In brief: Alonzo Mourning leads class of 10 into Naismith Hall of Fame
BASKETBALL: Alonzo Mourning first thanked all of the usual people when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: His coaches, his teachers, and the foster mother who raised him.
Then he turned to those who made it possible for his unique journey to the sport’s highest honor.
With one of the doctors who performed his kidney transplant in attendance, Mourning discussed the disease that threatened his life and almost ended his career. He also thanked his cousin-turned-kidney donor, Jason Cooper.
Mourning was inducted Friday night in a class that included former NBA commissioner David Stern, NCAA championship-winning coaches Nolan Richardson and Gary Williams and six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond.
The women’s team from Immaculata College was also honored, along with Lithuania star Sarunas Marciulionis. Former Indiana Pacers coach Bob “Slick” Leonard, the late Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton of the New York Knicks and the late Guy Rodgers of Temple rounded out the class.
• Gay joins U.S.: The U.S. national basketball team has added Rudy Gay, who helped win a gold medal four years ago and asked to rejoin the team following a series of player withdrawals.
The U.S. roster is back at 16 players, but they will have to cut to 12 before the World Cup of Basketball begins on Aug. 30 in Spain.
• Sterling appeals sale: Deposed Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling asked an appellate court to block the $2 billion sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Lawyers for Sterling asked the Second District Court of Appeals to stay a probate judge’s ruling that cleared the way for the sale. They said the judge prematurely finalized his ruling so the sale can be completed without a chance to appeal.
Canadian Henderson advances
GOLF: Canadian teen Brooke Mackenzie Henderson advanced to the U.S. Women’s Amateur semifinals, beating UCLA’s Alison Lee 1 up at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, New York.
Henderson ended the match with a par halve on the par-4 18th. She had a 2-up lead before Lee cut it to one with a birdie on the par-4 17th.
Henderson will face 16-year-old Hannah O’Sullivan of Paradise Valley, Arizona, a 5-and-4 winner over 21-year-old former Pepperdine player Grace Na of Alameda, California.
• Park assumes lead: Inbee Park took the second-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic, birdieing her first three holes en route to her second straight 5-under 66 in Belmont, Michigan.
Suzann Pettersen was a stroke back, shooting a course record 64.
Williams sisters to meet in semis
MISCELLANY: Serena and Venus set up an all-Williams semifinal in the Rogers Cup.
The sisters both rallied to win their quarterfinal matches in the hard-court event in Montreal. Serena beat Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, and Venus topped Carla Suarez Navarro 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The 32-year-old Serena has won the last five matches against 34-year-old Venus to take a 14-10 edge.
• Tsonga upsets Murray: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the Rogers Cup semifinals with a second straight upset victory. The 13th-seeded Frenchman beat eighth-seeded Andy Murray 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 in Toronto.
• Young wins fifth stage: Eric Young sprinted to victory in the fifth stage of the Tour of Utah in Kamas, while defending champion Tom Danielson protected his lead in the overall standings. The peloton brought back a breakaway shortly after riders hit a section of dirt roads with less than 10 miles left.