Kobe upset by Odom’s departure for Dallas
The Lakers traded forward Lamar Odom and a second-round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night for a first-round pick and an $8.9 million trade exception, capping Los Angeles’ stunning 72-hour breakup with last season’s Sixth Man of the Year. The Lakers and Mavericks reached a swift deal after Odom learned Thursday that [...]
Pacquiao’s invincibility pierced in divisive win
When the final bell rang, 12 rounds of furious fighting complete, Juan Manuel Marquez lifted his right fist high into the air, turned to the ringside crowd and offered a knowing wink through an eye nearly swollen shut. Standing in front of him at that very moment, his opponent, Manny Pacquiao, let his head sag [...]
Players reject NBA’s offer, begin to disband union
NBA players rejected the league’s latest offer Monday and began disbanding the union, likely jeopardizing the season. “We’re prepared to file this antitrust action against the NBA,” union executive director Billy Hunter said. “That’s the best situation where players can get their due process.” And that’s a tragedy as far as NBA Commissioner David Stern [...]
Magic Johnson backs Stern after racial suggestion
Magic Johnson said it’s “ridiculous” to suggest that David Stern is racist, saying it’s OK to disagree with the NBA commissioner but that you “can’t attack the man and what he stands for. Johnson was responding to comments made by attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing the NBA players’ association, who told the Washington Post that owners [...]
Joe Frazier, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champ, Dies at 67
Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight boxing champ who died of liver cancer on Nov. 7 at 67, won’t go down in history as the greatest fighter of all time. Muhammad Ali, the man with whom Frazier sparred so epically, both inside and outside the ropes, owns that distinction. Frazier’s role in his rival’s outsize life [...]
Ex-heavyweight champ Joe Frazier has liver cancer
Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has liver cancer and is under hospice care. The 67-year-old boxer was diagnosed four or five weeks ago, Frazier’s personal and business manager said Saturday. Leslie Wolff told The Associated Press that doctors have not yet told Frazier how long he has to live. “We have medical experts looking into [...]
NBA offers players up to 51 percent of revenue
NBA players have an offer that could get them up to 51 percent of basketball-related income. They rejected it Saturday, and if they don’t take it by the close of business Wednesday, they’ll get a proposal that would guarantee them just 47 percent and call for a flex salary cap. While refusing to characterize his [...]
Big East exit fee up if expansion plan executed
The Big East wants to expand to 12 football teams “the sooner the better.” The problem is the Big East can’t be sure it’s done losing members until Missouri, the Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference figure out what they’re next steps are in the ongoing drama of conference realignment. “The overall landscape is still [...]
Stern doubts Christmas games if no deal Tuesday
Commissioner David Stern said his “gut” tells him there will be no NBA basketball on Christmas without a labor agreement by Tuesday. That day, when owners and players are scheduled to meet with a federal mediator, is a “really big deal,” he added. Owners will then open two days of board meetings Wednesday, and without [...]
Woods to hire new caddie
Tiger Woods has hired Joe LaCava to be his third full-time caddie. LaCava decided to leave Dustin Johnson, one of the most talented young Americans, to go to work for the former world No. 1 who hasn’t won in the last two years. According to a story posted on Woods’ website Sunday night, LaCava approached [...]
