FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Marshawn Kneeland, a Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman in his second NFL season and a former Western Michigan standout, has died. He was 24. The Cowboys say Kneeland died overnight. There were no other details on his death, and agent Jonathan Perzley asked for privacy. Kneeland was a second-round draft pick in 2024. His rookie season was off to a promising start before he was sidelined for five games by a knee injury. Kneeland had his first career sack in the season opener this season against Philadelphia. He played in seven of the nine games this year.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — A home owned by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been heavily damaged by a massive fire. Miami-Dade County fire officials say the blaze was reported early Thursday morning. Spoelstra was not at home when the fire broke out. He and the Heat played in Denver on Wednesday night and their flight back to Miami landed at 5:11 a.m. Spoelstra arrived at the home shortly after with fire crews working to contain the blaze. Smoke was still visible around 8 a.m. but most of the fire appeared to be contained. Fire officials have scheduled a news briefing for later Thursday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The NHL now has a 900-goal club. Charter member: Alex Ovechkin, of course. The Washington star pushed his record total to a new level Wednesday night, scoring against the St. Louis Blues to reach 900. The milestone came 2:39 into the second period. Ovechkin was lurking in the offensive zone and was at the bottom of the right circle when he backhanded Jakob Chychrun’s rebound past a sliding Jordan Binnington, who wasn’t able to recover in time. The bench cleared to celebrate the 40-year-old’s accomplishment, while Binnington tucked the milestone puck into his pants.
Just three weeks into the season, UCLA’s DeShaun Foster and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry lost their jobs. Since then, more coaches have been fired, including high-profile names like James Franklin and Mike Gundy. By Week 10, buyout totals for coaches have reached around $185 million. This raises questions about whether athletic departments can continue to spend their way out of problems. Experts say the cycle of firing and rehiring is unlikely to stop. Schools may need to consider shorter contracts and more performance-based incentives to manage costs better.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL's first game in Spain will feature a Latin music showcase with Bizarrap and Daddy Yankee performing at halftime. The league on Thursday announced the halftime performance for when the Washington Commanders face the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 16 at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. This marks Daddy Yankee’s return to the stage after retirement and his first live performance with Bizarrap. They will debut a new collaboration during the show. The event is part of the NFL's effort to spotlight Latin artists and expand its global cultural footprint. Pregame performances will include national anthems by the Madrid Marine Infantry Group Band and vocalist Karina Pasian.
The NFL season is halfway through, and some interesting trends have emerged. Scoring is up, partly due to new special teams rules and more aggressive fourth-down plays. Offenses are getting bigger, using extra linemen and tight ends more than ever. No dominant team has emerged, with every team having at least two losses after nine weeks. The Kansas City Chiefs, despite being Super Bowl favorites, have a 5-4 record. The AFC might see four new division winners, while the NFC has more stability with the Philadelphia Eagles leading. There have been more dramatic finishes, with 35 games decided by a score in the final moments.
NBA staff members have met with congressional staffers to discuss the league’s relationship with sportsbooks. This comes after federal indictments of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others last month. The meeting, held Wednesday, did not include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver or any sitting members of Congress. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell have requested information on the NBA's gambling policies and why Rozier was cleared to play after sportsbooks flagged unusual betting patterns in a March 2023 game. Rozier was accused of conspiring to help associates win bets based on his performance.
MIAMI (AP) — FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington. The FIFA Peace Prize will recognize exceptional actions for peace, according to soccer's governing body. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of acknowledging those who work to end conflicts and promote unity. FIFA says the award will be presented annually. Infantino will present the prize this year.
Closing arguments have been presented in McLaren Racing’s lawsuit against IndyCar star Alex Palou. The trial in London’s High Court began in late September. McLaren is seeking $20.7 million in damages, claiming Palou breached his contract by backing out of a deal to join their IndyCar team. Palou argues the contracts were based on false promises of a Formula 1 seat. McLaren says Palou's decision led to financial losses and forced them to find a replacement driver. Palou's defense also accuses McLaren of destroying evidence by deleting WhatsApp messages related to the case.
MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi believes there's still more for him to accomplish in soccer. Speaking at a business conference on Wednesday, the Inter Miami star said he hasn't reflected on his legacy yet and plans to enjoy playing until retirement. Messi, a World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, was the final speaker at the America Business Summit. He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome in Miami, where he's living for the first time. Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 and signed a three-year extension last month. He looks forward to playing in the team's new stadium.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Toronto 5 Utah 3
Final Washington 6 St. Louis 1
Final Calgary 5 Columbus 1
Final San Jose 6 Seattle 1
Final Chicago 5 Vancouver 2
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (23) Creighton 92 South Dakota 76