ew Page 244 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Voters approve funding for Spurs' new downtown arena
The Spurs received critical approval from Bexar County voters Tuesday on a funding measure to bring a new $1.3 billion arena to downtown San Antonio.,About 52% of voters supported the measure to contribute $311 million to help fund a new venue at Hemisfair, the site of the 1968 World's Fair. The cou...

Braves exercise $18M option to retain LHP Chris Sale for 2026
The Atlanta Braves are exercising the $18 million team option in Chris Sale's contract to keep the left-hander in the fold for 2026. ,Sale was 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA in 2025 but spent 10 weeks on the injured list with a fractured ribcage. He had 165 strikeouts, including four nine-K games in five start...

Rory McIlroy calls LIV Golf's move to 72 holes 'peculiar'
LIV Golf's move to 72-hole events beginning in 2026 has been widely speculated as an attempt to gain Official World Golf Ranking points, but Rory McIlroy isn't convinced that it will have the desired effect if that's the case.,"I think it's a peculiar move because I think they could have got ranking...

Chiefs-Bills game draws 30.8M viewers, 2nd-most this season
The Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game this past Sunday drew an average of 30.8 million viewers on CBS, making it the second-most-watched NFL game this season.,That number trailed only the average of 33.8 million viewers that tuned in to see the Super Bowl LIX rematch between the Philadelphia Eag...

CF Montreal fires assistant coach Maxime Leconte for 'disciplinary matter'
CF Montreal relieved assistant coach Maxime Leconte from his role with the team effective immediately on Wednesday "following an internal disciplinary matter.",The club said that it would not comment further on the matter due to confidentiality reasons.,Leconte joined CF Montreal in May and was work...

LPGA to sanction Saudi-backed Las Vegas tournament
The LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET) reached an agreement with Golf Saudi on Wednesday to co-sanction a PIF Global Series event at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.,The Aramco Championship will be held from April 2-5 and feature a 120-golfer field with a $4 million purse.,"(It) reflects exactl...

No. 10 Notre Dame using time wisely ahead of clash vs. Navy
After losing back-to-back games to open the season, Notre Dame has clawed back into the College Football Playoff picture.,Just don't tell Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman about his team's No. 10 ranking.,Notre Dame (6-2) will get an opportunity to bolster its playoff credentials when it faces Nav...

No. 14 Virginia vies to avoid 'distraction,' prepares for Wake Forest
Picked 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll, first-place Virginia faces a clear path to the conference championship game as the only remaining unbeaten team in ACC play.,Ranked 14th in the first College Football Playoff poll released Tuesday, the Cavaliers (8-1, 5-0) will play two of...

With plenty of fanfare, No. 8 Texas Tech braces for No. 7 BYU
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire noticed something different this week as he prepared for his team's high-stakes game against BYU in Lubbock, Texas.,A group of students were camped out near Texas Tech's stadium. They were waiting for ESPN's "College Football GameDay" broadcast to begin and for the gate...

No. 23 Washington plots to improve standing at Wisconsin's expense
No. 23 Washington will look to move into the upper echelon of the Big Ten standings on Saturday afternoon when it visits reeling Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.,Both the Huskies (6-2, 3-2) and Badgers (2-6, 0-5) were idle last week. Before the bye, Washington recorded a 42-25 victory over then-No. 23 Ill...

Marcel Reed, No. 3 Texas A&M take aim at No. 22 Missouri
No. 3 Texas A&M can take another step toward landing a high seed in the College Football Playoff when it faces No. 22 Missouri on Saturday afternoon at Columbia, Mo.,The Southeastern Conference matchup is big for both schools but carries even more weight for the Aggies after the initial CFP rankings...

No. 19 USC eager to reignite offense vs. Northwestern
No. 19 Southern California will begin its closing four-game stretch of the season in the thick of both the Big Ten Conference championship and College Football Playoff races.,The Trojans will face another stout defense in Northwestern on Friday night in Los Angeles.,Southern California (6-2, 4-1) wi...

Warriors without Stephen Curry, possibly others, in clash vs. Kings
The Golden State Warriors could be without their three most experienced players when they make the quick trip to Sacramento to face the Kings on Wednesday night.,Stephen Curry has been ruled out with illness, Jimmy Butler III is questionable due to lower back soreness, and Draymond Green likely will...

Thunder seek to extend unbeaten start, dominance of Blazers
The Oklahoma City Thunder regularly dominate the Trail Blazers, and they will attempt to post their 17th consecutive victory in the series when they visit Portland on Wednesday night.,The Thunder have swept the four-game season series from Portland in each of the past four campaigns, including beatd...

Star power will be diminished in Pelicans-Mavericks matchup
Both teams will be at less than full strength when the visiting New Orleans Pelicans face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.,Dallas will be missing Anthony Davis (left calf strain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) and Dante Exum (right knee management), w...

Cavs' Darius Garland likely to make season debut vs. Sixers
Two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland is expected to make his season debut Wednesday for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.,Garland underwent surgery on his left big toe in June, a month after injuring it in Cleveland's five-game upset loss to the Indiana Pacers ...

Mammoth, Maple Leafs out to build off uplifting wins
The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to carry the momentum of a four-goal third period in a comeback win into Wednesday night, when they host the rising Utah Mammoth.,The Maple Leafs trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 after two periods on Monday before erupting with four goals -- two by William Nylander -- ...

Heat ready for climb to break 9-year losing streak in Denver
The Miami Heat started their four-game road trip with consecutive losses but can finish with two wins when they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night., ,Miami lost to the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers to kick off the trip but rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday nig...

Reports: Shane Bieber picks up $16M option, stays with Jays
The free agent pitching market became a bit thinner on Tuesday when Shane Bieber decided to pick up his $16 million player option for 2026 and remain with the Toronto Blue Jays, multiple media outlets reported.,The former Cy Young Award winner didn't make his debut with the Blue Jays until August, h...

Dana White: UFC met with FBI over suspicious betting activity
With the UFC potentially facing its second betting scandal in the past three years, CEO Dana White told TMZ on Tuesday that the promotion is in close contact with the FBI after heavily favored featherweight Isaac Dulgarian lost on Saturday at UFC Vegas 110.,Confirming reports from Uncrowned and Yaho...