Report is critical of NBA union chief Billy Hunter

A review of the NBA’s players’ association found that Executive Director Billy Hunter did nothing illegal with union funds but did enough wrong that players should consider whether he should remain in his position.

The report said Hunter’s current contract was never properly approved and he failed to disclose that information to the NBPA’s executive committee or player representatives.

The eight-month review by the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP was released Thursday. It states that Hunter’s actions were “inconsistent” with his financial obligations to the union, “displayed poor judgment, and paid little attention to the appearance of impropriety.” It adds that “his conduct could foreseeably create and did not properly manage conflicts of interest.”

Hunter, 70, said in a statement that he looks forward to continuing his work with the NBPA and was pleased the report found he did nothing illegal. He said he believed his contract was legally ratified.

ETC.

Hollywood Park will have a fall meet

There will be fall racing at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The California Horse Racing Board approved the track’s autumn meet to be run Nov. 7-Dec. 22.

Last August track officials had told the racing board that they couldn’t commit to racing in the fall. The track’s parent company, Bay Meadows Land Co., has said it wants to end racing at the site and develop the property for residential and commercial use. Track President Jack Liebau told the board last summer that the economy had created unfavorable conditions for development.

The track’s spring-summer meet is set for April 25-July 14, which will mark the track’s 75th anniversary.

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With Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggling, fifth-ranked Justin Rose and unheralded Jamie Donaldson had five-under-par 67s for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 75 and risks missing the cut. Woods shot an even-par 72.

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Toronto’s R.A. Dickey heads a starting pitching staff missing David Price, Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Cain on the preliminary U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, the New York Yankees’ Mark Teixeira and the New York Mets’ David Wright are among 27 players on the roster announced Thursday.

Final 28-man rosters are due Feb. 20 and must include at least 13 pitchers and two catchers. The U.S., managed by Joe Torre, opens against Mexico on March 8.

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Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked tennis player in the world; 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras; former top-10 player Mardy Fish; and the most successful doubles duo of all time, the Bryan brothers, will take part in the inaugural Los Angeles Tennis Challenge at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on March 4.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at https://www.ticketmaster.com, or can be purchased by calling the UCLA central ticket office at (310) 825-2101 or by calling the event directly at (310) 824-1010, Ext. 251.