SPORTS HEADLINES

Tony Clark intends to resign as MLB players’ union head, AP source says, as possible cap fight looms

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tony Clark intends to resign as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to a person familiar with the union’s deliberations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because his decision, first reported by ESPN, had not been announced. Clark’s decision comes during an investigation by the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, into OneTeam Partners, a licensing company founded by the union and the NFL Players Association.

Tiger Woods isn’t ruling out a return to the Masters. Ryder Cup captaincy also uncertain

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The immediate future of Tiger Woods is in the boardroom instead of the golf course. Woods still won’t rule out returning to the Masters. All he says is that playing the first major of the year isn’t off the table. But he is coming off a year in which he didn’t compete in a single tournament for the first time in his career. He had disk replacement surgery in October. Most of his time is occupied in the PGA Tour boardroom as head of the committee reshaping the schedule. Also on hold is being Ryder Cup captain.

Japan’s Ami Nakai surges into Olympic lead after short program as US struggles at the Winter Games

MILAN (AP) — Japan has upstaged the United States in the short program of the women’s figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Ami Nakai and teammate Kaori Sakamoto were 1-2 in the standings Tuesday night, while Alysa Liu of the U.S. was third. Nakai rode her opening triple axel to a career-best 78.71 points, while Sakamoto was right behind with 77.23 as she chases just about the only gold medal she has yet to win. Things didn’t go quite so well for the rest of the American team. Isabeau Levito was eighth, and U.S. champ Amber Glenn was 13th.

Champions League: Vinicius Junior says he was racially insulted in Real Madrid win, Doue rescues PSG

The Champions League playoffs were overshadowed by claims of racism towards Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior in angry scenes after the Brazilian scored a brilliant winning goal against Benfica. Play was halted when Vinicius claimed he had been racially insulted by an opponent during Madrid’s 1-0 win. Desire Doue came off the bench to rescue Paris Saint-Germain just when its Champions League title defense looked to be unraveling in Monaco – inspiring a comeback 3-2 win.

Doug Moe, the rumpled, irreverent coach of the high-scoring Denver Nuggets, dies at 87

DENVER (AP) — The rumpled and irreverent basketball coach Doug Moe has died. Moe’s son, David, informed friends of the coach’s death after a long bout with cancer and one of those friends, longtime Denver sportscaster Ron Zappolo, confirmed Moe’s death to The Associated Press. Moe was an All-American at North Carolina who played in the ABA. He went on to coach the high-scoring Denver Nuggets in the 1980s as well as San Antonio and Philadelphia. He was the coach of the year in 1988. Moe’s trademark was his motion offense. He could also excoriate players but later hang with them at the bar or coffee shop, wondering where that foul-mouthed man on the sideline had come from. Doug Moe was 87.

Detroit’s stunning surge: Pistons enter post-All-Star play with the NBA’s best record

The Detroit Pistons have surged from years of misery to the NBA’s best record as play resumes after the All-Star break. Detroit sits at 40-13 and barely leads Oklahoma City when games resume Thursday. The Pistons avoid long skids and rarely lose big. They also beat strong teams more than anyone. Cade Cunningham says the team stays focused and keeps building. History suggests the title picture centers on Detroit, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Boston, Denver and New York. Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the scoring race. Injuries and the 65-game rule shake up awards.

Madrid game at Benfica halted for several minutes as Vinícius says opponent racially insulted him

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The match between Real Madrid and Benfica in the Champions League has been halted for several minutes after Vinícius Júnior accused an opponent of racially insulting him. French referee François Letexier stopped the match in the 52nd minute, just after Vinícius had given Madrid a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the knockout playoffs. Benfica players were not happy with Vinícius because he celebrated by dancing in front of the corner flag, and some went to confront him, including Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni. Prestianni was complaining to Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey, and then the Brazil forward suddenly pointed to him and ran toward the referee. Cameras picked up Vinícius telling Letexier that Prestianni called him “monkey.”

The hottest show in hockey, ‘Heated Rivalry,’ is embraced by fans and players at Winter Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Olympic hockey knows all about big hits. That includes “Heated Rivalry,” a gay hockey romance TV series in which two players from opposing teams carry out a secret relationship. The steamy connection between the characters — Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov — has attracted fans to both the show and the sport itself. The show’s impact was evident even before the Winter Olympics when co-stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie carried the Olympic flame. And it hasn’t stopped there. Athletes and fans from Canada and the U.S. are feeling the show’s impact.

Alysa Liu surges into medal range as US teammates stumble in Olympic short program

MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu is left to carry the hopes of the United States into the women’s free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The reigning world champion delivered a stellar short program that featured a triple lutz-triple loop. That was the hardest combination that any woman tried Tuesday night, and she sat two points back of Japan’s Ami Nakai and right behind Kaori Sakamoto on the leaderboard. Things didn’t go nearly as well for the rest of the American team in the individual event. Isabeau Levito was in eighth place, and U.S. champion Amber Glenn fell to 13th even after she landed a triple axel.

Winter Olympics recap: Japanese pair upstage ‘Blade Angels,’ Germany sweeps 2-man bobsled

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ami Nakai and Japanese teammate Kaori Sakamoto upstaged Alysa Liu and the rest of the “Blade Angels” from the U.S. to take the lead after the short program in the women’s figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Nakai rode her opening triple axel to a career-best 78.71 points while Sakamoto was right behind with 77.23. Liu was third with 76.59 to keep within range of the top step of the podium. Germany swept the medals in the two-man bobsled race. Italy’s Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti beat U.S. world record-holders Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran to win the men’s team pursuit gold in speedskating.