National Sports - The Morning Sun

Chicago Blackhawks new head coach Luke Richardson listens to reporters during an NHL hockey news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Challenge accepted: Richardson steps in as Blackhawks coach

Luke Richardson says he likes a challenge. Good thing, because he's got a big one ahead of him. The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks have hired Richardson as the 40th coach in franchise history. The … more

By JAY COHEN | 6/29/22

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, center, celebrates his three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Judge, Stanton homer to bail out Taillon, Yanks top A's 5-3

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered to fuel the New York Yankees’ major league-best 24th comeback victory, bailing out Jameson Taillon in a 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees … more

By JAKE SEINER | 6/29/22

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers against the New York Mets during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Verlander dominates, Castro homers, Astros beat Mets 2-0

Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, light-hitting backup catcher Jason Castro lined a two-run homer in the ninth and the Houston Astros beat the Mets 2-0 to send New York to its … more

By RONALD BLUM | 6/29/22

Stephen Curry and Damion Lee, right, ride in the Golden State Warriors NBA championship parade in San Francisco, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

From the court to the stage: Stephen Curry to host ESPYs

Fresh off helping the Golden State Warriors win the NBA championship, Stephen Curry will host The ESPYS honoring the past year’s top athletes and moments in sports. The show airs July 20 from Los … more

6/29/22

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 1, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Pegula almost didn't go to Wimbledon; now she eyes 3rd round

American tennis player Jessica Pegula almost did not go to Wimbledon this year. That's because her mother went into the hospital recently. But with Mom's health progressing, Pegula decided it was OK … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 6/29/22

FILE - Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris (11) and Will Barton (5) react during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in Indianapolis. The Nuggets have agreed to a deal that would send guards Will Barton and Monte Morris to the Washington Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

AP source: Nuggets and Wizards agree to 4-player swap

A person with knowledge of the negotiations says the Denver Nuggets have agreed to a deal that would send guards Will Barton and Monte Morris to the Washington Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 6/29/22

Norway's Casper Rudd plays a return to France's Ugo Humbert in a second round men's singles match on day three of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday June 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

French Open runner-up Ruud loses in 2nd round at Wimbledon

Yet another of the highest-ranked players on the men’s tour is out of the tournament at Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal are not among them. Casper Ruud is ranked sixth and was the … more

By CHRIS LEHOURITES | 6/29/22

Spain's Garbine Muguruza returns the ball to Belgium's Greet Minnen during their singles tennis match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Wimbledon updates | Djokovic, Raducanu on Centre Court

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic is back on Centre Court as the second round begins on Day 3 at Wimbledon. The six-time Wimbledon champion will play 79th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia in the … more

6/29/22

France's Harmony Tan celebrates after beating Serena Williams of the US in a first round women's singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Tan's doubles partner angered by Wimbledon withdrawal

Harmony Tan surprised and angered her Wimbledon doubles partner by withdrawing from that tournament with a thigh injury a day after eliminating Serena Williams in her debut at the grass-court Grand … more

By CHRIS LEHOURITES | 6/29/22

Serena Williams of the US waves as she leaves the court after losing to France's Harmony Tan in a first round women’s singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Analysis: If this was it for Williams at Wimbledon, it works

Serena Williams says she does not know whether her first-round loss on Centre Court will be the last appearance of her career at Wimbledon. If this exit does turn out to have been her farewell, it … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 6/29/22

FILE - Three-time world champion Formula One racer Nelson Piquet of Brazil attends the shooting of the Hungarian Television's Formula One magazine in Budapest, Hungary, July 23, 2015. Piquet apologized to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 saying the racial term he used about the Mercedes driver was “ill thought out” but was not meant to be offensive. The 69-year-old Brazilian has faced heavy criticism this week over comments he made in Portuguese last November on a podcast where he referred to Hamilton as “neguinho,” which means “little Black guy.” (Janos Marjai/MTI via AP, file)

Piquet apologizes to Hamilton over 'ill thought out' comment

Former Formula One champion Nelson Piquet has apologized to Lewis Hamilton, saying the racial term he used about the Mercedes driver was “ill thought out” but was not meant to be offensive. The … more

By MAURICIO SAVARESE | 6/29/22

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts at the end of the top of the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, June 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LEADING OFF: Scherzer makes rehab start, Ohtani vs Chisox

Mets ace Max Scherzer will make a minor league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday. The outing against the Hartford Yard Goats was pushed back a day, but New York manager Buck Showalter … more

By The Associated Press | 6/29/22

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon lifts the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

Mile High magic: Avs add to Denver's title town run on ice

The Mile High City is now home to three ice hockey champion. There are the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. There is also the NCAA champion University of Denver and Denver East High School, … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 6/29/22

Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) drives around Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Trio of Chicago Sky players headline WNBA All-Star reserves

Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman will get a chance to play before their home fans as the trio was selected as reserves for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 10 in Chicago. The Sky … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 6/28/22

Boxer Canelo Álvarez, of Mexico, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in New York. Golovkin and Canelo Álvarez, of Mexico, will meet for a third time on Sept. 17, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Trilogy: Canelo aims to finish Golovkin rivalry with a KO

A split-draw in the first fight and then a majority decision in favor of Canelo Álvarez in the second duel. So how about a knockdown in the third chapter to settle once and for all the fierce … more

By ERIC NÚÑEZ | 6/28/22

Brooks Koepka watches his shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Koepka cites injuries, family for joining Saudi-backed tour

Four months after suggesting those who defected to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series were sellouts, Brooks Koepka explained Tuesday that he simply changed his mind. Koepka signed with LIV Golf last … more

By ANNE M. PETERSON | 6/28/22

Column: Blunt talk means saying LIV Golf is all about money

Brooks Koepka is all about being bold and blunt. That's his reputation, as much as his remarkable record in the majors. So now we find out if he's honest about his leaving the PGA Tour to take … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 6/28/22

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kenley Jansen works in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, June 20, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)

Braves put closer Jansen on IL due to irregular heartbeat

Atlanta Braves closer Kenley Jansen has been put on the 15-day injured list because of an irregular heartbeat. It's the latest heart-related issue in the veteran right-hander’s career. The move was … more

6/28/22

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, right, reacts towards San Diego Padres' Blake Snell after being hit by a pitch from Snell, as he walks off the field with a trainer during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 25, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Harper set for thumb surgery, Phils hope he plays this year

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken left thumb and the team hopes the 2021 NL MVP can play again this season. Manager Rob Thomson did not offer a timetable … more

6/28/22

Serena Williams of the US returns to France's Harmony Tan in a first round women's singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Wimbledon updates | 2021 runner-up Berrettini withdraws

2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini has pulled out of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament after testing positive for COVID-19. The All England Club announced Berrettini's withdrawal and he … more

6/28/22