National Sports - The Morning Sun

FILE - Phoenix Suns acting head coach Kevin Young yells to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Boston. BYU hired Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope, who left to coach Kentucky, the school's athletic director announced Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Young will continue to coach with the Suns during the NBA playoffs before joining BYU, but he will work on retaining current players, contacting recruits and assembling a coaching staff during the playoffs.(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)

BYU hires Suns assistant Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope, who left to coach Kentucky

BYU has hired Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope, who left to coach Kentucky. BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe announced the hiring on Tuesday. Young will continue to … more

By JOHN COON | 4/16/24

FILE - Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin (32) scores past Houston Rockets' Dwight Howard (12) and Trevor Ariza (1) during the second half in Game 5 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinals Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Houston. Griffin announced his retirement Tuesday, April 16, 2024, after a 14-year career that included six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors and a dunk contest victory. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Blake Griffin retires after high-flying NBA career that included Rookie of the Year, All-Star honors

Blake Griffin has announced his retirement after a 14-year career that included six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors and a dunk contest victory. Griffin announced his decision Tuesday … more

By The Associated Press | 4/16/24

FILE - Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon (5), Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad (17), Jets center Adam Lowry (17), Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther (11), and Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) look for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Arizona Coyotes fans always had hope the franchise would find stability in the desert despite numerous difficulties. Now that the Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City, they're taking those hopes with them. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

The Coyotes' troubled tenure in Arizona has come down to 1 last game before an expected move to Utah

The Arizona Coyotes dubbed Mullett Arena “The Party Barn” for its raucous, closed-quarters atmosphere. The NHL’s smallest arena ended up being one of the franchise’s biggest problems and will … more

By JOHN MARSHALL | 4/16/24

FILE - Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, center, talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL football owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Michigan was given three years of probation, fined and hit with recruiting limits by the NCAA on Tuesday, April 16, after football coaches and staff had impermissible contact with recruits and players under coach Jim Harbaugh while access was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Michigan gets 3 years of probation for football recruiting violations; case vs. Jim Harbaugh pending

Michigan has been given three years of probation, fined and hit with recruiting restrictions by the NCAA. The punishment stems from football coaches and staff having impermissible contact with … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 4/16/24

Scottie Scheffler holds the trophy after winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Analysis: Scottie Scheffler comparisons with Tiger Woods is a tribute to both

Scottie Scheffler is so dominant these days it brings comparisons with Tiger Woods. He's still a long way off from that and likely will never reach the same appeal. Woods won more often and was … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/16/24

CORRECTS TO CAITLIN CLARK NOT CAITLYN CLARK - From left to right, LSU's Angel Reese, Iowa's Caitlin Clark and Stanford's Cameron Brink pose for a photo before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese hope to carry over college momentum to the WNBA

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and a deep WNBA draft class hope the momentum they created lifting women’s college basketball to new heights carries over to the pros. They’ll need to perform on the … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 4/16/24

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato gestures during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Buffalo Sabres fire head coach Don Granato after extending playoff drought to 13th season

The Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Don Granato, making him the seventh coach to be ousted during what’s grown into an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought. The move was announced by the team after … more

By JOHN WAWROW | 4/16/24

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his 100th assist this season with Zach Hyman (18) against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Oilers captain Connor McDavid becomes 4th player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season

Connor McDavid has achieved something only three other people in the NHL have ever done. The Edmonton Oilers captain, who missed his team’s last three games with an undisclosed injury, recorded his … more

4/16/24

Oakland Athletics broadcaster Chris Caray, left, and his father, Chip, the play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, stand for a photo before the teams' baseball game Monday, April 15, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)

Father-son baseball play-by-play broadcasters Chip and Chris Caray cherish reunion in Oakland

Chip Caray reunited with son Chris on the field at the Oakland Coliseum before each headed up to the broadcast booth to handle play-by-play duties for their respective clubs. Chris is in his first … more

By JANIE McCAULEY | 4/15/24

Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals team members arrive to celebrate Jackie Robinson Tribute Day before a baseball game at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Jackie Robinson remembered around MLB on 77th anniversary of him breaking baseball's color barrier

Major League Baseball is marking the 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the sport's color barrier. At Citi Field in New York, Robinson's 101-year-old widow, Rachel, was given flowers by … more

By BETH HARRIS | 4/15/24

FILE - New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up before playing against the Buffalo Bills in an NFL football game, Sept. 11, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Aaron Rodgers acknowledged during a podcast interview this week he briefly thought his playing career could be over after he tore his left Achilles tendon in the New York Jets’ season opener. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

NFL's first medical summit brought teams together to collaborate on improving player safety

The NFL has implemented new rules, banned another type of tackle and introduced equipment aimed toward improving player safety. Keeping players healthy is a top priority for a league that had many … more

By ROB MAADDI | 4/15/24

Cleveland Guardians' Will Brennan follows through on his two-run home run in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Will Brennan homers, Guardians beat Red Sox 6-0 to spoil Boston's Patriots’ Day game

Will Brennan hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Red Sox 6-0 in Boston’s traditional Patriots’ Day game. José Ramirez and Gabriel Arias each … more

By KEN POWTAK | 4/15/24

LSU forward Angel Reese (10) brings the ball up court during the first quarter of an Elite Eight round college basketball game against Iowa during the NCAA Tournament, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

Caitlin Clark, other college standouts have been prepping for WNBA draft and now are just hours away

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and others have been prepping for Monday night's WNBA draft and now they are just hours away from the next chapter in their basketball careers. Not only are … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 4/15/24

Scottie Scheffler is a Masters champion again. And he's never satisfied

Scottie Scheffler is a Masters champion for the second time in three years. And all he wants to do is to keep winning. He manages expectations because he never looks too far behind or too far ahead. … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/15/24

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a deep pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) defends during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms with wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a three-year contract extension through the 2028 season on Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

Eagles lock in WR DeVonta Smith with 3-year contract extension

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms with wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a three-year contract extension through the 2028 season. The move included the Eagles picking up the fifth-year option on … more

4/15/24

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with forward Rui Hachimura (28) after being fouled in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Sunday, April 14, 2024. The Lakers won 124-108. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NBA Play-In Game Preview: West games on Tuesday. East games on Wednesday. Eliminations on Friday

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the play-in tournament. So is Stephen Curry, as he and Golden State will be fighting for their season. And Jimmy Butler returns as well, after this … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/15/24

Wrexham players on the pitch celebrate promotion to League One after the final whistle of the Sky Bet League Two match at the SToK Cae Ras, Wrexham, Saturday April 13, 2024. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

Vegas, US tour and more signings: Wrexham has plenty of fun and work ahead after latest promotion

Wrexham and its Hollywood owners are halfway to the promised land. Playing in the lucrative Premier League might not be such a fanciful notion after all for a club that not so long ago was … more

By STEVE DOUGLAS | 4/15/24

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against LSU during the third quarter of an Elite Eight round college basketball game during the NCAA Tournament, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Caitlin Clark's young dream of playing in the WNBA is set to become reality

In elementary school, Caitlin Clark wrote down her dreams and goals that included playing in the WNBA one day. That dream will become a reality Monday night when Clark is expected to be taken first … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 4/15/24

Scheffler turns the Masters into another Sunday yawner with a dominating win

Scottie Scheffler drained all the drama out of the Masters. Which has become a familiar storyline at Augusta National. For all the talk about the tournament not beginning until the back nine on … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 4/15/24

New York Yankees' Luis Gil pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday, April 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pitching injuries are forcing some less familiar names into important roles early in the season

Baseball has been overrun lately by injuries to star pitchers that are forcing teams to make contingency plans they’d have loved to avoid. Gerrit Cole, Spencer Strider and Shane Bieber are just a … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 4/15/24