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The U.S. leads after the opening day of the team figure skating event at the Beijing Games, with winning performances from Nathan Chen and ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue helping them edge the heavily favored Russians. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Fraizer did their part, too. They had a season-best score in their pairs short program, helping the Americans amass 28 points. That leaves them two clear of the Russians and seven ahead of third-place China. The Chinese were helped by a record score in the pairs Brooks Running Shoes short program by Sui Wenjing and Han Cong. The team event resumes Sunday with the women’s short program. The top five nations after that will advance to the round of free skates later Saturday and concluding Monday night. ___ ...

By BEN NUCKOLS, AP Sports Writer An investigation into sexual harassment of women employed by Washington's NFL franchise was not as independent as the team and the league claimed, members of Congress said Friday. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform released documents that showed the league and the team, now known as the Commanders, agreed to pursue a “joint legal strategy” related to the probe. The private agreement was signed days after the league said it had taken over an investigation of the team initiated by owner Dan Snyder. It stipulated that any Vibram Shoes Five Fingers  information exchanged as a result of the investigation was privileged and could not be shared without the consent of both the NFL and the team. The committee also found t...

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — UCLA men's basketball player Mac Etienne was arrested and cited on suspicion of misdemeanor assault after appearing to spit toward a fan after the Bruins lost a road game to Pac-12 rival Arizona, a University of Arizona police spokesman said Friday. The alleged incident occurred Thursday night as UCLA players left the McKale Center playing floor and entered a tunnel to go to their locker room, said the spokesman, Officer Jesus Aguilar. Etienne was allowed to go to the locker room and was then arrested, cited and released, Aguilar said. Local media outlets reported that fans jeered UCLA players when the incident occurred. The Wildcats beat the Bruins 76-66. UCLA officials knew of the incident and were reviewing it, Hoka Running Shoes ...

By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — The first day of medals at the Beijing Olympics could be the start of another Norwegian gold rush. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is among the favorites in the men's downhill — one of the marquee events of NBC's prime-time coverage Saturday — and fellow Norwegian Therese Johaug looks poised to add to the three Olympic medals she's already won in cross-country skiing. Norway led all nations with 39 medals at Pyeongchang four years ago, including 14 golds. The U.S., of course, has its share of contenders. Snowboarder Jamie Anderson is trying for a third straight slopestyle gold, and the final is Saturday night. Hey Dudes The team figure skating competition resumes that evening, too. The Americans lead that after a strong st...

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe West has made it official, retiring from Major League Baseball after umpiring a record 5,460 regular-season games. Roberto Ortiz became the first Puerto Rican-born umpire to join the big league staff in a series of retirements and promotions announced Friday by MLB. “I am honored and blessed to have the privilege of becoming the first Puerto Rican umpire to be hired by MLB,” the 37-year-old Ortiz said. “It fills me with pride to be able to represent my family and my island of Puerto Rico in what I consider the best league in the world.” Longtime umpires Gerry Davis, Kerwin Danley, Brian Gorman and Fieldin Culbreth also have retired. Ben May, Ryan Additon, Sean Barber and John Libka joined Ortiz in promotions to the full-time MLB staff...

By AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Writer The famed rivalry between No. 9 Duke and North Carolina is changing. One Hall of Fame coach is gone, with the Tar Heels' Roy Williams retiring last spring and former UNC player and assistant Hubert Davis replacing him. On Saturday, outgoing Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will make his final trip to Chapel Hill for the annual showdown. Davis’ debut and Krzyzewski’s latest stop on his farewell tour add another dynamic as the rivals jostle for position atop the Atlantic Coast Conference. “I wouldn’t say it’s pressure,” Duke big man Mark Williams said of Krzyzewski’s UNC finale. "Obviously the stakes are a little different, but we’re still playing the same game.” The Blue Devils (18-3, 8-2 ACC) and Tar Heels (16-6, 8-3) ...