FAIRFAX, Va. Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart fretted following the regular-season opener after the Seattle Storm lost at home to the Phoenix Mercury. “We thought, ‘Oh, crap, what kind of year is this going to be?’” Bird reminisced. The answer came nearly four months later with a championship. Stewart led the Storm to their third […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Jalen Ramsey has approached trash talking — both dishing it out and receiving it — with open arms for most of his football career. When initiating it he’s been an equal opportunity offender, even when his words were aimed at possibly two of the best players to ever play their respective positions. Ramsey […]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota practiced fully Wednesday after being knocked out of Tennessee’s season opener when he hurt the elbow on his right, throwing arm. Barring any setbacks, Titans coach Mike Vrabel expects his quarterback to play Sunday. “He’s feeling good,” Vrabel said. “He was able to practice. He had some rest there […]

Considering what happened in the rain at Cleveland last Sunday, the rugged AFC North looks like it will be wide open. So tonight’s visit to Cincinnati by Baltimore takes on an extra bit of importance, even in mid- September, after the division favorite Steelers stumbled and bumbled to a 21-21 tie against the Browns. The […]

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons came into the season with such high expectations. Then, a jarring dose of reality. As if a carbon-copy loss in Week 1 wasn’t bad enough, two significant injuries on defense have left this team reeling as it prepares for Sunday’s home opener against division rival Carolina. The Falcons lost […]

NEW YORK When Serena Williams told the umpire at the U.S. Open final that he owed her an apology, that he had stolen something from her, and then she got penalized for her words, Breea Willingham could relate to her frustration and anger. Willingham isn’t a tennis star, but she is a black woman. She […]

MINNEAPOLIS Jake Odorizzi’s no- hit bid was broken up when Greg Bird hit a run-scoring double with one out in the eighth inning, and Minnesota beat the Yankees to take two of three from New York. The Yankees’ lead over Oakland for the AL’s top wild card was cut to one game. Rockies 5, Diamondbacks […]

BRUNSWICK The Bowdoin College field hockey team remained unbeaten with a 4-2 midweek NESCAC win over Bates on Wednesday evening. The Polar Bears (3-0, 2-0 NESCAC) put up three firsthalf goals against the Bobcats (0-2, 0-2 NESCAC). Elle Brine sent a corner insert up to Elizabeth Bennewitz, who swept the ball back to the post. […]