MLB-ALL-STAR GAME
Annual mid-summer classic in progress
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β Baseball’s All-Star game is going on right now in Minneapolis, where the American League led the National League 5-3 in the sixth inning. The junior circuit blew a 3-0 lead before Mike Trout poked a tiebreaking, RBI double in a two-run fifth.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter could be named the game’s MVP for the second and final time in his career. Jeter received a thunderous ovation before hitting a leadoff double to spark the AL’s three-run first inning. Jeter also singled in the third before leaving the game to another standing ovation just before the start of the fourth.
Jeter is a lifetime .481 hitter in the midsummer classic, going 13-for-27. The 14-time All-Star is retiring after the season.
Trout opened the scoring with an RBI triple before scoring on Miguel Cabrera’s two-run homer in the first. The NL wasted no time getting back within a run as Chase Utley and Jonathan Lucroy hit RBI doubles in the second inning.
Lucroy also doubled home a run in the fourth to make it 3-3.
MLB-RODRIGUEZ/STEROIDS
Selig insists MLB new nothing of A-Rod exemption
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β Bud Selig (SEE’-lihg) maintains Major League Baseball had no idea Alex Rodriguez received a medical exemption from the sport’s drug administrator to use a testosterone-boosting substance in 2007. According to the book “Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis and the Quest to End Baseball’s Steroid Era,” Rodriguez was granted an exemption by Bryan W. Smith, then the independent administrator of baseball’s drug program. The New York Yankees third baseman is serving a season-long ban this year after an MLB drug investigation.
NBA-HEAT
Wade stays with Miami
UNDATED (AP) β The Miami Heat have managed to keep two-thirds of their “Big 3.”
All-Star guard Dwyane (dwayn) Wade is staying with the team, saying he has confidence in the organization and the roster being built. The comments come days after LeBron James left the Heat after four seasons to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A person familiar with the situation says Wade signed a two-year package that includes a player option for the second season. Financial terms were not announced, though it’s expected Wade’s salary for next season will not reach the $20.2 million he would have made under his previous contract.
Chris Bosh also decided to stay in Miami. Joining the Heat is Luol Deng (LOO’-ul dehng), who signed a $20 million, two-year contract. Deng is expected to compete for the starting spot vacated by James.
Also in the NBA:
β The Atlanta Hawks have acquired swingman Thabo Sefolosha (TAH’-boh seh-feh-LOH’-shah) in a sign-and-trade deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Atlanta also received the rights to Giorgos Printezis and cash considerations for the rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis and a trade exception.
β Avery Bradley remains a Boston Celtic after signing a four-year contract, reportedly worth $32 million. Bradley averaged a career-high 14.9 points in 60 games last season.
β Trevor Ariza (ah-REE’-zuh) has officially become a Houston Rocket after being acquired in a three-team trade with New Orleans and Washington. The Rockets get Ariza from the Wizards and forward Alonzo Gee, guard Scotty Hopson and a 2015 first-round draft pick from the Pelicans. The Rockets will send center Omer Asik, forward Omri Casspi and cash considerations to New Orleans, while the Wizards will receive center Melvin Ely and a trade exception.
β A person familiar with the negotiations says free agent Mike Miller has agreed to a 2-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cavaliers, re-uniting him with superstar LeBron James. He’ll make $2.7 million next season, and a second-year player option is worth $2.8 million. Miller played in 82 games for Memphis last season, hitting 46 percent of his 233 3-point attempts.
β The San Antonio Spurs have finalized the signing of veteran forward Boris Diaw (DEE’-aw) to a three-year, $22 million deal. Diaw was invaluable for the Spurs last season, averaging 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 25 minutes while shooting more than 52 percent from the field.
β The Dallas Mavericks have officially signed forwards Dirk Nowitzki (noh-VIHT’-skee) and Chandler Parsons. The 36-year-old Nowitzki’s contract is for three years and $30 million, with a player option for the final season. The Mavericks signed Parsons to an offer sheet five days ago worth about $46 million over three years.
β The Chicago Bulls have used the amnesty clause to cut forward Carlos Boozer after four seasons with the team. Boozer came to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal with Utah in July 2010. He had one season left on a five-year deal worth roughly $75 million.
MLB-A’s/STADIUM
A’s owner mulling new park in Oakland
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β Athletics owner Lew Wolff says he’s willing to re-examine whether it would make sense to build a new ballpark at the site of Oakland Coliseum. Wolff has hoped for a new stadium in nearby San Jose, but the San Francisco Giants control that territory and have blocked the A’s from moving there. The Coliseum has hosted the A’s since 1968 but has had sewage and lighting problems.
NFL-SAINTS
New deal for Graham
NEW ORLEANS (AP) β The New Orleans Saints and tight end Jimmy Graham have resolved their differences. The club has confirmed that the two sides have agreed to a multiyear contract.
Graham skipped all of the Saints’ voluntary and mandatory practices and workouts, and challenged the NFL’s franchise tag process through arbitration. The NFL Players Association filed a grievance, contending Graham was used as a wide receiver often enough to qualify for the more lucrative receiver tag, worth about $5 million a year more than the $7 million tag for a tight end.
NFL-COWBOYS/ORTON
Orton to be released
UNDATED (AP) β The Dallas Cowboys are releasing Kyle Orton after their backup quarterback missed all the offseason workouts amid reports he was considering retirement.
The 31-year-old Orton started the finale last year after Tony Romo injured his back a week earlier. The Cowboys lost to Philadelphia, their third straight season-ending defeat against an NFC East rival with a playoff berth on the line.
The new backup is likely to be Brandon Weeden, Cleveland’s first-round draft pick in 2012.
NFL-PANTHERS/HARDY
Hardy sentenced to probation
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation after being found guilty of assaulting a female and communicating threats. A 60-day jail sentence was suspended.
Hardy’s attorney says he’ll appeal, and Hardy has asked for a jury trial in superior court. In North Carolina, that means the terms of Hardy’s probation are on hold until the trial β so he’s free to travel with the team to training camp and compete in games.
KLUWE-VIKINGS
Former punter may sue team
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β The attorney for former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe (KLOO’-ee) says his client intends to sue the team over allegations of anti-gay conduct by a coach. Lawyer Clayton Halunen (HAL’-oo-nehn) said they’ll seek a copy of the Vikings’ internal investigation and make it public if they can. They accused the Vikings of reneging on a pledge to release the report, which they believe corroborates Kluwe’s claims.
The Vikings hired two outside lawyers to examine Kluwe’s claims that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer (PREE’-fur) used slurs and taunts to try to quash Kluwe’s outspoken support for gay marriage. Priefer denied the allegations.
NCAA-CONGRESS
House interested in NCAA finances
WASHINGTON (AP) β The NCAA’s financial picture has drawn interest on Capitol Hill.
Two House members have introduced a bill to require the NCAA, schools, conferences as well as the College Football Playoff to reveal how much money is flowing through college sports. North Carolina Democrat David Price and Wisconsin Republican Tom Petri introduced the bill, saying in a statement it would allow “for the first apples-to-apples comparison” of revenues and spending throughout college sports.
The Standardization of Collegiate Oversight of Revenues and Expenditures Act would require the NCAA to make public a standardized financial report for itself and release similar information for schools that already report the data to the NCAA. It also would affect conferences and any entity hosting a postseason competition.
NHL-PENGUINS
No surgery for Crosby
PITTSBURGH (AP) β Sidney Crosby doesn’t need surgery on the wrist that bothered him during the playoffs. The Penguins captain will continue to receive treatment and be evaluated before the start of training camp.
Crosby had just one goal and eight assists in 13 playoff games after leading the league in scoring during the regular season. Pittsburgh was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.
NHL-PREDATORS
Preds sign two
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β The Nashville Predators have signed veteran forwards Mike Ribeiro (rih-BEHR’-oh) and Derek Roy (roy) to one-year contracts. Ribeiro’s contract is worth $1.05 million. Roy’s is worth $1 million.
Ribeiro had 16 goals and 31 assists in 80 games for the Phoenix Coyotes last season. Roy had nine goals and 28 assists in 75 games for the St. Louis Blues.
MLB-LOU GEHRIG GLOVE
Gehrig glove auctioned
GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) β An autographed baseball glove that Lou Gehrig gave to a Connecticut man when he was a boy has sold for $287,500. Officials with Hunt Auctions said the glove sold at auction in Minneapolis. They didn’t disclose the name of the buyer.
