TORONTO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the verge of being considered a modern-day baseball dynasty. Winning a third World Series title in six years would solidify their status. The Dodgers have already won 12 of the last 13 NL West titles. However, the definition of a dynasty is debated. Some believe sustained success, rather than consecutive titles, qualifies a team for this status. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says winning another title would place them among the top sports organizations. Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts says each championship boosts his goal of reaching the Hall of Fame.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants are hiring University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello as their manager for his first professional coaching job. It’s a bold gamble by San Francisco executive Buster Posey on a coach with no previous experience in the pros. The 47-year-old Vitello is making the jump after spending his entire career at the college level. He guided the Vols to their first NCAA title last year. The Giants went 81-81 this season under Bob Melvin. Posey calls Vitello “one of the brightest, most innovative and most respected coaches in college baseball today.”
The all-time winningest World Cup ski racer and two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin is launching a podcast next week. It will be called “What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin”. The podcast is to explore the motivations and stories behind athletes. Shiffrin recently unveiled a personal logo and is preparing for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. She plans to release 8-to-10 episodes in the first season, featuring guests like teammates, rivals and maybe celebrities. Shiffrin hopes to gain insights into what drives people toward excellence and share those perspectives with listeners.
DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama dunked on Cooper Flagg’s debut. And shot over it. And dribbled around it. And reminded everyone what was missing the last two months of the French star’s second season. Wembanyama wowed the Dallas crowd and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in a season opener. He had 40 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 rout of the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, was the talk of the Dallas opener going in. Coming out, the talk was Wembanyama. He offered quite the reminder that he was the top overall choice just two years ago.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer. Commissioner Roger Goodell made that clear Wednesday at the league’s annual fall owners meeting. Goodell said the league is accustomed to getting blowback for its entertainment choices given the size and breadth of its fan base. The Puerto Rican artist has been vocal in his opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies. He decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the mainland U.S. as a form of protest. Trump on a conservative TV news network called the NFL's decision crazy and ridiculous.
Freddie Freeman is returning to his family roots as the Los Angeles Dodgers open their World Series defense against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday. Freeman's parents are from Ontario, with his father from Windsor and his late mother from Peterborough. Freeman was born in California after his family moved for his father's work. He holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and chose to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Freeman often finds envelopes with family photos in his locker when in Toronto. He wears long sleeves during games as a tribute to his mother, who died of melanoma in 2000.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis judge has confirmed a Dec. 11 trial date for Fox Sports analyst and former NFL player Mark Sanchez. He's charged with attacking a truck driver outside an Indianapolis hotel over a parking dispute. The pretrial conference on Wednesday was brief, and Sanchez, who's recovering from his injuries, was not present. The incident happened Oct. 4, and Sanchez has been off the air since. Prosecutors charged him with felony battery and three misdemeanors. Sanchez was stabbed during the altercation. The truck driver, claiming self-defense, is suing Sanchez and Fox Sports. Sanchez remains free on bond and has not commented on the allegations.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss the Washington Commanders’ game at the Kansas City Chiefs because of an injured right hamstring and Marcus Mariota will start in his place. That's according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team had not officially ruled him out for the Monday night game. Washington has lost two games in a row heading into the contest at Kansas City. Daniels had an MRI exam a day after leaving in the third quarter of Washington’s 44-22 loss at the NFC East-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
BOSTON (AP) — VJ Edgecombe scored 34 points for the Philadelphia 76ers in their 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics. This performance marks the most points by a player in their first NBA game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959. Edgecombe also set a record with 14 points in the first quarter, surpassing LeBron James. Edgecombe's impressive debut included seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Teammates praised his composure and confidence and gave him a hard time for missing two free throws in the final seconds.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Brown got a hug before his first game from Spike Lee, who was dressed in an orange-and-blue suit. Brown said he asked, "Spike, do you know who I am?” Brown is the guy the New York Knicks are counting on to take them across the finish line after Tom Thibodeau got them all the way there. So of course Lee, one of the Knicks’ most famous fans, and just about everyone else in the building knew the coach. And they had to be happy with what they saw after the Knicks opened the season with a 119-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.