Pacers’ Copeland stabbed in New York
Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland , his girlfriend and another woman were stabbed early Wednesday in New York after an argument on the street near a Manhattan nightclub that also led to the arrest of two Atlanta Hawks players, authorities said.
The victims were hospitalized and in stable condition, police said. Copeland, 31, a former member of the New York Knicks, had surgery on his elbow and his abdomen, Pacers Coach Frank Vogel said. Copeland’s girlfriend, Katrine Saltara , was slashed in the arm and across the breast. The second woman, who was believed to be with the attacker, was slashed in the abdomen.
Atlanta Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha , who were not with Copeland but were also at the club, were arrested and later released without bail after police said they blocked officers from trying to start their investigation. The Hawks players’ attorney, Alex Spiro , said they did not commit any crime.
The violence began just before 4 a.m. outside 1Oak Club, a trendy Chelsea spot, police said. The couple was arguing on the street as the attacker eavesdropped and started to interfere, according to police. The dispute escalated until the 22-year-old suspect, who was identified as Shezoy Bleary according to the Associated Press, pulled out a knife and started slashing, police said. Charges were pending, according to police..
The Phoenix Suns’ Marcus and Markieff Morris are being investigated on allegations they joined three other men in beating Erik Hood on Jan. 24 as Hood was leaving a high school basketball game, Phoenix police said. According to Hood’s account, he formed a strong bond with the 25-year-old brothers when they were ninth-graders with dreams of becoming pro basketball players but the brothers cut off contact when they were shown texts indicating that Hood wanted their mother to be his girlfriend. In an interview at the twin brothers’ home on Feb. 10 with a police investigator, both NBA players denied any involvement in the incident.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic had surgery on his right Achilles’ tendon.
In tennis, eighth-seeded Sam Querrey won 24 of 30 points in the third set to defeat Steve Johnson , 6-1, 4-6, 6-0, and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships at Houston. . . . American Lauren Davis beat top-seeded Eugenie Bouchard , 6-3, 6-1, at the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C., a short time after second-seeded Ekaterina Makarova withdrew because of a stomach illness.
In college basketball, Rashad Vaughn announced that he is leaving Nevada Las Vegas and will make himself available for the NBA draft. Among other declaring for the draft were Indiana forward Troy Williams and Arizona forward Brandon Ashley . . . . Utah gave fourth-year Coach Larr y Krystkowiak a contract extension through the 2022-23 season that awards him $2.4 million per year.
Notre Dame junior Jewell Loyd declared herself eligible for the WNBA draft.
In pro football, the New York Jets and former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley agreed to a one-year deal. . . . The NFL hired Sarah Thomas as a line judge, making her the first woman to serve in that role. . . . The Dallas Cowboys released defensive tackle Amobi Okoye , who was drafted by Houston as a teenager and hasn’t played since 2012 as he attempts to come back from a brain condition. . . . Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Emmanuel Lamur , who helped fill the void when starters Rey Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict were injured, signed a one-year tender offer for $2.356 million. . . . The New York Jets re-signed defensive lineman Leger Douzable to a one-year contract.
Timmy Lee Brown pleaded guilty in the 2007 killing of Washington Redskins star safety Sean Taylor during a botched burglary in the Fort Myers, Fla., area. Brown will serve 18 years in prison under his plea agreement.
In college football, Illinois Coach Tim Beckman said that Mike Dudek , the team’s leading receiver, will sit out at least the beginning of the fall season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. . . . Alabama freshman running back Bo Scarbrough , who was injured in a weekend scrimmage, had knee surgery, according to Coach Lou Saban .
Detroit Red Wings forward Erik Cole will sit out the rest of the season because of a spine contusion. . . . The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Derek Dorsett to a four-year contract extension and defenseman Luca Sbisa , a former Anaheim Ducks player, to a three-year deal.