NBA: Cavs’ Irving ready to practice
Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving has been cleared to practice after missing 10 games with a broken finger. Irving has been sidelined since breaking his left index finger in a Nov. 18 game against Philadelphia. He played in Cleveland’s following game before medical tests revealed a non-displaced fracture.
GOLF: British writers honor McIlroy
Rory McIlroy won the Golf Writers Trophy for winning five times around the world and finishing the season as the undisputed No. 1 player in golf. The award from the British-based Association of Golf Writers was close. McIlroy received just under half of all first-place votes on a ballot that included Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team, the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team and Roger Chapman for winning two senior majors.
BOXING: Gatti joining Hall of Fame
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti didn’t live to see his finest day. Gatti, who won world championships in two different weight classes, heads the class of 2013 to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The honor, announced yesterday, comes three years after his untimely death.
A native of Calabria, Italy, who was raised in Montreal, Gatti retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9 with 31 KOs and was selected in his first year of eligibility. Gatti died three years ago in Brazil at age 37 under mysterious circumstances.
ETC: More hot water for Armstrong
Lance Armstrong was notified by the UCI that he has been stripped of all the titles he won after July 1998 and the American has three weeks to appeal, a spokesman for cycling’s world governing body said yesterday.
* The Tigers agreed to a one-year deal with catcher Brayan Pena. … The Pirates re-signed free-agent reliever Jason Grilli to a two-year, $6.75 million deal.
* Texas Tech said offensive line coachChris Thomsen will serve as interim coach of the Red Raiders for their bowl game against Minnesota. … Colorado hired San Jose State’s Mike MacIntyre as its new head coach. … South Carolina junior running back Marcus Lattimore, coming off knee surgery, will enter the NFL Draft. … UTEP hired Sean Kugler as its new grid coach.