Lue takes leave from Cavs
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is taking a leave of absence from the team to address health issues that have included chest pains and loss of sleep.
Lue said Monday in statement that tests have offered no conclusion about what the issue is and offered no timetable for his return. The coach said he feels he needs to step away “and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation” from which to coach the rest of the season.
The Cavaliers also didn’t say who would lead the team in Lue’s absence, though that responsibility could fall to associate head coach Larry Drew.
A stress-filled season for the Cavs has taken a toll on the 40-year-old Lue, who led them to the 2016 NBA championship after taking over for David Blatt midway through that season. They are just 40-29, third in the Eastern Conference, and have endured roster shake-ups, injuries and other distractions as they try to return to the NBA Finals.
BASEBALL
American League MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have finalized a $163.5 million, seven-year contract that guarantees an additional $151 million over five seasons.
The 27–year-old second baseman had been among baseball’s best bargains. He agreed in 2013 to a deal that originally guaranteed $12.5 million from 2014-’17 and included club options for 2018 at $6 million and 2019 at $6.5 million. Altuve would have been eligible for free agency after the ’19 season.
The 5-foot-6 Altuve hit .346 last season to win his second straight AL batting title and third in four seasons. He had 24 homers, 82 RBI and 32 stolen bases.
London games eyed: Major League Baseball is working to finalize a two-game series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at London’s Olympic Stadium on June 29-30 in 2019, the sport’s first regular-season games in Europe, a source said.
Baseball officials have long hoped for games in London and settled last year on Olympic Stadium, which is in its second season as home of West Ham of the Premier League. Because it originally was built for a 400-meter track, it is wider than other large stadiums in the London area and can best accommodate the dimensions of a baseball field.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Memphis has named Penny Hardaway as its men’s coach.
The 46-year-old Hardaway replaces Tubby Smith, who was fired after going 40-26 in two seasons with Memphis.
Hardaway is a four-time NBA all-star and threetime all-NBA player who will be making his college coaching debut with the Tigers. He has been coaching for years with his own AAU program, Team Penny, and won his third straight Tennessee high school championship at Memphis East last weekend.
Charlotte tabs Sanchez: The Charlotte 49ers hired Virginia associate head coach Ron Sanchez as their new coach following a 13-17 season.
Sanchez has been an integral part of two-time national coach of the year Tony Bennett’s staff for the last 12 years, helping build Washington State and Virginia into national powers.
Charlotte fired coach Mark Price in the middle of the season. Houston Fancher served as interim coach, but he was not retained.
HOCKEY
The Boston Bruins signed Ryan Donato to a twoyear, entry-level deal and said the U.S. Olympic star could play for them right away.
Donato had 26 goals and 17 assists in 29 games this season at Harvard. He led the United States with five goals and six points at the Olympics as one of its youngest players.
The 21-year-old Donato was a second-round pick for Boston in 2014, and the team retained his rights while he played for his father, Ted Donato, a former Bruin who has been the coach at Harvard since 2004.