AP National Sports

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer Growing up in a rough-and-tumble Jacksonville housing project, LeRoy Butler wore hand-me-down clothes, what he calls his “Forrest Gump” leg braces and a constant smile. His grandmother, Rosa Lee Durham, used to tell him that his gift from God was his uncanny ability to “ignore anything negative” such

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — In soccer-mad England, which sees itself as the home of the world’s game, women and girls finally have a team full of heroes who look like them. Some 7,000 singing, dancing, flag-waving fans — many of them mothers and daughters — jammed into central London’s Trafalgar Square

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer Fans who want to financially support college athletes through name, image and likeness deals can now do so with just a few clicks online. Opendorse, a company that partners with dozens of schools to help initiate, track and monitor NIL deals, has launched on a new online

COMO, Italy (AP) — Former world and European champion Cesc Fàbregas has joined Italian second-division club Como. Fàbregas has signed a two-year contract. He won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 as well as two European Championships. Como finished 13th in its first season back in Serie B last campaign and last played in

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. He didn’t know any other way but to speak his mind. It’s what made the winningest athlete in team sports one of the greatest champions of activism. His belief in equality and the stances he

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Luke Donald is Europe’s new captain for the Ryder Cup in Italy next year. The job had belonged to Henrik Stenson. But then the Swede went back on his pledge to support Europe by signing on with Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The European tour stripped Stenson of the job. It

By COURTNEY WALSH Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Champion swimmer Adam Peaty is planning a reset after the Commonwealth Games in hopes of regaining his best form for the Paris Games in 2024. The reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in the 100-meter breaststroke was devastated to miss a medal in the event

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers have reached a deal on a bill that would legalize betting on professional and collegiate sports, joining more than 30 other states including several neighbors. Monday’s compromise does not allow betting on in-state colleges and universities unless they are playing in a national tournament, including the NCAA basketball tournaments. The

By The Associated Press Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct made against him by two dozen women in Texas when he played for Houston. The harsher penalty came after the league appealed the original six-game suspension. Here are some other

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has sold part of its production hub for 100 million euros to boost its finances in a bid to use its newly signed players right away. Club president Joan Laporta says the club sold a 25% stake of Barça Studios to Socios.com, a blockchain provider in the sports and entertainment

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The story of a 5-foot-9 NFL linebacker nicknamed Field Mouse will be featured in Canton, Ohio, this weekend when the late Sam Mills is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mills played Division III college football and was not drafted. That made his

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer When two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Deshaun Watson on criminal complaints stemming from allegations of sexual assault or harassment by 24 women, it didn’t clear the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback from facing consequences from the NFL. Watson and the Cleveland Browns found out the severity

MADRID (AP) — Team Astana has reinstated Colombian rider Miguel Ángel López following an investigation into drug trafficking in Spain. López had been temporarily suspended by the Kazakhstani team after news he was being questioned in an investigation into the alleged activities of a Spanish doctor suspected of drug trafficking. The team said that “it

LONDON (AP) — Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will extend his Formula One career by joining Aston Martin next season. The 41-year-old Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel after the German announced his retirement last week. Alonso’s contract with Alpine was ending this season. Aston Martin says it signed Alonso to a multi-year deal. Alonso will

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The story of a 5-foot-9 NFL linebacker nicknamed “Field Mouse” will be featured in Canton, Ohio, this weekend when the late Sam Mills is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mills played Division III college football and was not drafted. That made his

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed a new qualifying format to cater for its expanded number of direct entries allotted for a 48-team World Cup in 2026. The governing body for soccer in Asia says a four-round qualifying system has been designed in preparation for the eight direct spots and single

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Willson Contreras received hugs and handshakes from teammates after striking out in the ninth inning in what was likely his last game with the Chicago Cubs. The three-time All-Star catcher is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and expects to be traded to a contender