Freddie Freeman
FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 7, 2021. Brady's fifth Super Bowl title, at 43 no less, was one of the best moments of 2021, when a continuing pandemic could not dim the brightest of stars of the sports world.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo watches players during team baseball practice at Chase Field, Friday, July 3, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: Diamondbacks OF Kole Calhoun tests positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 05:39 PM EDT

A ticket holder pauses outside a closed Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds baseball teams, reading a sign as to where he might get a refund for a canceled game, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Goodyear, Ariz. Major League Baseball has suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule because if the coronavirus outbreak. MLB is also delaying the start of its regular season by at least two weeks. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: Big South Conference cancels all spring sports

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2020 09:31 PM EDT

Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz stands in the dugout during the ninth inning of the team's 13-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals during Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Atlanta. The Cardinals advanced to the NL Championship Series. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Another excruciating sports setback for the A-T-L

By Paul Newberry Oct. 10, 2019 03:07 AM EDT

Thursday's Sports In Brief

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2019 03:01 AM EDT
BASEBALL NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich have been elected starters for one of the youngest All-Star Game lineups ever, leading the...