UCLA's Bona declares for the NBA draft
Adem Bona has become the fifth UCLA player to declare for the NBA draft, although the Pac-12 freshman of the year could still return to Westwood.
The forward-center from Nigeria announced his plans Wednesday on his Instagram account. Bona averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while starting 32 of 33 games last season.
“Ever since I picked up a basketball, it has always been my dream to show that I could play at the highest level,” Bona wrote. “With that being said, I have decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.”
However, coach Mick Cronin said in a statement that Bona will retain his eligibility, which means he won't be hiring an agent.
“We will support Adem through this process with the NBA,” Cronin said in a statement. “He's still in school and he will retain his eligibility. He is rehabbing daily from his shoulder injury. We will support him and Jaylen Clark as they navigate through this process.”
Bona joins freshman Amari Bailey, seniors Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Clark in declaring for the draft. Clark, a junior, could retain his remaining eligibility if he doesn't hire an agent ahead of the June 22 draft.
The 6-foot-10 Bona finished second in the Pac-12 in overall field-goal percentage (67%) and was fourth in blocks per game (1.7). He was named to the All-Pac-12 freshman team and the league's All-Defensive team.
Woods has fusion surgery on right ankle
Tiger Woods had fusion surgery on his right ankle Wednesday morning to alleviate arthritis from a broken bone, putting in doubt whether he plays any more majors this year.
Woods disclosed the surgery on Twitter and said it was a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from when he broke his talus bone in February 2021.
“He's resting now and will start the recovery process,” Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, said in a telephone interview.
The surgery took place in New York, and Steinberg said Woods has returned to his home near Jupiter, Florida, to begin rehabilitating.
As for when Woods could return to playing golf, Steinberg said there was “no timetable on this.”
“The first goal is to recover and lead a much more enjoyable day-to-day life,” he said.
Woods shattered multiple bones in his right leg and ankle in February 2021 when the SUV he was driving crashed off a suburban coastal Los Angeles road at about 85 mph and tumbled down the side of a hill. The injuries were so severe, Woods said, that doctors contemplated amputation.
Woods has had multiple surgeries on his leg as a result of the car crash. The ankle has been causing most of the problems of late, including a noticeable limp when he played four of the last five majors, most recently the Masters two weeks ago.
Hall of Fame linebacker Wilcox dies at 80
Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Wilcox, who made the Pro Bowl seven times in his 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, has died.
He was 80.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Wilcox, who is also the father of California football coach Justin Wilcox, died on Wednesday. The Hall did not disclose a cause of death.
“While Dave Wilcox was nicknamed `The Intimidator' for his aggressive style of play, he was a kind, humble and gracious man in all other aspects of life,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement.
“He transformed the outside linebacker position — one of the many feats that earned him a forever home in Canton.”
Wilcox was drafted out of Oregon in 1964 by the 49ers and the Houston Oilers of the AFL. He signed with San Francisco and became one of the game's best and most durable linebackers during his era.
Wilcox was known his physical style that neutralized tight ends at the line of scrimmage but also was accomplished in coverage with 14 career interceptions.
Wilcox missed only one game during his 11-year career, was selected as a firstteam All-Pro in 1971 and 1972 and a second-team selection in 1967.
He was a key part of the defense in San Francisco that helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game in 1970 and `71 before losing to Dallas both times.
• Tua Tagovailoa considered walking away from football.
It was a brief thought after he was diagnosed with two concussions last season and many questioned if it was safe for the 25-yearold Miami Dolphins quarterback to continue playing.
But after talking to his family and doctors, Tagovailoa ruled out retirement and started training in martial arts this offseason to help reduce head injuries.
“I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “It's my health. It's my body. And I feel like this is what's best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn't, I would have quit a long time ago.”
Now, Tagovailoa is learning how to fall.
Though he's still early in his jiu jitsu training, Tagovailoa is working on ways to land more safely when he's on the field.
• Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing over allegations that he threatened and pointed a gun at a woman in Cincinnati earlier this year.
Mixon made his initial court appearance in Hamilton County Municipal Court, where bond was set at $10,000. He was ordered to have no contact with the woman.
Sabalenka advances at Porsche Grand Prix
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals at the Porsche Grand Prix by beating Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday in Germany.
The Australian Open champion has reached the final in Stuttgart for two straight years but has yet to win the clay-court tournament.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, has beaten Sabalenka only once in six career meetings.
Coco Gauff, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur also recorded victories.