Colorado St. sorry for `Russia' chant at Ukrainian foe
Colorado State has apologized for a group of fans who chanted “Russia” at a player on an opposing team who is from Ukraine during Saturday's game.
Utah State's Max Shulga is from Kyiv and was shooting free throws when TV cameras picked up the chant from the student section during the game in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.
“On behalf of Colorado State, we apologize to the student-athlete and Utah State. This is a violation of our steadfast belief in the Mountain West Sportsmanship Policy and University Principles of Community,” Colorado State said in a statement.
“Every participant, student, and fan should feel welcomed in our venues, and for something like this to have occurred is unacceptable at Colorado State.”
Utah State defeated the Rams 88-79.
On Sunday afternoon, Shulga issued a statement through Utah State that thanked the Colorado State administration and Rams coach Niko Medved for their “immediate support and understanding following the disappointing events during last night's game.”
Shulga added: “This has been an extremely difficult and challenging year with my family and loved ones so far away and living in constant danger. I pray daily for the conflict to come to a close and for peace to be restored for my people in Ukraine.”
To close his statement, Shulga said that while the chants were “extremely upsetting in the moment, I also know how emotions can run high during competition and people can do and say things they do not really mean. Colorado State and its fans have apologized and I accept and appreciate the apology.”
Panthers hire Evero as their new DC
The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Ejiro Evero to be their new defensive coordinator.
The 42-year-old Evero, an Alta Loma High graduate, was the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator last season and was one of nine candidates to interview for the Panthers head coaching position before Frank Reich was hired.
The Broncos ranked seventh in the league in total defense in 2022 under Evero and were 14th in points allowed.
Evero previously worked with the Rams as safeties coach (2017-20) and secondary coach and passing game coordinator (2021).
He has also experience coaching with the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and at the University of Redlands (2010).
Steve Wilks was Carolina's defensive coordinator to start the 2022 season, but was later promoted to interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired. Al Holcomb took over as interim defensive coordinator and remained in that role for the rest of the season.
Carolina's defense finished 22nd in the league last season in yards allowed per game and allowed the 19th-most points in the league, but the defense is generally considered the strength of a team that finished 7-10.
Parks stuns top seed Garcia in Lyon final
Unseeded American Alycia Parks secured a 7-6 (7), 7-5 upset win over WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia in the Open Métropole de Lyon final in Lyon, France to clinch her first career title.
Parks, who is ranked 79th, had 15 aces and saved all four break points against the top-seeded Garcia.
The 22-year-old Parks secured the only break of a tight contest to win it.
The fifth-ranked Garcia, a U.S. Open semifinalist last year, was seeking a 12th career title.
Parks has a career-best ranking of 75th.
The 29-year-old Garcia, who grew up in Lyon, took time to thank her home crowd — this time in French.
“It means a lot to play here, thanks for being here,” Garcia said. “You supported me from the first point to the last. Thanks for all your encouragement.”
Kraken get Megna in deal with Sharks
The Seattle Kraken acquired defenseman Jaycob Megna from the San Jose Sharks for a 2023 fourthround draft pick.
Megna, who at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds will add size and bulk to Seattle's lineup, is in the midst of his best season with 12 points in 48 games for the Sharks while averaging more than 19 minutes per game.
Megna played for the Ducks for parts of three seasons between 2016-19. The 48 games played this season is a career high for the 30-year-old.
Kane now all-time top scorer for Tottenham
Harry Kane became Tottenham's outright alltime leading scorer with his goal in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League.
It was the England captain's 267th goal for the club — one more than the late Jimmy Greaves, who played for Tottenham from 1961-70.
“He (Greaves) is a complete hero, one of the best strikers to play the game, so to be in that conversation is special,” said Kane, who scored his first goal for Tottenham in December 2011.
He now has 200 goals in the Premier League, only the third player to do so after Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208).
Kane took a call in the locker room after the match from Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who was absent after having his gallbladder removed Wednesday.
Germany's Friedrich wins another title
Francesco Friedrich drove to his fifth consecutive world four-man bobsled title, ending yet another dominant showing for Germany at the season's biggest competition.
Friedrich — also the two-time defending Olympic champion in the fourman event — and his team of Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schüller finished four runs over two days in 4 minutes, 19.61 seconds in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
That time was 0.69 seconds ahead of the drivers who shared second place. Brad Hall of Britain and Emils Cipulis of Latvia both got their sleds across the line in 4:20.30.
The U.S. sled driven by Geoff Gadbois was 18th.
Out of six events at the world championships — men's skeleton, women's skeleton, two-man, fourman, women's bobsled and women's monobob — Germany claimed five gold medals and eight of a possible 18 medals overall. Britain grabbed the other gold when Matt Weston won the men's skeleton title.
The U.S. tied for second with Britain in the overall medal standings at the world championships with two, both captured by Kaillie Humphries. She won silver in monobob and teamed with Kaysha Love for bronze in the twowoman event.