Itsuki Oda’s maiden goal lifts Kashima youngsters past Cerezo

Twenty-year-old defender Itsuki Oda scored the first goal of his professional career as Kashima Antlers beat visiting Cerezo Osaka 1-0 in the J. League on ...

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Hawks take Japan Series lead after dominant Game 4 performance at home

Akira Nakamura was kicking a ball around in center field with a teammate. Two other Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks were in the outfield pantomiming an at-bat ...

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Hakuho in doubt for Kyushu basho after first post-surgery practice

Yokozuna Hakuho appears a long shot to take part in next month’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament after practicing Wednesday for the first time following knee ...

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NFL to stage four London games in 2019 as U.K. popularity climbs

London will play host to four NFL regular-season games in 2019, an increase of one from this year, with the Jacksonville Jaguars again among the ...

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Leicester to return to action Saturday after owner’s death

Leicester’s grieving players will take to the field for the first time since the death of the club’s owner in a helicopter crash when they ...

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Djokovic wins Paris Masters opener in bid to reclaim No. 1

Novak Djokovic began his bid for a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title with a 7-5, 6-1 win against Joao Sousa in the second round on ...

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Despite Game 3 win, Hawks have plenty to fear from Carp

The game was still in progress. But some Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks fans picked up their belongings and started walking up the stairs to leave the ...

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Female gymnasts fall short of 2020 berth

Japan finished sixth in the women’s all-around team event at the world artistic gymnastics championships on Tuesday, failing to clinch a berth at the 2020 ...

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Penguins honor synagogue shooting victims

The Pittsburgh Penguins held a ceremony Tuesday to honor the victims of Saturday’s synagogue shooting in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrel Hill.The team held an ...

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FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in favor of 48-team Qatar World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was “feasible” on Wednesday, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a ...

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Sumo dominance down to heart over matter

The newly-released banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament see Hakuho back in his old familiar ‘Yokozuna 1 East’ position.It is the 48th ...

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Hawks triumph over Carp in Game 3 slugfest

Even though the game was in Fukuoka, there didn’t seem to be much difference in the number of Hiroshima Carp fans and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ...

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Kengo Kawamata scores lone goal as Jubilo top Bellmare to end seven-game winless streak

Kengo Kawamata struck ahead of halftime as Jubilo Iwata broke a seven-game winless streak to beat Shonan Bellmare 1-0 on Tuesday.The clash at Yamaha Stadium, ...

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SeaHorses edge Lakestars, extend winning streak to five

The SeaHorses Mikawa are on a roll.After an 0-5 start this season, longtime coach Kimikazu Suzuki’s club now has a .500 winning percentage. The SeaHorses ...

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Shoma Uno, Mako Yamashita stake claims for GP Final spots

Shoma Uno looked in midseason form as he rallied to victory at Skate Canada on Saturday in Laval, Quebec.The Olympic and world silver medalist was ...

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Real Madrid fires coach Julen Lopetegui after defeat to Barcelona

In just months, Julen Lopetegui has lost two of the most high-profile coaching jobs in the world.Lopetegui was finally fired by Real Madrid on Monday, ...

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Takanoiwa drops lawsuit against ex-yokozuna Harumafuji over assault

Wrestler Takanoiwa on Tuesday dropped a damages suit filed against former yokozuna Harumafuji for an assault last year, saying his family in Mongolia has been ...

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Cavaliers’ coaching situation still unclear after Tyronn Lue’s firing

After an emotional day and restless night, Larry Drew went back to work.He organized practice, met with stunned players still reeling from Tyronn Lue’s firing ...

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Browns fire coach Hue Jackson a day after team’s 25th straight road loss

Hue Jackson’s failed, flawed tenure with the Cleveland Browns is finally over.The team fired its embattled coach on Monday, ending a run of futility nearly ...

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Naomi Osaka needs more consistency next season

Naomi Osaka made her Centre Court debut in July at Wimbledon and looked every bit the part of a player who wasn’t ready for prime ...

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Japan claims team bronze at worlds

Japan secured a 2020 Tokyo Olympic berth in the men’s gymnastics team event by finishing third at the world championships in Doha on Monday.Japan, led ...

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Patriots cruise by Bills

Devin McCourty returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown, and the New England Patriots’ defense smothered the Buffalo Bills’ anemic offense in a 25-6 ...

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Warriors’ Klay Thompson buries record 14 3s in rout of Bulls

Klay Thompson popped to the wing off a screen from Stephen Curry, caught the pass from Kevin Durant and dribbled to his left before launching ...

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NHL partners with MGM on betting data

The NHL announced a multiyear agreement Monday to provide MGM Resorts International with data for use in betting, the second major U.S. professional sports league ...

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Kenta Maeda, Hideki Matsui to appear in MLB All-Star series

MLBKYODO Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda was added Monday to the major league all-star team that will take on Samurai Japan next month, while ...

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Giants’ Tomoyuki Sugano wins second straight Sawamura Award

Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano was named winner of the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award on Monday for the second straight year.The 29-year-old is the first ...

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Kei Nishikori upset by Kevin Anderson in Erste Bank Open final

Kei Nishikori was denied his first ATP Tour title in two years and eight months when he was defeated 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) by No. 2 ...

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Review blasts Cricket Australia’s win-at-all-costs approach

Cricket Australia has been described as arrogant and bent on winning at all costs in a review of its culture and governance commissioned after the ...

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Bombs away as Warriors win long-ball shootout over Nets

Stephen Curry set an NBA record after draining seven three pointers en route to a 35-point performance as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Brooklyn ...

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Hawks positive despite slow start to Japan Series

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks wrapped up the first two games of the 2018 Japan Series without any wins.But they remain positive after avoiding two losses. ...

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SoftBank hopes for home advantage as Japan Series shifts to Fukuoka

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are finally back home.After a prolonged period of playing on the road, the Hawks returned to Fukuoka on Monday as the ...

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Lewis Hamilton wins fifth Formula One title

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth world championship on Sunday to draw level with Juan Manuel Fangio in the Formula One record books when he finished ...

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Hakuho in prime position to claim 42nd title in Fukuoka

Mongolian Hakuho will go into next month’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the summit of the sport’s mountain in the top east yokozuna slot, according ...

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Retired ‘Ai-chan’ leaves table tennis in good hands

On the announcement of her retirement, four-time table tennis Olympian Ai Fukuhara said that by paving the way for Japan’s new generation of stars, she ...

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Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri sets NFL scoring record

Adam Vinatieri has made plenty of tougher kicks in his career. The two last-second field goals to win Super Bowls, a 45-yarder through the snow ...

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Postseason superhero Kris Johnson pitches Carp to victory

Kris Johnson took the mound in front of the Hiroshima Carp’s red-clad fans and threw warmup tosses. His usual warmup music, the song “White Ranger ...

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Leicester City owner confirmed dead after helicopter crash

Leicester City’s owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in a helicopter crash along with four others on Saturday evening outside the English Premier League club’s stadium in ...

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Dominant Red Sox clinch World Series in five games

The quest is complete. Yes, these 2018 Red Sox really are that great.David Price proved his postseason mettle, Steve Pearce homered twice and Boston beat ...

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Rey de Oro’s final sprint gives Lemaire third straight win

Rey de Oro thundered down the final stretch to win the Autumn Tenno-Sho at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.French jockey Christophe Lemaire guided the four-year-old colt, ...

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B-Corsairs run out of steam in loss to Sunrockers

The Yokohama B-Corsairs played a stellar first half on Sunday afternoon, building a sizable lead against the Sunrockers Shibuya.Facing a 15-point deficit, the hosts then ...

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Seiya Suzuki drills three RBIs as Carp silence Hawks in Game 2

This time there was a winner.Kris Johnson, Seiya Suzuki and the rest of the Hiroshima Carp made sure of it. Johnson delivered a strong performance ...

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Giants may release former Red Sox closer Koji Uehara

Days after former big leaguer Koji Uehara announced he was eager to continue playing next season, the Yomiuri Giants are considering releasing the 43-year-old reliever, ...

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Jay Bothroyd nets brace as Consadole beat Grampus

Former England international Jay Bothroyd struck twice in the first half to lead visiting Consadole Sapporo to a 2-1 win over 10-man Nagoya Grampus in ...

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Tied Japan Series opener the latest new experience for Carp’s Johnny Hellweg

Johnny Hellweg’s first experience in the Japan Series didn’t exactly end the way he thought it might.Of all the scenarios the 29-year-old reliever may have ...

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Kei Nishikori cruises into Erste Bank Open final

Kei Nishikori advanced to the final of the Erste Bank Open with a straight-sets semifinal victory over Mikhail Kukushkin on Saturday.Nishikori, ranked 11th in the ...

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Japanese rugby history embedded in Hanazono

Harumi Okuno pours another batch of octopus-filled batter into the round hollows of the hot griddle and looks out of the serving hatch toward the ...

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Shoma Uno wins at Skate Canada with strong freestyle routine

Shoma Uno on Saturday won the men’s competition at Skate Canada International, while 15-year-old compatriot Mako Yamashita finished second among the women in her senior ...

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Yuta Watanabe makes NBA debut for Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe made his NBA regular season debut in a win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, becoming the first Japanese player ...

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Kenta Maeda flops in ninth as BoSox seize Game 4

Kenta Maeda was tasked with getting one out, but four ninth-inning runs scored before he could do so and it cost the Los Angeles Dodgers ...

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Leicester owner in downed chopper: report

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board a helicopter which crashed outside the club’s stadium, the BBC reported on Sunday, quoting a source close ...

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Japan Series opener ends in 12-inning tie

The winner of Game 1 of the 2018 Japan Series was, well, nobody.Although the relievers for the Hiroshima Carp and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks certainly warrant ...

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Gavin Edwards, Yuki Togashi spark Jets in triumph over Evessa

Chiba Jets Funabashi power forward Gavin Edwards made a big impact at both ends of the floor in Saturday’s series opener in Osaka.The former University ...

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Carp fans arrive hours early for opener, express never-ending support for team

Partly because it was Saturday, so many fans arrived at Mazda Stadium wearing red replica jerseys and T-shirts hours before Game 1 of the Japan ...

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Patrick Baumann’s profound impact on basketball will live on

Global basketball is a far-flung enterprise with 213 national federations and complexities that don’t easily mesh into a single entity. Successful leaders, especially at the ...

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Supporters of All Blacks, Wallabies enjoy taste of Rugby World Cup atmosphere in Yokohama

Australia and New Zealand fans are already looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup after getting a taste of the atmosphere in Saturday’s Bledisloe ...

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All Blacks get best of Wallabies

New Zealand completed a Bledisloe Cup clean sweep of Australia on Saturday with a 37-20 win.The world champion All Blacks, who had already clinched the ...

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Dodgers outlast Red Sox in 18-inning marathon

Exhausting and then exhilarating for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Max Muncy’s home run leading off the bottom of the 18th inning finally ended the longest World ...

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Bellmare capture Levain Cup

A clear autumn sky above Saitama Stadium offers endless possibilities, and that was again true on Saturday afternoon as Shonan Bellmare upset Yokohama F. Marinos ...

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Kevin Durant ignites Warriors in fourth quarter

Kevin Durant scored 25 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors manhandled the New York Knicks 128-100 Friday at ...

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Rafael Nadal to return at Paris Masters

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal is slated to make his comeback from a knee injury at the Paris Masters next week.Organizers said the 17-time Grand Slam champion ...

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Kei Nishikori reaches Erste Bank Open semifinals

Kei Nishikori advanced to the Erste Bank Open semifinals with a straight-sets victory over top seed Dominic Thiem of Austria on Friday.Fifth seed Nishikori cruised ...

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Christian Yelich, J.D. Martinez named Hank Aaron Award recipients

Yelich, Martinez win Aaron AwardMLB AP — Christian Yelich made it to the World Series, just not the way he hoped.The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted ...

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Ex-NHL president John Ziegler dies at 84

John Ziegler Jr.’s tumultuous 15 years as NHL president began with the league ushering in the Wayne Gretzky era and ended with labor unrest and ...

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Shoma Uno, Wakaba Higuchi both in second place after Skate Canada short program

Shoma Uno finished second Friday in the short program at Skate Canada , the second event of the Grand Prix season.Uno, the silver medalist at ...

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Japan’s spirited rally falls short against World XV

Japan staged a late comeback but came just short against the World XV on Friday night, losing 31-28 in a thrilling curtain raiser at the ...

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Golden Kings thwart Brave Thunders’ comeback hopes

The Ryukyu Golden Kings jumped out to a huge early lead, then hold off the visiting Kawasaki Brave Thunders in their series opener on Friday ...

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Hawks icon Seiichi Uchikawa praises teammates, dispenses wisdom on eve of Japan Series

For a long time, Seiichi Uchikawa had helped the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks be championship contenders and win championships with his phenomenal hitting skills and leadership.But ...

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Naomi Osaka retires from WTA Finals due to hamstring injury

Naomi Osaka’s WTA Finals debut ended in tears on Friday as she was forced to retire against Kiki Bertens, handing the Dutchwoman a surprise spot ...

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Capacity crowd not expected for Bledisloe Cup test

New Zealand already own the Bledisloe Cup after winning the series’ first two games, but the Wallabies will still be fully motivated for Saturday’s test.Despite ...

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Hawks’ Kodai Senga awaits chance to battle Carp, but fearful of rare hitting assignment

Kodai Senga was very matter-of-fact when asked about stepping into the batter’s box during Game 1 of the Japan Series.“I’m scared,” the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ...

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Twenty-five years after spurning NBA Jam, Michael Jordan invests in esports

A quarter century after being famously excluded from the cult favorite video game NBA Jam, Michael Jordan is investing in esports.Jordan on Thursday was announced ...

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Carp, Hawks set for Japan Series showdown

Hiroshima Carp manager Koichi Ogata and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks skipper Kimiyasu Kudo each said they hoped to put on an amazing show during the final ...

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Karolina Pliskova rolls by Petra Kvitova, books spot in semis at WTA Finals

Karolina Pliskova won the first set to eliminate Petra Kvitova, and then won the second set to advance to the semifinals at the WTA Finals.Pliskova, ...

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Penguins run roughshod over Flames

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored a lot of goals in Alberta — 15 in two games, to be exact.Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel each scored twice ...

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Rocco Baldelli named manager of Twins

Though Rocco Baldelli’s time as a player was cut short by physical ailments, his career in baseball was only beginning to take off.The mind and ...

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Jayson Tatum sparks Celtics past winless Thunder

Kyrie Irving was overthinking how to fit in.He missed last season’s playoffs after left knee surgery, and because the Boston Celtics reached the Eastern Conference ...

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Tsutomu Isa promoted, Geoffrey Katsuhisa fired as Sunrockers make coaching moves

The Sunrockers Shibuya, who have opened the season with a 1-7 record, named Tsutomu Isa their new head coach on Friday.Isa, promoted from assistant, replaces ...

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Nao Kodaira claims ninth national 500 meters title

Pyeongchang Olympic gold medalist Nao Kodaira won her ninth National Single Distance Championships title in the women’s 500 meters on Friday.Kodaira crossed the line in ...

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Capitals forward Tom Wilson’s 20-game suspension upheld by Gary Bettman

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson’s 20-game suspension for an illegal check to an opponent’s head in a preseason game was upheld by NHL commissioner Gary ...

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushing for support of new competitions despite European opposition

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is pushing for support of new competitions despite Europe’s opposition because it is his duty to protect the “relevance ...

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Texans QB Deshaun Watson throws five TDs in victory over Dolphins

This is the Deshaun Watson the Houston Texans have been waiting for all season.Watson matched his career high with five touchdown passes to lead the ...

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Yui Susaki, Haruna Okuno claim gold medals at world championships for second straight year

Yui Susaki and Haruna Okuno captured gold medals for the second straight year at the World Wrestling Championships on Thursday, but both 19-year-old Olympic hopefuls ...

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Kei Nishikori ousts Karen Khachanov to reach Erste Bank Open quarterfinals

Kei Nishikori defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Thursday to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open.World No. 11 Nishikori topped No. ...

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Versatile broadcaster Hank Greenwald, longtime voice of San Francisco Giants, dies at 83

Longtime San Francisco Giants broadcaster Hank Greenwald has died at 83.The Giants say he died Monday after battling heart and kidney complications. Greenwald spent 16 ...

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All Blacks, Wallabies announce sides for Bledisloe clash in Yokohama

The Wallabies and All Blacks named their sides Thursday for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup game at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium.Despite being a dead rubber after New ...

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Dragons secure negotiating rights with Osaka Toin’s Akira Neo

The Chunichi Dragons on Thursday secured negotiating rights with Osaka Toin High School’s Akira Neo, one of the top prospects in the NPB amateur draft.Four ...

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Stephen Curry drains 11 3s in 51-point barrage against Wizards

Stephen Curry pulled one from Michael Jordan’s old celebratory playbook and shrugged like no big deal whatsoever.Nah, not at all. Just another 3-pointer from way ...

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Maple Leafs remain perfect in away games

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their early season road dominance on Wednesday, collecting a 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets to improve to a perfect ...

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Yui Susaki, Haruna Okuno and Yukako Kawai reach weight class finals at world championships

Yui Susaki, Haruna Okuno and Yukako Kawai secured berths in their women’s weight class finals at the World Wrestling Championships on Wednesday.In her first 50-kg ...

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Former Olympic runner Izumi Maki dies of cancer at 48

Two-time Olympic long-distance runner Izumi Maki, who later served as a training adviser for Fujita Running Academy, died at her Osaka home on Oct. 18. ...

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Barcelona outclasses Inter Milan without injured Lionel Messi

His arm in a sling and a wide grin across his face, Lionel Messi was able to enjoy Barcelona’s beautiful play from the stands for ...

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Bob Nash takes over helm for Fukuoka

New Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka management decided a change was needed after the winless team’s weekend setbacks.Head coach Ryuji Kawai, who was in his second season ...

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WWE star Roman Reigns announces he has leukemia

WWE wrestler Roman Reigns says he will step away from the ring because he has leukemia.The 33-year-old Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, made ...

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Cardinals star Yadier Molina receives Roberto Clemente Award

Many around Major League Baseball rallied to help Puerto Rico after it was ravaged by Hurricane Maria last year.The efforts of one native son were ...

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Antlers to play Persepolis for ACL title

The stage is set for the AFC Champions League final following the Kashima Antlers’ wild 6-5 aggregate win over the Suwon Bluewings in the two-legged ...

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Naomi Osaka loses to Angelique Kerber, near elimination at WTA Finals

World No. 4 Naomi Osaka hopes to find a remedy for her misfiring serve after a heartbreaking three-set defeat to Angelique Kerber, a result which ...

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Price, Martinez spark Red Sox past Dodgers, to 2-0 lead in series

From playoff flop to October ace in two legacy-shifting starts, David Price earned his second postseason victory in a row and moved the Boston Red ...

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Second-division Montedio stuns Frontale in Emperor’s Cup

Second-division Montedio Yamagata weathered a second-half brace from Kei Chinen to reach the Emperor’s Cup semifinals with a 3-2 upset over visiting Kawasaki Frontale on ...

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Ambitious T. League begins play at Ryogoku Kokugikan

With the lofty ambition of eventually becoming the world’s best table tennis circuit, the T. League kicked off competition at a lavishly decorated Ryogoku Kokugikan ...

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Serginho strike sends Antlers into first Asian Champions League final

Brazilian forward Serginho scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute as Kashima Antlers reached their first-ever Asian Champions League final with a 6-5 aggregate ...

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Lakers’ Rajon Rondo denies spitting, calls Rockets’ Chris Paul ‘horrible teammate’

Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo remains steadfast that he did not intentionally spit at Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul on Saturday, which led to ...

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World XV squad set; Nonu to start

Rugby World Cup winners Andy Ellis and Ma’a Nonu and former Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss will all start Friday’s Japan Rugby Challenge Match 2018 against ...

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FIFA revamps proposal for new Club World Cup format

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is doubling down on his Club World Cup plans with a proposal for an expanded annual tournament despite European soccer’s resistance ...

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Mark McGwire won’t return as bench coach for Padres

Padres manager Andy Green says Mark McGwire won’t return as San Diego’s bench coach next season in order to spend more time with his family.McGwire, ...

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Blake Griffin scores 50 to lead Pistons past 76ers in OT

Blake Griffin has heard the critics, but the veteran forward knows it’ll take more nights like Tuesday to get where his team wants to go.Griffin ...

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Caroline Wozniacki beats Petra Kvitova for first victory at WTA Finals

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki earned her first victory at this year’s WTA Finals, beating Petra Kvitova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 on Tuesday.Elina Svitolina earned her second ...

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Sumo boasts rich history of multiculturalism

Visitors to Japan, encountering sumo for the first time, are often surprised to learn that not only are there rikishi from places as far afield ...

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Juventus adds to United’s recent woes

Even as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich returned to winning ways, Manchester United’s troubles only deepened.After again failing to arrive on time by bus for ...

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Brave Blossoms face key tests on road to 2019 World Cup

With preparations going smoothly and everything seemingly well on track off the field for a successful Rugby World Cup 2019, it’s now time to see ...

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Kawai, Mukaida take gold at championships

Rio Olympic gold medalist Risako Kawai and 2016 world champion Mayu Mukaida won their respective weight class finals at the world wrestling championships, as Japan ...

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Red Sox open Fall Classic with win

The Fenway Funhouse proved too tricky, too cold and just too much for the beach boys.Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox came ...

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All Blacks warn Australia, Japan they can still elevate their game

If Australia and Japan are to beat the All Blacks in the coming weeks when they meet in Yokohama and Tokyo, respectively, they will have ...

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Arsenal tops Leicester for 10th straight victory

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came off the bench to score twice as Arsenal beat Leicester in the Premier League on Monday.Aubameyang gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead midway ...

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Tatsunori Hara takes over as Giants manager for third time

The saga of Japan’s most storied pro baseball team took a new twist on Tuesday, when former Tatsunori Hara rejoined the Yomiuri Giants as skipper ...

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Fukuhara decided it was right time to step away

There were no traits of a crying baby. Instead of shedding tears, which was her trademark in childhood, Ai Fukuhara kept smiling and repeated the ...

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Satoko Miyahara, Kaori Sakamoto off to great starts in GP series

Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto started the senior Grand Prix season off with a bang on Sunday, finishing 1-2 at Skate America in Everett, Washington. ...

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Kohei Uchimura withdraws from all-around event at worlds

Kohei Uchimura said Monday he will pull out of the individual all-around event at the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships due to a right-ankle injury ...

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Sloane Stephens defeats Naomi Osaka in WTA Finals opener

In a match between the last two U.S. Open champions, Sloane Stephens came out on top.The 2017 champion beat Naomi Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 Monday ...

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T.League primed to kick off inaugural season

One day before the T.League officially kicks off its inaugural season with a men’s match between the Kinoshita Meister Tokyo and T.T Saitama, chairman Koji ...

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Agency hopes to end college sports violence

Japan Sports Agency chief Daichi Suzuki suggested Monday he hopes establishing a governing body modeled after the United States’ National Collegiate Athletic Association can help ...

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Alex Ovechkin ignites Capitals in victory over Canucks

Alex Ovechkin had two goals and two assists to lift the Washington Capitals over the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Monday night.The defending Stanley Cup champions ...

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Falcons down struggling Giants

Matt Ryan is putting up MVP-like numbers, even on a team that hasn’t lived up to expectations.Matty Ice turned in another brilliant performance in prime ...

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Spurs edge winless Lakers in overtime

Patty Mills drilled a jumper with seven seconds remaining in overtime to cap a 7-0 run in the final 55 seconds and lift the San ...

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Ex-Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth released from prison

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth was released from prison Monday morning.Carruth, 44, left the Sampson Correctional Institution in Clinton, North Carolina, at 8 ...

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Takuto Otoguro sets record as Japan’s youngest gold medalist at wrestling worlds

Takuto Otoguro won the 65-kilogram freestyle final at the World Wrestling Championships on Monday, becoming Japan’s youngest male wrestling world gold medalist at the age ...

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Former skipper Tatsunori Hara appears poised to rejoin Giants

Former Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara appeared ready Monday to return to the club as manager next year.Hara, who has been asked by the Central ...

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Ryota Murata calls loss to Rob Brant the worst beating of his career

Ryota Murata said Sunday he has never felt so beaten up following his loss to Rob Brant in the WBA middleweight world title bout on ...

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All Blacks, Wallabies impressed so far with Japan’s RWC preparations

The All Blacks and Wallabies set very high standards when it comes to their rugby, and judging by comments over the last two days, Japan’s ...

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Karolina Svitolina and Elina Pliskova win opening matches at WTA Finals

Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina secured opening round-robin match wins at the WTA Finals on Sunday.Pliskova, who now leads the tour with 48 wins this ...

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Atlanta United sets another MLS attendance record

Atlanta United scored two first-half goals and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Sunday, setting another Major League Soccer attendance ...

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NBA suspends and fines Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul in Lakers-Rockets dustup

Lakers teammates Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul of the Rockets were suspended without pay Sunday for an on-court fight, with Paul taking ...

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Ducks retire Hall of Fame scorer Paul Kariya’s No. 9

The Anaheim Ducks have raised Paul Kariya’s No. 9 to the Honda Center rafters, honoring the high-scoring forward who became a Hall of Famer.The Ducks ...

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Hawks’ excellence in execution results in trip to Japan Series

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks scripted a masterpiece in the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series.The Seibu Lions entered the series having dethroned the ...

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Ausmus tapped to lead Angels

Brad Ausmus was named the Los Angeles Angels’ manager on Sunday, moving from the front office to the dugout to replace longtime skipper Mike Scioscia.General ...

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Panthers rally for win over Eagles

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers ruined the Philadelphia Eagles’ dance party.Newton tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen with 1:22 left and the ...

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Takuto Otoguro advances to final at worlds

Takuto Otoguro advanced to the World Wrestling Championships finals on Sunday, setting up the chance to become Japan’s youngest male world champion.Otoguro defeated Russia’s Akhmed ...

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Kimi Raikkonen’s victory forces Lewis Hamilton to wait for title

Kimi Raikkonen’s second stint with Ferrari has been long on frustration and short on victories.That finally changed Sunday at the U.S. Grand Prix, where the ...

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Red Sox hero Dave Roberts returns to Boston as Dodgers manager for World Series

In the souvenir store across from Fenway Park, it will set you back $100 for a framed, autographed photo of “The Steal,” Dave Roberts’ stolen ...

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Ai Fukuhara announces retirement from table tennis

Ai Fukuhara, a four-time Olympian in women’s table tennis for Japan, announced on her blog Sunday that she is retiring from competition.One of Japan’s most ...

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Satoko Miyahara, Kaori Sakamoto finish 1-2 at Skate America

Satoko Miyahara started the 2018 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series on a winning note Sunday after claiming the Skate America title for the ...

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Jubilo escapes Nagasaki with a point to climb out of drop zone

Jubilo Iwata escaped the relegation zone with a scoreless draw at last-place V-Varen Nagasaki in the J. League first division’s lone game on Sunday.V-Varen remained ...

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Alvark defense smothers Brave Thunders to complete weekend sweep

The defending champions Alvark Tokyo refuse to accept complacency as a chief trait of their 2018-19 campaign.Instead, relentless defense and smart, effective offense are characteristics ...

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Dick Modzelewski, star tackle for Giants, dies at 87

Dick Modzelewski, a star defensive tackle who appeared in eight NFL titles game with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns during the 1950s and ...

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Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict fined $112,000 for pair of hits against Steelers

The NFL has been fined Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict $112,000 for multiple unnecessary roughness penalties in Cincinnati’s loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday.The third-quarter plays involved ...

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Mohamed Salah goal keeps Liverpool on pace with City

Manchester City brushed aside Burnley 5-0 on Saturday but Liverpool kept pace with the champions after Mohamed Salah rediscovered his scoring touch to fire his ...

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Rockets spoil James’ home debut in fight-marred game

LeBron James’ home debut with the Los Angeles Lakers ended on a sour note Saturday as the Houston Rockets seized control late for a 124-115 ...

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Lions ace Yusei Kikuchi to consider future as club gives green light to posting

The Seibu Lions lost to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Game 5 of the Pacific League Climax Series on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Dome.The result ...

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Dodgers defend NL crown as Red Sox await in World Series

Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger flexed their muscles. Chris Taylor flashed some leather.Then the Los Angeles Dodgers got a lift from ace Clayton Kershaw out ...

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Barcelona back in lead but loses Lionel Messi to injury

Lionel Messi is expected to be out for three weeks with a fractured right arm, but his last pre-injury contribution was to help send Barcelona ...

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Marc Marquez clinches fifth MotoGP title in Japan

Spain’s Marc Marquez wrapped up his third straight MotoGP championship with a victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday after title rival Andrea Dovizioso ...

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Murata outmatched by Brant for WBA middleweight title

Ryota Murata failed to defend his WBA middleweight world title on Saturday, losing to mandatory challenger Rob Brant of the United States by unanimous decision.In ...

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Fierement wins Kikka-sho by nose

Fierement beat second-favorite Etario in a photo finish Sunday at the Kikka-sho, the final leg of the Japanese triple crown.Fierement, the seventh favorite, held steady ...

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Chen easily wins men’s title at Skate America

Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto finished first and second, respectively, on Saturday in the women’s short program at Skate America, the first event of the ...

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Hawks repeat PL dominance, defeat Lions to reach Japan Series

The 2018 NPB season didn’t quite go the way the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks had planned. Even so, they’re going to end it right where they ...

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Title-chasing Frontale overcome two-goal deficit in wild win over Vissel

There is a well-worn tradition in the J. League of championship contenders making their title run much more difficult than it needs to be.Kawasaki Frontale ...

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Northern Happinets earn dramatic victory over Rizing Zephyr

The level of drama in some games pales in comparison to what occurs in other contests.Meanwhile, the Akita Northern Happinets made sure that their fans ...

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Keisuke Honda scores in A-League debut

Melbourne Victory newcomer Keisuke Honda scored a memorable goal in his A-League debut, but his team fell 2-1 to local rival Melbourne City in their ...

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Hawks pound Lions in Game 4

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks moved to within one win of the Japan Series on Saturday when they whipped the Seibu Lions 8-2 in Game 4 ...

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Kawhi Leonard scores 31 points to lead Raptors past Celtics

Kawhi Leonard isn’t quite back up to speed after missing most of last season.That’s just fine with the Toronto Raptors. They are plenty happy with ...

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NTT Communications snatches final playoff spot

The NTT Communications Shining Arcs survived some nerve-racking moments Saturday to grab the eighth and final spot in the playoffs to determine the Japan Rugby ...

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Andrea Dovizioso grabs pole position for Motul Grand Prix of Japan

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso kept his fading MotoGP title hopes alive Saturday by snatching pole for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan in a frantic late ...

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Nathan Chen takes big lead at Skate America

Defending champ Nathan Chen, who is back competing for the first time since being crowned world champion, seized the early lead after the men’s short ...

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Veteran star Kosuke Kanamaru adjusting to bigger role with SeaHorses

What a difference a year makes for the SeaHorses Mikawa.Actually, it kind of makes sense because of the departure of some of their core players ...

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Lions reliever Duente Heath grateful to be back in NPB

Deunte Heath followed a long and winding path to reach the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series with the Seibu Lions.“I’m blessed,” he ...

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Brewers beat Dodgers to force Game 7

Ryan Braun slid across home plate and raised his arms in sheer joy.A big lead, a bruising bullpen and a boisterous crowd have the Milwaukee ...

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Kumamoto grateful for opportunity to host Rugby World Cup matches

Hideomi Ryu played a central role in getting his native city of Kumamoto elected to host games for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, even when ...

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Naomi Osaka drawn into tough group in debut appearance at WTA Finals

U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka faces a potentially tough test in her debut appearance at the WTA Finals after being placed in the same group ...

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Five percent of sumo wrestlers suffered physical abuse over past year according to investigation

A third-party investigation found physical abuse persists in Japan’s traditional sport of sumo, according to its final report.The investigative panel, under the guidance of former ...

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Hawks hammer Lions, even series at 2-2

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks catcher Hiroaki Takaya gathered his teammates in a huddle around him near the visitors’ dugout and delivered a message intended to pump ...

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Grampus edge Reysol, boost survival hopes

Brazilian striker Jo scored the winner with an assist from countryman Gabriel Xavier as Nagoya Grampus beat 10-man Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 Friday night in a ...

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Carp complete sweep of Giants to reach Japan Series

The Hiroshima Carp clinched their second Japan Series berth in three years on Friday with a 5-1 victory over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 3 ...

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Broncos overwhelm hapless Cardinals

Von Miller vowed his Denver Broncos would kick the Arizona Cardinals’ behind, except he didn’t say behind.Consider it a promise kept. Emmanuel Sanders threw and ...

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Thunder Girls dancer Kei Hirata imparts cheerleading knowledge to Akita students

Before the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their 2018-19 NBA season, cheerleader Kei Hirata returned to Japan for a short vacation. The trip, of course, gave ...

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Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso fastest in first practice for Motul Grand Prix of Japan

Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso set the fastest time in Friday’s practice for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan.Dovizioso had a time of 1 minute, 45.358 ...

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Olympic champ Nao Kodaira triumphs in first 500-meter race of season

Nao Kodaira opened the new season on a strong note Friday, topping the podium in the women’s 500 meters at the Japan Cup.The Pyeongchang Olympic ...

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Thomas Bach says Buenos Aires could be excellent 2032 Olympics host

Buenos Aires could aspire for more than the Youth Olympics it staged this month.Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, said on Thursday that ...

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Arsene Wenger hints at Japan comeback in 2019

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects to be working again in the new year and has fielded inquiries from all over the world, he told ...

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Evgeni Malkin scores twice as Penguins beat Leafs

Matt Murray made 38 saves for his first shutout of the season and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped the Toronto Maple Leafs’ winning streak at five ...

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Kip Keino denies wrongdoing, tells AP he didn’t control money

Kip Keino has denied wrongdoing in the Kenyan Olympic corruption scandal, telling The Associated Press that he didn’t have control over the government money that ...

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Blazers spoil LeBron’s L.A. debut

LeBron James opened with two thunderous dunks and had 26 points and 12 rebounds in his first game with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the ...

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Nankai Hawks ace Joe Stanka, hero of 1964 Japan Series, dies at 87

Former Nankai Hawks great Joe Stanka, the 1964 Pacific League MVP who famously threw three shutouts during that season’s Japan Series, died of heart failure ...

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Red Sox earn return to World Series

David Price put his postseason woes behind him, pitching the Boston Red Sox back into another World Series with a 4-1 victory over the defending ...

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Carp rally past Giants in eighth, move win away from trip to Japan Series

Pinch hitter Takahiro Arai tied the game in the bottom of the eighth before Ryosuke Kikuchi blasted a three-run homer as the Hiroshima Carp came ...

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Hakuho undergoes surgery on right knee

Yokozuna Hakuho underwent successful endoscopic surgery on his right knee at a hospital in Tokyo on Thursday, sources close to his Miyagino stable said.Hakuho, who ...

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Kip Keino turns himself over to police in corruption case

Running great Kip Keino handed himself over to police in Kenya on Thursday and is under arrest, set to face charges of corruption and abuse ...

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B-Corsairs rookie forward Amanze Egekeze showing potential early in pro career

After the Yokohama B-Corsairs’ fifth consecutive loss to open the season on Wednesday, first-year coach Tom Wisman analyzed the revamped team’s defensive struggles and overall ...

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Jaguars, Fulham owner Shahid Khan drops divisive Wembley bid

Wembley Stadium is staying in the hands of English soccer.American sports magnate Shad Khan abandoned a £600 million ($790 million) bid for the English Football ...

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New Tigers skipper Akihiro Yano vows to build fan-pleasing ballclub

Akihiro Yano, the Hanshin Tigers’ new manager, said Thursday at his inaugural press conference that he will give his all to make the fans happy.“There ...

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Gerard Pique says Rafael Nadal to play in new Davis Cup format

Gerard Pique is not worried about the possible absence of some top players in the revamped Davis Cup, especially since Rafael Nadal has said he ...

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Uncapped Jed Holloway, Jake Gordon named to Wallabies squad for All Blacks test in Yokohama

Australia coach Michael Cheika has included New South Wales Waratahs lock Jed Holloway among three uncapped players in a 31-man squad released on Thursday for ...

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Hamilton set to join exclusive club of five-time F1 champs

Lewis Hamilton stands on the verge of history this week. The British star needs to outscore rival Sebastian Vettel by eight points at the United ...

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Kawhi Leonard makes successful start with Raptors

Kawhi Leonard helped the Toronto Raptors extend their success in season-opening games.Leonard had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his Toronto debut, Kyle Lowry scored ...

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Keisuke Honda eager for first season in Australia to finally kick off

Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda is itching to kick off his Australian adventure with Melbourne Victory on Saturday after a long wait through the A-League’s ...

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Rick van den Hurk continues winning ways for Hawks

Rick van den Hurk just knows how to win under the bright lights.The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ Dutch right-hander proved it again on Wednesday night at ...

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Caster Semenya gains fans amid IAAF battle

South African track star Caster Semenya can add LeBron James to her list of admirers ahead of a showdown with the international track and field ...

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Hajime Moriyasu praises Japan’s cohesiveness in matches

Following Japan’s impressive 4-3 friendly win over Uruguay, manager Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday lauded his new-look side for its seamless integration of overlapping generations of ...

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Kershaw delivers in Game 5 victory

Clayton Kershaw bounced back from one of his worst postseason starts with one of his best, pitching the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Milwaukee Brewers ...

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Hawks again get best of Yusei Kikuchi, dominate Lions to even PL Climax Series

It took 18 games and 13 losing decisions for Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to finally pick up a win against the Fukuoka SoftBank ...

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Grouses pull away late to keep B-Corsairs winless

The Yokohama B-Corsairs entered Wednesday’s game seeking their first victory of the young season. The Toyama Grouses wanted to end a two-game slide.Only one team ...

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Barcelona announce 2019 summer tour to Asia

Barcelona plan to visit China and Japan as part of a pre-season tour to Asia next summer, the club announced on Tuesday.After consecutive years travelling ...

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Seven NFL clubs get concussion ‘targeted intervention’: reports

Seven NFL teams received an off-season “targeted intervention” for higher than normal practice concussion rates, league medical executives said Tuesday, according to multiple reports.At league ...

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U.S. gymnastics chief quits after criticism

The newly appointed head of USA Gymnastics resigned just four days after being named to the job on Tuesday following stinging criticism of her appointment ...

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New stars shine for Samurai Blue

A squad in transition following a surprisingly successful run in the World Cup. A new head coach establishing his vision. A South American opponent ranked ...

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Marc-Andres Fleury ties for 10th in NHL wins

Jonathan Marchessault was 13 when goalie Marc-Andre Fleury got his first NHL win on Oct. 18, 2003.Nearly 15 years later, Marchessault helped Fleury reach a ...

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Kyushu Basho an underrated gem for fans

Sumo’s Autumn Regional Tour has reached Kansai and will continue winding its way westward until it arrives in Yamaguchi prefecture at the end of the ...

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Bradley’s slam helps Red Sox beat Astros

Cody Bellinger singled home the winning run in the 13th inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Tuesday night and ...

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Angels could build new stadium after lease opt-out

The Los Angeles Angels opted out of their Angel Stadium lease with the city of Anaheim on Tuesday, renewing the possibility they could build a ...

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Warriors outpace Thunder with strong fourth quarter

Stephen Curry is coming off an injury-plagued season and a summer he thought might be among his best yet.On a festive night of celebration as ...

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Japan strikes early, holds off Uruguay in entertaining friendly

Takumi Minamino scored a brace, while Ritsu Doan netted his first international goal, as Japan’s rising stars spearheaded a 4-3 win over Uruguay on Tuesday ...

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Hawks, Lions gear up for Climax Series showdown

Although the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks failed to repeat as Pacific League champions, they have what it takes to beat the new champs, the Seibu Lions, ...

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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy opposes Wembley sale to Shahid Khan

The chairman of Tottenham opposes the Premier League club’s temporary home of Wembley Stadium being sold to a rival for both soccer and NFL.With building ...

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Giants’ Tomoyuki Sugano receives CL pitching accolade for stellar September

Two days after throwing a no-hitter to clinch the Central League Climax Series’ first stage, the Yomiuri Giants’ Tomoyuki Sugano was named the league’s pitcher ...

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Golf analyst Johnny Miller retiring after three decades at NBC Sports

Johnny Miller is retiring after three decades of calling the shots the way he sees them.Miller said Monday he will make his last call from ...

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SEC fines LSU $100,000 for unruly fans on field

The Southeastern Conference has fined LSU $100,000 for fans rushing the field after the fifth-ranked Tigers topped then-No. 2 Georgia 36-16 over the weekend.The league ...

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Former UFC champ Eddie Alvarez joins One Championship

Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has signed with One Championship, the growing Asia-based mixed martial arts promotion.One Championship announced its highest-profile free agent signing ...

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Decorated minimumweight Katsunari Takayama granted amateur boxing license

Former professional four-organization minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama will be granted his wish to receive an amateur license from the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation, it was ...

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LIVEBLOG: Japan vs Uruguay

Follow our live coverage as the Samurai Blue take on Uruguay in the toughest test yet for new manager Hajime Moriyasu.

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Packers defeat 49ers on last-second field goal

A pick, a beneficial penalty and a game-winning kick.Quite a final minute for the Green Bay Packers. Mason Crosby kicked a 27-yard field goal as ...

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Brewers blank Dodgers in Game 3

The Milwaukee Brewers know they can count on their intimidating bullpen to get outs. They may not have been expecting a twice-demoted shortstop to generate ...

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Cheerful personality helps Kaori Sakamoto shine on ice

Kaori Sakamoto took the skating world by storm last season in her first year as a senior competitor.The 18-year-old finished second at Skate America last ...

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England hands Spain first home loss since 2003

It was an odd scene at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville: The few visiting English fans were chanting “Ole” at every touch of the ball ...

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Hawks power past Fighters, advance to PL Climax Series final stage

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks powered past the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-2 on Monday, with five solo home runs from their red-hot batting lineup helping ...

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Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder apologizes after decking TV mascot

Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder apologized Sunday after unleashing a punch that knocked down a mascot during a television taping.Wilder, appearing on ESPN Nacion to ...

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Italy leaves it late to earn first competitive win in a year

Italy is finally showing signs of emerging from its crisis, nearly a year after failing to qualify for the World Cup.Cristiano Biraghi’s goal in stoppage ...

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Wild Knights’ Matt Todd a rare overseas-based selection for touring All Blacks

The All Blacks have taken the unprecedented step of selecting a player based in Japan among an enlarged squad of 51 for autumn test matches ...

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Ex-star catcher Akihiro Yano to take helm of Hanshin top team

Hanshin Tigers minor league manager Akihiro Yano accepted a promotion that will make him the top team manager, the seven-time All-Star catcher revealed Monday.Yano will ...

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Curry, Warriors ready to fend off NBA rivals

Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry will enjoy watching the Golden State Warriors hoist another championship banner Tuesday when they open the 2018-19 season against Oklahoma ...

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Patriots edge Chiefs in thriller

Tom Brady needed everything he had to fend off Patrick Mahomes — including his legs.Stephen Gostkowski hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired, and ...

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Novak Djokovic sweeps past Borna Coric for fourth Shanghai Masters title

Novak Djokovic won a record fourth Shanghai Masters title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over 13th-seeded Borna Coric on Sunday.The second-seeded Djokovic has won all ...

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Giants riding wave of momentum into final stage showdown against Carp

Tomoyuki Sugano turned, slapped his glove and thrust both arms into air once the ball was safely secure in Daikan Yoh’s glove in center field. ...

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Red Sox bounce back in Game 2, even series

David Price went home a winner in a postseason start for the first time in his career.That, he insisted, is all he ever cared about. ...

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IOC rising star Patrick Baumann dies at Youth Olympics

Patrick Baumann, the secretary general of basketball’s world governing body who was seen as a potential IOC president, has died at the Youth Olympics. He ...

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Tomoyuki Sugano-no: near-perfect game sends Giants to CL Climax Series final

If there was any lingering doubt about who Japan’s best pitcher was, Tomoyuki Sugano put it to rest.Just like he did the Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ ...

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Levanga find redemption, earn series split against Sunrockers

This time, the verdict was clear.After a loss by the slimmest of margins on Saturday night, Levanga Hokkaido returned to action on Sunday afternoon and ...

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Baseball: Tigers ask farm manager Yano to take top job

The Hanshin Tigers have asked their minor league manager, Akihiro Yano, to take over as their top manager for next year, an informed source said ...

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Jim Taylor, fierce fullback for mighty Packers, dies at 83

Jim Taylor, the ferocious Hall of Fame fullback who embodied the Green Bay Packers’ unstoppable ground game during the Vince Lombardi era and helped the ...

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Fighters tie series with clutch eighth inning

Three straight two-out, eighth-inning doubles by Haruki Nishikawa, Taishi Ota and Kensuke Konda lifted the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to a 4-2 win in Sunday’s ...

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Justin Turner homers as Dodgers beat Brewers in NLCS Game 2

Justin Turner and the Los Angeles Dodgers know all about performing in the postseason.Backed into a tough spot Saturday, the red-headed slugger delivered once again. ...

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Grizzlies rookie Yuta Watanabe makes opening-night roster

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Yuta Watanabe was one of 17 players named on Saturday to the team’s opening-day roster.The 24-year-old Watanabe signed a two-year, two-way contract ...

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Almond Eye wins Triple Crown for Japanese fillies

Top pick Almond Eye became the fifth horse to complete the Japanese fillies’ Triple Crown on Sunday following a victory at the Shuka-sho.Almond Eye, ridden ...

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Pressure on Germany manager Joachim Loew after heavy loss to the Netherlands

Coach Joachim Loew made history twice on Saturday night: he led Germany for a record 168th time before seeing his team lose to the Netherlands ...

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Marinos, Bellmare reach Levain Cup final

Goals from Hugo Vieira and Teruhito Nakagawa sent Yokohama F. Marinos into the Levain Cup final after a 2-2 semifinal second-leg draw with Kashima Antlers ...

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After 22 defeats, Gibraltar finally wins a competitive game

Little Gibraltar finally won its first competitive match after 22 defeats on Saturday when it beat Armenia — who featured Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan — ...

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Michael Schumacher’s son Mick wins F3 European title

That’s one more racing title for the Schumacher family.Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, secured the Formula 3 European Championship title on ...

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Olympic wrestling champion Kaori Icho victorious in return to the mat

Four-time Olympic wrestling champion Kaori Icho on Sunday won her first competition since returning from a two-year break after winning gold at the 2016 Rio ...

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#MeToo claims hit head of India’s powerful cricket board

The chief executive of India’s powerful cricket board has been given a week to explain allegations of sexual harassment against him, as the country’s fledgling ...

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Raised ’68 fists echo 50 years later

Fifty years after they raised clenched fists in protest during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the shockwaves unleashed by John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s salute ...

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Giants seize opportunities in Game 1 triumph over Swallows

Without hesitation, the Swallows sent their Giants killer to the mound for Saturday’s postseason series opener, but it did not work out the way they ...

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Ryukyu’s Jeff Ayres provides big offensive spark against Nagoya

Former NBA forward Jeff Ayres scored a game-high 26 points, including 5-for-9 from beyond the 3-point arc, as the Ryukyu Golden Kings beat the visiting ...

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Struggling French League club Monaco appoints Thierry Henry as new coach

Thierry Henry is back where it all started.France’s all-time leading scorer and an Arsenal great landed his first managerial job on Saturday after Monaco hired ...

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Tigers top Dragons in 11th in manager Tomoaki Kanemoto’s final game in charge to close out season

Masahiro Nakatani’s 11th-inning RBI single lifted the Hanshin Tigers to a 3-2, come-from-behind win over the Chunichi Dragons on Saturday as NPB completed its regular ...

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Brewers top Dodgers in Game 1

The high-five at the plate from Brandon Woodruff nearly took out Lorenzo Cain.It’s not often that a reliever hits a home run. Batting left-handed. Off ...

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Seven squads secure playoff berths on pivotal day in Top League

Seven teams confirmed their places in the playoffs to determine the Japan Rugby Top League champion Saturday as the pool stage reached its penultimate round.Yamaha ...

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Yui Kamiji, Shingo Kunieda win gold, qualify for 2020 Paralympics

Wheelchair tennis players Yui Kamiji and Shingo Kunieda on Friday became the first two Japanese athletes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games by winning ...

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Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler misses practice amid drama

Jimmy Butler was absent as the Minnesota Timberwolves wrapped up preparations for their preseason finale Friday night.Butler has demanded a trade but returned to practice ...

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Belgium boss Roberto Martinez backs Thierry Henry to be a great coach

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez on Friday backed his right-hand man Thierry Henry to become “a great coach” when the French World Cup winner takes over ...

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Joe Launchbury to miss upcoming England tests after undergoing knee surgery

Lock Joe Launchbury will miss England’s rugby tests next month after knee surgery which rules him out for up to 12 weeks.His Wasps club made ...

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Hawks jump on Fighters early, coast to victory in playoff opener

Alfredo Despaigne started the NPB postseason with a bang, hitting a first-inning grand slam as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks cruised to an 8-3 victory over ...

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Kei Nishikori falls to Roger Federer in Shanghai Masters quarterfinals

Defending champion Roger Federer eliminated Kei Nishikori with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on Friday night.Federer, who had ...

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Olympics in need of overhaul

What if they threw an Olympic party, but no one was willing to host it?That day could be coming, and sooner than you might think. ...

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Patriots prepare for visit from red-hot Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes was barely 5 years old when Tom Brady completed his first NFL pass in 2000.Now Mahomes, whose undefeated Kansas City Chiefs play at ...

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Japan glides past Panama in friendly

Takumi Minamino and Junya Ito each scored an international goal for the second game running as Japan eased to a 3-0 win over Panama on ...

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Tochigi trounces Toyama in series opener

The Tochigi Brex played opportunistic pressure defense against the Toyama Grouses on Friday night.And the Brex capitalized on the Grouses’ miscues in a big way, ...

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WJBL powerhouse JX-Eneos Sunflowers chasing history in upcoming season

The JX-Eneos Sunflowers have completely dominated on the court in Japanese women’s basketball for the last decade. But winning never gets old for the ultimate ...

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Wheelchair tennis player Yui Kamiji becomes first Japanese to qualify for 2020 Games

Wheelchair tennis player Yui Kamiji on Friday became the first Japanese athlete to qualify for either the 2020 Tokyo Olympics or Paralympics by winning gold ...

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Vissel Kobe suspend Shunki Takahashi for one month for leaking news about Andres Iniesta

Vissel Kobe have suspended defender Shunki Takahashi for a month for leaking news about teammate Andres Iniesta’s absence from the lineup ahead of a recent ...

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Usain Bolt notches two goals in first A-League trial start

Usain Bolt scored twice in his first start for the Central Coast Mariners in an A-League trial match on Friday before being substituted with about ...

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Eagles’ Carson Wentz tosses three touchdowns in rout of rival Giants

All the Philadelphia Eagles needed to get over their Super Bowl hangover was a little more urgency, some big plays — and a timely game ...

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Lindsey Vonn plans to retire after upcoming season

Lindsey Vonn, who is four wins shy of the all-time mark for World Cup race wins, will retire from competition at the end of the ...

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Park Sung-hyun,Ariya Jutanugarn among foursome tied for KEB Hana Bank Champioship lead

Park Sung-hyun and Ariya Jutanugarn — the LPGA’s two top-ranked players — were among four sharing the lead after two rounds of the KEB Hana ...

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Aussies win back respect in Dubai

Leading a scandal-hit team dismissed as Australia’s worst in 30 years, captain Tim Paine’s pledge to win back hearts and minds seemed a fanciful, if ...

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Yokohama to host IAAF World Relays

Yokohama will host the IAAF World Relays next year, the city and the Japan Association of Athletics Federations announced on Friday.It will be the event’s ...

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Ryan Lochte being counseled for alcohol use

Ryan Lochte is undergoing counseling for alcohol use, but the 12-time Olympic medalist is not in a treatment facility and is training in his bid ...

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Nathan MacKinnon’s scoring streak continues for Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon shrugged off his hot start with the Colorado Avalanche this season by suggesting he can be better.“It’s nice for sure. I think I ...

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Michael Bradley returns, but U.S. outmatched by Colombia

This loss did not sting for Michael Bradley, far different from the previous one.Carlos Bacca, Radamel Falcao and Miguel Borja scored second-half goals to lead ...

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Red Sox glad ALCS begins at home

The Red Sox hope home-field advantage makes a difference after consecutive Division Series eliminations.Boston began the postseason 0-2 on the road at Cleveland in 2016 ...

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Postseason play set to start

The race to the Japan Series begins Saturday as the Central and Pacific League Climax Series’ first stages get underway in Tokyo and Fukuoka.Each league’s ...

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Nevada regulator suspends Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor for UFC brawl

UFC fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor are being suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for a brawl that erupted inside and outside the octagon ...

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Emperor’s Cup final to be first event at new National Stadium in 2020

Tokyo’s new National Stadium, the main venue of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, was set Thursday as the venue for next season’s Emperor’s Cup ...

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Fighters close out regular season with victory over Marines

Kensuke Tanaka’s RBI single broke a 2-2 first-inning tie and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters held on to beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 5-4 on ...

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Albirex soar past Happinets in series opener

The Niigata Albirex BB employed a three-guard lineup in Thursday’s series opener against the Akita Northern Happinets.Veterans Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi started alongside combo ...

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Kei Nishikori reaches Shanghai Masters quarterfinals

Kei Nishikori advanced to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on the strength of a third-round, straight-sets win over American Sam Querrey on Thursday.The eighth-seeded ...

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Nasa Hataoka grabs early two-stroke lead at KEB Hana Bank Championship

Teenager Nasa Hataoka fired a seven-under-par 65 to secure a two-stroke lead in the first round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship on Thursday, with ...

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Aston Villa hires ex-England captain John Terry as assistant coach

Former England captain John Terry took his first steps into coaching on Wednesday when he was named as right-hand man to new Aston Villa boss ...

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Capitals win Stanley Cup Final rematch

Evgeny Kuznetsov is dancing with the puck and celebrating when it’s in the net just like last June.Kuznetsov continued his wizardry against the Vegas Golden ...

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Japan hopes to spread word about wheelchair rugby in 2020

With Tokyo playing host to the next Paralympic Games in 2020, the members of Japan’s wheelchair rugby team, the reigning world champion, know they’re in ...

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Portugal adapts to life without Cristiano Ronaldo

It’s not only Real Madrid that has to adapt to life without Cristiano Ronaldo.Portugal’s national soccer team also has had to cope without the star ...

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Loose Moose: Mike Moustakas brings pivotal playoff experience to Brewers

It sounds, at first, like a long, drawn out “Booooo!”But look at the name on the scoreboard and it becomes apparent what fans at Miller ...

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LeBron James preparing for next chapter with Lakers

When LeBron James chose the Los Angeles Lakers, the burgeoning entertainment mogul realized many people would think he joined a mediocre team with a five-year ...

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Tex Winter, master tactician of the triangle offense, dies at 96

Tex Winter, the innovative triangle offense pioneer who assisted Phil Jackson on NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has died. ...

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Revamped Levanga Hokkaido foundation includes key personnel from far-flung locales

As the B. League gains recognition on the global scale, the infusion of international players and coaches will continue to be vital.For instance, take a ...

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Tigers manager Tomoaki Kanemoto won’t return for 2019 season

Tomoaki Kanemoto will not return for a fourth year as Hanshin Tigers manager, informed sources said Thursday.The Tigers will finish last in the Central League ...

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Hugo Vieira strikes in injury time to lift Marinos to first-leg victory over Antlers

Yokohama F. Marinos will take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Levain Cup semifinal against Kashima Antlers after Hugo Vieira snatched victory ...

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Fighters hold off Marines at Sapporo Dome

Starter Bryan Rodriguez battled through five innings before the bullpen took care of the rest as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters held on for a ...

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Tokyo Games organizers confirm courses for 2020 cycling events

The organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Games announced the routes for the Olympic individual time trial and Paralympic road race on Wednesday, finalizing the ...

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Australia to honor sprinter Peter Norman with statue for role in 1968 Olympic protest

Australia will erect a statue of a homegrown sprinter who backed two Americans in their famed Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics, with authorities ...

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Dennis Rodman benched for Yao Ming at Pyongyang friendly

Has Dennis Rodman, the former NBA star-turned-pal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, been benched for Chinese hoop legend Yao Ming?The former Houston Rockets ...

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Wallaby duo, S. Africa crew join World XV set to play Japan

The World XV to take on Japan on Oct. 26 at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium will be a star-studded affair, following the announcement Wednesday of ...

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Departed yokozuna Wajima brought charisma to ring

Last week’s column featured links between sumo and American football, including a mention of how yokozuna Wakanohana took up the latter sport after retiring from ...

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Red Sox oust Yankees, to face Astros in ALCS

Craig Kimbrel and the Boston Red Sox held off the Yankees’ ninth-inning rally that ended with a video replay, eliminating New York with a 4-3 ...

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Ice Theatre of New York to honor Kristi Yamaguchi

When Ice Theatre of New York honors Kristi Yamaguchi on Oct. 15, it will be for a whole lot more than her performances as a ...

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Samurai Japan unveils roster for series against MLB stars

Kazuma Okamoto has spent all season showing why many think he could be one of Japan’s next great slugging stars.Now he’ll get to show it ...

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Relegation-threatened Sagan name Kim Myung-hwi to replace Massimo Ficcadenti

J. League first-division side Sagan Tosu tabbed assistant coach Kim Myung-hwi to run the relegation-threatened team on the field from Tuesday, leaving existing Italian head ...

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Giants rally past Tigers, clinch Climax Series berth on final day of season

Kazuma Okamoto belted two home runs to help the Yomiuri Giants clinch a playoff spot with a 9-4 win over the Hanshin Tigers on Tuesday.Okamoto ...

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IOC selects Senegal as first African host for Youth Olympics

The IOC has picked its first African host of any Olympics, formally awarding the 2022 Youth Games to Senegal.Senegal President Macky Sall was present on ...

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Three Thai tennis umpires get life bans for match-fixing, betting

Three tennis umpires from Thailand have been handed life bans for match-fixing and betting offenses, including manipulating the official scoring system during matches, the sport’s ...

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Wayne Rooney issues challenge to Manchester United players

Wayne Rooney has called on Manchester United’s players to stand up and be counted, saying that manager Jose Mourinho is an easy target for the ...

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Hiroshi Wajima, lone yokozuna with college degree, dies at 70

Former yokozuna Hiroshi Wajima, who won top makuuchi division tournaments 14 times (seventh all time) with his famed “golden left arm” in the 1970s and ...

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Suns fire general manager Ryan McDonough nine days before season opener

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver fired general manager Ryan McDonough on Monday, nine days before the team’s NBA season opener following poor results in a ...

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Drew Brees surpasses Peyton Manning to become NFL’s all-time passing yards leader

Before Drew Brees could blow kisses to the adoring Superdome crowd, before he could embrace his wife and children on the sideline, the Saints’ 39-year-old ...

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Dodgers advance to NLCS; Astros, Red Sox record victories

Kenta Maeda worked a scoreless eighth inning to help the Los Angeles Dodgers bounce back and beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Monday for a ...

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Daisuke Takahashi shows heart of champion in return to competitive skating

The jumps need to be a little higher and the spins a bit faster, but the return to competition after a four-year absence of 2010 ...

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World Boxing Super Series executive Kalle Sauerland calls Naoya Inoue world’s ‘best puncher’

By posting two consecutive first-round knockout victories, boxer Naoya Inoue has begun to make people think that he might actually be better than he had ...

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Hagashihama helps Hawks finish season on a winning note

Right-hander Nao Higashihama threw five scoreless innings to lead the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 6-1 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines in their final ...

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Ex-world champ Daisuke Takahashi finishes third in competitive return

Former figure skating world champion Daisuke Takahashi finished third in his competitive return at a regional competition in western Japan on Monday.The Vancouver Olympic bronze ...

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Koya Kitagawa replaces Yu Kobayashi for Samurai Blue friendlies

Forward Yu Kobayashi has withdrawn from the Japan squad for the upcoming friendlies against Panama and Uruguay because of an ankle injury, the Japan Football ...

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Naomi Osaka reaches No. 4 in WTA ranking, equaling highest mark for a Japanese player

Naomi Osaka climbed two places to No. 4 in the latest WTA rankings released Monday, equaling the highest-ever standing by a Japanese player.The 20-year-old — ...

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Japanese amateur lives ‘dream’ by winning Masters spot

Newly-crowned Asian amateur golf champion Takumi Kanaya said he was living out a childhood dream after emulating Japan’s top golfer Hideki Matsuyama by winning a ...

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Shoya Nakajima nets brace in Portimonense victory

Midfielder Shoya Nakajima continued his strong run of form by scoring twice for Portimonense in a 4-2 win over Sporting CP in the Portuguese first ...

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Suguru Osako breaks Japanese record at Chicago Marathon

Suguru Osako set a new Japanese record Sunday in the Chicago Marathon as he finished third behind Britain’s Mo Farah and Mosinet Geremew Bayih of ...

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Rams lose top two receivers to concussions in win over Seahawks

Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 321 yards and a touchdown and Todd Gurley scored three touchdowns as the Los Angeles Rams kept their perfect record ...

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Brewers sweep Rockies, Braves hold off Dodgers to stay alive

Wade Miley pitched masterfully into the fifth inning before turning it over to a lights-out Milwaukee bullpen, 38-year-old catcher Erik Kratz kept up his torrid ...

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Thailand’s cave boys enjoy kick-about at iconic River Plate stadium

Twelve Thai boys and their soccer coach, who were dramatically rescued from a flooded cave in July, enjoyed a high-profile kick-about on Sunday, playing a ...

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Aspiring J. League first-division clubs face licensing obstacles

With rare exceptions such as the franchise-based system of Major League Soccer, promotion and relegation are the law of the land in soccer leagues across ...

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Men showing increased interest in women’s sports

Male sports fans make up more than half of the group of people with an interest in women’s sports, according to a report published Thursday ...

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Teikyo University seeks to take development of athletes to next level

Over the last two decades, the Japanese sports world has taken significant steps forward in aspects of athlete development such as nutrition, sports medicine and ...

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Naoya Inoue wins effortlessly with first-round knockout against Juan Carlos Payano

This time, he needed just a few punches to end the night.WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue landed a picture-perfect one-two blow on Juan Carlos Payano ...

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Neftali Soto’s strong performance keeps Yokohama playoff hopes alive in win over Carp

Neftali Soto’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly lifted the DeNA BayStars to a 4-3 win over the Hiroshima Carp on Sunday and kept alive their hopes of ...

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Kwoun saves point for Antlers in draw with Frontale

Kashima Antlers keeper Kwoun Sun-tae saved a penalty, allowing the hosts to draw 0-0 at home with J-League first-division leaders Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday.The draw ...

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Grouses fly high as B. League’s opening round concludes

In a 40-minute game, topping the century mark in points often requires a team to be in sync on offense.Having several noteworthy offensive performances usually ...

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Yankees beat Red Sox to even ALDS at 1-1

Masahiro Tanaka continued his strong postseason run, pitching the New York Yankees to a 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of ...

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Lewis Hamilton wins Japanese GP to move closer to claiming world championship

Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming his fourth straight Formula One win and moving a step closer to ...

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Kei Nishikori outclassed by Daniil Medvedev in Rakuten Japan Open final

The drought continues.Even a home crowd wasn’t enough to push Kei Nishikori to an elusive tournament victory on Sunday at the Rakuten Open as Russian ...

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Yoshinori Muto scores, but Jose Mourinho laughs last as United triumph over Newcastle

Jose Mourinho lashed out at his critics after Manchester United’s thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Newcastle on Saturday, calling the attacks against him “wickedness” and ...

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Masahiro Tanaka pushes pride aside for greater good in Yankees’ victory over Red Sox in Game 2 of ALDS

Masahiro Tanaka pushed his starting pitcher’s pride to one side on Saturday, when he was pulled after five innings despite having allowed just one run.The ...

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LIVEBLOG: Kei Nishikori vs Daniil Medvedev at Rakuten Japan Open

Live commentary on the Rakuten Japan Open final, in which Kei Nishikori is playing Daniil Medvedev for the trophy.

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Panasonic pounds Honda, moves closer to clinching playoff berth

The Panasonic Wild Knights maintained their unbeaten run in the Japan Rugby Top League with a 41-12 victory over the Honda Heat on Saturday at ...

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Alvark usher in new season with narrow victory over Sunrockers

The defending B. League champion Alvark Tokyo opened their new season with a down-to-the-wire victory over the Sunrockers Shibuya on Saturday afternoon in Tachikawa.Star center ...

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Junya Ito bags two goals in Reysol triumph over Sanfrecce

Two exquisite goals by midfielder Junya Ito set relegation-threatened Kashiwa Reysol on the road to a 3-0 J. League first-division win at Sanfrecce Hiroshima on ...

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Kairi Shimada’s walk-off single in 10th carries Tigers past BayStars

Rookie Kairi Shimada’s 10th-inning, two-out single lifted the Hanshin Tigers to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Yokohama BayStars on Saturday.With the loss, the BayStars, ...

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Anastasija Sevastova defeats Naomi Osaka in China Open semifinals

Naomi Osaka’s bid for a third tour title ended in a straight-sets semifinal defeat to Anastasija Sevastova at the China Open on Saturday.The Latvian, ranked ...

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Kei Nishikori books spot in Rakuten Japan Open final

Two-time champion Kei Nishikori swatted aside eighth seed Richard Gasquet with very little fuss on Saturday, beating the Frenchman in straight sets to reach the ...

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Red Sox hold on to win Game 1

Chris Sale left the mound to a standing ovation and then waited along with anxious Red Sox fans while the Boston bullpen frittered away most ...

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Steelers tandem works to get in sync

Antonio Brown insists he’s still in sync with Ben Roethlisberger even though their numbers together are down.Roethlisberger and Brown are one of the most prolific ...

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Dodgers take 2-0 lead over Braves in NLDS

With Sandy Koufax sitting in the front row, Clayton Kershaw pitched the best postseason game of his career, motivated partly by being passed over as ...

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Glenn Murray lifts Brighton over West Ham

Glenn Murray scored his 99th goal for Brighton as it won 1-0 at home to West Ham on Friday and climbed above the Hammers in ...

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Seau’s family, NFL reach settlement

The family of the late NFL star Junior Seau has settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL over the popular San Diego linebacker’s 2012 ...

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Yuta Watanabe makes preseason debut for Grizzlies

Rookie Yuta Watanabe made his preseason debut in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 120-110 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks at FedExForum on Friday evening.After sitting out ...

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WADA bombarded by whistleblowers

The World Anti-Doping Agency says it has registered 400 cases after a flood of information from new whistleblowers.WADA investigations unit chief Guenter Younger said the ...

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Hamilton claims top spot for Japanese GP

World champion Lewis Hamilton roared to pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix as Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel slumped to ninth after a disastrous showing ...

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New coach Tony Brown to make national team members prove worth for Sunwolves

New Sunwolves head coach Tony Brown said Friday the Japan national team members in line to play at the 2019 Rugby World Cup will need ...

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Esports searches for foothold in Japan

During August and September, esports competitions took the stage in two very different and significant places.In August, esports had a presence at the Asian Games ...

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Hokkaido Barbarians hope to help Sapporo shine during 2019 Rugby World Cup

About an hour’s drive south of central Sapporo is the hot springs resort of Jozankei, a town nestled within the lush valley of the Toyohira ...

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Hawks rally past Buffaloes

Right-hander Kodai Senga pitched seven innings and Shuhei Fukuda drove in the go-ahead run as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks came from behind to beat the ...

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Eagles promote interim manager Yosuke Hiraishi to manager

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles head coach and interim manager Yosuke Hiraishi was named the club’s skipper for next season, it was announced on Friday.Hiraishi took ...

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Hugo Vieira steers Marinos past Consadole

Hugo Vieira set up Yokohama F. Marinos’ equalizer and scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Consadole Sapporo on Friday.Consadole remained fourth in the ...

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Crane Thunders, 89ers triumph in second-flight series openers

The Gunma Crane Thunders had a solid first half to set the tone and a strong rebounding effort in Friday’s 76-68 series-opening victory over the ...

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Legendary sports columnist Dave Anderson, a Pulitzer Prize winner, dies at 89

Dave Anderson, a genteel sports writer whose elegant, descriptive prose won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary as a columnist for The New York Times, died ...

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Kei Nishikori cruises past Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rakuten Japan Open quarterfinals

Local favorite Kei Nishikori thrashed fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Rakuten Japan Open semifinals on Friday, edging him closer to a ...

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Tearful Osaka survives huge scare, claws back to reach China Open semis

Naomi Osaka overcame her emotions to roar back and defeat unseeded Zhang Shuai 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a roller-coaster China Open quarterfinal on Friday.The 20-year-old ...

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Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan key U.S. rout of Mexico in Women’s World Cup qualifying

The United States put itself firmly on the path to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Thursday with a crushing 6-0 victory over Mexico to open ...

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Lewis Hamilton dominates Japanese GP free practice

World champion Lewis Hamilton wore the expression of a child in a candy store after utterly dominating Friday’s free practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.Leading ...

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Russia retaliated for doping bans with hacks

In Russia, sports and the government are closely intertwined.Top athletes hold military ranks, Olympic medals are a matter of national pride, and champions receive luxury ...

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Kyrie Irving tells Celtic fans: I’ll be back ‘if you guys will have me’

Boston point guard Kyrie Irving says he intends to re-sign with the Celtics next summer.At a fan event at TD Garden on Thursday, Irving told ...

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Bantamweight Naoya Inoue confident before showdown with Juan Carlos Payano in World Boxing Super Series

WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue is fired up as he begins his campaign to prove he is the world’s best boxer in the division.Two days ...

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Brewers, Dodgers post Game 1 wins

Christian Yelich worked a walk, took second on a wild pitch, third on an infield out and scored on Mike Moustakas’ two-out, two-strike, walk-off single ...

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Tom Brady tosses 500th career touchdown in Patriots’ victory over Colts

Tom Brady reached 500 touchdown passes for his unparalleled career and the New England Patriots put together their second straight win after a mediocre start ...

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Ex-Lotte skipper Norifumi Nishimura to take over as Orix manager

Former Chiba Lotte Marines skipper Norifumi Nishimura will take over as manager of the Orix Buffaloes, sources close to the matter revealed Friday.Nishimura will replace ...

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Brave Thunders pull away from Jets in B. League opener

A tight game turned into a lopsided affair — at least for a key stretch of time — in the fourth quarter.As a result, the ...

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Tomoyuki Sugano throws eighth shutout of season as Giants blank Carp

Tomoyuki Sugano became the first pitcher in 40 years to throw eight shutouts in a season as he and the Yomiuri Giants blanked the Hiroshima ...

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Orioles fire manager Buck Showalter after dismal 47-115 season

The Baltimore Orioles will continue their rebuilding project without manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, who were fired Wednesday ...

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Nihon University defenseman Taisuke Miyagawa makes return to gridiron

Nihon University Phoenix defensive lineman Taisuke Miyagawa returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since his controversial May 6 tackle on Kwansei Gakuin ...

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Hajime Moriyasu recalls veterans for Panama, Uruguay friendlies

Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday named six veterans from last summer’s World Cup in Russia to the Japan national team for a pair of upcoming friendlies, ...

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Capitals raise banner, rout Bruins in opener

From banner to blowout, the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup defense is off to a rousing start.After watching the franchise’s first Cup banner ascend to the ...

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Yankees cruise past A’s in wild-card contest

Aaron Judge got the party started with a two-run homer nine pitches in. By the time Giancarlo Stanton capped the mauling with monstrous drive in ...

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Giants to ask Tatsunori Hara to return as manager

The Yomiuri Giants are looking to bring back Tatsunori Hara for a third stint as manager after Yoshinobu Takahashi steps down at the end of ...

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Japan’s win over South Africa set to be turned into movie

Japan’s famous win over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, regarded by many as one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time, ...

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Lionel Messi leads Barcelona to victory over Tottenham in Champions League

Back at the scene of his 2011 Champions League final triumph, Lionel Messi delivered another display of artistry at Wembley Stadium.Messi’s two goals helped Barcelona ...

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Cristiano Ronaldo denies rape accusations on social media

Cristiano Ronaldo denied the accusations of rape against him, saying Wednesday he had a “clear conscience” as he awaits the conclusions of an investigation.The 33-year-old ...

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Giants manager Yoshinobu Takahashi to step down over failure to bag pennants

Yoshinobu Takahashi on Wednesday confirmed he will step down as Yomiuri Giants manager after failing to win the Central League pennant during his three years ...

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Swallows starter Matt Carasiti, bullpen hold BayStars in check

Matt Carasiti tossed four solid innings on Wednesday and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ bullpen maintained an early lead for a 2-1 victory over the Yokohama ...

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Antlers stage dramatic comeback to beat Bluewings in Asian Champions League

Atsuto Uchida struck a 93rd-minute winner as the Kashima Antlers completed a remarkable 3-2 comeback win over the Suwon Bluewings in the first leg of ...

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Yosuke Ideguchi out with knee ligament injury

Greuther Fuerth midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi has been diagnosed with ligament damage to his right knee, the German second-division side said Tuesday.The 22-year old sustained the ...

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NFL suspends Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks indefinitely

The NFL suspended Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks indefinitely on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty last month to federal insider trading charges.Kendricks was suspended under ...

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Fan throws cabbage at under-fire Aston Villa manager

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce had a cabbage thrown at him by an unhappy fan before the team’s match in England’s second-tier League Championship on ...

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Kei Nishikori prevails in second round against Benoit Paire at Rakuten Japan Open

Kei Nishikori was everywhere. Whether it was the left side of the court, the right side of the court or near the net, for large ...

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Sumo skills applicable on the gridiron, not in the ring

Former top-division wrestler Osunaarashi fell to 45-year-old actor Bob Sapp in his mixed martial arts debut this week.The fight at Saitama Super Arena, which was ...

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Daiki Tanaka named FIBA Asia Champions Cup MVP

Alvark Tokyo guard Daiki Tanaka received FIBA Asia Champions Cup MVP honors on Tuesday after helping the defending B. League champions place runner-up at the ...

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Lewis Hamilton eyes normal title at Japanese GP after ‘strangest day’ of career

Lewis Hamilton will be looking to restore normal service at the Japanese Grand Prix after being gifted a controversial victory by Mercedes in Russia last ...

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Misfiring Madrid stumbles again

Real Madrid is having trouble scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo no longer on the team. His new club, Juventus, did just fine without him on Tuesday.For ...

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Twins fire manger Paul Molitor after losing season

Two years ago, the Minnesota Twins made Derek Falvey their chief baseball officer with the precondition that Paul Molitor remain as manager.Molitor presided over a ...

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New passport, but same responsibilities for Brave Thunders star Nick Fazekas

Since his 2012 arrival in Japan, Nick Fazekas has been regarded as one of the very best to compete in Japan pro basketball.Now, he is ...

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Rockies top Cubs in 13th, reach NLDS

Tony Wolters waited and waited as the NL wild-card game went deep into Tuesday night. He stretched a couple of times and tried to figure ...

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Lions counting on quality starting pitching to set the tone in playoffs

The pitching staff of the Seibu Lions has put up some scary numbers in 2018. Not scary-good numbers either.The recently crowned Pacific League champions entered ...

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Kohei Uchimura wants to compete at world championships despite ankle injury

The Japan Gymnastics Association on Tuesday revealed Kohei Uchimura injured his right ankle during a recent practice for the upcoming world championships in Qatar.Uchimura, a ...

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Wladimir Balentien bashes pair of homers in Swallows’ victory over BayStars

Wladimir Balentien knocked in a pair of home runs, helping 21-year-old starter Keiji Takahashi pick up his first professional win as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows ...

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Swallows set to release hard-throwing pitcher Yoshinori Sato

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have decided to release right-hander Yoshinori Sato, once the fastest throwing pitcher in NPB, at the end of the season, club ...

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Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase formally announces plan to retire after season

NPB career saves leader Hitoki Iwase, who also holds the all-time record for games pitched, announced his retirement at the end of theseason at Nagoya ...

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Stefanos Tsitsipas ousts Taro Daniel in fist round at Rakuten Japan Open

Taro Daniel bowed out in the opening round of the Rakuten Japan Open on Tuesday, losing 6-1, 6-3 to No. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of ...

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Naomi Osaka breezes past Danielle Collins in China Open second round

Naomi Osaka thrashed unseeded American Danielle Collins 6-1, 6-0 in just 53 minutes on Tuesday to saunter into round three of the China Open.Not to ...

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Mai Mihara impresses as runner-up while unveiling two new programs at Nebelhorn Trophy

Mai Mihara earned the silver medal in her season debut at the Nebelhorn Trophy on Saturday with two solid performances.The 19-year-old was runner-up to Olympic ...

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Tigers release infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka

The Hanshin Tigers have cut infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka following an injury-hampered six-year stint with the Central League club, the 34-year-old former major leaguer revealed Tuesday.In ...

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New Kangaroos skipper Greg Inglis suspended after drunk-driving charge

New Kangaroos skipper Greg Inglis has been suspended for two games after being caught drunk driving just hours after his appointment, the National Rugby League ...

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani undergoes elbow surgery

Shohei Ohtani underwent successful surgery on his throwing right elbow on Monday, the Los Angeles Angels announced.Angels general manager Billy Eppler said he had no ...

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Naomi Osaka aims for stellar finish to breakthrough season

U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka said her breakthrough victory in New York last month still felt “bittersweet” and is hoping that a strong end to ...

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Dodgers clinch sixth straight NL West title

What a day for Walker Buehler. The rookie with the preternatural calm pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers to a record sixth consecutive NL West title.Buehler ...

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Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto expects Ichiro Suzuki to play, coach at spring training

Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said Monday that Ichiro Suzuki will both play and coach when they begin spring training in February.Dipoto told a ...

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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes engineers late comeback against rival Broncos

Patrick Mahomes is athletic, agile — and ambidextrous, apparently.Thanks in part to a nifty left-handed throw as he was about to get sacked by Von ...

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Woman accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of rape in 2009, files lawsuit

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is being sued by a Nevada woman who said he raped her in the penthouse suite of a Las Vegas hotel ...

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Keiji Obiki belts pair of homers as Swallows beat Giants 8-5

Keiji Obiki went 3-for-4, including a pair of home runs, while Yasuhiro Ogawa struck out eight as the Yakult Swallows beat the Yomiuri Giants 8-5 ...

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Kei Nishikori outclasses Yuichi Sugita in Rakuten Open first round

Kei Nishikori cruised into the second round of the Rakuten Japan Open with a straight-sets win over Yuichi Sugita on Monday.Ranked 110, the 30-year-old Sugita ...

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Brave Blossoms name squad for autumn games

Japan coach Jamie Joseph named a 35-man squad Monday for the Brave Blossoms’ autumn games that was more notable for who was not in the ...

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LeBron James captivates crowd in his Los Angeles Lakers debut

LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer’s table, yelled “Yes!” to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los ...

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NL Central, West come down to tiebreakers

Triple Crown contender Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Nolan Arenado and the big-hitting Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.October baseball is about ...

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JSA officially accepts Takanohana’s resignation during board meeting

The Japan Sumo Association held an extraordinary board meeting on Monday and officially recognized stablemaster Takanohana’s resignation, along with the termination of his stable and ...

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Ohtani reflects on first season playing in MLB

Following his historic first season in Major League Baseball, two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani on Sunday said he had made the right decision in joining the ...

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Hamilton wins Russian GP after teammate lets him through

Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix and closed in on his fifth Formula One title, but he’s not happy.Victory was handed to Hamilton by ...

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Nishioka savors first career ATP title

At 40-30, Yoshihito Nishioka fired a second serve up the middle and watched as his opponent dumped a return into the net.It was a routine ...

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Ravens earn satisfying victory over Steelers

Eric Weddle walked into the interview room in full uniform. Then the Baltimore Ravens’ well-bearded safety did a little dance and made a proclamation.“I told ...

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Europeans complete rout to regain Ryder Cup

Europe waited two long years for that one moment when the Ryder Cup was back in its hands.Exactly when it happened Sunday was unclear, making ...

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Lions followed unusual path to Pacific League pennant

The Seibu Lions clinched their 22nd pennant in franchise history on Sunday, but did so in unusual fashion by both leading the Pacific League from ...

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