In brief: James remains hot in U.S. FIBA win
LeBron James couldn’t miss, not from 3-point range and certainly not while soaring for a series of powerful dunks.
James was 11 for 11 from the field, making all four of his 3-point attempts, and scored 26 points in the first half Wednesday night to lead the United States to a 118-79 victory over Uruguay in the FIBA Americas tournament in Las Vegas.
James raised his tournament-leading shooting percentage to 79.7 percent (47 of 59). He is 14 of 20 from 3-point range, a 70 percent mark that also leads the event.
“Mayor Mick Cornett said the suggestion that Oklahoma City officials have spoken with members of the Seattle SuperSonics’ ownership group about a possible move is “preposterous.”
“We’re not proactively pursuing any specific franchise right now and don’t feel like it’s appropriate to do so,” Cornett said.
“In Hong Kong, Yi Jianlian, the sixth overall selection in the NBA draft in June, signed a multiyear contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Ruben Patterson, a former Seattle SuperSonic who averaged a career-high 14.7 points with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. No terms were announced.
“Robert Mitchell, a 6-foot-6 forward who was the Atlantic 10 rookie of the year last season, has left Duquesne University’s team and plans to transfer to another school.
Soccer
Player dies after collapsing on field
Chaswe Nsofwa, a forward who played for Zambia at the 2002 African Cup of Nations, collapsed during a practice session in the Israeli city of Beersheva and died minutes later in a hospital.
It was unclear why Nsofwa collapsed, but temperatures on the field approached 100 degrees with low humidity.
“Chivas USA defender Alex Zotinca was fined $1,250 and suspended three games for head-butting Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Kevin Harmse last Thursday night in Carson, Calif.
“David Beckham left in the 30th minute of a SuperLiga final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Pachuca after straining his right knee when he fell in Carson, Calif. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
Football
Oklahoma will help family of recruit
The University of Oklahoma will ask the NCAA for a waiver to allow a booster to raise money for the funeral of a recruit who was killed last week.
Herman Mitchell, a 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker, orally committed in June to play for the Sooners, but the 17-year-old from Westfield High School in Houston was shot to death Friday after getting into a fight at an apartment complex.
“Former TCU linebacker LaMarcus McDonald was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge in Waco, Texas.
Miscellany
Duke lacrosse players will return
Four Duke Men’s lacrosse players, including national player of the year Matt Danowski, will return for a fifth season granted by the NCAA to restore a year lost amid rape allegations that led to charges that were dropped against three former teammates.
Goaltender Dan Loftus and defensemen Tony McDevitt and Nick O’Hara will join Danowski for the 2008 season.
“Helio Castroneves, a two-time Indy 500 winner, will compete on the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
When the season premieres Sept. 24, Castroneves will compete against contestants such as boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.