Three convicted in corruption scandal
An Adidas executive and two other insiders from the highstakes world of college basketball recruiting were convicted Wednesday in a corruption case that prosecutors said exposed the underbelly of the sport.
A federal jury in New York found former Adidas executive James Gatto, business manager Christian Dawkins and amateur-league director Merl Code guilty of fraud charges.
The trial centered on whether the men’s admitted efforts to channel secret payments to the families of top recruits, luring them to major basketball programs sponsored by Adidas, was criminal.
Evidence included text messages between the defendants and top-tier coaches such as Bill Self of Kansas and Rick Pitino of Louisville and testimony from the father of prized recruit Brian Bowen Jr. that described how a Louisville assistant handed him an envelope stuffed with cash.
♦ Kansas benched forward Silvio De Sousa indefinitely after his name surfaced in testimony connected with the corruption scandal rocking college basketball. He might miss a good chunk — or perhaps all — of the regular season.
Big Ten fines MSU $10,000
The Big Ten fined Michigan State $10,000 and reprimanded the Spartans’ football team, coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wolverines linebacker Devin Bush for their actions and comments stemming from a confrontation before a game between the teams Saturday in East Lansing.
The Big Ten said in a statement that Michigan State violated its sportsmanship policy when the team walked across the field with linked arms and initiated contact with Michigan players, who were on the field for warmups.
♦ Fired Ohio State receivers coach Zach Smith pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct stemming from an incident with his ex-wife in May, and Delaware (Ohio) Municipal Court issued a three-year order that keeps him away from her.
Quinney, Macek fuel Wolves
Gage Quinney scored three goals, and Brooks Macek added two goals and two assists to lead the Wolves (5-1-0-1) to a 6-2 victory against the Monsters in American Hockey League action at Allstate Arena.
♦ The NHL suspended Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki for one game without pay for elbowing Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen in the head and neck area.
Curry scores 51 in 3 quarters
Stephen Curry scored 51 points on 15-for-24 shooting, including 11-for-16 from threepoint range, in three quarters to fuel the Warriors to a 144-122 rout of the visiting Wizards.
Kevin Durant added 30 points on 13-for-18 shooting for the Warriors, who shot a blistering 58.2 percent from the field.