BASKETBALL
Seeks witness protection
Shelly Sterling’s attorneys will ask a judge today to order Donald Sterling and his attorneys to not threaten, harass or intimidate his wife’s legal team and the doctors who determined the Los Angeles Clippers’ co-owner was mentally incapacitated. A person with knowledge of the legal proceedings told The Associated Press that the urgent request seeks protections for witnesses including three doctors who may be witnesses in next month’s scheduled trial to determine if Shelly Sterling can sell the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. The individual wasn’t authorized to comment and spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on condition of anonymity. Donald Sterling’s attorney, Maxwell Blecher, said a representative will be in court but wouldn’t comment further. Representatives for Shelly Sterling and her attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, declined comment. It’s unclear what or if any specific incidents led to the decision to go to court Thursday. Neither party commented and court papers were not filed. O’Donnell said doctors determined the 80-year-old Donald Sterling was mentally “incapacitated,” thereby making his wife sole administrator of the family trust, which owns the team, according to its terms. Donald Sterling is fighting that contention and her authority to sell.
• Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho says forward Josh McRoberts has opted out of his contract and will become a free agent. However, Cho said Wednesday at a pre-draft news conference the team is eager to re-sign the seven-year NBA veteran. McRoberts, 27, was set to make nearly $2.8 million next season, but has outperformed that contract. He started a career-high 78 games last season for Charlotte and averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
• Lexington Mayor Jim Gray on Wednesday suspended a $351 million plan to renovate the home of University of Kentucky men's basketball and build a new downtown convention center, revealing that university leaders recently floated the idea of a much smaller arena project. Gray said he decided to indefinitely halt efforts to upgrade Rupp Arena after UK withdrew its support for a proposed annual $10.7 million lease at Rupp, beginning in 2018. In recent meetings, UK officials discussed the possibility of a scaled-back arena upgrade, the mayor said.
FOOTBALL
Cowboys sign DE Lawrence
The Dallas Cowboys have signed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, their second-round draft pick and the last of the selections to agree to terms. Lawrence signed a four-year, $5.5 million deal Wednesday with $3.9 million guaranteed and a $2.3 million signing bonus. The Cowboys traded up to get him with the 34th pick. Dallas is trying to replace franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware, who was released in March. Lawrence has been working at Ware's old position at right defensive end, the most important pass-rushing spot. Lawrence had 20 sacks in two seasons at Boise State. The Cowboys finish their three-day minicamp today and open training camp July 24 in Oxnard, Calif.
• Standout tight end Dallas Clark retired Wednesday from the NFL after 11 seasons. He retired as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2003, where he won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning and spent the first nine years of his career. He played for Tampa Bay in 2012 and for Baltimore last season before signing with Indianapolis just long enough to announce his retirement. Clark is Indy's all-time leader in tight end touchdown catches (46) and receptions (427). He finished second in yards receiving (4,887) and 100-yard games (seven). Clark set single season records with the Colts with 100 receptions and 1,106 yards in the 2009 season. In 2007, he had 11 TD catches.
• Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay won't have to appear in court today for an initial hearing on drug-related charges he faces. Irsay's attorneys filed a motion Wednesday waiving his appearance on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and driving with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in his body. Myra Borshoff Cook, a spokesman for Irsay, had no immediate comment. The charges against Irsay carry maximum penalties of 60 days in jail and $500 fines for each count. Hamilton County court documents say Irsay was driving under the influence of prescription painkillers. Irsay, 54, was arrested near his home in suburban Carmel on March 16 after police say he was spotted driving slowly, stopping in the roadway and failing to use a turn signal. Police said he failed field sobriety tests and an officer believed him to be intoxicated, but not on alcohol. Various prescription drugs were found in his vehicle.
• Mike Goodson's strange stint with the New York Jets is over. The troubled running back was released Wednesday after he failed to show up for the team's mandatory minicamp. General Manager John Idzik announced that Goodson, coming off major knee surgery and dealing with legal issues, was let go with a designation of "left squad." Goodson, who signed with the Jets in March 2013, played in just two games for New York before tearing two knee ligaments last October. He faces weapons charges and up to 10 years in prison after being indicted in November. He was found in a car along with an acquaintance with a handgun and a hollow-point bullet in May 2013. He was also suspended the first four games of last season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
TENNIS
Gasquet advances in Eastbourne
Top-seeded Richard Gasquet celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday by beating Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Aegon International in Eastbourne, England. The Frenchman, who won the event in 2005 and 2006 when it was held in Nottingham, has struggled with a back injury and is playing only his third tournament since losing to Roger Federer in Miami in March. After missing the entire clay-court season leading into the French Open, he reached the third round in Paris before losing his opening match on grass last week in Halle. Tomic hit 16 aces, but he converted just one of 10 break points. Defending women's champion Elena Vesnina of Russia was beaten 7-5, 7-6 (9) by American Madison Keys, while defending men's champion Feliciano Lopez beat German qualifier Tobias Kamke 7-6 (10), 7-5.
HOCKEY
Canadiens to retire Lapointe's jersey
Guy Lapointe's No. 5 will hang from the Bell Centre rafters beginning next season when the Montreal Canadiens retire his jersey. Lapointe will become the 18th player to be honored by the Canadiens with a jersey retirement and the second with the No. 5, joining Bernie Geoffrion. The defensemen played 777 regular-season and 112 playoff games for Montreal and was a part of six Stanley Cup champions. Lapointe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. Next season he'll become the first Canadiens star to have his jersey retired since Emile Bouchard and Elmer Lach in December 2009.
• The Detroit Red Wings have placed forward Jordin Tootoo on waivers with the intention to buy out the final year of his contract. Tootoo is set to make $2 million next season. Should he clear waivers today, Tootoo would be in a position to become an unrestricted free agent once the Red Wings buy out the remainder of his contract for $1.33 million.
• The Canadiens have agreed to a two-year contract extension with forward Dale Weise. He made $750,000 this season and was set to become a restricted free agent July 1. He reportedly will earn a total of $2 million over the next two seasons. Weise scored the overtime winner in Montreal's first game of the playoffs against Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old dressed for 16 of Montreal's 17 playoff games and finished with three goals and four assists in a fourth-line role.
Sports on 06/19/2014