Rumors

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, alongside Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group and RedBird Capital Partners, owner of the AC Milan Italian soccer club, have expressed interest in owning an NBA franchise in Las Vegas. So has Bill Foley, the owner of the National Hockey League’s Las Vegas Golden Knights. “We have a very powerful group — I can tell you money is not a problem,” Foley said. He added that his group includes “several well-known basketball players and a couple very wealthy people, people who can buy me and sell me 20 times over.” A person familiar with the matter said James “continues to be interested and in discussion with his partners at Fenway about the opportunity.” Fenway Sports Group declined to comment.

Bloomberg

The New York Yankees baseball franchise and a Los Angeles investment fund are investing in AC Milan alongside US private equity group RedBird, which is closing in on the €1.2bn acquisition of Italy’s football champions, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The baseball team, owned by the Steinbrenner family, and Main Street Advisors, the LA-based fund that counts among its investors basketball star LeBron James, famed music producer Jimmy Iovine and rapper Drake, will become shareholders in the Serie A team, those people said. RedBird is set to announce the entry of its new partners as early as Wednesday when it is expected to officially take control of the club from its current owner, US hedge fund Elliott Management, those people said.

ft.com

AC Milan, the Italian soccer club supported by Bryant, led the tributes ahead of its match against Torino Tuesday. Players wore black armbands, while a video showing pictures of Bryant and his daughter were played on the big screens in the San Siro stadium before kickoff.

cnn.com

Milan's former captain Massimo Ambrosini, who made 489 appearances for the Rossoneri and represented the Italy's national team, said he was inspired by Bryant and was left in tears once the news had begun to sink in. "I was shocked, I couldn't believe it had happened. It was so strange that you cannot believe it," he told CNN. "He was such a big athlete, such a big human being."

cnn.com

Before the game, the team said this on Twitter: "In agreement with Serie A, tonight AC Milan will wear the black armband in memory of Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash together with his daughter Gianna Maria and 7 other victims. The whole San Siro will also pay a tribute just a few minutes away from kick off." The team then posted the following photo with a caption that included "legends never die."

CBSSports.com

AC Milan announced that they will play with black armband to honor Kobe Bryant “one of the greatest sportsmen of all time and Rossonero fan” for the Coppa Italia game against FC Torino. Milano also asked Lega Calcio to have 1-minute silence before the game but according to Sky Sports journalist Alessandro Bonan, Lega did not allow it (but Bonan deleted his tweet).

Sportando

NetsDaily: Milan sports report seems to suggest Gianluca Pascucci, Nets respected Director of Global Scouting, is in line for an executive role with AC Milano but also could replace Trajan Langdon as asst GM if Langdon leaves. Pascucci was Rockets VP for player personnel for four years.

Twitter

AC Milan: It has been a pleasure watching a true Rossonero dominate the @NBA for all these years. Thank you @kobebryant #KB20

Twitter

AC Milan: What a glad surprise at #Milanello this morning... Did you know @kobebryant is one of us? #weareacmilan pic.twitter.com/crMhHrc4KC

Twitter

Emiliano Carchia: Kobe Bryant: 'In the locker room in Los Angeles I have an AC Milan jersey'

Twitter

During an interview with Radio Deejay, Danilo Gallinari confirmed that he will play for Italy at Eurobasket next summer in Lithuania. Gallinari yesterday was at San Siro stadium for the Serie A party made by AC Milan who won 4-1 against Cagliari. "Now I am resting a bit" said Il Gallo. "Then I will fly to China for ten days for the NBA program. When I will be back, I will star training having, in the meantime some vacations. Then, I will join the Italian National Team for Eurobasket 2011.

Sportando