World Sports

The Sprint Cup Series trophy on display during Chase media day, Thursday in Chicago.(Photo: Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports) USA TODAY Sports’ reporters and editors make their predictions for each round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the eventual champion: CHALLENGER ROUND ELIMINATIONS Nate Ryan: AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards Jeff Gluck: Allmendinger, Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch Mike Hembree: Allmendinger, Almirola, Kasey Kahne, Ryan…

Chris Davis knew exactly what he was doing when he started popping Adderall again. More than any sport, baseball’s relentless toll can ruin a player’s psyche, cause him to forget who he is and what he’s done, send him into the sort of spiral that makes him look for something, anything. Davis sought answers in a pill bottle. The wonderment of his 2013 season had yielded to the misery of…

Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger believes football is tackling homophobia, despite there being no openly gay players in the Premier League. Hitzlsperger is the most prominent footballer to reveal he is gay. The ex-Germany international is part of the Rainbow Laces  campaign, which aims to show support to address homophobia. “To see the progress is phenomenal and especially among the players,”…

Danny Welbeck starts up front for Arsenal against Manchester City, who give Frank Lampard his debut. The former Chelsea man is in for Yaya Toure in midfield. Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey, Alexis, Ozil, Welbeck Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Lampard, Navas, Silva, Milner, Aguero

I know someone who likes to needle me about how I am such a giant sports honk. I follow all four major pro leagues, locally and nationally, religiously. I watch games, read columns and articles and love to talk about all of it, sometimes incessantly. “Yeah, but it’s not real,” she’ll tell me in no uncertain, occasionally more elaborate terms. And she’s mostly right … the events, or results, of…

For many of us growing up, pro sports stars were heroes. The arenas they performed in were hallowed ground; the games they played were canvases upon which to project our own greatest desires, fears and dreams. Then we grew up and realized many of those stars aren’t good people. Money — not the misty-eyed “love of the game” — is the primary driver. But still: sports are fun! They’re full…

In a move designed to save the remaining fast-drowning casino franchises in New Jersey, the Chris Christie administration reversed course and paved the way to legalize most sports betting earlier this week. After a four-year fight in the courts and among state legislators, the governor’s office issued a directive telling casinos and racetracks that they won’t be held civilly or criminally liable for prosecution by law enforcement. The only remaining…

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Statzhub CEO George Thurner is photographed with Walnut Hills high school students Kamala Nelson and Sam Newberry.(Photo: The Enquirer/Leigh Taylor) Subscribe to Cincinnati.com today and get three months for the price of one. A Cincinnati-based startup is betting it can capitalize on legions of sports fans across the country through its web site that allows users to follow their favorite athletes and teams, from local high schools to the pros,…

Ryan Vaughn in 2012. Joe Vitti / The Star(Photo: Joe Vitti Indianapolis Star) Ryan Vaughn, chief of staff for Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, will replace Allison Melangton as president of the Indiana Sports Corp, the organization announced today. Melangton is joining Hulman Motorsports, the company that owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as senior vice president of events. Melangton was CEO of the Indianapolis Super Bowl committee from 2008 to 2012….

Commissioner Vassiliou said the lack of exercise is a problem affecting all social groups that is why the Commission will have a dedicated budget for sports activities as part of the new Erasmus+ programme. The European Commission is also a partner in the special Olympics European summer games 2014 that are taking place in Belgium from 2-20 September. Androulla Vassiliou is the EU Commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth. EurActiv inteviewed the Commissioner in…

State Senator Raymond Lesniak hopes sports gambling will help save struggling Atlantic City. “I’m telling you now is the time to book your hotel rooms in Atlantic City for the Super Bowl because we are going to sell out.”(Photo: Mel Evans, AP) This week New Jersey took steps to bring sports betting to its casinos and racetracks. Last week NBA commissioner Adam Silver said sports betting in more states is…

The shocking revelations around Ray Rice and his indefinite ban from the NFL have thrown the attitudes of sport towards violence against women into sharp relief this week. Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was given a two‑game suspension for domestic abuse in July, but on Monday a video surfaced of him knocking out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino. Rice, playing under a five-year, $40m…

BBC Sport’s football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season. His opponent for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures is Van McCann, the lead singer of British band Catfish and the Bottlemen. Van is a Manchester United fan and believes his side will manage a top-five finish this season. “We’ve got a good enough team but they…

For a list of all the deadline-day deals, check out the transfers page. TRANSFER GOSSIP Manchester United will offer Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, a weekly wage of £300,000 to lure him back to Old Trafford. (Daily Express)  Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a return to Manchester United United and Chelsea are to…

The shocking revelations around Ray Rice and his indefinite ban from the NFL have thrown the attitudes of sport towards violence against women into sharp relief this week. Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was given a two‑game suspension for domestic abuse in July, but on Monday a video surfaced of him knocking out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino. Rice, playing under a five-year, $40m…

State Senator Raymond Lesniak hopes sports gambling will help save struggling Atlantic City. “I’m telling you now is the time to book your hotel rooms in Atlantic City for the Super Bowl because we are going to sell out.”(Photo: Mel Evans, AP) This week New Jersey took steps to bring sports betting to its casinos and racetracks. Last week NBA commissioner Adam Silver said sports betting in more states is…

Hours after it was announced that Rihanna’s Run This Town would open CBS Sports’ Thursday Night Football coverage featuring the Steelers and Ravens, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus told SI.com’s Richard Deitsch that the network has changed its opening format in light of the Ray Rice scandal. CBS Sports will now begin its pregame show with a report from CBS This Morning‘s Norah O’Donnell, who interviewed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell…

The shocking revelations around Ray Rice and his indefinite ban from the NFL have thrown the attitudes of sport towards violence against women into sharp relief this week. Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was given a two‑game suspension for domestic abuse in July, but on Monday a video surfaced of him knocking out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino. Rice, playing under a five-year, $40m…

The shocking revelations around Ray Rice and his indefinite ban from the NFL have thrown the attitudes of sport towards violence against women into sharp relief this week. Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was given a two‑game suspension for domestic abuse in July, but on Monday a video surfaced of him knocking out his then fiancee in an Atlantic City casino. Rice, playing under a five-year, $40m…