Altuve is the Sporting News Player of the Year, an annual award voted on by the players themselves before the start of the playoffs. This is the second straight year he’s won the award, an amazing accomplishment and a clear sign of the respect Altuve has earned from his peers. And polling wasn’t close: Altuve received 102 votes — more than twice as many as anyone else — from a panel of 232 MLB players....
The Blue Jays snagged one of the better starters on the market Friday, swinging a trade for Twins ace José Berrios in exchange for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson, a pair of Toronto’s top-end prospects. MORE: MLB trade deadline tracker — Rumors, deals and more Berrios (3.48 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 9.3 K/9) was in the midst of a pretty good season with Minnesota, and now he gets to take his talents to The 6 to help continue grow Toronto’s playoff chances this year and next....
The Nigeria striker continued from where he stopped last weekend where he netted against Gent to help Adnan Custovic’s men to a thrilling victory. Akpala played a pivotal role as De Kustboys cruised to a comfortable lead before the break but a second-half fightback from the Reds saw the table turn. Fernando Canesin Matos opened the scoring for the home team in the 27th minute with an assist from the former Werder Bremen man who doubled the lead in the 45th minute....
Joseph Evans Jr. sent a letter dated September 18 to Kathleen Zellner, the defense attorney representing Making a Murderer subject Steven Avery, taking sole responsibility for Halbach’s 2005 death. Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey are serving life sentences for Halbach’s murder. Both maintain their innocence and have mounted appeals to overturn their convictions, as documented in the Emmy-winning Making a Murderer. On Tuesday, Zellner shared the handwritten confession letter from Evans Jr....
Allen completed 32 of his 40 passes for 375 passing yards, four touchdowns and a 139.1 passer rating as the Bills improved to 9-3 and moved a step closer to a first divisional title since 1995. It marked the third time this season that Allen finished with at least 375 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 130 or above. According to NFL Research, Allen is only the second quarterback in NFL history since 1950 to pull off the feat in at least three games, equalling a record set by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in 2013....
The Rams and Bills were locked in a very entertaining season opener during NBC’s 2022 NFL kickoff special — there were some points, plenty of turnovers and one particularly poignant stiff arm courtesy of Josh Allen. In the third quarter of the season opener, Allen absolutely planted Rams defender Nick Scott with a deadly stiff arm, planting Scott into the ground and picking up a first down in the process....
Currently the Browns rank a distant last in 2014 AFC division title odds at +500 behind the Baltimore Ravens (+275), Cincinnati Bengals (+210) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+190). MORE NFL TRAINING CAMP NEWS: Odell Beckham Jr. battles hammy | Browns players love Brian Hoyer Cleveland went 3-0 in games Brian Hoyer started last season en route to first place in the AFC North through five weeks. Hoyer went down for the season without any understudies who could provide close to his brand of remotely decent, sparking a dumpster fire that flamed out at 4-12....
The 2010 AL MVP was injured during Tuesday night's game against Seattle during a headfirst slide into first base in the seventh inning. He remained in the game but struggled with throwing balls and gripping his bat. Ian Stewart pinch hit for Hamilton in the ninth and struck out with the potential tying run on base in a 5-3 loss. MORE: Fantasy impact Los Angeles said an MRI Wednesday revealed a complete tear of the thumb's ulnar collateral ligament, and hand and wrist specialist Dr....
The Senate voted 95-1 on Wednesday to ratify the Scandinavian countries’ bid for membership. Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, was the sole “no” vote. Hawley delivered a speech in the chamber, explaining his opposition to NATO expansion. A snippet from his comments, posted on Twitter, has been watched more than 775,000 times in less than 24 hours. In the past, Finland and Sweden have often remained neutral regarding the tension between Russia and NATO....
Lots of observers, including many of his fellow corners, vehemently disagree, often claiming that he’s more a product of his defensive teammates than of his own ability. Ironically, Norman on Wednesday — at the end of his first offseason with his new team in Washington — took time to give unsolicited praise to his defensive teammates and pitch them as one cohesive unit. IYER: Grading Washington’s offseason “I think I do play a big role, just as well as everybody else plays a big role,” said an enthusiastic Norman to reporters after practice....
MORE: Norman’s options start with 49ers Norman now can shop his services to the highest bidder. Will he find that the rest of the NFL views him as the $14 million player he thinks he is, or will he find it hard to get the elite-level money as a free agent? Norman hit the perfect contractual storm, so to speak, in 2015. He peaked on a Super Bowl-bound team and was praised as one of the team’s more important defensive players....
It’s an almost-unheard-of move in the NFL, and will create a unique situation where a top free agent is made available after the free agent signing period is essentially over. So the question now becomes, “Who can meet Norman’s contract demands?” MORE: NFL Mock Draft | Best fits for Norman The Panthers’ decision to release Norman now, rather than back in March, creates a problem for the All-Pro corner. Most teams have already spent their money for the year and are now solely focused on the NFL Draft....
“We know for sure he’s not doing anything for two weeks, and then it’s a progression to get him ready again,” said Melvin, according to MLB.com’s Jane Lee. “You have to start from zero again. I would think Opening Day would be a stretch, but he has been a quick healer.” MORE: Tommy John for Darvish? | Chris Young signs with AL champs | Yunel Escobar out 7-10 days...
Long respected and time honored, Trojans football is the definition of success with its national championships and ability to send talent to pro football. The team opens its 2014 season on Saturday against Fresno State with a renewed sense of purpose and mission. Against that backdrop comes Shaw’s disclosure of fabricating the story of a spectacular rescue. Instead of holding Shaw as another Trojans idol, USC now must recover from its image and its brand....
When Matchroom Boxing managing director Eddie Hearn announced that the Sept. 22 fight between unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin will air exclusively in the United States on DAZN, it marked a game-changing moment for the sport. “In my opinion this is the greatest thing to happen to boxing in America for a long, long time,” said Hearn on Tuesday at DAZN’s event in New York. DAZN: There’s a new way to watch fight sports – find out more...
“I don’t care. He can do whatever he wants. We’re going to keep going,” Soto said (via ESPN). It started when Soto took a curveball in the dirt on a pitch from Mikolas. He then appeared to grab his crotch while staring at Mikolas. The pitcher decided to return the favor, mimicking the gesture. Mikolas downplayed his antics, saying he “was just having fun out there.” After the game, Mikolas explained what the exchange was all about....
Jesus subbed off with ankle injury The right-back underwent an MRI scan which revealed a “grade I-II” strain to the right hamstring, with the minimum expected recovery time reported to be two weeks. Juanfran sustained the injury during Atletico’s 3-2 LaLiga victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday and was forced off at half-time. The Spain international was replaced by Sime Vrsaljko, and it is now likely the Croatian will retain that berth for the meeting with Leverkusen next Tuesday....
With Augusto Fernandez and Tiago still sidelined due to injury, Diego Simeone finds himself short on midfield options at the start of 2017. ‘Griezmann would give Klopp X-factor’ The Atletico coach deployed Juanfran in a more advanced role on the right-hand side for the 4-1 Copa del Rey victory over Guijuelo last month, and confirmed he will appear in that position again in the first leg of the last 16 clash in Gran Canaria....
Judge William Kelly said Iowa’s Department of Human Services had to provide Medicaid coverage for the surgeries when medically ordered to treat gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the “feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.” Gender dysphoria commonly begins during childhood, although some people don’t experience it until after puberty or later in life....
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ruled that Proposition 22, which California voters passed with almost 59 percent of the vote last year, is unconstitutional and unenforceable because it strips power from “a future Legislature to define app-based drivers as workers subject to workers’ compensation law.” The proposition went into effect last December and ensures that drivers for app-based rideshare and food delivery services are not considered employees under California law....
