AP Sports

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expected to play again this season

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to play football again in 2024 after being diagnosed with his third concussion in two years earlier this season. Coach Mike McDaniel says Tagovailoa had “positive” meetings with neurologists during the Dolphins bye week, though he remains in concussion protocol and on injured reserve. Tagovailoa isn’t eligible to return until Miami’s game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, and McDaniel said the quarterback will continue consulting experts to determine when it will be safe for him to play. Tagovailoa got hurt in a Week 2 game against Buffalo when he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.

Rizzo at first base for Yankees in ALCS opener against Cleveland, 16 days after fracturing fingers

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo was back in the New York Yankees’ lineup for the AL Championship Series opener against Cleveland, just 16 days after fracturing a pair of fingers when hit by a pitch. Rizzo was batting seventh and playing first base against the Guardians after missing the Division Series against Kansas City. Rizzo fractured his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28.

Brandon Nimmo in Mets’ lineup for Game 2 of NLCS despite left foot issue

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brandon Nimmo is in the New York Mets’ lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series despite dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The left fielder was limping throughout the Mets’ 9-0 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1 on Sunday. He went 0 for 3. Nimmo says he’s been dealing with the issue since May and that he aggravated it in the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He says his foot bothers him most when running. Manager Carlos Mendoza says Nimmo is in good enough condition to hit and play defense in the outfield.

Kansas tops AP Top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll ahead of Alabama, defending champion UConn

Kansas is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll ahead of Alabama and two-time defending national champion UConn. The Jayhawks got 30 of 60 first-place votes while the Crimson Tide received 14 and the Huskies got 11. Houston and Iowa State round out the top five, followed by Gonzaga, Duke, Baylor, North Carolina and Arizona. The Big 12 has half of the top 10 teams but the SEC has the most in the Top 25 overall with nine. That includes No. 16 Arkansas, led by new coach John Calipari, and No. 23 Kentucky, where Mark Pope replaced him.

Cancer survivor helps inspire college basketball doubleheader exhibition to benefit St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis will play the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic in a unique doubleheader exhibition on Tuesday night to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. No. 9 North Carolina and defending national champion South Carolina are the opponents. The Tigers have a personal tie inspired by the son of a former men’s basketball player. He talked to the Tigers last December about how St. Jude helped him live when diagnosed with cancer at the age of 14. NCAA rule changes allow Division I teams to play exhibitions as long as all ticket proceeds go to charity.

The NBA’s parity era is here, with 6 champions in 6 years. Now Boston will try to buck that trend

There’s never been an era in NBA history where it’s been harder to win back-to-back titles. Here are the last six NBA champions, in order: Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver and now Boston. That’s six different title-winning franchises in six seasons, a run of parity that the league has seen only once before and that was nearly a half-century ago. The days of dynasties may be on hold for now. It’s the Celtics’ turn to try to buck that trend this season.

‘Shocker’ has Cowboys at crossroads as Jerry Jones says he isn’t considering a coaching change

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Jerry Jones says he isn’t considering a coaching change. There’s no question the owner of the Dallas Cowboys has had happier birthdays than his 82nd. Yet another puzzling blowout loss at home on Jones’ birthday has the Cowboys at a crossroads. They are headed into their open week before a visit to San Francisco, where they played dreadfully a year ago. The bright side for Dallas is a 3-0 road record and just a one-game deficit in the division for the defending NFC East champion. There was no talk of bright sides following a 47-9 loss to Detroit.

WNBA and players’ union closing in on opt out date for current collective bargaining agreement

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA had a record year in terms of growth in viewership and attendance, and with that the players now want a bigger piece of the financial pie. The players union and league have until Nov. 1 to potentially opt out of their current collective bargaining agreement. It is likely that the players will decide to do so before the deadline as they have a list of wants, including increased salaries now that the WNBA has entered a historic 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC for $200 million a year. If the union does opt out, the current CBA, will still be in effect next season.

Motorsports in the United States have taken a dramatic off-track turn: Analysis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Andretti is seemingly out of motorsports just a year after he was drumming support for a Formula 1 team. Michael Jordan is suing NASCAR and Roger Penske is trying to hold IndyCar steady during its lengthy offseason. As F1 returns to the United States for its second visit of the season, the entire landscape is full of off-track drama completely unrelated to the racing.

Aidan Hutchinson likely down 4-6 months with broken leg, Lions coach Dan Campbell says

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula he sustained against the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions announced Monday morning that Hutchinson had the surgery at Baylor White Medical Center in the Dallas area. He will return to Detroit this week and was expected to make a full recovery. Hutchinson was carted off the field after a sack of Dallas QB Dak Prescott in the third quarter of the Lions’ 47-9 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the surgery “went great” and Hutchinson is likely out four-to-six months.