Kawhi Leonard celebrates new contract by leading Clippers to victory

Kawhi Leonard celebrates new contract by leading Clippers to victory

First, the “Board Man” got paid. Then he and the Clippers got a win. Hours after All-Star wing Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year contract extension worth $152.3 million on Wednesday, he scored 29 points as the Clippers slowly awoke to outlast the skidding Toronto Raptors, 126-120, at Crypto.com Arena and improve to 24-13. Leonard’s curving…

Prep basketball roundup: Birmingham pulls out overtime win over Chatsworth, Alijah Arenas

Prep basketball roundup: Birmingham pulls out overtime win over Chatsworth, Alijah Arenas

Alijah Arenas is human. He misses shots, he makes turnovers. It encouraged Birmingham coach Nick Halic to order Arenas to be double-teamed the entire game Wednesday. The strategy was working at times. The Chatsworth High sophomore missed his first six shots and was limited to 10 points at halftime. It was only a matter of…

Rams’ Matthew Stafford prepares to be Ford Field tough: ‘I’m the bad guy coming to town’

Rams’ Matthew Stafford prepares to be Ford Field tough: ‘I’m the bad guy coming to town’

Team events. Wardrobe changes for photo shoots. Media days. Those were the few times Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford can recall being in the visitors’ locker room at Ford Field in Detroit, where he spent his first 12 NFL seasons playing for the Lions. But Sunday, before an NFC wild-card game, the visitors’ locker room is…

Pro Picks: NFL’s wild-card weekend filled with reunions and rematches

Pro Picks: NFL’s wild-card weekend filled with reunions and rematches

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here. ___ Matthew Stafford vs. the Lions. Mike McCarthy vs. the Packers. Tyreek Hill vs. the Chiefs. The NFL’s wild-card weekend is all about reunions and some rematches, too. Stafford…

California moves closer to becoming first state to ban tackle football for kids under 12

California moves closer to becoming first state to ban tackle football for kids under 12

The proposed law is striking in its brevity. Sure, the single sentence is a bit rambling, but California Assembly Bill 734 leaves no doubt about its directive: “On and after January 1, 2026, a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or a youth tackle football league, shall not allow a person younger…

Galaxy agree to most expensive transfer in club history to land Gabriel Pec

Galaxy agree to most expensive transfer in club history to land Gabriel Pec

The Galaxy have reached agreement with Brazilian club Vasco da Gama to acquire winger Gabriel Pec on a $10-million transfer, the richest in franchise history. The deal, which also includes $1.5 million in incentives, could be announced before players begin reporting for preseason physicals on Saturday. Pec, 22, who will sign as a young designated…

Alabama coach Nick Saban retiring in college football stunner

Alabama coach Nick Saban retiring in college football stunner

One of college football’s biggest names is stepping away from the game. Alabama coach Nick Saban is retiring and has informed his team of the decision to do so, ESPN’s Chris Low reported Wednesday.  The stunning news comes after Alabama’s season came to an end in the College Football Playoff semifinal with a loss to…

Lions fans want Matthew Stafford jersey ban at playoff game vs. Rams. Wife calls it sad

Lions fans want Matthew Stafford jersey ban at playoff game vs. Rams. Wife calls it sad

Matthew Stafford is a legend in Detroit. But this week he is back in town as the opposing quarterback during the Lions’ first home playoff game in 30 years, prompting this announcement to appear on Instagram in the days leading up to Detroit’s NFC wild-card game against the Rams: “JERSEY BAN. Lions Stafford Jerseys will…

Looks like Aaron Rodgers wasn’t banned from ESPN’s Pat McAfee show after Jimmy Kimmel feud

Looks like Aaron Rodgers wasn’t banned from ESPN’s Pat McAfee show after Jimmy Kimmel feud

Aaron Rodgers appeared as a guest on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, just one day after the host expressed on ESPN how happy he was that New York Jets quarterback would no longer be making his regular appearances for the rest of the NFL season. Rodgers originally had been scheduled to continue his weekly…

Spirit signs USWNT defender Casey Krueger to three-year deal

Spirit signs USWNT defender Casey Krueger to three-year deal

Comment on this storyComment Add to your saved stories Save One day after announcing Barcelona’s Jonatan Giráldez as its next coach, the Washington Spirit made another offseason splash by signing U.S. national team defender Casey Krueger to a three-year contract. A two-time NWSL Best XI honoree, Krueger spent the past eight seasons with the Chicago…