Patricia denies 1996 allegation
Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia maintained his innocence and his new team said it supported him after a 1996 sexual assault allegation resurfaced Wednesday.
The Detroit News reported that Patricia and a friend were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault for an alleged incident involving a woman on South Padre Island. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed 10 months later.
“As someone who was falsely accused of this very serious charge over 22 years ago, and never given the opportunity to defend myself and clear my name, I find it incredibly unfair, disappointing, and frustrating that this story would resurface now with the only purpose being to damage my character and reputation,” Patricia said in a statement issued by the Lions. “I firmly maintain my innocence, as I have always done.”
Representatives for Mark Ingram say the New Orleans Saints running back did not test positive for a performance-enhancing drug and is weighing options for challenging his four-game suspension.
The Toronto Raptors’ Dwane Casey was announced as the coach-of-the-year selection by the National Basketball Coaches Assn . ... The Sacramento Kings have promoted Peja Stojakovic to assistant general manager . ... Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to return to normal offseason activities in six to eight weeks.
Manchester City set the Premier League soccer record for points, goals and wins in a season by beating Brighton 3-1 in Manchester, England.
City has 97 points, two more than Chelsea’s final total from the 2004-05 season, and 105 goals, two more than Chelsea’s haul from the 2009-10 season. The team has 31 wins, surpassing the record of 30 set by Chelsea last season.
Former Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson, 76, is out of intensive care but remains in a hospital after surgery for a brain hemorrhage.
The UCLA and USC women’s golf teams secured spots in the NCAA championships by finishing in the top six in their regionals.
UCLA shot a three-round total of four under par to finish second in the San Francisco Regional to Stanford (eight under). UCLA’s Patty Tavatanakit had the best individual score of eightunder 208.
The Trojans had a three-day total of two under par in the Madison Regional in Verona, Wis., and finished third, 12 shots behind first-place Duke.
Figure skating coach Tammy Gambill, who works with Olympians Karen Chen and Vincent Zhou, will move her training base from Riverside to Colorado Springs., Colo.