Month: April 2022

By JOE HARRIS Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — The New York Mets’ hit-by-pitch frustrations boiled over when reliever Yoan López threw a pitch near Nolan Arenado’s head, sparking a benches-clearing brawl that led to Arenado’s ejection in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 10-5 victory. Arenado reached four times and drove in three runs before the

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool looks like being one European giant too many for Villarreal. A third Champions League final in five years is in sight for the English club after a 2-0 win in the first leg of the semifinals, secured after an own-goal by Pervis Estupinan and

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Very little is certain heading into an NFL draft. Not that the prospects on hand seem to care. There’s a level of confidence that, for them, Thursday night’s first round is a sure thing. All of the 20 men on hand for a Play

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — The death of a James Madison softball star has been classified as an apparent suicide. Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson says an investigation into Lauren Bernett’s death is continuing and an official report from the medical examiner’s office is pending. JMU president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne announced the

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have picked up the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. The Titans announced they picked up the option worth $10.7 million on the 19th pick overall of the 2019 draft. Simmons is coming off his best season yet after posting a career-high 8 1/2 sacks, including three

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer The Philadelphia 76ers were up 3-0 in their series against the Toronto Raptors just a few days ago. The lead has since been sliced to 3-2. That is waking up some echoes for 76ers coach Doc Rivers. He’s the only coach in NBA history to lose three series in

ROME (AP) — A goalkeeping blunder handed Bologna a 2-1 win as Inter Milan wasted a lead and a chance to reclaim the Serie A lead in a match that was postponed from January. Defending champion Inter was left trailing city rival AC Milan by two points with four matches remaining. Reserve goalkeeper Ionut Radu

MUNICH (AP) — Eighteen-year-old Danish player Holger Rune has stunned top-seeded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the BMW Open on Wednesday. Rune broke in Zverev’s first service game in each set to take control of the match on his way to his first career win over a player ranked in the

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Melvin Gordon III is returning to the Denver Broncos, but it’s likely that he’ll serve as the second jab in the team’s 1-2 punch. Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams split carries right down the middle last season, each one getting 203 handoffs, but Gordon

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd is re-joining NJ/NY Gotham FC as a minority owner six months after retiring from the game. The National Women’s Soccer League announced the move Wednesday. The New Jersey native joins an ownership group led by Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy. Lloyd

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The St. Louis Blues are no longer the big, bruising team they were when they won the Stanley Cup in 2019. This incarnation is reliant far more on speed, skill and scoring. The Blues will try to win that way this time around starting with their first-round series against

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer Brittney Griner remains detained in Russia and it’s unclear how an unexpected prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia that freed marine veteran Trevor Reed will affect the status of the WNBA star. Griner has been detained in Russia since mid-February. The deal announced by both countries involving

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer The NCAA is looking for a new president. Mark Emmert will step down from the job no later than June 2023. Observers say the NCAA should first decide  what they want the function of the NCAA to be. The organization is making sweeping changes and handing more

by PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks fought hard just to make the playoffs. They battled to the very last second against the top-seeded team in the East. But in the end, there’s only one word to describe this season. Disappointing. Coming off a surprising run to the conference final

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper threw his support behind struggling head coach Matt Rhule on Wednesday, saying it takes patience and time to build a winning foundation in the NFL. Rhule is 10-23 in his two seasons with the Panthers. Only the Lions, Texans, Jets

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer The Washington Commanders have picked up edge rusher Montez Sweat’s fifth-year option as expected. Sweat was Washington’s second pick in the first round in 2019. Sweat has become a key part of Washington’s defensive line along with fellow pass rusher Chase Young and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron

LONDON (AP) — West Ham great Mark Noble will stick to his decision to retire at the end of the season even if the team qualifies for the Champions League for the first time. Noble has played for West Ham since 2004. He announced in March last year that this season would be his last

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year contract option on Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White, who has 15 sacks, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries over three NFL seasons. The Bucs announced the expected move on Wednesday. White signed a four-year, $29.315 million deal as the fifth overall

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — High-scoring Buffalo guard Dyaisha Fair has transferred to Syracuse. The Rochester, New York native averaged 23.1 points over the past three seasons for the Bulls of the Mid-American Conference. She finished her junior year fourth in the nation in points per game (23.4). The move reunites Fair with Syracuse coach Felisha

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has promoted Nate Schmidt from recruiting and player development coordinator to assistant coach. He takes the spot of Daniyal Robinson, who was hired as head coach at Cleveland State. Schmidt had been a graduate assistant and player development coordinator at Iowa State from 2014-17.

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — A Russian official is among the candidates for the International Skating Union’s elections in June if he is allowed to stand to retain his place as a vice president. Alexander Kakernik would be up against opponents from Canada, Finland and Japan if allowed to run. Member