Messi needs rest, won’t play in Rio Olympics
Lionel Messi will skip the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in six months because his coach,
Gerardo Martino, says he needs some rest. Martino spoke Monday on Argentina radio station La Red and said Messi will play in the Centennial Copa America tournament in the United States, but not the Olympics in Brazil.
“Messi will not go to the Olympic Games,” said Martino, who said it was “too much” for the Barcelona star to play in both events and also World Cup qualifiers.
The Centennial Copa America begins June 3, and the Olympics open two months later on Aug. 5.
He also mentioned Barcelona’s heavy schedule in various tournaments, adding to the wear-and-tear on the Argentine.
Messi led Argentina to the gold medal in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
RAPTORS LOSE
Nikola Jokic notched 27 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets ended Toronto’s 11-game winning streak with a 112-93 victory over the visiting Raptors.
l The Phoenix Suns, mired in one of the worst stretches in their history, have fired coach Jeff Hornacek and promoted Earl Watson to interim coach.
Watson was an NBA point guard for 13 seasons and was in his first season as a Suns assistant after a year as an assistant with the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League.
SCOTT BRINGS RATINGS
John Scott delivers. With the controversy surrounding the enforcer’s inclusion in the NHL All-Star Game and the league’s attempt to keep him out fueling interest along with the new three-on-three format, Sunday’s All-Star game on NBCSN averaged 1.595 million viewers and pulled a 0.90 household rating, both records for the seven NHL All-Star Games that have aired on the cable channel.
Scott scored two goals and won the MVP Sunday as the Pacific Division defeated the Central and Atlantic to win the mini tournament. He was voted in by fans initially as a joke when he was a member of the Coyotes. He was later traded to the Canadiens and sent down to the AHL. — Justin Tasch
RED BULLS ADD KEEPER COACH
The Red Bulls have hired Preston Burpo as their goalkeepers coach.
A former MLS goalkeeper, Burpo was on coach Jesse Marsch’s staff with the Montreal Impact in 2012, and with D.C. United for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
LIBERTY SIGNS SHAVONTE
The Liberty bolstered its backcourt, signing free-agent guard Shavonte Zellous to a multiyear contract on Monday.
Zellous, a WNBA All-Star in 2013 and also the league’s most improved player that season, spent the previous five years with the Indiana Fever.
HEELS’ STREAK SNAPPED
Guard Damion Lee scored 24 points, including two free throws with 8.3 seconds remaining, to help No. 19 Louisville beat No.2 North Carolina, 71-65, ending the Tar Heels’ 12-game winning streak.