U.S./World Sports category, Page 264
Novak Djokovic wins 9th Australian Open, 18th Slam title
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Maybe, just maybe, the thinking went, Novak Djokovic would be just a tad more susceptible to trouble this time around at the Australian Open. After all, he tore an abdominal muscle in the third round and wasn’t sure he could continue to compete. Entering Sunday, Djokovic...
This date in sports history: Feb. 21.Video
1931 — In the first major league night game, the Chicago White Sox play the New York Giants in a 10-inning exhibition in Houston. 1952 — The Boston Celtics and the Fort Wayne Pistons tip off at midnight in a “Milkman’s Special” after an Ice Follies performance at Boston Garden....
Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018Video
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — AJ Allmendinger is back, racing for wins this time, and eager to help young Kaulig Racing reach the big show. Allmendinger will run his first Cup race since the 2018 season finale in Kaulig’s first Cup race not at a superspeedway. The team last week made...
Naomi Osaka wins Australian Open, stays perfect in Slam finals
MELBOURNE, Australia — As Naomi Osaka strode through the Champion’s Walk leading to the court for the Australian Open final — headphones on her ears, racket bag strapped to her back — she reached out her left hand to tap a panel marked with her name and the year of...
This Date in Sports History: Feb. 20
1887 — The International Association, the first minor league baseball association, is organized in Pittsburgh. 1951 — In the wake of the college point-shaving scandal, Long Island University drops basketball and all other intercollegiate sports. LIU revives basketball in 1957. 1971 — En route to a record 76-goal season, Boston’s...
Explainer: A trickier NCAA bracket in this unusual season
There’s no need to worry about geography in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Get ready for plenty of talk about the so-called “S curve” instead. And don’t worry — it’s not that complicated. With the entire tournament taking place in or near Indianapolis, there is no reason for the four geographic...
NCAA allows limited fan attendance at men’s tournament games
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA will allow a limited number of fans to attend all rounds of next month’s men’s basketball tournament in Indiana. The governing body said Friday it is permitting 25% capacity at the venues to allow for social distancing. That figure will include all participants and essential staff...
This date in sports history: Feb. 19Video
1928 — Canada wins the gold medal in hockey at the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Canada, represented by the 1926 Toronto University team, receives a bye to the final round. The Canadians then beat Sweden, 11-0, Britain, 14-0 and Switzerland, 13-0. 1955 — Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal...
Rose Lavelle’s 2nd-half goal lifts U.S. past Canada 1-0Video
ORLANDO, Fla. — Rose Lavelle scored in the 79th minute to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Canada in the SheBelieves Cup on Thursday night. The U.S. extended its winning streak to 35 matches overall and 51 on American soil. Alex Morgan’s header off a cross from Crystal...
Sam Burns starts great, finishes strong in 1st round at RivieraVideo
LOS ANGELES — Sam Burns had the ideal start at Riviera. His finish was even better. Burns opened with an 18-foot eagle putt and closed with three straight birdies Thursday in the Genesis Invitational, giving him a 7-under-par 64, the third time this season he has shot 64 in the...
Health experts believe playing 2 seasons in 1 year could take toll on FCS playersVideo
North Dakota State has played 16 football games in a season twice and no fewer than 14 every year since 2010. Now imagine the Bison playing 27 or 28 in a calendar year. It could happen, considering they have won eight of the last nine Football Championship Subdivision titles. With...
Naomi Osaka eyes 4th Slam title in Australian Open final vs. Jennifer Brady
Whether or not Naomi Osaka claims the Australian Open championship — and make no mistake, she will be expected to win — this much seems certain: Tennis has a new dominant force. Sure, it’s clearly possible that Osaka could be beaten by the 22nd-seeded American Jennifer Brady in the title...
This date in sports history: Feb. 18
1928 — At Moritz, Switzerland, Sonja Henie becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating champion. At 15 years and 315 days, easily beats Austria’s Fritzi Burger and American Beatrix Loughran. 1932 — Sonja Henie wins her sixth straight World Figure Skating title. 1944 — One day after playing in a high...
Rafael Nadal, Ash Barty upset at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-ranked Ash Barty built a big lead in the Australian Open quarterfinals before her opponent took a medical timeout and left the court. More than an hour later, it was Barty heading abruptly for the exit, upset 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday by 25th-seeded Karolina Muchova of...
Emerging tennis star from Pennsylvania advances to Australian Open women’s quarterfinalsVideo
An emerging tennis star from central Pennsylvania is just three wins away from her first Grand Slam championship. Jennifer Brady advanced to the Australian Open women’s singles quarterfinals on Monday. The 22nd-seed, who played college tennis at UCLA, earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory over No. 28 Donna Vekic of Croatia...
Former LPGA commissioner Mike Whan hired as next CEO of USGAVideo
Mike Whan spent 11 years rebuilding the LPGA Tour to be strong enough to survive a pandemic. His next job is to keep the USGA at the forefront of golf in rapidly changing times. The USGA announced Wednesday it hired Whan as its next CEO, making him the eighth top...
McDowell hopes Daytona 500 win brings more success to teamVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Michael McDowell was best known for years as the guy who barrel-rolled eight times at Texas while trying to qualify for just the second race of his NASCAR Cup Series career. He had driven through the remnants of an oil spill when his car made a...
Japan starts covid vaccinations with eye on Olympics
TOKYO — Japan launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign Wednesday, months after other major economies started giving shots and amid questions about whether the drive would reach enough people quickly enough to save a Summer Olympics already delayed by the pandemic. Despite a recent rise in infections, Japan has largely dodged...
This date in sports history: Feb. 17Video
1923 — Cy Denneny of the Ottawa Senators becomes the NHL’s career scoring leader. He scores his 143rd goal to surpass Joe Malone in a 2-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. 1924 — Johnny Weissmuller sets a world record in the 100-yard freestyle swim with a time of 52.4 seconds....
Column: Unable to ‘fail in the dark,’ Spieth seeing lightVideo
LOS ANGELES — The text messages were meant to encourage. They felt like back-handed compliments to Jordan Spieth. He had just posted his second straight 67 in the Phoenix Open, three shots off the lead, and it was cause for celebration. After all, Spieth had missed the cut six times...
Bubba Wallace 1st Black driver to lead Daytona 500 lapVideo
Bubba Wallace ran into trouble early and late in his first Daytona 500 driving for Michael Jordan. He still came out of NASCAR’s marquee race with another milestone, becoming the first Black driver to lead a lap in the Daytona 500. Wallace dipped to the low line late in the...
Covid-hit Boston College fires men’s basketball coach Jim ChristianVideo
BOSTON — Boston College is down another man. The basketball team that struggled to fill out a lineup as covid-19 protocols chipped away at the roster lost coach Jim Christian on Monday when he was fired with three weeks remaining in his seventh season. The Eagles are 3-13 with just...
Pistons holding out Blake Griffin while resolving his futureVideo
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons plan to keep Blake Griffin out of the lineup while he and the organization work out a decision on his future, a sign the star forward’s days with the team could be numbered. “After extensive conversation with Blake’s representatives, it has been determined that we...
UCF hires former Auburn coach Gus MalzahnVideo
Gus Malzahn had planned take a season off from coaching and maybe do some TV work. Then the UCF job opened up. “I truly believe that this is a program of the future in college football,” Malzahn said. “The reason I believe that is the foundation has been built.” Central...
Cavaliers to sit Andre Drummond while pursuing tradeVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers will make center Andre Drummond inactive for upcoming games as they pursue a trade for him, a person familiar with the team’s plans told the Associated Press on Monday. Drummond did not dress for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers and will continue...
