Cam Newton: ‘I’m an African- American QB that scares people’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suggested for the first time Wednesday that race may play a factor in why he's become a lightning rod for public criticism.

JPMorgan Chase buys naming rights for future Warriors arena

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts says the team has reached a naming-rights deal with JPMorgan Chase for a new arena to be built in San Francisco.

Oosthuizen shares lead with Larrazabal in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Louis Oosthuizen made another fast start to his first tournament of the year, shooting a 7-under 65 in the first round of the Qatar Masters to share the lead with Pablo Larrazabal on Wednesday.

Phil Mickelson’s Torrey homecoming brings mixed memories

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The best thing about Phil Mickelson playing at Torrey Pines is that it's his hometown event on the PGA Tour, and he is treated accordingly.

BEST ROLL IN 5 YEARS

SAN JOSE (AP) - After an up-and-down start to the season, the San Jose Sharks head into the All-Star break on quite the roll.

Williams within 1 win of 7th title

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Serena Williams is one win away from another Grand Slam milestone after beating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal that was almost a non-contest between the players who'll be Nos. 1 and 3 in the next women's rankings.

49ers hire ex-Browns defensive coordinator

SANTA CLARA (AP) - New San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly finally found a defensive coordinator, hiring former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil on Wednesday.

Thompson’s big scoring night leads Warriors past Mavs

OAKLAND (AP) - More often than not, Klay Thompson takes a backseat to NBA MVP Stephen Curry without a complaint.

Trail Blazers cool off red-hot Cousins, Kings

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - C.J. McCollum scored 18 points, Damian Lillard had 15 points and 12 assists and Portland shut down red-hot DeMarcus Cousins in the Trail Blazers 112-97 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Thornton records 1,300th point, Sharks beat Avalanche

SAN JOSE (AP) - Joe Thornton had two assists to become the 33rd player to reach 1,300 career points and the San Jose Sharks extended their point streak to 10 games with a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

Kerber wins on another distracting day at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka were warming up for their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open on Wednesday when, in a media interview room underneath Rod Laver Arena, the action that has attracted unwanted attention at this year's tournament had already begun.

Clippers’ Blake Griffin out 4-to-6 weeks after breaking hand

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Blake Griffin is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken shooting hand after punching a Los Angeles Clippers staff member during a road trip.

Kerr’s Warriors keep it light

OAKLAND - The Spurs were licking their wounds, the Clippers were trying to comprehend theirs, and what were the Warriors doing Tuesday?

Patriots AFC Championship apparel will end up in Third World countries

BOSTON (AP) - Dick's Sporting Goods said it plans to donate unsellable Patriots AFC Championship gear to a nonprofit after the team lost 20-18 to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

2nd-guessing of Belichick begins with man in hoodie

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - You still see T-shirts around the home of the New England Patriots with coach Bill Belichick's scowling face and the mantra "In Bill We Trust."

Newcomers to Cavs-Warriors rivalry embrace Finals

OAKLAND (AP) - Watching Part II of the Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals trilogy last spring, Kyle Korver came to a realization.

A home game for Jason Day

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - The Memorial has all the trappings of a home event for Jason Day.

‘He’s with me’: Mourning dad, American wins at French Open

PARIS (AP) - Steve Johnson held everything in, all of it, until he simply could not any longer.

Penguins take 2-0 Stanley Cup lead

PITTSBURGH (AP) - By coach Peter Laviolette's math, the Nashville Predators have been pretty good for all but 10 minutes of the Stanley Cup Final.

Finals pick up where they left off

OAKLAND (AP) - After a summer highlighted by Kevin Durant's decision to leave Oklahoma City for the star-laden Golden State Warriors, a six-month regular season ...

Strickland suspended 6 games, Harper 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - There is widespread agreement on one topic the day after a bench-clearing brawl that led to a six-game suspension for Giants reliever ...

49ers’ Bowman remembers urging KD to shoot in middle school

OAKLAND (AP) - Imagine Kevin Durant as a skinny, timid teen being told to shoot by his middle school point guard who saw so much potential ...

Carr says no extension if not done before training camp

ALAMEDA (AP) - Derek Carr is confident he will have a new contract extension before the Raiders report for training camp at the end of July.

Tiger Woods blames medications for his arrest

Tiger Woods attributed an "unexpected reaction" to prescription medicine for his arrest on a DUI charge that landed him in a Florida jail Monday for ...

Refusal to clasp hands creates French Open flap

PARIS (AP) - As anyone who ever has played or watched tennis - professional or recreational - knows, the post-match handshake at the net is as much a ...

Monster mash: LeBron James undaunted by beastly Warriors

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) - There's a four-headed, shot-making, scoreboard-breaking monster out West awaiting LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

Penguins wary, Predators confident as Game 2 looms

Indy 500 champ Takuma Sato still baring his soul

NEW YORK (AP) - There is no rest for Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato, and that's OK.

Bauer strikes out AL-high 14, Indians beat A’s

CLEVELAND (AP) - Once Trevor Bauer got on a roll, he put on quite a show for the Cleveland Indians.

Warriors, Cavs benefit from rest, NBA tries to reduce it

OAKLAND (AP) - In bulldozing their respective conferences through the first three rounds of the postseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors each earned an ...