News+Notes: Olympics gymnastics coach kills himself after being charged,
LANSING, MICH. » A former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar killed himself Thursday, hours after being charged with turning his Michigan gym into a hub of human trafficking by coercing girls to train and then abusing them.
John Geddert faced 24 charges that could have carried years in prison had he been convicted. He was supposed to appear in an Eaton County court, near Lansing, but his body was found at a rest area along Interstate 96, according to state police.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel earlier announced that Geddert was charged with a bushel of crimes, including sexual assault, human trafficking and running a criminal enterprise.
Pro football
RAIDERS AMONG TEAMS WILSON WOULD WAIVE NOTRADE CLAUSE » Russell Wilson has not demanded a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, his agent stated after an article was published describing frustrations the star quarterback has with the team he has led to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship.
But, agent Mark Rodgers told ESPN that Wilson has provided the Seahawks with a list of four teams for which he’d be willing to waive his notrade clause should Seattle decide it wants to part ways with the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
The lucky four? The Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears.
But Rodgers noted that Wilson would prefer to stay in Seattle.
Golf
SIMPSON, FITZPATRICK LEAD WGC » Webb Simpson ran off three straight birdies for a share of the lead in the Workday Championship.
Simpson matched Matthew Fitzpatrick with a 6-under 66 at The Concession in the World Golf Championships event moved from Mexico to Florida because of COVID-19 circumstances. GAINEY LEADS PUERTO RICO OPEN » Tommy Gainey had a 7-under 65 and the firstround lead in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.
Gainey had a one-stroke lead over local favorite Rafael Campos, Robert Garrigus, Taylor Pendrith, Lee Hodges, Greg Chalmers, Fabian Gomez and Brandon Wu.
College basketball
NCAA REVEALS COVID-19 CONTINGENCY PLANS » Under a contingency plan released by the Division I basketball committees, the four at-large teams that don’t make the original field in the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments will be placed in order and serve as the replacement teams should any conference with multiple bids have a school that is unable to participate due to COVID-19 issues.
The contingency plan only applies to the short period between the announcement of the brackets and the start of games later that week. Once a tournament begins, any team whose opponent is forced to withdraw would automatically advance to the next round.