BASKETBALL

LEBRON JAMES TO HOST ‘SNL’

Live from New York, it’s LeBron! Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James, fresh off co-hosting the ESPY Awards earlier this month, will host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” in September, an NBC spokesman confirmed yesterday.

The 22-year-old James will be the latest prominent athlete to host “SNL,” following his boyhood idol, NBA superstar Michael Jordan, who hosted in 1991. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning appeared on the show last season. James’s “SNL” appearance was first reported by Daily Variety. He got positive reviews for his work co-hosting the ESPYs along with comedian/talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. James appeared in several skits and danced and sang Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative” with rewritten lyrics about his own fame.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FOUR MINNESOTA PLAYERS DISMISSED FROM TEAM

Four University of Minnesota football players being investigated in a sexual assault were kicked off the team yesterday.

Dominic Jones, a cornerback charged Monday with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman in April, and three teammates — running back E.J. Jones, defensive end Alex Daniels and defensive back Keith Massey were dismissed from the team yesterday, coach Tim Brewster said.

“It is an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of the University of Minnesota and we have exceedingly high expectations for each of our student-athletes,” Brewster said in a statement issued by the university. “We spend a considerable amount of time addressing our players regarding their personal conduct and we will not compromise our values. We are establishing a culture of integrity and we will demand that our players are held accountable for their actions”

Dominic Jones, a junior and one of the team’s best defensive players, is accused of having sex with a woman who was “physically helpless” after a night of binge drinking at a campus apartment in early April.

GOLF

GARY PLAYER SAYS STEROID USE IN GOLF A FACT

Gary Player put steroids at the forefront of the British Open yesterday, saying golf has its head buried in a bunker if it thinks the sport is clean and he knows of one player using performance-enhancing drugs. The nine-time major champion urged golf organizations to start random testing. “It’s absolutely essential that we do that,” Player said at Carnoustie, where he won the British Open in 1968. “We’re dreaming if we think it’s not going to come into golf.” Player says it already has. “Whether it’s HGH, whether it’s Creatine or whether it’s steroids, I know for a fact that some golfers are doing it,” he said.

BASEBALL

SHEFFIELD FINED BY MLB FOR UMPIRE CRITICISM

Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield was fined an undisclosed amount yesterday by Major League Baseball for recently criticizing umpires. “Our highly professional umpires protect the integrity of the game on the field. Attacks on their professionalism and character will not be tolerated,” commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. The often-outspoken Sheffield declined to be comment following batting practice before Detroit’s game at Minnesota.

FRANCO BACK IN THE BIGS, REJOINING ATLANTA

Julio Franco will get another chance to swing the bat in the big leagues. The 48-year-old utilityman signed with Atlanta yesterday, rejoining the Braves a week after he was cut by the Mets. Franco cleared waivers during the Braves’ game against Cincinnati. Atlanta signed him for the rest of the season and said he would be activated for Thursday night’s game against St. Louis. Franco, who turns 49 next month, played for the Braves in a backup role from 2001–05. He is a 24-year veteran with 2,576 career hits and is a lifetime .298 hitter. He hit just .200 (10-for-50) with one homer as a reserve with the Mets. Franco will serve in the same capacity for Atlanta.