Miami self-imposes 2nd straight bowl ban
Miami self-imposes 2nd straight bowl ban
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Calling the move prudent and unprecedented, Miami is self-imposing a second straight postseason ban on its football program because of an NCAA investigation that is expected to eventually lead to stiff sanctions against the Hurricanes.
The decision, announced to players — who described the mood as disappointing and shocking — early Monday morning, ends Miami’s hopes of winning the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division, securing a berth in the league’s overall championship game and any chance for the team to play in the Orange Bowl.
UTEP’s Price
retiring after 31 years as head coach
EL PASO, Texas — UTEP coach Mike Price is retiring after a 31-year career notable for two Rose Bowl bids at Washington State and a drinking binge that cost him the Alabama job before he ever coached a game for the Crimson Tide.
Price announced the decision Monday with one game left in his ninth season with the Miners (3-8). He led UTEP to 8-4 records and bowl games his first two years in El Paso but hasn’t had a winning record since.
WADA: 4-year bans would serve as Olympic sanction
LONDON — Drug cheats will be kept out at least one Olympics under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s proposal to increase the suspension for serious violations from two years to four years.
WADA plans to double the standard penalty in the next edition of its global anti-doping code, which will come up for approval next year and go into effect in 2015.
WADA President John Fahey said Monday there is “an overwhelming amount of support for the sanction to be strengthened” for use of steroids, human growth hormone and other serious doping substances and methods.
Some athletes and sports bodies have previously challenged four-year bans in court as too severe and a restraint of trade. But Fahey said WADA took legal advice on the issue and believes the sanction will stand up in court.
NHL labor talks resume for 1st
time in 8 days
NEW YORK — If the first bargaining session in eight days between the NHL and the players’ association made any headway, neither side tipped its hand.
A large contingent of players got together with league leadership on Monday night and met for under two hours.
Not a whole lot was accomplished on the road to a new agreement that could get the hockey season going, but at least there was optimism that the sides would get together again — likely as soon as today.
Ravens’ Reed suspended for 1 game
NEW YORK — Baltimore Ravens star safety Ed Reed was suspended for one game by the NFL on Monday for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
The 11-year veteran will miss Sunday’s game against San Diego, which will cost him one game check of more than $400,000.
Pats TE Gronkowski has forearm surgery
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rob Gronkowski is recovering from surgery for a broken forearm that will sideline the New England Patriots tight end for the first time in his three NFL seasons.
A person familiar with the operation said Monday the surgery was done but did not say which arm was injured or how much time Gronkowski was expected to miss.
Football’s winningest coach retires
MINNEAPOLIS — John Gagliardi put sleepy little Collegeville, Minn., on the national college football map with a style all his own.
After 60 years at Division III St. John’s, four national titles and more victories than any coach in NCAA history, Gagliardi is calling it a career at the tender age of 86.
McGahee diagnosed with torn knee ligament
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos running back Willis McGahee tore a ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
An MRI conducted Monday showed a “nonsurgical” tear, said coach John Fox. He said there was no immediate plan to put the 10-year veteran on injured reserve.
Marlins salary dump to Toronto finalized
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins’ latest payroll purge received final approval Monday from the commissioner’s office.
Commissioner Bud Selig approved the blockbuster deal even though it made Marlins fans irate and made the team a nationwide punch line.
The trade sends All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes to the Blue Jays along with pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck and outfielder Emilio Bonifacio for seven players, none of whom has a big-money contract.
By wire sources