NFL
Buccaneers fire coach Smith after 2 seasons
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired head coach Lovie Smith on Wednesday.
Smith went 6-10 this season and 8-24 over two years in charge of the team. The announcement came as a surprise to many because Smith’s job was not considered to be in danger.
A statement from Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer said, “This decision was difficult on a variety of levels. I am disappointed that we were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are committed to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team they deserve.”
General manager Jason Licht will oversee the search for a new coach.
‘Sunday Night Football’ averaged 22.5 million views
STAMFORD, Conn. – NBC says its 10th season of “Sunday Night Football” was its highest-rated ever and is on pace to rank as prime time’s top show for the fifth consecutive year.
“Sunday Night Football” averaged 22.5 million viewers in 2015, an increase of 6 percent from the previous season.
If SNF finishes No. 1, it would be one of only four TV shows since 1950 to accomplish the feat. Twelve of the games this past season had at least 21 million viewers.
Olympics
IOC rested doping samples from 2006 Games
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The IOC says nearly 500 doping samples from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin have been reanalyzed with improved testing methods.
The International Olympic Committee did not say whether the retests produced any positive cases.
The IOC stores Olympic doping samples for retesting with improved techniques to catch any cheats who may have avoided detection. The eight-year statute of limitation for the Turin samples expires next month.
Prep Sports
Coach on leave after apparently head-butting ref
LANGHORNE, Pa. – A Pennsylvania high school basketball coach who apparently head-butted a referee during a game has been put on leave.
Videos posted online show Neshaminy High School boys basketball coach Jerry Devine confronting a referee Tuesday night after he disagreed with a foul call. The team was trailing Pennsbury High School 46-42 with less than 40 seconds left.
As Devine charges onto the court, another referee approaches him and the coach appears to head-butt the ref, knocking him to the floor. Devine was ejected.
Soccer
Dempsey, Beckerman left off young U.S. roster
CHICAGO – Clint Dempsey, Kyle Beckerman, Chris Wondolowski, Graham Zusi and Brad Evans were among the veteran players left off Jurgen Klinsmann’s training camp roster ahead of exhibition games against Iceland and Canada.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C.), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Defenders: Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Matt Besler (Kansas City), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Montreal), Tim Parker (Vancouver), Marc Pelosi (San Jose), Matt Polster (Chicago)
Midfielders: Fatai Alashe (San Jose), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Mix Diskerud (New York City), Jermaine Jones (no club), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Lee Nguyen (New England), Tony Tchani (Columbus), Wil Trapp (Columbus)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Ethan Finlay (Columbus), Jerome Kiesewetter (Stuttgart, Germany), Jordan Morris (no club), Khiry Shelton (New York City), Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles)
Associated Press
