Italy is out again. The 4-time champion misses 3rd straight World Cup with shootout loss in Bosnia
One of soccer’s historic powers has reached a once-unfathomable low. Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after getting beat in a penalty shootout with 10 men at 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs. Moise Kean scored early on for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th to send the game into extra time. The defeat added more misery for Italy’s once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Tiger Woods says he’ll seek treatment after pleading not guilty to DUI
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods says he’ll step away and seek treatment after his SUV crash in Florida. Woods made his comments Tuesday, four days after the crash that led to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Woods pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in his driving under the influence case. The plea came hours after a sheriff’s report said he had pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment at the crash scene last week. I’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, he announced a leave after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has no plans to scrap Rooney Rule, despite Florida AG pressure
PHOENIX (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law. Goodell was speaking on Tuesday at the end of the NFL league meetings. He acknowledged the changing political landscape for diversity initiatives in the U.S., but added that he didn’t believe there should be any legal issues with the league’s policy. Also on Tuesday, the NFL’s competition committee approved a one-year rule for the upcoming season that would allow the replay center in New York to correct “clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game” in case of a work stoppage involving the NFL Referees Association.
Iran soccer players meet FIFA head Infantino before World Cup warmup and honor child victims of war
ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to “continue to support” Iran’s preparations for the World Cup. Infantino met Iran’s players and soccer federation officials in Turkey where the team played one of its last warmup games for the tournament, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. He wrote on Instagram that “FIFA will continue to support the team to ensure the best possible conditions as they prepare for the World Cup.” As the Iranian anthem played before the friendly against Costa Rica, players and officials including coach Amir Ghalenoei and federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since Feb. 28.
MLB players increase potential war chest to $415 million ahead of bargaining
Big league baseball players increased their potential war chest of cash and investments ahead of collective bargaining to $415 million heading into 2026, up from $284 million at the start of 2025, according to the union’s annual federal disclosure form filed. The Major League Baseball Players Association had $222.1 million in U.S. Treasury securities, $155.5 million in other investments and $37.4 million in cash as of Dec. 31. The union executive board has withheld 100% of licensing money due players for 2024 and 2025 to prepare for bargaining to replace the current labor contract, which expires on Dec. 1. That money could be disbursed to players during a work stoppage.
Pioneering female NFL official sues league over her treatment and firing
NEW YORK (AP) — In a new lawsuit, one of the first three women to officiate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal. Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league official. The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, filed Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages. An NFL spokesperson said DeLorenzo was terminated following three seasons of underperformance and called the lawsuit baseless. A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak doesn’t want a rookie QB to start Week 1 in right scenario
PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Mendoza won’t start right away for the Las Vegas Raiders if coach Klint Kubiak has his way. The Raiders are expected to select the Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next month. Mendoza led Indiana to its first national championship and became the overwhelming favorite to go first. Aidan O’Connell is the only other quarterback currently on the Raiders after the team traded Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett. Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are among the veterans who remain unsigned.
Missed call in Brewers’ victory over Rays puts additional spotlight on Bucknor
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Umpire C.B. Bucknor’s tough start to the season continues. Bucknor was working as the first-base umpire for the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday when he made a call that was so obviously incorrect from a reply that it had both managers smiling afterward. This call came after Bucknor had the poorest results among umpires in Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System last weekend.
Men’s NCAA tournament averaging 10.3 million viewers, its most-watched since 1993
NEW YORK (AP) — The men’s NCAA tournament is averaging 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, its best audience since 1993 and a 9% increase over last year. UConn’s last-second 73-72 victory over Duke in the East Region final averaged 13.4 million on CBS. The audience peaked at 18.9 million when Braylon Mullins sank a desperation 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. Friday’s early window with Duke-St.John’s on CBS and Michigan-Alabama on TBS/truTV averaged 14.2 million, the most-watched Friday regional early window since 1992. The Final Four and title game will be on TBS, TNT and truTV.
March Madness: UConn assistant Luke Murray juggles Final Four run and new job at Boston College
BOSTON (AP) — Boston College will have to understand if new basketball coach Luke Murray is unable to give the Eagles his full attention for now. The UConn assistant took just a couple of days off to pop by Chestnut Hill this week before rejoining the Huskies for a trip to the Final Four. The plan is to win March Madness on Monday night, get in a little celebration early Tuesday morning, then head back to Boston for the opening of the transfer portal that same day. The Huskies are going for their third NCAA championship in four years.