National Sports - The Morning Sun

FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Matt Chapman celebrates after his walkoff double against the Boston Red Sox during ninth-inning baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. Chapman and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Third baseman Matt Chapman and Giants reach a $54 million, 3-year deal, AP source says

A person familiar with the negotiations says third baseman Matt Chapman and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract. Chapman will get $20 million this year and can … more

By RONALD BLUM | 3/2/24

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, steers his car into a corner at the start of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

F1 champion Max Verstappen wins season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix amid Red Bull turmoil

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen eased to victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix despite the turmoil surrounding his Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Verstappen started on pole … more

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH | 3/2/24

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) points after an Iowa basket scored during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

WNBA teams see increase in ticket sales after Caitlin Clark announces plans to enter draft

Soon after Caitlin Clark announced her plans to enter the WNBA draft, the Indiana Fever’s ticket offices got noticeably busier. Pacers Sports and Entertainment says in a statement that the … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 3/2/24

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stands in his team garage during the third practice session ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FIA president: Red Bull boss Christian Horner controversy is ‘damaging the sport’ - report

The president of Formula 1’s governing body tells the Financial Times the controversy around Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is damaging the sport but that the FIA won’t conduct its own … more

3/2/24

Chicago Bulls' DeMar DeRozan collides with Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo under the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 46 points, 16 rebounds in Bucks' 113-97 victory over Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated with 46 points and 16 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 113-97 on Friday night. The Bucks led by 14 at halftime and went on a 17-0 run after … more

By ANDREW SELIGMAN | 3/2/24

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) jumps with the ball while being guarded by Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, right, and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2024, in Toronto. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Raptors star Scottie Barnes out indefinitely with broken middle finger on left hand

Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes will be sidelined indefinitely after he broke the middle finger on his left hand during the first half of Friday night’s loss to Golden State. Barnes won the NBA … more

3/1/24

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) drives past Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Celtics overcome Doncic's triple-double to beat Mavericks 138-110 for 10th straight win

Jayson Tatum made five 3-pointers and scored 32 points and the Boston Celtics overcame Luka Doncic’s second straight triple-double to beat the Dallas Mavericks 138-110 and extend their season-best … more

By KYLE HIGHTOWER | 3/1/24

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

QBs Williams, Maye and Daniels could go 1-2-3 in NFL draft. Or WR Harrison could bump them down

Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels arrived in Indianapolis as Heisman Trophy winners. Drake Maye is seeking to add to his family’s impressive athletic legacy. And the only player who might prevent … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 3/1/24

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scowls after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Analysis: LeBron James scoring 40,000 points will be a moment for NBA to savor

Father Time is likely to take another loss on Saturday. LeBron James is nine points away from becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 in a career. It’s obviously reasonable to think that … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 3/1/24

FILE - Indiana Pacers center Scot Pollard reacts as time runs out in the Pacers' 96-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, March 3, 2005 in Denver. Pollard was admitted to intensive care this week, where he waits for a heart transplant. He was admitted to intensive care at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 and he will wait there until a donor surfaces who was big enough to be a match. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

After heart transplant, ex-NBA player Scot Pollard plans to campaign for organ donations

Ex-NBA player and “Survivor” contestant Scot Pollard has been discharged from the hospital following his heart transplant. He says he wants to help persuade others to become organ donors. He's … more

By JIMMY GOLEN | 3/1/24

FILE - Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy, left, takes a punch from Detroit Red Wings' goaltender Mike Vernon during a first-period brawl in Detroit, March 26, 1997. League rule changes have made it so punitive that goalie fighting has essentially disappeared from the highest level of hockey. (AP Photo/Tom Pidgeon, File)

Goalie fights, often a crowd favorite, have almost completely disappeared from the NHL

Goaltenders Robert Esche and Patrick Lalime was just one of the more memorable parts of the record-setting brawl between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators in 2004. Two decades later, goalie … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 3/1/24

FILE - Australia's Josh Addo-Carr celebrates at the end of the Rugby League World Cup final match between Australia and Samoa at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. When deciding whether to try to expand its impact to the United States, Australia's National Rugby League used a distinctly American sport as a model. A doubleheader Saturday night, March 2, 2024, at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, which hosted the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, will be televised nationally in the U.S. on FS1.(AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Australia's National Rugby League following NFL model in trying to expand its footprint to the US

Four National Rugby League teams open their season Saturday night when the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles play the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters meet the Brisbane Broncos. Those games … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 2/29/24

FILE - Pac-12 Senior Associate Commissioner Teresa Gould speaks during Pac-12 Conference NCAA college basketball media day Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in San Francisco. The Pac-12 has promoted Teresa Gould to commissioner as the conference tries to navigate a murky future. “Teresa’s deep knowledge of collegiate athletics and unwavering commitment to student-athletes makes her uniquely qualified to help guide the Pac-12 Conference during this period of unprecedented change in college sports,” Washington State University President and Pac-12 Board of Directors chair Kirk Schulz said in a statement on Monday, Feb.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

New Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould: Oregon St., Wash. St, encouraged by interest in media rights

New Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould says the conference’s two remaining members, Oregon State and Washington State, are encouraged by the interest in the media rights to the schools’ home … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 2/29/24

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, left, gestures during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Iowa star Caitlin Clark declares for WNBA Draft, will skip final season of college eligilbility

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark says she will will leave the Hawkeyes after this season and enter the WNBA Draft. Clark made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter. more

2/29/24

THIS CORRECTS THE DATE TO JAN. 31, 1970, NOT JAN. 28, 1979, AS ORIGINALLY SENT - - FILE - Pete Maravich (23) gets a boost from players and fans after he broke the all-time scoring record in Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 31, 1970. Calmly looking on at far left center is Pete's dad, Press, who coaches the Louisiana State Tigers. Those who played with, followed or knew the late Maravich are conflicted about the seemingly inevitable moment — likely this Sunday — when he could be supplanted by Iowa women's basketball sensation Caitlin Clark atop the NCAA's all-time scoring list. (AP Photo/File)

For some, Pete Maravich's NCAA scoring mark cannot be eclipsed by Caitlin Clark or anyone else

Iowa star Caitlin Clark is close to passing the late Pete Maravich as the all-time scorer in NCAA basketball history. Maravich's son Jaeson calls Clark a fantastic player who's been great for … more

By BRETT MARTEL | 2/29/24

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits from the rough on the eighth green during the first round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Ramey shoots a bogey-free 64 at PGA National, grabs early lead at Cognizant Classic

Chad Ramey’s first two trips to PGA National as a professional were largely forgettable. He might have a chance to change that this week. Ramey shot a bogey-free round of 7-under 64 on Thursday in … more

2/29/24

Analysis: Big Ten and SEC power play undermines credibility of playoff, marginalizes ACC and Big 12

The 12-team College Football Playoff that was unveiled in 2021 looked like an exciting evolution of the postseason. After three years of destructive conference realignment, the playoff that was … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 2/29/24

Spain's team captain Irene Paredes lifts the trophy after winning the Women's Nations League final soccer match between Spain and France at La Cartuja stadium in Seville, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Spain won 2-0. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Spain women celebrate another soccer title. This time without the distractions

Spain’s women’s soccer team is finally getting attention for its play on the field, rather than the behavior of its officials. Spain followed up its Women’s World Cup win in August with victory … more

By TALES AZZONI | 2/29/24

Work continues on a the new Kansas City Current soccer stadium Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The National Women's Soccer League team will open their season on March 16 in the new stadium which is the first built specifically for a professional woman's soccer team. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The first stadium built for a National Women's Soccer League club is ready to open in Kansas City

The Kansas City Current are preparing to open one of the few stadiums in the world built expressly for a women's sports team. CPKC Stadium was built at a cost of nearly $120 million and almost … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 2/29/24

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner during the first practice session ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull F1 boss Horner says team unity never stronger after complaint dismissed

Christian Horner has been on the Red Bull pit wall at the first Formula 1 practice session of the year, a day after the team’s parent company said a complaint of alleged misconduct against him had … more

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH | 2/29/24