U.S./World Sports category, Page 93
Jordan Spieth keeps clean card in mud to lead PGA playoff opener
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jordan Spieth kept a clean card and clean pants, even without having to roll them up to his calves on a rain-soaked course. He opened with a 7-under-par 63 on Thursday for a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Spieth chipped in for eagle and...
Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion, according to book by renowned gambler Billy Walters
Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while playing for Team USA, according to a much-anticipated book by renowned gambler Billy Walters. Mickelson denied ever betting on the Ryder Cup. “While it...
ACC keeps Stanford, Cal in limbo as presidents choose not to vote on western expansionVideo
The ACC presidents chose not to vote Wednesday night on whether to add Stanford and California to the league, keeping the schools in limbo as they look for an escape from the crumbling Pac-12, two people with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press. The people spoke on condition...
SMU to ACC? What fans should know before thinking about conference relocation
DALLAS — Here we go again. SMU, according to multiple people familiar with the situation, would be on the short list of candidates if the ACC were willing to expand. That’s been the sense around SMU for about a year now, but now the ACC reportedly is examining potential expansion....
Marta, Sinclair and Rapinoe among the generational talents retiring after Women’s World CupVideo
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Generational talents Marta, Christine Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe have played in their final Women’s World Cup and are leaving the game in a much different place than when they started. Joining them in the group of players ending their international careers is Estefania Banini of Argentina,...
Jon Rahm is the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup without history on his sideVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jon Rahm has the game for any occasion, most notably the PGA Tour’s postseason. He just doesn’t have history on his side. Rahm is the No. 1 seed going into the FedEx Cup playoffs, courtesy of four wins — including the Masters — along with a runner-up...
Jay Monahan says PGA Tour, Saudi deal on right path in 1st remarks since medical leaveVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Back to full health, commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday the PGA Tour is on the right path to finalize a deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Whether he’s the best person to lead the tour will be measured by results of the surprise agreement. “I...
The U.S. Open is adding video review for double bounces, a first for Grand Slam tennis
New U.S. Open tournament referee Jake Garner recalls being a chair umpire and having a tough time figuring out in the moment whether a ball bounced twice before a player got it back over the net. If that happens at Flushing Meadows this year, though, an official can check a...
ESPN strikes $1.5B deal to jump into sports betting with Penn Entertainment
You know ESPN the sports media giant. Now brace yourself for ESPN Bet, a rebranding of an existing sports-betting app owned by Penn Entertainment, which is paying $1.5 billion plus other considerations for exclusive rights to the ESPN name. The deal, announced Tuesday, could take Walt Disney Co.-owned ESPN into...
PGA Tour commissioner Monahan meets with players with low attendance, few details on Saudi dealVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan had his first meeting with players Tuesday afternoon since his return to work, offering few details on the surprise agreement with the Saudi backer of LIV Golf that two players said still involve several moving parts. The meeting was lacking in details...
Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott running out of time to make playoffsVideo
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Chase Elliott is running out of time. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, whose year was stunted by a snowboarding accident and hindered by a suspension, needs to win one of the next three races to earn a spot in the playoffs. “It’s the only option,” he...
Column: New PGA Tour model caters to big performances, not just big namesVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The poster in Memphis International Airport declares “the playoffs start here,” except that it includes a picture of Justin Thomas. He only wishes he were here. That speaks to the meritocracy in golf, and that’s not going away. Neither is privilege, which is why Thomas should only...
Previewing the preseason AP Top 25: Tide outside top 3? Anybody but Georgia at No. 1? Where’s TCU?
The last time Alabama was ranked lower than No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25, Nick Saban had not yet won a national championship with the Crimson Tide. There is a very real possibility that when the new preseason AP Top 25 is unveiled at noon Monday, ‘Bama could...
Pac-12’s downfall comes after it could not adjust to changing media landscapeVideo
Larry Scott boasted five years ago that the Pac-12 Conference would be able “to adapt, react and take advantage of this new world media order that’s coming in a way others can’t.” As it turns out, Scott’s statement instead ended up reflecting what rival conferences and commissioners did. Scott didn’t...
Georgia picked to 3-peat in USA Today preseason poll; Penn State at No. 7Video
Two-time reigning national champion Georgia was the overwhelming favorite in the USA Today preseason poll released Monday. The Bulldogs, who dismantled TCU, 65-7, in last season’s national championship game, earned 61 of 66 possible first-place votes. Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU rounded out the top five. Alabama received four...
Chris Buescher wins 2nd straight NASCAR Cup race, prevailing at Michigan
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Chris Buescher has earned half of his four career NASCAR Cup Series victories in a stunning, nine-day stretch of success. Buescher won his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race by holding off points leader Martin Truex Jr. late in the FireKeepers 400 on Monday at Michigan International...
WWE’s SummerSlam pulls in $7M in sponsorship revenue, up 23% from a year ago
WWE’s sponsorship revenue for SummerSlam rose 23% from a year ago to $7 million, the most for any event outside of WrestleMania. The Saturday event in Detroit also brought in huge merchandise sales, up 60% from a record set in 2021. It was the best performance in company history for...
Column: It’s not conference realignment. It’s consolidation and no one is safe in the dash for cash
Don’t call it conference realignment. Call it college football consolidation. Recent history suggests few are safe from being the next to get squeezed out. And even if your school makes the cut it can come with a cost. What was once a Big Six in major college football conferences became...
Keira Walsh set to start for England in Women’s World Cup knockout game against Nigeria
BRISBANE, Australia — Keira Walsh recovered from a knee injury in time to make England’s starting lineup for Monday’s round of 16 match against Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup. The influential midfielder practiced with the squad on Sunday and team officials said Walsh’s fitness would be assessed on game...
Filly euthanized, jockey unseated in Saratoga racing incident
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — A 4-year-old filly broke down in the fourth race at Saratoga and was euthanized Sunday, the second consecutive day a racing death occurred at the track in upstate New York. Ever Summer suffered a catastrophic injury to her left front leg in the final turn of...
Lucas Glover wins Wyndham Championship. Thomas season ends by inches.Video
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Lucas Glover did more than extend his PGA Tour season Sunday. He won the Wyndham Championship with a 2-under-par 68 that sends him into the FedEx Cup playoffs with more big opportunities in front of him. Glover managed a two-hour rain delay and took advantage of a...
The future is uncertain for the United States after crashing out of the Women’s World CupVideo
MELBOURNE, Australia — The rest of the world has finally caught up to the United States. The once-dominant Americans crashed out of the Women’s World Cup on penalties after a scoreless draw with Sweden in the Round of 16 on Sunday. It was the earliest exit ever for the four-time...
NASCAR suspends race at Michigan, aims to resume Monday
BROOKLYN, Mich. — The NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday was suspended because of rain and was scheduled to resume Monday. The FireKeepers 400 began after a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay. And 74 laps later, precipitation pushed the drivers out of their cars during a red-flag...
Pac-12 Conference facing dire future following mass exodus
The Pac-12 dubbed itself the “Conference of Champions” for a history of athletic excellence stretching back more than 100 years. The largest conference out West has dominated Olympic sports, went on an unprecedented run in men’s college basketball and has won more national championships than any other league. Pac-12 alumni...
Kyle Kirkwood wins IndyCar Music City Grand Prix
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kyle Kirkwood easily held off Scott McLaughlin over a final four-lap shootout and won the Music City Grand Prix on Sunday for his second career victory. The 24-year-old from Jupiter, Fla., started eighth and led a race-high 34 laps. He took the lead for good on lap...
