Sports

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africans Darren Fichardt and Martin Vorster shared the lead at the Jonsson Workwear Open after opening with 8-under 64s. Fichardt raced out of the blocks at The Club at Steyn City by making birdies on his first two holes after starting on No. 10. He collected five birdies on his front

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The proposed sale of Manchester United has gathered pace after British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe said he had submitted a second bid for the iconic soccer team. American merchant bank Raine had given bidders more time to fine-tune proposals by extending Wednesday night’s deadline for the

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Doug Armstrong has been selected as Canada’s general manager for the upcoming men’s world hockey championship in Finland and Latvia. The St. Louis Blues executive was tabbed by Hockey Canada on Thursday as part of a management team that will also see Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman serve in an

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Darren Waller had just returned from his honeymoon with Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum when the Raiders traded him across the country to the New York Giants. Welcome to married life as a professional athlete. Waller’s journey to NFL stardom has been complicated. He was a wide

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders have signed free-agent cornerback Duke Shelley. Shelley played for the Chicago Bears in 2019-21 and then joined the Minnesota Vikings last season. He has 11 starts over 41 games with 84 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Shelley started five games last

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers signed free agent defensive lineman Austin Bryant to a one-year contract. Bryant adds depth for San Francisco after the team lost several defensive linemen in free agency already. Key contributors Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis and Hassan Ridgeway have all signed with other teams. Bryant

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Track and field has banned transgender athletes from international competition while adopting new regulations that could keep Caster Semenya and other athletes with differences in sex development from competing. The World Athletics council adopted the same rules as swimming did last year in deciding to bar athletes who have

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins has been carted off the field during a spring training game. Hoskins apparently hurt his left knee while fielding a grounder. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off. Hoskins turned 30 last week. Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias will open the season on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. The Braves say an MRI showed Iglesias has “low-grade” inflammation and will not throw for seven days. The right-hander was expected to move into the closer’s role after Kenley Jansen signed with

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Track and field leaders have signaled it will be nearly impossible for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in that sport at the Paris Olympics next year if the war in Ukraine continues. The World Athletics Council kept its ban on Russian athletes in international events in place “for

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — As spring sports get underway at East Palestine High School in Ohio, organizers are trying to create normalcy for student-athletes while cleanup from the February train derailment and toxic chemical burn continues just over a mile away. Environmental officials say testing shows the air

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Folks across the country watching the first-round of the NCAA Tournament last week thought it rightfully funny when they saw a couple of stadium workers scurry up a ladder and place a construction level across the rim. Turns out Iowa State players, puzzled by

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have signed linebacker and special teams contributor Dylan Cole to a one-year contract. Cole has 104 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in 61 games over six seasons with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. He played in 15 games and made eight starts last season —

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer Adam Wainwright was in line for his seventh opening day start. The veteran St. Louis Cardinals right-hander instead will begin what’s slated to be his final season on the injured list with a groin injury. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol says the 41-year-old Wainwright could miss several weeks. The pitcher

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer At least one National Hockey League team with a Russian player on its roster has decided against wearing special warmup jerseys to commemorate Pride Night because of a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys