AP Sports Summary for October 23rd, 2024:
Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled 'Fernandomania,' dies at 63
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace who inspired "Fernandomania" in the early 1980s, has died. He was 63. The Mexican-born phenom won the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, when he helped the Dodgers win the World Series. His death comes as the Dodgers are preparing to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Valenzuela had left his job on the Dodgers' Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. He was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular sports figure in the 1980s.
LeBron and Bronny James make history as the NBA's first father-son duo to play together
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father and son to play in the NBA together when they checked into the game together in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener. LeBron James is the 39-year-old top scorer in NBA history, while his 20-year-old namesake son was a second-round pick by the Lakers last summer. They are the first father and son to play in the world's top basketball league at the same time, let alone on the same team. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were in attendance at the Lakers' downtown arena to witness the same history they made in baseball.
Japan prepares to cheer on Ohtani and the Dodgers, and the country is dressing for the occasion
TOKYO (AP) — Television ratings in Japan have set records as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani have reached the World Series against the New York Yankees. The first game is Friday evening in the United States, which will be Saturday morning in Japan. Ohtani has stoked national pride, even among Japanese who don't care about baseball. Youth players in Japan adore him and newscasts often lead with Ohtani even though Japan is voting on Sunday in critical parliamentary elections.
Celtics tie, but don't break, NBA record with 29 3-pointers. Then they miss 13 3s in a row
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics tied the NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in their victory over the New York Knicks. With the chance to break the record, the Celtics missed 13 straight 3s. The defending champions won 132-109 and tied the record set by Milwaukee in 2020. Jayson Tatum made 8 of 11 from long distance, Derrick White connected on six and Jaylen Brown made five as the Celtics opened a 35-point lead over New York on the night Boston raised its 18th championship banner to the rafters.
Ohtani's historic 50-50 ball sells at auction for nearly $4.4M amid ongoing dispute over ownership
Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball has sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million, a record high price not just for a baseball, but for any ball in any sport. Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season, reaching the milestone on Sept. 19 when the Los Angeles Dodgers star hit his second of three homers against the Marlins. The auctioneer in a statement Wednesday said bids came in from around the world. No information about the winning bidder was disclosed. The auction has been overshadowed by the litigation over ownership of the ball.
Jack Flaherty will start for Dodgers in World Series opener against Gerrit Cole and Yankees
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jack Flaherty will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series opener against the New York Yankees. The right-hander opposes Gerrit Cole on Friday night at Dodger Stadium in a matchup of Los Angeles area natives. Flaherty is from Burbank and attended high school at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles. Cole is from the Orange County city of Tustin and pitched at UCLA. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 on Saturday. The Dodgers also plan a bullpen game during the best-of-seven series. Flaherty dominated Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets and then struggled in Game 5.
Hailey Davidson opens qualifying with 78 as 275 players reportedly oppose LPGA transgender policy
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson shot 78 to begin the second stage of LPGA qualifying. This comes amid reports of a letter signed by 275 female golfers. They want top organizations like the LPGA and USGA to repeal policies allowing people assigned male at birth to compete in women's events. The LPGA's policy allows for players who have had gender-affirming surgery after puberty. Golfweek reported earlier the LPGA commissioner is conducting a thorough review of the policy and will announce any update before the start of next season. Davidson was tied for 171st in the 194-player field. The top 35 and ties advance.
Watkins, Bueckers headline preseason AP All-America team in women's hoops; 3 sophomores for 1st time
USC star JuJu Watkins and UConn's Paige Bueckers headline The Associated Press preseason All-America team that for the first time includes three sophomores in a clear sign of the young talent in a sport coming off a record year of fan interest. Watkins and Bueckers were unanimous choices. The duo was joined by Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, Madison Booker of Texas and Kiki Iriafen of USC. Watkins, Hidalgo and Booker are all second-year players.
Nevada, San Jose St women's volleyball match switches location in 'best interest of both programs'
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The location of a women's volleyball match between Nevada and San Jose State on Saturday has been moved from Reno, Nevada, to San Jose, California. The schools announced the decision Tuesday in a joint statement. Before the venue change, a group of Nevada players recently issued a statement saying they will not take the floor for their home game against the Spartans. The Spartans have already seen four teams cancel games against them — Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State. None of the schools explicitly have said why it was forfeiting. Political figures from Wyoming, Idaho and Utah have weighed in and suggested the cancellations centered around protecting women's sports.
Bucs' Chris Godwin to have surgery, likely out for season. Fellow WR Mike Evans to miss 3 games
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin will undergo surgery on a dislocated left ankle. The procedure will likely sideline him for the rest of the regular season. Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that the Bucs are holding out hope that Godwin might be able to return if Tampa Bay winds up playing deep into January. Tampa Bay also lost receiver Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in Monday night's loss to Baltimore. Evans is expected to miss the next three games before possibly returning after Tampa Bay's bye week. Quarterback Baker Mayfield says the two receivers are the "heartbeat" of the team.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Boston 132 New York 109
Final L.A. Lakers 110 Minnesota 103
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Washington 4 Philadelphia 1
Final Minnesota 5 Florida 1
Final Buffalo 4 Dallas 2
Final Tampa Bay 8 New Jersey 5
Final N-Y Rangers 7 Montreal 2
Final Columbus 6 Toronto 2
Final Detroit 1 N-Y Islanders 0
Final Winnipeg 3 St. Louis 2
Final Vancouver 6 Chicago 3
Final Colorado 3 Seattle 2
Final Nashville 4 Boston 0
Final OT Carolina 3 Edmonton 2
Final Ottawa 4 Utah 0
Final SO Calgary 4 Pittsburgh 3
Final Anaheim 3 San Jose 1
Final Vegas 6 Los Angeles 1
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final , Atlanta advances 5-4 on penalty kicks Atlanta 2 CF Montréal 2
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Indiana at Detroit 7 p.m.
Brooklyn at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Miami 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Houston 8 p.m.
Chicago at New Orleans 8 p.m.
Memphis at Utah 9 p.m.
Golden State at Portland 10 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers 10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Philadelphia at Washington 7:30 p.m.
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Portland at Vancouver 10:30 p.m.
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