Jason Collins, NBA's first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain cancer
Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday. Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career. Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate. He was 47.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, a veteran of 7 NBA seasons, dies at 29
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, according to the team, his agency and the NBA. He was 29. A person familiar with the terms of the ongoing investigation said an autopsy was planned to determine the exact cause of his death. His agents, Priority Sports, wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death. Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance and released on bond a day later. He was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma City. Clarke was on the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2020 but injuries limited him to 72 of 246 games the past three seasons.
Wembanyama returns with a huge performance as the Spurs beat the Wolves 126-97 for a 3-2 lead
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama atoned for his first career ejection with another huge performance, finishing with 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series. Keldon Johnson had 21 points, De’Aaron Fox added 18 and Stephon Castle had 17 as San Antonio moved a game away from the Western Conference finals. The Spurs can advance to face Oklahoma City with a victory in Game 6 on Friday in Minneapolis. Anthony Edwards, who was limited to eight points in the first half, finished with 20 points for Minnesota.
76ers fire Daryl Morey as president and keep Nick Nurse as coach
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers fired president Daryl Morey on Tuesday and decided to keep Nick Nurse as their coach after the team was swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers were easily ousted by the New York Knicks to end Morey’s sixth season in charge, and the organization quickly decided that someone else would lead the basketball operations department. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will lead the search for Morey’s replacement and will oversee the department in the interim. The Sixers went 270-212 record in the regular season under Morey but just 28-26 in the postseason, failing to advance past the second round.
Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records will be handed over to prosecutors in Florida DUI case
STUART, Fla. (AP) — A judge has ruled that Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records will be handed over to prosecutors following his March arrest in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence. A judge approved an agreement between Woods’ defense attorney and prosecutors following a four-minute hearing in Martin County circuit court. Prosecutors had issued a subpoena seeking copies of all prescription medication records for the legendary golfer from the start of the year through the end of March. Woods' attorney acknowledged during the hearing that the right to privacy is not absolute and that prosecutors could make a compelling argument for why they were needed. Prosecutors agreed to the defense attorney's request for a protective order limiting who can access the records.
Dodgers give Shohei Ohtani a DH break as his offensive slump deepens
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is getting a break from batting for at least one day. The Los Angeles Dodgers star is 4 for 36 at the plate this month, with just six home runs this season and none in May. Ohtani is batting .233 with 16 RBIs. Manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani won't be in the lineup as the designated hitter on Thursday. Roberts also is considering not having Ohtani hit Wednesday when he starts on the mound against the San Francisco Giants. Ohtani is in his first full season as a two-way player for the Dodgers.
Benson breaks tie on birthday, Sabres beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 4 to even series
MONTREAL (AP) — Zach Benson broke a tie on a third-period power play on his 21st birthday and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Tuesday night in Game 4 to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Benson took a pass in the slot from Josh Doan, kicked the puck to his stick and put a backhander past goalie Jakub Dobes at 4:41 of the third. Game 5 is Thursday night in Buffalo. The series winner will face Carolina in the Eastern Conference final. Tage Thompson tied it for Buffalo in the second period with a fluke goal and also had an assist. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring and Doan had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced Alex Lyon, making 28 saves.
Paul Skenes takes a no-hitter into the 7th, strikes out 10 as Pirates topple Rockies 3-1
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes allowed two hits and struck out a season-high 10 over eight dominant innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 3-1. The reigning National League Cy Young winner took a no-hitter into the seventh inning while upping his record to 6-2. The 23-year-old retired 18 for the first 19 batters he faced before Colorado's Mickey Moniak dumped a single into center field with one out in the seventh. Gregory Soto retired the Rockies in the ninth for his fourth save. Oneil Cruz has three hits for the Pirates. Nick Gonzales adds two hits, including an RBI-single.
MLB players, owners start collective bargaining, 6 1/2 months ahead of contract's expiration
NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiators for baseball players and owners have begun what figures to be lengthy and acrimonious collective bargaining negotiations to replace their labor contract that expires Dec. 1, with management likely to propose a salary cap system the union has vowed never to accept. An initial session of about two hours took place at the office of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a five-minute walk from Major League Baseball’s headquarters in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center. The meeting lasted about two hours and was scheduled for initial presentations from each side on their view of the sport and its economics. No proposals were made.
Scottie Scheffler is looking to end a streak of runner-up finishes with PGA Championship repeat
NEWTOWN SQAURE, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is the dominant player in golf and looking to avoid feeling like a bridesmaid. He's the defending champion at the PGA Championship. The world's No. 1 player also is coming off three consecutive runner-up finishes dating to the Masters. Scheffler says it's a little bittersweet but at least he knows he's playing well. He'll try to join Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the PGA back-to-back in stroke play. In his way is the strongest field among the majors and an Aronimink course that has what Xander Schauffele describes as diabolical greens.
