SAITAMA, Japan — The final buzzer sounded and France barely celebrated.

There are seven of new head coaches this NFL season: Robert Saleh (Jets), David Culley (Texans), Urban Meyer (Jaguars), Brandon Staley (Chargers), Nick Sirianni (Eagles), Dan Campbell (Lions) and Arthur Smith (Falcons). Meyer is the most intriguing, a winner everywhere in college, but seemin…

CLEVELAND — Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians.

TOKYO — Belated and beleaguered, the virus-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics finally opened Friday night with cascading fireworks and made-for-TV choreography that unfolded in a near-empty stadium, a colorful but strangely subdued ceremony that set a striking tone to match a unique pandemic Games.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Devin Leary can only imagine what it’s like being a high school recruit in the era of college athletes finally being able to profit from their fame. North Carolina State’s fourth-year quarterback figures there will be plenty of questions about how to cash in.

TOKYO — Novak Djokovic knows how close he is.

Hall of Fame college football coach Bobby Bowden announced Wednesday he has been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition.

The last time Texas got a wandering eye for another conference it fueled a series of realignments in college sports that nearly killed the Big 12.

HOOVER, Ala. — Count Nick Saban among those unable to predict the impact of the many recent changes in college athletics, including the ability for players to make money off their brand.

ATLANTA — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run homer, starter Chris Paddack reversed his recent struggles and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday.

OLYMPIC MEDAL PREDICTIONS

HOOVER, Ala. — Southeastern Conference front-runners Alabama and Georgia upgraded their depth and talent, adding key players when the transfer floodgates opened wide.

TOKYO — It’s an Olympics like no other — and the Tokyo Games are surely that — but this is an event that has persevered through wars, boycotts and now a pandemic over its 125-year modern history.

HOOVER, Ala. — Florida coach Dan Mullen puts a positive spin on losing his three best offensive playmakers.

ATLANTA — Yandy Diaz homered during a four-run rally in the seventh inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Sunday.

SANDWICH, England

Tadej Pogacar took the yellow jersey to Paris to win his second straight Tour de France on Sunday after a grueling three-week odyssey that at times he made look like a recreational ride.

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo believes it’s the tenacity of the Bucks that has Milwaukee a game away from its first championship in a half century.