WASHINGTON (AP) — Emma Raducanu reached the semifinals at the D.C. Open — the biggest tournament ...

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Emma Raducanu reached the semifinals at the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">D.C. Open</a> — the biggest tournament where she's made it that far since her surprising <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-championships-sports-europe-tennis-emma-raducanu-e2431b8661585d28f9ea437b1f80c47f">2021 U.S. Open title</a> — by eliminating Maria Sakkari 6-4, 7-5 on Friday.
On a muggy day with the temperature topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), Raducanu took a medical timeout while reeling off the last five games of the match after trailing 5-2 in the second set. 
“I would like to say I’m pretty good in the heat, for the most part, but I was really struggling today,” said Raducanu, who was 18 when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles trophy. “It was one of the toughest matches, conditions-wise, I have ever played in. ... Those points in the second set, I was getting a bit wobbly. I’m just happy I could close it out, and it was two sets.”
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Also reaching the semifinals at the hard-court tournament in Washington was Leylah Fernandez, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-championships-sports-new-york-serena-williams-emma-raducanu-7cad95b0400651b031c48cf22dcf3539">the runner-up to Raducanu at Flushing Meadows</a> four years ago. Fernandez moved on with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over qualifier Taylor Townsend on Thursday.
Next for Fernandez is a matchup against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the highest remaining seed in the field at No. 3, or No. 5 Magdanela Frech, the player who beat <a href="https://apnews.com/article/venus-williams-us-open-cincinnati-fce37ae0bf3824299e34986c7d59c513">Venus Williams</a> on Thursday night.
Raducanu's semifinal opponent Saturday will be No. 4 Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya.
The first man to reach the semifinals was Corentin Moutet, a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniil-medvedev-dc-open-us-open-7163d2632e24fdcfdd5e59f903c87d46">2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev</a>. The match was delayed for about an hour late in the third set because of lightning in the area.
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AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a>
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: Leylah Fernandez of Canada returns a shot against Taylor Townsend of the United States during a women's singles match on day 5 of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on July 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Fernandez, Raducanu reach semifinals in Washington

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia's Aaron Nola threw 56 pitches to batters Friday as he ramped up his ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia's Aaron Nola threw 56 pitches to batters Friday as he ramped up his comeback from a sprained right ankle and fractured rib that have sidelined him since May.A 32-year-old right-hander, Nola could make his first minor league rehab start next week.“The ankle went a lot longer than I thought it was going to, but the ankle felt really good today, and the rib felt really good today,” Nola said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He hurt his ankle during agility drills on May 8. Nola made a pair of ineffective starts and was placed on the IL effective May 15.Nola threw a bullpen session on June 1 and felt sore a few days later. An MRI showed a stress fracture of a rib, Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed June 10.“I’d like to see him get to at least 90 pitches,” Thomson said. "The first time out, it’ll probably be the same as this was today, 55, 60 pitches. And then we’ll start graduating 15 pitches per outing to get him to 90."Nola is on the IL for a physical injury for the first time since 2017. He was 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA in nine starts and 49 2/3 innings.“I feel like I have a lot of bullets left right now,” Nola said. “But obviously I have to be smart about it, too.”Nola has a 105-86 record and 3.78 ERA in 277 starts over 11 big league seasons. He allowed 13 runs over 8 2/3 innings with the bad ankle.“The ankle, I use it a lot more than I thought I did. Both ankles,” he said.Nola said the ankle injury caused the rib problem.“I wasn’t able to rotate as much as I usually do. My rib, I guess, took the brunt of the work and ended up getting a stress fracture,” he said.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/MLB</a>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 21, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Phillies 5-4.

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Phillies' Nola throws to batters, ramping up return from injuries

HOUSTON (AP) — The Athletics have shut down pitcher José Leclerc and say the reliever will have r...

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HOUSTON (AP) — The Athletics have shut down pitcher José Leclerc and say the reliever will have right shoulder surgery.
The A's Brian Schulman, the director of sports medicine and performance, said Friday that Dr. Keith Meister will perform the surgery in Dallas “in the upcoming weeks.” 
Leclerc has been on the injured list since April 23 with a right lat strain. He had started to play catch, but Schulman said the instability of his shoulder would not allow him to throw with more effort and intensity.
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“This is a tough one, not just for us but for him, personally,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “You never know what the surgery is going to entail. We’re hopeful that there’s a quick recovery for him, for his career.”
The 31-year-old Leclerc appeared in 10 games for the Athletics this season after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/athletics-leclerc-contract-aa82f1ca9f0e51837a3d7af91f446856">signing a one-year, $10 million contract</a> in January. He has a 6.00 ERA with eight strikeouts over nine innings.
Leclerc has a career record of 12-21 and 41 saves with a 3.34 ERA in 369 1/3 innings in 360 games with 481 strikeouts since breaking in with Texas in 2016. He was with the Rangers through the 2024 season.
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AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/MLB</a>
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DENVER, CO - APRIL 04: José Leclerc #37 of the Athletics warms his hands in the snow in the eighth inning during the game between the Athletics and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday, April 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

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Athletics' Leclerc will undergo shoulder surgery

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Atlanta Braves activated third baseman Austin Riley from the injured ...

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Atlanta Braves activated third baseman Austin Riley from the injured list on Friday ahead of a weekend series at Texas.
Riley hadn't played since straining an abdominal muscle while making a throw on July 11 against St. Louis.
The 28-year-old was hitting .274 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs at the time of the injury. The two-time All-Star's return comes with Atlanta fading as the trade deadline approaches.
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The Braves entered Friday 10 games out of the last wild-card spot in the National League and were 3-5 during Riley's absence.
To make room for Riley on the 26-man roster, Atlanta optioned infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Triple-A Gwinnett.
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AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/MLB</a>
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) reacts to a called third strike during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 2, 2025 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

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Braves activate Riley from injured list

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — The Purdue Boilermakers believe the alleged leaking of a playbook fro...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — The Purdue Boilermakers believe the alleged leaking of a playbook from defensive back Tahj Ra-El, a former Memphis player, to UTSA quarterback Owen McCown has been “mischaracterized.”Ra-El left Memphis in the middle of last season and has since transferred to Purdue, where coach Barry Odom is in his first season.“Our coaching staff sees this scenario as being mischaracterized and does not have any concerns moving forward,” the athletic department said in a statement given to The Associated Press on Friday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The controversy erupted last week when On3 published screenshots of an alleged conversation between the former high school teammates from Charlotte, North Carolina.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Leaked DMs Stir Controversy A wild situation is unfolding as DMs allegedly show former Memphis DB Tahj Ra-El sending UTSA QB Owen McCown the Tigers’ defensive signals and playbook before their matchup last year UTSA went on to win the game 44–36 📸: <a href="https://twitter.com/On3sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@on3sports</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dcpv3domUL">pic.twitter.com/Dcpv3domUL</a>— Texas Football Life (@txfblife) <a href="https://twitter.com/txfblife/status/1948542515906220403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>“Far left is coverages. I’ll send you better list showing you the call,” the screenshot showed Ra-El wrote. “But they run qtrs none of they safeties can cover btw (sic).”Ra-El also reportedly told McCown that starting safety Kourtlan Marsh had an injured hamstring. Marsh didn’t play in the game, which UTSA won 44-36 after scoring 30 consecutive points to erase a 24-14 halftime deficit.During the American Conference media days, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said the information had “no bearing whatsoever” on the outcome of that game, even though he said he had not heard about the allegations until last week.“The stuff he sent him didn’t make any sense, so he didn’t tell me,” Traylor said. “He was just being nice to his buddy. It got blown out of context in my opinion.”McCown threw for 3,424 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 13 games last season, his first as the Roadrunners' starter. They finished 7-6 and beat Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield reportedly said he and Traylor were seated across from each other during a media day event, and they decided it was best to move on from the controversy.___AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 14: Defensive Back Tahj Ra-El #9 of the Memphis Tigers jumps up to makes an interception on a pass play intended for Tight End Kyle Morlock #84 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 14, 2024 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Seminoles 20 to 12.

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Purdue: Alleged playbook leaking from ex-Memphis player 'mischaracterized'

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday the club didn't rush into its decis...

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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday the club didn't rush into its decision to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wilkins-raiders-contract-foot-injury-d4a0a44c7e012f6d5ac190586be0e656?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">release defensive tackle Christian Wilkins</a> the day before over a dispute regarding his recovery from a broken foot.
“We took a long time to make our decision,” Carroll said. “We watched our way through the whole thing. We're keeping it really clear with what we said. I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just had to move on.”
His comments largely echoed the statement issued by the Las Vegas organization on Thursday. The Raiders didn't mince worse with an unusually strongly-worded statement, saying that Wilkins failed to provide a "clear path or plan for future return to play.”
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Wilkins was injured in Week 5 last season and had some sort of setback in his recovery that took him out of offseason practices and landed him <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wilkins-raiders-pup-list-c4419b8430e77a5ff0458cafbf1d70ae?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">on the physically unable to perform list</a> shortly before training camp opened Wednesday.
Wilkins, 29, was the Raiders’ marquee free-agent signing last year, agreeing to a four-year, $110 million contract with $82.75 million guaranteed. The Raiders reportedly are voiding the remaining $35.25 million of Wilkins’ deal.
Wilkins has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association, a person with knowledge of the situation said. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.
The Raiders will have a dead-salary cap of $29.8 million even if they win the grievance.
With Wilkins off the roster, Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu ran first team at tackle this week in practice. Butler started 16 games last season, finishing with 65 tackles, eight for loss and five sacks. Laulu started seven games as a rookie, making 35 tackles, with three for loss and a sack. Both players were in all 17 games.
“This place is about competition,” Carroll said. “It always has been. It's wide open. I'm not going to talk about any names right now. If you watch the rotations, we're giving everybody a chance. We're mixing the (starters) with the (backups) all the way throughout just to gather a bunch of information.”
Wilkins was brought to Las Vegas to add an even stronger presence to a defensive line that includes pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. He had a career-high nine sacks in 2023 with Miami to go with his elite run stopping ability.
The hopes of forming one of the NFL’s most imposing defensive lines took a major hit when all three linemen suffered season-ending injuries, though Crosby and Koonce are back practicing. Crosby was nearly unblockable Friday as the team continued to work in non-padded practices.
Wilkins had two sacks and 17 tackles in five games before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/christian-wilkins-raiders-injury-surgery-69667f5a010ce79670ebc9e85c475eac">injuring his foot</a>, which required surgery. He suffered a Jones fracture — a break of the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot.
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AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>
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HENDERSON, NEVADA - MAY 29: Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins #94 of the Las Vegas Raiders stretches during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on May 29, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada.

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Carroll: Raiders didn't rush into decision to release Wilkins

The NFL is fining about 100 players and two dozen club employees for violating league policy by s...

The NFL is fining about 100 players and two dozen club employees for violating league policy by selling Super Bowl 59 tickets for above face value, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press on Friday.The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said the players who resold their tickets will have to pay a fine of 1 1/2 times the face value they paid. They also won’t be permitted to buy tickets for the next two Super Bowls unless they are playing in the game.Club employees who violated the policy will be fined two times face value.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>In a memo sent to teams and obtained by the AP, NFL head of compliance Sabrina Perel said the league was still completing its investigation.“Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.”The “bundlers” will face increased penalties, per the memo.According to the CBA, players on all 32 teams can purchase two tickets for the Super Bowl.“In advance of Super Bowl LX, we will be enhancing the mandatory compliance training regarding the Policy for all League personnel, which will emphasize the specific requirements of the Policy and the broader principle that no one should profit personally from their NFL affiliation at the expense of our fans,” Perel said in the memo. “We will also increase the penalties for future violations of this Policy. All clubs must ensure their personnel understand and comply with this policy. Additional details regarding the enhanced compliance measures will be provided in early fall.”The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9 in a Super Bowl rematch from two years ago.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/NFL</a>

Football: Super Bowl LIX: A view of the Super Bowl logo during the Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs game at Caesar's Superdome. New Orleans, LA 2/9/2025 CREDIT: Kohjiro Kinno (Set Number: X164677 TK1)

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Report: NFL fining over 100 players for selling Super Bowl tickets above face value

The global soccer players' union hit back at FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino on Friday, s...

The global soccer players' union hit back at FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino on Friday, saying their autocratic style of leadership was harming the rights of its members."Football needs responsible leadership, not emperors," the FIFPRO network said after a meeting of 58 national player unions responded to FIFA pursuing its agenda with unofficial player representatives."It needs fewer autocratic monologues and more genuine, inclusive and transparent dialogue," the union added.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>FIFA announced two weeks ago it reached a consensus on key issues after Infantino hosted a group of mostly non-recognized officials in New York ahead of the Club World Cup final.The latest rift between soccer's governing body and its players' unions flared while the European Commission in Brussels is considering a formal complaint against FIFA. It was filed by FIFPRO's European division and national leagues in Europe against FIFA's style of governance and decision-making.FIFPRO said FIFA's core agenda included an overloaded global match calendar with too many games for elite players, lack of physical and mental recovery periods and extreme playing conditions.Players at the month-long Club World Cup in the United States reported feeling dizzy and unwell in the heat of daytime games played to appeal to worldwide TV audiences.The 63-game tournament backed by Saudi Arabian money was lucrative for clubs, especially in Europe, though FIFA added it to the schedule without formally consulting players.The tournament, FIFPRO said, was "celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes."FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players — rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance," the Netherlands-based union said of FIFA."This is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game," FIFPRO said, adding it was "unacceptable for an organization that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players."FIFA was approached for comment.FIFPRO has not had a formal working agreement with FIFA since the previous one expired in 2023.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

METLIFE STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES - 2025/07/13: Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, applauds during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final football match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC. Chelsea FC won 3-0 over Paris Saint-Germain FC.

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Players' union slams 'autocratic' FIFA in fallout from Club World Cup

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Justin Fields was back on the field for the New York Jets, but he didn’...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Justin Fields was back on the field for the New York Jets, but he didn’t practice Friday — still a welcome sight for fans who were nervously holding their breath 24 hours earlier.The quarterback <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jets-justin-fields-2b75b7ccfa2eb665f5f41378dbc36515">dislocated a toe on his right foot</a> early in practice Thursday and was carted from the field to the facility, where he had multiple tests before the team announced the diagnosis. Coach Aaron Glenn said Fields will be day to day and the Jets won’t rush him back into practice.“It is early, but also we want to make sure we get as many reps as we can with him,” Glenn said Friday after the team’s first practice of training camp with fans in attendance. “So when he’s ready to come back, we’ll make sure he’s out on the field, make sure he’s getting those reps. Now, he’s going to be in meetings, he’s going to be in all those things.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“But for the most part, man, we’re going to work together and make sure it’s collaborative as far as when he gets back on the field.”Fields wore his helmet as he spent most of practice on the sideline and with the rest of the offense while appearing to walk without a noticeable limp. Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor led the offense during practice, with Adrian Martinez and rookie Brady Cook also receiving snaps.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
7️⃣ <a href="https://t.co/qLRGAGBRHI">pic.twitter.com/qLRGAGBRHI</a>— New York Jets (@nyjets) <a href="https://twitter.com/nyjets/status/1948723918442787154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Fields was hurt when a teammate stepped on his foot while he threw an incomplete pass to Jeremy Ruckert on his fifth play of team drills. The quarterback sat on the grass for a few moments before getting up and limping badly to the sideline while helped by a trainer. He then sat in the passenger seat of a cart that took him from the field to the facility, where he got up and walked under his own power.In the hours before the Jets confirmed the nature and severity of the injury, social media was buzzing about whether Fields could miss significant time.“The huge storm that was created really made no sense,” Glenn said. “And I think that’s a lesson for all of us of, guys, let’s just wait until we get the diagnosis. And I will not BS you, all right? I will tell you exactly what it is and we’ll move on. So that shouldn’t happen again.”Fields is in his first season with the Jets after playing last year in Pittsburgh. He spent his first three NFL seasons in Chicago after being the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Ohio State. Among the attributes that made him attractive to New York, which signed him to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jets-justin-fields-fbdc728ee15c4e3a334f5bfa09b59b09">a two-year, $40 million deal</a> in March, is his ability to make plays with his legs — something Glenn isn’t concerned will be compromised by the injury.“If Justin gets back to practice, that means he’s ready to go,” Glenn said. “So he’s going to be himself and I’m not going to hold him back from being himself. Now, the thing is we don’t want anybody to step on his toe, but he has to be himself when he’s out there because, to me, I try to make sure practice emulates games as much as possible. So I want him to be himself as he’s going through his practice.”In the meantime, Taylor — who turns 36 on Aug. 3 and is the Jets’ oldest player on the roster — will continue to work with the starting offense. He had a very solid practice until the final period, when the session ended on an interception by Andre Cisco.“Justin is a brother of mine and I’ve been knowing him before he got here,” Taylor said, adding that the two often train together. “First and foremost, I wanted to make sure he was mentally good and physically good. I know that’s tough and it’s unfortunate in this game that we play that injuries happen, so you never want to see that happen to anyone, especially someone you know personally.”___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/NFL</a>

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 21: Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Jets' Fields returns day after dislocating toe, doesn't practice

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will play a preseason game in Japan that it had previously said...

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will play a preseason game in Japan that it had previously said was canceled after resolving a contractual dispute with the promoter, the Spanish champion said Friday.Barcelona said that its team was traveling to Japan where it will play a friendly against Vissel Kobe on Sunday.The club said that it and the promoter have "resolved all the issues that two days prior obliged Barcelona to cancel its participation" in the game. Barcelona has not named the promoter or given more detail about the dispute.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>After Japan, Barcelona also plans to visit South Korea to play FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on Aug. 4.Like other big clubs, Barcelona — which has struggled with large debts in recent years — uses the summer to play exhibition games abroad as a way to earn extra cash.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - JULY 17: Hansi Flick, head coach during FC Barcelona preseason training day at the Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on July 17, 2025 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain.

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Barcelona will play friendly in Japan after promoter dispute is resolved

Oscar Piastri beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix ...

Oscar Piastri beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull began its first <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one">Formula 1</a> race weekend since the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-bull-laurent-mekies-christian-horner-5b46316c297ad528594cda403d5e332d">firing of Christian Horner</a> as team principal.Red Bull has been the focus of attention in F1 after Horner’s dismissal earlier this month, but Piastri, Verstappen and Lando Norris showed the title fight remains vibrant ahead of Saturday’s sprint.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1Sprint?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1Sprint</a> grid is set ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BelgianGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BelgianGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/szntxYIrNK">pic.twitter.com/szntxYIrNK</a>— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1948773809613320688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Piastri was at risk of being eliminated after straying off track in the second part of the session but bounced back to take pole by .477 of a second from Red Bull’s Verstappen, who split the two dominant McLarens by relegating Norris to third, .618 off the pace.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“The car’s been mega all day,” Piastri said on Friday. “This is a track I love, it’s my favorite one of the year and maybe that gave me a couple of extra tenths (of a second).”Norris’ emotional <a href="https://apnews.com/article/f1-british-grand-prix-verstappen-piastri-norris-31758f43eaf5ee92d3a878625c14e5f6">win in the rain</a> at the British Grand Prix cut Piastri’s championship lead to eight points, while Piastri <a href="https://apnews.com/article/piastri-mclaren-f1-penalty-lando-norris-565da077e4e53761d3903aac183b62ae">fumed</a> at what he saw as the unfair penalty he received at Silverstone.Friday was the first test of the Australian driver’s vow to harness the “frustration” he felt to win more races. And just like at Silverstone, rain could play a big part this weekend. It may affect both Saturday’s sprint and the Grand Prix on Sunday.Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari and Haas had a strong day with Esteban Ocon fifth and Oliver Bearman seventh. Yuki Tsunoda continued to struggle in the second Red Bull, qualifying 12th for the sprint, and it was a poor session for Mercedes, with George Russell 13th and Kimi Antonelli 20th.<h3>Red Bull uncertainty</h3>Red Bull’s new team principal Laurent Mekies says he hasn’t been told why its parent company chose to fire Horner.Amid rampant speculation across Formula 1, Red Bull’s parent company hasn’t explained its reasons for removing Horner from his role after 20 years. Mekies said his appointment was “a surprise for everyone”.“We didn’t get into the ‘why?’ and the ‘why now?’, but they outlined the sort of objectives they had for the team moving forward,” said Mekies, who is in charge of the team for the first time at the Belgian Grand Prix after moving up from sister team Racing Bulls.Mekies has been in contact with Horner, who he said was “nothing else than supportive, even in the extremely difficult context.”One thing has stayed the same — Verstappen’s future remains uncertain. The Dutch driver said Thursday that Horner was like a “second family” but that his removal <a href="https://apnews.com/article/verstappen-horner-red-bull-7e91cba0a3c48b1d3b0552694e403a3d">wouldn’t affect</a> his plans.Verstappen said he still hoped to remain with Red Bull for the rest of his career but noted that “life is unpredictable.” In an extra twist, Russell indicated to broadcaster Sky Sports on Thursday that he believed Verstappen and Mercedes remained in talks.“I’m sure Max wants a fast car and if we get him a fast car, I’m sure it’s canceling out all the other considerations,” Mekies said Friday, adding that if that happens it could be “an easy call for Max.”<h3>Hamilton in a spin</h3>Lewis Hamilton has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-f1-8e7d7acd456c982915affb9fc4ffc06a">declared</a> it’s “crunch time” for him at Ferrari, but there was more disappointment for the British driver as he spun at the final chicane in sprint qualifying and finished 18th.The seven-time champion, yet to finish on the podium in a Grand Prix since joining Ferrari, revealed Thursday he’s been setting up a series of meetings not just with top team personnel, but with Ferrari’s corporate leadership. Hamilton’s seeking “structural adjustments” and to make sure his voice is part of Ferrari’s development plans for 2026.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

Oscar Piastri of McLaren after Sprint Qualifying ahead of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium on July 25, 2025.

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Piastri beats Verstappen to Belgium sprint pole as Red Bull's post-Horner era begins

MEXICO CITY (AP) — When former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas got an offer to play in Mexico...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — When former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas got an offer to play in Mexico for UNAM Pumas, he knew who to ask for advice.The Costa Rica goalkeeper called his ex-Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos, as well as Costa Rica coach Miguel Herrera, before he eventually agreed to join Pumas in the top-tier Liga MX on a reported one-year contract. The move follows a six-month stint in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys.The 38-year-old Navas was introduced on Thursday as the Mexican side revamps its roster to try to end a 14-year spell without winning a league title.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm here eager to give my all, to push myself, and to be on the pitch playing at my best," Navas said. "I have the mentality to make history, to be able to win a title. I believe we can achieve those goals by working with humility."No details were given but Newell's Old Boys said it will receive $2 million as part of the deal.<h3>Ramos on Mexico</h3>Navas and Ramos played together for five seasons with Madrid, winning three Champions League titles. The pair also joined forces at Paris Saint-Germain where they were part of the team that won the Ligue 1 title in 2022.The 39-year-old Ramos signed with Mexican team Monterrey earlier this year."Sergio told me a little about his experience in Mexico. I know James (Rodriguez) is also here and playing at a high level," Navas said at a press conference. "Liga MX is growing and is very competitive, with a very good infrastructure, and I thought I'd come to a club where we can compete for titles."James Rodriguez, who played with Navas and Ramos for four seasons with Madrid, also plays in Mexico with Leon.Pumas had already bought Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, Colombian left back Alvaro Angulo and Ecuador midfielder Pedro Vite.<h3>Help from Herrera</h3>Navas also called Herrera, who had coached six first division teams in Mexico before he was hired as coach of the Costa Rica men’s national team as it attempts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup."I spoke with Miguel because he knows the league and the club well, and he told me I should sign without a doubt," Navas said. "I'm joining a big club, and having him in the national team helps you make these decisions."Navas also made the decision to move closer to Central America because his national team has World Cup qualifying games, starting in September, with Los Ticos in Group C with Honduras, Haiti and Nicaragua.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JULY 24: (L-R) President of Pumas UNAM Luis Raul Gonzalez, newly signed player Keylor Navas and Sports Strategy Vicepresident of Pumas UNAM Eduardo Saracho pose holding the new Keylor Navas' jersey during his unveiling as new player of Pumas UNAM at La Cantera on July 24, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Keylor Navas wants 'to make history' with Pumas

Hulk Hogan was billed as "The Immortal One" and the former WWE champion seemed to believe it as h...

Hulk Hogan was billed as "The Immortal One" and the former WWE champion seemed to believe it as he bellowed in his red-and-yellow attire throughout sold-out arenas around the world in the 1980s and into this century that Hulkamania would live forever.Hogan was the first wrestler to host "Saturday Night Live," the only wrestler to flex his 24-inch pythons on the cover of Sports Illustrated and stood tall as the hated Thunderlips against Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa on the big screen.One by one, Hogan took on the biggest, baddest and all the larger-than-life cartoon characters who helped skyrocket the WWE into a mainstream phenomenon in the late 1980s and early 1990s.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hogan's death Thursday at the age of 71 made him just the latest superstar in what some fans and historians would call wrestling's greatest era - in a time where staid Saturday morning television exploded into late-night must-see sports entertainment - to face the final 10-bell salute.Hogan wrestled in a tag-team match at the first WrestleMania in 1985. Mr. T is the lone surviving actor from the rest of the participants that included "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. The wrestler Hogan defeated to win his first WWE championship, the hated Iron Sheik, has also diedAndre the Giant, Randy Savage, Dusty Rhodes, the Ultimate Warrior and so many headline stars that also include "Mr. Perfect" and "Ravishing" Rick Rude from an era in which personality - and yes, performance-enhancing drugs that led to a spike in super-sized bodies - reigned more than in-ring ability that dominates today's wrestling landscape.Here's a look at some of professional wrestling's greatest performers from Hogan's era who have died.<h3>The Ultimate Warrior</h3>Wearing face paint and dressed in tassels dangling from his biceps, the Ultimate Warrior sprinted to the ring when his theme music hit. He'd shake the ropes, grunt and howl, and thump his chest while the crowd went wild for the popular good guy.In an era when the WWE targeted kids as its primary audience, Warrior was a perfect fit with a spastic entrance, blood-pumping music, flowing locks and always dressed in electric colors from head to boots.His rambling, incoherent promos both energized and confused fans, and Warrior would often stare down at his hands as he spoke, as if he was summoning magical powers out of his fingertips.The Ultimate Warrior became the first wrestler to defeat Hogan in a WrestleMania match in 1990 when he used his finishing running splash for the pin. He won the championship in front of 67,678 fans at Toronto's SkyDome in a match billed as "The Ultimate Challenge."Warrior died in 2014 at 54.<h3>'Rowdy' Roddy Piper</h3>Piper trash talked his way to the main event of the first WrestleMania and later found movie stardom.Piper and Hogan battled for years and headlined some of the biggest matches during the 1980s. Hogan and Mr. T defeated Piper and Orndorff on March 31, 1985, at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.Piper was a villain for the early portion of his career, once cracking a coconut over the skull of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. He later starred in the movie "They Live."Piper died in 2015 at 61.<h3>'Macho Man' Randy Savage</h3>Snap into it!Savage, a former minor league baseball catcher, was known for his raspy voice, the sunglasses and bandanas he wore in the ring and the young woman named Miss Elizabeth who often accompanied him.Savage defined the larger-than-life personalities of the 1980s World Wrestling Federation. He wore sequined robes bejeweled with "Macho Man" on the back, rainbow-colored cowboy hats and oversized sunglasses, part of a unique look that helped build the WWF into a mainstream phenomenon.He spent years as a pitchman for Slim Jim and barked "snap into it!" on commercials that air to this day.The WWF made Savage their champion after a win over Ted DiBiase in the main event at WrestleMania in 1988. He lost the championship at the next year's WrestleMania to Hogan.Savage died in 2011 at 58.<h3>'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes</h3>Dusty Rhodes, known better as the "The American Dream," was a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and held the NWA championship three times. He became famous during the height of wrestling's popularity in the 1970s and 1980 with his long-running feud with Ric Flair, now wrestling's greatest living legend.Throughout his several decades in the ring, the Austin, Texas, native endeared himself to fans as an everyman with a less than stellar physique, but a gregarious gift of gab behind a microphone.Rhodes was also the father of two other famous professional wrestlers: one son known as Goldust, still a champion in the rival All Elite Wrestling, and one of WWE's biggest stars, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, who will face John Cena next month in the main event of SummerSlam.Rhodes died in 2015 at 69.

American wrestlers 'Macho Man' Randy Savage (left) and Hulk Hogan attending the NATPE Convention in Las Vegas, January 23rd 1996.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order mandating that fed...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order mandating that federal authorities clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of the schools they play for in an attempt to create clearer national standards in the NCAA’s name, image and likeness era.Trump directed the secretary of labor and the National Labor Relations Board to clarify the status of collegiate athletes through guidance or rules “that will maximize the educational benefits and opportunities provided by higher education institutions through athletics.” The order does not provide or suggest specifics on the controversial topic of college athlete employment.The move comes after months of speculation about whether Trump will establish a college sports commission to tackle some of the thorny issues facing what is now a multibillion-dollar industry. He instead issued an order intended to add some controls to “an out-of-control, rudderless system in which competing university donors engage in bidding wars for the best players, who can change teams each season.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Absent guardrails to stop the madness and ensure a reasonable, balanced use of resources across collegiate athletic programs that preserves their educational and developmental benefits, many college sports will soon cease to exist,” Trump’s order says. “It is common sense that college sports are not, and should not be, professional sports, and my administration will take action accordingly.”There has been a dramatic increase in money flowing into and around college athletics and a sense of chaos. Key court victories won by athletes angry that they were barred for decades from earning income based on their celebrity and from sharing in the billions of revenue they helped generate have gutted the amateurism model long at the heart of college sports.Facing a growing number of state laws undercutting its authority, the NCAA in July 2021 cleared the way for athletes to cash in with NIL deals with brands and sponsors — deals now worth millions. That came mere days after a 9-0 decision from the Supreme Court that found the NCAA cannot impose caps on education-related benefits schools provide to their athletes because such limits violate antitrust law.The NCAA’s embrace of NIL deals set the stage for another massive change that took effect July 1: The ability of schools to begin paying millions of dollars to their own athletes, up to $20.5 million per school over the next year. The $2.8 billion House settlement shifts even more power to athletes, who have also won the ability to transfer from school to school without waiting to play.At Big Ten Conference football media days in Las Vegas, Purdue coach Barry Odom was asked about the Trump order.“We’ve gotten to the point where government is involved. Obviously, there’s belief it needs to be involved,” he said. “We’ll get it all worked out. The game’s been around for a hundred years and it’s going to be around 100 more.”The NCAA has been lobbying for several years for limited antitrust protection to keep some kind of control over this new landscape — and avoid more crippling lawsuits — but a handful of bills have gone nowhere in Congress. Trump’s order makes no mention of that, nor does it refer to any of the current bills in Congress aimed at addressing issues in college sports.NCAA President Charlie Baker and the nation’s largest conferences both issued statements saying there is a clear need for federal legislation.“The association appreciates the Trump administration’s focus on the life-changing opportunities college sports provides millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump administration,” said Baker, while the conferences said it was important to pass a law with national standards for athletes’ NIL rights as soon as possible.The 1,100 universities that comprise the NCAA have insisted for decades that athletes are students who cannot be considered anything like a school employee. Still, some coaches have recently suggested collective bargaining as a potential solution to the chaos they see.It is a complicated topic: Universities would become responsible for paying wages, benefits, and workers’ compensation and schools and conferences have insisted they will fight any such move in court. While private institutions fall under the National Labor Relations Board, public universities must follow labor laws that vary from state to state and it’s worth noting that virtually every state in the South has “right to work” laws that present challenges for unions.Trump’s order also:— Calls for adding or at least preserving athletic scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports, which are those outside football and basketball. The House settlement allows for unlimited scholarships but does impose roster limits, leading to a complicated set of decisions for each program at each school that include potential concerns about Title IX equity rules. Trump said “opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports must be preserved and, where possible, expanded.”— Asks the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to “preserve college athletics through litigation” and other actions to protect the rights and interests of athletes — a stance that could influence ongoing lawsuits filed by athletes over eligibility and other issues.— Directs White House staff to work with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to protect the collegiate pipeline feeding Team USA. College sports programs produce around three-quarters of U.S. Olympians at a typical Summer Games, but some are on uncertain footing as schools begin sharing revenue with athletes and the lion’s share going to football and basketball.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the "Winning the AI Race" summit hosted by All‑In Podcast and Hill & Valley Forum at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump signed executive orders related to his Artificial Intelligence Action Plan during the event.

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Trump inks executive order to clarify college athletes' employment status

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of pro...

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71.Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said."There were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity," Maj. Nate Burnside told reporters.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.But outside the the ring, Hogan also found trouble. WWE in 2015 cut ties with him for three years, even removing him from its Hall of Fame, after it was reported that he was recorded using racial slurs about Blacks. He apologized and said his words were "unacceptable."Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and reinstated there in 2018. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and millions of fans have watched the company's weekly live television program, "Raw," which debuted in January on Netflix."He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon," McMahon said of Hogan.Hogan's own brand of passion"Hulkamania," as the energy he created was called, started running wild in the mid-1980s and pushed professional wrestling into the mainstream. He was a flag-waving American hero with the horseshoe mustache, red and yellow gear and massive arms he called his "24-inch pythons." Crowds were hysterical when he ripped off his T-shirt in the ring — a trademark move — revealing a tan, sculpted body.Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, "Hogan Knows Best."In recent years, Hogan added his celebrity to politics. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, he merged classic WWE maneuvers with then-candidate Donald Trump's rhetoric to passionately endorse him for president."Let Trumpamania run wild brother! Let Trumpamania rule again! Let Trumpamania make America great again!" Hogan shouted into the raucous crowd.He ripped off a T-shirt emblazoned with a picture of himself on a motorcycle to reveal a bright red Trump-Vance campaign shirt underneath. Trump stood to applaud the move."We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'" Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart."Hogan lately began to invest in alternatives to theatrical, professional wrestling, announcing plans in April to serve as the first commissioner for the Real American Freestyle organization, which describes itself as "the first unscripted pro wrestling" leagues in the world. The first event is Aug. 30 at Cleveland State University."The idea was so exciting that I get a chance to be involved with all these young people and help guide them in any way, especially to make them huge stars and create a future for them," Hogan said. "People might be surprised, but wrestling is wrestling, brother."The league released a statement, saying it is now part of Hogan's legacy "and we intend to honor it."Broken leg and a new attitudeHogan was born in Georgia but lived much of his life in the Tampa, Florida, area. He recalled skipping school to watch wrestlers at the Sportatorium, a professional wrestling studio in Tampa."I had been running my mouth, telling everybody I'm going to be a wrestler, and in a small town, the word gets out," Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times in 2021. "And so when I went down there, they were laying low for me. They exercised me till I was ready to faint."The result: a broken leg and a subsequent warning from his dad."Don't you ever let anybody hurt you again," Hogan recalled his father saying. "So I went back four or five months later with a whole new attitude. The rest is history."Hogan first became champion in what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, and pro wrestling took off from there. His popularity helped lead to the creation of the annual WrestleMania event in 1985, when he teamed up with Mr. T to beat "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the main event.He slammed and beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, and the WWF gained momentum. His feud with the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage – perhaps his greatest rival — carried pro wrestling even further.Hogan was a central figure in what is known as the Monday Night Wars. The WWE and World Championship Wrestling were battling for ratings supremacy in 1996. Hogan tilted things in WCW's favor with the birth of the Hollywood Hogan character and the formation of the New World Order, a villainous stable that put WCW ahead in the ratings.He returned to the WWE in 2002 and became a champion again. His match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8, a loss during which fans cheered for his "bad guy" character, was seen as a passing of the torch.Hogan was perhaps as well known for his larger-than-life personality as he was his in-ring exploits. He was beloved for his "promos" — hype sessions he used to draw fans into matches. He often would play off his interviewer, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, starting his interviews off with, "Well, lemme tell ya something, Mean Gene!"Outside the ringHe crossed over into movies and television as well. He was Thunderlips in the movie "Rocky III" in 1982.In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in a lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 obtained and posted video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He said the post violated his privacy.Hogan ended up settling the case for millions less after Gawker filed for bankruptcy.There was other fallout. The litigation led to the discovery that Hogan had used racial slurs on the tape."It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it," Hogan said in a written statement.After Hogan was booed at the premiere of Netflix's new WWE show in January, former WWE wrestler Mark Henry, who is Black, said that the scandal was a "dark cloud" over Hogan's career.Henry said he believes in second chances but that Hogan "never wanted to go forward and fix it."Outside Hogan's Hangout, his restaurant in Clearwater Beach, people talked about their admiration for Hogan as news of his death spread. Rich Null of St. Louis said the two men worked out together."Thirty minutes into our workout in the gym, he said, 'cut the Hulk Hogan crap, call me Terry,'" Null said. "He was a really super nice guy, and we're gonna miss him."

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan greets the crowd during the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Crown Jewel pay-per-view at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on November 2, 2018.

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Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Premier League side Wolverhampton has completed the signing of Colo...

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Premier League side Wolverhampton has completed the signing of Colombia forward Jhon Arias from Brazilian club Fluminense on a four-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.The 27-year-old Arias impressed at the Club World Cup this summer, helping Fluminense reach the semifinals.Financial terms were not disclosed. According to the BBC, Wolves signed him for an initial 15 million pounds ($20 million) plus a further 4 million pounds in add-ons, which includes European qualification.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Arias, who has won 31 caps, is Wolves’ second major signing of the summer following attacking midfielder Fer Lopez from Spanish side Celta Vigo on a five-year contract. He was handed the No. 10 jersey.The versatile Arias has won two Brazilian league titles and the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense.Wolves needed to strengthen in attack after the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United this offseason.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

Fluminense's Colombian midfielder #21 Jhon Arias celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group F football match between Brazil's Fluminense and South Korea's Ulsan HD at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 21, 2025.

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Wolves sign Colombian winger Arias from Fluminense

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber says the league continues to look at shifting to a fa...

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber says the league continues to look at shifting to a fall-to-spring season, saying he’d “rather get it right and take our time than get it wrong and do it quick.”Garber spoke before Wednesday night’s MLS All-Star game in Austin, Texas. He also spoke about the league’s Apple TV streaming deal and the sale of the Vancouver Whitecaps in his state of the league address before the game.While he was peppered with questions about the calendar, looming large over the match between MLS and Liga MX All-Stars was the absence of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Currently MLS plays a spring-to-late fall season. A shift to align the league with its international counterparts would make MLS teams more competitive in the player transfer market, while also freeing up players for national team duty during the summer, when many major global tournaments take place.But there are obvious challenges, like weather.“Making this change is seismic. It’s not something we should do lightly. We obviously have teams across multiple climate zones, multiple time zones, unlike any other league in the world, and if we do make the change, we’re not going to go back on that decision,” Garber said.The MLS Board of Governors announced in April that it was giving further consideration to the shift, but gave no timeline. Garber suggested there would be an announcement by the end of the year.<h3>Messi suspension?</h3>Garber declined to say whether Messi or Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba would face suspension for missing the All-Star game, as league rules have dictated in the past. Miami’s next match is Saturday against FC Cincinnati in Fort Lauderdale.<h3>Whitecaps sale</h3>The Whitecaps announced in December that the team was for sale. Greg Kerfoot has been owner of the club since 2002, when it was part of the North American Soccer League. Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash joined Kerfoot in 2008, and the Whitecaps became part of MLS in 2011.Garber said there are no plans to move the club, although the Whitecaps need a new stadium. Currently, Vancouver plays at the multi-purpose BC Place, which is also the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.<h3>Apple deal</h3>As for the league’s streaming deal with Apple, Garber said MLS is working with the company to provide fans greater access. Distribution through cable and satellite services this season has helped.Metrics for viewership have been hard to come by because there’s no system to determine exactly how people are “viewing and consuming” games via a subscription service, Garber said. But he revealed that there have been 120,000 unique viewers per match and vowed greater transparency going forward.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

US commisioner Don Garber poses on the Golden Carpet upon arrival for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final football match between England's Chelsea and France's Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025.

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Garber: MLS won't rush 'seismic' calendar shift

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies ended a dubious streak by recording a zero.   Rookie right-han...

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies ended a dubious streak by recording a zero. Rookie right-hander Tanner Gordon pitched six innings and the Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Wednesday for their first shutout since May 15, 2024, ending a record streak of 220 games since they last kept an opponent from scoring."I did not know that. ... That's a long time without a shutout," Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. "But I'm glad we shut them out today. That was good behind Gordon. Gordon did a fantastic job."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Colorado is the only major league team since at least 1901 to go more than 200 games without a shutout victory, according to Stathead and Baseball Reference. <figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Rockies snapped a streak of 220 games without a team shutout, the 3rd-longest streak all-time, behind only: 1893-96 Washington Senators: 383 1897-99 St. Louis Browns/Perfectos: 298 h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/EliasSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliasSports</a>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1948140539012100278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The last shutout for the Rockies had been 8-0 at San Diego in their only one last season. Their previous one at home was 2-0 over the Athletics on July 30, 2023.Gordon (2-2) scattered four hits while striking out three and walking three to become the first Rockies rookie since Kyle Freeman in 2017 to pitch at least six scoreless innings in a game at Coors Field. Freeman did it twice that season, with one-hit ball over 8 1/3 innings of a 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on July 9, after going seven innings in an 8-0 victory over San Francisco on April 23. The Rockies (26-76) have won consecutive series for the first time this season, taking two of three games from the Cardinals after coming out of the All-Star break by winning two of three against Minnesota last weekend."Extremely important," Colorado catcher Austin Nola said. "One game at a time. And I think that's the biggest thing, is sticking to the plan, being in the present. And then at the end of the day we're going to come out on top."Last month, Colorado ended an MLB-record streak of 22 consecutive series losses, dating to last year, with a 3-2 victory at Miami.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

DENVER, CO - JULY 23: The Colorado Rockies celebrate their 6-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on July 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won four of six games and both series in the homestead.

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Not since 2014 when John Fox and Peyton Manning were running Denver's off...

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Not since 2014 when John Fox and Peyton Manning were running Denver's offense have the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-training-camp-start-c67a4a08362a92862f456db83e4d960e">Broncos hit training camp</a> with the same quarterback/head coach duo.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-broncos-bo-nix-95bb3430b479427e9e820e82782a1ae0">Bo Nix</a> enters his season season under Sean Payton after leading Denver out of its nearly decade-long doldrums and ending the Broncos' long playoff drought last season.
To prepare for his second year in the NFL, Nix spent part of his offseason huddling with Drew Brees, the prolific passer who teamed up with Payton in New Orleans to produce one of the NFL's most productive offenses from 2006-2020. The duo won a Super Bowl in the 2009 season.
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“It's him just reaching out and just coordinating some time to dive into the offense, the schedule, the calendar, his schedule, his workload in season,” Payton said Wednesday, adding that the pair had spent four or five days together.
Nix had a strong rookie season, completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and a dozen interceptions. He led Denver to a 10-7 record and a wild-card berth. 
Nix said this spring that he had some much-needed downtime this offseason for the first time since entering college, which he figured would help him improve his game in 2025.
Nix “is someone that works his tail off, wants to improve,” Payton said. “The whole offseason is planned out. There's a lot he wants to absorb in a fast period of time and that's a great thing for a younger player like that. We're never going to just pick up where we left off, but there's a lot of building to do when you look at last year and a lot of positives to look at.”
Payton also said Nix spent time working with renowned throwing coach Tom House, the former Major League pitcher best known for catching Hank Aaron's 715th home run that broke Babe Ruth's record in 1974 and who has garnered accolades for his work with several star quarterbacks, including Tom Brady.
“It's fascinating. He's real smart. He's a baseball guy that's really done a great job with a lot of throwers," Payton said. “That's the best way to describe him, whether it's a baseball motion or a football motion, those opportunities we get to just have a lunch or sit and visit are pretty special for me. He's pretty sharp.”
NOTES: Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, John Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen, all of whom are hoping for new contracts soon, participated in Wednesday's workout, helping produce a 100% day with only WR A.T. Perry out while on PUP with an ankle injury. Payton called it “one of the cleaner report dates that I can recall.” On the contract front, Payton said, “You're going to ask me about a few contracts — they're all being worked on. ... So, yeah, there's good communication and I'm just going to leave it at that.”
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ENGLEWOOD , CO - MAY 29: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos speaks during OTAs at Broncos Park in Englewood, Colorado on Thursday, May 29, 2024.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers’ profits from operations rose 39.3% for the 2025 fis...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers’ profits from operations rose 39.3% for the 2025 fiscal year, thanks largely to the record $432.6 million it received in national revenue from the NFL.The NFL’s only publicly owned franchise revealed its expenses and revenues Wednesday, the same day the Packers opened training camp for the 2025 season. Each of the NFL’s 32 teams received $432.6 million from the NFL, which mainly comes from the league’s TV contracts.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I continue to be amazed by the popularity of the NFL and the league office’s ability to generate revenue," outgoing Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy said. "It’s impressive. A big part of it obviously is TV. How people watch TV is changing dramatically. NFL games and athletics or sports in general are the few things people watch live anymore."Murphy, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 earlier this month, is ending his 17-year run as the Packers’ president/CEO and handing the reins to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/green-bay-packers-05d56b81a6ef84a7b2dabe3a2a3a1ded">Ed Policy</a> during the franchise’s annual shareholders meeting Friday."I think any leader, any CEO wants to leave the organization in better shape than when he or she started," Murphy said. "We were in pretty good shape when we started, but the numbers have grown dramatically."The Packers’ national revenue climbed 7.5%, from $402.3 million to $432.6 million. Their local revenue rose 13.7%, from $251.8 million to $286.4 million, as they benefited from having a ninth regular-season home game for the first time.That added up to a 9.9% increase in total revenue, from $654.1 million to $719.1 million.The Packers reported $635.4 million in expenses, up 7% from their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-green-bay-packers-c5d2ee893605c59212db2a8766d93e1e">2024 total</a> of $594 million.Although the Packers’ profit from operations rose nearly 40% - from $60.1 million to $83.7 million - their net income actually dropped 12.5%. Their net income was $85.6 million, down from $98.1 million.The reason for the discrepancy was a plunge in their non-operating income, which went from $38 million in 2024 to $1.9 million last year."That’s all market and investment related," Murphy said. "The year before, we performed very well. This year obviously we’re down a little bit."___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NFL">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 12: The Green Bay Packers offense meets in the huddle during a Wild Card Playoff Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Packers 22-10. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

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