BASKETBALL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Michael Jordan has more to be happy about than just the improved play of his NBA franchise.
His wife, Yvette, has given birth to the couple’s identical twin daughters, Jordan’s spokeswoman Estee Portnoy told The Associated Press.
Portnoy said Tuesday night Yvette Jordan, 35, gave birth to Victoria and Ysabel on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“Yvette Jordan and the babies are doing well and the family is overjoyed at their arrival,” Portnoy said.
Jordan is the owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, who are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and have a chance to make the postseason for the first time since he took over as majority owner in 2010.
Jordan, who turns 51 next Monday, married former model Yvette Prieto on April 27 of last year in Palm Beach, Fla. The reception took place at a private golf club in Jupiter, Fla., designed by Jack Nicklaus. Jordan owns a home near the course.
The couple met six years ago.
Jordan has three children - two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James, and a daughter, Jasmine - with former wife Juanita Vanoy. They divorced in 2006.
Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and was a 14-time All-Star and five-time league MVP.
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DOG SHOW
NEW YORK (AP) - Sky the wire fox terrier has become America’s top dog.
Sky won best in show at the 138th Westminster Kennel Club on Tuesday night. The wire fox terrier beat out a standard poodle, a Portuguese water dog, bloodhound, an Irish water spaniel, a Cardigan Welsh corgi and a miniature pinscher.
Judge Betty Regina Leininger picked the winner at a nearly full Madison Square Garden. The standard poodle named Ally was chosen as the runner-up.
This was the record 14th time a wire fox terrier has won at the nation’s top dog show. Sky has won 129 best in shows overall, and was ranked as the country’s No. 1 show dog last year.
There were 2,845 dogs entered in the show. They were eligible in 190 breeds and varieties.
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NFL
BEREA, Ohio (AP) - The Browns fired their coach after one season. Now they’re sweeping out their front office.
Owner Jimmy Haslam announced Tuesday that CEO Joe Banner will step down in the next two months and general manager Michael Lombardi is leaving the team.
It’s yet another stunning development for a franchise that has undergone nearly constant change in the past 15 years.
Haslam also said assistant GM Ray Farmer, who was pursued by Miami to be the Dolphins’ GM this winter, has been promoted and will immediately take the over the team’s football operations and lead the Browns during free agency and draft. Cleveland has two first-round picks in May’s draft and is well under the salary cap to spend on free agents.
Haslam added that president Alec Scheiner will keep his current role.
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BASEBALL
Right-hander Roy Oswalt is retiring after 13 major league seasons.
Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, confirmed Oswalt’s retirement Tuesday and said the pitcher would come to work for his agency.
Oswalt, 36, had a 163-102 career record with a 3.36 ERA. His best season came with Houston in 2004, when he went 20-10 with a 3.49 ERA. The durable righty - a three-time All-Star and 2006 NL championship series MVP - went over 200 innings seven times in his career but dealt with injuries in recent years.
He was 0-6 with an 8.63 ERA in nine outings and six starts for Colorado last year. He signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in May 2013 and missed time with a strained left hamstring.
A 23rd-round pick by Houston in the 1996 amateur draft, Oswalt pitched his first nine-plus seasons for the Astros and then played for Philadelphia, Texas and the Rockies.
HOUSTON (AP) - Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan has rejoined the Houston Astros as the team’s executive advisor.
Ryan worked as a special assistant to the general manager in Houston from 2004 until he became president of the Texas Rangers in 2008. He added CEO to his title with the Rangers in 2011 and remained in that position until he stepped down in October.
Ryan will serve as an advisor to owner Jim Crane, general manager Jeff Luhnow and his son and president of business operations Reid Ryan.
The elder Ryan, who played for the Astros for nine seasons, is major league baseball’s all-time strikeout leader and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999. The team says Ryan will join the team at spring training in the next few weeks.
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