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College Basketball
NEW YORK – The NCAA has extended its deal for the men’s basketball tournament with CBS and Turner for an additional eight years through 2032.
Eight seasons remain on the original 14-year contract.
The agreement announced Tuesday will pay an average of $1.1 billion per season, up from more than $770 million under the current deal.
The extension retains the existing format, with early-round games televised across CBS and three Turner networks: TBS, TNT and truTV. The Final Four will keep alternating between CBS and Turner.
The NCAA initially agreed to a contract with the two companies in 2010, the first time every game would be broadcast live. Before that, the tournament was solely on CBS.
Golf
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Darren Clarke launched the Ryder Cup trophy tour from Royal Portrush Golf Club in his native Northern Ireland on Tuesday, and the European captain had a spring in his step.
No wonder, considering the performance of the continent’s players at the Masters last week.
English player Danny Willett won at Augusta National for his first major championship title and there were six other Europeans in the top 10.
Wearing the green jacket, Willett arrived back in Britain on Tuesday following his Masters victory. Speaking at Manchester airport, he said his immediate plan was to “get home, put the kettle on, and change some nappies” after the birth of his first child last month.
Among the many benefits of winning his first major is that it virtually assures his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time.
NFL
NEW ORLEANS – Former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith had a loaded gun inside his vehicle on the night he was shot, but there was no evidence that it had been fired, police said Tuesday.
In a statement, police shed new light on the shocking death of the New Orleans football legend who was shot and killed Saturday night. Police have said that Smith and his wife were shot by Cardell Hayes after a traffic altercation.
Hayes told police on the scene that he was the shooter.
The NFL denied suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon’s application for reinstatement.
A league spokesman confirmed Tuesday that the application was denied and that Gordon can apply again in August.
A sample collected in March showed Gordon had traces of marijuana and a diluting substance in his system. The level of marijuana was less than the minimum required by the NFL for a positive test.
NHL
For the fourth consecutive 82-game season, the NHL has failed to top 6,600 goals scored.
More troubling is this year’s total is a whopping 858 goals fewer than 2005-06, when the NHL revamped its rules to eliminate clutching and grabbing in a bid to open up offense.
What’s happened since is coaches have adapted to the new rules by devising ways to clog up the area in front of the net, and teaching defenders to steer puck-carriers toward the boards without drawing interference penalties.
The NHL is expected to introduce new rules next season in which the equipment, including the jersey, a goalie wears is based on a player’s individual size.
Associated Press
