College Football
Johnny Football’s punishment is one half of the opener
HOUSTON – Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was suspended for the first half of the Aggies’ season-opener against Rice on Saturday for what the school said was an “inadvertent” violation of NCAA rules by signing autographs.
The school issued a statement Wednesday saying it declared the Heisman Trophy winner ineligible and that the NCAA agreed to reinstate Manziel after he serves the half-game suspension.
Manziel was being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly accepting money from memorabilia brokers for signing autographs, which violates NCAA rules and could have compromised his eligibility.
According to the statement, Texas A&M and the NCAA “confirmed there is no evidence Manziel received money in exchange for autographs based on currently available information and statements by Manziel.”
Conditions for reinstatement include Manziel discussing his situation with teammates and A&M revising future education concerning student-athletes signing autographs.
Cycling
Matthews wins Stage 5; Nibali leads Horner by 3
LAGO DE SANABRIA, Spain – Michael Matthews of Australia won the fifth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Wednesday, and Vincenzo Nibali of Italy kept the overall lead ahead of Christopher Horner of the U.S.
Matthews, riding for Orica-Greenedge, won in 4 hours, 28 minutes, 22 seconds. He was followed by Maximiliano Richeze of Argentina and Gianni Meersman of Belgium. Both had the same time as the Australian for the 108-mile ride from Sober to Lago de Sanabria.
Astana rider Nibali is three seconds ahead of RadioShack-Leopard’s Horner.
Di Luca’s third strike might be the final out of his career
ROME – Facing a possible life ban, cyclist Danilo Di Luca has been called for questioning next week by the Italian Olympic Committee after failing a surprise check before this year’s Giro d’Italia.
The 37-year-old rider tested positive for erythropoietin in April, five days before the Giro.
The third doping offense of his career wasn’t announced until the Giro nearly was over.
The hearing before the Olympic committee’s anti-doping prosecutor is scheduled for next Wednesday.
Soccer
Galaxy re-signs Donovan to a multiyear contract in L.A.
CARSON, Calif. – Landon Donovan signed a multiyear contract extension with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday, keeping the high-scoring U.S. national team star with his MLS club.
Donovan, whose current contract was up at the end of the season, could be the highest-paid player in MLS if he reaches incentives within the deal.
The 31-year-old Donovan has been with the Galaxy since 2005, winning three of his five career MLS Cup titles in Los Angeles. The fleet-footed midfielder is the third-leading goal-scorer in MLS history, trailing leader Jeff Cunningham by just three goals.
USA Skiing
Vonn’s right knee is healing, and she’s ready to ski snow
VAIL – Lindsey Vonn’s surgically repaired right knee nearly is fully healed, and she plans to ski this weekend.
Vonn said Wednesday after a gym workout that her knee is almost as strong as her left one. She will ski with the U.S. team in Portillo, Chile, and possibly go through some gates later at the training camp.
The four-time overall World Cup champion is looking at a possible return to competition in late November in Beaver Creek. That’s three months ahead of the Sochi Olympics, where she hopes to defend her downhill title.
Vonn tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a crash at the World Championships in Austria, six months ago.
Associated Press
