New Normal Sport

( CNN) Golfing great Annika Sorenstam has defended her decision to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom a day after rioters stormed the US Capitol . Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner, said she wasn't going to "second guess" accepting the honor on January 7 Five people were killed as a result of the insurrection and authorities are investigating hundreds of people in connection with the events at the Capitol on January 6. "I like to look forward, not spend energy on what could have been," Sorenstam told Golf Channel when asked if she would act differently in hindsight. "It's all about opening doors. That's one thing I've learned learned. "I've heard from a lot of people. You can imagine a lot of opinions, a lot of comments and I hear clearly what those people say. I know they see it differently. But I listen and I embrace them all." Sorenstam also called the Capitol riots a "dark day in America's history" an...

    (CNN) Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called it a "great day" for Oakland after Kamala Harris , a native of the city, was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. The Warriors, originally based in Oakland before relocating to San Francisco, wore Oakland jerseys in tribute to Harris for their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The team also presented Harris, the first woman, first Black person and first South Asian to hold the office of US Vice President, with an Oakland jersey that she said she would "proudly display." On Twitter , Warriors star Steph Curry wrote: "Talk about a moment for my kids to see!" alongside a photo of Harris being sworn into office.  "We're taking great pride in the fact that Kamala Harris is from Oakland and was inaugurated today as Vice President, just a huge day obviously in our nation's history and for the Bay Area as well," Kerr said ahead of the Warriors' g...

The 'Notorious' UFC fighter returns to the Octagon after a third retirement this Saturday where he'll face Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. It's a rematch from 2014 where McGregor took less than two minutes to knock out the American.   Having spent over a year away from the UFC since his last fight, McGregor called his time a "wild ride."   "It's been some ride -- I've got it done and I'm up here," McGregor said during his pre-fight press conference.   "Mad as a brush. I've been through it all. It's been a wild ride for me. It's not been easy at times. What a life and I tell you, I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I'm very excited to be back here. I'm very excited to have fans in here. I feel invigorated. I'm going to paint a beautiful picture inside this Octagon on Saturday night and I'm very excited to do so."   However, Poirier says he learned a lot from that defeat and six years late...

    Barcelona missed two penalties before edging into the Copa del Rey last 16 with two extra-time goals against third-tier Cornella. Miralem Pjanic and Ousmane Dembele were both denied from the spot by Cornella goalkeeper Ramon Juan in normal time. Juan, 21, is the first keeper ever to save two Barca penalties in one game. Dembele made amends with a long-range strike two minutes into extra time, while Martin Braithwaite added a second after Albert Estelles was sent off. Barcelona had reason to be apprehensive going into the tie, as Cornella - who play in Segunda Division B - had knocked out current La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in the previous round. In addition, Barca's tie was played the evening after their great rivals Real Madrid had suffered Copa del Rey humiliation, having been beaten in extra time by third-tier side Alcoyano - who scored their winning goal after being reduced to 10 men. But Ronald Koeman's men - taken to extra time in their previous two game...

    A Luis Suarez double sent Atletico Madrid seven points clear in La Liga as they recovered after goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic had given Eibar the lead. Dmitrovic, taking on penalty duties for the first time for his club, fired in his first career goal. But Suarez levelled from a tight angle with a driven effort into the far corner after Eibar gave the ball away on the edge of their own box. Suarez then netted the winner with a Panenka penalty in the 89th minute. Dmitrovic was denied the chance to try to rescue his side a point when Eibar had a penalty rejected in injury time, as they appealed in vain for a handball against Atleti's Stefan Savic. The Serb goalkeeper was the fourth player to take a penalty for Eibar in La Liga this season - before he stepped up, they had missed three out of five spot-kicks in the league, including their previous two. It is a big win for Diego Simeone's side, who now have a strong grip on the title race in Spain. As well as a seven-p...

    Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has tested positive for Covid-19. The Argentine, who has only played a total of 141 minutes across five appearances this season, was already isolating after coming into contact with a positive case. The 32-year-old tweeted: "I had some symptoms and I'm following doctor's orders for recovery." Aguero missed the past three matches as he self-isolated and is now set to be out for a longer spell.   This is the latest setback for City's all-time top scorer following knee and hamstring problems earlier in the campaign. Aguero, who has been with the club since 2011, has only figured for 31 minutes since being substituted at half-time in the draw at West Ham on 24 October. On Tuesday, City boss Pep Guardiola said his side had coped without their star striker, but that they needed him back. "Sergio is a player who can create for himself and win a game by himself but he has not been with us for a long time," the Ca...

    Liverpool's 68-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League came to an end as Ashley Barnes fired in a late winner from the penalty spot to secure a famous victory for Burnley. Barnes was tripped in the box by goalkeeper Alisson with seven minutes remaining and converted the spot-kick as Burnley won at Anfield for the first time since 1974. Liverpool's last league loss on their own ground came nearly four years ago, against Crystal Palace in April 2017, and they are now six points behind leaders Manchester United at the midway point in the campaign. Divock Origi was given his first start of the season and should have scored when he ran free on goal after pouncing on Ben Mee's error but struck the crossbar. The hosts pushed to find the net in the second half but ran out of ideas, Nick Pope making a stunning save to deny Mohamed Salah and fellow substitute Roberto Firmino flicking an effort wide. Burnley's shock win lifts them up to 16th in the table, s...

 So, Real Madrid once again won’t win the Copa del Rey. They haven’t won it since Gareth Bale rounded Marc Bartra and they won’t again this year, after Segunda B side Alcoyano – from the third tier in Spanish football and level in the standings with Castilla – knocked Real Madrid out 2-1 after extra time. And they did it with 10 men. To break it all down, here are three pre-match questions that have been answered. And here are three more questions that this elimination has thrown up. Three answers 1. Would Real Madrid mount a cup run this year? Zinedine Zidane never won the Copa del Rey as a player and hasn’t won it as a head coach either. The only time he did win this tournament was when he was assistant to Carlo Ancelotti in 2014. That was also the last year that Real Madrid even made the final. When this was brought up in the pre-match press conference , the coach laughed, but you could tell that he is a little embarrassed by these regular Copa failings. So, co...

  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his Manchester United side "needed a wake-up call" after a stunning Paul Pogba strike sealed a 2-1 victory at Fulham and sent them back to the top of the Premier League. The Cottagers took the lead after six minutes when Ademola Lookman turned the ball into the bottom corner. But United responded as Edinson Cavani capitalised on a mistake from Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to level before Pogba curled home from outside the area in the 65th minute to secure the three points "Of course you'd like a comfortable win at times but it never is easy down here. Of course going 1-0 down after such a short time, I think that was what we needed – we needed a wake-up call," Solskjaer said. "It's never easy when you travel down here, stay in a hotel, you wanted to have a light training session but we couldn't so we needed that wake-up call really." Leicester and Manchester City had moved to the summi...

 Manchester City – Aston Villa was an absolutely bonkers game, as City eventually outlasted Villa to seal a ninth-straight win in all competitions to move top of the Premier League table for the first time this season, albeit temporarily. A controversial opener from Bernardo Silva set City on their way and Ilkay Gunodgan netted a late penalty kick to seal the win against a spirited Villa side. With the win City moved top of the table on 38 points and they have a game in-hand on their rivals, but Manchester United regained top spot later on Wednesday after being Fulham. Villa sit on 26 points. Three things we learned 1. Incredible game shows PL at its best : Silva’s goal was the 36th shot at goal during the game. 36th. It was a crazy end-to-end clash in the heavy rain in Manchester, as Man City just had too much for Villa in the end but it was like a basketball game. Villa had one chance, then City had two. Villa made two great blocks, then City made one. It was a tr...

      Frank Lampard said he is worried about Chelsea's form after they were soundly beaten at Leicester, a fifth defeat in their past eight Premier League games. Goals from Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison secured a 2-0 win for the Foxes that sent them top of the table at the midway point in their season. By contrast Chelsea, who had started December top of the table, are now eighth. "It's not where we want to be," said Blues boss Lampard. "I am worried. From the form we were in to get so quickly in to the form we're in now, even with the Fulham win [on Saturday] and some other wins in there, we should be better than losing five in eight. "It's a young team. They won't be feeling nice. I'm not against the lads in the dressing room. They will have learned a lesson." Chelsea's past eight Premier League results Date Score Result 12 December Everton 1-0 Chelsea L 15 December Wolves 2-1 Chelsea L 21 December Chelsea 3-0 West Ham W ...