TORONTO -- With the entire arena standing on its feet and chanting "MVP," Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto and was celebrated as a champion as he received his championship ring on Wednesday night.

Leonard left the Raptors after one season to join the LA Clippers in free agency. But the Toronto fans finally got to thank Leonard for helping deliver the first NBA title to Canada.

"It's like Maximus coming back as the gladiator," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said before playing the Raptors. "He was the champion and just did everything honorably and the right way. I was joking earlier that would be a great intro."

After public address announcer Herbie Kuhn introduced the four other Clippers in the starting lineup, the Raptors showed a nearly two-minute tribute video revisiting Leonard's championship run with the Raptors last season as fans cheered on. At one point, the lights went completely dark with just the play-by-play heard of Leonard's game-winning 3 in Game 7 against Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals, before showing the reaction of Leonard screaming.

During that time that it went dark, the Raptors retraced Leonard's steps before that corner shot on the court with foot prints lighting up on the court while the play-by-play was being played.

"The ride was fun," Leonard said of the championship run during the Clippers' morning shootaround. "I had a great time last year with the coaching staff, front office and the players. It was a great experience."

The Finals MVP then was introduced to a thunderous applause as he met with his former Raptors teammates and coaches at halfcourt as fans began to chant "MVP." Finally, good friend Kyle Lowry handed Leonard his championship ring and the Clippers' star appeared to rub his eyes real quick before putting the ring on.

Leonard then acknowledged the fans, raising his hands in the air as the announcer said, "Congratulations Kawhi! The North thanks you."

Leonard and his sponsor, New Balance, had a large billboard go up in the city thanking Toronto. And the Raptors organization also had billboards go up celebrating Leonard's return to Toronto.

"It's a blood transfusion," Rivers said of what happens when a player wins a championship and his relationship with that city. "Bill Parcells said it ... but it really is, you're connected for life when you win a title, not only with the fanbase but those players in the organization that you won it with. It's amazing how often I talk to every single one of those guys in Boston."

"Kawhi will be connected to this city," Rivers added. "And every guy in the locker room with him for the rest of his life."

Toronto coach Nick Nurse, who won the title in his first season as head coach with Leonard, echoed Rivers' sentiment.

"I think Kyle said it best at the pep rally, at the parade, that 'We're all brothers for life,'" Nurse said. "I'm going to be connected to Kawhi for life because of what we achieved last year and all of us who were in that locker room are."

Right-hander Josh Lindblom, who spent the past two seasons pitching in South Korea, is in agreement on a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Lindblom's contract will be for three years and guarantee $9.125 million, according to a source. With performance bonuses, it can max out at more than $18 million. MLB Network first reported the financial details of the deal.

Lindblom, 32, has not pitched in the majors since 2017 with the Pirates. Prior to that, his last appearance was in 2014 with the A's, as he also pitched in South Korea's KBO League in 2015 and '16.

Lindblom spent the past two years with the Doosan Bears, going a combined 35-7. This past year, he went 20-3 with a 2.50 ERA and a 0.997 WHIP in 30 starts covering 194 2/3 innings and was named the league's MVP.

He has also pitched for the Rangers, Phillies and Dodgers, primarily as a reliever before becoming a starting pitcher in the KBO.

Right-hander Blake Treinen and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday.

Treinen had multiple offers in that range and chose the Dodgers.

Treinen, 31, posted a 0.78 ERA in 2018 with the Oakland Athletics, but that number ballooned to 4.91 in 2019. Treinen started the 2019 season as A's closer but wasn't nearly as consistent. He had a 6.14 ERA during a 19-game span from April 28 to June 20 before a strained pitching shoulder put him on the injured list.

Once healthy and back July 3, Treinen didn't have a save over his next 27 appearances and posted a 6.17 ERA.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Kyle Busch Motorsports announced the 2020 crew chief lineup for its three full-time NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series teams on Wednesday.

Ryan “Rudy” Fugle will call the shots for Christian Eckes and the No. 18 Tundra, Mike Hillman Jr. will guide Raphael Lessard’s efforts in the No. 4 Tundra and Danny Stockman will join the organization to lead the No. 51 team’s pursuit of the owner’s championship with Kyle Busch, Chandler Smith and other drivers that will be announced later.

Fugle has guided his team to five owner’s championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019) as a crew chief at KBM, including combined owner’s and driver’s championships with Erik Jones in 2015 and Christopher Bell in 2017.

The New York native’s drivers have combined for 28 wins, 24 poles, 71 top-five and 107 top-10 finishes across his 136 races calling the shots for the organization.

Hillman Jr., is a two-time NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion crew chief. He helped Toyota capture its first-ever NASCAR national series championship when he guided Todd Bodine to the Truck Series title in 2006.

Overall in Hillman’s 13 seasons atop the pit box, the New York native’s Gander Trucks drivers have collected 22 wins, 23 poles, 115 top-five and 170 top-10 finishes across 300 starts since 2005.

Stockman called the shots for Austin Dillon’s championship efforts in both the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (2011) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2013) and has experience as a crew chief in all three national series divisions, after most recently serving as Dillon’s NASCAR Cup Series signal caller.

In Dillon’s Gander Trucks championship season, the pair totaled two wins, five poles, 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

The majority of Stockman’s experience atop the pit box has come in the Xfinity Series, where his drivers have recorded seven wins, 19 poles, 80 top-five and 148 top-10 finishes across 209 starts from 2012 to 2018.

HOLLY, Mich. – The Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro will host one of the most unique events in tour history at one of the Midwest’s most well-known facilities next season.

Announced Wednesday in advance of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis, Must See Racing will headline the inaugural Indy Summer Nationals, June 18-20 at Lucas Oil Raceway.

The three-day mega event will feature a host of drag racing on the LOR drag strip, while the Saturday night portion of the program will star the warriors of Must See Racing in a special non-points, non-winged showdown on the .686-mile oval.

Must See Racing will utilize Little 500 rules for the Lucas Oil special event, with the winner taking home a $4,000 payout from a purse of nearly $25,000 in total.

The Indy Summer Nationals will mark the first non-winged event in the history of the decade-old winged asphalt sprint car sanctioning body, a challenge and opportunity that MSR Founder and President Jim Hanks is eager to tackle next summer.

“Must See Racing has always prided itself on innovation, competition and entertainment for our fans, drivers and sponsor partners through the years, and we feel that we have all three of those boxes checked with the huge Indy Summer Nationals event coming up in June,” Hanks said. “We’ve put on some of the most exciting winged sprint car racing on pavement in the country over the last decade, and we hope to do the same with this special non-winged event at Lucas Oil Raceway, one of the premier facilities in the country. We look forward to the unique challenge that non-winged racing provides and showcasing that spectacle to our fans on June 20 during the Indy Summer Nationals.”

National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Tom Bigelow will serve as the grand marshal of the oval-track portion of the Indy Summer Nationals.

Bigelow was the 1978 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series champion and 1984 NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series champion.

He also raced in parts of 17 different Indy car seasons, with nine straight Indianapolis 500 appearances between 1974 and 1982 and a best finish in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing of sixth in 1977.

Joining the Must See Racing-sanctioned non-winged sprint cars on the Indy Summer Nationals oval-track card will be the Midwest Supermodified Series, the Midwest Compact Touring Series and the Super Cup Stock Car Series.

The Must See Racing portion of the Indy Summer Nationals will be taped for television broadcast on MAVTV as part of the award-winning SPEED SPORT presented by WorkAtHendrick.com series, hosted by industry veteran and SPEED SPORT President Ralph Sheheen.

“SPEED SPORT is thrilled to be working with Must See Racing and Jim Hanks for a fourth season in 2020, as we showcase these incredibly fast cars and talented drivers on our SPEED SPORT presented by WorkAtHendrick.com series on MAVTV,” said Sheheen. “Each year, we’ve had a new and exciting Must See event to cover and 2020 is no exception, as the series heads to the famed Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. We can’t wait to add this venue to the already impressive lineup of Must See events we’ve broadcast on national television!”

INDIANAPOLIS – Forty-six events at 23 different venues across 14 states make up the 2020 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series calendar.

Within the schedule, many familiar favorites join a bevy of race tracks making their return to the schedule after several years away.

For the 11th consecutive season, the series begins the campaign with three-straight events in Florida, at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala on Feb. 13-15.

From there, the season kicks into gear in the Midwest springtime with an April 4 visit to Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway, followed by a southern Indiana doubleheader weekend at Bloomington Speedway on April 17 and Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt on April 18.

Seven races are slated for the month of May, with a double-dip weekend on May 1 and May 2 at Kansas’ Lakeside Speedway and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.

The banks of Eldora Speedway welcome the series on May 8-9 for #LetsRaceTwo, alongside the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

The Week of Indy commences with the 50th running of the Tony Hulman Classic at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track on May 20. May rounds up with two consecutive nights at Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex, the series’ first trip to the track since 2016.

The 14th edition of Eastern Storm takes the series eastbound to Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey for five sprint races in a six-night span.

Eastern Storm begins June 9 at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., continued June 10 at the newly-reconfigured Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J., heads to Pennsylvania’s BAPS Motor Speedway on June 11, and then takes a day off before resuming June 13 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway in Pennsylvania.

The Eastern Storm finale will be June 14 at New York’s Weedsport Speedway, while June comes to a close with a northern double, first at Indiana’s Plymouth Speedway on June 26 before a return to Michigan and I-96 Speedway for the first time since 2013 on June 27.

Indiana’s Lincoln Park Speedway celebrates Independence Day in style with the Bill Gardner Sprintacular on July 4, followed a week later by the series’ lone visit to Nebraska and I-80 Speedway on July 9.

The second edition of the Corn Belt Nationals arrives on July 10-11 at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, before the schedule rolls from one fabled half-mile dirt track to another as July 15 finds the series back at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Late July brings about the 33rd installment of Indiana Sprint Week for seven races in nine days across the Hoosier state, opening with Gas City I-69 Speedway on July 24 before heading to Kokomo Speedway on July 25 and Lawrenceburg on July 26.

The series hits the road again for the second half of ISW at Terre Haute on July 29, followed by Lincoln Park on July 30, Bloomington on July 31 and Tri-State on August 1, the first time the ISW series has ventured into the month of August since 1993.

The lone non-points, special event of the year – #GYATK Night – takes place at Kokomo on Aug. 26, leading into the ninth running of Sprint Car Smackdown at the quarter-mile dirt oval for three nights in a row Aug. 27-29.

Terre Haute’s Jim Hurtubise Classic has the series back at the Action Track for the third time on Sept. 18, as will the Haubstadt Hustler at Tri-State on Sept. 19.

Gas City’s James Dean Classic takes place on Sept. 24, followed by the 39th edition of the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. The Fall Nationals at Lawrenceburg wind down the Midwest portion of the season on Oct. 3.

For USAC, November signals the time to head west for a pair of prestigious events in California and Arizona.

First up is the 25th running of the Oval Nationals at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway for three nights on Nov. 5-7. The following week is the season finale alongside the AMSOIL USAC/CRA and Sands Chevrolet Southwest Sprints on Nov. 13-14 at Arizona Speedway, during the 53rd annual Western World Championships.

2020 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series Schedule

Feb. 13 – Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, Fla.
Feb. 14 – Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, Fla.
Feb. 15 – Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, Fla.
April 4 – Lawrenceburg Speedway – Lawrenceburg, Ind.
April 17 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind.
April 18 – Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, Ind.
May 1 – Lakeside Speedway – Kansas City, Kan.
May 2 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 – Pevely, Mo.
May 8 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio
May 9 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio
May 20 – Terre Haute Action Track – Terre Haute, Ind.
May 29 – Jackson Motorplex – Jackson, Minn.
May 30 – Jackson Motorplex – Jackson, Minn.
June 9 – Grandview Speedway – Bechtelsville, Pa.
June 10 – Bridgeport Speedway – Swedesboro, N.J.
June 11 – BAPS Motor Speedway – York Haven, Pa.
June 13 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, Pa.
June 14 – Weedsport Speedway – Weedsport, N.Y.
June 26 – Plymouth Speedway – Plymouth, Ind.
June 27 – I-96 Speedway – Lake Odessa, Mich.
July 4 – Lincoln Park Speedway – Putnamville, Ind.
July 9 – I-80 Speedway – Greenwood, Neb.
July 10 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, Iowa
July 11 – Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, Iowa
July 15 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio
July 24 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
July 25 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
July 26 – Lawrenceburg Speedway – Lawrenceburg, Ind.
July 29 – Terre Haute Action Track – Terre Haute, Ind.
July 30 – Lincoln Park Speedway – Putnamville, Ind.
July 31 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind.
Aug. 1 – Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, Ind.
Aug. 26 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind. **
Aug. 27 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
Aug. 28 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
Aug. 29 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
Sept. 18 – Terre Haute Action Track – Terre Haute, Ind.
Sept. 19 – Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, Ind.
Sept. 24 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
Sept. 26 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio
Oct. 3 – Lawrenceburg Speedway – Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Nov. 5 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, Calif.
Nov. 6 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, Calif.
Nov. 7 – Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, Calif.
Nov. 13 – Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, Ariz.
Nov. 14 – Arizona Speedway – San Tan Valley, Ariz.

The Colorado Avalanche have put Tony Deynzer, the head equipment manager of their AHL affiliate, on administrative leave after former player Akim Aliu told the Wall Street Journal that Deynzer dressed up as Aliu, wearing blackface, at a team Halloween party in 2011.

Aliu was on the Colorado Eagles at the time, and shared the story with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, as well as photos of Deynzer in blackface.

Aliu told the WSJ that he was told to show up to the party late. When he walked in, Deynzer "appeared from behind a corner," according to Aliu, who added that Deynzer "was in blackface, wearing an Afro-style wig and a jersey that had been custom-made with Aliu's number and nickname 'DREAMER' emblazoned on the back."

"Guys just started laughing," Aliu told the WSJ. "All I can do is tell my story."

The Eagles tweeted an open apology to Aliu on Wednesday.

"As an organization, the discovery of this event deeply saddens us," the team said in the statement. "Although we had no prior knowledge, that doesn't excuse or diminish the fact that this has hurt a fellow human being. Rest assured, our organization holds no ego too big or stature so proud that we are above apologies for any wrongdoings. As a family-oriented organization, we wholeheartedly seek your forgiveness and sincerely apologize. We are truly very sorry, and we will also assure you that this behavior is not and never will be acceptable in our organization."

The Nigerian-born Aliu, a longtime minor league player who appeared in seven NHL games, has been in the public eye since he tweeted on Nov. 25 that Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters used racial slurs toward him when he coached Aliu with the Chicago Blackhawks' minor league affiliate in 2009. Aliu is currently a free agent, living in Toronto. The accusations led to an internal investigation by the Flames. Peters, who admitted to the incident in a letter of apology to Calgary GM Brad Treliving, resigned on Nov. 29.

Aliu was invited to the NHL offices this week to meet with commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

"It was a tough week, but we had some great discussion," Aliu said in a brief statement after the meeting. "They couldn't have been kinder or more receptive to the message that we're trying to bring."

On Monday, the NHL implemented a four-point plan, including a platform for whistleblowers and an annual training program on diversity and inclusion in response to recent abuse scandals in its coaching community.

Bettman was confident the new policies will help ensure a safer work environment. He stressed a zero-tolerance policy for any failure to notify the league on reported incidents.

"Our message is unequivocal," Bettman said. "We will not tolerate abusive behavior of any kind."

Brazilian teenagers Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior were on target as Real Madrid secured a 3-1 victory at Club Brugge to end their Champions League Group A campaign on a positive note at the Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday.

Luka Modric added a superb late third for Real, who were already assured of second place in the group and a place in the knockout stages before the start of the game.

Brugge end third in the group and will drop into the Europa League after Hans Vanaken scored their lone goal.

Real coach Zinedine Zidane made eight changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain in the previous matchday, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos all missing.

Brugge were almost rewarded for their bright start when Real goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made an excellent point-blank save to deny Percy Tau.

At the other end, Simon Mignolet was equally athletic to keep out an effort from Luka Jovic, the latter part of a youthful Real front three that also included Rodrygo, 18, and Vinicius, 19.

The visitors went ahead on 53 minutes when Alvaro Odriozola's cross was brilliantly volleyed into the bottom corner of the goal by Rodrygo, but that lead lasted only two minutes as Bonaventure set up Vanaken to curl home an equaliser.

Real hit the front again midway through the second period with an untidy goal as the ball ricocheted to Vinicius six yards out and his deflected shot earned him his first Champions League goal, before Modric curled in a late insurance strike.

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were at their brilliant best as Paris St Germain demolished Galatasaray 5-0 in their final Champions League Group A game at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Both Mbappe and Neymar scored one and set up two other goals as the French champions, who had already made sure they would end the group phase on top, finished with 16 points, five ahead of Real Madrid after the 13-time champions beat Club Brugge 3-1 away.

Galatasaray, who also conceded goals by Pablo Sarabia, Mauro Icardi and Edinson Cavani and ended with two points, were eliminated from all European competitions.

PSG and Galatasaray fans clashed briefly before kickoff outside the stadium with one supporter being taken to hospital with a minor injury, a police source said.

Despite having midfielder Marco Verratti and keeper Keylor Navas on the bench and Angel Di Maria out with a last-minute injury, PSG dominated and were rewarded in the 32nd minute.

Neymar played Mbappe through and the French international flicked the ball into the path of Icardi who poked home the ball to put the hosts ahead with his fifth Champions League goal this season -- his 12th in his last 13 games in all competitions.

Sarabia made it 2-0 three minutes later with an angled shot after being set up by Neymar. The Brazilian found the back of the net himself two minutes into the second half with a left-footed strike into the far corner after being set up by a Mbappe backheel.

Mbappe, who has now scored 19 goals and set up 11 in 30 Champions League games, increased the advantage in the 63rd with a cool finish from another Neymar assist.

Fan favourite Cavani, who came on as a second-half substitute, rounded it off with a penalty in the 84th minute after Ryan Donk had brought down Mbappe.

Luka Modric's goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Club Brugge was the 307th in this season's Champions League group stage, which set an all-time record.

And that record was extended to 308 just moments later when Gonzalo Higuain put Juventus 2-0 up away to Bayer Leverkusen.

Last season, there were 306 goals in the group stage, which had beaten the previous record of 292, which had come in the 2000-01 season.

FC Salzburg forward Erling Haaland scored the first of the campaign on Sept. 17 after just two minutes on his Champions League debut. He then added another two in a 6-1 victory over Genk.

Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski finishes the group stage as the competition's top goal scorer with 10, while Haaland has eight. Though, the Norway international will be unable to add to his tally, with Salzburg having been eliminated.

However, no one has broken the individual record on this occasion with Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of 11 for Madrid in the 2015-16 campaign still standing.

Meanwhile, Bayern finished their group stage campaign with maximum points after winning all six matches and a record goal difference of +19.