July 2004 in Sports - July 14, 2004

July 14, 2004

• UEFA Champions League 2004–05 First qualifying round, first leg:
  • FC Gomel 0 – 2 SK Tirana
  • Linfield 0 – 1 HJK Helsinki
  • FC Sheriff Tiraspol 2 – 0 Jeunesse Esch
  • WIT Georgia Tbilisi 5 – 0 HB Tórshavn
  • KR Reykjavik 2 – 2 Shelbourne
  • Skonto Riga 4 – 0 Rhyl
  • FC Flora Tallinn 2 – 4 NK Gorica (UEFA.com)
• NBA:
  • The Los Angeles Lakers officially consummate a trade with the Miami Heat to send star center Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a first-round draft pick. O'Neal had been requesting a trade since the end of the Lakers' NBA Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons. (ESPN)
  • The Los Angeles Clippers trade Melvin Ely and Eddie House to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats for their second-round picks in the 2005 and 2006 drafts. The move is seen as an attempt to clear salary cap room to make an offer to lure Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant to the Clippers. (ESPN)
  • The Phoenix Suns sign former Clipper Quentin Richardson.(Suns)
• Major League Baseball: The Houston Astros fire manager Jimy Williams after the Astros fell to fifth place in the NL Central by the All-Star Break, 10½ games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Phil Garner was named interim manager until a search can be conducted following the season. (ESPN)
• Major League Soccer: The league announces that a new franchise based in Salt Lake City will begin play in the 2005 season. Along with a previously announced expansion franchise owned by Mexican club Chivas, called Chivas U.S.A., this will bring the total number of MLS teams to 12. (ESPN Soccernet)