AP-NW–Sports Right Now UPDATE/1042
49ERS-TEXANS-JOINT PRACTICE
49ers excited for upcoming joint practice with Texans
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After spending nearly two weeks only lining up against teammates, the San Francisco 49ers are looking forward to the opportunity to hit someone else for a change.
The Niners will hold a joint practice on Friday with the Houston Texans before the two teams open the exhibition season two days later at Levi’s Stadium.
While these sessions often come with increased intensity and occasional fights, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said he does not believe his players will cross any lines.
“They understand that you have to play with emotion, not let emotion play with you,” Kelly said. “It’s the same rules that you have in a game. If you get in a fight in a game, you’re not going to be around. So, it’s the same thing. We’re trying to get a good quality practice. We’re not trying to turn it into a WWE wrestling match.”
That has not always been the case. Two years ago, the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys got into a few scuffles in a joint practice in Oxnard that spilled over into the fans on the side of the field. One Raiders fan even tried to hit a Dallas defender with a replica helmet.
Niners rookie guard Joshua Garnett said it’s important to strike a balance between being aggressive and physical, while staying under control.
NBA SCHEDULE
Durant, Warriors to OKC on Feb. 11, Cleveland on Christmas
NEW YORK (AP) —Kevin Durant will return to Oklahoma City on February 11th and join the Golden State Warriors for an NBA Finals rematch at Cleveland on Christmas.
Dwyane Wade will return to Miami and Derrick Rose will go back to Chicago early in the 2016 to 2017 season, which was unveiled Thursday by the NBA.
The season begins October 25th in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers will raise their first championship banner against the retooled New York Knicks, which acquired Rose from the Bulls in June.
Later that night, the Warriors play their first game since Durant left the Thunder to join them when they host the San Antonio Spurs, who will be opening a new era for the franchise following Tim Duncan’s retirement.
Most of the league opens October 26th, including number one pick Ben Simmons making his NBA debut as Philadelphia hosts Oklahoma City.
UO RAPE INVESTIGATION
University of Oregon seeks dismissal of athletes’ lawsuit
(Information in the following story is from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge says it will take him several weeks to decide whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the University of Oregon by three former UO basketball players.
The Register Guard reports that The University of Oregon argued in court Tuesday that the case should be thrown out. The basketball players sued after they were suspended and banned from campus for up to 10 years after being accused of raping a female student at an off-campus party.
The university says the players violated the school’s code of conduct by engaging in sexual acts without explicit permission from the woman.
The athletes acknowledged having a sexual encounter with the woman but say it was consensual. They also argue that UO denied them due process.
GYMNASTICS COACH-CHILD PORN
Gymnastics coach gets 25 years for child porn charges
(Information in the following story is from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A former gymnastics coach in southern Oregon who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The Mail Tribune reports that Jeffrey Bettman was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Medford.
Bettman has been accused of secretly videotaping girls as they were changing clothes in Oregon and California.
Court documents say investigators found 49 child victims in the two states, including some as young as 8, over a nearly two-decade period.
Authorities say he worked at several gymnastic studios over the years, including one in Grants Pass.
A psychiatrist for the defense testified Thursday Bettman’s chances of reoffending if he were released after a minimum of 15 years would be “close to zero.”
BBM-EMERALDS-VOLCANOES
Mastrobuoni’s homer leads Eugene to 7-4 win over Salem-Keizer
KEIZER, Ore. (AP) — Marcus Mastrobuoni hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, leading the Eugene Emeralds to a 7-4 win over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Thursday. With the victory, the Emeralds swept the three-game series.
The home run by Mastrobuoni capped a four-run inning and gave the Emeralds a 5-1 lead after Wladimir Galindo hit an RBI double earlier in the inning.
The Emeralds later tacked on two runs in the eighth when Chris Pieters and Kevonte Mitchell hit solo home runs to secure the victory.
Duncan Robinson (2-0) got the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless, four-hit relief while Nick Sabo (2-1) took the loss in the Northwest League game. Michael Knighton recorded his fourth save of the season.
For the Volcanoes, Heath Quinn doubled and singled twice, driving in two runs. Gustavo Cabrera doubled and singled twice.
With the win, Eugene improved to 6-3 against Salem-Keizer this season.
BBM-AQUASOX-CANADIANS
Filia, Thurman and Venturino lead Everett in win
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Eric Filia, Nick Thurman and Joe Venturino each had three hits, as the Everett AquaSox beat the Vancouver Canadians 16-7 Thursday. With the victory, the AquaSox swept the three-game series.
Filia tripled and singled twice, scoring two runs. Thurman singled three times, scoring two runs.
Trailing 1-0, the AquaSox took the lead for good with seven runs in the second inning. The AquaSox sent 11 men to the plate as Austin Grebeck hit a three-run home run en route to the six-run lead.
The AquaSox later added eight runs in the third and one in the fifth to put the game away.
Paul Covelle (4-2) got the win in relief while Vancouver starter Dalton Rodriguez (2-6) took the loss in the Northwest League game.
With the win, Everett improved to 8-1 against Vancouver this season.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
