Sports
Damon Jones agrees to plea deal in federal gambling case
Jul 13, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League head coach Damon Jones gestures during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones accepted a plea agreement, becoming the first to take a deal in the federal gambling investigation that led to more than two dozen arrests.
Jones, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, one day after former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier learned prosecutors were adding charges against him.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in brief comments in the courtroom.
Jones confessed to participating in what feds labeled “Operation Royal Flush” and being a “face card” in at least three rigged poker games between October 2020 and September 2023. He said two of the games were held in Miami and he participated knowing the games were rigged.
Evidence shared by the prosecution placed Jones at all three games through witness testimony and text messages recovered from seized cell phones and iCloud accounts and wire activity detected in interstate transfers of funds. The investigation turned up technology that made cheating easy without detection, the prosecution said.
Sentencing was scheduled for January 2027.
His guilty pleas on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo were in two separate federal cases in which Jones is named: U.S. v. Earnest and U.S. v. Aiello.
A sentencing range of five years to 78 months was tied to the case prior to the arraignment late last year. Jones agreed on Tuesday to the terms of forfeiture of no less than $38,000 tied to his winnings during the scheme.
Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA and crossed over with LeBron James in Cleveland and Miami, later coaching without an official title with the Lakers. Prosecutors contended he shared privileged information, including at least one instance involving James’ injury status against the Milwaukee Bucks, for the ill-gotten gains of a professionally-tied gambling ring.
The sentence in that case is not more than 27 months.
Jones initially pleaded not guilty in December. He can be credited up to two years for entering a plea agreement.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sparks tab Stacy Johns as team president
Mar 14, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Bay FC CEO Stacy Johns cheers with the fans during a game against Denver Summit FC in the second half at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Stacy Johns has been named the president of the Los Angeles Sparks, the team announced Tuesday.
Johns began a short stint as the CEO at Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League on March 2 but decided to return to Southern California for family reasons. That came on the heels of a five-plus-year run as the chief business officer at Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.
“This opportunity brings together two things that matter deeply to me — leading an iconic franchise at a pivotal moment for women’s basketball and being back in Los Angeles with my family full-time,” Johns said. “Having been part of building something special at LAFC, I’ve seen what’s possible in this market, and I’m incredibly energized by the opportunity to help build something meaningful here — building on the Sparks’ legacy while shaping what comes next.”
Prior to her time with LAFC, Johns spent 16 years with the Indianapolis Colts. The Indiana native held senior leadership roles in finance with the team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Star-studded trio finalists for NHL's Ted Lindsay Award
Jan 29, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) looks to make a pass in front of San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (71) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov and Macklin Celebrini were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Tuesday.
The award goes each year to the most outstanding player in the NHL, as chosen by members of the NHL Players’ Association. The three finalists were among the top four points scorers in the NHL in the 2025-26 season.
Kucherov is the reigning award holder.
The date of the trophy announcement was not disclosed.
Edmonton Oilers center McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) over 82 games. He is a four-time Lindsay Award recipient, most recently following the 2022-23 season, and is a seven-time finalist. Only Wayne Gretzky is a five-time winner.
McDavid, 29, had a 20-game point streak from Dec. 4-Jan. 13, tallying 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in that span. He captained the Oilers to a second-place finish in the Pacific Division at 41-30-11 (93 points).
Kucherov, 32, has played for only the Tampa Bay Lightning since he entered the NHL in 2013. The forward the NHL with a points-per-game average of 1.71 and was tied for third in the league with a plus-43 rating. From Dec. 20-Jan 12, Kucherov registered 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 10 games.
This is Kucherov’s fourth time as a finalist and he has won twice — 2018-19 and 2024-25.
Celebrini, 19, was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Sharks and recorded 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games, which was fourth in the NHL but a San Jose franchise record. He is striving to become the first Sharks player to win the Lindsay Award. The center helped the Sharks improve to a 39-35-8 record (86 points), bettering their 20 wins and 52 points from his rookie season.
The finalists for the remaining NHL Awards will be announced one per day. On Wednesday, the NHL will reveal the finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given to the top goaltender.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Two ex-Fordham players banned after betting probe
Mar 11, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Fordham Rams guard Will Richardson (1) looks to drive past Dayton Flyers guard Koby Brea (4) in the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Two former Fordham men’s basketball players received permanent bans from the NCAA on Tuesday after a lengthy gambling investigation.
The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions found that Elijah Gray and Will Richardson participated in potential game manipulation for sports betting reasons.
According to the investigation, a $10,000 bet was placed on a February 2024 game involving Fordham in which the bettor wagered that the other team would win. NCAA enforcement staff identified three members of the roster with connections to the bettor, including Gray and Richardson.
Another member of the team told investigators he overheard Gray, Richardson and another student-athlete discussing the idea of throwing a game for money.
Gray admitted to agreeing to participate in the scheme in exchange for a payment of $10,000 to $15,000, but said he reconsidered and played with his normal effort and Fordham won the game. Richardson has denied involvement and he declined to cooperate with the investigation, which itself is an NCAA violation.
Gray, a 6-foot-8 forward, played two seasons at Fordham (2022-24) before transferring to Temple for the 2024-25 season. He transferred again to Wisconsin but was dismissed from the program last October amid the investigation. Gray averaged 5.7 points in 61 games (nine starts) for the Rams.
Richardson, a 6-foot-3 guard, played three seasons at Fordham (2022-25) before transferring to Albany, where he was dismissed from the program in December without appearing in a game. He averaged 7.9 points in 73 games (41 starts) for the Rams.
The bettors involved in the plot were indicted in January by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on wire fraud and bribery charges related to sports contests.
–Field Level Media
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 29, 2026
Sparks tab Stacy Johns as team president
