Johnson cards 64 Johnson cards 64 ADVERTISING to lead the Colonial Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas — Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial. Johnson opened
Johnson cards 64
to lead the Colonial
Associated Press
FORT WORTH, Texas — Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial.
Johnson opened his round with a 40-foot birdie putt on his first hole, No. 10. After blasting from a greenside bunker at No. 12 to save par, he had four birdies in a row on a day when gusty wind whipped through the big oaks lining the fairways at Hogan’s Alley.
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, is winless since his victory in the 2010 Colonial. That year, he shot 65-66-64-64 to finish at a tournament-record 21-under 259.
SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Roger Chapman shot a 3-under 68 to take the first-round lead at difficult Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich.
The Englishman is playing only his second tournament of the year after tying for 16th this month in the European Senior Tour’s Mallorca Open.
John Cook was a stroke back in the major championship, and Steve Pate, J.L. Lewis, Jeff Sluman, Jay Haas, David Frost and Jim Carter followed at 70.
Source: Bobcats
to interview Sloan
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Bobcats will interview Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan today for their vacant head coaching position.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made its list of candidates public.
The 70-year-old Sloan spent 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz before resigning in February 2011. He hasn’t coached since.
Sloan first told SI.com on Thursday that he plans to meet with Bobcats officials.
James, Kobe lead
All-NBA team
LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the All-NBA team, while Kobe Bryant earned his 10th first-team selection, tied for second on the career list.
Bryant, a first-team pick for the seventh straight season, joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit, and Jerry West with 10 selections to the first team. Karl Malone is the leader with 11.
James, who won his third MVP award, received 118 of a possible 120 first-team votes Thursday from a panel of writers and broadcasters. Joining him on the first team were scoring champion Kevin Durant, Clippers point guard Chris Paul and Magic center Dwight Howard.
Guards Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook were selected to the second team along with forwards Kevin Love and Blake Griffin and center Andrew Bynum.
Gov: NJ to start its
own sports betting
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — New Jersey will defy a federal ban and let people bet on the outcomes of football, basketball and other games this fall, Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference highlighting efforts to reinvigorate Atlantic City, Christie said the regulations his administration will issue next week make no attempt to overturn a 1992 federal law that limits sports betting to four states.
“We intend to go forward,” the Republican governor said. “If someone wants to stop us, then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse racing industry to get it implemented.
“Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to try to prevent it? Yes,” the governor said. “But I have every confidence we’re going to be successful.”
The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment on Thursday.
Yankees adamant that
they’re not for sale
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees say they aren’t for sale.
The Daily News reported Thursday that there were rumors in Major League Baseball and New York banking circles that the Steinbrenner family “is exploring the possibility of selling the Yankees.”
Not so, says Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner.
“It is pure fiction,” he said. “The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come.”
Almirola takes pole
at Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. — Aric Almirola took the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 192.940 mph Thursday night, giving Richard Petty Motorsports a front-row sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s longest race.
Teammate Marcus Ambrose was second at 191.598 in qualifying for the Sunday night race.
Almirola and Ambrose took advantage of cooler track conditions late in qualifying. Jimmie Johnson, who won last week’s All-Star race, was third, followed by Greg Biffle.
