By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer Jakub Voracek was psyched at the mere suggestion the Philadelphia Flyers might play an NHL game in his native Czech Republic. "I'm not going to lie to you, it would be great," Voracek said with a smile. "Obviously to play an NHL game in your home country, ...

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer Reigning national champion Villanova will be in action along with Michigan, the runner-up from a year ago, while Belmont and Murray State open the NCAA Tournament as trendy upset picks. There's Kansas and Michigan State to provide some blue-blood flavor, ...

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — James Harden did everything he could to bring the Houston Rockets back from a big deficit in the fourth quarter. He got them to overtime, but his 57 points weren't enough. All because of a last-second free throw. Mike Conley scored 35 ...

By The Associated Press undefined Bryce Harper got his first hit with Philadelphia, and Manny Machado homered for San Diego. Both of baseball's big offseason free agents are finally getting into the swing of things at spring training. Harper lined a 97 mph fastball to center field for a ...

By JOHN LEICESTER AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — French police have questioned another batch of tennis players in a growing investigation into a match-fixing syndicate suspected of paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix low-level matches, judicial officials said Thursday. Seven ...

CINCINNATI (AP) — Naji Marshall had 20 points and 21 rebounds as Xavier beat Toledo 78-64 in the NIT first round on Wednesday night. Tyrique Jones had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for Xavier (19-15). Quentin Goodin added 11 points. Paul Scruggs had 10 points and six rebounds ...

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer The NCAA Tournament somehow seems to be getting better every year, almost as if each bracket is extending from the previous one. Last year was one of the maddest of Marches, starting with Maryland-Baltimore County becoming the first No. 16 seed to beat a ...

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo coach Nate Oats was so caught up in the possibility of facing his former boss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the significance of the West Region's top-seeded team initially escaped him on Selection Sunday. "You know, I ...

By The Associated Press undefined Mike Trout is about to cash in. Big time. Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are close to finalizing a $432 million, 12-year contract that would shatter the record for the largest deal in North American sports history, a person familiar with the negotiations ...

By The Associated Press undefined DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Kevin McClain scored 29 points and led the decisive second-half run as Belmont got its first NCAA Tournament win, pulling away to an 81-70 victory Tuesday night and ending Temple coach Fran Dunphy's career in the First Four. The ...

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict. The move Tuesday puts Burfict on a new team one day after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent his first seven seasons. During his time with Cincinnati, Burfict was repeatedly suspended by ...

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer DENVER (AP) — In no sport but the NFL do players, fans, coaches and general managers annually debate the rules of the game, advocating ways to make pro football better, safer, fairer. Officiating is especially a hot topic around the league after a ...

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer Everyone got an early look at the women's NCAA Tournament bracket, revealing that UConn isn't a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2006. The accidental early release of the 64-team bracket by ESPN just provided a couple of extra hours for the 11-time ...

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonia Spurs aren't concerned with making statements. They just want to pile up as many victories as they can late in the season. DeMar DeRozan had 26 points and nine rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and 13 rebounds ...

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Joe Snively cheered for the Washington Capitals growing up and played his youth hockey at their practice facility as part of the Little Caps program. Soon, he could be playing for the big Capitals. Snively on Monday signed a two-year, ...

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won starting jobs in the infield with the Pittsburgh Pirates. General manager Neal Huntington said Monday that Kang has beaten out Colin Moran at third base and Erik Gonzalez has won the shortstop competition over Kevin Newman. "It ...

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer The Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the NCAA Tournament with three No. 1 seeds. Putting three teams in the Final Four is a different matter. The last time one league had three teams in the national semifinals was 1985, the year the field expanded to 64 ...

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 52 points, but Joel Embiid had 40 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Milwaukee Bucks 130-125 on Sunday. Antetokounmpo was 15 of 26 from the field, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range, and made 19 of 21 ...

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga had its 21-game winning streak end in the West Coast Conference tournament title game. The loss to Saint Mary's was not enough to make the NCAA Tournament selection committee move the top-ranked Bulldogs off the No. 1 ...

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — His best swing was followed by his biggest drive, both setting up birdies, and from there Rory McIlroy knew how to finish. Suddenly staked to a one-shot lead, McIlroy had a 125-yard walk along the water to the 17th hole to face ...