Ohtani voted major leagues’ top designated hitter for 3rd straight year

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani was voted the majors’ best designated hitter on Thursday and joined David Ortiz as the only players to win the award three years in a row.

Ohtani won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award after hitting .304 with an AL-high 44 homers, 96 RBIs, eight triples and 20 stolen bases for the Los Angeles Angels in a season at the plate that ended Sept. 3 because of an oblique injury. The two-way star was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts on the mound, striking out 167 and walking 55 in 132 innings before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23.

Ortiz won the DH award five years in a row from 2003-07.

Ohtani finished ahead of Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez in voting by beat writers, broadcasters and public relations departments. Players were eligible with 100 or more at-bats as a designated hitter.

The 29-year-old Ohtani became the first two-time unanimous MVP, winning the AL honor in 2021 and this year.

Ohtani and Martinez became free agents after the World Series.

Stamp honoring UCLA’s John Wooden to be released in 2024

LOS ANGELES — A limited-edition stamp honoring the late UCLA basketball coach John Wooden will go on sale early next year.

The U.S. Postal Service announced the stamp on Thursday. He is the second college basketball coach to be honored with a stamp, joining the game’s inventor, James Naismith, who had a stamp in 1961.

Nearly 18 million Forever stamps will be issued featuring an original portrait of the coach who guided UCLA to 10 national championships during his 27-year tenure in Westwood, which ended in 1975.

Wooden died in 2010 at age 99.

The stamp depicts Wooden at courtside in the early 1970s, focused on a game and wearing a pinstripe suit, patterned tie and black-framed glasses. The name John is in blue and Wooden is in gold in a nod to the school’s colors. The image is based on a photo by university photographer Norm Schindler.

In the stamp’s background, one player attempts a jump shot as another tries block it. Their jersey numbers of 4 and 10 signify UCLA’s four undefeated seasons under Wooden and the 10 NCAA championships.

“This stamp is a tribute to Coach Wooden’s remarkable and widespread impact, which extends far

beyond UCLA and far beyond basketball,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said.

The post office in the Reseda section of Los Angeles was named for Wooden in 2006.

Prescott throws for 3 TDs, Cowboys extend home win streak to 14 with win over Seahawks

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and the Dallas Cowboys extended their home winning streak to 14 games, rallying for a 41-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

Prescott’s 12-yard pass to Jake Ferguson put Dallas in front with 4½ minutes remaining as the Cowboys (9-3) set up a rematch with NFC East rival Philadelphia by escaping what would have been their first loss since falling to the Eagles 28-23 to start November.

Geno Smith threw three touchdown passes to D.K. Metcalf, including a 73-yarder, as the Seahawks (6-6) got their offense going again. But Seattle couldn’t avoid a third consecutive loss to drop to .500 for the first time since splitting its first two games of the season.

Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals to extend the 28-year-old rookie’s NFL record to 26 consecutive makes to start a career.

Tiger Woods has a sloppy finish for a 75 in his return in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas — Tiger Woods held up just fine Thursday in his first time competing in eight months, except for limping at the end. That was more about his golf than his fused right ankle.

Woods was holding his own at the Hero World Challenge until a double bogey from a bush on the par-5 15th, followed by two more bogeys. The result was a 3-over 75, eight shots out of the lead and a score better than only two players in the 20-man field at Albany.

Asked what he got out of his round, Woods laughed and said, “Hit a lot of shots.”

British Open champion Brian Harman and Tony Finau led the way at 5-under 67, one shot ahead of Jordan Spieth, who was entertaining as ever. Spieth made only five pars and had one stretch of 10 holes without one until the final hole.

Chase Elliott salvages most popular driver award in worst season of his NASCAR career

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chase Elliott overcame the worst season of his career to maintain his hold on the NASCAR most popular driver award for the sixth consecutive year.

Elliott missed seven races this season, failed to make the playoffs and wasn’t required to attend Thursday night’s season-ending awards ceremony at the Music City Center. But he showed to pick up the only award solely voted on by fans.

Elliott beat new NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in the voting, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association.

Bill Elliott, father of the 2020 Cup champion and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, won the most popular driver award a record 16 times before “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” Georgia, removed his name from the ballot.

“Really this award, in my eyes has been a reflection and an extension of my family’s place in the sport,” Elliott said. “I recognize my spot in line and recognize what they’ve done. The reason it is special is because of the fans and how supportive they have been to my entire family, myself included, over the years and I am so grateful for what they do for us. They’ve been phenomenal.”

Perry says he’s seeking help for alcohol abuse after the Blackhawks terminated his contract

Corey Perry said Thursday he has begun working with mental health and substance abuse experts to discuss his struggles with alcohol after the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract for engaging in “conduct that is unacceptable” and against team policies.

Perry emailed a statement to The Associated Press and other outlets apologizing for behavior he called “inappropriate and wrong.” Perry’s longtime agent, Pat Morris, confirmed by text message that his client sent the statement.

The 38-year-old NHL veteran said he hopes to regain the trust of those who believed in him throughout his career.

“I would like to sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees and my teammates,”

Perry said. “I would also like to apologize to my fans and my family. I am embarrassed, and I have let you all down.”

Echoing what general manager Kyle Davidson made abundantly clear at his news conference Tuesday, Perry said the situation had nothing to do with teammates or their families.

“I am sickened by the impact this has had on others,” Perry said. “Most importantly, I want to directly apologize to those who have been negatively affected, and I am sorry for the additional impact to others it has created.”

Perry ended the statement, “Once again, I am deeply sorry.”

Neither Perry nor the team would say exactly what occurred, other than Davidson calling it a workplace matter that did not involve law enforcement. He was suspiciously scratched from a game at Columbus on Nov. 22, before Davidson said Perry would be away from the team for the foreseeable future.

After an internal investigation, the team said earlier this week that Perry’s actions violated his contract, putting him on unconditional waivers to terminate his $4 million deal for this season. Perry cleared Wednesday, and his contract was terminated.

Perry, through the NHL Players’ Association, has 60 days to file grievance if he so chooses.

Bills linebacker Von Miller turns himself in on felony domestic violence charge

DALLAS — Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller turned himself in to police in a Dallas suburb on Thursday after he was charged in a warrant with domestic violence against the mother of his children, who is pregnant, police said.

Dallas police confirmed that the 34-yearold Miller surrendered to police in the suburb of Glenn Heights to face a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman, which is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The alleged assault occurred on Wednesday, according to a police affidavit in which officers wrote that Miller twice put his hands on the neck of the woman, pulled out a chunk of her hair and threw her onto a couch. The woman was treated for minor injuries, including bruising on her neck, police said.

Miller was free after posting $5,000 bond at the DeSoto Regional Jail in his hometown, Glenn Heights police said. Miller did not return a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.