Sports

By The Associated Press The PGA Tour goes to Bay Hill with its strongest field ever. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is an elevated event. And with the Masters approaching, Bay Hill has attracted nine of the top 10 players in the world. Everyone from the top 50 is playing except for seven players who have

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bob Richards, a two-time Olympic pole vault gold medalist who also became an ordained minister, has died. He was 97. USA Track and Field confirmed his death. His son, Brandon, wrote in a social media post that his father died Sunday “peacefully surrounded by loved ones.” Richards competed at the 1948, ’52

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have released quarterback Marcus Mariota in a move that was expected after the veteran was benched late in the season. The Falcons were 5-8 with Mariota as the starter before rookie Desmond Ridder started the final four games, winning two. Falcons general manager

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens as its run-game coordinator and tight ends coach. The school announced the hiring Tuesday, with Kitchens named to replace John Lilly after Lilly joined Frank Reich’s staff with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Kitchens spent 16 seasons in the NFL

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer The Buffalo Bills say defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is taking a year off from coaching but plans to return for the 2024 season. The team didn’t provide any other details on Frazier’s decision, which comes a little more than five weeks after the three-time defending AFC East champion Bills

By The Associated Press The men’s college basketball season is racing toward NCAA Tournament time. Conference tournaments will begin the first week of March, capped by Selection Sunday on Sunday, March 12. Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky. The Final Four is in

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the Carolina Panthers will meet with free agent quarterback Derek Carr this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team doesn’t announce its

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer When Kevin Durant was asked about the notion of him and some other Olympic gold medalists potentially getting seats on USA Basketball’s Board of Directors, he liked the idea. But on one condition: He didn’t want the seats to be honorary. Durant hasn’t decided yet if he’ll play for

By JULIAN ESAU BASENA and DEREK OHRINGER / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism TOWSON, Md. (AP) — One Maryland university is trying to get ahead of the boom in college sports betting by teaching

By SHANNON SCOVEL and SYDNEE SINGLETARY / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Betting platforms engage tens of thousands of readers on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram with content that experts say clearly

By SHANE CONNUCK and BLAKE TOWNSEND / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism College campuses increasingly are striking deals with sports-betting companies eager to promote their brands in stadiums and on radio broadcasts and athletic

By JOSH CAPLAN and SHANE CONNUCK / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — PointsBet is one of several sports-betting companies that’s striking sponsor deals with college sports programs. At the University

By ROSS O’KEEFE / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism As sports gambling in the U.S. explodes, a new investigation shows that only about one in five major public universities has policies in place to

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer Another SEC showdown is looming at the league tournament this week between undefeated No. 1 South Carolina and one-loss, No. 4 LSU. The teams met on Super Bowl Sunday in a highly anticipated game featuring two of the game’s biggest stars in reigning AP player of the year Aliyah

By The Associated Press The women’s college basketball season is racing toward NCAA Tournament time. Conference tournaments are underway, leading into Selection Sunday on March 12. Sweet 16 weekend brings a twist this year for the women’s teams: There will be two regional sites instead of four: Greenville, South Carolina, and Seattle each will host

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Philadelphia Eagle and CBS NFL announcer Irv Cross has been diagnosed with the brain disease CTE. Cross was 81 when he died Feb. 28, 2021. Boston University researchers say Cross suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The researchers said he suffered from stage 4 CTE, which