Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league tips off
Dixon captures first win at Road America; F-1 rivals clash
Allen Iverson plans to be more spectator than scorer in the Big3.
The Iverson of old might be the only thing Ice Cube’s new 3-on-3 basketball venture can’t deliver.
The rapper-actor’s league of former NBA players got off to a strong start Sunday, with the first two games both decided on winning shots in front of 15,177 fans.
Iverson’s team won the third game, though as player-coach only put himself in for 9 minutes. At 42 years old, the former NBA MVP said he doesn’t expect to be playing heavy minutes in the 10-game season.
Entertainers such as LL Cool J and NBA AllStar James Harden were in the crowd for the first two games before Iverson, the main attraction among players, took the court following a concert.
He may be the biggest name in the league, but his role on the court will be minor.
“I signed up to be a coach, player and captain. Coach part is going to go on throughout the game,” Iverson said. “Playing part is not going to be what you expect.
“You’re not going to see the Allen Iverson of old out there.”
Motor sports
Scott Dixon won the IndyCar race at Road America to spoil the Team Penske party on the rural road course. Dixon edged Josef Newgarden by 0.57 seconds to claim his first his victory at Road America. Dixon’s 41st career victory moved him within one of tying Michael Andretti for third on the list of drivers with the most IndyCar wins.
As Daniel Ricciardo n celebrated winning a hectic Azerbaijan Grand Prix, title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel clashed in a bitter incident that could shape the rest of an intriguing Formula One season.
Hamilton accused Vettel of “disrespectful” driving after the four-time champion pulled alongside Hamilton and appeared to deliberately swerve into him when they were behind the safety car approaching the midway point of a stopstart race.
Track and field
World-record holder Aries Merritt finished second behind Aleec Harris in the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track and field championships. His place — as long as it was top three — didn’t really matter. He just wanted a spot.
Merritt won bronze at 2015 world championships in Beijing with his kidneys barely functioning because of a genetic disorder. He received the transplant from his sister less than a week later. Now healthy, he’s ready to see what he can do with worlds being held at the venue where he won an Olympic gold medal during the 2012 London Games.
Harris proved uncatchable as he finished in 13.24 seconds. Merritt was 0.07 seconds behind.
Soccer
Former Stanford star Jordan Morris has been picked for the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Americans’ group stage includes matches against Panama on July 8 at Nashville; Martinique on July 12 at Tampa, Florida; and Nicaragua on July 15 at Cleveland.
World champion Germany n reached the Confederations Cup semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Cameroon.
Tennis
Feliciano Lopez saved a match point as he came from behind to beat Marin Cilic and claim the biggest title of his career at Queen’s.
Two-time Wimbledon n champion Petra Kvitova beat Ashleigh Barty 4-6, 63, 6-2 in the Aegon Classic final to win her first title since her playing hand was injured in a knife attack at her home.
Baseball
LSU and Florida, who shared the SEC regularseason championship, are playing for the national title in Omaha in finals of the College World Series, starting Monday night.