What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Seattle SuperSonics great Fred Brown’s 1979 NBA championship ring fetched a winning bid of $115,242 at auction.
Brown’s wife, Linda, put the ring up for sale on the Grey Flannel Auctions website and it drew 29 bids. Brown said his wife plans to donate the proceeds from the ring and other sports memorabilia that were sold — including a Sonics road uniform for $4,061 and a pair of autographed sneakers for $2,052 — to charity.
Tweeted Seattle Times sportswriter Danny O’Neil about the ring: “Did Clay Bennett buy it?”
2
The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for Phil Jackson’s replacement is just beginning, but NBA coaching sources on Thursday described the Lakers as “very interested” in Rick Adelman as a candidate for the position.
Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw has the public endorsement of Kobe Bryant and is regarded as by far the strongest in-house candidate for the position.
Yet sources say Lakers officials are intrigued by the Adelman option, not only because of his history of success in Portland, Sacramento and Houston but also his reputation for thriving with veteran teams and the similarities between Adelman’s “corner” offense and Jackson’s “triangle” offense.
3
No Venus. No Serena. The French Open just got a bit uglier as far as American tennis goes.
Venus Williams withdrew from the second Grand Slam of the season, and with Serena also out, it’s the first time since 2003 there won’t be a Williams sister in a Slam.
Word of advice to U.S. tennis fans: Watch the French early or miss out.
