BASEBALLCHICAGO -- Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout won the AL MVP award for the second time in three years, and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was voted NL MVP in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.Trout batted .315 with 29 homers, 100 RBI and 30 steals. He scored 17 percent of Los Angeles runs, the highest percentage for an AL player since Rickey Henderson with the 1985 New York Yankees.A unanimous winner in 2014, Trout had finished second in three of the past four years. He becomes the first MVP from a losing team since Alex Rodriguez for Texas in 2003 and just the fifth player ever to accomplish the feat).Bryant hit .292 with 39 homers and 102 RBI in just his second year in the majors, helping the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.NEW YORK -- Brian McCann still wanted to catch, a lot. So with his options limited in the New York Yankees lineup, the seven-time All-Star gladly accepted a new opportunity in Houston.McCann waived his no-trade clause and was sent, along with $11 million, to the Astros for a pair of young minor league pitchers.The Yankees acquired right-handers Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman.McCanns playing time diminished in the second half of the season as rookie Gary Sanchez emerged as a power hitter behind the plate. Sanchez hit 20 home runs in just 53 games.OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics are staying put under new leadership and determined to find the right location for an intimate new ballpark that brings together the community with a great vibe for fans. One that will be privately funded and, in time, increase revenue and improve the on-field product.Committed new team President Dave Kaval just pulled off something similar in his other job: Building the San Jose Earthquakes second-year, state-of-the art Avaya Stadium, which just so happens to boast the largest outdoor bar in North America.Lew Wolff is selling all but a small stake in the As and giving up his managing partner role, turning it over to John Fisher. Wolff will become chairman emeritus and Fisher the managing partner. In addition, prior team President Michael Crowley is stepping away from day-to-day operations after nearly 20 years in the role.CHICAGO -- Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball wants to study high-profile positions within the sport to see if certain qualifications predict success, a step that has everything to do with minority hiring.Baseball currently had no Latino managers before Rick Renteria took over the Chicago White Sox last month. Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts from the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only black skippers among the leagues 30 teams.But there were 10 minority managers as recently as 2009.NFLCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton threw for 192 yards and a touchdown and the Carolina Panthers held off New Orleans fourth- quarter rally to beat the Saints 23-20 in a game marred by injuries to key players.Newton was 14 of 33 and threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. to help the Panthers (4-6) win for third time in three games and pull even with the Saints for third place in the NFC South.Jonathan Stewart also ran for a touchdown and Graham Gano had three field goals.However, the Panthers lost former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly (concussion), two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil (shoulder), defensive end Mario Addison (foot) and cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest) to injuries. Kuechly left the field on a cart while tears streamed down his face.The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a concussion in the third quarter.BOSTON -- Doctors who decide whether an NFL player is healthy enough to go into the game shouldnt be paid by the teams that have a stake in winning and losing -- an undeniable conflict of interest.Thats what a report released by Harvard University experts in medicine, law and ethics says.The study by the NFL Players Association-funded Football Players Health Study also recommends a short-term injured reserve for athletes recovering from a concussion, much like the system that baseball adopted five years ago.The 500-page report includes 76 recommendations addressed to 20 NFL stakeholders -- everyone from players and teams to equipment manufacturers and government regulators. The biggest message: Player safety will never be the top priority as long as those involved have competing calls on their loyalty.COLLEGE FOOTBALLHOUSTON -- Duke Catalon scored three touchdowns and Houston hurried and harassed Heisman favorite Lamar Jackson all night to propel the Cougars to a stunning 36-10 victory that dashed the third-ranked Cardinals playoff hopes.Louisville (9-2) entered the game ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings, but was outdone by a Houston team that saw its own playoff hopes foiled by two losses to unranked teams after a 5-0 start.The Cardinals were unhappy they werent ranked higher in this weeks CFP rankings after losses by several top teams last week, and some players thought they let that angst affect their play.BASKETBALLOKLAHOMA CITY -- For decades, basketball players have dreamed of being like Mike.Thunder guard Russell Westbrook really is like Mike.So says Mike himself.Basketball great Michael Jordan inducted Westbrook into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday night and heaped high praise on Westbrook, one of the most visible and accomplished Jordan Brand athletes.Westbrook is a two-time All-Star MVP and was the 2014-15 scoring champion. Last season, he posted 18 triple-doubles. This season, he has three triple-doubles and is averaging a Jordan-esque 31.8 points per game.HOCKEYVANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Coyotes forward Brad Richardson was carted off the ice on a stretcher in the second period of Arizonas 3-2 overtime loss at Vancouver and taken to a hospital.Richardson injured his right leg on an innocent-looking hit from Canucks defenseman Nikita Tryamkin with 8:37 left in the second period. The 31-year-old Richardson crumpled to the ice and threw his gloves off in agony under the 6-foot-7, 265-pound Tryamkin.Medical staffs from both teams attended to Richardson by the boards in the Canucks zone for several minutes before loading him onto a stretcher. Trent Green Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Chiefs Jerseys China . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-brian-waters-jersey-large-246n.html .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Rashad Fenton Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Art Still Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Mal Meninga will use the NRL All Stars to run his eye over Jarryd Hayne as he prepares to unleash the crosscode star at next years World Cup.The Gold Coast superstar fullback headlined the 20-man squad named by World All Stars coach Meninga for the February 10 clash against the Indigenous All Stars in Newcastle.While Hayne has in the past haunted Meninga, he is shaping as Australias x-factor ahead of next years World Cup defence on home soil.The former San Francisco 49er will be a big part of the Australian coachs plans next year and the All Stars will give him an early chance to assess the 28-year-old.Former Queensland coach Meninga is acutely aware of Haynes game-breaking ability and remembers well his series-defining performance during NSWs State of Origin win in 2014.He did cause a lot of problems for Queensland, Meninga said.Im not quite sure where the Titans are going to use him, fullback may be his best position but its nice to have him in the All Stars.Ive worked with Jarryd before in the PMs XIII concept and I think the players will be eexcited about playing with Jarryd.ddddddddddddThere are still several questions to be answered about Hayne including where Titans coach Neil Henry will play him next year.Upon his return to rugby league late last year, he was at times used at five-eighth but with the Titans likely to roll out a young halves combination of Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey, Hayne looks set to wear the No.1 again.And while he showed glimpses of his brilliance in his six NRL appearances at the back end of 2016, he is yet to recapture his best form.Meninga predicted he would be a different player with a full pre-season under his belt after coming back to the NRL underdone after stints in the NFL and Rugby Sevens.Itll make a massive, massive difference. He came back and wasnt rugby league fit, Meninga said.It took him a while to find his feet. An off-season for him and being fit and healthy, it will pay enormous dividends for him and the club. ' ' '
