Sports FYI
BY Staff and Wire reports
Friday, October 26, 2012
10/26/12 at 3:05 AM
Basketball
Stern to retire in 2014: David Stern spent nearly 30 years growing the NBA, turning a league that couldn't even get its championship series on live prime-time TV into a projected $5 billion a year industry. Confident the NBA is in good shape and certain he has found someone who can make it even better, Stern announced that he will retire on Feb. 1, 2014, 30 years to the day after taking charge of the league, and be replaced by Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver.
Laimbeer joins Liberty: Bill Laimbeer returned to the WNBA as the New York Liberty's general manager and coach. The former Detroit Pistons star led the Detroit Shock to three WNBA titles and was 137-93 as the team's general manager and coach from 2002-09.
Football
Mathieu among 4 ex-LSU players arrested: Police say they arrested four former LSU football players, including one-time Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, after finding them with marijuana at Mathieu's apartment. Baton Rouge police said they also arrested ex-LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, and former defensive backs Derrick Bryant and Karnell Hatcher.
Police say Mathieu, Jefferson and Hatcher were booked on charges of marijuana possession while Bryant faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute. Mathieu is a cornerback known as the "Honey Badger." He had been dismissed from the Tigers in August for failing a drug test.
Hockey
All quiet as deadline for full NHL season nears: With only hours remaining before an NHL-imposed deadline to make a deal with the players' association and preserve a full hockey season, all was quiet between the sides. By Thursday afternoon, the sides were still not in contact.
Soccer
Ohio man accused of stalking OU player: An Ohio man remains jailed on $2 million bond after prosecutors accused him of threatening to kill a University of Oklahoma soccer player.
Naasik Ferdous of Batavia, Ohio, is charged with stalking and conspiring to perform an act of violence. Prosecutors claim that Ferdous admitted driving more than 900 miles from Cincinnati to the Norman campus with the intent of killing OU goalie Kelsey Devonshire.
Cycling
LeMond calls on cycling leaders to resign: Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has urged the leaders of cycling's governing body to resign in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping affair, calling them "the corrupt part of the sport." LeMond posted an open letter on his Facebook page Wednesday that asked those who care about cycling to join him in telling International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid and honorary president Hein Verbruggen to step down. LeMond's letter came after the UCI stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him for life on Monday.
Verbruggen led world cycling from 1991-2005, the era when Armstrong won his titles, and retains a seat on the UCI management board. He is still perceived in the sport as a mentor to McQuaid, who succeeded him.
LeMond, the Tour winner in 1986, '89 and '90, said the problem for cycling is not drugs but corruption. The only American remaining on the 99-year Tour list of champions told McQuaid: "Pat in my opinion you and Hein are the corrupt part of the sport."
Tennis
Williams beats No. 1 Azarenka: Serena Williams extended her dominance over the top-ranked player in the world, defeating Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 at the WTA Championships. Williams improved to 11-1 overall against Azarenka, winning the last nine matches.
Volleyball
Tulsa sweeps Memphis: Tulsa claimed its 10th conference victory as it swept Memphis (25-21, 25-16, 25-14) on the road. The Golden Hurricane (17-8, 10-1 C-USA) was led by senior outside hitter Tyler Henderson, who had 12 kills, and middle blocker Carly Boatwright, who had eight kills.
Olympics
Lolo Jones named to U.S. bobsled team: Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones has made the U.S. bobsled team, essentially three weeks after trying the sport for the first time. Jones is one of six women selected as push athletes for the team, a group that also includes Olympic sprinting gold medalist Tianna Madison.
Boxing
AIBA lifts USA Boxing suspension: Amateur boxing's international governing body lifted the three-month suspension of USA Boxing that was imposed over its response to several controversial statements by its former president.
The International Boxing Association's (AIBA) disciplinary commission leveled the suspension last week, effectively canceling all American amateur boxing competitions and clinics until mid-January.
