Briefly

Karolyi dies at 82

Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, has died. He was 82.

USA Gymnastics said Karolyi died Friday. No cause of death was given.

Karolyi and wife Martha trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the U.S. and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

"A big impact and influence on my life," Comaneci, who was just 14 when Karolyi coached her to gold for Romania at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, posted on Instagram.

Campos captures first PGA Tour title

Rafael Campos felt like he was living a fairy tale Sunday when he went from being on the verge of losing his PGA Tour card to winning the Bermuda Championship, just six days after his wife gave birth to their first child in time to let him play.

Campos drilled his approach to 2 feet for eagle on the par-5 seventh hole during a surge that carried him to a 3-under 68 for a three-shot victory, joining the late Chi Chi Rodriguez as the only players from Puerto Rico to win on the PGA Tour.

The 36-year-old Campos has never played in a major. Now he's going to the Masters. This was only his second full year on the PGA Tour. The win makes him exempt through 2026.

"I just can't believe this is actually happening to me," Campos said through the sobs when he was interviewed on the 18th green after tapping in for par.

He won by three shots over Andrew Novak, who shot 71 for his best PGA Tour finish. Novak pulled within two shots when Campos missed an 18-inch par putt on the 14th par. Campos was not rattled, hitting all the right shots in a ferocious wind on the closing holes.

The tears began flowing moments after he tapped in for par and tried to grasp what happened.

Campos was No. 147 in the FedEx Cup with only two tournaments left, and he wasn't sure he could make it to Bermuda. He and wife decided to induce labor, and Paola Isabel was born Monday.

Corporate sponsorship deals are growing

In a banner year for women's professional sports, athletes who dominate their game are reaping the financial benefits.

The WNBA is a leading example. Last month, it wrapped up a historic season that notched all-time viewership and attendance records while racking up brand deals and corporate sponsorships for its players along the way. On Sunday, the league will hold its draft lottery for the 2025 season.

Many of the WNBA's young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese brought deals with them from their playing days in college, including name, image and likeness agreements that became endorsements with such companies as Nike, Reebok and Gatorade. Players of different backgrounds landed a variety of other endorsement deals with companies like CarMax and State Farm.

But for all those enjoying their newfound riches, there are still some players who are being left out. The WNBA recently partnered with Kim Kardashian's underwear brand SKIMS, which featured women of color as well as LGBTQ+ players in its ads. The company received pushback, however, for excluding masculine-presenting athletes in its May campaign.

"Not the papis of the league being forgotten again," Phoenix Mercury's Natasha Cloud posted on X after SKIMS' "Fits Everybody" campaign dropped.

Two-time all star Natasha Howard of the Dallas Wings also criticized the campaign, saying it felt "like a smack" for the league's more masculine presenting players, and that it is "absolutely" harder for Black LGBTQ+ athletes to get brand deals.

"I feel like a lot of people don't want to see queer or lesbian people on the face of anything," Howard told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

SKIMS did not respond to requests for comment.

Temple fires Drayton

Temple fired coach Stan Drayton on Sunday after losing records in all three of his seasons.

Drayton went 9-25 overall and 4-18 in the American Athletic Conference. He was fired a day after Temple beat FAU 18-15 on a field goal in overtime.

Defensive coordinator Everett Withers will serve as interim coach for the final two games of the season.

"With the changing landscape of college football and the playoff format, the opportunity for Temple football has never been greater," athletic director Arthur Johnson said in a statement announcing the change. "Our expectation is to compete for American Athletic Conference titles, appear in bowl games consistently, and build a program that our fans, alumni, and students can be proud of in the classroom and on the field."

The Owls went 3-9 in each of Drayton's first two seasons and are 3-7 this year. Their wins came against Utah State, Tulsa and FAU, teams that are a combined 8-22.

"I appreciate the opportunity that I was given to lead a great group of young men at Temple University," Drayton said.

"I wish them nothing but the best in football and in life."

Temple closes the season with games against UTSA on the road and at home against North Texas, two teams that are one win away from bowl eligibility.

Drayton was earning $1.9 million this year, according to the USA Today salary database.