Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL, not surprisingly in the midst of a rise in COVID-19 cases, has looked into other potential sites for next month’s Super Bowl. That’s not unusual because the league does so every year. But with Los Angeles the site for this year’s title game, and restrictions increasing for attendance at

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Case Keenum had a front-row seat to watch Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield play through injuries this season. Keenum, who made one start so Mayfield could let his left shoulder heal, said he’s never seen a tougher performance by an NFL quarterback. Keenum is starting Sunday’s season

By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic had to spend the night at the Melbourne airport as officials refused to let him enter the country for the Australian Open after an apparent visa mix-up. It led Serbia’s president to blast the “harassment” of the top-ranked tennis player. Djokovic flew in

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A top Tennessee House Republican lawmaker has apologized for losing his temper and being ejected from watching a high school basketball game after getting into a confrontation with a referee. Video footage of the game appears to show Rep. Jeremy Faison make either a feigned or failed attempt at pulling down

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ousmane Dembelé and Ferran Jutglà scored second-half goals to save Barcelona from an upset in its Copa del Rey opener against a third-tier team. The two forwards secured a 2-1 come-from-behind win at minnow Linares Deportivo to put Barcelona into the round of 16. Dani Alves

NEW YORK (AP) — The Belmont Stakes is moving to FOX Sports as part of an eight-year deal beginning in 2023. The deal between FOX and the New York Racing Association includes NYRA Bets as the title sponsor of the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown series. NYRA Bets is an advance deposit wagering

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is a meticulous creature of habit, choosing to hold meetings and practices at the same time and in the same order every week during the long NFL season. If it was up to him, the Chiefs would play their games at the same

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer A mere 37 days after they last played, Alabama faces Georgia again with a national football championship on the line. History shows how tough it is to win again in the rematch. Nick Saban knows that first-hand — from the losing side. During the 2011 season, Saban’s Crimson Tide

MIAMI — Eric Lovett made a 3-pointer with 1:02 left to give Florida International the lead en route to a 68-65 win over Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. Denver Jones registered 18 points to lead the Panthers. Marcus Garrett led the Wildcats with 16 points.

By The Associated Press Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson Barrie have been placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list. McDavid and Ryan were held out of practice Tuesday after returning positive tests. The team was awaiting the results of further testing to determine their status for the Oilers’ matchup with

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Liverpool’s match against Arsenal in the English League Cup semifinals has been postponed following a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad that has forced the club to close its training center. The first leg that was scheduled to take place at Arsenal on Thursday will now be staged at Anfield

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Bennedict Mathurin played a supporting role at Arizona as a freshman, showing off his athleticism only in flashes. Mathurin is a key cog for the eighth-ranked Wildcats this season, displaying skills that have pushed him toward the top of NBA draft boards. The 6-foot-6 guard

NEW YORK (AP) — American midfielder and defender James Sands was loaned to Glasgow Rangers from Major League Soccer champion New York City through the end of the 2023-24 Scottish Premier League season. Rangers have an option to acquire Sands at the end of the loan. Sands, a 21-year-old from Rye, New York, made his

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writers CINCINNATI (AP) — The AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals won’t play quarterback Joe Burrow this week to make sure he is healthy for the first round of the playoffs. Burrow is nursing aches and pains, including his right knee and sore pinky finger but said he could have played

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The IOC has promised Olympic teams worldwide that the Winter Games in Beijing will go ahead as planned next month. Switzerland’s team leader asked a day earlier for talks about possibly postponing the Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic. Swiss team leader Ralph Stöckli had said

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA says it cleared Brazil-born Cagliari forward João Pedro to represent Italy. João Pedro needed FIFA permission to change national eligibility after playing for Brazil at Under-17 level. He turns 30 two weeks before Italy’s next game in a World Cup qualifying playoff on March 24. The European champion is at home

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland guard Damian Lillard will miss the next three games because of a lower abdominal tendinopathy. The Trail Blazers say Lillard will undergo further evaluation and consultation concerning the injury, which has bothered him since the Tokyo Olympics. Lillard was expected to miss Wednesday night’s game against visiting Miami, as well

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. women’s national soccer team will play Iceland, New Zealand and the Czech Republic in the SheBelieves Cup tournament next month. The seventh annual event will be played Feb. 17 to Feb. 23 at venues in Carson, California, and Frisco, Texas. The defending World Cup champion U.S. is preparing for the