72°F
weather icon Windy

In Brief

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Southern Cal apologizes for accusing schools of tampering

Southern California has apologized to Florida, Alabama, Washington, Oregon and Fresno State for accusing those schools of breaking NCAA rules by contacting one of the Trojans' players without permission.

In a letter dated July 1 and addressed to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, USC athletic director Mike Garrett said freshman running back Dillon Baxter confirmed he "did not receive a call from your institution."

"I apologize for any inconvenience or embarrassment this matter has caused to you and your institution," Garrett wrote in a hand-signed letter.

ESPN.com reported USC filed a complaint with the Pac-10 in June about several schools tampering with Baxter after the Trojans were hit with NCAA sanctions.

Also: Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said the Volunteers have rejected a chance to play Southern California and coach Lane Kiffin in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Hamilton said he has been approached several times by Chick-fil-A Bowl president Gary Stokan about the potential 2011 matchup. He said he has told Stokan no each time because the Vols' schedule can't accommodate another tough opponent during a year that will be part of the team's rebuilding efforts.

Hamilton said the decision wasn't related to any feud between the programs after Kiffin left Tennessee in January.

TENNIS

Top seeds' failures continue at Hall of Fame as Querrey upset

Top seed Sam Querrey was upset in the second round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Wednesday, extending the No. 1 seeds' run of never winning the title in the 34 years of the tournament.

Querrey, ranked 19th and a three-time winner on the tour this season, was beaten by Dustin Brown 6-4, 6-3 in 47 minutes at Newport, R.I.

Also: Croatia and Serbia will meet for the first time in Davis Cup competition this weekend in what should be an emotional quarterfinal matchup between the former Yugoslav republics.

Croatia, the Davis Cup champion in 2005, will host the best-of-5 series in Split. Serbia has won only once in Davis Cup away from home since 2007, when it became an independent nation.

MISCELLANEOUS

Bolt considering long jump after 2012 Olympic Games

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt said he might switch to other disciplines such as the long jump after the 2012 Olympic Games.

"I'm not going to be one of those athletes who go on to do track and field until they're 36," Bolt said. "If I win (in London), then I probably have to try something else because people are probably tired of seeing me."

The triple Olympic gold medalist said in Lausanne, Switzerland, he is recovering well from a strained Achilles' tendon.

Also: The UNLV women's basketball team will travel to Nebraska and North Carolina as part of a 14-game road schedule next year.

"I'm a true believer of playing very tough teams in the beginning of the season to prepare you for conference play, and there is no doubt this year will be a very good test for us," coach Kathy Olivier said as she announced the 2010-2011 schedule.

UNLV has scheduled three games against teams that captured bids to the NCAA Tournament and three against squads that reached the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Lady Rebels also could meet Rutgers in UNLV's Lady Rebel Round-Up tournament Thanksgiving weekend.

The Lady Rebels return their top eight scorers from last year's squad that finished 13-18.

Federal prosecutors say a Louisville, Ky., woman falsely accused an auto glass salesman of sexual harassment before using a similar scheme on Cardinals basketball coach Rick Pitino.

Prosecutors said in court documents that Karen Sypher falsely accused the salesman of sexual harassment in 1999 after a sexual relationship ended and she was fired.

Sypher faces a July 26 trial on charges she attempted to extort $10 million from Pitino. Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

The Buffalo Sabres signed free agent Rob Niedermayer to a one-year deal.

Niedermayer has played 16 seasons and won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007. Last year, he had 22 points in 71 games with the New Jersey Devils.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Top 10 things to do in Las Vegas this week

The Aviators’ home opener, the Punk Rock Museum’s anniversary show and National Pita Day deals top this week’s lineup.

Sports on TV in Las Vegas

Here’s today’s local and national sports schedule, including television and radio listings.