LeBron James’ “favorite player” in the 2014 NBA Draft now has something in common with James: both are former Miami Heat players. The Sun Sentinel confirmed Sunday that the Heat will trade Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a future protected second-round pick. In the immediate wake of the Heat selecting the championship point guard out of UConn in 2014, James posted on Twitter, “My favorite player in the draft! #Napier.” Heat President Pat Riley denied that Napier was selected at James’ behest or to appease James, who was an impending free agent at the time. Now Napier is gone. The deal, initially reported by Yahoo Sports, is expected to be finalized today. Napier was acquired in the first round of the 2014 draft in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, a move that James supported, before James left a month later in free agency for a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. James had lauded Napier as the best point guard in college basketball during the 2013-14 NCAA season. The trade with the Hornets not only cost the Heat the pick utilized on Napier but also a 2014 second-round pick that was utilized on Semaj Christon, a 2019 second-round pick and cash in order to move up two spots to select Napier.
SOCCER
U.S. to play in St. Louis
The U.S. soccer team will play its first qualifier for the 2018 World Cup at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Nov. 13. The United States, ranked No. 34, was placed into Group C Saturday when the draw was announced and has a bye in the first three rounds of qualifying, along with the other powers of the North and Central American and Caribbean region. In other news involving the U.S. soccer team, it will play Mexico in a playoff for CONCACAF’s spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup. The match will be held Oct. 9 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. CONCACAF announced the location after Mexico beat Jamaica in the Gold Cup final Sunday night.
• Andres Guardado scored his fourth goal of the knockout rounds, not needing a penalty kick this time, and Mexico won its seventh CONCACAF Gold Cup title Sunday with a 3-1 victory over upstart Jamaica in Philadelphia. Jesus Corona and Oribe Peralta added goals as Mexico scored twice early in the second half to ensure this match wouldn’t come down to any calls in the final minutes. It was a convincing performance for Coach Miguel Herrera and his team after some shaky play and contentious moments in the previous two games. Jamaica had made a rousing run to the final, stunning the U.S. in the semifinals to become the first Caribbean nation to reach the Gold Cup’s championship match.
FOOTBALL
Bisciotti issues denial
Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti issued an emphatic denial of a report alleging that he attempted to exert pressure on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to uphold Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. Brady has appealed the punishment, which stems from his alleged role in “Deflategate,” with an NFL investigation concluding that the former NFL most valuable player was aware of intentional deflating of footballs and didn’t cooperate with investigator Ted Wells. ESPN reported that owners, including Bisciotti and Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay, want Goodell to not reduce Brady’s league discipline. “I have not and will not put any pressure on the Commissioner or anyone representing the NFL office to take action in what everyone is calling ‘Deflategate,’ ” Bisciotti said in a statement issued by the Ravens. “The story circulating that I have put pressure on Roger [Goodell] is 100 percent wrong. The reports are unfair to Robert Kraft, who is an honorable person, and to his franchise. Let’s talk about football and the start of training camps. Fans and people like me want the issue resolved now.”
• The Minnesota Vikings have signed kicker Blair Walsh to a contract extension. The new deal was done Sunday, the first day of training camp for the team. Terms weren’t disclosed. Walsh was a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 out of Georgia and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Walsh set an NFL record by making 12 consecutive field goals from 50-plus yards to start his career, 10 of which came in his first season.
• The Indianapolis Colts released starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus on Sunday, a surprising move less than a week before players report to training camp. Cherilus had been a staple of the offensive line the past two seasons. He started 29 games, including two playoff games, in 2013, but the 31-year-old Haitian struggled with injuries last season and was put on season-ending injured reserve in December. He had offseason knee surgery. The Colts hoped Cherilus would be healthy for training camp even as they plugged second-year guard Jack Mewhort into Cherilus’ spot during offseason workouts.
HORSE RACING
Curalina wins on ruling
Curalina won the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course when first-place finisher I’m a Chatterbox was disqualified to second for interference in the final strides. It was the second consecutive day a feature race was decided by disqualification. On Saturday, Uncle Vinny was promoted to victory when first-place finisher Magna Light was placed third for interference in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes. Both Curalina and Uncle Vinny were ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and trained by Todd Pletcher. Multiple graded stakes winner I’m a Chatterbox, under jockey Florent Geroux, led a field of seven 3-yearold fillies from the starting gate into deep stretch. As 4-5 favorite Curalina began to bear down and mount a challenge three strides from the wire, I’m a Chatterbox drifted to her right and bothered Curalina. Following a short inquiry and objection by Velazquez, Curalina was placed first and returned $3.90, $2.60 and $2.10 for her second consecutive Grade 1 victory and fourth consecutive overall. The winning time was 1:49.74 for 1 1/8 miles. I’m a Chatterbox returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Include Betty paid $3.20 to show.
MOTOR SPORTS
Vettel wins for first time in Hungary
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel won an action-packed Hungarian Grand Prix for the first time on Sunday, while Nico Rosberg blew his chances of catching Lewis Hamilton in the title race when he punctured a tire near the end.
Four-time F1 champion Vettel started third on the grid. It was his 41st career fictory and first since the Malaysian GP in the second race of this season.
Red Bull took advantage of late chaos as Russian driver Daniil Kvyat placed second and Daniel Ricciardo, who clipped Rosberg, took third.
Vettel’s victory put the German driver back into the title race, as Hamilton finished sixth and Rosberg placed eighth.
A poignant minute’s silence was held before the race in honor of Jules Bianchi, who died earlier this month from injuries sustained in a crash last year, with drivers forming a ring and placing their race helmets on the ground. Bianchi’s mother Christine and father Philippe, brother Tom and sister Melanie joined them as they all linked arms on the Hungaroring grid.
The race completely changed after German driver Nico Hulkenberg crashed and the virtual safety car came out, with Vettel in total control at that point.
With five laps to go and Hamilton well out of contention, Rosberg was catching Vettel. But Ricciardo — the winner last year — tried a daring overtaking move and instead ran into the back of the German driver, puncturing his left tire.
Instead of gaining points from Hamilton, Rosberg slipped further back in the title race.
Starting from pole position for the ninth time in 10 races this season, and 47th overall, Hamilton got away cleanly the first time.
But the race was re-started because Brazilian driver Felipe Massa was out of position on the grid.