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Lakers-Clips ppd. following Kobe's death

(AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

LOS ANGELES (AP) The NBA has postponed the Los Angeles Lakers' next game against the Clippers on Tuesday night after the deaths of retired superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash.

The league announced the decision in a statement Monday, saying it "was made out of respect for the Lakers organization."

Bryant's helicopter crashed Sunday, and the Lakers learned about it while flying home from an East Coast road trip. LeBron James and several other players appeared to be visibly affected by the news when they got off the plane.

Expert: Pilot may have got lost in fog

CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) The pilot of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles, killing former NBA superstarKobe Bryant and eight others, told air traffic controllers in his last radio message that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer, an accident investigator said Monday.

The pilot had asked for and received special clearance to fly in heavy fog just minutes before Sunday's crash and was flying at 1400 feet (427 meters) when he went south and then west, said Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board, which went to the crash scene Monday to collect evidence. (MORE)

Hunt says he would have failed drug test

CLEVELAND (AP) Browns running back Kareem Hunt told a police officer he would have failed a drug test if he had been checked during a stop when he was ticketed for speeding and marijuana was found in his car.

Hunt was cited for speeding - but no other charges - last week when he was pulled over while driving on a highway in Rocky River, Ohio. In a dashboard camera video released Monday, Hunt was apologetic and emotional while discussing his situation with the officer. (MORE)

Reds give Castellanos $64M, 4-year deal

CINCINNATI (AP) Free agent outfielder Nick Castellanos signed a $64 million, four-year deal Monday with the Reds, Cincinnati's latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing.

The deal allows Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent after the 2020 or 2021 seasons. He gets salaries of $16 million in 2020, $14 million in 2021, and $16 million in 2022 and 2023. There's a mutual option for 2024 at $20 million with a buyout of $2 million. (MORE)

Diamondbacks get OF Marte from Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) When the Arizona Diamondbacks landed ace Madison Bumgarner in free agency last month, the three-time World Series winner made a surprising offer, one that came with a very urgent catch. Bumgarner told the Diamondbacks they could defer some of the money on his five-year deal if they promised to spend the up-front savings on making the club better in 2020. (MORE)

Nadal beats Kyrgios, reaches quarters
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Rafael Nadal left the muttering and the preening, the underarm serving and the 'tweening, to his younger, flashier opponent, Nick Kyrgios. Surely, Nadal was content to collect the win in the latest installment of their rivalry. (MORE)

Browns to bring back Eagles' Berry as GM

LSU brings back Pelini as new DC

Mic'd up umps may reveal replay rulings
NEW YORK (AP) Big league players, managers and fans might be hearing a lot more from umpires this season. Replay review decisions could be announced at the ballpark by umps wearing microphones, several people familiar with the plan told The Associated Press on Monday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made. (MORE)

Baylor remains No. 1, top 7 unchanged