AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:07 a.m. EST

Usain Bolt fires business manager over Jamaica fraud case

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt tells reporters he is baffled over how $12.7 million of his money has gone missing from a local private investment firm that authorities are investigating as part of a massive fraud. Bolt also said Friday that he has fired his business manager. The retired star athlete laughed when asked if he was “broke.” He says he isn’t but that the missing money was for his future. He notes he has three children and supports his parents. Bolt’s attorneys have said the athlete’s account with Kingston-based Stocks and Securities Limited dwindled from nearly $12.8 million to some $12,000. They had threatened to take action on Friday.

Aryna Sabalenka wins 1st Grand Slam title at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka has won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open women’s final. Sabalenka used 17 aces to help overcome seven double-faults Saturday in her first championship match at a major tournament. The 24-year-old Sabalenka is from Belarus. She improved to 11-0 in 2023. The only set she has dropped all season was the opener on Saturday against Wimbledon champion Rybakina. But Sabalenka put that behind her quickly and used her aggressive style to turn things around in the last two sets. Sabalenka says, “I’m super happy that I was able to handle all those emotions and win this one.”

Shiffrin wins slalom, moves within 1 win of World Cup record

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated a slalom for her 85th career victory to move within one of the World Cup record set by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark in the 1980s. Shiffrin can match the best mark of 86 wins in another slalom Sunday. Shiffrin had shared the women’s record of 82 wins with former teammate Lindsey Vonn until last week. The American posted the fastest times in both legs to beat Germany’s Lena Dürr of Germany by 0.60 seconds. Shiffrin said “I have to do my best turns to have a chance because these women are so strong.”

Grizzlies, other NBA teams speak out on Tyre Nichols’ death

The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger over the killing of Tyre Nichols was evident around the NBA on Friday. Games were played not long after the video was released showing how Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was killed by five Memphis police officers. Several teams released statements of support for the family, as did the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. And the emotions around the league were palpable, as has been the case so many times after so many other other incidents of violence by police against Black men and women in recent years.

Teen Isabeau Levito wins U.S. women’s figure skating title

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Teen star Isabeau Levito needed a near-flawless free skate to capture gold at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after Bradie Tennell’s beautiful performance minutes earlier. And the 15-year-old accomplished just that, delivering a dazzling 149.55 score for a 223.33 total to win her first women’s national championship. Levito drew a rousing standing ovation from an audience wowed by her poise under pressure on the big nationals stage.

Hurts, Purdy set for college-era rematch in NFC title tilt

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy have been here before. Just not in the NFL. The two met in November 2019, when Hurts was the QB for Oklahoma and Purdy was the QB for Iowa State. In that game, Hurts passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more scores for Oklahoma. Purdy passed for five touchdowns for Iowa State. could be primed for a shootout in the NFC championship game. Hurts is now an NFL MVP finalist for the Philadelphia Eagles and Purdy is the rookie sensation for the San Francisco 49ers.

Winter X daredevils ride fine line between height, happiness

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — There’s a legion of freestyle skiers and snowboarders at the action park who refuse to subscribe to the “spin to win” theory. It’s the idea that maxing out flips and twists is the only way for them to score big with the judges. Olympic freestyle skier Alex Hall would rather do things his way. He is competing at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, this weekend. Australia snowboarder Scotty James shares Hall’s ethos, saying he’s not willing to put a triple cork trick above all else in the pursuit of victories.

Djokovic, Tsitsipas to meet in Australian Open men’s final

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic will carry a 27-match winning streak at the Australian Open into the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. That unbeaten run was put on pause a year ago when Djokovic could not participate in the tournament because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. That is just one of several non-tennis matters that have swirled around the 35-year-old from Serbia. He will be seeking a 10th championship at Melbourne Park on Sunday. He also hopes to earn a 22nd Grand Slam title overall to tie Rafael Nadal’s mark for men. Tsitsipas is trying to win his first major trophy. The winner will rise to No. 1 in the ATP rankings.

Georgia: SUV in crash was for recruiting, not personal use

Georgia athletic department officials say the vehicle involved in a crash that killed a football player and employee on Jan. 15 was for recruiting activities, not personal use. That’s according to a statement from the athletic association. Two athletic department employees and two players were involved in the early-morning accident. Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting department staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed. The accident came hours after a parade and celebration of the Bulldogs’ second consecutive national championship.

Column: Six Degrees of Wilks connects dots of NFL racism

The Six Degrees of Steve Wilks is a quick and easy way to connect the dots of racism in the hiring of NFL head coaches. From Kliff Kingsbury to Lovie Smith to Matt Rhule to Jim Caldwell to Jeff Saturday to Frank Reich, it shows just how hard it is for Black coaches to crack the top ranks. The NFL is down to two Black head coaches: Mike Tomlin and Todd Bowles. Even with four openings still to be filled, there’s little reason to be optimistic that much will change. Certainly not after the way things went down with Wilks.