National Sports - The Morning Sun

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, celebrates with third base coach Dusty Wathan after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday Sept. 3, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kyle Schwarber hits 3 homers for 2nd time this season as Phillies rally past Blue Jays 10-9

Kyle Schwarber’s third homer of the game was a go-ahead, three-run drive in the ninth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 after allowing six runs in the … more

By IAN HARRISON | 9/4/24

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, sits in the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Shohei Ohtani, Angels fans can get 'closure' in slugger's return to Big A with Dodgers, Roberts says

Shohei Ohtani has returned to the stadium and the city where he did just about everything except win. The two-way superstar was back at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night for his first regular-season … more

By GREG BEACHAM | 9/3/24

Taylor Fritz, of the United States, reacts after defeating Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

US Open: Taylor Fritz gets past Alexander Zverev to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal

Taylor Fritz has reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by beating No. 4 Alexander Zverev 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) at the U.S. Open. The victory Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium comes after Fritz had … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 9/3/24

Baré Indigenous Pedro Canuto, Manaus FA's quarterback, throws the ball during a football match against Galo FA at Ismael Benigno stadium in Manaus, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)

Love for American football reached Brazilian Amazon long before the NFL game in Sao Paulo

Interest in American football is now so widespread in Brazil that the NFL will be playing its first-ever game in South America when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Green Bay Packers on Friday night … more

By MAURICIO SAVARESE | 9/3/24

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) warms up during a practice ahead of the Super Bowl 58 NFL football game Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Brandon Aiyuk returns to 49ers practice with a new contract after making the process 'difficult'

Brandon Aiyuk’s first choice during his lengthy contract dispute with the 49ers that featured social media outbursts, a trade request and an awkward “hold in” was to remain in San Francisco. … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 9/3/24

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) is blocked on a shot by Dallas Wings' Maddy Siegrist (20) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Kelsey Mitchell playing major role in the Fever's turnaround and push to make the WNBA playoffs

Kelsey Mitchell has been a huge part of the Indiana Fever’s resurgence since the Olympic break. The team has won six of its seven games and is over .500 for the first time since June 13, 2019. The … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 9/3/24

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders conducts fans before an NCAA college football game against North Dakota State, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado's Deion Sanders praises rival coach Matt Rhule ahead of Nebraska game

Deion Sanders made the matchup with fellow coach Matt Rhule and Nebraska personal a year ago. This season, there’s nothing but praise. The Colorado coach commended his rival days before the … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 9/3/24

FILE - San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick Ricky Pearsall speaks at an NFL football news conference, April 26, 2024, at the team's facility in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

The 49ers expect rookie Ricky Pearsall to make a full recovery following shooting

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch expects rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall to make a full recovery after he was shot last weekend during an attempted robbery. Pearsall was hit in the chest … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 9/3/24

Justin Thomas speaks during a news conference ahead of a practice round for the Tour Championship golf tournament, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Presidents Cup rosters filled minus Justin Thomas and a couple of Canadians

Justin Thomas will be missing his first American team since 2016 when the U.S. faces the International team in the Presidents Cup. Jim Furyk on Tuesday filled out the rest of his Presidents Cup … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 9/3/24

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit runs back a kickoff during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

Analysis: Real test for NFL's new kickoff rule begins in the regular season

The NFL’s new kickoff rule did what it was implemented to do in the preseason. Still, we haven’t seen everything yet. Nearly 300 kickoffs were returned in the preseason, a 70.5% return rate that … more

By ROB MAADDI | 9/3/24

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, right, walks on the field with teammates before a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

The NFL season begins this week. Here's a look at some of the big games and rules changes

The NFL season begins this week when the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. Week 1 is full of interesting matchups, including an … more

By DAVID BRANDT | 9/3/24

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before an NCAA college football game against North Dakota State, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

New teams in Big 12 go 4-0 in a week filled with new coaches, coordinators, QBs and jerseys

Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State began its Big 12 tenure a combined 4-0. It was a week filled with a lot of “new" around the league. That included head coaches, snazzy uniforms, … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 9/3/24

Southern California cornerbacks Prophet Brown (16) and Jacobe Covington (14) celebrate their team's win over LSU in an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

Big Ten goes 17-1 with new coaches, QBs in Week 1's full non-conference slate

The Big Ten kicked off its season with four new teams, five new coaches and 13 schools featuring new starting quarterbacks. It was a smashing success. With no league contests in Week 1 for the first … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 9/3/24

Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett (6) is pushed out of bounds by Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Aug. 31, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

CFP Bracket Watch: Georgia, Ohio State, Utah and Miami are top seeds using AP Top 25 after Week 1

The college football season opened with plenty of excitement, but few surprises as ranked teams mostly plowed through overmatched opponents. Florida State losing its first two games shook up the … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 9/3/24

Florida State tight end Kyle Morlock reacts after dropping a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)

Florida State drops out of AP Top 25 after 0-2 start; Texas up to No. 3 behind Georgia, Ohio State

Florida State has fallen out of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after starting the season 0-2. The Seminoles are just the third team to go from preseason top 10 to unranked in the … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 9/3/24

FILE - Dallas Cowboys safety James Washington (37) sprints to a touchdown after Buffalo Bills' Thurman Thomas fumbled the ball during third quarter action at Super Bowl XXVIII in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Jan. 30, 1994. Washington recovered the fumble and ran 46 yards for the tying touchdown in the second half. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)

The Chiefs seek the 1st Super Bowl threepeat after 8 previous back-to-back champs fell short

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will try to do what Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw couldn’t during their Hall of Fame careers. After winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Mahomes … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 9/3/24

FILE - San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) blocks during the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif., Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker, File)

Holdout Trent Williams returns to the 49ers before the season opener, his agents say

All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams has ended his contract holdout and reported to the San Francisco 49ers to finalize a new deal. Williams’ agency, Elite Loyalty Sports, posted on social media … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 9/3/24

FILE - Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) skates on the ice during the third period of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Oilers sign Leon Draisaitl to an 8-year extension worth $112 million

The Edmonton Oilers have signed Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension worth $112 million. Draisaitl's $14 million salary cap hit beginning in 2025-26 is the highest in NHL history. … more

9/3/24

FILE - Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates with her gold medal during the medal ceremony for the women's road cycling individual time trial C1 category the at the 2012 Paralympics games, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near London.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Tatyana McFadden and Jessica Long among Paralympians to watch in Paris

Tatyana McFadden and Jessica Long are legends on the Paralympic stage. McFadden, a wheelchair racer, and Long, a swimmer, will each make their sixth Games appearance in France. She dominated the 2016 … more

By AMANDA VOGT | 9/3/24

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, reacts against Tommy Paul, of the United States, during a fourth round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

US Open: No. 1 Jannik Sinner gets past Tommy Paul to set up a quarterfinal against Daniil Medvedev

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner has reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals by beating No. 14 Tommy Paul 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1. Sinner shook off a slow start Monday night and came through in the clutch at the … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 9/3/24