Professional basketball
FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2019, file photo, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald attends a news conference after winning an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Cincinnati. Fitzgerald is coming back to the team for the 2020 season. There was speculations the 36-year-old Fitzgerald might retire, but the team announced Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, he has signed a one-year contract. (AP Photo/Frank Victores, File)
Cardinals WR Fitzgerald purchases minority stake in Suns

Jan. 22, 2020 11:18 AM EST

Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague reaches for the ball lost by Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Rose, Mykhailiuk spark Pistons to easy win over Hawks

By George Henry Jan. 18, 2020 10:15 PM EST

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to his three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Bucks cruise past Knicks behind Antetokounmpo's 37 points

By Charles F. Gardner Jan. 14, 2020 11:39 PM EST

Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington, right, shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Warren scores 36 to lead Pacers past Hornets 115-104

By Steve Reed Jan. 06, 2020 09:31 PM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, June 6, 2013 file photo, David Stern, NBA Commissioner, right, and Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner, speak before the start of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat in Miami. David Stern, who spent 30 years as the NBA's longest-serving commissioner and oversaw its growth into a global power, has died on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. He was 77. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
NBA Final Spurs Heat Basketball

Jan. 01, 2020 07:23 PM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, June 6, 2013 file photo, David Stern, NBA Commissioner, right, and Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner, speak before the start of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat in Miami. David Stern, who spent 30 years as the NBA's longest-serving commissioner and oversaw its growth into a global power, has died on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. He was 77. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Reaction to the death of former NBA Commissioner David Stern

By The Associated Press Jan. 01, 2020 07:21 PM EST

Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu, left, is congratulated by head women coach Kelly Graves and others on the bench after recording her 21st career triple double in an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Name dropping: A few up-and-comers who may make mark in '20

By Pat Graham Dec. 31, 2019 12:08 PM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick participates in a workout for NFL football scouts and media, in Riverdale, Ga. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)
Column: It's the Newby Awards, honoring best, worst of 2019

By Paul Newberry Dec. 30, 2019 03:16 PM EST

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The King reigns: LeBron James is AP's male athlete of decade

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 29, 2019 01:02 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2005, file photo, President Bush awards baseball legend Frank Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the first black manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, died Feb. 7, 2019. He was 83. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson, File)
Sports losses in 2019: Newcombe, Robinson, Starr, Havlicek

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2019 12:01 PM EST

FILE - This March 31, 1963, file photo showing Boston Celtics' John Havlicek going to the basket against Cincinnati Royals Bob Booser (13) and Hub Reed in the fourth period of a semifinal playoff at Boston Garden in Boston. Havlicek, whose steal of Hal Green's inbounds pass in the final seconds of the 1965 Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia 76ers remains one of the most famous plays in NBA history, died April 25, 2019. He was 79. (AP Photo/Frank C. Curtin, File)
Sports losses in 2019: Newcombe, Robinson, Starr, Havlicek

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2019 11:26 AM EST

AP Sportlight

Compiled By Paul Montella Dec. 29, 2019 09:25 AM EST
Dec. 30 1956 — The New York Giants win the NFL title with a 47-7 rout of the Chicago Bears. 1962 — The Green Bay...

LSU Offensive Coordinator Steve Ensminger watches teams warm up before the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA semifinal college football playoff game between LSU and Oklahoma, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. Ensminger's daughter-in-law, Carley McCord, died in a plane crash Saturday in Louisiana on the way to the game. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Plane crash kills 5, including LSU coach's daughter-in-law

By Janelle Cogan And Sudhin Thanawala Dec. 28, 2019 05:49 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, then-New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown looks on before the start of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Antonio Brown has apologized to the Patriots and team owner Robert Kraft for any negative attention he brought to the team during his brief stint in New England. The four-time All-Pro receiver posted his apology on Instagram Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP, File)
Payton: Saints doing due diligence on receiver Antonio Brown

By Brett Martel Dec. 27, 2019 03:25 PM EST

LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Wesley Matthews during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Fun Guy: Kawhi Leonard is the AP's male athlete of 2019

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 27, 2019 01:05 PM EST

FILE- In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, Team Giannis' Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, celebrates a basket against Team LeBron during the first half of an NBA All-Star basketball game in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Team LeBron West at Team Giannis East 2/17/2019

Dec. 23, 2019 01:31 PM EST

FILE- In this July 7, 2019, file photo, United States' Rose Lavelle, right, celebrates with teammate Alex Morgan after scoring her side's second goal during the Women's World Cup final soccer match against The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France. (AP Photo/Claude Paris, FIle)
Plays of the year: 2019 had a flair for the dramatic

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 23, 2019 01:30 PM EST

Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores a goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Alaves at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Survey finds Barcelona is best-paid team in world sports

Dec. 22, 2019 10:54 PM EST

FILE - In this May 12, 2019, file photo, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, second from left, celebrates his game-winning basket as time expired at the end of an NBA Eastern Conference semifinal basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, in Toronto on Sunday,. Toronto won 92-90. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors 5/12/2019

Dec. 22, 2019 09:58 AM EST

FIEL - In this Oct. 13, 2019, file photo, Japan's Kenki Fukuoka crosses the goal line for his team's third try against Scotland during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Some of 2019's most memorable games decided by blown calls

By Paul Newberry Dec. 22, 2019 09:52 AM EST