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Sports Briefs: Senator requests BCS investigation
By The Associated Press
Thursday, October 22, 2009 | No comments posted.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, whose undefeated home state school was bypassed for the college football national championship last season, urged President Barack Obama to ask the Justice Department to investigate the Bowl Championship Series, citing Obama’s own concerns about the way the top team is crowned in building a case for action.
Shortly after his election last year, Obama said he was going “to throw my weight around a little bit” to nudge college football toward a playoff system.
Obama and Hatch are among the many critics of how the BCS — a complex system of computer rankings and polls that often draws criticism — determines its national champion.
Hatch, who held a hearing on the BCS in July, told Obama that a “strong case” can be made that the BCS violates antitrust laws.
PRO BASKETBALL
Blazers near new deal with Aldridge
PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers are close to signing forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a contract extension, a person close to the situation told The Associated Press.
The five-year deal is expected to be completed within the next two days, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract wasn’t final.
The Blazers need to strike a deal with Aldridge to prevent him from becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
Aldridge, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Texas, was acquired by the Blazers in a draft-day trade from the Chicago Bulls. Last season, he averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Weber State picked for Big Sky crown
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State is picked to repeat as regular-season champion in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball.
The Wildcats topped polls from the media and the league’s coaches on Wednesday.
Weber State got 23 of 28 first-place votes in the media poll and four votes for No. 1 from the coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Montana was picked second in the coaches’ poll, but third by the media. Reporters tabbed Portland State, which has won the last two Big Sky tournaments, at No. 2 and Montana third. Idaho State is third in the coaches poll, followed by Portland State.
The polls were identical for spots 5-9: Montana State, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington and Sacramento State.
HOCKEY
Messier and Richter receive hockey honor
NEW YORK — Fifteen years after Mark Messier and Mike Richter led the New York Rangers to an elusive Stanley Cup title, they are still being feted for their efforts.
The latest festivities came when they were honored with the Lester Patrick Award, recognizing contributions of outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The former Rangers were joined by Jim Devellano, who has spent more than four decades in hockey — largely with the Detroit Red Wings — in this year’s class.
The award was created in 1966 and is presented annually by the NHL and USA Hockey to honor the memory of Lester Patrick, a former player and longtime coach of the Rangers. Patrick’s life and career were also celebrated along with the newest honorees.
GOLF
Glover takes title at Grand Slam of Golf
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Wednesday by closing with 5-under 66 to finish five shots ahead of Masters champion Angel Cabrera.
Glover was tied with British Open champion Stewart Cink when they reached the turn at Port Royal Golf Course. The U.S. Open champion birdied the 10th and 11th, while Cink fell back with bogeys on the next two holes.
Glover finished at 11-under 131 and earned $600,000.
Cabrera, who won the Grand Slam two years ago, had a 66 and finished at 136. Cink bogeyed the 18th hole for a 70 to finish another shot back at 137, while PGA champion Y.E. Yang had a 70 and was fourth among the major champions at 1-under 141.
SWIMMING
Olympic champion shatters butterfly record
JINAN, China — Olympic champion Liu Zige knocked a stunning 1.6 seconds off the world record in the women’s 200-meter butterfly at China’s National Games on Wednesday.
Liu was timed in 2 minutes, 1.81 seconds, domestic news agency Xinhua reported, eclipsing the previous world mark of 2:03.41 set by Australia’s Jessicah Schipper at the world championships in July.
Liu, who won the same event at the Beijing Olympics last year for China’s only swimming gold medal of the games, won Wednesday by almost 4 seconds over Jiao Liuyang, the Olympic silver medalist.
Shortly after his election last year, Obama said he was going “to throw my weight around a little bit” to nudge college football toward a playoff system.
Obama and Hatch are among the many critics of how the BCS — a complex system of computer rankings and polls that often draws criticism — determines its national champion.
Hatch, who held a hearing on the BCS in July, told Obama that a “strong case” can be made that the BCS violates antitrust laws.
PRO BASKETBALL
Blazers near new deal with Aldridge
PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers are close to signing forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a contract extension, a person close to the situation told The Associated Press.
The five-year deal is expected to be completed within the next two days, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract wasn’t final.
The Blazers need to strike a deal with Aldridge to prevent him from becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
Aldridge, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Texas, was acquired by the Blazers in a draft-day trade from the Chicago Bulls. Last season, he averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Weber State picked for Big Sky crown
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State is picked to repeat as regular-season champion in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball.
The Wildcats topped polls from the media and the league’s coaches on Wednesday.
Weber State got 23 of 28 first-place votes in the media poll and four votes for No. 1 from the coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Montana was picked second in the coaches’ poll, but third by the media. Reporters tabbed Portland State, which has won the last two Big Sky tournaments, at No. 2 and Montana third. Idaho State is third in the coaches poll, followed by Portland State.
The polls were identical for spots 5-9: Montana State, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington and Sacramento State.
HOCKEY
Messier and Richter receive hockey honor
NEW YORK — Fifteen years after Mark Messier and Mike Richter led the New York Rangers to an elusive Stanley Cup title, they are still being feted for their efforts.
The latest festivities came when they were honored with the Lester Patrick Award, recognizing contributions of outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The former Rangers were joined by Jim Devellano, who has spent more than four decades in hockey — largely with the Detroit Red Wings — in this year’s class.
The award was created in 1966 and is presented annually by the NHL and USA Hockey to honor the memory of Lester Patrick, a former player and longtime coach of the Rangers. Patrick’s life and career were also celebrated along with the newest honorees.
GOLF
Glover takes title at Grand Slam of Golf
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Wednesday by closing with 5-under 66 to finish five shots ahead of Masters champion Angel Cabrera.
Glover was tied with British Open champion Stewart Cink when they reached the turn at Port Royal Golf Course. The U.S. Open champion birdied the 10th and 11th, while Cink fell back with bogeys on the next two holes.
Glover finished at 11-under 131 and earned $600,000.
Cabrera, who won the Grand Slam two years ago, had a 66 and finished at 136. Cink bogeyed the 18th hole for a 70 to finish another shot back at 137, while PGA champion Y.E. Yang had a 70 and was fourth among the major champions at 1-under 141.
SWIMMING
Olympic champion shatters butterfly record
JINAN, China — Olympic champion Liu Zige knocked a stunning 1.6 seconds off the world record in the women’s 200-meter butterfly at China’s National Games on Wednesday.
Liu was timed in 2 minutes, 1.81 seconds, domestic news agency Xinhua reported, eclipsing the previous world mark of 2:03.41 set by Australia’s Jessicah Schipper at the world championships in July.
Liu, who won the same event at the Beijing Olympics last year for China’s only swimming gold medal of the games, won Wednesday by almost 4 seconds over Jiao Liuyang, the Olympic silver medalist.
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