Oklahoma’s Gundy used ‘racially charged’ word
A day after Oklahoma assistant head football coach Cale Gundy announced his resignation, the school said Monday that Gundy had uttered a racially charged word multiple times during a film session last week.
Gundy, who had been with the program as an assistant since 1999, announced his resignation in a social media post late Sunday, and the school confirmed it with a statement shortly thereafter. Oklahoma sent out another statement Monday giving more details.
“Coach Gundy resigned from the program because he knows what he did was wrong,” first-year Sooners coach Brent Venables said in the statement. “He chose to read aloud to his players, not once but multiple times, a racially charged word that is objectionable to everyone, and does not reflect the attitude and values of our university or our football program. This is not acceptable. Period.”
Gundy apologized in his post and explained his resignation. He said he noticed a player was distracted while he was supposed to be taking notes, so he picked up the athlete’s iPad and read aloud the words on the screen. He acknowledged that he said a word that he “should never — under any circumstance — have uttered,” and said he was “horrified” when he realized what he had done.
Gundy — whose brother is Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy — was on staff for all 14 of the Sooners’ Big 12 titles and the national championship season in 2000. He spent the last seven seasons coaching wide receivers after spending the previous 16 seasons coaching running backs.
Venables said L’Damian Washington, who had been an offensive analyst, will coach receivers on an interim basis.
ETC.
Durant reiterates desire for trade
Kevin Durant again told Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai that he wanted to be traded, reiterating a request he first made nearly six weeks ago, a person with knowledge of the matter confirmed Monday night.
Durant also told Tsai that he has concerns about the Nets’ direction under coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks, said the person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the perennial All-Star nor the team confirmed details of the talks publicly.
The Athletic first reported details of the latest Durant-Tsai meeting.
“Our front office and coaching staff have my support,” Tsai tweeted Monday night. “We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.”
The PGA Tour asked a federal judge to deny the appeal of three suspended players who joined Saudibacked LIV Golf and now want to compete in the tour’s lucrative postseason, arguing the players knew the consequences two months ago.
Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford are seeking a temporary restraining order. They are among 10 players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour last week.
Ashton Hardaway, the 6foot-8 son of former NBA star Penny Hardaway, has enrolled at Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, a school spokesperson said.
Hardaway played for Duncanville in Texas last season. He’s expected to join Bronny and Bryce James, sons of LeBron James; and Justin Pippen, son of Scottie Pippen; on the basketball team.
A club team of mostly Sierra Canyon players is leaving this week to play exhibition games in London, Paris and Rome that will be televised on ESPN networks.
— Eric Sondheimer
Serena Williams earned her first win in more than a year, beating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-3, 6-4 at the women’s National Bank Open in Toronto. It’s the second tournament of the season for the 40-year-old Williams.
The Boston Bruins signed captain Patrice Bergeron and center David Krejci — both members of their 2011 Stanley Cup championship team — to one-year deals . ... The Arizona Coyotes signed restricted free agent forward Lawson Crouse to a five-year contract, hours before a scheduled arbitration hearing. The 6-4, 215-pound forward had career highs of 20 goals and 14 assists last season.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ use of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca during an offseason retreat in 2020 isn’t considered a violation of the NFL’s drug policy, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said . ... The injury to New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton’s surgically repaired right knee is more serious than initially believed after he left early in practice . ... The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year contract extension with kicker Justin Tucker, a fivetime All-Pro . ... New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston left practice in Metairie, La., with what coach Dennis Allen described as an apparent foot injury.
Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs, adored by fans throughout a 24-year career, has a more sinister side to his character, prosecutors in London said as he went on trial on charges of assault and use of coercive behavior against a former girlfriend.