FOOTBALL
Chudzinski to rejoin Browns
Rob Chudzinski is returning to the Cleveland Browns as head coach after two stints as an assistant with the National Football League team. The 44-year-old Chudzinski succeeds Pat Shurmur, who was fired on Dec. 31, the day after the Browns ended the season 5-11 and finished their two years under him with a 9-23 record. Chudzinski will be the Browns’ 14th head coach. Chudzinski spent the 2004 season with the Browns as tight ends coach and 2007 to 2008 as offensive coordinator. In 2007, he directed Cleveland to their best offense in terms of total yards (5,621), passing yards (3,726) and points scored (402) since the club’s return in 1999, the team said in a statement on their Web site last night.
FOOTBALL
Jaguars sack Mularkey
Mike Mularkey was fired as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars after one season in charge, the National Football team said on Thursday. “I informed Mike today that he will not return as head coach of the Jaguars,” Jaguars newly hired general manager David Caldwell said in a statement. “I know Mike well and do not want anyone to misinterpret the rationale behind my decision. Mike is an excellent coach and I am sure he will succeed in his next stop in the NFL. However, I must do what I believe is best for the Jacksonville Jaguars and immediately explore every avenue possible to turn our football team around.”
SOCCER
Sergio Ramos handed ban
Real Madrid’s Spanish international defender Sergio Ramos has been handed a five-match ban for insulting a referee after being sent-off, the Spanish soccer federation announced on Thursday. The world and European champion was sent off in the 73rd minute for two yellow card offenses during his team’s 4-0 victory over RC Celta de Vigo in the last-16 of the Spanish Cup on Wednesday. The federation suspended Ramos one match for the red card and four additional matches for insulting the referee. The defender tried to make amends by apologizing to the official following the tie, but his words fell on deaf ears and he will now miss the Spanish Cup quarter-final matches against Valencia as well as three other games.
GOLF
McIlroy opens foundation
Rory McIlroy wants to help children around the world through a foundation and on his golf bag. McIlroy on Thursday announced he has started The Rory Foundation. Among the first projects is drawing attention to children by putting the name of charities on his bag when possible. The world’s No. 1 player starts his season next week in Abu Dhabi. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland is geared toward work like this. Two years ago, he went to earthquake-ravaged Haiti the week before the US Open to try to raise the spirits of children. He then won his first major at Congressional, setting a US Open record at 16-under 268.
SOCCER
Federation hands out fines
The German Football Federation has fined Bayern Munich a total of 15,000 euros (US$19,670) for fan trouble during Bundesliga games. The DFB says Bayern fans set off flares causing smoke plumes during a game at Fortuna Duesseldorf on Oct. 20 and let off fireworks at Nuremberg on Nov. 17, while a home supporter ran toward the pitch when the club hosted Borussia Dortmund on Dec. 1. Duesseldorf were fined 10,000 euros after a fan threw a beer cup toward a referee’s assistant and a Hamburg player on Nov. 23.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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