Claressa Shields’ powerhouse team sets clear title target in Christina Hammer

If you could overlook the various braggadocious personalities populating the room, including Claressa Shields’ declaration to Szilvia Szabados that “I’m not gonna let you beat me in front of my family,” there was something basic and essential, completely gender non-specific, and as subtle as a jab to the schnozz, going on Wednesday at MGM Grand. Of the many things a boxer needs to reach the apex of a game that chews up most of them well below the mountaintop, two absolute mandates are a home base that embraces the fighter as a marketable commodity, and a television network that does the same.

Muguruza retires in Dubai 2nd round with Achilles injury

French Open champion Garbine Muguruza retired with a left Achilles injury in her second-round match against Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday. The seventh-ranked Muguruza drew the trainer on court when trailing 3-0, but they spoke only during the medical timeout and she didn’t receive any treatment.

3 former USA gymnasts detail alleged abuse from team physician

Three former stars of the U.S. national women’s gymnastics team said Dr. Lawrence Nassar, the team physician now charged with child sex crimes, worked hard to win their trust – so they didn’t believe at first that his alleged abuse was wrong. “He was like my buddy,” Jamie Dantzscher – one of more than 60 women to come forward with abuse allegations against Nassar – told “60 Minutes” in an episode about the case.

Oscar Schmidt finally gets a taste of the NBA … sort of

The Brazilian basketball great and five-time Olympian joined a parade of retired NBA stars, current WNBA players, team owners, celebrity musicians and television personalities at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Friday night. A day after his 59th birthday, Schmidt went 2 for 2 in the game and scored four points.

‘Hamilton’ actress, Luke Bryan reflect on Super Bowl moments

Lady Gaga takes a selfie with Christian Carino before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. Lady Gaga walks on the field before the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.

Today in History: December 30

Undated photo of Rasputin, the self-styled monk who was killed 1916 by Prince Youssoupoff, because of his evil influence of the Russian Royal Family. On Dec. 30, 1916, Grigory Rasputin, the so-called “Mad Monk” who wielded considerable influence with Czar Nicholas II, was killed by a group of Russian noblemen in St. Petersburg.

Today in History: Dec 30, 2016

On Dec. 30, 1916, Grigory Rasputin, the so-called “Mad Monk” who wielded considerable influence with Czar Nicholas II, was killed by a group of Russian noblemen in St. Petersburg. In 1853, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty under which the U.S. agreed to buy some 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico for $10 million in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase.