Sports

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee says 177 of its 223 athletes signed up to go to the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics. That put to rest any notion that the athletes would skip the celebration as a sign of protest. They instead left

BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. He’ll also hold talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the two leaders look to project themselves as a counterweight to the U.S. and its allies. The Russian leader’s visit comes amid growing Chinese support for

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — Two-time defending Olympic champion Jamie Anderson and her fellow snowboarders will soon be riding right past a snow replica of the the Great Wall. The course makers at the Beijing Games built a carved-out, block-by-block structure at the top of the slopestyle course as a

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — It was supposed to be a foregone conclusion that Russia’s powerful stable of figure skaters, including world champions in three of the four disciplines, would run away with the team gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Nathan Chen and the rest of the Americans must have

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer No one’s been able to slow down top-ranked Auburn this season. Struggling Georgia is the next to try when the teams play in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday. The Tigers have won 18 straight, including their first nine games in the Southeastern Conference, including putting 100 points on state rival

By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer No. 4 Purdue will be looking to change its fortunes against Michigan when the teams meet Saturday in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Wolverines have beaten Purdue five straight times. Purdue needs a win to keep pace with Illinois in the Big Ten race. Iowa is looking for a turnaround

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer A look at the upcoming weekend around the Big 12 Conference: GAME OF THE WEEKEND Reigning national champion Baylor and perennial contender Kansas, both again stocked for NCAA Tournament runs, as the afternoon light spills through the old clerestory windows of Allen Fieldhouse? Yes, please. Yet the last few

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer Ninth-ranked Duke’s trip to rival North Carolina headlines the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule for the week. Saturday marks the final trip to Chapel Hill for retiring Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. It also marks the first rivalry game for UNC’s Hubert Davis as head coach.  The week ahead includes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Callum McRae posted 19 points and three assists as UC Riverside narrowly defeated Hawaii 64-59. Kamaka Hepa led the Rainbow Warriors with 12 points and seven rebounds.

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. women’s hockey star Brianna Decker will miss the rest of the Olympics after injuring her left leg in the Americans’ tournament-opening victory against Finland. Decker is expected to remain in Beijing rather than fly back to the U.S. immediately. The forward was hurt when she was tripped from behind by Ronja

By CANDICE CHOI Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — The ice rinks hosting the figure skating and speedskating competitions at the Beijing Olympics will also be putting a major environmental problem on the world stage – the greenhouse gases often used in refrigerators, air conditioners and other cooling systems. Four newly built rinks at the Games

BEIJING (AP) — The third round of training for women’s ski jumpers at the Beijing Olympics has been canceled due to windy conditions. Wind gusts were measured at 7 meters per second (16 mph). To make the conditions even more brutal, it was minus 9 degrees Celsius (16 degrees Fahrenheit) on the sunny afternoon. The

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Jamal Bey scored a season-high 20 points, Daejon Davis hit 5 of 7 from 3-point range and finished with 19 points and Washington beat California 84-63. Bey tied his career high with four 3-pointers and Davis shot 7 of 10 from the field. Terrell Brown Jr. added 19 points and eight

PORTLAND, Ore. — Logan Johnson posted 17 points as Saint Mary’s romped past Portland 75-54. Tyler Robertson led the Pilots with 15 points and seven rebounds.