NCAA-GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
NCAA board backs rules changes for big conferences
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA’s board of directors has endorsed a proposal giving schools in the five largest football conferences more autonomy and more voting power in changing rules within the organization.
The changes would allow the wealthiest schools to adopt some legislation on their own, including provisions for money beyond what current scholarships cover and money to help families travel to NCAA tournaments.
The proposal would affect the 65 schools in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC.
A formal vote is expected in August. If passed then, the transition could begin this fall.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS-NORTHWESTERN-UNION
NLRB grants Northwestern appeal
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Labor Relations Board has granted Northwestern University’s request that it review its ruling that football players at the university are essentially employees of the school with full collective bargaining rights. The NLRB says a previously scheduled vote by Northwestern football players on whether to unionize could go forward Friday but ballots would be impounded for now.
The Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on March 26 that Northwestern scholarship football players are essentially employees of the school and can unionize. Northwestern insists that its scholarship athletes don’t have collective bargaining rights.
The full five-member federal board is now weighing the appeal request.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Three tied series resume
UNDATED (AP) — The venues change for the three NBA playoff series that resume tonight.
Top-seed Indiana and the Hawks are in Atlanta tonight with that series deadlocked at a game each. The Pacers hope they’re back on track after second half blitz earned them a Game 2 win. Indiana has won just 13 of its last 27 and has only won two games in Atlanta since 2006. But those two wins have come in the last three games at Phillips Arena.
Memphis boasts the home court advantage when they host Oklahoma City tonight. The Grizzlies closed strong at home this season winning their last 14 games. The Thunder had the second best road record in the regular season. That series is tied at 1-1.
The Clippers and Warriors move up the coast to continue their series in Oakland, also tied at 1-all. The Oracle Arena has been a house of horrors for the Clippers who have lost 15 of their last 17 there.
NBA-CONLEY-SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Grizzlies Conley honored
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis guard Mike Conley has won the NBA’s Joe Dumars Trophy for sportsmanship.
Conley received 77 first-place votes of a possible 334 and earned 2,335 points overall. He was followed by Boston’s Jeff Green and Phoenix’s Channing Frye.
MLB-YANKEES-PINEDA SUSPENSION
Yanks pitcher gets 10 game suspension
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has suspended Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda for 10-games after he was caught on the mound with pine tar on his neck. Pineda was ejected in Wednesday night’s game against Boston after Red Sox manager John Farrell asked the umpires to check the substance in the second inning of the game.
Pineda said after the game that he had trouble gripping the ball on the cool evening when he allowed two runs in the first inning. So before he took the mound for the second, he rubbed pine tar on the right side of his neck.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Mets top Lynn, Cardinals
UNDATED (AP) — Chris Young homered and slumping Curtis Granderson singled in a run as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 to send Lance Lynn to his first career loss in April.
Bartolo Colon improved to 2-3, allowing four hits in seven innings and striking out eight.
Lynn had been 12-0 through April in his big league career, including one March victory. He drops to 4-1 this season.
Elsewhere;
— Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer struck out 10 in six innings and Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs to lead Detroit past the White Sox 7-4.
— Corey Kluber tossed a four-hitter and struck out a career high 11 on the way to Cleveland’s 5-1 win over Kansas City. David Murphy and Asdrubal Cabrerra drove in two runs each during Cleveland’s five-run fifth inning.
— Ryan Ludwick lined a two-run double after a pair of Cincinnati batters were hit by pitches, lifting the Reds over Pittsburgh 2-1. The Reds won for the seventh time in nine games and reached .500 at 11-11. The Pirates have lost six of seven, scoring a total of 22 runs in that span.
— Aaron Hicks hit a three-run homer and Kurt Suzuki drove in three runs in Minnesota’s 9-7 win over Tampa Bay. David DeJesus (deh-HAY’-soos) hit a two-run homer for the Rays who lost three of four games in the home series.
— Mike Bolsinger earned his first major league win and drove in a run as Arizona beat the Cubs. Bolsinger allowed one unearned run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
MLB-YANKEES-NOVA
Nova to have surgery
BOSTON (AP) — Yankees pitcher Ivan (ee-VAHN’) Nova has decided to have season-ending Tommy John surgery for a partially torn elbow ligament.
Nova left last Saturday’s 16-1 loss at Tampa Bay in the fifth inning after allowing eight runs and eight hits, including four homers. An MRI then revealed the injury.
Nova is scheduled to have the surgery next Thursday.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Sharks prepare brooms
UNDATED (AP) — San Jose has played itself into a sweeping position heading into tonight’s Game 4 in their playoff series against Los Angeles. The Sharks have won the first three games, scoring 17 goals against Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and the NHL’s top defensive team. The Kings haven’t trailed 0-3 in a playoff series since 2000. Only three teams in NHL history have rallied from that deficit to win a series.
The Red Wings need to find the scoring touch soon, or their post-season will be short-lived. Detroit has been held to just two goals heading into Game 4 of their series against Boston. Remarkably, the Red Wings are down just 2-1 in the series. Henrik Zetterberg may play for Detroit for the first time since having back surgery Feb. 21.
Minnesota hosts Colorado in Game 4 of their series with the Avalanche up 2-1. The Wild will be missing left wing Matt Cooke who is serving the first of his seven-game suspension for a knee-to-knee hit on the Avalanche’s Tyson Barrie in Game 3. Barrie is expected to miss four to six weeks with ligament damage.
NHL-WILD-COOKE
Suspended Cooke apologizes
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s Matt Cooke has apologized for the knee-to-knee hit on Colorado’s Tyson Barrie. The Wild left wing drew a seven-game suspension from the NHL for the hit that knocked Barrie out of action for 4-6 weeks. Cooke said he did not intend to injure Barrie in a collision on the open ice.
NHL-FLYERS-MASON
Mason to start for Flyers
VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) — Steve Mason will start Game 4 in goal for Philadelphia against the Rangers on Friday night. Mason hasn’t started a game since suffering an upper-body injury on April 12. Ray Emery started the first three games for Philadelphia, who trail in the series 2-1.
SWIMMING-PHELPS COMEBACK
Phelps comeback begins
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Michael Phelps has qualified fastest for the 100-meter butterfly final in his first competition since retiring after the 2012 London Olympics.
Phelps began his comeback with a time of 52.84 seconds at the Arena Grand Prix in the event in which he holds the world record.
The 18-time Olympic gold medalist was the star attraction during prelims, with the stands packed for his comeback.
GOLF-ZURICH CLASSIC
Svoboda leads
AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Andrew Svoboda’s 8-under 64 is holding up for the clubhouse lead late in the opening round of the Zurich Classic. His bogey-free round gives him a one-shot lead over Sweden’s Peter Hanson. Erik Compton and Chad Collins are two shots back.
GOLF-LPGA CLASSIC
Martin leads early
DALY CITY, Calif. (AP) — Mo Martin’s, France’s Christal Boeljan and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea shot 3-under 69’s to share the early clubhouse lead in the opening round of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Michelle Wie (WEE) is looking to make it two wins in a row after the victory in her in her home state of Hawaii last week.
GOLF-CHINA OPEN
Stenson eyes No. 1
SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Sweden’s Henrik Stenson shot a 71 and trails by four shots after the first round of the China Open. According to the European Tour, Stenson can overtake Tiger Woods for the No. 1 world ranking with a win this week providing there are no withdrawals from the tournament.
