PRO BASKETBALLCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said returning the All-Star Game to Charlotte in 2019 is a high priority, provided theres a resolution to a North Carolina law that restricts the rights of LGBT people.The NBA recently decided to move the 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans because it didnt believe it could successfully host the All-Star Game and related events in Charlotte under the climate created by the law known as House Bill 2. Los Angeles hosts the game in 2018.Silver spoke following a ceremony in Charlotte in which Hornets owner Michael Jordan unveiled the first of three refurbished neighborhood basketball courts.Several concerts and sporting events have been relocated from North Carolina because of HB2.PRO FOOTBALLNEW YORK -- NBCs flagship Sunday Night Football game had its smallest audience in five years this week, evidence of the NFLs new deflation issue.The game between Indianapolis and Houston reached 13.6 million viewers, removing the weekly broadcast from its usual spot at or very close to the top of the Nielsen company ratings. CBS Thursday night game scored slightly higher.To be fair, Indianapolis and Houston represents few fans idea of a marquee matchup. NFL ratings have been down in general this year, leading to much speculation about the cause. Intense interest in the presidential race is thought to be one factor in the slump.This season, NBCs prime-time games have been down 17 percent from last year, when ratings were at their peak for the telecast.UNDATED -- Independent medical observers stopped five NFL games in 2015 and two so far in 2016 -- the first two seasons in which the Medical Timeout has been employed as a method to identify players with major injuries or possible concussions.In its 2016 Health and Safety Report , the NFL said an average of 29 health care providers, including two unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, attend games. Many of them, along with on-field officials, can rule a player out due to a concussion or other severe injury.In a new move last season, the NFL stationed athletic trainers in spots high above the field and allowed them to watch replays -- and to call time out if they saw injuries that otherwise went unnoticed.BOSTON -- Bill Belichick is throwing in the towel in his ongoing fight with the use of tablets on the sideline.Responding to a question in a conference call about headset issues the Patriots had during last weeks win over the Bengals, Belichick said he cant take it anymore with the tablets, adding there isnt enough consistency in the performance of the devices.He also railed for several minutes about on-going issues with NFL technology, including the communication system between coaches in the press box and those on the field, as well as the coach-to-quarterback play calling system, which Belichick said fail on a regular basis.Earlier this season Belichick was caught on camera slamming down a sideline tablet following a Bills touchdown.Belichick said going forward hes going to stick with low tech -- printed images taken of plays during the game to help strategize on the sideline.DERRICK ROSE LAWSUITLOS ANGELES -- Lawyers for Derrick Rose and two friends say the woman accusing them of rape is a liar trying to trick jurors with her tears.The attorneys said in closing arguments in the civil trial that Roses ex-girlfriend faked the allegations to extort money from the NBA star.The defense says the woman was angry Rose dumped her after she willingly engaged in sex with him and his childhood friends in August 2013.Attorney Michael Monico says the woman had no evidence of rape, so she lied that she was too drunk to remember anything and tried to sway jurors with tears instead of evidence.The womans lawyer says the defense was slut shaming her by lying about her behavior that night. Her attorney says she was unconscious and couldnt consent to sex.PRO HOCKEYMONTREAL -- A man who took put a full-page ad in a Montreal newspaper to express his anger over P.K. Subbans trade from the Canadiens to Nashville is making a big donation to the popular defensemans charity.The Montreal Childrens Hospital said that Dr. Charles Kowalski and his wife are donating $250,000 to P.K.s Helping Hand Fund. The couple had originally pledged $50,000 to the foundation.Kowalski, an emergency room physician living in Ottawa, Ontario, and until recently a die-hard Canadiens fan, will make the check presentation Wednesday at the hospitals P.K. Subban Atrium.The Canadiens dealt the flashy Subban to Nashville this offseason for star defenseman Shea Weber.In a full-page ad in Thursdays Montreal Gazette, Kowalski thanked Subban for his time in Montreal and said the trade has shaken his belief in the Canadiens.AUTO RACINGCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will resurrect its series in Mexico behind new title sponsor PEAK, an automotive products company seeking to boost its profile.The rebranded NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will mark its return with an exhibition race in Mexico City in December. The series plans to run a full championship schedule next year.The announcement in Mexico City was attended by Daniel Suarez, who used the series as a starting point that led to his current ride with Joe Gibbs Racing.Suarez is currently tied for the lead in the Xfinity Series championship. He spent four years racing in NASCAR Mexico and won 10 races before graduating to the national series level. Hes the first Mexican driver to win a national series race and lead a national series in points. Nike Air Max 93 Canada . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Nike Air Max Canada Sale . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/air-max-uptempo-canada-sale.html . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Air Max 270 Sale Canada . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Air Max 97 Canada Sale . PAUL, Minn.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez understands the New York Jets starting quarterback job is still up for grabs. That doesnt mean he expects the final result to be anything different from what it has been the last four seasons: with him under centre leading the team every Sunday. "Naturally, as you progress in your career, you try and tighten up and hone in," Sanchez said Thursday after voluntary workouts. "But, like Ive said, this is something I dreamed about my whole life and now Im not planning on letting go." Sanchez is approaching this off-season as though he is the starting quarterback, despite his hold on the job being extremely tenuous. There is one less competitor in the mix, however, with David Garrard planning to retire because his balky left knee has continued to give him trouble. So with Garrard stepping away and New York cutting Tim Tebow two weeks ago, Sanchez, Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms are left on the roster. "Nothings changed," Sanchez said of his approach without Garrard on the team. "My mindset is the same: just stay focused, master this offence, improve on my fundamentals, be as accurate as possible, take care of the football and lead this team." It had been speculated by some that the competition to start would be between Garrard, Sanchez and Smith, despite GM John Idzik, coach Rex Ryan and offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg insisting it would be "open" to everyone. Now, Sanchez appears to have a clear advantage, although the organization is excited about the potential of Smith, the former record-breaking West Virginia quarterback who slid in the draft from a potential top-10 pick all the way to the second round. "He looks good," Sanchez said of Smith. "Hes sharp. He works hard, doesnt say too much. Just plays his butt off and competes. Thats great." Sanchez said Garrards retirement was "a little bit abrupt," but praised the 35-year-old veteran for "a career to celebrate." Now, Sanchez is the veteran of the bunch in the quarterback room. That could still change, of course, if the team pursues another experienced player to push Sanchez and mentor Smith, but there arent many options. The list includes the likes of Vince Young, JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Trent Edwards, Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch -- oh, and, Tebow. Sanchez, however, insists that McElroy and Simms should very much be in the quarterback conversation. "Dont count those other two out," he said. "Trust me, its a fierce deal. Were all excited." Sanchez is particularly thrilled to put a miserable season behind him in which he turned the ball over 26 times, including when he ran into the backside of guard Brandon Moore -- the blooper-reel favourite "Butt-Fumble" -- last November against New England. He was benched for the first time in his career late last season, and appeared to lose confidence.dddddddddddd And, the hits keep coming for Sanchez. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith said during a radio interview Wednesday that, "I wouldnt let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich." Sanchez took the high road, refusing to fire back and instead wishing Smith and the Panthers well. And, frankly, hes got bigger things to worry about these days. Mornhinweg said during a conference call with season ticket holders Wednesday that the Jets would have a "bona fide quarterback competition. Period." He added that he has thought a lot about how the snaps would be distributed in practices, but theres now one less quarterback to consider with Garrard no longer in the mix. Mornhinweg also indicated hed like someone to rise to the top of the competition "quicker rather than later." "I have no idea," Sanchez said when asked if he could be that guy. "Im focused on playing the very best I can. As soon as they tell me, Youre the guy; youre not the guy, then well know. Theyve given me no indication on when that should be." Sanchez has been working with Mornhinweg and new quarterbacks coach David Lee on cutting down his turnovers, making him throw the ball away in practice rather than forcing a play and making a mistake. "Marty touched on it," Sanchez said. "He said its a mentality. Theres a point where you bite your nails growing up or something and then you just stop. Whatever it takes, you just stop. Its a habit. It becomes a way of thinking and a way of making decisions on the field." Sanchez is also looking forward to playing in Mornhinwegs West Coast-style offence, something he was somewhat familiar with from his days at Southern California. "Im from the West Coast," he said with a big grin. He also spent time with Jeff Garcia, who played for Mornhinweg in Philadelphia, during the off-season and thinks this is a system in which he can be consistently successful. "I love to feel that way, and thats the way I do (feel)," Sanchez said. "I feel good about everything going in, about the progression of things." ------ NOTES: RB Chris Ivory, acquired during the draft from New Orleans, said he hasnt been told by the Jets hell be the No. 1 back but is preparing as if he will. Hell have a better opportunity to play than in New Orleans, where he was behind Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram. "It was just a tough situation over there," he said. "We all had our roles. Its just tough to fit four backs in a system." ... LB Quinton Coples was called out by Ryan last weekend for having a subpar day in the weight room, and the coach wanted to make sure last years first-round pick knew he was disappointed. "I agree with him," Coples said, adding that he "gave better effort" the next day, and "made sure that wont happen again." ' ' '