Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami's 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina's national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members.
NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy." Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns.
Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber returning to Cleveland Guardians on 1-year deal, AP source says
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that right-hander Shane Bieber is returning to the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts and undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions, but will be back after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner made just starts in 2024 before having the surgery on his troublesome elbow that bothered him the previous campaign. The 29-year-old Bieber has spent all seven big-league seasons with Cleveland.
Golden State Valkyries select 11 players through WNBA expansion draft
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Golden State Valkyries have selected center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Veronica Burton of Connecticut, guard Carla Leite of Dallas and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft. Those four became the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that's set to begin play next season. Golden State rounded out its 11-woman roster with Indiana center Temi Fagbenle; Las Vegas guard Kate Martin; forwards Steph Talbot of Los Angeles, Cecilia Zandalasini of Minnesota, Kayla Thornton of New York and Monique Billings of Phoenix; and Washington guard Julie Vanloo.
American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) -- American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again.
Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) -- Scottie Scheffler used a big run of birdies to take a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Scheffler had seven birdies on the front nine for a 29. The world No. 1 added one birdie on the back nine to lead by two over Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. Scheffler found no need to apologize for only one birdie on the back nine. He says it simply was a matter of the ball being a little closer to the hole and a few more putts going in. Scheffler already has eight victories this year, including Olympic gold.
A's GM David Forst says the team wanted to make a statement with Luis Severino's contract
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Athletics general manager David Forst says the team wanted to make a statement going into its new home. That was one the factors that led to its deal with Luis Severino. The 30-year-old Severino was formally introduced by his new club after finalizing a $67 million, three-year contract. The veteran right-hander was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 182 innings during his only season with the New York Mets. It's the largest deal ever for the low-budget A's, topping a $66 million contract for third baseman Eric Chavez covering 2005-10.
Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue
Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he's dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network's "Sunday NFL Countdown" show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness.
No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football's most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia's pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm.
Jacob Trouba isn't pleased with the Rangers' handling of his departure in a trade with Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Anaheim Ducks have acquired New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba in a trade for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a future fourth-round pick. The trade ends Trouba's tenure with the Rangers, who acquired the 30-year-old defenseman in a trade with Winnipeg in 2019. He became New York's captain before the 2022-23 season. Trouba will immediately become a key contributor on the blue line for the Ducks, who are in last place in the Pacific Division. He will also play alongside Anaheim forwards Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, his teammates with the Rangers during the club's run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2022.