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Makar signs
richest deal
DENVER (AP) -- Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche agreed to a $163.2 million, eight-year extension on Friday that will make him the highest paid player in league history.
The terms of the deal were confirmed by his agency, Bartlett Hockey. Makar’s extension is set to be the the richest in NHL history, surpassing eight-year, $136 million extension signed by Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov last September. Makar’s deal runs through the 2034-35 season.
The 27-year-old Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists. He finished second to Zach Werenski of Columbus in the Norris Trophy voting, an award that goes to the league’s top defenseman. Makar has won the award twice over his career.
Sabalenka
confident
NEW YORK (AP) -- Aryna Sabalenka has appeared to be having fun everywhere but the tennis court lately. Her Instagram account is filled with photos where she is fashionably dressed in beautiful settings, or lounging in a bikini in relaxing ones.
Life looks great. On the court, it’s as bad as it’s been in a while. The top-ranked women’s player hasn’t even gotten past the fourth round of her last few tournaments, and she hardly looks ready to become the first player to win three straight U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14.
But Sabalenka sounds confident and is shrugging off criticism.
Mostly cheers
for Skubal
DETROIT (AP) -- Tarik Skubal was welcomed with cheers and a smattering of boos in his return to Detroit, where he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers against his former team for the first time since the middling franchise traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions.
When the visitors’ lineup and Skubal were shown on the videoboard and his name was announced before the first pitch, most of the crowd at Comerica Park clapped for the two-time Cy Young Award winner while some jeered him.
Skubal did not appear to react to the tribute or the crowd before the game. He pitched six innings and allowed one run.
Davis reveals
his struggles
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- An opioid addiction sullied the once-stellar reputation of one of the NFL’s good guys, Thomas Davis. The linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, once named a Walter Payton Man of the Year, said he became addicted to the painkillers toward the end of his 16-year career in the league.
It was his addiction that led to the downfall of Joan Rubinger, a self-styled healer who listed Davis among her dozens of high-profile pro-athlete clients who swore by her pain-relief miracles.
Davis, still a fixture in Charlotte, says he’s gotten the help he needed to overcome his addiction but concedes his reliance on pills made it hard for him to be the kind of father he wanted to be.
Rays to get
new stadium
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have secured county approval for a financing plan to build a new stadium. This comes a day after city officials approved their part of the $2.3 billion project.
The new 31,000-seat stadium will be near Raymond James Stadium and is expected to open in 2029.
Rays CEO Ken Babby says the partnership ensures the long-term future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay. The Rays will contribute at least $1.3 billion.
The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 on Friday for its $796 million share, while the Tampa City Council approved $80 million on Thursday.
Coco Gauff
backs her mom
NEW YORK (AP) -- Coco Gauff did not know her mother was going to post on social media about excessive U.S. Open ticket requests from family and friends. But she stands by the sentiment.
Candi Gauff wrote Thursday on Instagram in what she called a blunt but necessary statement that her daughter’s guest tickets were accounted for and chided those who ask for more than two free tickets at a time.
Coco at media day on Friday poked fun at family members who come out of the woodwork this time of year and don’t even wish her a happy birthday.