show to address the error. He noted the information from the fake tweet was an exaggeration from a podcast Wojnarowski was on.

I got us @AroundtheHorn burned bad today by a fake tweet (fweet). Uggg this feels the worst. — Tony Reali (@TonyReali) June 15, 2017

2\. Texas takes aim at Gene Simmons’ attempt to trademark famous hand gesture ============================================================================

Rock fans know it as the devil horns but that hand gesture is also similar to the American sign language sign for “I love you” and in Texas, the pointing of the index and pinky fingers with a closed fist is a tradition known as “hook ‘em horns.”

Whatever the sign may be, rock legend Gene Simmons filed for trademark rights, claiming he invented it — and the Texas Longhorns are not having it.

The "Hook 'em horns" sign, which is very prevalent at Texas sporting events, was first used by the school in 1955. School president Greg Fenves quickly jumped to Twitter Thursday to shoot down Simmons’ claim.

Sorry, @genesimmons, Longhorns have been doing 🤘 since the 50s — more than 20 years before KISS got going https://t.co/a4DF8ItizF — Greg Fenves (@gregfenves) June 15, 2017

In addition, the “I love you” sign in [American sign language has been around since 1817](http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/15/entertainment/gene-simmons-i-love-you-symbol-trademark/index.html). That sign involves having the thumb closed into the fist.

There’s also documentation that the rock symbol has been used in music before the time Simmons said he invented it. Needless to say, Simmons may have a long road ahead of him to win the case.

3. Phil Mickelson drops out of U.S. Open — but for a good reason

Phil Mickelson withdrew from the U.S. Open Thursday just before the event began.

With no rain in today's forecast Phil Mickelson has officially withdrawn from the 117th U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/kDJ7wXSWg9 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 15, 2017

However, Mickelson had a pretty good reason for dropping out of the major event. He realized [there was no way he could golf and also see his daughter give the valedictorian speech at her high school graduation](http://www.espn.com/golf/usopen17/story/_/id/19641956/phil-mickelson-officially-withdraws-2017-us-open).

Golf Digest reported earlier in the week that he hadn’t withdrawn from the event because he was “holding out hope” that he could attend the graduation and also compete at the U.S. Open.

There wasn’t much debate on if Mickelson should skip the event to watch his daughter graduate — though one reporter asked Twitter if the school should have moved its graduation time to reflect the U.S. Open schedule.

Should the private school -- 90 kids graduating -- Phil Mickelson's daughter attends have moved graduation so he can play in the US Open? — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 15, 2017

It will be the first major golf event without Mickelson or Tiger Woods since 1994. However, Mickelson definitely wins Father’s Day weekend, even if that doesn’t end with him holding up the U.S. Open Championship trophy. 

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