IN BRIEF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Michigan's Rodriguez named in Virginia suit

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday he won't let a lawsuit over a failed Virginia condominium project affect preparations for Saturday's season opener.

The suit was filed Aug. 13 in U.S. District Court in Spartanburg, S.C., against Rodriguez and several others. It says they owe a bank $3.9 million for defaulting on a loan to build condos near Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium.

"This is something that's ongoing," Rodriguez said. "It's not anything that will take our attention away from getting ready for the season."

Also: Ohio State players say if their rivals at Michigan are putting in extra time, they're not alone. Anyone in college football who wants to excel is a workaholic, they say.

Some unnamed Michigan players have alleged that they're being asked to exceed the maximum 20 hours that the NCAA permits student-athletes to devote to their sport each week.

But Ohio State captains Kurt Coleman and Doug Worthington say that's what great teams do to achieve winning records and bowl trips. Greatness demands far more than 20 hours per week, they say.

The NCAA won't have to immediately release public records about Florida State's appeal of an academic cheating penalty.

An appeals court granted a temporary stay to the NCAA and gave attorneys for media organizations a day to show why the motion should not stand.

BASKETBALL

Rubio backed out of deal, Timberwolves say

Timberwolves president David Kahn said Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio has backed out of a deal to play in Minnesota this season.

Kahn said the Wolves negotiated a deal Saturday with Rubio's Spanish pro team and agent Dan Fegan to bring the 18-year-old to Minnesota this fall.

But Rubio informed Kahn on Monday that he would prefer to stay in his homeland.

Also: The Boston Celtics signed free-agent guard Marquis Daniels.

Daniels is coming off the best of his six seasons, averaging career highs of 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 54 games with the Indiana Pacers, 43 of them starts

MISCELLANEOUS

Super heavyweight Hunter loses in Italy

Las Vegas super heavyweight boxer Michael Hunter was defeated in his first match at the world amateur boxing championships in Milan, Italy. The Palo Verde High School graduate lost 8-1 to reigning Olympic and world champion Roberto Camarrelle of Italy.

"His timing was too good, and I tried my best," Hunter said. "But this time, it was not enough."

Las Vegas' Jesus Magdaleno will fight today.

Also: Brad Keselowski signed to drive for Penske Racing next season in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Keselowski will drive the No. 12 Dodge, a ride he rejected last year. The seat went to David Stremme.

It's a girl for Annika Sorenstam. The Hall of Fame golfer wrote in her blog that Ava Madelyn McGee was born Tuesday morning. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

The Phoenix Coyotes saga seems to be stumbling toward a conclusion. After almost four months of legal wrangling and nearly 900 court filings, a hearing is scheduled in U.S. Bankruptcy Court today.

For the first time, Canadian billionaire James Balsillie will be in the courtroom. He wants to buy the team and move it to Canada.

Freshman Nick Marshall scored in the 109th minute, late in the second overtime, to give UNLV a 1-0 upset victory over No. 23 Cal Poly in the teams' season opener at San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The goal, on an assist from Stephen Sifuentes, lifted the Rebels to their first road victory over a ranked team in four seasons under coach Mario Sanchez.