NBA-JAMES
James to check out options
MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James has decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat and become a free agent on July 1. His agent, Rich Paul, confirmed the move to The Associated Press.
Opting out does not mean James has decided to leave the Heat. He could decide to resign with the team or move on to another club. James is expected to meet with teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to discuss the future. Both of them may decide to opt out of their deals as well.
James had two years and about $42.7 million remaining on his deal with the Heat. In his four seasons in Miami, the Heat have gone to the NBA Finals four times, winning two championships.
NBA-NETS
Kirilenko likes Brooklyn
NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets say forward Andrei Kirilenko has opted to remain with the team for the second year of his contract.
Kirilenko will make $3.3 million next season in the final year of a two-year, $6.5 million deal he signed last summer. The forward from Russia was limited to 45 games by injuries last season and averaged 5.0 points.
NCAA-BIG TEN-SCHOLARSHIPS
Big Ten proposes changes for athletes
UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten says it supports guaranteed four-year scholarships and improved medical coverage for its athletes.
The league has announced that it proposes working within the NCAA structure to guarantee athletic scholarships for four years, even if an athlete can no longer compete or has left for a professional career.
The conference would like to also provide more consistent medical coverage and ensure its athletes are compensated for the full cost of their college education.
The moves are seen as a response to a number of lawsuits filed against the NCAA by some former athletes over compensation issues.
WIMBLEDON-DAY 2
Nadal, Federer, Serena win
LONDON (AP) — Women’s top-seed Serena Williams easily won her opening match at Wimbledon. The five-time champion breezed into the second round with a straight sets win. The 32-year-old has never lost in the first round at the All England Club, where she is making her 15th appearance.
French Open champion Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) defeated Samantha Murray 6-1, 6-0. The way things are set up, Sharapova could face five-time champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh) also won her opening match.
Men’s second seed and two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-EHL’ nah-DAHL’) battled for nearly three hours before he could dispose of Slovakia’s Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in their first round match. The victory was the 700th tour-level match win of Nadal’s career, putting him in a class with only eight other men.
Fourth-seed Roger Federer also won his match. He is gunning for his eighth championship at Wimbledon, which would be a record. Australian Open champion and fifth seed Stan Wawrinka (vah-VRINK’-ah) also moved on.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Good series resume in Milwaukee and Toronto tonight
UNDATED (AP) — The second game of the Milwaukee-Washington three game series is tonight in Milwaukee. The visiting Nationals won the opener last night 3-0 and in doing so increased their lead over the Braves in the National League East to 2 ½ games. The Brewers top the Cardinals in the NL Central by 4 ½.
The Blue Jays can put more distance between themselves and the Yankees with another win over the visiting New Yorkers tonight. The Jays beat the Yankees last night to take a 2 ½ game lead in the American League East. Baltimore beat the White Sox last night and the Orioles now hold down second place in the AL East, 1 ½ games back of the Jays.
Here are the rest of the matchups:
The Twins are playing the Angels in Anaheim, Seattle is home to Boston, the Marlins are in Philadelphia, the Cubs are hosting the Reds, St. Louis is at Colorado, the Giants are entertaining the Padres, Pittsburgh is at Tampa Bay, Texas is home to the Tigers, the Braves are at Houston, KC is playing host to the Dodgers and Cleveland is at Arizona.
NFL-DOLPHINS
Surgery for center Pouncey
MIAMI (AP) — Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey of the Dolphins is expected to miss the start of the season recovering from hip surgery. Pouncey was injured during offseason workouts and underwent surgery Monday that will likely sideline him for at least a couple of games in September.
NHL-KINGS-QUICK SURGERY
Kings goalie has surgery
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick is expected to be sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks after having wrist surgery.
The Stanley Cup champion Kings confirmed their star goalie had surgery on Tuesday, but wouldn’t specify which wrist was hurt.
Quick was injured during the Kings’ second-round series victory over the Anaheim Ducks, but kept playing while Los Angeles won its second NHL title in three years.
WORLD CUP
Altidore out of U.S.
UNDATED (AP) — The United States will be without veteran striker Jozy Altidore (JOH’-zee AL’-tih-door) for Thursday’s key match with Germany. He’ll miss a second straight match due to a strained left hamstring he suffered in the opening win against Ghana. U.S. coach Jurgen (YUR’-gihn) Klinsmann says that if the Americans qualify for the knockout stage there’s a good chance Altidore will be back.
The U.S. can earn their way into the next round with a victory or tie against Germany.
Italy has been bounced from the World Cup in the opening round after a 1-0 loss to Uruguay. The Italians join defending champ Spain and England as unexpected spectators heading into the knockout round. Uruguay advanced with the win. England played to a scoreless tie with Costa Rica, which had already qualified for the next round.
Greece scored on a penalty shot in stoppage time to edge Ivory Coast and earn a spot in the next round. Columbia improved to 3-0 with a 4-1 win over Japan to win Group C.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Vanderbilt looks to clinch
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Vanderbilt can wrap up its first national championship in a men’s sport with a win over Virginia tonight in the College World Series. The Commodores won the opener of the best-of-three final last night. Should Virginia win tonight’s game, the deciding game will be played tomorrow night.
GOLF-WOODS
Woods details return to play
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Tiger Woods says he fully expects to contend in this week’s Quicken Loans National in his first competition since back surgery at the end of March. Woods is hosting the event and his charity will benefit from it. Woods says he is returning to competitive golf earlier than expected. The plan had called for a return at next month’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.
