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NBA-STERN-HEMORRHAGE
Former commissioner has brain hemmorhage
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA says former Commissioner David Stern had emergency surgery Thursday after a sudden brain hemorrhage.
The 77-year-old Stern served as commissioner for exactly 30 years, from February 1, 1984 until February 2014. He took over what was a struggling league and oversaw the NBA’s growth as a world-wide sport. He also was an architect for league drug testing and the salary cap.
Stern has remained affiliated with the league with the title of commissioner emeritus and continues to be active in his other interests, such as sports technology.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Bolts added to Bruins’ woes
UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Bruins have followed a season-best, eight-game winning streak with a season-worst, five-game winless skid.
Steven Stamkos scored twice and Brayden Point provided the go-ahead goal early in the third period as the Lightning downed the Bruins, 3-2. Stamkos and Point each scored power-play goals before the Tampa Bay captain notched the eventual game-winner with 4:47 left.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) stopped 27 shots and Nikita Kucherov (KOO’-cheh-rahv) had two assists to help the Bolts win the opener of a four-game homestand.
Patrice Bergeron (pah-TREES’ BEHR’-zhuh-rahn) and John Moore scored for the Bruins, who remain five points behind Washington for the best record in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Devon Toews (deh-VAHN’ tayvz) and Mat Barzal (bahr-ZAL’) delivered power-play goals in the first 4:40 of the second period to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead in a 3-1 victory at Florida. Anders Lee added an empty-netter and had an assist to back Thomas Greiss (grys), who turned back 32 shots in helping New York complete a 2-1 road trip.
— The Penguins won for the fourth time in five games by downing the Blue Jackets, 1-0 on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal 3:02 into overtime. Tristan Jarry needed to make just 17 saves to post the third shutout in his last four games and fifth of his career.
— The Sabres picked up a 4-3 win over the Predators as Jack Eichel (EYE’-kul) had two goals to extend his NHL-leading point streak to 15 games. Victor Oloffson snapped a 3-3 tie in the third period and Linus Ullmark made 36 saves in Buffalo’s third straight win.
— Robby Fabbri (FAB’-ree) scored twice and the Red Wings snapped a 12-game winless streak with a 5-2 victory over the Jets. Both off Fabbri's goals went in off the body of Winnipeg defenseman Neal Pionk (PEE’-ahnk).
MLB-NEWS
AP Source: Gardner staying with the Yankees
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The New York Yankees have retained the services of Brett Gardner.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the outfielder has accepted a one-year package that guarantees $12.5. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and an $8 million salary for next season. Gardner would also receive a $2.5 million buyout if the Yankees decline to pick up his $10 million option for 2021.
Gardner earned $7.5 million while hitting .251 with career highs of 28 home runs and 74 RBIs.
In other MLB news:
— Former AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the Mets have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. Porcello turns 31 this month after going 14-12 with a hefty 5.52 ERA for Boston last season.
— The Brewers agreed to a one-year contract for $5,125,000 with pitcher Corey Knebel (kuh-NEH'-bul), who is returning from Tommy John surgery. Knebel had 39 saves in 2017, when he was an All-Star, and 16 the following season.
— A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Tigers and catcher Austin Romine have agreed to a one-year, $4.15 million contract. The 31-year-old has backed up Gary Sánchez for the New York Yankees the past four seasons.
— Oakland acquired minor league outfielder Buddy Reed from San Diego to complete the Dec. 2 trade that sent second baseman Jurickson Profar to the Padres for catcher Austin Allen.
— Major League Baseball will start testing for opioids and cocaine, but only players who do not cooperate with their treatment plans will be subject to discipline. Marijuana will be removed from the list of drugs of abuse and will be treated the same as alcohol as part of changes announced to the joint drug agreement between MLB and the players' association.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-AWARDS
Burrow is AP Player of the Year, Camp, O’Brien, Maxwell winner
UNDATED (AP) — LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has just picked up postseason awards as easily as he picked apart opposing defenses this year.
Burrow is The Associated Press college football player of the year after completing 78% of his passes for 4,715 yards, 48 touchdowns and six interceptions for the top-ranked Tigers. Burrow was a runaway winner of the award, receiving 51 of 54 first-place votes and a total of 159 points from AP Top 25 poll voters.
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young was second with three first-place votes and 69 points, while Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields was third with 43 points.
Burrow also has captured the Walter Camp Award as the top college football player of the year, the Davey O'Brien Award for the nation's best quarterback and the Maxwell Award for the outstanding collegiate player.
Young hasn’t come away empty-handed. He was given the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. Young has recorded 16 ½ sacks, 21 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles in 11 games for OSU this year.
In other postseason college football awards:
— Jonathan Taylor took home the Doak Walker Award for the outstanding college running back.
— LSU’s Ja'Marr Chase was the recipient of the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the outstanding collegiate receiver.
— Purdue’s Tim Stratton was voted the top tight end in balloting for the John Mackey Award.
— Oregon’s Penei Sewell has come away with the Outland Trophy for the outstanding collegiate interior lineman.
— The top linebacker was Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, who was given the Butkus Award.
— LSU standout Grant Delpit has received the Jim Thorpe Trophy for the nation's best defensive back.
— The Lou Groza (GROH’-zah) Award went to Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship as the nation’s No. 1 kicker.
— Kentucky’s Max Duffy picked up the Ray Guy Award as the top punter.
NFL-NEWS
Falcons dealing with injuries
UNDATED (AP) — Running back Devonta Freeman and cornerback Isaiah Oliver were back at practice as limited participants as the Atlanta Falcons prepare to visit San Francisco. The Falcons need Oliver as healthy as possible after losing cornerback Desmond Trufant to a season-ending injury.
Receiver Julio Jones has been limited this week with a shoulder injury but is expected to start.
Also in the NFL:
— Officials say former football star Michael Vick owes about $70,000 in unpaid taxes on luxury cars that he owned in Virginia, according to the Daily Press of Newport News. Hampton Treasurer Molly Ward told the newspaper that the city has failed to reach Vick or people who have handled his affairs. She said the city has so far filed warrants for $51,900 in unpaid taxes and plans to file more.
NFL-NEWS-FORMER NFL PLAYERS CHARGED
10 ex-NFL players charged with defrauding healthcare program
UNDATED (AP) — Clinton Portis and Correll Buckhalter are among 10 former NFL players charged with defrauding the league’s health care benefit program.
Prosecutors allege that the players targeted the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, which was established as part of a collective bargaining agreement in 2006. It provides tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses that were not covered by insurance and that were incurred by former players, their spouses and dependents.
NBA-PELICANS-WILLIAMSON
Pelicans languishing as Williamson's absence drags on
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry is not ready to predict how long Zion Williamson's absence will last beyond initial team estimates that had him playing by the end of this week. The NBA's top overall draft pick still hasn't practiced since having arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 21. But Gentry says Williamson has been engaged with the team at practice and games and has been walking through offensive and defensive sets.
The former Duke star averaged about 23 points in four preseason games.
NHL-NEWS
Blackhawks place de Haan on IR
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have placed defenseman Calvin de Haan on injured reserve with a right shoulder injury suffered in Tuesday’s loss at Vegas. He had offseason surgery on the same shoulder and has one goal and five assists in 29 games this season.
NHL-HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Retired goalie Tim Thomas details brain damage from hockey
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tim Thomas says he couldn't watch hockey for years after retiring as a result of concussions damaging his brain. The former NHL goaltender detailed his struggles with post-concussion syndrome before being inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. This was his first public appearance since walking away from hockey in 2014. Thomas says a scan after he retired showed that two-thirds of his brain was getting less than 5% blood flow and the other third was getting less than 50%.
The 2011 Stanley Cup champion and playoff MVP with the Boston Bruins says at one point he didn't believe his career was worth it because of the effects on his brain.
GLEN DAVIS-ASSAULT CHARGES
Ex-NBA player Glen Davis pleads in California assault case
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former NBA player Ronald Glen Davis has avoided jail time after pleading no contest to a charge he attacked a man outside a Los Angeles-area nightclub last year. Davis was accused of throwing the victim into a wall during an altercation in West Hollywood.
He is required to complete 320 hours of community labor over the next year as part of a plea agreement.
Known by the nickname "Big Baby," Davis played for the Boston Celtics, the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers.
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