Sports related news.
Second-year coach Bret Bielema and his Illinois football team are achieving at a rate not seen in the program in a long time. A very long time in some cases. The No. 24 Illini (5-1, 2-1) are ranked for the first time since 2011, out to their best start since '11, coming off their first [...]
CINCINNATI — In the midst of another heavy rebuilding process, the Cincinnati Reds were almost historically bad in 2022. The 15-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs in last week’s finale was Cincinnati's 100th, making it the worst season for the Reds since they lost 101 in 1982. "Yeah, the 100-loss season is tough to swallow [...]
For too long, Matt Dumba felt he was on his own dealing with racial taunts directed at him as a youngster growing up in Saskatchewan. It was no different for Dumba as an adult, one of just a handful of minority players in the National Hockey League. Even in a circle of his fellow players, [...]
Albert Pujols taking his final swings in October, Julio RodrÃguez stepping in for the first time. Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom facing Manny Machado and Juan Soto. Bryce Harper, back at last. José RamÃrez and his Cleveland teammates trying to break a long drought — with a new name. Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and other [...]
NEW YORK — Jim Palmer thought back to 1971, when Baltimore Orioles pitching coach George Bamberger kept scrawling marks on the underside of his cap's brim. "George, what is that?" the Hall of Fame pitcher recalled asking. "He said, 'I have a complete game clause. If you guys get 50 or more complete games, I [...]
Johnny Hockey moved East, though not as far as everyone thought. The champs out West couldn't keep the entire band together, and two teams with lengthy playoff droughts made some moves hoping to change that. Johnny Gaudreau joining Columbus headlined a busy offseason of player movement around the NHL. Darcy Kuemper left Colorado for Washington [...]
COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off the improbable, landing the hottest free agent on the market in winger Johnny Gaudreau. The 29-year old Gaudreau had a career-high 115 points last season in his ninth year with Calgary. He was lured to Columbus with a seven-year deal worth $9.75 million a season and the [...]
CLEVELAND — When Darius Garland learned about Cleveland's stunning trade, the Cavaliers' All-Star point guard first promised to keep it a secret and then ran around a basketball court in Nashville screaming. Jarrett Allen woke from an afternoon nap, groggily looked at a text on his phone that said "Donovan Mitchell" and wondered if it [...]
The College Football Playoff is built to expand. While currently only three games determine a champion, the new format is seven games: two semifinals, a title game and four marquee bowls. To convert a four-team playoff into a 12-team version requires four more games and about three more weeks. The four-team model is already scheduled [...]
Six-time All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thomas, shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis and speedy pass rusher Dwight Freeney headline the list of nine first-year eligible players picked among the 129 nominees for the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The other first-year eligibles are running back Chris Johnson, offensive lineman Jahri Evans, linebackers NaVorro [...]