Quick Hitters
Phoenix Suns sign big man Diallo to multiyear deal
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have signed big man Cheick Diallo to a multiyear contract.
Terms of the deal announced Tuesday were not disclosed.
The 22-year-old Diallo played the past three seasons with New Orleans, averaging 6.0 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 62%. He played in seven playoff games during the Pelicans’ run to the 2018 Western Conference semifinals.
Diallo was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers out of Kansas with the 33rd overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward/center was acquired by New Orleans in a draft night trade.
Born in Mali, Diallo began playing basketball at 13 and moved to the United States at 15 to attend school and play in New York.
Tim Tebow put on Triple-A injured list by Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Tim Tebow has been placed on the injured list because of a cut hand by Triple-A Syracuse, where he is hitting just .163 this season.
The 2007 Heisman Trophywinning quarterback was hurt while fielding a ball in the outfield at Toledo on Sunday. Manager Tony DeFrancesco says the cut is in a bad spot and required several stitches.
Tebow is in his third year of professional ball and first in TripleA after a three-year stint at quarterback in the NFL. He has 39 hits in 77 games with four homers, 19 RBIs, 98 strikeouts and 20 walks in 239 at-bats. He was hitting just above .200 in July.
He hit .273 at Double-A Binghamton last year with six homer and 36 RBIs in 271 at-bats over 84 games before breaking a bone in his right hand, an injury that ended his season.
Dodger Stadium to get $100 million renovation for 2020
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to welcome the All-Star Game back to Dodger Stadium with a $100 million renovation of their historic ballpark.
The Dodgers unveiled the logo for next year’s Midsummer Classic and their latest renovation plans Tuesday at their 57-year-old home, the majors’ third-oldest park.
The primary addition will be a Centerfield Plaza area spanning nearly 2 acres behind the outfield fences, creating what Dodgers President Stan Kasten described as a “front door” to the famously tough-to-access hillside park. The plaza will include food, entertainment and a statue of Sandy Koufax, which will join a statue of Jackie Robinson already on the property.
The Dodgers also are constructing new elevators and bridges to allow easier movement around the park.
MMA great Anderson Silva becomes US citizen
LOS ANGELES — Mixed martial arts great Anderson “Spider” Silva of Brazil has become a U.S. citizen in a naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed Silva and about 8,000 other people as they took their oaths of citizenship during two mass ceremonies Tuesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The 44-year-old Silva was joined by an adult son and daughter who also were naturalized.
Silva had the longest title reign as UFC Middleweight Champion with 16 consecutive victories from 2006 to 2013.
He is currently ranked 15th in the official UFC middleweight rankings.