La Crosse Tribune Sports News

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Former NFL executive and player Merton Hanks has been named senior associate commissioner of Conference USA.

DETROIT (AP) — Seattle Mariners scheduled starter Adrian Sampson has left Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers before throwing an official pitch.

Former UW offensive lineman Al Johnson also joined the Badgers' staff as a graduate assistant this spring.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan wants the NFL to study how medical marijuana could help players.

The shoes cost $99 and will be officially released July 15.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The head of Brazil's intelligence agency in Rio de Janeiro says many countries are voicing concern about security during the Summer Olympics after the major attacks in Orlando, Florida, San Bernardino, California and Paris.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Romanian court has sentenced the former chairman of the Romanian Professional Football League to seven years in prison for tax evasion, embezzlement, and money laundering.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ben Affleck gave former ESPN personality Bill Simmons' new HBO talk show a lively start with a five-minute, expletive-filled rant on "Deflategate."

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Eight-time All-Star outfielder Darryl Strawberry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday's game between the Biloxi Shuckers and Montgomery Biscuits at MGM Park.

But a draft-day trade of center Greg Monroe could change the focus for Milwaukee.

PRO HOCKEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Taylor was still wearing his Washington Nationals uniform when he met with reporters after a disastrous night Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasiel Puig was wearing his "Make Baseball Fun Again" cap after Wednesday night's game.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sin City finally has its first major league sports team. Now the question is what to call it.

NEW YORK (AP) — Becky Hammon is having a pretty good week.

CHICAGO (AP) — It was once the ultimate feel-good story, with the electrifying Derrick Rose leading his hometown Chicago Bulls to heights they had not reached since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were racking up championships.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Keith Yandle signed with the Florida Panthers early Thursday, three days after the team acquired the high-scoring defenseman's negotiating rights in a trade with the New York Rangers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin is trying to find the best way to snap his team out of its current funk.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Derek Law grew up rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He wanted nothing more than to beat them Wednesday night.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Max Kepler made up for a costly error with a tying single in the fifth inning and the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh as the Minnesota Twins handed the Philadelphia Phillies their eighth straight loss, 6-5…