Tuesday's Sports In Brief
By The Associated Press
Nov 18, 2009 - 10:13:08 CST
Here's a look at Tuesday's sports in brief around the world.
PRO FOOTBALL
CINCINNATI (AP) — Running back Larry Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in a backup role eight days after the Kansas City Chiefs let him go as he was set to return from his second suspension in the last 12 months.
Coach Marvin Lewis first spoke with Johnson last Thursday and told him he would be last on the depth chart. Lewis said he told the former Pro Bowler he will be an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson, one of the NFL’s leading rushers this season, or another back gets hurt.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — BCS officials have selected Bill Hancock to become the first executive director of the postseason system.
Hancock will replace the BCS coordinator, a position which has rotated on a two-year basis between conference commissioners since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998.
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford’s two-year term as coordinator will end Jan. 7. At that point Hancock, who has been working as an administrator and spokesman for the BCS since 2005, will assume most of the coordinator’s duties.
PRO BASKETBALL
NEW YORK (AP) — Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.
The league announced Mutombo’s hiring to the newly created position, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star “one of sports’ outstanding humanitarians.”
Besides being a four-time defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work. He opened a hospital and research center in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only two-time winner of the league’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given for “outstanding service and dedication to the community.”
Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.
BOXING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors have begun investigating whether to charge former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and a photographer for a scuffle at Los Angeles International Airport.
A city attorney’s spokesman says police handed his office a preliminary report of the Nov. 11 confrontation. Tyson and photographer Tony Echeverria made citizens’ arrests, each claiming he was punched by the other man.
City attorney’s investigators want to interview both men and see video of the incident.
Tyson and Echeverria could be charged with misdemeanor battery, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Tyson could also be charged with violating probation in a 2007 drug case if convicted. He pleaded guilty in Arizona to cocaine possession.
HOCKEY
NEW YORK (AP) — Brendan Shanahan is retiring from the NHL after 21 seasons and an almost certain Hall of Fame career.
The 40-year-old forward scored 656 career goals and decided to leave the Devils in October one day after he was told there was no spot for him on New Jersey’s top three lines.
Shanahan ranks 11th on the league’s career goals list and is the only player with 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. The eight-time All-Star also played for St. Louis, Hartford, Detroit and the New York Rangers. He won three Stanley Cup titles with Detroit.
EQUESTRIAN
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — International Equestrian Federation members will vote this week on cleaning up the sport’s drug problems.
Proposals include creating an independent investigations unit, improving stables security at top events and educating riders about 1,000 substances that are banned for use on horses in competition.
FEI leaders hope victory in Thursday’s poll at their general assembly in Copenhagen will address doping issues that have marred equestrian events at recent Olympics.
They aim to have no failed drug tests at the 2012 London Games when equestrian will mark 100 years on the Olympic program.
CYCLING
ROME (AP) — Cyclist Davide Rebellin of Italy will be stripped of the silver medal in the road race from the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of doping. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said it received instructions from the International Olympic Committee.
Rebellin was one of five athletes who tested positive in April for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO, in new tests using retroactive blood samples taken at the games.
Rebellin, who has denied doping, will become the first Italian athlete stripped of an Olympic medal for doping. He will have to return his $110,000 prize from CONI.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Nine members of two high school girls’ soccer teams have been suspended for their roles in a fight that sparked a brawl in the bleachers.
The suspensions were announced by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. They range from two games to one year. Coaches from both Woonsocket and Tolman high schools also were issued unspecified sanctions.
The fight broke out after two players collided during a Nov. 8 game. A television news camera recorded the girls throwing punches and pulling hair, and fans fought in the bleachers during an awards ceremony.
The Interscholastic League says the punishments show that fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct won’t be tolerated.
Copyright ©
Pulitzer Missouri Newspapers. All rights reserved.
http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2009/11/26/sports/doc4b04190278059555646592.txt
PRO FOOTBALL
CINCINNATI (AP) — Running back Larry Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in a backup role eight days after the Kansas City Chiefs let him go as he was set to return from his second suspension in the last 12 months.
Coach Marvin Lewis first spoke with Johnson last Thursday and told him he would be last on the depth chart. Lewis said he told the former Pro Bowler he will be an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson, one of the NFL’s leading rushers this season, or another back gets hurt.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — BCS officials have selected Bill Hancock to become the first executive director of the postseason system.
Hancock will replace the BCS coordinator, a position which has rotated on a two-year basis between conference commissioners since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998.
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford’s two-year term as coordinator will end Jan. 7. At that point Hancock, who has been working as an administrator and spokesman for the BCS since 2005, will assume most of the coordinator’s duties.
PRO BASKETBALL
NEW YORK (AP) — Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.
The league announced Mutombo’s hiring to the newly created position, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star “one of sports’ outstanding humanitarians.”
Besides being a four-time defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work. He opened a hospital and research center in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only two-time winner of the league’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given for “outstanding service and dedication to the community.”
Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.
BOXING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors have begun investigating whether to charge former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and a photographer for a scuffle at Los Angeles International Airport.
A city attorney’s spokesman says police handed his office a preliminary report of the Nov. 11 confrontation. Tyson and photographer Tony Echeverria made citizens’ arrests, each claiming he was punched by the other man.
City attorney’s investigators want to interview both men and see video of the incident.
Tyson and Echeverria could be charged with misdemeanor battery, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Tyson could also be charged with violating probation in a 2007 drug case if convicted. He pleaded guilty in Arizona to cocaine possession.
HOCKEY
NEW YORK (AP) — Brendan Shanahan is retiring from the NHL after 21 seasons and an almost certain Hall of Fame career.
The 40-year-old forward scored 656 career goals and decided to leave the Devils in October one day after he was told there was no spot for him on New Jersey’s top three lines.
Shanahan ranks 11th on the league’s career goals list and is the only player with 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. The eight-time All-Star also played for St. Louis, Hartford, Detroit and the New York Rangers. He won three Stanley Cup titles with Detroit.
EQUESTRIAN
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — International Equestrian Federation members will vote this week on cleaning up the sport’s drug problems.
Proposals include creating an independent investigations unit, improving stables security at top events and educating riders about 1,000 substances that are banned for use on horses in competition.
FEI leaders hope victory in Thursday’s poll at their general assembly in Copenhagen will address doping issues that have marred equestrian events at recent Olympics.
They aim to have no failed drug tests at the 2012 London Games when equestrian will mark 100 years on the Olympic program.
CYCLING
ROME (AP) — Cyclist Davide Rebellin of Italy will be stripped of the silver medal in the road race from the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of doping. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said it received instructions from the International Olympic Committee.
Rebellin was one of five athletes who tested positive in April for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO, in new tests using retroactive blood samples taken at the games.
Rebellin, who has denied doping, will become the first Italian athlete stripped of an Olympic medal for doping. He will have to return his $110,000 prize from CONI.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Nine members of two high school girls’ soccer teams have been suspended for their roles in a fight that sparked a brawl in the bleachers.
The suspensions were announced by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. They range from two games to one year. Coaches from both Woonsocket and Tolman high schools also were issued unspecified sanctions.
The fight broke out after two players collided during a Nov. 8 game. A television news camera recorded the girls throwing punches and pulling hair, and fans fought in the bleachers during an awards ceremony.
The Interscholastic League says the punishments show that fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct won’t be tolerated.