In Brief | Nation and World

Pistorius allowed to leave SAfrica with conditions

PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius could compete at this year’s world championships after a South African judge eased his bail restrictions and ruled Thursday that the athlete, who faces a murder trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend, can travel overseas to run.

The international athletics body said that if Pistorius qualifies, it had no objections to him running — an event that could eclipse the stir last year when he became the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics. Pistorius’ agent told The Associated Press soon after the ruling that the world championships in Moscow in August could be a possibility if the runner wanted to return to the track on his carbon fiber blades.

Judge Bert Bam upheld the Olympic athlete’s appeal against some of his bail restrictions, but said the 26-year-old Pistorius must travel under certain conditions. The athlete could face a life sentence if found guilty of murder for the Valentine’s Day shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp.

His passport will be held by a court while he is in South Africa, and he can only leave the country if he provides an itinerary of his travel plans at least a week before he is due to leave. Pistorius must also hand his travel documents back to the court within 24 hours of returning home, Bam ruled.

Penguins acquire Iginla in trade with Flames

Pittsburgh’s quest for the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup received a rocket-fueled boost late Wednesday night when general manager Ray Shero acquired six-time All-Star forward Jarome Iginla from Calgary.

All it took was the rights to a couple of prospects and a 2013 first-round draft pick, a pittance for a future Hall-of-Famer still searching for his first championship after 16 seasons in western Canada.

The stunning deal capped a furious four-day stretch for Shero, who brought in veteran forward Brenden Morrow from Dallas on Sunday and bruising San Jose defenseman Doug Murray on Monday. In the span of 96 hours, the Penguins added three players with a combined 1,682 points and 189 playoff career playoff games.

The key now will be finding a way to make it work on the ice. Iginla could make his debut in Pittsburgh as early as Saturday barring any immigration issues, capping a frantic week in which the three-time Olympian agreed to part ways with the only franchise he’s ever known.

It wasn’t an easy decision for the 35-year-old, who is Calgary’s all-time leading scorer with 1,095 career points. Yet Iginla knew the struggling Flames needed to rebuild and understood he could help get the process started if he agreed to be traded.

Landon Donovan hopes to rejoin US national team

WASHINGTON — Landon Donovan hopes to regain his place on the U.S. national team.

Back with the Los Angeles Galaxy after a sabbatical of nearly four months, the 31-year-old midfielder said Thursday he wants to help the U.S. qualify for next year’s World Cup.

“I realize that I have a long way to go, both on the field and off the field, to work back into the national team, and that’s my goal,” Donovan said after a training session with the Galaxy at Georgetown. “I miss being a part of that. I want to represent my country again.”

Donovan, who joined the Galaxy ahead of their visit to the White House Tuesday, said he will not play in Los Angeles’ match Saturday at Toronto but could return as a substitute in upcoming games.

A member of three World Cup teams and the American career scoring leader, Donovan has been watching the national team from a distance. The U.S. is 1-1-1 in the final round of qualifying from North and Central America and the Caribbean following Tuesday’s 0-0 tie at Mexico.

Chiefs add Childress to coaching staff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have hired former Vikings coach Brad Childress, reuniting him with Andy Reid.

Childress, who spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, will be the Chiefs’ spread game analyst and work on special projects.

He spent five years as the Minnesota head coach (2006-10), a stint that included two division titles (2008-09). The team was 12-4 in 2009.

Childress previously spent seven seasons (1999-2005) with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he worked with Reid, the new Chiefs head coach. Childress coached the quarterbacks for the first three years and spent the final four as offensive coordinator.

The hire was announced Thursday.

Saints, linebacker Butler agree to terms

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis says the Saints and linebacker Victor Butler have agreed to terms on a two-year contract.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Butler has spent the past four seasons with Dallas, which drafted him in the fourth round in 2009. In New Orleans, he’ll rejoin new Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who held the same position with the Cowboys the past two seasons.

Butler played defensive end at Oregon State and was converted to outside linebacker in Dallas’ 3-4 scheme, which the Saints will use this season.

Butler played in 16 games with one start last season. He was credited with 24 tackles, including three sacks, a tackle for a loss, three passes defended and a forced fumble. He also forced a fumble on special teams.

DL Vaughn Martin agrees to terms with Dolphins

MIAMI — Defensive lineman Vaughn Martin signed a two-year contract Thursday with the Miami Dolphins after starting the past two seasons with the San Diego Chargers.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Martin played end in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme but likely will move to tackle in the Dolphins’ 4-3 defense.

“I’m a defensive linemen, and in the NFL you’re going to have to be interchangeable,” Martin said. “My goal is to help the team win. That’s ultimately my role.”

A native of Jamaica, Martin was a fourth-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2009 and started 27 games the past two years. He missed the final three games in 2012 with a groin injury.

NBA: Referees missed foul on Kobe vs. Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — Everyone in the Timberwolves locker room on Wednesday night believed Kobe Bryant got away with a foul that allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to hold on to a much-needed victory in Minnesota.

On Thursday, the NBA agreed with them: The league informed the Timberwolves that the referee crew should have called Bryant for a foul on a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“Video review by the league office confirmed that Kobe Bryant fouled Rubio while Rubio was in his shooting motion,” the league said on its website. “Rubio should have been awarded three free throws.”

It won’t change the outcome of the game, a 120-117 victory for the Lakers, who have beaten the Timberwolves 22 straight times and are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Arkansas’ Young declares for NBA draft

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — BJ Young couldn’t pass up the allure of the NBA a second time around.

Arkansas’ scoring leader announced his decision to enter the draft Thursday, following a season in which he averaged 15.2 points. The sophomore is second Razorbacks player to declare for the draft this week, following junior forward Marshawn Powell’s announcement.

Young led Arkansas in scoring in each of the past two seasons, finishing fifth in the Southeastern Conference this season. The 6-foot-3 guard briefly considered leaving for the NBA after his freshman season before deciding to return to school.

After shooting 50.4 percent from the field as a freshman, Young connected on 45 percent of his shots this season. His biggest dropoff came on 3-pointers, where he fell from 41.3 percent to 22.7, and his free throw percentage fell from 74.3 percent to 66.9.

Martin to replace Hamlin in No. 11

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mark Martin will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing while Denny Hamlin recovers from a fractured verterbra in his lower back.

Martin’s first start in the No. 11 Toyota will be next week at Martinsville Speedway, where he wasn’t scheduled to race. Brian Vickers had already been tabbed to drive Martin’s car for Michael Waltrip Racing at Martinsville.

Martin has driven one other time for JGR, in the Nationwide Series last year at Las Vegas.

Hamlin is expected to miss at least five races while he heals. JGR did not specify how long Martin will be in the car, but the fifth race is at Talladega, a track Martin has opted to skip the last few years.

APNewsBreak: Syracuse ex-coach to sue ESPN

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Fired Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has filed the initial paperwork in a defamation lawsuit against ESPN for reporting two former ball boys’ claims that the longtime coach sexually abused them.

A yearlong federal investigation that followed accusations that Fine abused team ball boys ended with no charges. Fine was Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim’s assistant for 35 seasons.

ESPN reported the allegations on Nov. 17, 2011. Fine was fired 10 days later when a third man made similar claims.

In the court paperwork, Fine indicates he’ll sue for defamation and seek undefined damages. The “summons with notice” was filed Nov. 15, 2012, in state Supreme Court in Onondaga County and sat unreported until Thursday, when The Associated Press asked the court clerk for a copy.

Fine’s Buffalo-based lawyer, Richard Sullivan, declined to comment Thursday.

ESPN spokesman David Scott said the network doesn’t comment on pending litigation and stands by its reporting.

Boxer Guerrero arrested on NY airport gun charges

NEW YORK — Boxer Robert Guerrero, a former featherweight champion, was arrested Thursday at New York’s Kennedy Airport after police said he tried to take a gun on a plane.

Guerrero, 30, presented a locked gun box to a ticket agent during check-in that contained an unloaded .40-caliber handgun and three unloaded magazines, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. The gun was registered in California but was not legal to carry in New York, the district attorney’s office said.

“I hope that Mr. Guerrero fights better than he thinks,” Brown said in a statement. “For anyone who hasn’t gotten the message, let me be crystal clear. You cannot bring an unlicensed weapon — loaded or unloaded — into this county or this city. And if you do, you will be arrested and face felony charges.”

A spokesman and an attorney for Guerrero did not return calls.

Pitt RB Rushel Shell taking leave of absence

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh running back Rushel Shell is taking time off from football to deal with what coach Paul Chryst is calling “challenges” off the field.

Chryst released a statement Thursday stressing that Shell “very much remains a part of our family on a daily basis” but is not participating in spring drills at the moment.

Shell rushed for 641 yards and four touchdowns during his freshman season last fall and is projected to be the starting tailback for the Panthers when they open fall camp. Chryst said his primary concern is for Shell’s well-being and that Shell has the program’s full support.

Shell, from Hopewell, Pa., set the state career high school rushing record during his career at Hopewell High, rushing for 9,078 yards.

Ex-Ohio State Rose Bowl MVP Leggett dead at 79

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dave Leggett, MVP in the 1955 Rose Bowl win over Southern California that clinched an Ohio State national championship, died Tuesday. He was 79.

Ohio State reported his son Scott said he died at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., after a long illness.

Leggett helped coach Woody Hayes to his first national championship by passing for a TD, rushing for another, recovering a USC fumble and leading a 77-yard, fourth-quarter drive for the game-winning score.

Leggett also led a legendary 99-yard drive to help beat rival Michigan in the final regular-season game.

Redskins sign free-agent linebacker Darryl Tapp

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have signed free-agent linebacker Darryl Tapp.

The team announced Thursday the acquisition of Tapp, who has played seven NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

Tapp hasn’t been a regular starter since 2008. He has been a backup for the last three seasons with the Eagles. He has 24 career sacks in 103 games.

From wire sources