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September 27, 2023
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September 27, 2023
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Update on the latest sports

 
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September 27, 2023
 

Reno casino expansion plan includes new arena that could be University of Nevada basketball home

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The University of Nevada’s basketball team could have a new off-campus home by 2026 under an ambitious 10-year expansion plan that Reno’s largest hotel-casino has in the works. Officials for the Grand Sierra Resort said Wednesday that the nearly $1 billion private capital investment will be the biggest in Reno history. The resort’s owner and Nevada President Brian Sandoval say they’re going to explore a partnership that could bring the basketball team to the new 10,000-seat arena by the fall of 2026. The expansion also includes a new 800-room hotel tower and 300 affordable riverfront residential units to help address workforce housing shortages.

Damian Lillard is being traded from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks, AP source says, ending long saga

Damian Lillard is being traded by Portland to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The deal ends a three-month saga surrounding Lillard’s wish to be moved elsewhere with hopes of winning an NBA title and his 11-year run with the Trail Blazers. The seven-time All-Star goes from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks in a three-team deal that sends Jrue Holiday from the Bucks to Portland, Deandre Ayton from Phoenix to Portland and Jusuf Nurkic from the Blazers to the Suns. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because none of the involved teams had announced the agreement.

Michigan State fires coach Mel Tucker for bringing ridicule to school, breaching his contract

Michigan State has fired Mel Tucker, saying the suspended football coach failed to present adequate reasons why he should not be fired for cause after having what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor. The school said Wednesday that it terminated what’s left of Tucker’s $95 million, 10-year contract for acknowledging actions that subjected the institution to ridicule, among other reasons. The woman said Tucker sexually harassed her during the phone call in April 2022. Michigan State informed the 51-year-old Tucker that it planned to fire him on Sept. 18 and gave him a week to respond, which he did on Monday.

Rory McIlroy once called the Ryder Cup an exhibition. He knows better now

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — The Ryder Cup is no exhibition. That’s how Rory McIlroy referred to it before playing in his first one and he laughs at those words now. McIlroy read comments he made 14 years ago about how it wouldn’t mean all that much to him and he wouldn’t be fist-pumping. That changed when he played his first one in Wales in 2010. And now he’s the most experienced Ryder Cup player at Marco Simone and a de facto leader of Team Europe. McIlroy wants to be sure younger players look over to him without looking up to him.

Brooks Robinson Appreciation: In Maryland in the 1960s, nobody was like No. 5

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — Growing up in Maryland in the 1960s, Brooks Robinson was a god. Every kid wanted to wear his No. 5. Even young lefties like future AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker tried to play third base like him. Kids imitated his aw-shucks Arkansas twang. They copied his relaxed, shoulders-bouncing jog off the field. Walker recalls that if they could’ve worn a short-brimmed batting helmet like he did, we would’ve. A day after Robinson’s death, Walker reflects on the mesmerizing defensive whiz and a play in the 1970 World Series that in some ways, still lives on in Walker’s childhood backyard.

Deion Sanders still winning in Black community after first loss at Colorado

Deion Sanders has turned Colorado football into an unexpected cultural phenomenon, with tremendous support coming from the Black community. Black support for Sanders and Colorado is just as much about culture and representation as it is wins and losses. Black people all over the country are wearing Buffaloes gear and rooting for the team despite having no connection to Colorado other than pride and support for what Sanders is doing.

Travis Kelce notes Taylor Swift’s ‘bold’ appearance at Chiefs game but is mum about any relationship

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce calls Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs’ victory over the Chicago Bears “pretty bold” but wants to remain private about any relationship with the superstar singer. Speaking on his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” Kelce discussed Swift’s well-publicized appearance in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium with his family during Sunday’s 41-10 victory. The 12-time Grammy Award winner sat next to Kelce’s mom, Donna, and yelled during the game. While he acknowledged being more vocal in the media spotlight than Swift, he said he wanted to respect both of their lives and keep the discussion focused on football.

Pro Picks: Lions get another win in Lambeau after ending Aaron Rodgers’ career with the Packers

The Detroit Lions are going back to Lambeau Field for the first time since ending Aaron Rodgers’ career in Green Bay. The Packers look just fine with Jordan Love. The two 2-1 teams meet Thursday night in an early season battle for first place in the NFC North. Love, who led an impressive comeback win over the Saints last week, watched from sideline when the Lions knocked the Packers out of the playoffs with a win in the final regular-season game in 2022. The Packers haven’t had running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson the past couple of games because of hamstring injuries. If they can return on a short week, that’ll boost an offense that has played well behind Love.

Deion Sanders’ impact at Colorado raises hopes that other Black coaches will get opportunities

Deion Sanders’ immediate impact after taking over a Colorado football program that won just one game last year is providing hope for other Black coaches looking to land Power Five jobs. There are only 14 Black head coaches roaming the sidelines at the 133 Football Bowl Subdivision programs while roughly half the players are Black. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Penn State’s James Franklin are the only ones at what would be considered traditional powerhouses. It’s too early to say whether the national attention that Sanders has generated leads to more opportunities for Black coaches but it has sparked conversations.

Sleeping, eating, film work and a little ‘panic.’ How the Steelers dealt with emergency landing

The Pittsburgh Steelers are laughing off their unexpected detour to Kansas City. The team spent several hours on the tarmac at Kansas City International Airport after their charter flight back from Las Vegas had to be grounded due to an oil pressure issue. Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett called it a “crazy” experience and praised the flight crew for helping make it as comfortable as possible. The team will be using a different plane when it flies to Houston in Week 4 for a game against the Texans.