OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The College World Series opens Friday with two games at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The first game pits Coastal Carolina against Arizona in the afternoon and Louisville and Oregon State at night. Saturday’s opener matches Murray State and UCLA in the afternoon and LSU and Arkansas at night.… Continue Reading
Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale is sticking around college basketball with a new contract extension and a new event named in his honor. ESPN announced Monday that Vitale has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season. In addition, ESPN Events is launching the Dick Vitale Invitational. The first matchup is a game between Duke and Texas on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the opening days of the college basketball season. The announcement comes on Vitale’s 86th birthday and months after he returned to the airwaves after being gone for two years amid a fourth cancer battle.… Continue Reading
Conference commissioners lauded a judge’s approval of a $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit settlement as a means for bringing stability and fairness to an out-of-control college athletics industry. They also acknowledged there would be growing pains. Commissioners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC renewed their call for congressional action to codify the settlement and emphasized that cooperation at every level of college sports would be necessary to make it work.… Continue Reading
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Sovereignty bested Journalism in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, the second hosted at Saratoga. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time. Journalism was second and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race.… Continue Reading
GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. Now the big-hitting YouTube star turns his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that starts Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Next week at Oakmont, he will try to win his third U.S. Open.… Continue Reading
BENGALURU, India (AP) — At least 11 people are dead and more than 30 injured in a stampede outside a cricket stadium in southern India. The crush on Wednesday happened as tens of thousands of cricket fans gathered outside a stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the winners of the Indian Premier League. That’s the world’s most popular T20 cricket tournament. Karnataka state’s chief minister says the stampede took place after the crowd tried to break one of the stadium’s gates and enter to take part in celebrations. The cricket team had given away free passes to fans but urged them to follow guidelines set by authorities.… Continue Reading
CALEDON, Ontario (AP) — Rory McIlroy has explained his decision not to speak to the media during last month’s PGA Championship. McIlroy said Wednesday he was annoyed that news had leaked about his driver failing to pass inspection before the tournament. McIlroy said the results of equipment tests are supposed to be confidential and noted that Scottie Scheffler’s driver had also failed before the championship, but that was not reported until afterward. McIlroy says he didn’t want to discuss his driver or say something he regretted. He also says he was unhappy with his poor play and the long days he spent at Quail Hollow.… Continue Reading
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wake Forest and baseball coach Tom Walter apologized for what appeared to be a homophobic slur caught by television cameras during an NCAA regional game against Tennessee. Walter said he has watched the video and doesn’t remember the specific moment but acknowledged “that language doesn’t reflect my values or the standards of this program.” Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said he was “surprised and deeply disappointed.” Tennessee beat Wake Forest 11-5 on Monday night to win the Knoxville Regional and earn a best-of-three super regional matchup with Arkansas for a chance to advance to the College World Series.… Continue Reading
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cameron Young is among 47 players who earned a spot in the U.S. Open on a long day of qualifiers from coast to coast. Young birdied three of his last four holes to get into a five-man playoff for one spot in Ohio. He birdied the first hole to bump out Rickie Fowler and Max Homa. Homa split with his caddie and wound up going 38 holes carrying his own bag. The qualifier from Atlanta include 17-year-old high school junior Mason Howell, who went 36 holes without a bogey. Matt Vogt, who is a dentist, led the two qualifiers in Washington state.… Continue Reading
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is retiring after missing this season with a neck injury sustained in the 2023-24 regular-season finale. The 33-year-old Fast announced his decision Monday. He hadn’t played since April 2024 when he was cross-checked from behind into the boards at Columbus. Fast wore a neck brace when he spoke with reporters after the playoffs that year. The team announced in August he would miss the year after having neck surgery. Fast had signed a two-year deal in July 2023.… Continue Reading