American fans lightly boo 'O Canada' before 4 Nations Face-Off title game
BOSTON (AP) -- American fans lightly booed the Canadian national anthem and roared out their own Thursday night before the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a matchup between the United States and Canada that has taken on collateral importance in the wake of cross-border political animosity. A smattering of jeers for "O Canada" were eventually drowned out by the singing fans; "The Star-Spangled Banner" followed, with the sellout TD Garden crowd at full volume in an anthem battle that became the undercard for one of the most anticipated hockey games in decades.
Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks
The anthem singer who performed the Canadian anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game changed a lyric in "O Canada" from "in all of us command" to "that only us command." Publicist Adam Gonshor in an email to The Associated Press confirmed Chantal Kreviazuk changed the lyric as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about making Canada the 51st state. Kreviazuk also posted to her Instagram story the phrase "that only us command" written on her left hand with emojis of a Canadian flag and a flexed muscle. The NHL declined comment on the situation. Canada won the game 3-2 in overtime.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama to miss remainder of season after blood clot diagnosis
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama's season is over. The Spurs say Wembanyama has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder. It is a massive blow to the Spurs, who are contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The condition was diagnosed this week after Wembanyama returned from the All-Star Game. Wembanyama's situation comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take a leave from the sideline. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Spurs expect Wembanyama to recover fully.
For Dominican baseball hopefuls, age fraud cases and a curveball from Japan reflect a broken system
BANÍ, Dominican Republic (AP) -- Despite years of corruption and criticism, the entry point for talented players from the Dominican Republic into Major League Baseball's development pipeline remains a Wild West form of free agency. Scouts fan out across the Caribbean country in search of talented players as young as 10 years old who then live and train at academies in hopes of reaching a handshake deal on a multimillion-dollar contract with an MLB franchise before they're 16. There are mounting examples of players being pressured to falsify their age by as many as seven or eight years to increase their value.
ESPN and Major League Baseball will end their national television deal after 2025 season
ESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball games -- at least in its current form -- will conclude at the end of the 2025 season. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday morning that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss financial matters. ESPN and MLB both made statements Thursday night confirming the end of the current rights deal. There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.
Shiffrin finishes 2.89 seconds behind first-run leader Robinson in first GS race after injury
SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) -- Mikaela Shiffrin has finished 2.89 seconds off the lead in the opening run of a World Cup giant slalom in her first race in the discipline in nearly 12 weeks. The American holder of a record 99 World Cup wins hadn't raced in giant slalom since suffering severe trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound during a GS crash in November. Alice Robinson of New Zealand posted the fastest time and led world champion Federica Brignone of Italy by 0.19 seconds. Shiffrin's American teammate Paula Moltzan stood third and had 0.83 to make up in the second run.
Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi deal
Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan have taken part of a White House meeting with President Donald Trump that signals more progress in getting a deal done with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the financial muscle behind the rival league, also was part of the meeting. The PGA Tour said in a statement that the parties discussed "the reunification of golf." It was the second meeting in two weeks at the White House on the future of the sport.
Players 1, umpires 0: Cubs hurler Cody Poteet makes first ABS challenge in spring training and wins
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet believed the 95 mph fastball he threw to Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was in the strike zone. Plate umpire Tony Randazzo disagreed and called it a ball. Instead of arguing, Poteet simply patted the top of his cap, signifying he wanted to challenge the call. After a few seconds, the verdict was ready on the video board in right-center field. Poteet was correct -- it was a strike, just catching the bottom of the zone. The first test of the Automated Ball-Strike System went off without a hitch Thursday, with Randazzo quickly reversing the call.
Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG
NYON, Switzerland (AP) -- A Madrid derby. A German classic. A rare meeting between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League got more heavyweight clashes when the round of 16 draw was made Friday. Defending champion Real Madrid's reward for ousting 2023 title winner Manchester City is two city derbies against Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid won both times when they met in the finals of 2014 and 2016. Bayern Munich was paired with Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool was the top-seeded team in the draw after finishing first in the 36-team standings last month but still got a tough assignment as the Premier League leader was paired with No. 15 seed PSG.
Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career at guard for the Cowboys, AP sources say
Two people with knowledge of the decision say Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career that included seven All-Pro seasons at right guard with the Dallas Cowboys. Martin informed Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones of his decision in a meeting Thursday. The 34-year-old Martin didn't make it through his 11th and final season with the Cowboys because of an ankle injury that eventually required surgery. Martin made nine Pro Bowls and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010s all-decade team.