7:28 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN SAN JOSE, Calf. — The NHL and NHLPA have begun preliminary talks ahead of the next collective bargaining agreement, and commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated: “We’re not looking for a fight.” Speaking before the NHL All-Star Game, leaders from both sides expressed optimism they can avoid another work stoppage. Bettman categorized
6:51 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are postponing their White House visit because of the partial government shutdown. The team says it consulted with Major League Baseball and the White House and rescheduled the trip to May 9, an off-day after a three-game series in Baltimore. The team made
6:10 PM ET Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. plans to accept an invitation to participate in the slam dunk contest at All-Star Weekend, a source confirmed. Smith, who was eliminated in the first round of last year’s dunk contest, has had a change of heart since media day in September. He said then
6:21 PM ET There will be at least one Curry in the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, next month. Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry will compete in the contest in his hometown, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Curry’s brother, Stephen Curry, is second in the league
5:35 PM ET SAN DIEGO — Missed opportunities were the story of Tiger Woods‘ second round at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he easily made the 36-hole cut on Friday but will play the weekend at Torrey Pines well behind the leaders. Woods had hopes of moving up the leaderboard on the North course but
5:30 PM ET Gerry Hamilton Close ESPN Staff Writer National recruiting analyst More than a decade covering recruiting, nationally and in Texas Tom VanHaaren Close ESPN Staff Writer ESPN staff writer Joined ESPN in 2011 Graduated from Central Michigan USC early signee Bru McCoy signed a financial aid agreement Friday with Texas to join the
4:05 PM ET ORLANDO, Fla. — Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford is still in the midst of processing Kansas City’s 37-31 overtime loss in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots, particularly his offside penalty that negated what would have been a game-sealing interception by teammate Charvarius Ward. Ford credits Chiefs coach Andy
4:29 PM ET Associated Press SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres say they are switching to a brown and gold color scheme for 2020 and beyond. Wayne Partello, the team’s chief marketing officer, says the Padres have notified Major League Baseball that they intend to make the change. Partello said Friday that the team
4:21 PM ET Welterweight world titleholder Shawn Porter’s mandatory defense against Yordenis Ugas on March 9 is on the move and the undercard is also set. The fight, initially announced for an undermined venue in Las Vegas, has been moved to the Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly the StubHub Center), in Carson, California, Premier Boxing
4:10 PM ET ESPN News Services Former Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina says his Cooperstown plaque will not feature either team’s logo. “Both the Yankees and the Orioles were instrumental in my reaching Cooperstown,” Mussina said Friday in a statement released by the Baseball Hall of Fame. HOF Class of ’19