NFL
Incognito reportedly sent harrassing texts to Martin
DAVIE, Fla. – Two people familiar with the situation say suspended Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito sent text messages to teammate Jonathan Martin that were racist and threatening.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins and NFL haven’t disclosed the nature of the misconduct that led to Incognito’s suspension.
Martin, a tackle, remained absent from practice Monday one week after he suddenly left the team. Also absent was Incognito, suspended indefinitely late Sunday for his treatment of Martin.
The team and NFL continued their investigation into allegations by Martin’s representatives that he was bullied. The NFL Players Association also planned to look into the matter.
Rivera convicted of murder of former Redskin Taylor
MIAMI – A 23-year-old man was convicted of second-degree murder Monday in the 2007 slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, who was shot outside his own bedroom after witnesses said he confronted young men who had broken into his home looking for money.
The jury deliberated about 16 hours over four days before returning the verdict in the trial of Eric Rivera Jr., who admitted in a videotaped confession to police days after Taylor’s death that he fired the fatal shot after kicking in the bedroom door. At the trial, he said on the witness stand that his confession was given only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family.
Rivera also was convicted of armed burglary. Although Rivera did not get the maximum first-degree murder conviction, he still faces a potential life prison sentence. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy did not immediately set a sentencing date but will hold a related hearing on Dec. 10.
college basketball
Smart, McDermott headline preseason All-America team
Oklahoma State sophomore guard Marcus Smart is the only unanimous selection to The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.
Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott was named on all but two of the 65 ballots from the national media panel on Monday. Louisville senior Russ Smith, Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins and Michigan sophomore Mitch McGary were the rest of the first team.
Smart, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals last season. McDermott averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds last season and was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Smith, who received 52 votes, averaged 18.7 points and 2.9 assists in helping the Cardinals win the national championship. Wiggins, only the second freshman to earn preseason honors, averaged 23.4 points and 11.2 rebounds as a high school senior. He was on 42 ballots.
McGary, who averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds as the Wolverines reached the NCAA title game, got 34 votes.
Former Tennessee star King alleges off-court racism
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Bernard King said he dealt with racism off the court that included clashes with police while starring at Tennessee in the 1970s.
In an ESPN “30 for 30” documentary that will air Tuesday, King said that former Volunteers coach Ray Mears warned him that he’d heard some local officers would “do anything to get him.”
King, the first former Tennessee player inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, cited one incident in which he said an officer hit him in the head with the butt of his gun while responding to a loitering report
The documentary, titled “Bernie and Ernie,” focuses on the friendship of King and former Tennessee teammate Ernie Grunfeld.
The 56-year-old King stressed in a telephone interview that he has “no bitterness whatsoever” toward his alma mater.
Associated Press
