Month: March 2022

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United has been knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid to confirm the team’s fifth season without a trophy. The last path to a title was ended at an Old Trafford with a 1-0 loss after Renan Lodi headed in Antoine

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Coaching longevity is a rarity in college basketball’s top tier. Only 18 of the 75 coaches at schools in the Power 5 and Big East conferences have been at their current programs for at least 10 years. Ed Cooley has 11 seasons at No. 13

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen was simultaneously celebrating his daughter’s birthday and contemplating his future in the NFL when he got a phone call from Tom Brady, who was about to announce he was returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jensen was already leaning toward

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber reiterated he’s open to signing a long-term contract with the Guardians. The 2020 Cy Young winner made just 16 starts last season due a shoulder strain. The right-hander is fully recovered and looking forward to this season in Cleveland. The 26-year-old is arbitration eligible

By THERESA SMITH Associated Press GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Right-hander Hunter Greene’s rise to the Cincinnati Reds’ starting rotation appeared possible with the offseason departure of Wade Miley to the Cubs and even more opportunity has arisen with Sonny Gray’s recent trade to the Twins. Greene feels like he belongs in the big leagues, especially

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville followed its free-agent spending spree with a cost-saving move: cutting veteran linebacker and defensive captain Myles Jack. The 2016 second-round draft pick started 82 games over the last six seasons. Releasing Jack will cost the Jaguars $4.8 million in dead money in 2022

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Bryan Bulaga was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday after playing only one game last season. The offensive tackle was beset by injuries during his two years with the Chargers, including a back injury in last season’s opener at Washington which sidelined him after playing the first

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has hired Milan Bolden-Morris to be the first female graduate assistant football coach in the Big Ten. The former college basketball player, who started for Georgetown this past season, will start June 1 and work with quarterbacks. Graduate assistants usually receive a stipend and have their tuition covered by

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Legislation introduced in the California Legislature would force Major League Baseball to limit minor league contracts to four seasons and would allow those players to profit off name, image and likeness rights. State Sen. Josh Becker introduced a Minor League Baseball Players’ Bill of Rights and said Advocates for Minor Leaguers

By ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A jury has heard a gunshot-filled 911 call placed by former NBA player Lorenzen Wright on the night he was killed. The phone call was played Tuesday during a prosecutor’s opening statements in the trial of Billy Ray Turner, who is accused of conspiring with Wright’s

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a three-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic. The entry-level deal runs through the 2023-24 season and carries a salary-cap hit of a little more than $824,000. The 6-foot-6 Vlasic is from the Chicago suburbs and was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the

By ROB HARRIS and HOWARD FENDRICH AP Sports Writers Wimbledon organizers are having conversations with the British government about whether Russian tennis players should be allowed to compete at the tournament if they don’t distance themselves from President Vladimir Putin over his country’s invasion of Ukraine. British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said Tuesday in London

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Barcelona’s stadium will be renamed Spotify Camp Nou after the club announced a sponsorship deal to ease some of its financial struggles. The agreement with the streaming company includes sponsorship of the main shirt and title rights for the stadium which will have a sponsor name

By RICH DUBROFF Associated Press SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Cedric Mullins’ outstanding 2021 statistics for the Baltimore Orioles appear even more impressive after learning of the offseason surgery he had to overcome. Mullins underwent intestinal surgery in November 2020 after a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. He only shared the news with Baltimore’s front office and

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Tommy Lloyd has taken the lessons he learned in 22 years as an assistant at Gonzaga to fuel No. 2 Arizona’s accelerated ascension in his first year as a head coach. The Wildcats won 31 games this season to sweep the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament

By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge refused to directly answer a question about his vaccine status Tuesday amid a requirement in New York City that every private sector employee be inoculated against the coronavirus. Just like Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, unvaccinated players on the Yankees and

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IUPUI star Macee Williams took a few minutes to savor the final seconds of winning the Horizon League Tournament title. Then she hugged assistant coach Holly Hoopingarner. The two will finally get to to the NCAA Tournament together. It was supposed to happen when Hoopingarner led

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed defensive tackle B.J. Hill to a three-year, $30 contract. Hill was a critical player on the Bengals’ defensive line during their run to the Super Bowl last season, especially after the injury to Larry Ogunjobi. The 26-year-old Hill came to Cincinnati last August via a trade with

By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer VENICE, Fla. (AP) — Rob Manfred and major league players agree on at least one thing: the commissioner has failed in fostering their icy relationship. Manfred acknowledged as much at the end of baseball’s 99-day lockout, an admission that left players stunned, encouraged and perplexed. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin is expected to be out six months after having hip surgery. The team announced Khudobin underwent arthroscopic surgery and had the labrum repaired in his right hip. The timeframe puts Khudobin’s status in doubt for the start of training camp. It also means goalie

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets opened the second day of the NFL’s legal tampering period by addressing their shaky secondary. Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead agreed to terms on deals with the Jets on Tuesday.

MADRID (AP) — Spanish league president Javier Tebas has presented the league’s business model to Brazilian clubs looking to revamp their championship. Tebas and some of the league’s commercial partners were in Brazil to speak with representatives from the top Brazilian clubs and make a proposal to help bring new investors and boost the Brazilian

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Nico Sturm from the Minnesota Wild for Tyson Jost in a swap of centers. The 26-year-old Sturm has nine goals and eight assists in 53 games this season. He has won 51.1% of his career faceoffs compared to just 39.5% for Jost. The 24-year-old Jost

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — The NCAA Tournament begins this week with a familiar face on hand. Loyola Chicago is back in the tournament and so is the team’s beloved chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt. She is now 102. The nun and her team captured the country’s imagination with a stunning

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Younghoe Koo, who has give the Atlanta Falcons a reliable option on field goals and extra points since 2019, has signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract as an unrestricted free agent. Koo leads the NFL with 87 field goals since joining the Falcons in Week 10 of the 2019 season.

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The trio of Georgia defensive linemen projected as first-round selections in next month’s NFL draft have highlighted the talent that enabled the Bulldogs to win their first national championship since 1980. Now comes the challenge for coach Kirby Smart as spring practice opens: He will

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants have started rebuilding their offensive line, agreeing to contract terms with Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano in free agency. The Giants added a third free agent, coming to terms on a two-year deal with veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Feliciano tweeted

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The University of San Francisco has emerged as an NCAA Tournament team from the same talented mid-major conference as tournament-bound rivals No. 1 Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. The Dons are headed back to college basketball’s big stage for the first time since 1998 after a

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers has officially signed a contract extension assuring the two-time reigning MVP will remain with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers announced the extension Tuesday without releasing terms. NFL Network reported Rodgers will make over $150 million over the next three years. The 38-year-old Rodgers had announced a week

By The Associated Press The revitalized USFL, which begins play in April, will be using 32 game officials who are in the NFL Development Pipeline. Those crews all have college officiating experience and are part of the more-established league’s program that provides opportunities for college-level officials who are ready to advance to professional football. In

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer Florida State coach Sue Semrau was able to sleep a little easier this week knowing there were four additional at-large bids being doled out in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Organizers expanded the field to 68 teams with an inaugural First Four that has been a staple of the men’s

By JAY COHEN AP Baseball Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Detroit Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson are among baseball’s most intriguing rookies this summer. The switch-hitting Rutschman looks ready to lead the Orioles’ revival after 110 losses by the big league club last year.