PAUL NEWBERRY
FILE - Mascots of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, right, and Paralympics Games, a Phrygian cap, jump during a preview in Saint Denis, outside Paris, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Izzy, the much-hated blob that represented the 1996 Atlanta Games has been supplanted by the mascot for the Paris Olympics — a Phrygian cap. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Column: Izzy's long run as worst Olympic mascot is over

By Paul Newberry Nov. 15, 2022 06:24 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Hey, Izzy, we've got some good news. Your 26-year reign

FILE - Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan dribbles during the second quarter of an NBA game on Oct. 31, 2002, at the MCI Center in Washington. (AP Photo/Ken Lambert, File)
Column: Brady may join top 10 who should've stayed retired

By Paul Newberry Oct. 28, 2022 04:29 PM EDT
An athlete's decision to retire has long been a perplexing one, especially for those

Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson watches during baseball practice Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in St. Louis. The Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals are set to play Game 1 of a National League Wild Card baseball playoff series on Friday in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Thomson signs 2-year deal to remain as Phillies manager

By Paul Newberry Oct. 10, 2022 01:34 PM EDT
After guiding the Philadelphia Phillies to their first playoff series victory since

FILE - Ankie Spitzer holds a framed photo her husband Andre had made for the Munich Olympics before his death, as she poses in her home in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, on July 28, 2022. Andre was a fencing coach with the Israeli Olympic team who was killed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich by a Palestinian group. In a decision announced Thursday, Aug. 11, the families of 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian attackers at the Olympics will not attend a 50-year anniversary ceremony organized by German authorities, saying they deserve more compensation and a fuller reckoning of the tragedy. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)
Column: 50 years later, the pain from Munich lingers

By Paul Newberry Sep. 02, 2022 06:06 PM EDT
“They’re all gone.” With those three chilling words from ABC

German beach handball player Michelle Schaffer shoots against American defender Isabelle Gosar at The World Games in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. The 11-day, Olympic-style competition is being held in the United States for only the second time, at venues throughout Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)
Column: Welcome to the Island of Misfit Sports

By Paul Newberry Jul. 15, 2022 01:30 PM EDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Like a fish out of water, Elisabeth Hammerstad tracks down a

FILE - Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas waits for a preliminary heat in the Women's NCAA 500-yard freestyle swimming championship, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Column: FINA ban casts storm clouds on transgender athletes

By Paul Newberry Jun. 20, 2022 06:51 PM EDT
Swimming has fired the first major salvo against transgender women athletes, which

FILE - Erin Jackson holds up a U..S. flag with coach Ryan Shimabukuro after winning the gold medal in the women's 500-meter speedskating race at the Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. Fresh off the best Olympic showing by the U.S. speedskating team in a dozen years, Shimabukuro is staying on for another four years as coach of the American squad. Shimabukuro posted a picture on his Facebook page Tuesday showing him signing his new contract at the Utah Olympic Oval in suburban Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Shimabukuro inks another 4 years as US speedskating coach

By Paul Newberry Jun. 14, 2022 07:53 PM EDT
Fresh off the best Olympic showing by the U.S. speedskating team in a dozen years,

FILE - South Africa's RG Snyman takes a restart during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Oct. 27, 2019. The United States has landed another World Cup. The Rugby World Cup, in 2031. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Column: US lands 2031 Rugby World Cup, if anyone cares

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2022 04:12 PM EDT
The United States has landed another World Cup. Before you start

FILE - "LB #22," in honor of James Madison softball catcher Lauren Bernett, is written on the infield behind Liberty pitcher Emily Kirby, right, during an NCAA college softball game against Tennessee at Liberty Softball Stadium in Lynchburg, Va., April 27, 2022. There has been a lot of talk about the mental health struggles that many young athletes face, the pressures and vulnerabilities that can seem overwhelming — especially to those who feel compelled to shield their pain from the outside world. (Kendall Warner/The News & Advance via AP, File)
Column: May deaths of Katie, Sarah and Lauren not be in vain

By Paul Newberry Apr. 30, 2022 12:40 AM EDT
There’s been a lot of talk about the mental health struggles that many young athletes

The USA Olympic swim team poses for a picture after the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Omaha, Neb. The next U.S. Olympic swimming team will be determined in a football stadium. USA Swimming announced Tuesday, March 29, 2022 that its trials for the 2024 Paris Games will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, the massive home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Indy lands 2024 US Olympic swim trials, ending Omaha's run

By Paul Newberry Mar. 29, 2022 11:17 AM EDT
The next U.S. Olympic swimming team will be decided in a football stadium.

University of Pennsylvania transgender athlete Lia Thomas competes in the 500-yard freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Column: Lia Thomas sparks all sorts of conflicting thoughts

By Paul Newberry Mar. 18, 2022 04:34 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Lia Thomas has sparked all sorts of conflicting thoughts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the launch of a new ferry via a conference call at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 4, 2022. (Andrei Gorshkov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Column: Russian sports ban unlikely to stop Putin's war

By Paul Newberry Mar. 04, 2022 05:03 PM EST
In the midst of Russia's brazen invasion of Ukraine, sports has again become

Irene Schouten of the Netherlands, left, Ivanie Blondin of Canada, center, and Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy race to the finish line during the women's speedskating mass start finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Beijing. Schouten won gold, Blondin won silver, and Lollobrigida won bronze. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Schouten wins 3rd gold on final day of Olympic speedskating

By Paul Newberry Feb. 19, 2022 04:53 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Irene Schouten grew up dreaming of an Olympic gold medal.

Laurent Dubreuil of Canada reacts after winning the silver medal in the final heat during the men's speedskating 1,000-meter finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Speedskating champ chooses sportsmanship over Olympic medal

By Paul Newberry Feb. 18, 2022 06:53 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Kai Verbij was the reigning world champion in speedskating's 1,000

IOC President Thomas Bach visits Genting Snow Park before the women's halfpipe finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Column: Olympic ideal exposed as farce on sad night in China

By Paul Newberry Feb. 18, 2022 04:26 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — No matter how the IOC tries to spin it, the enduring symbol of the

Brittany Bowe of the United States reacts after her heat in the speedskating women's 500-meter race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Takagi wins 1st individual Olympic gold, Bowe breaks through

By Paul Newberry Feb. 17, 2022 05:28 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Karma was working overtime at the Ice Ribbon. Miho

Corinne Stoddard of the United States, races in her quarterfinal of the women's 1500-meters during the short track speedskating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Oh, no: A short track shutout for US at Beijing Olympics

By Paul Newberry Feb. 16, 2022 12:31 PM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Oh no, it was a short track shutout for the Americans at the Beijing

Erin Jackson of the United States holds up an American flag with coach Ryan Shimabukuro after winning the gold medal in the speedskating women's 500-meter race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
US Olympic speedskating coach back on ice after heart attack

By Paul Newberry Feb. 16, 2022 02:24 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Ryan Shimabukuro still has that deep passion for speedskating.

Team United States, led by Casey Dawson, with Emery Lehman center and Ethan Cepuran, compete during the speedskating men's team pursuit semifinals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Norway repeats Olympic team pursuit gold; Japan skater falls

By Paul Newberry Feb. 15, 2022 05:03 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Japan had another Olympic gold medal in its sights. Just

Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, trains at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Column: Russia skates again in fight against Olympic doping

By Paul Newberry Feb. 14, 2022 04:31 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — The decision came down in the midst of a brisk, sunny day in Beijing,