Sport

Would it be possible for everyone to take a deep breath, then exhale? Now, sit down and relax. Let’s talk about the Olympics and the city of Boston from the perspective of someone who has actually been to 11 of them. I usually get at least a chuckle with my response to the question, “What do you think about the 2024 Olympics coming to Boston?” My standard reply is, “I…

A constant through the first half of the season was the pervasive dominance of Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, which saw their drivers combine to win 10 of 18 races. But a change appears to be afoot in the power structure as the Sprint Cup Series begins its second half Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. While Hendrick and SHR are showing no signs of regression, Joe Gibbs Racing…

American flag shirt, shorts and bandanas replaced the typical purple Joe Flacco and orange Adam Jones jerseys on the streets surrounding M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards on Saturday. The vendors with Orioles apparel had a special section filled with United States shirts. American flags were sold on street corners. And soccer balls replaced footballs at the tailgates. Baltimore evolved into a soccer haven — at least for the day…

Two years after the El Salvador men’s soccer team and its rabid soccer fans gave M&T Bank Stadium a taste of what games are like in their home country for a Gold Cup quarterfinal against the heavily favored U.S., the scene at the same venue for the same event should be quite different Saturday. The result between Team USA and Cuba should not. Yet after mostly sloppy performances in the…

When the XFINITY Series took the green flag for Saturday’s Lakes Region 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Matt Wallace made NASCAR history. When the 19-year-old third-generation driver — following in the footsteps of his father, Mike Wallace — made his first career NASCAR start, the Wallace family became the first to have a father, son and daughter all compete in NASCAR. While Mike and his daughter, Chrissy, were not…

The most intriguing wrinkle for the Chase may not be which championship contenders are in or out after each elimination round. It could be if NASCAR decides to use a package responsible for a race that drew nothing but rave reviews from the drivers. Goodyear has not been informed that the race package that was such a hit last week at Kentucky Speedway will be used for the 10 races…

Carl Edwards fist-bumps after winning the pole position qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., Friday, July 17, 2015.(Photo: Cheryl Senter, AP) LOUDON, N.H. — With Carl Edwards leading the charge, Joe Gibbs Racing continued its recent hot streak and took four of the top eight qualifying spots for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Never…

NASCAR Xfinity qualifying takes place at 11:15 a.m. ET on NBCSN with coverage starting at 11 a.m ET from New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Austin Dillon was the fastest in Friday’s final practice session with a lap of 130.707 mph. His Richard Childress Racing teammates were second and third with Brendan Gaughan posting a top speed of 129.498 mph and Brian Scott at 129.459 mph. Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the first practice…

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For a list of all the latest deals, check out the transfers page. Chelsea, who have had one £20m offer turned down, are set to make an improved bid for 21-year-old John Stones – but Everton are holding out for a British record fee for a defender. (Daily Mirror)  However, Everton have told Chelsea to forget about trying to sign former…

MLS is coming to the Twin Cities, if Minnesota United FC can get past the legislative red tape and build a stadium. We’ve had plenty of stadium debates in Minnesota. Just like the others, this one is taking awhile but seemingly for a different reason. Minnesota sports fans have been through the stadium wringer again and again. A palatial stadium for the Vikings opens next year. Not one but two…

Continuing Joe Gibbs Racing’s recent resurgence, Carl Edwards captured the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Edwards put down a lap of 135.164 mph in qualifying Friday to earn his first pole of the season and first since November 2013. Sharing the front row with Edwards is Joey Logano, who won at New Hampshire last fall. “I’ve struggled at this race track so…

Midfielders Dario Suarez and Aricheel Hernandez were listed as absent on Wednesday’s lineup sheet before the 1-0 win over Guatemala in North Carolina, which advanced the Cubans to the knockout stage for the first time. Univision reported Friday that midfielder Ariel Martinez was not with the team. Gonzalez said he wanted to focus on the players he had. “Obviously, we know what they’re going through on and…

David Beckham and his investors plan to start negotiations with Miami to build a soccer stadium on city land next to Marlins Park, rejecting past concerns about a site they now see as having the potential to be a thriving entertainment district. The University of Miami is not part of the plan, though Beckham partner Marcelo Claure said talks with the college continue to build a big enough stadium to…

USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Gluck on what we’ve learned, what’s to come and the biggest surprises of the first half of the NASCAR season. USA TODAY Sports

David Beckham and his investors plan to start negotiations with Miami to build a soccer stadium on city land next to Marlins Park, rejecting past concerns about a site they now see as having the potential to be a thriving entertainment district. The University of Miami is not part of the plan, though Beckham partner Marcelo Claure said talks with the college continue to build a big enough stadium to…

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BY BRIAN McGEE Editor’s note: This column is in response to Wednesday’s Take 2 — “Why soccer is un-American and 10 ways to fix it,” by Doug Esser — which was written as a satirical look at soccer in the United States. OMG, did I just read this? In The Seattle Times? Mr. Esser, whose wife says he knows nothing about soccer, claims the sport is un-American and proposes dramatic changes…

The clock is rapidly winding down on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season, which is now more than two-thirds complete. So far, 10 drivers are eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by virtue of winning races, while an 11th, Kyle Busch, appears headed toward the top 30 in points and a Chase slot. Among the winless drivers in the top 20 in points, here’s who has…

David Beckhman and his investors plan to start negotiations with Miami to build a soccer stadium on city land next to Marlins Park, rejecting past concerns about a site they now see as having the potential to be a thriving entertainment district. The University of Miami is not part of the plan, though Beckham partner Marcelo Claure said talks with the college continue to build a big enough stadium to…