Sports

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mitch Kupchak has signed a multiyear contract extension to remain the Charlotte Hornets’ general manager. His contract was set to expire this summer. Kupchak told reporters on Thursday that “for better or for worse I will be here for the next couple of years.” He

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Three people were injured when the chartered bus carrying the Murray State softball team was involved in a two-vehicle crash on the way to the NCAA Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, police said. Murray State said the three had injuries that weren’t life threatening after the accident Wednesday. The school didn’t say

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid says it has signed a stadium management deal for the Santiago Bernabéu worth $381 million. The agreement was reached with investment firm Sixth Street and “experiences company” Legends. Real Madrid says the 360 million euros can be invested in “any of the club’s activities.”

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Al Horford is coming back. Marcus Smart is hoping to play. And Derrick White headed home early for a good reason. The Boston Celtics have one and are hoping to have two of their missing starters back for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators have extended the contracts of coach John Hynes and his assistants through the 2023-24 season trying to build on a season with several individual successes for a franchise that wound up being swept in the playoffs for the first time. General

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Mets pitcher Max Scherzer is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a strained oblique muscle in his left side. It’s the latest blow to a New York pitching staff already missing ace Jacob deGrom. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award

By JON GAMBRELL and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Officials say that a Hong Kong-flagged sailboat is reported to have come under attack off the coast of war-torn Yemen. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations group said the attack on Thursday happened off Hodeida, a contested port city amid Yemen’s

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Naomi Osaka’s return to the French Open will be a tough test against the player who beat her at the Australian Open, No. 27 Amanda Anisimova. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who used to be No. 1 in the rankings but has slipped to

NEW YORK (AP) — Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter is among the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, presented annually to the NHL’s coach of the year. Andrew Brunette of the Florida Panthers and Gerard Gallant of the New York Rangers are the other two finalists. Sutter oversaw the biggest season-over-season improvement by

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Lo van Pham’s journey to the NFL began when he fell in love with sports upon arriving in Texas after living in refugee camps with his family. More than 40 years later, van Pham is set to become the first Asian American to officiate in the NFL. Before

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — The Preakness tradition of the Alibi Breakfast is back this week after a two-year absence because of the pandemic. The annual event that dates to the 1930s brings together owners, trainers and other horsemen for the kind of relaxed, lighthearted atmosphere the second jewel of the

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz all were placed on the same half of the French Open men’s bracket in the draw for the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic is the defending champion and seeded No. 1. He could meet 13-time champion Nadal in the

By The Associated Press Ismail Elfath is the lone American among 36 referees selected by FIFA for this year’s World Cup. The 40-year-old was born in Morocco, moved to the U.S. when he was 18 and refereed his first Major League Soccer match in 2012. Elfath worked a semifinal of the 2019 Club World Cup,

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Marcus Smart is hoping to play. Al Horford is trying to come back as well. And Derrick White headed home early for a good reason. The Boston Celtics were hoping to have at least one of their missing starters back for Game 2 of the Eastern