Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are as filthy as ever, contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by The Associated Press. The AP’s survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution, a major black eye on Rio’s Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers.

This evening is Game 1 of the NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will once again face off, and each team has a very stylish roster.

"Mechanical doping" made its way into the popular culture last week when a professional bike racer got caught.​

One NFL player after another — from former Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, 69, who died in July 2015, to 27-year-old Giants safety Tyler Sash, who died two months after Stabler — has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated trauma. The New York Times reports that well over 100 football players, including several Pro Football Hall of Famers, have CTE so far.

With a dream of becoming the first hijab-wearing Muslim ballerina, 14-year-old Stephanie Kurlow recently launched a fundraising page in the hopes of pulling together more than $7,000 so that she can get her certification to open a performing arts program in her native Sydney because she said, “I don’t want certain people who are discriminatory to hold anyone back from achieving their dreams and being unique.” 

A cheering coach lost her job after allegedly tripping a cheerleader. Video shows the cheerleader backflipping and Teresa Fann sticking a leg out to stop her.

At least one-third of the Power Five conference schools are not punishing athletes as harshly as they were 10 years ago for testing positive for marijuana and other so-called recreational drugs, according to an investigation by The Associated Press.

Clear the streets! Dutch cycling group Mijl Van Mares Werkploeg just broke the 2016 world record for longest bicycle.  At a whopping 117 feet long, the bike stretches half a city block and spans farther than the word’s longest limo, at 100 feet long. Per Guinness World Record’s requirements, it has just two wheels and is actually operable. The bike stretches half a city block. (Photo: Guinness World Records) In the video, Mara Montalbano shows us how it rides.

“In business, you either close a deal or you don’t — and if you don’t, you can’t just say, ‘Well, everybody tried hard, right?’” Jen Welter, a sports psychologist and the first female coach in the NFL, tells Yahoo Parenting.

Could cheerleading be the most progressive sport in terms of gender roles? New research from the University of East Anglia indicates that the traditionally female-centered activity can help participants of both sexes challenge stereotypes about girls in sports. The study, which was published in the journal Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics, tracked the growing popularity of cheerleading in the U.K. and focused on the members of four cheerleading teams. “The participants in our study talked about flipping gender norms in cheerleading,” Dr. Amy Pressland, a co-author of the study, tells Yahoo Parenting.

Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen. (Photo: Instagram.com/gisele) A run-of-the-mill post-game radio interview with Tom Brady ended up being a lot more than that, when the Patriots quarterback took a swing at the processed food industry — calling out Coca-Cola and Frosted Flakes, specifically.  Brady’s been known to stick to an extremely healthy diet — avocado “ice cream,” anyone? — but this interview revealed the passion behind his healthy habits.

Though the two are still legally married, Khloe Kardashian left the basketball star after five years together in 2013, reportedly over his struggle with substance abuse and, primarily, his addiction to cocaine.  Odom remains in critical condition, still unconscious, with Kardashian by his side after she rushed to Las Vegas upon hearing the news.  Earlier this week, University of Southern California football coach Steve Sarkisian was fired, allegedly as a result of his own struggle with alcoholism and his violation of the school’s zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol use. The 41-year-old has three children with his estranged wife.  Also this week, reality TV star Scott Disick, the former boyfriend of Kourtney Kardashian and father of her children, checked into rehab to get help for his addiction problems.

Daniel Fells in January 2015.  “This is a serious situation that has been taken seriously from the beginning,” Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon told NFL.com. “We’re all fighting for Daniel.” But what is MRSA, exactly? “I can’t count how many MRSA infections I see. While MRSA infections have leveled off in the last few years following a rapid increase from the 1960s to mid-2000s, they have the potential to turn deadly — and do.

A spleen can become enlarged for many reasons, including genetic diseases, William Katkov, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Health. Here’s why that’s a problem: A person may feel better and resume their normal activities, but their enlarged spleen is more susceptible to rupturing and may no longer be protected by their ribcage, leaving it incredibly vulnerable to injury. “An enlarged spleen is at an increased risk for rupture or injury in the setting of normal trauma, like a football game, diving into a pool, or minor car accident,” Katkov says. While an enlarged spleen can be asymptomatic, Katkov says a person can feel uncomfortable or have a feeling of fullness in their upper abdomen on the left side.

Novak Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer to claim the U.S. Open title on Sunday, says parenthood has made him a better player. Since then, the tennis champ has credited fatherhood with improving his game.

Gary Parrish, center, died on Thursday of liver cancer. Gary Parrish was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and metastasis to the liver in June. STORY: Late Dad Makes Stunning Appearance in Photo With Widow, Baby When this year’s baseball season started, 11-year-old Ryan Parrish’s coach, Caison Whatley, who also coached him last season, noticed the boy was unusually distracted. He’s got a whole lot more on his mind than we could ever have,” Whatley told WSFA.

Serena and Venus Williams share a hug after Serena’s victory over her big sister on Tuesday night. (Photo: Corbis Images) After Serena Williams beat her sister Venus on Tuesday night in a competitive three-set U.S. Open quarterfinals match, the two met at the net and embraced. Venus, the older Williams sibling, whispered to her sister: “I’m so happy for you.”

Former NFL player Michael Sam, who had been estranged from his father since coming out as gay in February 2014, tweeted this week that the two have spoken for the first time since then. (Photo: Getty Images) When former NFL player Michael Sam announced to the world that he was gay back in February 2014, he was largely praised for his bravery and honesty by fellow players, various celebrities, the NFL, and ESPN — pretty much everyone, it seemed, except his father, Michael Sam Sr., who was quoted at the time as saying, “I’m old school. I’m a man-and-a-woman type of guy.” STORY: NFL Dad Sends Powerful Message by Confiscating Kids’ ‘Trophies for Nothing’ Shortly after, Sam discussed his estrangement from his dad during a segment of Dancing With the Stars, while he was a contestant.

Your rabid fandom is actually a good thing. (Photo: Stocksy/Yahoo) There’s no question about it — being a sports fan is a good thing when it comes to your health.  “The idea that people get isolated and porky from watching sports is not true,” clinical sports psychologist William Wiener, PhD, tells Yahoo Health. There are many health benefits of being a sports fan.” Need evidence? We rounded up the research surrounding fandom and health to show how your team loyalty might actually help you be happier and healthier: It Prevents Depression While you might feel sad if your team loses a big game, being an active participant all season can actually help prevent depression. “People who root and are attached to their teams are less depressed than those who are uninvolved,” Wiener says.

CHICAGO (AP) - Jordan Howard scored on a 19-yard run in overtime to lead the Chicago Bears to a 23-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Howard's winning score came two plays after Tarik Cohen broke off what appeared to be an electric 73-yard touchdown run. He was ruled ...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Tyrod Taylor threw two touchdowns and the Bills intercepted Trevor Siemian twice in the final 19 minutes of Buffalo's 26-16 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Taylor went 20 of 26 for 213 yards with a 2-yard touchdown to Andre Holmes and a 6-yarder ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - North Carolina State has had good results in September under Dave Doeren but has stumbled once it started Atlantic Coast Conference play.

After beating No. 12 Florida State, the Wolfpack are showing signs of being the dark horse contender that some thought they would be before ...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Jacoby Brissett ran for two touchdowns, threw for another and the Colts defense held off Cleveland's late charge Sunday to preserve a 31-28 victory.

Brissett, acquired in a trade with New England earlier this month, looked much more comfortable in his second start, going 17 of 24 ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Josh McCown threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson, Bilal Powell ran for a score, and the New York Jets' defense dominated Jay Cutler and the Miami Dolphins in a 20-6 victory on Sunday.

While a lot of the focus heading into the season ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Drew Brees shredded the league's top-ranked defense, throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns as the New Orleans Saints defeated the previously unbeaten Carolina Panthers 34-13 on Sunday.

Brees led six scoring drives and threw TD passes to Michael Thomas, Brandon Coleman and ex-Panthers wide receiver ...

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Thomas Sirk threw for 426 yards and three touchdowns, and East Carolina held off UConn 41-38 on Sunday in the conference opener for both teams.

UConn drove to the Pirate 15 with six seconds left in the game, but Michael Tarbutt missed a potential game-tying ...

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - J.J. Nelson got so sick of people telling him he was too small to play football that he gave it up in middle school. Fortunately, a few years later, he was convinced to come back.

Now he's the spindly legged big-play threat of the Arizona Cardinals.

LONDON (AP) - Jalen Ramsey knew the Baltimore Ravens were considered to have one of the better defenses in the NFL. Five turnovers in consecutive games to open the season will earn a team that reputation.

But Ramsey, the Jacksonville Jaguars' second-year cornerback, also knew his team could be a ...

The Associated Press observed more than 130 players around the NFL kneeling or sitting during the national anthem in the league's first nine games on Sunday morning and early afternoon.

The highest total was 35 protesters at the Denver at Buffalo game, while no one sat or knelt at the ...

DETROIT (AP) - Several Detroit Lions players kneeled during the national anthem and linked arms with standing players, the coach and team owner - part of a unified protest against comments made by President Donald Trump.

The team's actions came Sunday before the game against the Atlanta Falcons, which also ...

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Quarterback Kenny Hill and TCU's offense struggled at the end of last season, looking nothing like the juggernaut that had turned the Horned Frogs into a Big 12 power in recent years.

The old TCU is back. The 16th-ranked Horned Frogs used Hill's efficient effort and ...

Reactions to President Donald Trump's comments about football players who kneel during the national anthem continued to roll out Sunday . At a rally in Alabama on Friday night, Trump suggested that NFL owners fire players who kneel during the anthem, and fans should consider walking out in protest. On ...

ANALYSIS/OPINION

President Trump's critics often call him a divisive figure, but he has served to unite two unlikely rivals — NFL owners and players.

The president took on both sides Friday night with his comments at an Alabama political rally, when, out of the blue — 13 months after it ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is already playing coy about his quarterbacks.

Shortly after Saturday's 28-10 come-from-behind win at Purdue, he provided no details about starting quarterback Wilton Speight - or a possible timetable for his return.

"I don't think it's anything structural," Harbaugh said. "I ...

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sep. 23, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: