Cristiano Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA red-card verdict offers probation
GENEVA (AP) -- Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game last week for elbowing an Ireland opponent. FIFA has published a disciplinary verdict that imposed a three-game ban yet with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period. Ronaldo served a mandatory one-game ban when Portugal won its final qualifying game to seal its place at the World Cup in north America. The superstar was expected to be banned for at least one more game and start his record sixth World Cup on the sidelines.
Praying for the sun: What to know about the flame-lighting ceremony for the Winter Olympics
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) -- The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games will be lit at Ancient Olympia, continuing a tradition that uses the sun's rays to symbolize continuity with the original Greek competitions. Weather remains the key challenge, prompting organizers to keep a backup flame ready. After a weeklong tour of Greece, the torch will begin a 63-day, 12,000-kilometer relay across Italy, passing major cities and heritage sites with 10,000 torchbearers before the Feb. 6 opening at Milan's San Siro. A separate Paralympic flame will launch on Feb. 24 from Stoke Mandeville, England and culminating at Verona Arena on March 6.
Red Sox acquire right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox have acquired right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals will receive righty Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke. Gray went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA for the Cardinals last season. In a 13-year career with five teams, he is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and three All-Star appearances. Fitts turns 26 next month. Gray gives the Red Sox a dependable option behind ace Garrett Crochet to take some of the pressure off the rest of the rotation.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford's season could end up ranking among the best in NFL history
Matthew Stafford is having one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history. The 37-year-old quarterback has thrown 27 touchdowns since his most recent interception in Week 3. Overall, he has 2,830 yards passing, 30 TDs, 2 interceptions and a 113.7 passer rating while leading the Los Angeles Rams to a 9-2 record and the current No. 1 seed in the NFC. Stafford is playing at an MVP level despite missing one month in training camp and the entire preseason because of a back injury. Stafford is on pace to finish with 4,374 yards passing, 46 TDs and three picks. That would rank among one of the greatest seasons ever.
How No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is handling a tough start to rookie season with the Mavericks
MIAMI (AP) -- Cooper Flagg has been adjusting to more losses with the Dallas Mavericks than he faced in his previous four years of basketball. The Mavericks are struggling in the Western Conference, currently at 5-14. Flagg, the No. 1 draft pick, is averaging 15.9 points per game, second-best among rookies. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, focusing on growth and learning from close games. Miami's Bam Adebayo praised Flagg's fearlessness in crucial moments. Flagg's shooting has improved, and he's consistently reaching double figures in scoring. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd believes these experiences will benefit Flagg and the team.
Guardiola reaches Champions League 100-game mark with Man City while Barcelona returns to Chelsea
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Pep Guardiola has never coached a European competition game below the Champions League level and on Tuesday leads Manchester City in it for the 100th time. City hosts Bayer Leverkusen looking for a 14th straight win against German teams at home. Guardiola has now doubled his tally of 50 Champions League games coaching Barcelona where he won two titles in four seasons. Also Tuesday, Barcelona returns to Chelsea where it famously advanced to the final in 2009 in Guardiola's debut season. Galatasaray without injured Champions League top scorer Victor Osimhen hosts Union Saint-Gilloise in the other early game.
PGA Tour has fewer cards and smaller fields. But the big changes are still to come
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- This was the year the PGA Tour eliminated 25 full cards and smaller fields. But it didn't feel like doomsday at Sea Island in the final event of the season. That's because those who missed out on the top 100 should still get ample tournaments to play. Still to come are the big changes. Harris English was sharing speculation on a season starting after the Super Bowl down the road. Tour CEO Brian Rolapp is open to anything. He says he has asked media partners to share their views and he's told them to start with a blank piece of paper.
Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football Hall of Fame modern era semifinalists
Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, along with Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten and Frank Gore have reached the semifinal stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. They are among 26 modern era candidates for the class of 2026. The selection committee will next reduce the list to 15 finalists before the Super Bowl in February. Returning finalists include Eli Manning and Steve Smith Sr. The committee will also consider three seniors, one coach, and one contributor. Between four and eight new members will be elected. Brees and Fitzgerald are the top new candidates this year.
Chiefs overcame bad calls on Travis Kelce and Jawaan Taylor to salvage their season
Referee Alex Moore's crew made a mistake by penalizing Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor for a facemask violation, erasing a game-tying touchdown by Travis Kelce in Week 12. CBS analyst Tony Romo also erred by suggesting Andy Reid could have challenged the call. The NFL expanded facemask calls for replay assist this season, but it wasn't used here, so the errant call went uncorrected. The Chiefs overcame both the bad call and an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in winning in overtime to salvage their season.
Bizarre red cards: Gueye joins list including Zidane, Simunic and Hazard after slapping own teammate
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Idrissa Gueye's sending-off for Everton for slapping his teammate in the face during the Premier League match at Manchester United joins the list of soccer's most bizarre red cards. Others include Zinedine Zidane 's headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final and Croatia center back Josip Simunic receiving three yellow cards in a game in the same tournament. Eden Hazard was red-carded at Chelsea for kicking a ball boy and Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal was sent off in a case of mistaken identity after teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain committed an offense. There was also a brawl between then-Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer during a Premier League game in 2005.