Michael Jordan
FILE - New Jersey Generals Herschel Walker, center, carries the ball for a first down past General's Bryan Millard, left, and Los Angeles Express' Dennis Edwards during the first quarter of an USFL game in Los Angeles on March 6, 1983. The original USFL was a league that made a whole lot of sense, only to be undone by the greed and hubris of owners such as former President Donald Trump, who saw the fledgling organization as a conduit to the NFL. (AP Photo/File)
Column: Spring football league's time has come ... and gone

By Paul Newberry May. 06, 2022 05:22 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Apr. 27, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
April 28 1966 — Boston edges the Los Angeles Lakers 95-93 in Game 7, giving the Celtics and coach Red Auerbach eight straight NBA titles. Auerbach, who...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Apr. 21, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
April 26 1905 — Jack McCarthy of the Cubs became the only outfielder in major league history to throw out three runners at the plate, each of whom...

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Mar. 27, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
March 28 1939 — The barnstorming Renaissance Five beat the NBL champion Oshkosh All-Stars, 34-25, to win the first annual World Professional Basketball...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Mar. 24, 2022 11:12 AM EDT
March 25 1934 — Horton Smith wins the first Masters golf tournament by one stroke over Craig Wood. 1947 — Holy Cross, led by George...

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Mar. 21, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
March 22 1932 — The blue lines are eliminated with the center red line used to determine offsides in an experiment by the NHL. With both teams out of...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Mar. 17, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
March 22 1932 — The blue lines are eliminated with the center red line used to determine offsides in an experiment by the NHL. With both teams out of...

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Brady’s retirement lasted 40 days. He said Sunday, March 13, 2022, he is returning to the Buccaneers for his 23rd season in the NFL. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
Tom Brady is returning to Tampa to play 23rd season in NFL

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 13, 2022 07:39 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 05, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 6 1943 — Montreal’s Ray Getliffe scores five goals to lead the Canadiens to an 8-3 triumph over the Boston Bruins. 1958 — Ted...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 03, 2022 10:59 AM EST
Feb. 8 1936 — Jay Berwanger, University of Chicago halfback and Heisman Trophy winner, is the first player ever selected in the NFL Draft. The...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 03, 2022 10:57 AM EST
Body Feb. 4 1861 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat Charter Oak 36-27 in a baseball game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in Brooklyn, N.Y...

FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady waves during the team's picture at the walk through at University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. Tom Brady has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career. He made the announcement, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in a long post on Instagram. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File)
Column: Brady's goodbye leaves (almost) everyone smiling

By Jim Litke Feb. 01, 2022 05:11 PM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts as he leaves the field after the team lost to the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL divisional round playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Tom Brady has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career. He made the announcement, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in a long post on Instagram. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
Reaction to Tom Brady announcing his retirement

By The Associated Press Feb. 01, 2022 12:01 PM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 01, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 2 1876 — The National League forms, consisting of teams in Philadelphia, Hartford, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and New York...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jan. 27, 2022 10:57 AM EST
Feb. 1 1913 — Jim Thorpe, star of the 1912 Olympics, signs to play baseball with the New York Giants. 1914 — The Chicago White Sox and...

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers leaves the field after an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. The 49ers won 13-10 to advance to the NFC Chasmpionship game. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rodgers enters uncertain offseason after short postseason

By Steve Megargee Jan. 22, 2022 11:53 PM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jan. 15, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Jan. 16 1962 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 42 points and grabs 24 rebounds as he won MVP honors even though his East team lost...

FILE - People walk by a Nike advertisement featuring Colin Kaepernick on display, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in New York. While sports have always been indivisible from politics and public conflicts, there has been a major ground shift in the years since Michael Jordan made public neutrality on all non-sports issues an essential part of his brand. Now, there is almost an expectation of advocacy, especially with the precedent set by Colin Kaepernick's protests and the embrace by many of the Black Lives Matter cause. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
In vaccination battles, pro athletes become proxy players

By Andrew Dalton Jan. 14, 2022 09:37 AM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jan. 13, 2022 11:28 AM EST
Jan. 14 943 — Montreal’s Alex Smart scores three goals in his first NHL game and leads the Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Black Hawks. ...

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jan. 07, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Jan. 8 1972 — The NCAA announces freshmen will be eligible to play on varsity football and basketball teams starting in the fall. 1973 —...