PRO FOOTBALL
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Malcolm Glazer, a self-made billionaire who shunned the spotlight while leading the takeover of English soccer’s Manchester United and transforming the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers into Super Bowl champions, died Wednesday. He was 85.
The reclusive Palm Beach businessman had been in failing health since a pair of strokes in April 2006 left him with impaired speech and limited mobility.
He was not involved in day-to-day operations of his teams and was rarely spotted at games in recent years, instead remaining at his mansion in South Florida while entrusting leadership of the Bucs to three of six children: sons Bryan, Joel and Ed.
While disgruntled fans blame ownership for a stretch of futility that has seen the Bucs miss the playoffs the past six seasons, the elder Glazer generally will be remembered for making the commitment necessary to keep the team from moving to another city in the 1990s.
BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors say former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez fatally shot two men because he believed one of them disrespected him when he bumped into him and spilled his drink in a Boston nightclub.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.
He also has pleaded not guilty in the 2013 shooting death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Former Sabres owner Tom Golisano has met with Buffalo Bills officials and public leaders, and informed them of his interest in purchasing the NFL franchise, said people involved with the negotiations.
One person said that Golisano also has had talks with developer Scott Congel to be his partner in the potential ownership group. The person added that their discussions have included the possibility of building a new stadium in West Seneca, about a 10-minute drive from the Bills’ current home, Ralph Wilson Stadium.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Johnny Manziel isn’t going to change his lifestyle for anyone.
Manziel took advantage of a break from the Browns’ organized team activities to take a well-documented Memorial Day weekend outing to Las Vegas, where he hung out with Patriots partying tight end Rob Gronkowski, attended a UFC fight and enjoyed the nightlife.
Manziel was aware of criticism about his decision to leave town, but said if he wants to have fun and it doesn’t hinder his goals, “then I really don’t care what anyone has to say.”
___
PRO BASKETBALL
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shelly Sterling was reviewing bids from five groups interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The individual, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said if an agreement to sell is reached before next Tuesday, the league’s owners wouldn’t meet in New York to vote on terminating Donald Sterling’s ownership.
The individual wouldn’t specify the interested buyers, but described them as major players with considerable financial means. The person told the AP the sale price “appears to be increasing to an unbelievable number,” and that it could soar past $1.5 to $2 billion, and possibly more.
___
GOLF
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Tiger Woods withdrew from the U.S. Open as he recovers from back surgery that has kept him out of golf for nearly three months.
It will be the second U.S. Open, and sixth major, he has missed because of injury over the last six years.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Alabama won its second straight NCAA golf title, beating Oklahoma State 4-1 in the final at Prairie Dunes.
Trey Mullinax won the deciding match, holing an eagle putt from the fringe on the par-5 17th hole to beat Ian Davis 2 and 1.
___
TENNIS
PARIS (AP) — Instead of playing each other this week at the French Open, Serena and Venus Williams will both be heading home early.
The American sisters both lost in the second round, each being outplayed by little-known opponents at Roland Garros.
Serena, the defending French Open champion and a 17-time major winner, lost to Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-2, 6-2. It is her earliest exit at a major tournament since falling in the first round at Roland Garros two years ago — and her most-lopsided loss ever at a Grand Slam.
A short time earlier, older sister Venus was eliminated by Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Seeded winners in the men’s bracket included No. 2 Novak Djokovic, No. 4 Roger Federer, No. 6 Tomas Berdych, No. 8 Milos Raonic, No. 10 John Isner and No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. On the women’s side, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 7 Maria Sharapova, No. 8 Angelique Kerber and No. 9 Dominika Cibulkova advanced.
___
BASEBALL
BOSTON (AP) — Manny Ramirez apologized for his behavior with the Boston Red Sox in his first public appearance since being hired as a minor league player-coach with the Chicago Cubs.
His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honored its 2004 team that won Boston’s first World Series championship since 1918.
“I realize that I behaved bad in Boston,” Ramirez said. “The fans were great. I also played great when I was here, but I realized I behaved bad. I apologize for that. I’m a new man.”
He said he has been attending church for almost a year.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Yu Darvish’s stiff neck felt better when he arrived at the ballpark and the Rangers plan to start their ace Sunday at Washington.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —Giants right fielder Hunter Pence’s stolen scooter has been returned.
The customized motor scooter that he rides a few blocks to every home game was returned to the clubhouse during the Giants’ game against the Chicago Cubs. Clubhouse chef and scooter designer, Joe Day, posted a photo of the scooter to his Twitter account and thanked San Francisco police officers for returning it.
___
PRO HOCKEY
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police say they are investigating a battery report from a fan who says Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford sprayed water in his face during Game 4 of the Western Conference final against the Kings at Staples Center.
___
SOCCER
LONDON (AP) — Uche Nwofor scored in the 90th minute, giving Nigeria a 2-2 tie against Scotland in a World Cup warmup.
Scotland went ahead in the ninth minute when Charlie McGrew flicked James Morrison’s shot over goalkeeper Austin Ejide.
Nigeria tied the score in the 41st when Michael Uchebo’s shot took a big deflection off Grant Hanley, but Scotland went back ahead 11 minutes later on an own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe following Alan Hutton’s cross.
At Seoul, host South Korea lost 1-0 to Tunisia, which got a 44th-minute goal from Zouheir Dhaouadi.
___
YOUTH SPORTS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Concerned that too little is known about the effects of head injuries in young athletes, President Barack Obama is bringing representatives of professional sports leagues, coaches, parents, youth sports players, researchers and others to the White House to help educate the public about youth sports concussions.
Tackling the issue at a White House summit Thursday, Obama also will highlight pledges of money and other support from the NFL, the National Institutes of Health, the Pop Warner Little Scholars and others to do the research, promote safety and speed development of materials designed to provide better protection.
WESTPORT, Conn. (AP) — A former official with a youth baseball group whose team lost in the U.S. title game of the Little League World Series was arrested in connection with $40,000 worth of missing equipment and funds.
Bridgeport resident Kevin Hlavac was charged with felony larceny for stealing from the Westport Little League, police said.
___
COLLEGES
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater returned to sports dominance this week thanks to three alumni who helped the Warhawks earn a spot in the NCAA record books.
The baseball team took home the Division III World Series trophy with a 7-0 win over Emory University on Tuesday, coached by John Vodenlich. The Warhawks’ title came two months after Pat Miller’s basketball team won the men’s D-III championship, and five months after Lance Leipold’s football squad won the D-III title.
The titles make UW-Whitewater the only school in NCAA history to win championships in football, men’s basketball and baseball in the same school year.
Miller, Leipold and Vodenlich were all students at UW-Whitewater.
___
CYCLING
VITTORIO VENETO, Italy (AP) — Stefano Pirazzi won the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia, while Nairo Quintana retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.
Pirazzi, who had led from the breakaway, made his move with little more than a 1,000 yards remaining and edged Tim Wellens and Jay McCarthy in a sprint at the end of the 127-mile stage from Sarnonico to Vittorio Veneto.
