The Cavaliers sat F LeBron James, G Kyrie Irving and C Kevin Love for Saturday night's game against the Clippers on ABC, and the NBA called Cavaliers GM David Griffin to "complain" about the move. This is the "second consecutive week in which a marquee team rested its stars in the NBA's Saturday prime-time slot on ABC," after the Warriors did the same (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/19). A "chant of 'We want LeBron' broke out at Staples Center during the first half" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/19). Griffin said, "From a fan's standpoint it hurts. But it's the right thing for us" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/19). ABC's Mark Jackson: "This is an absolute joke. ... Something's got to be done" (SI.com, 3/19).

NCAA President Mark Emmert said that the organization was "standing behind the firm position it has staked out on anti-discrimination protections for athletes and fans." Emmert was in Greenville, S.C., after games were moved from Greensboro, N.C., due to the state's controversial HB2 law. He added, "We have stated very clearly our views and values. I fully expect the board and I will act accordingly" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18). Duke for tonight's second-round game in Greenville would be playing its "own version of a home game had HB2 been rejected or repealed." Instead, the team will be "playing in front of a raucous pro-South Carolina crowd – as the higher seed" (USATODAY.com, 3/18).

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial board wrote, "If you thought there was any hope of the NCAA and ACC returning to North Carolina without repeal, consider the chances of that when three of the game’s most admired, accomplished and respected people take to the national stage to criticize the law." The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Mike Lupica writes, "Good for Mike Krzyzewski for calling out North Carolina's bathroom laws for being as stupid and insensitive as they are."

The U.S. eliminated the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic last night before a "sellout crowd of 43,002" at Petco Park, beating the defending champions 6-3 to earn a spot in the semifinals. The U.S. will face Japan Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. This is the "second time in four editions of the WBC" that the U.S. has "advanced to the semifinals" (AP, 3/19). The fans at the stadium were "excited, with the Americans loudly chanting "USA! USA!" (ESPN.com, 3/19).

USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes, "You can't argue that this was USA's greatest victory in the WBC." The L.A. TIMES' Bill Shaikin writes this was the "best of the World Baseball Classic, the kind of night that brought to life the vision of this tournament: a sellout crowd, a nine-inning serenade of chants and cowbells and drums and horns, and a thriller between two of the world’s best teams." Shaikin: "It was loud. It was fun. It was tense."

The A's on Saturday launched a new ad campaign titled, "Rooted In Oakland," with a series of TV spots that emphasize the club's commitment to building a new ballpark in Oakland. The ads, created in conjunction with Hub Strategy & Communication, S.F. were shot in Oakland and feature local band The Phenomenauts' song, "Theme For Oakland." All five spots can be viewed on the A's website (A's). The campaign also will include a "flood of billboards, 122 light pole banners and an 80-foot mural on the side of a building" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 3/18).

Offseason workouts include cardio, weights, and @SFBART trains. #AsCommercials #RootedInOakland https://t.co/FB2soni8Wx pic.twitter.com/RtoZEmclwU

— Oakland A's 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) March 18, 2017

USA Hockey on Friday "went public with the negotiations" it is having with the women's national team, releasing financial terms that were "immediately disputed as the players continue to say they will boycott" the IIHF World Championship that starts this month. In a statement, the players said USA Hockey had provided "patently false information." A source said that the players "sought about $72,000 per year" in recent negotiations. USA Hockey said that it has "offered the women as much as $90,000 each based on the team's performance" (USATODAY.com, 3/18).

Boxer Gennady Golovkin's win against Daniel Jacobs by unanimous decision at MSG last night drew a sellout crowd of 19,939 (BOXINGJUNKIE.com, 3/18). This was the kind of fight night that "decades ago made boxing one of the most popular sports in the country." The card "pitted four of the best fighters in the world who fought with a passion and fury that makes the sport so enthralling at its best." It was one of those nights where the fans "filed out with smiles on their faces, no matter who they were rooting for" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/19).

Michael Conlan's pro boxing debut was "promoted as a noisy return for Irish boxing" in N.Y., and Friday night, on St. Patrick’s Day, Conlan "delivered on his end of the big, loud deal" by beating Tim Ibarra in front of a sellout crowd at MSG Theater. The arena's smaller room was "full of Irish fans, some of whom had traveled across the Atlantic to witness Conlan's debut" (WSJ.com, 3/18). Conlan "closed the show in Round 3" in front of the crowd of 5,102, and UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who was in Conlan's corner, "celebrated by throwing a miniature flag" (USATODAY.com, 3/17).

Atlanta United asked fans on Twitter "how the experience was" at yesterday's home game against the Fire "compared with two weeks ago." Some of the 45,000 fans on hand said that it took "just five minutes" to get into Bobby Dodd Stadium and "purchase a beer" after it took 45 minutes just to get into the venue for the first game. Other fans reported that "lines were still more than 10 minutes long to purchase beer at halftime." The club and Georgia Tech Athletic Association spent the past two weeks "trying to improve the experience" with the "addition of more food and beverage vendors, more ushers at the gates, more beer pourers" and other changes (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/19).

For a look at past winners and nominees, click here.

Fifth-year FAU AD Patrick Chun and fourth-year Eastern Michigan AD Heather Lyke have been "considered as candidates" for the open AD position at Pittsburgh. Northern Illinois AD Sean Frazier and Syracuse Senior Deputy AD Herman Frazier are also possibilities (POST-GAZETTE.com, 3/17).

The Sounders will hold their home opener against the Red Bulls today at CenturyLink Field in front of "more than 40,000 fans." The game is their first home appearance since winning the MLS Championship and many players "realize it will be a special moment" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/18).

The Timbers Army supporters group "unveiled a Statue of Liberty-themed tifo ahead of Saturday's game" against the Dynamo as part of the "Show Racism the Red Card" initiative (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/19).

About a dozen people protesting the U.S. Women’s Open being played at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., "left peacefully" from the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa yesterday after security officials "asked them to leave the front entrance of the LPGA Tour’s Bank of Hope Founders Cup" (AP, 3/18). 

Seventeen items of Steelers memorabilia in "The Pittsburgh Steelers Archive of Exceptional Jerseys" were sold yesterday in online bidding at Lelands.com. The value of the items "totaled $327,055" (TRIBLIVE.com, 3/18).

The L.A. Marathon was run today, beginning at Dodger Stadium with an expected 24,000-plus runners participating (L.A. TIMES, 3/19).

Wisconsin's 65-62 upset of Villianova in the round of 32 at KeyBank Center drew a "raucous crowd of 19,261" to "witness a thrilling conclusion to the NCAA's latest stop" in Buffalo (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/19).

"I'm not mocking them. I'm just saying – making the playoffs would be a gigantic accomplishment for them" – Former Knicks and MSG President Dave Checketts, on how expectations have changed for the franchise since Owner James Dolan took over (NYTIMES.com, 3/17).

"It's bad for the student-athlete who has to get to class Monday, it's bad for the team that has to travel and it's really bad for our fans ... It is detrimental to our attendance" – Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw, on ESPN setting a 9:00pm ET Sunday start time for the team's NCAA Tournament game against Purdue (AP, 3/19).

"Yes, for a lot of reasons. Settling it on the field was really the most important to me" – Judge Richard Berman, on whether he was happy Patriots QB Tom Brady won Super Bowl LI in light of Deflategate (MMQB.SI.com, 3/17).

W Magazine goes with the header, "Inside The Cult Of Nike, The Reigning Champion Of March Madness." Nike’s "zeal for design has made it a defining force not only in sportswear but in popular culture." There is "plenty of evidence of Nike’s commitment to design on the 400 acres of Oregon forest and marsh now occupied by the Nike campus."

THE MMQB goes with, "Richard Berman: 'Deflategate Is Finally Put To Rest.'" The judge who "first heard Tom Brady vs. the NFL was happy to see the matter finally settled in the court of public opinion – that is, on the field."

Elsewhere:

• Steve Penny's career at USA Gymnastics remarkable but marred by scandal.
• Player scouting at forefront of MLS' rapid league-wide evolution.
• Former NBAer Steve Mix spotted taking tickets at Mets Spring Training game.
• A few ideas to make the World Baseball Classic "so much better."
• BNP Paribas Open is an opulent affair for attendees at Indian Wells.

Shame on Cavs stuffing LA fans like this. There is such a thing as the integrity of the game. I don't care if other teams do it too. Sucks

— Bill Livingston (@Livy70) March 19, 2017

CBB Conferences Posting Reg Seas Viewership Growth Across All Networks:

PAC-12: +67%
ACC: +19%
Big East: +16%
West Coast: +13%

— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) March 17, 2017

If I took a drink everytime Bill Raftery said Derrick Walton had a big time ticker, I'd be dead

— andrewhfine (@andrewhfine) March 19, 2017

Many thanks to @FCDallas for hosting @SanAntonioFC & @SAFCProAcademy today at @ToyotaStadiumTX...first class club, people & facilities.

— Tim Holt (@TimHoltSoccer) March 19, 2017

Welcome Coach Brad Underwood! #WeWillWin #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/9yqLI0Ce1x

— Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) March 18, 2017