Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Superfan Yamada dies with unfulfilled Tokyo 2020 dream

Superfan Naotoshi Yamada, famous in Japan for having been to every Summer Games since 1964, has died aged 92 with an unfulfilled dream of watching the Olympics when it returns to Tokyo next year. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Monday that he died last week following heart failure. Americans to bet $8.5 billion on NCAA's 'March Madness' basketball tournament: report

About 47 million people - one in five American adults - are expected to bet a combined $8.5 billion on "March Madness," the annual men's college basketball tournament, a new report said on Monday. A plurality of bettors - 29 percent - favor Duke University's Blue Devils to win, according to a report from the American Gaming Association (AGA), a casino industry group. Blind runner and his dogs make history at NYC Half Marathon

A blind runner, assisted by a relay team of three guide dogs, made history on Sunday by completing the 2019 United Airlines New York City Half Marathon without any human help. Thomas Panek, 48, ran along with three Labrador retrievers, Waffles, Westley and Gus, according to the Guiding Eyes For The Blind's website, a charity that trains dogs for the visually impaired. NBA roundup: Sixers down Bucks despite Giannis' 52

Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the visiting Philadelphia 76ers past the Milwaukee Bucks 130-125 on Sunday. It was Embiid's 52nd double-double and the 25th time he has scored at least 30 points and swept 10 rebounds in a game. He scored 18 points alone in the fourth quarter. Million-dollar birdie: Belgian pigeon smashes price record

A Belgian racing pigeon called Armando has sold at auction for nearly $1.5 million, more than three times the world record, the online saleroom said on Monday after a bidding war between two Chinese fanciers. "Nobody expected this. No one," Jorge Ferrari from the Pigeon Paradise auction site told Reuters. Thiem tops Federer to win Indian Wells title

Austrian Dominic Thiem came from a set down to defeat Roger Federer 3-6 6-3 7-5 and win the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday in Indian Wells. In the deciding set, momentum swung in Thiem's favor when he smacked a forehand winner down the line to break Federer and take a 6-5 lead. Cycling: 2020 Tour de France to get off to hilly start

The 2020 Tour de France will get off to a hilly start with two stages around Nice, organizers said on Monday. The opening stage will be a 170-km ride around the Azurean city but is expected to be decided in a bunch sprint finish. NHL roundup: Flyers use flair for dramatic to top Pens

Sean Couturier scored with 3.4 seconds left in overtime Sunday to give the visiting Philadelphia Flyers a critical 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Couturier's 29th goal came when he blasted the puck from the right circle to the far side past goaltender Matt Murray, who also gave up James van Riemsdyk's tying goal with 18.8 seconds left in regulation. Report: Santana busted TV as Phils played Fortnite during game

In the midst of the Philadelphia Phillies' late-season collapse in the final two months of the 2018 campaign, Carlos Santana apparently provided the biggest hit in the team's clubhouse. As the Phillies' young team suffered through an 8-20 September after having had the best record in baseball in late July, the team's former first baseman -- traded to the Seattle Mariners in December -- reportedly discovered younger ex-teammates playing the video game Fortnite in the clubhouse during one game against rival Atlanta. McIlroy jumps to No. 4 in world rankings

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy jumped two spots to No. 4 in the official world rankings on Monday, a day after claiming his first win in more than a year at The Players Championship. Dustin Johnson tied for fifth at TPC Sawgrass to maintain his slim margin at the top over England's Justin Rose, who managed to tie for eighth after rallying to make the cut. Brooks Koepka is No. 3, followed by McIlroy, who has steadily moved up since entering the year ranked eighth. He has yet to finish worse than a tie for sixth place in six events in 2019.