SPORTS DIGEST || Wrestler Lawler set for Phantoms game

Wrestler Lawler set for Phantoms game

YOUNGSTOWN

Pro wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler will have a meet-and-greet and sign autographs with fans during the Youngstown Phantoms’ game against Team USA on Friday night. Tickets to meet Lawler start at $12.

Beltran interviews for Yankees manager

NEW YORK

Carlos Beltran has interviewed to become manager of the New York Yankees, four weeks after the final game of his 20-year major league career.

The 40-year-old Beltran was a nine-time All-Star and played for the Yankees from 2014-16. While he does not have any managerial experience, he mentored young teammates during his final seasons as a player, when he often was a designated hitter.

Beltran won his first World Series title with Houston this season, and Astros manager A.J. Hinch credited Beltran’s clubhouse presence with steadying the team during its seven-game win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Beltran met with team officials Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Four cities finalists for next MLS expansion

NEW YORK

Four cities are in the running to join Major League Soccer.

MLS announced Wednesday that Cincinnati; Detroit; Nashville, Tenn.; and Sacramento, Calif., are finalists for two expansion clubs.

Owners and officials representing the expansion markets will make presentations to MLS Commissioner Don Garber and the league’s expansion committee on Dec. 6 in New York.

The next two MLS expansion teams will be selected before the end of the year. Two more expansion teams will be picked later.

Another guilty plea on docket for Nassar

CHARLOTTE, MICH.

A sports doctor who treated elite female gymnasts, including Olympians, is returning to a Michigan court for another guilty plea in a sexual assault case.

Larry Nassar is appearing Wednesday in Eaton County, Mich., a week after pleading guilty in a separate case in Ingham County. He’s charged with molesting three girls with his hands at Twistars gymnastics club.

In a third case, Nassar will be sentenced in federal court Dec. 7 for possessing child pornography. Meanwhile, more than 100 women and girls are suing him.

The 54-year-old Nassar worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

Bulls’ Mirotic accepts teammate’s apology

CHICAGO

Chicago Bulls forward Niko Mirotic says he has accepted Bobby Portis’ apology, more than a month after the two teammates had an ugly altercation at practice.

A day after he sat on the bench for the first time all season, Mirotic finally spoke publicly Wednesday about the Oct. 17 incident that left him hospitalized with two facial fractures and a concussion. Portis served an eight-game suspension. Mirotic didn’t return to practice until Monday.

The two players were seen giving each other a fist bump during Tuesday night’s 104-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Three more Russians banned from Olympics

LAUSANNE, SWITERLAND

Three more Russian bobsledders have been disqualified from the 2014 Olympics for doping.

Alexander Kasyanov, Alexei Pushkarev and Ilyir Khuzin were banned based on evidence that Russia operated a doping program at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The Russian teammates finished fourth in the four-man bobsled but had been due to move up to the bronze when the original gold medal-winning Russian sled was disqualified, also for doping offenses.

The bronze could now go to the British team if the International Olympic Committee formally reallocates the medals.

From staff and wire reports