Sports

By SAM METZ and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — GOP lawmakers in Utah have pushed through a ban on transgender youth athletes playing on girls’ teams, overriding a veto and joining 11 other states with similar laws amid a nationwide culture war. The Friday vote followed Cox’s veto letter that said

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Hours after Formula One drivers voiced concerns about a race already dogged by human rights issues, Saudi Arabia’s war with Yemen landed on F1’s doorstep when Houthi rebels attacked an oil depot near the glittering Saudi track where they were racing. Yemen’s Houthi

By GERALD IMRAY AP Sports Writer CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Algeria has returned to the scene of its embarrassing group-stage exit at the African Cup to clinch a crucial 1-0 away win over Cameroon in the first leg of their World Cup playoff. Striker Islam Slimani scored with a glancing header at Japoma

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer There were 17.3 million brackets filled out in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge this year, and the quest for a perfect one was done before the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. And the two favorites to win it all, Gonzaga and Arizona, were done before the second weekend. Another topsy-turvy

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — UMass has found a leader for its basketball program, hiring Frank Martin as its new coach. The 56-year-old Martin takes over the Minutemen program from Matt McCall, who was fired this month after going 58-81 over five seasons in Amherst. Martin arrives following his own dismissal from South Carolina last week

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer VENICE, Fla. (AP) — Five months later, the Atlanta Braves’ decision to have Dylan Lee start last season’s World Series Game 4 against Houston is still shocking. Even on a depleted staff, Lee was the most unlikely choice to start. Lee made history as the first pitcher to make

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gareth Bale has spoken out against the psychological harm that professional athletes can receive from the media after a leading Spanish sports daily published a column on the Real Madrid player entitled “The Welsh Parasite.” Bale says “it’s clear as day how negative media attention could

By JACK MAGRUDER Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz (AP) — Right-hander Alex Colomé has a clear path to become the Colorado Rockies’ closer, although nothing has been made official. The Rockies signed the free-agent right-hander to a one-year, $4.15 million contract to add a proven performer to the back end of the bullpen, which has not

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Despite a raging fire at a nearby oil depot following an attack, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has maintained business as usual. The Formula One race on Sunday is also expected to go ahead. But meetings dragged on in the paddock late into

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — New Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson maintained his innocence and strongly denied committing any sexual misconduct despite allegations made by 22 women against him. Wearing a dark pinstriped suit and orange tie at his introductory news conference, Watson showed little emotion while saying he’s done nothing

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Four Chinese badminton players are on probation for two years for failing to try their best to win a doubles match in 2018. The incident happened in the Fuzhou Open quarterfinals in China in November 2018. World-ranked No. 2 pair Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen were playing No.

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — UCLA assistant coach Michael Lewis will be taking over Ball State’s program once the Bruins have completed their NCAA Tournament run. Lewis will replace the fired James Whitford. Ball State went 131-148 in Whitford’s nine seasons. Goetz said Lewis won’t officially begin his new job until UCLA’s season is over. The

MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Steve Prohm is back at Murray State for a second stint as its men’s basketball coach. The coach said in a release Friday he is “excited and grateful” for the chance to return to Murray State. He is taking over the program as the Racers prepare to join the Missouri Valley

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid says Eden Hazard will undergo surgery to remove a plate in his right leg. The 31-year-old Hazard has played sparingly for Madrid this season. The surgery will rule him out from facing former club Chelsea next month in the Champions League. Madrid says in that “in the coming days” Hazard

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Olympic ice dance champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron shattered their own rhythm dance world record on Friday to take the lead over two American teams at the world championships in Montpellier, France. With the backing of their home crowd, Papadakis and Cizeron scored 92.73 points to their program