Sports

Stockton’s daughter ready for guard duty

Published on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 3:48pm
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Laura Stockton sounds perfectly happy to ride buses around Germany if it means she gets to play professional basketball.

The 23-year-old daughter of retired Utah Jazz great John Stockton spent the past year-plus rehabbing an ACL injury that ended her collegiate career at Gonzaga.

“I’m not picky,” she told The Associated Press. “I’m just ready for whatever.”

This kind of optimism must have been what John Stockton was referring to in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009 when he described Laura as “the kindest, sweetest warrior.”

US OPEN 2020: Year unlike any other, Slam unlike any other

Published on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 3:47pm

In a year unlike any other, get ready for a U.S. Open unlike any other.

“There was definitely a point where, in the beginning, I was like: There is no way these tournaments can even happen,” Serena Williams said about playing amid a pandemic.

Professional tennis returned recently from a hiatus of nearly six months caused by the coronavirus outbreak -- and it will be back on one of its biggest stages Monday, when Flushing Meadows begins hosting the first Grand Slam matches since the Australian Open ended in February.

Emotional LeBron ‘can’t even enjoy’ Lakers’ win over Blazers

Published on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 2:49pm
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — LeBron James took note when the Los Angeles Lakers built an early 24-8 lead over the Trail Blazers on Kobe Bryant Day.

“OK, he’s here in the building,” James said he thought in the moment, when the two numbers that Bryant wore during his career appeared on the scoreboard. 

The Los Angeles Lakers dominated Portland the rest of the way Monday night, winning 135-115 to take a 3-1 advantage in their playoff series.

Jamaican official says Usain Bolt positive for COVID

Published on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 2:47pm
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KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica’s Minister of Health says legendary sprinter Usain Bolt has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

Minister Christopher Tufton said Bolt was aware of the results and his recent contacts were being traced. 

“It is now public knowledge that Mr. Bolt has tested positive. He has been formally notified, I’m told by the authorities,’’ Tufton told reporters Monday evening. “’It triggers an approach to questioning, interrogation if you will, which we follow through with contact tracing.”

Ski resort changing name, citing offensive word

Published on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 2:46pm

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (AP) — California’s popular Squaw Valley Ski Resort will change its name because the word “squaw” is a derogatory term for Native American women, officials announced Tuesday. The site was the scene of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

The decision was reached after consulting with local Native American groups and extensive research into the etymology and history of the term “squaw,” said Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.

Rockies snap 7-game skid with win over D-backs

Published on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 2:46pm
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PHOENIX (AP) — Ryan Castellani sat in just about every part of Chase Field while he grew up going to Diamondbacks games as a fan.

He found his favorite spot in the stadium on Monday night: Right on top of the pitcher’s mound.

Castellani threw six strong innings for his first career win, Trevor Story hit his ninth homer of the season and the Colorado Rockies snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating Arizona 3-2.

A team-by-team look at policies for NFL fans attending games

Published on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:31pm
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Here is a team-by-team look at the policies for NFL fans attending games in the 2020 regular season, as of today, Aug. 24:

 

Arizona — Team hasn’t publicly discussed plans for fans.

Atlanta — No fans in September. Affects two games, on Sept. 13 against Seattle and on Sept. 27 against Chicago.

Baltimore — No fans as of now. But if allowed by state and local government, goal is to have around 7,500 fans.

Top 25: Clemson No. 1, then Ohio State, Alabama

Published on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:30pm

Clemson is the preseason No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25, a poll featuring nine Big Ten and Pac-12 teams that gives a glimpse at what has already been taken by the pandemic from an uncertain college football season. 

Ohio State (1,504 points) was a close No. 2 behind Trevor Lawrence and Clemson (1,520), which starts atop the rankings for the second straight season. The Tigers beat the Buckeyes in a thrilling College Football Playoff semifinal last season.

Sports Shorts

Published on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:29pm

Dustin Johnson back to No. 1

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Dustin Johnson is back to No. 1 in the world and wants to stay there as long as he can.

The manner in which he obliterated one of the strongest fields of the year at The Northern Trust is to wonder how he ever left in the first place.

At his best, no one makes golf look easier.

Bayern Munich in subdued return with trophy

Published on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:28pm

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich returned home to a subdued reception Monday after winning the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon the night before.

The club had already warned fans to stay away from Munich airport to avoid the risk of coronavirus transmissions, and said the players and team staff would be whisked away so there would be little chance of fans getting a glimpse of their heroes.

In the absence of ecstatic crowds, Bavarian state governor Markus Söder greeted coach Hansi Flick and his team on the tarmac after they got off their aircraft.