SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The most important run of the night may not have been by Christian McCaffrey. Or Deebo Samuel. Or even by George Kittle on one of his epic catch-and-runs. Nope. It was probably by the game manager. The most momentum-seizing, back-breaking, Lions-taming runs, a case could be made, were by Brock Purdy, …
Jimy Williams, A.L. Manager of the Year in Boston in ’99, Dies at 80
Jimy Williams, the 1999 American League Manager of the Year for Boston who won 910 games over a dozen seasons that included stints with Toronto and Houston, died on Friday in Tarpon Springs, Fla. He was 80. The Red Sox said his death, in a hospital, came after a brief, unspecified illness. He lived in …
Adam Johnson: Coroner suspends investigation into death of former NHL player
A senior coroner probing the death of former NHL and Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson has suspended her investigation as police enquiries continue. Johnson, 29, died after being cut in the neck by a skate during a Challenge Cup match against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28, with the Nottingham Panthers labelling it as a …
Jannik Sinner beats Daniil Medvedev to win Australian Open, his first Grand Slam title
They are in a hurry, this younger cohort of tennis stars, with no interest in waiting their turn to take over their sport, or respecting their elders. On a warm Sunday evening in Rod Laver Arena, Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old fast-rising star from Italy, became the latest member of the ‘next generation’ to win a …
Zheng Qinwen, China’s new tennis star with a heart-wrenching backstory and big forehand
Zheng Qinwen has reached her first Grand Slam final. In fact, she is the first person from China to do so in 10 years. Zheng grew up watching the last Chinese Grand Slam winner, Li Na, and has said she has watched the 2014 Australian Open final ‘at least 10 times.’ If you have been …
Total Eclipse of the Park: The Guardians’ home opener coincides with a rare solar eclipse
CLEVELAND — Befuddled birds will start chirping. Drivers trapped in a boundless traffic snarl will halt their honking. The temperature will plunge. Sluggers swatting batting practice tosses at Progressive Field will pause for a cosmic intermission. At 3:13 p.m. ET on April 8, the springtime sky above downtown Cleveland will host a total solar eclipse, …
Running with rage, Isiah Pacheco has energized the Chiefs’ rushing attack in the playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — His hands balled into fists and his biceps flexed, running back Isiah Pacheco stomped along the Kansas City Chiefs’ sideline, his message accentuated by his demonstrative voice. “Ay, bring that f—— energy!” Pacheco screamed at his offensive teammates, many of them nodding in agreement. “Bring that s—! Bring that s—!” A …
Spurs are far from contending, but Victor Wembanyama’s defense is on a rapid ascent
PHILADELPHIA — A few weeks ago, Joel Embiid said he wondered if Victor Wembanyama knew what he wanted. “I think, first of all, he has to figure out where he wants to play, whether he wants to be a guard or a big or whatever,” the 76ers big man said. “It’s not necessarily whether he …
Why South Carolina’s freshman sensation is wowing Magic Johnson, the NBA and college basketball
Let’s begin with the play, because what else initially comes to mind when thinking of South Carolina star freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley? You know the one. Against No. 10 Notre Dame, in the season opener, in Paris. Fulwiley receives an inbounds pass with just over two minutes to go until halftime and begins galloping up the …
Why Caitlin Clark could pose a dilemma for Team USA at the Olympics
USA Basketball will be seeking its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal this summer with the first step coming at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, from Feb. 8-11. The 12-player roster for that tournament will be the first approximation of the team that will defend the Americans’ gold medal in Paris. Based on the …