AP Sports

The Chiefs restructure Patrick Mahomes’ contract for salary cap relief, AP source says

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial details were not public. The restructuring frees up more than $21 million in salary cap space that the Chiefs can use elsewhere. That could include a much-publicized pursuit of help at wide receiver, their need for a new left tackle to protect Mahomes’ blind side, or in re-signing their own free agents.

50 years later, Tommy John surgery remains a game-changer

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — There is a bridge that runs from Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974, all the way to Justin Verlander and Bryce Harper. A thread that connects an increasing number of baseball’s biggest stars. Almost 50 years ago, on Sept. 25, 1974, Jobe reconstructed a torn ulnar collateral ligament in John’s left arm. It was a pioneering achievement for Jobe and a lifeline for John, who went from a career-ending injury to 14 more years in the majors. The procedure became known as Tommy John surgery. It is one of baseball’s most important operations, extending the careers of some of the game’s biggest stars.

Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito has elbow repaired with internal brace, expected to miss season

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito is expected to miss this season after his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with an internal brace. Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas operated Tuesday at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Giolito was able to avoid ligament replacement surgery, which he had on Aug. 31, 2012, with Dr. Lewis Yocum, less than two months after Washington made Giolito the top overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft. Red Sox manager Alex Cora says he doesn’t think Giolito will take the mound again in 2024.

March Madness upsets are sure to come. Some teams to be wary of as you fill out your bracket

March Madness wouldn’t be March Madness without the excitement of those early upsets in the NCAA Tournament. The 68-team field won’t be announced until Sunday, but it’s a safe bet that one or more high seeds will get bounced early. Field of 68 analyst and TV commentator Terrence Oglesby says matchups mean everything when one loss means elimination. Sometimes a high seed has a flaw that makes it vulnerable. Some projected high seeds that could be on upset alert the first weekend of the tournament depending on the draw are Alabama, Duke, Iowa State, Kansas, Marquette and even Purdue.

Former UFC champion Mark Coleman in the hospital after saving his parents from a house fire in Ohio

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Former UFC champion Mark Coleman was airlifted to an Ohio hospital after saving his parents from a house fire. Coleman’s daughter Morgan posted on Instagram that her father went back in several times to get his parents out of the blaze. She said he also went back in to save a dog, named Hammer. The dog did not survive despite Coleman’s efforts. Coleman’s mother Connie posted on Facebook “Thank God we’re alive” and requested prayers for her son. Morgan Coleman has started a gofundme.com page for her father.

Scheffler is chasing history in The Players Championship. No one has ever repeated as champion

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods has never done it. Neither has Jack Nicklaus or any other of golf’s best over the last half-century. The challenge facing Scottie Scheffler this week at The Players Championship is trying to be the first player to win back-to-back. Scheffler has the odds in his favor, just not he history. He is coming off a five-shot victory at Bay Hill when he got his putter to finally cooperate. He also won by five shots at The Players last year. The field isn’t the strongest in golf because of all the stars now with LIV Golf like Jon Rahm.

Louisville fires Payne after going 12-52 in two seasons, saying ‘change is needed’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville has fired coach Kenny Payne after going 12-52 in two seasons that marked the worst consecutive finishes in the storied basketball program’s history. The move came a day after the Cardinals’ 94-85 first-round loss to North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Louisville’s eighth consecutive defeat capped an 8-24 season. Athletic director Josh Heird says in a statement that “change is needed to help this program achieve what is expected and attainable.” The 57-year-old Payne is set to receive an $8 million buyout under terms of a six-year contract through 2028.

Tyler Adams returns to US roster after hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly entire year

CHICAGO (AP) — Captain Tyler Adams is among 23 players picked for the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Jamaica on March 21 after being limited to one match for club and country in the past year because of a hamstring injury. Josh Sargent was selected at forward along with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, while Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Pefok, Brandon Vázquez, Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas were omitted along with wingers Brenden Aaronson and Kevin Paredes. Goalkeepers Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath and Drake Callender were picked by coach Gregg Berhalter, while Zack Steffen was left off. A close-to-full-strength roster includes Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah.

Spanish police arrest six in burglaries at wealthy footballers’ homes in Madrid

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have arrested six members of gang that specialized in burgling footballers’ home in and around Madrid. A National Police statement Wednesday said the group selected their victims after studying photographs and videos of the houses posted by the players, family and friends on social media. Police said the gang was responsible for eight robberies over the past two years in wealthy residential areas of Madrid. The names of the footballers targeted were not released.

Monahan confident in his job and hopeful PGA Tour can strike a deal with Saudis

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan isn’t offering any details on negotiations with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. But he expresses confidence the tour can strike a deal with the Public Investment Fund and that golf’s fractured landscape can be repaired. He also sounded a confident tone that he’s the best person to lead the way. Monahan held a news conference Tuesday for the first time in nearly seven months. Since then, the tour got a minority investor pumping up to $3 billion into golf. And LIV persuaded Masters champion Jon Rahm to join. Monahan did not set a timetable for an outcome.