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Year 2 is Dave Dombrowski’s chance to show off his creativity. Year 1 was paint-by-numbers. Last offseason, the Red Sox’ plan was clear cut: Find a starter, reliever and backup outfielder. The president of baseball operations signed David Price to a record contract, traded four prospects for closer Craig Kimbrel and signed outfielder Chris Young. The team got better. This winter it’s not so simple. The Red Sox’ obvious needs…

Sometimes sport is at its most tense when it is at its most still – in those micro‑lulls before world title fights as the protagonists coil in their corners, awaiting the bell, and adrenaline and testosterone races through the crowd like white water; between the purse of a referee’s lips and the first step in a shootout; before the starter’s pistol shatters the hush of an Olympic 100m final; and,…

Jared Goff’s first NFL touchdown pass was a beauty. The Rams rookie hit Tavon Austin with a perfectly placed ball early in the first quarter against the Saints for a 24-yard score.  Goff threw another touchdown early in the second quarter, a six-yard pass to Kenny Britt after a strip sack by Aaron Donald set the Rams up with a first-and-goal.  • Watch: Vontaze Burfict…

Every week until the official College Football Playoff field is announced, a group of FOX Sports broadcasters, writers and production staff will vote on the “FOX Four” — our collective ranking of the current four best teams in the country. Here is how we would seed the playoff field after Week 13. Other teams receiving playoff votes: Michigan Next week on FOX and FS1 (all times ET): Pac-12 Championship…

LONDON The English Football Association (FA) has launched an internal review to examine allegations of children being sexually abused at professional soccer clubs. English soccer’s governing body said on Sunday that it had appointed Kate Gallafent QC as leading independent counsel to oversee its investigation after former soccer players told British media on Friday that they were sexually abused as children at English clubs. British police are already investigating mounting…

The inclusion of human error in every sport adds to the beauty of officiating the game, but there are plenty of times when the referees get it wrong. In NASCAR, there has been plenty of criticism of the sport, both just and unjust, but NASCAR executive VP Steve O’Donnell weighed in with a poignant reminder to fans that every sport has plenty of decision making by officials that’s not exactly scientific….

Of note: Several players competing in lesser leagues or with reserve squads are not listed. Americans with dual nationalities representing other national teams have also been omitted. ENGLAND Premier League Stoke City defender-midfielder Geoff Cameron: not in the 18 (injured) for 1-0 victory at Watford Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan: in the 18 but did not play in 2-2 draw at Leicester City Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch: entered in the 79th…

Posted: Sunday, November 27, 2016 3:27 pm Virginia Tech downs Indiana in NCAA men’s soccer tournament From staff reports Richmond Times-Dispatch BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forrest White scored in overtime to give Virginia Tech a 2-1 victory over Indiana in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament Sunday. The win puts the Hokies in the final eight. Subscription Required An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety. You need…

It’s the first weekend without a NASCAR race since the middle of August and we’re still over 80 days away from action picking back up at Daytona International Speedway in February. On this first Sunday of the offseason, we want to know what you’re doing to pass the time since you can’t sit down and enjoy 40 cars duel it out on the track for a couple hours. Make your voice…

In this Feb. 1, 1959 file photo, a rebel solider from Fidel Castro’s army holds the bat of Detroit catcher Charley Lau who’s playing ball in the Cuban winter league in Havana, Cuba.(Photo: AP) The end for minor-league baseball in Cuba came in July 1960. The Havana Sugar Kings of the Class AAA International League were on a road trip playing the Miami Marlins when league president Frank Shaughnessy ordered…

Year 2 is Dave Dombrowski’s chance to show off his creativity. Year 1 was paint-by-numbers. Last offseason, the Red Sox’ plan was clear cut: Find a starter, reliever and backup outfielder. The president of baseball operations signed David Price to a record contract, traded four prospects for closer Craig Kimbrel and signed outfielder Chris Young. The team got better. This winter it’s not so simple. The Red Sox’ obvious needs…

The idea that baseball helped Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston become better quarterbacks sounds like the kind of flawed reach that’s only discussed to fill time in a pregame show. But this breakdown is fascinating and makes a ton of sense. Trent Dilfer and Matthew Hasselbeck took a look at some of the ways these two quarterbacks were aided by playing baseball. For Wilson, it comes down to the ability…

DuBOIS — Every young kid who competes in sports grows up dreaming about playing beyond high school, and that dream has come true for DuBois senior Nick LaBrasca. Not only will LaBrasca continue his baseball career in college, he will do so at the highest level after signing a letter of intent to play at Division I Youngstown State. “To play at YSU, and in the…

The 1967 World Series champion Cardinals will be feted on the 50-year anniversary of that championship at the 59th St. Louis Baseball Writers’ dinner at the Union Station Hotel on Jan. 15. Among the 1967 Cardinals slated to be in attendance are Hall of Fame players Bob Gibson and Lou Brock; Hall of fame manager Red Schoendienst; catcher Tim McCarver, who in is the broadcast wing…

A motorist was pulled over by police for driving with a sofa hanging out the boot. The driver was stopped in Long Stratton, Norfolk, after the two-seater leather sofa was spotted hanging precariously out of the back of the car. It was held in using a suitcase-like strap that, the police said, was “only partially holding the sofa.”

SAFETY PROCEDURES The FA said last week that criminal record checks were required for all individuals working with children and more than 35,000 people went through an awareness workshop or tailored training every season. On Sunday the FA said that the Child Protection in Sport Unit, which has assisted the association with its safeguarding procedures since 2000, will also carry out an independent audit of the FA’s current practices. A…

The 1967 World Series champion Cardinals will be feted on the 50-year anniversary of that championship at the 59th St. Louis Baseball Writers’ dinner at the Union Station Hotel on Jan. 15. Among the 1967 Cardinals slated to be in attendance are Hall of Fame players Bob Gibson and Lou Brock; Hall of fame manager Red Schoendienst; catcher Tim McCarver, who in is the broadcast wing…

There’s still a week until the College Football Playoff field gets selected, but go ahead and fill in two spots. No matter what happens next week, No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State will almost surely finish the season in the top four after both cleared hurdles in Week 13. The undefeated Crimson Tide punched their tickets by shutting down No. 13 Auburn for a 30–12 victory. Alabama…

(Reuters) – UFC’s first dual division champion Conor McGregor has relinquished his featherweight title with Jose Aldo replacing the Irishman as the category’s undisputed champion, officials said on Saturday. The move was triggered by a sequence of events that followed light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier’s withdrawal from his scheduled title defense against Anthony Johnson at UFC 206 on Dec. 10 due to injury. McGregor, who knocked out Eddie Alvarez this month…

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ESPN marked the passing of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro by acclaiming the huge impact that the Caribbean strong man had on the world of sports in a piece titled “Fidel Castro, 90, Deftly Fused Sports into Cuba’s National Identity.” ESPN recited the important role sports played in Castro’s personal life. “Born near Birán, Cuba, on Aug. 13, 1926, to a sugar plantation owner, Castro grew…