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NBA
NBA releases schedule for upcoming season, Raptors back on U.S. TV
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors will be back on national television in the United States when the 2014-15 NBA season tips off this fall.
Appeals court rejects Donald Sterling’s effort to block sale of LA Clippers; deal is done
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Donald Sterling’s latest effort to block the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was rejected Wednesday by a California appeals court.
Arizona State’s Sarafin becomes first active Division I football player to come out
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State offensive lineman Edward Sarafin has told a local magazine he is gay, making him the first active Division I football player to come out.
Major League Baseball owners select Manfred to replace his boss Selig as commissioner
BALTIMORE – Rob Manfred was elected baseball’s 10th commissioner Thursday, winning a three-man competition to succeed Bud Selig and given a mandate by the tradition-bound sport to recapture young fans and speed play in an era that has seen competition increase and attention spans shrink.
Sacramento Kings sign 7-foot-5 Sim Bhullar, 1st player of Indian descent to sign with NBA team
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Toronto native Sim Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to sign a contract with an NBA team Friday, inking a deal to join the Sacramento Kings in training camp.
Canada’s Bennett trying to stay focused on upcoming season amid trade chatter
TORONTO – It has been an unusual summer to say the least for two of Canada’s top young basketball players.
Tim Leiweke denies report he’s leaving MLSE, says focus is on ‘season at hand’
TORONTO – Tim Leiweke is denying a report that he will soon be leaving Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
New York Islanders sell minority stake of team to Capitals co-owner, London-based investor
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders are selling a minority stake of the team, with a former Washington Capitals co-owner and a London-based investor to become full owners in two years.
Veteran NBA ref Bavetta retires after 39-year career in which he never missed an assignment
NEW YORK, N.Y. – NBA referee Dick Bavetta is retiring after a 39-year career in which he never missed an assignment.
NHL makes changes to draft lottery next year with bigger ones coming in 2016
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The NHL draft lottery will have a slightly different look next year and a drastically different one in 2016.
MLSE’s Leiweke focused on upcoming season, remains mum on long-term plans
TORONTO – President and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke is focused on his immediate goals at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
MLSE looking for new chief executive after Leiweke exit plan unveiled
TORONTO – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has cleared up the uncertainty surrounding president and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke’s long-term future with the company.
Toronto FC striker Defoe says club should honour Leiweke by making playoffs
TORONTO – Jermain Defoe would like to honour the man who brought him to Toronto with his team’s first ever playoff appearance.
Ujiri, Leiweke envision new Raptors training facility as basketball “mecca”
TORONTO – Masai Ujiri and Tim Leiweke envision a training facility that will be both the talk of the NBA and a home to young Canadian players — a “Field of Dreams” facility that they say will help bring basketball’s best to Toronto.
Love trade to Cleveland will make Wiggins a rare No. 1 pick dealt before his rookie season
MINNEAPOLIS – The wait is almost over.
US picks 12-man roster for Basketball World Cup after beating Puerto Rico 112-86 in exhibition
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The U.S. has picked the 12 players it believes can defend its world basketball title.
Love triangle: Kevin Love dealt to Cavaliers in 3-team blockbuster trade, joins LeBron James
CLEVELAND – Olympic champions together, Kevin Love and LeBron James spent the last 30 days waiting to become teammates again.
Raptors $30-million training facility approved by Toronto city council
TORONTO – The Raptors’ new training facility cleared its final hurdle Monday, receiving approval from Toronto city council.
Leiweke says decision to leave MLSE has to do with entrepreneurial dream
TORONTO – Tim Leiweke says his desire to be an entrepreneur led to his decision to leave Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Collision in Korea, Redux: Japan lawmaker, ex NFL player bring pro wrestling back to Pyongyang
PYONGYANG, North Korea – Led by a Japanese pro wrestler-turned-politician, about 20 mixed martial artists from around the world — including a former NFL lineman — arrived in North Korea on Thursday to put on a series of exhibition matches this weekend.
As gay rugby tournament opens, Australian Rugby Union unveils plans to tackle discrimination
SYDNEY – World Cup-winning captains John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones joined with the Australian Rugby Union on Friday for an anti-discrimination policy launch that coincided with the opening day of the Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament.
Ex NFL player, foreign pro wrestlers take ring antics to the streets of Pyongyang
PYONGYANG, North Korea – Former NFL player Bob “The Beast” Sapp and a group of brawny pro wrestlers led by a Japanese politician took their oddball attempt at sports diplomacy to the streets of Pyongyang on Friday, staging a tug-of-war and arm wrestling competition with local children before a large and somewhat bewildered crowd of spectators.
Sloppy seventh inning costs Buehrle and Jays in 6-3 loss to Yankees
TORONTO – The New York Yankees have owned pitcher Mark Buehrle his entire career, but it didn’t look that way Friday night.
Brazil holds off France, Croatia edges the Philippines at Basketball World Cup
Marcelinho Huertas had 16 points and five assists, and Brazil held on to edge France 65-63 on Saturday in its opening game at the Basketball World Cup.