Asmussen 1st to get 10,000-win milestone
EX-NBA, NFL team owner dies
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Steve Asmussen became the first trainer with 10,000 victories in North America on Monday, when Bet He’s Ready won the fifth race at Oaklawn Park. He’s already the alltime winningest trainer in the U.S. and Canada, having set the mark of 9,446 on Aug. 7, 2021, at Saratoga to surpass Dale Baird.
Patterson chooses Syracuse
SYRACUSE — William Patterson, the 7-foot-2 Class of 2023 center, has picked Syracuse over other finalists TCU and Oklahoma State.
Patterson, a native of Brooklyn, is rated a 3-star prospect at center. He is playing this season at The Patrick School in New Jersey.
Report: Westbrook to Clippers
LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook was waived by the Utah Jazz and the nine-time All-star is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a published report.
ESPN reported that Westbrook’s agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, told the outlet he will sign with the Clippers after completing a contract buyout on the remaining $47 million he’s owed on his expiring deal.
A former owner of two NBA teams, an NFL franchise and longtime Texas businessman, Billy Joe “Red” Mccombs has died at 95.
Mccombs twice owned the NBA’S San Antonio Spurs and between those two ownership stints owned the league’s Denver Nuggets and later the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.
Jansen re-signs with Panthers
JJ Jansen, the Carolina Panthers’ longest-tenured player, will return for his 15th season after a one-year deal.
Jansen set a new franchise record for games played in a Panthers uniform this past season. Jansen surpassed John Kasay’s streak of 221 games in Week 14 against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished last season with 226 games played.
Hill returns to Dolphins’ staff
The Miami Dolphins hired former player and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill as secondary/passing-game coordinator.
Hill was a Dolphins safety from 2006 to 2008. Hill also was a Miami assistant defensive coach in 2018.
Sparks’ Talbot to miss season
LOS ANGELES — Three weeks after signing with the L.A. Sparks, forward Stephanie Talbot will miss the upcoming WNBA season after getting hurt in her native Australia.
Talbot suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Adelaide Lightning of the WNBL, where she was league MVP in 2020.
She was 10th in the WNBA in 3point shooting last year.
Also, L.A. signed guard Yang Liwei.
Syracuse women’s lacrosse No. 2
SYRACUSE — A 3-0 start with two wins over top-five teams has paid off for the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team in the rankings this week.
Syracuse is ranked No. 2 in both the NIKE/USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse polls after crushing Maryland, which was previously ranked second, on Friday at JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse also has a win over Northwestern, which is ranked No. 3.
Defending national champ North Carolina remains No. 1 in both polls.
The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team remains in the Inside Lacrosse media poll at No. 19. The Orange had previously been ranked No. 18.
Stroll out after bicycle accident
SILVERSTONE, England — Lance Stroll was ruled out of preseason Formula One testing this week after he was injured in a bicycle accident.