NFL-SUPER BOWL FINES
Four fined for last-minute scuffle
NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for his role in a scuffle with 18 seconds left in the Super Bowl. Three other players received lesser fines. Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett and New England Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui (hoo-MAH’-nuh-wah-noo-ee) were fined $8,628 each.
NFL-PETERSON ARBITRATION
Peterson says he’s happy with “fair hearing, for once”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL Players Association’s attempt to have Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson reinstated has been taken under advisement by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge David Doty (DOH’-tee) heard arguments from the NFLPA and the NFL today, but did not provide a timetable for his decision.
Peterson has been suspended at least through April 15 after he was charged in a child abuse case last year, a case he resolved with a plea bargain.
NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler said arbitrator Harold Henderson’s rejection of Peterson’s appeal was biased. Dan Nash, a lawyer for the league, said the union is simply is seeking to “re-litigate” the appeal and is bound by the collective bargaining agreement to the arbitration.
Peterson said afterward he felt he had “a fair hearing, for once.”
NFL-STEELERS-BELL
Running back gets 15 months’ probation for DUI
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon (LAY’-vee-ohn) Bell will spend 15 months on probation in a first-offender’s program stemming from his arrest on marijuana possession and DUI charges with former teammate LeGarrette Blount. Bell’s driver’s license will also be suspended for 60 days.
Defense attorney Robert Del Greco Jr. says Bell is facing up to a two-game NFL suspension.
MLB-TRANSACTIONS
Arbitration updates
UNDATED (AP) — Toronto infielder Danny Valencia has won his salary arbitration case with the Blue Jays. Valencia was asking for $1,675,000 and the Blue Jays countered with $1.2 million. Last season, his salary was $532,500. Valencia hit .258 last year with four homers and 30 RBIs in 284 plate appearances for Kansas and Toronto, which acquired him in late July. Third baseman Josh Donaldson is Toronto’s last player in arbitration.
In other arb news:
— The Chicago Cubs and reliever Pedro Strop (strohp) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,525,000. The 29-year-old right-hander was 2-4 with a 2.21 earned run average in 65 relief appearances last year, when he struck out 71 in 61 innings.
— Pitcher Danny Duffy has agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $2,425,000, avoiding a salary arbitration heading. The 26-year-old left-hander was 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts and six relief appearances last year for the American League champions. Kansas City has three players remaining in arbitration: relievers Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera, and first baseman Eric Hosmer (HAHS’-mur).
NBA-SCHEDULE
Hawks host Warriors
UNDATED (AP) — There is an excellent matchup in Atlanta this evening as the Hawks play host to the Warriors. Golden State has the best winning percentage in the league while the Hawks have won the most games. Atlanta starts the night with a record of 40-9 with wins in nine of their last 10 games. The Warriors, who are 39-8, have won three straight and eight of their last 10.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the longest winning streak in the league right now. They have won their last 12 straight and tonight can equal a franchise record if they beat the Pacers in Indianapolis.
In a game of two teams going nowhere but the draft lottery, the Lakers are facing the Magic in Orlando. Combined, these teams have just 28 wins on the season. The Magic enter the contest riding a 10-game losing skid.
The rest of the card tonight has the Clippers playing the Raptors in Toronto, the Knicks at Brooklyn, Detroit home to Denver, the 76rrs in Boston, Oklahoma City hosting New Orleans, the Bucks at Houston, Memphis playing at Minnesota, the Suns home to the Jazz and Miami in San Antonio.
NBA-RONDO
Mavs’ Rondo out through All-Star break
DALLAS (AP) — Rajon Rondo (RAH’-zhahn RAHN’-doh) won’t return before the All-Star break as the Dallas point guard recovers from breaking the orbital bone of his left eye. The Mavericks say Rondo would miss the remaining three games before the break, starting Saturday night against Portland.
NBA-REFS
Refs’ union supports one of its own
NEW YORK (AP) — The National Basketball Referees Association is defending official Lauren Holtkamp after “personal and unprofessional comments” by Clippers guard Chris Paul. The comments made by Paul came during his team’s lopsided loss to Cleveland Thursday night. He received a technical foul Holtkamp, from one of the league’s two active female officials, for reasoning he later called “ridiculous.”
Paul, who is president of the NBA Players Association, added: “If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”
He’ll likely be fined for public criticism of an official.
The 34-year-old Holtkamp is in her first full season as an NBA referee.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Ducks in DC
UNDATED (AP) — Western Conference and league-leading Anaheim is in the nation’s capital tonight for a game with the Capitals. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is questionable for the game after being scratched last night after aggravating his lower back in warmups. He leads the team with 52 points.
St. Louis has scored at least a point in 13 straight games. That’s a franchise record and tonight they can improve on the mark with a game in Columbus. The Blues are 12-0-1 in their last 13 games while the Blue Jackets have lost three straight.
Things are not going well for Toronto as the Maple Leafs have gone 0-9-1 in their last 10. Their opponent tonight is New Jersey and the Devils have gone 4-0-1 over their last five.
The Blackhawks have lost three of their last four. In fact they were shut out in the last two games. Tonight the ‘Hawks are in Winnipeg to face a Jets team that has allowed 23 goals in last five games.
The final game of the night has Pittsburgh skating at Calgary.
NHL-INJURIES
Jets’ Kane out up to 6 months…Rangers’ Sir Henrik out at least 3 weeks
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane will undergo left shoulder surgery and be out of the lineup for four to six months. He has 22 points in 37 games this season and was a scratch for Tuesday’s game against Vancouver. Entering Friday’s game, the Jets held the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, two points up on the Canucks.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers say star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be out for at least three weeks after being hit in the throat by a shot. The Rangers said Lundqvist sustained a vascular injury in a game last weekend against Montreal.
NFL-COWBOYS
No charges for Cowboys’ back
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police have dropped a drug charge against Dallas running back Joseph Randle. Police spokesman Lt. James Espinoza said the charge, suspicion of marijuana possession, was dropped Friday because there were some inconsistencies.
PGA-FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
English on the ball
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The second round of the PGA’s Farmers Insurance Open is under way and Harris English is in the clubhouse with the 36-hole lead. English fired a 6-under 66 to move to 10 under par at Torrey Pines. Jhonattan Vegas, Nick Watney and Nicholas Thompson are at 8-under.
LPGA-BAHAMAS
Second round play in progress
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Two players are tied for the lead after their second round of the LPGA’s Bahamas Classic. Brittany Lincicome and Sun Young Yoo are tied for the top spot. There are still players on the course.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Pernice leads Champions event
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Tom Pernice Jr. (pur-NEES’) closed with a double bogey for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead in the Allianz Championship with Paul Goydos and Bart Bryant. This is the first full-field event on the Champions Tour.
Bernhard Langer was a stroke back along with Fred Funk and Tom Byrum.
ALPINE SKIING
Miller not sure of future
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Six-time Olympic medalist Bode (BOH’-dee) Miller of the US is uncertain as to what his future holds. In his first interview since surgery on his severed right hamstring tendon, Miller told The Associated Press he’s still contemplating whether to return next season or not. He added that if his recent crash at the world championships was indeed his last race, he’s all right with that because his career has been “an amazing ride.”
BOBSLED
Another win for Taylor
IGLS, Austria (AP) — American Elana Meyers Taylor has won her fifth bobsled World Cup of the season to extend her lead in the standings. Meyers Taylor and pusher Lauryn Williams trailed after the opening heat but wrapped up the race by winning the final run. Fellow Americans Jamie Greubel Poser and Cherrelle Garrett finished third with Americans Jazmine Fenlator and Lauren Gibbs in fourth.
With one World Cup remaining, in Sochi (SOH’-chee), Russia, next week, Meyers Taylor leads the overall standings by 104 points. A win is worth 225 points.
