Brief Sports News
By The Associated Press – Associated Press – Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Baylor has hired former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe to replace Art Briles and lead its football program through a tumultuous time.
A little more than an hour after Grobe’s hiring was made official, Baylor announced that athletic director Ian McCaw had resigned, severing another tie with the sexual-assault scandal that has tarnished the school’s reputation.
Briles was let go last week after the release of a report commissioned by the school that accused the successful coach of not responding to or inappropriately handling allegations of sexual assault and violence by members of his team.
Grobe, 64, has been out of coaching for two seasons. He spent 13 years with Wake Forest, leading the team to some of its best seasons. Grobe was 77-82, including an Atlantic Coast Conference title and Orange Bowl appearance in 2006. The Demon Deacons went to five bowl games under Grobe, half the school’s overall total.
SOCCER
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) – About 24 hours after he was kidnapped, Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido found himself alone with one of his captors and saw his chance. He wrestled away the man’s pistol and his cellphone and dialed Mexico’s emergency number, and within minutes, he was free.
An official summary report of three calls to an emergency operator obtained by The Associated Press shows the 25-year-old forward for Olympiakos in the Greek league threatened and beat his captor while on the phone, demanding to be told where they were.
On a first call, with the kidnapper overpowered, Pulido peered out of a window and described the white two-story house with two cars, grey and red, parked in front.
In the next call, Pulido told the operator that state police had arrived outside. The operator told him to fire the pistol so they would know they were in the right spot, but Pulido said he had no bullets. He said police themselves were starting to shoot and described his shorts and tank top so they wouldn’t confuse him with the now-unconscious captor.
Once police arrived, he made a third call to confirm with the operator that they were trustworthy.
OLYMPICS
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The Rio de Janeiro Olympic venue facing the most serious construction delay has hit another snag, with City Hall saying it is changing contractors for the track cycling velodrome.
In a statement, the city said it rescinded the contract of the principal builder and had authorized a subcontractor to take over.
Last week, the president of world cycling’s governing body said he was “very, very concerned” about the venue.
Rio organizers repeated there will be no time for a test event, but said the track surface had been installed. Organizers said they are still planning a “training session” June 25-27 – six weeks before the Olympics open Aug. 5.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The NHL remains open to sending its players to the 2018 Winter Olympics just so long as the league’s owners aren’t required to pick up the majority of the check.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final there have been no substantive discussions with the NHL Players Association about closing up shop for several weeks in February 2018 so over 100 players can represent their home country in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The commissioner added it may not matter if the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation decline to subsidize the league in the way they have since NHL players were cleared to play in the Olympics in 1998. The issue is currently unresolved.
Bettman said the league’s executive committee will be ready to make a decision on expansion at the next board of governors’ meeting in June.
PARIS (AP) – While essential for the French Open, a roof over center court at Roland Garros is “not crucial” for Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympics, the city’s bid leader said as heavy rain washed out play at the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time in 16 years.
The French Open is the only major tennis tournament without a structure allowing play to go on during rainy days.
After years of delays, the French tennis federation is planning to have one over center court by 2020, but extension works are currently put on hold by legal action from local residents and environmental activists.
MADRID (AP) – Pau Gasol is considering not playing at the Olympics because of the Zika virus.
The Spanish basketball player said there is too much uncertainty about the situation in Brazil and anyone going to Rio de Janeiro for the games should “think about” whether it’s worth the risk.
The Chicago Bulls player said other Spanish athletes have also expressed their concerns about the virus and are also considering skipping the games.
Without giving names, Gasol said he talked to other athletes who told him they may not participate in the games.
Brazil has been badly hit by Zika, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.
SOCCER
MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Marcus Rashford signed a new contract with Manchester United through June 2020, a reward for the teenage striker’s breakthrough this season that could earn him a place in England’s European Championship squad.
United announced the deal, saying Rashford has an option to extend the contract by a further year.
The 18-year-old Rashford was plucked from the youth teams and given his senior debut in February because of an injury crisis at United. He scored two goals in his debut – a Europa League game against FC Midtjylland – and two more against Arsenal three days later in his first Premier League start.
He scored the winner in his first Manchester derby and netted within three minutes of his England debut on Friday. England’s Euro 2016 squad will be announced Tuesday, and Rashford looks to have done enough to have persuaded coach Roy Hodgson to select him as one of his forwards for the tournament.
