EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - D’Angelo Russell did extra work after practice again with the Los Angeles Lakers, competing with Jordan Clarkson in a two-on-two scrimmage.
Russell is also still putting in work in the locker room to heal the broken trust and hurt feelings from his misadventure in video.
So far, the results aren’t spectacular.
Russell indicated he hasn’t spoken extensively to teammate Nick Young since the rookie guard upended Young’s personal life with a leaked recording of Young talking about being with women other than his fiancée, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.
“I’m getting over it, but (until) the person that it hurt the most gets over it, then I feel like it’s done,” the 20-year-old Russell said. “But until he really lets it simmer down, then I think it will still be an issue. … It’s at this point where you need your space. You can’t force peace if it’s not there. You can’t force it. You’ve got to let time heal it.”
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - University of San Francisco coach and former Stanford and U.S. star Jennifer Azzi has come out as gay, announcing she is married to her top assistant, Blair Hardiek.
Azzi made the announcement when she introduced Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts at the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award ceremony in San Francisco. In 2011, Welts - then president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns - became the first senior sports executive to openly acknowledge he was gay.
USF was aware of Azzi’s announcement and is offering its support. The sixth-year coach led the Dons (21-12) to a West Coast Conference tournament title and their first NCAA berth since 1997 before losing 85-58 to Stanford and Azzi’s former coach, Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer.
The 47-year-old Azzi led Stanford to its first NCAA title in 1990 and was named Final Four MVP.
HOUSTON (AP) - For Gonzaga, the timing could not have been worse.
Coach Mark Few told The Associated Press the NCAA called to inform him officials blew the call on a 10-second violation that went against the Bulldogs late in Syracuse’s come-from-behind win in the Sweet 16.
The turnover came with 1:17 left and Gonzaga leading 60-59. Josh Perkins skipped a pass for Kyle Dranginis into the front court, and a Syracuse player deflected it back across the line.
Refs called a 10-second violation but the 10-second limit in the backcourt should have reset once a player touched the ball in the front court.
Syracuse scored the last four points as part of a 15-3 run to end the game for a 63-60 win.
The NCAA did not immediately respond to an email from AP seeking comment.
GOLF
Tiger Woods is going to Augusta National next week - to eat, not play.
Woods made it official what most observers figured all along. Recovery from two back surgeries last year has not progressed to the point where it’s wise for him to tee it up at the Masters. It will be the second time in the last three years that Woods has not played the Masters.
Woods did say on his website that he has been hitting golf balls and training daily. But he still had no timetable for when he would return to competition.
He has said all along that he will not rush his return to golf. Woods turned 40 on Dec. 30.
He said he plans to be at the Champions Dinner on Tuesday.
NHL
NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith for the final five games of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs for “dangerously and violently” high-sticking Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle.
While on his back on the ice, Keith struck Coyle in the face with his stick, an action Patrick Burke of the NHL’s department of player safety called “an intentional and retaliatory act of violence by a player with a history of using his stick as a weapon” in the video announcing the suspension.
Keith has been suspended twice before, including for a similar incident when he deliberately hit Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter in the face with his stick during the 2013 Western Conference final.
Chicago’s top defenseman and the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Keith will forfeit $148,883 but perhaps more importantly won’t be available for the stretch run and start of the playoffs. The defending Stanley Cup-champion Blackhawks are currently in third place in the Central Division.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK (AP) - Major League Baseball has made several minor rule changes for this season, including one that covers tag plays when a runner is touched only by the laces of a fielder’s glove.
The tweaks were announced in an 11-minute video produced by MLB.
The video showed a play in which Houston second baseman Jose Altuve touched a sliding runner with the hanging laces from his glove. In the past, that was called an out; now, that won’t be enough to count as a tag.
That kind of play drew attention when it was seen on slow-motion replays during umpire reviews. The Playing Rules Committee discussed all of the changes, which were approved by owners, umpires and the players’ union.
Also, the top-to-bottom length of a first baseman’s mitt and a fielder’s glove was increased by an inch to 13 inches.
SAILING
A sailor died after she was swept overboard in the Pacific while heading to Seattle in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race.
Sarah Young, a 40-year-old businesswoman from London, was washed into the sea by a wave while tending to the mainsail in winds of up to 46 mph, organizers said. Her body was recovered by her crew one hour later but she never regained consciousness.
The cause of death has not been confirmed but is thought to be drowning or exposure. All other crew members are safe.
The accident on the IchorCoal boat happened during the ninth of 14 stages in the race. The boats were going from Qingdao, China, to Seattle and had about 3,700 miles to go.
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