Sports News Roundup: Nuggets' Jokic fined $25K for using anti-gay slur; Fed Cup;


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 08-11-2018 14:28 IST | Created: 08-11-2018 13:27 IST
Sports News Roundup: Nuggets' Jokic fined $25K for using anti-gay slur; Fed Cup;

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NBA notebook: All-Star draft reportedly to be televised

For the second time, NBA captains will draft All-Star teams before the game is played in 2019. For the first time, the draft will be televised, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Five starters from the East and five from the West will be selected as per tradition by fan balloting. Captains to be named will choose teams to fill out the rosters.

Mayweather says 'never agreed' to fight Japanese kickboxer

Floyd Mayweather said on Wednesday he never agreed to come out of retirement to fight a Japanese kickboxer on New Year's Eve and was blindsided when the event was announced this week at a news conference he attended in Tokyo. Mayweather said on his Instagram account that he only agreed to a three-round exhibition in front of a small group of wealthy spectators for a very large fee with no intention of it being represented as an official fight card or televised worldwide.

USOC under pressure to fix USA Gymnastics before Tokyo 2020

Like a world-class gymnast, the United States Olympic Committee(USOC) needs to nail a perfect landing to put a damaging sexual abuse scandal behind it ahead of the 2020 Games in Tokyo, sports sponsorship experts said. The USOC's announcement this week that it would seek to revoke the status of USA Gymnastics as the national governing body for the sport reflects pressure from fans, athletes and sponsors for a lasting solution for the scandal-plagued organization.

Maryland fires two trainers linked to McNair's death: reports

Maryland has fired two athletic trainers who were linked to the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair earlier this year, according to multiple reports. Steve Nordwall, assistant athletic director of athletic training, and Wes Robinson, the head trainer for the football program, were informed Tuesday that they wouldn't be returning to their jobs. They had been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 10 amid an investigation into McNair's death in June.

Feds give NCAA permission to launch basketball investigations: report

With the federal investigation into corruption in college basketball complete, the government has given the NCAA permission to begin its own investigation into some programs, Yahoo! Sports reported Wednesday. The NCAA has been communicating with the federal government since September 2017, when FBI agents took 10 men into custody as part of their investigation.

Red Bulls' Long named MLS' top defender

Aaron Long was given up on by two MLS teams. Now he is the best defensive player in the league. The 26-year-old Long was named MLS Defender of the Year on Wednesday after helping the New York Red Bulls allow a league-low 33 goals.

American Melichar relishes making Fed Cup debut against country of birth

American Nicole Melichar expects to have mixed feelings when she makes her Fed Cup debut in this weekend's final against the Czech Republic - the country of her birth. Melichar is one of three Americans playing in their first Fed Cup tie for the defending champions, who are having to field a second string team with Serena and Venus Williams unavailable along with Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys.

Nuggets' Jokic fined $25K for using anti-gay slur

Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic was fined $25,000 by the NBA for using derogatory and offensive language during a post-game interview, the league announced Wednesday. Jokic used an anti-gay slur when asked a question about Chicago Bulls rookie Wendell Carter Jr. after a game on Oct. 31.

All-Star Game draft to be televised: report

For the second time, NBA captains will draft All-Star teams before the game is played in 2019. For the first time, the draft will be televised, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Five starters from the East and five from the West will be selected as per tradition by fan balloting. Captains to be named will choose teams to fill out the rosters.

NFL notebook: Bell inches closer to return to Steelers

At least holdout running back Le'Veon Bell is in the same area code as the Pittsburgh Steelers, two days after posting a farewell message to his offseason home in Miami on social media. Bell, however, has not yet reported to the Steelers, who play Thursday at home against the Carolina Panthers. Instead, he was spotted Wednesday playing basketball at an L.A. Fitness facility in North Pittsburgh. Opponents and onlookers shared their encounter with Bell on social media, and the facility manager confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday that Bell was present.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)

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