LPGA, USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before pubertyThe states that saw the most active attacks against election certification two years ago certified the results of this year’s races without controversy this week, prompting the Arizona secretary of state to proclaim that “election denialism” is a thing of the past. Others said they weren’t so sure. Certification proceeded normally this year in part because Donald Trump won the presidential race, quieting his supporters after he had spent the campaign making unsubstantiated claims that he could lose only through widespread cheating . The statewide certification votes Tuesday in Nevada and New Mexico follow a vote Monday to certify the results in Arizona. In all three states, the certification process was tumultuous during the 2022 midterms when Democrats won most statewide offices. Those controversies followed attempts by Trump and his allies to halt or challenge certification in Michigan, Georgia and other battleground states in 2020, disrupting what until then had been a routine administrative process. This year, some who have been the most vocal in questioning the integrity of elections have instead been celebrating Trump’s victory. “The results are being accepted in the manner that they are, in part, because those who have been eroding trust or casting doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections have a result they feel good about,” said David Levine, a former local election official in Idaho who now advises on election administration issues. “Hopefully we can get back to a place where Americans can feel confident in the results even if it’s one they disagree with.” On Tuesday, Nevada and New Mexico certified their statewide results with little discussion. During Monday’s certification in Arizona, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes reflected on the lack of controversy this year. “I think the age of election denialism, for all intents and purposes, is dead,” he said. Sitting next to Fontes, state Attorney General Kris Mayes, a fellow Democrat, said she was more skeptical. Her Republican opponent in 2022 spent two years challenging his loss . “Do I think election denialism is dead? No, I don’t,” she said. “We’ll see over the next couple of election cycles what happens, but I don’t think we’re there yet.” Public confidence in elections has dropped since Trump challenged his loss in 2020 and made false claims of widespread fraud, particularly among Republicans . Some Republicans began targeting the certification process, when local and state boards certify the results after local election officials provide them with the final tally of votes. A firestorm erupted in Georgia over the summer when the state election board, with a new pro-Trump majority, attempted to politicize the certification process with changes later blocked by the courts. While certification battles did not surface after the Nov. 5 election , a vocal segment within the Republican Party remains deeply skeptical of election processes, particularly of the availability of mail ballots and the use of ballot scanners to tally votes. During a forum Monday on the social platform X led by the group Cause of America, the group's director expressed doubt about voting equipment. Shawn Smith, who also is a retired Air Force colonel, argued the certification process suppresses legitimate concerns and goes against “the sovereignty of the people.” Although not as widespread as four years ago, this sentiment did surface sporadically at the local level this month. In Washoe County, Nevada, which includes Reno and voted narrowly for Vice President Kamala Harris, the vote to certify the results was 3-1 with one abstention. Commissioner Jeanne Herman has consistently voted against certification and did not make a public comment about her vote this year. Commissioner Mike Clark, a staunch Trump supporter who had also previously voted against certification, said he would abstain and left before the vote. “I am not an election denier and clearly the person I wanted to win, won this state,” Clark said before leaving the meeting. “However, that does not mean that all the protocols were followed and that we can truly certify the election.” Such skepticism, whether in Nevada or elsewhere, leaves the door open to certification disputes during future elections. The questioning of election results isn't limited to Republicans. Even though Harris quickly conceded after losing all seven presidential battleground states , online posts among her supporters continue to raise concerns about her loss. One Reddit community that has amassed 23,000 members features a steady drumbeat of Democrats scrutinizing a result they can’t believe is real. Some posting in the group have issued calls to contact Harris and her running mate to ask them to demand a recount or otherwise object to the outcome. Among the battlegrounds, Michigan was among those where Trump and his allies pressed to halt certification of the 2020 election for Democrat Joe Biden amid false claims of fraud and manipulation. Two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers who initially opposed certification eventually relented. The state board of canvassers eventually voted to certify, even after one Republican member abstained. This year, the state board voted unanimously on Nov. 22 in favor of certifying and praised the state’s election workers. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger certified his state’s results on Nov. 22. Four years ago, the Republican state official was facing immense pressure from Trump and his allies to investigate their unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Also certifying results Tuesday, and doing so unanimously, was the state Board of Elections in North Carolina. It was the only presidential battleground state won by Trump in 2020 — and the only one where he and his allies didn't make claims of fraud. Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
DENVER -- So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLArticle content It’s mailbag time again! The Toronto Raptors take a winless road record into Wednesday’s game at New Orleans and are close to the NBA’s cellar — yet, most fans are pretty pleased with where things stand. Why? It’s all about the stacked draft class. Losses suck, but if you’re a fan of “ethical tanking,” few teams of recent vintage have done it better than the Raptors so far. Thanks as always for the questions. You can send them my way on Twitter or Bluesky. Johary on Bluesky asks: “I suppose Gradey (Dick) is the 5th starter once the team is at full health. But who’s going to the bench– if any at all — should the Raps get one of those much coveted top prospects in the 2025 draft?” RW : It’s way too early to think hard about this one, but we’ll give it a shot. There’s no scenario where Scottie Barnes doesn’t start and Jakob Poeltl is probably a lock too if he isn’t traded since even the best centre prospect isn’t ready to step right into the NBA next season. Immanuel Quickley has the second-biggest contract in Raptors history and is a talented player and I still think he starts even if Toronto lands one of the top guard prospects. That leaves RJ Barrett and Dick. Barrett’s been solid as a Raptor, especially at home, where he’s played at an all-star level, and Dick has taken major steps forward as sophomore, but the draft is loaded with high-upside wings. If a great shooter is picked maybe it will make sense for Dick to come off the bench. But if it’s Cooper Flagg, who excels right now in other areas, maybe they’ll need Dick’s shooting and Barrett would become one of the NBA’s best sixth men? Again, it’s early. Menashe on Twitter asks: “What is your assessment of (Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic) so far? Positives? Areas to improve?” RW : Darko’s done a great job of keeping things positive both last year and early this season even with the losses piling up. Last year it was blowout after blowout, lately it’s been close defeats that could demoralize some groups, but he hasn’t let that happen. Players are getting better under the watch of Rajakovic and his staff, which was the main reason why he was hired in the first place. I think he’s had some struggles late in games with lineups, timeouts and things like that and the defence has been way too porous and foul-prone (but still better than last year), but overall has done a good job. He certainly knows the game, has great rapport with his players and works hard. Mark Russell on Bluesky asks: “I’m curious about why we’re touting the defensive abilities of certain Raptors when our team is so incredibly bad at defense. I haven’t noticed many teams have an “off night” against us.” RW : That’s fair. Before Tuesday’s games, Toronto ranked 24th in defensive efficiency and defensive rebounding percentage. But when you factor in the team leads the NBA in man games lost to injury, how exactly are they supposed to gain any defensive cohesion? Plus, I assume you’re referring to Davion Mitchell and maybe Ochai Agbaji here and NBA.com’s stats show Mitchell has done a superb job on many stars. He held De’Aaron Fox to 3-for-9 shooting when they were matched up, Anthony Edwards to 3-for-7, Jaylen Brown to 1-for-5, LaMelo Ball to 1-for-7, for example. He forced Cade Cunningham and DeMar DeRozan to each have three turnovers in eight, and three minutes matched against Mitchell, for example. He’s a really good defender. It’s the other end that’s holding him back. Agbaji didn’t do a good enough job forcing Jaden Ivey into a tougher shot on Monday at the buzzer and has tailed off a bit for sure. But, he’s often had the toughest matchup and done OK against ultra elite player like LeBron James, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Team defence is just that – team. One or two guys can’t do it on their own. Fromthecheapseats on Bluesky asks: “Jamison Battle has taken 2 Technical free throws for the Raptors, how many free throws did he make in whatever training camp competition they most of had for him to earn that right as an undrafted rookie?” RW : Ha, I’ll have to look into this. But Battle is one heck of a shooter. I’d imagine he knocks down a ton in practice and he hit 9-of-15 three-pointers in Summer League, 8-of-14 in the pre-season and 43% in his final season in the NCAA (he also shot 88-for-95, 92.6% from the line that year). Right now he’s one of the best options. Dick and Quickley would probably be my picks over Battle, but he’s a good choice too. But you’re right. There can’t be many examples of undrafted rookies getting the job before. Fred VanVleet would be a good guess as the last Raptor in that situation to do it. Jurassic Snarked on Twitter asks: “What are the best & worst case scenarios for how the rest of this season goes for the Raptors?” RW : Worst case is they land somewhere in the middle — either in the play-in or just out of it and miss out on drafting in the top 5. Or a top player suffers a bad injury that will impact them long-term. Best case to me is things continue like this (OK, with a few more wins so they get off this 13 win or so pace to more like 25 victories or so) tough losses but they keep playing hard and improving as players. Get an asset or two for Bruce Brown/Chris Boucher and hope for lottery luck. Others might see best case as similar to the year they traded Rudy Gay and inexplicably won 48 games and the division out of nowhere. That’s not happening though.Kamala Harris Campaigning With Liz Cheney Flopped with Key Voter Group
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