NPR Topics: Sports http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1055&ft=1&f=1055 NPR sports news and interviews. Listen to Frank DeFord's sport commentary and download the sports podcast. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Sports http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1055&ft=1&f=1055 Inappropriate Touch Offends European Sports Fans France and Ireland are at war! Not on the battlefield, on the football pitch. A hand touched the ball during a soccer match and started a dispute that's resonating throughout the sport. Host Scott Simon gets NPR's Tom Goldman to tell us more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646698&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646698&ft=1&f=1055 France and Ireland are at war! Not on the battlefield, on the football pitch. A hand touched the ball during a soccer match and started a dispute that's resonating throughout the sport. Host Scott Simon gets NPR's Tom Goldman to tell us more.

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]]> In Massillon, High School Football Is 'Who We Are' The Ohio school has a 20,000-seat stadium, a $3 million indoor practice facility and a live tiger for a mascot. Massillon teams have won 22 state championships and they're in the running for another one. It's football "sunup to sundown," the head coach says. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:16:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120617578&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120617578&ft=1&f=1055 The Ohio school has a 20,000-seat stadium, a $3 million indoor practice facility and a live tiger for a mascot. Massillon teams have won 22 state championships and they're in the running for another one. It's football "sunup to sundown," the head coach says.

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]]> U.S. Soldiers Cheer Iowa High School Football Team An Iowa high school football team is boosting the morale of troops in Afghanistan. Dozens of U.S. soldiers will be rooting for the Little Hawks from Iowa City, to bring home a state championship. One soldier's email to a football coach started the long-distance relationship. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602657&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602657&ft=1&f=1055 An Iowa high school football team is boosting the morale of troops in Afghanistan. Dozens of U.S. soldiers will be rooting for the Little Hawks from Iowa City, to bring home a state championship. One soldier's email to a football coach started the long-distance relationship.

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]]> Irish Call Foul After Ref Hands Soccer Win To France A blown call by referees cost the luckless Irish a spot in the 2010 World Cup. Within minutes of a shootout, the ball hit the outstretched palm of French striker Thierry Henry, who guided it to his foot then passed it to a teammate for the winning overtime goal. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:57:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120596829&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120596829&ft=1&f=1055 A blown call by referees cost the luckless Irish a spot in the 2010 World Cup. Within minutes of a shootout, the ball hit the outstretched palm of French striker Thierry Henry, who guided it to his foot then passed it to a teammate for the winning overtime goal.

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]]> With Hand Of God, France Edges Ireland In Soccer Call it "The Hand of God—Part Deux." France advanced Wednesday to the 2010 World Cup Finals thanks to a controversial goal by its star Thierry Henry. Sportswriter Stefan Fatsis discusses the non-call that has entire global soccer community buzzing. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583716&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583716&ft=1&f=1055 Call it "The Hand of God—Part Deux." France advanced Wednesday to the 2010 World Cup Finals thanks to a controversial goal by its star Thierry Henry. Sportswriter Stefan Fatsis discusses the non-call that has entire global soccer community buzzing.

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]]> South African Runner Will Keep Gold Medal Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships in Berlin, but the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry says. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568371&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568371&ft=1&f=1055 Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships in Berlin, but the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry says.

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]]> Olympic Medalist Stripped Of Gold The International Olympic Committee has stripped Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi of his gold medal from the Beijing Games. In taking his medal for the 1,500 meters, the IOC said Ramzi committed anti-doping violations. Four other athletes were also sanctioned for doping. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545611&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545611&ft=1&f=1055 The International Olympic Committee has stripped Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi of his gold medal from the Beijing Games. In taking his medal for the 1,500 meters, the IOC said Ramzi committed anti-doping violations. Four other athletes were also sanctioned for doping.

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]]> Argentine Fans Cheer Change In Soccer TV Rights Argentina's government has nationalized the television contract that the country's soccer league had with cable television. The president's decision delighted millions of Argentine fans, who previously were excluded from the TV audience because they couldn't afford the cable fees. Now they're watching games for free. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527450&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120527450&ft=1&f=1055 Argentina's government has nationalized the television contract that the country's soccer league had with cable television. The president's decision delighted millions of Argentine fans, who previously were excluded from the TV audience because they couldn't afford the cable fees. Now they're watching games for free.

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]]> When Football's Deadly Brutality Outraged America In just one season 100 years ago, 26 players died from injuries sustained in football games. The deaths sparked a national outcry and forced the new collegiate athletic association to take action to make the sport safer. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120502601&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120502601&ft=1&f=1055 In just one season 100 years ago, 26 players died from injuries sustained in football games. The deaths sparked a national outcry and forced the new collegiate athletic association to take action to make the sport safer.

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]]> Miami Hosts Semipro Football Championship Miami hosted a national football championship for the North American Football League over the weekend. Although the game didn't attract much attention, it was the biggest weekend of the year for semipro football, as the Nashville Storm faced off against St. Paul Pioneers. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470652&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470652&ft=1&f=1055 Miami hosted a national football championship for the North American Football League over the weekend. Although the game didn't attract much attention, it was the biggest weekend of the year for semipro football, as the Nashville Storm faced off against St. Paul Pioneers.

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]]> High Court Won't Hear Washington Redskins Case The Supreme Court's decision to turn away an appeal ends the latest round in a 17-year court battle between the Redskins and a group of Native Americans who want the NFL franchise to change its name. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120454993&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120454993&ft=1&f=1055 The Supreme Court's decision to turn away an appeal ends the latest round in a 17-year court battle between the Redskins and a group of Native Americans who want the NFL franchise to change its name.

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]]> Bob Arum: From Law School To Boxing Legend Boxing promoter Bob Arum has had a long and storied career since his unlikely beginning as an attorney in John F. Kennedy's Justice Department. Arum speaks with Guy Raz as he prepares for his latest title bout this weekend in Las Vegas. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422644&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422644&ft=1&f=1055 Boxing promoter Bob Arum has had a long and storied career since his unlikely beginning as an attorney in John F. Kennedy's Justice Department. Arum speaks with Guy Raz as he prepares for his latest title bout this weekend in Las Vegas.

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]]> Boxer Yuri Foreman: Training With The Torah Yuri Foreman enters the boxing ring Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to fight for the WBA welterweight championship. But boxing is only one of Foreman's passions. When he moved to New York, to train and fight, he discovered a spiritual path. Foreman talks with Guy Raz about how his encounter with an orthodox rabbi in Brooklyn, and how that led to his decision to become rabbi. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422648&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120422648&ft=1&f=1055 Yuri Foreman enters the boxing ring Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to fight for the WBA welterweight championship. But boxing is only one of Foreman's passions. When he moved to New York, to train and fight, he discovered a spiritual path. Foreman talks with Guy Raz about how his encounter with an orthodox rabbi in Brooklyn, and how that led to his decision to become rabbi.

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]]> Sports: Football Wraps To Bowl Action; NBA Hot Picks The college football regular season will close out soon, and that means the Bowl Championship Series bids are starting to shape up. Who do we expect to see? Who are the surprises? Plus, the NBA season is in full swing. Who's hot and who's not? Host Scott Simon talks with our man in the stands, Howard Bryant. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416160&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416160&ft=1&f=1055 The college football regular season will close out soon, and that means the Bowl Championship Series bids are starting to shape up. Who do we expect to see? Who are the surprises? Plus, the NBA season is in full swing. Who's hot and who's not? Host Scott Simon talks with our man in the stands, Howard Bryant.

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]]> A Basketball Hoop Changed UNC Coach's Life The next time you see Roy Williams prowling the sidelines in a dapper Alexander Julian suit at University of North Carolina games, you might remember what a dime his mother left on their kitchen table once meant to him. Williams, the winningest active college basketball coach, has written the story of his life with Tim Crothers. Host Scott Simon talks to Williams about his book, <em>Hard Work: A Life On and Off The Court</em>. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416164&ft=1&f=1055 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120416164&ft=1&f=1055 The next time you see Roy Williams prowling the sidelines in a dapper Alexander Julian suit at University of North Carolina games, you might remember what a dime his mother left on their kitchen table once meant to him. Williams, the winningest active college basketball coach, has written the story of his life with Tim Crothers. Host Scott Simon talks to Williams about his book, Hard Work: A Life On and Off The Court.

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