NFL:
The Detroit Lions have hired Kevin Anderson as an assistant to the general manager. The Lions confirmed last night that Anderson will head the football operations department. He most recently was a director of player development for the New England Patriots. Detroit hired Bob Quinn as its general manager earlier this month. Quinn was also part of the Patriots organization.
An official says New York authorities are investigating whether the NFL is engaging in anti-competitive practices on its ticket-selling website. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has released a report criticizing "price floors" for tickets, particularly by sports leagues including the NFL.
The report says many NFL teams encourage or even require ticket holders to use Ticketmaster's NFL Ticket Exchange platform, where the seller is prohibited from cutting the price below face value. An official with knowledge of the investigation says Schneiderman's office is investigating and wants the price floor removed.
The 2016 Pro Bowl starts on Sunday at 7 p.m.
NHL:
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing for checking and knocking down linesman Don Henderson during Wednesday night's game against Nashville. Wideman got up after being hit and struck Henderson on the way to the bench. Wideman said he was in pain and was just trying to get off the ice, adding that he couldn't avoid Henderson. Wideman apologized to Henderson after the incident.
The National Hockey League's All-Star break has begun. That means there are no games on ice before All-Star Weekend begins in Nashville. The competition will take place Sunday with the regular season resuming play Tuesday.
The league has announced some roster changes for the All-Star contest. Evgeny Kuznetsov replaces Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin and James Neal of the Predators replaces Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. Islanders center John Taveras will take over for Ovechkin as the Metropolitan Division team captain.
Ovechkin pulled out of All-Star weekend with a lower-body injury, while Toews left Chicago's game Tuesday with an illness. Both will have to sit out their team's first game after the break as punishment for missing the midwinter classic.
NBA:
In the NBA, Toronto topped New York 103-93, New Orleans won against Sacramento 114-105, Chicago bested the Lakers 114-91, Memphis beat Milwaukee 103-83, Denver defeated Washington 117-113, and it was Denver over Atlanta 111-92.
The 3-point line will virtually light up during Saturday prime-time NBA broadcasts on ABC this season. ESPN says it's using new technology to show viewers when a player attempts a jumper from beyond the 3-point arc. "ESPN Virtual 3" will debut for tomorrow's matchup between the Cavaliers and Spurs.
For the first time in 40 years the Golden State Warriors will have three players in the NBA All-Star game. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have been picked for the Western Conference team, one week after the league allowed that Warriors guard and NBA scoring leader Stephen Curry would start.
Pistons owner Tom Gores is pledging to raise $10 million to address the short- and long-term needs of his hometown of Flint, Mich. where the drinking water is contaminated with lead. Gores says he has appointed two associates to raise money from other business leaders and identify priorities in Flint. Gore says he will be contributing to the fund as well.
WNBA:
The WNBA is switching up its playoffs. The league is taking the top eight teams based on record as opposed to conference allegiances. In the past, the best four teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences would make the postseason since the WNBA expanded its playoffs to eight teams in 2000. The league is also increasing the postseason to four rounds.
MLS:
U.S. national team defender Jermaine Jones is frustrated and angry about a six-game suspension that he says is making it tough to leave Major League Soccer. Jones voiced his displeasure yesterday before the U.S. team's training ahead of two upcoming friendlies. Jones is out of contract after spending last season with the New England Revolution, and he says his latest MLS contract offer is "a joke."
MLB:
The New York Yankees and pitcher Ivan Nova have avoided salary arbitration by settling on a one-year package worth $4.1 million. The 29-year-old right-hander returned to the Yankees in the middle of last season following Tommy John surgery and went 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in 17 starts.
Elsewhere:
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Tampa Bay Rays have acquired left-handed hitter Corey Dickerson from the Rockies for left-handed reliever Jake McGee.
The 26-year-old Dickerson hit .304 last year with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in 65 games, missing time due to plantar fasciitis and broken ribs. Colorado had an abundance of lefty hitting outfielders with the recent signing of Gerardo Parra.
Free agent pitcher Doug Fister and the Houston Astros have agreed to a one-year contract. The 31-year-old was 5-7 with a 4.19 ERA in 15 starts and 10 relief appearances last season for Washington.
NCAA:
In college men's basketball, Cincinnati beat Connecticut 58-57 last night. Gary Clark's 3-point play with 12 seconds left lifted Cincinnati to a victory. Clark and Farad Cobb scored 13 points apiece for the Bearcats, who won their third consecutive game. Sterling Gibbs had 14 points to lead UConn, which had won three in a row coming in.
Monmouth forced 17 turnovers and defeated Quinnipiac 66-51 last night, tightening its grip on first place in conference. Justin Robinson despite a chilly night from the floor, scored 13 points for Monmouth. Ayron Hutton and Daniel Harris scored 11 apiece to lead Quinnipiac.
Central Connecticut State beat Bryant 78-67 last night to snap a 10-game losing streak. Brandon Peel scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Peel was 8 of 14 from the floor, made all six free-throw attempts and added five assists. Jahlil Nails chipped in 17 points for the Blue Devils.
FIFA:
Sepp Blatter expects to attend the FIFA election on Feb. 26 even though his appeal against an eight-year ban is unlikely to be resolved by then. Blatter's spokesman, Thomas Renggli, tells The Associated Press that Blatter "should be present at the Congress."
Renggli says Blatter will return to FIFA on Feb. 16 for an appeal committee hearing, and an immediate ruling is expected. If the appeal panel confirms Blatter's ban, it could take weeks to write the detailed verdict he needs to file an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Renggli says.
FIFA's ethics committee banned Blatter last month for conflict of interest in approving $2 million for Michel Platini in 2011. Despite the ban, Renggli says "only the Congress, according to the statutes, can put Mr. Blatter out of his mandate."
Tennis:
The Latest from the Australian Open on Friday:
Andy Murray has leveled his Australian Open semifinal with Milos Raonic, winning the second set 7-5 after Raonic won the first 6-4. Murray broke Raonic's service in the last game after setting up set point with a crosscourt forehand winner and sealing it when the Canadian netted a backhand.
Raonic won the first set on his second set point when he challenged an out call on his serve, and replays showed to have hit most of the line.
Murray is trying to advance to the final at Melbourne Park for the fifth time — he's lost all four previous matches. Raonic is aiming to advance to his first Grand Slam final after losing in the semifinal at Wimbledon in 2014 in his only previous final-four match. The winner will face top-seeded and five-time champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.
Golf:
Scott Brown is a first-round co-leader at the PGA's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Brown birdied his last hole for a 30 on the front nine and a 6-under 66 total. He played on the tough South Course at Torrey Pines, which was 2 1/2 strokes harder than the North Course where Andrew Loupe shot his 66 in the opening round.
Top-ranked Jordan Spieth is a shot off the pace in the lightning-suspended first round of the Singapore Open. Spieth posted a 4-under 67 to trail clubhouse leader Keith Horne of South Africa.
LPGA:
Paula Creamer, Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew each opened with 5-under 68s to pull into a seven-way tie for the lead through one round of the LPGA's season opener in the Bahamas. Alison Lee, Ashlan Ramsey, Mika Miyazato and Haru Nomura also shot 68s to grab a share of the lead, one shot ahead of Jennifer Johnson and Min Seo Kwak. Michelle Wie was stung by a bee on the way to a 3-over 76. Second-ranked Inbee Park withdrew because of back pain shooting an 80, the second-worst round of her LPGA Tour career.
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