DWYANE WADE'S GREATEST FEAT

Dwyane Wade has accomplished quite a bit on the basketball court. What he said last week, however, will change and potentially save lives. Wade, along with his wife Gabrielle Union, expressed support for his child Zaya, who is transgender. They're not just tolerating Zaya; they're embracing and loving her, too.

'PROBABLY THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE'

McQuaid senior Jack Murphy hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer on Senior Night. Murphy is the team's manager and scorekeeper and entered the game in the final minute. (Photo: Provided by Mark Murphy)

Jack Murphy hoped to try out for McQuiad's (Rochester, N.Y.) basketball team, but an injury prevented him from doing so. Instead, he was the team manager. Last week, he made a shot that will change his life.

SURPRISE!

When the season ended last November and it came time to order their varsity jackets, members of the Carmel (New York) High School football team had a thought: They wanted to purchase one for teammate Caleb Cleary.

Cleary, a special needs student at the school, was surprised last week when the team entered his classroom and presented him with the letterman jacket.

QUICK HITS

  • A wide receiver skipped his own mother's funeral to play in an XFL game. 
  • Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench Tuesday after suffering a cardiac episode.  
  • A former NFL coach is now a high school assistant. Yes, you read those words in the right order.
  • The Midwest is burning over these "Minnesota Badgers" shirts. 
  • Siba the standard poodle won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.
  • Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer had some thoughts on MLB. 
  • This Tigers pitcher has turned spring training into a full-on camping adventure. 
  • Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headline this year's Basketball Hall of Fame finalists. 
  • "I definitely view myself as a franchise quarterback," Taysom Hill, the 29-year-old who has six regular-season completions, said. 

COLIN KAEPERNICK ON WHAT'S NEXT

Colin Kaepernick is planning to release his memoir this year through a new publish company he is starting. (Photo: Amari Kenoly/Ra Vision Media)

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell, former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick spoke about his next venture, a memoir to be released this year that should fill in some of the gaps of what he's been up to since he last took an NFL snap over three years ago. It should also provide insights into the motivation and methods behind his activism.

If this interview was any indication, the book should be plenty revealing.

NBA'S BEST MEET IN CHICAGO

An actually exciting NBA All-Star Game took place Sunday night in Chicago – thanks in part to the new scoring system.  

The race to 157 points provided high drama in the untimed fourth quarter, with Team LeBron coming out on top vs. Team Giannis. 

Kawhi Leonard led the way with a game-high 30 points, earning the newly-renamed Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP Award.  

And yes, while this game doesn't technically count for anything, that doesn't mean there weren't losers (and some winners, too). 

Other highlights of the weekend:  

  • Zion broke the backboard.
  • Buddy Hield won the 3-point contest. 
  • Dwight Howard paid tribute to Kobe Bryant during the dunk contest. 
  • Aaron Gordon was stunned again in the dunk contest.  

ASTROS APOLOGIZE, BUT LEAVE EVERYONE WANTING MORE

The Houston Astros were finally forced to face the music Thursday, apologizing for their illicit sign-stealing ways that "definitely" gave them an advantage en route to their 2017 World Series championship. 

But who were they apologizing to? Where is the accountability at the top? Plenty of questions lingered – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred even described the apologies as unsuccessful – and left opposing players angered. 

The Astros are trying to put it all behind them, but it's clear this story isn't going away anytime soon. 

MORE MUST-READ STORIES FROM THE USA TODAY NETWORK    

  • Tim Tebow is not giving up on his baseball dream. 
  • The 100 names you need to know this MLB season. 
  • The Chicago Bulls' dynasty dissolved following their most recent championship in 1998, but it didn't break up too early, owner Jerry Reinsdorf insists. 
  • Could the coronavirus outbreak in China impact this summer's Tokyo Olympics?
  • Tom Brady to America's Team does not seem like a great idea for the Cowboys. 
  • Mississippi doled out more than $2.1 million in welfare to a religious and wrestling nonprofit run by "The Million Dollar Man," former wrestler Ted DiBiase Sr.
  • Michigan State pulling Mel Tucker away from Colorado makes it obvious that there are haves and have nots based on nothing more than the ability to pay coaches. 
  • The Red Sox are beginning life in a post-Mookie Betts world. 
  • A college football player researched CTE and later died by suicide. A study of his brain gave his parents answers.
  • UEFA showed MLB how you deal with cheaters, Nancy Armour writes. 
  • Which NFL team with at least a 25-year title drought is closest to a Super Bowl victory? 

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