NBA
Unofficially, James is an MVP for the 4th time in 5 years
LeBron James is getting his fourth Most Valuable Player award, and the only mystery left is whether the vote was unanimous.
The Miami Heat star will be introduced Sunday as the award winner, according to a person familiar with the results and who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league publicly has not announced the result. James will become the fifth player with at least four MVP awards, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.No one ever has swept every first-place vote in the NBAs MVP balloting. After the season he had, James could be the first: He averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season, shooting a career-best 56 percent.
Auto Racing
Dont call it a comeback? Hamlin takes the wheel
TALLADEGA, Ala. Denny Hamlin ran 16 laps at full speed Friday, turned his car over to Brian Vickers, then didnt exactly rule himself out of running a full race this weekend as he recovers from a back injury. Hamlin insisted hell again give Vickers the car at some point Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. But with a sly smile, Hamlin left the door open to run a full race in his return from a compressed fracture of a vertebra in his lower back. After missing four races, he was cleared Thursday to get back in the car this weekend and said doctors gave him permission to run the entire race. He said his intention was to take a knee after the start by getting out of the car during a caution and allowing Vickers to finish the race. That slightly contradicted crew chief Darian Grubb, who said earlier Friday theyd play race day by ear and see how the race flows.
From X Games gold to a pole, Pastrana wins another first
TALLADEGA, Ala. X Games star Travis Pastrana won his first career pole on the Nationwide Series at Talladega Superspeedway.
The 10-time X Games gold medalist-turned-NASCAR driver will start up front in Saturdays Aarons 312 after posting the fastest qualifying time of 54.255 on Friday on the 2.66-mile tri-oval.
Its his second top-10 start in only 17 Nationwide races. He also secured the first Nationwide pole at Talladega Superspeedway for owner Jack Roush.
Austin Dillon is set to start second with a lap of 54.359, followed by Trevor Bayne (54.387), Danica Patrick (54.447) and Justin Allgaier (54.450).
Cycling
Cavendish sprints toward a Stage 1 win in the Giro
NAPLES, Italy Its rare when a regular sprint stage opens a Grand Tour, and British standout Mark Cavendish wants to take advantage of the opportunity when the Giro dItalia starts Saturday.The first stage is an 81-mile leg that will follow a circuit in downtown Naples.Cavendish has won 10 stages in the Giro and has worn the leaders pink jersey twice.
Horse Racing
The Princess wrecks Julias dream at Kentucky Oaks
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Long-shot Princess of Sylmar rallied with a huge stretch run to win the $1-million Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs.
One of four fillies trained by Todd Pletcher in the Grade 1 race, the 38-1 long shot upstaged 3-2 favorite Dreaming of Julia. That positioned Pletcher for a weekend sweep Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, where he has a record-tying five entries including Verrazano.
A slow start doomed Dreaming of Julia, who lagged behind before recovering in the stretch to finish fourth. By then, Princess of Sylmar was thrilling a crowd of 113,820 with her third win in four starts this year.
Starting from the No. 6 post with Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard, Princess of Sylmar ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.17 and paid $79.60, $29.40 and $14.00. Beholder returned $9 and $5.60, and Unlimited Budget paid $3.80 to show.
Associated Press
