NFL-PATRIOTS-FOOTBALLS
Angry Kraft says Pats not guilty of under-inflating footballs
CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) β New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made an impassioned defense of his team’s actions and integrity regarding the NFL’s investigation into under-inflated footballs being used in the AFC championship game.
He says the team did nothing in violation of NFL rules, adding that it bothers him that the reputations and integrity of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have been called into question. Kraft said he expects an apology from the league once the Patriots are found to be not guilty of breaking any rules.
The NFL has said evidence shows the Patriots used underinflated footballs during the first half of the AFC title game victory over Indianapolis. The league is still determining why the balls were underinflated.
NFL-RAMS
Rams tell St. Louis they’re going year-to-year
ST. LOUIS (AP) β The Rams have gone from Cleveland to Los Angeles to St. Louis since joining the NFL in 1937. They could be positioning themselves for a return to the West Coast.
The Rams have notified the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission that they intend to shift to a year-to-year lease agreement for their use of the Edward Jones Dome. The move is another step toward the team making a possible move back to the West Coast.
Rams billionaire owner Stan Kroenke (KRAHN’-kee) is part of a joint venture that announced plans earlier this month for an 80,000-seat stadium in the Los Angeles suburbs. Any move would be subject to approval by the NFL and its owners. The NFL has already said no moves would be made in time for next season.
NFL-NEWS
Raiders bringing Woodson back for 2015
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) β The Oakland Raiders signed pending free-agent safety Charles Woodson to a one-year contract extension on Monday, bringing him back for an 18th season in the NFL. Woodson will turn 39 in October. He was eligible to be a free agent in March.
NBA-LAKERS
Surgery for Bryant
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Kobe Bryant is probably done for the season. The veteran is scheduled to have shoulder surgery on Wednesday after suffering a torn rotator cuff in a game last week against New Orleans. The Lakers say they’ll announce a timetable for Bryant’s recovery after surgery, but coach Byron Scott says Kobe “is probably not going to play” again this season.
Bryant was averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists when he injured his shoulder during a dunk in a loss at New Orleans last week.
Bryant’s torn rotator cuff is likely his third straight season-ending injury. He missed the 2013 playoffs with a torn Achilles tendon, and he played just six games last season before breaking a bone near his left knee.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Thunder win without Durant
UNDATED (AP) β The Oklahoma City Thunder ended a two-game losing streak while Kevin Durant watched from the bench.
Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH’-kah) had 13 points and 19 rebounds as the Thunder topped Minnesota 92-84. Russell Westbrook had 18 points for the Thunder, who allowed just 56 points through the first three quarters.
Anthony Morrow and Reggie Jackson each added 14 points to help Oklahoma City move back over .500.
β New Orleans has run its winning streak to a season-high four games with a 99-74 rout of Philadelphia. Anthony Davis had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, while Ryan Anderson chipped in 19 points.
β The New York Knicks’ game against visiting Sacramento was postponed by a snowstorm in the area. The storm also caused the postponement of Portland’s game at Brooklyn. The Knicks-Kings game will be played on Tuesday, March 2, and the Nets-Blazers contest is now slated for Monday, April 6.
MLB-CONTRACTS
Reds get catcher in fold…Tigers and Orioles work out deals
UNDATED (AP) β The Cincinnati Reds have avoided arbitration with Devin Mesoraco (meh-zah-RAH’-koh) by working out a four-year, $28 million contract with the All-Star catcher.
Mesoraco led all big league catchers with 25 homers and 80 RBIs while batting .273. The Reds were trying to get deals with two other All-Stars, third baseman Todd Frazier and closer Aroldis (ah-ROHL’-dihs) Chapman.
Also in the majors:
β Relief pitcher Al Alburquerque and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract for $1,725,000. The 28-year-old right-hander was 3-1 with a 2.51 earned run average in 72 games last year for the AL Central champions.
β Baltimore has worked out packages with pitcher Bud Norris and infielder Ryan Flaherty. Norris has agreed to an $8.8 million, one-year contract, and Flaherty settled with the Orioles on a one-year deal for just under $1.1 million.
β Outfielders Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez have agreed to minor league contracts with the Seattle Mariners and will report to big league training camp.
β The Blue Jays say Paul Beeston has signed a contract extension and will remain as team president through the end of this season. Toronto had made overtures to Baltimore’s Dan Duquette and Kenny Williams of the Chicago White Sox about replacing Beeston.
β The Boston Red Sox say All-Star pitcher Bill Monbouguette (mahn-boh-KEHT’) has died due to complications from leukemia at age 78. Monbouquette made the last of his four All-Star appearances in 1963, the year of his only 20-win season. He spent more than 50 years in professional baseball as a player, coach and scout.
TOP-25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Tar Heels dump Orange
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β No. 13 North Carolina picked up its sixth straight win and improved to 7-1 in the ACC.
Brice Johnson had 15 of his 17 points in the second half and the Tar Heels shot 55 percent to beat Syracuse 93-83. Johnson went 5 for 5 after intermission, including three straight baskets in the first 90 seconds of the half
Nate Britt added a career-best 17 points and four 3-pointers off the bench.
T25-POLLS
No change at the top
UNDATED (AP) β The top three spots in the men’s Associated Press Top-25 poll remain the same as in last week’s poll. That means Kentucky is No. 1, with Virginia second and Gonzaga (gahn-ZAG’-uh) third. Duke moved up a notch to fourth, just ahead of Wisconsin.
Kentucky and Virginia are the only unbeaten teams in Division I men’s basketball, each with a record of 19-0. The Wildcats got 64 of the first place votes, with the Cavaliers receiving the remaining one.
This week’s second-five in the men’s poll consists of Arizona, Villanova, Notre Dame, Kansas and Louisville.
The women’s top five is like the men’s in that the top three teams are the same as last week. Number 1 is South Carolina with Connecticut second and Baylor third. Completing the first five are Notre Dame and Maryland.
NHL-NOTES
Isles’ Okposo out 6-8 weeks…Kings waive Richards…Bobrovsky out at least a month
UNDATED (AP) β New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo (oh-POH’-soh) will be out six to eight weeks because of an undisclosed upper-body injury.
Okposo is tied for ninth in the NHL with 30 assists and tied for 13th with 44 points while playing on the Isles’ top line with John Tavares. He’s been a large reason for the Islanders’ ascension into first place in the Metropolitan Division following a last-place finish in 2014.
Also in the NHL:
β The Los Angeles Kings have placed underperforming Mike Richards on waivers. Richards has just five goals and 15 points in 47 games this season and has been relegated to the fourth line. He still has six seasons remaining on his 12-year, $69 million contract.
β Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will miss Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg after undergoing treatment for a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Johnston says there’s a possibility Crosby could play Wednesday in Washington. Johnston also says he won’t know how much time Evgeni Malkin will miss with a lower-body injury, and doesn’t expect him to skate for several days.
β The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 21 and say he’ll be out of action for the next four to six weeks with a groin injury. Bobrovsky is 16-15-2 with a 2.85 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and one shutout in 33 games this season.
β The Buffalo Sabres have suspended rookie defenseman Nikita Zadorov (za-DOHR’-ov) for failing to report to the team on time following the NHL all-star break. Buffalo general manager Tim Murray says he anticipates allowing Zadorov to rejoin the team sometime this week during its three-game western road trip.
β The NHL has handed down an eight-game suspension to Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo for charging and boarding Penguins defenseman Kris Letang last Tuesday. Rinaldo is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the league’s labor agreement. He was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Makarova reaches semis
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) β Maria Sharapova and Ekatarina Makarova are the first players to advance to the Australian Open women’s semifinals.
The second-seeded Sharapova continued her bid for a sixth major title by downing No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard (yoo-JEE’-nee boo-SHAHRD’) 6-3, 6-2. Sharapova dominated on serve and took the ball early in an effort to keep points short against her 20-year-old opponent.
Next up for Sharapova is the 10th-seeded Makarova, who needed just 68 minutes to oust No. 3 Simona Halep (HAH’-lehp), 6-4, 6-love. It will be Makarova’s second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.
For the men, third-seed Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) has a quarterfinal match with seventh-seed Tomas Berdych (TOH’-mahs bur-DEEK’) before No. 6 Andy Murray takes on Nick Kyrgios (KEER’-ee-ohs).
NASCAR
No change in 2015
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β NASCAR won’t change its new championship format, which chairman Brian France says is “overwhelmingly popular” with fans. The Chase was revamped last year into an elimination-style system that created a winner-take-all final race among four drivers. Kevin Harvick won the season finale at Homestead in November to claim his first Sprint Cup title.
