Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri is being sued by the California police officer he scuffled with in the moments after his team won the NBA championship last June.
The clash between Ujiri and the officer happened moments after the final buzzer as Ujiri rushed to the court to celebrate with his team. Authorities say Ujiri tried to walk past the officer, but the officer stopped him because he didn’t see Ujiri’s on-court credentials, which led to the confrontation.
Video of the incident doesn’t capture the entire sequence of events, but following a lengthy investigation the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office decided last October not to file any criminal charges against Ujiri.
That hasn’t stopped Alan Strickland, the deputy involved in the confrontation, from filing a lawsuit.
Strickland alleges in his lawsuit that Ujiri hit him in the face and chest with both fists.
Strickland also says in the lawsuit, filed last week in California, that he was physically injured and has since suffered “severe emotional and physical distress” as a result of what happened. In the days following the game, a lawyer representing Strickland said Strickland suffered a concussion and jaw injury that forced him to take medical leave.
Strickland is also suing the Raptors organization, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and the NBA, arguing that “they knew, or should have known” that Ujiri “had a violent predisposition and propensity for physical violence.”
The lawsuit doesn’t say how much Strickland is suing for, but notes it’s more than $75,000 US. Strickland is also seeking punitive damages and money to cover medical expenses and lost earnings.
Strickland’s wife, Kelly Strickland, is also listed as a plaintiff in the case.
CBC News has contacted the Toronto Raptors organization for comment.
An MLSE spokesperson said the organization has just been made aware of the claim.
“We have no comment at this time,” they said by email.
Ujiri expressed relief after he was cleared of criminal wrongdoing last fall. “While these past months have been difficult waiting for a determination on this matter, I understand the nature of the process and am appreciative of the efforts of all involved,” Ujiri said at the time.
“I am happy that this is now behind me and I look forward to the task of bringing another championship to the city of Toronto.”
In recent days, Ujiri has been travelling in Africa alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On the court, the Raptors are trying to extend a franchise-record 14-game win streak in Toronto on Monday night when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
OTTAWA – American receiver Justin Hardy will miss the Ottawa Redblacks’ regular-season finale Friday.
Hardy, who leads the CFL in receptions (97) and is second in receiving yards (1,343), was listed off Ottawa’s depth chart Thursday. Hardy was named Wednesday as the Redblacks’ nominee for the league’s outstanding player award.
American Andrew Miller will start in Hardy’s place.
Ottawa (8-7-1) concludes its regular season hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-10). The Redblacks have already clinched third in the East and will visit the Toronto Argonauts (10-7) in the division semifinal Nov. 2.
Hamilton has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Incumbent Dru Brown is listed as Ottawa’s starting quarterback.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — AC Milan’s weekend match at Bologna in Italy’s top soccer league has been postponed, Bologna officials announced Thursday following extensive flooding in the central Italian city.
The Serie A match had been scheduled for Saturday.
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, large parts of which have been hard hit by torrential rains and bad weather for days.
The game was not immediately rescheduled.
“Following the flood that affected Bologna, intense work is underway to clean up the situation,” the city of Bologna said while announcing the game postponement on X.
BASEL, Switzerland – Canada’s Denis Shapovalov advanced to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday.
Shapovalov used a strong service game to overcome the Spanish veteran for the win at the ATP 500 event in just under one hour 40 minutes.
The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., fired 18 aces, including one to set up match point in the second-set tiebreaker, and won 79 per cent of first-serves and 63 per cent of second-serve points.
Shapovalov, a former top-10 player on the ATP Tour, entered this year’s Swiss Indoors ranked 95th and will appear in just his second quarterfinal of the season.
He improved to 3-0 against Bautista Agut, who he beat in July en route to a quarterfinal appearance in Washington.
Shapovalov will next face the winner of a match scheduled for later Thursday between defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
