AP National Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Longtime Jacksonville State baseball coach Rudy Abbott, has passed away. He was 81. The school said Abbott died on Wednesday morning. He led the Gamecocks to back to back NCAA Division II national championships in 1990 and 1991 during his 32-year reign ending in 2001. They won eight Gulf South Conference

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Chelsea will get another chance to win the Club World Cup for the first time after beating Al Hilal 1-0 to set up a meeting with Palmeiras in the final. Romelu Lukaku’s close-range goal in the 32nd minute settled a match between the European champions and the Asian

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Jefferson is excited the Minnesota Vikings are getting an offensive-minded head coach. The team is expected to hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell after the Super Bowl. He’ll replace Mike Zimmer, who was a longtime defensive coordinator before the Vikings put

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer Iszac Henig didn’t know Lia Thomas when he reached out to her in October. Thomas had been making headlines as a transgender woman swimming for Penn. Henig just wanted to let her know she had the support of another swimmer who has some idea of what she was going

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lia Thomas is a transgender woman who swims for the University of Pennsylvania. It has been an unforgettable, controversial season in her first year. Three years ago, she was on the men’s team for Penn. This year, she is setting records as critics say it is

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denver Broncos tight end Andrew Beck has won the NFL’s Salute to Service award. Beck will be recognized at NFL Honors, the prime-time awards show Thursday night at which The Associated Press reveals its individual award winners for the 2021 season. USAA, which provides

ATLANTA (AP) — After clearing a designated player spot on its roster, Atlanta United finally completed its latest acquisition from South America by signing Argentina’s Thiago Almada. The 20-year-old Almada recorded 24 goals and 11 assists in 100 matches across all competitions for Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield of the Argentine first division. Almada signed a

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — A former member of the USA Climbing team has been arrested on investigation of three counts of third-degree child rape. Police in the Washington state city of Redmond said Tuesday that 28-year-old Alexander Fritz of Seattle was booked into Snohomish County Jail last week where he remains for lack $500,000 bail.

LONDON (AP) — West Ham has fined defender Kurt Zouma two weeks’ wages and the player has relinquished custody of his two cats as part of an animal-abuse investigation. The 27-year-old France international has apologized for kicking and slapping a cat in abuse caught on video. He has also lost his sponsorship deal with Adidas.

BEIJING (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Nils van der Poel of Sweden accused the Netherlands speedskating program of “corruption” over a report that its officials have tried to influence the ice makers to set up conditions that benefit Dutch athletes. Van der Poel made his scathing comments during a news conference at the Olympic Village,

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The next appearance Stacy Lewis makes in the Solheim Cup will be as the captain. The LPGA selected Lewis to lead the Americans at Finca Cortesin in Spain in 2023. Europe has won the last two times. It already has picked Suzann Pettersen as captain. Lewis is a two-time major

By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer MILTON KEYNES, England (AP) — The Red Bull Formula One team has secured a new title sponsorship worth around $500 million with technology firm Oracle, placing it among the most lucrative commercial deals in sports. The five-year deal is a lift to the team ahead of the season when

By BEN NUCKOLS AP Sports Writer The Washington Commanders have launched an independent investigation into allegations that owner Dan Snyder sexually harassed a team employee more than a decade ago. The team says former U.S. attorney Debra Wong Yang will lead the probe. The NFL fined the Commanders $10 million after an investigation into allegations

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. beat the Russian team 6-5 to open their title defense at the Beijing Winter Olympics. John Shuster delivered the reigning Olympic curling champions a routine draw with the final rock in the extra end Wednesday night at the Ice Cube curling venue. The Americans

LONDON (AP) — West Ham has fined defender Kurt Zouma two weeks’ wages and the player has relinquished custody of his two cats as part of an animal-abuse investigation. The 27-year-old France international has apologized for kicking and slapping a cat in abuse caught on video. Wages weren’t disclosed but British media reported the fine

BEIJING (AP) — In a story published Feb. 8, 2022, about the Beijing Olympics mascot, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is in a winter coat. It is in a clear shell that resembles a spacesuit.