National Basketball Association franchise Utah Jazz will be full-fledged partners with an NBA Development League team this season.

The formal announcement came Tuesday when the Jazz issued a press release stating that they have entered into a single-affiliation partnership with the Idaho Stampede beginning with the 2014-15 NBA D-League season.

Utah, which has had five different D-League shared affiliates since 2005, thus becomes the record 17th NBA team to have a one-to-one affiliation with a D-League team.

The partnership, which is also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” is the ninth of its kind in the NBA D-League, according to the press release, and will enable the Jazz to manage all aspects of the Stampede’s basketball operations. Meanwhile, the Stampede’s existing local ownership group, headed up by Bill Ilett, will maintain primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

“Partnering with the Idaho Stampede is another step forward in the growth and expansion of our basketball operations and will provide us with an opportunity to further enhance the development of our young players,” Jazz team president Randy Rigby said. “Like the Jazz, the Stampede are a well-established franchise with a strong track record of success, and Boise’s proximity to Salt Lake and large contingent of Jazz fans make this the perfect fit. We look forward to working closely with Bill Ilett, Steve Brandes and the Stampede in our new single-affiliation partnership.”

Boise, located less than 350 miles from Salt Lake City, has had a strong Jazz fan base and several ties to the Utah organization for many years. The Jazz previously shared affiliation with the Stampede during the 2006-07 and 2011-12 seasons. The Stampede won the D-League championship in 2008.

“The Idaho Stampede are thrilled to partner with the Utah Jazz, as their new single-affiliate team in the NBA D-League,” said Ilett, who is the managing investor of the Boise team. “Randy Rigby, Dennis Lindsey and their entire organization exemplify what is great about the NBA.

“We are excited to be a part of the development of their new young squad of players over the next several years. Basketball fans in Southern Idaho have always loved the Jazz and we are all now part of the Jazz family.”

The National Hockey League has had to cancel all regular-season games until the end of November after not agreeing a new collective bargaining agreement with the players union.

The regular season was originally set to start on 11 October and the league scrapped all games up until 1 November a week ago because of the lockout.

A total of 326 games – 26.5 percent of the regular season – had been scheduled between 11 October and 30 November.

“The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

“By presenting a proposal to the NHLPA (players’ union) that contemplated a fair division of revenues and was responsive to player concerns regarding the value of their contracts, we had hoped to be able to forge a long-term collective bargaining agreement that would have preserved an 82-game regular season for our fans. Unfortunately, that did not occur.

“We acknowledge and accept that there is joint responsibility in collective bargaining and, though we are profoundly disappointed that a new agreement has not been attained to this point, we remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the players and the clubs – one that will be good for the game and our fans.”

French Olympic champion handballer Nikola Karabatic had been detained on Sunday, health alongside his brother Luka and eight other players in Montpellier amidst allegations of match fixing.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Karabatic is implicated in a scheme where $113, illness 000 was bet on a first division game between Montpellier and Cesson-Sevigne, prostate last year. According to the prosecutor this size of bet is highly irregular.

The suspects will face a judge Today. They face indictment over “sporting corruption” and fraud. If they are adjudged to be guilty then a prison sentence of up to five years and a $96,800 fine could be handed down.

President of the French Handball Federation, Joel Delplanque, did tell press that he hoped investigations would conclude “in [the] most serious and quick manner possible so that once and for all we will find out what happened — and who in fact was responsible for these anomalies we’ve now learned about.”

There have been several match-fixing scandals. The spot-fixing scandal involving Pakistani cricketers who were detained in Britain, several dalliances in Turkish soccer, and the Juventus soccer team still being embroiled in controversy following their recent Italian Serie A triumph have all made an international splash.

The man who guided France to a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics will find out his fate soon, but his defense claim that there is “no criminal case” to answer.

Chinese sportswear brands, such as Li Ning and Anta Sports Products, have lost favour with Chinese consumers who prefer foreign brands or casual clothes.

In recent years, Chinese consumers have shown a preference for the Western brands that have been cutting their prices while remaining fashionable.

High profile sponsorships such as Nike’s deal with  NBA player Jeremy Lin, who has a large fan base in China also benefit foreign brands.

Eugene Mak, an analyst for Research and investing company, Core Pacific-Yamaichi, said: “Because they do less on research or advertising, Chinese sports brands have lost touch with what consumers want. Foreign brands are more popular with China’s growing middle classes who can afford pricier and trendier products.”

Annual reports of Chinese sports brands showed inventory levels had increased from 36 percent to 58 percent between 2010 and 2011. The brands have also over expanded. Between 2007 and 2010, Anta and other Hong Kong-listed Chinese sports brands­— Li Ning, Xtep Int’l Holdings and China Dongxiang— opened a combined 9,900 stores in China.{jcomments on}

The New York Mets’ Citi Field will host Major League Baseball’s 2013 All-Star Game.

The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the second time that the Mets, who are commemorating their 50th anniversary in 2012, will host the Midsummer Classic.  Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All-Star Game, a 7-4 National League victory that featured 21 participating Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson, as well as MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre.

Commissioner Bud Selig said: “As we celebrate the franchise’s golden anniversary this year, I am pleased to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets and their loyal fans.  We are delighted to bring the Midsummer Classic to Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark that has carried on the remarkable National League tradition in New York City.  The Mets will be superb hosts to next summer’s greatest sporting event.”

“Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Selig, it’s a great honor for everyone at the Mets to host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field,” Wilpon said. “Mets fans and all people in the New York tri-state area and beyond will have the opportunity to take part in the events that Major League Baseball will bring to New York.”

“Next year’s All-Star Game is going to demonstrate once again that there’s no place like New York for world-class sporting events,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Major League Baseball clearly recognizes this, since they’re bringing the All-Star Game back to New York for the second time in just five years.” 

The 84th All-Star Game is scheduled to be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.  Further details on the history of the Mets and the Midsummer Classic are available in the accompanying Fact Sheet.

USA Team Handball and Pilatus Sports Management SA today announced that the Switzerland-based company has signed a multi-year contract for the BURRDA SPORT brand to be the Official Apparel Provider to USA Team Handball.  The announcement comes at conclusion of the 22^nd Men’s Handball World Championship.

Beginning this spring, order all USA Men’s and Women’s teams will wear BURRDA SPORT during official competitions, link training sessions and travel.  The broad partnership includes apparel for players, stomach coaches and training staff – with plans in the works for options for lifestyle line, shoes and handballs in the years to come.  The initial partnership includes a significant cash sponsorship by BURRDA SPORT and thousands of articles of merchandise.  BURRDA SPORT will also join the USATH Board of Directors.

General manager Steve Pastorino stated: “We have sought a partner like BURRDA SPORT for more than two years. BURRDA SPORT is a fast-growing brand seeking performance excellence and innovative partnerships.”

Indeed, Pilatus Sports Management SA announced its intentions for BURRDA SPORT to become a global player in sports with its sponsorship of the Qatar Football Association more than four years ago.

Pilatus Sports Management SA general manager Charles Diab stated: “We’re pleased to support the foundation of American handball. To make a brand relevant in the global fashion industry, you need to be in the USA.  We’re excited that USA Team Handball provides a platform for us to demonstrate our corporate mantra:  Challenge Yourself – and the status quo.”