June Jones, whose run-and-shoot offense dazzled at Hawaii and in the NFL, dies at 73
June Jones, the trailblazing coach who brought the run-and-shoot offense to Hawaii and led the Rainbow Warriors to their greatest era and an undefeated regular season that catapulted them all the way to the Sugar Bowl, has died. He was 73. Hawaii’s football program did not list a cause of death for Jones, who coached the Atlanta Falcons for three seasons in the 1990s before his stint at Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser cited a close family friend as saying Jones had entered hospice two weeks ago in his native Oregon.
Russia is back in the ice hockey world championships after sports court ruling
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Russia teams must be allowed to play International Ice Hockey Federation events such as the world championships. CAS has overturned IIHF decisions which excluded Russia from events in the 2026-27 season including the men’s and women’s world championships. In a brief statement CAS cites a lack of sufficient evidence to support the IIHF’s security concerns. The IIHF has barred Russian teams from its world championships since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia also missed the Olympic hockey tournaments this year.
Ailing Kimi Antonelli nears F1 title in Mexico and will make history as youngest champion
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Kimi Antonelli arrives in Mexico with the Formula 1 title within his grasp. Despite a viral infection, he is set to become the youngest champion in the sport’s history. Antonelli needs to finish ninth or better to secure the title, regardless of his rivals’ results. He missed Thursday’s media session but is expected to be fit for the opening practice. Winning in Mexico would also boost Mercedes in the constructors’ championship. Meanwhile, Colton Herta will drive Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac during the first practice session.
Packers’ Watson goes to hospital with chest injury in 2nd quarter. Then he returns to the game.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson hurt his chest bad enough to get sent to the hospital Thursday night. He was back on the field later in the game helping his team finish off a 27-19 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Watson’s teammates offered stunned reactions after the game as they tried in vain to remember any other instances of a player returning to a game after getting sent to the hospital. Carolina Panthers cornerback Will Lee also got hurt on the play and was carted into the locker room with a hamstring injury.
Love throws 3 TD passes as the Packers beat the Panthers 27-19
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes, Josh Jacobs scored twice and the Green Bay Packers withstood three turnovers to defeat the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night. Love went 30 of 41 for 288 yards with touchdown passes to Tucker Kraft, Matthew Golden and Jacobs plus an interception. Jacobs scored on a 4-yard catch and 1-yard run. Jacobs rushed for only 39 yards on 21 carries against the NFL’s lowest-ranked run defense. Green Bay’s Christian Watson returned to the game after getting taken to the hospital with a chest injury.
Packers’ Jacobs says TD celebration that drew criticism was modeled after a gospel song
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs says he was paying homage to a gospel song rather than making light of his recent arrest when he briefly had his hands behind his back while celebrating a touchdown Thursday night. This was Jacobs’ second game of the season after coming off the commissioner’s exempt list. He was placed on that list after charges were filed against him in August stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend during which she said he threw her to the ground. Jacobs pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property. Jacobs said he was modeling his celebration after a gospel song called “Break Every Chain.”
MLB’s 2027 season threatened with lockout looming when labor deal expires Dec. 1
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball might face a long pause following the Milwaukee Brewers’ first World Series title. Owners have proposed a salary cap, reminiscent of the 1994 plan that led to a 7 1/2-month strike. The current labor contract expires on Dec. 1, and a lockout us likely. This could spark a free-agent frenzy similar to 2021. Players and management remain divided on economic issues, with players opposing the cap and seeking expanded rights. Other major U.S. leagues have salary caps, but baseball players have consistently resisted such a system.
Gray scores 23 points to help hot-shooting Dream beat Valkyries 80-69 to force Game 7 of WNBA Finals
ATLANTA (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard had 21 as the hot-shooting Atlanta Dream held off Golden State’s late rally to take an 80-69 victory over the Valkyries in Game 6 to pull even in the WNBA Finals. The decisive Game 7 will be played at Golden State on Saturday night as each team seeks its first WNBA championship. After having their lowest scoring games of the Finals in losses in Games 4 and 5, the Dream enjoyed an offensive awakening when faced with the must-win mandate. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points. Tiffany Hayes added 15.
Red Wings suspend Dylan Larkin after GM says his agent told team he would no longer play for Detroit
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have suspended Dylan Larkin without pay and taken him off the roster after they said his agent told the team the center will no longer play for the franchise, growing frustrated by its inability to move him months after he asked for a trade. Detroit coach Todd McLellan told reporters earlier in the day that Larkin would not play against the Blackhawks. Larkin asked for a trade in the offseason after the franchise extended its postseason drought to a decade, but he started the season still on the team but stripped of the captaincy.
Young girls skip school with their parents to attend Valkyries’ early WNBA Finals watch party
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sika Lopez took 11-year-old daughter Kendra out of school to be part of the early morning watch party outside Chase Center cheering for the Golden State Valkyries. Lopez grew up in Los Angeles watching Lisa Leslie and the Sparks, and believes being present can impact Kendra chasing her own dreams — so they joined several thousand fans gathering on the plaza at Thrive City outside Chase Center to support Golden State in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at Atlanta. Hundreds of hands were raised when energetic in-arena host Ari Waller asked if fans had taken a day off work or school to attend the violet-clad watch party. The Valkyries lost 80-69 but the defeat hardly kept Golden State fans from celebrating what this means for women’s basketball in the Bay Area and far beyond.
Chicago Bears acquire DT Jeffery Simmons in pricey trade with the Tennessee Titans
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans. The Bears sent their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 and a fourth-rounder in next year’s draft to the Titans for Simmons and a fifth-round selection in 2028. Led by Caleb Williams, Chicago has won two in a row to improve to 5-2 going into Monday night’s game at Seattle. It is chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North, and the addition of Simmons bolsters what had been a questionable defensive line.