Sports

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi auditor says retired NFL player Brett Favre has repaid the welfare money he accepted for scheduled speeches where he didn’t show up. Auditor Shad White says Favre paid $600,000 this week. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback still owes $228,000 in interest. White

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Draws by Real Madrid and Sevilla have left four teams tied for the lead in the Spanish league and another Barcelona loss left coach Ronald Koeman out of a job. The Catalan club fired Koeman shortly after the team’s 1-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano. The defeat

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers have made improvement in many areas during Brandon Staley’s first season as coach, but special teams continues to be one department that generates major concerns. Staley is hoping a new returner and kicker help turn things around. The Chargers signed

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks don’t have much to like right now between a three-game losing streak and sitting in last place in the NFC West. But the Seahawks may have turned a corner defensively. The team has held two straight opponents under 350 total yards heading

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Patrick Peterson has been a steadying influence on Minnesota’s revamped secondary this season. The eight-time Pro Bowler has provided wise leadership and sound pass coverage. The Vikings are about to find out how much of an impact Peterson has had. He’ll miss at least

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — A third person injured when a drag racer veered into a crowd and crashed during a racing event in Central Texas has died. A police spokesman said Wednesday that 46-year-old Rebecca Cedillo of Converse had died at University Hospital in San Antonio. Two boys, ages 6 and 8, died the day

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When San Francisco traveled to Chicago four years ago, it was a memorable homecoming for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He made his starting debut for the 49ers that day. Now the Niners are heading to the Windy City near where Garoppolo grew up. But

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andrew Friedman is headed into an offseason filled with crucial decisions involving the Los Angeles Dodgers’ big-name free agents, a rebuild of the starting rotation and Trevor Bauer’s future with the team. Bauer went on paid administrative leave in early July under MLB’s joint domestic

HOUSTON (AP) — Atlanta’s 6-2 victory over Houston in World Series Game 1 drew an average of 10,811,000 viewers on Fox, up 17.5% from the record low of 9,195,000 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ opening 8-3 win over Tampa Bay last year. The Braves-Astros number was the second-lowest total to start a Series. Fox said

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Barcelona has fired coach Ronald Koeman after the team’s 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. Club president Joan Laporta informed the Dutch coach of his decision following the match. Barcelona says Koeman “will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday.” He leaves with

DENVER (AP) — Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday that beginning Nov. 10, Ball Arena will require fans 12 and older to show proof they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event for admission. KSE said Paramount Theatre in Denver also will require all attendees,

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — LeBron James will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night because of a sore right ankle. James was injured Sunday night in a victory over Memphis and missed the Lakers’ 125-121 overtime win at San Antonio on Tuesday night. Malik Monk was set to

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills used their bye week to flush memories of a heartbreaking loss to the Tennessee Titans. They are now focused on hosting the Miami Dolphins this weekend. The Bills’ confidence hasn’t wavered, with players drawing on the memories of last season. Buffalo

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have hired Ruben Niebla from Cleveland as their pitching coach. General manager A.J. Preller hired Niebla even though he has yet to hire a replacement for Jayce Tingler, who was fired Oct. 6. Tingler took the fall for the Padres’ brutal

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league has denounced racist insults by a Barcelona fan against Real Madrid midfielder Vinícius Júnior during the “clásico” at the Camp Nou Stadium on Sunday. The league says it will take the case to Spanish authorities so they can pursue the necessary measures against the fan. It did not say

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sophomore quarterback Harrison Bailey is leaving Tennessee after finding himself third on the depth chart under first-year coach Josh Heupel. Bailey announced his decision Wednesday in a social media post. From Marietta, Georgia, he was the No. 3 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally and a four-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite coming

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has fired coach Ronald Koeman after the team’s 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. Club president Joan Laporta informed the Dutch coach of his decision following the match. Barcelona said Koeman “will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday.” He leaves with the club in ninth place

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Home favorite Andrey Rublev has reached the quarterfinals of the St. Petersburg Open with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Belarussian player Ilya Ivashka. The defending champion saved all seven break points he faced to reach the quarterfinals at the event for the third time. He will next face American player