5:40 PM ET Associated Press AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson was the best of NASCAR’s four title contenders Friday in the final practice before the championship is decided in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Larson turned in the top speed of 135.293 mph among the four finalists and was second-fastest overall in 10-lap average
7:07 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Barcelona have appointed Xavi Hernandez as their new coach following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman, Al Sadd announced on Friday. Xavi, 41, returns to the club after six years with Al Sadd, first as a player before taking over as manager in 2019. – Hunter: Koeman’s sacking inevitable,
Nov 4, 2021 Jesse Marsch and RB Leipzig need a defining win this weekend in order to dispel any doubts about his fit for the job. Beating Dortmund, who are without Haaland, would certainly qualify. Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images ESPN’s lead German Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae tackles a variety of hot topics in his
4:28 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Left-hander Francisco Pérez was claimed by the Washington Nationals, who also sent right-hander Kyle McGowin outright to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Pérez had been waived by the Cleveland Indians. The 24-year-old reliever went 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA and three saves across 30 appearances for Double-A Akron and
5:06 PM ET The Houston Astros are bringing back manager Dusty Baker on a one-year deal, the team announced Friday. Baker, 72, led the Astros to the World Series in 2021 after taking over the team before the 2020 season. “He’s done a great job this last year,” owner Jim Crane said. “Great in the
5:23 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was suspended for two games without pay Friday for an illegal check to the head of Toronto‘s Mitch Marner. The incident occurred in the first period of the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime victory Thursday night in Toronto. Victor Hedman hooked Marner
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set an imposing pace in Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The world championship leader was 0.424 seconds quicker than Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, with Verstappen’s title rival Lewis Hamilton 0.509secs off the pace. Hamilton trails Verstappen by 12 points before Sunday’s race. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was fourth quickest,
4:00 PM ET The Seattle Kraken have revealed the name and mascot for their new minor league affiliate: the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The team is based in Palm Desert, California, and will begin play in the American Hockey League in 2022-23, when its new arena is completed. The Kraken originally wanted to place its AHL
4:31 PM ET Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks reassigned promising rookie forward William Eklund to his club team in Sweden on Friday, delaying the start of his entry contract for one season. The 19-year-old Eklund was San Jose’s seventh pick in the draft this year and quickly showed signs of
12:33 PM ET Jake Paul‘s next fight card will feature a familiar name to sports fans. Deron Williams, the former NBA All-Star point guard, will compete in a boxing match at the event headlined by Paul and Tommy Fury on Dec. 18 in Tampa, Florida, Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian confirmed Friday with ESPN.
2:58 PM ET Associated Press Nino Bertasio carded a 2-under 69 on Friday to hold a two-shot lead after the second round of the Portugal Masters. The Italian hit three birdies at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course to go with one bogey, a day after he shot a 61 for the lowest European Tour
2:34 PM ET Associated Press MONTREAL — Carey Price is preparing to return to the Canadiens. The superstar goalie will rejoin the team Monday, according to Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme. Price will meet with athletic therapists and develop a plan moving forward, Ducharme said Friday. Price voluntarily entered the NHL’s player assistance program on Oct.
1:41 PM ET BEREA, Ohio — It was Week 9 of the 2019 season, and Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield dropped back to pass. It was late fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos with 3:23 on the clock. The Browns’ season — one that carried so much hype and hope after the blockbuster trade for
2:23 PM ET Associated Press Top-ranked Novak Djokovic beat unseeded American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to reach the Paris Masters semifinals and remain on course for a record-extending sixth title at the tournament. Djokovic is also vying for a record 37th Masters title. He is tied on 36 with fellow 20-time Grand Slam
Valtteri Bottas led Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez both crashed at the final corner and damaged their rear wings. Bottas led Hamilton by 0.076 seconds. Verstappen was 0.123secs off the Finn.
12:30 PM ET Associated Press DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Keita Nakajima of Japan made a pair of 15-foot putts over the last three holes Friday, the last one for par on the 18th hole, for a 4-under 67 and a 1-shot lead going into the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. That set
T20 WC: Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer expects more from his side in big events.© Twitter Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer on Friday reckoned that his country cannot just be happy by merely competing in a few Super 12 games of an ICC event as the establishment needs to be brave and push themselves a bit further.
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson famously warned mammas to not let their babies grow up to be cowboys. The country music stars might have encouraged them to be fired college coaches instead. According to an ESPN analysis of financial records of athletics departments at public universities, FBS programs spent more than $533.6 million in dead