LSU imposes penalties for Beckham, other incidents
LSU has self-imposed penalties for NCAA rules violations by the football program that include a reduction of scholarships and a two-year ban from its athletic facilities for Cleveland Browns star and former Tigers receiver Odell Beckham Jr., according to a report by Sports Illustrated.
LSU acknowledged it was working with the NCAA and had self-imposed penalties, but provided no other details.
“LSU has worked proactively and in cooperation with the NCAA to identify and self-report any violations that occurred within our football program,” LSU senior associate athletic director Robert Munson said in a statement. “We believe these selfimposed penalties are appropriate and we will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the NCAA on this matter.”
The NCAA is not required to accept self-imposed penalties and could add to LSU’s punishment.
Sports Illustrated reported LSU was working with the NCAA on three separate potential football violations, including a
Level III (considered minor) violation for Beckham’s handing out of about $2,000 worth of cash to Tigers players on the field after last year’s College Football Playoff national championship game.
LSU and the NCAA have also been looking into a more serious violation stemming from a booster funneling $180,000 to the father of a former LSU football player for a noshow job between 2012-17. Those allegations came to light during a federal case against an LSU booster, who pleaded guilty to stealing $550,000 from a Baton Rouge-based charity.
LSU self-imposed a reduction of eight football scholarships over two years for the Level I football violation, Sports Illustrated reported.
Sports Illustrated also reported LSU was selfimposing recruiting restrictions on coach Ed Orgeron for a Level III violation of impermissible contact with a recruit.
ETC.
NBA: Stan Van Gun● dy announced Wednesday
that he is headed to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he’ll take over a promising team that includes No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson and reigning Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram. Van Gundy agreed to a four-year contract, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Van Gundy said on his Twitter
account that he was “excited” and thanked Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and others for the opportunity. In New Orleans, Van Gundy will replace Alvin Gentry, who was let go after the Pelicans missed this season’s playoffs. Part of the problem for the Pelicans was that Williamson missed most of the season, playing in only 24 games.
Soccer: Real Madrid
couldn’t halt its losing streak in the Champions League, and no one seems able to stop Bayern Munich’s winning run. Madrid’s 3-2 loss to a depleted Shakhtar Donetsk team was the most surprising result of Wednesday’s opening group games, while Bayern delivered the most impressive performance with a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. It was a third straight loss in the competition for Real Madrid — its worst run in 34 years. For defending champion Bayern, it was a 12th straight Champions League victory. Wins for Liverpool and Manchester City capped a good round for English clubs, and Atalanta again showed its free-scoring style to win 4-0 at Danish newcomer Midtjylland.
Tennis: Former Wim● bledon semifinalist Julia Goerges announced her retirement. The 31-year-old German reached her highest ranking of ninth in the world in 2018 and was ranked 45th at her retirement. Her most recent match was a second-round loss to fellow German
Laura Siegemund at the French Open. ... Top-seeded Alexander Zverev overcame Australia’s John Millman 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the Cologne Championship quarterfinals.
Cycling: Marc Soler
● made a strong move on the final descent to pull away from the pack and held on to comfortably win the second stage of the Spanish Vuelta, with defending champion Primoz Roglic finishing second to keep the overall leader’s jersey.