National Sports - The Morning Sun

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) gestures during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Miami Heat, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges top NBA All-Defensive first team

Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics was the leading vote-getter for the All-Defensive first team, with Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns joining him as the other guard. … more

5/20/22

Bubba Watson waves after making a putt on the 15th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Live updates | McIlroy takes lead into 2nd round of PGA

Rory McIlroy takes a one-shot lead into the second round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. A crowded leaderboard will be giving chase and Tiger Woods will be fighting to make the cut. Woods … more

By The Associated Press | 5/20/22

FILE - Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, center, celebrates with teammates Jamal Musiala, left, and Malik Tillman, right, after scoring his side's fourth goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match against VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Dec. 17, 2021. Bayern Munich midfielder Tillman is switching affiliation from Germany to the United States and is among 27 players invited to the Americans’ next-to-last training camp ahead of the World Cup. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad, File)

Tillman switching from Germany to US, Wright also on roster

Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman is switching affiliation from Germany to the United States and is among 27 players invited to the Americans’ next-to-last training camp ahead of the World … more

By RONALD BLUM | 5/20/22

Windy Indy: Speeds hit 243 mph as weather disrupts 500 prep

It was a challenging “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with serious wind disrupting practice for the Indy 500. Wind gusts were measured at 41 mph and the sustained wind was around 25 … more

By JENNA FRYER | 5/20/22

Smart, gritty Celtics hope to maintain intensity vs Heat

The Boston Celtics got outworked by the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals but returned the favor in Game 2. A big factor for the Celtics was having Marcus Smart back. The … more

By KYLE HIGHTOWER | 5/20/22

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrates a goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Avs seek answers after Blues make right moves, tie series

The St. Louis Blues made all the right moves against Colorado to tie the second-round series at a game apiece. The Blues shuffled their lines to generate more offense and clogged up the middle to … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/20/22

FILE - Cleveland Browns new quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. NFL officials will meet this week with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson as the league continues to investigate whether he violated its personal-conduct policy, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press on Monday, May 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)

Browns' Watson caps busy week as NFL investigation continues

Deshaun Watson’s week included meeting with NFL investigators and golf in the Bahamas with his new Browns teammates. Next week he’ll be back on the field, and under more public scrutiny. Some of … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/20/22

Dallas Stars NHL team head coach Rick Bowness walks after speaking to reporters about the hockey season during a media availability at the team's headquarters in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Rick Bowness won't return as coach of Dallas Stars

Rick Bowness will not return as the coach of the Dallas Stars. He had been their head coach for nearly three seasons, leading them to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and the playoffs again this season. … more

By STEPHEN HAWKINS | 5/20/22

FILE - Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey, left, celebrates after he scored a goal on Guadalajara goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, right, during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions League soccer match Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Seattle. Four years removed from playing, Dempsey is set to be inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Entering US Soccer Hall, Dempsey finds pressure eased

Clint Dempsey acknowledges the limelight changed him later in his career as he felt responsible for his club and American soccer. He is free to be himself four years removed from playing and on the … more

By RONALD BLUM | 5/20/22

Preakness entrant Epicenter, left, the runner up in the Kentucky Derby horse race, leaves the track after a workout ahead of the Preakness Stakes Horse Race race at Pimlico Race Course, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Near-record heat for Preakness another test for Epicenter

The Preakness Stakes will be run without Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and any chance at a Triple Crown. Epicenter looks like the horse to beat in the field of nine at Pimlico Race Course. The … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 5/20/22

FILE - At left, Alabama head coach Nick Saban yells to the sideline during the first half of Alabama's NCAA college football scrimmage, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At right, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher reacts to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” Thursday, May 19, 2022. after the Alabama coach made “despicable” comments about the Aggies using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes. Saban called out Texas A&M on Wednesday night for “buying” players. (AP Photo/File)

SEC spat: Fisher, Saban exchange accusations over NIL deals

The Southeastern Conference spring meetings will be held in person for the time since 2019 in a little less than two weeks. It is unlikely two of the SEC’s superstar coaches will be chumming around … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 5/20/22

FILE - Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand during their singles match against Andrea Petkovic of Germany at the Summer Set tennis tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who helped spark a conversation about athletes’ mental health when she pulled out of last year’s French Open before her second-round match and revealed that she has dealt with anxiety and depression. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)

Naomi Osaka at French Open news conference: 'I think I'm OK'

Naomi Osaka is back at Roland Garros, and she spent time smiling and laughing at her own jokes during her pre-tournament news conference. She pulled out of last year's French Open before the second … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 5/20/22

FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the cup after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Paris. Djokovic won 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are both entered in the French Open, making it the first Grand Slam tournament with both of them in the field since last year’s French Open. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FRENCH OPEN: More buzz about Alcaraz than Nadal, Djokovic

The French Open marks the first time in a year that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are both entered in a Grand Slam tournament. And yet most of the buzz heading into the start of play at Roland … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 5/20/22

Abraham Ancer, of Mexico, hits from the fairway on the 13th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Record 6 Latin Americans start off well at PGA Championship

There are a record six Latin American players in the PGA Championship this year, and just about all of them got off to good starts in Thursday's opening round. Abraham Ancer of Mexico led the way … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 5/20/22

FILE - Alabama coach Nick Saban watches players warm up for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA football game against Georgia on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. Saban called out Texas A&M on Wednesday night, May 18 for “buying” players in its top-ranked recruiting class with name, image and likeness deals, saying Crimson Tide football players earned more than $3 million last year “the right way.” (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Column: A wildly entertaining spat between 2 coaching stars

Why did they wait so long to allow college athletes to make a few bucks on the side? Think of all the wildly entertaining shenanigans we’ve missed out on over the years. Jimbo Fisher is downright … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 5/20/22

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) scores a goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Denver. The Blues won 4-1. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Perron scores twice, Blues even series with 4-1 win over Avs

David Perron scored twice, Jordan Binnington made 30 saves and the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 to tie their second-round series at a game apiece. Jordan Kyrou added a goal and … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/20/22

Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story tosses his bat while watching his three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Boston. Story hit two two-run home runs earlier in the game. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Story hits 3 homers for Red Sox in 12-6 win over Mariners

Trevor Story had three homers, four hits and seven RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 12-6. Story slugged a pair of two-run homers and a … more

By DOUG ALDEN | 5/20/22

Boston Celtics players cheer the team from the bench during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Miami Heat, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Celtics roll past Heat 127-102, tie Eastern finals at 1-1

Jayson Tatum scored 27 points, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown each scored 24 and the Boston Celtics dominated the first half to roll past the Miami Heat 127-102 and tie the Eastern Conference finals … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 5/19/22

Colton scores late, Lightning beat Panthers 2-1 in Game 2

Ross Colton scored with just under four seconds remaining, giving the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern … more

By GEORGE RICHARDS | 5/19/22

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after making a putt on the first hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

McIlroy powers to a 65 for early lead at PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy has the early lead in the PGA Championship with a 65. Tiger Woods was alongside him at Southern Hills and shot a 74. They played two different games. McIlroy is blasting away with … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 5/19/22