Florida State Sues ACC, Sets Stage For Fight Over Revenue Concerns

December 23, 2023 4:30 am

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has sued the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging a contract that binds the school to the league for the next 12 years. The lawsuit claims the ACC’s grant of rights violates antitrust law and has unenforceable withdrawal penalties. It also accuses the ACC of mismanaging its members’ media rights. The suit says it would cost more than $570 million for Florida State to withdraw from the ACC. The ACC says the school agreed to a renewal of the GOR in 2016 knowing all the details. The conference filed its own lawsuit against the FSU Board of Trustees in North Carolina.

Crosby Leads Penguins Over Hurricanes In Shootout

December 22, 2023 4:51 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored his 19th goal of the season in regulation and then beat Pyotr Kochetkov in a shootout to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves and turned away all three Carolina attempts in the shootout as the Penguins beat the Hurricanes for just the third time in 13 meetings. Teuvo Teravainen scored his 12th of the season for the Hurricanes. Kochetkov stopped 24 shots, but couldn’t get his glove on Crosby’s wrist shot from in close in the shootout.

Rams Hold Off Saints To Continue Playoff Push

December 22, 2023 4:48 am

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Rams surged forward in the NFC playoff race with a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for a career-high 164 yards and a TD, and Kyren Williams rushed for 104 yards and another score while topping 1,000 yards for the season in the Rams’ fifth victory in six games. Los Angeles led 30-7 with 12:44 left in the fourth quarter after scoring on six of its first eight possessions, but Derek Carr threw TD passes to Juwan Johnson and A.T. Perry on the Saints’ next two drives. New Orleans’ two-game win streak ended.

Prized Pitcher Yamamoto Gets $325M With Dodgers

December 22, 2023 4:49 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $325 million, 12-year contract, according to multiple reports. Yamamoto is set to join Japanese countryman Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, who signed the two-way superstar to a record $700 million, 10-year deal last week. The Dodgers did not confirm the agreement with Yamamoto on Thursday night. MLB.com and ESPN were among the outlets citing anonymous sources in reporting the deal. It’s the third pitching coup for the Dodgers this offseason. In addition to Ohtani, they signed right-hander Tyler Glasnow to a $136.5 million, five-year contract after he was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to Los Angeles.

MLB Widening Runner’s Lane At First Base

December 22, 2023 4:53 am

NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball is widening the runner’s lane approaching first base to include a portion of fair territory, changing a more than century-old rule that caused World Series controversy over possible interference calls. MLB also is shortening the pitcher’s clock with runners on base by two seconds to 18 and further reducing mound visits in an effort to speed games. The sport’s 11-man competition committee also requires a pitcher who warms up on the mound before a half inning to face at least one batter.

McCutchen; Time For The Pirates To Contend

December 21, 2023 4:34 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen says he re-signed with the club because there is still more for him to do. The five-time All-Star inked a one-year deal with the Pirates that will keep him in the fold in 2024. McCutchen returned to Pittsburgh in 2023 after six years away, hitting 12 home runs before having his season end in early September due to a partially torn left Achilles. The 37-year-old McCutchen says he feels fine and believes it’s time for the Pirates to start contending in the NL Central.

Pitt Rolls Over Purdue Fort Wayne

December 21, 2023 4:32 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Guillermo Diaz Graham scored 13 points to lead three in double-figure scoring and Pittsburgh cruised past Purdue Fort Wayne 62-48. Diaz Graham shot 5 of 8 from the floor, 3 of 6 from the free-throw line and added eight rebounds. Carlton Carrington and Zack Austin added 12 points apiece for Pitt (9-3). Blake Hinson, who averages 21.7 points per game, was held to five points on 2-of-10 shooting but grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Rasheed Bello scored 11 points and Jalen Jackson had 10 for Purdue Fort Wayne (11-2), which ended a six-game win streak.

Signing Day; Georgia Has Top Class

December 21, 2023 4:36 am

The early signing period in college football opened with just a little five-star drama. Georgia likely locked up a recruiting crown by flipping an in-state blue-chipper away from Florida State. The consensus No. 1 recruit in the country had Ohio State coach Ryan Day literally sighing with relief. And a five-star defensive lineman committed to Florida decided to delay making his decision official. That was the least of the bad news for the Gators.

Pirates Bring Back Andrew McCutchen For Another Season

December 20, 2023 4:38 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen isn’t going anywhere. The Pittsburgh Pirates star is remaining in his adopted hometown after agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2024 season worth $5 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it was not yet finalized. The 37-year-old McCutchen hit .256 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 112 games while serving primarily as a designated hitter in 2023. He collected his 2,000th career hit in June and was sitting on 299 career home runs in September when he partially tore his left Achilles tendon while legging out a double against Milwaukee.

Aaron Rodgers Will Return Next Season

December 20, 2023 4:40 am

Aaron Rodgers’ quest to make an improbable return this season for the New York Jets appears over. The 40-year-old quarterback said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday he’s not yet 100% healthy in his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon and is still a few weeks away. Rodgers said if the Jets had won last Sunday at Miami and remained in the postseason hunt, he “would have pushed it as far as I could this week” even at less than full health to play against Washington on Sunday. But the Jets were routed 30-0 and eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th straight year.