PRO BASKETBALLSAN ANTONIO (AP) The wife of San Antonio Spurs
coach Gregg Popovich has died. She was 67.The Spurs confirmed Erin Popovich¡¯s
death Wednesday. The team didn¡¯t provide further details.¡±We mourn the loss of
Erin
Womens
Bryan Rust Jersey ,¡± Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a team
statement. ¡±She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided
love, support and humor to all of us.¡±The Popovichs have two children and two
grandchildren. They met at the Air Force Academy in 1970s when he was an
assistant coach for the Falcons. Erin¡¯s father, Jim Conboy, was Air Force¡¯s head
athletic trainer.Gregg Popovich has coach San Antonio since 1996, leading the
Spurs to five NBA titles. San Antonio will face Golden State on Thursday night
in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.Popovich ran the Spurs¡¯ practice
Wednesday. They Warriors lead the series 2-0.OLYMPICSThe question sex-abuse
victim Craig Maurizi would like to ask U.S. Olympic leaders is simple and
searing: ¡±How can you sleep at night?¡±Every bit as perplexing: How to make sure
this doesn¡¯t happen again?The figure skater was one of four Olympic-sports
athletes who testified to a Senate subcommittee Wednesday about abuse they
suffered while training and competing under the purview of the U.S. Olympic
Committee and the national sports organizations that controlled their Olympic
dreams.Their testimony provided yet another reminder of the way leaders at the
USOC, US Figure Skating, USA Gymnastics and other federations failed to protect
them over a span of decades.At a USOC board meeting held later in the day,
acting CEO Susanne Lyons outlined a six-part ¡±Athlete Action Safety Plan¡± the
federation is developing as a response to the abuse cases.But the abuse victims,
including Olympic gymnasts Jordyn Wieber and Jamie Dantzscher and speed skater
Bridie Farrell , cast doubt on the USOC¡¯s motivation to solve this
problem.BOXINGLAS VEGAS (AP) ¨C Nevada boxing regulators gave Canelo Alvarez a
reduced penalty for doping violations
Wednesday
Josh
Jooris Jersey Womens , potentially allowing him to return to the ring in
September against Gennady Golovkin.Alvarez was given a six-month suspension
instead of the standard one year for first-time violators. His May 5 fight with
Golovkin was called off earlier because of the doping, but with the Nevada
Athletic Commission suspension retroactive to February he would be available for
a possible fight with Triple G on the traditional Mexican Independence Day
weekend in September.Golovkin, meanwhile, announced Wednesday he would fight
Vanes Martirosyan in Carson, California, on the May 5 date he was supposed to
meet Alvarez.HOCKEYSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ¨C Tomas Hertl scored the tiebreaking
goal 9:09 into the third period, Martin Jones was spectacular in goal yet again,
and the San Jose Sharks completed a first-round sweep of the rival Anaheim Ducks
with a 2-1 victory in Game 4.Hertl scored just 1:16 after the Ducks finally got
a puck past Jones when he deflected a point shot from Marc-Edouard Vlasic past
John Gibson. San Jose then held on to advance to the second round against the
expansion Vegas Golden Knights.Fourth-line winger Marcus Sorensen scored for the
third straight game to open the scoring for San Jose and Jones did most of the
rest of the work with 30 saves. He robbed Corey Perry several times and got help
from a replay review that negated an apparent tying goal early in the
third.SOCCERKINSHASA, Congo (AP) ¨C FIFA Council member Constant Omari was
arrested on suspicion of corruption and held for 24 hours in a public
prosecutor¡¯s office in his home country of Congo while being questioned for
alleged involvement in embezzlement, officials said.Omari, who is also a vice
president of the Confederation of African Football, was arrested on Tuesday
night on the orders of Luzolo
Bambi
Melker
Karlsson Jersey , Congo President Joseph Kabila¡¯s special adviser on
corruption, a statement from Bambi¡¯s office said. Omari was released late
Wednesday but was ordered to return for further questioning on Thursday,
prosecutors said.Omari, the president of the Congo soccer federation, was
arrested along with two other federation officials and a government sports
ministry official. The three other officials were still being detained Wednesday
at the public prosecutor¡¯s office at a court building in Kinshasa. If you're
hoping that your favorite NHL team scoops up some fresh talent in order to make
a postseason run, you'd better hope it does so sooner than later.The 2019 trade
deadline passes at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, and after that, deals will be off the
table.Fortunately, there's a good chance that your favorite team is trying to
make a move before Monday. There has been no shortage of trade rumors or, in the
case of specific players, speculation that a move is coming.The weekend should
bring a flurry of activity that lasts all the way up until Monday afternoon.
With that flurry now on the immediate horizon, it's a perfect time to run down
some of the latest chatter. Interest in Simmonds is Picking UpThe Philadelphia
Flyers aren't quite out of the playoff mix just yet. However, their 28-26-7
record doesn't spark a ton of confidence in a looming playoff surge. This is why
there has been plenty of speculation surrounding winger Wayne Simmonds.Simmonds
is having a bit of a down year—he has just 27 points in 61 games—and this may
lead to Philadelphia selling low.With the Flyers also sliding out of
contention
Tyler
Ennis Jersey Womens , teams have been calling to see what it may take to
pry Simmonds away.According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, the
interest in Simmonds has intensified with the deadline drawing near:Pierre
LeBrun PierreVLeBrunInterest has intensified on Wayne Simmonds last few days.
But Flyers for now focused on trying to stay in the race. Couple of big games
including tonight which will sway final decision before Monday.This makes a ton
of sense if Simmonds can indeed be had on the cheap. If his play picks up, he
can most certainly help a potential contender improve, and his 10 years of
experience could be invaluable to a younger roster.According to Evan Macy of the
Philadelphia Voice—who cited sources like LeBrun and The Athletic's Scott
Burnside—as many as seven teams could be interested in acquiring Simmonds.Macy
listed those teams as the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning,
Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Toronto
Maple Leafs.Interest in Stone May Be DwindlingPaul Sancya/Associated PressWhile
interest in acquiring Simmonds appears to be growing, the opposite may be true
for Ottawa Senators wing Mark Stone. Though there has been plenty of speculation
surrounding Stone, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, Stone now appears the least
likely to be traded.According to LeBrun, some teams are now turning their
attention elsewhere:Pierre LeBrun PierreVLeBrunSome teams concerned about how
the Mark Stone situation is playing out timing-wise now turning their attention
to teams like the Rangers
(Hayes
Tim
Heed Jersey , Zuccarello) as well, stepping up with their calls... Dont
think the buyers want to wait until Monday and risk getting nothingThe reason
teams may be losing interest in Stone is that the Senators are still interested
in inking him to a long-term deal.As Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest
reported, Ottawa like Stone both as a player and a leader:Andy Strickland
andystricklandMark Stone seems to be the most likely to stay with the #Sens.
Hear nothing but great things about him as a player and leader. Might want to
see what Duchene and Dzingel bring back first but there’s a growing sentiment
that he’ll stay.The reality is that the Senators simply may be too keen on Stone
to let him go for cheap. This is why players like Mats Zuccarello may be more
attractive as a late-season rental.Unless the Senators publicly announce that
they've given up on trying to extend Stone and will accept a bargain offer—which
is extremely unlikely to happen—expect the interest in Stone to remain low from
here on out.Duchene was actually traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets early
Friday afternoon, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. With Duchene out, the
Senators may be even less inclined to move Stone.Panthers May Be Open to Moving
HoffmanMike Hoffman of the Florida Panthers is having himself a fine season.
He's scored 50 points in 59 games, which makes him a player other teams would be
interested in acquiring. Florida, meanwhile, may not believe his play is worth
the $5.6 million he's set to earn next season.Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun
wrote the following:"Two league executives told Postmedia on Wednesday that the
Florida Panthers are listening to offers on the former Ottawa Senators winger.
... While the Panthers have been pleased with Hoffman’s production since he was
acquired last May in a three-team deal after he was sent to the San Jose Sharks
by the Senators, Florida might be trying to clear his $5.175-million cap hit off
the books to sign unrestricted free agents in the summer."Listening to offers
definitely isn't the same thing as actively shopping a player, but Florida seems
to be keeping its options open at the least.According to LeBrun, the team has
asked for the 10 teams listed on Hoffman's modified no-trade clause:Pierre
LeBrun PierreVLeBrunHearing that Mike Hoffman’s camp has been asked by Florida
to submit its 10-team no-trade list which is part of the player’s modified NTC.
It is a No list. Doesn’t mean he will be traded but obviously teams are calling
so Panthers need to be ready.If a team not listed on Hoffman's list comes
calling before Monday, the right offer could well have him on the move once
again.