La Crosse Tribune Sports News

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have returned to their home ice, hopeful the shift in venue will help spark a climb back into the Stanley Cup Finals with Pittsburgh.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Hall of Famer Jerry West has mounted an impassioned defense of LeBron James, saying those who criticize the Cleveland Cavaliers star's 2-4 NBA Finals record are "ridiculous."

DETROIT (AP) — Chicago White Sox left fielder Jason Coats exited Saturday's game against Detroit after an outfield collision in his major league debut.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg left with a slight limp in the sixth inning Saturday after having trouble returning from a rain delay.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers know what's being whispered — and sometimes shouted — at the NBA Finals.

CHICAGO (AP) — Jason Hammel allowed one hit over seven innings and snapped a tie with a two-run single to lead the sizzling Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — First, Canada's seven NHL teams were shut out of playoffs. Now, the nation's prospects are taking a backseat in a draft class top-heavy with international talent.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have traded pitcher James Shields and cash to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Erik Johnson and shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins president David Samson says the family of Muhammad Ali isn't unhappy about the team's premature tribute to the late heavyweight champion.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has returned to the lineup after missing six games with a bruised left thigh.

MIAMI (AP) — New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes has been scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Miami Marlins because of a sore right hip.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis says a $750 million public contribution toward a stadium is "the bottom line" on whether the team makes Las Vegas its new home.

BALTIMORE (AP) — New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rahaman Ali stood in a little house on Grand Avenue and dabbed his eyes as he shook hand after hand.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Muhammad Ali rumbled in the African jungle, put on a thriller in Manila, charmed them in London and taunted them in Tokyo.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have re-signed defenseman Brayden McNabb to a two-year contract.

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — A six-month jail term for a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman is being decried as a slap on the wrist.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks will be without top-line forward Tomas Hertl for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

LONG POND, Pa. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted this week that he had become a fan of the cult series "The Walking Dead."

He was fast of fist and foot — lip, too — a heavyweight champion who promised to shock the world and did. He floated. He stung. Mostly he thrilled, even after the punches had taken their toll and his voice…