National Sports - The Morning Sun

United States forward LeBron James watches play from the bench during the second half of an exhibition basketball game against Canada, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

LeBron James at 39 still is the center of attention for USA Basketball. That won't change in Paris

LeBron James still is the center of attention and that'll be the case for USA Basketball this summer. At 39 years old, starting the 22nd season of his pro career, the all-time leader in NBA points, … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 7/16/24

FILE - England's manager Gareth Southgate walks past the trophy at the end of the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Spain won 2-1. Gareth Southgate announces he will step down as England manager (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Gareth Southgate says he will step down as England manager

Gareth Southgate has announced he will step down as England manager after eight years in charge. Southgate led England to the final of Euro 2024 - losing 2-1 to Spain on Sunday. “As a proud … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 7/16/24

American League's Bobby Witt Jr., of the Kansas City Royals, connects during the MLB baseball All-Star Home Run Derby, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Witt and Hernández into HR Derby final, Alonso's bid for 3rd title ends without advancing

Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. advanced to the finals of the Home Run Derby not far from where he grew up to face Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Witt knocked out … more

By STEPHEN HAWKINS | 7/15/24

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Royals' Lugo gets first All-Star nod alongside teammate Witt, who celebrates Texas ties

Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo is a first-time All-Star who has proven he should have been a starter all along. Lugo holds no ill will toward the New York Mets after they stubbornly kept … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 7/15/24

LSU head coach Brian Kelly speaks during Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Monday, July 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Ole Miss enters 2024 trying to ignore the hype as LSU looks to defy expectations again

Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin learned a lot from Nick Saban — especially about the dangers of preseason praise and high expectations being placed upon a team by fans and media. As SEC Media Days … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 7/15/24

Tennessee starting pitcher Drew Beam throws against Texas A&M in the first inning of Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

MLB draft rolls into second day, Royals take pitcher Drew Beam from CWS-winning Tennessee

Drew Beam was a key cog of Tennessee’s pitching staff on its road to a College World Series title. Now the right-hander hopes to make an impact for the up-and-coming Kansas City Royals. Beam was … more

By DAVID BRANDT | 7/15/24

United States forward/center Anthony Davis (14) scores a basket during the first half of an exhibition basketball game against Canada, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

US wastes most of big lead, holds on to beat Australia 98-92 in tuneup for Paris Olympics

Anthony Davis scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton came up with a pair of late 3-pointers that helped stop a freefall by the Americans, and the U.S. beat Australia 98-92 on … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 7/15/24

CORRECTS FIRST NAME TO GREG, NOT GEORGE AS ORIGINALLY SENT - Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey speaks during SEC NCAA college football media days Monday, July 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey: 'Time to update your expectations for what college athletics can be'

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey unofficially opened the league’s first football season as 16-team league in North Texas. It was a setting for SEC Media Days at a time when … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 7/15/24

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore's Corbin Burnes to start against Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes in All-Star Game

Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes will start for the American League in the All-Star Game against Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes. A 29-year-old right-hander, Burnes is 9-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his first … more

By RONALD BLUM | 7/15/24

Ryan Blaney celebrates in the victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Blaney has Team Penske on a hot streak headed into into Indy for return of Brickyard 400

Team Penkse is on a hot streak. Ryan Blaney returned to victory lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his first career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second victory in the last five races this … more

By DAN GELSTON | 7/15/24

Simone Biles is heading back to the Olympics with a few of her friends. Biles and 2020 Olympians Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles are also part of the U.S. team that is heavily favored to win gold at the Paris Games. They are joined by newcomer Hezly Rivera, who performed well under pressure during the U.S. trials.

Simone Biles has moved past Tokyo. If critics can't, she says that's their problem, not hers

Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles is ready to step into the Olympic spotlight once again. The American headlines a U.S. team heavily favored to win gold in Paris. The 27-year-old Biles says she's in … more

By WILL GRAVES | 7/15/24

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette walks to the dugout after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

MLB batting average near half-century low and velocity at all-time high

Baseball can’t run away from its lack of runs. Batting averages are near half-century lows. Velocity is at an all-time high. The major league batting average was .240 through April and .239 in May, … more

By RONALD BLUM | 7/15/24

Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente gestures to Lamine Yamal after they collected their medals for winning the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Spain won 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Once Yamal and Williams helped Spain out of its 'tiki-taka' rut, no rival could resist at Euro 2024

Spain arrived in Germany with no huge stars and no real expectations. Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuente’s team heads home with a European Championship title to celebrate and reason to believe in a … more

By JOSEPH WILSON | 7/15/24

Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz (14) is pressured by Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7), left, and Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP)

Kelsey Mitchell drops 21, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark score 17 each as Fever top Lynx 81-74

Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points, Aliyah Boston had a double-double and Caitlin Clark finished with 17 points with six assists to help the Indiana Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx 81-74 on Sunday. … more

7/15/24

Tiger Woods of the United States, right, tees off the 10th hole during a practice round for the British Open Golf Championships at the Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, Monday, July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

British Open at bottom of major purses as R&A tries to keep money from getting out of hand

The British Open is raising its prize money, but not by much. The prize fund will be $17 million this year. That's up $500,000. The winner gets $3.1 million, up by $100,000 from last year. It's the … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 7/15/24

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain holds his trophy aloft after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Carlos Alcaraz wants a seat at the adult table after his second Wimbledon and fourth Slam trophy

Carlos Alcaraz is achieving all sorts of things Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic didn't by his age. The 21-year-old Spaniard already owns two Wimbledon titles and four Grand Slam … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 7/15/24

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

It's been almost a half-century since a Pittsburgh pitcher started the All-Star game

Paul Skenes is set to start the All-Star game on the mound. It's the first time since 1995 that a rookie has that honor. It’s been even longer since a Pittsburgh player has been in that spotlight. … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 7/15/24

Argentina's Lionel Messi grimaces during the Copa America final soccer match against Colombia in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Lionel Messi exits Copa America final with apparent leg injury, ankle swollen

Lionel Messi’s night ended early during the Copa America final when he emotionally exited the field in the 64th minute with an apparent leg injury on Sunday night. The 37-year-old appeared to … more

By ALANIS THAMES | 7/14/24

Policemen talk with fans outside the stadium prior to the Copa America final soccer match between Argentina and Colombia in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Fans breach security gates at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of Copa final between Argentina and Colombia

Fans appeared to breach the security gates at Hard Rock Stadium hours before the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia. Video posted on social media showed fans jumping over security … more

By ALANIS THAMES | 7/14/24

FILE - Oregon State infielder Travis Bazzana bats during an NCAA baseball game against Arizona State on April 6, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore. The Cleveland Guardians have the No. 1 overall pick in next week's draft. They have narrowed the talent pool to just a few possibilities with Oregon State second baseman Bazzana, Georgia outfielder/third baseman Charlie Condon and West Virginia middle infielder Wetherholt believed to be the frontrunning options. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)

Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana taken by Cleveland Guardians with top MLB draft pick

Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana was taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the top pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft. A former cricket, rugby and soccer player who came to the … more

By RONALD BLUM | 7/14/24