July 21, 2026 4:33 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey says the SEC is having serious talks about breaking away from the NCAA. On Monday, Sankey explained that school presidents are frustrated and considering significant changes. However, he emphasized that this isn’t their preferred solution. The SEC is dealing with issues like Congressional legislation, new eligibility rules, and transparency around player payments. Despite these challenges, Sankey highlighted the league’s 13 national championships last season as a reason to stay within the current framework. He believes there’s value in participating in a national organization.
July 21, 2026 4:31 am
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s World Cup-winning soccer team has returned home to an estimated crowd of almost 2 million. The 26 players and their coaching staff met with the country’s royals and then with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after arriving in the Spanish capital a day after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey. The team then boarded an open-top bus for a raucous parade through central Madrid. “Stars shine together” was written on the bus, which also carried photos of the footballers. Players danced and interacted with the fans along the route.
July 20, 2026 4:46 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Paul Skenes allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1. Skenes went at least seven innings for the first time since May 12. The All-Star right-hander gave up seven hits. Billy Cook had a career-high three hits and drove in two runs, Esmerlyn Valdez continued his torrid July with a two-run homer in the ninth and Nick Gonzales had two doubles for the Pirates. Steven Kwan had two hits for Cleveland.
July 20, 2026 4:46 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez’s strong start to his major league career is showing no signs of slowing down. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder’s two-run homer in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians made him the fourth player in major league history with at least 12 homers and 31 RBIs in their first 31 games. The 22-year-old Valdez, nicknamed “The Magician” because his first name sounds like Merlin, has hit safely in 19 of his past 22 games He is the first Pirates hitter with an extra-base hit and RBI in seven straight games since Willie Stargell in 1971.
July 20, 2026 4:48 am
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give his team a 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in the World Cup final. Spain was absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts. Lionel Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on and force extra time — but barely. And in the opening moment of the second 15-minute period of extra time, Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.
July 20, 2026 4:49 am
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Ryan Fox capped off an amazing week at the British Open with a finish he won’t forget. The 39-year-old from New Zealand made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 68 to capture his first major championship. It was only the fifth birdie on the tough closing hole at Royal Birkdale on Sunday. It gave Fox a one-shot victory over hard-luck Cameron Young. The American shot a 64 and waited more than two hours to see if it would hold up. It almost did until Fox kept bouncing back from bogeys and finished with a birdie.
July 19, 2026 6:08 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie All-Star Travis Bazzana hit a two-run homer to center field in the ninth inning for his first career walk-off hit and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates to split in a doubleheader. Patrick Bailey led off the ninth with a single to right field, Steven Kwan followed with a double down the left-field line. Bailey tried to score from first but as tagged out at home by Pittsburgh catcher Rafael Flores Jr. after the relay throw by third baseman Nick Gonzales. Bazzana — the top overall pick in the 2024 amateur draft — then connected on a 1-0 changeup by Pittsburgh’s Dennis Santana and drove it 414 feet for his eighth homer of the season and give Cleveland its fourth walk off win of the season.
July 19, 2026 6:13 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez and Jacob Gonzalez hit two-run homers, Jared Jones struck out nine in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. Nick Gonzales added a solo shot in the sixth inning as the Pirates extended their winning streak to four games. At 51-47, it is the first time they are at least four games over .500 after the All-Star break since September 2018. Cleveland All-Star rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana had an RBI triple in the third inning to drive in Steven Kwan for the lone run as the Guardians had a four-game winning streak snapped.
July 19, 2026 6:16 am
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Sam Burns has a great chance to win a major he never planned on playing. Burns shot a 65 on Saturday to build a two-shot lead over Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim going into the final round of the British Open. Burns thought his runner-up finish in the U.S. Open would be his last major of the year because his wife was due to give birth the week of the British Open. But she had their daughter earlier than expect and Burns decided a week ago Friday to fly over to England. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau shrugged off his two-shot penalty Friday with a 69. He was four shots back.
July 19, 2026 6:11 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jared Jones became the third Pirates pitcher over the past 70 seasons to retire at least 30 straight batters, a streak that began July 2 and ended during a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a doubleheader. After Bryce Harper lined an RBI double to left field in the third inning, the right-hander retired the last four Phillies batters he faced. Jones then threw six perfect innings against Atlanta on July 8. On Saturday, he got the first eight Cleveland batters out. The run ended when Steven Kwan had a base hit to left. Guardians’ rookie All-Star second baseman followed with an RBI triple into the right-field corner to get Cleveland within 2-1.
