AP Source: Clippers' Crawford is NBA's top 6th man

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford will be named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year for the second time in his career, a league official with knowledge of the award said.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the league hasn't announced the award.

Crawford was the Clippers' third-leading scorer and the NBA's top-scoring reserve with 18.6 points per game. He added 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game for the two-time Pacific Division champions.

''He's deserving of it,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. ''I don't know that there's a more lethal weapon in the league that you could bring off the bench.''

While starting just 24 of his 69 games this season, the shifty veteran guard had his highest scoring average since the 2009-10 season with Atlanta, where he won his first Sixth Man award.

Crawford is the Clippers' top perimeter threat, setting a franchise record with 161 3-pointers while making at least one 3-pointer in 63 games. The 6-foot-5 guard also finished ninth in the NBA by making 86.6 percent of his free throws.

Rivers believes Crawford will win the award for his all-around game, not just his shooting acumen.

''He's done this in the past, over the past couple years, where he's been so good offensively,'' Rivers said. ''But I actually think he won it because I think voters saw him doing other things for the team - playing defense, running the team at the point guard position when Chris Paul was out at times. He's been the perfect utility player for a team. He's been awesome.''

The 34-year-old Crawford has spent 14 NBA seasons with six teams, including lengthy stints with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.

Although he once scored 52 points in a game and averaged more than 20 points per game during a season in New York, Crawford has carved out a career as a dependable rotation member with the Clippers for the last two years, delivering steady bench scoring and veteran leadership.

Crawford likely would have received the award Tuesday night before the Clippers' fifth playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, but the trouble surrounding Clippers owner Donald Sterling prevented it.

Los Angeles leads the series 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Oakland on Thursday night. The Clippers are one win away from just their third playoff series victory in 33 years.

Crawford is the fourth player to win the Sixth Man award twice in his career, joining Kevin McHale, Ricky Pierce and Detlef Schrempf. Crawford is the first to win it with two different teams.

Heisman winner Winston accused of taking crab legs

Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston was issued a civil citation after sheriff's deputies said he walked out of a supermarket without paying for $32 worth of crab legs and crawfish.

The 20-year-old Florida State quarterback said he forgot to pay for the food. The offense was relatively minor but drew attention both because of his stature and because it was his latest brush with the law. Winston had been the subject of a much more serious, monthslong investigation into allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in December 2013. A prosecutor declined to charge him, citing a lack of evidence and gaps in the accuser's story.

Leon County Sheriff's Maj. Michael Wood said Wednesday that Publix employees called deputies, who went to Winston's apartment about three hours later. Winston was cooperative and told the deputies he forgot to pay for the food, but he did not contact the store or return there to pay for the items, Wood said.

''The facts are not in dispute,'' Wood said. ''He left without paying.''

Winston issued a statement through his lawyer saying he had intended to pay, ''but made a terrible mistake for which I'm taking full responsibility. In a moment of youthful ignorance, I walked out of the store without paying for one of my items.

''I realize that I am in the public spotlight and my conduct needs to be above reproach.''

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Winston led Florida State to an undefeated season and national football championship. For the season, he passed for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, completing nearly 67 percent of his throws.

Florida State baseball coach Mike Martin suspended Winston, a relief pitcher, indefinitely until he completes community service. Football coach Jimbo Fisher said in a statement that he supports Martin's decision.

Although Winston was cleared in the sexual assault case, the university is facing a federal investigation into how it handled the woman's accusations.

The investigation lagged for months after Tallahassee Police Department officials said they were told the accuser wanted to drop the case, but the woman's lawyer denied that. The accuser's lawyers have said the police department botched the investigation because detectives didn't quickly identify possible witnesses or obtain surveillance tape from the bar where the victim says she was first approached by Florida State football players.

Winston also has had two other run-ins with police, though he was not charged in either case.

In November 2012, police were called to an apartment complex in which 13 windows had been damaged by BB guns. Winston and his roommate at the time said Florida State players were engaged in a series of ''battles'' with each other, although they denied shooting BB guns themselves.

In another incident, police records show Winston came into a Burger King with three men but did not order food, instead asking for a water cup he repeatedly filled with soda over an employee's objections. The report says Winston was never interviewed about the incident because the restaurant declined to prosecute.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 30TH

1910 - Cleveland Indians Addie Joss wins 2nd no-hitter beating White Sox.
1916 - Chicago Cubs play first game at Weeghman Park (Wrigley Field) beat Reds.

1922 - Chicago White Sox Charles Robertson perfect games Detroit Tigers, 2-0.

1940 - Brooklyn Dodger Tex Carleton no-hits Cin Reds, 3-0.
1946 - Cleveland Indians Bob Feller's 2nd no-hitter beats NY Yankees, 1-0.

1953 - Little-Bigger League changes its name to Babe Ruth League.
1958 - Ted Williams is 10th major league player to get 1,000 extra-base hits.

1961 - Isiah Thomas, NBA forward (Detroit Piston; 1990 NBA playoff MVP) is born.

1967 - NY Met pitcher Tom Seaver wins his 1st game.
1967 - Orioles' Stu Miller & Steve Barber lose 2-1 despite no-hitting Tigers.

1969 - Cincinnati Red Jim Maloney 3rd no-hitter beats Houston Astros, 10-0.
1970 - Cubs Billy Williams is first NLer to play in 1,000 consecutive games.
1971 - 25th NBA Championship: Milwaukee beats Baltimore Bullets in 4 games.

1987 - NY Islander Mike Bossy plays his final game.

Donald Sterling banned for life by the NBA

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered the swiftest, strongest penalty he could, then called on NBA owners to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments that hurt the league.

Almost unanimously, owners supported the commissioner Tuesday, as he handed down one of the harshest penalties in the history of U.S. sports.

''We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA,'' Silver said at a news conference.

Sterling, 80, is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers, and was fined $2.5 million - the maximum allowable under the NBA constitution. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners agree to Silver's recommendation, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.

A message left seeking comment at Sterling's business office hadn't been returned Tuesday afternoon. Team spokesman Seth Burton said in an email that the Clippers had no plans to issue a statement from Sterling on Tuesday.

Players and others cheered Silver's quick action, with union officials saying that if the league's punishment hadn't included a mandate for Sterling to sell the team, players were considering boycotting playoff games, including Tuesday's Golden State Warriors-Clippers matchup, the team's first home game since the scandal erupted.

''We wanted to be a part of this decision, and we wanted Adam Silver to know where we stood. And we were very clear that anything other than Sterling selling his team was not going to be enough for us,'' said Roger Mason Jr., the first vice president of the players' union.

Chris Paul, the Clippers' All-Star point guard and the president of the players' union, issued a brief statement before leading Los Angeles against the Warriors in Game 5 of their tied playoff series.

''In response to today's ruling by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver, my teammates and I are in agreement with his decision,'' Paul said. ''We appreciate the strong leadership from Commissioner Silver and he has our full support.''

Sterling's comments - which were recorded by his girlfriend and released by TMZ on Saturday - harmed the league, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA, and criticism was coming from fans on social media and even the White House.

Sterling criticized V. Stiviano - purportedly the female voice on the recording - for posting pictures of herself with black athletes Magic Johnson and Matt Kemp.

''It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?'' Sterling asks the woman on the recording.

''Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league,'' Silver said.

The NBA's longest-tenured owner keeps his team for now - and Silver said he didn't know if Sterling would fight to do so permanently.

But he can't attend games or practices, can't be involved in any personnel decisions or participate in board of governors meetings.

Just three days after the scandal broke, and hours before the Clippers hosted their biggest game of the season, Silver apologized to some of the league's black pioneers while meting out a punishment he believed would satisfy outraged players and fans.

Sterling's Clippers have been one of the most incompetent franchises in pro sports, and nearly all of their previous seasons would have been finished by now. But after the most successful two-year stretch in Clippers history, the current team is a title contender led by Doc Rivers, a black coach whom Sterling brought in from Boston and paid $7 million a year.''(Silver) made the decision that really was the right one that had to be made,'' Rivers said before the Clippers' game. ''I don't think this is something that we rejoice in or anything like that. I told the players about the decision, and I think they were just happy there was a resolution and that it's over, at least the start of it. I think we're all in a better place because of this.''

Silver said the ban applied only to Sterling, and there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member.

Many owners supported Silver, and none of them publicly defended Sterling.

''We applaud the firm punishment handed out today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and appreciate the swiftness with which the NBA conducted its investigation,'' Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said in a statement.

The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts, Silver said.

Sterling, with an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, did not comment, though Silver said he did not apologize for his remarks. Silver said Sterling confirmed that he was the person on the recording.

Silver hasn't even been on the job three months and already had to face a crisis that threatened the league not only financially - with several companies ending or suspending their sponsorships of the Clippers - but more importantly, socially.

The NBA survived the Indiana Pacers' brawl with Detroit Pistons fans, and referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated. But this brought a different level of outrage, particularly because the league could have done something sooner about Sterling, who has faced federal charges of civil rights violations and racial discrimination in his business dealings.

''This has all happened in three days, and so I am hopeful there will be no long-term damage to the league and to the Clippers organization,'' Silver said. ''But as I said earlier, I'm outraged so I certainly understand other people's outrage.''

After the announcement, the Clippers' website had a simple message: ''We are one.''

''We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins,'' the Clippers added in a statement.

Rivers canceled practice Monday and declined a meeting request from Sterling. He wouldn't address whether he would return next season if Sterling were still in control, a stance reaffirmed by the coach before Game 5 of the Clippers' playoff series with Golden State.

That might not be an issue if the owners vote to oust the owner.

Sterling is estranged from his wife and had been dating Stiviano, 31. In court documents, Stiviano describes him as a man ''with a big toothy grin brandishing his sexual prowess in the faces of the Paparazzi and caring less what anyone else thought, the least of which, his own wife.''

Silver said when he first heard the audio, he hoped it had been altered or was fake, but thought it was Sterling. And it doesn't matter if Sterling didn't realize he was being recorded, Silver said.

''Whether or not these remarks were initially shared in private, they're now public, and they represent his views.''

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 29TH

1892 - Charlie Reilly is baseball's first pinch hitter.

1922 - First official International Weightlifting Federation Champ (Tallinn, Estonia).

1922 - George Allen, football coach (LA Rams, Washington Redskins) is born.

1934 - Pittsburgh is last major league city to play a home game on a Sunday.

1934 - Luis Aparicio, Venezuelan baseball player is born (Chicago White Sox).
1936 - First pro baseball game in Japan is played Nagoya defeats Daitokyo, 8-5.

1951 - Dale Earnhardt, American race car driver (d. 2001) is born.

1961 - ABC's "Wide World of Sports" debuts.

1965 - Reggie Miller, Hall of Fame NBA player (Indiana Pacers) is born.

1970 - Andre Agassi, Las Vegas Nev, tennis star (Oly-gold-96, US Open 1994) is born.

1981 - Phillies Steve Carlton is 1st lefty to strike out 3,000 batters.

1983 - Jay Cutler, Chicago bears quarterback is born.

2003 - Barbaro, American thoroughbred racehorse (d. 2007) is born.

Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsay dies at 89

Jack Ramsay served his country in World War II, coached Portland to the NBA title, was enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame and became one of the game's most respected and revered broadcasters.

His life was, by any measure, complete.

''Our father led the greatest life that one could lead,'' the Ramsay family said in a statement released Monday, hours after the man that just about everyone in basketball called ''Dr. Jack'' died in Naples, Fla., at the age of 89.

No cause of death was announced, but Ramsay had fought several forms of cancer for many years and more recently was diagnosed with a marrow syndrome. Ramsay ended his broadcasting career with ESPN last year because of health problems and word came last week that he had been placed into hospice care.

''From his coaching tenure to his broadcast work, Dr. Jack left an indelible mark on every facet of our game and on every person he came in contact with, including me,'' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

Added Miami Heat president Pat Riley, who was close to Ramsay for many years: ''This is a very sad day for basketball, not just professional basketball, but the entire basketball world. The game has lost a giant.''

Ramsay coached in the NBA for parts of 21 seasons before embarking on a second career as an NBA analyst, eventually working for ESPN. He was diagnosed with melanoma in 2004 and later battled growths and tumors that spread to his legs, lungs and brain, as well as prostate cancer.

Through it all, his affinity for fitness never wavered.

Ramsay, who competed in at least 20 triathlons during his life, worked out regularly into his 80s, even as he battled the various forms of cancer. He often spoke of his love of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Even in his final year as a broadcaster, it wasn't uncommon for friends to marvel at how well he was moving about.

''Jack was a great man,'' Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird said, ''and I don't use that term lightly.''

Ramsay also spent several years late in his life caring for his wife, Jean, who was diagnosed in 2001 with Alzheimer's disease. She died in 2010.

''He was that rarest of men with a unique style that was inspirational and motivational about basketball and life itself,'' said Paul Allen, who owns the Trail Blazers.

Ramsay enjoyed enormous popularity within the league. To commemorate his 89th birthday this year, Portland coach Terry Stotts wore a loud checkered jacket and open-collared shirt for a Blazers game - a nod to Ramsay's style of dress when he coached the club.

''Jack's life is a beacon which guides us all,'' Bill Walton, who was on Ramsay's 1977 title team in Portland, told USA Today in 2007. ''He is our moral compass, our spiritual inspiration. He represents the conquest of substance over hype. He is a true saint of circumstance.''

John T. Ramsay was born Feb. 21, 1925, in Philadelphia and enrolled at Saint Joseph's in 1942, eventually becoming captain of the basketball team for his senior season. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949, which explains the ''Dr. Jack'' moniker.

Ramsay's began coaching Saint Joseph's in 1955. He was wildly successful there, going 234-72 and taking the Hawks to the NCAA tournament seven times and the Final Four in 1961.

''Great man,'' Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, who played at Saint Joseph's a generation after Ramsay departed, wrote on Twitter. ''The Greatest Hawk ever.''

To Ramsay, the most significant part of the Saint Joseph's years was this: ''I met my wife there,'' he said.

He was a founding father of sorts for the growth of the Big 5, the annual Philadelphia basketball series involving Saint Joseph's, La Salle, Penn, Villanova and Temple.

''The Big 5 was clearly the biggest thing any of those schools were involved in at that point,'' Ramsay said in a 2004 interview.

Ramsay became coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, joined the Buffalo Braves in 1972 and brought his craft to Portland in 1976. With a team featuring Walton, Lionel Hollins and Maurice Lucas, he delivered an NBA championship in his first season, beating the 76ers in six games for the title.

''It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one that I will cherish forever,'' Ramsay said in 1997.

Indeed, that was his lone NBA title. Walton got hurt the next year, crippling Portland's chances of getting back to championship form during that era. Ramsay coached the Blazers for nine more seasons without another trip to the Finals. He spent the final three years of his NBA coaching career in Indiana, resigning from the Pacers in 1988 after the team started 0-7.

Ramsay was 864-783 in his NBA career and in 1996 was honored as one of the league's all-time top 10 coaches. And when Micky Arison bought the Heat, the first person he turned to was Ramsay, who wound up long being considered part of the franchise's family and even accompanied them to the White House to celebrate winning an NBA title.

''He will be sorely missed by us all,'' Arison said.

When he left the Pacers, Ramsay carefully did not use the word ''retire,'' and began working as a television analyst on 76ers games. Eventually, he worked on Heat television broadcasts for eight seasons before moving full time to ESPN for radio and TV commentating before the 2000-01 season.

''So grateful that his path crossed ours,'' his former Heat broadcast partner Eric Reid wrote on Twitter early Monday. ''Hall of Fame coach and man.''

Ramsay's funeral is Thursday.

AP source: Seattle, Thomas agree on extension

Earl Thomas is the latest member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to be locked up for the future.

The best free safety in the NFL is getting rewarded quite well.

Thomas and the Seahawks reached agreement Monday on a $40 million, four-year contract extension with just over $27.7 million guaranteed, according to two people with knowledge of the agreement. They spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because there had been no announcement from the team.

The agreement was first reported by NFL.com.

Thomas, a two-time first-team All-Pro, could have gone into the 2014 season with free agency on the horizon. Instead, Seattle made sure to keep the most important cog of its defense through the 2018 season.

It's the latest move in a strong offseason for the defending champions. While there were losses in free agency and difficult roster decisions with expensive veterans released, Seattle re-signed defensive end Michael Bennett before free agency began, then locked up coach Pete Carroll with an extension through 2016.

The debate was whether Seattle could get a long-term deal done with either Thomas or cornerback Richard Sherman before either became a free agent after the 2014 season.

Thomas' deal is finished and the Seahawks can turn their attention toward trying to get a deal done with Sherman and solidifying three-fourths of the top secondary in the NFL for years to come.Strong safety Kam Chancellor is already signed through the 2017 season.

Thomas was Seattle's second first-round pick in the 2010 draft, the first with Carroll and general manager John Schneider leading the franchise.

It's turned out to be one of the most important selections the team has made since starting a makeover with the duo in charge of molding the Seahawks into a championship club.

''Earl is as serious a competitor as you could ever hope to be around. He is in it, and he's on it and dialed in,'' Carroll said before the Super Bowl.

Thomas was Seattle's second-leading tackler last season and added five interceptions, but it's what his presence allows the Seahawks to do defensively that underscores his value. His speed in coverage and recognition in the secondary are among the best in the game.Much of what Seattle wants to do defensively is predicated on having Thomas on the roster.

At one point early in his career, Carroll had to threaten Thomas with benching because he was trying to do too much. Thomas was getting out of position and being undisciplined in his assignments.

As he matured, those mistakes became harder to find. Thomas' recognition of what opponents were trying to run became so good that he could play alone in the back of Seattle's defense.

Often this past season, the Seahawks were able to move Chancellor closer to the line of scrimmage and ask Thomas to patrol the back end by himself. He did that job at an elite level and earned his second straight All-Pro selection.

''In this defense, I think me and Kam do a lot. Sometimes dirty work, sometimes a lot of game-changing plays,'' Thomas said during Super Bowl week. ''Everybody on the defense understands that. That's why this defense is so compatible with each other. It's selfless guys.

''We're going to put everything on the line for each other. Love is the highest frequency we have and we understand that, and that's what it's all about. When you're filled up with gratitude, it's a genuine appreciation for everybody around you. That's the way I love it.''

Thomas has 15 career interceptions in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. Thomas will still only be 29 years old when his new deal expires after the 2018 season.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 28TH

1901 - Cleveland's Bock Baker gives up a record 23 singles as 

White Sox beat Blues (Cleveland Blues!) 13-1
1923 - Wembley Stadium opens-Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United (FA Cup)
1930 - First night organized baseball game played in Independence Kansas
1931 - Program for woman athletes approved for 1932 Olympics track & field

1961 - Warren Spahn pitches 2nd no hitter at 41 beats SF Giants, 1-0

1964 - Barry Larkin, Cincinnati OH, Hall of Fame infielder (Cincinnati Reds) is born

1967 - Muhammad Ali refuses induction into army & stripped of boxing title

1972 - Courts award 1968 Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place 

winner due to the winner being given drugs before the race

1987 - NBA announces expansion to Charlotte NC & Miami Fla in 1988 

& Minneapolis Minn & Orlando Fla in 1989

1988 - Baltimore Orioles lose AL record 21 games in a row

1993 - Jim Valvano, basketball coach (NC State), dies of cancer at 47

1993 - Zambian plane crashes at Libreville, Gabon, 30 soccer players die
1993 - NY Islanders beat Wash Caps 4 to 1 in playoffs, Caps Dale Hunter 

attacks Pierre Turgeon after scoring, in hockey's worst cheap shot

Jordan 'disgusted' by alleged Sterling comments; LeBron James: 'No room for Donald Sterling in NBA'

Michael Jordan said he's both disgusted and outraged by the racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, released a statement Sunday addressing the matter. He said that as an owner, "I'm completely disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views."

As a former player, Jordan says "I'm completely outraged."

An audio recording obtained by TMZ alleges that Sterling made racist comments to a girlfriend, including urging her not to bring black friends to Clippers games. The NBA and the Clippers are investigating, including whether the male voice on the recording is in fact Sterling's.

Jordan said he is confident that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will investigate the matter fully and "take appropriate action quickly."

"There is no room in the NBA - or anywhere else - for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed," Jordan said. "I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level."

Jordan's Bobcats trail the Miami Heat 3-0 in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series that resumes in Charlotte on Monday night.

LeBron James called comments on an audio recording of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling ''appalling'' and said he's not sure if he would suit up for the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he played for the Clippers.

''There's no room for Donald Sterling in the NBA - there is no room for him,'' the Heat forward said Saturday night before a playoff game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

The league said Saturday it was investigating the recording posted on TMZ's website, calling the comments ''disturbing and offensive.''

James said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver should take swift action if the comments are found to be made by Sterling.

''Obviously, if the reports are true it's unacceptable in our league,'' James said. ''It doesn't matter, white, black or Hispanic - all across the races it's unacceptable. As the commissioner of our league they have to make a stand. They have to be very aggressive with it. I don't know what it will be, but we can't have that in our league.

''We're the model citizen of all sports around the world because we are the most recognizable figures. ... It's very disrespectful and it's appalling.''

One of James' best friends, Chris Paul, plays for the Clippers.

James said he hasn't spoken with Paul, but ''I can only imagine what is going through his head.''

''I have kind of wavered back and forth if I would actually sit out,'' James said. ''If our owner would come out and say the things he said I would have to sit down with my teammates and talk to my family because at the end of the day, our family and teammates are way more important than that,. Basketball is huge and the playoffs have been unbelievable so far and I hate that something has to come out.''

In the recording, the man on the recorder questions his girlfriend's association with minorities.

James said he's not angry about the comments, just disappointed.

''I can only imagine if a player came out and said something of that stature what would happen to us as players,'' James said. ''I believe in Adam (Silver) and I believe in the NBA and they have to do something very fast before this really gets out of hand. But like I said there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league.''

Bryce Harper placed on DL with sprained thumb

Star outfielder Bryce Harper was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Washington Nationals on Sunday with a sprained left thumb. The move is retroactive to Saturday.

Harper hurt his hand with a head-first slide into third base Friday night after hitting a third-inning, bases-loaded triple in Washington's 11-1 victory. He stayed in the game for an inning before he was replaced.

''It's part of baseball. You slide into the bag and sometimes you get your fingers,'' Harper said. ''It's a bummer, but hopefully I'll be back soon.''

Harper will fly to Cleveland on Monday to see prominent hand specialist Thomas Graham for a second opinion. For now, his proscribed treatment is ice.

''Hopefully 15 days go by and I can get back out there,'' Harper said. ''We'll see how I feel in 15.''

Harper joins starting catcher Wilson Ramos and starting third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list, both with hand injuries. Ramos, hurt on opening day, had surgery on his left hand. Zimmerman broke his right thumb also sliding into a bag, on April 12.Also on the DL are starting pitcher Doug Fister (back), who is scheduled for a rehab start on Sunday, and reserve outfielder Scott Hairston (side).

''We've got a lot of off days in the next 15, so that's huge,'' Harper said.

Harper went 2 for 2 and had a career-high four RBIs on Friday night, giving him nine for the season as he lifted his batting average to .289. He has only one home run in 83 at-bats.

''It's frustrating,'' Harper said. ''I want to be out there and be able to help my team win every single day.''

Steven Souza Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him on the roster but was not in the lineup Sunday.

Blackhawks eliminate Blues with 4 goal 3rd Period in Game 6 with a 5-1 win

First, it was Jonathan Toews on a power play, and then Patrick Sharp got loose on a breakaway. Andrew Shaw tipped one home, and it was all over.

One dazzling stretch for the Chicago Blackhawks put an end to their tight first-round series against the St. Louis Blues.

Duncan Keith had a goal and three assists, and the Blackhawks used a four-goal third period to finish off the Blues with a 5-1 victory in Game 6 on Sunday.

''It feels good to contribute in a big game,'' Keith said, ''and I think just the main thing for me is just being able to move on and get a couple days to relax and just regroup and focus on the next round.''

Chicago won four in a row after a slow start in St. Louis. The defending Stanley Cup champions will play the winner of the Minnesota-Colorado series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Avalanche lead the Wild 3-2 heading into Game 6 in Minnesota on Monday night.

Toews, Sharp and Shaw scored in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third and Keith closed out the scoring as the Blackhawks improved to 14-2 in home playoff games over the past two seasons.

Bryan Bickell scored in the first and Corey Crawford made 35 saves, keeping Chicago in a tie game when St. Louis controlled the second period.

''They were dominating the first 40 minutes here and we came back with maybe the best period of the year,'' coach Joel Quenneville said.

T.J. Oshie scored for the Blues, who outshot the Blackhawks 36-27. Ryan Miller finished with 22 saves.

St. Louis went 0 for 6 in 10 minutes of power-play time over the first two periods, wasting a chance to take the lead. The Blues went 2 for 29 with the man advantage for the series.

''I think both the PK and (Crawford) won the game and the series ultimately,'' Quenneville said. ''I think that was the big factor in us getting through.''

The Blackhawks also struggled on the power play, but they scored when it mattered most.

With Jay Bouwmeester in the box for tripping, Keith made a nice stop to keep the puck in the St. Louis zone, and then sent a pass over to Toews. The captain beat Miller over his right shoulder for a 2-1 lead just 44 seconds into the third.

It was Toews' third game-winning goal of the series. He also scored on a breakaway in overtime of Friday night's 3-2 win.

Toews' 23rd career postseason goal seemed to take the air out of the Blues, and it got even worse for St. Louis. Sharp got loose for a breakaway, shook off a stick to the face by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and slid a shot past Miller.

''The third goal was really a backbreaker for us,'' Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. ''That was really the one that hurt. We had been chasing them all series and able to catch up in games, but I thought the third goal really took the wind out of our sails.''

Sharp's first point of the playoffs sent a charge through the towel-waving sellout crowd of 22,144, and there were mocking chants of ''Mil-ler! Mil-ler!'' as Shaw added his second goal of the series and helped set up Keith for his second.

It was an eerily similar playoff exit for St. Louis to a year ago, when the Blues also were eliminated by the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games in the first round. In that 2013 playoff series, St. Louis won the first two games at home against Los Angeles, and then lost four in a row.

This year was supposed to be different, especially after the Blues acquired Miller from Buffalo on March 1. But they lost their last six games of the regular season, putting them in a first-round series against rival Chicago.

St. Louis rebounded for two 4-3 overtime victories, but the Blackhawks found their stride when the series shifted to Chicago. Crawford had a shutout in Game 3, Patrick Kane scored in overtime in Game 4, and Toews' breakaway score in St. Louis put the Blackhawks in position to advance.

''It was one play here, one play there,'' Blues captain David Backes said. ''But it was on our stick and we needed to get the job done. We didn't get it done and we're going home too early.''

Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook returned from a three-game suspension. Seabrook was punished by the NHL for his hit on Backes in Game 2.

''It was tough. I can't watch hockey,'' Seabrook said. ''You're hanging on every shot, every save, every play. You want to be out there helping the guys. It was obviously tough to watch it, but they did a great job.''

Backes exacted a measure of revenge when he delivered a hard hit on Seabrook into the end boards in the second period. But Seabrook added two more assists and had six points for the series.

Jose Abreu, White Sox power past Rays 9-2

Jose Abreu says he didn't expect this much success, especially in cold weather.

Yet he set another rookie record on Sunday.

Abreu drove in four runs and set a major league rookie record for RBIs through the end of April and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Sunday.

Abreu, who had a two-run home run in the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh, has 31 RBIs to lead the majors. Albert Pujols had the previous rookie RBI mark of 27 in 2001.

Abreu's homer was his major league-leading 10th and extended his own record for home runs by a rookie through April.

''I go to the field to play baseball, help the team,'' Abreu said through a translator.

''I really don't go looking for records, but they're definitely welcome. That's not something that I go looking for, but it's a nice thing.''

Another White Sox rookie had a memorable day.

In his major league debut, Scott Carroll (1-0) gave up two runs, one earned, in 7 1-3 innings after he was called up from Triple-A Charlotte to fill in for injured ace Chris Sale.

Carroll, 29, received a standing ovation when he exited the game, and he planned to celebrate with more than 30 friends and family members.

''I couldn't have asked for a better showing,'' Carroll said. ''I know I was capable of it, but it's just awesome to finally get the opportunity and showcase my skills here at this level.''

Rays starter David Price (3-2) allowed eight runs, six earned, in six innings.

Trailing 1-0, the White Sox scored five runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh.

The Rays committed four errors in the sixth. Gordon Beckham reached on an error and scored from second when Price threw away the ball after fielding Marcus Semien's bunt single. Adam Eaton scored when right fielder Wil Myers fumbled the ball after Price's throwing error.

Abreu then hit a two-run home run for a 4-1 lead. He set the rookie record for homers by the end of April on Friday with his ninth - a walk-off grand slam against the Rays.

''He's pretty strong,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ''I've been talking about how impressive he's been this series. He is good. He's gonna get better.''

Dayan Viciedo doubled and scored on shortstop Yunel Escobar's throwing error for a 5-1 lead.

''It's very unusual. It's uncharacteristic of us to make those errors, but we're human, and I still feel like I have eight Gold Glovers out there whenever I'm out there on the mound,'' Price said. ''We have those days, and it stinks.''

Semien doubled to extend the White Sox lead to 6-1 in the seventh.

Abreu hit a two-run single and Ramirez added an RBI single for a 9-1 lead.

The Rays went ahead 1-0 in the fifth when David DeJesus singled and scored on right fielder Viciedo's error.

The Rays scored their second run in the eighth on Evan Longoria's single.

Before his call up, Carroll was 27-38 with a 3.95 ERA in 138 games during eight minor league seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012 and bounced back with a 3-1 record and 1.57 ERA in four Triple-A starts this season.

''As soon as I found out I was going against Price, I thought to myself, 'What an opportunity,' " Carroll said. ''There's no better chance to showcase my skills and get to go against one of the best guys, a Cy Young winner. I just happened to be better than him today.

It's a fun experience, and I'm just so happy to do it.''

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 27TH

1916 - Enos Slaughter, American baseball player (d. 2002) is born.

1932 - Charles Adkins, US, light Welterweight boxer (Olympic-gold-1952).
1932 - Chuck Knox, NFL coach (Rams, Bills, Seahawks).

1944 - Boston Brave Jim Tobin no-hits Brooklyn Dodgers, 2-0.
1947 - Babe Ruth Day celebrated at Yankee Stadium & through out US.
1953 - Wrestler Freddie Blassie coins term "Pencil neck geek".
1956 - Heavyweight champ, Rocky Marciano, retires undefeated from boxing.
1961 - NFL officially recognizes Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

1973 - KC Royal Steve Busby no-hits Detroit Tigers, 3-0.

1983 - Nolan Ryan becomes strikeout king (3,509), passing Walter Johnson.

Clippers considered playoff game boycott after owner's alleged comments

Los Angeles Clippers players and coaches discussed boycotting their playoff game against the Golden State Warriors after the team's owner was alleged to have told his girlfriend not to bring blacks to games. The team ultimately decided not to boycott and will play the Warriors in Game 4 of their first-round series Sunday afternoon, but owner Donald Sterling will not attend the game.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at a brief news conference Saturday night in Memphis, Tenn., that the league is investigating the alleged comments and hopes to have its inquiry completed within a few days. He said Sterling, who sat courtside in Game 3, agreed to not attend Sunday's game.

Despite describing the TMZ recording as "offensive and disturbing,” Silver said the league's investigation will focus on the authenticity of the recording, along with the context in which the alleged comments were made. He said the league plans to interview Sterling and possibly the woman in the recording, whom TMZ reported is Sterling's girlfriend.

"All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process to present their side of any controversy, which is why I’m not prepared to discuss any potential sanctions against Donald Sterling," Silver said. "We will, however, move extraordinarily quickly in our investigation."

The NBA's constitution and bylaws, Silver said, allow it to consider a "wide range of sanctions" for Sterling if the tape is deemed authentic.

Silver said he spoke with Clippers coach and president Doc Rivers and guard Chris Paul, who also is president of the National Basketball Players Association. Silver already had plans of attending Game 4 between the Warriors and Clippers, but a league spokesman said he isn’t expected to speak to the media and will arrive just before tipoff.

Rivers said a possible boycott was among many other things considered during a very vocal 45-minute meeting at the team hotel prior to Saturday's practice. Rivers was the only member of the Clippers who took questions about Sterling's alleged comments.

"We needed to talk about it because everyone else is," Rivers said of the team's meeting. "We needed to talk about it and all things came up. We heard all the stuff and boycotts and all that stuff. All those things are things you can do. We choose to play and we're going to play tomorrow.

A boycott "was brought up because I'm sure 20,000 people have suggested it. But honestly, I'm completely against that and they were, too."

The Clippers later released a statement from team president Andy Roeser saying the organization isn't sure the TMZ tape "is legitimate or has been altered." Roeser said the woman – reported to be Sterling's girlfriend – whose voice is on the tape is the defendant in a lawsuit in which the Sterling family alleges she embezzled more than $1.8 million and she has vowed to "get even."

"Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings," Roeser said in the statement. "It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them."

In the past eight years, Sterling has settled multiple racial discrimination suits filed against him, including one in 2009 in which he paid the U.S. Justice Department $2.73 million to settle allegations his companies targeted and discriminated against blacks, Hispanics and families with children in renting apartments in greater Los Angeles.

Under previous commissioner David Stern, the NBA never publicly disciplined Sterling in the previous incidents.

"I can't speak to the past as to why decisions were made," Silver said.

Rivers called the alleged comments "disturbing," and said he has not spoken to Sterling. Rivers added that while he and every player is upset about the alleged comments, the Clippers have to allow the investigation to take place and he has a "job to do for the players."

"The league is going to handle this and the players association is going to handle this as well," Rivers said. "What we need to do is stay together. I think the biggest statement we can make as men, not as black men, is to stick together."

The only Clippers players who spoke to the media after practice were Paul and Blake Griffin, but said they would only answer questions about the Warriors. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan did post a black picture on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, but didn't speak to the media.

Said Rivers: "The players are not going to deal with this issue."

Paul said the union considers Sterling's situation a "very serious issue that we will address aggressively." Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson is being utilized by the NBPA to determine a response. Johnson said in a statement that the alleged comments are "reprehensible and unacceptable" and the NPBA will play an active role in addressing the issue.

"As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and the drive to the Finals," Paul said in the statement.

Rivers admitted the situation was a "distraction" that could benefit the Warriors in the teams' playoff series.

"In a weird way I think Golden State is having a ball right now because we're not talking about them," Rivers said. "The fact that I spent 45 minutes in a meeting instead of watching film did not make me happy, if you know me at all. It is real life. You have to deal with it."
Rivers said he listened to the entire audio clip, but reiterated the process has to run its course.

"No one was happy about it," Rivers said. "J.J. Redick was just as pissed as Chris Paul, and that's the way it should be. Having said that, our goal is to win the NBA title. We are not going to let anything stand in the way of that. That's adversity we didn't want, but we will deal with it internally. …We are not going to share it."

In the audio recording, Sterling is alleged to tell his girlfriend she should not associate with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson because he is black. Johnson said via Twitter that he and his wife Cookie would never attend another Clippers game.

Sterling "is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin Johnson," Roeser said. "He has long considered Magic a friend and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him – both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter."

Silver expressed disappointment the incident has overshadowed the playoffs.

"I particularly think this situation is unfair to the Clippers players and coaches who have to deal with this distraction in the middle of their own highly competitive playoff series,” Silver said.

Bruins beat Red Wings 4-2, advance in NHL playoffs

The regular season wasn't much of a struggle for the Boston Bruins, and neither was their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings.

Tuukka Rask made 31 saves Saturday, and the defending Eastern Conference champions eliminated the Red Wings with a 4-2 victory in Game 5.

After finishing the regular season with the best record in the NHL, the Bruins advanced to the conference semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens.

''That series was much tougher than maybe the results showed,'' said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who gave Boston the lead for good with 4 seconds left in the second period. ''I think that we handled it well, we came into this series ready and we got the job done.''

Loui Eriksson opened the scoring for Boston, and Chara's goal on a 4-on-3 advantage snapped a 1-1 tie. Milan Lucic also scored, and Jarome Iginla added an empty-netter.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg scored and Jonas Gustavsson stopped 29 shots for Detroit. The Red Wings scored only six goals in the five-game series.

''We're not there yet,'' said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose team failed to win a playoff series in two of the past three seasons. ''The last two years, we battled to get into the playoffs. To me, that's a measure of where we are. Instead of battling for the Cup, we're battling to make the playoffs.''

It was 1-1 when the Bruins gained a 4-on-3 power play thanks to a holding penalty on Johan Franzen just 22 seconds before Brendan Smith was called for cross-checking. On a faceoff in the Detroit zone, Patrice Bergeron lured two of the three Red Wings defenders toward the corner and then passed it across the ice to Chara, who one-timed it past Gustavsson.

Not usually demonstrative, Chara felt this one was worth celebrating.

''It was a big game and a big goal,'' he said. ''So I'm not afraid to show it.''

Lucic's goal with 4:27 gone in the third made it a two-goal game. Detroit made it 3-2 with 3:52 left after Rask made two acrobatic saves but left the puck to the side of the net for Zetterberg, the Red Wings captain who missed two months with back surgery and did not return until Game 4.

Less than a minute later, though the Wings were called for too many men on the ice, leaving them a man down while trying to finish the comeback. With 2 minutes left in the game, the Boston fans began chanting ''We want the cup!''

Next up: Montreal, which swept Tampa Bay.

''Guys were never ever really talking about Montreal,'' Iginla said. ''We know they've won their series and they're going to be next, but the only talk today was about thinking about Detroit and getting this series over.''

The Bruins won it all in 2011 and returned to the Stanley Cup finals last year before they were eliminated when the Chicago Blackhawks scored two goals in 17 seconds in the final 76 seconds of Game 6. Boston seems on its way for another long playoff run this year, finishing the regular season with the best record in the NHL.

''We were playing a very good team, a team with a lot of experience, the President Trophy winners,'' Detroit forward Daniel Alfredsson said. ''This is a team that was just playing better than us and we feel a little short.''

The Bruins scored a power-play goal 3:27 into the first period when Dougie Hamilton's pass bounced off a defender's skate to Eriksson in the slot. Rask earned an assist on the play - his second career playoff point.

It stayed that way until Datsyuk came in and scooped up a rebound 12 seconds into a second-period power play against Lucic for high-sticking.

Notes: It was the first NHL playoff game for Red Wings D Xavier Oullette. ... Rask earned an assist on Boston's first goal, his second career playoff point. ... Jimmy Howard, who started in goal for Games 1-3 for Detroit, was the backup. ... Referee Steve Kozari took a puck in the face in the third period. He left the ice through the Bruins bench but returned after a delay of about 2 minutes. ... The Bruins killed off 14 of 15 power plays in the series before allowing a goal after Lucic's high-sticking penalty in the second.

Logano's late move gets him victory at Richmond

Joey Logano had a great view of a wild finish, until he saw an opening and made it wilder.

Logano took advantage of a three-car duel by sneaking below a trio of former champions to take the lead Saturday night, outrunning former champions Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski to win at Richmond International Raceway.

Logano's first career victory on the 0.75-mile oval came seemingly from nowhere after a restart with nine laps to go. He sat fourth and on the outside with Kenseth leading, Dale Earnhardt Jr. alongside in second and Gordon, the dominant car for most of the night, on the inside in third, in prime position to move underneath the leader and grab the victory.

Instead, when Gordon, Kenseth and Keselowski raced in a triangle jockeying for position, Logano went underneath all three with three laps to go and then held off Gordon for his fifth career NASCAR Sprint Cup victory.

''I'm more surprised than anyone else here,'' Logano said. ''This is one of my worst tracks. ... What a crazy finish.''

Gordon said the three-way battle helped create the opening for Logano.

''I was really just trying to battle with those guys to get the best finish that we could,'' Gordon said. ''(Logano) was in a great position while we were all sitting there sliding around battling it out. To come home second is still a great finish.''

Logano joined Kevin Harvick as the only drivers with more than one victory this season, which also locks them into spots in the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship over the final 10 races of the season.

Kyle Busch, never in contention, rose to finish third, followed by Keselowski and Kenseth.

''That last restart was intense. ... I just drove by everybody,'' Busch said.

Kenseth and Keselowski had words post-race.

''I had a shot at winning the race and felt like he ran me off the track,'' said Keselowski, who was fifth on the final restart, but had the fastest car on short runs all night. ''You race to win and he definitely was racing to win, but you hope when somebody races to win that they at least win the race if they're going to wreck you or run you off the race track.

''It was just a mind-boggling move to me, but I made sure I got him back and made sure my teammate could win the race. ... I thought it was uncalled for. ... Just got to put that in the bank and remember it,'' Keselowski said.

Gordon said Kenseth was just doing what he needed to do to try and hang on.

''I think Matt did what he thought he had to do to win,'' Gordon said. ''He started making his car real wide. He probably didn't make the guys behind him real happy.''

Kenseth had come from nowhere after lurking in the back of the top 10 all race long, suddenly charging through the field and passing Gordon to grab the lead with 38 laps to go. It was his first lead.

''I was trying to win the race. I think that's what all five of us were trying to do,'' Kenseth said.

Gordon, who led 173 laps, and teammate Earnhardt both seemed poised to challenge at the end, but after the final restart, Team Penske teammates Logano and Keselowski became the ones to watch.

Their cars had easily been the fastest on fresh rubber all night, so much so that Gordon said, ''I just had to let the 2 and the 22 go right by me because they were so fast'' on fresh tires.

Signs of the wild ending may have come very early.

Clint Bowyer started third and hoped a return to one of his best tracks would allow him to put last September behind him. That was when Bowyer's intentional spin late in the last race before the playoffs jumbled the finishing order, and the drivers who made the Chase, leading to a NASCAR investigation.

Instead of a clean run, Bowyer hit rookie pole-sitter Kyle Larson on the opening lap, sending Larson spinning. He also twice pitted under a green flag, right before a caution flag came out, and was battling Danica Patrick for 38th place when a fire in his engine ultimately caused him to park for the night.

Caps let McPhee, Oates go after missing playoffs

General manager George McPhee and coach Adam Oates lost their jobs with the Washington Capitals on Saturday, about two weeks after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

''We were left with the overall impression that the team wasn't trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup,'' Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the club's arena. ''And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes.''

McPhee's contract was up and the team announced it will not give him a new one after his 17 years as the GM, which included drafting Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in the first round.

Oates was fired with one season left on his three-year deal. A former star player for the Capitals, he was in his first job as an NHL head coach.

Washington finished this season with the ninth-most points in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of a playoff berth.

''You have to do something to pivot the team to be an ongoing strong team,'' Leonsis said. ''And I just felt that new leadership at this time was needed, and let's start it with a clean slate.''

Asked whether any player would be untouchable as part of upcoming changes - a chance, perhaps, for Leonsis to mention captain and top scorer Ovechkin - the owner replied: ''I'm not the general manager. So If the general manager comes with something, we would listen to the general manager.''

Ovechkin has won three league MVP awards and again led the NHL in scoring this season with 51 goals, but the Capitals haven't made it past the second round of the playoffs during the Russian wing's career.

Dick Patrick, the president of the Capitals, said the team already has drawn up a list of potential GM candidates.

''Typically, you'd like to have a general manager in place and have him choose a coach,'' Patrick said.

The Capitals reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, McPhee's first year on the job, and were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Later, McPhee oversaw a ''rebuild'' ordered by Leonsis, including jettisoning top players with big contracts such as Jaromir Jagr.

''Let's not forget that rebuilding process was dramatic. And I watched a great executive go through really, really hard times and really rebuild that team quickly. We just didn't get there,'' Leonsis said. ''At some point, you just have to try something different.''

While McPhee eventually built a young roster filled with offensive stars, he never placed as much emphasis on constructing a rugged, defensive-minded blue line crop. He hired a succession of coaches with zero previous NHL experience running a team, including Glen Hanlon, Bruce Boudreau, Dale Hunter and Oates.

Led by Ovechkin, the Capitals produced terrific regular-season results for a half-dozen seasons, without similar success in the postseason. Four years ago, Washington won the Presidents' Trophy for having the most points during the season, then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens.

Leonsis called McPhee, who built seven division-winning teams, ''a talented man, a great friend,'' but that it was time for ''a fresh set of eyes.''

The Capitals went 65-48-17 under Oates in his two seasons.

In a brief statement released via the team, Oates called it ''a tremendous honor to coach the Capitals these past two seasons'' and said he was ''grateful for the opportunity.''

In his first season in charge, which was shortened because of a labor dispute, Washington reached the playoffs with a late surge before losing in the first round to the New York Rangers in seven games.

''We were a continuously improving playoff team until we weren't. And the last two seasons showed us that we need to improve. And that's what it came down to,'' Leonsis said. ''Dick and I said, 'We have to make that gut check. Do we have to change? And where do you start?' And you start with the coach and the general manager.''

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 26TH

1900 - Hack Wilson, American baseball player (d. 1948) is born.

1905 - Cubs Jack McCarthy becomes only major league player to throw out 

3 runners at plate in 1 game, all were ends of a double play.
1912 - First homerun hit at Fenway Park (Hugh Bradley, Red Sox).

1917 - Sal "The Barber" Maglie, pitcher (NY Giants, 8th best won-lost pct) is born.
1931 - Lou Gehrig hits a HR but is called out for passing a runner, 

mistake costs him AL home run crown; he & Babe Ruth tie for season.
1935 - Frank Boucher is given NHL's Lady Byng Trophy for 

sportsmanship permanently for winning it 7 of 11 years.

1941 - A tradition begins, first organ at a baseball stadium (Chicago Cubs).
1950 - Last horse race at Havre de Grace Track in Maryland, is run.
1950 - U of Miami ends William & Mary straight tennis match victories at 82.

1961 - Roger Maris hits 1st of 61 homers in 1961.
1962 - Red Sox Bill Monbouquette no-hits White Sox 1-0.

1966 - Arnold "Red" Auerbach retires as Boston Celtic's coach.
1975 - Phillies Mike Schmidt's 2 HRs ties NL record of 11 HRs in April.

1980 - Phillies' Steve Carlton pitches his 6th 1-hitter (beats Cards).

1988 - NY Met Davey Johnson becomes 2nd manager to record 

400 victory in 1st 4 years (Al Lopez did it 1st).

1990 - Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller's record of pitching 12 1-hitters.
1991 - Soccer star Diego Maradona, suspended for using cocaine, 

arrested in Argentina for possession & distribution of illegal narcotics.