All posts tagged: Sports News

Mayhem Mars Euphoria as New York City Celebrates the Knicks’ First Championship in 53 Years

Mayhem Mars Euphoria as New York City Celebrates the Knicks’ First Championship in 53 Years

Published by Sam Flores

NEW YORK (AP) — It was bedlam on Broadway as the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday night, with exuberant celebrations marred by mayhem and violence, including a shooting in Times Square. Outside Madison Square Garden, a crowd watching on a big screen roared as the Knicks rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Soon after, tens of thousands of people filled the streets and the rowdiest among them were clashing with police, smashing windshields, scaling scaffolding, light poles and a statue, climbing into and atop school buses in Times Square and trying to hitch a ride on a moving fire truck. Around 2 a.m., a 17-year-old was shot near 42nd Street and Broadway, police said. Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover. Police took the victim to the hospital because an ambulance could not get through the crowds, police said. A gun was recovered …

US Opens Its Home World Cup With a Dynamic 4-1 Victory Over Paraguay, Sparked by Balogun’s 2 Goals

US Opens Its Home World Cup With a Dynamic 4-1 Victory Over Paraguay, Sparked by Balogun’s 2 Goals

Published by Sam Flores

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Folarin Balogun fired his second goal into the top far corner of Paraguay’s net and then led his American teammates to the corner of their home stadium, reveling in the frenzy created by their historic first half at their World Cup opener. The world’s biggest soccer tournament finally returned to the U.S. on Friday night after a generation of anticipation. With this phenomenal match, the Americans also look like they’ve arrived. Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ three-goal barrage before halftime, and the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 lead — the team’s largest in any World Cup game. “It meant everything for us,” Pulisic said. “A half like that, for it to go as it did, and have the fans excited about our performance, …

Ben James Takes Lead in Canada in His Pro Debut

Ben James Takes Lead in Canada in His Pro Debut

Published by Sam Flores

CALEDON, Ontario (AP) — Ben James holed a 25-foot eagle putt to start his round and never let up until he had a 7-under 63 for a one-shot lead in his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open. James was an All-American all four years at Virginia and led the PGA Tour University ranking to earn a card through the 2027 season. “It all kind of came together today. It was just one of those days,” James said. “The putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.” James was at 10-under 130, one shot over a group of five players that included Sam Burns, who played in the final group at the Memorial last week and tied for fourth. Brooks Koepka had a 68 and was two shots behind, along with Tommy Fleetwood. James played bogey-free on the Osprey Valley course at TPC Toronto and goes into the weekend having not made a bogey in his last 33 holes. This is his 10th PGA …

Larin Scores in 78th Minute to Rally Canada to 1-1 Draw With Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup Opener

Larin Scores in 78th Minute to Rally Canada to 1-1 Draw With Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup Opener

Published by Sam Flores

TORONTO (AP) — Canada earned its first World Cup point in seven matches on soccer’s biggest stage, and coach Jesse Marsch noted the sea of red-clad, maple leaf-waving fans who continuously belted out chants of “Go Ca-na-da!” helped get it. A slow start and an early deficit turned into a rousing celebration once late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute for a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in Canada’s tournament debut on home soil. Playing in the shadow of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, and with hockey star Connor McDavid and actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers in the stands, Larin converted Promise David’s pass a mere two minutes after entering the game. “The crowd, I think, willed us into the game as (the players) could feel that energy in the second half tilting more and more,” said Marsch, who took particular delight upon learning Myers, who portrayed international man of mystery Austin Powers in the movies, was on among those on hand. “Oh, sweet,” Marsch said. It was an even better feeling …

NFL Says No Discipline for Stefon Diggs Under Its Personal Conduct Policy

NFL Says No Discipline for Stefon Diggs Under Its Personal Conduct Policy

Published by Sam Flores

Stefon Diggs won’t be facing any discipline from the NFL after a league review determined that there wasn’t enough evidence to punish him under its personal conduct policy. “The league notified Stefon Diggs today that it concluded its investigation and there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of a personal conduct policy violation,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in statement to The Associated Press. ESPN was first to report the league’s finding. Diggs was found not guilty last month of assaulting his personal chef. The charges stemmed from a Dec. 2 incident at his house in Massachusetts where Jamila Adams, a former live-in personal chef, testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument. He had pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before clearing Diggs of all charges. Several NFL players, including Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston and Ezekiel Elliott, have been suspended for violating the personal conduct policy despite not being arrested or charged with a …

Taylor Swift Attends Knicks’ Record-Breaking Rally Over Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

Taylor Swift Attends Knicks’ Record-Breaking Rally Over Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

Published by Sam Flores

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, the arena that has gotten a lot of attention recently as the possible location for her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce. Swift wore a blue T-shirt with “Stevie Knicks” printed in orange lettering and was seated courtside on Wednesday night next to Ben Stiller. She attended along with singers Este and Alana Haim, who also had Knicks-related references on their shirts: “Knickole Kidman” and “Knickleback.” They were joined midway through by third Haim sister Daniella, and the quartet witnessed the biggest comeback in finals history as the Knicks rallied from a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 on OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left. Swift jumped around in celebration, waving a rally towel after leaving the court for the bowels of the Garden. She may be back soon. Less than a year after their August engagement announcement, reports of Swift and Kelce’s impending nuptials have reached a crescendo. TMZ …

Celebrations Clash With Social Tensions in Mexico Ahead of World Cup

Celebrations Clash With Social Tensions in Mexico Ahead of World Cup

Published by Sam Flores

Mexico, which is jointly hosting the soccer tournament with the U.S. and Canada, is slated to kick off festivities with an inauguration and opening match Thursday in a star-studded event that will set the tone for the rest of the competition. Pressure has only continued to mount as guests flood into Mexico City, and the government has faced a crescendo of criticisms by protesters and residents who say authorities have prioritized the competition over pressing social needs in the Latin American nation. “Mexico wants to project an image to the world that doesn’t exactly square with reality,” said Carlos Pérez Ricart, a Mexican political analyst at the Mexican Center for Research and Economic Education. “The World Cup is putting the president in a vulnerable situation … The government is under extreme pressure.” World Cup celebrations kick off FIFA’s logo, bright orange Mexican marigold flowers, giant soccer balls and other sports decorations line streets across Mexico’s capital and the two other host cities, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Soccer fans buzzed with excitement as they strolled through Mexico …

Rugby League International Kane Evans Comes Out as Gay in a TV Interview

Rugby League International Kane Evans Comes Out as Gay in a TV Interview

Published by Sam Flores

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Ex-rugby league international Kane Evans won’t have to worry about the extortion threats any more or be concerned about his family finding out about his sexuality before he’s ready to tell them. In a television interview Monday with Channel Nine’s “100% Footy,” Evans said he was gay and that he felt like a weight had lifted off him when he finally could talk about it publicly. Evans played 131 games in the elite National Rugby League from 2014-2021 for clubs including the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and the New Zealand-based Warriors before finishing off his professional career in England in 2023. He played 13 international games for Fiji. “I had three goals in life: It was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age,” the 34-year-old Evans said in the television interview. “I know that I’m gay. But I went down every other avenue to sort of build up these walls … to escape …

Rugby League International Kane Evans Comes Out as Gay in a TV Interview

Rugby League International Kane Evans Comes Out as Gay in a TV Interview

Published by Sam Flores

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Ex-rugby league international Kane Evans won’t have to worry about the extortion threats any more or be concerned about his family finding out about his sexuality before he’s ready to tell them. In a television interview Monday with Channel Nine’s “100% Footy,” Evans said he was gay and that he felt like a weight had lifted off him when he finally could talk about it publicly. Evans played 131 games in the elite National Rugby League from 2014-2021 for clubs including the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and the New Zealand-based Warriors before finishing off his professional career in England in 2023. He played 13 international games for Fiji. “I had three goals in life: It was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age,” the 34-year-old Evans said in the television interview. “I know that I’m gay. But I went down every other avenue to sort of build up these walls … to escape …

Nelly Korda Wins U.S. Women’s Open Title With Perilous Final Putt, Claiming Her 2nd Straight Major

Nelly Korda Wins U.S. Women’s Open Title With Perilous Final Putt, Claiming Her 2nd Straight Major

Published by Sam Flores

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although Nelly Korda is deep in one of the most dominant seasons in recent golf history, her first U.S. Women’s Open title still hung on the rim of the 18th hole at Riviera for one heart-stopping moment. Her 2 1/2-foot putt to win caught the left edge, and it toured half the circumference of the hole while the gallery watched in disbelief. When it finally fell amid an outburst of gasps and roars, Korda put her hand over her open mouth before she laughed at the absurdity of her sport. “It’s even sweeter, especially with that ice cream swirl on the last hole,” the world’s top-ranked player said. This trophy was the cool treat Korda wanted more than anything: She won the 81st U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday for her second consecutive major victory, holding off Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by one shot. The 27-year-old Korda claimed her fourth major overall with a steady 2-under 69 in the final round — but only after her second putt on the 18th …