AP – Sports
August 13, 2026
NBA’s 2026-27 schedule gives Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo homecoming games in January
NEW YORK (AP) — Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo will play homecoming games a week apart in January. The 2026-27 NBA schedule was released Thursday, setting the dates for the two former NBA Finals MVPs to return to face the teams that traded them this summer. Brown, who was dealt from the Celtics to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in a stunning move, will play his first game back in Boston on Jan. 21. Antetokounmpo was sent from Milwaukee to Miami. The Heat will travel to face the Bucks for the first time on Jan. 28.
Chicago Bears could merge 2 sites for potential stadium in northwest Indiana
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have at least one viable site for a new stadium in northwest Indiana and they are examining a second location as they move closer to finalizing a place for their new home. The Bears announced in June that they were moving forward with a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. They have completed their review of one site, and they are doing their due diligence on a second location. They could merge the two options together in some way. Chairman George McCaskey says the team will keep the same name at whatever location it chooses. The Bears have played in Illinois since the team’s founding in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys. They moved to Chicago in 1921 and called Wrigley Field home before they started playing at Soldier Field in 1971.
Kirk Cousins’ view on mentoring is different from Joe Montana and Brett Favre’s
Joe Montana wasn’t interested in teaching Steve Young when the two Hall of Fame quarterbacks played together in San Francisco. Brett Favre felt the same after Green Bay drafted Aaron Rodgers. Montana and Favre wanted to keep their starting jobs as long as they could. Kirk Cousins has a different perspective on mentoring rookie Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. Cousins told the AP On Football podcast he’s happy to be a resource to the No. 1 overall pick but he’s careful about using the mentor label.
Field of Dreams nostalgia lives on through the Ghost Players and their passion for Iowa and baseball
The Iowa farmland mystique from “Field of Dreams” still lives on through a group of locals who call themselves the Ghost Players. They’re fashioned after the dead baseball players who emerged from the cornfield in the fantasy film. They started appearing at the movie site in 1990 and have taken their traveling ballplaying troupe to 28 countries and dozens of states. Major League Baseball has returned to the Field of Dreams site with a game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. The event is another point of pride for the Ghost Players and their passion for Iowa and baseball.
Higher-income families more likely to enroll kids in organized sports, an AP-Ipsos poll finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-Ipsos poll finds Americans overwhelmingly see major benefits to children playing organized sports, but higher-income families are more likely to participate. Learning teamwork and reducing screen time are among the perceived benefits of youth sports. About half of U.S. parents with K-12 school-aged children say their kids play a structured sport, but participation is more common among higher-income parents. About two-thirds of K-12 parents with at least one child playing sports estimate spending up to $2,000 annually on equipment, fees, training and travel for youth athletics.
How flag football is key to the NFL’s plans to further global reach
DUSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Five-on-five, no contact and an emphasis on speed and elusiveness. The future of football around the world looks different. The NFL is still hoping to reap the rewards. The league is making its presence known this week in Dusseldorf as the German city hosts the first-ever Olympic qualifier in flag football, a game the NFL sees as a way to turn viewers into players and lifelong fans. The International Federation of American Football runs the Olympic qualifiers, where the top two men’s and women’s teams will earn a spot in the LA Olympics. The U.S. already has a spot in the Olympics because it’s the host nation.
The warming climate is forcing marathons to consider changes to keep runners cool
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Marathon organizers are adjusting to warmer race conditions caused by climate change. Many races are shifting dates, starting earlier or offering shorter runs. For example, the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul plans to move its October race to later in the month starting in 2027. This follows the cancellation of the 2023 race due to record heat. Other marathons, like those in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Long Beach, California, have also made changes. Experts say more races will need to adapt as climate change continues. The focus is on ensuring runner safety while maintaining the spirit of these events.
Doc Rivers reflects on getting into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and those who made it possible
Doc Rivers reflects on his upcoming induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He says his speech will focus on those who helped him along the way. Rivers emphasizes that his journey was a collective effort. He ranks sixth in NBA history with 1,194 regular-season wins and won a championship with Boston in 2008. Rivers retired after coaching the Milwaukee Bucks last season. He plans to stay involved in basketball, but not as a coach. Rivers acknowledges the sacrifices his family made during his career and looks forward to spending more time with them.
Jimmie Johnson set to leave NASCAR with famous friends in tow and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
Jimmie Johnson is gearing up for his final NASCAR Cup race at next season’s Daytona 500, reclaiming his old No. 48. Despite nearing retirement, Johnson remains a major figure in racing. He’s busy off the track as the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club, attracting celebrity investors like Bryce Harper and Darius Rucker. Johnson is focused on growing his team and making it profitable. He’s also been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he hopes to unveil during Daytona 500 week. Johnson’s legacy in racing continues to evolve, both on and off the track.
Montero, Tigers shut out Guardians without a strikeout, a first in MLB since 2014
DETROIT (AP) — Keider Montero pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Detroit Tigers blanked the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 despite failing to record a strikeout. The Tigers became the first team to blank an opponent without a strikeout since Rick Porcello did it to the Athletics on July 1, 2014. The feat has only been accomplished seven times since 2000. Montero allowed one walk over 6 1/3 innings, holding the Guardians scoreless despite not recording a strikeout. Tyler Holton worked 1 2/3 strong innings, and Kenley Jansen earned his 15th save in a perfect ninth.
