At the bobsled and skeleton world championships, some moms might make their way to the podium
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — The latest addition to the list of amenities available to athletes at the bobsled and skeleton world championships is a room inside a lodge just down the hill from the finish line. There are some stuffed animals, tons of toys, Mickey Mouse coloring books and big boxes of crayons. This is the family space. These days, it’s a needed part of the sliding circuit. There are five mothers who qualified to compete in the world championships that got underway Thursday in Lake Placid. They are U.S. skeleton athlete Kelly Curtis, Swiss bobsledder Nadja Pasternack and U.S. bobsledders Elana Meyers Taylor, Kaillie Humphries and Jasmine Jones.
Bengals All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson receives permission to seek a trade, AP sources say
Two people with knowledge of the move say All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson received permission from the Cincinnati Bengals to seek a trade. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks this past season. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss personnel moves. ESPN first reported the move after receiving a statement from Hendrickson. Hendrickson had 17 1/2 sacks last season for the second straight year. His 57 sacks since joining the Bengals in 2021 are third-most in the league over the past four seasons.
Sports is a powerful tool for grassroots empowerment. A Philly basketball coach made it her focus
Throughout her eight-year coaching tenure, Beulah Osueke built the West Catholic Lady Burrs from an afterthought to a championship-winning program. The Philadelphia high school’s girls basketball team secured six district titles and won the school’s first basketball state title in 2021 under Osueke. But teaching Black teenage girls their worth and how to respond to discrimination is what Osueke considers her biggest victory. That outreach shows how sports can be a tool for empowerment and teaching life lessons, said Ketra Armstrong, director of the Center for Race and Ethnicity in Sport at the University of Michigan. She says that’s more important now than ever as President Donald Trump’s orders dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs nationwide.
Devils get Dumoulin, Panthers add Sturm and Golden Knights reacquire Smith as NHL trades pile up
The banged-up New Jersey Devils wasted no time filling an area of need ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the defending champion Florida Panthers made an under-the-radar move that could pave the way for another deep playoff run and the Vegas Golden Knights brought back a member of their recent Stanley Cup-winning team. With roughly 24 hours to go before the deadline, New Jersey traded for veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin from Anaheim, Florida got depth center Nico Sturm from San Jose and Vegas reacquired winger Reilly Smith from the New York Rangers.
US offers $10 million reward for fugitive snowboarder accused of running deadly drug ring
LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada who is wanted for running a multi-national drug trafficking network and planning multiple murders related to the drug ring. The FBI has added 43-year-old Ryan Wedding to its 10 Most Wanted list, while also announcing the State Department’s $10 million offer. Wedding was charged last June with murder and drug crimes. Those charges were augmented in September in an indictment that alleged Wedding and others arranged the shipment of some 60 tons of cocaine a year. Wedding finished 24th in parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Olympics.
Wyndham Clark handles a stressful test at Bay Hill to lead by 2
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Wyndham Clark has the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a brutal day of cold and wind at Bay Hill. Clark played in the afternoon and got a slight reprieve with calmer wind. But his 67 was still the highest score to lead at Bay Hill in eight years. He leads by two shots over a group that includes Shane Lowry and Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. Rory McIlroy bogeyed his last hole for a 70. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler battled to a 71. Only 14 players in the 72-man field of this signature event managed to break par.
No. 8 Michigan State takes outright Big Ten regular-season title with 91-84 victory over Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jace Richardson scored 22 points and No. 8 Michigan State wrapped up the outright Big Ten regular-season championship with an 91-84 victory over Iowa on Thursday night. Michigan State (25-5, 16-3) won its first conference title since 2020. The Spartans secured a share of the championship Wednesday night with Michigan’s loss to Maryland. Down 58-48 with 12:13 left, Michigan States reeled off a 19-2 run and never trailed again on the way to its sixth consecutive victory. The Spartans scored 61 second-half points. Josh Dix led Iowa (15-15, 6-13) with 18 points.
One-of-a-kind card featuring jersey patch of Pirates star Paul Skenes is heading to auction
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is heading to auction. The card is autographed by the National League Rookie of the Year and features a patch of the jersey he wore during his big league debut in May 2024. An 11-year-old in the Los Angeles area found the card in a pack he received as a Christmas present. He turned down an offer from the Pirates that included season tickets behind home plate for 30 years. Fanatics Collect is holding the auction, which runs through March 20. CEO Nick Bell declined to offer an estimate on what the card might fetch but said he expects “a very significant sale.”
Man United draws 1-1 at Real Sociedad in Europa League and Tottenham loses to AZ Alkmaar
Manchester United settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. United led on Joshua Zirkzee’s goal in the 58th minute but the hosts equalized 12 minutes later after Bruno Fernandes’ hand ball. Mikel Oyarzabal sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the penalty spot. A spot in the Europa League quarterfinals will be on the line at Old Trafford in the second leg next Thursday. Tottenham, also struggling in the Premier League, lost 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar.