Suns to play Aussie team
The Suns will open their preseason schedule on Oct. 13 against the Brisbane Bullets, a team in the National Basketball League, comprised of teams from Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Brisbane Courier Mail the game is one of three games between NBA and NBL teams in October.
The Suns’ full preseason and regular season schedule is expected to be released within the next two weeks.
Mercury’s Bonner births twins
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner is the mother of twin girls. Bonner, 29, is married to Candice Dupree, who played for the Mercury from 2015-16 with the Mercury and now is with Indiana.
Bonner, 29, is married to Candice Dupree, who played for the Mercury from 2015-16 with the Mercury and now is with Indiana.
LA reaches deal for 2028 Olympics
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles has reached an agreement with international Olympic leaders that will open the way for the city to host the 2028 Summer Games.
City Council President Herb Wesson’s office on Monday confirmed the deal.
Spokeswoman Caolinn Mejza says the pact is expected to be reviewed by the council later this week.
The agreement to be formally announced later Monday follows a vote earlier this month by the International Olympic Committee to seek a deal to award the 2024 and 2028 Games. Paris is widely seen as the favorite for 2024. With the agreement, Los Angeles would get 2028. The deal would make LA a three-time Olympic city, after hosting the 1932 and 1984 Games.
Cubs issue World Series ring to Bartman
CHICAGO - Steve Bartman is getting a World Series championship ring from the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs announced Monday they were giving a ring to the fan remembered for deflecting a foul ball that appeared destined to land in left fielder Moises Alou’s glove with Chicago five outs from the World Series in 2003.
Bartman was harassed after the incident and has avoided the spotlight since. Chicago beat Cleveland last fall for its first championship since 1908l.
The Cubs say they “hope this provides closure on an unfortunate chapter” and Bartman “continues to be fully embraced by this organization.”
Bartman says he is “deeply moved.” He adds he hopes “we all can learn from my experience to view sports as entertainment and prevent harsh scapegoating.”
NAU football kicks off 2017 fall practice
FLAGSTAFF - The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks held its first practice of 2017 fall camp Monday.
There was no tackling, but the returning starting quarterback Case Cookus said the intensity was present on the field.
“Offense, defense -- everyone was flying around making plays. The new guys got to learn some stuff and overall it was a good day today," Cookus said.
Head coach Jerome Souers, who is in his 20th season at the helm, was impressed by the maturity of his first-year players.
“For true freshmen, they don’t look like true freshmen,” Souers said. “Usually there’s a bigger gap between the older guys and the younger pups.”