Early end to Barcelona’s title celebrations after Espanyol fans invade pitch

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Early end to Barcelona’s title celebrations after Espanyol fans invade pitch BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona players celebrating the team’s Spanish league title success on Sunday had to leave in a hurry after Espanyol fans invaded the pitch and started running toward them.A large group of Espanyol supporters from the ultra section behind one of the goals jumped onto the field and headed for the players who were singing and celebrating in the center.Security guards quickly intervened to keep players and the club’s officials safe. Some of the guards confronted the fans but were pushed back toward the tunnel. Riot police had to stand in front of the tunnel’s entrance with shields to prevent the fans from going in. The supporters threw chairs and other objects before dispersing without any other incidents.Barcelona coach Xavi had tried to take his players into the locker room even before the fans’ actions.“It was a moment of celebration, euphoria, it was normal, but we were not in our home and at one point I felt that it was more respectful i...

Harper ejected as Freeland leads Rockies over Phillies 4-0 on 30th birthday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Harper ejected as Freeland leads Rockies over Phillies  4-0 on 30th birthday DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected for charging Colorado’s dugout, and Kyle Freeland dominated for six innings on his 30th birthday in the Rockies’ 4-0 win Sunday.Harper appeared to respond to Colorado reliever Jake Bird, who clapped a hand against his glove and said something toward the Philadelphia dugout after the last out of the top of the seventh.“I get emotion,” Harper said. “I understand getting fired up for an inning and stuff like that, but once you make it about a team or make it about yourself and the other team, that’s when I’ve kind of got a problem with it.”Harper was initially restrained by Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, then Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan prevented the two-time NL MVP from entering a group of players and coaches gathered near the first-base line.“It could be,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said when asked whether Harper’s reaction was the result of mounting frustration. “But...

Stricker wins 2nd straight Regions Tradition championship, tying tournament scoring record

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Stricker wins 2nd straight Regions Tradition championship, tying tournament scoring record BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A close contest for three days, the Regions Tradition ultimately ended up in just another six-stroke victory for Steve Stricker.It’s becoming a trend.Stricker tied the Regions Tradition record with a 23-under 265, including Sunday’s closing 65, and ran away with his second straight championship at the PGA Tour Champions major by six strokes over Ernie Els and Robert Karlsson. It’s his third win at the Tradition in the last five attempts — all by six shots— and gave the 56-year-old five major wins, sixth-most on the 50-and-over tour. He also has two runner-up finishes in that span on the par-72 Founders Course at Greystone.“It was a special week here again,” Stricker said. “I don’t know what it is about this place, but it brings out the best in me for some reason. I’ve played some really good golf here and today was no different. “I got off to a good start, birdieing the first three holes kind of settled my nerves a little bit. I played reall...

Walls tiebreaking grand slam lifts Rays over Yanks 8-7 for 4-game split

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Walls tiebreaking grand slam lifts Rays over Yanks 8-7 for 4-game split NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Walls hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the fifth inning, Jose Siri caught Aaron Judge’s fly in front of the center-field wall for the final out and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 8-7 on Sunday for a four-game series split.Walls fell a double shy of the cycle after going 3 for 15 in his first five games against New York. Major league-leading Tampa Bay is 4-3 against the Yankees, with six of the games decided by one run. The teams don’t meet again until July 31.“They were tough,” Walls said. “I feel like every time we got a lead, they would respond and either take it back or put some runs up and match whatever we did that inning before.”Down 3-0, the Yankees went ahead in the third on two-run homers by Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Rizzo off Zach Eflin (5-1).“Disappointing to not finish it off today, but I feel very pleased with where this group is at,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.Randy Arozarena hit a tying sacrifice fly with the bases loaded i...

Denver weather: Warmer temperatures and showers to start the week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Denver weather: Warmer temperatures and showers to start the week DENVER (KDVR) — After a cool and soggy weekend, Denver's weather will start to warm up during the workweek with a daily chance for afternoon showers. Weather tonight: A few more showersSunday night, there will be a few more scattered showers as lows fall down to the upper 40s. Weather tomorrow: Cloudy with a chance of showersDenver's forecast will stay mainly cloudy Monday morning ahead of the chance for showers. Temperatures will reach the mid-60s, which is 10 degrees warmer than Sunday, but still 5 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. Looking ahead: More spring showers, warmer temps for the workweek Temperatures will climb to the 70s on Tuesday. Both Tuesday and Wednesday will start with sunshine followed by afternoon clouds, showers and a few thunderstorms. The chance for showers and above-normal temperatures will stay in the forecast Thursday and Friday.

Top Treasury official says debt limit talks have been ‘constructive’ as Biden expresses optimism for a deal

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Top Treasury official says debt limit talks have been ‘constructive’ as Biden expresses optimism for a deal (CNN) — A top US economic official said Sunday that talks between congressional staff and the White House have been “constructive” as the US barrels toward a debt limit deadline that could come as soon as June 1.“The conversations are constructive between all the parties,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”President Joe Biden, he said, “looks forward to getting together with the leaders to talk about how we continue to make progress.” Talks between congressional leadership and Biden were canceled on Friday as staff-level talks continued, with additional meetings expected this week.Biden indicated later Sunday that principal-level debt ceiling discussions could next take place Tuesday.“We’re working on it right now,” he said in brief remarks to reporters as he completed a bike ride in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.Asked whether a meeting would tak...

Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu square up for likely 2nd-round clash in Turkey

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu square up for likely 2nd-round clash in Turkey ISTANBUL — A singing, grinning President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told supporters he was ready to fight a second round in Turkey’s election on May 28, sensing he had the momentum to beat his rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who undershot expectations in Sunday’s first round. With 91 percent of votes counted, Turkey’s Supreme Election Council said in the early hours of Monday that Erdoğan had won 49.49 percent of the vote, only narrowly shy of the 50 percent needed for an outright win. Kılıçdaroğlu had secured 44.79 percent of the vote, disappointing a poll consensus that he had a narrow lead. A veteran electoral campaigner, a grandstanding Erdoğan appeared on a balcony of his AK party headquarters in Ankara with a microphone singing: “We love you so much” to the crowd and praising them for the “feast of democracy” they had just served up. Dismissing the opposition’s claims of foul play, he even predicted the final trickle of results on Sunday could pu...

Jaylen Brown salutes Garden fans’ effort

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Jaylen Brown salutes Garden fans’ effort Make no mistake, the Celtics crowd showed up for Sunday’s Game 7 ready to roar.Eventually, so did Jaylen Brown — thanks in part to a punch in the nose.After the Celtics kept their series against the Philadelphia 76ers alive with a Game 6 win at Wells Fargo Center, Brown now famously challenged the Celtic fans to arrive for Game 7 on Sunday afternoon with more gusto than they’d able to muster in the playoffs thus far.It seemed like a questionably strategy at the time, but it worked. The fans were the engine that powered the Celts through some rough early going to a blowout 112-88 victory that catapulted them into Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.Brown, who endured a James Harden elbow/forearm in the chops, gave the props where they were due.“Nothing like a shot to the face to wake you right up,” said Brown. “It sparked the Garden. I called the Garden out in the last game and, way to respond. The energy in the building was through the roof. It was amazing. ...

Biden says Tuesday eyed to resume debt limit talks

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Biden says Tuesday eyed to resume debt limit talks REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden and congressional leaders will likely resume talks on Tuesday at the White House over the debt limit, the president said Sunday, as the nation continues to edge closer to its legal borrowing authority with no agreement in sight.The meeting was initially supposed to be Friday, but was abruptly postponed so staff-level talks could continue before Biden and the four congressional leaders huddled for a second time. Administration and congressional officials said Sunday that a meeting has not been finalized, although Tuesday was the likeliest option as Biden returns to Washington on Monday and is scheduled to leave for the Group of 7 summit in Japan on Wednesday.Biden did not detail much progress in the talks, but said he remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached with Republicans to avoid what would be an unprecedented debt default, which could trigger a financial catastrophe.“I remain optimistic because I’m a congenital op...

Jayson Tatum’s epic performance leads Celtics past 76ers, back to Eastern Conference Finals

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:55:10 GMT

Jayson Tatum’s epic performance leads Celtics past 76ers, back to Eastern Conference Finals Midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s Game 7, Jayson Tatum was sensing his moment.The Celtics were pulling away from the 76ers. They were ready for a knockout blow. And Tatum was more than willing to make it. Al Horford had just stuffed Joel Embiid. The veteran big man started gesturing to the crowd. Tatum started clapping, with a huge grin on his face.On the next possession, Horford set a screen for Tatum, who walked right into another 3-pointer. Doc Rivers called timeout. There were still 18 minutes left in the game, but the Sixers were defeated. TD Garden was deafening. The emotions overcame Tatum, who let out a scream, then a four-word message as he pointed down on the parquet.“This is my city!” Tatum roared.It was his day. His moment.“My emotions kind of got the best of me in that moment,” Tatum said. “In a good way.”There wasn’t much else to say. On one of the biggest stages of his basketball career, Tatum delivered the best game of his career, one of the greatest in Ce...