Update on the latest sports
APNBA-MVP
Jokic takes MVP honors
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-ihch wasn’t highly regarded when he was taken in the NBA draft. He’s now the league’s reigning MVP.
The Nuggets’ big man has been revealed as the NBA’s top player making him by far the lowest draft pick ever to win the award.
The Serbian product has become a dominant force since being selected 41st overall in the 2014 draft.
Jokic’s scoring average jumped from 19.9 points per game last season to 26.4. He tied his career high with 10.8 rebounds per game, and his average of 8.3 assists was just shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time season average for a center.
Jokic was the runaway winner, getting 91 of the 101 first-place ballots cast
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’) was second, Golden State’s Stephen Curry was third, 2019 and 2020 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) of Milwaukee was fourth and Phoenix’s Chris Paul was fifth.
NFL-NEWS
Rodgers missing from minicamp
UNDATED (AP) — The Aaron Rodgers saga continues in Green Bay.
The three-time MVP quarterback wasn’t with the Packers for their first mandatory minicamp session on Tuesday after declining to participate in voluntary organized team activities.
The Packers have the option to fine Rodgers just over $93,000 if he misses all three minicamp sessions this week.
Rodgers’ future with the team has been uncertain ever since ESPN reported shortly before this year’s draft that Rodgers doesn’t want to return to Green Bay.
In other developments from NFL camps:
— Tom Brady is back on the practice field with the Buccaneers. The 43-year-old quarterback was a full participant Tuesday at mandatory minicamp for the Super Bowl champions, taking part in individual drills and doing some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work. Coach Bruce Arians said last week there was a chance he’d limit Brady’s involvement as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.
— Giants running back Saquon (SAY’-kwahn) Barkley isn’t going to work out with teammates on the field until his rehabilitation from a major knee injury is complete. Barkley to the ACL in his right knee in the second game last season. He was not on the field Tuesday as the Giants opened a three-day mandatory minicamp.
— The NFL will spend up to $1 million funding up to five studies that will examine how to better help players ease their pain and find alternatives to opioids. Those potential alternatives include marijuana and other cannabis-derived products. The league and the NFL Players Association formed a joint pain management committee in 2019 to help find alternatives to opioids and give players and league medical staffs information on pain management.
— The 49ers have lost two more backups to significant injuries during offseason workouts. The team announced that safety Tarvarius Moore tore his Achilles tendon and offensive lineman Justin Skule tore the ACL in his knee during Monday’s practice.
— Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was held out of parts of practice Tuesday because of tightness in his left hamstring. The No. 1 overall draft pick returned after getting some treatment on the field and threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.
— The Ravens have signed guard Michael Schofield, who played 11 games last season for the Panthers and started three. Prior to that, Schofield played for the Chargers and Broncos.
— Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel (FAH’-sul) has died at 71. The 1997 NFL coach of the year guided the Giants from 1997 to 2003, posting a 58-53-1 record. New York won the NFC in 2000 before losing to the Ravens in the Super Bowl. John Fassel told the Los Angeles Times his father was taken to a Las Vegas hospital with chest pains and died while being treated Monday.
MLB-NEWS
Red Sox ace Sale eager to return
UNDATED (AP) — Injured Red Sox ace Chris Sale made a positive step in his return from Tommy John surgery, throwing 25 pitches off a bullpen mound at Fenway Park.
The 31-year-old left-hander said he would start tomorrow if the team would let him. But Red Sox manager Alex Cora said they needed to be patient to make sure Sale comes through rehab OK. Sale had elbow ligament replacement surgery in March, 2020. It typically takes a minimum of 12 months to recover from the procedure, but can stretch to two years.
Also in the majors:
— Khris Davis has been designated for assignment by the slumping Rangers as the team continues to rebuild with youth. Davis hit .157 with two home runs and five RBIs in his 22 games after missing the Rangers’ first 34 contests because of a left quad strain. He has struggled at the plate since leading the majors with 48 home runs in 2018.
— Mets manager Luis Rojas says he expects infielder Jeff McNeil to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the weekend. McNeil hasn’t played since May 16 because of a strained left hamstring. Rojas also said outfielder Michael Conforto is probably a couple weeks from starting his rehab assignment as he comes back from a strained right hamstring, but Luis Guillorme (gee-OHR’-may) could be activated this weekend
— The Nationals have placed pitcher Austin Voth on the 10-day injured list with a fractured nose. Voth was sent to a Philadelphia hospital Sunday to get his nose reset. It was broken when he was hit by a pitch while squaring around to bunt against Philadelphia’s Vince Velasquez.
— The Blue Jays have put Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow catcher Riley Adams from Triple-A Buffalo. Jansen strained his right hamstring running the bases during Sunday’s 6-3 loss to Houston.
NHL-NEWS
Kadri suspension stands
UNDATED (AP) — Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri (NA’-zehm KA’-dree) has seen his eight-game suspension for an illegal hit upheld by an arbitrator.
Kadri has already served six games of a suspension he received after an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of their first-round series. Faulk sustained a concussion, according to the report, and didn’t play in the final two games as the Avalanche swept the Blues to advance.
Colorado was holding out hope that Kadri might be available for Game 5 of their second-round series Tuesday in Denver.
Also in hockey:
— The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 for his criticism of the officials after their 5-4 loss to the Islanders in Game 5 of the second-round series. The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called for two penalties themselves. The Islanders ranked 29th out of 31 teams in penalty minutes during the regular season, while the Bruins were fifth and received the most minor penalties.
FRENCH OPEN
Tsitsipas, Zverev in semifinal
PARIS (AP) — Men’s fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev have advanced to the French Open semifinals and will square off on Thursday. Tsitsipas has reached the semifinals for the second year in a row by downing No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, 6-3, 7-6, 7-5. Zverev shook off a slow start to beat Spanish opponent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in little more than 1 1/2 hours.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has reached the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career by coming back to beat doubles partner Elena Rybakina 6-7, 6-2, 9-7 at the French Open. Pavlyuchenkova next faces Tamara Zidansek, who became the first Slovenian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. The 85th-ranked Zidansek beat Paula Badosa of Spain. 7-5, 4-6, 8-6.
OLYMPIC SKATER-ARREST
Ex-Olympic skater charged with defrauding virus relief fund
NEW YORK (AP) — A former Olympic figure skater has been arrested on charges that he ripped off a program to help struggling small businesses harmed by the coronavirus.
Luka Klasinc of Slovenia is charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said Klasinc used false documents to try to get over $1 million in aid.
OLYMPICS-TOKYO-REFUGEE TEAM
Refugee team of 29 athletes picked for Tokyo Olympics
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The refugee team for the Tokyo Olympics has 29 athletes competing in 12 sports.
The team picked by the International Olympic Committee was drawn from 55 athletes who fled their home countries and got scholarships to train for the games in a new home country.
The 29 athletes are an increase from 10 in the inaugural refugee team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. They are originally from Africa, Asia and South America.
MEDINA SPIRIT-LAWSUIT
Baffert, Medina Spirit owners sue Kentucky racing officials
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Trainer Bob Baffert and the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit have filed a lawsuit against Kentucky racing officials.
They are seeking a temporary injunction they say is to prevent violation of due process rights. They also seek custody of “remnant” samples of the colt’s urine to prove that traces of the steroid betamethasone found in his system during a positive drug test did not come from an injection.
The suit states that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission told the trainer and connections on June 1 that remnant samples of the samples had been “damaged/contaminated” during transport to the testing lab.
PGA-ARGENTINA-CABRERA EXTRADITED
Golfer Cabrera extradited to Argentina on assault charges
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentine golfer and two-time major champion Ángel Cabrera has been extradited from Brazil to his homeland to face trial on charges he assaulted three former partners.
The 51-year-old Cabrera has been in jail since January when Brazil’s federal police arrested him on an Interpol warrant. Cabrera had spent months on the run from an Argentine case involving assault claims by three former partners who accuse him of assault, intimidation and causing injuries.
He won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2007 and the Masters in 2009.
