AP National Sports

By JOHN COON Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz has introduced new coach Will Hardy, who is tasked with rebuilding a team that no longer has Rudy Gobert. Hardy is the NBA’s current youngest head coach at age 34. He was an assistant with the Boston Celtics last season. And he

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Pac-12 is pushing up negotiations for its next media rights agreements in the wake of the decision by UCLA and USC to leave for the Big Ten. The Pac-12 announced that its board of directors has authorized negotiations. The conference’s current media rights deal expires in 2024, but the Pac-12

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The war in Ukraine has added an increasing level of uncertainty for teams looking at Russia-born prospects in this week’s NHL draft. There are fresh questions regarding their availability to play in North America. There is the potential of Russia being shut out in the first round for the

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys sparked criticism on social media after announcing a marketing agreement with a coffee company that sells blends with names like “AK-47 Espresso” and “Murdered Out.” News of the partnership with the Black Rifle Coffee Company came one day after more than a half-dozen people died in a shooting

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper says he will return from his broken left thumb and play this season. Harper didn’t put a timetable on his return. Harper was injured late last month when he was hit by a 97 mph pitch from San Diego Padres left-hander

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Tiger Woods considers the British Open at St. Andrews to be a historic occasion. That might mean more than the Open celebrating a 150-year anniversary. Woods is so limited by injuries from his car crash in 2021 that he is playing only three majors this year. And he doesn’t

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Leslie Frazier expected another opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL after a three-year-plus stint in Minnesota from 2010-13. Frazier, the Buffalo Bills’ 63-year-old defensive coordinator, is still waiting for that second chance while doing his best to help young coaches advance their careers. Frazier was

SEATTLE (AP) — The chairwoman of both franchises says the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers are not currently for sale. Jody Allen’s statement came amid growing speculation about the future ownership of the teams due to stipulations in Paul Allen’s will that called for both teams to eventually be sold and the proceeds given

BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who died last December at age 33, had CTE, his family said Tuesday. Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed the four-time Pro Bowler with stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy following a brain study through the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Thomas’ family released the findings of the study.

By The Associated Press The North American agent for Philadelphia Flyers goaltending prospect Ivan Fedotov says he is at a remote military base in northern Russia. Fedotov vanished last week ahead of a planned move to the U.S. The disappearance of one of the NHL’s top prospects prompted concern for his wellbeing and worry over

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — It says a lot about Novak Djokovic that a two-sets-to-none hole at Wimbledon on a day he was hardly at his best never seemed insurmountable. Not to him. Not to anyone watching. Says a lot about his history of overcoming that sort of deficit. A

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Novak Djokovic erased a two-set deficit against 10th-seeded Jannik Sinner to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 11th time. Djokovic came back to win 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 at Centre Court. It is his 26th consecutive victory at the All England Club. Djokovic is

By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have hired longtime NHL forward Mike Grier to become the first Black general manager in NHL history. Grier fills the spot that opened when Doug Wilson stepped away for health reasons earlier this year. Grier spent three of his 14

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins are sticking with Casey DeSmith, signing the team’s No. 2 goaltender to a two-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $1.8 million. The signing gives the Penguins a dependable option behind All-Star Tristan Jarry. The 30-year-old DeSmith played in 26 games for Pittsburgh in 2021-22, going

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs promoted Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser, Ryan Hardy and Darryl Metcalf to assistant general manager and hired Curtis Sanford as a goaltending coach. Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic gold medalist with the Canadian women’s hockey team, joined the Leafs as assistant director of player development in 2018 and

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer The Los Angeles Sparks have been on roll lately, battling their way back to just below .500 after a slow start to the season. Los Angeles has won four of its past five games and a big reason why is the play of All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and free agent

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — The Coachella Valley Firebirds have hired the American Hockey League’s first female assistant coach. Jessica Campbell spent the past year working with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL development program and she was an assistant coach with Germany at the IIHF men’s world championships. Coachella Valley is set to begin

BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL star Demaryius Thomas, who died last December at age 33, had CTE, his family said Tuesday. Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy following a brain study through the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Thomas’ family released the findings of the

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — University officials say a wide receiver on the Emporia State football team died over the weekend in a cliff-diving accident. Brexten Green died Saturday at Grand Lake in Oklahoma. He came to Emporia State from Cashion High School in Cashion, Oklahoma. Emporia State President Ken Hush said Tuesday in a campus-wide