Sports News

The NBA said it investigated a postgame incident after the Memphis Grizzlies' home game against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 29 and banned some from attending games at the FedExForum after its probe. The Athletic reported that acquaintances of the Grizzlies' Ja Morant confronted members of the Pacers' traveling party near Indiana's bus in the FedExForum's loading dock area after the Grizzlies' 112-100 win that night. The Athletic reported a laser, coming from an SUV that it reported Morant was riding in, was pointed toward Pacers' players, coaches and others in the loading area. The Athletic reported it was not known who shined the laser, which it reported some feared was attached to a gun. "NBA Security and league investigators conducted an investigation interviewing numerous eyewitnesses and reviewing video surveillance following allegations made by the Indiana Pacers organization regarding a postgame incident on Jan. 29," the NBA said in a...

LAS VEGAS -- No one was going to mistake this for a serious football game. Not with celebrities Snoop Dogg (AFC) and Pete Davidson (NFC) serving as honorary team captains. But the revamped Pro Bowl Games resulted in greater intensity than recent years and the first NFC victory since the AFC vs. NFC format was reintroduced in 2017. In front of 58,331 fans at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, the NFC won 35-33 in the reimagined event that now consists of a series of skills competitions and three separate flag football games. The flag games themselves were noticeably more competitive than the standard games of recent years, despite not being of the traditional tackle variety. The reduced risk of injury seemingly motivated players to go harder. "I didn't know what to expect, but I think it turned out pretty well," Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith said. "It got very competitive at the end, and I think that's what they wanted."   With the AFC entering the final...

Kevin Steele has agreed to a deal to become  Alabama's defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. This will be Steele's third different stint at Alabama under Nick Saban, who now has both of his coordinator positions filled after hiring Tommy Rees from  Notre Dame on Friday for offensive coordinator. Steele, 64, is a 39-year coaching veteran who spent last season as  Miami's defensive coordinator. Steele was Saban's first defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2007 and moved to defensive head coach/inside linebackers coach that next season. Steele returned to Alabama in 2013 as director of player personnel and shifted back on the field in 2014 as linebackers coach, before moving to  LSU as defensive coordinator in 2015. Steele replaces Pete Golding, who left last month to take the  Ole Miss defensive coordinator job. Saban has typically brought in defensive coordinators he has coached with in the past and who know his defensive system. Steele...

The Brooklyn Nets are trading Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday. The Mavericks are sending Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to the Nets in exchange for Irving and Markieff Morris, sources said. The Nets plan to offer the picks acquired in the trade -- as well as their 2027 first-round pick via the Philadelphia 76ers -- in trade talks to try to improve the roster ahead of the Thursday trade deadline, sources said. The Lakers and Nets discussed possible Irving deals on Friday and Saturday, but ultimately the Mavericks' package gave the Nets a better chance to surround Kevin Durant with players now -- as well as the opportunity to acquire three draft picks, sources said. The Nets had been looking at three-way deals involving the Lakers before discussions with the Mavericks came together...

HARTFORD, Conn. -- No. 1 South Carolina secured the program's first victory in Connecticut over No. 5 UConn on Sunday as the reigning national champion posted an 81-77 victory on national television to remain unbeaten. Unlike their last meeting in last year's national title game, where Gamecocks handily defeated the Huskies, 64-49, for their second championship, Sunday's game was much more competitive. The Huskies led by 11 early, South Carolina went ahead by 12 late, then UConn battled back to keep it within two possessions in the closing minutes amid an atmosphere that South Carolina coach Dawn Staley called "national championship-like." "It was a great atmosphere," South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, the reigning national player of the year, said about the crowd of 15,564, the first sellout at the XL Center since 2017. "It almost felt like we were back in the tournament. I just feel like there were just so many people and a big crowd which is really, really nice." Staley...

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Ejiro Evero to make him the team's defensive coordinator on new head coach Frank Reich's staff. Evero, 42, was the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator last season. The team and new coach Sean Payton agreed to let him out of his contract so he could pursue other jobs. Evero had interviewed for the Panthers' head-coaching job, for which Reich ultimately was hired. He had also interviewed for the head-coaching jobs with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. Despite injuries all over the roster, the Broncos finished in the league's top 10 in total defense and rushing defense. For one stretch during the season's second half, the Broncos had the top scoring defense in the NFL, but they fell out of the top 10 after a 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day, the day before head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired. Carolina's defense is generally considered the strength of a team...

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally gets his name on the Wall of Champions behind the first tee at Pebble Beach, joining a long list that includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Rodgers and Ben Silverman of Canada held on for a 1-shot victory Sunday in the pro-am portion of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The prize is their name listed on the wall, which features pro-am winners, tournament winners, USGA champions at Pebble and more. "It's really significant," Rodgers said, whose Packers failed to reach the NFL playoffs for only the fourth time in his 15 years as the starter. "It's always been on my bucket list." Rodgers did his share of heavy lifting. Silverman, coming off a Korn Ferry Tour win, finished at 1-over 216 and missed the cut. Rodgers, playing off a 10 handicap, said he had not played golf since training camp until last Monday. They finished at 26-under par, 1 shot ahead of ...

The New York Islanders and center Bo Horvat have agreed to an eight-year contract extension, six days after they acquired him in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks. His contract carries an $8.5 million average annual value against the salary cap, as first reported by Sportsnet. Horvat was in the final season of a six-year contract that carried a cap hit of $5.5 million and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was acquired by the Islanders on Monday for a conditional first-round draft pick in 2023, forward Anthony Beauvillier and prospect Aatu Raty. Horvat will have a new contract with the Islanders before he has technically played as a member of the team. His last regular-season game was Vancouver's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 27. He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game and played for the Pacific Division team on Saturday in South Florida, but he represented the Islanders throughout the...

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark got the ninth triple-double of her career Sunday, tying her for second in NCAA women's basketball history. In the visiting No. 6 Hawkeyes' 95-51 victory over the Penn State Lady Lions, Clark had 23 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, shooting 9-of-17 from the floor. She's now tied with former Lamar Cardinals standout Chastadie Barrs, who had nine triple-doubles in her career from 2015 to 2019. The all-time leader is former Oregon Ducks standout Sabrina Ionescu with 26 from 2016 to 2020. Ionescu was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick by the New York Liberty in 2020. "I try to do a lot of different things for my team," Clark said. "When I am assisting like that, when I'm rebounding like that, it's really hard for us to lose the game because we have so many different weapons. To have that many assists, that means a lot of other people are making shots, and that's just hard to guard. "It is a really big honor to be with...

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aliyah Boston scored 23 of her 26 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to help No. 1 South Carolina beat fifth-ranked UConn 81-77 on Sunday. The Gamecocks (23-0) have won 29 consecutive games since losing to Kentucky in the SEC tournament title game last year. They've won four of the past five meetings with the Huskies, including a victory in the NCAA championship game last season. That ended UConn's perfect 11-0 record in title games. South Carolina used its size again to top the Huskies. The 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso and Boston, the reigning AP Player of the Year, helped the Gamecocks have a 42-30 advantage on the boards, including grabbing 25 offensive rebounds. Boston finished with 11 rebounds for the 76th double-double of her career. Cardoso added 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out. With her team leading by four in the fourth quarter, Boston took over. She scored the next 12 points for South Carolina; two...

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- A former NFL player was arrested on a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge after troopers say his vehicle rear-ended a pickup truck that was on the side of a South Florida highway because of a flat tire, injuring the truck's driver who had been standing outside. Vontae Davis, 34, allegedly smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and could barely stay awake while being interviewed by a trooper after the accident early Saturday on the Florida Turnpike in Hollywood, Florida, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. According to troopers, Davis lost control of his Tesla sedan and it collided with the parked pickup truck on the side of the turnpike. The impact of the collision sent the pickup truck spinning into a concrete barrier, and the truck struck its driver, who had been waiting outside. The driver was taken to a hospital with multiple injuries, the report said. Davis refused to provide a blood or urine sample and...

Stephen Curry is expected to be out through the All-Star break in mid-February with a left leg injury, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The  Warriors said Sunday that Curry has partial tears to the superior tibiofibular ligaments and the interosseous membrane and will miss Monday's game against the Thunder, but that "additional clarity on a potential timeline will be established in the coming days." Curry was injured with 2:01 left in the third quarter of Saturday night's win over the Mavericks after his left knee collided with Dallas guard  McKinley Wright IV's knee while Curry was defending him. The Mavericks called a timeout, and Curry immediately limped to the bench, where he was met by two team trainers. They examined him throughout the timeout, and as players returned to the court to resume play, Curry limped back to the locker room. He received an X-ray, which came back negative, the team said Saturday. Curry was later ruled out of...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- New Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has been on the job just a few days, but as he continues to fill out his coaching staff, he and the team have agreed to let defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero out of his contract to pursue other jobs, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday. Team and league sources said Evero, who had two years remaining on his contract and has interviewed for multiple head-coaching jobs, discussed his Broncos options with Payton last week. Following those discussions, Evero was notified that the Broncos would let him out of the remainder of his contract, sources said. The Minnesota Vikings, who have interviewed four candidates for their defensive coordinator job, have not filled the position in hopes of interviewing Evero, who served on the Los Angeles Rams' staff with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell. Because it would be a lateral move for Evero, the Broncos needed to either grant permission for the interview or let Evero...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- New Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has been on the job just a few days, but as he continues to fill out his coaching staff, he and the team have agreed to let defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero out of his contract to pursue other jobs, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday. Team and league sources said Evero, who had two years remaining on his contract and has interviewed for multiple head-coaching jobs, discussed his Broncos options with Payton last week. Following those discussions, Evero was notified that the Broncos would let him out of the remainder of his contract, sources said. The Minnesota Vikings, who have interviewed four candidates for their defensive coordinator job, have not filled the position in hopes of interviewing Evero, who served on the Los Angeles Rams staff with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell. Because it would be a lateral move for Evero, the Broncos needed to either grant permission for the interview or let Evero out...

Colorado State issued a public apology to Utah State and Ukrainian guard Max Shulga after some of its fans chanted "Russia" at Shulga during Saturday's game. Shulga -- who is from Kyiv, Ukraine, where his family still resides -- went to the free throw line late in the game, and the "Russia" chants could be heard from the Colorado State student section. Colorado State said in a series of tweets that the chant came from a "small group of individuals." "On behalf of Colorado State, we apologize to the student-athlete and Utah State," the school said. "This is a violation of our steadfast belief in the Mountain West Sportsmanship Policy and University Principles of Community. "Every participant, student, and fan should feel welcomed in our venues, and for something like this to have occurred is unacceptable at Colorado State." On Sunday afternoon, Shulga issued a statement through Utah State that thanked the Colorado State administration and Rams coach Niko...

NEW YORK -- The rematch is set, and Katie Taylor will finally get her first professional fight in her country. Taylor will fight undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano on May 20 in a rematch of their epic fight last April at Madison Square Garden. Taylor won that bout by split decision to defend her undisputed lightweight title. The rematch will take place in Dublin, Ireland, where the two will once again fight for Taylor's lightweight belts. The location has not been announced, but 82,000-seat Croke Park and 13,000-seat 3Arena have been mentioned as possibilities. After Serrano beat Erika Cruz by unanimous decision on Saturday night, Taylor joined her in the ring to announce the fight. "This is more than a dream come true -- my debut in Ireland against Amanda Serrano, 'The Real Deal' Amanda Serrano," Taylor said. "This is incredible and as I said, the last fight was epic, and I expect nothing less for the next one." Serrano's trainer, Jordan Maldonado, said a rematch...

NEW ORLEANS -- With the trade deadline just five days away and Kyrie Irving having already informed the Brooklyn Nets he wants out, LeBron James was asked if Irving -- whom he teamed up with for three NBA Finals appearances and a championship with the  Cleveland Cavaliers -- is the type of player who can stamp the  Los Angeles Lakers' title chances. Last month, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka declared, "If there's an opportunity to get all the way to the end and win a championship, there's no resource we'll hold onto if we feel like that's there." Trading for Irving almost assuredly would require the Lakers to include both their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in the package, especially with other teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and  LA Clippers also preparing trade bids for Brooklyn, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "That's a Rob question," James...

For the retirement fight of Fedor Emelianenko, one of the greatest ever to compete in mixed martial arts and the icon of an era gone by, there was a who's who of MMA legends gathered at Bellator 290 in Inglewood, California, on Saturday night to give one of their own a proper send-off. They ended up being reminded that this is not a sport that ushers its greats out of the game gently. Emelianenko, 46, challenging Ryan Bader for the Bellator heavyweight championship in the main event at Kia Forum, was stopped via TKO in the first round of a bout in which he was dominated. In some ways, the fight played out even uglier than their first meeting in 2019, when Bader knocked out Emelianenko in 35 seconds. This time the fight lasted 2 minutes, 30 seconds, but it was apparent from the start that this was a mismatch, as Emelianenko was winging wild punches and missing badly. Less than a minute in, Bader dropped him with an overhand right, and that began a bludgeoning that...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry left the Warriors' 119-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the end of the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury. Curry immediately received an X-ray, which came back negative, the team announced. He will get an MRI next. Curry sustained the injury with 2:01 left in the third quarter after his left knee collided with Dallas'  McKinley Wright IV's knee while Curry was defending him. The Mavericks called a timeout, and Curry immediately limped to the bench where he was met by two team trainers. They examined him throughout the timeout, and as players returned to the court to resume play, Curry limped back to the locker room. He was later ruled out of the remainder of the game. Curry finished his night with 21 points in 7-of-11 shooting and seven assists. "Any time a guy gets an MRI, there's a concern level," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "We'll just have to...

For the retirement fight of Fedor Emelianenko, one of the greatest ever to compete in mixed martial arts and the icon of an era gone by, there was a who's who of MMA legends gathered at Bellator 290 in Inglewood, California, on Saturday night to give one of their own a proper sendoff. They ended up being reminded that this is not a sport that ushers its greats out of the game gently. The 46-year-old Emelianenko, challenging Ryan Bader for the Bellator heavyweight championship in the main event at Kia Forum, was stopped via TKO in the first round of a bout in which he was dominated. In some ways, the fight played out even uglier than their first meeting in 2019, when Bader knocked out Emelianenko in 35 seconds. This time the fight lasted 2 minutes, 30 seconds, but it was apparent from the start that this was a mismatch, as Emelianenko was winging wild punches and missing badly. Less than a minute in, Bader dropped him with an overhand right, and that began a...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry left Saturday's 119-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks near the end of the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury. Curry sustained the injury with 2:01 left in the quarter when his left knee collided with the right knee of Dallas' McKinley Wright while Curry was defending him. X-rays were negative, the team said, but Curry did not return. He will undergo an MRI next. The star guard finished with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and seven assists. Two nights prior, Curry banged the same knee in the second half of Golden State's game against the Denver Nuggets. Earlier this season, Curry missed 11 games due to a left shoulder subluxation. During that time, the Warriors went 6-5.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry left Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks at the end of the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury. Curry sustained the injury with 2:01 left in the quarter when his left knee collided with the right knee of Dallas' McKinley Wright while Curry was defending him. X-rays came back negative, the team said, but Curry did not return. He will undergo an MRI as his next step. The star guard finished his night with 21 points in 7-of-11 shooting and seven assists. Two nights prior, Curry banged the same knee in the second half of Golden State's game against the Denver Nuggets. Earlier this season, Curry missed 11 games due to a left shoulder subluxation. During that time, the Warriors went 6-5.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- At age 78 and amid his 47th season as the head coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim acknowledges that he has heard chatter about his retirement for well over a decade. After the Orange's 77-68 win over Boston College here Saturday evening, Boeheim told ESPN he would "probably" return for the 2023-24 season and that the decision to do so is up to him. Boeheim expressed optimism about Syracuse's young core and some misgivings about the future of college basketball, bemoaning that it's in an "awful place." When asked if he thought he'd be coaching this young core again next season, Boeheim told ESPN: "I have no other plans. Listen, this has been the question of the day for 15 years. This isn't a new question. It's just the calendar going, 'Well, he's 78.' It's just the calendar. If it wasn't the calendar, if I was 65, no one would be saying anything. And I'm not going to retire just because it's the calendar. Anything can happen. Anything,...

SUNRISE, Fla. -- For Matthew Tkachuk, winning most valuable player at the 2023 NHL All-Star Game was an honor Saturday. But having the chance to represent the host Florida Panthers and finally play on a team with his brother made the event even more memorable. Tkachuk, 25, was named MVP with four goals and three assists in the Atlantic Division's two All-Star tournament victories. He had the opportunity to play with Panthers teammate Aleksander Barkov and brother Brady Tkachuk, a 23-year-old forward with the Ottawa Senators. It was the first time the Tkachuks were teammates as professional players. "We always dreamt about playing with each other. We always figured it would be on Team USA," said Matthew Tkachuk, who was traded to the Panthers from the Calgary Flames last summer. "I was in the West forever. He was in the Atlantic. We never thought this was a possibility. So this weekend, being the first time playing together, made it...

The LA Clippers have joined the pursuit of Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, among others, have been engaging with the Nets since Irving's trade demand Friday, sources said. And now the Clippers -- who have been in the trade market for a point guard -- are looking into a possible deal too, sources said. Irving has not given the Nets a list of preferred destinations, but there is strong mutual interest between him and the Lakers that goes back to the summer. LeBron James is an immense proponent of making a deal for his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, and the Lakers are operating as a motivated suitor for Irving, sources said.   The Nets are proceeding in talks throughout the league as though they are determined to find a deal for Irving ahead of the NBA trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, sources said. Brooklyn has...

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin had a hat trick, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitchell Marner had three assists and the Atlantic Division topped the Central Division 7-5 in the All-Star Game final on Saturday. All-Star Game MVP Matthew Tkachuk -- playing alongside his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators -- had seven points on the day, after a five-point outburst in a semifinal win over the Metropolitan Division as he represented the hometown Florida Panthers for the first time. Larkin had five goals in the Atlantic's two games. "We wanted to get a win for the home crowd, the fans," Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. "They did a good job of cheering on the Atlantic Division. We just wanted to put on a good show for them." Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller, Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson and Colorado Avalanche teammates ...

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Matthew Tkachuk was right at home at the NHL All-Star Game. Again. Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin had a hat trick, Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitchell Marner had three assists and the Atlantic Division topped the Central Division 7-5 in the All-Star Game final on Saturday. All-Star Game MVP Tkachuk -- playing alongside his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators -- had seven points on the day, after a five-point outburst in a semifinal win over the Metropolitan Division. Larkin had five goals in the Atlantic's two games. And for the MVP, winning in front of Florida Panthers fans in his first season with the club meant more than just winning. "It's been an honor to play in front of them this whole year and it's great that the other players in the league can see what a great place this is to play," Matthew Tkachuk said. "I'm as happy as can be here." Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller, ...

Less than one year after suffering a serious knee injury, Baylor's Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua returned to the basketball court Saturday, playing his first minutes of the season. With 13:06 left in the first half against Texas Tech, Tchamwa Tchatchoua went to the scorer's table and checked into the game, earning a standing ovation from the Ferrell Center crowd. He helped spark Baylor to an 89-62 win over the Red Raiders, playing 14 minutes and finishing with eight points and four rebounds -- making both of his 3-point attempts in the process. "It was just surreal. I remember praying in my bedroom last night, just crying about all the trials that I've been going through and realizing the day is actually here. I'm actually playing,'' Tchamwa Tchatchoua said. "I feel like it was a miracle for me to even be out here.'' Tchamwa Tchatchoua went down with a season-ending left knee injury against Texas on Feb. 12, 2022, suffering multiple torn ligaments and nerve...

SAN DIEGO -- Fernando Tatis Jr. spent his Friday out in the community, visiting children at a local elementary school and spending time with members of the United States Marine Corps as part of the San Diego Padres' goodwill tour throughout the city. The following morning, he was back inside Petco Park, taking part in a fan fest event that was attended by tens of thousands of the team's most ardent supporters, signing autographs, snapping selfies and making the media rounds. After an entire season away -- and with the cloud of a steroid suspension still hanging overhead -- Tatis was back, once again a celebrated member of one of the sport's most star-studded teams. "I missed it a lot," Tatis said. "I missed a year of it, and I'm not looking forward to missing any more." Tatis, who will serve the remaining 20 games of his 80-game suspension at the start of the 2023 regular season, estimated being "90 percent" recovered from recent shoulder and wrist surgeries and...

The Dallas Cowboys have named Brian Schottenheimer as the team's new offensive coordinator, it was announced Saturday. The Cowboys agreed to part ways with previous offensive coordinator Kellen Moore last week and owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said coach Mike McCarthy will be calling the plays next season. Moore, meanwhile, joined the Los Angeles Chargers as their offensive coordinator. "I am very happy to have Brian take on this key role with our team," McCarthy said. "He has been an important part of our staff already and has a great grasp of where we are and where we want to go." Schottenheimer, 49, spent last season as a consultant with the Cowboys, so he is familiar with the personnel. He was the  Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game coordinator under Urban Meyer in 2021 and previously worked for the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, among other stops. Brian is the son of longtime NFL coach...

FORT LAUDERDALE -- The NHL will head north for its 2024 All-Star Weekend, with Toronto tapped as host city for next winter's festivities. League commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement during a Saturday news conference ahead of this year's All-Star Game in South Florida. He invited Maple Leafs president and former NHL player Brendan Shanahan and current Leafs forward Mitchell Marner, representing the team at this weekend's proceedings, out to promote Toronto's future involvement. "It's going to be a little colder than here, obviously," Marner said, "but I think just the buzz around it [will be great]. People love going to Toronto, it's always a good place to visit, a good place to play in. You know the fans are always going to be there. The food and restaurants are pretty good too. It's going to be a little colder but nothing a winter coat [can't fix]." The 2024 nod will be Toronto's ninth time playing host to an All-Star Weekend. When the event took place...

The Dallas Cowboys have named Brian Schottenheimer as the team's new offensive coordinator, it was announced Saturday. The Cowboys agreed to part ways with previous offensive coordinator Kellen Moore last week and owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said head coach Mike McCarthy will be calling the plays next season.    "I am very happy to have Brian take on this key role with our team," McCarthy said. "He has been an important part of our staff already and has a great grasp of where we are and where we want to go." The Cowboys initially hired Schottenheimer, 49, as a consultant before the season. Before then he worked as the  Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game coordinator under Urban Meyer in 2021 and previously has worked for the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, among other stops. Brian is the son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. 

NEW YORK -- One day after he requested a trade, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving will not play in Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards because of right calf soreness, the team announced. On Friday, Irving told the Nets he wants out of Brooklyn ahead of Thursday's trade deadline after failing to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Irving did not attend the pregame walkthrough Saturday, and Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said it was unclear whether Irving would attend Saturday's game. Vaughn said he spent Friday speaking to each player on the roster individually, including Irving, but Vaughn said he did not ask Irving why he had requested a trade. "I didn't ask those questions," Vaughn said Saturday. "There's a business side to this thing and there's a human side to this thing. I elected to touch on the human side and check on him as an individual. I'll leave the business side to Sean [Marks,...

Conor McGregor's return has been set, as the former UFC double champion will coach against lightweight star Michael Chandler on the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" before facing him in the Octagon. UFC president Dana White announced McGregor and Chandler as the coaches on social media Saturday. No date or location was announced for the McGregor-Chandler fight, which will likely take place at 170 pounds. Chandler told ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Saturday the high-stakes bout should take place in September. "That would make the most sense to me," said Chandler. "Obviously, Conor is driven by pay-per-view buys. You want to keep that tension [from the reality show] as close to the fight as possible. You start pushing it to the end of the year, other big fights are happening ... September would be absolutely perfect." The 31st season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will air on ESPN and ESPN+, will run from May 30 to Aug. 15. McGregor, who coached on the reality series in...

Conor McGregor's return has been set, as the former UFC double champion will coach against lightweight star Michael Chandler on the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" before facing him in the Octagon. UFC president Dana White announced McGregor and Chandler as the coaches on social media Saturday. No date or location was announced for the McGregor-Chandler fight, which will likely take place at 170 pounds. The 31st season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will air on ESPN and ESPN+, will run from May 30 to Aug. 15. McGregor, who coached on the reality series in 2015 against Urijah Faber, has not competed since breaking his left leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Chandler has been calling for a fight with McGregor for more than a year. A former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, McGregor (22-6) was the first fighter to hold two separate weight division titles in UFC concurrently. The Irish-born fighter holds the fastest finish in UFC title...

Conor McGregor's return has been set, as the former UFC double champion will coach against lightweight star Michael Chandler on the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" before facing him in the Octagon. UFC president Dana White announced McGregor and Chandler as the coaches on social media Saturday. No date or location was announced for the McGregor-Chandler fight, which will likely take place at 170 pounds. The 31st season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will air on ESPN and ESPN+, will run from May 30 to Aug. 15. McGregor, who coached on the reality series in 2015 against Urijah Faber, has not competed since breaking his leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Chandler has been calling for a fight with McGregor for more than a year. A former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, McGregor (22-6) was the first fighter to hold two separate weight division titles in UFC concurrently. The Irish-born fighter holds the fastest finish in UFC title...

After failing to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension with the organization, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has issued a trade request, sources told ESPN on Friday. Irving, who will become a free agent this summer, wants out ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. The  Los Angeles Lakers and  Phoenix Suns are already expressing interest in discussing an Irving trade and the Dallas Mavericks are expected to do so soon, sources told ESPN. Irving did not furnish a list of preferred teams, but his marketplace is small and it's clear he is hoping that a team will trade for him with intentions of signing him to an extension in the offseason. The Nets and Irving's agent, Shetellia Riley-Irving, had discussed an extension recently, but Brooklyn remained reluctant to rush into a long-term commitment without further evidence that Irving could stay reliable, perform at a high level and remain controversy-free, sources said. Rival teams...

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said partnering with son Sergei and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby for an NHL All-Star skills event Friday night was a "special moment" for all three and the game of hockey.  Crosby, 35, and Ovechkin, 37, were a dual-entry in the breakaway challenge trick-shot competition at FLA Live, home of the Florida Panthers. They skated out to center ice together, where they were soon joined by 4-year-old Sergei Ovechkin, who had watched the event with his father near the benches while wearing an "Ovi Jr." jersey. The trio skated together toward Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo, tending goal for the event. Crosby and Alex Ovechkin passed the puck to each other, with Sergei Ovechkin enthusiastically tapping his stick on the ice for a pass. His father eventually passed him the puck, he scored through a sprawling Luongo and then celebrated with the other NHL All-Stars watching from the...

MINNEAPOLIS -- A fight broke out and punches were thrown during the game between the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Five players were ejected following the brawl, which started in front of the Orlando bench late in the third quarter. Minnesota guard Austin Rivers and Magic center Mo Bamba were the initial players involved, and it spilled over to include several others on the court. Rivers, Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince were ejected from the Timberwolves. Jalen Suggs was tossed along with Bamba for Orlando, which went on to win 127-120. "This isn't like a cool moment for me," Rivers said after the game. "I feel embarrassed. I'm the oldest on the team. I consider myself the leader of the team, or one of the leaders of the team. It was a weird game, and I don't think that helped at all. If anything right now, I'm just [ticked off] that we lost, and that I had [something] to do with that. It...

The top scorer for the Eastern Illinois men's basketball team will be disciplined "internally" after he tried to hit a fan in a loss Thursday, according to the school. Late in the first half of Eastern Illinois' 80-67 loss at Lindenwood, guard Kinyon Hodges walked up to a fan sitting in the front row at Hyland Arena and swung at his face. The fan and another man sitting next to him immediately pointed to a ref who stopped the game. Hodges was hit with a technical foul, but he was allowed to remain in the game. It's unclear from video of the incident what led up to it or if Hodges actually made contact with the fan. Hodges, who averages a team-high 13.8 points per game, scored two in 24 minutes Thursday as Eastern Illinois suffered its eighth loss in nine games. The team is 7-17 under second-year coach Marty Simmons. Per an Eastern Illinois statement Friday, Hodges let his "emotions get the best of him." "We are aware of the incident that occurred during...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos formally announced Sean Payton as the team's newest head coach Friday. Payton signed what sources told ESPN was a five-year contract, but he's essentially been on the job since Wednesday, including interviewing prospective assistant coaches for his staff. In a statement Friday afternoon, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner called Payton "an outstanding leader and Super Bowl champion with a brilliant offensive mind'' and added "he shares our commitment to winning championships for Broncos Country and we're excited to welcome him as our new head coach.'' Penner also added "it is rare in any sport to hire a head coach with Sean's credentials and we appreciate the first-class manner in which the Saints approached this process. We also appreciated the opportunity to meet and learn from the other highly qualified, outstanding coaches we interviewed. Our goal was to identify a strong leader for the Denver Broncos who is focused on winning, and we...

The NBA on Friday suspended the Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks for one game and fined the Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell $20,000 for their roles in an altercation that got them both ejected from Thursday night's game in Cleveland. Midway through the third quarter of Cleveland's 128-113 victory, Brooks rolled into Mitchell's leg and swung his hand up and hit Mitchell in the groin. In response, Mitchell threw the ball back at Brooks and pushed him. Ultimately, Brooks was given a flagrant foul 2, causing him to be ejected, while Mitchell was given a technical as he, too, was ejected. "That's just who he is," Mitchell told reporters after Thursday's game. "We've seen it a bunch in this team with him. Him and I have had our personal battles over the years. "There's no place for that in the game. This has been brewing for years with me and other guys in the league. You all see it. This isn't new." Brooks now will not play Sunday at home against the ...

Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Friday that contract talks with the Seattle Seahawks are underway and the prospects of the two sides reaching a deal are "looking very good." Smith, 32, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. "We've had talks and we're in the process of getting all that settled right now," Smith said from the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas in an interview that aired Friday afternoon. "It's looking very good. We think we can get some things done, but obviously those things take time. This is the process that I hate about the NFL because I just want to play football, but it's a business as well, so we've got to take care of business and then we'll get back to the football." Smith was one of the biggest surprises of the 2022 NFL season. A backup for most of the past seven years, he won the Seahawks' starting job following the Russell Wilson trade and delivered a Pro Bowl season, leading the league in...

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- A caddie for an amateur player collapsed during the second round of the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Friday and received CPR before being taken to a nearby hospital. Play was stopped on No. 11 for nearly an hour as the caddie for Pebble Beach businessman Geoff Couch was attended to for an extended period of time after he collapsed on the fairway. Gary Young, the PGA Tour's chief referee, said a spectator began the CPR and an officer from Cal Fire took over from there. The playing group included country singer Lukas Nelson and PGA Tour pros Beau Hossler and Max McGreevy, who appeared to be shaken up after witnessing the incident. Shortly after the ambulance arrived, Couch left the playing group. The players and caddies later were seen hugging each other upon receiving news. When asked about the status of the caddie by ESPN, Nelson said the caddie -- whom the PGA Tour did not name -- was "doing better." Golf Channel also reported...

Zaire Wade, the son of former NBA star Dwyane Wade, has agreed to sign with the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League. Wade averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 assists in 13 games for the Utah Jazz's G League Salt Lake City Stars last season. The 6-foot-1 guard took part in the BAL's recent combine in Paris with his father in attendance. Wade is expected to join Cape Town in South Africa immediately in preparation for the 2023 BAL season. The BAL season will again feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 38 games in Dakar, Senegal; Cairo, Egypt; and Kigali, Rwanda, over a three-month span. Cape Town will play in the Nile Conference during a 15-game group phase at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo from April 26 to May 6. The top four teams from the two conferences will advance to an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals May 21-27 at BK Arena in Kigali.

The  Raiders have granted Derek Carr permission to speak with teams that have already agreed to the compensation Las Vegas is looking for in a potential trade for the quarterback, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday. It's the same arrangement the Houston Texans had with quarterback Deshaun Watson last offseason.   Carr said on Thursday during the Pro Bowl Games skills competition that he and his representative were waiting to be authorized to speak with potential trade partners. Carr has a no-trade clause in his contract and said he would use it if he deemed it necessary. Carr also said Thursday that he has no intention of extending the Feb. 15 trigger date on his contract, the date by which more than $40 million in guarantees kick in. The 31-year-old quarterback signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the Raiders in 2017 and then a three-year, $121.5 million extension last spring. The most recent extension included...

After failing to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension with the organization, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has issued a trade request, sources told ESPN on Friday. Irving, who will become a free agent this summer, wants out ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. The  Los Angeles Lakers and  Phoenix Suns are already expressing interest in discussing an Irving trade and the Dallas Mavericks are expected to do so soon, sources told ESPN. Irving did not furnish a list of preferred teams, but his marketplace is small and it's clear he's hoping that a team will trade for him with intentions of signing him to an extension in the offseason. The Nets and Irving's agent, Shetellia Riley-Irving, had discussed an extension recently, but Brooklyn remained reluctant to rush into a long-term commitment without further evidence that Irving could stay reliable, perform at a high level and remain controversy-free, sources said. Rival teams...

South Carolina freshman football player Monteque Rhames II is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on charges of carrying weapons on school property and obstructing justice. Rhames has been suspended by coach Shane Beamer, along with fellow freshmen  Anthony Rose and Cameron Upshaw, it was announced Friday. No reasons were given for the suspensions by the university, but online records showed Rhames, an 18-year-old defensive end from Sumter, South Carolina, was booked Thursday night in Columbia on the two charges. "Our student-athletes know what is expected of them," Beamer said in a statement. "They know that both the university and the football program will hold them accountable for their actions and decisions." Rhames and Upshaw, a three-star safety from Florida, enrolled in February as part of a 2023 recruiting class that is ranked 14th by ESPN. Rose, a defensive back and former three-star prospect from Miami, redshirted the 2022 season...

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has accepted the job to become Alabama's offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. The former star quarterback for the Irish took the job officially on Friday, sources told ESPN, and he has informed Notre Dame officials of his decision. Ultimately for Rees, the opportunity to work for Nick Saban proved to be a deciding factor. Rees, 30, is one of the bright young minds rising in the sport. He's spent the past three years as the offensive coordinator after joining the program as quarterbacks coach for the 2017 season. Rees will replace Bill O'Brien, who left for the New England Patriots, and will be the sixth different offensive coordinator to go to Alabama in the past eight years. Rees went 31-8 as a playcaller at Notre Dame, including a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2020 and a Fiesta Bowl appearance after the 2021 season. Rees was well thought of enough by former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly that Kelly made a...

Zaire Wade, the son of former NBA star Dwyane Wade, has agreed to sign with the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League, a source told ESPN's Andscape. Wade averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 assists in 13 games for the Utah Jazz's G League Salt Lake City Stars last season. The 6-foot-1 guard took part in the BAL's recent combine in Paris with his father in attendance. Wade is expected to join Cape Town in South Africa immediately in preparation for the 2023 BAL season. The BAL season will again feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 38 games in Dakar, Senegal; Cairo, Egypt; and Kigali, Rwanda, over a three-month span. Cape Town will play in the Nile Conference during a 15-game group phase at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo from April 26 to May 6. The top four teams from the two conferences will advance to an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals May 21-27 at BK Arena in Kigali.