Off the Wire

Lakers to sign Williams, Bass

Basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers say they plan to sign guard Lou Williams, last season's Sixth Man of the Year, and forward Brandon Bass.

Williams averaged a career-high 15.5 points and helped Toronto win a franchise-record 49 games in 2014-15, his lone season there. The Lakers have upgraded their guard rotation by adding Williams after drafting Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick.

Bass averaged 10.6 points while playing all 82 games for Boston.

Deals can't be signed until Thursday, but General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Sunday in a news release that the Lakers are negotiating with both players and intend to sign them once the free agent moratorium ends.

FOOTBALL

Ex-Chiefs executive dies

Longtime Chiefs executive Jack Steadman, the architect of the only Super Bowl-winning team in franchise history, has died. He was 86.

The team said Steadman died early Sunday of natural causes. Steadman had been dealing with Alzheimer's disease in recent years.

A longtime friend of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, Steadman helped establish the American Football League and the Dallas Texans, the franchise that would ultimately move to Kansas City.

He became general manager in 1966, building the team that beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl four years later. He became president of the Chiefs in 1976 and remained active on its board of directors until his retirement at the end of the 2006 season.

• Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul severely injured his hand in a July 4 fireworks accident in South Florida, according to multiple media reports -- this, as his future with the team is in limbo.

The Giants said late Sunday afternoon that they still had not gathered all the facts after Andy Slater, host of WINZ in Miami, first reported the incident. The extent of the injury is unknown as Pierre-Paul was conferring with doctors Sunday night, according to ESPN, which also reported that the injury does not appear to be career-threatening.

The league confirmed the injury Sunday afternoon via NFL.com.

On Saturday, multiple Twitter users, some claiming to live near Pierre-Paul, posted messages and pictures of a U-Haul truck full of fireworks, which they said belonged to the Giant.

Pierre-Paul's injury puts him in a particularly precarious situation because his future with the Giants was not guaranteed and he does not have a contract for next season. He had yet to sign his $14.8-million franchise tender since he has until the July 15 deadline to negotiate the long-term deal that he was hoping for.

MOTOR SPORTS

Hamilton wins British GP

Lewis Hamilton seized back control of the British Grand Prix after being overtaken on the first corner to win his fifth race of the season on Sunday in Silverstone, England, and strengthen his Formula One title defense.

A Mercedes one-two was just as forecast -- with Nico Rosberg completing a ninth consecutive double podium for the team -- but a thrilling rain-affected race defied gloomy paddock talk about the predictability of the sport.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari was third.

Back-to-back victories at Silverstone for Hamilton gave the home fans just what they wanted from the pole-sitter, who fought back after dropping down to third at the start.

The victory extends Hamilton's lead over Rosberg in the championship to 17 points.

Doug Kalitta earned his second Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday at NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Kalitta secured his 37th career victory by driving his dragster past Antron Brown in the final round. Kalitta had a time of 3.823 seconds at 322.34 mph while Brown's machine lost traction and trailed with a 3.918 at 307.79.

Jack Beckman, Greg Anderson and Karen Stoffer also won at the NHRA stop west of Cleveland.

Beckman beat Courtney Force in the final round for his third Funny Car victory of the season. Beckman's final-round performance of 4.211 seconds at 301.67 mph in a Dodge Charger R/T was enough for his 18th career victory.

Anderson earned his fourth Pro Stock victory of the season and No. 78 for his career by holding off rookie Drew Skillman in the final round. Anderson posted a 6.592 at 212.19 to finish just of front of Skillman, whose Camaro clocked a 6.594 at 211.43.

In the third pro final round featuring a pair of female finalists in NHRA history, Stoffer defeated Angelle Sampey to take the Pro Stock Motorcycle victory. Stoffer earned her second victory of the season and eighth of her career on a Suzuki when Sampey fouled at the start on her Buell.

BASEBALL

Pirates claim Ishikawa

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed first baseman Travis Ishikawa off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

Ishikawa, 31, was 0 for 5 in six games for the Giants this season. He also hit a combined .266 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI in 37 games with Class AAA Sacramento and Class A San Jose.

Ishikawa was the Pirates' opening day first baseman last season, but was designated for assignment April 19.

He signed with the Giants six days later and hit a game-ending home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Championship Series to give San Francisco its third pennant in five seasons.

The Pirates will make another roster move once Ishikawa reports.

• The Atlanta Braves recalled right-hander Arodys Vizcaino and promoted right-hander David Carpenter from Class AAA Gwinnett on Sunday.

In corresponding moves, right-hander Nick Masset and left-hander Dana Eveland were designated for assignment. Masset was charged with three runs and failed to record an out in the 10th inning of Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The hard-throwing Vizcaino was suspended for the first 80 games for a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol. He was activated to Gwinnett's roster on Friday.

Vizcaino was acquired from the Cubs in an offseason trade for infielder Tommy La Stella.

Carpenter signed as a minor league free agent on Jan. 17. He was 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 30 games with the Angels from 2012-2014.

HORSE RACING

Brown has big weekend

Trainer Chad Brown capped a big holiday weekend of turf stakes victories with Goldy Espony taking the $100,000 River Memories for older fillies and mares on Sunday at Belmont Park.

It started Friday at Belmont when Daring Kathy captured the $100,000 Perfect Sting. Brown then won the $1 million Belmont Oaks on Saturday with undefeated Lady Eli improving to 6 for 6. He also finished 1-2 in the $500,000 United Nations at Monmouth Park on Sunday when Big Blue Kitten beat Slumber.

Goldy Espony led all the way and beat Dido by 2 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile stakes. Granny Mc's Kitten was third.

A 4-year-old bred in France, Golden Espony got her fifth victory in 11 starts. Kendrick Carmouche was aboard as she paid $8.20, $5.10 and $3.20.

Dido returned $8.90 and $5.20, while Granny Mc's Kitten paid $3.80 to show.

The time was 2:29.77.

Sports on 07/06/2015

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