KWBG Sports for June 29th

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The New Orleans Hornets have opened today's NBA draft by selecting Kentucky forward Anthony Davis, who averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks for the national champions last season. The Charlotte Bobcats used the second choice to take Davis' Kentucky teammate, forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It's the first time in NBA draft history that college teammates were selected with the first two picks.

     MIAMI (AP) - Miami Heat guard Dwyane (dwayn) Wade has announced he needs surgery on his left knee and will not play for the U.S. Olympic team in London this summer.  Wade just helped the Heat win their second NBA championship in six years and was the leading scorer on the team that won Olympic gold in Beijing four years ago.

     WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Second seed Rafael Nadal (nah-DAHL') has made his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2005, losing 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Lukas Rosol (rah-SAHL') in the second round at Wimbledon today.  At No. 100, Rosol is the lowest-ranked player to beat Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament. Nadal was seeking his third Wimbledon title and 12th Grand Slam crown.

     WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND (AP) - Women's top-ranked Maria Sharapova has advanced to the third round at Wimbledon by defeating Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova (SVEH'-tahna peer-ihn-KOH'-va), 7-6, 6-7, 6-love.  Second seed Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN'-kuh), No. 4 seed and defending champion Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIHT'-oh-vuh) and four-time champion Serena Williams moved on in straight sets.

     BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Bo Van Pelt is the first round leader at the AT&T National near Washington after firing a 4-under-par 67. Vijay Singh, Brendon De Jonge and Jimmy Walker were at 68, while Pat Perez, Jason Day and Navy veteran Billy Hurley III were at 69. Tournament host Tiger Woods is five strokes back following a 1-over 72.

KWBG Sports for June 28th

 NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Yankees will spend about two weeks without CC Sabathia (suh-BATH'-ee-uh) and up to two months without fellow lefty starter Andy Pettitte. Sabathia was placed on the disabled list yesterday after straining a groin during Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mets. Pettitte was hit above the left ankle by a line drive in the fifth inning of yesterday's 5-4 victory against Cleveland, fracturing his fibula.

     PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made his season debut last night after missing the first 76 games with a chronic problem in both knees. Utley homered in his first at-bat and went 3-for-5, but Michael McHenry hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs as Pittsburgh downed the Phillies 11-7. Utley returned on the same day the Phillies announced that first baseman Ryan Howard will start a rehab stint today after missing the whole season with a torn Achilles.

     WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Today's Wimbledon schedule includes the complete of a second-round match between women's top seed Maria Sharapova and Tsvetana Pironkova. Sharapova led 7-6, 3-1 yesterday until the match was suspended by darkness. Men's second seed Rafael Nadal and women's No. 6 Serena Williams are part of today's slate.

     INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Pacers' front office has been overhauled following the pending resignation of president of basketball operations Larry Bird and Tuesday's resignation of general manager David Morway. Director of player personnel Kevin Pritchard is the new GM, and Donnie Walsh will take over as team president once Bird leaves at the end of August. Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his departure, and he didn't rule out a return to basketball.

     DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) - Spain has advanced to Sunday's European Championship, beating Portugal 4-2 yesterday in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. Cesc Fabregas scored the deciding penalty after Bruno Alves had hit the crossbar for Portugal moments earlier. Spain will face the winner of today's semifinal between Germany and Italy.

KWBG Sports for June 27th

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A playoff system will soon determine the national champions in college football. A committee of university presidents has approved the BCS commissioners' plan for a four-team playoff to start in the 2014 season. The teams will be selected by a committee, similar to the way the NCAA basketball tournament field is set.

     WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Today's Wimbledon schedule is highlighted by second-round singles matches involving top sees Novak Djokovic (JOH'-koh-vihch) and Maria Sharapova. Roger Federer opens the Centre Court action, and Andy Roddick will try to complete his opening-round match against Jamie Baker. Second seeds Rafael Nadal (nah-DAHL') and Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REHN'-kah) were among yesterday's first-round winners.

     INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Pacers could soon have a completely revamped management team in place. General manager David Morway resigned yesterday amid reports that president of basketball operations Larry Bird will step down as well. The Pacers have scheduled a news conference for this morning.

     UNDATED (AP) - The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to trade the 18th overall pick in the NBA draft to Houston for Chase Budinger, who averaged 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds a game with the Rockets last season. And Detroit has shipped guard Ben Gordon and a future first-round pick to Charlotte for swingman Corey Maggette (muh-GET'-ee).

     CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth is leaving Roush (rowsh) Fenway Racing at the end of the season. There was widespread speculation last weekend at Sonoma that Kenseth was leaving to join Joe Gibbs Racing, but Kenseth decline to discuss his future with the organization he has been with for all but one of his 452 career starts. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be promoted to his seat in the Sprint Cup Series by Roush.

KWBG Sports for June 26th

 WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Second seeds Rafael Nadal (nah-DAHL') and Victoria Azarenka (as-ah-REHN'-kah) highlight the Day 2 schedule at Wimbledon. No. 1 seeds Novak Djokovic (JOH'-koh-vihk) and Maria Sharapova won their first-round matches yesterday, as did Agnieszka Radwanska (ag-NEHS'-kee-ah rad-WAHN'-skah), Sam Stosur, and Roger Federer. But five-time champ Venus Williams fell to Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 and men's sixth seed Thomas Berdych was beaten by Ernests Gulbis.

     OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Ryan Lochte (LAHK'-tee) has won his latest showdown with Michael Phelps, beating the winningest Olympian ever for the first time in the 400 individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials Monday.  In taking the first spot on the Olympic team, Lochte extended his dominance of Phelps that goes back to last year's world championships, where the 27-year-old Floridian won five gold medals and both head-to-head races against Phelps.

     BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - A lawyer for Jerry Sandusky says the retired Penn State assistant football coach wants "people to know that he's not guilty." The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach has been in jail since Friday, following his conviction on 45 counts of child sex abuse. Karl Rominger says Sandusky is being kept away from other inmates and has not been able to see his family pending a psychological evaluation.

     ATLANTA (AP) - Danny Ferry is the Atlanta Hawks' new president of basketball operations and general manager. Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson says Ferry has the right character and experience the team needs to create "enduring and successful organizations." Ferry comes to the Hawks after two years as vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs.

     NEW YORK (AP) - Outfielder Marlon Byrd has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.  Byrd started the season with the Cubs and was dealt to the Red Sox on April 21. He was designated for assignment by Boston on June 9 and released four days later.

KWBG Sports for June 25th

 NEW YORK (AP) - Interleague play ended for the 2012 regular season with the New York Yankees edging the Mets 6-5 in the Subway Series finale. Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH') led off the eighth inning with his 16th home run for the Yanks, who ended starter R.A. Dickey's streak of 44 and two-thirds innings without allowing an earned run.

     SAN DIEGO (AP) - Edinson Volquez (VOHL'-kehz) and three relievers combined on a five-hitter in San Diego's 2-0 whitewash of Seattle. It was an emotional day for the Padres, who found out that longtime bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds died from pancreatic cancer yesterday morning.

     OMAHA, Neb. (AP)- Konner Wade tossed a six-hitter for his third straight complete game in pitching Arizona to a 5-1 win over South Carolina in the opener of the best-of-three College World Series final. Robert Refsnyder homered for the Wildcats, who can wrap up the College World Series with a victory tonight in Omaha.

     SONOMA, Calif. (AP) - Clint Bowyer (BOY'-ur) raced to his first victory on a road course to win on the winding course at Sonoma. Tony Stewart finished second by passing defending champion Kurt Busch on the final lap.  It was Bowyer's first win since joining Michael Waltrip Racing.

     WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Both top seeds are scheduled to play on opening day at Wimbledon, the third grand slam tournament of the tennis season. Defending men's champion and top seed Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) opens play on Centre Court at Wimbledon against former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero (8 a.m. Eastern) while women's top seed Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH'-vah), who completed a career grand slam at the recent French Open, is also scheduled to compete.

KWBG Sports for June 22nd

 MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James was named MVP of the NBA Finals after leading the Miami Heat to the title in five games following a convincing 121-106 win over Oklahoma City last night. It's the second title in six seasons for the Heat but the first for James, who led the rout with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

     PITTSBURGH (AP) - James McDonald pitched his first career complete game, Garrett Jones hit one of Pittsburgh's three home runs and the Pirates won for the fourth time in five games, 9-1 over the Minnesota Twins. The surging Pirates have won seven of their past eight series and have moved within two games of first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central.

     BOSTON (AP) - Daniel Nava singled in the go-ahead run to cap a three-run eighth inning and the surging Boston Red Sox completed a sweep of the stumbling Miami Marlins 6-5 last night. The Marlins took a lead in all three games but lost them all as they dropped their fourth straight and 13th in their last 15.

     UNDATED (AP)- The NHL has released its schedule for the upcoming season - if there's no work stoppage and that's a big if because the NHL's collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15. If the season goes as scheduled, the Los Angeles Kings will raise their Stanley Cup championship banner Oct. 12 when they play the New York Rangers.

     BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) - The jury that already is sequestered won't consider it, but there's been a bombshell in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse case. A lawyer for an adopted son of Jerry Sandusky says the man has told authorities the former Penn State assistant football coach abused him. Matt Sandusky is one of Jerry Sandusky's six adopted children.

KWBG Sports for June 21st

  CHICAGO (AP) - The BCS commissioners are backing a playoff plan with the sites for the national semifinals rotating among the major bowl games and a selection committee picking the teams. The plan will be presented to university presidents next week for approval, which is expected, with the four-team playoff starting in 2014.

     MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Heat can secure their second NBA title in six seasons with a victory tonight at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who trail the NBA Finals three games to one. If the Thunder break their three-game losing streak, the series will return to Oklahoma City for Game 6 Sunday night.

     NEW ORLEANS (AP)- The Washington Wizards and New Orleans Hornets swung a trade ahead of next Thursday night's NBA draft. The Hornets send forward Trevor Ariza (ah-REE'-zuh) and center Emeka Okafor (eh-MEH'-kuh OH'-kuh-fohr) to Washingtons for forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round draft pick.

     CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Charlotte Hornets tabbed former St. John's and Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap as their next coach to succeed Paul Silas, who went 7-59 for the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Dunlap's only NBA experience was as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets in 2006-08, but apparently that was enough to sway Hornets team owner Michael Jordan.

     INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Three-time defending national champion Connecticut was one of a record 10 schools banned by the NCAA in next year's  basketball postseason because of poor rates of academic progress for their athletes. Joining UConn on the sideline next March will be Arkansas-Pine Bluff, California-Riverside, Cal State Bakersfield, Jacksonville State, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina-Wilmington, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Toledo and Towson.