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His name was Fedor and other men feared him. He had a shaved head, deadpan eyes and construction-worker muscles. He was a Russian army veteran who called Vladimir Putin a friend. “His thing,” Donald Trump said, “is inflicting death on people.” Story Continued Below And he was Trump’s newest business partner. It was June 5, 2008 and Trump had called a news conference at Trump Tower to announce a new…

x Embed x Share Katie Ledecky talked about getting ready for dorm life, swimming at Stanford, inspiring young swimmers and maybe getting her driver’s license. USA TODAY Sports After dominating the marquee distance events, how can Katie Ledecky keep growing as an elite athlete and as a competitor?(Photo: Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports) If it’s not obvious by now, it should be: The only thing Katie Ledecky chases is history….

Only four days after signing a new contract with Al Ittihad, a club in Egypt’s Premier League, Cameroonian Samuel Nlend is on the look-out for a new club. His chances of finding one, however, are, all of a sudden, very slim. Nlend’s contract at the 102-year old Egyptian club was reportedly canceled after a routine medical test found the player tested positive for HIV. BREAKING: Ittihad of Alexandria terminate Samuel…

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Betty Jane France was a native of Winston-Salem and married the late William C. France, son of Bill France Sr., who founded NASCAR, according to the Nascar Foundation website. Her son Brian France is the current chief executive officer and chairman of NASCAR. Before she passed, Betty France was the executive vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR and the chairperson of the NASCAR Foundation. She’s also…

RELATED: Instagram post causes PR freak-out   Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Monday that Jimmie Johnson had asked him to borrow one of his father’s old uniforms to complete his retro look for this weekend’s NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.   Earnhardt Jr.’s remarks came on Monday’s edition of the “Dale Jr. Download,” a 70-minute episode that he co-hosted on his Dirty Mo Radio network.   Earnhardt did not provide…

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On Friday night, at Albert Park, in San Rafael, California, the Sonoma Stompers ran onto the pitching mound, hugged one another, laughed, and sprayed champagne. Jose Flores, their six-foot-four closer, had just sailed a fastball by the San Rafael Pacifics slugger Brent Gillespie, leaving the bases loaded and preserving the team’s 5–4 victory. With it, the Stompers claimed the Pacific Association title. Five hundred and ninety-two fans were on hand…

Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s okay, though, we’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each…

We’re smack-dab in the middle of another season of baseball. Baseball was a big part of my childhood. It’s funny though, because after I wrote that, I thought through the years I played Little League as a kid and I only played baseball for five or six summers. Yet, it feels like I always played baseball. The smell from the jasmine vines on the left field fence wafting across the…

To save articles or get newsletters, alerts or recommendations – all free. Don’t have an account yet?Create an account » Subscribed through iTunes and need an NYTimes.com account?Learn more » Need to connect your Home Delivery subscription to NYTimes.com?Link your subscription »

x Embed x Share Katie Ledecky talked about getting ready for dorm life, swimming at Stanford, inspiring young swimmers and maybe getting her driver’s license. USA TODAY Sports After dominating the marquee distance events, how can Katie Ledecky keep growing as an elite athlete and as a competitor?(Photo: Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports) If it’s not obvious by now, it should be: The only thing Katie Ledecky chases is history….

x Embed x Share Tennis Channel on the two Americans each winning in five sets to avoid early exits in New York City. USA TODAY Sports Rafael Nadal of Spain cruised past Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in Round 1 of the U.S. Open.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports) NEW YORK — With Rio in the rearview mirror and another Olympic gold medal around his neck (this one from doubles with…

RELATED: Instagram post causes PR freak-out   Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Monday that Jimmie Johnson had asked him to borrow one of his father’s old uniforms to complete his retro look for this weekend’s NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.   Earnhardt Jr.’s remarks came on Monday’s edition of the “Dale Jr. Download,” a 70-minute episode that he co-hosted on his Dirty Mo Radio network.   Earnhardt did not provide…

Get a kick out of this. Dylan Prichett-Ettner of the Columbine boys soccer team in Colorado had nowhere to go but up, over, upside down, and around when he found himself on a collision course with the opposing goal-keeper. Prichett-Ettner landed the flip with a half-twist and sent the ball into the net, video from 9 News shows. Unfortunately, this will go down as one of the greatest goals that didn’t…

On Friday night, at Albert Park, in San Rafael, California, the Sonoma Stompers ran onto the pitching mound, hugged one another, laughed, and sprayed champagne. Jose Flores, their six-foot-four closer, had just sailed a fastball by the San Rafael Pacifics slugger Brent Gillespie, leaving the bases loaded and preserving the team’s 5–4 victory. With it, the Stompers claimed the Pacific Association title. Five hundred and ninety-two fans were on hand…

To save articles or get newsletters, alerts or recommendations – all free. Don’t have an account yet?Create an account » Subscribed through iTunes and need an NYTimes.com account?Learn more » Need to connect your Home Delivery subscription to NYTimes.com?Link your subscription »

x Embed x Share Katie Ledecky talked about getting ready for dorm life, swimming at Stanford, inspiring young swimmers and maybe getting her driver’s license. USA TODAY Sports After dominating the marquee distance events, how can Katie Ledecky keep growing as an elite athlete and as a competitor?(Photo: Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports) If it’s not obvious by now, it should be: The only thing Katie Ledecky chases is history….

RELATED: Instagram post causes PR freak-out   Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Monday that Jimmie Johnson had asked him to borrow one of his father’s old uniforms to complete his retro look for this weekend’s NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.   Earnhardt Jr.’s remarks came on Monday’s edition of the “Dale Jr. Download,” a 70-minute episode that he co-hosted on his Dirty Mo Radio network.   Earnhardt did not provide…

Get a kick out of this. Dylan Prichett-Ettner of the Columbine boys soccer team in Colorado had nowhere to go but up, over, upside down, and around when he found himself on a collision course with the opposing goal-keeper. Prichett-Ettner landed the flip with a half-twist and sent the ball into the net, video from 9 News shows. Unfortunately, this will go down as one of the greatest goals that didn’t…

South Florida youth soccer clubs are cutting ties with one of the region’s most decorated coaches following his arrest Thursday on charges that he sexually abused a former player starting when she was 13 years old. Juan “Johnny” Ramos, 43, on Friday was suspended indefinitely from his job as director of coaching and player development at Plantation Eagles Soccer Club. Florida Youth Soccer, where he served on the Olympic Development…