NC State adds Jim Valvano’s name to storied basketball arena
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The former home to N.C. State men’s basketball will be named for Jim Valvano.
The school announced Wednesday that the arena in Reynolds Coliseum will be named for the former coach. The James. T. Valvano Arena will be dedicated on Dec. 5 to the man who guided the Wolfpack to the 1983 national championship.
Supporters made a $5 million pledge to name the arena for Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993. The gift will help support the $35 million Reynolds Coliseum renovation project.
In 10 seasons, Valvano led the program to two Atlantic Coast Conference titles and seven NCAA tournaments. That included two appearances in the Elite Eight and a Sweet 16 appearance as well as the national title. His teams went 121-37 at Reynolds Coliseum.
The coliseum is now home to the Wolfpack women’s basketball program. The court is named for former coach Kay Yow.
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Stephen Curry to miss 3 Texas games while nursing injury
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry won’t play during Golden State’s three-game Texas road trip as he recovers from a left groin strain, though he is traveling with the Warriors.
The team traveled Wednesday to Houston, where the two-time defending NBA champions will play Thursday night. They have games Saturday at Dallas and Sunday at San Antonio.
Curry was injured during a Nov. 8 game against the Milwaukee Bucks and has been sidelined the past three games. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated in 10 days. The team says he continues to be monitored by the medical staff as he rehabs from his latest injury.
The two-time MVP played in only 51 regular-season games last season because of a left knee injury and a sprained right ankle. He returned from the knee injury for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals after sitting out the first round of the playoffs.
Curry, 30, is averaging 29.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 49.2 percent from 3-point range.
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Chargers DE Joey Bosa practices for first time in 2 months
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa practiced for the first time in two months Wednesday as he tries to come back from a foot injury.
Bosa did individual drills during the portion of practice open to reporters. Coach Anthony Lynn said he is trying to slowly work Bosa back in but acknowledged there’s a possibility he could play Sunday against Denver, depending on how well the third-year lineman does in practice.
Bosa first injured his foot during training camp, which caused him to miss the preseason. He reinjured it during practice on Sept. 5.
The Chargers are 7-2 and have won six straight despite Bosa’s absence. Bosa has 23 sacks in two seasons, including an NFL-record 19 in his first 20 games.
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Indians send INF Gonzalez to Pirates in 5-player swap
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians traded versatile infielder Erik Gonzalez to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a five-player swap.
Cleveland sent Gonzalez, who appeared in 81 games for the AL Central champions last season, and right-handers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza to the Pirates for outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff.
Gonzalez batted .265 with one homer and 16 RBIs last season for Cleveland, which signed the Dominican native in 2009. Gonzalez filled a utility role for the Indians, but was not going to be able to get into the starting lineup behind All-Stars Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez.
The 25-year-old Luplow brings needed depth to Cleveland’s outfield, which was decimated by injuries last season. He appeared in 64 games over the past two seasons with the Pirates, who named him their top minor league player in 2017.
Moroff has split the last three seasons between Triple-A Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, appearing in 26 games for the Pirates in 2018.
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Former Wimbledon finalist Radwanska retires from tennis
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska announced Wednesday she is retiring from tennis after a 13-year career.
The 29-year-old Pole, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 2, says she is “no longer able to train and play the way I used to.”
Radwanska won 20 WTA titles in her career. She reached the Wimbledon final in 2012, losing to Serena Williams in three sets. Radwanska also reached the semifinals at the All England Club in 2013 and ‘15, as well as reaching the French Open semifinals in 2014 and ‘16.
“Taking into consideration my health and the heavy burdens of professional tennis, I have to concede that I’m not able to push my body to the limits required,” Radwanska wrote on her Facebook account.
Radwanska says she’s not leaving tennis completely, adding “it’s time for new challenges, new ideas, equally as exciting as those on the tennis court, I hope.”
Last year Radwanska married her coach and sparring partner, Dawid Celt.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda took to Twitter to wish her good luck and to thank her for all the “successes and wonderful promotion of Poland on courts across the world.”
