James mulling his options in free agency
NBA: LeBron James made a somewhat surprising visit to his Nike-sponsored basketball camp for high school and college players in Akron, Ohio, on Monday and arrived wearing a Yankees cap.
The New York Knicks would welcome another audience with James, preferably in New York. To follow up their meeting with him Thursday, team president Donnie Walsh sent two officials to Cleveland on Saturday morning to sit down with James’ agent, Leon Rose, and further explain their plan to rebuild with nearly $35 million in salary-cap space.
Amare Stoudemire, the newest Knick, promised to reach out to James.
It is believed, however, that James would prefer Chris Bosh as a teammate to Stoudemire.
• Wade back in Miami as free-agent wait continues: Heat fans missed a chance to make their case to Dwyane Wade.
No big deal. Micky Arison did it for them.
As Wade moved closer to deciding his future, he returned to Miami and was seen entering the team’s arena with team owner Arison, who wants to pay the six-time All-Star around $127 million for the next six seasons. The day started with a glitch – fans were told to show up at the wrong part of Miami’s airport to greet Wade – but Heat officials remained optimistic their star player isn’t going anywhere.
According to Wade’s agent Henry Thomas, Wade is still unsure of where he wants to play.
• Dumars says he isn’t interested in Nets’ job: Joe Dumars says he is not a candidate for a job with the New Jersey Nets. Responding to reports that he could be a replacement for Rod Thorn, the Detroit president insisted he doesn’t have “any interest in a basketball operations position with the Nets.”
All eyes on Tiger at Irish golf pro-am
Golf: Tiger Woods will headline an Irish charity tournament this week, though it could be his last with the No. 1 ranking.
Woods is preparing for next week’s British Open at St. Andrews and could lose the top ranking for the first time in five years before then.
Rival Phil Mickelson, ranked No. 2, missed a chance at the U.S. Open to move up the rankings. He’ll get another opportunity at the PGA-ranked Scottish Open this weekend at Loch Lomond. Woods is skipping that event.
Instead Woods will play in the J.P. McManus Invitational Pro-Am, a two-day event in Adare.
Russia wasted millions in Vancouver
Olympics: Russian government auditors say the country’s flop at the Vancouver Winter Olympics followed widespread misspending by sports officials and a dysfunctional bureaucracy.
The audit puts Russia’s total spending for the games, including preparations, at $186 million.
Russia, a traditional sports powerhouse, won only three gold and 15 total medals in Vancouver, putting the investment cost of each medal at $12.4 million.
The daily Vedomosti said the findings would raise pressure on Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko to resign.
• IOC president inspects London’s Olympic Stadium: IOC president Jacques Rogge has praised London’s Olympic Stadium after visiting the flagship venue for the 2012 Games.
Rogge, accompanied by London organizing chief Sebastian Coe, toured the 80,000-seat stadium on Monday at the start of the latest IOC inspection visit of the host city.
The two men helped drill the stadium’s 2,012th seat into place as construction crews worked on clearing the infield of the arena.
Rogge says the stadium is “beautiful” and “intimate” and will leave a “great legacy” for the city.
Georgia’s Evans resigns as A.D.
Miscellany: Damon Evans resigned as Georgia’s athletic director less than a week after he was arrested on a DUI charge.
School president Michael Adams made the announcement following a conference call with the executive committee of the athletic association’s board of directors. Evans became the Southeastern Conference’s first black athletic director in 2004.
• Niemi among 31 filing for salary arbitration: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi heads the list of 31 players headed to salary arbitration, the NHL Players’ Association said.
Niemi – who helped Chicago to its first Stanley Cup since 1961 – will be looking for a raise from the $827,000 he made in 2009-10.
The Oilers, Canucks, Thrashers and Capitals top the list of teams heading to arbitration with three players each.
• Wimbledon attendance mark broken for final Sunday: Wimbledon attracted a record crowd for the final Sunday of the Grand Slam tournament. The All England Club said that 32,036 spectators watched Sunday, which featured Rafael Nadal’s victory over Tomas Berdych in the men’s final.