Miller’s broadcasting career reaches No. 18
Johnny Miller is retiring as the lead golf analyst for NBC Sports after three decades of giving viewers his unfiltered views.
Miller says he will sign off on Feb. 3 at the Phoenix Open. He chose the event because he played some of his best golf in Arizona and earned the nickname “Desert Fox.” He started with NBC at the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1990 and has done 23 majors and 14 Ryder Cups.
A person with knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press that Paul Azinger will replace him at NBC and remain the U.S. Open analyst for Fox Sports. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because NBC has not announced its decision.
Miller has 24 grandchildren and said it’s time to spend more time at home. DAVIES TAKES LEAD >> England’s Laura Davies opened with a 4-under 68 despite finishing with two bogeys, giving her a oneshot lead over Juli Inkster after one round of the Senior LPGA Championship in French Lick, Ind.
Swimming
TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION FACES DOPING BAN >> Two-time swimming world champion Filippo Magnini will have to wait longer to find out his fate in a doping case for which he risks a ban of eight years.
Magnini appeared before a court of Italy’s antidoping agency, but at the end of a four-hour hearing judges ruled additional time was needed and postponed their decision to Nov. 6.
“I simply recounted the truth and now I’m calm. I am totally innocent,” said the 36-year-old Magnini, who retired last year. “I’m happy because my lawyers managed to bring out the truth. The sentence was postponed because of the complexity of the case. I’m calm. We’ll see on Nov. 6.”
Italy’s anti-doping prosecutor has requested an eight-year ban for Magnini, and a four-year ban for his relay teammate Michele Santucci, who are both accused of using banned substances.
The pair was questioned by anti-doping authorities in October 2017 over their relationship with nutritionist Guido Porcellini, who has since been banned for 30 years for distributing illegal drugs.
Santucci, who was present on Monday, faces his own hearing on Wednesday.
Jurisprudence
FORMER WVU FOOTBALL PLAYER CHARGED WITH CHILD MOLESTATION >> Police said a former West Virginia football player has been charged in Georgia with aggravated child molestation.
Authorities said Justin Crawford was arrested after a 12-year-old girl told her mother Crawford had sex with her Saturday in his Columbus home.
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported that Detective Mark Scruggs testified during a preliminary hearing that Crawford’s wife saw her husband standing over the girl Saturday morning, then told the girl’s mother.
Scruggs said Crawford first denied having sex, then later said it was the girl’s idea. Crawford played two seasons for West Virginia and signed this year as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons before being released.
Tennis
BROTHERS BANNED FOR MATCH FIXING >> Ukrainian twin brothers Gleb and Vadim Alekseenko have been banned from tennis for life and each fined $250,000 for multiple match-fixing and corrupt betting.
Independent anti-corruption hearing officer Richard McLaren found the brothers guilty based on an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit.
The 35-year-old brothers committed offenses in Romania, Russia, Germany and Turkey from June 2015 to January 2016.
Vadim is ranked 1,113 in singles and reached a career-best of 497 in June 2014. Gleb is ranked 1,724 in singles with a career-high of 609 in May 2011.
HALEP FINISHES YEAR AT NO. 1 >> Simona Halep is back as the year-end No. 1 for the second year in a row, despite a back injury that doctors say could lead to a long-term problem. Halep, who won her first major title at this year’s French Open, clinched the yearend top tennis ranking but may be forced to pull out of the upcoming Kremlin Cup and WTA Finals because of a herniated disk.