LDN - Sports

PRESS BOX: Blackhawks' Hossa to sit out due to skin disorder

[June 22, 2017] The Sports Xchange

Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will not play next season because of what he announced Wednesday as a "progressive skin disorder."

Hossa, 38, said he has been undergoing treatment under the supervision of the Blackhawks' medical staff. Sportsnet.ca in Canada reported Hossa's career could be over because of a severe allergic reaction caused by his hockey equipment.

Hossa said the side effects of the medications made it impossible for him to play in what would have been his 20th NHL season in 2017-18.

"Over the course of the last few years, under the supervision of the Blackhawks medical staff, I have been privately undergoing treatment for a progressive skin disorder and the side effects of the medications involved to treat the disorder," Hossa said in his Wednesday morning statement. "Due to the severe side effects associated with those medications, playing hockey is not possible for me during the upcoming 2017-18 season. While I am disappointed that I will not be able to play, I have to consider the severity of my condition and how the treatments have impacted my life both on and off the ice."

--The Pittsburgh Penguins will unveil their 2017 Stanley Cup championship banner on Oct. 4 before their season opener against the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena.

The NHL announced the home openers for all 31 clubs for the 2017-18 regular season. The league's complete 1,271-game schedule will be unveiled on Thursday.

Pittsburgh became the first team since the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998) to repeat as Stanley Cup champions by besting the Nashville Predators in six games earlier this month.

While the Penguins have been a long-time favorite in the Steel City, the expansion Vegas Golden Knights will play their first-ever NHL regular-season home game at T-Mobile Arena on Oct. 10 versus the Arizona Coyotes. The Golden Knights will open their season on the road against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 6.

NBA

--Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade is picking up his $23.8 million player option for next season.

The 35-year-old Wade informed the Bulls of his decision Tuesday night. The former Miami Heat star had until June 27 to inform the team.

When asked by TNT about his decision, Wade said: "24 million reasons."

The Chicago native averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in his first season with the Bulls in 2016-17. He played in 60 games and was sidelined late in the season with a fractured elbow. The scoring average was the second lowest of his 14-year career.

MLB

--The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum received a $1 million gift from Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.

Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' union executive director Tony Clark were at the museum in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday to announce the donation that will help with operating costs, expansion plans and educational opportunities.

"Because of the sacrifices and triumphs of the men and women of the Negro Leagues, the museum is an inspirational experience for fans of any age," Manfred said. "We appreciate the museum's contributions to baseball and the role it can play in encouraging young people."

The Negro Leagues had their share of stars, including future Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson -- who broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 -- getting their start on teams.

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TENNIS

--Former tennis star James Blake agreed to withdraw his excessive-force claim against New York City after he was mistakenly arrested and tackled by police nearly two years ago.

In exchange, a fellowship will be created in Blake's name that will bolster the work of the city's police watchdog agency, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill announced.

Blake, who ranked as high as No. 4 in the world before retiring after the 2013 U.S. Open, thanked the city of New York in a statement.

"It has been my intention since Day One to turn a negative into a positive, and I think this fellowship accomplishes that goal," Blake said.

--Sixth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria kept alive his bid to re-capture the Aegon Championship title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Julien Benneteau at the Queen's Club in London.

Dimitrov, who won the 2014 tournament, gained entry into the quarterfinals by recording 15 aces and saving five of six break points.

"I'm just focusing on my things and what I have to do. The outcome was great. I'm just happy that I won the match and I think even happier that I didn't play my best and I won," Dimitrov said. "I think with each match, the level gets higher and higher."

--Alexander Zverev continued his solid start to the grass season at the Gerry Weber Open, downing fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals in Halle, Germany.

Second-seed Dominic Thiem wasn't as fortunate as Robin Haase saved three set points to produce a 6-3, 7-6 (7) victory.

The 20-year-old and fourth-seeded Zverev picked up his first win over Kohlschreiber in three attempts, avenging 2015 losses in Munich and the U.S. Open.

--Playing her first tournament match in more than a year, former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka saved three match points before completing a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7) victory over Risa Ozaki of Japan to advance to the quarterfinals at the Mallorca Open in Mallorca, Spain.

The match had been halted by darkness on Tuesday with Ozaki holding a 4-3 lead in the third set.

After playing in the 2016 French Open, Azarenka sat out the remainder of the season to give birth to a baby, Leo. She had initially planned to start her comeback at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford, which begins July 31, but decided to begin more than a month earlier.

--Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Great Britain wild card Naomi Broady in the second round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, England.

Kvitova recorded seven aces and won 93 percent of her first-serve points to dispatch Broady in 62 minutes.

Kvitova posted 25 winners against just 11 unforced errors to topple Broady, who collected six aces in a losing effort. Kvitova, who is a two-time Wimbledon champion, advances to her first-ever quarterfinal match at the Aegon Classic. She'll face the winner of the second-round match pitting fifth-seeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic and China's Zhang Shuai.

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