NFL
Are tweets fair game? Mendenhall suing Champion
RALEIGH, N.C. – Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is suing for $1 million in damages after his tweets about Osama bin Laden and Sept. 11 led the Champion sports apparel company to drop his endorsement deal.
Mendenhall’s lawyers filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in North Carolina against Winston Salem-based Hanesbrands Inc., Champion’s parent company. The complaint says the company breached its contract by firing Mendenhall after his remarks on Twitter.
In May, Mendenhall wrote tweets questioning the public celebrations of bin Laden’s death and whether the World Trade Center towers were really brought down Sept. 11, 2001, by the crashing of two hijacked airliners into the buildings.
Shortly after, the company ended its endorsement deal with Mendenhall.
Calls to Hanesbrands and Mendenhall’s lawyer were not returned immediately Tuesday.
Mixed martial arts
Jones to defend UFC belt against Jackson in Denver
DENVER – UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones always envisioned himself fighting crime, not competitors.
A wrestler in college, Jones had his heart set on a law-enforcement career once he finished his degree. But having a young family led to a career change.
Always a mixed martial arts fan from his days of watching the bouts with his roommates, and needing to make some extra cash, Jones decided to pursue that path.
In March, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history. Now, he will put his title on the line against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 135 in Denver on Sept. 24. Jones, who turned 24 on Tuesday, has a tough assignment as Jackson desperately wants his title back, and he’s even relocating to the Mile High City to train.
college sports
SEC’s Slive thinks change is in the air for NCAA
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive thinks change is in the air for the NCAA – and to him that’s a good thing.
Slive said he and other college and league administrators “feel like change is important,” including having investigations “handled in a timely way.” Slive spoke to The Associated Press ahead of SEC media days starting today, with NCAA investigations dominating the news from college athletics.
In the SEC, Tennessee is awaiting a ruling after a 22-month investigation into the football and men’s basketball programs, while the NCAA is still investigating the recruitment of Heisman Trophy-winning Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Auburn has not received an official letter of inquiry.
The SEC head supports a proposal that would allow universities to pay student athletes the full cost of an education.
MLB
Rangers analyzing stadium to increase fan safety
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers are doing architectural and engineering studies at their ballpark with plans to make all front-row rails the same height to make the stadium safer following the death of a fan during a recent game.
Rangers officials said they intend to make all rails 42 inches high, which they say would be the highest standard in the United States. Some current rails will be raised as much as a foot.
Railings around the ballpark now are 30 or 34 inches in most areas, with 42-inch rails already at the end of aisles that lead to the front row. City building requirements are that guardrails must be at least 26 inches high.
Rangers vice president Rob Matwick says the studies should be done in a few weeks.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
