National Sports - The Morning Sun

Shohei Ohtani of Japan throws during the fifth inning of the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)

Ohtani leads Japan over Italy 9-3, into WBC semifinals

Shohei Ohtani pitched shutout ball into the fifth inning and sparked a four-run third with a bunt single, leading Japan over Italy 9-3 and into its fifth straight World Baseball Classic semifinal. … more

By STEPHEN WADE | 3/16/23

Miami guard Isaiah Wong (2) drives past Wake Forest guard Tyree Appleby (1) and forward Bobi Klintman (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Miami brings balance, unselfishness into NCAA Tournament

Miami is one of only two teams that made the NCAA Tournament's field of 68 to have four players averaging at least 13 points per game. That means they're deep, balanced and poised to possibly make … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 3/16/23

Puerto Rico pitcher Edwin Diaz, foreground is mobbed by teammates after Puerto Rico beat the Dominican Republic 5-2 during a World Baseball Classic game, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Miami. Diaz appeared to injure himself during the postgame celebration. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Mets' Díaz latest on list of freak celebration injuries

New York Mets fans began the year dreaming about a World Series closed out by Edwin Díaz. For now, they’re facing a nightmare scenario. Díaz, pitching in the World Baseball Classic for Team … more

By The Associated Press | 3/16/23

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Embiid has 36 points and 18 rebounds, 76ers top Cavs 118-109

Joel Embiid had 36 points and 18 rebounds and played the final 4:12 after initially being called for his sixth foul, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight victory, 118-109 over the … more

By TOM WITHERS | 3/15/23

FILE - Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts as he leaves the field after an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan 2. 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. Rodgers says his intention is to play for the New York Jets in the coming season as the four-time NFL MVP quarterback waits for the Green Bay Packers to trade him. Rodgers made his comments Wednesday, March 15, 2023, during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)

NFL free agency opens with Aaron Rodgers, other QBs on move

After a flurry of moves in the two days ahead of the official start of the NFL free agency period, Aaron Rodgers made the biggest news Wednesday by announcing his intention to play for the New York … more

By ROB MAADDI | 3/15/23

Boise State guard Max Rice (12) celebrates after a 3-point basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UNLV during the Mountain West tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Boise State seeks 1st March Madness tournament win

Max Rice remembers the excitement he saw watching Northwestern win its first NCAA Tournament game six years ago. Now, Rice wants to do the same for his Boise State team that is looking for its first … more

By JOSH DUBOW | 3/15/23

Texas guard Marcus Carr celebrates after making a basket during the second half of the NCAA college basketball championship game against Kansas in the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Texas built strong bond to survive turmoil, hit March stride

The Texas Longhorns have team chemistry as strong as any in this NCAA Tournament. The bonds they formed over the summer were tested when former coach Chris Beard was fired in December. Now the … more

By DAVE CAMPBELL | 3/15/23

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer waves the net after Duke's win over Virginia in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Scheyer leads surging Duke into March Madness for 1st time

A season removed from reaching the Final Four for a 13th time under Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski, Duke not only is in the NCAA Tournament again, but appears to be peaking at the right time with … more

By FRED GOODALL | 3/15/23

FILE - Alabama forward Brandon Miller (24) fires off a shot with Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. (3) and guard Davonte Davis (4) defending during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Miller was selected to the Associated Press All-America first team in results released Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)

No. 1 Alabama readies for NCAA Tournament "home" game

Alabama has the No. 1 overall NCAA Tournament seed, one of the best players in college basketball and likely a couple of games in its own backyard. For a Crimson Tide team that’s been an easy … more

By JOHN ZENOR | 3/15/23

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk falls down after hitting a single off Pittsburgh Pirates' Carmen Mlodzinski during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Bucs' Keller gets opening day nod -- and a bottle of bubbly

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton handed Mitch Keller the opening day assignment and a celebratory bottle of bubbly. Shelton broke the news to the 26-year-old right-hander that he’ll get the … more

By BERNIE WILSON | 3/15/23

Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, returns a shot to Cameron Norrie, of Britain, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Tiafoe upends Norrie, Gauff out in Indian Wells quarters

Frances Tiafoe has defeated 10th-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. The 14th-seeded American ended the 2021 champion’s eight-match winning streak to … more

3/15/23

Norfolk State celebrates after defeating Howard in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Mike Caudill)

HBCU commissioners working together on NIL, sports growth

Commissioners of conferences with historically Black colleges and universities have needed to find new ways to adjust to changes in college sports like NIL and the transfer portal. The four major … more

By ALANIS THAMES | 3/15/23

NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, left, and William Byron, pose with Byron's trophy after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

NASCAR issues largest team fine in history against Hendrick

NASCAR has levied the largest combined fine on one team in series history. Hendrick Motorsports faces a combined $400,000 fines for modifying air-deflecting pieces last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. … more

By JENNA FRYER | 3/15/23

Scottie Scheffler watches his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of The Players Championship golf tournament, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Scheffler's menu for Masters: Steak, sliders and cookies

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler finally decided on his menu when he hosts the Masters Club dinner, and it wasn’t a big surprise — meat, fish and chocolate chip cookies. Scheffler says he'll … more

3/15/23

Furman guard Mike Bothwell celebrates his team's win over Chattanooga for the NCAA men's college basketball championship game for the Southern Conference tournament, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Furman found NCAAs thanks to college roommates, best friends

Furman has two best friends to thank in part for reaching its first NCAA Tournament since 1980. Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson met in the same dorm as freshmen in 2018. They've already vowed to be … more

By MARK LONG | 3/15/23

FILE - Raven Saunders, of the United States, poses with her silver medal in women's shot put at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Saunders, the silver-medal shot putter who used her platform at the Tokyo Olympics to bring attention to social injustice, has been suspended for 18 months for failing to show up for doping tests. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced the sanction Wednesday, March 15, 2023, for the 26-year-old, saying she had committed three “whereabouts failures” within a 12-month period ending on Aug. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Raven Saunders gets 18-month ban for missed doping tests

American shot put medalist Raven Saunders has been suspended for 18 months for failing to show up for doping tests. She won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency … more

3/15/23

Kansas head coach Bill Self applauds his team's play against Texas Tech during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Kansas coach Bill Self 'day to day' at March Madness

Bill Self’s status for coaching Kansas in the NCAA Tournament is uncertain as he recovers from a heart procedure. Assistant coach Norm Roberts said the Jayhawks remain hopeful he’ll be on the … more

By ERIC OLSON | 3/15/23

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play this season and if his future remains with the Packers. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Rodgers says he intends to play for Jets this coming season

Aaron Rodgers says his intention is to play for the New York Jets in the coming season as the four-time NFL MVP quarterback waits for the Green Bay Packers to trade him. Rodgers made his comments … more

By The Associated Press | 3/15/23

FILE - Miami NCAA college basketball guards and sisters, Haley and Hanna Cavinder, practice Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Coral Gables, Fla. Haley and Hanna Cavinder are going to the NCAA Tournament. The Miami guards are perhaps the faces of the NIL movement in college athletics. And they have a massive following on social media. (AP Photo/Matt Dirksen, File)

Miami's Cavinder twins reach March Madness after transfer

Haley and Hanna Cavinder are going to the NCAA Tournament. The Miami guards are perhaps the faces of the NIL movement in college athletics. They have a massive following on social media. What Miami … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 3/15/23

FILE - South Carolina's Aliyah Boston (4) drives to the basket as UConn's Dorka Juhasz (14) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Boston was honored for the third straight year as an All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Boston, Clark headline women's AP All-America team

Aliyah Boston of South Carolina is just the 10th player to be named a first-team AP All-American for a third time. Boston was joined on the first team by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Villanova’s Maddy … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 3/15/23