Sports

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer BEIJING (AP) — International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif says he is optimistic NHL players will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. Tardif says he wants to have an agreement reached sooner than this time. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly tells The Associated Press

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The West Coast swing on the PGA Tour ends on a high note. The Genesis Invitational at Riviera has attracted every player from the top 10 in the world. That hasn’t happened at a regular PGA Tour event in 15 years. Such is the esteem

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Jordan Gainey posted 17 points and seven rebounds as South Carolina Upstate edged past Presbyterian 60-55. Winston Hill led the Blue Hose on Wednesday night with 17 points and four blocks.

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer RENTON, Wash. (AP) — New Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt is giving indications there will be a different look to Seattle’s defense when next season begins. He definitely wants a group that’s more aggressive and perhaps by using a different scheme. Hurtt was announced as Seattle’s new defensive

By CANDICE CHOI Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Russia’s “Quad Squad” of figure skaters is looking for an Olympics podium sweep by landing the thrilling quadruple jumps that remain rare in the women’s competition. But could skaters one day add a fifth rotation to jumps? Sports experts say it’s not clear how many rotations humans

By AARON MORRISON Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — There are a plethora of programs aimed at exposing Black and Hispanic children from urban communities to winter sports, such as Alpine skiing. But the skiing community’s efforts to diversify the sport aren’t fully reflected in the competition at the Beijing Winter Games. The issue is rooted

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — ESPN has reported the Dallas Cowboys paid $2.4 million to four members of the team’s cheerleading squad who accused a team vice president of watching them undress in a locker room during a 2015 event at AT&T Stadium. The network says each of the women received $399,523. It cited documents and

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have released outside linebacker Dante Fowler after he failed to provide the expected boost to the team’s long-suffering pass rush. Fowler led the Falcons with 4 1/2 sacks in 2021, giving him only 7 1/2 sacks in his two seasons with the team. The Falcons finished last

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine has been cleared medically to participate in All-Star festivities this weekend in Cleveland and return to the Chicago Bulls’ lineup after the break. Coach Billy Donovan says LaVine got the OK after having his left knee drained and a lubricant injected in Los Angeles.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Three-time Pro Bowler Bryan Cox and Kevin Wilkins have been added to the New York Giants’ coaching staff. New coach Brian Daboll announced the hires Wednesday. A three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, Cox will be the assistant defensive line coach, working with line coach Andre Patterson. Wilkins will be a defensive

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Defense attorneys have rested their case without the testimony of Eric Kay. He is the former Los Angeles Angels employee accused of providing the drugs that led to the overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019. Federal prosecutors earlier called four major

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiations aimed at ending Major League Baseball’s lockout will resume Thursday. The players’ association notified management it is ready to respond to the offer MLB made last Saturday, proposals that were received coolly by the union. Baseball’s ninth work stoppage enters its 78th day Thursday,

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer Arizona big man Christian Koloko has expanded his offensive game to go with his skills as a rim protector and rebounder. The 7-foot-1 Koloko has added some back-to-the-basket moves like a short hook shot. That gives him more scoring options than just relying on lobs, putbacks or dunks. Koloko

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh agreed to a reworked five-year contract that runs through the 2026 season, guaranteeing he will make more than $7 million each season.. The announcement of a new deal comes two weeks after Harbaugh interviewed for the coaching vacancy with the Minnesota Vikings. Harbaugh would make

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ken O’Keefe will move from Iowa quarterbacks coach to an off-the-field role with the Hawkeyes. O’Keefe was a member of Kirk Ferentz’s first staff at Iowa, serving as offensive coordinator from 1999-2011. O’Keefe left Iowa for a coaching position in the NFL and returned to Iowa City to coach quarterbacks

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer New Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman says he is relieved after hiring a new group of assistants. The 10-person staff was officially completed with the announcement of former Miami coach Al Golden as defensive coordinator.  That was a position Freeman didn’t think he would have to fill

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods is back on the PGA Tour but not the way he would prefer. He’s still not close to playing a tournament as he recovers from serious injuries to his right leg. It was a year ago in Los Angeles when he crashed his

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has hired a law firm that includes former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to defend it and its teams in Brian Flores’ race discrimination lawsuit. Lynch, the attorney general in the latter part of the Obama administration, will work with Brad Karp, chairman at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and