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Jets’ Sauce Gardner fulfills a promise to his mother and walks the stage as a college graduate

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Sauce Gardner made a promise to his mother before he became a first-round NFL draft pick. The New York Jets cornerback told her he’d soon take another stroll across a big stage — next time as a college graduate.Gardner kept his word. And he has a diploma from the University of Cincinnati to prove it.“Last year, I felt that was the one box I haven’t checked,” said the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year who was also an All-Pro. “Now I can really say I made it.”During the Jets’ day off Friday after playing their preseason opener against Cleveland in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday night, Gardner went back to campus and walked across the commencement stage to collect his diploma. He even met a fan who wore a Jets jersey with Gardner’s No. 1 under his gown and Gardner took a few “quick selfies” with several other classmates.“It was cool, man,” Gardner said. “Being able to feel regular. Being able to feel like a student again.” And it came ju...

Washington Spirit looking to mentor next generation of female soccer coaches

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

Soccer fans across the country will wake up early Sunday morning to watch the Women’s National Team take on Sweden at the World Cup. At the same time, D.C.’s pro soccer club is looking to mentor the sport’s new generation of female coaches.“I really believe there are so many talented female coaches out there that can help to keep women in the game and also develop and empower female players,” Washington Spirit assistant coach Mami Yamaguchi told WTOP.The Washington Spirit is launching its inaugural Female Coaching Mentorship Program. The team states the program’s goal is to create access and opportunity for women in sports equal to their male peers, on and off-the-field.“So we’re looking at this world of of coaching and realizing that there is a bit of a void in in the area of female coaches and where we want to do our part to try and help grow that,” said President of Soccer Operations Mark Krikorian.The team will review applications, which are due Tuesday, Aug. 8...

Boutier takes 3-shot lead at the Women’s Scottish Open

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

IRVINE, Scotland (AP) — Celine Boutier took a three-shot lead at the Women’s Scottish Open after posting a 6-under 66 in the third round on Saturday.Boutier, who won the Évian Championship last Sunday, had eight birdies and two bogeys in her round. The 29-year-old Frenchwoman is 13 under overall.“I feel like my expectations have definitely been higher,” Boutier said. “Like even when I miss a good shot or I make a bogey, I definitely get more annoyed. So I definitely have to keep my expectations kind of like level and not get too far ahead of myself.”Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (66) is tied for second with Sweden’s Maja Stark (72).Another Swede, Madelene Sagstrom (68), is a further shot back in fourth.Overnight leader Hinako Shibuno, who won the Women’s British Open in 2019, is in a three-way tie for sixth after a 5-over 77. ___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfSource

NASCAR Cup Series points leader Martin Truex Jr. re-signs with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. is returning for another run with Joe Gibbs Racing, signing a deal to compete in NASCAR races again next year.The Cup Series points leader made the announcement after he qualified fifth for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. “I don’t know if all the guys know yet,” Truex said.Truex’s teammate, Christopher Bell, won the pole and didn’t hear the news until earlier Saturday.“He’s got a couple more wins in him,” Bell said. “I was not expecting him to retire this year.”The 43-year-old Truex certainly has not shown signs of slowing down this season, winning three times. Like Truex did last year, though, he took his time making a decision about his future after publicly pondered retirement.“It didn’t feel right to not come back and keep doing what we are doing,” he said. “Excited to get that out of the way and continue to work on this year and excited for next year as well, too.”The...

Darrelle Revis takes his island to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Revis Island has a new home in “Football Heaven.”After Joe Klecko and Fireman Ed got the green-clad crowd roaring “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” four-time All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis took his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.“It’s an honor to be here, to stand among the greats,” the soft-spoken Revis said.A first-ballot inductee, Revis was so dominant that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing the ball his way.He won a Super Bowl in his only season with the New England Patriots before returning home to New York and finished his career with seven Pro Bowl selections.“To the Jets fans, for all the boos and cheers when I was drafted 14th overall to burning my jersey when I signed with the Patriots to now being here in Canton, I guess it’s safe to say we’ve been through a lot together,” Revis said. “You expected great things out of me every single game and I accepted the challenge. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me every step of th...

Oregon crabbers feeling pressures akin to Massachusetts lobstermen

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

Oregon crab fishermen are feeling a similar pinch to their Massachusetts lobstermen counterparts as state lawmakers there weigh increased regulations to protect whales.Humpbacks, which migrate off Oregon’s coast, and other whales can get caught in the vertical ropes connected to the heavy traps and drag them around for months, leaving the mammals injured, starved or so exhausted that they can drown.The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission was expected Friday evening to vote on whether to permanently set stricter rules and pot limits put in place in 2020 to protect whales. The restrictions, which were originally supposed to end after this season, would reduce the number of traps, known as pots, and how deep they can drop in the spring and summer months when humpbacks are more likely to encounter them. The commission did not take up the measure that night.The move comes during a turbulent period as Oregon’s Dungeness crab fishery contends with warming oceans, smaller crabs and shortene...

Ticker: Apple’s earnings top analysts’ forecasts, but year-over-year sales drop for third straight quarter

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

Apple eked out slightly higher profit even though sales dipped during its latest quarter. The period included the iPhone maker becoming the first publicly held U.S. company to be valued at $3 trillion. Results released Thursday cover April through June and mark the third consecutive quarter that Apple has posted a year-over-year decline in revenue.That’s the company’s longest stretch of falling sales in nearly seven years. Apple indicated revenue is likely to fall again in the current July-to-September quarter, contributing to 2% decline the company’s shares in extended trading. If the stock behaves similarly in Friday’s regular trading session, Apple’s market value will fall below $3 trillion.Wall Street falls again to close out its first losing week in fourStocks fell to close out a rare losing week for Wall Street following mixed reports on the U.S. job market and two of the market’s most influential stocks.The S&P 500 sank 0.5% Friday for its fourth straigh...

Nobles star Christina Pham the girls A Shot for Life Challenge champion

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

HANOVER — As she made the ride over to Starland Sportsplex and Fun Park on Saturday, Christina Pham felt like she had an opportunity. Set to participate in the 11th annual A Shot For Life Challenge, the Nobles girls basketball standout had a chance to make a name for herself, while also supporting a meaningful endeavor.She proceeded to stun the crowd, knocking down 84.1% of her shots during the day en route to being named the 2023 ASFL girls basketball champion.“I’m just truly grateful to be here in the first place,” Pham said afterward. “There’s a lot of talent in this gym, and we’re all being a part of something greater than basketball. So, it’s exciting.”For Pham, this year’s tournament had added meaning, and she felt compelled to take part.“My grandfather passed away a few years ago from lung cancer,” Pham said. “So it does mean a lot. But whether or not cancer has directly impacted me, it’s still a great cause (to support).”Claire Keswick, a Northwestern commit, finished as the...

Striking Nigerian doctors to embark on nationwide protest over unmet demands by country’s leader

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Striking Nigerian doctors on Saturday said they will embark on a nationwide protest, accusing the country’s newly elected president of ignoring their demands for better pay, better work conditions and payment of owed earnings.The protest, scheduled to start on Wednesday, adds to other challenges confronting Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who is leading efforts by the West Africa regional bloc of ECOWAS — which he chairs — to restore democracy in Niger after last week’s coup.The protest became necessary “to press home our demands, which have been largely neglected by our parent ministry and the federal government,” Dr. Innocent Orji, president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, wrote in an Aug. 5 letter to the country’s ministry of health, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press.The resident doctors are graduate trainees providing critical care at public hospitals across Nigeria, which has one of the world’s lowest doctor...

Pilgrims brave scorching heat for pope’s vigil in Lisbon after Francis ditches Fatima peace prayer

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:12 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — An estimated 1.5 million young people filled a field Saturday in the Portuguese capital for Pope Francis’ World Youth Day vigil, braving scorching heat to secure a spot for the evening prayer and to camp out overnight and be in place for his final farewell Mass on Sunday morning.Temperatures soared to 38 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Saturday in Lisbon and were forecast to top 40 C (104 F) on Sunday. The heat forced pilgrims to shelter under umbrellas and makeshift shades of plastic canvas sheets tied between trash bins in the otherwise exposed field on the edge of the River Tagus. Crews blew misters at the pilgrims to try to cool them down as they made their way into the venue, many flying their national flags. They formed long lines in the heat of the day to fill water bottles from what organizers said were more than 400 faucets around the field. Smoke from a spate of wildfires that broke out around Portugal during a weekend spike in temperatures cast a haze o...