HEY KINGS FANS, SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW OWNER
Shaquille O'Neal is joining the ownership group of the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings announced Monday that O'Neal has acquired a minority stake in the team under new owner Vivek Ranadive. The Kings will introduce the four-time NBA champion at a news conference Tuesday in Sacramento.
O'Neal tormented the Kings during the height of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, even dubbing the franchise the "Sacramento Queens." He also handed Sacramento its biggest blow by rallying the Lakers from a 3-2 deficit to win the 2002 Western Conference finals.
O'Neal retired after the 2010-11 season and has worked as an analyst for TNT the last two seasons.
ANDREW LUCK GETS THE BEST OF JIM HARBAUGH AND THE 49ERS
(AP) — Andrew Luck threw for 164 yards and ran for a 6-yard touchdown while facing college coach Jim Harbaugh for the first time, and the Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-7 win Sunday.
Trent Richardson scored a 1-yard touchdown on his first carry in his Colts debut after being acquired on Wednesday from the Browns. He was drafted two spots behind top pick Luck at No. 3 last year.
Ahmad Bradshaw added a 1-yard TD run in the final minutes, and Adam Vinatieri kicked a pair of field goals before missing a 51-yarder early in the fourth.
It was Colin Kaepernick's first home loss at Candlestick Park as a starter.
There were few bright spots for Kaepernick as San Francisco struggled to establish a passing game with tight end Vernon Davis sidelined by a hamstring injury.
SMITH TAKE INDEFINITE LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE ISSUES
(AP) — San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York says linebacker Aldon Smith will miss Thursday's game at St. Louis and perhaps sit out longer following his arrest Friday for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession.
York expects Smith will seek treatment on his own, but the 49ers won't interfere, saying "I think Aldon is going to take steps on his own." Smith started and had five tackles in a 27-7 loss to the Colts on Sunday.
Smith is a key pass rusher and sacks leader for the 49ers, and coach Jim Harbaugh had said leading up to Sunday that the NFL would decide how to punish the third-year pro, who turns 24 Wednesday.
Smith apologized after the game to the team, organization, his family and "everybody I let down," but didn't field questions.
RAIDERS GET READY FOR PEYTON AND BRONCOS
The Oakland Raiders know it will be an uphill battle when they take on the Denver Broncos tonight. The Raiders are coming off of a 19-9 win at home over Jacksonville, while the Broncos have been dominant in their two wins over Baltimore and the NY Giants. Peyton Manning has thrown 9 touchdown passes in Denver's two games.
THE A'S OUTDISTANCE BIG SPENDING RANGERS AND ANGELS AGAIN !!
(AP) — The Oakland Athletics are AL West champions again.
The A's clinched their 16th AL West title and 26th postseason appearance when Texas lost 4-0 at Kansas City on Sunday. Oakland was playing the Minnesota Twins.
With the Twins batting in the third, word started to circulate around the Oakland Coliseum of Justin Maxwell's two-out grand slam that beat the Rangers in the 10th inning to seal the division title for the A's. Some players kept glancing at the manual scoreboard in left field before the ending of the Royals-Rangers game was shown on the video board between innings.
It was quite a different scene than a year ago, when the A's won the AL West on the final day of the regular season by beating Texas.
YOENIS CESPEDES SPRAYS CHAMPAGNE AS THE ATHLETICS CELEBRATE THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT AL WEST TITLE
GIANTS PUT A DAGGER INTO YANKEES POST-SEASON PLANS ON MARIANO'S DAY
(AP) — After honoring Mariano Rivera and celebrating Andy Pettitte, the New York Yankees saw their AL wild-card hopes dim Sunday with a crushing 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees held a 50-game pregame ceremony and retired the No. 42 of Rivera, who announced during spring training that this will be his final season. Pettitte said Friday he also is leaving, and he started off with five hitless innings in what likely was his final Yankee Stadium start.
But Ehire Adrianza tied the score in the sixth with his first career home run. Leaving to standing ovations and a curtain call after Pedro Sandoval's leadoff double in the eighth, Pettitte (10-11) watched Tony Abreu hit a go-ahead double off David Robertson.
In danger of missing the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years, the Yankees dropped four back of Cleveland for the second AL wild card with six games left.
ROADRUNNERS TROUNCE SHASTA IN A MATCH-UP THAT IS FAR FROM A RIVALRY
The Butte College Roadrunners felt confident going into their Saturday night match-up with the Shasta Knights. That confidence was well placed after a decisive 65-0 win over their North State foes. The Roadrunners pass rush suffocated the Knights, not allowing for any cohesiveness offensively. Butte was able to score at will by punishing Shasta up front and building a 44-0 halftime lead.
The task gets more difficult for the undefeated Roadrunners as they face Delta College this Saturday at Cowan Stadium. Game time is 1pm
WILDCATS DO WORK ON THE ROAD AND STAY UNDEFEATED IN CCAA
It was a great weekend for the Chico State Volleyball team. The Wildcats hit the road to face Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. Chico gutted out a five-set win on Friday against the Otters and then bounced back for a four-set win over East Bay on Saturday. Chico now sits at 6-4 overall and 3-0 in the CCAA. Chico State will be home this weekend against Cal State San Bernardino on Friday and UC San Diego on Saturday at Acker Gym.
CHICO STATE WOMEN'S SOCCER SETTLE FOR A TIE ON THE WEEKEND
The Chico State Soccer teams played their CCAA home openers this weekend to mixed results. The Wildcat women played to a thrilling tie on Friday night. Chico trailed the Tritons 2-0 mid-way through the second half only to score two late goals to tie the match up. The tying goal scored in the 88th minute to preserve the tie. The Cats dominated for much of the evening, but couldn't take advantage of the numerous scoring opportunities. The Chico women fell on Sunday in overtime 1-0 to Cal Poly Pomona. The Chico State women's soccer team is now 3-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the CCAA.
14TH-RANKED MEN WIN OVERTIME THRILLER ON SUNDAY TO SPLIT THE WEEKEND
The Chico State men's soccer team lost their home opener on Friday 1-0 to UCSD. The Wildcats got off to a sluggish start and could not really recover. They were able to rebound with a 1-0 overtime win versus Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday. The Cats move to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the CCAA. Both the men and women hit the road for tough match-ups with Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills this coming Friday and Sunday.
