AP Sports

Lindsey Vonn to enter World Cup ski races next weekend in Switzerland in her comeback at age 40

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn will return to World Cup ski racing next weekend for a pair of super-G events in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as she continues her comeback at 40 years old. Vonn teased her return in an Instagram post through her sponsor, Red Bull, on Friday morning. She said “I hear St. Moritz is pretty nice this time of year.” The U.S. Ski Team then confirmed she will race in St. Moritz. She’s won five of her 82 World Cup races on the venue at St. Moritz. Picabo Street, a two-time Olympic medalist and Vonn’s former teammate, says “it’s the coolest thing ever.”

De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers after his refusal to enter a game, Kyle Shanahan says

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. Shanahan said the team is still working through the options of how to deal with Campbell after he walked to the locker room in the middle of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Shanahan says the team is weighing its options, which could include a suspension or release, but that Campbell won’t be part of the team for the final three weeks of the season.

Saudi Arabia’s plans to host the men’s World Cup 2034 will be harmful for the climate, experts say

Saudi Arabia says that to host the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, it will build or renovate 15 stadiums, create a futuristic city and expand airports and public transport in a massive buildout to accommodate millions of athletes, coaches and spectators. That will emit tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases as concrete and steel are manufactured and transported, diesel-powered excavators and trucks move material and new buildings are powered and cooled. The buildings and construction sector, taken together, is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally. Because of the scale of the building plans and travel needed for the event, experts say the toll on the climate could be enormous.

Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. The Yankees also will send more than $1 million to the Brewers as part of the trade. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams and his signature “Airbender” changeup are eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28. Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings.

Cubs acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros, AP source says

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move was pending a review of medical reports. The Cubs are sending third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions.

US Olympic and Paralympic officials put coach on leave after AP reports sexual abuse allegations

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has placed an employee on administrative leave after The Associated Press reported that one of its coaches was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, causing her so much distress that she attempted suicide. USOPC officials sent an email to the U.S. Biathlon national team saying it wanted to commend the athletes who came forward with the “concerning allegations of abuse.” The email, which did not name the employee, said officials were conducting an internal investigation. USOPC spokesperson Jon Mason said no further information would be released while the inquiry is underway.

Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny.

Analysis: Only LeBron James knows what’s happening right now, and what’s in his future

LAS VEGAS (AP) — LeBron James was starring in Las Vegas at this time last year, the headline attraction while he and the Los Angeles Lakers were about to win the inaugural version of the event now known as the NBA Cup. That’s not the case this year. “Personal reasons … he’s taking some time” is what Lakers coach JJ Redick said this week when detailing why James was missing from practice. “Left foot soreness” is the reason why the Lakers have ruled him out of Friday’s game in Minnesota. There’s been trade speculation in recent days. It’s all very different than a year ago at Cup time.

Does the NBA Cup need star power or does Las Vegas sell itself?

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals and final debuted last season in Las Vegas. The championship game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers sold out. The renamed NBA Cup is back beginning Saturday. The question is whether star power will help sell the event on a neutral site or if Las Vegas is enough of a sell itself. Former two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and this season’s second-best bet in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the featured names.

Belichick’s bid to reshape football at UNC another sign of rising pro influence on college level

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick marks another sign of the growing influence of the NFL on college football. The challenges of managing the transfer portal and looming revenue sharing for athletes has led teams to take on more NFL-like structures to their programs. Belichick is set to structure North Carolina’s program like an NFL front office. That includes hiring former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. At Florida, coach Billy Napier is interviewing general managers while saying the program is going to “a business model” to deal with a “major math puzzle.”