From long shots to favorites: Matthew Stafford and Jonathan Taylor have reshaped the NFL MVP race
The NFL MVP race is heating up with standout performances from players like Matthew Stafford, Jonathan Taylor and Drake Maye. Stafford has become the favorite for the MVP award after leading the Los Angeles Rams to a win over San Francisco on Sunday. He made history by throwing four touchdown passes with no interceptions in three consecutive games. Taylor also is a strong contender, tying with Patrick Mahomes for the third-best odds after a stellar game against Atlanta. Meanwhile, Maye has climbed to second place in the MVP odds, helping the Patriots achieve an 8-2 start this season.
Online gambling is everywhere. So are the risks
NEW YORK (AP) — With the rise of online betting and prediction markets, states and public health organizations are devoting resources to people who become addicted or develop a problematic habit. According to those in the space, it can be helpful for new gamblers to set limits in advance on how much they’re willing to lose and how much time they’re willing to spend. Many of the platforms and apps that offer gambling, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, also include optional safeguards to limit time or losses. Other apps can block access to the platforms for set amounts of time.
NBA confirms that the All-Star Game will feature a U.S. vs. the World format this season
The NBA has announced a new format for this season's All-Star Game, featuring a U.S. vs. the World theme. The game will be a round-robin tournament held on Sunday, February 15, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The NBA hopes this format will reignite interest in the midseason event. The game will coincide with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, tapping into global national pride. Teams will consist of American and international players, with a mix of voting and selection processes. The league aims for a more competitive and engaging All-Star experience with this new approach.
President Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump, officially becomes part of Miami golf recruiting class
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Kai Trump has committed to the University of Miami to play golf for the Hurricanes. Miami announced her as part of its women's golf signing class on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA Division I signing window. She filled out her letter of intent last week at her high school near Mar-a-Lago. Miami couldn't acknowledge her signing until now because of NCAA rules. Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump and the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., committed to Miami in August 2024. She loves the coaches and the school's proximity to home. Her LPGA debut comes this week.
Track to open LA Olympics, with women's 100-meter sprinters lining up three times in the same day
As part of a seismic schedule change for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, track and field, and not swimming, will lead off the Olympics. And the first day at the LA Coliseum, July 15, will include all three rounds of the women’s 100 meters. Sprinters normally run a maximum of two races in a day at a major event. It’s a change the men will not have to deal with, but that a women’s field that could include the last two world champions, Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Olympic champ Julien Alfred are being given nearly three years to prepare for.
Ohio State stays on top of playoff bracket, while Miami makes a big move
Ohio State stayed atop the College Football Playoff rankings for the second straight week, while Indiana remained at No. 2 despite barely squeaking out a victory last week while third-ranked Texas A&M coasted. Alabama and Georgia rounded out the same top five as in last week’s season-opening rankings. Texas Tech jumped two spots to No. 6, moving one notch ahead of Mississippi.
College football Week 12: No. 10 Texas at No. 5 Georgia main event; ACC, American races in spotlight
College football's Week 12 features exciting matchups, especially in the Southeastern Conference. No. 10 Texas visits No. 5 Georgia and No. 11 Oklahoma heads to No. 4 Alabama. No. 9 Notre Dame travels to No. 23 Pittsburgh aiming to boost its playoff resume. In the ACC, Virginia faces Duke and Miami hosts North Carolina State. The American Conference also heats up with South Florida visiting Navy. Michigan plays Northwestern at Wrigley Field. Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia enters Heisman Trophy picture. Michigan State's Jonathan Smith is on the hot seat with Spartans struggling.
Thoroughbred trainer Dale Romans enters the Kentucky Senate race
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Longtime thoroughbred trainer Dale Romans has entered the Kentucky campaign to succeed retiring Republican Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Romans portrays himself as an independent Democrat able to cut through what he calls “partisan nonsense” to tackle trade, health care and immigration. In his announcement Wednesday, Romans pushed back against President Donald Trump’s tactics in his immigration crackdown. Romans points to the decades he’s worked alongside immigrant laborers at racetracks and says raids by immigration agents have created fear and resentment. Romans joins a large field of Republicans and Democrats competing in 2026 for the Senate seat. Kentucky’s primary election is in May.
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and Cleveland's Stephen Vogt win Manager of the Year for 2nd straight season
Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt is the AL Manager of the Year for the second straight year. Same for Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy on the NL side. Vogt received 17 of 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, beating out Toronto’s John Schneider and Seattle’s Dan Wilson. Voting was conducted before the postseason. Murphy got 27 first-place votes. Cincinnati’s Terry Francona was second, followed by Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson. The previous AL manager to win the award in consecutive seasons was Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash in 2020 and 2021. The only other NL manager was Bobby Cox for Atlanta in 2004 and 2005.
Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison 9 months after widely panned Luka Doncic trade
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison nine months after the Luka Doncic trade that backfired on the franchise. The move comes a day after Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont attended a 116-114 loss to Milwaukee during which fans again chanted “fire Nico.” It’s been a familiar scene since the blockbuster deal that brought Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers and angered the Dallas fan base. Harrison was in his fourth season and engineered three trades that helped Dallas on two deep playoff runs. The ill-fated Doncic deal and a slow start to the first full season without the young superstar led to a stunning downfall.
