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Sports Report: Zika Worries Some, Not Others When It Comes To The Olympics In Rio

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MLB:

In baseball, in the American League, the White Sox beat Boston 3-1 in 10 innings, Detroit won against Seattle 8-7 in 12 innings, Cleveland bested Tampa Bay 7-4, Texas topped Baltimore 4-3, and it was Houston over the Angels 10-7. The Yankees had a night off.

In the National League, Arizona beat Philadelphia 3-1, Pittsburgh blanked San Francisco 1-0, Colorado won against Miami 5-3, St. Louis topped the Cubs 3-2, and it was the Dodgers over Washington 4-1.

The Chicago Cubs placed center fielder Dexter Fowler on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring injury. Fowler, who is batting .290, got hurt while running out a grounder to third in the first inning of Saturday night's 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh.

NBA:

LeBron James ended his social media blackout by throwing a knockout punch at his critics. One day after ending Cleveland's 52-year pro sports championship drought, James, who refrains from Twitter and other message platforms during the postseason, posted a rant on Instagram aimed at those who have doubted him.

After a late-night excursion for some partying in Las Vegas, the Cleveland Cavaliers returned home to a heroes' welcome after winning their first NBA title Sunday night in Oakland. The biggest cheer was for LeBron James who carried the Larry O'Brien championship trophy off the plane over his head in a preview of Cleveland's victory parade scheduled for Wednesday.

The seventh game of the NBA Finals between Cleveland and Golden State drew the highest television rating for the NBA Finals since Michael Jordan's last championship. Cleveland's tense 93-89 win Sunday night to capture the city's first title in more than a half-century averaged a 15.7 rating and nearly 30.8 million viewers on ABC. ESPN said that both numbers are the best since Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, when Jordan's Bulls clinched their sixth ring.

Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson is going out on top. Jefferson announced his retirement from the NBA after Sunday night's championship clinching win over Golden State. The 15-year veteran joined the Cavaliers this season and played a key role off the bench. Jefferson was the No. 13 pick in the 2001 NBA draft. He spent his first seven seasons with New Jersey, and also played for San Antonio, Milwaukee, Utah, Golden State and Dallas.

NHL:

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired the rights to so-far unsigned prospect forward Jimmy Vesey, out of Harvard. The Sabres dealt the Nashville Predators its second of four third-round draft picks this week for Vesey, who won the Hobey Baker trophy but opted to become a free agent rather than sign with Nashville, which drafted him.

The New York Rangers have traded the rights to defenseman Keith Yandle to Florida for the Panthers' sixth-round pick in the NHL draft on Friday. The Rangers also would get a fourth-round pick in next year's draft, if Yandle signs with the Panthers. His contract expires July 1. He made $5.25 million this past season.

Olympics:

The Zika virus won't stop two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson from competing in the Olympics if he makes the U.S. team. His schedule is booked and he knows he has to be in Connecticut the week before the Olympics for the Travelers Championship, but Watson says he wants to be in Rio. Watson and his wife, Angie, have two adopted children, but are unable to conceive. He says for that reason the virus is not an issue for him.

U.S. Olympic marathoners Shalane Flanagan and Amy Cragg will run the BAA's 10K race later this month in a tune up for the Olympics in Rio. Cragg won the Olympic trials marathon in Los Angeles and is on the team for the second time. For Flanagan, this will be her fourth Olympic games.

Two New England divers are making strong showings as they try to make the U.S. team for the Rio Olympics. Jessica Parratto of Dover, New Hampshire, has the lead in the women's 10-meter after the event's semifinals last night in Indianapolis. Michael Hixon of Amherst, Massachusetts, had the early lead but is currently second in the men's 3-meter competition, behind Kristian Ipsen.

The International Boxing Federation will punish fighters who compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics by removing them from the sanctioning body's rankings or vacating their titles. The IBF joins the World Boxing Council in an aggressive campaign by sanctioning bodies to keep prominent pros out of the Olympics. The International Boxing Association recently decided to allow professional boxers to attempt to qualify for Rio, but the organization's hopes for a tournament featuring big names have been unrealized to date. Many boxers and trainers have strongly condemned the plan, seeing danger in pitting seasoned pros against amateurs.

NASCAR:

NASCAR driver Mike Wallace says he and his daughter were attacked after a concert Friday night in North Carolina. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police told local media three men have been arrested after the attack at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. Wallace says three of his front teeth were knocked a few inches into his mouth and he has a black eye that is causing impaired vision. He also says he had 10 stitches in his lip.

NCAA:

Pinch-hitter Ryan Cumberland's two-run single broke a tie to lead UC Santa Barbara over No. 3 national seed Miami for a 5-3 victory in a College World Series elimination game. The Hurricanes finished 50-14 and went 0-2 for only the second time in their 25 CWS appearances. The night game had Oklahoma State blanking the Arizona Wildcats 1-0.

COPA:

The Copa America tournament continues tonight when the U.S. team takes on the famed Lionel Messi and the Argentinian team. The game starts at 9 p.m.

©2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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