NBA-STERLING
Deal in the works to sell the Clippers
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Donald Sterling has agreed to surrender his stake in the Los Angeles Clippers to his wife, and she is moving forward with selling the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations has told The Associated Press. The individual, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said that the couple made the agreement after weeks of discussion.
Shelly Sterling is working to resolve the dispute amicably and has been in talks with her attorney and NBA lawyers for the last couple weeks. The individual told the AP that she has no plans on suing the NBA.
Commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million because of racist comments. The league has charged him with damaging the league and its teams.
MLB-RANGERS
Fielder done for the season
DETROIT (AP) β The Texas Rangers have placed first baseman Prince Fielder on the disabled list, days before he is scheduled to have season-ending neck surgery. Fielder faces cervical fusion surgery Tuesday for the herniated disk in his neck. It is the first time Fielder has been on the DL in his career. His streak had reached 547 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Red Sox looking to snap skid
UNDATED (AP) β To use a boxing analogy the World Champion Red Sox are against the ropes. They have dropped their last seven games to fall six games under .500; five games back of Toronto in the American League East. Tonight the Sox are sending John Lackey to the mound in the attempt to snap the skid. They are playing the Rays on Tampa’s home turf. The American League Central champion Tigers have fallen on hard times as well as they are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Tigers are once again playing host to the Rangers tonight with Anibal (AH’-nih-bahl) Sanchez getting the ball for the home team.
After losing three straight to the Athletics last weekend the Indians have won four in a row. They look for a fifth straight with another game in Baltimore tonight. The Tribe beat the Orioles in 13 last night 8-7.
The rest of the American League games tonight feature the Yankees playing the White Sox in Chicago, the Angels home to the Royals, Houston at Seattle and Oakland, which has the best record in baseball at 30-16, at Toronto.
Your National League card has the Dodgers playing the Phillies in Philadelphia, the Pirates home to the Nationals, Arizona in New York for a game with the Mets, the Marlins entertaining the Brewers, St. Louis in Cincinnati, the Braves hosting the Rockies and the Cubs in San Diego.
NBA PLAYOFFS-THUNDER
Good news for Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β The Oklahoma City Thunder say defensive standout Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH’-kah) may not be lost for the playoffs after all. General manager Sam Presti says Ibaka’s injured left calf is showing a level of movement “not thought possible.” The Thunder lost the first two games of the best of seven series and will serve as host for Game 3 Sunday.,
NBA PLAYOFFS-PACERS
No green light for George
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Paul George of the Pacers has not yet been cleared to play after being diagnosed with a concussion. He says he feels just fine but the league requires him to complete the NBA’s concussion protocol before he can play Saturday night at Miami in Game 3.
NHL PLAYOFFS-RANGERS
Rangers may lose Stepan to injury/Carcillo suspended
NEW YORK (AP) β Forward Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers has a broken jaw and is undergoing surgery following a hit by Montreal’s Brandon Prust during Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals. Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault (vihn-YOH’) says Stepan’s playing status for the rest of the series will be determined after surgery.
TORONTO (AP) β The NHL has given New York Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo (KAR’-sihl-oh) an automatic 10-game suspension after he was ejected for physical abuse of officials during the first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Carcillo was punished for a “Category II” infraction after he appeared to twice elbow linesman Scott Driscoll, who was trying to keep Carcillo away from a fight Thursday. Carcillo won’t be able to return to the New York lineup before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, should the Rangers advance past the Montreal Canadiens.
NHL-LIGHTNING
Johnson signs with Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) β The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Tyler Johnson to a three-year contract. He is a finalist for the NHL’s top rookie award. Johnson had a rookie team-record 24 goals along 26 assists.
NFL-REDSKINS
‘Skins ink draft pick
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) β Stanford linebacker Trent Murphy has signed with the Washington Redskins, two weeks after being taken in the second round of the NFL draft. Murphy was Washington’s first pick, the 47th overall. He led the nation last season with 15 sacks.
NCAA-LAW SUIT
NCAA faces a pair of trials
UNDATED (AP) β A federal judge has denied the NCAA’s request to delay the trial on the antitrust suit by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others. The trial will begin June 9 in Oakland, California, and has the potential to reshape the way major college sports operate. The suit will center on claims that the NCAA conspired to restrain competition in Division I sports and in the group licensing of broadcasts and videogames.
Judge Claudia Wilken also set another trial for next March on claims by other athletes that the NCAA and the videogame maker Electronic Arts misappropriated athletes’ names and likenesses for NCAA-branded videogames. That case previously had been combined with the O’Bannon case.
FRENCH OPEN
Draw is set
PARIS (AP) β The draw has been announced for the French Open. Play in the second Grand Slam event of the year starts this Sunday in Paris. The defending champions are Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) and Serena Williams and they are the top seeds this year. Nadal is out for his ninth French championship this year.
GOLF-COLONIAL
Second in progress
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) βThe early clubhouse lead in the second round of the PGA’s Colonial event is held by Brice Garnett at 7-under-par. He shot a 4-under-66 in round two to grab the lead. Chris Stroud and Robert Streb are in the clubhouse 6-under. Stroud had a 6-under-64.
GOLF-SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Four-way tie early in the round
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) β Four players share the early clubhouse lead in the second round of the Senior PGA Championship. The group includes Tom Watson, Colin (KAH’-lihn) Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer and Kiyoshi Murota. Brad Faxon is 5-under after six holes of play.
LPGA-AIRBUS LPGA CLASSIC
Hull has the lead
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) β Teenager Charley Hull of England has the early second round clubhouse lead at the Airbus LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala. She stands 5-under after 36 holes while Anna Nordqvist and Jessica Korda are two back. First round leader Catriona Matthew is on the course at 9-under after four holes of play.
NBA/NHL PLAYOFF
A day off for the winter sports
UNDATED (AP) β Today is a day of rest for the pro hoopsters and skaters. Play resumes in both leagues tomorrow with Game 3 for the Heat and Pacers and the Blackhawks and Kings. Each series is tied at 1-1.
