U.S./World Sports category, Page 358
Ash Barty throws party at French Open women’s final
PARIS — Ash Barty knew she needed a break from tennis, from the pressure and expectations, from the week-in, week-out grind. So she stepped away in 2014 and tried cricket, joining a professional team at home in Australia. After almost two years away, Barty was pulled back to the tour....
NCAA clears Glenville State’s Phil Bledsoe after agent-rule mistake
The NCAA cleared Glenville State’s Phil Bledsoe for his senior season after the Division II college basketball player mistakenly used a new rule permitting only Division I players to declare for the NBA Draft and sign with an agent while maintaining college eligibility. He has been “reinstated immediately with no...
With Kawhi Leonard leading way, Raptors on cusp of 1st NBA titleVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — There was a moment, not long before the postseason started, when Toronto coach Nick Nurse learned all he really needed to know about Kawhi Leonard and what makes the man of few words tick. The conversation was about the 82-game regular season. Leonard shrugged and described those...
Franklin Regional grad Jon Stickel leaves Hamilton hockey at head of the class
Jon Stickel stuck with a steadfast in-season rule: no “heavy-lifting study sessions” after practice. If that meant the Franklin Regional graduate and hockey player at Division III Hamilton — a prestigious liberal arts college located in Clinton, N.Y. — hit the books at 7 a.m., Stickel knew what worked best...
Raptors win on road, push Warriors to 3-1 brink in NBA FinalsVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard’s hot hand is sending the Raptors home to Toronto on the cusp of a startling upset for Canada. Leonard outdueled the Splash Brothers for 36 points and 12 rebounds, and the Raptors moved within one victory of the franchise’s first championship by winning a second...
Tim Dahlberg: Equal treatment in NBA means more than just suspensionVideo
Mark Stevens will have to watch on TV when the arena he and his fellow investors are building in San Francisco opens next season with what they hope will be another championship-ring ceremony for the Golden State Warriors. The billionaire venture capitalist’s yearlong punishment for shoving Toronto’s Kyle Lowry courtside...
Mickelson going for elusive U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach, where he has 5 wins
There was the hospitality tent at Winged Foot. There was Payne and the pager at Pinehurst. There was a near-miss at Merion. To list all of Phil Mickelson’s close calls, meltdowns and shortfalls at the U.S. Open is to peer into a particularly tortured chapter of the history of one...
Belmont will cap bizarre Triple Crown
NEW YORK — There has been a buzz about thoroughbred racing since the Kentucky Derby and it just might increase when the “What if?” Triple Crown comes to an end with the Belmont Stakes. Think about it. What if Maximum Security, the first colt across the finish line, had not...
Nadal tops Federer in 3 sets to reach 12th French Open final
PARIS — Rafael Nadal made quick work of Roger Federer in their first French Open meeting since 2011, beating his rival 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Friday in strong wind to reach his 12th final at Roland Garros. Nadal has never lost a semifinal at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Never lost...
Keegan Bradley leads by 1 after 1st round of Canadian Open
ANCASTER, Ontario — Keegan Bradley had a 7-under-par 63 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the RBC Canadian Open on Thursday. “Today I was in complete control of my ball,” Bradley said. “Then when you couple that with feeling good on the greens, that’s when a 63...
Trainer Bill Mott trying to win Belmont, and without mayhem
NEW YORK — Standing outside his barn at Belmont Park and wearing a New York Yankees cap, trainer Bill Mott was finishing a conversation about Roger Maris. Mott had thought the man who broke Babe Ruth’s record was from his home state, South Dakota. Actually it was North Dakota, although...
Top college football programs discover European recruits
Jairo Faverus, a defensive back from Amsterdam, was hanging out in Alabama’s football facility for about 20 minutes before a Crimson Tide staffer let him know who, exactly, he was waiting to meet. “He was like, ‘Nick Saban wants to see you.’ Oh. Oh,” Faverus recalled his reaction, with a...
Warriors investor banned for 1 year, fined after shoving Kyle LowryVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Toronto guard Kyle Lowry wanted the Golden State Warriors executive who shoved him during an NBA Finals game ousted from the league. The NBA decided a one-year ban and $500,000 fine is enough for now. Mark Stevens, a Warriors investor and a member of the team’s executive...
Amanda Anisimova, 17, tops French Open champ Simona Halep
PARIS — Amanda Anisimova smacked one last backhand winner to complete her upset of defending champion Simona Halep in the French Open quarterfinals, flung her racket and covered her mouth with both hands. Eyes wide, Anisimova then spread her arms with palms up and said, “What?!” In a tournament filled...
Raptors overcome Curry’s big night, take 2-1 lead in NBA FinalsVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — For every amazing shot in a career night by Stephen Curry on his home court, Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Danny Green kept finding dazzling answers of their own. The Toronto Raptors decided to “let it rip,” and now they have the momentum again in these back-and-forth...
Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway reflect on ‘Run TMC’ Warriors
SAN RAMON, Calif. — Chris Mullin and Tim Hardaway spent two seasons as members of “Run TMC” at Oracle Arena, back when it was called the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The nostalgia is flooding back this week. The Golden State Warriors’ era in Oakland is ending. Only two or three...
College basketball’s 3-point line to move as part of NCAA rules changes
College basketball’s 3-point shot just got a little deeper. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved moving the 3-point line to the international basketball distance in men’s basketball, the NCAA announced Wednesday. The distance is now 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches — 16.75 inches farther than the line was for...
Tyler Gaffalione becomes horse racing’s rising star jockey
Tyler Gaffalione seems poised to add his name to the list of all-time great jockeys in horse racing that includes Ron Turcotte, Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, John Velazquez and Mike Smith. While there may not be a specific moment when people in horse racing realized those jockeys would become all-time...
First Call: Browns drama starts to emerge; bunt breaks up no-hitter
In “First Call” Wednesday, the Browns are dealing with some drama of their own. Arizona is still mad about Super Bowl XLIII. And a team broke up a no-hitter with a bunt. Browns drama The Steelers have had their share of drama in recent years while attempting to win the...
UNC football coach Mack Brown has knee replaced by former player
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina said football coach Mack Brown had his right knee replaced by one of his former players. Team spokesman Jeremy Sharpe said Tuesday that the 67-year-old coach underwent the surgery Monday that was performed by Dr. Michael Bolognesi, who played defensive back for Brown from...
Predicting college football’s HOF Class of 2020
A glance at the list of candidates eligible for selection to the College Football Hall of Fame is likely to produce the following reaction: How is that guy not in yet? Heisman Trophy winners Rashaan Salaam, Carson Palmer and Eric Crouch are still waiting. The late Jerome Brown, an anchor...
Amid NBA Finals and lawsuit, Kawhi Leonard remains unfazedVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Toronto star Kawhi Leonard has more than a few things on his mind these days. He’ll be a free agent in a few weeks and will decide where he wants to play next season. He apparently is headed to federal court to solve a disagreement with Nike....
Tacitus favored in Belmont; Preakness winner 2nd choice
NEW YORK — Tacitus was made the slight favorite over Preakness winner War of Will in a Belmont Stakes that wraps up a wacky Triple Crown. Tacitus and War of Will got the outside No. 10 and 9 post positions, respectively, on Tuesday in the draw at Citi Field, but...
Just like old times, Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal in French OpenVideo
PARIS — Roger Federer knew when he returned to the French Open that, if things went exceedingly well, he eventually would find himself face-to-face with Rafael Nadal. Here we go. Just like old times. Federer put away Stan Wawrinka after a 75-minute rain delay Tuesday, converting a break point for...
Big Ten taps Vikings’ Kevin Warren as new commissioner
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten hired Minnesota Vikings executive Kevin Warren as its new commissioner Tuesday, bringing on a former college basketball player and sports agent with a law degree from Notre Dame to replace Jim Delany and become the first black commissioner of a Power Five conference. The...
