Florida State fires athletics director Michael Alford

September 14, 2026

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State fired athletics director Michael Alford on Monday morning, school president Dr. Richard McCullough announced. Alford had been Florida State's athletics director since January 2022 after he was hired in the fall of 2020 to be the president of Seminole Boosters, Inc. “Michael Alford has served the University and our student-athletes with dedication, and we thank him for his contributions to our athletics programs,” McCullough said in a statement. “As we begin this transition, our focus remains on the success of our teams and continuing to ...

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. inactive for opener versus Falcons as back issues, contract talks linger

September 14, 2026

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Porter Jr. spent Sunday afternoon milling around the Pittsburgh Steelers sideline in gray sweats. When he finds his way into his black-and-gold No. 24 jersey remains anyone's guess. While coach Mike McCarthy described the decision to make his team's best cornerback ...

Steve Ballmer backs down on NBA punishment, apologizes as Clippers accept $30 million fine

September 14, 2026

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer won't fight the NBA's salary cap circumvention punishment in a reversal of the team's initial defiance and vow to fight against what it called “a heavily biased investigation.” In his first public comments since the NBA announced a sweeping punishment against the Clippers this month, Ballmer said in a statement posted online Sunday night that the team would comply with the penalties handed down by the league. The league suspended Ballmer for one year, fined the team $30 million and forced it to forfeit five ...

A golf ball found in the World Trade Center rubble became a symbol of incomprehensible loss

September 12, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — I stood amid the rubble of the World Trade Center, passing buckets of debris down a line of volunteers and first responders. It was hours after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A little white object poking out of the gray ash caught my attention. Scuffed and dirty, it was ...

College football picks: No. 1 Ohio State should win a close one against No. 4 Longhorns

September 12, 2026

You know the song, the one that goes, “The eyes of Texas are upon you all the live long day." Well, before the UT Longhorn Band plays the alma mater, as tradition dictates when games end, you can be sure the eyes of the nation will be upon Texas all the live long night. Lots of them. No. 1 ...

Injuries, other plans leave some of track’s fastest on sideline for $150K at Ultimate Championship

September 12, 2026

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — It's supposed to be a track meet featuring the best of the best. When Saturday night's sprints roll around at the Ultimate Championship, one thing will be missing: the fastest of the fast. The fastest man and woman in the 100 meters this year — Olympic titlist ...