Left-leaning Washington and Colorado join more conservative states in banning transgender athletes
Voters in Washington and Colorado have approved measures to ban transgender athletes from participating in school sports. Washington’s Measure 638 prevents students assigned male at birth from playing in female sports. It also requires a healthcare provider’s statement to verify gender. Colorado’s Proposition 134 mandates sports be designated male, female or coed, limiting participation to the sex assigned at birth. These measures were passed in states where Democratic-led governments had not enacted such bans, leading activists to put the issue on the ballot instead. The votes highlight bipartisan support for these issues, which were once seen as conservative wedge topics.
5 retired MLB umpires — including Joe West — sue benefit plan, alleging they are owed more money
NEW YORK (AP) — Five retired umpires have sued their retirement plan and its committee, claiming they are owed additional money. Joe West, Tom Hallion, Gerry Davis, Larry Vanover and Jerry Layne filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York. They allege their benefits were not correctly calculated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Their lawyer, Paul B. Holmes, said the amount owed exceeds $2 million. West said he was offered a small sum when he raised the issue. Major League Baseball declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his international retirement from Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced he won’t play for Portugal anymore. He’s ended an international career that spanned six World Cups, a European title and the men’s all-time international scoring record. Ronaldo shared the news on Thursday in a video message. He says it is time to pass on the No. 7 shirt. He expressed gratitude for his 23 years with the national team. Ronaldo’s final appearance for Portugal was in a 1-0 win over Wales in September. He plans to continue playing at the club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, aiming for his 1,000th career goal.
LIV and let die: Rival league tells bankruptcy court it will wind down operations
LIV Golf is winding down its operations instead of launching a new version because of a lack of financial support. A lawyer representing the organization announced the decision in a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday in New Jersey. LIV Golf lost Saudi Arabia funding in April after having spent more than $5 billion since 2022. LIV filed for bankruptcy in September. Since announcing plans for a new version, top players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have bailed. Instead of planning for a new version for 2027, LIV enters a liquidation phase.
Election over, the clock starts ticking again on landmark college sports bill in lame-duck House
Next week, Congress could begin debating a bill to overhaul college sports, amid uncertainty from recent Democratic election victories. The House, still Republican-led, will decide what to do with the Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate last month. The bill regulates athlete pay and protects Olympic sports but faces opposition. Supporters argue it prevents smaller sports from disappearing, while critics say it lacks sufficient protections. Major sports conferences like the SEC and Big Ten are considering their own governance if Congress doesn’t act. They hope for federal guidance to manage spending wars for athletes.
The nature of Ronaldo’s international retirement is in stark contrast to his great rival Messi
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s glorious Portugal career ultimately ended in acrimony. What a contrast to his great rival Lionel Messi, who also retired from international soccer this year, but only after leading Argentina to back-to-back World Cup finals. As has been the case throughout their record-breaking careers, it is impossible not to compare the two greatest players of their generation and, for many, the greatest of all time. While Ronaldo’s video message to announce his retirement on Thursday was undoubtedly emotional, it came after a bitter fallout with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus that led to the Manchester United and Real Madrid great walking out on what turned out to be his last international call up.
Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila, the A-10 player of the year, gets injunction to play this season
Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila has been granted a preliminary injunction to play a fifth season of college basketball for the Billikens. St. Louis City Circuit Court Judge Jason Sengheiser made the ruling Thursday. He also announced that Saint Louis can have a 16th roster spot for Avila until a trial is held, which could be several months from now, effectively clearing the 23-year-old to play for the entire season. The Billikens have a high-profile game against Missouri on Friday night. Avila, the reigning Atlantic 10 player of the year, led the Billikens to a 29-6 record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season.