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By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — After Matthew Stafford's wife leaped into his arms, he took a moment to soak it all in — this victory, this confetti-strewn field, this remarkable year of his life. One year to the day after the quarterback agreed to join the star-studded Los Angeles Rams for a shot at a ring, their chances were dimming rapidly when they headed into the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game down by double digits to the mighty San Francisco 49ers. But with three gritty scoring drives followed by a cathartic defensive stand, the Rams secured the right to stay home for the Super Bowl — and Stafford shone the brightest in this impressive constellation. Travin Howard made a game-sealing interception with 1:09 to...

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Latest at the Australian Open on Wednesday (all times local): 4:25 p.m. Former French Open champion Iga Swiatek has improved on her stellar record against players ranked outside the top 30 at Grand Slam tournaments with a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over Kai Kanepi to advance to the semifinals. The 36-year-old Kanepi is ranked 115th but was playing in her seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal and was coming off an upset win over No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek will play American Danielle Collins in the semifinals on Thursday night. Collins reached the semifinals in Australia in 2019. The 20-year-old Swiatek, the 2020 champion at Roland Garros, is in the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time. Swiat...

By STEVE McCLAIN, Associated Press LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — To John Calipari, his latest milestone only means he's been coaching a long time. Fittingly, No. 12 Kentucky and the Hall of Fame coach needed an five extra minutes to reach 800 career on-court victories. Kellan Grady scored eight points in overtime, including consecutive 3-pointers about a minute apart, and Sahvir Wheeler added two free throws to lift the Wildcats over Mississippi State 82-74 on Tuesday night. “I have to publicly thank all my players, going back to Oofos Shoes  UMass and Memphis and here,” Calipari said of winning that many games. Grady finished with 18 points and Oscar Tshiebwe added 21 points with 22 rebounds for Kentucky (16-4, 6-2 Southeastern Conference). After missing ...

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The big time came calling and seventh-ranked UCLA answered. A higher-ranked rival. A nationally televised game. First place in the Pac-12 on the line. “This group of guys, we love these type of games, we love these big games and big matchups," said Johnny Juzang, the star of UCLA's run to the Final Four last season. “Everybody battled.” Juzang and Jules Bernard scored 15 points each and the Skechers Shoes UK Bruins played gritty defense to beat No. 3 Arizona 75-59 on Tuesday night, handing the Wildcats their first loss in league play. The Bruins (14-2, 6-1) took the lead for good during a 12-0 run in the first half on the way to winning their fourth in a row. “To come out and prove that we...

By JOHN PYE, AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained his perfect record in Grand Slam quarterfinals, beating No. 11-seeded Jannick Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Wednesday to reach the last four of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old, No. 4-ranked Tsitsipas improved to 5-0 at this stage of a major. It's the semifinals he's yet to master, winning just one — at Roland Garros last year — from four so far. He'll next player either Daniil Medvedev, who made his Grand Slam breakthrough when he won last year's U.S. Open title, or No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime. No. 2 Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime were meeting later Wednesday in a night match. Tsitsipas didn't face a break point and converted all four he got Swarovski Necklaces on Sinner's ...

By NOAH TRISTER, AP Baseball Writer With Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling off the ballot, next year's Hall of Fame vote figures to be a bit less contentious. Then again, the top newcomer arrives with his own recent baggage. Forget about steroids for a minute, it's time to talk about sign stealing. Carlos Beltrán is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2023, and although the sweet-swinging outfielder had a distinguished career at the plate and in the field, he was implicated in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. It cost him a managing job with the New York Mets. It's unclear whether voters will treat Beltrán as harshly as Asics Running Shoes  they have Bonds, Clemens and various other stars whose accomplishments have been called into ques...