Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison returned to practice Friday, a day after missing time with a bruised right shin, only to have his session cut short when he tweaked his right ankle. The Wizards said Jamison is questionable for their scrimmage Saturday, when training camp is scheduled to end.
The Milwaukee Bucks have not given first-round pick Yi Jianlian any guarantees of playing time, Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said Friday. “It would be unfair to Yi, unfair to Charlie Villanueva, unfair to a lot of people because nothing is being handed to anyone coming into training camp,” Krystkowiak said during the Bucks’ annual media day.
Andrea Bargnani will play for the Toronto Raptors through the 2009 season. The Raptors exercised the third-year option on his contract Friday, securing the Italian forward and the 2006 top pick in the draft. The Raptors made the announcement Friday in Rome, where they are to face the Boston Celtics and Virtus Lottomatica Roma this weekend as part of the NBA’s preseason European tour.
When the Pittsburgh Pirates last fired a manager this quickly, he couldn’t get his team into the World Series. Jim Tracy was let go because he didn’t produce anything resembling a winning season. Tracy was ousted Friday after two years filled with long losing streaks and little discernible progress by a team that has had 15 consecutive losing seasons, one short of the major league record.
Rich Hill loosened up his arm and legs during a light workout Friday, not far from where the ivy on the Wrigley Field walls is beginning to turn from green to brown. The Chicago Cubs’ season will fade away, too, if they don’t find a way to escape an 0-2 deficit against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Mets pitcher Tom Glavine declined his $13 million option with New York on Friday, making himself eligible for free agency. The 41-year-old lefty, who got his 300th win this year, gets a $3 million buyout in addition to his $7.5 million salary this year. “Tom has not had enough time to sufficiently think things through with his family and did not want to make a decision until he the opportunity with…
Jeremy Roenick has something to celebrate on this trip to Vancouver instead of sulking about not playing. Roenick made headlines last season for leaving the rink after being told he was a healthy scratch and watching his Phoenix Coyotes teammates play the Vancouver Canucks from a nearby steakhouse and bar.
Diamond Stripes took the lead in midstretch and then survived a foul claim by runner-up Magna Graduate’s jockey to win the $500,000 Meadowlands Cup by a half-length Friday night. Jockey John Velazquez claimed Diamond Stripes and jockey Cornelio Velasquez interfered at the top of the stretch, but the stewards at the Meadowlands Racetrack found nothing wrong.
Big Bad Leroybrown rallied to edge Lucky J.H. by 1 1/2 lengths Friday in the $56,200 at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Big Bad Leroybrown covered seven furlongs in 1:21.61 and paid $12.20, $4.40 and $3.20. Lucky J.H. returned $3 and $2.60 as the 13-10 wagering favorite, while Seminole Native was another head back in third and paid $7 to show.
Trainer Patrick Biancone was suspended for one year Friday by Kentucky racing officials for violations of horse medication rules, but he vowed to appeal. The suspension for Biancone, one of the nation’s top trainers, takes effect Oct. 15, and likely means he won’t be allowed to train horses anywhere in the United States because state racing regulators generally recognize actions from another state.
