AP National Sports

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Commissioner Rob Manfred says Major League Baseball can produce games digitally in conjunction with MLB.TV if Bally Sports regional networks are no longer broadcasting them. He says this is a chance to address the game blackouts that inspire so much anger among fans. Diamond Sports

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay is counting on Dave Canales to help the Buccaneers remain relevant following Tom Brady’s retirement. The former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach was hired as Bucs offensive coordinator Thursday, replacing Byron Leftwich. The 41-year-old Canales was among 10 candidates interviewed for the position that

NEW YORK — Led by Josh Cohen’s 21 points, the St. Francis Red Flash defeated the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers 72-64 on Thursday night. The Red Flash improved to 10-16 with the win and the Terriers fell to 13-14.

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb has the 25th-ranked Trojans in position to end their nine-year NCAA Tournament drought. USC is in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2016 and one of six teams from the Pac-12 to appear in

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants re-signed wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. He was scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent next month. Hodgins was one of the Giants’ biggest surprises this season as they ended a five-year postseason drought. The 24-year-old Hodgins was claimed off waivers from Buffalo on Nov. 2

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Shares of Premier League club Manchester United rose sharply ahead of the deadline for takeover bids and reported interest from Saudi Arabia. The stock rose almost 10% in U.S. trading Thursday. Potential buyers are expected to submit initial offers Friday to merchant bank Raine Group,

By BETH HARRIS AP Racing Writer John Veitch, who trained Alydar to narrow losses in all three Triple Crown races against rival Affirmed in 1978 during a Hall of Fame career, has died, his family said Thursday. He was 77. Veitch died Tuesday of natural causes at home in Lexington, Kentucky, said Michael Veitch, his

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tim McCarver, the All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster who during 60 years in baseball won two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals and had a long run as one of the country’s most recognized, incisive and talkative television commentators, died Thursday.

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ross Chastain has signed a long-term contract extension that keeps the Melon Man driving for Trackhouse Racing. The deal announced Thursday ahead of the season-opening Daytona 500 locks down Trackhouse’s two-car lineup. The team announced a long extension a day earlier for Daniel

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill to allow universities to help set up endorsement deals for college athletes in the state. Florida was one of the first states to pass a law allowing college athletes to profit off their name, image or likeness, but it didn’t allow people affiliated

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer Corbin Burnes attended his salary arbitration case and was stung hearing the words the Milwaukee Brewers used during the proceedings to determine his 2023 salary. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner came away with hard feelings. He lost his hearing and will receive $10.01 million from the Brewers

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP National Writer After completing the latest round of coaching hires, the NFL won’t look any different on the sidelines in 2023. DeMeco Ryans was the lone Black candidate to land one of the five vacancies. That means the 32-team league will remain stuck at just three Black coaches going into a

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer The American boat in the The Ocean Race sustained cracks in both foils during the second leg of the around-the-world competition and has asked for permission to replace them. The next leg is a 12,750-nautical mile run to Itajai, Brazil. It’s the longest leg in the history of the

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Omaha assistant hockey coach Paul Jerrard has died after a battle with cancer. He was 57. A spokesperson for the college team confirmed Jerrard’s wife told the school he died Wednesday at a hospital in Omaha. Jerrard spent two seasons as an assistant with the NHL’s Calgary Flames from

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The NHL Players’ Association has hired U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh as its executive director. The union said its executive board with representatives from all 32 clubs unanimously approved Walsh’s appointment. Walsh will begin his new role in mid-March. The NHLPA had been searching for

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson had a simple message before the National League champions took the field for their first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers. It was to make sure they ramp up appropriately and don’t push it to try to impress anybody. Thomson

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jonathan Gannon has officially been introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ new coach. His introduction comes just four days after the Super Bowl, his final game as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Gannon now teams with

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer Barcelona and Manchester United served up a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Europa League knockout playoffs. It outranked anything seen in the Champions League this week. The former European champions traded leads in a back-and-forth second half of their first-leg game. Barcelona struck in the 50th minute on Marcos

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Every time Iowa’s Caitlin Clark crosses halfcourt, fans in the stands and the opposing team hold their collective breath. She just might shoot. And for a player whose range seems to have no bounds, it could be from almost anywhere. The national player of the

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Alabama’s basketball team appears likely to enjoy a brief stay at No. 1 after rising to the top of the rankings for the second time in program history. These Crimson Tide are hoping that’s where the similarities end with the only other Alabama team to top the rankings, their