Quick Hitters
Players, refs trade punches in Atlanta basketball game
EMERSON, Ga. — A video shows players and referees trading punches at an Amateur Athletic Union basketball game in an Atlanta suburb.
News outlets report the video has been shared on social media thousands of times. It shows the Sunday morning brawl in the AAU game between Chicago-based R.A.W. Athletics and the Houston Raptors at the LakePoint sports facility in Emerson.
R.A.W. Athletics coach Howard Martin tells WSB-TV he thinks one of his players had complained to a referee about a call before he was ejected from the game. Martin says the player was walking toward the bench when the referee pushed him.
Raptors coach Bobby Benjamin says he saw a player bump into the referee, but he’s not exactly sure what started the fight.
The referee management didn’t return calls and emails from WSB-TV.
US striker Wood joins Hannover on loan
HANNOVER, Germany — United States striker Bobby Wood switched to Bundesliga side Hannover from relegated Hamburger SV on Monday.
The 25-year-old Wood joined on loan for one year, with the option to then make the switch permanent, Hannover said in a statement.
The Hawaii-born forward is the club’s third loan signing of the summer, after Kevin Wimmer (from Tottenham) and Takuma Asano (Arsenal).
“I had very good talks ... and know what the club intends, what kind of football should be played and where I fit in with that. My gut feeling told me it is the right decision,” Wood said.
He joined 1860 Munich’s youth setup in 2007 and made his debut in the second division in 2011. The forward moved to Union Berlin in 2015, and then Hamburg in the Bundesliga in 2016.
Wood’s time in Hamburg did not go to plan, scoring just seven goals in 52 league games. Last season he managed two as the side was relegated.
“Wood fills exactly the profile of forward we were looking for,” Hannover general manager Horst Heldt said. “He is a highly talented player who has already proved his potential and who suits us brilliantly due to his teamwork and willingness to run.”
He has 12 goals in 39 appearances for the U.S. since making his debut as a 20-year-old under Jurgen Klinsmann in August 2013.
Bama dismisses VanDarius Cowan from team
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama has dismissed linebacker VanDarius Cowan from the team for violating unspecified team rules.
Coach Nick Saban announced the decision Monday in a statement, saying “each of us has a responsibility to represent the University of Alabama in a first-class way, and failure to meet those standards can’t be tolerated.”
Saban says Cowan violated team rules, but did not specify what rules.
Cowan played in seven games last season as a freshman. He made two tackles, both coming against Mercer.
Cowan was rated a five-star prospect out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, by Scout.com.
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