Sport

Australian Open: Ben Shelton, the American With the Blinding Serve, Returns

It all started with a simple text message that, if Bryan Shelton’s memory serves him, went something like this: “That coulda got really interesting,” wrote his then-20-year-old son, Ben, moments after he won a fifth-set tiebreaker against Zhizhen Zhang at last year’s Australian Open, clinching that first-round match. Had it not been for that win, …

Sport

Special report: Maddy Cusack – why her family want a new investigation into her death

It is the heartbreaking story of a talented and popular footballer, her tragic death and the investigation into a family’s complaints about what they believe caused her emotional anguish. Maddy Cusack’s death in September sent shockwaves throughout the sport and plunged Sheffield United into a state of mourning for their longest-serving player. As her parents, …

Sport

Brian Flores isn’t afraid and isn’t looking back — how about the rest of the NFL?

Brian Flores swiveled in a chair and repeated the question. “Is there anything else I want to say? … Is there anything … Hmm … ” It was a chilled December afternoon in Eagan, Minn., and the Minnesota Vikings’ defense coordinator was seated inside his dimly lit office. His eyes, shielded by a purple flatbill …

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Rafael Nadal is focused on clay – and other things we learned from the first Australian Open warm-up week

For months, Rafael Nadal has been trying to temper expectations for his comeback, telling the world that he had little sense of whether he would ever return to his championship form or anything approaching it. On Sunday, Nadal showed the world why he was so cautious. At 37 years old, he knows how brittle he …

Sport

NCAA signs lucrative TV deal for championships, but keeps women’s basketball in bundle

The NCAA on Thursday said it had reached an eight-year agreement with ESPN worth $115 million annually to televise 40 college sports championships each year, including the marquee Division I women’s basketball tournament that many people within college sports had hoped would be primed for even bigger returns given a wave of recent popularity. The …

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NFL’s Black Monday stories: ‘For the coaches and families, it’s an absolute nightmare’

Most will downplay and dismiss it, especially when pressed in front of a microphone. They’ll claim it’s the last thing on their radar, then lean on some trusty clichés to get through a few weeks of uncomfortable news conferences: on to the next practice, the next meeting, the next game. They’ll say there’s no point …

Sport

Michigan stymies Michael Penix Jr., Washington to claim first national championship since 1997 season

By Lauren Merola, Max Olson, Austin Meek, Jim Trotter and Nicole Auerbach It’s been 26 years, but finally, no one has it better than Michigan. The Wolverines, who ranked second in passing yards allowed per game with 150.0 heading into title town, faced their toughest task yet in taming the flamethrower that is Washington quarterback …

Sport

Warriors’ Draymond Green reinstated after 12-game suspension: When will he return?

The NBA has reinstated Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green after his 12-game suspension, the league announced Saturday. Green has been undergoing counseling for several weeks along with holding progress meetings with the league and Warriors. “During the period of his suspension, which began on Dec. 14 and resulted in him missing 12 games, Green …