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HARKER HEIGHTS — Temple earned an early advantage at Harker Heights on Tuesday evening, but the Lady Knights quickly erased it.
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BELTON — Neither weather nor an early Shoemaker lead kept Belton from extending its recent string of success Tuesday night, when the…
TEMPLE — Lake Belton maintained its torrential pace through District 22-5A play Tuesday, churning out its fourth run-rule win in six…
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COPPERAS COVE — It didn’t take long for the better softball team to emerge in a matchup between the Waco Midway Pantherettes and the…
TEMPLE — Mason Law struck out six and got plenty of help from his defense, while Lake Belton strung together enough offense to come …
Belton made its first trip to compete at Chaparral on Friday evening, and the Lady Tigers left with an emphatic victory.
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TEMPLE — If there was any confusion as to which team represents District 22-5A’s early frontrunner, then Lake Belton cleared it up i…
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BELTON — The Belton Tigers packed a whole lot into their District 22-5A and home opener on a crisp Tuesday night at Tidwell Field.
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Chaparral needed a victory and some assistance to extend its season, but the scenario did not play out.
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Due to Central Texas’ latitude and climate, there is really no start or end to the fishing season as there is up north where ice-in …
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The March through September 3X9 Series of bass tournaments conducted its second tournament of the 2023 season out of Stillhouse Holl…
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With the surface temperature on our two local reservoirs, Belton and Stillhouse Hollow lakes, hitting 60 degrees for the first time …
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On Tuesday evening, 3X9 Series tournament director and Tightlines Premium Fishing Tackle shop co-owner Dean Thompson reported that 6…
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Under the cover of darkness on Feb. 25, Rick Munguia of Briggs and his friend, Angel Rivera, also from Briggs, tried their hand at b…
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Copperas Cove resident Eric Stoodley is a husband, father, veteran and knowledgeable catfish angler.
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Every February in regions where white bass exist, the question is asked: “Have the whites started running yet?”
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Back in October 2021, I spent a full day on the waters of Belton and Stillhouse Hollow lakes with Dr. Jason Locklin, a professor at …
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After qualifying over the course of five regular-season events fished on five different Central Texas reservoirs from September to e…
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Although I have addressed this issue in this column in years past, as inflation rises and our dollars do not go as far as they did j…
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Just as some of you were enjoying that first cup of coffee and opening your newspapers or clicking around online for news last Sunda…
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As I write this article, Belton Lake is 13.65 feet low, and Stillhouse Hollow Lake is 11.52 feet low.
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The Green Bay Packers have re-signed outside linebacker Justin Hollins. Hollins recorded 2½ sacks in six games for the Packers last season after they claimed him off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 24. The 27-year-old Hollins played 34 games for the Rams from 2020-22 and was part of their 2021 Super Bowl championship team. He spent his rookie season with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos selected him out of Oregon in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.
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The Carolina Panthers re-signed free agent Eddy Pineiro and released Zane Gonzalez after two injury-plagued seasons. Pineiro took over as the team’s kicker last season after Gonzalez was injured during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. He went on convert a 94.3% of his field goal attempts last season, including 19 straight to finish out the year. He was 15 of 16 on kicks of 40 yards or more. He also made 93.8% of his extra points.
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NFL great Tom Brady ended up in Las Vegas after all, but not as a member of the Raiders.
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BALTIMORE — The Lamar Jackson saga has taken another bizarre twist.
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The Las Vegas Raiders re-signed wide receiver Keelan Cole and signed free-agent cornerback Duke Shelley on Thursday. Cole caught 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown last season. He previously played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017-20 and the New York Jets in 2021 .Shelley played for the Chicago Bears in 2019-21 and then joined the Minnesota Vikings last season. He has 11 starts over 41 games with 84 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Shelley started five games last season with career highs of 31 tackles and eight pass breakups. He also had an interception.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young had the full attention of the NFL at the school’s Pro Day on Thursday.
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The San Francisco 49ers signed free agent defensive lineman Austin Bryant to a one-year contract. Bryant adds depth for San Francisco after the team lost several defensive linemen in free agency already. Key contributors Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis and Hassan Ridgeway have all signed with other teams. Bryant was originally drafted by Detroit in the fourth round in 2019. In four years with the Lions, he had 65 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and one pass defensed in 33 games.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard signed the franchise tag on Thursday, guaranteeing him $10.1 million in 2023.
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The market has begun to reveal itself for former two-time NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott, who was released by the Dallas Cowbo…
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Nick Saban not surprisingly says his quarterback, Bryce Young, is the best prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. Now, the star Alabama passer and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is trying to convince NFL teams that the Crimson Tide coach is right. Young threw a scripted series of passes mostly to former teammates before a large contingent of NFL coaches, scouts and executives. Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud are vying to be the first player taken by the Carolina Panthers on April 27.
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STANFORD, Calif. — Fifteen years ago, the 49ers opened free agency in grand fashion, whisking Justin Smith on a helicopter tour arou…
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Darren Waller had just returned from his honeymoon with Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum when the Raiders traded him across the country to the New York Giants. Welcome to married life as a professional athlete. Waller’s journey to NFL stardom has been complicated. He was a wide receiver at Georgia Tech and was selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Waller spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve, was suspended four games in 2016 and received a full suspension for 2017 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He fought hard to overcome his addiction and thrived in Jon Gruden’s offense after the Raiders signed him off Baltimore’s practice squad in 2018.
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The Creighton Bluejays face the Princeton Tigers in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. The teams match up Friday for the first time this season. Creighton is 14-6 against the Big East, and Princeton is 10-4 against the Ivy League.
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Brooklyn aims to break its five-game losing streak when the Nets take on Miami. Saturday's game is the third meeting this season between the two teams. The Nets won the last matchup 116-105. Miami is 21-24 against the Eastern Conference, and Brooklyn is 26-20 against conference opponents.
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Los Angeles and Oklahoma City will play in a matchup of Western Conference foes. Friday's game is the third meeting of the season between the two teams. The Lakers won the previous matchup 123-117. Los Angeles is 21-24 against the Western Conference, and Oklahoma City is 22-24 against conference opponents.
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Dallas hosts Charlotte in a non-conference matchup. The teams match up Friday for the first time this season. Dallas is 22-15 at home, and Charlotte is 11-27 on the road.
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New Orleans will try to extend its three-game win streak with a victory against Los Angeles. Saturday's game is the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Pelicans won the previous matchup 112-91. Los Angeles is 23-22 against the Western Conference, and New Orleans is 24-20 against conference opponents.
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LAS VEGAS — From on top of the college basketball world to deflated, momentarily back on top only to be heartbroken once more.
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Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-105 in their first game since losing Paul George to a knee injury. Leonard shot 13 of 15 from the floor. George sprained his right knee in the closing minutes of a 101-100 loss to the Thunder two nights earlier. He’ll be re-evaluated in two to three weeks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points. The Clippers made 18 3-pointers, led by Nicolas Batum and Bones Hyland with four each.
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Julian Strawther hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to answer a 3-pointer by UCLA’s Amari Bailey, lifting Gonzaga to a wild 79-76 win over UCLA in the Sweet 16. The Bruins were the West Region’s No. 2 seed and stormed back from an eight-point deficit in the final 1:05. UCLA took a a 76-75 lead on Bailey’s 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left. The Zags brought the ball up the floor and Strawther stepped into a 3-pointer, sending Gonzaga fans to their feet and the Zags into the Elite Eight.
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Alabama was expected to be in the Sweet 16 as the overall top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Few thought the teams standing between the Crimson Tide and a trip to the Final Four would be No. 5 seed San Diego State, sixth-seeded Creighton and 15th-seeded Princeton. A win over Alabama could elevate any of those schools to the status of March Madness legend. Coach Nate Oats understands the pressure his team faces when it faces San Diego State Friday night as it seeks its first Elite Eight berth since 2004. Friday's other semifinal in Louisville features Creighton against Princeton.
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A confrontation between two players in the postgame handshake line following Bowling Green’s win over Memphis on Thursday night in the Women’s NIT has been referred to campus police. As the teams walked toward center court following Bowling Green’s 73-60 win in the Round of 16 game, Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes stopped to talk with Falcons’ player Elissa Brett. After a short conversation, Shutes appears to throw a punch at Brett, who fell toward the scorer’s table and onto the sideline. There was no immediate word about what caused the confrontation or if any player was seriously injured.
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LOS ANGELES — The image that returned Wednesday from the scan of Paul George’s injured right knee provided about as good of news as …
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NEW YORK (AP) — Markquis Nowell broke the NCAA Tournament record for assists in a game with 19, his last two on spectacular passes i…
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Trevor Bauer was apparently shunned by every major league team, so he’s signed a one-year deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. On Friday before about 75 reporters in a Yokohoma hotel, he slipped on the BayStars uniform — No. 96 — and said all the right things. Not a single Japanese reporter asked about his suspension in the United States over domestic violence allegations or the reasons surrounding it. He said he hoped to strike out 200 and keep his average fastball velocity at 96 mph.
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A National Hockey League team with a Russian player has decided against wearing special warmup jerseys to commemorate Pride Night, citing an anti-gay Kremlin law that could imperil Russian athletes when they return home. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s game against Vancouver. That's according to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Associated Press. The decision was made by the Blackhawks following discussions with security officials within and outside the franchise, a person familiar with the situation told the AP on Wednesday. Two Canadian players on the Florida Panthers decided not to wear Pride-themed jerseys on Thursday night, while Russian star Sergei Bobrovsky took part in warmups in one.
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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins was carted off the field after falling to the ground with what was later diag…
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A trio of NL pennant hopefuls are suddenly dealing with injuries to some pretty important players. The Philadelphia Phillies lost slugging first baseman Rhys Hoskins on Thursday when he damaged his left knee fielding a grounder in a spring training game. He needs surgery for a torn ACL and is expected to miss a significant amount of time. The Phillies didn't say how much time Hoskins is expected to be out. St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright has a groin injury and Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias an inflamed shoulder. Both will begin the season on the injured list.
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CLEARWATER, Fla. — This would be a good time for Nick Castellanos to start earning that $100 million.
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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee while fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time. The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined. Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions. He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
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JUPITER, Fla. — Something should strike you about this Cardinals roster that will be introduced to a packed Busch Stadium on opening day.
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In attempt to hasten the pace of play, shorten games, increase action on the bases and offer a more visually familiar style of play,…
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It’s a fair assumption that Father Time will catch up with Justin Verlander one of these days. The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner is putting up quite a fight. The 40-year-old Verlander signed with the New York Mets during the offseason and looks like he’s got plenty of good pitching left. The hard-throwing righty has a 2.25 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings in four starts during Grapefruit League action. The Mets are hoping to squeeze another elite season out of Verlander and Max Scherzer, who is 38 years old. Scherzer has also had a solid spring training, giving up just one earned run over 11 2/3 innings.
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JUPITER, Fla. — A few hours before being named officially as the Cardinals' opening day starter for his final season in the majors, …
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Adam Wainwright was in line for his seventh opening day start. The veteran St. Louis Cardinals right-hander instead will begin what’s slated to be his final season on the injured list with a groin injury. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol says the 41-year-old Wainwright could miss several weeks. The pitcher apparently strained his groin in a workout ahead of Team USA’s game with Japan in the championship of the World Baseball Classic. Wainwright went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA over eight innings to help the U.S. reach the final.
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The Colorado Rapids aim for their first victory of the season when they visit Austin.
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Charlotte FC faces the New York Red Bulls in Eastern Conference action.
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Junior Moreno leads Cincinnati into a matchup with Nashville after a two-goal showing against the Chicago Fire.
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The Vancouver Whitecaps seek their first win of the season when they visit Minnesota United.
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Saint Louis City SC heads into a matchup against Real Salt Lake as winners of four consecutive games.
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A game after shutting out Inter Miami 2-0, Toronto visits the San Jose Earthquakes.
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Mikael Uhre leads the Philadelphia Union into a matchup with Orlando City after a two-goal performance against CF Montreal.
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Thiago Almada leads Atlanta United into a matchup with the Columbus Crew after a two-goal showing against the Portland Timbers.
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Los Angeles FC heads into a matchup against Dallas after putting together two straight shutout wins.
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The Portland Timbers aim to end a three-game slide when they host the LA Galaxy.
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A game after shutting out Austin 2-0, the Houston Dynamo face New York City FC.
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Messi mania gripped Buenos Aires as the Argentina national team led by Lionel Messi beat Panama 2-0 in a friendly match that was essentially a celebration of their World Cup victory last December. Messi scored on a perfectly executed free kick in what was the 800th goal of his professional career. After the match, the celebrations got into full swing and Messi took center stage, smiling from ear to ear as he received awards and accolades. “I personally always dreamt of this moment,” a visibly emotional Messi said as he was handed the microphone. The match culminated a week in which Messi was widely celebrated as a hero after winning Argentina’s third World Cup title. It's marked change for a player who was once blamed for the team's failings in previous championships.
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The No. 2 Houston Cougars take on the No. 16 Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. The teams meet Friday for the first time this season. Houston is 17-1 against the AAC, and Miami (FL) is 15-5 against the ACC.
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The No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs play the No. 10 UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season. Gonzaga is 14-2 against the WCC, and UConn is 13-7 against the Big East.
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The No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats face the No. 25 Florida Atlantic Owls in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The teams play Saturday for the first time this season. Kansas State is 11-7 against the Big 12, and Florida Atlantic is 18-2 against the C-USA.
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The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide face the No. 18 San Diego State Aztecs in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. Friday's meeting is the first this season between the two teams. Alabama is 16-2 against the SEC, and San Diego State is 15-3 against the MWC.
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The No. 5 Texas Longhorns and No. 13 Xavier Musketeers meet in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The teams play Friday for the first time this season. Texas is 12-6 against the Big 12, and Xavier is 15-5 against the Big East.
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Florida Atlantic, playing in just its second NCAA Tournament, moved within a victory of the Final Four by using a second-half push led by Michael Forrest to beat fourth-seeded Tennessee 62-55. The ninth-seeded Owls will play third-seeded Kansas State in the East Region final at Madison Square Garden. Johnell Davis lead the Owls with 15 points and Forrest finished with 11, eight in a crucial second-half run when FAU took control. The Volunteers, who were looking for just the second Elite Eight appearance in program history, shot 33% — including 6 of 23 from 3-point range. Josiah-Jordan James and Jonas Aidoo scored 10 points apiece.
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LAS VEGAS — Not again. Not again. Not again.
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NEW YORK -- When facing the physicality of fourth-seeded Tennessee, a team needs to just hang in and fight through a war of attritio…
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This amounts to unfamiliar territory for San Diego State's basketball team, the whole underdog thing. The No. 18 A…
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Markquis Nowell broke the NCAA Tournament record for assists in a game with 19, his last two on spectacular passes in the final minute of overtime, and Kansas State beat Michigan State 98-93 in a Sweet 16 thriller at Madison Square Garden. Playing in his hometown and fighting through a second-half ankle injury, Nowell found Keyontae Johnson for a reverse alley-oop with 52 seconds left in OT to give the Wildcats the lead for good in this back-and-forth East Region semifinal. Nowell finished with 20 points and five steals. A.J. Hoggard led Michigan State with 25 points. Kansas State will face Florida Atlantic for a berth in the Final Four.
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LAS VEGAS — Forget the casinos, the UConn men’s basketball team won big at T-Mobile Arena and cashed its ticket to the Elite Eight w…
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Alison Lee and Jenny Shin each reeled off four straight birdies in the middle of their rounds and joined Gaby Lopez at 7-under 65 Thursday to share a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Drive on Championship. Taiwan’s Wei-Ling Hsu and England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff were tied for fourth after opening 66s. Ten players are tied for sixth place at 5 under, as 114 golfers in the 142-player field carded a score of even par or better.
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Rory McIlroy is really digging the long ball at the Dell Match Play. He capped off his victory against Denny McCarthy by driving the 375-yard closing hole to just inside 4 feet for an eagle that was conceded. It was a brilliant display of power at Austin Country Club. McIlroy is leading a parade of undefeated top seeds into the final round of group play. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele also are 2-0 going into Friday. They still have work to do. That's not the case for 20 players who already are eliminated.
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Brice Garnett won his only PGA Tour title in the Dominican Republic and he's hopeful of a repeat this week. Garnett shared the first-round lead with Ben Martin in the Corales Puntacana Championship. They both played bogey-free for a 66. Garnett made birdie on all four of the par 5s. Martin got a big break at the end of his round when his tee shot on the par-3 ninth hole bounced off the rocks and onto the green. They lead by one shot over Matt Wallace of England. The tournament is being held opposite the WGC-Dell Match Play.
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South Africans Darren Fichardt and Martin Vorster shared the lead at the Jonsson Workwear Open after opening with 8-under 64s. Fichardt raced out of the blocks at The Club at Steyn City by making birdies on his first two holes after starting on No. 10. He collected five birdies on his front nine and made three in a row from No. 15. Vorster came alive on the back nine when he went eagle, birdie, birdie from No. 10 on the way to a share of the first-round lead at the European tour event.
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The opening day of round-robin matches delivered its share of big shots and bizarre records in the Dell Technologies Match Play. Jon Rahm lost in the opening session for the first time dating to his debut in 2017. Keegan Bradley now has gone 16 consecutive matches without winning. He at least rallied for a halve. Maverick McNealy lost 8 and 6 to Sungjae Im. A year ago, McNealy won by the same margin over Joaquin Niemann. And no one got off to a quicker start than Cameron Young. He made nine straight 3s at Austin Country Club.
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Keegan Bradley still hasn't won a match in 16 tries over 11 years in the Dell Technologies Match Play. His halve on the opening day sure felt like a win. Bradley rallied from 4 down with five holes to play to earn a draw against Denny McCarthy. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler escaped with a 1-up win over Davis Riley by making a birdie on the last hole. Jon Rahm is the No. 2 seed. He wasn't so fortunate, losing to Rickie Fowler. Matt Kuchar won his 35 match in tournament history. That's one short of the record held by Tiger Woods.
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The last edition of the Dell Match Play means this is Matt Kuchar's last chance to break a tournament record belonging to Tiger Woods. Kuchar has won 34 matches, two short of the record that Woods set on his way to three victories. The Match Play is the last of the World Golf Championships. They began in 1999 and have run their course, with the tour moving to elevated events starting next year. Kuchar is only in the 64-man field because of LIV Golf players who are suspended. Three days of group play begins on Wednesday.
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The final Match Play could be the last chance for some players to get into the Masters. The top 50 in the world after this week get invitations. Right on the bubble is Min Woo Lee at No. 47. He had a chance to sew up his spot until a 76 at The Players Championship. He missed a 12-foot putt on the final hole that would have assured his going to the Masters. For players like Rickie Fowler and Taylor Montgomery, they'll need to advance out of their group and at the very least reach the quarterfinals of Match Play.
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The Match Play is coming to an end. This will be the final edition of golf's most fickle tournament, which began in 1999. It's no surprise the World Golf Championships are over because the new PGA Tour schedule is all about small fields and big purses. But what golf misses with Match Play are plenty of memories. There was Tiger Woods beating Stephen Ames 9 and 8. And then a year later, Ames won a match by nearly the same score. Not to be forgotten are the memories of Victor Dubuisson's amazing escapes from the Arizona desert.
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The final version of the Dell Match Play returns to Austin, Texas. This is likely the final World Golf Championship in a series that began in 1999. Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion and assured of staying No. 1 in the world. Scheffler has made it to the championship match the last two years. The field is missing LIV Golf players and had to dip down to No. 77 in the world ranking to fill the 64-man field. The LPGA starts its domestic schedule in Arizona. Bernhard Langer gets another crack at the PGA Tour Champions career wins mark.
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PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Taylor Moore stood on the practice putting green and casually checked some messages on his phone. The 29-year-ol…
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Taylor Moore has shot 67 to win the Valspar Championship. He made key birdies on the 15th and 16th holes at Innisbrook. And he avoided the mistakes that cost Adam Schenk and Jordan Spieth. The victory sends the 29-year-old Moore to the Masters with his first PGA Tour victory. Schenk was tied for the lead when his drive landed next to a tree on the final hole, leading to a bogey. Spieth was tied for the lead until hitting his drive into the water on the 16th. Spieth also missed a 6-foot birdie putt to get back in the mix.
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Darlington Raceway has signed Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall to a name, image and likeness deal for a second straight year. McCall first partnered with the track that's known as “Too Tough To Tame” a year ago to help promote the Southern 500. Track president Kerry Tharp says his group enjoyed working with McCall and wanted to keep things going. Darlington hosts the NASCAR Cup Series' Goodyear 400 on May 14. McCall will be a senior with the Chanticleers. He's a three-time Sun Belt Conference player of the year.
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Josh Williams has received a one-race suspension as punishment for parking his car at the start-finish line at Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Williams will miss this Saturday’s Xfinity race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. He accepted his punishment but says he doesn’t regret his actions which led to the penalty. NASCAR ordered Williams to park his car in the garage after debris came off his car, forcing a caution. Williams instead parked his car on the checkered start-finish line, climbed out and walked toward his pit crew with a wave to the fans.
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Brad Keselowski knew there was going to be a long rebuilding process when he left Team Penske after 12 years for an ownership stake in Jack Roush's once proud NASCAR team. He just wasn't clear on how much work needed to be done. The 2012 Cup champion is now part of the ownership group at rebranded RFK Racing and 16 months into his new role, the team is finally seeing some results. Keselowski was passed by former teammate Joey Logano on the last lap for the win Sunday at Atlanta, and RFK heads to Circuit of Americas in Texas this weekend believing Chris Buescher has a shot at the win.
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As the reigning NASCAR champion, Joey Logano had no reason to panic when Team Penske had a slower than expected start to the new season. Even so, Logano’s return to the winner’s circle was a much-needed boost for Ford following a dominant start to the season by Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. Chevrolet drivers won the first four races, including back-to-back wins by Hendrick’s William Byron. Logano passed another Ford driver, Brad Keselowski, on the final lap to claim his first win of 2023 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Logano says Ford drivers proved they will be a force on superspeedways.
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Most Formula One drivers delayed by a stomach bug before flying to a race followed by an annoying mechanical failure in qualifying would have been happy to finish in second place. Especially after starting from 15th place on the grid. But not two-time defending F1 champion Max Verstappen. He wasn’t keen to praise Red Bull’s second straight 1-2 after he finished behind winner Sergio Perez in Saudi Arabia. Even a bonus point for the fastest lap that kept him in the overall championship lead couldn’t ease Verstappen’s frustration. He says “everyone is happy but personally, I’m not.” That's because the two-time defending F1 champion is "not here to be second.” Next stop is the Australian GP that Verstappen's never won.
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Sergio Perez won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Max Verstappen drove from 15th to second to give Red Bull a 1-2 finish Sunday in what is shaping up to be a runaway season for the reigning Formula One champions. And there have only been two races so far. But it’s been two Red Bull wins, two 1-2 finishes, and an air of desperation from everyone else on the grid. Fernando Alonso finished third for the second consecutive race for his 100th career podium. He was initially dropped to fourth because the race stewards said he didn't correctly serve an early-race penalty. But the penalty was reversed hours after the race concluded.
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Austin Hill continued his dominant start to the NASCAR Xfinity season, holding off Daniel Hemric at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his third win in five races. Hill overcome a record-setting day of cautions. There were 11 cautions, the most for an Xfinity race in Atlanta. Hill previously collected Xfinity wins at Daytona on Feb. 18 to open the season and at Las Vegas on March 4. One of the cautions led a frustrated Josh Williams to make an unusual exit in the first stage, leaving his car parked on the start-finish line for dramatic effect.
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William Byron has back-to-back wins. Yet he still believes he and his Hendrick Motorsports team have a lot to prove at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Drivers of the Hendrick Chevrolets want to show the strong start to the season is not the result of illegally manipulating NASCAR’s rules. Hedrick was given the largest combined fine on one team in series history for allegedly modifying louvers. The crew chiefs for Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman all start four-race suspensions this weekend. Hendrick is appealing the penalties. Joey Logano has the pole for Sunday's race, followed by seven other Ford drivers.
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Sergio Perez stepped up for Red Bull to ensure the team started from the pole at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a mechanical issue sidelined two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen was fastest in all three practice sessions but his qualifying effort was cut short with a driveshaft issue. Perez went on to win pole for the second consecutive year — the only two poles of his career. Verstappen will start 15th. Charles Leclerc qualified second for Ferrari but will drop 10 positions at the start of Sunday’s race because of a grid penalty. Fernando Alonso was third but will move to the front row Sunday when Leclerc serves his penalty.
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Formula One is back in Saudi Arabia one year after a missile strike hit an oil depot near the track during race week. The drivers expressed confidence in their safety ahead of Sunday's race but seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton again broached the subject of human rights issues in the kingdom. Drivers have been given assurances by F1 that increased safety measures will prevent the race from being impacted like last year when Houthi rebels from Yemen hit a depot only seven miles away during the first practice session. The attack led to hours of talks between drivers, organizers and stakeholders but the race went ahead.
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff accepts the grim “reality” that their Formula One car is not good enough to challenge their main rivals this season. Wolff says ”I don’t think we can beat the teams in front of us." But he knows where the W14 car’s faults lie. Wolff’s comments came a day after seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said Mercedes is so far off the pace that he would need three teams to fall out of a race for him to have a chance to win. Red Bull dominated in Bahrain two weeks ago with a 1-2 finish from world champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Hamilton was 51 seconds behind Verstappen in fifth place.
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Lewis Hamilton considers Mercedes so far off the pace that it might need three teams not to finish a Formula One race in order to win one. The next race is Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Red Bull dominated the season-opener in Bahrain two weeks ago with two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen leading a 1-2 ahead of Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso was third for an impressive Aston Martin and Carlos Sainz Jr. took fourth for Ferrari. Hamilton was about 51 seconds behind Verstappen in fifth spot and says “we need the Red Bulls not to finish the race, and the Ferraris not to finish the race and maybe now the Astons not to finish the race, for us to be winning.”
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Anthony Joshua has been facing a new reality in recent months. He has been the poster boy of boxing’s heavyweight division for so long but suddenly the British fighter is on the outside looking in. His star has fallen in the wake of back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk that have led many to question Joshua’s ability even as a two-time world champion. Joshua makes his comeback in an April 1 fight against Jermaine Franklin. It’ll be the first time in 13 fights when Joshua won’t be either attempting to retain or regain a world title. His career is on the line.
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The proposed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since 2000 is on shaky ground with the boxers seemingly unable to agree to rematch terms. Usyk promoter Alex Krassyuk says the Ukrainian’s team ended negotiations because Fury was “putting so many obstacles in front of making the deal.” Fury promoter Frank Warren responded by saying the breakdown in talks has happened because of a dispute over the split of earnings from a rematch. Warren said he hopes negotiations can resume. Usyk is the WBA, WBO and IBF champion. Fury is the WBC titleholder.
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Just hours before the start of the preliminary rounds of the Golden Gloves centennial tournament, the back room of Cicero Stadium is…
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Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring May 6 in his native Guadalajara, Mexico. He will defend his four super middleweight title belts against Britain’s John Ryder. The bout will be at Akron Stadium, the home of famed Mexican soccer club Chivas. Álvarez is fighting for the first time since he won the final bout in his famed trilogy with Gennady Golovkin by unanimous decision last September. Álvarez also will be fighting one year after a one-sided loss to Dmitry Bivol in a light heavyweight bout. Álvarez hasn't fought in Mexico since November 2011.
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CHICAGO — You’ve heard about “Creed III.” It’s the latest in a long line of boxing movies, snaking back to the end of the 19th centu…
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CHICAGO — Have you ever watched two men or two women battle one another in a boxing ring?
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Oleksandr Usyk has taken to social media to accept Tyson Fury’s terms for a fight to become undisputed world heavyweight champion. Time appeared to be running out to arrange a deal between the titleholders for a proposed April 29 fight in London. Fury is the WBC champion. He published a video on Instagram saying he would fight only if there was a 70-30 split of earnings from the bout in his favor. Usyk responded with his own video on Twitter and accepted that split. Usyk is a Ukrainian former cruiserweight champion who owns the WBA, IBF and WBO belts at heavyweight.
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Detroit boxing is fighting to make a comeback. The fight town has a rich history in the sport, dating back to Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson and Thomas Hearns came along later to pack their own punches to make boxing popular in the Motor City. Former champion Tony Harrison is the latest, greatest boxer from the city. He hasn't competed in his hometown in nearly a decade and is fighting undefeated Australian Tim Tszyu this weekend in Sydney. A pair of boxing promoters in Detroit plan to put on more than 10 boxing shows this year for young professionals.
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UFC President Dana White is selling slap fighting as the next big thing in combat sport, and the Nevada Athletic Commission has sanctioned the Power Slap League for competitions. In Power Slap bouts, fighters take turns hitting each other in the face with an open hand. A fighter has up to 60 seconds to recover and respond after receiving a blow. Some barely flinch, others stumble. Some are knocked out. Critics say the fights are unsafe because fighters can't defend themselves and risk brain damage. White says the sport is safer than boxing and predicts Power Slap is the next big thing in combat sports. Chris Nowinski of the Concussion Legacy Foundation calls slap fighting “one of the stupidest things you can do.”
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Today in Sports History, Mar. 9-2013 — Bernard Hopkins at 48 becomes the oldest boxer to win a major title, scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud to claim the IBF light heavyweight championship in New York.
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Today in Sports History, Mar. 8-1971 — Joe Frazier wins the world heavyweight title with a unanimous 15-round decision over Muhammad Ali at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
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Today in Sports History, Week Ahead Mar. 3-Mar. 9, Two Takes
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