Larranaga names himself ‘Coach 3’
The University of Miami’s Jim Larranaga believes he is the “Coach-3” named in court documents detailing the federal investigation of college basketball, and insisted that he will be vindicated.
“I did nothing wrong,” Larranaga said. Larranaga spoke out yesterday for the first time since the scandal broke, reading from a prepared statement and later refusing to answer any questions related to the investigation or other people linked to the federal probe. Larranaga’s name does not appear in court documents, though “Coach-3” is listed as someone who allegedly had conversations with an Adidas executive about paying a recruit $150,000 in exchange for a commitment.
Miami’s athletic department has a 12year sponsorship deal with Adidas, one that is worth more than $100 million in cash and apparel to the Hurricanes.
“Based on what we know at this time, my legal team believes that I am ‘Coach-3’ as labeled in the original complaint in September though it has not been confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Larranaga said. “And I am grateful that we have come to that conclusion ... and it’s comforting to know that none of my assistants are connected in any way.”
Larranaga said he has spoken with FBI agents, has turned over what he described as thousands of text messages, emails and other materials. The federal probe is ongoing, as is one being conducted by university officials.
“My reputation as a man and coach of character will remain intact,” Larranaga, whose son Jay is a Celtics assistant coach, said.
The case became public last month when federal prosecutors said 10 men, among them four assistant coaches at power-conference programs, were charged with using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to influence athletes’ choice of schools, shoe sponsors and agents. It has already led to the dismissals of Louisville coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich. A new commission on college basketball has been established by the NCAA to study the inner workings of the sport and try to find solutions.
Soccer: Ronaldo ties Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo caught up with Lionel Messi to become a five-time winner of FIFA’s best player award. Ronaldo was crowned player of the year at the FIFA Best ceremony in London attended by runner-up Messi and third-place Neymar. Ronaldo’s manager at Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, was crowned coach of the year.
The women’s award honored the Netherlands’ success at the European Championship. Lieke Martens, who scored in the final for the Dutch, won the player’s award and Sarina Wiegman collected the coaching accolade . ...
The 2018 Major League Soccer AllStar Game will be held in Atlanta, which set attendance records in the inaugural year for the United. The team set an MLS season mark with an average of 48,200 fans.
Misc.: Trouble in Russia
The former president of the Russian basketball federation was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for embezzlement. Yulia Anikeeva was alleged to have worked with accountants to channel federation money to companies she controlled.
Former NBA All-Star Andrei Kirilenko has been in charge of the operation since Anikeeva was removed in 2015 . . . .
Two climbers set a new speed record for ascending the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, one of the world’s most technical and dangerous verticals. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds raced up the nearly 90-degree, 2,900-foot precipice in 2 hours, 19 minutes to break the previous record set in 2012 by four minutes.
Death: NFL’s Weber at 87
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Charles “Chuck” Weber died Sunday at 87, the team said.
Weber helped the Eagles win the 1960 NFL championship. He also coached in pro football for 21 years, including the 1964-67 seasons with the Boston Patriots.