Sports

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche are steadily returning to health as they make a playoff push. Defenseman Bowen Byram is back, along with forward Valeri Nichushkin. Defense Josh Manson is close and captain Gabriel Landeskog may soon begin skating with the team. He’s

MADRID (AP) — Substitute Álvaro García has scored 19 seconds after entering the match to help Rayo Vallecano defeat Almeria 2-0 and move closer to the Champions League places in the Spanish league. García came off the bench in the 63rd minute and scored with his first touch of the ball. Vallecano opened the scoring

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s game at Illinois has been postponed because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols within the Gophers’ program. The teams were scheduled to play Tuesday. They will meet on Feb. 20 instead. Minnesota’s announcement did not specify how many players would have been unable to play. The Gophers had only eight available

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar has hired coach Carlos Queiroz hoping he will work at his fifth straight World Cup when the 2026 tournament is hosted in North America. The Qatar Football Association says it hired Queiroz until 2026 to lead what is the seventh different national team he has coached. Queiroz took his native

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Seven-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green has decided to retire after 12 seasons in the NFL. The 34-year-old spent a decade with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons of his career. Selected by the Bengals with the No.

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — New Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen says he’s not willing to commit to a 4-3 or 3-4 as the base alignment of his multiple schemes. He says his goal is “just stop people.” Nielsen, the former co-defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints,

By JOHN COON Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith anticipates the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19 will help build Utah into a destination for other major sporting events. Expansion in infrastructure aided the Jazz in bringing back the coveted game, which they last hosted in 1993. Multiple hotels

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have avoided arbitration with outfielder Victor Robles and signed him to a contract worth $2,325,000. The Nationals say they reached a deal on a contract for this season with a club option for 2024 that would pay him $3.3 million. Robles is one of only a few players left

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Mike Pereira knows the pressure Carl Cheffers and his officiating crew will be under during Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. As the NFL’s vice president of officiating in 2008, Pereira promoted Cheffers from side judge to referee. After 14 years with the league,

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zack Greinke can earn up to $15 million in his one-year contract to return to the Kansas City Royals. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner rejoined the Royals last year for the first time since 2010 and went 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts and 137 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa will not play in the World Baseball Classic for family reasons. His wife is expecting a baby during the tournament. The Twins said they made a mutual decision with Correa that he would not join the Puerto Rico national team for the event. Correa’s wife, Daniella, is

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish prosecutors oppose the appeal made by Dani Alves’ defense team asking for him to be free on bail while the investigation continues into sexual assault accusations against the footballer. Alves’ lawyers filed the appeal last week saying the Brazilian agreed to turn in his passport and wear a tracking device

By DANIELLA MATAR AP Sports Writer MILAN (AP) — Lazio has been held at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona to 1-1 in Serie A. That hampers its hopes of consolidating its place in the top four in a tight race for the Champions League spots. Cyril Ngonge scored his first goal for Verona on his first start

By DARVIN HAM For The Associated Press Darvin Ham is in his first season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James, who is poised to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Ham doesn’t think James has ever wanted the scoring record. But coach says James is one of one. That no one

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Brady told Colin Cowherd during Monday’s episode of “The Herd” on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio that he will not start his broadcasting career with Fox until the 2024 season. The seven-time Super Bowl champion — who retired last week after a 23-year career with the New England Patriots and

By SHANE BATTIER For The Associated Press Shane Battier is a former Miami Heat teammate of LeBron James, who is poised to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Battier played in the NBA for 13 seasons, the last three of them with James in Miami. Battier says James is the greatest basketball player and doesn’t