Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.” The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the ...
NEW YORK — The most expansive season in NHL history will begin in September, not October, and limit most teams to four preseason games. The league’s first 84-game season since 1993-94 opens Sept. 29 as 32 teams will combine to play a total of 1,344 games. The season runs through Saturday, April 10, before the playoffs begin the following week. The increase from an 82-game slate, which had been the standard since the mid-’90s, was agreed upon by team owners and players in the last round of talks on a collective bargaining agreement. The intent is to provide more space between the ...
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitching was expected to be the team’s trump card this year as the Buccos are making their bid to reach the National League playoffs for the first time since 2015. However, through the team’s first 97 games, concluding with a three-game sweep of the NL ...
ATLANTA — No “Hand of God” this time. Argentina didn’t need it. Instead it was the hallowed feet of Lionel Messi and the unbreakable spirit of a team that has repeatedly fought back at this year’s World Cup that is now one step away from back-to-back titles. Trailing 1-0 going into ...
PHILADELPHIA — Expanded playoffs make it harder to predict whether Tarik Skubal and other choice acquisitions will be dealt before the Aug, 3 trade deadline. Twenty-three of the 30 teams are within four games of a playoff position heading into the season’s second half, which opens Thursday with the back-in-contention Philadelphia Phillies hosting the woeful New York Mets. “You’ve got a lot of really good teams that were on the bubble that have gotten in and kind of made it,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said. “Anybody that has an opportunity to get in, anything can ...
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils signed winger Anthony Mantha to a two-year, $9.5 million contract, the team announced Wednesday. He will count $4.75 million against the salary cap through 2027-28. The Quebec native is coming off a breakout season with Pittsburgh in which he set career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists and 64 points. Mantha, who turns 32, in September is nearly two years removed from tearing the ACL in his right knee and beginning a lengthy rehab process. Wimbledon ratings up LONDON — Helped by some mid-match drama, the Wimbledon final between Linda Noskova and ...
