AP Sports Digest

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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SOC--MACCLESFIELD FA CUP GIANTKILLER

DESCRIPTION: Bought on a drunken whim, lowly Macclesfield pulled off what many consider the biggest upset in FA Cup history by knocking out titleholder Crystal Palace last month. Not a bad return for local businessman Rob Smethurst, who said he barely remembered buying the club during a “four day bender” six years ago.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 5:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo

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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS COVERAGE

FORMATS: LiveVideo, Text, Photo, AP 360, DigitalPlans, Video

WITH: OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS EVENTS COVERAGE

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of these events/matches is planned:

FIGURE SKATING:

OLY--FIG-Men’s Free Skate MILAN — Ilia Malinin tries to clinch his second gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics when he takes a big lead into the free skate in the individual men’s event. Malinin was part of the U.S. team that captured gold last weekend. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos. Event starts 7 p.m. local/1 p.m. EST.

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FREESTYLE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING:

OLY--SBD-Men’s Halfpipe LIVIGNO, Italy -- Australia’s Scotty James tries to capture an elusive Olympic gold medal in the halfpipe Friday, with a deep Japanese group of riders trying keep the title in their country. By Eddie Pells. AP Photos. Contest starts 7:30 p.m./1:30 p.m. EST

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ICE HOCKEY:

OLY--HKO-Men’s Roundup — Rivals Sweden and Finland face off at the Olympics in Italy 20 years since the countries’ memorable gold-medal game in Turin. Canada faces Switzerland in the other games as the U.S. gets a break before playing Denmark on Saturday night. By Ken Maguire. 600 words, photos.

OLY--HKW--Quarterfinals -- Top-seeded and women’s hockey tournament-favored United States faces host nation Italy in the quarterfinal knockout round of the Milan Cortina Games on Friday. Third-seeded Czechia plays Group B winner Sweden in the other quarterfinal. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 800 words, photos.

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SPEEDSKATING:

OLY--SPD-Speedskating-Men’s 10000 Meters Medals are at stake in the longest speedskating race at the Olympics on Friday, the men’s 10,000 meters. By Howard Fendrich.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

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WITH: OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS FEATURES COVERAGE

DESCRIPTION: AP text features planned today:

OLY--Winter Olympics-Passion Play. The country that invented opera knows a thing or two about drama. Maybe that’s why it’s proving to be such a fitting host for the Winter Olympics. From heartbreaking injuries to heartwrenching protests to heartsick confessions to heartwarming engagements, the opening week of the Games had a little bit of everything. Perhaps passion most of all. By Will Graves.

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OLY--Winter Olympics-Parents And Kids. Mothers and fathers are part of the fabric of these Olympics, and so, too, are their children who’ve tagged along. The 232-athlete U.S. roster, for example, included nine moms — up from just one at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and from four at Beijing in 2022 — and 17 dads. By Howard Fendrich. 1,000 words, photos.

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OLY—SKI-Piloting Drones – It’s hard to keep up with the downhill skiers at the Winter Games, but a series of remote-piloted drones are chasing them as they go, providing stunning visuals at nearly 100 kph. And it’s not just skiing where fans are getting the close ups. By Steve Douglas and Andrew Dampf.

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OLY--HKO-US-Nelson -- Brock Nelson is the fifth member of his family to play hockey for the U.S. at the Olympics. He wasted no time making an immediate impact in Milan, scoring twice in a tournament-opening win against Latvia. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. 700 words, photos. SKI JUMPING/NORDIC COMBINED: SPEEDSKATING:

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 12:00 p.m. EST

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US--SPORTS-PREDICTION MARKETS

DESCRIPTION: CHICAGO — Sports have become a big part of prediction markets. So big that even sportsbooks have moved into the business. The rapid growth of sports offerings on prediction markets — called event contracts — has captured the attention of the four major North American sports, along with the NCAA and other organizations. Some leagues have jumped on another revenue opportunity, while others have expressed concern about the regulation of prediction markets. By Jay Cohen. UPCOMING: 1,100 words.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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US-PATRIOTS-DIGGS-STRANGULATION

DESCRIPTION: New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned over strangulation charges in connection with a dispute with his former private chef

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 9:00 a.m. EST, Text, LiveVideo, Video, Photo

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CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: William Byron attempts to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive Daytona 500s in Sunday’s season-opening race. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 2:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BOX--MIKE TYSON

DESCRIPTION: Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson talks about a three-day amateur boxing event that he is backing. By Mark Anderson. 600 words, file photo.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

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SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Borussia Dortmund hosts Mainz and can provisionally cutting the gap on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points with its sixth consecutive win. But Mainz has won its last three.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 4:30 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

DESCRIPTION: Ryo Hisatsune has a one-shot lead and Scottie Scheffler is 10 shots behind going into the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 8:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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BKN--NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

FORMATS: Text, Photo

WITH: BKN--NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

DESCRIPTION: Coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend, including the celebrity game, rising stars competition and the HBCU Classice

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EST

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WITH: BKN--ALL-STAR-CELEBRITY GAME

DESCRIPTION: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts are among the coaches for the NBA All-Star celebrity game featuring actor Simu Liu, actor-writer Keegan-Michael Key, Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers and rapper GloRilla. By Beth Harris. 400 words, photos. Begins 7 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 7:00 p.m. EST

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WITH: BKN--ALL-STAR-HBCU CLASSIC

DESCRIPTION: Hampton and North Carolina A&T State face off in the NBA HBCU Classic at the Kia Forum as part of NBA All-Star festivities. By Beth Harris. 300 words. Begins 11 p.m. EST.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 11:00 p.m. EST

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--JAZZ-SITTING PLAYERS

Tankers beware: Jazz fined $500,000, Pacers $100,000 by NBA for player participation policy breach

SUMMARY: The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for sitting healthy stars late in close games. The league announced the decision on Thursday. The Jazz kept key players out of recent fourth quarters, even though games were tight. The NBA said the players could have kept playing. Utah has also faced past fines tied to resting Lauri Markkanen. The Pacers were fined $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and other starters. The policy targets teams that chase better draft odds by losing on purpose.

WORDS: 743 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 1:37 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:12c4bc557167d1190e24cb67a2c48163&mediaType=text

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BKN--LEBRON-OLDEST TRIPLE DOUBLE

LeBron James becomes the oldest player to have a triple-double in NBA history

SUMMARY: LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to have a triple-double, accomplishing the feat for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory. James got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after grabbing his final rebound to complete his 123rd career triple-double, fifth-most in NBA history. At 41 years and 44 days old, James broke the record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.

WORDS: 701 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 1:34 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e68250d0eb292a4c0bba1019069b62a4&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA 500

A spin, a patch of grass and inches from a crash, Casey Mears still makes the Daytona 500

SUMMARY: Joey Logano and Chase Elliott both won their Daytona 500 qualifying races on Thursday night to earn starting spots on the second row for Sunday’s season-opener. Casey Mears and Anthony Alfredo earned the final two spots in the field as the highest finishing “open” drivers in each race, but NASCAR later disqualified Alfredo. His spot goes to B.J. McLeod, pending inspection. The drivers who failed to qualify for the 41-car field were Alfredo, Corey LaJoie, Chandler Smith and JJ Yeley. Two spots were earned in Wednesday night’s time trials and went to Justin Allgaier and Corey Heim.

WORDS: 921 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 11:57 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:65943a2cd22ef4c0216aebf5838f6cfc&mediaType=text

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BBO--OBIT-FACE

All-Star reliever Elroy Face, who saved 3 games for Pirates in 1960 World Series, dies at 97

SUMMARY: Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates who saved three games in the 1960 World Series to help them upset the New York Yankees, has died. He was 97. In a news release, the Pirates announced they confirmed Face’s death. Team historian Jim Trdinich said the club was contacted by Face’s son, Elroy Jr., and informed the former pitcher died Thursday at an independent senior living facility in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. No cause of death was provided. Selected to six All-Star teams, Face went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 major league seasons with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Montreal. He compiled 191 career saves — although saves didn’t become an official statistic until 1969.

WORDS: 408 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 11:43 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9d9c3899349042ffaae417f8d2778bbc&mediaType=text

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BBO--MLB-ABS-STRATEGY

Robots are coming to assist MLB umpires. Even so, the human touch still matters

SUMMARY: For those worried robots are about to take over Major League Baseball, Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has some experience with the Automated Ball/Strike system that’s coming to stadiums this summer. Yes, the machines have a lot of power. But the human touch still matters. The ABS system made a cameo last year in MLB spring training and was greeted with a mix of curiousity, excitement, disdain and uncertainty. Now that it’s here for regular-season games in 2026, the novelty is quickly giving way to strategy.

WORDS: 831 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 10:00 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7a33de13223279c4a3fed102cc2365ef&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-MCFARLAND

From YouTuber to NASCAR driver: Cleetus McFarland expands his racing resume at Daytona

SUMMARY: Garrett Mitchell is better known as “Cleetus McFarland” to his millions of followers gained over the years as a racing influencer. He’s been called a YouTuber for years. A more fitting title might be NASCAR driver. McFarland will make his Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday and then will race in the ARCA Series the following day. He has more racing in his future, too, hinting that details are coming soon. He made four ARCA starts in 2025, beginning with the season opener at Daytona. He crashed 17 laps into that one but found more success in other events. It should pay dividends on the high banks at Daytona.

WORDS: 742 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 9:36 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fcb5b88b0725510a3b993d2625abb2fb&mediaType=text

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OLY--HKO-MEN’S ROUNDUP

Brock Nelson scores twice as US opens the Milan Cortina Olympics by rolling over Latvia 5-1

SUMMARY: Brock Nelson scored twice, four teammates had two assists apiece and the U.S. opened the Milan Cortina Olympics by rolling past Latvia 5-1 in a dominant showcase of some of the country’s best NHL players. The Americans held onto the puck for long stretches and barely let their opponents have it. Connor Hellebuyck only needed to make 17 saves. Canada beat Czechia 5-0 as the tournament favorite looked every bit like it in its first game. Switzerland blanked France 4-0, and Germany beat Denmark 3-1.

WORDS: 1066 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 8:55 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2e17abc222a420bce895b6edec0df907&mediaType=text

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FBC--MISSISSIPPI-CHAMBLISS

Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction for extra eligibility

SUMMARY: A Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction that gives him another year of eligibility after a fight with the NCAA. On Thursday, the judge said the NCAA ignores its own rules and failed to weigh Chambliss’ medical history. The NCAA denied his waiver on Jan. 9. The NCAA also rejected his appeal on Feb. 4. Chambliss has spent five years in college but played only three healthy seasons. He started at Ferris State and then transferred to Ole Miss. Ole Miss finishes 13-2 and loses to Miami in the playoff semifinals.

WORDS: 595 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 8:31 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fa4b3946862f66ae4d0dd08c0cefb708&mediaType=text

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GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

Hisatsune leads Pebble Beach on a gorgeous day with low scores. Scheffler didn’t take advantage

SUMMARY: Ryo Hisatsune is the leader at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a 62 at Pebble Beach. He leads by one shot over Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley. Chris Gotterup had the best start of the day by opening with six birdies. This comes after he finished his victory in the Phoenix Open with three straight birdies. So that’s nine in a row in two tournaments on two very different golf courses. A beautiful day meant low scoring and just about everyone took advantage. The exception was the No. 1 player in the world. Scottie Scheffler settled for a 72.

WORDS: 802 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 8:10 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3ae0d7add973f1abbff1e0e029320b55&mediaType=text

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OLY--SBD-WOMEN’S HALFPIPE

Chloe Kim falls short of Olympic three-peat, but passes the torch to a protege from South Korea

SUMMARY: Chloe Kim has fallen short in her bid to become the first Olympic snowboarder to win three consecutive gold medals. Kim finished second to Gaon Choi of South Korea in the women’s halfpipe. The 17-year-old Choi dethroned the two-time defending champion with a score of 90.25 on her final run. Kim had one more shot to get back on top but she fell on her last of three runs. The 25-year-old American took silver, while Japan’s Mitsuki Ono claimed bronze. Choi recovered after taking a hard tumble on her first run.

WORDS: 1288 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 6:21 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5c9ce73f2d36700b01d17069b0d65434&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-NORTH CAROLINA-WILSON

No. 11 Tar Heels lose freshman star Caleb Wilson to hand fracture; timetable for return unclear

SUMMARY: North Carolina has lost freshman star Caleb Wilson to a fracture in his left hand. It’s unclear exactly how long he’ll be out. The school announced the nature of Wilson’s injury Thursday. That came two days after the 11th-ranked Tar Heels’ loss at Miami. The 6-foot-10 forward exited that game for a stretch after halftime and returned later with his left wrist heavily taped. The school said X-rays during the game were negative. But additional imaging after the team’s return home revealed a fracture. Wilson leads UNC in scoring and rebounding. He’s considered to be a high-end NBA prospect.

WORDS: 568 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 6:13 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:47d1faed8c547dc37147f7a7f8bec2f1&mediaType=text

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OLY--MILAN-CORTINA ROUNDUP

Winter Olympics recap: Ukrainian athlete excluded, Kim falls short and Brignone completes comeback

SUMMARY: It was a day marked by a comeback and controversy at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Federica Brignone won a gold medal in the women’s super-G to complete one of skiing’s all-time great recoveries after badly breaking her leg a year ago. Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine was excluded from the Olympics after refusing to give up his plan to race in a helmet commemorating athletes who have been killed since Russia invaded his country. The International Olympic Committee said the helmet broke its rules. Chloe Kim of the United States fell just short in her bid to become the first snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

WORDS: 825 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 6:09 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3b75e5036f989b705ef0aaab3d8bdea8&mediaType=text

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid takes a hit after 1-1 draw at Brentford

SUMMARY: Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League has dwindled from nine points to four in less than a week. The good news for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is that it remains in control of the title race even after being held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Thursday. The bad news is the momentum appears to have swung in second-place Manchester City’s direction just when Arsenal looked to be at its strongest. A nine-point advantage was only ever provisional, with City having a game in hand, but the perception is that the title race has taken a big swing. A nervous performance at Brentford suggested Arsenal is beginning to feel the pressure.

WORDS: 532 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 6:01 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cea3388f971c68c860317e68eede9b3c&mediaType=text

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OLY--CUR-OLDEST US WINTER OLYMPIAN

A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Minnesota just became the oldest US Winter Olympian

SUMMARY: U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen made Olympic history after joining the team as an alternate at the end of the game. On Thursday, the U.S. men trailed Switzerland 8-2 in their opening round-robin match when they subbed him in. Ruohonen stepped onto the ice and delivered a solid shot as teammates cheered. At 54, he became the oldest American to compete at the Winter Olympics. Ruohonen also balances the role with a full-time law practice. He trains before dawn, works all day, and handles Zoom hearings on the road. His younger teammates treat him like family.

WORDS: 578 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 5:57 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:85df6ea64f2abb7a89ed9732e5c69a73&mediaType=text

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BBO--OWNERS MEETINGS-MANFRED

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred optimistic major leaguers will play in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

SUMMARY: Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major leaguers will be able to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Manfred spoke to reporters at the league’s owners meetings Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida. He said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Player’s Association before but is confident MLB players will participate. Manfred also addressed salary cap questions amid the Los Angeles Dodgers’ latest veteran pickup, World Baseball Classic insurance and prediction markets.

WORDS: 1110 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 4:25 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f7c1b476ec37fd428d838bac1f101aa&mediaType=text

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OLY--FIG-ICE DANCE-CHOCK AND BATES

Chock and Bates say their near-perfect skate felt like a win, even if silver left fans ‘confused’

SUMMARY: U.S. ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates aren’t hiding their disappointment at the Olympic silver medal for what Bates says was their “absolute best performance.” Chock said Thursday that the confusion over the result “does a disservice to our sport.” During Wednesday night’s free dance at the Milan Cortina Olympics, French skaters Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron earned a season-best 225.82 points to win gold despite several mistakes by Cizeron. Chock and Bates also delivered a season-best performance with a nearly perfect skate, finishing with 224.39 points. Chock says skaters, coaches and fans deserve more clarity about the results.

WORDS: 447 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 4:06 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8764d176a6f5a4a707e9a027188d01e6&mediaType=text

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BBO--PHILLIES-CASTELLANOS

Phillies release Nick Castellanos, who admits to bringing beer into dugout

SUMMARY: The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game. The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday. Castellanos was benched last season after he made what Phillies manager Rob Thomson described as “an inappropriate comment” after he was pulled for a defensive replacement. Castellanos said in September that communication with Thomson had been “questionable, at least in my experience.”

WORDS: 285 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:27 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:070b188debec42a22de222568ea40a7f&mediaType=text

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OLY-SKE-UKRAINE-HELMET-TRIBUTE-PHOTO GALLERY

In photos: Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet tribute

WORDS: 37 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 3:10 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d98fc89ec62a3d1e7ec0a675e418054&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-ALL-STAR-WEEKEND-GUIDE

NBA All-Star 2026: Times, details, how to watch the weekend’s events

SUMMARY: NBA All-Star weekend is back in California for the second straight year. Among the on-court events are the celebrity game and Rising Stars competition on Friday, 3-point and slam-dunk contests on Saturday and a new game format on Sunday that features the USA vs. the World. The U.S. vs. the World concept was talked about for years before finally becoming a reality this season. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association unveiled the long-awaited plan earlier this season, after trying yet again to figure out the latest way to spark renewed interest in the game. Here’s some of what to know for All-Star weekend.

WORDS: 816 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 2:24 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d6034405b7c44fdd5658d0c2cd0f9cab&mediaType=text

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BBO--RANGERS-WALCOTT

Rangers lose top prospect, infielder Sebastian Walcott, to UCL injury and surgery

SUMMARY: Top prospect Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers is having elbow surgery, and the infielder is expected to miss most of the season. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Walcott has a UCL injury and was experiencing elbow discomfort. He could be back by the end of the season but it’s too early to tell. The 19-year-old Walcott is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He hit .255 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and 32 stolen bases at Double-A Frisco last year.

WORDS: 114 - MOVED: 02/12/2026 2:13 p.m. EST

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