World Sports

By STEPHEN WADE, AP Sports Writer TORONTO (AP) — The manager of Cuba’s baseball team at the Pan Am Games wanted nothing to do with questions about defections to the United States. Cuba has acknowledged that two players defected during warm-up games two weeks ago in the United States, and last week four rowers at the Pan Am Games in Canada left the team and crossed the American border. Cuban…

It’s no secret that cable television is in trouble. With Hulu, Netflix and many networks streaming their shows online, viewers don’t have to watch shows like Scandal or American Horror Story live. They can stream it the next day — or the next year. Nevertheless, one channel had long looked impervious to the trouble: ESPN. Even as other channels suffered losses in subscriptions, the sports network was sitting pretty for…

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HIGH SCHOOLS College coaches differ if specializing is good For generations, high school athletes followed the seasons. Boys played football or soccer during the fall, basketball or hockey during winter, then track or baseball during the spring. Increasingly, for both boys and girls, that line of thinking is turning into an endangered species. College…

All those swaying cranes, ritzy hotels and soon-to-be-sparkling high-rises transforming Houston right in front of our faces.

Horseshoe pitching had a rare moment in the national spotlight Saturday, and fans of the sport hope the exposure will grow their ranks. ESPN’s “SportsCenter” program made a visit to Topeka on Saturday to broadcast from the World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament. Host Matt Barrie said they have covered unusual events as part of a summer series, including a three-on-three basketball tournament in Spokane, Wash. “We wanted to have a fun…

French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi has died, nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. The 25-year-old had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle in wet conditions in Suzuka last October. His family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle…

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…

“It’s a little different than most of the other state games,” Copeland said. “Basketball, we find a basketball court. Soccer, we find a soccer field. Pikes Peak, wow, we have Pikes Peak. We don’t have the things we need for paintball here.” – Click here for the full weekend schedule Paintball, along with stand-up paddle boarding and air hockey, are the three new sports that were added to this year’s…

Click photo to enlarge SAN JOSE — Seamus Kelly wanted to keep pursuing rugby after earning a degree in political economy from Cal. So, he crashed in a Berkeley garage during the spring to remain close to the Golden Bears’ training facilities. Kelly, 24, said the living arrangement was not unusual for aspiring American rugby players who often have to scrape by to continue in the sport after college. “It…

Youth sports are bringing big bucks to the Peninsula later this month as 15,000 athletes come to Hampton Roads to compete in the 11-day AAU Junior Olympic Games. “In general, this event is huge for our area for tourism,” said Lauren Bland, executive director of the Hampton Roads Sports Commission. “Not only from hotel room nights, attractions and restaurants, it gives a big boost to our economy and it’s a…

Click photo to enlarge SAN JOSE — Seamus Kelly wanted to keep pursuing rugby after earning a degree in political economy from Cal. So, he crashed in a Berkeley garage during the spring to remain close to the Golden Bears’ training facilities. Kelly, 24, said the living arrangement was not unusual for aspiring American rugby players who often have to scrape by to continue in the sport after college. “It…

Youth sports are bringing big bucks to the Peninsula later this month as 15,000 athletes come to Hampton Roads to compete in the 11-day AAU Junior Olympic Games. “In general, this event is huge for our area for tourism,” said Lauren Bland, executive director of the Hampton Roads Sports Commission. “Not only from hotel room nights, attractions and restaurants, it gives a big boost to our economy and it’s a…

New York (AFP) – Real Madrid ranked as the world’s most valuable sport team for the third consecutive year in the latest Forbes magazine global ranking, the Spanish side valued at $3.26 billion (3 billion euros). The ranking puts two iconic American franchises, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, together deadlocked for second on the list of 50 revealed Friday at $3.2 billion. Barcelona was…

It’s always about the money. When anyone says any different in modern professional sports, their noses not only start to grow, but readers, viewers and listeners scoff. Instead of playing what have become farcical games in talking about the money, it’s time to make open — and correct — references to contract numbers as a part of the process, from the instant an agreement is reached … or even sooner….

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Click photo to enlarge SAN JOSE — Seamus Kelly wanted to keep pursuing rugby after earning a degree in political economy from Cal. So, he crashed in a Berkeley garage during the spring to remain close to the Golden Bears’ training facilities. Kelly, 24, said the living arrangement was not unusual for aspiring American rugby players who often have to scrape by to continue in the sport after college. “It…

It’s always about the money. When anyone says any different in modern professional sports, their noses not only start to grow, but readers, viewers and listeners scoff. Instead of playing what have become farcical games in talking about the money, it’s time to make open — and correct — references to contract numbers as a part of the process, from the instant an agreement is reached … or even sooner….

(CNN)From hotheaded outbursts to excessive partying and illicit steroid use, the world of professional sports has never been short of athletes courting controversy. Here are five sports stars making headlines for their antics on and off the courts: Bernard Tomic The 22-year-old tennis star, who is currently ranked 25th in the world, was arrested on Wednesday at the W Hotel in Miami after other guests complained about the noise coming…

If the New York Yankees jettisoned Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez and Chase Headley from the team’s roster, fans would likely revolt. What will viewers do now that ESPN has cut ties with three of its most singular voices? It’s no secret that ESPN has been bearing down on costs recently. While the Walt Disney-owned sports-media outlet is said to have bid aggressively –and subsequently failed – to keep radio host…