MLB-SCHEDULE
Tigers, Cardinals win
UNDATED (AP) — It was a great afternoon for the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. And it’ll be a relaxing evening for a few East Coast ballclubs.
Max Scherzer won his third consecutive start by scattering four hits in six shutout innings of the Tigers’ 5-1 win over the White Sox in Chicago. Scherzer also struck out seven to become the first pitcher in team history with at least seven strikeouts in each of his first six starts.
Bryan Holaday hit a two-run double while the Tigers scored four times in the fourth inning.
In St. Louis, Allen Craig was 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs as the Redbirds ripped Milwaukee 9-3. Matt Adams hit a three-run homer and Jon Jay had three hits and a walk in his first four plate appearances.
Shelby Miller tossed six-plus innings to help the Cardinals avoid a three-game sweep.
Today’s 15-game major league schedule has been reduced to 11. The New York Mets have been rained out in Philadelphia, as have Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Seattle at the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay at Boston.
NBA-OWNERS-STERLING
Owners committee to meet on Sterling
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA owners’ advisory and finance committee will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss the next steps in the removal of Donald Sterling as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 10-member committee will have a conference call two days after Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life from the league and fined him $2.5 million for making racist comments. Silver also said he would urge owners to use their power to force Sterling to sell the team.
That would require the support of three-fourths of the league’s owners in a vote.
Minnesota owner Glen Taylor chairs the committee.
NBA-THE CLIPPERS SWEEPSTAKES
Celebs line up for shot at Clippers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the list of potential buyers will have more stars than the team’s roster.
Oprah Winfrey leads the list of wealthy celebrities who have expressed an interest in purchasing the club shortly after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling from the league for life.
Winfrey’s spokesperson confirmed Wednesday she is already in discussions with record-label mogul David Geffen and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to pool their vast resources for a bid.
Music mogul Sean Combs tweeted his interest in going after the Clippers, and boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants to form a group to buy the team.
Celebrities ranging from Matt Damon to Oscar De La Hoya expressed interest in joining an ownership group.
NBA-CLIPPERS/WARRIORS
Sterling controversy boosts Clippers-Warriors TV ratings
NEW YORK (AP) — The Donald Sterling saga has paid short-term dividends for ABC and TNT. Sunday’s game between the Clippers and Warriors drew 6.5 million viewers on ABC, up a whopping 48 percent from the 4.4 million who watched Game 1 on the network just over a week prior. There also was a 34-percent spike in TNT’s usual viewership for the Warriors and Clippers last night, hours after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban for Sterling and plans to try to force him to sell the team.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Blazers poised to advance
UNDATED (AP) — Portland looks to end a lengthy streak of futility in the opening round of the NBA playoffs when it visits Houston in Game 5 of their first-round series. A win tonight pushes Trail Blazers into the second round for the first time in 14 years. They have lost in the first round in their last six trips to the playoffs.
The Rockets face the daunting challenge of overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the series. Coach Kevin McHale had Mario Elie (EHL’-ee) and Hakeem Olajuwon (ah-KEEM’ ah-LAH’-zhoo-wahn) talk to his team as it prepares for Game 5 tonight. They helped the Rockets bounce back from the same deficit to beat Phoenix in seven games in 1995 on the way to an NBA title.
Dallas plays at San Antonio with that series even at 2-all, and Toronto hosts Brooklyn with their series deadlocked at two games each.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Kings try to complete comeback
UNDATED (AP) — Only eight NHL teams have forced a Game 7 after losing the first three, and only three of those completed the comeback to win the series. The Los Angeles Kings hope to join the latter group.
The Kings skate at San Jose in Game 7 tonight, with a spot in the NHL Western Conference semifinals at stake.
Antti Niemi will be back in goal for the Sharks after being replaced by rookie Alex Stalock in the Game 6 loss.
It’s winner take all in the other two series on tonight’s schedule. Colorado hosts Minnesota Game 7, while the Flyers and Rangers finish off their series in New York tonight. Philadelphia extended that series with a win at home last night.
NHL-DEVILS-JAGR
Jagr signs new deal
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils say leading-scorer Jaromir Jagr (YAR’-oh-meer YAH’-ger) has signed a new contract, but no terms have been released. The 42-year old topped the Devils last season with 24 goals and 43 assists.
A two-time winner of the Stanley Cup when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jagr begins next season with 705 goals and 1,050 assists, tied for sixth all-time among NHL scorers.
NHL-MASTERTON FINALISTS
3 are Masterton finalists
NEW YORK (AP) — The New Jersey Devils’ Jaromir Jagr (YAR’-oh-meer YAH’-ger), Carolina Hurricanes’ Manny Malhotra and New York Rangers’ Dominic Moore are the finalists for the Masterton Trophy. The award goes to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
The 42-year-old Jagr led the Devils with 67 points this season instead of retiring. Malhotra has resumed a career that was put in doubt because of an eye injury. Moore came back to the NHL this season after taking a leave to care for his wife, who had liver cancer and died last year.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-FLORIDA STATE-WINSTON
Seminoles Winston cited
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State’s Heisman Trophy winner Jameis (JAY’-mihs) Winston was issued a civil citation after sheriff’s deputies say he walked out of a supermarket without paying for $32 worth of crab legs and crawfish. Leon County Sheriff’s Maj. Michael Wood says that the 20-year-old Winston ordered the food at the deli in a Tallahassee-area Publix on Tuesday night. After receiving the order, he left the store without paying.
Wood said Publix employees called deputies, who went to Winston’s apartment. Wood said Winston acknowledged not paying for the food, saying he forgot.
Winston will be required to complete at least 20 hours of community service. If he does that, no criminal charges will be filed.
GOLF-TRUMP-TURNBERRY
Trump buys Turnberry
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has added one of golf’s legendary courses to his expanding list of properties with the purchase of Turnberry in Scotland.
Trump has announced that he has agreed to buy the picturesque links course and resort in Scotland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Independent in London reported that Trump paid Dubai-based Leisurecorp just over $63 million.
Turnberry has hosted the British Open four times.
HORSE RACING-KENTUCKY DERBY
California Chrome early Derby favorite
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — California Chrome has been made the early 5-2 favorite for the 140th Kentucky Derby. California Chrome drew the No. 5 post, where eight horses have won. Hopportunity drew the No. 11 post and is the second choice at 6-1 for the race Saturday at Churchill Downs.
HORSE RACING-NAPRAVNIK SUSPENSION
Derby jockey suspended
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jockey Rosie Napravnik (nah-PRAHV’-nihk) will serve a four-day suspension after she rides in the Kentucky Derby Saturday. Churchill Downs stewards punished Napravnik for her role in the disqualification of Bayern from first to second in last weekend’s Derby Trial.
She would have received a three-day suspension, but an extra day was added because she’s being allowed to ride Vicar’s In Trouble in the Kentucky Derby.
