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Ottawa’s Shane Pinto suspended 41 games, becomes the 1st modern NHL player banned for gambling

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

The NHL suspended Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto for 41 games on Thursday, making the 22-year-old American the first modern-day player banned for sports gambling. The league said the half-season ban was for “activities relating to sports wagering” and that its investigation found no evidence Pinto bet on NHL games.“I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa and most importantly my family,” Pinto said in a statement released by the team. “I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team.”The NHL Players’ Association did not immediately respond to a message asking if the union would appeal the suspension.The league said it considers the matter closed and would have no further comment. Coach D.J. Smith told reporters at the team’s morning skate in New York that the Senators would help Pinto and welcome him back with open arms when he̵...

Maalik Murphy gets his chance at QB for No. 7 Texas vs. BYU after Ewers shoulder injury

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — With Quinn Ewers in front of him and hotshot freshman Arch Manning closing from behind, Maalik Murphy could have easily bolted from Texas for somewhere else to play quarterback.Few would have questioned such a move in an era of routine player transfers.Murphy chose instead to stay in Austin and wait for a chance like he is getting Saturday. With Ewers recovering from a sprained throwing shoulder, Murphy will get his first career start when the No. 7 Longhorns (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) host BYU (5-2, 2-2). “There’s going to be some excitement in his bones. Let’s make sure we play well around him,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.Earlier in the week, Sarkisian praised Murphy as a “natural passer.”“He throws a very beautiful ball,” Sarkisian said earlier in the week. “There’s not a throw he can’t make.”Texas fans saw that in the spring game. Manning, an early enrollee, got a big cheer when he took the field. But it was Murphy who got everyone’s attent...

Spain considers using military barracks to house migrants amid uptick in arrivals by boat

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities are planning to convert unused military barracks and installations into temporary shelters for migrants to deal with the rapid rise in the number of people arriving on the Canary Islands by boat, a government minister said Thursday.José Luis Escrivá, minister of inclusion, social security and migration, told reporters that his ministry was working with military officials to evaluate the appropriateness of two barracks in the Madrid region and other installations in the southern cities of Seville and Cartagena.“I believe at this moment we have to be ready in case (the shelters) are necessary,” Escrivá said.Some 23,000 people have arrived on the Canary Islands by boat this year, compared to 13,000 for the same period last year, according to Spain’s interior ministry.Most of the boats arrived at El Hierro island, which has received several thousand migrants in recent weeks. The route to reach the archipelago located off the northwest coast of Afr...

No. 19 Air Force tries to stay unbeaten as Falcons travel to Colorado State for rivalry game

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — No. 19 Air Force (7-0, 4-0 Mountain West) at Colorado State (3-4, 1-2), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)Line: Air Force by 12 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsbookSeries record: Air Force leads 38-21-1WHAT’S AT STAKE?The 19th-ranked Falcons try to move to 8-0 for the first time since the 1985 squad started 10-0. The Falcons remain one of nine undefeated teams in the nation, along with Florida State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Liberty, Washington, Georgia and James Madison. What’s more, the Falcons have won 14 of the last 16 against Colorado State in a rivalry where the winner receives the Ram-Falcon Trophy. The Rams are coming off a tough 25-23 loss to UNLV in which the lead changed four times in the final 4 minutes. The Falcons beat Navy last weekend to take the first step in retaining the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, a round-robin competition between the service academies. All they have to do to hoist the trophy is beat Army on Nov. 4 at Empo...

Springboks set an extra-big ‘bomb’ for New Zealand with unique tactics for Rugby World Cup final

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

Jacques Nienaber said the Springboks considered the more traditional option of 5-3 and the slightly risky 6-2. Then they went 7-1 and all-in for the Rugby World Cup final and Nienaber’s last game as coach of South Africa.Nienaber and coaching compadre Rassie Erasmus — South Africa’s director of rugby — gambled on the high-risk, high-reward strategy of putting seven forwards and just one backline player on their bench for rugby’s biggest game against old rival New Zealand.It’s something that only the Springboks have been brave enough, stubborn enough, or foolish enough to do in top-level rugby. They will roll it out for just the third time on Saturday at Stade de France where there is no room for failed experiments.“The team is not 15 (players), it is 23,” Nienaber said, underlying South Africa’s belief that its reserves are as crucial as its starting players, especially the forwards. “We always say that. When you do squad selection there are a lot...

South Carolina, Texas A&M looking to ease fans frustrated with disappointing seasons

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — South Carolina (2-5, 1-4 SEC) at Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN).Line: Texas A&M by 14,1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Texas A&M leads 8-1.WHAT’S AT STAKEA momentary period of calm for two angry and frustrated fan bases. Both South Carolina and Texas A&M had hopes of contending in their divisional races, the Gamecocks in the SEC East and the Aggies in the West. But it’s been disappointing starts for each. South Carolina must win its final three starting in College Station to avoid the first losing SEC record in coach Shane Beamer’s three seasons. T exas A&M would need some Western chaos to rejoin the mix for Atlanta. KEY MATCHUPSouth Carolina QB Spencer Rattler vs. Texas A&M’s defense. Rattler, the fifth-year passer, is having a stellar season amid the team’s struggles. He’s thrown for 277 yards a game with 11 touchdowns. But the Aggies are tops in the country wit...

No. 22 Tulane looks for its sixth straight win in a visit to Rice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

No. 22 Tulane (6-1, 3-0 AAC) at Rice (4-3, 2-1), Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN2)Line: Tulane by 10 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Rice leads 20-15-1WHAT’S AT STAKETulane is atop the American Athletic Conference standings, but tied with SMU and UTSA, who are also 3-0. The Green Wave are seeking their sixth straight win. Rice needs two wins to become bowl eligible for a second straight season after earning a bowl berth last season. The Owls can remain in the hunt in the AAC with a win.KEY MATCHUPTulane RB Makhi Hughes against Rice’s run defense. Hughes has rushed for a league-high 619 yards, including at least 120 yards in each of the last three games with three touchdowns in that span. The Owls have allowed an average of 141 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season.PLAYERS TO WATCHTulane: DB Lance Robinson has a team-high four interceptions this season and had nine tackles, including six solo tackles, against North Texas last week.Rice: WR Luke McCaffrey has...

Federal judge rules that Georgia’s congressional and legislative districts are discriminatory, orders them redrawn

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal judge rules that Georgia’s congressional and legislative districts are discriminatory, orders them redrawn.Source

Southwest Airlines adds nonstop flights to Colorado Springs at BWI Marshall

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

Southwest Airlines is adding flights to its 2024 schedule.(Courtesy BWI Marshall Airport) Southwest Airlines is adding flights to its 2024 schedule.(Courtesy BWI Marshall Airport) Southwest Airlines has released its 2024 flight schedule, with its most-ever departures, including new nonstop service from BWI Marshall in Maryland to Colorado Springs, Colorado.The daily flights to Colorado Springs will start in June.Southwest previously announced new service from BWI Marshall to Belize, starting in March.BWI Marshall is already the fourth-busiest airport for Southwest Airlines, and its busiest on the East Coast, flying to more than 70 domestic and international destinations. Southwest is, by far, the dominant carrier ...

Springboks starting Pollard in Rugby World Cup final, All Blacks pick Retallick at lock

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:28:50 GMT

PARIS (AP) — South Africa selected Handre Pollard on Thursday to start at flyhalf in the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand and packed its bench with forwards in a high-risk 7-1 split.Pollard was promoted from the reserves along with scrumhalf Faf de Klerk — the same halves combination that started in the Springboks’ victory in the final four years ago.New Zealand made only one change from the 44-6 rout of Argentina in the semifinals, bringing in Brodie Retallick at lock in place of Sam Whitelock, who drops to the bench. Whitelock is looking to become the only player to win the World Cup three times. The All Blacks went with their usual 5-3 split on the bench.The big surprise from Springboks management Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber was the bench split, with lock Jean Kleyn and No. 8 Jasper Wiese added for an extended ‘Bomb Squad’ of seven reserve forwards to face the resurgent All Blacks on Saturday in the first World Cup final between the two fierce rivals since ...