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SPORTS BRIEFS

By Staff Reports
Published: January 13, 2009
Updated: January 13, 2009

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Las Vegas setting for Packer, Knight

LAS VEGAS - Bob Knight, the winningest coach in Division I history, and former CBS sportscaster Billy Packer plan to analyze the NCAA men's basketball tournament in a series of one-hour television programs taped at a race and sports book on the Las Vegas Strip.

Packer told reporters yesterday that the show wouldn't mention gambling even though it is to be filmed at the race and sports book at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Packer says he wanted the shows to be part of the experience of watching games in Las Vegas, which he says ranks second to watching games from courtside. The programs are expected to begin March 15 and air on Fox Sports Net.

Bayno leaves Loyola Marymount post

LOS ANGELES - Bill Bayno resigned as coach of Loyola Marymount while on an extended health leave and will be replaced by acting coach Max Good. Good, in his 15th season as an NCAA coach, signed a multiyear contract to take over the program as the 25th coach in school history. He coached the past eight seasons at Bryant College before coming to Loyola as an assistant to Bayno. He also coached at UNLV for one season and five seasons at Eastern Kentucky University.

In other college basketball news:

Miami Hurricanes sophomore point guard Eddie Rios was suspended indefinitely for the second time this season for violating team rules. Rios was also suspended Dec. 2 and reinstated two days later. The latest suspension was for a lack of communication with coaches and violating team protocol, the Hurricanes said. He's averaging 4.7 points and 12.3 minutes and has started four times this season.

Missouri forward Leo Lyons has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest on traffic charges and for failing to pay a traffic fine from 2006. Missouri spokesman Dave Reiter said Lyons was arrested Sunday night and accused of driving without the vehicle's lights on and failing to display proof of insurance. Police then learned there was a warrant for Lyons for an unpaid fine for making an illegal turn in 2006. Coach Mike Anderson has not determined how long Lyons will be suspended. Lyons is second on the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.2).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Fedora receives contract extension

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Mississippi has given first-year coach Larry Fedora a contract extension following a strong finish. The Golden Eagles (7-6) ended the season with five straight wins and knocked off Sun Belt champion Troy 30-27 in overtime in the New Orleans Bowl, extending their streak to 15 winning seasons.

In other college football news:

Utah defensive end Paul Kruger and defensive back Sean Smith are entering the NFL draft. Both were first-team all-Mountain West picks in 2008. Kruger, a sophomore, had a team-high 7.5 sacks and added 61 tackles for the Utes (13-0), who finished the season No. 2 in The Associated Press poll. Smith, a 6-3, 214-pound junior, led the Utes with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He also broke up a team-high nine passes.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has had surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to be ready for spring practice in April. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner had surgery yesterday to remove a bone spur and reduce chronic inflammation. Tebow announced Sunday that he will return for his senior season.

SOCCER

U.S. women's league gets Brazilian star

ZURICH, Switzerland - Marta, a three-time FIFA player of the year, is joining the new women's league in the United States. The 22-year-old Brazilian striker said she will sign a three-year contract to play for the Los Angeles Sol of the Women's Professional Soccer League. The first game of the seven-team league will feature the Sol against the Washington Freedom on March 29 in Carson, Calif.

Ronaldo earns FIFA honor

ZURICH, Switzerland - Cristiano Ronaldo was named the FIFA world player of the year to complete a sweep of soccer's top individual honors for 2008. The 23-year-old Portugal and Manchester United winger received 935 votes in a worldwide poll of national team captains and coaches.

In other soccer news:

The Kansas City Wizards re-signed forward Claudio Lopez, allowing the club to remove the designated player tag from the Argentine star. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

ELSWHERE

Rene Herms, a six-time German champion runner who reached the 800-meter semifinals of the 2004 Olympics, has died. He was 26. Mr. Herms was found dead Saturday morning in his apartment in the eastern town of Lohmen, Germany. Police said there were no indications of foul play or suicide.

Former NHL lawyer and Nike executive Adam Helfant was hired to run the men's professional tennis tour. Helfant takes over the ATP a week before the start of the Australian Open. The 44-year-old American will be based in London. He replaces Etienne de Villiers, who stepped down last year.

Defending co-champion Peter Jacobsen withdrew from this weekend's Champions Skins Game because of a shoulder injury, and was replaced by Ben Crenshaw. Jacobsen, who teamed with Fuzzy Zoeller to win last year's event with six skins worth $320,000, said he tweaked his left shoulder while hitting balls last week.

- From Wire Reports