AP National Sports

By The Associated Press The NFL is launching its “Crucial Catch” initiative this month, and it is concentrating on getting screened to catch cancer early when it may be easier to treat. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on screening, with some cancer screenings declining by 90%. So the league and the American

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer The National Women’s Soccer League will not play the games scheduled for this weekend as it deals with the fallout from allegations of sexual misconduct against a former coach. North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley was fired by the team following a report in The Athletic that detailed

FOXBOROUGH, Mass (AP) — Even the historically stubborn Bill Belichick couldn’t avoid the conclusion that Tom Brady actually had something to do with building a dynasty in New England. Asked if he would have had the same success without the three-time NFL MVP, the Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, “Of course not.” That Belichick was

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Last year’s game with Mississippi held scant resemblance to the traditional Alabama win. The Crimson Tide and Ole Miss combined for 111 points, 1,370 yards and 68 first downs last season. That 63-48 win for Alabama was fun for the offenses, but a bitter memory for the defenses. It

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell has received a contract extension that ties him to the Tigers through the 2025-26 season. The university’s trustees approved the new deal on Friday. Brownell has taken Clemson to the NCAA Tournament three times in his 11 seasons, including twice in the past

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — A downhill race starting in Switzerland and ending in Italy will be added to alpine skiing’s World Cup program as soon as next year. The International Ski Federation has confirmed the plan. Men’s and women’s races beneath the iconic Matterhorn mountain near upscale Zermatt are likely

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer Call it the Kicking Kraze or the Field Goal Frenzy. Whatever you prefer, the foot is definitely a major part of pro football through three weeks. Most notably, from long range. Through those three weeks, there were 36 attempts at 50-yard or longer field goals, the most in

BERLIN (AP) — Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter have returned to the Germany squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Germany coach Hansi Flick has included the duo in his second squad for the games against Romania on Oct. 8 and North Macedonia in Skopje three days later. Ter Stegen

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ronald Koeman says that he has “eyes and ears” to catch the reports coming from inside Barcelona that his days as coach could be numbered. Spanish media has been rife with reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is close to making a coaching change after Wednesday’s 3-0 loss at Benfica. The

TUBIZE, Belgium (AP) — A healthy Kevin De Bruyne was named to Belgium’s team for the Nations League semifinal match against France next week. The Manchester City midfielder missed recent World Cup qualifiers due to injury, but Belgium coach Roberto Martinez included him on his roster. Belgium plays France in the northern Italian city of

LONDON (AP) — Fully vaccinated players will now be able to travel to World Cup qualifiers in countries on England’s red list without having to fully quarantine on their return, enabling them to directly return to action with their clubs. A bespoke quarantine exemption has been agreed between the Premier League, the government and the

BRUSSELS (AP) — Influential soccer agent Pini Zahavi has been charged in Belgium as part of an investigation into alleged wrongdoing at second-division club Royal Excelsior Mouscron. The federal prosecutor has confirmed Zahavi’s indictment following reports in the Belgian press that the 78-year-old former journalist had been charged by an investigating judge with “forgery, use

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The president of the soccer federation of men’s World Cup champion France says he is not opposed to FIFA’s push to play the tournament every two years. Noël Le Graët’s comment to French sports daily L’Equipe is a significant crack in the unity of 55-nation European

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has named two debutants in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Gibraltar as he seeks to strengthen the team’s flanks and its last line of defense. Van Gaal says he named in-form Club Brugge forward Noa Lang to his 26-man squad because he is

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A team doctor who caused 10 Thailand weightlifters including Youth Olympics athletes to test positive for anabolic steroids has been banned for life. Ning Liu gave or used a pain-relieving gel laced with steroids to lifters before or during the world championships and Buenos Aires Youth Olympics in 2018. The International

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — The first soccer game involving an Israeli team at the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany was marred by antisemitic abuse aimed at the visiting team’s fans. Union Berlin says it condemns the antisemitic attacks against Maccabi Haifa supporters during the teams’

By The Associated Press Forwards Abdiel Arroyo of Maccabi Petah Tikva, Gabriel Torres of Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, Freddy Góndola of Venezuela’s Táchira and Ismael Díaz of Tauro were among 27 players announced for Panama’s World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador, the United States and Canada. Defender Harold Cummings of Bolivia’s Always Ready and midfielders Armando

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Mongolia-born Hakuho was famous for his diligent training that led him to be the sumo grand champion — or Yokozuna — with victories in a record 45 tournaments. He achieved 1,187 wins, an all-time record in sumo. But at 36 he has retired. Hakuho had a right-knee

By The Associated Press Alajuense midfielder Johan Venegas and Herediano forward José Guillermo Ortiz were among five additions to Costa Rica’s roster for World Cup qualifiers against Honduras, El Salvador and the United States. Herediano midfielder Orlando Galo, Muncipal Grecia midfielder Youstin Salas and Columbus Crew winger Luis Díaz also were on the 26-man roster

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drake London has been the nation’s most productive receiver in the first month of the college football season, which means the Southern California star is getting hit a whole lot more than the average wideout. But there’s nothing average about London, the 6-foot-5 former Trojans