La Crosse Tribune Sports News

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The most popular trophy in sports won't be the only historical artifact on display next week when Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen shows it off in the Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, metropolitan area.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A ruling is expected soon from a state judge weighing whether the New Orleans district attorney should be barred from prosecuting the man charged in the shooting death of retired Saints defensive end Will Smith.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers have signed forward Chris Kreider to a four-year contract that will pay him an average of $4.625 million.

MEGEVE, France (AP) — Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin, a favorite for gold in the Olympic time trial, abandoned the Tour de France in tears Friday after injuring his left wrist in a fall, two stages from the end of the…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It took about 8,000 construction workers to build the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium. And, at Friday's ceremonial ribbon-cutting, some of them will still be on the job at U.S. Bank Stadium.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new anti-doping commission to be created to shape Russia's future strategy, as the country faces possible exclusion from the Rio Olympics.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Former North Dakota State University quarterback Carson Wentz has been honored for his excellence not on the field but in the classroom.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC says 45 more athletes — including 23 medalists — have been caught for doping in retesting of samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

The inside linebacker, who started all 13 games last season and led the Badgers in tackles with 84, is expected to be sidelined indefinitely because of a foot injury, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday.

PASCO, Wash. (AP) -- Marcus Wilson hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning, leading the Hillsboro Hops to a 9-8 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils on Thursday.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Luis Scola thought Argentina's time might have passed.

NEW YORK (AP) — They were once big names with huge contracts. Now, several former NFL stars are unsigned and unemployed, anxiously awaiting another — and, maybe, final — opportunity to get back on the football field.

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) -- Juan Apodaca hit a sacrifice to drive in Olmo Rosario with the winning run in the 11th inning, as the Toros de Tijuana topped the Pericos de Puebla 3-2 on Thursday.

VISALIA, Calif. (AP) -- Mikey White tripled and doubled, scoring three runs as the Stockton Ports topped the Visalia Rawhide 10-4 on Thursday.

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) -- Drew Ferguson hit a walk-off two-run homer with two outs in the 11th inning, as the Lancaster JetHawks beat the High Desert Mavericks 9-8 on Thursday.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sonny Gray hoped he had turned a corner when he snapped a long losing streak in his first start after the All-Star break. His second start after the break put him right back where he was…

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (AP) -- Edwin Moreno hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the Lake Elsinore Storm to a 9-8 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday.

A year away from golf's return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence, IOC President Thomas Bach said it would be good if the sport had a wide range of players from as many countries as possible competing for medals.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Jose Vizcaino Jr. drove in five runs, while Ehire Adrianza and Dylan Davis drove in three apiece as the San Jose Giants beat the Inland Empire 66ers 13-6 on Thursday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Eaton did not want to leave the ballpark. The way he saw it, this game should not have been called.