BASKETBALL
Former Red Claws Rolle and West sign NBA contracts with Atlanta, New Jersey
The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Magnum Rolle and the New Jersey Nets signed guard Mario West for the remainder of the season, the Red Claws said on Monday. Rolle, a 6-foot-11 forward, will wear No. 25 for the playoff-bound Hawks.
A knee injury limited him to 15 games late in the season with Maine. He averaged 14.1 points per game, 5.5 rebounds in 25.9 minutes.
West, a two-year veteran in Maine, asked to be waived late last month to tend to a sick family member and was granted the request.
He first signed on with the Nets March 31, before being signed for the remainder of the season on Monday. He has averaged 19.3 minutes in six games with the Nets this season – including three starts. Over two seasons and 53 games with Maine, West put up 13.7 points per game.
TENNIS
MONTE CARLO MASTERS: Florian Mayer beat 10th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the first round in Monaco. The error-filled match saw numerous double faults and 13 breaks of serve, with Mayer breaking Youzhny seven times.
CLIJSTERS INJURED: Kim Clijsters may miss next month’s French Open after injuring her right ankle during a wedding party. A statement posted on her website said the injury would keep her out for at least four to six weeks.
SOCCER
PREMIER LEAGUE: Andy Carroll scored his first two goals for Liverpool since he was acquired in Britain’s most expensive transfer, helping the Reds to a 3-0 win over Manchester City in a match where Carlos Tevez left with an apparent hamstring injury.
Carroll, obtained from Newcastle in January for $56 million, scored from outside the penalty area with his favored left foot in the 13th minute and with a glancing header in the 35th.
Manchester City (16-8-8) is fourth with 56 points, three ahead of Tottenham (14-6-11) for the last Champions League berth. Liverpool (14-12-6) is sixth with 48 points, four ahead of city rival Everton (10-8-14).
CYCLING
CONTADOR RULING: The head lawyer for the Spanish cycling federation is confident the decision to clear Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of doping will be upheld by sport’s highest court.
Luis Sanz told Spanish news agency Europa Press that he is “completely optimistic” about the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He says the decision “corresponds not only to the law but also to the facts.”
Contador tested positive for clenbuterol in claiming his third Tour victory last year. He says the positive test came from eating contaminated meat and was cleared by the federation. But the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Cycling Union are challenging that decision. CAS is expected to rule by July 2.
HOCKEY
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Ken Hitchcock will coach Canada’s team at this month’s hockey world championships.
This will be Hitchcock’s first coaching job since he was fired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2010. He was an assistant on Mike Babcock’s Olympic staff in Vancouver.
Hitchcock has worked with seven national teams for Canada, including the 2008 world championship squad that won the silver medal in Quebec City.
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