UNDATED (AP) — Dean Smith is being remembered today as not only one of the greatest college basketball coaches ever but as a man who helped build the character of young men who played for him. Case in point is Michael Jordan who calls Smith the most influential person in his life outside of his parents. Jordan, through his business manager, issued a statement via Twitter that said Smith was “more than a coach — he was a mentor, my teacher, my second father.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers got some bad news yesterday when it was announced that All-Star forward Blake Griffin will miss an indefinite period of time battling a staph infection. He faces surgery on his right elbow to correct the problem.
UNDATED (AP) — Tampa Bay and Nashville are once again the top teams in the NHL’s Eastern and Western Conferences. On Sunday, the Lightning beat Anaheim, 5-3, while the Predators dumped Florida, 3-2. The combination of those results propelled the Lightning and Predators back into the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds and All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier have avoided salary arbitration by working out a two-year, $12-million contract. Frazier has hit .258 with 73 homers and 235 RBIs in four major league seasons.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jason Day was the winner of a four-man playoff at the PGA’s Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. He sank a par putt on the second extra hole at Torrey Pines to finish first in front of J.B. Holmes, Scott Stallings and Harris English. Day closed with a 2-under 70 for a 9-under total. He’s No. 4 in the world rankings following his third PGA victory.
