Dodgers not counting on Ohtani to pitch at start of the season following shoulder surgery
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Dodgers aren't counting on Shohei Ohtani to pitch at the start of next season and will wait to see how his rehabilitation progresses following shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm. Ohtani had a procedure Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury sustained while sliding during a stolen-base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. The two-way star did not pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. General manager Brandon Gomes says they're "going to let the rehab process play out."
Calling Soto 'Mona Lisa of the museum,' Boras indicates client may try to top Ohtani's record $700M
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Agent Scott Boras indicated Juan Soto may be seeking to top Shohei Ohtani's record $700 million contract because he is three years younger than the Japanese two-way star was when he reached his deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Boras gave a pun-filled, 48-minute assessment of the market at the general managers meetings on Wednesday, calling Soto "the Mona Lisa of the museum." Boras said only a handful of players have matched Soto's accomplishments at age 26, mentioning Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ted Williams. Boras says Soto is "in an age category that separates him from all."
Jayden Daniels' breakout season with Washington is no surprise to those who knew him before the NFL
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Jayden Daniels has not thought much about his rookie year. The rest of the NFL has plenty to say about his breakout season. Daniels has quarterbacked the Washington Commanders to their first 7-2 start since 1996 and is now not only the favorite for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but in the conversation as league MVP. And it's not all that surprising for those who knew the Southern California native at Arizona State and at LSU, where he blossomed into the Heisman Trophy winner and second pick in the draft.
Fan's death overshadows Bayern's win in Champions League as fans refrain from singing
MUNICH (AP) -- Bayern Munich is mourning the death of a fan who attended the team's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League. Bayern fans chose not to sing or chant during the game out of respect for the person. The atmosphere in Bayern's stadium was noticeably muted some minutes after kickoff when it became apparent there was an incident requiring the attention of paramedics and police officers. The Bayern supporters' group Club Nr. 12 said its members would "not be supporting as usual today because of an emergency medical intervention. Life comes before sport." Bayern later said it received the news that the fan had died on their way to the hospital.
John Calipari wins Arkansas debut as 16th-ranked Razorbacks beat Lipscomb 76-60
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- John Calipari won his debut as Arkansas coach when the 16th-ranked Razorbacks held off a second-half rally by Lipscomb and pulled away for a 76-60 victory. Freshman guard Boogie Fland scored 17 points and Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis added 15 for Arkansas. Calipari, who left Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky after last season, had previously been booed incessantly whenever stepping foot in Bud Walton Arena. That changed when Eric Musselman, who coached Arkansas to three Sweet 16s in five seasons, departed last spring and Calipari bolted from the bluegrass of Kentucky for the foothills of the Ozarks. His new team looked a lot like his old ones.
Mitchell scores 29 and the Cavaliers beat the Pelicans 131-122 for their first 9-0 start
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 to open 9-0 for the first time in their 55-year NBA history. Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen each added 16 points, and Allen grabbed 14 rebounds as the Cavaliers surpassed an 8-0 start by the 1976-77 squad that finished 43-39 under coach Bill Fitch. Zion Williamson returned from a two-game absence and had 29 points for the Pelicans. He temporarily took himself out after playing 10 minutes, but returned to start the second half and scored 23 after halftime. Jose Alvarado hit all seven 3-pointers he took and finished with 27 points for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram added 20 points for the Pelicans, who have lost three straight and six of seven.
Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League. Bizarre penalty dooms Aston Villa
Barcelona and Inter Milan won again in the Champions League on Wednesday though both former title holders are looking up in the standings toward upstart newcomer Brest. Barcelona carried on its hot goalscoring form in a 5-2 win at Red Star Belgrade. Inter Milan stifled Arsenal in a 1-0 win at San Siro sealed by Hakan Çalhanoğlu's penalty in first-half stoppage time. Brest is in fourth place in the 36-team standings after winning 2-1 at Sparta Prague. Aston Villa started the week leading the table but a bizarre penalty for handball led to a 1-0 loss at Club Brugge.
Faking It? SEC teams warned by league about a practice to slow down high-tempo offenses
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A real injury or a fake? It's almost always hard to tell these days in college football. That's why Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey recently sent around a memo to his membership that if they're feigning injuries to cause a time out, knock it off. Coaches throughout the league have backed Sankey's stance even if they've been accused of their players faking it on the field. Mississippi acknowledged critics who complain they use the tactic and have shared relevant information with the SEC for review.
Which move is better when down 1 late? Kick the extra point or go for 2?
Whenever a team is trailing by seven points late in an NFL game and driving, the talk quickly turns to whether it will go for 2 and the win if it happens to score a touchdown. Tampa Bay, New England and Seattle all opted against it in Week 9 and ended up as overtime losers. The situations weren't entirely identical, with the Seahawks scoring with 51 seconds left, the Patriots on the final play with an exhausted Drake Maye and the Buccaneers with 27 seconds left and Patrick Mahomes on the other side. But the decisions and the outcomes were the same.
For MLB teams chasing October glory, building a bullpen is a vital -- and confounding -- exercise
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- For a World Series that was supposed to feature an epic battle between sluggers Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, guys like Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda sure got a lot of face time. This year's Fall Classic provided further proof that a great bullpen is essential in baseball, particularly in the postseason. Building a good one isn't easy. A good bullpen is vital during the long, 162-game regular season, but it's even more important in October, when a handful of flamethrowers can mean the difference between hoisting a World Series trophy or going home early.