NBA Rookie of the Year KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, All-Star Boston Celtic ISAIAH THOMAS, L.A. Lakers D'ANGELO RUSSELL and JORDAN CLARKSON will travel to China May 31-June 14 to support the continued growth of basketball and celebrate the NBA Finals with Chinese fans. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the players at a series of activities, including NBA Finals viewing parties, basketball clinics, meet-and-greets and TV appearances (NBA). ... Team Sky cyclist SERGIO HENAO has "been cleared to return to racing following analysis of his biological data." Sky withdrew the Colombian from competition "in April over the results of out-of-competition blood tests" (BBC, 5/31). ... New Zealand Rugby has offered SONNY BILL WILLIAMS a "three-year deal to remain in his homeland, and the powerhouse midfielder is understood to be close to accepting the deal." NZR CEO STEVE TEW "would not confirm Williams' acquisition at Sunday's All Blacks squad announcement in Auckland, but a three-year deal has been tabled and the cross-code star is close to signing on to the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/30). ... Bayern Munich CEO KARL-HEINZ RUMMENIGGE has backed Dutch FA (KNVB) President MICHAEL VAN PRAAG for the UEFA presidency saying that the Dutchman would be "a modern and democratic but also a courageous president." Rummenigge said that van Praag "would be an ideal medium-term solution to replace MICHEL PLATINI, who is serving a four-year ban from football." Rummenigge, who is also chair of the European Club Association, is backing van Praag and said, "He'd have one advantage. He's 69, and would only do it for two-and-a-half years" (ESPN, 5/31).
MAKING PEACE: New ManU Manager JOSÉ MOURINHO "made peace with BOBBY CHARLTON" as Mourinho met the Old Trafford icon at the club's Carrington training ground on Monday. Charlton has "previously been a harsh critic of Mourinho and was understood to have objected to his potential appointment." Charlton: "He pontificates too much for my liking. He's a good manager, though." Mourinho "shared a warm embrace" with Charlton and, in reference to Charlton’s goals in England’s semifinal victory over Portugal in the 1966 World Cup jokingly told him: "You killed my country’s dream in 1966 but even so, all the best." Charlton responded, “I am very happy to see you here," before Mourinho told him to "save the kind words until he starts winning matches" (AFP, 5/31).
