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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
LSU vs Clemson in college football championship
UNDATED (AP) — It’s LSU vs. Clemson tonight at the College Football Championship in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Clemson took the opening drive to the LSU 25 as Trevor Lawrence completed his first four passes for 51 yards. But the drive stalled when Lawrence was sacked for a 10-yard loss. LSU began its first drive at its own 7.
Both teams entered the game with 14-0 records. Clemson is trying to make it three national titles in four seasons. LSU is looking for its third in 17 years, and the SEC's 12th in the period.
MLB-ASTROS-SIGN STEALING
Astros fire manager and GM after suspensions for sign-stealing
UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has laid down punishment against the Houston Astros, and he’s coming after the Boston Red Sox.
The Astros have fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow (LOO’-now) after the pair were suspended by MLB for sign-stealing during the Astros' run to the 2017 World Series title. A league investigation found that the Astros used the video feed from a center field camera to see and decode the opposing catcher’s signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve the batter's odds of getting a hit.
Houston was fined $5 million for sign-stealing by the team during its run to the 2017 World Series title and during the 2018 season, the maximum allowed under the Major League Constitution. The Astros will forfeit their next two first- and second-round draft picks.
Alex Cora was the bench coach on the 2017 Astros before spending the last two seasons with the Red Sox. Manfred said Cora developed the sign-stealing system used by the Astros. The Red Sox are under investigation for sign stealing in Cora's first season as manager in 2018, when Boston won the title.
In other MLB news:
— The Diamondbacks have finalized a three-year, $22 million contract with outfielder David Peralta (peh-RAHL’-tah) that runs through 2022. The 2019 Gold Glove Award winner in left field avoided his final year of salary arbitration by agreeing to the deal. Peralta played in 99 games last year, batting .275 with 12 homers despite battling a shoulder injury.
— Outfielder Brett Gardner and the Yankees have finalized his one-year, $12.5 million contract. Gardner hit .251 and set career highs with 28 homers and 74 RBIs last year.
— The Nationals say 23-year-old pitching prospect Fausto Segura has died. ESPN Deportes reported that Segura died in a traffic accident Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic.
NFL-BROWNS-STEFANSKI
Stefanski officially hired as Browns coach, GM search on
UNDATED (AP) — Kevin Stefanski is getting a turn at fixing the busted Browns.
The Vikings offensive coordinator was officially hired by Cleveland on Monday as the 18th full-time coach in franchise history and 10th since the Browns' 1999 expansion return, which to this point has been a resounding two-decade debacle.
The 37-year-old Stefanski spent 14 seasons as an assistant in Minnesota and has never been a head coach at any level. He will be introduced at a news conference Tuesday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
In other NFL happenings:
— A New Hampshire prosecutor says a cocaine possession charge against Patriots safety Patrick Chung will be dropped. Chung must undergo periodic drug testing and perform 40 hours of community service. Chung was indicted in August after police in Meredith allegedly found a small quantity of drugs in his possession.
— Giants quarterback Eli Manning has won the 2020 Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award. The award is given to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. Manning just finished his 16th and possibly last season with the Giants.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
Baylor moves up to second spot
UNDATED (AP) — Baylor climbed to No. 2 in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll after resounding road wins over Texas Tech and Kansas last week.
Gonzaga maintained the top spot after breezing to a pair of victories while Duke dropped to third and unbeaten Auburn rose to fourth.
Butler rounded out the first five, followed by the Jayhawks and another unbeaten in San Diego State.
Oregon, Florida State and Kentucky rounded out the top 10.
NEW MEXICO-BRAGG-DWI
New Mexico kicks Bragg off team
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — University of New Mexico forward Carlton Bragg Jr. has been kicked off the Lobos basketball team following his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
The arrest came nine days after the 24-year-old Bragg was reinstated to the team following a three-game suspension while university officials investigated sexual misconduct allegations against him by another student. Bragg has not been charged in connection with that incident, which occurred in August.
NCAA-STUDENT ATHLETES-FLORIDA
Florida lawmakers debate if college athletes can be paid
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida lawmakers began considering on Monday whether they would allow college athletes to profit from their fame. The debate comes as the NCAA looks into possibly removing its longstanding prohibition against it.
Florida would follow the lead of California, which last year ignored pleas by the NCAA to keep the prohibitions in place. The NCAA had argued that allowing the practice "would erase the critical distinction between college and professional athletics.” College sports generate billions of dollars in revenue, including $1 billion annually for the NCAA. But none of that money goes to college athletes.
NHL-NEWS
Leafs lose Rielly for at least 8 weeks with broken foot
UNDATED (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost defenseman Morgan Rielly for at least eight weeks with a fractured foot.
Rielly blocked a shot in the first period of Sunday's 8-4 loss in Florida but managed to finish the game. Teenage defenseman Rasmus Sandin was called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in a corresponding move.
In other NHL news:
— A person with direct knowledge of the plans confirms to The Associated Press that women's national team players representing the United States and Canada will compete in a three-on-three event at the NHL All-Star game in two weeks. It's unclear when the three-on-three scrimmage will be held during the weekend of festivities in St. Louis. The scrimmages are seen as the next step in the league's bid to promote women's hockey.
NBA-CAVALIERS-WINDLER INJURY
Cavs rookie Windler out for rest of season with leg injury
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers rookie swingman Dylan Windler will miss the rest of the season with a leg injury he sustained during the preseason.
The Cavs said Monday that Windler, the No. 26 overall pick in last year's draft, is still dealing with symptoms from a stress reaction in his lower left leg. Windler was making progress and nearing a return to the Cavs until a recent setback, and the team said he will now undergo surgery.
The team said Windler will have the operation on Jan. 21. After surgery, Cleveland will have a better timeline for when he may come back.
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