Update on the latest sports

MARK CUBAN-ASSAULT ALLEGATION

Mavs owner Mark Cuban denies 2011 sex assault allegation

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is denying a 2011 allegation of sexual assault after a weekly alternative newspaper in Oregon published details of a case that prosecutors didn’t pursue, saying they didn’t believe there was evidence to support the claim.

The report in the Willamette (wil-AM’-it) Week in Portland, Oregon, came two weeks after a Sports Illustrated account that portrayed a hostile work environment for women in the front office of the Mavericks.

The woman claimed Cuban reached inside her pants while they were taking a picture in a Portland nightclub. In an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Cuban wrote, “It didn’t happen.”

In a report explaining why they weren’t pursuing the case, prosecutors wrote that “there is no evidence to corroborate the complainant’s statement and there is evidence contradicting the claim.” The report also said the woman didn’t want to proceed with the allegation.

MLB-RANGERS-LINCECUM

Lincecum to wear 44 with Rangers in honor of late brother

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — After wearing No. 55 for his entire major league career, Tim Lincecum will switch to 44 with the Texas Rangers in honor of his late older brother.

Sean Lincecum’s funeral was Saturday, which delayed Tim Lincecum from taking the physical needed to finalize his $1 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. The two-time Cy Young Award winner passed the physical Tuesday and said he will wear the number his brother used as an amateur.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels said the 33-year-old right-hander will be a reliever and could be the Rangers’ closer as he attempts to pitch in the big leagues for the first time since 2016.

Lincecum has made only eight regular-season relief appearances and seven in the postseason.

Texas anticipates the four-time All-Star will throw bullpen sessions and batting practice before getting into a spring training game.

FIGURE SKATING-WORLDS-HANYU

Hanyu to skip figure skating world championships

TOKYO (AP) — Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu will miss this month’s world championships because of pain in his right ankle.

Hanyu, who became the first back-to-back Olympic men’s figure skating champion in 66 years at last month’s Pyeongchang Games, damaged ligaments in his ankle after falling in practice at the NHK trophy in November.

The 23-year-old Japanese skater recovered to successfully defend the title he won at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The world championships will take place in Milan, Italy, from March 21-25.

LPGA-EVIAN MASTERS-PRIZE MONEY

Evian Masters increases prize money

PARIS (AP) — Evian Championship organizers will increase the prize money at the women’s golf major to $4.1 million in 2019.

A first increase of $200,000 will be implemented this year, with an extra $250,000 added from 2019.

Organizers say the increase is aimed at strengthening the event’s “position just behind the U.S. Women’s Open as the second-largest purse of the five majors in the women’s Grand Slam.”

The tournament will also move from its current September date to a July date from 2019.

At the inaugural Evian Masters in 2000, players competed for $1.8 million. When the event became a major in 2013, the prize money was increased to $3.25 million.

OBIT-DURHAM

Woody Durham, longtime voice of Tar Heel sports, dies at 76

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Woody Durham, the retired “Voice of the Tar Heels” who called North Carolina football and basketball games for four decades, has died. He was 76.

The university says Durham died Wednesday from complications of the neurocognitive disorder that had prevented him from public speaking.

Durham called UNC games from 1971 through 2011. He worked more than 1,800 games, including 23 bowls and 13 Final Fours. His voice became inextricably tied to some of the school’s most unforgettable victories, notably national basketball championships in 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009.

He wrote in an open letter to fans in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with a condition that affects language expression.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-STADIUM

Chanting protesters shut down Temple stadium town hall

(Information in the following story is from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chanting community members protesting Temple University’s plan to open a $135 million football stadium on its campus shut down a town hall meeting meant to address their concerns.

The university’s president was to speak, and then architects were to present plans and then answer questions. Philly.com reports that about 10 minutes into President Richard Englert’s remarks Tuesday night, some people in the crowd started to shout “liar!” when he said no one would be displaced.

A group of about 100 people then began chanting: “No new stadium!” Englert was escorted out by police.

The protesters say the school isn’t taking into consideration the effects the stadium would have on their underserved residential area.

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