U.S./World Sports category, Page 4
LeBron James teases ‘decision’ announcement. Could retirement be next?
If LeBron James has proven one thing, aside from his basketball greatness, it’s that he’s also an elite showman. James, the 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star who is set to enter his record 23rd season in the NBA, teased an announcement on social media that will take place at noon...
The ABA tipped off its final season 50 years ago, and the league’s end marked the beginning of the game seen today
His mates on the Braddock High School basketball team didn’t seem too interested, but Billy Knight was fascinated by the newest game in town. In 1967, the Pittsburgh Pipers were one of the charter members of the American Basketball Association, and Knight, whenever he could make his way to Civic...
Spots in NASCAR playoffs Round of 8 on line as series heads for Charlotte ‘Roval’
The NASCAR Cup Series playoff Round of 12 has its elimination race Sunday at the center of it all in Charlotte, N.C. While the trip to the track will be a short one, the added pressure on about six drivers will be immense. That’s because the playoffs are headed to...
WNBA commissioner says she has to ‘do better’ amid blowback for comments
LAS VEGAS — Cathy Engelbert accepted some responsibility for WNBA players’ disapproval of the job she’s done as commissioner while denying certain remarks that Napheesa Collier alleged she said in a pointed statement earlier this week. Engelbert faced reporters ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Las...
LeBron offers nothing definitive on retirement but says he won’t wait around for next son to make NBA
LeBron James reiterated the end of his NBA career is near, and he’s not sticking around for another son to make it. This was the latest clue the Los Angeles Lakers star was willing to offer at the team’s media day Monday while discussing potential retirement and his motivations to...
Elliott wins wild finish in NASCAR Round of 12 playoff race at Kansas Speedway
Chase Elliott won for the second time Sunday, but the 2020 champion wasn’t quite sure how it happened. The Hendrick Motorsports driver roared from eighth place on a wild, two-lap shootout in overtime to win the middle race of the NASCAR Cup Series’ Round of 12 playoffs, the Hollywood Casino...
Denny Hamlin admits he ‘got too hot under the collar’ after wrecking Ty GibbsVideo
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Cooler heads have prevailed inside Joe Gibbs Racing after last week’s run-in between teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs, who Hamlin wrecked when Gibbs wouldn’t get out of his way at New Hampshire. Hamlin is in the playoffs and racing for his elusive first Cup Series...
Blaney opens 2nd round of NASCAR Cup playoffs with New Hampshire win as Penske dominates
LOUDON, N.H. — In a race in which Fords were fastest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney barely was best in class for the second-round opener of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The 2003 Cup champion led 116 laps in his No. 12 Mustang, including the final 39, but...
Blaney ready to challenge dominant Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR Cup playoffs at New Hampshire
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is back in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the first time in eight years, which means Ryan Blaney is back in his happy place. “I love the area itself, and there’s something about the northeast that I really enjoy,” Blaney said. “You get into September,...
Muhammad Ali’s unsigned draft card, a piece of Vietnam-era history, will be auctioned
Muhammad Ali’s refusal to sign his Vietnam-era military draft card upended the boxing champ’s life and added a powerful voice to the anti-war movement. Now that piece of history is coming up for sale. There’s a blank line on the card where Ali was supposed to sign in 1967 but...
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers is WNBA Rookie of the Year
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers was a runaway choice for WNBA Rookie of the Year after one of the best debut seasons in league history. Bueckers received 70 of the 72 votes from sportswriters and broadcasters in balloting announced by the league Tuesday. The other two went to Washington Mystics...
Virginia Tech moves forward with an interim football coach and reshaping of Hokies’ athletics
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech is moving forward after the firing of fourth-year football coach Brent Pry, both for the rest of the season under an interim coach and toward a larger reshaping of the Hokies’ athletics operations. Athletic director Whit Babcock spoke to reporters Tuesday without taking questions two...
Many sports fans are unhappy with how much it costs to watch their games, an AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON — For many dedicated sports fans, keeping up with their favorite teams has become a juggling act. Activate an NFL package in August, unsubscribe after the Super Bowl and before the NBA playoffs get underway, then subscribe to the NBA’s service. Grudgingly keep paying the cable bill because it’s...
Texas QB Manning says ‘I’ve got to play better’ after another ragged outing for the Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning admits he has to play better than he has so far. The Texas quarterback is playing far below what was expected when he started the season as an early Heisman Trophy favorite and leader of what was then the No. 1 team in the country....
WNBA playoffs begin with star-studded matchups and teams looking for redemption
The WNBA playoffs get underway Sunday with all four series beginning. Minnesota plays Golden State, Las Vegas takes on Seattle, Atlanta faces Indiana and Phoenix goes against New York. While the playoffs will be missing the league’s young stars as Caitlin Clark is sidelined with a groin injury and Angel...
Despite a stumble, Sha’Carri makes the 100-meter final at world championships
TOKYO — Sha’Carri Richardson squeezed into the 100-meter final at track world championships Sunday, failing to get the top-two finish she needed in her semifinal to automatically qualify but earning one of the last two wild-card spots. She stumbled between her fourth and fifth step out of the starting block...
Ricky Hatton, former world boxing champion, dies at 46
MANCHESTER, England — Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton, who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport, has died. He was 46. Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, Britain’s Press Association reported Sunday. Police said they are not treating the death...
Christopher Bell wins at Bristol, completing sweep in first round of NASCAR Cup playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Christopher Bell seized the victory on a late restart Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, completing a first-round sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for Joe Gibbs Racing. Leading the final four laps, Bell finished 0.343 seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski, who was trying to end...
Dillon, Larson feeling optimistic at Bristol with NASCAR Cup playoff eliminations looming
Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson have the same goal — reaching the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs — but divergent paths to get there at Bristol Motor Speedway. Entering Saturday night’s 500-lap cutoff race at the treacherous short track in Tennessee, Dillon is on the verge of...
Denny Hamlin advances in NASCAR playoffs at Gateway
MADISON, Ill. — Denny Hamlin won from the pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway, playing the strategy perfectly to lead the final 25 laps in his series-high fifth victory this season. With his 59th career win, Hamlin advanced to the second round of the Cup Series playoffs and joined...
Carlos Alcaraz beats rival Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open for a 6th Slam title and the No. 1 ranking
NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz reasserted his superiority over Jannik Sinner with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory Sunday in the U.S. Open final — the third Grand Slam tournament in a row where these elite, young rivals met to decide the champion — for his second trophy at Flushing...
Playoff pressure is on for Joey Logano, other NASCAR Cup Series stars
No one has been more successful in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs than Joey Logano, who has won three championships since the introduction of three-race elimination rounds in 2014. But it’s rarely been easy for the Team Penske star, who knows the pressure that many title contenders will be feeling...
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Amanda Anisimova for 2nd consecutive U.S. Open title and 4th at a major
NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka did not make many mistakes — well, until near the end — despite not sacrificing any power, and outplayed Amanda Anisimova for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the U.S. Open final Saturday, making her the first woman to win the tournament in consecutive years...
Chip Ganassi Racing’s 17th title proves to be record-breaking journeyVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chip Ganassi has only one business — he’s not a car dealer, he’s not backed by private equity money — the Fox Chapel native focuses only on racing. And in 35 years, he’s proved to be good at his chosen profession. Alex Palou closed the IndyCar season...
Alcaraz, Sinner set to meet in men’s U.S. Open final
NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz was about to start a series of TV interviews to discuss the way he used his youth, athleticism and creativity to beat the much more accomplished, but also much older, Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2, in the U.S. Open semifinals Friday. First, though, Alcaraz...
