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For the world’s top athletes, the road to the Summer Games in Paris is filled with hours of practice, competitions and qualifying trials. For me, a mere mortal who plays in a recreational three-against-three basketball league in Broomfield, the road to the Olympics, is, well, southbound Interstate 25. Ahead of the Summer Olympics, which begin on July 26, day-tripping Coloradans can go for gold in Colorado Springs, touring the U.

By THOMAS ADAMSON and JOHN LEICESTER (Associated Press) SAINT-DENIS, France — The Paris Olympics are getting into the groove for the historic opening ceremony on the River Seine. Dancers who’ll jazz up the July 26 show under the artistic direction of prize-winning French theater director Thomas Jolly are putting finishing touches on a high-octane performance that will combine urban, contemporary, classic, and break dancing, complete with stomps, shouts, and body rolls. The Associated Press got a behind-the-scenes look of one of their rehearsals, providing an advance peek into preparations for the opening show that is largely shrouded in secrecy.

The Rockies’ closest shot at the NL West title feels like a long-off dream. In the series opener on Monday at Coors Field, the Dodgers made the Rockies look like little brother again in a 9-5 win. Dating back to when L. A. beat Colorado in 2018’s Game 163 to win the divisional title, Monday’s victory improved the Dodgers to 40 games over .500 (72-32) against the outmatched Rockies. L.

By KYLE HIGHTOWER (AP Sports Writer) BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum put his hands behind his head, with TD Garden fans standing on their feet cheering around him, and took it all in. Walking to the bench, he wrapped both arms around Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. The journey was complete. The Boston Celtics again stand alone among NBA champions. Tatum had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and the Celtics topped the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 on Monday night to win the franchise’s 18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history. Boston earned its latest title on the 16th anniversary of hoisting its last Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008.

PINKHAM NOTCH, N. H. — A Colorado runner has won a race to the summit of New England’s tallest peak for a record-setting eighth time. Joseph Gray, 40, of Colorado Springs, won the Mount Washington Road Race on Saturday in a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 21 seconds.

LOS ANGELES — The way the NFL can distribute its package of out-of-market games could be decided in federal court as the result of a class-action lawsuit. Subscribers to the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package are claiming the league broke antitrust laws by selling its package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games airing on CBS and Fox at what the lawsuit says was an inflated price.