College Football
NCAA rewards Penn State for athletic improvements
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Penn State gradually will get back football scholarships taken away over the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, the NCAA announced Tuesday, crediting the university for making significant improvements to its athletics programs.
Five scholarships will be restored next year, and 15 more will be phased in until the school reaches the limit of 85 in 2016-17, a season earlier than the school had agreed to, the college sports’ governing body said. The NCAA said the unanimous decision by its executive committee was based on the recommendation of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who has been serving as Penn State’s athletics integrity monitor.
The NCAA said it also may reduce the postseason play ban, depending on the university’s future progress. Mitchell said it was premature to say which other sanctions might be changed.
Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence for sexual abuse of 10 boys, including incidents inside Penn State athletics facilities. A state appeals court recently heard oral argument in his quest for a new trial.
NBA
Ray Allen could turn into Jesus Shuttlesworth
MIAMI – So long, Allen, Garnett, James and Pierce.
Jesus Shuttlesworth, KG, King James and The Truth may be headed to the backs of NBA jerseys soon.
Some members of the Miami Heat have been told the NBA is considering having them and the Brooklyn Nets wear “nickname jerseys” in at least one of their four matchups this season. The NBA has not announced the plan, but teams apparently have been aware of the likelihood of it happening for at least several weeks.
For now, only the Heat and the Nets would be taking part. It’s unclear how many times those teams would wear the nickname jerseys or if they would ever wear them against other opponents.
Shaq shows ‘Shaqramento’ some love as an owner
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Shaquille O’Neal spent the first part of the century smashing Sacramento’s dreams of an NBA championship. Now he wants to spend the next part doing anything he can to build the Kings into a winner.
Declaring the new name of the city “Shaqramento,” O’Neal began by taking steps in his size 22 shoes Tuesday to make amends to Kings fans for his past verbal swipes. The new minority owner of the Kings said he just wanted to rile up people and market the game when he called the franchise the “Sacramento Queens” while winning three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.
O’Neal said has no intention of being a silent investor. He wants to be a mentor to volatile center DeMarcus Cousins, give his input on basketball decisions and help the team build the NBA’s first “indoor-outdoor arena.”
Sailing
Oracle rallies for 7 in a row to tie Kiwis at 8-all
SAN FRANCISCO – Skipper Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA overtook Emirates Team New Zealand on the upwind third leg Tuesday to win their astonishing seventh consecutive race and force a winner-take-all finale in the longest America’s Cup ever.
All but defeated a week ago, Oracle Team USA tied the faltering Kiwis 8-8 on the scoreboard by winning its 10th race overall. Oracle was docked two points for illegally modifying boats in warmup regattas.
If it hadn’t been hit with the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America’s Cup, Oracle Team USA’s sailors would be hoisting the silver trophy in victory.
Instead, the epic 19th race is scheduled for Wednesday, weather-permitting, of course, on San Francisco Bay.
Either Oracle will finish one of the greatest comebacks in sports history or Team New Zealand, marooned on match point for the last week, will get the elusive win it needs to claim the Auld Mug for the second time in 18 years.
Associated Press
