The man who helps Japanese figure skaters stay sharp

Skate sharpening is not a lucrative endeavor, but Kimitaka Sakurai has been doing it full time for 14 years, and he is a master at his craft.

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Winter Games torches unveiled in joint ceremony in Milan and Osaka

The torches were presented in a theater at Milan's Triennale art and design museum and the Italian pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka.

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Oscar Piastri's victory in Bahrain GP puts McLaren in F1 driver's seat

McLaren faces a welcome but nonetheless potentially complex question of how to deal with two talented teammates battling for the same prize.

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Japan gets past Canada to book spot in Billie Jean King Cup finals

The United States also booked a spot after defeating Slovakia.

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Rory McIlroy wins Masters in dramatic fashion to complete career Grand Slam

It marked the fifth major championship for McIlroy, and his first since capturing the PGA Championship for the second time in 2014.

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How Italian driver Ronnie Quintarelli endeared himself to Japan's rabid racing fans

Much of the driver's appeal has to do with the unique circumstances by which he came to Japan.

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Japan's Uchijima and Shibahara end Romania's run in Billie Jean King Cup

Shibahara beat Miriam Bulgaru 7-5, 6-2 and Uchijima overcame Todoni 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 in 2½ hours in Tokyo.

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Tony Blanco remembered in Japan and Dominican Republic after nightclub tragedy

Blanco, who spent eight seasons in Japan with three NPB clubs, slugging 181 home runs and winning a batting title, is remembered as 'great guy' with a tremendous sense of humor.

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NBA keen to tap into deep European talent pool

With the global pool of talent growing in the North American sport, the NBA is following a similar playbook to the other major men's North American sports leagues.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto fans nine as Dodgers shut out Cubs

Yamamoto (2-1) gave up two hits and had nine strikeouts and one walk while beating the Cubs for the second time this season.

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MLS to open second phase of study to explore major overhaul of season

MLS currently plays from February to December but has been examining a plan to switch to start the campaign at the end of the summer and conclude in the spring.

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Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to have knee evaluated

Acuna, 27, has participated in batting practice but hasn't yet been cleared to run the bases.

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Justin Rose gets off to fast start to grab first-round lead at Masters

Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 champion, finished in a group of 13 golfers who ended the round at 1-over.

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Pedro Martinez says family members still missing after tragedy in Dominican Republic

Former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, who also played in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons, Yokohama BayStars and Orix Buffaloes died in the tragedy.

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Robert Lewandowski leads rout as Barcelona beats Dortmund in first leg

Barcelona is enjoying a superb 23-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

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IOC adds more women's teams to Olympic soccer tournament; men's teams cut

The IOC discussed the issue with both LA Games organizers and world soccer's governing body FIFA before going through with the changes.

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Villa's Emery relishes PSG clash but wants consistent European success

Emery will return to Paris for Wednesday's first leg after having managed PSG from 2016 to 2018, winning a domestic quadruple in his final year.

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Nuggets fire coach Michael Malone three games before playoffs

Malone led the Nuggets to the franchise's first ever NBA title in 2023, but Denver has struggled for consistency this season and is currently on a four-game losing streak.

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Trump honors 'legendary' Dodgers at White House reception

Trump highlighted the achievements of several players, notably Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.

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Ivan Juric urges Southampton to learn from record-setting relegation

Southampton was condemned to relegation in record time after a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.

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Carlos Alcaraz admits to struggling under pressure to reclaim top ranking

The 21-year-old Spaniard added that staying at world No. 3 has not come as a shock to him.

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UConn crushes South Carolina for record-extending 12th NCAA women's title

A dream showdown between two of the sport's marquee programs quickly turned sour for defending champion South Carolina against a suffocating UConn defense

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Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzky to become all-time leader in career goals

Ovechkin's landmark moment came in the second period of visiting Capitals' 4-1 loss against the New York Islanders.

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Clinical Verstappen caps final home race for Red Bull-Honda with a win

The victory was the Dutch star’s fourth straight at Suzuka Circuit, while Red Bull debutant Yuki Tsunoda finished back in 12th.

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Arsenal draws at Everton to push Liverpool closer to Premier League title

The Reds now need just 11 points from their remaining eight games to secure a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title.

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Ice legends: Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky had different paths to 894

Gretzky became the NHL's all-time goals leader while also serving as the league's premier playmaker, while Ovechkin has been known for his goal scoring since his rookie year.

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Dodgers hold Phillies to four hits as Sasaki impresses

Sasaki allowed just three hits, two walks and an earned run over four-plus innings while striking out four.

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Honda looks toward its F1 future as Red Bull partnership nears end

Honda Racing President Koji Watanabe discusses the carmaker's past and future in Formula One as its Red Bull partnership draws to a close.

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Tsunoda struggles in first qualifying with Red Bull; to start 15th at home race

Tsunoda will start back in 15th at Suzuka Circuit on Sunday after a scruffy lap in the second qualifying stage. 

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Ovechkin scores 894th career goal to tie Gretzky's all-time record

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 894th career NHL goal on Friday to tie the once-thought-unbreakable record set by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky.

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Italian star Federica Brignone breaks leg with home Olympics on horizon

The 34-year-old is one of Italy's strongest medal contenders in the blue-ribbon sport of Alpine skiing for next year's home Olympics.

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Donald Trump says PGA-LIV merger would be 'great thing'

Speaking on Air Force One as he traveled to Florida ahead of this weekend's LIV Golf Miami event at Trump National Doral, the U.S. leader said he believed a merger was inevitable.

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Emma Navarro joins top players in asking Grand Slams for more compensation

Players at the lower levels often struggle due to a lack of steady sponsorship as well as expensive coaching, travel and accommodation.

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Dodgers look almost unbeatable after latest heroics from Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani's walk-off home run on Wednesday night in Los Angeles lifted the Dodgers to a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Braves.

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Michael Johnson's ambitious Grand Slam Track series prepares for first event

The circuit gets under way in Kingston on Friday.

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Seiya Suzuki hits two homers to help Cubs complete rout of A's

Suzuki hit three of Chicago's homers in the series.

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Red Bull and Racing Bulls display unity in Tokyo ahead of grand prix

Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda has moved up to replace Liam Lawson, who was demoted to the junior team.

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More than 1,000 ex-rugby players join concussion lawsuit: legal firm

"The claimants are suffering with a range of life-altering neurological conditions," said Rylands Garth.

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Elanga wonder-goal sinks Man Utd as Forest eye Champions League berth

Forest are within touching distance of reaching the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81.

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Dodgers' Ohtani has most popular jersey in MLB

The reigning National League MVP has led sales in the U.S., Japan and globally for 18 consecutive months

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Teenager Jakub Mensik stuns Novak Djokovic in Miami Open final

Nineteen-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik beat his childhood idol Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) in an upset for the ages on Sunday, claiming his first ATP title at the Miami Open while also denying the former No. 1 in his bid for a milestone 100th title.

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Steelers keeping QB options open after meeting with Aaron Rodgers

Head coach Mike Tomlin is not ruling out Mason Rudolph as the team's potential starting quarterback.

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Yankees pique interest around MLB with torpedo-shaped bats

The Yankees scored an astonishing 36 runs across a three-game series against the Brewers.

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'Special' to equal Ronaldo's Real Madrid goal record, says Mbappe

Mbappe's double took him to 33 strikes in 44 appearances across all competitions, the same number of goals his idol managed in the 2009-10 campaign.

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Yankees make MLB history with homers on first three pitches

Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge each smacked a homer off the first offering each saw from Milwaukee pitcher Nestor Corales, a former Yankee.

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Powerful Sabalenka subdues Pegula to claim Miami Open crown

Sabalenka, who was runner-up in Indian Wells earlier this month and at January's Australian Open, refused to accept the consolation trophy this time.

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Eala's dream run ends as Pegula sets up final with Sabalenka

In an enthralling battle over nearly 2½ hours, fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 win over Eala.

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Ohtani and the Dodgers power past Tigers in Blake Snell's debut

Ohtani hit his second home run in the third game of the season as the Dodgers played at home for the first time in 2025.

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Tsunoda and Lawson both have plenty to prove after swap

For Tsunoda the task at Red Bull is clear: Score substantial points toward the constructors' championship and support Verstappen's bid for a fifth successive drivers' title.

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Women's skating favorites falter as Liu leads at worlds

Three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto, trying to become the first woman in 65 years to capture four consecutive world crowns, was a disappointing fifth.

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Expansion Valkyries first WNBA team to hit 10,000 season tickets

The Valkyries are the first team to join the league since 2008 and will begin play on May 16 at home against the Los Angeles Sparks.

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Philippine wildcard Eala stuns Swiatek to reach Miami semis

The big-hitting 19-year-old showed no signs of being intimidated playing against one of her idols and dismantled Swiatek's serve early on to grab control of the match.

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NBA to review European league proposal this week

Sports business news website Sportico said league owners will consider a plan that includes eight to 10 franchises, including up to four teams who already play in the EuroLeague.

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Giants to sign 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson: reports

Wilson is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of his era; he is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl in 2014.

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China's World Cup dream on life support after Australia loss

The 1-0 loss to the Saudis in Riyadh last week and Tuesday's 2-0 reverse at the hands of the Socceroos put paid to hopes of direct qualification.

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Dodgers hand ball to Blake Snell for domestic opener

Left-hander Snell is one of two new additions to the starting rotation, along with right-hander Roki Sasaki.

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Watanabe stresses significance of IOC presidency bid

Watanabe, who became the first Japanese to seek the top IOC post, earned only four of the 97 valid votes in the election last week.

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Renard expecting no letup from Japan as Saudis eye World Cup spot

The Saudis picked up their first win in five qualifiers when they beat China 1-0 at home last week.

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Zverev marches on as Osaka falls in Miami

Jasmine Paolini was the first top 10 player Osaka has faced this year.

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Lando Norris excited about prospect of battling teammate Oscar Piastri for title

Piastri led Norris in a McLaren 1-2 at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, a week after Norris won the season-opener in Australia.

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Wild card Alexandra Eala stuns Australian Open champion Madison Keys in Miami

Up next for Eala, who has not dropped a set in Miami, will be Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa.

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WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman calls George Foreman's record unbreakable

Professional boxing is an unforgiving sport, and Sulaiman believes nobody can match or break Foreman's record of winning heavyweight titles two decades apart.

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Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two

George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen.

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Zverev, Sabalenka and Osaka all advance at Miami Open

Osaka prevailed 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4 against American wildcard Hailey Baptiste and will play Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini.

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Top skaters prepare to do battle at worlds as 2026 Olympics loom

From Kaori Sakamoto to the "Quad God," here are five skaters to keep an eye on over the next week in Boston.

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Tsunoda shines again as Lawson's struggles continue

While New Zealander Lawson qualified last, Tsunoda reached the top 10 for the second race in a row and starts ninth in Shanghai on Sunday.

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McLaren's Piastri takes his first F1 pole in China

The Australian will be joined on the front row by George Russell after the Mercedes driver put in a storming final effort.

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Hamilton answers critics with first Ferrari win in China sprint

The seven-time world champion, starting from a surprise pole position, managed his tires superbly to take the race ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

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George Foreman, ageless heavyweight champion, dies at 76

Foreman claimed a world title in his 20s and again in his 40s, and then made millions selling grills.

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Eddie Jordan was Formula One's 'rock 'n' roll' extrovert

The charismatic boss died of cancer on Thursday at the age of 76

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Tokyo Series generates company record $40 million in sales for Fanatics

According to the company, over 200,000 fans shopped at the official MLB stores operated by Fanatics

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Samurai Blue becomes first nation to secure World Cup berth

It will be Japan's eighth straight World Cup appearance.

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Endo says Japan won't be satisfied just to reach World Cup

Samurai Blue have been dominant in qualifying and can book their spot at the 2026 finals if they beat Bahrain in Saitama.

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At Tokyo Dome, a stage so big that even Shohei Ohtani felt nervous

Even the game's preeminent superstar admitted to feeling nervous as the MLB season kicked off with what amounted to a celebration of Japan and its place in the sport.

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Djokovic player union launches legal blitz against governing bodies

Both the ATP and WTA responded by vowing to defend themselves against the claims.

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Thailand eyes hosting Formula One race from 2028, prime minister says

The government will study the investment requirement, economic benefits to Thailand and the possibility of holding the competition in a street circuit.

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Sixers forward Paul George ruled out for regular season

George will miss at least six weeks after receiving injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee.

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Top Cubs prospect Matt Shaw excited to start MLB career in Tokyo

Shaw showed the Cubs coaching staff enough during spring training to earn a seat on the plane for the trip to Tokyo.

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In Tokyo, Dodgers get taste of the Shohei Ohtani experience

The Dodgers have explored various parts of the Japanese capital, and it's a safe bet that wherever each player went, Ohtani was not far behind in some form.

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Russian teen Andreeva beats top seed Sabalenka in Indian Wells final

The 17-year-old Andreeva is the youngest women's champion at the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.

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Alpine star Marco Odermatt clinches fourth straight overall World Cup title

Odermatt, 27, had already secured the super-G globe for the third year in a row and is the runaway favorite to also clinch the downhill title.

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Record-breaking France clinches Six Nations title with Scotland win

Les Bleus matched England's number of titles since Italy joined the championship in 2000 and did so in style, scoring 30 tries in a pulsating campaign.

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Norris edges Piastri for Australia pole as Tsunoda qualifies fifth

In scorching hot conditions at Melbourne's Albert Park, world champion Max Verstappen came third in a tense qualifying session.

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Former Hawks pitcher Colin Rea happy to be in Japan with Cubs for Tokyo Series

Rea pitched for the Pacific League club in 2021 and 2022. 

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UEFA to discuss rule that disallowed Alvarez penalty

UEFA said the correct decision was made to disallow Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid's Champions League loss to city rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday.

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Swiatek and Medvedev book spots in Indian Wells quarters

For Swiatek, victory continued her relentless march through the Californian desert tournament, where the Polish second seed has dropped only six games in her three matches.

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Jazz fined $100K for holding Lauri Markkanen out of games

After Wednesday's announcement of the fine, the Jazz changed Markkanen's status from questionable to available to play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

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Damar Hamlin returns to Bills with one-year extension

Hamlin started 14 games for the Bills last season, part of his remarkable comeback since going into cardiac arrest after a hit to the chest during a game in 2023.

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'Ball didn't move': Simeone hits out at shootout VAR controversy

Atletico Madrid came up short in the Champions League after VAR ruled Julian Alvarez's penalty out for a supposed double touch on the ball.

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Transformed PSG make statement by ousting Liverpool

PSG was formerly almost a laughing stock around Europe for its ability to lose big Champions League knockout ties in improbable circumstances.

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Tiger Woods has surgery for ruptured Achilles tendon

The recovery time from an Achilles rupture can often last several months, which would almost certainly rule Woods out from playing in any of this season's majors.

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Ratcliffe slams 'not good enough' and 'overpaid' Man Utd flops

The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.

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Duran and Ronaldo fire Al-Nassr into Asian Champions League quarters

Al-Nassr's win in Riyadh takes the team into the quarter-finals, which will be played in Jeddah as part of a centralized tournament from April 25 to May 3.

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Arteta frustrated after draw leaves Arsenal's title hopes in tatters

The Red Devils could not hold on for just a sixth Premier League win in 16 games under Amorim.

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Norwegians admit to cheating at World Ski Championships

Race director Sandro Pertile said afterwards that they had received information prior to the event about possible manipulations of the Norwegian's ski suits.

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As Shohei Ohtani embarks on Year 2 in Dodger Blue, a unique encore begins

Ohtani has won two Most Valuable Player Awards as a two-way player, for the Angels in 2021 and 2023.

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Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca delivers in Indian Wells debut

Fonseca, ranked 80th in the world, enjoyed the vocal support of the boisterous Brazilian fans on hand for the match at the ATP 1000 event.

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Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho denies racism allegations

Fenerbahce said Mourinho's comments were taken out of context.

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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc put on show for Ferrari fans in Milan

Some 35,000 "tifosi" attended the event as seven-time world champion Hamilton performed smoking tire burnouts after filling the city streets with noise.

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Naomi Osaka falls in first round at Indian Wells

The four-time Grand Slam champion never looked comfortable against Osorio's dynamic game and piled up unforced errors on a cool evening in the California desert.

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Skeleton racer Akwasi Frimpong wants to open doors for more African athletes

The 39-year-old broke barriers in 2018 when he and Nigerian Simidele Adeagbo became the first African skeleton racers to compete at an Olympics.

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Liverpool stuns Paris St. Germain late in first leg of Champions League clash

Goalkeeper Alisson, who was named man of the match, said it was the performance of his life.

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LeBron James becomes first NBA player to score 50,000 total points

James has shown no sign of slowing down in his 22nd season in the league.

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McLaren still the team to beat in F1, says Leclerc

Formula One champion McLaren will still be the team to beat when the season starts in Australia next week, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc said on Tuesday.

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Alcaraz chases third straight Indian Wells title

Carlos Alcaraz, coming off a quarterfinal defeat in the Qatar Open, is seeded second behind Germany's Alexander Zverev.

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Lopes gives Marinos upper hand in Asian Champions League last 16

Steve Holland's side will take a slender advantage over Shanghai Port into the second leg in Yokohama.

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Houston Dash forward Yuki Nagasato retires after storied career

The 37-year-old appeared in 134 National Women's Soccer League matches, recording 23 goals and 25 assists.

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Figure skating stars pay an emotional tribute to the Washington plane crash victims

Dozens of stars from the sport, going back decades, attended the benefit.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas finds comfort zone after winning with 'mystery' racket

The 26-year-old's first tour title since Monte Carlo last April ended his long drought in ATP 500 tournaments and vaulted him back into the top 10 of the world rankings.

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New Aston Martin designer Adrian Newey ready to get back to drawing board

Cars designed by Newey have won 12 constructors' championships for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull and 223 grand prix since 1991.

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Fulham upsets Manchester United to reach FA Cup quarterfinals

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the hero in the shootout

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Kevin Durant uses unique and meticulous pregame routine to get into zone

Golden State’s Stephen Curry is perhaps best known for his pregame shooting routine, but Durant’s is also legendary.

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Manchester City survives scare from Plymouth in FA Cup

Manchester City survived an FA Cup scare for the second straight round as it beat Championship struggler Plymouth Argyle 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals on Saturday.

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Wayne Gretzky faces backlash in Canada over support for Donald Trump

Trump's provocative comments about making Canada the 51st U.S. state have raised tensions.

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Donald Trump to issue 'complete pardon' of former MLB great Pete Rose

Trump made the declaration late Friday on his Truth Social account. It wasn't exactly clear what the pardon would cover.

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Famed artist Takashi Murakami partners with MLB for Tokyo Series

The new collection includes t-shirts and sweatshirts adorned with Murakami’s signature style, along with hats, baseballs and gloves.

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Lewis Hamilton "really enjoying" driving Ferrari during testing

The seven-time world champion was second overall on the day but only 0.031 seconds slower than Carlos Sainz.

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World Boxing looks toward Olympics after provisional recognition from IOC

The Olympic body said World Boxing had met several key criteria to merit provisional recognition.

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IOC President Thomas Bach to resign as member after tenure as leader ends

The 71-year-old, who joined the IOC in 1991, could have remained a member until the age of 80.

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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani set to make spring debut against Angels

Ohtani was injured stealing second base during the Dodgers' victory in Game 2 of the World Series.

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Lakers' Doncic makes triple-double in winning reunion with Dallas

Doncic admitted that despite his key role, his shooting was off in a game where the Lakers needed a big fourth quarter from LeBron James to secure the win.

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Chiefs GM expects Travis Kelce to play in 2025: 'He was fired up'

Kelce, 35, said earlier this month he was weighing his future in the wake of the Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

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Mercury and Team USA icon Diana Taurasi retires after 20 seasons

Taurasi is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP and the league's all-time leading scorer.

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Japan seeks answers after Asia Rugby suspends vice president

Asia Rugby said Kensuke Iwabuchi had been suspended "in line with Asia Rugby principles of equality, transparency and accountability."

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Australia mulls Asian Cup as Central Asian nations launch joint bid

United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Indonesia have also expressed interest in holding the 2031 event.

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Tanaka scores in Leeds' late-show win over Sheffield United

Ao Tanaka headed into the top corner two minutes from time to spark delirious scenes among the traveling fans.

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Hamilton’s move to Ferrari opens new possibilities

The driver is hopeful that an eighth world championship will be within his sights once again.

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France's Antoine Dupont looking ahead to blockbuster showdown against Ireland

France trails Ireland by three points in the Six Nations standings.

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Liverpool strikes potentially decisive blow in Premier League title race

Liverpool is now on course to match Manchester United's record of 20 league titles.

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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani faces live pitching for first time since surgery

According to multiple reports, Ohtani saw 32 pitches Sunday from Dodgers pitchers and put three in play. He did not hit any home runs.

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Russian teen Mira Andreeva makes WTA history with title in Dubai

After ousting three Grand Slam winners, including second-seeded Iga Swiatek, en route to the final, Andreeva ended Clara Tauson's own dream run at the tournament.

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Roki Sasaki surprises Dodgers teammates with marriage news

Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki surprised teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Friday with the big news.

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Canada beats U.S. to win 4 Nations tournament filled with political tension

The taut action on the ice mirrored the geopolitical tensions bubbling in North America since U.S. President Donald Trump took office last month.

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Swallows employee who portrayed popular mascot Tsubakuro dies

Tsubakuro became a ubiquitous presence at Jingu Stadium after his debut in 1994.

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Mina Tanaka scores twice Japan crushes Australia in SheBelieves Cup opener

In the later match, Catarina Macario scored her first national team goal in nearly three years as the United States beat Colombia 2-0.

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Victor Wembanyama expected miss remainder of regular season with blood clot

The announcement brings a premature end to another outstanding campaign by Wembanyama.

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Abdul Hakim Sani Brown ready to sprint past Paris disappointment

Despite setting a personal best with a time of 9.96 seconds, Sani Brown finished fourth in his semifinal heat in the 100-meter sprint in Paris.

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WTA stars express concern after Emma Raducanu's incident with 'fixated' fan

Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 2, believes the tour did the right thing, and acknowledges such situations can be hard to avoid, even with strict safety measures in place.

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Shota Imanaga honored to be named Cubs' opening day starter for Tokyo Series

Imanaga is expected to oppose countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers in the first of a two-game series at Tokyo Dome.

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Bayern edges out Celtic to reach Champions League last 16

Alphonso Davies scored in injury time to make the score 1-1 on the night and clinch the tie for six-time European champions Bayern 3-2 on aggregate.

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Canada downs Finland to set up ice hockey grudge clash against U.S.

Canada's players said Monday they were relishing the chance of another crack at the Americans after an ill-tempered tussle on Saturday.

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British Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas to retire at end of season

Thomas won the Tour de France in 2018, after securing gold for Britain in the team pursuit in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

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Brendan Rodgers urges underdog Celtic to be bold against Bayern Munich

Bayern is in the driver's seat for a spot in the last 16 after a 2-1 win at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

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U.S. President Donald Trump attends Daytona 500

"This is your favorite president," Trump told the drivers in a radio message before the race. "I'm a big fan.

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Mac McClung leaps over car to three-peat as NBA Slam Dunk champ

The Miami Heat's Tyler Herro won the 3-Point Contest

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Adam Silver happy with NBA despite Draymond Green calling league 'boring'

Silver said he likes where the NBA is at, even with a surge in 3-point shooting.

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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani throws first bullpen session of spring

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said Ohtani could face live hitters in March and could be in the team's rotation sometime in May.

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Ichiro to donate personal collection to Hall of Fame

Suzuki wants "to follow in the footsteps of Hank Aaron and Tom Seaver," two players who pledged their entire collections to Cooperstown, said a former Hall of Fame official.

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Chelsea has no plans to discipline star player Sam Kerr after acquittal

Kerr was found not guilty by a jury at Kingston Crown Court in London on Tuesday after calling a British police officer "stupid and white" during an incident in January 2023.

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Jets announce intention to part ways with Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers, a highly decorated quarterback, has options should he wish to continue playing in the NFL.

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Bayern outlasts Celtic in first leg of Champions League playoff showdown

Daizen Maeda scored for Celtic to inject late drama into the match.

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Frosty face-off: Over 120 teams throw down in epic Japanese snowball tournament

Teams of five players competed in two-minute matches between two teams on a field the size of a tennis court, with points awarded for direct hits with a snowball.

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Dodgers expect Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki to pitch in Tokyo

The defending champions will face the Cubs at Tokyo Dome in March to open the MLB season.

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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani expected to throw first bullpen session this weekend

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023 while still with the Los Angeles Angels. He was unable to pitch in 2024.

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Fox attracts a record 128 million viewers for the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles’ easy win over the Kansas City Chiefs became the most-watched event in U.S. TV history.

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Djokovic 'almost 100%' after injury, aiming for 100th title in Doha

The 24-time Grand Slam champion retired due to a hamstring injury in his semifinal against Alexander Zverev last month.

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'Just not ready' — Tiger Woods pulls out of Torrey Pines tournament

His decision to play came just days after Woods announced his mother, Kultida, had died last week.

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Eagles dominate Chiefs to capture Super Bowl title and prevent three-peat

The game was played before a crowd that included U.S. President Donald Trump and pop superstar Taylor Swift.

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Liverpool 'hurt' after upset loss against second-tier Plymouth in FA Cup

The Reds had been on course for a quadruple of trophies before they traveled to face Plymouth.

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Super Bowl LIX kicks off with Trump and Swift in attendance

The Super Bowl in New Orleans' Superdome has attracted a star-studded crowd that includes U.S. President Donald Trump, Taylor Swift and Hollywood celebrities.

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Mbappe secures Real Madrid derby draw against Atletico

Kylian Mbappe scored in his first Madrid derby to secure a 1-1 draw in a tense clash against Atletico, keeping Real Madrid atop La Liga.

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Anthony Davis dominant in Dallas debut

Anthony Davis impressed in his Mavericks debut with 26 points and 16 rebounds, but an apparent groin injury in the third quarter overshadowed Dallas’ win over Houston.

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Trump plans Super Bowl visit after years of tumult with the NFL

Donald Trump plans to attend the Super Bowl, making him the first sitting president to do so, while continuing his long-running feud with the NFL and its stars.

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Tokyo world athletics party can make up for Olympic lockout, says CEO

Organizing committee head Takashi Takeichi is confident that all nine days of the World Athletics Championships will be sold out.

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Chiefs eye first three-peat, Eagles out to avenge Super Bowl LVII loss

The Chiefs' run of good fortune has led to a sentiment among fans and media that someone else should get a turn.

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Warriors reportedly land Heat's Jimmy Butler in multi-team trade

Butler has agreed to a new two-year, $121 million extension with the Warriors through 2026-27, according to multiple reports.

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Howe's master-plan pays off as Newcastle reach Wembley again

Newcastle's intense pressing smothered Arsenal from the start and forced the likes of Gabriel, William Saliba and Declan Rice into a series of uncharacteristic mistakes.

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Beauden Barrett wants Japan back in expanded Super Rugby

"I'd love to see the Japanese become part of the competition," Barrett said. "I feel like we need to grow the competition and in that respect, that would be great."

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Olympics on horizon as China hosts Asian Winter Games

The Games crucially come just a year ahead of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

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The closed-door battle to lead the Olympics

For such a consequential election, much of it is taking place in the dark, away from any form of public or private debate.

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Doncic hungry for titles after shock Lakers trade

Doncic said the prospect of playing alongside LeBron James for arguably the NBA's most iconic franchise represented a "dream come true."

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Once Manchester United's golden boy, Marcus Rashford's run ends in divorce

Rashford appeared to have the world at his feet when he signed a new five-year contract with United in July 2023, but the relationship recently soured.

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NFL boss Roger Goodell sees big potential for overseas Super Bowl

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell rates New Orleans as the perfect Super Bowl host but envisions taking the league's marquee event beyond U.S. borders.

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Canadian sports fans boo U.S. anthem amid anger over Trump tariffs

The incidents appear to be linked to Trump's decision on Saturday to impose broad tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, citing a "major threat" from illegal immigration and drugs.

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Aston Villa signs Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United

Villa moved to bolster its attacking options after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday.

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Sizzling McIlroy captures PGA Pebble Beach title

Rory McIlroy delivered an overwhelming performance on the back nine to earn a two-stroke victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am to capture his 27th career PGA Tour title on Sunday.

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Mavericks defend stunning move to send superstar Luka Doncic to Lakers

In his first reaction to the move, Doncic on Sunday thanked Mavericks fans and looked forward to the next phase of his career.

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Lakers reportedly land Luka Doncic in blockbuster that sends Anthony Davis to Mavs

The Lakers and Mavericks have sent the NBA world into a frenzy with the deal involving the two superstars.

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Reigning champion Al-Ain faces must-win clash as Asian Champions League resumes

With just two points from six matches in the league phase of the competition, Al-Ain sits three points adrift of the qualifying spots for the knockout rounds.

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Slot urges Salah to sign new Liverpool deal after Saudi links

Salah has been in sensational form this season but is out of contract in June, with speculation persisting that the Saudi Pro League could be a possible destination.

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Formula One champion is confronting changes off the track and on

The reigning four-time Formula One champion, who is set to become a father, has his sights set on a fifth straight title, a feat only Michael Schumacher has accomplished.

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IOC presidential contenders make pitches to voters

They are vying to succeed Thomas Bach as arguably the most powerful person in global sports.

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Spurs center Victor Wembanyama makes All-Star team

The 21-year-old Frenchman will be making his NBA All-Star Game debut. 

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Travis Kelce embraces Chiefs' role as villains ahead of Super Bowl

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is offering no apologies for his team's success.

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Tight-knit U.S. figure skating community mourns skaters lost in plane crash

The athletes, coaches and family members on board the flight were returning from the National Development Camp in Kansas.

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France set to open Six Nations campaign against 'transitioning' Wales

France's results have vastly improved since Galthie took over in 2020.

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NFL enhances Super Bowl security after New Year's Day attack in New Orleans

The NFL is set to host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles facing off at New Orleans' Superdome.

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Arsenal boss Arteta urges stop to abuse after red card rescinded

The referees' body, PGMOL, said the police were investigating threats and abuse directed at referee Michael Oliver following the game.

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Sirianni revisits painful defeat as he fine-tunes Super Bowl strategy

The Eagles let a 10-point halftime lead slip through their fingers two years ago as the Chiefs triumphed 38-35 at Super Bowl 57.

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Kanoa Igarashi dreams big as surfing championship tour gets underway

With new tricks up his sleeve, the Olympic silver medalist is eyeing a world title.

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Sumo avoids chasm at top with as Hoshoryu picked for top rank

The 25-year-old will become only the 74th wrestler to reach the exalted rank in the history of the sport.

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Ange Postecoglou uncertain about future after Tottenham hits new 'low'

Postecoglou's side suffered its sixth defeat in its last seven Premier League matches to increase the pressure on the Australian.

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NFL-Hurts, Barkley propel inspired Eagles past Washington in NFC Championship

The loss marked the end of the Commanders' fairy-tale season.

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Wembanyama's Spurs fall to Pacers in Paris homecoming

Wembanyama connected on seven of his 16 shots from the field to score 20 points in a losing cause.

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Crawford wins Kitzbuehel downhill for maiden World Cup victory, Odermatt sixth

Crawford, with just four podium places to his name in seven seasons on the circuit, laid down a near-perfect run.

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Sparkling Keys stuns Sabalenka to claim maiden Grand Slam title

The 29-year-old became the fourth-oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the professional era with an upset of the two-time defending champion.

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After racking up another KO, 'Monster' Inoue set for bright lights of Las Vegas

There may also be a big payday in Saudi Arabia on the horizon as Inoue takes his thrilling style overseas after a long run of bouts on home soil.

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Celtic boss braces for life without Japan star Kyogo Furuhashi

Furuhashi, 30, has been strongly tipped to join French club Rennes as he seeks new challenges.

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Rivals Bills and Chiefs clash again with Super Bowl on the line

The rivalry between the Chiefs and the Bills may not have the long history of the great divisional clashes, but its intensity is fueled by the high stakes in their recent meetings.

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Sabalenka and Keys book big-hitting Australian Open final

The Australian Open women's final will pit two of the game's big hitters against each other.

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Lewis Hamilton calls first laps in Ferrari car 'one of the best feelings'

The 40-year-old Briton shocked the paddock last February when he announced he was departing for the iconic Italian team after 12 highly successful years with Mercedes.

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Dodgers introduce Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki

Sasaki was 29-15 during his time in Japan with the Marines.

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Swiatek sweeps into Australian Open semifinal with Keys

The Polish second seed was phenomenal on a gusty day at Rod Laver Arena, powering past the eighth-seeded American 6-1, 6-2.

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Haas makes Laura Mueller F1's first female race engineer

Mueller will serve as the race engineer for driver Esteban Ocon, who will debut with the U.S. team this year.

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Iconic Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Ichiro, who began his career in Japan, was a 10-time All-Star in MLB.

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Hamilton begins 'new chapter' at Ferrari

The 40-year-old announced last February that, after 12 successful years with Mercedes, he was moving on.

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Bills outlast Ravens to set up showdown with Chiefs in AFC title game

In Sunday's other playoff game, the Eagles beat the Rams to reach the NFC championship game.

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Pep Guardiola says Manchester City back on track after routing Ipswich

City struck three times in the first half in its biggest league win this season.

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Gauff turns up heat on Bencic to reach Australian Open quarters

The world No. 3 was not at her best but outlasted Switzerland's Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 on the hottest day in Melbourne so far.

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Rising star Japan star Aemu Oyama signs with Manchester City Women

Oyama, one of Japan's most promising young talents, will join the English club from Waseda University.

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Tien becomes the youngest man into Australian Open last 16 since Nadal

Tien's win in the battle of left-handers came two days after he pulled off the upset of the tournament by beating former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev.

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Rampant Swiatek has ball 'listening' to her in rout of Raducanu

Swiatek has only once reached the semifinal in Melbourne but signaled she is ready to go all the way with a 6-1, 6-0, destruction of the 2021 U.S. Open winner.

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Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki signs with Dodgers

Sasaki is considered one of the most talented young pitchers on the planet. 

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Beloved Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker dies at 90

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss," the team said in a statement.

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Yokozuna Terunofuji plans to retire

Terunofuji, who has already acquired Japanese citizenship, will become a stablemaster after his retirement.

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Naomi Osaka's Australian Open and the rediscovery of a tennis superpower

Osaka will play her first third-round match at a Grand Slam event since the 2022 Australian Open.

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Tiger Woods has no news on status of Genesis Invitational amid wildfires

With wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area, Woods said that real life carries more weight than the event.

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Confident Mikel Arteta says Arsenal back in Premier League title race

Desperately needing a win to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the table, Arteta's side staged a stirring rally after Son Heung-min's early opener for Tottenham.

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'Queen Wen' deposed in huge shock at Australian Open

The normally ice cool Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen got hot under the collar as she was sent packing 7-6 (3), 6-3 by the world No. 97.

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Law enforcement prepared for Super Bowl in New Orleans after attack, official says

Tens of thousands of football fans are set to descend on the city next month, with the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, capping a weeklong celebration.

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Klopp excited about Red Bull role as he dismisses return to management

Klopp insisted he was happy to be away from the daily grind of club management after more than two decades working in a dugout.

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Is retirement really the end of the road for Tyson Fury?

Fury has previously announced his exit on a number of occasions, most recently in April 2022.

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Osaka secures win in Australia, but distracted by LA wildfires

The 27-year-old has lived in the U.S. since childhood and has made Los Angeles her home.

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Doping cases in spotlight as Jannik Sinner tops Nicolas Jarry at Australian Open

In the lead-up to the match, Jarry told Chilean newspaper La Tercera that he wished he had "the same support" as Sinner from tennis authorities.

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Coco Gauff cruises past Sofia Kenin in first round at Australian Open

The American has been on a scintillating run of form that has made her a major threat to two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka at Melbourne Park.

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Ruben Amorim sees signs of improvement after FA Cup win over Arsenal

After outperforming expectations with a brilliant display against Liverpool last weekend, United followed that up against Arsenal to keep its FA Cup defense alive.

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China's women esports players defy sexism for love of the game

For female esports players in China, mastering the game is just the first hurdle to carving out a space for themselves in the male-dominated field.

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Rusty Zheng into second round as Grand Slam tennis returns to Melbourne

The fans were sent scurrying for cover inside the first hour when a dramatic thunderstorm swept across the area.

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Oliver Rowland earns Formula E triumph for Nissan in Mexico City

Starting from fourth, Rowland put in an outstanding performance to secure the Japanese manufacturer's 20th win.

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Goodman out of Inoue title fight after reinjuring eye

The Jan. 24 fight in Tokyo had already been rescheduled from its original Christmas Eve date after Goodman was injured while sparring in December.

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Jannik Sinner declares innocence in doping case ahead of Australian Open

Defending Australian Open champion Sinner twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

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Man City's troubles on field would pale in comparison to loss in legal case

While form is temporary and fixable, a much larger and darker cloud has stationed itself over the Abu Dhabi-owned club.

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Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate help Celtic extend lead in Scottish Premiership

Maeda netted midway through the first half at Parkhead as Celtic increased its lead over second-place Rangers.

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U.S. withholds payment to WADA amid dispute over Chinese doping tests

The move to hold back 2024 WADA dues comes in the wake of WADA's controversial handling of positive doping tests by 23 Chinese swimmers who were later allowed to compete.

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Sinner turns focus to Australian Open defense after 'amazing' year

The Italian is coming off a breakthrough year in which he backed up his maiden Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park by winning the U.S. Open and ATP Finals.

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Neymar hints at reunion in Miami with Messi and Suarez

Neymar has played only seven times for Al-Hilal since moving from PSG for a reported fee of €90 million in 2023, with injuries keeping the Brazilian sidelined.

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Rugby 'superstar' Maher on a mission to promote women's game

The 28-year-old has signed a three-month contract with English women's Premiership side Bristol.

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U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher draws record crowd in debut for Bristol

She came off the bench for the final 20 minutes at Ashton Gate to huge cheers but was unable to make a major impact.

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Captain Bruno Fernandes calls on United to replicate Liverpool performance

United is way down in 13th place, but at least it ended a three-game losing run in the league.

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Tokyo falconers keep ancient traditions soaring

While a recent showcase was all about fun and education, like other sports involving animals, falconry is also serious business for competitors at the upper echelons of the sport.

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Tragedy in New Orleans casts somber mood over Sugar Bowl

Heavy security blanketed New Orleans on Thursday as the Sugar Bowl went off without a hitch.

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World's oldest Olympic champion Agnes Keleti dies at 103

Keleti's life story, including surviving the Holocaust and Olympic glory, reads like a gripping Hollywood film script.

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Lions and Vikings to determine No. 1 seed in winner-take-all showdown

The stakes are clear in the latest game in the long-running rivalry between NFC North foes Detroit (14-2) and visiting Minnesota (14-2).

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'El Matador' Carlos Sainz ready to defend Dakar Rally crown

Sainz's fourth title came when he was 61 — making him the oldest winner of the race — and was the first Dakar victory for German outfit Audi.

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World Rugby chief says U.S. star Ilona Maher will help fuel World Cup fever

The versatile American back — a breakout star at the 2024 Paris Olympics —  is the world's most popular rugby player on social media

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Jets quarterback Rodgers ponders NFL future ahead of season finale

The 41-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, said he would make a decision about whether he'll play in 2025 before free agency in March.

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Gabriel Jesus plays starring role as Arsenal closes gap on Liverpool

Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli netted in quick succession soon after halftime to ensure Arsenal moved into second place above Nottingham Forest.

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