Sports

New closer Clase bringing the heat for Indians

Published on Mon, 04/12/2021 - 3:49pm
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Seconds after the ball leaves Emmanuel Clase’s hand and streaks toward home plate, the eyes of everyone in Progressive Field quickly turn to the ballpark’s video scoreboard to see what pitch he threw and how fast it went.

101 mph cutter. 100 mph fastball. 91 mph slider.

“It’s unfair,” Indians starter Logan Allen said after watching Clase mow down the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. “It definitely makes you think: How do people hit him?”

Olympic Gold: Men’s gymnastics struggling to survive

Published on Fri, 04/09/2021 - 3:00pm
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By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

 

The death of a 117-year-old program, one that captured championships and produced Olympians, ended with a gasp. And then a vote. 

The fact the former did not alter the outcome of the latter offered a stark glimpse into the steadily eroding support for men’s gymnastics at the NCAA level, one that will eventually have a ripple effect up and down the food chain for a sport struggling for relevance inside the U.S. Olympic movement.

4 Euros host cities get UEFA extension amid doubts on fans

Published on Fri, 04/09/2021 - 2:59pm
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The Euro 2020 host cities of Munich, Rome, Bilbao and Dublin have been given an extension until April 19 to remain part of the rescheduled tournament by providing guarantees on fans being allowed into games.

UEFA set the new deadline on Friday after receiving confirmation from eight other cities across Europe that crowds will be allowed at stadiums as coronavirus restrictions are eased. 

UEFA is most concerned about Ireland, which is in one of Europe’s longest lockdowns, being in a position to say in 10 days if stadiums can open up to supporters. 

Native Americans: Move Boston Marathon from holiday

Published on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 3:49pm
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BOSTON (AP) — Native Americans in Massachusetts are calling on the organizers of the Boston Marathon to move the already rescheduled date  for the storied race because it now conflicts with a day meant to commemorate the contributions of Indigenous people.

The Boston Athletic Association announced in January that the 125th edition of the marathon would be pushed back from its traditional April running to Oct. 11, assuming road races are allowed to take place under Massachusetts’ COVID-19 restrictions by then.

Kansas lawmakers likely to pass bill on trans athletes

Published on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 3:48pm

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — LGBTQ-rights advocates in Kansas are relying on the state’s Democratic governor or the courts to block a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ or women’s school sports after conservatives on Thursday moved to push it through the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Sheriff: Tiger Woods was speeding before crash

Published on Wed, 04/07/2021 - 3:54pm
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods was speeding when he crashed an SUV in Southern California less than two months ago, leaving the golf superstar seriously injured, authorities said Wednesday.

Woods was driving 84 to 87 mph on a downhill stretch of road outside Los Angeles that had a speed limit of 45 mph, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday. 

The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers hitting speeds so high that there is an emergency exit for runaway vehicles just beyond where Woods crashed. 

NCAA may consider single site for part of future tourneys

Published on Wed, 04/07/2021 - 3:53pm
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA used the single-site concept for its marquee championship out of necessity.

Now it could become part of the tournament’s future.

A day after crowning a national champion for the first time since 2019, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt told reporters that the successful men’s college basketball tournament held primarily in Indianapolis and exclusively in Indiana could create a late-round model for future tourneys.

Baylor bullied Bulldogs to win national title

Published on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 4:11pm
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By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Basketball Writer

 

INDIANAPOLIS — The big, bad Baylor Bears bullied college basketball’s beautiful game into a corner.

The bid for an undefeated season, one game short. A first-time national champion, crowned.

Baylor overwhelmed Gonzaga with a burst of power and speed, winning its first national championship while ending the Bulldogs’ perfect season with an 86-70 win Monday night.

North Korea says it won’t participate in Tokyo Olympics

Published on Tue, 04/06/2021 - 4:10pm

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea became the first country to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics because of coronavirus fears, a decision that underscores the challenges facing Japan as it struggles to stage a global sporting event amid a raging pandemic. 

A website run by North Korea’s Sports Ministry said its national Olympic Committee during a meeting on March 25 decided not to participate in the Games to protect athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by COVID-19.”

Arizona, Stanford carry Pac-12 banner in women’s title

Published on Mon, 04/05/2021 - 3:55pm
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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The last time that Tara VanDerveer and Stanford were playing for a national championship, the Pac-12 had just 10 schools and the Cardinal were the standard bearer for the conference.

Now 11 years later, the Pac-12 is on top of the women’s basketball world with the Cardinal facing Arizona on Sunday night for the title. The conference is guaranteed its first champion since the Hall of Fame coach and the Cardinal won their last title in 1992.