Forbes values 11 franchises at $1B
The average NBA franchise is worth $1.1 billion according to Forbes valuations of the team value estimates published Wednesday.
Three teams are worth more than $2 billion — the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls — and the one that fetched $2 billion last year, the Los Angeles Clippers, has a value of $1.6 billion.
At $2.6 billion, the Lakers top the league just ahead of the Knicks ($2.5 billion) and the Bulls ($2 billion). The Boston Celtics ($1.7 billion) were ahead of Ballmer’s Clippers with the Brooklyn Nets sixth at $1.5 billion.
The Golden State Warriors ($1.3 billion), Houston Rockets ($1.25 billion), Miami Heat ($1.175B), Dallas Mavericks ($1.15B) and San Antonio Spurs ($1B) all saw increased projected worth.
Whitney retires at 42
After 1,330 NHL games, 385 goals and 1,064 points in 22 seasons, Ray Whitney is hanging up his skates for good.
The two-time all-star announced his retirement through his agency on Wednesday at age 42. He had not played this year after going unsigned following the 2013-14 season with the Dallas Stars.
The veteran winger was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round in 1991 and also played for seven other teams — the Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Arizona Coyotes and the Stars. He was a member of one Stanley Cup winner with Carolina in 2006.
His final game was last April 3 with the Stars against the Hurricanes.
MLB, umps extend contract through 2019
Major League Baseball and the umpires union ratified a five-year labor contract agreement Wednesday.
MLB and the World Umpires Association, the bargaining representative of all full-time Major League Umpires, both agreed to the pact covering the 2015-2019 seasons.
MLB has enjoyed labor peace with players and umpires for more than a decade without the threat of work stoppages.
Rinaldo offered in-person safety hearing
Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang on Tuesday night.
Rinaldo was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Letang at 15:36 of the first period. Letang left the game and did not return.
Rinaldo left his feet to check Letang, who stayed on the ice for a couple of minutes before skating off on his own.
Former sportscaster guilty in theft case
PHILADELPHIA — A jury on Wednesday found a former Philadelphia sportscaster guilty of using unregistered charities and non-existent tickets to sporting events to scam people out of money.
Don Tollefson, 62, represented himself in the 11-day trial, portraying himself as an incompetent businessman as he tried to fend off charges of theft, money laundering and violating state charities rules.
Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said Tollefson stole roughly $342,000 in increments ranging from $500 to $1000 by promising sporting tickets to donors to his charities.
Tollefson faces up to 37 years in prison although he is likely to face a lighter sentence as a first-time offender.
Giants designate Scutaro
The San Francisco Giants designated second baseman Marco Scutaro for assignment on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old is recovering from back surgery that could be career-ending. He underwent fusion in December in Miami. Doctors said it will be four to six months before they know whether Scutaro will be able to resume playing.
Scutaro is scheduled to make $6 million in 2015, the final year of a three-year, $20 million contract he signed in 2012. In a 13-year career, he has a .277 batting average with 77 home runs and 509 RBIs.
Georgia’s Richt gets extension
Georgia gave head football coach Mark Richt a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Bulldogs through the 2019 season.
The extension includes an $800,000 raise to a new annual compensation of $4 million. His previous compensation was $3.2 million annually.
In 2014, Richt led the Bulldogs to their ninth 10th-win season in his 14 years at Georgia that was capped by a 37-14 victory over Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
The 54-year-old Richt’s 136-48 record includes going 78-34 in SEC games.
Cavs’ Marion to retire after season
When the 2014-15 season ends, Shawn Marion will walk away from the game for good.
The NBA veteran plans to retire after finishing his one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A four-time NBA All-Star with the Suns, the 36-year-old Marion has career averages of 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. In 38 games this season, he is averaging 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Rising stars game to pit U.S. vs. international players
The NBA is changing things up during All-Star weekend this year, altering the format of the Rising Stars game to match first- and second-year players from the United States against players in the league from other countries.
The annual Rising Stars game will be played Friday, Feb. 13, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, at 9 p.m.
The two teams will be coached by assistants from the NBA All-Star Game staffs.