IN BRIEF
SHOWTIME SUED OVER MAYWEATHER-MCGREGOR
A Portland, Ore., man has filed a class action lawsuit against Showtime over what he says was the poor quality of the video streaming of the Floyd Mayweather
Jr. vs. Conor McGregor fight, according to the Hollywood Re
porter. The complaint, filed in federal court in Oregon, is seeking $200 in statutory damages or actual damages for each person in the action, whichever is greater.
Zack Bartel filed the lawsuit, according to the story, which claims that Showtime engaged in “unlawful trade practices” and “un- just enrichment.” “Instead of being upfront with consumers about its new, untested, underpowered service, defendant caused likelihood of confusion and misunderstanding as to the source and quality of the HD video consumers would see on fight night,” attorney Michael
Fuller wrote in the complaint. “We received a very limited number of complaints,” Showtime said in a statement to MMA Junkie. “We’re reviewing all of them carefully, and we will respond accordingly. Refunds are handled at the point of sale, so with regard to Showtime’s direct to consumer, our online offering of ShowtimePPV.com and Showtime PPV app, for those that could not see the fight on those platforms, Showtime will issue a full refund. Of course, the goal is to deliver at the highest quality all of the content.” Meantime, Ultimate Fighting Championship said it was “disappointed by the technical difficulties” that prevented many of its app customers who paid for the fight from viewing it, according to a statement Monday to USA TODAY Sports. “Nothing is more important to the UFC than our fans,” UFC President Dana
White said. UFC said it was working with vendor NeuLion to assess what happened. UFC didn’t detail plans to potentially refund consumers.
STAFFORD, LIONS AGREE TO RECORD ANNUAL DEAL
Matthew Stafford’s deal is done, and the Detroit Lions quarterback is — for now, at least — the highest-paid player in NFL history. Stafford and the Lions agreed to a five-year contract extension Monday, a person familiar with the contract told the
Detroit Free Press. The person requested anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced by the team. Exact terms are not yet known, but Stafford will make an average annual salary of $27 million over the life of the contract, slightly more than Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr
($25 million) got on the five-year extension he signed in June. Stafford, 29, holds most franchise passing records including yards
(30,303), completions (2,634), attempts (4,285) and touchdowns
(187). Stafford was scheduled to make a base salary of $16.5 million this fall.
FLORIDA SUSPENDS EIGHTH PLAYER FOR SEASON OPENER
Florida has an eighth player suspended for its season opener against Michigan. Coach
said Monday that receiver who was cited for marijuana possession last week, won’t play. McElwain said “of course not” when asked whether Robinson would Jim McElwain James Robinson, be available Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Robinson and linebacker Ventrell Miller, both freshmen from Lakeland, were cited for possession of less than
20 grams of marijuana Aug. 21. Both were given a notice to appear in court next month. Miller is one of seven players under indefinite suspension for misusing university funds. Robinson was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession during his official visit to Ohio State in January.
Alabama coach Nick Saban says defensive lineman Raekwon
Davis has been released from the hospital. Davis was shot in the right leg outside a Tuscaloosa bar early Sunday. Saban said Monday that Davis was getting treatment and was day-to-day for Saturday’s opener for the top-ranked Crimson Tide against No. 3 Florida State. Saban says he’s not happy about players being out that late but “it doesn’t seem like our players were guilty of anything other than being out late.” Davis, 6-7 and 306 pounds, is battling with
Joshua Frazier for a starting defensive end spot. He played in seven games as a freshman.
No. 7 Washington will be without All-America linebacker
Azeem Victor for Friday’s opener at Rutgers after he was suspended for one game for a violation of team rules. Washington coach Chris Petersen an- nounced Victor’s suspension Monday but did not specify the violation. The Huskies also will be without cornerback Austin
Joyner after he was suspended for two games for violating rules.
RAVENS EXTEND HARBAUGH
The Baltimore Ravens have missed the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, but they remain confident in John Harbaugh.
The team announced a one-year extension for its coach Monday, meaning he is under contract through the 2019 season. Harbaugh, who is entering his 10th season, led the Ravens to the playoffs in his first five seasons, culminating with a Super Bowl XLVII victory against the San Francisco 49ers after the 2012 campaign. Overall, he is 95-64.
WIE RECOVERING
Michelle Wie was back posting photos and videos to her social media accounts Monday morning, hours after she had emergency appendix surgery that forced her out of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Wie, 27, wrote on Twitter that it had “been a scary 24 hours” as she gave a thumbsup from her Ottawa hospital. She was in 23rd place and six shots off the lead after three rounds before she missed Sunday’s round.