Sports

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates says challenging China on its human rights record as Beijing prepares to host the 2022 Winter Games is “not in our remit.” There has been widespread criticism of China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang as well as its crackdown

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer International big men have risen to prominence in the NBA. Proof came in last season’s MVP voting, when three of the top four finishers were big men from other countries. Denver’s Nikola Jokic of Serbia was the MVP winner. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid from Cameroon was the runner-up. Milwaukee’s Giannis

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer The last two unbeaten teams in the Southeastern Conference square off this week when No. 1 Georgia hosts No. 11 Kentucky on Saturday. The Bulldogs rose to the top of the rankings last week when Alabama was upset at Texas A&M 41-38. Kentucky is off to its first 6-0

By BARRY WILNER AP Sports Writer In elite figure skating, makeup can be as important a tool as a boot and blade. It also can sideline an Olympic contender. Jessica Calalang, a U.S. pairs skater and potential member of the team for next February’s Winter Games in Beijing, recently had a suspension from the sport

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Kyle Turris scored the shootout winner and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. Jesse Puljujarvi and Zach Hyman scored in regulation for the Oilers, who squandered a late lead. Edmonton also got a pair of assists from Connor McDavid.

By MICHAEL KELLY Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Bowen Byram scored his first NHL goal and added an assist to lead the short-handed Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog each had a goal and an assist for Colorado, which played without star center Nathan MacKinnon and

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mason McTavish became the youngest player in Anaheim history to score a goal as the Ducks opened the season with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The 18-year-old McTavish — the third overall pick in this year’s NHL draft — put in a loose

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving says he doesn’tt want to lose salary or a chance to compete for a championship with the Brooklyn Nets, but was doing “what’s best for me” by refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Nets decided Tuesday that Irving wouldn’t be with the

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner dunked while scoring 29 points, Diana Taurasi had eight of her 20 points in overtime and Phoenix Mercury evened the WNBA Finals with a 91-86 win over the Chicago Sky. Griner kept the Mercury within reach of Chicago during a sluggish start and brought

By The Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker showed in his preseason debut he’s ready to lead the Phoenix Suns to another run at an NBA championship. Booker scored 17 points in 18 minutes in the first half of the Suns’ 119-74 preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Booker missed the beginning of

By The Associated Press A capsule look at the best-of-seven American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros.

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — While the fisticuffs never materialized, the Washington Capitals made a season-opening 5-1 victory against the division-rival New York Rangers memorable for Alex Ovechkin’s 731st and 732nd goals and Hendrix Lapierre’s first. Ovechkin passed Marcel Dionne for sole possession fifth place on the NHL goals list, putting

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ray Fosse, the strong-armed catcher whose career was upended when he was bowled over by Pete Rose at the 1970 All-Star Game, has died. He was 74. Carol Fosse, his wife of 51 years, said in a statement online that Fosse died Wednesday after a 16-year bout with cancer. Fosse was

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander broke a tie at 1:06 of the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams. In a rematch of Montreal’s seven-game victory in the first round of the playoffs last season, Toronto won in front of 18,493

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) — Winger Raphinha has become the new hope for Brazil in World Cup qualifiers and is likely to start Thursday’s match against Uruguay in Manaus. The 24-year-old Leeds player was a key for Brazil in the 3-1 win at Venezuela and the 0-0 draw at Colombia.

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tim Weah’s shot for the go-ahead goal deflected off the near post and then off backup goalkeeper Leonel Moreiera in the 66th minute after Sergiño Dest started the comeback from a first-minute deficit, and the United States rallied to beat Costa Rica 2-1 to ease

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — It has not been a good start to the week for the Los Angeles Chargers offensive line. The Chargers found out on Monday that right guard Oday Aboushi would miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during