Officers walk out after WNBA team wears ‘Black Lives Matter’ shirts
Four off-duty Minneapolis police officers working the Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center on Saturday night walked off the job after the players held a news conference denouncing racial profiling, then wore Black Lives Matter pregame warm-up jerseys, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation, said, “I commend them for it,” according to the report.
Kroll said the four officers removed themselves from a list of officers working future games and indicated others may follow suit.
According to the Tribune, Lynx players wore black T-shirts that read “Change starts with us, justice and accountability” and on the back had Philando Castile’s and Alton Sterling’s names along with “Black Lives Matter.”
Police sign up for off-duty jobs to work Lynx games.
“They can start or stop a job whenever they want,” Kroll said. “They are working on an independent contract.”
Hurricanes re-sign Rask to six-year, $24 million deal
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Tuesday that they have re-signed center Victor Rask to a six-year, $24 million contract.
The 23-year-old recorded a career-high 48 points last season, scoring 21 goals with 27 assists over 80 games with Carolina.
“Victor has gotten better every season that he’s been a part of our organization,” Hurricanes executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. “He is a big part of this team’s present and future, and we are thrilled to sign him to a longer-term deal.”
A native of Leksand, Sweden, Rask was selected by Carolina with the No. 42 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 entry draft.
Rask is entering his third NHL season and has career totals of 32 goals and 49 assists (49 points) in 160 games.
Former G Hamilton eyes return to NBA
Former NBA All-Star Richard Hamilton is considering a return to the league next season.
Like some former players, Hamilton is tempted to the lucrative contracts that players are signing as a result of the increase in the league’s salary cap.
The 38-year-old Hamilton, who last played in the NBA in 2013, is checking with teams that might be interested in giving him a shot and plans to start working out intensely.
“I’m giving myself 30 days where I am really hitting the gym.” Hamilton told CBSSports.com. “I’m working on my game. I’m in the weight room. I’m running my two, three miles a day. And I’m trying to see if my body can hold up. If my body can hold up after these 30 days, I will be making a comeback.”
Other retired players possibly considering a return are Ray All and Stephen Jackson.
Hamilton was one of the top shooting guards in the NBA during his prime and helped the Detroit Pistons win an NBA title in 2004.
During his final season, he averaged 9.8 points for the Chicago Bulls. The 6-foot-7 Hamilton has career averages of 17.1 points, 3.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 921 regular-season games.
Knicks re-sign G Vujacic
Sasha Vujacic has agreed to return to the New York Knicks on a one-year deal, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
The deal is worth the veteran’s minimum of $1.41 million.
Vujacic’s familiarity with New York’s triangle offense was a key factor in his re-signing. Vujacic spent seven seasons playing for current Knicks president and former Lakers coach and executive Phil Jackson in Los Angeles from 2004-2010.
The 32-year-old combo guard has played for four teams during his nine-year NBA career with a career average of 5.5 points over 539 games.
Vujacic spent the 2015-16 season with New York, averaging 4.9 points in61 games.
He was selected No. 27 overall by Los Angeles in the 2004 draft.