U.S./World Sports category, Page 221
Column: For Simone Biles, it finally becomes too much at OlympicsVideo
Finally, it all became too much. Simone Biles felt it hours before she took the floor in Tokyo, a nervousness she couldn’t explain as she waited to deliver what everyone except her was sure would be a gold medal for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. “I was just like shaking,...
Indycar rookie Johnson aims for Indianapolis 500 run in 2022Video
IndyCar rookie Jimmie Johnson is hopeful of testing in August on the oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of a path toward running in next year’s Indianapolis 500. The seven-time NASCAR champion jumped this season to IndyCar and has competed in seven races for team owner and Fox Chapel native...
Big 12’s Texas, Oklahoma make request to join powerhouse SEC
Texas and Oklahoma made a request Tuesday to join the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey saying the league would consider it in the “near future.” A day after the Big 12 schools notified the league that they would not be extending an agreement that binds conference members...
U.S. women’s soccer advances to quarterfinals after draw with Australia
KASHIMA, Japan — The United States did what was necessary to advance at the Tokyo Olympics, it just wasn’t exactly the high-flying offensive juggernaut that the Americans are known for. The U.S. women made it through to the quarterfinals of the women’s soccer tournament after a 0-0 draw with Australia...
After fall, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo try to help U.S. men’s basketball get up again
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Damian Lillard was nearly flat on his back, trying to save a possession the U.S. couldn’t afford to lose. He not only couldn’t recover the ball after slipping but made matters even worse when he extended his leg and inadvertently tripped up France’s Evan Fournier, getting...
‘A bit much’: Naomi Osaka cites pressure in Olympic loss
TOKYO — It wasn’t the ending that Naomi Osaka — nor her multitudes of fans across Japan and worldwide — had expected. The start of the Tokyo Olympics, however, will forever be a bright memory for the tennis superstar. Osaka herself said after lighting the Olympic cauldron during last week’s...
U.S. women win 50th straight Olympic basketball game, beat Nigeria
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — The U.S. women won, as usual. It just wasn’t in the dominant fashion that the Americans are accustomed to. The winning streak for the world’s top-ranked team is now 50 games and counting in Olympic competition. A’ja Wilson scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in...
Tokyo reports record virus cases days after Olympics begin
TOKYO — Japan’s capital, Tokyo, reported its highest number of new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, days after the Olympics began. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urged people to avoid non-essential outings but said there was no need to consider a suspension of the Games. Tokyo reported 2,848 new covid-19 cases, exceeding...
With Simone Biles out, Russians win Olympics women’s gymnastics gold
TOKYO — The ROC has won the gold medal in women’s gymnastics after U.S. star Simone Biles exited with a medical issue. The Russian team posted a score of 169.528, ahead of the U.S. in second place at 166.096. The American team of Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles...
Simone Biles says she withdrew from gymnastics final after not being in right mental place
TOKYO — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready for the spotlight. Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off...
This date in sports history: July 27Video
1920 — Resolute defeats Shamrock IV of Britain to defend the America’s Cup title for the United States. 1937 — The United States wins the Davis Cup by beating Britain four matches to one. 1954 — Chick Harbart beats Walter Burkemo 4 and 3 in the final round to win...
Northern lights: Alaska teen Lydia Jacoby shocks with Olympic swim goldVideo
TOKYO — Alaska, of all places, has an Olympic champion at the pool. Seventeen-year-old Lydia Jacoby gave the United States a victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, knocking off teammate and defending champion Lilly King on Tuesday. Jacoby was the first swimmer from the Arctic state ever to make the...
Olympics roundup: Athletes trying to overcome silence in TokyoVideo
TOKYO — American gymnast Sam Mikulak flipped off the parallel bars, stuck the landing and blew a kiss toward the camera. Those watching the men’s Olympics gymnastic competition on television back home knew they’d seen magic. “Beautiful!” the broadcast announcer exclaimed. “Wow, that was fantastic!” But all around Mikulak, the...
How the Russians caught the U.S. in gymnasticsVideo
TOKYO — Tom Forster’s words were jarring. Not because they were controversial or insincere, but because they simply hadn’t been uttered by someone in charge of the USA Gymnastics women’s program for a long, long time. “I want to say congratulations to Russia for the amazing competition they did today,...
Tokyo Olympics: A success? A failure? And how to judge?
TOKYO — Will it be a success? A failure? Or none of the above? It will take something much more nuanced than those basic notions to assess the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks. The response will be twisted by dozens of parties with their own...
Matthew Hoppe’s 1st goal lifts USA over Jamaica into Gold Cup semifinalsVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Matthew Hoppe scored his first international goal on a header in the 83rd minute and the United States beat Jamaica 1-0 Sunday night to reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Hoppe, making his second international appearance, nodded home a cross from Cristian Roldan from just...
Dawn Staley feels no added pressure as 1st Black U.S. hoops coach
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Dawn Staley doesn’t feel any added pressure being the first Black head coach of the U.S. women’s basketball Olympic team. She has had to handle the pressure of representing her country with USA Basketball for more than two decades. At the Tokyo Games her focus is...
With eye on SEC, Oklahoma, Texas move toward leaving Big 12
Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step Monday toward moving to the Southeastern Conference, notifying the Big 12 they would not be renewing an agreement that binds the league’s members through 2025. The schools sent out a joint statement that made no mention of the SEC and said “the...
American Caeleb Dressel begins quest for 6 swimming golds; Aussie beats Katie Ledecky
TOKYO — Caeleb Dressel got started on his quest for six gold medals in swimming Monday, while Katie Ledecky found herself in a very unusual position. Second place. Dressel led off an American victory in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics, easing a bit of the U.S....
U.S. softball team beats Japan on walk-off home run
YOKOHAMA, Japan — Kelsey Stewart homered leading off the seventh inning, capping a late rally that gave the United States a 2-1 victory Monday over Japan to win the group stage at the Olympics and the right to bat last in the gold medal game. The U.S. trailed until Valerie...
This date in sports history: July 26Video
1859 — The first intercollegiate Regatta is held in Worcester, Mass., with Harvard beating Yale and Brown. 1928 — Gene Tunney beats Tom Heeney on a technical knockout in the 11th round at Yankee Stadium to retain the world heavyweight title. 1952 — Bob Mathias wins his second Olympic decathlon...
NBC estimates 17 million in US saw opening of Tokyo OlympicsVideo
NEW YORK — An estimated 17 million people in the United States watched the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics held in a largely empty stadium, down 36% from the kickoff to the Rio de Janeiro Games five years ago. The 17 million includes people who watched the ceremony live...
Cameron Champ fends off heat to win 3M Open by 2 strokesVideo
BLAINE, Minn. — Cameron Champ fended off dehydration and crisply putted his way to a 5-under-par 66 on Sunday, winning the 3M Open by two strokes for his third career victory. The 26-year-old Champ had five birdies in a bogey-free round to finish at 15-under 269 at TPC Twin Cities....
Stephen Dodd wins Senior British Open with last-hole birdieVideo
SUNNINGDALE, England — Stephen Dodd birdied the final hole to win the Senior British Open by one stroke Sunday, holding off challenges from Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke to secure his first major title. The 55-year-old Welshman closed with a 2-under-par 68 at Sunningdale for a four-day total of...
SEC takeover: Expansion would just mean more power, wealthVideo
Barring a dramatic change of direction, Texas and Oklahoma are moving toward taking the Red River Rivalry to the SEC in a seismic shift that will have repercussions in college sports from coast to coast. According to multiple reports, the first and very significant formal step of the process could...
