College Athletics
This is what endorsed NCAA change might look like:
Highlights from the proposal to change the NCAA’s governance structure, which was endorsed Thursday by the NCAA’s board of directors. A formal vote is not expected until the board’s quarterly meeting in August:
The five biggest football conferences – the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC – would gain more autonomy over a number of key areas, including funding scholarships up to the full cost of attendance (books, fees, money beyond tuition, room and board) and additional academic and career counseling.
All 32 Division I conferences would have a say in any legislative matters not deemed “autonomous.”
The board would continue to have 17 chancellors or presidents as members but would add an athlete, an athletic director, faculty athletics representative and a senior women’s administrator to the voting bloc.
The Leadership and Legislative Councils would be replaced by one council comprised of 38 athletic directors, conference commissioners, faculty athletic representative or senior women’s administrators, one representing each Division I league, and two athletes with voting privileges.
The NCAA would reduce the large number of current subcommittees to three: One focused on academics, one on competition and student well-being, and one to assist the council with its legislative role.
University presidents would maintain control on oversight and strategic decisions through the board of directors, but the council would focus on legislative and operational issues.
College Basketball
One D’Antoni remains in L.A., the other leaves for W.Va.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall hired Los Angeles Lakers assistant Dan D’Antoni as its men’s basketball head coach Thursday.
The 66-year-old D’Antoni replaces Tom Herrion, who resigned last month after an 11-22 season. D’Antoni is the older brother of Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni. He spent the last two seasons on the Lakers’ staff and has had stints as an assistant with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
Dan D’Antoni played four seasons at Marshall, leading the Thundering Herd in scoring in 1968-69 at 17.5 points per game.
Cycling
Froome, Wiggins won’t ride the Giro d’Italia major
MANCHESTER, England – This year’s Giro d’Italia will be missing two of cycling’s biggest names after Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins, the last two winners of the Tour de France, were left out of Team Sky’s nine-man lineup for the May 9-June 1 race.
Froome is being rested ahead of the defense of his Tour de France title in July, while Wiggins is competing in the Tour of California in May.
MLB
MLB throws a 10-game ban at Yankees starting pitcher
BOSTON – New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was suspended 10 games Thursday after being caught using pine tar.
Pineda was ejected in the second inning of Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox after umpires found the pine tar on the right side of the right-hander’s neck.
Ski Racing
USA coach fired, sentenced for money laundering
VIENNA – The head coach of the United States Alpine speed team, Andreas Evers, was fired by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association on Thursday, hours after the Austrian was sentenced to four months in prison plus 20 months on probation for money laundering.
The team said it had no immediate plans on replacing Evers, who was hired two years ago.
The 46-year-old Evers was found guilty by a regional court in Salzburg of laundering $2.35 million, which his former girlfriend allegedly stole from a computer company she worked for from 2001 to 2005.
Associated Press
