NFL-BRADY-SUSPENSION
NFL suspends Brady, fines Patriots
NEW YORK (AP) β New England Patriots fans must be feeling a little deflated right now.
The NFL has slapped Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady with a four-game suspension and fined the Patriots $1 million as punishment for deflating footballs used in the AFC title game against Indianapolis. The Pats also lose next year’s first-round pick and a fourth-rounder in 2017.
Ironically, Brady’s suspension will end when the Patriots take on the Colts at Indianapolis.
The NFL also indefinitely suspended the two equipment staffers who carried out the plan, including one who called himself “The Deflator.”
The league cited the integrity of the game in handing down the punishment five days after a report said Brady “was at least generally aware” of plans by two Patriots employees to prepare the balls to his liking, below the league-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.
NFL-HERNANDEZ-CHARGE
More trouble for ex-Pat
BOSTON (AP) β Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been charged with witness intimidation, a month after he was convicted of killing Odin Lloyd in 2013. Prosecutors say Hernandez is accused of trying to silence a witness in a 2012 double murder case against him by shooting him in the face and leaving him for dead. He is accused of gunning down two men in Boston after one caused him to spill his drink at a nightclub.
NFL-CHARGERS-RENT
Chargers take from San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) β The San Diego Chargers were paid nearly $3.3 million by the city to play at Qualcomm Stadium from 2006 through 2013. The money came from rent credits and reimbursements from a settlement that made the stadium compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Chargers are threatening to move to Los Angeles if they don’t get a new stadium, and they would have owed San Diego nearly $23 million without the ADA settlement and rent credits.
NBA-WIZARDS-WALL
WASHINGTON (AP) β Washington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall is sitting out Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.
Wall hasn’t played since suffering five nondisplaced fractures in his nonshooting hand and wrist during Washington’s series-opening win. The Wizards split their first two games without Wall and lead the series two games to one.
NBA-CAVALIERS
Blatt admits mistakes…James, Irving recovering
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) β Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt admits to making a couple of mistakes in the waning moments of Sunday’s 86-84 win at Chicago. Blatt acknowledged he tried to call a timeout he didn’t have, which would have led to a technical foul if the officials had seen him.
He also confirmed that he initially designed an inbounds play that had LeBron James passing the ball in with 1.5 seconds left, a notion that was scrapped in favor of James taking what was the game-winning shot that tied the series at two games apiece.
Meanwhile, James and Kyrie (KY’-ree) Irving both are undergoing treatment for injuries as they prepare for Tuesday’s Game 5 against Chicago. James rolled his left ankle in the third quarter of Sunday’s Game 4 win, while Irving is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee as well as a sprained right foot.
MLB-CARDINALS-CARPENTER
Carpenter to return to Cardinals
ST. LOUIS (AP) β Matt Carpenter will rejoin the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow after missing a weekend series in Pittsburgh because of dehydration and fatigue. It’s not known yet if Carpenter will start the series opener at Cleveland.
Carpenter is among the National League leaders with a .333 average and tied for the league lead with 14 doubles.
MLB-REDS
Gregg heads to the minors
CINCINNATI (AP) β Struggling relief pitcher Kevin Gregg has been sent to the minors by the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati had the NL’s worst bullpen in the second half of last season and signed Gregg to a minor league deal in the offseason. Gregg was 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in 11 relief appearances, giving up 12 earned runs and three homers in 10 2/3 innings.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-TEXAS
Smart deal detailed
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) β The University of Texas System regents are set to approve new basketball coach Shaka (SHAH’-kuh) Smart’s nearly $22 million contract, with most of that money guaranteed. Smart left Virginia Commonwealth University for the Longhorns and is set to get a 7-year contract. The package includes six years of guaranteed salary starting at $2.8 million in the first year and rising to $3.3 million by year 6. The contract includes an optional seventh year at $3.4 million.
The deal also includes a $500,000 payment to VCU and a two-game series starting next season.
TENNIS-RANKINGS
Nadal drops from top 5
PARIS (AP) β For the first time in 10 years Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) is not among the top 5 in the men’s world rankings.
The 28-year-old Nadal has fallen to seventh a day after dropping the title match at the Madrid Open on Sunday, his fourth loss on clay this season.
Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) remains No. 1 in the world, followed by Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
