North Carolina law drawing backlash from sports world
A new North Carolina law removing protections for gay and transgender individuals is drawing a backlash from the sports world.
In a special session of the state legislature Wednesday, a bill was passed that wiped out local statutes allowing LGBT individuals to use the bathroom corresponding to the gender with which they identity. Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law Wednesday night.
The NBA issued a press release Thursday that read, “The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events. We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.”
The NCAA also is looking into whether it will host championship events in North Carolina with the new law in place. Greensboro is due to be a first-round site in the 2017 men’s NCAA basketball tournament, and Charlotte is scheduled to host the same rounds in 2018. The 2018 men’s and women’s tennis championships are due to be played in Winston-Salem.
Tulane expected to hire Dunleavy Sr.
Tulane is on the verge of hiring former NBA coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. as its next basketball coach, according to multiple published reports.
Dunleavy, 62, has never been a college coach but served as head coach of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. He has a 613-716 record in 17 NBA seasons.
Dunleavy is the father of Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Recently fired Tulane coach Ed Conroy went 92-103 in six seasons with the Green Wave. Tulane was 12-22 this season.
Georgia Tech fires Gregory
Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory was fired after failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in any of his five seasons.
The Yellow Jackets went 21-15 this season for the best record during Gregory’s tenure. Their season ended with a loss to San Diego State in the NIT quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Gregory compiled a 76-86 overall record at Georgia Tech and his mark against ACC programs was 27-61.
Ducks’ Manson fined for throat-slash gesture
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson has been fined $2,486 for an inappropriate gesture aimed at Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri, the NHL announced Friday.
The incident occurred at 17:17 of the third period in Toronto’s 6-5 overtime victory against Anaheim at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night. Manson was assessed a game misconduct.
Manson was upset about being rammed into the glass by Kadri. Manson was ejected after making a throat-slash gesture toward Kadri.
The fine was the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Mavs’ Parsons undergoes season-ending knee surgery
Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons will miss the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Friday, the team announced.
The procedure was performed to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee.
This marks the second consecutive year Parsons required surgery on the knee. He underwent microfracture surgery last May to repair cartilage damage and his rehabilitation lasted through the entire preseason and he began this season on a minutes’ restriction.
Parsons averaged 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 61 games (51 starts) this season.