Cronkite Sports Stories

Michael Phelps is ready to bring the experience of a 23 gold-medal winning Olympian to the pool at ...
Logan Newman/Cronkite News

Michael Phelps achieves ‘closure’ in Rio, ready to coach at ASU

In winning his 23rd gold medal, Michael Phelps put an exclamation point on his historic Olympic swim career. Now he will return home to Arizona.
8 years ago
United States' Diana Taurasi keeps the ball from Canada's Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe during the first hal...
Asia Poole/Cronkite Sports

Arizona athletes increase USA medal count

Sixteen Arizona athletes are competing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and working to ensure Team USA comes home with as many medals as possible.
8 years ago
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Louisa Stanwich/Cronkite News

Not winning gold best thing to happen to Olympian Judi Adams

Phoenix native Judi Adams rose to the precipice of competing on a world stage, but Cold War politics threw up a road block that delayed her Olympic dream.
8 years ago
United States' April Ross, left, and Kerri Walsh Jennings celebrate a point over China during a wom...
Katie Faller/Cronkite News

Former Pac-12 players Walsh Jennings, Ross dig new partnership

April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings dig their new volleyball partnership and hope to win gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
8 years ago
Chuck Brandt, 76, of Tucson went to his first Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo and hopes to come full circ...
Katie Faller/Cronkite News

Rio marks 18th Olympics for Arizona man

Olympians spend their entire lives preparing for the games; Chuck Brandt has spent a lifetime attending them.
8 years ago
Chase Kalisz, left, speaks at a press conference at the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Cronkite News)...
Samantha Witherwax/Cronkite News

Chase Kalisz credits ASU’s Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps for his first medal win

Georgia product and mentee of Bob Bowman thanked the Arizona State swimming coach and Michael Phelps after winning a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
8 years ago
Diana Taurasi will be looking for her fourth Olympic gold medal when the U.S. women’s team compet...
Ryan Wright/Cronkite News

Taurasi looking to join elite list with four Olympic gold medals in basketball

LOS ANGELES — Earning four Olympic gold medals is a feat that only two basketball players, male or female, have ever accomplished. Diana Taurasi, along with teammates Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings, will lengthen that list with a gold medal in next month’s Summer Olympics. “Being selected to the Olympics again means a lot to […]
8 years ago
Arizona State coach Todd Graham, right, talks with DJ Calhoun (3) prior to the team's Cactus Bowl N...
Landon Brown/Cronkite News

The ASU football team is ready for Camp Tontozona

Todd Graham is taking ASU football on its annual Camp Tontozona trip to bring the team together at the start of fall practice.
8 years ago
Giselle Cancio/Cronkite News

Phoenix Mercury well represented at Olympics

The Phoenix Mercury are sending a league-leading six team members to the upcoming Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, showing the depth of talent from the three-time WNBA champions.
8 years ago
Diamondbacks’ pitcher Patrick Corbin shows the scar his 2014 Tommy John surgery left on his left ...
Trisha Garcia/Cronkite News

Pitchers share Tommy John stories to guide each other through rehab

Major league players going through Tommy John surgery found that talking to other players who have also had the surgery has been a key part of their rehab.
8 years ago
Brophy Prep’s baseball coach Tom Succow said Arizona high school baseball is on the rise. (Photo ...
Trisha Garcia/Cronkite News

MLB Draft light on Arizona players despite sport’s popularity

Most high school baseball players in the state of Arizona will never get the call that Chad McClanahan got during the 2016 MLB Draft.
8 years ago
Just eight days after being drafted by the Anaheim Angels on June 17, former Basha player Johnny Mo...
Lindsey Wisniewski/Cronkite News

Former Basha pitcher Johnny Morell: ‘I know my mom is watching over me’

Basha pitcher Johnny Morell was sitting in his childhood home in California, lounging on the sofa with family, when his phone started to jolt.
8 years ago
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) motivates the fans during the first half of an...
Matt Faye/Cronkite News

Darnell Dockett retires as an Arizona Cardinal

More than two and a half years since playing his last regular season snap in the NFL, defensive end Darnell Dockett decided to end his professional career.
8 years ago
Michael Boylan/Cronkite News

ASU looks to become Olympic training destination

The Olympic rings are a popular fixture in the ASU athletic department. Five coaches in Tempe have combined to either compete or coach in 15 Olympics.
8 years ago
Arizona United head coach Frank Yallop looks on as his team practices for their game Saturday. (Pho...
Joseph Steen/Cronkite News

Return of Cortez sparks Arizona United’s offense into form

Arizona United had scored just 7 goals in its first 10 matches and was left without one of its best forwards after Chris Cortez suffered a hamstring injury.
8 years ago
Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley reacts after hitting a 3-point shot during the fourth quart...
Landon Brown/Cronkite News

Jared Dudley returns to Suns as role model for young team

The Suns had been looking to add veteran leadership to their young roster this offseason. Former Sun Jared Dudley felt he was the right fit for that role.
8 years ago
Phoenix College wide receiver coach Kerry Taylor works at Camp 29, a summer football camp for local...
John Alvarado/Cronkite News

Former Sun Devil Taylor living childhood dream… twice

Ever since he was a young boy growing up in Chandler, former ASU wide receiver wide receiver Kerry Taylor dreamed of one day being a football coach.
8 years ago
Coyotes Director of Player Development Steve Sullivan and associate coach Jim Playfair lead practic...
Matt Faye/Cronkite News

Coyotes hope proximity of new affiliate will pay dividends in player development

With their new AHL affiliate in Tucson, the Coyotes are one of 7 NHL teams to have their top minor league affiliate within 150 miles of the parent club.
8 years ago
Byron Evans, a linebacker who played for coach Buddy Ryan in Philadelphia. (...
John Alvarado/Cronkite News

Former Valley NFL players remember Buddy Ryan

Former Cardinals coach Buddy Ryan had a rough and tough demeanor best exemplified by the time he punched offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride during a 1993 game.
8 years ago
Paul Goldschmidt (Courtesy Arizona Diamondbacks)...
Matt Faye/Cronkite News

Paul Goldschmidt goes deep with scholarship program

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is spearheading a program helping deserving individuals in Arizona make their college dreams come true.
8 years ago
The U.S. Men’s National Team trains at University of Phoenix Stadium on Thursday in preparation f...
Joseph Steen/Cronkite News

US team comes to Glendale in Copa America’s final stop in Valley

An enthusiastic crowd is expected for Saturday's third place Copa America game between the United States and Colombia.
8 years ago
Matt Faye/Cronkite News

Coyotes president LeBlanc ‘moving forward’ with new arena site

In what he called “an update, not an announcement,” Coyotes president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc said the team has chosen a site for its new arena.
8 years ago
Dragan Bender walks up to the stage after being selected fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns during ...
John Alvarado/Cronkite News

Faced with two choices, Suns got both

The Suns were considering both Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss for the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft. By the end of the night, the team wound up with both.
8 years ago
The Coyotes unveiled their the name and logo of their recently relocated AHL affiliate, the Tucson ...
Joseph Steen/Cronkite News

Mayor hopes arrival of Roadrunners can turn Tucson ‘into a hockey town’

Coyotes ownership on Saturday unveiled the new name of the recently-relocated AHL team that they bought and moved from Springfield, Mass., last month.
8 years ago