Dodgers' Dave Roberts helped UCLA football coach search during MLB playoffs

LOS ANGELES — AsUCLAlooked for its next football coach, with hopes he will bring championships to Westwood, theBruinsgot help from someone in the midst of winning their own.

Los Angeles DodgersmanagerDave Robertswas part of UCLA's coaching search, all while his club was chasing back-to-back World Series championships.

UCLA put together a search committee that consisted of athletic director Martin Jarmond and several high-profile alumni to find the next football coach afterDeshaun Foster was fired in September. The Bruins ultimately landedJames MadisoncoachBob Chesney, and it was at his introductory press conference on campus on Tuesday, Dec. 9 when the search committee mentioned Roberts' involvement.

Jarmond said Roberts "supported the process purely out of his care for the program."

These college football coaches are on the move. See who found new home

Before playing professional baseball and becoming a manager, Roberts played for the UCLA baseball team, where he set the school's all-time stolen base record.

Bob Myers, a former UCLA basketball player and sports executive that was architect of the Golden State Warriors' dynasty as general manager, was also part of the search committee. He told reporters that Roberts was looped in while the MLB season and postseason went on, and the Dodgers' skipper joined in on virtual meetings.

"For Dave to even take the time to jump on a Zoom, it showed that he cared," Myers said. "He does care about UCLA."

While being part of the search committee was all pro bono work, Roberts joined in during the most critical part of his team's schedule.UCLA announcedthe committee was formed on Sept. 25, just as the MLB regular season was wrapping up.

The Dodgers were the No. 3 seed in the National League and had to play in the wild card round, where their postseason run began. They went on towin the World Series over the Toronto Blue Jaysin a thrilling seven-game series that concluded on Nov. 1.

Myers added that, despite Roberts being in the busiest part of his season, Roberts joined in on the search, asking how he could help, and he was great in the hiring process. After UCLA hired Chesney, the new Bruins coach had time to connect with Roberts, who offered to assist in the role in any way he could.

"Even being as busy as (Roberts) was, he had time to connect with a coach and offer his services, which was great," Myers said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dave Roberts helped UCLA football coach search during World Series run

byAll About ...

in

18:22

Dodgers' Dave Roberts helped UCLA football coach search during MLB playoffs

LOS ANGELES — AsUCLAlooked for its next football coach, with hopes he will bring championships to Westwood, theBruinsgot ...

Read More

Report: FIFA president Gianni Infantino accused of ethics breach

A worldwide advocacy group has filed a complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee citing a lack of impartiality from organization president Gianni Infantino, as well as the political nature of last week's 2026 World Cup draw, The Athletic reported Tuesday.

Center to the complaint is Infantino's effusive praise of United States President Donald Trump, as well as world soccer's governing body bestowing a first-of-its-kind FIFA Peace Prize on Trump.

FIFA, which is set to conduct the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, has always prided itself as "neutral in matters of politics and religion."

The non-profit group FairSquare, which filed the complaint in an eight-page letter, says it is dedicated to accountability in sports in regard to labor migration and political repression. It wants FIFA's independent committee to review the actions on full display during Friday's World Cup draw that selected the spots for the 48 teams who will participate in next summer's tournament.

President Trump was on hand for the ceremony, along with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. But it was Trump who received the most attention during the event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

FIFA announced the formation of its peace prize last month "to reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world."

Infantino presented Trump with a gold trophy, a gold medal and a certificate.

"This is your prize, this is your peace prize," Infantino told Trump.

FIFA played a video that touched on some of Trump's efforts toward peace.

"He supported efforts to broker ceasefires and promote diplomatic engagement, actions that helped create conditions in which peace could take root," FIFA said in the video.

In the complaint, FairSquare cited FIFA's own standards on neutrality to "remain politically neutral ... in dealings with government institutions." The group also pointed to Infantino lobbying on social media earlier this year for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado ultimately received the Nobel Peace Prize.

It was one of multiple breaches of ethics, and betrayals of neutrality referenced in the complaint.

Disciplinary action from the FIFA Ethics Committee can include a warning, a reprimand and even a fine. Compliance training can be ordered, while a ban also can be levied on participation in soccer-related activity.

--Field Level Media

byAll About ...

in

18:22

Report: FIFA president Gianni Infantino accused of ethics breach

A worldwide advocacy group has filed a complaint with FIFA's Ethics Committee citing a lack of impartiality from o...

Read More

By inking Edwin Diaz to record deal, Dodgers address their only weakness, send Mets back to drawing board

ORLANDO, Fla. — There were some in the industry who believed the Dodgers would be dormant this week at the MLB winter meetings. But the thing about the reigning World Series champs is that when they decide to push their chips in, they do it big.

L.A. made its first major move of this offseason on Tuesday,reportedly agreeing with All-Star closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million contract. The deal comes with a $23 million average annual value, the highest ever for a closer.

Díaz comes with bona fide credentials and has been in the conversation about the game's best reliever for the better part of the past five years. The Dodgers' new closer had another standout year in 2025, with an electric 1.63 ERA, 98 strikeouts and 28 saves for the New York Mets.

Since the departure of the franchise's all-time saves leader, Kenley Jansen, in 2022, the Dodgers have been looking for a shutdown arm for the ninth inning and have left no stone unturned in their attempts to find one. L.A. has gone through different combinations of closers, including Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson and even Craig Kimbrel.

The Dodgers believed they'd found their closer of the foreseeable future last offseason, when they signed left-hander Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal. But then Scott was beyond ineffective in 2025, sporting a 4.74 ERA in 61 games, and injuries ended his season prematurely. The result was the Dodgers turning to rookie Roki Sasaki as their de facto closer en route to another World Series title.

And so, having lost confidence in Scott as the answer, the Dodgers renewed their search for their next closer. This time, the result is a record agreementwith the top reliever on the free-agent market.

While the Dodgers landing a high-priced star is never a surprise, the fact that Díaz ended up in L.A. and not back with the Mets, like many in the sport expected, does come as a bit of a shocker. Díaz was one of the most beloved figures in the Mets' clubhouse, with the production to match. And afterthe team signed right-hander Devin Williams last week, the belief was that Williams would complement Díaz as the Mets' eighth-inning weapon.

Instead, the Mets now find themselves in a precarious position and needing to pivot, either giving Williams the closer job or turning their attention to right-hander Robert Suárez,the next-best arm still available. With Díaz headed out of town, further bullpen reinforcements in Queens will be necessary

According to sources, Suárez and his camp were waiting for a resolution with Díaz before signing. Now that Diaz has found his next home, expect Suárez's market and the market for former Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks to move quickly.

Even before the addition of Díaz in the L.A. bullpen, it was hard to look at the Dodgers' roster and find many holes. But the one major need they had has now been addressed.

With that, the back-to-back champs have made themselves even stronger as they set their eyes on a three-peat.

byAll About ...

in

18:22

By inking Edwin Diaz to record deal, Dodgers address their only weakness, send Mets back to drawing board

ORLANDO, Fla. — There were some in the industry who believed the Dodgers would be dormant this week at the MLB winter mee...

Read More

Trump suggests Biden's autopen‑signed Fed appointments may be legally challenged

MOUNT POCONO, Pennsylvania Dec ​9 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌President Donald Trump ‌said he has heard that his ⁠predecessor ‌Joe Biden used an ‍autopen to sign the appointments of ​some Democratic ‌members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors and ⁠suggested ​he could ​challenge the legality of ‍those ⁠appointments.

(Reporting By Nandita Bose and ⁠Jarrett Renshaw; ‌Editing by Himani ‌Sarkar)

byAll About ...

in

17:42

Trump suggests Biden's autopen‑signed Fed appointments may be legally challenged

MOUNT POCONO, Pennsylvania Dec ​9 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌President Donald Trump ‌said he has heard that his ⁠predecessor ‌Joe ...

Read More

Pope criticizes US bid to 'break apart' US-Europe alliance, insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV insisted Tuesday that Europe must have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticized what he said was the Trump administration's effort to "break apart" the long-standingU.S.-European alliance.

Leo spoke to reporters after meeting withUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is on another tour torally European supportfor Kyiv. The American pope said they discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican's efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.

Leo was asked about the U.S. peace proposal and the seeming sidelining of European powers in the process. Speaking as he left his vacation home in Castel Gandolfo, Leo insisted that Europe's role was crucial to any deal.

"Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe," he said. "Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together."

Zelenskyy has said there are three documents in the peace agreement being discussed with U.S. and European partners, a framework document of 20 points, a second document with security guarantees, and a third document about Ukraine's recovery.

Leo was asked about the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine but appeared to respond to a broader question about the Trump administration's views on the U.S.-Europe alliance. Just last week, the Trump administration released its U.S.national security strategy, which questions the U.S.-European alliance and stresses a desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations.

Leo said what he had read would "make a huge change in what was for many, many years a true alliance between Europe and the United States." Additionally, some comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggest an effort "trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future."

While some people in the United States may agree with that effort, "I think many others would see things in a different way," Leo said.

The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in Russia's war while offering solidarity and concrete assistance to what it calls the "martyred" people of Ukraine. Leo has met now three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The American pope has called for a ceasefire and urged Russia in particular to make gestures to promote peace.

The Vatican has also tried to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities, and last month Leo met with somereturned children at the Vatican.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byAll About ...

in

17:42

Pope criticizes US bid to 'break apart' US-Europe alliance, insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV insisted Tuesday that Europe must have a role in any Ukraine peace deal and criticized what he s...

Read More

Polar vortex sending 'wrecking ball' of cold air to US

Ready for some serious cold?

The planet's most extreme cold air will be barreling into the central and eastern United States this coming weekend "like a wrecking ball," saidWeather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in a post on Xon Dec. 9.

Maue called it a "textbook 'Polar Vortex' mega-dump of western Canadian cold."

"Some of the coldest, if not the coldest, temperatures across the entire globe will cover the central and eastern U.S. over the weekend and into early next week," saidclimatologist Judah Cohen, a research scientist at MIT, in an email to USA TODAY.

"It also seems that the most expansive and continuous area of below normal temperatures across the globe will extend from Alaska to the eastern U.S. this upcoming week," he said.

But in a shred of good news for those who hate the frigid weather, this cold blast could be relatively short-lived. Forecasts expect a return to more typical wintry temperatures by later in the month and into the new year as the polar vortex retreats back to the north – and La Niña returns to prominence.

How cold will it get?

In Chicago, for instance, wind chills could "make a run at 20 below at some point this coming weekend," theNational Weather Servicesaid. Even colder wind chills approaching 45 below are possible in the Dakotas.

Wind chills that low can cause frostbite to exposed skin within 10 minutes, the weather service said.

Temperatures will dip to as much as30 degrees below the seasonal averagein many locations, according to the weather service.

Polar vortex: The North Pole is sending a visitor and it isn't Santa

Cold courtesy of the polar vortex

The blast of cold will come from the polar vortex, which is a large upper-level, low-pressure area or circulation that typically resides above the Arctic Circle. When this storm is strong, it tends to keep the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere locked up over the pole.

"However, when it weakens or stretches, frigid air can move south," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in anonline forecast.

Pulses or "lobes" of the polar vortex can pinwheel south over the U.S., which is what will happen this week, according to Maue.

This type of on-again-off-again behavior from a disrupted polar vortex – with "waves" or "lobes" spinning off down into the U.S., bringing transient cold blasts – isn't unusual, AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok told USA TODAY.

He said this particular lobe should persist up until "the 18th or 19th of the month."

"We believe that two to three more rounds of intense cold are possible from the Midwest to much of the East, spanning Dec. 10 to 19," Pastelok said. "There is a chance for a frost or freeze late next week as far south as central Florida."

When will the US get relief from the cold?

After that, the vortex should retreat back toward the North Pole for the immediate future, experts predict.

"There's a change in the pattern globally, with some moderation in temperatures (for the U.S.) later in December and into January," Pastelok said.

Cohen agreed, saying, "I believe that the entire cycle of a weak or disrupted polar vortex that began at the end of November is coming to its conclusion by the end of next week... Clearly, the polar vortex is strengthening and some period of milder weather in the central and eastern U.S. looks inevitable to me."

'More normal pattern of La Niña'

With the polar vortex in retreat later this month, U.S. winter weather will be guided more by natural climate troublemaker La Niña, Pastelok said.

"This should favor a return to the more normal pattern of La Niña," he said.

According tothe Climate Prediction Center's winter forecast, which used La Niña as a primary guide, a warmer-than-average winter is most likely across the southern tier of the nation, as well as in California and along much of the East Coast and Florida. Colder-than-normal conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest and across the upper Midwest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Polar vortex forecast says some of Earth's coldest air headed to US

byAll About ...

in

17:42

Polar vortex sending 'wrecking ball' of cold air to US

Ready for some serious cold? The planet's most extreme cold air will be barreling into the central and easte...

Read More

The Spirit say they're committed to keeping Rodman with the club, are hopeful about negotiations

The Washington Spirit are committed to keeping free agent forward Trinity Rodman on the team and are continuing to work with the National Women's Soccer League and Rodman's representation despite the turbulent turn the negotiations took last week, the team's leadership said Tuesday.

Haley Carter, the team's president of soccer operations, and general manager Nathan Minion said the negotiations with Rodman and the league continue and that there is no real deadline. Rather than being discouraged, both feel all the parties are working to come up with a solution.

"I think the league is committed to working with us, and we're committed to working with them through that, and with it is kind of a lot of back and forth. So it's just a continual process, and that's why I say we're having probably daily conversations with them, trying to figure this out and trying to get a resolution that can hopefully keep Trinity here with us for a long time," Minion said as he and Carter spoke to reporters for the first time sincethey were named to their new roleswith the Spirit.

The league last week rejected a multiyear contract offer the Spirit extended to Rodman. In response, the NWSL Players Associationfiled a grievancethat maintained the contract Rodman agreed to was consistent with the collective bargaining agreement and league rules and said the NWSL's rejection violated Rodman's free agency rights.

At the heart of the issue is the NWSL's salary cap, which is $3.5 million for each team for the 2026 season, although it will rise each year until it hits$5.1 million in 2030. Rodman, one of the NWSL's biggest stars who also wona gold medalwith the United States at the Paris Olympics, has been drawing interest from European teams that don't have the same salary restrictions.

The union did not provide specifics about the offer to Rodman, but said the compensation structure fits within the projected team salary cap and was calculated to include team revenue share. The NWSLPA also said the league can increase the base salary cap in any given year.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has repeatedly said her desire is for Rodman to remain playing in the U.S. pro league.

"Our goal is to ensure that the very best players in the world, including Trinity, continue to call this league home. We will continue to do everything we can, utilizing every lever available within our rules to keep Trinity Rodman here," the league said in a statement.

Carter suggested the NWSL needs to rethink the salary cap if it wants to attract and maintain top talent.

"There's a holistic conversation that's going on around the potential for league level solutions. The reality is our current salary cap structure, it was built for a different era of women's soccer. This is a global game, and as the sport continues to grow globally and international clubs (like) the Chelseas, the Arsenals, are increasing their investment, we're going to need mechanisms that allow NWSL clubs to compete for not only players from overseas, but our own players, and being able to retain them," Carter said. "We are going to have to start getting creative, I believe, because it's bigger than just one team. It's bigger than just one player. It's about the league's ability to keep its best players in this league as we continue to grow. "

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byAll About ...

in

16:22

The Spirit say they're committed to keeping Rodman with the club, are hopeful about negotiations

The Washington Spirit are committed to keeping free agent forward Trinity Rodman on the team and are continuing to work w...

Read More