In Brief

BOXING

Texas grants Margarito license, clearing way for Pacquiao bout

Texas has approved Antonio Margarito's request to be licensed to box in that state, clearing the way for the former world welterweight champion to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

Last week, Margarito had been denied a license in California. On July 9, the Nevada Athletic Commission tabled his request for a license. However, Texas reviewed his application and approved it Thursday.

Margarito hasn't fought in the United States since January 2009, when a plaster-like substance was found in his hand wraps before a fight against Shane Mosley in Los Angeles.

FOOTBALL

USC must hand over trophy as 2004's best college team

Southern California has been stripped of the 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy, which is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's top college football team.

The organization said that a committee of current and former officers voted to revoke the honor after USC was penalized for NCAA violations. It did not award the trophy to another school.

In June, USC received a two-year bowl ban, four years' probation, loss of scholarships and forfeits of an entire year's games. The punishment was for improper benefits to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush dating to the Trojans' 2004 national championship.

Also: The investigation of North Carolina's football program has expanded into possible academic misconduct involving players and a woman who worked as a tutor for coach Butch Davis' son.

The announcement came nine days before the No. 18 Tar Heels' opener against No. 21 Louisiana State in Atlanta and roughly two months after the NCAA began a probe into whether two key players received improper benefits from agents.

Missouri tailback and team captain Derrick Washington was suspended indefinitely for unspecified disciplinary reasons.

Maurice Clarett can't sign with the Omaha Nighthawks until the team shows it has a support system in place for the former Ohio State star, the commissioner of the United Football League said.

"Just throwing him to the wolves, I wouldn't be interested in that," Michael Huyghue said.

miscellaneous

Hole-in-one helps Wie grab Canadian Women's Open lead

Michelle Wie had the second hole-in-one of her professional career on the way to a 7-under-par 65 and a three-shot lead after the first round of the CN Canadian Women's Open at Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"It was the first time I had actually seen it go in in a tournament," the 20-year-old Hawaii native said of her ace on the 190-yard, par-3 11th hole. "It was surreal."

The 6-foot Wie said she's notched eight holes-in-one in her career but only one other as a pro, in her rookie season at last year's LPGA Championship.

Wie has the first-round lead for the second time in her career and first since the 2005 U.S. Open.

Sarah Kemp of Australia was three strokes back after her morning-round 68, and defending champion Suzann Pettersen was third with a 69.

Also: Pearland, Texas, beat Auburn, Wash., 7-5 to advance to the U.S. final of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

Texas will play for the U.S. title Saturday against either Waipahu, Hawaii, or Columbus, Ga., who will have a rematch today after Hawaii's 7-4 win Thursday.

A top official of the National Hockey League Players' Association denied reports that Donald Fehr, the former leader of baseball's players' union, accepted an offer to take the top job at the NHLPA.

Mike Ouellet, the NHLPA's chief of business affairs, praised Fehr's work as an unpaid adviser but said the executive committee hadn't ratified an appointment.

LeBron James went back to school, working out against the Miami Hurricanes.

The NBA's two-time reigning Most Valuable Player and some of his new Miami Heat teammates made a surprise stop at the university's basketball facility for some informal scrimmaging against the Hurricanes. James, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Patrick Beverley and New Orleans guard Chris Paul played for more than an hour.

Police are investigating an alleged altercation between Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith and another person at the team's practice facility.

A Denver police spokesman said officers went to the facility Aug. 13 after a report of an altercation involving Smith and another player in a pickup game. The other player isn't in the NBA.

Danny Ferry is returning to the San Antonio Spurs. The former general manager of the Cavaliers will be vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs.