Lightning trade with Predators to bring veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh back to Tampa Bay
The Nashville Predators have traded Ryan McDonagh back to Tampa Bay less than two years after acquiring the veteran defenseman.
Pitchers Gรฉnesis Cabrera of Toronto and Yohan Ramรญrez of New York Mets suspended 3 games each
Pitchers Gรฉnesis Cabrera of the Toronto Blue Jays and Yohan Ramรญrez of the New York Mets have been suspended for three games each by Major League Baseball for their actions in separate games and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was banned for one game.
A list of major US bridge collapses caused by ships and barges
A world shipping association says there were at least 35 major bridge collapses worldwide from 1960 to 2015 due to ship or barge collision with a total of more than 340 killed.
Luis Arraez, Yandy Dรญaz win batting titles while sitting out on final day
Miamiโs Luis Arraez joined DJ LeMahieu as the only players with undisputed batting titles in both leagues, winning the National League crown as Yandy Dรญaz sat out Tampa Bayโs season finale and overtook Corey Seager for the American League championship.
Cleveland Guardians trade pitcher Aaron Civale to Tampa Bay Rays for first base prospect
The Cleveland Guardians have traded starting pitcher Aaron Civale to the Tampa Bay Rays for first base prospect Kyle Manzardo.
Yankees' Steinbrenner irked by A's and other low-spenders, says it's 'not good for the game'
The New York Yankeesโ Hal Steinbrenner says heโs open to other baseball ownersโ consideration of proposing a salary cap for 2027, but only if small-market teams like the Oakland Athletics are subject to a payroll floor, too.
Watch Florida officer wrangle snake out of storeroom
Officer Matheny with the Clearwater Police Department in Florida wrangled a 5-foot snake from a business storeroom Monday morning and video of the animal rescue was caught on video.
Many positive, negative surprises mark NFL season's 1st half
The New York Jets, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins could end long playoff droughts while the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgersโ Green Bay Packers are well below.
Vulnerable Tampa Bay braces for storm not seen in a century
Itโs been over a century since a major storm like Hurricane Ian has struck the Tampa Bay area, which blossomed from a few hundred thousand people in 1921 to more than 3 million today.
Remembering the last time a hurricane struck the Tampa Bay region
Given its location next to the Gulf of Mexico, one would think that the Tampa Bay region would have an extensive history with hurricanes. On the contrary, that's not the case.
Super Bowl ads went for light humor. Not all succeeded
This photo provided by Cadillac shows a scene from Cadillac's 2021 Super Bowl NFL football spot. They aimed to connect to the estimated 100 million viewers who tune in to the Super Bowl broadcast each year. Perhaps the most striking effect: Virtually none of the ads featured people in masks, a public-health priority but also a grim reminder of the ongoing pandemic. AIMING TO ENTERTAINIn an effort to be light, advertisers stuffed -- and sometimes overstuffed โ their ads with celebrities. โI like Springsteen and heartwarming ads like this generally, but this one feels too forced given the current political climate,โ he said.
Sun Belt Conference coaches pick their Super Bowl LV winner
Itโs time for your relatives, friends and others to give you a lot of unasked Super Bowl takes. Whatever happens in Super Bowl LV on Sunday between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes is sure to be an instant classic, regardless of the outcome. Youโve probably heard about whoโs going to win the Super Bowl from just about everyone by now, but now, here are some college coaches from the Sun Belt Football Conference explaining their picks. AdGeorgia State Universityโ Shawn ElliotPick: ChiefsThanks to @GeorgiaStateFB head coach Shawn Elliott for breaking down Super Bowl LV and picking a winner. @CoastalFootball head coach Jamey Chadwell breaks down Super Bowl LV.
Things to Know: Virus experts hope Super Bowl won't sack US
โ Virus deaths won't be reflected in the 2020 census, a step that will have an impact on where congressional seats get apportioned, experts say. AdON THE HORIZON: Some experts believe rapid tests could be better at at identifying sick people when they are most contagious. Rapid tests might be technically less accurate but they're fast. The Food and Drug Administration said it supports โinnovation in testingโ but has only approved about a dozen rapid tests. ___Find APโs full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits
(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)For Tom Brady, another trip to the Super Bowl โ but this time, in a Tampa Bay uniform. โWhoever would've thought a home Super Bowl for us? It gave New England its third straight trip to the Super Bowl, and Brady's last of nine as a member of the Patriots. He's leading the Buccaneers to only their second Super Bowl; the Bucs won on their first trip, back in 2002. But nobody would mistake Johnson for Brady, who could join Peyton Manning as the only other quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.
Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits
(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)For Tom Brady, another trip to the Super Bowl โ but this time, in a Tampa Bay uniform. โWhoever would've thought a home Super Bowl for us? It gave New England its third straight trip to the Super Bowl, and Brady's last of nine as a member of the Patriots. He's leading the Buccaneers to only their second Super Bowl; the Bucs won on their first trip, back in 2002. But nobody would mistake Johnson for Brady, who could join Peyton Manning as the only other quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.
Super Host: Bucs become 1st to play Super Bowl at home
The Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31-26 to advance to the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay (14-5) is the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. The prize is much different this year, though, because the Super Bowl will be played in front of a far smaller crowd than usual. The first Super Bowl in 1967 was played in front of 61,946 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Eagles backup Nick Foles threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, a sign of things to come in the Super Bowl against New England.
New 7th seed helps Bears 8 years too late for Lovie Smith
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)While Matt Nagy gets to coach Chicago in the playoffs despite a middling 8-8 record that could help save his job, former Bears coach Lovie Smith can only wonder if the extra team in the postseason could have helped him eight years ago. Smithโs Bears teams from the beginning of last decade are near the top of that list. Chicago lost five of six and missed the postseason as the seventh seed with an 8-8 mark. The tough-luck missing playoff team that season was the Giants, who missed out the year before Eli Manning and Co. won their second Super Bowl under coach Tom Coughlin.
The Latest: NFC East will produce sub-.500 champ next week
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)The Latest on Week 16 in the NFL (all times EST):___8 p.m.For the first time since 2014 there will be an NFL playoff team with a losing record. The winner will remain alive in the NFC East playoff race if Washington loses to Carolina. ___6:05 p.m.Washington is well on the way to blowing its first chance to clinch the NFC East. ___6 p.m.Eleven teams in the NFC are still harboring hopes of making a playoff run with Week 16 winding down. 1 seed in the NFC with a win Sunday night against the Titans and a Seattle loss or tie.
The Latest: Quarterbacks drafted No. 1 shine around NFL
The Latest on Week 10 in the NFL (all times EST):___8 p.m.From Kyler Murray magic to Alex Smithโs latest milestone, it was quite the day for quarterbacks selected first in the NFL draft. The Cardinals beat Buffalo 32-30 on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to DeAndre Hopkins with 2 seconds left, dropping the Bills record to 7-3. Brees was shaken up on a sack in the second quarter when Kentavius Street landed on him. 1 pick Joe Burrow, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant with 58 seconds left in the first quarter. Cole had scored on a franchise-record 91-yard punt return in the second quarter.
Tropical Storm Eta races off Carolinas after soaking Florida
One death in Florida was linked to the storm, along with some scattered flooding and forecasters said the tropical storm was on a path offshore of South Carolina that would eventually take it further out to sea. That came amid a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico being carried up by a cold front that had pushed Eta across Florida earlier. Earlier Thursday, Eta was in the Gulf of Mexico when it slogged ashore near Cedar Key, Florida. Before that first brush with Florida, Eta first hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane and killed at least 120 people in Central America and Mexico, with scores more missing. A 29th named system, Tropical Storm Theta, was centered late Thursday about 440 miles (705 kilometers) south of the Azores and moving east.
Kevin Cash, Don Mattingly win Manager of the Year awards
FILE - In this July 24, 2020, file photo, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, left, gives an elbow-bump to Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi, right, prior to a baseball game in Philadelphia. Mattingly won the NL Manager of the Year award on Tuesday night, Nov. 10. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)Tampa Bayโs Kevin Cash won the AL Manager of the Year award on Tuesday night, and Miamiโs Don Mattingly took home the NL honor. Tingler and Ross led their teams to the playoffs in their first seasons as a big league manager. The Tampa, Florida, native and Florida State alum was hired as Tampa Bay manager the day before his 37th birthday.
Lester, Kluber, Hand boost free agent total to 175
Kluber gets a $1 million buyout, and the club has said it is interested in re-signing Kluber to a less expensive deal. Lester gets a $10 million buyout from the Chicago Cubs that completes a $155 million, six-year contract rather than a $25 million mutual option. Milwaukee turned down Gyorko and Sogard, a day after declining a $15 million option on 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun. The White Sox declined a $12 million option for Encarnaciรณn and a $7 million option for Gonzรกlez, who will receive a $500,000. Kluber gets a $1 million buyout, and the club has said it is interested in re-signing Kluber to a less expensive deal.
Power surge: Home runs more than half of scoring in playoffs
ARLINGTON, Texas โ For all the talk about pride in advancing runners and manufacturing runs, teams in the postseason have really dug the long ball. Home runs drove in 237 of the 462 runs in the postseason through World Series Game 5, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That comes to 51.3%, up from 46.6% last year and highest since the postseason expanded beyond the World Series in 1969. They have 33 homers in the postseason accounting for 52 of 78 runs (66.7%). The reason theyโre in postseason, playing postseason baseball is because a lot of that coincides with great pitching and thatโs what weโre seeing.
Rodgers throws 4 TDs as Packers beat Texans 35-20
HOUSTON โ Aaron Rodgers threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers rebounded from their first loss with a 35-20 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Green Bay made it 35-13 when Jamaal Williams scored on a 1-yard run with about four minutes to go. The home crowd, which was limited to 13,000, because of coronavirus restrictions, was filled with Green Bay fans in the teamโs first trip to Houston since 2012. The Packers took an early lead when Adams grabbed a 3-yard touchdown reception on the first possession. Watson threw for 309 yards with two touchdowns and former Green Bay receiver Randall Cobb had 95 yards receiving.
AP source: Raiders players test negative for COVID-19
The Raiders placed two players on the COVID-19 list following positive tests earlier in the week and put five more players on the list because of โhigh riskโ close contacts. The NFL moved the Raiders game against the Buccaneers from prime time to an afternoon slot Sunday in case the game couldnโt be played. Those contacts were later deemed โhigh riskโ and those players were placed on the COVID-19 list on Thursday. The four linemen had their last close contact on Monday and are on target to be cleared to play Sunday. Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette was moved from injured reserve to the COVID-19 list on Monday following a positive test.
AP source: Raiders latest COVID tests all negative
The Las Vegas Raidersโ latest batch of COVID-19 tests all came back negative and their game scheduled for Sunday against Tampa Bay is on for now. โWeโll be ready to go.โThe NFL moved the Raiders game against the Buccaneers from prime time to an afternoon slot on Sunday just in case the game couldnโt be played. Those contacts were later deemed โhigh riskโ and those players were placed on the COVID-19 list on Thursday. Weโll be ready to go.โRaiders cornerback Damon Arnette was moved from injured reserve to the COVID-19 list on Monday following a positive test. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was put on the COVID-19 list two weeks ago before being activated on Monday.
World Series draws record-low audience for 2nd night
ARLINGTON, Texas โ The World Series drew a record-low audience of television viewers for the second straight night. Still, Fox won the prime-time evening with its best performance on a Wednesday night since May. The start was delayed by rain for 91 minutes to 10:06 p.m. and the final out was at 1:47 a.m. The Dodgers' seven-game NL Championship Series win over the Atlanta Braves averaged 4,410,000 viewers on Fox and FS1. TBS said its TV Everywhere platforms averaged an audience of 48,000 per minute during its postseason coverage, up 71% from last year.
Bucs-Raiders game moved from prime time after COVID-19 test
The NFL has shifted the Las Vegas game against Tampa Bay out of prime time after several Raiders players have been unable to practice this week because of contact tracing from the coronavirus. The game between the Seahawks and Cardinals in Arizona has been moved into the prime-time window. The league says the changes were made out of an โabundance of cautionโ to make sure a game would be available for Sunday night. The Raiders placed starting right tackle Trent Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Safety Johnathan Abram also has been unable to practice because of contact tracing.
LEADING OFF: Dodgers turn to Jansen, bullpen for Game 2
A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:___BULLPEN SAVEDThe Dodgers were so good in Game 1 of the World Series, they helped themselves for Game 2. Top relievers Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol should all be fresh for a bullpen game against Tampa Bay after they weren't needed in an 8-3 win Tuesday. Jansen has more blown saves (three) than conversions (two) in two previous World Series and also struggled this fall, but he seemed to have himself righted by the end of the NLCS. Manager Kevin Cash โ uncharacteristically slow to pull starter Tyler Glasnow in Game 1 โ also has fresh arms in the bullpen. After separating his troubled right shoulder while bumping forearms celebrating his go-ahead homer in NLCS Game 7, the Dodgers slugger touched feet with teammates after going deep in the World Series opener Tuesday.
LEADING OFF: Rays, Dodgers all set to meet in World Series
A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday:SERIES SETIn a most unpredictable season, the teams with the best records in each league are set to meet in the World Series. The Dodgers and Rays will open in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday night after each finished memorable League Championship Series matchups this weekend. They also won a Game 7, topping Houston 4-2 in the ALCS and earn the second World Series trip in franchise history. FIRST LOOKKevin Kiermaier, Mike Zunino, Blake Snell and the Rays are expected to work out at Globe Life Field a day before Game 1 of the World Series. BIG QUESTIONThe loaded Braves are in position to contend for the World Series again next year after they were eliminated by the Dodgers in the NLCS on Sunday night.
LEADING OFF: Astros on brink of historic comeback vs Rays
Houston Astros George Springer (4) and Jose Altuve celebrates with his teammates after winning Game 6 of a baseball American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, in San Diego. Carlos Correa, George Springer and the Astros' other players are using that unforgettable comeback as inspiration. That Red Sox team went on to win the World Series and end the Curse of the Bambino. McCullers started and Morton closed for the Astros in Game 7 of the โ17 World Series against the Dodgers. MARGOT-GO-GOTampa Bay outfielder Manuel Margot is hoping to take his successful postseason debut all the way to the World Series.
Yanks sweep Indians 10-9 in draining game, meet Rays in ALDS
New York Yankees' Gio Urshela (29) and Mike Ford celebrate after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians 10-9 in Game 2 of an American League wild-card baseball series, early Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)CLEVELAND โ It took the New York Yankees nearly five hours on the field, carried them from Wednesday to Thursday and September into October to complete the sweep. "They werenโt going to lose.โAt 4 hours, 50 minutes โ even without two rain delays totaling another 76 minutes โ it was draining. New York went 2-8 during a testy season series with top-seeded Tampa Bay, which won the AL East by seven games over the second-place Yankees. RECORD STOREIndians pitchers walked 12, tied for the most in any postseason game.
Tampa Bay takes momentum into back-to-back Cup games
After consecutive games with three-goal periods, Tampa Bay has all of the momentum and a 2-1 series lead. Dallas' top line is without a goal against Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay then went ahead in Game 3 with two goals in an 85-second span before three goals in the second period of a 5-2 win. The NHL is playing Stanley Cup Final games on back-to-back nights for the first time since 2009, when Detroit won each of the first two games against Pittsburgh, which eventually won the series in seven games. In its only back-to-back this postseason, Tampa Bay won Games 2 and 3 in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against Boston.