MLB-BANKS-OBIT
Cubs great Ernie Banks dies
CHICAGO (AP) β Once of the greatest shortstops in major league history has died.
The Chicago Cubs say Hall of Famer and two-time MVP Ernie Banks was 83 when he died Friday night. The team did not provide a cause of death.
Banks hit 512 home runs during his 19 major league seasons, including five years with at least 40. He captured the NL Most Valuable Player award in 1958 and ’59 and went to 11 All-Star games from 1955-69. But his Cubs never finished better than second place during his career, making him one of the greatest players to never appear in a postseason game.
His hitting was surpassed by his enthusiasm for the game. He was fond of saying, “It’s a great day for baseball. Let’s play two!”
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, his first year of eligibility. Banks also was selected to baseball’s All-Century team in 1999.
MLB-CUBS-FOWLER
Cubs, Fowler work out pact
CHICAGO (AP) β The Cubs and recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract. Fowler hit .276 with eight homers and 35 RBIs for Houston last season. Chicago acquired Fowler for infielder Luis Valbuena (val-BWAY’-nah) and right-hander Dan Straily.
MLB-GIANTS-VOGELSONG
Vogelsong stays with Giants
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β Free agent pitcher Ryan Vogelsong has reached agreement on a one-year, $4 million deal to stay with the San Francisco Giants.
The right-hander passed a physical and reached the deal three days after general manager Brian Sabean (SAY’-bee-an) said Vogelsong was close to joining another team.
The 37-year old went 8-13 with a 4.00 ERA in 32 starts last season and adds some depth to the Giants rotation.
MLB-ATHLETICS-DOOLITTLE
Doolittle not expected for opener
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Oakland Athletics closer Sean Doolittle is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season.
Doolittle has been diagnosed with a slight tear to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder, along with considerable inflammation and irritation in the area. Doolittle had a platelet-rich plasma injection last Friday in an attempt to decrease the inflammation and irritation before he begins rehabilitation.
There is no timetable for Doolittle’s return, though doctors believe the left-hander will recover to pitch without needing surgery.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Kings are Klay’s pigeons…Hawks’ streak reaches 15
UNDATED (AP) β The Golden State Warriors continue to own the NBA’s best record after Klay Thompson delivered the most productive quarter in league history.
Thompson poured in 37 of his career-high 52 points in the third period to help the Warriors break open a tight game in a 126-101 rout of Sacramento. The All-Star hopeful made all 13 shots, including a league-record nine from 3-point range during the period.
The game was tied at 58 until Thompson began his assault.
The previous NBA mark for points in a quarter was 33, shared by George Gervin and Carmelo Anthony.
Thompson finished with 11 of the Warriors’ 17 3-pointers.
Golden State became the 10th NBA team to win at least 35 games halfway through a season. The Warriors are 35-6 following their 18th consecutive home win.
Also in the NBA:
β Paul Millsap dropped in 22 points and the Atlanta Hawks picked up their team-record 15th straight victory by disposing of Oklahoma City 103-93. Jeff Teague (teeg) added 17 points for the Hawks, who won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8. Russell Westbrook finished with 22 points and Kevin Durant added 21 in the Thunder’s first loss in five games.
β James Harden capped his 33-point night by draining a 20-footer as time expired to lift Houston over Phoenix 113-111. Harden also had 10 assists and six rebounds for the Rockets, who blew a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead before winning. The Rockets played the last three quarters without Dwight Howard because of an ankle sprain.
β Toronto rallied to win for only the fourth time in its last 12 games, coming back from a nine-point deficit in the final 5 1/2 minutes of a 91-86 triumph at Philadelphia. Kyle Lowry led the comeback by scoring 17 of his 21 points in the final period. Patrick Patterson added 14 points and 13 rebounds to help the Raptors drop the 76ers to 3-18 at home.
β Derrick Rose finished with 20 points and Jimmy Butler had 14 of his 20 in the second half of Chicago’s 102-98 victory at Dallas. Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAHL’) had 13 points and 16 rebounds as the Bulls earned their second straight win since dropped six of eight. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points to lead the Mavericks, who had won three straight and were trying to get coach Rick Carlisle his 600th career victory.
β Tony Parker scored 17 points and San Antonio made it nine wins in its last 12 games by whipping the Los Angeles Lakers 99-85. Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, who led by 17 in the first quarter and sent the Lakers to their seventh consecutive loss. Manu Ginobili (MAN’-oo jih-NOH’-blee) provided 15 points to the win.
β Cleveland picked up its fifth straight win as LeBron James scored 25 points in a 129-90 pounding of Charlotte. J.R. Smith scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers, while Kyrie Irving chipped in 18 points in Cleveland’s most lopsided win. The Hornets trailed 75-40 at halftime after winning eight of their previous nine.
β Luol Deng (LOO’-ul dehng) scored 23 points and Chris Bosh added 19 to push Miami past Indiana 89-87. Dwyane (dwayn) Wade had 13 points for the Heat, who led by 20 late in the third quarter before holding on. Luis Scola scored a team-high 14 points in the Pacers’ seventh consecutive loss.
β Avery Bradley scored 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:24 left in Boston’s 100-99 victory at Denver. Brandon Bass had 17 points and Jared Sullinger 14 for the Celtics. The Nuggets played without star guard Ty Lawson, who was away from the team for what the club said were personal reasons following his arrest earlier Friday for allegedly driving under the influence.
β New Orleans topped Minnesota 92-84 as Anthony Davis delivered 21 points and 12 rebounds. Eric Gordon scored 20 points and the Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field to move over .500 for the first time since Jan. 2.
β New York has its first three-game winning streak of the season after Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and Jason Smith added a season-best 19 points in a 113-106 decision over Orlando. Lance Thomas had 16 points and Langston Galloway 15 while the two play in the midst of their second 10-day contract.
NBA-LAKERS
Bryant update
LOS ANGELES (AP) β The Los Angeles Lakers are still hoping Kobe Bryant can avoid potentially season-ending surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.
Bryant was injured in Wednesday’s game against New Orleans and will be re-examined Monday before the Lakers decide whether the guard needs surgery. A completely torn rotator cuff typically requires surgery and several months of rehabilitation, but a partial tear sometimes can be managed while an athlete continues to play
NFL-DEFLATED FOOTBALLS
NFL probe into footballs continues
UNDATED (AP) β The NFL says it currently has no conclusions on how the New England Patriots used underinflated balls in the AFC title game last weekend despite interviewing dozens of people and collecting physical evidence. However, the league says evidence shows the Patriots used underinflated footballs during the first half of the Pats’ 45-7 rout of Indianapolis.
The league spoke in more detail about its investigation after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday afternoon he had not been contacted at that point.
The NFL has offered no timetable for resolving the cheating accusations with the Super Bowl nine days away.
NFL-SEAHAWKS-INJURIES
Thomas practices
RENTON, Wash. (AP) β All-Pro safety Earl Thomas returned to limited duty in practice for the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, while cornerback Richard Sherman was a full participant all week. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says he expects both to be fully ready for the Super Bowl, adding they would have played in the title game was this Sunday. Thomas suffered a separated shoulder in the NFC title game against Green Bay, while Sherman sprained his elbow in the fourth quarter.
NFL-GRIEVANCE
Players union files against the league
NEW YORK (AP) β The NFL players union has filed a grievance against the league over changes to its personal conduct policy. League officials reacted by saying they want players and others in the NFL to be held to stricter standards, but says the league doesn’t share that belief.
The union and the league have been at odds over the personal conduct policy since both groups began navigating the Ray Rice domestic violence case.
T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
VCU escapes
ST. LOUIS (AP) β Virginia Commonwealth was the lone top-25 men’s basketball team in action on Friday, and the 16th-ranked Rams barely avoided a loss.
Treveon Graham drove the distance for a tiebreaking layup with 0.9 seconds left to give VCU a 63-61 win at Saint Louis. Graham finished with 21 points and Briante Weber added 15 as the Rams picked up their 11th consecutive win.
T25-NORTH CAROLINA-PINSON
Tar Hills injuries pile up
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams says freshman guard Theo Pinson has a broken bone in his left foot and will miss Saturday’s game against Florida State.
Pinson was injured during the first half of Wednesday’s win at Wake Forest. The 6-foot-6 Pinson is one of the team’s better perimeter defenders.
NHL-PENGUINS-CROSBY
Crosby gets treatment
PITTSBURGH (AP) β Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby has received an injection to deal with an unspecified lower-body injury.
The team said Friday that Crosby was injured during a loss to Montreal on Jan. 10. He tried to play through it but opted for further treatment. The two-time MVP will miss this weekend’s All-Star Game and Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg.
Crosby is tied with Evgeni Malkin for the team lead with 51 points.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Serena, Venus advance
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) β The Williams sisters have rallied themselves into the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Top-ranked Serena Willliams stumbled out of the gate before posting a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 triumph against Elina Svitolina (sviht-oh-LEE’-nah). Williams said her comeback was motivated by her sister’s victory in an earlier match during the Day 6 schedule.
Venus Williams also dropped her opening set and later survived a second-set tiebreak before downing Camila Giorgi 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. The seven-time major champion is in the fourth round of a major for the first time since 2011 Wimbledon.
Sixth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska (ag-nee’-EHS’-kah rad-WAHN’-skah), who earned a straight-sets win. Dominika Cibulkova (see-bul-KOH’-vah) also advanced to Round 4 with a straight-sets triumph.
Unseeded Victoria Azarenka has moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open. The two-time champion defeated 25th seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.
On the men’s side, number one Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round for the ninth consecutive year with a 7-6 (8), 6-3, 6-4 win over Fernando Verdasco.
Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka (vahv-RIN’-kah) cruised into the fourth round with a straight-sets victory, as did eighth seed Milos Raonic (MEE’-lohs ROW’-nihch) and No. 12 Feliciano Lopez. U.S. Open finalist and 5th seed Kei Nishikori acored a 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over American Steve Johnson.
GOLF-PGA TOUR
Kuchar vaults to lead
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) β Matt Kuchar (KOO’-chur) is the leader at the midway point of the PGA’s Humana Challenge in California, firing an 8-under-par 64 in the second round for a 15-under total. Bill Haas and first-round leader Michael Putnam are one shot off the lead and one ahead of Justin Thomas, Nick Watney and Scott Pinckney. Ryan Palmer is three shots back following an 11-under-par 61 that included two eagles and seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch.
CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR-MITSUBISHI CHAMPIONSHIP
Mediate leads
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii (AP) β Rocco Mediate is the first-round leader at the Championship Tour’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii. Mediate opened with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot edge over Corey Pavin (PAY’-vihn). Tom Watson is among seven players at minus-4.
GOLF-DUSTIN JOHNSON
Johnson ready to rejoin Tour
UNDATED (AP) β Dustin Johnson plans to return to the PGA Tour in two weeks at Torrey Pines.
The Farmers Insurance Open says that the 30-year-old Johnson has committed to play the tournament Feb. 5-8. It will be his first competition since he announced in early August that he was taking time off to seek professional help from “personal challenges.”
Johnson never disclosed the nature of those challenges. Golf.com reported that he had tested positive for cocaine for the second time in three years and that the PGA Tour suspended him for six months. The PGA Tour said it did not.
