Sports

By JOHN NICHOLSON AP Sports Writer SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Defending champion Scottie Scheffler took the lead into the weekend in the WM Phoenix Open, with local favorite Jon Rahm right behind at TPC Scottsdale. The second-ranked Scheffler played 25 holes Friday, completing a 3-under 68 in the first round and shooting a bogey-free 64

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Led by Miryne Thomas’ 19 points, the Kent State Golden Flashes defeated the Buffalo Bulls 72-65 on Friday night. The Golden Flashes are now 20-5 on the season, while the Bulls moved to 12-13.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Madison Chock and Evan Bates took the lead after the rhythm dance at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Friday as the American ice dancers seek their third title in the marquee international event. They scored 87.67 points to their program set to “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie.

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been fined $40,000 by the NBA or using derogatory and disparaging language during a live television interview. Thomas was being interviewed along with Spencer Dinwiddie after the Nets’ 116-105 victory over Chicago on TNT on Thursday night. Thomas was asked about Dinwiddie’s joke that he

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Goaltender Pheonix Copley has signed a one-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings worth $1.5 million. Copley’s 15 wins since making his Kings debut on Dec. 6 at Ottawa are the most in the league over the past two months. He is 15-3-1 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .897 save

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Brett Favre’s lawyers filed papers Friday again asking a Mississippi judge to dismiss the retired NFL quarterback from a lawsuit that demands repayment of millions of dollars of welfare money intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. The Mississippi Department of

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Reliever Jason Adam became the fourth Tampa Bay player to go to a salary arbitration hearing this year, asking a panel for $1,775,000 while the Rays argued for $1.55 million. Houston pitcher Cristian Javier avoided a hearing by agreeing to a $64 million, five-year contract, and Philadelphia reliever José Alvarado

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin has filed a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages, claiming he was falsely accused of misconduct by a female employee at a Phoenix hotel. The 56-year-old Hall of Famer was pulled off the remainder of NFL Network’s Super Bowl week coverage after a complaint

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer QUEBEC CITY (AP) — A 21-player boys hockey team of Ukrainian refugees aged 11 and 12 is enjoying the respite from the horrors back home while preparing to compete in the International Peewee Tournament in Quebec City on Saturday. Sean Berube has witnessed the change in the players’ demeanor

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens says he doesn’t anticipate All-Star Jaylen Brown missing a significant amount of time after suffering a broken bone in his face.  Stevens says Brown, who was diagnosed with a maxillary fracture after he took an inadvertent elbow from

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville police have accused former Louisville men’s basketball great Robbie Valentine of strangulation following an argument with his girlfriend. The incident occurred Thursday night at a residence Valentine shared with the woman, the arrest citation stated. The couple went to dinner and the woman sought to discuss moving out and getting

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — All-Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso has been suspended without pay by Major League Soccer for failure to report to preseason training with Minnesota United FC. Minnesota United’s statement provided no further details on the situation. The 27-year-old Reynoso has remained in his native Argentina since the Loons opened camp more than

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is fining Vanderbilt $250,000 for fans rushing the court after the Commodores upset No. 6 Tennessee on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The league announced the fine Friday for violating the policy limiting access to the competition area. This is Vanderbilt’s fourth offense and second since November. Vanderbilt also was

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, will miss a $140 million interest payment next week, which would put the company closer to filing for bankruptcy. Diamond owns 19 networks under the Bally Sports banner. Those networks have the rights to 42 professional teams — 14

NICE, France (AP) — Billal Brahimi has scored twice with spectacular long-range strikes for Nice to beat Ajaccio 3-0 and a fourth straight win in the French league. Nice climbed to seventh place to pull within three points of a Europa Conference League spot while Ajaccio remained in the relegation zone. Brazilian veteran Dante scored

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and DAVID BAUDER NEW YORK (AP) — After a day of mixed signals, President Joe Biden will be sitting down for a pregame interview for the Super Bowl, which is being broadcast by Fox on Sunday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had initially said that Biden had been “looking forward” to

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s new national soccer team coach Diego Cocca will have his work cut out, after Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup. It was the first time Mexico hadn’t advanced to the round of 16 since 1978. But the Argentine coach has a