Pitino: Ware could be playing again by October
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Injured Louisville guard Kevin Ware could be back on the court by October.
Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said Tuesday that he’s encouraged by Ware’s rehabilitation, which recently has included riding a stationary bicycle. Ware broke his right leg in a gruesome incident during Louisville’s regional- final victory over Duke and his injury became a rallying point in the Cardinals’ run to their third NCAA title.
“He’s just riding the bike and you can almost see from the Xrays the bone healing,” Pitino said. “I’d say, in another month he’ll be healed and then he’ll start working out a little bit.”
Pitino has had a good summer after winning the national championship. He’s seen sophomore forward Montrezl Harrell help the U. S. men’s Under- 19 team win a gold medal and is watching forward Luke Hancock contribute to USA Basketball at the World University Games.
He’s also pleased with how Cardinals’ veterans are blending with newcomers during workouts.
While keeping an eye on his players, Pitino also is savoring the afterglow of the school’s third NCAA title. He has been signing some of 12,500
... You can ca almost l see from the X- rays the bone healing.
Rick Pitino, Head coach, Louisville
specially designed bourbon bottles bearing his face and achievements and is about to autograph 1,000 pieces of the Final Four court for charity.
Court hearing set for Penn State ex- leaders
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A longdelayed preliminary hearing for three former Penn State administrators accused of a criminal cover- up of sex- abuse complaints about ex- assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has been scheduled for later this month.
Harrisburg District Judge William Wenner said Tuesday the three- day hearing for Graham Spanier, Gary Schultz and Tim Curley will begin in just under three weeks. The proceeding will determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to send the matter to county court for trial. The three men are accused of obstruction, conspiracy and other offenses for their handling of complaints about Sandusky, who eventually was charged with abusing several boys. The men all vigorously deny the allegations. Sandusky was convicted a year ago of dozens of counts of child sexual abuse but maintains his innocence and is appealing a 30- to 60- year state prison term.
Spanier was forced out as university president shortly after Sandusky’s arrest. Curley and Schultz were first arrested in November 2011.
AP source: Ole Miss CB suspended 6 games
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi cornerback Carlos Davis has been suspended for six games next season by the NCAA after playing in six games last season while academically ineligible, a person familiar with the decision said on Tuesday.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the university has not released the player’s name, said the school does not expect any more penalties from the NCAA.
Davis’s suspension was first reported by the Jackson ( Miss.) ClarionLedger.
A 5- foot- 9, 163- pound non- scholarship player, Davis was used mostly on special teams, making seven tackles and returning four kickoffs.
Ole Miss self- reported the violation in April after being notified of the problem by the NCAA. Documents show a player — whose name is redacted — was initially cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center last summer, but was ruled ineligible after the ACT cancelled his scores.
AP source: Lions’ Stafford agrees to $ 53M extension
DETROIT — Matthew Stafford’s career with the Detroit Lions just got longer.
Stafford and the Lions have agreed to terms on a $ 53 million, three- year extension to keep him under contract through 2017, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person, who spoke Tuesday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced, said Stafford will make $ 41.5 million in guarantees as part of a new contract.
Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and signed him to a six- year contract worth as much as $ 78 million with $ 41.7 million in guarantees. After two injury- shortened seasons, he helped the franchise reach the playoffs two years ago for the first time in more than a decade.
49ers sign 1st- round pick Eric Reid to 4- year deal
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have signed firstround pick Eric Reid to a four- year contract.
With Tuesday’s announcement, San Francisco has all 11 of its draft picks signed. The former LSU safety had actually tweeted a photo from Instagram of him signing a contract last week.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 49ers drafted Reid 18th overall in April.
In 39 games over three seasons with LSU, the 6- foot- 1, 213- pound Reid finished with 199 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 11 pass breakups and 4 1/ 2 tackles for loss. Last season, Reid started all 13 games and tallied 91 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and seven pass breakups.
Settlement reached in death of Miss. player
OXFORD, Miss. — The family of a Mississippi football player who died following a workout in 2010 has reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against the university and the NCAA.
Bennie Abram III, a 20- year- old non- scholarship player from Southaven, Miss., collapsed during an offseason workout and later died at a hospital in Oxford. An autopsy determined Abram’s death was caused by complications from sickle cell trait, which can alter red blood cells after strenuous exercise.
According to settlement documents, the family will receive $ 50,000 from the insurance company for the university’s athletic foundation. The Abrams’ attorney, Gene Egdorf of Houston, Texas, says the family also will receive $ 275,000 from the NCAA’s insurance policy.
The university will also pay for any undergraduate and graduate courses for Abram’s mother and two brothers done at the school.
Chelios, Niedermayer top 2013 Hockey Hall class
TORONTO — Defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Chris Chelios, along with forward Brendan Shanahan have been picked for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
They’ll be joined in the class of 2013 by Geraldine Heaney, the third woman to be enshrined in the hall, and coach Fred Shero, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup in 1974 and ’ 75. He was selected posthumously in the builder category.
Chelios and Niedermayer earned hockey’s biggest individual honor in their first year of eligibility.
The official induction ceremony is scheduled for November.