Sports

Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agree to a $126 million, 3-year contract, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets have agreed to a $126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. Bichette, a two-time All-Star at shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot corner. Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, the person said.

J.T. Realmuto agrees to $45 million, 3-year deal to stay with Phillies, AP source says

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that catcher J.T. Realmuto has agreed to a $45 million, three-year contract to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies. Realmuto can earn an additional $5 million annually in bonuses. The move comes a month after designated hitter Kyle Schwarber also chose to remain with the Phillies. Realmuto, a three-time All-Star, hit .257 with 12 homers last year. He was in the final season of a $115.5 million, five-year contract. Philadelphia has also reached deals with right-hander Brad Keller and outfielder Adolis García this offseason.

Ukraine’s young skiers practice in a bombed-out Olympic training base

CHERNIHIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s historic Chernihiv biathlon and cross-country training center, which produced the country’s first Olympic medalist, remains in ruins after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Despite bombed-out buildings and constant air-raid threats, children and Olympic hopefuls continue to train on its damaged ski tracks. Athletes like Khrystyna Dmytrenko return sometimes, seeing sport as resilience amid war. Coaches work under dangerous conditions as explosions echo nearby. Local leaders hope to rebuild the facility after the conflict, emphasizing its importance for developing future Olympians.

NASCAR community mourns driver Greg Biffle, 6 others killed in plane crash at memorial service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum for a memorial service honoring former driver Greg Biffle, his family, and others killed in a plane crash last month. Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children were among the seven victims. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Garrett Mitchell, a close friend, spoke at the service, urging people to “be like Biff” by taking opportunities and helping others. Biffle’s niece, Jordyn, also shared heartfelt memories. The crash left the NASCAR community shaken, adding to a difficult offseason.

Has figure skating reached the limits of human performance?

Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” landed the elusive quad axel jump a few years ago, sparking questions about the future of figure skating. The sport’s six main jumps have remained unchanged since the early 1900s, with only the number of revolutions increasing. Malinin’s achievement may have reached the limits of human performance, as experts believe a five-revolution jump is impossible. Despite his creativity, like his signature “raspberry twist,” the rigid scoring system discourages innovation. Some skaters, like Jason Brown, suggest the next step could be rewarding artistic storytelling rather than extreme athletic feats.

CFP championship game prediction: Indiana will complete perfect season with its 1st national title

Miami plays Indiana in the College Football Playoff championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday night. BetMGM Sportsbook lists Indiana as an 8.5-point favorite. The 10th-seeded Hurricanes have beaten Texas A&M, Ohio State and Mississippi on their way to the title game. The top-seeded Hoosiers have beaten Alabama and Oregon and will be playing for their first championship. Associated Press college football writer Eric Olson picks Indiana to win 31-21.

John Harbaugh’s mentor, Andy Reid, had a better second act than his first

John Harbaugh is heading to Broadway, aiming to make his second act even better than his first. Harbaugh didn’t have to wait long after the Baltimore Ravens fired him following 18 seasons last week. He had plenty of options and chose the New York Giants. His contract was still being finalized, according to three people with knowledge of his decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been signed. The 62-year-old Harbaugh led the Ravens to the playoffs 12 times and won the Super Bowl following the 2012 season. He’s tasked with making the Giants relevant again.

Madison Keys pictures herself as a champion again at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Madison Keys plans to go quietly into the player tunnel at Rod Laver Arena before the season-opening major to take a photo of her name among the Australian Open champions and send it home to her mom. Almost 12 months after beating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, Keys is excited to be returning and trying to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time. She has reflected on the journey, recalling the challenges she faced. Keys became the oldest first-time women’s champion at the Australian Open at 29. Despite a mixed year following her win, she’s embracing the experience.

No. 1 Indiana looking for a storybook ending to complete this real-life Hollywood script at Miami

Long before Angelo Pizzo penned the scripts for two of America’s most iconic sports movies, he and his father would make the one-block walk from their home to Indiana’s football stadium. The strolls home usually seemed to take a bit longer because even then, in 1955, losses were the norm. Eventually, the man who introduced the world to such motivational flicks as “Hoosiers” and “Rudy” accepted the reality that Indiana’s program may be permanently stuck in mediocrity. On Monday night, he plans to be in Miami for what could be the final chapter in this storybook rise when top-ranked Indiana faces the 10th-ranked Hurricanes for the national championship.

ACC more than survived, it thrived. Miami in the College Football Playoff final is proof

MIAMI (AP) — The Power 4 conference that didn’t get its champion into the College Football Playoff ended up with another team playing for the national title. So much for the demise of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The league that looked most vulnerable a few short years ago when the latest round of realignment hit suddenly is doing just fine. The best proof: Miami, which plays Indiana in the title game Monday — a matchup that, at least for now, left a debacle involving conference champion Duke in the rearview mirror.