Update on the latest sports
McIlroy eases off criticism of LIV Golf. He’s says Rahm defection was a smart business move
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Rory McIlroy is softening his stance against Saudi-funded LIV Golf. He says on the “Stick to Football” podcast that he has accepted that LIV is part of golf now. McIlroy also says he has been to judgmental about players leaving. McIlroy has been the harshest critic of LIV Golf since it began in June 2022. Jon Rahm is the latest to defect. McIlroy says it was a smart business decision by the Masters champion. He says he suspects Rahm thinks the two sides will get together. McIlroy also suggested he helped instigate the PGA Tour meeting with the Saudis.
Pro Picks: Bills will beat the Dolphins to win the AFC East title
The Miami Dolphins went from playing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed to playing for their division to avoid the sixth spot this week. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills stand in their way. The Bills-Dolphins will face off Sunday night in the NFL’s final regular-season game in a showdown for the AFC East title. The Dolphins had a chance at earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs but were pounded by Baltimore 56-19. If they beat Buffalo, they’ll secure the No. 2 seed. The Bills would get the two seed with a win. If they lose, they’d drop to sixth, seventh or completely out of the playoffs.
Michigan QB McCarthy says sign-stealing saga masked work of players who ‘did things the right way’
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy says the sign-stealing scandal has overshadowed the work the team has put in to go unbeaten and reach the College Football Playoff championship game. Michigan plays Washington for the national title in Houston on Monday as the NCAA continues to investigate allegations the Wolverines had a staff member use video equipment to pick off future opponents’ play-call signs from the sideline. McCarthy said it would be unfortunate if wins were vacated because it would take recognition away from players who did things the right way.
Scheffler wins player vote as PGA Tour player of the year over Rahm
KAPALUA, Hawaii. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is the PGA Tour player of the year in a close vote over Masters champion Jon Rahm. Scheffler is the first back-to-back winner of the award since Tiger Woods in 2006 and 2007. But this one will raise questions whether players voting penalized Rahm for joining LIV Golf. Scheffler had a staggering statistical year. He played so well that he didn’t finish out of the top 12 until July. His two wins were The Players Championship and the Phoenix Open. But Rahm won four times, including the Masters. He defected in the middle of the two-week voting period.
The AP goes behind the scenes at PWHL opener to capture ‘the birth of women’s hockey’
TORONTO (AP) — The Associated Press went behind the scenes to capture what former tennis star and gender equality champion Billie Jean King referred to as the birth of women’s hockey. King made the reference while addressing New York players in the dressing room before they played Toronto in the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s inaugural game Monday. King helped launch the league in bringing together the world’s top players, financed by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter. The game was not only a sellout, but fans also purchased nearly the entire stock of merchandise, which was expected to last a month.
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit regular-season finale against Chargers with AFC West secured
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles. The Chiefs clinched their eighth straight AFC West title and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs with last week’s 25-17 win over the Bengals. Veteran backup Blaine Gabbert will start for Kansas City and Chris Oladokun will back him up. Chiefs coach Andy Reid declined to say whether other starters, such as tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones, will play against the Chargers.
Jaguars QB Lawrence taking ‘cautious and aggressive’ approach to returning from sprained shoulder
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence is trying to be cautious and aggressive with his sprained throwing shoulder. He hopes the approach could help him return to the starting lineup for Jacksonville’s pivotal regular-season finale at Tennessee on Sunday. Lawrence practiced in a limited capacity, but did not throw during the portion of practice open to reporters. He missed all of last week while resting his right shoulder and sat out Sunday’s 26-0 win against Carolina. That ended a streak of 51 consecutive starts for the first overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Firefighters battling large fire at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Firefighters were battling a blaze at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill on Wednesday afternoon, according to WSVN News in South Florida. The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches in South Florida, was shown with a large amount of smoke coming out of the roof as firefighters doused it with water. Hill had been at Dolphins practice as Miami prepares for its regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, but he left after being told about the fire. Footage showed Hill arriving at his home just before 3 p.m. EST. The station reported that no one was in the house at the time the fire broke out.
The 49ers have a rare quartet of 1,000-yard players. Dolphins and Lions could do the same.
The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. San Francisco became the sixth team ever to have four players eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the same season when George Kittle joined Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Miami is closing in on the mark and Detroit has an outside chance of doing it with a big game from rookie tight end Sam LaPorta in Week 18.
New PGA Tour season starts with renewed emphasis on charity with Lahaina in mind
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — The PGA Tour season starts at Kapalua and there’s a different feeling this year. Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele are among several players contributing to relief efforts toward the Lahaina fires on Aug. 8 that killed 100 people and leveled the historic waterfront area. Morikawa has ties to Maui. His grandparents were born in Lahaina and long ago had a restaurant on Front Street. Schauffele already has hosted a junior clinic for kids impacted by the fires. Sentry Insurance is the title sponsor. It already has contributed more than $2 million to various relief funds.