Former Giants slugger Shuichi Murata hints at retirement after lack of NPB interest

Former Yomiuri Giants third baseman Shuichi Murata hinted Wednesday he may retire after his hopes of returning to Nippon Professional Baseball this season were dashed.Murata, ...

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New York’s Masahiro Tanaka extends unbeaten streak to 13

Masahiro Tanaka labored through a 31-pitch first inning against Baltimore, the team with the worst record in the major leagues, falling behind his first four ...

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Naomi Osaka makes winning start at Citi Open

Naomi Osaka got off to a winning start in the Citi Open women’s singles on Tuesday, posting a straight-sets victory over American Bernarda Pera in ...

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Fighters pound out 11 hits, take 10-0 lead in first inning in rout of Marines

Pitcher Kohei Arihara threw eight shutout innings and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters backed him with a 10-run first inning in Tuesday afternoon’s 14-1 win ...

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KCFA declines to lift suspension on defending national champion Nihon University

The opportunity for the Nihon University Phoenix to have a chance to defend their national collegiate championship has been denied.On Tuesday night, the Kantoh Collegiate ...

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Kento Momota cruises past Artem Pochtarov in first round at World Badminton Championships

Kento Momota made a blistering start at the World Badminton Championships on Tuesday — then brushed off any talk of pressure.The explosive 23-year-old is the ...

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Kosei Tanaka to face WBO flyweight champ Sho Kimura in September

Two-division champion Kosei Tanaka announced Tuesday he will challenge Sho Kimura for the World Boxing Organization flyweight belt on Sept. 24.Tanaka (11-0, seven knockouts), who ...

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Iwano relishing chance to work with Takahashi

One of the realities of life is that luck plays a part in it for just about everybody.Moa Iwano is no different. The 14-year-old junior ...

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Kenta Maeda chased early in loss to Brewers

Eric Thames hit a three-run home run and Christian Yelich extended his hitting streak to 14 games as the Milwaukee Brewers overcame a brief power ...

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Convicted rapist and Olympic judo champion Masato Uchishiba to coach Kyrgyzstan men’s national team

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Masato Uchishiba will coach the men’s national judo team of Kyrgyzstan, returning to the judo world more than five years after ...

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Japan Amateur Boxing Federation denies financial fraud allegations

The Japan Amateur Boxing Federation has responded to allegations of fraud, including the misuse of federal grant money, saying “a lot of” the accusations made ...

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Kei Nishikori aims to return to top 10 this season

Kei Nishikori, back in form after a torn right wrist tendon, returns to the scene of his most recent outdoor title hoping to launch another ...

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Hall of Fame to ‘honor’ absent Terrell Owens as part of induction ceremonies

Despite his decision to not attend Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Terrell Owens will be “honored” by the hall for his NFL ...

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Olympic cross-country ski champion Vibeke Skofterud dies in jet-ski accident at 38

Norwegian cross-country skier Vibeke Skofterud, an Olympic gold medallst and double world champion in relay, has died in a jet-ski accident at 38, Norwegian authorities ...

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Blue Jays trade suspended reliever Roberto Osuna to Astros

The Toronto Blue Jays dealt suspended pitcher Roberto Osuna to the Houston Astros on Monday in exchange for three pitchers, including right-hander Ken Giles.The 23-year-old ...

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Jarome Iginla hangs up skates after 20 years in NHL

Jarome Iginla closed his 20-year NHL career in the city where he was the face of the franchise.The 41-year-old winger made his retirement official on ...

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Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold ends holdout, signs contract with Jets

Sam Darnold is signed, sealed and back under center.The New York Jets inked the rookie quarterback to a four-year, $30.25 million deal Monday, ending the ...

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Hawks waive 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony

The Atlanta Hawks on Monday waived Carmelo Anthony, making official the move that was expected when the 10-time All-Star was traded from the Oklahoma City ...

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LeBron James leaves lasting gift to Akron

LeBron James stood on a stage near one of the streets he walked as a troubled kid and looked out at thousands of faces. He ...

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Independent committee rules Nihon University President Hidetoshi Tanaka ultimately responsible for illegal tackle scandal

The third-party committee appointed to investigate the Nihon University American football team’s illegal tackle scandal concluded Monday that school president Hidetoshi Tanaka was responsible for ...

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Hamilton extends championship lead with victory in Hungarian GP

Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Sebastian Vettel.Hamilton was untroubled as he secured ...

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Butler still in dark about Super Bowl benching

The question just keeps coming, and Malcolm Butler still has the same answer.No, the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback does not know why Patriots coach Bill ...

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All-around talents Tetsuto Yamada, Yuki Yangita deserving of spotlight

Three seasons ago, a Triple 3 campaign was treated as something of a phenomenon. The feat — finishing a season with at least a .300 ...

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Japan strikes late but still falls to Brazil during U.S. tourney

Nadeshiko Japan lost to Brazil 2-1 in the Tournament of Nations on Sunday, suffering their second-straight defeat in the round-robin competition that features four of ...

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Star-studded class enters Baseball Hall of Fame

Chipper Jones didn’t bow to the pressure of the moment, and it was considerable.Jones was inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he ...

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Geraint Thomas wins Tour de France

The spits and the jeers. The eggs thrown at team cars. The attempts to unbalance cyclists while riding up the most grueling climbs.Geraint Thomas never ...

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Braves’ Sean Newcomb nearly throws no-hitter, apologizes for homophobic, racist tweets

Sean Newcomb thought his near no-hitter would be the story of the day.Then he picked up his phone. Newcomb said he had forgotten about racist, ...

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Nao Ikeyama to retire after losing WBO women’s atomweight title to Mika Iwakawa

Nao Ikeyama said she will retire after losing her WBO atomweight crown by a split decision to Japanese compatriot Mika Iwakawa on Sunday.In another women’s ...

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Paralympic slalom champion Gurimu Narita wants to compete in canoe at Tokyo Olympics

Gurimu Narita, the men’s Pyeongchang Paralympic banked slalom champion, is looking to compete in canoe at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.“This is a sport in which ...

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Misfiring Shota Takeda and Seiichi Uchikawa find form as Hawks sink Eagles

A day after the Pacific League powerhouse Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks sank below .500, two of this year’s underachievers stepped up, as Shota Takeda and Seiichi ...

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Nami Nabekura beats Olympic champion to defend judo title in Zagreb

Nami Nabekura defended her women’s 63-kg title Saturday at the Zagreb Grand Prix, a three-day judo tournament in Croatia.The 21-year-old Nabekura defeated Rio de Janeiro ...

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Sara Takanashi wins summer Grand Prix meet in Germany

Sara Takanashi won the women’s ski jumping summer Grand Prix competition Saturday, followed in second by compatriot Yuki Ito in Hinterzarten, Germany.Takanashi, who won bronze ...

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Liverpool tops United in Big House

Jose Mourinho said he wouldn’t have wanted to pay money to watch this match — but the Manchester United manager had to admit there were ...

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Whyte beats Parker, eyes title shot

Dillian Whyte moved closer to a dream shot at the world heavyweight title after dramatically securing a career-best victory over Joseph Parker on Saturday.Whyte accepted ...

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Masayuki Ito beats Christopher Diaz to claim WBO super featherweight title

Masayuki Ito claimed the vacant WBO super featherweight title Saturday following a decision victory over Christopher Diaz of Puerto Rico.Second-ranked Ito claimed the world title ...

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Red Sox stay hot with victory against Twins

The Boston Red Sox seemingly can get their offense cranked up at any time this season.J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, Mookie Betts ...

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Geraint Thomas effectively secures Tour de France triumph

No longer merely a support rider for Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas is going to Paris in the yellow jersey.The Welshman with Team Sky effectively sealed ...

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Crusaders, Lions set up rematch for Super Rugby title

The Crusaders are back in the Super Rugby final seeking a record-extending ninth title. The Lions are back still searching for a first.New Zealand’s Crusaders ...

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Fernando Torres scoreless in home debut for Sagan Tosu

Sagan Tosu and Jubilo Iwata battled their way to a 0-0 stalemate Saturday as marquee signing Fernando Torres made his first J. League start for ...

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Storks hand coaching reins to Miodrag Rajkovic

The Nishinomiya Storks on Saturday named Miodrag Rajkovic as their new head coach.The 47-year-old Serbian mentor led the Toyama Grouses in 2017-18, but was not ...

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Crusaders clobber Hurricanes to reach Super Rugby final

The Christchurch-based Crusaders maintained their seemingly unstoppable progress toward a ninth Super Rugby title when they overwhelmed the Wellington-based Hurricanes 30-12 in a one-sided semifinal ...

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Eagles’ Takayuki Kishi goes the distance, scatters five hits in triumph over Hawks

Takayuki Kishi snapped a personal losing streak to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Saturday, going the distance in the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles’ 7-1 victory.The ...

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NBA stars reflect on summer

James Harden completed his work at USA Basketball’s national team minicamp, sat in a courtside chair and began to put together his assessment of what ...

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Sho Kimura defends WBO flyweight title with sixth-round KO in China

Sho Kimura scored a sixth-round knockout of Froilan Saludar on Friday to win the second defense of his WBO flyweight world title.Kimura finally knocked down ...

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Bengals coach Marvin Lewis enters 16th season in search of first playoff win

Marvin Lewis showed up for his first news conference as the Bengals head coach in 2003 wearing his Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl ring.Every time he ...

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Naohisa Takato, Ai Shishime claim titles on first day of Zagreb Grand Prix

Reigning world champions Naohisa Takato and Ai Shishime each won their respective divisions on Friday to give Japan an early lead at the Zagreb Grand ...

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Rangers trade Cole Hamels to Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are gambling a change of scenery and a pennant race will help Cole Hamels return to form.The Cubs acquired the veteran left-hander ...

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Russia could be reinstated in December if it meets IAAF’s conditions

Russia could be provisionally reinstated to worldwide track and field competition in December if it meets certain conditions, the IAAF said Friday.Track and field’s governing ...

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Max Scherzer reaches 200 Ks for seventh consecutive season in Nationals’ rout of Marlins

A few more starts like this, and Max Scherzer could be collecting his fourth Cy Young Award.Scherzer allowed one unearned run and struck out 11 ...

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Muto set to make move to Newcastle

Newcastle United has struck a deal on Japan international striker Yoshinori Muto’s transfer from Mainz, the English Premier League club announced Friday.The move is subject ...

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Geraint Thomas pedals closer to Tour de France title on Stage 19

Having worn the leader’s yellow jersey over the Alps and through the Pyrenees, only one more challenging stage stands in the way of Geraint Thomas ...

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JFA contests ex-manager Vahid Halilhodzic’s defamation claim

The Japan Football Association on Friday took a stand against former Japan head coach Vahid Halilhodzic’s claim that it defamed him in a news conference ...

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V-Varen earn upset victory over FC Tokyo

V-Varen Nagasaki upset FC Tokyo 1-0 with an adventurous display of attacking soccer Friday night, thwarting the second-place side’s hopes of closing the gap on ...

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NPB commissioner Atsushi Saito rejects Orix request for game replay

Japan’s pro baseball commissioner rejected on Friday a request from Orix to replay a game the Buffaloes lost after a botched video replay.Atsushi Saito, the ...

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Giants hurler Shun Yamaguchi notches no-hitter against Dragons

Yomiuri Giants starter Shun Yamaguchi dominated the Chunichi Dragons on Friday night, throwing the first no-hitter by a single pitcher in NPB since 2014, and ...

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Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler undergoes surgery on hand

Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Jimmy Butler has undergone minor surgery on his right hand.The Timberwolves announced Thursday that Butler had the elective procedure on Tuesday. ...

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Outcome of Mafi’s assault case may imperil future in Japan

Japanese participation in the 2018 Super Rugby season did not just end before the playoffs even began, it also ended in controversy with three players ...

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Katie Ledecky captures 200-meter freestyle title at U.S. nationals

Katie Ledecky led all the way to win the 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. national championships, earning a second event to swim in Tokyo next ...

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U.S. tops Japan in Tournament of Nations opener

Japan suffered a 4-2 loss to the world No. 1 United States on Thursday in their first match of the Tournament of Nations, a four-team ...

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Alex Ferguson thanks medics for life-saving brain surgery

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson thanked medics for saving his life and said he felt humbled by the huge outpouring of sympathy in his ...

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Former USC tailback Willie Brown dies at 76

Willie Brown, Southern California’s original I-formation tailback under coach John McKay who went on to a brief NFL career before returning to the Trojans as ...

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Machado blasts first home run since being acquired by Dodgers

Manny Machado took care of that first homer with his new team.Rich Hill handled the rest. Machado homered for the first time since being acquired ...

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Arnaud Demare gives France a victory in 18th stage

A French team finally won a stage in this year’s Tour de France when Arnaud Demare of Groupama-FDJ comfortably claimed a sprint victory in the ...

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Aaron Rodgers not worried about contract extension

Aaron Rodgers sounds as if he’s more worried about swimming with sharks than a new contract.Starting training camp without an extension from the Green Bay ...

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Women need one pro league

The interim commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League says finding a way to unite the CWHL and the U.S.-based National Women’s Hockey League into ...

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Lions’ Tomoya Mori comes through in clutch with game-winning double in 10th against Buffaloes

Yusei Kikuchi went nine innings, setting up an extra-inning win as Tomoya Mori’s pinch-hit sayonara double lifted the Seibu Lions to 2-1 triumph over the ...

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CAS confirms two Russians to be stripped of 2008 Olympic medals for doping

Russian athletes Tatyana Lebedeva and Maria Abakumova lost their appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday and were stripped of three silver ...

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Hajime Moriyasu appointed manager of Japan men’s national team

Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday was named as the new manager of the Japan men’s senior national team by the Japan Football Association.The 49-year-old Moriyasu, who ...

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President of hockey operations Trevor Linden leaves Canucks after four years in charge

The Vancouver Canucks and president of hockey operations Trevor Linden have “amicably” agreed to part ways.The team said Wednesday that Linden is leaving the organization ...

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Fighters ship outfielder Hiromi Oka to Marines for lefty pitcher Takahiro Fujioka

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have traded outfielder Hiromi Oka to the Chiba Lotte Marines in exchange for left-handed pitcher Takahiro Fujioka, the teams announced ...

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Fukuoka counting on veteran forward Kazuya Hatano for consistent work on boards

Journeyman Kazuya “J.” Hatano was a steady contributor during the Osaka Evessa dynasty years.The hard-working forward earned a trio of championship rings as part of ...

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Nairo Quintana takes 17th stage as Geraint Thomas solidifies lead

Four-time champion Chris Froome cracked in the feared 17th stage of the Tour de France through the Pyrenees on Wednesday, solidifying Sky teammate Geraint Thomas’ ...

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Shohei Ohtani, Angels feast on White Sox pitching

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani all homered in the same game for the first time, and the Los Angeles Angels routed Chicago White ...

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Vince Carter joining Hawks for 21st NBA season

Vince Carter is slated to play a 21st NBA season after agreeing to a one-year deal worth $2.4 million with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, ...

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Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes done for season, part of 2019

The New York Mets finally have some clarity about Yoenis Cespedes’ health. But now they may be without their oft-injured slugger well into the 2019 ...

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Katie Ledecky victorious in 800-meter freestyle at U.S. national championships

World record-holder Katie Ledecky cruised to victory in the 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. National Swimming Championships on Wednesday to lock down a berth for ...

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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says players must stand for national anthem

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doubled down Wednesday on insisting that his players stand for the national anthem, declaring that he wouldn’t support anyone who ...

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Two-time All-Star Andre Ethier retiring after 12-year career with Dodgers

Andre Ethier, a two-time All-Star outfielder during a 12-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is retiring from baseball.The Dodgers, the only team Ethier played ...

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Yoshinori Muto on verge of finalizing deal with Newcastle United: source

Striker Yoshinori Muto is closing in on a deal with Newcastle United, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.The 26-year-old, who impressed during the World ...

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Brazil manager Tite receives contract extension until 2022 World Cup

Brazil manager Tite has extended his contract until the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the national soccer confederation said on Wednesday.Tite, 57, ...

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Bob Bowman apologizes for inappropriate texting to former Olympic swimmer Caroline Burckle in 2011

Bob Bowman, the longtime coach of retired 23-time Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, has acknowledged and apologized for inappropriate text messages that were sent from ...

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Richard Sherman cleared for 49ers training camp

Richard Sherman has been cleared to practice for the San Francisco 49ers at the start of training camp.Sherman joined San Francisco after getting released by ...

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Saitama kabaddi club makes name for itself, hopes to spread sport in Japan

Fascinated by the contact sport of kabaddi, a middle school and a high school in Saitama Prefecture beat a succession of collegiate teams this year ...

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Antlers strike twice in second half to down Cerezo, but lose Gen Shoji to ankle injury

Yuma Suzuki and Shoma Doi scored second-half goals in quick succession Wednesday night in the Kashima Antlers’ 2-0 win away to Cerezo Osaka.The victory at ...

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Tigers’ Fumiya Hojo provides big offensive spark in victory over Carp

Fumiya Hojo had three hits and drove in two runs to pace the Hanshin Tigers to a 6-3 win over the Central League-leading Hiroshima Carp ...

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Chunichi Dragons acquire reliever Joely Rodriguez

The Chunichi Dragons announced Wednesday the acquisition of Dominican left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez, who parted ways with a Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliate earlier this ...

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Mitakeumi earns spoils of victory

The Nagoya tournament ended with the Emperor’s Cup being handed to arguably the most surprising top division champion in eight years.The steamy meet in central ...

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Browns sign No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield to four-year deal

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns.The top overall pick in this year’s NFL draft finalized his four-year, $32 million ...

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Mikhail Youzhny reveals plan to retire in September

Veteran Russian tennis star Mikhail Youzhny said on Tuesday that he would retire from the ATP Tour following the St. Petersburg Open in mid-September.The 36-year-old ...

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Japanese national team selects training camp sites for World Cup

Hokkaido’s Abashiri and Miyazaki have been selected as training camp sites for the Japan national team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Japan Rugby ...

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World Cup star Kylian Mbappe played through back injury in final two games

France striker Kylian Mbappe has revealed he played the World Cup semifinals and final with a back injury he hid from his rivals.In an interview ...

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Katie Ledecky sets lofty goals in the pool

Katie Ledecky, the freestyle phenomenon who bagged her 14th world record in May, says she’ll keep trying to push her boundaries as she looks toward ...

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Kevin Love commits to Cavs by signing four-year, $120 million extension

Kevin Love signed his new contract and proudly put on a hard hat.The Cleveland Cavaliers will rebuild around him. The All-Star forward made a long-term ...

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Masahiro Tanaka throws shutout to lead Yankees to win over Rays

It was a good night for New York’s bullpen.First, Masahiro Tanaka gave the Yankees relievers a breather. Then the front office added reinforcements. Tanaka pitched ...

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Crashes, protests create chaotic scenes during 16th stage of Tour de France

Tear gas in riders’ eyes. A farmers’ protest blocking the road. Two key crashes on dangerous descents.The only thing lacking from the wild 16th stage ...

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Ayatsugu Yamashita goes long in 11th inning as Eagles beat Fighters 10-8

Catcher Ayatsugu Yamashita hit an 11th-inning walk-off homer for his first home run of the season on Tuesday as the Rakuten Eagles earned an 10-8 ...

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Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane head FIFA coaching award nominees

Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane head the 11 candidates in a likely French domination of FIFA’s best men’s coach award.Deschamps led France to win the ...

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Sagan Tosu acquire Mu Kanazaki from Kashima Antlers

Sagan Tosu have acquired former Japan forward Mu Kanazaki from Kashima Antlers, the J. League squad announced on Tuesday.In a statement issued by the club, ...

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Japan sprinters return from Europe with renewed focus, passion to improve

Japan set a lofty goal of capturing the gold medal in the men’s 4×100-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.As has been repeatedly said, raising ...

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Mavericks sign Dirk Nowitzki for record 21st season

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed Dirk Nowitzki, which will make the German star the first player in NBA history to play 21 straight seasons with ...

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Senseless tragedy robs skating of a bright light

“Life is like a can of Coca-Cola. It’s dark, it’s bubbling, it’s sweet … but in the end, it’s short.”The words of Denis Ten, posted ...

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F1 chiefs call off Miami Grand Prix for 2019

Plans for a Grand Prix in Miami next year have been abandoned by Formula One chiefs, although they have still left open the possibility of ...

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49ers sign first-round draft pick Mike McGlinchey to four-year deal

The San Francisco 49ers said Monday that they have signed first-round draft pick Mike McGlinchey to a four-year deal.The 49ers drafted McGlinchey, the consensus top ...

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Heart disease killed Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano: medical examiner

A county medical examiner said Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano died of heart disease.The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office said Monday that the ...

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Minor leaguer Tim Tebow to have hand surgery, likely out for rest of season

Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow is set for hand surgery Tuesday, dashing his hopes of playing in the majors this year.The 30-year-old outfielder will have ...

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Yuto Nagatomo eager to play in Tokyo Olympics

Galatasaray defender Yuto Nagatomo said Tuesday he is eager to represent Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games if he is picked as an overage ...

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Brewers pitcher Brent Suter awaits season-ending Tommy John surgery

The Milwaukee Brewers’ injury-plagued rotation took another hit Monday when lefty Brent Suter said he would have Tommy John surgery that will end his season.“It ...

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Cardinals hurler Daniel Poncedeleon tosses seven no-hit frames in MLB debut

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon hurled seven-no hit innings in his MLB debut on Monday, 15 months after undergoing emergency brain surgery.The 26-year-old American ...

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Ryan Lochte suspended until July 2019 for breaking doping rule

Ryan Lochte posted a photo for the world to see, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency noticed.It got him suspended — again. The longtime U.S. swimming ...

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Team Sky chief rips Tour de France organizers, haters

Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford hit out at organizers on Monday for failing to stop “intimidating” abuse of his riders and staff as they attempt ...

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Michael Beasley says new veterans can help Lakers

Michael Beasley thinks the basketball world is foolish to assume the Los Angeles Lakers’ revamped locker room will be combustible before the fuse is even ...

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Browns receiver Josh Gordon to miss training camp for drug addiction recovery

Days before opening training camp, the Cleveland Browns learned Josh Gordon will be missing again.For how long remains unclear. The troubled wide receiver, who has ...

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Former Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano dies at 56

Tony Sparano once beat Bill Belichick with the single wing, but wasn’t as old as that made him sound.Sparano was only 56 when he died ...

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Yuzuru Hanyu to return to competition in September

Two-time Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu is set to perform at the Sept. 20-22 Autumn Classic International in Oakville, Canada, as the Japan Skating ...

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Gamba Osaka hires Tsuneyasu Miyamoto after firing manger Levir Culpi

Gamba Osaka have dismissed manager Levir Culpi and replaced him with former Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, the J. League first division side said Monday.The 41-year-old ...

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Mesut Ozil quits Germany squad after criticism over photo with Turkish president

Mesut Ozil is quitting Germany’s national team following criticism over his decision to pose for a picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.In a series ...

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Geraint Thomas keeps yellow jersey as Tour de France heads to Pyrenees

With the Pyrenees looming, Geraint Thomas had his last calm ride wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Sunday.The Welshman’s rivals for ...

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Japanese men finish 15th at Rugby World Cup Sevens

The Japan men’s team finished 15th at the Rugby World Cup Sevens on Sunday following a 26-14 win over Kenya in their final match of ...

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Japan finishes second behind Great Britain in men’s 4×100 relay at Diamond League London

Japan placed second behind Great Britain in the men’s 4×100-meter relay on Sunday, the final day of action at the IAAF Diamond League event in ...

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Rugby World Cup receives record number of applications for volunteer program

Japan Rugby 2019 announced Monday that it has received over 38,000 applications for the volunteer program for next year’s Rugby World Cup.“Over 38,000 people across ...

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Suzuki lays out keys for successful Olympics

The clock is always ticking at the same speed.But with exactly two years left until the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Shunichi Suzuki might feel the ...

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Slugger Guerrero remains in limbo on Yomiuri’s farm team

Sometimes the fake grass isn’t always greener in the other dome.The Yomiuri Giants’ Alex Guerrero can probably attest to that. It’s been over a month ...

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Newly crowned Mitakeumi savors taste of first triumph

Sipping sake from a giant silver cup gives the drink a special taste, Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament champion Mitakeumi said Monday.A day after being crowned ...

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Francesco Molinari survives chaotic final day to earn first major title at British Open

Francesco Molinari didn’t get the loudest cheers for the best golf at British Open.He was overlooked for so much of Sunday playing alongside Tiger Woods, ...

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Angels cruise to easy victory against Astros

Shohei Ohtani singled and scored twice on Sunday as the Los Angeles Angels prevented a three-game sweep with a 14-5 win over the Houston Astros ...

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Fighters hold off Hawks to complete sweep

Third-year reliever Kazutomo Iguchi bailed out the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in the eighth inning to help them scrape out a 7-5 win over the ...

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Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres lose in J. League debuts

Former Spain internationals Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres were each on the losing side Sunday in their anticipated J. League debuts.Iniesta received a hero’s welcome ...

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Coaching experts trade ideas at workshop

We have seen various types of unreasonable harassment problems surrounding Japanese sports, especially in school athletics, over the last several years.One of the most notable ...

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New champion Mitakeumi all smiles on final day of basho

A loss on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday could not wipe the smile from the face of newly crowned ...

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Ohtani’s hits not enough for Halos

Shohei Ohtani doubled twice Saturday for his first multi-hit game in nearly two weeks, but the Los Angeles Angels suffered their third straight loss with ...

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Neymar looks back at World Cup

Brazil superstar Neymar admits that after his nation’s quarterfinal defeat to Belgium at the World Cup he couldn’t look at a ball and didn’t want ...

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Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome remain 1-2 in Tour de France after 14th stage

Sky teammates Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome remained 1-2 in the Tour de France after the hilly 14th stage as an anticipated shakeup in the ...

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Tiger causes frenzy with third-round charge at British Open

Jordan Spieth has a share of the lead in the British Open and a big edge in experience. Still only 24, he already has won ...

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A’s acquire reliever Jeurys Familia from Mets

After three years of missing the playoffs and dealing away fan favorites like Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson and Sonny Gray, the Oakland Athletics are trying ...

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Toshihiro Sugiura earns win in Fighters debut

Right-hander Toshihiro Sugiura threw five hitless innings and earned his first win in his Nippon Ham debut as the Fighters beat the SoftBank Hawks 3-2 ...

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Wataru Endo set to move to Belgian side Sint-Truiden

J. League first-division club Urawa Reds said Saturday they have agreed on Japan defender Wataru Endo’s transfer to Belgian top flight side Sint-Truiden.The 25-year-old will ...

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Mitakeumi wins Nagoya Basho

Sekiwake Mitakeumi secured his first top division title after maintaining his two-win lead by beating Tochiozan on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Nagoya Grand ...

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Watanabe tapped to be IOC member

Japan’s Morinari Watanabe is in line to become one of nine new International Olympic Committee members, the IOC announced Friday at the conclusion of its ...

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Mariners give Servais extension

The Seattle Mariners will have some continuity in the managerial chair for a change.Seattle signed Scott Servais to a multiyear contract extension Friday as the ...

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Sagan takes third win at Tour

After most of the other top sprinters at the Tour de France succumbed in the Alps, Peter Sagan was in prime position to dominate Friday’s ...

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Matsuda elected to swim Hall of Fame

Swimmer Hitomi Matsuda, a prolific breaker of world records, will take her rightful place among the masters legends of the sport later this year.The International ...

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Kenya’s Chepkoech smashes steeplechase world record

Mission accomplished for Beatrice Chepkoech, who set out to break the 3,000-meter steeplechase world record and broke it by more than eight seconds on Friday.Chepkoech ...

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Johnson, Kisner tied for lead

A light rain in the morning that gave way to soft sunlight in the afternoon took some of the sting out of Carnoustie.Just not all ...

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Carpenter blasts 3 HRs, 2 doubles

Already in the midst of a monster game, Matt Carpenter almost left too early.Carpenter stuck around for one more swing, and connected for a three-run ...

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Yuta Watanabe strikes two-way deal with Grizzlies

Yuta Watanabe, who played four years at George Washington University, has agreed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA team said ...

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Eagles’ Takahiro Shiomi tosses first complete-game victory in six years

Takahiro Shiomi and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles continued their strong runs on Friday in a 7-2 Pacific League win over the Seibu Lions.Pitching in ...

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Three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka ends retirement

Kazuto Ioka, who announced his retirement last December after winning world titles in three separate weight classes, said Friday he is returning to the ring.The ...

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Celtics re-sign Marcus Smart to four-year, $52 million deal

The Boston Celtics re-signed guard Marcus Smart on Thursday, bringing him back for four more years after he found the market for a restricted free ...

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Mitakeumi bounces back, moves closer to first title

Sekiwake Mitakeumi beat Goeido at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday to move within one win of his first top-level title.Mitakeumi (12-1) holds the ...

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Big bats carry Cubs past rival Cards

The All-Star break is over. It’s right about now when the Chicago Cubs usually take off.Jason Heyward had three hits and two RBIs, Ian Happ ...

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Yuta Watanabe makes good impression in Summer League stint with Nets

Yuta Watanabe attracted positive attention during the Brooklyn Nets’ five NBA Summer League Games in Las Vegas earlier this month.The prospective NBA player, who wrapped ...

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Longtime Lakers reporter Mitch Chortkoff dies at 78

Mitch Chortkoff, a columnist and beat writer who covered the Los Angeles Lakers for over 50 years, has died. He was 78.He died Tuesday at ...

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Reigning B. League MVP Makoto Hiejima joins Tochigi Brex

Star shooting guard Makoto Hiejima has joined the Tochigi Brex after five seasons with the SeaHorses.Hiejima was introduced at a news conference on Friday in ...

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Geraint Thomas retains lead with stage victory on Alpe d’Huez

Geraint Thomas became the first yellow jersey wearer since Lance Armstrong to triumph on the legendary Alpe d’Huez after a thrilling finale to a punishing ...

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DeMarcus Cousins relishing fresh start in Golden State

DeMarcus Cousins spent his first eight seasons in the NBA chasing two things — peace and the playoffs.After signing with Golden State as a free ...

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Carmelo Anthony traded to Hawks, waiver likely

Carmelo Anthony is done in Oklahoma City.A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press the Thunder are sending Anthony and a 2022 ...

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Shohei Ohtani medically cleared to begin throwing again

Shohei Ohtani has been cleared to start a throwing progression after undergoing a medical evaluation of his right elbow, the Los Angeles Angels announced Thursday.The ...

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Falcons won’t offer WR Julio Jones new deal this year

Stifled by the salary cap, the Atlanta Falcons won’t be offering Julio Jones a more lucrative contract.Not this year, at least. Now the question is: ...

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Andres Iniesta participates in first training session with Vissel Kobe

Marquee signing Andres Iniesta trained with Vissel Kobe for the first time on Friday morning.The Barcelona legend looked to be in good spirits as he ...

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Kevin Kisner takes lead at British Open

The silver claret jug was on the first tee Thursday morning at Carnoustie, a trophy that Kevin Kisner knows all too well.Kisner flew home from ...

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Olympic figure skating Sochi bronze medalist Denis Ten, 25, slain in Almaty

Olympic figure skating medalist Denis Ten was killed Thursday, and prosecutors in Kazakhstan said they were treating the case as murder.Ten was stabbed after a ...

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JSF chief Tsuyoshi Aoki disappointed 2020 Olympics won’t showcase swimming finals in prime time

The Japan Swimming Federation conceded defeat on Thursday in its effort to have the 2020 Tokyo Olympics swimming finals aired domestically in the evening.The finals ...

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Corporate ekiden champion Moeno Nakamura fails drug test

Women’s corporate ekiden road relay champion Moeno Nakamura has been suspended and her team stripped of its title after she tested positive for a banned ...

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Lewis Hamilton signs new two-year contract with Mercedes

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has ended months of stalling and deliberation by finally signing a new contract with Mercedes.The four-time world champion penned a ...

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Dwyane Wade finalizes lifetime contract with Chinese apparel company Li-Ning

Dwyane Wade has a new contract — with his shoe company.Wade and the Chinese apparel company Li-Ning announced that the three-time NBA champion has signed ...

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Mitakeumi dealt first loss

Sekiwake Mitakeumi suffered his first defeat at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, losing to ozeki Takayasu.In the final bout of Day 12, Takayasu ...

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Michael Stich, Helena Sukova await weekend induction into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich of Germany and 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion Helena Sukova of the Czech Republic will be inducted Saturday into the ...

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British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton retires at age 29

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired from rugby union at the age of 29, admitting defeat in his battle against chronic injury.Flanker ...

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IOC adds seven medal events to 2022 Beijing Games program

Planning for its next three Olympic Games on Wednesday, the IOC added seven medal events to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, published a 2020 Tokyo ...

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NPB getting on board with boom in esports

Nippon Professional Baseball is ready to take a swing at esports.This fall, the league will join forces with Konami to launch the Pawapuro Pro League, ...

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Geraint Thomas takes tough mountain stage

Geraint Thomas is in the perfect position to win a maiden grand tour title after claiming victory on Wednesday’s first mountain stage of the Tour ...

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Star cornerback Darrelle Revis retiring after 11 seasons

Revis Island is closed for business.Darrelle Revis, a star cornerback with the New York Jets and a Super Bowl winner with their archrivals, the New ...

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Dodgers land All-Star shortstop Manny Machado from Orioles

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the Manny Machado sweepstakes, getting the prized All-Star shortstop from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade Wednesday night.The Orioles received ...

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Spurs ship Kawhi Leonard to Raptors get DeMar DeRozan

The Kawhi Leonard saga in San Antonio is over. So is DeMar DeRozan’s time in Toronto.An NBA summer blockbuster got pulled off Wednesday, with the ...

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Spurs reportedly sending Kawhi Leonard to Raptors for DeMar DeRozan

The Kawhi Leonard saga in San Antonio is on the cusp of ending, with the Spurs reaching an agreement in principle on Wednesday to send ...

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Frontale gets off to winning start as J. League resumes play after World Cup break

Elsinho and Yu Kobayashi struck either side of halftime to give Kawasaki Frontale a 2-1 win away to Consadole Sapporo on Wednesday night, as the ...

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Dragons’ Garcia flirts with no-hitter in victory over Carp

Onelki Garcia carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and singled in a run as the Chunichi Dragons shut out the Hiroshima Carp 5-0 ...

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Keisuke Honda launching venture fund with Will Smith

Keisuke Honda will launch a venture fund of around $100 million with Hollywood actor and rapper Will Smith this month, the athlete’s management firm said ...

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Brewers All-Star Josh Hader addresses tweets

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader took responsibility for racist and homophobic tweets that resurfaced while he was pitching in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.Hader ...

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Progress on new National Stadium going as planned

When the original plans for the main stadium for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were scrapped, it left the project with a shortened timetable in ...

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Mitakeumi takes another step toward title

Sekiwake Mitakeumi earned his 11th straight victory, retaining his two-win lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.Mitakeumi claimed a solid win on Day ...

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Vissel Kobe’s Andres Iniesta arrives in Japan

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta was greeted by around 300 fans as he arrived at Kansai International Airport on Wednesday to join his new team Vissel ...

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AL outlasts NL for victory in All-Star slugfest

A record 10 home runs. A slew of strikeouts.The all-or-nothing All-Star Game mirrored what baseball has become. Astros teammates Alex Bregman and George Springer homered ...

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LPGA star Brittany Lincicome excited about chance to play in PGA event

Brittany Lincicome, hoping to be a trailblazer, will become only the sixth woman to compete in a men’s PGA Tour event when she tees off ...

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Greg Van Avermaet extends lead at Tour de France as Team Sky bides time

Facing the climbing prowess of Chris Froome’s Team Sky, Greg Van Avermaet expected to lose his lead on the first day in the mountains at ...

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Buffaloes’ Brandon Dickson twirls three-hit shutout, fans career-high 12 batters

Brandon Dickson threw his first shutout in four years, while Yutaro Sugimoto hit a grand slam in his second straight game as the Orix Buffaloes ...

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Title-chasing Mitakeumi raises record to 10-0

Sekiwake Mitakeumi remained in sole possession of the lead after earning his 10th straight win on Tuesday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.In their first ...

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Construction on track as two-year mark approaches for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Just 105 weeks away from the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, the newly constructed venues are about 20~40 percent completed and just ...

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Sunwolves optimistic despite tough season

The Sunwolves entered their third season in Super Rugby with a lofty goal of finishing in the top five in the standings.However, the team had ...

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Nihon University to name Isao Hashizume new football coach: sources

Nihon University will hire veteran college football coach Isao Hashizume after the previous coach was forced to resign over a dangerous late tackle by one ...

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Boomer Esiason leaving Monday night NFL radio broadcasts after 18 years

Boomer Esiason is dropping his national radio duties on NFL Monday night games.Esiason was the analyst on Westwood One’s broadcast for 18 years, sharing the ...

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Thierry Henry quits TV analyst gig to focus on coaching

Retired France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry said on Monday that he was quitting as a soccer analyst with British broadcaster Sky Sports to focus ...

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Olympic champ Simone Biles making comeback

Simone Biles is ready to let the world in on her comeback.The reigning Olympic champion gymnast will return to competition for the first time since ...

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Hulk Hogan reinstated to WWE Hall of Fame three years after sex-tape scandal

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has reinstated Hulk Hogan to its Hall of Fame, three years after he was found to have used racial slurs in ...

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Le’Veon Bell, Steelers fail to reach deal on new contract

Le’Veon Bell’s next season with the Pittsburgh Steelers will almost certainly be his last.The Pro Bowl running back and the defending AFC North champions failed ...

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Mickey Mantle card worth $10 million on display

The “Holy Grail” of baseball cards, a pristine 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle valued at several million dollars, was delivered to the History Colorado Center on ...

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Hometown hero Harper wins Home Run Derby

The ball cleared the center-field wall, and the sellout crowd roared. Bryce Harper threw his bat in the air, thrust both index fingers skyward and ...

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Usain Bolt near tryout with A-League club

Usain Bolt is on the verge of sealing a deal to have a tryout with the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners, the Australian club said Tuesday, ...

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Oswaldo Arcia, Kohei Arihara guide Fighters past Buffaloes

Oswaldo Arcia belted a three-run homer and Kohei Arihara went the distance as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters defeated the Orix Buffaloes 4-1 on Monday.With ...

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Mitakeumi keeps perfect record intact; Asanoyma sits one victory behind at 8-1

Sekiwake Mitakeumi was a man in a hurry on Monday, when he needed just 1.8 seconds to remain unbeaten after nine days of the Nagoya ...

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Bringing back Daisuke Matsuzaka could make sense for Dragons

If there’s anything to be learned from the first half of the 2018 baseball season it’s that a lot of people still can’t get enough ...

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Rebels’ Amanaki Lelei Mafi released on bail after alleged assault of teammate

Japan international rugby player Amanaki Lelei Mafi was released on bail Monday after appearing in court in Dunedin, New Zealand, charged with assaulting one of ...

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Tour de France riders grind through cobblestones in much-feared ninth stage

It was not the expected major shakedown, but the riders’ faces told a story of suffering as most of the main Tour de France favorites ...

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Nozomi Okuhara tops Pusarla Sindhu in Thai Open women’s singles final

Reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara won the women’s singles title at the Thailand Open on Sunday, beating India’s Pusarla Sindhu in straight games.The 23-year-old, ranked ...

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Former NHL goalie Ray Emery dies in drowning

Retired NHL goaltender Ray Emery, who helped the Ottawa Senators reach the final in 2007 and won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in ...

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Masahiro Tanaka gets no-decision after solid start; Yanks fall to Tribe

Michael Brantley homered leading off the eighth inning, and the Cleveland Indians headed into the All-Star break with a 5-2 win over the New York ...

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Croatia left heartbroken yet proud after loss to France in World Cup final

The rain hid Croatia’s tears.After Luka Modric collected his Golden Ball award in a downpour, he shared an emotional embrace with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, ...

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France wins second World Cup title, beats Croatia 4-2

With Vladimir Putin watching from the stands, France won its second World Cup title in a match that was interrupted by an on-field protest during ...

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Novak Djokovic beats Kevin Anderson to win fourth Wimbledon, first Slam in two years

Novak Djokovic was disconsolate and injured when he left Wimbledon a year ago, quitting during his quarterfinal because of a painful right elbow that would ...

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Cardinals fire manager Mike Matheny with club near .500

The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t accustomed to stretches of mediocrity, and certainly not to reports of clubhouse unrest.The prospect of a third straight year without ...

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Manny Pacquiao KOs Lucas Matthysse in seventh to reach 60 wins

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao clinched his 60th victory Sunday with a seventh-round knockout of Argentinian Lucas Matthysse, his first stoppage in nine years.Pacquiao, 39, ...

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Mitakeumi reaches midway point of Nagoya Basho with perfect record

Sekiwake Mitakeumi maintained his perfect record and the sole lead Sunday, the midway point of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.Mitakeumi (8-0) defeated No. 2 ...

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Xander Bogaerts lifts Red Sox with walk-off grand slam

Xander Bogaerts relaxed to the beat of his favorite walk-up song. Three pitches later, he was stunned by excitement rounding the bases.Bogaerts hit a game-ending ...

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Torres hopes to put Tosu on map

Fernando Torres wants to put the small southwestern city of Tosu on the soccer map, the former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool striker said Sunday.Speaking at ...

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Samoa cruises past Germany to punch ticket for 2019 RWC

Samoa qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup after beating Germany 42-28 for the second time in their two-leg playoff on Saturday.Samoa won the first ...

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Novak Djokovic outlasts Rafael Nadal to reach Wimbledon final

From the way Novak Djokovic repeatedly smacked his racket against his shoe after one miss, to the shouts directed at himself and his coach after ...

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Steady Angelique Kerber beats Serena Williams in Wimbledon final

Angelique Kerber was so steady, so patient, so accurate throughout the Wimbledon final. She never really gave Serena Williams much of a chance.Kerber won her ...

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Belgium has best World Cup showing, beats England by 2-0 to secure third-place finish

Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to secure its best-ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate’s ...

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PL ends scoreless tie in fifth, wraps up two-game NPB All-Star Series sweep

The Pacific League completed a two-game sweep of the NPB All-Star Series with a 5-1 win over the Central League on Saturday night.While both teams ...

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Mitakeumi improves to 7-0, maintains lead

Sekiwake Mitakeumi stayed unbeaten Saturday to hold onto the sole lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.Fighting in his ninth-straight tournament among the three sanyaku ...

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Groenewegen wins seventh Tour stage

Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen beat favorites Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan in a sprint to win the longest stage of the Tour de France on ...

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Vegas gives Marc-Andre Fleury a three-year extension

The Golden Knights agreed to terms Friday with three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-Andre Fleury on a three-year contract extension worth an average of $7 ...

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Chelsea hires Maurizio Sarri as new manager

Chelsea hired Maurizio Sarri as its manager on a three-year contract on Saturday, bringing in a headstrong coach known for his expansive, attacking approach to ...

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Veteran reliever Junichi Tazawa signs minor league deal with Angels

Junichi Tazawa has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, the American League club announced Friday.The 32-year-old right-hander, who was released by ...

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Boston’s win streak ends at 10

The streak had to end some time.Rick Porcello just didn’t want it to be his fault. Justin Smoak homered and Kevin Pillar hit a two-run ...

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Chris Coleman wins 100 meters at Diamond League meet in return from injury

American Chris Coleman signaled a return to form and fitness on Friday by edging out compatriots Ronnie Baker and Noah Lyles to win a thrilling ...

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France relaxed ahead of World Cup final vs. Croatia

If Antoine Griezmann’s jocular demeanor is anything to go by, France is far from overawed by the prospect of playing in the World Cup final ...

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Kevin Anderson prevails in marathon semifinal over John Isner at Wimbledon

To say that Kevin Anderson won this interminable Wimbledon semifinal, and that John Isner lost it, didn’t really seem fair. To Anderson, anyway.They had played ...

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PL edges CL in woeful All-Star return for Matsuzaka

Back-to-back RBI singles in the seventh inning by Alfredo Despaigne and Hotaka Yamakawa lifted the Pacific League to a 7-6 victory over the Central League ...

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Challenger Vic Saludar outpoints Ryuya Yamanaka to claim WBO minimumweight title

Ryuya Yamanaka was unable to defend his WBO minimumweight title on Friday night, relinquishing the crown to Filipino challenger Vic Saludar in a unanimous decision.Yamanaka ...

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Reds clobber Sunwolves in season finale

The Sunwolves’ 2018 Super Rugby season came to a close in controversy Friday as they lost 48-27 to the Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.For the ...

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Mana Iwabuchi, Nahomi Kawasumi among Nadeshiko Japan’s 23 call-ups for Tournament of Nations

The Japan Football Association on Friday named a 23-woman squad for the upcoming Tournament of Nations, with veteran forward Nahomi Kawasumi and Asian Cup MVP ...

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Chelsea parts ways with manager Antonio Conte after two years

Antonio Conte’s protracted divorce from Chelsea was finalized on Friday when he was fired after a two-year tenure in which he won the English Premier ...

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Injured Kakuryu pulls out; Mitakeumi still unbeaten

Ozeki Tochinoshin suffered his first loss at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday, leaving sekiwake Mitakeumi the only wrestler at the meet with a ...

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Future bright for England after trip to semis

There are two ways of looking at England in the 2018 World Cup. By almost unanimous agreement, England overachieved by reaching the semifinals and, because ...

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USOC hires golf executive Sarah Hirshland as CEO

Sarah Hirshland’s biggest coup to date as a sports executive was brokering the billion-dollar deal that moved the TV home of golf’s U.S. Open from ...

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Blackhawks unload Marian Hossa’s contract in blockbuster trade with Coyotes

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded Marian Hossa and Vinnie Hinostroza in a blockbuster deal with the Arizona Coyotes, parting with a promising young forward in ...

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Ex-Knicks forward Charles Oakley arrested at Las Vegas casino

Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley is being accused of gambling fraud after a wager at a Las Vegas casino last weekend, casino regulators ...

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Nets agree to trade Jeremy Lin to Hawks: source

Jeremy Lin’s injury-plagued stint in Brooklyn is over.The Nets have agreed to trade Lin to the Atlanta Hawks, a person with knowledge of the deal ...

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Albert Pujols ties Ken Griffey Jr. with 630th career home run

On a night when Albert Pujols moved up the career home run ladder, rookie teammate David Fletcher grabbed onto the bottom rung.Pujols hit two home ...

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Daniel Martin captures sixth stage as Greg Van Avermaet retains lead

Daniel Martin of Ireland won an uphill finish to claim Stage 6 of the Tour de France on Thursday, while Greg Van Avermaet kept the ...

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Regular routine keeps Carp reliever Jay Jackson in groove

Jay Jackson likes being a relief pitcher. He also likes being a relief pitcher in Japan, which is convenient, since the 30-year-old is in the ...

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Exclusive: Jin’s move to train with Hanyu, Orser in Toronto not happening

Two-time world bronze medalist Jin Boyang of China will not be permanently relocating to Toronto to train with Yuzuru Hanyu under renowned coach Brian Orser, ...

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Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber to meet in Wimbledon final

Yes, this will be Serena Williams’ 10th Wimbledon final. Yes, it’s her 30th title match at any major. And, well, sure, she’s widely regarded as ...

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Underdog status suits Croatia perfectly for World Cup final

A billion-dollar assembly of stars makes France the favorite for the World Cup final, a scenario that Dejan Lovren is pitching as perfect for Croatia’s ...

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Angelique Kerber storms into second Wimbledon final with quick demolition of Jelena Ostapenko

Angelique Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in just 67 minutes on ...

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Takashi Inui aims to be key contributor for Real Betis

A week after returning to Japan following Samurai Blue’s round-of-16 defeat to Belgium at the World Cup, Takashi Inui said Thursday the next step is ...

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Vissel striker Lukas Podolski expected to miss six weeks with left-foot injury

Vissel Kobe striker Lukas Podolski will be out for roughly six weeks after injuring his left foot during training in June, the team announced on ...

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Abi hands Kakuryu second loss in Nagoya

Up-and-coming youngster Abi caused an upset Thursday at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament by handing yokozuna Kakuryu his second loss.In the final bout on Day ...

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Dominant Kenta Maeda helps Dodgers hold off rival Padres

Kenta Maeda pitched effectively into the sixth inning and Matt Kemp, Logan Forsythe and Chris Taylor each delivered an RBI single as the Los Angeles ...

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Angels hurler Shohei Ohtani awaits re-evaluation of pitching elbow

Los Angeles Angels hurler Shohei Ohtani, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right pitching elbow last month, will be re-evaluated by team physicians ...

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Naoya Inoue to compete in upcoming World Boxing Super Series

Naoya Inoue will battle some of the best bantamweights from around the globe in a World Boxing Super Series tournament starting this fall, organizers announced ...

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Sabres add Steve Smith to coaching staff

Buffalo Sabres coach Phil Housley has hired Steve Smith to his staff, it was announced Wednesday.Smith was a three-time Stanley Cup winner in Edmonton during ...

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Former UCLA, Japan pro basketball player Billy Knight dies in suicide after abuse charges

The basketball world is mourning the passing of Billy Knight. The death of the former UCLA basketball shooting guard, whose long overseas career included stints ...

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NFL veteran Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones assaulted at Atlanta airport: police

Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones fought off an Atlanta airport employee who was charged with battery after starting an altercation with the NFL ...

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Peter Sagan clinches another stage win

Slovakia’s Peter Sagan clinched his second stage win of the 2018 Tour de France on Wednesday, beating Sonny Colbrelli and Philippe Gilbert at the uphill ...

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Kei Nishikori bows out in four sets in Wimbledon quarterfinals

Kei Nishikori bowed out of Wimbledon on Wednesday after losing to Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.The loss marks the end of ...

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Olympic gold medalist skier Kikkan Randall reveals breast cancer diagnosis

Kikkan Randall, who this year teamed with Jessie Diggins to win the United States’ first-ever cross-country skiing Olympic gold medal, announced on Wednesday she is ...

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Former Michigan State, Detroit Lions coach Darryl Rogers dies at 83

Darryl Rogers, who coached Michigan State to a share of the Big Ten title in 1978 and later took the helm for the Detroit Lions, ...

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Lakers landing LeBron is ‘ultimate validation’

Rob Pelinka says the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t trying to beat the Golden State Warriors at their own game.Instead, they’re building a team around LeBron ...

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Croatia in World Cup final for first time, scotches England’s bid with 2-1 win

Croatia’s legs seemed heavy, burdened by the accumulated toll of consecutive penalty-kicks wins needed to get this far. England had gone ahead with a free ...

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Kei Nishikori bows out of Wimbledon after losing to Novak Djokovic in quarter-finals

Japan’s Kei Nishikori bowed out of Wimbledon on Wednesday after losing to Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarter finals of ...

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Third-inning outburst carries Lions past Marines

The Pacific League-leading Seibu Lions scored six runs in the third inning Wednesday night on the way to an 8-4 victory over the Chiba Lotte ...

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Former Laker Sasha Vujacic helping launch Saga Ballooners

The Saga Ballooners look to literally launch a big balloon with the help of a former NBA player in order to eventually become a major ...

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Bob and Bobby Nash reunite on Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka

After an ultra-successful 2017-18 season that concluded with the B. League second-division winner’s trophy, the Rizing Fukuoka Zephyr have added valuable experience to their coaching ...

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Kakuryu suffers first defeat; injured Hakuho pulls out of Nagoya Basho

Yokozuna Kakuryu suffered his first defeat after an upset loss to Ikioi on Wednesday, the fourth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.Kakuryu (3-1) was ...

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Tennis legend Billie Jean King supports opposition to IAAF hormone policy

Billie Jean King is among more than 60 athletes urging international track and field’s governing body to rescind its new standard on natural hormone levels ...

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Tony Brown shakes up lineup before Sunwolves’ season finale

Sunwolves stand-in head coach Tony Brown made five changes and two positional switches Wednesday as his side gets set for their final Super Rugby game ...

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Teen Jo Azuchi rides waves to Shonan Open victory

Teenager Jo Azuchi on Wednesday won the Shonan Open, a World Surf League men’s Qualifying Series event held at Kugenuma Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture.Despite inconsistent ...

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Hajime Moriyasu emerges as top coaching candidate for Japan national team

Hajime Moriyasu, who will coach Japan’s men’s team during the soccer competition at the 2020 Olympics, is the top candidate to manage the full national ...

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Newcomer Fernando Gaviria claims second stage victory at Tour de France

Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan have turned the first four days of the Tour de France into an enthralling duel of rising star versus world ...

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Yankees fall against Orioles in Tanaka’s return from DL

Masahiro Tanaka returned from the disabled list to start for the first time in a month on Tuesday, but the Baltimore Orioles spoiled his comeback ...

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Serena rallies into Wimbledon quarterfinals

There are moments in which nothing at all seems different about Serena Williams, moments such as when she unleashed a 175-kph service winner to even ...

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Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid for Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving Real Madrid to join Italian club Juventus in a move expected to benefit the Portugal forward’s tax return.Juventus said Tuesday it ...

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Belgium’s golden generation falls short again at World Cup

Belgium’s golden generation has come up short at a major tournament. Again.With Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard in fantastic form creating chances for themselves ...

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France edges Belgium to reach World Cup final

They’re young, they’re brash and they’re collectively worth a billion dollars. The one thing missing for this French squad is an international title.Kylian Mbappe, Paul ...

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Naoyuki Uwasawa, Fighters maintain mastery over Hawks

When Naoyuki Uwasawa wasn’t on the mound doing his part to hold down the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters starter was busy ...

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Fighters outfielder Taishi Ota receives fan vote for All-Star Series, but out with hand injury

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Taishi Ota was announced as the Pacific League winner of the All-Star Series’ plus one fan vote a little after ...

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Toledo Mud Hens release reliever Junichi Tazawa

The Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens released right-hander Junichi Tazawa on Monday after he played for them for just over a month.The 32-year-old veteran reliever, who ...

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Yokozuna stay unbeaten at Nagoya Basho

Yokozuna Kakuryu and Hakuho, along with newly promoted ozeki Tochinoshin, each continued their winning streak on Tuesday, the third day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo ...

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Veteran striker Fernando Torres accepts offer to join Sagan Tosu

Former Spain striker Fernando Torres has agreed to join Sagan Tosu, the J. League club said Tuesday.The first-division team announced that the 34-year-old, who had ...

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Steve Sarkisian loses $30 million lawsuit against USC over firing

Former University of Southern California football coach Steve Sarkisian has lost a $30 million lawsuit that claimed he was improperly fired by the school instead ...

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New first for Kei Nishikori, but clock ticking on bid for major title

Up until the midway point of the second set of his fourth-round match with Ernests Gulbis, it appeared Manic Monday was going to get the ...

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Nishikori battles into quarterfinals

Kei Nishikori clinched victory in the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career on Monday after surviving a tough test against ...

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Hanyu set for Helsinki, Cup of Russia

Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will begin his Grand Prix season in Helsinki at the GP that is replacing the Cup of China, according to ...

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England’s set-piece mastery reaping rewards

Forget bending them like Beckham. At this World Cup, it has been a case of teasing them in like Trippier and angling them in like ...

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JFA chief Kozo Tashima says Jurgen Klinsmann hasn’t been contacted about coaching post

Japan Football Association president Kozo Tashima on Tuesday denied reports claiming that the governing body has contacted former Germany and U.S. boss Jurgen Klinsmann regarding ...

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Lineup switch pays off for Pirates in victory over Nationals

Looking for a spark to get his offense going, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a change to the top of his batting order by stacking ...

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Anaheim Ducks to retire numbers of Hall of Famers Paul Kariya, Scott Niedermayer

The Anaheim Ducks will retire the numbers of Paul Kariya and Scott Niedermayer during the upcoming season.Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli announced the honors ...

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Luis Enrique hired as Spain’s new coach

Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has signed a two-year deal to take charge of Spain.He replaces Julen Lopetegui, who was fired on the eve of ...

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BMC beats Sky to capture team time trial

Chris Froome’s Team Sky came up four seconds short of winning the team time trial in the third stage of the Tour de France on ...

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Nishikori predicts ‘war’ with Djokovic at Wimbledon, hopes elbow cooperates in quarter-finals

Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man in 23 years to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday and then predicted a “war” with Novak Djokovic ...

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Kohei Arihara, Haruki Nishikawa lead way as Fighters rout Hawks

Kohei Arihara was impressive over seven innings and Haruki Nishikawa drove in four runs to lead the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to a 10-1 victory ...

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Peter Sagan wins Stage 2 of Tour de France,

A year after leaving the Tour de France in disgrace, Peter Sagan earned the race’s yellow jersey on Sunday after doing what he does best: ...

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Padres pitcher Kazuhisa Makita sent to minors for fourth time in 2018

A day after being recalled, Kazuhisa Makita was sent down to the minors for the fourth time in his major league debut season, the San ...

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Vettel overcomes pain to hold off Hamilton

After laboring with neck pain on Saturday, Sebastian Vettel found the perfect tonic 24 hours later — matching Alain Prost’s total of 51 Grand Prix ...

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Tigers should consider trading pitcher Shintaro Fujinami

The Hanshin Tigers should trade pitcher Shintaro Fujinami.Yes, that Shintaro Fujinami. The fire-balling right-hander who dominated at Koshien Stadium during Osaka Toin’s run to the ...

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Big names shine on second day of Nagoya Basho

Newly promoted ozeki Tochinoshin rolled to another victory on Monday, the second day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.Yokozuna duo Hakuho and Kakuryu also remained ...

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B. League releases schedule for upcoming 2018-19 season

The B. League is keeping its feet moving forward as it prepares for its third year, hoping to broaden basketball’s appeal among the public.On Monday, ...

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MLB reveals rosters for All-Star Game; Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas named to NL squad

Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts form a dream outfield for the American League. Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer make up a not-so-gracious welcome ...

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Kim Sei-young eclipses record in win; Nasa Hataoka finishes 29th

Nasa Hataoka finished in a tie for 29th place on Sunday after finishing 18 shots behind South Korea’s Kim Sei-young, who eclipsed the LPGA’s 72-hole ...

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France holds no hard feelings over Henry’s role with Belgium

Thierry Henry might be working as an assistant coach for Belgium, but his place in the pantheon of French soccer is secure, and there will ...

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Shohei Ohtani lifts Angels with first pinch-hit home run

Shohei Ohtani’s versatility was on display again Sunday.The two-way star launched a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning that sent Andrew Heaney and the ...

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Teenage prospect Kaito Yuki targets major league career after choosing Royals over Koshien

Sixteen-year-old pitcher Kaito Yuki, who signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, said Sunday he chose turning pro over playing high school ...

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Shogo Akiyama leads Lions to extra-innings victory over Eagles

Shogo Akiyama hit an 11th-inning, tie-breaking home run Sunday, lifting the Seibu Lions to a 4-3 extra-inning victory over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.In front ...

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Kakuryu makes winning start at Nagoya Basho in quest for third straight title

Yokozuna Kakuryu, looking for his third straight championship, was dominating on Sunday, the first day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.The Mongolian managed to corral ...

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Mark Reynolds’ career night leads Nationals past Marlins

Mark Reynolds may have sent his manager toward a sleepless night.How is Dave Martinez supposed to rest when he’s got to figure out whether Reynolds’ ...

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England’s World Cup run causing huge stir at home

So often the source of letdowns and embarrassments, England’s soccer team is a unifying force among players and the nation.At least in some sections of ...

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Padres recall Kazuhisa Makita from minors

The San Diego Padres said they have called up right-hander Kazuhisa Makita from the minors Saturday, the day after the National League team optioned the ...

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Dodgers place Kenta Maeda on paternity list

Right-hander Kenta Maeda was placed on the paternity list by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, a day after his wife gave birth to his ...

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Kei Nishikori moves into fourth round at Wimbledon but Naomi Osaka bows out

Kei Nishikori advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon on Saturday with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over Australian Nick Kyrgios.But on a day ...

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Croatia ends Russia’s run toward the World Cup semifinals

Nyet this time.Although Russia made it further at this year’s World Cup than most anyone expected, it was Croatia that advanced to the semifinals with ...

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Bringing it home? England beats Sweden 2-0 to earn spot in World Cup semifinals

England achieved something David Beckham’s generation never managed: It reached the semifinals of the World Cup.Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored with headers in a ...

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Marines’ Mike Bolsinger stifles Fighters, wins 10th straight start

Former Los Angeles Dodger Mike Bolsinger allowed just a run en route to winning his 10th straight start as the Chiba Lotte Marines trounced the ...

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Waratahs pulverize Sunwolves, advance to Super Rugby playoffs

The New South Wales Waratahs clinched first place in Super Rugby’s Australian Conference in emphatic fashion on Saturday with a 77-25 win over the Sunwolves.The ...

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Royals, 16-year-old pitcher Kaito Yuki hammer out minor league deal

The Kansas City Royals have agreed with 16-year-old pitcher Kaito Yuki on the terms of a minor league contract, sources said Saturday.Yuki, who represented Japan ...

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USA Basketball selects nine coaches to assist Gregg Popovich at national team minicamp

USA Basketball has picked its lineup of coaches to assist Gregg Popovich at the men’s national team minicamp in Las Vegas this month.Of the nine ...

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Giants fire outfielder Takahiro Kakizawa for stealing, selling teammates’ equipment

The Yomiuri Giants have terminated the contract of minor league outfielder Takahiro Kakizawa for stealing from teammates and selling their equipment, the Central League club ...

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Buffaloes acquire pitchers Akira Iwamoto, Donn Roach

The Orix Buffaloes have acquired former Hanshin Tigers pitcher Akira Iwamoto and former Chicago White Sox minor leaguer Donn Roach, the Pacific League club announced ...

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Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto receives contract extension

The Seattle Mariners signed general manager Jerry Dipoto to a multiyear contract extension on Friday, a reward for the club being on track to end ...

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Venus goes out as Federer, Serena move to 4th round

Venus Williams became the latest former champion to be knocked out at Wimbledon.Her sister Serena is still going strong, though, after overcoming her toughest test ...

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Shohei Ohtani, Angels stage late rally over Dodgers

The Los Angeles Angels used a two-out walk by Shohei Ohtani and a throwing error on Yasiel Puig to rally for a dramatic 3-2 victory ...

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Watanabe solid in Vegas debut

Undrafted free agent Yuta Watanabe had a solid NBA Summer League debut for the Brooklyn Nets on Friday in Las Vegas.Watanabe, who came off the ...

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Former NBA big forward Clifford Rozier dies at 45

Former NBA player Clifford Rozier has died following a heart attack. He was 45.Rozier’s brother, Kobie Rozier, posted on Facebook that Clifford Rozier had been ...

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Japan’s Gotoku Sakai retires from international duty

Defender Gotoku Sakai has become the third Japanese player to retire from international duty on the heels of the squad’s heartbreaking World Cup exit following ...

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Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka returning to pitching rotation next week

New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who has been on the disabled list with strains in both hamstrings, is scheduled to start next week, Yankees ...

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Japan still in hunt for 2020 berth

Kaz NagatsukaEveryone that is associated with the Japan men’s national team and its fans breathed a huge sigh of relief after it managed to book ...

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Kakuryu favored in Nagoya

Even without rival yokozuna Kisenosato in the mix, Kakuryu is going to be hard pressed to extend his championship streak to three at the Nagoya ...

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France beats Uruguay to reaches World Cup semifinals

A shot that flew directly at the hands of the opposing goalkeeper turned into a World Cup goal for Antoine Griezmann.The France striker scored the ...

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Belgium eliminates Brazil from World Cup to reach semifinals

Belgium reached the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 32 years by holding off five-time champion Brazil 2-1 Friday, sending Neymar home without ...

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Giants’ Tomoyuki Sugano makes complete turnaround against Carp

Tomoyuki Sugano had a week to stew over his poor performance in his last game against the Hiroshima Carp.When he got another shot at them, ...

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Eagles offer GM position to former pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles have offered to make former big league pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii the team’s general manager, the club president Yozo Tachibana revealed ...

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Kento Momota books spot in Indonesia Open semifinals

Kento Momota beat Indonesian shuttler Tommy Sugiarto 21-11, 21-15 at the Indonesia Open quarterfinals on Friday as he dominated his injured hometown rival.The 23-year-old’s victory ...

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Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber undergoes arthroscopic surgery on right knee

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will be out for an extended period after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right ...

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Noah Lyles clocks 19.69 to win 200 meters in Lausanne

American sprinter Noah Lyles matched a season’s best time of 19.69 seconds in the men’s 200 meters as Birhanu Balew won a 5,000 marred by ...

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Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette offers to pay tuition for LSU student/trainer

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette made a kind gesture to a Louisiana State student and trainer this week, offering to pay the woman’s tuition.Jhane ...

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Sprinter Masashi Eriguchi expected to retire: sources

Masashi Eriguchi, a four-time national champion in the men’s 100 meters, plans to retire soon, sources said Thursday.Eriguchi, whose personal best time is 10.07 seconds ...

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Raiders’ Gareon Conley sues rape accuser: TMZ Sports

Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley has filed a lawsuit against the woman who accused him of raping her in 2017, according to a report from ...

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Blue Jackets re-sign Boone Jenner to four-year contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed forward Boone Jenner to a four-year, $15 million contract, locking up a player who has been a stalwart presence in ...

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Ayako Uehara cards 7-under 65 in opening round at Thornberry Creek

Ayako Uehara posted a 7-under-par 65 to finish three shots adrift of leader Katherine Kirk after the first round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic ...

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Nationals overcome 9-0 deficit, defeat Marlins in slugfest

The Washington Nationals are far from finished. Not after briefly slipping below .500 this week. And, certainly not after spotting the Miami Marlins the first ...

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Cavaliers reportedly open to trading away Kevin Love

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is on the trading block, according to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic.One of the possible destinations is the Los Angeles ...

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England striker Jamie Vardy doubtful for Sweden match due to injury

England forward Jamie Vardy is “looking doubtful” for the World Cup quarterfinal against Sweden on Saturday after suffering a groin strain having come on as ...

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Warren Cromartie featured in new series on YouTube

Warren Cromartie was a star for the Montreal Expos and a league MVP and Japan Series champion (both in 1989) with the Yomiuri Giants.Now the ...

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Kei Nishikori, Naomi Osaka into third round at Wimbledon

Kei Nishikori recovered after a poor start to make it past Australian Bernard Tomic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 in a thrilling match on Thursday ...

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BayStars’ Shota Imanaga works out of first-inning jam, earns first victory since June 10

Yokohama BayStars manager Alex Ramirez has been asking to see pitcher Shota Imanaga’s fighting spirit all season. Once he saw the left-hander escape an early ...

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Naomi Osaka advances to third round at Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka cruised to a straight-sets, second-round victory at Wimbledon on Thursday.Osaka, seeded 18th and ranked 18th in the world, beat Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-3, ...

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Sunwolves’ stand-in coach Tony Brown calls on some marquee players for Waratahs clash

Sunwolves stand-in head coach Tony Brown recalled some big guns Thursday for the Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.Michael ...

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Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua lines up pair of fights at Wembley Stadium

World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s next two fights are at Wembley Stadium in September and April.Joshua will defend his WBA, IBF and WBO belts there ...

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Japan’s World Cup team: A not so spotless record

National team captain Makoto Hasebe revealed Thursday that it was the team’s staff — not the players — who were responsible for leaving the dressing ...

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Real Madrid denies making lucrative offer to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain

Real Madrid has denied reaching an agreement to sign France forward Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain.The Spanish club released a statement Wednesday calling reports of ...

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Nishino to pass torch as manager

National team manager Akira Nishino predicted Thursday that Japan will improve on its 2018 World Cup performance by reaching the quarterfinals in 2022, but he ...

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Basketball officials from Australia, Philippines apologize for brawl in World Cup qualifier

Basketball officials from Australia and the Philippines have issued a joint apology for the vicious brawl during a FIBA World Cup qualifier on Monday that ...

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Kisenosato to miss eighth straight meet

Kisenosato will withdraw from the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, extending his streak of missed events to a yokozuna-record eight meets, his stablemaster Tagonoura said ...

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani provides spark against Mariners

Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-4 and scored two runs on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4 to even the three-game series ...

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Going up not only challenge for competitors in climbing

After capturing the women’s title at the inaugural Combined Japan Cup on June 24, Akiyo Noguchi insisted she needed to sleep a lot to restore ...

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FIFA condemns Diego Maradona’s remarks about referee for England-Colombia match

FIFA condemned comments by Diego Maradona on Wednesday, after the Argentine legend claimed that Colombia only lost to England in the World Cup last 16 ...

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Brazil looks to end hopes of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has admitted he has no secrets as he plots to end Brazil’s bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup ahead of ...

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Roger Federer cruises, Caroline Wozniacki loses at Wimbledon

Roger Federer extended his flawless winning streak at Wimbledon to 26 consecutive sets as the defending champion crushed Lukas Lacko, while Serena Williams powered to ...

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Globetrotting Rickert reaches end of the line

After a decade and a half as a globetrotting pro basketball player, Rick Rickert has decided that it’s time to begin the next phase of ...

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Resurgent Kris Johnson leads Carp past Swallows

Kris Johnson worked into the ninth to pitch the Central League-leading Hiroshima Carp to a 4-2 win over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Wednesday.Johnson, the ...

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Wimbledon official says Roger Federer didn’t break any rules with Uniqlo reveal

Wimbledon’s commercial director has no issues with Roger Federer pulling off a marketing coup on Centre Court.Federer drew headlines around the world when he walked ...

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Brazil coach Tite defends Neymar against critics

Once a critic of Neymar’s antics, Brazil coach Tite now defends the demeanor of his team’s star.“Winning or losing is part of the game,” Tite ...

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Two Koreas begin basketball friendlies in latest peace gesture

The rival Koreas on Wednesday began two days of friendly basketball games in Pyongyang in their latest goodwill gesture amid a diplomatic push to resolve ...

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Brave Thunders to retain name under new ownership

Now under new ownership, the Kawasaki Brave Thunders will be called … the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.DeNA Kawasaki Brave Thunders Co., Ltd., which took over as ...

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Hot reception awaits competitors in Nagoya

Sumo makes its yearly stop in steamy Nagoya starting Sunday, with Kakuryu aiming for a third straight title at the only venue where he has ...

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Shohei Ohtani returns to Angels’ lineup

The Los Angeles Angels activated two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and used him as the designated hitter in their game ...

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Luis Suarez tells France’s Antoine Griezmann: Stop pretending to be Uruguayan

Luis Suarez has a message for France forward Antoine Griezmann: Stop pretending to be Uruguayan.Griezmann likes the traditional South American drink mate, he speaks Spanish ...

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Emil Forsberg leads Sweden past Switzerland

Shy, diminutive and without that distinctive ponytail, Emil Forsberg couldn’t be more different than the larger-than-life Zlatan Ibrahimovic.They share an ability to conjure something out ...

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England finally wins World Cup penalty shootout to advance to quarterfinals

After three haunting failures, England finally won a penalty shootout at the World Cup.And it happened under a coach who for 22 years has taken ...

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Former champions Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova crash out at Wimbledon

These are not the sorts of matches Maria Sharapova is supposed to lose, letting lead after lead slip away Tuesday against a qualifier ranked 132nd ...

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Japan captain Makoto Hasebe announces international retirement

Japan captain Makoto Hasebe announced Tuesday he is retiring from the national team, a day after the Samurai Blue were knocked out of the World ...

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Reigning women’s champ Garbine Muguruza, men’s No. 24 seed Kei Nishikori among first-round winners at Wimbledon

Defending women’s champion Garbine Muguruza booked a place in the second round with a 6-2, 7-5 victory on Tuesday over British wildcard Naomi Broady at ...

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Lions hurler Ken Togame dominates in victory over Fighters

Right-hander Ken Togame pitched 7-2/3 strong innings and Takeya Nakamura went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the Seibu Lions’ 5-2 win over the Hokkaido Nippon ...

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Capitals star Alex Ovechkin bringsStanley Cup to World Cup

Alex Ovechkin is bringing the Stanley Cup to the World Cup.Fresh off winning the NHL title, the Washington Capitals forward is continuing his summer-long victory ...

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Flashy Brazil relying on balance, rock-solid defense at World Cup

While the focus is on Neymar’s flashy scoring ability and his other antics in Russia, Brazil’s steady progression at the World Cup has solidified the ...

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Poland coach Adam Nawalka dismissed after nation’s World Cup exit

The head of the Polish Football Federation said national coach Adam Nawalka will not have his contract extended after Poland failed to advance from the ...

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Ai Miyazato turns down position as women’s golf coach for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Ai Miyazato has declined a position as national women’s team coach for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Japan Golf Association announced Tuesday.“I just retired and ...

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Keisuke Honda says he has played in final World Cup of his career

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda has hinted that he will end his international career, saying on Monday that the World Cup in Russia will be his ...

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Japan manager Akira Nishino takes blame for defeat

A “devastated” Japan coach Akira Nishino took the blame for the 3-2 loss to Belgium that knocked his team out of the World Cup on ...

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Takahashi’s return rocks skating world

One of the great aspects of covering skating in Japan is you never know what is going to happen next.That was certainly the case on ...

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DeMarcus Cousins to sign one-year deal with Warriors: report

DeMarcus Cousins, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the defending champion Golden State Warriors, according ...

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FIG president Morinari Watanabe to visit North Korea in July: sources

International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) president Morinari Watanabe is scheduled to visit Pyongyang in mid-July at the invitation of North Korea’s gymnastics association, sources said Monday.They ...

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Dodgers hammer Pirates in series opener

Matt Kemp tied a career high with five hits, Joc Pederson and Max Muncy hit back-to-back homers to highlight a six-run fourth inning, and the ...

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Surfing legend Kelly Slater to retire in 2019

Surfing giant Kelly Slater, an 11-time World Surf League champion, has announced he will end his glittering career next year.The 46-year-old American, considered the greatest ...

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Belgium outlasts Japan in a thriller

Jan Vertonghen started Belgium’s comeback with a wild, looping header and Nacer Chadli capped it by finishing off a 10-second, end-to-end attack in the final ...

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Japan trounces Taiwan, earns spot in second round of FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers

The Japan men’s national team’s quest to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is still alive.The Akatsuki Five overpowered Taiwan 108-68 in their final first-round ...

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Roger Federer, Serena Williams breeze through first round at Wimbledon

Eight-time champion Roger Federer and seven-time winner Serena Williams shrugged off 30-C heat to breeze into the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.Federer, the defending ...

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Neymar stars, infuriates as Brazil advances to quarterfinals

Flaunting his flair and his finishing touch wasn’t enough. Neymar put his theatrics on show, too.What became clear in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Mexico on ...

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Despite disappointing departure, Samurai Blue exceeded expectations at World Cup

Japan’s exit from the World Cup on Monday was soccer at its cruelest, but once the dust has settled the team will be able to ...

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Japan knocked out of World Cup after Belgium surges back in final moments to win 3-2

A 94th-minute winner by Nacer Chadli ended the World Cup dreams of Japan in heartbreaking fashion as Belgium pulled out a stunning fightback to win ...

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Chris Froome cleared of doping ahead of Tour de France

Chris Froome was cleared of doping by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Monday in a decision that could allow him to pursue a record-tying ...

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Central League manager names BayStars rookie Katsuki Azuma to All-Star roster

Yokohama BayStars rookie Katsuki Azuma was among 13 players newly named to the Central League roster by manager Koichi Ogata for this month’s All-Star games, ...

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Japan vs Belgium @ 2018 FIFA World Cup

Welcome to our live blog of the Japan vs Belgium game, which will decide who advances to the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup ...

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Final curtain falls on Spain’s celebrated ‘tika-taka’ generation

Add this to your book of Russian proverbs: He who only passes is passed.Mighty Spain dominated the field at Luzhniki Stadium and dulled the senses ...

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Wary England leaving nothing to chance against Colombia

England has projected this World Cup as a fresh start for a new generation but the team’s record of failure in penalty shootouts may not ...

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Hicks goes deep three times as Yankees hammer Red Sox

First, it was third-string catcher Kyle Higashioka getting the silent treatment in the dugout after a home run. Then, the same for Aaron Hicks when ...

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Japan manager Akira Nishino says team hasn’t practiced penalty kicks

Japan manager Akira Nishino admitted on Sunday that he has not drilled his players for a penalty shootout ahead of their World Cup round-of-16 match ...

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Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu receives People’s Honor Award

Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu was bestowed with the People’s Honor Award on Monday, becoming the youngest individual recipient of the prize.Prime ...

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Danijel Subasic makes three saves during shootout as Croatia reaches World Cup quarterfinals

Danijel Subasic saved three penalties, and Croatia’s World Cup hopes.In the second straight shootout of the tournament, the Croats advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday ...

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Host Russia extends World Cup party by eliminating Spain

Stretching every part of his body out into a star shape and diving to his right, Igor Akinfeev flicked out his left foot and kicked ...

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LeBron agrees to four-year, $154 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA’s most iconic ...

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Belgium’s Dries Mertens pays respect to Japan ahead of World Cup clash

After finishing the World Cup group phase as the top-scoring team, Belgium has every right to be confident, but forward Dries Mertens said Saturday the ...

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Olympic gold medalist gymnast Yusuke Tanaka qualifies for worlds

Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist Yusuke Tanaka defended his men’s parallel bars title on Sunday at Japan’s apparatus national championships and qualified for this ...

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Marines youngster Tomohito Sakai grounds Hawks

Tomohito Sakai allowed a run in seven innings, pitching the Chiba Lotte Marines to a 4-1 Pacific League win over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on ...

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Osaka set for second Wimbledon

This time last year, Naomi Osaka was ranked No. 59 and preparing for her Wimbledon debut while still in search of her first WTA title.A ...

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Sunwolves surge past Bulls

The Sunwolves scored four second-half tries to earn their third win of the Super Rugby season on Saturday, beating the Bulls 42-37.Hayden Parker scored a ...

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Daisuke Takahashi announces return to competition in stunner

Former world champion and Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi on Sunday announced his return to competitive figure skating after hanging up his skates in ...

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Szewinska dies at 72

Irena Szewinska, a Polish sprinter who dominated women’s athletics for two decades, winning seven Olympic medals, has died at 72.Szewinska’s husband and former coach, Janusz ...

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Uruguay sends Portugal packing

Edinson Cavani upstaged Cristiano Ronaldo, first with his head and then with his right foot, and sent Uruguay to the World Cup quarterfinals.Cavani scored twice ...

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Mbappe stars as France eliminates Argentina

What Lionel Messi has never done, 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe did twice.The quick-footed French teenager scored two goals in a five-minute span of the second half ...

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Nishino apologizes to players for tactics late in group-stage match against Poland

Japan head coach Akira Nishino revealed Saturday that he apologized to his players for making them hold onto the ball and avoid attacking late in ...

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Fernando Torres’ move to Tosu runs into trouble

Fernando Torres’ move to Japan has run into trouble after the Spanish striker failed to agree terms with J. League club Sagan Tosu, a report ...

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Nasa Hataoka drops to 23rd at Women’s PGA Championship

Nasa Hataoka shot a 1-over-par 73 and dropped to 23rd place after Saturday’s third round of the Women’s PGA Championship.Hataoka carded three birdies and four ...

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Kenta Maeda suffers fifth loss as Rockies beat Dodgers

Kenta Maeda suffered his fifth loss of the season on Saturday after yielding three runs in a seven-inning outing in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-1 ...

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