Lenny Randle, major leaguer in the spotlight for 12 seasons, dies at 75

MURRIETA, Calif. >> Lenny Randle, a big league player for 12 seasons who spoke five languages, performed stand-up comedy, was dubbed “The Most Interesting Man in Baseball” and was suspended for punching his Texas Rangers manager, has died. He was 75.

Randle died Sunday at his home in Murrieta, Calif.

Randle made his debut for the Senators on June 16, 1971. He got his first hit when he beat out an infield single against Vida Blue.

He hit .257 with 27 homers, 322 RBIs and 156 stolen bases for the Senators/Rangers (1971-76), Mets (1977-78), Yankees (1979), Cubs (1980) and Mariners (1981-82). But he was known more for a series of moments rather than his on-field accomplishments.

Randle was on the bench for the Senators’ last game in 1971 when fans invaded the field; bunted to the right side to collide with Cleveland pitcher Milt Wilcox in 1974 and spark a brawl, in retaliation for a pitch being thrown behind him; was at second base during the Ten Cent Beer Night riot at Cleveland later that season; was in the batter’s box to face the Chicago Cubs’ Ray Burris when power went out at Shea Stadium during the blackout on July 13, 1977; was the Yankees’ roster replacement for Thurman Munson following the catcher’s death in August 1979; and famously got on his hands and knees to blow Amos Otis’ bunt foul on May 27, 1981, which plate umpire Larry McCoy decided was against the rules and ruled a hit.

Hovland comes off break and breaks a toe in Hawaii

KAPALUA, Hawaii >> Viktor Hovland will have been away from competition for 122 days when he tees it up at The Sentry on Thursday. It’s the longest break of his professional career, and the Norwegian star was excited to get going.

And then he flew to Hawaii and didn’t make it through one night without a freak injury.

Hovland slammed the pinkie toe on his right foot into the bed frame inthe middle of the night, leading to an image he posted to Instagram of a clean break.

He managed to look on the bright side.

“It’s the best one to break,” he said, referring to his golf swing.

Butler planning to play Wednesday for Heat, but future remains unsettled

MIAMI >> The good news for the Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler declared himself healthy again after what he described as a fairly severe illness for more than a week and said he will return to the lineup when Miami hosts New Orleans on New Year’s Night.

The perhaps not-so-good news: When asked Tuesday if he wants to be in Miami, amid now a couple weeks and counting of trade speculation, Butler was noncommittal.

Thompson suspended 2 games, Rozier 1 game for roles in Rockets-Heat fight

MIAMI >> The NBA has suspended Houston’s Amen Thompson for two games and Miami’s Terry Rozier for one game over their roles in a skirmish in the final moments of the Rockets-Heat game on Sunday night.

The league also handed out $145,000 in fines from that game. Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for verbally abusing a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner, while the Rockets’ Jalen Green was fined $35,000 and Miami’s Tyler Herro was fined $25,000 for their roles in the fight.

And from a separate incident just before the dustup, Houston’s Fred VanVleet was fined $35,000 for making contact with referee Marc Davis.

— The Associated Press