Sports

Kansas City Chiefs announce they will leave Arrowhead and relocate across the Kansas-Missouri border

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have announced they will relocate across the Kansas-Missouri border in a new domed stadium that will be ready by the 2031 season. The move comes after a Kansas legislative committee approved a bonding package to support the move into Kansas earlier in the day. The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium on the Missouri side of Kansas City since 1972. Kansas City (Mo) Mayor Quinton Lucas and city officials planned to address the media later Monday.

Fan denies using racial slur in heated exchange with Steelers’ DK Metcalf

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Detroit Lions fan who Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf punched at during a game between the teams has denied allegations he used a racial slur in a statement released by his lawyers Monday. A law firm representing Ryan Kennedy said in a statement released to The Associated Press on Monday that Kennedy “categorically denies” using a slur or any other derogatory statement during the exchange with Metcalf that ended with the two-time Pro Bowler taking a swing at Kennedy with his right arm.

Jaguars can’t get overlooked anymore after an impressive, statement win over Denver

Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars and coach Liam Coen will get the credit they deserve now. Trevor Lawrence and the Jags went to Denver and scored 34 points against one of the NFL’s best defenses, extending their winning streak to six games with a 14-point victory on Sunday that gave the Broncos their first loss since Week 3. This was an impressive, convincing win for an underrated team that’s been overlooked throughout the season. The Broncos (12-3) and Patriots (12-3) deserved recognition for double-digit winning streaks. The Colts (8-6) were the talk of the AFC the first two months during a 7-1 start.

NBA, FIBA say they’re moving closer to new planned basketball league in Europe

The NBA and FIBA have announced plans to engage with teams and owners about a new European league. This league will offer permanent spots and a merit-based pathway for qualification through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League. Details like the start date and number of teams are still being finalized, with October 2027 as a working target. The league could feature 16 teams, with 12 permanent spots. The NBA and FIBA have been discussing this for years, and efforts intensified around the 2024 Paris Olympics. Target countries include Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey.

No. 2 Michigan closing gap on No. 1 Arizona in AP Top 25, Duke falls out of top five

Arizona remains No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, but Michigan is closing the gap. The Wildcats topped the poll for the third straight week, receiving 38 first-place votes. On Monday, the Wolverines had 19 first-place votes, four more than last week, and pulled within 20 points. No. 3 Iowa State had one first-place vote, with UConn and Purdue rounding out the top five. The next Top 25 will be released January 5.

UConn stays No. 1 in women’s AP Top 25 poll after rout, Texas, South Carolina, UCLA next

UConn, Texas, South Carolina, and UCLA remain at the top of The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. The Huskies defeated then-No. 11 Iowa in the Women’s Champions Classic, keeping them unbeaten and at No. 1. Texas received seven first-place votes to hold the No. 2 spot. Texas Tech entered the poll for the first time since 2012 after a narrow win over Baylor on Sunday. Louisville climbed to No. 13 after defeating Tennessee. Twelve teams remain undefeated, while nine are still seeking their first win.

It’s been 50 years since a lawyer’s decision unlocked free agency in MLB and changed sports forever

NEW YORK (AP) — Sports were turned upside down 50 years ago Tuesday by a man who never threw or kicked a ball. A lawyer with expertise in labor relations struck down Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which had bound players to their teams since the 1870s. No one could have predicted then that the 65-page decision issued Dec. 23, 1975 by arbitrator Peter Seitz would lead to an upheaval that made thousands of players multimillionaires. Seitz was immediately fired by MLB and later compared baseball owners to “the French barons of the 12th century.”

Spain ends year as top team in FIFA men’s soccer rankings

ZURICH (AP) — Spain will end 2025 as the top men’s team in the FIFA rankings after there were limited changes in the new standings. The previous rankings had been released on Nov. 19. The top 10 remain unchanged with, in order, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia following Spain. Spain won World Cup Group E qualifying and will meet Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in Group H at the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi wants to keep the job beyond bowl game and ‘fix this program’

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Biff Poggi tapped on a lectern as he closed a news conference and made his case to be Michigan’s football coach beyond its bowl game. The interim coach told reporters on Monday that he wants to fix the program. Clearly, college football’s winningest program is broken. The 18th-ranked Wolverines were shaken nearly two weeks ago when Sherrone Moore was fired as coach. Michigan said Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and two days later, he was charged with three crimes. Poggi is preparing the team to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

White Sox expect Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to make quick impact and put up big numbers

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz calls Munetaka Murakami “one of the most prolific power hitters on the planet” and expects the 25-year-old Japanese slugger to make an immediate impact on his rebuilding team next season. The White Sox and Murakami agreed to a $34 million, two-year contract on Sunday. On Monday, Murakami signed the deal as he was introduced to the media at Rate Field. Murakami has a .270 career average with 246 homers and 647 RBIs in 892 games over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League.