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The dog was pooping all over the floor. That’s how nervous it was in my house before Game 7 against Tampa. My three little boys were freaking out. They could barely handle it. I guess the dog knew something was wrong. My sons are six, seven and nine, and they are the biggest hockey fans in the world. You really have no idea. I’d say 45 minutes out of every…

Malmö, Sweden — On the face of it, the decision to offer special women’s swimming hours at the Hyllie sports center, a municipal swimming pool in the southern Swedish city of Malmö, should not be contentious. Indeed, Malmö is not alone. According to a survey by the Swedish TV channel TV4, 13 of Sweden’s 100 largest municipalities have begun offering separate swimming hours for men and women. “Our facilities are…

One of Spain’s most famous athletes, the basketball player Pau Gasol, has said he is considering skipping this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro due to fears over the Zika virus. Gasol said he has spoken to other athletes who were considering whether to compete at the Games. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see some athletes deciding not to participate in the games to avoid putting their health and the…

About 24 hours after he was kidnapped, Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido found himself alone with one of his captors and saw his chance. He wrestled away the man’s pistol and his cellphone and dialed Mexico’s emergency number. Within minutes, he was free. An official summary report of three calls to an emergency operator obtained by The Associated Press shows the 25-year-old forward for Olympiakos in the Greek league threatened…

Kidnapped Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido was found and rescued safely by police, according to authorities in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Pulido, 25, was kidnapped over the weekend by armed men after he left a party in his hometown of Ciudad Victoria in northern Mexico, officials said. The rescue happened shortly before midnight involving federal and state forces, the Tamaulipas Coordination Group said in a statement released early this…

(Photo: The Associated Press) CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Mexican authorities say soccer player Alan Pulido, a forward with Olympiacos in the Greek league, has been rescued safe and sound after an hours-long kidnapping in the northeast border state of Tamaulipas. The Tamaulipas security coordination group for Mexico’s security forces says in a statement early Monday that the rescue occurred shortly before midnight. The statement says Pulido is being medically…

As soccer powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay gear up for the prestigious Copa America tournament this weekend and England, France, Germany and Spain prepare to compete at Euro 2016 just a few days later, a World Cup is already under way — albeit with slightly lesser known “national” sides like Kurdistan, Somaliland and Northern Cyprus — in the autonomous region of Abkhazia in eastern Europe. A total of 12…

CONCORD, N.C. — Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick have more in common than being long-time car owners in NASCAR. Both men have seen their teams win multiple championships. Both have fielded entries for some of NASCAR’s most talented drivers. And both are going into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2017. Their friendship has been built on respect for each other’s accomplishments as well as years…

(Photo: The Associated Press) CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem was almost lost to bad timing. Greenwood was at Charlotte Motor Speedway to sing his anthem, “God Bless The USA” before the start of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. He said that when the song was out its first year on the “You’ve Got A Good Love Comin’” album, its release missed a natural tie in with…

Mexico City –  Alan Pulido, a striker for Mexico’s national soccer team and Greek top side Olympiakos, was reportedly kidnapped early Sunday in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the violence-plagued northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The abduction was initially confirmed to local media by state officials and to sports website MedioTiempo by Pulido’s brother Armando, who is also a professional soccer player. “Yes, it’s true that Alan was kidnapped,” Armando…

USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Gluck previews the story lines for NASCAR’s upcoming Coca-Cola 600.

Federal and state forces mounted a big search operation Sunday for Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido, who was abducted in the crime-plagued northern border state of Tamaulipas. The 25-year-old Pulido is a forward for Olympiakos of Greece and was part of Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, though he wasn’t called up for the Copa America tournament that starts this coming week. “We have information that he was intercepted by armed…

Michael Phelps speaks to the media at a press conference during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit on March 9, 2016.(Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports) MESA, Ariz. — There are two things to know about Michael Phelps as he stands about one month until U.S. Olympic swim trials, and with almost two months until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro: 1) He is svelte, sleek and powerful, and feeling as…

Federal and state forces mounted an operation Sunday to find kidnapped Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido, who was abducted in the crime-plagued northern border state of Tamaulipas. The 25-year-old Pulido is a forward for Olympiacos of Greece and was part of Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, though he wasn’t called up for the Copa America tournament that starts this coming week. The Tamaulipas Coordination Group that includes federal and state…

11:32 AM ET Close NASCAR • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com • 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year • More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Close ESPN F1 Editor • Previously worked in rugby union and British Superbikes • History graduate from Reading University • Joined ESPNF1 in February 2014 print The history. The pageantry. The walk through Gasoline Alley. The feeling of racing on a narrow path surrounded by fans. Those are some of…

CONCORD, N.C. — Juan Pablo Montoya was one of NASCAR’s most annoying drivers. He annoyed fans. He annoyed NASCAR. He sometimes annoyed the media. He even annoyed his own teammates. And he particularly annoyed other drivers. MORE: Charlotte lineup | Sunday’s racing tripleheader | Indy lineup | Winners Which was highly entertaining. Like the time he went helmet-to-helmet with Kevin Harvick after they wrecked each other at Watkins Glen. Or…

Kasey Kahne: The Coca-Cola 600 is such a different animal that rewards mental acuity, pure tenacity and physical fitness. Kasey Kahne has those qualities and won NASCAR’s endurance event three times, and with two top-five finishes already this season, this is where he breaks out of his 59-race winless rut. — Kathy Sheldon Joey Logano: It’ll be a clean Charlotte sweep for Sliced Bread, who got his mojo back during the Sprint All-Star Race. Last…

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Denny Hamlin used fresh tires to roar past the leaders during overtime Saturday and win the Hisense 300 Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hamlin came in for a four-tire pit stop after a yellow flag for debris was shown on the 199th of 200 scheduled laps. While leaders Kyle Larson and Joey Logano stayed out, Hamlin dipped into the pits and came out in sixth place. He was…