Buford opens camp with Timberwolves

7/14/2012
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

Former Libbey and Ohio State star William Buford opened minicamp with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

Buford is vying to play for the Timberwolves' entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which features rookies, second-year players, and free agents. Minnesota's five-game schedule begins Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Buford finished his four-year career at Ohio State tied for third all-time in scoring but was not selected in last month's NBA Draft. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard was one of 21 players at the Timberwolves' minicamp. Minnesota will announce its summer league roster Sunday.

Olympics

At the next Olympics, the team from the USA will wear uniforms made in the USA.

Designer Ralph Lauren said the uniforms it provides the U.S. Olympic team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will, in fact, be made in the United States.

The U.S. uniforms for the London Games were made in China, which sparked congressional criticism of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Ralph Lauren initially declined comment on the criticism, but 24 hours later announced clothes for future Olympics would be made in the United States.

It's too late to change anything for the 530 American athletes in time for the London Games, which start July 27. The uniforms for the opening ceremony will remain as planned -- blue blazer, cream-colored pants for men, and skirts for women and a blue beret with red and white stripes.

■ WASHINGTON -- Blake Griffin has officially withdrawn from the Olympics, and Anthony Davis has been added to the U.S. basketball team's roster.

Griffin needs surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and joins a lengthy list of American stars sidelined this summer.

Davis replaced him in the Americans' 113-59 exhibition victory over the Dominican Republic on Thursday in Las Vegas, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter. The No.1 overall draft pick couldn't be put on the 12-man roster for London until Griffin had withdrawn Friday.

Golf

CHARLOTTE -- U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson withdrew from the British Open as he awaits the birth of his second child.

It will be the second time in the last five years that the British Open is missing the U.S. Open champion. Tiger Woods did not play in 2008 because of season-ending knee surgery the day after he won the U.S. Open.

Simpson has said all along it was doubtful he would travel to Royal Lytham & St. Annes because his wife, Dowd, was expecting their second child. The British Open starts next Thursday.

NBA

DALLAS -- The Mavericks won the bidding to obtain two-time All-Star forward Elton Brand off waivers.

Brand was available after the Philadelphia 76ers this week used the one-time amnesty provision in the new CBA to let him go and not have the $18.1 million he is owed in the final season of his deal count against their cap.