BASKETBALL

Schayes, 87, dies; helped revolutionize post position

Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, a 12-time All-Star who refined the big man’s role in the infancy of the National Basketball Association, has died. He was 87.

Schayes was diagnosed with terminal cancer six months ago and died Thursday after suffering a severe infection.

Schayes was the franchise player for the old Syracuse Nationals from 1948-63 and was voted one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. He revolutionized the post position, always in motion instead of just planting himself in the paint.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

UFC: The UFC wants bantamweight champion Holly Holm’s next fight to be a rematch with Ronda Rousey, but Holm would rather not wait.

UFC president Dana White said that “it’s Rousey” next for Holm (10-0), who dethroned Rousey (12-1) with a dramatic second-round stoppage last month in Australia.

Rousey, however, may need several months to recover.

SOCCER

FRANCE: Karim Benzema was indefinitely suspended from the French national team because of his involvement in an ongoing blackmail case, throwing his international career into doubt.

The Real Madrid striker has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape involving France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

GOLF

PGA: Jamie Donaldson of Wales had a sizzling opening round of 9-under-par 63 to take a three-stroke lead over three players, including 2013 winner Sergio Garcia in the Thailand Championship at Chonburi, Thailand.

BOXING

ENGLAND: Tyson Fury has been summoned by the British Boxing Board of Control in the new year following controversial comments by the new world heavyweight champion.

Fury has made remarks about homosexuals and abortion, some of which are being investigated by British police.

HORSE RACING

CONTROVERSY: A 3-year-old filly named Ruby Queen had never won a race until she appeared to blow past the field as a 110-1 longshot at an Ohio track.

But she was really a he.

Track stewards suspended three people and fined another after determining there was no intentional wrongdoing in a chain of mistakes that allowed the wrong horse to run under a different name last month at Mahoning Valley Race Course near Youngstown.

– From staff and news services

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