Sports shorts NCAA accuses Louisville of four serious violations

The NCAA accused Louisville of four serious violations and criticized the conduct of coach Rick Pitino for failing to monitor a former basketball staffer who hired escorts and strippers for sex parties with recruits and players.

The governing body’s report Thursday did not mention a lack of institutional control — considered the most serious violation in some cases.

Pitino disputed the finding that he did not monitor Andree McGee, saying his tendency is to over-monitor. If anything, the coach said he was guilty of trusting someone to tell him what was going on.

“This man (McGee) made a mistake and we apologize for his mistakes,” he said during a news conference. Pitino has denied knowledge of the alleged violations.

The NCAA’s letter is the first step in a process that could extend into next spring. Louisville has 90 days to respond.

The letter culminates an inquiry that began with the publication last October of Katina Powell’s book, “Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen.”

Powell wrote that McGee paid her $10,000 for strippers to perform 22 shows from 2010-14 — a period that includes Louisville’s NCAA 201213 championship season — with many occurring in the players’ Billy Minardi Hall dormitory. The building is named for Pitino’s brother-inlaw, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. CROMARTIE’S WIFE SAYS HUSBAND CUT BECAUSE OF ANTHEM PROTEST » Terricka Cromartie believes the Indianapolis Colts cut her husband, Antonio, because of his national anthem protest.

On Thursday, she took her claims public on Instagram and noted earlier comments from team owner Jim Irsay as confirming it. Irsay called the protests not “a positive thing.”

Cromartie’s wife wrote, in part: “one things for sure I know my husband was told Not to take a knee and he went with his heart and took one. And that cost him his job.” He was the only Colts’ player to protest by taking a knee and raising his fist during the anthem.

Team spokesman Avis Roper responded by citing coach Chuck Pagano’s previous answer about making the best decision for the team.

WNBA

SPARKS WIN TITLE » Nneka Ogwumike’s short jumper with 3.1 seconds left gave the Los Angeles Sparks a 77-76 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx for their first title in 14 years in the deciding game of the WNBA Finals on Thursday night.

The league MVP joined her teammates in celebration as a stunned crowd slowly filed out after finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Candace Parker had 28 points and 12 rebounds to earn MVP honors of the Finals. It was Parker’s first WNBA title.