FOOTBALL
MONROE, La. – The district attorney’s office decided not to prosecute Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson and reserve defensive back Laurence “Hootie” Jones on drug and weapons charges, with the district attorney saying he didn’t want to “ruin the lives” of the two football players.
Prosecutor Neal Johnson cited insufficient evidence in court documents filed on Monday, but district attorney Jerry Jones told KNOE-8 he did not want to prosecute the men because of their athletic backgrounds.
Robinson and Jones were arrested in the early morning of May 17 for the misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon in the presence of narcotics. Robinson also was charged with felony possession of stolen firearms.
KNOXVILLE – Zaevion Dobson, a high school football player who was shot to death while shielding two girls from gunfire, will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs.
The 15-year-old Dobson will be the youngest person ever to win the award, which has been given annually since 1993. The award recognizes individuals who embody the spirt of Ashe, who dedicated his life to human rights advocacy.
Dobson, a sophomore at Fulton High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, died Dec. 17 while protecting friends from a shooting. Knoxville police said the girls shielded by Dobson were unhurt.
Dobson’s mother, Zenobia Dobson, will accept the award on his behalf during the July 13 ESPYs ceremony in Los Angeles. Dobson’s brothers, Zackelyn Dobson and Markastin Taylor, also are expected to attend.
Previous winners of the Ashe Courage Award have included Muhammad Ali, Dean Smith, Billie Jean King, Pat Summitt, Michael Sam, Caitlyn Jenner and four United Flight 93 passengers who helped prevent a Sept. 11 hijacking.
OLYMPICS
CALGARY – Calgary is looking at hosting another Winter Olympics.
The city council voted Monday to spend up to $5 million on an exploration committee to study a possible bid for the 2026 Winter Games.
Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The Canadian Sport Tourism Authority said it will raise private funds to defray the cost of the exploration committee’s work.
The International Olympic Committee will select the 2026 host city in 2019.
ROME – Organizers of Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympics are anxiously awaiting word from the city’s new mayor to see if she will move ahead with the candidacy or oppose it as hinted in her electoral campaign.
Virginia Raggi of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement won a runoff Sunday to become Rome’s first female mayor.
Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago tells reporters, “Ask her what she intends to do.”
BALTIMORE – Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps completed his probation for drunken driving.
Department of Public Safety and Corrections Services spokesman Gerard Shields said Tuesday that 30-year-old Phelps completed his probation Sunday and his case is closed.
The 18-time gold medalist pleaded guilty in 2014 to driving under the influence. A one-year sentence was suspended, but Phelps had to serve 18 months probation.
Associated Press
