Sports Express | September 24, 2026: US Senate Advances Controversial Protect College Sports Act

Source: Cronkite News

1. US Senate Advances Controversial Protect College Sports Act

A sweeping proposal moving through the U.S. Senate would establish a new federal rulebook for college sports. The Protect College Sports Act aims to cut lawsuits that pit college athletes against universities, reduce mid-season transfers of coaches and players, and change how the NCAA enforces its rules.

The bill would also limit direct payments to athletes while writing into law their right to income from revenues they generate. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said athletes "deserve to have a percentage of the media, ticket sales and sponsorship." She co-authored the bill with commerce committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Universities, major sports leagues and the NCAA support the proposal, while labor unions, the NAACP and other civil rights organizations oppose it, arguing that if colleges want the stability of a professional sports system, athletes deserve the same bargaining power as pros. The Senate is expected to vote this week, but the bill faces an uncertain future in the House. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., criticized the measure as an attempt at "micromanaging the entire athlete-university relationship."

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2. Japanese Teen Shin Ohashi Sets 200m Breaststroke World Record

At the Asian Games in Japan, Japanese teenager Shin Ohashi set a world record in the men's 200-meter breaststroke on Thursday, swimming 2 minutes, 4.83 seconds. The old record was 2:05.48, set by Qin Haiyang of China at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan was second in 2:08.67, and Cho Sung-jae of South Korea took bronze in 2:08.76. Ohashi already had the fastest time of the year in the event (2:06.59) and has been the breaststroker to beat this season.

He is far from physically imposing, standing only 1.69 meters tall, but earlier this year he broke Japan's national record in the 100-meter breaststroke, previously held by Kosuke Kitajima, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion.

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3. Roberto Mancini Returns as Italy Head Coach

Roberto Mancini is back as Italy head coach for a second spell. The man who won Euro 2020 with the Azzurri returns with Italy having failed to qualify for the last three World Cups. This year Italian football fell to its lowest ebb, with no Italian club making it past the quarter-finals in Europe.

Italy did not qualify for a third World Cup in a row, which brought about the resignations of not just head coach Gennaro Gattuso, but also Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina and Gianluigi Buffon as the team's head of delegation. Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma said not qualifying for three World Cups in a row is a tough subject and that Italy certainly does not deserve that.

Mancini's first squad back brought changes: a 34-player roster included nine uncapped players and 11 under the age of 23, including Borussia Dortmund's 18-year-old striker Samuele Inacio, Chelsea-bound defender Honest Ahanor, now at Crystal Palace, and Brentford's Michael Kayode. Donnarumma said the team needs to help these young players integrate well, and they can give a great deal of help.

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4. Ex-NC State Sports Medicine Director Arrested in Florida

Former North Carolina State University athletic trainer Robert Murphy Jr. has been arrested in Florida after being criminally indicted in Wake County on allegations of felony sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment, WRAL reported. ESPN first reported the arrest.

Murphy is facing 23 counts of felony sexual battery and nine counts of felony sexual conduct. He was arrested Thursday night and is being held in Marion County, Florida. He was NC State's Director of Sports Medicine from January 2012 to June 2022, when he resigned, after being suspended from the position in January 2022. More than 30 former athletes have sued him in civil court.

Sexual contact under the guise of medical treatment is a Class C felony in North Carolina and conviction carries a sentence of up to 182 months and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Murphy's attorney said during a civil hearing earlier this year that Murphy would love the opportunity to clear his name.

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5. Former Canadiens Owner George Gillett Jr. Dead at 87

George Gillett Jr., the former majority owner of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, has died at 87. The Canadiens confirmed Gillett's death in a release Thursday. A cause of death was not given. Gillett was an American businessman who owned the Original Six club.

Gillett bought the Bell Centre (then Molson Centre) and a majority stake in the Canadiens for $275 million on Jan. 31, 2001, with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the province's pension fund manager. He owned the club until agreeing to sell the team and arena to the Molson family on June 20, 2009, a sale approved by the NHL's board of governors in December that year.

Gillett, along with fellow American Tom Hicks, also owned English soccer giant Liverpool FC from 2007 to 2010. Born on Oct. 22, 1938, in Racine, Wis., he was the founder of Brook Creek Management Corp., a portfolio management firm. Canadiens owner Geoff Molson extended his deepest condolences to Gillett's family in a statement.

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6. Chargers QB Justin Herbert Disputes Lack of Vocal Leadership

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on Wednesday disputed the perception that he lacks vocal leadership. The team has started the season poorly, having lost a pair of home games to two of the worst teams in the league in 2025.

Asked whether more vocal leadership was needed ahead of the Week 3 game at Buffalo, Herbert bristled. "I think that would imply that there's no need for vocal leadership before this week," he said. When a reporter pressed the same subject a second time, he cut in: "I don't think there's a lack of vocal leadership at all. So, I'm going to stop you right there and say that it's very present."

Herbert stressed that no one on the team is panicked or worried, and that the focus is on moving on to the next play and fixing last week's mistakes. Still, the Chargers face the possibility that 0-2 becomes 0-3 and possibly 0-6 at the bye, with upcoming games at the Seahawks, the Broncos and at the Chiefs.

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7. Simone Biles Says 3 Masked Men Stole Her Luxury Sports Car

US gymnastics star Simone Biles said three masked men stole her luxury sports car from her Chicago-area home. She briefly shared the story of the burglary on social media Tuesday. Biles' husband was with the Chicago Bears last season; he is now playing for the Indianapolis Colts.

"During our last few months in Chicago; three men in masks came to our house and stole my Porsche GTS," Biles said on TikTok. She also said the car was recovered and that she is "onto the next." Biles said she planned to purchase a new car, though the exact time and location of the theft are not clear.

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8. Premier Sports Extends NHL Partnership Through 2028-29 Season

Premier Sports announced Wednesday that it will continue its NHL broadcast rights through the 2028-29 season, bringing subscribers 15 live games each week during the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The new agreement includes exclusive live games throughout the season, starting with defending Stanley Cup champions the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers, followed by Canadian rivals Montreal and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Richard Sweeney, CEO of Premier Sports, said he is delighted to extend the rights agreement, noting Premier Sports has proudly been an NHL broadcaster since 2011 and that the renewal keeps bringing viewers live action from the world's best hockey league. In the UK, the service is available on Sky, Virgin, STV Player and Amazon Prime, among other platforms.

Premier Sports was founded in 2009 by Michael O'Rourke and operates two sports channels in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It also launched in Canada this year with exclusive rights to the Guinness Six Nations plus Super Rugby Pacific and The Rugby Championship.

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9. Kardashian Reality Show Spotlights Excess in US Youth Sports

A new reality series called Team Moms: Baseball premieres Thursday on Paramount+, with Kim Kardashian attached as executive producer. The show follows a group of mothers whose children play competitive youth baseball, filmed around Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Made by the team behind Love Island, the series recasts the "pushy sports parent" as glossy entertainment. The title is a deliberate play on MTV's Teen Mom. The review argues it is a closer cousin to a Real Housewives franchise than a serious look at a $40 billion youth-sports industry.

This kind of athletic hothousing does not come cheap. Similar academies charge anywhere from $12,000 to more than $20,000 annually for high-level training, sports science analytics, team travel and an online academic curriculum. One mother on the show let slip that she bought her 16-year-old daughter a Porsche Macan to somewhat offset the money the family spends on her brother's baseball prospects.

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10. Harry Kane Muses on Playing in Both MLS and NFL

England soccer great Harry Kane floated the idea Wednesday of combining the goal with also joining a Major League Soccer club alongside a future in the NFL. The 33-year-old England captain is happy and setting records at Bayern Munich, coming off a standout 73-goal season that has him in contention to win the Ballon d'Or in London next month.

Kane looked toward a future in the United States ahead of his team hosting World Cup winner Spain on Saturday in the Nations League. "Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two maybe with the seasons," said Kane, a longtime admirer of Tom Brady. He compared place-kicking in the NFL with taking penalties in soccer, saying it is a very similar pressure and technique.

Kane said that if he were to do it, he would take it seriously and might spend six months to a year practicing beforehand. He revealed he is "fairly close" to signing a new contract with Bayern, where he is now in a fourth season and has won two Bundesliga titles.

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