AP Sports

NFL owners unanimously approve a rule that bans the hip-drop tackle

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NFL is eliminating the hip-drop tackle. NFL team owners on Monday unanimously approved a rule that bans players from using a swivel technique to tackle an opponent. A violation will result in a 15-yard penalty and could ultimately result in fines for players. NFL executive Jeff Miller said the hip-drop tackle was used 230 times last season and resulted in 15 players missing time with injuries. The NFL Players Association has opposed the rule.

Bracket not busted: All top 8 seeds advance to Sweet 16 in chalky March Madness

March Madness arrived with visions of chaos. The only surprise so far has been the lack of pandemonium. The top two seeds from each region are still alive. One double-digit seed will join them in the Sweet 16. Top seeds UConn, North Carolina, Houston and Purdue advanced. So did No. 2 seeds Arizona, Tennessee, Marquette and Iowa State also advanced. It is just the fifth time that has happened since the start of seeding in 1979.

‘Obviously the mistake was made’: Big East remains unbeaten in NCAA Tournament after only 3 bids

NEW YORK (AP) — Since a disappointing Selection Sunday for the Big East, the conference has not lost an NCAA Tournament game. Defending national champion UConn, Marquette and Creighton all advanced to the Sweet 16. Three NCAA bids for the Big East was its fewest since 1993. Now it is the only multi-bid conference to get through the first week of the tournament without losing a game. The Atlantic Coast Conference has the most teams in the Sweet 16 with four. Meanwhile, the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference, which combined for 16 bids, each only managed two teams in the regional semifinals.

Dani Alves released from prison after paying bail while awaiting appeal of rape conviction in Spain

MADRID (AP) — Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves has been released from prison after paying 1 million euros in bail to be set free while appealing a rape conviction. Alves was found guilty last month of raping a woman in a nightclub in December 2022 and sentenced to four years, six months in prison. He denied wrongdoing. The 40-year-old Alves had spent the last 14 months in the Brians II prison located 45 minutes from Barcelona. A court last week granted him the possibility to leave prison on bail after all of his other previous requests had been denied because he was deemed a flight risk.

China releases South Korean soccer star after a nearly 1-year detention over bribery suspicions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A star South Korean soccer player who was detained and investigated in China for nearly a year over bribery allegations has been released and returned home. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry is giving few details. Son Jun-ho is a former member of the South Korean national team who played professionally in China. He was detained by Chinese authorities at the Shanghai airport in May on suspicion of taking bribes. Chinese soccer has struggled for years to rid itself of a reputation for corruption.

Shohei Ohtani to make first comments since illegal gambling, theft allegations against interpreter

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first public comments Monday since his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Los Angeles Dodgers star. The Dodgers said Ohtani would speak at 2:45 p.m. PDT in the team’s interview room, and that TV cameras and photographers would not be allowed in. A feed was expected to be aired on MLB Network and SportsNet LA. The team did not specify if Ohtani would take questions from reporters. Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers last week when the team opened the season with two games against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin says Russell Wilson has ‘pole position’ for starting QB job

ORLANDO, Fla. _ (AP) — Russell Wilson’s resume and experience give him the edge over Justin Fields. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Wilson is considered Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback but Fields will get a chance to compete. The Steelers revamped their quarterback room earlier this month, signing Wilson to the $1.21 million veteran’s minimum after the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback was released by Denver. Kenny Pickett, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, asked for a trade after Wilson’s arrival, Tomlin said. So, Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia and acquired Fields, a first-round pick in 2021, from Chicago for a conditional sixth-round choice in 2025.

Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama to miss rematch against Suns with sprained left ankle

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama will miss Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns because of a sprained left ankle. No timetable was given for Wembanyama’s return. The 7-foot-3 center from France was ruled out after participating in San Antonio’s morning shootaround to test his ankle. Wembanyama sustained the injury during Saturday’s 131-106 loss to Phoenix. He did not play in the fourth quarter with the Suns leading by as many as 32 points during the game. Wembanyama had 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot in 21 minutes against Phoenix.

MLB baserunners went wild last summer. In Year 2 with new rules, steals could keep piling up

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Trea Turner’s speed and instincts helped him go perfect on the bases. The Philadelphia Phillies’ star shortstop set a major league record for most steals in a season without getting caught, going 30-for-30 on the basepaths last year. He wasn’t the only player who had a lot of success. Thanks to several rules changes, runners swiped bags more proficiently and stolen bases across the majors increased 41% from 2,486 in 2022 to 3,503 in 2023. That was the most in a season since 1987. Overall, basestealers had a success rate of 80.2%, up from 75.4% in 2022. Turner is one of only six players in MLB history to steal at least 20 bases in a season at a 100% rate.

New rules empowering players have coaches frustrated, contemplating the future of their profession

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The job of coaching in college sports has drastically changed. Switching schools is easier than ever via the transfer portal and the lure of better compensation deals can now be a factor for athletes looking to cash in on their celebrity. That has left many coaches frustrated and some even contemplating leaving the profession. Before the NCAA Tournament began last week, the portal opened up and the floodgate was open: Some 748 Division I men and 594 Division I women entered in just the first week, even while many teams were still playing games.