Boxers Who Identify As Woman Clinch Medals At Olympics

August 4, 2024 8:09 am

VILLEPINTE, France (AP) — Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has clinched her first Olympic medal in front of a crowd that chanted her name at the Paris Games. Her win Sunday comes a day after fellow female boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria secured a victory as well following days of online abuse and intense scrutiny about their participation. Lin defeated Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria in a women’s 57-kilogram quarterfinal, advancing to the division’s semifinal round to ensure she will win at least a bronze medal. Lin and Khelif have been at the center of a clash over gender identity and regulations in sports, as critics have brought up their disqualification from the world championships last year over unspecified eligibility tests.

Simone Biles Says “Never Say Never” To Next Olympics

August 4, 2024 8:10 am

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles is getting kind of old for this. Just maybe not too old to keep going. The American gymnastics superstar says “never say never” when it comes to her future. Biles made the comment after earning her third gold medal in Paris, where she won the women’s vault final on Saturday. The 27-year-old says the lure of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games is tempting. Biles has 10 career Olympic medals, seven of them gold. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil earned silver in vault while American Jade Carey grabbed the bronze three years after tripping during the vault final in Tokyo.

Pirates Fall In Game One To Arizona

August 3, 2024 4:31 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Bell homered from both sides of the plate in his Arizona debut, Ketel Marte also hit two home runs and the Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 on Friday night after blowing a five-run lead. Acquired Tuesday from the Miami Marlins for cash considerations, Bell tied at 7 with two outs in the seventh with his second home run of the night, hammering Aroldis Chapman’s slider 370 feet to right. Geraldo Perdomo gave Arizona the lead with an RBI double in the eighth. Marte, Joc Pederson and Bell — on the first pitch he saw as a Diamondback — hit consecutive homers in Arizona’s five-run first inning.

Host Of The Olympic Sailing Competition

August 3, 2024 4:36 am

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Marseille, host of the 2024 Olympics sailing competition, is a city of contrasts. It’s a millennia-old port, crossroads of cultures and faiths, where the sea is ever present but not equally accessible, and the beauty and cosmopolitan flair rub shoulders with enclaves of poverty and exclusion. At the other end of its spectacular, monument-fringed bay from where the world’s best sailors are racing, inner city children learn to swim in the Mediterranean that many see from their homes, but have never dipped a toe in.

PIAA Ends Appeals Court Fight With Aliquippa Football

August 2, 2024 3:56 pm

According to a report in the Tribune Review, the PIAA has ended its appeals court fight to move Aliquippa football into a higher classification this fall, but the school’s lawsuit against the state association and its competitive-balance rule continues.  The PIAA on Friday notified Commonwealth Court that it no longer wanted to appeal the injunction issued by a Beaver County judge that kept Aliquippa in 4A for the upcoming season. That decision to withdraw eliminates uncertainty about the Quips’ schedule as WPIAL teams prepare to start summer practice. The next hearing is scheduled for August 15th in Beaver County.

Bears Beat Texans In Storm-Shortened Hall Of Fame Game

August 2, 2024 4:41 am

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — While Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud and other starters from both teams watched from the sideline, the NFL’s new kickoffs didn’t provide any excitement. Brett Rypien stole the show before lighting and heavy rain ended the game. The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes, leading the Chicago Bears to a 21-17 victory over the Houston Texans on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game. The NFL’s exhibition opener was stopped with 3:31 left in the third quarter and was called off after a 36-minute delay. All eyes were on the NFL’s radical new kickoffs rule at the start. The league dramatically redesigned the play, aiming to revive it after a record-low returns last season.

NFL’s New Kickoffs Begin

August 2, 2024 4:43 am

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The first two kickoffs under the NFL’s radical new rule were both returned a yard farther than the old touchback. Houston’s Steven Sims fielded Cairo Santos’ kickoff at the 5 and ran 21 yards before he was tackled at the 26 to open Thursday night’s preseason game between the Texans and Chicago Bears. Touchbacks used to result in the offense starting at the 25. After the Texans scored on the opening drive, Chicago’s Tyler Scott caught Ka’imi Fairbairn’s kickoff at the 7 and returned it 19 yards to the 26. With both teams sitting starters, all eyes were on the overhauled kickoffs during the annual Hall of Fame game at Tom Benson Stadium.

Judge Overturns $4.7 Billion Verdict In ‘Sunday Ticket’ Lawsuit

August 2, 2024 4:39 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge overturned a jury’s $4.7 billion verdict in the class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers against the NFL and granted judgment to the NFL. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez ruled Thursday that the testimony of two witnesses for the subscribers had flawed methodologies and should have been excluded. The jury on June 27 awarded $4.7 billion in damages to residential and commercial subscribers after it ruled the NFL violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service.

Simone Biles Makes History

August 2, 2024 4:41 am

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles edged Rebeca Andrade of Brazil during a tense all-around gymnastics final Thursday to become a two-time Olympic champion. Biles’ total of 59.131 was just ahead of Andrade at 57.932. That’s one of the closest calls Biles has ever endured at a major international event. Still, the meet ended just like all the ones Biles has started and finished over the last 11 years: with hugs and gold on the way. American Sunisa Lee, the defending Olympic all-around champion, earned the bronze.

Simone Biles Comes Out On Top At Paris Olympics

August 1, 2024 5:45 pm

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles edged Rebeca Andrade of Brazil during a tense all-around gymnastics final Thursday to become a two-time Olympic champion. Biles’ total of 59.131 was just ahead of Andrade at 57.932. That’s one of the closest calls Biles has ever endured at a major international event. Still, the meet ended just like all the ones Biles has started and finished over the last 11 years: with hugs and gold on the way. American Sunisa Lee, the defending Olympic all-around champion, earned the bronze.