PRO BASKETBALL
NEW YORK (AP) - New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton was arraigned on two felony weapons possession charges in Manhattan Criminal Court, following his early morning arrest after a lawyer for his wife turned in a loaded semi-automatic handgun allegedly belonging to the basketball star to a police precinct, claiming she no longer wanted it in their home, authorities said.
Felton was released on $25,000 bail and was ushered into a black SUV following his arraignment. Under the terms of his bond, Felton can travel to games, bail bondsman Ira Judelson said. However, he was ordered to stay away from his wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton.
Prosecutors said they were told Felton stored the Belgian-made FN Herstal model handgun in the home from August through February. A lawyer for Felton’s wife, a student at Fordham University School of Law, dropped off the weapon at a stationhouse on Manhattan’s upper West Side on Monday evening, shortly before tipoff of the Knicks game against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden, police said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Jimmermania began in Sacramento with hundreds of fans gathered at the airport to cheer the arrival of a player most had only watched on television or read about during the NCAA tournament.
It’s headed for a much quieter conclusion.
As the Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette worked toward reaching a buyout of his contract, the former BYU sensation was not in attendance for Sacramento’s 129-103 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kings coach Michael Malone said the team advised Fredette to stay home until a resolution is reached.
Malone said he wished Fredette well and believes the third-year guard can carve out an NBA career somewhere - just not in Sacramento.
GOLF
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Former PGA champion Steve Elkington caused more outrage on Twitter when he made a disparaging remark about Missouri defensive end Michael Sam while trying to criticize media coverage that refers to him as gay.
Sam came out publicly two weeks ago. The NFL has never had an openly homosexual player. Sam worked out this week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and is projected to be a mid- to late-round draft pick.
Elkington first tweeted that ESPN’s coverage of Sam was “embarrassing.” He followed with this tweet: “ESPN reporting Michael Sam is leading the handbag throw at NFL combine … No one else expected to throw today.”
Elkington later deleted his tweet, and then tried to clarify his position. He posted a reply: “I’m for Sam I’m against ESPN telling me he’s gay….”
The PGA Tour suggested a fine was in order, though it has a policy of not announcing discipline.
BASEBALL
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Joe Torre says Major League Baseball’s playing rules committee leaned toward banning all home plate collisions but concluded it would be unrealistic because contact between catchers and baserunners is sometimes unavoidable.
Torre, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, spoke at San Diego’s spring training facility before meeting with representatives from eight clubs training in Arizona. Torre was there to answer questions and address concerns regarding the collision rule, which was announced Monday, and expanded instant replay for umpires.
Torre said when it came to the collisions rule, he had to “put the uniform back on” because there is never a perfect play at the plate and throws can make contact unavoidable.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, whose 2011 season was cut short after the Marlins’ Scott Cousins crashed into him at the plate, said that a home plate collision rule adopted by Major League Baseball and its players does a good thing by eliminating “malicious collisions.”
Posey, an All-Star catcher, sustained a broken bone in his lower left leg and three torn ligaments in his ankle in the May 2011 collision, an injury that helped intensify debate over plate collisions. Posey returned in 2012 to win the National League MVP award. The new rule, in what both sides said was a one-year experiment, allows collisions if the catcher has the ball and is blocking the runner’s direct path to home plate, and if the catcher goes into the basepath to field a throw to the plate.
PRO FOOTBALL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons.
The Panthers confirmed the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle will announce his retirement at a news conference on Wednesday at the stadium.
Gross, 33, was a first-round pick by Carolina in 2003 and started a franchise-record 167 games. He went to his third Pro Bowl this past season as an alternate.
Gross’ contract had expired with the Panthers earlier this month, but there was still some question as to whether he might agree to return for one more season. He went on vacation with his family last week to Idaho to contemplate whether or not to retire.
Gross told the team’s website, Panthers.com, that it was the right time to step away.
HOCKEY
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The Buffalo Sabres have had discussions to lift the interim tag from coach Ted Nolan’s title. Goalie Ryan Miller’s future in Buffalo beyond next week appears less certain.
That’s the update general manager Tim Murray provided during a news conference in the press box before the Sabres’ 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Murray revealed he’s had discussions with Nolan about keeping him on as the team’s full-time coach beyond this season. Following the game, Nolan declined to shed further light on the status of talks when informed of Murray’s’ comments.
As for Miller, Murray said he’s shopping the star goalie with the intention of trading him before the NHL’s trade deadline on March 5.
Murray said more than two but fewer than 10 teams have contacted the Sabres regarding Miller, but added it’s too early to determine whether a deal can be reached.
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