AP National Sports

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shaquille O’Neal will return to the city where he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three straight championships. This time, O’Neal – who frequently deejays – will host “Shaq’s Fun House,” featuring performances by Lil Wayne, Zedd and Diplo. His annual Super Bowl week

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer has joined the Anaheim Ducks’ front office as a special advisor to the hockey operations department. New Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek announced the appointment to a new job for the captain of Anaheim’s only Stanley Cup-winning team in 2007. Niedermayer played his final five

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Robin Ventura understands why some people might be suspicious of any players who appear bulked up when they report when workouts start following the lockout. Now an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, Ventura was a two-time All-Star and a six-time Gold Glove third baseman from

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — UEFA will send a delegation to evaluate the electoral process of the Albanian soccer federation before clubs vote on a president next month. European soccer’s governing body says the “assessment mission” was the result of talks between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and association president Armand Duka.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Lovie Smith was introduced as the new head coach of the Houston Texans on Tuesday. Smith, who is Black, is the second minority candidate hired this offseason after the Miami Dolphins hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, on Sunday. Smith spent

By CASEY SMITH Associated Press/Report for America INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Opponents are continuing to ramp up pressure against an Indiana bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, arguing that the proposal is unconstitutional, sexist and bigoted. Critics additionally called out Republican lawmakers for partnering

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have hired former Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to upgrade their beleaguered special teams. Bisaccia is Green Bay’s third special teams coordinator in as many seasons. The Packers had a punt and a field goal blocked in an NFC divisional playoff loss to the San

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have named former franchise great Danny Briere special assistant to the general manager. The 44-year-old Briere will be involved in all aspects of the club’s hockey operations, including scouting and player development. He joins the Flyers operations staff after parts of five years with the Maine Mariners of the

LONDON (AP) — Caitlyn Jenner is launching a team in a single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers. Jenner is the former Olympic champion and reality TV personality who had a failed bid for California governor. She started the Jenner Racing team in the W Series for the 2022 season. The 72-year-old Jenner will oversee

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — UEFA will send a delegation to evaluate the electoral process of the Albanian soccer federation before clubs vote on a president next month. European soccer’s governing body says the “assessment mission” was the result of talks between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and association president Armand Duka.

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers are trading two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in a 6-player deal. Sacramento is sending Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers. The Kings also will receive Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a second-round draft pick. Both teams

By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is accused of punching a man about eight times, badly injuring him in an attack also involving at least three men who were with Kamara at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub. That’s according to a police arrest report made

LONDON (AP) — Kurt Zouma has started a Premier League game for West Ham hours after apologizing for kicking and slapping a cat in abuse caught on video. Zouma is seen hitting the cat while laughter can be heard in the background. In video released by The Sun newspaper, the 27-year-old France international then chases

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — Running back Joe Mixon overcame injuries and suffered through four losing seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals on his road to the Super Bowl. Overshadowed somewhat by the Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase aerial show, the 25-year-old Mixon had his best season in 2021. Utilized as a three-down back

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Longtime New Jersey official Robert Mulcahy, who served as athletics director for the state’s flagship university and held many high-ranking government posts during his decades of service, has died. Mulcahy’s family announced his death Tuesday, saying he had passed away Monday after a long illness. He was 85. Mulcahy served as

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Super Bowl’s return to the Los Angeles area after a nearly 30-year absence is providing a much-needed boost to small businesses hard hit by the pandemic. Sunday’s game and the events surrounding it are projected to generate up to $477 million for the local

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Longtime New Jersey official Robert Mulcahy, who served as athletics director for the state’s flagship university and held many high-ranking government posts during his decades of service, has died. Mulcahy’s family announced his death Tuesday, saying he had passed away Monday after a long illness. He was 85. Mulcahy served as

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn will rename its basketball arena after a couple who made the largest single gift to the athletics program. Auburn Arena will become Neville Arena at regular season’s end for the top-ranked Tigers with a dedication ceremony on March 4 and on-court recognition during the finale against South Carolina the following

By ROBERT JABLON Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawsuit alleging that a former UCLA gynecologist sexually abused hundreds of women has been settled for $246.3 million. The amount of the settlement was announced Tuesday by UCLA and some of the lawyers representing 203 women. It’s one of hundreds of lawsuits filed by patients