Sports Archives - Page 22 of 22

Carolina Hurricanes reach a 2-year deal with talented offensive forward Martin Necas

RALEIGH (AP) – The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with forward Martin Necas, keeping one of its most skilled offensive players through the 2025-26 season. The team announced the deal Monday, providing some roster certainty for the 25-year-old Czech who had been discussed as a trade candidate since the close of Carolina’s sixth straight playoff season. Necas had 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games last year. That followed a breakout 2022-23 season with 28 goals and 43 assists for a team-best 71 points in in 82 regular-season games.… Continue Reading

All he does is win gold medals: Caeleb Dressel captures 8th gold as anchor of US relay team

NANTERRE, France (AP) — Veteran U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel only knows the top of an Olympic podium in a decorated career. The American veteran on a youthful men’s swim team added another relay victory to his long list by anchoring the winning 4×100-meter freestyle as the Americans beat out the rival Australians and scrutinized Chinese.… Continue Reading

North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton wants to become more versatile like Christian McCaffrey

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Omarion Hampton is eager to prove he can be a more versatile, well-rounded running back entering his third season at North Carolina. A second-team All-American last year, Hampton was fifth in the nation in rushing with 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Tar Heels, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. But he was limited to 29 receptions for 222 yards and one touchdown through the air. Hampton said he’s been working on his hands during the offseason with some of the team’s wide receivers, including J.J. Jones. UNC coach Mack Brown said Hampton is “already there” in terms of his improvement in the passing game.… Continue Reading

Argentine President Milei travels to France to meet Macron after outcry over racist soccer chants

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine President Javier Milei has arrived in Paris, where he is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron after tensions escalated between their countries over the Argentine soccer team’s derogatory post-match chants about French players. A short clip captured during Argentina’s Copa America victory celebrations this month shows Argentine players chanting a song considered racist toward French players of African heritage. Censure from the soccer world snowballed into a political scandal when Vice President Victoria Villarruel defended Fernandez and the team, saying that Argentina would not tolerate criticism from a “colonialist” country. Mieli kicked off his trip to France Thursday, where he is expected to meet officials, businessmen and attend the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony.… Continue Reading

Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Ward brings optimism to Miami as it seeks first ACC Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Miami Hurricanes have never won the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship. New quarterback Cam Ward is eager to change all of that. Ward transferred from Washington State and is already receiving Heisman Trophy consideration from BetMGM Sportsbook, and is creating a buzz in Miami, where the Hurricanes are hoping to turn things around after going 12-13 in two seasons under head coach Mario Cristobal. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Ward spent two seasons at Incarnate Word, an FCS school, then transferred to Washington State before the 2022 season. He threw for 3,732 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for eight TDs in 2023 to earn All-Pac-12 honorable mention for the second straight year.… Continue Reading

Panthers 1st-round pick Legette frustrated over first practice, but team excited about his potential

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Xavier Legette’s first NFL training camp practice didn’t go as he expected, leaving the Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver frustrated with his own performance and seeking better. Legette said he failed to catch a pass in his first practice since a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a portion of OTAs and minicamp. Despite what Legette perceived to be a bad day, it’s unlikely to dampen the enthusiasm the Panthers have over the first-round draft pick from South Carolina. Panthers coach Dave Canales has big expectations for the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Legette, whom he called a “massive receiver” with “explosive ability.”… Continue Reading

NBA says it has signed new 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon

The NBA signed its 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday after saying it was not accepting Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion per year offer to continue its longtime relationship with the league. The media rights deals were approved by the league’s Board of Governors last week and will bring the league about $76 billion over those 11 years. WBD had five days to match a part of those deals and said it was exercising its right to do so, but its offer was not considered a true match by the NBA. It says it will now take appropriate action.… Continue Reading

Can you guess Olympians’ warmup songs? World’s top athletes share their favorite tunes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Curious about which songs are fueling the Olympians competing in Paris starting this month? The Associated Press has an idea. Some of the world’s top athletes from the Olympics and Paralympics have shared their favorite warmup tracks, revealing what gets them pumped before a crucial game, meet or match. The results…… Continue Reading