Sports

The Browns aren’t communicating on defense. The Steelers aren’t connecting on offense. On Thursday night, the longtime rivals meet with each of them struggling early this season. Cleveland’s coming off an epic meltdown Sunday, when a collection of mistakes led to the Browns blowing a 13-point lead in the final two minutes in losing to

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The Portuguese soccer federation says veteran central defender Pepe will not play for Portugal in the Nations League because of an injury. The federation says the decision was made after doctors evaluated Pepe following his arrival at the team’s training camp this week. It did not say what his injury was.

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Munich’s beer-swilling Oktoberfest is in full swing but Germany’s most successful soccer club is in no mood to party. Bayern Munich is in crisis after four consecutive Bundesliga games without a win. Doubt, uncertainty, disbelief and anger have all been evident at the club since Bavarian

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany will be without captain Manual Neuer and midfielder Leon Goretzka against Hungary and England due to positive coronavirus tests. The German soccer federation says both Bayern Munich players were isolated after the positive results and have since left the team hotel in Gravenbruch, near Frankfurt. They will miss the Nations

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer SYDNEY (AP) — Brittney Griner’s absence is weighing on the minds of her USA Basketball teammates, who are trying to fill the void created by her absence as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup that begins Thursday in Australia. The Americans are expected to win without the 6-foot-8

PARIS (AP) — Paris Olympic organizers have appointed prize-winning French stage director Thomas Jolly to direct the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Games and the Paralympics. The 40-year-old Jolly will be tasked with bringing to life Paris’ ambitious plan to hold the opening ceremony in the French capital’s city center. Organizers hope to

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Koke Resurrección and his Atlético Madrid teammates are feeling right at home in Spain’s setup. Koke, Marcos Llorente and Álvaro Morata are used to not thinking too far ahead as Atlético coach Diego Simeone is an avid proponent of the match-by-match attitude. Spain coach Luis Enrique

BENEVENTO, Italy (AP) — Former Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has been named coach of Serie B team Benevento. It marks his first managerial job in Italy after previously working in the Middle East and China. Fabio Caserta was fired on Tuesday after Benevento won only two of its opening six matches in the second

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Haden will finish where he started. A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for seven seasons with Cleveland, Haden will sign a one-day contract with the Browns so he can retire as a member of the team that drafted him in the first round in 2007. The

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The campaign that could bring legalized sports betting to California is the most expensive ballot-initiative fight in U.S. history at about $400 million and counting, pitting wealthy Native American tribes against online gambling companies and less-affluent tribes over what’s expected to be a multibillion-dollar marketplace.

WORCESTER, England (AP) — A beleaguered top-flight English rugby club has resorted to desperate measures to fulfil a domestic cup fixture while burdened by debts totaling around $30 million. Included in Worcester Warriors’ squad for a Premiership Rugby Cup match with Gloucester was Mat Gilbert, who retired from playing at the end of last season

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer is known for his elegant style of play, for his longevity, for his 20 Grand Slam titles — and for occasional tears in his most emotional post-match moments, whether after victory or defeat. There was none of that sort of sadness Wednesday, just smiles

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Gareth Bale feels fitter and happier since joining MLS team Los Angeles FC and is hoping that helps his performances for Wales going into the World Cup. Bale chose to move to the United States to get the most out of the final years of his career for his

TOKYO (AP) — Top seed Paula Badosa, second seed Caroline Garcia and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina have been knocked out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Badosa was overwhelmed by Qinwen Zheng in straight sets. The 19-year-old rapid improver from China played fearlessly on Badosa’s serve to break her four times. Garcia was upset

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — FIFA came under pressure Wednesday from several European soccer federations who want their captains to wear an armband with a rainbow heart design during World Cup games in Qatar to campaign against discrimination. France and Germany, the last two World Cup champions, were among eight of

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer says he now is at peace with his choice to retire from professional tennis and plans to close his career with one doubles match at the Laver Cup — perhaps with longtime rival Rafael Nadal by his side. “I’m happy, because I know it’s