VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dara Greig scored her first PWHL goal early in the second peri...

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dara Greig scored her first PWHL goal early in the second period and added an assist to help the Montreal Victoire beat the Vancouver Goldeneyes 4-2 on Saturday.Marie-Philip Poulin, Shiann Darkangelo and Natalie Mlynkova also scored for Montreal, and Sandra Abstreiter made 28 saves in her first start of the season. At 4-1, the Victoire moved into sole possession of second place with 11 points.Sophie Jaques and Michela Cava scored for the Goldeneyes in their first home loss. Vancouver dropped to 3-4.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 24 shots for Vancouver.Up nextVictoire: At Seattle on Tuesday night.Goldeneyes: Vs. Minnesota next Saturday in Edmonton.

VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 20: Dara Greig #17 of the Montreal Victoire skates during the second period of their PWHL game against the Vancouver Goldeneyes at Pacific Coliseum on December 20, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Malachi Toney’s tiebreaking 11-yard touchdown reception with less t...

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Malachi Toney’s tiebreaking 11-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes left lifted No. 10 seed Miami to a 10-3 win over No. 7 Texas A&amp;M on Saturday in the College Football Playoff.Mark Fletcher Jr. had a career-high 172 yards rushing to help the Hurricanes (11-2) advance to the Cotton Bowl to face No. 2 seed Ohio State on Dec. 31.Toney’s big play came a series after what looked a devastating mistake for the freshman. Toney made a reception, but Dalton Brooks knocked the ball out and Daymion Sanford recovered it on the Texas A&amp;M 47 with about seven minutes to go. Teammates surrounded a visibly upset Toney on the bench, encouraging him and trying to keep him positive.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He and Miami’s offense got another chance when Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Marcel Reed on two of three plays on the ensuing drive to force a punt.A career-long 56-yard run by Fletcher on the first play of the next drive got the Hurricanes to the Texas A&amp;M 30 with about three minutes to go. Miami used four more runs by Fletcher to get into scoring position before Toney took the short toss from Carson Beck and dashed into the end zone.The Aggies had a chance to tie it after that, but Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted Reed for the second time — this time in the end zone — to end it.The Hurricanes used a suffocating defensive performance to stifle Texas A&amp;M’s powerful offense, which entered the game averaging 36.3 points a game. They harassed Reed into a mistake-filled performance that included a first-quarter fumble along with the interceptions. They sacked him seven times and flushed him out of the pocket and forced him to try to make tough throws again and again.He was 25 of 39 for 257 yards but was unable to get the Aggies in the end zone for the first time this season.After getting the last at-large bid in the playoff, the Hurricanes now move on, with a chance to win their first national championship since 2001 in their first appearance in the CFP.Carter Davis missed three field goals in gusty win after missing only two before Saturday. His 21-yard kick early in the third quarter got the Canes on the board after the first scoreless first half in CFP history.It’s a disappointing playoff debut for Texas A&amp;M (11-2), which lost to rival Texas in its regular-season finale after opening the season with 11 straight wins.Beck, in his first season at Miami after a transfer from Georgia, was 14 of 20 for a season-low 103 yards.Facing a second-and-18 from his own 8, Reed made consecutive throws to Ashton Bethel-Roman for 15 and 13 yards. On third-and-10 later in the drive, he connected with Bethel-Roman again on a pass that was just enough for the first down and found Mario Craver for a 12-yard gain on the next play.The drive stalled after that, but Randy Bond tied it with a 35-yard field goal with about eight minutes to go.The Hurricanes opened the second half with a nine-play, 72-yard drive capped by a 21-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Keelan Marion had a 20-yard reception on that drive and Fletcher added a 24-yard run on third-and-4 to keep it alive.Fitzgerald intercepted Reed and returned it 36 yards to the A&amp;M 20. The ‘Canes came up empty after the turnover when a 35-yard field goal attempt by Davis bounced off the left upright.Reed fumbled late in the first quarter, but the Hurricanes were unable to cash in on the miscue. A 59-yard reception by Mario Craver got the Aggies to the 11-yard line early in the second. But they couldn’t move the ball and attempted a 22-yard field goal, which was blocked by Bain. It was Miami’s first blocked field goal since the season opener against Bethune-Cookman in 2022.Toney’s 55-yard punt return got the Hurricanes to the 25 with about six minutes left in the second quarter. He would have scored if not for a shoestring tackle by Marcus Ratcliffe. But Dalton Brooks sacked Beck on third down to force a 47-yard field goal attempt by Davis, which sailed wide right.Punter Tyler White’s throw on a fake punt sailed just out of reach of a diving Marcus Ratcliffe to give Miami the ball on the Texas A&amp;M 46 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Davis tried a field goal from 40 as time expired in the first half, but it was wide right again.The takeawayMiami: The Hurricanes proved they belonged in the CFP after some questioned if they should have gotten in ahead of Notre Dame.Texas A&amp;M: Now that they’ve finally made the CFP, the Aggies will have a long offseason to figure out what went wrong in their disappointing quick exit.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Malachi Toney #10 of the Miami Hurricanes runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies during the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Kyle Field on December 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.

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Erling Haaland continues to motor along at better than a goal a game for Manchester City in the P...

Erling Haaland continues to motor along at better than a goal a game for Manchester City in the Premier League.His latest victim was West Ham on Saturday.The Norway striker scored in each half to move to 19 goals in 17 matches in this campaign and also set up Tijjani Reijnders' goal in a 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The victory lifted City into first place, a point ahead of Arsenal before the deposed leader's match at Everton later Saturday.Haaland has 38 goals in a combined 28 games for club and country in what is shaping up to be the most prolific season of his career. Injury permitting, the season will end in him going to his first World Cup with Norway.His double gave him 104 in the Premier League, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo having played 122 games fewer.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
1️⃣0️⃣4️⃣ 🤖 Erling Haaland has passed Cristiano Ronaldo's PL goal tally in 122 fewer games 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/39OuiLlsSb">pic.twitter.com/39OuiLlsSb</a>— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PLinUSA/status/2002430758607368200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Haaland scored at the second attempt from Phil Foden's cross to give City a fifth-minute lead and took advantage of a defensive mix-up to make it 3-0 in the 69th. In between, Haaland slipped a short pass to Reijnders, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the roof of the net in the 38th.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Phil Foden following the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday December 20, 2025.

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Haaland surpasses Ronaldo's EPL goal tally in 122 fewer games

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 seed Alabama r...

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 seed Alabama rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff.“I just couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Resiliency. It’s been kind of a theme all season long, but it showed up tonight on the road. Down 17, coming back the way we did just one score at a time — just really stayed the course.”Alabama freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who did not score a touchdown in the regular season, scored two and had season highs of five catches and 79 yards.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was the third meeting between the schools in 13 months. Oklahoma <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-oklahoma-score-sec-050915dd5f06f9394e826a400a813e8d">defeated Alabama 24-3 last November</a> at home, then <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-alabama-score-761bafc72fd0eda51fa7d1df66ac46a7">beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 last month on the road</a>.DeBoer claimed his first playoff victory for the Crimson Tide since arriving from Washington two years ago. Alabama (11-3) advanced to play No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.Oklahoma's John Mateer passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw a costly interception that Alabama’s Zabien Brown returned 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Deion Burks had seven catches for 107 yards and a score for the Sooners (10-3).“It was a really good game that had some really great moments for the Sooners," Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. "And obviously, some really ill-timed moments as well, coaching, playing, the things that they’ve helped us be successful all year long. Tonight, when we needed it the most, we just didn’t have what it takes.”Oklahoma's Tate Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner for the nation's best kicker, tied an FBS single-season record for most made field goals of 50 or more yards with his eighth. He drilled a 51-yarder into a stiff wind to give the Sooners a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter, his 24th consecutive made field goal.The Sooners outgained the Crimson Tide 118 yards to 12 in the opening period, and the domination continued into the second quarter. Mateer's 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna pushed Oklahoma's lead to 17-0.Alabama, which went three-and-out on its first three possessions, finally got its offense going midway through the second quarter when Simpson hit Brooks for a 10-yard score to trim Oklahoma's lead to 17-7. Later in the quarter, Brown's interception return tied the score at 17.Brooks caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Simpson early in the third quarter to give Alabama its first lead. The Crimson Tide took a 27-17 advantage on a 40-yard field goal by Conor Talty, finishing a run of 27 straight points for Alabama.“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind at all,” Simpson said. “I mean, the guys that we have, the players, the coaches. Like, 17 nothing, I mean, it’s nothing to us. Give us the ball, we’ll go down, do what we do.”Burks caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mateer two plays into the fourth quarter to cut Alabama's lead to 27-24.With Alabama up 34-24, Sandell missed from 36 yards with just under three minutes remaining to end his streak. He missed again from 51 yards out with a little over a minute to play.Not specialSandell’s missed field goals weren’t the only special teams struggles the Sooners had.All-SEC punter Grayson Miller dropped a snap in the second quarter, and his delayed punt was blocked by Tim Keenan III, setting up the Crimson Tide deep in Oklahoma territory. Talty made a field goal to cut Oklahoma’s lead to 17-10.Many MenOklahoma got a temporary boost from 50 Cent.The rapper performed his 2003 hit “Many Men (Wish Death)” between the third and fourth quarters. The Sooners have used it as a hype song in recent weeks. Two plays later, Mateer connected with Burks for a touchdown.The takeawayAlabama: The Crimson Tide played mistake-free ball and stayed focused after struggling early. They scored the next 27 points after falling behind 17-0.Oklahoma: Mateer has been mistake prone this season. He played a relatively clean game, but the second-quarter interception was a backbreaker and turned the momentum.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 19: Isaiah Horton #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners during 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Kiefer Sherwood had three goals for his second hat trick of the season as the Van...

NEW YORK (AP) — Kiefer Sherwood had three goals for his second hat trick of the season as the Vancouver Canucks beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Friday night for their third straight win.David Kampf also scored and Thatcher Demko had 21 saves to help the Canucks finish a sweep of the three New York-area teams this week. Vancouver won 2-1 at New Jersey on Sunday and beat the Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday. Demko was in net for all three wins.Anders Lee spoiled Demko's shutout bid with 5:05 left in the third period, and Ilya Sorokin finished with 26 saves for the Islanders. New York has lost two straight after winning six of seven, and snapped a five-game win streak at home.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Vancouver raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening period. Kampf scored his first goal this season at 8:55, Sherwood beat Sorokin at 10:35, then scored again at 15:47.Lee scored his ninth of the season and 298th of his career in the third to get the Islanders on the scoreboard.Sherwood scored into an empty net to complete his third career hat trick and get his team-leading 16th goal. He also had three goals Oct. 31 in a 4-3 shootout win at St. Louis.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KIEFER SHERWOOD HATTY ALERT 🧢🧢🧢 <a href="https://t.co/z4PNKwqgNe">pic.twitter.com/z4PNKwqgNe</a>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2002206399695114413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Demko, who improved to 8-5-0 this season, made 23 saves in Tuesday's shutout over the Rangers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.Vancouver's three-game winning streak follows an 2-8-1 skid, and all three wins have come after trading former captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota a week ago.The Canucks continued to be without leading scorer Elias Pettersson (upper body) for the sixth straight game.Up nextCanucks: At Boston on Saturday night.Islanders: At Buffalo on Saturday night.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 19: Kiefer Sherwood #44 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates his third goal of the game at 18:39 for a hat-trick against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on December 19, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

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Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Bru...

Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson were among the first-time nominees announced Friday that will be considered for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame next year.Also among the notable first-time nominees: Elena Delle Donne and Joe Johnson as players, and Mike D’Antoni as a contributor.Nearly 200 players and teams were on the list unveiled by the Hall, including some finalists that fell short of enshrinement in the 2025 class — including Jennifer Azzi, who was a member of that 1996 U.S. women’s team that won gold at the Atlanta Games. Azzi is a nominee again as an individual this year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year’s ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated.”Finalists are typically announced at NBA All-Star weekend in February. The 2026 class will be unveiled April 4 at the NCAA Final Four, with enshrinement weekend Aug. 14 and 15 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut and at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.Other finalists a year ago who are back on the ballot include Gonzaga coach Mark Few; NBA legends Marques Johnson and Buck Williams; and Jerry Welsh — who coached Potsdam in upstate New York to NCAA Division III titles in 1981 and 1986.Molly Bolin, the first player signed by the Women’s Professional Basketball League, is back as well, as is former Serbian professional player and longtime coach Dusan Ivkovic — already a FIBA Hall of Famer.Doc Rivers, the only NBA coach with more than 1,000 wins who isn’t yet in the Hall of Fame, is a nominee again, as are Amar’e Stoudemire and legendary broadcaster Marv Albert.Some teams that will also be considered include the 1936, 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic men’s teams; the 1982 Cheyney State team coached by C. Vivian Stringer that lost to Louisiana Tech in the inaugural NCAA Division I women’s national championship game; the Kentucky Wesleyan men’s teams that won three Division II national titles in a four-year span of the late 1960s; and the 1963 Loyola Chicago men’s team that won the NCAA title and broke racial barriers in the sport by using as many as four Black starters.

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 14: NBA Legend Blake Griffin walks the red carpet prior to the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal game of the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks on December 14, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carryi...

STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Federal investigators are trying to figure out why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others tried to return to a North Carolina airport just after takeoff but plowed into light poles and trees short of the runway, killing everyone on board.The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground Thursday after first striking light towers and then a tree line about a third of a mile (550 meters) from the airport's runway. They also don't know who was the lead pilot. Biffle was one of three people on board with a pilot's license.The jet departed Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, but crashed less than 10 minutes later while trying to return and land, authorities said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Flight records indicate the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were at the airport, attempting to determine the cause of the crash and why the plane had returned to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important clues about what happened. They were not aware of any emergency calls from the jet, NTSB member Michael Graham said at a Friday news conference.There were three pilots on board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters, and single- and multi-engine planes. Also on board was pilot Dennis Dutton, Dutton's son, Jack — who had a private pilot's license for single-engine planes — and Biffle's friend Craig Wadsworth.Biffle's wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were also killed in the crash, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.Cristina Biffle's mother told <a href="https://people.com/greg-biffle-wife-cristina-texted-mom-were-in-trouble-before-died-plane-crash-exclusive-11872732">People magazine</a> that her daughter sent her a text message saying, "We're in trouble," before she didn't hear from her again.Federal investigators on Friday didn't have answers yet about the crew.Dennis Dutton was licensed and rated to fly this model of plane, but even then, he was supposed to fly with a co-pilot. Even though Biffle was rated to fly a multi-engine plane, he wasn't listed as qualified to fly this particular jet or be a second officer. Dutton's son, Jack, also had a pilot's license but was only rated for single-engine planes."There is nobody else that has a second-in-command type rating in the airplane. So there's a question on the crew," aviation safety expert John Cox said.The plane's speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight, and its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly, said former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti.At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet (550 meters) up to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground."One thing is certain: They were low. They were too low to make a safe landing on that runway," Guzzetti said.It's not clear why the pilots didn't make an emergency call. It's possible they were too busy trying to control the plane and dealing with the problem. But Cox said it's also possible that the problem they encountered wasn't considered an emergency. And the pilots may not have made it a priority to make a radio call with no tower at the airport.Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR's three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.A memorial with flowers sprouted up Friday by Biffle's marble star in his hometown of Mooresville, honoring him as a member of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.Steve Miller dropped by to pay his respects. He met Biffle at a huge party after he was inducted in October. He told Biffle he hoped the racecar driver could help knock an item off his bucket list — taking a flight in a helicopter."Come knock on my door, I'll take you up," Miller recalled Biffle telling him. "Never happened."Cessna Citations like the one that crashed Thursday are known as reliable, easy-to-fly jets. While the plane is in flight, one pilot is at the controls while the other pilot is the monitoring pilot, Cox said.Roughly 1,000 of these 550 series jets have been made, and they have a very good safety record. "What accidents have occurred in this type were mostly due to very poor pilot decisions," Guzzetti said.The Statesville airport will remain closed at least through Saturday as the NTSB performs its investigation, officials said.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Greg Biffle, driver of the #44 Grambling State University Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels reached a confidential settlement Friday with the...

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels reached a confidential settlement Friday with the family of late pitcher Tyler Skaggs after a lengthy trial that detailed drug use by players.The two-month trial centered on whether the Angels bore responsibility for Skaggs' 2019 overdose death on a team trip in Dallas after he'd been given a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl by the team's then-communications director, Eric Kay. The last-minute settlement was reached as jurors were nearing the end of their deliberations, they said.The jury had concluded the Angels were negligent and had moved on to determining what percentage of responsibility the team shared for Skaggs' death, said juror Jasson Thach.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The repeated negligence of the Angels was really it," Thach said, adding the group had been estimating damages at between $60 million and $100 million.The trial drew outfielder Mike Trout, Angels president John Carpino and other employees to the stand, as well as relatives of Skaggs and Kay. The employees told the court how players drank and partied on the team plane and paid Kay for clubhouse stunts including taking a fastball to the leg.Skaggs' widow, Carli, and his parents said in their lawsuit that the MLB team knew or should have known Kay was a drug addict and dealing painkillers to players."Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of their lives after six years of living with this," Rusty Hardin, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told reporters.The Angels contended that team officials would have gotten Skaggs help if they had known he was taking drugs."The death of Tyler Skaggs remains a tragedy, and this trial sheds light on the dangers of opioid use and the devastating effects it can have," the team said in a statement Friday.In 2019, the 27-year-old left-handed pitcher was found dead in the suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner's report said the player choked to death on his vomit, and a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was found in his system.Kay, a longtime Angels employee, was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with the pill and sentenced to 22 years in prison. His criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019.During the civil trial in California, more than 40 witnesses testified about drug use and baseball, including how much money Skaggs was poised to make had he lived. They described how Kay got players massage appointments, tee times and even prescription medication and was found with plastic bags filled with pills at his home and later hospitalized for a drug overdose. Kay was sent on the Texas road trip shortly after returning to work from rehab, they said.Witnesses also described how Skaggs struggled with painkillers earlier in his career and chopped up and snorted a pill the day he died.Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels' starting rotation since late 2016 and struggled with injuries repeatedly. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.Jurors began deliberations this week. Late Wednesday, they sent out a question for the court asking whether they got to assign punitive damages. They didn’t work on Thursday and resumed deliberations Friday morning.Upon releasing the jurors, Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover thanked them for their diligence. "That is why this matter was able to be resolved today," she said.Several jurors said they were heading into what many felt would be a tough issue — determining percentages of responsibility among Skaggs, Kay and the team. About a third of the group tended to side with plaintiffs, a third with the team and a third was in the middle in answering the 26-question verdict form, said Thach.Juror Deborah Song said she was relieved the case settled after spending the last two months in court."I am so happy because that way I don't have to put a number on somebody's life," Song said.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 05: The #45 jersey of recently deceased Los Angeles Angels player Tyler Skaggs hangs in the team's dugout before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Ring Central Coliseum on September 05, 2019 in Oakland, California.

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — CJ Bailey threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and scored another on the gr...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — CJ Bailey threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and scored another on the ground as NC State took down Memphis 31-7 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday.The Wolfpack concluded their season at 8-5 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) and won a bowl game for the first time since the 2017 Sun Bowl.Jayden “Duke” Scott racked up 108 rushing yards to pace the NC State offense. Wesley Grimes led with 48 receiving yards and a score on three catches and six targets.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>NC State struck first on their opening drive as Bailey scampered for a 14-yard rush. The Wolfpack scored on all but two of their first-half drives to take a 31-7 lead into halftime.Grimes hauled in a 31-yard touchdown, Teddy Hoffman took his only catch for a 40-yard score, and Will Wilson tacked on a 1-yard rushing touchdown before time expired in the first half.The Tigers (8-5, 4-4 American Conference) got on the board with Jamari Hawkins’ 28-yard reception. Hawkins had four catches for 32 yards.NC State is 18-18-1 in bowl games and made its sixth straight appearance. Memphis is 9-9 in bowl games, winning four straight from 2020-2024. The Tigers are one of seven FBS programs with an active streak of 12 or more straight bowl invitations.___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 19: NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren holds the winner's trophy following the Gasparilla Bowl between the Memphis Tigers and the NC State Wolfpack on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL

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Bailey accounts for 3 TDs in NC State's Gasparilla Bowl win over Memphis

PARIS (AP) — Third-tier Avranches knocked out Ligue 1 side Brest in the French Cup on Friday.  Th...

PARIS (AP) — Third-tier Avranches knocked out Ligue 1 side Brest in the French Cup on Friday.The Normandy club qualified for the last 32 with a 5-4 victory on penalties after the teams drew 1-1 after 90 minutes.Brest played most of the match with 10 men after Julien Le Cardinal was sent off midway through the first half.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Another Ligue 1 side, Angers, narrowly avoided the same fate at third-division Les Herbiers. The teams drew 0-0 but Angers went through 6-5 on penalties.In other matchups, second-tier Montpellier narrowly won at fifth-tier Canet Roussillon 1-0, Reims easily dispatched fifth-tier IC Croix 4-0, and Laval beat Guincamp with a single goal in a matchup of second-division clubs.Le Mans, third in Ligue 2, labored to a 2-1 victory at sixth-tier Perigny and Lens beat Feignies Aulnoye 3-1 at home.

Avranches' French midfielder #9 Nassim Sabihi (C) celebrates his team's victory at the end of the French Cup round of 64 football match between Avranches and Brest at Rene Fenouilere stadium in Avranches, on December 19, 2025.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, a former series champion who is now co-owne...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, a former series champion who is now co-owner of RFK Racing, broke his leg in a skiing accident, the team announced Friday. Keselowski underwent surgery Thursday and doctors have told him to expect a quick recovery that will have him back for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. He is winless in 16 starts in the showcase race as he enters the final years of his driving career.Keselowski, who turns 42 just days before the Feb. 15 "Great American Race," is entering his 17th full season of racing at the top Cup Series level. He spent the bulk of his career at Team Penske but purchased a stake in Roush Fenway Racing in 2022 and became an owner/driver of the rebranded team.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The organization is reeling from Thursday's fatal plane crash that killed longtime Roush driver Greg Biffle and six others, including his wife and two children. Biffle had retired by the time Keselowski joined the team.Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Series championship for Penske and has 36 career victories at NASCAR's top level. He won the Xfinity Series title in 2010 and 39 races in NASCAR's second-tier series. He has won one points-paying race since leaving Penske as he works to help rebuild RFK into the once-proud organization founded by Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush. Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, missed six races in the 2023 season when he broke his leg in a snowboarding crash early in the season. Kyle Busch missed 11 races when he broke his leg in a crash at Daytona in 2015 but recovered to win the Cup championship that year.

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 25: Brad Keselowski (#6 RFK Racing Buildsubmarines.com Ford) looks on during qualifying for the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 on October 25, 2025, at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA.

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DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 and extended its unb...

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 and extended its unbeaten run to eight league games to move into second place in the Bundesliga on Friday.Dortmund was six points behind leader Bayern Munich and three clear of Leipzig.Dortmund began without the suspended Jobe Bellingham or the injured Waldemar Anton, Aaron Anselmino and Marcel Sabitzer but another injury concern, Julian Brandt, made it into the starting lineup and had an immediate effect.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>With 10 minutes on the clock, Brandt appeared at the far post to sweep home a cross from Niklas Sule and put the home side ahead. It was the second goal in two games for the influential midfielder.Dortmund controlled the game for long spells after taking the lead but it had to wait until the dying seconds for a concluding second.Maximilian Beier scored after a nice pass from Fabio Silva to calm the nerves of a side that had given up leads in its last two league games.Monchengladbach was in 11th place.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 19: Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund scores the opening goal past goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas of Borussia Monchengladbach during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia M+?nchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park on December 19, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany.

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QUITO (AP) — Ecuadorian police have arrested two suspects in the killing of soccer player Mario P...

QUITO (AP) — Ecuadorian police have arrested two suspects in the killing of soccer player Mario Pineida, who was shot in an attack this week that also killed his partner and wounded his mother, underscoring the rising violence in the Andean nation.The 33-year-old Barcelona de Guayaquil defender and former national soccer team player was shot and killed on Wednesday. Latin American soccer clubs and fans have since mourned his death.Ecuador’s prosecutor’s office said on Friday on X that suspects Cristian P.G. and Jimnery P.B appeared before a judge, who then ordered their so-called preventive arrests, based on the judge’s understanding that there's enough evidence against them as well as a risk of them fleeing from justice.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Police said the shooting attack took place in Samanes, a northern neighborhood of the coastal city of Guayaquil, some 265 kilometers (165 miles) southwest of the capital, Quito.Security camera footage from the scene shows Pineida and his partner leaving a butcher shop and then being shot by two men, one wearing a motorcycle helmet and the other a cap. Local authorities have not released the name of Pineida’s partner.Pineida played eight games for Ecuador but was not part of the team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. His last game for Ecuador was at the 2021 Copa América, as a late substitute in a group-stage game against Brazil. He also played in the 2017 edition.In November, a 16-year-old soccer player of Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet, also in Guayaquil. Two months earlier, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez, both players of Exapromo Costa, and Jonathan González, of 22 de Junio died from gunshot wounds.___Follow the AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR - MAY 03: Mario Pineida of Barcelona SC looks on during a Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2023 Group C match between Barcelona SC and Palmeiras at Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo on May 03, 2023 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

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Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka says 2026 will be his last year on tour.  Since Wawrinka tu...

Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka says 2026 will be his last year on tour.Since Wawrinka turned pro in 2002, the Swiss has won 16 tour singles titles. He beat the No. 1-ranked player in the finals of the 2014 Australian Open (Rafael Nadal), 2015 French Open (Novak Djokovic) and 2016 U.S. Open (Djokovic)."One last push," Wawrinka wrote on social media on Friday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Every book needs an ending. It's time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour."Wawrinka and Roger Federer won the 2008 Beijing Olympics doubles gold medal and helped Switzerland win its only Davis Cup in 2014.He is one of only three players to beat Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Andy Murray at the Grand Slams.The 40-year-old claimed his last singles trophy in 2017. He starts his final season in Perth at the United Cup from Jan. 2.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka serves to Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in their men's singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 1, 2025.

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson will sit out the final three...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson will sit out the final three games of the season as he continues to recover from a knee injury.Coach Aaron Glenn said Friday that Wilson is progressing well, but the team doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks with the star receiver. Wilson has missed five games while on injured reserve after getting hurt against Cleveland on Nov. 9.The Jets (3-11) are out of the playoff hunt as they prepare to face the Saints (4-10) in New Orleans on Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He’s doing really, really well as far as his rehab,” Glenn said. “We just want to be smart with him because he’s a key cog in what we’re doing here. To be able to get him back in the offseason program, fully healthy, ready to go, we feel like that was the best decision for all of us.”Glenn added that the 25-year-old Wilson was “on board” with the decision after talking to doctors and the team.“He will be ready to go as the offseason program starts up,” Glenn said, “and I’m excited about that.”Wilson signed a four-year, $130 million contract extension in July after finishing with 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three NFL seasons since being selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State. He was the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and immediately developed into one of the league’s most productive wide receivers.But Wilson played in only seven games this season after being reunited with his former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. He missed two games with a right knee injury before being able to return in Week 10, but suffered a different injury to the same knee late in the game against the Browns — and this time, it cost him the final eight games.Wilson finished with only 36 catches for 395 yards — which still leads the team — and four touchdowns. He already ranks 10th on the Jets’ career list with 315 receptions in just 58 games and his 3,644 yards receiving put him 13th on the franchise list.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: Garrett Wilson #5 of the New York Jets reacts on the field against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hi...

SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hit a wide-open Eric Saubert for the winning 2-point conversion, and the Seattle Seahawks rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Rams 38-37 on Thursday night and take a one-game lead in the NFC West.The Seahawks went 3 for 3 on 2-point conversions, none more improbable than the one that tied the game at 30-all in the fourth quarter. Darnold’s deflected pass intended for Zach Charbonnet was initially ruled incomplete, but after a replay review <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2001865512473760127">was determined to be a backward pass</a>. Charbonnet, who had casually picked up the loose ball in the end zone, was credited with the 2 points.The Rams got the ball first in overtime and Matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua, who cruised untouched into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 37-30. Nacua finished with 12 catches for 225 yards and two TDs, and Stafford had 457 yards passing — the third-most of his career — and three scores as the Rams’ offense totaled 581 yards without a turnover.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nonetheless, the Seahawks came up with some big stops in the fourth quarter that were crucial to Seattle’s rally. The Rams had four punts and a missed field goal on their final five possessions of regulation.Seattle (12-3) clinched a playoff spot and moved into position for the top seed in the NFC, while LA (11-4) faces a road playoff opener if it can’t overtake the Seahawks in the final two weeks of the season.The Seahawks trailed 30-14 when Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown and Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp for the 2-point conversion. After a three-and-out by the Rams, Darnold found tight end AJ Barner for a 26-yard TD, and Charbonnet tied it on the quirky 2-point play.Darnold, who threw four interceptions against the Rams in a 21-19 loss in November, was picked off twice in this one, including by 297-pound defensive end Kobie Turner. But he made clutch throws in the fourth quarter and OT, finishing with 270 yards passing and two TDs.Injuries Rams: Offensive lineman Kevin Dotson injured his ankle in the first quarter and did not return. Seahawks: Three players in the secondary left in the fourth quarter: Safety Coby Bryant (knee), Safety Nick Emmanwori (evaluated for a concussion) and cornerback Riq Woolen (knee).Up nextRams: At Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 29.Seahawks: At Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 28. ___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Eric Saubert #81 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after scoring the game-winning two point conversion to beat the Los Angeles Rams 38-27 during overtime at Lumen Field on December 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A business jet crashed Thursday while trying to return to a North Caroli...

STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A business jet crashed Thursday while trying to return to a North Carolina airport shortly after takeoff, killing all seven people aboard, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, authorities said.The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground. It had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, but soon crashed while trying to return and land, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known, nor was the reason for the plane’s return to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters and single and multi-engine planes. It wasn’t clear if Biffle was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.Biffle was on the plane with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, according to the highway patrol and a family statement. Others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth."Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives," the joint family statement said.Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR's three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.NASCAR said it was devastated by the news."Greg was more than a champion driver; he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many," NASCAR said. "His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport."The plane, bound for Florida, took off from the Statesville airport shortly after 10 a.m., according to tracking data posted by <a href="http://flightaware.com/">FlightAware.com</a>.Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris."We were like, 'Oh my gosh! That's way too low,'" said Joshua Green of Mooresville. "It was scary."The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were investigating.The Cessna plane, built in 1981, is a popular mid-sized business jet with an excellent reputation, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said. It has two engines and typically seats six to eight passengers.In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina."The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That's who the Biffles were," U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, said.Wadsworth was Biffle's friend and helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene, roommate Benito Howell said."He didn't know how to say no," Howell said of Wadsworth, who had worked for several NASCAR teams. "He loved everybody. He always tried to help everybody."The joint family statement also spoke about Dutton and his son Jack, saying they were "deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them."With 2025 almost over, there have been 1,331 U.S. crashes this year investigated by the NTSB, from two-seat planes to commercial aircraft, compared to a total of 1,482 in 2024.Major air disasters around the world in 2025 include the plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 in Washington, the Air India crash that killed 260 in India, and a crash in Russia’s Far East that claimed 48 lives. Fourteen people, including 11 on the ground, died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky.___Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, North Carolina; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Ed White in Detroit; and Sarah Brumfield in Washington contributed to this story.

DAYTONA, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Greg Biffle (#44 NY Racing Team Grambling State University Chevrolet) during final practice for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on February 19, 2022 at Daytona International Speedway ion Daytona Beach, Fl.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Greg Biffle was picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history. ...

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Greg Biffle was picked by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history. He was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and he drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.
Yet for all the races and the handful of memorable wins, he is perhaps best remembered for his selfless and tireless work helping others <a href="https://apnews.com/article/greg-biffle-hurricane-helene-f3e6a956e5fd94353453a6eaf196a26e">as a helicopter pilot</a> supplying aid a year ago in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.
Biffle loved flying and he was in the air again Thursday, aboard a small jet that crashed at the Statesville airport north of Charlotte, authorities said. He was believed to be among <a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crash-north-carolina-c39536433cb423432dd140e6b067d73a">seven people killed,</a> including his wife and two children. He was 55. 
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“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” said a joint statement released on behalf of the victims. "Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma. Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.”
The statement identified the others on board as Dennis Dutton, his son, Jack. and Craig Wadsworth, all “beloved by many in the NASCAR community.” 
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives," the statement said. 
Biffle won championships in both the lower-tier national Truck and Xfinity Series — the first driver to do so — and spent almost his entire career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, headquartered about 40 miles south of the crash site.
“I have lost a dear friend and partner in our NASCAR program,” team owner Jack Roush said on social media. “His contributions to our race team over the years are immeasurable.”
Anguish swept across the closely-knit auto racing community, from drivers to team owners like Chip Ganassi. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein singled out Biffle for his “courage and compassion” and for helping the hurricane victims. So did NASCAR.
Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many," the series said. “Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.”
A native of Vancouver, Washington, Biffle made over 800 starts across NASCAR’s three series and won the Truck Series title in 2000 and the Xfinity title in 2002. In all, he won 54 races across NASCAR’s three national circuits, including 19 at the top Cup Series level. He finished second in the championship standings to Tony Stewart in 2005, his best season, and three years later become the first driver to win two playoff races in a single year.
Biffle made his Cup debut in 2002. He earned his slot with Roush through its old “Gong Show” method of picking drivers in which candidates would go head-to-hear trying to earn a job with one of the top teams in NASCAR. 
He transitioned into semi-retirement in 2016, but returned in 2022 to run five races, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nascar-daytona-beach-daytona-500-timmy-hill-7014fe41481595763268f03f39b22b3e">including the Daytona 500.</a> He was 52 at the time. 
“I had such tremendous respect for Greg as a driver, and we shared countless tough battles on the track,” retired Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon wrote on social media. “Like so many others, I was inspired by his tireless relief work during Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to the Biffle family and everyone hurting.”
Piloting was a deep love and Biffle’s YouTube channel and social accounts were filled with joyful outings with friends and family. In 2024, Biffle won the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for his humanitarian aid efforts in the wake of Helene. Biffle piloted his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and aid to hard-hit communities in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee.
During one of his trips to the mountains, a trapped man <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DApFhqIP4AI/">signaled Biffle for help with a mirror.</a> After multiple attempts, Biffle was able to land his helicopter and provide supplies to the man and his neighbors. He <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyqII6-ArjQ">returned this year</a> to check in.
“I had no idea at that point in time how devastating this storm was,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG9_3-bcYm0">Biffle explained</a> later. “What started out to be rescuing one family … turned into 4,000 messages. … It went viral.”
One of his partners in the effort was friend Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber and race car driver known as Cleetus McFarland. Mitchell said the Biffle family was on its way to spend Thursday afternoon with him in Florida.
“We are devastated,” Mitchell wrote on Facebook.
So was U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina.
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene," Hudson wrote on social media. "The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That's who the Biffles were.”
Roush, the team owner, was involved in several plane crashes during his years as a pilot and nearly died in a 2002 crash in which he landed upside down in a lake near Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Larry Hicks, a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps, rescued Roush from the overturned wreckage before Roush drowned.
Many of his former drivers have gone on to achieve their pilot’s licenses, including Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin, all Hall of Fame drivers.
Biffle spent his years in retirement fabricating cars in his shop, running a quarry in Virginia and keeping up with his two children. Less than a week ago, Biffle posted a video of his family -- 14-year-old daughter Emma, 5-year-old son Ryder and wife Cristina – picking out a Christmas tree on an outing that included a trip for ice cream.
“It’s been a successful day,” Biffle said. “Now it’s time to get the decorations out and get her going.”
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
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SOUTH BOSTON, VIRGINIA - JUNE 25: Greg Biffle #69 stands on the grid during practice for the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at South Boston Speedway on June 25, 2022 in South Boston, Virginia.

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Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua has apologized for performing a gesture that plays upon anti...

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Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua has apologized for performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes on an internet livestream.
“I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people,” Nacua said Thursday in an Instagram post. “I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”
The statement is posted on a blue square, the logo for the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate.
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Nacua appeared on a livestream earlier in the week hosted by internet personality Adin Ross, who suggested that Nacua perform the gesture as a touchdown celebration. The football player said he would and demonstrated how it would look.
California congressman Eric Swalwell was among those who criticized Nacua, saying it was especially insensitive in light of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/austroalia-mass-shooting-jewish-festival-sydney-bondi-beach-d17bc9b6c9bae080b452898bd88169b2">attack in Sydney, Australia, that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration</a>.
“The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre,” Swallwell wrote on X. “He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game. He should apologize or be dropped.”
The NFL issued a statement condemning “all forms of discrimination and derogatory behavior directed towards any group or individual.”
“The continuing rise of antisemitism must be addressed across the world, and the NFL will continue to stand with our partners in this fight,” the league said. "Hatred has no place in our sport or society.”
Nacua also criticized NFL referees on the livestream, calling them “the worst” and saying they make incorrect calls because “they want to be on TV, too.”
___ 
AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>
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INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 14: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) walks off the field during the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams on December 14, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

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MADRID (AP) — Lionel Messi and Argentina are heading back to the scene of their World Cup triumph...

MADRID (AP) — Lionel Messi and Argentina are heading back to the scene of their World Cup triumph in 2022.Messi could face Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal for the first time when Argentina plans Spain in a matchup of continental champions in the men’s Finalissima in Qatar on March 27.The Finalissima between the 2024 Copa America champion and the Euro 2024 winner will be at Lusail Stadium, where Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in a penalty shootout against France.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Argentina is the defending Finalissima champion, having won the last edition in 2022 after beating Italy 3-0 at Wembley in London.Argentina also won it in 1993, beating Denmark on penalties, the last time the final was played before 2022.France won it the only other time it was played, in 1985 against Uruguay.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on November 14, 2025, shows Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal (L) walking onto the pitch prior to the UEFA Nations League semi-final football match between Spain and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on June 5, 2025, and Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi looking on during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on June 10, 2025. The Finalissima between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Lamine Yamal's Spain will be played in March on neutral ground, said CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez on November 20, 2025, in Asuncion, speaking to AFP and a Paraguayan media outlet.

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