The NBA and Utah Jazz's joint investigation into allegations by former player Elijah Millsap found no evidence to support a claim that team executive Dennis Lindsey made a racially insensitive comment in an April 2015 meeting, the league said Monday in a statement.

"The investigation was unable to establish that the alleged statement was made," the NBA said in announcing the findings of the probe.

The inquiry centered on Millsap's allegation in a social media post on Feb. 24 that Lindsey, now Utah's executive vice president of basketball operations, told him "I'll cut your Black ass and send you back to Louisiana," during an end-of-season meeting six years ago.

The Jazz hired an independent investigator to work with the NBA on the investigation, and the team said in an accompanying statement that the franchise has "zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior of any kind" and described Lindsey as a "respected basketball executive around the NBA and a leading voice on social justice within our organization and community."

The NBA and the Jazz interviewed Lindsey and two other team officials present in the April 2015 meeting -- general manager Justin Zanik and coach Quin Snyder -- sources told ESPN.

Lindsey, Zanik and Snyder all denied the statement was made, sources said. Zanik's role in the meeting was to take notes on the conversation, which were also entered into the review, sources said. The notes were entered into a team database, and the forensic investigators could have been able to determine whether the notes had been altered or updated in any way since they were put in the system, sources said.

Also, Millsap's agent, Daniel Hazan, told investigators that he hadn't been made aware of the accusation by his client during the two seasons Millsap played with the Jazz, sources said.

While making a series of posts to Twitter last month about how bigotry "is still very well present" and is a problem that needs to be addressed, Millsap alleged that Lindsey "made bigot remarks in my exit interview while conversing with Q. Snyder 'if you say one more word, I'll cut your Black ass and send you back to Louisiana.'"

End-of-season meetings -- commonly called exit meetings -- are staples of NBA organizations and typically are wide-ranging conversations between front offices and players that review the past season and look to the future. The Jazz have kept detailed notes on every one of those meetings since Lindsey started as the franchise's GM in 2012, sources said.

Millsap played two seasons with the Jazz, including returning to the team in the 2015-16 season. His older brother Paul Millsap played his first seven years with the Jazz, leaving after the 2012-13 season.

Lindsey was promoted to executive VP in 2019 and has presided over the rebuilding of an organization that currently has the best record in the NBA at 28-10.

Lindsey started his professional basketball career with the Houston Rockets in 1996 as a scout, eventually working his way to assistant GM. He left for the Spurs as an assistant GM in 2007 before joining the Jazz as GM in 2012.

Blazing final kilometre from Alabama runner gives her a clear win at the US national collegiate event in Oklahoma

Alabama’s SEC cross-country champion Mercy Chelangat won the women’s 6km race in style in 20:01.1 on the Stillwater course at Oklahoma on Monday (March 15).

She became the first individual national champion for Alabama.

The 23-year-old Kenyan had finished third in the SEC indoor 5000m (15:48.38) and fourth in the 3000m but though she lost out at the finish in both races she was much the strongest finisher here making her move at the 5km mark.

Oklahoma State’s Taylor Roe, a 20-year-old who had won the Big 12 mile title last month, was running on her home course and was second in 20:06.7, whereas little-known teenager Amaris Tyynismaa was third (20:10.2).

She had been runner-up in the SEC indoor mile though the only form that might have suggested she could be a contender was a 9:03.46 3000m PB in Columbia on February 6 where she finished less than second down on team-mate Chelangat’s 9:02.54 PB.

Though Alabama placed two in the top three they only finished eighth team overall.

Brigham Young took the team title with five in the top 50 even though the leader at 5km, Whittni Orton from that team, faded to 17th in a painful last kilometre though she was 14th in the team positions as the winning squad placed 9th, 12h, 14th, 27th and 34th to win by 65 points from North Carolina State.

Mahala Norris was fourth in 20:11.8.

The official kilometre splits seem a little unreliable but the opening kilometre was covered in 3:05.2 with a huge pack in contention with Washington’s Haley Herberg the official leader from Chelangat (3:05.4). The first 200 were covered by just eight seconds at this point.

That was the still the case at 2km with the pace slowing to 6:28.9 with still 10 seconds covering the top 130.

Herberg dropped back the 3km was reached in a seemingly very slow 10:06.2 by Orton with the lead pack now reduced to 23.

At 4km It was Orton still ahead (13:21.4) and she led from Tyynismaa (13:22.0), Norris (13:22.4) and Chelangat (13:22.5) with the pack now looking 11-strong.

At 5km Orton (16:43.2) was ahead though Tyynismaa and Chelangat (both 16:43.3), Ella Donaghue (16:43.5), Roe (16:43.6) and Norris (16:43.7) were together with seventh-placer Hannah Steelman 16:45.0 just off the pace.

It looked like being an exciting six-way battle in the last kilometre but Chelangat pulled away easily for her biggest win to date.

Briton Poppy Tank, who finished 19th in the 2019 European Cross Country Championships, finished 27th for Utah in 20:42.9.

Sarah Chapman finished 47th in 21:04.

Brigham Young student produces strong finish to easily win the men’s race in Oklahoma with Briton Patrick Dever a fine fifth

Conner Mantz became the first American winner of the NCAA cross-country men’s title since double Olympic medallist Galen Rupp in 2008 when he destroyed the opposition in the final kilometre.

The 24-year-old Brigham Young student, who this winter has run a 13:28.00 indoor 5000m and last summer ran a 28:07.70 10,000m, ran a well judged race throughout.

The early pace on the incredibly wide starting area in Stillwater was very fast.

Newly-crowned NCAA indoor 5000m champion Wesley Kiptoo, who started the 5000m at near world record pace a few days earlier, set off with similar intent and was through the official 1km point here in 2:31.5 but Mantz stuck to the Iowa State Kenyan and was timed at 2:31.7.

Ehab El-Sandali followed with 2:32.7 at 1km and then Kenyan Alex Masai (2:33.5) and South African Adriaan Wildschutt (2:33.7) also committing themselves from the off. In total, 91 runners were timed at 2:40.0 or faster.

At 2000m, Kiptoo (5:23.6) and Mantz (5:24.1) had drawn more away from Masai (5:27.3) and Wildschutt (5:27.6) as they headed a group of 14 which were spread over around 10 metres.

Through 3000m, Kiptoo stayed up front (8:14.6) but he was now joined by a charging Masai (8:14.6) as Mantz dropped back (8:16.6) with Wildschutt (8:21.4) headed a chasing pack of eight which included young Briton Charles Hicks (8:21.8), who led home Britain’s under-20 team in the 2019 European Cross Country Championships.

Patrick Dever, who led home Britain’s team in the 2019 World Cross-Country Championships in Aarhus with an excellent 37th, was 19th in the next pack (8:30.9).

The 4km split of 11:15.9 for the two leaders showed their gap had now grown over Mantz (11:21.3) who was being caught by Wildschutt (11:21.9) who had a slight gap over the next group led by Luis Grijalva (11:23.7) with Hicks still well placed (11:24.4) in eighth with Dever up to 17th (11:34.2) but further behind Hicks.

At halfway at 5km Kiptoo (14:24.4) was just up on Masai (14:24.7) but Mantz (14:27.6) and Wildschutt (14:27.9) were closing and it was now Somalian Abdihamid Nur (14:32.0) who was up to fifth and drawing away from a pack which still contained Hicks in eighth (14:34.4) with Dever closing and moving through to 16th (14:43.5).

Kiptoo moved clear at 6km (17:24.1) as Masai was joined by Mantz and Wildschutt (with all three on 17:26.5) with now Blaise Ferro (17:35.6) moving clear in fifth. Hicks (17:44.1) was beginning to find it getting tougher and was down to 10th and Dever (17:47.5) was closing fast in 14th.

The 7km mark saw Mantz join Kiptoo (both 20:15.7) with Wildschutt (20:16.1) still with every chance as Masai (20:17.4) dropped off but he had a big gap on Ferro (20:27.9) in fifth.
Dever’s advance had continued and he swapped positions with Hicks and they were 10th (20:38.1) and 12th (20:42.0).

It still looked a three-way battle for the title at 8km with Kiptoo (23:27.60) marginally ahead of Mantz and Wildschutt (23:28.2) from a still fading Masai (23:32.7) who still had a good margin on Ferro (23:41.5).

Dever’s charge was now becoming more noticeable as he was up to seventh (23:47.7) while Hicks was fighting to hold his position in 15th (24:02.6).

As the race entered the final mile, suddenly Mantz was away (26:28.4) with Wildschutt (26:32.2) edging clear of a fading Kiptoo (26:33.9) with Ferro (26:47.5) up to fourth but under pressure from Nico Young (26:48.1) with a very tired Masai (26:52.0) only just ahead of Dever (26:52.3). Hicks was now 16th (27:13.6).

The final kilometre was all Mantz. He covered it around 20 seconds faster than the other two medallists as he stretched the winning margin to 22 seconds.

Florida State’s Wildschutt (29:48.2) was a clear second with Kiptoo (29:54.9) just doing enough for third but Young (29:58.3), Dever (30:00.0) and Ferrer (30:02.0) were all bearing down on him. Dever therefore was only five seconds down on a medal and marked an improvement on his 11th in 2019.

Hicks did well in the last kilometre to get back up to 14th (30:21.0) with a very strong finish.

Isaac Akers, who was 12th in the 2018 European Championships under-20 race, but had been 194th and 100th in his two previous NCAA outings, was a fine 19th in 30:25.4.

He followed his Tulsa team-mate Dever through with a steady start but was only 115th after a kilometre and 47th at halfway in 15:00.7. He was still only 36th at 8km (24:19.1) but it was last kilometre where he did the damage and his 3:00.7 last kilometre was only bettered by the winner Mantz and over 15 seconds superior to the other medallists.

Northern Arizona won the team race with four runners in the top 10 and they scored 60 points to Notre Dame’s 87.

Britain's Andy Murray has been awarded a wildcard for this month's Miami Open.

Murray, 33, was ranked second in the world when he last competed in Miami in 2016 and returns with a ranking of 118 after a long lay-off with hip problems.

British 19-year-old Jack Draper has also been given a wildcard for what is the first Masters series tournament of the year on the men's tour.

Earlier this month, Murray was knocked out in the second round of the Rotterdam Open by world number eight Andrey Rublev after also receiving a wildcard.

The three-time Grand Slam champion earned his first tour-level win since August by beating fellow wildcard Robin Haase in the first round.

The Miami Open is scheduled to run from 22 March to 4 April.

Lock James Ryan and centre Garry Ringrose have been ruled out of Ireland's final Six Nations match against England.

Ringrose, who has played every minute of Ireland's campaign so far, finished the game in Edinburgh but picked up an ankle injury that will be further assessed by Ireland and Leinster.

Flanker Peter O'Mahony is available for selection having missed the past three games through suspension.

The absence of the experienced Leinster duo is a considerable blow to head coach Andy Farrell, who credited Ryan for spearheading Ireland's impressive defensive line-out that was pivotal in their narrow victory over Scotland on Sunday.

It is the forward's second head injury of the tournament, having also missed the defeat by France.

The return of O'Mahony gives Farrell the option of moving Tadhg Beirne into the second row, but he may be loathe to take Beirne out of the back row where he has been so destructive in recent weeks.

Ringrose's absence means Robbie Henshaw will likely be partnered with either Bundee Aki, Chris Farrell and Stuart McCloskey in midfield.

Ireland are second in the Six Nations table but cannot catch leaders Wales while England are fourth.

Each month in SPEED SPORT Magazine we highlight some of our favorite Twitter posts from racing personalities from various disciplines. Here is the SPEED SPORT Twitter Me This from March 2021.

Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace): Just got the bus to load it up before heading out … walked in and stood still and said to myself, “Damn it’s that time again.” LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO.

Nick Hoffman (@Nick_Hoffman2): We excelled in the fun department last night. Almost got to see the sun rise in Florida. Isn’t that what people come here to do?

Johnny Petrozelle (@Johnny_GoFast_): I wish I had a Mario Kart-like ghost of myself punctually getting ready for work in the morning so I’d know if I was running late.

Johnny O’Connell (@JohnnyOConnell1): Wise man once told me … don’t hit anybody … don’t break anything … and stay on the race track … and good things will happen.

Jack Harvey (@jack_harvey42): Hands down, without any doubt, the worse repliers have to be dog breeders! Wowieeeeee! Anyone else have this problem? Trying to give them money but can’t even get a reply.

Rick Mast (@RickMast22): Rick Mast’ism. “No self respecting race car driver EVER leaves home without a Sharpie in his/her possession.”

Bayley Currey (@BayleyCurrey): Been watching late 90s/early 00s CART races on YouTube lately and I’m baffled that Burke Lakefront Airport isn’t on any national series schedule.

Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson): There is plenty that I’m going to miss about racing in @NASCAR … rain delays are not one of them.

Jordan Taylor (@jordan10taylor): I’m pretty sure @chaseelliott has blocked me on Instagram.

Kaz Grala (@kazgrala): I don’t even know @jasonmcdougal69 but he has single- handedly made the #ChiliBowl2021. And he should absolutely be in the C-Main.

Johnny Gibson (@Gibvoice): That moment when you are sitting in the stands and someone behind you is (loudly) explaining sprint car racing to a “newbie,” but they’re just so SO wrong…

Greg Biffle (@gbiffle): I just filled up my truck and it was over $100. What’s happening? 50 cents in four weeks?

INDIANAPOLIS – Flinn Lazier has joined Legacy Autosport to contest the Indy Pro 2000 Championship this year.

Lazier is the son of 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2000 Indy Racing League champion Buddy Lazier and previously claimed a SCCA Runoffs National championship in 2018 in the FE2 division.

“I’m feeling really good about this year,” said Lazier. “I think we have some really talented people behind this program, and I think it’s going to feel like family. I have worked with a number of these folks over the years and it’s pretty cool how it’s unfolding. It’s really important for me as well as the team to be working towards a common goal and I think we will be doing just that.

“The Road to Indy has and continues to offer the most competitive open-wheel racing in the world, period. It is and will continue to be one of the best places to develop as a professional driver. Luckily, I have raced at every track on the calendar other than St. Petersburg, so I think our group is looking very good and will certainly have a great chance this year.”

“I am very excited to be moving into the Indy Pro 2000 series full-time in 2021 with Flinn,” said Louis Michael Meyer, owner of Legacy Autosport. “Legacy tested the waters with running two events last year and was able to win our first race on track with Kody Swanson. He had never raced the car as well. We have been building off that and working hard to move Legacy to the next level.

“We have known and worked with the Lazier family throughout the years starting with Buddy when he drove in the ‘95 Indy 500 for Team Menard and my dad built his engines. In the early 2000s my dad was now general manager of Team Menard and hired Flinn’s uncle Jacques, and they won the first IndyCar race out together at Chicagoland. We have kept a close eye on Flinn’s development as a driver and we are excited at the opportunity to further that and help him continue his family legacy and dream to make it to the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indy 500.”

CONCORD, N.C. – It was the biggest weekend of 410 winged sprint car racing so far this season, with action taking place in three different regions of the National Sprint Car Rankings.

However, no driver has yet reached the 20-start plateau required to open the national rankings.

Donny Schatz continues to lead the Eastern region, with a 62-point margin over Justin Peck.

Carson Macedo remains atop of the Western region standings and, after a pair of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races over the weekend, the Mid-America region has begun tallying points with Brad Sweet and Sheldon Haudenschild tied atop the standings.

Fifteen drivers have combined to win the 20 features run.

Schatz, Cory Eliason and Gio Scelzi have all made 14 starts this season. Aaron Reutzel has participated in 13 events. One hundred and 40 drivers have made at least one start.

To view the regional rankings and 410 feature winner list, advance to the next page.

CONCORD, N.C. – Spire Motorsports announced today that it will partner with the NFL Alumni Association to support the Folds of Honor Children’s Fund for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will feature a patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme and will showcase the NFL Alumni Association logo on the hood, decklid, TV panel and in front of the rear wheels. Meanwhile, Folds of Honor will be displayed on the upper-rear quarter panels and on the decklid of LaJoie’s machine.

The NFL Alumni Association was founded in 1967 and is the oldest and most recognizable national organization of retired professional athletes. NFL Alumni consists of former NFL players, coaches, executives, spouses, cheerleaders, and associate members. Part of NFL Alumni’s dual mission is “Caring for Kids”. Player alumni give back in their local communities by raising funds for youth-related charities through their 38 regional chapters. It is a tradition that has existed for more than 50 years. Alumni support typically raises more than $1.5 million, annually, for worthwhile causes.

The other half of NFLA’s mission, “Caring for our Own” is to serve, assist and inform its members and their families. Alumni members are offered a diverse package of wellness, business, career, and legal services to help members and their families be healthy, productive, and connected to one another.

“We want to thank T.J. Puchyr, Jeff Dickerson, Corey LaJoie and the entire Spire Motorsports team for partnering with us to help support Folds of Honor’s mission to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members,” said NFL Alumni Association’s Chief Executive Officer Beasley Reece.  “This is a cause that aligns perfectly with our mission of Caring for Kids and we are honored to help improve the lives of those children.  Please make sure you go to NFLalumni.org/foh to help us in this mission.”

Folds of Honor is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to families of military men and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States armed forces. Folds of Honor educational scholarships support private education tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents.

Founded in 2007 by Lt Col Dan Rooney, a PGA member and F-16 fighter pilot currently stationed at Tyndall AFB Florida as a member of 301st Fighter Squadron who served three tours of duty in Iraq, Folds of Honor is proud to have awarded more than 29,000 scholarships in all 50 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including more than 4,500 in 2020 alone.

“When we were approached about flying the colors of Folds of Honor on the No. 7 Spire Motorsports NASCAR entry at Atlanta Motor Speedway, we were blown away that two great organizations such as the NFL Alumni and Spire Motorsports would go to such great lengths to help us raise money for our scholarship fund,” explained Ben Leslie, Executive Vice President of Folds of Honor. “On behalf of the recipients of our scholarships, thank you!”

LaJoie is a third-generation racer whose father and grandfather are members of the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. He kicked off the 2021 season with a spirited ninth-place effort at the Daytona 500. The Concord, N.C. driver is currently 29th in the NCS point standings heading into the sixth race of the year.

His passion for charitable work has raised over $240,000 for the Christian organization SamaritansFeet.org. In 2019, he hand-wrote the names of each donor onto his car and attended driver introductions at Watkins Glen International with bare feet, underscoring the need to provide shoes to less fortunate individuals all over the world. He was acknowledged for his efforts by being recognized with the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) distinguished Spirit Award.

“It’s always exciting to support a great cause like the Folds of Honor on our race car,” offered LaJoie. “NFL Alumni does incredible work within their community and to see that organization integrate the Folds of Honor to support scholarship opportunities for veterans and their families is incredibly admirable. I’m proud to represent both organizations in the Quik Trip Folds of Honor 500.”

“When we were presented with the opportunity to partner with NFL Alumni to support the Folds of Honor Children’s Fund, we jumped at it,” added Dickerson. “Both current and former players have a proud tradition of supporting veterans and making a positive impact in their communities. At the same time, Corey has made it a priority to be involved with charitable causes that truly make a difference.  We think this program goes hand-in-hand with both Corey’s passion to help others and the NFL Alumni’s mission of ‘Caring for Kids.’”

Spire Motorsports worked in cooperation with WaV Sports Agency from conceptualization to execution in bringing the program from the drawing board to the famed 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“WaV Sports is honored to have played a small part in aligning all of the parties involved to support such a worthy cause,” said WaV Sports Agency CEO Brain Klaasmeyer. “Thank you to T.J. Puchyr, Jeff Dickerson, Corey LaJoie and the entire Spire Motorsports team as well as Beasley Reece, Bart Oates and the NFL Alumni for making this happen. Most importantly thank you to the entire Folds of Honor team for carrying out this mission every day.”