College Athletics
Ex-UNC president says sports should be left to the ADs
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Holden Thorp is packing up after nearly five years as chancellor at the University of North Carolina, preparing for his next job as provost at Washington University in St. Louis.
It’s no accident he’s leaving a school that regularly plays for national titles at the NCAA’s highest level to one that competes at its lowest.
Thorp’s done with big-time college sports, and if he had his way, other school presidents would be finished with them, too. Many leaders just don’t have the training to handle a major athletics program, he argues.
It’s a message that may resonate with administrators at institutions that lately have felt the sting of scandals tied to athletics.
Thorp will resign from his alma mater with its 18,000 undergraduates at the end of June to work at Washington (about 6,000 undergrads) after spending most of the last three years dealing with a withering array of NCAA and athletics-related problems. They dominated his time, despite the fact that – at least when he took the job – he was a novice in the business of athletics.
Thorp’s conclusion: Presidents should step aside and let their athletic directors handle the job.
Cycling
Martin wins Stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine
PARC DES OISEAUX, France – German rider Tony Martin won the fourth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Wednesday, while Christopher Froome pulled away from Alberto Contador with the Tour de France starting later this month.
Rohan Dennis of Australia took the overall lead from David Veilleux of Canada by finishing second, 47 seconds behind Martin.
Froome wound up third, 2:45 ahead of Contador.
Froome, the runner-up behind Bradley Wiggins at last year’s Tour, moved to second place in the overall standings, five seconds behind Dennis.
NFL
Studesville’s parents killed by an 18-wheeler
ENGLEWOOD – The Denver Broncos are mourning the deaths of running backs coach Eric Studesville’s parents in an auto accident in the Texas Panhandle.
Al and Jan Studesville were killed Tuesday when an 18-wheeler crossed into the westbound lanes on U.S. Highway 54 and struck the Wisconsin couple’s motorcycle head-on, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Studesville is entering his fourth season with the Broncos and 17th in the NFL. He was the Broncos’ interim head coach for the final month of the 2010 season after the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels. When John Fox was hired after that season, Studesville returned to his job coaching the team’s running backs.
Texas DPS trooper Christopher Ray said the accident Tuesday afternoon occurred in good weather about five miles outside the town of Texhoma.
Ray said the truck driver, Anthony DeWayne Buck of Dalhart, Texas, who was not injured, was eastbound on U.S. 54 when his empty 18-wheeler drifted into the westbound lanes and struck the Honda Goldwing motorcycle head-on. The driver of the motorcycle, 67-year-old Alfonso Studesville, and his passenger, 68-year-old Janet Studesville, both of Madison, Wis., were pronounced dead at the scene.
NHL
Avalanche add ‘toughness’ in 27-year-old Bordeleau
DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche signed left winger Patrick Bordeleau to a three-year deal Wednesday.
The 27-year-old enforcer led the team in hits (116) and finished second in penalty minutes (70). He also scored two goals and had three assists in 46 games.
Executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said Bordeleau brings “toughness” to the lineup. Bordeleau made his NHL debut Jan. 19 in Minnesota and scored his first goal in Los Angeles on April 11 against the Kings.
Associated Press
