College Athletics
NCAA’s restructuring steers toward steering committee
There is no suggestion within the NCAA of blowing things up, and even the idea of splitting off the big-money BCS schools into their own division gets little traction.
But the leadership of the governing body for collegiate athletics has to become “more nimble, more strategic, appropriately representative,” said Nathan Hatch, chair of the NCAA’s board of directors.
“I do think it’s a very important (time),” Hatch, the president at Wake Forest, said Wednesday after a two-day meeting on restructuring. “I do think there’s some frustration with the current governance model, and there are inherent tensions between big schools and small schools and how representation is done.”
After getting input from nine different groups, including athletic directors, faculty, coaches’ associations and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the board Wednesday agreed on several key points:
A more transparent, faster and simple governance process is needed.
School presidents would continue to lead the division, with the board focusing more on overall strategy and vision and less on day-to-day operations.
While there is a wish to maintain a single Division I, some schools should have the leeway to decide how best to support their athletes financially – a way to resolve the so-called stipend debate.
A seven-member committee established in August to oversee restructuring now will draft proposals, which will be presented to the full membership at the NCAA convention Jan. 15-18 in San Diego. Hatch said he hopes there will be a final plan by spring.
NBA
A Sixer ‘until the day I die,’ Iverson retires in Philly
PHILADELPHIA – Say goodbye, A.I.
Allen Iverson officially retired from the NBA on Wednesday, ending a 15-year career during which he won the 2001 MVP award and four scoring titles. Iverson retired in Philadelphia where he had his greatest successes and led the franchise to the 2001 NBA finals.
Iverson said he’ll be a Sixer “until the day I die.”
The 6-foot guard had not played in an NBA game since Feb. 20, 2010, and had a brief pro stint in Turkey. He also played for Denver, Detroit and Memphis. Iverson scored 24,368 points and was an 11-time All-Star.
NFL
Jury deliberates accused fate in trial of slain Sean Taylor
MIAMI – A jury began deliberations in the trial of a Florida man accused of the fatal 2007 shooting of Washington Redskins star safety Sean Taylor during a botched burglary.
Jurors got the case late Wednesday afternoon after hearing closing arguments in the case of 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted of murder in Taylor’s killing.
A prosecutor told jurors to rely on Rivera’s videotaped confession to police. Rivera testified in his own defense that he didn’t shoot Taylor and stayed outside in a car while others went into the Pro Bowl player’s house.
Four other young men from the Fort Myers area were charged. One pleaded guilty and three will face trial later.
Associated Press
