HONOLULU — University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood said the school created a $200,000-a year position for former athletic director Jim Donovan because of pressure to reinstate him and a threat by Donovan’s lawyer to sue. Greenwood cites lawsuit, pressure
Greenwood cites lawsuit, pressure
for Donovan post
HONOLULU — University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood said the school created a $200,000-a year position for former athletic director Jim Donovan because of pressure to reinstate him and a threat by Donovan’s lawyer to sue.
Greenwood spoke at a special state Senate committee hearing on botched athletic department plans to hold a Stevie Wonder benefit concert.
She said Gov. Neil Abercrombie didn’t tell her what to do about Donovan, who was on leave during an investigation into the concert.
But she said the governor advised her that the Senate president and House speaker had conveyed constituent concerns to him, and reinstating Donovan was the best action.
Abercrombie issued a statement after Greenwood spoke saying he clearly told the UH president his sole concern was fairness and even-handedness.
UNC: Roy Williams’ kidney tumor is benign
North Carolina said Roy Williams’ surgically removed kidney tumor was not cancerous, though he will have a biopsy to ensure a second kidney tumor is also benign.
In a news release Tuesday afternoon, the school said tests have determined the tumor removed last week from Williams’ right kidney was an oncocytoma, which is a benign growth often indistinguishable from kidney cancer on X-rays that doesn’t spread like a cancerous tumor would.
Williams also has a tumor on his left kidney, but according to the school, doctors say there is “a good chance” that growth is the same as the one removed Sept. 19. Doctors plan to biopsy that tumor next week and won’t have to perform a second surgery if the tumor is also an oncocytoma.
UND exercises 3-year out in Michigan deal
ANN ARBOR, Mich. —Notre Dame is opting out of its series with Michigan, meaning the last scheduled game between college football’s winningest programs will take place in 2014.
A letter from Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon cancelling games in 2015-2017 was obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Mayweather, Pacquiao settling defamation suit
LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are settling a federal defamation case in Las Vegas, clearing a key hurdle to a long-awaited bout between two top fighters who’ve traded verbal jabs for years but have never met in the ring.
Terms of the pretrial agreement cited in documents filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas are confidential, said Malcolm LaVergne, a lawyer representing Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s father in the case.
LaVergne said documents filed under seal ask U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks to dismiss the lawsuit. Documents filed publicly said each side would bear its own attorney fees and costs.
NHL, union to resume talks Friday in New York
TORONTO — The NHL and its players’ union are to resume bargaining Friday for the first time since the lockout began, although the talks will concentrate on secondary economic issues.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHL Players’ Association special counsel Steve Fehr met Tuesday in Toronto and set up the session, which will be in New York. These will be the first formal negotiations since Sept. 12, when the players and owners exchanged proposals.
The lockout started Sept. 16, when training camps were to open. This is the third lockout since Gary Bettman became commissioner in 1993. The last lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season and ended when players accepted a salary cap.
With the league and union far apart on money, both sides decided to discuss other economic issues that also are necessary for an agreement. Fehr said the topics will include pension and medical plans, schedule rules, drug testing and the grievance procedure.
Top officials from the NHL and NHLPA met Monday to review last season’s economics and complete escrow payments due players. The labor contract was not discussed.
Lockout forces
jobs cuts for Blues
ST. LOUIS — The NHL players aren’t the only ones out of work as a result of the lockout.
The St. Louis Blues have laid off some of its front-office workers. The exact number wasn’t announced, but the team says it is just under 20.
The remaining 75 employees took pay cuts or have switched to four-day work weeks.
Blues chief operating officer Bruce Affleck says some of the layoffs will be permanent — a decision made by the team’s new owners.
Milwaukee Bucks sign free agent G Daniels
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent guard Marquis Daniels, a nine-year veteran who spent the last three years in a reserve role with the Boston Celtics.
The 31-year-old has averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 489 games. The Bucks did not release contract terms Tuesday.
Daniels was undrafted out of Auburn. He spent three years each in Dallas and Indiana before joining the Celtics.
His best season was in 2008-09. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 54 games.
Nadal not sure when he’ll return from injury
LONDON — Rafael Nadal still has no timetable for his return from a knee injury, and the 11-time Grand Slam champion isn’t sure if he’ll play the Australian Open in January.
The Spaniard hasn’t played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol. Nadal is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.
Broncos LB Mays suspended 1 game
for hit to Schaub
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. —Broncos linebacker Joe Mays received a one-game suspension and a $50,000 fine from the NFL for the hit that dislodged Texans quarterback Matt Schaub’s helmet and took off a piece of his ear.
Mays will appeal the fine and suspension, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press.
Police say Abraham intoxicated at arrest
ATLANTA — The police officer who arrested Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham said Abraham was “obviously intoxicated” as he refused requests to leave an area taped off by firefighters and police on Monday night.
By wire sources
