Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. ESPN's digital service to be exclusive UFC pay-per-view provider in U.S.

The streaming digital sports service ESPN+ will become the exclusive distributor of pay-per-view events for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States, the companies announced on Monday. The events will begin on April 13, almost exactly a year since parent company Walt Disney Co launched ESPN+ to retain viewers as traditional cable audiences started migrating to online services such as Netflix Inc. 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. 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. Women's sport needs more women to tell the story, says Asher-Smith

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, a triple European gold medalist, would like to raise the profile of female athletes and believes the best way of doing that is to have more women telling the story. The 23-year-old holds British records in the 100 and 200 meters, and won European gold in those distances and the 4x100m relay last year. NFL notebook: Bengals release LB Burfict

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was released by the Cincinnati Bengals after seven seasons, the team confirmed Monday. "As we continue to build our roster for the 2019 season, we felt it best to give both the team and Vontaze a fresh start," head coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. Japan committee chief Takeda to resign as IOC member: Kyodo

Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) chief Tsunekazu Takeda, who is expected to announce plans to step down on Tuesday, is also set to resign as a member of the International Olympics Committee, Kyodo News reported. French prosecutors questioned Takeda in Paris and placed him under formal investigation in December for suspected corruption in Japan's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Games. MLB notebook: Kershaw will miss Opening Day start

For the first time since 2010, Clayton Kershaw won't be the Opening Day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander, who has started a club-record eight straight openers, was ruled out of the March 28 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to the persistent shoulder inflammation he has dealt with all spring. He has yet to pitch in a spring training game. Tennis: Andreescu emerges as Canada's next great hope for Grand Slam glory

Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu's Indian Wells triumph was not shown on television in her home country but that did not dampen the excitement across a nation where the future of women's tennis is suddenly looking as bright as ever. Andreescu enjoyed an unprecedented run in the California desert where the 18-year-old became the first wildcard to win the prestigious event that is widely regarded as the biggest tennis tournament outside of the four Grand Slams. Spring training roundup: Goldschmidt hits first HR as Cardinals down Phillies

Paul Goldschmidt hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run blast, to help the St. Louis Cardinals post a 4-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday at Jupiter, Fla. Goldschmidt sent a low pitch from Philadelphia right-hander Zach Eflin over the wall in left-center in the fifth inning to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Golf: Reed seeking consistency ahead of Masters title defense

Patrick Reed has yet to string together four solid rounds of golf this year and would like to find some consistency before setting off on his Masters title defense next month. Reed is fresh off a share of 47th place at The Players Championship and only eight days removed from a T-50 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but for the 28-year-old American there is no need to panic ahead of the April 11-14 Masters.