U.S./World Sports category, Page 224
Ready or not: Short-handed U.S. basketball roster off to Tokyo
The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team has been together for two weeks. There have been six practices. The team played four exhibitions. A pair of roster changes have already been required and the Americans have no idea when three other players will join the team for the first time. If...
U.S. Olympic gymnastics alternate tests positive for virus
TOKYO — Kara Eaker, an alternate on the United States women’s gymnastics team, has tested positive for covid-19 in an Olympic training camp in Japan. Al Fong, the personal coach for both Eaker and fellow Olympic alternate Leanne Wong, confirmed the positive test in an email to the Associated Press...
Aric Almirola gives SHR much-needed NASCAR Cup win in New HampshireVideo
LOUDON, N.H. — With darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off a surprise victory, the first one of the year for Stewart-Haas Racing. “There is no doubt we have struggled,” Almirola said. “But guess what? We’re going playoff racing.”...
Early goal lifts U.S. over Canada in Gold Cup group stageVideo
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Shaq Moore scored 20 seconds in, and the United States beat Canada, 1-0, Sunday to win Group B at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Moore’s goal was the fastest since U.S. records began in 1990. Clint Dempsey scored 30 seconds in against Ghana in the Americans’ 2014...
Tadej Pogacar dominates field, wins 2nd straight Tour de France titleVideo
Tadej Pogacar took the yellow jersey to Paris to win his second straight Tour de France on Sunday after a grueling three-week odyssey that at times he made look like a recreational ride. Pogacar’s repeat success at cycling’s biggest event was a tale of total dominance, prompting one question: At...
NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski ready for to add ownership duties in 2022Video
LOUDON, N.H. — Admitting it was “hard to walk away” from a NASCAR career almost all spent driving for Roger Penske, Brad Keselowski is bullish on a fresh start in 2022 — as a driver and an owner. Keselowski is set to race for Roush Fenway Racing in 2022 and...
Coco Gauff to miss Olympics after testing positive for covid
U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff has tested positive for coronavirus, forcing her to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics. “I am so disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won’t be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Gauff tweeted on Sunday....
Lewis Hamilton roars back to win British Grand Prix after Max Verstappen crashVideo
SILVERSTONE, England — Lewis Hamilton roared back from a first-lap incident that sent championship leader Max Verstappen to the hospital and overcame a 10-second penalty to win the British Grand Prix and reignite his title defense on Sunday. The seven-time champion won at his home track to snap a run...
Flawless finish: Collin Morikawa wins British Open for 2nd major
SANDWICH, England — Collin Morikawa was making one of the most satisfying walks in golf, down the 18th fairway as a soon-to-be British Open champion, when he looked up at the huge grandstand surrounding the green. It was filled with spectators, who firstly were applauding and soon giving a standing...
First positive covid tests for athletes in Olympic Village
TOKYO — Two South African soccer players have become the first athletes inside the Olympic Village to test positive for covid-19, with the Tokyo Games opening Friday. Organizers confirmed the positive tests Sunday but didn’t identify the athletes other than to say they were non-Japanese. The South African Football Association...
Bucks edge Suns to take 3-2 lead in NBA Finals
PHOENIX — Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals. Took it right out of Devin Booker’s hands, actually. Holiday’s steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild Game 5 and gave the Bucks a 123-119 victory...
Popular NASCAR driver Matt DiBenedetto could be out of Cup options after losing rideVideo
LOUDON, N.H. — Always a popular driver, Matt DiBenedetto won a fan vote this season that earned him the final spot in NASCAR’s All-Star race. As for the rest of his racing career? Well, wins haven’t come at all. DiBenedetto became a fan favorite over his seven-year career as the...
Louis Oosthuizen still leads British Open after wild 3rd roundVideo
Louis Oosthuizen stood on the 11th tee with only one bogey on his card over 46 holes at Royal St. George’s and a two-shot lead Saturday afternoon in the British Open. Five holes later, he stood over a 10-foot putt that he had to make to avoid trailing for the...
Marcel Siem among group of surprise British Open contenders
Marcel Siem is raising the roof and pumping his fists, a 41-year-old German who looks to be having the time of his life at the British Open. That starts with even being at Royal St. George’s. Siem was among the very last players to earn a spot in the Open....
British Open notes: Streak continues for Harris English
Harris English has seen the peaks and valleys of golf, going from being a two-time winner to falling out of the top 300 in the world and returning to being a two-time winner this year. Through it all, he could count on four days at the majors. English had made...
Strict rules in Tokyo make this the No Fun Games for OlympiansVideo
Sydney McLaughlin turns 22 three days after the final of the 400-meter hurdles, in which she might win Olympic gold and could even lower her world record. Her big birthday plans? “Try and find a cupcake and then blow out the candles by myself,” McLaughlin said. Welcome to the no-fun...
Wonderful weather in England leads to exceptionally low scores at British OpenVideo
Despite its reputation, Royal St. George’s has a history of giving up low scores. Henry Cotton set the major championship record with a 65 in 1934 when the British Open was held on the undulating links in England. Greg Norman became the first player to win the claret jug with...
Louis Oosthuizen sets 36-hole British Open record, stellar cast behind himVideo
SANDWICH, England — Louis Oosthuizen set a 36-hole record at the British Open and is halfway to ending that run of near misses at the majors. Now all he has to do is hold off a cast of major champions on the weekend at Royal St. George’s. On a day...
Western Pa. hockey players selected in NAHL entry draft
Saxen Robertson made his mark this past hockey season for the South Kent Selects Academy 16U team in South Kent, Conn. The Cranberry native scored 21 goals and added 21 assists over 36 games, adding to an already stacked on-ice portfolio. Robertson, 17, a defenseman, hopes to continue making his...
Plenty at stake for NBC as covid Olympics opening looms
NEW YORK — If all goes well for NBC Universal over the next several weeks, Americans will be buzzing about the Olympic performances of Simone Biles, Gabby Thomas, Kevin Durant or some unexpected star. The year-delayed Tokyo Olympics officially opens with NBC’s telecast of the opening ceremony on July 23...
Kevin Love out; U.S. basketball team now to replace 2 players
Kevin Love has withdrawn from the Olympics because of a right calf injury, forcing the U.S. basketball team to replace two players on its roster. Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, confirmed the Cleveland Cavalier forward’s withdrawal Friday. It was first reported by ESPN. Love’s withdrawal comes a day after the Americans...
Marathon man Mohoric posts 2nd Tour de France stage win
LIBOURNE, France — Matej Mohoric posted a second Tour de France stage win after surging solo from a breakaway group with a darting attack on Friday. Mohoric, who rides for the Bahrain Victorious team, made his move with 16 miles left and produced a tremendous individual effort after spending the...
U.S.-Australia basketball game canceled because of protocols
LAS VEGAS — The United States’ men’s basketball exhibition game against Australia scheduled for Friday night in Las Vegas has been canceled because of health and safety protocols. USA Basketball cited “an abundance of caution” in making the decision Thursday night. The U.S. women’s game against Australia will be played...
NASCAR driver Austin Cindric takes over Roger Penske’s iconic No. 2 next seasonVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The long breakup between Roger Penske and Brad Keselowski was finalized Thursday when Austin Cindric was named driver of the flagship No. 2, replacing the driver who won Team Penske its first Cup championship. Keselowski had a prolonged contract negotiation a year ago that netted him only...
Wizards’ Bradley Beal out of Olympics for health and safety reasonsVideo
On a U.S. basketball team filled with stars, nobody scored more than Bradley Beal during the season. At the top of his NBA game, he was finally set to take on the international one. The coronavirus has wrecked his Olympic dreams. Beal will miss the Olympics after being placed into...
