Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó The University of Tennessee is reporting a third secondary recruiting violation involving new football coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin, in a radio interview Friday morning, mentioned recruit Bryce Brown by name and called him “a great player.”
According to The Knoxville News Sentinel, NCAA rules prohibit a coach from making such comments before the prospect has signed a letter of intent.
Earlier this week, the school reported violations for a mock news conference held by nine prospects during an official visit to the university, and for using a fog machine as a recruit entered the field at Neyland Stadium.
Additionally, Kiffin was reprimanded last week by Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive for falsely accusing Florida’s Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation.
BECKHAM
CARSON, Calif. ó David Beckham is coming back to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The English midfielder will return to the MLS team next month as scheduled after his loan agreement with AC Milan ends.
Tim Leiweke, president of Galaxy parent AEG, said Friday the Italian club didn’t make a second offer to the Galaxy to keep Beckham so the team will adhere to MLS commissioner Don Garber’s Friday deadline to resolve the situation.
The Galaxy had already rejected Milan’s first offer.
“We didn’t receive an offer today,” Leiweke told The Associated Press by phone from Colorado. “We will abide by the commissioner’s wishes, so we are clear at this point that we don’t want to have any further conversations.”
2016 OLYMPICS
LONDON ó The four cities vying for the 2016 Olympics released their detailed bid plans Friday, touting compact venue layouts, lasting sports legacies and financial security at a time of global economic turmoil.
More than ever, financial issues will be closely scrutinized, with each candidate trying to portray its multibillion-dollar projects as best placed to cope with the recession.
Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro disclosed their hefty bid documents after having submitted them earlier this week to the International Olympic Committee.
AVERY UPDATE
HARTFORD, Conn. ó Forward Sean Avery is expected to play his first game with the Hartford Wolf Pack today.
The Dallas Stars assigned Avery to the American Hockey League team on Tuesday. A Wolf Pack spokesman said on Friday that the team plans to use him when the New York Rangers’ affiliate hosts Manitoba.
Avery hasn’t played since the NHL suspended him in December for making a crude remark about other hockey players dating his former girlfriends. He completed treatment in a league counseling program last weekend and cleared waivers Monday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SUNRISE, Fla. ó Nate Campbell lost his three lightweight titles on the scales Friday when he failed to make weight for his fight with Ali Funeka.
Campbell, who won the IBF, WBA and WBO titles by beating Juan Diaz last year, weighed 138 pounds ó three over the lightweight limit ó on his first attempt to make weight at BankAtlantic Center. With two hours to lose the remaining weight, he only managed to drop to 1371/2 pounds when he returned to the scale.
GOLF
KAHUKU, Hawaii ó Michelle Wie put herself into contention for her first LPGA Tour victory, shooting a 2-under 70 in difficult conditions Friday in the second round of the season-opening SBS Open.
Making her debut as an LPGA card-carrying member, Wie used a three-birdie run to surge to the top of the leaderboard with an 8-under 136, with the afternoon groups still on the course. She also closed the with three consecutive birdies.
– PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. ó Retief Goosen is sporting a new look at a tournament he has never played. After an 8-under 64 in the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, he’s hopeful of seeing some old results.
– BOCA RATON, Fla. ó Jerry Pate and Bernhard Langer were in the lead at 8 under after the opening round of the Allianz Championships.
TENNIS
PARIS ó Top-ranked Serena Williams defeated Emilie Loit 6-4, 6-1 to set up a semifinal with Elena Dementieva for the third straight tournament at the Open GDF Suez on Friday. In the other semifinal, second-seeded Jelena Jankovic will meet two-time champion Amelie Mauresmo.
NHL
BUFFALO, N.Y. ó Derek Roy scored the decisive shootout goal, and had a goal and an assist in regulation in the Buffalo Sabres’ 6-5 victory over the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
Devils 1, Bruins 0
NEWARK, N.J.ó Scott Clemmensen had his second straight shutout after going nearly five years without one in the NHL, and Bryce Salvador provided a rare bit of offense.
Blue Jackets 3, Red Wings 2
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Jason Williams scored with 6:55 to go to help Columbus snap Stanley Cup champion Detroit’s winning streak at six games.
Panthers 2, Rangers 1, SO
SUNRISE, Fla. ó Richard Zednik scored the only goal in the shootout, and Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped all four New York attempts.
Blues 1, Blackhawks 0
ST. LOUIS ó Brad Boyes scored early in the third period, and Chris Mason made 22 saves for St. Louis to shut out Chicago for the second straight time.
Stars 2, Canucks 1
DALLAS ó Joel Lundqvist gave Dallas the lead for good with his first goal of the season.