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Sports Briefs: Georgia president presents playoff plan
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 | No comments posted.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — University of Georgia president Michael Adams presented his proposal for an eight-team major college football playoff to the NCAA Division I board of directors, and they decided to study the issue with others before making any moves.
James Barker, chairman of the board and the president of Clemson, called the talks candid and constructive. But he said the directors believe the discussion should include presidents at the conference level and the committee overseeing the Bowl Championship Series.
Adams’ playoff proposal used the Sugar, Orange, Rose and Fiesta bowls as the opening round, leading to semifinals and a championship game. Adams said he believes the study will result in additional tweaking to the BCS system.
PRO FOOTBALL
Redskins add three more coaching candidates
WASHINGTON — Assistant coach Gregg Williams interviewed again for the Washington Redskins’ coaching vacancy, and the team was also planning to speak to Seattle Seahawks assistant Jim Mora and Indianapolis Colts assistants Jim Caldwell and Ron Meeks.
Owner Dan Snyder met for the third time with Williams, who has been in charge of the Redskins’ defense since 2004. Williams had a preliminary interview last Wednesday and his first full session with the owner Saturday.
BASKETBALL
NBA expanding to Orient
NEW YORK — The NBA formed NBA China, strengthening its business interests in the region and perhaps paving the way for a bolstered professional league in the country. The new entity arrives seven months before the summer Olympics in Beijing, when basketball will be one of the showcase events.
Five partners will invest $253 million to acquire 11 percent of the company, which will handle everything from merchandising and marketing to television and other media, in preferred equity. They are ESPN, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation and China Merchants Investments.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Sun Devils break into Top 25
TEMPE, Ariz. — In another milestone on the road to respectability, Arizona State is back in The Associated Press’ Top 25 for the first time since 1995.
The Sun Devils (13-2, 3-0 Pac-10) broke in at No. 22 in the latest poll on Monday.
“It means a lot,” junior forward Jeff Pendergraph said before an afternoon practice at Wells Fargo Arena. “We’re happy with it. It’s definitely a nice little sign of recognition for all the hard work we’ve been going through.”
The ranking underscores the progress the Sun Devils have made since coach Herb Sendek arrived from North Carolina State in the spring of 2006. But the typically cautious Sendek wasn’t ready to celebrate his team’s new poll position.
“We’ll put it in its proper place,” Sendek said. “It’s a recognition, in some form, that we’re making progress. But at the same time, it really is a snapshot for this moment in time.”
A lot of time has passed since ASU’s most recent ranking. The Sun Devils were No. 16 on March 13, 1995.
A Top 25 ranking seemed unfathomable a year ago, when the Sun Devils went 8-22 and lost a school-record 15 straight games. And it still seemed unlikely when ASU opened this year by falling behind 20-0 on its way to a 77-54 loss to Illinois in Maui.
But a forgiving schedule and a rapidly maturing group of young players have helped turn the Sun Devils around.
Pilots fall in conference play
LOS ANGELES — Shawn Deadwiler scored 16 points and Orlando Johnson and Corey Counts each added 14 as Loyola Marymount snapped a seven game losing streak and defeated Portland 73-68 Monday.
The Lions (4-14, 1-1 West Coast Conference), won for the first time at home in eight games this season and notched their first victory since Dec. 8th. The Pilots (6-11, 1-1) dropped to 4-8 on the road.
Robin Smeulders led the Pilots with 16 points and Nik Raivio added 14 points.
The Lions’ win marked only the fourth time in the last 11 games LMU has beaten Portland.
BASEBALL
Cardinals deal Rolen for Glaus
ST. LOUIS — Scott Rolen was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Toronto Blue Jays for Troy Glaus in a swap of All-Star third basemen that was finalized after both players passed physicals.
Rolen became the second St. Louis star to join Toronto in the offseason. The Blue Jays signed former Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, the MVP of the 2006 World Series, to a one-year contract earlier.
The 32-year-old Rolen hit a total of only 35 home runs the last three years while being hindered by a left shoulder injury that has required three operations.
The 31-year-old Glaus was hampered by a bad left foot last season while hitting 20 homers in 115 games.
Braves add Kotsay to outfield
ATLANTA — The Braves have their replacement for center fielder Andruw Jones, completing a trade that brought Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics.
The Braves sent reliever Joey Devine and a minor league pitcher to Oakland, while the rebuilding A’s were expected to pick up about $5 million of Kotsay’s $7.35 million salary.
The deal was finalized after Kotsay, who played only 56 games last year, was examined by Braves doctors. He had back surgery last spring, missed the first two months of the season and returned to the disabled list with back spasms in August.
Cameron signs deal with Brewers
MILWAUKEE — Mike Cameron and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a $7 million, one-year contract. The sides had reached an agreement Friday that was subject to the 35-year-old outfielder passing a physical.
A three-time Gold Glove winner, Cameron hit .242 with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs last season for the San Diego Padres. He is suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant. He blamed the positive test on a tainted supplement.
TENNIS
Several players asked to throw matches
MELBOURNE, Australia — Five or six players on the WTA Tour have been approached to throw tennis matches, tour chairman Larry Scott announced.
Scott said that the WTA has determined that no matches have been affected by gambling. And he also has threatened any player involved with gambling on matches with a life ban.
James Barker, chairman of the board and the president of Clemson, called the talks candid and constructive. But he said the directors believe the discussion should include presidents at the conference level and the committee overseeing the Bowl Championship Series.
Adams’ playoff proposal used the Sugar, Orange, Rose and Fiesta bowls as the opening round, leading to semifinals and a championship game. Adams said he believes the study will result in additional tweaking to the BCS system.
PRO FOOTBALL
Redskins add three more coaching candidates
WASHINGTON — Assistant coach Gregg Williams interviewed again for the Washington Redskins’ coaching vacancy, and the team was also planning to speak to Seattle Seahawks assistant Jim Mora and Indianapolis Colts assistants Jim Caldwell and Ron Meeks.
Owner Dan Snyder met for the third time with Williams, who has been in charge of the Redskins’ defense since 2004. Williams had a preliminary interview last Wednesday and his first full session with the owner Saturday.
BASKETBALL
NBA expanding to Orient
NEW YORK — The NBA formed NBA China, strengthening its business interests in the region and perhaps paving the way for a bolstered professional league in the country. The new entity arrives seven months before the summer Olympics in Beijing, when basketball will be one of the showcase events.
Five partners will invest $253 million to acquire 11 percent of the company, which will handle everything from merchandising and marketing to television and other media, in preferred equity. They are ESPN, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation and China Merchants Investments.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Sun Devils break into Top 25
TEMPE, Ariz. — In another milestone on the road to respectability, Arizona State is back in The Associated Press’ Top 25 for the first time since 1995.
The Sun Devils (13-2, 3-0 Pac-10) broke in at No. 22 in the latest poll on Monday.
“It means a lot,” junior forward Jeff Pendergraph said before an afternoon practice at Wells Fargo Arena. “We’re happy with it. It’s definitely a nice little sign of recognition for all the hard work we’ve been going through.”
The ranking underscores the progress the Sun Devils have made since coach Herb Sendek arrived from North Carolina State in the spring of 2006. But the typically cautious Sendek wasn’t ready to celebrate his team’s new poll position.
“We’ll put it in its proper place,” Sendek said. “It’s a recognition, in some form, that we’re making progress. But at the same time, it really is a snapshot for this moment in time.”
A lot of time has passed since ASU’s most recent ranking. The Sun Devils were No. 16 on March 13, 1995.
A Top 25 ranking seemed unfathomable a year ago, when the Sun Devils went 8-22 and lost a school-record 15 straight games. And it still seemed unlikely when ASU opened this year by falling behind 20-0 on its way to a 77-54 loss to Illinois in Maui.
But a forgiving schedule and a rapidly maturing group of young players have helped turn the Sun Devils around.
Pilots fall in conference play
LOS ANGELES — Shawn Deadwiler scored 16 points and Orlando Johnson and Corey Counts each added 14 as Loyola Marymount snapped a seven game losing streak and defeated Portland 73-68 Monday.
The Lions (4-14, 1-1 West Coast Conference), won for the first time at home in eight games this season and notched their first victory since Dec. 8th. The Pilots (6-11, 1-1) dropped to 4-8 on the road.
Robin Smeulders led the Pilots with 16 points and Nik Raivio added 14 points.
The Lions’ win marked only the fourth time in the last 11 games LMU has beaten Portland.
BASEBALL
Cardinals deal Rolen for Glaus
ST. LOUIS — Scott Rolen was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Toronto Blue Jays for Troy Glaus in a swap of All-Star third basemen that was finalized after both players passed physicals.
Rolen became the second St. Louis star to join Toronto in the offseason. The Blue Jays signed former Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, the MVP of the 2006 World Series, to a one-year contract earlier.
The 32-year-old Rolen hit a total of only 35 home runs the last three years while being hindered by a left shoulder injury that has required three operations.
The 31-year-old Glaus was hampered by a bad left foot last season while hitting 20 homers in 115 games.
Braves add Kotsay to outfield
ATLANTA — The Braves have their replacement for center fielder Andruw Jones, completing a trade that brought Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics.
The Braves sent reliever Joey Devine and a minor league pitcher to Oakland, while the rebuilding A’s were expected to pick up about $5 million of Kotsay’s $7.35 million salary.
The deal was finalized after Kotsay, who played only 56 games last year, was examined by Braves doctors. He had back surgery last spring, missed the first two months of the season and returned to the disabled list with back spasms in August.
Cameron signs deal with Brewers
MILWAUKEE — Mike Cameron and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a $7 million, one-year contract. The sides had reached an agreement Friday that was subject to the 35-year-old outfielder passing a physical.
A three-time Gold Glove winner, Cameron hit .242 with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs last season for the San Diego Padres. He is suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant. He blamed the positive test on a tainted supplement.
TENNIS
Several players asked to throw matches
MELBOURNE, Australia — Five or six players on the WTA Tour have been approached to throw tennis matches, tour chairman Larry Scott announced.
Scott said that the WTA has determined that no matches have been affected by gambling. And he also has threatened any player involved with gambling on matches with a life ban.
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