Cavaliers make a change at the top
The Cleveland Cavaliers and general manager David Griffin have decided to part ways after three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said in a statement Monday night that the Cavaliers, who won the NBA championship a year ago, will not extend Griffin’s contract when it expires June 30.
Griffin oversaw the team’s return to prominence after LeBron James came back from Miami. Griffin orchestrated the trade that brought Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves and bolstered the roster with other trades and free-agent signings. Gilbert said the team was not ready to name a replacement.
Strickland denied
Pitcher Hunter Strickland of the San Francisco Giants began serving a six-game suspension for brawling with Bryce Harper after his appeal was denied by Major League Baseball. The penalty stemmed from a May 29 benches-clearing incident between the Giants and Washington Nationals. Strickland plunked Harper on the right hip with a 98-mph fastball, igniting an eighth-inning fight that ended with Strickland being dragged to the Giants dugout by several teammates. Harper was suspended for four games, which was reduced to three games after his appeal. He has already served the penalty.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his right wrist, an injury that will keep him sidelined four to six weeks. … The Cincinnati Reds put Bronson Arroyo on the 10-day DL because of a strained right shoulder, one day after the 40year-old right-hander said there is a possibility his career might be over. Cincinnati also put shortstop Zack Cozart on the 10-day DL because of a strained right quadriceps. … The Kansas City Royals and former Huntington Beach High first baseman Nick Pratto agreed to a contract that includes a $3.45-million signing bonus. Pratto was the 14th pick in the draft last week. … Infielder Gleyber Torres, the New York Yankees’ top prospect, has a torn ligament in his non-throwing elbow and will have Tommy John surgery that is expected to sideline him until spring training.
The UFC announced that it has stripped Germaine de Randamie of her women’s featherweight belt after the Dutch fighter refused to fight No. 1-ranked challenger Cris “Cyborg” Santos. That means that Santos, a Southland-trained Brazilian, will fight for the featherweight belt against recently signed Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson on July 29 in the co-main event of UFC 214 at Honda Center. The UFC said in a statement that de Randamie, who won her belt in February by defeating former bantamweight champion Holly Holm, was stripped due to her “unwillingness” to fight Santos. — Lance Pugmire
The Arizona Coyotes will not offer forward Shane Doan a contract for the upcoming season, leaving the longtime captain to decide whether to retire or join another team. The Coyotes issued a statement saying the time has come for the team to focus on its young group of players. Doan has played his entire 21-year career with the organization.
Former Ducks coach Ron Wilson, who guided Team USA to the World Cup title in 1996 and led the U.S. men’s Olympic team to a silver medal in 2010, was elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, the organization announced. Also elected were former NHL linesman Kevin Collins; former Boston University coach Jack Parker; former U.S. women’s Olympic coach and men’s Olympic assistant coach Ben Smith; and two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Young, a forward who played for three U.S. Olympic teams and the Ducks. — Helene Elliott
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal law that bans offensive trademark protection in a ruling that could benefit the Washington Redskins in their legal fight over the team’s controversial nickname. The justices ruled the 71-year-old trademark law barring disparaging terms infringes on free speech rights.
Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty to a charge of DUI with injury or property damage stemming from a September crash near Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County court records show. Taylor was placed on a year of probation, his driver’s license was suspended for nine months and he will be required to install an ignition interlock device on his car for six months.
Germany’s inexperienced side was given a fright by Australia at the Confederations Cup, holding on to win its Group B opener 3-2 at Sochi, Russia.
Longtime Pepperdine men’s volleyball coach Mar v Dunphy is retiring from the university. Dunphy, 69, is calling it a career after four NCAA titles and more than 600 victories.