In the news
Patriots coach named as possible witness at Hernandez trial: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been added to a list of people who could be called to testify at the double murder trial of former player Aaron Hernandez.
Belichick’s name appeared on a list of possible witnesses filed Tuesday by Hernandez’s defense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had previously been named as a possible witness.
Hernandez is charged with the drive-by slayings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston in 2012. Prosecutors say Hernandez shot them after one spilled a drink on him at a club. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is underway. Opening statements are scheduled March 1.
Hernandez grew up in Connecticut. He’s serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of a man who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee.
Ex-USA Gymnastics doctor charged with sex assault: A Michigan sports doctor who treated elite female U.S. gymnasts was charged Wednesday in Lansing, Mich., with sexually assaulting nine girls, including some too reluctant to speak up about the alleged abuse years ago because he was considered a “god.”
Roughly two dozen charges were filed against Dr. Larry Nassar, the first criminal cases related to his work at Michigan State University where he was the preferred doctor for gymnasts in the region who had back or hip injuries. He’s also being sued by dozens of women and girls, including 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who described the assaults on “60 Minutes” Sunday.
“This guy is disgusting. This guy is despicable,” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette told reporters Wednesday. “He is a monster.”
Nassar, 53, was a doctor for Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, until summer 2015, accompanying the women’s team at international competitions, including the Olympics. Michigan State fired him last September after he violated restrictions that were put in place in 2014 following a complaint.
Nassar’s attorneys declined to comment Wednesday. He has denied abuse, and, in an email last fall to his Michigan State bosses, said, “I will overcome this.”
The charges were filed in two cases: one in Ingham County, the home of Michigan State, and the other nearby in Eaton County, where Nassar saw injured girls at Gedderts’ Twistars Club, a gymnastics club.
Clippers’ Paul cleared by doctors, could return against Warriors: Chris Paul has been cleared by doctors and could be back in the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup on Thursday at Golden State.
Coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday that Paul “looked great” in practice a day earlier and the only remaining hurdle is how comfortable Paul feels after another practice.
Paul has been out since Jan. 16 after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. The original timetable was six to eight weeks, so the star point guard could return slightly ahead of schedule.
Paul’s presence would restore the Clippers’ lineup, which has been missing either him or Blake Griffin at times this season.
The Clippers come out of the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak. After playing the Westleading Warriors, they host San Antonio, which has the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Budapest to withdraw bid to host 2024 Summer Olympics: Budapest will withdraw its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, leaving only Los Angeles and Paris in the race.
Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs confirmed the withdrawal to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The joint decision by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos and the Hungarian Olympic Committee will be formally voted on by the Budapest City Assembly.
Fidesz, the governing party, said the decision was made to avoid “a loss of international prestige” for Hungary, saying the bid had a very small chance of success.
The bid was expected to face a city-wide referendum promoted by a new political party, which gathered more than 266,000 signatures in favor of holding the vote.
The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city in September.
MLB players’ union agrees to pitchless intentional walks: The players’ association has agreed to Major League Baseball’s proposal to have intentional walks without pitches this year.
While the union has resisted many of MLB’s proposed innovations, players are willing to accept the intentional walk change.
“As part of a broader discussion with other moving pieces, the answer is yes,” union head Tony Clark wrote Wednesday in an email to The Associated Press. “There are details, as part of that discussion, that are still being worked through, however.”