ESPN leader resigns, citing addiction
ESPN president John Skipper said Monday that he is resigning to treat a substance abuse problem.
Skipper’s sudden announcement will force the network to search for new leadership at a time of retrenchment, with the company losing subscribers due to cord-cutters and working to boost its digital output.
The 61-year-old executive said he’s struggled for years with substance addiction.
The sports network said Skipper’s predecessor, George Bodenheimer, has agreed to serve as acting head of the company for the next 90 days.
College football
LEACH GETS EXTENSION>> Washington State coach Mike Leach has agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract extension.
The Cougars went 9-3 in the regular season and will play Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl.
AP PICKS FROST AS COACH OF YEAR >> Scott Frost is The Associated Press coach of the year after leading Central Florida to an unbeaten season and a spot in the Peach Bowl.
Baseball
A’S SIGN CUBAN OUTFIELDER >> The A’s announced the signing of 24-year-old Cuban outfielder Dairon Blanco as an international free agent. Terms of the contract were not released.
Blanco played in the Cuban professional league from 2012-16, hitting .303 with seven home runs in 809 at-bats.
The 6-foot, 170 pound right-handed hitter figures to head to Arizona in the spring and begin the season in the minor leagues. MORELAND RETURNING TO BOSTON >> First baseman Mitch Moreland has agreed to a $13 million, two-year contract to return to the Boston Red Sox and play for new manager Alex Cora.
Moreland, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Rangers, hit .246 with 22 homers 79 RBIs in his first season with Boston.
CUBS FINALIZE DEAL WITH RELEIVER >> The Chicago Cubs finalized their $13 million, two-year contract with reliever Steve Cishek, who had a 2.01 ERA and a 3-2 record in 49 relief appearances last season for Seattle and Tampa Bay, which acquired him on July 28.
Soccer
TIMBERS GET NEW COACH >> Giovanni Savarese has been named coach of the Portland Timbers of MLS.
Savarese, who has been coach of the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos since 2012, replaces Caleb Porter, who parted ways with the Timbers last month after five seasons with the team.
Porter compiled a 68-5052 record and guided the team to an MLS Cup championship in 2015. The Timbers won the Western Conference this past season.
Olympics
IOC BANS RUSSIAN LAWMAKER FOR LIFE >> The IOC has banned Russian lawmaker Alexei Voevoda from the Olympics for life for taking part in the 2014 Sochi Olympic doping program.
Voevoda was brakeman for Alexander Zubkov who drove Russia to victory in the two-man and four-man bobsled events.
Those titles were stripped last month when Zubkov was disqualified.