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Kiszla: If Sean Payton can’t get Broncos to playoffs, he deserves “F” for first season as coach in Denver

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

If coach Sean Payton can’t get the Broncos in the playoffs from here, we should all be ticked off.While Denver has little margin for error to secure a wild-card berth, the notion that Payton deserves strong consideration for Coach of the Year if Denver recovers from a 1-5 start to get in the Super Bowl tournament is pure poppycock.Broncos CEO Greg Penner and team ownership paid Payton a reported $18 million salary to fix Russell Wilson, not dig a hole and then regularly drop hints that the mess was his quarterback’s fault.No contender for a wild-card berth in the AFC has an easier schedule than what awaits Denver.With two games against the Chargers’ Brandon Staley, who’s a dead coach walking, a Patriots squad so bad it might get Bill Belichick fired, and Raiders that will already be packing for Cancun on the final weekend of the regular season, if Payton can’t get Denver to the playoffs from here, he richly deserves a grade of “F” for his fi...

Big opportunity at hand as CU Buffs men’s basketball takes on No. 15 Miami in Brooklyn

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

Tad Boyle once had a front row seat to watch Jim Larranaga lead a team to the Final Four. Now, Colorado’s head coach will get a look at Larranaga’s latest Final Four club.Boyle was an assistant at Wichita State when the Shockers twice played Larranaga’s George Mason club during the 2005-06 season, including an NCAA Tournament date as Larranaga led George Mason to the program’s first Final Four appearance. Larranaga did the same with Miami last season, and on Sunday Boyle’s Buffaloes collide with the 15th-ranked Hurricanes for the first time in nearly 67 years as part of the NABC Brooklyn Showcase at the Barclays Center.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | AP men’s college basketball poll, Week 5: CSU Rams jumps seven spots, CU Buffs outside of Top 25 College Sports | CU women’s basketball has returned to national prominence, but JR Payne and the Buffs still have boxes left to check College Sports | Women’s basketball notes: Shelomi Sander...

Evacuations ordered as wildfire erupts in Ventura County

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

An evacuation order has been issued for a part of northern Ventura County following a brush fire breaking out near the community of Somis. Ventura County Fire Department officials are working to contain the brush fire, which broke out at 9:37 a.m. Saturday west of South Mountain.  Strong winds trigger Red Flag Warning for parts of SoCal As of 4:40 p.m. Saturday, the evacuation order was issued for: North of East La Loma Avenue and West La Loma Avenue South of East Los Angeles Avenue East of Aggen Road West of La Vista Avenue Mission Rock Road area off Highway 126 at BriggsAn area near the community of Somis is under an evacuation warning due to a brush fire. (Caltrans District 7)The blaze had spread to 800 acres as of 4 p.m. Saturday, most of which was burning on the south side and the ridgeline of South Mountain.The following roads have been closed due to the fire:West Los Angeles Avenue north towards West La Loma AveLa Vista AvenueWalnut Avenue...

Shohei Ohtani signs historic $700M deal with the Dodgers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

The wait is over and baseball's most impactful star has a new team — Shohei Ohtani is a Los Angeles Dodger.According to the reigning American League MVP himself, Ohtani has played his last game as a member of the Los Angeles Angels and plans to sign with the crosstown rivals for what is said to be a record-shattering deal.Ohtani broke the news himself on Instagram."To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team," the slugger said in his post.ESPN reporter Jeff Passan announced that the deal is for 10 years worth a total of $700 million. It's the largest guaranteed contract in sports history, Passan said.It also includes certain deferrals that will allow the Dodgers to build a more competitive team around him, he said. US and Mexico submit joint bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup The decision comes after weeks of speculation, covert meetings and around-the-clock...

My 2023 Heisman Trophy ballot: Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix? Stats matter, but so does winning

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the most prestigious award in college football on Saturday evening after producing a statistically superb season.He did not receive my first-place vote.I submitted following Heisman Trophy ballot earlier this week:1. Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.2. LSU QB Jayden Daniels3. Oregon QB Bo NixWhy Penix and not Daniels, or Nix?First, a brief acknowledgment: The best player in the country is not on my ballot.The best player, regardless of position, is Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. However, Bowers was injured during the middle of the season, missed several games and simply did not make the requisite impact.Another acknowledgment; Penix was not sensational each week. In fact, the Huskies struggled against substandard competition, with narrow wins over Arizona State and Stanford atop that list.In contrast, Daniels, the former Arizona State quarterback, was brilliant on a weekly basis for LSU and produced the best statistical season in the country.He led ...

Pressure rising on U.S. after vetoing U.N. call for a cease-fire in Gaza

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

The United States, diplomatically isolated after casting the sole vote against a United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, came under growing criticism Saturday by a number of governments, human rights groups and aid organizations that warned of catastrophic consequences for civilians in the war-torn territory.Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, which Washington and others have floated as a potential governing body for postwar Gaza, said the veto Friday was “a mark of shame that will follow the United States for many years.” He called the United States “aggressive and unethical.”Nicolas de Rivière, the French ambassador to the United Nations, called for a “new immediate and lasting humanitarian truce,” and without naming its ally, the United States, lamented that the Security Council had “failed once again.”“We do not see any contradiction between the fight against terrorism and the protection of civilians,” he said.The diplomatic t...

Hischier scores twice, Devils beat Flames 4-2 for 3rd straight victory and 6th in 7 games

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Nico Hischier scored twice and the New Jersey Devils beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Saturday for their third straight victory and sixth in seven games.Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist, Timo Meier also scored and Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves to help the Devils improve to 14-10-1. They are 9-4-0 on the road.“It’s not rocket science. You’ve got to go to the net hard and good things happen,” Hischier said. “You have to simplify your game. That’s what we’ve done the last couple games. We’ve got some lucky bounces but if you’re not going there, you’re not getting them.”Former Devils forward Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary. The Flames finished a six-game homestand 3-3-0, leaving them 11-13-3.”In the second, I thought we got away from it. Still a tight game, but I thought we made it hard on ourselves,” Flames captain Mikael Backlund said. “We weren’t playing as fast and we weren’t as efficient getting in on the forecheck.”Rookie Dustin Wolf,...

As inaugural In-Season Tournament draws to a close, Adam Silver looks ahead to possible tweaks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver seemed more than satisfied by the way the inaugural In-Season Tournament went this season, though noted that it’s only natural to expect some tweaks to the format before next year.Silver, speaking Saturday before the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers met in the event’s first championship game, said new elements like the brightly painted courts and cash incentives for team success were generally a hit. “I want to thank all the players in the league, the coaches and of course the teams for embracing this new concept,” said Silver, who pushed for years to have such an event — similar to what’s done in many soccer leagues around the world — added to the NBA calendar. “I know it doesn’t come without challenges. There’s no doubt there’s some things that we’re learning this time through. Overall, we’re thrilled with the interest we’ve seen so far this season.”There’s nothing that is certain to change befo...

Mavs star Kyrie Irving will miss game in Memphis with right heel injury

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss a game in Memphis after returning to Dallas to have a right heel injury evaluated.Irving bruised the heel in Dallas’ 125-112 victory at Portland on Friday night. The Mavs visit the Grizzlies on Monday night before finishing a back-to-back at home on Tuesday against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.With just under four minutes left in the second quarter against the Trail Blazers, Irving was fouled under the basket by center Duop Reath. The guard fell to the floor, where teammate Dwight Powell inadvertently stepped on his foot, causing Irving to stay down for several minutes.Irving has been dealing with a left foot injury that contributed to him missing four games, although two of those were the second night of back-to-backs.Irving is second behind fellow All-Star Luka Doncic in scoring for the Mavericks. The 31-year-old is averaging 23 points. Doncic is second in the NBA at 31.9 points per game and has scored at least 3...

Leach scores 15 as Fairfield defeats Sacred Heart 67-57

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:46:20 GMT

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Jalen Leach scored 15 points as Fairfield beat cross-town rival Sacred Heart 67-57 on Saturday night.Leach was 4 of 10 shooting, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line for the Stags (4-6). Jasper Floyd scored 10 points while shooting 2 of 5 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line, and added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Brycen Goodine had 10 points and was 3 of 6 shooting (2 for 4 from 3-point range).The Pioneers (4-7) were led in scoring by Raymond Espinal-Guzman, who finished with 11 points. Nico Galette added 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Sacred Heart. In addition, Alex Sobel finished with 10 points and two steals.NEXT UPUp next for Fairfield is a matchup Sunday with Wagner at home. Sacred Heart visits Providence on Saturday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source