played a Test off the bench against Samoa last year while prop

BASEBALLNEW YORK -- Max Scherzer celebrated aboard a boat off the British Virgin Islands, doused by college pals on a floating party.Rick Porcello enjoyed the moment at his parents home in New Jersey, surrounded by family, friends and a few bottles of wine.As for Justin Verlander, well, fuming supermodel Kate Upton brought the heat for her fiance.Teammates for five seasons in Detroit, the three right-handers topped the Cy Young Award talk Wednesday: Scherzer easily won the NL prize, Porcello edged out Verlander for the AL honor.Porcello, who led baseball with 22 wins for Boston and had a 3.15 ERA, won despite getting just eight of the 30 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America -- the first time the AL Cy winner didnt get the most firsts.Verlander went 16-9 with a 2.40 ERA while leading the AL in strikeouts and other categories. He got 14 first-place votes, but didnt draw as much support across the board -- he was left off two ballots, too.LOS ANGELES -- Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday at the White House.Scully retired last month after spending his entire 67-year career in the booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He turns 89 on Nov. 27.Scully is one of 21 recipients of the Medal of Freedom announced Wednesday, including NBA Hall of Famers Kareen Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan.HOUSTON -- Right-hander Charlie Morton agreed to a contract with Houston, giving the Astros two of the best groundball pitchers in the majors.Morton accepted a $14 million, two-year deal that includes annual salaries of $7 million and performance bonuses of $625,000 apiece for 12, 20, 25 and 30 starts each season.Morton, who ranks second in the majors among active pitchers in career groundball to fly ball ratio (2.48), joins a staff that features last years American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, a lefty who leads the league in that category (2.84).NFLNEW YORK -- -- First-year eligibles LaDainian Tomlinson, Hines Ward, Jason Taylor and Brian Dawkins are among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fames class of 2017.Joining them as first-time semifinalists is tackle-guard Chris Hinton, who retired in 1989 but has made this cut for the first time.The other 21 candidates -- there was a tie for 25th in voting by Hall of Fame selectors as the list was trimmed from an original 94 -- all have made it this far in the past.Two coaches, Don Coryell and Jimmy Johnson, have made the semifinals. So has placekicker Morten Andersen, the NFLs career scoring leader.Previously nominated by the veterans committee was safety Kenny Easley, and by the contributors committee were Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.The 2017 class will be selected on Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl. Between four and eight new members will be chosen.NBADALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says the teams decision not to stay at Donald Trump-branded hotels in New York and Chicago was made before the presidential election.The billionaire technology entrepreneur declined to elaborate on the decision, telling The Associated Press it was made months ago. Not recently.Cuban was a frequent critic of Trump during the campaign and supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who lost to the Republican president-elect.ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported that Dallas, Memphis and Milwaukee were among the teams that moved away from Trump-branded hotels in New York and Chicago. The network reported that the decision was made in part to avoid any implied association with Trump.NEW YORK -- Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy says he has used the term posse before, and it was always in regards to minorities.A day after LeBron James criticized Knicks President Phil Jackson for using the word in an interview to describe James friends and business partners, Van Gundy was reflective when thinking about his own words, calling on people to be aware of their language and attitudes.COLLEGE BASKETBALLKENT, Ohio -- Kent States players made their home opener memorable, and it had little to do with winning.In a sign of unity they hope catches on, the Golden Flashes invited fans onto the court to stand with them during the national anthem before their game against Mississippi Valley State.Moments before tip-off, Kent States players went into the crowd and each of them asked a fan of a different race to join them while the schools Flasher Brass pep band performed the anthem.Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said the players approached the coaching staff with the idea.HOCKEYTAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee and will be sidelined indefinitely.General manager Steve Yzerman announced the diagnosis after Stamkos returned home for further evaluation of the injury the two-time NHL scoring champion suffered Tuesday night in a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.Stamkos, who last summer re-signed with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008 rather than testing free agency, scored his ninth goal against the Red Wings and leads the NHL with 20 points in 17 games.The six-time All-Star center grabbed the back of his knee and limped off the ice to the dressing room after colliding with Detroits Gustav Nyquist along the boards.Its the third significant injury Stamkos has had over the past three years.CALGARY, Alberta -- Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau was scheduled to undergo surgery for a fractured finger.Gaudreau suffered the injury in Tuesdays 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild. The team said a timeline for his return will be provided in the coming days.Gaudreau left Tuesdays game early in the third period after taking a slash to the hand.NEW YORK -- International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel said he had a good discussion Wednesday with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association Executive Director Don Fehr about the worlds top hockey players participating in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.Bettman described the meeting as constructive and candid.Still lots of issues, Bettman wrote in an email to the AP.Fasel said his job is to raise funds for the players transportation and insurance. The International Olympic Committee does not want to cover those costs as it has the previous five Olympics. Fasel hopes to persuade the IOC to financially support the NHLs participation. Tzu-Wei Lin Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Ryan Weber Red Sox Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. https://www.cheapredsox.com/2691z-michael-chavis-jersey-red-sox.html .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Mike Shawaryn Red Sox Jersey . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Mookie Betts Jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Hawkes Bay hooker Ash Dixon has replaced Charlie Ngatai as captain of a new-look Maori All Blacks squad for their three-match tour in November.Five of the six uncapped players are forwards, along with Tasman half-back Billy Guyton, for the tour which opens next week against the United States in Chicago.The other new faces are Wellington hooker Leni Apisai, Northland flanker Kara Pryor, Canterbury flanker Reed Prinsep, Taranaki lock Leighton Price and Waikato lock/flanker Whetu Douglas.Two All Blacks are in the 26-man squad. Half-back Brad Weber played a Test off the bench against Samoa last year while prop Kane Hames did the same against Australia in Sydney two months ago.A notable selection is that of former Crusaders and Hurricanes midfield back Tim Bateman, 29, who hasnt played in New Zealand since taking up a Japanese contract two years ago.Dixon takes over as skipperr from Taranaki and Chiefs midfield back Ngatai, who is still recovering from concussion suffered late in the Super Rugby season.ddddddddddddThe Chicago game falls one day before the All Blacks face Ireland in the same city.The Maori side then travel to Limerick to face Irish club Munster on November 11 before concluding the tour against English club Harlequins in London.Maori All Blacks:Backs: James Lowe, Matt Proctor, Sean Wainui, Jason Emery, Tim Bateman, Marty McKenzie, Ihaia West, Otere Black, Brad Weber, Billy GuytonForwards: Akira Ioane, Shane Christie, Kara Pryor, Reed Prinsep, Whetu Douglas, Tom Franklin, Jacob Skeen, Leighton Price, Kane Hames, Marcel Renata, Chris Eves, Ben May, Mike Kainga, Ash Dixon (capt), Leni Apisai, Joe Royal. ' ' '