NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The head of the union representing NFL officials called allegations that officiating crews are biased in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs or any other team “insulting and preposterous.” NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green released a statement on Tuesday thanking Commissioner Roger Goodell for dismissing the allegations and responding to “conspiracy theories” on social media about favoritism to the Chiefs. “Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to presume that NFL officials are not doing everything possible to make the right call on every play is spot on,” Green said. “Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season. It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.”
TORONTO (AP) — Fans booed the American national anthem before NHL and NBA games in Canada on Tuesday night, a sign that some Canadians were still upset despite President Donald Trump’s 30-day pause on tariff threats against Mexico and Canada. Boos echoed through Rogers Arena in Vancouver as singer Elizabeth Irving launched into the opening notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the NHL’s Canucks hosted the Colorado Avalanche. Fans cheered as she finished the song and the applause grew louder as Irving began “O Canada.” It was one of three arenas where the U.S. national anthem was jeered. A few fans booed before the NBA’s Toronto Raptors hosted the New York Knicks. The boos were neither as loud nor as prolonged as they were before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. However, as they did Sunday, Raptors fans cheered loudly for the singing of “O Canada,” showing special enthusiasm for the line “True North strong and free!”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic has altered the future of a franchise that had been trying to squeeze one more championship run out of 40-year-old LeBron James’ partnership with Anthony Davis. The Lakers’ next decade suddenly looks much brighter with Doncic at center stage, and they could even contend for a ring this year if Doncic makes a quick connection with James. It’s even more possible if the Lakers can acquire a center to fill the massive void left by Davis. Any big finish to this season will begin only after Doncic returns to full strength and makes his Lakers debut, however. The 25-year-old Slovenian scorer hasn’t played since Christmas, and his absence has been long enough to preclude him from qualifying for the All-NBA team, which he has made in the past five consecutive seasons.
TORONTO (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays finalized a $15.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday. The 40-year-old was limited to nine starts with Texas last year, going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. He opened the season on the injured list while recovering from lower back surgery and was on the IL from Aug. 2 to Sept. 13 because of shoulder fatigue. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 14 because of a left hamstring strain. Scherzer joins a projected rotation that includes Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt. The Blue Jays also have Bowden Francis coming off an impressive rookie season and Yariel Rodríguez, who signed a $32 million, five-year contract last February. The Blue Jays finished last in the AL East at 74-88 and haven’t won a playoff game since they were eliminated by Cleveland in the 2016 AL Championship Series. They were swept in the wild-card round in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
TUESDAY SCORES
NCAA MEN TOP 25
No. 1 Auburn 98, Oklahoma 70
No. 5 Houston 72, Oklahoma State 63
No. 6 Florida 86, Vanderbilt 75
No. 7 Purdue 90, Iowa 81
UCLA 63, No. 9 Michigan State 61
No. 12 St. John's 70, No. 11 Marquette 64
No. 13 Texas Tech 73, Baylor 59
No. 25 Ole Miss 98, No. 14 Kentucky 84
No. 20 Arizona 85, BYU 74
No. 21 Wisconsin 76, Indiana 64