Sports

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds fell apart down the stretch and fell out of playoff contention but there were more than a few positive developments this season. The Reds recorded their first winning season in a full 162-game campaign since 2014. First-baseman Joey Votto had one of the

NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts and the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers had four of the top 10 selling jerseys in Major League Baseball this season. Betts’ No. 50 uniform claimed the top spot for the second straight year after he was acquired prior to the 2020 season from the Boston Red

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins played baseball over seven different months this season and had a winning record in only one. That would be October. They went 2-1. The hope entering the season was to play meaningful baseball in October and the Marlins fell way short of that

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Four Continents Championships for figure skaters from outside Europe will be held in Europe for the first time after Estonia stepped in as a replacement host for China. The International Skating Union says the competition is scheduled to run from Jan. 18-23 in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. The championships were

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Police in Georgia say former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley was shot to death in a dispute that involved a hatchet after showing up at a house occupied by his estranged wife and another man. A statement by police in Athens says the 31-year-old Townley had the weapon at some point

WATFORD, England (AP) — Claudio Ranieri is back in the English Premier League after being hired by Watford. The 69-year-old Italian replaces Xisco Munoz, who was fired on Sunday after 10 months in charge. Ranieri is most famous for leading Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 at preseason odds of 5,000-1. He has

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — FIFA is in talks with Qatari authorities about scrapping the mandatory vaccination requirements for the World Cup. Qatar announced in June that it would require any fans wanting entry into next year’s tournament to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus, but has said nothing about

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Women’s soccer leagues across Europe have joined UEFA in criticizing FIFA plans for biennial men’s and women’s World Cups. They claim that both would threaten how the women’s game is developing. Leagues in England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden say staging a men’s World Cup every two years will “hamper

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright is guaranteed $17.5 million under his 2022 contract with the Cardinals, more than double his $8 million salary this year. The 40-year-old has spent all 16 of his big league seasons with the Cardinals. He was 17-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 32 starts. and the

By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer has apologized to his family, his team and owner Shad Khan for “being a distraction” after a video surfaced over the weekend showing a young woman dancing close to his lap. Meyer called a team meeting Monday and vowed

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Defender John Brooks will miss the United States’ three World Cup qualifiers this month because of a back injury. Wolfsburg coach Mark van Bommel said the 28-year-old Brooks will not travel from Germany to Texas, where the Americans play Jamaica on Thursday night. Brooks started two of the Americans’ first three

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer The Beijing Winter Olympics open in four months — just six months after the Summer Games wrapped up in Tokyo. When the IOC awarded the 2008 Summer Games to Beijing it promised the event could improve human rights and civil liberties in China. There is no such lofty talk

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper hit .309 with 35 homers, led baseball in OPS and is a National League MVP candidate. Zack Wheeler went 14-10 with two shutouts and league highs with 247 strikeouts over 213 1/3 innings pitched. He is a Cy Young candidate. But neither Philadelphia Phillies

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek has asked the British ambassador to Prague to request the Scottish soccer association distance itself from its advisor Marvin Bartley or apologize for his words. Kulhanek has summoned Nick Archer following widespread criticism in Scotland of the behaviour of thousands of young Sparta Prague supporters who repeatedly

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The 2021 season was going so well for the New York Mets. And then Jacob deGrom got hurt. Minus their injured ace, the Mets collapsed over the final two months and plunged to 77-85 in Steve Cohen’s first year as owner. They got outmaneuvered by

LONDON (AP) — The men’s professional tennis tour has opened an investigation into a former girlfriend’s accusations of domestic abuse by Olympic gold medalist and 2020 U.S Open runner-up Alexander Zverev. The ATP announced Monday it is looking into “allegations concerning Alexander Zverev at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai in 2019.” ATP CEO

United States defender Julián Araujo has been cleared to change his national eligibility to Mexico. FIFA confirmed the switch on Monday. The 20-year-old LA Galaxy defender made his debut for the U.S. last December in a friendly. He started at right back in a 6-0 win over El Salvador. Araujo previously represented the U.S. at

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund is set to spend the international break worrying about the fitness of Erling Haaland after the club admitted the Norway striker’s injury could drag on into the second half of October. Haaland hasn’t played since Sept. 19 with a unspecified muscle problem and

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek has asked the British ambassador to Prague to request the Scottish soccer association distance itself from its advisor Marvin Bartley or apologize for his words. Kulhanek has summoned Nick Archer following widespread criticism in Scotland of the behaviour of thousands of young Sparta Prague supporters who repeatedly

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé has confirmed he told Paris Saint-Germain he wanted to leave the club in July. He made the comments in an interview released Monday by French broadcaster RMC. Mbappé was subject to reported bids from Real Madrid approaching 200 million euros ($230 million) in August as he entered the last season