USA Gymnastics, victims reach $380M settlement

The legal wrangling between USA Gymnastics and the hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, among others, is over after a $380 million settlement was reached.

The fight for substantive change within the sport’s national governing body is just beginning.

A federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis on Dec. 13 approved the agreement between USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the more than 500 victims, ending one aspect of the fallout of the largest sexual abuse scandal in the history of the U.S. Olympic movement.

Over 90% of the victims voted in favor of the tentative settlement reached in September. That agreement called for $425 million in damages, but a modified settlement of $380 million was conditionally approved by the court..

College basketball

ANOTHER NEW NO. 1 »

Baylor won the national championship last season without ever reaching No. 1 in the AP Top 25. The Bears are there now. Baylor took advantage of Purdue’s lastsecond loss to Rutgers last week to become the fourth different team at No. 1 in the past four weeks. The Bears earned every vote from a 61-member national media panel Monday to reach the top spot in the poll for the first time since a four-week run ended on Feb. 17, 2020.

BILLS QB ALLEN’S STATUS UNCERTAIN »

The mere sight of Josh Allen limping into the post-game interview room with his left foot in a protective boot cast an ominous cloud over the Bills’ hopes of remaining in the playoff picture in the final four weeks of the season. A day later on Dec. 13, coach Sean McDermott was unable to shed much light on Allen’s status, announcing the quarterback has a sprained foot and leaving open he’ll have “a chance” to play Dec. 19, when Buffalo hosts Carolina.

HARBAUGH AIMING TO HAVE JACKSON IN LINEUP

» Lamar Jackson missed most of a loss to the Browns after spraining his ankle, but a day later, coach John Harbaugh said the star quarterback did not have a high ankle sprain. Harbaugh said he’s planning for Jackson to play this week, but it’s too early to tell for sure.

NEW LOW » Urban Meyer’s tenure in Jacksonville is nearing a new low, and no one could have thought that was possible 2 ½ months ago. Although it’s unlikely billionaire owner Shad Khan would fire Meyer after one season — Khan despises the notion of paying people to not work and has been adamant he finally “got it right” by hiring Meyer — he has to, at the very least, have growing concerns about his latest debacle in Jacksonville.