Manny Pacquiao ‘respects’ Nike action

Manny Pacquiao said Thursday that he respects Nike’s decision to sever ties with him over his comments about gay relationships but stood pat on his opposition to same-sex marriage and added he’s happy that “a lot of people were alarmed by the truth.”

“Whatever decision Nike makes is its decision and I respect that, and its sponsorship of me now only involves my clothes for my fight,” Pacquiao said during a break in training for an April 9 bout with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas.

When he was asked by a local TV network as a Senate candidate about his views on same-sex marriages, Pacquiao came under fire for his curt reply.

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo expects Mike Krzyzewski to lead the Americans this summer, and the coach says he has “every intention” of being in Brazil.

Krzyzewski plans to have left knee-replacement surgery following the completion of Duke’s season, and Colangelo told NBA TV during All-Star weekend in Toronto that he was “thinking about what-ifs” if Coach K’s health prevented him from returning.

Manchester United’s disappointing season hit a low with a 2-1 loss at Danish champion FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32, with a pre-match knee injury to goalkeeper David de Gea adding to its woes in the first leg.

In other first legs, Sevilla boosted its quest for a third straight title in Europe’s second-tier competition by beating Molde 3-0; Borussia Dortmund beat FC Porto 2-0; Villarreal beat Napoli 1-0 win at home; and host Fiorentina and Tottenham drew 1-1.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche rejected a plea deal in the rape case against former NFL defensive back Darren Sharper, saying the nine-year sentence doesn’t reflect the seriousness of the alleged assaults against 16 women across four states.