2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after being hospitalized with a 'severe illness'
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR’s three national series, has died. He was 41. The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given. Busch’s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness,” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.
What to know about Kyle Busch's death at 41
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died Thursday at 41, three days before he was set to run the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At this point, the cause of death has not been released and details remain limited. What is known is that Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told AP on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.
Knicks move 2 wins from the NBA Finals with a 109-93 victory over the Cavs
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and the New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93. Mikal Bridges also scored 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who won their ninth straight game. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and James Harden had 18 for the Cavaliers, who will have to climb out of a 2-0 deficit for the second straight round. They host Game 3 on Saturday.
Canadiens pounce on Hurricanes early in 6-2 win to open Eastern Conference Final
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens pounced for four first-period goals on slow-starting Carolina — coming off the longest postseason break in more than a century — and handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the playoffs with a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault scored in the opening four minutes, Alexandre Texier followed four minutes later, and Ivan Demidov finished a breakaway for a 4-1 lead midway through the period. That came against the Eastern Conference’s top seed, which hadn’t allowed more than two goals in an 8-0 playoff start. Juraj Slafkovksy scored twice in the third period for Montreal, the second on a late empty-netter, while Jakub Dobes had 24 saves. Game 2 is Saturday night.
NFL MVP Matthew Stafford agrees to 1-year contract extension with Rams through 2027
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2027 season with the Los Angeles Rams. ESPN reported the deal is worth $55 million. The deal indicates that the 38-year-old Stafford is at least strongly thinking about staying with the Rams past the upcoming season. Stafford has been in a year-to-year mentality about his future ever since he led the Rams to a Super Bowl championship in February 2022, and the Rams surprised the league by drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick last month.
Eagles' Nolan Smith Jr. arrested for driving nearly double the speed limit in Georgia
Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. was arrested last week in Georgia for driving 135 mph in a 70 mph zone. The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that Smith was cited for speeding and reckless driving. He posted bond and was released shortly after his arrest on May 15. Smith played at Georgia. He was selected by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft. Philadelphia begins organized team activities Tuesday. A sheriff’s office representative said Smith will not need to appear in court if he pays his fines. Smith is the latest former or current Georgia player to be arrested for driving offenses.
Brooks Koepka is 1 back at the Byron Nelson, with Scottie Scheffler lurking in his hometown event
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler won’t be the wire-to-wire winner of his hometown CJ Cup Byron Nelson again this year. For now, the world’s top-ranked player is chasing a leaderboard that includes Brooks Koepka, who is looking for his first victory since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf. Koepka shot 8-under 63 and trailed first-round leader Taylor Moore by one at the revamped TPC Craig Ranch. Jesper Svensson also tied with Koepka. Scheffler was at 66 playing with Koepka and Si Woo Kim, one of seven players at 64.
WNBA warns the Fever for failing to report Caitlin Clark’s injury on time
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA has warned the Indiana Fever for not properly reporting an injury to star guard Caitlin Clark. The warning confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday came a day after Clark was a late scratch because of a back injury. Clark missed Wednesday’s 90-73 victory over Portland. The Fever disclosed Clark’s injury less than two hours before tipoff. She had not been listed on Indiana’s injury report a day earlier when she didn’t practice. The WNBA requires teams to list players who are injured on a report by 5 p.m. the night before the game. If a player’s status changes overnight or early in the day the team is supposed to update the injury report.
Howard Fendrich, award-winning AP national sports writer and tennis expert, dies at 55
Howard Fendrich, a longtime national sports writer for The Associated Press, has died at 55. His persistent reporting and detail-rich prose brought readers inside dozens of taut Grand Slam tennis finals, record-breaking Olympic moments and harrowing trips down the Alpine ski slopes. Fendrich's wife, Rosanna Maietta, said he died Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after returning from Milan in February where he covered his 11th Olympics. Fendrich covered more than 70 Grand Slam tennis tournaments, documenting the careers of Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and more. His numerous writing honors included two Grimsley Awards for best overall body of work among AP sports writers.
Alexi Lalas says US players citing World Cup pressure are a 'bunch of whiners'
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexi Lalas has criticized U.S. soccer players for citing pressure ahead of the World Cup at home. He called them “whiners” at a Fox event and said they have been given everything they need to succeed. Lalas, a former U.S. defender and current TV analyst, expects more from the team and believes it should win its group. He also said Christian Pulisic needs to be the star the team requires, but he says Pulisic is “never going to be the leader” that some want. Lalas predicts the U.S. should reach the round of 16 and hopes home advantage could push the Americans further.
