Canadian Football
Sam returns to CFL praising U.S. gay marriage decision
MONTREAL – Michael Sam praised the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage throughout the country.
He said he has no plans to marry yet because he’s focused on football.
But he called the decision “freaking awesome” and said he’s proud to be an American.
Sam returned to practice with the Montreal Alouettes on Monday.
The defensive lineman who starred at Missouri left his CFL team for personal reasons this month.
College Basketball
2015-16 season will be Bo Ryan’s last at Wisconsin
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said he plans to retire after next season.
Ryan made the surprising announcement Monday.
Ryan said he considered retiring after the Badgers lost in the national championship game to Duke, but athletic director Barry Alvarez told him to take some time to think about it.
After mulling his future for a few months, the 67-year-old Ryan said he has decided to coach one more season.
He also said he hopes longtime assistant Greg Gard will be chosen to replace him.
Ryan has coached the Badgers for 14 years.
He led them to the Final Four in each of the past two seasons.
MLB
Phillies pick up MacPhail for president next year
PHILADELPHIA – Veteran baseball executive Andy MacPhail is joining the Philadelphia Phillies with plans to take over as team president once the season is finished.
Philadelphia announced the move Monday to eventually replace Pat Gillick, who helped choose his successor.
The Phillies said MacPhail will serve as a special assistant to Gillick for the rest of this season then take over all business and baseball operations.
Hockey
Lidstrom headlines 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame class
Nicklas Lidstrom cherished just being on the ice.
The seven Norris Trophies as the best defenseman of his era and four Stanley Cups as a cornerstone of the Detroit Red Wings helped him be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in his first year of eligibility.
But when Lidstrom looks back on his career, the 1,564 regular-season and 263 playoff games stand out.
Lidstrom, who was joined in the class of 2015 by former Red Wings teammate Sergei Fedorov and fellow dominant defenseman Chris Pronger, never missed more than 12 games in a season. He never missed more than six until he was 41 years old.
NBA
Wade joins free agent pool, opts out of Miami Heat deal
MIAMI – Dwyane Wade decided to forgo a $16.1 million deal with the Miami Heat for next season and become a free agent.
The three-time champion and 11-time All-Star announced his decision Monday through a spokesperson. ESPN was first told of the decision.
Wade hits the open market Wednesday and is likely to receive interest from several other teams, though the Heat have already said they want to keep him.
Wade left a total of around $27 million on the table in contract negotiations with the Heat in 2010 and 2014.
He wants some of that sacrifice rewarded in a three-year deal.
But he’s turning 34 next season and missed 25 percent of Miami’s regular-season games over the past four years, factors the Heat will surely take into account.
Associated Press
