By wire sources Tom Brady’s personal QB coach dies ADVERTISING SAN MATEO, Calif. — Tom Martinez, the longtime personal coach to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, has died. He was 67. Brady said in a statement posted on his
Tom Brady’s personal QB coach dies
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Tom Martinez, the longtime personal coach to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, has died. He was 67.
Brady said in a statement posted on his Facebook page Wednesday that he is “deeply saddened by the passing of my coach, mentor and friend.”
“Coach Martinez’s invaluable assistance and support will never be forgotten and will always have a lasting impact on my life,” Brady said in the statement. “The time we spent together remain some of my fondest memories. His legacy of commitment, toughness and determination will live on forever.”
Tom Martinez worked with Brady when he was a teenager growing up in San Mateo, where Martinez coached at College of San Mateo. Their relationship continued during Brady’s NFL career.
Brady told reporters before this year’s Super Bowl that Martinez taught him how to throw a football, and he was “forever indebted” to him. The quarterback said Martinez had been seeking a kidney for some time.
Hawks’ Johnson to miss All-Star game
ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson will miss the All-Star game because of tendinitis in his left knee.
NBA Commissioner David Stern picked Boston guard Rajon Rondo to replace Johnson in the All-Star Game at Orlando this weekend, passing over Atlanta forward Josh Smith. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant will take Johnson’s place in the 3-point contest.
Johnson is also skipping the Hawks’ last two games before the break: at New York on Wednesday night and a home game against Orlando on Thursday night.
He leads the Hawks in scoring at 17.6 points a game and was named to the All-Star team for the sixth year in a row. After the break, Johnson will be re-evaluated before Atlanta’s next game against Golden State on Feb. 29.
MAC commissioner says Temple,
Big East talking
PHILADELPHIA — Temple and the Big East are talking about the Owls rejoining the conference as soon as next season.
MAC Commissioner Jon A. Steinbrecher said in a statement Wednesday that his league is “aware that Temple has been in discussions with the Big East regarding membership.”
A person familiar with the talks says the school and the Big East are trying to negotiate a deal that could have Temple in the league for all sports by next season. The person spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the talks are still ongoing.
Temple played in the Big East in football only from 1991-2004, but was forced out of the league because the program was one of the worst in major college football.
The Philadelphia-based school played as a football independent and eventually landed in the Mid-American Conference in 2007.
In the MAC, Temple has turned its football program around and run off winning seasons the past three years.
The Owls’ other sports programs, including men’s and women’s basketball, compete in the Atlantic 10.
Sacramento, NBA close to arena financing deal
Sacramento’s last shot to remain an NBA city appears headed for another overtime.
NBA Commissioner David Stern and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced a joint work plan Wednesday for the two sides to reach an agreement to finance a new arena by the March 1 deadline.
Johnson, Stern and the Maloof family, which owns the Sacramento Kings, will meet during this weekend’s All-Star festivities in Orlando, Fla.
If the final details are resolved in time, a term sheet will be announced March 1, and the Sacramento City Council will vote on the plan at its March 6 meeting, possibly avoiding the relocation talk that surrounded the team last spring, when it almost moved to Anaheim.
Under the proposed agreement, the city of Sacramento will raise about $190-$230 million by leasing out parking garages to private investors, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information, said another $75-$100 million is expected from the Kings and $40-$60 million from arena operator AEG.
N.Y. judge: Boeheim slander suit moving to Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The defamation lawsuit filed by two former ball boys against Syracuse University and head basketball coach Jim Boeheim will be heard in Syracuse, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Bobby Davis and Michael Lang filed their suit in New York City, claiming Boeheim slandered them by saying they were out for money after their allegations of abuse by former assistant coach Bernie Fine surfaced in November. They fought a motion by the school and Boeheim to hear the case in Syracuse, where they don’t believe they’ll get a fair hearing because of Boeheim’s high standing in the community.
But Supreme Court Justice Brian DeJoseph said the two men did not provide sufficient proof that Syracuse jurors would be biased. He said while there may be local residents unqualified to serve on a jury for this case, there are about 350,000 people in the county to choose from.
TE Finley confirms new Packers deal
on Twitter
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tight end Jermichael Finley says he has agreed to a new deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Finley posted a message on his Twitter account Wednesday night appearing confirming reports that he has agreed to return to the team.
Finley wrote, “I could not be happier to have the privilege of being a Packer for the next 2 yrs. Glad to be back with my team & coaches for 1 common goal.”
Finley was set to become a free agent, and the team was expected to consider using the franchise tag on him. Multiple media reports said Wednesday that Finley had re-signed with Green Bay.
Packers officials did not immediately confirm terms of the deal.
Stosur, Wozniacki advance in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur defeated Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-1 Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki topped Romania’s Simona Halep 6-2, 6-3. She’ll face Ana Ivanovic, who defeated Maria Kirilenko of Russia, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Stosur broke twice in the first and third sets and saved all nine break points she faced in the match. She will meet Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the third round on Thursday.
Jankovic defeated Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-4.
Jankovic beat Stosur in the quarterfinals in the Dubai tournament last year.
Malisse upsets Roddick at Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Defending champion Andy Roddick was upset by Xavier Malisse, 7-6 (8), 7-5, in an opening-round match Wednesday night in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
For Roddick, whose world ranking has slipped to 27th, it was his earliest exit from the Memphis tournament in 12 appearances. Malisse, ranked 75th, was winless in four matches this season and in nine career matches against Roddick.
Roddick, seeded No. 2, has been slowed by hamstring and ankle problems this season.
He was unable to capitalize on two set points in the first and was broken in the 12th game of the second by the 31-year-old Malisse.
By wire sources
