LeBron passes Tiger in brand value
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James moved past golfer Tiger Woods as the most valuable brand in sports this year, according to Forbes.
The magazine listed James’ brand worth at $37 million, up from $27 million in 2013, compared with Woods’ $36 million.
Woods experienced a down year. Not only was he injured twice, but his worth dropped from $46 million, mostly as a result of EA Sports longer making the Tiger Woods video game.
James left the Miami Heat this summer to return to his hometown Cavaliers. His major sponsors include Nike, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
Third on the list was tennis player Roger Federer at $32 million and No. 4 was golfer Phil Mickelson at $29 million.
NBA fines participants in altercation
DeJuan Blair, Nene, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas of the Washington Wizards were suspended one game on Wednesday by the NBA for leaving the bench during a confrontation between Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah and Wizards forward Paul Pierce during a preseason game.
Noah was $15,000 for starting the incident with Pierce by pushing him in the chest. Pierce was fined the same amount for hitting Noah in the forehead with his left index finger.
NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn announced the NBA’s disciplinary action that resulted from the incident, which occurred on Monday night with 8:57 left in the first quarter of the Wizards’ 85-81 win over the Bulls at United Center.
The suspensions are effective with the first regular-season game for each player.
Cavs’ Irving suffers ankle injury
Point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a right ankle injury during practice before the Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Brazil for their preseason game with the Miami Heat, ESPN.com reported Wednesday.
Irving was wearing a walking boot on his right foot while sightseeing with teammates in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
According to ESPN, Irving had X-rays taken and underwent an MRI on Tuesday before the team charter left. Both tests were negative. He is considered day-to-day and his status for Saturday’s preseason game is uncertain.
Irving has missed 49 games with injuries over the past three seasons.
Jackets’ Dubinsky has surgery
Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky underwent surgery Wednesday to repair an abdominal injury and is expected to be sidelined approximately six weeks.
The surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.
Coach Todd Richards said Tuesday that Dubinsky was placed on injured reserve with a lower body injury. He was injured during practice Monday.
Dubinsky, 28, tallied 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points with 98 penalty minutes in 76 games with Columbus in 2013-14.
A’s Moss to undergo hip surgery
Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss is scheduled for hip surgery on Oct. 21, the team announced Wednesday.
Moss has known since last month that his injured hip would need surgery to repair torn cartilage.
After a hot start to the season, Moss cooled off. Before the All-Star break, he was batting .268 and led the Athletics with 21 home runs and 66 RBIs. His average dipped to .173 in 58 games after the break.
Vogel signs extension with Pacers
Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel signed a multi-year contract extension on Wednesday after a disastrous finish to the 2013-14 season. Terms of the contact were not released.
Last season, the Pacers earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but lost in the conference finals to the Miami Heat.
The Pacers struggled during the second half of last season after the trade deadline and some were calling for Vogel to be fired, but president of basketball operations Larry Bird stood by his coach.