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AP Sports Digest

Posted 2/10/26

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. …

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AP Sports Digest

Posted

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.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636.

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UPCOMING

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OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS COVERAGE

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

    1. WITH: OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS EVENTS COVERAGE

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

      3. ALPINE SKIING: BIATHLON: BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/SKI MOUNTAINEERING: OLY--XXC-Cross-Country-Sprint Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway and Jonna Sundling of Sweden vy to defend their Olympic sprint titles in the men’s and women’s individual races. Event starts at 9:15 a.m. local/3:15 a.m. EST. By Derek Gatopoulos

      4. CURLING: FIGURE SKATING: OLY--FIG-Men’s Short Program MILAN — Two-time world champion Ilia Malinin tries to follow in the footsteps of countryman Nathan Chen by delivering another Olympic gold medal for the U.S. in men’s figure skating. The quest starts Tuesday night with the short program. By Dave Skretta. 600 words, photos. Event starts 6:30 p.m. local/11:30 a.m. EST.

      5. FREESTYLE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING: OLY--FRE-Men’s Slopestyle Alex Hall tries to defend his Olympic title in men’s slopestyle skiing Tuesday, which would give the United States its first medal in a week’s worth of action at the snowpark. By Eddie Pells. 700 words. Event starts at 12:30 p.m./6:30 a.m. EST.

      6. ICE HOCKEY: OLY--HKW--Women’s Roundup The United States and Canada renew their long-time women’s hockey rivalry in a preliminary round showdown at the Milan Cortina Games on Tuesday night. The Americans are favored while Canada is the defending champions. Finland plays Switzerland in the day’s other Group A game. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 800 words, photos.

      7. SKI JUMPING/NORDIC COMBINED: SPEEDSKATING: OLY--SPD-Short Track-Mixed Team Relay -- China looks for a repeat gold in the short track speedskating mixed team relay, which made its debut as an Olympic event in Beijing four years ago. Coverage on merits. Starts at 10:30 a.m. local time/4:30 a.m. ET.

      8. ROUNDUP: OLY-Milan-Cortina-Roundup – American skiing standout Mikaela Shiffrin competes in her first event of the Winter Olympics when she partners with Breezy Johnson in the team combined, while fierce rivals the U.S. and Canada face off in the preliminary round in women’s hockey. 700 words, photos.

      9. WHAT TO WATCH: OLY--Milan Cortina-What to Watch – The men’s super-G and the finale of the ice dance are among the highlights on Day 5. The men’s hockey competition begins, with NHL players back in the Olympics. 600 words; photos.

    10. WITH: OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS FEATURES COVERAGE

      11. DESCRIPTION: AP text features planned today:

      12. ALPINE SKIING: OLY--Ski-Family Ties BORMIO, Italy -- Sarah Schleper and her son Lasse Gaxiola are set to make history by competing together for Mexico at the Milan Cortina Games. This marks the first time a mother and son have competed at the same Winter Olympics, according to research by Olympic historian Bill Malon. By Pat Graham. 900 words, photos by 11 a.m.

      13. OLY-Ski-Pride and Dread -- For relatives of pro skiers watching their loved ones race downhill after Lindsey Vonn’s crash, it’s a mix of the usual pride and creeping dread. 700 words, Photos. By Julia Frankel. 2pm local.

      14. BIATHLON: BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/SKI MOUNTAINEERING: CURLING: OLY--CUR-The Ice Wizards Years of accumulated knowledge are frozen into to this year’s pristine curling ice at the Cortina curling center, which the majority of athletes are wildly praising but the Canadians blame for their failure to make semis. The process of producing the ice begins in the mountain streams of the Dolomites, trickling downhill into de-ionization machines before being “misted” onto the court in a process that involves Mark Callan, head ice technician, moonwalking on ice in a time-tested strategy that has now earned him global virality. Here’s more about the men, the science, and the process behind creating this magic ice. 700 words, Photos.

      15. FIGURE SKATING: OLY--FIG-The OGM Chain MILAN — One of the most select clubs – or rather, text chains – in Olympic sports could grow quite a bit during the Milan Cortina Games. It’s called the “OGM Chain,” which stands for “Only Gold Medalists,” and only Olympic figure skating champions from the U.S. are invited. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos.

      16. FREESTYLE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING: OLY--SBD-Japan’s Halfpipe Now that Shaun White has retired, the days of American dominance in snowboarding’s premier event at the Olympics are over. Japan has taken control of halfpipe and that is spreading to other events, as well. By Eddie Pells. 1000 words, photos.

      17. ICE HOCKEY: OLY--HKO-No Russia The NHL being back at the Olympics makes this the first so-called “best-on-best” international tournament in more than a decade. But one of the top hockey countries in the world is not participating, with Russia banned from team sports because of its ongoing war in Ukraine. That means Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy and others are not allowed to take part, and while many in the sport understand why, there’s still plenty of lament about so much talent not being in Milan. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos.

      18. OLY--HKO-Long-Awaited Olympics It’s finally here, the chance to see Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby team up for Canada and Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews for the U.S. at the Olympics. Snubbed by Sweden inexplicably a dozen years ago, Victor Hedman is also making his debut on this stage, along with Czechia’s David Pastrnak and so many of the NHL’s best. Hockey has waited a long time for this. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos.

      19. OLY--HKO-US-Brotherly Olympics The U.S. men’s hockey team at the Olympics has not just one but two sets of brothers: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn and Jack Hughes. The Tkachuks are following in the footsteps of their father, Keith, who took part in the Games four times. It’s the second time the U.S. has had a pair of brother duos at the Olympics after Herb and Dave Brooks and Bill and Roger Christian in 1964. By Tim Reynolds and Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos.

      20. OLY--HKO-Miracle On Ice-The Toll Now five years since Mark Pavelich died by suicide, many of his teammates from the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team are keeping his memory alive in the form of raising money and awareness for The Ranch in Minnesota, a place near and dear to his heart. Several players attended a gala in New York in the fall that raised $825,000 for the organization that supports athletes, military veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, substance abuse or mental distress associated with traumatic brain injury. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos.

      21. SKI JUMPING/NORDIC COMBINED: SPEEDSKATING:

      22. GENERAL: OLY-Milan-Cross-of-Athletes A cross inside Milan’s Basilica of San Babila has become a focal point of the Catholic Church’s message of unity during the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is made of pieces of wood from all five continents and stands beside the main altar of the sanctuary, which Milan’s archdiocese designated as the “church of athletes” and is hosting multilingual Masses for athletes, worshippers and visitors. --Text and photos.

      23. OLY--Cortina Venue Painter There was one person at Monday night’s luge events who did not watch a single one: French artist Marc Ahr. He has painted scenes from 17 Olympics, capturing the emotion in the crowd rather than athletic feats. By Jennifer McDermott. Upcoming: 500 words --Text and photos, 11G OLY-Milan Cauldron Light Show Thousands of people gather each evening in Milan to watch the Olympic cauldron inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies change shapes and pulsate with colored light to an original soundtrack, a spectacle that has has become a focal point of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. --Text and photos

      24. OLY--Milan-Cortina-Summer-Athletes-In Their Words While many summer Olympians are setting their sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games, some are first prioritizing this month’s Milan Cortina Winter Games. As fans. Amid their own training regimens and international competitions, summer athletes say they’re squeezing in time to follow skiing, skating and bobsleigh, among other winter sports. They’ll watch like any other spectator — by scrolling social media, tuning into television coverage and, in some cases, hosting watch parties. The Associated Press has interviewed Summer Olympians Izabella Chiappini, Janja Garnbret and Nick Itkin, as well as Paralympian Matt Stutzman. --Text and photos

      25. OLY--Utah Olympics Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will join organizers of the 2034 Utah Winter Games centered on Salt Lake City hold a news conference in Milan to update on their project. By Graham Dunbar UPCOMING: 500 words, photos.

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US--REACHING YOUNGER FANS

DESCRIPTION: Generation Z and Generation Alpha are all over sports these days. The videoboard at basketball games shows kids celebrating 67 points as part of the “6-7” craze. An NFL team posts a video of its rookies identifying characters from Italian brainrot — a popular group of internet memes. Major sports leagues are hoping Gen Z, born roughly between 1997 to 2012, and Gen Alpha, approximately 2012 to 2024, decide to stick around.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text, Photo, Graphic

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BKC--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: As college basketball gets a post-football chance at the spotlight, the clear headliners continue to be No. 1 Arizona and No. 2 Michigan - even after the Wildcats stumbled for the first time at No. 9 Kansas.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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BKW--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

DESCRIPTION: It’s been a rough few weeks for Tennessee and coach Kim Caldwell, who have lost three of their last four games. Losing is bad enough, but the Lady Vols haven’t been competitive in the defeats, including a record loss to South Carolina on Sunday. That came a few games after a 30-point defeat to UConn that was the biggest margin in the history of that rivalry. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Lady Vols, who face former coach Kellie Harper and Missouri on Thursday and then No. 4 Texas on Sunday.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:00 a.m. EST, Text

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FBN--BEHIND THE CALL

DESCRIPTION: Undeterred by all the rules favoring the offense and quarterbacks bringing more athleticism than ever to the field, the Seattle Seahawks verified that defense can still dominate the NFL in 2026.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:30 a.m. EST, Text

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CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-FRANCE FAMILY

DESCRIPTION: Aspiring race car driver Bill France Sr. left Washington, D.C., in the mid late 1930s and made his way South and landed in Daytona Beach, where men with his shared passion raced on the city’s world famous beach. It was here that he formed NASCAR in 1948, a stock car series set to begin its 78th season Sunday with the Daytona 500. The family has made billions of dollars since and never left Daytona Beach, where they are active philanthropists and turned a tiny beach town in Central Florida into a global destination.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 4:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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FBN--RAIDERS-KUBIAK

DESCRIPTION: The Las Vegas Raiders formally introduce Klint Kubiak as their coach. By Mark Anderson. 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, Text, Photo

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FBN--SUPER BOWL-RATINGS

DESCRIPTION: Nielsen is expected to release ratings for Super Bowl 60. With a game that was competitive for 3 1/2 quarters, Seattle’s 29-13 win is in the running to surpass last year’s U.S. record audience of 127.7 million viewers. There will also be attention on Bad Bunny’s halftime show ratings as ratings for halftime usually eclipse the average rating for the game. By Joe Reedy. 600 words, file photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/10/2026 6:00 p.m. EST, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKC--T25-THE KANSAS CLIMB

No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked Arizona 82-78 for 8th straight win, back in contention in Big 12

SUMMARY: The Kansas climb picked up more steam Monday night as the No. 9 Jayhawks knocked off top-ranked Arizona 82-78. Less than a month after falling out of The Associated Press Top 25, Kansas (19-5, 9-2 Big 12) has won eight in a row and clawed its way back into Big 12 title contention, trailing previously unbeaten Arizona (23-1, 10-1) by one game. Houston is currently in second, a half-game ahead of Kansas. Kansas trailed by as many as 11 points in the game and did not hold a lead until the clock read 9:32 in the second half. Four Jayhawks finished in double figures, led by Flory Bidunga and Council Jr, who scored 23 points apiece. Bidunga also grabbed 10 rebounds.

WORDS: 489 - MOVED: 02/10/2026 1:04 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e016411899b672dac1f6ea190cb7de8a&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-ST JOHN’S-PITINO VS PITINO

Proud papa Rick Pitino gets another hard-fought milestone win against his ‘brilliant’ son

SUMMARY: Rick Pitino has reached another milestone at the expense of his son. But two of his toughest wins lately have come against his own flesh and blood and nothing could make the Hall of Fame coach more proud. Zuby Ejiofor scored six of his 25 points in overtime and No. 17 St. John’s outlasted pesky Xavier 87-82 at Madison Square Garden for its 10th consecutive victory. With his 904th career win on the court, Pitino passed Roy Williams for third place in Division I history. It was Pitino’s second comeback victory in 17 days over his son, Richard, the first-year coach of the Musketeers. In the previous meeting, the elder Pitino earned his 900th win when the Johnnies rallied from 16 down at Xavier.

WORDS: 847 - MOVED: 02/10/2026 12:26 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dc8375ce656ea3897622b48d991e72c3&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-LOUISVILLE-BROWN’S BIG NIGHT

Louisville’s Brown has record-setting game, passing Flagg’s ACC mark, tying Hall of Famer Unseld

SUMMARY: Clearly aware he had a hot hand, Mikel Brown Jr. wanted to see what scoring heights he could reach before cooling off. The heralded Louisville guard ended up topping the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most recent freshman phenom and matching a Hall of Famer and Cardinals’ legend. Brown hit a career-best 10 3-pointers and scored 45 points to break Cooper Flagg’s ACC single-game scoring mark of 42 set last season as No. 24 Louisville routed N.C. State 118-77 on Monday night. His point total also tied Wes Unseld’s Louisville scoring mark set against Georgetown College on Dec. 1, 1967.

WORDS: 619 - MOVED: 02/10/2026 12:25 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aa87142fbaf69fd7b0d2065a810c8c46&mediaType=text

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BKN--WARRIORS-CURRY-ALL-STAR

Injured Warriors star Stephen Curry to sit out All-Star Game with lingering right knee injury

SUMMARY: Stephen Curry will sit out the All-Star Game in Los Angeles because of his troublesome right knee that sidelined the Golden State Warriors star for a fourth straight game against Memphis. Coach Steve Kerr announced before the game that Curry also wouldn’t play Wednesday at home against San Antonio and then would sit out the All-Star Game on Feb. 15 in hopes of a return for the Warriors after the break.

WORDS: 297 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 11:38 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:71d5f6bce5da2e506e60356037dbd28d&mediaType=text

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BKN--PISTONS-HORNETS-FIGHT

Four players ejected after Pistons and Hornets tussle in physical game won by Detroit

SUMMARY: A fight broke out between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter of Monday night’s game, and four players were ejected. Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges were tossed, along with Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. The Pistons won the game 110-104. Duren had the ball and was driving toward the basket with just over seven minutes left in the third period when he was fouled by Diabate. Duren turned around to get face-to-face with Diabate and the two appeared to butt heads. Duren then hit Diabate in the face with his open right hand, starting a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds. Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected in the fourth quarter and had to be restrained from going after an official.

WORDS: 719 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 11:12 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6a852a8902788c52ac2ac4a8d5ac9344&mediaType=text

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BKC--T25-NC STATE-LOUISVILLE

Brown scores 45, sets ACC frosh single-game scoring mark, ties Unseld’s record for No. 24 Cardinals

SUMMARY: Mikel Brown Jr. had 10 3-pointers and scored an Atlantic Coast Conference freshman single-game record 45 points as No. 24 Louisville routed N.C. State 118-77 on Monday night. Ryan Conwell added 31 and the Cardinals (18-6, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) shot 60% for the game. Brown eclipsed the previous ACC freshman record of 42 points, set last season by Duke’s Cooper Flagg. The 45 points also tied Hall of Famer Wes Unseld’s single-game Louisville scoring mark, set on Dec. 1, 1967, against Georgetown College.

WORDS: 373 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 9:55 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5d9f2945e668bedb0afeb6ca7dbbd25f&mediaType=text

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BKC--ALABAMA-BEDIAKO

Judge rules 7-foot center Charles Bediako is no longer eligible to play for Alabama

SUMMARY: An Alabama circuit judge has denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction, ending the 7-foot center’s collegiate eligibility and his season with the Crimson Tide. County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet cited that Bediako “failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks,” according to court documents. Bediako was playing under a temporary restraining order that allowed the former NBA G League player to join Alabama in the middle of the season despite questions regarding his collegiate eligibility. NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement that he was glad the court “upheld the rules of our members.”

WORDS: 597 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 8:55 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b96a565950b59c0adf0b6779923af231&mediaType=text

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BKN--CELTICS-TATUM

Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum will practice with G-League team on path to return

SUMMARY: Boston All-Star Jayson Tatum took a big step toward returning from his torn Achilles tendon when he was assigned to practice with the Maine Celtics, the organization’s G-League team. The organization said he would immediately be recalled to the Boston Celtics and continue to rehab the injury he sustained in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring. Tatum led the Celtics to their title in 2024 and had them on track for a repeat before the injury, which was expected to keep him out for about a year.

WORDS: 283 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 6:58 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2f2399af655608108b98f480c988c36c&mediaType=text

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FBN--DESHAUN WATSON-LAWSUITS

Last lawsuits against Browns QB Deshaun Watson over massages are dismissed

SUMMARY: Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has had the final two of nearly 30 civil lawsuits against him dismissed. Court records show these lawsuits involved accusations of sexual misconduct from 27 women, mostly during massage appointments. The dismissals come just before the lawsuits were set to go to trial. Watson, who played for the Houston Texans at the time of the accusations, has denied any wrongdoing. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him. Most lawsuits were settled in 2022. Watson was suspended for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

WORDS: 579 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 6:53 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ea14ddc8c2986a08efc1d5242a71d0c4&mediaType=text

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OLY--SKI-VONN’S FATHER

Lindsey Vonn’s father tells the AP he wants her to retire after her Olympic crash

SUMMARY: Lindsey Vonn’s father says she will no longer race if he has any say. The American skiing superstar broke her left leg in the Olympics downhill over the weekend. Alan Kildow, Vonn’s father, spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. He said his 41-year-old daughter won’t return to the Olympics. Vonn is recovering in a Treviso hospital after her fall and helicopter evacuation on Sunday. Vonn said on Instagram that she sustained a “complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.” Her family remains by her side.

WORDS: 723 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 6:06 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e8d93eccc6858f62d4da8993505da018&mediaType=text

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BBO--SPRING TRAINING

Spring training initial focus on robot umpires and World Baseball Classic

SUMMARY: Spring training starts Tuesday as pitchers and catchers return to the field just 102 days after the World Series. Players are gearing up for the Automated Ball-Strike system, which allows teams to challenge pitch calls with “robot umps.” The system was tested in spring training last year, and teams won over half of the challenges. The World Baseball Classic is also returning, with Japan aiming for another title. Meanwhile, MLB sees a significant managerial shake-up with eight new managers. A labor confrontation looms as the current collective bargaining agreement nears expiration. A management lockout is anticipated, echoing the 2021 standoff.

WORDS: 964 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 4:32 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:933ed503cb89e090266df958371f68cd&mediaType=text

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FBN--FALCONS-PEARCE-ARREST

Attorney says Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. maintains his innocence while facing 5 felony charges

SUMMARY: The attorney for Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. says Pearce “maintains his innocence” as he faces five felony charges following his arrest near Miami on Saturday night. Pearce’s charges include fleeing police after what Doral police said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Pearce was arrested after crashing his car. His charges include two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking. Pearce posted bond of $20,500 on Sunday. The charges could threaten Pearce’s future with the Falcons. Attorney Jacob Nunez says he is confident Pearce will continue “contributing positively” to the Falcons.

WORDS: 636 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 4:31 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:76891d9b6a949922ef6985ee89236730&mediaType=text

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FBC--MOUNTAIN WEST-NORTH DAKOTA ST

North Dakota State, winner of 10 FCS titles, jumps to FBS to join Mountain West in football

SUMMARY: Perennial FCS power North Dakota State will move up to the FBS level this season and join the Mountain West for football. North Dakota State won 10 of the last 15 championships in the FCS and will give the revamped Mountain West 10 football teams. The Bison went 12-1 in 2025 and lost in the second round of the playoffs to eventual runner-up Illinois State. North Dakota State’s move mirrors the departure Northern Illinois is making for football from the Mid-American Conference. Texas-El Paso and Hawaii will become full members for all sports starting with the 2026-27 school year.

WORDS: 875 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 4:16 p.m. EST

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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: 747 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 4:10 p.m. EST

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

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US--COLLEGE SPORTS-EMERGING SPORTS

Backed by NFL and Olympics, flag football gains momentum in NCAA emerging sports program

SUMMARY: Thousands gathered in San Francisco in the days leading up to the most anticipated game on the NFL calendar. But before the Seahawks and Patriots took center stage in Super Bowl LX, it was the contactless version of the game that repeatedly found itself in the spotlight. Whether it was the NFL’s top players going head-to-head in the Pro Bowl, the 2026 NFL Flag International Championship, or a number of showcases highlighting the talents of athletes across the globe, the rapid rise of flag football was represented accordingly in San Francisco.

WORDS: 744 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 3:48 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:834a8df578cce5f11595c31dd46801ce&mediaType=text

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OLY--SPD-SPEEDSKATING-LEERDAM-JAKE PAUL

Jake Paul cheers from the second row as his fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, wins Olympic speedskating gold

SUMMARY: YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was in the stands for speedskating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics to watch his fiancée, Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands, win the gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meters. Leerdam collected a silver in the 1,000 four years ago at the Beijing Games and owns a pair of world titles at that distance. She also won three of the four World Cup 1,000-meter races she entered this season. Separately, Leerdam and Paul draw big crowds to their social media sites — her Instagram page has about 5 million followers; his has more than 28 million. Together, they draw a lot of eyeballs and interest.

WORDS: 752 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 3:12 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:10dd2cf21db662b88bc32e6e1dff2240&mediaType=text

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CRI--T20 WORLD CUP-BOYCOTT

Pakistan ends boycott and will face India at T20 World Cup

SUMMARY: Pakistan has reversed its decision to boycott playing India at the T20 World Cup. The teams are scheduled to meet on Sunday in Colombo in Sri Lanka, the tournament co-host with India. The Pakistan government posted on X that it “hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026.”

WORDS: 552 - MOVED: 02/09/2026 3:07 p.m. EST

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