Kyrie Irving
FILE - Defending men's champion Serbia's Novak Djokovic practices on Margaret Court Arena ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Australian Open Men Singles

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving looks up at the fans at TD Garden after they defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 4 during an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Boston, in this Sunday, May 30, 2021. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics 5/30/2021

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Protesters rallying against COVID-19 vaccination mandates and in support of basketball player Kyrie Irving gather in the street outside the Barclays Center before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in New York. From the NBA's Kyrie Irving missing the first months of the Brooklyn Nets' season before making a partial return, to the NFL's Aaron Rodgers going from revered veteran to polarizing figure, to a diplomatic standoff over tennis star Novak Djokovic's exemption to play in the Australian Open, sports figures have found themselves cheered and jeered as the most famous faces in fights over vaccine mandates and refusals. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets 10/24/2021

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - Fans of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic react outside Federal Court ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Athletes have been put at center court of arguments over COVID vaccines. The NFL's Aaron Rodgers, the NBA's Kyrie Irving, and tennis's Novak Djokovic, have each become cultural touchstones in the cultural controversy. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)
Australian Open Men Singles

Jan. 14, 2022 09:39 AM EST

FILE - People walk by a Nike advertisement featuring Colin Kaepernick on display, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in New York. While sports have always been indivisible from politics and public conflicts, there has been a major ground shift in the years since Michael Jordan made public neutrality on all non-sports issues an essential part of his brand. Now, there is almost an expectation of advocacy, especially with the precedent set by Colin Kaepernick's protests and the embrace by many of the Black Lives Matter cause. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
In vaccination battles, pro athletes become proxy players

By Andrew Dalton Jan. 14, 2022 09:37 AM EST

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is shown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, that Rodgers was in the protocol, but would not say if Rodgers had tested positive nor if the reigning NFL MVP has been vaccinated. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Column: Rodgers 'audible' on vaccine not the right call

By Jim Litke Nov. 04, 2021 03:51 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 5, 2021, file photo, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series in New York. The NBA's Brooklyn Nets begin the season without star guard Kyrie Irving, who cannot play or practice at home because of a New York City vaccine mandate and was told by the team he wouldn't be around at all until his status changes. Irving and other unvaccinated players around pro sports don't get paid for the time they miss. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets 6/5/2021

Oct. 19, 2021 06:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 5, 2021, file photo, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series in New York. The NBA's Brooklyn Nets begin the season without star guard Kyrie Irving, who cannot play or practice at home because of a New York City vaccine mandate and was told by the team he wouldn't be around at all until his status changes. Irving and other unvaccinated players around pro sports don't get paid for the time they miss. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Vaccines in sports at a glance

By The Associated Press Oct. 19, 2021 06:16 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Oct. 14, 2021 12:44 PM EDT
Oct. 15 1933 — The Philadelphia Eagles play their first NFL game and suffers a 56-0 loss to the New York Giants. 1961 —...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 25, 2021 03:43 PM EST
March 3 1920 — The Montreal Canadiens set an NHL record for most goals in a game with a 16-3 rout of the Quebec Bulldogs. ...

FILE - In this June 17, 2017, file photo, former Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose speaks during his statue dedication ceremonies before a baseball game between the Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
2020 sports quiz: Brady to Bundesliga, Big Ten to Brooklyn

By Fred Lief Dec. 30, 2020 11:04 AM EST

Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) bumps shoulders with LeBron James while celebrating after a dunk against the Miami Heat during the second half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Secret to Lakers' superstar pairing? No jealousy, James says

By Brian Mahoney Oct. 01, 2020 06:29 PM EDT

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announces a new executive order in response to the rising COVID-19 cases in the state, during a news conference in Phoenix on Monday, June 29, 2020. The governor ordered bars, nightclubs and water parks to close again for at least a month starting Monday night — a dramatic about-face as coronavirus cases surge in the Sunbelt. (Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)
The Latest: Nets' DeAndre Jordan says he has coronavirus

Jun. 29, 2020 06:05 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 29, 2020 04:46 PM EST
March 1 1919 — Newsy Lalonde of the Montreal Canadiens sets a Stanley Cup Playoff record by scoring five goals in a 6-3 win against the...

Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook, right, defends against Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics 2/3/2019

Feb. 13, 2019 06:14 AM EST

Boston Celtics' Marcus Morris (13) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder's Jerami Grant (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Irving, Celtics outlast Thunder in 134-129 thriller

By Gethin Coolbaugh Feb. 03, 2019 06:18 PM EST