Sarver in process of selling Suns, Mercury
Robert Sarver said he has started the process of selling the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, a move coming barely a week after he was suspended by the NBA over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.
The decision was quickly applauded by many — among them, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the National Basketball Players Assn. and even Sarver’s partners in the ownership group that operates the Suns and Mercury.
Sarver made the announcement Wednesday, saying selling “is the best course of action,” although he initially hoped he would be able to keep control of the franchises — pointing to his record that, he said, paints a dramatically different picture of who he is and what he stands for.
“But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible — that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past,” Sarver wrote in a statement.
Silver said he fully supports Sarver’s decision.
Sarver is not the lone owner of the Suns and Mercury, but the primary one. Suns Legacy Partners, the ownership group, said its work to create a “culture of respect and integrity“would continue.
ETC. ‘Chicharito’ out for World Cup
Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will not be part of Mexico’s World Cup roster, coach
Tata Martino confirmed.
Mexico is training at Dignity Health Sports Park this week in preparation for a friendly match against Peru on Saturday at the Rose Bowl as the team gears up for the November tournament in Qatar.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Green Bay Packers without leading receiver Mike Evans, whose appeal of a one-game suspension for his role in an onfield brawl with the New Orleans Saints was denied.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is scheduled to have surgery on his left knee next week for the second time in less than a year and figures to miss the start of the season. The Bulls said the former UCLA standout would be reevaluated in four to six weeks.
Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Alyssa Thomas
had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in her debut for the United States, which beat Belgium 87-72 in its World Cup opener on Thursday in Sydney.
The Dallas Stars expect to open training camp Thursday without young 40goal scorer Jason Robertson, an Arcadia native. The Stars and the 23-yearold restricted free agent have been unable to agree on a new contract.
Roger Federer said he was at peace with his choice to retire from professional tennis and plans to close his career with one doubles match at the Laver Cup — perhaps with longtime rival Rafael Nadal by his side.
“I’m happy, because I know it’s the right decision” to walk away from the game, Federer said at a news conference at the arena that will host the team competition founded by his management company.
Top seed Paula Badosa
and second seed Caroline Garcia were knocked out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Badosa was overwhelmed by Qinwen Zheng
from China 6-3, 6-2 and Garcia lost to another Chinese player in the second round, Zhang Shuai, who prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).
Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee, apologized for the organization’s longtime failure to commemorate 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian militants at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Bach spoke at a ceremony in Tel Aviv marking the 50th anniversary of the deadly attack on the Munich Olympics.
Greg Norman said he was asked not to attend the QBE Shootout in December, a PGA Toursanctioned
event he started in 1989 as the Shark Shootout that is held at the Tiburon Golf Club course he designed. It was not clear who asked that he not attend the Dec. 9-11 tournament. The tournament director says it was a collective decision. Norman is the chief executive of LIV Golf, the controversial Saudi-funded series.
The Michigan Supreme Court turned down an appeal and won’t reinstate the conviction of retired Michigan State University gymnastics coach Kathie Klages, who was accused of lying to investigators about campus sports doctor Larry Nassar.
Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten, an Olympic and world champion, crashed at the world road cycling championships in Wollongong, Australia, and sustained a broken elbow.