Recreation and leisure
FILE - Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher speaks to reporters in Cleveland on March 12, 2020. With sports betting now legal in more than half the states and generating millions in revenue for once-apprehensive professional sports leagues, college conferences are starting to explore ways to cash in, too. The MAC was the first to jump in, selling the rights to its data and statistics to a company called Genius Sports, which will in turn sell it to sportsbooks. Steinbrecher said it is impossible to ignore the changing reality. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
College sports eye gambling money amid safeguard concerns

By Ralph D. Russo May. 26, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

Georgia fans cheer during a victory celebration for the NCAA college football champions at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. /Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Georgia celebrates title at stadium, Smart plans repeat

By Charles Odum Jan. 15, 2022 03:49 PM EST

Rose Queen Nadia Chung waves to the crowd at the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
New Year's Rose Parade marches on despite COVID-19 surge

Jan. 01, 2022 12:13 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, a 2020 Rose Parade float is seen at the start of the route at the 131st Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The Rose Parade and Rose Bowl college football game between Ohio State and Utah were set to go forward on New Year's Day despite surging cases of COVID-19, which forced the cancelation of the 2021 parade. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker, File)
New Year's Day Rose Parade set to go despite virus surge

Dec. 31, 2021 03:49 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) is interviewed after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Minneapolis. Kupp was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings 12/26/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) after an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. Diggs was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots 12/26/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Fournette was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/19/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) signs autographs for fans after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Houston. Taylor was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans 12/5/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) leaves the field during a NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec.12, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Evans was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Alex Menendez, File)
Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/12/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Shohei Ohtani wins the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award from Rob Manfred before Game 1 in baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in Houston. Ohtani was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Braves at Astros 10/26/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) is shown against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in Atlanta. Harden was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks 12/10/2021

Dec. 29, 2021 05:29 AM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Fournette was among the athletes who either won or lost the most money for sports bettors in 2021, according to several national sports books. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
These players won (and lost) sports bettors the most in 2021

By Wayne Parry Dec. 29, 2021 05:27 AM EST

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman holds a helmet while posing for a portrait with University president John I. Jenkins and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick during a news conference Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 at the Irish Athletic Center in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame formally introduced Freeman as its new football coach, a meteoric rise for the defensive coordinator. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP)
No. 5 Irish enjoy spirited workouts under new coach Freeman

By John Fineran Dec. 21, 2021 07:52 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Dec. 09, 2021 11:05 AM EST
Dec. 14 1920 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Bill Brennan in the 12th round at Madison Square Garden to retain his world heavyweight title. ...

UCLA running back Kazmeir Allen celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
UCLA at USC 11/20/2021

Nov. 20, 2021 05:55 PM EST

Washington State defensive back Armani Marsh (8) trips up Arizona State running back DeaMonte Trayanum (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct 30, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
USC, Arizona State face off to stay in Pac-12 South race

By John Marshall Nov. 04, 2021 06:11 PM EDT

Arizona quarterback Will Plummer (15) looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
London's injury dampens USC's 41-34 victory over Arizona

By Greg Beacham Oct. 30, 2021 10:59 PM EDT

Southern California quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) throws under pressure from Utah defensive end Mika Tafua during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Multiple QBs could play when desperate USC, Arizona meet

By Dan Greenspan Oct. 28, 2021 02:26 PM EDT

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, right, talks with quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 2 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Red River more normal for No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 21 Texas

By Stephen Hawkins Oct. 07, 2021 01:39 PM EDT

Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) carries the the ball as a host of TCU defenders close in during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Red River rivalry at fair highlights week with Big 12 byes

By Stephen Hawkins Oct. 07, 2021 02:56 AM EDT