Cycling
USA Cycling unveils the new U.S. Cup Pro Series
The sport of mountain biking was born and raised in the United States, which makes it all the more frustrating to American riders that they’ve been lapped by their European counterparts.
USA Cycling is hoping to change that with a new domestic series that will offer the richest cross-country purse in the world and should attract most of the top riders.
The U.S. Cup Pro Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group came together late last year, but the details were announced just this week. They include an $81,000 purse that will be split evenly between the men’s and women’s fields.
The opening round will be March 1-2 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The following two races in March will be held in California, with the finale June 28-29 in Colorado Springs.
Kittel repeats stage victory; Phinney repeats tour leader
HATTA, United Arab Emirates – Marcel Kittel of Germany won his second successive stage of the inaugural Dubai Tour only in the last 20 meters of an uphill finish in the Hajjar Mountains on Friday.
Taylor Phinney has a 15-second lead over BMC Racing teammate Stephen Cummings of Britain with one stage left.
NBA
New Orleans’ very own Davis replaces Bryant as all-star
NEW YORK – New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city.
Davis nearly was chosen as a reserve but missed out by one spot in voting by Western Conference head coaches, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because vote totals were not released.
Davis is averaging 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and a league-leading 3.3 blocks for the Pelicans. Davis, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, also is scheduled to play in the Rising Stars Challenge for rookies and second-year players.
NFL
Prosecutors say Hernandez is having coded conversations
FALL RIVER, Mass. – A judge said prosecutors in former NFL star Aaron Hernandez’s murder case cannot have recordings of his jailhouse phone calls.
The judge said Friday prosecutors didn’t make a sufficient case for the records, but they may try again. The defense said prosecutors are on a fishing expedition.
The former New England Patriots tight end has pleaded not guilty to charges in the death last summer of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old Boston man who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee.
MLB
Rodriguez drops his lawsuit, accepts season-long ban
NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez accepted his season-long suspension from Major League Baseball, the longest penalty in the sport’s history related to performance-enhancing drugs.
Rodriguez withdrew his lawsuits against Major League Baseball, Commissioner Bud Selig and the players’ association to overturn his season-long suspension Friday.
Rodriguez was suspended 211 games last Aug. 5 for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract, and arbitrator Fredric Horowitz on Jan. 11 cut the penalty to 162 games, plus the 2014 postseason.
Rodriguez sued two days later.
WNBA
Lynx will begin their defense May 16 at Washington
NEW YORK – The defending champion Minnesota Lynx will begin the WNBA season on the road May 16 at Washington as part of a five-game schedule on opening night to kick off the league’s 18th season.
The Los Angeles Sparks, under new owner Magic Johnson, will play at Seattle that night, as well.
The WNBA All-Star game will take place in Phoenix on July 19.
Associated Press
