AP National Sports

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that outfielder and first baseman Dominic Smith has agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals pending the successful completion of a physical exam. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation is investigating men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter for a 1991 confrontation in which he kicked the woman who later became his wife. The federation says it learned of the allegation on Dec. 11 and hired the law firm Alston &

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — According to a person familiar with the situation, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has talked to University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh about the team’s head coaching position. The person characterized the talks as a conversation, not a job interview. The person spoke to

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Laila Phelia scored 24 points, Leigha Brown had 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and No. 14 Michigan beat Penn State 82-72. Phelia, Brown and Maddie Nolan combined for Michigan’s opening 20 points of the fourth quarter, including a 10-0 run to pull away. Brown started the run with

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs began practicing Tuesday for their regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, which could ultimately earn the AFC West champions the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference in an unprecedented situation for the NFL. Just as the Chiefs were

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have placed forward Jakub Vrana on waivers. It comes a little more than two weeks after he returned from the player assistance program set up by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. It’s also a week after assigning him to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on a conditioning

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been presented as Al Nassr’s superstar new signing. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to play in the Saudi Pro League in one of the most surprising transfers in the sport’s history. Ronaldo,

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer The NCAA Division I transformation committee has released its final report. It is recommending more sport-by-sport governance in college sports, enhanced expectations for D-1 schools to create a more uniform experience for athletes across all schools and allowing 25% of teams in the most-sponsored sports to compete

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Former San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean has joined the New York Yankees as executive adviser to GM Brian Cashman. The 66-year-old Sabean helped lead the Giants to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. He was the Giants’ general manager from 1996

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with two-time All-Star Rafael Devers that avoids salary arbitration. The deal is for $17.5 million. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Bills-Bengals game that was suspended Monday night after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest will not be resumed this week and the Week 18 schedule remains unchanged, the NFL said Tuesday. The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the pivotal Bills-Bengals game

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Brazil said a final farewell to Pelé on Tuesday, burying the legend who unified the bitterly divided country. Newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pelé played for most of his career. Pelé died last

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer Damar Hamlin’s family is expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers. The 24-year-old Hamlin remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital a day after the Bills said his heart stopped while

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jacque Vaughn was thought to be just the temporary solution when he started coaching the Brooklyn Nets in November. The Nets were expected to hire Ime Udoka. But Vaughn hasn’t gone anywhere except almost to the top of the NBA. The Nets are on a

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been presented as Al Nassr’s superstar new signing. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to play in the Saudi Pro League in one of the most surprising transfers in the sport’s history. Ronaldo,

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer Damar Hamlin’s family is expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers. The 24-year-old Hamlin remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital a day after the Bills said his heart stopped while

By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — Pelé’s coffin arrived at his final resting place Tuesday as millions of fans in Brazil and around the world mourned the sports legend. Newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his respects at Vila Belmiro, the stadium where Pelé played for most of

Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ken Block, a motorsports icon known for his stunt driving and for co-founding the action sports apparel brand DC Shoes, died on Monday in a snowmobiling accident near his home in Utah. Block, 55, “was riding a snowmobile on a steep slope when the snowmobile upended, landing on

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been presented as Al Nassr’s superstar new signing. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to play in the Saudi Pro League in one of the most surprising transfers in the sport’s history. Ronaldo,

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Tom Kim starts the new year with a new look. The 20-year-old from South Korea has signed an endorsement deal to be part of the Nike staff. Kim is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who has quickly made a name for himself. He