Newsmakers
Fined LeBron James has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for kicking a water bottle during Cleveland’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA says James kicked a water bottle with 12.4 seconds left in the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ 109-95 win Wednesday night.
Arrested Police have arrested two men in connection with an assault on Oregon kicker Rob Beard. Maurice Dion Peterson, 20, of Eugene, Ore., was taken into custody on second-degree assault charges on Wednesday. Kirby Taylor Hawkins, 19, of Portland, was arrested on Thursday. Beard was battered to unconsciousness early Sunday after intervening in a fight to help fellow place-kicker Mike Bowlin.
Out Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will not travel with the team to Houston for Portland’s two-game road trip. Roy, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, will be re-evaluated next Monday. The two-time All-Star has missed six of Portland’s last seven games due to his injury, including Wednesday’s 106-95 defeat to the Utah Jazz at the Rose Garden.
Hired Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor has been hired as Virginia’s offensive coordinator. New Cavaliers coach Mike London announced Lazor’s hiring Thursday. Lazor has been the quarterbacks coach at Seattle for the last two seasons.
Signed Jason Giambi’s $1.75 million, one-year contact with the Colorado Rockies was finalized Thursday, a deal that allows Giambi to spell Tood Helton at first base and serve as a pinch hitter. Giambi hit .292 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games for the Rockies last September, when he had two game-winning hits and helped Colorado win the N.L. wild card.
•Veteran pitcher Jose Contreras has finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 38-year-old right-hander went a combined 6-13 with a 4.92 ERA in 28 games last year with the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies.
Pleaded Two more Michigan State football players have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from a Nov. 22 campus fight. Receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell entered the pleas in district court Wednesday. Conspiracy charges were dropped and each player faces up to 93 days in jail.