Sports Archives

NASCAR files appeal against 23XI and Front Row just 1 hour before Daytona 500 qualifying begins

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR has filed a 68-page appeal roughly one hour before the start of Daytona 500 qualifying that argues a federal judge erred in recognizing 23XI Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports as chartered teams for 2025 as the two organizations sue over antitrust claims. 23XI Racing is co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, while Front Row Motorsports is owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins. A judge has already rejected NASCAR’s motion to dismiss the suit, and also denied NASCAR’s request that the two organizations post a bond to cover any monies they are paid as chartered teams that would have to be returned should 23XI and Front Row lose the lawsuit.… Continue Reading

Tar Heels GM Lombardi working to implement NFL-style approach under Belichick

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi says everything the Tar Heels do under new coach Bill Belichick “is predicated on building a pro team.” Lombardi held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the Tar Heels’ most recent batch of signees and the work so far in Belichick’s brief tenure. The school hired Belichick in December for his first college-coaching job. Belichick led the NFL’s New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles as a head coach. Lombardi said the recruiting pitch to players includes having “the greatest coach in the history of football” to go with “a great university.”… Continue Reading

Lakhin leads No. 23 Clemson to 85-65 win over North Carolina

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Viktor Lakhin scored 22 points, including a season-best four 3-pointers, and No. 23 Clemson rolled past North Carolina 85-65. Chase Hunter added 19 points with four 3s for the Tigers, who followed up their 77-71 win over then-No. 2 Duke on Saturday night with a dominant showing against the Tar Heels. It’s the first time Clemson has beaten Duke and North Carolina in the same year since the 2019-20 season. While the Duke game was tight throughout, Clemson took control of this one early. All but two of Lakhin’s points came in the first half, and the 6-foot-11 Cincinnati transfer also finished with five of Clemson’s eight blocks. R.J. Davis led UNC with 18 points.… Continue Reading

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in 40-22 rout

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio’s defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley. With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet.… Continue Reading

He’s back, baby! ESPN’s Dick Vitale makes return to commentating following 4th bout with cancer

CLEMSON. S.C. (AP) — He’s back, baby! ESPN’s Dick Vitale received a standing ovation at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum in his first game back as a commentator since recovering from his fourth bout with cancer. About 30 minutes before Clemson faced Duke, Vitale was greeted by cheers as he arrived on the floor from a tunnel and began to make his way to his courtside seat to call the game. Clemson’s PA announcer chimed in with his best Vitale impersonation, saying “Dickie V, you’re awesome, baby!” Vitale, 85, hasn’t called a game for ESPN in two years. He’s battled four different types of cancer over the past four years, including vocal cord cancer. Vitale announced in December he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years.… Continue Reading

RJ Davis scores 18, hits go-ahead jumper and North Carolina hangs on to defeat Pittsburgh 67-66

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — RJ Davis scored 18 points, Ven-Allen Lubin added 17, and North Carolina defeated Pittsburgh 67-66 in a back-and-forth battle. Davis hit a jumper to give North Carolina a 67-66 lead with 52 seconds left. His shot marked the 12th lead change of the second half. Pitt’s Jaland Lowe missed a jumper with 27 seconds remaining, got his own rebound and missed on the follow. Lubin got the rebound of the second shot, was fouled and missed the front end of the one-and-one. Seth Trimble got the offensive rebound for the Tar Heels, was fouled and missed the front end himself. After Pitt’s Ishmael Leggett grabbed the rebound, the Panthers called timeout with 13 seconds left. Leggett’s jumper was off the mark as time ran out.… Continue Reading

At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick makes presence known at the Super Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick still stole the show during Super Bowl week. He wore all eight of his Super Bowl rings at the event. The grumpy coach who couldn’t be bothered in New England with any meaningful quotes and conversation with reporters has turned into a bit of a media darling since his split with the Patriots. He clowns around and offers insight on “The Pat McAfee Show” and even hosted a pair of podcasts. He even appeared on the NFL Network on Thursday night, where he refused to pick a Super Bowl winner between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.… Continue Reading

Edwards and Rudd walked away from NASCAR and never looked back. Their reunion is at the Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carl Edwards and Ricky Rudd had very little overlap in their respective NASCAR careers. Edwards only entered the the elite Cup Series in 2004 — a mere 67 races before Rudd ended his 32-year career — so the two never got a chance to know one another. But two things tie Edwards and Rudd together — when each decided to retire, both essentially vanished from the NASCAR scene, and, on Friday night they will return to their old racing community as inductees of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Edwards and Rudd are among five being celebrated Friday night as the newest members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.… Continue Reading

Tar Heels’ Davis plans to add support staff, GM to manage NIL and transfer-portal era

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis is planning changes to the staffing of the blueblood men’s basketball program. That includes hiring a general manager to navigate the era of players being able to profit from their athletic fame. The fourth-year coach talked about plans during his radio coaches’ show Monday night. It comes at a time when the Tar Heels are at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. Davis had passed on hiring a general manager when he took over for retiring Hall of Famer Roy Williams in 2021.… Continue Reading

No. 2 Duke jumps all over rival North Carolina, rolls to 87-70 win to stay unbeaten in ACC

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Flagg had 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in his Duke-North Carolina rivalry debut to help the second-ranked Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels 87-70. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel added 22 points for Duke. The Blue Devils shot 53% and made 10 of 20 from 3-point range to win their 15th straight game. The Blue Devils are also 11-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. RJ Davis and Drake Powell each scored 12 to lead the Tar Heels. UNC fell behind 40-13 and trailed by as many as 32 points. The Tar Heels have lost four of five.… Continue Reading