Cycling
WASHINGTON – Lance Armstrong asked a federal judge to end a lawsuit against him by the U.S. government that seeks to recover millions of dollars in sponsorship money the U.S. Postal Service paid to his cycling teams.
Armstrong’s motion for summary judgment filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington says the case against him is “long on speculation and hyperbole–but short on evidence and viable legal theories.” The lawsuit alleges violations of the federal False Claims Act. It was initially filed by Armstrong’s former teammate Floyd Landis. The federal government joined in 2013, seeking to recover more than $30 million it paid to sponsor Armstrong’s teams from 1998-2004.
Armstrong confessed in 2013 to doping to win the Tour de France seven times. For six of his seven Tour de France victories, the Postal Service was the title sponsor of his teams.
MLB
LOS ANGELES – Reigning NL batting champion Dee Gordon of the Miami Marlins was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, Major League Baseball said soon after he got a key hit Thursday night in a win.
The 28-year-old Gordon led the majors in hits and stolen bases last year. He batted .333, became an All-Star for the second time and won a Gold Glove at second base.
MLB said he tested positive for exogenous Testosterone and Clostebol.
NBA
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers reached an agreement with Golden State assistant Luke Walton to become their head coach.
Walton will join the Lakers after the Warriors’ playoff run. The 36-year-old former Lakers forward returns to become the 26th head coach in franchise history.
Walton became a top candidate for coaching jobs earlier this season when he led Golden State to a 39-4 record as the interim head coach, including a spectacular 24-0 start by the defending champions.
He won’t have nearly the same level of talent in Los Angeles, which is rebuilding after the retirement of Kobe Bryant. Recently fired Byron Scott led the Lakers to the worst two seasons in franchise history, going 17-65 this season.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Stephen Curry is rehabbing his injured right knee about three times a day, spending four to five hours at Golden State’s practice facility to try to get back on the court for the defending champions as soon as possible.
Curry said Friday he considers himself so fortunate he didn’t seriously damage the knee structurally when he slipped on a wet spot – “an unfortunate slip” – right before halftime in Sunday’s Game 4 win at Houston, noting “that could have been 10 times worse.”
The estimated time frame is that Curry will be sidelined for at least two weeks.
NHL
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks fired coach Bruce Boudreau after their first-round exit from the playoffs.
Boudreau had spectacular regular-season success with the Ducks, leading them to four consecutive Pacific Division titles while going 208-104-40 in nearly five seasons in charge.
But the Ducks’ last four seasons have ended with a Game 7 loss on home ice in the playoffs. The Ducks blew a 3-2 series lead in all four years, culminating in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Nashville in Game 7 of the first round.
Associated Press
