PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter was named interim coac...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Assistant coach and former NBA player Tiago Splitter was named interim coach of the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday after Chauncey Billups was placed on leave following the announcement that Billups <a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-terry-rozier-gambling-probe-de98ecb76bb8f13b85f4c5ac62f66221">had been charged</a> with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games.Federal authorities said Thursday that Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier had been indicted in separate cases alleging sprawling schemes to rake in millions."We are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation. Billups has been placed on immediate leave, and Tiago Splitter will assume head coaching duties in the interim. Any further questions should be directed to the NBA," the team said in a brief statement.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Messages left with Billups' agent, Andy Miller, were not immediately returned.Splitter, 40, was made an assistant on Billups’ staff in June. He previously served as head coach for Paris Basketball in the top French league for one season after a stint as an assistant for the Houston Rockets.A 6-foot-11 center from Brazil, Splitter played seven years in the NBA with San Antonio, Atlanta and Philadelphia before officially retiring from basketball in 2018. He won an NBA championship in 2014 with the Spurs.The Trail Blazers canceled practice on Thursday. They host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.In April, Billups had signed a multiyear contract extension with the Trail Blazers and embarked on his fifth season with the team on Wednesday, losing the opener at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves.Billups guided the team to a 36-46 record last season but Portland missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season.Billups, 48, had an NBA playing career that spanned 17 seasons. He won a championship with Detroit in 2004 and was named the finals MVP. A five-time All-Star, he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-hall-of-fame-induction-6e9a225d4a29f9d13c35179d7f2b847c">was inducted</a> into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame last October.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 15: Coach of Paris Basketball Tiago Splitter during the Betclic Elite 2024/2025 Playoffs Finals Match 1 between Paris Basketball and AS Monaco Basket (Roca Team) at Adidas Arena on June 15, 2025 in Paris, France.

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MILAN (AP) — Antonio Conte is looking to whip his players into shape like a “tiger tamer” for Nap...

MILAN (AP) — Antonio Conte is looking to whip his players into shape like a “tiger tamer” for Napoli’s Serie A match against his former team Inter Milan on Saturday.Napoli is facing Inter at the worst possible moment for the defending champion, which is reeling from Tuesday’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/champions-league-scores-psg-barcelona-arsenal-man-city-8c416058a2decc2243b81f697640c9f1">6-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven</a> in the Champions League — the first time one of coach Conte’s teams has conceded six goals in a single match.Conte appeared unusually calm on the sidelines during the game and was not his usual vociferous, strident self.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I always try to help my players,” Conte said. “Certainly it was my fault that I was less aggressive on the bench and we lost 6-2. Next time I’ll bring the whip and a stool like a tiger tamer.”It was Napoli’s second successive defeat — after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/napoli-roma-inter-serie-a-626a7922c5c7260232bc9e6505c084f2">last weekend’s loss at Torino</a> in Serie A — as it struggles to cope with an injury crisis and incorporating new faces.“We added nine players in the summer, that has cost us in terms of chemistry,” Conte said. “The old guys, including me, need to rediscover their spirit, the new guys need to learn to fit in and be humble and silent.”Napoli welcomed back <a href="https://apnews.com/article/scott-mctominay-napoli-mcfratm-5783cca70cb664836b37346fb9ceef74">Scott McTominay</a> against PSV while <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rasmus-hojlund-napoli-8f0490bf952957fd965b2c48832a591f">Rasmus Hojlund</a> could make his return from injury against Inter. But Romelu Lukaku, Stanislav Lobotka and Amir Rrahmani are still sidelined.Napoli, Inter and Roma are level on 15 points, one behind league leader AC Milan.The Rossoneri could be four clear before the match kicks off in Naples as they host promoted Pisa on Friday. Roma visits Sassuolo on Sunday.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Antonio Conte of SSC Napoli shouting during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between PSV and SSC Napoli at Philips Stadion on October 21, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were...

NEW YORK (AP) — The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people in two criminal cases alleging sprawling separate schemes to rake in millions by rigging sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families, authorities said.Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons that were backed by La Cosa Nostra Crime families. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a second scheme to concoct fraudulent bets by exploiting confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.The indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA — which opened its season this week — and show how certain types of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multi-billion-dollar legal sports-betting industry.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended,” said Joseph Nocella, the U.S attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Your luck has run out.”Billups and Rozier expected to make their first court appearancesBoth men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges and were expected to make initial court appearances later Thursday. Also arrested was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who is charged with participating in both schemes.Nocella called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”“The fraud is mind boggling,” FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation.”Billups, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, and Rozier have been placed on leave from their teams, according to the NBA. The league said it is cooperating with authorities.“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement.A message seeking comment was left Thursday morning with Billups. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, said in a statement that his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.” Trusty said the FBI had previously said his client was not a target in the probe.But at 6 a.m. “they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel,” Trusty said. ”It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case.”Mafia families profited off gambling scheme, officials sayThe poker scheme cheated at least $7 million out of unsuspecting gamblers who were lured into rigged games with the chance to compete against former professional basketball players like Billups and Jones. The games were rigged using sophisticated cheating technology, such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table to read the cards of unsuspecting players.Once the targeted victims — known as “fish” — lost, the mafia used extortion and violence to make sure they paid their gambling debts, Nocella said.The rigged poker scheme often made use of preexisting illegal poker games run by New York crime families that required them to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonnano families, according to court papers. Members of those families, in turn, also helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, officials said in court documents.Prosecutors, in their detention memo, asked a judge to detain Mafia members implicated in the case, as well as the ringleaders of the poker scheme. Prosecutors are arguing for releasing Billups and Jones but with “substantial bail conditions,” including a prohibition on any form of gambling and travel restrictions.Athletes accused of leaving games earlyIn the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early to rig prop bets — a type of wager that allows gamblers to bet on whether a player will exceed a certain statistical number, such as whether the player will finish over or under a certain total of points, rebounds or assists, according to the indictment.In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, told people he was planning to leave the game early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars, authorities say.After another defendant collected his cut of the fraudulent scheme, the man drove to Rozier’s Charlotte home and they counted the cash, according to the indictment.That game between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans raised eyebrows at the time. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had happened regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.The indictment against Rozier lists nine unnamed co-conspirators, including a Florida resident who was an NBA player, an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier.The NBA had investigated Rozier previously. He was in uniform as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-magic-score-0c4b69ecf699348bd90f91def98538e0">the Heat played the Magic</a> on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams, though he did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday. The team did not immediately comment on the arrest.___Durkin Richer reported from Washington, and Reynolds reported from Miami. Associated Press writers David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 08, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 40 points and 15 rebounds in a highlight-reel return, helping...

DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 40 points and 15 rebounds in a highlight-reel return, helping the San Antonio Spurs spoil No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg’s debut in a 125-92 rout of the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.Flagg, the second-youngest player to start in his NBA debut by two days behind LeBron James, didn’t score until the first possession of the second half, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.The 18-year-old from Duke had more trouble getting into the flow than the second overall choice. Dylan Harper came off the San Antonio bench midway through the first quarter, started the run that put the Spurs in control and scored 15 points. Reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle scored 22 points for the Spurs.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Anthony Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Mavericks await the return of star guard Kyrie Irving, who is likely months away from his season debut while recovering from ACL surgery.Wembanyama dominated the matchup of two of the three most recent top draft picks, with the 2023 No. 1 choice adding three blocks to several spectacular dunks and a couple of buckets with fouls that sent Davis and Dereck Lively II to the bench.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
With 40 points tonight, Victor Wembanyama now holds the franchise record for most points by a <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spurs</a> player in a regular-season opener, passing George Gervin. Most points by a Spurs player in a regular-season opener: ▪️ Victor Wembanyama, 40 points (Oct. 22, 2025) ▪️ George… <a href="https://t.co/pFoKLbsRHz">pic.twitter.com/pFoKLbsRHz</a>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1981213188826735037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 7-foot-4 sensation was playing in the regular season for the first time since deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot condition in the shoulder, required surgery and ended his second season in February.Wembanyama keyed a 13-0 run late in the first half that put the Spurs in control. After Harper scored, the 2024 Rookie of the Year pump faked out of a double team and was fouled by Davis on the way to a reverse dunk. The next time down, he hit a jumper as Davis picked up his fourth foul.Up nextSpurs: At New Orleans on Friday night.Mavericks: Washington on Friday as part of a five-game homestand.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a score during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

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ATLANTA (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 16 points and nine rebounds i...

ATLANTA (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 16 points and nine rebounds in his Toronto debut as the Raptors ran away from the Atlanta Hawks for a 138-118 victory Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.Scottie Barnes had 22 points and nine assists and Gradey Dick scored 19 off the bench for the Raptors, who set a franchise record for points on opening night and surpassed last season's high. Toronto shot 57% from the field, including 69% on 2-pointers, as the Raptors repeatedly beat the Hawks in transition for easy buckets.Ingram missed the final 56 games last season with an ankle injury. He was traded to Toronto midseason but never played for his new team. He shot 7 of 16 from the floor Wednesday and had three assists and two steals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, who missed the final 38 games last season with a shoulder injury, had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. He assumed more of the playmaking role that coach Quin Snyder envisions for him this season.Trae Young finished with 22 points, but he was 1 for 7 from 3-point range and was constantly pressured by Toronto's guards.The Raptors used a 14-0 run at the end of the third quarter to stretch a nine-point lead to 23 and effectively put the game out of reach. Five players scored during the spurt, led by five points from Dick. Toronto never let the Hawks get within 20 in the fourth.Kristaps Porzingas, acquired in a trade with Boston during the offseason, had 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in his Hawks debut.Up nextThe Raptors will host the Bucks while the Hawks will be in Orlando to play the Magic in the front end of a back-to-back on Friday.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 22: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors reacts during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Raps rout Hawks, set franchise record for points in season opener

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and the ...

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Wednesday night in their first game under coach Mike Brown.Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who had a 17-point lead in the first half, fell behind after Donovan Mitchell led a comeback, then regained the lead for good with a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter.Mitchell finished with 31 points, 21 in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers couldn't pull out the win after starting last season with 15 straight en route to a 64-18 record, best in the Eastern Conference. Evan Mobley added 22 points and eight rebounds.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Cavs and Knicks are expected to be two of the top contenders in the East, though neither is ready to look like it yet. The Knicks are without center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) and Josh Hart (lower back spasms).The Cavs started the season with All-Star Darius Garland and swingman Max Strus recovering from offseason foot surgeries and on Wednesday were also without forward De'Andre Hunter, who averaged a league-high 16.9 points off the bench last season, because of a bruised right knee.Brown took over when the Knicks surprisingly decided to fire Tom Thibodeau despite reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.Mikal Bridges hit all four shots and scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping New York lead 33-23. A 10-0 run late in the first half gave the Knicks their biggest lead at 63-46 before Mitchell, who had been quiet, had a couple free throws and a basket to give himself some momentum for his big third.Up nextCavaliers: Visit Brooklyn on Friday.Knicks: Host Boston on Friday.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 22: OG Anunoby #8 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan will take a leave of absence to ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan will take a leave of absence to address personal matters effective immediately, the school said Wednesday.Associate head coach Chuck Jeroloman will take over O’Sullivan’s duties on an interim basis.“I appreciate the support of the University and athletic department,” O’Sullivan said in a statement. “I have some personal and family issues that need my full attention at this time.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>O’Sullivan is the program’s all-time wins leader with a 756-371 (.671) record in 18 seasons. He has led the Gators to 17 NCAA regionals, nine College World Series appearances, six Southeastern Conference championships and the 2017 national title.“Coach O’Sullivan has our full support as he takes the time he needs to focus on personal matters,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “We appreciate his openness in communicating this decision, and respect his need for privacy.”In August, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee issued a public reprimand to O’Sullivan for aggressive behavior and profanity-laced language directed at site administrators for the regional in Conway, South Carolina, in June.O’Sullivan publicly apologized June 2, the day after his tirade. Florida also suspended O’Sullivan for the first three games of the 2026 regular season.O’Sullivan was upset because the start time of his team’s elimination game against East Carolina — an 11-4 loss — was pushed back an hour. East Carolina’s previous game had ended at midnight.Videos of O’Sullivan’s tirade were circulated widely on social media. Kevin Schnall, coach of host Coastal Carolina, <a href="https://x.com/keithdaguio/status/1929686822416011577">ripped O’Sullivan for the outburst</a> during a news conference later that day.___AP college sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports">https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports</a>

CORAL GABLES, FL - MARCH 02: Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan walks back to the dugout after protesting one of players being called out for a pitch clock violation in the seventh inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Florida Gators on March 2, 2024, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida.

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Florida's O'Sullivan takes leave of absence for personal matters

MUNICH (AP) — Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl was handed his first Champions League start and mad...

MUNICH (AP) — Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl was handed his first Champions League start and made the most of it.Within five minutes of kickoff against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Jamal Musiala.Karl picked up a pass in midfield from Jonathan Tah, dodged past defender Brandon Mechele and surged to the edge of the Brugge box before hitting a swerving left-foot shot which went in over goalkeeper Nordin Jackers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide before Bayern striker Harry Kane and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rushed over to hug their young teammate. The Munich crowd gave Karl a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 69th minute.Karl’s goal set Bayern on course for a 4-0 win featuring two other landmark goals. Kane scored his 20th of the season in all competitions with a tap-in off a Konrad Laimer cross, before Luis Díaz scored in the Champions League for Bayern for the first time since signing from Liverpool. Nicolas Jackson made it 4-0 on a rebound in the 79th minute.Bayern becomes one of five teams in the league stage to win all three of its games so far.At 17 years, 242 days old, Karl broke a record set by Musiala, who was 121 days older when he scored against Lazio in a round-of-16 game four years ago, UEFA said.Karl wears the same shirt number, 42, that Musiala wore in that game.It’s Karl’s first senior club goal in his 10th Bayern appearance in all competitions. He made his debut at the Club World Cup in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in June.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 22: Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between FC Bayern München and Club Brugge KV at Football Arena Munich on October 22, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fox Sports will televise 69 of the 104 matches at next year’s World Cup on its...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fox Sports will televise 69 of the 104 matches at next year’s World Cup on its main over-the-air network.Fox said Wednesday its FS1 cable network will broadcast 35 games of the tournament, to be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.Televising 66% of matches on the main network is up from 34% at the 2022 tournament in Qatar when <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-soccer-world-cup-arts-and-c61c2bd6b97ec19af607a94a513d64dc">35 of 64 games were on the main Fox broadcast network</a> and 29 were on FS1.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there were 38 matches on Fox and 26 on FS1.Fox said it will broadcast 340 hours of first-run programming, an increase of 100 hours.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

NEW YORK, USA JUNE 16: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) with Host and FOX Sports sportscaster Rob Stone and FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Announcement on June 16, 2022 in New York, United States.

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Main Fox network will televise majority of 2026 World Cup matches

The PGA Tour is canceling its season opener at The Sentry instead of finding a replacement course...

The PGA Tour is canceling its season opener at The Sentry instead of finding a replacement course <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kapalua-water-sentry-golf-pga-tour-lawsuit-water-dd9635adf90f72c4daf3c64940f17b9a">for water-deprived Kapalua on Maui</a>, the first time a tournament has been canceled since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.The Sony Open in Honolulu will be the first tournament of 2026 on Jan. 15-18, the latest start to a year since the PGA Tour was formed in 1969.The tour and Wisconsin-based Sentry Insurance had contemplated other courses to stage the $20 million signature event for PGA Tour winners and those from the top 50 in the FedEx Cup. Instead, they chose not to play it at all.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I am really proud of what The Sentry has become. I didn’t want ’26 to be any less,” said Stephanie Smith, the chief marketing and brand officer at Sentry who oversees the golf partnership that began in 2018. The sponsorship runs through 2035.“We didn’t want it be just, ‘Find a place for it in the schedule’, or, ‘Find a course for it that could host it.’ I wanted Sentry to remain the jewel that it is,” Smith said. “I wanted it to be special. When that couldn’t come together, I felt we didn’t have a choice.“This is not the outcome we wanted, but unfortunately it’s where we are.”Kapalua had to close its two courses on drought-stricken Maui — the Plantation course has hosted the PGA Tour since 1999 — because of severe water restrictions brought on by a dispute with the company in charge of a century-old water delivery system.The Sony Open is in its last year of title sponsorship, leaving Hawaii’s place on the PGA Tour schedule in doubt after this year.The tour announced The Sentry being canceled on the same day Kapalua announced the Plantation course will re-open for play on Nov. 10 and tee times could be reserved starting Thursday at a promotional rate of $399. It said two of the 18 greens were still being restored.The Sentry has been the first PGA Tour event every year since 1999 except in 2001, when the season began in Australia with a World Golf Championship. Several players in the Kapalua field often headed over to Oahu for the Sony Open.Seven PGA Tour winners, including Aldrich Potgieter and Min Woo Lee, did not finish among the top 50 in the FedEx Cup. The tour said to make up for missing a spot at Kapalua, they will be added to the field in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head the week after the Masters.Tadashi Yanai, the Japanese billionaire who owns Kapalua and who founded the apparel brand Uniqlo, Kapalua homeowners and Hua Momona Farms filed a lawsuit in August against Maui Land &amp; Pineapple, alleging it has not maintained the water delivery system.MLP has since filed a countersuit and the two sides have exchanged accusations since then.The Commissioner on Water Resource Management in Hawaii two weeks ago <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ANqgPSGgHRkBsAoitN1549KyzjwoUCf/view">notified MLP of alleged violations with the water delivery system</a> with fines that could total $11 million. MLP has until Nov. 8 to respond.In the meantime, Kapalua’s two courses went from emerald green to yellow with the water restrictions, leading to the course closing in September for at least two months to try to save them. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kapalua-pga-tour-water-dispute-sentry-322ad0765afd574fe57457c9842830ce">The tour announced Sept. 16 it would not be able to play The Sentry at Kapalua</a>.Smith did not say which other courses were under consideration. A year ago, the Genesis Invitational had to move away from Riviera in Los Angeles because of the deadly wildfires in Pacific Palisades. It relocated for the year to Torrey Pines, which still had all its infrastructure in place from hosting a PGA Tour event three weeks earlier.“After assessing alternate venues in Hawaii and beyond, the tour determined it would not be able to contest The Sentry in 2026 because of logistical challenges — including shipping deadlines, tournament infrastructure and vendor support,” the tour said in a statement.The Sentry has one of the longest title sponsorship deal with the tour. Still to be determined is whether it will return to Kapalua in 2027, a year in which significant changes are expected from a revamped schedule.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pga-tour-tiger-rolapp-liv-a21d848752e8ea7271e4db7972229d86">Tiger Woods is leading a “Futures Competition Committee” to shape the tour</a>. That committee is about to meet for the first time.Asked about The Sentry’s future on Maui in 2027, Smith said, “It’s hard to say at this point.”“We are committed to playing The Sentry,” she said. “We know from our conversations with the tour that The Sentry will be on the schedule. There’s so many factors in play right now. What’s going on the island? Will the water issue be resolved? Will the course be playable? What about the lawsuits being resolved?“We’ve had good conversations,” she said. “We’re committed to playing The Sentry again at the level we have in the past.”The Sony Open becomes the seventh tournament to start the year since the tour began.___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

KAPALUA, HAWAII - JANUARY 05: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot from the 11th tee during the final round of The Sentry 2025 at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 05, 2025 in Kapalua, Hawaii.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson was on the practice field for the Baltimore Ravens on Wedn...

<div>
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson was on the practice field for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Jackson initially did not take the field with Baltimore's other two quarterbacks, but with practice still open to reporters, he came out with his helmet on and did some throwing, also receiving hugs from some teammates.
The Ravens (1-5) have been holding out hope that Jackson's return can help save their season after four straight losses. Now all eyes will be on the two-time MVP to see what progress he makes this week, with the Chicago Bears in town Sunday. The Ravens had an open date last weekend.
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AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NFL">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>
</div>

OWINGS MILLS, MD - AUGUST 15: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws during a joint practice with the Washington Commanders at the Ravens training facility on August 15, 2023.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline...

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday.Speaking at the conclusion of the annual fall owners meeting, Goodell said the league is accustomed to getting blowback for its entertainment choices given the size and breadth of its fan base. The announcement made in September garnered worldwide attention, including an increase in streams of Bad Bunny’s music.“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value. It’s carefully thought through.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Puerto Rican artist has been vocal in his opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies. He decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the U.S. as a form of protest.Trump on a conservative TV news network called the NFL’s decision crazy and ridiculous.The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Bad Bunny looks on prior to Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in New York, New York.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is moving its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week beginning this Febr...

NEW YORK (AP) — The <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">NFL</a> is moving its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week beginning this February, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-pro-bowl-games-orlando-2025-edb7d4672aa277b05ed2c39cd121756a">the latest adjustment</a> for the all-star event that became a flag football game a few years ago.Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the change Wednesday at the league’s annual fall owners meeting.“We’ve spent a lot of time evolving our Pro Bowl, talking about how to make our Pro Bowl more attractive, both for our players participating but also our fans,” Goodell said. “We spent a great deal of time talking about the objectives, and the objectives really are to celebrate and honor our incredible players, and second is to use our game as a global platform.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The plan is to hold the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, Feb. 3, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the venue that is hosting the Super Bowl experience fan fest. The largest ballroom holds 4,000 people, making it a more intimate event than in previous years, with a focus on television.It remains a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/flag-football-nfl-summer-series-e2aab61fdeb8828c4c155becc7f0ecb9">flag football</a> game between the AFC and NFC — a format that began in the winter of 2023 — though executive VP of international events Peter O’Reilly did acknowledge the Pro Bowl could become more internationally focused in the leadup to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.“Flag has become a global game,” Goodell said. “Our players have embraced playing that in the all-star format, and we think it’s really important to continue that initiative.”NFL owners <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-owners-meetings-tush-push-27a59a66a3b707b211b82a34ff24200a">unanimously approved</a> players participating in the '28 Games, though work is still being done to finalize the agreement with the union.The 49ers are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2026-site-49ers-b00c8fafa20d31290ad58580f3ee1a4e">hosting the Super Bowl</a> on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It returns to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood outside LA in 2027 and is set to take place at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2028.Beginning in '26, there will be two new coaches, replacing Peyton and Eli Manning, though O'Reilly said the brothers would remain involved in the event in some capacity. The league is not committing to Tuesday night beyond next year, according to O'Reilly, who said it's a process of continuing to learn about what's best for the Pro Bowl.Goodell said the league met with 15-20 players for an hour over the summer to get their thoughts on the event that <a href="https://apnews.com/nfl-at-100-afterthought-as-it-is-pro-bowl-has-rich-history-8b9c4b5338fa76266d804fb2b80f72a2">was branded as the Pro Bowl in 1951</a> and was played in LA before becoming a staple in Honolulu annually until 2012 and moving around since.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: NFL Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon signage outside the stadium on January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and the Golden State War...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and the Golden State Warriors overcame Luka Doncic’s 43-point performance to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-109 on Tuesday night in both teams' season opener.LeBron James <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakers-lebron-james-practice-ba4ed8bbdaa864d681650e451e7bd8c5">missed a season opener</a> for the first time in his 23 years in the NBA, watching from the Lakers' bench. The top scorer in league history has sciatica that is expected to sideline him until mid-November.Jonathan Kuminga scored 17 points while the Warriors largely shut down the Lakers apart from Doncic. who scored 40 points for the 47th time in his NBA career and the third since joining the Lakers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Doncic added 12 rebounds and nine assists in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakers-luka-doncic-1090518bd3cb0ab2f520d74695e32821">his first season opener with the Lakers</a>, but the Slovenian superstar was 2 of 10 on 3-point attempts as Los Angeles lost its season opener for the ninth time in 10 years."I think there was a lot of positive things tonight, and obviously a lot of things we've got to work on," Doncic said. "But my confidence is fine."Curry began his 17th season with just three 3-pointers while ceding major offensive roles to Kuminga and Buddy Hield, who hit five 3-pointers.Butler made all 16 of his free throws, and Curry hit a 3-pointer in the final minute for his first points of the fourth quarter.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jimmy: "Of course I think I can." Steph: "No chance." Can <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyButler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JimmyButler</a> shoot a better FT% than the NBA's all-time FT% leader this season? 🤔 They're both at 100% so far... <a href="https://t.co/jbrWTlP7Pe">pic.twitter.com/jbrWTlP7Pe</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1980882370191646914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Austin Reaves scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter after struggling with foul trouble.Golden State opened the second half with a 19-4 run to open a lead that grew to 17 points. Reaves led a fourth-quarter rally, trimming the Warriors' edge to 105-99, but LA couldn't close get closer.Draymond Green scored only eight points and got an early technical foul while sitting on the bench, but his 3-pointer with 3:33 left stopped the Lakers' surge.Deandre Ayton had 10 points and six rebounds in his Lakers debut, while Marcus Smart had nine points.Al Horford scored five points in his Warriors debut, hitting a 3-pointer on the first shot of his 19th NBA season.Up nextWarriors: Host Nuggets on Thursday night.Lakers: Host Timberwolves on Friday night.

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Jimmy Butler III #10 and Stephen Curry #30 talks before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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BOSTON (AP) — The Little Ball of Hate still feels a lot of love for Boston.  Brad Marchand strugg...

BOSTON (AP) — The Little Ball of Hate still feels a lot of love for Boston.Brad Marchand struggled to hold back tears on the ice when the TD Garden crowd gave him a standing ovation Tuesday night during his first game back as a Bruins opponent. The 37-year-old forward tapped his heart, wiped his face and waved to the crowd as both teams banged their sticks against the ice and even the referee and linesmen clapped along.“I knew it was going to hit me the way it did. It was extremely touching,” Marchand said after the game, a 4-3 Panthers victory in which he had two assists. “The Bruins will always hold a very, very dear place in my heart.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Boston loves you, Brad Marchand 💛 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH">https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH</a> <a href="https://t.co/V2wi6eo015">pic.twitter.com/V2wi6eo015</a>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1980785908321333403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The last remaining member of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Marchand was traded from the non-contending Bruins to the Panthers last season for another chance at a title. He helped Florida complete its pursuit of back-to-back championships, while Boston plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.“I left and I turned the page and I found something truly special again that I’m very, very proud and blessed to be part of. And I chose to be part of again,” said Marchand, who re-signed with the Panthers in the offseason to a six-year deal worth about $32 million.“I built something really special with every guy on this team last year, with winning. You build a bond that will last a lifetime. So I try not to show any disrespect in that way, as if I’m not grateful, because I am.“But I’ve been here for several months. I’ve been in Boston for 15 years,” he said. “When you go from being a kid, with a dream, and then you grow up and you have a family, you become a man and you build an entire life in a city, it’s just different. Of course, it’ll always be in my heart and always be a special place.”Marchand got his first taste of the welcome he would receive when the crowd cheered him off the ice after the pregame warmups, as the DJ played a mashup of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The former Bruins captain responded with a stick salute as he headed off via the visitor’s bench.Fans wearing Marchand’s Boston and Florida No. 63 jerseys cheered again during introductions, then booed when he drew a tripping penalty just 33 seconds into the game. “I knew it wouldn’t take long,” he said with a chuckle.There was a mixed reaction when the Panthers scored on the power play — a goal that first appeared to be Marchand’s but was credited to Mackie Samoskevich; Marchand picked up his first assist.But things got really emotional during the first commercial break, midway through the first period, when the scoreboard showed a highlight reel from Marchand’s time in Boston — including shots of him being anointed with the captain’s “C” that he wore for a little more than one full season. It ended with a picture of him holding the Stanley Cup and the message, “Welcome back, Marchy.”Marchand circled in front of the Panthers bench, waving to the fans and holding his heart. His face betrayed his emotions as he took his place on the bench, still on the verge of breaking down, and the crowd chanted his name.“Those tears are real,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said during an in-game interview on the TV broadcast. “He just wears his heart on his sleeve. He had so many great moments here, won a Stanley Cup here. He’ll always be a Bruin at heart.”Marchand said he was able to mostly hold it together until his kids were shown on the scoreboard.“It kind of hit like a ton of bricks,” he said. “The careers go by fast. It doesn’t matter how long you’re in, it goes by extremely fast. And to see a snapshot of that, it brings everything back. The amount of pride that I have that I played here and was part of this organization, I just couldn’t hold it in.”The focus soon returned to hockey, with the Panthers taking a 2-0 lead in the second period. Marchand picked up a hooking penalty, drawing cheers from the crowd, and assisted on the goal that gave Florida a 3-2 lead with 1:31 left.The Bruins tied it again before Carter Verhaeghe put the Panthers up for good with 27 seconds to play.But the lasting memories will be of Marchand.“He had so many good memories in this building, and he’s been a part of this franchise for so long. So it’s just good kind of sit back and be a part of history a little bit,” Verhaeghe said. “He’s such a great guy and we’re so lucky to have him. I can only imagine what he meant to the city and to the fans.”A four-time All-Star who had 422 goals and 554 assists in 16 seasons in Boston, Marchand remains in the Bruins’ top 10 for goals, assists, short-handed and overtime goals, playoff goals and points. His 1,090 games played is fourth in team history, one spot ahead of Don Sweeney, the general manager who dealt him to Florida at the trade deadline.Marchand did play in the TD Garden as a visitor in February when he suited up for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off; although he was still a member of the Bruins, the Boston fans booed him during a time of heightened geopolitical animosity between the U.S. and Canada.He was traded to Florida a few weeks later as Boston sold off its roster and began a rebuild. But when the Panthers visited for the Bruins’ first home game after the trade deadline, Marchand was injured and only skated on the Garden ice in practice.

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 21: Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers thanks the crowd as a video tribute is shown during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on October 21, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder fans got everything they wanted on Tuesday — a ring ceremony, a cham...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder fans got everything they wanted on Tuesday — a ring ceremony, a championship banner unveiling and a win over ex-Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, hit two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Thunder a 125-124 win. Last season’s scoring champion had just five points at halftime but finished with 35.Durant fouled Gilgeous-Alexander with the Rockets leading 124-123 in the second extra period. The crowd cheered gleefully as Durant exited the game with his sixth personal foul. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws for the decisive points. Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. missed a 19-foot jumper as time expired, and the Thunder survived in the season opener for both teams.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven Durant for leaving the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors, their biggest rival, back in 2016. Durant had 23 points and nine rebounds in his first game with Houston after being traded in the offseason. He was booed loudly during pregame starter introductions and that continued for much of the game.Chet Holmgren added 28 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star last season, sat out as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury he sustained last season. He had surgery on July 1, and coach Mark Daigneault said he is “progressing.”Alperen Sengun had 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets.Gilgeous-Alexander’s short jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter tied the game at 104. Sengun missed a fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.With the score tied at 115 in the closing seconds of the first overtime, Gilgeous-Alexander missed and Durant rebounded and tried to call a timeout that the Rockets didn’t have. The Thunder noticed and tried to alert the officials, but no call was made and the game went to a second overtime.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KD tried to call timeout without having any, but it goes unacknowledged, and we’re off to double overtime. 📺 NBC and Peacock <a href="https://t.co/gt4zcMmq3t">pic.twitter.com/gt4zcMmq3t</a>— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonNBC/status/1980828814142853595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Up nextThe Rockets visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.The Thunder visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals series the Thunder won in seven games.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets during the second half at Paycom Center on October 21, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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TORONTO (AP) — Jack Hughes scored the third hat trick of his NHL career as the New Jersey Devils ...

TORONTO (AP) — Jack Hughes scored the third hat trick of his NHL career as the New Jersey Devils topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Tuesday night.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jack Hughes just pulled a George Springer. <a href="https://t.co/8Xdl3TULHt">pic.twitter.com/8Xdl3TULHt</a>— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1980813860044173401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Cody Glass and Brenden Dillon also scored for New Jersey, and Jake Allen had 23 saves. Jesper Bratt added three assists.John Tavares and Matias Maccelli scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 30 shots. William Nylander had two assists.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Leafs led 1-0 after the first period before giving up three goals in the first five minutes of the second.Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev left with an upper-body injury during a second-period penalty kill after he collided with Devils center Dawson Mercer.Toronto challenged New Jersey’s first goal for goaltender interference only to see the call on the ice stand. The Devils went on the power play with the ensuing delay-of-game penalty, and Glass made it 2-1 moments after Tanev skated off to the locker room.Up nextDevils kick off a three-game homestand against the Wild on Wednesday.Maple Leafs visit the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils scores a goal during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout testified Tuesday that he loved...

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout testified Tuesday that he loved his teammate Tyler Skaggs like a brother and never saw signs of drug use before he died of an overdose on a team trip to Texas in 2019.Trout, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player who hit his 400th career home run this year, took the stand in a civil trial in Southern California over whether the MLB team should be held responsible for its communication director Eric Kay giving Skaggs a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his death.Trout, who acknowledged he didn’t like speaking in public, told the courtroom about his friendship with Skaggs from the time they roomed together in a host family’s basement as rookies in Iowa and through playing for the Angels. Both were drafted out of high school as teens in 2009 — Trout from New Jersey, and Skaggs from California.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Skaggs was “very funny, outgoing, fun to be around” and toted around a boom box as the team’s deejay, Trout said.Trout said Kay was good at his job, getting players to give interviews and guiding them on which questions they might be asked. Trout said the players used to pay Kay for stunts like taking a fastball to the leg, shaving off his eyebrows and eating a pimple off Trout’s back. At one point, a clubhouse attendant suggested the players should stop, Trout said, because Kay might be using the money for a “bad purpose.”He said it was clear he was “using something.”“I just didn’t know what it was,” Trout said, adding he approached Kay and told him if he needed anything to let him know. Trout said he also decided not to sign autographs requested by Kay unless he knew who they were going to out of concern they could be sold for money.The testimony came at the trial for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ wife, Carli, and his parents, who contend the Angels made a series of reckless decisions that gave Kay access to MLB players when he was addicted to drugs and dealing them. The team has countered that Skaggs was also drinking heavily and his actions occurred on his own time and in the privacy of his hotel room when he died.The trial comes more than six years after 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in the suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report says Skaggs choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was found in his system.Kay was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. His federal criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019, the years he was accused of obtaining pills and giving them to Angels players.The family is seeking $118 million for Skaggs’ lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering and punitive damages against the team. In addition to Trout, other players including former Angels pitcher Wade Miley, who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds, could also testify in what is expected to be a weekslong trial in Santa Ana, Calif.Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016 and struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.After Skaggs’ death, the MLB reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board.Trout said he and Skaggs played basketball together, watched football games and went for dinner. The left-handed pitcher was improving after returning from Tommy John surgery and throwing balls anywhere from the low to mid-90s in what was turning out to be a good season for him in 2019, he said.The last time Trout said he saw Skaggs was in a hotel elevator in Texas after the team flew out from California.Trout said he still misses his friend, who he called the “life of the party.” His jersey, No. 45, hangs in Trout’s house, he said.When asked if he’d rather be somewhere else rather than testifying in court, Trout answered quickly, “yes.”“At least you’re honest,” plaintiffs’ lawyer Bill Haggerty said.

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels before an MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels on September 15, 2024, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

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SEATTLE (AP) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba called it spontaneous. Sam Darnold was simply surprised.  The r...

SEATTLE (AP) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba called it spontaneous. Sam Darnold was simply surprised.The reserved Smith-Njigba, who has let his play speak for itself while leading the NFL in yards receiving this season, decided to celebrate his fourth touchdown catch of the season in style.After corralling an 11-yard pass from Darnold in the end zone to give the Seattle Seahawks a 14-0 lead on the Houston Texans late in the first quarter , Smith-Njigba effortlessly and gracefully slam-dunked the football on the crossbar of the goalposts. He drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the process, but helped guide the Seahawks to a 27-19 win on Monday night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“That was very spontaneous,” Smith-Njigba said. “Definitely saw a lot of my favorites do it (growing up), but that was really on the spot right there.”Smith-Njigba caught eight passes for 123 yards receiving, good for his NFL-leading fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season. He became the second player in franchise history to record three straight 100-yard games, and his five 100-yard games this season are tied for the second-most in a year by any Seahawks player.As stellar as Smith-Njigba has been in his third NFL season, what he’s put forth on the regular has become somewhat expected. From teammate and 2021 AP NFL Offensive Player of the year Cooper Kupp’s perspective, though, Smith-Njigba’s excellence should be appreciated.“There’s nothing routine about what he’s been able to do productivity-wise,” Kupp said. “It’s very difficult. That’s difficult. Takes a lot of work to be able to do that. I think that’s the standard.”Outside of Smith-Njigba’s success, the Seahawks didn’t get a whole lot going offensively against the No. 1 rated scoring defense in the NFL. Seattle did strike first, though, when running back Zach Charbonnet plunged in from one yard out on the Seahawks’ second drive of the game to give them a 7-0 lead.They had excellent field position thanks to linebacker Uchenna Nwosu sacking C.J. Stroud for an 18-yard loss, which pinned the Texans at their own one-yard line. It was the third-longest sack in Seahawks franchise history by Nwosu, who missed Seattle’s first game of the season and was limited due to injuries in 2023 and 2024.“It’s amazing to see him play like this right now,” defensive end Leonard Williams III said of Nwosu.Charbonnet punched in his second touchdown of the game, a two-yard rush, late in the third quarter to give the Seahawks a 27-12 advantage.Houston, meanwhile, scored its first touchdown of the game when Darnold was strip-sacked in his own end zone midway through the third quarter. Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. recovered the fumble in the Seahawks’ end zone, but Houston failed to convert its two-point conversion attempt.“At the end of the day,” Darnold said, “I got to get the ball out of my hands.”The Texans’ only offensive touchdown came courtesy of a four-yard TD pass from Stroud to running back Woody Marks with only 2:04 remaining in regulation.“Our defense kept us in the whole game,” Stroud said. “Got to help those guys out and score some points somehow, some way.”Ka’imi Fairbairn added two field goals for the Texans, whose two-game win streak was snapped and dropped to 2-4 on the year. Jason Myers, meanwhile, converted two of three attempts for the Seahawks, who advanced to 5-2 on the season and moved into a tie atop the NFC West with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams heading into their bye week“I think we got our bye at the perfect time,” Williams said. “It’s almost midseason right now. I think we’re going into it feeling good about what we’ve accomplished so far.”Jiving JonesLinebacker Ernest Jones IV set a career-high with his third interception of the season, picking off Stroud on the Texans’ first drive of the third quarter. Jones dropped into coverage and slid in front of a pass intended for Houston’s leading receiver, Nico Collins, and returned it 28 yards.“This one here caught me off guard a little bit,” Jones said. “I didn’t see it until the last moment; just glad I was able to come down with it.”The Seahawks increased their lead to 17-6 on a 26-yard field goal by Myers after Jones’ interception.Jones also had a game-high 11 total tackles, four solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended in the victory. He leads the Seahawks in interceptions, total tackles and solo tackles.“He’s really important,” Williams said of Jones. “He’s pretty much the quarterback of the defense. He keeps everyone calm. He hypes everyone up.”Houston, we have a protection problemStroud was sacked three times on Monday night, and hit another seven times by Seattle’s pass rush. Seven games into the season, the Texans’ offensive line has allowed Stroud to be sacked 18 times, a significantly better rate than the 2024 seasonLast year, Stroud was sacked 52 times in 17 games. Despite the improvement, right tackle Tytus Howard recognized Monday’s showing was a step back for the Texans. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans added that Houston’s offensive line was sloppy in defeat.“We were complacent today,” Howard said. “We didn’t come out with enough energy to start the game.”Home, sweet homeMonday’s victory moved Seattle’s home record to 2-2. Last season, the Seahawks went 3-6 at Lumen Field, including four double-digit losses.In 2024, the Seahawks finished the season with a 7-1 record away from home, which matched their best road record in franchise history. Seattle also went 7-1 away from Lumen Field in 2019.Heading into the 2025 season, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald was optimistic the Seahawks would be able to more frequently make the most of their homefield advantage that the at-times deafening Lumen Field can turn into for the opposition.“The 12s were on fire,” Macdonald said. “Great atmosphere. Our guys are fired up. Our home crowd was just tremendous.InjuriesSeahawks: WR Dareke Young suffered a hip injury in the second half and did not return.The Seahawks played without linebacker Derick Hall and two starting defensive backs: S Julian Love and CBs Devon Witherspoon.Texans: Nico Collins was evaluated for a concussion in the second half and did not return. The Texans played without wide receiver Christian Kirk, running back Dameon Pierce and defensive end Darrell Taylor.Up nextTexans: Hosts San Francisco next Sunday.Seahawks: Bye week, followed by visiting Washington on Nov. 2.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 20: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at Lumen Field on October 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Smith-Njigba, defense show out again for Seahawks in win over Texans

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Toro...

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1993 by beating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night.Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays will host Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday night when the World Series comes to Canada for the third time. The defending champion Dodgers swept Milwaukee in the NLCS."The job’s not finished. We got four more to go," said Guerrero, the ALCS MVP.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez each hit a solo home run for Seattle in the team’s first postseason Game 7, but the heartbroken Mariners squandered a 3-1 lead in the seventh and fell eight outs short of their first World Series appearance."I hate to use the word failure, but it’s a failure," Raleigh said. "What we expected was to get to the World Series and win a World Series. That’s what the bar is and the standard is and that’s what we want to hold ourselves accountable to."Seattle remains the only major league club without a pennant."There’s no question that it’s going to sting," manager Dan Wilson said. "It’s a special team in there. It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one."Addison Barger walked to begin the seventh, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled on an 0-2 pitch and Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo was removed after No. 9 batter Andrés Giménez advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.Springer, the 2017 World Series MVP for Houston, greeted Eduard Bazardo with his fourth homer of this postseason, a 381-foot drive to left field that sent the sellout crowd of 44,770 into a roaring, pulsating frenzy.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GEORGE SPRINGER THREE-RUN SHOT BLUE JAYS LEAD 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/Qh7qwqYpRx">pic.twitter.com/Qh7qwqYpRx</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1980461867098337447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"It’s so fitting," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "Bottom of our order gets it done again. There’s probably not another person on planet Earth that I want up other than George Springer and his October magic."It was the first go-ahead homer in Game 7 history when a team trailed by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later.And it was the 23rd career postseason homer for Springer, tying Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for third place. Manny Ramírez holds the major league record with 29."So happy for our team, our fans, our city, our country," Springer said.Toronto became the fourth team to lose the first two games in a best-of-seven postseason series at home and rebound to win. The others were the 1985 Kansas City Royals, 1986 New York Mets and 1996 New York Yankees — all in the World Series."I think it’s an inspiration for 41 million people in Canada, from coast to coast to coast," Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers said. "This is Canada’s team."Making his first relief appearance since the 2021 playoffs, Kevin Gausman worked around three walks in a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win.Fellow starter Chris Bassitt tossed a perfect eighth and Jeff Hoffman struck out all three batters in the ninth for his second save this postseason.Rodríguez opened the game with a double and scored on a one-out single by Josh Naylor. Daulton Varsho tied it with an RBI single off George Kirby in the bottom half before Rodríguez restored the lead for Seattle with a leadoff homer in the third.Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 homers in the regular season, made it 3-1 with a leadoff homer against Louis Varland in the fifth.Raleigh has 10 home runs in 15 career games at Rogers Centre, three of them in the postseason. He also homered at Toronto in Game 1 of a 2022 Wild Card Series and Game 1 of this year’s ALCS.Naylor was called out to end the first after umpires ruled he interfered with Ernie Clement’s relay to first base on a double play by jumping into the throw and deflecting it.Kirby allowed one run and four hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out three.Toronto starter Shane Bieber permitted two runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.The Blue Jays were playing in a Game 7 for the first time since losing at home to Kansas City in the 1985 ALCS.The 26-year-old Guerrero, born in Montreal, arrived at the stadium wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey jersey with Auston Matthews’ name and number. The star forward is 0-6 in Game 7s with Toronto during his 10 seasons in the NHL.The Blue Jays’ victory also put 64-year-old bench coach Don Mattingly in the World Series for the first time after a long career in baseball. The former New York Yankees captain, a six-time All-Star and the 1985 AL MVP, managed the Dodgers from 2011-15.Up nextThe Dodgers are in the World Series for the fifth time since 2017 and are chasing their third championship in six years. Toronto’s only appearances resulted in back-to-back titles in 1992 and ’93.The AL East champion Blue Jays hold home-field advantage and will host the opener because they finished the regular season with 94 wins, one more than the NL West champion Dodgers.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate on the field after defeating the Seattle Mariners in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

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Blue Jays beat Mariners to book 1st World Series trip since 1993

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