Elite pilots prepare for 'camping out in the sky' as they compete in prestigious ballooning race

A radio, batteries and a trap door on the side for stretching are some of the things pilots are relying on to endure what's been called the world's oldest gas balloon race. It's been 15 years since elite ballooning pilots have gathered in the United States for the Gordon Bennett competition. They'll be launching for this year's race during an international balloon fiesta that draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to the heart of New Mexico each fall. The launch window opens Saturday. This year some worry that the massive balloons could be mistaken for Chinese spy balloons. But pilots are more concerned about charting a path out of bad weather and on to victory.

Brian White scores his 15th goal and the Whitecaps beat St. Louis City to clinch playoff spot

to finish one short of tying LAFC's 2018 record of seven road wins in an expansion season. White opened the scoring in the 58th minute. He headed defender Ranko Veselinovic's long ball near midfield and raced on a breakaway before chipping it over goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

Cristian Roldan's goal earns Sounders 2-1 victory over Galaxy, postseason berth

Cristian Roldan scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time and the Seattle Sounders clinched a spot in the postseason and snapped a four-match winless streak at home with a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Seattle (13-9-10) runs its unbeaten streak against LA (8-12-11) to 11 with a 7-0-4  mark. It is the longest unbeaten run by an opponent in the Galaxy's storied history. LA's only win in the last 17 matches was at home in 2018. The club's last win in Seattle was 1-0 in 2016. The Sounders jumped out to an early lead when Jordan Morris took a pass from João Paulo in the 9th minute and scored for an 11th time this season. Douglas Costa scored the equalizer for the Galaxy in the 54th minute

Bedbugs are making France anxious ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics

and to try to ease what some have called a national psychosis inflamed by the media.

Denis Bouanga has hat trick, propels LAFC past Minnesota 5-1 and into a playoff spot

Denis Bouanga scored three times in a first-half barrage to take the Major League Soccer goals lead, and Los Angeles FC clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 victory over Minnesota United. Bouanga ended LAFC's four-match, 372-minute scoreless streak in the fourth minute of its regular-season home finale. He added two more goals before the halftime whistle, and the defending MLS Cup champions cruised through the second half to move into third place in the Western Conference. Hassani Dotson scored in the fourth minute of the worst defensive game of the season by Minnesota, which has a seven-game winless skid.

Pavia leads New Mexico State to 34-17 victory over FIU

Diego Pavia threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to help New Mexico State pull away in the fourth quarter for a 34-17 victory over Florida International. Pavia raced 43 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 24-17 lead. NMSU forced a punt and Monte Watkins' 32-yard run set up a 3-yard scoring run by Star Thomas for a 31-17 advantage with 10:35 left to play. Pavia completed 20 of 31 passes for 256 yards with one interception. Watkins had 89 yards on five carries.

Rapids match with Dallas postponed due to thunderstorm

Thunderstorms forced the postponement of the match between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. The league waited more than three hours before deciding to call it a night. Dallas (10-10-11) is unbeaten in its last eight home matches in all competitions (3-0-5) and 5-0-3 in its last eight home matches against Colorado (5-15-11). The league has not yet announced when the match will be replayed.

Brewers' exit puts spotlight on the uncertain future of manager Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell grew up in the Milwaukee area, and his father worked for the Brewers. The younger Counsell also played for the team before he became the most successful manager in franchise history. He has guided the Brewers to five playoff berths in the last six years, but his hometown team remains in search of its first World Series title. Counsell's remarkable run has reached a crossroads. The Brewers' season is over after they were swept by the Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card Series, making Counsell a free agent of sorts. He doesn't have a contract beyond this season and wasn't interested in discussing his future after the team's 5-2 loss in Game 2.

Jacksonville State scores 38 unanswered points in second half to beat Middle Tennessee 45-30

Backup Zion Webb threw for two touchdowns and he ran for 101 yards and a score to help Jacksonville State beat Middle Tennessee 45-30 on Wednesday night. Jacksonville State trailed 23-7 after the Blue Raiders scored on three straight drives in the second quarter. But the Gamecocks scored 38 unanswered points in the second half. Kamari Stephens made Jacksonville State's seventh sack, on a fourth-and-5 play at the Gamecocks' 14-yard line, with 4:12 remaining in the fourth. Stephens added a forced fumble on Middle Tennessee's next possession and Curley Young picked it up and raced for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 45-23. The Jacksonville State defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions, but still allowed 563 yards.

Duncan McGuire scores and Pedro Gallese earns 10th clean sheet as Orlando City beats Nashville 1-0

the only team in the league with a positive goal differential on the road. Nashville (12-9-9) has gone 3-3-4 at home since an eight-match win streak. McGuire became the fifth player in MLS history to score at least 10 regular-season goals in the year they were drafted out of college.

Young Marlins flop against Phillies in NL Wild Card Series sweep

The Miami Marlins couldn't solve Zack Wheeler or Aaron Nola. Their pitching couldn't shut down Philly's big boppers. And the Marlins sure couldn't quiet a Phillies crowd that came primed for another postseason party. The result was a two-game sweep. Big league batting champion Luis Arraez, playing on a sprained left ankle, was 1 for 8 with no RBIs, as was Jorge Soler. Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 0 for 8 with four strikeouts. The Marlins hit .194 and scored just two runs.

Phillies sweep Marlins to earn NL Division Series rematch with MLB-best Braves

Bryson Stott crushed the second grand slam in Philadelphia Phillies postseason history and Aaron Nola tossed seven shutout innings in a performance worthy of a postseason ace that led to a 7-1 win and a two-game sweep over the Miami Marlins in their NL Wild Card Series. The Phillies advanced to an NL Division Series rematch against Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and the Braves. Game 1 in the best-of-five set is Saturday in Atlanta. J.T. Realmuto also homered for the Phillies.

Brazil's Fluminense beats Internacional to reach Copa Libertadores final

Brazil's Fluminense beat local rivals Internacional 2-1 with two goals in six minutes to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores and seek its first title in the tournament. The first leg between the two teams ended 2-2 last week at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where the final will be played on Nov. 4. Fluminense's rival will be known on Thursday when Argentina's Boca Juniors and Brazil's Palmeiras face off in Sao Paulo. The first leg ended goalless in Buenos Aires last week.

Austin beats D.C. United 3-0 behind goals from Will Bruin, Sebastián Driussi and Matt Hedges

Will Bruin and Sebastián Driussi scored 10 minutes apart in the first half and Austin beat D.C. United 3-0 on Wednesday night. Austin (10-14-8) snapped a club-record 10-match winless run in all competitions. Austin had been the only club without a victory since July 21. D.C. United (9-14-10) is 4-9-4 on the road in the regular season. Bruin headed in Driussi's pass in the 11th minute for his first goal at Q2 Stadium. Bruin has 12 goals in 18 matches against D.C. United, including the playoffs. Only Bradley Wright-Phillips (12) has more against D.C. since Bruin joined the league in 2011. Driussi made it 2-0 in the 21st. He was left wide open at the penalty spot and sent in a calm finish for his 11th goal of the season.

Bo Bichette and the Blue Jays are searching for answers after another short stay in the playoffs

It was an emotional finish for the Toronto Blue Jays after they were swept in the AL Wild Card Series for the second straight season. Teammates and staff members shared hugs and some tears after they were eliminated by a 2-0 loss at Minnesota in Game 2. Toronto scored just one run and had one extra-base hit total in the two games. Even with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays had no answer for the Twins' pitching and defense. They also had trouble on the basepaths, with Guerrero getting picked off second in Game 2.

Diamondbacks erase early deficit again and beat Brewers 5-2 to sweep NL Wild Card Series

Zac Gallen settled down after a shaky start and Arizona's bullpen stepped up at the very end, helping the Diamondbacks sweep their NL Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-2 victory in Game 2. Just two years after suffering through a 110-loss season, Arizona moved into the franchise's first NL Division Series since 2017. The Diamondbacks will take on the NL West champion Dodgers in the opener of their best-of-five series on Saturday in Los Angeles. The NL Central champion Brewers have dropped nine of their last 10 playoff games, a stretch that started with their Game 7 home loss to the Dodgers in the 2018 NL Championship Series.

First-half surge leads Union to 3-2 victory over Atlanta United

Dániel Gazdag and Julián Carranza had a goal and an assist as Philadelphia scored three times over a nine-minute span of the first half and the Union held on for a 3-2 victory over Atlanta United. Philadelphia (15-8-9) beat Atlanta United (13-9-10) for the fourth straight time at home. The Union ended a five-match streak of playing to draws, which tied a club record. Gazdag ended a scoreless match in the 39th minute, using an assist from Alejandro Bedoya to notch his 14th goal of the season. Mikael Uhre stretched the lead to 2-0 in the 41st minute with an assist from Carranza. Carranza picked up his 13th goal of the campaign, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time off a pass from Gazdag for a 3-0 lead at the half.

Karol Swiderski converts two penalty kicks as Charlotte tops Toronto 3-0

Karol Swiderski converted two penalty kicks in the first half and Charlotte beat Toronto FC 3-0 on Wednesday night. Charlotte (8-11-12) is on a club-record nine-match unbeaten streak at home, with three wins, and is 8-1-8 in its last 17 home matches in all competitions. Toronto (4-18-10) had its losing streak extended to five games. Toronto has lost nine straight away from home, the last seven by shutouts, in all competitions and is winless in 20 straight road matches in all competitions. Its last road win came in Charlotte in late August of last season. Swiderski became the 10th player in MLS history to score at least 10 goals in each of an expansion team's first two seasons.

Red Bulls keep playoff hopes alive with 2-1 victory over Cincinnati

Frankie Amaya and Elias Manoel scored five minutes apart early in the first half and the New York Red Bulls kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati. A loss to the Supporters' Shield winners would have eliminated the Red Bulls (9-13-10) from the postseason. Amaya used an assist from Lucas Lima Linhares (Luquinhas) to score for a fifth time this season, giving the Red Bulls the lead in the 12th minute. Manoel took passes from defender John Tolkin and Luquinhas and scored his third goal of the season to make it 2-0 in the 17th minute. Cincinnati (19-5-8), which clinched its first Supporters' Shield with a 3-2 victory over Toronto last time out, cut its deficit in half on Luciano Acosta's penalty-kick goal in the 68th minute.

Crew put end to Revolution's 15-match unbeaten run at home with 2-1 victory

Diego Rossi had a first-half goal and added an assist on defender Malte Amundsen's winner late in the second half as the Columbus Crew rallied to beat New England 2-1, ending the Revolution's 15-match unbeaten streak at home to begin the season. New England (14-7-10) was trying to become the seventh team in league history to remain unbeaten through the first 16 home matches of the season. The previous six teams all finished the season unbeaten at home. Columbus (15-9-8) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute when Rossi took a pass from Alexandru Matan and scored his third goal in his ninth appearance and seventh start.New England tied the match three minutes into the second half on a goal by rookie Tomás Chancalay.

Lassi Lappalainen scores in 95th minute to help Montreal tie the Dynamo 1-1

Lassi Lappalainen scored in second-half stoppage time to help CF Montreal tie the Houston Dynamo 1-1 on Wednesday night. Montreal (11-16-5) is winless in its last seven matches, with three draws. Montreal had won its last seven home matches against Houston, the last six by shutouts. Houston (12-11-9) has yielded just 36 goals in 32 matches. Lappalainen settled a deflected corner kick at the edge of the 18-yard box and sent a shot from distance into the back of the net. Artur opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the game. Sebastian Kowalczyk settled a cross at the penalty spot and sent it back to a wide open Artur for a shot off the post. Steve Clark had six saves for Houston.

Former NHL coach Kevin Constantine suspended indefinitely by WHL as coach of Wenatchee Wild

Former NHL coach Kevin Constantine was suspended indefinitely by the Western Hockey League on Wednesday as coach of the Wenatchee Wild. The major junior league said an independent investigation determined Constantine violated WHL regulations and policies by making what it called "derogatory comments of a discriminatory nature." The WHL said Constantine will not be eligible to apply to the commissioner for reinstatement until 2025 at the earliest. Constantine was previously suspended Sept. 24 pending the independent investigation. The 64-year-old Constantine coached in the NHL from 1993-2002 with the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils. He coached in Austria last season, directing Szekeshfehervar Alba Volan.

Ecuador's Liga de Quito and Brazil's Fortaleza will play in the Copa Sudamericana soccer final

Ecuador's Liga de Quito and Brazil's Fortaleza will play for the Copa Sudamericana soccer title on Oct. 28. The Ecuadorians advanced after a goalless draw with Argentina's Defensa y Justicia. Liga won the first leg 3-0 at home last week. Fortaleza reached its first international cup final after 2-0 win against local rivals Corinthians on Tuesday. The first leg between the teams ended 1-1 in Sao Paulo. Liga won the tournament in 2009 after beating Brazil's Fluminense.

SEC fines Ole Miss $75,000 after fans throw debris on field

Mississippi has been fined $75,000 after the game with LSU was interrupted by fans throwing debris on the field. The SEC announced the fine which is in addition to the $100,000 penalty that had already been imposed for fans storming the field celebrating the 16th-ranked Rebels' 55-49 win. The $75,000 will be deducted from the university's share of SEC revenue distribution.

Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno leaves Game 2 of Wild Card Series after backswing hits his helmet

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has left Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at Milwaukee after he was struck by a backswing. When Milwaukee's Brice Turang struck out swinging to lead off the second inning, his bat hit Moreno's helmet. The game was delayed for several minutes to allow Moreno to get examined. After Moreno took a few warmup pitches, he stayed in the game for the remainder of the second. But José Herrera took over at catcher in the bottom of the third.

Rays' 13-0 start a memory after losing 2 straight to Rangers for quick postseason exit

The Tampa Bay Rays looked like the team to beat when they started the season 13-0 while outscoring opponents 101-30. Two days into the postseason, the Rays quickly were dispatched for the third straight year. Texas advanced to an AL Division Series by beating the Rays 7-1 for a two-game sweep. The potent offense that spearheaded Tampa Bay to first place from opening day through mid-July faded down the stretch.

Lionel Messi misses Inter Miami's game at Chicago because of scar tissue ailment

sold a team-record 61,000 tickets to the match at Soldier Field. After Messi's presence became unlikely, announced prospective season-ticket holders could take a $250 credit toward next season, with single-game spectators eligible for a $50 credit if they decided not to attend.

Joe Burrow says Sunday's game at Arizona is a must-win for 1-3 Cincinnati

Joe Burrow is still slowed by a lingering calf injury, but he says Sunday's game at Arizona is a must-win for the 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals. The reigning AFC North champions will be at risk of missing the playoffs if they don't string together some victories. Burrow acknowledged the injury he suffered early in training camp continues to limit his his mobility and style of play. He hasn't ventured out of the pocket much and has thrown mostly short and intermediate passes.

Twins advance for 1st time in 21 years with 2-0 win to sweep Blue Jays behind Gray, Correa

The Minnesota Twins swept the Toronto Blue Jays in their AL Wild Card Series with a 2-0 win in Game 2. Sonny Gray pitched five effective innings and Carlos Correa contributed an RBI single and a quick-twitch tag off a pickoff throw from Gray that ended the fifth. The Twins advanced for the first time in 21 years. They will play the defending World Series champion Astros. Game 1 of the best-of-five AL Division Series is in Houston on Saturday. Twins relievers logged 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the series. The Blue Jays left nine runners on base each game.

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Iowa women's basketball enjoys big surge in popularity with run to title game and Clark's return

Playing in a national championship game that attracted a record television audience and bringing back the star player who transcends the sport has taken Iowa women's basketball to unprecedented levels of popularity in the state. A record 13,000 season tickets have been sold for 2023-24. That's nearly twice the previous record and 5,000 more than the Iowa men's team. And more than 47,000 tickets have been sold for the outdoor exhibition game against DePaul at the school's 69,000-seat football stadium Oct. 15. The event is called "Crossover at Kinnick" and will easily break the world basketball attendance record.

Seattle's Jamal Adams apologizes for sideline outburst, says 'I wasn't myself' after concussion

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams has apologized to the unaffiliated on-field neurologist who assisted in the concussion diagnosis that sidelined Adams in the first quarter of last Monday's game against the New York Giants. Adams was injured when he went to tackle New York quarterback Daniel Jones and was hit in the head by Jones' knee. Adams had to be helped off the field and after being examined in a tent on the sideline was seen yelling at the on-field neurologist before being taken to the locker room. Adams was playing in his first game in more than a year after suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in the 2022 season opener.

Too much Taylor? Travis Kelce says NFL TV coverage is 'overdoing it' with Swift during games

Travis Kelce agrees with the idea that NFL TV coverage is "overdoing it" with the amount of times Taylor Swift has been shown while attending his Kansas City Chiefs' games the last two weekends. Swift was in a suite Sunday night at MetLife Stadium for the Chiefs' victory over the New York Jets in prime time. Jason Kelce told his brother during their "New Heights" podcast that cameras showed live shots of the suite 17 times during the game. Ian Trombetta, the NFL's senior vice president of social, influencer and content marketing, said in an interview with The Associated Press that "there's always chatter around different celebrities and so on that are attending different games, but this took a life of its own."

Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey returns to practice on a limited basis

Marlon Humphrey has returned to practice for the Baltimore Ravens after the star cornerback missed the first four games of the season because of foot problems. The Ravens listed Humphrey as limited Wednesday. Rashod Bateman was a full participant and fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was limited. Linebacker Odafe Oweh and tackle Morgan Moses did not practice, and neither did safety Daryl Worley. Tackle Ronnie Stanley and safety Marcus Williams, who haven't played since Week 1, were full participants. The Ravens play at Pittsburgh this weekend.

McCaffrey trade paying big dividends for the 49ers a year later

When the San Francisco 49ers dealt a bevy of draft picks to Carolina last October for Christian McCaffrey, some skeptics asked whether they overpaid for a running back in a passing league. Nearly 12 months later, coach Kyle Shanahan can't even imagine what life would be like without McCaffrey driving the Niners offense. The addition of McCaffrey immediately transformed the 49ers from a middling offense into one of the most productive. Now with an entire offseason to fully integrate McCaffrey into the system, the Niners offense has gone to an even higher level.

Von Miller time is approaching with Bills pass rusher practicing for first time in 10 months

Buffalo Bills pass rusher Von Miller has returned to practice for the first time in more than 10 months since sustaining a season-ending right knee injury. Miller says he experienced the familiar mix of nerves and anticipation before Wednesday's practice. What's uncertain is when the NFL's active leader in sacks will play in his first game. The 34-year-old and the Bills are taking a cautious approach with Buffalo preparing to play against Jacksonville in London on Sunday. Miller says he'd be open to playing, and would also be fine if team doctors elected for him to wait another week or two.

Titans now have options with 2 offensive linemen returning to practice

Nicholas Petit-Frere is just happy to be back at practice with his six-game suspension for gambling reduced by two games. Peter Skoronski has been busy downing shakes and smoothies and adding weight in recovering from an appendectomy. Both offensive linemen practiced Wednesday for the first time in weeks. Skoronski is Tennessee's starting left guard who has been out since surgery Sept. 16. Titans coach Mike Vrabel and his staff now have more options ahead of their first AFC South game Sunday in Indianapolis. The Colts are tied for fifth in the NFL with 14 sacks and lead the NFL with five strip-sacks.

Orioles to play at 1 p.m. Saturday, well before Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks play concert next door

The Orioles may be Big Shots this year, but they'll try to stay out of the Piano Man's way this weekend. Baltimore announced that Game 1 of the AL Division Series at Camden Yards is scheduled for just after 1 p.m. Saturday. Then it will be time for the Orioles and Texas Rangers to Stand Back, because Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel are playing a concert at 7 p.m. that night at M&T Bank Stadium next door. The two big events in close proximity could create all sorts of parking issues. But assuming there's no rain, there should be a big enough gap for baseball fans to begin Movin' Out before the concertgoers start arriving in earnest.

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Jrue Holiday lands in Boston, bringing 'electricity' to practice and championship goals

The Boston Celtics are hoping that Jrue Holiday's defensive prowess and all-around intensity can help propel them to another NBA championship. Boston reached the conference finals last year but made some big moves this offseason. They traded Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. Smart was considered the team's heart. Holiday may be just the player to replace that. The deal cost the Celtics Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon and two first-round draft picks, but it made them the co-favorite to win the NBA title, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Unbeaten Maryland takes another shot at the Big Ten's elite this weekend at No. 4 Ohio State

Unbeaten Maryland is off to its best start since 2001 and very nearly cracked the Top 25 this week. The Terrapins look like a solid Big Ten team in coach Michael Locksley's fifth year at the helm. What they haven't done is produce a really head-turning victory. Saturday's matchup at No. 4 Ohio State certainly represents a chance to do that. Maryland and Michigan are the only two teams in the country that are 5-0 with every victory by at least 18 points.

Rangers beat Rays 7-1 for Wild Card Series sweep behind Garcia and Carter home runs

Adolis García and Evan Carter homered to back Nathan Eovaldi, and the Texas Rangers beat the punchless Tampa Bay Rays 7-1 to finish a two-game AL Wild Card Series sweep. Garcia and Carter, a 20-year-old rookie who became the second-youngest postseason player in franchise history, homered off 16-game winner Zach Eflin, who was unable to save Tampa Bay's season. Texas advanced to a Division Series at AL East champion Baltimore starting Saturday. The Rays' scoreless streak reached 33 innings, one shy of the postseason record held by the 1966-74 Los Angeles Dodgers, before Curtis Mead's RBI single in the seventh.

Newcastle beats PSG 4-1 after Saudi project gets 2034 World Cup boost; Man City, Barcelona also win

Newcastle has capped a stellar day for Saudi Arabia's soccer project with a 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Newcastle was a struggling team when it was bought by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund just two years ago. Hours before kickoff Wednesday, the Saudi kingdom became the strong favorite to host the 2034 World Cup in a fast-track bidding contest opened by FIFA. Newcastle has raced to the top of a group where seven-time European champion AC Milan drew 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund. Defending champion Manchester City won 3-1 at Leipzig and Barcelona won 1-0 at Porto.

Jets' Breece Hall returns to Denver without a 'pitch count' nearly a year after his knee injury

Breece Hall hasn't watched the video of the worst moment of his young NFL career in a while. The New York Jets running back doesn't need to anymore. He's focused on creating big plays these days, not dwelling on that game in Denver nearly a year ago that cut short his promising rookie season. Hall tore the ACL and injured the meniscus in his left knee in the second quarter of the Jets' 16-9 victory over the Broncos in Week 7. He's returning to Denver for the first time since the injury. The Jets say Hall no longer has any restrictions on his playing time.

Steelers RB Najee Harris puts the onus on the players, not the coaches, after 'soft' performance

Steelers running back Najee Harris is tired of people piling on the Pittsburgh coaching staff during his team's sluggish start. Harris says it's up to the players to do a better job of executing the game plan with the Steelers at 2-2 heading into October. Pittsburgh's offense has struggled to find a rhythm early and heads into a visit by Baltimore near the bottom of the league in nearly every major offensive category. Harris says the Steelers need to play with an edge in an effort to get some of their swagger back.

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Pedro scores stoppage-time winner as Lazio beats Celtic 2-1 in Champions League

Veteran Spain forward Pedro scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to earn Lazio a 2-1 win at Celtic in the Champions League. Pedro headed home from fellow substitute Matteo Guendouzi's cross to cap a painful ending to the game for Celtic after the Scottish champions had a goal disallowed in the 81st following a lengthy VAR check because Luis Palma was offside before scoring. Celtic took a 12th-minute lead through Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi. He netted his first goal in eight Champions League appearances by slotting a finish through the dive of goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. Matias Vecino equalized at a 29th-minute corner.

Fantasy plays: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 5

The 49ers' Brock Purdy is one of the safest quarterbacks in fantasy. Fantasy-wise, he's finished 10th, 23rd, 13th, and 11th among quarterbacks through four weeks. A tough matchup with Dallas limits his ceiling in Week 5, but if you're looking for a guaranteed 15 points, Purdy's your guy. Miami's Raheem Mostert disappointed following his 41.7-point outburst, but what did you expect? He was never going to be the only fantasy-relevant back in Miami, though it is a little concerning that Devon Achane played 65.5% of snaps to Mostert's 41.4% last week. Even a handful of chances in Miami's offense is good enough for FLEX consideration against a Giants defense allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs.

Colts are waiting to make a decision on Taylor after All-Pro back returns to practice

and whether he can take the field against two-time rushing champ Derrick Henry.

Rays stop 33-inning postseason scoreless streak on Mead's 7th-inning RBI single

The Tampa Bay Rays ended the second-longest postseason scoreless streak at 33 innings when Curtis Mead lined a seventh-inning, two-out RBI single off Texas Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series. Tampa Bay fell one inning shy of the record set by the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1966-74. Tampa Bay had not scored since Jose Siri's solo homer in the sixth inning of last year's AL Wild Card Series opener against Cleveland. The Rays had been shut out in consecutive playoff games, including Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Texas and last year's 1-0, 15-inning loss to Cleveland.

LSU safety Greg Brooks diagnosed with brain cancer, but no evidence it has spread, doctor says

LSU safety Greg Brooks has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer, according to his family and the hospital caring for him. Brooks had emergency surgery three weeks ago to remove a tumor between his cerebellum and brainstem. Dr. Catherine O'Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Health, says Brooks' speech and ability to communicate has been impacted, but there's no evidence the cancer has spread. Brooks started 13 games for the Tigers last season and played in the first two this season. LSU coach Brian Kelly and his staff became concerned about bouts with dizziness Brooks was experiencing and sent him for additional testing.

Osman Bukari shines again in Champions League for Red Star Belgrade in 2-2 draw with Young Boys

Osman Bukari is making a mark in this Champions League, creating one goal and scoring a late leveler for Red Star Belgrade in a 2-2 draw against Young Boys. Bukari impressed two weeks ago when scoring in a 3-1 loss at Manchester City. He was key again for the Serbian champion Wednesday. In the 88th minute, Bukari beat goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi at his near post with a rising shot. Bukari had created the opening goal with a fast break in the 35th before his cross shot was touched in by forward Cherif Ndiaye. Young Boys got goals from Filip Ugrinic and Cedric Itten.

Man City substitutes Álvarez, Doku combine for late goals in 3-1 win at Leipzig in Champions League

Manchester City substitutes Julián Álvarez and Jérémy Doku have combined for late goals to lead the title-holders to a 3-1 win at Leipzig in the Champions League. Álvarez fired the ball inside the far post in the 84th minute after Doku picked him out on the edge of the penalty area. The Argentina star returned the favor for Doku to seal the win on a counterattack in injury time. Phil Foden scored the opener in the 25th before Loïs Openda equalized after the break for Leipzig.

Jags LT Cam Robinson and WR Zay Jones return to practice ahead of Bills game in London

Veteran left tackle Cam Robinson and wide receiver Zay Jones have returned to practice for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Robinson is back after a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancers. Jones has missed the past two games because of a knee injury. The Jags face the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in the second of their back-to-back games in the British capital. Jones sprained his right knee against Kansas City in Week 2. He listed as limited in practice, as was return specialist Jamal Agnew.

Newcastle beats Mbappé and PSG 4-1 in Champions League in statement win for Saudi-owned club

Newcastle pulled off the biggest win since being bought by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund two years ago by beating Kylian Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in the English club's first Champions League home game since 2003. Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schär were the scorers for Newcastle. Lucas Hernandez pulled a goal back in the 56th for PSG to make it 3-1 at the time. Newcastle leads Group F on four points after its 0-0 draw at Milan in the opening round of games. PSG started with a 2-0 home win over Dortmund.

Grosjean is taking Andretti to court. Former F1 driver says he expected a 3rd season with the team

Romain Grosjean says he is pursuing arbitration against Andretti Global because the team is not bringing him back for a third season in the IndyCar Series. Grosjean is a former Formula One driver who has spent the three seasons since a death-defying 2020 crash racing IndyCar in the United States. He says he believed he was returning to Andretti in 2024. Andretti has hired Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and is believed to be dropped from four cars to three for next season.

Torres gives Barcelona 1-0 win at Porto. Yamal sets record for youngest Champions League starter

Ferran Torres has scored after replacing the injured Robert Lewandowski to help Barcelona win 1-0 at Porto in the Champions League. Lewandowski was replaced by Torres after he hurt his left ankle when tackled by defender David Carmo. Torres scored the game's only goal in first-half injury time. Porto dominated the second half but couldn't convert its multiple chances. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal became the youngest starter in the history of the Champions League at 16 years, 83 days. Barcelona leads Group H with six points. Porto and Shakhtar have three each, while Antwerp has zero.

Milan again wastes chances in 0-0 draw at Dortmund in Champions League

AC Milan again failed to spark its Champions League campaign into life as it was held 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund for its second straight goalless draw in the competition. Both teams had plenty of chances but were unable to finish them off in an entertaining match. Milan also drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle in their Champions League opener. And it could be left counting the cost of its profligacy in both matches. Newcastle surprisingly beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 to move top of Group F. It is a point above PSG and two above Milan. Dortmund is a point further back.

Chet Holmgren adds a 'new dynamic' to the Thunder after missing last season with a foot injury

Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren is back after missing last year with a foot injury. His teammates believe the 7-foot-1 forward/center will be a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He had a strong summer league performance but was injured during a pro-am game. After a long rehabilitation process, Holmgren is back and 13 pounds heavier. He'll get his first major test when the Thunder open the preseason at home against the San Antonio Spurs.

Diamondbacks manager Lovullo says OF Jake McCarthy will need "weeks" to recover from oblique strain

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo says outfielder Jake McCarthy strained his oblique while taking batting practice Tuesday and is weeks from being healthy enough to play. The Diamondbacks removed McCarthy from their NL Wild Card Series roster about 10 minutes before the start of their 6-3 Game 1 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday. Utilityman Jace Peterson replaced him on the roster. McCarthy won't be eligible to play again for the Diamondbacks until at least the NL Championship Series.

The Vikings found a way for veteran safety Harrison Smith to be disruptive again

Harrison Smith had a quiet start to the season. Minnesota's defense made even less of an impact. The 12th-year veteran safety wasn't about to allow those trends continue or let the Vikings stay winless. Smith delivered a vintage all-over-the-field performance at Carolina. He finally fulfilled the goal of new defensive coordinator Brian Flores to make him one of the most disruptive players on the field as the Vikings won 21-13. Smith blitzed nine times and had career highs with 14 tackles and three sacks. He forced a fumble that the Vikings returned for a game-changing touchdown.

No. 10 Notre Dame hopes to improve its struggling offense at No. 25 Louisville

opponents. And while the defense has done its job by holding both Ohio State and Duke to 17 or fewer points, the poor offensive production has been problematic. Notre Dame was scoring 46.0 points and generating 508.8 yards of offense through its first four games. This week against another unbeaten, No. 25 Louisville, the Irish will need to put more points on the board against coach Jeff Brohm's creative offense.

San Diego GM A.J. Preller says Bob Melvin will be back as manager of the underwhelming Padres

General manager A.J. Preller says Bob Melvin will be back as manager of the big-spending San Diego Padres following the most disappointing season in franchise history. The GM also downplayed reports of a fractured relationship with Melvin, who has guided the Padres to the only two winning records in a full season under Preller. The GM says he and Melvin are excited about the challenge of trying to get back to the playoffs. The announcement came three days after the star-laden Padres finished 82-80. They were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday night, a bitter result for a team that reached the NL Championship Series last fall.

Pro Picks: Handing the Bears their 15th straight loss won't come easy for the Commanders

Pushing the NFC champions to overtime is only a positive step if the Washington Commanders beat a team that's lost 14 straight. Sam Howell and the Commanders bounced back from a beating against the Bills to take the Eagles to the limit. Now they've got a chance to snap a two-game losing streak when the lowly Bears visit on Thursday night. Justin Fields had a career day, but still couldn't get Chicago its first win. The Bears have the league's fourth-worst pass defense so Howell could have another big day. Of course, he's got to stay upright. Howell is on pace to be sacked more times than any quarterback in NFL history.

Another inconsistent defense threatens to ground No. 9 USC's loftiest ambitions

Southern California scored a combined 90 points in back-to-back road victories over the past two weeks to remain unbeaten in Lincoln Riley's second season in charge. The No. 9 Trojans also fell four spots in the AP Top 25 during those two weeks. That's because the college football world knows USC's defense has been leaky and inconsistent for a second season under Riley and his longtime defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch. Despite another year of talent additions, the Trojans are still struggling to stop anybody for an entire game. It's draining the momentum from any national title aspirations at USC.

Ranked SEC teams seek balance with rushing games and create opportunities for the passing game

Five of the Southeastern Conference's seven ranked teams are doing their part toward establishing offensive balance with rushing attacks that rank top-60 in FBS. That group averages from 170 to 231 yards per game by rushing for at least 35% of their yardage, with No. 22 Tennessee handing the ball off to an assortment of runners that have generated nearly 50% of its 2,331 yards. Kentucky's Ray Davis is coming off the nation's best rushing effort with a career-high 280 yards and three of his four touchdowns coming on the ground in a 33-14 rout of Florida.

Chargers trade J.C. Jackson to Patriots, sending him back to where his career began, AP source says

The Chargers are trading cornerback J.C. Jackson to the Patriots, sending him back to where he began his career. That's according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it hadn't been announced. The person says Los Angeles is also sending a 2025 seventh-round pick to New England, in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Jackson has struggled in Los Angeles since signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract last year. He intercepted 25 passes in four seasons for New England, which signed him as an undrafted free agent.

Simone Biles leads U.S. women to record 7th straight team title at gymnastics world championships

Led by Simone Biles, the U.S. women have won a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships. The American team of Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge Brazil and France. The U.S. team won by a margin of 2.199 points as the final proved to be a closer contest than anticipated after the Americans put up a dominant performance in qualifying. The U.S. women have won gold in the team event at every world championship that included a team competition since 2011. Their victory in Antwerp broke a tie with the Chinese men and made Biles the most decorated female gymnast in history.

NASCAR moves Atlanta and Watkins Glen into the playoffs on 2024 schedule

NASCAR has added Atlanta Motor Speedway and the road course at Watkins Glen in upstate New York to the playoffs as part of the 2024 Cup Series schedule. The season will begin with the exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 4, followed by the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. The season ends once again at Phoenix Raceway in November.  The notable changes are the addition of playoff races at Atlanta and Watkins Glen, as well as the regular-season finale moving one week from Daytona to Darlington, South Carolina.

Giannis Ioannidis, who coached teams that dominated Greek basketball in 1980s and 90s, dies at 78

Giannis Ioannidis, one of Greece's most successful basketball coaches who later entered politics and served as a minister for sports, has died at the age of 78. Ioannidis coached teams that dominated Greek basketball in the formative 1980s and 1990s, winning 12 league championships and six cups. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis led plaudits for Ioannidis on Wednesday, saying he set his seal on the history of Greek basketball.

MATCHDAY: Liverpool faces Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield, West Ham at Freiburg in Europa League

Liverpool faces Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield in the Europa League. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister could play against his older brother, Kevin, who is a defender at the Belgian club. In one of the toughest groups, Brighton travels to former European champion Marseille while struggling Dutch powerhouse Ajax meets AEK in Athens. Europa Conference League champion West Ham is at Freiburg and Roma with in-form Romelu Lukaku hosts Servette Geneva. In the third-tier Europa Conference League, Aston Villa hopes to recover from the opening 3-2 loss to Legia in Warsaw when it hosts Bosnia's newcomer Zrinjski at Villa Park.

Alderweireld misses last-gasp penalty as Antwerp loses 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League

Antwerp defender Toby Alderweireld has missed a penalty with the last kick as the Belgian champion squandered a two-goal lead to lose its first Champions League home game 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk. Alderweireld was given a great chance to equalize when Taras Stepanenko was penalized for handball in the penalty area in the sixth minute of injury time. But Alderweireld swept his spot kick to the left of the post and wide, leaving Shakhtar to celebrate a morale-boosting win. Danylo Sikan scored twice to help the Ukrainian team claim its first Group H win after recovering from a poor first half. Alderweireld had scored Antwerp's last-minute goal to clinch the Belgian league title last season.

Mavs and Timberwolves play in Abu Dhabi as Gulf region's influence with the NBA grows

The NBA returns to Abu Dhabi this week. The Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves play Thursday in the first of two preseason games in the United Arab Emirates capital. But most of the action is taking place off the court. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is buying a minority stake of the Washington Wizards after the league's Board of Governors opened the door to such institutional investors. LeBron James recently visited Saudi Arabia on a trip that came a couple of months after he joked on social media that he'd accept the kind of astronomical figures that the Saudis are paying to lure soccer stars.

Morata scores twice to lead Atletico to 3-2 win over Feyenoord in Champions League

Álvaro Morata has scored two goals and Antoine Griezmann added another to lead Atletico Madrid to a 3-2 comeback win over Feyenoord in the Champions League. Morata scored his first in the 13th minute to cancel out an own goal by teammate Mario Hermoso. David Hancko made it 2-1 for Feyenoord before Griezmann leveled just before halftime. Morata put Atletico ahead two minutes into the second half when he turned in a pass by Nahuel Molina. Diego Simeone's team is trying to return to the knockout rounds after it finished its group in last place last season. Its win over Feyenoord broke a run of six straight games in the competition without a victory.

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen has new contract through 2028, AP source says

Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen has received a new contact through the 2028 season with a club option for 2029, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been officially announced. Hazen has been the architect of the D-backs' rebuild, helping the team qualify for the playoffs this October for the first time since 2017. The 47-year-old has made several shrewd moves over the past year, including a trade with the Blue Jays that brought catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the franchise.

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: 'I just haven't played very good' amid 3-1 start to season

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes criticized his own performance four games into the season Wednesday. The two-time and reigning league MVP says he must play better if Kansas City wants to defend its Super Bowl title. Mahomes threw for just 203 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions last Sunday night in New York, though he made a couple of big plays with his legs to preserve a win over the Jets. Even with Mahomes playing poorly by his standards, the Chiefs have won three straight after their season-opening loss to Detroit and lead the AFC West. They play at Minnesota on Sunday.

Denver Broncos part ways with pass rusher Randy Gregory after just 3 sacks in 2 seasons

Pass rusher Randy Gregory's time in Denver is over. The Broncos decided to jettison Gregory even though he's still due $10.9 million this season. Gregory had one sack in four games this season after missing most of last year with a knee injury. In 10 games for the Broncos, Gregory had just three sacks. He was benched at Chicago in favor of second-year linebacker Nik Bonitto, whose strip-sack helped the Broncos to their first win of the season.

Commanders' Brian Robinson, Rams' Puka Nacua among best bets to score in Week 5 of NFL season

As prime players continue to get injured, let's celebrate the best remaining options to find the end zone in Week 5. These are my best bets to score this week.

Mets awarded 1-0 win over Marlins for suspended game, with 9th inning wiped out because of rain

The New York Mets were awarded a 1-0 win over the Marlins in the game suspended by rain on Sept. 28, with Miami's two-run rally in the ninth voided because the inning was not completed. The game would have been resumed Monday had it impacted the postseason but was not because the Marlins were assured of the second NL wild card and Arizona the third. Major League Baseball, after consulting the Elias Sports Bureau, says the score reverted to 1-0 under the Official Baseball Rules.

Brett Favre will testify under oath in Mississippi welfare scandal civil case

Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre will answer questions under oath about the misspending of federal welfare money in Mississippi. Public money intended to help some of the nation's poorest people was used to fund pet projects Favre and other well-connected people supported. A notice of deposition filed Monday by attorneys for Mississippi's Department of Human Services shows Favre will give sworn testimony on Oct. 26. Favre is among more than three dozen defendants in a lawsuit the current Human Services director filed to recover some of the welfare money. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

Browns GM Berry says 'easy decision' to sit QB Deshaun Watson against Ravens with shoulder injury

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said it was "a very easy decision" to sit quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday against Baltimore because he was unable to throw effectively. Watson sat with a bruised right shoulder and the Browns were trounced 28-3 by the Ravens, who intercepted rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson three times in his NFL debut. Berry said Watson's shoulder is structurally sound and the injury is not long term. Watson is expected to play on Oct. 15 against San Francisco. During his bye week news conference Wednesday, Berry also tried to clarify what led to the decision for Watson to be inactive, saying it was a consensus between the QB and team.

WNBA agrees to grant Golden State Warriors an expansion team in 2025, AP source says

The WNBA has agreed to grant the Golden State Warriors an expansion franchise in 2025. While the deal hasn't been finalized yet, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is expected to be in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday to announce the new franchise, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. The plan to grant Golden State an expansion team was first reported by The Athletic. Golden State owner Joe Lacob helped establish the American Basketball League in 1995 and owned the San Jose Lasers. The WNBA team would be headquartered in Oakland and games would be played at Chase Center in San Francisco.

WR Cooper Kupp returns to practice, enters IR activation window for Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has entered the 21-day window for activation from injured reserve. The Super Bowl 56 MVP is back in practice along with rookie linebacker Ochaun Mathis, who also entered the activation window. The 30-year-old Kupp hasn't played this season after injuring his hamstring early in training camp and aggravating it in late August. He began this season on the injured list after also missing the final eight games of last season with an ankle injury. Kupp's absence hasn't been a crushing blow. Rookie Puka Nacua has become one of the NFL's most productive receivers in Kupp's place.

Falcons sign defensive lineman Ankou and place wide receiver Ali on injured reserve

The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive lineman Eli Ankou to their active roster. Wide receiver Josh Ali was placed on injured reserve after missing last week's game against Jacksonville in London with an ankle injury. Ankou has 43 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in 33 games with Jacksonville, Cleveland, Dallas and Buffalo. Ankou, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was with the Falcons for the 2021 training camp. The Falcons added wide receiver Frank Darby to their practice squad on Tuesday and he was with the team for Wednesday's practice. Tight end Parker Hesse was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.

Florida State adds women's lacrosse after a report showed school was not Title IX compliant

Florida State is adding women's lacrosse as a varsity sport. The move comes 17 months after a report showed the Seminoles weren't in compliance with federal Title IX laws. Adding lacrosse will make FSU more equitable with regard to its men's and women's athletic scholarships. Athletic director Michael Alford says lacrosse will debut in spring 2026. He will begin searching for a coach in the coming weeks. USA Today reported last year that FSU double- and triple-counted female scholarship athletes in track and field sports to apparently improve gender-equity numbers. The accounting method erased half of the school's overall gender participation gap that year.

Man United in crisis: The factors that have led to Ten Hag's bad start to the season

Manchester United fans waited patiently outside Old Trafford late into the evening after the dispiriting 3-2 loss against Galatasaray. Even in an ever-worsening season they wanted to see manager Erik ten Hag and hoped for an autograph or selfie with the Dutch coach. His team may have been greeted with boos as the final whistle of a sixth in 10 games this season but there was no sign of blame being directed towards him from these fans. Ten Hag clearly still has credit in the bank after his first year at United when he led the club back into the Champions League and to a first trophy in six years. But his season increasingly looks like it has hit crisis point.

American 'Armless Archer' changing minds about disability and targets golden ending at Paris Games

Armless archer Matt Stutzman is reshaping thinking about people with disabilities one arrow at a time. Before he won a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in 2012, prospective employers wouldn't hire him because he has no arms. Now the American is targeting his fourth Paralympics in Paris next year. Visiting France's capital before Paralympic tickets go on sale next week, Stutzman dropped by a Paris school and wowed its young pupils with his shooting skills. His message about changing perceptions will hit a far larger audience when 4,400 athletes flock to Paris from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, 2024.

Tennis player apologizes for hitting a chair umpire with ball in Shanghai Masters qualifying

Australian tennis player Marc Polmans has apologized for hitting a ball into the face of the chair umpire during final round qualifying at the Shanghai Masters, which led to him being immediately disqualified. Polmans had match point against Italy's Stefano Napolitano in the second set on Tuesday when he missed a volley and then hit the ball in anger as it bounced back from the net. His errant hit narrowly missed the ball person before hitting chair umpire Ben Anderson in the face. Anderson was apparently not seriously injured. Polmans posted on social media that Anderson "has accepted my apology for my actions."

NCAA approves smaller transfer portal windows; removes caps on yearly football signings

The NCAA Division I Council approved a smaller window during which football and basketball players can enter their names into the transfer portal and retain immediate eligibility for the following season The transfer windows will decrease from 60 to 45 days. The council also voted to eliminate the caps on how many players Division I football teams can sign in a year. Overall scholarship limits will remain in place. The council recommended changes to penalties related to gambling violations and the NCAA announced it would advocate for states to provide more protections for college athletes in their gambling laws.

James Harden returns to Philadelphia 76ers' training camp despite his trade request

James Harden returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, with the disgruntled guard who had been seeking a trade back at training camp as an active participant. The 10-time All-Star arrived on the Colorado State campus for practice in spite of a fractured relationship with the Sixers' front office. He skipped the team's media day in New Jersey on Monday and the first day of camp in Colorado on Tuesday. Harden in June picked up his $35.6 million contract option for this season with the belief the team would try to trade him. He blasted team president Daryl Morey at a promotional event in China when no trade materialized. Harden didn't speak to reporters Wednesday but he did go through drills.

India captain Sharma looks forward to 'jam packed' venues when Cricket World Cup starts

The 10 team captains at the Cricket World Cup have taken part in a photo shoot at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the eve of the tournament, with India's Rohit Sharma looking forward to seeing the massive venue "jam packed" with home fans. The tournament kicks off on Thursday with England playing New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. While 10 venues across India will host games, this year's final will also be played at the 134,000-seater in Ahmedabad on Nov. 19.

Lexi Thompson to compete against men at the PGA Tour's upcoming stop in Las Vegas

LGPA Tour trailblazer Lexi Thompson will compete against men at the PGA Tour's upcoming stop in Las Vegas. The Shriners Children's Open gave Thompson an unrestricted exemption into its tournament that begins Oct. 12 at TPC Summerlin. She will compete with 131 men for a $8.4 million purse. Thompson will become the seventh woman to participate in a PGA Tour event and the first since Brittany Lincicome did so at the 2018 Barbasol Championship. The 28-year-old Thompson has 11 victories on the LPGA Tour. She was the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open when she made it to her first major in 2007 at age 12.

2030 World Cup set to be hosted by Spain-Portugal-Morocco with 3 South American countries added

A unique 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America. The deal will allow FIFA to open the men's soccer tournament with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay. FIFA reached an agreement between soccer's continental leaders to accept a bid spearheaded by Spain and Portugal, which had already grown to include Morocco as co-host earlier this year. The agreement also includes South American countries Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, who will host a game each. The deal still needs formal approval at a meeting of FIFA's member federations. FIFA also opened bidding for the 2034 World Cup, with only member federations from Asia and Oceania eligible. Saudi Arabia immediately entered that contest.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants Tottenham game to be replayed after VAR error

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called for his team's Premier League game against Tottenham to be replayed after a VAR error cost his side a goal. The governing body of England's referees admitted its mistake after Luis Diaz's strike was wrongly ruled offside on Saturday and announced changes to protocols to avoid a repeat in the future. But Klopp does not appear to be ready to let the issue drop. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) announced the findings of its review into the incident on Tuesday. Changes implemented as a result include improved communication between Video Assistant Referees. It also said it would reiterate that the speed of decision-making must not be at the expense of accuracy.

Sports on TV for Thursday, October 5

(All times Eastern)

Marc Márquez to end 11-year partnership with Honda at end of MotoGP season

Honda's MotoGP team says that former world champion Marc Márquez will be leaving the team at the end of the season. That will conclude a highly successful 11-year-stint during which the Spaniards won six MotoGP championships. His last title came in 2019. The 30-year-old rider has struggled since he broke his right arm in the 2020 opener.

Sports on TV for October 9 - 15

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Bellingham leads youth movement at Real Madrid as Modric takes a diminished role

Jude Bellingham is playing with a style and confidence far beyond his 20 years and leading a new generation of Real Madrid players. The 20-year-old Bellingham set up one goal and scored another as Madrid rallied for a 3-2 win at Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday. The other two players who helped produce goals, Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde, are also part of a youth movement at the 14-time European Cup winners. Bellingham is surprising even Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti with his ability to dominate games. He has found the net eight times in nine games since coming to Spain from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Jannik Sinner wins China Open. Iga Swiatek advances to quarterfinals

Jannik Sinner won his third title of the year by beating third-ranked Daniil Mevedev 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) at the China Open. The 22-year-old Italian had not beaten Medvedev in their six previous meetings but he quickly found his rythym from the baseline to earn his ninth tour title. Second-ranked Iga Swiatek dropped only two games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open by beating Magda Linette 6-1, 6-1. Jelena Ostapenko defeated fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2. Dusan Lajovic eliminated three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (7) from the Shanghai Masters and Andy Murray lost to Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-2.

FIFA allows Russian soccer teams play in its Under-17 World Cups if they qualify

FIFA has approved the possible reintegration of Russian youth teams into its competitions and eased a total ban on the country in international soccer amid the war in Ukraine. The decision by the FIFA Council followed eight days after European soccer body UEFA provoked a rare split among its own executive committee and member federations by welcoming back Russian national teams for boys and girls into its competitions. FIFA's decision means Russian teams can play in its Under-17 World Cups, but only if they advance through UEFA-run qualifying formats. FIFA says any Russian youth team in its competitions would play under the name "Football Union of Russia" rather than "Russia."

Ace sprinter Mark Cavendish delays retirement to chase outright record for Tour de France stage wins

Veteran sprinter Mark Cavendish wants another go at becoming the outright record-holder for most career stage wins at the Tour de France. The 38-year-old Cavendish equaled cycling great Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins during the 2021 Tour and came close to winning a 35th in the seventh stage of the 2023 edition. After announcing his retirement earlier this year, Cavendish backpedaled Wednesday and says he will compete with the Astana Qazaqstan team for one more season, including the Tour.

Oklahoma-Texas is the top game in Week 6. LSU heads to Missouri after defensive meltdown

Oklahoma-Texas is the main attraction in Week 6 of the college football season and one of three games matching Top 25 teams. The No. 12 Sooners and No. 3 Longhorns will meet for the 95th consecutive year in Dallas but the last as members of the Big 12. Both move to the Southeastern Conference next year. No. 23 LSU visits No. 21 Missouri in only the second meeting of the teams since Mizzou entered the SEC in 2012. No. 10 Notre Dame visits No. 25 Louisville in what will be the Cardinals' first major test following a 5-0 start.

ACC quarterbacks, sometimes under the radar, are driving success across the league

The ACC is off to a strong start this season and a big reason is behind center. The Atlantic Coast Conference has 10 passers among the top 60 in yards per game this season. That's tied with the Southeastern Conference for the most among Power Five leagues. The talented group of ACC quarterbacks is led by North Carolina's Drake Maye, the reigning league player of the year and a likely high NFL draft pick should he chose to go pro after this season. Behind him are Florida State's Jordan Travis, Miami's Tyler Van Dyke and Louisville's Jack Plummer.

Aces have a chance to make history with win over Liberty in the WNBA Finals

The Las Vegas Aces will be playing for more than a WNBA championship. History also is on the line for the Aces. They put together one of the top regular seasons in the league's 27-year history with the chance to become the first team to repeat in more than two decades. Las Vegas hosts Game 1 on Sunday in the best-of-five series against the New York Liberty. The first two games as well as a potential Game 5 are sold out.

Stealing the show: Acuña leads speedsters seeking October impact in pitch clock era

Fans who are returning to baseball for the postseason will find Ronald Acuña Jr. and other speedsters playing a different game. Players are running much more than a year ago thanks to new rules, which also promise to have an impact on the playoffs. There were 3,503 stolen bases in the regular season, a dramatic jump of more than 1,000 from a year ago. It's the highest total of thefts since 1987. Expect the rampant running to continue in the playoffs. Acuña is the charter member of the 40-70 club. The Atlanta Braves star led the majors with 73 stolen bases and is the face of the game's renewed emphasis on speed.

Billionaire owner Shad Khan has the Jaguars reaching new heights after some dreadful lows

at least from being elsewhere by now. The Jaguars almost certainly would be in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Oakland, San Diego, Toronto or London had Khan not bought the team.

Texans' C.J. Stroud is off to a sizzling start as several other NFL rookie QBs struggle

NFL rookie quarterbacks are getting their chances early this season with five getting a start in Week 4. C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans is taking advantage of the opportunity in extremely impressive fashion. Stroud's 1,212 yards are the second-most ever for a player in his first four games and he has throw no interceptions. Only Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning had previously thrown for at least 1,200 yards with no interceptions in the first four games of the season.

US appeals court hears arguments over 2010 hush-money settlement of Ronaldo rape case in Vegas

Lawyers for international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo were back in court in a legal battle over hush money he paid in 2010 to a woman who accused him of raping her in Las Vegas. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made no immediate decision after oral arguments Wednesday on the woman's bid to overturn last year's dismissal of the case. The woman's lawyers say Ronaldo owes her millions of dollars more than the $370,000 he paid earlier because someone in his camp was responsible for violating the confidentiality agreement. Ronaldo's lawyers maintain the sex was consensual, the agreement stands and the terms should remain secret.

Lucu starts for France in Dupont absence against Italy at Rugby World Cup. Azzurri change front row

France makes only two changes for the Rugby World Cup match against Italy where Les Tricolores will seek to top Pool A with a fourth straight win. One of the changes is enforced by star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont's serious facial injury. Maxime Lucu starts in his place and Gregory Alldritt is at No. 8, with Anthony Jelonch switching to flanker. Italy has changed the front row and switched its best backs. Props Simone Ferrari and Pietro Ceccarelli and hooker Epalahame Faiva will take on the French in Lyon. Tommaso Allan moves back to flyhalf from fullback, Paolo Garbisi is back at inside center from flyhalf and Ange Capuozzo returns to fullback from the wing. Italy must win to stand a chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

UEFA accepts Italy-Turkey co-host bid for Euro 2032 and leaves UK-Ireland as only candidate for 2028

UEFA has all but confirmed its long-expected hosts for the European Championship in 2028 and 2032. On Wednesday European soccer's governing body formally accepted a joint bid proposal from Italy and Turkey for the 2032 edition. Turkey also had been bidding for the 2028 edition against the strongly favored U.K. and Ireland combined plan which is now left as the only candidate. UEFA says Turkey withdrew its 2028 bid. Both 2028 and 2032 hosting decisions must be formally approved by the UEFA executive committee meeting next Tuesday in Nyon, Switzerland. Those should be a formality.

Iran says it has agreed with Saudis to reschedule Asian Champions League soccer match after walkout

Iran says it has agreed with Saudi Arabia to reschedule an Asian Champions League match after the Saudi team walked out at the last minute. Monday's walkout was reportedly motivated by the presence of a statue of a slain Iranian general on the sideline. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020, is celebrated as a war hero by many in Iran but was seen as a terrorist by Western nations and Iran's opponents in the Middle East. The walkout appeared to further strain a recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. But both sides now appear eager to move past it. Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that sport "should not be used as political leverage" by any side.

Strife-torn Myanmar wins first medal at Asian Games. China continues dominance with more than 300

Strife-torn Myanmar has won its first medal at the Asian Games in China, beating Indonesia to take home gold in men's sepaktakraw, a popular regional sport also known as kick volleyball. The Southeast Asian nation took two straight sets from Indonesia in the sport with similarities to volleyball, but played only with the feet, knees, head and chest. Host nation China is leading in medals by a long shot, going over the 300 mark on Wednesday, more than half of them gold. It's trailed by South Korea and Japan, each of which have fewer than half the overall number of medals.