Sports

NFL owners voted this week to dramatically change rules around kickoffs — including the elimination of a team's ability to attempt a surprise onside kick, like the Jacksonville Jaguars did in a 2022 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sports

Kickoffs will look radically different in the NFL next year. Here's how and why

1:36pm March 27, 2024

by Becky Sullivan

For years, the NFL has tweaked kickoff rules to reduce injuries, resulting in kickoffs that were safer but more boring. The changes aim to re-introduce excitement while keeping injuries low.

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 25: Alissa Pili #35 of the Utah Utes is introduced before the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at McCarthey Athletic Center on March 25, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Sports

Police investigating racial harassment of NCAA women's basketball team in Idaho

7:14pm March 26, 2024

by Troy Oppie

Police are investigating reported harassment of the University of Utah women's basketball team while staying in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho for the NCAA tournament in nearby Spokane, Washington.

Uninterested in basketball? What about 'Taco Madness'?

5:54pm March 26, 2024

At the same time basketball teams are vying to end up in the Final Four, so are LA taquerias, as part of the annual "Taco Madness" competition.

Professional speed skier Ross Anderson holds some of the trophies he won during the 2000-01 winter season. As an indigenous athlete and person of color, Anderson was a trailblazer in professional skiing.

Indigenous trailblazer to be inducted into Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

11:21am March 26, 2024

by Adam Burke

Ross Anderson set out to represent people of color in professional skiing. He's one of the US Ski and Board Hall Hall of Fame's 2023 inductees.

Sports

Ohtani says he's shocked over gambling allegations involving his interpreter

5:13am March 26, 2024

Baseball's megastar Shohei Ohtani is making headlines off the field for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His interpreter was fired last week amid a widening gambling scandal.

Months after Shohei Ohtani signed a huge deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, the team fired his interpreter over gambling and theft allegations.

Shohei Ohtani says he's sad, shocked over Mizuhara's gambling and theft allegations

7:32pm March 25, 2024

by Bill Chappell

The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Ippei Mizuhara last week. Three months earlier, the team called Mizuhara "Shohei's best buddy."

Shohei Ohtani speaks amid betting scandal

4:48pm March 25, 2024

by Steve Futterman

Baseball superstar Shohei Othani will address the media for the first time since a betting scandal surfaced involving his interpreter, including allegations about illegal gambling and theft.

Queue Listen Now

Forsyth Tech announces athletic director to lead 'transformative new journey'

3:48pm March 25, 2024

by David Ford

Randolph County native and former Lenoir Community College Athletic Director Shelly Barnes will now lead the new athletics program at Forsyth Tech.

Sports

NCAA men's tournament bracket reaches the Sweet 16 milestone

5:15am March 25, 2024

March Madness basketball play reaches the Sweet 16 on the men's side — the women's will be solidified by the end of the day. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Nicole Auerbach with The Athletic.

Much like your bracket, the trendy upset pick Drake did not beat the odds.

Sports

So your NCAA bracket is busted. Should you have just chosen all the top seeds?

8:40am March 23, 2024

by Becky Sullivan

As the dust settles from the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament, we bid farewell to the would-be Cinderellas who couldn't pull off the upset and take stock of your tattered bracket.