Sports News

Quick Start

Prefer the CLI — it avoids Python import path issues:

sports-skills news fetch_items --google_news --query="Arsenal transfer" --limit=5
sports-skills news fetch_feed --url="https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/sport/football/rss.xml"

Python SDK (alternative):

from sports_skills import news

articles = news.fetch_items(google_news=True, query="Arsenal transfer news", limit=10)
feed = news.fetch_feed(url="https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/sport/football/rss.xml")

Important Notes

• google_news=True requires a query. Without a query, Google News has nothing to search.
• url and google_news are mutually exclusive. Use one or the other, not both.
• Always use sort_by_date=True for recency queries to show newest articles first.
• Before complex fetches, run the parameter validator: bash scripts/validate_params.sh [args]

For detailed reference data, see the files in the references/ directory.

Choosing Dates

Derive the current date from the system prompt’s date (e.g., currentDate: 2026-02-16 means today is 2026-02-16).

• If the user specifies a date range, use it as-is.
• If the user says “recent”, “latest”, “this week”, or doesn’t specify a timeframe: Derive after from the system date. For “this week”, use after = today - 7 days. For “recent” or “latest”, use after = today - 3 days.
• Never hardcode dates in commands. Always derive them from the system date.
• Always use sort_by_date=True for recency queries to show newest articles first.

Workflows

Workflow: Breaking News Check

1. fetch_items --google_news --query="<topic>" --limit=5 --sort_by_date=True
2. Present headlines with source and date.

Workflow: Topic Deep-Dive

1. fetch_items --google_news --query="<topic>" --after=<7_days_ago> --sort_by_date=True --limit=10
2. For curated sources, also try fetch_feed --url="<rss_url>".
3. Cross-reference both for comprehensive coverage.

Workflow: Weekly Sports Roundup

1. For each sport of interest, fetch_items --google_news --query="<sport> results" --after=<7_days_ago> --limit=5.
2. Aggregate and present by sport.

Examples

User: “What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?”

1. Call fetch_items(google_news=True, query="Arsenal transfer news", limit=10)
2. Present headlines with source, date, and links

User: “Show me BBC Sport football headlines”

1. Call fetch_feed(url="https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/sport/football/rss.xml")
2. Present feed title, last updated, and recent entries

User: “Any Champions League news from this week?”

1. Derive after from system date: today minus 7 days
2. Call fetch_items(google_news=True, query="Champions League", after=<derived_date>, sort_by_date=True, limit=10)
3. Present articles filtered to the last 7 days, sorted newest first

Error Handling & Fallbacks

• If Google News returns empty, ensure google_news=True AND query are both set. Try broader keywords.
• If RSS feed returns error, feed may be down. Use Google News as fallback.
• If articles are old, use after parameter with date and sort_by_date=True.
• Never fabricate news headlines or article content. If no results, state so.